The planets land mass was a dull red, punctuated with tiny squares of green that indicated the growing centers. But the bulk of the planet was covered by the blue oceans and wispy white clouds. Jack had a hard time believing that the desert-like planet had any water on it at all, but Riddick had said something about terra-forming and experiments that hadn't gotten the right amount of attention. Reider added to Jacks knowledge when she said that the terra-forming was supposed to go in stages, that at the moment the Holy-mans planet was stuck in one of them, and the company that began it didn't have enough money to complete the rest of them.

"So its up to the planet to decide if it wants to become fertile, to take what the oceans give it and grow anything naturally." Riddick was hailed by port authorities, and giving it a dummy id he was invited to land. Jack took the second seat and strapped herself in as Riddick turned to the controls. Reider pulled down a seat that was folded into a wall, strapped in and took a few deep breaths.

"Still hate landing huh?" Riddick teased.

"I can take it if you don't do anything stupid." She snapped. Jack watched both with amusement. In the past two days that Reider had been unrestrained she had seen the two snipe at each other like any married couple. Apparently they knew each others weak spots and neither could stop pressing the buttons.

"Stupid like what?" she asked, willing to see if she could fuel the fire.

"Loops and falls and…"

"She gets motion-sickness." Riddick smirked.

"Only around you!" Reider shot back, "something about you churns my stomach is all." Reider sulked. Riddick grinned and began his decent.

The port they parked at was two miles from Imam's house. Jack knew that Riddick was just being cautious, but a two mile hike in hot, arid weather after being in the climate controlled ship really annoyed her.

"Couldn't you park any further away?" she asked sarcastically. Riddick ignored her, knowing that she was just cranky.

"Where are we going?" Reider asked, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. She liked heat, heat was good, but the heat that bounced off the ground was hotter than the heat around her head and it was starting to hurt her feet.

"To Imams, it's a few more minutes away." Riddick turned to Reider, "we'll stay there and figure out our next moves."

"Your next moves you mean."

"What?" Reider caught up with Riddick and hissed something that made him growl and pull away in response. Jack picked up her pace a bit until she was trailing in Riddicks shadow. That way they couldn't keep her out of the conversation.

"You're not leaving me behind." Reider muttered, but let the subject drop when she realized that Jacks ears were perking.

"Look!" Jack pointed to a brick adobe house like all the others, except for the pale blue cloth fluttering in one of the open windows. "Its safe! He knows we're back!" Jack giggled and ran forward as the front door opened to reveal a tall black man wearing a robe and wrapped head covering.

"Little Jacklyn." He opened his arms to envelope the girl in his arms. Jack willingly ran into them and wrapped her own around his waist.

"Imam." Riddick nodded, "This is Patricia Reider, we were hoping you might share hospitality." He shook Imams hand and pushed Reider forward with his hand at the small of her back. Imam bowed politely and Reider copied the movement, not sure of how to proceed.

"We are mostly not formal when at home Miss." Imam opened the door wider to permit them all inside. It was several degrees cooler inside than out, the thick walls and many filmy window hangings kept the heat from being oppressive. Knowing from experience that once out of the entrance hall and into the actual house there were air blockers and coolers for the living area prompted Jack to ask if her room was the same.

"It is young one. Go and unpack, my children have been asking for you, and are waiting in the courtyard. " Imam had flourished since their initial landing. He had been in wait from the locals and was greeted with much ceremony that Jack and Riddick had found easy to slip away from. But in the years since, Imam had only become wiser and luck had a way of rewarding the wise. He had a beautiful wife and many children, all of whom called Riddick "uncle" and Jack "cousin". While Jack fled to her room Imam assessed the situation with the two adults. "Richard, your room is the same as it has been." He handed Riddick the key to the only room in the house that needed a lock, and then nodded to Reider. "I have a spare guest room that has recently been used and is so aired out. If you would care to follow my wife…" Ishal had appeared by Reiders elbow without her being aware. The delicate woman was no taller than Jack, but the curves that showed from her loose robes scoffed at anyone thinking her a child. She moved with grace and as noiselessly as a snake slithering. Reider followed the womans swaying body with an envy that she couldn't move like that.

wow, i'm sorry its taking me so long to update. once again i find myself in possession of an unreliable computer. grrrr...

that and i'm way to lazy.

but don't be to disapointed, i know this chapter doesn't have much new info, but i am trying to set up to somthing...