Disclaimer in chapter 1
Two Months later…
In one month he would be on Helion Prime and he would get to see Jacky for the first time in four years.
Riddick's POV
Two months in space and the only thing left to do is think. Think about the past, about the future, and about freedom.
A little over a week ago Jacky sent me a data stream. She's been collecting information on the Company and my case. She intends to win my freedom for me. I can't believe my little Jacky wants to do something that could get her killed. If the Company were to find her in their network, she would be sent to slam and be in the same position I'm in now. I can't talk her out of it, so I'll just have to help her and try my best to keep her safe.
She's so smart. Sometimes I worry if she's as healthy as she claims to be. When we were just kids and she would get anemic it would scare me. At least now we know why she was so sick when we were young. Her birth parents were unknown to us and the doctors and medical staff that mom and pop would take her to would just say it was anemia and there was nothing that we could do. When she was four just after Xander and I got married, Spike had asked "why was the little nibblet of a dhampir not eating?"
That bombshell was like a ton a bricks landing right on my chest. In that second fear so great that my heart almost stopped shot through me. I wasn't scared of her, I was scared for her. She was four years old and I didn't know my parents stand on vampirism and the like. That fear was washed away when my pop picked Jacky up and asked her if that's what's been wrong for so long. The question just seemed so out of place that I had to laugh. After finding out what was wrong with my little Jacky, fixing it was easy. All we had to do was supplement her food with blood and she was healthy and happy for the first time in her short life. Now though I worry because I don't know how or if she is getting the life blood that she needs.
The Cryo chamber that I have for her to use on the seven month journey to Old Earth has a mixed in blood bank that's generally used by vampires, but it'll work for her to. I know she doesn't like Cryo-sleep because we don't actually sleep in the time we spend in the chamber, but there is nothing we can do about it, in hyper space your body has to be asleep even if your mind isn't.
I think about what it'll be like to see Xander again. To feel him under me, to see his smile, just to smell him again would be such a happy moment that I'm not sure I deserve it. I know I've don't some evil things in my time on the run, but I also know that my husband will forgive me; that he already has forgiven me for the things I've done.
Helion Prime. Weeks filled with thinking, hoping, and longing come to an end finally. As I look out the view screen at Helion's surface I know she's there waiting on me.
Docking was easy. Just enter the com-codes Jacky sent and the automated system sent the coordinates for landing. No questions asked and no problems with customs. The thing that surprised me when I landed was that she was there, just standing in the docking bay, smiling.
Today was the day. He was going to be here in less then five hours. After checking that all my things were packed and my com-unit was working I didn't know what to do. I should be spending time with Ziza and Imam. I just get so sad when I think about leaving them here and going to Old Earth without them. Imam has lost so much in the past, first his three sons on T2 and last year his wife Lujjun to cancer. Maybe I can convince them to come with us.
"Imam, can we talk" I ask.
"My child, yes anything" he replies.
"Wouldn't you and Ziza like to go with us to Old Earth, You could see Mecca", my desperation is easy to hear in my voice.
"My child, we have talked about this. Only when I speak to Mr. Riddick will I agree to go with you. I do not wish to impose on him; he has done so much for me and my family that I would not wish to burden him with my travels." He replies.
"Imam, You know he will say yes. Can't you just pack now and ask later." Ok now I was acting like the child that he claims me to be.
"Jacquelyn, my child we will be there to great him in four hours and I will ask him then. Now come and eat. You need your strength for the journey ahead." He says to me, like I'm still in need of reminding.
To eat now when I know he's only a few thousand miles from the planets surface is not something I want to be doing. I want to move, exercise, and play games with Ziza. Not eat.
Ah. But alas, eat I will. Imam thinks I need food and blood to make me strong, but I know what I need and its not food or blood, it's my family, my whole family together and safe. That's what will make me strong. That's what will give me life.
I'm standing there with Imam and Ziza watching his ship land. The landing was flawless; I always knew he was a good pilot. Now I can pilot to. Two months ago I got my universal pilots license, Imam was so proud when I walked across that stage and got my degree. It made me so happy and I just knew that all that hard work studding and training paid off.
Shutting down the ship and getting out of the pilots chare I look at her. The only thing that stands in the way of her and I is the cargo bay door. Hitting the disengage button and the door lowers. She runs to me and I rap her up in my arms and inhale her sent. She smells healthy and feels strong.
"Jacky baby are you okay?" She was crying.
"Ya, Riddy I'm good." Somehow I don't believe her. She looks at me and smiles. That's all I need, she's okay.
"Hay, Holy Man." He looks so old. What happened to him? Little Ziza is jumping on me and wants me to pick her up. One arm around Jacky and Ziza on my hip I give the Holy Man my hand.
"Good son, Mr. Riddick. I hope I find you well?" He's still worried about me. He's the one who needs worrying about.
"Ya Holy Man, well and good." I tell him.
I kiss Jacky on the head and she makes a disgruntled noise. She hasn't changed all that much. Still not the lady that ma would want her to be. That doesn't matter as long as she's with me and I can keep she safe. Imam looks like he wants to ask me something, I know what he'll ask.
"Mr. Riddick, may I ask something of you?" knew it.
"You can ask anything Imam, you know that." He seems reluctant. "Imam, just ask."
"Yes, oh, would it inconvenience you if little Ziza and I were to accompany you to Old Earth?" He seems to fear I'll say no.
"Imam, Jacky already asked and I told her to tell you it wouldn't be a problem." Holy Man lets out a breath I think he didn't know he was holding.
"Yes, thank you. We will go and pack. Come, I'm sure you're hungry for real food." That sounds like the best offer I've had in a long time.
"Thanks Holy Man." We walk back to Imams house and I know what has been bothering me, Imams wife Lujjun wasn't there.
Quietly I ask Jacky where Lujjun was.
"Riddy, she died last year. I didn't tell you because I just didn't want to talk about it. It was cancer that killed her." I don't know how to feel. Jacky loved Lujjun, but I didn't know her.
"Sorry, baby." I didn't know what else to say.
"That's okay; I know you weren't close to her." She knows me way to good.
The food Imam cooked was the best stuff I've had in a long time. Okay it didn't have meat in it, but beggars can't be choosers, and when in the house of a Chrislam asking for meat in your supper's like asking the man to sin to give you a good meal. Knowing Imam he would do it if it meant you were satisfied.
Two hours and everything was packed. It was time to leave this place and go home. Jacky was almost vibrating in happiness. It was so good to see her like this.
Strapping them all in to their Cryo-chambers was not an easy thing to do, knowing what happened the last time they were in the Cryo-sleep. I gave Jacky a kiss and put her to sleep. She'll try to sleep as best she can, but I know how she feels. Being Furyan gives me so many things to cope with the ever changing universe, but the seven months that we will be in the animated sleep will be like seven months of mental containment in the world's worst slam.
Coordinates are set and its time to go to sleep; at least I'll try to sleep. Try to dream about Xander. Ya, dream about that ass and that smile.