Chapter 10

Chapter 17: The Call

"Please, who the fuck do you know that could take on Riddick?" Kane asked bemused.

Kahn calmly walked over to a hidden panel in the wall and entered an IP address to a computer for contact.

"She's a tracker, the best out there, no one knows where she came from though. Just appeared five years ago and will do any job if the price is right," Kahn informed Kane from over his shoulder.

"I can't contact her directly, but I'll send her a message and just hope she'll respond."

"And what makes you think she will?"

"Like I said…if the price is right…"

Kane snorted and walked over to a hidden stash of liquors, grabbing to bottles, and sat back down.

Kahn walked back over and joined his friend, taking a long swallow of the 'poison',

"Shit man, remember when this place first came to be…we were damn lucky…"

***
Petrin's Exile was originally a penal colony, meant only for the hideous of convicts; until Lycon realized what an abundance of Corralite was hidden beneath the crust.

Corralite was a rare metal, very malleable, but when heated and combined with simple metals, became an impenetrable field. Lycon would pay millions to get their hands on this rare piece of rock and when they discovered the planet to be made of it, decided to make a little investment.

They came down and offered the convicts a deal, dig their minerals, get paid, and receive freedom after 15 years of hard labor. The conditions were hard and the environment rougher, but the chance for freedom left the convicts with an offer they couldn't refuse. Those that disobeyed, however, were immediately disposed of.

The cons and government worked out an agreement, as long as Lycon continued getting its precious Corralite the cons lived freely on the planet; they received food, water, supplies, and clothing on a monthly basis.

The beasts were kept in the pit, as protectors for the stores of Corralite, and the only people with access were the leaders of the six colonies. Every month a drop ship would enter the heart of the pit to drop off supplies and to pick up its shipment and afterward would leave.

The woman prisoners were kept there as sex slaves, but were not allowed to leave, they usually never survived past a few years from the brutality they suffered anyway. They were meant for the sole enjoyment of the men; Lycon felt it would help keep them less hostile and with the fresh supply of children they would have workers for life.

Some years down the line, they discovered that this particular genre of Corralite contained mutative properties when combined with DNA strands, ands that's when they started with their first test subjects.

Everything was going well until Riddick escaped from their grasp and almost stumbled upon his own origins; they had thought he had died on the Hutner Gratzner, but were fooled. He remained aloof for many years and when they finally tracked him down, General Drayko realized he had had created the perfect predator, and knew he couldn't remain alive. He knew Lycon wouldn't be pleased if they dirtied their hands in such matters and thought the murderers in Hell's prison could handle the job.

They all knew Richard B. Riddick, all respected him, but they money was theirs if they succeeded, and they offer was to enticing.

Kane, Kahn, and Helos were they only leaders of the six colonies to accept such a death threat, but they misjudged Riddick's skill, he was better than they had ever suspected. They however knew if they failed the general, their heads would be at his feat, and they weren't willing to die so easily.

***
A beeping from the computer brought the men out of their stupor and directed their attention towards the holo screen.

A message bleeped at them, one that caused both men to smile a wide, toothy grin.

###
Offer accepted

Payment: 5 mill. half upon arrival, half when job is complete.

Arrival in 1600 hours

You fuck with me gentlemen and I'll tear you a new asshole.
###


"Ha! What a woman, I like her already!" Kane sneered.

"You won't like her so much if and when you piss her off."