Slowly waking up I was stiff and sore from being curled up on the hard galley floor. Pulling up my loose gray shirt sleeves I examined my upper arms and saw a few light shadows of bruises, groaning I stood up and walked into the Control. Glancing at the panels to make sure I wasn't needed I walked over to the door on the right and knocked once, twice. Opening the door I saw that he wasn't in either of the bunks but the tiny bathroom light was on. Walking quietly over I saw him, sitting there grinning like the Cheshire cat. With a bowl of grease in one hand and a knife in the other I watched as he nonchalantly lathered his head and began to shave the dark stubble that had appeared.
"Did you want something?" he asked me watching through the mirror.
"Yeah, I wanted to clean up but since you are using the bathroom right now, it can wait." I answered sarcastically.
"From the smell of you I don't think it can." Setting down the bowl and knife he to the half-step that was separating us. Bending down he smelled my hair, "Yes, I think you do need to clean up. I can still smell the fear." Leaning in again he whispered "But it has been a long time since I have smelled anything quite like you." Turning he picked up his stuff and walked over and sat down on the lower bunk, grinned at me then continued what he had been doing.
With a fury I slammed the door, how dare he! He was using me and I knew it, I couldn't turn him in because he would reveal who I really was and he seemed to be in control of the situation, except for the fact that he couldn't pilot the ship. Stripping out of my dirty clothes and leaving them on a pile in the middle of the tiny floor I glanced into the mirror above the sink. Taking in my cropped dark hair and the equally dark circles under my green eyes. I knew that I was pushing my body to its limits on how much sleep I could do without and I would eventually collapse and that would be very bad thing in this situation. Sighing I turned on the spray the temperature that I wanted, scrubbed down and quickly dried off. Tossing my dirty clothes down the disposal I opened the other bin and found my favorite outfit, tight fitting brown suede tank and lose black pants. Toweling my hair dry as I closed the bin I noticed him watching me through the now open door. Ignoring his scrutiny I hung the used towel up and walked into the cabin. Turning to Riddick I asked
"So where are we going? You never specified, when you signed on."
"Where are we going? You know I could kill you and take the ship, it would be quite easy, and then I wouldn't have to worry about you kicking me out of the bathroom." He answered with that smirk that could only come from Riddick.
"Yes, you could kill me but what purpose would there be in that? You could take the ship and dump me but I still don't se a motive. You have me caught, you know my story and I won't, can't turn you in. So why would you bother as it seems I'm trapped." Reasoning my own logic out I waited for him to answer. Laughter, he tilted back his muscled head and, laughed at me!
"You are your fathers daughter, he could also talk his way out of anything." Turning grim again "As of now there isn't a reason for me to kill you but if I were you I wouldn't give me a reason to. It wouldn't be very enjoyable Ms. Tir"
"Riddick, call me Cail, that is my name now. I refuse to go back to that life and if anyone tries to make me, they'll regret it. I've spent five years on this ship, and I don't intend on leaving it for quite a while." As he stood up and walked toward Control. "And Riddick, I don't trust you as far as I can throw you." He turned and laughed again. Flopping down onto the bunk I closed my eyes and slept.
When I woke I glanced at the other bunk and saw him sleeping, soundly, or so it seemed. Stretching I walked into the Control room glancing at the monitors I realized we were in orbit over a small blue planet, checking the computers again I realized what it was and why this little planet was troubling me. It was Rennin, my home planet. Cursing loudly I stalked into the cabin and kicked his bunk.
"You bastard! What in the fuck are we doing here? Rennin? I knew it; the big bad guy has come to take me home. Paid off by my father to bring his little princess home. Well screw you! I would kill myself before I went back there!" Leaping up he grabbed his knife, then realizing it was only me he relaxed and grinned.
"Kill yourself, princess I think not. Maybe someone else but not yourself."
"Just you try my you son of a bitch! I swore when I left...
"That you'd kill yourself if you ever came back, I know, they all say that. But you are going back, not because of your family or the price on your head but because I have some unfinished business with a friend of mine. You might know him, Lord Rune? Does that name ring a bell?" narrowing my eyes I whispered.
"How do you know him?"
"We have done some business before and have a few mutual, friends. You do know him of course my lady." he answered mockingly.
"Do not call me that, or so help me God..."
"You'll what? Ghost me? That would be the best thing under your circumstances but I do seem to be in control of this little situation. If you'll help me with this hmmm, predicament I'll leave you alone. But if you don't decide to help me; I'll use you anyway, bait for your fiancé. Very beautiful bait, by the way." I stared at the ground thinking furiously. I really had no choice he'd use me with or without my consent. But to see Lord Rune again, my whole skin crawled.
"I'll help and then after you leave we'll both go our separate ways. But I have one request, leave my family out of this whole mess. You get what you want out of Rune and I get out of here." Reaching into the galley I grabbed a drink and tossed it at him. "If the thought to return me to my family or fiancé crosses your mind the deal is off, and so are some of your most needed body parts." I stalked into the machine room and readied the ship for entry to Rennin and my God-forsaken past.