Chapter Nine – Jack be Nimble Jack be quick

Riddick moved towards her and grabbed her throat. Behind him he heard a muffled cry, turning he saw Karla doubled over in pain and a stun lance placed squarely in her gut.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk" Jack wagged her finger at Riddick. He released her and looked at Imam who mouthed "I'm sorry" to him.

"You don't look surprised to see me Riddick." she smiled. "Fucked off maybe but surprised….nah, I don't see it in those pools of shine." She looked into his eyes holding his stare for a moment before pulling away and taking a step to the side.

"You have outdone yourself Jack." Gabriel leaned over the balcony resting his palms on the stone pillars at either side. "You even brought me a gift" he turned his head slightly to Karla and grinned down at Riddick. Riddick counted how many guards were on the balcony and how they were armed then he cursed inwardly; he was out numbered eight to one and they were armed.

"Take Riddick and…him back into the holding cell, keep them apart, different cells." Gabriel ordered. "You!" he yelled towards the man who was brought in with Riddick. "Today is your lucky day." A guard dragged the prisoners backwards out of the arena.

"Wait, what about Karla!" Imam yelled panic evident in his eyes.

"Oh, this one" Gabriel stroked a hand down her face, Karla wanted to move away but a guard was standing behind her. She turned her head and looked away fro Gabriel.

"This one certainly is a prize…I think I'll keep her, make her my…slave." At his words Karla struggled against the bonds and growled into the bit.

Imam didn't have time to answer before he was taken out of the arena and the hulking doors slammed shut behind them.

Karla panted through gritted teeth as she felt the metal bit argue with her mouth. It would not yield to her desperate attempts to scream out. Her behaviour seemed to amuse Gabriel; he offered her a tight smile as he lifted a second leather clad hand to her face. Before he touched her he pulled the fingers of the glove off one by one. She could feel him hold his breath as his fingers neared her face. As he touched her dampened skin he exhaled and watched her eyes for her reaction. Karla began to shake, her eyes watered from staring at him and she blinked the stinging away.

"Take her to my quarters, have her cleaned up and dressed more…appropriately. She will accompany me to the contest this evening."

"But sir, she is a prisoner…she should be locked up" A guard spoke immediately knowing it had been a mistake to challenge Gabriel. He usually…no, he always got what he wanted and this was no exception; prisoner or not she would be cleaned, dressed and be with him this evening.

She was led roughly down several corridors before being pushed up a flight of stairs. She could hear the prisoners not too far away and mentally made notes about which was she was being taken and which way the sounds were coming from. Riddick and Imam were both being held it was up to her now.

Riddick walked next to Imam staring straight ahead he didn't speak didn't even acknowledge Imam. Imam had a thousand questions he needed answers to. Jack was dead, Riddick had told him as much but someone was lying and he had a feeling that someone was the very man walking next to him. What Imam couldn't get over or find an answer to no matter how much he worked the problem, was why? Why had Riddick lied? In his mind he went back to the day Riddick told him what had happened with the mercs. He remembered seeing an emotional Riddick, an emotional Riddick and a weak Riddick. The man walking next to him had put on a hell of a show. But the scenario seemed a little off to Imam; Riddick was a killing machine but he loved Jack not as a father or a brother sometimes Jack made it sound as though they were equals, as though he had accepted her into his life and made her part of it, a big part. Riddick was indeed a great many things, most of them ugly but the one thing he could not fake was grief how could he? He had only experienced it once before on T2 when Fry had been taken even then the hard man had been confused by his feelings, refused to acknowledge them until months later when the dreams would not stop plaguing him. The emotions Riddick expressed the day he told Imam about the mercs had to have been real; he would not have told him Jack was dead unless he was sure.

Imam was pushed into a cell. As the door closed he looked towards Riddick. As Riddick was led away he turned to Imam, his silver eyes penetrating Imam right to his core, slowly Riddick shook his head.

Riddick felt her small hand in the base of his back pushing him into his cell. She followed him in and shackled him to the frame of his cot.

"Leave us" she told the Necha that had escorted him with her. "He is no threat."

Riddick wondered who she had to fuck to get them to respond so quickly, in a moment they were alone. She mentally drew a line in her head where she would be safe to stand, anything beyond the invisible line was Riddick territory shackled or not. She saw the muscles in his arms tighten and release and a nerve in his jaw began to jump as his teeth clenched.

"Its been a while" she said openly breaking the silence. Riddick stared straight ahead and remained silent.

Jack tossed her hair away from her eyes and rested her hands on her hips.

"Cheap shot telling Imam I was dead" she spat.

Still Riddick remained almost in a trance like state staring straight ahead not acknowledging her. He infuriated her with his arrogance. Forgetting the invisible line she took a step forward. He rose quickly before she had time to retreat. The chains rattled as he brought up his hands one on her shoulder the other over her mouth so she didn't call the guards. He tossed her down onto his cot and straddled her resting his weight evenly across her hips immobilising her. He had to see her eyes had to make sure it was really her and not a twisted mind game.

She had grown since the last time, filled out in all the right places. Her skin felt soft, waxy, she must still use the scented oil after bathing. Her eyes were still the beautiful pools of breathtaking brown but they were hers the fear he saw in them was unmistakable. Fear showed itself as a finger print each person displays the feeling differently; for Jack, her eyebrows knit together as she tries to make herself look tough but her eyes darted from left to right avoiding his gaze and when they finally did betray her he saw her staring right back at him.

Slowly the pressure over her mouth eased. A strand of saliva had attached itself to his palm from her mouth. He sat back resting on her thighs and released the grip he had on her shoulder.

"You were dead, Jack" he spoke slowly, his voice low and smoky.

"I saw you, I saw your body." He lowered his eyes and he concentrated on the pendant she wore around her neck. "I saw what they did to you." He whispered gently touching the grey runic pendant.

He had given her that many years ago when she had been plagued by the nightmares from T2 he gave her a part of him and told her it would ward off demons. How wrong could he have been for now here she was in a place she didn't deserve to be living a life she should not be living? It was impossible even for Riddick to comprehend.

"They wanted you to think that I was dead. The mercs were hoping it would make you falter, make a mistake and when you didn't they stuck me in cryo and dumped my ass out in Century City." She motioned to her facial implants "Then they got to work with all of this shit."

Riddick looked at her quizzically. "Heightened senses?" he guessed.

Slowly she nodded.

"I mourned you" he admitted. "Imam mourned you."

"Yeah, well I missed you too Riddick." She shrugged "At least I know why you didn't come for me." She allowed herself to speak honestly. "I waited for you, every goddamned day I waited for you." She shook her head. "I prayed for you to come for me." A stony mask slipped over her face as she remembered the many nights of torment and torture when she had screamed for him inside her head thinking she would go crazy.

"Let me up" she asked him although her tone suggested it was not a request. Riddick shifted and she rose quickly redrawing that invisible line and placing herself very much behind it.

Karla was led into a huge bed chamber. Purple silk curtains hung from floor to ceiling framing the huge windows which held a view overlooking the entire compound. The guard removed her shackles and mouth bit and she rubbed at her jaw frantically trying to work the feeling back into it as she gazed around the room in awe; never had she been witness to such abundance to colour and wealth. She mouthed a huge "O".

"You are to wait here until Gabriel send for you. You are to bathe and dress more appropriately." The guards who escorted her in looked her up and down.

"And exactly what am I supposed to dress in?" she asked looking down at her appearance. She was wearing the only clothing she owned and even they weren't originally hers, they belonged to Jack, the woman that had captured them. Suddenly the clothes she wore felt uncomfortable, as though she were wearing someone else's skin, Jacks skin, the traitors' skin. Shoot, Karla thought, what kind of person betrays her friends but then when she thought back and remembered her meeting with Riddick it was anything but friendly.

"There are robes hanging in the bathing room." The guard spoke as though he had done this before, like it was a matter of fact routine and he couldn't be bothered by her questions.

"There will be several guards outside this room at all times, in case you were wondering" sarcasm dripped from his tongue as saliva would from a starved dog. She nodded in response.

The door closed behind the last guard as he left, Karla was sure she felt the floor rumble as the huge heavy granite doors were heaved shut.

Quickly she rummaged through the room; if there was one thing she learned from all those years in slam it was how to assess your situation quickly. It didn't take her long to realise that there was nothing of use to her here. The windows were barred and even if there weren't she was a good several storeys high and jumping would be suicide. The desk held nothing of importance as it hide itself away in the far right hand corner flanked by two wrought iron candle sticks holding two pillar candles waiting for a naked flame to bring them to life. The floor to the room was slate slabs covered with a huge rug bearing the tribal design of what Karla supposed was the Necha. There was no mistaking the bed, it was almost the size of Riddicks entire ship. It had four wooden posts, one at each corner holding more of the purple silk material gathered at the corners to form scalloped edges. A white net fell loosely over the top of the bed like a tend held firm by a gold clasp six feet out of reach on the wall above the ornately carved bed head. The sheets again were made of silk but in contrast they were red as were the pillows. The cushions that lay scattered across the bed were a mixture of red, purple and black. One thing was for sure, Karla had never seen anything like it in her entire life. She didn't dare sit even on the edge of the inviting mattress for fear of falling asleep. She had no idea what Gabriels plans were for her but one thing was for sure she didn't like the fact already that it involved her being in his bedchamber and being ordered to bathe. She wasn't going to play ball and even though she had a feeling she would live to regret her stubbornness she did not undress, bathe or change her attire.

"She has feelings for him" Jack said to Gabriel as they walked through the corridors of the compound. Her hands were clasped loosely behind her back and the heels of her boots clicked on the sleek surface.

"You're sure. How can you tell?" Gabriel asked wondering how Jack had been able to read Karla after only a brief meeting.

"Call it female intuition" she replied in a sarcastic manner.

Gabriel didn't like her tone particularly and grabbing her by the arms he pushed her against the wall.

"I need to be sure Jack, I need to know what buttons to push." He spoke through gritted teeth.

Slowly Jack began to nod "I'm sure" she replied.

Gabriel stroked a lazy index finger down her cheek before releasing her "Good girl" he whispered inhaling the scent from her hair as she passed him.

They continued walking as though the last few second had not happened.

"What are your plans?" Jack asked.

Gabriel smiled before he replied "Karla is mine, Imam goes to the dogs in the pit and Riddick…" he paused rubbing his chin "Riddick will make my fortune."

"You plan to fight him?"

"Yes, wouldn't you. He's a killing machine, a Furian, a monster by virtue." He stifled a chuckled. "And besides, if this girl Karla has feelings for him I can promise her his fair treatment in exchange for…" he trailed off.

"In exchange for what?" Jack pressed him

"Her loyalty" as he spoke he looked at Jack directly. "I play for keeps Jack and if making hollow promises will keep her at my side then so be it."

"Cunning" Jack offered him a smile

"Thank you" he replied.

Jack left Gabriel and headed to her ship docked at the back of the compound. It was a small ship, suitable for two or three passengers at best of two were sharing quarters.

She took long strides up the ramp and sat herself in the pilots chair. Leaning forward she opened a communication link.

"This is Hunter" she spoke into the small microphone in the control panel. "This is Hunter, Slam vessel, please respond."

"This is Slam vessel we read you Hunter, what is your status?" a male voice almost drowned in static came through the comm.

"Slam vessel I can confirm target has been apprehended, repeat, target is in custody. What is your ETA?"

"Hunter this is Slam vessel, we can confirm our ETA as being 1900 hours, repeat 1900 hours."

The comm began to spew static. Jack checked her watch; it was 1000 hours, her stomach growled as she remembered not having breakfast yet. There were nine hours until the Slam vessel was due to arrive; would that give Riddick enough time to escape? She wondered sitting back in her chair and lifting her feet to rest ontop of the consol.

Riddick paced his cell every once in a while he dared a look towards Imam who was being held several cells down. The separation was a deliberate one, Riddick thought, to stop them conspiring to escape.

"Hey" a whispered voice came from the cell next to him. Slowly he turned his head to the direction of the noise.

"Hey" the voice whispered again "I know you"

That got Riddicks full attention. With catlike grace and speed he knelt down by the bars at the side of his cell and stuck his arm through grabbing the collar of the shirt belonging to the whispering voice. In one swift movement he hoisted the whisperer onto his feet and pulled him towards the bars. The mans eyes were filled with fear the moment he realised his feet were no longer touching the floor.

"You know me?" Riddick rumbled slowly.

The man nodded "Y..yes, you're R…Richard R…R….Riddick."

"Very good" Riddick purred "Who are you?"

"Y…you don't know m…me" The man replied swallowing heavily "My name is R…Reece, please p…p…p…ut me down."

Riddick placed Reece back on his feet but still kept hold of his shirt.

"How do you know me?" Riddick asked.

Reece shrugged "Everyone knows Riddick" he replied.

His answer was unsatisfactory. Riddick pulled him towards the bars again until his head was pulled against the cold steel.

"Okay…okay" Reece held up his hands "Damar."

Riddick pulled harder on Reece's collar. Reece felt his ribs begin to push against the steel bars.

"No one gets out of Damar" Riddick growled.

"You did" Reece answered.

He had a point. Riddick had escaped slam planet Damar on a freighter bound for New Haven. The freighter was manned by a skeleton crew, Riddick was on the maintenance crew and before they knew what was happening Riddick had picked them off one by one. The freighter never made it to New Haven. Reece had a point however; if Riddick could escape didn't it seem possible that others could have also.

"C'mon man, why would I lie about something like that?" Reece argued.

Riddick released Reece's collar and watched as Reece fell backwards rubbing his ribcage.

"Man, everyone on Damar talked about you for months after you broke. It was the stuff of legends." Reece grinned. "And now here you are locked away in some shit hole slam on some shit hole planet. What's our plan?" He shifted nervously from one foot to the other waiting.

Riddick raised an eyebrow "Our plan" he repeated trying hard not to allow the humour he felt at Reece's suggestion.

"Yeah, man; I mean seriously you can't expect me to believe you aren't planning on bustin' outta here." Reece rose to his feet. "Just include me in your plan and I won't tell anyone about it."

"That sounds like a threat" Riddick replied.

"Nah man just a friend lookin' out for a fellow inmate. So, what's the plan?" Reece asked again.

"I dunno" Riddick rumbled "I kinda like it here, really dig the view." His head tilted to the side.

Reece shook his head "Nah man you've got a plan. You have my word I won't tell anyone it'll be just you and me friend."

"First, friend" Riddick spat "I don't do the friendship thing and second, I am not worried about you opening your mouth because you know that if you do I'll come lookin' to ghost your ass; you won't even see me comin'." Riddick leaned closer into the bars before he spoke "First, I'll break your legs" he growled long and low "A man can't walk, he can't run. Then, I'll take your eyes" He made a claw with his fist to emphasise his point "A man can't see, he can't run or fight. Then I'll rip out your tongue, a man can't talk, he can't yell for help or beg for mercy, then and only then will I rip out your heart and feed it to you through the back of your head."

The colour drained from Reece's face and he suddenly felt nauseated. Riddick could smell the sweat building and the fear growing.

"Don't forget who you're talking to, ghost" he warned. Riddicks message was clear.

Gabriel slammed the door to his chamber.

"Why are you not changed!" he demanded striding towards Karla. "I gave you explicit instructions to bathe and dress more appropriately. I will not have my women looking like tattered slaves around me." He grabbed her arm roughly and began to lead her to the bathroom.

"Let go of me!" she wrenched her arm free and took several steps back.

Anger flashed in his eyes and Karla wondered whether her actions were wise.

"Isn't that what I am" she argued "A slave!" she dared to raise her voice to him.

Gabriel breathed in loudly through his nose and lifted his head up towards the ceiling. "Do you know the punishment for insubordination?" he enquired finally lowering his eyes to meet hers in a duel of steel.

"Death?" she answered.

Slowly Gabriel nodded.

"What are you waiting for?" she asked daring him.

"Not yours sweet, sweet Karla." He purred. "Rather that of your companions, shall we begin with Imam."

"You wouldn't" she whispered backing up as far as she could before hitting the wall.

"Don't underestimate me, child" Gabriel followed her every move and traced a single finger slowly down her left cheek before stealing a kiss.

Karla, breathless, pushed him away. "I don't want this" she told him "I don't want you."

Gabriel licked his lips provocatively "Oh but you will, eventually you will bend over and break for me."

"Never." Karla spat back at him her voice spiked with venom.

Gabriel grabbed her chin in one of his large hands and squeezed. "If you don't you will see your friends die in agony" he smiled down at her "such a simple thing really what I ask of you. I am not asking for love, I am not asking for acceptance…I am asking for you to give yourself to me wholly and without hesitation." Gabriel felt the hairs on his skin almost touch her delicate face. "I know you have feelings for him, I can read you like a book, child. So why don't we make this easy on both of us. Go into the bathroom, bathe and change, join me at my side for the battle this evening and I shall be lenient towards your friends. If you don't" he pulled away and looked her square in the eyes "they will die slowly and painfully." He ran his eyes up and down the entirety of her body "The choice, my dear, is yours." He took her hand and kissed the back of it before sweeping low in a bow and leaving the room slamming the door behind him making her jump.

Karla slid down the wall and exhaled heavily as though she had been holding the same breath for an eternity. She rested her arms on her knees which were raised up to her chest and allowed her head to fall into the middle of them cradling it gently in their cusp. She had been beaten and reluctantly she had to admit that there was little she could do if she wanted to see her friends again, if she wanted to see Riddick again. It was clear what Gabriel wanted her to be; in his eyes she was nothing but a piece of meat waiting for him to consume on every intimate level. In slam she was used to giving, it was a means of survival so why was this harder? But it was harder, she knew it, because Gabriel wasn't just asking for a one off to ease his craving he was asking for a commitment from her.

Wearily she rose from the floor and wandered into the bathroom as though she were in a dream like trance; she turned the taps on the huge white bath and began to undress. Becoming detached would be the only way she could deal with this imprisonment otherwise it wouldn't be Gabriel she killed, it would be herself. She would allow him to take her body but her mind and soul would be buried elsewhere where he would never find them and should the occasion arise where she found herself a free woman again she prayed it would not be too late for her soul to be saved.

As she stepped into the scalding water two tears fell from her eyes, one for Imam and one for Riddick, the man she knew would never look at her the same again and she hated herself for it. She reached out with a lazy wet arm and plucked an apple from the nearby fruit basket and began to savour the taste, remembering the time she had first tasted the fruit.

"Everything is under control, Molack" Gabriel told his chief of staff. "Riddick will fight this evening. The girl is holding back, I can sense it, but if Riddick were not in the picture there would be nothing and no one for her to hold back for. Do you understand where I'm coming from on this Molack? Riddick must die, and it must look like an accident in the arena."

Molack nodded "I have just the man in mind sir" he replied. "Joldar Zindendi."

Gabriel patted Molack on the back "How long has he been in solitary?" he asked with a toothy grin.

"About four months, since he killed the guard." Molack replied.

"Good…good" Gabriel paused for a moment "put the holy man in there also, nothing like seeing two comrades battle it out for supremacy."

Molack offered a brief bow "As you wish."

A tingle of electrical excitement ran through Gabriels body in anticipation of the evenings events and to cap it all off he would have the perfect prize, the most sought after trophy in the whole compound and since there was a serious lack of female company in the compound he knew that Karla was in for a busy night. His men needed entertainment; they needed to feel like men. Exercising brutality against other men was all very well but nothing compared to breaking a woman, watching and waiting for her and when she eventually gives the results can be mind blowing. Gabriel was well versed in the practise of breaking women but Karla would be a challenge indeed. The others, the many, many others were far too easy and he grew bored of them far too quickly. His last conquest was disposed of over three months ago and he had bided his time; now he was ready to unleash all the pent up frustration.

Karla slid beneath the warm water allowing it to consume her from head to toe. With her eyes closed she contemplated not allowing her body to rise to the surface, she could allow herself to drown and by the time anybody realised it would be too late and she would not be used as a pawn in Gabriels bastard brutal game. What would the motherfucker do then?

The water rippled as she rose. Resting her still stinging back on the side she allowed her head to drop back and she stared in awe at the stained glass ceiling depicting some battle she was unfamiliar with but supposed it carried some importance. Her eyelids slowly closed, the gentle soothing of the water she lay in lulled her into a deep much needed sleep. She tried not to dream but it was useless the images hit fast and they hit hard. Blood, too much blood, screaming, fire, she couldn't see past the flames. She could hear the crying of a little girl beyond the orange heat. The cries sounded so familiar and a brief glimpse offered to her through the flames confirmed her suspicion. The girl she could hear crying was the same girl in the dream she had with the falling petals – the dream she remembered so vividly having on board Riddicks ship.

Karla woke with a start sending a wave of luke warm filthy water over the edge of the huge marble bath. She looked around for her clothes as she readied to haul her tired ass out of the water. They were missing; and in their place a beautiful emerald green silk dress was laid neatly over a near by chair which hadn't, she was sure, been there before.

Rising and reaching for a towel in one slow aching movement she stepped onto the stone floor.

"Shit!" she exclaimed daring to touch the shiny fabric. Her hands felt clumsy as she manipulated the fabric over her hands. Never had she seen such an exquisite garment and in such a vibrant colour. It was incredible.

She wrapped her hair in another towel and dried her body thoroughly before slipping the garment over her shoulders. It had thin straps on the shoulders and a slit running up the left side of her thigh almost she thought to her hip. She rubbed away the condensation on a full length mirror and peered at her mottled distorted reflection. The fabric of the dress felt alien to her almost like a second skin. She made out the bite mark on her neck and smiled.

"You can take the girl away from Riddick but you can't take Riddick away from the girl" she murmured.

She wondered what Gabriel was up to and more to the point what he wanted in return although she feared he had already made that painfully obvious.

She heard the doors to the apartment open once again and inhaled sharply suddenly feeling naked.

Gabriel didn't care for etiquette this was his apartment and he would come and go in whatever room her wanted however he wanted and with that in mind he marched boldly into the bathroom stopping in his tracks as Karla turned to face him.

She felt her face turn red and looked away.

"No, don't…don't turn away" his request was unusually gentle and his voice remained calm. Slowly he stepped forward and gently guided her chin with his hand to turn her head to face him.

"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are Karla?"

She didn't answer, her head swimming filled with conflicting confusing thoughts.

"Your eyes are exquisite, like diamonds shining against a backdrop of flawless emeralds. I have brought a woman in to help with that rats nest on your head you call hair and by this evening, my dear, I will make you mine."

"I belong to no man" she whispered pulling her gaze away from him remembering that although he may shower her with gifts he did have Riddick and Imam and more to the point she had no feelings whatsoever for him.

She felt Gabriel press a finger on the bite mark on her neck "Are you sure about that. You wear the mark of a whore, Riddicks bitch."

Karla swallowed hard and repeated softly "I belong to no man."

"You will Karla; I promise you that by the end of this evening you will be begging for me to own you." His voice had changed to mildly pleasant to menacing in the space of a heart beat. Karlas head reeled as she watched him leave; was it a threat or a promise, what did he mean by "own you" was she to be his slave, his concubine?

The woman he spoke of entered the bathroom and offered a brief smile; she didn't feel comfortable in these surroundings either.

She motioned for Karla to sit on the chair provided.

"Please, sit" her voice was soft.

Karla did as she had been instructed. "You got a name girl?" Karla asked.

"Seska" The woman replied

"Well Seska, I guess you don't want to be here either so what's say we get this done as quickly as possible then you can get outta here." Karla offered her a smile letting the woman know she understood.

"Thank you" Seska whispered as she opened her box to retrieve a brush and some pins.

Riddick used the cot in his cell to prop his feet on as he worked through some push ups trying to relieve the tension in his shoulders. He grunted every once in a while fighting the pain from his recent injuries; his back still hurt like a sonofabitch and his body was worn with fighting in the Pit. He knew he would be back in the arena again that evening with a larger audience and a larger opponent, these people wanted action, entertainment and god like displays of strength. He knew they wanted him dead the question was when. Did they want to make money off his ass first, wear him down, starve him make him weak turn him into the thing he despised most, a coward. He'd kill himself before he saw that happen. He recalled how he had almost managed to reach Gabriel by climbing the pit wall. He was sure under the right circumstances he could do it if he could distract the Necha long enough for them to hold off with the stun lance all he needed was another second if that and he'd be over the balcony ripping Gabriel as new asshole before he could shit his pants.

Another grunt saw Riddick finished as his arms buckled sending him face first to the hard floor. Breathing heavily he rolled onto his back and pulled his legs into his chest feeling the muscles stretch out in his thighs. Pleasure and pain met and mingled for a while as one experience before he released his legs and lay breathless on the floor staring at the ceiling. The ceiling comprised of large grill like grates covering the electrical wiring feeding the lights and air con system. Riddick stared past the glowing light bulb into the grills and he could just make out the air con followed a small crawl space, a semi covered tunnel like tube which carried the old air out and brought the fresh air in. Riddick supposed that it must be malfunctioning since the air in the cell block stank of stale sweat, crusting blood and human faeces. There were metal beams beneath the grates supporting the light fittings, Riddick could see there was enough space between the beams and the grates for his fingers to slide comfortable through. Slowly he stood up and dusted himself down throwing Reece a cautionary glance, a warning that if he spoke to anyone of what he was about to be witness to, shit would happen and Riddick would bring it all down on him.

Pushing off from the floor Riddick grabbed the metal beam which ran through his cell, he heaved himself up to get a closer look at what lay behind the grates. In the next cell Reece cleared his throat noisily. Riddick looked and saw it was a warning that two Necha were patrolling the block. Immediately he began pull ups.

The guards stopped to watch for a moment, one of the smiled and reached for a small notebook.

"Riddicks on 10 to 1 to last another night" he told his friend.

"I'll take two hundred on that" his comrade told him loud enough for Riddick to hear.

"You hear that convict, I got two hundred credits ridin' on your bad ass tonight…don't let me down."

Riddick let go of the beam and he landed on his feet with a loud thump on the concrete floor. He turned and took two steps closer to the bars of his cell.

"Or?" he asked eyeing the guards.

"Or I'll kill you myself" came the stony reply.

"Man, if I loose tonight I'm dead anyways." Riddick rumbled "you think I'd give a fuckin' shit eating Necha the privilege." He shook his head slowly "not a fuckin; chance."

The guards began to walk away.

"You really think you can take me?" Riddick bellowed after them. "You think you can take me down; well come on I'm right here pussy boy!"

Reece begged Riddick to be quiet. Riddick ignored him and rattled the bars of his cell.

"C'mon mother fucker." He taunted.

Against his comrades advice the guard returned and opened Riddicks cell. Before Riddick to take another breath the guard lunged at him with a stun lance the shock was sufficient to send Riddick to his knees. Reaching out Riddick grabbed the guard around the waist and pushed him against the cell wall. The guard raised his knee quickly catching Riddick in the chest winding him, the guard then clasped his hands together and side swiped Riddick across the face catching his right cheek and nose. Riddicks nose began to bleed immediately. Riddick calmly stuck out hit tongue and licked at the warm coppery liquid.

"Enough Jared" his comrade entered the cell and dragged the guard away before slamming the cell door and locking it.

"Who's the pussy now boy?" Jared spat at Riddick throwing himself back towards the cell. Once again his comrade dragged him away muttering.

"You better fucking hope to hell that Gabriel doesn't find out about this."

The vanished behind huge steel door and carried on their way.

"Man are you fucking insane?" Reece asked.

Riddick had followed the guards with his eyes "How do those doors work?" he asked.

"What?" Reece asked confused, had Riddick heard nothing of what he had just said "They're electronically sealed, you gotta swipe a card to get in or out."

"You mean a card like this?" Riddick asked reaching into his back pocket he retrieved an electronic key card and held it up between his index and middle finger.

"Fuck" Reece gasped. "That's why you let that guy beat you."

Riddick nodded "You catch on pretty quick, grasshopper."

Seska put the last hair pin in place; her job was complete and she had transformed Karlas mess of tangled auburn ringlets into a classic plait allowing some ringlets to fall framing her face.

"Wow" Karla gaped open mouthed and the noise had escaped her before she realised she had made it.

"You like it?" Seska asked.

Karla nodded feeling her neck with her hands. "I still feel naked, I'm not used to wearing my hair up or wearing dresses for that matter." She confided "Spending your life in a slam where there are no mirrors and the guys don't care what you look like so long as you have a pulse and tits."

Seska turned away a little.

"I'm sorry" Karla whispered "I didn't mean to embarrass you, you seem like a nicer person, what the hell are you doing working for this asshole Gabriel?"

"Everyone knows."

"I don't" Karla encouraged "I don't come from here remember, all this is new to me."

Seska took a deep breath. "Gabriel is second in command of the largest military group on Solaris Prime. They make their money by fighting men in the pit. People, traders, mercenaries and slave traders come from all over the galaxy to pit their men against Gabriels."

"What's so special about Gabriels men?"

Seska shrugged and sighed as she began to pack up her things. "Some are convicts, they only keep the strongest, fittest men the others are slaughtered like animals. Most of the men are taken from their homes under false pretences, the Necha make up hideous lies about them and arrest them then incarcerate them without a hearing or a trial. Then we never see them again." Seska became visibly upset as she continued. She didn't want Karla to see but there were tears in her eyes that threatened to fall at any moment.

"You lost someone?" Karla asked placing a hand gently on Seskas shoulder.

All Seska could do in response was nod her head before allowing the tears to fall.

"Jaresh was my husband; he was taken six months ago from our home." Seska stammered out. "Our children were sleeping, the Necha threatened to kill them as they slept if Jaresh did not go with them. They said to help them with their enquiries but he knew, I could see the fear I his eyes as they led him away chained like a rabid animal."

Karla engulfed the woman in a huge hug soothing her; anger flared in Karlas eyes. Gabriel was the true barbarian, a heartless cold blooded killer who used men like pawns in a very expensive game. She gritted her teeth and vowed silently to whatever gods were listening that today would be his last day alive even if it meant she died too she would end the suffering of the innocents and bring about the downfall of Gabriel and the Necha.

Slowly she leaned forwards and plucked a towel from the nearby rail and dampened it a little.

"Here" she offered it to Seska "Dry your eyes, Gabriel will be back soon I'm sure of it, say nothing to him and don't let him see how upset you have become I don't want him to know that you have been talking to me."
Seska wiped her eyes and face cleaning away the warm salt liquid from her red cheeks before offering Karla the towel back with a soft smile.

"Everything will work out Seska." Although Karla didn't make a solemn promise she knew, could feel in her heart, that everything was going to be alright.

She was right however, Gabriel did return slamming his fist onto the desk as he exhaled loudly making Seska jump. Karla placed a firm hand on hr new friends shoulder and gently guided her out of the bathroom.

"She is ready Lord" Seska said in little more than a whisper.

Gabriel looked up his eyes ablaze with fury. They looked directly at the woman who he had brought in to fix Karlas outward appearance.

"Where is she?" he demanded obviously in no mood for a game of hide and seek.

"Karla took a huge breath and entered the room.

"I'm here Gabriel" she said standing just beneath the archway to the bathroom.

She heard Gabriel's sharp intake of breath as he moved his eyes slowly over her body.

"Amazing" he murmured taking a step forward. "Dismissed" he waved his hand at Seska directing her lazily to the door and the outside world. He watched the hairdresser closely waiting for her to leave; Seska eyed Karla cautiously before Karla offered a brief nod in gesture that she knew what she was doing and that everything was alright for her to leave as she had been instructed to do.

Nevertheless the dull thud echoing around the room as the huge door closed behind her made Karlas heart skip several beats. Now he had her exactly where he wanted her. She watched him close the gap between them, didn't move when he placed his hand on her hip and stroked it gently to her waist enveloping his fingers around her back and tugging her roughly to him allowing his other hand to feel the naked flesh of her newly cleaned shoulder. He inhaled her scent loudly; the scent of the bathing milk she had used offered a slightly fragrant aroma. Karlas throat clicked as she swallowed hard trying to avoid his gaze but he filled her vision she had no option but to meet his eyes with hers. She saw steel in them; cold, hard, unrepentant grey steel.

"You truly are perfect." He whispered down at her allowing an idle hand to graze over the silken material across her ribcage and upwards over her left breast towards her throat and then caressing her cheek with his calloused hand.

"Yes" he hissed. "Yes."

Jack watched the ship descend from the sky onto the sand. The heat emanating from the engines made her shield her face for a brief moment until they had been shit down. For a moment, nothing moved from the ship then, all at once the ramp was lowered and an army of men alighted all armed with laser rifles and body armour. They were expecting a battle Jack surmised.

"Have you located the ship?" The commander left the ship heading towards Jack.

"Yes sir, it's just over that sand dune to the north." Jack offered the information as they walked in the direction of the dune. The commander signalled for his troops to disperse and head out in front to secure the area, the last thing he needed was another surprise.

Everything was as it should be. Riddicks ship was where Jack said it was.

Two troops blew a hole in the cargo bay doors before entering to override the release clamps on the loading bay ramp. As soon as that had lowered the men swarmed into the ship. Jack hung back watching the men like a swarm of locusts enter the ship, the ship she had once shared, been a part of and lived in for a while with Riddick.

The commander waited outside allowing his men to do their job, he was also wary of Riddicks element of surprise, just because he wasn't there did not mean his ship could be breached safely, he wondered about traps and the like as he watched his men file in.

They tore the ship apart room by room piece by piece they showed no mercy tearing down storage cupboards ripping out panels and wiring overriding every electronic obstacle until they found what they were looking for.

A senior officer left the ship and ran towards the commander.

"Sir, I have the information you requested and the item." The officer held up a vile of blue water, in it Jack could clearly see the shape of an eye lens. The officer passed the commander a silver disc "We downloaded all the data from their computer before we destroyed it sir. Everything you need to know is on there."

The commander removed his helmet and for the first time Jack saw who she had been dealing with over the last few days.

"Larendaron" she whispered.

"Yes Jack" he laughed at her.

Jack was lost in a spinning world of confusion. The last time she had seen Larendaron she was on Century City at the mercy of the mercs they were being led by a ruthless killer. A man who craved power and would stop at nothing to snare Riddick and find Furia, that person was Larendaron.

"Shit" Jack spluttered realising that he had played her for a fool, used her for who she was and who she knew. Laren knew she would be keeping tabs on Riddick, he knew she hated him and he also knew that she could be bought, easily. But not now, now she had outlived her usefulness and by the look on her face Laren knew that she could not be trusted. Slowly he reached for his pulse pistol.

"Jack, Jack, Jack, surely you didn't think that I was really going to pay you twenty five thousand credits for this information." He smiled as he pushed the tip of his pistol into her ribs.

Jacks mouth gaped open, there were a million things she wanted to say to the bastard, she wanted to rip his head off but her arms felt like lead, she wanted to scream at him but her mouth felt heavy and awkward. The sudden realisation that she had been betrayed came too late. Laren had won the battle and her war. Furia was as good as destroyed and she had pulled the trigger and Riddick was incarcerated set to be slain in the Pit that very evening, her head swam.

"What have I done?" she whispered meeting Larens gaze before he pulled the trigger.

Jack slumped to the floor in an unconscious heap. The hole in her tunic was still smouldering as Laren crunched into the ground with the heel of his boot as he turned to head back to his ship. A crooked smile etched into his face as he walked away knowing that their paths would never cross again and feeling a whole hell of a lot safer now that she was out of the picture.

His plan was to get to Furia and destroy the hell hole knowing that if he did so Riddicks reason for living would diminish alongside that of his home world. With that in mind he would return for Riddick and slaughter him like an animal and if Karla were still alive she would have the privilege of watching her saviour executed before he took her back to Slam where she would spend the rest of her life in chains. He couldn't help but let out the laugh that welled in his throat. He felt a rush of victory that he knew he should keep a lid on, if he became complacent he would fuck up and that was one thing he couldn't allow – not now he was so close.

Riddick stashed the key card in the back of his pants and waited. Guards had been past and told him to remove his shirt, they wanted maximum exposure from their fighting beast, something to taunt the opponent with, not only that but the more skin was exposed the more the damage would be evident, the more blood would flow.

He was cuffed and led to the gates glancing left and the right he felt the eyes of the others on him. There were seven in total due to fight including Reece. Out of the corner of his eyes Riddick could see Imam peering through the metal bars of his cage, his knuckles straining white as he pulled against them in a futile effort to open the cage door.

"Riddick!" he called. "Damn you Riddick!" he called again wanting the Furians attention. Riddick slowly turned as he was pushed through he gates.

"Be safe" Imam mouthed to him. Riddick nodded his understanding.

Upon entering the pit they had been enemies. Riddick understood he had been harsh, the holy man was not at fault for their situation, he knew Imam could never hold a grudge but felt the need to acknowledge him. Quickly he doubled back pushing past the seven other fighters until he reached Imam. The guards were on him quickly. Riddick clung to the metal bars and pushed his face as close to Imams as he could with the guards pulling on him.

"Were gonna get out of this Imam. You with me?" it was all he managed to get out before the guards prised his fingers away from the bars. He felt a swift blow to the back of his head with the butt of a laser rifle. A trickle of warm blood ran down his skin tracing the map of his spine between his shoulder blades. He glanced back to see Imam nodding at him signalling that he was very much with Riddick.

Imam sank to his cot shaking, his breath coming in quick rasps. Adrenaline flowed through his veins in place of blood, his mask was shifting from Holy Man to cold killer in anticipation of busting out of this godforsaken shit hole. Anger and hate, emotions he usually suppressed rose to the surface and were almost tangible as he imagined the pure hell Riddick was about to enter and the sacrifice Karla would be making or had already made. His fists clenched and he pounded them into the back wall.

Jacks eyes flew open and she gasped for air. Her lungs felt as through they were on fire as pain ran through every inch of her chest. She pulled at her tunic freeing herself of the burning fabric which had smouldered its way up to her arms. Her hands flew to her body armour as she checked to make sure it was still in tact. The body armour was an afterthought as she left her ship, a nagging thought in the back of her mind that Laren could not be trusted; as it happened, she was right. One thing Riddick had taught her was to go with your gut.

"You get a feeling here" he would place his hand in between her ribs just above her stomach. "It aint indigestion kid, it's instinct pure gut instinct, use it, it'll keep you alive more that these" he pointed to her shiv blades.

She shook her head to clear the memories of a life she had known and concentrated now on the hand she had been dealt. She could feel the ground rumble as Larens hulking ship took off. Slowly she pushed herself over onto her back and slowly let her arms to fall wide either side of her body. The blast from Larens weapon had knocked the stuffing out of her, he ribs were sore and bruising, her skin felt like it was still on fire. It hurt for her to breath deep, she felt sure a couple of ribs were busted but at least she was alive.

In the years she had been separated from Riddick her path had become somewhat distorted, now, knowing what was about to happen in the Pit and n Furia Jack knew what she needed to do. Casting off her burned tunic she slowly stood and looked towards the slam. The lights were central which meant one thing, there was a fight about to kick off. She blanked off her mind to the pain as she began to jog towards the lights, towards the pit and towards Riddick.

Upon entering the Pit the crowd went wild. The jeering was deafening. Stones plucked from the stone walls were thrown at the inmates as they stood in the centre of the Pit waiting for their opponents. Riddick had been allowed to keep his goggles on, the light would have blinded him and thus rendered him useless – he wouldn't last five seconds. He lifted his head and looked around at the crowd, their faces melded together in a blur there were so many of them, their faces distorted, yelling obscenities hurling taunts and for a moment everything seemed to move in slow motion. He attuned his senses and exhaled shaking his arms loosening his shoulders preparing to survive the Pit. That's when he saw her. His eyes rested on the balcony, he blinked a couple of times just to make sure he wasn't seeing things but there she was dressed in emerald green, her skin pale against the vibrant fabric. Her eyes shining through tinted purple spectacles. A growl escaped as he saw Gabriel s hand tighten around her waist and pulled her to his side. She didn't fight it, didn't even miss a breath or skip a heart beat. What had he done to her? Riddick thought as he watched the scene play out. She took a seat next to him, Gabriel couldn't keep his hands off her stroking her arm to her neck, cupping her chin tilting it towards him as their lips met in a soft embrace. Gabriel sought Riddick out with his eyes and offered a wink as he enjoyed Karlas tender skin. Riddick recorded each moment in slow mentally ripping Gabriels arm out of its socket. His concentration was broken by the familiar grating metal on rusted metal sound of another huge gate opening. He followed the sound with his eyes and watched as the group of opponents was led in. There were seven men, shackled to one another by their wrists and ankles. In they shuffled scuffing their feet on the sandy surface each one eyeballing the inmates already waiting for them, each one mentally taking stock of who they would go for first, who looked weak, vulnerable who would be easy to ghost. Riddick felt his muscles tense and release. The beast awoke with a start sending a gush of acid into Riddicks mouth, he turned his head and spat into the dirt before looking up at the terrified convict standing to his left. Riddick could smell the urine in the convict's pants before it spilled through the flimsy fabric of his pants and onto the floor.

"Relax" he offered slowly "Take the guy with black hair – looks like he's already hurt see how he's limping"

The convict glanced over Riddicks shoulder and saw the man with black hair, he was indeed limping.

"What else, I know nothing about fighting, this is my first time in the Pit, oh man, I got a wife and kids…what do I need to d...d...do?" the mans voice came across jittery and he stuttered slightly.

"Pray" was the only thing Riddick had to offer.

Gabriel silenced the crowd of eager spectators. He spread his arms wide, what Riddick wouldn't give for a laser rifle about now, he was unguarded.

"Friends!" Gabriel began his address. "And neighbours" he gestured with an open palm to the opponents and grinned "Welcome to the Pit" the crowd cheered waving their fists high in the air.

"Tonight we have been truly blessed by the addition of not one, but two new fighters. Domar! And the notorious Richard B. Riddick!" The crowd set alight again cheering, gasping at the thought of being witness to the notorious universal bad man.

Riddick heard over the cheering the guards shuffling backwards and out of the Pit.

The dull thud echoed off the stone walls as the huge gates closed.

"Begin!" Gabriel yelled.

For a moment Riddick couldn't think, the noise was intolerable throwing his concentration off, way off. Slowly he closed his eyes an inhaled deeply through his nose resting his arms down by his sides he exhaled through an open mouth then he opened his eyes and stuck out his left arm catching a convict, who was about to land a punch to the back of Riddicks head, in the throat. The blow knocked the convict off his feet and sent him sprawling onto his back before he scrambled up and came back fists flying in a rage. Riddick turned and surveyed the situation. He shifted slightly allowing the momentum of the convict to carry him right past, on his way Riddick stuck out his boot and tripped the convict up sending him once again sprawling onto the floor. Riddick knelt on one knee, grabbed a fistful of the convicts shirt and lifted his upped body off the ground, in one swift movement he pulled back his free hand and balled it into a fist, as he pulled the convict up he threw his fist forward catching the convict in the face breaking his nose sending shards of bone up into the convicts head killing him instantly. Riddick grunted as he felt a blow to the back of his head. He released the now dead convict and swept round on one foot stretching out his other leg to sweep the attacker off his feet. The attacker anticipated this and jumped over Riddicks leg, but instead of clearing it the attacker landed heavily on Riddicks knee sending a bolt of pain through his leg down to his ankle.

Enraged Riddick stood and towered over his attacker who offered a few punches making contact with Riddicks skin but not doing any real damage. Riddick reached out with a long arm and grabbed his attackers head swinging him round before throwing him against the stone wall. His attacker was down but not dead but Riddick had other problems to attend to. He stepped over a couple of dead convicts, one looked familiar, it was the convict who had pissed in his pants.

Riddick saw Reece being pummelled by two attackers. In several large strides taking out an opponent on his way with a swift kick under his chin to break his neck Riddick pulled the attackers off Reece.

"You boys just don't know how to play fair" he held them both at arms length allowing Reece to gather his energy into beating them.

Gabriel didn't like the way the fight was going and signalled to one of his men to adjust the advantage a little. The guard in the crowd leaned over and dropped a blade into the arena. Riddick didn't see it but one of the opponents did and ran for it pulling a forward roll he grabbed the blade on his way up immediately slicing through one of the convicts.

Riddicks hold on the two attackers slackened when he smelled blood, too much blood, dark and rich not the kind you get in a fist fight, the kind you get when your ripping someone apart. He turned and saw a man clutching his stomach before tumbling forward a look of disbelief on his face as he fell to the ground. The blood from his wound spilled freely onto the sand soaking in turning the golden sand into a huge brown pool.

Riddick looked up at the balcony and pointed at Gabriel. Gabriel shrugged, smiled and pulled Karla onto his lap. Karla couldn't watch but Gabriel held her face firm.

"Close your eyes and I'll take them out" he warned. He wanted her to see the fight, wanted her to see her precious Riddick being torn apart piece by bloody piece, he wanted her stripped of all hope, grieving and desperate, she would be much more compliant that way.

Riddick saw Karlas face twisted with grief, she was sobbing freely the emerald material was spotted with her tears turning the fabric a darker shade of green where they fell. He was so taken with her emotion that he didn't see the convict with the blade come up behind him. Suddenly Karla stood before Gabriel could stop her.

"Look out!" she yelled.

Riddick felt the cool blade pierce his skin just left of the sweet spot. It weakened his left side and his left leg gave out. He turned into a roll and felt the blade slip out as the convict maintained his hold on it. This was trouble.

Karlas insolence was met with a slap across the face which sent her reeling into the balcony jarring her back on the stone she felt her legs give out but instead of falling to the floor Gabriel pulled her back to him.
"The show is down there Karla, not up here. You'd do well to remember that." His voice burned her with its scathing tone.

Riddick stood slowly feeling the warm fluid seeping into the back of his pants. The caught the convicts' eyes, glaring with hate back at him tossing the blade from one hand to the next and behind him more fights raged on. For now Riddick had to concentrate, he couldn't afford to get sidetracked, for now it was just the two of them in a life and death struggle.