With a silent scream of annoyance Mac picked up her C.O.M pager

*It better not be another job, because the next person that pages me is gunna find themselves...*

She looked down at the brief message

*Well. Fuck Me.*

Slowly and carefully Mac put away her numerous knives and walked slowly over to the I.T.C satellite hook-up in the kitchen alcove. She silently congratulated herself for reining in her temper and letting the guy pay her in computer software, not blood. Mac slid into the chair and sent her massage back. It was short; the only thing it contained was a time and place. She bounced the message off every satt. currently in orbit and added a scrambler to make it untraceable. Then she got up and pulled on a heavier cloak, picking up her three sets of double holsters she headed for the door.

Father Jhonas jumped when the electronic beeper on his pager went off. He quickly scanned the message, then shot to his feet.

"Come on, not a second to lose!"

Was all he said as he raced out the door. With an annoyed growl Riddick stalked after him.

They stopped in an ally some distance away. It was dirty, full of broken boxes and rusted metal. A voice echoed out of the darkness.

"You're late."

Father Jhonas looked sound franticly, trying to pinpoint where the voice was coming from. The voice continued.

"I should kill you where you stand for having the nerve, to contact me."

Father Jhonas seemed to gather himself, weather from fear or courage Riddick couldn't guess.

"I called you to give you a chance to work off your debt to me."

The voice in the darkness laughed.

"What could I possibly owe you?" It spat "Other then a knife in the back."

The priest's trembly voice rang out in the darkness.

"It was I who left the door open for you."

He answered.

"Oh, and I thought that was because you trying to payback some of the evil you had done."

"You know confession is secret."

"What I know is that life is sacred."

The ageing priest seemed to shrink

"Do you think there is a day that goes by that I do not blame myself for what happened to you children?"

Cried the priest angrily.

"Every day I must live with the fact that I could have saved you, but did nothing."

Harshly he was answered by the darkness.

"And every day I must live with the fact that I didn't save them, but did everything."

The air was thick with silence, finally the voice in the darkness spoke

"What is it that I must do to relieve myself of this debt? Kill you friend there?"

A hand pointed to the shadows where Riddick had concealed himself.

"No."

Answered the priest.

"This man needs to repair his ship so he can leave the planet. Quickly."

"What do I look like? A fucking mechanic? Why are you doing this anyway?"

"I'm doing it as a favor to a friend."

"That's rich. Did you tell your friend what happens to people to whom you give favors?"

"Will you never forgive me?"

"If you want forgiveness get it from your god. The only thing I'm capable of giving anyone is death."

With a sigh the priest threw down a bundle that had been hidden in amongst the folds of his robes till that moment.

"Here is what you will need to know."

With that he turned and left the ally. Riddick followed, mulling over what he had learned.

Riddick rose early the next morning and it was agreed that he would come back at what appeared to be noon on this planet and bring Jack to the skiff. Father Jhonas's 'friend' was waiting for him when he arrived. She waited till he got within earshot.

"It's fucked."

She said in a flat voice, her face was hooded so he couldn't gauge her expression.

"Can it be fixed?"

"Not likely."

"How do you know?"

Riddick wasn't about to take this stranger's word for anything.

"I had some 'friends' check it out."

"And how reliable are your friends?"

Mac sighed, suddenly tired with the exchange.

"The best. I'm owed favors, I'll call them in to get you a ship."

She turned and started walking towards the lift.

"Why the hell would you do that?"

Without turning she said.

"Because I don't like you, and I want you gone."

"So are we going to the skiff now?"

Jack asked as Riddick walked back into the main hall.

"Nope, not today. One of the good Father's friends declared it fu- broken."

Jack hid a smile at the word Riddick had cut off.

*Like I can have anymore-bad influences*

"How's your leg?"

Riddick looked startled at the question, then he just shrugged. Jack rolled her eyes.

"Do you want something to eat?"

"Nah, I'm fine."

He turned back towards the door.

"Where you going."

"Got some business to attend to. Don't worry, I'll be back before night fall."

Mac watched as her new 'boss' went into one of the better bars in the neighborhood. Smiling she followed him. By the time she found a table that afforded her a good view of the bar and his table, two girls had joined him. They weren't high quality, just cheep sluts employed to show the customers a good time.

*Probably attracted by the size*

And by the way his hands were moving he was defiantly having a good time.

*Men. Time to break up this little party*

Mac used the shadows to move until she was right next to the table. The girls were the first to notice her. The blood drained out of their faces, leaving them a rather unattractive chalk white. Stiffly they pulled away from their 'mark' and quickly made their way to what little protection the bar offered. When Father's 'friend' finally looked up Mac let herself radiate some of the disgust she was feeling.

"Your ship is waiting for you. Same place as the skiff."

With that said she turned and walked out.

When Riddick got to the place where the skiff was last seen with Jack he was, well, somewhere between surprised and shocked. He was looking at an old company cruiser, the small ones that were used to convey delegates across planet. It was still in very good condition.

"Wow."

Was all Jack said, it was clear she approved of their change of transportation. Father's 'friend' was working on one of the wings and didn't bother acknowledging their presence, though Riddick had a feeling she had been aware of them as soon as they entered the spaceport.

"Who's that?"

Asked Jack, pointing to the figure.

"I don't know, let's go ask."

Halfway to the ship Riddick felt Jack slip her hand into his. Somewhere inside him, something cracked, it wasn't a big crack, but it was a start. Riddick gently squeezed her had in reassurance. Mac looked up when the man and the kid had got within speaking distance

"Very impressive. I'm Richard and this is Jaclyn."

Jack gave a cheerful wave. Mac ignored it.

"I'm known as Mac."

She said, clearly stating that it was not her real name without actually stating that that was not her real name.

"So where'd ya get the ship Mac? It's a beauty."

Mac smiled slightly under her hood. The kid was sweet. It was gunna get her killed, but she was sweet.

"I was owed a favor or two. I just cashed them in."

"Wow, they must have been pretty big favors."

Mac allowed a little humor to creep into her voice.

"Oh, they were, they were."

Before Jack could ask anymore probing questions Riddick ushered her into their new ship to explore.

*What an interesting couple. This should prove.entertaining*