The Other Killer (A Riddick Fanfic)

Meet-and-Greet - CHAPTER TWO

Author's Note --> I'm getting back into finishing all my fanfics if possible, starting with this one, since it'll be a short one. I'll be making sequels with the other films with Riddick and Zorrah once inspiration strikes again :-) Hope you like this chapter! It's been awhile since I've written anything, so please bear with me :-)

MEET-AND-GREET

CHAPTER TWO

Staying quiet before releasing Riddick was one of the hardest things for me to do. I'm used to having to talk. For everything. Bargaining, threatening, flirting, schmoozing bounty hunters that were too distracted by a pair of oversized mammary glands.

But I had to stay quiet so Johns and Carolyn wouldn't hear me or Six. Now that I had cut Riddick loose, now it was time to co-mingle with my fellow crew members. Felt like I was in the tv show LOST. I didn't know anyone on the ship. So might as well do a little meet-and-greet before Johns sets his sights on a second bounty.

Six stopped panting, once we emerged from the shipwreck. It was so bright the planet looked like a National Geographic photo of Mars, but with overexposure.

"Goddamn. This light's gonna give me a migraine..."

It was scorching hot out in the dry air, but at least there wasn't much humidity. Six's stressful panting had subsided; to him, he felt right at home. It wasn't exactly like being back on Crematoria, but it was close enough.

"Let's go, Six." I said, patting my leg as I walked. "Time to scope this place out."

Not like anything could survive on this floating rock. With 3 suns surrounding this planet, the terrain looked like it hadn't seen a single drop of rain in 20 years. But I've seen animals thrive in worse conditions than this, with my Number Six being exhibit A. Crematoria was so hot that prolonged exposure would literally burn you to smoldering, pebbly ashes. Terrible way to die, but hellhounds lived there as if it was a tropical paradise.

After walking for a good solid ten minutes, we were approaching the group of crew members from the shipwreck. My guess is they'd be scared of Six, and with good reason.

"Follow me, Six." I muttered. "Try to be nice. I don't need Johns hounding us like..." Dogs...haha. "Just be good, will 'ya?"

Six uttered a low growl. You could practically hear the sarcasm in his tone.

As I heard the group prepare to pack up their belongings and press on, I sped up my walk and did a cordial wave.

"Hello, everyone. Mind if we join you?"

As if on cue, Johns had his gun at the ready and pointed it at Six.

"Relax, bounty hunter." I grumbled, irritated. "Six is with me."

"What the fuck is that?" Johns muttered.

Six's scales flushed red and he glared down the barrel of his gun.

"He's a hellhound." I knelt down and slowly massaged Six's neck and shoulders. "Had him since he was a pup. Most loyal dog you'll ever find."

Thankfully, my mushy little speech chilled Johns enough for him to put his gun down. He took a few steps backwards.

"Just keep 'em away from me." Johns shot me a glare.

Then I saw Carolyn couldn't stop staring, either. The teenager was a bit scared, too. The miner kept her arms crossed. The dark-skinned man, wearing a turban, was also staring, but not in a cautious way. His kids he had were petrified and took a few steps behind him.

"Six will not harm any of you. I promise..." I made my tone calmer and a bit more comforting. "He serves me and only me."

The black man with the turban cautiously walked towards me and Six.

"I am Abu-al Walid, an Imam from New Mecca." He outstretched his arm.

"My name is Zorrah," I shook Imam's hand firmly. "From the elemental race. I have a home in New Mecca, too."

"A pleasure to meet you, Zorrah." Imam said.

"What brings you here?"

"I am on a hajj, with my boys here. What about you?"

"It's a long story, sir. I shall tell you more about it later."

Imam knelt down and made gentle eye contact with Six. He didn't offer his hand to Six. He allowed Six to approach, being very respectful since Six was already cautious.

"Well, I am impressed." I nodded approvingly. "And a bit surprised..."

"Your companion here is already wary. I allow him to come to me, so that he can learn to trust me. If I were too forward with him, it'd be very rude."

"Your instinct was spot-on." Zorrah smiled. "Nice to know that not everyone sees him as a monster."

"I am a holy man. Who am I to judge him...or you, for that matter?"

"I'm used to it." Zorrah shrugged. "People fear what they do not understand."