On to chapter 3 already! Weee! This is going so much better than I had imagined!
Jack sat there reliving that day over and over again as she brought her knees to her chest and hugged them ever so tightly. She was elated and at the same time, a bit frightened that Riddick was loose. She wondered where we would run to. Who would he be able to trust? She didn't believe there were many if any at all. Shivering at the thought of him being completely alone, she hopped off her bed and into the shower.
During the middle of her shower, the phone rang. It was her temporary Nessos boss, Herb Brubaker.
"Jacqueline?", he asked. Herb never used her nickname, or anyones for that matter. That had always annoyed Jack but she dealt with it.
"Yes, Herb?"
"I was calling to inform you that you do not have to report here anymore. The job has been finished and you are free to leave whenever you choose. Your final paycheck has been deposited into your account and the company has added a few bonus credits to make up for the extra time we have kpet you here", he said.
"Really? Oh, Herb that's great. Tell everyone thanks for me and that I will keep in touch."
"I shall, Jacqueline. It has been a pleasure. Any time you are willing to settle down, remember there will always be a place for you here", he added with a lighter tone.
"Thanks Herb. Good-bye", she told him and hung up the phone.
She stumbled back into the shower and finished washing herself off, gleeful to be done with Nessos.
***
He had managed to dump the clothes and find new ones. Provided he had to either kill someone or steal them, he chose the latter. It would serve him best if he kept off radar. The escape had been unexpected, but he welcomed it all the same. He was doing time for something he didn't even commit and the government knew that, so he figured there would be a slight delay in tracking him down. They were biding their time, waiting for him to commit some intolerable act so they could send him back.
He was holding up on a cargo ship, unseen to the naked eye. Once the ship landed he had no idea where to go but he knew where to start. He figured he'd get himself a ship and then get himself the hell outta there. The cargo pants he'd taken had suited him just fine and so did the thermal blck shirt he'd gotten. He felt like he was back tom his old self again. Pulling the sunglasses from his pocket, he slipped them on and sat to bide his time.
Once the ship had landed, he learned that he was on Nessos, some fake planet. He slipped unseen down the docks and kept his eyes open for police. He spotted a ship with no attendants and no one nearby. He climbed the platform and hacked into the security code system. He was in the ship faster than the blink of a shined eye.
***
Jack was on her way back from the store with her head down and thoughts occupying her mind. She did not notice the man who had slipped into the ship across from hers nor did the mercury eyes see her. She climbed into her ship and decided she needed to make something to eat. She had not eaten since the night before with all the excitement. She had written Imam back asking for any details that he could find out for her. She never told him that she still had a desire to find him. So cooking up a meal for one, she sat down and waited for the time to pass.
Across the way, Riddick decided he needed a shower and a shave. He rubbed his thick, bruised hands over his skull and walked around the ship. Once he had his bearings down, he walked into the bathroom, shed his new clothing, and turned the dial to the hottest level. He stood watching the steam fill the room and let the simple things he now found joy in, consume him. A small smirk crossed his lips and he stepped into the shower. The water scalded him at first but he quickly got used to it. He leaned against the shower wall and just let the water mist over him and run down his chiseled body, to the drain.
He thought about who he could contact, or even if he wanted to contact anyone. Imam suddenly popped into his mind and Riddick entertained the thought of the old Holy man for a moment. He remembered leaving him and Jack behind on Euro-Futura what was it....10 years ago now? Hw wondered if the gray was finally creeping into the Holy man's beard. Hell, for that matter he wondered if he was still Holy.
Then there was Jack. She had been young back then. Now she must be in her twenties. Riddick tried to imagine the girl older, but all he could picture was the image of a girl with a shaved head and makeshift goggles on. Now there was a memory. Back when the ship had crashed on T2. That girl had looked up to him. He found it ammusing. Although attempting to forbid himself to do so, he began to care about the girl. He had no idea why she would look up to him, being the convict that he was. Well...is...
After finishing washing himself, Riddick turned off the shower and stepped out. He towel-dried himself and began to make the trek back to the master sleeping quarters. It was late by the time he finally got done shaving. It had taken him awhile to find something with which he could do the job. He tossed back on his boxers and thermal shirt. Leaving the pants on the floor, he crawled into the bed for a night of well deserved rest.
Jack sat there reliving that day over and over again as she brought her knees to her chest and hugged them ever so tightly. She was elated and at the same time, a bit frightened that Riddick was loose. She wondered where we would run to. Who would he be able to trust? She didn't believe there were many if any at all. Shivering at the thought of him being completely alone, she hopped off her bed and into the shower.
During the middle of her shower, the phone rang. It was her temporary Nessos boss, Herb Brubaker.
"Jacqueline?", he asked. Herb never used her nickname, or anyones for that matter. That had always annoyed Jack but she dealt with it.
"Yes, Herb?"
"I was calling to inform you that you do not have to report here anymore. The job has been finished and you are free to leave whenever you choose. Your final paycheck has been deposited into your account and the company has added a few bonus credits to make up for the extra time we have kpet you here", he said.
"Really? Oh, Herb that's great. Tell everyone thanks for me and that I will keep in touch."
"I shall, Jacqueline. It has been a pleasure. Any time you are willing to settle down, remember there will always be a place for you here", he added with a lighter tone.
"Thanks Herb. Good-bye", she told him and hung up the phone.
She stumbled back into the shower and finished washing herself off, gleeful to be done with Nessos.
***
He had managed to dump the clothes and find new ones. Provided he had to either kill someone or steal them, he chose the latter. It would serve him best if he kept off radar. The escape had been unexpected, but he welcomed it all the same. He was doing time for something he didn't even commit and the government knew that, so he figured there would be a slight delay in tracking him down. They were biding their time, waiting for him to commit some intolerable act so they could send him back.
He was holding up on a cargo ship, unseen to the naked eye. Once the ship landed he had no idea where to go but he knew where to start. He figured he'd get himself a ship and then get himself the hell outta there. The cargo pants he'd taken had suited him just fine and so did the thermal blck shirt he'd gotten. He felt like he was back tom his old self again. Pulling the sunglasses from his pocket, he slipped them on and sat to bide his time.
Once the ship had landed, he learned that he was on Nessos, some fake planet. He slipped unseen down the docks and kept his eyes open for police. He spotted a ship with no attendants and no one nearby. He climbed the platform and hacked into the security code system. He was in the ship faster than the blink of a shined eye.
***
Jack was on her way back from the store with her head down and thoughts occupying her mind. She did not notice the man who had slipped into the ship across from hers nor did the mercury eyes see her. She climbed into her ship and decided she needed to make something to eat. She had not eaten since the night before with all the excitement. She had written Imam back asking for any details that he could find out for her. She never told him that she still had a desire to find him. So cooking up a meal for one, she sat down and waited for the time to pass.
Across the way, Riddick decided he needed a shower and a shave. He rubbed his thick, bruised hands over his skull and walked around the ship. Once he had his bearings down, he walked into the bathroom, shed his new clothing, and turned the dial to the hottest level. He stood watching the steam fill the room and let the simple things he now found joy in, consume him. A small smirk crossed his lips and he stepped into the shower. The water scalded him at first but he quickly got used to it. He leaned against the shower wall and just let the water mist over him and run down his chiseled body, to the drain.
He thought about who he could contact, or even if he wanted to contact anyone. Imam suddenly popped into his mind and Riddick entertained the thought of the old Holy man for a moment. He remembered leaving him and Jack behind on Euro-Futura what was it....10 years ago now? Hw wondered if the gray was finally creeping into the Holy man's beard. Hell, for that matter he wondered if he was still Holy.
Then there was Jack. She had been young back then. Now she must be in her twenties. Riddick tried to imagine the girl older, but all he could picture was the image of a girl with a shaved head and makeshift goggles on. Now there was a memory. Back when the ship had crashed on T2. That girl had looked up to him. He found it ammusing. Although attempting to forbid himself to do so, he began to care about the girl. He had no idea why she would look up to him, being the convict that he was. Well...is...
After finishing washing himself, Riddick turned off the shower and stepped out. He towel-dried himself and began to make the trek back to the master sleeping quarters. It was late by the time he finally got done shaving. It had taken him awhile to find something with which he could do the job. He tossed back on his boxers and thermal shirt. Leaving the pants on the floor, he crawled into the bed for a night of well deserved rest.
