He stood at the entrance to a vast, underground roman bath.

Whorls of Steam rose delicately from the expanse of green water to curl among the towering columns, hot springs in a dessert were a tad unlikely he decided, it must be technology then. As his eyes began to look through the steam to the room he was further surprised. Sumptuous rococo murals graced the walls, all voluptuous naked flesh and ornate scenery, a sultan's harem, a lady's bower, a goddess being chased by mortals. Interspersed were creamy plaster mouldings of writhing nymphs of both sexes. A hall for pleasure he realised, the den of hedonism for a true sybarite. Lavish velvet cushions covered the long, low, wide marble benches that lined the walls. Swathes of finest, gauziest cotton curtained alcoves, the shadowy figures that had recently graced them left behind a muted imprint of desire on the drifting material. It was a room not lacking in elegance, and he hoped that the underlying purpose of this hall would be lost on her.

He reappeared at the entrance, inscrutable as ever and carried her down into the ground. The revelation of such a lovely pool after the unrelenting heat of outside caused a wide smile, soon mirrored by Riddick when he noticed her delight.

"It's lovely" she cried, "Can we stay here for a while"

"Ok, better make yourself comfortable" was the answer as he quickly hid his grin "perfect place to stop, this heat has got to be powered by something, maybe there is a communication centre we can use" was the thought.

"First, let me see your feet" he said

They sat down at the edge of the pool, which glowed slightly, from lights situated under the surface. Luckily her feet were not as bad as he had thought, there were one or two cuts which had made it look much worse.

"Might as well have a bath while we're here" he suggested.

"What a good idea" she enthused, and then sat looking expectantly at him.

"Well…." He said

"Aren't you going to turn around?" she asked, surprised "I can't get undressed if you're looking"

"Can't you go in, in your clothes?" he asked bemused

"No, then it wouldn't be a bath, now turn around" a rather prim side to her personalty seemed to be surfacing, not to say that she had been anything but proper since he had met her.

Remembering something from his earlier inspection he disappeared into the mist and returned a minute later with a fine cotton robe, apparently meant to be worn swimming.

"Here, bath in this" he said growled, holding it out.

He walked off as soon as she had accepted it. Pacing, he realised that he needed a bath as well, and in the interest of saving time, he should probably have one now as well.

"Hey, you decent" he called out, a muffled "yes" came as an answer.

No way in hell was he ever wearing a robe, but as he shed layers, he realised what kind of effect him naked would have on a young girl. So he compromised with and Egyptian style loincloth, and walked towards the steaming pool.

As he walked down the steps into the pool, he would just make out a floating figure, "I'm getting in" he called and received a sleepy affirmation.

She was in heaven, the water was bliss, warm and soothing after the stinging from her cuts had faded. To just lie on her back and float was heaven, with the soft, muted sway of the transparent cloth and her hair making her feel like a water sprite. Riddick looked over from where he was lounging on one of the underwater ledges, arms propped up on the edge of the pool. His foundling was floating in what appeared to be a liquid nimbus of light, in a trancelike state. She looked incredibly, almost sinfully, young and innocent. That damn protectiveness overcame him again, causing the beast to pace, and with it came melancholy. He hoped she would never have to see the big bad world that was out there, he knew that he hoped in vain, she would find out too soon how cruel life was, especially men. He wished he could protect her, but he didn't even know if he could protect her from himself. This was his test he knew, his redemption lay in the form of the vulnerable girl-child floating in the water.