Autumn Fires

by xwildxdreamer

Autumn Fallon recently escaped from Butcher Bay, a slam she was born in. How's she supposed to learn to adapt when the transport ship she stowed away upon, the Hunter-Gratzner goes down and she has to learn to trust another convict?

10. Alarms

First off, thank you to my two biggest reviewers Spirit Kiss and KEZZ 1. Thank you guys for the kind words. Now for this chapter, I tried to break up the events of Dark Fury into separate chapters but it didn't work. So you get it all in one go. Enjoy!

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Everyone of us managed to fall into as restful a sleep as we could. The ship was far too large for the number of people that we had inside of it but we wouldn't, couldn't complain. We were alive, away from the planet Hades and on our way somewhere else. There wasn't anything else we could ask for right? Well alright so maybe there was. Freedom would be nice, but it wasn't absolutely vital to this. We needed someone to pick us up, someone to get us on a bigger ship. One with more provisions and the ability to travel faster. This skiff would not make the trip it would take to get us to the next planet over.

We only had enough air to last us maybe another week at most but I had a gut feeling that someone was going to pick us up soon. There were times when I wished that my feelings weren't quite so accurate. After all, the wrong type of people picking us up would be dangerous for all of us. It was, more than likely, going to be a merc ship. Very few cargo ships out here could handle picking up this many passengers. That much I had gathered from the brief conversations that the others had gone through. I wish I knew more than the bits I had learned while in the Slam. It was only a matter of time before something was going to come up and I wouldn't be prepared for it.

I had dozed off with Riddick's arms around mine, but when I awoke they were no longer there. It wasn't that he was mad at me, he was busy trying to quiet the sounds from the alarms that were going off. They were loud but I could hear Riddick trying to silence them. There was only so much he could do. After all, I felt the skiff lurch itself. We had been struck by something and they would reel us in sooner or later. I could hear the computer telling us what was wrong as lights flashed and sirens went off.

"Hull breach contained. Engines running at one hundred and seventy percent capacity. Engine and hull failure imminent under current parameters."

I watched the convict as his hands deftly moved over the buttons, knobs, and dials. He was trying to kill the engines, trying everything to make us less of a sitting target than we were. Only time would tell who had snagged us, but I had that feeling again that it wasn't friendlies. So far, my feelings had never been wrong. Not when I trusted my instincts the way they did. If we were going to get into a brawl or a fight we would both need to be prepared. My eyes looked around at the other survivors and I could see fear and trepidation from them. They had no idea what to expect.

"Critical systems failure in five seconds. Four seconds. Three seconds. Two seconds. One second."

Finally Riddick managed to get all the engines turned off, the ship dark and silent. I knew that he was thinking the same thing I had. It was mercs. Who else would it be? Only a merc ship would reel us in like this, creating so much damage that our ship was useless to them. In a way though, I was grateful because I didn't want to be stuck out there in the shipping lane forever.

"First you're a boy, then you're a girl, and now you're a psychic. Careful what you wish for Jack."

I could see the fear in the girls eyes. She hadn't meant to cause us this kind of problem, yet she had. By the very fact that she mentioned it could be mercs she had managed to jinx us. I would forgive her, after we got out of this mess. I could tell from Riddick's tone that he was both serious, and teasing at the same time. It wasn't like any of us really expected that we'd be picked up. Before anyone else could say anything we heard a voice over our com systems.

"Unidentified craft. State your purpose and contents."

We waited a beat. There was no way that we could be honest with who we were. Most of the merc ships had voice recognition and with Riddick sitting in the hot chair if he were to speak they'd pick him up. He knew that yet we couldn't really think about that, could we? Could I say something? Would they even have my voice on file? That was a good question.

"Unidentified craft. State your purpose and contents."

"Unidentified craft. State your purpose and contents."

With each passing moment that we didn't respond, I could hear the voice on the other end getting angry with us. They wanted to know who we were but really, we couldn't give them the true sense of satisfaction. Moving from the chair, I motioned for Riddick to turn on the coms. If anything my voice was probably the safest. How could they possibly know who I was when I barely even know myself.

"Names Autumn Fallon. Survivor from the crash of the cargo ship Hunter-Gratzner on the plant Hades in the Tangiers System. The only other survivors from that mess are with me. Outside of that we have nothing."

I managed to keep my voice steady, giving them the name that was given to me in the slam. For all I knew, it wasn't even my real name. The longer I was away from the Bay, the more questions I had. Maybe it was simply because my mate didn't know who his parents were either that had driven me to ask these questions. I wanted to know where I came from, the people that I belonged too. Would I get an answer to my question?

"Tell me Ms. Fallon. What brings you to the lovely corner of space?"

"Just someone trying to get somewhere else when our ship crashed."

"I see."

There wasn't more conversation than that, not from that man. He seemed to not really buy my story but what was I to say? It wasn't exactly like I could sit there and tell him that I was an escaped convict and that I had no idea where I really was headed. It wasn't that bad of a situation, at least for me. I just had no idea what to expect once the skiff was breached. An idea struck me, but I watched as Riddick seemed to get the same idea.

I heard the click of a lighter, and saw a brief flash of a light as the cutting torch was light and held against the fire suppression system that was alive in the ship. It was a dangerous idea, trying to fill the cabin with foam. Though it would give us, Riddick and I, a greater advantage. If we could hold out until they breache d we could take out the right amount of mercs or whoever they were to even the numbers. There would be blood stains covering everything if I had my way. Maybe that was also part of the problem. It was really our only shot.

"Everyone take a deep breath, hold it for as long as you can. Most importantly, do not under any circumstances draw their attention too you."

I watch as it clicked in everyone's minds what we intended to do. Making sure my goggles were secure on my face, I turned and looked at the survivors. We had come through so much on that planet and now we were going to deal with more. I had a feeling that out of all of us, Jack and Imam would probably be the ones that they tried to use against us. It was just this gut feeling that I had that I could not fight. If they were scanning us, they could probably find out who we were by sight if not by voice. Then again, if I was lucky, I wasn't in the system. Not like Riddick.

All I could do was wait, wait for the foam to burst through the cabin and fill it. They would breach soon enough and force their way into our little world. I could only hope that it was in some arena that would give me a better idea of how to fight what was going to happen. Would they allow us that respite? Would we be able to even make it through this mess? I just wanted to sleep, honestly, but there was more than enough going on to put a stop to the idea.

One of the few advantages of the foam, aside from offering us cover, was that it would erase the exact number of life signs they could detect. The fewer of us they knew about the better. Though I hoped that the others were smart enough to get off of the ship before it got jettisoned back into space. That would be bad after all. So I kept waiting for the fire system to do exactly what it was meant to do.

As the foam surrounded us, I tried to keep my cool. I could hear the sounds, the men walking on the metal heading our way. This was the chance for them to show us how powerful they thought they were. Of course, I could hear every word they were saying which was kind of stupid considering they were a threat. Then again, I had no doubt that Riddick had heard it too. Our animals allowed us to pick up sounds and smells at a greater distance than most humans could. It was an advantage we would use to the best of our abilities.

"Anything?"

"No sir. No one's been in or out of this bay since I locked it down myself. Zero atmosphere."

"Pressurize."

"We've got O2 sir. It's thin but breathable. Green for breach."

"Earn your keep."

Soon enough the hatch door was hacked open and blasted out, the foam pouring out from inside the vessel. It wouldn't have been so bad on the mercs if they hadn't had the room set at zero g. Floating through the air, there was no way that they could move fast enough to escape the onslaught. They would, effectively, be trapped by the resultant explosion of foam and left to our mercy. I was quite sure that Riddick would be leaving the area before me. He was always so much faster than I was. It was also probably due to the fact that I was fighting through exhaustion and hadn't really had a chance to learn to how to work exactly as a team with him.

As the foam filled the void and stopped, I could hear a masculine voice ordering the others to fall back. He understood our idea but it was too late. It sounded like the same voice, the one I had greeted earlier when they had demanded to know who we were. Oh, he wasn't going to like us at all when he realized that those still trapped within the foam were toast. Blood started to coat the foam and I burst from the ship into the chaos. I sliced and diced my way through whatever bodies I could find, always aware that Riddick was nearby but not in danger of my actions or my shivs. I couldn't worry about Jack, or at least I tried not too. We needed to get out of this mess and assess the situation.

As I was pushing through the bodies, I saw Jack's head pop out a moment and Imam's as well as they took in a lung full of air before being pulled back in the foam. The others dotted out as well, venturing for a split second. It was enough time to show anyone that was around vulnerable targets and I hated it. I couldn't move very well in this mess and I needed to get out of the foam soon if I was going to make it out of there alive.

Finally I burst through the foam, watching as Riddick flung himself at several of the gunmen. They were trying to take him out, but he was smarter than they were - quicker too. There was a reason the price on Riddick's head was so high. He was very hard to catch and very hard to kill. Those stupid enough to try normally ended up dead before everything was said and done. Voices caught my ears and I wanted to scream out in rage at Jack to just shut up for once.

"You certantly know how to make an entrance."

"That's nothing scarecrow. They're going to kick your ass so..."

She was pulled back into the foam by someone, I could only hope Imam or Shazza or even Zeke. Someone that hopefully would be strong enough to keep her from doing stupid shit again. Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut? It was because of her that we would find ourselves in trouble later, I just knew it and yet I didn't want anything to happen to her. I was already attached, already afraid of what was going to happen if she died.

I watched from my vantage point as Jack came out of the foam again only to have the man in the white lab coat, the man that had been talking to us this whole time, land on her back, shoving her to the ground, and pinning her there with their gun. This wouldn't do. Launching myself, much like Riddick had, I landed on the ground near the merc. My shiv was pressed tight against his neck, waiting for his finger to get twitchy. It was a sign, daring them to do it, to kill the girl. They thought Riddick was bad, they'd not even seen the amount of damage I could do. If they killed her, my animal would tear them to pieces, slowly, and savor every moment of it.

"I think not."

Every word out of his mouth made me growl. I wanted him to know that he didn't scare me. I was going to make him pay, that much was obvious. As my attention was on this strange man and Jack, I wasn't aware of what was going on with Riddick. I was not completely oblivious, just unafraid that he would get hurt. He could take care of himself, that much I did know. Risking it a moment, I stared at him as he was choking the life out of one of the mercs. He sent me an appreciative glance, one that meant he liked that I had that blade on the mans neck. Though we both knew that I wouldn't use it. Yet.

I watched as the man in the white coat turned and stared at Riddick. He was obviously not scared of the convict, and I wondered for a moment if they even knew who he was. I was the nobody, the unknown element. It should be me that he was afraid of, but yet he was ignoring me as if I wasn't' even there. What the hell was going on?

"Call off your lap dog before his tryin' to impress you gets him killed."

"Am I so obvious?"

"Call it what you want but tell him to stand down. Now."

"You'll have to excuse Junner's excitement. It sometimes makes him a touch quick. Though I can't say I blame him. You see he's just heard so much about you, Riddick. Yes I know your name. Quite a bit more about you I think."

"Careful. You may find what you're diggin' for.."

"I'm willing to share of course but I must ask that you surrender your weapons. Before anymore of my apparently overpaid associates come to an untimely end."

"Mmm. Not gonna happen."

"No?"

For a moment I was confused. There was this banter back and forth between this strange woman and Riddick. The moment her voice cleared the area, I was drawn to her. My eyes darted up and watched her, taking in her looks. She was skinny, the kind of skinny that if on a convict would make me think that they'd been starved near to death. Her hair was long and white and she wore the most gaudy pieces of jewelry I had ever seen to this day. I don't understand some people like this. Why in all the years would she willingly subjugate herself to this kind of torture? It was clear she had money and status from her tone of voice, yet she seemed fit on looking like a freak of nature.

I watched as the man, Junner, squeezed the trigger some that was aimed over Jack. It was a challenge. They are daring Riddick to drop his weapons and me to drop mine. If we doid so, then what good were we? True, we could try to kill them all, but now would not be the most opportune time and it would more than likely end in Jack being murdered before my very eyes. Still, I pressed the blade a bit harder against Junner's throat as he squeezed the trigger just a fraction more. I would kill him almost as quickly as he was willing to kill Jack.

"The girl is nothin' to me."

"Then enlighten me. Why would a stone cold killer such as yourself, go through all the trouble of keeping the likes of her alive. Unless of course you've grown attached."

"She's a cover story. Nothin' more. You shoot her now, you'd be savin' me the trouble."

"Then I have your blessing?"

I knew that Riddick was lying, my animal could smell it. I just hoped that Jack would understand as well. Sometimes in this world we say what we have to say to see just how serious someone was. Riddick wouldn't let them kill her, he'd grown too attached to the young girl, but he couldn't show that yet. I could feel myself growing edgy, restless. I wanted to be near Riddick, to have him touch me and let me know that this was all some stupid dream. Yet I knew for a fact that it wasn't a dream. This was really happening.

Jack was whimpering and moaning as Junner pressed the end of his bladed gun to the girl's forehead. If only she could calm down. He wouldn't think of her as a target, as someone to attack if she looked at death without fear. I knew that she was just a child though, and she was scared. The scent of it filled the air. There was nothing that would stop her from being terrified, except maybe the sleep that comes with freedom. For now she just had to trust that we, Riddick and I, would get her out of this mess if we can.

I watch as a shiv comes barrelling into the gun held by Junner. My shiv drops to the ground as well, knowing that if Riddick gave up his weapons I should do the same. This is what I didn't understand. We could take them, the woman, whoever she was, had turned her back on us. A quick throw would have been all it took to take her out and end this. It just didn't feel like the right time. She would get hers, in the end but right now I could feel that Riddick and I needed to play this out.

"Maybe I know more about you than you do yourself."

"Now just ain't the time."

I watched as Riddick broke the neck of the merc that he'd been strangling this whole time. They were nothing to us, nothing but fodder that got in our way. I would never feel bad for the mercs that I killed. When they signed on for that they knew what they were getting into, the kinds of things that would face them. We weren't here because we played nice. We were alive because we very much killed first and then asked questions later, to sort out the mess. If we even cared to sort out the mess.

"Lock them down. We're done here."

"My apologizes."

"You know how worthless those are to me. You did well. People die in this line of work Junner. A handful of men, a small price to pay."

"What will you do with them?"

"Slowly Junner. Have Riddick and the girl brought to my conservatory. I've something beautiful in mind. And Junner? Unfreeze some more mercs."

I heard the woman and Junner talking as the remaining mercs work to secure bindings on the survivors from the skiff along with myself and Riddick. We allowed ourselves, in that moment, to be captured. I had no doubt that if we wanted too, we could have ripped them all to pieces long before they would have gotten close to us. I could see Jack looking at me, her eyes wide as they strapped chains to me. I was dangerous, just like the big man over there, and there was nothing to change that. I still had the advantage to being the unknown element, they didn't have any clue who I really was.

I wanted to know what this woman meant by beautiful. The very essence of the word terrified me. Riddick had called me beautiful not long after we had first met. Not being able to see I wouldn't really know what that meant. I had to be plain or at the very least ugly. If he thought I was beautiful, then I shuddered to think what this merc woman would assume was. There was an old Earth saying, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. Well I guess we would find out soon enough.

The mercs started to drag the others out while they wheeled Riddick and myself. I wanted to claw out of the chains, claw away to my knives. I couldn't believe that they had my weapons. That was not a good thing. Especially since Riddick had told me not to lose it. He had made me that shiv, specifically, and knowing that it was still there on the floor drove me to madness. I would get ouf of these chains and, when I did, hell would be had. That much my animal was sure of. Still in the position that they put me in, I was able to lean forward barely and inhale the calming scent of my mate. Something about Riddick kept me calm, kept me from breaking the chains and going on a rampage right there.

We were taken through corridors. All around us were mercs suspended in deep cryo it looked like. The very notion of it terrified me but only to a point. They obviously knew what they had signed on for when they took the job, right? Were they that stupid that they didn't even know that they would be semi-frozen for who knows how long? It was mind boggling, truly and then conversation that the others seemed to have was enough to set me on edge, without any extra work.

"Have you ever seen anything like this before?"

"Merc ships? Plenty. Just tryin' to figure out how it all goes together"

"It is a plantation operation. A boat like this loads up at port, signs up as many men as it can hold, then goes out for months, sometimes years at a time. However long it takes to fill their stores"

"'Cept a merchant rig's usually harvesting ore. Maybe crops. Not people."

"Captured bounties on one side, contracted manpower on the other."

"Just add heat."

"You know a lot about this shit, for a holy man."

"I hear things."

Up until this point, I hadn't really said anything. The conversation was mainly been between Riddick and Imam with Jack throwing in a smart comment here or there. It wasn't that I didn't have anything to say, it was that my questions seemed stupid in the long run. I was raised inside a slam, educated by a former teacher from New Mecca, and yet I didn't understand half of what they were talking about. The world outside of the walls of Butcher Bay were foreign to me. That was why I kept my mouth shut. What could I possibly say that wouldn't make me seem stupid? Instead, I chose to bury my head in Riddick's neck, our two carts being so close together that I had freedom of movement. I wished he could wrap his arms around me, but that would have to come later.

My eyes were closed as I breathed in the scent of the only man in the entire universe that could keep me calm. I wasn't asleep, far from it in fact, but I was playing opossum. Maybe if the guards thought that I was asleep they'd be more willing to talk around me. It was amazing what you could learn when the mercs were stupid enough to let their guard down. I saw one of the nudge me with his gun. It was a fat merc, one that looked like could use more exercise than anyone else. It was quite clear that he was probably a lifer in this, not someone that signed up for the thrill of it. He'd be the first I killed when I got my weapons back.

"Must be a special kind of desperate dick that signs on to this."

I watched as the merc hit Rididck across the face with the butt of his gun. Oh yes, someone hasd struck a nerve. Not like it mattered. They had no idea who they were dealing with, honestly. He was just yanking their chain because they allowed him to. If they tuned him out, didn't take personally what he said, there would be no reason for him to speak at all. The blow was hard enough that Riddick's face turned to see me. No, it wasn't from the blow itself. He moved with it to lessen the 'pain' of it. Looking into my eyes for a moment, he smirked before going back to taunting the merc.

"You're the exception of course. For you it's life experience."

Nothing else is said at that point because it appeared as if we had reached our destination. I watched as the others were taken in various directions. I could only hope that we could find them all again, eventually. It wouldn't do us any good to have them scour the ship, searching for the remainder of our party. Still, it was strange enough that Shazza, Zeke, and Paris had been quiet up until that point. Glancing a look at them, I could see in their eyes that they trusedt us to get them out of this. They didn't want to cause us anymore grief so they were working to keep themselves in check. For that, I could only silently thank them with my eyes. Still, each of them were pulled away into different directions, Imam leaving us with ever so familiar words.

"I will pray."

"Not for me."

"Set them down and leave."

It was the same conversation that Riddick and the holy man seemed to have each time. Why the man feels the need to do it, I had yet to find out. Then again, it could very well be a code word and I was just not in on it. I wondered if my silence had the convict worried yet. Was my inability to say anything creating more confusion and danger for him? I would say something, when the time was right. It just wasn't the right time then. At least, not from where I sat. When the others were out of sight, Riddick and I were wheeled into another room, and removed from our bondings, mostly. Our hands were still tied, as if chains would be enough to stop us from hurting them. They had no idea who they were really fucking with. I couldn't wait to show them.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing as we were wheeled into the final room, Junner standing there. This was supposedly the woman's conservatory. It was garrish. Naked figures of men and women were everywhere. Each one a statue that looked to be in some state of agony when it was created. I could only hope that they really were statues. Some were standing on top of others, on full display for the world to see. Or the world that bothered to come into this room. Standing there, right beside Riddick, I was afraid to venture into the room. There was this feeling, like something bad was in the air and it hung over us in thick clouds. My instincts were telling me to run, to hide.

We followed Junner a few feet as we came across the large statues that were, themselves, on display alone. One in particular caught my eye, and Riddick's as well. He seemed to be a warrior, a fighter, and for a moment I thought maybe he had traits simmilar to Riddicks. They could even be from the same people, because I knew looking at Riddick, he wasn't entirely human. Riddick just hummed to himself as we looked down at the nameplate that decorated the base of the statue. Killer of Men. FURYA. It was as if they were trying to tell us something. I felt a strange sort of kinship with the man and had no idea why.

My gaze tore to Riddick as he reached out and touched the statute. I could tell by his actions that it felt far too real to be anything but alive. No statue should look like that, or even feel like that. No, this was something else, and I had a bad feeling that we weren't going to like the answers we were given. Would she offer up any additional information, if we asked for it? Like, I don't know, her name? At least that had been the thought that ran through my head. We needed information but we also needed to watch. Riddick had his back to Junner and I could feel the motion move through the air. Kicking out with my leg, I hit his arm and knocked whatever it was from his hand and heard it go flying. Just at the same moment a door opened from somewhere else in the room.

That noise was enough to distract me, and for Junner to be able to strike Riddick again. The injection was quick and a part of me wanted to know what the hell he had done. It was dangerous to piss off that convict, but they'd managed to do so. Only, they weren't smart enough to know that by his tone he wasn't going to cooperate. Riddick had a certain air about him that most people found intimidating. So far he'd actually been playing nice, we both had. Now they'd gone and done something stupid.

"Alright. Now you have my attention."

"A necessary attempt anything uncivilized, killing me for instance, I detonate the explosive charge Junner's just implanted and sleep very well tonight."

The growl that escaped my mouth could only be described as feral. Someone had dared to threaten my mate, to do something to him that would hurt him. I would not let this go. I was a fraction of a second away from launching myself at her when I felt hands on my shoulders. Strong but gentle fingers digging into the muscles and soothing the pain away. Riddick was trying to calm me, to relax me. I didn't understand why I was getting so worked up so quickly, this had never happened before. I was on edge, and the animal inside of me was whimpering. Not in fear, but in anger and jealousy. She wanted to prove to Riddick that we were the right choice in mate, and I felt his thumb move against my bite mark. I couldn't hide the moan that escaped at that action, the volume of it loud enough for only Riddick to pick up on.

Calmed down somewhat, I was waiting to see the outcome of this little show down. We still didn't know who she was, and I needed to find out. There was no way she had any idea who I was, but then again she didn't seem to care. The fact that I was a killer and a convict right along with Riddick was enough for her to consider me here. If she knew more about Riddick than anyone else, there was a good chance that she knew about me. At least that's the thought that ran through my head as I kept my stance in front of Riddick, with his hands on my shoulders. We were simply waiting, biding our time.

"Walk with me."

It wasn't like we had much of a choice. We had to follow along with her or we risked angering her. I would do nothing that would force her into detonating the explosive charge. He would not die that way. No if he was going to die, it would be an honorable death, one where he went out fighting. Not that it would happen any time soon. Riddick was hard as hell to kill, just ask the creatures on the planet we just escaped, the mercs we'd slaughtered coming out of the ship.

"You're not putting me on a pedestal."

"No of course not. You both are strictly for my private collection."

That sat me on edge again. We walked with her and as we did it clicked. What I thought were statues were anything but. They were in fact living breathing people, men and women who seemed frozen in time. This is what she wanted to do to us, to Riddick and myself. I could feel bile rise in my throat. It was disgusting to think about, and yet I couldn't stop. Not until we knew for certain what she planned for us. We would not end up like the statues.

As we walked something caught my eye. I saw words flash across a screen and then answers selected. It was a tablet that seemed to be linked to someone elses. By the looks of it they were unfreezing mercs. The one in particular whose name caught my attention was Toombs. I'd heard the name before. Once when I was a little younger. I had no doubt though, that Riddick was quite familiar with most of the mercs in the system. After all most wanted a chance at taking in the notorious convict. I wanted to say something, but now wasn't the time. My thoughts were pulled away from the tablet as I heard Riddick humming to himself. My voice broke them apart before much was said.

"Who the hell are you woman? Where are we?"

"Why I thought you would have heard of me dear Autumn. My name does tend to get around in the Slams. Antonia Chillingsworth, and this is my ship, the Dark Fury. Don't worry dear. When I put you on display in my collection, I'll make sure you're right along side your Riddick."

What I couldn't understand was why? I stared up at the woman and almost fainted. I knew the name. How could I not? She'd been the one that had captured my mother, the woman that birthed me. She was the reason I was in the slam when I was born. This merc woman had taken everything from me and now I had a chance to find out why, only I wasn't sure that I wanted to know. Something told me that the answers were here, that I just needed to look a little closer to find them.

"Okay. You go through all the trouble to catch these guys and this is what you do with them?"

"You're missing the point."

"What point? You got a million UD's standin' around collectin' dust."

"You underestimate their value Riddick. They are priceless. Each at one time, the most wanted man or woman in the known universe. The number of lives ended at the hand of those living and breathing in this room is incalculable."

"Ain't what I'd call livin'."

"Me either. This isn't living, it's sick and twisted."

"Just the same. I assure you they are all very much alive. Each one sustained in a form of cryo so profound that seconds seem weeks, and to blink an eye is a days work. The brain, however, continues to function unimpeded. The mind continues to think and feel, swarming with whatever dark thoughts it trapped with. As it will be for hundreds of years. So much more fitting a fate than dropping them off at the nearest slam. Here they are appreciated for what they truly are. Transformed into objects on par their lives work. And why? Because I gave them the audience they so desperately desired. The recognition they bought with the blood of others. I understood their actions, stripped free of moral convention. Don't you see? They're something greater now Riddick. Something more than they ever were before. Art."

As she talked and her words washe over me, we followed her. I could barely hold in the rage and disgust. She wanted to turn us into statues. Living, breathing, specimens that she could gawk at whenever she felt like it. That was not alright by me in the least. What could we do though? It was clear she had something up her sleeve and we needed to be prepared for it, whatever it was. I was more than sure that Riddick had a plan but it wasn't like I could read his mind. I would, however, go along with whatever he had going but we needed to keep her talking. For now. It was clear this woman, Antonia, would reveal her master plan to us, giving us a chance to foil it.

"Lady. Your taste sucks."

"I... expected as much. Junner."

We watched as she called out to her henchmen and the red curtain that had been in front of us opens. The room that we were in was circular in nature, with a table in the middle. Larger statues surrounding it, as if on personal display. I was scared about what she was about to do when that curtain opened and, for a moment, I held my breath. We were pretty high up in the ship and if it opened into something this couldn't be good. A part of me wondered what else she had in store for us. Our test wasn't over, that much was clear because we weren't dead and she hadn't really gotten to her master plan.

"You see Riddick. There's a fundamental difference between you and I."

"Yeah you're a psychopath."

"Ain't that the truth. A really fucked up psychopath that needs a few lessons in art."

"You don't appreciate art but I believe the reason for this is something very different from what you or anyone else might think. You're both artists."

"I been called a lot of things in my day..that ain't one of 'em."

"Nor mine."

"You make art Riddick. You as well Autumn. Not analyze it. You shape it with your own hands, carve it from flesh and bone but a person like you doesn't understand such a thing by being lectured. You must experience it."

I watched as the lights go out and the room filled with the ominous color of red as she spoke. Junner was pressing buttons on some sort of control system and we had yet to move to the edge of the circular platform. Only, I was afraid to. I didn't want to know what they had in store for me because, in my mind, it was something awful. Something that will probably make looking like getting off that planet a nightmare. As it was, we had already pissed the woman off to the point that she would probably kill us before actually turning us into statues. Not that it would do her any good. For a moment I was scared and Riddick's voice didn't help.

"Oh shit."

I moved to the end with him, standing side by side and staring down into the pit. It was clear there was a solid floor there. How else would they expect us to figh?. Suspended off the ground on giant metal balls were Shazza, Jack, and Imam. Around their necks was a metal collar that suspened them from the ceiling. It was clear that if they weren't standing on the balls they would be dead. Hanged to death by the sheer force of their own bodies. It was a cruel thing to do to us. I couldn't outwardly see a threat to them, but I knew it was there. Something would be getting in our way when it came to rescuing our friends.

"I said I'd find you didn't I?"

"What do you want?"

"To watch you work. Both of you. I've spent the latter half of my life observing fantastical things. The work of terrible men, men such as yourself, but it's always after the fact when the moment of bloody creation is cold and past. That changes now."

That's when I heard it. Jack's voice breaking through and Riddick demanding answers. Only the answers that we get didn't settle with me. If she wanted to see me work, I was happy too. I'd gladly carve her up to pieces for threatening my family like this. I watched out of the corner of my eye as Junner pressed another button on that damned control panel and I heard the creatures below gear up. Whatever they were, they were going to be tough competition. How could they not be, considering who Riddick was? Obviously she'd been trying to find a way to test him, capture him for years. It wouldn't be easy to do if the challenge was anything but challenging.

I watched as Antonia crawled up and spread herself out on the table in the middle of the room. It was the perfect vantage point. Gave her the perfect chance to look down and watch us work. I wanted to kill her right there, to slide my shiv so far in her head that I popped her eye out the back. Yet I couldn't. I had to think about protecting Riddick and Jack. The others too. They were people that were counting on us and I wouldn't let them down. Not again. I felt like a part of this was my fault, that if I hadn't stowed away on the Hunter-Gratzner maybe we wouldn't be in this mess.

"I need to see it Riddick, Autumn. I need to see it with my own eyes, as it happens."

"We get out of there alive, and you'll see it again, this close."

I watched as my mate moved in closer to the woman, trying to scare her. Hell, it would scare me to have him that close to my face as he talked. It was clear that with every word the woman spoke he was getting more and more angry. I would never understand why people couldn't see the subtle shift in him, could tell when he went from joking to actually being angry. If anything, Riddick was far more expressive with his words than people ever gave him credit for. As he was leaning in close I watched the woman taunt him with his own blade, dragging it just under his chin. If she drew blood there would be nothing stopping me from hurting her. As it was I fought back the growl, but it still escaped. He was mine and she had no right to touch him.

"No Riddick, I want your masterpiece. An artist is nothing without their instruments."

I watched then as Riddick stood and she flicked his shiv to the ground. My two shivs joined them and for a moment I looked confused, then it clicked. She wanted us to take on whatever wass down there, to watch us try, and maybe fail, to save those that we care for. She could care less if the others live or die, what she wants is the show. We'd give her a show, that much I could guarantee. I doubt she'd be very happy with it when we were done. After all, neither Riddick nor myself were much for following directions, or the plans of others. It didn't take either of us long to scramble over and pick up our weapons. The one problem? We were still bound by our hands, but that honestly wasn't that much of a problem at all. We could fight with our hands bound.

Junner moved closer to Riddick and I couldn't help but smile at the man. My mate always seemed to have something to say, and when he did, he backed it up. Riddick never made idle threats. If he promised to do something he did it, regardless of what it cost him. Getting us off that planet was proof enough of that. Instead of saying anything, I just moved closer behind Riddick and placed a kiss gently against his back. I was offering my support as I eyed two mercs near me.

"When we meet again, I'm gonna bury this.. in your eye."

The lights were right for us, dark enough that we can see without our goggles. We wouldn't need them. They wanted a show and they would make sure that we had the best advantage. After all, what was the point in hindering us, their masterpiece? Riddick was in the lead, I would follow, but I had my own plan. I was trying to calculate how long it would take me to take one of the mercs down and use the other as a shield to make it over. I doubted they would honestly put up much of a fight. None of them looked skilled enough to take on either of us.

The two mercs I was eyeing were guarding the 'arena' but they would let us in. If they didn't well I would make them. I had weapons now, there was nothing stopping me from trying to take them on. Nothing but Riddick and my own uncertainty of what kind of mess we'd be trying to get Jack and the others out of. It was going to take quick thinking, quick planning and a whole lot of guts and gumption to get out of this mess.

"Let them in."

Riddicks movements were quick and clean. Taking one out with a swift kick to the head he punched the other before grabbing the third, the fat man he taunted earlier, and taking him down to the ground. I watched as he used the other man's body as a shield and pillow, lessening the blow to his own. It was my idea, and I was glad to see it was his too. We were more alike than people thought. Taking my chance, I grabbed one of the mercs too and jumped with him over the edge. Only, I didn't land on the ground which for a moment shocked me. I wasn't expecting to land in anyone's arms, because I hadn't been aiming for that. I would figure out later why he felt the need to pluck me out of the air. Before I could analyze it too much he kissed me hard and fast before sliding me down to stand and prepare for battle. I took my fighting stance, right beside him.

"Go Ultraviolet."

I could hear the woman's voice even from here. If she thought it would hinder us, she was wrong. We see in ultraviolet. The way we see objects in the darkness, covered in the soft glow of the purple that our irises pick out. I at once felt at ease. Though, I was sure that whatever lied in store for us is also something that has no trouble seeing in this kind of light. I didn't have much experience with creatures, or others with my set of eyes so I had no idea. Whatever it was though, I would slice and dice away until it was dead and I was the only one left alive. I was waiting. Together we would get out of this.

"I was on a pilgrimage."

"It's bad huh."

"Jack. Who got you guys off that planet?"

"You and Riddick?"

"Alright so who's going to get you out of this?"

I could feel the mood shift in the air. They were scared and they had the right to be. Anyone should when strapped into the contraption that they were in. One wrong move and they could be hanged to death. It wasn't really the way we wanted them to go out and I would do my best to protect them and Riddick as much as we could. With my hands still bound all I could do is wait and see what these creatures were capable of. I had a clue that Riddick knew exactly what we were about to face. He rarely gave anything away though, so I figured they were something we could actually take on.

Knowing that Riddick was close to me was enough to make me calm. My goggles were up, I didn't need them in this view. I could see clearly, all the dangers that were ahead of us. There were two creatures, they looked like squids with metal parts at least. I have no idea what the hell they are but they don't look anything normal. As they come in, I watch as their tentacles capture the two mercs that we brought down their with us, the gunfire useless against the creatures. In their tentacles the creatures had this barb and I watched as they punctured the skin of the mercs, watched as the mercs seemed to melt into nothing. Making a mental note to stay the hell away from the barbs, I moved out of the way.

The fight was on. We dodged and shifted and did what we could until our hands were free. With the chains it made it hard to move like we needed too. I watched in horror as Riddick was thrown backwards into the ball that was underneath Jacks' feet. She was hanging there for a moment before Imam moved his over. When they were both balanced on the ball I moved back to attack mode. Oh I was pissed off. No one, and I mean no one attacked my mate like that and got away with it. Jumping, I landed up near the heart of the creature. Driving my shiv into it's heart I watched as it flailed a moment before slicing through my chains. I was free. At least freer than before. There was a growl that was coming from my throat, one that any creature should have taken in and known that it meant I was pissed.

As we were fighting the other one, the only one left, the one I had killed made one last flail with its tentacles and Imam threw his ball out at the creature. Both of them were now hanging by their necks trying to pull themselves up. Shazza was trying to maneuver her ball over to them, so that all three could be balanced. We needed to get them down, and fast, but how? Before I could form a plan, Riddick was jumping and slicing through the ropes that held them, watching as all three fell to the ground. He was still chained, his hands at least, but that didn't really stop him from being dangerous to the creature.

"Get her on her feet."

"I cannot see!"

"You don't want too"

I watched as Riddick moved closer and allowed them to free his hands. These creatures really did have no idea who they were fucking with. This was his fight though, I didn't need to be in the way. I wanted to watch him, study him, not in a bad way. He was a magnificent specimen of a man, dangerous and lethal. Watching him kill was like watching a dance. Fluid and poetic and I loved it. The animal inside of me was panting in lust after the man and I was trying to fight down the urge. Honestly, why was this affecting me so? I could feel the mark on my neck throb as if in anticipation of something.

"You wanna go? Let's go."

"Beautiful, beautiful creature."

"Shrill are quite an exquisite species."

"I'm talking about the man."

I crouched down low by the three survivors and growled. I was trying to get them to understand that they needed to stay as still as possible. Riddick needed no distractions and trying to protect them would get him injured or killed and I wouldn't allow that. Both of my shivs were out and I watched as the man I was falling for got tangled up in the tentacles of the remaining shrill. I grabbed Jack before she could get up and cause any problems. Shoving the girl down into the arms of Shazza I took off. Picking up one of the sliced off tentacles, I attacked the shrill. It was supposed to serve as a distraction, a way to get them to drop one of Riddick's arms. It worked. I watched as he freed one hand and I threw him ,my shiv. I knew he'd know to catch it without much hesitation. He was a master with blades and even in the darkness he could hear the sound of it whipping through the air.

He dispatched the creature not to long after that. The fights in total hadn't taken more than maybe five minutes but it seemed to feel like forever. When the adrenaline was coursing through my body, I felt alive. I knew, however, that when all was said and done we'd all crash into sleep. The fight wasn't over, we still had to find a way off the ship and I had to figure out how to get that damned explosive out of Riddick's neck. Though I knew he was thinking that too. We would not allow them to blow any of us up, not now.

As the fight ended the lights came back on normally. I slipped my goggles back in place, same as Riddick as we waited. Antonia was still a threat, still in semi-control for now. We needed to wait for her next move as we thought about ours. I was beside Riddick, my hand on his shoulder, showing him that he had my support. He had one hand around my waist holding me close. To anyone not paying attention it might not seem like much but we were presenting a united front. We were a team, the two of us together or nothing at all. Both dangerous alone, but together a masterpiece.

"Bravo! The grace, the expression, the sheer violence of it. Exquisite."

As Antonia was talking, I watched Riddick mumble something to the others. They didn't seem to quite hear him but I did. He wanted a shiv, the one of mine he had borrowed was still buried in the heart of the last shrill he took down. Trying to keep my movements from catching anyones eye, I gently placed a kiss on Riddick's neck as I handed him over my last weapon. His shiv was somewhere on the ground, but we couldn't stop for it yet. He'd find it but for now he needed to borrow the one I had. When it was pressed into his hands I moved and scooped up his own knife. Oh how wonderful these things were, when properly made.

"Such complete and thorough performance. It leaves only one question...How will I ever have you both mounted, to do it justice?"

I watched the smirk grace Riddick's face as he brought the knife up to his neck. Slicing at the skin, he opened a hole big enough for him to dig the explosive out. We didn't need that on his person and we needed to get out of there as fast as we could. I wasn't going to question his actions, I'd already learned that he always had a plan. Until we were safe, his mind was going to be working through probably a million scenarios. Each one with it's own divergent until one plan actually went through. We were going to get out of this.

I watched as Antonia freaked out at Riddick pulling out the explosive and she went for the detonator. I could hear her voice and I wanted to jump up and bury my shiv in her eye, but I couldn't. Not right then. She was a bitch and a half and a part of me wondered just how much longer she was going to survive. If she thought that trying to capture Riddick or even myself was going to be easy, she had a lot to learn. We were dangerous, we were escapees and we were a team.

"Looks like you'll both have to be an abstract piece."

"Down Now!"

He threw it against one of the back walls as Shazza, Imam and Jack take cover. I wasn't fast enough to make it and I was still standing when the things went off. I felt a bit of shrapnel tear into my shoulder but I wasn't going to cry out. When the dust settled we needed to move and move we did. All of us tore through the new opening and were heading down the ship. I hoped that Riddick knew where he was going. After all he'd been on more merc ships than I had. Just before we fled I could hear Antonia speaking to Junner again.

"We'll need to rouse a substantial pursuit force."

"Who?"
"All of them, even the golls. Any man or thing that can hold a weapon. Every last one! Now!"

I tried not to think too much about what that meant. We weren't going to be free unless we could get to a ship that would get us out of here. As we were running, I ended up taking a turn away from the others. Riddick would keep them safe and I would meet back up with them eventually. My feet made no sounds as I moved through the halls. I just hoped that Riddick didn't come looking for me as we were going. His job was far more important than mine. My eyes took in what I was seeing and I unconsciously bumped into someone.

Staring at me was someone that looked like she'd rather be anywhere but where she was. In her hand was a tablet, with the same display that I had seen before, in Antonia's quarters before we went into the pit. I didn't want to hurt the girl but I needed to know if she was friend or foe. She looked, familiar to me but I couldn't place why. My brain was muddled with lack of sleep, hunger and pain. My shiv was clutched tightly in my hand and she saw it but it didn't make her run.

"Miss Fallon you need to get back to Riddick. I'm going to hold them off as long as possible but I can't do it if you're here. I will only unfreeze about six mercs and one goll. It's not going to be good but it won't be overwhelming numbers. She has a ship, a way off this place. When you get to the ship put this in the command console and I'll know you made it. There's someone that you should meet, but I can't dare unfreeze them until we know she's gone. Here take it."

In her hand was a small piece of metal. I had no idea what it was but I snatched it up and took off. I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth but there was no telling what we were in store for. It didn't take me long to catch back up with the others, their speed only as fast as their tired selves would let them go. With a gentle touch on Riddick's shoulder I let him know I was there, beside him for whatever we were facing. I didn't have to say anything, he already seemed to know. For a moment a part of me wondered if he could read my thoughts, and that alone seemed to draw a smirk on his face. Still we weren't out of the woods yet. Something was coming our way, there was no denying that.

The easiest part of our escape was getting back through the zero-g area. If you pushed off just right you could force float wherever you wanted to go. We weren't going to simply outrun those that were following us but we did need to find a place to hide. In one corridor we were waiting, Jack hiding, and Imam and Riddick waiting as if trying to find out what was coming next. Shazza was leaning against the metal, seemingly calm. I knew it was a facade. She was pretending to be strong for the girl and it was working.

"What was that?"

"Don't move."

That's when we heard it. The sound of something heavy and metal hitting the ground. This must be that goll they were talking about. I couldn't help but whisper it's name and watch as the convict threw his head towards me. He seemed to understand what I was saying. We were not going to outrun the creature, our only hope was to hide and wait for it to pass. Oh yes we could do that without a problem, we would have a plan.

I watched as Riddick climbed himself up onto a beam overhead. We were going up and over, it made sense. When he was up there I helped him get to Jack. He was strong enough to hoist the girl up by himself, but that didn't matter. As he was trying to haul her up a light from some flashlights startled us and Jack started squirming and fighting. It was making it harder for her to be pulled up. Gunfire broke out and for a moment Riddick dropped the girl. I was momentarily frozen as I watched the scene. Of course I knew that Riddick wouldn't drop her. Leaning down the convict grabbed her by her belt and hoisted her up there with him. Imam and I quickly followed as we hunkered down and knew they couldn't actually shoot us from where we were.

I saw the blood a moment coming from Riddick's arm and I wanted to say something. The look in his eyes told me he was fine. It hurt but he'd wall it away like always and move on. None of us could risk letting them know that we were injured. It wouldn't do any good for them to worry or to hate us. We were only mostly human after all.

"Are you badly hurt?"

"Him? He almost tore me in half!"

"Just a graze this time."

I smacked Jack against the back of her head and move on. We couldn't sit here and dwell on this. We needed to move and move now. One day she'd learn to stop smarting off, I hoped, but now we couldn't deal with that. The more she talked, the more she lead them right in our direction. Running all out we took off down the hallways and corridors as we headed for the aft of the ship. We needed to get off this damned thing. I knew his words were to calm me, I could feel the animal inside of me reacting to knowing he was hurt. Anything more than a graze and I was sure I'd lose it. I didn't understand why, around him, I was acting this way. I'd never not been in control but around Riddick my animal seemed to come out and play a lot more. It was harder to keep it inside and push down its antics. Like right now. It wanted me to jump Riddick to quell the fire in my veins but we couldn't we weren't even safe.

Suddenly Riddick stopped and I slid to a stop beside him. Watching the others, Jack, Imam and Shazza were all out of breath. They understood the danger, but we could not outrun whatever it was that was coming for us. We needed a place to lay a trap and we couldn't do that if we were worrying about the kid. I knew the two adults could take care of her, would take care of her if something were to happen to us.

"We cannot stop."

"We ain't outrunnin' this thing. Not the five of us."

"What? I can keep up."

"Maybe someday Jack. Not today."

"Get her to the flight deck."

"It's just aft, up a level."

"Yeah, stow in there and let whatever's followin' pass. When it does, make for the flight deck and don't look back. No matter what you hear."

"We'll wait for you."

"Follow Imam and Shazza."

I turn and watch the three of them crouch into a narrow little slit off the corridor. As long as they tuck themselves in tight enough they should be ok. Whatever is after us will be tracking us, probably by blood and smell. Riddick and I are the main threats and we need to find ourselves another hiding spot. I know that Shazza and Imam will get the girl to safety, or die trying. I hoped they didn't have to die to do it but unfortunately I couldn't worry about that right now. My focus was on Riddick.

"What are you gonna do?"

"You don't want to know Jack. Just do as we ask for once please?"

My eyes were pleading with the girl to just trust us, to let us handle this. If we didn't think she was safe with Shazza or Imam, we wouldn't have left her there. Riddick and I needed to do something. I turn and sprint away, knowing that my mate was following. My shiv back in my hand I slice my arm and lure them away with my blood. Riddick doing the same. Making our blood intermingle as it dotted the ground. We would lure the beast away, get to a safe point and make a stand.

Around the corner and up, we climbed up into some ventilation. Strangely enough there was plenty of room for the two of us, and I found myself looking down at the ground we'd just fled from. My back against Riddick's chest as he pressed kisses to my neck. His hands started a wandering trail across my body. Even here, under the threat of whatever it was that was following us the man was insatiable. I could feel his desire for me both physically and through this bond we'd seemed to have formed. I had no doubt that if we were alone and had the time we needed he would join with me, satiating both of our animals. His hands on my body were distracting, making me moan even despite my urge to stay quiet. I knew he heard them, I just hoped the creatures and the mercs didn't. Giving away our position would not be good.

With his roaming hands, I felt them slide down into my cargo pants and ghost across my skin. A part of me froze. I'd never let anyone touch me like this before and here I was allowing Riddick that right. I didn't know if he noticed my flinch or not. He wasn't hurting me, my animal was happy to let him continue but my brain, the part of me that was still a woman, human, was afraid. I felt two solid strong fingers stroke me in my most sensitive place before one of them slid right in. I could feel him probing, stroking, and I held my breath. It felt amazing and I didn't want him to stop but if he continued we'd both be caught for sure. My breath was coming out in little pants and moans, loud enough for him to hear but not enough for human ears.

The sound of feet pounding our way jerked me out of my haze as I felt Riddick shift, moving his hands away and grip my hips. He was holding me close as we waited. He had an idea what was coming for us, I sensed it in the air. I wanted to know his plan but asking would be stupid. I trusted him with every bit of myself and he hadn't let me down so far. Why start doubting him now? I could still feel his lips against my neck, my flesh sensitive. He ghosted them right by my ear, close enough that he could talk to me and no one else would hear it.

"Let them fight and when they are gone, scattered we take out the goll. Between our shiv's we got enough power we can take it down. It's gonna be messy either way."

I didn't need to answer. He knew I was on his side and I'd do as he asks. We waited, hoping that the creature tok out the others and we didn't have too. I'd rather not take on five mercs and whatever the hell that creature was. This whole ship creeped me out. There were so many creatures here, things that shouldn't exist in space like this. I still haven't told him about the girl, about the one that let me go but told me there was someone I needed to talk to. My mind was mulling over a million ideas of what to do as we waited, the feet getting closer.

From my vantage point, I watched as the mercs hit our dead end. They knew we were around there somewhere but they didn't know where. Riddick had left his shirt on the ground, a clue. He was good at leaving breadcrumbs to distract. Of course anyone stupid enough to pick up Riddick's shirt was one stupid enough to get eaten by whatever the hell that thing was that was following us. I watched, my eyes alight with glee as one of them was actually stupid enough to do so. We needed to wait though, for the right time to attack. Timing it just right would give us the advantage.

"Don't touch that!"

'"Oh shit!"

I heard the first voice and I thought it might be Toombs, the one I saw them revive but I didn't know. I didn't know merc voices. The other one was clearly female and then we heard it. All of us. The pounding of the metal feet against the metal walkways. The thing was coming and they had just signed their own death warrants. At least the one that was stupid enough to grab Riddick's shirt. A lot of creatures went of off blood, smelled it, loved it. They were setting themselves up to be human bait. Better for us.

I watched as all but one of the mercs was eaten by the creature. One of them, Toombs I would assume, was smart enough to fire his gun at one of the pipings and get away. Running from the creature was the best option. For a moment we were just watching, waiting for it to notice us. As it stopped it looked up, roaring as if trying to scare us. That's when we moved, simultaneously flinging ourselves from our hiding spot. Our shivs sliced at the creature giving it no room to move. It was quick and it was over really before the thing had any say.

"I ain't puttin' that back on."

I watched as Riddick looks at his shirt, covered in blood, much and sliced to pieces. We needed to get him a shirt, or I was going to get distracted right here and now and do something very stupid. My own clothes weren't fearing any better. I looked down, seeing them slashed even more than before. I'd never actually managed to change out of the things from that hell planet. Looking around, I spotted something that would work for us. The female merc looked to be around my size, well my size if I was actually eating healthy. Stripping off my torn garments I pulled the shirt off the woman and slipped it on. It was a size too large. Not that I was scrawny, I had decent sized breasts and all but I was under nourished. My ribs were visible and I know that for the first time, Riddick got a chance to see just what sorry shape I was in.

Once we were suitably dressed again we took off. It was time we made it back to the others. Just as we were coming up I watched as Imam was struck on the head and Shazza and Jack were pulled from the panel in the floor. I could see Zeke and Paris not to far away too, being held under guard. We needed to get them out of here and fast. Junner was the one that my eyes were on, holding Jack by the throat as she kicked and hit at him. I had to admire the girls spirit. She wasn't going to give up the fight.

"Let her go. It's me you're after. You wanna shot at the title?"

I watched as Junner dropped Jack and turned to face Riddick. The cocky bastard even took off his coat. As if he actually stood much of a chance. Riddick was powerful, dangerous and if anyone got a hit in it was because he let them. Allow them to think they were good, let them get cock,y and then take them out. It's the easiest thing in the world to do. Most people were too stupid to even know what we were doing in the first place. Their cocky and overconfident ways was going to get them killed.

Watching Riddick fight turned me on even more. I was sure that I was about to combust from all of this. I couldn't fight back the whimper of need that escaped my lips. This was his fight though, and I couldn't interfere. I watched as Junner used his sword to knock Riddck's shiv out of his hand and they went at it hand to hand. There were moments where I was sure that Junner was going to win, especially when he knocked Riddick into some metal pillar. It wasn't over though, not until Riddick lay dead in pieces. That much I knew and I wouldn't allow that to happen. Their fighting though, turned into Riddick's advantage and I couldn't help the chuckle. These people were stupid beyond all knowing.

Watching as the convict scooped up some conduit line and wrapped it around the mans neck, I laughed. He was trying to choke the man and I knew it wouldn't work. The thing was... the moment that Junnar cut the line the lights went out. Never give us that advantage. Never let us fight in the dark. It was a sure way to lose. In the moment that it took the man to realize his mistake, Riddick had scooped up his shiv and buried it Junner's eye. Just as he had promised. See, they all thought that he made idle threats. If he promised to do something, he followed through with it. The emergency power should kick on soon, I knew that and I waited for the convict to let us know it was time to get the hell out of here.

"I told you that was comin'"

"Where. Where are you going?"

"Gonna prep this ship and get off this heap."

"So we can escape?"

I watched as Jack and Imam start to stir, Shazza already awake. They stared at us as we move towards the ship. It wasn't like we could leave them, but for now the threat was gone. I watched as Imam questioned Riddick but knew that he wasn't going to get an answer. We weren't going to leave them there. The question was answered with a wave of his hand, a signal to move forward. They could stay here if they wanted too but Antonia was still alive and still a threat. For now though, our goal was to get off this merc ship before anything else happened. I watch as Imam helps Jack to her feet, try not to listen to their words. They had no idea what was coming but things wouldn't be over until we were kicked out into space.

"Tis over. We have survived."

A sound jerked my head around, my body in front of Riddick's. I watched as Antonia stood there, looking worse for the wear and panting up a storm. She looked as if she didn't have any clue that we could take her out before she could blink. I stand there, watching as she pulls a gun on me. I'm too close and if it goes off it will rip into me. My only thought is to protect Riddick and I do. For him to get in front of me, he'd have already had to been there a second before he opened the hatch on the ship. No he was behind me and the most he could do was shove me out of the way. He doesn't though because none of us really knew what was going to happen.

She pulled the trigger faster than any of us could see and I felt the pain of it hitting me. I watched as the shot knocked me down and Riddick was standing there, trying to figure out what to do next. My body felt like it was on fire but I'm alive and awake. I watched as she approachds, screaming at us and holding the gun closer. If she pulled the trigger, next time it would kill me. It was aimed right at my head and the woman is unstable, that much was clear.

"Back to hell with you, you bloody stinking savages."

I heard the sound of another shot and for a moment it was as if time stood still. I couldn't think, or focus and I didn't even know if I was alive. Then things started to clear and I could see Antonia dead at our feet. Her head blown nearly completely off by a shot. Riddick helped me to my feet, eyeing the bullet in my shoulder with a bit of anger. Jack was standing there, the gun in her hand, still smoking. She'd used Junner's gun to take out the threat.

"Yeah.. we made it."

"Awfully uncivilized thing you just did there Jack."

"Nice shot though kid. Head shots are a sure way to make sure they don't get back up and come after us. Let's get off this crap hole."

We climbed board and helped the others settle. The ship that we were escaping on was larger than the skiff and for a moment I was stunned. Why did someone need a place with so many bedrooms? There was one master suite that I was sure someone else would claim. From where I was standing I could see a large sitting area that seemed to be state of the art. There was a kitchen and wash room and so much more. Shuffling everyone aboard I did a quick head count. We were not going to leave if not everyone was on board. Thankfully the three kids were hidden behind Zeke and Paris when we had entered the flight deck.

I watched as Paris claimed the room on the furthest right, it was the smallest and he said he didn't need much space. Shazza and Zeke took the room just to the left of that one, it was larger but not by much. The room on the far left was taken by Imam and his three boys, it was the largest, outside of the master suite and they needed the space. It also had enough beds for them. The room just to the right of that but not directly in the middle was going to be Jack's room, for now. That left Riddick and myself to decide if we were sharing a room or not. For a moment I couldn't fight the blush at the implications.

Moving towards the cockpit I watched as Riddick sat down at the controls, mapping out our plan and turning on the auto pilot. We needed to drop our survivors off and hoped that they wouldn't ask too many questions. Paris would be the first to go, then probably Zeke and Shazza. New Mecca, Imam's destination, was the furthest out of the way. He would be the last to drop off. As it stood it was going to take us about a week to get to the planet that Paris wanted to be let of fat. A week of these people around us again. A week to figure out what we were going to do next.

Taking a seat in the co-pilot's chair, I remembered the small disk the woman gave me. Setting it in as instructed I watched as something flashed up on the screen. This wasn't what I had been expecting but then, what else could I do? I knew nothing about who I was, or who my parents were and here I was getting a chance to learn. I could feel Riddick's presence near me, knowing that he was offering whatever strength he could. I turned for a moment and looked at him, his eyes boring into mine with one eyebrow quirked. He was curious about where I got the gadget but now was not the time to explain. Instead I turned back to the woman on the screen and listened.

"Autumn, I see you put the card in as instructed. Don't worry it won't interfere with the programs or navigation of the Swallow. If you are looking at this then you've saved us all. Most of us on board were slaves of Antonia, forced to follow her orders and watch the ones we love suffer. I'm sure you have questions and I can give you answers, but not all of them. My name is Lola and by the time you see this I will be dead. Killed by either Junner or that damned goll that she like to have around so much."

There was a pause in the feed and I was nervous. I wanted to know how she knew my name for one and how she'd had time to record this. What answers could she give me? Biting my lip I gripped the edge of my seat to try to prevent myself from getting up and pacing. I wanted to pace to rage at what information I was being given. None of it made any sense.

"We know your name because we knew your mother before she was taken. Don't worry she wasn't a merc. Your mother was an ambassador to the planet Furya and your father, well he was one of the Furyan primarchs. One of the leaders. He came from a long line of alpha males, much like the man sitting beside you. He was second in command to the king, and he fell for your mother. If you remember, I told you that there was someone that you should meet. As you are watching this, my orders are being carried out. This person is being unfrozen, removed from his cryo state and getting prepared to be sent to find you. He has the answers that you both seek. I suggest you heed them. I cannot tell you anymore."

With that the transmission ended. I didn't understand what telling me I was Furyan meant. Did that mean I was some crazy person that wasn't even human. She kept mentioning Riddick with it, that Riddick's family also came from a long line of alphas. Well that much I could see. I had no doubt that he had an inkling as to who he really was. Why did it matter that my parents were like this? Hell my question is, how did I even get born. I'd never heard of Furya until I saw the statue but I couldn't deal with this right now.

I turned a moment, looking at Riddick before I got up and left the cockpit. Heading into the room that I would be sharing with him I tried to fight back the tears. There was still so much about this world that I didn't know, didn't understand. I spent my life in a slam, questions always in the back of my mind on who my mother and father were. I'd finally accepted that they were both dead and I would probably never know. Slamming the door shut behind me I stripped out of my clothes and headed to the en-suite bathroom. Turning the taps on the water as hot as they would go I tried to shower but it didn't work. I felt myself falling to my knees, letting the hot water run over me as I cried. I was trying to deal with everything I'd been through but it was too much. I don't know how long I was in the water but I felt a naked chest and strong arms pull me out of the water. They dried me as much as they could, dressed me in a shirt and tucked me into the covers. I was trapped in the darkness for a while, letting it lull me to sleep. Tomorrow I would try to understand.

---

I don't remember when but I had somehow managed to drift off to sleep with my girl in my arms. I knew she was safe, wrapped up like that. I liked the feelin' of it, my arms around hers, her body pressed to mine. It had been a long while since my inner animal was content and for the first time, it felt like it was. I was purrin' I knew, I could hear it but it was so soft that it didn't disturb her sleep. The last thing I wanted to do was disturb my mate's sleep. Everyone on the skiff needed rest but this place was tiny and cramped and it wasn't easy to do.

I was jolted awake by the sirens on the damned ship goin' off. Somethin' had skewered us and there was no way to fight it. We were gonna get reeled in. I was tryin' to shut off the noise before everyone woke up but it didn't quite work. A loud obnoxious voice started driftin' over the speaker system and I was hittin' buttons and flippin' switches as much as I could to stop it.

"Hull breach contained. Engines running at one hundred and seventy percent capacity. Engine and hull failure imminent under current parameters."

"Critical systems failure in five seconds. Four seconds. Three seconds. Two seconds. One second."

I kept movin' things around, trying to shut the damn system off. It was so annoyin' that I thought about just stabbin' it with my shiv but I didn't feel like bending the metal. Finally the thing shut itself off and all I could do was glare at Jack. She'd jinxed us whether she knew it or not. You gotta be careful what you say in a world like this. Bad thin's tended to happen when people weren't careful.

"First you're a boy, then you're a girl, and now you're a psychic. Careful what you wish for Jack."

I watched the girl gulp and fear fill her eyes. I would be damned if I let mercs get ahold of either of them. Both the females, Autumn and Jack were mine. Jack like a sister to me, a pup in the grand scheme of things. Autumn, my mate, well she'd be a challenge for them for sure. There wasn't anythin' that said I didn't have to let her fight. I just didn't want to deal with the aftermath of it all. We'd already been through so much to get to this point.

"Unidentified craft. State your purpose and contents."

That got my attention. That voice. It wasn't one I'd heard before but I filed it away for future use. These merc ships had voice recognition, I knew that much. I was tryin' to see if there was a way for us to get out of this mess without me havin' to speak. The moment I opened my mouth the game would be over. They would know who I was and would take a stand.

"Unidentified craft. State your purpose and contents."

"Unidentified craft. State your purpose and contents."

I was watchin' the others. I could see that somethin' was sparkin' in the mind of Autumn. She motioned for me to turn on the coms and I did. I still had my arms around her, holdin' her close as I waited to see what she was gonna do. Givin' them too much information was a bad thing but we needed to be off this skiff if we were truly to assess our situation. It sounded like the mercs were going to take us in regardless of what we told them.

"Names Autumn Fallon. Survivor from the crash of the cargo ship Hunter-Gratzner on the plant Hades in the Tangiers System. The only other survivors from that mess are with me. Outside of that we have nothing."

"Tell me Ms. Fallon. What brings you to the lovely corner of space?"

"Just someone trying to get somewhere else when our ship crashed."

"I see."

This guy didn't believe our story. He seemed much too willin' to accept her answer. I knew we were in trouble but I wasn't ready to give up yet. I moved Autumn from my lap and stood. The others seemed to be starin' out the window into space and none of them paid me much mind. Not like it would do any good. By the time they formed a thought I'd have already enacted my plan.

Picking up the lighter that was on the ground, along with the cuttin' torch I got an idea. I had no idea why the hell that thin' was on the skiff but I could think about it later. It was a godsend right now for my plan. Settin' the flame of the torch up next to the fire suppression system I waited. I was gonna fill the cabin with foam and when they popped the cork use the foam as cover. I could see the same idea pop in Autumn's head a split second after I lit the torch. Oh yes. My mate havin' the same idea's as me was such a turn on.

"Everyone take a deep breath, hold it for as long as you can. Most importantly, do not under any circumstances draw their attention too you."

Soon enough the foam burst forth and filled the cabin. I could hold my breath for quite a while. I just hoped it would be long enough to keep Jack and the others safe. That girl, she was honestly more trouble than she should be. I could hear the voices outside of the cabin and knew they were gettin' ready to breach. These idiots had no idea how to really deal with someone like us. For a moment though, I wondered if they had any information on Autumn. Even I knew that it was rare for someone to be born in a slam. She thought no one knew anythin' about her but so far, people did.

"Anything?"

"No sir. No one's been in or out of this bay since I locked it down myself. Zero atmosphere."

"Pressurize."

"We've got O2 sir. It's thin but breathable. Green for breach."

"Earn your keep."

The moment the door opened I was out. I sliced through three throats before I felt Autumn movin' near me. Blood stained areas of the foam as the others tried to find me. I was light lightnin' I knew, slippin' in and around them. These mercs were low class, quality stupid and didn't even stand a chance. Smart mercs would have waited to see what happened. Instead of just chargin' right in on the foam. Now they were dead, and I could hear their 'leader' orderin' the retreat. Smirkin' to myself, I launched out of the foam and into the gunmen. Takin' them out was easy. All three of the men with machine guns were down and out before anythin' really could be focused on.

"You certantly know how to make an entrance."

"That's nothing scarecrow. They're going to kick your ass so.."

Jack. I was goin' to have to have a talk with that girl. I watched as she was pulled back in the foam but by who I don't know. Blood spots still filled the area so I knew that Autumn was still killin' the ones she could find. The girl was goin' to get us killed or at least herself injured. That much was quite clear. Yet me callin' out to her would draw the wrong conclusions. I had a plan, and the others didn't need to know what it was. Nope. I wasn't gonna share. They would either figure it out or die.

As I was goin' after another merc I heard the sound of a struggle, a body hit the floor and the voice that had been over the com. I turned, my hand squeezin' the neck of the merc as I watched. Oh what a lovely sight I saw. The scrawny man in the white coat had a sword/gun pointed at Jack's head but my mate, she was standin' there with a shiv to his throat. She had no qualms about takin' the man out. I was too far away to save Jack, at the moment but she would do her damndest that much I did know.

"I think not."

I growled myself before turnin' my attention to the person that was really in charge. The woman standing up on the balcony needed to be addressed. I knew that Autumn hadn't seen her, yet but that didn't bother me. I figured they had some sort of visible recognition aboard the ship if the voice one failed. They probably already knew who I was and I waited to see if she'd actually go through with tryin' to kill me.

"Call off your lap dog before his tryin' to impress you gets him killed."

"Am I so obvious?"

"Call it what you want but tell him to stand down. Now."

"You'll have to excuse Junner's excitement. It sometimes makes him a touch quick. Though I can't say I blame him. You see he's just heard so much about you, Riddick. Yes I know your name. Quite a bit more about you I think."

"Careful. You may find what you're diggin' for.."

"I'm willing to share of course but I must ask that you surrender your weapons. Before anymore of my apparently overpaid associates come to an untimely end."

"mmm. Not gonna happen."

"No?"

I hummed a moment as I contemplated the situation. She knew who I was, provided me with the name of the man who had Jack at the other end of the gun. She knew just how dangerous I was and yet she was willin' to play a game. I'd bite, if only for a little while. I see a flash of recognition fly across Autumn's face, as if she's seen the woman before. It's not obvious to anyone else around but I knew the woman better than that. I'd only known her for a few hours, at least but my animal could smell the subtle shift in the air. She knew this woman, but she was confused and dealin' with conflictin' thoughts and emotions. Jack was our number one priority right now. She needed to be safe. So I tried a bluff, just to see how far this merc would take it.

"The girl is nothin' to me."

"Then enlighten me. Why would a stone cold killer such as yourself, go through all the trouble of keeping the likes of her alive. Unless of course you've grown attached."

"She's a cover story. Nothin' more. You shoot her now, you'd be savin' me the trouble."

"Then I have your blessing?"

It was true that if they did kill Jack they'd be savin' me a lot of trouble. The girl was trouble but I wasn't gonna let her die. It was a bluff nothin' more. I could tell the woman didn't buy it as she turned around and motioned for Junner. I watched as the man squeezed the trigger just a small fraction before I launched my shiv at the gun. I knocked it out of the way, a sign that I'd not actually let them kill her, yet. I watched as the woman turned to look at me, a small smile decoratin' her face.

"Maybe I know more about you than you do yourself."

"Now just ain't the time."

Havin' had enough I snap the neck of the merc I'd been chokin' this whole time and stand up. We, Autumn and I, needed to try to figure out what our next moves were. It was clear that gettin' off this ship wasn't gonna be easy. Noddin' slightly to autumn, I knew that she'd follow whatever lead I gave her. That was good. The less we actually had to talk the better we could plan. The others they didn't need to overhear what we were workin' out.

"Lock them down. We're done here."

"My apologizes."

"You know how worthless those are to me. You did well. People die in this line of work Junner. A handful of men, a small price to pay."

"What will you do with them?"

"Slowly Junner. Have Riddick and the girl brought to my conservatory. I've something beautiful in mind. And Junner? Unfreeze some more mercs."

At the mention of the word beautiful I gag a little. I had a small idea of what the crazy bitch had in mind and none of it was good. For now, I was playin' nice. Lettin' them chain me up and shit. This is what the mercs don't understand. If they catch me, it's because I let them. I could easily keep killin' my way through the ship and get to a ship that would get me out of here. I don't though, not without Autumn and at least Jack. I watch as the woman in charge and the man named Junner start to walk away. They have somethin' up their sleeves and it makes me nervous. Still I'm chained to some sort of dolly like thing, with just my hands tied. Oh how stupid can they be?

I'm studyin' the ship as they drag us around and realize that Autumn's been quiet this whole time. I'm slightly worried about her. She'd already been through so much but she'd be tough enough to get us out of here. Any conversations that we had, anythin' that I say is for her benefit. I know she can understand the way I phrase certain things. The woman is smarter than any other I'd ever met. Lookin' around I see mercs hangin' out in pods on all sides. The sheer number of them boggles my mind.

"Have you ever seen anything like this before?"

"Merc ships? Plenty. Just tryin' to figure out how it all goes together"

"It is a plantation operation. A boat like this loads up at port, signs up as many men as it can hold, then goes out for months, sometimes years at a time. However long it takes to fill their stores"

"'Cept a merchant rig's usually harvesting ore. Maybe crops. Not people."

"Captured bounties on one side, contracted manpower on the other."

"Just add heat."

"You know a lot about this shit, for a holy man."

"I hear things."

I do wonder how Imam hears what he has. Talk about thing's like this aren't exactly normal. He knew far too much about merc ships for my likin' but what was I gona say exactly. He'd already answered my question sayin' it was nothin' more than rumor he'd heard. I'd need to watch him though. I didn't completely trust him and maybe that was the point. He was someone to watch out for later. My thoughts are interrupted a moment when I feel Autumn shift. She hasn't said anythin' but she buries her neck in my throat. I don't mind. I like that my animal soothes her. I want to pull her into my arms but we are tied. My animal is both upset and calmed by this. It wants to let her calm down, to allow her a chance to rest but it is angered that we cannot hold her in our arms and let her know she's safe.

The fat guard that seemed to like rough handlin' Jack stares at us. I can see in his eyes that he's got ideas about my mate. He'd be dead before he even managed to lay a hand on her. That I can guarantee. Still I needed to distract him so I couldn't help but taunt him, and the others. Mercs were so damned sensitive anyway. Tauntin' them was the only thin' I really could do.

"Must be a special kind of desperate dick that signs on to this."

I knew my words would rile him up. Fatso punches me but it's not even painful. I let my head move with it, deflectin' the blow. If he thought that was goin' to hurt me he had another thin' to learn. It was gonna take much more than that to get me in any sort of pain. I catch Autumn's eyes from my angle and smirk at her. It was nice to watch her smile for a moment before I'm back to tauntin' the merc again.

"You're the exception of course. For you it's life experience."

We'd reached our destination and I watch as they take Shazza, Jack and Imam elsewhere. I don't see the boys or Zeke, or Paris and I wonder if they are still on the ship. Can't worry about them right now. Nope, gotta focus on the bastards in front of me and makin' sure that my girl is alright. She's awfully quiet and that worries me more than I will openly admit.

"I will pray."

"Not for me."

"Set them down and leave."

I can't help but glare at Imam. He always uses that damned prayer routine. Granted I get it's a code. It's his way of saying that he has faith we'll see each other again but I don't need to hear it out loud. He knows I don't want him prayin' for me and shit. Still it's a distraction and the voice of that Junner asshole tells the others what to do. I know that this Junner guy is the problem and he's goin' to be someone I enjoy killin' in the end.

We are released from the dollys and left with our hands tied in a room. I don't really like what I'm seein'. These statues she has everywhere look like people. They smell like 'em too. Like someone stuck in a state that is frozen but didn't hide that they were alive. I don't like it. I can see Autumn looking around, Knowin' that she's probably just as tweaked about the whole thing as I am. I'm trying to juggle keepin' my eyes on my woman and on the guy in front of us. I give nothin' away, but Autumn, she's more expressive than I am. I like it though, but it can be dangerous., for us both.

We walk and follow the man as we move through the statues. One of 'em catches my eye. I stare at it as if I recognize it. He looks vaguely familiar to me, as if we've met before somewhere. For a moment I'm reminded of my dreams, of a planet with two suns and the red dirt of home. A dead planet that has seen better days. My eyes drift to the nameplate. Killer of men. Furya. It clicks for me then. At least, from the dream's I'd been havin'. This statue, he's from home. I can see it, the resemblances but there's somethin' more. A pull to him that I can't fight that makes me reach out and touch him. He feels real enough that it shocks me for a while. What the hell is goin' on?

I'm distracted for a moment before I hear Autumn scuffle with the man. I turn in time to watch whatever it was that Junner was tryin' to do fail. I turn my back to them again, studyin' the staute. He's got answers and yet I can't seem to get through. It's as if the person is just stuck there, unable to relay to me what it really needs for help. I'm distracted again by the feelin' of somethin' pressin' into my neck. Whatever the hell they just stuck me with gets my attention, but not the kind they want. Nope I'm pretty sure that they won't like the tone of voice I take.

"Alright. Now you have my attention."

"A necessary attempt anything uncivilized, killing me for instance, I detonate the explosive charge Junner's just implanted and sleep very well tonight."

Autumn growls at the woman and I can see her animal snap. She's borderin' on losin' it completely and right now we can't afford that. A part of me want's to watch her rip the woman to shreds but we can't show our hand just yet. We need to learn more. I know that my woman's about to bolt to the woman so I just put my hands on her shoulders. We are chained but that doesn't really stop us now does it? My fingers are strong but gentle as I start to massage at her muscles. The aim is to soothe not provoke and it works. I know her better than she realizes. My animal is her alpha, it will calm her at any cost. I know she's battlin' with who she is, wantin' to know why I have so much control but that's a conversation for later.

I caress the bite mark I left on her neck, knowin' the reaction she had. Her moan is music to my ears, and it pleases the animal inside of me immensely. I can't help it, I feel my ego swell some at this moment. It's reaffirmed my hold on her and calmed her down so that we can carry on a conversation with the head bitch in charge. My eyes don't leave the others in the room and they can see my actions. I don't care. Let them wonder at what kind of hold the two of us have on each other. I can see the woman flash with a sense of longin' and understandin' as if she knows we are a matched set.

"Walk with me."

We didn't really have much choice but Autumn and I followed her anyway. I'm watchin' both of them and tryin' to understand what's going on. This woman had some sort of ulterior motive and I was figurin' it out. Each of these people looked like statues, people that I'd seen at one time or another as being alive. She was not goin' to put me or my mate on a pedestal regardless of what she thought. Nope, wasn't happenin'."

"You're not putting me on a pedestal."

"No of course not. You both are strictly for my private collection."

Private Collection? The very thought made me growl. This woman was beyond fucked up in the head. She had no idea who she really was messin' with. Oh I had no doubt she thought she knew, but the truth was, she didn't. Somethin's about me were obvious to anyone with half a brain. The other thin's well she'd just have to learn the hard way. I saw my mate get distracted for a moment but I couldn't call her out on it. I knew that she needed answers and the woman seemed to have them.

"Who the hell are you woman? Where are we?"

"Why I thought you would have heard of me dear Autumn. My name does tend to get around in the Slams. Antonia Chillingsworth, and this is my ship, the Dark Fury. Don't worry dear. When I put you on display in my collection, I'll make sure you're right along side your Riddick."

I put my hands on Autumn again. It seemed to be the only thing that calmed her. At least now we had the name of the crazy bitch. I still understood that the woman standin' beside me was someone that knew this woman. I wondered if maybe Antonia was the woman that had brought her mother into the slam. If so I would take pleasure in killin' her, for my girl. No one should taunt any of us like this. The moment though, that she said she was goin' to put us on display I knew my assumptions were correct. These weren't just statues. They were people. Livin', breathin' people who she had somehow managed to freeze.

"Okay. You go through all the trouble to catch these guys and this is what you do with them?"

"You're missing the point."

"What point? You got a million UD's standin' around collectin' dust."

"You underestimate their value Riddick. They are priceless. Each at one time, the most wanted man or woman in the known universe. The number of lives ended at the hand of those living and breathing in this room is incalculable."

"Ain't what I'd call livin'."

"Me either. This isn't living, it's sick and twisted."

"Just the same. I assure you they are all very much alive. Each one sustained in a form of cryo so profound that seconds seem weeks, and to blink an eye is a days work. The brain, however, continues to function unimpeded. The mind continues to think and feel, swarming with whatever dark thoughts it trapped with. As it will be for hundreds of years. So much more fitting a fate than dropping them off at the nearest slam. Here they are appreciated for what they truly are. Transformed into objects on par their lives work. And why? Because I gave them the audience they so desperately desired. The recognition they bought with the blood of others. I understood their actions, stripped free of moral convention. Don't you see? They're something greater now Riddick. Something more than they ever were before. Art."

As she was blatherin' on I took a moment to look around. She called herself an artist but really she was worse than a convict. At least we didn't stop to make statues out of our kills. We killed and moved on, seekin' freedom. This woman was somethin' else. Some kind of sick and twisted freak and I would be damned if she thought I was goin' to become some art piece. If she so much as tried to lay one hand on Autumn I would kill everyone in the room and not bother to blink an eye. She had no idea who she was fuckin' with.

"Lady. Your taste sucks."

"I.. expected as much. Junner."

I watch a moment as the Junner fellow presses a few buttons on a control panel. The red curtains that had been hangin' not far from us start to move. The room starts to get bathed in red and I understand. Its easy to see the pit from here, but I'm not yet ready to move to the side. I don't want the others to know just yet that I'm plannin' to get down there. I have a feelin' though that it might just be Antonia's idea. She probably wants to see us try to kill somethin' to show off how truly 'artistic' we are. The very thought makes me grind my teeth.

"You see Riddick. There's a fundamental difference between you and I."

"Yeah you're a psychopath."

"Ain't that the truth. A really fucked up psychopath that needs a few lessons in art."

"You don't appreciate art but I believe the reason for this is something very different from what you or anyone else might think. You're both artists."

"I been called a lot of things in my day..that ain't one of 'em."

"Nor mine."

"You make art Riddick. You as well Autumn. Not analyze it. You shape it with your own hands, carve it from flesh and bone but a person like you doesn't understand such a thing by being lectured. You must experience it."

She was seriously callin' us artists? We killed people because it was the fundamental need to survive that drove us to do so. We didn't just kill innocent people for the hell of it. Yet she was sayin' that all the blood that covered our hands was art? Really this woman was crazy in the fuckin' head. Now I understood her game. She was goin' to try to get us to do somethin', kill someone or somethin' so she could watch. I wasn't anyone's entertainment. Well alright that wasn't entirely true. I was Autumn's entertainment but that's cause the woman made such interestin' sounds when I was fightin'. I knew my physical prowess turned her on like nothin' else.

"Oh shit."

The words escape my mouth before I can stop them. I see what's waitin' on us. Jack, Imam and Shazza are hanging from the ceilin' by a rope around their necks. Their feet are balanced on some ball that if you move it just right would actually hang them to death. I don't like it but I can't do anythin' yet. I'm weaponless and yet I know that Autumn has the same thoughts I do. She moves beside me, stares down into the pit below and we both start to form plans in our minds. We need a strategy but I can't just pull her aside and talk about it.

"I said I'd find you didn't I?"

"What do you want?"

"To watch you work. Both of you. I've spent the latter half of my life observing fantastical things. The work of terrible men, men such as yourself, but it's always after the fact when the moment of bloody creation is cold and past. That changes now."

I turn to stare at the woman. Did she honestly think I would take this lightly? She's crawled up and spread herself out some sort of table and I try to resist as shudder. She probably thinks she's being seductive or somethin' but it really just makes me wanna vomit. Ain't nothing sexy or erotic about this woman, just crazy. Now if Autumn had done that… mmm. I quickly change my thoughts before I get lost in them and miss out on an opportunity to see somethin' to use as an advantage. As the woman is talkin' though, I move closer. Gettin' right in her face I try to scare her.

"I need to see it Riddick, Autumn. I need to see it with my own eyes, as it happens."

"We get out of there alive, and you'll see it again, this close."

She puts a blade to my chin, my blade and it takes everythin' I have not to break her neck. No one touches my blades without my permission and lives. At least not when I have a choice. If she draws blood she's toast but she doesn't. Instead I watch her throw my knife into the ground and the tip sticks. I had just sharpened that before we left the planet with the eclipse. I hope she didn't bend the end or damage it in any way. I wouldn't be a happy camper if she did.

"No Riddick, I want your masterpiece. An artist is nothing without their instruments."

I pull my shiv from the ground and hold it. It feels good to have a blade in my hand, chained or not. They honestly didn't think that keepin' me chained would prevent me from hurtin' anyone did they? Junner moved closer to me, as if he was afraid I was goin' to turn on Antonia then and there. I don't. I have more important things to do right now but it doesn't stop me from gettin' a dig in. I make a promise to the man, one I plan on keepin' later. They probably think I'm jokin' but by the smirk on Autumn's face they should know better.

"When we meet again, I'm gonna bury this.. in your eye."

I pull my goggles up so that my eyes can see unhindered. It's dark enough for that and I wait. I move closer to the edge of the platform, willin' to take one of the guards out with me. Over and landin' on them, that's my plan. Of course I know Autumn will have a similar plan and I have to be faster than her. It's a long drop and she's already past the point of droppin'. I know that she's runnin' on adrenaline but when it falters she's goin' to be out for the count. Can't let that happen yet.

"Let them in."

I grab at one of the mercs and kick him in the head. The other one gets a punch before I grab a third. I don't even care who I'm grabbin', I just haul the man over the balcony with me. Usin' him as a shield and a pillow for my landin'. We land hard enough on the ground that his breath is knocked out of him. I like that feelin', knowin' he ain't gonna get up for a little while. I watch as Autumn comes flyin' over with the fat merc. Lettin' the merc hit the ground, I snag my woman out of the air. She lands in my arms, a softer fall than if she had landed on the ground. I smirk down at her, before kissin' her hard and fast and standin' her on her feet.

"Go Ultraviolet."

The room color shifts and it's like seein' in the dark. The entire room is bathed in purple light, makin' my shine even more effective. I don't like what I see though. Two creatures, swirlin' with lights and tentacles, ready to devour us. I haven't seen them before but it doesn't matter. Enemy is enemy and I will kill them just the same.

"I was on a pilgrimage."

"It's bad huh."

"Jack. Who got you guys off that planet?"

"You and Riddick?"

"Alright so who's going to get you out of this?"

I don't take the time to comfort them, they can't be. Autumn, though, she can't seem to get over them being upset. I know it bothers her but it's somethin' she's goin' to have to shut out right now. We cannot worry about their feelin's while we've got to take on such creatures. I won't begrudge her though. She's grown up differently than most people have. Her world shaped by the way she was raised in the slam. She's not hard enough to not care.

I watch the stupid mercs try to shoot the creatures hopin' they'd be strong enough to take em out. Nope. Instead they both get skewered and melted. Yeah that gives me some indication on what we are facin'. Not bad odds, but I'll still come out on top, Autumn too. The fight's on though. Tentacles reach out to try to capture us, and I dodge and jump. I tumble around with my hands still tied and try my best to get in as many good swings as I can.

I watch one of the balls, get thrown out from under Imam and Jack. I missed the first one bein' moved, too busy tryin' to get a slice in. Jumpin' I cut the ropes that held the three of them and knew they'd hit the ground hard. As long as they could get the others up and out of the way we could finish this. One of these creatures was down, and the last one was my kill. My hands, at this point are still tied and I'm getting tired of it.

"Get her on her feet."

"I cannot see!"

"You don't want too"

I moved just right so it grabbed the chain between my hands and attacked it. As it melted away I was free. Now the fight was truly on. Autumn was watchin' me. The show I was puttin' on was for her. I could scent her arousal in the air and it was drivin' me batshit with want. We couldn't act on it here, that wasn't the kinda show that this Antonia lady wanted to see. No I was going to kill the creature and get us out of here. Turning to face the remain' creature, I paused a moment, tauntin' it.

"You wanna go? Let's go."

"Beautiful, beautiful creature."

"Shrill are quite an exquisite species."

"I'm talking about the man."

So they were called shrill. Well they'd both be dead in a moment and there's nothin' to stop that. I got distracted a moment and the creature managed to snag both my arms. I saw the look that crossed Autumn's face as she sliced one of my hands free before tossin' me her shiv. I heard the whistle in the air of the blade. Catchin' it, I jabbed it hard and fast into the brain of the creature. Hearin' it squeal a moment before it died. That fight, wasn't even much of a fight. I hadn't even been injured yet. It was pathetic really. When the shrill died I saw the lights click back on and I quickly threw my goggles in place.

"Bravo! The grace, the expression, the sheer violence of it. Exquisite."

I was standin' there waitin' for the crazy woman to speak. She had no idea that I didn't plan on bein' one of her statues. I could feel the nervous tension in the air, as we tried to figure out what we were goin' to do to get out here. I mumbled to the others, askin' someone to give me a knife. The only one that heard me was Autumn and she pressed her other shiv into my hand. The one I had made for her. Takin' it, I dug the blade into my neck as I worked on gettin' out the explosive. There was no way I was leavin' that in, not when the woman still had the controls in her hand.

"Such complete and thorough performance. It leaves only one question...How will I ever have you both mounted, to do it justice?"

I smirk up at the woman as I dig with my fingers and remove the explosive. Oh the look of sheer anger that graces her features makes me smile. I loved watchin' it when people flipped out 'cause their plans didn't go they way they should. Didn't make it any less fun though. I knew she'd try to get us somehow and I threw the thing as far away as possible.

"Looks like you'll both have to be an abstract piece."

"Down Now!"

I throw myself down and move to get out of the blast but Autumn isn't so lucky. I watch a piece of shrapnel tear through her shoulder but I cant' do anythin' yet. As the smoke and dust starts to settle we take off runnin'. We needed to put as much distance between us and them as possible. I can hear the woman as she's gettin' ready to go after us. She sounds pissed and it makes me smile. I like pissin' 'em off. Especially the cocky one's that think they can take me on.

"We'll need to rouse a substantial pursuit force."

"Who?"
"All of them, even the golls. Any man or thing that can hold a weapon. Every last one! Now!"

I lead the others down corridor after corridor but somewhere along the way, Autumn vanished. I didn't want to worry but goin' back for her would be dangerous. I would, if she didn't turn up soon enough. I wasn't goin' to leave her here, not after I'd worked so hard to get her off that damned planet. She was mine and I wouldn't let go of her. Her hand placed a gentle touch on my shoulder and I knew she was back with us as we ran. There was a subtle scent that ghosted over Autumn's. The scent of one of the mechanics on the ship. I had a feelin' that there was more goin' on here but I wouldn't push her.

We stop for a moment, so the other's can catch their breath as we listen to the sounds behind us. I don't like the way it sounds, the sheer panic that seems to fill the air. Somethin' was comin' and by the sounds of it all it wasn't goin' to be good. If the goll was what I thought it was, then we were all fucked if we stayed here. I turn and the others follow me as we head towards the upper levels. Climbin' up, I go to grab Jack and haul her up but at the same time I see the gunfire. I almost drop her but snag her again around the middle and hoist her up. The bullet grazed my arm. It hurts but it ain't anythin' I hadn't felt before.

"Are you badly hurt?"

"Him? He almost tore me in half!"

"Just a graze this time."

We are runnin' again, I'm tryin' to lead them to the flight deck. There's gotta be another ship off this place and if we can get to it we can get the hell out of here. I stop though, and wait. I know that the adults, they could keep up, but Jack, there was no way she was gonna outrun them. I notice a crevice not to far from where we are. It's dark enough that they could hide and not be seen. It's the only plan I've got for them, at the moment.

"We cannot stop."

"We ain't outrunnin' this thing. Not the five of us."

"What? I can keep up."

"Maybe someday Jack. Not today."

"Get her to the flight deck."

"It's just aft, up a level."

"Yeah, stow in there and let whatever's followin' pass. When it does, make for the flight deck and don't look back. No matter what you hear."

"We'll wait for you."

"Follow Imam and Shazza."

"What are you gonna do?"

"You don't want to know Jack. Just do as we ask for once please?"

We don't answer her question but we move anyway. I slice my arm as I take off runnin'. I want the blood to draw the mercs and that creature out. They will follow it and we can find a plan. The area that we run too really is a dead in. I climb up into the rafters, into an airshaft. It's strangely large enough for both Autumn and myself. Before I climbed though, I stripped myself of my shirt and let it fall down, bait for the stupid fuck's followin' us. Up here we were safe. They couldn't hear us, not unless they had some sort of super-human hearin' and the mercs didn't.

This is the first time in several hours that I've had alone with Autumn and I cant' help myself. My hands start to roam her body. I could feel the restlessness in her own animal, it was matched in mine. We would be bonded in body soon enough, the only thing that would calm both our animals. Here, though, we weren't goin' to get that far. Not up in the airshaft, and not for her first time. Inhalin' her scent I could smell it. Her innocence and her determination. I was tauntin' her, I knew that as I ghosted my hands across her skin. I felt her tense for a moment, confirmin' my thoughts about her bein' a virgin.

I wasn't goin' to hurt her, pleasure her until she screamed my name, yes, but hurt her, no. I moved one of my hands down inside her cargo pants, ghostin' over her thighs and swirlin' two of my fingers around her womanly juncture. She was hot as a fuckin' torch, givin' off heat and her smell was drivin' me crazy. Her arousal filled the air, and I was more than sure the creature would smell that just as much as it could our blood. I slid my fingers in carefully, and gently as I played with the woman in my arms. I was teasin' her, tauntin' her with what would come later. It was a distraction, somethin' to pass the time.

The moment I hear the metal feet of the boots and the creature I stop. I grip her hisp and pull her close to me. I wasn't ready to let go, but we couldn't be as amorous as we were at the moment. Nope not right now. Later. Ghostin' my lips across her neck I whisper my plan in her ear. Takin' a moment, I bit her ear and kiss the sensitive spot right behind it.

"Let them fight and when they are gone, scattered we take out the goll. Between our shiv's we got enough power we can take it down. It's gonna be messy either way."

We watch as the mercs are stupid enough to take the bait. One of 'em picks up my shirt before the others manage to stop him. It just made them targets. The goll would be after them because they smelled like me now. I couldn't fight the smirk at the fact that the woman had stupid amateurs after us. There was no way these idiots would ever bag us. When the creature dispatched all but one in the group we knew it was our move. Flyin' out from the air shaft we were in we sliced and diced the creature to hell. I frown as I looked down at my now damaged beyond repair shirt. I was so not puttin' that back on.

"I ain't puttin' that back on."

I steal one of the shirts of the larger of the mercs. It fits, barely, but I don't question it. I'm drawn to looking at Autumn. I'd seen her naked back before, when I was treatin' it for the scratches. This is the first time I really get to study her. She's malnourished. She's got muscle but what should be healthy muscle looks like she needs more to eat. The slams don't really feed their inmates well, most come out sticks and bones when they die. I made a mental note to remedy that situation as soon as possible. My woman would be fed and she'd look healthy. No more rib bones stickin' out.

When we are suitably dressed, we take off back to the flight deck. It's a good thing too 'cuase we get there just in time to watch Junner chokin' Jack. He was goin' to get that shiv in the eye that I promised him. I just knew it. He probably thought he could take me out, but he'd be wrong, again.

"Let her go. It's me you're after. You wanna shot at the title?"

Strangely enough the fight is evenly matched. He's not bad, but he's got a few telegraphed moves. I let him get in a couple of punches but then a few more come in that I wasn't prepared for. One of his blow sends me flyin' and I crash land into a metal pillar. The stupid side is he, exposed some of the cablin' that controls the lights. It didn't take long for an idea to flash in my head. Grabbin' up the cable, I wrap it around his neck and squeeze a bit. Of course he cuts it, dimmin' the lights. This is my battle field, my playground and he was goin' to regret it. Movin' through the darkness with ease I bury my shiv into his eye and watch as his body falls. Soon enough the back up generators snap on and the room is once again bathed in light.

"I told you that was comin'"

"Where. Where are you going?"

"Gonna prep this ship and get off this heap."

"So we can escape?"

I don't even comment. I just wave them through and know that they will follow. We gotta get off this damn ship if we want to say we are free. I slowly move and start to turn the handle on the hatch. Autumn moves in front of me and I don't know why but I don't want to question it right now. I don't mind her bein' there, and we are safe. At least that was the thought until the hatch opend and I saw the Antonia woman standin' there. Gun out and pointed. There was no way I was goin' to get Autumn out of the way if she shot. She did of course, and both of us go down. I see the blood from the graze on the arm and want to snap. The gun is pointed at Autumns head as Antonia screams and I freeze. I won't be able to stop her from killing my woman and that thought fills me with dread.

"Back to hell with you, you bloody stinking savages."

When the sound of another shot fires, I'm momentarily stunned before I see the body fall. Someone's shot the woman in the head and her body crumples to the ground. Standin' I help Autumn up and notice who pulled the trigger. Jack had guts, I always knew that. She saved us and we owe her twice over. I would never let anythin' happen to her and yet she's the one protectin me.

"Yeah.. we made it."

"Awfully uncivilized thing you just did there Jack."

"Nice shot though kid. Head shots are a sure way to make sure they don't get back up and come after us. Let's get off this crap hole."

We climb into the ship and I make sure the others are in before I close the hatch and ascend to the command room. I dont need to learn the layout, I'd been in a ship similar to this before. They others would divvy up the bedrooms and we'd all crash for much needed sleep and rest. I, instead, head for the cockpit and start pressing buttons to launch us from the ship. When we've gotten a good distance away I set a course for the planet Paris wanted us to go too. We'd drop him off first.

I'm joined by Autumn who, to my surprise, puts in a chip that starts up a hologram. I watch as she tries to understand what the woman on the screen is saying. It's new to me, the news but I think I understand it more. I knew on some level who my people were, and where I came from because of the dreams. Furya was a dead and dyin' world and for all I knew my parent's didn't want me. Thats why I was found the way I was.

"Autumn, I see you put the card in as instructed. Don't worry it won't interfere with the programs or navigation of the Swallow. If you are looking at this then you've saved us all. Most of us on board were slaves of Antonia, forced to follow her orders and watch the ones we love suffer. I'm sure you have questions and I can give you answers, but not all of them. My name is Lola and by the time you see this I will be dead. Killed by either Junner or that damned goll that she like to have around so much."

I felt the mood of my mate shift. She was restless and angry. She wanted to pace but she was tryin' not too. The fact that someone wanted to help her made me curious. How could anyone know who we were, especially who she was and be so willin' to help. I listened through, to the words that were comin' from the only ally we had on the ship that we didn't even know about.

"We know your name because we knew your mother before she was taken. Don't worry she wasn't a merc. Your mother was an ambassador to the planet Furya and your father, well he was one of the Furyan primarchs. One of the leaders. He came from a long line of alpha males, much like the man sitting beside you. He was second in command to the king, and he fell for your mother. If you remember, I told you that there was someone that you should meet. As you are watching this, my orders are being carried out. This person is being unfrozen, removed from his cryo state and getting prepared to be sent to find you. He has the answers that you both seek. I suggest you heed them. I cannot tell you anymore."

I was shocked. This woman was Furyan, tellin' me my mate was Furyan as well. At least I know I'm not the only one left alive. It felt good knowin' that I wasn't alone but I didn't like the way that Autumn was feelin'. Without this frozen man's answers she was goin' to be upset. The words only gave her more questions and did little to answer her questions. I honestly didn't think we'd ever truly find the answers to what either of us where or where our homeworld was.

I was stunned a moment as Autumn got up and left. My thoughts were interrupted by Imam. Who thought he needed to tell me thin's I already knew. I wasn't worried though, not about the same thin' he was. I had no doubt that Jack would turn out alright.

"I worry about the girl."

"That she'll end up like me?"

"Well yes. but more I worry about Autumn. She doesn't know much about her past and she's never had the guidance of what it's like to live in society."

"Bein' civilized is a bit overrated. Get some sleep. We'll talk later."

I don't even bother to say goodbye as I get up and leave the cockpit. I knew that no one would try to fly the ship without me there. They didn't know how. I head to the master suite, the one that had the smell of my mate comin' from it. As I enter the room I hear the sobbin'. It's heart wrentchin' hearin' that sound. My animal wants to rip apart everyone that caused her so much distress. She was breakin' down, as I knew she would. She'd dealt with too much at once. Movin', I stripped off my shirt and tossed it away. Turnin' off the now cold shower, I scoop Autumn up into my arms and dry her as much as I can. When I'm satisfied that the woman won't catch a cold from bein' wet. I dress her in an oversized shirt I found in one of the drawers and tuck her into the bed. I shower as quickly as I can before joinin' her. She's asleep when I get back but I just hold her, knowin' she needs the comfort more than anything. Tomorrow we'll deal with everythin' else.