The Darkness Calls

The Darkness Calls

Title: In the dark

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the craziness that spews out of my head. All characters belong to their respective owners. That means I own nothing and have zero money. . .
Author notes & Warnings: M/M fanfic. No Beta. Be afraid. My mood affects my writing

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They all sat in a circle around the wielding torch, each person wearing expressions of fear and horror. All huddled up like rabbits in a hole just waiting for the big bad wolf to come and eat them up . . . Everyone but Riddick. He seemed to be within his element and Xander had to admire that. Rocking Oren to sleep Xander cleared his throat. “We can’t stay here long, were sitting ducks.”

That was actually something Xander and Fry agreed on because she began to speak. “Right. So we got one cutting torch, we got two hand lights. There’s got to be something we can rip out of the ship!” Fry said going into fearless leader mode, or as Xander liked to think of it Buffymode.

“Xander found an old lamp. It should last for another hour or so.” Greg said softly as he held out the lamp. “We also have two vid pads. The light is weak but can light up the area around at least one person.”

Fry nodded but didn’t look in Owens direction.

“Spirits” Paris said as he held up one bottle. “Anything over 45 proof burns rather well.”

“How many bottles do you got?” Fry asked.

“Don’t know maybe ten.”

Fry turned and looked at Johns. Johns was leaning on a crate pretending not to be afraid but Xander could smell his fear scent, it was stronger then Jack’s. “Johns you have a couple of flares. So, maybe we have enough light . . .”

“Enough for fucking what?!” Johns snapped.

“We stick to the plan. We get the four cells back to the skiff, we’re off this rock.” Fry said firmly.

“Sounds foolish Fry.” Owens muttered as he sat down next to Xander.

Paris nodded and stood on shaky legs his eyes wide and breath shallow. “L-look it is foolish, I hate to ruin a beautiful theory with an ugly fact, but the sand cat is solar. It won’t run at n-night.”

“So we carry the cells. We drag them, whatever it takes.” Xander shook his head at Fry’s stupid determination; stubborn as an ass she digs her heels in. Not even pain of death would make her see sense! But having a back up plan was always good . . .

“What about Xander’s ship?” Owens tried to get Fry to meet his eyes, but she stubbornly kept them elsewhere.

“How do we know his ship runs? Or if it even exists? At least we know my skiff is real and can take flight! We take the cells and get them to the town! We’ll be out of here, simple!” She snapped.

Xander wanted to laugh. Nothing was ever simple, especially right now. “The Firefly is closer.”

Jack shivered and started to rock. “Y-you mean tonight, with all those things still out there?”

In the dark the creatures crooned and whooped, shadows moved and scratching could be heard. The hunters were trying to make the prey jump and bolt like deer or rabbit. Xander looked at the frazzled group he was stuck with, looked into their eyes and was reminded of the frightened pets one would see in cages. Nowhere to run, no place to hide, the light was now the cage and the dark was now their hateful reality.

Johns cleared his throat. “All right, how long can this last? A few hours? A day tops?”

‘If only I could be such an optimistic idiot . . .’ Xander shook his head and sighed wistfully for such ignorance: blissful, beautiful, ugly, empty, and safe. Xander wanted to laugh at the stupidity he smelled in the air.

Imam finally put his two cents in confirming Xander’s own thoughts. “I have the impression from the model. The two planets were moving as one, and there would be a lasting darkness.”

Xander didn’t like the sound of that at all. It was a real mood killer and much more of the bad then Xander thought it would be. They had to get moving or Imam would be reading everyone their last rights.

Johns grunted. “These suns gotta come up sometime! And if these creatures are phobic about the light, then we’ll just sit tight and wait for the sun to come up.”

“Johns do you have memory loss? Don’t you remember the mass grave in the coring room?” Xander snorted.

Fry nodded along with Xander’s statement. “I’m sure someone else said that locked inside the coring room, didn’t do them much good.”

Johns looked at everyone around him, his fear kicking up a notch. “We need to think about everyone here! Especially the kids! How scared will they be out there? In the dark?”

Xander snorted and looked down at Oren asleep in his snuggly. He didn’t care one bit, Oren’s only worries were food, sleep, and a clean diaper. He had no other cares.

“Don’t use them like that.” Fry shook her head and glared.

“Like what Carolyn?”

“Like a smoke screen! You deal with you own fear.” She snapped.

Johns stood up his nostrils flaring. “Why don’t you shut your fucking mouth for like two seconds and let me come up with a plan that doesn’t involve mass suicide!”

“We’re waiting? How much you weigh?” Fry asked her frown getting deeper and more serious with each word.

“What’s it matter Carolyn?”

“How much?” She snapped. Xander sighed, everything was turning into one big fat drama. Something they really did not need at the moment.

Johns tipped his head to the side. “Around 79 kilos.”

Fry sneered. “Cause you’re 79 kilos of gutless white meat. That’s why you can’t think of a better plan!”

Xander snickered at that.

“Is that fucking right?!” Yelled Johns as he pulled out his gun and headed toward Fry only to be stopped by Riddick.

Xander stared at the back of the bald man’s head, his heart filling with dismay. Xander couldn’t believe what he was feeling from Riddick. The man felt protective of Fry, protective like a mate would be to there partner. Xander had to resist his instincts, all he wanted to do was hack Fry up into little chunks and feed her to the lizards. Snarling Xander looked away from the drama that was going on and stared into the darkness, he wasn’t going to watch the pissing contest and watch HIS Riddick be all growly for someone else! Who the hell does Riddick think he is emotionally cheating on Xand-

“Xander what’s going on with you?”

Xander jumped the voice catching him off guard and stopping him mid mental rant, he had been so focused on the dark and ignoring Riddick he had almost forgotten about everything else. Xander sighed. “Nothing Greg. Nothing is going on with me.”

“You’re pouting. What’s wrong?”

Xander glared. “I’m NOT pouting! And there’s nothing wrong! I’m fine there’s no pouting going on here! I’m a none pouting cat!”

“You’re acting like a jealous mate. And just to let you know ALL cats’ pout and give the same glare you’re wearing. That ‘You’re sooooo beneath me why am I talking to you?’ look.” Greg joked. “You’re like your auntie after we mated. She was always snarling at anyone that got too close to me when we first got together.” Then Greg leaned in and whispered into Xander’s ear. “She even tried to slash up that father of yours! He had joked around saying I was good looking enough for a one time romp . . .she had roared like a lioness and went after him with her tail spike! Just lucky that father of yours is fast or he would have a bald spot on the top of his head!”

Xander choked on his own spit. “Not funny comparing me to auntie. It’s nothing! Just hate Fry.”

Greg nodded. “She hates you too. It’s odd I never pegged her for a stupid person?”

“She’s not, she just doesn’t want to be saved by a cat. Milithre are untrustworthy creatures to her. She would rather risk everyone then board my ship. Now if she found the Firefly . . .” Xander shook his head then shrugged.

Xander looked at Greg and had to smile, Greg had steel in his eyes. ‘Looks like there will be a change in leadership.’

“Just don’t overdue it Greg. Your heart is still weak.” Xander smiled at the frown Greg gave him.

“Forget the cells everyone! Lets gather all our lights, we’re heading for Xander’s ship.” Greg said in a strong voice. Most everyone nodded meekly but Fry seemed shocked that he had spoken against her.

“I don’t think I can do that! I can’t trust THAT cat’s word!”

“Then carry your own cells, Fry” Greg said simply and firmly.

**

Taking a deep breath Xander followed the others as they slowly made there way out of the cargo hold. Hearts were beating so loudly Xander could hear the rhythms make a clashing sound against his sensitive eardrums. Boombahboom! Boombahboom! Boombahboom! Boom! BAHBOOM! ‘Like the Jaws theme or a tone deaf child hitting drums.’ Xander almost snickered at his own thoughts. ‘There MUST be something wrong with my head, where have my survival instincts gone? My moral Scooby code?’

Holding his vid pad open Xander clipped it onto Oren’s blanket making the baby shine like a glowworm. At least if something happened the little baby would have a chance at survival. If something happened to Xander at least someone could run along and snatch him up before the creatures. Xander thought of the light as a strong bug repellent and nothing more . . . when not if but when the lizards are hungry enough they’ll brave the burn for a tasty helpless meal. And no one was more helpless then a small child like Oren, at least the others could run.

Huddled together they shuffled along toward the crash ship with Riddick and Johns leading the way. Looking into the dark Xander watched the creatures nip, hiss, and attack one another but always return their eyeless focus back to the survivors. Xander’s vision was nowhere as good as Riddick’s but his was certainly better then a humans. He could see the demons outlines in the night and the gleam of their sharp off white teeth.

Xander barred his own teeth showing off his fangs, unsheathing his tail spike Xander let it sway behind him. All his instincts were screaming at him to abandon the sheep and take his mate, kit, and family to safety. But there must have been some good old droopy Xander Harris left in Prince Alea`xandr` because he was staying put. He didn’t want the others to die, at least not the way Shezza and Zeke did. He didn’t even want ANYONE to go that way . . .Well maybe Fry . . .But no one else! Even though Zeke did shoot at Xander’s kit and Shezza kicked Xander’s hot murderer guy/sex partner/boy friend/mate/lover/cheating bastard/person/ carnal fuck-buddy . . .Xander shook his head, he was getting distracted, he could think about what Riddick was to him after they got off the hell planet of night and man eating lizards! Xander scuffed. ‘Sounds like a bad B movie!’

Shuffling their extremely slow way toward the ship they stopped and let Riddick check inside. Going to the front Xander stood behind Riddick and peered inside the black. Nothing, he could see no danger. “Is it clear?”

Riddick nodded. “It’s clear.”

Slowly they started stepping inside and Johns flashed his light from his gun in but the moment he did a creature crooned. Eyes wide Xander dove for the ground as the creature glided overhead. In the dirt Johns glared with anger flaring in his eyes, but smelled yellow with fear. “Thought you said clear!?”

Riddick shrugged. “Looked clear.”

Johns peeked in the dark but wouldn’t get up from the ground. “What’s it look like now?”

Riddick looked in and smirked. “Looks clear.”

Xander rolled his eyes and hit Riddick lightly with his tail. “Jerk you’re going to make everyone pee themselves.”

Riddick just smirked then reached over and brushed a finger over Oren’s cheek. The baby gurgled and nuzzled at Xander’s chest. “Think he’s hungry pussycat.”

Xander rolled his eyes but was secretly pleased with the leer Riddick was sending his way. ‘God I’m so easy . . .’ He grumbled mentally.

**

Sitting on the floor Xander continued where he left off with the cell and the lights. Wires were everywhere and sparks would fly but Xander was sure he could make it work. The others were doing other things for light but this was the job Xander gave himself. He just had to get the wiring right. It had to work.

It sparked again and Xander had to blow on his singed fingers. If he could just get this right they would have enough light without worry, cell energy was such a bitch to use. Twisting a white and red wire around the cell Xander nearly cried out in surprise when the light blasted on blinding him. Grinning at his accomplishment Xander had to hold himself in check, he really wanted to say something stupid and funny.

Aw what the hell! Who cared if he said something stupid! “LET THERE BE LIGHT!”

Greg snorted. “Sure God.”

Fry stepped up toward Xander and frowned. “How did you do that?”

“Try, try, try, again. Like that little train engine story, ‘I think I can.’ positive mind set. Now we have all the light we need.” Xander said smugly.

Fry made a sour face.

**
Tossing Paris’ now soiled bandana into the darkness Xander picked up his freshly changed ward. Oren’s eyes started closing, and he cuddled into Xander’s arms.

Rocking the baby to sleep Xan gentle placed him in the swaddle and made sure it was tightened securely around the tike. Fiddling with another cell Xander tried to get it to light up like the other one. The more light the group had the better, but Xander lighting up the cell seem to be a one time thing. All the other cells did was sizzle and overload the light bulbs. Greg said it had to do with the power output of the cell and the strength of the lights used. Xander had picked the right cell, right lights, and did the right wiring. Luck, Xander luck.

Xander only got a short hour to work on the cells before Oren woke up demanding food and attention. Xander was just glad he was alone, he didn’t want anyone to watch him wince as Oren fed. The babe sucked hard and it must be Xander’s imagination but he felt the beginnings of teeth chomp on his nipple! Not more then a few days old and the kid already wanted to move around. Oren wiggled like a worm high on energy drinks, and ate more then thrice his weight in milk. Oren definitely had more then human blood running through his little veins.

Tickling the little wigglers exposed belly Xander tucked the baby’s arms into the swaddle. “Stay still or you’ll fall out and hit your big head. And don’t blink those big blue eyes at me, you’re not getting fed again!”

Oren just twisted in his carrier and gurgled.

“Talking to him already kitty? Are his spots coming in yet?” Xander jumped at the unexpected sound of Riddick’s voice so close behind him. He hadn’t really seen the goggle wearing man up close and personal since the dark came. Xander glared at the smirking man.

“What do you want?” Xander wanted to yell at the convict; he had SEEN Riddick checking out Fry, he had FELT the big man’s protectiveness toward her. Had felt his interest in her and had felt her interest in him! Now Riddick had her scent on him, it was only a matter of time before it will be a sex scent instead of just attraction.

“Nothing much.” Riddick said as he took a couple of steps closer to Xander till he was flush against the young man’s back.

Xander stiffened when one of Riddick’s arms wrapped around him. “Why aren’t you trailing behind Fry’s skirt? She shoo you away? Or was she not ready to give it up to you yet?!”

Xander bit his lip and wished he hadn’t said anything. Riddick’s emotions had been unguarded for him to swim through but after he opened his big mouth he could feel that door slam shut. Xander flinched like he had been struck and already he missed that mysterious ocean that was Riddick. Turning around Xander opened his mouth so he could apologize but the convict was already heading down the hall.

“Sorry . . .” Xander mumbled. He sighed and looked down at little Oren who was still wiggling like a beached fish. “Why does everything have to suck? You’re lucky you know? All you have to do is poop and eat while I do all the work!”

Oren gurgled and reached out for Xander’s face, that’s when Xander noticed faint little gray leopard-like spots along the child’s neck, hairline and hands. Touching the soft skin Xander had to wonder why he hadn’t noticed them before!

“Riddick knows what you are doesn’t he?” Xander brushed his fingers over the birthmark-like spots, he was sure they weren’t there yesterday! Oren gurgled again and for a moment Xander thought it sounded like a purr.

***
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