Chapter seven
Karla shifted slightly against the cold hard bulkhead.
"If I'm right, we can re-rout some power from the mainframe into the engines, we get a little more juice into the engine we could add some more speed to your ship. If we can build up enough speed we could shave a few hours off our trip."
She felt the gip around her neck tighten.
"A few hours, not good enough"
Karla tried to think as the air was slowly being cut off to her lungs.
"Well, you could shut off the environmental controls to all other decks and rooms if they're on individual controls. You could just run environmentals on the command deck; that should buy us some extra time."
Riddick mentally double checked what she had said, did it make sense? His grip didn't falter.
"You're wasting time" she managed to squeeze out.
His grip on her slackened and he allowed her to fall in a heap to the floor gasping.
"If you're lying, if this is some kind of fucked up trick…"
"I know" she gasped rubbing her neck lifting her head "You'll ghost my ass."
Pulling her up by her wrists he dragged her back to the command deck.
"Riddick, she is not a rabid dog she does not need to be dragged as though she were on a leash." Imam protested as he saw them enter, Karla double timing it to keep up with his excessively long strides.
"When I want your opinion I'll give it to you" he said looking squarely at Imam.
He threw Karla down on a chair with such force it almost toppled backwards. She shot out her hands instinctively; Imam reached for her and pulled her back upright.
"Now, what do we need to do?" Riddick asked.
"Um" she shook he head to clear her train of thought. "Reconfigure the main computer; divert power from all redundant systems. Lights first, they draw the most power. Then, kill environmentals on all decks, all areas except this one." She paused mentally adding up the average power output of each system and adding it to the engine. "Okay, go…" she couldn't hear any movement "move guys!"
Imam pulled himself onto a chair and his hands began to fly over the computer keyboard, slowly he began taking the ships systems offline and diverted the power to the engine. Riddick boosted the thrusters feeding them with the fresh juice. It was beginning to work, their speed was picking up. The last system Imam took offline was the lights, immediately feeling at a disadvantage he shifted uneasily in his chair. On T2 bad things happened in the dark, evil things lurked in the shadows ready to pounce and dismember without a second thought.
Riddick lifted his goggles to his forehead. Imam was still freaked out by the shining silver orbs; it reminded him that Riddick was a predator, an animal. He shivered, the dark felt colder somehow even though he hadn't cut environmentals to the command area.
"Well?" Karla asked uncertain as to why there was a silence on deck, there should be shouts of joy that they were going to make it.
"Were flying blind in a disabled ship without even so much as a compass to guide our way. There's a lot of space out there to get lost in kitten. Better hope we were on the money with the navigation before it was taken offline." Riddick rumbled.
"Assume the navs are on target" Karla replied.
"If the navs were correct then we should reach Solaris Prime in seven and a half hours…and we have…seven hours of air"
It took Karla a few seconds to gather what he had just said, in that time she had been knocked out of her chair and was sprawling across the floor.
"Not enough Karla!" he yelled.
Karla inched backwards pushing herself along the floor with her palms, her head was spinning, the figures in her head added up, they should have had twenty minutes or so to spare. Her blind eyes darted from side to side as she worked the figures again. There had to be something she'd missed, some little thing that had been carelessly overlooked, but what the fuck was it?
"I shudda ghosted you when I had the fuckin chance!" he spat at her.
She held out her hands in an attempt to fend off whatever assault he was planning to throw her way.
"Replicator!" she yelled at him "Imam, did you take the replicator offline?"
She could hear Imam checking the computer.
"Food replication system is showing as still online"
"That's it!" she said "That's the extra power, shut it down, kill it if you have to just take the goddamned thing down!" she yelled then waited.
"System offline, environmentals will fail in..." Karla held her breath and waited for Imam to finish. "Seven hours forty three minutes…Karla, you did it!" There was genuine shock and surprise in the holy mans voice.
"Nah, we did it Imam, I couldn't have done it without you, you did good" she said pushing her back against the wall and using it as support as she stood figuring that if Riddick was going to hit her she wouldn't fall backwards she'd just bounce off the bulkhead. Riddick heard her let out a long shaky breath. He grabbed her hand in an effort to help her stand; he had been wrong and at least wanted to demonstrate that he knew it. She slapped his hand away. Limping her way she felt for the chair that she had been knocked from only moments earlier, righting it from its upturned position she slumped down and allowed her head to fall back.
"You wait till I get my eyes back Riddick. I'm gonna kick your ass to hell and back" she murmured closing her eyes.
"Hell?" he asked in a whisper down by her right ear "I've already been to hell kitten, I didn't make it back."
She moved her head away from him and relaxed a little when she heard his footsteps move away. Exhausted she fell into a deep sleep.
But the monsters came.
Riddick sat in meditation, his index fingers forming a steeple shape pressed against the underside of his chin. Imam was resting in his chair occasionally he would exhale nosily but apart from that the holy man had a clear conscience and slept like the proverbial baby.
It started as gentle whispering, childlike almost.
"Go away" the whispering voice begged. Riddick picked beneath the whisper and heard almost silent sobs. "Go away" the whisperer said again. "Please" the voice sounded tormented aching with fear. "Don't" again the whisper begging almost whining still childlike. "No!" the whisper grew louder and he detected movement in Karlas direction as she shifted in her chair bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them effectively hugging herself.
"Please, don't I want my mommy." She mewed "I want to go home" she shifted suddenly arching her back and a primal scream escaped her mouth.
Riddick heard her breathing change to heavy pants and knew she had awoken. He heard her sobbing quietly and caught her shuddering once or twice.
"You alright?" he asked not moving.
She didn't answer right away, she inhaled deeply, wiped the tears from her face and rested her head on her knees, she didn't know it, couldn't know it but she was looking directly at him.
"It was just a dream" she answered in a hushed whisper.
"You sounded like a kid"
"Yeah, I was five. My arrival at slam was eagerly anticipated. I remember being taken to my cell, shackled like and animal and left in the dark alone for days. I thought they'd forgotten about me, but then they came back…" she couldn't continue a fresh wave of sadness took hold and she couldn't speak the words she so desperately wanted to purge from her body.
"Slam hold a lot of memories doesn't it" his question was a rhetorical one spoken as one would speak an open thought. His eyes shone into the distance as he remembered the many times he had frequented a slam. In his estimation he had spent two thirds of his life occupying a cell on some slam world or other. Incarcerated without trial or jury just because he was Furian and then just because he was Richard B Riddick violent mother fucker without a conscience.
"It's a plague" he spoke looking down at his idle hands "A disease that will destroy you if you let it."
She shifted uneasily in her chair.
"If I let it?" she questioned "Riddick, the few memories I possess are tied in with slam, it is the only home I remember. How am I to fight this disease if the disease is me?"
"You'll have other memories" as he spoke he heard her scoff.
"The memories after leaving slam aren't that cosy Riddick"
He couldn't make out whether she was making a joke or being serious, the one thing he did know was that she was being honest, she had had a rough ride since slam probably not what she expected but then is it fair to have expectations, should they not just be labelled as hopes or dreams? Then at least if they are not realised you could shrug it off to a delusion of grandeur.
"I have no home, no where to go. Tell me Riddick, how does a person embrace the nomad life and find comfort in it? How am I to reconcile the fact that I have no place in this universe?"
"Everyone has a place in the universe." Riddick paused turning to her watching how her body had curled up into a protective ball in the chair. What would happen when he returned to Furia? Would he put down roots, would he meet and mate with one of his own? Was it even possible?
"It seems to me" he began thoughtfully, working out the words before he spoke them. "that to protect something as you have, to safeguard it against the wrong hands and to do everything in your power to return it to the place where it belongs is the very place you should be heading." He took a breath and watched the look of puzzlement spread over her face. "You protected the coordinates to my home world with your life and your sight, seems like you should at least see the place you're fighting so hard to protect"
Karla looked in the direction of his voice.
"You want me to go to Furia with you?" she asked with an uncertain tone.
"If you have nothing else better to do" he replied.
Confusion settled over Karla like a barbed wire blanket, uncomfortable yet impossible to break free from. Did he really need her around for any longer that necessary?
"You were gonna blast me out the airlock not that long ago Riddick and now you're asking me to accompany you home? You'll have the coordinates to your home world soon you won't need me."
"Won't I?" he shot back quickly.
"You can leave me on Solaris Prime" she said flatly. It wasn't what she wanted but neither was playing scapegoat to every problem that presented itself. She resented that he always came looking to blame her or expect her to be able to solve it in a matter of seconds. It wasn't fair the way she had been treated, this was worse than slam at least in slam you knew you were bait twenty four fuckin seven but Riddick kept sending out conflicting signals, one minute he's a bad ass the next minute he's using his mouth for something other that cussing. It would break her heart to leave Imam; he was a kind gentle spirit that soothed her aching tormented soul. What would she do without him, if Laren came looking for her with no one there to guide her, what then?
"And Laren, have you forgotten?" Riddick asked slowly.
"No Riddick, I haven't forgotten. But there comes a time when you have to face your fears, and besides you'll kill me before he does if I stay on your ship."
Riddick wasn't sure if she was being funny when she said that; did she really compare him with Laren? Did she really think he could kill her after he had gone out of his way to save her ass? Slowly he nodded into his pyramid of fingers, yes, he concluded, she did but more to the point she was probably right.
Karla turned and fell back to sleep, a light sleep born from not wanting to talk to Riddick anymore and more to the point, the nightmares that plagued her would not surface if she kept the sleep light.
Imam stretched and shivered as he opened his eyes. The dim star light from the screen was the only thing he could see, that and Riddicks eyes focussed directly on him.
"Have we reached Solaris Prime yet?" he asked rubbing his sleep encrusted eyes.
Riddick nodded slowly "Yeah, another half hour and we'll be landing."
Imam's heart beat quickened as he counted the years and wondered if anything had changed.
He glanced over and just made out Karlas still form.
"Should I wake her?" he asked
"Leave her to rest, she's gonna need it" Riddick said blandly. "She's staying" he uttered the two words like they were the first spoken words of a child, alien and yet incredibly familiar.
"With us until we reach Furia, yes I know." Imam chimed in.
Riddick shook his head "She's staying on Solaris Prime."
"What?" Imam gasped "No, Riddick you cannot let her, you mustn't allow her…"
"She's not a slave, we can't make her do shit" Riddick interrupted.
"I will talk to her; persuade her not to do this….stay here? No, this is a bad place."
Solaris Prime rolled steadily into view. A bleak looking planet considering its name should have something to do with brightness and warmth; but nothing here reminded Imam of the sun. The ship landed on the outskirts of the main city with a thunk. Rain assaulted the outer hull, the noise sounded like a thousand crazy rats running over their heads.
The jolt as they hit solid ground awoke Karla.
"I gather we've landed" she said dryly. "What is that noise…" she asked and then her face altered as she realised "Is that rain?"
"Yeah, it's pissing down" Riddick answered.
Karla rose from her chair and felt her way to the door of the command deck.
"Imam, release the docking bay doors" she asked "let's let some fresh air in."
The grinding noise of metal on metal echoed throughout the ship as the bay doors opened under protest. With no climate control for hours the joints had almost frozen solid.
Karla paused allowing the gentle rush of luke warm air to greet her.
"Hello Solaris Prime" she inhaled deeply before feeling her way to the loading bay and down the loading ramp.
The rain fell onto her skin in tiny droplets. Her hair dripped over her face and down her back as she lifted her head to the sky. Sticking out her tongue she tasted the water falling from the sky. She held her arms outstretched allowing the water to find its way to every curve, every hidden corner of her body. It felt good; it felt really good to be standing free in the open air being cleansed by rain water.
Imam watched from the safety and dryness of the loading bay. Riddick tossed him a cloak and waded outside to hand one to Karla.
"Put that on" he ordered.
"Are you kidding? Do you know how many years it has been since I felt rain?" she argued.
"I don't care how long it's been, this rain water aint safe for you to be taking a bath in. Put it on"
Imam trudged down the rams as Riddick pressed his remote for the ships loading bay doors to close. Karla swung the cloak over her shoulders and pulled the hood over her head. Imam took her elbow and they followed Riddick. He set a fast pace but he knew better than to hang around outskirts of the city or not they were in full view of anyone wanting an easy target. It didn't take a genius to figure they were from out of town.
The city streets stank of rot and filth both human and domestic. They were littered with debris and the occasional pool of blood from the latest out bust between the locals and the scavengers. Riddick kept to the dark alleyways, to Imam it was like a warren where an animal would run to loose it's hunter, he was already lost and found it hard keeping up with Riddick. Riddick knew where he was going. They arrived at a bordered up building in a serious state of disrepair. He peeled back a huge wooden board to reveal a small doorway. He motioned for Imam and Karla to enter as they did he checked one last time to make sure they had not been followed.
Once inside Riddick took the lead once more pushing fallen tables and chairs out of their path, he led them to another doorway, this one, it looked, as though it led underground. Imam led Karla down the dark stairs slipping occasionally but managing not to fall. Riddick stayed behind alert, tuning his senses, readying himself for any surprises. Solaris Prime was always full of surprises.
At the bottom of the stairs was a tunnel, dimly lit by naked flamed torched strapped to the moss covered walls. At the end was a door. Riddick gestured with his hand for them to continue straight ahead, it was the only direction they could go.
About twenty feet from the door Riddick pulled his companions to a halt.
"Whatever is through that door, you let me do the talking. Whatever you see in there you never speak of even to me, ever. Am I understood?"
Karla nodded, fear filled her expression. Imam nodded silently his eyes never leaving Riddicks.
"Alright then in we go" Riddick spoke and pushed open the door.
Imams eyes grew wide as he took in the sight that unfolded before him.
Flickering strip lights shone on huge glass tanks, tanks filled with a watery substance and what looked like human remains. The pumps on the tanks rattled and bubbles rose to the surface before bursting. The floor was damp and pools of the tank water were dotted around. As they moved forward their boots scratched and crunched the loose grit on the floor.
"Marveyon? Setta Marveyon?" Riddick called.
A bald man appeared from behind a tank, his hands were shaking and the pistol he held fell to the floor.
"Low rumbling voice, pronounced muscular features, freshly shaven head…that can only mean one thing." The man smiled and opened his arms. "Riddick, where the hell have you been these past eight years my boy?"
"It's a long story Set" Riddick replied.
"Eight years, has it really been so long my friend." Setta wore a look of disbelief "But now tell me, after so many years, why are you on my doorstep once again?"
Riddick motioned for Imam to bring Karla forward.
"Got a shine job for ya" he announced pulling Karla to stand in front of Setta.
Karla felt unfamiliar hands grab her face roughly and tilt it upwards. Her body stiffened, uncertain of what was happening.
Setta spoke slowly, his breath, Karla noticed reeked.
"Never done a shine job on a female before" he tilted her head again. "Pretty eyes, pretty colour…yeah…yep, alright, shouldn't be a problem, pretty straight forward." There was a pause as he released her face; she took a step back thankfully finding Imam not too far from her side.
"Does she know how much it's gonna hurt?" Setta asked
"She?" Karla asked "Don't talk about me like I'm not here. Just because I can't see does not mean I am deaf also."
Setta coughed and cleared his throat "Thought you kept your bitches on a tight leash Riddick" he mocked
"She aint my bitch Setta, watch your fuckin' mouth or I'll carve out your tongue." Riddick rumbled.
Setta raised his hands in mock surrender and forced a laugh. "Alright man, I just figured it's gonna cost ya a shit load of credits you don't normally waste that on…gutter trash."
"I told you to watch your fuckin' mouth." Riddick growled.
Karla felt the nervousness rise from her toes up to the last hair on her head. Listening to the verbal sparring session that was taking place did not fill her with confidence, this guy, this Setta was going to be fucking with her eyes, she wanted, no, she needed him to get it right and Riddick didn't appear to be helping.
"How much" she interrupted "will it hurt?"
There was a brief pause as she waited
"Young lady you're gonna wish you were dead. The burning'll drive you crazy before the stinging. Imagine having a thousand red hot needles inserted into your eyes one at a time over a period of three days, multiply that by a thousand and you might just get a vague idea of what you're gonna be facing. So, I ask you again, are you sure you wanna do this 'cause once we get started you can't change your mind."
Karla swallowed hard before answering with a firm "Yes."
Without another word Seta grabbed Karla by the arm and led her to a table. Riddick and Imam watched as she hoisted herself onto the table and laid down. Setta approached with a needle to dull the pain. He couldn't knock her out, her eyes needed to be open for the shine job to work.
"You wanna stay holy man?" Riddick asked folding his arms over his chest. "There's gonna be blood."
Imams eyes widened as he watched Seta get to work with an instrument that looked like it had been designed to torture. Unable to speak he only nodded.
The first screams were the loudest from Karla, the initial cut into each eye was agony personified, she felt the scalpel slice through the tender flesh of each iris convinced he was trying to sever a part of her brain it felt so deep.
Imam pushed his fears aside and rushed to her side. He grasped her hand tightly and whispered into her ear poetry, prayer, folk tales from New Mecca anything he could think of. Riddick kept guard at the door feeling sure that her screams would attract attention even though they were three storeys underground.
"Don't let her loose consciousness" Setta said looking at Imam "Her eyes need to remain open."
Imam thought the task would prove impossible, he whispered for her to stay awake, to stay with him, to concentrate on his voice, to block out the pain.
Setta mopped the blood that had spilled as red tears from her eyes before announcing that he was done.
Imam stared at the shining eyes that stared straight ahead. Karla didn't move, the pain in her head when she moved her eyes even a little was unbearable. Her body shook from the shock of the event, it had to repair itself.
"I can't see" she whispered. "Can't see" her words were barely audible, her throat scratched from screaming and her body yearning for a shut down and re boot.
"Your eyes need to heal Karla" Imam soothed looking towards Setta for encouragement "I imagine the nerve endings will be swollen. It will subside in a day or two and then you will see, you will see child."
He watched as Karlas head lolled from one side to the other before it stilled, her muscles relaxed, her hand slipped from his and her fight to remain conscious was lost.
Riddick stepped forward and paid Seta for his trouble.
"We were never here" he said.
Setta nodded as he greedily counted the credits noting that Riddick had thrown in an extra thousand to buy his silence.
"Always a pleasure Riddick." He grinned.
Riddick moved to the table where Karla lay and scooped her up into his arms.
"Riddick?" Imam questioned.
"We can't stay here Imam, let's go" he moved towards the door.
"But, Riddick, is this a wise course of action, she has been through a terrible ordeal."
Riddick let out a heavy sigh; just once, just fucking once would the Holy man do what he was asked without question.
"We're not going far Imam, I know a place, a safe place." He nodded to Setta and left through the doorway.
Imam pulled the cloak around Karlas body, she whimpered at his touch.
They climbed the stairs and stumbled through the room they first entered. Once outside Riddick grimaced, it was still raining. He moved quickly turning left, and then left again taking large strides down a dark alleyway. Imam struggled to keep up with the Furians pace, one of his strides took Imam two steps to catch up so his legs were working twice as hard.
Rounding a corner flanked by high walls on either side they came to a building, it was a motel of sorts. Tossing a few hundred credits on the counter Riddick requested a room. The man behind the counter eyed the group cautiously and tried to peer at what was concealed under the cloak in Riddicks arms. He rubbed his oversized gut and belched loudly before tossing a key across the counter. Imam picked it up.
"Up the stairs, third door on your left" the man grunted before belching again and sitting back down in his half rotten chair.
Imam held the door open for Riddick and they climbed the stairs slowly.
Imam went on ahead with the key to unlock the door to their room. The door creaked as the hinges argued; there was single light in the centre of the room suspended from the ceiling. The window was closed and the curtains were half drawn. There were two single beds and something that looked like it used to be a sofa. The sheets were filthy and the floor was littered with domestic refuse. Imam surveyed the area with disdain, was this really any place to bring Karla to recover?
Riddick carried Karla through the door and laid her on the bed.
"Watch her" was all he said before walking back out the way he had just come in.
Riddick took the steps two at a time as he found his way out into the dark streets. He followed his senses to a bar. The neon lights flickered causing pain to his protected eyes. He sat at the bar and ordered a beer. He observed the crowd, there were groups of them hovering over tables whispering, kissing, making promises on deals and sexual favours. It was a hive of villainy. As people walked by they couldn't help but notice and watch the stranger that had appeared at the bar drinking a beer. Riddick didn't care, he was used to being watched, he gauged each and everyone of them in terms of height, weight and whether they carried a weapon; in doing so he could judge how likely they were to start a fight and how likely he was to beat them to a whimpering pulp.
"Buy me a drink?" A velvety smooth female voice washed over him. He turned to see who had addressed him.
The first thing he saw was her eyes, brilliant pools of emerald green crowned by ringlets of blond hair. She was dressed in a tan leather tunic and pants; he didn't bother to catch what she wore on her feet.
He nodded his acceptance of her request and she ordered a beer from the guy working the bar.
"You're new here" she stated. "It's nice to see some new blood in the area."
Riddick wasn't feeling much like conversation, he was mentally undressing her with his eyes wondering if she gave easily. His eyes fixed on a pendant she wore which dangled provocatively between her adequate breasts. It had been a long while since Riddick had had a woman. His body began to ache as she took the seat next to him and her scent assaulted his nostrils. He smelled fire in her, fire and lust…but for whom, for him?
"I watched you when you came in, wondered how a guy like you was…alone" she placed a delicate hand on his thigh. He took a long pull from his beer finishing it and gesturing to the barman to bring another.
"Not much of a talker are you" she half teased half purred at his trying to find his eyes with her own. "That's okay, what I wanna do to you doesn't involve talking."
"Price?" Riddick demanded.
"One hundred credits gets you whatever you want honey" she replied wrapping a hand around his head. Riddick sank his fresh beer down in one, grabbed her arm and led her outside. Throwing her up against a wall he penned her in placing a hand either side of her. Leaning down he inhaled sharply, he drank her in. This was going to get very interesting.
He lifted her up by placing his hands under hers and pressed his hips into hers pinning her to the wall. She wrapped her legs around him in a vice like grip. His lips descended on the tender flesh of her neck, she tasted so goddamned sweet and he was hungry for more. His hands roughly traced the contours of her body he was spurred on by her giggles and requests for more. Without letting go he carried her around the corner where they could enjoy a little more privacy. She arched her back into him as he pushed her against the side of the bar. He had to mentally stop himself from kissing her on the mouth, never the mouth that being the difference with Karla all he wanted to do was kiss her mouth.
He slipped her panties aside and found his way inside her eager for release the animal in him broke free. His fingers clawed at her skin and he heard her scream for him, beg him for more, he pulled her face down to look at him, her eyes were closed.
He didn't care, at that moment he didn't give a damn if there were a thousand mercs behind him, he needed release, he needed to be an animal.
And an animal he was, pounding into her leaving her breathless not caring if she had enjoyed the fuck or not. It was fast, hard and brutal and when he had finished he left her on the floor, bruised and exhausted aching and scratched. He tossed the credits on the floor near her used body wiped himself off and walked away; no names, no numbers exchanged, he didn't look back.
Damn he felt dirty and that in turn made him horny. He disappeared into the night.
Karla didn't dare open her eyes, couldn't bare the pain and didn't want the disappointment of still not being able to see. She could hear Imam praying off somewhere to her left. He stopped when he hears her move.
"Did you rest well?" he asked
Karla shook her head.
"You should try to open your eyes, try to use them even if it is only for a little while." He offered with a gentle tone.
"I can't" she replied
"But Karla why?"
"Scared to" she told him
She heard Imam chuckle and wondered what it was he found so funny, she certainly didn't see the funny side, her head was in agony and the minute she opened her eyes she knew the onslaught of pain would bring her to her knees within seconds.
"There is nothing to fear except the fear itself" Imam whispered.
"You know Imam, that double talking nonsensical crap is really beginning tio get to me a little. Do you think just this one time you could lay off and do something constructive." She bit her bottom lip knowing that her outburst was uncalled for.
"Sorry" she muttered "It just…hurts so damn much."
"And it will not get any easier the longer you leave it. Your eyelids will scab over and seal themselves shut and Riddick will have to cut them open" Imam knew he was stretching the truth a little, her eyelids may suffer but he doubted they would seal themselves and Riddick, well he would never let Riddick near her eyes with a shiv. She felt Imams warm hands over hers and he offered them a gentle squeeze.
"We have been through so much, you and I, let us do this together also"
Karla nodded and held her head steady. Slowly, her body sending conflicting signals in a hope to avert pain she fought to open her eyes. One eyelid cracked open followed by the other one. Still she saw nothing. As she fought hard against the pain she opened her eyes a little more. Imam watched closely for the tell tale quick silver signature shine. The way her eyelids hung made her eyes look like upside down crescent moons. Imam swore they were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
Karla gasped.
"Shadows, Imam, I think I see shadows" for a moment the pain was forgotten as she concentrated on the shadows. A smile crept over her face and her lids lifted a little higher. Bad move, she pushed the heels of her hands into her forehead and shrieked in pain.
Imam put a hand on her shoulder before kneeling on the bed where she was sat and enveloping her in his arms.
Riddick made his way through the streets effortlessly weaving through the endless alleyways. His strides long and filled with purpose, his senses on high alert he was tracking, tracking something…interesting.
The bar enticed him in as he followed the scent of cinnamon. With a sense of déjà vu he seated himself at the bar and ordered a beer. As he waited he watched the crowd as he had done earlier that night, same crowd, different bar he concluded, there was no major threat here. He prowled looking for another female to escort outside.
He drank his beer in silence waiting for opportunity to pass his way. Several women had caught his eye, but none offered themselves. He was beginning to think that this would prove to be a little more difficult. Then, over by the pool table two men began to argue. Riddick wasn't sure what it was they were arguing about and didn't really want to get involved but when a beer glass was launched in his direction and smashed inches from his head he couldn't ignore it. Rising slowly he hoped that by taking his time the two assholes would have taken their grievance outside but tonight was not his night.
"What the fuck are you lookin' at bitch?" The larger man spat noticing Riddick was staring at them. Riddick shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest concealing the shiv he had in his right hand.
The large man closed the gap between them and stood eyeball to eyeball with Riddick, the mans friend of course was there to back him up, all thoughts of their argument behind them.
The larger man smashed a beer bottle against the wall and held the jagged neck. Riddick looked bemused at the pathetic display of manhood.
"I just came in here for a quiet drink" Riddick rumbled. "But then you guys just had to go off and spoil my night." He began to shake his head. "If there's one thing I don't like, it's a pussy with attitude"
The mans expression changed from smart ass to furious. He lunged at Riddick with the glass weapon. Riddicks feet remained rooted to their spot and he moved his upper body out of the way.
"That one, you get for free, the next one you're gonna pay for." Riddick gave the men fair warning but they didn't listen. The larger man looked to his friend before they both lunged for Riddick. One arm outstretched Riddick walked forward catching the smaller man in the neck with his arm and flashing the blade of his shiv. The man was sent sprawling to the floor clutching his throat as his Addams apple began to swell and constrict his air flow. The larger man watched his friend flail around like a fish out of water before turning his attention to Riddick. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled knife and held it in his free hand. Riddick shifted his weight and smirked at the pathetic blade. The mans' hands were shaking slightly and Riddick could smell his fear. Perspiration flecked Riddicks forehead yet he remained unphased . The crowd of drinkers had long since fallen silent; all eyes had turned to watch the battle. Riddick could feel their stares burning into his back, he hoped that no one got too close, but then it was their choice and not his responsibility should they get in harms way.
The man lunged forward bottle and knife swinging in different directions. Riddick used his forearms to block both blows as they headed his way. Then he swiftly turned and grabbed the mans left arm using his momentum to pull him over his shoulder and send him crashing to the floor. With a sharp twist the mans hand which had held the broken bottle was broken, an onlooker gasped at the sound of the mans bones braking.
"Ah shit man, shit, you broke my fuckin' wrist" the man gasped on the floor unable to move as Riddick still held his wrist at an unnatural angle.
Riddick was aware that his friend had recovered sufficiently to launch a second attack. Behind him he could sense he was coming up and stuck out his hand, shiv extended, the blade resting horizontally against his wrist waiting for the man to walk into his own death.
He had them both yet why did he suddenly feel defenceless.
A sharp pain on the side of his head, a sudden gush of blood and a stinging sensation in his lower abdomen brought Riddick to his knees; a sharp blow under his chin and something hitting him hard over the back of his head pushed him to the floor. Before he knew it he had several men sitting on his legs and back, he felt his arms being yanked in every direction and eventually behind his back. The cold familiarity of handcuffs being tightened around his wrists was the last thing Richard B Riddick remembered before slipping into an agony filled dreamless unconsciousness.
"Where's Riddick?" Karla asked pulling away from his embrace.
"He stepped out for a little while. I'm sure he'll return soon."
"I wonder when you'll be leaving" she spoke her thought aloud.
"I
imagine as soon as the ship is space worthy again or unless he
commandeers another ship."
"You mean unless he steals one?"
Imam didn't answer, Karla was smart enough to figure out that if it came between stealing or getting sent back to slam it was a no brainer he'd steal without thinking twice about it.
She let out a heavy sigh. "I can't wait for my eyes to stop hurting. I hope you'll at least be around so that I can see you when we say goodbye."
Imams heart sank, she had definitely set her mind to staying.
"Karla, my sweet child; I hope you change your mind once you see what this planet really is."
"I have to stay Imam, I don't have a choice. If I go with you I'll just make things worse. Riddick doesn't know what to do with me kill me or make love to me" she regretted saying the latter part of that sentence. "I mean one minute he's nice and the next he's strangling me or accusing me of being a traitor. Don't you see Imam staying here would be the lesser of two evils. I can't stand being around him."
"It sounds as though you're in love with him" Imam spoke in jest and was about to chuckle when he caught her expression. Her face was filled with torment, her lips quivered as though she were about to cry. Her hand shook slightly as he reached for it to hold in his; she was, he concluded, in love with him. His eyes lowered to the floor and a part of his heart died. Since their meeting he had wondered, had hoped even that given time she would come to see him as more than a companion. Since she had been brought on board he had felt a special connection with her, sensed an inner beauty in her that Riddick couldn't possibly. Riddick could not appreciate her for the amazing person she is and so he was baffled as to why she would have these feelings for him. He knew that Riddick wasn't without feelings for this girl but the urians feelings cantered mainly around his crotch area and once that itch had been scratched he feared she would be tossed away like garbage just like the ones before her. HE concluded that the only thing Riddick found attractive about her was her will to resist him – should that will fail it would destroy her, he would be her king and she his slave.
"You could always stay with me" Karla whispered.
Imams eyes widened as he considered her proposition. To stay with her on Solaris Prime would mean that she would have to live as though she were in slam all over again just without the torture.
"I cannot" he spoke quietly.
"Why Imam, you really like wasting your life with Riddick?"
"No Karla, I have to go but not because I feel an allegiance to Riddick, I leave because I must." His heart began to beat faster as he felt Karla shift her weight on the bed.
"Talk to me Imam?" she asked him and he could not refuse.
"It was all such a long time ago" he began. "At least, it feels that way. I have not always been a religious man Karla I was once a killer cold blooded and unrepentant just like Riddick. I killed for pleasure, I killed for money, and I killed because I was good at it." He watcher her face fill with fear, it tore him apart to tell her but she had asked him and he would never lie to her or deny her anything.
"I was lost in a world filled with hate and torment. Killing appeased the rage in my soul. I am a wanted man on several worlds and Solaris Prime is one of them." He closed is eyes and waited for her to turn, they always turned, as soon as they know the truth they turn that is why he couldn't bring himself to tell people even the ones he cared about. But he was wrong; Karla Dawn was not like the others.
"You have carried a heavy burden for too long Imam" she felt for his shoulder and placed her hand on it softly "You cannot compare yourself to what you once were; you have to stop living in the past and grasp on to whatever the future holds." She spoke with such enthusiasm Imam found himself drawn to her as though she had a magnetic pull. Gripping her face in his hands he pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly. He was encouraged when she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer deepening the kiss. She allowed him to gently push her from a sitting position to a laying position on the bed. A feeling of arousal filled his entire being when she took his hand and guided it under her shirt to her supple breasts. She arched her back as he nipped on the tender flesh of her breasts. He found it hard to believe that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. All this time she had not displayed any of the signs that she had feelings for him. He groaned as he felt her nipple harden in his mouth, his hands inched their way to her hips and grasped them pulling her closer to him, he rubbed his hips against hers. Her hands gripped the back of his head as she pulled his head down closer to her chest allowing him to take in more of her breast into his mouth.
"No" she said pushing him away "I don't want this Imam."
Imam sat up stunned, she had been so compliant so indulgent.
"I'm sorry" she whispered pulling her shirt down.
She felt the bed shift as he rose and walked away from her, she heard the door slam and shuddered at the realisation that she was alone.
Riddick awoke to a world of pain. His head spun his gut ached and there was dried blood crusting over his body. His hands were bound behind his back and a chain ran from the handcuffs to the wall. He tested the chain; there wasn't much to play with, maybe three feet at a stretch, not enough to reach the door. The room he was held in was small, the floor was damp and gritty and smelled of rotting rodents. It was dark, just the way he like it. He listened carefully to the sounds surrounding him before making an attempt to stand up. His boots grated on the floor stirring up more grit.
A bolt slid on the door unlocking it and it opened. Several men walked in all armed all trying to look dangerous. Through the middle as they parted another man walked in. He was Riddicks height, slimmer build, he wore black boots with steel toe caps, leather pants tan tunic and carried a pulse pistol as his side arm. He held an electronic pad in his right hand and pressed a few keys.
"Richard B Riddick; welcome to Solaris Prime" he swept in a low bow and extended his arm to the side exposing a large tribal tattoo on the inside of his forearm. Riddick was familiar with the symbol it represented the Necha. The Necha police the main cities of Solaris Prime, they run the cities taking money for protection; they have scouts at every port and beyond, nothing goes unnoticed and when an escaped convict lands on their turf they have the means and the knowledge to act and act fast.
"My name is Sodarn, I will be your…host until other arrangements can be made." As he smiled Riddick caught a glimpse of his silver teeth filed to a sharp point, this guy fought dirty and Riddick made a mental note.
"Don't I get a room with a view?" Riddick asked.
Sodarn motioned to one of his guards who immediately used the butt of his rifle in Riddicks gut, when Riddick doubled over the butt caught him on his left cheek. Riddick struggled against his cuffs much to the amusement of the Necha.
"You'd do well to not aggravate those cuffs. The more you fight them, the tighter they become." Sodarn bent down to whisper in Riddicks ear. "Eventually the blood supply with he stopped, your hands will go numb and, over a period of several suffering days, they will die and need amputating." He turned on his heel and left the room.
"Lock it down" he ordered.
Riddick heard the bolts grind back into place as the huge iron door closed. He growled and rattled the chains in frustration.
Sodarn marched through the compound where they were holding the infamous Richard B Riddick.
"What information do we have on him Gabrielle?" he asked a computer tech who punched a few keys to bring up the display.
"Last known location was Mara, he was travelling with another guy and a girl, Karla Dawn also escaped from slam. The bounty on her is half a million credits. The other guy I'm still waiting for a confirmation of identity I'll let you know as soon as I find out anything."
"I'll be in my room" Sodarn informed his men.
Gabrielle tapped on the keyboard searching for more information of the third traveller. Everyone had to be someone; everyone has a past ready to be uncovered.
Karla heard the door open and close.
"Imam, Riddick?" she asked aloud trying to focus on the shadowy figure that had entered the room.
"It's me" Imam spoke quietly.
"Where did you go?" Karla asked feeling a lump in her throat.
"I needed some air. I'm sorry if I alarmed you." He answered. His attitude towards her had changed, they had crossed that invisible line and now there was no going back. They had both exposed themselves, their thoughts and their feelings. Imam felt stupid, Karla felt confused unsure of way she had acted the way she had. She felt guilty for having encouraged him. Imam scolded himself for ever thinking that a woman like Karla would ever want him. Karla had spent her life in slam performing for the delight of others, she slipped into her role easily sometimes without realising it. It happened with Riddick in the galley and it had just happened with Imam. The men, the dominant force, made their wishes known and she must comply. Imam would never know what courage it took for her to say no and Karla could only assume the amount of courage it took for Imam to make his move.
The silence was an uncomfortable one.
"Riddick should have been back by now" Karla stated hoping for a response.
"Should we be worried about him?"
"I wouldn't waste your time Karla. We came here for two reasons, reason one was so that you could have your eyes shined…" Imam trailed off knowing he was about to say something out of malice which is something he hadn't done in decades.
"And the other reason?" she had to ask.
"Riddick has been alone for many days without the company of a female. Solaris Prime is a haven for thieves and scavengers but it is also home to many women who accept payment in exchange for sexual favours." He could feel the hairs on his neck stand on end as he waited for the repercussions of his words.
"Oh" she said quietly. Karla couldn't help but think of what he was doing right now. Who he was with, was she pretty, did she give him everything he wanted? She pushed the thoughts of him to the back of her mind and told herself not to be so stupid this was Riddick eternal bad ass mother fucker why change the habits of a life time? She settled on her bed and closed her aching eyes. Imam watched as her chest heaved and fell in a gentle rhythm.
If he were being honest, Imam was worried about the whereabouts of Riddick. The situation was familiar to him but something had changed. Riddick always brought the ladies to the ship never trusting himself in the open air, his concentration, his senses would be down and he would be an easy target. On the occasions when he had gone on the prowl he had never been this long. Imam began to feel uncomfortable and several thoughts crossed his already overstocked mind. Riddick had already left Solaris Prime, left the girl and him to fend for themselves, but that couldn't be right he knew Riddick didn't want Karla to stay on this dead planet. Then he considered option B, Riddick was in trouble and hadn't returned because he either didn't want to risk their location or because he couldn't return. He waited for Karla to fall asleep before leaving the room concealing his featured with a cloak he stepped out into the darkness. He knew what he was risking; he also knew that they stood little chance of getting out of here alive should they be discovered.
Gabrielle enlarged the picture on his computer screen.
"Karla Dawn" he spoke her name out loud staring at her image peeling back the layers of her life. She was stunning he thought; green eyes, brown hair tumbling in delicate natural curls over her bare shoulders. Her eyes betrayed her; he saw a glimpse of her life the parts that were left out of the slam report. He could see the pain buried beneath the brash exterior. He could almost taste her desire to be free.
"Will you come for him? Will you stay in hiding?" he spoke aloud. Leaning back in his oversized wooden chair he draped a hand over the arm and took a drag on his cigarette blowing the smoke into delicate rings over her head as though they were halos hovering over an angel.
"I will find you" his words were as solemn as a vow as he burned a hole in the screen with his eyes. Riddick could feel his determination, it made him uneasy. What was he doing here he wondered. Was he really a captured bounty or did the Necha want the whole deal, the bad ass, the pilgrim and the girl. Slowly Riddick slid down the wall and sat with his back resting up against the cold hard stone. He pulled his knees up to his chest and steadied his breathing. The thought that he could be used as bait to trap his comrades made him nauseated. He wasn't sure what was worse, knowing what was about to happen or being totally powerless to stop it.
Gabrielle pulled on his cancer stick again watching various images spill by. One in particular caught his eye, a dark coloured man in religious clothes stared back at him. Quickly he reached for the break key halting the run of images. The coloured man glared back.
"Sodarn!" Gabrielle yelled. "Sodarn!"
The door to Sodarns room flew open and he bolted down the stairs, skipping the last two he jumped and ran across the huge room to where Gabrielle sat.
"Look" Gabrielle told him adjusting the screen to that Sodarn could see more clearly. It took a moment only for Sodarn to recognise the man staring him down from the screen. He looked down at Gabrielle and then at a select few of his guards that had followed the commotion.
Sodarn stepped away from the computer. "Find him" he ordered walking away. Turning back once more before disappearing, he pointed at Gabrielle "Find him!" he yelled.
Riddicks attention peaked, what had he seen? Who did he want to find so badly and why?
Gabrielle ran a print of the coloured man
"The man you're looking for is a killer. Don't be fooled by his appearance, if he knows you're coming he'll skull fuck you before you can blink. His name has changed since the last time he was here; you may be familiar with Sunfussa Delai." Gabrielle watched the guards slowly nod their heads, everyone knew Sunfussa, he left a trail of death and destruction so long it took the Necha years to catalogue it all.
"From what we know he has only been on this planet a matter of hours. He was travelling with Riddick and an escaped convict Karla Dawn" He drawled over the vowels of his words. "He can't have gotten that far, our job is to find him and take him down, if he resists ghost him." The order was clear but there was only one last link of the puzzle before the men could be dismissed.
"He goes by the name of Imam but don't let that fool you he is not a spiritual leader he is a cold blooded killer, when you look into his eyes nothing but death is lookin' back."
Riddick banged the back of his head against the wall of his cell slowly.
Whatever Imam was doing right now Riddick hoped to whatever god was listening that he was tucked safely away in the motel he checked them into only hours before.
Imam shielded himself against the cruel street lights with the hood of his cloak, mercifully it had begun to rain and so the streets were relatively quiet. He stepped over the occasional beggar offering brief apologies and blessings in mid stride. A gentle breeze lapped his parched face blowing moisture from the atmosphere, it was a much welcomed sensation as the droplets landed and almost evaporated upon impact.
He had walked for what seemed like miles and still so sign of Riddick. He knew these streets like the back of his hand and he marvelled at how little they had changed over the years, he could list every victim and show you precisely where they lay as they drew their last breath.
As he rounded a corner he pulled the cloak tighter passing a bar he overheard loud voices.
"…And then BOOM, down he went like a sack of garbage..." One voice said.
There was applause and laughter, Imam paused bending down pretending to fasten the buckle on his boot.
"Did you see his eyes man? They were like totally silver n' shit they glowed I'm telling ya they fuckin' glowed."
The two conversationalists exited the bar and turned left down an alley way. Imam cautiously followed.
"Oh man when you came at him I thought he was gonna rip your head off" the smaller of the two men patted his friend on the back before unzipping his pants to take a piss along the side of the bar wall.
"If I ever see that mother fucker again I'm gonna tear his ass apart." The larger man said patting his friend on the back so hard he had to take a step forward, his foot landing in the steaming stream of fresh piss..
"Hey, watch it man, Jesus!" his friend balked shaking off his shoe and zipping up his pants. "Where do you think they've taken him?" he asked scurrying after his friend.
"If I know Sodarn, he'll have that asshole strung up like a side o' meat in the Pit."
"The Pit!" the smaller man exclaimed "Man I've heard stories about what they do there, it ain't pretty dude…" he broke off to laugh aloud "It aint pretty."
"The Pit" Imam whispered. The Pit had to be new, Imam had never heard of it and felt sure that if it was a grotesque as they made it sound he would have most certainly made it his business to find out all he could about it. He followed the two men keeping a safe distance between them and him not wanting to be noticed, at least not yet.
"I heard Sodarn is a pretty sick fuck, that's what I heard." The larger man rumbled out a belch as he spoke.
The smaller man jumped in front of his friend and turned to face him jumping up and down excitedly. "Hey, do you think we could go take a look?" he asked. "I wanna see him get what's comin' to him."
"Guess ti couldn't hurt, unless your name happens to be Richard B Riddick" The two friends laughed aloud, the larger man throwing his head back almost howling towards the moon.
"Excuse me gentlemen" Imam called breaking his cover of darkness. "I couldn't help but overhear you speak of that notorious criminal Riddick." He walked towards them slowly watching their body movements. "I wonder if I might trouble you for his location" Imam offered the men a forced friendly smile.
"Yeah, we had a run in with that piece of shit tonight. The Necha took him to the Pit so he can get what's comin'" The smaller man began but was abruptly cut off with a sharp slap to the stomach by his friend. A quick sideways glance told his friend to be silent.
"What's it to ya stranger?" The larger man asked peering down at Imam.
Imam shrugged "I have some history with him also."
The two men eyed him cautiously.
"Word has it he's been taken to the Pit. It's an institution where criminals are…re-educated" The larger man began.
"Re-educated?" Imam questioned concern flaring for only a moment in his eyes.
"Yeah" the smaller one laughed "In other words for entertainment purposes they get to fight to the death, the guards place bets on who they thinks gonna win then sit back and let the games begin" he opened his arms out wide in a grand gesture.
"Slip us some credits friend and we might just tell you where to find him" The larger man suggested folding his arms across his chest.
Imam took several steps closer almost within touching distance before he spoke. Ruffling the side ofhis cloak he reached in with one hand.
"Credits, yes…of course….I shall pay you for this information gentlemen you have been more than helpful" Bringing his hand back out of the cloak the moon glinted from the silvery coloured blade. Slashing the smaller guy first he sliced across his abdomen while reaching for the larger mans neck to silence his cry for help. The larger of the two men watched in forced silence as his friends intestines spilled out onto the floor. Imam withdrew his blade from the mans gut allowing him the grace and dignity to at least hit the floor before he died so he could wallow briefly in his own entrails. Turning his attention to the silent friend the blade flashed only once more before being buried in the mans neck. Blood poured from his open jugular spraying Imam with the crimson fluid. The man dropped to the floor by his dying friend and Imam wanted to stay and take bets on which one would bite the bullet first but he knew that time was not on his side, he could not been seen and now he had discovered the whereabouts of Riddick he had to return to the motel and share his discovery with Karla.
Riddicks head still pounded with the remnants of his beating. Everything outside his room had dropped to a silent annoyance. He didn't like it quiet, it wasn't supposed to be quiet there was always supposed to be something to hone in on, breathing, whispering, and foot steps but there was nothing. The place where he was being held didn't even have the good grace to bless him with perpetually dripping water from a high point into a shallow pool as it did on Mara. The silence would drive him crazy.
To break up the monotony he jangled his chains testing them once again seeing if they really did tighten slightly if he were to pull. He stretched his arms out straight in front of him as far as they would go before the chains pulled tight then slowly he began to extend his arms further. Immediately he could feel the cuffs constrict against his skin, it wasn't enough to cut off the blood supply to his hand nor was it enough to cause him any degree of pain, it did however prove the point that Sodarn had been telling the truth and Riddick was fucked six ways of Sunday. If he couldn't move he couldn't fight, all animals needed to fight at some time or another whether it was a battle over territory of mating rights he knew that he could suppress the beast for a short time only before he would loose out to the force within. The effects would be devastating for him he knew it, the beast knew it and still it burned.
Karla startled awake when she heard the door close. Slowly, silently she slid her hand under her pillow and wrapped her hand around the hilt of her shiv. She opened her eyes slowly and could make out a figure padding across the room taking great care not to wake her.
"Imam" she guessed tracking his movement carefully noting his height and build was not like that of Riddicks.
"I didn't mean to wake you" Imam said resting in a chair nearby.
Karla squinted and rubbed her eyes.
"Is Riddick back yet?" she asked
Imam looked down at his soiled clothes. "He won't be coming back Karla, not any time soon."
That caught her attention. Sitting bolt upright in bed she gripped the side of the mattress and perched on the side of the bed.
"What?"
"While you were resting I took the opportunity to have a look around. I overheard two men talking about a man being captured and taken to somewhere they call the Pit. They were referring to Riddick."
"Who took him, are you sure it was him?" Karla stood up from the bed and was hit by a wave of dizziness.
"The Necha operate in this city. They took him after a fight. They referred to him by name Karla."
"A fight, was he hurt, is he alive, where is this Pit?" she demanded "The men do they have any more information, can they tell us where to find him?"
Imam fell silent.
"Imam?" she whispered.
"I don't think the two men will be of much use to us now" he said in a bland monotonous voice.
"Why?" she asked sitting down swallowing heavily trying to push down the lump in her throat. "What did you do Imam?" She knew she had to ask, she also knew that she wasn't prepared for the answer, the had a bad feeling in her gut and she had learned long ago to trust that feeling because most of the time it meant the difference between life or death.
"I couldn't risk them telling the Necha that Riddick had companions. It wouldn't take long for them to find us even in this hell hole. The Necha have probably already discovered that Riddick did not travel alone."
"What did you do Imam?" she repeated the words more deliberately; she felt the muscles in every part of her body begin to tighten.
"I did what I had to do. I did what Riddick would have done." He answered with a simple shrug.
Karla sucked in a breath, could what he was telling her be true?
"You killed them" she shook her head in disbelief.
"The circumstances necessitated prompt action" his tone was cold and unfeeling; it was almost as though the emotional part of his brain had shut down. Karla began to feel very nervous and very afraid. She was in unchartered territory. She knew what to expect from Riddick, his reputation had preceded him but Imam? What the hell kind of monster would Imam prove to be?