(A/N: Same disclaimer. Thanks for the reviews! I'm not really a review-whore like some people here, but I appreciate them. I write to release stress.)
Rocks gnawed on the soles of my feet as I trudged in front of our band of stragglers, dragging a few loose cords and a huge power cell. Riddick hadn't spoken to me since we had been packed like mules, huffing and puffing with shit that I didn't even know we had.
"Why don't we stop for a minute?" My voice was ragged and I could see the dissent among the faces of the others. It was like a little vacation for them; hell, they had even broken out the expensive stuff, taking drinks off one bottle of scotch. I remembered the last time I had scotch – burned as it hit the mouth and even on the way down, but warmed you up inside. You pay a dealer in the Slam 4 razors for a small bottle and hide it between your boobs until dinner. Slip a little into your drink and a night of agonizing sounds and uncomfortable stares doesn't seem so bad.
"You stop, you die." A gun butt hit my bicep and I flinched at the pain. I sighed and gathered enough strength to readjust the cords on my back. Should have been me in that fucking hole.
"Look." I followed Carolyn's finger to see the shine I had seen in the graveyard earlier. Dragging my load, I tried to keep up with Riddick as he walked quickly toward the ship. I hadn't eaten, drank, or even hardly slept since I had been out of cryo-sleep; my vision was limited and I began to wobble. But no one came to help. Too mesmerized by the sight.
A ship. Ratty and old but still useful. They gathered around it like a mutt to a steak and their eyes widened and glazed over. Even I was surprised.
"A little ratty-ass..." Johns put his shotgun behind him.
"Nothing we can't repair. Electrical needs to adapt but it'll get us to where we need to go. Not the whole way but enough to meet the person who got our signal," Carolyn cut him off and climbed up into the ship. We slowly heaved the cells in and I leaned against the side of the blazing ship, trying to regain my footing. My tongue was swollen, making my mouth dry, and I sucked in large breaths.
"Here," Carolyn handed me a flask, looking around, "Don't say a word." I held it to my lips and tipped it up. Water: cool, crisp drops running down the sides of my chin as I sucked it down. "Give some to your friend, too." I nodded and wiped my mouth, putting the top on the flask. I slipped it down my shirt and turned back to the back of the ship, grasping handles to hoist myself inside. Royston grabbed my hands.
"Get on the wing and help your friend on the patching."
I growled and he pushed me off. I stalked to the wing, my hands in fists. Riddick was bent over, examining holes and cracks in the metal. Ass in the air, he was silent, tilting and turning his head.
"Hey." The flask was in my hand and he stood up. I tossed it to his chest and he grabbed it with one hand, quickly downing what was left in the bottom.
"You have sex with someone for that?" His sense of humor was starting to tire me.
"Yeah, did the ol' 'spread-my-legs-for-some-H2O' deal."
"You gotta stop that." He grinned and I rolled my eyes, walking over to the hole. "Any ideas?" he asked and I looked up at him.
"We gotta go and find something to patch with. This thing won't get off the ground if we don't cover at least half these holes," I answered. No answer back, but he turned around.
"Come on." He spanked me quickly, jumping off the wing. I put my hand over the fiery spot on my left ass-cheek and followed, completely and utterly confused. But coming from the man who liked to drink blood as a dessert wine, it was just normal. Weaving in and out of buildings, Riddick was determined for one destination. I could make out the words and noticed why he wanted inside.
CORING ROOM. He slipped aside the tarp and looked in. The door was bolted shut, but Riddick pulled hard on the handle.
"What's in there?" As I stepped forward, the sole of my boot crunched an object on the ground. Looking down, I could see metal jutting from under my foot, sadly bending under my weight. Riddick flinched slightly and I bent down to pick up the shattered object.
A tangled pair of eyeglasses, glass falling in shards to the ground as I examined it. First the baseball, now this eerie human artifact, seemingly untouched by the elements.
"Where do you think they went?" I looked at Riddick who turned around. I could see his eyes roll back in his head slightly, in thought.
"I don't think it was by their own will," he wet his lips and turned back to the door of the Coring Room.
Snap!
I jumped, falling on my ass, my heart ramming against my chest. A head popped out from the top of a nearby bin and I scowled.
"Sorry." Jack cowered as I stood, brushing the dirt off my pants. The little shit had scared me. Riddick smiled and I want to gut him. Now. Taking that asshat smile of his and shove it down his throat and then cut it out of him.
"Don't do that." I glared at Jack who frowned, pushing himself up and out of the bin.
"I was just wondering if you found anything yet," he replied, strolling over in front of Riddick and me, "but I guess you..."
"Why don't you go back and play with the others?" I cut in and he frowned again. This kid was going to cry. He turned around and started walking but Riddick coughed. The kid turned back around.
"You didn't see us." The kid nodded and swiveled around. Right into Johns.
"I saw you, Riddick." The cocky grin on Johns' face stirred an angry flush in my face. He stepped forward and pushed the kid back to the ship. His eyes turned on us and the smile widened.
"Found a Lovers' Lane, eh? Well, I hate to break up this ménage à trois but you two are still a payday. Run off again, and we'll be draggin' your body behind this goddamn ship on a string." Johns gripped the back of Riddick's neck and pushed me along back to the deck of the ship.
- - -
One of the Chrislam kids was dead. Ripped to shreds by black things. At first, no one said a word. The holy man had backed away from the remains, too horrified to even look at the carcass. Everyone else was somber, slightly disturbed; Riddick just licked his lips, an "I-told-you-so" look rippling through his face. The rest of the holy train exited, carrying candles and held a prayer service. I followed, too curious for my own good. The holy man began chanting and the other two pilgrims closed their eyes, following in line with the hum of the chanting. I stood with the kid and Paris, quiet. A cool hand touched my arm and I looked down to find Jack's dirty palm on my forearm. He looked up suddenly and realized what he was doing, drawing his hand away quickly. The kid was scared of me. Like I needed a child to be frightened of me, the girl addicted to guns, computers, and food for her big fat ass. I gently took his hand and squeezed it. Maybe this kid needed a hand. A smile came to the child's face and part of me came back to life. A smile that was flashed every morning over a small table with cover made of red plastic flowers and smelling of bleach.
"I knew you would come around, my child." A warm touch filled my shoulder and I looked up to find everyone walking away, the holy man looking back at me and then turning to walk back. But Jack stood beside me, looking off into the distance.
"You ever get the feeling that nobody likes you?" His voice was oddly high. And the intake of breath was quiet, not gruff.
"All the time," I sighed.
Walking back to the ship, we found a few people still lingering near the Coring Room. The door was open and I could see a sheet lying over the remains of the child, shielding away the raw picture that had unfolded. I stepped away, back toward the ship and ran right into Riddick.
"Feeling a little religious?" he asked, scoffing as if it was illegal.
"I just have respect for those who were innocent," I answered, raising my chin to meet his goggled eyes. He was searching for a smart-ass reply but was obviously out of such. "Listen," I lowered my voice, "I don't need chastising right now. I'm still trying to figure out how to off your merc."
He just pushed past me violently and I winced, rubbing my shoulder and looking back. Carolyn emerged from the Coring Room, face flushed and her eyes made a beeline for me.
"Hey," she waved her hand for me to go into the room. Now everyone's gaze was on me. I padded toward the room and entered, seeing a large mechanical tube.
"There are some coring samples, dating back 60 years. And the computer must have something on it..." Carolyn pointed to a small panel and I pulled a box over to sit in front of the screen. I pressed the power button but nothing happened.
"It doesn't work." Carolyn was over my shoulder.
"No shit," I laughed and she didn't smile. Guess it wasn't as funny to her. I looked on the bottom of the tube, trying to find something that might turn it on. The hatch.
"Kick that hatch right there," I pointed to a small square on the lower right. Carolyn arched her brows.
"You want me to kick it?" She seemed surprised.
"Yes. Kick the damn box!"
She did but nothing happened. She had barely dented the metal and I sighed.
"Would anyone else like to try?" A few faces leaned out from behind the tube, looking guilty. They had snuck in to eavesdrop on the convict and the captain. I smiled.
"How about you, Roy? Big feet gotta be good for something." He grumbled and walked over to the box, kicking it firmly. Just another dent and a black screen. Johns stepped forward, kicked, and the same. Everyone took a turn but no activity.
"Riddick!" Jack had turned to the door, motioning the big man in. He came over and stood beside the box, examining it. It wasn't rocket science, just kick the damn box!
And he did. It flew into pieces around the room, people ducking and faces going white at the power. But a screen flickered to life. It was an old system but still manageable.
"Your core samples are from 60 years ago. None dated after this month. None really recorded after that actually," I flipped through records and they all listened intently. A solar system came on the screen and began moving. An eclipse. Over a planet that looked eerily like this one we were stranded on.
My heart dropped. I checked my watch. I jumped from my box and went outside. Nothing. Except...a planet was rising rapidly into the sky. Running back into the room, all faces were on mine. I swallowed, trying to catch a breath.
"T-T-There's a-an eclipse t-that comes every 60 years. C-C-Complete darkness. Whatever got these people 60 years ago is coming out tonight."
I ran back to the hatch, kicked it forcefully and the screen went blank. I ran out and turned around, angry at them all. Why weren't they moving? Just fucking standing there, looking like a bunch of pigs waiting for the kill.
"Where are you going?" Carolyn stepped up and I sighed violently.
"Getting my ass off this planet before something bites it off. So I suggest we all get the fuck out of here." I started running toward the ship, now a herd of feet following me. The planet was rising fast. An engine started and the old abandoned sand-cat zoomed to life. I grabbed a power cell and forced it over to the sand-cat, putting it onto the makeshift sled. It began moving and everyone jumped in. All except Riddick. Someone wanted him gone.
He sprinted behind the sand-cat, trying to catch up. I put my hand out and he grabbed it, pushing off with his feet and launching into the vehicle right onto me. It knocked my breath out and I blacked out slightly. But when I opened my eyes, Riddick was still on me, nose touching mine. I roughly slid out from under him and he stood, earning a glare from me. He cocked an eyebrow and it made me grimace even more. Bastard.