*Way of the Gun*
Today was most definitely not Jack's day. She could handle sleeplessness but fighting all night had made her rather irritable. Actually, it'd made her damn near pissed off the entire week. Last night had definitely been the worst. Well, if nothing else Jack was certainly in tip top physical shape because of their fighting. It would start off light with someone just getting on the other's nerves but then it'd escalate to screaming, and finally to actually hand-to-hand fighting.
They were both pretty roughed up. Jack looked herself over in the bathroom mirror, she currently sported a busted lip, a bruised temple and a bite mark on her neck. Asshole! That was okay, he was looking quite busted up too. When she woke up she looked over at him and noticed a nice shiner around his left eye. Go Jackie girl! She didn't understand why they were fighting so much but she didn't care either. She figured it was probably because they both weren't used to being around other people so much, and the two of them were up each other's ass 24/7. It was all stupid. Whatever.
Jack washed her face with freezing cold water. When she straightened to her full height she looked in the mirror again, two reflections staring back at her.
Jack turned around-their bodies mere inches apart from each other, annoyance coursing over her face. "Yes?"
Riddick's face was dead pan but she knew he was getting a kick out of bothering her, "Do you plan on ever leaving the bathroom?"
"Yeah, as a matter of a fact. . .right now."
"There's no time like the present." The corner of his lip hitched up into a grin.
Jack rolled her eyes and walked out of the bathroom., "Shut the fuck up."
*********
There was definitely no chance in harmony between the two today. Riddick sighed running a hand over his shaved scalp in exhaustion. Last night was crazy, he and Jack were at each other's throats the entire night. He was sure on of them would be dead before morning. He hoped that was the first, last and only time they'd fight like that.
Riddick didn't like hitting Jack, especially when he left bruises but he wasn't going to just sit there and do nothing. That would piss her off even more if he did. He cared about Jack be he had pride and a bad temper. A combination which made it absolutely impossible for him to just stand still and take a beating. Anyone hit Richard B. Riddick, they got it back times ten. And Jack took it all. . .like it was nothing.
Riddick looked at himself in the mirror. . .damn! She busted him up real nice. Riddick laughed to himself, his little hard ass Jackie. Riddick quickly jumped in the shower, maybe he'd try to talk to Jack when he got out. Unlikely, she'd probably already be gone.
When Riddick got out of the shower, Jack was nowhere to be found. He'd figured. That was okay, that meant there wasn't any chance of fighting. He quickly preceded to get ready to go to training. He changed into his black uniform and slipped on his goggles. Riddick walked out the door of the cool housing unit into the blistering heat of Fort Omega. Whoever chose to train on this planet ought to be castrated with rusty knives or some other form of extreme pain should be inflicted upon them. This just wasn't right to train humans out here. It was hot, too fucking hot. It had probably been Jack's idea. Riddick nearly laughed at that thought.
*********
Jack stood center in front of her troops trying her hardest not to look at Riddick or in his direction, which was terribly hard considering he stood dead center in front of her. Why again had she placed him there? Who knew. She sighed, today should be interesting but hard as hell not to kill them all. It was Jack's LUCKY day. She got to teach the troops how to use hand held artillery. Lucky day? Yeah fucking right!
"All right soldiers today you will be learning to use artillery. Sergeant Corigon is going to issue each of you a weapon and I'll be showing you how to use the weaponry. After that is completed you will be tested. Let's get to it."
Jack waited patiently as Corigon handed out the multi-purpose standard issue gun to each soldier. Each gun had different settings which included: plasma bullets function, regular machine gun function, tranquilizers, and separating bullets-which was the function where one bullet was shot but it broke into five different pieces ensuring to hit the target and anything within a 15 foot radius around it. The gun was no larger than a regular 21st century oozy but it was much more advanced. She had the feeling this was going to be a LONG day. Finally, Corigon gave Jack the okay to continue.
"First you will be shown the correct way to hold your weapon and then you'll be shown how to use it. Any questions so far?" Everyone stayed silent. Good. "Here is how it is to be held. One hand goes on the barrel of the gun where this grip for you hand is and the other hand on the trigger. Its simple but its got to be shown anyways. Now everyone do as I've shown you."
Jack gave a few moments and then checked down the line of soldiers. Things were looking good until she got nearly half way through the line when she stopped at a soldier named McCarr that seemed to be enjoying his conversation with the soldier standing next to him.
"This bitch don't know what she's doing. She needs to step aside and let a man do the real job."
"Excuse me McCarr would you mind showing me how to hold your gun and I don't mean that little thing in your pants." McCarr, begrudgingly, put a hand on the trigger and looked at her. What a fucking dickhead! "Wrong, McCarr. It pays to keep your fucking mouth shut. It's like this." Jack showed the correct way and then made McCarr do it correctly. Jack showed a grin of superiority, "I guess this bitch does know what she's doing."
Once finished checking everyone, Jack walked back down to the end of the line and stopped. McCarr was such an asshole. She thought she'd taught him a lesson the first time when she'd thrown a shiv straight through his hand. Guess not.
Swallowing down the rising anger Jack continued, "Now the green button on the side of the gun is the safety, right now all guns are secured so right now press the green button." She waited a moment until she heard each gun load. Good. "Now the panel on the top of the gun shows the different settings. There is regular bullets, tranquilizers, plasma bullets and separating bullets. Each one has a code on there. When you turn it on its automatically just bullets. In your manual it tells you each code. Memorize them. Now to fire it's quite simple, just pull the trigger." Jack stopped a moment and continued as if she were talking to a three year old. "So how about we all stand here and fire off a bullet just so you can see the sheer power of there babies. On the count of three. One. . .two. . .three."
Jack fired off with the rest of the troop but a lone gun wasn't shot. McCarr. Suddenly she heard a whizzing sound. SHIT! Jack ducked down rolling across the ground just narrowly missing the bullet. He was going to pay.
"McCarr you fucking idiot! Keep the fucking gun straight ahead. No one hear can afford accidents like that. You-"
McCarr cut Jack off smiling broadly, "It wasn't an accident Sergeant Major Melivenski."
"You mean to tell me that you meant to get rid of me?"
"That's what I'm saying little girl."
"You want me dead McCarr? Think you'll get away with it?"
"I KNOW I will. No one here wants you here so why don't you leave little girl." McCarr stepped out of formation.
"Soldier you are out of line" Corigon chimed in quickly running in front of the man walking towards Jack.
Jack stood her ground, never moving. "No, Corigon. Let him." Corigon looked at Jack, sighed and moved out of the way. "What McCarr? You think you can ghost me just like that? PLEASE little boy! You couldn't kill me if I was fucking blindfolded and handcuffed."
"Little boy? Bitch shut up! You think you're so hard. I got news, you aint. You aint shit, well besides a little girl who things she can make it in this big world. Little lady trying to hack it in a MANS world. STEP DOWN BITCH! STEP. . . DOWN!"
Jack's nostrils flared, her anger was about to be completely unleashed. May Imam's god help this soldier. "You want me to step down? Well, you're going to have to kill me first McCarr."
"I can do that."
McCarr lifted his gun aiming for Jack's head. Fat chance he'd get her that easy. Jack charged the man, knocking the gun clear from his hands and far from reach.
"C'mon, McCarr let's dance." Jack whispered before punching the man square in the nose.
McCarr countered with a punch to the rib cage, it didn't even phase Jack. The guy was bulky but had no clue how to use his strength correctly. Jack quickly kicked a leg straight forward kicking him in the nose, which sent him flying back onto the ground."
"Get up you fucking weak ass prick! Get up! Fight like a MAN!"
McCarr speedily stood back up on his feet and charged her. He came at her an arm aimed for her stomach. He landed the arm in her stomach sending Jack flying head first over his body and landing back on her feet. Without a moments passing Jack turned and launched herself on the soldier. The two went toppling to the ground, Jack on top of McCarrs back. She grabbed his head and just as she was about to bash it into the ground McCarr's foot caught her in the back of the head. Jack fell to the ground next to him but not for long. McCarr quickly straddled Jack's hips and leaned down.
"I should fuck you right here little girl. Show you who's REALLY boss." He ground his pelvis into Jack, her face remaining passive.
Suddenly, without any notice, Jack grabbed McCarr around the throat and lifted him completely off of her. She stood still holding McCarr's choking body by the throat.
"Like I said little boy."
Jack smiled wickedly and then slammed McCarr down onto the hard ground. Tunnel vision taking her over, Jack knelt before McCarr and grabbed him around the throat again, reducing his air flow to none.
*********
Riddick watched in awe and anticipation as Jack battled it out with McCarr. He was a strong soldier but she was by far ten times as strong. Things were going okay until now. Jack was playing hard. Suddenly Riddick watched as if in slow motion as Jack withdrew a pistol from her belt and held it to the soldiers head. She was going to kill him.
*********
Jack pulled a pistol from her belt and held it to McCarr's head as he other arm held firmly around his neck. He deserved to die. They all did but this one especially. Death, destruction, fucking asshole!
"Think you're hard shit but look at you." Jack was on autopilot. She needed to kill. To kill him. He was going to die. Now.
"JACK STOP! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HIM." Corigon yelled in panic.
Riddick looked from Jack to McCarr. She had every intention of annihilating the man. "Jack don't do it." His voice was low and gravely, barely inauditable but he knew she heard it.
She ignored all of them. "You're about to die what are you going to do. What are you going to do?" Jack's tunnel vision focused only on the man turning purple beneath her.
Somehow McCarr managed to still speak, "Get the fuck off me or shoot the damn gun."
Wrong thing to say. Jack cocked the safety and smiled, "I'll take number two Bob." Her hand pulled the cold, steel trigger.
Just as the bullet was fired a heavy weight sent Jack flying from on top of McCarr. Riddick. FUCK HIM! Had McCarr been killed? She looked up from beneath Riddick, Corigon stood above McCarr. Suddenly McCarr stood, shaking and coughing. NO! Riddick had pulled her off just in time. With an extra adrenaline rush, Jack shoved Riddick away and jumped up. She flew at McCarr and took him back down to the ground this time her shiv at his neck but before anything could take place both Corigon and Riddick pried Jack from McCarr's stiff body. He was scared shitless. He deserved it! No, he should have died.
Riddick grabbed Jack around the waist and pulled her far away from McCarr and the rest of the troops while Corigon helped McCarr back to his feet and off to a medical squad waiting for him. Jack tried to release herself from Riddick grasp but didn't make it very far. Riddick turned her to face him but she quickly turned herself around and lunged forward only to fall into total blackness.
*********
Riddick had been struggling like hell to keep Jack from escaping again. That last lunge he knew she would have been free but suddenly she fell like dead weight into his arms. What the hell? He looked down at her form. She'd blacked out.
Corigon came running towards them, "Good I was hoping this would happen. Too bad it happened so late. C'mon let's get her into that Hummer over there and get her to the med center."
The two quickly loaded Jack into the backseat and got inside the Hummer.
"McCarr's going to be fine," Corigon began. He knew Riddick probably didn't care. Shit he didn't either but the silence was too deafening to let it go on. "He'll be bruised up but other than that he should be alright. If you hadn't pushed Jack off of him, McCarr would have been killed. The paramedics think he might be deaf in his right ear though. Oh well, price to pay for fucking with Jack. Even if he doesn't get thrown out of here she wont train him. Not a chance in hell."
"What happened to Jack? Why'd she all of a sudden black out like that?" Riddick didn't even address McCarr, the guy deserved it.
"The doctors say when she gets into blind rages like that she uses SO much energy and adrenaline that her body just can't go on and she blacks out. I guess it's her body recuperating."
"Does it happen everytime?"
"Only in SERIOUS fighting. Like when you can practically see fire flashing in her eyes. When she gets fierce like that is when it happens. After battles and strenuous missions she usually goes into a comatose state for a day or so. Luckily she doesn't let it happen to her body until she's safe inside our ship or whatever.
*********
"Melivenski you could have killed that soldier. Do you understand that? He could have DIED!"
As soon as Jack had awoken from her coma-like state she was summoned to Captain Bortelli's office where he'd been droning over the same redundant shit for that past thirty minutes. Jack had had ENOUGH! So she tried to kill McCarr he damn well deserved it, and she'd stick to that. What a fucking prick! He'd tried to kill her but Bortelli was taking his side. Fuck both of them. Fuck Riddick, who was currently standing off to the right quietly, and Corigon, who stood next to him, too for trying to stop her! Fuck all of them. For a moment she considered a killing spree. . .take out all these sorry mother fuckers and life would be okay.
"Yeah and that soldier tried to kill me. I could have died Captain Bortelli. That would suck for you now wouldn't it? Not only did he fire a deadly weapon at a superior he had a dead intent to ghost me, Bortelli. And you're fighting for him. Go blow yourself!" Jack was completely flabbergasted, "Maybe that wasn't a valid reason for you but to me that's reason enough to cut off his dick and shove it up his own ass."
"You are damn right that wasn't a valid reason, Sergeant Major! It was an absolute and utter abuse of power. I am suspending you Melivenski." Captain Bortelli was a good man but he had no clue what he was doing to himself at the moment. Not one single clue.
"You're what? You son of a bitch! YOU are suspending ME? You know what FUCK YOU! You can't suspend me! Suspend me? Jacquelyn Melivenski? No, I am the fucking thing that makes the Black Knights work you can't suspend me. Maybe it isn't McCarr I should have tried to kill maybe its you." Jack was going to ring this bastard's little neck! Tear him to shreds. They all deserved to die.
Her threats didn't phase him. . .not anymore at least; he was used to Jack's violent and temperamental demeanor. Quite calmly, too calmly the Captain continued. "Shut your fucking mouth Jack! I am the superior here and I am suspending you and you WILL train McCarr! End of discussion Melivenski!" Of course Bortelli had no intention to suspend Jack but he had to find some way to cool her down. This wasn't going as planned.
"NO! Not end of discussion! You do this and I will slit your throat Bortelli! Don't say I wont because I will do it WITHOUT ANY HESITATION!" Jack looked as if she were about to jump over the table and do it right at that moment, lucky for Captain Bortelli she was weaponless.
That was it! Jack wasn't going to calm down so Riddick decided to try, "Jack shut your mouth! Just train the stupid son of a bitch!"
"You shut the fuck up! This is NONE of your goddamned business!" Well, at least she'd redirected her anger to someone else. But Riddick didn't know for how long.
"No! Jack calm down!" He had no doubt that his yelling wasn't helping her but he was still bent on doing it.
Jack's already hardened eyes narrowed and turned practically black with fury, "Fuck off! You may be a lot of things but let me tell you BOY you don't control what I say and do! I refuse to train him he's the instigator of all the trouble. I wont train the soldier."
Captain Bortelli re-entered the picture, "Jack, get off your high horse and train the damn guy!" He still remained calm. Jack had always admired his ability to do so but at the moment it just infuriated her furthermore.
Jack shook her head profusely, "No! I wont fucking do it! I've taken enough shit from these half assed sorry pieces of shit! He starts the shit and he'll finish it when he fucking leaves! You've never interfered with my training before so don't you dare start now."
The Captain, in a less harsh tone tried to reason. "Jack, you nearly killed the man. Be reasonable."
"Shut the fuck up Daryl! You don't have to deal with this I DO! They aren't worth my time! I'm the best goddamned soldier the military has to offer, so TREAT ME LIKE IT! I'm giving you an ultimatum. One I run things like I want. Like it SHOULD be. Or two, I walk."
She was more than right in her saying she was the best. She was. Bortelli couldn't afford to lose her but he still had to test and see how serious she was. "You wont do it."
Jack smiled the smile that a person would picture the devil wearing. "Watch me." She quickly turned on her heel and exited the office leaving the three men glancing at one another.
*********
Captain Bortelli looked at Riddick and then to Corigon who affirmed what he already knew he had to do. Bortelli walked out from behind the desk and exited the room quickly to chase after Jack. To his surprise she stood mere feet outside of the office. She'd known he'd come after her. He had to. Damn the woman sometimes! "Jack, you can't do this."
"I am. See me. I'm gone." She pushed her long black hair out of her face defiantly.
Looked like it was kiss ass time. "You ARE the best Jack and for that reason we need you to train these guys. You have to."
"I don't HAVE to do shit!" Jack practically jumped at Bortelli. The rage and anger inside her was fully showing its self. "I don't owe any of you anything. My way or the highway Bortelli same rule I use for everyone applies to you."
Captain Bortelli, caved in. He'd just tell her like some had been telling him. She wasn't going to like it "You're hard on them Jack. Harder than any other trainer."
Oh, if Jack was at the boiling point prior to this, she certainly was now. She was very passionate about her training and soldiers. This would be the end of the world if too much more was said "And? I'm hard on all my troops! But guess what, the ones I have trained have had a higher rate of success and longevity in this career. They have better chances of living. You of all people should know, Bortelli. In this game, its survival of the fittest. If I don't train them to the best of my ability then I have failed! And if there's one thing that I will never do it is fail! And for that reason, I train them to be harder than steel Captain. Do you realize I might have to send those soldiers out into battle if and when we go against Moran? They'll die. They are my responsibility and I WONT back down from my training regiment because it's a little rough. So, suck it the fuck up or find someone else to do the job!"
Captain Bortelli sighed heavily, Jack was the biggest pain in his ass but always the joy of his life. He practically thought of her as a daughter, that's probably why he never had children. "Fine Jack you win."
"Don't I always?" Jack's smile was of pure satisfaction but it held a great bit of anger and defiance in it as well. But she'd gotten her way. She'd cool down. . .eventually.
*********
Jack stormed away from Captain Bortelli, THAT had been one heated fight. Jack was pissed as hell! She needed relief she needed something, anything. If she went home now with such built up aggression she'd kill someone -preferably Riddick- or something. The gym. . .yes! That's what she needed a good workout at the gym and all would be okay.
Jack through open the door and was greeted by the heat and Mandol's smiling face. Obviously he hadn't heard of Jack's latest stunt. Great, and he was heading towards her.
"Hey Jack! Guess who just got in. . ." He waited but received no response, "My sister. You shou-"
"Go tell someone who gives a fuck!" With that Jack made her way to the gym for some much needed anger management time.
*********
Jack had almost been feeling better when she'd strolled in at about 01900 (7:00) but that didn't last long at all. Before she'd gotten completely in the door Riddick was all over her like white on rice in a fucking snow storm. So much for putting a lid on her anger.
"Where were you all afternoon Jacquelyn?"
"Out fucking guys and snorting drugs, sounds great huh?" Looks like all that hard work at the gym was about to be reversed.
"That's very funny Jacquelyn. Now seriously, where were you?"
"I just told you Richard." Two could play at this game.
"You were awfully rude earlier today, ya know?" Riddick's attitude and appearance seemed somewhat dark. It was like he was trying to provoke Jack to be angry again. What an asshole.
"So? Who cares." Jack shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well not only did you threaten a superior but you were rude to me and nearly killed a soldier. On a roll there Melivenski?"
"Yeah, I guess so." She shrugged once more not wanting to go into another blind rage. If she could get past him things would be okay. The overflowing anger would boil down to a little bubble and things would be somewhat tolerable.
Jack went to walk away but Riddick grabbed her arm forcefully spinning her to face him. "Don't you have something to say to me?"
Jack looked down at his hand engulfing her muscled arm hoping he'd get the point but there was no such luck, "And what would that be?"
"Something along the lines of I'm sorry I was so rude."
"You can go fuck yourself up the ass if you think I'm saying something like that." Jack spat in his face.
"Think again baby girl." Riddick sneered evily.
"Would you leave me the fuck alone?" Jack tried to shake Riddick off her but he wouldn't let go.
"Nope," Riddick tightened his grip.
"Riddick you have two choices, let me go or I'm going to royal fuck you up."
"Let's dance Jackie."
Jack pounced on Riddick with pure anger her hands going to his neck. Without any effort Riddick quickly pulled her off his neck and smacked her across the face. He had been dying to fight her but he didn't know why. Because she didn't say sorry? Because he wished she'd unleash all her power on him? Just because he wanted her that close? He didn't know and he didn't care. Jack hurled herself back onto Riddick sending them flying to the ground. He hadn't even put up a fight. This position was becoming too common.
"Why? Why am I saying sorry?"
"You disrespected me."
"You challenged my authority Riddick in front of my troops. Now they'll think they can walk all over me."
"That's because they can."
"FUCK YOU! YOU STUPID BASTARD. DIE!" Jack grabbed Riddick by the neck and slammed his head down on to the ground as hard she could he merely smirked at her. He was trying to get her to blow; she knew it.
"Give it up Jack! You'll never be taken seriously by them. Give up!"
"NO!" Jack's fist connected with his face repeatedly, he didn't fight back but then again his arms were pinned firmly beneath her body. She wanted to keep pounding and pounding but she stopped breathing in heavily. Oh no, her body wasn't fully recuperated. She was going to black out.
"Let it go Jack!"
Jack's breath continued to become more and more labored, "You don't understand! I HAVE to be in control! YOU CANNOT DO THINGS LIKE THAT RIDDICK! YOU CAN'T!"
Just before Riddick's fist reached up to catch Jack in the jaw her head came flying down on to his chest. She'd blacked out again. Just his luck. Right when he was going to score a point for the team and she's out again. Not fair. Damn was she amazing. Riddick stood up pulling Jack into his arms. She was so amazing. So strong and fearless but so senseless at the same time. He cared too much about her to let what was going to happen in the future take place. NO! It was his job. He could do it. He WOULD do it. It was all just a matter of timing.