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

Of Men and Machinations

Vaako landed the transport at the dock, followed soon after by Noran who arrived with a large box on an anti-gravity cart. "This is the shipment you are expecting."

"Bring it in and set it in the back of the transport."

Noran did as instructed and then walked to the bridge. Jack's chair was swiveled inward. He took in her unconscious form and stroked her cheek with his finger, an ugly sneer appearing on his face. He looked behind him and Vaako was busy attending to the woman he had brought on board.

"You are what stands in my way. One woman between me and my profitable enterprise. I don't like it that we aren't just going to kill you. Presents too many...possible complications. Then again, it's too bad Lord Vaako has claimed you for himself. I've never had a breeder." He placed his hands on the armrests of her chair, leaned down, inhaled along her neck, and shuddered. "Nothing smells quite like a breeder. Bet you're a screamer, too. You aren't the kind to lay there and take it. I like the ones that fight."

The temptation was too much. He moved his hand from the armrest and was about to touch the skin where her shirt opened when Vaako picked him up and slammed him into the wall of the transport. The look of fury on his face made Noran shrivel under his gaze and he quickly began babbling apologies.

"I told you she was mine. If I wanted you to touch her, I would have given her to you. I do not share what is mine, and anyone who even thinks to take a taste will find my response the last thing they ever see, feel, or hear before they breathe their last breath."

"M-my lord, forgive me. It's just that-."

"Save it and get the hell off this transport."

"Yes, my lord. I will await your word."

"Carry on as usual. If anyone asks, we were here for a brief visit then departed."

Noran quickly exited the transport as Vaako shut the door. He piloted the craft out of the dock and headed for a small, older vessel. It was a fraction of the size of the other residence ships, near the size of a frigate. He docked with the ship and made his way to the bridge to relieve the two men of their duty. He had contacted them off of Noran's list, and put them in charge of readying the ship. Until now, it had been used to transport cargo between ships, so it was perfect for what Vaako needed. To thank them for their loyalty, he rewarded each of them with new residences and positions on a Class-3 ship and then sent them on their way.

He wanted no one here but himself and the two women before he moved the ship to a new location within the fleet. He wasn't taking any chances that Noran might try to track him. Fortunately, keeping pilots on board would not be necessary. Unless a craft was deliberately traveling between ships, it had no need for a pilot or much crew. Only the Basilica, which led the armada, needed a full crew and pilots. All other ships were under their own power but were also in the gravitational field of the Basilica and did not require navigation.

Ensuring they were gone, Vaako first brought on the woman Noran gave him and settled her into one of the bedchambers. Before bringing Jack on board, he thoroughly inspected the second bedchamber for anything the men could have missed that she could use as a weapon. Noting the mirrors were still on the walls, he took those down in case she decided to break them into pieces, then removed shelving, brackets, and clothing hooks as well. Opening the closet, he removed all of the clothing that had been brought for her off of the hangers and haphazardly folded them at the bottom. Disposing of the hangers, and now satisfied that her room was ready, he went to fetch her.

Seeing her knife on the floor at her feet, he picked it up and then took a moment to observe her, shaking his head with a little laugh. "Looking at you like this, no one would ever guess what a royal pain in the ass you can be. For Noran especially. He should count himself lucky you weren't awake. I'm sure you would have rendered him incapable of enjoying a female for the rest of his life. Actually I would have enjoyed seeing that...Eron too, I'm sure. You have no problem putting a man in his place. It is refreshing compared to the women who have been falling at my feet. No time for either right now.  What was that expression I heard Riddick use on you? Oh, yes...come on, sleeping beauty." He unbuckled her restraints and picked her up, careful to not let her head flop and took her to her new room and placed her on the bed. He took one last look at her before closing the door and locking her in.