Chapter 3
Lord Vaako was on Pulsi Major now. It had been obvious that Riddick would be there. Jess was his child and a possible ally. Vaako smiled. The small part of him that was still Michael McPheron was excited to see her. But the Necromongor in him quickly crushed that emotion:
"You are to track her down and bring her back to Lord Marshal and nothing else! She is the enemy!"
His Michael McPheron and Necromongor sides had been fighting ever since he converted, he could feel himself going crazy.
Tracking Riddick was the easy part, getting onto Pulsi Major had been another story. It had taken them nearly a week and a half trying to breach L.C.S.'s security. The Kids were tight and smart. The Necromongor troop didn't have a chance to sneak in anywhere without being noticed. That is until they intercepted a supply shipment. They killed the crew of Trusted Adults (Trusted Adults are former L.C.S. that are over eighteen but are still loyal to the cause of children.) and landed on Pulsi without a problem. Vaako knew exactly where the 'Riddick's' would be. He knew the city, neighborhood, street, and even the house Jess and her father would be in.
"Not a house really." Vaako thought in retrospect.
Lord Vaako felt a bit of nostalgia looking around his old stomping grounds. But that feeling was quickly washed away.
"Remember your mission!" Zhylaw's voice chimed in his head every time he had a un-Necromongor thought.
But Vaako couldn't stop the memories from coming back to him. The Skate Park…the High School…Bill's Liquor…his family, friends. It hurt to think about them. Especially Jess. Jess had been his best friend despite the six-year age difference. Her age hadn't even mattered. She was wise beyond her years and easy to get along with.. Vaako thought of the last time he saw her, at fourteen. So much older than that but still innocent, and already beautiful. In the time they had been friends, Jess had always taken care of him, fought for him and alongside him, kept him sane and from doing stupid shit. But most importantly, she had taken away his pain, and sometimes, Vaako thought, maybe she had truly lov-
"But none of that matters now. She is going to hate you now idiot."
That wasn't his Necromongor side speaking, it was Michael McPheron coming through loud and clear:
"She is going to hate you with every fiber of her being. You swore 'Death Before Conversion' but you lied. You've turned into the very thing she hates most and has vowed to destroy. For the past four years you have let her believe that you were dead, and now you are coming after her and her father? She is going to be scorned, and Hell will have no fury to be compared to it. You know Jess' temper and how she will try to get her retribution for what you've done, ten-fold. Way to go dumb-ass!"
Lord Vaako turned to his Second in Command, Lord Damascus. The one thing that Michael and Vaako could agree on is that Damascus was a sandy-asshole of a man. Always finding problems and complications where there weren't any. Especially in Vaako. Damascus was constantly running Vaako's actions through a fined tooth comb and jumping at the opportunity to undercut him. Like when he tried basically sabotaging Vaako when it came time to promote someone to First Commander. It was then that the Michael McPheron side had become harder to control. Michael had a flighty temper that was on a hair trigger when it came to being called out on a bull-shit accusation. It often took everything in Vaako to keep Michael from surfacing when around this inferior lord. Disgusted, Vaako looked away from Damascus. The troop was driving yet another stolen means of transportation; an eighteen-wheeler big rig. Vaako turned back to Damascus and said:
"Go to the outskirts, we will set up base there."
Damascus and the others in the cramped cab looked at him in shock and suspicion. It took him a moment to realize that he had spoken in his 'old voice'. The McPheron family is descended from New Zealand and Michael has a thick Kiwi accent.
"Just practicing in case it is needed." Vaako said as cool and calm as possible. They, including Damascus, seemed to believe him, it was probably part of his plan they might of thought. That was part of the reason Lord Vaako had been chosen for the job. He used to be Michael McPheron. 'Mad Mike' knew the area, how Pulsi's people (children) worked, but most importantly, he knew how to deal with Jess.
"Nice save Vaako baby." Teased his Michael side.
Vaako gritted his teeth, he had slipped again. Like when he had questioned Zhylaw about going after Riddick. Michael McPheron was trying damn hard for control, his old behavior, his disobedience and defiance kept pushing toward the surface. Pushing too dangerously close.
They were on the out skirts now. But Jess and her 'family' still lived another mile out in a huge mansion on an enormous plot of land with many guest houses. It was called Casper Place now, it used to be McPheron Manor, it was once his home.
"What are your orders my Lord?" asked Damascus.
"We wait for them to come to us. Let's set up camp."
Vaako thought about his resent slip-ups. He couldn't fail now, now when it was so close to the end. He couldn't be found out after all this time. He quickly put all thought of that out of his mind as he and his team set up and the Necromongor in him quieted Michael McPheron. He had one ever present thought as he settled in for a night of restless sleep:
"Please God, let Jess forgive me."
Jess- "C'mon guys! Breakfast is served! I wanna see bright eyes and bushy tails! Last day of school guys, you made it!" I yelled at least four times over the P.A. system so that the entire family would hear me.
"So, getting children up in the morning truly is like pulling teeth." Said Riddick who was leaning against a fridge sipping coffee, goggles off.
I laughed "Yup."
We sank into silence for a few moments. I swear I could reach out and touch the awkwardness between us. Sure he had come to me for help and I had given it to him without a second's hesitation. But he had to know about the violent brewing storm that lay behind these calm, cool, collect green eyes. He just had to sense the eighteen years of resentment that I had built up and just wanted to release on his ass. A bitter emotional fight of epic proportions would ensue sometime in the near future.
...But who knows? He'll probably just slip away in the night when things get too tense between us. That's what he does in most situations anyway. And he'll never look back…
"I know that you are…angry at me Jess." He said quietly.
…Angry? Biggest understatement ever…
"There must be a lot of things you must want to say to me right now-"
"What is this, Richard?" I snapped. "Your desperate attempt at breaking the ice and becoming part of my life? You don't seem the type that actually gives a shit about anyone other than themselves."
I made my voice as matter-of-fact with as much spite and venom as possible. I probably just sounded angry and hurt, I hope he didn't notice.
"I want to help you kid." Riddick said quietly.
Now that pissed me off. I walked up on him and got in his face-well not really, he has six-inches on me-and said: "You're eighteen years too late. I don't want anything from you."
I took his cup from him and walked back over to the sink washed it. I turned back to face him, my voice matter of fact and uninterested again.
"And beside what good would it do? You being here I mean? You'll just take what you want from me until I can't contribute anymore and when things get too heavy around here you'll cop out and leave. And you won't look back. Just what you do in any other scenario, it's what you're good at. "
Something in his face changed when I said that last part. Like it had hit home, like it had hurt him in some way. Good. He deserved it. He hung his head as a few of the kids, Ben and Kelsey, walked in. "Hey guys. Morning."
"Morning Mom."
"Hey Mom."
I knew they were trying extremely hard not to turn around and stare at the brooding hulk that was my infamous father. Kelsey and Ben seemed to sense the tension so they went and sat down on the far side of the dining hall.
"Will you just listen to me?" he asked.
"Hmmm, probably not, so you can eat breakfast and then leave 'cause you're not needed here."
"Goddammit Jess! Stop being so stubborn!" he boomed. The windows actually shook, no shit. His mercurial eyes flashing in the dim light of the kitchen. The kitchen
"Mommy and Daddy fighting?" asked Tish cynically from the doorway. She, Tom, David, Jason, Mickey, and Matt were all standing there with their weapons drawn. They all had a bead on Riddick.
"It's alright guys. Riddick was just about to eat breakfast and leave." I looked at Riddick coldly as the rest of family filed in for breakfast.
Several hours later…
Jess- "Did you hear me Angel?" asked Tish.
"Hmm?" I said dazedly. I was doing dishes, or at least trying to.
"I asked if you were alright." Tish said, concerned.
"I'm good love." I said forcing a normal tone.
"Shitty liar."
"Shit happens." At that we both smiled. Then she starting rambling off the who, what, when, where, why of the things that were supposedly supposed to be going down this summer. Then her chatter tapered off, then stopped all together. This caught my attention, I glanced at her.
Tish's eyes were making the easily recognizable "checking-you-out-motion." For you slow people, that's an up-and-down elevator motion.
"Damn!" Tish whispered.
"Wha-" I started, then I turned around and saw what she was gawking at.
It was my father. Freshly showered and shirtless. I proceeded to throw up a little in my mouth.
"Tish that's disgusting!" I said completely grossed out and horrified.
"If you say so." She was still admiring Riddick's athletic physique. "Damn, girl you got some good genes…he's bomb."
"…and old enough to be your dad." I groaned frustrated.
"Yeah I know, but looking won't hurt anybody." She said with a wink. I rolled my eyes as she continued to stare at Riddick in all his murderous glory.
Riddick had all his convict paraphernalia spread out the kitchen floor. He was crouched next to it, checking sights on guns, sharpness of blades and folding clothes. He was wearing combat boots shined to pristine gleam, black cargo pants, and as I mentioned, he was shirtless. Riddick's skin and short, thick, hair was still wet.
"Oh my God, he's cut!" Tish damn near squealed.
And he was. He was cut to perfection. Any young girl's dream, except mine of course. I was on the verge of hurling while Tish practically panted every time he moved and one of his muscles flexed. It also sort of pissed me off that he was walking around in his chiseled magnificence in a house full of hormone-crazed teenage girls. (I.e. Tish)…And then there was that tattoo. He had 'Angel' tattooed on the left side of his chest in cursive…over his heart. This damn thing drove me crazy. Every time I saw it or thought about it: "Does he care or does he not? He cared enough at one point to get a tattoo… AHHHH!" ran through my mind.
I walked over to him, picked up one of his shirts and threw it back down at him.
"Put a shirt on nasty ass!" I yelled at him.
He looked up at me and glanced at Tish then smirked. He stood and put on his shirt. (I swear I heard Tish sigh with disappointment.) He glanced at Tish again and continued smirking.
"Does your friend need to be hosed down?"
Ok, so that was funny. But I didn't even so much as crack a smile. He sensed my displeasure and went back to what he was doing. I went back over to Tish.
"Is everyone out of the house?" I asked.
"Yeah, they're all out at the Skate Park, swimming, or chilling somewhere." She said. "And Pop-Pop is coming over because…yeah. Why Jess? What's up?" She looked scared. Rightfully so. I hugged her and kissed her forehead.
"Go to the Skate Park, go swimming, whatever, and enjoy your summer ok?"
"No, Jess, I'm not gonna leave you alone with him. No, please don't do this." She was scared now.
"It's alright Tish. I don't think he'll try anything here. Plus he's not in good condition."
She looked at me and set her jaw. She was determined not to leave me alone with Riddick.
"Please, Tish go. I don't want you here when-" I stopped.
"Is it because you don't want me to see you cry?" Tish whispered.
"Who said I was gonna cry?" I replied coldly.
"Why else would you want me to leave?" Tish said defiantly.
"Tish, please." I ground out low and firmly.
"Alright." She said with a sigh of regret.
I hugged her tight and she started to leave. At the door she looked back at me:
"If you should need me."
"If I should need you." I said smiling grimly.
And she left.
Riddick- I started packing my things away and was getting ready to leave. Jess' resentment hadn't come as a surprise, but it was her stubbornness that was frustrating me.
…She is so damn thickheaded. Hmm, wonder where she got that from…
I looked at Jess, she had a grim look on her face. She looked older than eighteen. She is a lot more mature than the average eighteen year old girl as well, I decided. As I was packing I thought about all the shit she must have gone through as a child. Horrible things, things nobody had cared enough to protect her from. Suddenly, images of Jess being abused crashed into my head. Thoughts of her being hit, neglected…being touched.
Rage spilled out of my heart and poured into the rest of my body, adrenaline coursed through my veins, and my chest burned and ached as if on fire. This ache is the precursor to a fight and is a signal that my temper is getting the better of me. The fact that I was getting upset just then threw me off. I usually don't let anger blind my judgment or cloud my thoughts. What little emotions I do have I've learned to control. I guess the thought of my kid being abused is enough to piss me off.
Unless I'm told otherwise I can't be sure any of that happened. But, chances are…yeah…I'm pretty sure that Angel has seen quite a few rough times. If I do ever find out any of that shit is true, the people responsible are…well I've already said what I do people who hurt children.
I tried blocking the whole thing out of my head. Including the part that Jess' was my own flesh and blood. I couldn't afford getting too sentimental about her, I've tried that before. Shit always seems to hit the proverbial fan when I get too close to someone. But I'm not one to dwell on the past so I concentrated on the how the Hell I was going to get out of this mess. I came to Jess for help but she was too damned tied to these other kids. Taking it upon her young shoulders to take care of all these dependent kids, on her own, out of the goodness of her heart. Well good for her. At least I know she's not like me in that aspect. Looking out for other people only slows you down and puts you in danger. I guess that's a lesson she'll have to learn sooner or later. Especially with the Necromongors hot on our asses.
…Oh yeah, I guess I should tell her about that…
That was going to be hard. She didn't even want to look at me, let alone accept my help. Yeah that's right. I'm actually willing to help someone other than myself. And it's not because I want to play "Poppa-Bear" either. I don't see the point in letting the Necros destroy a planet full of kids because they want me.
…Damn it, what the fuck was I thinking? I should've have never come here. I need to break my connection with Jess. It's a small, frail connection, but it's still there. I should've known this would happen: the Necros using Jess to get me. I tried to give her the heads up before, but now I see that I have to face Lord Vaako and the rest of the Necromongor armada on my own. Jess has to be kept out of the loop and "bond" broken. There is no easy or kind way to do this…
Jess—Riddick was on edge. I could feel it. There also seemed to be something he wanted t tell me. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe. Riddick had finished packing and shouldered his bag and looked at me.
"I guess you wanna go out the back door, huh?" I said.
He nodded.
I led him to the door that opened up to the desert then woods. I remembered what he had said.
"What did you mean when you said that you wanted to help me?"
He walked up on me, slowly not really threateningly, so that we stood a foot apart. God…. I was so small compared to him.
"Nothing I can't handle, now that I think of it. Mercs are easy I don't die easy."
"So Mercs? That's all?"
"Yeah, Jess. Just Mercs. I guess I was wrong when I thought that you could help. I'll take care of it."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I could feel my chest start to hurt, like it always does when I'm pissed and about to get in a fight.
"Nothing." He stepped away from me.
"So I guess this means that you won't be answering any questions I have to ask?" I said, getting even madder.
He sighed. "So now you want to talk? What questions could you possibly have?" His eyes were sooo cold, void of everything. Except evil.
"Oh I don't know. How about: Did you ever think of about me on my birthday or on yours, or at Christmas or when you were rotting away in prison? Did you ever think about changing your lifestyle and settling down? Did you ever think about what you could've done with your life? With our life? What about my mother? Did you ever wonder if I was doing okay or even alive? Or maybe how nice it might be if you weren't on the run and fighting for your life all the time?" I started off furious but my voice started breaking on the last two questions.
He side-ways grinned at me, showing off his beautiful smile, he was such a handsome man. I thought to myself: "This is what Satan truly must look like. Gorgeous and completely evil." He tilted his head and, still grinning, said:
"I figured you were smart enough to realize that you were just a mistake and that you weren't wanted. If not, the way your life has played out should've been a hint. I mean, look at your past Jess. No one stood up to take you, not even your own mother, God only knows where she is now, you got tossed around in the foster system and they couldn't even do anything for you. And then of course me…I wasn't much older than you are now when you were born into this fucked up universe. You were obviously not wanted, and still not wanted. I don't have any interest in you or the overgrown orphanage L.C.S.; it's all just a big mistake. Am I being clear? "
I just stared at him, trying to keep myself together. He smirked at my silence.
"You know? You're a good kid Jess."
"Yeah, and I bet that sexy smile of yours drives all the prostitutes crazy."
He smirked even wider at that. He turned and opened the door. Riddick glanced back over his shoulder at me.
"Don't go anywhere by yourself for a few days….and stay away from the Necromongors Angel." His eyes were cold and mischievous. He started walking out.
I said quietly, barely audible to my own ears; "I'm sorry I prayed to God to protect you."
Then he left. I don't know if he heard me. I guess it didn't matter. It was still for a moment. I was rubbing my hands together, rubbing them raw. The way I do when I'm frustrated or hurt.
From behind me: "Jess?"
The sudden sound in the silence made me jump. It was Pop-Pop; he must have come in when Riddick was busy mind fucking me.
"Are you alright Angel?" His eyes were so soft and full of love that it made my heart hurt even worse than it already was.
"Yeah I'm fine." I tried to play it off, but my voice was shaking and chocked with held back tears. Pop-Pop walked over and kissed my forehead, then sat down on the near-by couch.
"Sit down Jess."
I did as I was told. Pop-Pop is one of the few adults I take seriously and listen to.
…Awww Pop-Pop, one of the few good male influences I've ever had…
"I'm so sorry Angel. Sorry that you have to go through life with that monster's last name and reputation branded on you. But just realize all that you have accomplished without him."
"Yeah, you're right." I said standing, feeling a little better. But then I remembered what Riddick had said: "You were just a mistake… obviously not wanted…" I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. I started pacing back and forth.
"Yeah, you're right." I repeated, chanting it almost. Trying like hell to believe it.
"Yeah, you're right. I'd be somewhere in a ditch dead or addicted to drugs or something. But I'm not, here I am. I never needed him. He wasn't there when I had to fight for my life in the projects. It was Mike who helped me get out of the ghetto. I didn't need his chronic-convict ass when I brought L.C.S. back!"
I was ranting now with tears running down my face. I picked up a vase I've never really liked and hurled it at the wall with an unsatisfying crash.
"I was the one who raised L.C.S. from a backyard-tree-house-gang to a universal wide organization! Without him! I overcame poverty and abuse and a fucked up childhood! He wasn't there! He was never there-" I punched a wall"-when I had to live on the streets! Or when Vincent was beating or touching me…when that sick fuck would sneak into my room at night…." I was at a whisper now, I could barely stand, and I collapsed to my knees. I looked at my Pop-Pop through very blurred vision.
"Why doesn't he want me Pop-Pop?" I sounded and felt like the confused and broken 9 year old I had been when I first met my Pop-Pop.
And I cried. Hard. I cried until I hiccupped and coughed. I cried until I made myself sick.
I cried for the first time in four years…