Sorry people in the delay for this chapter, a certain flu bug has entered my home and refused to leave. I promise to update in the near future. Hang in there with me guys.

As Nightshade walked down the street, her thoughts returned to getting off this planet. She knew mercs were after her now and the one knew her a little too personally. He helped to put her away.

Nightshade, deep in thought, absent-mindedly rubbed her eyes and was painfully reminded of her contacts, she had automatically put them back in when she had left the hotel.

Looking at the night sky she realized that she had a couple hours of darkness left and stopped to pull her pack off her shoulder. Almost religiously she removed the contact case and carefully removed the contacts.

She closed her eyes to get her bearings, it still threw her through a loop when she took them out, and it still took time to get used to her shined eyes. She looked around and looked around.

Nightshade grins as she can see each little movement. A newspaper being moved ever so slightly by an almost non-existent wind, the dim street she once traveled now glowed.

Nightshade carefully placed the contact case in her pocket and stood up to continue her fruitless journey.

In the Shadows

Riddick couldn't stop thinking about Nightshade; a complete stranger lending a known convict/murder. Why?

What could drive a beautiful woman to commit the crimes that she did? A murder she performed so effortlessly and without any emotion. He briefly thought about her shined wyes, the contacts she seemed to wear constantly, hid them.

Riddick's mind turned to the mercs and getting off the planet.

How in the hell was he going to get off the planet, go aboard a ship or even get a ship.

Again his thoughts turned to Nightshade and he shrugged his shoulders. She helped him once; maybe she'll go it again. He stood up and went to look for her.

Back on the street

Nightshade approached a docking port and looked around, eyeing the ships. She was sure that she could hack into the system or something.

Sighing, she grew a little downhearted; she heard something behind her and turned around quickly.

Behind her stood a man and he was staring at her. He was middle-aged and looked very much on the sick side.

"What you doing out this late, Missy?" asked the man.

Nightshade sensed no immediate danger or threat from this man. She shrugged her shoulders at the man.

"I am just a girl who wants more. I want to learn more, get off this planet." Nightshade replied, her eyes glowing at the man.

The man looks at her thoughtful.

"You want to get off this planet, huh? I got a ship over there, here name is Starr and obviously I am in no condition to take care of her no more." He looked at the ship sadly and then turned back to Nightshade. "Want to make me a deal?"

Nightshade raised her eyebrows at the man and looked at him with some disbelief.

"Why would you be willing to help me out? What's in it for you?

The man grinned slightly at her and a small twinkle filled his eyes.

"You need to get out there and learn some more and do some more good in the world, my dear."

Those comments said Nightshade raised an eyebrow; he knew who she was.

Slowly speaking Nightshade asks "What exactly do you mean?"

The man sat down on a crate and looked up at Nightshade.

"What I am saying is give me enough money and you can finish what you started so many years ago. You know, you are the only person who did anything about the bastard, you are the only one that did a damn thing."

The man started to cough and Nightshade looked at him with some sympathy.

Was she actually considered a hero for the past?

Sighing, Nightshade waited till the man caught his breath and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I have almost a million on this cred. Would that be enough?"

She handed him the cred. The man stared into Nightshade's eyes and smiled, then winked at her.

"Let's go take a look at your new ship, Captain."

The man got slowly off the crate and walked toward a well-maintained ship.

He opened the hatch and Nightshade walked in cautiously, always ever so cautiously.

The old man coughed again with the exertion.

Within ten minutes the tour was done and over with. A small, but adequate ship with a nice piloting area, a small mess hall/kitchen, two sleeping quarters and a bathroom. Who could survive without a bathroom?

The tour ending at the captain's chair, Nightshade turned to the man.

"Can I run a diagnostic scan?"

The man nodded and let her have the access codes for the ship.

The ship was fully operational; full of juice and fuel.

Nodding she turned to face the man.

"Who are you and why are you helping me?"

The man grinned.

"I am that certain bastard's brother. He disowned almost all of the family when he became an ambassador. He especially disowned me when his "dear" brother developed an incurable disease from one of his "safe" factories." His voice turned dark and sarcastic the further along he talked.

"Thankfully they are all shut down now, but he isn't human, he doesn't care about anyone but himself."

The man looked wizened beyond his years and very sad.

Nightshade nodded and the deal was done, but before she could hand the creds to the man she knew that he was dead.

She hardened herself knowing that he made her make a promise that she damn well intended to keep.

Shutting the dead man's eyes, she moved him to one of the sleeping quarters. She would bury him somewhere other than here, he deserved better.

After lugging the heavy, dead man to the room, she went to find Riddick.

She smiles at the thought of what the future laid before her.