A/N: We're nearing the end…probably three chapters left, give or take. More action ahead – the entire movie was pretty much nonstop action, which sucks for Riddick/Eris development, but I do think it's vital for their relationship. Nothing like people trying to kill you to bring you closer together lol. As always, a big thank you for my reviewers and those who have favorited/followed. And, of course, the usual disclaimer that I don't own Riddick or anything affiliated with the franchise…but I sure wish I did.

Chapter 7

Eyes peeled and ears open for any sign of life, we cautiously searched for a way up. Since Riddick had left us, we hadn't heard anything, which had me both worried and suspicious. It was almost too quiet.

"Look, Eris," Imam stopped by a set of metal rungs that disappeared into an upward shaft.

"You think this is it?" I asked him, craning my head back to squint into the tunnel.

"We'll have to try, we are running out of options," he pointed out.

"Alright then," I replied. "You go first; I'll take up the rear."

The holy man nodded and started climbing, Jack right behind him. I took one last scan of the area, making sure that everything was clear, before following the other two. The shaft wasn't cramped and had enough light to see without straining our eyes, which was a relief. It wasn't a long climb, Imam reaching the top and lifting the cover before disappearing from view.

"Come on, Jack, get your ass out of my way," I griped good naturedly.

"I'm hurrying," she grumbled, picking up the pace.

Smiling to myself, I paused to look down, double checking that we weren't followed. Thank God. I resumed climbing just as Jack cried out. I snapped my head up in time to see her yanked through the opening, her cry becoming strangled. What the fuck?! I hurriedly climbed to the top, cautiously raising my head out. Motherfucking shit.

Junner stood with his back towards me, holding a struggling Jack by her throat. Imam lay a few feet away, eyes closed, and I mentally sighed in relief at the steady rise and fall of his chest. Jaw clenched, I slowly pulled myself out of the hole and slid my knife out of my boot, creeping up behind the tall man, catching a glimpse of Jack flipping him the bird even as her eyes start to flutter from lack of oxygen. That's my girl.

Knowing that this would probably end badly, I took a small breath before dropping into a sweeping kick, knocking Junner's legs from underneath him and causing him to let go of Jack, who hacked as she gulped air into her lungs. Springing backwards, I watched warily as he gracefully rose to his feet, casually straightening his stupid glasses.

"Hmm. A pleasant surprise," he drawled, eyes raking me up and down.

"Wish I could say the same," I retorted, gripping my knife just a bit tighter.

He struck without warning, a kick aimed at my head hitting my shoulder instead, as I quickly rolled out of the way, albeit clumsily. Rising to my feet, I immediately dodged a punch, swiftly ducking under his arm to slash anywhere near his torso, forcing him to take a step back. Risking a glance at the other two, I saw Imam still out for the count and Jack not far behind. Great. Guess I'm lone wolfing this one.

Moving faster than I expected, Junner lunged forward and I sidestepped just enough for his fist to graze my cheekbone instead of taking a full punch to the face. Too close! Trying to force down my rising panic, I took a swipe at his extended arm, feeling semi-triumphant as he twisted away, red appearing on his white coat.

"Not bad," he appraised in his oily voice, glancing at his bloodied arm. I didn't answer, instead gritting my teeth, eyes darting around, trying to find anything else I could use as a weapon. I was small and everything about him was long – my knife required close contact and I had been lucky so far. He wasn't as good as Riddick, but he was good enough that I was beginning to realize I probably wouldn't be alive much longer; he was obviously toying with me.

We began again, though this time around I just concentrated on not getting hit. He was coming at me with kicks and punches so fast that I barely had time to dodge or deflect – he was purposely wearing me down. Fuck this. Knowing that I couldn't do this for much longer, I ducked under a punch and dove in, my knife glinting in the fluorescent lights as I desperately aimed at his face. The tip caught, a thin, red line appearing on his white skin from below his eye to his jaw.

"Enough!" he bellowed, a backhand to the face sending me to the floor. Vision slightly blurred, I struggled to rise, then screamed in pain as I was grabbed by my hair and lifted off the ground. My knife was wrenched from my grasp and placed at my throat, Junner's breath on my ear. "I'm impressed – you have potential, but you're wasting my time."

Removing the knife and spinning me around, his hand roughly gripping the back of my neck, Junner replaced the blade to its previous position against my neck and smirked down at me. I saw my face reflected in his glasses and was amazed to see how calm I looked; inside I was terrified. Well, if I was going to die…

"Nice face," I taunted, my eyes flicking to the cut I inflicted. I froze as pressure was applied to the blade, his eyes narrowing dangerously, and felt a sharp, burning sensation, a warm trickle of blood slowly sliding down my neck.

"Pity about that mouth of yours," Junner growled, pushing harder.

"Let her go."

I didn't move for fear of Junner slicing my throat completely open, but I couldn't help the relieved whimper that clawed its way out at the arrival of a familiar, gravel voice. Riddick. The man in front of me paused, then removed the blade, letting it and me fall to the ground. I immediately put a hand to my neck, trying to staunch the bleeding. The wound hurt like hell, but I was too relieved to be alive and too hyped on adrenaline to really feel it. I had the sense to grab my knife before scooting back towards Imam and Jack as Riddick approached, the look on his face promising pain.

It's me you're after," he rumbled, punching his hand. "You want a shot at the title?"

I watched as Junner removed his coat and unsheathed the blade from his gun, withdrawing the sword; Riddick already had his shiv ready. The two men stood still, assessing each other. This was going to be a fight to the death and it wasn't going to be pretty.

Oh, God.