Disclaimer: Don't own it…

Summary: Six years can be a long time. A long time away from him. A long time for something to go wrong. AU that picks up right after Dark Fury - some TCOR spoilers.

Pairings:slight R/J

Warnings: Language, mild violence…

Authors Note: Ah, the joys of being at home from college for the summer. The inspiration for this chapter's title came from the fact that the entire time I was writing this section, my parents were downstairs watching an old John Wayne flick called The Searchers. And for some strange reason, the only line I could hear clearly was John Wayne saying the phrase, "That'll be the day" over and over and over again. Having never seen the film, I have no idea why he felt compelled to say the same line so many times throughout the course of one movie, but it worked its way into my story anyways…. sigh So here you go, the fourth installment of Just Like You… hope you enjoy it! And to everyone who's been reviewing – a big, BIG thank you! Not only has my ego swelled to a completely unhealthy size, but it's been just what I've needed to keep me writing. Feel free to provide constructive criticism as well – I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing and I appreciate honesty. ;-)

Chapter Four: That'll Be the Day

"Hey, ugly."

Riddick opened his eyes, the merc's voice cutting through the last patches of fog left in his mind from the cryo.

"Ugly," he said again. "You wanna' wake your burly ass up and take the controls? I'd rather not get a sunburn on entry, thanks."

He let out a low growl, but unhooked himself from the cryo link up and spun his chair around to grab the controls. Before him loomed the quickly expanding image of Crematoria, in all it's hellish glory.

"So what's the plan, baldy?" Toombs asked, having noticed that while he slept Riddick had shaved off the beard and dreads and was now wearing an extra pair of clothes that he'd found in the locker next to the med-lock. Cargo pants and a black tank top. Did the guy ever change his style?

Riddick punched in a few commands and took hold of the control stick, steering the small ship towards the border between night and day on the surface of the planet.

"You take me in like I'm your prisoner, sell me, take your UDs and get the fuck outta' here," he adjusted the inclination and accelerated, pushing the two men back in their seats.

"You serious?" Toombs shouted over the roar of hot air that pushed against the ship as it entered the atmosphere.

" 'fraid so."

"Rate of decent, good," The computer chimed in.

"Then why the chains for the trip here?"

"What, leave you loose and give you a chance to take me to a slam that might pay more? Don't think so," he adjusted the inclination again.

"Rate of decent, not good..."

"Never seen a mark so willing to get sent back to slam before," Toombs said, fighting against the force pushing him back in his chair. "You got a thing for this girl, or what?"

Riddick didn't bother answering. Instead he fastened his seatbelt and hit the button on the dash marked Party Poppers. The ship jolted to a stop as it entered a small hangar carved into the side of a mountain, slinging it's occupants forward against their restraints.

Now came the part Riddick was dreading. Turning control over to Toombs.

He'd timed their arrival so that Toombs would have to wait at least another eight hours before the next sunset, when it would be safe to leave the planet. Hopefully that would be enough incentive for him not to pull anything stupid, like trying to leave without dropping him here and opting for another, better paying slam.

If not, he'd have a problem on his hands.

He stood up, crossed to the back of the cabin and undid the other man's restraints.

Toombs smiled. This was too easy. "You'll never make it out again, you know."

Riddick smirked and adjusted his goggles. "That's what you think."

As Toombs got to his feet, Riddick held up his hands, wrists together, in the pose of a man waiting to be cuffed.

"Well?"

x x x x x x x

Kyra sat up in her bed, eyes narrowed and glaring through the bars of her cell towards the center of the slam.

Something was off.

She'd learned long ago to trust her instincts and it had kept her from getting killed on more than one occasion. And at the moment, her gut was telling her that something wasn't right. Today wasn't just an ordinary day. Something big was on the horizon, but she couldn't put her finger on what.

Jumping up, she snatched the shiv from beneath the blanket that served as her pillow and strode towards the gate of her cell. Tossing the lock to the side, she slid it open and walked out onto the terrace.

"G'mornin', beautiful," a man said, his voice branded with an accent that might have passed for Australian back on Earth.

Kyra turned to glare at a tall man with short, dirty blond hair and boyish features that belied his age. "What do you want, Merrick?"

He snorted, but the smile didn't leave his face. "Well someone certainly woke up on the wrong side of the bars this morning. Tell me, do you treat all of your friends this way?"

"Friends?" now it was her turn to snort. "Gimme a break."

"Ouch," he said, clutching his chest as if the words had struck his heart. "I'm hurt, beautiful. Really, I am."

"Give it a rest, Merrick and just tell me what you want."

"Shiv drawn so early in the mornin'?" he said, nodding towards the knife in her hand. "You really did wake up looking for a fight, didn't you?"

She turned around and started to walk away. Merrick wasn't such a bad guy, but she was starting to realize why Riddick was such a loner. Friends were liabilities. And she didn't want that hanging over her head.

A knife somewhere in her heart took another quarter turn. Liability. That's probably all Riddick saw her as. All he had ever seen her as.

Just another loose end.

She reached for one of the many ropes hanging from the decks above, then climbed up onto the rail, balancing there without the slightest hint of effort.

"Wait a second," he said. "Thought I should warn you…"

Kyra turned to face him, her expression impassive.

"Last weeks new additions have an eye out for you," he sauntered closer.

"I can take care of myself, thanks."

"Just promise me you won't do anything stupid," he said, genuine concern on his face. The concern was quickly replaced by a lopsided grin. "I don't want to have to bail you out again."

With a sarcastic laugh she leapt off the railing and sailed down to the ground floor. "That'll be the day."