Beastly Bonds
Chapter IX
Thanks to these reviewers:
Iridescent Twilight - Yay! You like it! Well, the way it's worked out is that yes, her father is dead and it's left unknown whether or not her mother and brother are alive. If I want to work with that later, I just might. And I just realized this is going to be a loooong fic. I'm making Jack…hmm…early twenties here. Since Riddick never came to Crematoria (mixed with my creative license) she could've been there longer.
ren3017 – Glad you liked the pic. I like it too! Fancy that. Here is the chapter! It's a good thing you liked it because like I said in IT's response, this is going to be pretty long I think.
Kashimir – What a good review. It's nice to know I'm doing the same old and what I write is 'refreshing' as you so kindly put it. You are in luck, this will be a longer story.
audran – Everyone likes it that I'm making Jack all independent and I guess that is what I thought came naturally in her personality. Glad it's such a good ongoing theme. And it seems the reviewers are eager to have a meeting between Jack and Riddick. Perhaps perhaps…
It was nearly impossible to describe the excitement she felt in the cabin as Caribi came into view. It was a beautiful blue planet, small sand-coloured land masses looked like designs of gods against the water.
She had changed into a uniform that suited a captain better and much to his annoyance, collared Neunzhen with a thick worn leather collar that she had made out of one of Tipner's old jackets. They all had tried to look the part and so far Meth and Krent, or Leo and Tony were doing the best. Then again, she assumed that most sons argued with their grumpy old dads, so Neil and Mr. Buckner weren't doing all that bad either.
"State your business and cargo." A voice clearly spoke from the control panels with a heavy island accent.
"Final destination, vacation, starting over, no cargo objects. Just four passengers outside of the captain." Jack easily replied, sounding exactly like a captain.
"And who is dis?" The voice had relaxed on the other end.
"Captain Jacqueline Laurent, at your service. Do I have permission to land?" She said, a small smile gracing her lips.
"And de passengers? Who are they?"
"I can send you ID's."
"Do dat."
"Coming through right now." And the connection cut for a moment, but this was normal.
"Captain," Neil asked, still having trouble referring to her as that. "I thought you said security was relaxed."
"It is." She stated and signaled him to shush. The connection crackled open again.
"Wit names like…Bookner I dink you are no threat." The voice said, humor lacing the tone. Jack laughed back.
"No, trust me, the two Buckner men are nothing to be afraid of." She barely got through the sentence without cracking a wide grin.
"You 'ave permission to land, but one last question."
"Yes?"
"Dis…hellhound. From Helion you say?"
"Yes, there was an adoption center there. It was a present to me from my parents. A companion." She easily lied, resting a hand on Neunzhen's head, who rubbed into it.
"Well, I believe you. Your island is the last on the archipelago, sending coordinates. You can make a water land, no?"
"No problem. Thank you." Her voice was still even, but the relief was evident in her face.
"We will contact you tomorrow for more details."
"That's just fine. Over and out." She replied, waiting for the land connection to break. Shutting off hers she let her shoulders relax and she deeply sighed.
"I daresay that deserves applause." Mr. Buckner voiced from the back, clapping quietly.
"Not yet. When we get through these 'details' then we can let loose. And make sure your son stays off the alcohol." She snapped, making Litman glare at her. "Make sure your restraints are intact and firmly holding you in place. Prepare for landing."
As they descended through the hemisphere, the ship shook slightly but Jack knew that was supposed to happen. Remembering 'the crash', as she referred to it in her mind, this seemed quite smooth. Once through that layer, she flipped on the switches for a water landing and felt the bottom of the ship hum with mechanical perfection, obviously showing it was in very good condition. Typing in the coordinates for their island, she flipped it on half autopilot, only pulling up at the end so they wouldn't go nose first into the water.
Propellers whirred to life and they were soon cruising towards their island, where a few men waving neon flags directed them to the water hangar they would keep their ship. It was a large enough hangar just to fit their ship and as they went in, Jack heard the floor come up from beneath and to her surprise, the ship automatically changed back to wheels. Soon the floor of the hangar locked and she was given the ok to open the ship's door.
Pushing in the lock, her restrains pulled back into the seat and she stood, Neunzhen following suit, who had taken the landing rather well. She heard the others unstrapping themselves as she punched in the code for the door. She nervously swallowed as she heard the locks pull back and the door crack and hiss as it opened.
The three men who had waved them in stood outside the ship waiting patiently. Two of them natives and one of them had been born in another system but moved here when he was younger. They talked amongst themselves as they waited.
"So, dis female Captain, it's rare, isn't it?" One of the natives said to both of them.
"The academy is open to both sexes, but you're right, it isn't usual norm. You said the elder knew this person?" The other man replied and asked. The third man and second native replied.
"Well, he did say he had heard of another 'Laurent' and he had known a man in de army who had a child named Jacqueline. Does not mean anyting, though. Let's be welcoming." He finished, seeing the door open.
Two pairs of men came out, according to the ID's sent before they landed. One pair consisted of two younger men, obviously the brothers. The older one was very tall and very well-built, body clearly capable of damage. The younger brother was muscled, but still quite thin. Their blue eyes constantly darted around, filled with a sort of hidden mischief. The second pair was undoubtedly the son and father. The father was using one of the son's arm as support as he made his way slowly down the ramp. The son had an air of defiant superiority as he observed the hangar thoroughly and quickly. The father seemed very wise, his one blind eye lingering on certain objects as he slowly made his way along.
Finally the captain appeared, making the jaws of all three men drop. Her physique was beyond anything they could have imagined, her body just as smooth and dangerous as the hellhound and walked beside her, his scales turning a light red. Her hazel eyes seemed more green in the light reflected off the drops that were still rolling down the sides of her ship. Her boots made no dull thud against the ramp, the only noise was the clicking of the hellhound's claws against the metal. All three men realized that her skin would tan very well here and in a month at most she would be the beauty of Caribi.
"Cap'n Laurent!" One of the island men stepped forward, his smile dazzling compared to the dark interior of the ship Jack was used to. "You can call me Tom and dese idiots who cannot speak are Mike, short for Michael and Lindo. We welcome you to Caribi!"
"Thanks, Tom. We're all very happy to finally be here. It's no short flight." She said, a grin breaking her somber face a few seconds ago.
"Ah, but paradise is never around de corner, eh?" He replied quickly, making her smile even more.
"No, never was. I would love to chat but the passengers seem a bit…"
"Tired, undoubtedly." Mike said, the non-native to Caribi. "Come, let's show you your island."
Jack immediately didn't like his attitude and in response Neunzhen's scales turned a fiery orange and red, his canines barely holding back the snarl that sounded from his throat. She grabbed his collar as they began to walk from the ship and he calmed down, his tail still whipping from side to side. Tom and Lindo steered clear of the hellhound as they walked and contented themselves by talking to the passengers.
"So, how long will you be stayin' here?" Lindo asked Tony, who seemed more agreeable than either Neil or Mr. Buckner.
"Well, probably for a few months. It all depends on what Captain Laurent decides." He replied, watching Leo's eyes happily look around at the natural tropics. He wasn't entirely comfortable knowing he had to act as an older brother to Meth, but it would give the excuse to be closer ot him.
"Ah, an' why does it depend on 'er?" Lindo asked, marveling at this strange hierarchy of female captain deciding everything for the passengers, who he bet were also double-timing as a crew for her.
"It is her ship and she isn't stationed on any kind of duty, so it's up to her how long we stay." Leo said, still transfixed by the various plants and butterflies around him. One with very large wings that were lined with black but the inside a brilliant blue had landed on a large leaf only a few feet away and he couldn't take his eyes off of it.
"Is a blue monarch." Lindo supplied, causing Leo to startle, as if had been in a trance when he looked at him.
"Thanks."
"Any time." His island accent made everyone feel more relaxed.
Mike led them through the rain forest that bordered their hangar. Jack would soon learn that the island was half and half almost, half rainforest, half beach. There were a few scattered bungalows that served as living quarters and storage on the beach and one larger one in the rainforest itself. It was more of a tree-house then anything, with wooden ramps leading from the different parts.
As they walked, Tom fell in step with Jack and Neunzhen had no problem with this man, he seemed acceptable enough. Jack too was looking around the thickening forest, seemingly content with the sounds of the trees and animals and in the distance, the waves tumbling into the sand.
"So, you are Captain Laurent. May I call you by your first name?" His heavy accented English was laced with a wary concern. Jack immediately noticed this and tried to soften her demeanor as much as possible.
"Of course, my first name is Jacqueline, you may call me that or any other name you come up with from it." She added, grinning at her human walking companion.
"Hmm, I shall think on that. Your…animal friend, what is…"
"His name? He is a hellhound and his name in Neunzhen." Her voice changing with the different language and Neunzhen's head raised from the ground at the sound of his name. "Go back to tracking, it's fine." She reassured him and his black nose was back to the soft earth beneath his paws that was filled with new scents.
"I see you two are close." Tom commented, watching the creature keep in step with the captain.
"Yeah, we've been through a lot together." She said. Like breaking out of a max security slam, added her thoughts.
"Hmm, we welcome pet companions as well. So, what drew you to Caribi?" He changed the subject, watching the broken rays of sun that fell in between the gaps in the leaves of the trees make the woman's skin golden.
"I've always wanted to go to a tropical climate like this that wasn't created from machines. Everything is completely natural here and as much as I like automated this, that and the other, I've had a long-standing desire to visit a place exactly like this. Have you been to other planets in this system?" She asked, now feeling like the normal human being she was parading to be.
"Once or twice, but being born and raised here I like to stay put. I am fascinated by all your…automated machines. Perhaps you can show me parts of your ship?" He questioned, sounding like the cautious young man Meth had been a month ago.
"I'd be honored to. So, I was told details of our stay would be given to me." She said, glancing at him.
"In a few days when you have settled in. A speed-boat will be here to pick you up and you will visit the elders. Your friends do not need to come, one of them insisted that only you should be present." He informed, not seeing the brief alarmed look in her eyes.
"Of course. So, tell me, what does one do here in Caribi?" She asked, looking down to see that Neunzhen had stopped and his ears twitched back, exactly like the time in the ship. Laying a hand on Neunzhen's back, making him pull his head up. Tom could not see it, nor could anyone in back or front, but Jack knew it and Neunzhen felt it. Her hand was shaking ever so slightly, fear barely being contained at her fingertips. The forest had become darker to her, the sunny spots now taunting her with the same light she could never reach in her nightmares. Looking down she saw Neunzhen's scales rise and turn the brightest scarlet and orange she had ever seen.
The group had stopped and Tony stepped forward, passing Neil and Mr. Bucker, who had hidden their surprise well. He laid a hand on Jack's other arm that was opposite to the hand on Neunzhen.
"Captain? Captain Laurent? Are you alright?" He asked, sounding like a concerned passenger, not the convict that had spent most of his living hours in Crematoria surviving day to day alongside her.
"I'm fine…just…felt a little tired, that's all." She turned and smiled weakly at Tom, who had a worried look in his eyes. "Really, I'm just tired."
Mike started walking again and Jack leaned heavily on Neunzhen, but he didn't mind at all. Tom fell back into step with Lindo and she knew they didn't know that she could hear them.
"Did it say anything about a weakening disease in her files?" Tom asked, whispering so well he was almost silent.
"No, nothing of the sort. Perhaps she is tired, but I think…I think something scared her." Lindo replied just as quietly. Swallowing deeply, Jack did feel exhausted. How many sleepless nights had she sat at the controls, her eyes trained like a hawks on the alert screens? She hadn't even sat down to really think about what she had done in her life, not even to mourn the death of her father.
"We're at the rainforest home." Mike announced, looking up into the trees where Jack saw four tree bungalows, all very high off the ground. Wooden ramps attached all four of them and to get up, a pull up ladder had been left down and they climbed up. Neunzhen had unceremoniously dug his claws into Jack's backpack and held on as she climbed up. It was decided quickly enough that Jack would live here and she bid her 'passengers' farewell before finding the bedroom.
She knew she should really look through the rest of the tree house but her body directed her otherwise and when she found the bedroom she almost fell asleep on sight.
It was a spacious round room, the walls made of a dark wood and the ceiling made of rushes, to which she saw a rope was connected to, so she could pull it back and up, making a real sky light. The bed sat in the center, a very large bed with a white down comforter and white sheets. As she kicked off her boots she barely took notice of the desk in the corner made of polished wood with a glass top. Promising herself to thoroughly inspect her rooms later, she pulled off a top jacket, leaving herself in pants and tight tank top. Kicking her socks off, she let herself fall face first into the fluffy surface.
She gave out a small moan of joy and turned her head to one side to see Neunzhen looking at her with an almost sad look. Groaning, Jack rolled over and raised her head to speak.
"Get up, Neunzhen. Suppose we both have to sleep well." She mumbled, watching him gracefully jump from the floor to the bed, carefully trying not to rip the sheets or comforter with his claws. The scaly beast settled down and pretended to fall asleep while Jack actually fell into a deep rest. The blue silvery eyes opened and watched the sleeping human with a fierce protectiveness. They glanced up to meet another pair of beast eyes, silver reflecting purple without fear. Even Neunzhen thought it was just his imagination but his scales turned scarlet at the tips that was accompanied by a small growl. The other silver eyes were gone and he flicked his ears around, hoping to catch a sound, smell or sight of this beast he had just witnessed watching over Jack. There was nothing and after many silent minutes he laid his head down, not far from Jack's head. The ear closest to her flicked again, growing accustomed to the steady human heartbeat.