Pitch Black Fan Fiction ❯ Together Again ❯ Deadly Games ( Chapter 4 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Toby7 
Disclaimer: I don’t own Pitch Black or its characters, but I
do own THIS story, the plot, and anything else you don’t
recognize like Elijah.
NOTE: I got most of the info from the book and movie. Other
stuff is made up
Non Anime: Pitch Black Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Romance / Sci-fi | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 01.08.2008 | Pages: 7 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 318 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: I don’t own Pitch Black or its characters, but I
do own THIS story, the plot, and anything else you don’t
recognize like Elijah.
NOTE: I got most of the info from the book and movie. Other
stuff is made up
Non Anime: Pitch Black Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Romance / Sci-fi | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 01.08.2008 | Pages: 7 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 318 | Status: Work In Progress
CHAPTER FOUR
The survivors reached the battery bay quickly to get the power cells. Johns was the first to take a cell from its socket and started dragging it over the deck. A second later Riddick yanked out two more and swung one up onto each shoulder. Elijah was next to grab a cell; he laughed slightly when he saw his mate pass by Johns with a kiss-my-ass grin on his face.
Not about to be shown up by his prisoner, Johns awkwardly shouldered the heavy object and stumbled after Riddick.
Riddick dumped his two cells onto the back of the Sand Cat when Shazza wheeled it closer to the ship. Johns dropped his cell next to the other two with a loud thump and then raced after Riddick. Fry loaded the cutting torches onto the Cat and then went back to help Jack with the case of food. Elijah was next with his cell. He placed it on the vehicle and then stopped to wait for his lover. Riddick emerged a second later hauling the last power cell. He placed it on top of the first four. Johns came out a second later scowling.
Riddick turned to look at Elijah. “What?” He asked.
The survivors reached the battery bay quickly to get the power cells. Johns was the first to take a cell from its socket and started dragging it over the deck. A second later Riddick yanked out two more and swung one up onto each shoulder. Elijah was next to grab a cell; he laughed slightly when he saw his mate pass by Johns with a kiss-my-ass grin on his face.
Not about to be shown up by his prisoner, Johns awkwardly shouldered the heavy object and stumbled after Riddick.
Riddick dumped his two cells onto the back of the Sand Cat when Shazza wheeled it closer to the ship. Johns dropped his cell next to the other two with a loud thump and then raced after Riddick. Fry loaded the cutting torches onto the Cat and then went back to help Jack with the case of food. Elijah was next with his cell. He placed it on the vehicle and then stopped to wait for his lover. Riddick emerged a second later hauling the last power cell. He placed it on top of the first four. Johns came out a second later scowling.
Riddick turned to look at Elijah. “What?” He asked.
“It's almost complete…they're not gonna make it.” Elijah said glancing up into the sky.
Riddick followed his gaze. He was right. The planet's dark ring already blotted out the yellow sun and the red sun's glare highlighted the nearby pinnacles.
Riddick looked back at Elijah and grinned. “Last call.”
Elijah laughed and gave Riddick a quick kiss.
“Don't stop working!” Fry shouted coming out of the ship with Jack. They put the case of food on the Sand Cat and then went back towards the ship.
Their daylight was almost up. As the orange sky darkened a high-pitched squeal sounded.
“Keep working! Don't stop!” Fry yelled; she was warning everyone not to get distracted by the sounds. However it seemed that Paris couldn't resist. He looked off into the direction of the sounds. He noticed they were getting louder. Paris glanced over at the pinnacles standing tall in the distance. ((The sounds are definitely coming from those.)) He thought to himself. Happy with his discovery, he shifted the case of liquor in his arms and started towards the Sand Cat. He didn't get too far, however, because the giant ring began covering the red sun. Only the fading halos of orange light around the pinnacles kept the awaiting darkness at bay.
Suddenly a second darkness covered the survivors. They all stopped and looked toward the growing high-pitched noise. When Fry located the source of the noise she felt faint.
It billowed out of the pinnacles like writhing black smoke.
Lit up by the fading orange light it appeared to be thick volcanic ash spewing from the hollow peaks. But after a few seconds Fry realized that she was looking at newly hatched living creatures, squealing in delight over their very first nightfall.
“How many…?” Johns trailed off as the hatchlings kept coming out in waves.
((Thank god they're moving away from us.)) Fry though, gaping at the dense black clouds flying across the sky. It was wishful thinking, however, because one huge wave cleaved away from the group and peeled back toward the survivors.
“Just a suggestion,” Paris said, backing toward the ship, “but perhaps you should flee!”
“Everyone in the cargo hold!” Fry yelled.
They all ran for the safety of the ship. Fry reached the ship and turned back to see Shazza, Riddick and Elijah still coming. Just behind them the squealing torrent of hatchlings descended like a tornado.
Riddick tackled Elijah so that they lay face down in the dirt; he kept his left arm around Elijah's back to make sure he stayed down. A few feet away from Riddick, Shazza hit the ground an instant before the creatures swooped low, skimming inches over their heads. They seemed to suck everything from the air, leaving nothing for Shazza to breathe. She kept her eyes tightly closed as the aliens flew just above her. She was weak from fear.
Riddick and Elijah on the other hand were fascinated. Carefully Riddick turned over onto his back and eased his bone shiv into the black mass above him. Instantly something slapped at it. He pulled it back to see that the shiv had been whittled down to a jagged nub. (It's like a river of razors.) He sent to Elijah.
Next to them, Shazza's heart was pounding. She lay huddled against the ground with her fists clenched on tightly together. Her nerves were frayed and when she heard a discordant screech inside her head she whipped her head up and sent a panicky look towards the ship. ((Not that far.)) Shazza thought. She started crawling slowly on her belly toward the ship.
Suddenly, the swarm disappeared. Shazza looked around to see that the aliens were gone. Slowly she got to her feet.
&&&&&&&&
From the Cargo hold, Jack watched as the black mass rose up in the sky and circled. A moment later Shazza stood up.
“Stay there! Shazza! Stay down! Don't move! JUST STAY DOWN!” Jack yelled. She saw Riddick quickly flip over and reach out his right hand then take a swipe at Shazza's legs to trip her. He missed. She had already started running for the ship.
“NO! NO!” Jack shrieked as the dark cloud gathered above Shazza's head. “NO! SHAZZA!”
&&&&&&&&
S hazza heard Jack's yell too late. She half-turned as the screaming cloud enveloped her—then vanished.
&&&&&&&&
Jack stood at the mouth of the hold, looking out at the spot Shazza had been standing just a moment before.
Without a warning the black creatures blew past the doors. Jack jumped back quickly. She caught a glimpse of Shazza whirling in the center of the screeching group. Shazza's body was shredded into bloody strips before she disappeared into the lowering darkness.
The others saw it too. They all moved back away from the open doors. But Jack moved closer to the opening. She watched helplessly as Riddick checked his surroundings, took a hold of Elijah's right hand and slowly pulled them both to their feet.
((Too slow.)) Jack thought. She tried to shout but she seemed to have lost her voice.
&&&&&&&&
Riddick and Elijah dusted themselves off and started walking towards the Cargo hold.
A familiar clicking rose up behind the two of them.
“Ready?” Riddick asked, looking at Elijah.
“Of course.” Elijah answered grinning.
&&&&&&&&
Fry moved to the doors to stand next to Jack. She knew that sound better than anyone.
CLICKETY CLICK…CLICKETY CLICK…
As the sound grew louder, Fry saw Riddick bend over and pick something up out of the dirt. It was a breather. Shazza's. He dropped it back on the ground. Fry looked behind the two men and saw the pinnacles crumbling. To her, they looked as if they were being eaten from within.
&&&&&&&&
The only light left was a narrow strip of orange flame shooting up from the enormous rim of the ascending planet. The falling darkness, disintegrating pinnacles, and unyielding clicking came to an eerie crescendo as Riddick suddenly grabbed Elijah's right hand again and broke into a flat-out sprint.
Just as Riddick and Elijah reached the hold, the narrow red
circle of light flickered out like a candle, and the world plunged in to everlasting night.
Riddick lifted his goggles and looked out into the darkness. Elijah turned to look as well. Their night vision gave the two a clearer image of the aliens rising from collapsed nests. Riddick crudely traced their features: large, mammalian predators with hammerheads and vicious talons. They launched themselves into the night sky, leathery wings spread, gliding, clicking, searching…
(Like bats…they click for echolocation…sounding out a world they haven't inhabited for twenty-two years.) Elijah sent to Riddick.
“What? What is it? What's out there?” Fry asked, watching their faces.Riddick lowered the goggles back down over his eyes and looked at his mate. “Like I said,” he paused and then turned in Fry's direction, “it ain't me you gotta worry about.”
They all stepped inside and closed the hold's vault like doors. Locked inside, with only their hand lights, the survivors huddled together listening to the yowls of the circling monsters.
“What if she's still out there?” Jack spoke up hoping for a miracle. “What if she's still alive?”
“Well I don't want to jump to conclusions here…but remember that bone yard? These just might be the fuckers that killed every other living thing on this planet. Chances of Shazza ever knocking on that door are about zero squared.” Johns said to the gathered group.
“I saw the cut marks on those bones in the graveyard…wasn't a natural death.” Fry spoke gently to Jack.
Suddenly, Imam moved to the door as if he'd heard something. Everyone except Johns, Riddick, and Elijah pressed their ears against the doors. They all heard the clicking sweep restlessly past, just outside the door.
“Why do they make that sound?” Jack asked quietly.
“It's how they see.” Elijah answered. “With sound, reflection back.” Elijah used his Sight to look through the doors. He could see two out side the Cargo hold. He looked back at Jack. “Echolocation.”
More clicking cut across the darkness. The survivors whipped their lights around to find nothing. Only a partially open container about halfway down the tunnel-like hold.
Riddick—who wasn't in position to see down the hall—looked in askance at Elijah.
Elijah glanced down the hall again and shook his head at Riddick indicating that he didn't see anything.
They heard the sound again. ((How did one of them get in here?)) Fry wondered fearfully. “Breach in the hull.” Fry suggested in a tight voice. “I dunno.” She added quietly, eyes locked on the open door.
The clicking seemed to come closer. Everyone looked at Johns and slowly he realized that they expected him to check it out. “I'd rather piss glass.” He stated.
“Did you forget that you're the one with the big gage, Johns?” Riddick asked with a smirk.
Johns lifted his weapon. “Wanna shut your fat mouth?”
“Maybe it's just their beads again. Imam, are you still—” Fry started hopefully.
“No, no, no.” Imam interrupted, covering his prayer beads with his hand. “I do not believe—”
“C'mon man,” Johns growled, “you're drivin' everybody bugfuck with those things. Just get rid of the damn…”
Johns trailed off when the clicking sound came closer.
Riddick smiled at Johns. “Big beads.”
Johns glared at Riddick and cocked his weapon. He edged toward the open container. Leading with his shotgun he leaned around the door and fired blindly. Something screeched loudly and then was quiet. Johns eased his light around the door and saw two shredded, bat-winged lizards smeared across the floor like road kill.
Suddenly something swept down at his head, swinging a curved talon like a scythe. The talon caught on his shotgun and it fired. In the flash that followed, Johns saw an image that burned into his mind. Curved teeth inside ravenous jaws, blank liquid eyes and strangely pulsing ears.
Johns jerked himself back behind the door and slammed it shut. As he backed away he noticed more cracks in their little shelter. “Very big beads,” Johns declared, when he rejoined the others. “Need to find someplace more secure.”
Paris began pulling at the main door trying to escape. “Well, I'm not staying in here another—”
Fry lunged and yanked him back before he could get the door open. “Christ! You don't know what's out there!”
“I know what's in here!” Paris yelled, struggling weakly to get away.
The clicking sounds erupted all around them. Imam opened a door connecting to the other containers. “This way.” He made sure the group was all inside before shutting the door.
It was quiet for a moment; the only sound was from the survivors' trying to control their harsh breathing. Then scratching noises clawed trough the quiet. Johns pulled out a cutting torch and turned the knob. He adjusted the gasses to emit a wide arc of light that illuminated the metal door. And he saw what caused the scratching.
Sharp, bladelike talons were probing the door joints with a single-minded intensity. The group shrank away from the door.
Jack glanced up above her head when she heard a noise and screamed. There were talons stabbing down at them through a metal grate just above their heads. Imam shined his light at the grate in time to see saw-toothed lizard tails snaking away into the darkness.
The sudden silence fell over them like a blanket. Johns lifted the torch, throwing light around the small area. The sudden cat-like hiss in the quiet startled them all. The survivors looked over in the direction it came from and saw Elijah crouched down low next to Riddick rubbing his eyes. And Riddick…he was scowling.
“Can you do something else with that?” He snarled. “ `Sides holdin' it in his fucking face? You just about blinded him.” Riddick lifted his goggles to rest on his forehead and then crouched down in front of his mate—not caring if the others saw or not. He then took Elijah's face in his hands and spoke softly, “Open them.”
Elijah sighed and did as he was told. Riddick grimaced. The whites were now red and the beautiful green was now a soft milky white. “So much for `just about'.” Riddick muttered.
“What's that suppose to mean?” Johns growled.
Riddick stood and then helped Elijah up. “It means that he's now temporarily blinded. He had his eyes adjusted to the dark…was using his second Sight and when you flashed his eyes with the torch it blinded him.”
“And how long is `temporarily'? We don't need someone stragglin' behind slowin' us down. Maybe we should just—” Johns started.
Riddick interrupted him. “Maybe we should what?” He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to Johns. “Even like this he's one of the most dangerous people you'll ever have the pleasure to meet. All his other senses have been heightened to make up for the loss of his eyes. So I'd watch what you say Merc.”
Johns didn't head the warning in Riddick's eyes and took another verbal shot. “And I'd hardly put that in the people category.”
Elijah hissed again and made a jump in John's direction. However, before he could get to the Merc Riddick reached out and grabbed him securely in a tight embrace. Not able to get away, Elijah unwrapped his long tail from his waist and snapped it hard against the side of Johns' head.
“FUCK!” Johns growled out in pain. He regained his balance and reached for his gun, only to find it gone. He looked up and straight into the clear eyes of Elijah. He also found his gun—it was in the grip of the Elvin-Cat's tail. Elijah had grabbed it from the floor after hitting Johns upside the head.
“Depending on how bright the light is deems how long I'll be blinded. It just so happens that this time I only lost the use of my eyes for a moment. Now I'd watch what you'd say unless you want to be the one who's straggling behind the party because you lost the use of one of your legs.” Elijah hissed out.
Johns took a small step back away from the madly grinning Riddick and the angry Elijah.
“Knock it the fuck off! Johns cut us a hole through the fucking wall and get us the fuck out of here.” Fry demanded.
Johns scowled at Fry slightly but did what she said. The moment the torch began slicing through the metal, a violent rattling noise filled the room.
Imam shined his light across the ceiling and saw that the grate above them was shaking furiously as if something was trying to smash through it and behind them the talons attacking the door were beginning to saw it apart.
Tuning that all out Johns burned an outline in the wall and then kicked it open.
Jack crawled through Johns' legs and found herself in the freezer room. The others followed behind her. The chaos was worse in here. The rattling, scratching and clicking seemed amplified. As the last of the group came through, the scuttling on the metal ceiling seemed to follow them. Suddenly a pressure tube overhead exploded. Sharp talons jabbed furiously through the white cloud of gas filling the chamber. Then more bladelike talons cut through the soft pressure tubs, sending fumes everywhere.
(Where being herded.) Riddick said to Elijah. But it was too late to do anything about it because Johns had already cut through the wall into an overviewed chamber. When Riddick stepped inside he noticed that there was no ceiling grate, and it was large enough to enable them to move comfortably.
As soon as Elijah made it through the hole, Hasan and Rashad started moving heavy cargo in front of the gaping opening.
(Something's wrong. I can feel it.) Riddick told Elijah. He turned slowly in a circle, searching the area.
(What is it?) Elijah asked.
(I'm not sure.) Riddick replied.
Johns added another crate against the opening and glared at Riddick. “What fuckin' union you belong to? How about a fuckin' hand?”
Riddick ignored him. He was looking at the pepper-shot pockmarks on the wall with growing suspicion. (Stay here.) He told Elijah and moved away from the group into the darkness.
Elijah took a step in Riddick's direction. (But…)
(Stay. I'll be back.) Riddick whispered the promise into Elijah's mind.
The Elvin-Cat sighed and did what his mate asked of him.
“Where did he go?” Jack asked suddenly. She was the first to notice his disappearance.
&&&&&&&&
R iddick's POV
As I walked away from the group I felt something squish under my foot. It was soft and oily. I slipped off my goggles and put them in my pocket. It was a dead hatchling, it's body ripped open by a shotgun. Johns' shotgun.
(We've been herded back to where we started.) I sent to Elijah.
(Fuck. I thought this area looked familiar.) Elijah sent back. (Should I tell them?)
I thought about it for a moment. (No. We'll let them figure it out.) I told him with a grin.
I heard him laugh quietly in my mind. (You're the boss.)
I was about to give a retort when I sensed something. Slowly I lifted my face to the darkness above my head. (Fuck.)
(What?) Elijah said. (What's wrong? What did you find?)
(Right above me there's a hatchling sitting atop some cargo. It's eating something.)
The hatchling's fanged jaws were devouring something clutched in its talons.
(Can you tell what it's got?)
(Yeah. It's one of the hatchlings Johns shot. Vicious fuckers eat their own.) I sent to him.
Suddenly the creature paused. It cocked its head slightly and swept the area with inquisitive clicks. At the same time its ears were twitching incessantly. Then the creature's ears went rigid.
(Riddick?) Elijah's worried voice sounded in my mind. (What's going on?)
(I think I might have a little problem.) I said.
(Do you need help?)
I thought for a second. (No, just keep an eye out over there. I'll be fine.)
&&&&&&&&&&&
Third Person
Alarmed by the alien sounds going on around the group, Fry looked out into the gloom and spotted Riddick. She started closer, and then stopped short, belly churning with terror.
Riddick was right next to one of the creatures. She could see his jaguar-like eyes gleaming in the darkness; he stood motionless as the creature's razor tipped wings enfolded him in an unholy embrace.
&&&&&&&&&&&
Hasan was intent on blocking the burned hole in the wall where they had come through. When he ran out of crates around him, he went off in search for more. He didn't bother to bring his hand light with him as he rounded a corner. That was his first mistake.
A steel-like grip squeezed Hasan's head in a vise.
“Don't move.” Riddick whispered. “Extremely bad timing.”
Hasan rolled his eyes and saw the creature perched in front of them. His body went limp with fear and if Riddick hadn't been holding him in a headlock, Hasan would have collapsed to the floor.
But Riddick wasn't concerned about the creature in front of them. It was the hatchling coming down for a visit from the ceiling that had him worried.
((This one wants to touch.)) Riddick thought to himself.
Riddick held his breath, hands tight around the pilgrim's head. He kept his eyes fixed on the creature in front of him, but Riddick was uncomfortably aware of the bony talon probing the top of his head. Then the creature facing him folded its wings tighter around the two men. The clicking became louder.
Riddick remained completely still as more blade sharp talons descended and began moving over his body like surgical instruments. One talon test sliced Riddick's shirt just barley grazing his skin.
Suddenly Riddick heard Fry's voice calling his name.
“Just keep burning.”
Johns heard him and realized they were in the open container again. Back where they started. Frantically, he started burning through the next wall.
“Hasan?” Imam called out.
But the pilgrim was frozen with fear and couldn't answer. He almost passed out when a sharp talon stroked his chest. The talon lightly test-sliced Hasan's skin. This time drawing blood. As soon as the blood welled up, all clicking ceased.
Instinctively Hasan knew why the noise had stopped. Without thinking he bolted.
Second mistake. Game over.
He didn't get more than two steps before the creatures were on him.
Seeing the window of opportunity, Riddick jumped. But the moment he moved, another predator loomed up, blocking his path.
Riddick darted around a stack of cargo and sprinted for the escape hatch. But as the screeching alien flew after him Riddick knew he wouldn't make it.
A glaring explosion blinded him suddenly and he howled in pain. Riddick stumbled forward through the hatch. Fry's light shone past Riddick's shoulder, hitting the creature behind him. Screeching the predator scrambled back.
Shots fired suddenly past her. Startled Fry dropped the light. As she scrambled after it, Johns pushed her aside and began shooting shadows.
“STOP!” Fry shouted.
“I killed it.” Johns said breathlessly.
The group exchanged glances. Johns had snapped.
Suddenly a carcass slammed wetly to the floor causing everyone to jump back.
“Christ.” Paris said in a hushed voice. “He did kill one.”
Fry retrieved her light and beamed it on the carcass. Wherever the light touched, the flesh charred and bubbled, sending up fumes.
“Look!” Jack said excitedly
“Light hurts them.” Fry said in slight awe. They had found their weapon.
A sudden chittering frenzy swept out of the darkness as the predators fought for what scraps remained of the boy.
“Is that…Hasan?” Imam asked…he had lost another one.
“We'll burn a candle for him later.” Johns muttered, igniting his torch. “Let's go.”
&&&&&&&&&&& &&
Jack had a secret. He was actually a she. Her real name is Jackie and she had run away from a home with no love. She cut off her long brown hair so she could pretend she was a boy. Twelve year old boys who traveled alone were not bothered but twelve year old girls were a big target for the slave trade.
Jack also had a problem. She was bleeding. It was her second period. The first had been a month before she had gotten on the space freighter. Only this time she didn't have anything to keep the bleeding in check. Jack only hoped her black pants wouldn't show anything.
&&&&&&&&&&
< br> ((Poor kid. He can't handle the horror.)) Fry thought, seeing Jack sitting over against the wall hugging his knees. ((Nobody can.)) She looked around at the gathered survivors and her eyes stopped on Riddick and Elijah—they looked completely in control. ((Well, nobody but them.)) She amended her thought.
The survivors had taken refuge in a small container, and sat huddled in the protective glow of a small lantern. To prevent the group from falling into apathy, Fry roused herself and called for a weapons check.
“I've got one cutting torch, one handlight and at least one more in the cabin.”“Spirits,” Paris patted the case he'd just discovered in the room. “Anything over forty-five proof burns good.”
“How many bottles do you have?” Fry asked.
“Not sure…ten perhaps.” Paris sighed and pushed the case toward her.
“And Johns has the flares so maybe we have enough light.” Fry said to herself.
That caught Johns' attention and he stopped cutting. “Enough for what?”
Fry turned and looked at him with steady blue eyes as if the answer was obvious.
And it was…Johns just didn't like it. “Oh, lady, you are out of your mind.”
Fry ignored him, and turned to the others. “If we get four cells back to the skiff…we can lose this boneyard.”
“Four? I thought we needed five cells?” Paris asked.
“We can do with four cells.” Fry answered.
((Four power cells…might as well be a hundred)) Paris shook his head, “I hate to kill a wonderful theory with an ugly fact, but that Sand Cat won't run at night.”
“We're gonna have to carry the cells…drag them, whatever it takes.” Fry said.
The suggestion drew a troubled silence. The idea of hauling heavy cells through the raging death gauntlet outside had a suicidal ring.
Riddick and Elijah noticed that the lantern on the floor had become a shade lighter.
“What? You mean…tonight? With all those things out there?” Jack spoke up in a trembling voice.
“Hold up,” Johns snapped. He turned to Fry. “How long can this `tonight' last anyway? Few more minutes? Hours?”
They all glanced at Imam. He had done the preliminary calculations on the Orrery. As both a mathematician and engineer, Imam had grasped the principle from the machine. But he didn't have time to work out the details. “I had the impression from the model that the two planets were moving as one…that there will be a lasting darkness.” He explained to the group.
“The sun's gotta come out sometime, and if these beasts really are scared of the light, we just sit here till dawn.” Johns said trying to reason with everyone.
“I'm sure that's what someone else said Johns. Locked inside that coring room.” Elijah spoke up. “I agree with Fry. We gotta make a run for it.” He looked around the room. The clicking had never stopped and the creatures were slowly getting closer. “We can't stay here. They are herding us around this place and we'll just keep coming back to this container until there's no where else to go.”
It was a persuasive image. Fry's, Imam's and Paris' eyes all turned to Jack—who looked worried.
Johns jumped on their concern. “Look, we gotta think about everyone now—the kid especially. How scared is he gonna be out there?”
“Don't you dare use him like that Johns.” Fry hissed.
“Like what?” Johns asked innocently.
“As a smokescreen that's what. Just deal with your own fears.”
Johns face reddened with anger. “Hey, why don't you just shut your mouth for two seconds and let me come up with a plan that doesn't involve mass suicide, okay?”
Fry waited two long seconds and then she spoke. “Well? I'm waiting.” She gave a short pause. “How much you weigh Johns?”
“What's it matter?”
“How.much?” She asked shortly.
Johns narrowed his eyes. “Seventy-nine kilos, why?”
“Because you're seventy-nine kilos of gutless white meat and that's why you can't come up with a better plan.”
Just as Johns swung his shotgun up Riddick stepped between them. Hands shaking with fury, Johns prodded the underside of Riddick's chin with the weapon and looked into his shined eyes. “Where you goin'?”
“Think about that reward, Johns.” Riddick reminded him.
Johns' finger tightened his finger on the trigger. “I'd be willing to take a cut in pay.”
“How about a cut someplace else?” Elijah asked.
Johns looked to his left to see Elijah standing beside him. He felt something sharp poke his stomach and looked down. Elijah and Riddick both had a bone shiv angled against his belly. Both poised for the quick slice that would spread his intestines across the floor. ((The blast might knock Riddick back but then there's the blade Elijah's got.)) He thought to himself still not backing down.
“Please.” Imam interrupted. “Please, this solves nothing.”
“Ok, ok.” Johns said softly to Riddick and Elijah. He lowered his shotgun and backed away from the two murderers. ((Soon the three of us are gonna dance.))
Fry knelt beside Jack. “They're afraid of our light. That means we don't have to be so afraid of them.”
Imam joined Fry and Jack. “Are you sure you can find your way back to the skiff?”
“No.” She paused. “But…they can.”
They all turned. She was pointing at Riddick and Elijah.
&&&&&&&&&&
Riddick POV
I stood next to Elijah at the end of the line and watched as Fry turned her cutter on for maximum flame. Cracking open the main door, she pushed the cutter outside and swept it around. When she was sure it was clear, she stepped through the crack and one by one the others followed.
I turned to look at Elijah when I heard him chuckle softly. (What?)
(They look like some sort of multilegged insect huddling together inside their little `protective' halo of light.)
I looked back in the direction of the group and smirked. We were slowly crossing open ground with the group just ahead of us. We stayed in the back away from the light. All around us Elijah and I could see the creatures coming closer…they were staying just out of range though. The primal sounds of the aliens grew louder and more insistent, they were just waiting for one of us to fuck up.
I could tell Fry and the others were trying not to listen. When we neared the main cabin, Fry glanced back here. “Riddick.”
Elijah and I walked to the front of the group and peered inside the cabin.
Lots of wreckage but no sign of life. I looked at Elijah and he shrugged.
“Looks clear.” I muttered.
Impatiently, Johns shouldered himself in between me and my mate then went into the cabin. The moment his handlight beamed in, a shadow fluttered to life and flew over his head. Squealing in panic, the creature shot through the door into the darkness.
“FUCK ME!” Johns yelled.
“No thanks.” Came Elijah's muttered comment. I smirked.
“You said `clear'!”
“I said it looks clear.” I corrected.
Johns looked back into the cabin and then back at me. “Well, how's it look now?”
I took a quick glance into the cabin and shrugged my shoulders. “Looks clear.”
I could feel Johns' anger flaring and I grinned at Elijah. He rolled his eyes.
Fry stepped inside the cabin. “Just get the goddamn lights on.”
Elijah found the switch and the main lights flickered on. The others scrambled aboard and went about their tasks with renewed energy.
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Third Person
The cabin's illumination seemed to recharge the survivors' spirits. Everyone got to work finding things they needed to make the trip to the skiff. Riddick powered up the system lights and then yanked a cell from a battery bay.
The tricky part was loading up the sled outside. The moment Riddick stepped into the darkness he felt them closing around him. He heaved the cell onto the sled and then hurried back for another.
Imam made sure all the breathers carried fresh O2 canisters. He handed one to Riddick as he passed by him with another power cell.
Finally it was time to yank the last cell. Reluctantly Johns moved to the exit with the others. Johns stopped walking when his body shuddered suddenly. He reached into his pocket and found a red morphine shell. Just feeling it in his hand got rid of the sickness in the pit of his gut.
“Ready Johns?” Fry asked coming up behind him.
Johns turned to look at Fry. “They'll lead you over the first cliff they find.” Johns said with certainty.
Fry was just about through with Johns' paranoid obsession with Riddick and Elijah. “We're just burnin' light here Johns.”
“You give the cells and the ship to those two and they'll leave you all out here to die. The only one's who are safe from them are each other.”
Fry shook her head in disgust and pushed past him to leave the cabin. Seconds later the lights faded out.
Still fuming, Johns stood in the dark cabin and loaded his shotgun. ((We're all going on a death march and Riddick is the Pied Piper.))
END CHAPTER