Disclaimer: There's a poem by William Blake called The Tiger that I quote bits of.

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Gotcha

Riddick's reaction was immediate. He threw the woman away from him, stood and buckled his pants in a blink of an eye. He didn't turn to look directly at Zemma but cocked his head so slightly towards to closet that she knew he was aware of her now.

"Poison ring," Zemma whispered, again in a voice no one but a Furyan would hear.

Riddick moved on the now cowering woman and grabbed her hands. He could see the ring now. He ripped it off her finger and the woman screamed in pain.

"How did you know?" The Lady hissed at him, angry and scared.

"The Lord Marshal knows everything," Zemma whispered, thinking about the myth.

Riddick's jaw tightened and his head turned a millimeter towards her. It was clear to Zemma he didn't think he need her coaching him.

"I'll ask the questions." His voice pitched in such a way Zemma knew he was talking to her too.

"Blasphemer! Breeder! There will be no glory for you in the Underverse!"

"Isn't that where you were planning on sending me?" His voice was casual as he toyed with the ring.

"You don't deserve to cross over. You deserve only to be trapped in this 'Verse forever in an unmoving husk, with only your blasphemous thoughts to keep you company."

That sounded a bit like a prepared speech to Zemma. It must have sounded like something else entirely to Riddick. He descended on the woman in a blur of speed and pinned her to the wall by her neck, a foot above the ground.

"Who sent you!" He bellowed.

Zemma had never heard him that angry. Interesting.

Apparently Riddick wasn't planning on getting an answer because the woman was choking beyond any ability to speak.

"Don't kill her, asshole." Zemma's whisper barely carried above the noise the Lady was making.

That turned Riddick's head sharply towards her. Zemma decided this business had gone on beyond the ridiculous. She stepped out of the closet and regarded him coolly. The Lady was no longer consciously fighting for air but her body was still gasping. Riddick threw her, cataleptic, to the ground.

"You wanna tell me what the fuck you're doing here?" He was still pissed and now it was all focused on Zemma.

"I came to talk to you about a poison ring," she held hers up. "But I guess you have one of your own now so I'm obviously not needed here." Zemma found herself getting mad right back and had to fight for control of her voice and face. She started walking towards the door but Riddick blocked her path.

"I'm not done asking questions." He was trying to menace her, his voice low and dangerous.

Zemma was shaking, but not with fear; adrenaline was coursing through her.

"Fuck you." She managed a smile but doubted it looked anything like one.

Riddick reached for her but Zemma was ready. She knocked his hand away with the points of two fingers, hoping it stung him where she hit the nerve in his wrist. He was three times her mass, easily, and doubted she could do more than annoy him even with the moves Jaron was teaching her, but he wasn't laying a hand on her.

A different look came into Riddick's eyes. He didn't think he was going to be thwarted by a wisp of a woman who's measure he'd already taken. He reached again, faster. Zemma was wound up tight and easily outmaneuvered him. But she wasn't any closer to the door.

You're gonna run outta room, sweetie.

Got any suggestions?

Zemma attacked him. She knew she couldn't hurt him, easier to hurt a bulkhead -the man was built like a wall- but if she could get him to blink she would be gone.

If he lands a blow on you, ol' girl, you're going to feel it for a month.

He won't.

He didn't. He didn't even try. His anger was replaced by that feral grin he had used the last time she saw him. She matched it again. But it was her mask this time.

Riddick blocked her blows and tried several more times for a handhold on her. Zemma stayed out of his grasp, barely. She was not having fun. She knew she wasn't fighting for her life, per se, but it felt like it anyway.

You're fighting for your dignity.

Zemma didn't have time to argue. She wasn't getting any closer to the door, even if she wasn't losing more ground.

"Is this what you do before you come to see me?" Zemma raised her chin towards the prostrate body of the still unconscious Lady.

Riddick blinked.

Gotcha.

Zemma popped him in the nose. It wasn't quite as satisfying as the one she landed on Dame Vaako, and she suspected he let her. But she didn't stick around to find out; she was slipping by him and out the door in a flash. The door to the suite opened at her command before she reached it and she was flying down the hallways, cloak trailing her.

She pulled the hood up so no one would see her tears.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.