----------------------------------------------------------------------

	A little red light blinked softly, lighting the room in the 
smallest of red luminisence.  Moments later the lights in the room flickered 
on and lit the room in a soft comfortable, dim light. A yawn came from the 
occupant of the bed before arms reached up in a stretching motion.  
A girl of 20 years sat up in her bed and looked around. Her long 
blond hair seemed to flow over her shoulders across the top of her 
cotton cow pajamas. Standing and walking to the mirror in the corner of 
the room she carefully put her hair up in an upside down braid then 
clipped it, leaving 5 to 6 inches to hang over in a waterfall/firework 
resemblance around her head. She smiled into the mirror before 
heading out her door which opened automatically with a whoosh.

	She smiled as she entered a turbolift (elevator) and 
encountered her friends. The first girl on the right had brown hair that 
was strait down to her shoulders then curled under. The strands 
underneith curled outwards from under the inward turning locks. Her 
bangs made an arch across her face, creating an interesting look. 
The second girl had shorter red hair that came to just above her neck. On 
top her hair was parted in a zig zag pattern making the firey locks 
stand out even more. The two smiled back at the blond who pressed the 
up button and turned to watch the lift doors close.

	Once the door on the lift opened the three stepped out all 
still dressed in the same garb. Taking their spots, The blond in the 
center chair, brunette on the left and the redhead on the right, the 
three girls pressed a few buttons on the main ship consols bringing 
up the information for that days quest.  Once they left their dimension, 
since it was now their home, each day that passed in any other world 
would equal an hour in their own.

	"So what's on the agenda for today, Sarah?" the redhead turned 
to the blond at her question and smiled.

	"Well, the commission approved your request for a journey to 
'Pitch Black' realm."Sarah's smile grew as the blond stood with a happy 
whoop.

	"Yes! Riddick, here we come!"

	"Heheheh. Eve, your too excited about these things sometimes." 
The brunette stated with a laugh.

	"Oh hush Maye, your just as excited to meet him as I am. And by 
gods, to rub that head....mmmm." Eve groaned in excitment.

	Sarah laughed. "Your crazy, but your also right." she said. 
	
	The other two girls got up and walked over to stand behind her 
and looked at the list that had printed out. It had two scrawlings. 
On the top was the objectives and the bottom was the scavenge hunt 
items to collect.

*******

*begin transmission*

Dimensional Jumpers-
     
       	Request for mission to 'Pitch Black' realm has been approved.  
Objectives of this mission are to save from their iminent deaths one 
Carolyn Fry, Docking Pilot of the Hunter-Gratzner Merchant Vessel, 
one Paris Huglby, Antiquites Expert, one Shazza Freedsom and one 
Zeke Freedsom, Rogue settlers and three Islamic children in the 
care of one Imam. A second objective has been added seeing as how it 
can not be accounted for as part of the scavenge hunting list. 
Objective is optional. To 'rub' one Richard Riddick's shaved head. 
This is simply for your amusment and ours girls. Thank you.

		-Commission Command Outpost


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ITEM LIST FOR SCAVENGE HUNT

Obtain the following items for compeltion:
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Richard B. Riddick's tank top.

2. A lock of Carolyn Fry's hair

3. One bottle of Paris Huglby's vintage wine. Shiraz if possible, same 
beverage as was Riddick drinking.

GOOD LUCK

*end transmission*

*******

	"Wow. That's cool. How the hell can we get Riddick's shirt 
though?" Eve asked with a frown.

	"Um. We could seduce him..." Maye started.

	"Or slice it off of him when he's not aware...." added 
Sarah.

	Eve rolled her eyes. "Or we could simply be logical and non-
suicidle and take another one for him to change into, make him feel clean? 
Then keep the other one." she smiled. The others smiled as well. 

	"Oh yeah, this is gonna be fun..."Maye grinned and went to retreive 
the dimension jumper. While Eve put the ship on auto mode and Sarah went 
to get their supplies.


***

	"Is everyone ready?" Even asked as the each of the girls took one 
of her hands. For the modual to work, they had figured out, that any who 
wish to travel must be touching the wearing owner of the Dimensional Jumper. 

	"Yep."

	"Let's do this." A grin from both the girls signaled their 
readiness.

	Pressing a small blue botton on the foot long black arm band on 
her arm, Eve took in a breathe as the air became smaller. Her vision 
blurred and the world seemed to stretch out before her, then expand 
outwards to her sides. She closed her eyes as the burst of blue and 
white signaled the jump start. A blue and white shield of watery-looking 
substance bubbled around the girls and then in an instant imploded 
in on itself, leaving a small spark behind.

	Inside the jump, the three girls watched as all different colors of 
the rainbow flew around them in a vortex. 
	
	When she spoke, Eve's voice sounded distorted and echoy, but she 
yelled so that the girls could hear her, "Like Riddick said, 'Anyone not 
ready for this?'"
 
	In response the world suddenly changed around them and warped 
pitch black to suddenly very bright. Then they were falling. It was a 
minor glitch in the system, they sometimes came out above the surface 
if the machine interpreted it incorrectly.  The three screamed as until 
they landed on their butts.

	"Oooowwwww." Sarah moaned rubbing her ass as she started to stand.

	"Your telling me." Maye put in as she too made it to her knees, 
then to her feet. 

	Eve stood and looked at her friends to make sure they were 
alright before surveying the scenery. Just like in the movie. It was bright 
and desolate. Then she noticed she couldn't breathe as well as she had been 
able too. It's hurt a little to breathe in deep. She looked over and saw 
the others nod, letting her know that they felt it too. Well, they knew 
this was part of the movie. Pulling out their personal breathers, the girls 
hooked them around their waist bands. They were bottles of silver 
with clear tubing and a small mouthpeice that fit in the side of their 
mouths. It looked a little more proffesional than the ones the others 
would have. They had been transported to the settlement before 
the group discovered it so that they could set up some things and inspect 
the area better so that they knew the place and wouldn't get lost. 
	
	"Alright, let's set up and get changed." Eve said to her companions. 
The three girls headed for an empty building that had many open windows. 
Have to be carefull with creatures so close. They hoped they would 
all get off before night fell. 

	"By the calculations on the jumper when we left, we should be 
here just about 52 hours before the eclipse, so we have some time." 
Sarah said, pulling on her black pants. Her gear for this assignment was 
pretty cool as far as she was concerned. Dressed in tight black pants 
with an intricate lace waist design, a pale, yet dark green tank top that 
had an upsidedown V that ended just above her navel and black running 
shoes, she was ready for the terrain. And should there be a party, she 
would have been prepared for that too. 

	Maye's outfit was more fit for the heat. She wore a light blue 
tank top, almost pale baby blue. Short blue jean shorts and white 
and black running shoes completed the outfit. She smiled over at Eve 
as she tied her shoe lace. 

	Eve's was almost as simple, but a mix. On her right arm, she wore 
the foot long black Jumper device. She had a pale greyish-purple tank 
top with medium straps that scrunched inbetween her chest and light blue 
tie pants with a simple necklace and black sandles with high sand guards 
on the sides. She stood, adjusting her necklace and tank top and 
looking out the window again as her friends finished dressing. She knew it 
would be less than an hour before the group of travelers arrived 
at the abandoned colony. 
	
	Maye finished pulling her socks up and stood with her other two 
sisters. "So, how are we going to approach them? Johns just may shoot us." 
she said rolling her eyes.

	Eve laughed."No I don't think he will, though after we strand him 
here, he might. I don't think there is anything we could do for Zeke, 
he's pretty much already gone, so that one is off the objectives list, 
but I don't think anyone will mind terribly." she sighed. "It's not 
like we could get there in time, and even so, he'd probably pick ax 
us to death."

	"Your right. Except for poor Shazza. She'll mind." Sarah put in 
and the three gave a look of simpathy for the woman. 

	"She'll be fine. It's us I'm worried about. What if we do this 
wrong? What if something happens to where they start to catch on to us." 
Eve was nervous being around a Merc and a convict, though less worried 
about the latter than the former.

	"I think we should just walk out and greet them, not take any 
chances as to getting shot. Though Johns didn't see Riddick earlier." 
Maye laughed. "He can be so stupid sometimes." 

	The other two laughed as they all exited the building. Eve turned 
to her friends and sheilded her eyes from the sun. "Alright, so 
when they come and ask if anyone is here and we just walk out, what do we 
say?"

	"The truth."

	Eve and Maye turned to Sarah looking at her as if she were growing 
a second head. "What? It will be easier than explaining anything 
else. We can say a few things and we may have to lie about some others."

	"So just how do you propose we introduce ourselves and where 
we're from?" Eve started walking toward another building to investigate, 
letting her question float back. 

	Sarah put on hand on her hip and the other over her eyes and Maye 
turned to look at something on her side. "We'll we could just say that.
...for example, our names and then say we're called Jumpers and that it's 
too long to explain right then, but we are here to help them."

	Maye looked up. "Help? How?"

	Eve tuned back from the building she was examining and placed 
a hand on her hip and pointed the other at her companions. "We could 
help them carry the cells here. It should save some time. I mean, we 
would be warning them sooner than they had origionally been warned, and so 
that should help."

	Maye's hand flew up. "Question."

	"Shoot."

	"Ok, how are we going to acheive the other objective...and we 
still have the scavenge to think about. I mean, I'm sure we can get the 
hair and the wine, that's pretty easy...but Riddick's tank? I mean, we're 
talking about suicide here! This guy is dangerous, however hot he 
may be." she smiled. Maye was right though.

	Eve turned and sat down on an empty barrelish container near the 
building and got in the thinker position. There were so many things they 
had to do and so little time to do it in.

	"Not to interupt a great thinking session here, but the group 
should be here in less than five!" Sarah said. 

	Eve stood, frowning. "Great, alright, let's go meet our guests, 
shall we?" 
	
	The other two followed her around the buildings towards the 
center square. 

***

	"IS ANYONE THERE??" Carolyn Fry's voice sounded out into the 
open colony. It looked bare. So there had been human life here, obviously, 
not now, but what-

	"YEAH! HANG ON A SEC!"
	
	The group visibly jumped and Johns pointed his gun towards the 
direction the voice came from. From behind an old rusting building on 
the left, three girls of about 20 came out and started toward the group. 
Johns hesitantly, as always, still gun happy, put his gun down as the 
three approached. Carolyn was speechless. She hadn't thought anyone would 
be here, yet here they were, though they didn't look like they belonged 
in this type of City.

	"Hi." Eve said as she stepped up."Glad you could make it. I'm 
Eve, this is Sarah, " she pointed to the girl on her left then to the girl 
on her right, "and this is Maye. 

	"Lieutenent Carolyn Fry." Carolyn put her hand out to shake each 
of the girls hands, then paused as she thought about Eve's words. "What 
do you mean, 'Glad we could make it'?" she asked, looking suspicious.

	"It's kind of hard to explain. Let's introduce first and then we 
can go into that." Maye smiled charmingly. 

	"Greetings child, I am Imam. And this is Ali, Hassan and Suliman." 
Imam said, placing his hand on the boys shoulders.

	"Johns." Johns so bluntly said, simply nodding his head at the girls, 
still looking around suspiciously as if there were a brigade ready to 
attack him.

	"There is noone else here, I assure you...Johns. We 
are alone. We have looked over the encampment and as far as we know, 
this is all there is." assured Eve. "But we do have to talk. It's very 
important." she spoke as the group walked with her towards the center 
of the square.

	Imam lifted his hand toward a machine in the distance. "Is that what 
I think?"

	The girls turned to see him and Johns walking off toward it and 
Caroyln start off toward another building. "Over here." she said and 
the three followed her into a building. After attempting to get 
the lights to work through voice command, she sighed and opened the 
shutters letting the light from the blue sun pour in. A machine started 
to whir before her and she watched as it spun, just alike the toy they 
had found earlier. A model began to turn and she immediatly recognized 
it as the planet. Walking over to it and spinning the lit planet around 
with her finger she sighed. "No lights because no darkness."

	"That's what we need to talk to you about." Sarah said stepping 
forward to the other side of the table. Carolyn looked up at her.

	"What do you mean?"

	"There IS darkness." Maye said stepping forward. "Just wait 
a minute more, watch the model.

	Fry watched in horror as the eclipse came and stayed. "Oh my..."

	"We don't know how long it lasts, but we do know that once it 
does go dark, everything goes wrong. Only three of you, THREE make it 
out alive!" Eve said frantically.

	"What?" Fry looked at the girls, each of them, memorizing what they 
had just told her in her head. "How do you know that?" she asked after a 
moment of silence.

	Maye walked around to her, followed by Sarah and Eve." We're what 
you call Jumpers. We jump from place to place, time to time to fix things, 
sort of like 'Quantum Leap'. Don't worry, you wouldn't know what that is. 
Anyways, we are here to help you. We have objectives each place we go 
and here, our objective is to save as many of you as we can from those
....Things."

	"What things?" Fry was now totally confused.

	"Listen, you have to keep this to yourself, otherwise, it may 
ruin the outcome of our Jump. Just trust us, please. There are things out 
there....terrible things. Killers-", Sarah began.

	"You mean Riddick-"

	"No! We mean things like you've never seen. Scary horrible things 
that are very...very hungry and when the light is gone....they come out. 
They are photosensitive." Even finished for Sarah.

	"And you know all of this how? I know you said your jumpers, but how 
do you know the future?" Fry asked, starting to walk out of the compound.

	"We've seen it. It's a part of our program to ready ourselves, 
it's how we know what to do. But there are certain things we aren't 
able to prevent, or allowed to prevent because they may change things 
too much. We-" Sarah was cut off as Fry caught a glimpse of something.

	"Well, then I don't think we have to worry much anymore. I just 
found our ticket off this rock!" Fry started running towards the glistening 
metal. "HELLO MECCA!" she shouted, bringing Johns and Imam, who were both 
checking out the water generator. 

	"Alright! So we have a ship, we can get out of here right Carolyn?" 
Johns asked, rounding to step inside the open door of the emergency ship.

	"Well, I don't know, we have to see if it will accept the power cells." 
she said looking the ship up and down. 

	"I will go help the boys try to uncover the mystery of the water 
pumps." Imam said with a large smile on his face. 

	Carolyn walked up into the ship and Johns stood outside, looking 
around before coming back to the ship.

	"Get ready. We're gonna have to run to keep up with them when he 
hears the gun shots." Eve whispered to her sister. Just then the shots 
could be heard and the girls wondered why Carolyn apparently hadn't 
heard them.

	"Shut up!" they heard Johns say. After a moment he spoke again. 
"Sorry. Thought I heard something."

	"Like what?" Fry asked.

	"Gunshots." he replied looking around.

	After thinking a moment, he yelled for the others and told 
Carolyn that they were going back to investigate. "You girls coming? You 
shouldn't be out here alone. Just incase it wasn't Riddick they were 
shooting." Johns said, motioning for the girls to go with them.

	Catching up, the girls jogged with the group as they headed back.

***

	Arriving on the outskirts, the girls watched just in time as Johns 
knocked over Riddick, running from the direction of Shazza and the now dead 
Zeke. They watched, unable to do anything as the group converged on Riddick 
and knocked him out. Eve turned away as Shazza gave the final blow, not 
wanting to see it happen. The girls all looked down sadly at the poor 
unconscious and guitless Riddick. It was wrong, but they weren't allowed 
to alter this part for it might change things. So they just walked down to 
join the group as Johns and Imam went to chain Riddick up inside the cabin. 
Johns had taken his goggles and had them now in his back pocket, stealing 
the man of his protection.

***

	The group was busy calming Shazza down to hardly notice the 
three newcomers. There was much yelling and a few minutes later, Fry 
left to talk to Riddick. Johns suggested simply leaving him to starve, 
but the girls and a few others wouldn't have it. After a few moments, Shazza 
had calmed and wiped her eyes, though anger still burned behind them. The 
anger fled for curiosity as she spotted the girls.

	"Who'r you?" she asked in her British accent. Jack and Paris too 
looked over, noticing the girls for the first time. 

	"This is Eve, Maye and Sarah. We found them out at the settlement." 
Johns said from his seat.

	"Ah. Shazza." she said extending her hand. Each girl shook it 
with a smile.

	"I'm Jack." said the little girl. The three women exchanged a 
look as they shook her hand, unnoticed by Jack.

	"And I'm Paris P. Huglby. Pleasure to meet you." he said, 
bowing very slightly with each hand.

	"Nice to meet all of you. I'm glad we were found." Eve said 
with a smile. Paris' face suddenly lit as he remembered where they were 
found.

	"Settlement?" Paris asked, turning back to Johns.

	"Yeah, we found one not a mile from here. It's empty but there's a 
skiff there that just may be in working order. I'm going to go check on 
the Captain. Make sure she didn't get slashed." Johns said standing. On his 
way out, he passed Fry, then turned to walk with her. "Where are you 
going?"

	"To look deeper in that hole." she said.

	"Should we interfere? She'll be mad if we don't." Maye started.

	"But they won't know the danger unless she goes in." Sarah finished.

	"I don't know. We can warn her, that's all we can do." Eve said, 
taking off with her friends close behind.

***

	"Tell you what I think happened," Johns started as the 
group made thier way out to where Zeke was killed," I think he went off 
on the guy and buried him in the hills somewhere and now he's got you 
believing there's something else out there.

	"Well, let's just be sure." Fry answered.

	"Look, murders aside, Riddick belongs in the asshole hall of fame. 
He loves to jawjack and he loves so make you feel afraid because 
that's all he has-"

	"I don't even know why I'm trying to explain this to you, Johns. 
Your a cop, we have to find his body.

	"Hey, I'll go!" Jack put in, but the look from Johns and Fry shut 
her up. Mind you noone but the girls knew that Jack was a girl yet.

	"Noone is going." Fry told her.

	"Look, being ballsy with your life doesn't change what came 
before. It's just stupid." Johns started to tell off Carolyn before 
she interupted.

	"What? Do you think I'm trying to prove something?" she 
asked, turning to meet him.

	"Well, are you?" he asked after a moment. 

	Carolyn turned ignoring him and started back off toward the circle 
of towers that held where Zeke had been digging.

	"Carolyn, can I talk to you?" Maye asked quietly as she 
caught up with Carolyn about seven feet in front of the others. Sarah 
and Eve were back with Jack and Shazza, watching their friend try her hand 
at getting through to the 'Captain'.

	"Sure."

	"Listen, another thing. Those things are down there. Still keep 
this information to yourself for now, it could change everything for the 
bad, but please, you don't have to go down there to know."

	"I have to find Zeke's body." she said, glancing back at 
Shazza, then forward again.

	"All I can do is ask you not to go. Your going to regret it if you 
do. But if you do, be careful. And stay in the light." Maye whispered before 
falling back with her friends.

***

	Fry had indeed decided to go in and now the group was gathered 
round one of the tall sand pipes, pulling her from the side they had broken. 
Once out she looked briefly up at the girls with a look that said she 
was sorry she hadn't listened, but grateful they had told her before letting 
her head fall down again. They were all asking questions. All of 
them wanted to know something. So she decided just to get their attention 
the best way she knew how.

	"FUCK!" she yelled. "That was so fucking stupid! I don't 
know what the hell was down there, but whatever it was got Zeke and it 
nearly got me-" her sentence was cut short with a yelp as she was suddenly 
pulled backwards, off her feet and back to the hole. Grabbing the edges, she 
started screaming for the others to get it off of her as they cut the cord. 
It flew down the hole followed by two creatures.

	Fry stood and sighed, making sure she was far from the hole. After 
a moment, she walked over to the girls. "Thank you. I know I shouldn't have, 
but I had to know."
	
	"We know." Eve said. "It's alright. Let's just get back to the ship, 
k?"

	With a nod, the group headed back.

***

	An hour later the group, including the now free Riddick were 
sitting in a circle just outside the ship listening to the girls. 

	"Alright, now that you know what we are and where we're from, 
there is a reason we're here. In about 48 hours, an eclipse is going to 
happen. We had to keep this from you until now unless we wanted the end 
result to be disasterous. The whole group has to be here. That includes 
Riddick. Despite what you say and think, you're going to need him." At their 
skeptical looks and Johns angry look, Eve sighed and continued. "Look, once 
night falls, all hell is going to break loose. Those things down there aren't 
going to stay down there for long. So I say that we should get all of the 
cells to the settlement and on that skiff before dark falls."

	"This isn't a short eclipse. It's long. Very long. It could even 
last more than a year or two. That's why it only happens every twenty-
two years. There are some things we won't be able to reviel to you, but 
it's for the best. Like, we're not going to say who lives or not, that 
could make everyone competitive." Maye added before Sarah said the rest.

	"Instead of trying to not die, you can help each other live, save 
each other from what may have been their death. But you need to work 
togather, not conspire against each other, to get this done."

	A pause was felt through the group as everyone absorbed this 
knowledge, some skeptical about the truth, but also cautious enough to 
take the advice as well.

	"Alright, so how to we get five cells, thrity-five kilos each to 
the skiff? That's alot of weight and we can't just each take one, we'd 
wear ourselves and our time out." Fry asked.

	"There's a sandcat back at the settlement. I believe Shazza has 
the skill to get that puppy working?" At Shazza's nod, Eve continued. "Then 
you can use those. But you guys need to take only what you HAVE to. I would 
take that spirit though, Paris. It may come in handy in case we do get 
stuck in the dark." 

	"Alright. I suppose I could get that now." he said then went to 
grab the liquor and a few more that wouldn't burn. Being Paris, he had 
to have his Shriaz and Rums.

	"We could probably get those cells out while we have the chance. 
Shazza, if you want to go ahead, I'm sure the girls would be happy to go 
with you to get the sandcat up." Fry said, standing and motioning for 
Johns to help her. Johns motioned Riddick, who stood, though he didn't want 
to.

	"And I and my boys can start on the water source. I am sure we 
can get it to working very soon." At Fry's nod, Imam started out.

	"Sure thing. Who's coming?" Shazza asked. Maye and Sarah decided to 
be the ones to go and once grabbing Jack into the group, the four 
headed off with Imam. Eve had decided to stay behind and help out. She 
told Fry she was going to get the tubes of light for just in case they 
were needed. 

***

	Standing inside the room well lit by the blue tubing, Eve began 
to pull down the lines, piling them up in coils. She had finished nearly 
half the room in a half hour when the door opened, making her jump. There 
stood Riddick with the door open behind him. Giving her a long look, he 
remained silent as he turned and began to pull tubing down from the wall 
she hadn't started on. Eve stared on in shock for a minute before hesitantly 
turning back to her wall. 

	Ten minutes went by in silence before Eve found herself on 
the same wall Riddick was stripping, on the opposite end. With a sigh she 
turned to him, making him stop and look at her.

	"Not that I don't appreciate the help, but why ARE you helping me?"

	"One word. Johns." his deep voice rumbled.

	"Ah." 

	No more was said as the rest of the room was stripped and the 
coils carried out. At one point, Eve thought she could handle two coils and 
nearly dropped her handfulls as she started to tip from the weight 
before she felt a strong arm pull her back up and some of her load relieved. 
Riddick simply walked around her with his now heavier load. Eve couldn't 
help but notice how nicely he walked, his ass swaying just right, and almost 
fell again. Shaking her head, she continued on as she heard the sandcat 
pull up. Stepping out into the light of day, she saw Maye and Sarah jump 
down, followed by Jack. The girls came over and helped her load up the 
lights, then all three watched as the cells were loaded onto the sandcat. 
Paris loaded on his bottles, not noticing as Maye slid one underneith her 
leg on the opposite side, hiding it effectivly. She caught Riddick's 
smirk and smiled as her two companions did the same, climbing on beside her. 
Once everyone was on the vehicle, Shazza took off at top speed, making 
it to the settlement in record time.

***

	Within the next few hours, Imam had gotten the water to work, the 
powercells had been dragged up and placed in the ship and Jack had shaved 
her head, earning her rolled eyes. Unfortunatly, they were unable to save 
Ali. The lock had been too long to get shot through before they could get 
to him. The girls never told that they knew it was going to happen. They 
had forgotten in all the bustle. Another part of the objective unachiveable. 
But the time went on and the group worked faster.

	The issue of the colonists had come later than origionally, but had 
still come.

	"What about all the people here. Surely those things couldn't have 
gotten them all, right?" Paris asked.

	"Yeah, I figure maybe they had a big drop ship pick them up." Fry said.

	Riddick walked up and leaned against the wall, giving the three 
newcomers a sideways glance before speaking. "Come on. You don't really think 
that. You know these people didnt' get out of here alive. Whatever got 
Zeke got them. You dont' really think they left everything they had 
here. Pictures? Clothes?"

	"They could have had wieght limits, you don't know." Shazza snorted.

	"I know you don't prep your emergency ship unless theirs a fuckin 
emergency."

	"He's fucking right." Jack said.

	"Hey,"started Johns, "Watch your mouth."

	"He's just saying what we're all thinking."Carolyn 
then turned to Riddick."so what do you think happened?"

	"I think they all ran to the Coring Room. Heaviest doors. 
Thought they'd be safe, but they forgot to lock the basement." he said 
starting off. 

	Shazza got up and walked after him. "Hey."

	Riddick turned back to her. She paused a moment before deciding 
and pulled off her breather and tossed it to him. "Here."

	"What? It's broken?" he asked throwing down.

	"No, there are still a few hit's" she paused."Actually, you 
asshole, I was trying to apologize." Shazza 
huffed before storming 
off. After a moment, Riddick reached down and 
placed the tube between 
his lips, puffing on it to get the fresh air into 
his over used lungs.

***

	"How much longer till the eclipse?" Fry asked Sarah as she and the 
girl preped the ship.

	"Should be about 30 hours now. We can probably afford to get sleep." 
she smiled over at their new captain. Their were eight seats and two pilot 
seats. That meant that ten people could leave the planet. It would be 
even harder with all the equiptment they were having to load. They left 
the lights and Paris' stash aboard the ship for safe keeping. All the cells 
had been installed, but no sys check had been run yet. Carolyn was still 
worried about the whole Riddick situation. Since Johns had found her and 
talked to her personally earlier that day, she had been on edge about 
him.

	Hearing a thump, the two turned to the back to find Riddick standing 
there with another strand of light, then hung it up on the wall. "It's strange..
.not doin' a runup on the main drive, yet. Unless....Unless he told you 
the particulars of my escape. "

	Maye realized that the two had forgotten she was there and so 
listened to the classic coversation.

	"I got the quick and ugly version."

	"And your afraid of a repeat of history."

	"It has entered our minds."

	Riddick stepped up as she shut off some buttons up front. He 
noticed Maye watching them and turned to her before walking past Carolyn 
and taking the pilot's seat, turning to where he could face both the women.

	"I asked what you thought." he looked at Fry, then to Maye.

	"You scare me, Riddick. Isn't that what you want to hear?" Fry 
asked, nervous."Now can we just get back to work?"

	Riddick ignored her comment turned to Maye who paused before answering.
 "I guess on some level you do frighten me. Knowing what you can do. But 
I also know that your not just a killer. Your still a person...somewhere in 
there."

	Riddick raised his brows at that, then turned back to Carolyn, 
switching between the two women as he talked. "I wonder. Do you- Do 
you think Johns is a do-right man? You think I can trust him to cut me 
loose?" 

	Fry fidgited."Why, what'd you hear?" she shot a look at Maye who 
just looked back with a 'shrug' in her eyes.

	"Oh I don't know. I guess if it were trickeration, he'd 
just....X me out huh? He'd kill me." he paused. "Then again, I am worth twice 
as much alive." he grinned.

	"He's a merc." Maye said. Riddick turned to her in shock as well 
as Carolyn. 

	"You knew?"

	"It's a guess. Actually we had no clue what he was, but I'm thinking 
the way he acts, the way he move and how he talks, he doesn't seem like a cop. 
He seems like he's in it for the enjoyment rather than the job." Maye said 
with a shrug.
	
	"Good perception." Riddick grinned at her before standing. 
"I truely don't know what will happen if the lights go out, ladies. But 
rest assured. This little psycho-fuck family of ours is going to rip 
itself apart." he started out before turning back to the girls as Carolyn 
was sitting back in her seat.

	"Ever wonder why Johns shakes like that? Ask him. Ask him why your 
friend had to scream so painfully before he died." and then he was gone. 
Maye let out a sigh and nearly fainted. He had been so close and talking 
to her. It was like a dream. She looked over at Carolyn who had her 
eyes closed. He truely scared her. Interesting, as Riddick would say.

	Moments later Fry stood up and stormed out the door of the ship to 
find Johns. Maye knew what would happen then. She smiled at the hope 
they all now had. Turning to leave, she went off to find her friends.


***

	The ship was now all set up and ready for lift off. There was now 
only ten hours till the eclipse. Everyone had gotten sleep, still somewhat 
nervous of Riddick. Maye had hidden the bottle of Shiraz behind some 
of the luggage on the ship. She could grab it as they left. They still had 
two scavenges to get. Carolyn's hair and Riddick's shirt and only a 
short time to get it. Less than half a day.

	"Alright, I'm gonna try and get his tank ok? You two go get Fry's 
hair. One distract her while the other cuts, k? And don't forget to put 
it in that baggie you have, Sarah." Eve said to her friends who nodded 
and headed off.

	"Now here comes the hard part. How. Ok, first I'll try exchanging 
it." Eve pulled out the tank they had stored when they first arrived. 
Riddick was standing in the Coring Room, yet again, looking down the 
hole to where the creatures resided. He hear her before she entered 
his vision area. Lifting his goggles, he watched as she approached with 
amusment. He could smell the nervousnes pouring off her in waves. She 
had something black in her hands and he tensed slightly, ready for 
anything.

	"I-I brought you a new shirt. We knew before hand that that one 
was going to basically get ruined and with the sweat and everything, you 
would pretty much start to stink, so...." she held out the shirt.

	"You brought a change of clothes because you knew I wouldn't 
smell...fresh?" he asked incredously.

	"Seriously. Yeah, we did. Well, actually it's that and we wanted 
to see you shirtless, but...oops." She didn't mean for that to slip and she 
caught the smirk on his face.

	"Amusing. You three are strange. You know some things and don't 
know others. You keep certain information from us and give us other. 
You don't bring water for yourselves at first, yet you think to bring a 
change of clothes for someone you've never met and could possibly slit 
your insides out whenever he pleases? No, I think there is more to you 
than you are telling." he said standing fully up from his origional position 
leaning over the hole. Riddick approached her slowly until he was almost 
only a foot from her, forcing her look up at him.

	"If you don't want it, I can always give it to someone else. It's 
just we figured since you were less clothed, you'd smell more." Eve 
looked down at his shirt, "No offense, we just...don't like that sort of 
thing. I mean, it is dirty. Look at it, it has dirt and sweat and-" she was 
cut off as he grabbed her chin and lifted her eyes to meet his silver ones. 
After a moment she spoke. "So you don't want it, then?"

	In his mind, Riddick as remembering when Shazza had offered 
him the breather and how he had reacted. They were all trying to get on his 
good side. He couldn't blame them, but it was even more amusing with 
these girls. They were all blushy and girlish around him. Somehow he 
liked that. So with a grin, Riddick took the shirt in his other hand, not 
holding her, then to her extreme shock, he tilted her head back down a 
little and gave her the lightest brush of a kiss on the forehead. Without 
another word he backed up, pulled off his tank revieling his copper 
skin then threw the shirt to her before pulling on the other one. It was 
slightly different, with sewn in stripes, but felt good against him. 
Her eyes were still wide as he walked past her, briefly placing a 
hand on her shoulder, she assumed to say 'thanks'. 
	
	With her eyebrows raised and swearing to herself never to 
wash her forehead again, Eve headed out of the Coring Room to place the 
shirt with the Shiraz. She just hoped her sisters were doing better.

***

	"Hey Carolyn." Sarah said with a smile walking up to Fry as she was 
securing some of the stuff in the ship for take off. Good she was alone. 
Maye followed her in.

	Fry turned with a smile. "Hi guys."

	"So how's the ship. I mean, is it right for take off. There's 
only like 9 hours now." Sarah continued, effectivly distracting her to 
pay attention to her. Fry forgot about Maye and turned to Sarah.

	"Yeah, I think so. There was a problem with one of the hookups 
and one of the front lights isn't working, but besides that, I think it's going 
well." she smiled.

	Behind her, Maye had out the sissors they had brought with them and 
was carefully snipping off pieces of Fry's hair. Fry didnt' seem to notice. 
The plan was to get some cut to where it wouldn't look like anything was missing, 
but enough so that when she left, the girls could simply pick it up and 
put it in the bag.	
	
	"So then we're all set. Once it's off the ground and in the air, 
once we know your all safe, we can Jump back to our home base. We just need 
to make sure your all safe." Sarah finished as Maye gave her the thumbs up.

	"I think we'll be fine. I have to go make sure we have everything. See 
you girls later." Fry said with a smile, then turned, almost bumping into 
Maye, who had to hide her sissors behind her back, then she left.

	"Yes!" the two girls high-fived, then started putting the hair into 
the baggie. "I hope Eve isn't in too much trouble. I don't know how she's 
gonna get that tank from him." Maye said.

	"Yeah, well, she'd better. We have to have it to complete the scavenge 
hunt. And we STILL have to rub Riddick's head, even though it's optional." 
Sarah said with a light laugh.

***

	"Well?" Eve asked. It was only an hour until dark and the girls 
hadn't been able to see each other till then, busy helping. The entire 
group except for them, Paris, Riddick and Jack were inside the ship. 
Imam and his boys had been strapped down. Fry was powering up the main 
drive and Shazza was locking down all the technicals.

	"We got it. What about you?" Sarah asked as she and Maye approached 
Eve. They were close enough to the ship that they could run if they 
had to, but far enough so that noone would hear them.

	"Yep."

	The girls looked shocked."How the-" Maye started. The two looked 
over the shirt determining it was indeed Riddicks.

	"It was amazing. I told him that we brought it cause we knew he'd 
smell and then he just grinned this odd grin before taking the shirt. 
Guys, he KISSED me!!!!"

	"WHAT?!" both of the girls nearly screeched.

	"Shh! On the forehead. But still! I can't believe it. There is 
more to this fine man than we know." she smiled. 

	The girls hid their things again inside the ship as they entered, 
making sure the others were occupied. Then they climbed abord and 
Maye and Sarah strapped into a seat. Paris came in next strapping in 
one seat down from Maye, right behind the front right pilot's seat. Eve 
looked around then started out.

	Sarah grabbed her arm. "Eve?"

	Eve turned to look at her then got close enough to whisper. 
"Don't worry, I won't be long."

	Running out of the skiff, she headed toward a building where she 
had last seen Riddick. Johns, however was following, though she didn't 
know.

	Entering through the door she spotted him looking at the 
pictures, once again his goggles off in the dark room. The planet was 
getting closer to the sun and there were only a few minutes, ten at most 
left before everything went dark. Eve was thankful they had saved that 
many so far and that the others could live. "Riddick." she said quietly 
so as not to startle him. He turned to look at her.
	
	"Shouldn't you be in the skiff?" he asked. He seemed different 
for some reason. 

	"Yeah, I know, but there is something you should know. It's 
about Johns."

	Outside, Johns' ears perked up at this. What was the girl telling 
Riddick about him? This should be interesting.

	"What about him?"

	With a sigh, Eve took the last step up to him. "He going to 
sour your deal. He doesn't intend to go through with it."
	
	Riddick was surprised by her yet again, telling him this. 
"How do you know?"

	"I just do. It's one of those things we didnt' tell ya'll. But I'm 
telling you now. So you know. So you'll be ready, cause I know you 
don't wanna go back into that slam again. I know you won't. I just wanted 
to give you proper warning." she said quickly.

	After a moment of pause, she heard it, quiet, but there nonetheless.
"Thanks."

	"Just uh, just don't get killed, k?" she smiled.

	"Me? Get killed by him?" he laughed. "I dont' think you have to 
worry, but thanks anyway." he said before leading her out. Just as he 
passed the door, he sensed it, but too late. Johns grabbed Riddick by 
his arm, pulling him into a headlock. Riddick quickly punched Johns in his 
stomach, then kicked him, knocking him back into the wall. Johns pulled 
out his knife as Riddick pulled out his shiv. "Get back, Eve." he said.

	Eve stood back and watched in shock as the two rounded each other. 
It was just like in the movie, but it wasn't completly dark and the fight 
was about a different ideal. She watched as Johns took a swipe at Riddick, 
but Riddick reached out and grasped him, snapping his arm out of place and 
turning him to slice a cut across his chest. Johns cried out and fell 
to the ground grabbing his arm and pushing it against his chest. He was 
attempting to stand, but was unable to. He squirmed toward the skiff. 
Just as Riddick was about to deliver the finishing blow, Eve stepped in.

	"No!" she put her arms out.

	"Damn it woman! Make up your mind. " he growled. 

	"Look, if you leave him here like this his fate is going to be 
much worse. Those things will pick and tear at him until he can't feel 
anything anymore. Leave him to them. Have to feed starving animals, 
right?" She said with a sheepish look.

	Riddick laughed outright. "Yeah, I suppose. Come on."

	They turned to leave and Eve suddenly screeched as she 
felt her ankle grabbed. Riddick snapped around to see Johns had grabbed 
her and was about to bury his knife in her leg. Moving quickly, Riddick 
grabbed her by the arms and pulled her away, kicking Johns in the process. 
Then, before either of them could move, the atmosphere changed and the light 
got extremely dimmer. A loud scream of a Raptor could be heard from far off 
in the distance. The two froze.

	"Que the dramatic music."Eve murmered, 
but Riddick didn't laugh. He obviously had seen what had made the noise and 
it scared the shit out of him. He grabbed her harder and pulled her to run 
with him to the skiff. Once inside, he pressed the button to shut the door. 
Outside they could vaguely hear the yells of Johns and the snapping of the 
creatures on the ground.

	Fry turned to face the two who looked completely disheivled. 
"Where's Johns?"

	"Which half?" Riddick asked facing her directly.

	Jack gasped and turned to look down. "Oh god."

	Riddick almost turned to tell her not to mourn for him until Fry 
turned around. "Well, sit down! We have to get the hell out of here!"

	 Everyone but them were seated. On the left four seats were Jack, 
Imam and his two boys, Maye, Sarah and Paris, who sat up at the front seat, 
leaving a seat between him and the girls for Eve, sat on the right. Shazza 
and Fry took the front two pilot seats. There was only one seat left. Before 
she could think, Riddick grabbed Eve's hand and pulled her with him. Sitting 
in the seat, he strapped himself down, then shocked her and everyone else 
by pulling her down onto his lap holding tight to her waist. 

	"Hang on." he growled. She got the point. There was no way he 
wasn't taking a seat and this was the safest way for everyone to have a 
seat and have less risk of injury. He was, after all, very strong.

	Obeying him and grabbing the side bars inside the seating area, Eve 
looked to her friends then held tighter as she ship jolted and lifted off 
the ground. Loud scraps and screeches could now be heard from outside 
the skiff. A creature suddenly landed on the front wind shield making 
everyone gasp and jump.

	"Their alot bigger than they looked before." Maye whispered.

	"Floor it, damn it, Carolyn!" Riddick yelled and Fry shook herself 
then pulled the lever, pushing the skiff into action. It moved at an 
incredible rate, smashing a few of the creatures on their way up. Everyone 
held onto the bars or their belts holding them in. Riddick tightened 
his grip a bit more and Eve gasped and pressed her hands flat against 
the walls as the skiff jolted from the atmosphere. With a sigh, she 
looked back to Riddick who just looked back, no expresion, before 
turning back to look at the others. Once in space, Fry put the skiff on 
auto pilot then leaned her head back, closing her eyes and sighing. That was 
the last mission she agreed to.

	Sarah unbuckled her belt and stood. Maye followed. They were 
all feeling pretty invincible right then. Great success. Only one 
task left and from the looks of the way Eve sat, it wouldn't be that 
hard. The two turned then got 'cat-ate-the-canary' grins on their faces.

	"Well that was fun." Maye said gaining the attention of everyone 
else.

	"Yeah, have to do that again." Sarah put in, then the two turned 
to each other, then Eve and all three said at the same time. "NOT!"

	"We should probably get going. I mean, everyone we had on 
our list pretty much is safe. I mean there was nothing we could do about the 
others, sadly." Maye said.

	"Yeah, but I don't think we can go yet. Eve looks to comfy. 
Aint that right Eve?" Sarah laughed turning to Eve who was red.

	"Oh, shut up!"

	"Come on, you know this is like your life long goal, to be sitting 
in the one place every girl in our time and age would die to be sitting. 
You can't honestly say you aren't in heaven." Maye laughed.

	"Shut up You Two!" Eve growled, but laughed. She could feel 
Riddick laughed behind her and knew he was also partially confused as 
to the 'in our time and age' comment.

	Amusment was on the faces of all the crew. The playful side of the 
girls had now come out. This was to be very interesting.

	Eve stood up and walked over to where her friends were. "We 
should probably get going." 

	Walking over to Fry and Shazza the girls gave each of them a hug 
and a 'thanks before making their way to Imam. He gave them each a hug and 
his boys shook their hands. Jack hugged each girl.

	Maye pulled back and said so that noone could hear her. "Keep up the 
good work, girl." Jack looked shocked for a moment before she realized 
they werent' going to tell, then laughed and hugged them again.

	They shook Paris' hand, then made their way over to Riddick finally. 
He wasn't sure what to expect from these strange girls.

	Eve stood in front of the other two."We do still have one more 
task to complete, but it's up to you guys. Do you wanna? I dont know 
what he'll think about it. Probably that we're crazy. But hey, it's for 
all the girls of the universe who ever wanted to."
	
	"Wanted to what?" asked Fry who couldn't help her curiosity any longer.

	"Why rub Richard B. Riddick's head of course!" Maye laughed. 

	Riddick looked at the girls like they were crazy as they approached. 
He had no clue what to say to that. Why in the world would they want to rub 
his head?!? It was just odd.

	"Well?" Eve smiled. Before he could react, all three girls had their 
hands on his head and were rubbing. They were murmering about the 
texture and feel of it. Fry couldn't stop from laughing and soon 
Shazza was joining her. Riddick was paralyzed. What in the hell was going 
on??!

	After only a few seconds the girls pulled their hands away with 
big grins on their faces. "Our life mission is now complete." Eve laughed 
jokingly."Thanks." Leaning down, the girls hugged Riddick, who VERY 
reluctantly hugged them back. More like pat them on the back while they 
hugged him. Eve leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek then hugged 
him tightly. "Thanks for everything Riddick. It was a blast." she pulled 
back," and try to stay out of trouble." 

	Riddick laughed as the girls walked over to a corner in the skiff 
and grabbed up the items they had deposited behind the thing. Paris studdered 
as Maye held a bottle of his Shiraz. Fry looked closely and saw her 
short blond strips of hair in a small plastic bag that Sarah held and 
quickly felt around to the back of her head, then looked back up with 
an admonishing look on her face to which Sarah just smiled. Eve held 
Riddick's shirt in her arms and let the girls grab onto each arm before 
smiling at Riddick, who just smirked and pressing the little blue button 
on the black Jumper device. The others gasped as a blue and white bubble 
appeared with a swirl and in an instant imploded and the girls were gone. 
All the passengers sat back, thinking of how lucky they were to meet the 
girls and live to get off of that planet. Had it not been for three Jumpers, 
they would most likely be dead.

**********

	The girls dropped half a foot back onto the ground as the blue 
and white faded. Heading toward a black locker on the left, they openened 
it and placed the items in small plastic boxes, marking them and 
sliding them each into the same cubbie, marking it 'Pitch Black' 
before turning off auto on the ship.

       Turning to the reader (That's you) the girls smiled and Eve said 
quickly. "Ending theme song!" suddenly, strobe lights and different colors 
came on flashing through the room along with a disco ball and the girls 
started dancing horrible disco and jumping around cornily as the song 
by Five, 'When the lights go out'started booming through the ship. 
Sarah was doing the robot, Maye was doing some sort of wave thing with 
her arm and Eve was bouncing like a high monkey.

	Snapping out of their strange dancing trance after a few minutes, the 
girls went back to the story. "Well," May said after they shut down the 
system for the night. "That was fun. I think it was a good experience. 
Especially with those creatures."
	
	"Yeah, well I think I know what my favorite part was!"Eve laughed. 
"God, I can't believe he was like that. It was so cool. You guys missed 
a great fight!" she started as they headed out the door to the lift.

	"Really?" Sarah asked.

	"Yeah, first, Johns came and he grabbed Riddick by the.
...................." their voices faded from the control room as 
they first mission day ended for the Dimensional Jumpers.


END



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