Motherfuckers are gonna pay for this, Riddick thought as he laid Kyra on the bed. Her skin was stark white, her lips were tinged blue, and her eyes were dark patches. It would take at least two hours for the leukogen to replicate enough cells for her to regain consciousness. Six to eight hours after that for her to wake up with nothing more than the ebbing pain of the healed wound.
Riddick turned and walked to the door. "Come in," he said as he positioned himself to attack. A young female walked in, pushing a food cart. "Take it next to the table," he said, startling the girl. She jumped and turned, looking for the owner of the voice. Finally, she saw Riddick standing in the shadow of the door. "Move!" he said with greater force as she pushed it next to the table and then went back out the door. Suddenly she reappeared, this time with a utility cart. It held the com system, clothing, and a rack of shivs. The girl bowed and left the room.
Riddick almost laughed when he saw the shivs. They're fucking kidding me, right? Trying to arm him with knives, most of which were probably half a gram to a gram heavy on the back end. Even with compensation it would cause Riddick to have another rare miss, a repeat of the scene in the hall of the Bascilla. He would've killed that prick if the damn knife hadn't been inaccurately configured.
Stripping off his clothes, Riddick turned the hot water on full. He stood in the center of the eight showerheads, washing and rinsing the dirt, volcanic ash, dust, and prison grime off. After a few minutes of letting the water flow, he turned off the shower.
Stepping out, he wrapped a mammoth blue towel he had found on a shelf next to the sink around his waist. Then he grabbed a clean set of clothes from the utility cart. After dressing, he restrapped his sheaths to his arms and legs, slipping shivs into place.
Then, he settled himself in the corner of the room, back to the wall. Convict's rule: never leave your back exposed. It makes you vulnerable. Even with reflexes and refined senses like his, he was only human. Despite what others may think. Despite what he encouraged them to think.
"Lights 5," he said, turning them down from the bright 80 default they'd been on. The lights were comfortable enough without goggles, but he had better senses in the dusk and pitch night. He was keeping watch.
What the fuck are you doing here, Riddick? Why the hell didn't you just leave? No, you had to try and save the girl. Ha! The infamous Richard B. Riddick, escaped convict and murderer, trying to save someone's life?
It was his biggest fear, even if he wouldn't admit it. Kyra's death. She was the only person that mattered, ever. It all started back on T2 when he had showed Carolyn his eyes.
5/27/05
Author's Note:To those who are curious: I googled "leukogen." I came up with "a lukemia causing agent". However, in my medical dictionary, it is not mentioned, and therefore in this story is a completely original idea (I compiled two words: leukocyte and another one that I don't remember. A leukocyte is a white blood cell.) It does essentally replace the "NanoMeds" I had used previously.