Lifeline

Chapter 4

Chikage wiped the fog from the mirror, staring at her reflection for a moment, trying to imagine what she'd look like with shined eyes. She shook her head, reaching for her toothbrush as her thoughts returned to tonight's mission. Marcus was sure to be a nervous wreck the minute she got to the club, and bringing Riddick along probably wasn't going to be very calming, even though he was there to help. She thought of ways to break it to him as she pulled her hair back, braiding her pony tail into a long rope down to her waist before tying it off. Her closet door slid open, and she selected a pair of black, military-style cargos and a black long-sleeve shirt, dressing before she opened the bathroom door.

Riddick was still passed out on her couch. She smirked, crouching beside him before reaching out, gasping as he caught her wrist before she touched him. His eyes opened slowly, brows furrowed, but his face relaxed quickly, his hand releasing her as he sighed.

"Bathroom's open," she said, still a little shaken. What the fuck was I thinking? she chided herself. Man's spent most of his life in prison and you expect to be able to wake him gently like that? Dumbass. She smirked, wriggling her holster into place as he sat up, yawning. "Breakfast?" He mumbled something, standing and shuffling into the bathroom, kicking the door closed behind him. The shower turned on as she sliced into a bagel, cutting it in half and popping it into the toaster, prying the fridge open with a boot. She leaned back against the counter as she smattered the bagel with cream cheese, staying there as she ate. Riddick emerged a moment later, a towel wrapped around his waist. She watched from the corner of her eye as he picked up a knapsack, walking back into the bathroom and coming out a few minutes later, wearing pants similar to hers and a black tee shirt. Her eyebrow rose. Some things never change, she thought with a smirk. Once a soldier, always a soldier.She popped the last bit of her bagel into her mouth and watched him walk toward her.

"You said something about breakfast," he said quietly. She nodded, still chewing. His eyebrow rose. "Make myself at home, right?" A small shrug. He opened cabinets, rummaging around in a couple, and she watched him with a small smile as he worked his way from the far end toward her, knowing she was standing right in front of the cabinet holding what he wanted. He paused as his search led to her, standing toe to toe with her for a moment before reaching over her shoulder, a small smirk playing on his lips as her eyebrow rose. He glanced up at the cabinet he'd opened and smiled, looking back down at her. She heard the wrapper crinkle and laughed, despite the discomfort of his close proximity. "Your hair's longer," he noted, still standing over her as he ripped the package over.

"Seems to happen to most people," she said with a shrug, shifting her weight to her other foot. He cocked his head to the side, breaking off a piece of Pop Tart and lifting it to his mouth.

"Something bothering you?" he asked through masticated pastry.

"You've always been good at pushing people's buttons," she said, eyes narrowing. He smiled. "Personal bubble." Brows arched. "Invasion." He snickered, backing away from her as she popped her neck. "Look, I've got to go pick up Marcus." Riddick nodded. "Be at the club at seven. I'll tell the bouncer you're with me."

"That a smart thing to do?" Riddick asked, all business again. She shrugged.

"Just means he knows you're there for a reason and won't make his job harder," she answered. "Don't sit at my table. I'll find you when the time's right." He nodded. "Lock my door," she added, shrugging her trench coat over her shoulders. He grinned. "I mean it, Riddick," she warned. "Lock my fucking door."

"You got a deadbolt?" he asked. She nodded, already pulling the key from its ring. She tossed it to him, and he caught it in one hand, turning it over in his fingers before dropping it in a pocket to return to his breakfast. She pulled the door open. "Be careful," he said quietly. She couldn't help but pause and look back at him, his face intense. She nodded, and closed the door behind her.

---

The ride from the house to the club was silent, Chikage knowing Marcus was nervous as hell, and Marcus knowing Chikage had something to tell him in private. Neither completely trusted the car. Not until it was swept in a few hours. She pulled into the back lot, got out, scanned the area, and opened his door, nodding him out of the car. He walked to the back door, bodyguard in tow, and entered. Usually she'd just head on out to the main floor, but she followed him into the office, occupying the seat opposite his desk as he lowered himself into his chair, the leather squeaking. He lit a cigar and met her eyes.

"Talk," he said quietly. She sighed, sinking further into her chair as she rubbed her forehead. "Must be good," he commented, smirking at her movements.

"How would you feel about a third primary tonight?" she asked slowly.

"Now, Chikage, that question doesn't even deserve an answer," he reproved with a smile. "If you think we need one more…"

"I do, Marcus," she said quickly. "But Dave's not going to like it." His eyebrow rose.

"Dave doesn't have the authority to not like it," Marcus said slowly, his smile falling, Chikage's smile taking over for him. "If you think we need one more, we need one more." Her smile disappeared.

"That's not what I mean, Marcus." He frowned. "He won't like who."

"Explain." She sighed. "Who, Chikage?"

"Riddick." Marcus choked on his cigar. "Exactly."

"Chikage…" he warned. Her eyes closed.

"I trust him, Marcus."

"What's the deal, then?" Her eyebrow rose, eyes flashing angrily.

"What do you mean?"

"What does he get in return?" She sighed. "Riddick doesn't do favors, Chikage. We both know that. He's a convict. A murderer. If you trust him enough to let him come along, fine. But I want to know what he has on you in return."

"He doesn't have anything on me, Marcus," she insisted, leaning forward. "He came to me and asked a favor." It was out before she could stop it, and she paused, watching him lean back in his chair.

"Let's hear it." She sighed.

"He's working a kidnapping and needs help."

"Riddick's working a kidnapping?" Marcus asked, sounding as surprised as she was when she heard.

"Yeah."

"So what are you telling me, Chikage?" He already knew the answer.

"Look, there's more to the story than you think," she said quickly, before he could decide he wasn't going to allow her to go.

"Then tell me, and don't waste my fucking time!" Marcus exploded, pounding a fist on the table. Her eyes narrowed, but she quickly got herself in check.

"Three people survived the crash of the Hunter-Gratzner," she started.

"No one survived that crash," he interjected.

"And where did you hear that?" He blinked. "Exactly. Company says no one survived that crash. Riddick got a girl and a priest out. The priest is in New Mecca, safe. The girl, well…" she trailed off, rubbing her eyes. "Company got her and is holding her to get to Riddick."

"So give them Riddick," Marcus said slowly, suddenly looking tired. Her eyes focused on him, and he swallowed visibly.

"You don't mean that, Marcus." He nodded. "He knows where they're holding her, and it's possible. He's willing to help you if you let me help him." Marcus drew in a sharp breath, holding it before letting it out in a sigh.

"Who is she?"
"I don't know yet," Chikage admitted, watching Marcus cast her a glare. "But I do know that if Riddick is willing to try to get her out, she needs all the help she can get, and I'm willing to give her my help." Marcus set his cigar in his ashtray and ran a hand through his hair. She glanced over his head at the clock, but he didn't notice.

"What's with Dave?" Marcus asked. She couldn't help but laugh, though both knew the answer wouldn't be a humorous story.

"Dave, Riddick, and I were all in the Company black-ops together." Marcus' eyebrows rose. "Dave and I got honorable discharges once our time was up."

"They tag you?"

"Yeah, but we had them removed a few years after we got out. They come looking for me and they're going to meet a very angry, bitter, old man named Pedro." Marcus nodded. If Company had still had tag locators on them, he'd be in a world of trouble. "Anyway, Dave and I were on sniper detail for a sweep mission. Riddick was on the strike team. Neither of us saw what happened, but Company says Riddick snapped and took out the whole team along with the targets." Marcus' eyes met hers.

"And what do you think?" She paused, wondering the same thing herself, but for the time being, she was trying to get Marcus to let her help Riddick.

"I think Riddick is the only one that survived and Company set him up because they could."

"Why?"

"I don't know, Marcus. But I know Riddick." She paused for emphasis. "And I trust him." Marcus nodded slowly, and she could see him thinking.

"And Dave?"

"Dave has always seen Riddick as competition." Marcus nodded. "I think he agrees with Company just because he doesn't like the guy."

"This is short notice, Chikage."

"I know, Marcus, and I'm sorry," she said with a sigh. "But Riddick came to me last night. It's the first I'd heard of it and I wanted to get as much of the story as I could before I decided to come to you." Marcus smiled weakly.

"Talk to Dave," he said quietly. She nodded, and started to stand. "No, actually, bring Dave in here. We'll both talk to him." She smiled, and was gone.

---

"What's up, boss?" Dave asked, lowering himself into the chair still warm from Chikage's occupation. She opted to sit on the corner of Marcus' desk, lighting a cigarette.

"We have a third tonight, David," Marcus said, taking on the all-business tone he only lost around Chikage. Dave's eyebrow rose.

"Okay…?"

"You need to listen before you explode," Marcus said quietly, glancing at Chikage.

"Dave," she started, flicking her ashes into Marcus' ashtray, "What was the first thing they told us back in ops before every mission."

"Emotions out, focus on," he said slowly. She nodded.

"Remember that," she said, her eyes holding his. "An old friend is in town. He needs me to do him a favor, and in return, he's going to help us." Dave shook his head, a wild grin twisting his lips as he laughed bitterly. "He's got assets none of us have," she added.

"So Riddick came crawling back with his tail between his legs, huh?" Dave snickered. Chikage's expression told him she wasn't amused, and his jovial mood dropped quickly. "You can't be serious, Chi." Her eyebrow rose. "Marcus, the man wiped out an entire unit on a mission. He's a fucking traitor." Dave's attention turned back to Chikage. "You can't seriously be considering bringing him along." She didn't answer. "He can't be trusted."

"I don't agree with you David," Marcus said quietly.

"He turned on his team and killed them, Marcus," Dave insisted, standing. "He killed his own crew, and you expect me to trust my guys in his hands? You're off your rocker."

"Company lied, Dave," Chikage said quietly.

"And I suppose you've got the proof," he snapped back. She stared at him coldly.

"I don't need proof." He sighed. "But you can ask him yourself if you want to," she added with a small shrug. Marcus' head snapped over to her, and she heard Dave's breath catch in his throat.

"He's here?" Marcus asked. She glanced at the clock. "At the club?" Chikage only cocked her head to the side, waiting. "Bring him in," Marcus commanded after a beat. She nodded, and moved toward the door. Dave's hand shot out, grasping her arm to spin her around to face him.

"You better know what you're doing, little girl," he growled.

"We can always leave you behind," Marcus spat, glaring at Dave's hand on Chikage. She smirked, letting it fall into a hateful frown as she ripped her arm from his grip. The door swung closed behind her. Dave stood, pacing Marcus' office.

"I sure hope you know what you're doing," Dave said quietly, glancing at Marcus through a haze of cigar smoke.

"I trust Chikage," Marcus replied simply.

"And me?"

"It's not about you." They both looked toward the doorway, now occupied by Chikage, a large shadow behind her. She stood there for a moment, staring Dave down before glancing behind her. "Marcus, meet Richard Riddick."