XXVI.

Hope was busy on the computer finding out everything she could about Elementals. Aereon's secretiveness made it hard to trust her completely. She didn't and knew that Riddick was feeling the same way.

Riddick. They had shared a mat in the gym last night. And against his suggestion he had stayed on his side of the mat, with his back to hers and she wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed. There was still a gap between them when she fell asleep, but she wasn't entirely sure that the hand she had felt on her hip, the chest she had cuddled up to, the lips that were nuzzling her neck had been a dream. She'd been alone when she woke up and Riddick's face when she saw him first that day as usual gave nothing away.

Aereon didn't leave her room until noon and Hope had started to get worried. She had prepared lunch for the three of them and had already considered to look after her when the Elemental met them in the kitchen.

It wasn't Riddick's way to be subtle and so he asked her point-blank after finishing their meal. "Wasn't there something you were eager to tell us? We are not in the passenger transportation business. Imam told us you'd have information worth all that trouble."

Aereon had a long look at Hope and then at Riddick. She had yet to decide how much she should tell them.

"Then let me tell you a story first." she began.

"Lots of years ago on a planet now nearly forgotten there lived a race of proud and strong people. Very intelligent and capable of more things than a normal human being. Then, about 30 years ago, an unbelievable horrible genocide took place. They were attacked by a race more cruel than anybody ever had heard of. They have been great and brave warriors but they were outnumbered a thousand times. The aggressors killed all the boys, newborn babies, even unborn. Most of the adults died fighting. It was an unspeakable tragedy. Only a few survived. The planet … it is called Furya. You, Riddick, are one of the few that survived. A new born baby then. As for you, Hope ... your parents had been on another planet to visit family members when your mother gave birth to you and your twin brother."

Aereon paused for a moment knowing that Hope would ache to ask some questions only being too polite to interrupt her.

"Your information isn't correct. I don't have a twin brother. Never had. I'd know that."

Aereon smiled sadly. "When the news about the disaster spread you were separated to protect both of you. You are the older one. 12 minutes to be exactly. Your brother's name is Taylor."

Hope just could stare at her. She didn't know what to think. Her thoughts were whirling in her head. She had a brother and three sisters on Aurelius. What about them? "Do you know where he is?"

Aereon shook her had. "No, I'm afraid not."

"What about the rest of my family. My sisters, my brother and my parents?"

"I'm sorry. They are not related by blood to you. They affiliated you in their family when you were six month old and raised you as one of their own children. It was me who took you there. Your real parents died a few years ago in a ship crash."

Hope was quiet for a long time. They had lied to her. All those years. She couldn't understand why they didn't tell her the truth; adoption was not a taboo issue on Aurelius. And she never would get to know her real parents. Her whole world was turned upside down. She wasn't able to breath and had to get out of the room. She had to be alone to absorb the said. "Please excuse me for a minute." she exclaimed and ran out.

Riddick sat there in silence for a moment and then stood up, propping his hands on the table, his expression was frightening. "Elemental, you should better watch it. I don't like it when someone makes her sad. You make her cry again and you go out through the airlock. And I won't bother with landing on a planet before. Did I make myself clear?"

Not waiting for an answer he followed Hope to the gym. He found her there sitting on the floor, hugging his pillow and staring into space. He sat down beside her without a word. Near enough for her to lean on if she'd like but not near enough to make her feel crowded. He knew she would start talking to him when she was ready for it. Damn that Elemental and her stories!

"I shouldn't be so upset." she finally whispered. "I had a good childhood and wonderful parents. Even though my siblings sometimes had been a real pest. They could drive me nuts with their childish antics" she tried to joke.

"Somehow I've never been like them. Never that carefree. Somehow I always have been too grave. Mom sometimes had to force them to play with me, can you believe that? I never seemed to be able to understand their jokes. I've been the child nobody wanted to play with. And most of the time I didn't even mind. I was content with my books and my dreams of foreign planets and adventures. All of them were so planet-bound, good soil was everything for them. But not for me. I just wanted to leave for as long as I can remember.

It would have made it easier for me to understand about me being different if they'd told me that I was adopted. Sometimes children can be very cruel. And Mom didn't like it in the least when I slogged the neighbor boy coz he told me I'm a freak." She was able to smile again.

Riddick couldn't help but grin. "You slogged the neighbor boy? You must have been a hell of a brat."

Hope giggled. "Yeah. Sometimes arguments just didn't help and I had to add some authority. Since it turned out that I was stronger and faster they never ever called me a freak again. What about you? You don't look as if Aereon's story would concern you. How do you feel about it?" she asked Riddick.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Me? It wouldn't have changed anything for me to know the truth."

"You think I'm silly ranting like that, don't you?"

Riddick took a long look at her. She was anything but silly. "No. And you know that. But you can't change what happened. Let's hear the rest of her story. I have the feeling she isn't done with us yet. And if we don't like what she tells us I even let you throw her out through the airlock. Deal?" He smiled at her and was rewarded with one of her brilliant smiles that always made his heart skip a beat.