There wasn't much to pass time for Riddick, except to test his restraints. And with the limited range of motion he'd already discovered by talking with Fry, even that couldn't keep him entertained for long. Thus, he was forced to sit in the darkness of the ship and wait to hear what the others had discovered in searching for Zeke. Riddick hadn't been lying when he heard sounds coming from the grave. But since neither Fry nor Johns believed him, it didn't matter anymore. Whatever was in there, Fry and Brisais would soon find out. Knowing that, Riddick couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of pity for them. What killed Zeke had been fast and bloody, and from Riddick had seen of both women, they wouldn't last long.
Footsteps caught Riddick attention. Heavy footsteps, Johns most likely. Probably coming to inform him that he lost a pay day and the captain in the grave. Least they were already buried. But as the footsteps grew closer, Riddick noticed a second set with Johns. Softer steps, a lighter body. The Mimic. Riddick lifted his brow in surprise. guess they survived after all.
"How interesting." Riddick mumbled to himself.
He heard Johns pause outside, probably leaving the Mimic in the sun again. It was only a brief pause before the footsteps continued, a single set this time. The earth sounds transferred into a metallic echo. Johns entered the shuttle, alone.
"Finally found something worse than me?" Riddick asked, unable to keep a smirk from his face. It wasn't often that he got to prove he was right, especially when it concerned a threat bigger than himself. Watching Johns in front of him, unable to admit that Riddick was the least of his problems, well there was certain amount of pride in Riddick.
"So here's the deal." Johns started. This was the last thing he wanted to do, but Riddick had enough muscle to do the work of three men. And there was a little fact that he might not make it off alive to make the situation just a little more bearable. "You work without chains, without bit, and without shivs. You do what I say, when I say it."
"For what? the honor of going back to some asshole in a cell? Fuck you." Riddick replied.
"The truth is," Johns paused. He had to play this just right. "I'm tired of chasing you."
Riddick tilt his head to one side. "Are you saying you'd cut me loose?"
Johns shrugged. "I'm thinking you could have died in the crash."
Riddick turned his head toward the shuttle entrance, where Brisais was-more than likely- secured in the sunlight. "What about her?"
"What about her?" Johns shrugged again. "You taking a shine to Sais?"
"Gotta admit, she's got a good looking body." Riddick alluded, snapping his neck. "Seen you admire that several times. But, I can't say I see you offering her the same. Right? Can't risk a Mimic."
Johns nodded "That's right. Besides, after this shit ends, I need a little compensation. Brisais will fetch a decent enough price."
Riddick chuckled. "Ain't she gonna be pissed."
"She ain't got much of a choice." Johns replied, placing his hand behind the control on his hip.
"My recommendation: Do me." Riddick explained. "Don't take the chance that I'll get shiv-happy on your wanna-be ass."
John sighed with annoyance.
"Ghost me, motherfucker. That is what I'll do to you." Riddick said.
Johns raised his weapon and fired. For a moment, there was only silence. Riddick felt the restraints go slack behind him. The chains felt to the floor, freeing him completely.
"Want you to remember this moment, Riddick. The way it coulda gone didn't." Johns explained. He lowered his gun and held out Riddick's goggles for him. "Here."
Riddick slowly leaned out from his seat, for his goggle. In a split second, he catches the rifle and bolts onto his feet, pointing the gun right in Johns face.
"Take it easy."
"Fuck you!" Riddick yelled.
"Do we have a deal?" Johns asked, holding out the goggles.
Riddick was silent for a moment. "I want you to remember this moment." He lowered the rifle and pumped out a blue shell. He dropped the gun and took hold of his goggles. He pushed past Johns, triggering the restraint release for Brisais. He slid his goggles over his eyes as he reached the edge of the shuttle. The sun filtered through his goggles, illuminating the planet in a haze of purple. He looked down at the ground, where Brisais was still seated. Her arms were now in her lap, rather than above her head. Her face was uncovered, but her head was directed toward the sun. Riddick pulled her hood over her face and dragged her onto her feet.
"Playing errand boy for the brass?" she asked, slightly staggering beside him.
Riddick released her, letting her stagger to the ground. He stood over her as she sat on the ground, fixing her hood. "You got a funny way of thanking people."
"I never asked for help." she answered sharply. Brisais lifted her eyes to meet Riddick's concealed gaze. "And we both know you don't give it freely. Your using me to your advantage, just like Johns is using you." She rose from the ground, brushing the dirt from her body. "He won't deliver what he promised. The first chance he has, he'll put you back in chains and shove that bit back in your mouth. And at the first sign of shit hitting the fan, he'll ghost you."
"You're concerned for me." Riddick replied. "I'm flattered."
Brisais snorted and damnit if she didn't make that sexy. "Don't be diluted, Riddick. The moment you fuck up, means Johns isn't watching me. Like you, I'm only concerned with saving my own ass."
"Nice ass like yours, would be a shame not to at least try to save it." Riddick commented.
A flash of violet coursed through her gaze, accompanied by a deep, threatening growl. Clearly, Brisais felt the comment was more of a threat than a compliment. But then again, with all that Johns had put her through, Riddick couldn't blame her. But he could enjoy the fact that he had made her uncomfortable.
A sharp whistle broke the conversation, or lack thereof. Johns walked swiftly toward the two inmates, coming up behind Brisais, and yanked off her hood. Brisais flinched in the sun and ducked her head down. "Lets go, we got work to do." He kept on walking toward the other shuttle.
Brisais returned her hood and followed after Johns. She never made eye contact with Riddick, be he could hear her growling after Johns. And if he was listening correctly, she had only threaten him, but she was going to slaughter Johns. Riddick chuckled as he followed several paces behind him, even if he never got off this planet at least the entertainment was truly entertaining.
The survivors moved throughout the shuttle like soldiers on a mission. they stripped suits of oxygen canisters and any supplies the might need. Their trek was simple enough; make it to the shuttle. Between Imam's boys, they carried a single power cell from the crash ship with the hopes that the cell could be refitted for the shuttle. Fry took the lead of the caravan of survivors, followed closely by Imam. Paris trailed a few paces behind, carrying a side slung bag with a few possessions and a bottle of booze. Johns and Shazza followed closely behind her with Imam's boys scurrying around with Jack, leaving Riddick and Brisais in the rear, dragging a heavily loaded sled that Zeke had made.
Each convict dragged the sled by a tether, following several paces behind the group. Every few minutes, Johns cast a glance behind them, ensuring that his prisoners hadn't made a break for it. As if they could. Riddick, it was likely, but by the looks of Brisais staggering to keep up with Riddick's long stride, the Mimic wasn't going to make it to the other side of the canyon. Her hood was drawn over her face to shield her from the sun, but even with the setting of the blue sun, the planet was still hot.
"So, you click your fingers and they're one of us now." Shazza stated. She was at least a foot from Johns side as they walked.
"I didn't say that." Johns smirked. "Least this way I don't have to worry about you all falling asleep and not wakin' up."
Jack came up alongside Shazza, wearing a battered pair of yellow rimmed goggles. "So can I talk to them?"
"No!" Johns and Shazza answered simultaneously.
Paris adjusted his hat, trying to achieve the best position to protect himself from the sun. As he settled his hat back on his head, his bottle tumbled from his bag, and onto the ground. Paris checked his bag and noticed the missing bottle. "Blast." He turned in search for it, finding it some feet behind. He jogged back for just as Riddick scooped up the bottle. Paris swallowed deeply and stood up. He held his hand out to Riddick. "Paris P. Ogilvie. Antiquities dealer, entrepreneur."
Riddick looked down and took Paris' hand. "Richard B. Riddick. Escaped convict, murderer." He released Paris' hand and uncork the bottle.
"That's a particularly good Shiraz." Paris explained, trying to politely tell Riddick to put it down. "It's a lovely drop. It's very expensive." But he realized it was useless. "By all means, please. Help yourself."
Riddick paused in his drink and turned to Brisais, who had taken the moments stop to sit down on the ground. She was panting heavily, glistening in a sheen of sweat. "Care for expensive taste?"
Brisais lifted her head wearily. Her camouflage was failing her again. The tan skin was growing pale. The strands of hair clinging to her face were turning white, and her tattoo was starting to peek through. Nevertheless, Brisais met Riddick's gaze and shook her head. She pushed herself from the ground and started walking along.
"You ain't gonna last without it." Riddick mentioned, easily keeping pace with her staggering steps.
"Then the brass takes a pay cut." she muttered.
Riddick shrugged and dropped the bottle into their sled. No use it returning it to Paris now. He picked up his tether and started to continue dragging the sled along the desert. He lifted his eyes and spotted the kid, Jack, looking back toward them. The kids new look was a bit flattering, if not a bit off. But Riddick never really had a fan before, besides it was the kids choice. Whatever the kid did once they got off this rock, it wasn't his responsibility. Wasn't even his fault for the kid socializing with him.
Jack's expression suddenly changed. Curiosity and admiration shifted to simple horror. And Riddick didn't cause it either. Suddenly, Brisais staggered to the ground. The tether fell from her grasp in the dirt several feet from her. She hunched over the ground, using her arms to keep her upright, but she swayed unsteadily. Riddick watched as she tried over and over again to get back onto her feet, only to slump lower to the ground. He'd known that it was only a matter of time before she finally gave up. Riddick looked back at Jack, who hadn't taken his eyes off Brisais. His initial look of shock had passed and now seemed to be replaced by a look or urgency. Riddick suspected that if Johns and Fry weren't nearby, Jack would book it to the rear and help Brisais.
Riddick looked down at Brisais. Ever since they'd left the crash site, he'd been practically dragging across the planet. She was only slowing them down. It would be so easy it leave her behind. Knowing what Johns would do with her once they were off the planet, leaving her behind would be merciful. So why hadn't kept going? Why was he still standing beside her?
Damn conscience. Riddick thought. He sighed to himself and took Brisais' tether. He quickly tied the tethers together and made several loops for his arms. He shouldered the tethers around his arms and turned back to Brisais. He dropped to the ground and grabbed one of her arms. With ease, Riddick lifted her over his shoulder and stood up.
"What the hell are you doing?" she asked, trying to maneuver out of his grasp.
Riddick easily kept Brisais on his shoulder, holding her by her thigh and ass. "Be a shame to let an ass this fine burn in the sun."
Brisais growled above him.
"Hey, don't blame me." Riddick replied. "The kid would've done it if I hadn't."
Brisais looked over Riddick's body toward Jack. Jack was glancing back every few steps, watching them carefully. "She should stay away from us."
Riddick arched one of his brows. "Heat must be doing some serious damage to your head."
"Kid should know better than to admire criminals." Brisais turned around. "Is there a reason you didn't leave me behind?"
Riddick shrugged. "Gotta protect my investment. Can't have dying on me. Johns might change his mind then."
Brisais rolled his eyes. "Johns can go fuck himself, for all I care."
"Amen to that."
yay it's updated! sorry for the delays...my muse is a very fickle thing. here one minute and gone the next! I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can.