Karla Dawn

by Dark Aingel

What happens when Riddick escapes from a slam with a guest. Is the guest who she claims to be or is she hiding something. Can she help Riddick find Furia or will she lead him into the Lions den?

4. Mara

Chapter Four

Karla opted for a quick shower and a change of clothes. The warm water worked its way into her wounds stinging and cleaning them. She placed her hands palms down against the wall for support and leaned into the spray. Closing her eyes she saw flashes of all that had happened during the last few days then she felt something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years: Fear. Sure she had felt anger more often than not, particularly in the last week or so since Larendaron decided to string her up and accuse her of being a traitor not to mention using her as bait.

Even the thought of going back to the slam made her so angry she wanted to kill herself and be rid of the burden. But fear; this was an entirely different animal. Fear brought weakness and she had allowed them see her weak side before and for that she mentally kicked herself.

"Stupid girl" she said aloud.

Blood mixed with the water turned it pink. She watched as it pooled around her feet.

"Pink" she whispered "I hate pink". Her mind was invaded with pink flowers, the ones just like in her nightly torments when she is dragged from her home.

She turned the shower and stepped out of the tainted water. Swiping an arm across the small mirror above the sink she caught sight of her distorted image staring back.

There was a blotchy blue bruise around her neck where Riddick had part strangled her. Her upper torso covered in cuts, bruises, scars, ugly stitches. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders in deep auburn ringlets covering the scratch marks on her shoulders from a Hymerian Dog of war that had been released into the slam pit along with her for Larendarons entertainment.

"What a fucking mess" she complained to herself.

Without warning the door opened.

"We have landed Karla…" Imam stopped when he saw her. She stood naked, dripping water on the floor. Imam closed his eyes and Karla felt the corners of her mouth turn upwards slightly.

"You really should knock Imam" she said.

Imam nodded "Y..yes child I believe you are right".

"Could you pass me that towel, it's just to your right"

Imam felt with his hands along the wall to the railing that held the towel breathing a gentle sigh of relief that he didn't have to open his eyes and look for it.

He held his hand out towards her and she reached for the towel.

"I'm sorry child for…"

"It's alright Imam, I'm just glad it wasn't Riddick" she began to towel herself dry and Imam heard her slip on fresh clothes.

"It's okay, you can open your eyes now" she said.

"Ah" Imam opened his eyes and offered thanks to Allah silently that he was spared any further embarrassment.

"We have landed on Mara. Perhaps you would appreciate the opportunity to stretch your legs?"

"Sure, sounds like fun." She paused touching Imam on the shoulder as he turned to leave.

"Have you been here before? What's it like?"

"Come child; let us discover this world together"

Karla was glad for the company, the thought of being left to wander the streets of an unfamiliar planet didn't appeal but then again neither did hanging onto Riddicks shirt tails.

"That would be great Imam, just one thing…can you call me Karla? I mean c'mon you've seen me naked; this whole "my child", stuff is a little too New Mecca for me".

"Of course ch…Karla" Imam corrected himself.

She laced up her boots and followed Imam to the loading bay of the ship. There, he lowered the ramp and they left the ship.

Stepping out into the open air Karla breathed deeply. The wind licked at her damp loose hair and she closed her eyes turning into the wind allowing it to cleanse her.

Imam watched thoughtfully and wondered how long it had been since she had been out in the open.

Almost as if she had read his thoughts she opened her eyes. The moon reflected from them and turned them into pools of malachite shining and vibrant, not the dull dark lifeless eyes he had seen the day they met.

"It's been a while Imam, it's been a while" She smiled. The feeling was alien to her but it came naturally and it was unstoppable as is spread across her face making her show her teeth. She spread her arms out wide and felt the breeze seep into every pore of her body bringing with it new life and new feelings.

Them she opened her eyes and glanced at their surroundings. They couldn't see much, it was night. The only light that was offered were dim orange lights attached to the odd building and the moon.

"Where's Riddick?" Karla asked noting his absence.

"He's gone to make a deal for the repairs to our ship. He shouldn't be long."

Karla walked through the port with Imam close behind her.

The city the found themselves in was buzzing with life. Karla followed the beat of loud music into a bar.

"Drink?" the bartender asked.

"Two Aldarhan ales" she replied.

"We don't serve that here" he replied.

"Why not?"

The bar tender shrugged "Not much call for it now".

"Water, cold" she tried again to order herself and Imam a drink.

"Your kidding right?" the bar tender asked raising an eyebrow and leaning over the bar.

"Ah, two Tharmolean Twists" Imam interjected dropping several credit onto the bar.

"With ice" he finished.

"Gotcha". The bar tender scooped up the credits and busied himself with the drinks.

He placed two tall glasses on the bar. The liquid in them was blue at the bottom, green in the middle and clear on the top. The ice in them made each drink fizz and bubble. Karla eyed her drink cautiously as if she expected it to grow legs and walk away.

"What is it?" she asked wondering whether to kill it or drink it.

"A harmless beverage" Imam laughed watching her reaction marvelling in how she had appeared tough and yet now appeared almost childlike in her wonder.

He raised his glass and took a sip motioning her to do likewise.

She lifted the glass to her lips, the bubbles bit into her lips but she sipped the cool liquid and felt it trickle down her parched throat and land in her empty stomach.

Riddick pulled the cloak over his head and wove in and out of back alleyways. Having successfully traded what he could spare from the ship in exchange for repair materials he set about finding Imam.

Since Karlas revelation about Furia he hadn't been able to get her or his home out of his head. She had been so cryptic in where the information was kept. The more he thought about it, the more he considered the possibility that she had lied to him to save her own neck. No body knew where Furia was and that included Richard B. Riddick who was Furian by birth and blood. As he walked through the shadows he knew two things, he had to get to the truth and he was being followed.

Slipping into a corner he steadied his breathing, slowed it down to almost a standstill and unsheathed his shiv.

Two men armed but didn't look particularly dangerous to Riddick passed him by. They stopped, turned and looked back.

"Where did he go?" one asked

"I was following you" the other replied.

"Are you sure it was him?"

"Dead sure"

Riddick frowned, dead sure was right, emphasis on the dead part.

"Mace is gonna have a shit fit"

"Did he tell you what the bounty was?"

"I got the "need to know" speech and managed to get the basics."

Riddick listened to the conversation, the shiv held securely in his hand preparing to attack.

"Half a million creds that's what I heard."

"For a girl? Fuck me."

Riddick paused. Had he heard right?

"I think Mace already has plans for our Ms. Dawn" Both men chuckled.

"Yeah well have you seen her, I wouldn't mind taking seconds on her ass believe me" he whistled a low whistle.

Riddick took one step forward.

"Shhh" one of the men held up his hands to silence his friend. "Did you hear that?"

The other man, Riddick saw, shook his head.

"Probably just a rat." There was another brief pause as they scanned the immediate area. "So if she's with Riddick and Larendaron is only interested in her then why don't we bag the both of them. I hear Riddick is worth more anyways, dead or alive."

"I'd say that sounds like a plan" his partner replied.

Riddicks throat rumbled as a slow primal growl worked its way out of his mouth.

"That didn't sound like a rat" one merc said raising his laser rifle.

Riddick shiv came down with a flash of bright light as it caught the moons rays.

One hand reached out and grabbed the second mercs around the throat while the first one was already spilling life fluid onto the floor. Riddick yanked the second merc ripping out his throat; he was dead before he hit the floor. The first merc whimpered as he felt his intestines slide out of his body and unravel at his feet. Riddick sliced upwards with his shiv before letting the merc fall to the floor to die with his comrade.

Bending down he raked through their pockets relieving them of their credits, they wouldn't need them now. He took their laser rifles and wiped his shiv on the cleanest part of shirt he could find before sheathing it back in his pants.

"Fuckin' mercs" Riddick spat at them "don't waste my time".

He hid the weapons under his cloak and continued searching for Imam and the girl.

Karla and Imam had finished their drinks and were wandering the streets. Karla had never seen anything like what she was seeing now. People playing stringed instruments in the street, people tossing the odd credit their way. The market was a hive of activity, people shouting offers, selling their trade. There were fruits, vegetables, live stock.

Karla caught sight of a small group of people shackled by their ankles and wrists.

"Wait, Imam" she pulled on Imams cloak halting him and dragging him back.

"Are they slaves?" she asked.

Imam nodded "Yes Karla, they are".

Karla felt the pain from their expressions, their eyes cried out for salvation. Their bodies battered and bruised, some had been flogged into submission she could tell by the scars over their legs and backs. She felt nauseated. Her eyes fell n those of a child, she couldn't have been more than eight years old. Her hair under all the filth was blond and her eyes the most brilliant shade of blue.

"What kind of place is this" Karla began "where you chain people up like animals" her voice was getting louder as she approached the man who owned the slaves.

"Do you want to buy one?" he asked in a low rumble.

"They are people, you don't own them, and they are not to be bartered for. You are an animal and I wonder if you would like treating as one."

In an instant she had relieved him of his whip and taken several steps back.

She flipped the whip at him and it hit is legs with a loud CRACK!

"Oh, you're gonna pay for that you bitch!" he yelled.

Karla cocked her eyebrow "Really?" she hit him again this time she caught him on the face leaving a cut on his right cheek.

The man howled in pain before launching himself at her.

"Karla, I think now would be a good time to leave" Imam suggested.

"Not a chance Holy Man, this guy needs to be taught a lesson".

Before she could speak another word the man had tacked her to the floor. Her head fell back and hit the hard floor. Momentarily dazed she paused. The man was bigger and heavier than he had first looked. She clawed at his hands which were around her throat.

"Not so feisty now?" he rasped in a sarcastic manner.

"Fuck you" she answered rolling onto her side and raising a knee up into his groin.

He relaxed his grip on her throat and she kicked him off of her. She put a hand to the back of her head and felt the warm stickiness of fresh blood.

The man grabbed the whip that had fallen to the floor and hit her with it slicing into her back. She grabbed the leather and pulled hard yanking the man to his feet and immediately settling a roundhouse kick in his face.

The man stumbled back and readied himself for a fresh onslaught.

Karla adopted a different fighting stance but before she could continue she felt two strong hands grab her and pull her into the crowd.

"What the…" her voice trailed off as she was dragged backwards through the crowd.

"Let go of me" she wrestled with the hands trying to prise them off her skin but the grip was so tight she could feel the blood circulation being cut off from her elbows down.

She was dragged into an alley and tossed against a wall. A stone jutted out from the wall and caught her in her lower back. Temporarily paralyzed she crumpled to the floor. A strong hand grabbed a fistful of her hair and lifted her head up. Before she had time to focus on the owner of the hand she felt a second fist hit her across the face.

Before she fell unconscious she saw the colours of Imams cloak, then, nothing.

Imam had followed the man who had Karla. He prayed for Riddick to come to their rescue but it was apparent when he saw her land on the floor that he had to do something.

There were three of them he counted, no laser rifles just knives. Mercs, he wondered. He could not let her get taken back to Larendaron.

He raised is hands above his head showing that he was unarmed.

"Gentlemen" he called.

The men paused and the one who had Karlas hair released her.

"Is this really necessary?" Imam said calmly. "she is just a girl."

"Fuck off, this has got nothing to do with you." The largest of the three men approached him. Imam tried to remain calm.

"Are you mercenaries?" he asked trying to stall them while he thought of a plan.

"What's it to ya?"

Imam shrugged "I just wondered why three mercenaries would attack a young girl."

The man laughed "Well I'll tell you what old man, you stick around for a while and maybe we'll let you have a go."

Imam stepped forward certain now of their intentions.

"After us" the merc growled putting a firm hand to Imams chest.

Imam shook his head "You cannot do this" he said watching as Karla was dragged further into the alley. "She is just a child"

The merc laughed "Yeah, just what I need to ease the stress of the day. Whaddya say boys"?

"Hooyah!" was the emphatic reply.

Imam stepped forward again trying to see where they had taken Karla.

"No, you can't I cannot let you…" Imam was cut off. The merc had pulled his knife and slowly leaned into Imam pulling his forward onto the blade.

Imam looked at the merc in shock. Without saying a word he staggered backwards, hit the wall and slid down it. Blood poured from the open wound in his chest by his heart. Imams eyes glazed over before closing completely. His last thought was whether he would be greeted by his family and he felt a sudden urgency to hold his sons.

Blood. Riddick was sure he could smell it, fresh, dark life fluid. But it did not have the same pungency of the planets inhabitants of the stale rancidness of mercs this blood was slightly spicy, untainted, pure.

Holy Man.

The thought flashed through his mind before he began to run following the scent.

Pushing his way through the market crowd he ran, the scent growing ever stronger. He knew when he saw the alley they Imam was in there shielded by the darkness.

He rounded the corner slipping on the wet bloodied surface and falling to his knees. He came to a halt in front of Imam. He saw the blade in his chest and slowly pulled it out. Ripping a piece of his cloak he scrunched it up and pressed it to the bleeding orifice. Then with a longer piece of cloth he tied a makeshift bandage around his ribcage securing the material in place and stopping the blood flow.

He felt a weak hand on his shoulder.

"Karla" Imam whispered then gestured with his eyes the direction he remembered she had been taken.

Riddick put his hand against the holy mans cheek and drew Imans hazel eyes to his silvery orbs.

"I'll find her" he said.

Imam watched Riddick vanish into the darkness praying he was not too late.

Karla struggled against the ties that bound her wrists. A piece of stale material had bee stuffed into her mouth to prevent her screaming. she could feel hands, strong hands holding her shoulders pinning her to the floor. She could feel something cold sliding upwards from her navel to her throat then she felt he cold night air on her exposed abdomen. Her eyes grew wide as she felt hands groping, touching, pushing and pulling at her breasts. God it hurt to have them touch her. She scrunched her eyes shut not wanting to see the face of the man who was on top of her. She screamed until her throat was raw but all she heard was a muffled noise. She tried to kick out but was met with a punch in the stomach. She felt his teeth nibble at her neck drawing blood down to her collar bone tearing tiny pieces of her flesh.

The hands moved down past her hips sliding beneath the top of her pants. She heard laughing and the merc on top of her groaned with sick pleasure.

"Oh sweetheart don't resist" he said as he felt her resistance against his fingers.

She yelled out in pain as he forced his way into her tearing, ripping her tender flesh.

"There" he soothed, his breath covering her in stink "so much better when you don't fucking resist".

"Hey c'mon man it's my turn" she heard another voice say.

"Fuckin' wait your turn, I aint done with this bitch yet. I'm gonna make her scream for me".

Karla fought and freed one of her hands, swiping down she dug her nails into his cheek ripping four strips of flesh.

"Arghh!" he yelled.

Someone grabbed her head and slammed it into the floor. Once more she swam in darkness, feeling no pain; oblivious to what was happening around her. Her body limp and compliant to their needs; somehow it wasn't as much fun for them when she wasn't fighting back but they pleasured themselves nonetheless.

Riddick swooped on them in a mad frenzy opting not to use the laser rifles. They deserved a slower more painful death each and every one of them. Using his shiv he sliced bringing the blade down time and again paralyzing them and allowing them to bleed to death silently.

When he was done his attention turned to the semi naked girl. He removed his cloak and covered her with it before carrying her to Imam.

He waited in the shadows for her to stir.

She awoke with a start, the events of the night hitting her full force.

Riddick pulled his goggles down as the sun began to rise. They would have to move soon before it got too hot.

"Can you walk?" he asked her.

She gasped looking around seeing Riddick sat in a corner.

She didn't speak just nodded. She looked at Imam, the old man was dying, and she knew it. They had to get him back to the ship. She stood pulling the cloak tightly around her body feeling everything that had happened to her she wobbled a little before taking a deep breath knowing Riddick wasn't about to offer a chivalrous hand of help. She turned to him. "Lets go" she said, her voice cold and unwavering.

Riddick picked Imam up and carried him through the deserted market place.

He watched Karla limping ahead. He wanted to help, of course he did he just didn't know how to help; he figured that part had been left out of his programming. He was a machine, one built to hunt and kill, show no mercy and yet he could feel an invisible thread tugging at his core pulling him out of the darkness he'd grown to rely on.

Reaching the ship was exhausting; the sun was high and hot. The group were sweating profusely and staggered up the ramp to the loading bay.

Karla leaned heavily on the bulk head and waited for Riddick to key in the code to the loading bay doors.

Upon entering the ship Riddick lay Imam down on the floor. Removing the bandage he assessed the wound. Imam had lost a lot of blood; his pulse was weak yet remained steady. Riddick tore Imams shirt and applied pressure to the wound.

"Med kit?" he asked gesturing to Karla.

Karla nodded and fetched the emergency med kit from a nearby table.

"So much blood" she whispered. "He tried to save me" he voice was barely audible.

"I'm gonna need some water" Riddick spoke.

Karla didn't move "He tried to save me". It was all her fault. The slaves; her kicking off at the trader, the hands that grabbed her and dragged her away. Imam pleading with them not to do it. But they did, she could feel what they had done to her, feel her insides ripped up, feel the blood where they'd hurt her..

"Karla!" Riddick yelled bringing her out of her thoughts. "Water, now!"

She jumped and ran to the galley. Her mind was a mess s she stood in front of the food replicator.

"Water, cold" she blurted. Then, grabbing the water she ran back to the loading bay.

Riddick was stitching the wound closed. Imam was still unconscious which was perhaps the better deal, had he been awake it would have hurt like a sonofabitch at least this way he won't feel the stitches going in.

Karlas hand shook as she passed the water to Riddick. He ripped a piece of his shirt and dipped it into the water then into a yellow powdery substance. The cloth began to fizz and when he applied it to Imams skin it bubbled over the wound. The smell was disgusting; it smelled like rotting flesh making Karla nauseated. Having not eaten anything there was nothing to come up even though her body tried.

When Riddick was satisfied he picked Imam up again and carried him to the med bay laying him on a bed.

Karla stayed in the loading bay scrubbing at the blood on the floor.

She wanted to cry, no she wanted to scream, she wanted to hit something and make it hurt, make it bleed, make it die. She scrubbed harder and harder sweat pouring from her forehead and a pain in her gut. The floor was clean but still she scrubbed imagining blood everywhere. It was her fault, all her fault, the blood that had been spilled was al her fault. The information she held was beginning to take its toll on her. There was only one thing she could think of to do, get the information and give it to Riddick.

Two strong hands held hers gently bringing their assault on the floor to a halt.

"It's clean Karla" his voice swept over her like a welcome melody. He sounded almost human, almost like he cared.

She looked up at him then down at her hands. She still saw blood and shook her head.

"It won't come out" she whispered "his blood, on my hands, it won't come off"

"Karla, there is no blood. You cleaned it all up" his voice remained calm.

He lifted her chin so their eyes met. He saw fear in them fear and self loathing.

"Come" he held out his hand for her to take. She did. He helped her to stand and then silently he led her to the med bay. She climbed onto a bed and sat with her legs dangling over the edge.

"Where are you hurt?" he asked.

"My stomach hurts, my neck" she brushed her hair aside to show him the bite marks on her neck and collar bone.

"Anywhere else?" he asked.

"No" she replied flatly avoiding his eyes.

"Are you sure?" he pressed.

"Yeah I'm sure no where else."

"What about there" he gestured to her inner thighs. She looked down and saw blood.

"It's nothing" she swept it aside

"Nothing?" he pressed harder.

Damn, she thought, what kind of fucking game is he playing? Her mind screamed, her body ached and she wanted to curl up into a tight ball and hide from the monsters. Right now he was pressing all her buttons and that is something she vowed would never happen again when she broke free of Larendaron.

"Don't you know anything about women Riddick?" she asked trying to be clever.

"I know a lot about women" he replied

She snorted "Obviously not as much as you thought"

Riddick shook his head and took several steps towards her.

"I may be a killer but I know that when a woman bleeds like that it isn't down to the laws of procreation." He smelled the air noisily "Smells different".

"What kind of animal are you?" she whispered.

"The worst kind, Karla" he replied.

Karla sucked in a breath as he walked closer towards her. He held cotton swabs and a mild alcohol solution.

"Don't…" she whimpered gripping the edge of the bed. "don't hurt me". Her eyes gave up the battle and spilled tears down her cheeks. She sobbed silently, her shoulders shuddered. Riddick set the swabs and liquid down on the bed next to her. What should he do? She needed something, she was scared, angry, tired, hurting all these things he had experienced on more than one occasion on every level imaginable. He remembered how lonely it felt having to patch himself up time and again, how on some nights, he ached to have someone to watch his back while he slept. He was in unfamiliar/familiar territory same circumstance different person.

"Hurt you?" he repeated. "I'm not going to hurt you. You're broken, I need to fix you".

She fell forward resting her forehead on his chest and sobbed. He felt the salty water seep into his shirt.

She let go of the edge of the bed and fisted his shirt holding onto him. He wasn't sure what to do and so he stood still and waited for her sobs to subside.

When her sobs became gentle hiccups he took her shoulders in his hands and pulled her off his shirt.

"You need to lie down."

She didn't fight him; she was mentally and physically exhausted. As she lay down her shirt fell open. She clutched at it keeping it in place covering her breasts. Riddick took her hand and looked into her eyes. Without speaking her tugged her hand away and laid a folded towel across her upper chest. Karla breathed a sigh of relief.

He dipped the swabs into the alcohol solution.

"This will hurt" he said matter-of-factly. He was right; as soon as the liquid made contact with her skin it felt like she had been engulfed in fire.

He noted her lack of consciousness when she fell silent. Checking her pulse Riddick concluded that she was exhausted. He cut away her pants and cleaned her inner thighs, the scratches were deep but the bleeding had stopped. He noted the zipper on her pants had been ripped and her panties were torn to the point where they no longer served their purpose. He could smell them on her.

Covering her with a blanket he left her to rest. Checking on Imam he noted the old mans colour returning. For a moment Riddick understood why Imam believed in his god. When he'd found Imam last night he was sure he wouldn't last but now, now he dared to be confident that the holy man might just pull through.

He left the med bay and began repairs on the ships hull. The sun beat down on the ship and even the simplest of tasks too what seemed like forever to complete. He took off his shirt and wiped the sweat from his body, all the perspiration was clouding his senses. He knew that when that happened there could be a gang of mercs outside and he wouldn't be able to tell, not until it was too late. He doused himself with water washing the stink off his body. It was at that moment he realised he should have done it sooner.

Five mercs all armed ran into the loading bay. He searched for his shiv pulled it and threw it at one merc, it landed in his neck sending him spiralling back out the way he had just entered. Riddick looked around for anything he could use as a weapon. Three more mercs entered yelling at him to get on the floor. Riddicks mind was a blur. One of the mercs aimed what looked like a laser rifle at him and fired. A huge net spewed from the barrel of the gun and landed on Riddick. There were cables attached to the webbing and the merc pressed a button. The net became electrically charged and gave Riddick shocks all over his body. He tried to fight the urge in his legs to buckle but it was no use, the electricity flowed through his body igniting every hair, every pore, every muscle until he slumped forward unable to move barely able to breath past the pain in his chest. His heart beat at irregular intervals owing to the magnitude of the shocks it had almost stopped it beating altogether.

Large boots invaded Riddicks vision.

"Mace" he growled.

Mace knelt on one knee to admire his prize.

"Well, well, Richard. Not such a bad ass now?"

Riddick fought against the mesh only to be shocked into submission again.

Mace laughed loud and long.

"Gentlemen" Mace yelled rising from his kneeling position "Get this piece of meat into storage – its pay day!"

Riddick was bound, gagged and dragged out of his ship. The skin on his arms and back grazed along the floor as they pulled him with them to a warehouse tucked neatly out of the way. There he was released into a small makeshift holding cell. Cold, dark and stank of rotting flesh and excrement. Riddick grabbed the bars on the door to his cage and pulled. A growl erupted from the pit of his stomach. The veins in his arms bulged as he pulled harder trying to pull the door off its hinges. It didn't work and his energy was soon spent. His goggles had been confiscated but he paid it no mind, the cell had no natural light and, save for a flickering orange light some distance away in the warehouse he was in total darkness.

Mace peeled back the lapel of his jacket and retrieved his communications device.

"We have him sir" he address the person at the other end of the comm link.

"Excellent" a voice hissed in reply. "And the girl?"

"On her way sir"

"Excellent…excellent"

Mace watched as Karla was dragged into the light. She had awoken to the feeling of being carried. When her senses kicked in she realised that she was being carried off the ship by someone who was neither Riddick nor Imam.

He grabbed her chin and turned her face into the light.

"Karla Dawn I presume" he purred down at her admiring her features.

She didn't answer.

"Cage her" he ordered.

"No!" She screamed and fought "No! Let me GO!"

It took three men to bundle her into a cell at the other side of the room. Riddick could smell her, hear her and could with his shining eyes, just make out her form. Her hands had been tied behind her back and they had done her the courtesy of putting one of their coats over her upper body.

He paced his cell like a caged tiger. He hated confined spaces.

Mace followed Karla into the cell.

"There's someone who is eager to speak with you" he flicked the switch on his comm. Link.

"Hello Karla" Larendarons voice came over the link. "I'll be seeing you, real soon"

Karla fought against her restraints kicking out at the mercs who surrounded her.

Mace pushed her away and cut the ties on her wrists then left quickly as she ran to the bars and screamed pulling on them hoping for some miracle.

"Feed them, give them water. We want them alive when Laren gets here" Mace ordered.

Karla remembered the smell of the food that arrived moments later. It was all she had eaten for twenty years. She ate hungrily trying not to gag on every mouthful but she knew she needed her strength; she needed to get out of her cell before Larendaron arrived or she was dead.

The mercs left Imam in the med bay. His injury looked bad enough to kill him and, since there wasn't a bounty for him and he didn't exactly look threatening, they saw no reason to expend energy getting him to the warehouse.

Riddick paced the tiny floor space of his cell repeatedly. The beast in him growing impatient and rumbling in his chest. He was fucked. Larendaron would be here for him and the girl, they would get their asses thrown back into the slam if they were lucky enough for him not to kill them. Karla was the key to him getting home and now he felt further away than he had ever felt. He imagined all the different ways he could kill them, all he needed was one chance, one stroke of luck. But in his line of work lady luck just didn't turn it on. Though you could argue that he was an evil monster, Riddick could defend himself in any court of law against the numerous charges of murder brought against him. He could give the jury two fucking words that they, if they saw his world for one half day, could not argue with. Those two words were Self Defence. When you're outnumbered three to one and the three are fully loaded looking for blood what should he do lay down and die. He scoffed inwardly; he'd be dead before he hit puberty. No, self defence, that built in mechanism called fight or flight only the flight had been disconnected and the arrow always pointed to fight. Someone pushed him the wrong way, hell, he'd push back, harder and faster than them. If they acted violently towards him he would visit it back ten fold no question. And now he was here, caged up and fucked off. His body still tingled from the electric shocks. The dripping water in the far corner was driving him nuts. His heightened senses were a blessing most days but when it just wasn't working for you, you couldn't just flip a switch and turn them off. He could hear everything going on in that huge room. He could hear Karla pacing, turning lighter on her left foot than her right and pacing again. Occasionally he would hear a slap as her palms hit the wall; the dripping in the far corner and the buzzing of the electricity stuttering through that fucking annoying orange light. But, through all that he could hear the mercs talking in the next room. He stopped and slowed his breathing concentrating on the voices.

"What do you mean she knows where Furia is?" Mace said

"She has information, coordinates somewhere on her and I want them found" Larendarons voice came over the comm... Riddick smiled, he wasn't there yet, and that was good. He had no idea how far behind Larendaron was but since Karla ditched her tracking device he could be anything up to three days away.

"I don't care what you have to do, get those coordinates from her before I get there and I'll give you the bounty and let you keep her as a trophy for your efforts." Larendaron signed off.

There was a pause.

"You heard him; we get those coordinates we get the girl and the bounty" Mace laughed out loud a deep menacing laugh.

Riddick clenched his fists. There was no way he'd let Mace get the coordinates no way in hell he'd let Larendaron destroy his home.

Karla couldn't gauge what time it was, being thrown into perpetual darkness messed with her mind somewhat not that it mattered she slept when she was tired and at that moment felt no need to rest. Her body ached from the assault the night before and if she stayed still for too long the aching became more apparent.

She heard the men coming before she saw them. Entering her cell there were four of them.

"Mace would like to see you" one said. Before she had chance to argue they held her shoulders and ran her left arm up her back. Pushing her forward out of the cell with a rifle pressed against her left temple just in case she decided to make a run for it.

She felt flattered, all this attention, all the manpower just for her.

She was pulled to a halt in front of a huge man. He towered over her by at least two feet and his shoulders were almost as wide as Riddicks.

"Karla Dawn. Please be seated." He gestured to a nearby chair.

"I'll stand thanks" she replied.

She felt the butt of the rifle behind her left knee and landed on her knees with a thud missing the chair.

"I insist" Mace whispered down at her.

"Larendaron says you have something of interest. He'd like very much for you to give me this information so that I can relay it to him."

"Information? What information? Does it look like I'm hiding anything here?" she eyes him cautiously through her tangled hair.

"You have the coordinates to Furia do you not?" Mace stretched out his fingers, Karla heard them crack one by one and she cringed as she heard the creak from his leather gloves by her face.

"Furia. What's that?" she asked.

Mace hoisted her up by the collar of the coat she wore and threw her into the chair, it rocked backwards with the sheer force.

"You will give me the coordinates of Furia or I will have you executed"

Karla couldn't help but laugh; she threw her head back and laughed out loud.

"You're idiot Mace. Let's say I do have the coordinates and you do kill me what then? Will you hold a séance to drag the coordinates out of my soul?"

Mace considered his position for a moment.

"Alright, try this one. Give me the coordinates to Furia or I'll kill Riddick"

Karla glanced in the direction of the other cell seeing two silver orbs staring back.

"If you kill Riddick, you'll never get the coordinates" she said through clenched teeth.

"I'm growing tired of your games Mace."

"And I'm growing tired of you; which is bad news for you, honey" he took a fistful of her hair and lifted it to his face inhaling deeply her scent.

"Scan her" he ordered his men.

An ultraviolet light was shone over her body the results were displayed on a computer screen. Larendaron observed the screen as her image appeared. The scan showed nothing. He clenched his fist and slammed it into the table.

Karla laughed "Never in a million years Mace will you ever find what you're looking for".

In an instant she rocked back hard on her chair catching the merc behind her knocking him off balance. She backward rolled out of the chair and over the merc grabbing his laser rifle. Once upright she shot the first merc then aimed and fired wounding the second. The merc at her feet pulled his knife but before he had chance to use it he felt the full discharge of his rifle in his chest. That left one merc and Mace.

She trained the gun on Mace "I'd love to stay and chat but I really have to be going.".

"Keys?" she held out her hand and waited for the keys to Riddicks room. Mace tossed them on the floor. Bending slowly she kept her aim on Mace and the merc. She searched blindly for the keys with her free hand. She glanced down for only a moment but it gave Mace time to swing his leg and catch her on the side of her head knocking her off balance. Riddick pulled on the bars of his cage frantically trying to get out. Karla rolled onto her side and crouched firing a warning shot. She rose slowly and backed up to where Riddick was being kept. She fumbled with the keys until she had the right one and felt for the lock. Riddick heard the click as the lock was released. He ran from the cell and let out a roar as he ran towards Mace and the merc. Holding his arm out straight he caught the merc in the neck lifting him off the ground with the force of the blow and sending him crashing into the wall. All his attention focussed on Mace.

"Riddick, wait" Karla called. She ran to his side "Don't kill him, we need him"

"Need him?" Riddick questioned.

"Messenger boy" she replied then she turned to Mace "I want you to tell Larendaron that he'll never see Furia."

"Why don't you tell me yourself?" an all too familiar voice came from the doorway.

Karla looked towards the direction of the voice, her heart in her mouth

"Oh, shit" she said slowly.

It all happened so fast. Riddick and Karla were overwhelmed by mercs. Riddick was placed back in his cell and Karla was escorted out of the warehouse entirely. Riddick concentrated on her scent until she was too far away. He prowled his cell flexing his muscles trying to remain calm.

Imam stirred on the ship. Weak and thirsty he called for Riddick and Karla. No one came. The ship was ghostly silent. Moving slowly he edged himself off the bed and onto the floor. His legs felt shaky. In the bed next to him he could see blood and signs of a struggle. The sheets were scattered, cotton swabs lay on the floor, the bottle of alcohol solution had been knocked off the table and left smashed on the floor. Slowly he walked towards the door and opened it glancing right, then left before exiting.

"Riddick" he half whispered. "Karla?"

There was no reply. He made his way to the command deck, nothing and no one was present not even the slightest indication that anyone had been there recently. Out of the viewing screen movement caught his eye. Coming from a warehouse he made out several figures. Imams eyes grew wide when he saw who was the leader of the pack.

"Larendaron" he whispered. He watched as the neared the ship docked next to Riddicks. They held a captive. Imam strained to see past the many mercs that had surrounded the group. He caught a flash of auburn hair and a pale face.

"Karla" he said slowly. He looked for Riddick but couldn't see him then he remembered the blood in the med bay and made an assumption that the blood was Riddicks.

"Mister Riddick, Allah be merciful" he clasped his hands together, the pain in his chest forgotten.

Karla was dragged into the bowels of the ship and taken to a room filled with equipment not for the ship, this equipment was for use on people; this equipment was used to extract information. This equipment, she concluded, was to be used on her.

She felt herself gulp down a heavy breath as she was strapped into a chair and tilted backwards. Her eyes were almost blinded by a brilliant light coming from a nearby lamp. She struggled against the restraints but it was futile.

"Karla, Karla, Karla" Larendaron sang stroking her face and hair. "You've been a very naughty girl".

"You aint seen nothin' yet Laren" she spat. "When Riddick gets out he's gonna come lookin' for you and get shiv happy on your ass".

Laren wagged his finger "Oh, I don't think so" he purred "You see I gave Mace explicit instructions that I wanted Riddick dead, as opposed to alive." He sighed loudly "I really don't need him anymore now do I Karla".

Karla struggled once more against her restraints making Laren laugh.

"Poor pathetic little bitch. Where's your saviour now?"

Karlas eyes widened as she saw a tray of equipment being pulled towards her.

Laren leaned forward so he was next to her ear "I know where to look now" he whispered sticking out his tongue he licked the side of her face and ear.

Moments later a blood curdling scream was heard throughout the entire ship.

Imam, who was half way to the warehouse stopped in his tracks.

"Karla" he whispered upon hearing the scream. "My God, Karla"

He had to find Riddick or at least find his body. Limping along he reached the warehouse just as the engines on Larens ship fired up. Imam shielded his eyes from the dust that was being stirred up and felt helpless as he watched the ship with Karla on it taking off and disappearing into space.

Slowly he opened the warehouse door. To his left on a nearby table he saw a rifle, taking it in his hand he offered a brief prayer and request for forgiveness before taking small quiet steps forward. He could hear muffled voices and followed their noise into a dark open space.

He saw Riddick handcuffed to a chair blind folded with a bit in his mouth. His head slumped forward.

"Laren said he wanted him dead" a merc whined.

"Yeah but he didn't say how quick." Mace replied. "Lets not spoil the fun"

A merc raised his rifle and pressed the barrel to the back of Riddicks head "I say we finish him now!"

Mace thought for a moment.

"I guess if he were dead he'd be a lot less trouble."

Imam took a deep breath "Oh I wouldn't be too sure about that" he called.

In an instant the Mace and the merc were on the floor bleeding and still. Two laser rifle blasts with deadly precision found their mark Imam rushed over to Riddick and pulled the blindfold from his eyes. Riddicks eyes were already open.

"I thought you were dead" he whispered.

"Wishful thinking holy man" Riddick growled." Get me outta here"

Imam unfastened the cuffs and, after securing his goggles, led Riddick back to the ship; as they walked he told Riddick what he had seen earlier.

As soon as they entered the ship Riddick prepared the ship for take off.

He booted the scanner and scanned the area for ships matching Larendarons ship. Their scans were interrupted by spatial anomalies caused by solar flares coming from the sun.

"We have to get out of this. I can't see shit through the interference." Riddick said punching the control panel. The ship stuttered and then burst into life. Foregoing all taking off protocol, the ship was bursting out of Maras atmosphere within minutes.

Re calibrating the scanners he tried again.

"Short range sensors aren't showing anything Imam, switch to long range sensors".

"Fuck!" he slammed his fist into the command panel.

"Long range sensors picking up an E class ship, same configuration as Larens. I'm entering the coordinates." Imam replied.

There was nothing they could do now except wait, there was nothing easier and yet there was nothing harder. Each of the men felt entirely helpless watching the flashing blip on the screen slowly getting closer. They had no idea whether Karla was alive or dead nor did they know which one would be for the best. Riddick sat in the command chair sharpening the blade of his shiv. Imam stole a quiet moment to go to his quarters to pray. He prayed for Riddick, for Karla and for himself. He had spilled blood today; he had never killed before not one drop of blood had been spilled by his hand. He prayed to understand the feelings he was experiencing unnerved by the fact that he felt little or no remorse for his actions. He had killed and yet he felt nothing except a slow rage building in the pit of his stomach.

Throughout Larendarons ship an alarm sounded.

"Proximity alert sir". A merc checked the navigational computers. They were being tailed by a ship, a smaller, faster ship.

"Estimate time to weapons range twelve minutes"

Laren clasped his hands together and a broad smile spread across his face. "How interesting" he grinned "come for your bitch huh Riddick."

"Sir, we're being scanned"

"But of course we are you idiot!" Laren screamed.

"What have they got Imam?" Riddick asked.

"Imam raised his eyebrow "Not much Mister Riddick. Forward and aft shields, forward laser cannons aft plasma flares bright but not dangerous. Docking bay is to the aft"

"Whattdya say we take 'em up the ass" Riddick grinned.

"Whatever you say Mister Riddick" Imam felt a small smile creep its way across his face.

"Imam, we're about to land on a merc ship, chances are we're gonna get skull fucked six ways of Sunday I think you can call me Riddick".

Imam smiled "You have an intriguing choice of words Riddick" he commented.

"Intriguing, no, just plain true." Was Riddicks reply.

Larendaron addressed his meagre crew of twelve men. "Riddick is less than ten minutes away. He's armed and dangerous, he will kill you without thinking twice and enjoy it I shit you not. You'd better be ready." He was about to dismiss his men but offered one more piece of advice. "Shoot to kill men, you only get one chance."

His men nodded their understanding and armed themselves from the weapons locker.

"Mister Stacey is our guest comfortable?"

"Yes sir, Ms. Dawn is sedated. She will be of no advantage to them."

"I should hope not, for your sake." He paused "Was the extraction successful?"

"Yes Laren, we are analysing the data, it will take a few hours but we should have the coordinates to Furia by the end of the day."

"Excellent" Laren whispered "Excellent".

"Imam" Riddick spoke softly breaking the silence that had formed between them.

"Yes Riddick" Imam replied, his tone equally as soft.

"What God is it you pray to?"

"Allah" Imam paused taking a few steps closer to the Furian. "Why?"

"Does he listen?"

"I think so."

"Did you not pray for your sons, for those creatures on T2 not to take them?"

"Yes, I prayed for all of our comrades."

"How come he wasn't listening?"

"He was Riddick"

"Then why did he let all those people die?"

Imam settled a gentle hand on Riddicks huge right shoulder.

"Riddick, it is not for us to question why or how we will leave this world. It is not for us to challenge the will of God. Allah shows us how to deal with the hand we are dealt. He is always with me, guiding me, helping me. He is the one constant in my life and I know that when it is time for me to be at his right hand there is nothing I or anyone can do to stop him. But to those I leave behind he will help and guide them through the adjustment and show them that this life is not the only life worth living."

Riddick nodded.

"Did you pray for Karla?"

Imam nodded although Riddick couldn't see him. "Yes, I prayed for Karla; and for myself…and for you, Riddick."

Riddick stared at the view screen, they could see Larens ship clearly.

"Do you think she's alive?" Riddick asked.

Imam sighed gently and Riddick felt the grip on his shoulder tighten.

"I wish I could say for certain; but I cannot. All I can do is offer you my hope that she is."

There was a pause as Riddick aligned their ship with the docking bay of Larens.

"Ready to die Holy Man?" He turned to see Imams eyes knowing that if he spoke the truth, he would see it.

Imam nodded. Riddick could see and smell a slight tinge of fear but it had been buried beneath a sea of strength and resilience.

"Grab yourself a rifle and let's get to it."

Riddick guided the ship in and amongst the plasma flares; even with his goggles he could feel his eyes burning with the bright light as the flares exploded. Manoeuvring around the obstacle he brought the ship into dock. The docking clams of Riddicks ship latched onto the clamps of Larens ship.

Riddick knew they would be in a full blown fire fight as soon as the docking bay doors opened and grabbed a smoke grenade from the weapons locker.

As soon as the bay doors were wide enough he slipped the grenade in and waited.

"Grenade! Grenade!" A merc yelled.

The grenade hissed as it spewed white smoke obscuring the sight of the mercs on the other side of the door.

Riddick laid down a blanket of fire before approaching the open door. He climbed though offering covering fire as Imam followed. They stayed low as the bright lasers shot high over their heads.

Karla heard the commotion but she did not fight her restraints. She laid back, eyes closed. The sedative was wearing thin but she saw no reason to fight the inevitable. She was useless to them, she knew it and soon, she feared, they would know it also.

She wanted to die, wanted her life extinguished. She offered a whispered prayer to whatever power was listening for it to be quick and painful; she deserved pain, after what she had done, after her betrayal of Riddick, after succumbing to the invasive procedures performed by Laren, she deserved it all.

"Cover me" Riddick ordered as he moved forward. Imam watched through the rifles sights shooting at anything that moved or caught his eye.

Lasers danced past each other as Riddick progressed further into the ship followed by Imam. Several mercs were already dead.

Larendaron was coming, Riddick knew it, Laren wouldn't miss this opportunity not for one million credits.

"Karla!" Imam called thinking that if they could pin point her location it would make things a hell of a lot easier.

"Karla!" he called again.

Listening past the blasts from his laser rifle he heard nothing, no voice calling to him no sign that she was alive.

Riddick saw a merc on the floor clasping his leg. He was still alive and terrified as the huge figure he knew only as Riddick overshadowed his bleeding form.

"Where is she?" Riddick demanded aiming his rifle at the mans head.

"B.b..b..rigg" he stuttered a reply.

"Where is that?" Riddick asked

"B…b…below" the merc answered.

Riddick put the merc out of his misery, a single shot to his head, point blank range. Made one hell of a mess but the poor bastard wouldn't have felt it. He was a dead man anyway, if his wounds hadn't killed him slowly, Larendaron would have illed him for squealing the location of their prisoner.

Riddick and Imam made their way to the end of the corridor and down a pair of ladders to the deck below. Riddick let go several rungs from the bottom dropping to a crouch offering low cover fire for Imam to safely descend. His instincts proved correct, three mercs lay in wait for them; now they lay dead, their wounds smoking filling the corridor with the stench of burning flesh

"Karla!" Imam called, still nothing.

Riddick smelled the air. Through the pungent rusty blood scent, beneath the cold hard smell of death he found her. Following her scent it led them to a locked door. He blasted the lock with his laser rifle.

"Imam, I'll cover you."

Imam nodded walking into the room. It was bright, sterile and empty except for a small figure strapped to a bed.

She startled at his presence.

"Karla" he whispered stroking her cheek feeling the warmth and clamminess of her skin.

"Imam" she whimpered.

"Come Karla; let's get you out of here". He worked fast loosening the straps allowing her to move. She sat up then stopped.

"Imam, do you see a small glass test tube around here. We need it"

Imam searched and found a tube with a blue liquid in it and two spherical transparent shapes.

"I have it Karla, lets go" he headed for the door and turned, she wasn't following.

"Karla come on." He pleaded.

"I can't Imam, take the tube and go, it has all the information Riddick wanted. Now he's dead you have to destroy it Imam."

"Dead" Imam repeated "Karla, Riddick is here he came to get you back."

"I can't Imam. Just go, it's better this way, please" she pleaded.

Imam closed the gap between them and reaching down gently lifted her chin so her eyes could meet with his.

"Karla, why would you say this?"

She felt her head being lifted and rose her eyes up.

"I can't see" she whispered.

Her statement hit him in the gut, it was then he noticed her green eyes had dulled and she was staring blankly in his direction but not at him.

"I'm blind Imam" she took a deep breath "Now go before you get your fool self killed."

There was a pause, Karla stared wildly into her blackness for any sign that Imam was still in the room. Suddenly she felt his arm around her waist. "I'm not leaving you here at their mercy Karla I'll be hanged before I see that".

He guided her out of the room.

Riddick laid down fire as they proceeded to the ladders.

"I'll go first" Imam whispered to her "One foot at a time and you'll be fine. I'll be at the top waiting for you." He saw panic and despair across her face. Leaning down he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead." Don't worry Karla, you're strong, you can do this"

Slowly she nodded and waited until Imam had taken several steps before feeling in front of her. She followed slipping once or twice but she made it. Riddick followed watching for any sign of movement. Upon reaching the top deck he had expected an ambush.

"Laren!" He screamed "Larendaron you motherfucker come out and fight like a man you pussy!"

"Riddick" Imam broke in "I think we should get Karla to safety in stead of settling a score."

"Larendaron!"

"Riddick, Laren can wait" Imam pressed gently.

Riddick glanced around one last time "Alright." He lowered his voice "Lets get the fuck outta here, this party is over".

Imam guided Karla through the docking bay pressing on the top of her head telling her to watch out as the reached the bay doors.

Entering their ship, familiar territory Imam let out a sigh of relief.

Riddick walked to Karla "Did they get it?" he asked grabbing her shoulders.

"Did they get the information?"

"I don't know" she whispered.

"WHAT?" he bellowed at her "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

Using the remote he disengaged from Larens ship and set a course that fell into the "anywhere but here" category. Then he walked back over to Karla who hadn't moved an inch.

"What do you mean you don't know?" he quizzed spitting the words slowly and directly at her.

"Riddick" Imam placed a hand on Riddicks arm. Riddick shook him off violently.

"What did you tell them?" he asked shaking Karla "What did you give them?"
"Nothing!" she yelled back "I didn't give them anything. They took it."

"They took it! They took it! TOOK WHAT?"

Karla opened her eyes and looked at where she thought the shouting was coming from. It wasn't hard; she could feel his breath on her face.

"My sight." She whispered.

"She's blind Riddick" Imam followed up.

"What?" His voice lowered and he examined her closely with his eyes. They stared at nothing.

"The coordinates to Furia were engraved into the lenses of my eyes."

"The test tube" Imam whispered "We have the test tube, we have the information."

"They needed to unravel the data string, it should take hours, I don't think they had enough time to decrypt the information. But I can't be sure." Her face lowered "I'm sorry" she whispered.

Riddick couldn't bring himself to speak. He couldn't comprehend what had happened, what she was willing to give up in order for him to get home. Her sight, damn, that's one hell of a price to pay especially when he'd been such a bastard and yet she was still prepared to make a sacrifice.

"Imam?" she called softly "could you help me get to my quarters. I think I'd like to be alone".

Before Imam could reply Riddick took her elbow gently in his hand. "I'll take you" he offered.

She was in no position to argue.

He led her slowly through the ship to her room.

"Sit" he said when she felt the edges of her bed with her knees.

"They told me you were dead" she whispered searching with her blind eyes for any sign that he was still in the room…force of habit.

He knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. She pulled away gently and lifted her hands to his shoulders, feeling her way up his neck to his face. She felt the contours of his face slowly taking her time, chin, cheeks and full lips. He pulled off his goggles and allowed her to feel his eyelids and upwards to his forehead.

"It really is you" she said as delinquent tears tumbled from her eyes.

She fell forward allowing him to catch her before she fell off the bed. His arms surrounded her. He convinced himself he was just stopping her falling but a part of him, a small niggling part enjoyed the feel of her against him.

He lifted her with ease back onto her bed brushing her hair away from her face. He was struck by how dead her eyes looked. If they truly were the windows to the soul then her soul had already left the building.

"Do you need anything?" he asked standing.

"I'm umm" damn this was embarrassing "Could you…um…the bathroom" she finished.

He took her arm and helped her stand. Slowly he guided her into the bathroom and stood her in front of the toilet.

"It's in front of you. The sink is a little to your left"

"Thanks, I think I can take it from here."

He could sense that she was putting up a front. Deep down inside he could hear her heart beating out of her chest, her breathing was shallow and jittery her movements unsteady and uncertain. She was terrified and he knew it.

He was right, never had she felt more exposed. She had no idea if he was still in the bathroom or not. The feeling of blindness left her bewildered and raw, naked in front of the man she feared in more ways than one, the man she had made a promise to, the man who could take her life without warning. The monster.

"Riddick?" she whispered.

There was no answer but still she was unnerved.

Riddick left Karlas room and headed towards the command deck to check the position of Larens ship. Satisfied that Laren could not outrun him Riddick walked to the galley.

"Aldarhan ale" was his first request. "Hot beef sandwich" was his second.

Food never tasted so good he thought as he swallowed and ripped into a second bite of his sandwich.

Imam entered the galley reading a rolled up piece of paper.

"Reading the scrolls there Imam?"

"Actually Riddick this is a print out of what was engraved on Karlas lenses". Imam stood in front of the food replicator "Water, cold" he requested.

"Lemmie see?" Riddick sucked off the remnants of his sandwich from his fingers and held out his hands.

"I'm afraid it doesn't make much sense, yet. It still needs deciphering"

"How long will that take?"

Imam shrugged.

"Another fucking set back" Riddick sounded agitated. "I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get home. Fuck!"

Imam sat back with a look of disgust.

"What?" he asked

"Karla lost her sight in order for you to get home Riddick. I'm sure a little patience will be well rewarded."

"Hey, don't have a fuckin' go at me holy man, she offered up this intel I didn't drag it from her, I didn't cut the lenses out of her eyes." Riddick argued.

Imam nodded "Yes Riddick. She offered you the information, promised to take you back to Furia and all the while she knew what would happen to her"

Riddick threw up his hands "Well there you go, no hard feelin's. She offered, I accepted, end of story".

"I don't think she's capable of hard feelings Riddick" Imam blurted out. "She's lost and needs us now. I know you want to get home, as does she. You both fight for a common goal. She has helped you regardless of your treatment of her; would it do you any harm at all to offer help in return?"

"Meaning?" Riddick was lost. Sometimes the holy man would speak at such a length Riddick wished he'd just get to the fucking point.

"Can we not help her find her home? Return her to where she was taken all those years ago; allow her to put those demons to rest?"

Riddick considered Imams point of view.

"Alright" he conceded. "After we get the coordinates to Furia."

Karla felt her way along the corridor tripping every once in a while over her own feet. She was thirsty and hungry yet mindful of her last experience. The door to the galley was open and she stumbled in.

"Anybody here?" she asked.

"We're here Karla" Imam answered taking her elbow. She smiled in the direction of the hand that had taken her elbow hoping whomever had come to her aid saw her gratitude.

"Do you need anything?" Imam asked.

"A glass of water and something to eat…" she paused. "I'm not sure what though"

Imam set a glass of ice water next to her.

"It's on your right hand side" he said placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

She moved her hand to search for it and ended up knocking it over. Water spilled onto her lap and dripped down the table onto the floor.

She ran a tired hand lazily through her mess of tangled hair "Fuck" she whispered, her bottom lip shaking "FUCK!" she yelled swiping the table with her forearm knocking the empty glass off the table and sending it crashing into the bulkhead.

"I can't do this" she said, her voice shaky.

Riddick observed from the other side of the table.

"I can't fucking do this!" she yelled. She moved her head frantically. "Is anyone still here?" she pleaded…

"We're here" Imam answered.

She pushed backwards on her chair to stand up, using her knees with such force the chair fell onto it's back. As she took a step backwards she became tangled up in the chair legs and fell to the floor. Landing heavily one of the chair legs pressed into her ribcage.

"Ow Shit!" she yelled angrier at herself for being so stupid as to leave her quarters.

"Poor little blind girl!" she ranted pulling herself up using the table as leverage.

Imam didn't know what to do. Riddick stood and headed for the door.

"Riddick" Imam called after him but her was already gone.

Imam followed him out of the galley.

"Riddick!" he called but Riddick ignored the holy man "Riddick!" Imam yelled one more time trying to get his attention, once more he was ignored.

"Don't you dare walk away from her you heartless bastard!" Imam yelled.

Now that grabbed Riddicks attention.

"What?" he began quietly while turning on his heel to face Imam. "What did you say to me?"

Imam began to have second thoughts about his choice of words but it was a bit late in the day for remorse, more to the point Imam felt he was speaking fact. Riddick was heartless, all he wanted were the coordinates to his home and he would do anything to safeguard them.

Riddick slowly stepped towards Imam until they were only inches apart. Imams head had to tilt to see Riddicks face as he towered above.

"Heartless bastard" Riddick repeated soft and slowly.

Imam stood by his words and nodded.

Riddick threw back his head and laughed "Yes holy man you're right on both counts"

Imam was stunned as he watched Riddick walk away turning his back on him and Karla.

In the galley Imam heard the rumbling and scraping as he guessed would be the sound if someone was accidentally knocking into them.

"Hello" Karla called reaching out with her hands. "Anyone there?" she asked searching blindly for a familiar feature. Finding the wall she followed it to the galley door and Imam. He could see she had been crying, you would have to be blind yourself not to notice the deep white trenches zig-zagging across her dirt laden face.

"Come Karla, I will take you back to your room and bring you something to eat there"

Slowly she nodded, feeling defeated and weak she allowed Imam to lead her as one would lead a dog on a leash back to her room.

Larendaron surveyed the damage. Nine crew dead and a fucking huge mess to clear up. He clenched and unclenched his fists feeling the taught muscles in his shoulders pull against his skin. Riddick would pay for this. If it was the last thing Laren did Riddick would die a slow utterly painful death at his hand. He knelt by a member of his crew he noticed was still breathing albeit barely. The crewman held out a hand, Laren took it and squeezed.

"What's your name crewman?" he asked.

"B..b..blake sir," As he spoke Blakes mouth bled red thick blood.

"Well Blake" Laren said. "Remind me to send my condolences to your parents" And with that he reached down and snapped the dying mans neck ending his life immediately.

Laren looked at his gloves, they were covered in Blakes blood. With a look of disgust he wiped them against the dead mans uniform.

Something sat uneasy with Riddick as he mulled over the days events. Just how had Larendaron found their location so damned quickly. By his estimation Laren had to have been three days away and yet there he was on Mara a few hours after their capture. It didn't make sense no matter which way he played it the numbers just didn't add up. Frowning into his hand he watched the view screen, they were slowly leaving Larens ship behind.

"Karla" he said out loud.

He marched to her quarters and entered without knocking. She was sat upright on her bed eating something which Imam said would be gentle on her stomach.

"Who's that" she said immediately startled.

"Riddick" he answered.

He saw her back up the bed an inch or two and look in his general direction.

"We're gonna play a game Karla. I'm gonna ask you some questions and you're gonna answer them. And don't even think about lying, I can read you like a fuckin' book"

Karla gulped but nodded her agreement.

"How did Laren know where we were?"

"I..I..I don't understand" she stammered.

"The transmitter, was it a decoy?"

"What? No!" she answered he voice rising in volume.

"Then why is it that Laren should have been three days away from Mara, how come he arrived the same day we were caught?"

Karla felt herself creep further and further up the bed until her back rested against the bulkhead.

"I don't know" she answered quietly.

"Don't fucking lie to me Karla, you know what I do to traitors" The question was a rhetorical one. Karla felt panic rise up from her gut and she stood trying to get her bearings, if he was going to attack she wanted the chance to defend herself and couldn't do that sitting down.

"I don't know Riddick, please you have to believe me"

"I don't have to believe shit from you Karla. Ever since I saved your ass you've brought nothing but fucking trouble with you. I want answers and I want them NOW!" as he yelled he slammed his fist into the wall by her head making her jump.

Karla grew angry. Hell he wasn't the only one to have suffered over the past few days, the way she looked at it he got off the lightest.

"Fuck you Riddick. If you're gonna kill me get the fuck on with it I'm getting' bored."

Riddicks anger boiled over and he backhanded her sending her to the floor.

"Does that make you feel better huh DOES IT?" she screamed rising shakily to her feet "Do it again, c'mon what the fuck are you waiting for knock the stuffing outta me go right ahead, you think anything you do to me will be worse than what those BASTARDS have already done?" she had no idea how close she was standing to him. Their faces were inches apart, he witnessed the torment in her features, he saw the hurt in her dark eyes and he saw the passion behind those eyes and it was that passion that had just saved her life.

She paused and took a breath reaching blindly out with her hands they rested on his arms.

"You have shown me the only kindness I have ever known Riddick and yet you call me traitor. I kept my word and gave you the coordinates to your home world and have asked nothing in return and still you think I could betray you. I fought by your side on Mara and still you consider me a criminal." She moved her hands slowly up to his face so she could tell where he was looking. Satisfied he was looking at her she continued. "Tell me Riddick, what hurt have I caused that would bring you to such a conclusion. What wrong doing did I commit to make you hate me so much?"

Confusion reigned in Riddicks head. Damn she was messing with him big time.

"I have never lied to you Furian." She whispered. She followed her hands with her head