THE MOTHER LODE BY ABRAXIS
Chapter 8 - HAIL, HAIL, THE GANG'S ALL HERE
Riddick watched Jeeter disappear into the gangway and then began securing the skimmer with cables. Magnetic lock-downs were supposed to be fail-safe but 'supposed to be' and 'were' often weren't the same thing. While he worked, he thought about the way Jeeter had been behaving since taking Jenna's contract. This wasn't the frightened little toadie that slunk around Freddie G's trying to melt into the wallpaper. Riddick had always assumed that Jeeter was local dregs, never been off planet. Now it seemed that he might have been born and bred Derius 4 but he had been off planet and had probably come home to hide. Hide from what? That was the question. Was he just an AWOL or was there more.
Riddick's speculation was cut short by the sound of a vehicle reving to climb the ramp into the Butch Cassidy's hold. He watched as a huge ground bus pulled in and parked beside the skimmer. The top was covered with luggage and it looked like the back 3/4 of the bus was filled with cartons of various sizes. He heard the lock-downs engage and then two men hurried out of the bus door and began cabling it. Well, at least they were trying to do it right. He called out to the man closest to him; a tall, fairly well built blond that looked to be about thirty; pretty boy type.
"You need to net that before you cable it. Nets are in the lockers on the port side."
The man had jumped at the sound of Riddick's voice, spun toward him and was now looking him up and down. Riddick could feel himself being labeled bottom of the ladder socially and mentally. Physically, he made the man nervous. Good.
"Who are you?!"
("to tell me anything?") The man didn't say it but Riddick heard it just the same.
"I'm the First Officer of this ship." ("and you will do what I say when I say or I'll put you out an airlock") But Jenna said 'nice'. "During high-G maneuvers, soft cargo takes precedence. The gravity grids would be disabled here to feed power to the ones in the passenger section and bridge. Now, net it. Port is that way."
Riddick flicked a finger in the correct direction. The blond bristled at Riddick's tone of command but recognized his greater knowledge in the matter at hand. He looked toward the top of the bus and called out.
"Benny, we have to put nets on before the cables. Get down here and help me get some."
The blond's voice was a high baritone, a high tenor voice answered him.
"Nice time to think of it, Cameron."
The blond, Cameron, stomped off in a huff and a thin, wiry man dropped from the top of the bus, landing right in front of Riddick. Man? Boy? Riddick couldn't decide. Medium height - a bit taller than Jeeter, mop of unruly dark brown hair, impish grin and brown eyes sparkling with excitement; he could have been anywhere between mid-teens to mid-twenties.
"Trickus, you look even x-er that you sound. Heard every word to old Jeffie boy. Mr. I-designed-the-drives-I-designed-the-ships-I'm-going-to-tell-everyone-what-to-do-because-I'm-the-big-bad-spaceman and you totally flatline him. So capital X-er. Hope you don't mind me fuseing him on out. Don't get the chance very often. I'm Benjamin Good. Ben or Jammin. Jeffie's going to pay for Benny as soon as I get the right frequency."
When he had pronounced his name been-jammin-good, Riddick labeled him 'kid', 'cute kid'. Ben had that same fearless, totally curious, irreverent attitude that Jack had the first time he had seen her. Then the comment about Jeff Cameron paying and the fact that Riddick also recognized the voice made him change that to 'probably dangerous young man'. Ben was the March Hare; the one who wanted to use a left earring on somebody and the one who would have to be trusted with the information in that second set of forms.
"I'm First, for now."
"I'm on your wave. Name's the zero point. Got to be x-er. Takes cycles of brain time. I can be fixer anywhere so no modulation necessary. Well, better keep Jeffie from total melt down."
He was bouncing energetically toward the port lockers before Riddick had totally processed that last. He had sounded fairly normal over the speakers in the skimmer but now he was talking and moving with nervous intensity that set Riddick's teeth on edge.
A soft cultured voice addressed Riddick from the door of the bus.
"You must forgive Benjamin, First. Mr. Cameron has been most obnoxious to him this evening. Mr. Cameron prefers the weaker for his targets. He is not wise enough to understand how truly dangerous that can be. Is it possible for Benjamin to see Jenna? She has a way of calming him much quicker than I can."
The speaker had to be Mr. Maximus Sen; a tiny, gentle faced, smiling Buddha with a sharp intelligence behind his sleepy eyes; and from the name, just as twisted a sense of humor as Ben. He was a tenor but his tone was so calm and even that his voice sounded lower than it was. Like Ben, his age was a question; anywhere from fifties to infinity. He wasn't talking like someone who intended to sit in the command slot but some people commanded very softly. Riddick kept his tone easy but his words very to the point.
"The Captain has ordered that you be allowed the courtesy of a visit to the bridge but no one else. You'll be riding two to a compartment. I can put you and Ben together and see that Jeffie is at the other end of the gangway."
Riddick saw a glint of approval in Mr. Sen's eyes at his use of Ben's name preference and also his insulting nick-name for Jeff Cameron.
"You are a very perceptive man, First. That arrangement will be fine. I see no need for my disturbing the Captain's preparations for take off, if you will be so kind as to inform her that the kettle will boil at Oh-Seven-Hundred and it seems prudent to be as far from the stove as possible by that time. She may summon me at her convenience for a fuller report. Also, she and you need not be bothered with any thoughts of the rest of us when we arrive in orbit. I will be happy to take all responsibility for seeing that everyone gets settled in and prepared for hyper, play steward as it were."
This reminded Riddick of Jeeter.
"I'll need sedative and recovery hypos for our Second Officer. He'll stay with us and I can handle the injections myself."
"You have medical training. How propitious. Syrus, Syrus Black, is serving as our doctor. He had anticipated that he would be required to use a timed intravenous line. Not the safest of procedures. Would you be so kind as to see to his recovery injection as well?"
"No problem. Have him load the hypo and com the bridge when he decides where he will be when he taps out."
"I intend to 'tap out' in the infirmary."
The deep sepulcher voice would have been perfect for a graveyard or dungeon scene in a horror vid. Riddick turned. For a brief second he was staring at Freddie G. His shiv was out before the differences gave his mind enough control over his hand to keep Syrus Black from dying.
Physically, he could have been G's identical twin; tallish, thin, long black hair and sharp faced. But, where G was an oily, conniving, weak spined cur, this man was a well tailored gothic wolf. He was looking at Riddick's shiv with nothing more than mild interest.
"Am I to assume that you do surgery as well as injections?"
Riddick sheathed the shiv. Jenna had some explaining to do about dropping something like this on him without any warning. Then again, it was probably his own fault for playing fast and loose with her mind all evening.
"Yeah, sort of. I'm lousy on closing."
Syrus smiled at this dark humor. Riddick decided he had been wrong. G hadn't resembled the Devil very well at all. Syrus Black did it much better. Removing his jacket and pulling up the sleeve of his shirt to above his elbow, Syrus held his arm out.
"Find the vein."
Riddick walked over to him, took his arm and quickly brought the vein in the inside of his elbow popping to the surface. He released the arm and stepped back.
"Satisfied?"
"Completely. If you will agree to do the others' recovery injections as well, I will be able to begin the procedure on your and Jen.. the Captain's eyes as soon as you're finished."
Jenna was having something done to her eyes? But he didn't have time to think about that. He heard Jeeter's approaching footsteps and then his startled gasp. He had just enough time to sweep Syrus out of the way before Jeeter's sticker embedded itself in the side of the bus where Syrus' throat had been. He spun and put himself between Jeeter and Syrus, who had lost his balance and was in a sprawled sitting position on the deck.
"Jeeter! It ain't him!"
Riddick thought he was going to have to get physical with the little man until the sound of Syrus' voice brought him to his senses. It was the one thing about Syrus that was totally not Freddie G.
"My God!! What is wrong with you people?! Just who is this 'him' that I'm not?! And why does everyone want to kill him?!"
The man sounded exasperated, not frightened. Riddick couldn't smell fear on him either. It was Jeeter that answered his questions.
"His name was Freddie G. He was a slimy fuck that was gonna turn all ah us for bounty and we did kill him 'bout four hours ago."
Syrus pondered this for a few seconds.
"Well, that does make the whole thing understandable. May I get up now? Or are there more of you?"
Riddick offered him a hand, his left, and discovered that Syrus had a good firm grip. Once he was on his feet, Syrus straightened, dusted his clothing and then took a moment to study Jeeter.
"I presume that you are the Second Officer. How much do you weigh? about fifty-five kilos?"
Jeeter still looked at Syrus with suspicion.
"Fifty-eight. Why?"
"Medication for hyper."
Everything that had been going on had been necessary business; well, maybe not the two near homicides; but the clock was running and getting everyone stored away for lift needed to be taken care of. Riddick turned to Mr. Sen.
"We need to get your people secured. Where are the other two?"
Sen looked at Syrus.
"Sorry Max, but I had to sedate 'Sasha' ,again, and give David something for his ulcer. She's totally limp, thank God, and he's still doubled over in pain. If one of these obviously physical gentlemen would assist me, I think we can get them out."
Riddick was about to enter the bus with Syrus when a totally insane screeching tore through the hold. It was coming from the port side. Riddick threw a signal to Jeeter to help Syrus and took off at top speed toward the screeching. He was surprised to find that Mr. Sen was right beside him and keeping up.
The screeching was coming from Ben. He was trying his best to tear Jeff Cameron's throat out with his bare hands. The much bigger man was doing his best to fight Ben off but was losing the battle. Riddick took Ben from behind, wrapping his arms around him and holding his arms to his side like a muscle and bone straightjacket.
Cameron tried to take advantage of Ben's confinement to slug him. Big mistake. Shifting his control of Ben to one arm, Riddick backhanded the blond with a closed fist. Cameron landed flat on his back but was still conscious. Riddick, Ben still clutched to him, stepped over and kicked Cameron in the ribs as hard as he could without breaking any bones.
"Get your fucking ass forward and get strapped down before I finish what the kid started."
Cameron scrabbled away on his hands and knees for a good distance before he took the time to get to his feet.
"The little psycho needs to be locked up."
Riddick literally roared at him.
"That's the same thing they say about me. Now, move!"
Cameron paled where he wasn't starting to bruise and he moved, half running half staggering toward the group now headed from the bus toward the gangway. Syrus was helping another man to walk and Jeeter had a petite, blond woman tossed over one shoulder. Riddick had to smile. Jeeter had one hand planted firmly on her ass and a shitty grin on his face.
Riddick turned his head to find Ben smiling up at him.
"You all right, kid?"
"Yeah, totally, First. Can I help you with the bus?"
Riddick let him go.
"Sure."
Mr. Sen spoke then.
"What started this, Benjamin?"
Ben pointed at the small bundle of netting on the deck.
"I remember Cameron pulling this bundle out and telling him we needed the bigger one." He indicated a large bundle still in the locker. "Then I don't remember any more."
"Do you have a headache?"
Ben thought about this then his smile got wider.
"I did but it went away while First was holding me. X-er! Only Jen has been able to do that before."
Mr. Sen smiled at Riddick.
"Yes, indeed, a most propitious addition to our endeavor. I will leave Benjamin in your capable hands, First."
Riddick was caught off guard when Mr. Sen gave him one of those hands-folded-over-the-chest, head-and-shoulder bows before turning and walking calmly toward the gangway.
"Oh, he really likes you, First. Haven't seen one of his Buddha bows in ages. What do we do now?"
Buddha bow, huh? Cute.
"We stow that smaller net and get the one you picked over the bus. You were right. So much for Cameron's engineering genius."
As they dragged the heavy netting across the hold, Ben gave Riddick a very important piece of information.
"He is a genius but in design, theory, tolerances, blueprints, all that stuff. He just isn't good at application. If he had the measurements of the bus and the nets, he would have got it right before a computer could. Might never have gotten it over the bus right, though. Mr. Sen says he has to learn to do more hands on and it's got him fused. Of course, we're all geniuses, kind of off the scale you know, but just in our own fields. Not Sasha, of course. She's just David's wife. The idiot married her instead of Jen."
After that they worked mostly in silence, only saying what had to be said to get the job done, but Riddick could tell that Ben had something on his mind. So did he. What was that totally confused look that Jenna had given him in the booth all about if she had been close to marrying this David character? He finally came to the conclusion that some whimp that would let a woman give him an ulcer didn't have what it took to light a real fire in a woman as strong as Jenna. But Riddick really didn't like the idea that he might have tried.
Just as they finished cabling the bus, Ben raised the issue that was bothering him.
"First, ... I remember more than I told Mr. Sen. Cameron was ragging on Jen. Saying she wasn't going to be Captain of the big ship; that he was. He said that she was nothing but a pilot and, now that we had another, he was going to put her in her place. He called her a ..... He started calling her names. That's when I got so mad I can't remember. You won't let him do that, will you? You won't pilot for him, will you?"
"No."
They walked toward the gangway. About halfway there Ben spoke again.
"First, .. what you did to Cameron .. could you teach me to do some things like that? I mean .... maybe if I could do something .... well maybe I could stop people like Cameron before I got so mad ... before I went where I can't remember. I asked Jen about it once but she said she didn't know if it would work. But Jen couldn't ever hurt anyone. Since you can and you can help me like she does, I thought that you might know if it would work."
Riddick's mind flew back in time a few hours; a pencil, a paper weight and an earring. But that was Jenna's choice; how much, if any, of it that she wanted the others to know.
"I'll talk to Jenna. Now, you need to get ready for lift. You're bunking with Mr. Sen. Ok?"
"X-er."
The lift warning sounded throughout the ship.
Chapter 8 - HAIL, HAIL, THE GANG'S ALL HERE
Riddick watched Jeeter disappear into the gangway and then began securing the skimmer with cables. Magnetic lock-downs were supposed to be fail-safe but 'supposed to be' and 'were' often weren't the same thing. While he worked, he thought about the way Jeeter had been behaving since taking Jenna's contract. This wasn't the frightened little toadie that slunk around Freddie G's trying to melt into the wallpaper. Riddick had always assumed that Jeeter was local dregs, never been off planet. Now it seemed that he might have been born and bred Derius 4 but he had been off planet and had probably come home to hide. Hide from what? That was the question. Was he just an AWOL or was there more.
Riddick's speculation was cut short by the sound of a vehicle reving to climb the ramp into the Butch Cassidy's hold. He watched as a huge ground bus pulled in and parked beside the skimmer. The top was covered with luggage and it looked like the back 3/4 of the bus was filled with cartons of various sizes. He heard the lock-downs engage and then two men hurried out of the bus door and began cabling it. Well, at least they were trying to do it right. He called out to the man closest to him; a tall, fairly well built blond that looked to be about thirty; pretty boy type.
"You need to net that before you cable it. Nets are in the lockers on the port side."
The man had jumped at the sound of Riddick's voice, spun toward him and was now looking him up and down. Riddick could feel himself being labeled bottom of the ladder socially and mentally. Physically, he made the man nervous. Good.
"Who are you?!"
("to tell me anything?") The man didn't say it but Riddick heard it just the same.
"I'm the First Officer of this ship." ("and you will do what I say when I say or I'll put you out an airlock") But Jenna said 'nice'. "During high-G maneuvers, soft cargo takes precedence. The gravity grids would be disabled here to feed power to the ones in the passenger section and bridge. Now, net it. Port is that way."
Riddick flicked a finger in the correct direction. The blond bristled at Riddick's tone of command but recognized his greater knowledge in the matter at hand. He looked toward the top of the bus and called out.
"Benny, we have to put nets on before the cables. Get down here and help me get some."
The blond's voice was a high baritone, a high tenor voice answered him.
"Nice time to think of it, Cameron."
The blond, Cameron, stomped off in a huff and a thin, wiry man dropped from the top of the bus, landing right in front of Riddick. Man? Boy? Riddick couldn't decide. Medium height - a bit taller than Jeeter, mop of unruly dark brown hair, impish grin and brown eyes sparkling with excitement; he could have been anywhere between mid-teens to mid-twenties.
"Trickus, you look even x-er that you sound. Heard every word to old Jeffie boy. Mr. I-designed-the-drives-I-designed-the-ships-I'm-going-to-tell-everyone-what-to-do-because-I'm-the-big-bad-spaceman and you totally flatline him. So capital X-er. Hope you don't mind me fuseing him on out. Don't get the chance very often. I'm Benjamin Good. Ben or Jammin. Jeffie's going to pay for Benny as soon as I get the right frequency."
When he had pronounced his name been-jammin-good, Riddick labeled him 'kid', 'cute kid'. Ben had that same fearless, totally curious, irreverent attitude that Jack had the first time he had seen her. Then the comment about Jeff Cameron paying and the fact that Riddick also recognized the voice made him change that to 'probably dangerous young man'. Ben was the March Hare; the one who wanted to use a left earring on somebody and the one who would have to be trusted with the information in that second set of forms.
"I'm First, for now."
"I'm on your wave. Name's the zero point. Got to be x-er. Takes cycles of brain time. I can be fixer anywhere so no modulation necessary. Well, better keep Jeffie from total melt down."
He was bouncing energetically toward the port lockers before Riddick had totally processed that last. He had sounded fairly normal over the speakers in the skimmer but now he was talking and moving with nervous intensity that set Riddick's teeth on edge.
A soft cultured voice addressed Riddick from the door of the bus.
"You must forgive Benjamin, First. Mr. Cameron has been most obnoxious to him this evening. Mr. Cameron prefers the weaker for his targets. He is not wise enough to understand how truly dangerous that can be. Is it possible for Benjamin to see Jenna? She has a way of calming him much quicker than I can."
The speaker had to be Mr. Maximus Sen; a tiny, gentle faced, smiling Buddha with a sharp intelligence behind his sleepy eyes; and from the name, just as twisted a sense of humor as Ben. He was a tenor but his tone was so calm and even that his voice sounded lower than it was. Like Ben, his age was a question; anywhere from fifties to infinity. He wasn't talking like someone who intended to sit in the command slot but some people commanded very softly. Riddick kept his tone easy but his words very to the point.
"The Captain has ordered that you be allowed the courtesy of a visit to the bridge but no one else. You'll be riding two to a compartment. I can put you and Ben together and see that Jeffie is at the other end of the gangway."
Riddick saw a glint of approval in Mr. Sen's eyes at his use of Ben's name preference and also his insulting nick-name for Jeff Cameron.
"You are a very perceptive man, First. That arrangement will be fine. I see no need for my disturbing the Captain's preparations for take off, if you will be so kind as to inform her that the kettle will boil at Oh-Seven-Hundred and it seems prudent to be as far from the stove as possible by that time. She may summon me at her convenience for a fuller report. Also, she and you need not be bothered with any thoughts of the rest of us when we arrive in orbit. I will be happy to take all responsibility for seeing that everyone gets settled in and prepared for hyper, play steward as it were."
This reminded Riddick of Jeeter.
"I'll need sedative and recovery hypos for our Second Officer. He'll stay with us and I can handle the injections myself."
"You have medical training. How propitious. Syrus, Syrus Black, is serving as our doctor. He had anticipated that he would be required to use a timed intravenous line. Not the safest of procedures. Would you be so kind as to see to his recovery injection as well?"
"No problem. Have him load the hypo and com the bridge when he decides where he will be when he taps out."
"I intend to 'tap out' in the infirmary."
The deep sepulcher voice would have been perfect for a graveyard or dungeon scene in a horror vid. Riddick turned. For a brief second he was staring at Freddie G. His shiv was out before the differences gave his mind enough control over his hand to keep Syrus Black from dying.
Physically, he could have been G's identical twin; tallish, thin, long black hair and sharp faced. But, where G was an oily, conniving, weak spined cur, this man was a well tailored gothic wolf. He was looking at Riddick's shiv with nothing more than mild interest.
"Am I to assume that you do surgery as well as injections?"
Riddick sheathed the shiv. Jenna had some explaining to do about dropping something like this on him without any warning. Then again, it was probably his own fault for playing fast and loose with her mind all evening.
"Yeah, sort of. I'm lousy on closing."
Syrus smiled at this dark humor. Riddick decided he had been wrong. G hadn't resembled the Devil very well at all. Syrus Black did it much better. Removing his jacket and pulling up the sleeve of his shirt to above his elbow, Syrus held his arm out.
"Find the vein."
Riddick walked over to him, took his arm and quickly brought the vein in the inside of his elbow popping to the surface. He released the arm and stepped back.
"Satisfied?"
"Completely. If you will agree to do the others' recovery injections as well, I will be able to begin the procedure on your and Jen.. the Captain's eyes as soon as you're finished."
Jenna was having something done to her eyes? But he didn't have time to think about that. He heard Jeeter's approaching footsteps and then his startled gasp. He had just enough time to sweep Syrus out of the way before Jeeter's sticker embedded itself in the side of the bus where Syrus' throat had been. He spun and put himself between Jeeter and Syrus, who had lost his balance and was in a sprawled sitting position on the deck.
"Jeeter! It ain't him!"
Riddick thought he was going to have to get physical with the little man until the sound of Syrus' voice brought him to his senses. It was the one thing about Syrus that was totally not Freddie G.
"My God!! What is wrong with you people?! Just who is this 'him' that I'm not?! And why does everyone want to kill him?!"
The man sounded exasperated, not frightened. Riddick couldn't smell fear on him either. It was Jeeter that answered his questions.
"His name was Freddie G. He was a slimy fuck that was gonna turn all ah us for bounty and we did kill him 'bout four hours ago."
Syrus pondered this for a few seconds.
"Well, that does make the whole thing understandable. May I get up now? Or are there more of you?"
Riddick offered him a hand, his left, and discovered that Syrus had a good firm grip. Once he was on his feet, Syrus straightened, dusted his clothing and then took a moment to study Jeeter.
"I presume that you are the Second Officer. How much do you weigh? about fifty-five kilos?"
Jeeter still looked at Syrus with suspicion.
"Fifty-eight. Why?"
"Medication for hyper."
Everything that had been going on had been necessary business; well, maybe not the two near homicides; but the clock was running and getting everyone stored away for lift needed to be taken care of. Riddick turned to Mr. Sen.
"We need to get your people secured. Where are the other two?"
Sen looked at Syrus.
"Sorry Max, but I had to sedate 'Sasha' ,again, and give David something for his ulcer. She's totally limp, thank God, and he's still doubled over in pain. If one of these obviously physical gentlemen would assist me, I think we can get them out."
Riddick was about to enter the bus with Syrus when a totally insane screeching tore through the hold. It was coming from the port side. Riddick threw a signal to Jeeter to help Syrus and took off at top speed toward the screeching. He was surprised to find that Mr. Sen was right beside him and keeping up.
The screeching was coming from Ben. He was trying his best to tear Jeff Cameron's throat out with his bare hands. The much bigger man was doing his best to fight Ben off but was losing the battle. Riddick took Ben from behind, wrapping his arms around him and holding his arms to his side like a muscle and bone straightjacket.
Cameron tried to take advantage of Ben's confinement to slug him. Big mistake. Shifting his control of Ben to one arm, Riddick backhanded the blond with a closed fist. Cameron landed flat on his back but was still conscious. Riddick, Ben still clutched to him, stepped over and kicked Cameron in the ribs as hard as he could without breaking any bones.
"Get your fucking ass forward and get strapped down before I finish what the kid started."
Cameron scrabbled away on his hands and knees for a good distance before he took the time to get to his feet.
"The little psycho needs to be locked up."
Riddick literally roared at him.
"That's the same thing they say about me. Now, move!"
Cameron paled where he wasn't starting to bruise and he moved, half running half staggering toward the group now headed from the bus toward the gangway. Syrus was helping another man to walk and Jeeter had a petite, blond woman tossed over one shoulder. Riddick had to smile. Jeeter had one hand planted firmly on her ass and a shitty grin on his face.
Riddick turned his head to find Ben smiling up at him.
"You all right, kid?"
"Yeah, totally, First. Can I help you with the bus?"
Riddick let him go.
"Sure."
Mr. Sen spoke then.
"What started this, Benjamin?"
Ben pointed at the small bundle of netting on the deck.
"I remember Cameron pulling this bundle out and telling him we needed the bigger one." He indicated a large bundle still in the locker. "Then I don't remember any more."
"Do you have a headache?"
Ben thought about this then his smile got wider.
"I did but it went away while First was holding me. X-er! Only Jen has been able to do that before."
Mr. Sen smiled at Riddick.
"Yes, indeed, a most propitious addition to our endeavor. I will leave Benjamin in your capable hands, First."
Riddick was caught off guard when Mr. Sen gave him one of those hands-folded-over-the-chest, head-and-shoulder bows before turning and walking calmly toward the gangway.
"Oh, he really likes you, First. Haven't seen one of his Buddha bows in ages. What do we do now?"
Buddha bow, huh? Cute.
"We stow that smaller net and get the one you picked over the bus. You were right. So much for Cameron's engineering genius."
As they dragged the heavy netting across the hold, Ben gave Riddick a very important piece of information.
"He is a genius but in design, theory, tolerances, blueprints, all that stuff. He just isn't good at application. If he had the measurements of the bus and the nets, he would have got it right before a computer could. Might never have gotten it over the bus right, though. Mr. Sen says he has to learn to do more hands on and it's got him fused. Of course, we're all geniuses, kind of off the scale you know, but just in our own fields. Not Sasha, of course. She's just David's wife. The idiot married her instead of Jen."
After that they worked mostly in silence, only saying what had to be said to get the job done, but Riddick could tell that Ben had something on his mind. So did he. What was that totally confused look that Jenna had given him in the booth all about if she had been close to marrying this David character? He finally came to the conclusion that some whimp that would let a woman give him an ulcer didn't have what it took to light a real fire in a woman as strong as Jenna. But Riddick really didn't like the idea that he might have tried.
Just as they finished cabling the bus, Ben raised the issue that was bothering him.
"First, ... I remember more than I told Mr. Sen. Cameron was ragging on Jen. Saying she wasn't going to be Captain of the big ship; that he was. He said that she was nothing but a pilot and, now that we had another, he was going to put her in her place. He called her a ..... He started calling her names. That's when I got so mad I can't remember. You won't let him do that, will you? You won't pilot for him, will you?"
"No."
They walked toward the gangway. About halfway there Ben spoke again.
"First, .. what you did to Cameron .. could you teach me to do some things like that? I mean .... maybe if I could do something .... well maybe I could stop people like Cameron before I got so mad ... before I went where I can't remember. I asked Jen about it once but she said she didn't know if it would work. But Jen couldn't ever hurt anyone. Since you can and you can help me like she does, I thought that you might know if it would work."
Riddick's mind flew back in time a few hours; a pencil, a paper weight and an earring. But that was Jenna's choice; how much, if any, of it that she wanted the others to know.
"I'll talk to Jenna. Now, you need to get ready for lift. You're bunking with Mr. Sen. Ok?"
"X-er."
The lift warning sounded throughout the ship.
