Disclaimer: Do not own Riddick or his world, recognizable characters and make no profit. Warning: Contains foul language, violence, gore, sexual situations, character death. Also, Riddick might be a little OOC and it get's pretty sappy in parts. I appologize beforehand. Anyway...on with the show...

Pitch Black Fan Fiction

Part One: Touch-See

Chapter One: Recovery

The wreckage of the Hunter-Gratzner lay strew across miles of the deserted planet. Twisted heaps of metal lay half buried in the sand surrounded by scattered pieces of personal property and necessary equipment. The survivors were on high alert since the criminal that was being transported with them had gone missing. He had been located in the bowels of the wrecked ship and subdued, chained to a metal girding, but somehow he had escaped and disappeared into the unforgiving desert. There had been talk about him, this man with the silver eyes. He was bad, as bad as they come, and considered now to be another hazard in their already dire plight. Cadence didn't care for all the talk about the escaped convict, he was the least of her worries. She tugged repeatedly at the long sleeves of her shirt, absentmindedly hoping they would somehow grow longer and produce coverage for her bare hands. Cadence pulled away a heavy piece of wreckage with a loud grunt of exertion, tossing the misshapen metal aside angrily. She smiled and lifted the lid of a box that seemed familiar. Cadence tore into the contents, tossing them about in her mad search. "FUCK!" She screamed in frustration as she slammed the lid down again. Son of a bitch! Where are my fucking gloves! I never should've taken them off before going into cryo! The internal mental argument with herself only fuelled her rage further. "Everything okay?" A female voice said behind her. Cadence stood quickly, a little alarmed by the intrusion. It was the female docking pilot, a stern looking woman with a slender figure and short blonde hair. She seemed tough and no nonsense, probably a lot stronger than she looked, too. For a moment, Cadence couldn't recall her name, her mind still on her missing gloves. "Uhhh….yeah, fine. Looking for…glo…never mind." Cadence answered her, still in quite a huff. The woman cocked her head for a moment, as if reading the lie on Cadence's face. To her relief, the woman shrugged her shoulders and ascended the ladder behind her. Cadence sighed with frustration. Gotta remember not to touch anybody. She warned herself.

Cadence ascended the ladder shortly after her, having given up on her search for her gloves. There was no point, really, it was likely they'd all die here anyway especially if they didn't find water. Cadence pulled her way onto the platform above, her foot catching on the metal floor, causing her nearly to fall. A strong hand caught her by the arm and pulled her forward. She glanced up into a pair of chilly, blue eyes. "Careful." the man said with a slight southern drawl. Cadence wrested herself from his grasp, grateful for her long sleeves. "Don't touch me!" She snarled, stepping away from the man as she eyed him with her dark eyes. The man raised his hands as if being placed under arrest. "Okay, suits me just fine." The blonde haired man turned abruptly and disappeared through a wall of wreckage. Cadence shivered for a moment, despite the intense heat of the planet. That man reeks of darkness. Cadence had sensed him before, she reached out with her mind and felt for his aura. It was a blue-black ring that radiated from him in waves like an oil slick. Cadence had told herself to keep a safe distance from him.

A group had gathered outside, preparing for the long trek to try and locate water. The holy man and his three boys were going, along with the docking pilot and the blue eyed man with the dark aura. Cadence watched the blonde haired woman for a moment, suddenly recalling her name. Carolyn Fry, that's it! Cadence smiled proudly to herself, although it faded as she caught sight of her new nemesis. Johns. She recalled, glancing at the name on his uniform. There's a head I wouldn't mind getting inside of. What the fuck makes you tick? Cadence wondered, however the thought of searching around the man's head made her shutter. Probably best she didn't go there unless absolutely necessary. Cadence watched the group as she stepped out of the hole rendered by the crash in the side of the ship. Suddenly everyone was staring in different directions in complete awe. Cadence followed suit, slowly stepping away from the ship. Three suns! Well, fuck me! Cadence let the thought drift through her mind without actually voicing it. There were children present, after all; even though at least three of them wouldn't have understood what she was saying. Johns grumbled something to Fry and the group began to head out. Cadence eyed the man through narrow slits, practically nauseated at the image of the blue-black waves that trailed after him. I hope they're safe with him. She thought to herself feeling a pang of fear in her heart.

The rest of the survivors were of little interest to Cadence. Most of them she could read like a book. Paris, the so called antiques dealer, was a petty and cowardly man who probably smelled of mothballs, although Cadence had never gotten that close to him. The dark haired woman, Shazza and her husband Zeke seemed tolerable enough. They worked studiously despite the gnawing fear of the convict that was ever on their minds. The only real curiosity was the boy, Jack. Clearly a run away, the boy had stuck at Shazza's side since the crash and Cadence had little time to observe him. There was something odd, though. Cadence searched the aura, spinning waves of blue radiated off of him in varying shades and hints of gold intermingled. Odd aura for a boy. Cadence considered.

Paris had seated himself atop the ship, living on his own little island of luxury with an umbrella for the sun, a bottle of probably expensive wine, and a cigar. Prick. Cadence considered to herself as she strolled by. Paris glared at her from beneath the bottom rim of his glasses. "Where are you off to?" He asked her in a haughty voice. Cadence paused, rolling her eyes. "I'm gonna go look for the convict, wanna join me?" She said sarcastically. Paris didn't return with an answer and Cadence took it as a sign she had put him in his place. Cadence wasn't searching for the convict, even if she found him she wouldn't know what to do with him. She certainly wasn't going to kill him, even if she thought she could. Too bad I'm not a mover. That'd give 'em all something to talk about. Cadence considered to herself. The idea of moving random objects around with her mind or even pushing Paris off his high seat pleased her immensely. I could have a lotta fun with that. She suddenly found she couldn't keep her mind off the murderer that everyone was abuzz about. What was his name? Cadence searched her memory, already so full she thought her brain ought to explode. Riddick, I think that's what they called him. Cadence had seen him, briefly, in his glass cage and again after he had been chained to the girder. She hadn't gotten a good reading off of him, only a sense of danger, chaos and power. For some reason, the thought of him didn't fill her with dread, only vague curiosity. Cadence certainly wasn't as afraid of him as she was of Johns.

Cadence needed to get away from people. Without the protection of her gloves, other humans made her very nervous. One touch and they would know and her life would be in jeopardy. She wasn't sure how long she'd sat on the hot sand before a loud sound awoke her from her reverie. She instantly realized it was a gunshot. Maybe they got him. Sad, really. Cadence thought as she scrambled to her feet and rushed back to the crumpled ship. The sight was shocking, Shazza stood with her face covered in blood, beside her Paris and Jack. Zeke had dropped the pistol as she heard Jack yell that it was only a survivor from the ship. Cadence ducked back into hiding before they saw her. She felt a strange pull and looked at the top of the wreckage Paris had been sitting on. A muscular, bald man in dark goggles sipped idly at a bottle of wine. Cadence found her mouth tug into a smile. It faded quickly as the man's head turned slightly, cocking to the side in a quizzical fashion. Had he seen her? Cadence backed away further, hoping to slip out of his view, but when she looked up again he had disappeared.

Zeke dragged the body toward the mass grave he had been digging for hours. It wasn't long before a series of screams and gunshots rang in the air. Cadence's ears twitched and she rushed from her hiding spot as Shazza dashed away across the sand. Cadence followed suit, far behind the others who had followed Shazza toward the desperate plight of her husband. The hole was empty save for splatters of dripping blood. Above the hole, Riddick stood and turned tail, a sharp blade held in his hand. Shazza gave pursuit assuming this was the monster that had killed her husband. Cadence found herself suddenly alone, beside the bloody hole. Her stomach churned as she surveyed the gory scene. Something didn't feel right. Cadence leaped into the hole and slowly approached the small tunnel through which it was believed Zeke's body could be found. Cadence reached out, placing her fingers in the blood. A jolt of energy shot through her. She could feel terror, pain, a plea for life. Cadence jerked her hand back, wiping the blood on her pants. Whatever happened to Zeke, a human didn't do it.

Riddick had been caught in his attempt to escape and was chained in the bowels of the wrecked ship. Cadence crouched above the ladder, listening to the conversation below. Fry wanted answers about the murder, but Riddick toyed with her. She said there was a debate about leaving him to die before asking to see his eyes. Riddick coaxed her closer, before there was a sudden sound of chains straining against the metal that held them in place. Cadence leaned her ear closer, trying to remain hidden. "Where can I get eyes like that?" Jack asked. "You gotta kill a few people first." Riddick's deep voice. "Okay, I can do that." Jack again. "Then you gotta get sent to a slam where they say you'll never see daylight again. You track down a doctor and pay him twenty menthol Kools to do a surgical shine job on your eyes." Riddick taunted. "So you can see who's sneakin' up on you in the dark." Jack beamed. Fry suddenly yelled something and Jack scrambled up the ladder. Cadence held her breath as the kid whizzed passed. Cadence stopped listening to the conversation below, but heard reference to Riddick not being the most dangerous thing on the planet. That's an understatement. Cadence thought to herself, recalling the incident with the blood. The sound of Fry's receding footprints brought Cadence from her hiding spot and down the ladder.

Cadence hung onto the rung above her head with her feet planted firmly on the floor. She studied him from a distance. Riddick's bald head suddenly turned to her, a quick movement that reminded her a little of a bird. He cocked his head again, his metallic eyes shining in the shadows. Cadence stood her ground, her expression indifferent. "Are you afraid of me?" He asked in a voice that sounded distinctly like thunder. Cadence pulled herself away from the ladder and strolled confidently toward him. "No. Should I be?" She said in a lilting voice. Riddick's lips turned up in a slight smile. She had an accent, British, but tried to cover it up. "Everyone else here is terrified, they all want me dead for somethin' I didn't do. Story of my life." He responded, suddenly looking somewhat sullen. Cadence managed a small smile. "Been there, done that." Cadence said cryptically. Riddick glanced up at her, his silver eyes piercing into her like glinting daggers. Cadence was locked in his gaze for a moment, but tore herself away. She reached into her pocket and retrieved a piece of rolled up gauze and a small bottle of antiseptic. She poured a little of the liquid onto the gauze and slowly reached up toward Riddick's arm. He had only minor cuts and scrapes, but it seemed the kind thing to do. "Who are you?" Riddick inquired of the pretty young woman who was so carefully tending to wounds that didn't necessarily need care. "Cadence Raines and you are?" Cadence responded; she already knew Riddick's name but wanted to see if there was more than just one part of it or if it was a first or last name. Riddick's lips curved again, this woman was quite pleasing. "Richard B. Riddick. Convict, murderer. I'd shake your hand but I'm a little tied up at the moment." Cadence fought back laughter at his little bit of humor.

Cadence had moved closer to his shoulder, seeing to a rather large scrape that stretched over the muscle. Riddick leaned forward, close to her long, brown hair and inhaled deeply. She smelled of sweat and earth and….fear. Cadence pressed carefully against the injury, ensuring her skin didn't come into contact with his. "I thought you weren't afraid of me." Riddick said teasingly. Cadence lowered her hand and stepped back. "I'm not. I'm afraid of me." She answered matter-of-factly. Riddick studied her for a moment, his brow furrowed. What the fuck does that mean? He thought to himself. Clearly this attractive, slender girl was not the most dangerous thing on the planet. Riddick had seen what happened to Zeke; whatever had done it even had him worried. He had to think about his own survival, the hell with the rest of these people. They didn't give two shits about him and for Riddick the feeling was mutual.

Cadence let her eyes meet Riddick's silver gaze, no longer concerned about their intensity. She reached out with slender, invisible tendrils from her mind's eye, searching his aura. It was nearly as penetrating as he was, a swirling mass of black and red with shards of light that forked off in odd directions like daggers of white hot fire. DAMN! Cadence thought to herself, feeling oddly dizzy as she broke her concentration from him. Cadence leaned against a pile of haphazardly heaped equipment behind her, holding her head and steadying herself. She cursed inwardly to herself at the sign of weakness she had shown in front of him. Riddick cocked his head, his eyes almost showing something that seemed to be detached concern. "Everything okay in there?" He asked, trying to maintain his slightly aloof demeanor. Cadence shook the disorientation away and stood away from the crates. "Yeah. Magnetic fields in this place are kinda wacky. Made me a little…whatever." Cadence desperately wanted to get off the subject, but Riddick kept looking at her as if she were gonna collapse and die at his feet. "I know you didn't kill Zeke. It really wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out, you're just a convenient scapegoat." Cadence said quickly, sighing with relief in the change on Riddick's face. Riddick's face remained passive, devoid of emotion. "Like I said, story of my life." For a moment he almost sounded sad, or at least frustrated. "There's something in that hole….something….dangerous." Cadence said, in a quiet and almost dreamy voice as if she were saying it out loud to herself. Riddick jerked his head in her direction, his eyes narrow and contemplating. Cadence met his gaze and realized she had to give him some kind of answer that would not draw too much attention to herself. "I could feel them, moving around in there. Predators in the worst way." What she told him was essentially the truth, but it was a vague enough answer that she hadn't put herself in any kind of danger.

Chapter Two: Revelations

There was a loud commotion outside of the damaged ship as Shazza, The Holy Man, Fry, Jack and Johns returned from their investigation into the hole. From what Cadence could hear, they found something unpleasant and knew that their time in the planet would have to draw to a close soon. Cadence found herself smiling for some reason, either because her intuition had been right or because now Riddick would have to be exonerated. They debated amongst themselves about the best course of action to take, which involved more arguing than actual conversation, especially where Riddick was concerned. Shazza and Paris wanted to leave him chained up for the monsters in the hole while the rest went on to the mining settlement. Johns yelled something barely audible from where Cadence was standing followed by "He's my prisoner, it's my decision." Cadence ducked into the shadows as Johns stormed into the ship for a little heart to heart with the chained man.

Cadence could hear the southern accent of Johns from below her as she listened in on the conversation. She was getting quite good a spying and since everyone else pretty much ignored her no one had noticed. "You will work without chains, without bit and without shivs." Johns' chilly voice wafted up through the ship to Cadence's ears. There was more to the conversation but Cadence missed it in favor of a distraction from outside. A sudden gunshot made Cadence jump slightly and she silently made her way to the ladder, descending quietly. "Remember how this coulda gone and didn't" Johns growled, lowering the shotgun to his side. Riddick's bonds were cut and he glared menacingly at the blonde haired man. Quick as lightning, Riddick tore the gun from Johns' grasp, aiming it at his face. He threatened Johns in his deep voice, forcing the gun closer to his face. A soft sound drew Riddick's eyes in Cadence's direction. Locked in the shadows, only he could see her. Softly she shook her head, willing Riddick to put down the weapon. Don't be the thing they all think you are. Johns will get his. As if he had read her mind, an impossibility since she would have sensed the mental invasion, Riddick shoved the gun into Johns' arms. "Remember how this went." He growled before storming into the darkness.

Johns was visibly shaken by the interaction, a subtlety others may have not picked up on. Cadence flexed her hands for a moment, this was her chance to find out more about the man who instilled so much fear in her. She crept up to him slowly, as if he were some wild beast that may run or turn on her. Johns turned his head quickly, obviously surprised to see the young woman approaching him with such confidence when she had shown nothing but bitter hatred for him before. Cadence inhaled and placed a hand on his arm. A jolt flew through her as she made the connection. Cadence let her mind dance inside his, searching….seeking. Fuck Riddick….not worth my time….leave him….kill him. Cadence wanted to pry her finders from his arm, they nearly burned at the touch, but she had to keep up the illusion that this was an act of kind support, not an invasion of his personal thoughts. "Are you okay?" Cadence asked, forcing back the bile that had settled in her throat. Johns pulled out of her grasp, leaving Cadence rather grateful. "Yeah." He said gruffly as he brushed passed her and made his way toward the ladder. Cadence waited momentarily setting the newly acquired information in her mind. If this man had his way, Riddick would not be leaving this planet at all.

The group gathered what they would need for the long trek ahead. The skiff Fry had found would be operational if they could get the power cells to it, the ones Riddick was currently dragging across the hot sand. Jack complained about wanting to talk to Riddick, and was denied. Poor kid. Cadence thought wistfully to herself. Seeing Riddick's powerful body dragging the cells behind him, which combined weighed more than she did, made Cadence's lip curl into a small smile. I need to get my head on straight, no distractions. Even ones that look like that. She considered. Paris walked a little behind Cadence and cursed as his bottle of Shiraz fell from his grip. He turned back for it but found someone else already had their hand on it. Riddick cocked a smile as he introduced himself formally to the tiny man in the most vulgar way possible before draining the rest of the bottle. Cadence had to do everything in her power not to laugh. She dropped back slowly, passing a seething Paris and Riddick in turn. Riddick gave her a sideways glance, but pressed on. Cadence trailed behind for a few feet, before making a nonchalant stroll passed Riddick. "He's gonna kill you." She whispered softly, her voice no more than a ghostly sound. Cadence felt Riddick ought to know what Johns was up to, she had no idea why she was doing this, just that she had to. Riddick narrowed his gaze as she passed, wondering what on this deserted shithole she was talking about.

The mining settlement was completely deserted and looked as if it had been for a long time. Personal property littered the rooms and lined dusty shelves as if the settlers had simply vanished from sight in a singular moment. Cadence strolled carefully, observing the surroundings with a critical eye. Everyone was busy discussing how to get the skiff to work and get rescued. Cadence wasn't completely convinced that was going to happen. Cadence pulled a pair of broken spectacles out of the sand and brushed them clean with her thumb. The whole place had felt like fear and death since she'd set foot here. Cadence closed her eyes and let the final impressions left on the object give her some impression of what may have occurred here. It was much harder with objects than with people, but it was probably the only way of getting answers. Her hands trembled as she fondled the fragile things. Fear…pain…death…darkness… light, where is the light! Cadence tossed the thing to the ground and rubbed her fingers as if they had been burned. It wasn't really that far from the truth. "What are you doin'?" Johns' gruff voice came from her left. Cadence turned to him, not even trying to hide the hate in her eyes. "Investigating." she grumbled as she stormed passed him. She really hated that man.

When Jack appeared with a newly shaved head and a pair of broken goggles, the kid did more than turn a few heads. Cadence was unsurprised, Jack was suffering from a bad case of hero worship. The curious aura that extended out from the child's form pulsated with radiant energy, stronger than before. Jack deposited her empty water glass on the table and stormed out of the room, slightly disgusted with the comment Paris had made. Cadence followed the bald headed kid out, curiosity having gotten the better of her. She reached out and took hold of Jack's shoulder, letting her finger touch the bare skin at the nape of the neck. "Hey…ummm….don't let them get to ya. I think it looks great." Cadence said with more confidence than she actually felt. Jack smiled at her, green eyes sparkling, before running off in search of the mysterious Riddick. Jack's a girl! The reality struck Cadence like a ton of bricks. She sensed fear in the girl; and pain. There was something deeper, too, an agonizing secret that had sent her skittering to the fated Hunter-Gratzner and possibly fueled her fascination with Riddick. She needs to be protected, even if only from herself.

Cadence knew she was treading on thin ice having used her powers twice and for slightly selfish means. It was only for her own curiosity, nothing very dangerous, but an invasion of the mind is still an invasion of the mind. Mind rape, that's what some people called it. Cadence knew if she continued there was a good chance someone would catch on to what she was and she would probably surpass Riddick as public enemy number one. She was worth something to somebody dead, and worth a whole lot more alive. A ruckus in the coring room drew Cadence's attention, she heard screams and dashed in the direction of the sound. By the time she arrived, everyone was beginning to file out, more urgent than ever to get out of there. Cadence's chest felt tight, she took a pull from her breather. Riddick leaned against the wall, his chest heaving with every intake of breath, and Cadence suddenly realized he was the only one among them who didn't have a breather. Cadence entered the room as Johns brushed passed her. She glanced at him momentarily and saw him eyeing her specutively. It sent a shiver up her spine. Eager to put as much distance between herself and the man, Cadence approached Riddick's imposing form. "Here, looks like you need this." Cadence said as she pulled the breather from her shoulder and handed it to him. Riddick let a wisp of a smile curve his lips. "You need it more than I do." He said deeply. Cadence managed a smile. "I'll be fine for a little while, just give it back later." This woman was starting to intrigue Riddick more and more. He found himself wondering what went on in her head when she looked at him and even what it would feel like to touch her. Cadence held the breather out to him and Riddick decided to end his own curiosity as he took hold of the hose, brushing his finger along Cadence's slender hand. A jolt passed through her and she jerked her hand back suddenly, her eyes wide with sudden fear. "Still not afraid of me?" Riddick teased her further. "N..No. I, ummm, hurt my hand earlier, it's nothing." Cadence tried to recover from the brief mental assault, but knew from the momentary connection that Riddick was a very smart man. The look in his eyes told her he didn't believe her. "Okay, lemme see it." Riddick reached out for her and she recoiled as if his hand were a viper. "No!" She snapped. "It's fine." Cadence turned around and fled the room in the same direction she had entered.

Riddick wrapped the breather around his shoulder and strolled out quietly with soft, predator-like footfalls. He didn't know how, but he seemed to be drawn in whatever direction Cadence had gone. He sniffed the air for her familiar scent, but it wasn't that that had drawn him to her side. Cadence was crouched between the coring room and it's adjoining neighbor. "Stupid! Stupid! I'm so fucking stupid!" Cadenced cursed to herself, her head in her hands. "Your hand's not hurt, is it?" Riddick said with an air of confidence as he leaned against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. He almost looked like a parent scolding a child. Cadence's head fell again, shielding the look of utter defeat on her face. Her shoulders began to shake as sobs overtook her. Cadence didn't cry often, she had no use for it, but she may have just signed her own death warrant. Riddick was completely confused and at odds as to what to do. He could just ignore her and let her cry to herself, after all he wasn't big on consoling people. For some odd reason, he felt tied to her, like an invisible chain drew him to her and wouldn't let him leave. Riddick crouched down beside her, studying her through his goggled eyes. When he tried to place a hand on her shoulder, she jerked away, lifting her tear streaked face to his. Riddick's own face was a mask of resoluteness, urging forth a confession. "Care to tell me what the hell is going on?" His voice rumbled in the narrow confines. Cadence sighed, resolved to tell him whatever he wanted to know. Riddick was an odd soul, and from the brief touch she felt a strange desire to trust him completely. Maybe he'll keep my secret. Maybe I'll be safe.

Cadence choked back the last of her sobs, trying with all her might to steady her trembling hands. "If I tell you my secret, you MUST promise it stays between us! If anyone else found out I'm as good as dead!" It wasn't the words that caught Riddick by surprise, but the but the pleading conviction in her voice. There was one thing he already knew for certain, Cadence was terrified. Riddick nodded his agreement, he was VERY good at keeping secrets. Cadence closed her eyes and sighed deeply before she spoke. "I…I'm different than other people. I have…abilities. If I touch someone I connect with them, I can read their thoughts, memories, emotions. I'm what they call a touch-see." Cadence paused for a moment, wanting to try and read Riddick's face for a clue as to what he thought of her confession. He only cocked his head in a quizzical fashion. "I'm a psychic. There are lots of people out there like me. Regular people who just evolved into something more. Unfortunately, just being….special…is a death sentence. We are hunted in all corners of the universe like animals, locked up, experimented on. There are even rumors of dissection. The group responsible for this is the Organization for Research and Authority of Cognitive Level Entities, more commonly known as O.R.A.C.L.E. They send their Witchhunters after us and…." Cadence's voice trailed off, tears stinging her eyes again. She recalled a young boy, a telepath, she had known years ago who had disappeared and was never heard from again. He had been her friend and now she could barely recall his name. Riddick felt a growl escape his chest, the rumbling sound made Cadence jump. He was no stranger to being hunted, but knowing that Cadence would certainly meet death should SHE be captured made something stir within him.

Riddick wanted desperately to say or do something. He had no idea what, there was a human side of him that saw a frightened crying girl who needed him and the animal side that just wanted to get the hell outta there and save his own ass. "Don't worry about me. I ain't gonna tell anybody." He slowly rose to his feet, towering over her. "Your secret is safe with me." Cadence felt the truth in his voice, the assurity with which he spoke thrummed off of him like a soft echo of energy. Riddick held out a hand to help raise her up, but suddenly realized the faux pas. "Guess I probably shouldn't do that." He commented. Cadence offered him a smile, grateful for his kindness. "It's okay, we're already connected. I'd have to concentrate to get anything else off of you." Riddick's lip curled into a grin, seeming somewhat wicked and taunting. He held out his hand again, his arm muscles tensing. "Care to take a walk on the wild side?" Cadence cocked an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden boldness. It is not something to take lightly when you let someone else roam around the recesses of your mind. "Are you sure about this? If there's anything you wanna hide…" Riddick's mouth tensed for a moment. He had a dark side, one that frightened even him, but he found something soulful and trusting in Cadence's eyes. She had trusted him with her deepest secret, literally putting her life in his hands, he should return that trust.

Riddick crouched beside her again, his hand creeping closer to hers. Cadence kept her gaze fixed on him, he gave a curt nod giving her the green light to proceed. Slowly, her fingers snaked into his large palm and wrapped around it. Cadence closed her eyes and let herself drift into his subconscious. She saw blades flashing in the dark, her vision in hues of pink, she felt rage, fear, something deep within shifted. A life force unlike any other, a hidden strength. She glimpsed images inside darkened, hellish slams, fighting for survival, running, always running. An inhuman roar echoed in her mind and she quickly withdrew her hand and severed the connection. Cadence opened her eyes and let out a staggered breath. She'd never felt anything like that before. The memories still flashed through her mind as if trying to find their place within it. Riddick suddenly wondered if this had been such a good idea. Now she'd probably think of him the same way the others did, as an animal that needed to be caged. Cadence let her eyes drift to his face, surprising him with a broad smile. Okay….I hadn't expected that. Riddick thought. "Wow!" Cadence said softly. "Now I know what it's like to see through your beautiful eyes." As soon as she uttered the words, Cadence felt suddenly very shy, her cheeks blooming crimson. Beautiful!? I've never heard my eyes called that before. Riddick was suddenly more shocked by her comment than the fact that being inside his sadistic mind hadn't frightened her half to death. "Still not scared of me?" Riddick inquired, unsure if he really wanted to know the answer. Cadence's smile grew wider as she shook her head.

Cadence busied herself in whatever way kept her closer to Jack. She felt overly protective of the girl and was curious if there was any way that someone else might know. "What's he like?" Jack spoke up suddenly. Cadence glanced curiously at the girl. Oh great, here we go. Cadence knew what was on the girl's mind, but decided to play along. "What's who like?" For a moment Cadence thought she saw a blush creep over Jack's cheeks. "Riddick. Fry said she saw you two talking outside the coring room. Sooo… what's he like?" Cadence resisted a desire to touch the girl again to get another reading. It wasn't really that necessary, the look in her green eyes told her volumes. Holy shit! She's got a crush on him! Cadence turned away and pretended to continue working. "He's nice enough, as men go. Nothing like what they say he is. He's not a monster. Just…intense." Cadence suddenly felt a little uncomfortable, considering she really wasn't sure how she felt about the convict. Just a nagging feeling that there was something more to him, something unlike the beast they painted him to be; and she knew she had to trust him. She also couldn't deny that more than psychic energy had passed between them when they touched. Jack didn't seem satisfied with the answer, but said no more on the subject. Cadence directed her to solder the clamp that held the wire in place and they continued to work in relative silence.

Chapter Three: New Dangers

The survivors were nearly in a panic when Fry discovered the fate of the previous inhabitants of the mining camp. Twenty two years ago that very month an extended period of darkness fell on the planet, an eclipse that blocked all three suns. The creatures only came out in the dark, and this meant time was of the essence. Cadence casually strolled passed the skiff, voices from inside drew her intention. One sent a chill through her bones….Johns. He and Carolyn Fry were discussing the possibility of leaving Riddick behind, waiting for the last possible minute to bring the rest of the power cells from the Hunter-Gratzner. Cadence felt sick to her stomach as she listened in, suddenly jolted as she heard Johns' heavy footsteps leaving the skiff. Cadence tried to make a dash for it, but the already suspicious man followed her closely. A strong hand grabbed the thin flesh of her arm, pinning her up against a building near the small vessel. He brought his other hand up and leaned his body against hers. "Why are you always sneaking around?" Johns asked in a whispered voice that spoke volumes of what he intended to do to her. Cadence could scarcely breath let alone speak as Johns pressed her further against the wall. His face lingered inches from hers, smelling of booze and wafting down on her thin neck. Cadence's wide stare centered on his eyes, deep pits of chilly blue that didn't betray an ounce of emotion. "I'm startin' to think yer followin' me." He inhaled her scent deeply, like an animal might. "We might just have enough time." Cadence knew instantly what he meant and began to struggle, uselessly, against him. She turned her head and saw something that terrified her even more than his intentions. A small tattoo on his right wrist, the shape of an eye. The mark of the mind's eye, the symbol of the agency known as O.R.A.C.L.E. Johns was a Witchhunter!

Riddick felt a sudden pang of fear, deep abiding terror. He wasn't sure how, but he knew it was Cadence. She was terrified and in pain. Something drifted through his mind; a voice? Blue Eyed Devil. The words spurred him on into a steady sprint. Drawn by the invisible tether that connected them, Riddick rounded the corner, an animalistic growl escaping his lips. He charged at Johns, knocking the man to the ground and pinning him down, away from Cadence. "You don't fucking touch her!" Riddick raised his fist above Johns' head. "Riddick! Stop!" Cadence cried, willing her mind to calm his animal within. Riddick paused suddenly, looking as if he had no idea what had just occurred. He glanced down at Johns' prone form, his eyes narrowing before Johns connected with a fist. Riddick fell off of him, but regained his composure quickly, ready to charge at the Blue Eyed Devil again. They stood like two lions ready to engage in bloody battle. Johns unsecured his sidearm as Riddick prepared his shiv. "What the fuck is going on!" Fry's voice rang out from the bottom of the vessel's ramp. Johns cocked his head. "We should put the animal back in chains, he jumped me for no reason." Fry narrowed her eyes at Riddick, for a moment she seemed to be considering the idea. I can't let them do that! Cadence's mind screamed. "No!" Cadence yelled from behind the men locked in fighting stance. "Riddick saved me. He attacked Johns because…" Cadence's voice trailed off, suddenly feeling a little ashamed. Fry glanced at Cadence who rubbed her wrists that already showed signs of bruising. Cadence slowly made her way to Riddick's side, and Fry watched as he instantly relaxed his stance. Fry was an intelligent woman and knew by the look of Cadence's wrists someone had hurt her, and she didn't think it was Riddick. "Johns, go find something useful to do….and keep the fuck away from those two." Cadence was relieved that the worse seemed to be over, now she had to perform some damage control.

Riddick pulled her aside as soon as they were out of view of the others. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Cadence was amazed by his sudden tenderness. She shook her head vehemently. "No. Just bruised my wrists is all." Riddick's hands were on her arms, she was trembling and she reeked of stark fear. Her eyes looked as if they had seen some untold horror. "What did he do to you?" Cadence only stared off, her mind reeling with the revelation about Johns. Riddick pressed his fingers into her arms and shook her gently. "Dammit, Cade! What is it?!" Riddick growled at her. He knew something else had terrified her even more than Johns' lascivious intentions. Cadence turned her wide, brown eyes to his. "He knows." She breathed out as if they were the last words she would ever speak. Riddick's brow creased. "What? That you're a psychic?" Cadence could only nod her head. She suddenly felt faint and Riddick felt her slumping as her knees gave way. Riddick lowered her to the ground, letting her sit against the wall behind her. "How can you know that? Did you read him?" Riddick asked, wondering if he used the right terms for her abilities. "I…I didn't really have to. There's a tattoo on his wrist, an eye. It's the symbol used by O.R.A.C.L.E. agents. He's a Witchhunter. I know he knows what I am. He's gonna turn me in, I know he is!" Riddick pulled her close to him for a moment, waiting until she calmed. "He's not gonna get the chance, not if I have anything to do with it."

Riddick had only known Johns as a merc. It was possible that Cadence told the truth. Riddick had seen the tattoo on his wrist but never knew what it was. He always hated Johns, now he was gonna rip his miserable spine out. Cadence was still shaken by her interlude with Johns and Riddick had left her in the skiff while Shazza prepared the sand cat while they still had some light left. It wouldn't be long before the eclipse would start. Everyone could feel it. Fry strolled slowly into the skiff, her eyes locked on Cadence. She'd had almost no interaction with the girl and knew nothing about her. She only hoped the girl wasn't a liar. "Wanna tell me what really happened? If you don't I'm probably gonna give Johns the benefit of the doubt and chain up your little bodyguard." Cadence turned her dark, tear worn eyes to Fry. She was right in her observation, no nonsense. Cadence felt shame suffuse her face in shades of red as she remembered Johns body pressed against hers, the lascivious thoughts in his mind that he unintentionally fed through her skin. The memory made her shutter. "Johns followed me and cornered me. He pushed me against the wall and held my wrists. He…he threatened me and…I think he was going to rape me." Cadence lifted her eyes to Fry, trying to see if the woman believed her. Fry's face remained unchanged, devoid of emotion, as she slowly walked toward the place where Cadence sat. Fry crouched down before her and suddenly took hold of her wrist. Cadence jumped at the touch, a spark of energy flowing into her. Cadence used all of her strength to block the woman's thoughts. Fry studied the bruise for a moment. "Lucky he didn't break your wrist." She said nonchalantly. Fry's eyes met hers, a spark of concern mingled with sorrow. The woman released Cadence's wrist, allowing her to open her mind again. "I'll keep that asshole at bay. I never thought I'd say this but stick as close to Riddick as you can." Fry stood without ceremony and strolled out of the skiff.

Among only a handful of people, word seems to travel fast. Jack took to hanging on Cadence as if she, herself, could protect her from Johns. Truthfully, Cadence worried a little that he may attack the girl next. Johns was unstable and eternally high on morphine. Even the Holy Man, Imam, offered his own condolences. Cadence had never spoken to him before, even after Ali's death. He seemed a kind enough fellow, and she was grateful that he never tried to touch her. She'd had enough journeys into the human mind for quite a while. One of the boys traveling with Imam cried out suddenly, pointing to the sky above them. The eclipse was starting as a great planet shifted into view. "That sand cat's solar!" Shazza cried as they instantly gathered together and piled into the small vehicle. "Where's Riddick!" Jack cried as she and Cadence piled into the vehicle. "Leave him, he wouldn't wait for us anyway!" Paris grumbled as Riddick landed beside him from somewhere above. He grinned at Paris knowingly, putting the weasel in his place. Johns was the last to arrive and rushed up to the sand cat as it was speeding away. Riddick reached out a hand for him and hauled him aboard. I really oughtta drop yer ass under those tires. Riddick considered for a moment. He visualized Johns' battered body after performing an impression of a speed bump and it brought a wide grin to his face. The look he gave the merc sent a shiver down the blonde's spine.

Shazza slid to a halt when they reached the crash sight, the sky had now darkened into shades of deep crimson. It wouldn't be long now, the planets shifting in their orbits to block the rays of the three suns that kept the monsters at bay. Paris made a dash for a separate portion of the ship, intending to grab his illegally smuggled goods. Greedy moron. Cadence thought to herself. Cadence followed the rest of the survivors to help with the power cells. Darkness descended much more quickly than they would have liked, suddenly filling the sky with plumes of flying creatures. The awe of the moment wore off quickly as they made a mad escape to safety. Cadence stopped midway, realizing Riddick was still far behind. She turned back momentarily, but he glared at her. Dammit, Cade! Keep going! The thought did not go un heard as a growling voice reverberated in Cadence's mind. Cadence fled the swarm of creatures as they barreled down on the last of the survivors to make it to safety. Shazza and Riddick were still out there. Jack was screaming for Shazza to stay down, just as Cadence called out with her mind to Riddick to do the same. He flattened himself as the creatures passed over him, so close he could feel the breeze from their wings. Shazza lay on her stomach, fear and flight warring within her. "Stay there, Shazza, stay there!" Jack called as Paris held her back. Cadence had to fight every instinct in her body that told her to try and save one of them. Maybe I can reach Shazza. As the thought entered her mind and she prepared to step out, Shazza stood and made a panicked run for safety. The creatures swarmed her like demonic bats, literally tearing her to pieces. Jack screamed and struggled against Paris' grasp, her pain so strong it nearly crippled Cadence. Riddick saw his chance and scrambled to his feet, running with all the speed and agility of a cheetah.

Riddick watched through his shined eyes as the creatures issued forth from their mounds of earth. It was a breathtaking sight, beautiful in it's ferocity. Rising like smoke they spread their wings in their newly darkened world intending to make it their own for what time they had before the eclipse ended. "Do I even wanna know?" Fry whispered behind him. Riddick didn't answer, he really didn't have to. They closed themselves in, safe for a brief while. The creatures echoing cries like a sort of twisted music filling the night. Jack, Imam, and Fry leaned their heads against the metal door. "Why do they make that sound?" Jack inquired. "I think it is how they see." Imam answered with his best guess. He was right of course. When your day is the night and your light is darkness, you don't need eyes to see. "It's called echolocation. It's how the bats of Earth see. Sound bounces off of surfaces around them and feeds them back a mental picture of their surroundings." Cadence chimed up, rubbing the bruise on her head where she had struck it running to safety. "Makes sense." Fry responded. Riddick pulled Cadence aside. He had considered yelling at her for trying to turn back for him but he contented himself with checking her bruise. "Stop fussing, I'm fine." Cadence pulled away from him. Riddick growled deep in his chest. He grasped Cadence's hand and pulled her back toward him. "We should all stick close. Don't know if those things have gotten in here yet." Cadence sighed and let him lead her back to the others.

Chapter Four: The Mind of a Beast

They sat around debating the next course of action. Paris agreed they should stay put until the eclipse was over. That idea was vehemently shut down. The last inhabitants had tried that and it didn't work out so well for them. Johns wasn't so sure about the plan that involved dragging 140 kilos worth of power cells through darkness and thousands of critters that saw each and every one of them as a tasty snack. "How much do you weigh, Johns?" Fry screamed at him to end the argument. Johns stammered something in an attempt to avoid answering. "How…much….do…you….weigh?" Fry spoke slowly as if he were a small child. "About seventy three kilos." He grumbled. "Well you're about seventy three kilos of gutless meat we don't need." Fry made her point quite clear. "And He's gonna drag the cells." Fry added, indicating Riddick who have her a surprised look.

The discussion was over and a plan had been made. They cut through the debris and metal walls of the ship, unable to make their way through in another fashion. They could hear the creatures calling, some sounded closer, others further away. They backed into a small room, Cadence felt something broad behind her, too warm to be a wall. A calloused finger traced along her neck briefly and she glanced up, fearing it may have been Johns. Riddick's lips curved into a smile and he gave her a little wink. He could smell the fear on her and feel it gnawing at his mind. It was an unwelcome distraction and Riddick needed all of his faculties if he was gonna get outta this alive. "Cade." He whispered, hoping the others didn't hear. "Think you could calm down a bit. It's buzzing in my head and makin' it hard to think." Cadence suddenly felt like a useless, scared female and, worse yet, she was transferring those thoughts to the only person who could conceivably get them off this rock. "I'll try." She said quietly. Cadence knew she would have to dampen the psychic connection she had developed with Riddick if not sever it all together. The idea wasn't a pleasing one and Cadence wasn't even sure how to do it. She had never had a psychic connection with anyone before and wasn't even sure how or when it had occurred. Cadence searched for the invisible thread that connected them, a shimmering purple cord that linked their minds. She darkened the light that resonated out from it, hoping that would do the trick. Cadence opened her eyes slowly, feeling suddenly very alone. The bond had been severed.

Riddick peered out of the darkness, only his silver eyes visible. One of Imam's boys stood before him, trembling with fear. Above them leered a silver-blue creature, it's head tilting from side to side as it tried to pinpoint the prey that it knew was there. Riddick dropped back into the darkness, eyeing the beast in front of him. The boy made a run for it. Bad move. Riddick thought wryly. A scream cut the darkness signaling the boy's demise. The survivors turned their attention in the direction of the scream, Riddick came suddenly barreling out of it. The light from Johns' gun seared his sensitive eyes and he threw up his hands yelling in agony. Gunfire rang out as Johns opened fire on the creature pursuing Riddick. Cadence rushed to Riddick's side, concerned about his eyes. She had intimate knowledge of how much it must have hurt. Her own eyes stung a little. "You okay." She whispered, but Riddick shooed her away. Guess I deserved that, I wouldn't let him look at my wound.

Cautiously the survivors approached the dying alien. Johns' light played over it's pallid flesh, searing and melting it on contact. "The light hurts them." Fry observed, giving them a new weapon to use against their hunters. They stepped back as the creature lurched a final time. Cadence eyed the creature cautiously. The rest of the group were mostly behind her, she took the opportunity to try a little experiment. Cadence slowly approached the carcass, her hand stretched out. It hasn't been dead for that long, maybe enough residual energy is left behind. I wonder…. "What are you doing?!" Paris whispered loudly behind her. She ignored him and reached her hand toward the creature's head. Her fingers laid across the hard, carapace-like shell and her breath caught in her throat as she connected with the creature's lingering life force. Her world became splintered in shades of silver, her vision tunneled. She felt hunger, a drive to hunt, an embrace of darkness. The beast's mind mingled with hers and she felt a sudden tug to join them in their hunt, an animalistic desire. There was something else, too, something deeper. A hive mind; one thought, several minds. Cadence wrested her hand from the animal, her fingers felt as though they had touched something so cold it had burned her. "What is she doing? We need to keep moving." Johns whispered behind her, too afraid to go anywhere near her should Riddick feel a sudden desire to remove one of his body parts. Cadence felt a hand on her shoulder, over her clothes. "We must get moving before more of them come." Imam's soft voice urged her. Cadence stared at her hand in a dazed state, trying to sort through the images and feelings in her mind. The animal railed against her, clawing at her mind, beckoning to be released. Riddick could see that she wasn't going to move, she seemed like a statue rooted in place. Imam stepped back, eager to avoid being too close to the convict who still made him quite nervous. Riddick grasped her arms and turned her to face him. "Snap out of it, Cade, we gotta get moving." Riddick tried to be as calm as possible, but his voice came out as an angry growl. Cadence turned her deep brown eyes to him. "I…I can feel it inside me. Inside my head." Cadence whispered to him. Riddick's eyes narrowed. "What did you do!?" Riddick growled again, fearing she had done some kind of damage to herself. "I…touched it. I wanted to see. Now I do, they're inside me, I can feel them. Their thoughts, their drive. I know how these things think." Cadence explained as her mind still reeled with beastly visions.

Riddick wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Cadence had certainly given them an upper hand, but he worried what the long term affects of having a predator prowling around her mind for the rest of her life. Riddick knew all too well what that was like. The survivors set up a sled with a central light source and tubes they would wrap around themselves. Paris had provided ten bottles of liquor strong enough to maintain a flame, they had one cutting torch and several flares that Johns seemed overly proud of having available. Cadence drew cautious glances from the other survivors who were all starting to think she was more than a bit odd. Johns smirked knowingly at her, his eyes sparkling with evil intent. Riddick and Fry were going over the plan alone, leaving Cadence with the others. Jack took it upon herself to be protector and stood between her and Johns. She suddenly wished she had a shiv like Riddick.

Riddick strolled through the bowls of the discombobulated ship, Fry behind him. "I want the light at my back, not in my eyes. You guys better be able to keep up. Once we start we ain't stopping." Fry nodded her agreement, even though Riddick's back was turned and could not see her. The group crouched behind a small mound of sand. Ahead of them a perilous gauntlet of twisted metal. "How's it look." Johns asked in a whispered tone. Riddick stood and removed his goggles. He surveyed the route ahead of them, seen in shades of pink an shafts of bright light to indicate a void in the objects ahead. "Looks clear." He said confidently. They rose and started toward the first leg of their journey, ducking suddenly as one of the creatures zoomed at them, crying loudly. "I thought you said it was clear!" Johns shouted angrily at Riddick. "I said it LOOKED clear!" He retorted with a rumbling voice. "What's it look like now?" Johns wondered as Riddick surveyed the area again. He turned back with a wicked grin. "Looks clear." The tone was sarcastic and yet still nonchalant.

They kept a good pace for the first leg of their journey, each keeping up with the others. Cadence tried to block out the hundreds of minds around them, each calling to her, the pull of the hive mind getting stronger. Maybe that was a bad idea. Cadence considered to herself as she felt the beasts shifting around in the darkness around them. There was a sudden halt as Jack dropped the flare she was carrying. She crawled toward it, inching ever closer. Cadence could feel the beast closing in on the girl, see it's vision through her eyes. Shit! Jack! Her mind screamed. Cadence was about to slough off her light tube when Imam pulled the girl from harm's way. "Are you alright, child?" He asked as she nodded nervously. That was only the beginning of their troubles as Paris made a panicked crawl to avoid what he perceived was his own imminent death. He pulled the contraption to pieces, dousing the comforting blue light. In the darkness, Paris made his ugly demise.

With only flares to light their way and protect them from the photo sensitive creatures, they continued to press on. Their only hope of survival was the skiff. There were so few of them left, now. Only Jack, Fry, Riddick, Imam, Johns, Cadence and the last of the four boys that had come with Imam. The group was beginning to fall apart. They argued and bickered, especially after Riddick had circled the way they came to buy them time. The route ahead was filled with the creatures and strolling through it was like ringing the dinner bell. Cadence slowly stepped up to his side. "They're up there, hundreds of them." Cadence observed, as if Riddick didn't already know the danger. He glanced down at her, looking at her strangely. "Yeah." He said plainly. Cadence turned again into the darkness. "I can feel them. I can feel their driving need. I know they're out there, waiting for us." The thought made her shutter. Riddick sighed, he was beginning to worry about Cadence more and more. "You shouldn't venture into the mind of some beasts." Riddick said and Cadence wasn't sure if he meant the creature or himself. "I just wanted to see." Cadence said softly, as if she had been scolded. "Well, it was really stupid." Riddick snarled at her and stormed off.

They pressed on, the bone run nearing with every step. Riddick sniffed the air, he smelled blood. He'd smelled it before, combined with another odd scent. He paused suddenly. "Why are we stopping?" Johns groaned, irritation in his voice. "We're not gonna get very far with the girl bleeding." Riddick rumbled. "What are you talkin' about, neither one of them are cut." Johns argued. Riddick turned his silver gaze to the survivors. "Not them…her." He raised a finger and pointed at Jack. Cadence glanced at Jack who suddenly sat down, gathering her knees to her chest. "I thought if people thought I was a boy…." Tears streaked down her face as Fry consoled her. I knew it was only a matter of time. Cadence thought to herself. They had to move on, especially now that they had a scent to track.

Cadence and Fry walked on either side of Jack. Cadence was glad she wasn't the only one with a secret, but wished Jack had been able to keep hers. She let her hand grip Jack's and the girl turned her emerald gaze toward her. Cadence let her lip curl into a small smile of reassurance. Jack had had enough trouble in her short life, if she could do anything for the girl she would make sure she got off the planet alive. Even if it meant sacrificing her own life. Cadence fed the girl courage through her touch, mentally willing Jack to be brave. Jack stared aghast at her, almost as if she could hear Cadence's thoughts. She shook the idea away, blaming it on stress.

Riddick and Johns walked ahead of the group, Fry preferred to keep a little distance between them. Cadence didn't mind. She had no desire to be anywhere near the Blue Eyed Devil and knew Riddick was angry with her. "So, which one caught your eye?" Johns asked, planning on using one of the survivors for bait. Riddick turned briefly. "Don't look! Listen, you do the girl and I'll keep the others off your back." Johns suggested, a gleam of maliciousness in his eyes. Kill a child to save your sorry ass! Riddick felt rage begin to boil in his veins. Johns knew he was getting to the convict, and began to enjoy his little game. "Well, we can't very well kill Cadence. She's worth a lot of money. I'm gonna be rich when we get outta here. I ain't even gonna need the bounty on yer head anymore." A rumble escaped Riddick's chest at Johns' words. He does know! "Too bad. She is a tasty little piece, isn't she." Riddick stopped dead in his tracks, turning slowly toward his nemesis. "I don't know, I think we're gonna need a bigger piece of bait." Riddick didn't even try to hide his rage as he drew his shiv and faced off against Johns. The two men wrestled for their own lives, Johns had lost his gun in the scuffle and was forced to resort to hand to hand combat. Johns held Riddick's shiv at the convicts throat, pushing down with all his might. Riddick kicked the merc and wanna-be Witchhunter off of him, slicing a deep gash across his back. The blood should draw the creatures to him. Johns wheeled around after recollecting his gun and fired into the darkness that swallowed Riddick. "Shoulda ghosted me…." Riddick whispered, the last words Johns would hear before the creature descended on him, spearing him through the chest with a long talon.

Riddick strolled back to the remaining survivors who watched the darkness in horror knowing that a man was out there dead or dying. "We gotta keep moving." Riddick commented, almost coldly. He circled Jack, who looked about to cry. "Don't you cry for him. Don't you dare." Riddick rumbled behind her. Jack wasn't crying for the man who had died, but for fear that they were never going to make it off the planet alive. Riddick passed Cadence, so closely she could smell him. "You're safe now." He whispered to her, his voice sounding almost relieved. Cadence closed her eyes momentarily, letting her fingers brush against his, fighting the desire the grab his hand and squeeze it tightly. She would be safe, at least from imprisonment and death. Cadence wasn't so sure the same could be said about her safety from the monsters hunting them, or the one that crawled around in her head.

Imam had begun to pray with the other survivors and Cadence silently excused her self. With only a green flare to light her way she found her way to Riddick who sat behind a rock, readjusting the ties on the power cells that he had to drag. "Thank you." She whispered, standing above him. Riddick glanced up, his eyes shining in the darkness. Without a word he returned to his task. Cadence couldn't stand the idea that he hated her now. She missed the psychic link they had shared and wished she could tell what he was thinking without having to resort to contact. Cadence sat down beside him sullenly. "I'm sorry, Riddick. I took a risk and maybe it wasn't such a good idea. I was just trying to help. I thought if I could get inside it's head, know how it thought, I could….I don't know." Cadence felt utterly defeated. She'd made a grave mistake that may have put them in more danger, or may have been a useless gesture and now she would have to live with the consequences for the rest of her life. There was a beast inside her head and Riddick hated her for it. Guess he wanted to be the only man-beast on the planet. "Well, maybe its something we can use. What you did was very brave, maybe your….abilities can do some good for us." Riddick said, trying to ease her troubled mind. He suddenly began to miss the psychic link they had shared, the closeness it conveyed. "You were right. Johns knew what you are and he planned to turn you in." Riddick commented flatly, still burning with rage as he considered the dirty comment he had made about Cadence. "That's why you killed him?" Cadence asked. Riddick turned to her. "I didn't kill him. Just marked him as bait. The same thing he wanted to do to Jack." Cadence suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Poor Jack, can't catch a break. Cadence slowly reached a hand to touch his cheek, and turned him to face her. She fought the desire to search his mind. A wisp of a smile tugged at her lips. "You did a good thing, Richard B. Riddick. I'm proud of you." Cadence let her fingers slide away from his face, suddenly feeling very shy. Riddick stared aghast at her, hardly able to believe the words that came out of her mouth. She's proud of me! No one's ever given so much as a fuck about me!

Riddick was drawn out of his dazed state as Imam approached him, his prayer rug slung over his shoulder. "Would you like to pray with me? I have already prayed with the others." He inquired. Riddick glanced up at the holy man, trying not to insult the man by laughing at the incredulous idea. "Save your prayers, Holy Man." Riddick rumbled. "Because you do not believe in God does not mean God does not believe in…." Imam was cut short as Riddick began to speak. "Think someone could spend half their life in a slam with a horse bit in their mouth and not believe? Think he could start out in some liquor store trash bin with an umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and not believe? Got it all wrong, Holy Man. I absolutely believe in God…And I absolutely hate the fucker." Imam was silent, at a loss for what to say. Clearly, to him, Riddick was a lost soul that needed saving; or perhaps a lost cause. Imam suddenly glanced up toward Cadence. "And you, my child?" Imam asked, a little hesitantly. Cadence glanced up at him, her dark eyes barely visible in the meager light. "They say your God created everything and everybody, isn't that right?" Cadence asked as Imam nodded his answer. "Well, why the hell would he create me, something despised and hunted throughout the universe? Thank you, but no. I don't need that kind of influence in my life." Cadence couldn't help but let the bitterness seep into her voice. She had never been one for religion anyway. Hadn't been to a single church a day in her life. Cadence had been born with her "gift" and had been cursed by it. If that was God's doing, Cadence had always thought, then he had an awful sick sense of humor.

The trek up ahead was the most perilous. The skeleton of a large creature loomed over it, like some sort of white golem. "Whatever you do, don't stop." Riddick growled as they made a mad dash through the channel. They had been reduced to using torches made of the liquor provided by Paris. Tiny flames bobbing in the dark. Something wet struck their faces and shoulders, a bluish liquid falling from above. Blood! They're marking us and trying to put out the fires! Cadence thought to herself as she marveled at their ingenuity. "Don't look up!" Riddick yelled, prompting Fry to do exactly what he told her not to. Riddick lunged forward, knocking her out of the way of a diving predator. Cadence knew exactly what was going on above them. She nearly stumbled and fell as the pain the creatures inflicted on one another assaulted her senses. Yeah, bad idea. She considered to herself as she tried to remain upright. There was a scream from behind her as Imam's last remaining charge was grabbed around the ankle by a seemingly dead arm. Imam fought to wrest the boy free, dropping one of the bottles in the process that immediately burst into a small inferno on the ground. The boy was badly hurt and barely able to walk. Fry and Imam tried to carry him. Riddick had moved up ahead, the power cells trailing behind him. Cadence held back, trying to decide if she should stay with the group or head for Riddick's side. Something swooped down on her, a vision of it's eyesight alerted her and she rolled out of the way, nearly dousing her own tiny light.

Without warning, the sky above them opened up and rain poured down on the weary survivors. Riddick's booming laughter sounded somewhat evil. "Where is your God now?" He asked, glancing back toward Imam. Jack and Fry were desperately trying to keep their bottles lit, holding their hands over the waning flames. In the chaos, Imam cried out suddenly as his last charge was taken from above, wrested out of his grasp by one of the creatures. Imam cried out in his language, on his knees, begging for the boy's life; at least one could presume. We're not getting out of here alive. Cadence suddenly realized. Riddick glanced at Cadence momentarily. She almost thought he was willing her to follow him, to go with him to safety and forsake the others. She shook her head as she had done when he tried to shoot Johns. Riddick only turned away and pressed on. Jack cried out for him, distancing herself dangerously from the others. No! Jack! Come back here! Cadence willed her thought to the girl who paused and glanced back at her, a confused expression on her face. She had heard her! A vision of Jack's form through the eyes of the monster that loomed above her assaulted Cadence's mind. Jack! Get down! The thought passed instantly to Jack who ducked and rolled under the protection of an enormous bone. The creature loomed above her, trying desperately to get at the food underneath. Jack cried piteously to Riddick who stood on the embankment above them. Cadence glanced at him, he hadn't moved. He's not coming back! Cadence thought incredulously, horrified that the man she had put so much faith in, that JACK had put so much faith in was going to stand by and let the girl die. A girl whose life he'd saved not hours before. Cadence approached slowly, sending her will out to the creature above Jack. It paused and turned it's attention to Cadence, it's head swaying rhythmically as if trying to decipher what she was. Get…away…from…her! Cadence challenged the beast but it ignored her and turned back to it's attempted meal.

Riddick stood statuesque at the top of the ridge, as if in deep contemplation. He pulled off his goggles, dropped the cells, and charged at the snapping beast. His guttural yell caught the animal's attention and it turned on it's new adversary. Riddick grabbed it's arms, pushing back with all his strength and holding it at bay. He snarled like a beast as it made quick, jabbing snaps at his face. It's entire head was a weapon, sharp as a blade, hard as stone and filled with rows of needle sharp teeth. Riddick pushed the beast back and quickly opened up several large gashes in it's sensitive underbelly, spilling it's white bowels on the ground. With a quick, determined motion, Riddick grasped it's hammer-like head and twisted the neck until it snapped. "Did NOT know who it was fuckin' with!" Riddick snarled, his beast within satisfied with the challenging kill. Cadence met his eyes, the silver orbs finding her immediately. Although their psychic link was gone, the gaze sent a strong message. "Never doubt me again." Relieved at Jack's rescue, Cadence nodded her approval to him, feeling words were unnecessary.

Chapter Five: Not For Me

Riddick pushed a large bone away from the mouth of a cave, telling the group to hide inside. Cadence was the last to enter, but felt Riddick's hand graze hers. She glanced back, only seeing his silver eyes for a moment before he pushed the bone across the opening. "Why is he still outside?" Jack inquired. Cadence knew all too well, Riddick had planned to take the fuel cells back himself. She only hoped he intended to come back. Prove me right, Riddick, prove me right. Cadence sent the secret thought out to him, although the link had been severed. It didn't take long for the little flames to burn out, leaving them in darkness awaiting the inevitable. The cave filled with a soft, blue glow and they looked up to the ceiling covered in tiny, glowing worms. Filling the bottles with the little invertebrates gave them convenient lamps. Jack stared at the make shift door, the beasts singing outside. "He's coming back, right?" She asked, hopefully. He will, he has to. Cadence sent the reassuring thought to Jack although her own hope was beginning to diminish.

Fry had grown nervous and impatient, leaving the sanctuary of the cave in search of Riddick. She climbed over the muddy path and slid down toward the mining settlement. The place was eerily dark only the vague outlines of buildings could be seen. The only light was coming from the now operational skiff. Riddick had started the machine, gratefully blocking out all thoughts of the trapped survivors. Carolyn came into view and he powered the vehicle down. The ramp lowered and he stepped down. Carolyn strolled toward the ramp, tossing her bottle to the ground. "So that's it!? You were gonna leave us after all!? What's so wrong with wanting to rejoin the human race!?" Carolyn screamed at him, her voice deadened by the falling rain. "Are they worth dying for? Now you care after almost dumping us all over this God-forsaken planet!? You're already here, why not save yourself? Come on, I'll make it easy for you." Riddick taunted her holding out a hand. "At least give me more light and I'll go back for them myself." Carolyn begged. Riddick could see the internal battle in her eyes. Was she really willing to risk her life for complete strangers? Riddick shrugged his shoulders. "Okay." He said as he grasped a light belt and tossed it at her. "Come with me." Carolyn pleaded. Riddick smirked at her. "I got a better idea, how about you come with me." He held out his hand to her again, gesturing for her to take it. Tears finally released from her eyes as she fell, defeated, to the ground. "I promised them." She whispered. Riddick strolled down the ramp, carefully lifting Carolyn to her feet and helping her on board. Carolyn paused half way and turned slowly to face him. Wordlessly she lunged at Riddick, her only utterance a cry of rage. She knelt on top of him, pounding her fists into this chest. "Now! You listen to me! We are going back for them with more light and we are coming back here and getting off this rock!" She screamed into his face. Riddick used his boot to flip her off of him and pull her underneath his body, pinning her down with his shiv at her neck. "Get that thing away from my neck!" Carolyn said angrily. "Would you die for them?" Riddick growled angrily, forcing the blade tighter against her throat while holding her arms painfully. "I would try for them!" Carolyn answered, unsatisfactorily as far as Riddick was concerned. "You didn't answer me!" He said, only inches from her face. Slowly, Carolyn relented. "Yes, Riddick, I would. I would die for them." Riddick loosened his grip, pulling off his goggles. "How interesting."

Cadence nearly jumped out of her skin as the make shift door to the cave shifted and moved. Carolyn appeared outside followed almost immediately by Riddick's smiling face. An odd look on the intense man. "Never had a doubt!" Jack cried. Riddick regarded her momentarily, he was beginning to like the little spitfire girl. "Anybody not ready for this?" Riddick asked rhetorically. Imam, overjoyed for a change, shouted. "There is my God!" Riddick's grin only broadened. His eyes fell on Cadence who managed a slight smile, but was otherwise unemotional. I hope she's still proud of me when this is over. Riddick considered to himself. The idea that Cadence may hate him for what he had considered doing hurt him more than he really understood. This charming, strong, beautiful girl was really starting to get to him. Rage and shame warred inside him when he realized that he had considered leaving her, too. Why the fuck did it hurt so much?

Four of the ravenous beasts blocked the only route to the skiff. With his shined eyes, Riddick watched and waited for an opening. Riddick took Cadence's hand, clasping it tightly in his own. He would never, EVER let it go. She followed suit with Jack who grasped Fry who, in turn, grasped Imam. Riddick watched as the animals made a hole large enough to pass through and the chain of survivors made a run for it. Cadence could feel the beasts eyeing them as they passed and nearly fell under the mental onslaught. Riddick tightened his grip as he made his way to the top of the ridge over which was the mining camp and their way home. Riddick released Cadence's hand as he stumbled in the slick mud. She and the others ran on ahead, but she turned back briefly. For a moment, Riddick nearly forgot their link had been severed. He called out to her loudly. "Cade! Don't you stop for me! Keep going!" Cadence fought her own will, but bent to his.

Imam and Jack stood on the ramp of the skiff, urging Fry and Cadence to get on. He's probably dead. Jack thought sullenly, pain lancing through her. Cadence turned a baleful eye to the girl. Don't you say that! Jack nearly fell backward as the thought pierced her mind. Riddick's screams could be heard in the distance and Cadence nearly fell over, clutching her midsection. Why did I ever sever that link! I need him, I need to hear the noise of his head! Fry dashed off into the raining darkness without a word, Cadence would have stopped her if not for her own pain. Fry found Riddick crawling out of the dark, shiv in hand, with a huge gash in his leg. He could barely stand, let alone walk. Carolyn grabbed him and lifted him up. "It's okay. I got you." She said as he struggled against her. Riddick grunted in pain, trying to maintain a vertical position. "Come on Riddick! I said I'd die for them, not for you!" Carolyn urged him on, nearly dragging him through the mud. She turned, facing him, hoping he could get a better grip and stand straighter. Her eyes suddenly went wide before him as the beast behind her pierced her flesh.

Cadence sent the tendrils of her mind out, searching for the creatures around them. She felt the beasts hungry rage as they closed in on what remained of the first meal they'd had in twenty two years. Cadence disappeared into the night as Imam and Jack waited in the skiff. Jack heard the sloshing of Cadence's retreating footsteps. "Cadence?" she called softly, rising from her seat. She peered outside into the empty night and toward Cadence's disappearing form. "CADENCE!" she shouted, her voice drowned out by the rain and darkness. It took all of Imam's strength to hold the girl back. Cadence slid to a stop watching in horror as the creature pulled Carolyn out of Riddick's grasp. "Not for me!" He cried. "Not for me!" Riddick fell into the mud, trying desperately to rationalize Carolyn's senseless death. I'm not worth it! He crawled on his profusely bleeding leg, leaving ruddy rivers in the mud behind him. Cadence watched in horror as a silver form stalked him from behind. Cadence rushed toward Riddick, her eyes focused on the beast behind him. Cadence reached down, keeping the creature in her sight, and tried to lift Riddick's heavy, wounded body. The pair nearly fell into the mud and she realized, to her horror, he was too heavy to lift. The creature behind him stalked closer. Cadence turned her gaze toward it, sending tendrils of thought into it's mind. "Riddick! Get up!" Cadence growled through clenched teeth, keeping a firm hold of the mental link she had bridged between herself and the creature. "Cade! Go to the ship!" Riddick snarled in turn, slowly rising to a pained standing position. "No!" She said, trying to keep her hold on the beast, while distracted by this unnecessary argument. "Come with me!" Riddick ordered. Cadence glanced at him for a moment, almost lost in his pleading eyes. "No! I'll hold it off while you get to the ship. I'll follow you, go!" Riddick hissed in pain as he tried to put some weight on his sore leg. "What are you doing!" He cried, grasping her hand and trying to drag her with him. Cadence wrested her appendage free. "It thinks I'm one of them! I can hold it off this way but not for long! GET TO THE DAMN SKIFF!"

Riddick limped to the skiff, falling as he reached the ramp. "Riddick!" Jack cried in utter surprise. Imam rushed to help him, the only one strong enough to lift the heavy man. Holding onto Imam, Riddick limped into the small vessel. "Where's Fry and Cadence?" Jack asked expectantly. "Fry's dead." He grumbled, a hint of sadness in his voice. "Cadence is still out there." Imam could hardly believe his ears. "You left her out there!" Riddick turned a cold gaze to the Holy Man. "No. She stayed of her own accord. She's playing mind games with the beasts." Riddick knew the Holy Man wouldn't understand what he meant and had no will to explain. Cade, please come back! Don't you die for me too! Riddick knew if that nearly inevitable event happened, the human side of him that was just beginning to emerge would die completely.

Cadence kept her vigil for a few moments, forcing her will on the creature before her. She felt the hive mind of the group at large, urging to her, calling to her. Cadence's own mind seemed to be faltering, drifting forever into the animalistic state of the beast that now resided in her mind. Stand….down. She urged the creature, as she slowly backed away. Inch by muddy inch, Cadence crept toward the skiff where the survivors waited expectantly. A second creature closed in on her from the side and third joined a moment later. Cadence let her will drift in thin cords to the creatures' minds. Her thoughts, once human words spoken, were devolving into the musical squeals the creatures used for communication and guidance in their darkened world. She swayed lightly, imitating their actions; not of her own accord but out of raw instinct. Slowly, Cadence could feel her humanity slipping away; in her mind she was becoming one of them. Luckily, so far, the beasts didn't know she wasn't. Cadence had all of their senses under her control, vision (for what it was worth), hearing, even smell. For all intents and purposes, in that moment, she was no different than them. Cadence inched closer to the skiff, only feet from safety and sanity. The part of her that was still human called to her to run, but she didn't listen. Cadence was locked in a sacred ancient dance that only these beasts understood. The largest of the three let out a shrill, echoing cry; a challenge. It wanted to be the dominant animal in their four way dance. It inched forward, ready to strike and reclaim it's place. Cadence narrowed her eyes, the creature within her bellowed. Cadence's mouth opened and a scream filled the air, the melodious haunting tune of the animals themselves. The large beast backed off, having been bested in the challenge. It bowed it's head low, snaking off into the darkness. Cadence turned and fled the last few feet to the skiff and closed the ramp, protected by the vehicles powerful lights.

Cadence panted heavily from exertion, trying to set her mind to rights. She pushed the beast back down, forcing herself to become human again. Bad idea. Was her first human thought. Cadence felt a hand on her back. "Cadence…" It was Jack's soft voice. Cadence whirled around, her eyes dark, the pupils dilated unnaturally. She slowed her breathing and let her eyes return to normal. She knew by the look on Jack's face she had frightened the child. "I'm sorry Jack." She said as she returned to her old self, clutching the skinny kid to her in a reassuring embrace. Riddick was seated in the pilot's seat, gearing the vessel for take off. He stopped suddenly and powered down. "Riddick, what are you doing?" Jack chimed up, belting herself in beside him in the navigator seat. "We can't leave." Riddick said with cold determination. Jack's eyes went wide as creatures swarmed the darkened vessel. "Why not!?" She said at the absurdity of Riddick's response. Riddick eyed the beasts on the window, trying to force their way in. "Without saying goodnight." Riddick powered the ship back up, incinerating everything behind it with the powerful jets.

They had breached the atmosphere and Cadence felt well enough to speak to Riddick. He'd probably be mad at her again. Cadence stepped toward the front of the vessel, tapping Jack on the shoulder. "Give us a minute, Jack, okay." She said in a kind voice, still ashamed of the way she had frightened the girl earlier. Jack nodded and stood up groggily. She was so tired, but there was no way she was going to be able to sleep for a while. Cadence spun the chair and sat down, easing herself into it to make as little bothersome noise as possible. She glanced at Riddick momentarily, wondering which one of them should speak first. Riddick remained silent, concentrating on flying the skiff. Cadence couldn't bear the silence, her whole life had been a bombardment of noise, although most of it was in her head. "I suppose you're mad at me again?" She asked, hoping for any kind of response that showed he even knew she was there. A grunt would have been nice. Riddick kept his eyes on the open space before him. Cadence felt defeated, as if she had lost him completely. She would kill for that bond again. "No." He said at last, albeit a little curtly. Cadence glanced up at him, relief written on her face. Riddick turned his silver eyes toward her. "You saved my life and came back to me. I can't be mad." Riddick told her, his voice gentler than she'd ever heard before. Cadence could tell by the look on his face that he was truly glad she was here. There was a long pause before either of them spoke again. "So, what did you do?" Riddick asked, curious about her escape from the jaws of death. Cadence smiled a little sheepishly, although overtly proud of herself. "I linked to three of them, made them think I was one of them. The big one tried to challenge me but I politely told it to fuck off, I'm in charge." Riddick's rumbling laughter filled the small vessel, startling Jack and Imam. "And I thought I was a badass!" He said as he tried to stay his laughter. Riddick suddenly became serious. "You know, I miss our link. I miss having you in my head. I dunno, I guess it was better than the other guy that lives there." Riddick said, his voice soft and pensive. Cadence held up her hand, her palm facing him. Riddick looked at it quizzically for a moment. "Care to take a walk on the wild side?" Cadence asked, a broad grin on her face. Riddick lifted his own hand, his palm joining hers. Slowly they linked their fingers together, and Cadence closed her eyes. She let her mind drift into his, linking them together beyond mind, soul or body. They built a bridge that would stand the test of space and time. Stronger than before, the link would hold them bound for all their lives and perhaps beyond. Imam and Jack watched the strange interaction wondering exactly what was going on between the two mysterious people. A secret only Riddick and Cadence would know.