After the course was set for Draven Sector, Skye was shown around the ship, which was totally unnecessary. She already knew where everything was. There was a kitchen/dining area, a workout room, engine room, three bedrooms, and unfortunately, one bathroom. The setup of the ship was like an H. The cockpit was of course at the front, a few stairs leading up from the cockpit led to an open room. Kind of like the living area. It had a vid screen, computer, other electronic equipment, and a nice view of the stars. From there, there were two hallways leading in the same direction. One on either side of the room. This made up the H. The left hallway led to the guys' rooms, the right led to the kitchen, and the girls' room. The hallway that cut across the center, completing the H, led to the bathroom and the workout room. Any of the other rooms in that area were mainly used for storage.
Eric and Riddick were in one room, Kyle and Alex shared the other one, and Raven and Skye got the last one.
"When you're done unpacking, meet us in the kitchen. We'll make you breakfast." Eric then left her to herself. She put her few belongings away and took a quick look around the room. Cozy enough, but she wasn't used to sharing a room.
Riddick had already started on breakfast when Eric came in.
"She seems kind of distant and quiet," Eric said thoughtfully as he took a seat at the table.
"Well, how do you think she feels being stuck on this ship with us as the crew?" Riddick asked not expecting and answer.
"We gotta get her comfortable with us if we want to pull this off successfully and I think I have an idea." Riddick glanced over at him about to ask him what he was going to do when Skye walked in.
"Hey, guys." She stopped when she got through the door and sniffed the air. "Smells good." She walked over to Riddick and peaked around him at what he was cooking, letting her cheek rest on his shoulder. "That relieves one worry I had," she said referring to the food they'd be eating.
She joined Eric at the table and when Riddick was done, he served them and joined them last. They all talked about themselves but they both had a hard time getting much out of Riddick. Unintentionally, Eric and Skye teamed up against him.
"Come on; tell me anything about yourself, please." She put on the cute little girl face but it seemed to have no effect on him. Eric on the other hand started laughing.
"Hey, Riddick. Tell her about all the women you've had." Riddick didn't find that amusing at all.
"Not much to tell." He glared over at Eric. 'Was this his idea on how to get her to be comfortable with them, at his expense?' Riddick thought to himself.
"Okay, then tell me how you pick up all these women?" she could not believe she just asked him that. He turned back to her, a slow seductive smile forming on his lips. He leaned in close.
"I don't. They always pick up me." Skye's jaw dropped but she regained her composure. She knew he wasn't lying about that one.
"Hey, Skye. Tell us how you pick up men?" Eric said in between laughs.
"I don't and they don't pick up me," she said, suddenly feeling flushed. Eric started laughing so hard he couldn't breathe. It was contagious and Skye couldn't contain the giggle that made it's way out of her mouth.
"I guess Riddick's the only lucky one in the group," he managed to gasp out.
"So you've been in training for awhile, right?" Riddick's question confused Skye into silence.
"Yeah, why?" she asked cautiously.
"You can run, right?" She looked at him for a minute before answering. Eric was still laughing.
"Yeah." As soon as she answered, Riddick gave Eric a good push, sending him to the floor and turned back to Skye.
"Then you better start running," he smiled, hoping she would get that it was all a game. She squealed as she ran from the room. Riddick casually got up for the chase, carefully stepping over a still laughing Eric.
The hallway was dark so Riddick moved his goggles to his forehead. Skye had already disappeared somewhere. He was sniffing the air as he walked trying to pick up her scent when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Turning quickly to his right, he ran down the hall after what he was sure was Skye. Alex, Kyle, and Raven were busy in the engine room so it had to be her.
As he neared the corner, he slowed down. She was right there, he could smell her. Without looking, Riddick reached around the corner and grabbed the front of her shirt, pulling her into his sights and pinned her against the wall. She was only slightly winded from the running but her breathing became quick when Riddick pinned her to the wall.
"Got ya," he whispered, leaning in close. Skye closed her eyes and breathed him in. There was something in his scent that made her glad he was holding her up. He smelled really good and her legs started giving out. His body was pressed against her hard enough for her to feel the details of his muscles underneath his clothes. It was a little hard to breath but the feel of his body on hers; breathing was the last thing on her mind.
"Where are you guys?" The sound of Eric's voice distracted Riddick enough for Skye to get loose and take off down the hall. All it took for Riddick was a few steps and he was able to wrap his arm around her, turn her, and throw her onto his shoulder. She screamed and laughed as he carried her back to the kitchen. He held her tight around the legs and she braced herself, putting her hands on his lower back.
Eric was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, watching in amusement, as Riddick and Skye got closer. Riddick snarled at him as they passed and Eric leaned down to get a good view of Skye's face.
"Having fun yet?" he asked. Her response was giving him the bird. He smiled. Riddick set her back on her feet and pointed to her chair.
"Sit and finish eating." Riddick turned away but a sudden beeping sound made him and Eric head for the door. Skye started to get up but Riddick put a hand out behind him and pointed at her.
"Stay," he said, without looking at her. Why did that make her feel like the family pet? Thoughts ran through her head as she finished eating. She decided that she liked those two even though Riddick sometimes scared her and Eric could sometimes act like a jerk, but so could anybody. Skye put the dishes away and went to look for the guys.
Riddick was sitting in the pilot's seat and Eric was pacing behind him.
"Still gonna meet me?" The man on the vid screen asked.
"Yea, but can we change the meeting place," Eric asked, leaning over Riddick's shoulder.
"No, we still meet at Starks. One week." The screen went blank. Riddick leaned back in the chair and ran a hand over his jaw. Eric began pacing again. Starks was probably one of the sleaziest clubs in the universe and even Riddick wouldn't venture into it for fun. It wouldn't be a problem but now they had Skye to worry about. She needed to be there to get the same information that they got because, after all, it was the three of them that had to actually go into Bi-Lines.
"So, what do we do now?" Eric stopped pacing and sat heavily in the co-pilot's chair.
"We do what we had planned to do." Riddick stared out at the stars with his goggles, still on his forehead.
"What about Skye?" Riddick turned to look at Eric.
"There are two of us. She should be okay," Riddick said. This was the kind of place that a woman should never go in alone or even with another guy. The men that frequented the club always seemed to think that a lady should be in the company of two men. It was a pretty sick place.
"What's goin' on?" Skye's voice startled the two men and they turned in their chairs to look at her. 'Damn, she's quiet.' Riddick thought.
"We have to stop on Alpha Nine to pick up some information." Eric did all the talking.
"What kind of information?" Skye moved closer to them.
"We need to know what to do with this virus once we get it." Eric stood up and leaned against the back of his chair. "You know, how to destroy it properly."
"If that's all, then why do you seem a little nervous?" Skye's question brought Riddick's attention to Eric. 'She must be pretty good, to know something like that' Riddick thought to himself. Eric appeared calm but Riddick could tell he was nervous and now, so could Skye. Eric shifted his weight, looking in Riddick's direction and then back at Skye.
"The meeting place is in a club called Starks and it's not the kind of place you ever want to see. Very dangerous."
"Can you change it?" Skye was getting a little nervous.
"No, we tried." Eric looked to the floor and Riddick decided to speak before he choked on the fear that filled the small cockpit.
"Skye, you'll be with us. We won't let anything happen. You probably should stay here but you'll be going with us into Bi-Lines and you need to be involved." Riddick's voice was as reassuring as it got but Skye seemed to relax a little.
"Okay, when do we do this?" The fear in the room was slowly dissipating.
"One week," Eric answered.
****Now the story begins to pick up. More romance soon. Thanks Patlyn23 for the review.