He Didn't Come

Riddick’s reaction to Libbie’s news was nothing compared to Jack’s. Trying to overthrow the Consortium? The largest superpower in the galaxy? To her knowledge, there was no other ruling body in all of space. Sure, there was a lot of space out there to rule, but the Consortium was in charge of all the colonies. It had records dating back to the first days of exploration, when Old Earth was still populated.

“This doesn’t make any sense. It’ll never work,” Jack said. “It’s impossible.”

“No such thing,” Brand said. “Never say that word. It’s bad luck.”

Jack saw Riddick tilt his head slightly, as though he were rolling his eyes. Her own head ached. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the revelations of the past few minutes, or if it just meant that she needed to rest. Either way, her temples were thudding painfully. She eased herself back down on the bed and tried to focus on what they were saying. She saw Libbie frown and walk over to her. She placed a hand on Jack’s forehead and murmured, “Are you okay?”

Jack shook her head. “My head really hurts. I’m tired.”

“All right.” Libbie rose and turned to Brand. “Jackie needs to sleep. Where are we going to put him?” She gestured vaguely toward Riddick, who crossed his powerful arms in front of his shoulders.

“I’m staying right here,” he said.

Jack nodded. “Yes. Riddick… stay….”

She hung on long enough to be sure that Riddick wouldn’t leave her side, but once Libbie swore not to kick him out, she dropped into a sleep so deep that she didn’t think anyone could have woken her before she was ready.
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Riddick kept watch over her while she slept. She would be fine. He knew that. But, nonetheless, he had to protect her.

Early the next morning, Brand tapped on the door lightly. “Can I come in?”

Riddick glared at him over his shoulder, but grunted and jerked his head in a ‘come here’ gesture. Brand still had that fucking nonchalant, easy manner about him that infuriated Riddick. “What do you want?” he growled, barely disguising his hostility.

“Easy, man. I just have a proposition for you, and I think you’d be very interested. But hey, if you don’t want to hear it….” Brand’s voice trailed off, and though Riddick knew that was exactly his intent, he allowed his curiosity to be aroused.

Riddick rumbled deep in his throat, keeping his murderous side just below the surface, and all of his walls up. “I’m listening.”

Brand took that as an invitation to pull up a chair, and Riddick’s growl only made him pause for an instant. “Relax,” Brand said. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”

Riddick broke out into raucous laughter. “You, hurt me? Oh, you’ve got no idea who you’re fucking with here, you know that?” Brand was disconcerted, and Riddick knew it. He smiled.

“Well, listen. I’ve got a deal for you. Once we rebel and take over Februus prime, I’d see to it that that bounty on your head was removed.”

Riddick snorted. “Which one?”

“All of them.”

“Right. How you gonna manage that?”

“Well, the Alliance keeps tabs on all that, right? I’d get you a pardon. I’m the one who got you to commit most of your murders, anyway.”

Riddick grunted, “Don’t remind me.”

Brand laughed uneasily, and Riddick’s mouth curved into a sneer of triumph. He finally got this cocky ‘rat on edge. He finally had the upper hand. Riddick relaxed—all was right with the world again.

Riddick mused aloud, “A pardon, huh? And no mercs on my tail? Clean slate?”

“Clean slate,” Brand promised. “Completely legal and everything. All bounties will be cancelled. Nobody after you again.”

Hmm… if the rebellion was successful, then this might work. He knew why Brand needed his help. He was a good fighter, the best there was. Maybe….

Riddick tilted his head back, thinking.
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Jack was just beginning to climb up from her well of exhaustion when a shape that vaguely resembled her four-year-old nephew hurtled toward her. “Aunt Jack! Are you awake yet? Are you awake?”

Jack groaned and rubbed her eyes. “Yes, sweetie. I’m awake. Where’s your mom?”

Anthony shrugged, and as he opened his little mouth to answer, Riddick appeared in the doorway.

“Libbie and Brand had to go deal with something, so I got stuck babysitting.”

Jack was astonished. Riddick, babysitting? Voluntarily? “I must still be dreaming,” she murmured.

“Aunt Jack! Play with me and Riddick!”

Jack shook her head slightly, to clear it, and tried to focus on the hyperactive child. “What do you want to play?”

“I wanna play fights!”

Jack looked questioningly at Riddick, who shrugged and chuckled. “The kid wanted to play, so I played with him.”

“So you taught him how to fight.” Jack rolled her eyes. Obviously he had been just messing around. Her nephew was clearly unharmed. “What did you do?” she asked the little boy. “I thought you said that your dad didn’t let you fight.”

“Riddick let me kick his butt!” Anthony’s eyes shone. “Daddy doesn’t know.”

“Oh, God,” Jack said. “Riddick, you’ve created a monster.”

Riddick laughed and sat down. “How you feeling?”

Jack smiled. “A lot better, actually. What did Libbie need to go and do?”

Riddick shrugged. “Not sure. Brand grabbed her hand and whispered something, and they both ran off.”

“Huh. Wonder what’s wrong?” Jack said.

“Might be something about this war they’re talking about.”
Jack rolled her eyes and flopped back onto the pillow. “They’re nuts. You can’t overthrow the Alliance.”

“You have to admit, though,” Riddick said, “the way Brand turned these ‘rats around… he seems like a decent guy, you know?”

Jack stared at him in amazement. “Riddick, I thought you hated him. What the hell happened when I was out?”

Riddick leaned back in the chair. “I just think that maybe he doesn’t have such a bad idea. You’ve got to admit, the Alliance is nothing more than a dictatorship. Maybe the universe needs something new. We have a chance to shake things up a bit.”

Jack couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So you actually think this is a good idea? Riddick, it’s impossible. We’d all get killed. We can’t just take over.”

“I see what you’re saying.” Riddick leaned forward. “Why not, though? It’s a long shot, but who knows? My guess is that if you think so, it’s worth a try.”

“No, it’s not. What could possibly make you think I supported this? What’s wrong with the way things are now?” Jack argued. “Do you think you could rule the Consortium?”

“No, but I could.” Brand walked into the room, and Jack turned astonished eyes on him. Her sister was standing behind him, holding a baby. “Oh, this is Nathaniel.” His gesture to the infant in Libbie’s arms was offhand. He went on, “We’re gonna rebel, Jackie. I’ve been gathering forces from all over the Consortium. Soon we’ll have an army big enough to take over Februus Prime.”

Jack looked from Riddick to Brand and back again. “I still think you’re crazy.”

Brand shook his head and said, “You’ve got no faith! Come on, trust me.” He gave an attempt at a charming smile that actually seemed to work. Despite herself, she could see his point of view. However, she still thought that Brand and Libbie, army or no army, didn’t have a chance in hell of winning.

“Riddick, can I talk to you alone for a second?”

“Sure, Jack. What’s wrong?” he asked, sitting down.

Jack gave her sister and Brand a pointed look, and they both withdrew with the children. She turned to face Riddick and said, “Why are you willing to risk everything for this psycho plan?”

Riddick said, leaning forward in his chair, “What do you mean, risk everything?”

“If we do this, we’ll all die. This is nuts. It will never work. The Alliance is too strong. You’ll get sent to slam, if not killed. I’ll be killed. This is treason, Riddick. Do you think the Alliance will take kindly to treason?”

“I don’t have any reason to stay loyal to that pack of dogs ruling everyone’s lives,” Riddick growled.

“Neither do I. Nobody does, but Riddick, they only rule your life when you get caught. We both know how often that happens. There’s nothing wrong with life as it is. The Consortium is too big for the Alliance to rule every bit of it. Even the pirates have the run of the ghost lanes, and you know it. What do you stand to gain from this?”

Riddick was quiet. Jack waited patiently. She didn’t know if he would see things her way or not, but at least he was thinking now. Finally, he spoke. “It’s like this. Brand might have something here, something that could be best for both of us. Besides, you want to stay with Libbie so badly, and I understand that. The thing is, I’m staying with you. No matter what. If this will keep you with me, then it’s more than worth it. I’ll put up with pirates, I’ll put up with this whole suicidal rebellion. You’re determined to stay, and I refuse to just leave you here. I won’t do it. I can try and get behind what this guy is trying to do for your sake.”

“Riddick….” Jack didn’t know what to say. This man meant so much to her. That he was willing to risk so much for her only served to drive home the enormity of their bond. Even after so many years (granted, most of which were spent hating him), their relationship still amazed her.

“If you want to stay with your sister, Jack, then I guess I’ve just been drafted,” Riddick said with a wan smile.

“Riddick, I don’t know. I want to stay with Libbie, yes, but not if means we get drawn into this crazy war.”

He sighed. “Jack, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t want to get involved in this war. Brand has some good qualities to him, I’ll give him that much. I respect him, which is more than I ever thought I would say for a ‘rat. But I agree with you, we don’t stand a chance against the Alliance.”

“Then why were you so suddenly in agreement with them?”

Riddick sat back and shrugged. “If he manages to pull the rebellion off, and actually wins, and I help him… he swore to get me an official pardon. No mercs on my ass ever again. Clean slate. You see what that could mean for me?”

Jack stared at him. “And you believed him?”

Riddick shrugged. “Haven’t made any decisions yet, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Aha, so it’s not all about staying with me, ‘no matter what.’ Jack couldn’t say she was surprised. He was still Riddick. If it meant his freedom, it was no wonder he was interested. She understood what he was thinking. Self preservation to the end... which was why she couldn’t believe he was actually considering this whole crazy scheme. “Are you completely out of your mind? He may even intend to keep his part of this bargain, but it’s suicide. It won’t work. You’ll just get caught again. It’s not worth the risk.”

Riddick studied her for a moment. “Maybe so. I just thought… well, it doesn’t matter what I thought, if you’re dead set against this. I’m a little surprised, though. If we go through with this, you’d get to stay with Libbie. I thought it was what would make you happy. It would work out for both of us.” Jack laughed in astonishment, and Riddick stared at her. Her face was lost in the dark depths of his goggles. “What are you laughing about?” Riddick frowned.

“Since when have you ever done anything that would make anyone else happy if it meant jeopardizing yourself? Riddick, what’s gotten into you?”

He just shrugged maddeningly, and Jack flopped her head back down on the pillow in frustration. It was like everything was spinning out of her control, and she hated it. Riddick was actually considering this plan, and Libbie was as good as nuts herself. Jack gritted her teeth as she glared at the ceiling. Life was so much easier before she gave a shit.