Riddick AU

[wasteland_101]

[The world was fucked. There was a reason why no one went there anymore. Something happened a couple hundred cycles ago that left a lot of the planet simply unlivable, yet the people that had no choice but to stay had managed to survive despite the harsh climate, all of the radiation, and all of the mutated wildlife.

Small settlements managed to thrive in places where grand cities once stood. Ruined buildings could be seen, each one hiding unknown creatures or people. Those that managed to survive on this harsh world weren't without their scars.

One particular survivor was having a hell of a time. She stood in the middle of a small gang of large angry men. She was alone, save for a canine looking creature that was letting out a low growl. The woman looked like a lot of the other survivors. Dirty and scarred. Unlike the men that surrounded her, she looked cocky and sure of herself and not pissed off. She was carrying multiple visible weapons. Firearms by the looks of them. She had a small gun strapped to her right leg and a shotgun and rifle on her back. Who knows what kinds of blades she might have on her. Scars trailed up her visible right arm, claw marks, thin knife marks, burns and even some projectile holes. It was amazing that she had any use of her right hand at all. A wicked set of claw marks circled her wrist.]

Look. Are you going to actually do something? Or can I go take a nap?

Comments

[wasteland_101]

Anyone who knew anything about actually making these things and maintaining them properly left a couple hundred solar cycles ago. A lot of knowledge was lost and the Brotherhood's full of assholes that don't like sharing the tech that they have.

[She keeps going through the bodies, looking for anything useful. Ammunition and things like that. She found a few shotgun shells and tossed them in his direction. A dangerous thing to do. That shotgun could turn on her. Her own weapons were rusted in a few places and repaired with a lot of random parts, but they worked.]

You want to see a real struggle, wait till you get to Deathclaw territory. Giant lizards with hide that seems to absorb anything thrown at it. Fast as fuck with claws as long as your forearm. Strong as hell too. As for these assholes? Raiders. Not very smart, but usually able to bully the locals into getting what they want. I just happen to not be local enough to be scared.

[Another body searched. Nothing she needed there. She moved onto the next.] I'm not local to anywhere anymore. They see a woman, by herself and think easy target to use or sell.

[survivorship]

Tale as old as time, girly. But that's preaching to the choir. [ He catches the shells and in return throws a solid number of rifle bullets near her, along with what Riddick guesses is food. Waxed paper that smells like salt and spices. Smoker and dried meat, it seemed.

He finds some good odds and ends from the bodies he does roll. The first shotgun wasn't in good shape but the only other one? That, Riddick pulled the holster for and started strapping on. ] Finding whatever creature comforts they can get, usually of the violent variety, ‘cause they're easy, and stupid. My question is–

[ Only a pause as Riddick decidedly shucked one of the Raiders free from a jacket that didn't look too damaged. Aged leather, only mildly bloody and with a few bullet holes in it. A bit bigger than him, but it’ll be enough. Digging in the pockets, even found some chewing gum. Ain't that a nice surprise. ]

Seeing as you were nice enough to tell me all that, what makes you think I’m not just as bad or worse than them?

[ It’s an honest question, actually. Riddick could be the worst kind of monster, and he was to some, even if he was just casually popping a piece of the chewing gum into his mouth. It was stale, but better than the grit, at least.

Brotherhood, huh? Tech she said. Question aside, that was some juicy info. ]

What has a wanderer taking a big chance like this, huh?

[wasteland_101]

[Rifle rounds were placed in a pouch on her hip. She looked the jerky for a moment before taking a bite. She's quiet as she chews on the dried meat and swallows.] Dried bighorn. A surprise. Haven't seen any of 'em in a while.

[Oh, hey, bottlecaps! She takes a pouch full of them. She shrugs a bit at his question.]

My dad raised me to be helpful. I like to share what information I have. I'm a bit of a local legend. Or target. Depends on who is still standing.

[She stands up, stretching out. Yeah, she was a nice target. Well toned figure despite the grime, blood, and torn clothing. There weren't any working transports around. The only way to get around was your own two feet.]


As for you, you could have jumped me at any time as I picked through these fuckers. Shot me right in the back as I fought, or even right after I passed those shells to you. [She was more observant than she appeared to be.]

So either you want more information, prefer blades to guns, or want to put a collar around my throat and sell me off. I can tell you now I'll make you kill me before a collar goes around my throat again.

But you're also being watched by my buddy as well. Like me, he's not fully tame.

[the dog had been watching him the entire time. Just waiting for him to try and attack. It wasn't growling, but it was alert.]

[survivorship]

[ An amused chuckle. ]

Lucky for Fido over there, I don't make it my business to cage the wildlife. And I do like a quieter approach, especially in the dark. You gotta sleep at some point.

[ She seemed to like the bottlecaps, which doesn't surprise him. He's been through at least one settlement, evesdropped enough to know they've got worth to others. Riddick isn't about to question it; he's seen weirder shit used for currency, but turning the bodies over again scrounged up ten or so. One of which he held up as it to say ‘look what I got’. ]

That said, I know shit ain't for free. You're a tough cookie. How many of these to point me in the direction of this Brotherhood?

[ Does Riddick ask who they are or anything else?

Nope. The lady said tech, and seeing as there indeed hasn't been any working transport, that opened up possibilities to getting off this rock before someone caught up with him again. ]

[wasteland_101]

Something's going to get me eventually. I'm not bulletproof. Or clawproof.

[The scars on her visible forearm are proof enough of that. The other arm was covered with a large computer like device. She prods at it for a moment, pulling up a map of the area.]

The Citadel isn't that far away. I've actually been making my way there. Got something they want and Lyons owes me.

[She's not carrying a bag, so the thing she's talking about must be in one of the pouches she has on her belt. She looks up at the sky for a moment. And this Lyons person sounded important.] It's going to be dark soon. We should be able to get to the brotherhood within a day, but its a pain in the ass to travel at night.

[She didn't say it was dangerous, just a pain in the ass. She pointed to a settlement in the distance.] I've got a place there we can spend the night at. Maybe even get cleaned up.

[She lets out a small whistle and the dog begins to follow her.]

You got a name, stranger?

[survivorship]

[ Just like that? A day out and she's headed in the same direction? With connections and everything? Well, if ever there was a way to actually make a guy paranoid, that'd be it. She can't be that fucking helpful, can she? There's no way. Altruistic types never last long. They either die quick, or live long enough to become that which they champion against. Just ask Riddick how he knows-- because no one who's smart enough to get scars like hers could be stupid enough to take one look at him and not assume he was more trouble than he was worth.

That's the rub, he decides, squinting at her back from behind his goggles.

She is smarter than that. She's got to be, right?

How interesting. ]

Riddick. Richard B. Riddick.

[ He doesn't ask her name. She'll probably get the feeling he doesn't ask a lot questions. He could have told her anything else, but he likes to make it a game of cat and wolf for Johns. It's also a backup plan, in the off chance Angel happens to cross paths with that blue-eyed devil. Could be for the worse for her, or Johns, or even a lucky break for him to steal a ship. Who knows! Either way, curiosity has him by the jugular.

Riddick follows. If for no other reason than to at least get cleaned up if at all possible. He prefers the dark, and could navigate just fine alone, pain in the ass or not. But just how much? Angel doesn't need to know yet.

Say, riddle me this, mm? If you've got something they want and an in with some who's-who, what's in it for me to stick around? You're not striking me as complete fucking idiot. Not like these sad sacks of shit. [ A kick to one of the bodies as they pass by. ] What do you get out of my exceptional company?

[ What's your angle? in other words. ]

[wasteland_101]

A bit of company. Usually it's just me and my buddy over here.

[She scratches the dog between the ears.] And the caps are worth it. I can tell that you're not from around here. I've been wandering these wastes for several solar cycles now and I haven't seen anyone like you. I'm also honestly surprised I'm still breathing.

[She's silent for a few minutes as she thinks of how to tell him about how she actually knew Lyons and the brotherhood. It's a bit of a story.]

Lyons knew my father before the Enclave killed him. He was the one with the connections. I just inherited them. As for the thing that they want, I just happen to find it scrounging around for scrap. There isn't a lot to do around this planet and I can't sit still for longer than a day or two.

[It almost seems that she's got a bit of a split personality. The cockiness that was there during her fight with the raiders had faded away to a mostly quiet and naïve girl. At least that's what appears to be. There's something behind her bright blue eyes though. She has seen and gone through a lot in her rather short life.]

You're probably one of the most dangerous things in this wasteland right now, Riddick. You didn't bat an eye when I dropped the raiders and you know your way around a dead body. If you really wanted me dead I'd already be dead.

[survivorship]

Family drama, too? Now it's just getting good.

[ It's said with a loud snap of the gum he's chewing. Gives Riddick time to turn things over in his mind. After all, it's not like he particularly expected her to be bothered by some dead bodies, let alone flinch much. She's alive. It'd be stupid to flinch now. ]

As for the most dangerous... I'd like to see what those-- what'd you call them? Deathclaws? [ A snort, straightening out the jacket he's got now and picking up his face to follow this split-personality chick close enough that if there were surprises, they'd have both their sixes covered fairly easily. ] Those sound like a fun challenge.

[ Does Riddick mean it? Absolutely. ]

Well, if your aim was to convince me before walking into enemy territory-- I'm convinced. For now. Besides, I think I'm getting invested into whatever tella novella you got going on here. How far is this place of yours?

[ He couldn't say for sure if that thing behind those eyes of hers was worth the curiosity just yet, but it's mutually beneficial at the moment. Her with her dog, and with with nothing to lose. Not the worst situation Riddick's ever been in. ]