"Let me get this straight?" The black guard said from behind the metal mesh barrier, his voice faintly jamacian. "Company sent you to be Riddick's case worker?"
"Why.. is that strange?" Racheal tried to smile, hopeing it didnt look too guilty.
"Listen, Sista...I have inmates here who have been waiting for a case worker for over 2 years. Riddicks been here two weeks."
"Well, He's a bit more 'high-profile' than your average inmate, wouldn't you agree?" she smiled again, this time with a bat of the eyelashes. Thats it Rach, Lay on the charm. "Trying to do this one by the books, dont want any liberal bleeding hearts interferring."
"I'm going to call this in."
"Look that will take too long, Are you going to just let me do the job I was sent here to do?" Racheal tried her best to look like a disgruntled Company employee.
"Alright," The guard said after a pregnant pause. "but it will take time for me to get him transferred to a conference room, and to round up a escourt for you."
"Thats not really needed is it? I mean...he's in a cell right? I could just talk to him there..."
"He's in a double max cell." the guard corrected. "Not the prettiest part of Ursa Lunar if you get me...."
"I'm a Company employee, sir...I've seen the underbelly of more than one slam."
"Lady, theres men in there who havent even seen a woman in 30 years, but if you insist...." The heavy doors opened up in front of her. "Just go down to the next checkpoint where youll be searched. Then its down three floors and to your left....your clearance code is 33635."
"Thanks," Racheal said but couldnt help but feel a chill as the heavy doors shut behind her. What she had in mind was very illegal, and by this time tomorrow she would more than likely be a resident at this very prison, but it meant Riddicks life. She had got a message from her former supervisor at Company command congratulating her on making it back safely and in the message he had assured her Riddick's frontal lobe deplition was going ahead, right on schedule, which meant she hadn't much time. If she was to act it was now, and yes he was worth it.
---
Riddick laid back in his bunk listening. Guard footsteps, next cell mate snoreing, a chuckle somewhere in the distance, the distant beep at the guard station signaled break time for the guard, which meant protein waffle time was soon, But this time the beep was followed by the sound of the wards doors opening, footsteps appraoching...light footsteps...female?
"His is the sixth one." He heard the guard say, then the light foot steps continued closer, as he realized...he was in number six.
--
A deep breath to get her bearings, Racheal stepped in front of Riddick's cell.
"Riddick..." she said as though it was supposed to be followed by a sentence, but ended up just being his name when she couldn't find any words to go with it.
He only chuckled. "Whatever it is...I ain't interested."
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"Whatever long lecture you have doctored up for me, I ain't interested in hearing it."
"I didnt come here for a heart felt chat I came here to rescuse you." she had reached her limit, she almost yelled it but then she realized what she was saying and stopped herself.
"Rescue me?" Riddicks laughter boomed through the cell. "It's your fault I'm here."
"We can play the blame game later," Racheal said and went to work trying to rewire the laser beams.
"So what happens once you get those off?" Riddick asked standing up from his cot. "Do you have any plan at all how to get out of here?"
"Well, I was kind of hoping you'd have that worked out by now. You have been here more than a week." her eyes didnt leave the access panel.
When she realized he wasn't laughing she continued. "Look, I have a security clearance code and a unmanned skif waiting for you at docking port 3, and of course you have me as a human sheild so what more do you need?" The laser beams clicked off.
"Alright, " he said and grabbed his goggles..."If you can keep up."
---
It was obvious Riddick had escaped from this slam before, he knew in detail which access panels to take, where they went, and just how hard to squeeze that vent tool, to make sure the hatch wouldn't go clanking too loudly to the ground. Within, minutes they were standing in front of Racheal's skiff...somewhere in the distance, alarms began to sound.
"There was a heavy patrol on the eastern side of the planet when I came in, " Racheal was in a hurry to get all this out before the door of the hatch opened. "I would take the Resgrove spice track...that should be the last place they think to look for a con...all artsy types do that run. Merchants who try to make an easy profit, up to Resgrove to load up on spices then back to Caliio to unload. An unidentified skiff such as this however, isnt a cargo ship, so if anyone starts looking to close, I'd hit the gas."
"You sound like youre not comein' with me." he turned to look back at her.
"I'm not. I'll only slow you down...like you said It's my fault you got caught in the first place."
"If they find you here, if they discover you helped me, you know what they'll do..." he stepped toward her, his presence towering next to her made her feel even less important...even more of a liability.
"At best...I'll lose my job, and my rank....At worst...I'll get a nice cozy cell right here, now will you go...youre running out of time."
"At worst they'll kill you, The guards at this slam don't give a fuck....They'll pump you full of led as soon as look at you."
"Then thats what I'm prepared to do...." Racheal crossed her arms. "I just need to know that you're out there...somewhere. And as fucking trite as it sounds some things just arent meant to be caged....and thats you, so just go."
Riddick scowled, as bad as he hated it she was right. He reached out with his plastic shiv and with the quickness of a tiger slashed her face.
"Tell em I threatned you....Tell em something." His heavy boots made a punding sound as he walked back onto the skiff.
As the doors closed between them he said
"You do know, I'm forced to trust you now...."
The End.
Thats it people...wow I never ever finished a fic before...sorry the end was a bit rushed but I just needed to get it out and get it done. I did start this like 2 years ago...at least! I've forgotten now...but I want to give a super THANK YOU to all my reviewers who kept me at it. especially when I wanted to throw in the towel. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!! I dont think there will be any sequel so who knows if Rach lived or died or whatever....I see her moving on and settleing on a planet with a nice guy. And maybe once in awhile she thinks of Riddick and hopes hes still out there...some where killing mercs. bytheway Im REALLY into The Purifier now....(the guy from Chronicles of Riddick...the OTHER Furyan who burns himself up on Crematoria)...If Anyone knows where I can find fics or pics of his char I would like love you forever!!!!!!
CosmicGirl )