The Darkness Calls

Mercs ship
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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The wait was probably the hardest part for everyone as the ship was slowly pulled into the belly of the beast. Riddick stood calm as a marble statue with his shiv held in a loose grip. The ship was pulled into a vast but dark docking bay and landing gear locked harshly onto the Firefly making everyone stumble as each lock clicked into place. Standing close to Riddick with a hand clutched tightly onto his arm Jack looked at the goggled man beseechingly. “Riddick? What we gonna do, Riddick?”

Going to the control board of the ship Riddick started typing in some commands. Standing at his side Xander looked over his shoulder and raised a brow and pursed his lips. “The fire systems?”

“Camouflage.” The man said simply.

Xander frowned. “The fire system for this craft hasn’t been updated in over 20 years. It’s a 50/50 solution of water and a fire suppressant foam that expands. It’s fine when the gravity is on. It lands on the floor and its weight compresses into an easily disposable gel but without gravity it could take over our whole living space and drown us.” Xander loved the random information that just popped into his head when the time came for it like milithre defense techniques, mental bonds, and ship repair.

“I know. When it’s time move fast.” Riddick typed in a few more commands before he stepped back and spoke to the ship. “Ship activate the fire system the moment I tell you.”

~All commands must be confirmed by Captain Alea`xand`r.~

Riddick looked at Xander and Xander sighed. “Do it ship.”

~Command confirmed.~

Riddick smirked. “Let’s talk to the welcome wagon.” Riddick tipped his head toward the comm. that was beeping insistently in front of him. Opening a channel to talk Riddick calmly introduced himself as Johns the merc. The cold voice on the other line called himself Junner and the disbelief in who he was speaking to bled clearly to the wary group of survivors on the other end of the comm. Whether the wary group of survivors wanted to or not they were going to see the mercs face to face.

Tension is high within the firefly as everyone waits for something to happen as the last of the docking locks went into place. Imam shifted from foot to foot then looked at Xander beseechingly. “What about my children?”

Xander opened his mouth to say something, anything, when Riddick speaks for him. “Leave um where they are.” He growls.

Imam looked shocked and choked on his spittle as he tried to talk/shout, Greg frowned, and the others looked worried. “Riddick?” Xander looked at Riddick questioningly hoping the man’s not asking Xander to abandon the kids he’s worked so hard to keep alive!

“Better where they are, unless you’re planning on using them as meat shields? When I activate the fire alarm find cover and don’t get dead.”

*
Creating a new carrier for Oren out of a clean sheet Xander tucking the baby safely against his chest then put on his tattered robe over that. With the robes the bulk of the baby could hardly be noticed. Shifting the sword and harness also under the robe Xander pulled Shurar Ithrue from its sheath and swiped at the air with it. It made a pleasing sound, high pitched like the ending ring of a bell.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Greg frowned not liking the picture he sees.

“Riddick thinks these guys are going to be trouble. When he starts killing things I’m going to help.” The thought of his mate in danger and fighting without him leaves Xander’s stomach feeling sour. The urge to protect his family is so strong it almost feels like he could drown on it.

Greg’s frown deepened. “You’re going to fight armed men with a sword and a baby strapped to your chest? And they might be trouble but they might not be trouble for us.”

Xander was going to open his mouth and say he fought tougher odds with stranger things strapped to his chest . . . but really he hadn’t. Sunnydale never happened, hellmouths aren’t real, and that life was a dream . . . He is a prince that had been in a coma for most of his life and his fighting experience summed up to milithre defense lessons with his father when he was a child and what happened on the dark planet and what will happen here and now. Xander shook his head. “I can take care of myself and I promise not to do anything stupid. Not with Oren with me. And the might not be trouble for us doesn’t matter. The mercs will be trouble for Riddick so they are for me too. That whole tricky soul mate thing makes Riddick’s problems mine.”

Greg reluctantly nods but still has an unhappy look on his face. “Your father will skin me if you get hurt so no princely heroics. And try to control your protective urges I know they feel very strong at the beginning of the bond but I don’t think that mate of yours needs it right now. We can get healed by you but all we have for you is an out of date med kit.”

Man had a point.
*

Scuffling sounds could be heard on the bay door of the firefly as someone did something to the door. Metal on metal could be heard on the other side as well as the thud of moving feet. The mercs were putting something on the door. Jack hovered close to Riddick and Fry her eyes wide and worried as she looked at the door. “Wha` they do?”

“Hold your breath.” Riddick growled. That was all the warning everyone got as Riddick activated the foam. Foam Shower down around them as a high pitch countdown sounded on the other side of the large gate door. The booming sound of the door blasting off pops Xander’s ears and felt like getting slapped on the sides of the head with large open palms. The blast startled Oren from a light sleep Xander could feel the little body jump against his and kick with distress. Oren whimpered as the change in pressure forced them out of the firefly along with the air and foam and everything not nailed down. Floating in one of the many large balls of foam halfway out of the ship Xander swam though the thick substance as screams and gunfire sounded. Xander surfaced out of the safety of the foam just in time to see Riddick gut another merc, blood arks up from the dead merc like perfect red glass marbles. Riddick floated through the mess of foam, blood, and bodies with ease, in his element among the bullets and screams. He’s like a shark in an ocean built to move, to hunt, to kill, and does it all with a flash of sharp white teeth and blood.

After a moment of hesitation Xander kicked himself into motion and attacked the first merc he came across. His attacks are not as bold as his mate’s he darts in then darts out to safety. With a clean swipe of his sword he cut a merc clean in half the sword barely catching as it slices through the spine and with the flick of his tail injected another with a painful cocktail of poison. The poisoned merc twitched among the chaos and died choking on his own tongue. Back inside the safety of the firefly Xander watches the one man killing spree the awe.

Gathering a gun from one of the many corpses Greg and Fry started shooting wildly unable to get good hits due to lack of gravity. The numbers where just starting to even out when a pale man with a sword started to exchange blows with Riddick. They went at each other with animal grace snapping at the other like vipers eager to sink sharp fangs into vulnerable flesh. Both men seemed evenly matched and Xander was sure such a battle could have gone on for some time if not for two things: Jack and Xander. As per silent agreement Imam was put in charge of Jack and Davi’s safety while everyone else focused on the problem at hand. Jack, the blood thirsty puppy that she was, eagerly joined the others in the free-for-all chaos and ended up with tall pale guy’s gun to her head. Distracted for only a moment as he watched his strong mate fight Xander was taken by surprise when something hit him from behind. A relatively intelligent merc decided to make use of his dead brethren and used one of them to body check Xander. Rocketing across the room with a corpse pressed up against his back Xander curled up around Oren as he headed straight to the wall. He hit hard on his side as his head knocked against metal piping, stars could be seen behind his eyes as pain throbbed through his body. Oren’s startled baby cry slowed the fighting to a standstill just as much as the gun to Jack’s head.

“Lower your weapons and surrender.” Junner, the tall pale guy said coldly to them all but kept his eyes on Riddick. Fry and Greg immediately let go of their guns and Xander let his sword float away from his hand.

Riddick scuffed and did not release his shiv.

Junner narrowed his eyes and pressed his weapon more insistently against Jack forehead. “Your weapon or she dies.” Jack shivered and tears formed in the corner of her eyes. The hope and trust that she put in Riddick to save her was almost too painful for Xander to feel. It tasted like metal in the back of Xander’s throat, it was so strong and full of desperate longing (desperate longing tasted like expired strawberries) it made Xander cough and gag.

Riddick tipped his head to the side and shrugged. Xander could feel nothing from the man. “What makes you think I care?”

The two killers stared at each other for a long moment with Jack’s life hanging between them and for that long moment Xander was afraid Riddick would choose his shiv over the kid that was so damned attached to him. Just as Junner was starting to squeeze the trigger to end Jack’s short life the shiv sailed across the room and imbedded itself in the side of Junner’s weapon. The bright supernova flare of Jack’s relief/happiness and Junner’s smug supposed superiority makes Xander’s stomach roil for some strange reason. Xander clutched at his lower belly and willed back the urge to throw up as they were all circled by armed guards.

***
After having everything that could be considered a weapon taken from them they were all lead down a dark corridor in cuffs. Xander looked at Riddick bound tightly to a metal table and felt his heart pound with trepidation. What were the mercs going to do with them? Everyone was marched down the dark hall even Ali and Hassan safe within their cryo pods were lead deep into the shady bowels of the merc ship.

When they came to a fork in the corridor they stopped. Junner looked at Riddick and sneered. “Lady Chillingsworth would like to meet with you.” With that said Riddick was separated from the others.

“Why did you attack us? Why do you want Riddick?” Fry snarls.

Jack started to struggle against her captors and started yelling. “I’ll find you Riddick! I’ll find you!” The strength within her fondness and possessiveness of Riddick makes Xander dizzy for a second. Xander frowns and starts to worry about the effectiveness of his shields and the crown. Emotions like this shouldn’t cause illness! Xander barely resisted struggling himself and silently wished the mercs hadn’t cuffed his tail to his ankles since he at least wanted to cuff Jack in the head to shut her up. Shut her and her ill making emotions up.

Imam looks at the pods holding his children and Xander could feel a soft wave of love for them wash over him. It taste like cool water and warm chocolate. Xander’s stomach flutters and he still feels like gagging. So it wasn’t just Jack’s scarily strong emotions making him sick. ‘What’s wrong with me?’

**

The cell they were all thrown in is dark and damp and smells strongly of the toilet bolted into the wall. Xander imagines a lot of negative emotion with the smell of human waste but smelling it for real is making his sudden bouts of sickness worse. Very much with the worse! Thankful that the cuffs were taken off his hands and feet Xander hands Oren hastily over to Greg like handing a football over to another player and runs to the corner farthest from the toilet to purge. Xander hacks and gags and spits like it’s going out of style and when he’s done his stomach muscles are still jumping as he stands on weak knees. Imam and Davi are at his side the moment Xander stands and lead him to a bunk to sit on. “Are you alright my friend?” Imam looks Xander over like he’s searching for a bullet wound or something.

Xander wipes at his mouth. “F-fine. Just a little under the weather.”

Fry purses her mouth. “You could have puked in the toilet like a normal person. Now we have to watch our step.”

Just thinking about the toilet made Xander ill. “We would have watched our step anyway. Get over it.”

After twenty minutes of sitting in complete boredom a man with a scanner comes to their cell. “Stand by the bars.” He growls.

No one moves.

“Now!” The merc pulls his gun and fires it at the light above their heads. Oren and Davi start to cry. “Shut them up!” He points the gun at Oren in Xander’s arms who is crying the loudest. Xander curls his body to the side to keep Oren out of the line of fire and hiss’ at the merc as he rocks the startled baby back and forth. Imam immediately starts whispering to Davi as he wraps a comforting arm around his bony shoulders. Davi’s cries stop at a few sluggish tears but Oren is red faced and very unhappy. “I said shut THAT THING UP!” The merc shakes his gun in Xander’s face.

Xander could feel the hair rise on the back of his neck and on his tail the threat to his young stirring the beast within. He could feel his tail jerk against its place chained to his right ankle the urge to strike boiling in his veins. “I’m trying to quiet him. He’s scared and cranky and hungry. He’s just a little baby.” The milithre snarls.

The short merc in dark cloths scowls and cocks his gun. “Shut the spotted brat up or I’ll make it shut up forever.”

Xander narrows his eyes and looks the merc square in his beady mud colored eyes. “Fine.” Xander rips his shirt open down the middle with his claws and exposed the slight swell of his left breast. Gently but swiftly Xander places Oren’s whimpering mouth over the small peek of his nipple. The baby’s pink mouth latches on and gulps noisily. Xander could feel a swell of embarrassment/anger/amusement flow through his being as Oren sucks away happily. Forced to feed his son in front of others while being the center of attention is something Xander never wanted to do but the sight of the mercs mouth hanging open and gun drooping in his hand make it almost worth it. Almost, at least Oren’s not crying.

Turns out the merc wanted to scan their identities. They needed to find out who was worth keeping around. When the scan showed that Xander and Greg are royalty they too were asked to see the leader of the merc ship. They were forced into a brightly lit room with dozens of statues of men and women. Xander shivered and gagged as he entered the room, it felt like walking into a thick soup of rage/hate/fear. Xander clutched Oren to him as he looked at a statue of an angry scarred woman crouching with a curved blade. When the woman’s eyes moved Xander nearly screamed. “Holy shit! They’re all alive!” Now that he knew Xander could feel their individual emotions attacking his shields.

“Exquisite, aren’t they?” A graveled female voice said from a doorway across the room.

Xander swallowed a dry lump in his throat. “Yeah if you like deadly art. They all want your blood on their hands.”

That just seemed to amuse the old pale woman. Her thin lips smiled on a square face that might have been pretty fifty years ago and she laughed. “All of my art is deadly, young prince. So beautiful and passionate! And soon I will have my center piece.” The tall skin and bones woman practically giggles as she pointed at an empty pedestal with the name ‘THE RIDDICK’ in gold lettering on it.

Xander’s breath caught in his throat and he felt his stomach lurch in cold dread. “You c-can’t!” Xander stuttered out before Greg could quiet him.

The woman’s bony pale face snapped toward Xander and her large dark eyes narrowed. “And why can’t I? Riddick is an artist and should be admired forever by those who can see the beauty in his brushstrokes.” The Lady Chillingsworth said calmly but underneath those words Xander could feel a shit load of crazy.

Xander opened and closed his mouth and tried to think of something clever but all that came out was- “Mate! He’s my mate.” Xander wanted to hit himself and from the glare on Greg’s face so did he.

Lady Chillingsworth just laughs and claps. “You’re right! The wording should change. Prince Richard B. ‘The Riddick’ sounds wonderful. More important.” Lady Chillingsworth glided toward a balcony and slithered onto a cream colored lounge sofa and started picking at fruits on a tray. “Now onto important matters.”

The guards behind Xander and Greg poke them with their guns to move them forward. “And what matters would that be?” Greg asks softly.

“Money of course! Tell me, how much would the royal milithre family pay to see you alive and in one piece?” Lady Chillingsworth rests her square chin on her chair and looks at her captives with glittering wild eyes.

Greg’s mouth thins as he asks for a data pad. After writing everything they need to know for contacting the King, crown prince, and the prince general, Greg hands the info over to a smirking Junner. Junner glares at the baby sleeping in Xander’s arms. “What is that thing worth?”

Xander’s arms tighten. “He’s Prince Oren. My son.”

Junner tips his chin up. “And why haven’t there been any word on him?” The sneering man tips his head in Greg’s direction. “The news won’t shut-up about his spawn-lings and they haven’t popped out yet?”

“We didn’t know about him!” Greg stuttered. “They’ll pay for him too.”

Lady Chillingsworth laughs as she beckons Xander forward. “How lovely! A little bastard kitten.” The woman cooed at Oren. Xander wanted to hiss. Lady Chillingsworth smiled and gestured to chairs close to hers. “Come, sit, eat. You must stay and enjoy the show with me.”

Xander was going to ask what she was taking about when the thick purple curtain lifted and showed a large arena and scattered all around it were the other survivors. They all stood balanced on large balls with ropes hanging from their necks. If they lost their balance they could hang themselves. ‘Oh shit.’

Moments before the place is shrouded in darkness Xander and Greg are giving night vision goggles (though Xander’s pretty good without them). A door opens letting in a flicker of light as Riddick steps onto the arena. Lady Chillingsworth grins. “Hmm, yes. It will be breathtaking.” She stands up and holds out a bulky remote control. “Remember Riddick, play by my rules. Show me your talent with the blade.”

Xander narrowed his eyes. “Why is that control important?”

The pale woman laughed softly as she brushed her hand over the black control stick. “Just a little insurance. Can’t have my wild artist of death turning on me. Do not worry pretty cat the bomb will only go off if I wish it so.”

Xander is not really sure what the crazy lady wants Riddick to do? Well he’s not sure till the main doors open letting in two tall glowing tentacle creatures into the arena. “You want Riddick to fight those?”

Junner smirks. “The Shrill are quite deadly. Watch.” Without any warning Junner grabs one of his men and throws him in the pit. The shrill grab him up in their tentacles and sucks him dry.

Xander gasps.

Riddick watches the glowing creatures toss the body aside without a care. Riddick looks up at them and locks eyes with Xander then drags his eyes slowly over to the pale woman. Xander gets the message. Get the controller. Xander has no bout at all that Riddick can get himself out of this cluster fuck all on his lonesome but it makes Xander all warm that he’s asking for a little help. Xander looks around and smiles, the finger food are all poked through with little metal toothpicks. After reaching for a tiny sandwich Xander folds his legs onto his chair as if to get comfortable. Taking the toothpick to the chain on his tail Xander tries to unlock it as they all watch Riddick rush the creatures. With a splash of glowing blood one of the creatures is now missing two tentacles. It shrieks and both glowing creatures go wild as they attack Riddick and push the giant balls around. Jack is knocked off balance and starts to choke before everyone’s eyes. Balancing on his own sphere Imam rolls his way toward Jack and they both stand unsteadily on one ball.

The lock on the chain clicks open and Xander has to resist the urge to wave his liberated tail about. Looking at the distance between him and the crazy lady Xander makes his move. Whipping his tail up Xander splashes a spray of acid from his bone spur. Many scream in pain and it’s music to Xander’s ears. When his fingers wrapped around cold metal Xander tossed it to where Riddick was standing and watched the man easily catch it for a second before he was on the run again. The mercs were pissed and recovering from Xander’s attack so Xander wanted to be out of the room. Grabbing Greg by the arm Xander bolted for the nearest exit like a wet cat trying to get out of the rain. Gun fire and then the jarring sound of an explosion followed him on his way out.

Running down one dark hall after another Xander followed his pull toward Riddick. “We should find a sh-ship!” Greg panted.

Xander shook his head. “We should regroup first. Riddick will find a ship.”

“Why do you have so m-much confidence in him?” Greg stumbled and clutched at his chest.

Xander pulled them into a dark corner and looked at the man with concern. “You ok?”

Greg leaned against the dirty wall. “Fine. It was just a little twinge.”

“Why shouldn’t I have confidence in Riddick? He’s my mate.”

Greg shrugged. “Plenty of people have left their mates to die before. The word mate might mean a whole lot to you but might not mean shit to him. Just don’t want you to invest too much of yourself on a convict.”

Xander glared at Greg as he stood up and peeked out of their hiding place. “Riddick will never leave me.”

Greg sighed. “I just don’t want to see you hurt.”


They were getting closer to where Riddick was Xander could feel it in his bones. They were just turning down another dank hall when an insistent feeling told Xander to hide. Something ravenous and wild and huge was heading their way. Pulling Greg behind some large slimy pipes Xander waited quietly for whatever it was to pass.

A monster of at least fifteen feet made of metal, leathery wrinkled skin, and teeth lumbered by. It looked like god’s drunken mistake and smelled like the dead end of a cow and as it lumbered by Xander felt a wave of bloody and starving emotions like a putrid wave. Xander could not control the urge to vomit and gag but kept it quiet as the thing passed. “What the hell was that?” Xander whispered.

“A hunter quester beast. Eats anything in its path and is always hungry.” Greg peeked out of their hiding place like it was going to sneak up on them.

“It’s gone. There’s no way we wouldn’t notice its smell.” Xander looked down the hallway the beast went and the direction he could feel Riddick in. “Let’s go find a ship like you said.”

“Thought you wanted to find your mate?”

Xander tilted his head to the side. “I’m getting a vibe from him and he’s telling me to move my ass in the other direction. Riddick don’t need help.” Xander looked in the direction he felt Riddick was in wistfully.

“Right.” Greg lead the way to the next escape hatch.

Getting to the next deck was difficult without being seen since they couldn’t take the elevators or the main passages. They found an emergency ladder that went up and followed the simple picture maps welded into the wall to figure out where they were. They were just climbing up to deck seven then they heard familiar voices. Xander climbed onto that deck and peeked through the small window on the door. “Imam! Davi!” Xander sees them starting to turn a corner. Opening the electronic door Xander rushes to their side. “Are you all ok? Where’s Riddick?”

“He ran! Left us so he could lead those damn mercs and the monster away!” Jack yelled as she stopped in front of Xander. “We gotta help him!” Jack’s panic and possessiveness was an unwelcome and intense attack, like opening ones front door and finding a bear munching on the family pet. Stepping back from the emotionally charge teenager Xander kept Imam’s more ordered mind between them like a wall.

“He told us to find a ship and that he would meet us there.” Fry scowled at Xander. “Still yakking fur balls?”

Xander frowned at her as he shifted Oren in his carrier. “Do you know where the mercs put Ali and Hassan? I’m not leaving um here.”

Imam looked at Xander hopefully. Gently unhooking Oren’s sling from around his shoulders Xander looped it over Greg’s. “Watch him for me and don’t get yourself shot.”

“What?” Greg blinked as he cradled the sleeping quiet infant. “Where the hell are you going? You’re not going without me!”

“Yes I am. You are having more heart trouble and need to lay low. I’m going to get the boys and I sense a lot of mercs there. So you go find a ship and lay low.” Xander said as he pointed a finger at the older man.

“You will need assistance. One person cannot work the controls of two hover pods easily. I will go with you.” Imam said.

“Me too!” Jack yelled as she bounced on her heels.

“No! You all find a safe place to hide I’ll go with the cat.” Fry says with a scowl. Xander looked at the woman and could feel something dark and eager growing within. He shifted feeling suddenly wary in the blond’s presents.

“I can manage myself.” Xander shifted and clinched his hands as he wistfully wished for his sword.

“Don’t be stupid. I’m coming.” Fry’s eyes glittered.

**

Xander was hyper aware of Fry at his back, he felt like he was being stalked by a vampire. He could feel her eyes and every instinct within him was saying to face her and not take his eyes off her. He could feel the small thick claws in his fingers extend in preparation for whatever was going to happen. He could smell it on her, her hostility, like a thick cheap perfume.

So Xander was alert and prepared and jumpy so when a shot echoed down the hall from them in true cat form Xander jumped 3ft in the air and nearly bolted. Fry choked back a scornful chuckle. Another shot rang out and the sound of the bullet pinging off the walls echoed down the hall. “I feel Ali and Hassan down this hall. Real close.” Xander said softly.

“Lead the way.” Fry said sarcastically.

They peeked into a room to find two mercs using the cryo pods for target practice. A merc with dreadlocks and a harry face took a swig from a brown bottle as he shot at Hassan’s pod. The bullet hit the glass and created a spider web crack. “Look Gip! Almost shot through! These were good made sleeper boxes!” The man hiccupped then laughed.

The other man was tall and skinny and very pale like those who never touched planet side. The man moved easily within the lighter gravity of the ship and would probably suffer if he ever went on a big planet with normal gravity. The man looked like a strong puff of air would knock him over, the man’s form is skeletal with slender ropey muscle wrapped around it. Gip took a gulp from his own bottle of spirits and lazily took aim at Ali’s cryo pod. “I kinda feel sorry for um little un’s. Them’s gonna be shrill food if day liv a bit more. Better day conk out now den ‘ater as glowy squid munch.” He fired at where Ali’s head was under the glass.

Harry face laughed. “You have too much heart for a merc, Gip! Old Rhino just likes shooting at stuff. I don’t give a shit if these little brownies get munched by duh shrill. Those glow bugs need to eat too.” He shot again this time at the control pad of Hassan’s pod. The pods alarm sounded. “Ooo! Looky! I hit something vital!”

Gip scuffed. “Didn’ know ya knew wha vital means, Rhino. Da hookers on da Gamma moons teach ya?”

“Fook you! I learned things plenty before I left school. At least I learned on a big planet so I don’t talk like a hick from a tiny rock!”

Xander didn’t think he acted. As soon as Hassan’s pod started making noise Xander launched himself at the mercs. He lashed out with his tail the hard skin incased mace thudding powerfully against flesh and bone. Fry picked up one of the mercs guns and fired it. The sound was loud in the room and stilled those fighting. Fry narrowed her eyes and pointed the gun at the people on the floor. “Get up!”

The two mercs looked at her with wary eyes as they stood in front of her. With the mercs no longer a threat Xander went right to the pods. Xander cursed as he checked the stats, both pods were severely damaged. Typing away Xander put in the awakening command for Ali’s pod then went to Hassan’s to see what he could do. Sparks jumped from the pod and loose wires were hot. Xander tried to type in the command for it to open but it was jammed. Snarling in helplessness Xander tried to pry the pod open with his bare hands and it wouldn’t budge. Clawing at the cracks in the glass Xander tried to pull the lid apart as the cryo tube lost power like a bucket with too many holes. Xander could feel Hassan’s life force inside the pod like an abused plant finally taking root again after so long on deaths door, Xander did not want to lose the kid here.

Click.

Xander stilled in his work of prying the thick glass off the pod as the barrel of a gun pressed against the back of his head. Xander held his breath as he turned around. “Fry?”

“I can’t let you wreck everything.” She said coldly.

“Don’t do this. Not right now. Hassan’s going to die if we don’t get him out. You know how damaged pods work. It will pull Hassan under with it.”

Fry scuffed. “From all your talk before Hassan is a lost cause. You’re just trying to trick me!”

Xander held his hands up and pressed himself back against the dying pod. “I’m not. Hassan can survive long enough to reach the ship and another pod if we get him out in time!”

Fry looked at the pod with the sleeping boy inside then at Xander her eyes uncertain. “You’re lying!”

Xander shook his head. “No, you’re killing him right now! Fry this isn’t you. You’re selfish yeah but you wouldn’t do this to a kid if you were right in the head. What you feel for him Fry is not real. Not really.” Xander said in a pleading voice as he slowly walking sideways leading the woman way from the pods.

Fry narrowed her eyes. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Riddick. You feel my bond with him. Your sensitive to it and can feel our connection. I know you feel something for Riddick because you went back for him and saved his life. You’re attracted to him who wouldn’t be! But that connection you feel is not yours it’s mine.”

Fry grit her teeth. “Bullshit!” She snarled as she fired.

Xander tried to evade the shot but felt the white hot pain of the bullet biting into his arm. Xander ran for cover. Climbing up into the heavy piping with the grace of a cat Xander hid in the shadows. “You feel so strongly for my mate because you were born from a milithres body. It’s not your fault for feeling like this.” Xander ducked down when another shot was fired. He crawled along the pipes and moved deeper into the shadows.

“No! How I was born has nothing to do with this! This is real! Real!” Fry hissed as she waved the gun around wildly.

“It’s my bond with Riddick you feel. If you would just close yourself off to it you would feel it is not yours.” Xander gritted out as he hid behind a bulkhead.

“Riddick is mine!” Fry snarled as she bared her teeth at where Xander’s voice was echoing from.

“How so?”

“I saved him! He’s mine!” She screamed as she shot her weapon into the darkness, bullets pinging off pipes and railing.

“Really? Well I saved you does that make you mine? Hell I saved them by picking them up on the sol-track shipping lane! Do I own them? I must own everyone in our group by your way of thinking!” Xander taunted as he slipped out of his safe corner to a safer one. Now right above Fry he prepared to jump when she whorled around and fired at Xander. Xander gasped and fell to the floor with a loud thud. Xander groaned and clutched at his shoulder as blood started pouring out. “You, bitch!”

Fry panted as she held the gun in a shaky hand and pointed it at Xander’s head. “He’ll want me if I get rid of you. I can be like him and we can be happy.”

Xander closed his eyes tight as Fry got ready to pull the trigger. He waited a moment but the gun didn’t fire and the pain of a head shot didn’t come. Fry made a choked sound as the gun slipped from her hand. Xander opened his eyes and looked at her with confusion. Fry slipped to the floor revealing Riddick and his bloody shiv. “Can’t leave you alone for a minute can I, pussycat?

Xander let out a relieved sigh. “Riddick.”

**
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MoonKat: I hope you all like it! If you see an error you can't live with tell me and I'll try and fix it! ^_^ Tell me what you think!

!!!Teaser!!!

“What’s this?” Riddick looked at Xander with narrowed silver eyes as he held out Xander’s vid.

“What’s what?” Xander took it from the stiff man and looked over what was on the screen. Xander’s family and Xander’s name in big bold letters. Shit. “I can explain-”

“When were you going to tell me you are some fucking PRINCE?” The silvered eyed man snarls.

!!!Teaser!!!

MoonKat:Good thing I'm the writer and know what happens next or I'd be strangling me for such a short teasing teaser. *Grin*