A/N: I'm moving into the five year gap between Pitch Black and CoR. I've extended it slightly perhaps... Ziza didn't look 3 to me, so I'm thinking perhaps it was meant to be five years from Dark Fury not Pitch Black. Um... right. I've let Carolyn Fry live. You'll see why, soon.

Onward to Helion Five.

Imam rose through the layers of blackness and found himself eye to goggle with his friend. Concern flooded him, "How close are we? Is there a problem?"

Riddick motioned for him to settle down. "We have a week and plenty of fuel. Once we hit planetside everything will change. I just…"

Abu had seen many changes in this man who seemed to silently reach out with a need that he clearly was uncomfortable with. The holy man moved away from the three women who were covertly straightening themselves up with wet-wipes. "There will be much to tempt you back into the ways you know best, I am sure of that if nothing else. But I extended to you, as I do to Jack, that my doors will always be open to you, Richard." The goggled gaze shifted to the holy man's face. It was an unusual feeling, trusting someone after so many years of trusting no one. But for the first time since Jackie had come into his life carrying another name he knew he could trust this one person. Imam put a light hand on Riddick's arm as he sat in the next seat. It was an unspoken token of friendship.

After a time, Lujjan moved up towards them regarding the muscular bronze-skinned man with a careful look. He turned slightly as he sensed her approach. The clear feelings that were building between Abu and this regal woman were as foreign to him as the trust. Riddick knew she wanted him to move. He slightly tightened his face and stood. "Don't touch anything."

The woman gave him a playful laugh, "I promise, Richard. Or should I call you Smyth?" He shrugged at her. She gave him a warm, sisterly smile. "You should be with Jackie."

Jackie watched him move back to her and Carolyn. Then she chewed on her lip and looked at the pair in the front who was leaning towards one another. There was no doubt that they were quickly and crazily falling deeply in love. The same sort of deep intense love that Shazza and Zeke had displayed for each other. There was no being polite about it, either. It seemed that once Abu and Lujjan were together the cutter might as well have been empty. She tore her eyes off them as Riddick's scent came into range of being overwhelming. He hovered next to her, mentally distant for a second. Jackie glanced at him coyly then leaned against his arm and looked up at his face with a wide-eyed puppy look. He shifted his attention down to her and rumbled briefly with laughter. She felt him scoop her up into his lap.

Fry smiled and moved off to the bench where she usually slept. She felt like an extra wheel in many ways yet Jack had reached out to her like she was family. Riddick had accepted that. The previous tension between the three of them had worked itself out leaving them comfortable with each other. She heard Riddick softly state; "You don't have to leave, Carolyn. Come back here." Turning to look at him she raised an eyebrow at his command and noticed that he was holding a hand out to her. She chuckled and moved back over.

Imam glanced away from Lujjan at the sounds of the trio as they melted into sweet laughter. Riddick's was unusually rich and rare, while the tinkling sounds from Jack and Fry counterbalanced it. They were all huddled together now, both women in the larger man's arms, their position decidedly non-sexual. He smiled at them feeling that somehow the three had so acutely connected that nothing could break it. They seemed to have formed a rather close knit family-like unit. Lujjan tugged at his sleeve, whispering, "I have the odd feeling that they are talking about us." All he could do was nod as he looked back at Lujjan. She gave him a hopeful future of his own. He reached over and interlaced his fingers with hers. She turned her attention back to him and seemed to become radiant with happiness. Lujjan had no idea what her father would think or even if he'd be concerned. It didn't matter. This would be her choice not his. She'd told Abu about her past and he seemed not to care. Frankly, Riddick scared her. Even though he had used his skills to help them, even though he had not threatened any of them… Yet if Abu called him a friend, she would trust that he was a friend.

The four of them had 7 days before reaching Helion 5. There was no way the cutter could reach Helion Prime directly. But it really didn't matter too much. Lujjan had no idea that the young woman had been, over 5 months before, passing herself off as a 10-year-old boy. The relationship she saw between the pair was one that assured her that the man's soul had not been lost entirely even though she knew he could be relentlessly brutal. She tried talking with him, but found, as Abu and Fry had that he was not one for talk about his past.

Riddick really had little to say to the regal woman. She was actually far beyond his class in manner, just too different for him to connect with. Unlike Fry he had no reason to even want to share with her. The pilot, Imam and Jackie were enough for him. Riddick did find the Lujjan was perceptive enough to know that his non-committal noises and evasive answers were not meant to anger her. She shifted her attempts to shows of acceptance, figuring that just treating him as a human being would be enough. The ex-ranger could smell her fear and had to give her credit for facing it as directly as possible.

Having failed on the second day to make some form of conversation with the large goggled man, Lujjan spent time with Jackie and Fry on the third day as the women were recovering from their exercises. "So, do either of you have anyone you want to contact when we get to Helion 5?" She asked.

Jackie shook her head, "Nah. Mum's dead. She was my only family. Until I met you guys."

"There's the Company, not that I want to contact them. I suppose that someone will be there by the time we dock though. I've got some family I should contact just to let them know I'm all right, but we're not close. What about you, Lujjan?"

"I will contact my father," Lujjan stated. "I'll tell him what my ex-husband did to me. Aside from that, I, too, am looking to just start over."

"So how come you never join us when we work out?" Jackie asked.

Lujjan looked back at the young woman. A puzzled expression formed on her face, "Would you like me to?" Jackie grinned her best 'devil-may-care' grin and nodded. "Well then, I suppose that tomorrow I shall."

Fry patted the regal lady on the arm and smiled at her. "Smarter than me, that's for sure." She then got to her feet and moved away to her bench.

Lujjan watched the blonde walk away before turning to see Jackie's unusual golden eyes drift towards the front of the ship. She looked also, and smiled at the sight of the two men. "He loves you. You should have seen his face when he realized that you had passed out. It was nearly unbearable. So much emotion locked away inside him, and the only one with the key to it is you."

"I'm sure that his feelings are plenty strong, like the rest of him, Lujjan."

Up at the front Imam and Riddick both looked over the news reports streaming in. Five and a half months… It had been nearly 24 weeks since the crash. They had struggled through so much. Word had reached the outside world that there had been survivors. Surprisingly enough Riddick's face came up with the name Marcus Smyth. It was an older picture showing him with deep brown eyes. He looked exactly the same as he did now with that one exception. Jackie had worked the pictures so that the faces were altered even when the backgrounds were not. ID pictures were seemingly easy for her to forge. Jackie's name had no picture with it. Fry was listed as a possible survivor too.

Lujjan watched Jackie as she studied the men. Finally she sighed. Jackie was a mystery to her as well. The young woman projected a savage strength that made it hard to talk to her. Still, Lujjan owed her life to these people. She had to try to break through to someone besides Imam. "So, Jackie, what would you like to do once we reach Helion 5?"

The golden eyes focused back on the elegant woman sitting quietly with her hands folded in her lap. Jackie thought about it for a moment, "I'd love to have some clothes that actually fit, and a shower. I'm sure Imam and Carolyn would agree with me on that." Jackie was amazed at how much the last 5 months had changed her body. Her hair had just began to lay down on her head, and curl slightly. Her figure while slim and toned was not boyish in the least. Her feet had to have reached adult size before the rest of her but her shoes were getting a little ratty looking. Yes, she sure would love some new clothes. Nothing quite fit right and every day it got a little more annoying. The pants dug in and were really too short. She ditched the undershirt that morning after deciding it was too tight. Nothing she could do really, except wait. At least this ship had a full compliment of water bags and high-energy rations, the good kind that pops used to store away just in case.

The other woman smiled, "We could go shopping…"

"I'd like that, Lujjan. I really would. Let's see how it goes at port, okay?"

"Alright. I too would enjoy spending time looking for clothes."

Jackie nodded. Imam moving back to them cut off the short conversation, "Why don't you go up front Jackie? I think Riddick wants to teach you some more about the controls." She stood and left the couple in the back alone some privacy by pulling the curtain closed. Shortly after the docking pilot moved up front with them. The slightly telling whispers and giggles gave away far more than she wanted to see. She sat in the co-pilot's seat and paid attention to Riddick's lesson for the day with Fry watching carefully over her shoulder. In the back of the tiny shuttle soft noises that sounded rather like rustling clothing, quiet patters of skin on skin, and hushed but intense breathing… well, Jackie just didn't want to focus on it. The distraction made it difficult for a bit until the couple in the back settled down to sleep. Jackie looked over at Riddick with an amazed expression. He looked amused.

"Did I just hear them doing what I think they were doing?" It was a soft whisper that she used to inquire. Riddick sniffed the air and nodded at her question. She looked back at the curtain, "Hell… that didn't take them long did it?" She got up and moved over to him, stopping just out of arm's reach.

Carolyn laughed as she slipped into the chair Jackie had vacated moments before.

He motioned her over to him, "Let them be. It's what they need, Jackie." Her pause made him cock his head, "What, babe?"

"You think they believe we wouldn't know? I mean they were pretty quiet." Riddick shrugged at her and reached for her hand. She caught his up as it came toward her.

The docking pilot gave her a little push and murmured, "Go on, sis."

Jackie curled her fingers over his and stepped in closer with the encouragement and knowledge that Carolyn was fine with what was happening. She leaned in close enough to smell him, crawling into his lap right after was very nearly all instinct. Her mind was caught up in his scent. She was aware of nuzzling his neck and his arms folding around her as she kneeled in the seat with her knees to either side of his thighs. She tingled all over again. His fingers were lightly tracing her spine as he lifted her shirt. She felt his face near her shoulder. Her flesh burned with the need for the touch of his lips against the hollow of her shoulder. She tasted his skin as she worked her hands under his tank, echoing his path. Her clothes were so very uncomfortable, tight and binding. She would have gladly taken them off, even with someone else right there. But Riddick was not going to reveal her to the stars, or share her with another. The courtship was not finished. He slowly took his goggles off and looked at her. He needed to see her with all of his sight. He needed it as much as he needed her touch, her scent, the music of her voice, and the taste of her skin. She sensed the change in him as he studied her with his goggles off. She raised her head and looked at him. He had a glow about him that she had never noticed before. It was a faint pinkish tinged aura of light. She blinked and sat back on her heels, mesmerized by the new experience. She tried to feel the energy she was seeing by raising her hand to trace its three dimensional edges. What was this new thing? She noticed that it seemed at the moment to only be him that she saw it field around.

Riddick was too engrossed in his own study of her to notice the puzzled shift in Jackie's manner. Truth was the pinkish tinged light was something he was well familiar with. Looking at Jackie though, he had a different sensation. Slowly, very slowly, he was seeing the color of her skin, the shade of her lips, the golden tawny sweep of her hair, and the brownish gray of her shirt. He would have thought that it was his mind playing tricks on him but for the bluish tone of the seat and the blonde hair topping blue eyed gaze set into a blushing peaches and cream face behind her. This was new. Had she fixed his eyes when she healed his arm? The purple and pink tones were still there, but the color vision he thought he'd lost forever at Slam City seemed to be coming back. Or was he just being hopeful? He blinked and the color was much faded. Jackie was reaching one hand over his head not quite touching him. He reached up and took her hand in his. She blinked. The pinkish light was no longer there. Riddick kissed her fingers and shifted her so that she was sitting. Jackie sighed before snuggling into him. Carolyn caught their eyes and wordlessly indicated that she would watch the controls. Riddick smirked at her and closed his quicksilver eyes. Whatever it was that had happened quickly fled from their minds as they dozed off in the chair.

The bronze-skinned man woke before the woman in his lap did. He looked at the controls. Everything was still on target. Carolyn touched his arm and offered him food. He shook his head and gave her a warmer smile. The couple in the back was sleeping soundly. The other woman settled back into the co-pilot's seat. He ran his hand through Jackie's hair. What would he do if something happened to her? How would he cope? Why had he let his darkness open up such a huge hole in the armor? She stirred slightly under his touch so that her face was snuggled into his shoulder. Need. That was why. He needed her. Admitting the beast inside was right hurt. But the simple fact was that he had always needed her. From the moment he first lifted her crying, frightened being out of the pile of bloody rocks and battered flesh, he had needed her. The pain of his loss over the years he'd been running flooded him. He let it simmer. The pain hardened into anger again. Johastein would pay. Maybe not tomorrow, but eventually… he would pay.

Jackie was only aware of his warmth, his smell, and the strength of his heartbeat. Even though she did not know of his pain the healer inside her tried to ease it. Jackie's dreams were disjointed flashes of images. Shots of horror and agony. The feeling of cold blackness, nothingness, yet being aware was the one that kept coming back to her. But the sensation was more than just fear. There was a yearning there, something that highlighted the nothingness. It was a feeling of being totally alone, shut off from everything, so completely that it hurt. Intermingled with the blackness were flashes of trees. Trees that Jackie knew. Trees under an orange sun, with patchy plumes of scattered smoke revealing where fires still burned. But the angle she was getting the images from was different than she'd ever seen them before. The entire thing was from the air. It was as if it was retreating away… everything that had ever been safe, everything that he'd ever known snapshot by snapshot getting farther away. It left her feeling confused. She woke with a groan and shook her head. "Must've fallen asleep…"

"Um." She felt his lips in her hair. The chrono showed them a day closer. The space in front of them was filling with the most brilliantly colored nebula Jackie had ever seen. She pointed at it. "Pretty?" He asked.

"Never seen anything like it before, actually. Why is it glowing?"

"Asking the wrong person, Jack." He looked over his course again and drew her attention to the readings. "All I know is that it's fucking bright. Too bright." Jackie looked from the various readings that usually were at zero that currently danced up and down to his face. She smiled at him and ran a hand over his cheek. "We gotta find someplace darker," he continued.

"Yeah, but it is pretty." In reality, the approach to Helion was one of the most beautiful things Jackie had ever seen. Not only did it mean that they were finally gonna be able to regroup, but that Imam at least was safe. And then there was the sheer beauty of the nebula glowing around the system. She could tell Riddick was less than happy to be here, but having given his word, he'd stick to it.

"If you say so, babe." He felt Jackie hit his arm. The impact caused him to pause and consider her training. It actually stung enough for him to rub his shoulder. "What was that for?"

"You're being… mushy."

Riddick lifted his goggles and looked at her. Truth of the matter was, until they had some space there was little about fighting he could teach her. "Aw, come on Jackie. You want me to be hard on you? Should I spank you now or later?" He watched her raise an eyebrow. Then in a matter of seconds they were struggling with each other as they both attempted to tickle and blocked fingers going for ticklish ribs. It was a match the Riddick was rather determined to win only Jackie was far more dexterous than he'd realized. He had trouble keeping a grip on her while blocking her hands. There were other things that he could target. Jackie's fingers elicited a few grunts, some twitching, and a grin.

The couple in the back woke to the sounds a squealing laughter… Jackie's laughter. Riddick finally gave up trying to stop her and went for the ticklish spot himself… her foot. There was the sound of Jackie lightly landing on the floor as her second shoe hit with a thud. Lujjan looked as Imam and gathered her clothes. Imam seemed rather surprised at the noise himself. The young woman let out a few gasping breaths before Riddick asked her, "Had enough?" The pause was enough for Lujjan to begin dressing. Jackie curled herself back up to look at him and stuck out her tongue. Riddick narrowed his eyes at her and the squeals started up again. It went on for some time, and Imam caught Lujjan by the hand and pulled her back to the bench that they'd slept on. He shook his head at her. It was best not to interrupt. Clearly it was something the couple playing needed or they wouldn't be doing it. Finally it went quiet but for the lingering snickers that the docking pilot was attempting to muffle. Imam stood and pulled his clothing on. There were worse things to wake to, he reflected. Lujjan peaked out the curtain to find the other couple acting like nothing had happened, except for the fact that Jackie's shoes were tossed into the walkway.

Her entrance into the front of the shuttle produced a smile on Jackie's face, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." The young woman's toes wiggled as she bounced her feet. "It's just that he's so dour…" Lujjan couldn't help but to smile. She had no doubt that anyone else trying what Jackie had pulled would have gotten his or her hands broken. She glanced from one to the other as she got rations out and silently offered them. "Thanks," Jackie responded as she elbowed Riddick for his grumble of acceptance.

"Thanks," he echoed.

Her offer to Fry was countered with her being shown an empty wrapper and a "Thanks anyhow. I'll be sleeping now, since everyone else has already."

She glanced back at Abu who looked rather amused at Jackie's actually getting the big man to be somewhat polite. He also accepted breakfast but did so by kissing her on the cheek. Lujjan blushed slightly, "You are all welcome." They sat in silence for a time before Riddick and Jackie got up to go to the back themselves, but hot to sleep.

"Nope, Captain. Exercise first, then sleep." Riddick pulled Fry off her bench and over to where Jackie was already getting ready.

Jackie turned to Lujjan. "Come on Princess. You promised that you would join us." The back was spacious enough for them to exercise together if not train for fighting.

Lujjan stood and moved back to the others. The holy man watched as they limbered up. "Abu, what will your family think?"

"They will find you as enchanting as I do, Lujjan. Do not worry." Surprisingly enough, it was the willingness to workout with the trio that got Lujjan an 'in' into the group. It seemed as though the physical movements and sweat formed some type of special bond that could be earned no other way. She found that she looked forward to each day that followed.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

The next two days the nebula grew to fill the screen. Jackie spent much of her time staring at it, mesmerized by the colors and shapes inside the glowing cloud of radiant space dust. The third day they entered the cloud on their approach to Helion 5. Carolyn and Imam went over the entire tale of what happened with Lujjan, making sure that she knew who Smyth was suppose to be and that Riddick was not the person she was with. Lujjan promised that she would refer to the man who rescued her off the Kubla Kahn as Mr. Smyth.

As they got closer and closer to the point of orbit Imam suggested hiding the goggles behind a fake blindfold. He even offered some of his own clothing for it. Riddick preferred the use of Jackie's discarded undershirt. "I am going to tell them that your eyes were injured in the crash, Richard. Or, Mr. Smyth," he said as Jackie carefully folded the cloth in such a way as to let Riddick see through it behind the goggles. "Jackie, stay with him." He then moved toward the co-pilot seat where Fry was already waiting for Helion 5 to contact them.

"Welcome to Helion 5. One Light Token is required to dock." A pleasant voice informed them over the comms.

"This is Imam Abu al-Walid, please accept one token from my account on this ship's behalf."

"One Light Token accepted, Mr. al-Walid. Thank you. You are cleared to land."

"Well, that was easy." Lujjan smiled.

They were met by the standard docking personal. The assumption was that the ship was a private one under Imam's ownership and so nothing was made of it. They were allowed to pay the docking fees and exit. Fry looked surprised but kept her mouth shut. Because none of them had any luggage the made a swift exit from the port. Riddick kept his hand on Jackie's shoulder and played blind. Reaching the curb, Imam hailed a transport to a nearby hotel. The hotel set them up with three adjoining rooms. Once inside Riddick closed the blinds in their assigned room and begin a painstaking search. He then moved over to Carolyn's room and finally to Abu's and Lujjan's. There was nothing to find, but he made no excuses.

Jackie watched him for a time before stripping off her clothes and walking into the bathroom to take a shower. There could have been nothing finer that letting the water wash over her. Well, the lathering and rinsing felt pretty damn good too. She walked back out in a towel. Riddick was watching the local news drift by. There was not much of major interest really. He stood up and went in and took a shower himself. He came back out to find Jackie dressed in a tourist type sundress with a tee-shirt underneath. She was slipping into a pair of cheap sandals. On the bed were a pair of loose drawstring pants and a tank, clearly for him. He recognized them from the gift shop downstairs.

"Imam?" He inquired. Jackie nodded. Riddick picked the pants up and looked at them. At least they were dark in color. On one leg near the edge seam was a tiny patch that held the hotel logo. He'd worn worse. The tank, like Jackie's sundress, had a "I've been to the edge!" slogan on it. Of course the meaning was for the nebula but both he and Jackie could place it in a different context. He was glad for the clean clothes, regardless of what they sold. He dressed. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door that divided their room from Imam's.

"Mr. Smyth, Miss Badd… Abu ordered food. Carolyn is already here. Would you like to join us?" It was Lujjan. Jackie looked at the goggled man. He could tell the idea of real food after so long on rations was appealing to her. For a moment he hesitated, then he thought better of the situation and gave her a nod. Imam was relieved when they came into the room. Riddick had stated that everything would change and now the holy man nearly felt he like he was clinging onto the vestiges of someone who was fading away right before his eyes. It was as if mentally Richard had already gone leaving a stranger in his place. Lujjan could tell that the evening was somewhat bittersweet for him. She decided that there was little that she could do until the others left. The conversation was rather non-existent while they ate, but at the meal's conclusion Abu got up and came back to the table with wine and glasses.

"I think that we have much to be grateful for. Our safe arrival here is nothing short of wondrous. I owe you my life," he turned to Riddick, "and a debt that I cannot fully repay. However, I extend hospitality to you and those who share your life until the end of my days." He then poured the wine and passed the glasses around. The offer made Riddick uncomfortable. He frowned and looked at Jackie. Jackie gave him an 'its all right' expression and a slightly sad smile.

"Thank you, Imam. I hope I never need to press you for it in a dire situation." He took his glass and looked at the expensive liquid.

"And you, Jackie, have grown so much since I first saw you on Conga. I can only wish you happiness. Of course my home will always be open to you."

Jackie smiled at the dark skinned man, "Thanks, Father. It's nice to know that I will always have someplace safe to come back to."

"And finally, Carolyn. You began this journey as a member of a crew and ended it as a leader. You fought your demons and won. I am honored to call you a friend and should you ever have need of me, just ask."

The blonde looked shocked for a second, "Abu, your faith, Jack's spirit, and Smyth's skill are what pulled us through. I was just lucky enough to hang on for the ride. I'm glad it's over, but I'll never forget the debt I owe you three." She looked at the floor; "I'm going to miss you."

"Come to New Mecca. There's no reason to leave yet. Perhaps I can help you find freedom from the Company," Imam said.

"I'd like that. Thank you." Fry leaned over and hugged the dark skinned man.

Lujjan waited until the wine was gone and the two men moved off to the computer station to look over the ships for sale before sitting down next to Jackie and Carolyn. "We looked into flights to Helion Prime. The nearest one is several days off, unless we take a cheap flight. Abu was set against it, and hearing about what happened to you I understand why. So, we can go shopping tomorrow."

"I should get some UD's wired in. Let me do that real quick." Jackie walked back into her and Riddick's room and wired money from Smyth's account to the desk downstairs. Minutes later she got a confirmation call. Having put herself on the account because of Smyth's 'blindness' she verbally Okayed the wire before walking back into the other room. "Okay, I'm good to go for tomorrow, Lujjan."