"If we need anything from the crash ship, I suggest we kick on. That sand-cat's solar." Shazza's breeze of a voice jumped and skipped across the ground, seeping into the silence around Fiona and Jack. The two girls stared at one another, the hot air around them sucking up all the commotion outside. Fiona tried to find the signs, looking at the younger girls hair, her eyes, her lips, her nose. Nothing screamed feminine, and that was what made the secret all that more powerful. She wanted to know all of the reasons, figure out the real history behind the young girl.
No time.
They both rose from their place on the ground without a word, stepping around the metal tables and empty glasses to look outside. Shazza sat in the front seat of the only sand cat she had had time to work on, the engine whirling in the sun. Fry and Paris climbed in, Imam helping his sons up onto the sides. Fiona pushed Jack forward, giving the girl a helping hand up before climbing in herself. The fit was too tight though.
When Johns joined them, insisting on being in the bed, Fiona climbed out onto the foot rail on the side and wrapped one of her legs around the roll cage support. She teetered on the edge, giving Jack a reassuring smile before wrapping her arms around the same support.
And there he was, his arm crossing over her body so suddenly as he grabbed at the bar she clung to, to pull himself up beside her. She felt his body heat, the slide of his sticky skin on her flesh, fire bursting up inside her. Everyone else in the cat focused on the tight position, the over weigh capacity, and the ground in front of them, Fiona only focused on him.
She tilted her head back slightly, bumping into his strong shoulder. She could smell him, the oddity of that pinning deep inside her as she blinked away the exhaustion in her eyes.
Before she knew it they were descending the great big hill into the valley of bones. Shazza floored it, sending the cart into midair at moments, jostling everyone on board. She slammed into bones, toppling through the weak structures without a blink. They bounced off the roll cage with no problem, the shards descending on everyone else painfully. Fiona held on to the side of the vehicle tightly, feeling Riddick pull himself closer to the vehicle as well, in turn pulling himself closer to her. They shielded their heads from the dust and bone parts, only glancing up when Shazza announced they were out of the worst of it.
She stopped just as she drove, quick and painful. Fiona was thrust forward, the side of her face slamming into the support bar. She bit back on the pain, wincing and rubbing her cheek momentarily before climbing down. She made to move and help the others but Riddick put a firm hand on her shoulder and turned her in the direction of the crashed cargo bay.
"Help Paris." He demanded it of her, his grip tightening as he refused to look at her. She wanted to argue for some reason, the bubbling temptation deep inside her startling. When he let go she just stood there, watching his retreating back as he followed Johns into the cell bay.
With no more hesitation Fiona grabbed Jack by the collar and pulled the girl along side her towards Paris. The man almost toppled in the sand due to his robes, but he made it to the cargo hold with Fiona on his heels. She used what ever piled anger she had to open the sliding metal door and gave Jack the stern look to inform her to shut the hell up and get the hell in.
The rebel followed orders, Paris scrambling in behind the adolescent.
"My god…" His whisper was directed over Fiona's shoulder, her attempt to climb in herself halted so she could look back.
"Don't stop, don't stop..." Fry's whisper of a command faltered as she turned towards the eclipse, the sun fading so quickly. The light, the precious light, it slipped away behind the pieces of ship, sinking into shadow and leaving them all there to be sucked into the slow darkness. Everyone could feel the end as they stopped, turning towards the darkness that was being created.
The sound.
Just in the distance, only lit by the last of the suns light, the spires exploded. Something was flying out of them, tumbling into the sky in grand numbers, greeting the night air with yearning. They leapt into the sky; touching the air so sweetly it seemed, twirling around one another as they met in dance.
Fiona felt the chill in her spin as she backed into the cargo hold, one hand still poised on the edge.
"Cargo hold! Everyone in the cargo hold!" Fry was already running, Johns beside her. Fiona did not hesitate, throwing herself up inside beside Jack quickly as the noises grew louder. The hatchlings, like smoke and ash in the air, were barreling in their direction. Johns was in next, the captain behind him, Imam catering to his son's just inches behind her.
Only Shazza remained in the cat, trying desperately to get it to come to life, hoping that it had stored up enough of the sun to run some more, but it failed her. Riddick stood just beyond her, goggles raised to his forehead, hands at his side as he watched the dark dance in the distance that now only he could see.
"Riddick!" Fiona belted the word before she could stop herself. As if he was jogged from a dream he turned quickly, looking for her before throwing himself into gear and running. She leaned over the edge, Fry holding her back, Jack latched onto her side. He just needed to run faster.
"Let's close it, come on, move." Johns tried to pull her back, tried to force her out of the way as he closed the metal door half way. She refused, pushing his hand away as she watched Riddick kick up sand quickly, Shazza just in front of him. "Move you defiant bitch!" He reached down and grabbed her hair, yanking her back and out of the metal doorway. Her head slammed into the wall, black splotches filling her vision. She could hear more screaming, see the last bits of light as she regained her breath and tried to see. The world was shaking around her, the cries inaudible, and then suddenly it was black.
The warm hand on her back jostled her. Fiona tried to pull away, her body aching and tired. The spread of fingers on her skin, the heat, she was pressed up and into a giant warm mass that lifted her up completely and onto her feet.
A torch was lit, the flashlight on the end of Johns gun bright in her eyes. Riddick reached out and pushed the source of light away, his arm returning to wrap around Fiona's waist to support her.
"What if…" The shaky voice of Jack spoke up, "what if she's still out there… still alive…"
"Chances of Shazza knockin' on that door anytime soon are just about zero squared." The Blue Eyed Devil's response put everyone into silence, the faint clicking and shuffling on the outside now audible. Fiona kept her eyes closed, her face pressed into the black fabric stretched over Riddick's chest. She could feel his calm heart beat in her body, the rocking of his insides a testament to his human side. She would be crazy to admit that at one point in time she thought he lacked a heart.
"Why do they do that? Make that noise?" Jack shifted beside Fiona, her hand grabbing for the older woman. When she met Riddick's flesh she quickly pulled away, backing into the captain and finding shelter in her instead. Fiona just shook.
"Echo location. It's how they see." The loud crash down the hall broke off Fry and everyone grew very still.
Fiona could feel the world slipping away from her. Her body ached, her muscles tired and the cuts and bruises she did have screamed. She sucked up the last bit of warmth she could from Riddick, taking refuge in his arms, a place she might very well never be in again. She wanted to stay there forever, let him protect her, if he'd go for that.
With one last steady moment she pushed away from him, straightening herself out and not missing the brush of his fingers over her cheek as he inspected her in the dark. She wished she could see him now.
The light on Johns gun circled around from where the noise had come from, to them. Everyone stared at him, waiting.
"I'd rather piss glass."
"Well you got the big gauge." The scope of his gun fell on Fiona as she muttered her smart-ass remark. Riddick took a step away from her, moving in the darkness towards Johns and around the others.
"Wanna rag your fat mouth?" Another slam down the hall and Johns turned. He let out a deep sigh, trying to shake himself loose before pushing forward. They all watched as he moved carefully around the fallen cargo pieces, using the light to guide him. When he turned the corner he only stared in momentarily before blasting whatever was just beyond everyone else's visibility.
"Alright, we're good." With that they all moved into the second room, the small children holding onto their respective guardians tightly. Fiona followed suit, keeping herself close to everyone else, but remembering distinctly what Riddick had said. Each step was equal distance, her eyes never leaving him as he analyzed every moment and started to focus in on the people at hand.
Imam slammed the door behind them shut, the darkness encasing their breathing. Fiona quickly steadied herself, slowing down her breathing, refusing to let stress drive her lungs into angst. She had to conserve her strength.
The mechanical clicking broke the silence as Johns cursed, a cutting torch in his hands as he fumbled with the gas.
The slam of a weight on the door drove them all away from the bending metal of their safe haven. He dropped the torch, hands grabbing at his gun as he swiveled to the only strength in the room.
"Can you do sumpin' else with that?" Fiona shielded her eyes from Johns, the light shinning brightly in her direction. She could feel Riddick just behind her, his body pressed to her back. "'Sides holding it in my fucking face?"
Johns took a hint, the slam of weight on the door throwing him off balance as he pointed his big gauge at the beast showing through the cuts in the door it was making. It was too big for him, the whole situation. She could see the shake in the man's hands, the fear in his eyes.
Imam picked up the torch and got it to illuminate. Fiona watched as he cut a hole in the side of the room, eyes darting to the door that was collapsing in on its self. He ushered his sons through first, Fiona pushed Jack in after, and then followed quickly. She covered her ears as the gun fired behind her, shot after shot. She wanted to look back, make sure Riddick was ok, but the mere thought of her being able to protect him made her want to laugh. She launched forward, shoving Jack through the hole and deep into the compartment. Imam lacked hesitance as he cut yet another hole in the next adjoining wall, carving out another tunnel into a darker room for them to seek refuge. They repeated this again and again, Johns firing off behind them, refusing to let them stop, as he demanded more distance between him and the beasts.
The silence of the last stop cargo hold gave them a reason to discontinue. Fiona broke off from Jack, stepping a few inches away as she watched Riddick wander into the depths of the darkness, goggles on his forehead.
Her feet slipped, her eyes carrying down to the ground as she furrowed her brows and knelt down. The slim on her boot smelled disgusting. She raised her fingers up to inspect the goo, noting its hazy purple blue texture, glitter almost. She scanned the ground, finding the shell casings scattered around what looked like broken eggshells.
The clicks behind her made the hair rise on the back of her neck. She shifted slowly, looking over her shoulder without a single breath in her lungs. One of Imam's boys was a few yards away, his back pressed to a cargo box, hands splayed over the mesh, eyes up and scared. He breathed in, horrified, his eyes growing as a giant winged animal fell upon him and took out his memories quickly.
"Hasan?"
"Riddick?"
The voices called out but they were too late. Fiona kept herself still as the animal feasted on the young boys meat, bones cracking under its strong jaw.
"Hasan!"
It happened so quickly. She watched as a light darted into the darkness, a light she did register right away as Johns' gun. Shots fired, Riddick bolted, and a giant animal body was launched into the air, screeching at the pain it endured as Johns pelted four shots into its abdomen. The beast collapsed and Fiona gathered herself as it slammed into her, throwing her onto the ground underneath the great weight.
"Stop it, stop it, STOP IT!" Fry's screams reached out into the darkness, her hectic need for safety notable in her tone. Fiona groaned, pushing at the weight on her body. She tried to lift the carcass off her, the body still writhing as it slowly died.
Clicking.
She halted, watching as another beast dropped down just inches from her head. She could feel the final beats coming from the one on top of her, the last sluggish breath as it slowly gave into fate and drifted off. The weight became loaded, the muscles lazing slack as it crushed down on her. She couldn't breathe if she wanted to.
The second stood there stoically. Leaning down only slightly to sniff at its brother. With a call into the dark its wings took flight and it was gone before Johns could find it. She pushed at the weight, refusing to die under a dead animal after having endured what she had so far.
"There..." The voices gathered closer and Fiona quickly wiggled herself out, clutching at a nearby shipping crate and using the netting to pull herself up. She grasped at the boxes, finally getting her legs free as the others came around the corner and John's light burnished into her eyes.
"The light is scalding it."
And that it was. Fiona only watched for a few seconds as the skin of her capturer bubbled up from the light, setting fire when left on it for too long. She turned away from all of them though, lifting herself up off the ground and taking a seat on the other side of the cargo boxes, in the dark.
She breathed in slowly, whipping at the blood that had fallen on her from the gun shot wounds. She could hear them discussing what to do, Johns taking the lead as he instructed them to shove the cargo boxes to the side, leaving a small opening in the middle for them to sit down and collect their wits. She wondered, as she sat there reminding herself how to breathe, if they realized they were back in the first cargo hold. Wondered if they knew a gapping hole was just on the other side of the boxes, creatures waiting in the other side.
Imam moved the boxes around her, the nets sliding across the floor. Hasan's clothing was crumbled up along with them, Imam stopping only momentarily to stare down at the shredded fabric. He moved towards her, watching as she let down her hair only to tuck it back up tighter.
"I'll get those, help the Captain." The Holy Man had no words for Riddick, only nodded and headed across the clearing that was forming. Fiona stretched herself out, watching as Riddick turned to her slowly and stepped up in front of her. A soft glow of light shone on his features, his goggles once again on his forehead. He knelt down in front of her, eyes coming level with her stomach. She still felt so small in front of him, even though he was lower, small, compact, she felt so small.
"They're already mating." She fiddled with the small piece of fabric she had around her wrist. "I was inspecting some eggshells when I was toppled by Johns game."
"They're not all going to make it." His voice was rough, his fingers soft as they grabbed her fidgeting hand. "They think we have enough light."
"For what?"
"To die." His chuckle was dark. His thumb ran over her wrist absentmindly, his eyes lingered on her face as she stared deeply into the darkness that surrounded them. She could make out the shifting of the wings; hear the clicks of the creatures waiting just outside the bounds of the light. They were hunting. "You remember what I told you?"
"Stay close when it gets dark."
"That still stands." His hand let go of hers, leaving a hot searing feeling on her flesh as he rose. She looked away from the dark and up into his eyes. He pushed his goggles down and adjusted the strap around his head. His eyes lingered on what she assumed was her meek stature, as he decided whether to run or to protect her.
She didn't want to look so tired, but she couldn't help it.
"...one cutting torch, one hand light here, two more in the cabin... I think two more..." Fry's voice carried off as she mulled over her supplies list. Fiona lingered on the outside of the light circle, keeping her secret promise as Riddick stood just inches from her.
"Spirits." Paris sputtered out, looking from the makeshift light pit in front of them to the captain. "Anything over 45 proof burns well."
"How many bottles?"
"Not sure. Ten?"
"Alright. So maybe we'll have enough light."
"Enough for what?" Johns slid the clip back into his gun, hands sliding over the shotgun feather soft. He all but cooed it to sleep, fingers running over the flashlight at the end delicately. It was off for the time being, the beam of startling light hidden. The look The Captain gave him made him chuckle, his deep thick laugh drifting over the sorrow on everyone's faces. "Oh lady, if you're in your right mind, I pray you go insane."
The southern twang and demeanor brought a scowl to Fry's face. She looked around at everyone, trying to meet eyes with eyes but no one was looking up. Reality was facing them, the darkness was creeping in, and just beyond the boundary of it all were flying winged animals hungry for their insides.
"We can stick to the plan. If we get four cells back to the skiff, we're off this rock." She tried to encourage with words, only Paris looked up.
"I hate to kill a beautiful theory with an ugly fact, but that sand-cat won't run at night."
Johns was eating it up. If it weren't for the insanity of the plan, or the sheer fact that moving towards him now, when he was slowly letting his cop cover slip away, would get her shot Fiona would have smacked that look off his face. A smug knowing that he was of course right, and going to come out on top. Always cocky, always jumping the gun.
"We'll have to carry the cells." Fry furrowed her brows, looking from Paris to the shivering girl buried in her side. "... drag them... whatever it takes."
They all looked up at those words.
"You mean... tonight? With all those things out there."
"What about the things in here?" Jack's eyes looked towards Fiona, glossed with tears as she shivered. She didn't want to be that person for the young girl, but she couldn't hide from the truth.