A Kid Like Her (A Riddick - Jack Romance/Adventure Story)

Prophecy and Persecution

Riddick returned to the ship, unfortunately without any more information than what he had before. Iman had not been home, and Lajjun did not know where to find him or Aereon.

"Jack!"

He called out for her, but she didn't answer. Thinking that she had her headphones on listening to music, he went to their room to wash up and take out his lenses. The dry climate bothered his eyes and he just couldn't wear them any longer. He began looking for her and found a note she left saying she had gone to visit Rob's grave, what time she had left, and when she thought she would be back.

"Dammit Jack! Asked you to plant your ass here. What do I have to do? Tie you down?"

Her note said she'd be back in an hour or a little more. Riddick looked at the clock. It had been dark for awhile and she had been gone three hours.

"Fuck!" His gut twisted, he grabbed his goggles and left to search for her.

Starting at the cemetery, he first had to find Rob's grave site. He located his name in the plot directory, found his headstone and began looking around. Something was in the grass. What the hell? That's her shiv. She wouldn't take it out unless she needed it. Then he smelled it...blood. Finding the dart that had been in her neck he picked it up and the tip was covered in blood, hers.

"Someone is fuckin' dead when I get my hands on 'em."

Riddick made it to Iman's home in record time. He didn't bother to knock and stormed in.

"Iman! Iman!" He was roaring his name.

"Riddick, I thought you weren't coming back. Where is Kyra?"

"That's exactly what I was gonna ask you. You have any idea where she is?"

"I haven't seen her since you both left last night. I want you to know that Lajjun and I did not know this is how they were planning on getting you here. We never would have wanted this." His concern for Jack was legitimate.

"A little fuckin' late for that."

Aereon floated in the room and Riddick's knife was at her throat before she knew it. "Cutting my throat will do you no good."

"The knife comes off when you tell me where the fuck I find the bastard that took her."

He didn't remove the blade and she disappeared and reappeared out of his reach. "Very well."

Riddick's eyes narrowed and he slowly advanced on her. When he spoke, his voice was lethal. "You knew where he was and you didn't say a damn thing yesterday?"

"It wasn't yet the time to tell."

"It's more than past time. Talk. Now."

"The man you seek is on Gaia. You'll find him on an isolated ranch outside of the town of Mocene near an abandoned mining facility. I can tell you no more, but I understand it is not difficult to find."

"Listen witch, I've killed so I wouldn't be killed or I've killed people just because they deserved to die. I don't take to hurtin' women or children, never have. But know this. IF she so much as has a scratch on her, I'll make an exception for you."

"I fear it may already be too late."

"Then I suggest you never lay eyes on me again."

He left Iman's home, heading back to the port when townspeople began to gather in the streets, their fear and anxiety mounting to the point where the scent of it became overwhelming. Then he heard the sound of Helion Prime fighter ships screaming overhead and the bright flashes of anti-aircraft guns firing into space. When Aereon said it may be too late, she wasn't talking about Jack.