Claudia, her skin still pink from her recent bath, was sitting in Riddick's room, reading a book that he had gotten her before they had left her home when he came in.

"Hi Claudia. You wanna see something pretty?" he asked and she looked at him, nodding and smiling. She set book down and hopped down off the bed going to his side and holding his hand. He led her out of the room and down to the cockpit.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, looking at the vast stars moving slowly towards them out the front window. "Are we in space?" she asked looking up at him.

"Yes. Sometimes I would come here and just stare out; it's very calming." He said and she held her arms up to him.

"Up?" he picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek.

"Thank you for saving me Riddick." She said and he smiled at her.

"No problem kid, none at all." he shifted his hold on her so he had an arm around the backs of her knees and an arm around her back. He sat in the pilots' chair and she curled up in his lap.

Jack went into the cockpit, figuring Riddick would be there. She could see his head peeking out over the top of the chair and she walked to it. She stopped seeing the sight before her. Riddick was sitting asleep in the chair, his arms protectively around a sleeping Claudia.

"Ya know, you could take a picture and blackmail me with it later." He whispered cracking one eye open so she got a sliver of silver. A grin came to his face and he opened his eyes.

"I thought you were asleep." She whispered back, not wanting to wake Claudia.

"I was. I woke up feeling you staring at us." He said and looked down at Claudia, who was still sleeping soundly, curled up in his lap. "I really should get her to bed." he said yawning. "Myself as well. Ship's on autopilot, sensors will pick up any space junk that might come into our path and move us away from it."

"The girls name is Claudia McKane. She's five-years-old with red hair and blue eyes. The name of her captor is Richard B. Riddick, he's had her for about three says now." The police officer informed the other officers that had gathered in front of the McKane residence. "Kidnapping is a first for Riddick. If the child is still alive I want her brought back safely and unharmed."

"Always one-step behind." The officer turned around and saw the merc standing there. "Riddick's already jumped planet, taking the girl with him. Outside this city, you ain't got jurisdiction, much less off planet. Leave it to me to get the kid back."

"How come I ain't surprised to see you here Toombs? What bottle of whiskey did you crawl out of to take this job? In any case we don't trust mercs, it's all about the money to your guys."

"Creed is greed, got that right. But it's also one hell of a motivator."

"How do we know that you won't kill the kid and claim Riddick did it?"

"He's the killer not me. The old man said that price was negotiable as soon as he gets the kid and not a moment before." Toombs said as he lit up a cigarette and taking a long drag. "Besides I know where Riddick is." He said through a cloud of exhaled smoke.

"Yeah? Where?" the police officer asked incredulously.

"Aries IV."

"How'd they get to the Aries system so fast?"

"Damned if I know."

"And you're so sure its them."

"Yup. My 'sources' spotted a teenager matching the description of Jacquelyn A. Turner a.k.a. Jack B. Badd and the kid entering clothing store and the leaving after a few hours with bags. There were probably getting clothes for the kid."

"Did the child look harmed in any way?"

"Nah, the kid was laughing and smiling. My 'sources' also told me that they saw a dark shape following them, staying in the shadows and alleyways. Must've been Riddick keeping an eye on them."

"Why are you telling us all this?" the officer asked and Toombs snorted.
"Cause buddy, you ain't got jurisdiction, the only thing that does over system and planetary boundaries are the Triumvirate, and they don't give a shit about a kidnapping, no matter who does it. You all can thank me later when I return with the kid." He then left, trailing a cloud of smoke behind him.