Chapter 4
The door opened with a loud hiss and stopped as it came into contact with the ground. Kyra's boots padded down the ramp and the heat of Barse hit her like a fucking brick wall. She stopped in her tracks as sweat already formed beneath her vest. The heat seemed to suck her in, pull her from her ship and envelope in it's burning arms.
She grimaced but continued down the port and pushed through the crowded mass of people loading in and out of their ships. There was some security, but her shining badge on the collar of her vest squashed any questions as too why she carrying more fire power than any of the security guards. Most people immediately assumed she was a cop, not bothering to look at the fine print that read, 'BOUNTY HUNTER'. Stupid fucking people. But it got her through almost all security checks with out any static. It made things a lot easier. A little trick she learned from Johns.
She was on the streets in no time, and went about her routine. She wasn't sure how long she would have to be on the planet before she would find Riddick. Barse was quite large, but the city of Barse was not. There was a hotel around the corner from the docking port, or so her computer on the ship had read.
Her pale hands wrapped around her black duffle bag and she slung it over her shoulder, trudging in the direction she believed to be right. She kept her head down; green eyes cautiously eyeing her surroundings, taking them in with something like a photographic memory. Escape paths and the such began to form in her head as she turned the corner and there, before her, stood a large black building that simply read MOTEL. A few of the windows were broken and she heard the vicious cries of an infant coming from inside.
It was perfect, keeping a low profile was exactly what she wanted to do, considering her name and, to some, her face, was known quite well. She walked through the opening where there might have once been doors and to the front desk. A woman came from behind the desk and greeted her with a toothless grin.
" 'Ello love, 'ow can I 'elp you?" the woman asked, her fingers ready at the computer before her.
Kyra did her best to smile at the woman, " I need a room, just for tonight." She said, setting her bag beside her and looking around. The hall was still silent except for the clack of the woman nails on the computer pad.
" That'll be sixty five credit, love." She said looking back up.
Kyra handed the woman the credit as she reached over and placed Kyra's palm on a small machine that took an imprint of the underside of her hand.
" You're on the second floow', room one-twenteh'."
Kyra thanked her and found herself in the elevator. The doors closed and Kyra set down her bag and took a deep breath, a slightly trembling hand running through her hair. She leaned against the cool metal of the elevator and closed her eyes. She was suddenly sucked back five years before…
" But Riddick, you can't just leave me." She cried in astonishment, running after him. Her hand reached out and latched onto his forearm but he snatched it away, turning to the young Jack with a growl.
" Look kid, you can't come with me. It's too dangerous out there. Your safer here with the Holy Man." He said, continuing to walk toward the small skiff.
" No! No, I'll come with you and you can teach me everything you know, how to fight and-." But the young girl was cut off in her desperate plea.
" I don't want you around, Jack. Get that through your head. You have no place with me." He finally stated, frustration edging it's way into his ominous growl. " I'm a fucking convict. You're a little girl."
" No, NO!" she argued, tears welling in her eyes as fought the truth. Strong dark hands wrapped around her shoulders as Iman came behind her.
" Let him go, girl." He said softly, " Let him go."
She sobbed, " No. He saved me, he saved my life. I have to go with him, I have to!"
But the ramp closed and Riddickd silhouette disappeared inside the ship. Jack fought Imans grasp, finally breaking free and running towards the ship, but it was too late and Jack fell to her knees, crying, staring up as Riddick left her in the dust, left her with Iman, left her alone…
The sudden ding of the elevator brought Kyra back to reality and she jumped, hands reaching for her gun, but the doors opened to an empty hallway. She paused for a moment to collect herself and she picked up her bag and started down the hall until she got to her door. She placed her palm on the pad and the doors opened before her as she stepped inside. The room was dark and humid.
" Lights on." She commanded instantly, the room suddenly bright.
" Cooling unit on." The soft hum of the cooling unit began and cool air was suddenly pumped into the room.
Kyra threw her bag on the bed and did a quick survey of the room. Bed, bathroom, refrigeration unit and window. She walked to the window, her fingers pulling down the blinds to reveal the city outside. Her green eyes peered out the dirty window and she immediately spotted a small club across the street that seemed to overflow with filth. It was a good place to start looking, better than anything she supposed. She pulled back her hand and the blinds snapped back to their original form.