A/N: Pitch Black reimagining with a new character and pairing.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction using characters from the Pitch Black universe. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of PB/TCoR. This work is solely for entertainment purposes and is not considered canon (not by a long shot).

Riddick's mind was busy as he drifted in the almost-haze of cryo-sleep. He knew that most of the brain shut down during cryo according to the med-texts - everything but the primitive side. No mystery as to why he was still somewhat awake, then.

Assessing the situation, Riddick mentally replayed what he'd heard and smelt as he was put in the maximum security locker. Arab voices signified holy pilgrims headed to New Mecca. He wondered about the route. He'd smelled sweat and leather and knew prospectors were also passengers. Riddick guessed they always travelled the back roads.

A frown creased Riddick's forehead - not an easy thing to manage with the blindfold tight around his head and the metal bit forcing his jaw painfully apart. His shoulders ached abominably as the restraints forced them back. The man across from him was the reason he was in this place - Lawrence Johns, bounty hunter. Blonde, blue-eyed devil. The man who planned to take him and one other back to a slam.

Riddick's thoughts softened as he pictured the other person Johns had taken down with him. His hazel-eyed beauty in the locker next to their captor - Vaako. If not for Johns, they'd be hell and away from this place in some stolen ship headed for Creator only knew where.

Wonder what fresh hell we're in for now, beautiful? Riddick wondered at his companion. He remembered with some amusement Vaako's protest the first time Riddick had used that word.

"I resent being called 'beautiful', Riddick," Vaako had complained after their first brutal but extremely pleasurable joining.

Riddick eased off his newfound lover and settled to one side. It amused Riddick that the man was disturbed by a simple term of affection and not by the rather violent and sudden manner in which they'd come together. Head propped up on one arm, Riddick chuckled and gazed over his lover's body. He took in the dark brown hair, cut short into a fade except for neat braids that lay over one shoulder; the line of his brow currently furrowed in displeasure at Riddick's choice of descriptive phrasing and the crooked mouth that Riddick had kissed for the first time only hours before. Riddick's shimmering gaze held Vaako's as his hand drifted across Vaako's chest and down his pale torso tracing the ridges of the firm, sculpted muscles.

"Don't make it not true."

"Males are not beautiful, Riddick. Males are ... " Vaako gasped as Riddick's drifting hand had brushed ever so lightly over his hardening cock. Vaako's hips jerked when Riddick began to slowly stroke his member. Head falling back as he allowed the pleasure to build, Vaako cleared his throat shakily. "I ... sup...suppose you can call me beautiful if you want ... uhnn ... Riddick ..."

Riddick's trip down memory lane ended abruptly as the ship began to shudder and buck. He could feel the entire vessel trembling. The fact that he was now completely awake told him the cryo-lockers were waking up the passengers. He heard bodies hitting the deck. He focused his thoughts toward the one person that he needed like air.

Vaako.

The response brushed his mind leaving him glad that his lover was conscious but anxious considering their predicament.

Riddick ... where are -?

The voice in his mind fell silent as the world came to an abrupt stop.