Author's Note: I do not own Riddick, more's the pity. I did not create Slam, merely this interpretation of it. I did not have any hand in the creation of Pitch Black. I did however create Spook, and the other characters not seen in Pitch Black.

The hover was dark inside, and Kiran wedged herself into the furthest corner of the back of it, watching the strangers with large eyes. Only her father had walked out to the hover, Kiran in tow, between the two strangers; her mother remained, wailing, inside.

"Now, that money; it will come to us regardless of how she rates, correct?" Kiran's father pushed her into the hover, turning anxiously to the elder man. "Even if she only rates a first level, correct?"

"Correct. We pay for the employ, not the rating. Any Psi is a useful Psi, even a first ranked." He shook hands with her father, not looking at the man before sliding into the hover with Kiran and closing the door. Kiran shrunk back further from him. "Do you know why we're taking you with us?" He sighed at the faint shake of her head. "They never know… Have you ever known things you shouldn't, about what people were thinking or feeling?" A nod, this time a little stronger.

"B-but that's not ILLEGAL! Is it?"

"Oh, no. We simply find that it is actually quite to our benefit to employ Psi talent in the corps of the Police." The stranger smiled at her, a warm, genuine smile. "We understand that this is all sudden for you, being taken from your family and all. And I am sorry to tell you that it will be more difficult once we arrive at the House. That's where you will be living, with other Psi, while we test you for your abilities and train you." He turned to watch the streets and houses give way to trees, then businesses and the heart of the city, and then fade to open highway. "I am not entirely certain of what the tests consist of, I'm afraid. Otherwise I might be able to allieve some of your fears."

"Have you done this often?" She sounded so small.

"Oh, more times than I can count. My own daughter is now in the corps. She rated second rank." He smiled again, a proud smile. "The new Psi are, unfortunately, always removed from their families. It helps to protect them, the Psi that is, during a vulnerable time while they come to terms with what they are. It is a time of great stress, and Psi sometimes lash out unconsciously. We have, unfortunately, had a few instances where very powerful Psi were killed by officers because they lashed out."

Kiran stared at him in shock, all the information bouncing around in her mind, none of it fully sinking in.

"Why me?"

"Your parents noticed that you answered questions before they asked them, among other things. Like any responsible, loving parent, they want you to get the best training available, to become what you have the potential for."

"And if I fail the tests?" Big eyes, sad, scared eyes.

"You will be returned to your parents. But no one has managed to fail them all. We are careful which leads we follow."

Kiran sighed, conceding to the thoughts, closing the worn pages of The Odyssey. At this rate it would take her all night to read the one page. She tried to let her mind wander, but then it turned, revolted against her, turned to the man leaning in the corner, the man thumbing through her Nietzsche. The man she swore had saved her. A man who hardly seemed aware of her.

He was a murderer; everyone in Slam was, either before or after they got thrown into the black pit. Some managed to keep their conscience. She doubted he ever had one. His eyes were feral. Feral, but also intelligent. He devoured her books like a wildfire, consuming all before it. He hasn't killed you yet, that nagging, betraying spot in the back of her head chimed in, voicing one of her concerns. A murderer, a fighter. She had heard that he drank the blood of men. She had heard that he killed for the sheer pleasure of it. She had heard that he took pleasure in the feel of life pouring over his hands.

But she had only seen him kill when provoked.

Yes, he smelled of blood. He certainly knew how to bring swift death. Here, in cramped quarters, she had seen nothing save a cruel disregard of her. He had made no gestures of hostility, or even aggression.

But he was still a murderer.

She settled back again, burying herself in her blanket, pressing her back to the wall. The light was between them, and he had his knees pulled up as he read to shield his eyes. His mirrored eyes that occasionally shot a cold, inhuman look at her, a look that chilled her, made her stomach wrap around her spine and shake. At least in the blanket, with it over her head, he couldn't always tell where her head was to send that stare into her soul.

What was the point in trying to figure out if he was or was not a murderer, if he was or was not capable of doing it. All she need do was survive until he left, change holes, and she would be home free, at least until the next big bad came looking for her.

And if she survived, no more strays.

She curled up into a tighter ball.

He only raised an eyebrow as she buried herself in the blanket again with an explosive sigh. She was nervous, afraid. Of him, he was sure. And that was a thought that brought a smile to his lips. The blankets shivered a few times, then went still.

An odd child. He tilted his head. Most of her time was spent staring at him as if he was about to sprout horns, a tail, and rip her soul from her body. The small portion left was spent in fitful attempts at sleep. Until she had led him to this hidey hole, he'd barely known she existed. Granted, when she'd run into him, chased by a man who had sent thugs to knife him in the back, he had been amused by the cleverness of a child to use sudden light against shined assailants. And he had smiled at the effect it had had to give her time to run. And then she had found him, knifed, bleeding, and led him to safety. Debt paid. Life for life.

But a medkit? He'd not seen that coming. The rabbit would live a while longer. And he would even follow her rules in this hole, no matter how it galled him. But when he was free…

With a shake, he turned his eyes down to the pages again. Pity he couldn't turn out that light.