A/N: Thanks so much for all the messages and reviews! Hope you enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction using characters from the Pitch Black universe. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of PB/TCoR. This work is solely for entertainment purposes and is not considered canon (not by a long shot).

Sucks to live in fear.

Vaako smiled to himself at Riddick's comment while he sharpened his blade. They were listening to the others discussing Carolyn's plan to find the power cells and get them to the skiff. It was the only plan that either man thought had any merit considering the situation. It didn't surprise Vaako at all that Johns was the one talking about sheltering in place. The man was a coward. Maybe he hadn't always been, but then Vaako didn't really give a damn about Johns childhood. He only knew the man. And Vaako hated him with every fiber of his being.

They were sitting just outside the ring of light created by the burning welding torch. Vaako was leaning back against Riddick while he ran his blade carefully over the leather strap he'd found. It calmed him and gave him something to think about rather than listen to frightened voices in the dark.

Riddick's hand was drifting up and down Vaako's back, shoulders and across the back of his neck. Vaako's mouth quirked in a faint smile as he shivered involuntarily at the feather-light touch. Riddick then pulled on Vaako's braids, pulling his head back so that he could take his mouth in a slow, deep kiss. Vaako gladly obliged, enjoying the taste and feel of Riddick's mouth.

Unbidden, Vaako's mind was filled with the memory of watching Riddick run for his life twice. Vaako closed his eyes and tried to think of something else. He'd hated the utter helplessness of standing to one side watching the creatures hunting his lover. Unable to clear his mind, Vaako pulled out of the kiss abruptly and went back to sharpening his blade.

Vaako.

No.

Vaako. Riddick sent this with his hand lazily drifting across Vaako's neck.

When Vaako didn't respond, Riddick's hand tightened and Vaako found his head immobilized while Riddick leaned in close. Normally, feeling Riddick's hot breath close to his ear was something he looked forward to in the dark. Not so now. He jerked his head uselessly to the side but wasn't able to break Riddick's grip.

We gonna have to go through this again, Vaako? Don't shut me out.

Riddick ...

You think I don't feel nothin' when Johns has you twistin' on the ground? You think it don't hurt?

Riddick's grip relaxed and Vaako turned his head to look at Riddick. His neck ached but he ignored it for the moment. He didn't say anything, he just pulled Riddick's mouth to his. As his tongue moved in a heated dance with Riddick's, Vaako sent to his lover. No words, just raw emotion. He felt Riddick tense and briefly wondered if he'd just made the stupidest move in the universe.

Riddick chuckled. Knew you cared.

Vaako met the jaguar gaze again. Riddick kissed him almost chastely, grinning the entire time.

It's the same for me, beautiful. Either you start believin' me or we're gonna have words.

Vaako's mouth twisted into a silent laugh. He studied his dark lover, looking over lines he'd memorized while lying beside him in the dark. He leaned in for another kiss when raised voices pulled their attention back to the group.

Got an audience, Riddick sent, amused. Vaako glanced over to see Jack turn quickly back to the discussion in the light. He sighed. The child needed a new hobby - assuming any of them survived this nightmare. Johns voice drew his gaze to the bounty hunter. He frowned as he concentrated on what the man was saying.

"We need to think about everyone, us, the killer twins ... especially the kid. Now how scared do you think this boy's gonna be out there in the dark?"

"Don't ... use him like that." Carolyn snapped.

"Like what?" Johns said innocently.

"Like a smoke-screen. You deal with your own fear."

Vaako grinned and he heard Riddick chuckle. The little mouse was gone. In its place was a cat with her claws out ... she was learning that perhaps he and Riddick weren't the real monsters in the dark.

"Why don't you shut your fuckin' mouth for two seconds and let me come up with a plan that doesn't involve mass suicide." Johns snarled.

"Or what?" Shazza taunted. "What other option do we have, big man? Hmm? Sit in the dark like rats and die or maybe take a chance out there and live?"

Johns glared at the two women facing off with him.

"We're waiting." Carolyn said flatly. "How much do you weigh, Johns?"

"What the fuck are you talking ..."

"How much!"

"Around 79 kilos ..."

Carolyn took a step forward, her jaw tight. "Because you're just 79 kilos of gutless white meat and that's why you can't ..."

The room seemed to explode in movement. Johns pulled his rifle moving toward Carolyn, his face twisted in rage. "Is that fuckin' right ...?"

Both Vaako and Riddick came up as Johns lunged forward, ending in a strange standoff. Johns gun was pressed under Riddick's neck. Vaako's blade was at Johns throat. Riddick just stared at Johns and everyone heard a faint tapping. Eyes were drawn to the source of the sound and they saw Riddick's curved blade tapping casually at Johns groin.

Imam spoke softly but fiercely. "This solves nothing."

Johns grinned and nodded. "Ok." He backed off and Vaako removed his blade from the man's neck. Riddick lowered his own weapon.

The anger in the room might have faded had Shazza not snickered. She'd been fighting it since seeing the look on Johns face when Vaako and Riddick had essentially immobilized him. He'd looked like he'd eaten something that did not agree with him. Shazza struggled to control herself but one hiccupping snort of laughter broke through into the silence. Tentative smiles blossomed on the rest of the survivor's faces ... except for Johns. He went very still as nervous chuckles drifted through the room.

Riddick saw John's expression change. A very dark smile drifted over his lips as he looked directly at Riddick. Vaako was looking away toward Shazza, but he saw Riddick moving out of the corner of his eye. He whipped around, blade out but never had a chance to strike. Lightning tore through his skull, blotting out the world.

Johns hand rested on the controller. He'd just hit the kill switch. Smiling, he watched Vaako's eyes roll up into his head as he went down convulsing hard. Blood began streaming down Vaako's face and his blade fell from nerveless fingers. Imam and Shazza immediately moved to Vaako's side, thinking it was another seizure. Riddick roared and slammed Johns back, out of the light and against the wall. He tore the rifle from Johns hand and threw it into the darkness.

"Let him go!" Carolyn screamed, leaping on Riddick's back. Riddick shoved her off easily. Holding Johns down by his neck, Riddick tore the controller off his belt. He held it out of the lawman's reach and tried desperately to shut it down. Johns grinned.

"Idiot ... locked ... down ... you'll never get it to work." The bounty man gasped against Riddick's arm across his throat. Riddick was close to losing control of his rage but one glance at Vaako's writhing body and Riddick knew he had no choice. He shoved the controller back to Johns and released the lawman. Turning, he went to Vaako, pushing Imam and Shazza aside.

"Not him ... do what you want to me but not him!" Riddick snarled. Pulling his lover into his arms, Riddick's arms shook with Vaako's convulsions. "JOHNS!"

Shazza had moved closer to Johns and suddenly snatched the controller from his hands, turning it over in disbelief. "This is ... it's a slaver ... you bastard! You'll kill him!"

Johns wiped his mouth. "Yeah ... and?"

Shazza gaped for half a second then screeched and grabbed Johns uniform. "Where is it, you murdering bastard? Where's the chip?"

"It's at the base of his skull. You gonna cut it out?" Johns smirked.

Shazza was already turning away and going back to where Riddick held Vaako as immobile as he could against him. "Quick, you have to cut off his air ... slow his heart ..."

Riddick looked down at his lover and then with a muttered "sorry, beautiful", he put Vaako in a tight headlock. Shazza called for everyone to be quiet as she struggled to hear Vaako's breathing. When the wheezing had stopped and Vaako's struggles faded, she motioned to Riddick to release him. Looking at the controller, she noted that the transmit indicator was dark. Without sparing any breath to explain, Shazza pulled Vaako to the deck and began CPR. Riddick watched the scene impassively. Internally, he was screaming into the void left by Vaako's absence in his mind.

Come on beautiful ... come back to me ... remember who you belong to ... you're mine ... be damned if you get to check out like this ...

Vaako gulped in air and then began coughing as his body remembered how to breathe on its own. Riddick pulled Vaako's head into his lap.

"Easy does it, beautiful ... easy does it ..."

Shazza threw the controller box to the floor and stomped her boot heel down on it, crushing the controls. She then walked over and spat in Johns face.

"Bastard ... I saw those things used on too many worlds. No one deserves that ... not even them."

"Guess I'll tell all the people they've gutted about your compassionate act," Johns sneered.

"Oh don't try and lay that on me, you slimy asshole. So far I haven't seen anything out of either of them to match the tales you tell. And right now I'd rather have either of them at my back than you, so you just keep your distance from me and we'll be alright." Shazza snarled.

Vaako erupted in another coughing fit. His face was smeared with blood and saliva from the seizure. Reaching into his elaborate tote bag, Paris drew out what had to be the ugliest paisley handkerchief that Vaako had ever seen. Paris handed it over, indicating Vaako should use it to clean up.

"Verusian silk, that ... finest you'll find on an main-system world." Paris said. Vaako cocked an eyebrow at Riddick who shrugged. "Well ... she's not the only one who's seen those vile things at work."

Vaako's mouth quirked. He tilted his head at Paris. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to ...?"

Paris colored then shook his head. "Thank you, but ... no ... erm ... keep the hanky ... "

Riddick chuckled and Vaako felt the familiar shiver travel up his spine. They both looked up when they heard the sound of a rifle being chambered. Carolyn was standing in front of Johns with his own rifle. She was livid.

"Give me one reason I shouldn't ... what do you two call it?"

"Ghost." Vaako and Riddick said together.

"That's it ... why shouldn't I ghost your ass right now?" Carolyn snapped. Her face was flushed with anger.

"Stop!"

Every head turned to the forgotten boy huddled in the shadows. His eyes were wide and frightened.

"Please just stop ... just stop!" Jack begged.

Carolyn took one hard, disdainful look at Johns and shoved his rifle back into his hands. Then she went to comfort Jack. Shazza shook her head in disgust and joined her.

"How will we find the skiff in the dark?" Imam asked.

"We can't," Carolyn said flatly. "But they can." She looked pointedly at where Riddick and Vaako sat. " Anything is better than waiting here for those ... things ... to break through and kill us."

"Remember that," Johns said. "Remember that when they're chompin' on your insides and you ain't even dead yet."

Vaako looked toward Riddick who said, "You up for a little walk, beautiful?"