Jack went into her bedroom after Riddick left her. She was void of any tears and all she had left in her mind was regret, guilt, and longing. She felt regret for behaving, in her mind, so stupidly after she told him who she was. Jack had decided to wait to tell him who she was but her mistake in slipping his name had given up her idea right then and there. She had been so stunned at her own words and his reaction to come up with any other escape.
She sat on the bed, cursing herself even more. If there had been any hope of them having any type of relationship it was surely shot to hell now, she thought. Jack stood up suddenly. She was determined not to let anything come between her having the chance to say the things she needed to say to Riddick. She put on a pair of black jeans and one oh her tight black tee shirts and headed for his ship.
***
Riddick was messing around in the main cabin when he heard someone enter his ship. The sound was faint but his senses were heightened. He pushed down his goggles and started for where he heard the sound coming from. Before he could exit, Jack appeared in his doorway. She was no longer crying and seemed to have complete control of herself. Riddick tried to pick a scent up on her but all he got in return was her faint smell of roses.
"Riddick. I know you don't want me to be here but I have to be here. I need to talk to you. I can see that you are leaving soon so I need to speak with you before then", she said anxiously.
"Jack",he sighed giving up,"If you feel like we have to talk then get down to it."
"Well first I want to get it off my chest that even though I knew who you were, sort of, I still feel an overwhelming attraction to you. You probably hear that alot but I hope since it's coming from me that you'll take it more to heart. I haven't seen you in ten years. I want to know how your life has been. I want to know what you did when you.... dropped us off. Did you ever meet any one special? Riddick, I care and that's why I want to know."
Riddick stared at her for a moment. She felt for him. As much as he wasn't about to say it aloud, she was right. A lot of other women told him that they felt for him. Jack was the only one who struck him where it counted, the heart. He felt the growing thickness of silence that was filling the room.
"Jack, I don't think you want to hear anything I have to say. It's all a bunch of bullshit. My life is nothing like yours. You have the chance to be something. I will always be the fugitive that's number 1 on every Merc's lists. I don't want to weigh you down with any of it."
"Lights, 25. Riddick please listen to me when I say this. I care. Nothing you have to say will burden me. I know you are leaving soon and if I can, I promise not to keep you from that. Let's just relive old times."
"Okay", Riddick responded slowly.
They sat in his cabin and spoke of their lives. Riddick told her about how he had been running scott free until he was spotted by an off-duty Merc. He had tried his best to resist capture but it was to no avail. Then someone busted open slam and he escaped. Jack told him all about her schooling and how she was stationed on that planet to fix the systems. At this Riddick's ears perked up but he said nothing. Things began to get quiet when Jack looked at her watch.
"Shit", she said.
"What is it?", Riddick quickly asked looking around.
"No, it's the time. I told a friend a week or two ago that I could help them out tonight at their club. The performer scheduled for tonight was accidentally put through the airlock on his own ship while traveling here."
"What are you supposed to do?", he asked with a sly grin, looking her over.
She laughed and retorted,"Sing. Nothing dirty."
Riddick cocked his head and looked at her. He'd have never guessed she was a singer from the looks of her. Well then again, she was something nice to look at while she was on stage so maybe she had the presence.
"Would you like to come?"
"I would", Riddick responded. He also thought it might be a place to get a good drink.
"Okay, well, put yourself together and I'll be back in about a half hour", she said with the hint of excitement beginning to show through her eyes.
"Okay", he said gruffly.
Jack hurried back to her ship, a plan forming in her mind. She hopped into the shower quickly and did the best she could from going every which way at once. She quickly went into her closet looking for the dress she'd saved to use on the night where all her dreams came true. Tonight might not be that night but it might come pretty damn close, she thought.
The dress reached to the floor. It was black, and had a slit that reached up to her thigh. The sweetheart neckline complimented her to the fullest degree and the very small shoulder straps showed off the tan she had been working on. Jack dried her hair and left it down straight. She applied some gloss to her lips and some light glitter to her eyes. Before leaving to get Riddick, she put on strappy black sandals and grabbed her small black handbag.
***
Riddick had gotten a shower as well. He put on a pair of black trousers that he scrounged up from the ship. Finding no shirt that could fit his size, he resorted to the black thermal shirt that was still from what he could tell, clean. He promised himself he would get some new clothing the minute he could get his hands on some money. He picked up his sunglasses and waited for Jack to appear out of her ship.
After about 10 minutes of Riddick finishing on himself, he saw Jack coming out of her ship. The stairs on the port side slowly descended and he saw one long leg come out first. He gasped quickly and left his own ship to get a better view.
Jack was using the stairs this time, not wanting to fall on her face leaving from the docking exit in the back. She stuck one leg out followed by another. Clearing the door, the rest of her followed. She looked down to see Riddick standing at the bottom an impressed look covering his face. He outstretched an arm and she took hold to it. He helped her down the stairs slowly and she was grateful.
"Your lucky we just don't get down to it right here, right now,"he said jokingly.
"If you're lucky",she began,"the night's events will end in your favor." He let out a low grumbling laugh and they started out for the club.
