Warning- really, really sad with non-graphic gore

That night Riddick and Blaze didn't sleep- they stayed out until the sun washed over the sand. They were lying in the sand and Blaze was curled into a little ball. Riddick looked at her and smiled. Did she know how much he loved her? It wasn't a dating love, or lust- it was something that he didn't understand. He would gladly give his life for her if she asked, and would do anything to make her smile. His eyes fastened on the horizon. They'd both be gone soon- her to her training and him to his battle ship. They were leaving in three weeks for the Lukai War- off in a far off place. The government was getting desperate and Blaze might soon join him. He was a lieutenant in the infantry/ air force. They'd combined them to get the best results. Half of his group was army and the other half was air force. He sighed. Him and his boys were going into the depths of hell. At that moment he'd had done anything for him and Blaze to stay here forever. But, he berated himself; they both had lives to lead, and sworn duties to uphold. He gently shook her, making her look sleepily up at him.

"C'mon" he smiled, "We need to get you to bed." She didn't say anything; she just stood up and smiled at him. They walked to the car and Riddick wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She hugged his waist and laid her head on his shoulder.

The next three weeks were too short for both Blaze and Riddick. They hated the moment when they would get on their ships. There was a more than good possibility that they might never see each other again. The dreaded moment came too soon and Blaze found herself blinking back tears as she saw Riddick's battle ship fly away. She ran to her own transport and sat numbly. She missed him more than she'd counted on. She kept seeing his face in her mind, and ekpt wanting to reach out and touch him. She mocked herself in her mind and threw headphones on and let the punk rock invade her mind.

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Location: Somewhere in the Lukai Cluster

Riddick ducked his head as a flash of blue light zinged over his head. His platoon was deep in the jungle somewhere. The planet was small and foul smelling. Riddick could swear he detected the small of brimstone sometimes. He urged his men on silently, trying to infiltrate the base that was under attack. The ambush took all of the troops by surprise. They were all taken- even Riddick. They were jailed in a large room. They all got to see their friends tortured. The screams pierced every moment of every day. He saw some of his best friends succumb to pain. They all died. They left Riddick for last, and Riddick was pissed. They'd killed his best friends- his brothers. He never uttered a word as the knives pierces his skin. He internalized the pain and soon his mind went numb. They cut him up badly and dumped his half conscience body into a ditch. He spent three months hiding in the forest until peace had been declared. He found some soldiers and spent a further three months in a hospital. His body was a wreck. He ceased to care, and only thought of finding Blaze. It was all that mattered to him.