Thank you all so very much for your reviews. If any of you have suggestions, good or bad, just type it. I'm a big girl, I can take anything thrown my way. Besides, I'm running low on a sense of direction.

To the story now:

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Riddick's POV

I'm awake, you're not. I'm working, you're sleeping.

I'm making something for you. Something you'll like very much, something deadly. I'm making it practical, just the right size for you. It's going to be highly useful. I'm going to have to train you on them. Enforce the kill shots. Teach you to react, not think.

You're up. I can hear your footsteps on the floor above me. They're light, good girl, you're prowling, being as deadly quiet as you can. Not quiet enough for me. I can hear you. So the sound woke you. That, and the heat.

Metal has to be hot to shape it, sharpen it, and strengthen it to make it become the perfect weapon. Especially this metal from Hayden. Made two already. Those are for me. They're large. Larger than I usually make them. More reach. I shrug my shoulders at the thought. I pick them up in my hands. They've cooled enough. I scrape them against each other, testing their sharpness and their strength. They create a distinct sound when you do that. Drives most animals wild. Crazed. Maybe that's why you're awake. They're calling you. Black metal for an almost black soul. What a beauty.

I can smell you, you're close. It's time to show you what aim really is.

I love the sound of a shiv hitting its mark.

I look you in the eyes as you push the door open and enter my domain, all the while looking at the shiv embedded in the door. It didn't go through the door, of course, just embedded itself in it. I'm about thirty feet away from the door, a close distance for me.

I can make out your scent more clearly now. You smell different. Clean. You took a shower. Going to have to get you girlie soap, this generic brand the necro's use just doesn't smell right on you.

"You missed."

You sound so sure of that fact. Wrong Kyra, way wrong.

"No."

"What were you aiming at, the big ass door? Not really much of a target. Anyone could hit it."

Disappointed. The target was you. To show you, not kill you. Had the door been open, the shiv would have been embedded between your eyes.

"Run then," is all I say.

You stop moving altogether now, perfectly still, sizing me up. You're a thing of beauty when you do that.

"You fucking with me, Riddick?"

"You tell me."

You turn around and grab hold of the shiv, pulling it from its place in the door. Clean hole it made. I think you've realized what my target was.

You start swinging the blade through the air, getting the feel of it. Choppy movements. My shiv isn't the right size for you, but the one I'm making for you. Perfection. When you hunt with those, I'm going to sit back and watch.

"Out," I say.

You falter, dropping the shiv. It clangs as it hits the floor.

"What the fuck Riddick? This is OUR ship, I don't have to get OUT if don't want to."

You're spoiling this. I don't want you to see your gift.

"Out."

In one fluid motion you grab the shiv off the floor, raise it and let it glide through the air. Predictable Kyra, utterly predictable. I move my body two inches to the right, twist my torso, and grab the shiv with my right hand. Perfect throw, right angle. Impressive. But it was off target. Not so impressive.

"At least your aim is fucking better this time."

You're frustrated. Then you do the unthinkable. You sit down and cross your legs. Didn't see that coming.

"Where's this going woman?"

You turn your head, and like a child, you don't respond. I smile at that. So there's a little bit of Jack that wants to play. Interesting.

I look over at the mould. It's cooling. Your toy will be ready soon, than we'll play together. Till then? A new game. One I've never played with you before.

"What colour are your eyes?"

Your body stiffens ever so slightly. I've caught you off guard with that question, but you still haven't turned your head. It makes it easier, you keeping your focus off of me, easier to sneak up on.

I cautiously sit down facing you. I'm not sure what Jack is going to do. I crept up on a wild animal and must be patient. Screw patience right now.

"Jack, what colour are your eyes?"

"Don't."

"Don't what?" Don't call you Jack?

"Don't call me Jack." You turn to face me now, acknowledging my presence. I stare into your eyes. I want to play my game, but you're making it increasingly difficult.

"I'll do what I want." It's true. I've always done what I wanted.

"Are…are we good Riddick?"

You have to ask that? Good at what?

"We're good." Hope that ends this part of the conversation.

"And my Uncle?" A new direction. Question and answers.

"Him we hunt."

"No. Him we kill."

I nod.

"And us?"

I growl. "If you want or need something, ask."

"Ask? You my owner now?"

"Don't pick at my words, woman."

"Riddick…I need something from you." It comes out in a whisper. I'm curious.

Never thought I'd care for someone, or that that someone would use those words in a sentence directed at me. I nod in your direction.

"I need a weapon. I need my own shivs. I want you to teach me so that I can stick my shiv through my Uncle's skull – "

"You're me." It was a statement that flew out of my mouth too fast. Can't take it back now.

"I'm not fucking yours Riddick. I hate being a piece of meat. Never again. Not even for you, dipshit."

Dipshit? That's new.

"That's not what I said, woman."

You pause to think back to what I said. I continue.

"Of course you're mine. You belong to me, like I belong to you."

You snort. "You belong to me. Fuck you, since when?"

"Since Jack."

You pause, letting all I've said sink in. I wait. Got nothing else to do.

"So you're mine?"

Why the need to repeat things? "Woman, I'm yours."

"So…you're mine." Is repetition a game of yours woman?

"What do you want, Jack?"

You flinch at the name.

"Your not going to stop calling me Jack, are you Richard?"

Richard. Humph. Smooth kid, but I won't give you the satisfaction of showing my distaste for the name.

"I do what I want."

"And me? Do I get to do what I want?"

"No."

"WHY THE HELL NOT?"

Such passion hidden within you. Most would say its rage. It's not rage. It's passion, fuelled by anger, driven by a conversation with me. How interesting.

"You're me, in certain ways, but you've got a shit load of stuff to learn before YOU can do what you want."

"Stuff? What kind of stuff do I have to learn."

I can hear the laughter in your voice. You think you're my equal. In many ways you are, but not when it comes to one thing – animal instinct. I've lived with it from the time I was born. It's a part of me. You've learned it in slam. Now you have to let it take over. Hell of a way to let it come to the surface, but to kill Him, to kill your Uncle, you've got to become better.

"Picking at my words again. You looking to get hurt woman?"

"You wouldn't hurt me, Riddick."

No shit, Jack. No shit, Kyra. Both of you belong to me.

"Sleep lighter."

"Sleep lighter? Spill Riddick, or I'm leaving cuz I'm starved.

"Food."

"Yeah, food. Remember that stuff you eat to keep you strong, and…HARD?"

Fuck. You're not that subtle woman. "Play on words. Cute."

With that you stand up. Our conversation has ended. I love watching you walk away. I get to look at you're ass.

"I'll start sleeping lighter Riddick. I just feel safe with you, that's all."

Good girl.

"Oh Riddick. They're green."

Your eyes. Green. Now I know.

"Woman, go make me some food."

Kyra's POV

Make me some food. You're not subtle Riddick. Not even close. My stomach says feed me, but I stop by the front of the beast to check in. Two hours till we'll see the planet. Two hours to Dirkshire. Been there when I was a boy. I had to be a boy there. Couldn't let that kind find out I was a girl. Jack was created there.

I walk over to the replicator. Food. Steaks, medium done. One extra large, one large. Hate potatoes so I'll pass on that. No wait. Some for the growing man. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots. Yes, Yes, no. Spinach. Yes. Chick peas? What the hell are those? Oh hell, why not. Okay drinks. One water, one coffee. I wonder? Yes! Raspberries. Pint? Since when do they measure solid food in a liquid format? Oh hell, I want two pints. Done. Ten minutes. Go figure. At least the drinks came first.

I can hear you. You're scrapping something together.

"Food done?"

"Ten minutes."

"Good. Not long till we get to the planet."

No. Not long.

"Kyra?"

So now I'm Kyra?

"Yeah Baldy?"

I call you that just to hear you growl.

"When we get to the planet, I want you to have these."

You place two shivs on the table. Oh shit. "That's why you wanted me out of there? So I wouldn't see these till they were done?"

You only shrug. Damn. "Beautiful. They're beautiful." They're beyond beautiful. They're perfect. They're sharp, strong, and black. How unusual. I make a move to give you a hug, but you stiffen. I hug you anyways. I know you're not used to hugging. Neither am I. It takes you long enough, but you put your arms around me to return the hug. I tilt my head so that I'm looking you in the eyes. They're very serious.

"Kyra, someone gets to close, you use them. Someone corners you, you use them. Make sure it's quick and clean. No mess Kyra. Once it's done, you run. Don't look back if you can help it. Run to ship only when you know for sure no one is following you."

You're so fucking serious. Why would I need to know all of this when you're going to be there with me?

"You plan on leaving me anytime soon Big Guy?" I smile and hug you tighter.

"Yes, I am."