Disclaimer: The Characters of Jack, Riddick and Iman belong to USA Films, David Towhy, etc. I'm just having a little fun here. OK, I confess. I'm doing this because it's the only way to get the Muses off my back G.


Riddick's Death
Copyright 2003 By Cassandra Houston

Chapter Five: The Start of a New Journey


Iman stood in the school shuttle and watched Riddick prepare it for takeoff. Riddick nodded and stood, walking back to Iman and shaking his hand.

Iman shook his hand and gave Jacqueline a hug. "Good luck to you." He said. "You will be in my thoughts and in my prayers." He turned to go but stopped. He turned and looked at Riddick. "May I ask you a question?" He asked.

Riddick raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Sure, Father."

Iman licked his lips. "We spoke of God together once." He said. "You said you hated him. Do you still feel that way?"

Riddick considered his answer. He glanced at Jacqueline. "I absolutely believe in God." He said to Iman, not for the first time. "I don't know if I still hate the fucker or not. But things are looking up." He said cautiously.

Iman laughed a rich laugh. "That is a start." He said. He shook hands with Riddick one final time and left the shuttle.

Jacqueline sat beside Riddick as he started the shuttle and took off. They were both relieved when they entered the darkness of space.

Riddick glanced at her. "You not ready for this?" He grinned. "Mrs. Riddick."

Jacqueline smiled. "I never had a doubt before." She said. "I'm not going to start now."



"It's called Caliga." Riddick said, reading the chart. "Looks like the whole planet is covered in mist." He said.

They were approaching their seventh planet. They would spend months in hyper sleep then find a planet and begin a life together. Then word would reach them about two bounty hunters looking for two fugitives from the law. They would always move on before anyone suspected who they were and before the Johns brothers got too close to them.

They hoped that this time would be different for them. They were on their way to colonize Caliga. Iman was able to get word to them on Orob. He was taking several pilgrims to colonize a misty forest planet on the very edge of space. The planet had one sun and two moons. One of which was a forest moon. They left Orob as soon as possible, even though no word of the Johns brothers had yet reached them.

Iman had strongly suggested that they try and be as honest as possible, and so they were, for the first time since leaving Jacqueline's school, Mr. and Mrs. Riddick. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Riddick. The pilgrims' husband and wife piloting team.

"Let's see if we can find a place to land." Riddick said. "I see a shit load of fog. Under it someplace is water and trees." He grumbled.

"So we turn the ship into a tree house or into a house boat." Jacqueline said, grinning while she adjusted some coordinates. "Your choice."

Riddick glared good-naturedly at her. "Your funny."

"I am nothing but the co-pilot." She said, chuckling. "My job is to keep the pilot's attention focused. Can't have you falling asleep at the wheel, can we?"

"After six months in hyper sleep?" Riddick said, chuckling himself. "The last thing I want to do is sleep." He looked over at her meaningfully. "What say we put this crate on auto-pilot and,"

Jacqueline cut him off, laughing. "Just land this boat, skipper." But she winked. "Once we get the pilgrims settled we'll have the rest of our lives to make up for all those years in hyper sleep."

Riddick sighed melodramatically. "Yes dear." he said, grinning. He gave his attention to the viewer. "I can't see a fucking thing." He said. There was silence for a long time as he maneuvered the ship through the misty air of the planet. He was flying using the sensors. "There!" He suddenly said. "That's a hell of a big lake. Maybe a small ocean. I can land on the water near the tree line."

"Should I start waking the passengers, Captain?" Jacqueline asked, formally.

"They've slept long enough." Riddick said.

Jacqueline began the sequence to bring the pilgrims out of hyper sleep as Riddick maneuvered the ship. The landing was gentle, thanks to the water.

Just as the ship stopped moving the lids of the sleep chambers began to rise and the pilgrims begin to awaken. Jacqueline and Riddick were standing nearby when Iman rose and looked at them.

"We are home?" He asked.

"We're on Caliga, anyway." Riddick said. "It's up to you to make it a home, right?"

Iman smiled at him. "With the help of Allah, yes."

Riddick just nodded. "Let's see where the hell we are?" He said and went to the main hatch. He opened it and looked at the shore. "Damn, I'm good." He said. He'd landed the ship less than fifteen feet from the shoreline.

He felt the slap on his back and turned his head to see Jacqueline smiling at him. "Never had a doubt." she said.

Riddick smiled back at her. "Let's get a gangplank set up." He said to her. He turned around completely to see that most of the passengers were looking out of the hatch past him into the dense forest. He raised his voice. "Welcome to Caliga, ladies and gentlemen." He said, smiling for them.



Jacqueline surreptitiously watched the looks the pilgrims gave them. She and Riddick were the only two people carrying arms. Iman had gathered the pilgrims together at the shoreline for a quick prayer. Jacqueline and Riddick stood on the gangplank, where they had a good view. They stood side-by-side watching left, right and center. They wore dark glasses, although in the mist it wasn't as bad as if they were in direct sunlight.

Iman ended his prayer. "And finally, we thank you for our pilots and protectors. For giving them the gifts that brought us here safely."

"Oh for fucks sake." Riddick grumbled. Jacqueline shushed him.

When the pilgrims ended their prayer and began to disperse to look around, Iman and two other pilgrims walked up to Riddick and Jacqueline.

"These folks wanted to meet you." Iman said, cheerfully. "Jonathan and Rose Shin, meet Benjamin and Jacqueline Riddick."

Jonathan shook hands with both Jacqueline and Riddick, but Rose looked very anxiously at the rifles on their hips. "Are those loaded?" she asked nervously.

"Yes." Riddick said with half a grin. "Fully."

Jacqueline watched Rose's eyes get big. "We have to protect the colony somehow, don't we?" She said to Rose, trying to put her at ease.

Rose sputtered. "I've never seen a woman with a gun before." She said.

Jacqueline smiled. "I'm just like any other woman I guess."

Rose shook her head. "Oh no!" she said, her voice full of admiration. "You're a pilot. You are so," Rose was at a loss of words.

Jacqueline could tell that Riddick was trying not to laugh out loud. She nodded to Rose and Jonathan. "It's nice to meet you." She said. "But we'd better start looking around. Make sure we're in relatively friendly territory."

As they were walking away, Riddick joked. "Looks like you have a fan, Jack."

"Oh for fucks sake." Jacqueline grumbled.



"Are you sure you don't want to join us next time, Jack?" Rose asked a few months later.

Jacqueline chuckled. "I'm afraid that sewing circles just aren't for me. They never really have been. But thanks for asking. Every time."

Rose blushed. "Just trying to be polite." She said. She looked around the ship, which the Riddick's were now calling home. "When will you and Benjamin build a home?" She asked.

Jacqueline shrugged. "We want to know we're going to stay here first." She said.

"Why wouldn't you stay here" Rose asked, genuinely confused.

"We don't usually stay in one place for too long." Riddick said, coming from the back of the ship with Jonathan.

Rose again looked a little shocked and confused. "But what about children. They need a stable home."

Jacqueline looked at Rose. "We aren't going to be having any children." She said, gently. "I had an," she paused, remembering Calvin. "An accident when I was seventeen. It left me unable to have children."

Rose looked embarrassed. "Is that what happened to your eyes?" She asked. "The accident damaged your eyes? You and Benjamin."

Jacqueline and Riddick tried not to be seen too much without their dark glasses when they were among the pilgrims. They were aware that their eyes might bring unwanted attention.

Riddick pursed his lips. "It was a contributing factor." He said, his voice grumbling.

Jonathan nodded. "Well, we must be thankful that your actual eyesight was not effected." and Rose nodded.

Jacqueline nodded politely. The Shins had become friendly with the Riddick's and had come over that night to share a meal. They always talked late afterwards. They were monitoring their scanner, as was their habit. And Iman was there as well, as he often was.

"We must thank you for sharing your anniversary dinner with us." Iman said, smiling.

"It was the least we could do." Riddick said, looking at Iman.

"Five years." Rose breathed. "Someday we will be so blessed."

"Most of it spent in hyper sleep." Jacqueline said. "This will be the third anniversary we have spent together not in some hyper chamber."

"It must be wonderful to travel so much." Jonathan said to Riddick.

Riddick shrugged and was going to reply when they heard the scanner. The Riddick's were in the habit of monitoring channels. He inclined his head towards the scanner.

"They were last seen on Orob." The scanner said.

"That's a long way from here" came a reply.

Iman frowned deeply at the scanner.

"They've been running from galaxy to galaxy for a long time." The original voice said. "It's not impossible they are in this quadrant."

"The only people in this quadrant are on Caliga. That's going to take you a few days at your present heading and sped."

There was a pause. "We'll speed things up. Thanks for your help."

And the scanner went on to other communications.

Jacqueline sighed and looked at Jonathan and Rose. "Well, I'm getting pretty tired." She said. "I guess Benjamin and I should say goodnight."

Jonathan stood and shook hands with Riddick while his wife said goodbye to Jacqueline. They left quickly. Iman stayed behind.

"David and Peter Johns." He said. "They are looking for you again." Riddick nodded and Iman continued. "You will be moving on, then."

Riddick bit his lip. "Maybe." He said. He peered past Iman into the darkening night. "Or we'll finally end this nonsense."

Iman looked a little concerned at this comment, but he said nothing. He nodded and went down the gangplank into the darkening night.

Riddick closed the hatch and went to stand with Jacqueline. She sighed. "This was a beautiful place to stay." She said.

Riddick nodded. "I was getting used to it too." He said. "Some anniversary. I'm sorry."

Jacqueline went to him and they held each other. "Nothing for you to be sorry about, Benjamin." She said. "Come' on. Let's get some sleep."



Jonathan interrupted their breakfast the next morning. He looked very serious.

"I talked to Iman last night. After we left." He said, looking at Riddick. "He told us about your twin brother."

Riddick and Jacqueline hid their confusion, but raised their eyebrows. "He did?"

"It must be terrible to have a twin brother like that." Jonathan continued. "To be chased down like you have been."

Riddick recovered. "Yes." He said, guessing at what Iman had told Jonathan. "Iman told you about Richard, then?"

Jonathan nodded. "And we will support you." He said. "Talk to these men when they come here. Explain things to them."

Jacqueline shook her head. "Do you know what they want with us, Jonathan?" She asked. "They won't listen to your explanations."

"They want to take Benjamin into custody." Jonathan said. "For crimes he didn't commit."

Riddick considered a moment. "Jonathan. I don't have a brother. I am Richard Riddick."

Jonathan looked confused. "Iman told me," he began.

"Iman lied to protect us." Riddick said. He looked at Jacqueline. "It's a long story, but we need to get this settled. I'm tired of running from the Johns brothers. We're going to have to take a stand."

The Riddick's sat Jonathan down and told him the whole story.