"Well. This is the address."
Jack looked dubiously at a small door set in a dark stone wall that reached two stories above their heads. It was topped by electro-wire; electrified razor wire, and a half story up jagged pieces of glass, set into the mortar of the walls, began.
"Figures."
Muttered Riddick. With a mental sigh he knocked. A small piece of wood, at about eye level, slid open. Two rheumy eyes peered suspiciously out, first at Riddick, and then at Jack.
"What do you want?"
They demanded. Before Riddick could get a word in the voice continued.
"Sorry! No beggars!"
He didn't sound all that sorry at all.
"Go see the Prophets of the Moon Goddess. Down this street and to the right."
Briskly he slammed the spy-hole up, or rather, tried to. While the annoying little priest was talking Riddick had un-holstered the gun he'd stolen when walking out of the spaceport, it was now stopping the flimsy piece of wood from being closed.
"Open the door."
Riddick said calmly.
"Or I'll blast you brains all over the ground."
The eyes widened in fear.
"Then," They gulped "I shall die nobly, protecting my cloister and God's Will and Word and his."
"Bartov? Bartov? BARTOV! Who's at the Gate? Oh hello."
A pair of faded blue eyes had replaced Bartov's glaring gaze.
"Who are you?"
They asked politely. Jack broke in before Riddick could murder anyone.
"Hi!"
She said brightly.
"I'm Jaclyn and this is Richard. Our friend, Imam, directed us to ya pad. He said he sent word that we were coming."
She gave another bright, disarming smile.
"Why, umm."
The priest was somewhat put out by her brightness, Riddick was gazing at her in astonishment.
"Wait! Your Imam's, umm, Friends."
The way he said it made Riddick again tighten his hand on the gun. The priest turned to Bartov.
"Open the door man! They're expected!"
They were quickly ushered in and all was going well until Riddick was asked to give up his gun.
"No."
He said flatly, the small scholarly type who had asked for it almost had heart failure. Their party came to a dead stop, the priest that had greeted them after Bartov, Father Jhonas, cleared his throat and with an apologetic shrug tried to explain.
"Mr.? I didn't catch your last name."
He said with a smile. Riddick smiled back, a smile composed largely by teeth.
"I didn't throw it." He said.
"Hmm, yes, well. I hope you'll understand, but we have a policy of no weapons within the Sanctuary."
His voice became flat and cold.
"Serenity has been at war with herself for the last sixteen generations. The last wars ended four years ago. We called them the Religious Wars. Earlier wars had been between opposing fractions of government and self styled warlords; this one involved most of the major religions on this planet. You may have noticed the large wasteland near our city when you flew in?"
"You really can't miss it."
Jack said quirking an eyebrow. The priest looked back at her gravely.
"There were four major Cities on this planet, in the beginning all covered no less then five thousand square khans, and none contained less then three billion souls."
The Priest took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself.
"There are now only two Cities, Vatica and Laminae. Combined there populations would exceed no more then one million."
He looked at Riddick darkly.
"Please, forgive us if we feel the need to ban weaponry within this Sanctuary."
Riddick handed over his gun.
The Hall was a large rectangular building. It had a dais in one end and the rest of the space was taken up with rough metal tables and benches. Only a quarter of the room was occupied. Brown robed men sat, eating silently. Father Jhonas cleared his throat.
"We'll get a meal into you, then we will discuss your plans."
He said with a smile.
"Wait! Father."
Jack stopped embarrassed; her voice had carried the length of the entire hall. Bartov glared at her, but Father Jhonas just smiled.
"Father,"
Jack continued in a lower voice.
"My brother needs medical attention."
She had noticed Riddick limping slightly when they had entered the Hall.
*Probably wasn't going to say anything. Typical male! *
The priest looked contrite and hurriedly assured Jack that her brother's injuries would be taken care of. Jack could feel Riddick glaring at her and smiled sweetly back at him in return. Father Jhonas led Jack to a table, placed a dish of soup in front of her and ushered Riddick off to the infirmary. With a sigh Jack dropped into the seat she was directed to, the last of her worries about this place disappeared when she smelt the soup.
Riddick glared at the young priest who was stitching up his leg, the young boy was shaking so much he had dropped the needle three times. Riddick decided to be patient, he gave the young man what he hoped was an encouraging smile and reviewed what Father Jhonas had told them. But he couldn't concentrate, he was worried about Jack, despite what she had said about not taking shit from him he'd seen the naked fear in her eyes when she'd talked about running away again. With a nervous jerk the kid cut the gut he'd been using to bind together Riddick's led and scuttled out of the room, almost colliding with Father Jhonas. With mumbled apologies he fled. The Father chuckled.
"You may have to get used to that."
He said, referring to the skittish child.
"You see, you resemble a member of a policing force common in this City. They patrol the streets, putting a stop to what they see as trouble. They are not known for their gentleness."
Riddick waited for the priest to say more, but he remained silent, eventually he began questioning Riddick about their trip, stay, and departure. When Riddick again stressed the need for secrecy and the haste needed to get off the planet the priest sighed, his face screwed up as if her were trying to decide something. He must have come to a decision because the next second his face cleared.
"I might be able to help you, 'might' being to optimum word. I'll contact someone I know and we'll meet them when they send back word. I'd advise you not to bring your sister."
Riddick rose and thanked him, but as he left he could hear the priest mutter darkly to himself.
"Anything for a friend of Imam's."
A quiet girl of about twelve showed Jack to her room, and after much cajoling and teasing Jack found out her name was Sara. She shyly showed Jack how to work the pluming and suggested that she have a bath before Late Meal. Jack asked and found that there were four meals served daily; Early Meal, Mid Meal, Late Meal, and Watch Meal, Sara explained that Watch Meal was only for the night sentries, who manned the walls of the compound.
Riddick showered and changed into the gray clothes that the Father had lent him while his were being cleaned. With a knock he pushed open the door of Father Jhonas's office. The priest gave him a weary smile and beckoned him to sit.
"Well."
He said with false cheer.
"I've contacted the person, we only need wait for them to reply."
Riddick's patience was at an end.
"Who the hell have you called and why the hell do you keep looking over your fuckin' shoulder like you expect him to be there with a gun?"
The priest winced at Riddick's casual blasphemy but answered him none the same.
"'She' was an old. friend, who owes me a favor, and if I don't convince her of that,"
He gave a slightly hysterical laugh.
"A gun will be the least of my troubles."
Jack looked dubiously at a small door set in a dark stone wall that reached two stories above their heads. It was topped by electro-wire; electrified razor wire, and a half story up jagged pieces of glass, set into the mortar of the walls, began.
"Figures."
Muttered Riddick. With a mental sigh he knocked. A small piece of wood, at about eye level, slid open. Two rheumy eyes peered suspiciously out, first at Riddick, and then at Jack.
"What do you want?"
They demanded. Before Riddick could get a word in the voice continued.
"Sorry! No beggars!"
He didn't sound all that sorry at all.
"Go see the Prophets of the Moon Goddess. Down this street and to the right."
Briskly he slammed the spy-hole up, or rather, tried to. While the annoying little priest was talking Riddick had un-holstered the gun he'd stolen when walking out of the spaceport, it was now stopping the flimsy piece of wood from being closed.
"Open the door."
Riddick said calmly.
"Or I'll blast you brains all over the ground."
The eyes widened in fear.
"Then," They gulped "I shall die nobly, protecting my cloister and God's Will and Word and his."
"Bartov? Bartov? BARTOV! Who's at the Gate? Oh hello."
A pair of faded blue eyes had replaced Bartov's glaring gaze.
"Who are you?"
They asked politely. Jack broke in before Riddick could murder anyone.
"Hi!"
She said brightly.
"I'm Jaclyn and this is Richard. Our friend, Imam, directed us to ya pad. He said he sent word that we were coming."
She gave another bright, disarming smile.
"Why, umm."
The priest was somewhat put out by her brightness, Riddick was gazing at her in astonishment.
"Wait! Your Imam's, umm, Friends."
The way he said it made Riddick again tighten his hand on the gun. The priest turned to Bartov.
"Open the door man! They're expected!"
They were quickly ushered in and all was going well until Riddick was asked to give up his gun.
"No."
He said flatly, the small scholarly type who had asked for it almost had heart failure. Their party came to a dead stop, the priest that had greeted them after Bartov, Father Jhonas, cleared his throat and with an apologetic shrug tried to explain.
"Mr.? I didn't catch your last name."
He said with a smile. Riddick smiled back, a smile composed largely by teeth.
"I didn't throw it." He said.
"Hmm, yes, well. I hope you'll understand, but we have a policy of no weapons within the Sanctuary."
His voice became flat and cold.
"Serenity has been at war with herself for the last sixteen generations. The last wars ended four years ago. We called them the Religious Wars. Earlier wars had been between opposing fractions of government and self styled warlords; this one involved most of the major religions on this planet. You may have noticed the large wasteland near our city when you flew in?"
"You really can't miss it."
Jack said quirking an eyebrow. The priest looked back at her gravely.
"There were four major Cities on this planet, in the beginning all covered no less then five thousand square khans, and none contained less then three billion souls."
The Priest took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself.
"There are now only two Cities, Vatica and Laminae. Combined there populations would exceed no more then one million."
He looked at Riddick darkly.
"Please, forgive us if we feel the need to ban weaponry within this Sanctuary."
Riddick handed over his gun.
The Hall was a large rectangular building. It had a dais in one end and the rest of the space was taken up with rough metal tables and benches. Only a quarter of the room was occupied. Brown robed men sat, eating silently. Father Jhonas cleared his throat.
"We'll get a meal into you, then we will discuss your plans."
He said with a smile.
"Wait! Father."
Jack stopped embarrassed; her voice had carried the length of the entire hall. Bartov glared at her, but Father Jhonas just smiled.
"Father,"
Jack continued in a lower voice.
"My brother needs medical attention."
She had noticed Riddick limping slightly when they had entered the Hall.
*Probably wasn't going to say anything. Typical male! *
The priest looked contrite and hurriedly assured Jack that her brother's injuries would be taken care of. Jack could feel Riddick glaring at her and smiled sweetly back at him in return. Father Jhonas led Jack to a table, placed a dish of soup in front of her and ushered Riddick off to the infirmary. With a sigh Jack dropped into the seat she was directed to, the last of her worries about this place disappeared when she smelt the soup.
Riddick glared at the young priest who was stitching up his leg, the young boy was shaking so much he had dropped the needle three times. Riddick decided to be patient, he gave the young man what he hoped was an encouraging smile and reviewed what Father Jhonas had told them. But he couldn't concentrate, he was worried about Jack, despite what she had said about not taking shit from him he'd seen the naked fear in her eyes when she'd talked about running away again. With a nervous jerk the kid cut the gut he'd been using to bind together Riddick's led and scuttled out of the room, almost colliding with Father Jhonas. With mumbled apologies he fled. The Father chuckled.
"You may have to get used to that."
He said, referring to the skittish child.
"You see, you resemble a member of a policing force common in this City. They patrol the streets, putting a stop to what they see as trouble. They are not known for their gentleness."
Riddick waited for the priest to say more, but he remained silent, eventually he began questioning Riddick about their trip, stay, and departure. When Riddick again stressed the need for secrecy and the haste needed to get off the planet the priest sighed, his face screwed up as if her were trying to decide something. He must have come to a decision because the next second his face cleared.
"I might be able to help you, 'might' being to optimum word. I'll contact someone I know and we'll meet them when they send back word. I'd advise you not to bring your sister."
Riddick rose and thanked him, but as he left he could hear the priest mutter darkly to himself.
"Anything for a friend of Imam's."
A quiet girl of about twelve showed Jack to her room, and after much cajoling and teasing Jack found out her name was Sara. She shyly showed Jack how to work the pluming and suggested that she have a bath before Late Meal. Jack asked and found that there were four meals served daily; Early Meal, Mid Meal, Late Meal, and Watch Meal, Sara explained that Watch Meal was only for the night sentries, who manned the walls of the compound.
Riddick showered and changed into the gray clothes that the Father had lent him while his were being cleaned. With a knock he pushed open the door of Father Jhonas's office. The priest gave him a weary smile and beckoned him to sit.
"Well."
He said with false cheer.
"I've contacted the person, we only need wait for them to reply."
Riddick's patience was at an end.
"Who the hell have you called and why the hell do you keep looking over your fuckin' shoulder like you expect him to be there with a gun?"
The priest winced at Riddick's casual blasphemy but answered him none the same.
"'She' was an old. friend, who owes me a favor, and if I don't convince her of that,"
He gave a slightly hysterical laugh.
"A gun will be the least of my troubles."
