He Didn't Come
folder
M through R › Pitch Black
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
48
Views:
5,254
Reviews:
9
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
M through R › Pitch Black
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
48
Views:
5,254
Reviews:
9
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Pitch Black, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Runaway
Riddick decided to just jettison all three bodies. With any luck they would never be found, or perhaps they would burn up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. Either way, they would soon be none of his concern, which suited him just fine.
He found himself in an interesting predicament. For the first time in years, he was free. No cops or mercs were on his ass, he didn’t have a hit to take care of… it was a new experience for him. He knew that he would go back to work eventually, but he was looking forward to some semblance of a vacation.
He gave a hoarse laugh at that. A vacation? That was a good one. He’d been in trouble with the law since he was eleven years old. He started out small, of course- petty theft, breaking and entering, things like that. By the time he’d graduated up to robbery and assault, two things he was quite good at, one of his friends screwed up and got himself caught. He ratted out the rest of their group and Riddick, along with the other two guys, go picked up off the street and sent to a juvenile correctional facility. It was the first in a long list of brushes with the penal system, The young Riddick had made the most of it- it may not have been better than the street, but at least free room and board were included in penal hospitality.
He got into fights continuously, and finally one of the counselors took him into his office and told him that he had to straighten up. Riddick had rolled his eyes and said nothing, but the counselor actually gave some good advice. He steered Riddick toward martial arts and controlled aggression, and got permission to teach the boy himself. The counselor thought he was contributing to the rehabilitation of a wayward youth. Actually, he was just helping Riddick become a better killer.
Riddick’s past was what it was, but the future, something he had always found pointless to be concerned with, was finally starting to interest him. From what he’d surmised from the merc, everyone now thought he was dead. The rumors they started at the space station had apparently circulated rapidly, which suited him just fine. It left him with a bit of a dilemma, though. What was he going to do with himself, if he wasn’t on the run?
He decided to just planet-hop until he found a promising place to offer his services. He was undeniably the best hit-man in several galaxies, which meant he had a very distinctive reputation. It also meant he was going to have a difficult time convincing those that wanted his business that he wasn’t Richard Riddick.
It really surprised him when Jack developed her fixation with him. He didn’t ask her about it on the skiff, of course. Asking unnecessary questions just wasn’t quite his style. Interrogation by torture struck a bit closer to his comfort zone, but he had no desire to hurt the kid. She didn’t have anything he wanted, so why should he bother with her?
Simple- she fascinated him, as much as he fascinated her. Why, he couldn’t say. She reminded Riddick of himself, which actually concerned him. Well, he was concerned for her sake, anyhow. He was far beyond fear for himself.
After years on the run, he’d shoved Riddick the man far back into the recesses of his quick mind and locked him away. Riddick the killer took full control, because Riddick the killer didn’t need anyone else. He didn’t need compassion or companionship from anyone, and he didn’t need to feel anything. He just needed to survive, which was all he found important for the longest time. The animalistic, primal side demanded precedence above all else, and Riddick was happy to grant it. It made his life so much simpler.
Something about that kid got to him. He didn’t know what, and he didn’t know how. She was a crack in his armor, and he knew that it would be better if he could get the hell away from her. The way she looked as she was defying the ‘rats reminded him of all the kids he knew in juvie, terrified but stupidly brave.
Saving her life, accidentally at first, but then intentionally twice more, opened a door to his humanity. For the first time in a long time, he actually cared about someone other than himself. And for that reason, he had to get as far away from her as possible, for both their sakes.
~*~
Jack lay on her back on a grassy hill behind the boarding house, looking at the cloud formations of this new sky. Imam assumed that she was going to stay with him. He could think what he liked. She was just going along with it for the time being. There was nothing for her in the three-tiered city, and the holy man didn’t understand that. She had to find Riddick.
When Imam had gone to the authorities, Jack had been shocked. Making sure he was unaware of her presence, she followed him to the police station. After watching him enter the multi-storied building, she waited a moment before following him. When, by some miracle, he didn’t notice her, she casually sauntered in the direction of the pretty young cop he’d spoken to.
“Excuse me,” Jack said, tapping her arm.
The young woman turned to face Jack, a shock of golden hair spilling over her shoulder. Jack was momentarily struck by jealousy- she always wished she had hair that gorgeous. She brushed away the irritation and said stubbornly, “I’ve got a question.”
“Yes?”
“That man who came in here just now. The old guy,” she began. “What did he want?”
The cop looked surprised at the question. “It’s out of my jurisdiction to disclose information volunteered by civilians.”
Jack rolled her eyes. “Then who does have the jurisdiction? I’m not dicking around here, lady.”
Imam appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. “Jack, child, please,” he said peaceably. “Leave this young woman alone. She has done nothing to you, to deserve being spoken to in such a manner.”
“What did you say to them?” Jack asked him suspiciously.
“I simply explained that the rumors were true. Yes, the pirates attacked our ship, and yes, many people died. I also confirmed that yes, the murderer Richard Riddick is among those that perished.”
She thought Imam was going to report that Riddick was on the loose. Jack was extremely relieved that he hadn’t, but she couldn’t express it in the police station. She instead rolled her eyes, keeping up appearances, and stalked out into the hot, arid city street.
She felt bad about being such a bitch to him, but she didn’t know what to say. The idea of being tied down in one place was unthinkable. She didn’t belong in New Mecca. She was born in space, she survived more than most people could imagine, and above all, she wanted to be with Riddick.
They had discussed it last night, their first night in New Mecca. Imam did everything he could to convince her to stay with him.
“Listen to me, child. There is hope for you here, not with that man. I don’t know what has happened in your life, but I cannot believe it was good. Do you have parents, relatives? If not, I will gladly keep you by my side as my daughter.”
Jack humored him and agreed to stay. Trying to shove back her guilt was difficult, though. Imam only wanted what was best for her, and she knew that he was probably right. But she had to show Riddick what she was made of. She had to prove to him that she could do what she said she would do—find him.
Decision made, she got up, dusted herself off, and walked back into the boarding house. She went straight to the old woman’s office and asked to borrow a pen and paper. The old woman gave them to her readily and offered her some tea. Jack shook her head, forcing a smile. The old woman meant no harm, but at that moment, Jack was getting seriously annoyed with her.
Dear Imam,
I went to look for Riddick. I’m sorry about lying to you, but I knew you wouldn’t let me out of your sight if you thought I’d actually do this. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.
Jack
It was written in a nearly illegible scrawl, thanks to her whole three years of public education, but she was able to get her point across. She ignored the guilt she felt and tried not to picture the holy man’s reaction.
Since she had nothing but the clothes on her back, literally, she bypassed the room she was sharing with Imam and marched herself right out the front door.
He found himself in an interesting predicament. For the first time in years, he was free. No cops or mercs were on his ass, he didn’t have a hit to take care of… it was a new experience for him. He knew that he would go back to work eventually, but he was looking forward to some semblance of a vacation.
He gave a hoarse laugh at that. A vacation? That was a good one. He’d been in trouble with the law since he was eleven years old. He started out small, of course- petty theft, breaking and entering, things like that. By the time he’d graduated up to robbery and assault, two things he was quite good at, one of his friends screwed up and got himself caught. He ratted out the rest of their group and Riddick, along with the other two guys, go picked up off the street and sent to a juvenile correctional facility. It was the first in a long list of brushes with the penal system, The young Riddick had made the most of it- it may not have been better than the street, but at least free room and board were included in penal hospitality.
He got into fights continuously, and finally one of the counselors took him into his office and told him that he had to straighten up. Riddick had rolled his eyes and said nothing, but the counselor actually gave some good advice. He steered Riddick toward martial arts and controlled aggression, and got permission to teach the boy himself. The counselor thought he was contributing to the rehabilitation of a wayward youth. Actually, he was just helping Riddick become a better killer.
Riddick’s past was what it was, but the future, something he had always found pointless to be concerned with, was finally starting to interest him. From what he’d surmised from the merc, everyone now thought he was dead. The rumors they started at the space station had apparently circulated rapidly, which suited him just fine. It left him with a bit of a dilemma, though. What was he going to do with himself, if he wasn’t on the run?
He decided to just planet-hop until he found a promising place to offer his services. He was undeniably the best hit-man in several galaxies, which meant he had a very distinctive reputation. It also meant he was going to have a difficult time convincing those that wanted his business that he wasn’t Richard Riddick.
It really surprised him when Jack developed her fixation with him. He didn’t ask her about it on the skiff, of course. Asking unnecessary questions just wasn’t quite his style. Interrogation by torture struck a bit closer to his comfort zone, but he had no desire to hurt the kid. She didn’t have anything he wanted, so why should he bother with her?
Simple- she fascinated him, as much as he fascinated her. Why, he couldn’t say. She reminded Riddick of himself, which actually concerned him. Well, he was concerned for her sake, anyhow. He was far beyond fear for himself.
After years on the run, he’d shoved Riddick the man far back into the recesses of his quick mind and locked him away. Riddick the killer took full control, because Riddick the killer didn’t need anyone else. He didn’t need compassion or companionship from anyone, and he didn’t need to feel anything. He just needed to survive, which was all he found important for the longest time. The animalistic, primal side demanded precedence above all else, and Riddick was happy to grant it. It made his life so much simpler.
Something about that kid got to him. He didn’t know what, and he didn’t know how. She was a crack in his armor, and he knew that it would be better if he could get the hell away from her. The way she looked as she was defying the ‘rats reminded him of all the kids he knew in juvie, terrified but stupidly brave.
Saving her life, accidentally at first, but then intentionally twice more, opened a door to his humanity. For the first time in a long time, he actually cared about someone other than himself. And for that reason, he had to get as far away from her as possible, for both their sakes.
~*~
Jack lay on her back on a grassy hill behind the boarding house, looking at the cloud formations of this new sky. Imam assumed that she was going to stay with him. He could think what he liked. She was just going along with it for the time being. There was nothing for her in the three-tiered city, and the holy man didn’t understand that. She had to find Riddick.
When Imam had gone to the authorities, Jack had been shocked. Making sure he was unaware of her presence, she followed him to the police station. After watching him enter the multi-storied building, she waited a moment before following him. When, by some miracle, he didn’t notice her, she casually sauntered in the direction of the pretty young cop he’d spoken to.
“Excuse me,” Jack said, tapping her arm.
The young woman turned to face Jack, a shock of golden hair spilling over her shoulder. Jack was momentarily struck by jealousy- she always wished she had hair that gorgeous. She brushed away the irritation and said stubbornly, “I’ve got a question.”
“Yes?”
“That man who came in here just now. The old guy,” she began. “What did he want?”
The cop looked surprised at the question. “It’s out of my jurisdiction to disclose information volunteered by civilians.”
Jack rolled her eyes. “Then who does have the jurisdiction? I’m not dicking around here, lady.”
Imam appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. “Jack, child, please,” he said peaceably. “Leave this young woman alone. She has done nothing to you, to deserve being spoken to in such a manner.”
“What did you say to them?” Jack asked him suspiciously.
“I simply explained that the rumors were true. Yes, the pirates attacked our ship, and yes, many people died. I also confirmed that yes, the murderer Richard Riddick is among those that perished.”
She thought Imam was going to report that Riddick was on the loose. Jack was extremely relieved that he hadn’t, but she couldn’t express it in the police station. She instead rolled her eyes, keeping up appearances, and stalked out into the hot, arid city street.
She felt bad about being such a bitch to him, but she didn’t know what to say. The idea of being tied down in one place was unthinkable. She didn’t belong in New Mecca. She was born in space, she survived more than most people could imagine, and above all, she wanted to be with Riddick.
They had discussed it last night, their first night in New Mecca. Imam did everything he could to convince her to stay with him.
“Listen to me, child. There is hope for you here, not with that man. I don’t know what has happened in your life, but I cannot believe it was good. Do you have parents, relatives? If not, I will gladly keep you by my side as my daughter.”
Jack humored him and agreed to stay. Trying to shove back her guilt was difficult, though. Imam only wanted what was best for her, and she knew that he was probably right. But she had to show Riddick what she was made of. She had to prove to him that she could do what she said she would do—find him.
Decision made, she got up, dusted herself off, and walked back into the boarding house. She went straight to the old woman’s office and asked to borrow a pen and paper. The old woman gave them to her readily and offered her some tea. Jack shook her head, forcing a smile. The old woman meant no harm, but at that moment, Jack was getting seriously annoyed with her.
Dear Imam,
I went to look for Riddick. I’m sorry about lying to you, but I knew you wouldn’t let me out of your sight if you thought I’d actually do this. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.
Jack
It was written in a nearly illegible scrawl, thanks to her whole three years of public education, but she was able to get her point across. She ignored the guilt she felt and tried not to picture the holy man’s reaction.
Since she had nothing but the clothes on her back, literally, she bypassed the room she was sharing with Imam and marched herself right out the front door.