Early morning wakeups were something that became almost familiar to me. Spending my entire life in the prison levels at Butcher's Bay gave me a chance to see something that not everyone did. To do so required that I got up early in the morning. People in prisons didn't sleep well and they didn't sleep long. You couldn't risk it. There were always people around that would shiv you in the back or slit your throat for what you had, if they thought it could be of value to them. So it made it hard for me to be someone that didn't get up early. After a while it became habit too. So getting the chance to sleep in was a novelty just as I knew that my mate sleeping next to me was a novelty for him as well. The longer we were on this ship the harder it was going to be for us to remember that we didn't grow up with the luxuries.
Of course there was another reason that we got up early too. Today was the day that we executed our attack on those that had hurt Jack so badly. I knew that we had to be flawless in what we planned and I prayed to whatever deity was up there looking down on us that if I didn't make it back that least Rick did. He didn't deserve to die yet. Not when he he had such a greater destiny in front of him than most people will ever know. I could feel it, in the back of my mind. The knowledge that his time of power and strength wasn't over yet. We were both needed for some other purpose but that didn't make it any easier.
Climbing out of bed slowly, stretching my muscles so that I could get them loose I headed for the shower. Letting the water run down my body and the heat of it pound away the oncoming stress I tried to remind myself what was going to happen. This was just supposed to be a simple pick up and leave operation. The real killing wasn't supposed to start until Taurus Four. Still there was always the chance that we'd run into trouble, I just hoped that it wasn't of the kind that would actually get us killed. Life was so dangerous for us that we couldn't take risks. Not ones that we couldn't at least calculate the success of.
Once I was done with my shower I dried off quickly and dressed. I felt halfway naked even covered with clothing. I didn't have nearly enough blades on me for my liking but I'd have to make due. There hadn't been any place for us to stop and stock up on weapons but Rick always seems to have extra. Slipping two small knives into my boots, and tucking one small stiletto into my hair, I moved through the bedroom picking up the remainder of the weapons I'd secreted away since escaping the bay and that hellish planet. I would love to have a gun but that would make what we were about to do obvious.
Running a hand through my hair, I wished I could find something to tie it back with but I didn't have anything left. Giving up on the futile attempt I left the bedroom and headed into the common area of the ship. Rick was already up, someone who seemed to get up even before I did which was scary considering the chrono said it was just after five in the morning. We wouldn't even be landing for another three hours. Moving softly to the couch I threw myself down on the cushions with a sigh. I needed to get my mind focused on something, anything that would allow me to not kill myself or Riddick during this trial.
Getting up from the couch, I moved the table and couch against the far wall. Taking a spot in the center of it all, I started going through some of the kata movements that I'd learned in prison. Centering my mind was vital to our success. If we didn't do this just right more people would be hurt than necessary. After all, we were only going to get Jacks things, and maybe beat some sense into her father. The real use of our skills was being saved for Taurus 4. Those bastards would get exactly what they deserved at the end of my blades, and Ricks.
Doing the kata's was soothing to me, it allowed me to almost exist for a moment outside of my own body. I was drawn to the soothing movements, into the breathing. Being so absorbed into it that I didn't even hear the footsteps or sense anyone around me until a pair of arms wrapped around me and moved my hands into the movements. I knew who hit was instantly and turned my head. Smiling down at me was Rick. He was apparently familiar with the movements as well because he released me and started to work just beside me.
When we both were done with the kata two hours had passed. No one had bothered us and I frowned. Rushing off to the kitchen I snagged something to eat before running into the room I shared with Riddick. I needed to prepare for our little trip. Digging into the stock of knives that I could find, knowing that I'd have to make or buy more I hid them all over my body. There were two that would be easy to get too, the one i hid in my back and the one on my thigh were the easiest to get too. Some of the weapons would be allowed, it would be what they can't see that would give us more of an advantage.
When I was sure that I had enough weapons hidden I left the room. Rick was ready to go, that much was clear by his stance by the door and the fact that the ship was docked already. Moving through the open door of the ship and out to the port I sighed. Why did all these planets have to be so bright? Adjusting the strap on her goggles she moved off in the direction of their target. The house wasn't' too far way but she didn't want to take any chances.
Finding the derelict house wasn't all that hard, it was exactly where Jack had said it would be. Moving clover to the door I tried to listen to see if something was going on. We should have been alone in the house, been able to sneak in and get her things. Complications were not something that we wanted but they had been normal lately. Without a thought I busted the lock and snuck into the main part of the house. It wasn't hard to find Jack's room. It was exactly as she said it would be and that honestly concerned me. It had been years since she'd been here, something should have changed.
I kept my guard up as I moved around the city heading towards the home that Jack had been born into. I knew there were things there that she wanted, family pictures and trinkets. I would get them for her, without any questions. Rick was supposed to take another way, going at the opposite end so that we didn't look like we were a team. It was the whole divide and conquer idea. I was all for it and yet, I was nervous as hell. This could go horribly horribly wrong and none of us were prepared for any major injuries.
Taking a deep and steady breath I pushed my way closer towards the house. This was the house that had started it all for little Jack and I was going to make absolutely sure that they understood they were to blame. I wished for a moment that my weapons were out and I could show them off but I knew better. I didn't want anyone knowing what was to come. After all, this was the planet where the killing would be. No we were going to save that for Taurus Four.
With my eyes starting at the house that Jack had grown up in, to a point, and the man that had sold her into slavery I sighed. I wished that he wasn't there. It would have been a hell of a lot easier to get in and get out without the man there. Right now, there was nothing stopping him from alerting the police that there were intruders. Well nothing but being at the wrong end of the blade. Even so, I knew that I couldn't risk it. I wasn't nearly as powerful physically as my Rick was, but he was also very easily identifiable. How many escaped convicts are his size? Not many at all.
Scanning my gaze to the left I saw that Rick had taken his position. He was in a better shot to get out of here but we still needed to both get in that house. I knew the things that a little girl like her would need and Rick was supposed to be the muscle. It looked like he'd get to be the muscle a hell of a lot faster than I wanted him too. Nodding my head, an almost imperceptible movement I moved forward. This was my show after all. I needed to prove to not only Rick but Jack that I could do this. Well at least that's what I thought. I'd already helped them get off that godforsaken planet and out of the clutches of the merc who wanted to mount us like prized hunt animals. Why I felt like I still had to prove myself I didn't know.
Closing my eyes for a moment, feeling the animal inside of me uncoil and get ready to spring, I knew that this was the time. This was the time when we would shine. We both could be in and out without so much as disturbing a hair on that mans chest but I wouldn't. I wanted him to understand exactly what he'd done to his only daughter. So I pushed the door open, slightly upset that they hadn't bothered to lock it. What was it with the stupid of people? Did they not understand that an unlocked door was a better sign that something was going to happen.
Once across the threshold of the house, I could sense Rick not too far off. He'd come in the back door, waiting to spring if something were to happen to me. For a moment, I was utterly happy that Jack had agreed to stay at the ship with Imam. I didn't need either of them seeing what we might have to do here.
Putting all of my Furyan talents to use, I let my feet silently pad up the stairs that were just past the entryway. Jack had given us the layout so well that I could probably find what I was looking for in my sleep. I sensed no other people in the house other than myself, Riddick and Jack's errant father. I only hoped that the man didn't try to run afoul of Riddick. Right now neither of us could really afford to have anyone see us in one of our moods.
At the top of the stairs I took in a deep breath. This place reeked. Not that it would have stopped me from what I was doing but I couldn't help it. Certain places started to take on the life that they were forced to be a part of. This place smelled like a brothel and not a very clean one at that. With a frown and a deep sigh, I veered off into the room that was supposed to be Jack's. It was the only one that didn't have a smell too it.
Forcing open the door I was shocked for a moment. It was almost like they'd turned the room into a shrine. Considering the way they'd sent her off to be a slave to the system I couldn't understand that. If she had died or something, then maybe but right now, she was alive and well. Shaking myself from my morose thoughts I moved towards the closet. It was a small affair that didn't house a lot but any little thing would be enough for Jack. This much I knew. What she didn't have here Rick and I would get for her. She was our baby sister, our pack and we would protect her.
At the top of the small closet was a bag that would be big enough for what we needed. Pulling it down, I checked to make sure there wasn't anything inside that would get us in trouble or hurt in anyway. Releasing the latch I started to fill it. Mostly with the few stuffed animals that the little girl had and the clothing. Well I lie. Not all the clothing was coming with us. Only the ones that were appropriate for a young lady of her status to wear.
I was honestly angered by the style of clothing that I saw. I knew what Jack had told us about her time before her mother's death and before she got sent to that home. I knew what had happened to her while there. The clothing that was staring at me was a sign that her father knew a lot more about it than he wanted anyone to know. I would never understand what kind of parent would let a young child wear clothing that revealing or short but then I remembered her words; he did this so that she would draw him in people and when she refused that was when she was sent to the other planet.
Sick bastard. I hope that he enjoys the little warning that my Rick is going to give him before we leave. I couldn't fight the thought staring at this. By the time I'd packed all the appropriate clothing I realized that Jack didn't have very much at all. There were three pairs of pants and they probably would only fit her for another month before they'd be far too short to wear. She had about a dozen tops that weren't revealing but she could get buy with wearing. Again I wasn't even sure how much of this clothing would fit her. Why her father even had this stuff was beyond me, considering that he hadn't seen her since he'd sold her off.
With the bag packed I glanced around her room once more. There was a spot that looked slightly out of place. Moving too it I pushed open the loose brick in the wall. Hidden behind it was a picture. It looked like one that someone had loved very much but tried to keep hidden so that it wouldn't be destroyed. Looking at it made my heart clench in a brief flash of pain. It was a picture of Jack and her mother. I would take that too her. I knew that I'd never get that. My mother had been in jail and there were no pictures taken then. I didn't even know what she looked like.
Now that I had that secret little treasure tucked into the pocket of my pants, I was sure I had everything from the room. Closing the door behind me, the bag slung across my back I silently made my way downstairs again. I could hear the sounds of a scuffle and the pure masculine laugh of my mate. He was enjoying this, probably more than I was. I also knew that he could sense the direction of my emotions and would likely want to try to figure out what was causing them.
It wasn't that it was rare for me to have moments of weakness. I had them. Most everyone had them. I was even pretty sure that my Rick had them. I just was finding it harder to hide them from him. He and I were truly a pair. Neither of us knew anything about our parents than what we were already told. He knew that he was a Furyan, sort of, and I knew that I was too. I knew that my mother was an ambassador and my father had been high up in the ranks. That was it. We didn't have pictures or anything for us to gaze at to even get a glimpse of who we were destined to be. This was something that I'd talk to him later about.
Following the sounds, I leaned against the doorway, the bag from Jack's room still across my back. I watched him, carefully, seeing him away from the prying eyes of the law and the mercs and for more than the first time I was entranced. I loved him and he was in his element. With each stroke of the shiv I could see the masterpiece come together.
"Don't stop the fun on my account. We gotta go love, the sun will rise in a few hours." I knew that I probably looked stupid saying that considering it was broad daylight but it was a code. It was the signal that if we didn't leave now there was a good chance the police or a random patch of mercenaries would find us or the the little ship we'd called our home. I wanted nothing more than to get back and make sure that Jack was protected.
I caught Rick's eyes and he smirked at me before he cast the final cut and spoke down to the horrible excuse for a flesh bag.
"Let this be a lesson to you. Children are our greatest gift and you squandered yours away. If you even so much as try to find us, or contact her, you will wish that I'd not shown you any mercy here, do you understand?"
I watched as the man nodded. There was a part of me that wondered why he couldn't actually answer but a quick glance at his neck showed me that his larynx was probably crushed and would take a while to heal. Hell I wouldn't be upset if he didn't actually heal. With that spoken the two of us left the house and headed back to the ship. I knew that the questions from Riddick would come, I just wasn't sure I was quite ready for them yet. I couldn't hide anything from him. That was for sure.
Making it back to the ship wasn't a problem. The way was clear and we'd not encountered any resistance. I wouldn't be happy until we were in atmo and leaving the planet behind us. Tossing the bag down on one of the couches, I sighed as I stared at the chrono on the wall. We needed to get a move on but it would still take us several more days before we reached Taurus 4. I could feel a pair of arms wrap themselves around me and I relaxed into their embrace. Rick was giving me the quiet balance that I needed at the moment, without delving too much into things. The questions could come later. Right now he knew that I just needed comfort.
Unlike my lover I was used to gettin' up early. Many times in the slam you had to get up at damn near the crack of dawn to avoid anyone tryin' to gut you and take your thin's. I guess I could say that it was part of being an escaped convict. You learn fast to get up early and stay up as late as possible. I slept very little, far less than even my mate did. She still slept like the world wasn't after us and that made me happy. She needed rest and I could get by with very little for many days.
This was goin' to be the day that we started our plan to avenge little Jackie. I was goin' to make sure that nothin' happened to either of the women ever again. They were my pack, my family and it was my duty to protect them. I could sense the nervousness and unease comin' off of her in waves. This was her chance to show that she was just as strong as I was and I knew that was part of the reasonin' behind the emotions. She was going to be fine, she didn't need to prove anything'. I just couldn't get her to understand that.
I heard her get out of our warm bed and sighed. I wished she'd stayed for a little while longer. At least then I could have tried to comfort her more than she was lettin' me. When the shower ran I couldn't help but frown. She needed to do this but the protective streak in me was wider than the space lanes and I hated that she was makin' me worry like this. I knew it wasn't intentional but what was I supposed to do? Just forget that we both were takin' a huge ass risk for some thing's for our little Jackie?
When she was done with her shower I slipped in behind her and took mine. I loved it this way. The place smelled like her and it made me almost roll my eyes back in my head. No one would understand the attraction I had to my mate's scent. It was the most amazin' thing I'd ever smelled and partly why the animal in me had chosen to claim her. There were other reasons but smell was important to the animals. She smelled like me now and a scent that was all her own. Shaking myself free of the thoughts I finished my shower and moved out to dress. I was goin' to be feelin' aprehension from my love for a good while now. At least until this job was done and we were safely back in atmo.
I was out of the room, fully dressed and fitted with all my shivs and weapons before Autumn would even really know what was goin' on. I knew it bothered her that there were times I was up before her. She didn't have it quite as hard as I had growin' up and she needed her sleep more. I would be damned if she only got an hour of sleep when her body needed way more than that. She was mine to protect and look after and I would do that, even if it meant I only could sleep for an hour myself.
I watched as my love moved around the ship and tried to get her mental tone right. Neither one of us could really afford to be without our best game. We didn't want to risk gettin' caught even though we would probably fight our way free. She didn't know that I was watchin' her do her kata's tryin' to center herself. I'd already done mine, much earlier than she would have thought. I moved faster than most humans did, and she was slightly slower than I was. Of course I would join her, I couldn't resist. Wrappin' my arms around hers and letting our arms do the movements together, I could feel her relax some. Smillin' down at her I couldn't help but feel happy. When I knew that she was relaxed enough to actually get the benefit of the workout I moved to the side and together we finished the routine.
The thin' about the kata's? It was easy to get lost in the movements. They were a way to soothe not only the human but the beast inside of us. The animals liked the calmin' motions and the breathin' control that helped us focus and get our minds in the right zone. I knew how long we'd been doin' them but it seemed to surprise Autumn that we'd been doing this for two hours. She needed it, like I needed her to survive now. I watched as she ran off to the kitchen to snag somethin' to eat and simply waited. I was ready to go and she would be soon eneough.
When we left I was happy. I didn't wanna linger around the ship anymore and we had a lot to do before we could get off this hellhole. Findin' the house wasn't a problem. It was actually a lot easier than most people would have thought. Then again, most people didn't have the workin' knowledge of the layout of Butcher's Bay like Autumn and I did. To us this planet was layed out almost identical to it so we wouldn't have any trouble findin' anything we needed. I wasn't impressed with the house that I was starin' at though. considierin' that the man has sold his daughter pretty much into sexual slavery I would have expected a nicer place, by now at least.
What I didn't like about the plan was that I had to take a different way to the house than my love. I could do it, of course but I would be damned if somethin' happened to her because I wasn't near. I could feel her in my radar and I knew she was still safe. Nervous for sure but safe for now. So I let my feet carry my large frame over to the point of interest. Both of us moved much faster than anyone wanted to admit. I wished for a moment that I could have taken this at a leisurely stroll but I didn't have that luxury right now. We needed to be in and out before the sirens rained down upon us.
While my thoughts were churnin' about what was going to happen I took my spot. I could see Autumn from here and knew that she would be the one to go inside and snag Jackie's thin's. Didn't bother me really. I had to keep our 'guest' occupied and I would be happy too so long as it meant that my love didn't get hurt. I was waitin' for her signal. This was her show, and I wasn't going to take over. It was a great deal of love that I was showin' her lettin' her know that she was in charge after all. It had been her plan.
When the signal was given I took off in the back door. My feet weren't nearly as silent as my loves, on purpose. I could sense the three of us in the house. The human heartbeat was different than that of mine or my loves and I followed it. I could hear the man on the com and it bothered me. Apparently his own daughter wasn't the only one he'd done this shit too. This thing, because callin' it a man was an insult to men, was actually tryin' to get more people to do the same as he had.
I could hear his voice as he explained the virtues of sellin' off their daughters to the whorehouse that was Taurus 4 under the guise that it was a school for problem children. He'd made a killin' apparently and spent much of that money elsewhere because he sure as hell hadn't cleaned up the house. The further into this crap hole I went the more I could smell the 'reality' of what was goin' on. He'd turned his own house into a sort of brothel. Apparently it was his way of testin' the children before they were sent away. He needed to know which one's needed just a little extra incentive to do as they were told.
I could feel the anger buildin' up inside of me and I couldn't not act on it. Autumn's emotions were jumbled up through our bond which told me she'd found somethin' she didn't like either. My feet grew quieter as I approached the office. Slidin' the door open the man didn't even know I was there till my shiv was pressed to his neck and my voice broke through the silence in the air. Snatchin' the remote to the com I clicked it off knowin' that it was only a voice com and not a visual one.
"I don't think you wanna be doin' that."
There was a tone in my voice that spoke volumes about him bein' hurt for somethin'. He seemed to be too stupid to understand that though.I could feel his body tense in my arms and it just made me smirk harder. I was goin' to let him go only so he could try to justify himself. I couldn't kill him. Leavin' a dead body would only brin' questions we didn't have the time to answer. So I moved my shiv and watched as he turned around.
It never failed to amuse me the amount of fear that people showed. Only the truly stupid, or the lucky few like Autumn, didn't fear me. I knew why she didn't and it was because of our Furyan natures. This man though, he was truly stupid. He thought he was goin' to be able to escape this without me havin' any fun. There was the problem.
"What the hell are you on about? Are you an unhappy customer? You know you're not even supposed to know who the hell I am."
"Shut up. I'm here because of you're daughter. You know the one you sold into a life that wasn't hers to begin with so that you could make a few thousand credits."
I watched as the shock started to climb through his eyes. If I knew Jack then obviously somethin' had happened. It never did register in his brain because I started to get a little shiv happy. The cuts were shallow and they'd heal; in a day or two at least. I wasn't goin' to make it easy on him. The more he blathered on the less I really cared. I could hear Autumn comin' down the stairs. I needed to speed thin's along.
Lettiin' my shiv do the talkin' more I cut the man almost one hundred times. I could hear him tryin' to mutter somethin' but I didn't wanna hear it. So I grabbed his throat and crushed his ability to speak. He wouldn't be able to call for help for a good long while. I also knew that he wouldn't be stupid enough to actually inform the police of what happened to him because he'd have to explain why he was attacked to begin with.
"Don't stop the fun on my account. We gotta go love, the sun will rise in a few hours."
I turned to the sound of the voice and smiled at her openly. She was usin' the code we had for alertin' me that the cops might be on our trail. I gave one final deep cut to the man, one that I knew he'd remember for a good long while. I was angry at him but right now I just wanted to get my mate back on the ship and get us up in atmo before everythin' came crashin' down.
"Let this be a lesson to you. Children are our greatest gift and you squandered yours away. If you even so much as try to find us, or contact her, you will wish that I'd not shown you any mercy here, do you understand?"
At his nod we left. I barely watched as he crumbled to the ground. We were off and back to the ship faster than most people would realize. I was still wary though. My mate was upset but I wasn't goin' to push. She would tell me in her own time or I'd find a way to get it out of her without hurtin' her more. I knew this much. She also knew that she couldn't hide it from me. Not since we'd actually mated and joined. We were each other's half and when one of us was hurt the other would always sense it.
Climbin' aboard the ship, I took off for the cockpit and got us up and out of there faster than most people would realize. It was take several more days for us to reach our next destination but we had the time. I wasn't in a huge rush to get anywhere specific and the world could just learn to wait for us. Shazza greeted me as I left the cockpit and headed out to find my mate. She'd been the one to comfort and calm Jackie girl while we'd gone of and had a bit of a party.