Chapter Two

The darkness was never ending, the lights from the wires around them their only survival. She could hear them behind her, feel their sightless eyes boring into her back, their mouths opening wide, reaching out. She would not look back, no matter what she heard, there was no room for fear. Her eyes turned over to him, his head down as his body pushed forward, so strong and sure as he led them through the night. To safety? Who knew. A cry was torn from her mouth as she felt her foot catch in something below, her body falling and falling fast as the lights around her refused to free her arms…

She bolted out of bed, her arms out and searching for something that was no longer there. The sweat covering her body caused her to shiver despite the heat and pushing back against her bed, she leaned her head back, running tired fingers through her disheveled hair. She could feel her heart beating erratically against her chest, her breath coming in short pants, but her mind was wandering too far to notice. Would there always be danger? With a shake of her head she pushed off from the floor and headed out into the dark hallway, her eyes shifting towards the control room before turning toward his, no sounds could be heard anywhere and she found herself wondering where he was.

Approaching the darkened room slowly, she could see him sitting in the chair, his gaze forward as he watched the darkness before them.

"It's late." His deep voice rumbled to her.

"I know. " She swiveled around his chair to the other, taking a seat, her knees pulled up to her chest. "You don't sleep much do you?" She took in his darkened eyes and sighed. "Or at all." She turned her eyes to the screen in front of her, watching nothing really but just staring, waiting for him to talk though she knew he wouldn't.

As the time passed, she found her eyes becoming heavy but didn't want to get up in case she might get something from him. Unable to control her eyes, she found herself drifting off, feeling his eyes on her but unable to open hers.

When she woke it was to find herself in her own room, even in the dark she could decipher the surroundings she was beginning to grow accustomed to. Rolling onto her side, she sighed as she curled her legs up to her chest. Last night she had come back here, unable to understand the feelings she was getting from Riddick, the man she thought she knew but was always continuing to surprise her. 'Does he at least care for me?' Her mind replayed his words and actions over and over hoping against all odds that they would somehow make sense. So far it wasn't working and sitting up; she rubbed the sleep from her face and slid silently out of bed. They would dock today, to get supplies, and that would help clear her head. Maybe what she needed was to get some fresh air.

Heading to the shattered panel, she cursed as she remembered how it had gotten that way and winced. With a shrug she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, her direction the flight room. The panels greeted her, the darkness of the room somehow comforting and taking a seat in the large chair, she leaned back and fingered the small panel to her left. According to her home time, it was five in the morning.

The small planet that seemed so far away earlier was closer; they would be in com reach within a matter of hours. Fingering the black blade at her side, she smirked as her thoughts drifted to him again. The fear was still there, fear of her getting attached once more only to have him leave her. It was hard to trust him to stay put even at his word. The years had passed for them both but closing her eyes, his face in her mind produced the same results as they did when she was twelve. Maybe a bit stronger now since she was aware of what the feelings meant but somehow it made her more afraid knowing what they meant. She had always cared for him but she had no idea when the hero worship had turned into love. Even when he wasn't there, her thoughts were always of him. What he was doing, where he was, was he safe, and of course when was he coming back. She had finally given up, knowing she would never see him again. And now here she was, sitting in his seat, in the dark control room, waiting.

It was tempting to venture to his room, wondering if he was asleep. She couldn't remember ever catching him sleeping and often wondered if he even slept. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she pushed herself up from the chair and headed out of the dark, into the hallway, making her way to the kitchen. She turned on the lights as she passed and pushed a few buttons on a panel, setting a cup underneath as the aroma of hot tea filled her senses. The spice she added was strong, the caffeine factor stronger than the coffee she normally drank. Bringing the steaming cup to her mouth, she closed her eyes as she inhaled.

A squeal of metal ringing through the room, causing her to drop the cup, hot liquid splashing over her bare toes. Crying out in pain, she dropped down to wipe up the mess, hearing the almost silent scraping again. The whine of the machines in the control room called her attention and she bolted out of the room, almost running into the back of a solid form. Stepping back, she saw it was Riddick, hunched over the monitors. "What's happening?"

He didn't answer her as his eyes continued to run over the screens and read the Intel the computer spit out at him. Shaking his head he straightened and half turned to her. "We were hit by something." Pushing a button, a panel spread in front of them, revealing the black hole of space beyond it. The planet was even closer than before, a series of spare debris and rocks floated alongside them.

"Everything okay?"

"It's fine."

She calmed somewhat, her heart still racing beyond control as she continued to hear things scraping along the ship, something leaving a squealing trail that caused her body to turn cold as her eyes closed. 'It sounded just like them.' She shook her head, her breathing erratic as she stepped away from Riddick, trying not to alert him to her panic.

It was useless as he could smell her fear and turned to her confused, seeing the color drain from her face. "We're fine. Just space junk."

She nodded letting him believe it was the debris that had her scared. Watching him head out, she turned back toward the screen, shuddering at the dark planet's approach.

The night was dark, no stars to guide their way as they emerged from the ship, setting the security codes as they left. Her eyes glanced around at the dark water to their right, the lights from across the bay glowing eerily on its surface. Rings of laughter filtered to their ears as they walked toward the city center.

He threw her a card full of credits. "You know what we need."

"Where you going?"

"Get some things. Meet back here in an hour."

"An hour?" She was confused, why were they splitting up. "But this…"

"Jack."

"Fine." She rolled her eyes as she pushed past him, her anger evident as she disappeared into the shadows.

He shook his head, smiling as he turned and headed off away from town. There was some business he had to attend to first.

The bags thudded to the floor as she half threw; half laid them down onto the floor of the loading deck. Shrugging out of her coat, she leaned against the wall, wondering where he was. It had been longer than an hour and for someone who was anal about his schedule, he still wasn't there. Stepping back out into the night, she searched the area, no one in sight. Closing the door behind her, she headed off in the direction she had seen him go earlier. Most of the buildings she passed were closed but as she rounded a corner a large building caught her attention, as several people passed by the windows inside.

She almost kept going when she spotted a familiar figure near a window and stepping closer she knew she had found him. It didn't surprise her that he had a drink in his hand but what did was the wench it seemed to be attached to. Clenching her jaw, she hurried up the steps and opened the door; many eyes turned to her, mostly men.

Trying to wind her way around the crowds, she headed into the other room, spotting the wench in question as she stood next to Riddick. His attention, lucky for him, was on a man who sat across from a table, paperwork in his chubby fingers. Moving closer she tried to listen to their words.

"…have it?"

The man stumbled over his words, his face turning a bright shade of red in his attempt to either lie his way out of the situation or find some clever way out. From the look of him, she figured it would be the first, although no one lied to Riddick for long. "It's….are you sure?"

"Would I waste my time?"

"All right." He handed over the papers, his hands shaking. "Mennick didn't tell me."
"Why should he?" He stood, his eyes searching. Pulling up one of the papers, he threw the others at the man. "This one." He jutted it out in front of the man. "Two years." He held up two fingers before turning to walk away, the woman behind him visibly pouting as he left.

Jack straightened as he came around the corner, his eyes quickly turned to hers. "You're late."

He didn't answer as he headed out the door, not stopping till they were back to the ship, the door closed and the motor running. She could see him relax as they hit orbit, making their way from the planet. "Who was he?"

"No one."

"Yeah looked like it." His eyes met hers. "What's in the paper?"

He glanced at it as it lay on top of the controls. "Nothing."

"Went to a lot of trouble for nothing." She crossed her arms in annoyance. "Tell me."

"It's nothing."

"Fine." She threw up her hands and walked out.

The darkness was all around them, their footsteps echoing through the pass. Turning her head, she could see them moving just outside the line of light. The only thing that was keeping them safe, that and the man who was surprising them all. Turning her eyes back toward him, his body rigged and tensed. The goggles were on, taking away the sight of his shined eyes and somehow that disturbed her, knowing he was hiding from them. You really couldn't tell what a person's intentions were without looking them in the eye.

A squeal behind her sent her heart racing, her eyes refusing to turn back, knowing they were right there. Listening to the others talk, about their scents, made her scared. If they followed the smallest thing, blood being the strongest pull, caused her to fear for not only her life but everyone. Pushing her way toward the front of the crowd as they rushed on, her eyes flicked to Riddick, his straight posture confusing her. Did he fear anything?

The sounds were getting louder, there were more? It was then that she chose to listen to what everyone was saying.

"……her blood."

Fry stopped in confusion. "I'm not hurt."

Riddick's face was impassive as he turned to them. "No not yours…." He pointed toward Jack. "Hers."

Jack opened her eyes, the images fresh in her mind as if they had just happened. It had been years since she had had a nightmare and it all had to do with the fact that Riddick was around. Sitting up, she rubbed her face, pushing the curls from her face and letting her breath out in a huff.

Convinced that sleep was no longer an option, she slid out of bed and headed toward the control room, something she had apparently started a habit of.

Hearing him come into the room not long after, she turned the chair around to face him.

"That's twice you've been up early."

"So?"

He left it alone as he checked a few things before leaving her in the dark once more.

She set her cup down and followed. "What are the papers, Riddick?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me." She placed her hand on his arm. "Please."

"Don't worry about it."

"How can I not? Why are you keeping this from me?"

He turned. "Some things are better off left alone."

"Not to me."

He growled as he pulled a paper from his pocket and handed it to her.

She lowered her eyes to see an area map of her home. There were coordinates and bounty figures along with her pictures. "The hit?"

"I've pinpointed its origin by planet but I can't figure out who set it up."

She looked up at him. "Why would you hide this from me?"

"I figured I'd have it taken care of before you knew. Didn't want to worry you."

"I'm not a child Riddick, I can handle this."

"I see that."

She handed the paper back. "So where do we go now?"

"We're already on our way." He left the room, leaving her confused.

Jack noticed that Riddick was no where to be found the next few days, only being spotted as he passed by in the passage ways and when she tried to follow, he always seemed to vanish.

Finally one day, she saw his form heading up through a hold in the ceiling. Reaching down, she flicked her shiv at him, taking a small chip out of his boot heel. The foot lowered along with the rest of him, his eyes dark and waiting.

Crossing her arms over her chest in an act of defiance, she raised a brow and turned, not saying one word to him. She should have known she wouldn't have gotten far as she felt herself yanked back only to be pushed against a wall, her green eyes glaring up at him.

"What was that?"

"No…that is my question." She tried to break his tight hold, his fierce gaze on hers.

I…was…working."

"Really? Didn't know hiding was a job title. Is that primary to piloting or secondary?" She grinned as he narrowed his eyes.

"Careful."

"Or what?" She let her smile drop. "Who's after me?"

"Don't know."
"But you know where?"

"Yes."

"Where are we going?"

His head rose to listen, turning slightly toward the control room. It was then that she heard the low humming and a systematic beep telling them they had reached destination. "We're here." Without another glance, he turned and headed down the dark hall.

Her mind was confused as she watched him go, wondering at the change of mood. How could one person go from beauty to beast within less than a week? The answer was simple; there wasn't an answer when it came to Riddick. Following slowly, she stopped behind him, watching him flick at the lights, reading the screen. A large, green planet filled her view, the two moons and one sun adding to the beauty of the scene. "Where are we?"

"Lanorian."

"Friendly?"
"Hope so." He pushed off of the console, heading away, feeling her gaze on him but unable to face her.

End of Chapter Two