A/N: Whoo! Reviews! Thanks to: Basia Orci, Robin Moto, mirth513, and My Reflection.
And another Favorite Story listing! I'm honored, Robin Moto. :-)
I hope I can keep up the – tension – between Riddick and the Doctor, because you know, neither one is overly sure about this funny co-dependency that has developed. They are both rather hooked though, and the TARDIS is not going to allow anything bad to happen to her Doctor.
Yes, Susan is. So Yes, River and Simon are. But they have yet to make the connection. If this confuses you I'll put up a little background post in the TARDIS Parking forum so as to not spoil everyone.
Now… I've dropped strong hints about Survey teams, and messed up computers, and breeding experiments. I'll keep you wondering for a bit longer, but note that Furya and unnamed world (or Mordee Colony, depending on source) Sevateem was found on have interesting similarities. This story takes place, of course, 2500 plus years before Leela's birth. But – could it be that Riddick was hidden in the past? Or is she a descendant of his? One is a red herring, but which one?
And Jamie… Well—He was earthy, wasn't he? Kind of practical and smart, a bit like Leela, even.
As for the Fire they seek… well, it's part of where they end up, what they do and… No, it is not Johns! (Snickers). It's not Fry either (But she is fire, so yes, good guess there).
I'm dropping them out of the vortex. But—where are they? Meh. It sure don't look like Helion Prime to me.

Summary: The Doctor, reeling from the effects of the TimeWar as the last surviving TimeLord, stumbled into a situation he could not ignore when the TARDIS landed him inside a ship that was clearly in trouble. After the rescue, he's left with eight survivors that he must somehow get to safety. But the situation is not as cut and dry as he might like. His people may be gone, but the stamp he's made on the universe is still there, and he finds himself caught in a web spun of the choices he's made in the past…

It's 2517. Something in history has prompted humanity to explode out from their home world. Could the events of 2164 be responsible? Was Earth a myth or was it real? In fleeing Earth-that-Was, humanity scattered to the stars across the galactic arm. Initial survey teams targeted likely planets and systems for habitation and not all of them ended up on the same side of the sector. Blue Sun exists on one side, separated by a patch of 'wild space' filled with exotic binary and triple star systems, from the rest of civilized space.

Few ships brave the route. But luck had it that one ship did. Risking a ghost run, the only contact that the two sides have, the Hunter-Gratzner crashed midway through the journey. Original Port of Departure: Eavesdown Docks, Persephone. Mixed Sino-Anglo culture. Original Port of Call: Tangiers-5. Darkside. Mixed Islamic-Anglo culture. Crew complement: Four. Passengers: Forty. Living 'Cargo': Two. Survivors: Eight plus One

So what happens to Dr. Simon Tam, his brilliant but damaged sister, a convicted murder by the name of Richard B. Riddick, and the other survivors from the crash of the Hunter-Gratzner at planet M-344/G-2 now that they are on their way home? And just how is this related to the TimeWar?

A Doctor Who / Firefly / Riddick crossover.

Features Doctor 9, Pre-"Rose"; Simon and River Tam, Pre-"Serenity" Firefly episode 1 and the survivors from Pitch Black: Carolyn Fry, William J. Johns, Imam Abu al'Walid, 'Jack B. Badd', Ali Abdullah, and Richard B. Riddick…

Doctor Who and the Ties that Bind.

Part Three

Misplaced

With the energy in her Doctor caged, at least to the point that it wouldn't kill him to materialize she decided to allow him to leave the time vortex. This was the tricky part. How to find a fire-child that would work with the unique conditions that existed within her Time Lord? They had to be strong but gentle. The fire needed to be hot, yet it couldn't burn too fast. No, what was required was someone with control, passion, and most of all the ability to embrace the very element they opposed.

Nearly an impossible set of conditions. Now that the parasite was held in check she knew that she needed help to destroy it. Back during the hight of the War this energy killed many. It had been difficult to fight even with all of of the resources that an entire planet of Time Lords brought to bare on it. But then, it was designed to attack when it sensed an active bond between time travelers. Many Time Lords shunned outside help that might have saved them. Her Doctor would not.

Someone could finally help him destroy it, she decided to land where she knew there might be a being to do just that. It was not her programmed location, nor her programmed time. But that mattered little. She simply hinted for one of the two little ones to make a few rotations on the dials and did some creative interpretation. The little Arabic lad darted back out the door, unaware that he'd helped her, as the older dark-skinned man called him to eat.

She needed to get this right within just a try or two. The more he was exposed to the materialization and dematerialization energy the higher the risk was that the parasite would break out of the half built box. And because she was the cause of this being active, she needed to find an individual that could hold her essence in order to destroy it. Finding such a rare creature would be nearly impossible. Finding a fire-child would be easier. But to locate one that would slot into what already existed without harming them? Not so easy.

Both of the current fire-children were unsuitable. So she looked for another, finding him in a very strange situation. How dare they do this to one of the warriors that have fought to protect them? Little humans. Given so much and yet never happy. Well, we'll just have to fix this, won't we? Even if he was unsuitable leaving him in his current condition was not acceptable.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Shortly after they broke fast in the morning an unusual sound tinkled through the kitchen. "Ah, that would be our signal that we've dropped back into normal space," said the pale man who had been nursing a cup of tea and ignoring the heaping plate of flat cakes that had been made because Jack and Ali begged for them. He casually rinsed out his cup and started for the door. Behind him the unhurried sounds of people eating continued.

"Hey, ain't you worried about – stuff?" Jack asked him.

"Stuff?" The Doctor turned back to look at the honey-haired child.

"Yeah, a lot of questions, whoever we run into," the boy speared a sausage, "Could even be a merc ship." He shrugged as if it was always a possibility, "What we gonna say about Riddick?" Some of the clatter stopped. Like always, Jack had a way of hitting the nail on the head in such a way to make it seem immediately dire.

Johns smirked, "Kid, we tell 'em Riddick died. End of story. No one is going to chase a ghost if I'm the one saying he's dead. Besides, weren't you taking us to Helion Prime?" He's having some sort of hot cereal instead of the rich breakfast the others are indulging in. His spoon waves a bit as he talks and ends up pointing at the Doctor before dipping back into his bowl. The space around him is cluttered with stuff, like his guild link, and his favorite pistol in pieces, and an old newspaper that he'd found some Funnies in that struck him as amusing. Somehow, he seemed to be doing four things at once, before he even started talking. The redhead off the hype seemed – hyped. How ironic was that?

The Time Lord leaned back against the doorframe with a raised eyebrow. For someone that had been higher than a kite, the marshal was a very keen eye. The man's now clear icy blue orbs was watching everything happen around him even as his body kept up constant movement in about five other directions at once. Why was it that every redhead he met was hyper and annoying? Hah, he was jealous. Damn. Maybe his next body would finally be ginger? He thrust the thought away, "I was. That doesn't mean that we have arrived there, however."

Another man got up from the table, rinsing his plate off, "Pardon me if I don't just trust you right away, Billy." Richard turned and looked at the group and then walked to the door where the Doctor was seemingly waiting for him. He knew this was how William J. Johns was, most times. A hectic, frantic, bundle of energy that somehow managed to make enough useful output that he'd never been 'fixed' through the use of drugs as a child. Now he just had to survive the man long enough to get rid of him. He didn't think killing him out of exasperation was going to be justifiable.

The redhead bobbed that off, "Never did before. Why should that change now, Rich?" He licked off the last of his cereal from his spoon in a way that was near obscene; deliberately focusing of the hairless gent paused in the doorway. Riddick clenched a fist and tried to ignore it. He couldn't kill the shit. He couldn't. Snail wouldn't approve. But god-damn-it, -- if Johns didn't stop with the flirting there'd be little to save his worthless hide for after he got done with it.

He glowered at the merc and got a sneer in return.

The docking pilot looks at the half-cleaned gun with irritation as she gets up. It is quite possible that the Doctor hadn't sat at the table because the gun was in his place setting. Ah well. She rinses her stuff off and says, "Well, let's see where we are." She heads out the door and the leather-clad man followed her. "You said 'back in normal space', what kind of drives does your ship use?"

As Fry and the Doctor headed down the hall, Riddick gave Billy one final glower and stepped out to follow. The Time Lord was telling the blonde; "Oh – well… it's advanced."

She nods, "Some sort of gravity drive then?"

The Doctor makes a face as Rich catches up and brushes against his coat with an arm, "Some sort. She's alive, remember?"

Gonna kill the bastard. Riddick lets a finger brush across the back cool hand as it swings into reach, but they don't actually grasp one another. It is just a slide of skin on skin.

Who? William? Their touch parted and then resumed as they walked.

Who the fuck else? Didn't you notice?

Amadak, don't let him provoke you. The cool hand caught his with a brief squeeze.

Don't let – it wasn't me he was making eyes at. Rich caught the door and let the Doctor pass him into the large pillared chamber beyond. The man had the humor to snort at him as he slipped into the room. So you find it funny?

No. But he doesn't have a chance so why let it bother you?

Why indeed? He has to admit that the Doctor's done nothing to encourage the merc's behavior. He shakes his head to clear out the residue of desire that centers on pounding Johns to a bloody pulp as he crosses to the central console behind the other two.

They find that the view is not space. Nor is it Helion Prime's vast sand and bright sky. Instead they are looking at a bulkhead that appears to have a multi-lingual 'Do Not Smoke' sign lit in a yellow light plastered on it. The Time Lord narrows his eyes. This can't be good. Fry is staring at the sign with a frown. He turns to look at the location and date and narrows his eyes even more. Now, where did you drop us, old girl? And more important, when? The time dial is sitting innocently between 2497 and 2503. Back in time. Bugger. The location readout indicated that they were about in the same spot they had been, on a cosmic scale. In the middle of nowhere, on the corner of 'danger' and 'take a look' was about right, he figured. Lovely, just wonderful. Hadn't he asked for a hundred-year break?

The TARDIS hummed at him, filling him with a teasing sense of, Yes but how boring would that be?

Oi, not so much. Nice cuppa, watch the rain fall, sit on the porch of my old house outside London and just enjoy the passage of time for a bit. She laughed at him. "Bloody stubborn little – monster," he mumbled out loud. The ex-ranger makes a humored sound in the back of his throat at the words and then moves in to investigate what the Time Lord had seen to prompt the comment. At least Carolyn was too busy gaping at the view screen to notice. The TARDIS however, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself. The Doctor realized that he's come to welcome the feel of the animal presence that the bronze man oozes as Riddick steps up into his personal space to look over his shoulder.

The time does not escape the con's attention but the movement of the Doctor's hand directs him to the screen. A chill of recognition settles between them. Richard has tensed up slightly as he studies the image. Shortly thereafter the rest of the guests pile into the control room in a chattering mess that falls quiet at the sight of the bulkhead. "Careful what you wish for, Jack," says the goggled man to the kid that squeezes in to look at the image before Ali tugs him over a bit. "You turning into a psychic?"

"Nah, that would be River," the boy tosses back at him. Across the central pillar River just shrugged at the exchange.

Beside her the others are gathering around and looking at the scene. "Rychengoll, Kovan. High tech, expensive, possibly private?" Johns offers from the back. The ex-ranger nods at the assessment, not indicating that this is beyond 'high' tech if the date is correct that he's spotted.

"So, not Helion," says the blonde woman.

She's met with a chorus of, "No."

"Never been closer than Tangiers, myself," she shrugs.

Imam clears his throat, "How did we end up inside another ship?"

The Doctor looks at him, scratches his own ear, and says, "The same way any other ship does, by landing." Of course they hadn't gotten permission. Riddick turns his attention to the controls and readings that indicate outside conditions. Somehow he knows which the many panels, gauges, dials, and screens he needs to study to glean that information he's after. Atmo, but no gravity. Fairly heavy methane content. They were near the cryo-recycling area where few people went. "Better question would be why?" the Time Lord said. She was prompting him to investigate, a little mental push, like a mother trying to get a shy child to explore a playground and meet other children. He was, in all fairness, fighting her.

But the occupants of the ship outer must have their own ideas. The gravity kicks in. "General maintenance, or, we've been discovered by internal sensors," William says. "Either way, we've been found. What you want to do, Doctor?"

Dematerialize? The hairless gent rubs the back of his neck and pokes at the button. Nothing happens. Did you disconnect that wire again? The ship does not respond to his query. Simon speaks up, "Could it be that there's a reason we're here?" Damn bloody brilliant minded lad. The TARDIS tinkles across his mind at that with another laugh, flushing the Doctor with the sensation that she wants to keep the boy. Of course you like him; he's siding with you.

With a sigh he tugs the magic lever, giving in to her urging. The door opens, "All right, let's meet out hosts, shall we. Don't anyone go getting lost." The Doctor checks his pockets for his sonic screwdriver, psychic paper, TARDIS key, and yo-yo. Simon has switched from his large healer's bag to a smaller, bigger on the inside, hip kit. It was something of a gift that he'd found in his bedroom after he'd helped with the last crisis.

Johns slid to the front, gun out, "Better let me go first. 'Golls are nasty folk, and you don't wanna give them the impression that you have no defense." He looked at Riddick, "Want a gun?" The man shook his head. "Carolyn?" He offered her a pistol, holster, belt and all. She raised an eyebrow and took it. "You might not have formal training with 'im, Fry, but you have a natural ability. So make sure you're able to pull it fast." She puts it on, removes the gun from the holster and nods as she checks the safety.

"Do you think these individuals are pirates?" Asks the Imam.

"Private Mercs, or some rich weirdo with a thing for thrills, maybe. Too well kept to be pirates." Richard says.

Abu catches Jack and Ali, "You two stay with me, understood?" The boys give him serious nods, although Ali has smoke bombs hidden in his pockets from the last chemistry lesson. He'd never do such a thing except for Richard telling him he should keep them. Passing any to Jack with Imam watching them like a hawk is impossible though.

Richard, William, and Carolyn head out first, followed by the Doctor, Simon, River, Abu and the two boys. "Smells like gos-se," Jack mumbles.

"That would be methane, young man," the Time Lord tells him.

"He turns everything into a lesson, doesn't he?" Ali whispers to the other boy.

Jack nods to his friend, "Still smells like gos-se, though." Abu clears his throat at them. "Sorry Imam, I'll watch my language."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The internal sensors kicked in with an alarming bleat. Around the white coat-clad man the crew scurried to figure out why. The very tall, very pale, limber and sleek, second in command of the Kubla Kahn watched the activity behind his reflective green tinted glasses. They were light-months away from anything that might be of interest, so what tripped the system?

"I'm picking up unusual energy readings in the maintenance area, Sir. Looks like it might be a malfunction near the recycling units."

Junner's angular face contorted into a frown, "Cross reference the readings and see if you can peg down what it is."

"Yes, Sir." The science station bank began to chatter like a bunch of Christmas displays. He kept on eye on the readings that were flashing past his own station in the middle of the room. The pattern is tri-waved, tri-part, tri-harmonized. He taps the screen with a long finger. Where has he seen that before? It is so unique that he's sure he would have to have encountered it in order for it to be so annoying familiar.

"Sir?" another crewmember called, "I'm picking up life signs, six adult, three fainter, possible juveniles. Enough that the auto-grav kicked in."

"Call the security commander and have his team meet me at the access port in five ticks. And keep looking up those readings." He spun on his heel and set off to deal with this little problem.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The section of the interior hull that they found themselves in was surprisingly clean for an area that no one would ever see unless something broke. It was all pipes and conduits, narrow twisting passages that led to various subsystems, hollow pillars and air ducts with an occasional ladder up or hatch down. Most of it was dimly lit with yellowish lights. But they were becoming aware that something was shifting the lighting around them as they walked, plunging the path behind back into darkness. "Think they are tracking us," Fry ventured as the lights came on around them when they turned a corner.

"Automatic feature," Riddick said, "But likely, yes, they are. Doctor, we really should eliminate the sensors."

The pale fellow looked thoughtful for a moment, "We'll lose gravity, lights and possibly life support. Not that lack of oxygen will cause me much harm, but it could prove a problem for you."

"We won't lose atmo. Too high a risk of methane fumes filtering out to the rest of the ship if this is depressurized. Stop trying to scare the kids, Doc." The look that Rich got made him smirk, "Bob."

The Time Lord rolled his eyes and set to work adjusting his gadget. Billy leaned over to the bronze skinned man; "Bob don't work for me." He'd tried flirting with the Doctor and gotten Riddick pissed off, although the pale gent hadn't seemed to notice the offer he was sending his way. So he knew that Rich was possessive/jealous over the other man's attentions even if it was slightly threatened by someone that might be a rival, just as much as the hairless man was of the reverse. "How you get him to tolerate that? I got a look that could have flayed me alive when I called him Doc."

The ex-ranger shrugged. There was no way he was going to tell Johns about the nickname exchange, bad enough he'd slipped and used Snail in the man's mind in front of the Tam siblings. He'd pay for that eventually, he figured.

"That's right – he's not hot for you, no…" the redhead whispers into the goggled man's ear. If he could just get them snogging already.

"Shut it, Billy."

"You seen his bunk yet?"

"I said, shut it." Richard caught Johns and pushed the man back into some piping and held him there by his throat, "Dong ma?"

"Oh, tetchy," the merc suggestively wiggled his eyebrows.

Both the Doctor and Carolyn stepped in. One by putting a hand on the broad shoulder that was knotted up to the point that something could snap, most likely Johns' neck, and the other by saying, "Cut it out Bill. Just leave it alone." The ex-ranger's jaw worked a moment before he gave into the mental brush suggesting he take his hand off the rather thin neck.

"One of these days, Johns – You're gonna push me too far and no one is gonna be there to haul your ass out of the fire."

"You need a good lay."

"Johns!" Fry slapped him, "Stop it." He glared at her. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it was rude to poke your dick into other people's business? Leave them the fuck alone." Her eyes sparked in the low light like sapphires. God, she was beautiful.

He kissed her, full on the mouth, deeply. Now, why hadn't he seen this spark in her before? "I'm just trying to help them along."

"Uhgg. Get your paws off me," She pushed him away. He smirked. She'd be a challenge. He loved a good challenge.

Riddick and the Doctor shared a look; Can I kill 'im, now?

No.

You're no fun.

"I'm tons of fun. There, sensors off." The leather-clad gent raised the screwdriver and let it trigger all the detection units to overload. They found themselves floating in the dark. "See?" Moments later the emergency backup lights kicked in casting them all into a greenish light.