chapter 5

author's notes: I really, really hate this chapter

Dream state

A void of emotion stared back at Wolf. As expected Riddick had been
silent after the mission, with the exception of shouting at everyone to
help Jack.
That moment he'd almost lost his grasp on logic. Seeing her bleed there,
on the ground wasn't an image he wanted in his head.
It reminded him too much.

-We don't take risks with your kind Riddick.

-It was a risk not to tell me.

Wolf's lips curled in a smile, an unprofessional glance shining through her
blackness.

-I'm talkin´bout Bleeder. She would have sensed that you were looking for her.
That would have proven fatal.

-Are you trying to tell me something?

Wolf crossed her hands leaned back and mirrored Riddick´s position.
The whiteness of her skin bleeding into the surface around her.
Everything white and stainless,
perfect and impeccable,
a girl sitting and swinging her legs at the indefinite.

-No.

His thought, his curiosity, his heart. How in hell could it be? He didn't
let his mind race around in a maze of hope and glory, or the thought of
having a kid.
More likely that he'd wander over the mental disturbance she suffered from,
from the secrets she and Jack shared and why the girl was called Bleeder.
Wouldn't take that much of speculations.

-Yes, you can see her.

********************************
her eyes slipping between the sight of pain. Tied down and aching.
So terribly hurt.
reaching out, just recalling, reaching out and untying slowly.
The robes never held her for long.
Untied and undone, feeling the alien fluid flow in her young body.

*They. I. Meds*

Almost complete sentences forcing her mind to the former humanity.
Head hurting, so terribly cloudy. Thoughts not processed properly or
formed as they should.

Her body jerking up at the sound of sliding doors.

A big man, bald with googols.

*Shine job. Weakness*

Acting weak and frightened she backed to the next corner.
The smell of food filled her nostrils. meat, vegetable,
fruits...all sorts of scents she hadn't tasted for weeks now.

The big man grinned, her mind looking for information.

*Riddick. B. Richard*

A terrible feeling spread over her, memories that didn't belong to her
whispered through her spirit, telling her to run faster than hell.
For a second or two, she was actually thinking about running.

The doors behind him locked now.
Another thought entered her mind, just slightly after the concern of
escaping,

-Ripper. Where.

Richard B Riddick looked down at her with not a too happy expression.

-Can't yah remember, you got shiv happy.

*Fuck, Wrong*

Her fists clenching in anger, a smile greeting the big terrifying induvidual,
she rose up clumsily, ready to make a statement.

-You. New. Why?

That food smell sinking into her stomach, distracting her and making
her stomach grumble.

-Your mom blew the ex boss´ head off.

Prologis rolled here eyes.

-She nice person, she lie, all do, I do not her.

He looked temporarily stunned. She just grinned and giggled.

-You stupid asshole.

-You got that right.

She smiled as if he were a friend.

-They not tell you.

-nope, I was fooled right outta my pants.

-please no

humor.

-I dunno, but it looks like you didn't chew on the crew much, and it must
have been an awfully long stay there, all alone, hungry. don't you want
some food?

Enticing.

-Fuck off. Drugged.

-But aren't you hungry.

Waving the dish infron t of her, she grabbed it viciously and in an
instant she'd devoured it. Collapsing to her knees, tired already.

Collapsing to her knees, collapsing and colliding with reality.
heavy breaths beating in her.

-I'm tired.

she collapsed and was once again left alone.

**********************************
Unlike so many infirmaries the
infirmary of this ship was by far more personal. Family photo's
hanging on the wall. Everyone in the team were family...
The colors green and soothing and individual furniture.
They all visited this place often enough to get their own bed and
right now Jack was the only one occupying the room.

Her body numb but pulsing pain ripping at her side every single time
she took a breath.
How'd he react? To having a kid and not being told about it?
Pain searing through her once again as she coughed. So many things to
worry about now, but somehow her old self run within her, telling her
that they'd manage, like they always had.

Light footsteps, many of them entered room, jack only had to turn her
head slightly to see who those spirits were.

Crawlers, all of them. Paulie, Wolf 2, Thief. Rashanti also following along
with his twin, Damien, those two looking tired ad fresh from a mission.
No one had known that they'd been crawling around the station, no one but
Jack and Wolf.

-Yah gonna be fine, Right, Ripper?

Paulie´s voice that of a child concerned for it´s mother, although Jack
wasn't his mom she was the closest thing this kid would ever have.

With a slight smile and a nod Jack wiped all the fears that boy had away.

-It´s me, Paulie, i´ll be just fine.

Prologis was missing, that hurt her so much. By now the girl would be in
isolation, crying her eyes out, all alone.
*******************

The girl, now clean, prided her self in black tied tight clothes with red
long torn hair.
A somber expression on her olive skin, pain and sorrow intruding.

-Well, guys, we got her back.

Cheers spread through the room, Thief and Wolf 2 jumped forwards and pulled
the girl into a group hug. Riddick was kinda alerted when the boy kissed her
on the cheek, this new instinct was kind off odd.

the girl started to speak.

-Hi. I'm like, really sorry that this happened again.

Taking a shivering breath she pulled in some unexpected tears.

-And I just feel so damn pissy for hurting you mama.

Support streamed from the room, the girl lay in her mother's embrace,
words radiating from Jack's tongue.

-it´s OK hon' I'm gonna be just fine, I've been through worse.

The girl sniffled and wiped away her tears.

Guilt rushed through Riddick's system. The girl smiled again then raised
a cheerful and a sarcastic voice.

-Prologis B. Menski is back in control

A Skylar smile trespassed the girl's, she swung her head a bit, looking at
the other kids, spread her arms in a Jesus like position.

-I. Am. A. GOD!!!!!!!

Her head sharply turning left , staring right at Riddick, right
through what ever she felt was there.
The wide grin on her face faded away into that of pure numbness.

-You the new team leader?

All he could manage was to nod his head in a rather dead manner.
Was this to be the first real encounter they'd have?
Did she even know?

-I'm Bleeder, the crawler team leader. One advice, don't fuck with me.

Something so familiar about her. The tone of voice similar to his own,
although female and not near as deep. But the effects would be the same
to most.
And the way with words spoke straight out who's daughter she truly was,
Jack's.

Amazing.
Jack, that beautiful creature, had carried this child.
His kid.
His daughter.

Some odd numbness struck him with ferocity. His kid.
His.