Thanks to:
tamekabu – gah, I'm sorry I did read your story but at the time my airport signal was bitchin' so I couldn't properly review
SueBe – whee! New reviewer! Glad you like it.
TotallyRiddickObsessed - ….wow. Thank you so much for reviewing constantly…at this rate I'll feel obliged to write you a personal story.
Chapter XXVI: All Expenses-Paid Trip to the Doors of Hell
Liege woke early the next morning, only taking her blades and the clothes she wore. Outfitted in black cargo pants, a black wife-beater and her boots, she checked her knives once more before she slipped out of Imam's house.
Early morning workers were peddling about on the streets as she moved from shadow to shadow, which were slowly fading out due to the rising sun.
Soon she walked out into the open and immediately felt the familiar feeling of being watched. Whistling an old Irish tune, she turned the corner and stopped, knowing that tune would tell them of her acceptance.
To her surprise, she wasn't roughly grabbed and shoved to the floor, but McKellern appeared before her, his eyes still blazing. As they looked at each other, Liege felt a twinge of sympathy for him. She would get him out of this mess, if that was the only thing that could be done for him.
"Liege."
"McKellern. May I assume that ye won't be goin' after those who I stayed with 'ere?"
"Fine assumption. They be of no interest to us, just ye, ye little lassie." He replied, a smirk gracing his hard features.
"Take me away." She stated, and placed her arms behind her back, knowing she would be cuffed.
"Don't ye dare touch 'er, ye bastard. I be takin' care of 'er meself." McKellern commanded, taking her by the arm and leading her out of the alleyway.
They walked in silence, but a few glances were shared between them and suddenly Liege felt that not all was lost. Perhaps she had some hope yet.
They soon arrived at the transport docks, where they filed into the docks that private ships were held. Feeling his grip tighten as they approached the ship, Liege gave a small growl of resistance.
Waiting for the gangplank to be lowered, McKellern glanced at her one last time, knowing that in moments her fiery temper would be the end of her.
As they boarded the ship, the other men dispersed into different areas while she was led by her old friend to what seemed to be the captain's cabin.
Once inside, she missed the absence of McKellern and wondered who the hell was the captain. At the voice she heard, she felt her muscles ripple in hate.
"Top of the mornin' to ye, Liege."
The room was suddenly lit and she audibly growled at the man before her. It was clear to her that those men hadn't betrayed her father, but they lived to avenge him, for they wouldn't willingly work under this man.
He was the overlord of different systems altogether. Before her father had married her mother, he had been more a reckless leader, but had easily defeated this man that stood before her now.
"O'Calhern. Fer fuck's sake, why are ye here messin' in systems ye don't belong in?" Liege demanded, not the least bit afraid of him.
He stood and walked to her, where he kept his distance. He knew if word got back to her father that he had mistreated her, his inside hounds would be on him in seconds. But he didn't know that if he did it right then that loyal men on his ship would turn on him in seconds, all in a righteous fury and defense of their true overlord's daughter.
"When ye were younger, ye didn't 'ave such a dirty mouth." He taunted, watching her debate on how to kill him within the next few minutes. "Don't even think abou' it. We're taken ye to yer da, but there be a few…issues to get over first."
Liege's heart dropped at that phrase, because she knew nothing good would come of it. She suddenly hoped with everything she had that Riddick was keeping Jack in line and safe.
"And those be?" She asked, still sounding cocky.
"Well, as ye can imagine, when yer da was soundly beaten by me," Liege knew that wasn't true because her father had tabs on every single enemy he ever had. "'e never gave me the passwords 'n such to 'is accounts. Don't get me wrong, me clan has money, but we need this extra bit to start…a small revolution. It will become widespread and I will be a leader of leaders."
Liege spit directly in his face, knowing he couldn't hurt her. "Bastard, ye know tha' will never 'appen. Yer fuckin' crazy. Now let me see me da."
"Tuttut, lassie. There be more to it than that. Ye see, I come about this information tha' ye 'ave a good friend…whats'isname…oh yes, Riddick. And 'e be havin' quite the bounty on 'is head. Now, I follow the code 'n it says I can't be killin' young blood, like yerself. But, I can pick off yer da. So, ye give me the strategy of capturin' this Riddick, 'n yer da lives. Ye don't, yer da dies."
Liege was shaking in fury by now and was itching to simply forget her blades and to tear him apart with her bare hands. She knew he would bring Riddick into this, but he seemed he was going to try to force her to bring Jack into it too.
"How do I know me da isn't already dead?" She asked, keeping her voice even.
She was answered by a screen flicking to life behind O'Calhern and she swallowed a shriek of hate when she saw her father's beaten form lying on the floor of a dirty, windowless cell.
"Da?" She asked, approaching the screen but keeping a close watch on her new enemy. The figure in the screen moved slightly and lifted his head.
"Is tha' ye, Liege?" He asked, his voice barely above a scratch of a whisper.
"Da, why the 'ell did ye 'ave to go make such pussy enemies?" She joked, knowing it would help him. She was relieved when she heard his familiar chuckle.
"'m sorry, luv. The bastard told me of 'is plan, 'n is up to ye. My time is gone 'n yer the next heir of this 'ere family. So, is up to ye." His voice was stronger now and Liege was now back to being enraged at her father being treated like that.
Turning to O'Calhern, she snarled as he approached her. "How long do I have to decide?" She asked, silently unsheathing one of her blades.
"I'd say…nine nights. Sounds fair to me." He answered, stepping away again.
"Da, I'll make a decision…I promise, 'n it will be a good one." She turned to the screen where he watched her.
"I know ye will. Take care of yerself." And with that, the screen went black.
She turned to see the door open and McKellern walk in, making her sheath her knife. Somehow she knew she was safe if he was around. Accepting quietly muttered orders from O'Calhern, she was taken out of that cabin and led elsewhere to the ship.
