Betrayal

"Who are you, Jack?"

"Nobody." Jack's voice was dejected.

"Jack…" Zemma laid her hand on Jack's arm.

Jack turned, swinging. Zemma blocked that, but Jack had worked herself up and continued to attack. Zemma really didn't want to hurt the child, so she just blocked and backed up, hearing Jaron's voice her in her head berate for not attacking.

Keep it under control; don't need two of us flipping out up here.

Oh, just smack her once.

No.

Jack was getting more aggressive as her pent-up feelings found an outlet. Zemma was nearly amused by the ferocity of the petite woman she thought of as a kit. Jack really was quite a good fighter and her frustration was not showing up as mistakes. Still, Zemma could see by the dim catwalk lights better than Jack. Every move was telegraphed, and Zemma had the speed to counter each.

Not wanting to be backed all the way to the access cover, Zemma tried a few challenging moves Jaron had taught her and was rewarded when Jack had to back up instead. Zemma smiled at the girl.

Woman, Zem. She's plenty old enough from the road she's traveled, despite her years.

The smile made Jack pause, and Zemma did not assail her further. Perhaps they were done?

"You want to know about me?"

"Yes."

"Who I am?"

"Yes."

"Fuck you!"

Zemma would have laughed if she weren't suddenly busy. But she wasn't going to back up again. She took Jack more seriously, and worked to make Jack take her more seriously as well. Jack smiled and Zemma's impression of an oversized kit was reinforced by its feral nature. Jack was suddenly enjoying herself.

You are too, admit it.

Okay, it's more fun when death isn't on the line.

Jack took an extra step back and paused to look Zemma up and down. Zemma also stood back and took a relaxed posture, one that would let her react more immediately than she previously could in the defensive stance she had been taught as a girl. She could see Jaron smile in her mind.

Jack feinted. Zemma didn't react. Jack smiled and as Zemma smiled back Jack leaped.

Zemma knocked her flat.

"Are we done, now?"

Jack wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and cocked one eyebrow at the slight smear of blood she found there.

"I guess you're better than I thought."

"Mmmm."

"This doesn't make us friends."

"Heavens forbid," Zemma laughed. She held out a hand to Jack to help her up.

Jack looked from Zemma's hand to her face.

"I wont tell you anything."

Zemma shrugged. She would see. Jack didn't have to tell her much to give Zemma the lead she needed to uncover the truth. She waited patiently for Jack to take her hand.

"He doesn't love you. He doesn't love anyone. He's just using your body." Jack's voice said volumes about both her opinion and experience with being used.

Zemma smiled in her head at hearing her own thoughts echoed back at her.

"You worried he's gonna leave me?" Zemma raised her eyebrows and held her hand steady.

"Aren't you?"

"Constantly."

Jack finally smiled, shook her head, and took Zemma's hand. Zemma pulled her up and turned the helping hand into a handshake.

"Zemma Enon W'Neta, pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Jack," she paused and quirked her mouth. "But that's all you get."

Zemma shrugged as if nothing mattered.

"Can we get back to work, now, Jack?"

"Who is this guy we're looking for? Not just some creepy bug collector."

"An assassin."

"Cool." Jack's whole attitude seemed changed. Whether is was the new challenge ahead of her or Zemma's attempt to bridge the gap between them, Zemma had no clear clue.

She led the way down the catwalk, intending to follow her instincts about the possible departure point of the Chemist. She had no idea that she would soon meet him, and that he would die in her presence. She had no idea that an immediate betrayal would be followed by an unforeseen redemption. Zemma had no idea her life on this ship would soon be ended.

Jack must have double up her fists to hit Zemma from behind, because she did see stars for a moment. But she was too busy grasping for any handhold to life, as Jack tipped her over the railing, to indulge in anything so restorative as unconsciousness. Jack was pounding at Zemma's hands and hissing at her.

"You can't tell anyone. I don't care of Riddick hates me. No one can know! They can buy anyone. But they can't…. have… me…."

Jack finally peeled Zemma's hands from the rail. Zemma, however, had enough presence of mind by then to control her fall. It still hurt like hell when she bounced off the first pipe to slow her progress. Zemma reached for another handhold but missed and slipped further down the second pipe before falling again. She got the wind knocked out of her a second time but the beam she landed on was not slanted as steeply so she didn't fall off as she slid down it.

She did however finally end up with her foot jammed and hanging upside down some feet from the nearest flat surface.

Shit.

Damn.

Fuck.

Now what?

Jack was surely long gone. And while the code she memorized Zemma using would not open that one particular door again, it was good for anything not too high level. Zemma wondered if the girl was planning on escaping the ship. Riddick was going to be pissed.

If he ever finds out. If they ever find you. Big ship, Zem, and LOUD down here.

Zemma's foot was hurting like hell and she was a good six feet from walkway below her. She couldn't see any easy way to get free. She had the body strength to pull herself up, but the cross-beams prevented her from getting at the right angle to get loose. She had slid into this position and had no good way to un-slide without help.

"Well, what an interesting turn of fortune."

What the hell?

"And here I thought I might be stuck going all the way to Fury with you freaks."

Zemma couldn't see the owner of the voice, somewhere behind her on the catwalk, but could guess. The Chemist, hiding under her nose. Just her luck.

"I hope the Vaakos appreciate the gift I'm about to give them."

Shit.

Zemma gained the comfort of unconsciousness at that point, as the Chemist hit her with something across the back of her head.