He slipped out of the engine room, his heart beating widely, his whole body pulsing to it's fast paced rhythm. His mind was in a tail wind. As he stepped into the empty elevator, he let his head fall back against the cool metal of the wall. Closing his eyes, and breathing slowly through his nose, calming himself.

He could still feel the softness of her lips on his. Her light scent and the feeling of need that lingered around him like a thick cloud of fog. As the elevator climbed, he tried to recall exactly what had happened. He remembered walking up to her, angry that she was so passive about the situation and before he knew it he was kissing her.

He knew how Jack felt and now he had to go and have feelings for Minx, Jack's close friend. His life was like a damn soap opera, and he was starting to get annoyed. He let his mind clear as the doors glided open to the long dimly-lit hall. His eyes adjusted quickly, as he made his way to the apartment. After passing through the first door he waited for the other to grant him inside.

He let his eyes rest on the lines and indentations of the door, the creases that seemed to run parallel but always seemed to meet. The soft beige coloring and the impersonated fake-wooden grain. A moment later the door opened and he stepped inside, the space in the hall seemed slightly warm, as the thud of his boots bounced off the walls. He put down his tool case in the livingroom, and went into the kitchen, where he found a steaming plate of spaghetti, and a glass of orange soda. One of Jack's religious text books was lying open, about half way through. But his eyes took no notice on anything else, they were glued on the book mark.

Placed carefully in the center of the pages was Minx's silken scarf. Without thinking he ran his fingertips softly over the material, the light contact making his finger tips seem to burn, as he closed his eyes, thinking about her. Just then he heard Jack walking down the hall, her surprise filing the kitchen. "Hey Riddick." She said cheerfully, walking up closer to his side. Quickly he tore his fingers off of the scarf, turning just in time to see Jack throw a casual arm around his waist, giving it a slight squeeze.

He gave her a small hug and moved off towards the food processor. "So, how are you feeling today Jack?" He asked lightly while scrolling leisurely through the food processors appetizing menu. He heard her sigh contently. "Great." She said slowly. Riddick looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Jack snickered, "What?" She asked. "Donno, you just normally don't say 'great'." Riddick reflected.

Jack gave him a suspicious smile. "Well then what about you?" She said crossing her legs carefully underneath the table. "What about me?" He asked calmly after a moment, leaning against the counter, with his arms folded across his chest. Jack shook her head. "Donno, you just normally don't smile." Jack reflected, mimicking him, as she turned her partial attention on her text book, Riddick noticed how her fingers lightly ran over the silk scarf.

She looked at the page intently, running her fingers over the words as she read them. Riddick mentally shook himself, he didn't know he was smiling. The food processor gave a delicate chime and out came his food. A bowl of Tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Putting it carefully on the table he pulled out his chair sitting down next to her. He felt her tension fill the room, she was trying to avoid him for some reason.

After a good ten long minutes she finally looked up at him. "How was work?" She asked all too casually. Riddick's mind filled with the most current event, yet he took his legendary control and answered normally, not letting the tornado in his mind affect his outer expression. "Alright. Except the pluming is really coming along slowly." He said, "So, enjoying the light reading?" He asked motioning to her book.

She rolled her eyes playfully at him. "Oh, yeah Riddick. It's just so exiting I just can't handle it." She said in a dead monotone voice, making him smirk. She was getting to be such a smart ass these days, yet she was so fun this way.

"Honestly, though this stuff will actually kill a person from extreme boredom! I swear!" She said, exasperated, throwing her hands up into the air.

"No need to convince me kid." He said taking a bite out of his sandwich. She nodded, putting her hand on her brow, her elbow resting on the table. "Well it's not too bad. The only part that got tough was when they got into language translation. But Minx helped me with that last night." She commented, lazily flipping the page over, and studying it closely.

Riddick noticed her eyes dart toward him and then back to the page. She was acting funny and he didn't know why, but he wanted to find out. Just then the mail port lit up and gave a small beep. Riddick stood before Jack could even begin to close her book. He made his way over to the port, he knew she was not far behind.

Opening the glass door once again after it had scanned for any harmful entities, he pulled out the package, surprised to see that it was from Imam. It was about a foot wide and a foot tall. The package was soft and bulky, like fabric of some sort. It had Jack's name on it, in his perfect block printing.

Testing it's weight he, handed it to Jack. Ripping it from his hands she shook it gingerly, making a "humph" type of sound. This amused him, she looked like a kid on Christmas. Then again she was still some what of a kid. Before he could open up his mouth, she ripped open the top flap, throwing the disheveled wrappings to the floor.

A moment later the mystery was revealed. In her open palms she held a smooth silken robe set. It was the color of milk chocolate, brown and deep. Running her hand over the material, she looked at it with a bemused gaze, staring relentlessly at it, as if it held all the answers of life. Quickly she unfolded it and held it up to the light. It was long and definitely not fitting. It had a large hood that swooped and curved, making it cover her entire head and then some.

She gave a faint smile and set it down on the back of the sofa. Finally meeting his eyes she bent and picked up the shredded pieces of parcel paper. "BoyI sure have a hot wardrobe." She said flatly. Riddick clapped her on the shoulder.

"You'll look great kid." He said encouragingly, genuinely meaning it. She seemed to sense it and gave him a warm smile. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, before she down cast them. Turning on her heel she headed back to the kitchen, Riddick followed soon after.

Just then the ship tilted completely to one side, sending him backwards across the livingroom. He heard a crashing of dishes, and a small scream. Thrusting himself off the floor he made his way over to the kitchen. Finding Jack on the floor. Getting up she shook her head, "Shit! That hurt!" Jack cursed.

As quickly as it came the ship leveled out and all returned to normal. Crossing the small distance between them Riddick cupped her shoulders in his hands, looking down into her eyes, searching her face for any signs of pain. "You okay Jack." He said softly, feeling her stiffen as she gazed up at him.

"Yeah, fine." She said distractedly. Just then the com beeped on the wall near the door. Giving her a confident look, he glanced at the door over his shoulder. A switch snapped inside Riddick's body sending it into survival mode, his senses heightened as he turned back to Jack.

"I'll get it. Don't leave this room until I say it's safe. Got it?" He asked shortly. Jack nodded, her eyes wide. Releasing her shoulders, he headed towards the doorway, checking the video monitor, sighing with relief he was met with the kind face of a very intense Hocks. He sensed trouble.

Opening the doors quickly, he let him in. Hock's walked with a stiff and quick manner. His normal hulking frame seeming ever so much stronger. Riddick looked at his friend expectantly wanting to know what the hell just happened, fortunately he didn't have to wait long.

"There's been a virus that spread through the computers, and an uncharted patch of space rocks and black holes. We think a Merck snuck on board. I've already gotten a skiff secured for you in my personal holding doc, go into my office and through the first full steel panel on the far wall, it's a secret hologram. Luckily for you your near Luna 7, you can drop Jack off safely there. The skiff's name is Cross Igneous." That was all he said, with that Riddick turned and poked his head into the kitchen. Jack stood were he'd left her, looking a little more at ease.

"Go get you pack. Where leaving." Riddick said, not waiting for her reply. He returned just in time to see Hocks at the door, Hocks nodded and disappeared past the steel and electronics. Going to his own room he grabbed all his gear, slipping his shiv into his boot and his laser gun between his hip and his black jeans. His metal door shutting behind him, he was pleased to find Jack waiting by the door, looking somewhat teary eyed. Riddick gave her a semi-tender look, motioning for her to follow him. She nodded and turned, walking down the hall by his side, all the metal flying past them as they headed for the elevator doors.

Entering the elevator, she bit her lip, as a tear ran down her cheek. She turned her head slowly to look at him, he felt her eyes beating into his profile. His hand clenched his black duffel bag in one fist, in anticipation of the only question he knew she was going to ask.

"What about Minx Riddick?" She said softly, sounding like she already knew the answer. Inwardly cringing he snuck a look at her through the blackness of his goggles. Noticing her tense manner and her slight paleness.

"Minx can take care of herself." Riddick said flatly. He felt a sudden wave of anger and hurt fill the small space, as Jack crossed her arms, her eyes casting a hateful stare. Her bag stayed in her hand, as it rose up with her hand to finally rest on her hip. A look of determination made her features seem to sharpen in the dim light.

"You mean after she's been through hell, saved my life, kept all our secrets, and toiled away for hours in that engine room putting up with god only knows what?! Your just going to LEAVE HER HERE!" She barked with rage, her index finger jutting downward to point at the floor.

Riddick looked at her for a moment. Her arms crossed over her tightly clasped fists. Her legs stiff and parted in a fighting stance. And lastly, her usually clear eyes now narrowed to the point of mere needle-thin slits, clouded over with menace, rebellion, and anger.

"Jack, I'm in debt to her for saving you, you know that. But this is survival kid." He said as casually as he could. But it didn't work, her eyes grew impossibly smaller, as her knees locked into place.

"RIDDICK! You know she's in danger here, just like you and I are. Don't you have any feelings for her AT ALL!" She shouted, her voice dropping an octave or two, as she shook her head in mere furry. Riddick shook his head, Jack had no clue about their kiss in the engine room, and he did care for Minx. But things were out of his hands, they had to leave, they were in danger. Riddick knew Minx would hopefully understand.

Jack wouldn't look at him as they stepped out onto the corridor that lead to Hocks's office. Riddick moved quickly keeping a close eye on his surroundings, and on Jack. Everyone was moving through the halls at an accelerated pace, either not noticing them or too busy to care. Everything in the ship seemed ominous and cold, including the air around them.

There were a lot of announcements being made over the intercom, but he paid them no attention. Weaving through a particularly thick throng of workers he stepped over a bunch of tools that had toppled over in the isle. Men were talking to one another in commanding voices, pointing and shaking their heads. Something had broken and it was being repaired. Orange welding sparks flew to their right, while the sound of a cranking wrench momentarily filled his left ear.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jack leap over a tool chest, as she dodged a oncoming cart of yet more tools. Grabbing her hand he brought her to his side and continued on, finally making it to Hocks's office. Walking in, the door closed behind them, sealing them off from the outside pandemonium, and with it went all the noise. Inside, the office was as quiet as a graveyard at midnight. Making his way over to the far wall he released Jack's hand and walked toward the first steel panel and put his foot through the door.

The toe of his black boot disappeared, casting a quick glance over his shoulder at Jack, he gave her a small nod, feeling her eyes beating into his back. He could tell that she was still semi-angry with him, Riddick was also, he regretted leaving Minx behind, they had something together, but now was not the time for Romance. As they stepped down the long isle-way he noticed the hall way had changed from sheer metal, to all wooden paneling. Deep in brown mahogany he saw that undecipherable pictures lined the walls. Normal earth-like lamps hung over head, casting everything in a yellow glow. The yellow mixed with the brown to make everything seem very different, almost like they weren't on a ship at all.

Making it to the end of the hall, he found a simple door stood in front of him. There was a clear crystal glass door knob, an eye hole and nothing else, not even a palm reader. Furrowing his brow, he curled his fingers around the knob and gave it a small turn. It gave quickly and freely, the door opening into an impressive loading dock, that was as big, if not bigger than the entire ship itself. Twenty or so ships lined the dock, all hovering in place, yet at the same time remaining totally motionless. They were all the same, shaped like rounded footballs, the top half of the skiffs were colored black, and the bottom was in gray. The back of the skiffs were curved downward into a point, where a small rounded hole acted as an exhaust for the jet pack and rocket afterburners.

On the opposite end of the ship he saw the cock pit had an open glass area that looked as if it was heavily tinted for secrecy. His eyes darted from ship to ship, nestled in the middle was the Cross Igneous. Riddick moved toward the ship, ten feet from the door, a shot rang through the air nearly missing him as he threw his body onto the ground, keeping his pack close to his body, he eyed Jack to make sure she was okay, as his hand traveled down to his waist, to retrieve his laser gun.

Jack was down on her stomach as well, her wide doe eyes darting around the port. Another stream of red laser light flew through the air, his eyes catching the faint out line of another male form, crouched by a large crate some fifty feet from him. Holding his hand with his wrist he aimed an fired. The green laser from his own gun, piercing through the thick still air like a steel headed bullet, taking no time in ripping through the targeted wood crate, it's defenseless material bursting into a ball of flames, seconds later revealing his opponent. It was no doubt a Merck.

Before Riddick could blink he pulled the trigger again. This time hitting the Merck square in the chest, he fell to the floor with a blood curling scream, his hands flying to his heart. Looking around for a moment, all was still once again as he got to his feet and helped Jack up, but this time the shot was from a bullet, just barely grazing his right leg, making him limp with pain. Jack looked at him worriedly, her eyes fearful and sad. He gave her a nod. "Get inside the ship. I'll be in once I get rid of the bastards. Whatever happens don't come out here." Riddick said. Seeing her small nod, he turned and dropped down next to the ship, where a five foot high concrete step was raised for the ships to be able to dock and the people to get on without having to do any climbing.

It ran the length of the whole dock, providing an excellent place to hide. Another shot rang through the air and then another, one a normal bullet and the other a laser gun, coming from opposite directions. Firing his gun, his jaw clenched as his thigh began to burn angrily. Riddick knew getting off the ship was gonna be a bitch.

Meanwhile on another part of the ship, Minx was having her own problems.

To Be Continued

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Hey Shadow here,

Alright this story is far from over, and technically it's just getting started. Will Riddick and Jack make it out alive? Who exactly is it that is firing at them? What happens to Minx? Will Riddick and Jack ever see Minx again? Will Minx ever find out that Deo is alive? Well you'll find out in the next chapters to come. I'll post more as soon as I can. Thank you to everyone that has been reviewing this story, you guys are what make this story worth posting. I'm trying to finish this before Chronicles of Riddick comes out in January, so I'll be posting frequently.

Love to all,

Anne