When he got back to the flat, he heard the other girl stirring. When he walked in, he saw the girl sitting against the wall, hands around her knees, still somewhat dopey from the sedative. He began to walk towards her and she shrunk away from him. He continued his approach, cornering her. She looked away from him, facing her head to the ground. Riddick crouched in front of her, forcing her to look at him. He winced as he saw the old bruises on her face, a rare look of near sympathy crossing his face. He pulled her up. Riddick held her around the waist with one arm, and pressed a shiv to her ribs discreetly with the other. She trembled violently at his touch. He half-forced and half-coaxed her to the ship. Once they were in, he let her slip to the floor as he shut the ramp. She stared apprehensively at the ramp as it locked into place. He left her sitting there as he prepped the engines. The drugs began to wear off and she looked more alertly around. Her breath caught as she realised Riddick was watching her, and her profile was akin to that of a startled animal as she froze, strangely graceful. She pulled herself up. He finished prepping the engines, and began setting the course. He looked back as her eyes noticed the computer system; a peculiar gleam appeared in her slowly clearing eyes.

Riddick heard a faint sound. He half-turned, listening again. Rebel was awake, struggling against her bonds. Walking into the bunkroom where he had tied her in, he sat down on the bunk. She pulled away as far as the restraints would let her. Riddick put a hand on her stomach, lightly pressing down although she tried to jerk away and murmured "Calm down." Her heart slowed down to a normal rate, although he could feel her body was still tense.

A few moments passed and Riddick spoke again. "I wasn't expecting your friend. Can I trust her not to tell that she saw me?"

"Yeah, she won't tell if it's for me." Rebel sullenly replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation this time, and he felt convinced. It went against his every instinct and experience to leave the younger one behind, but the other girl would just waste time. He had no space or the coding for extra food for her, either.

Riddick left Rebel tied there, and walked back. The girl was by the computer, and she didn't hear his silent approach as she hacked into the system. Whoa! This kid was good. He looked at her with new respect. She was better at that then he'd ever be; she was a natural Hacker. Few of them, they were talented individuals who could play with code as second nature. They could produce guns out of food processors, money out of washers, and mutated code as they pleased. Hard to contact, they were often wealthy recluses, prized by whoever could contact them. However, if found by a more unmoral person, they had to risk being in a state of near slavery.

He watched as undecipherable – to him – code flashed on the screen. She didn't appear to be calling the authorities, just playing with code... or so he hoped. She turned to sneeze, and nearly jumped out of her skin as she saw Riddick behind her. Her eyes widened as she once again felt sedatives entering her system. This time she remained conscious, her body limp as Riddick pulled her back to her friend's flat. He talked to her, telling her that Rebel would come to no harm, and not to tell anyone about him, otherwise he would hurt both Rebel and herself.

Something occurred to him as he left her body on a chair, and he rifled through her pockets. He found her wallet, and saw that she was called Elise. He put her wallet back in her pocket and left.

He returned to the ship, locked the ramp and set course. After taking off, he set his mind back to Rebel. He needed to find Jack. It had been his fault, really, leaving the 12 year old with Imam, should have known Jack would have gotten bored, when the wanderlust hit again, should have known it would do so after a few years. Now Jack was kidnapped. Rebel was the only one on the streets who would be able to find Jack, no one else had her range of employers. All he had to do was convince the spit-fire not to try and kill him or rat him out. He probably should have kept Elise, would have been a useful bargaining chip.

Riddick suppressed a yawn. Time to sleep. He wandered into the room where Rebel lay, still struggling against her bonds. It took her only a few moments before realising he was there. She looked at him defiantly, and returned to struggling against the ropes. He noted the skin around the rope, it was red and chafed, bleeding in places.

He walked over to her and she reluctantly stopped struggling as he leant against the bunk, gazing impassively at her. She tentatively met his stare. Riddick broke the gaze as he leaned forward to untie an ankle and again she tried to jerk away, but was helpless, unable to go anywhere. He waited until she stilled again, and continued to untie her legs. Immediately, she attempted to swing her legs around at him, but he impatiently swatted them away, quickly straddling her, careful not to hit his head on the bunk above.

He could smell her fear, mingling with her perfume and feminine smell. She wasn't as scared as he expected her to be, though, which puzzled him slightly.

Arlina looked up at him warily, trying to figure out his angle. She studied his enigmatic profile and stance, unable to see his masked emotions. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Where was Elise, what the hell had Riddick done with her? Where was this room she was tied in? How the hell was she gonna get outta this mess? Hard to think straight with a very heavy con – murderer – pinning you down on a bed…

She watched him, waiting for him to make the next move. He reached over her to get to her wrists; still holding her pinned and began to loosen the knot. When it was loose enough, she slipped her hands through, although he grabbed her wrists again before she could pull them back completely.