Jack reached Mortimer Nova just in time to see Riddick breaking some guy's scull. She stopped in her tracks and watched in horror. What the fuck is going on? There were at least 15 years men, guns or knives in hand. Four of them were tackling Riddick, which made it impossible for the others to shoot at Riddick. He just wasn't an open target.
Jack hid herself, but kept on watching. Riddick had a shiv in both hands; and those hands weren't moving as fast as Jack remembered Riddick to be. What's slowing him down? As she was pondering about that, Jack saw the darts in his back. Poison or tranquilizer? Jack worried. She was mad with herself for worrying over a man who had almost raped her, but she couldn't help herself not to. Jack's heart ached more with every hit those strange men got on Riddick.
Jack could see him now being almost too weak to fight back. The men came closer and a circle of them hid Riddick from Jack's sight. A panic question made her head ache – go to help him or not? Everything seemed to be in slow motion. Jack felt like she had watched the fight for at least ten minutes, when she knew only one had passed. Thus, for how many more minutes or seconds can he continue?
After a short while Jack saw how one of the men threw Riddick to the ground with many strong foot kicks. Riddick didn't have enough strength left to hold his balance. And when he was down, other men jumped in too to hit him wherever possible. They are like vultures, Jack thought angrily. She could hear them shouting insults to Riddick, who was now completely overpowered.
Seeing her ex-friend, ex-idol and teacher like this, broke her heart. But what could she do? There were so many of them! She would only get herself killed. And maybe it would be the best to let it go…
Jack watched as one man, who looked to be their leader, stepped closer. "Chain him and take him to the vehicle," he said. "Richard B. Riddick, you are more valuable to use than your cargo. But we'll take it too anyway."
His men laughed and the leader walked away, out of the lights from the cargo hold. Last thing Jack saw, before the man disappeared into the darkness, was a wide smile on his lips. Bastard, Jack cursed under her breath. She watched as the men got to work. They took shackles and chained Riddick. Then they dragged his unconscious body to their transport. Jack felt guilty, even though her mind told her she didn't owe anything to Riddick. She wondered if she should have done something. But it's too late now…
Jack heard the loud noise their machine made as it started to leave the port. On an instinct, Jack sprinted out of the shadows. She ran after them. Because of the war and bombing, the streets were wrecked. They had to stop for careful maneuvering. That allowed Jack to track them, even though she was only on foot. Sometimes Jack lost them from her sight, but caught up again soon, after forcing her long legs to run faster.
Jack followed them to the border of the city. There was a huge old factory building, looked like it hadn't been used for years now. Jack hid behind a smaller building and watched how they pulled Riddick out and took him inside. Jack frowned. She needed to get a clearer view of what's this all about.
Jack didn't know why she did it all, she just felt like she had to save Riddick no matter what. Hence, she sneaked pass the many guards and found her way up to the roof. Riddick had taught her well; those so called guards were a piece of cake.
There were three large windows facing the roof. Jack carefully stepped closer to one, not wanting to alarm the guards inside who might hear her move. She looked in and grimaced. They had tied Riddick to the floor, arms and legs spread in four corners of a square. He lay on his stomach, unconscious.
It took Jack hours to find out what was really happening. She would listen to the guards as they spoke to each other, and she would keep an eye on the leader. When Jack had a pretty good idea of the overall situation, she decided it was time to make her move. But what move? she screamed in her mind, helplessness rising panic in her.
Cohen Pillar was sitting on a chair behind a desk near Riddick. The man found it amusing to tell Riddick what they are going to do to him and how Riddick will help them to fight for the right cause. Riddick had been up for only 20 minutes, the poison in his blood still keeping him weak.
"I have an offer for you," Jack spoke, loud and clear. She had lifted herself in from the roof window and climbed down the wall. Now she was standing 20 feet away from Pillar.
He jumped up as the guards came running closer. "Who are you?" Pillar demanded, but in great confusion.
"I'm Jack LaRock. I'm sure you've heard of me. I'm the rockstar," Jack told him casually. She didn't allow herself to let them see how frightened she truly was. Brave is only the person who conquers her fears, Jack thought.
Riddick lifted his head the little he could due to the many chains. "Jack, get out! It's not your fight. Don't be stupid," he managed to say hoarsely.
Pillar yelled for him to shut his mouth. Then he took another look at Jack. "And what deal can you offer to me?" he asked insultingly. It was clear he didn't think that much of Jack.
Jack shrugged. "You want the Empire to listen to you. I am fucking famous; I've got millions of fans. People would listen to me if I spoke in your favor. And the Empire would have to listen to those millions," she told him calmly. "I am offering myself. If you let Riddick go."
There was silence as Pillar thought about it. "How do I know you really are that rockstar?" he asked.
"There are papers on Riddick's ship to prove it," Jack told him. "We can go there and you'll see."
Pillar was thinking. Jack could almost see how he thought of a very clever little idea. His face lit up even though Pillar tried to hide it. So Jack said: "And before you tell your men to capture me too, I have to warn you. There is a letter I gave to a friend of mine, with a press statement by the way. And it says all the bad, bad things about you, your people and your cause. If I don't show up tomorrow to take it back, he is going to send it to every single media channel. The whole galaxy would start to hate you," Jack lied without hesitation. She had no letter, but… I have nothing to loose now…
Pillar frowned and turned to walk around a bit to figure out what all of this meant. Jack looked at Riddick. He seemed angry. So what else is new? she thought cynically.
Pillar turned to talk to Jack again. "Why are you trying to save this criminal?" he asked with absolute bewilderment.
Jack thought about the very same question. "He's the man I love and I'd die for him a thousand times if it meant his happiness," she said sincerely. Jack could hear Riddick inhaling sharply at her replay. Then Riddick cursed. Yeah, that's exactly what a girl want s to hear right after confessing her love for him – fuck, bitch, shit, crap, etc, etc..., Jack thought dryly.
But Jack didn't dare to look at Riddick. She just felt so stupid right about then. Here se was – 18 year old girl, surrounded by all those men, talking of deals and love. Pff! So she concentrated on the leader, the asshole Pillar.
"Yes… Maybe there is love. That's a good motive to do something like…this," he said. Jack had a feeling he meant to say ´for doing something stupid. Jack agreed with him on that one. This was so stupid! Time to re-arrange your plans, girl! "You are willing to stay as our captive in this place?" Pillar asked.
Something clicked in her mind. Jack lowered her head to hide the small smile. "Yes."
She couldn't see the huge grin on Pillar's face. But his cheerful voice was enough to make her sick. He said: "Fine! Let's go to the ship then!"
Jack had to bargain a little to make sure her sacrifice wouldn't be for nothing. "Riddick comes with us."
Pillar frowned again. But he agreed and Riddick was lifted from the floor. His hands and feet were still tied up, but there was no convincing Pillar to untie him. Unfortunately, Riddick was still too weak to break free by himself. Jack saw that he had trouble with even just sitting up without falling over. This worried Jack. But maybe he's acting to fool the 5 men guarding him? Jack could only hope.
They reached the ship again. The cargo hold was left open, but since it was late at night, no-one had had a chance to steal Mortimer Nova yet. They went in that way and climbed up to the main room. The chest was still in its usual corner.
"Let's carry it out," Jack offered innocently. It was a signal for Riddick about what she was planning to do. "It's too dark here. We moderated the lights because of Riddick's eyes," Jack kept on lying. She was back in the Miss Goody Two Shoes mode. It seemed to work so far.
Pillar agreed and motioned for a bulky guy to take it. When they were outside, Pillar looked at the chest excitedly. "How will it open?" he asked, since he couldn't see a handle anywhere.
"Oh, just push the big red button that said ´Push to OPEN," she instructed while taking a small step back. Riddick was already further, two men holding him.
"But what is this dial with numbers for?" Pillar asked with concern.
Jack acted her part. "There should be a code, but I never got around inserting it. Never imagined someone would beat Riddick and therefore gain access to it," Jack said. She lowered her eyes as if she was ashamed of her stupidity as well as of the fact her trust in Riddick hadn't been justified.
Pillar laughed. "That's were you were wrong, little lady!" he roared with laughter.
"Yeah…" Jack sighed. Stupid motherfucker!
Pillar neared the chest, still smiling. And he pushed the big red button.
A fraction of a second before his finger reached the button, Jack jumped to the ground. Pillar saw that from the corner of his eye. He thought: What the hell? But it was too late to stop himself. He pressed the button. With that, the iron chest exploded.
Jack was on the ground - hands over her head, face down - when a little wave of fire and destructive energy blew over her. It was hot, it was loud and the iron pieces that landed on her were flaming and very sharp. Not nice! When it was over, she looked behind, where Pillar had been. His body was ripped to pieces. Ok, I think a little heat wasn't that bad after all. Hurriedly Jack rose to her feet and shiv appeared in her hand. She went to free Riddick.
The guards had been as surprised by the explosion as Pillar must have been. Riddick took advantage of the diversion and pulled his hands free. Broken chains fell to the pavement. Before the guards around him could even raise a hand, Riddick sank his elbow in the face of the man to Riddick's left. The guard on the right started to reach for his gun, but Riddick was faster. He took a hold of the mans head with his two hands and cracked his neck with a solid move.
Jack had moved herself behind one guard as he gaped in astonishment looking at Riddick's handiwork. Jack cut his throat. Now, that was almost too easy, she thought cruelly. Jack looked back at Riddick. He still hadn't had the time to free his feet, so he stood in the same position, using only his bare hands to defend himself. Two to go, Jack counted.
Both of the still alive guards were angry as hell. They carried the tranquilizer guns and blades. One had already tried to fire the dart at Riddick, but thankfully he had been fast enough to dodge it. The dart hit the wall behind Riddick. Seeing as the tranquilizer guns carry only one dart before needing to be recharged, Jack chose to take down the other guard.
Jack didn't bother anymore to move silently. The man had already seen her coming. Jack picked up her speed and ran to him head first. The guard lifted his gun, but couldn't get a clear shot fast enough. Jack jumped up in the middle of her run when she had reached the asshole, so to speak. Her martial arts training kicked in as she flung her foot to the man's head. Everything went slow again for Jack. She felt like she hadn't touched the ground at least for 10 seconds. The impact of the strong collision made both of them to fall down, few feet apart. Jack stood up faster, most likely because she wasn't the one with serious brain concussion. Or maybe because she was so fucking pissed off.
Jack saw her opponent starting to get up and she moved quickly. She sank the heel of her combat boot to the guy's chest and felt the ribs giving in. Good. The man screamed, but Jack couldn't have cared less. She kicked him the same way again and again, until his lungs had collapsed and heart cut by the broken ribs. How tragic, yet necessary – we all need to release the stress somehow, Jack thought when she brutally killed the man.
Riddick had already finished off the last guard. But it looked like it had taken last of his energy. Jack rushed over to him and supported him by the waist. "Get a move on it, Riddick!" she told him angrily.
He walked closer to the ship, legs ready to give out in every second. Jack tried to help him as much as possible, but Riddick was so goddamned heavy! "Show me what you're made of, Furian!" she yelled at him in final desperation.
It seemed to work though. He moved on faster and leaned less on Jack's small frame. They passed the Pillar's remains and entered the cargo hold. Seemed like Riddick could stumble forward on his own, so Jack stayed behind a little to lock the doors. Thankfully the self-destructive mechanism built on Jack's iron chest, had gone off in safe distance from Mortimer Nova. So the ship was ready to go, all good and clear.
Finally they were strapped in and started the take off. There was no point in asking for the clearance from the Tower – they must have seen the light of the explosion and wanted to ask questions. So they had to fly blind and pray there won't be a crash with some other ship. It took an intense hour to get far enough from planet Padja to have a safe starjump. After all that hassle, Riddick finally switched on the autopilot. Then he faced Jack. He was dead tired, but wanted to ask a few questions anyway.
"It was a crazy stunt you pulled there, kid! Why did you do it?" he asked, showing more anger than first intended.
"You're welcome," Jack snapped at him. Riddick had taken off his goggles when they had exited atmosphere. Now, Jack could see him rolling his shiny eyes at her replay.
"It took guts. Well done, Jack. Couldn't have done it better myself," Riddick said warmly and didn't hide that he was proud of her.
Jack was happy to be so appreciated. But she wasn't going to jump up and down or clap her hands just because of this. "You have saved my ass so many times. Figured it was my turn. Let's call it even," she said very calmly and fatally.
Riddick didn't smile either. If Jack hadn't known better she would have thought that he had some serious tooth problem and wanted to hide it by never opening his mouth. Riddick only nodded.
"I'm going to bed," Jack told him and left.
Jack woke up late at the afternoon. She hadn't slept the night before the shit hit the fan. So a long sleep was well deserved. Jack put on the clothes she had worn yesterday and went to look for Riddick. She didn't have any weapons in hand, but she had to take the risk and face him bare arms. He was in the kitchen, making a snack for himself. Jack joined in, since she was starving.
"Riddick, I have a bit of a problem," she finally said in a very business-like manner.
Riddick raised his head, while munching his sandwich. He didn't say a thing and Jack knew it wasn't because it's not polite to talk with full mouth.
Jack explained: "All of my stuff was left behind to Padja or blown up. My clothes, guitar, papers."
"We're not going back there," he said.
"Thought you're gonna say that," Jack muttered under her breath.
Riddick put his food down. "I'll buy you all those things. It's the least I can do," he offered. Riddick didn't sound angry at all, he said it like it was an everyday thing. Jack wondered whether Riddick might think things between then stand differently now just because Jack saved his sorry ass.
"Riddick, I am still going to leave you," she said quietly.
Riddick looked at her, but lowered his gaze immediately. "Jack, let's do it this way. Tomorrow we can land on Pluralis. We can go and buy all the stuff you need during the day. No strings attached. At the evening, we could go out and ´have fun as you call it. The next morning you can tell me if you still want to go. I won't hold you back if you really want to leave then."
Jack had doubts, a whole bunch of them. "It all sounds great and so remarkably unusual, but… Oh, I don't know, Riddick…"
Riddick looked deep into her eyes and he smiled. "Let's go to a bar, Jack."