Chapter 17

Previously…"Guess picking up speech patterns and accents isn't too hard for you then," He half smiled.

"Easier when surrounded by the culture," She explained as her fingers clicked over the keys. "Badger's accent… simple when standing right beside him. Washes over her like the tide, leaves the damp behind, easy as lyin'." She grinned and Riddick recognized Kaylee's manner of speaking.

"Could come in handy," He smirked and got a wicked tilt to her grin in return.

"Could."

"Lyle Digby," Riddick repeated the name and glanced over at River. She shook her head and he frowned.

"The Captain of the Alliance ship to whom I surrendered," Fox nodded. "I believe he was given my home as a reward for 'capturing' me."

"Hmm…" Mal, for whatever reason, chose not to confront Fox over the falsehood. Probably a good thing since it didn't smell like Fox had lied. He likely believed that was his old home's new owner.

"Did you find anything regarding additional security on the ranch?" Fox inquired looking at Mal and then the rest of the crew before glancing at River. What was that about? She didn't look any younger than Jack. Perfectly capable as crew…but then maybe he was biased, Riddick admitted to himself. If she looked too young he'd be slipping back into pervert status due to that damn dream.

"Strongly suggest personal reconnaissance as much has changed," River answered when it seemed no one else would. "Husking more schematics and hope to access the house cortex screens, to verify layouts and furniture placement."

"Probably a good idea," The older Browncoat agreed. "Can't guarantee Digby's got the same good taste I have."

Cobb joined them at the table after fetching his coffee and unwittingly changed the subject, "So, heard Dyton Penal Colony's got the habit of working a man until he's half dead. You seem pretty spry though."

Riddick shook his head and sipped his coffee, "Cobb, you don't ask questions like that."

"Why not," The merc didn't seem to see anything wrong with what he'd asked. Or implied.

Jack took a seat next to Mal and rolled her eyes, "Because," her tone added 'you dumbass'. "Ain't ever any good memories of prison time."

"Guess you'd know," Cobb shrugged.

"Not fit to be repeated," River spoke softly, her eyes on Fox's face.

The older man's mouth had tightened at Cobb's query, rage and pain boiling off him for a moment. He nodded curtly, "Just what I was thinking." His jaw relaxed slightly as he glanced at River's sympathetic expression and he nodded at her in silent thanks.

"Ain't like anybody here'd judge ya," Cobb shrugged again. "All of us 'cept the preacher've been bound by law least once."

"Being bound by law is somewhat different," Book hadn't said much beyond good morning (or zǎo shang hǎo, as he usually greeted them), listening to the conversation with that serene expression he wore habitually. "A night in the town jail is a far cry from a penal colony or a maximum-security slam."

"Like riding a horse vs riding in the shuttle," Riddick agreed.

"To be like a pig in slop, sent to a penal colony, open sky and fresh air," River murmured.

"Pretty much yeah," Riddick looked at Fox. "And then there's knowing you ended up there not because of a particular crime and being guilty but because you were on the wrong side."

"Or you got caught between a rock and a hard place and you gotta make the best of a bad choice if you want to survive," Mal added. "Jayne's got the right of it though, ain't a body here'd judge you or anyone on this crew for what's in their past."

"A novel attitude," Fox's gaze had sharpened on Riddick's face. "Though considering who you call crew, not entirely unexpected." Jack looked at Fox, her eyes sharp and her hand drifting to her sidearm casually before Mal rested a hand on her shoulder in reassurance. A reassurance that Jack accepted, surprisingly enough.

Riddick growled low in his throat. Threats, implied or otherwise, never failed to irritate him. And once again Mal proved Riddick's judgement in returning to Serenity had been right. "I know exactly who I've taken on as crew," He set his coffee mug down with a hard click and an even harder look at Fox. "If you've got a problem with that, best to say so now. We're already sailing for a world I'd sooner avoid, at the behest of a man ain't been too forthcoming, for a job that's purely on spec."

"Not that we aren't glad to help," Zoë added calmly. "And we got cargo waiting for pick up on Hera. Just got the wave before breakfast sir," She added to the Captain. "But," Her attention swung back to Fox. "It turns out helping you means putting crew in the way of trouble, added onto the bad memories, we can set you down and send you on your merry."

"And good luck to you," Mal added. "Now are we going to have a problem?"

"No, Captain," Fox seemed almost pleased. "No, I'm glad to know that you trust your crew implicitly."

"Well considering who it is most likely to get you in and out without getting pinched…" Zoë chuckled.

"You are known for your…escapes," Fox nodded to Riddick.

"Escapes, murder, mayhem and hijacking or piracy, depending on your definition," Riddick shrugged as he finished his breakfast.

"Mad, bad and dangerous to know," River grinned at him.

Simon coming in on the tail end of the conversation chuckled in amusement as he held out a chair for Kaylee and then Inara. "Rick is the last person I would ever compare to Lord Byron," He commented.

"As like to Byron as a candleflame is like to a star," River agreed. "But the description is still somewhat apt."

Twelve hours out from Hera the cortex chimed the presence of an outgoing wave from the passenger dorms. Out of caution Riddick hit the switch to engage the nets Wash, River and Kaylee had set up and looked at Jack, "Go on and get Mal would you? Think he'd like to see this."

Mal arrived, looking a bit annoyed, "Rick, thought you wanted us working hand to hand with multiples. Can't do that if you're hauling me up to the bridge."

"Coulda told her to grab you by the ear," Riddick smirked at him.

"Yuh huh, what's goin' on that you wanted me up here," Mal sat in the pilot's chair, Jack leaning over the back of it with one hand braced on his shoulder. A teasing tug on the Captain's ear made Mal twitch away with a half yelp. The look he gave her, wary and amused combined set Jack's lips twitching with humor. Nice to see Jack testing Mal's boundaries and their Captain wasn't getting his back up about it. Of course, Jack was a damn sight nicer than Cobb about pushing said boundaries. Prettier too, which couldn't be discounted.

"Have a look at this," He tapped the screen. "It's in Serenity's cortex firewall nets right now. Figured I'd show you before I let it through."

Mal's eyebrows rose as he scanned the wave, "Well isn't that interesting."

Dreams could be tricky. He could remember them clearly, as if they were true memories, or sometimes not at all. He'd seldom had his dreams blend with reality to the point where he couldn't be sure if he was dreaming or not. Unless Shirah was there, then he knew he was dreaming, but it was also real (as fucked up as that sounded).

The bridge, familiar, comfortable. Wash's dinos walked along the edge of the pilot's console, cheerful shapes against the deep of the Black and cold burn of stars. He turned the seat as movement caught his eye and pushed his goggles back as River Tam rose from the navigator's chair.

Dark eyes, pale skin, and that lush mouth, as gorgeously shaped as her ass, smiling at him as if she knew all his secrets. For all he knew she did. The robe she had on, some shimmering thing he'd seen Inara wear, parted in front as she undid the ties and slipped open. It slithered off her shoulders and pooled at her feet as she walked towards him, perfectly, gloriously, nude.

Just short of arms reach River stopped and reached up, taking the pins from her hair and letting the dark silk spill down over her shoulders, arms and breasts. Her tits had pebbled in the chill of the air, tight and dark as her mouth.

And then she stepped closer, between his knees, one hand reaching for his mark, pressing her palm against it as she'd done so many times before. But this time, her free hand trailed downwards, reached inside his pants and wrapped around his aching dick. And what he wanted at that moment, more than anything, she began to do.

Those graceful hands pulled his pants open and let his cock free, while River lowered herself to her knees between his thighs. Closer, moving forward until her tits were pressed against his legs and chair and her mouth just above his now precum seeping prick. That little tongue wetted her lips and he nearly groaned. He could look down and see that fall of hair, all the way to her pertly curved ass.

And lest he become distracted by the view, her hand touched his, bringing his palm up to cup the back of her neck and slide into that mass of hair. Just as he wound those silky locks around his fist, her lips surrounded the head of his cock and sucked. Fire. His blood would ignite with it.

Wordlessly he pushed her head forward and inhaled sharply as she took him into her mouth, tongue tracing the veins. Riddick nearly groaned and held it in, suddenly convinced sound would break the spell, as River's head began to move up and down his cock as if the pressure of his fist in her hair compelled her. The feel of her lips, her tongue, the flex of her hands on his thighs, a moan in her throat trembling against his shaft.

Fuck he wanted, needed, inhale and damn her scent…hot with want, as if sucking his dick got her wet… He was going to fuck her right in this chair, pulling out of her mouth and yanking her to her feet. Breathing hard, suck those tits into his mouth, so hungry for the taste of her skin, her soft gasp as he released her flesh.

Put her hands on the chair back, spread her knees to the outer edge, and rub his cock over her slit feeling the heat and damp of her. Had to have her, thrust forward, hands on her hips, pull her back onto his cock and feel her body give around his. Take her, pleasure her, possess and fill this woman until everyone knew she belonged to him.

No control over his dick as he plowed her cunt. Fingers on her clit, rub and tug and show her how good she'd feel if she gave herself to him. Push deep into her and feel her shuddering, so tight, wet, hot, welcoming him. Hot waves of slick, her body stiffening as pleasure stilled and contracted every muscle and he lost himself. Fill her body again and again; every hole used by his cock, filling her with seed. Until her little ass was leaking his cum, her pussy was aching and swollen, skin near raw he'd had her so many times and the mark of his teeth at her nape claiming her.

Hold her in his arms, nuzzle and kiss her skin, pet and praise her, suck lovebites into that soft skin. Feel her trembling as remnants of bliss still chase over her skin. Tease her with pleasure to make her say she was his.

That beautiful face looking up at him, tender, sweet, her hand cupping his jaw, lips parting to say it, to tell him what he wanted, needed, to hear…

Mal's voice, "We're on approach to Hera and should make landfall in the next half hour. Local time is in the afternoon. Rick, come on up to the bridge if you would."

As he woke he could hear Shirah damn near giggling at the edges of his mind and cursed the air in his bunk blue. He hadn't actually come in his sheets but he for damn sure needed to take the edge off before he was fit company for anyone let along the beautiful little minx he'd been dreaming of. He hit the comms for the bridge, "Gimme ten minutes Mal, was dead asleep."

Landing on Hera didn't take nearly as long as Persephone had, benefits of being outside the Core he guessed. And Hera did a lot of grain export so they had good sized docks in every major settlement and a lot of smaller ones as well. "Dock fees are more reasonable than Oberon's," He looked over at Wash.

"Yeah, we'd come here more often if it weren't for the history," The pilot nodded as he began to put the ship in ground mode.

"History," He hated when information tickled the back of his mind like an itch he couldn't reach.

"Serenity Valley, bloodiest land battle of the war. Last battle," River murmured as she entered the bridge. "Independent High Command surrendered. Soldiers kept fighting. Arrested for war crimes and given amnesty later as a 'gesture of goodwill'." He didn't need to see her fingers in mocking quotation marks to get the sarcasm. "So many died, and more died waiting for the ships to arrive. A carnel house. The ground still stinks of death."

"Fuck me," Riddick looked at her. "Mal and Zoë?" How'n the hell was he going to look at her without thinking of how she'd looked with his cock in her mouth? Fuckin' dreams.

"Ghosts here. They scream less than the ones on the Farragut but they are more angry than yours," She nodded, her head tilting thoughtfully as she met his eyes. If she Saw anything she wasn't letting on. Thank fuck for small favors.

"Great. That's just what we needed," Riddick cursed. "Better go and fill Jack in so neither of us steps in it."

"Shì," River nodded again and left the bridge at a run. He could only imagine Jack's reaction to hearing that.

"Let's hope nothing else puts Mal even more on edge than being dirtside on Hera would," He commented to Wash as they stood.

"You have a miracle in your back pocket," Wash asked as they headed for the galley.

He'd thought when Serenity had been on the drift Mal had been grim. Riddick had been unconscious, River beaten within an inch of her life and the rest of the crew damn near convinced they were going to die. After all, the engine had broken down, life-support was busted (until they managed to repair it) and River had (on purpose) made it impossible for anyone to use the shuttles to leave.

Somehow Mal had actually been more upbeat and hopeful in that situation than now, sitting on Hera's docks, eating breakfast on a working ship with a healthy crew. Riddick slanted a glance at the door, Simon had escorted Fox up, River and Jack behind him. Jack's eyes flickered around the room, finding him, then Mal and looking back at Riddick. A brief jerky nod and she moved to the cabinets for a mug, bringing the coffee over and freshening Mal's cup before pouring some for herself.

Incredibly, Mal looked up at Jack and for her, made an effort at a half smile. Pathetic attempt really, but an attempt nonetheless and Jack gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"Couldn't sleep so I made breakfast," Mal sounded as if his throat had tried to close up on him. Riddick had heard men who'd been strangled sound better. "Egg protein, some of that cheese and ham protein with a side of those fake grits Kaylee picked up."

"Grits," Kaylee came down the hall from her bunk. "Aw, Cap'n that's so sweet of ya. I love grits." She turned around, "I'm just gonna grab my stash of honey so we can sweeten 'em up if we want."

"That girl's gonna rot her teeth out she keeps putting honey on everything," Riddick commented as he dished up a portion for himself. River at his elbow balanced plates on her arm and began to load them with her other hand until he chuckled and took several of them helping her distribute the meals to Jack, Simon, Fox, and Wash before sitting with his own.

"I've got the coffee if anyone wants it 'sides Mal an' me," Jack offered, and Simon rose politely to help her.

"Anybody ask 'Nara if she wants breakfast," Kaylee asked as she came back in with her precious jar of honey.

"Why don't you do that Kaylee," Zoë suggested in a painfully even tone as she entered the galley. "Jayne's on his way up with Book."

"Have a seat," Simon gave her a gentle smile. "I'll make you a plate. Jack's getting everyone coffee."

Zoë took her place beside Wash and some of her tension seemed to ease in his presence, "Thanks Doc." She looked at Mal, "Sir, we don't have a set time for the cargo delivery. Sometime today was all I could get."

"I expect we'll fill the hours somehow," Mal shook his head. "Rick, you're 'bout the stealthiest we got. Pick your team, get that recon done while we're waiting on the cargo."

"'Bout how far out is your ranch," Riddick looked at Fox.

"Maybe six kilometers," The old Browncoat considered the question for a moment before he answered. "But I can't be certain of how much has changed in the time I've been gone." He hesitated a moment, "I will say that I must make a…pilgrimage of sorts. The Memorial. I need to pay my respects."

If he'd decided to take a crap on the table he'd have gotten a better reception. Kaylee and Inara halted just inside the door, Simon stiffened, worry etched on his features and Mal…

Well Mal's gaze combined rage, pain and misery in a way that reminded Riddick of a black hole. Zoë's expression went utterly blank, the way trauma victim's would when confronted with their attacker. "That's your choice," A dead man might have been speaking for all the inflection in Mal's tone.

"You don't feel the need to—" Fox might have said more but Mal's expression interrupted just as loudly as a shout.

"Mr. Fox," Simon's voice, elegant, quiet and coolly firm, interceded. "I doubt you'll find many Independents who fought on Hera willing to make a pilgrimage to the Serenity Valley Memorial."

"You maybe didn't notice the name the boat carries?" Jack's tone held a bit more irritation.

"Cannot be taken from him. Named the ship so it could not be taken away. Carries it with him," River murmured softly. Her scent sharpened, pain slicing through it, and Riddick couldn't help but react, his hand sliding under her knot of hair to her neck and squeezing lightly, rubbing at the tense muscles and ignoring how her skin felt, just as it had in his dream. "Something like that, it cannot be escaped. All you can do is live there."

Mal's eyes snapped from Fox to River, the fury in them easing. Maybe having someone else voice his own predicament helped. Maybe it was seeing on River's face the amount of pain she lived with equaled his own. Riddick stared at Fox, "Fox, you wanna try and guilt someone into visiting the memorial, you're barkin' up the wrong fuckin' tree."

Cobb and Book came in the galley, breaking the tension inadvertently though Book took in the situation with a quick glance and managed to keep Cobb from choking on the toes of his size fourteen boots. "Captain, I wondered if we would have time to run a few errands while we're planet side?" He inquired in a genial tone, "Kaylee and I were discussing it yesterday and we thought the prices on foodstuffs might be more reasonable here."

"Yeah…" Mal pulled his gaze away from River and nodded. "Jayne, you go with 'em. Kaylee," He looked at his mechanic who was sitting unhappily beside Inara. "You know what we got for coin. 'Tween the three of you I expect you can do some good bargaining."

"Might be I could trade for some fix-it work too," Kaylee offered with a tremulous smile.

"Best mechanic in the 'verse, 'course you could," Mal agreed. The compliment soothed the mechanic some, the scent of her nerves fading from the air.

"Meanwhiles, we're docked and paying the fees, so let's get the systems flushed out, take on fresh water, do everything we can for what we're paying," Zoë ordered. "Kaylee, get that started, you and Jayne, before the three of you head out."

"One question, if I may," Fox just didn't know when to quit. He got silent stares from the crew officers, a tight smile from Simon, irritated looks from River and Jack and a hard glare from Riddick, and somehow, still seemed to take that as permission to continue. "If I'm not mistaken, planet time is near mid-afternoon. Yet the meal is…breakfast?"

Jayne, of all people rolled his eyes, "Seven years in a penal colony scramble yer brains? We keep ships hours much as we can. Ain't changin' meals all around for every gorram planet we land on."

Fox nodded thoughtfully but said nothing else.

"Well we tried," Riddick rolled his eyes as they climbed up Serenity's ramp and shut it behind them. Fox went straight for his bunk, presumably to recover.

His little apprentice (he really needed to stop calling her that especially after those goddamn dreams) shook her head, spreading her hands helplessly, "Doomed to failure. Notorious privateers are recognizable."

"Couldn't have mentioned that to him before we went?" Cobb had been shanghaied into accompanying River, Riddick, Simon and Fox to the Memorial. He hadn't been thrilled about it and less thrilled that they'd had to run from the fracas that had almost gotten out of hand because some of the other Memorial-goers had recognized Fox. Having two people looking and sounding so Core as Simon and River had helped but it only went so far with people spoiling for a fight.

"Mentioned it more than once," Jack reminded him. "The man is beyond stubborn."

"Kinda makes Mal look almost reasonable," The merc sighed and sat on the weight bench.

"At least no one was harmed, or arrested," Simon reminded them. "I doubt either would have helped with the scouting mission tomorrow."

"Yeah," Riddick shook his head. They'd had to postpone the recon in order to accompany Fox to the Memorial. They might have been able to make it earlier but Serenity had needed some of her valves tightened once they'd begun to flush out the systems. Since Kaylee had already taken off with Book and Cobb for foodstuffs that left the rest of them to do the maintenance required.

They'd all been tired, dirty, and in no mood to go sightseeing but no way could Fox be trusted to go alone and return unscathed. A fact that Mal had pointed out with grim confidence as he reminded them of how they'd met the older Browncoat in the first place.

At least they'd been able to take good long showers and get cleaned up completely since they were docked. That had been the one bright spot in the whole mess. It hadn't actually come down to violence but Fox had been considerable shaken. Riddick guessed the old privateer wasn't near as used to being a notoriously hated and feared figure as Riddick was.

"While we're talking about it," Riddick stretched. "Let's get the rest of the crew up to the galley, grab Fox and we'll discuss who's going."

"Mal said for you to pick your team," Jack reminded him.

"Yeah, but since I want to bring Zoë, you, River and Fox along, I figure Mal might have something to say about that," He retorted mildly. "Rather run it by him tonight than spring it on him tomorrow."

Cobb agreed, surprisingly enough, "Yeah, Mal don't take to surprises much. Likes things to be his idea."

"He's Captain for a reason," Simon's rejoinder came in a mild tone.

"Yeah, he owns the boat," The merc rolled his eyes as he mounted the stairs mumbling about people with more sentiment than sense.

Riddick smirked, he couldn't help it, every now and then Cobb was damn funny. Irritating as hell most days. Greedy, dumb and short sighted quite often. But he did say things no one else would. Well, no one but Riddick and River. And Riddick liked to think he was smart enough to not say things that would put Mal's back up when he was already edgy.

Fox had been reluctant to show his face in daylight when Riddick had brought up the recon needed. "How many of your neighbors were Independents," Simon inquired thoughtfully, and Riddick left him to it. Simon tended to disarm folks with his courtesy and logic them out of winning an argument.

"Quite a few, though none of them could up and leave the way I could. They'd worked those ranches and farms all their lives and their parents before them," Fox had shaken his head. "A few of the younger ones, they became soldiers but it was unusual. Every able body was needed."

"Then it's very likely that should you be recognized, no one would be inclined to inform the law," Doc Simon pursued that line of thought ruthlessly.

"We nearly—"

"Nearly, being the point," Riddick cut him off.

Mal nodded, "I get it's some unnerving to walk back in the world and find yourself despised near 'verse-wide. But that ain't the case everywhere. You're that uneasy we can find you a hat, maybe work up a beard or some such for you."

Zoë was considering Fox, "A hat and some specs, tinted lenses, like you're protectin' your eyes. Anyone does recognize you, they'd know you well enough to not say anything."

Fox's agreement came, reluctantly, but it came. Riddick looked at Mal, "So the quietest folks on the boat are me, River, Jack and Zoë. We'll have to go on foot unless we can rent some horses for the day. But I'm not exactly keen to leave a trail."

"Near an hour on foot," Jack mused. "Depending on the shape you're in, we could do it at a slow run, speed that up."

"No," Riddick shook his head. "Running makes people look at you. We're going unnoticed. Concealed weapons, work clothes, maybe a bag or something looks like we've been to town and we're headed back home to a casual glance."

"Maybe we could rent a six seater closed mule?" Simon suggested thoughtfully, "It would make hiding Mr. Fox much easier. And I doubt a rental agency would pay much attention."

"Simon, you look into that," Mal ordered. "Though I don't know that it would draw less notice than horses so look into rentals on those as well." Simon nodded and rose from the table to do that. The Captain looked at Riddick, "Not that I'm arguin' your choice of folk..."

"But why these three," Riddick nodded. Looked like Mal just wanted to hear his reasoning. "Zoë's your right hand, so she knows best how you'd like things done in the field, should somethin' go wrong, she's our best bet for communicating it to you or reacting to things in a way that don't make further mess." Mal nodded thoughtfully and Riddick continued, "Jack and River, pretty much the same reasoning, I've fought with Jack at my side, I know her capabilities. And I trained River so I know hers. Their reactions'll be damn close to mine and we'll work well as a team."

"Can't see that you're wrong on any point," Mal said slowly the hint of a frown on his face and Riddick felt an itch of prickling irritation rise on his skin. What was the fucking problem? And why wouldn't Mal just spit it out?

"Uneasy," River's slender fingers pressed to the skin inside his elbow, drawing his attention and defusing the annoyance like cutting a string. "Unused to Zoë not being at his side, splitting up during a job rubs the wrong way."

"Could leave Zoë here," Riddick shrugged his lack of concern. "You told me to pick my team Mal," He reminded the Captain. "You'd've known I wouldn't take Simon or Cobb. Wash stays with the boat, Book don't do crime and Kaylee'd be needed in the engine room. Didn't think you'd be interest in a six klick hike if it came to that."

"You wouldn't be wrong there," Mal nodded his frown more than a hint now. "S'pose I'm just getting used to…a different type of command is all."

Now that he got. Mal led from the front, wouldn't ask anything of his people he wouldn't do himself. A sergeant. Command operations were a different mindset altogether and called for sending men out to do things that could get them killed. "Be happy to have you, if you're inclined." Riddick's concession was rewarded with a quick half smile from River.

"I expect I can give an approximation of stealth should the occasion call for it," The Captain nodded, frown fading in relief.

River and Zoë exchanged looks and River regarded Mal thoughtfully, "Captain, I think you have a problem with your brain being missing."

Zoë nodded, adding dryly, "They don't like it when you shoot at 'em, I worked that out myself."

Mal, funnily enough, began turning a bit red in the face, "Ain't no call to be bringin' that up."

"Which occasion," River wanted to know. "Thinking that robbing a train with a car full of Purplebellies was more fun than an unarmed train?"

"Or instead of quietly scouting the area, creating a running firefight because it was 'bracing'." Zoë added with a raised eyebrow.

Riddick chuckled and looked at Jack who leaned forward eagerly, "I gotta hear this." His little sister looked at Zoë in expectation. "Bracing?"

"Weren't we settling on the particulars of the scouting mission," Mal interrupted a bit desperately looking at Riddick. "I think we ought to get that resolved before story time."

"You're no fun," Jack pouted at him and Mal groaned, scrubbing his face with his hands.

"Work, please. Let's get the job settled," His voice muffled by his palms. "Rick, if I promise not to start a running firefight, do you want me with you and our younger half of the crew?"

"Yeah Mal, that'll work," Riddick chuckled. "I'll get the route figured." He smirked at Jack, "All settled. So I guess it's story time."

Mal groaned again and Jack grinned, "C'mon Mal. 'Bracing'?"

In retrospect, taking Mal along had actually been a good idea. The man had grown up on a ranch, at least according to River and Riddick knew she had a way of being right about those sorts of things. So Mal had a very good idea of how innocent farm/ranch hands would act while riding out. No galloping, (they'd ended up on horses after all), no loud voices, just a nice casual trot. No rush, no need to work the horses to death.

Mal had found Riddick's dislike of horses more amusing than the situation warranted. Something about 'the huge scary hún dàn' disliking animals that everyone else took for granted. Riddick had rolled his eyes, "Ain't like I'm the first." He glared at the horse whose reins he held, "They're fuckin' dangerous on both ends, tricky in the middle and they smell to high heaven besides."

"They don't smell that bad," Fox had objected mildly as he mounted.

Mal was giving Jack a hand up and River had gotten into the saddle easily enough. Riddick swung into the saddle without any issues, disproving Mal's belief that he didn't like the animals because he couldn't ride. "You don't have my nose," He told the older Browncoat. "There are worse smells. But horse tends to linger. We'll all have to clean up pretty thorough or we'll be trailing the smell with us on the job tonight."

"Simon should have gotten a mule of some sort by that time," Mal nodded. "Won't take as long. Ten minutes by mule, twenty on a horse."

"Let's get to it then," Riddick nodded.

And despite being on horseback they'd gotten a good feel for the area. Good enough that they felt confident in returning late that night to invade the property. Between scouting and everything River and Simon had dug up on the cortex they were as prepared as they could be.

Once they'd gotten themselves organized Fox had given them one last bit of information. "When I retired from spacers life, it was clear there was a war coming. I built my house with that in mind. It's got a few special features, metal shutters for one, reinforced roof and structural supports…but the one that'll be the most helpful to us is the escape tunnel."

"A tunnel into the house," Mal had regarded Fox with a jaded eye. "And you didn't see fit to mention this earlier because…"

"Because it's an escape tunnel," Fox emphasized the last two words. "I never thought I'd be usin' it to sneak into the house. And no matter how good you four are, we'll never sneak up on the house directly."

River had nodded, "Pressure plates on the porches and steps, designed to bring up lights when pressed. Benign but one wrong move is easily discovered."

"Yeah, you mentioned," Riddick nodded. "Where's the tunnel exit?"

"About right here," Fox poked his finger at a spot on the printout of the property lines. "Just past the barn. Should take us right to the cellar."

"Underground again," Jack sighed, and Riddick smirked at her.

"What's that old line? I am too much i' the sun?"

River rolled her eyes, "He is not Hamlet." She poked his arm, "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly."

"Yeah," He nodded and looked his team over one last time. They'd do. "Let's move."

Three nerve wracking sweeps by a cruiser of low level purplebellies (or sheriff's deputies or whatever) while they were quietly easing their way cross country in a hover mule. Thankfully Simon had rented a very quiet transport and all they'd needed to do was land, duck down and wait for the spotlight to sweep past them. A nervous moment or two of holding their breath and cursing mentally and they were on their way.

Jumping the fence once River and Mal had bypassed the security went quickly enough. Then came the fun part of sneaking across the fields until they got to the entrance of the tunnel. Fox had designed it so the door was hidden in a dark corner of a root cellar. Once down the steps of the cellar they were out of plain sight and could deal with the door. Which was of course locked. And practically rusted shut. Thankfully Fox had recalled it being a metal door and Jack had grabbed a container of Kaylee's engine grease. "Jack, gimme the grease," Riddick murmured. "We've gotta do something about these hinges or they'll screech loud enough to wake the dead when we pull the thing open."

Mal had commandeered the lockpicks and hadn't made much headway. River lost patience with him and directed Jack to shine her penlight on the lock as she took the lockpicks away from the Captain and began to do the job herself. "Mechanism is rusted," She murmured.

Riddick exchanged a somewhat resigned look with Mal and with his help continued to grease the hinges. "Fox, make sure the cellar doors are shut tight," Riddick ordered quietly. "This damn thing's gonna squeal like stuck pig unless we get fuckin' lucky."

"Thought the grease'd help with that some," Fox commented quietly as he shut the doors.

"It will," Mal nodded. "But some ain't all." All three of them snapped their heads around to River and Jack as the lock clicked open.

"Unlocked, but unmoving," River told them unnecessarily. "Requires more strength than she possesses to open it."

"That's where I come in," Riddick nodded. He took a deep breath and spared a moment to be grateful it was a good solid curved door handle, both ends firmly bolted into the door, not some knob he might pull off in his hand. The faster this went the quieter it would be. River tilted her head and pulled several greasy rags from her satchel, wrapping them around the hinges.

A quizzical look got him a shrug, "Sound is vibration through the air. Fabric muffles vibrations and sound will not carry as far or be as loud."

Hell he'd tap dance if he thought it would help. He looked at the other three, "Any other bright ideas before I give this a try?"

"Think we're about out," Jack shrugged. "Give it a go."

"Right," He took several long deep breaths and focused on the door and getting it open. If they took too long at this they'd get pinched and he was in no mood for another cell. And the idea of Jack and River in a slam… Inhale, focus, PULL.

He exhaled as the door pulled open grinding to a halt on the stone floor a foot and a half from the frame. "I think that's as good as we'll get," Riddick admitted. "Sounded real fuckin' loud to me. How's it to folks with normal ears?"

"Loud," Jack admitted. "But much quieter than it might have been. Hear anything from the house?"

He frowned thoughtfully, listening and River tilted her head before slowly shaking it. She was proving worth her weight in platinum, "Nope. Let's get moving."

The tunnel, dank and musty as it was, had stood the test of time. Cobwebs were the only testament to its age. Riddick stared into the darkness and nodded, "Nothing waiting for us." He turned and smirked when Fox almost flinched at the sight of his eyes. "Never seen a Furyan before I guess," He grinned and stepped into the tunnel.

"Thought you had an eye shine," Fox admitted quietly.

"Most folks think that, easier to just let 'em," Riddick murmured.

"I can see why," The old Browncoat paused at a niche in the wall and pulled out a small chest, opening it. The Browncoat duster and gunbelt were in decent shape as was the very well-oiled LeMat pistol. "Your down payment," He nodded at the chest.

Mal reached in and pulled out a small bundle, "Much obliged Mr. Fox." He passed it to Jack, "Tuck that away safe for me Jack."

"Looks like we're about halfway there, maybe fifty meters to go," Riddick murmured and Fox nodded.

The end of the tunnel came in the form of another sturdy door, though hopefully this one wasn't rusted all to hell. Fox kept his voice low, "This is where it gets a mite complicated. This door opens into the basement, but the release catch only works from the inside. I am open to suggestions as to how to proceed."

"Always a way through a door," Riddick considered their options. "Hidden on the other side I'm guessin'?"

"Part of a shelving unit," Fox nodded. "Built into the wall."

"Opens into the room then," Mal asked thoughtfully.

"It does. Otherwise the shelving would seem off," The old Browncoat explained.

"Pop the latch from between the door and the wall," Jack pulled a slender length of steel from her sleeve. "Like stealin' a mule." She slid the thin metal between the door and the wall, slowly sliding it upwards, listening intently. "Hit the catch…no give to it. Must press downwards to release. Here we go."

They watched as she did the same thing, moving the steel down towards the catch and grinned as a tinny pop sounded and the door creaked open away from them. Mal caught the edge with his fingertips and tugged it open. "Slow and quiet," He cautioned and led them out of the tunnel.

"We all studied the schematics River dug up. They didn't move any walls but that doesn't speak to furniture placement," Riddick reminded them quietly.

Fox smiled grimly, "Safe is on the second floor. Bear with me a few more minutes my friends and we can be on our way with none the wiser."

"I'll keep you company," Riddick nodded and got an irked look from Fox. "You never know when you might want some extra muscle."

Fox nodded, clearly reluctant, "Just you. We don't need a troop of people up and down the stairs."

Riddick looked at River, "I'm hearin'…'bout eight heartbeats, not including us. That fit with what you found on the cortex?"

River nodded slowly, "Staff of six, owner, likely the eighth is a guest. Go carefully."

"Always," Riddick nodded and began to follow Fox. Much as he disliked following anyone, this had been the man's home and he (presumably) knew it better than anyone else. Slow going but quiet and that beat fast and loud any day.

Whoever had bought the place, or been awarded it (magistrate or not), or whatever, tended towards fussy looking furniture and knick knacks and vases full of dry flowers. It was wonder the servants could keep up with the amount of dust that gathered but there didn't seem to be an abundance of it, according to his sinuses.

At the foot of the staircase Fox paused, "If we're discovered, run." He looked at the girls and Mal who'd wait at the foot of the stairs. "Shooting will rouse everyone and if someone is killed they'll never stop hunting us."

"Don't need to tell me that," Riddick growled low and quiet. "River, you hear anything, you hit your comm twice. I'll hear it and we'll cut this short, try again another day. Understand?"

"Dǒng de," She nodded firmly. Well he knew that much Chinese by now at least.

"Then let's go," Fox started up the stairs, carefully following a path only he seemed to understand. Riddick followed him step for step trusting that Fox knew his old home well enough to keep the stairs from creaking.

Fox turned towards the master bedroom and when he made to open the door Riddick put a hand on his arm. "You got one heartbeat behind that door," He told the man softly. "You let me in first."

"I suppose someone who can see in the dark does have the advantage," Fox nodded and stepped back.

Riddick carefully turned the knob and pushed the door open, scanning the room and seeing one body in the bed. Female, with dark hair that contrasted with the pale sheets of the bed. Three quick silent strides across the room and Riddick pressed his fingers to her carotid until he felt her body slacken. It wasn't often he needed that trick but he'd never regretted learning it.

He could hear Fox's heartbeat increase and a whiff of anger floated off the man as Riddick returned to the doorway, "I told you—"

"Relax," Riddick interrupted before he could get himself worked up to a good head of steam. "She's just unconscious. It's an old trick. Should last a good twenty minutes to a half an hour and she'll wake up none the wiser. We'll be long gone. Or we will be if you'll get on with it."

Fox gave him an irritated look but nodded and moved towards a large wardrobe, shaking his head. "You're sure she won't wake up?"

"Yeah, no one ever has before," Riddick shrugged. "What's the problem?"

"This," Fox indicated the heavy piece of furniture, "Is on top of the safe. Any chance we can move it quietly?"

Riddick frowned and looked around the room, seeing a small area rug in front of another door. Thicker than the one near the bed, likely the door led to a bathroom. Appropriating it he used his shoulder to lever the armoire up and shoved the rug underneath the legs on the left side.

"What good will that do?" Fox clearly hadn't spent much time doing menial labor.

"Makes it easier to push from this side while I lift and pull from the other," Riddick muttered as he thanked Book's God that the damn thing was angled to a corner instead of flush to the wall. "Fabric'll muffle the sound. Should slide pretty well."

He got into position and leaned around the wardrobe, "I'll lift, when you see it tilt towards you slightly, start pushing. Let me know when you can get at the safe. And fuckin' pray."

Fuckin' hell the thing was heavy. Felt like any minute someone would bust through the door and confront them in the midst of furniture lifting. Finally Fox's voice called softly, "That's good." Riddick eased his side of the wardrobe down and went to check the door. The only elevated heartbeats were the three downstairs. Though there was some slightly ominous shuffling from the other side of the upstairs.

"Let's hurry this along," Riddick suggested firmly as he moved back to Fox. The man had spun the dials of the safe open easily and was lifting out his belongings, putting something in his pocket before handing a thousand plat to Riddick matter-of-factly and replacing the floor over the now empty safe after he stowed the rest. Riddick shoved the money in his pocket and looked up sharply as he heard a creak of floorboards in the hall, "Fox." He jerked his head towards the door. "Got someone in the hall."

"Guess that answers whether we should bother moving the armoire back," Fox sighed.

"Small favors," Riddick muttered as they walked softly to the door.

Fox, for whatever reason, had taken the lead again and opened the thick wood door only to nearly walk into a plump, bald man. The man practically defined portly. Not a problem. The one behind him though, nearly as tall as Cobb, muscled, and clearly a professional. Definitely a problem. Bodyguard most likely.

The portly fellow sputtered in surprise for a few seconds before his eyes widened and he gasped in recognition, "You!"

Riddick might have chuckled, because Fox sounded nothing but amused, "Evening Magistrate Evans. Not quite as in control of the situation as you were the first time we met are you?"

"How dare you break into my house!" Evans replied his face growing redder by the second. Man would end up with an aneurism if he didn't watch it.

"Technically, it's you that broke into my house, but let's not split hairs your honor," Fox's calm pretty much proved why he'd been such a successful privateer.

"Phillips, seize him!" Evans snarled. "I'll see you hanged, I'll…"

What might have been an impressive tirade was cut short abruptly by a bone jarring right cross that snapped Evans head back and caused his eyes to roll up into his head as he slumped to the floor in a heap of brocade bathrobe. "My, but that felt good," Fox quipped.

He didn't get too much time to enjoy it before the bodyguard took offense at the attack and leapt forward. "My turn," Riddick pushed past Fox and met the charge, a hard uppercut to the man's chin knocked him back some.

The fight, while brutal and loud, mercifully didn't last long. Riddick kicked the man into a table full of ugly vases and followed up with a solid blow to his head before he got much more than a bruise on his jaw and torn up knuckles.

The rest of the household roused and tried to apprehend them but the bodyguard was the only actual fighter of the lot. The rest were enthusiastic but unskilled. River had urged Mal and Jack back to the escape tunnel in order to facilitate their exit when it was apparent Riddick and Fox had the household handled.

"I think that's about enough time spent on Hera don't you," Mal quipped as Riddick and Fox came down the cellar steps, the house silent behind them but for a few pained groans.

"I most heartily concur," Fox nodded as he entered the tunnel.

"What he said," Riddick smirked as he pulled the secret door shut behind them. "Everybody's unconscious or halfway there and not moving so we've got a bit of time before anyone raises the alarm. Let's be gone by the time they do."

"Yeah, what he said," Jack agreed.

"Son of a—" Riddick cut himself off as they passed the spaceport entrance. What looked like Federal Marshalls were surrounding the whole area. So much for having some time before an alarm was raised. "This'll be interesting."

"Ditch the vehicle and make our way to Serenity on foot," River murmured. "Turn right there." She pointed over his shoulder at an alley barely wider than the mule. "Tight squeeze, but doable."

"Yeah," Riddick nodded pulling into the alley and turning off the engine. She wasn't wrong about it being a tight squeeze getting out. The doors barely opened eight inches. But once out of the rented mule they'd have a nice quiet walk to Serenity.

That, thankfully, went without incident and they got aboard the boat minus any further drama. Of course Fox was twitchy as hell through the whole thing. Riddick got the impression he wasn't used to heists and thievery dirtside.

Wash greeted them with a grin, "Seems someone robbed a Magistrate, assaulted him in his home."

"You don't say," Mal contrived to look both surprised and puzzled. "Can't imagine who'd do such a thing."

"A dastardly villain by the name of Fox and another unknown assailant said to be the size of a giant," Simon appeared to be reading from a bulletin. "The magistrate is throwing his weight around-"

"Which, from the size of him, ain't inconsiderable," Riddick muttered.

"-And the only reason the port hasn't been locked down," Simon continued as if he'd never been interrupted. "Is that the Port Master refuses to acknowledge Magistrate Evans authority to give such an order."

"But they are demanding to speak with all ship's captains before any boat is allowed to depart," Wash added. "I don't think anyone really believes the 'Black Fox' is on Hera. Despite the brouhaha at the Memorial."

Mal nodded, "Well we've got our cargo. No reason to stay. So let's not give them time to give into the Magistrate or the Marshalls to hear otherwise." He strode towards the bridge, presumably to speak with the Port Master.

Shortly thereafter Serenity lifted off, so the conversation must've gone well.

"Captain," Fox spoke up after Mal came back from the bridge and Serenity was well into the Black. "If you wouldn't mind, taking me to these coordinates?"

Mal's eyebrows went up but he looked at the numbers and nodded, "Ain't out of our way but a bit, I'll pass these on to Wash."

Riddick looked at River who had an amused smirk on her face and guessed that Fox figured he'd be surprising them. "I'll take 'em up Mal, 'bout my shift on the bridge anyway."

Mal nodded and handed the coordinates over, "Figure about three hours and we're there." Riddick nodded and headed down to the bridge.

Wash looked up, "So other than the Magistrate, job went smooth?"

The Furyan chuckled and handed him the co-ordinates, "Yeah, pretty well. Got some exercise at least. Fox wants us to drop him here."

"Well it's pretty much on our way," Wash punched the numbers in. "I can do another couple hours if you want to get a nap in before your shift."

"Nah, I'm awake. Won't sleep for another six to eight hours at least," He shook his head. "Give this to Mal would you?" He fished the cash out of his pockets. "Our cut of the job."

"You got it," The Pilot smiled and gave him a jaunty salute as he left the bridge, trailing chuckles behind him.

Author's Note: Nothing terribly eventful here. Shirah is connected to Riddick's dreams…I wouldn't say influencing them but she's keeping an eye on him. I wondered a bit, how many Browncoat war buddies would have tried to take advantage of Mal and Zoë and their connections. Or even just Browncoats that saw they had fought on the same side, people they'd never met but try to use that tenuous relationship to swindle them. Would they be surprised that Mal isn't willing to bend over backwards for them?

I definitely think that Riddick, being so experienced in the different ways people can screw each other over, would be on the alert for that possibility, should they meet up with other Independents.

Chinese Translations:

zǎo shang hǎo (Good morning)

Shì (is / are / am / yes / to be)

hún dàn (individual who has at least two biological fathers and one biological mother - bastard / scoundrel / bastard / hoodlum / wretch)

Dǒng de (to understand / to know / to comprehend)

Quote Sources:

Mad, bad and dangerous to know - Lady Caroline Lamb (in reference to Lord Byron)

I am too much i' the sun – Hamlet – William Shakespeare

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly – Macbeth – William Shakespeare