VIII.

Riddick stood there with his hands behind his back, motionless, watching the people, feeling out for their emotions. His face gave nothing away and Hope couldn't help but admire him. He always told her that he didn't want to be their leader and that he wasn't cut out for it but in truth he was a born leader; his whole demeanor proved it.

He had their whole attention, they were hanging on his lips, silently waiting for him to speak. Maybe he was right that they loved her but him … they adored him. They trusted him to reunite them, trusted him with their life; she couldn't understand why he couldn't see it himself. If someone didn't approve of him being their leader he/she wasn't among the people watching them now; the faces in front of her showed nothing but trust and respect.

He turned to Laney when he finally decided to speak. "Report!" His voice resounded across the room.

Laney arose, showing that way her respect for them. "Hope, Riddick, first let me again welcome you back. As it is we have a lot of good news for you. You can see that we have some newcomers; they arrived during the last two weeks and all of them have told me that they are glad to be here." She graced them with a bright smile and motioned them to stand up. The introductions and a short summary of their backgrounds didn't take long; Hope and Riddick would talk to each of them later anyway.

"Then we have a few more buildings ready and I'm looking forward to show you around. Rita gave birth to her baby; both are doing fine and they will be able to leave the ward that afternoon. Riddick, she'll talk to you when you visit her but she asked me to sound out if you'd possibly be willing to be the godfather of her son, the first Furyan child born on this planet for a long time.

Daniel, Stephen and George are working on the fields and won't be back until tomorrow evening. Michael, Garret, Janet and Lynn are on their way back from the Breon sector; both teams have found the person they were looking for and even better they are willing to join us. Charlie and Tom left yesterday … they follow a lead to a Furyan family in the Lantern Sector. Ronson left twelve days ago to attend to some personal affairs, but he didn't tell what he had in mind or when he will be back.

We have received a couple of deliveries; mostly aliment, clothes and medical supply; I'll give you the itemization afterwards. Carlos came back with a ship full of weapons and he and Tyr have started to train everybody on them. They told me that they are satisfied with the good progress everybody is making with weapons and combat training. That's mostly all about it." She sat down again and waited for Riddick's response.

Riddick had raised a brow and glanced at Hope when Laney told them about Ronson's absence as if he wanted to say 'See?' Hope knew better than to react to that; she still didn't believe that Ronson was the one they were looking for. She had talked to him and knew that he was a very straightforward person and nothing but a coward. If he had issues to clear with somebody he would do it personally. And yes, she liked him.

She didn't pay any attention when Riddick finally started to speak; she knew what he was going to tell them and instead mused about Ronson's behavior. It was very unlike him to leave the planet without telling anybody where he intended to go; not that it was required but all of them knew about the importance to keep things quiet and to ask for back up. He must have had a good reason to leave that way.

Hope focused her attention back at Riddick. The pensive faces showed her that he already had told them about the betrayal and that they would quit the search until he found the culprit and have him prosecuted for the betrayal; in fact she had missed his whole speech.

Riddick dismissed them a minute later without giving them a chance to ask any questions and Hope followed him outside.

"Riddick, I'm not sure that it's been Ronson. All we've got is presumptive evidence. I need more time, please. 27 hours more or less won't hurt. If I can't come up with something else we'll go for him." She looked at him with pleading eyes and Riddick didn't have the heart to say 'no'.

"27 hours and not a second longer. But I won't take you with me this time. You are safer when you stay here."

"You are kidding me, right? You can't leave me here just like this. What about my decisions? You know I can help you and if he is guilty I won't hold you back. I promise. But please don't leave without me." She leaned into him, playing with the hem of his shirt. She wasn't above pleading and knew him well enough to be certain that it would help her more than getting pissed with him.

Riddick had a hard time to stick to his plan. He entwined his fingers with her open hair and pulled her closer. "That's not negotiable. Babe, please, let me keep you safe. Back on that planet … I know you would have done it willingly to rescue me … but I don't want you ever to get in a situation that will require exactly that … it would raze what you are and I'm not willing to risk that. I couldn't stand seeing that, it will be easier for me knowing you are safe."

Hope shook her head. She couldn't believe what she just had heard. "Bullshit! I'm Furyan as well. I'm trained and you know we are a complementary team. What are the prospects that I'd ever have to do something like that? And I'd rather die with you fighting than live here without you. Don't you dare and leave me, Riddick!" All her good intentions to stay calm had vanished, she was steaming by now; he was overprotective … again! Ignoring her decisions … again! And that pissed her off no end. "And you didn't have a problem with us dying when we had that problem with the discharging warp plasma. Why now?" Hope tried to step back from him but he wouldn't have it.

He hated those discussions with her. As much as he loved her stubbornness there were times when she overdid it, refused to see the whole picture.

But she was right with her last sentence … he didn't have a problem with them dying then. It would have been a quick and almost painless death; the plasma fire would have burnt them in a split second.

"Not death itself scares me … what matters is the way you die. Captured and killed by mercs is not an option." She could hear from his tone of voice that he was starting to get impatient; he wanted to end that conversation.

Laney saved Riddick any further discussion when she approached them. She seemed to make a habit out of appearing suddenly and interrupting their discourses.

"Hey, you two! Would you mind accompanying me to the ward? Rita can't wait to see you, Riddick. You'll be the godfather, please? And then I want to show you the new buildings. We have a little surprise for you."

Hope decided to hold off on their discussion; there would be time enough in the morning and Riddick was relieved about the interruption. He had made up his mind and nothing would make him change it; neither her pleading, nor her anger.

The rest of the day went by in a blur, Hope didn't even have time to continue with her search for evidence pro or contra Ronson.

They visited Rita and her baby and Riddick even put a good face upon being the godfather of little Rick. The ceremony would take place in the afternoon and then they would have a celebration; the first baby born on Furya was absolutely worth a celebration.

Laney and Kerry showed them the rebuilt buildings and saved the big surprise for last. They had led them to a building bigger than the others, lovingly restored. Laney and Kerry stopped at the entrance. "You are spending that much time on the ship that we thought you should have a house of your own when you stay on the planet. It's not completely finished yet but it's ready for occupancy. Let us show you around."

The wooden entrance door opened to a big light-flooded room. It was sparsely furnished with a wooden table and matching chairs and a snug seating with lots of pillows and a comforter that was all over embroidered with Furyan symbols in a corner; carpets decorated the walls and made the room homey. "Rita has made the comforter especially for you; she is really good with that kind of things." Laney explained. The few pieces of furniture indeed were beautiful and fit perfectly in the sunny room.

The next room was an empty room designated to be the kitchen one day, then they were led into a fully equipped bathroom followed by another two empty rooms Laney meaningfully called 'children's rooms'. An innuendo which both of them choose to ignore.

The last room they were led into was the master bedroom. It was dominated by a big handmade bed, carpets covered the floor and the walls, a door in one of the walls opened to a walk in closet. Riddick stood behind Hope and she couldn't see his face but that wasn't necessary for her to know exactly what he was thinking about seeing that bed.

Laney however didn't give them any time to act out those thoughts; after the house inspection she dragged them to the mess where already everything was prepared for the celebrations.

It was nearly midnight when the two of them were able to escape the still ongoing party.