A 'bit bright' was an understatement, Riddick decided. The whole room was lit up like an old Earth Christmas tree. There wasn't a shadow in sight.
An unwelcome emotion unfurled within him, one he'd buried long ago – guilt.
This place, this room, was somewhere where Jack felt safe, because he hadn't been there to do it for her.
The walls were a soft off-white, with sheets of glass arranged in ornate patterns so that the light fractured and sparkled.
Gym equipment shared the space with a writing desk, plasma screen and sofa. There was a clear expanse of floor, thickly matted, and the smell of chalk lingered in the air.
"You train here?" He asked, unable to mask his surprise.
"Yeah" Jack replied, avoiding his gaze, suddenly uncomfortable. "It's my space y'know." She headed over to the sofa, arranging herself comfortably amongst the many cushions.
He could tell she was trying to be blasé about it all, but the tension in her voice and defiant light in her eye, gave her away.
"I wasn't sure if you were gonna keep it up."
She shrugged.
"I needed to. The way they treated me here..." Her voice trailed off as she lost herself to her memories.
"Like what?" He prompted.
She turned towards him, tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Like I was scum!" She spat. "Just another worthless street rat, with no past and no future."
She seemed to linger over her last words and Riddick snorted.
"What?" She asked, startled, her green eyes narrowing dangerously.
Folding his arms, he leant against the door jamb, before adding "I didn't take you for the type to drown yourself in self-pity."
Jack scowled, "yeah well, shit happens."
"That I do know."
That made her smile, the look in her eyes causing an emotion to bloom between them in a way that blurred the world around him, made him lose contact with reality – until it was interrupted by the communication buzzer ringing.
Just what the hell was that all about?
The plasma screen on the wall flashed white, then black, the words 'Caller for Audrey Stevens' appearing on the screen.
"Audrey?" Muttered Riddick, straightening up and moving into the room.
"Ssshh. I need to take this call."
Motioning for him to move, she stated firmly "call received. Hello?"
The screen flickered into colour, revealing a man in military dress.
"Ms. Stevens?"
"Speaking" she nodded, a socially correct smile in place.
Riddick stiffened as the picture cleared. Standing where he was, he was out of sight, but it still left him on edge.
"My name is Sergeant Brandon of Solar Base Three. We wish to notify you of your upcoming assignment as Junior Star Ship pilot to the Ferdinand 208. She is a large transporter who will be engaged with precious cargo. As a matter of emergency the launch date has been moved forward."
"To when?" Asked Jack, utterly serious.
Brandon studied her a moment before answering, "six hours from now."
"Excuse me?"
"In six hours you are required to sign in at the pilot base on port number 593. From there you will be assigned your quarters and shown your working environment."
Riddick swore softly.
Ignoring him, Jack inquired "can I ask why the launch has been changed from two weeks to today?"
"The Damask 511 has been ambushed and disabled." Brandon stated bluntly. "Her crew is depleted and some are injured. Her cargo is of some interest to us and must be protected at all costs. In short, you will make up part of the rescue crew."
Jack stared at him wordlessly, her emotion evident on her face. Then she found her voice, "you can't just..."
"I have already confirmed with the New Meccan Council. Your guardian in particular was adamant you were ready for this role. Are you?"
Riddick found himself curling his hands into fists at the implied insult. This man didn't even know her and yet already he was making assumptions.
Smiling sweetly, her spine tense at the veiled taunt, she replied "of course. I'll be there."
"So glad to have you on board."
Riddick bit back a snarl. The oily bastard...
"Thank you sir."
With a sharp nod he ended the call, leaving Jack to sink back into her cushions.
Raking her hand through her long hair, she uttered quietly 'holy hell."
"You're not serious about this are you?" Riddick asked in his deep tones.
Jack glanced up at him, a stunned expression lingering in her eyes.
"It's what I'm trained to do."
Standing, she avoided his gaze as she went to head up to her room.
"Do you know what has 'ambushed and disabled' that ship?" He mouthed the words like they tasted bad.
"No, he didn't say."
Riddick regarded her seriously, before stating baldly "pirates."
"What?" Jack scoffed "you're not serious." Confusion was clear in her green eyes.
"Completely. 'Pirate' is just a name for'em, from the old Earth days, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous."
She still looked unconvinced.
"Look, they track down a ship with valuable cargo, get on board somehow, and then kill whoever gets in their way for whatever they want."
"Sounds like someone else I know."
Riddick's lip curled in disgust, "I don't kill women and children, or old men on religious pilgrimages."
"So, you're saying they're potentially lethal."
Riddick nodded and Jack tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Ah well" she said finally, her tone light.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He ground out, his jaw suddenly tight.
"It's my duty" she said slowly, like he was incapable of understanding, as she started up the stairs.
"What was that? You don't care if you live or die?"
Finally losing her temper, Jack turned and said sharply, "If I kill them first, not really." She left him then, her footfalls heavy on the stairs.
"Maybe I do" he added quietly, gazing at the now-empty staircase after her, thoughtfully.
It was a strange realisation for a man like him.
