Chapter 6

tabula rasa [ˈˌtäb(y)o͝olə ˈräzə]

NOUN

-an absence of preconceived ideas or predetermined goals; a clean slate.

-the human mind, especially at birth, viewed as having no innate ideas.

He was going to be very unhappy with her. River pulled off another strip of duct tape and covered up the wound through her side. Since they'd become lovers Riddick worried about her more. Keeping her in bed with him for a full night now and then, usually on days they fell into his bed rather than hers and holding her. Something…new had begun but she had no idea what it was and if he knew, Riddick had guarded against it so well that she rarely got a glimpse of what he was thinking.

Whatever it was, when she got hurt, Riddick became…agitated. Witness how he'd behaved towards her father the day after she'd had a close call the night before. He liked screwing with people's heads if he couldn't simply gut them apparently. And ostensibly, he saw something in her father that he didn't like. He hadn't been nearly as cutting or chilly to her mother.

This was almost worse. She'd told him flat out that she didn't need any help, she didn't want him involved. Bad enough he'd killed most of Blue Sun's science department.

Everything had been going fine, she'd accounted for the movements of everyone on staff, no one was supposed to be in the offices at this time of night. She had key cards, codes, voice records and the best training the Alliance could provide.

And all of it had been shot to hell, almost literally (it would have been literal but guns were not allowed on Osiris), by some idiot young executive wanting to bang his secretary on the boss's desk. What was the old saying, the best swordsman doesn't fear the second best but the worst? The idiot young executive had done the most stupid thing, something a swordsman would never do. Picked up a letter opener and dove straight at her.

She'd gotten the information she'd come for. No one had seen her face. She'd knocked the idiot executive out and took a lesson from Jayne, hog-tying both him and his secretary and dragging them into a closet. Then of course she'd had to grab her duct tape and 'bandage' her wound again because the exertion had made her bleed past the tape. Cleaning up all the blood and sanitizing the scene hadn't exactly been a delight either.

Which led her right back to where she'd started. Riddick was going to be very displeased. River sighed and straightened her suit jacket, grabbed her case and strode out of the ladies' room with a look of 'I'm late and I'll kill whoever gets in my way' (but politely) on her face. The security guard didn't even question her as she swiped her card (forged) on the way out and hastily scribbled her name (alias) in the registrar with the time.

Once on the street she hailed a cab and gave her parents address, watching out the back window cautiously but no one had thought to follow her. She knew where all the camera eyes were and had managed to hide her face from each of them, as well as reflections which might capture her appearance.

A credit chit and a good tip and she was entering the gates of her parent's estate. The ramp to The Cutter was already lowered and she could see the outline of Riddick's powerful form against the pale light of the cargo bay. She knew the minute he realized she was hurt, rage seemed to explode in his chest, a flicker of blue light, and he strode forward to scoop her up in his arms.

"How bad is it," The words came from between clenched teeth.

"Puncture, in and out, no vital organs hit," She recited. "Letter opener."

"You clean up the scene," Riddick set her down on the table and pulled her jacket open.

"Of course," River slanted him an irritated look that had no effect. She dropped the letter opener on the table. What would have been the point of taking it only to leave blood behind to scream her identity?

"What happened," He eased her back so she was lying on the table and began to clean the wound. Telling him didn't seem to make him any happier, but he got her bandaged and cleaned up, "You ought to wave your brother, have him come out and take a look at it tomorrow before we leave." She looked at him and he rolled his eyes, "I know what your endgame is River. And you're all but done on Osiris."

"Other targets are on other Core worlds," She nodded. "Places you can't go."

"Thought the plan was to have Blue Sun follow you when we left," He folded his arms looking at her and River sighed.

"It was, but I don't want you caught," River shook her head. "They'll throw you in a hole."

"And what about you," Riddick stared at her. "I don't want anything to happen to you either." He'd felt… she hadn't felt that particular blend of emotions from anyone. Affection, worry, rage, fear…

He didn't like it when she was hurt. Didn't like how it made him feel, powerless, helpless. He liked it even less when he'd figured out she was planning on leaving after Osiris and leading anyone who might follow her away from him. The minute he'd figured out what she'd been planning to do he'd almost lost it. It had been a good thing he was on the ship because there was no one to see or hear him curse like a sailor before he began to formulate plans.

You are in over your head, he told himself as he put her to bed. You are in so deep you don't even know which way to swim to get to the surface. First things first, tomorrow find the next target and get some legitimate cargo to take wherever the target is. And another thought…why fly everywhere when Blue Sun was based on Osiris? Why risk a landlock when they had the perfect setup on her parent's estate?

Riddick checked the bridge and then went over what he'd dug up on Blue Sun. As near as he could tell, members of the board of directors were on Bernadette, Bellerophon and Ariel as well as Rubicon and Valentine. What they needed was an emergency meeting of the board. He cracked his knuckles and went into River's room, starting up her sourcebox and the Blackbox. She already had her sourcebox loaded with the info on Blue Sun. All he needed to do was some judicious husking, dredge up all those old evil skills and put them to new good use.

River woke as he sat beside her and worked, "Riddick, what are you doing?"

"Arranging for Blue Sun to have an emergency meeting of the board of directors," He replied brusquely. "Why should we sail all over and waste fuel, let's make them come to us," He glanced over at her. "I think we ought to pay a visit to the rock where you sent the Miranda wave. Got a whole load of dirty laundry that ought to be aired out. Once the corporation is down we can go after the faction of Parliament that they supported."

"Talented at husking?" She watched the screens.

"The Blackbox does most of the work," Riddick glanced at her. "And I have done something like this before."

"Let me," She reached for the keyboard.

"You oughta be resting," He argued. "Though I notice you aren't disputing my plan is better than sailing all over and maybe get landlocked."

"No need to argue when his is the better idea and still keeps him safe," River's fingers practically danced over the keyboard as she husked Blue Sun and sent the text wave, citing the death of so many board members as reason for the emergency meeting. "Makes sense. Rage clouds judgement."

"Two days," He read what she was typing. "The boardroom in the penthouse office?"

"Easy to access with the proper cards and codes," She shrugged with the shoulder of her uninjured side. "Only the board allowed up there. Private elevator. Private kitchens."

"Thinking of poison?"

"Possibly," She set the wave for an emergency alert and hit send.

"Well we've got a day and a half to plan," Riddick looked at her. "Which also gives you a day and a half to recover." River nodded and sighed tiredly, her head falling back to her pillow.

"Hmm… go over the lists tomorrow morning," She agreed.

He'd better go before he climbed into bed with her. She kept a certain distance between them for all that she was concerned about his safety. Never spent a full night with him or held onto him after sex. Sometimes they talked after sex, and she'd fall asleep with him holding her, then she'd stay the night. Sometimes her hands tightened on his shoulders when he made to relieve her of his weight but she never tried to keep him where he was.

Out of bed she was still friendly, he liked to think they were friends at least. But there was none of the casual touching or kisses he'd seen between lovers. No long slow kisses that didn't lead anywhere but her eyes. The only time she really touched him beyond helping with some task was when she wanted sex.

He made sure she was warm under the quilts, no fever either, and left the room, shutting the door behind him and heading to his own bed. At least he knew now why she didn't seem to react to most of his teasing when she'd first come on the boat.

"Training," She'd shrugged when he remarked she was one of the most composed people he'd met. "You do the same thing. Breath control, slowing the heartrate, pushing back the adrenaline waves, help to keep bodily reactions within normal parameters. Part of what keeps me from hearing everything all the time. The more controlled someone is, the more serene, the more difficult it is to Read them. It's like…meditation calms everything."

"So all of that teasing and innuendo, that lack of reaction," Riddick had tilted his head. "You were working to control how you responded to me flirting?"

"It was clearly a game to you," River had smiled. "I was just trying to beat you at it. So yes. I shamelessly used every trick in my book to stymie you."

"Little witch," He'd retorted without heat and she'd laughed.

Conversations like that, made him think sometimes there was more between them than friendship and sex. But then she'd leave his bed and go to her own room and he'd remember that this was just fun for her. And likely nothing more than practice so she could seduce Serenity's Captain.

They spent the day making lists, researching, getting all their ducks in a row and would have kept going but for one little snag. River's mother.

Regan Tam wanted Riddick, River and Simon to have a family dinner with she and Gabriel. Since they'd had to extend their stay by another two or three days they'd have time.

So, he'd dusted off his table manners and agreed. He wasn't sure how Gabriel Tam had explained his relationship with River to his wife. Nothing in what he'd said to Tam would lead anyone to believe he would be an appropriate guest at a family dinner. He'd hoped the impression he left would be enough to keep the rest of the Tams away from him.

Regan greeting him as he escorted River to the house clued him in on exactly how her father had sugarcoated their relationship. "Mr. Richard, it's an honor. I'm so pleased River has found a mentor capable of understanding and guiding her."

"Just Richard ma'am," He bowed politely. "Associating with your daughter is a pleasure. I have never had a more enjoyable companion in my travels." When her mother turned her back and Gabriel occupied with selecting the wine he mouthed at River, 'mentor' with a questioning lift of an eyebrow.

Her reaction, to roll her eyes and mouth 'companion' back at him set his lips twitching and with an effort he composed his expression back to attentive civility. Her brother, it could only be her brother who bore such a resemblance to her with a spine so stiff it might have been made of iron, came into the room just as Riddick straightened his face and hopefully he hadn't caught any of the byplay.

"You haven't met our oldest, our son Doctor Simon Tam," Gabriel smiled proudly at his son. "Simon, this is Richard, River's…mentor."

"I wasn't aware River required a mentor," Simon bowed politely and kissed his sister's cheek with real affection. "Mèi mei, I'm so glad to see you, I wish you'd said goodbye before you left."

"I couldn't stay here," River said simply. Riddick missed the shrug of her shoulders that she would have added were they aboard the ship. "There was work to do."

"But we're not going to speak of work tonight," Riddick half smiled. Her brother adored River and she him, that much was obvious, even if the young man didn't understand what she needed. "Tonight I have the pleasure of meeting your family River and enjoying the warmth of hearth and home."

"Of course," Simon smiled and continued on to kiss his mother and endure a clap on the shoulder from his father before they all sat down at the informal round table in what River called the small family dining room. The first course came and went and finally the polite chit chat was discarded in favor of real conversation.

"Mother, Father, I wondered if you'd mind if I showed Richard around the house? My old studio perhaps?" River inquired as they began the salad.

"Of course," Regan Tam smiled. "If you would like Richard?" She gave her daughter an indulgent look, "You mustn't let River overrun you in her enthusiasms. We could barely keep up with her for so long."

"I assure you Mrs. Tam, I find River's enthusiasms delightful," Riddick replied quietly. "Without her I'm afraid my travels and work would be quiet dull. I might be more experienced but I lack her creativity at times."

"So River brings a fresh perspective to your work," Simon Tam could spear someone with a look as easily as a scalpel it seemed. Sharp eyes had been evaluating both Riddick and River while they ate and conversed. Now he was poking to see if he could get a reaction, "What work is that exactly? I don't believe I've heard."

"The Cutter is a transport ship," Riddick smiled blandly. "Primarily time sensitive cargo, occasional passengers."

"We said we weren't going to speak of work," Gabriel headed his son off before Simon could blunder too far down that path of conversation. "Richard, I know you've been occupied but have you had the chance to attend the theatre at all while you've been on Osiris?"

"Regrettably no," He shook his head in answer. "I hope perhaps when we next visit Shimon."

"There's supposed to be a very good production of La bohème Opera next month," Regan offered. "If your travels take you back to Osiris I do hope you'll stay with us again and join us for a performance?"

"If it is possible, of course," Riddick wished with all his might that the conversation was a little less polite and a little more interesting. At this rate he'd die of boredom before they got to the meat course. And while the food was good, he still liked River's cooking better.

She smiled at him, pleased and he guessed she'd caught that thought, "I'd be happy to cook something for you later." River blinked and bit her lip when her parents stared at the abrupt change in topic. "Apologies."

"River, what does cooking have to do with—" Regan frowned mildly.

"Forgive me Mother, nothing," River stiffened her spine in her chair and Riddick frowned. Screw this. Time the gloves came off.

"I'm afraid the lapse is my fault," He reached for River's hand and patted it gently. "River is rather…attuned to my thoughts. I was recalling a meal she'd made for me." His smile at her was indulgent and warmer than a strict mentor's would be. "I received quite the lecture regarding canned goods and expiration dates."

"You had cans that were three years expired and wondered why your food tasted like slop," She arched a challenging eyebrow at him and he chuckled.

"Yes, you had me convinced four months ago," He shook his head with a smile. "Without you I'm certain I would waste away."

"No," River smiled back at him. "You'd be eating overcooked rice and flavorless protein and desperately missing pot stickers from the street vendors at Eavesdown."

Simon had gone pale during the conversation while Gabriel and Regan looked mystified, "I'm sorry, I don't quite—" Gabriel looked back and forth between the two of them.

"I apologize Mr. Tam, I thought you understood, when we conversed the other day," Riddick tilted his head, very aware that it reminded people of a predator. "You were aware of the Academy's aims when you allowed River to attend." His tone implied only an irresponsible parent would have neglected to penetrate layers of government security to discover the science experiments their child endured.

"River wanted to be challenged," Regan Tam clearly had no clue and her husband definitely hadn't enlightened her. "I received letters, telling me all about her studies…"

Riddick sighed and looked at River's father, "I see." He glanced at Simon, "I begin to understand what you were up against when you determined your sister was unhappy in her situation."

"You…don't disapprove…" Simon was clearly astonished. He at least knew that Riddick was much more than a polite urbane gentleman guiding River through the intricacies of transport ships.

"I attended the Strikeforce Academy," Riddick regarded River's brother. "I am…intimately aware of the rigors of training." He raised River's hand to his lips, "I am also a firm believer that patriotism and service should not be forced." He glanced towards Simon again, "You did your sister a great favor, removing her from the Academy."

River smiled, "Simon always was stubborn." She glanced at her mother and Riddick guessed that the woman was having some pretty horrifying thoughts, "They turned me into a Reader. And there was other training. But I'm fine these days. And the more focused and controlled a person is, like Richard, the more difficult it is to Read them."

"You mean…" Regan Tam had gone white. "But I went to see you," She looked at River. "Darling I went to see you, I had permission to take you to see the Nutcracker for Christmas, as we did every year. And you told me that ballet was a frivolous waste of your talents and that your studies didn't allow for any absence from the Academy. You thanked me. And hugged me. And promised to write to me soon."

"Of course I did," River smiled at her mother gently. "If I hadn't… you would have had a terrible accident on the way to the ballet and I would have been back in the Academy, only you would have been dead."

"Oh…darling…xiǎo nǚ," Riddick found himself rapidly reevaluating Regan Tam. This was a woman in shock. Horrified by what her child had endured and her own inadvertent neglect. "You told me she was fine," She stared at her husband. "You said you'd visited. That Simon was overreacting. That River told you it was a joke to see if Simon would play encryption games with her."

"I…I was assured that she was doing well," Gabriel frowned. "That she excelled in the programs." He looked at Riddick, eyes narrowing, "If River left the program then how are you mentoring her?"

"I don't care," Regan cut her husband off. "River darling, are you happy? Working with Richard?"

River turned her hand in his and rubbed her thumb over his knuckles, "Very. Richard challenges me. Helps me. Work is never boring."

"And your dancing, your art?" Regan flipped her fingers at her husband when he would have interrupted. "Yes Gabriel, I understand. Despite my chosen role in this household and how you perceive women in general I am not a ball of fluff with only half a brain. Richard is an Operative of the Parliament and yet somehow he and River have reached an understanding. I don't know how. I don't care. It's of no importance. She's happy. I don't care how it happened. I don't care if Richard turns out to be an escaped mental patient with a history of violence so long as he makes River happy."

Riddick bit his lip to stifle his very un-Operative-like chuckle, slanting a humorous look at River, "I won't deny the history of violence Mrs. Tam, though I haven't ever been confined to a sanitarium."

"I still draw, and when I can I dance, I do my exercises daily," River smiled at her mother. Her scent was the most relaxed it had been all evening.

Simon was looking at his mother as if he'd never seen her before, which, maybe he hadn't. His gaze sharpened as he turned those dark eyes (damn he looked like his sister for a moment) onto Riddick and River. "How did the two of you meet?"

"River was doing some work for a mutual acquaintance," Riddick half smiled. "He referred her to The Cutter for transport out to the Rim."

"He wasn't too sure about me at first," River added patting his hand before she resumed eating her salad.

"It worked out," Riddick followed her example and continued eating.

They made it all the way to the beef course before Gabriel Tam had to start up again, "You told me that you and River work together. That you're mentoring her. She had all the skills but no direction."

"And he told you the truth," River gave her father a look that strongly suggested he be silent. A look that was echoed by his wife.

Simon hadn't stopped watching them so Riddick decided to give him something else to think about. "Dr. Tam, maybe you could tell me why you decided to return to Osiris. And why you were so determined to bring River back with you?" Riddick cut into his steak and savored the smell of the perfectly seasoned rare beef. "She told me a great deal about her time on Serenity. It seemed the two of you were happy there."

"Richard are you displeased with the result," River teased him as she took a bite of her steak.

"Of course not," He denied immediately. "But you know curiosity is my besetting sin," He slanted a wry smile at her mother. "For all my training, we never managed to eradicate that. We, all of us, have our weaknesses. Flaws." Regan actually laughed softly.

"I…I missed our family," Simon said quietly. "I wanted to bring River home, to see our parents, so they'd know she was all right. She deserved to see them, to finish her education. She's a genius. I just wanted for her to have her life back. So she'd have choices."

"So it had nothing to do with Jayne," River looked at her brother. "Nothing?"

"You didn't see the way he looked at you," Her brother shifted uncomfortably. "I could tell, you thought the two of you were friends."

"We were friends," She was getting frustrated with her brother. He got the feeling she'd had this same conversation with him before (likely multiple times). "Do you think I couldn't tell?"

Riddick shook his head, "I doubt the two of you will ever agree about this particular issue. And what's done is done." He looked at River, "After dinner, maybe you'll show me some of your dancing. We can spar in the garden tomorrow morning before we continue our work."

The smile she gave him should have been blinding.

River sighed as she sat down in the galley. Simon had followed she and Riddick back on the ship because of course he had to know what was going on. Riddick had simply gone into his room, removed his contacts and came out again, eyes shining in the dim light.

"Let me see it," Simon would not be moved. Of course, he'd noticed something off. He'd seen her dance more recently than their parents and Riddick hadn't ever seen her dance at all.

"Figured out she got hurt I see," Riddick commented. "River you want some tea?"

"Something mild?" She smiled at him, "Caffeine won't help me sleep." She removed her jacket and blouse, sitting on the table in her skirt and bra.

Simon sighed and shook his head, "Really River? You don't think this is something to be done privately?"

"He's seen me naked Simon," It was so hard to not roll her eyes. "Richard might just know my body better than you do."

"Might?" Her lover glanced at her with an amused arch of his eyebrow. "And who did you think stitched her up in the first place," Riddick added from his place by the stove.

River sighed again as Simon pressed against the wound and examined her for signs of infection. "Simon…"

"I'm sorry River I just don't…" Her brother had the tone in his voice that generally preceded a lecture of some sort.

"Simon," Riddick brought her a mug of tea and tugged her down off the table, gently setting her in her chair. Warmth, whenever he touched her, heat kissed her skin. "You might be her big brother but she's grown up. We've got work to do."

"What work is that exactly," Simon stared at Riddick. "Because there is no way you're an Operative of the Parliament."

"Sure about that," He sat down next to her and regarded Simon, sipping his own tea.

"No Operative would use a ship like this," Her brother wasn't top three percent in his class for nothing. "And River would never have anything to do with an Operative."

"Graduated from Strikeforce, nobody could match me," Riddick didn't have to lie. The truth was impressive enough. Simon's skeptical expression, eloquent as a soliloquy spoke his disbelief and her lover chuckled. "Of course, once I wasn't in the Academy, out in the field, the programming broke down. Started disobeying orders. Best of the best, all down the tubes as far as they were concerned since they couldn't control me. When they caught up with me they threw me in Deep Storage. Slamcity."

"And what are you doing with my sister," Simon obviously wasn't going to let this go.

"That's really not any of your business," River informed him repressively. "You brought me back to Osiris Simon. Took me away from a place where I was happy. I love you. But I can't live here. And I can't live the rest of my life according to your expectations and what you think is best for me."

"That isn't—Why did you come back then," Those eyes, so much like their father's, demanding an explanation.

"We had work here," She shrugged. "It seemed a shame to not visit." He folded his arms and regarded her expectantly and River rolled her eyes, "Simon, it's none of your business. Richard and I are working. The best thing you can do for me is let me be so we can do what we need to do."

Simon left after telling her he regularly received waves from Kaylee. River had simply waited expectantly until he added that Serenity was doing a lot more work on the Rim these days. More illegal salvage. Trying to build up their contacts again.

Riddick had nodded his understanding and Simon had given him a quizzical glance, "Should your enemy go to ground, leave them no ground to go to." Riddick shrugged. "It's one of the first rules of warfare. Strikeforce was big on cutting off all options for escape. Makes sense the boat would have lost a lot of business."

"I try to help," Simon admitted. "I regularly ship medical supplies out to the Rim and use Serenity to do it. It's not much of my salary and if it helps them..." He'd shrugged.

River sighed as she picked up her mug and put it in the washer, "He'll take another six months at least before he admits he was happier working on Serenity and being with Kaylee than he is here."

"Gotta admit, not too sure why he would leave her there," Riddick did the same with his mug and looked at her wound. "That's healing up pretty well. Better than I'd thought considering it happened last night."

"They did something to speed up my cellular mitosis when it comes to damage," River shuddered as she recalled the amount of controlled radiation therapy she'd endured. "I eat more but I heal faster." She put her thoughts to something more pleasant, her brother and Kaylee, "Simon loves her. Loves Kaylee as much as he loves being a doctor. But he's also…" She sighed. "He's very analytical. He's hyper aware that while his affection for her grew naturally upon getting to know her, Kaylee's attraction was instantaneous."

"He thinks she might not love him as much as she thinks she does," Riddick concluded not inaccurately.

"His concern was that over time his shiny would wear off, and she'd realize that all his personality flaws weren't just him being shy or awkward in an unfamiliar situation," River spread her hands helplessly. "He thinks that if they correspond, and she gets to know him without seeing him all the time, that they'll get to know each other better. And if she loves him, she'll love him more even if he's not there to have sex with."

"So will it work?" His curiosity wasn't just theoretical. River tilted her head looking at him thoughtfully. That mental discipline was at work again, his thoughts held ruthlessly inside his skull. Emotions… curious, contemplative…warm…

"It might, if she actually loves him and it wasn't just an attraction to a handsome doctor conveniently aboard the ship," She shrugged. "Why all the interest in Simon's love life? Or lack thereof?"

He didn't feel like he was going to lie, more…choosing his words for the right effect, "Maybe I'm just trying to understand how Core folk think." Riddick shrugged, half smiling at her.

"Why don't you try something less frustrating, like trying to catch water in a sieve?" River retorted dryly. He laughed and shook his head at her, "Simon… he's different. He cares about people. But he has a hard time showing it. Right now, he's working with a conglomerate of doctors and medical suppliers. They're building clinics, building and staffing them, on Rim and Border worlds. Sending people out to help. And every clinic has a large safe room. In case of Reavers."

"That is a smart idea," Riddick had whistled softly. "After the Miranda wave Core folk finally believe in Reavers?"

"Only took losing men and ships and seeing it on the cortex for themselves," She rolled her eyes. "Simon actually got the idea for the clinics from the wave. He convinced people that if they show outer worlds the benefits available in the Core that there would be less of a chance of another war. He might be right."

"Clinics are a good start," Silver eyes gleamed thoughtfully before he turned to a different subject. "Let's take a look at the boardroom layout before we start finalizing our plans."

"I'll grab my sourcebox," River agreed.

True to his word they'd sparred before breakfast. Her mother had come out to watch, Simon with her. Father had gone to his office, as usual. Worry, shock, fear, amazement… their emotions were distracting until she focused and sank herself into the fight.

She and Riddick had sparred before, but mostly for exercise, rarely like this. Now he actually tested her, pressing, pushing, forcing her to defend and react and push back. Sweaty, hot, no holds barred bare knuckle fighting. He took her to the ground, pinning her and she caught his thoughts, 'Beautiful.'

Wrapping a leg around his neck she forced him back and his hold loosened allowing her escape. He just grinned at her and ducked a kick before jerking one of her legs out from under her again. The karategi hid his extremely hard erection as he ground against her for a moment and she nearly moaned at the sensation before she called her attention back to the fight.

Before she could get out from his hold again Riddick stood and extended a hand to help her up. A polite bow between them and it was over. Simon's thoughts flew at her, his belief that Riddick truly had gone through Strikeforce certain now that he'd seen him fight. Her mother… sad and worried but also pleased…her daughter could defend herself, even against an Operative. That was no small accomplishment.

"Ten minutes to shower and then we go to work again," River phrased it as a question, pulling her gaze from her family to her lover.

"Twenty," He countered and she grinned. He was thinking of a satisfying round of sex before they showered. It came through very clearly; he must have been thinking at her on purpose. Or he just felt that strongly about it.

"Twenty."

Killing off Blue Sun's remaining board members and bankrupting the company was easier said than done. It involved the two of them successfully passing as Core citizens, infiltrating the building, then getting to the service elevator that went to the kitchens of the penthouse office and boardroom. The most secure place in the building that wasn't a saferoom.

Right next to another building that had a slightly higher elevation. And even in the Core, no one looked up.

The roof had a shuttle pad, with a landlock capability. The board members actually landed there and used the private elevator. He and River watched from the opposite building as all six remaining board members arrived, and in ones and twos took the elevator down.

They'd decided against poison. Too civilized. Too easy. This was meant to serve as a message. To put the Parliament on notice that they'd committed one too many atrocities in the name of better worlds.

He'd been all for writing the message in blood across the shiny windows but River had just rolled her eyes at him and muttered something about drama queens. Instead, captures of the Miranda would be strewn across the table. And captures of the Academy River had attended. Of Strikeforce. And several of the other dozens of dirty secrets Blue Sun had hidden.

A zip line anchored to one building and shot to the other side of the eighty-story gulf between the buildings would serve as their infiltration point. River went first as the lighter of the two of them. Good thing, because halfway across the anchor (or possibly the building's brick) failed behind him and only a quick grab at the line kept him from making a crater in the concrete eighty floors below him. Talk about an ignominious way to die.

At least he'd gotten halfway across. And he hadn't smacked into a window. So, climbing up to the roof it was. Not hard, considered as an exercise, and he'd been wearing gloves for a better grip anyway. He looked up and River's worried face peered down at him over the rooftop edge. A five-minute climb up two stories and he was on the roof, pulling the line up behind him.

For a minute that cool control of hers failed and she kissed him, fear and relief infusing her scent before she recovered herself. And for a minute he let himself enjoy it.

All too soon reason prevailed over fear and she pulled away. Part of him wanted to chase her mouth, chase that feeling of her touching him when they weren't in bed. But again, reason prevailed and he set her down (when had he picked her up?), and they turned towards the utility stairs.

Quiet steps down, the kitchen empty but for a sous chef making tea and a server setting out the tea service. Stop, wait, shallow breaths, waiting out of sight around the hall corner. If everything went to plan these two and the rest of the staff wouldn't return to the kitchen until summoned for lunch, or 'luncheon' as River referred to it with a roll of her eyes. Apparently, the Board didn't want to chance anyone overhearing their meetings. Staff were summoned and sent away before and after meals and during the prep time the Board members would stretch their legs, attend to any personal business and then 'luncheon' was a social experience.

How nobody had done something like this before when they were so regimented was beyond him. A routine, structure, all that did was create complacency. Scrutinizing for weaknesses became easier when people wouldn't deviate from a set itinerary.

And sure enough, the staff brought in the tea and tray, another tray of pastries and left the kitchen. He could hear them go to the elevator, conversing in low voices who was on shift for the lunch hour and who would need to be replaced. A look down at River and she nodded, pulling her goggles down over her eyes.

That had been one of the purchases

in preparation for this plan of theirs. Knowing he did his best work in the dark River had agreed with his suggestion of finding her some night vision goggles. They were made very small these days, little more than fitted spectacles. The boardroom was closed, no windows, only solid doors, paranoia over possible corporate espionage had run rampant. Once the lights were turned off at the door there wasn't anything to illuminate the space. Possibly a lamp on the sideboard but it was unlikely and wouldn't have much of an effect on either of them.

Walk through the servants' entrance, silent hinges (because no one wanted to hear them coming and going apparently? Servants were invisible?) as he eased the door open. Light switches right next to the door above the chair rail. A swipe of his hand and the lights went out.

Push the door open, ignore the shocked exclamations and startled cries. River took one side of the table while he had the other. Stand behind each board member and one by one, draw the shiv over the carotid artery and jugular. Their first victims bled out before the next knew what was happening. Those big blood vessels so close to the heart, open them both up and between proximity and adrenaline death was fast.

Faster than they deserved really. It took less than five minutes to kill all of them, scatter the captures across the table, smearing the blood over the images. River moved to the cortex and began to type quickly. A thumbprint from the still warm body of the chairman and she smirked.

The evil expression looked so good on that pretty face. She'd insisted on making certain she had all the available data on Blue Sun's 'projects' and interests. But along with that…well. Do the job, get paid. Blue Sun's corporate accounts were being drained even as he threw the last of the pictures down. A third of the money would be funneled into charities. The remainder would be used to finance the rest of their operation.

After all, killing off the Blue Sun faction of Parliament wouldn't be cheap. Or easy.

Author's Note: So we've finally learned Simon's reasons for going back to Osiris. And we've established that neither Riddick or River are completely pleased with the level of true intimacy in their relationship.

I kind of wanted Riddick to enjoy messing with Gabriel Tam's mind some. He can't kill the man (well he could but it'd be pointless) but that doesn't mean he can't play mind games. Riddick always strikes me as very…feline. Cat with a mouse. Don't tell me cats don't play mind games. I live with four and some of them like to look up at the ceiling over my head until I look at whatever it is they're staring at. And there's nothing there. I swear they're laughing at me.

Chinese Translations:

Mèi mei (little sister)

xiǎo nǚ (my daughter (humble))