Disclaimer: As much as I want Riddick all to myself, I don't own anything from the Pitch Black, Dark Fury, or Chronicles of Riddick, they all belong to . . . whoever invented them, but it certainly ain't me.

Thanks to those of you who have reviewed, you would not believe how happy i've been all day since I saw I had some new ones. Now (big deep cheesy man voice) here's the next installment of (dun dun dun) . . . MY STORY!

Enjoy peps


The stars glowed in the deep dark space; Riddick leaned heavily on Jack as she helped him to the med bay. The leg that had been shot was still weak and he couldn't put any weight on it. AJ followed them in their short journey but continued up to the bridge to see what the merc had done to her ship. She growled at the dirty dishes and the half empty cans of drink that lay haphazardly around the controls. She jacked in and pulled up the nav systems, before letting loose a string of curses that would blister ears if anyone else actually heard them.

Deleting the co-ordinates and entering in new ones, she wiped the system clean of any tracking devices, and connections the merc had put in. She wasn't one of the best hackers for nothing as she set traps for those that would try and connect with the ship again. Streams of code flashed up on the computer and she just took it all in, renaming and renumbering the ship's registration; she was almost finished with the new set of co-ordinates and the last sweep to clear any remaining bugs from the system when Jack came in and looked at her.

"Give me two seconds," AJ said punching in the last three digits and hitting enter. Jack opened her mouth to protest when the words 'New co-ordinates set, auto pilot in gear.' AJ jacked out and stretched stiffly as she stood up. Jack led her back to the med bay where Riddick was sitting with his back to the wall, his shirt off and the small cuts and scratches cleaned and taped together.
"Sit," Jack commanded, pushing AJ against one of the beds. AJ growled lightly but did as she was told, her strength was fading fast and she didn't know how long her legs would be able to hold her up.

Jack growled back and Riddick smirked, his limbs were a dead weight, his leg was throbbing as the feeling was coming back in slowly. He had opened his eyes when the two women came back in, though they wouldn't have been able to tell through the dark welding goggles. AJ lay down on the bed and let Jack do whatever she had to do. She tensed when the younger girl said that her leg and hip would have to be stitched.

"There's a bottle of Fire Whiskey in the cupboard under the vid screen, look for the square seam and push on the top left corner, bring it to me before you start stitching," she groaned. Jack did as she was told and Riddick watched as AJ pulled off the cap and took three hearty gulps. Jack threaded the needle and went to start but was held off,
"Not just yet babe, give me a few minush," she slurred feeling the amazingly potent alcohol take its effect. AJ nodded when her head started to blur and sucked in a breath as Jack pierced her skin with the needle, by the time the girl was finished though, AJ was asleep on the bed and lost in the world of her dreams.

"She's changed the co-ordinates and we're heading away from whatever slam the merc was taking us to," Jack said softly as she cleaned the impromptu surgery of blood. Riddick grunted, his eyes closed, his body tense, his leg tingling uncontrollably.
"Where'd you learn medical skills kid?" he asked as she gently wiped away the blood and the sweat from AJ's inert body.
"Imam suggested it two years ago, I thought it was a good idea in case you ever came back and needed help, hospitals for you would be out of the question," she said quietly, running the wet cloth over AJ's arm. It humbled him to think that she had gained medical knowledge to help him. He watched Jack move the cloth to AJ's torso and he couldn't help but stare at her near naked body, still delicate and petite after nearly ten years.

He stood up after Jack had finished cleaning AJ and the med bay; he tested his leg and found that it could hold his weight easily.
"Go clean up Jack," he said softly, bending over to scoop the small unconscious body from the bed. Jack nodded, and went obediently to the room she had chosen for herself while Riddick carried AJ to her room. He left the lights off and after placing her gently on the bed removed his goggles. Turning back the covers, he removed her underwear and tucked her in. He replaced the alcohol to where Jack had found it and went to the bridge, commanding the lights off so he could be in the dark, his element. Riddick stared out at space and was comforted by the fact that he once again knew freedom.

"So what now?" Jack asked. The three of them sat at the mess table, eating the rations of food. They had slept for almost seventeen hours, and they were all feeling refreshed.
"Now we clean the ship," Riddick said taking a mouthful of coffee. AJ ate absently; she had had the dream again. The same one for the last six nights; a girl standing on a beach facing a dark cave feeling drawn into the darkness, she always woke up before anything happened though.
"Hello? AJ? Anybody home?" Jack called in a singsong voice waving a hand in front of her face. AJ shook her head,
"Huh? Oh sorry, just thinking," she mumbled softly. Riddick frowned at her but she didn't see it.
"Jack, head up to the bridge and start cleaning up in there. Ash and I will see to the cargo hold," Jack nodded and did as he said.

She was finished well before Riddick and AJ were so Jack started on the mess and the living area. She fell on the couch and suddenly everything decided to hit her at once. She burst into tears as she thought about Imam, her puppy, AJ nearly getting raped by the merc, Riddick almost getting sent back to slam. She wondered what would happen now, she didn't want Riddick and AJ to leave her, they were all she had left, and she didn't want to lose them as well. The dark thoughts churned over in her mind, her tears wetting her cheeks, her eyes turning red. Strong arms pulled her against a muscled chest and Riddick rocked her gently back and forth and she snivelled and sobbed. Soft hands ran over her hair and Jack could make out AJ's soothing voice near her ear, comforting her, lulling her into sleep.

"So what's the plan?" he asked sinking back down onto the couch after lying Jack back on her bed. AJ shrugged,
"She needs to complete her schooling, its only two more years until she graduates, she'll need something under her belt if anything happens to us,"
"Us?" he asked,
"I'm not going to abandon her Riddick, we got close after I moved in with her and Imam, I wont let anything happen to her and I know you feel the same," she replied, running a hand through her hair.
"I agree, Queen of the Pillow fights," he said taping her nose lightly as she leaned against him. He smiled when she growled lightly.

He shifted and drew her closer until he was practically lying on the couch with AJ using his chest as a pillow.
"It wont be safe for us on any planet," he mused, his hand running through her hair absently. AJ snuggled into his chest more.
"What about Pathos?" she murmured, "My Aunt Leeann is living in our old house there is plenty of room for her there and if I know Leeann, which I do, she will be spoiled rotten. The high school is just down the road and as you know the place is relatively safe," Riddick thought about it and looked at it from all angles,
"The place you learned to fight, is it still open?" he asked. AJ lifted her head and looked at him,
"No, but the guy who taught me owes me a favour, I can get him to train her," Riddick thought about it some more, his fingers tracing circles and figure eights on her back. Eventually he nodded,
"We'll talk it over with her after dinner."

Jack wasn't enthused about the idea, but she knew it was for the best, Imam wouldn't be pleased to find that she had dropped her education only two years from graduating. She felt a little better knowing that she was to be trained while there,
"Need to be able to protect yourself," Riddick had growled and AJ had backed him up. She smiled as she readied herself for bed; the two of them had a history that Jack didn't know about. What she did know was that you could cut the tension with a shiv whenever they were in the same room as each other. She just wished they'd hook up already.

The warm breeze lifted her hair like a lover's touch, the sound of the waves crashing against the golden sand, the unmistakable smell of salt and fresh air, the unique solitude of being alone on the beach. She lifted her face to the sun, her eyes closed, arms outstretched, the wind around her made it seem as she was flying. The girl smiled as she opened her eyes to take in the dusky purple sky. Picking up her skirt she walked serenely along the water line, not minding the water that sucked the sand from beneath her feet.

From one end to the other, she walked, the gulls cried overhead, swooping and diving for their mid-day meal. The rocks that ended the beach abruptly didn't deter her. The girl stepped lightly from rock to rock, until she once again stepped on the wet sand. The dark cave lied in front of her, a cloud passed over the sun, shadowing the ground. The wind became chill and her arms pimpled in the cold. There was something inside the cave, something that was calling to her. The tide rushed in carrying her forwards, propelling her towards the dark.

The tide rushed out, leaving her standing on the sand, surrounded by blackness. She tensed as a cold clammy hand wrapped around her wrist, there was a flare of light, and a deathly pale face, blinded white eyes, a gaping black mouth curled in a snarl of hate appeared only inches from her own. The figure's hair was red, matted and twisted in clumps hung to naked shoulders; the skin was stitched together in some places, the black thread contrasting sharply against the white waxy complexion. Nails dug into the girl harshly, drawing blood.

The sound of a scream was ringing around the cave, the girl realised that it was coming from her own mouth. She wrenched her wrist free and took off running, her arms outstretched, guiding her way out. She tripped and her hand closed over something on the ground. She scrambled to her feet, unaware that she had unconsciously picked up the object. She could see the entrance to the cave only a small distance away. She ran on, the gap between her and freedom narrowing with every step the incoming tide hindering her escape.

The light was blocked out, hands caught her shoulder and wrenched her head back, and sharp teeth tore into her neck, ripping blood and sinew away with relish, capturing the girl's last scream as it flew from her throat.

AJ sat up breathing hard, she was drenched in sweat, her body ached and her heart was racing. Reaching up to brushed the damp lank hair away from her face she realised her fist was clenched tightly around something.
"Lights on full," she said, her voice shaky. The room was empty save for her own frantic breathing. Her wrist had nail marks embedded into the skin, tiny drops of blood were seeping from each one. AJ lifted her other hand to her throat as she stared down at her wrist in horror. Her throat was intact, but tender. Opening her hand, she stared down in confusion and disbelief at the heavy silver ring that lay in a small handful of wet black sand.

A/N: Whew! Chapter four up and running. Had to get everything down and posted, the ideas are just running free at the moment, finally got the plot sorted, so here you go enjoy. I'll try and get the next chappie up as soon as I can.

Bree3354 - Thanks for the review, I need those li'l suckers like air if i'm to keep writing. I'm glad you like the story, it really makes my day to find I have people not only reading my story, but enjoying it as well. :D