Chapter 7: Initiation

Chapter 13: Initiation

Riddick was brought down another long corridor towards a smaller room with a crude table and chairs.

"Sit," said the man.

Riddick didn't move, but remained standing in the opening, not trusting his new companions.

"I want answers," he stated bluntly.

"Fine, Fine…my name is Kane, to my right is Helos, and to my left is Kahn."

Riddick still stared at the men, unmoving, and Kane plopped down on one of the makeshift chairs while Kahn and Helos shifted uncomfortably, staring at the duo.

"This place, is the worst fucking place a con can be sent. You thought Ursa was bad; this place tops it fucking all. There're no guards, no cells, and no help; we receive no ship with supplies and if you get sick or injured you die. No one cares, no one gives a fuck, and you'll be just another piece of fuel for this fucking planet. This entire planet is dead; a complete ball of lava and dirt made for one fucking unstable planet, save for the few creatures we find, but there is no food otherwise."

"If there is no food how do you eat?"

Riddick thought before Kane answered and when he finally spoke Riddick already knew.

"Cannibalism."

Riddick looked from one man to the other and got in a fighting stance,

"If you think your gonna fucking roast me like some pig…"

"No! No!"

Kane jumped up and said.

"If you had let me finish the history lesson you would have found out."

Riddick grunted in response and the tension quickly relaxed in the room as Kane sat back down and Riddick put away his shiv.

"Now there are six colonies on this planet, we are number six, each with its own leader and so on. The hunting party goes out and raids the other colonies for 'food' and cows…"

"Cows?"

"Yes, cows, now shut up and let me continue. The cows are kept in cages, meant only for our pleasure and the bearing of our children…the boys are kept and made to be warriors and replenish the lost convicts in battle…the girls are kept for future slaves…building of items and weaponry until they are old enough to bear our children. If you like them young however that can be arranged as long as 'it' can still work when you are finished…no one owns any of the cows, they are for everyone to share."

"Women?"

"No cows."

'These people are sick fucks…where the hell am I? I was better of on T2 at least I knew what type of monsters I was dealing with…here, I'm not so sure.'

Riddick's mind was working in overdrive and Kane had to clear his throat to regain Riddick's attention. Riddick snapped back to reality and glared at Kane and his 'crew', wondering just what they had in mind for him.

"What does all this shit have to do with me?"

"Well, we need a leader…Ours died in a previous battle maybe two, three cycles ago and no one's been able to survive the initiation long enough to claim it."

"What's the initiation?" Riddick asked wearily.

"Well, you know those critters I was talking about…they're very useful, every part of 'em, cept for food, and well they're pretty nasty, call them diavolos. Big, like a lion, four tails, with flames at the end, flaming mane as well. Hot as shit to touch and poisonous; if their shooting flames won't kill you the poison in their claws will."

"What does this Fucking HAVE TO DO WITH ME?!"

Riddick was getting impatient with all this shit, he still had no idea how the fuck he got here if there are no drop ships, he didn't know what sector he was in,

~And these fucking crazed psychos eat each other and call their women cows…and they said I was fucked up.~

All three of the men jumped at his outburst and Kane hesitantly spoke up,

"We've all heard about you before we were sent here. You're a fucking legend to us, the ultimate killer…you can survive anything and kill anyone. If you can get a diavolo we can have the cows cultivate their hides and innards for medicines, weapons, armor, clothing, and anything else…you name it we can use them do make it…you see there's something magical about them…"

Riddick stopped the man before he could continue, he could see the fucked up look in Kane's eyes and knew he wasn't all there; the man was past his prime, tall and big with a filthy body and long gray hair and beard to match. Battle scars enveloped his body and the man had a nervous twitch. He noticed Kahn and Helos both looked the same way, tired and weary, from a life of battle and struggle.

~I hope I don't fucking turn out to look like them.~

"All right I'll do it," he spoke up at last.