Wildfire woke up to Riddick cursing, and realized why when she opened her eyes, which were behind her goggled mask. She looked out the window and laughed at the ship that was trying to get them to land.
"Helium Prime on alert condition four. Unrecognised craft, you need to follow me to spaceport 6 for security inspection." Said the pilot of the ship beside us.
Riddick put his goggles over his eyes and gripped the steering lever. He then smoothly directed the ship until it was under the belly of the opposite vessel. Then he said, "Follow this." And jolted the ship up, causing the other ship to break and spin out of control.
He then piloted the ship over the sea of water below them, and then onto the desert left of Helium Prime. Wildfire stood up immediately and made sure her mask was on right, then retrieved her hooded black cloak from the back of the ship and put it on. She put the hood up so that it covered her mask.
When she turned back to Riddick she passed him a cloak and said, "Don't want people to know a couple of criminals are in town do we?"
He raised an eyebrow and repeated, "Couple?"
Wildfire thanked herself for wearing the mask, because if she wasn't, then Riddick would have seen her slight blush of embarrassment. "You know what I meant Riddick. I don't play these fucking games anymore."
He laughed and said, "You haven't changed one bit have you?"
For some reason that statement made her furious, but she ignored it and put her gloves on. She released her claws so that they tore permanent holes into the fabric, then withdrew them so it would be easier next time she needed to do it.
When they were set to go, the two then took a moment to study the surroundings, that way they remembered were the ship was, and then they went to Imam's home with Wildfire leading the way.
When they arrived, Riddick wandered off, probably looking for something to cut his hair with. Wildfire looked around for a moment, and then went to the stairs and looked up, remembering the last time she did that, which was when she left. She did it then to try and remember it.
Wildfire then went up the stairs and went to the room that used to be hers, finding it was exactly the way she left it. She walked to the dresser and opened it. All her clothes were in there. Well, the ones that weren't black.
She closed it and looked to the chest in front of her bed, where a picture frame sat. She picked it up, and beneath the mask a smile touched her lips. The picture was of her, Jack, Imam, his wife and his daughter Ziza.
"Now what happened to that girl? I knew the one smiling, not the one who hated me."
She then placed it back down and removed her mask, leaving the room. That's when she heard the voice of Riddick, and she went forward to see Imam. He didn't appear to be able to see her, for she was in the shadows of the house.
"Did you know both of your doors were locked," Came Riddick's voice, followed by the sound of a blade on human skin and a soft wisp of human hair falling to the ground. He banged the shiv against the brass bowl in front of him, rinsing it in water. "Five years ago, I took three people off that planet: a woman named Jen, also known as Wildfire, a convict like me… an animal like me. A kid named Jack, whom everyone else thought was a boy, and a holy man searching for New Mecca." Riddick turned to face him, "I told one man where I might go. I showed trust to one man. Did I make a mistake Imam?"
"There is no simple answer-," he started, but Riddick pulled a shiv to his throat. "Whatever was said was meant to give us a chance… a fighting chance! Were it not for the threat of invasion I never would have betrayed you! I give you my word Riddick."
Then Wildfire noticed Imam's wife, and Riddick also did so when she said his name. Then Ziza, who looked straight at him, also repeated the name with a hint of excitement in her voice. She then went to the stairs and looked down at him.
Riddick looked at the girl and went to the stairs. His arms spread to touch the bulbs of either railing, filling the space of the stairway. "And a daughter, whose name would be?" He asked, a less hardened expression on his face when he met the innocent eyes of the little girl.
"If you have issues with me, let it be with me, you need not know their names!" Argued Imam, and then his heart froze when his daughter spoke for herself.
"Ziza." She spoke eagerly. "My name is Ziza."
Riddick rumbled after her, playing with the name as it came from his lips. "Ziza…" Then he turned back to Imam, "Cute kid."
The child's voice broke the tension again and Riddick turned back to her, "Did you really kill monsters… the ones who were going to hurt my father?"
Wildfire then stepped forward and said to Imam, "You're still telling her the story at bedtime."
Imam nodded and said, "It is a pleasure to see you again Jennifer."
She laughed and ruffled Ziza's hair when she went passed her down the stairs. "Still won't call me Jen will you Imam?" She then turned to his wife and said, "I suggest you take Ziza out of the room. The men need to have a private conversation, which I will be listening to. And it's nice to see you again, you too kid." Ziza smiled at that and then her mother took her out of the room, staying with her.
"So now who do I have to kill to get this payday off my head?" Riddick rumbled out annoyingly.
When they went into another room to complete the conversation, Wildfire went and looked at Jack's room.
I thought you were going to listen to their conversation.
I need to know if Jack is here or not, and if she isn't, how long she has been gone.
Her animal side just shrugged off the answer and kept quiet. When she arrived in the room she smiled. Jack made the room look just like hers, and when she looked in her dresser there were some clothes that were exactly like hers, but smaller, and then there was only a few pieces of clothing. She was about to close it when she saw a note on one of the clothes. She took it off and was shocked when it was addressed to her, and that it was written by Jack.
Dear Wildfire, if that's what you're going by when you read this, if not Jen.
She laughed at that. Smart kid.
I am sorry for the way I shouted at you and that I broke your promise only a month after you left; but my life wasn't the same without you or Riddick, and I knew that you were looking for him. I kind of overheard your conversation with Imam the day you left.
Probably was eavesdropping.
Ok, eavesdropping, but can you blame me? I'm a teenager, it's what we do if it's someone we know and they're having a conversation about someone you want to see again. Ok, so not every teenager does that, but it's what I do. Anyway, on with the letter. I found a way off planet and a way to find Riddick. I am going to join mercs. Yes, mercs, even after the incident on that merc ship that got us after the planet.
Kid, you're too much like me when I want something and find a way to get it. That is something that makes Riddick angry, MERCS.
I don't know when you're reading this, but you are, so can you tell Imam I didn't do it because of him, but because I had to.
Jack
When she finished reading this, she folded it and placed it in her chest pocket. Then she prepared herself for telling Riddick; but then again, Imam probably already did.
