The Convicts Captain (Riddick Fanfic)

These Are My Options?

The air of the ship felt heavier the following morning than it ever had on the ship before. Its weight pushed on Itiri as she sat at the table, shifting the vegetables on her plate. Riddick was having no problem polishing off the last of their MREs, however, she could only manage to pick at her share. She was well aware of what was to come over the course of the day. Her mind flooded with the things she may have to do to make due for the promise she made. No matter how much she tried to prepare, nothing was certain.

So many.

There were so many ways she could end up in the same boat as Riddick. A convict on the run from Mercs looking to collect a bounty from her. Itiri was aware she couldn't allow that, not with Asher waiting back home for her. What would come of him if she was thrown away to rot in a cell?

What would her parents have thought of what she was doing if they could see her now? Itiri took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts down. There was no other choice now, she just had to ensure she didn't mess up.

With so much for her to work through, her mind kept circling back. The truth about her parents was one the more prevalent things, every hope she had of maybe finding them squashed in mere moments. The anguish, and mourning she hadn't begun doing loomed over her head. One of the harder spiders to push back.

She scarfed down what was left of her plate, before standing and going to the sink. She began scrubbing away the remnants of that morning's breakfast. The thoughts and feelings swarming through her head were overwhelming, but one by one she could sift through them, stomp out the spiders down to something more manageable. Even if the task couldn't be completed in the next few hours, she would have months to herself to do so. Her heart clenched at the thought.

She would once again inhabit the walls of her ship alone. Some everpresent thought she hadn't allowed herself to think about till now when she was faced with the prospect of it being a reality. Their months had been tense for her and Riddick, but they weren't lonely, or unbearably quiet.

"When we land, I'll go out, assess the area. Riddick began breaking the long silence between them. "I'll come to get you, but-" She could feel the warning burning against her back, a million unsaid things behind that silvery gaze of his. It was the first sharp look Riddick had given her since he cut her loose, and she had forgotten how unsettling it really was. If she did anything, it would not end well for her, and she knew as much. "You stay tied to the pole till I do."

Itiri only nodded, muttering something in response. She turned, grabbing up the towel on the counter to dry her hands. Her mask was becoming harder to wear when she wasn't in the confines of Asher's room. She was unapologetic about the spiders, her emotions, but it was odd showing them to another. With Asher, she had just become used to always putting on a brave face. Becoming his rock that he had lost when their parents had gone missing.

Guilt resurfaced, reminding her yet again she was about to take part in something she had never done before. Steal from another something that wasn't hers. That spider was dull compared to the others floating around her head and heart, but it tugged violently on her nonetheless, demanding her attention.

The captain closed her eyes, breathing in deep. Giving the spiders a moment to stew and fester before they would be pushed to the back of her mind once more. This was for Asher, she reminded herself. This was for the only person in the universe she had left, so she would, and could push her feelings aside to get the job done.

A loud beep sounded across the ship, followed by three bell chimes. Itiri opened her eyes and turned her head up.

"What was that?" Riddick asked.

"The ship's timer," Itiri answered simply as she turned her gaze to him as she pointed up. "We're three hours away from our destination, this is usually the time I head to the control room, and look for stray meteorites and anything that will make entry a little bumpy."