I disclaim Jack, Riddick and the whole PB don't belong to me they 
belong to people who are far more rich than I. However everything 
else is mine so hah!


Author's note: It's been 7 years since the crash of the Hunter - 
Gratzner. Jack was only 14 then now she's 21, the last time she 
saw Riddick she was 16 and she was being sent to Lockdown for 
picking the pocket of a merc. She was released when she was 18 
on account of the fact that she hadn't done anything too serious. 
For the last three years since her release she's been in hiding, 
Riddick heard about her release. He was hoping to be reunited 
with Jack the one person who truly understood him. Riddick has 
been searching for her ever since.

the characters thoughts are enclose in ~

 
*******************************************************


~ What the hell am I doing ? This is pointless, it's been three years 
if she had wanted to be found I would've found her already. Gotta 
give the girl her credit she's good at disappearing, guess she 
learned that from me.~

* flashback*

"Listen to me dammit if you ever need to hide from anyone you make 
sure you hide everything about yourself."

"Riddick what do you mean?"

"Hide your emotions, at least your true ones don't let them show on 
your face or even in your eyes. Change your name, your voice, your 
look, even your walk, got it?"

"Yeah I guess, but why would I need to hide when I have you 
watching out for me?"

"I may not always be able to protect you Jack."

//return to present//

~ Good question Jack why do you need to hide, especially 
now. You served your time so why the fuck are you hiding? Not 
even Imam knows where you are, dammit Jack why do I get the feeling 
you're in trouble.~

Riddick finally arrived on the space station Toma 7. It was a poor 
excuse of a planet with no real ground only metal. He was hoping to 
find Jack here, this station was well known for its "secrecy", 
it was the perfect place to hide. Riddick had spent the last 
three years searching every station known for harboring 
escaped convicts and runaways, he'd searched all of them at 
least a dozen times over the course of three years. However this 
was the first time he'd been to Toma 7 and he wasn't about to get 
his hopes up too high. However, this station was different, 
Riddick had heard a rumor that a hitman by the name of Richards 
was on this station. Word was this hitman was good enough that 
he could take down Riddick easy, of course that being said 
Riddick knew that this Richards would be a problem. Probably 
some hotshot who had received a contract on him and now Riddick 
was walking right into his hands by being on his station. 

~ I don't give a fuck if Johns himself is back from the dead and 
hunting my ass, if Jack is here I'll find her. This Richards had 
better not get in my way or he'll find my shiv buried in his chest. 
Damn where should I start looking, if Jack is here I doubt she'd 
be in the obvious locations. ~

From the alley a few feet away Riddick could hear part of a conversation. 
Now normally Riddick wouldn't stick his nose in other peoples business, 
especially if that business was being conducted in an alley, but 
he heard a name that caught his attention.

" Well hello again Richards didn't expect to see you back so soon. 
Heard you went after Higgins, how'd that go?"

Riddick was trying to get as close as possible without being spotted. 
He could see one of them, but he was blocking Riddicks view of the 
other man. The man Riddick could see didn't look like a high profile 
hitman, in fact he looked like some sniveling slime ball.

"Cut the pleasantries Barlow I'm not here to talk and you know it." 
To Ridddick's surprise, it wasn't a man's voice that responded but 
a woman. A woman who was trying to be intimidating and it was obviously 
working.

~ Holy shit so Richards is a woman, damn, no wonder she's considered 
good no one expects a woman to be a hitman.~ 

Riddick almost laughed out loud. He had always assumed that Richards 
was a guy, judging from the rep Richards had. That assumption 
could've cost him if Richards had come after him, he knew better 
than to make assumptions. He'd told Jack a thousand times to 
never assume anything that way you're not expecting anything and 
you're prepared for whatever's thrown at you. Yet here he was doing 
just what he'd warned her about not doing. 

~ Fuck she'd laugh in my face if she knew about this.~

"So are you here about my proposition." Riddick couldn't see 
the man's face but he knew that the man was smiling wickedly 
trying to be seductive, he could hear it in his voice.

"I'm here because someone finally got tired of your shit, and 
took out a contract on your ass with me. That answer your question?"

Riddick had to stifle another laugh apparently this woman could 
see right through this guy Barlow's BS. Riddick was careful not 
to get too close, yet he still couldn't see the woman that made 
this guy Barlow nervous.

"Look Richards why can't you let me slide. I mean, I know for a fact 
that you let all the contracts for Richard B. Riddick go. Why the fuck 
can't you let mine go?" Barlow was obviously getting pissed and the 
need to preserve himself was getting stronger.

This statement made Riddick's ears perk up, so this Richards hadn't 
accepted the contracts on his head. This could be interesting, 
for a few small minutes Riddick was forgetting his real reason for 
being on the station, Jack. This woman, Richards, was sounding more 
interesting every minute.

"Barlow who says I let all the contracts on Riddick go, huh? I'm 
waiting for the right time to take him down. Now, Riddick's 
contract should be the least of your worries. If I were you I'd 
be thinking about my own ass right about now."

~What was that? When Richards said my name it almost sounded familiar. 
Similar to the way Jack would say it... shit Jack I almost forgot 
about her. I can't let this woman distract me from my goal, no 
matter how interesting she sounds.~

Just then Barlow decided to attack, lunging forward swinging a 
wild fist. Richards easily sidestepped it but before Barlow could 
cover his mistake he was kissing the ground. Richards had stepped 
to the side then swept a leg in front of Barlow knocking his 
legs out from under him. Before Barlow could get up she had him 
pinned face down on the ground.

Riddick watched all of this, anyone could've easily avoided that 
swing but the speed with which she did it sent warnings all 
through Riddick's brain. She was good, that much was obvious. As 
she pinned Barlow, Riddick noticed the light glistening 
off the blade of a shiv. 

~ Well a woman after my own heart I think I like this Richards, her 
weapon of choice is a shiv. Damn, not many people let alone women 
use a shiv for a weapon. Oh yeah this Richards is more than what 
she seems.~

Just as Richards was about to cut the bastard's throat the comm 
unit on her wrist started beeping. 

"Shit! Not now," she fumed to herself. Returning her attention to 
Barlow she growled," you try anything and you're dead". Richards 
was obviously not happy with this interruption. Now she had to 
keep Barlow still so she could answer her comm.

" I'm dead anyway remember."

"True but unless you wanna die slow and painful I suggest you 
shut the fuck up and hold still!"

Riddick moved closer, he was never usually this curious but 
there was something about this woman that caught his attention, 
something that screamed for him to stop and pay attention to 
her. She was definitely his type that was sure, she stood about 
5'6 with shoulder length hair. She was small in stature, but 
it was obvious she was all muscle. She had full breasts despite 
her size, which made her all that much more attractive to Riddick. Her 
attractiveness aside there was something about her he couldn't place. 

Richards had Barlow's arms pinned behind his back with her leg weighing 
them down against him. She answered her comm apparently more 
than pissed, but a little worried.

"Yeah. Richards. This had better be good."

"It's Riddick." The man's voice was tinged with fear as if he was 
scared to tell this woman any bad news.

Riddick was wondering how anyone,let alone this man, could know he 
was on the station. He was in disguise and he hadn't spoken to anyone 
since arriving.

"Damn! When?" Worry was evident in the woman's voice but she was 
strong and she seemed to almost shrug it off as she continued the 
conversation.

"An hour ago Ms. Richards"

Riddick suddenly realized they couldn't be talking about him. He'd 
been here for four hours and he hadn't done anything but walk the 
streets. He certainly hadn't done anything an hour ago that would 
arouse suspicion, let alone tip anyone off as to who he was. So 
the question was who were they talking about.

Richards was growing angrier by teh second and so the pressure she 
placed on Barlow's arms quickly became unbearable for the sleaze.

"And so you thought you'd wait an hour to inform me?" She took a 
deep breath to calm herself before continuing,' Fuck it, is the 
package safe with you?' She almost seemed scared of what this 
man's answer would be.

"Yes Ms.Richards the package is safe, do you want me to send it"

"No! No, wait for me I'll be there soon" With that she turned off her 
comm unit so she could finish with Barlow.

"Looks like tonight's your lucky night Barlow, you just won 
yourself a few extra days of life, while I tend to a more pressing 
matter." With that she let Barlow get to his feet, cautiously 
watching him. Barlow didn't put up a fight, he simply turned and 
smiled.

"Well hard to believe that Richard B. Riddick would be the one to 
spare my life."

"He didn't. I did." Richards was obviously tired of dealing with 
this man and he was trying her patience. "Look unless you really 
have a death wish I suggest you leave" With that Barlow took 
off running and he never looked back, he was thankful to have not 
died tonight at the hands of one of the galaxies best "hitmen".

Riddick remained in the shadows even after Barlow took off, he could 
have easily stepped up behind this woman and buried his shiv in 
her back. Take out the enemy before they take you out, but something 
told him that he shouldn't feel threatened by this woman. He began 
to follow her out of the alley but thinking she'd hear his movements 
he slowed. As she exited the alley the wind picked up and blew her 
scent to Riddick, a smell of Jasmines and something else, something 
all her own, soft yet enticing almost mysterious.

~ Damn I know that scent, where do I know that sent from?~

Riddicks footsteps faltered as he realized who that scent belonged 
to. 

~ It can't be, not her. ~

As Riddick turned the corner he realized he had lost the woman he'd 
been following. 

~ Damn she's good, she'd have to be otherwise she'd be dead already, 
shit it can't be her it just can't be....Jack.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2

~Shit! How the hell did I lose her? What does Jack think she's 
doing by pretending to be a hitman? If she's trying to hide from 
something or someone why hide as a "hitman"? Too many questions, 
I need to find Jack and get some answers.~

From behind Riddick came a low voice. "You must be pretty suicidal 
to eavesdrop on a conversation taking place in an alley?"

~How'd she get behind me? Well Jack guess you're just full of surprises 
tonight. Let's see what else you have up your sleeve.~

Riddick turned to face Jack only to see a total stranger standing 
in front of him. If he hadn't caught her scent earlier he really would 
believe he was talking to a stranger. Instead of the golden brown 
hair with the hints of blonde, there was jet black hair. Instead 
of the hazel eyes he always loved to watch change with her emotions, 
there were dark brown almost black ones. There was a 
scar across 
her right cheek that Riddick was sure with further 
inspection 
would prove to be fake. Even her posture had changed, 
once her 
posture had given off the message of 'tough but innocent 
child'. Now it gave off the message of 'fuck with me and it'll 
take days for you to die'.

~So you were listening to me all those years ago. You did exactly 
what I told you to the letter.~

Riddick knew that from where Jack was standing she didn't recognize 
him. He, too, was in disguise, he was wearing a dirty blonde wig 
and contacts that made his eyes look green. He had changed his 
posture also, by slouching his shoulders and walking with a slight 
limp. 

"So are you? Suicidal I mean, because I don't like being watched 
from the shadows. It kinda makes me antsy." She was trying to 
intimidate him by remaining calm. 

~Damn she even changes her voice so she won't be recognized. 
Very good Jack, I'm impressed. ~

Her anger was obvious, she didn't like the fact that all he could 
do was stare at her in quiet amusement.

"Are you gonna answer me, or do I kill you right now? Without a second thought"

His laughter started out as a low chuckle but then rose in volume. 
"What's wrong Jack don't like it when you can't intimidate 
someone?"

Her face furrowed in confusion before one word fell from her lips 
in a hushed whisper "..Riddick?"

As she said his name Riddick watched the facade she had put up 
falter before she shoved it back in place.

~So you know who I am, now what?~

She herself began to chuckle in a mocking tone. "Mister I 
don't know who you think I am but I do know you've made a grave 
mistake." She began stalking closer to him as she said this.

~Okay so you wanna keep up the act, must think you're being watched. 
Alright I'll play along for now, but you will answer my questions 
Jack. I won't let you off that easily.~

"Oh have I? I could've sworn you were someone I used to know." 

She was now standing directly in front of him. Still speaking in 
a mocking tone, she continued.

"Guess you swore wrong tonight, didn't you? Oh well now your gonna 
pay for your mistake." 

Standing on her tiptoes so she could whisper in his ear, she was 
careful so no one around could hear. 

"We can't talk here, the night has too many eyes if you know what 
I mean?"

~What have you gotten yourself into kid? That in a dark alley 
you can't even talk straight to me of all people?~

Riddick decided to play along in the game only to see how far she 
would take it.

"Look I'm sorry it was an honest mistake, no need to do anything 
rash." Riddick watched her eyes she quickly looked to her left then 
raised an eyebrow. Someone was there in the shadows, Riddick hadn't 
even noticed that they were being watched. 

Suddenly her game plan changed, "Alright, I guess I can let you go 
but don't ever be so stupid again. Next time it will cost you your 
life."

~Watch it kid, don't get cocky with me I taught you how to protect 
yourself~

Riddick wasn't sure what this new change in strategy was but he 
couldn't question her on it now.

"Thanx, I can go now right?"

"Sure, go just don't let me catch you following me again."

When Riddick turned his back to leave he felt a sharp pain run through 
his head. ~What the F-- Jack. Why the hell...~

As darkness engulfed him, he thought Jack had betrayed him. He wasn't 
sure why but that's all he could comprehend of the situation. 

 
TBC...