Disclaimer: Don't own anything related to the movies. Just a few characters here are mine.

FYI: As I was writing, I realized that I was referring to events and characters that needed a backstory, so I started to write some sketchy plot details that ended up taking a life of their own and demanded that they take up a few chapters of this story.

Enjoy and please review! Thanks!

Helion Prime

Jack had been in school for a total of three weeks. She hated the academic classes and was bored stiff by the technology courses. They had even bumped her up to terminal level classes but even those weren't a challenge. Tolerable, bot not a challenge. To make matters worse, she dressed as a girl. Kind of. In the past six months her hair had grown out of her Leonardo Di Caprio cut and now fell to her chin. She never dressed in anything overly feminine, but Iman had demanded that she cease wearing boys clothing to school. She could wear them out and at home, but she would dress appropriately otherwise.

The only adornment she wore were two new tattoos that she had gotten to cover her bullet wounds. She chose two Kanji symbols; courage for her entry wound and invincible for her exit wound. Each was inside of a circle and the area around the symbols was colored in white. They were small but noticeable and she thought Iman was going to blow his top when he saw them.

Despite her efforts to blend in, many of the boys had taken notice. She was different from the other girls and she had a standoffish, eat shit air about her that they regarded as a challenge. Boy after boy tried and was shot down. Some who ended up getting overly frustrated with her scathing rejections had made the mistake of touching her and ended up with multiple broken fingers. As a result, she ended up in the headmaster's office on several occasions.

"Miss. Bennett, you will not lay a hand on another student in this school. Do I make myself clear?" Headmaster Ryan was livid.

"Then you tell these fu-…boys to keep their hands off of me! I have never once laid a hand on them first. I just want to be left alone. If I want a boyfriend, he'll sure as hell know it."

"Miss. Bennett, the authorities will be brought in next time this happens on school property. If you have a complaint about a student and his conduct, you need to bring it to me."

"What and have you slap him on the hand with a ruler? I'll find other ways of putting them in their place. I won't touch another student on this campus. You have my word." But that won't keep me from messing him up after school.

"Good. I'm glad that is settled. One more thing that I needed to talk to you about and hopefully this will be good news for you. Your technology instructor told me yesterday that his class is not meeting your needs. We do not offer any other higher level classes except for the dual diploma program. There is a test that you can take to see if you can qualify for the program in technology and I have spoken to your guardian about it."

What the hell is this? "I'm listening."

"The test is this Saturday, here. You score high enough in the technology subject areas as well as the academic areas and you can work on both your terminal diploma and receive a college certification in technology. You should be able to graduate at the same time as the other students."

Inside Kyra was incredibly excited. Don't act it. "I suppose I can be here. What time is the test?"

Two weeks later, She had qualified for the dual program and was much happier. She lived for the technology courses, tolerated the academic courses, and didn't touch another student on campus. Most of the boys had gotten the message to leave her alone, except for Jarrod Edwards who thought he was God's gift to women. It was time to leave school when Jarrod found her at a vending machine. He came up behind her and she saw his reflection in the glass right before he pressed up against her, pinning her. Stay calm. "Get the fuck off me."

He sniffed her neck. "Mmmm. Kyra. You do smell delicious."

She fisted her hands and shut her eyes tight to keep from killing him. "Jarrod…I'm warning you."

He laughed at her and stroked her hair. "What are you going to do Kyra. I know what will happen to you if you touch me here. Come on…I'm not such a bad guy when you get to know me."

She shoved herself backwards and turned around to face him. "I have NO fucking intention of getting to know you or any other prick in this school." You need a lesson…and soon. Jarrod blew her a kiss and left the school. The next few days Kyra followed him home after school to learn his routine. He went to a warehouse, which was a gym, every school day except Friday. The only entrance she saw him use was a side door with a key card entry. Next week, you're mine.

She did her homework by examining the door's keycard system. It was a basic design and all she needed was access to the gym's membership database to configure a card for herself. The gym was small and had a network, but it was not sophisticated and certainly not secure. "Wireless network? Can I even get this lucky?" She used her tablet to access the network and she was in immediately. "No password, no IP configuration, no WEP encryption, nothing? Whoever designed this should be shot!" She programmed in a new client and used the pass code information to configure a card at a computer store she frequented.

Monday, right before the gym closed, she tried her card and the door unlocked. "See you tomorrow Jarrod."

Like clockwork, Jarrod left his house for the gym. He scanned in his card and entered. He dropped his bag in a locker and had taken one step into the gym's sparring room when he was hit from behind and went to his knees. He wasn't hurt, just shocked. "What the fuck!" He had not seen who had hit him yet so he didn't understand the attack. Then he saw her. So you are into me. "Kyra…couldn't stay away? You didn't have to do this to get my attention, babe."

Got to quit thinking with your ego Jarrod. Let's see how vain you really are. She smiled at him and walked his way. He had left himself unguarded. He was standing on his knees thinking that she was coming to him and she kneed him hard in his ribs. He fell to his hands and knees. Shit! That hurt! Dumb bitch will learn who I am right now. "You don't know what you're dealing with."

Kyra cocked her head to one side and put her hands on her hips. "I don't know what I'm dealing with? Jarrod how much do you weigh? 160 lbs?

"175."

"Then what I'm dealing with is a 175 lb walking, talking sack of shit!"

Still on the mat and infuriated he lunged for her knees, she dodged him and then swung her leg back kicking him between the shoulder blades, sending him flat to the floor.

Jarrod, first rule…don't fight angry, you'll always lose.

There was a crowd gathering and Grant, the gym owner, came to see what the fuss was. Before him was a teenage girl beating the crap out of Jarrod Edwards. Grant knew Jarrod well and thought this was probably not unprovoked. Jarrod was a good fighter though so he was surprised to see him flat on the mat. He stood up and breathed deep, then coughed with pain. She had cracked at least one rib and was circling him. He took a swing at her face and she went low, kicking his knees, bringing him to the floor again.

Now I'm fucking enjoying myself! "Headmaster said I couldn't touch you in school. You knew that. He never said I couldn't deal with you outside of school." He was back on his feet and she was within reach. He grabbed her upper arm and she just smiled, pissing him off even more. "I warned you Jarrod. The other guys have told you not to fucking touch me. You and your pitiful excuse for a dick wouldn't listen though."

"Fucking bitch!" Her back was facing the padded wall and despite his condition, he pushed against the front of her shoulders and rammed her into it. She still had use of her arms though. She had anticipated this…wanted it. When she felt her back hit the wall and saw the rest of his body coming to pin her, she tensed her right hand and used the heel of it to ram into his injured rib cage. She thought she heard a bone break before he howled in pain backing away from her.

"Ouch! That sounded like it hurt." She pushed him back further, then kicked him again in the ribs. He fell down, then to his back. She walked to him ready to deliver a side kick to the ribs when she was grabbed from behind. "Let me go!" She struggled against the arms that held her. "He fucking deserves this!"

Grant had intervened grabbing Kyra's and locking her arms behind her. "I think you've done enough damage." She was trying her best to break free of him but he had her secured and knew exactly how to hold her to prevent damage to himself. He took her to his office, and literally pushed her in there before shutting the door. "Sit down!" This girl is angry and not just at Jarrod.

"And if I don't?" She was furious and defiant. Who the hell does he think he is?

Grant picked up the phone and dialed the first few numbers of the police station. "I'll call the police. The Sergeant is a good customer of mine." He saw her eyes go big and she promptly sat. So…no police, eh. "You broke into my gym."

"What of it?"

"You did it with the express purpose of kicking Jarrod's ass. Question is why? I heard you yelling at him for something he did at school?"

"Let's just say that Jarrod has issues keeping his filthy hands to himself. He needed… educating."

"So you broke into my gym. The only way to enter is with a secure key card." She let out a sound at the word secure. "Something funny?"

"If the key cards are so secure, how did I get in?"

"You stole one?"

"I'm not a fucking thief. Your system just isn't as secure as you'd like to think."

"So you hacked it?" She shrugged. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Someone I know."

"He taught you well. You were stalking Jarrod…taunting him. This isn't the first time you've done this."

"Not the first time I've beaten someone up, but first time I've had the chance to take my time and enjoy it." She got up to leave.

He stood up blocking her path and she tensed to strike. "Don't even think you can try that on me and you're not leaving."

"You can't keep me here!"

"My name is Grant Evans and I own this gym. So, yes I can. You are in deep shit Miss….?"

"Bennett. Kyra Bennett."

"Miss. Bennett. Either you sit and listen or I'll call the police and this time I won't hang up the phone."

She glared at him and sat down. "Jarrod deserved what you did to him and probably more." Kyra looked shocked. "He hits on lots of girls here and I've told him to knock if off or I'd suspend his membership. I've gotten way too many complaints of him cornering girls."

"So what's the fucking problem with what I did?"

"You broke into my gym. That's what the problem is. I'm not going to overlook it either." Grant thought closely before saying what he had in mind. Hope this is the right thing to do. "You have two choices, go to jail when I press charges or you can listen to option number two."

She crossed her arms. "Do I really have a choice?"

"Here it is. Breaking and entering, which is what you did, carries jail time, then usually probation for six months to a year. I'll skip the jail time part and offer you probation for six months, with an option to extend six more depending on how you behave. You violate my probation, I still have the right to press charges and have your ass hauled to jail."

"Probation? Doing what?"

"You work here. You get here after school daily no later than 4pm. I highly value education, so before you do anything, you spend one hour in here doing your school work. After that until seven-thirty, you do equipment maintenance and light clean up around here. Eventually, working with membership to ease some of the work on my wife, Danielle."

"So I'm a freaking slave?"

"No, in return, you'll get free use of the gym when you aren't on duty and that includes sparring time with me if you want it."

"Why?"

"Why what? Why not send you to jail? Why offer you this deal? How old are you?"

"Fourteen and a half."

"And you're this angry at that age? Why?"

"I told you why. He woulnd't kee-."

"You aren't just angry with Jarrod. Something else set you off long before that."

"That is none of your fucking business!"

"Fair enough. But I'm doing this because I hate to see a kid as young as you, especially a girl, go down the wrong path. I have a little sister and I guess it's a natural part of being a big brother to do what I'm doing. I just hope you don't make me regret it. There will be no leniency from me. You screw up, that's it."

"I didn't ask for a big brother or a protector."

"No, you didn't, but you do need a swift kick in the ass to get yourself straight."

"Tough love? Pathetic. What about Jarrod? Can't he press charges?"

"You really think he'll admit to being beat up by a fourteen year old girl? Don't think so."

"I'll be here tomorrow. Can I fucking go now?"

"Not quite. Your mouth will be cleaned up when you work here, too. This isn't a bar. I'll have a gym shirt for you to wear when you work here. You'll need to wear shorts or sweat pants and gym shoes that I'll provide. I can't have you walking on the mats in your combat boots. I'll see you tomorrow Kyra."

For the next six months both Grant and Iman kept close watch on her. The two men had met and decided to put on a united front with her, pushing her to do well in school. Encouraging her that she could do some great things with her life. She absolutely hated Grant at first and only tolerated his wife Danielle. No one told her what to do so she didn't take lightly to being ordered around. Kyra did enjoy the gym though and Grant had capitalized on that. He sparred with her several times a week, teaching her how to channel that anger she held so dear into her workouts and into her schooling.

Slowly, Kyra began to soften towards Grant. He had been honest, caring but strict as well. She had a mouth on her and used it to throw cutting remarks every chance she got, never kidding with either him or Danielle. However, he first noticed the hard shell around her cracking about five months into her probation.

"Kyra! Kyra!" Grant was yelling for her from the back room. He was on a tall ladder and he needed her to pass him some equipment.

"I'm not freaking deaf Grant! Get your panties out of a wad!"

Typical Kyra. His voice was completely serious. "My panties?" He looked in his pants. "Damn. I guess I need to quit getting dressed in the dark. That or I'm developing a love for wearing women's underwear." He climbed down the ladder and walked to her. "Wanna see? They're cute. Pink with white lace."

Despite her best efforts she smiled and then quickly covered it. "I'll pass. I'd rather not lose my lunch." She paused. "But if you're really into lace panties I think Victoria's Secret is having a two for one sale."

He was shocked. Did she just joke with me? "Thanks Kyra…I'll have to check that out."

"Grant? Kyra?"

"Back here!"

Danielle came through the door and both Kyra and Grant were oddly quiet, but he had a grin on his face that he was trying to hide.

"There you two are." She looked at them both and Kyra looked everywhere but at her. She put her hands on her hips and looked at both of them suspiciously. "If I didn't know better I'd think you two were doing something you shouldn't be doing."

"I'm completely innocent in all of this. It's Grant. I think he may need professional help since he confessed to raiding your underwear drawer. Pink Grant? " She narrowed her eyes. "I think purple is more your color. I'm heading over there tonight; I'll pick you up a couple a pair if I feel generous."

Kyra left the room leaving a stunned Danielle and a smiling Grant behind her.

"Did she just?"

"She smiled, too before you came in here."

"Smiled? I've never seen her smile."

"She covered it quickly enough but she also couldn't keep that mouth of hers shut. The temptation was too much."

"Maybe she's finally getting past her hurt. I sure hope so since she has so much to offer."

Kyra had met Grant's expectations and then some. She had even helped him better secure his network. Their relationship had improved as well. A week after her birthday, he called her into his office.

"Grant, Danielle said that you wanted to see me."

"Yes…I didn't realize your birthday was last week. Sorry I missed it. I have something here for you though." He handed her an envelope.

She pushed it back over the desk. "I'm the one who screwed up here. You don't owe me anything."

"Don't be stubborn girl. Open it."

She rolled her eyes and took the envelope, opened it, and read the letter. Her forehead wrinkled as she read it. "You're terminating my probation early?"

"Yep. Danielle and I talked about it and we both agreed that you've not only paid your debt to us but that you've done a great job here."

Kyra felt a great sense of disappointment. Her time here was over and she didn't realize how much coming here had become a part of her routine and how much it meant to her until now.

"I see. I'll go clean out my locker." She got up, Grant laughed, she got angry. "Thanks a hell of a lot Grant!"

"Woah! Did you read the rest of it?"

"No, I stopped after you're free to go and don't let the door hit your ass on the way out."

He shook his head. "Get your head out of your ass and read the last part."

She grabbed the letter off his desk and read the last part. Her face turned red with embarrassment. "Grant…I'm sorry. You and Danielle…you're offering me a job? Here?"

"It's ok, kid. We both would like you to stay on…we've gotten use to having you around, even though you can be a pain." He smiled when he said it. "I'm offering you the same hours you're used to but we want you to out of the maintenance and cleaning duties. Danielle needs you to work membership and help her come up with a new management system for the gym. We're expanding next year so we're going to have a lot to keep track of and our current methods won't be adequate. You're only fifteen so it's minimum wage but you'll still have the gym to use. What do you say?"

She felt tears stinging her eyes. This was probably the first time since Riddick had left her that they were tears of happiness. She ran around his desk not thinking and gave him a big hug then realized what she had done. "I'm sorry!" She backed away. He ruffled her hair a little.

"It's Ok. Go find Danielle. She's anxious to hear your answer." So, Kyra…you just needed a little TLC? I'd love to find out whoever made you the way you are and set them straight.

Kyra's hard shell had cracked but it was taking her some time to peck her way out. She was becoming more open with both of them, but warmed up to Danielle much quicker. She was the first woman who had taken a vested interest in her since her own mother. Iman had married and Lajjun was nice, but she had just had Ziza and had her own child to think of. Danielle didn't mother her but she fulfilled that missing role in her life. At sixteen and a half, Kyra's hair was now all one length, reaching several inches past her shoulders. Her bangs were a royal pain though and she had blown them out of her face for the hundredth time and it was grating on Danielle's nerves.

"Kyra! Please girl! You're driving me nuts!"

"Sorry Danielle, I can't keep my hair out of my face."

"Tuck it behind your ear."

"Duh, tried that. I've got too much hair and it won't stay.

"So use a ponytail holder and pull it back."

"Gives me a headache if I use it too long."

"Use a barrette."

"Don't have one."

"What?"

"Don't have any of that…stuff."

"How 'bout we change that?"

Kyra gave her a very suspicious look. "I don't know if I like the sound of this."

"Oh come on. Just a little shopping trip. My treat. Get you some things for your hair and maybe a few other goodies."

"Danielle, I don't like that look in your eyes. Never have."

"I've told you a thousand times what a pretty face you have. Kills me how you never wear makeup and still look so nice. However, a little lip gloss, mascara, blush, and eyeliner and you would be a knock out."

"Danielle it's not that I don't appreciate it. I just…I'm just not girly." Danielle guffawed.

"What was that for?"

"I saw you in the department store last Saturday. Don't tell me you aren't girly. Lace bras, underwear, silk nightgowns. You're girly all right. You just don't wear it on the outside."

Kyra blushed bright red. Time to push her a bit. "But if you're afraid to try, then that's okay."

Kyra's back straightened at the word afraid. Damn her. She grabbed her bag and Danielle thought she was angry and leaving.

"Kyra. I'm sorry."

"Let's go."

"What? You really want to?"

"Let me put it to you this way. If I don't go, I have to listen to you harass me until I do. I'd rather get the torture over with."

"You won't regret this!"

Two days later, Kyra was actually wearing accessories in her hair and had even braided it. A week after that, she wore lip gloss. As the next week progressed Danielle noticed that she had tried everything she had bought for her and she looked great.

Grant had not been working closely with her lately and she removed the makeup when she sparred with him so he had not seen these changes that Danielle had kept a secret. He walked into the back offices one afternoon and saw a young woman sitting behind his wife's desk. He looked at her for a moment not recognizing her. Then it hit him. "Kyra?"

She looked up at him. "You say my name like you aren't sure it's me."

"To be honest, I wasn't sure it was you at first."

Oh great…here it comes. He's going to laugh. Kyra prepared herself to fire back if he did.

"Danielle is right. You are a knock out. You wear it well, kid."

He departed the office leaving a very shocked Kyra to pick her jaw up off the floor.