Minx entered the engine room, she surveyed what laid before her. Like the rest of the ship everything was entirely made of stainless steal. Everything to her left was mechanical, and everything to her right was computers, buttons, switches, panels, and plasma screens that showed data.

The computer side was to her the most impressive, but what caught her eye was something very mechanical. It was the largest thing there, taking up almost all of the entire left wall. It was an eight foot long heavy plastic tube, that was about as big around as a baby elephant, or small car. Inside it had this metal rod that pulsed different colors every few seconds. Her curiosity drew her nearer. A faint humming filled the air, as she looked at the device closer. It was so interesting, yet she had absolutely no idea what it was used for.

"It's a gravity stabilizer and it manufactures oxygen." She jumped slightly at his voice behind her. She turned around to see Riddick smirking at her, obviously amused by her display. Nodding she stepped away, and crossed the room to the computer side, where she knew she would feel more at ease.

Everything was as about as high tech as you could get. Every piece of being in the ship looked like it was being monitored. The temperature of the ship, the engines, even the computers that were monitoring the ship. Another monitor was damage control, it had an entire digital blueprint of the ship constantly being shown. She looked down at the control panels. It held five key boards, and maybe sixty other buttons. The panels that were on the floor also acted as the light source. Hocks seemed to like that feature.

She was eager to find out what exactly the whole lot did, and what she could do with it. "Hey, ready to get to work." She heard Riddick ask, somewhere behind her. "Yeah, just examining the computer's package, I mean I'm going to be working on it." She said casually, hearing the sound or a locker springing open, and Riddick's chuckle, much like the one she had heard earlier. "You haven't taken a close look at mine yet" He paused, "the mechanics of it." He said in a slightly teasing voice. She bit her lip, this was going to get interesting.

She turned her attention back to the control panel, but was soon distracted by the heavy thump of his boots, the rhythm of his step sounding closer and closer. Finally she felt him come up to stand next to her. She didn't see his face. But only his forearm, then her eyes slid to his hand, where she found a small chip between his thumb and finger. "This is the manual to the wiring system, I need the computer to recognize the wiring I'll be rendering." He said. She nodded. "Take a seat." Riddick offered. She sat down, scooting in slightly.

"Alright, the disk drive is right here, this slot, just slip it in, and push the green button. It takes a couple of seconds." She hadn't realized that when she had sat down, Riddick bent next to her. "Okay." She said, "So what wires do you need?" She asked keeping her tone sounding detached. "I'll give that it you in a minute." He drawled. The manual opened as she shifted farther away from him, as much as her chair would allow.

She knew that if she had been any other woman, right now she probably wouldn't be sitting at this computer, asking him about wires. She openly knew that she felt a slight attraction to him, she wasn't blind. But only two months ago she was Deo's girlfriend of eight years. Just because he was gone it didn't mean only a month later she would just suddenly grab another guy, and forget himno she couldn't do that.

Turning her attention back to the screen she saw he had opened various folders. "Now I need section A-5, D-10, and L-21 put on edit so I can make changes without it shutting down the system. Got it?" He asked casually, some how closer to her then before. "Yeah. Anything else?" She asked absently. "Not right now," The teasing in his voice returned, "Tell me when your done, I'll be fixing the heater. Go down the farthest lane, and make a right." She felt him stroll off, the same sound of his boots trailing away with him.

She bit her lip again, suddenly realizing she missed most of what he had told her. Shit! She thought, Now what? She turned her eyes on the screen, really seeing it for the first time since she sat down. She was relieved when she recognized the program. It was just a simple system, one that she had been taught how to hack into. Moving her hand slightly she felt something brush against it. Looking down she found a small scrap of paper next to her left hand, she noticed the square hand writing, almost like a computers.

Section A-5, D-10, L-21

She got to work, typing in codes and changing certain settings to make it easier for her to zone off the correct sections of wires for work. The program was fast, and there were a lot of choices to make. Some asking if she wanted to redo the entire system set up. Naturally she avoided those.

She was half way through finishing L-21 when her chrono chirped, lunch, already. She realized she had been working for over three hours straight. Her stomach growled, but ignored it and focused on finishing her work.

The screen was black, with red lettering that turned green when you didn't do something right. The last box on the screen came up, asking if she wanted to deactivate the wiring section of L-21, she highlighted 'accept'. After a moment of cranking, the box disappeared as another one quickly took it's place. It read, 'process complete'.

Sighing she got up out of her chair and stretched. She decided to go tell Riddick that she was done. Walking across the width of the room she noticed the piping for the first time. Amazingly, (like the wires in the palm reader) they crossed over each other, weaving in and out. She studied them for a moment, before her stomach clamored for attention once again. Rolling her eyes she walked across the rest of the room, remembering what Riddick had said. The farthest lane, then make a right.

She found it, suddenly noticing, it too like the hall way in their apartment, was slightly darker then the rest of the engine room. Walking down the length of it she noticed it was about as long as the room was. The lane was about only two feet wide. It was lined with thick gripping rubber, that had little strips that were raised off of the floor so that you bounced slightly when you walked. At the moment she felt like she was drunk and walking on marshmallows.

On either side of the lane was different devices. They all looked extremely important, although she couldn't really tell, all she could do was make out their faint forms. Some were like fuse boxes, others more like the speakers of a sound system. They had holes that she presumed held screws deep inside of them. Others had slits, or card key slots. All of which opened this devises. She almost felt the need to explore.

Her thoughts were broken when she heard the faint sound of a wrench. Making that right turn he told her to take, she found herself going down another lane. This one was just as dark, if not darker. She noticed once she set her foot past the opening the wrench stopped. She could make out the dull length of it, and knew this was pretty long of a path. She guessed it ran about half way across the room. "Riddick." She called normally, but there was no answer. She went down a little farther, "Riddick." She called again, apart of her knowing he could hear her all too well. Silently cursing to herself she stopped walking.

Minx crossed her arms over her chest. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, counting to thirty. She opened them, and found that she could see better, but only just slightly. Barely any light from the front of the room made it's way back here. "Waiting for a bus?" A deep voice rumbled quietly from behind her. Inwardly jumping she turned to see the faint form of Riddick's thick body standing directly behind her.

"How long have you been standing" But she was silenced, when she saw a small spot of light hit his eyes. She had seen shined eyes before, but none like his. Raven had shined eyes, but they were a faint gray, not a bottomless silver. "Long enough." Riddick said, his tone the same, quiet. When she didn't speak right away, she heard that chuckle again. "Like what you see Minx?" He asked, she could here the smirk in his voice.

Wake up! Idiot! She silently yelled. Then she blinked. "The wiring is finished, you can work on it now." She said calmly. "Are you always so quick?" He asked slowly, that same smirk present in his voice. She could tell he was enjoying this. Before she could answer, or protest, a familiar voice came from the front of the room.

"Aye, any one alive in here?" Hocks asked loudly. Minx was glad to hear him. She brushed past Riddick as quickly as she could, and made her way back towards the front of the room, slightly annoyed that she had lost her cool especially in that moment.

"Depends on what you consider to be alive." She said as she walked towards Hocks. He smirked. "I came down to see ya. Bengie was wondering if you'd have lunch with him?" He asked, that signature mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Minx couldn't help but smile. "Alright, tell him to break out the champagne." She said with a laugh. "With Bengie, you never have to tell him. He usually insists. Especially to the new crew members." Hocks said.

"Oh, hey Riddick. Breakin' for lunch any time soon, or do you prefer to starve?" He teased. "I'm breaking, but looks like you could skip a lunch or two, old man." Riddick teased, walking up next to Minx, who suddenly felt very small next to the two men.

Hocks just nodded, "Hey, speak for yourself." Hocks moved toward the door. "Better get going before Bengie finishes the bottle himself." He joked. Minx smiled lightly. They were out in the hall before she knew it, then into the elevator. Except for the cranking of the retro machine, everything was silent.

Minx and Hocks got off on the middle floor, but Riddick stayed on. As soon as the doors of the elevator closed Hocks gave her a knowing smile. "So how did you survive? Well, I hope?" He said, inferring Riddick. Minx smirked, "As well as anyone could expect." She said with a knowing smile of her own. "I uhknow about that little slip up with the palm reader this morning. You fixed it well." He complimented. Minx looked at him. "How did you know it was me?" She asked.

Hocks smirked widely. "Two things. I have a database of all the pocket knives and legal and illegal blades that have been purchased, the database detected it as yours. But for the most partRiddick never uses something as frail as a pocket knife." He said in a hushed tone, still smirking. "He would either blast it off with a laser, or rip it off with his bare hands, it's just his style." Minx nodded, as she wove around a couple of people, that were obviously in a hurry.

A few minutes later they arrived at the mess hall. It was more like a restaurant though. With booths lining the walls and tables cluttering the floor. It had a deep red and pale bronze theme. The lighting was rather subtle, none over head, just the usual floor boards, and lamps on the table tops. She noticed that the tables had table cloths, and the chairs had leather cushions. The mess hall also had a small bar, that appeared to be closed. She scanned the room and noticed some members of the crew from the deck. Nightrow, Leo, Ryan, and lastly Blaine.

Blaine was leaning casually on the bar's counter, standing in the middle of three very attractive young nurses. All blonde. He was smiling like a fool, as he delivered his punch line, they all laughed. Minx shook her head lightly and turned her attention back to the other men.

Nightrow was sitting with another man that looked just as weird as him, they were leaning close together, locked in an enthusiastic conversation. Nightrow made a strange hand gesture and knocked over his drink sending the liquid flying and landing on a very mean looking nurse. She looked across the room to a bigger table of four where Leo, Ryan, and two other men were lazily conversing. Their legs stretched out, looking inert and easygoing.

She smirked, when she saw Nightrow getting splashed in the face by the nurse. "Nightrow almost burned the place down yesterday. I employ them, not baby-sit them." Hocks said casually, starting to walk off to the left toward a raised deck that held more tables, that were mostly meant to seat only two people. She followed, stifling a laugh as she saw the mean nurse hand Nightrow her number. She turned her gaze in front of her and saw Bengie sitting at a table, watching the display him self, evidently thoroughly amused.

"Here she is." Hocks said smiling, as Bengie looked up. "Thanks Hocks I'll take it from here." He said smiling. "Yeah, I bet you will." He said smirking, "Don't worry he's harmless." Hocks whispered to her. Minx nodded, sitting opposite of Bengie. "Well, see ya round. Stay outta trouble, both of you." Hocks chided, like he was taking to two naughty children.

"So, how are things going down there?" Bengie asked casually, turning to a panel on the wall and pushing a button. It looked like he was scrolling through something. "I survived. Had to deactivate some wires this mourning, that was fun. A whole new lesson in ways of legal torture." She said lightly, watching as a moment later the panel next to him on the wall opened and revealed a hot steaming plate of turkey breast, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a glass of what looked like root beer. It looked good, so she decided to order the same.

"I'm glad you survived that my first time doing something along those lines I somehow set half of it on fire. Naturally after that I was banned from that job." He said with a laugh. Minx smiled, starting to scroll through the list of food. It was like a digital menu. It made tiny beeping noises every time the cursor slid over another item. Finally finding his dish she hit select, and it moved to a different screen that was labeled beverages. "I heard about your old business, identity authors. I only know of two other operations like that in the five nearest galaxies. Must be pretty interesting stuff." He said, taking a swig of his drink. Then giving a slight jump, like some people do when they drink something carbonated.

Minx nodded, her smile fading slightly. "Yeah, it was quite interesting, although I did most of the hacking, and I had a team that did most of the actual creating. I got rid of the original information and they created the new stuff." She said casually. She got quiet as the door on the wall opened and delivered her food. She placed it in front of her and started to eat, all completely in silence.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. It was mean to be the exact opposite." He said apologetically. Minx looked up, and found that he probably honestly meant it. She sighed, and gave him a faint smile. "It's alright. But I prefer not to talk about it. Why don't you tell me about your self." She said, changing the subject. He shrugged, "What do you wanna know?" It was her turn to shrug. "Humm, uh" She paused to take a bite of her turkey, "How did you meet Hocks?"

"Well technically I should be in Slam right now. I got into some trouble as a young man. My parents died when I was just a teenage lad, I had no relatives so, I had to survive on my own. I did pretty well for my self until I found out that what I was doing was rather extremely illegal. So I was on the run. Naturally being a dumb kid, I made some really stupid mistakes, the mercs out smarted me, and I got caught after only three hours of running. I was taken to this very desolate planet, out in the Marco Plates." He paused at her obvious confusion.

"What are the Marco Plates?" She asked. "It's a galaxy that shifted the wrong way, and ended up falling into a permanent ice age, there for all of the planets in the system were basically ice." He said. "Must've been cold." She commented absently, noticing he was good at telling stories. A very animated man, who used his hands, and face to convey his message. His eye brows were radically bushy and paired with the rest of his features it made him look like a cartoon character.

"Any way, I was taken to this temporary holding station, where they had to keep me for seventeen days. It was horrible. They practically drug me down this long hall way of deserted cells. When these people took breaths you could tell, little clouds of frozen breath hung everywhere. I had escaped Tranica Island. You know on average in the winter it is 75 deg. I was in knee shorts, and a flower print tee shirt, with flip flops. Upon arriving I turned a nice shade of deep blue." She laughed softly watching as he pretended to shake.

"Well, moving on. Uh, I near this cell the only one with another human life form. So the guard opens the cell door, and keep in mind that I was an even smaller guy then I am now, A tooth pick had more muscle then me! So, he literally picks me up and tosses me into the cell. I guess he was being smart, and I landed right on this guy. He was huge. Naturally I was completely scared I thought he was going to break every bone in my body. But he just grunted, and muttered something about there food quality going down, and how they didn't even bother to kill it before they threw it at him." He said pausing to eat his own food.

Minx was enjoying herself. He reminded her of her uncle Joey. He was a lot like him. "Sounds like Hocks." She said with a slight chuckle. "So how did you two escape anyway?" She asked in between bites. Not realizing when she ordered it, the plate would be the size of a small ship. He smiled. "Well it wasn't exactly Hocks that got us out it was" But he paused, and looked down at his food. His expression changed from light to hesitant. "It was?" She asked, not really sure she wanted to know. "Your father, and Heath McGraw. Deo's dad." He said quietly.

Minx sat back. Suddenly not as hungry. "I remember Sir McGraw. He was something." She said. Taking a slow sip of her drink. "Yeah. He was interesting. But your father was the crazy one." He said shaking his head, a faint smile on his lips. "I'll bet." She said looking up and meeting his eyes. She was determined to get through her day without being stopped by the pain of Deo's death. Sure she was in morning but she couldn't stop being happy, even if it was just for a moment.

When Bengie felt it safe to go on, he continued. "Well, we got out with the help of a very powerful space hot rod, that your dad had stolen from his boss that had just fired him." He said with a chuckle. "Really? How did he" But Bengie held up his hands. "Let me set this up first." He said proudly. She nodded.

"Now this place is so cold that the regular construction machinery stalls and shuts down before it even is started up. So they can't build normally like the other galaxies. So, they used all ice and bars of steel that were imported to make their buildings. Keeping that in mind, and knowing that ice can melt. Here comes your dad in this hot rod, with a rocket turbo booster." She shook her head knowing what was coming.

"He backs his ship towards the front of the building, revs up and floors the throttle, kicking in the turbo boosters. The rocket lights up, it's flames shoot out the back and they take off in a shot of light. Intern, melting away the entire left half of the building. A moment later he appears at our cell and escorts us out of this melting mess. And we take off. Hocks lets your dad and I work with him in the manufacturing sector of the galaxy and that's when your mom and dad met, she was a welder." He finished both his story and his meal, a look of complete satisfaction on his face. She smiled. "Wow. That must've set those ice age goons back a few." She said with a slight smirk. Bengie laughed. "Yeah last I heard they were still trying to rebuild it. Word got out and the other inmates who had connections did the same." She shook her head, stuffed to the brim with really fabulous food.

Bengie's chrono chirped signaling the end of their lunch. "Better get back to work." He said lightly getting up out of his chair and slipping his plate back into the panel on the wall. After helping Minx do hers, they headed up to the main deck, where she would be doing some work for him for the rest of her day.

They passed Blaine, Ryan, and Leo who where heading up as well. Blaine and Ryan said there warm and unique hellos, except for Leo who just gave an icy nod. Blaine smirked at her, "Why didn't you come and sit with us. You would have found it interesting." He said with a raise of his eye brows, "Instead of talking about the weather with our senior citizen of the month." He joked. Ryan and Leo smirked. She returned the smirk, and added her own chuckle.

"Yes, it would've been interesting," She said slowly as they reached their separate elevators. "But giving myself a shot of novocaine would've been more fun." She said, as Bengie and her entered their elevator. Blaine didn't answer her, she just smirked at him as the doors closed.

"Thank you for that." Bengie said after the moment had passed, "Sometimes they came be such" He was trying not to swear. Minx smirked, "Assholes? Yeah I know. Anytime you need a custom insult just call me and I'll deliver." She responded confidently. "Just like your dad. Always the smart mouth." He said. She took it as a compliment.