First: big hugs and many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to review this. I not only enjoy the attention but have learned a great deal from your comments.

For those of you who appreciated the diagram of the ship but had further questions about the location of some places mentioned, here is some further explanation. First, getting the bare minimum into the diagram was a struggle so I will do this with description. The library, main dinning hall/party room, main kitchen, music room, vid room, gym/steam room/sauna and any other recreational areas, simulator, weapons pod, tailor and all other shared use facilities are in the communal living area on level 3. Please arrange them in your mind any way you are comfortable with.

The living area on level 2 is dedicated to personal apartments. These are not bed/sitting rooms. Each has a galley/dinning area, living room, den/study/personal library (these are studious types after all), bed room and a very spacious and positively sinfully luxurious bath (basically the kind I would have if my name was listed in the Fortune 500). David and Sasha have two connecting apartments because that was the way Sasha wanted it.

The inside layer of pods surrounding the central core are accessible from the core (through armored hatches) and are used as storage for supplies that will be consumed during the journey to the sanctuary and personal items that each member of the group wanted close at hand but not cluttering up their apartment. All outer layers of pods are supplies for settlement (plus some weapons pods) and designed as protection for the core should there be an attack on the ship. Because of this there is no access to them from the core. However, if necessary, they can be detached and brought into the bay using the Butch Cassidy.

The lab area is divided into five sections: four two story sections for the hard scientists (David, Jeff, Ben, and Syrus) and two single story offices (Mr. Sen on level 3 and Jenna on level 2. The infirmary is in Syrus' lab area. Though the engines are basically maintenance free, there is a monitoring console for the physical equipment in Jeff's lab and one for the energy components in David's. Jeff's console also monitors all ships environmental systems except for the electrical system. That console is in Ben's area. All of these functions are also wired into the bridge command slot should the Captain care to check them. (But take note: if your drain backs up, Jeff isn't really up to that stuff, yet.)

I hope this is of use. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have.

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THE MOTHER LODE BY ABRAXIS

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Chapter 15 - Jump Time

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Riddick continued to lean against the counter. He didn't know what would happen if he followed her before he got his anger under control and he sure as hell didn't want to find out; couldn't afford to find out. He had to do whatever was necessary to get the surgery on his eyes. If it was as good as she said, if it was only half as good, it was something he couldn't pass on. But, just how the fuck was he supposed to get control of himself when he didn't know why he was so angry.

He didn't get angry at women the way he was angry now. Well, truth was he had been pissed when Carolyn had jumped him from the back and dumped his ass in the mud but not angry like this. It was more like the way he had felt when that slime Johns had tried to play him for a fool with his promise of freedom that he had no intention of keeping. But, she hadn't done that. She was living up to the contract. Even if she was pushing him into a very uncomfortable situation to do it, she had given him good reasons for that. He couldn't even call it threatening because, oddly enough, he did trust her to guard him while he was unconscious.

Then, why did he feel like he had just been back stuck? Because she had called him paranoid? He'd been called a lot worse. Because she thought he didn't trust her? Now, that was a laugh. Since when did what someone else thought about him count for anything. And where did she get off expecting something like trust from him. Shit! Why was he so angry?

His thoughts were broken by Jeeter. Damn, the little weasel was getting balls.

"Lady's been jamming too hard. No sleep since when. And that group ah hers. Dealing with 'em make anyone kinda crazy, too. She should be planning on getting some sack time after the jump, 'steada getting you your eyes. Always taking care and no one taking care ah her."

"And you think that I'm the one who should be doing that?"

"Just saying somebody oughta. Somebody she'd listen to. That's what she hired you for, isn't it? To tell her when she was doing it wrong."

Riddick didn't need a lecture. He pushed off from the counter, gathered Ben's and Jeeter's hypos and headed for the hatch. But what Jeeter had said pulled at him. He paused briefly to throw an order at him.

"Then get her some coffee. I'll be in the bunk room. ... She likes a lot of sugar."

Now, why had he said that? What did he care if she got her damn coffee the way she liked it? He strode across the bridge, ignoring her completely. She had pulled off her boots and socks, laid her sword rig, cape and vest aside with them and was curled up again in the huge command slot. Without the vest, that cropped shirt was sexy as hell. For some reason, so were those bare feet. Now that was a new one for Riddick. But, damn she looked tired. She was working on the hyper nav. Her eyes looked all watery and she was blinking a lot. It must be the contacts .... yeah, sure ... just the contact lenses. Fuck!

He wished he had stayed angry. The emotions that were replacing it were ripping him in opposite directions. The part of him that wanted to drag her to the deck and fuck her senseless, he could deal with. She was getting to him like no woman he had ever met but he could handle it. The equally strong urge to pull her into his arms and just hold her, comfort her the way he had finally learned to handle Jack after a nightmare, he couldn't. Hell, she wasn't no damn kid.

In the bunk room, he found Ben already asleep. He had removed his boots and was using his cape as a blanket. He might claim to 'almost' twenty-two but, snuggled up on his side with his fists tucked under his chin, he didn't look more than twelve. It was a shame to disturb him but regular sleep wouldn't hold during hyper. Riddick pulled back the cape, unfolded one of his arms, brought up the vein and gave him the hypo as carefully as he could. Ben stirred. His eyes blinked open but, when he saw Riddick, he gave a small smile and dropped right back to sleep. Riddick chuckled. When he was a baby, the kid had probably invited the boogie man into his crib to play. Riddick tucked the arm back into its original position and flipped the cape over him again.

Just as he finished with Ben, Jeeter showed. He looked like he wanted to cut Riddick's heart out. It figured that those tears would work on him. He already thought she was some kind of saint.

"You'd better get comfortable. Syrus says that this stuff will take you down fast and deep."

Jeeter moved to strip down to his shirt and trousers but kept throwing hard looks at Riddick. Not that Riddick cared but he might as well see how brave the little man would get.

"She been telling you what a shit I am?"

"Lady didn't say nothing but 'thank you' for the coffee. Lady's got more class than that. 'Sides, she don't have to tell me what a shit you are. I been being the same kind ah shit. I'm changing that. Just wondering if you got the smarts to."

Riddick felt his face forming a smile at this rash nobility but quickly twisted it into a scowl as he motioned Jeeter toward a bunk. When Jeeter lay down and extended his arm to Riddick, his face was set in a grimace. Riddick played rough with the prep, enjoying a little revenge as Jeeter's anticipation of pain deepen, then gave him the same easy spike he had given Ben. He really enjoyed the look of surprise Jeeter gave him. Then as he started to stand, Jeeter caught hold of his wrist.

"Barrol, .. take the risk ... Lady needs ......"

He went under before he could say what he thought she needed. It was probably more of that 'taken care of' crap. Yeah, Riddick, my boy, you just get yourself out there and take care of a woman who's about as helpless and needy as a female grizzly. That image brought back memories of the one really decent home he'd had as a child, the only place he'd ever used that word to describe.

They had been an older couple, really too old to still be fostering. They'd been ok for money, too. Used a lot of what the state paid them to do things with the kids that Riddick had only dreamed about: Saturday afternoon, cheap seats at the vids; swimming; picnics; even stage plays at a local college. The trips to the zoo had been his favorites. He'd loved the wild power of the predators, the cats and the bears. He'd wanted to be like them.

Well, he'd certainly gotten his wish. The old man had a coronary and died and Riddick went back where he had come from, back to the hell holes and juvie slams. Then a judge had sentenced him to the Forces rather than another slam. What the mean streets had started, they honed to perfection. He had become just like those animals, a very efficient killing machine. It's too bad that zoo had been so subtile with its safety barriers. Maybe if they'd been in cages and chains he wouldn't have been so eager to be like them. Then, again, what does an eight year old kid care about future consequences; especially one who knew you'd better turn your spoon, fork, whatever they gave you into a weapon and eat with your fingers or someone bigger, meaner would take your food away from you.

Riddick arranged Jeeter's arms comfortably at his sides then grabbed his cape and spread it over him. He wouldn't have bothered just for the time hyper would take but everyone might have to sleep longer than that.

He stripped to his shorts and replaced the satin trousers with a pair of duty ones. He didn't bother with a shirt, just pulled on the black vest. He would have preferred one of his tanks but his bag was still out on the bridge. He removed the dagger rig from the waist belt then buckled it around him, his shiv nestled pleasantly against his spine. After he had drawn on his boots, he checked the stunner to see that it was on the right setting. He hoped he wouldn't have to use it on her but, if he did, he wanted to be sure it was set to knock her out long enough for him to use the sedative hypo he had gotten from Syrus.

Now that had been a study in trust if you wanted one to examine. His explaining to Syrus that a laboratory field wasn't a definitive test, wasn't near what she would experience in full hyper-space. Syrus 'not' explaining to him why he had to use a different combination of drugs for her than for the rest of them. Not that Riddick had ever planned to take Syrus' word for that even if he had given reasons. The combination Syrus had loaded her hypo with was just too far beyond the ordinary, about the most exotic mix that Riddick had ever run into. Then, that little play in the library had given Riddick even more reason to doubt his motives. Syrus probably wouldn't do anything to permanently harm her but he might try and make it look like Riddick had. Of course, after the episode in the galley, it wasn't going to be very easy to open the subject. She'd probably just accuse him of being paranoid again. Better paranoid than fucked.

Riddick walked onto the bridge to find that the subject was already open. She had both the hypos that Syrus had given him for her and a stunner laid out on the console in front of her. He tried to get a hint of her thoughts from her face. But, what he read was too complicated a mix of emotions. He just hoped that she wasn't going to try for him with that damn stunner.

He chose to make the first move. Since he had no doubt that the scene she had set was the result of Syrus ratting him out, he jumped directly to his own concern. Taking an easy but ready stance in front of her, he pointed at the sedation hypo and recited a list of the drugs and the approximate proportions that he had noted when Syrus filled it. He left his obvious doubt about the mix unspoken, indicated only by the quirk of his upper lip. She answered him with a smile but it was weak, worried.

"Yes. That sounds correct. How probable is it that I will react badly to hyper, that you will be forced to use it on me?"

"The usual failure rate is about forty percent. Everybody that passes the lab test makes their first conscious jump strapped down with a butterfly rig already in their arm." Damn, she looked like he had hit her. "But someone who thought it was 'lovely' should have a lot better odds than that. What does that witch's brew do to you?"

"It kills all sensory input, even esper, leaves only the part of the nervous system necessary to keep the heart and lungs working. But ....... I'm still awake."

Riddick could taste bile in the back of his throat. His stomach was trying to crawl up his spine. Syrus, the fucking sadist, hadn't told him that; had only said that he thought Jenna would prefer to be revived rather than sleep it off "what with her duties and all". He'd been right not to trust the git. He had a very hard time keeping his rage from showing in his voice.

"Why?"

"I fight unconsciousness. Syrus said it was like a massive physical panic attack. If I were given enough standard sedatives to keep me unconscious it could possibly kill me. He warned me to never use cryosleep, that I would stay awake through the whole thing. Anyway, if you have to use it, please use the recovery hypo as soon as you can. I've also set my stunner for you to use if I react violently before you can give me the sedative. Don't turn the setting down. I'm stun resistant, too."

The coincidences were piling too high for Riddick to swallow it any longer until Jenna continued.

"Syrus asked me to see if you had similar reactions. Ever since he found out that I can tolerate hyper, he has been trying to find research to support a theory that it is all connected somehow; that whatever makes me sedative and stun resistant is the same thing that allows me to tolerate hyper. But there isn't any. It seems no one else has made the same connection. Most people would take that as a sign that there wasn't one but not Syrus. To him it just makes it more possible because he's so bloody brilliant compared to the rest. He's driven me crazy with his tests. He'll probably try to do the same with you. Oh Lord, ........ I am babbling, aren't I? ....."

Yeah, she was right. She was babbling. But her babbling was making more sense than most people's serious talk. He had never thought about there being a connection. By the time he had discovered the cryo and stunner part of it, he wasn't in any position to compare notes with any other hyper pilots. They were a protected breed, not likely to have experienced either one unless they had been royally screwed like he had. But that would have put them in slam just like him and in slam no body compared notes about anything. Maybe a similarity of two wasn't much but when that two were part of less than five percent it had to have some weight to it.

"Much as I hate to admit it, Dr. Vicious just may have a point. But what about your surgery? Can you take it for six to eight hours? I know I can't. Even awake in cryo isn't like that. It's boring as hell but you know what's going on around you, know that there is something around you. We're back to me taking it awake with a local."

"He was planning on using the full range of drugs only until he had finished the surgery. He said that after that local muscle paralysis and anesthetic drops for the eyes plus head and upper body restraints would be sufficient for the rest of it, for the Quizzler Chamber. Since he prides himself on his speed as well as his perfection, this is very reassuring. He can do yours the same way."

Riddick didn't argue with her. He could understand why, with her admitted sensitivity about her eyes, Syrus would consider total sensory depravation the lesser of the two evils. But he didn't have that problem. If Syrus was so interested in his original shine and how it was done, it should be easy to get him to do this one with just the local drugs. Hell, that would be nothing compared to what he went through for the first one. Time to change the subject.

"Where are we going to jump to? You had seven plots in the nav. They were all longer jumps. With the reaction we seem to share to cryo, I don't think that you are going to have a problem but I'd rather plot a very short jump and then re-plot when we're sure of that."

He could see from the look she gave him that she wasn't going for that.

"No. We will pick the best jump and I will take my chances. Now, let's look at the plots and you tell me which destination would be the best for us to hide out for a while."

Jenna threw all the coded plots onto the main viewer. Riddick wasn't happy when his plot to New Mecca flashed up with the rest. Damn, with everything else going on, he had forgotten to open the program and get rid of it. Of course, she spotted it immediately and highlighted it.

"Yours?"

Riddick's first impulse was to admit what she already knew but not to give any more information unless she asked. Then, the speech he had overheard her give Jeeter made him decide otherwise.

"Yes. There are some people there that I was thinking about, wondering if they were all right. I meant to erase it but then things got a little busy."

"Would it serve as a good destination for us?"

Well there it was, his chance to check on Jack and Iman handed to him on a platter. Just one lie would get it for him.

"No. It's a crossroad. Too much traffic and most of it Company connected. Chinchillas is the best of what you've plotted. It's an outpost station for shipping to quite a few new settlement systems. The traffic is light but not so light that we'd be out of place. What makes it the best is that it isn't profitable enough yet to get the Company's attention. Just have to leave hyper far enough out so that we're on Keller when we hit their sensors."

"Well, that's it then. You adjust the plot while I run the prep checks."

Riddick took the pilot slot and opened the nav computer. He had barely made the re-plot when a loud hiss from Jenna turned him toward her again.

"Problems?"

"You could say that. We have a traitor."

She said it so calmly. The expression on her face was detached, thoughtful. Only her eyes told the truth. They had that eerie gentle sadness in them again. Riddick felt an unpleasant chill run down his back and a metallic taste tainted his mouth. When she found out who her traitor was, it was going to be G all over again. Killing in hot blood, killing in cold blood; these he had done, could understand. Hell, even though it wasn't his thing, he could understand the ones who got their rocks off on it. He hated the fuckers but he understood them. But, doing it with compassion and regret; that wasn't normal. Oh, yeah, right. Look at who was making moral judgements.

"How do you know?"

"An automatic security check program runs every quarter hour. Within fifteen minutes after we left the library, someone activated a tracking signal broadcast. They either didn't like the way our meeting was resolved and made their final decision to turn because of it or were already turned and waited until the last moment, just before being sedated, to activate it. Obviously, they want it broadcasting when we come out of hyper. Either they didn't know about the internal security system or were betting we wouldn't run a last minute check."

"Any idea who it might be?"

Jenna began keying as she talked.

"It's in the bay so anyone could have planted it. The only thing I am certain of is that it wasn't Ben. He wrote the auto check into the programming for me. I do not believe that it was Jeeter because his being here was in no way predictable. I also do not suspect you. Both Jeeter and Mr. G provided proof that you are exactly who you are supposed to be. Therefore, because of your profession and what I have observed of your nature, I believe that, even with small possibility that you may have been contacted and turned, it wasn't you. When it comes to the authorities or the Company, you are not the type to play well with others. You would have been more likely to take the up-front money, if any was offered, and then shove the thing down a disposal chute, planning to hijack the ships for yourself instead. That leaves me five suspects; all of whom are quite capable of it. There is also the possibility that two or more are collaborating."

She finished her keying and looked up at him.

"May I ask what you think is so amusing?"

Riddick wasn't upset with himself for allowing his lips to curve into a twisted smile. At least he had kept from releasing the roar of laughter that sat threateningly at the back of his throat.

"Your reasons for not suspecting me, that's what. I don't think I've ever been given a more accurate and flattering description of myself. Now, what are you planning to do about our little problem?"

"I've taken care of the signal already. They can't track us in hyper. I've set the ship to come out of hyper totally shielded. That will block the signal while allowing the device to seem to be functioning correctly. As to our enemy within, there are no fingerprints or DNA present on the outside of the device. I've set up a constant security watch. Anyone approaching it to do a manual check or anyone who activates a remote control signal will be identified and logged. I am hoping that who ever it is will believe that their plan is succeeding long enough to be discovered before they decide to take further action. My real worry is how deeply our own plans have been compromised. I don't think that the people who want us would choose to rely on such a relatively short range beacon if they didn't have a very good idea of the possible destinations that we had plotted. That means that they probably have spy-ware in our main computer. When did you make your plot?"

"I locked it into the main when you had us line up to check out the uniforms. Why?"

"Ben locked off the ship's com port when he went to change. It's a manual lock. No spy-ware can open a manual lock. It seems that you are going to be able to visit your friends after all."

Suddenly Riddick didn't want the "Hole in the Wall" anywhere near Iman and Jack.

"No. I can plot any destination you want in less that thirty minutes. I told you, New Mecca has too much Company traffic."

"That should work to our advantage. They wouldn't suspect that we would hide right under their noses. Still, I understand that you don't wish to put your friends at risk." Damn, had he suddenly turned into an open book? "I need somewhere that you know well enough to choose an unofficial landing site for the BC, a gorge or cave or something like that, and find me an untraceable data link to find out what happened on Derius 4 and what the Company and the military are doing about it. It should also be somewhere that, if the situation is as bad as I think it is, you and Jeeter can take the loot from Mr. G's vault and safely disappear. If you know of some other destination that will suffice, then plot it. If not, load the plot for New Mecca and we will jump immediately."

Riddick's mind froze for a moment. It was a play. It had to be.

"What about our contract?"

"You didn't contract for this kind of trouble. I can't get to our accounts so my share of the loot is the best I can do as far as pay. The identities that Ben worked on are most likely compromised and of no use but you will have your eyes. That part of the bargain I can keep. Now, is it New Mecca or somewhere else?"

The last was easy. It had to be New Mecca. That was the only place, other than Derius 4, where he could be certain that he could find her a hacker set-up like she needed. Things could change a lot in four years. But the rest of it? How did he deal with that?

Shit! What was there to deal with. He'd be walking free and easy on New Mecca, back with Jack and Iman, with more than he had ever planned on having. His eyes would be even better than he had thought was possible. He still had every credit he had saved stashed safely under the false bottom of his satchel and would have a small fortune to add to it once he had converted his half of the loot into cash. The perfect new identity? He hadn't planned on going along with that anyway. So he had hit a glory hole instead of the mother lode; it was still a damn rich haul.

And the contract? It was her choice to cancel it. She was the one who decided she could handle things on her own. If she had asked him ......... But she hadn't. That made it not his problem. Didn't it? Hell, she said it herself; he hadn't contracted for this kind of trouble. Yeah, but he had contracted to teach her what she needed to know to survive. Turning him and Jeeter loose wasn't the way for her to do that. Always taking care, no one to take care of her. Fuck!

He loaded the New Mecca plot and then slid out of the pilot slot and crossed the bridge to stand beside Jenna.

"Get up."

"Why?"

"You remember what I said about being strapped down for the first jump? Well, we don't have any straps. So, it's a good thing that command slot is so roomy because you're going to make the jump sitting on my lap."

"You're joking?!"

She wasn't angry. Her eyes had gone wide and a slight flush was creeping over her face. Her reaction caused Riddick to realize just how much the seriousness of their situation had been bothering him. He hadn't even thought of the pleasant side benefits of this necessary precaution. Well, hell, everything that could be done about the problem had been done so why not have a little more of the game while he could. He leaned toward her, lowered his voice and smirked.

"No. I'm not, sweet thing. If you go weird before we're set in the pipe, I'm going to be too busy with the controls to chase you around the bridge. So I'm going to keep you close, very close until I'm sure you stay sane in hyper."

The blush deepened. Jenna popped up out of the slot as if there had been a spring under her and backed away from him to stand on the other side of the chair.

He made a show of settling himself comfortably into the slot before looking up at her and patting the top of one thigh in invitation. Jenna seemed to have regained some control. She was trying her best to look severe but couldn't keep her lips from trying to curve into a grin.

"Are you sure there isn't some other way to handle this?"

"Well, I could tear up some bed sheets and tie you to the legs of the console but I don't think that you could learn very much about piloting into hyper from there. Besides the deck isn't very soft. You would be much more comfortable on my lap. But ...... if you're into being tied up we can try it."

Jenna squeaked and clamped both hands over her mouth. Her eyes danced. Riddick couldn't be sure what she was smothering but he would have bet his fortune that it was laughter. Then the sparkle in her eyes died. Disappointment flooded Riddick. Here it comes; the realization of who she was dealing with; the anxiety then the fear. He expected her to back even farther away. Instead, she lowered her hands revealing a wistful smile and stepped into the space between his knees and the console.

"I don't know if I would be 'into' it or not. Even sadder than that, I have no idea how to go about sitting on a man's lap. If you haven't noticed, I'm not the petite, lap-toy type."

She made it sound like a joke. Did a good enough job of it to fool most people. But, Riddick could hear the resignation and bitterness underneath. He could hear it because he knew what that felt like; to stand outside, watching other people who had what you wanted so desperately and finally realizing that you were never, never, NEVER going to be invited inside. It didn't matter what that thing was, the feeling was the same.

With a growl rumbling deep in his throat, he grabbed her waist with both hands. Spinning her around until he was looking at her beautiful ass, he hooked a foot behind her ankles and flipped her feet off of the floor. As she fell backwards with a shocked gasp, he stopped her fall. After holding her suspended above him long enough for her to be totally aware of how easy it was for him to do that, he slowly lowered her onto his lap and snugged her tightly against his chest.

Oh, damn, she fit nice. Her height was in her legs. Holding her like this, his chin was slightly higher than her shoulder and his nose and lips rested perfectly against her ear. He gentle tongued the rim of her ear and then whispered in his most predatory purr.

"No. I didn't notice that. Now, adjust the console up and back until it's comfortable for you."

He felt her shiver then heard the catch in her breathing as the hardon this gave him pressed against her. Real subtle, Riddick, you had more control than this when you were a teenager. When she reached to adjust the console, her hands were unsteady. Riddick kept his firmly on her waist even though ..... no ... make that because .. there were a lot of other places he would rather put them. This was going to be a very interesting jump.

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Jenna could hardly manipulate the controls on the console. If she stiffened her hands enough to keep them steady, they were useless clubs. What was wrong with her? In the whole of the universe there were millions of women sitting on the laps of millions of men. Oh, yes. But not men like him with women like her ... not her, not ever before to her. But so much more, the way he had put her in his lap. His strength so overpowering; so much greater than her own; used not to prove his masculinity but to show her own femininity to her. A piece of her most hidden dreams sensed and fulfilled. Another thing that she had not encountered before. A thing she had not thought possible outside of the pages of romance novels.

Now, the hard press of his erection against her ... never that before, either. Men had complimented her on her intelligence, her calm sensible nature, her expertise and devotion to her vocation. They had offered her every kind of professional relationship, including marriage. But never, never had they told her she was desirable as a woman; never invited her into their laps; never showed her one twitch of a dick nor any other sign they wanted her in their bed, much less up against a wall. As if any of them could have even attempted that without causing themselves serious physical damage.

But that hadn't been the worst of it. The daemon that tortured her wasn't their lack of desire for her but her lack of desire for them. As hard as she tried, and with Carl/David that had been a great effort, she had never felt anything greater than warm affection. It hadn't taken her long to understand that she was the problem; a freak, devoid of normal sexuality; a neuter thing that could only react to fictional exaggeration but never to flesh and blood reality.

Well, ten minutes in a dim, dingy tavern had slain that daemon; slain one and birthed another. All right! She had to get a hold on her self. This wasn't anything a woman should want. It never had been anything that could have been permanent, lasting; that would have been until death do you part. Now, it couldn't even be the bitter-sweet ecstasy of a brief affair. It would be nothing more than sex, meaningless animal lust; a single violent coupling that would probably be more painful than satisfying.

Oh, God, why did you bring him to me only to force me send him away.

At this thought her hands steadied. Her hunger for him was about to eat her alive but her hands steadied.

"All right, Riddle. Let's get the suspense over with. How do you want to do this?"

"Work it just like the simulator. I won't interfere unless you're doing something wrong."

As she engaged the countdown and settled her fingers into the proper positions on the controls, his hands moved from her waist to her wrists. They rested there with the lightest of touches, not interfering with her movements while capable of instantly jerking her away from the controls. She had no doubt in his ability to restrain her with one arm while handling the con with his other hand.

Her mind centered, focused on the data streaming across the nav display. First came the major changes in direction, attitude and acceleration and then a seemingly never ending list of minor corrections that seemed to grow in volume as the jump point approached. Why was that happening? Was she making errors? Riddle must have sensed her anxiety. His fingers tightened briefly on her wrists then released.

"Relax. Like Jeeter said, you're a real hot stick. You're running at a tangent to the system rather than straight out and you're not regulation distance from the local star. That's a very illegal jump for anyone but military on Alert One status; not something they teach on simulators. Let me know as soon as you start feeling the hyper field."

Now, that was a strange way to word that question, wasn't it?

"You mean when I feel the next increase in it, don't you?"

She felt Riddle's body stiffen. There was a new note of tension in his voice.

"How long has it been effecting you?"

She continued following the scrolling adjustments as she tried to decide how much to tell him about that. She finally decided on the full truth even though she wondered if it was going to get her tied to the leg of the console after all.

"Since I was born at night, probably from my first breath. That is why I love the night. But I learned not to talk about it by the time I was four and I didn't know what it was until I took the lab test."

She couldn't call what she felt from Riddle anxiety; maybe wariness, suspicion.

"Why night?"

"The atmosphere blocks most of it and combined with the energy of direct sunlight it eliminates it. The closest simile I can give you: day, nothing; night, like a soft whisper; off planet, a low pitched murmur. Right now it's like the level of a private conversation. But it's more like music than speech. Yet, neither. Some of the things written about esper experiences come close but I don't think that the words to describe it have been invented yet."

"Are you esper?"

"Only the usual things, what they call gut reactions, internal alarms, subconscious reasoning. Is this obviously abnormal sensitivity to hyper energy a problem? When we jump, will I over load or something like that?"

He was silent for a long time. At least, it seemed like a long time to Jenna. Oh, Lord, why did she have to be such a freak in everything. Her hands were beginning to quiver again when he finally answered.

"I don't think so. After the lab tests we had to answer a lot of questions about it. One of them was if we had ever felt anything like the hyper field before. Anyone who answered 'yes' was transferred out as soon as they passed the first jump. The rumor was that they were looking for pathfinders."

Jenna interrupted.

"Pathfinders?"

"You were right comparing hyper energy to esper. They've never been able to invent instruments that can sense either one. Pathfinders are people who can feel hyper in normal space, find the weak points where it leaks out, where if you do it right you can get a ship into it. Once they're in, they record all the pipes, lower energy currents, that connect with that gate and what other gates they connect to. All that your nav computer is doing is making sure that we match, match exactly, a map that was made by a pathfinder."

"What if we don't hit it right?"

"If we're lucky, we end up some where else in known space. It not, no body hears from us again; maybe destroyed in hyper, maybe some other dimension or galaxy that we can't get home from. They don't know. Even pathfinder ships have been lost."

"How do they map them?"

"I don't know. But ...." She felt his head move slightly as he checked the nav readouts. "..I'd say that in about a minute thirty you are going to be able to tell me. One thing is sure, you don't have to worry about being the goat they hang if we're caught. If you can function as a pathfinder, you'll be worth more to them than all the rest put together. What does it feel like now?"

"Strong. Almost the same level as the lab test."

"That sounds right. I'm beginning to feel it and the lab tests are just below entry. Push an artificial field any higher and really nasty things happen."

Jenna felt her fingers making a final minute correction. Riddle grabbed her wrists.

"Why did you do that?"

"We weren't quite centered."

"The computer thought we were."

"Well it was wrong. The energy was heavier to port."

Jenna had just realized what she had said when, with Riddles deep rolling laughter echoing in her ears, she felt the full force of hyper space surge in on her.

They had jumped.