Chapter 6.

Thomas Kincaid had no idea what he unleashed. As she told him the tale, he cringed and tried to dodge the intentional digs she threw at him regarding the 'unprovoked, unarmed, simple people'.

He understood the anger and resentment she held. As the missions continued to become more gruesome and blatantly unprovoked, the executions of men, women, and children became more and more of a constant, which affected many of his men. Many of them become withdrawn, and harder to control. He became disappointed and angry with everyone, but especially with himself.

The possibility of having to answer for thishad never crossed his mind. He could not wrap his brain around it, even though it was happening right here in the dark corner of a bar, on a little shit planet.

Rae ended her tale, her green eyes, burrowing into Thomas's head. He thought about what he should say to her. He knew that condolences and apologies would never be enough. There was nothing he could say that could cover all that he felt. He sort of understood her stand about Riddick, their 'knight in army fatigues'.What he had done was one of the best things that came out of all that destruction.

Rae's body shook with rage as she waited for the older man to say something in response.

Finally he spoke.

"I know sorry won't help, but I want you to know that I am. And I will apologize every time I see you if that is what you want… To be honest with you, I never anticipated ever having to answer to anyone but my self for what we had done. But here I Am." He paused.

"What Riddick did for you and Jackie? … It's definitely worth something. I'm glad you had that to hold on to. Had something to believe in. But just because he showed a little bit of compassion once, doesn't mean that he didn't do what he was convicted of. He killed 150 men, Rae. That's not something a rational man would do.

"That mission… Your home, was the just the beginning of a whole lotta shit. You have no idea whatmany of usfelt every time we got new orders... Before I retired, many of my men had breakdowns. Went completely nuts, totally unable to function. Some eventually retired. Others just turned them selves off. They cut themselves off from everything that made them … feel anything. I think that is what Rick did.Turned off his ability to feel, Rae.

"I tried to do that at first. But the guilt just ate away at me. Still does. I'm so sorry for what happened. Not a day goes by that I don't think of it. Not one day. And now, knowing what I've done has had so much of an impact... That's a new thought that will live in my mind."

Rae's pulse had slowed as she sat and listened to Thomas. The wrinkles in the corners of his eyes and on his forehead were evidence of a man who had seen a lot. It felt goog to learn thatshe and Jackie weren't the only ones that had nearly been destroyed because of that night. But it was the fact that she had over seven years of frustration pumping through her veins. She just didn't know what to do now that there was another face connected to it all, and a chance for her to vent.

His eyes were soft and tender as he took her hand in his.

"I don't deserve your forgiveness, nor do I expect it. Please don't think you need to forgive me, or any of us. Just try to understand, that it was our job."

Rae smirked and shook her head. "It was your job…" she repeated mumbling.

"Ya know. I understand what it is you're saying. And I too never thought I'd be face to face with anyone from that night. I'm older and I understand things a little better. Maybe I am holding on to a dream, that he is a good man. But that dream has gotten me through the hardest things I've ever had to face.

"Part of me wants to apologize for some of the things I said to you. But we both know that can't happen and I wouldn't really mean any of it. There's a lot of anger. Anger I never aimed at Riddick. I should have, but I couldn't. He had redeemedhimself in my eyes, for doing what he did for us." Rae looked at Thomas, completely spent of explanations.

They sat quiet, both lost in their own thoughts, when Rae caught a glimpse of the clock.

"Shit. It's almost 10. Mrs. Davis is gonna kick my ass."

As she stood to leave, she looked at Thomas. Not really sure of what to say.

"See ya tomorrow, Thomas," was what came out.

"Yeah. Night Rae."

Melissa sat at the bar. She had switched from alcohol to coffee a while ago. Melissa noted at one point Rae had stopped crying, and became enraged; her face a deep scarlet. What the hell are they talking about? She had made it a point to find out earlier when Louise, the waitress, came back in a huff, muttering something about the 'rotten bastard' as she shook her head in disgust.

Seeing Rae get up to leave, Melissa took one more sip of her coffee and said her goodbyes as she followed Rae out the door. Melissa was the first person Rae met on Litre. She was taller that the average woman, slender, with brown hair and eyes. And she was only five years older than Rae. She was the closest thing to a friend that Rae ever had. Normally, Rae would go to her with her problems and questions. Melissa had to admit that she was a tad bit jealous of Thomas, when it was apparent that Rae was confiding in him instead. Getting rather emotional too. She thought cruelly.

"Rae wait up!" Melissa yelled.

"I gotta go pick up Jackie, Melissa and I'm already late." She apologized to her friend.

"Let me give you a lift. You really shouldn't walk by yourself this late. Not in this part of town."

"No thanks Melissa, I got some things to think about and I want to do it before I see Jackie." Rae said, hoping she didn't push her friend away to far. "I'll be okay, really."

Melissa slowly nodded her head, disappointment clearly written on her face.

"I'm sorry. I got some news about an old friend today, and I'm trying to sort it all out. What he meant to me, what if anything he still means to me. I need to figure it out."

"Is that what you and Thomas were talking about?" the hurt in her voice evident.

Rae just nodded. "He knew him too. I'm sorry Melissa. I really need to go. I'll see ya tomorrow."

Rae turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Melissa with more questions. Questions she wanted Thomas to answer. When Melissa entered the bar again, Thomas was gone. Damn it where the hell did he go?

Rae's mind became flooded with thoughts of "her" Riddick, and the One she was slowly learning about. It's not like she knew him for years and this had came as a complete shock. But it was a shock, because of the pedestal she put him on. For seven and a half years, she had made this man, this obvious killing machine, 150 men, out as her and Jackie's "knight in army fatigues." as Jackie referred to him as. And in a way he was, and probably would always be in some way, but the truth was, he was a killer. That was what he was when she met him, a fact she always seemed to forget. And that's apparently what he continued to be when he left.

As Rae walked, the business of the dim streets grew silent, except for a few transports that whisked up and down the streets. Maybe I should have taken that ride from Melissa.

She didn't know what she was going to tell Jackie.

If anything, Jackie was more infatuated with the idea of Riddick 'our savior' than Rae ever could be. And it was because of Rae that she thought that way. When Jackie was just a toddler, Rae would tell her bedtime stories, like their father did for her. They were stories from Old Earth. If there was a knight, or a prince, or some other big strong figure that saved the day, Jackie would demand that Rae used Riddicks name in the stories as the hero. When Riddick saved the day, or the princess, Jackie would shout, "Never had a doubt. Never." With the biggest smile on her face.

Rae shook her head and smiled at the memory and the innocence of her baby sister. Wish it were still that easy to believe kid. She knew this news was going to devastate Jackie.

As she approached their building, Rae still was not sure what to tell Jackie. But she knew if she didn't tell her, and tell her soon, there was going to be trouble.

As Rae was set to knock on Mrs. Davis' door, It started to open and Rae heard, "Bout time, where have you been? I've got soooo much to tell you. Why are you so late? Have you watched the vid-news?….." Take a breath kid, you'll pass out. Rae thought

Rae looked at Mrs. Davis and mouthed the words "Sorry, Thank you"

The kind woman just smiled and said, Her thick drawl just loud enough for Rae to here over Jackie's incessant babbling. "She super woun'. Girl been playin' 'round. Talkin' 'bout knowin' dat Riddick man awwwl nigh'.. I tol' her no mo'e vids. Goo' luck to ya ,sweets. Nigh' Jackie."

Rae was amazed at the rate of speed Jackie spit the questions out with. She wasn't sure where to start, or how she was going to get Jackie to understand. What she was sure about was that she didn't want to do it tonight.

Thanks to my reviewers

skabs: Gotta love him,the sentimental manthat he is. Thanks for reviewing.

milsa: Welcome. And thank you. Believe it or not, this story started as a dream I had one night, and just grew... Glad you like it.

Social control : Thank you. I'm so glad that you like it.

crematoriacon : She starts off gentle...muahahahaha