He felt a shock rush through his body when he realized it was Carolyn. Her hair was longer and she had scars on her arms and neck, but it was definitely her. He sucked in large amounts of air as the realization sank in. "Carolyn," he whispered shaking her lightly. She rolled onto her back and slowly opened her eyes. They opened as big as saucers when she saw him. "Riddick?!" She said in disbelief. She reached her hands up to touch him. "Is it really you?" She asked unsure if he was just a figment of her imagination or not. "It's me Carolyn," He said breaking open the shackles with his bare hands. When she was free she reached her hands around his neck and hugged him. "I don't belie.. I can't believe it.." She said in shock. In one swift move Riddick picked her up in his arms. "Believe it," he said as he carried her to the door. Once they were back inside the main room again, Bianca eyed the Captains door. "Keep going I'll catch up," She said pushing them toward the door. Riddick put Carolyn down. "No, this is something I should do," He said standing between her and the Captain's door. Fry grabbed his arm. "Let's just leave, I don't care about him. We'll turn him in when we get back and they can deal with it. What's worse than death Riddick," She said staring into his eyes. He knew what she was implying. If the Captain was caught with all the illegal activity going on he'd probably get life in prison and Riddick knew that fate was far worse than death. He nodded in agreement. "I promised Jack no more killing anyway," He said taking her hand. "Bianca, here's your chance to escape. I suggest you take it," He said over his shoulder as they left. The choice was hers. They rushed down the halls and managed to make it to the shuttle with very little trouble. The one guard was sleeping peacefully and Riddick had no trouble knocking him out. He released the docking clamps as Fry entered the ship. "Wait for me!" Bianca yelled as she raced to the shuttle. "Thought you wanted to stay," He said following her inside. "I had to stop and get a souvenir." She grinned as she held up two large white objects. "I'm afraid he won't be getting far without these," She said tossing them lifelessly onto the floor of the shuttle. "I couldn't take the chance of him escaping," She said as her joy turned to tears of relief. Once they were on autopilot, Riddick looked over at Carolyn. Her face was lit up with the glow of the panel lights. She looked at him still half believing she would wake up and discover this was all a dream. "Is this a dream?" She asked him seriously. He shrugged. "If it is, we're sharing the same dream," He said softly. "Want to tell me what happened to you?" He asked feeling awkward talking to her. Taking a deep breath she sat back in the seat. "It happened so quickly I wasn't sure what was going on. One minute you and I were heading for the ship and the next, I see you growing dimmer as I was swept away by an alien. Almost immediately a fight broke out over me and as the alien swooped it lost its grip on me. I fell to the ground and when ship taking off distracted them I was able to crawl to a storage shelter. I was bleeding so badly I knew I was as good as dead, but at least they wouldn't get me. So I blocked myself inside and waited for the end to come. The next thing I know I'm being taken on board a ship. I actually thought it was a rescue vessel, instead it was a flying torture chamber." She scoffed angrily. He tensed up at the thought of her alone and suffering while he was flying away. "I learned later on that the Captain went after the crash site and after they pretty much took care of the aliens, they searched the place for loot, finding me instead of anything of value." Riddick shot her a glance. "I think of you as quite valuable," He said seriously. She could tell he had changed a lot since she last saw him. And she was so relieved to be with him again. He gave her such a sense of protection and safety that she never got from any other human. "How's Jack?" She asked smiling. "She's changed, she actually looks like a girl now," He said grinning as he pictured her seeing him walk in with Carolyn. "She'll be surprised to see you." He added. "I can't wait to see her," She said dazed by all that had happened in the last hour. Fry tried to ignore the odd looks she was getting as she walked down the corridor. She had thrown on an extra shirt of Riddick's and now looked half-dressed and half-naked. She longed to get a hot solar shower and into some normal clothes for once. That Captain had made her wear skimpy clothes so he could ogle her when he felt like it. Bianca, ignoring the looks she got, headed off to tell the proper authorities about Hirshorn. "Here it is." Riddick said stopping in front of their cabin. He opened the lock and they both went in. "Audrey?" He called out. The place looked deserted and he hoped she was okay. "Riddick!!" Came a cry from behind them. Audrey had entered the room and noticed them both at the same time. He saw the conflict in her eyes as to which one she would run to first. "Carolyn?" She whispered as the confusion set in. "Jack," Fry said, her eyes tearing up. "Look at you!" She said taking her hands. "You look so different." Audrey looked at Riddick for an answer. "It's her," He said nodding his head in affirmation. Audrey threw herself into Carolyn's arms. "I thought you were dead." She cried happily. Fry held her tightly and never thought she would ever be so happy, she had figured her life was over and now it was just beginning. When she finally let her go Audrey wiped away her tears. "I never thought I'd see you again." She replied sadly. "Or you." Audrey added looking up at Riddick. "I told you I'd come back. You've got to work on that trust kid." He grinned at her. She perked up. "Does this mean I don't have to go back to earth?" She asked smartly. Fry and Riddick both looked at each other and grinned. |
