Planet Bound

Dame Vaako was waiting for them. Well, waiting for Riddick. She only spared a hateful glare at Min before diving into all the beautiful details she had concocted for the funeral. Flowers and candles were being delivered to the site, the ship was ready, the whole planet mourning the death, a procession or Lords and Ladies to accompany them. No, she didn't know this Riddick very well, Min mused. But the sucking up was nearly worth a giggle out loud.

Riddick ordered the casket moved to a ship. He would pilot it himself. Vaako was obviously worried he wouldn't come back now that she'd hitched her reputation to his. She insisted he needed guards and Min was actually surprised when he accepted them. Min didn't figure he would go to the planned burial site so perhaps he intended them to dig a new one. The population was likely to defile any memorial created by the 'Mongers once they'd left.

Min led Riddick to the 'port and followed him docilely inside with her heart thumping in her chest. Planet bound! She didn't think Riddick planned to abdicate his position this way, too much chance the 'Mongers would simply destroy the planet and figure out who would lead them later. She also hoped the Vaakos realized their position of power wasn't solidified enough for them to risk killing him on the way down. If they wanted to survive they had to have Riddick's back, like it or not. The whole mess made Min want to laugh out loud.

Sane people don't laugh at death staring them in the face, a voice whispered. That made her want to laugh even more. Sure they do, she whispered back, and for a moment she wasn't certain it hadn't been out loud. But it didn't matter, she was in character now; talking to herself was expected. And she was comfortably invisible again, no one, even Riddick, was paying the least bit of attention to her. He was readying the ship. Min looked on passively while the coffin was loaded. "Poor girl, poor girl."

Doors closed, the coffin was secured and guards were strapping themselves in while the engines roared when she felt a hand on her arm. "Sit here." Riddick told her kindly, and he buckled her into a passenger seat near the cockpit. If she leaned forward a little she could see out the front screens. The other men rolled their eyes at each other at his consideration. They were ready to let her bounce around the cabin. The dirtier the better, she thought to herself. Now Riddick would bear the label 'peculiar'. She couldn't thank him out loud but she did avoid being particularly annoying by just sitting quietly and looking at her hands.

When he was done fastening and adjusting her straps Riddick lifted her chin and looked into her face for a moment. "You ready for this?" He asked her. There was concern in his face again and it made her uncomfortable. She looked away and nodded her head once. She couldn't tell him how hard her heart was pounding to be so close to freedom. If the 'now' permitted it, she might not take the return flight; he didn't need her to rule the 'Mongers or even escape them later. But she wished she could say thank you or goodbye or good luck.

Crouching down in front of her, head cocked to one side as if he could hear her anyway, he pitched his voice very low and said, "Good luck." She risked a quick glance back into his face and an even quicker nod, then he was gone back to the cockpit and strapping himself in.

The ride down was smooth until they hit atmosphere. Min had never experience turbulence before, that she could remember, and it made her a bit queasy. The view was amazing enough to distract her from her physical reactions and she enjoyed it as much as watching Riddick move smoothly across the tiny bridge deck at work. She had never learned to pilot, how would her Ferrin have explained that?

She'd guessed right about the burial site. They finally landed on an under populated part of the planet, which caused some grumbling from the guards behind her. There was no fanfare, no mourning crowds, and no light duty. Riddick informed them they were going to dig her grave and then forget its location and anyone was welcome to share the spot for eternity if they didn't cooperate. Once they were busy un-strapping and unloading the coffin, Riddick returned to Min to un-belt her.

"There's a town a night's walk from here, follow the sunset." He spoke quietly, then left her before she could whisper thank you.

Min stood on shaky legs and looked through the front screen. It was incredibly bright outside, incredibly flat and barren to her eyes. She'd always pictured a planet full of trees, like her wall scenery but she couldn't turn down the gift presented to her. She had a full stomach and the extra meat rolls she'd intended for her cats. She'd miss them. She'd miss her Ferrin. But this was the chance he'd always wanted for her. This was her chance.

Min turned towards the open back of the ship. She probably didn't need to be invisible now. The guards wouldn't chase her down if Riddick didn't command them to and frankly they were too busy to watch her. The town wouldn't know she was from the 'Mongers, she didn't dress like them. She would just be a stranger. All she had to do was leave, wander off, wait for sunset and make her way to town and survive. Now.

Min walked down the ramp, shading her eyes from the bright sun until they adjusted. At the bottom she stopped and put her hand down. Vertigo hit her hard. The sky was too bright and too big, she felt like she would fly off into it. Her knees buckled and she fell forward into the sand and felt worse. The ground was too soft! It wouldn't hold her, it wouldn't hold her down! She looked up again, at the horizon and felt utter panic; she would tumble off the edge! Her hands scrambled for purchase but there was nothing solid to hold onto! She heard screaming and that frightened her even more. Then darkness came.

She felt herself lifted up and panicked in the blackness, flailing around for purchase. She heard someone say from very far away, "She's agoraphobic, poor kid." And then there was blessed nothingness.