To Scouse: Whee, you're my reason to keep posting! Glad you like it! And yes, Liege does have an Irish accent! It comes up later, but cookies to you for noticing it!

Chapter IV: Of Blades and Tears Part I

"Liege, get your lazy ass out of bed! We've been asleep for hours! It's almost dinner!" Jack shouted as she unsuccessfully tried to pull the covers from her friend.

"Grrfmmmbh…"

"C'mon! And we've got to shower too! You're covered in dirt and Allah knows what else!" Jack didn't even realize she had made a reference to Imam's god, but Liege's head snapped up and her eyes narrowed at Jack.

"Ye said ye didn't believe in a god."

"I don't…oh. That. My mentor does, and I picked it up from him. Just phrases mind you. Now c'mon, get showering!" Jack exclaimed, taking the opportunity of yanking the covers beneath Liege from under her, making her roommate fall with a 'thump' to the floor.

"Once 'm clean yer goin' to regret that, lassie." Liege threatened as she gathered herself up from the floor and stomped into the bathroom.

Jack grinned as she headed for the communal showers. Liege had various tattoos on her body and if she was seen with them in the communal showers, someone would be sure to tell. Jack was envious of her roommates tattoos, but Liege promised Jack that she would help her get real ones, like the ones from old earth.

When Jack entered the room again, she blushed when she walked in on Liege just slipping her bra on. Quickly turning around to close the door she evened her breathing and walked over to her drawers of clothes.

"…Jack?" Liege quietly asked as she pulled on a black wife beater over ripped and baggy jeans.

"Yeah?" Jack replied, hoping she wouldn't say anything about what had just happened.

"I know this is a tad weird 'n all…but…ye know I never talk about me family and how I don't really discuss the past."

"Yes…"

"Well, I don't really have a place to go anymore during the summer vacation…and I don't want to stay here like I did last year. And I know I'm sorta pressing into yer life away from school but could-"

"I would love it if you could stay with me during the summer. It will be so boring if I just spend it with Imam. If he is back from his religious outing that is." Jack finished, receiving a smile from Liege.

"Thas wonderful. 'm glad I've got a place to go." She replied, standing up and pulling Jack into a strong hug. Jack was surprised by this show of affection and she closed her eyes and hugged her back.

Pulling back, Liege ruffled Jacks short hair and then grabbed her wallet and keys from the desk. Jack quickly pulled on a sweatshirt over her shirt and followed Liege out of the room.

They walked across the busy campus, where, since it was the weekend, girls could have guys over on campus. The pair received wolf-whistles and catcalls, but both ignored them.

"Damn bastards…" Liege muttered as she stalked down another pathway leading to a more secluded part of campus. "If I could just have my way…"

'Riddick would've torn them limb from limb.' Jack suddenly thought. She hadn't really thought about him since she got to boarding school. When she wasn't working, Liege dragged her off to work out together or to simply walk around and talk. Jack missed Riddick and wanted to see him again.

"Jack? Jack? Calling Jack! JACK!" Liege shouted in her ear, causing Jack to startle and fall back onto the ground. The other girl crouched down and looked at her friend in a very intense manner that reminded Jack of Riddick. 'Why am I always thinking about him now?'

"Jack, who ye be thinkin' bout?" Her accent was a little heavier then usual, but that is what happened when Liege became frustrated or just emotional.

"An old friend of mine, that's all." She replied, standing up and dusting herself off.

"'n a very good friend at that." Liege casually remarked and she dug around her deep pockets for something.

"And what's that supposed to mean!"

"Ye had a lovesick puppy look." Jack still looked confused. "I mean, ye must've been or still in love with 'im. Ye never have the fond look in yer eyes. He must've been a good lad."

Jack couldn't find words to form any of her racing thoughts. Liege raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Or was it a lass?"

Jack's confusion turned to mock anger as she yelled a war cry and began to chase Liege. They laughed as they ran down the hill that led to the main road.

They slowed down and their laughter died down as they ran out of breath. Walking down the road, they talked about the good year they had both had.

The road ended at a blockade into a smaller city on Helion Prime. Showing their IDs, they were waved through into the city. Deciding on one of the huge open-air markets, they weaved through the crowded streets.

The huge artistic buildings overshadowed the streets and were often used as meeting places. Crossing a street, Jack and Liege walked next to each other as they neared the market.

Liege was in the middle of telling Jack a story about Rick when she suddenly realized Jack wasn't walking next to her. Looking back she saw Jack was enraptured by a huge screen mounted overheard. Jogging back she decided not to snap at Jack but to see what she was watching.

Propping her sunglasses on her forehead, she listened to the top story of the evening. Liege didn't miss the grin on Jacks face, either.

"This evening on Helion Prime Reports, we have the top story on Richard B. Riddick, the infamous criminal who escaped from top-security prison Butcher Bay. A recent chain of murders have been linked to this criminal and it is reported he is at large and dangerous.

If you have ever been in contact with this dangerous man, or know any information concerning his present whereabouts, please contact us.

Keep your children close by and keep an…"

The news faded out as Liege followed a now angry Jack through the crowds who still had their heads arched up at the gruesome images of the murders that was foreground to the continuing news report on Riddick.

"Jack, why do ye care bout 'im anyway?"

"I don't, it's just that they're so stupid. He would never attack woman or child. Why would he murder people anyway? He wants the bounties off his head, not more piled on. Idiots…the whole lot of them." Jack rambled as she increased her pace towards the open-air market.

Liege wasn't sure if Jack realized what she said, but she listened as Jack continued.

"Jack…luv, yer theories sound better then those shitheads, but don't ye think yer takin' it a bit far?" Liege tried to console her friend but even through her dark lenses she could see Jack was very angry.

"THEY AREN'T THEORIES! I-" Jack suddenly turned on Liege and began to scream, but Liege smacked her hand over his friends mouth and began to drag her away.

"There be nothin' to see here, ye bastards 'n bitches. The lass just forget the mornin' meds. Now move the 'ell away before I beat ye all into an unrecognizable pulp." Liege threatened as she moved farther away from the crowds.

She turned to see tears making tracks down Jacks face and she ducked behind a stall and held Jack's hand as she continued to walk between the stalls.

Quickly turning a corner, she moved Jack in front of her and pushed her upwards. Jack grabbed at the ladder that went up a wall and began to climb. Knowing Liege was behind her she continue up until she found the top. Sitting in the rubble and dirt on the roof, tears began to flow.

Liege jumped up and sat down next to her friend and held her for a few minutes.

"Oh Jack, what 'as he done to ye?" Liege whispered as she rocked her roommate back and forth.

Riddick rubbed his eyes from reading the text in form of a play and decided that it wasn't any wonder that Jack had liked this book. She would relate with that girl masquerading as a young man in service of Count Orsino.

Closing the book, he set it on the table and got up to stretch. As he walked to the balcony to watch the oncoming of darkness, he felt something was wrong. He wasn't sure what, but he knew something was right.

He slipped his hand into the pocket with the letter and unfolded it, knowing this would be the first time of many times reading this letter.

Dear Imam,

I am doing very well in school, just like you predicted. I am receiving top marks in all of my classes, even mathematics, which is really boring and pointless, I mean, why will I ever need to know the log of 63?

As I've told you, my roommate Liege has become a very good friend of mine. We have most of classes and frees together so it's a good time to bond. Once again, you were right. It was a little strange to be so rudely forced (that would be because of you, dear Imam) into such a complex community. But once I met up with Liege and she taught me about the hierarchy of the school it became better.

She introduced to two of her other friends, Rick and Falc. Both are really nice, but that doesn't mean I'll be bringing any of them home soon. Allah knows what would happen if Riddick ever came back and saw one of them at home.

'She's got that right. No one goes near Jack.' Riddick subconsciously thought as he continued to read the letter.

Rick is a bit of a…playboy (sorry for the terminology) so he is a good friend but not much more. He is also overly arrogant and he and Liege compete all the time, but go figure, Liege being more like Riddick, she wins. I'm not saying that Liege is arrogant, but you get the idea.

Falc is a very nice guy, although a bit quiet sometimes. He is very tall and strong, not to mention really smart and quick on his feet. While he doesn't usually get into fights like me and Liege Liege, he doesn't believe in hitting women, which is a little different from some of the other guys who hunt the campus for stupid girls to sleep with.

I think I could like Falc as more then a friend, and Liege might see that, but just the other day she paired me up with Rick instead of Falc in a game we were playing. I wouldn't want to initiate anything with Falc, since he would be the type to back away and pull into himself. Although I can handle that, because his ass is so gorgeous! Whoops, pretend I didn't say that.

Riddick's eye twitched again and he reminded himself to skip that line whenever he read this again. Shaking his head at Jack's antics, he continued to read.

I'm excited for summer and I can't wait to get back home. School is nice, but home is better. I hope your religious retreat is going well.

Sincerely,

Jack

P.S. – have you heard any word from the Big Bad, Dark and Evil?

Riddick laughed out loud at the last line as he folded the paper back up and slipped it into his pocket. 'Big Bad, Dark and Evil' indeed, Jack.

He wasn't at all content with the idea of Jack forming a relationship with any man, especially one named Falc. But at least she had enough sense to stay away from that playboy, Rick. With these thoughts, Riddick cracked his neck and jumped from the balcony.

Walking through the darkened streets, he avoided the lamplight and any other sources of light. As he went through the city he thought, 'You should be excited for the summer, Jack. You're going to have a visitor.'