The living area was deserted as the others were either working out or making the usual repairs on the ship. Skye followed the same path when she first started researching Estamyathine and after about an hour the little icon popped up.
"Gotchya," she said, clicking on it. It was a transmission and as she read it her mouth dropped open. This was not happening. Her heart began beating wildly as she pushed away from the computer. "Shit, shit, shit," she chanted. "Raven!" she yelled as she ran out of the room. "Raven!" she yelled again. Raven came flying out of the workout room in a panic.
"What?! What's wrong?!" she yelled.
"Come with me." Skye grabbed her arm and pulled her to medical where Jack was.
"Skye, what's going on?" she asked as they entered the room.
"I need you to run a scan on her." Jack woke up as they came in and looked suddenly panicked at the sound of Skye's voice.
"I did one almost a week ago and she was fine," she replied.
"Just do another one," Skye said, moving to Jack's side.
"Alright." Raven turned around to set up the bar scanner.
"Skye, what's happening?" Jack's worried voice brought Skye's gaze to her. Taking the girls small hand she tried to give her a reassuring smile.
"You'll be fine; we just need to check something."
"Okay, what am I looking for?" Raven asked.
"I'll tell you when I see it." Raven started the scan at Jack's head and moved it slowly down her body while she watched the monitor. So far everything looked normal. Skye grabbed her wrist and moved the bar down to the lower part of Jack's belly. Raven's brow furrowed in confusion but quickly changed to shock when she saw what was on the screen.
"Holy shit," Raven whispered. "That can't be right." Jack sat up a little so she could see what they were looking at. Her eyes went wide when the image sunk into her head.
"No, no, no," she started crying.
"Jack, honey, it's okay." Skye made her lie back down and ran a hand over her head.
"No it's not okay, Riddick is gonna kill me." The tears poured down her cheeks.
"He won't Jack, I promise." They were interrupted from the sound of the door opening.
"Raven, you in here?" Eric called out as he walked in. They all turned to stare at him still in shock at what they had just found out. "What?" he asked, giving them a weird look. The monitor caught his attention and he moved in for a closer look. "What the hell is that?"
"That looks to me like a baby," Raven started. Jack's crying increased. "Judging by size, she's three months along," Raven finished matter-of-factly.
"What?" Eric asked, stupefied. Raven put the bar scan away and shook her head.
"She wasn't pregnant a week ago and now she's three months along? It doesn't make any sense," Raven said, turning to Skye. "Why all of a sudden did you think to run a scan?"
"Estamyathine is a drug with exponential growth properties. I just read a transmission saying that it will stay dormant in a patient until pregnancy occurs; when it does, the baby will grow and be born in three weeks time," Skye talked fast, trying to get it all out before the questions hit.
"What transmission were you reading?" Eric asked.
"The one on the computer." She let go of Jack's hand and approached Eric. "Eric, I need you to detain Alex and keep Riddick away from him until I can talk to him."
"Why Alex?"
"Because he's the father."
"Oh my God," Raven gasped.
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. How do you know that?" Eric asked, putting his hands up.
"The transmission I read was a communication between Alex and Bi-Lines. They knew what went down somehow and that we had Jack. The only way to salvage the research they had was to bribe Alex to have sex with her. My guess is they'll try to get her back to see if their research worked."
"Okay," he said slowly. "How did Alex get in on this?"
"I'm thinking someone alerted them of our take down and they picked up a transmission of ours. They were helpless to stop us and all they had left was bribery and Alex was on the other end." Eric ran a hand through his hair.
"Good enough for me. I'll hold Alex, you go talk to Riddick," he said with some reluctance as he left the room.
"Jack sweetie, can you tell me exactly what happened?" Skye asked, taking Jack's hand again.
"I thought it was a dream. I can't remember anything, really." She was still crying and Skye gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Everything will be okay. Raven, stay here and watch after her, I've got to find Riddick." Skye was a little nervous as she headed to the engine room where she knew Riddick was. He was not going to like this and she wasn't sure she would be able to hold him back. She quietly climbed down the latter, listening to Riddick and Kyle talking, trying to push away her fear because she knew Riddick would smell it.
"Riddick," she said once they were in view. So much for hiding her fear, the urgency in her voice stopped him cold. He handed Kyle the tools he was holding and walked the few steps to her.
"What is it?" he questioned. She took his hand without saying anything and led him up the latter and to his room, hoping they wouldn't run into Alex along the way.
Safely inside, Skye locked the door and turned to him.
"I guess now would be good a time as any." He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her.
"No, I've got to tell you something but you have to promise me you'll listen to the whole thing before you freak out." Riddick pulled back from her. He could feel something was very wrong and he didn't need her telling him not to freak out to know it.
"Talk," he gritted out. They both could feel the tension in the air starting to build and Skye tried to take a deep breath before speaking.
"I came across a transmission between Alex and Bi-Lines. They offered him a million dollars to have sex with Jack." She was about to go on but the reaction she got from Riddick made her stop.
"What the fuck!" he yelled. His rage swept across her body, chilling her to the bone. "He's dead!" He headed for the door but Skye blocked him.
"Riddick!" she yelled to get his attention. "That's not all of it." He was breathing hard, clenching his hands into fists.
"What else?" he growled.
"There was a drug in her system and when she and Alex had sex she got pregnant and now she three months along. In two weeks…"
"She's pregnant?" he interrupted, suddenly looking defeated.
"In two weeks she'll have the baby," she continued more softly this time. He sat heavily on the bed as Skye watched the defeated animal become enraged again.
"How could she be so stupid?
"Riddick, look," Skye said, kneeling in front of him and taking his hands. "She told me she doesn't remember that much of it happening. It was like a dream, or more like a nightmare. He might have drugged her." The look of anger gleamed in his already glowing eyes.
"He'll pay…slowly." He started to stand but Skye pulled him back down.
"Later, right now Jack needs you. Don't blame her for what happened. Just be there for her." Riddick stared into her eyes, trying to push back the animal that so badly wanted out.
"She's so young," he whispered.
"I know and she's scared. She's afraid you're going to be mad at her." Riddick almost looked hurt.
"I'm not mad at her," he said.
"I told her you wouldn't be. She needs your support."
"You're probably better suited for that than I am." His voice came out deep and harsh as he stood up. Skye moved back, trusting that he wouldn't try to leave. He paced the small room like a caged animal, having to deal with emotions he wasn't used to.
"Riddick, you're a natural protector and she knows that."
"I couldn't protect her from that asshole so why would she think I could protect her from anything else?" He ran his hands over his head looking like he wanted to punch through the wall.
"No one saw this coming. Don't blame yourself. She doesn't." 'Don't blame yourself' Riddick remembers telling that to Carolyn, trying to convince her not to go back for Jack and Imam. 'Fuck!' he screamed in his head.
Skye cautiously approached him and he stopped pacing when she blocked his way, keeping his eyes to the floor.
"She wants to see you." Skye ran her hands over his arms, waiting for him to meet her gaze. When he did she pulled him into her embrace. He hugged her back fiercely, needing an anchor. "Will you see her?" Riddick pulled back and gave her a nod. "Good," she said grabbing his hand and leading him from the room. The short walk to medical was like walking through quicksand. Thoughts ran through Skye's mind in a blur and she could only imagine what Riddick was going through. He seemed really torn with the thought of having to care for someone else. It made her wonder about how he felt about her. He was letting her get close but maybe it was a different kind of close. Sex. They haven't had it yet but she was sure it would happen eventually.
Maybe he didn't take sex as a serious emotion. Just a release his body needed. She quickly pushed those thoughts from her head, not wanting to think about it.
When they got to medical, Riddick stayed behind Skye as they moved to Jack's bed. She had been crying, her eyes red and swollen. When she caught sight of Riddick she put her face in her hands and started all over again. Skye looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a look telling him to do something. She heard him take a breath before moving around her and going to Jack.
He didn't say anything as he climbed in bed with her. When Jack realized he was there she wrapped her arms tightly around him as he was pulling his goggles down around his neck.
"I'm so sorry," she cried. Her voice was muffled from being pressed into his chest.
"Nothin' to be sorry about kid." He stroked her back awkwardly but gently. "It's not your fault." He acted a little unsure of how to comfort her but Skye saw he was quickly catching on. She felt an odd flutter in her heart as she watched, wanting so much to be a part of them.
"I'll leave you two alone," she said quietly. Riddick glanced over at her looking like he might say something but the words never came out. Skye leaned over and kissed Jack on the forehead. "You're in good hands now." As she straightened up she met Riddick's eyes. Again he looked as if he might speak but Skye stopped him by kissing him. The warmth spread quickly from their lips but the heat was different than before. Deeper, more meaningful, affecting her in places that it didn't before. Not just turning on her most sensitive parts but tickling through the deepest regions of her body and mind. It was a kiss that said a thousand words; total trust, respect, love. Love? Is that what she was feeling? Is that what he was feeling?
Breaking the kiss, Skye turned away fast, not wanting him to speak or see the tears forming in her eyes. Out in the hall she leaned heavily against the wall still feeling him with her. His scent, his taste had followed her and had made a permanent resident of itself in her mind. All she wanted to do was climb into that bed with them, be as close as she could get. They were both starting to mean a lot to her.
Unfortunately there were things she needed to take care of first. Forcing herself away form the room, she went to find Eric and more importantly, Alex. She kind of felt like a hypocrite for keeping Riddick from going after Alex when that's exactly what she was doing now.
Eric, Kyle and Alex were in Alex's room and as she stepped into the room, Alex jumped. Skye wanted to laugh but she was too angry.
"Don't worry, I'm not Riddick." He relaxed a little and that made her mad. "Doesn't mean he won't be the next one through that door." She pointed angrily at the door. Alex seemed to shrink back and Skye finally understood why Riddick uses people's fears to take control of the situation. "So, tell me what the hell you were thinking."
"I don't know," he said weakly.
"What the fuck you mean you don't know?" she yelled at him.
'The pay was good and I needed the money."
"So you rape and ruin a girl's life? You son of a bitch!" She ran for him but Kyle grabbed her around the waist. Not soon enough though. She kicked at him and managed to catch him under the chin snapping his head back. "She's fifteen fucking years old and you fucked up her life." She was losing control and if it weren't for Kyle holding her back, she would have killed him herself.
"Skye," Kyle yelled as he tried to restrain her. "Calm down." He pulled her as far away from Alex as the small room would allow, keeping his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Bitch," Alex mumbled under his breath as he wiped blood off his chin that was trickling out of his mouth.
"Hey!" Kyle focused his attention back on Alex. "I could let her go and leave you two locked in here. You want that?" Alex quickly shook his head 'no'.
Eric stood by and watched the whole thing, not caring what happened to Alex at this point.
"You know they won't pay you," Skye spoke more quietly this time. "You've done your job and they won't need you anymore. They'll take Jack away from us and you will be forgotten." Kyle eased his grip but kept his arms around her. Eric looked a little surprised by what she said, then became nervous.
"Kyle, keep and eye on him. Skye come with me." Eric took Skye's arm and pulled her out of the room. "What do you mean they'll take her away?" he asked once they were in the hall.
"Come on Eric. Do you think they even would have bothered with Alex if they didn't want to get their hands on the results?" she asked. "There's too much at stake. Right now that company has shit except for Jack. If they get her they might be able to salvage some of their research."
"You're right. We watch our assed the rest of the way back to Marisphere, drop those damn samples off, get paid, and get the hell out."
"Jack will probably have her baby by then, might even have to deliver at Marisphere," she said, thinking out loud of all the possibilities.
"Shit, okay, we watch our asses there too." He put his arm around her as they continued down the hall. "I'll tell the others what's going on and you just stay with Jack and try to relax."
"Fine."
"Hey, how did you stumble across that transmission anyway? I thought Alex was an expert hacker?"
"He is but when Riddick and I installed the new tracking system, he didn't know. The tracker wasn't just for tracking other ships; it was also for all electronic transmissions. Without that knowledge, he didn't bother to sneak around, just walked right into it instead."
"Man, that was lucky," he said, stopping in front of the door to medical.
"Let's hope that luck decides to hang around a little longer," she said as she opened the door. Riddick and Jack were in the same position they were in when Skye left them; Jack sleeping now. Riddick turned his head towards the door when they entered.
"Hey Rid, we need to talk. Skye will stay with Jack." Riddick gently removed Jack's arms from his waist and slowly slipped off the bed. She was so exhausted she didn't even stir. As Riddick passed Skye he noticed she looked a little flushed.
"Everything okay?" he asked. Skye nodded.
"Yea, but she nearly kicked Alex's ass," Eric stated. Riddick gave her a smile.
"Nice," he purred out as he left.
Skye pulled a chair up to Jack's bedside and sat down, looking over her sleeping form she realized her stomach looked different. Already starting to grow with the child inside her. She smoothed her hand over Jack's belly, at the same time feeling her own stomach. Would she ever know what it is like to have a baby grow inside her? That's when it hit her, like a ton of bricks. The energy from Jack's baby flowed through her fingers and up her arm. All along it was the baby that had been their 'ghost'.