Before we get
started thanks must go to:
TotallyRiddickObsessed – hey, so am
I! Thanks for the quick reviews and yeah, because I've been sitting
at my laptop all day switching between this story and an English
essay, I've been able to update quickly. Plus, how can I not with
all these great reviews! Thanks again!
Mrs. Skywalker – glad you like it. I'm a Star Wars fan too, and Mark (ie Luke)'s cousin lives across the street from me and one time I was trickotreating and he opened the door and gave me candy. My claim to fame, man. Thanks for reviewing and keep reading! Then I'll keep posting.
Chapter VII: Convicts and Merchants
Imam had replied with approval of Jack bringing her friend for the summer when he arrived home, on Helion Prime. Riddick had accompanied him, glad to have the privacy of a small ship that Imam had purchased to make his religious retreats easier to arrive and depart from.
Riddick had inspected Imam's home from basement to roof, checking every room for bugs or phone taps. He trusted Imam, but with no one watching the house in Imam's absence, merc rats might've gone through it.
Finding no trace of any such danger, Riddick set to work revamping the houses' security system. He was accepting the fact that the last thing he wanted was for Jack to get hurt. While he was looking forward to seeing Jack after all these years, he was unsure as to how she would feel.
During the day Riddick worked out, ate and updated the security systems and at night he would scout out potential safe houses that they could run to if anything were to happen. He began to plot and memorize escape routes to the closest port and checked out the local weapons supplier.
He had found nothing on Khan, the merchant, while on the outer Helion planet. But now that he was on Helion Prime, he figured he could find something. Khan must pass through this city somewhat regularly, considering it was the main city of Helion Prime.
He slipped out during the late afternoon to begin his search for Khan and was satisfied to see the rows of stalls. Avoiding the old bargaining women who had no qualms over beating anyone with their canes, he finally stopped at one stall, seeing it was similar to the one Jack described in a later message.
If they sell the same goods, they should be in some sort of contact with each other, Riddick concluded, looking at the ancient weapons mounted on the back of the stall.
He particularly liked the look of the mace and decided he must find a time to put it to use at some point. Riddick tensed as he saw a merchant burst into the stall, almost missing Riddick standing there.
"Forgive me, good sir, I did not see you there. Is there something I can help you with?" The short merchant asked, his bronze bangles clinking as he moved his arms.
"Yes. But not here."
"You are welcome to come into my tent, good sir." The merchant smiled as he opened the drape to the outside. Riddick ducked his head and stepped in, observing his surroundings with all of his senses.
His nose was overwhelmed by spices and incense which seemed to be part of the very canvas that made up the tent. He heard rattles of jewelry and the swoosh of cloth as the merchant closed his stall briefly.
As Riddick followed the man deeper into the tent, he felt that there was no fear from the merchant, just curiosity and greed.
Sitting down onto plush silk and satin pillows, the merchant motioned for Riddick to do the same. Easing himself to the floor, he looked directly at the merchant who was twisting a ring around one finger.
"So, what can I help you with?"
"I'm looking for information a certain merchant." Riddick held up a credit chip that the merchant eyed warily. "This has sufficient pay on it for one of those ancient weapons you hang outside."
"I see. And who is this merchant?" The shorter man asked, taking the offered drink from a slave girl who silently held out the tray.
Riddick clenched his jaw as he saw how young the slave girl was. Deciding that this information was more important then fighting over a slave girl, the convict continued the conversation.
"His name is Khan. He sells some of the similar goods you do and was recently seen in a smaller city on Helion Prime." Riddick informed the merchant, declining the tea offered to him by the slave girl.
As she backed away, the merchant rubbed his chin and looked deep in thought.
Riddick on the other hand wanted to leave quickly, the incense was messing with his senses a little bit, but that little bit was too much for his liking.
"Yes, I know of this Khan. He is a good merchant, but it is rumored he supplies and traffics illegal weaponry to rebel groups and organized crime. Thankfully, there are no such groups here on Helion Prime.
I have seen him once or twice and the scars on his body have a mysterious past, or so I hear. He once served as a weapons commander for a family of organized crime. It was a very strong family that held power over much of the government in at least three systems.
He was in charge of an assassination. A mission to kill a man with the political motive to wipe out organized crime. Needless to say, the attack failed and Khan was apparently tortured for hours on end, thus receiving the scars on his body. But, a young woman in the family defended him, and there was a rumor they were lovers, but that was never followed up on.
Finding the courage to step up to face her family, she made a deal with the patriarch. If she could kill this man, they would set Khan free. But, as all romantic tragedies end, she did kill the man, only to be killed herself by an epidemic that raged in that system for a short period of time.
The family kept in touch with Khan because he still had a constant supply of weapons and he could ship them to the buyers right beneath the government's nose and never be caught. To this day he has never been caught.
But this is only rumor I have heard over long hours of talking with the influence of strong tea. Now, that chip you held in front of me earlier." The merchant finished, holding his hand for the chip.
Riddick would have killed him then and there for owning a slave girl, but there would be too many witnesses. Depositing the chip in his hand, Riddick stood and let himself out from the tent, grateful to be breathing fresh air.
