Riddick seemed to know exactly where they were going as he tracked across the hot sands of the endless desert. It wasn't long before they arrived in what looked like an immense graveyard, littered with the bleached skeletons of some behemoth creatures. Lugging her over rolling dunes didn't seem to have phased the muscular man in the least, and he unceremoniously dumped her in the sand beneath the shade of a broken piece of ribcage. She stared up at him as he turned to watch something off in the distance. He seemed very intent upon something, and the way he was blantantly ignoring her caused her temperature to rise once more. For some reason, she was used to receiving full attention from others, and the idea that she had been someone of some sort of importance was working its way into her head.

"What now?" she demanded, in a rather scalding tone. Riddick was crouching close by her side, peering through the enormous carcasses. He whipped his head around so fast that she pulled back in surprise.

"We wait," he said harshly. Obviously, silence was what he wanted at the moment. She took a moment to recover from her shock before setting her mouth in a grimace of irritation.

As Riddick waited and watched, Alex began to nod off once more, her arms crossed over her chest and her legs straight out in front of her. This time, however, she forced a portion of her brain to remain on alert. If there was a chance for escape she would take it. Minutes passed idly before a few whispered words roused her.

"Damn Johns," the voice was mocking, "you aren't as smart as I gave you credit for." As Alex opened her eyes, she saw Riddick, and past his kneeling figure the silhouettes of two people moving through the animal cemetery. She instantly perked up, her senses alert. Moving fluidly, like a jungle cat, Riddick swiveled around and faced her, reaching for some rags he had swiped from the wreckage. He quickly bound her hands and feet and gagged her securely. She glared viciously at him the entire time. Before moving off he took a quick look at her grease-stained face and smirked. He must have found her anger amusing. She simply narrowed her eyes in response. He left quickly, and after he disappeared behind what must have been a pelvis she could no longer pick him out of the many bones. Stealth seemed to be one of his specialties.

Alex wasted no time in making her break for freedom. No doubt her captor would make his mission a swift one and she intended to be with Johns and Carolyn by that time. Struggling with her bonds was fruitless. Though they weren't painful, they were expertly knotted. In the back of her mind something clicked. Alex was an excellent escape artist, she remembered that much. Then Riddick must be an excellent kidnapper. She nearly found it funny. She grunted in frustration against the fabric in her mouth. It tasted like oil and dirt and perhaps a bit of blood. Plan B, she tought ruefully.

Leaning foward and rolling onto her stomach, Alex began to crawl with all the speed she could muster. She found that in the deep sand it wasn't too difficult and soon she was many feet from the comforting shade. The feet turned to yards and she began to think about which direction she should be heading. The young woman concentrated on the sounds about her. She was surprised to be able to make out the quiet voices of Johns and Carolyn, who must have been quite a distance from her, but even more surprising was that she was able to pick out every syllable they spoke. How was it that her hearing was so acute? No time to wonder. She began to wriggle along on her belly towards their position. Johns was questioning Carolyn about her dead crewmate. "What did he mean, 'don't touch that handle?' " The question didn't make sense to Alex, but she logged it away nonetheless. There would be time to think about it later.

She was making some definite progress when a restraining hand on her shoulder made her jump. She rolled over swiftly to stare up at the mysterious Riddick. How was it that he could sneak up on her so completely when she could hear the scuttling of a bug through the sand?

"You think you'd get away?" he asked, that bemused smirk once again upon his handsome face, "not a chance." Alex frowned deeply, gathering herself for an attack. She struck out swiftly with her bound feet, ignoring the fact that if she connected it would hurt like hell. But Riddick was prepared for it, backing away quickly just to dive down at her again, pinning her for the second time that day. She struggled visciously beneath him, his chuckling only fueling her rage. The man was easily holding her with the top half of his body sprawled across her own, an arm held tightly about her waist. "Easy," he advised her and she quieted, knowing her resistance was more or less futile. He stared at her for a moment more to ensure she wouldn't start up again. "We keep coming to this," he said, smiling, "perhaps you'd like to be cooperative." His sarcasm didn't help her attitude.

Alex didn't find the comment funny. Yet she couldn't fight the strong attraction that rose up again and wished more than anything else that he would release her. She didn't need it. It made her weak. Not only that, but she was too angry with him to be susceptible to his allure. He seemed to read her mind as her softening scowl reasserted itself defiantly and rose, dragging her to unsteady feet. He took out the wickedly curved blade he carried and sliced her bonds quickly, latching on to a wrist to ensure she followed. The gag he left. Johns and Carolyn must have still been close by.

They began to trek back across the desert, and Alex thought that it seemed a much longer journey than it had been the first time through. But then she hadn't been walking. Heading back to the ship was a move no one expected. At least thats what Alex figured Riddick was thinking. But who knew what was going on inside that bald head of his? She could feel her injured muscles weakening as Riddick kept on at a steady pace that was much too swift. She held out as long as she could, but after what seemed like hours of marching through the deep sand, she sunk to her knees.

Riddick stopped, realeasing her arm and staring down at her almost disapprovingly. He looked around. They were in the middle of nowhere. The sound of his deep voice pulled her out of her daze. "Give me a good reason why I shouldn't just leave you out here," he said. The demand didn't sound cruel, but as if he was simply bringing up a logical point. She stared up at him, squinting against the glare of the sun. She was no more use to him as a captive. Johns had followed like a complete fool. Now that they were far from the giant pile of bones, she could no longer be found be the survivors hunting the pair, therefore she could not cause Riddick to be found. "There is none," he said finally, unknotting her gag and turning away. With that, he strode off towards the horizon.

Alex forced herself into a standing position, trudging along behind. She was able to keep up for a good distance despite her aching body, but after a time she began to slow. Riddick was quickly increasing the distance between them and Alex found herself growing desperate. Why? she thought. Hes a murderer, her brain countered. Of course, but I didn't think he would actually kill me, she fought back. He didn't actually kill you, it said, yet you still will die and it will have been his actions and intent that caused it. "Riddick," she called out, reaching for the retreating figure. Her gaze lit on the numerous suns dancing around her. The effort was too much. She collapsed on the white hot sand, her breathing shallow. Before darkness took her she felt strong hands about her waste. As the world spun and she felt herself being lifted she realized what was happening. A glimpse of dark lenses and the feeling of a pair massively muscled arms told her that Riddick had changed his mind. Had it been a test? Had he wanted to see just how willful she was? That had to be it. She knew he wouldn't kill her. The thoughts faded as she fell into unconsciousness.

Thanks all for the reviews! Keep 'em coming guys, and let me know what you think should happen. I have a storyling plotted but it wouldn't hurt to throw some more things in there. And maybe I'll alter it depending on if you guys give me some good ideas to how the story progresses.

Hamburgler: I would love to be thrown over Riddick's shoulder too! (drools on self)