Subplot : Finding Serenity. part 2, Boarding .

CHAPTER:

"What about that one?" Jack pointed at a large cool looking ship, "It's headed to the border."

"We need something less flashy," Riddick explained. "With a crew that wants to fly under Alliance radar... like them."

Jack scrunched up her nose. Sure it had a cool design but it looked like it was falling apart, "What is that thing?"

"A Firefly, they are often used by smugglers and pirates, but this one doesn't have any weapons added on, so best bet is smugglers. Safer lot to travel with as long as you are willing to pay for their discretion."

"Are you sure they are smugglers?" Jack eyed the distant ship.

"Even if they aren't, a small boat like that, in that condition, is likely to have a certain kinda person willing to serve as her crew. If not smugglers then adventurers at the very least. Thought process is the same, people who don't like the government interfering with them. The kinda people who will respect our coin, with not too many questions, and not report where we get off."

Jack nodded her head as they approached the firefly, pleased Riddick was taking the time to explain all this to her.

"Ain't ya a doll," smiled an overly cheerful young woman as she spied the two headed her way.

Jack groaned, getting the immediate feeling she was going to hate her new clothes if that was the first word out of everyone's mouth.

Riddick smiled his normal predatorial grin. He didn't know how to smile any other way. After introducing themselves to the woman in front of the ship, Kaylee apparently, they got to talking business, "Is it possible to drop us off before you get to Boros? Maybe on Kerry or Athens? I'll compensate you for the fuel you use, as well as pay a little extra."

The girl smiled brightly at the words "pay extra."

"Gotta clear it by the Captain but I don't see why not. Neither of those rocks are too far out of our way," The woman smiled, "There a reason you don't care which?"

"Just looking for somewhere quiet to settle in. Big cities like this and Boros tend to rub me the wrong way, but none of these ships are heading anywhere that fits my needs of an ideal home."

"Are you a settler?" Kaylee smiled, "Looking for the romance of a life on the Frontier."

Jack shrugged, and tossed out their cover story. Riddick might not be much of a Liar, but she had been lying about her very gender for years. She had quite the bit of experience, and talent, for the skill.

"That sounds about right," Jack lied. "Our mother just... passed. Came up here to get the help of my birth father. He gave us some money, and got me some new clothes, but that's about it. We grew up on a backwater moon, so that's what we're used to. Figured we need something a bit more stable, but still quiet,"

Kaylee sighed, "Ain't that the way of it. Sorry for prying. I'm told I'm too curious for my own good."

"That's all right," Jack smiled with false forgiveness.

"All he gave you was money?" Kaylee asked.

Jack shrugged, and continued to lie with remarkable ease. Being a runaway she knew how to stick to a story. "At least he set me up with a trust fund, and some money for college, but he made it clear he didn't want his wife finding out about me."

"You poor doll," Kaylee reached out and hugged the girl, before ranting something in Chinese, followed quickly by, "Come inside, we'll take care of you."

"The Alliance has us delivering some medical supplies to Whitefall so we can drop you off on Athens later that day," Said Captain Reynolds, as he looked at all their passengers. Looking mostly at Riddick, as they stood in the Kitchen.

Riddick nodded. Whitefall itself wasn't the stablest of moons. Although it was a good place for a gun fight it was no place to raise a child. Athens would be exciting enough with clear Frontier style living but Whitefall was pretty much run by Outlaws. Sure it was his kinda place, but he needed to think of what was best for Jack.

"What medical supplies?" An overly wealthy looking brat asked, seeming worried.

"I honestly didn't ask," Said the Captain.

His first mate, a dark skinned woman by the name of Zoey, pounced with, "Probably insulin, whatever they don't got enough of on the boarder planets."

"When the Alliance says jump," The Captain shrugged.

"Alright," The boy smelled nervous, probably got himself some local trouble and wanted off world. Going to Boros was probably the stupidest thing he could do. It had the largest Alliance presence in the System. Hopefully the boy didn't bring any heat on them.

Riddick's eyes wandered to another passenger... great, a cop. At least it wasn't a bounty hunter. Those mercs would likely burn the whole ship down to get the kid. If the cop was smart he'd wait until they landed to arrest the boy and leave the rest of them alone.

Finally there was... an operative, looked retired. It wasn't that uncommon for such people to become holy men in their retirement. They all tended to beg for God's forgiveness, towards the end. Great Riddick got on a ship with a far too interesting assortment of persons on it. They were probably all thinking the same thing, when they saw this shady ship. It was a good vessel to disappear on.

"All that being said," continued the Captain, "I'd like ya'll to remain in the passenger dorms well we're in the air. Cockpit, engine room, cargo bay, all off limits without an escort."

The rich fugitive said, "Some of my personal effects are in the cargo bay," wow the kid really was an idiot.

The Captain said, "We know you all got things you need to get squared away, so we'll accompany you now, but don't go in there without asking one of us first. Be sure to get everything you need for the trip."

Riddick shrugged, "All we got with us is our trunks and those are already in our rooms. We'll just get outta your hair Captain," he faked smiled, and steered Jack away from them all.

"What are we supposed to do for 2 days?" She whined, not understanding their situation at all.

Riddick sighed, he really needed to find something to occupy her. "Get started on your school work and when you're done, if you do a good job, I'll teach you how to fight," it was a useful skill, she'd desperately need, if they were on the border.

"Really!?" Jack squealed excitedly, obviously thinking such survival skills were a game... well so did Riddick when he first learned.