Part 14

*********

Carolyn gathered the tools that were needed for the burial as Vasquez stood guard.  The eerie silence was broken only by the loud bang as a shovel fell into the side of the wall and the ping of metal hitting metal as the pick hit another shovel.  She couldn't supress the shiver that ran through her as she kept her eyes darting around the darkened room.

"Okay," she finally threw over her shoulder as she pulled all of the supplies into her arms.  "I think I have everything."

"Good ... not a damn minute to soon," Vasquez hissed, motioning for Frye to take the lead out of the building while she watched their backs.

With a firm grasp on the materials, Carolyn moved past the Marine and kept focused on her destination, trusting that Vaz would keep her alive.  The sooner they got Ripley's corpse buried, the sooner they could reunite with the others ... and there was safety in numbers.  At least she hoped.

Vas cleared the tool shed, still alert ... turning to Frye.  "Look, stick close to either me or Johns.  We have the firepower that could make the difference, at least give us a chance."

Johns.  The name sent a flutter to her throat.  Would they survive this?  Would they be able to create a life together?  Her nervousness grew into intense anxiety as the unanswered questions flew through her mind.  Swallowing hard, she nodded at Vas.  "I'll be fucking hermetically sealed!"

That brought a grudging smile to Vas's lips.  "Yeah, didn't think you'd mind. Especially when it comes to Johns."

Carloyn's eyes flew to Vas's.  "Is it that obvious?"  Her gaze went back to the line in front of her ... square on the area she was moving toward.

Shaking her head, Vas stilled her features ... not giving anything away, no emotion. "Not unless you know what you're looking at."

"What do you mean," Carolyn asked, struggling to keep the tools together.

"I've been there, Frye. Feeling these wild things for a guy. Only someone else that's felt that would see it in you and Johns."  She shrugged.

Compassion sprang to Carolyn's eyes.  "I'm sorry, Vas."  She gave a small smile and left it at that.

Vas shrugged again.  "Guess it just wasn't meant to happen."

Frye took a deep breath and stared straight ahead.  Was it meant to be with her and Johns?  Would she be able to handle it as well as Vas if it wasn't?  Suddenly life seemd more complicated than ever.

*         *            *            *              *             *                 *               *

Morgan sifted through the haphazardly tossed interior of the drop ship finally producing what was left of their medical supplies, basic stuff ... but needed. She continued searching, hoping to cross the flame unit that she knew should be on board. Turning, she stumbled on debrise.  "Shit!" she screamed, seeing a face below her.  It was Bishop eyes staring blankly up at her.

A strong arm reached down to pull her upright, pressing her body against the strong planes of Riddick's chest.  "Watch that step, there, baby.  It's a killer."  He stared into the lifeless orbs below.

"Wait! Wait!"  She pointed down at Bishop.  "Maybe, just maybe, he's still good for something."  She motioned for Riddick to join her inside.

He eased down beside her, eyes scanning everywhere at once.  "What's in that head of yours?" he prompted, keeping his poximity as close to her as possible while still being able to keep up with his observations.

"Just help me drag him over to the com. Bishop could run every scenerio possible in battle situations.  Maybe, this is the same thing. Close enough to count."  She grinned, hoping like hell she was right.

Riddick looked slightly confused as he helped her to manipulate Bishop.  "You think you can get him up and running?"  he asked, more than a little impressed.

She nodded.  "Think so.  Hudson was talking about this model once.  Said it was a breeze to hack into their insides."  They dragged the human-like replication over to the console.

He watched her fingers as they started to work.  "Nice to know your hands can move like that."  A slight smile spread his face.  It was official.  She was amazing.

He chuckled as she worked.  "Context, baby.  It's all in context."  His  face jerked back as Bishop's eyes flicked momentarily.  "Dead-boy's reviving."

"Not yet.  We have juice. Still have to patch him in." She cut her eyes over to him. "Cough up the shiv, Riddick," she ordered.

"Yeah, right," he countered ... then looked into her eyes.  "You're serious?"  She recognized the lowness of his voice as a sign of sudden anxiety.

"Come on, I know you got it.  Just produce it. WE need it.  Purely surgical reasons." She gave him a reassuring smile.

With nerve-wracking slowness he complied.  "Anyone else but you and I'd be using it for different reasons about now," he breathed as his concentration became even more intense.

"I know.  That's what makes it sooo special, darlin'," she teased, trying to lighten the situation.  "Cut here and here."  She pointed out spots low on the throat and behind the right ear.  "Just under the skin."

With expert finesse, he created the incisions in seconds flat, returning his gaze to hers.  "Next?"

"Jerk the wires on the com and sperate the blue and yellow. Blues input and yellow output," she instructed, fishing her fingers through the gooy wiring inside Bishop's throat, milky liquid coating her hand.

Again he followed her instructions quickly and efficiently, mumbling under his breath to keep his thoughts level and focused.  "Jesus, what does it take to impress a woman who can do all this shit?"

"You know what it takes, Richard."  She licked her lips for effect, before turning back to strip the needed wired inside Bishop for connections.

He leaned forward, his breath warm on her neck as he observed.  "You called me 'Richard'," he said softly.

"Umm.....I did, didn't I?  I assume I'll be properly punished?"  She turned her hand palm up waiting for the wires.

He wasn't certain how to tell her how much he liked it ... how to show her that it wasn't a joking matter to him.  He opted, instead, for grasping her wrist and pulling her palm to his mouth, his tongue flicking lingeringly against the sensitive flesh, then presenting her hand with the wires.

"Don't," she gasped. "Or I won't be able to finish this."  She took the wires, trying to ignore the tingling where his tongue had lavished attention. "Richard," she sighed, splicing the raw wires together.

"I hate hearing those words together, you know."  He reached in, instinctively giving her a hand where needed.

"What words?" She spared him a brief glance.

"Don't, Richard."  He met her glance and grinned.  "How's it coming?"

"Here's one for you.  Don't! Stop!  Don't stop, Richard! That better?" A lewd smile poised on her lips.

He chuckled, leaning in for a quick, intense kiss.  "Laugh it up, funny girl.  You'll get yours."

She finished the connections.  "Bishop?"  She waited, as the eyes rolled in the artificial life.  "Hey, Bishop. Can you hear me?"

"Yes. Is that you Morgan?" the voice sputtered.

"Fuck me," Riddick whispered with a slight sarcasm.  "We created life."

Morgan shook her head cutting her eyes to her partner, a slight smirk trying to remain hidden.  "Cut the comedy, Riddick."  Her attention went back the jerky form that was Bishop.  "It's me, Bishop. Morgan. We need your help."  As quickly as she could, she relayed all that had happened.  "We need off this rock, and fast. Suggestions."

Riddick looked at the woman as if she had gone insane.  "What, are you kidding me?  You're expect boy-toy here to be able to miraculously give you instructions on how to teleport off this planet?"

She shrugged.  "Never know. Stranger things have happened."

Bishop spoke up, his voice gurgling from the thick fluid.  "You say the colony is deserted? Everything appears to be left behind?"

She nodded and then realized he couldn't see the action.  Rolling her eyes, she gave him a verbal answer. "Yes. That's right."

"So, how about it, Bishop," Riddick prompted, completely unsure of the intelligence behind this.  "Dazzle us."

"In that case, it's plausiable that there would be an emergency escape plan in place for the colonist.  Look for a small escape vessel.  A skiff," the animated head suggested.

Cloudy eyes rolled towards Riddick.  "Would this be the infamous Richard B. Riddick that am in the presence of?"

"Yeah, that's me."  The goggles turned toward Morgan.  "How the hell did he know that?"   His hand tightened in a ball.

Morgan shrugged, looking just as surprise as he.

"Access to the corps fifty most dangerous criminals. You, Mr. Riddick, are one of the top five. I must say, you have quite an impressive history of activity."

A  low growl escaped Riddick.  For some unknown reason, this head was pissing him off.  "Yeah, well I aim to please."  He turned to Morgan.  "A skiff?  Escape transport?  No way it could be that easy."  He pivoted back to Bishop.  "Where to start  looking?  The crash looks pretty much devestating."

"The colony," Bishop responded, rolling his eyes back to Morgan.  "You realize if it is a queen you're dealing with you have very little time. I didn't have the time pinpoint the maturation time back on LV-426 but I'm certain it is considerably less than the drones."

Riddick shook his head, his hand rubbing a stubbling chin.  "This just keeps getting better and better."

"I know, Bishop.  I know.  But up until now there wasn't much hope of finding away off the planet."  She turned to Riddick, feeling as much as hearing the deep rumble of his voice.  "What do ya mean?"

"Limited time getting shorter and shorter ... a bad-ass queen having ultimate monster children ... Mr. Robot head here giving us advice..."  He turned to look at Bishop.  "No offense there, big guy."  His attention went back to Morgan.  "Somehow I'm not filled with an overwhelming sense of confidence."

"None taken." Bishop gave a loopsided smile.

Morgan sighed, rubbing the back of her neck in fustration.  "I know.  I know.  I couldn't agree more.  But Bishop has given us the only option we have so far.  Might as well follow up on it, right?"

Nodding his head, Riddick stood.  "Okay, keep him juiced.  I'm going to start scoping for any unfriendlies."

"Yeah, do that," she replied, cutting her eyes back to Bishop.  A sad smile lined his face, he knew.
 

Riddick moved a few steps and motioned with his head for Morgan to come.

"Give me just a second."  She nodded in the direction of Bishop.  "I can't keep him going much longer anyway."

He nodded and walked away, leaving the two alone.

Her attention went back to Bishop.  "Look, I....I...."

"I know, Morgan. You're sorry you have to do this, end my life span."  Another smile.  "Don't be.  I would never be the synthetic life I was before.  I can't be repaired."

She nodded, jerked the wires apart and watched him shutter to an end. Standing, she moved back toward the hatch and took a short jump upwards hauling herself out of the dropship to join Riddick.

He leaned with his back against the ship, his foot propped up as his eyes scanned.  "You okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded, glancing into the distance.  "Hicks and the others?" she asked.

Pushing himself from the ship, he moved closer to her.  "Let's get back to the rendezvous site and count heads.  Then we can start a search party for a skiff or whatever the hell he was talking about."  His hand touched her shoulder and squeezed understandingly.

"I have a better idea.  We wait here for Hicks and we have some time to kill besides." She moved towards him, running a calloused hand across his bicep.

His fingers moved to her cheek and caressed the soft, tanned skin.  Easing his hand behind her neck, he pulled her head toward him, sealing his lips onto hers in a long, languid kiss ended only by his mouth moving to trail the elegant contours of her neck.

"Ummmmm."  Morgan sighed, moving her hand to the back of his neck, kneading the hard muscled flesh there.

Wrapping his arms completely around her, he molded her form to his as he moved slightly, pressing her back against the hardness of the dropship, never once breaking the intimacy of the kiss.  His hands expertly began to move underneath the hem of her T-shirt, fingers splaying across the soft skin of her stomach.

*               *                  *                     *                   *                  *              *

Newt writhed uncomfortably in her sleep and shot straight up screaming a single name.  "MORGAN!!!"

Jack cut narrowed eyes to the small girl, wanting to strangle her for merely being there in the first place, for finding some odd sort of bond with Riddick. "SHUT UP, BRAT!" she hissed, skittering across the room to clamp a hand over the little girl's mouth. "Morgan's not here."

Large eyes stared into Jack's as a tiny hand pushed away the larger one from her mouth.  "I'm okay.  I just ... it was a bad dream."  She swiped a grimy forearm across her nose, sniffling slightly.

"Yeah, babies have lots of bad dreams. You should toughen up kid and stop sniveling," Jack sneered, shoving to her feet.

"You should leave her," one of the three boys spoke up, angry.

Newt stepped back slightly, eyes glued to the two sudden adversaries.  "I'll be better.  I won't cry ... I won't.  Just please, don't fight."

"We are not fighting.  She will leave you."  The oldest of the boys strode forward and sat down on the cot beside her.  "Are you all right?"

Newt stiffened and concentrated on the young man, nodded slightly.  "I am.  I'll be good until Morgan and Riddick get back."

Across the room Jack heard the kid mutter Riddick's name and flew into a rage.  "You know, he doesn't care about you. You're just a snot nose little brat to him. He'll probably just leave you in the sand somewhere to die!" Jack screeched.

"NO," screamed Newt, lunging toward Jack.  "You're lying!  He wouldn't do that!  He wouldn't!"  She felt the boy's restraining hands on her torso as she tried to reach her target.  "HE WOULDN'T!"

"Yes, he would.  He's done worse, kid. Lots worse.  He's a murder.  What makes you think he wouldn't do that to you?" Jack spat, hands balled ready to strike.

A hard, large hand grasped her hand, roughly spinning Jack around.  "And what makes you think he wouldn't do that to YOU?" Riddick spoke in a low, ominous voice ... angry eyes concealed by the dusty goggles.

Jack sputtered, red rushing into her face. "I....I..."

Newt rushed across the room launching herself at Riddick, arms outstretched. "You wouldn't. Would you?"  Tears spilled down her cheeks.

His hard stomach accepted the impact as her little body barreled into him.  His hands settled loosely on her back, his gaze staying on Jack.  "No, Newt.  I'd never hurt YOU."

She wrapped her small arms around his waist, muddy tears smearing across his shirt. "I knew it. I just knew it. She was lying about you."

He lifted her easily in his arms and glared at Jack.  "Later," he warned as he turned, carrying the little girl out to find Morgan.

*           *                *                  *                   *                    *                 *

Carolyn moved toward the area where Ripley's body was hidden.  Vas kept an eye on the horizon as Frye scanned for Johns and Gina.  A sudden and irrational anxiety overtook her at the concept of Johns being alone with the attractive general.  Her eyes flew to Vasquez.  Realizing she would be a fool to vocalize her concern, she gave a lame smile and returned her gaze forward.

Vas knew what was eating the other woman. Knew how NEW relationships worked, with just a bit of suspicion, jealousy. She debated a moment whether to open up that whole can of worms.  "Hicks sure has his hands full with the general.  Didn't know she was his type though," she commented, trying to draw Frye out.

Carolyn arched an eyebrow.  "Yeah, well men seem to go for that beautiful girl with a tough side type.  Hicks is a guy as well as a soldier.  Right?"  She looked at Vas, pushing the limits of this newfound trust.  "You ever get jealous?"

Vas shrugged, thinking about the times that Drake would tease Ferro.  "Yeah, a time or two."  She shook her head.  "But I should have know better. It's a waste of time and energy."

With a sigh, Carolyn nodded.  "I know.  I know.  But while my mind is telling me one thing, my emotions tell me another."  She continued walking, trying to assume an accepting attitude ... like Vas.

"Yeah, well.  It gets easer. It won't be this way forever."  Vas cut her eyes to the other woman.

*                *                   *                    *                        *                       *

Johns found a deep indention in the ground at the entrance of one of the cave.  Less digging, he figured. He cut his eyes to Gina and nodded towards the body.  "Wanna give me a hand?"

Tucking a few loose tendrils behind her ears, she glared at him.  "It would be the biggest thrill of my life thus far."  She looked over toward the area where Frye organized the tools.  "I'll go and get the stuff we need."

Johns waited, hand swipping at the sweat that beaded his forehead.  "Yeah. Just hurry it up. I don't like being out here.  Too open for decent cover."

She nodded and jogged the distance to Frye.  Squatting, she lifted two shovels and stood.  "He found a good spot ... it shouldn't take long."

A piece of blonde hair feel into the galring face of the other woman.  "Then get it done.  The sooner you get back to your job, the sooner you'll be finished."

Gina sighed.  Shit ... did EVERYONE have an attitude against her?  Quickly she moved back to Johns and tossed a shovel his way.  "Compliments of the Mistress of Personality."

"Hey, we're all strung out here.  Don't take it personally," he told her, glancing at the body at his feet. With one foot he gave it a shove sending it rolling down the embankment to the hollow at the opening of the cave. No sooner did it come to rest than Johns jumped down after it and barely managed to jump to the side as the body was grabbed and shaken brutally just before it disappeared inside the cave.  "Son of a bitch!" he howled as he scrambled back towards the others.

Gina was beside him in an instant ... Frye directly behind her.  "What the fuck happened?" the general snapped, unsure of what she had just seen.

"Fuck if I know. It was there one second and gone the next," he hissed, shaken.

Gina almost growled.  "Suck it up, Johns.  I need you 100% here," she stated matter-of-factly, her hands moving to his shoulders.

Frye stepped forward, moving to the side of Johns.  Her eyes glared into Gina's, then flew to Johns.  "You okay?"  Her voice was strangely soothing.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." He turned to Gina, wrapping his arm around Frye and tugging her away from the cave.  "100%? Well, general, could have been a hell of a lot less then 100%."

"Let's get everyone together and reconnoiter."  In her usual military style, Gina moved to push the two ahead and take the flank.

Vas stepped up survey the splatter of blood at the cave's opening. "Not going anywhere just yet, general." She handed over the pulse rifle in her hand to Gina and climbed into the indention.

Johns decided no matter how bad the previous incident had scared the shit out of him he wasn't about to let Vasquez go down there by herself, he followed.

Gina grasped tightly to the weapon, her eyes flying to Frye.

"Great leadership qualities, there, general."  The blonde grimaced and moved to the entrance of the cave, eyes flying around its edges.

John watched over Vas' shoulder as she shimmied through the tight crevice like opening. The woman hadn't been in inside more than a couple of minutes when Johns heard her shout and farely explode back through the opening.  "OUT! GET OUT!"  She shoved Johns roughly towards the loose sandy slope.

Gina aimed the pulse rifle at the cave entrance.  "What is it, Vas?  WHAT HAPPENED?"

Frye edged closer to the opening ... a strange compulsion overtaking her.  "What's in there?" she breathed.

"Get the fuck back Carolyn!" Johns shouted, jerking her back against the hard wall of his chest.

Vas shook her head panting. "Dunno, ain't seen them before. Something new. They devoured Ripley canvas and all," she snarled in disgust.

Gina's gaze flew to Frye, whose arms ended up around Johns' neck.  "And you were going to strole int here and have a look-see?  Are you insane or just attempting suicide?"  She moved her eyes to Vas, continuing to grasp the rifle.  "Inhabitants of the caves?  Are they limited to the cavern walls?"  She felt herself beginning to unravel.

"Far as I can tell. Shit! except the ones having themselves a little lunch." She pulled herself up to her full height. "SO, we got fuckin bugs coming out of our ears."

Frye's head turned toward the entrance, her eyes still strangely fixated on it.  "This is NOT good," she whispered.  "I HATE bugs."

"Yeah? Well your really gonna hate these!" Vas turned and motioned for Gina to turn over the pulse rifle.

Gina tossed the weapon to the waiting soldier as Frye began sliding from Johns' hold.  The general pointed toward the blonde and snapped at Johns.  "Do something with her!  She's going to get herself killed."

Johns shot her a warning glare. They had fostered a tentative respect for one another but he wouldn't let that stand in the way if she wanted to try to hold her rank over their heads. "She's fine, Gina."

She returned the angry stare.  As the small group lapsed into a tense silence, Frye whispered toward Vas.  "It's a waiting game, isn't it?"  Her next words were barely audible, yet strangely free from anxiety.  "Just a matter of time."

"Lets go. Standing here isn't accomplishing anything," Johns barked, leaving Gina's words without a reply.

Gina nodded.  "We should get back to the others and let them know what's what."

Frye chuckled wryly.  "What is what, general?  We still don't know what we're up against."

With a sigh, Gina squared her shoulders.  "I, for one, want to live long enough to find out what we're up against.  So let's get the hell out of here."
 

Part 15

*************

Hicks stood in the shadows of the green house repacking supplies, medical into one duffel bag, amo and small arms into a centry rifle case. He turned his face to the blazing sky overhead realizing there was no hope in telling time by the position of the sun here ... not with three of them. But he knew one thing for sure, Gina and the others should have been back by now. They had left before his group took off for the crash.

"Where the hell......" He began to voice his fustrated concern just as Vas appeared at the edge of the colony, the rest of the team hurrying behind. Moving away from the green house, he moved to intercept them.

Gina trailed the group, wanting nothing more than to fling herself into Hicks's arms. Carolyn rubbed the kinks from her neck and tried to rid herself of the slightly off balance feeling as she muttered, "I never thought I'd be happy to see him again."

Johns hadn't missed what she'd said and his arm snaked out going around her waist. "Yeah, but just remember who got you back here all safe and sound," he whispered.

Hicks moved directly to Gina's side, nodding to Johns as he passed. "What the hell happened out there?" he asked, studying her pale features.

She stilled her shaking hands as she spoke evenly. "There were creatures in the caves. They devoured the corpse." She steeled herself. "Vas saw them." Her eyes shot to the blonde and narrowed. "And Frye here tried to crawl in with them!"

Hicks shook his head, running his hand across his filthy spiked hair, silently cursing as he turned to Vas and called. "Was it our bug?"

The other woman shook her head. "Something new," she shouted in return.

"You okay?" he questioned, returning his attention to Gina.

Gina nodded and opened her mouth to speak just as Frye extracted herself from Johns's hold and stalked the several steps, shoving Gina between the shoulder blades, sending her falling into Hicks' grasp. Straightening, the general whirled around, hands up and prepared for battle.

Frye moved to lunge toward the woman. "At least I was ready to see what was in there! You didn't even have the courage for that much!"

"WHOA! WHOA!" Hicks stepped between them. "We got enough problems without us coming apart at the seams."

Johns stood behind Carolyn arms crossed over his chest, waiting to see how she handled herself in the next few seconds.

She stood back a few paces, her face as tense and angry as Gina's. "You want the seams to stay in tact, call off your little storm trooper, here." Eyes moving back to Gina, Frye became deadly serious. "You want to be treated like a leader ... start acting like one."

Gina stepped forward, only to be stopped by Hicks's hand.

"Listen up, I'm only gonna say this once." He began planting his hand on Gina's shoulder to keep her and Frye apart. "We ain't got time for who's the big dog on the block. This stops here and now."

Gina pushed away from Hicks as Frye turned her back and stepped back closer to Johns mumbling a soft, "fuck you," under her breath. The group was interrupted as Imam came forward. "You are all safe. That is well!"

Hicks motioned to Vas as he walked away from the group. "Tell me what you saw."

She took the cigarette that Hicks offered, more valued then gold at the moment. "It ain't the queen. It's.....Hell....I'm not sure what it was, man. They move like the aliens we know but they look different." With her hands she questured showing what the head looked like, how they moved.

Hicks clapped her on the shoulder, showing his approval. "Stay frosty, Vas. This is gonna get real nasty."

Gina watched as Hicks moved away with Vas, extracting herself far enough from the group to try and collect herself. Frye's eyes stayed on her as her breathing returned to normal.

Hicks stalked back to Gina, reaching for her arm. "We're doing sleeping rotation. Vas and I have watch. The rest of you will get a few hours rest. We need everyone as fresh as possible," he explained, leaning in for a quick warm kiss.

She looked at him with questioning in her eyes. "Why can't Vas take watch with someone else? I'll stay up with you."

He placed his lips against her ear, whispering, "I wouldn't get any WATCHING done."

She shivered slightly. The woman inside her was needing the close contact at this particular moment but the military general in her understood what he was saying. "Point and match, soldier.. I'll see to the others." She suddenly felt very shy and needed to move.

He stared at her retreating back in confussion. "What the hell did I say now?" he mummbled, feeling like she had just said fuck you instead of what she had.

She stopped and slowly turned, her eyes looking into his. "Nothing, Dwayne." She took a few steps closer and attempted to guide him into her mind. "It's been a pretty intense and hectic span of time here. The whole Ripley thing threw me for a loop and now we have a whole new type of terror to watch for." She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Now's not the time to think about what I'm thinking about so ... I'll see to the others." Her eyes stared into his for the briefest moment, then shot to the ground, hating herself for acting in any way non-military.

Yeah. Well. Fuck you too, general, he thought, his eyes turning hard. He turned and strode away, needing to find Morgan and brief here before he took up watch.

Gina watched his retreating back in confusing, then squared her shoulders and rushed to find a moment of privacy, unwilling to let anyone see the myriad of emotions swirling inside her.

Frye chuckled humorlessly as she saw the couple from the corner of her eye. "Trouble in fuckin' paradise," she murmured as she wiped the perspiration from her forehead.

"What's so funny?" Johns asked turning to her.

She motioned toward Gina. "She's losing it. Losing command. Losing control. Losing him. She's losing it." She turned and fell onto a crate with a long sigh. "I over reacted, didn't I?"

He moved up beside her, running a hand through her damp hair. "Afraid you're asking the wrong person that. I'm not exactly the king of rational."

She hid her grin, but her eyes sparkled. "You were loving every minute of it." Her hand moved to cover his. "It really shook you up, didn't it?" She was worried, knowing this would be the perfect situation to throw him into an insane desire for morph..

"Yeah, but I'm good. I can deal." He gave her an assuring smile, leaning down to bury his face in her hair, trying to control the tremors and nausia that wracked his body.

Her arms wrapped around his neck and she pulled her body closer to his feeling the slight shaking of his torso. Her hand slid up and down his back. "I'm proud of you," she whispered. "You know that?" Her own body tingled at his nearness ...something in the very air seeing to intensify the feeling.

*************

Riddick watched with a slight smile as Morgan soothed Newt back to sleep. For such a tough fighter, she was so gentle with the little girl and it squeezed at his heart in a painfully wonderful way.

Cutting her eyes to Riddick, she could see there was something about his expression that was different, even with the dark goggles. "What?"

He tilted his head motioning for her to come toward him. "You have a way with her," he said softly.

Morgan shrugged. "Someone's gotta be. I recognize a lot of me in her. She's not mine really but what's a little biology when it comes to needin somebody. Must be kindered spirts or some crap like that."

He nodded, his voice deep, smooth and even. "Yeah. Sucks to need and have no one there. After a while it just petrifies the heart." He glanced at the girl as his hand moved to the back of Morgan's neck, caressing the sensitive skin there. "I'm glad she's not going to have to experience that."

"Nah, I think she's met her quota of hard fuckin knocks." Morgan sighed, leaning into him. "Shit, Riddick. You need to talk to that kid. The other one. That's another hard case if I've ever seen one. He's all alone. Heard Shazza say something about murdered parents before we left for the drop ship."

His arm went around her shoulders as he breathed in the scent of her. "Jack? You talking about Jack?"

"Yeah. Jack." She pulled his tank from his pants and ran her fingers under the edge, grazing his definded stomach.

He moved his lips to the curve of her neck, his teeth biting at the skin there. "When I calm down, I'll think about it." His stomach quivered at her touch as his hardness enlarged even more.

She withdrew her fingers giving him another shrug. "Fine. If you won't do it I will." She moved toward the doorway.

His voice followed her, hoping to stop her. "It has to be done right now?"

She glanced over her shoulder at him, pinning him with an overly warm stare. "I don't know. Does it, Richard?"

His expression remained set. "I'm still not over the way I heard Jack talking to the kid, Baby. You want me to make nice, I should let that pass first, don't you think?" He moved toward her and reached out, touching her hair. "I"ll talk to Jack. Just not right now."

"Scout's honor?" Her fingers tentatively resumed the exploration of his stomach.

His hand grasped her free one, pulling it to his mouth as his tongue trailed across the palm. "Riddick's honor."

"You know, a lot of people wouldn't put much stock in that but...." She paused a shiver running along her body as the contact of his wet tongue. "Its good for me."

The scent of her was almost overpowering as he allowed the tip of his tongue to trace the outline of her palm. "Must be maternal instinct, baby. All this going on and you worrying about those kids."

"No....See, that's where your wrong. I don't do maternal. I don't have that particular instinct. Don't need it," she growled, eyes dropping closed.

His hand moved to caress the soft skin of her cheek. "Then tell me what's going on in that mind of yours." His mouth moved to nibble at her ear teasingly.

"A slow melt at the moment, Richard." A warm sigh escaped her as she smiled up at him.

He moved even closer to her, his hard body pressing to hers as his lips traveled to overtake hers ... the kiss hard and powerful as his teeth pulled her bottom lip between his teeth and he sucked slow and languidly.

Morgan's hands roamed his body, kneading warm skin and hard muscle as her tongue slipped out of her mouth to meet his.

"Mo...Mo....Riddick....." Newt's frightened voice slammed into the two.

Morgan pushed away from Riddick looking over at Newt. Newt's trembling hand lifted, pointing across the room. Then she heard it the low hissing sound.

In the far corner of the room the hulking black menace detached from the duct work against the ceiling, dropping to the floor and rising like a killing tide.

"OH FUCK!" Morgan hissed.

Riddick drew in a deep breath and kept his eyes on the immediate danger. His head nodded slightly toward Newt. "Stay there! Don't move unless we tell you." His hands stayed on Morgan, ready to push her from the line of attack.

Morgan slowly drew the service weapon Vas had given her earlier. "Get her Riddick. Please. Just make sure she's okay."

Hesitating for only a fraction of a second, long legs sprinted across the area and strong arms wisked Newt off her pallet and held her close to his chest. "She's clear," he snapped.

The alien whipped it's alongated head toward Morgan, the only target left to her. She charged, moving like lightening streaking across a midnight sky. Jaws spreading and her secondary set of teeth, dripping thick congiled saliva, protruding. Her whip like tail swung over her hooded head, dripping a green neon venom.

Morgan squeezed off one shot at close range, the bullet removing a small portion of the aliens left arm. She tried to fire again but the slide on the automatic jammed. The one shot had been enough to cause the queen to retreated. Morgan dropped the gun .... the smell of melting metal was strong in the room, gagging, covering her mouth and nose.

Outside, Riddick lowered the child to the ground and kneeled, keeping his hand on her shoulder to assure her staying beside him. His eyes up to scan for Morgan. "STATUS," he yelled.

"Alive," she coughed as she strode through the door out into the bright sunlight. Her eyes went between Newt and Riddick. "The both of you okay?"

Newt pulled from Riddick's grasp and ran to Morgan, throwing her arms around the woman's waist, hugging tightly for conformation of health. Riddick fell onto the ground in a sitting position, his hand wiping the perspiration from his forehead. "She's safe."

Morgan grabbed her and swung her up into her arms giving her a reassuring hug and then easing her back to the ground. Then she pulled Newt along as she stalked over to Riddick, falling to knees in front of him. "Riddick?"

He regained his breathing and nodding to Morgan. "I'm good." He looked over at Newt and spoke in a no nonsense voice. "You okay. Got all ten fingers and toes?"

His hand slid to Morgan's as he waited the girl's answer, squeezing the woman's hand for support and assurance.

"Affirmative!" Newt lifted her hands wiggling her fingers. She truned to Morgan, brightening. "Does this mean we get to nuke this planet too!"

Morgan turned shocked eyes to Riddick. "Really. I don't know where she gets this shit."

He hid his grin. "Yeah ... right." He stood slowly, his arm going around Morgan's shoulder as he leaned and whispered in her ear. "I'm all for nuking the fucker, too."

"Yeah. ALMOST worked last time." She grinned, looking up just in time to see Hicks sprinting across the compound.

"Heard a shot. What the hells going on over here?" He asked.

Riddick answered. "Nasty little bitch just tried to ghost Morgan and the girl."

"Okay, lets flush 'er out and take care of this here and now," Hicks replied, pulling the pulse rifle from where it was slung over his shoulder and snugging it against his shoulder. He was already moving toward the shelter before he could change his mind.

Riddick nodded toward Morgan. "One less fucker on the planet works for me. Let's do it."

Newt's eyes sparkled expectantly toward her surrogate mother. "Lock and load?"

"Oh, hell no, little girl. That was to much of a close call," Morgan hissed. She glanced around the compound and saw Vas striding towards them. Shoving Newt towards the other marine she instructed her to tell Vasquez what had happened. Newt nodded and jogged off in the direction of the other woman. Turning back to the two men she pulled in a agitated breath. "Lets get this shit over with."
 

Hicks began to move toward the doorways of the dwelling, on the offensive. Finally facing the nightmare alien again, the skin across his throat and lower to his chest began to burn. It was in his head but he still had the urge to drop the pulse rifle and jerk his T-shirt off and inspect the scars. But Morgan drew his attention and he cut his eyes to her.

Morgan stared down at her hands for a micro second before she began to laugh, an overly loud sound. She looked up and noticed Hicks' staring at her like she had just lost what was left of her mind.

"What the hell are you laughing at, soldier?" he growled, clearly pissed.
 

She raised her hands, Hudson's scared face filling her head. She could feel Riddick's big hand closing around the back of her neck. "What're we supposed to use, man? Harsh language?"

Riddick's hand massaged the nape of her neck deeply as his rich, strong voice spoke softly. "Harsh attitude, baby. It's all about harsh attitude!" His eyes flew to Hick's. "You sure as hell better be a sharp shooter, guy."

Hicks glanced between the two, inwardly sick at the memory of the last time he had heard those words, had seen that face. Hudson, Drake, Crowe, all friends all counting oh him when the shit hit the fan and he'd let them die. Oh, not that there had been much he could do about it but it was still a bitter pill to swallow, hard memeories to live with. He responded to the two the same as he had to Hudson in the processing station. He pulled his service weapon and handed it to Morgan.

"I always keep this handy. For close encounters."

Morgan's laugh died in her throat as it constricted, emotions welling, only to be stuffed back in place where they couldn't get in the way. She took the automatic slapped in her hand and turned to Riddick. "I fuckin missed the thing last time. Not sure I should be the one to take another shot."

Riddick respected Morgan's admission ... made him trust her all the more. He nodded to the soldier as his hand squeezed her neck before dropping. "I could give a shit who ghosts the bitch, I just want her disenigrated."

Nodding Morgan followed behind Hick's, wishing he had one of the big metal raining smart guns in her hand instead of the fifteen round service auto. "She was in the ceiling panels," she told Hicks, pointing over his shoulder to where the ailen had materilized before.

Advancing, he fired a round into the panel where her finger was leveled, nothing. Another round and there was nothing. They came to a stop almost directly under the aliens resting place, looking up there was nothing amiss.

"Slippery little shit, isn't she?" Riddick breathed, eyes scanning the area.

"Yeah, that's the understatment of the day. Guess we missed the party, folks." Hicks sighed, resting the rifle against his shoulder.

Riddick shook his head, his eyes shinning under the goggles. "I don't know. I've got a bad feeling, here." He willed his hand not to instinctively grasp for Morgan.

Just then a scream rang out through the compound, cut short with a startling suddeness.

"Handy talent." Morgan turned a surprised gaze on him, suddenly appriciating his sixth sence for trouble.

****************

Jack sat on a crate in the coring room away from the others, sulking, angry. The other girl had what she wanted, caring, comfort, understanding, and even Riddick. Her idol wanted nothing to do with her, crushing her. She cut her red rimmed eyes to the door as Vasquez carried the little girl into the room with them. Vas was saying something to the others, low and quite.

"Bitch!" Jack hissed, wanting to tear the girl's blonde nap of hair out or worse, wanting to put a blade to her throat and see real fear in her eyes.

How different it had been a year ago. She would never had thought to do that to anyone. But watching your whole family wasted by company assassins had a way of changing a person.

Across the room Johns looked up and caught the caustic gaze of the other kid among them. It was hard, the jealousy that fairly ozzed from Jack. He dropped Carolyn's hand, the look he turned on her asked for patience. He knew he had it and strode over to the crate where Jack was perched.

"Hey...." he began.

"Go away, Johns. I don't need none of your crap on top of everything else."

Brushing back a strand of short, blonde hair, Frye watched the play across the area with a slight look of confusion. Johns was certainly full of surprises.

Johns turned his head, catching Carolyn watching him. He could feel her questions across the space. Turning back to Jack he shrugged. "Didn't mean to intrupt your pouting over her, Junior. But thought you could use some company."

Jack eyes widened and Johns wondered if he had suddenly grown another head. "Don't look so shocked. I'm capable of more than running down escaped cons."

Standing and moving closer, Carolyn leaned a hip against a crate to observe the two. She gave a slight smile to Jack, hoping to relieve some tension. Slowly, she eased down to sit near Johns.

"Got nothin to say." Jack turned hard, vendictive eyes on the pair.

"Like hell you don't, Jack. You're practically roasting the kid over there over an open flame with the looks. What's up?"

"Nothing. She just gets in my way. Everytime she opens her mouth someone comes running." Jack pulled her knees back to her chest feeling vanerable.

Carolyn chuckled slightly. "That's a hard feeling to handle. I know it well." Positioning herself to sit cross-legged, she looked at Jack. "But she's a little girl. I guess everyone sees you more as a grown up. Like you can take care of yourself. That's not a bad thing, is it?"

She shrugged, lowering her eyes from Carolyn. "It's cool most of the time but, it's like no one even sees me unless they are afraid I'm trying to hurt little miss princess over there."

"You wouldn't hurt her though would ya, Jack?" Johns lay a hand on the narrow shoulder, feeling more bone than muscle below.

The woman nodded. "I understand how you feel, Jack. I've felt the very same thing lots of times in my life."

"Yeah. Well, it sucks. Makes me so mad I wanna scream. I mean, it's not like I don't feel bad for the brat but she ain't the only one that got handed shit in her life. I don't see anyone trippin over themselved to make sure I got someone who cares." She dropped her head, trying to hide the tears. The tears that could only be thought of as a weakness in her.

Carolyn felt a sudden squeeze at her heart. This youth had been herself once upon a time. Her eyes began to brim as they turned to Johns momentarily. "I do, Jack. I care."

"Why?" A hicupping gasp came from Jack.

Johns looked between the two, feeling the same out of place emtions he had at confessing his darkest secret to Carolyn. "I'm here Jack. Guess that means I care too. Don't ya think?"

Carolyn smiled, all the while feeling torn inside. "Why do we care?" Her arm tentatively moved to slide around Jack's shoulders. "Because you're a person, Jack. Because you're strong, and brave, and you've been through so much in your young life and you're still standing. Because you're you."

"Yeah?" Jack's eyes filled with hope as she lifted her head.

Her arm tightened around the slim shoulders. "Yeah!"

Watching the small change in Jack, Johns wanted to add to his security. "You stick with us. We'll make sure there's someone to watch your back. You come to me or Frye if there's something you need. Understand?"

Carolyn smiled in assurance. "Absolutely."

"Okay. Yeah." Jack actually smiled. "But hey, this doesn't mean I'm a baby or anything. Doesn't mean I can't take care of myself."

Carolyn shook her head. "No way. Hey, maybe you can even help Johns here take care of me?"

Jack snorted at that, laughing. "I just said I wasn't a baby. I'm not stupid either. John's is doing a good enough job takeing care of you." Winking at Johns she pushed off the crate. "But I can be an extra set of eyes."

A feminine laugh broke out. Carolyn sat back and allowed the tension of the last few moments to drain away. "We'll all be here for each other."

Jack was just about to agree with Carolyn when the scream outside sent the hair on the back of her neck to standing on end.

**********

TBC