Chapter Ten

Riddick helped strap me into the passenger seat, careful to work around my quickly healing wounds. They stung but were closing fast, a perfect distraction from the feel of him being so close. Despite being covered in alien blood he was still damn sexy.

My body felt limp from all its recent exertion but energized from the fresh feed, a confusing sensation that I wasn't familiar with. My hair was plastered to my face and neck and I was speckled in blue blood. My own coursed a gruesome trail down my front and if I could wish for anything at that moment it would have been a hot shower. A very hot one. Definitely involving the individual currently strapping me in.

The red takeoff light in the cabin was alight above Riddick's head, bathing him in crimson and showing his reflection in the large cockpit windows that were being spattered with fresh rain. In my haze I wondered at it; I didn't think a desert world like this was capable of something so resplendent. The whole scene seemed surreal. Having someone secure me in my seat was strange but my body was on overdrive and any reprive from movement was greatly appreciated. I eyed him as he worked, feeling his hands over me. I know we were escaping and everything, but damn. The sensation of his presence was overwhelming at this proximity and if I leaned just a little closer -

His fingers slipped in blood as he buckled me in and he uttered a low curse, eyes lowered at his task. Smiling, I reached out and touched his face with my fingertips. The skin beneath my fingers was fiery.

He looked up and caught my gaze with mirrored eyes. This guy had escaped a slam only to be caught by a sleazy merc whose only desire was to sell him to the highest paying system; then survived a severe crash on a world where every moving thing in the dark wanted to devour him. We had just crossed a desert of death, losing people along the way. We were on the cusp of finally escaping to sweet salvation and he was actually spending time making sure I was securely in my seat before we took off. How fucking sweet was that?

"Didn't peg you as the caring type," I meant it to sound stronger but the words drifted out in a whisper. I hoped they didn't sound disingenuous. One of those smirks of his dashed across his face and lit up his eyes.

"And I didn't expect a single thing you just did back there, either. Why don't we just call each other unpredictable and get the fuck outta here?"

"That's the best idea I've heard all day," I replied with a twinge; my shoulders were still aching. His eyes drifted over my body and he leaned in almost involuntarily as if he couldn't help himself. Catching my stare, he seized my lips in a hard kiss. How this guy managed to escape several slams, lead the hard life of a convict, and still have lips this unbelievably soft was beyond me.

Breaking apart far too soon, he hovered over my lips before leaving for his own seat. I wanted to groan at the loss of contact but we needed to get off-world if there was any chance of us getting together at all. Plus the need to see this guy naked was getting intolerable.

The rest of the group was strapped into the back and waiting. The seats were a little more than wanting; yellow padding was starting to squeeze through rips in the faded fabric and the belts were weathered but hey, they were seats in a ship that worked and that's all that mattered. Everyone looked shaken but prepared.

Ali was buckled in on Jack's lap as there weren't enough seats for everyone; Paris, Zeke, and Imam were in the other three, slumped down slightly but still secure. They were completely unconscious but alive and that's all I could ask for. I wasn't worried that we were over capacity by three; two of us were less than ninety pounds and we had zero baggage if you didn't include the corpses of the creatures that were still in the back, stinking. Frye and Shazza were content with strapping themselves as well as they could to the wall and holding on.

"Still can't believe you blew that bloody beast apart with that plasma shooter," Shazza said, nudging Jack. She was secured beside the children's seat, her smile tired but genuine. "Didn't know this jumper had any."

Jack, who seemed at ease now knowing she had a ward to look after, smiled back just over Ali's head.

"It was hanging out of the gun rack behind a seat, no one noticed," she shrugged. "Guess I got lucky."

Hearing their conversation, I smiled.

Riddick climbed back into his seat at the helm, goggles on and looking intensely determined. His fist curled around the launch handle, ready to get us into the sky. He turned to me and raised his eyebrow.

"You ready for this shit?"

"Let's say goodbye to these fucking things," I replied through gritted teeth, and looked out the dark window where the creatures were beginning to pile up against the skiff. Their rain-slicked skin glistened in the launch lights and they bared long teeth. Eyes wide, I gripped the seat's mangy arm rests tightly.

Riddick swiftly pulled down the acceleration lever. The back engines ignited in a loud roar and a strong vibration filled the ship. I heard Jack make a noise of exclamation at the rumbling but it was soon drowned out by the sound of screaming monsters. Their shrieks echoed through the night as they were engulfed in the plasma jets, the last sounds we would ever hear from this hellish place. I closed my eyes and said an inward prayer for those who died here, even misguided Johns, and braced myself for takeoff.

With a bright blue surge the modest craft took off boldly into the dark, shucking off creatures as they clung to the hull like bats. For a few seconds the sounds of their claws scraping against the ship filled the cabin and Jack cried out in panic. She needn't worry though; we entered the upper atmosphere with a slightly nerve-racking rattle and everything became silent.

As the ship broke orbit I knew we were leaving behind a species that would inevitably cannibalize itself into extinction. They probably didn't have long; I doubted they would survive the next eclipse. The thought made me feel just a little sorry for them, but as we shot off into the direction of New Mecca the thoughts fell away like rain and a deep ache was beginning to fill me.

I realized the men's energy was wearing off like a fast-hitting, short-lasting drug. My body felt like a battery quickly running out of juice and the seat I was in was beginning to feel really comfortable. Sinking lower into the oozing cushion, I gazed out the large window. Our new sky was now one filled with countless stars. The eclipsing planets were shrinking behind us like felled titans, leaving all their doom and fate behind. Joy and relief and incredulity filled me and a small smile tugged at my face. We were soaring away; we had done it!

"Hey pretty lady," Riddick's voice rumbled. With what seemed like immense effort I turned my head to him, smiling when I met his eyes and raising an eyebrow.

"Yes?"

"You don't look so hot."

His unique angled face suddenly swam out of focus. Clenching my eyes shut I gave a weak chuckle.

"Guess I'm almost at the end of my rope here."

There was something odd about the skiff; had we stopped? Instead of moving steadily through space it felt as if we were floating. Sounds around me were becoming muffled, coming in and out of range in slow bursts. I was crashing.

"Frye! Get up here and drive," I heard him say. "Keep us on course; this bucket doesn't come with cruise."

I tried to talk but my lips had apparently given up on forming words. A dull distant pounding started behind my eyes and I struggled to keep Riddick in view as he unbuckled himself and came over to me. The movement was something akin to a large cat, powerful and graceful. My eyes slid shut of their own accord as I felt his heavy hands grasp my face. The sensation was remote, far-off. I was sinking into a warm void of black clouds.

And then knew nothing.

XXXX

"Carrier vessel Longshot to unidentified craft, respond immediately."

The distorted voice came in through the skiff's intercom, laced with static. Jumping slightly, my eyes flew open.

Through the window I saw the underside of a massive hauler, quite possibly the largest I had ever seen. I was glad I was still strapped into my seat; even sitting and seeing this imposing ship made me unsteady. A homely metallic beast, it was hovering over us like a silent threat, matching our course. Its gray underpanels filled almost our entire view save for a sliver of black at the bottom. This thing was huge and didn't look welcoming. Lines of turrets hidden within recesses in its belly could be seen, their dark deadly eyes a warning. Each was large enough for a person to stand inside. I knew carriers were often well-armed to protect their cargo but this was a little overboard. What the hell were these guys carrying?

"Ah, sleepin' beauty," Riddick rumbled. Ripping my gaze from the ominous sight outside, I turned to look at him. His body was leisurely reclined in his seat but he was gripping the acceleration lever white-knuckled. His strong legs were straddling the controls like he did this kind of thing every day. The pose wasn't dissimilar from riding a motorcycle and even in the midst of this drama I couldn't help but note how ridiculously sexy this man was. I grinned.

"I was…asleep?"

"Good six hours. Didn't peg you for a snorer either," he smirked. "And you've got a nice friendly welcoming party to wake up to."

"They found us so fast, I thought we were in the middle of nowhere," I said.

"Knew our exact location and appeared above us like turnin' on a light. These guys have portal technology."

"W-what should we say?" Jack's cautiously hopeful voice sounded behind me.

"Oh good afternoon, we're a party of nine with a wanted convict as our leader - " Shazza began sarcastically.

"We lie," Riddick cut her off with a growl. He stared at the carrier, tight-lipped with a furrowed brow, all trace of humor gone. The glint of his eyeshine could be seen in the dimly lit interior. What thoughts were coursing through his mind right now? From his face he didn't look relieved at all to see this new player, but thin waves of tiredness were beginning to flow from him. We were all in need of water, food, and proper rest and as daunting as this ship was, it could be our only chance of survival.

"Unidentified craft, this is the Longshot, respond immediately or you will be boarded."

Suddenly his eyes flashed over to mine and caught my gaze like a rabbit in a snare.

"Are you with me, Xen?"

His expression demanded an answer; I had never seen such an intense look on anyone. My eyes alighted and I nodded, ready for anything.

"I'm with you Riddick."

TO BE CONTINUED…