Three

'New forms of knowledge'- Richard B. Riddick

>>begin log>>>>> Geological Outpost T2. Log 2.0085. Dr. J. Cohen

Further investigation of the hollow spires, we ran initial tests and discovered what, at this point, appears to be an elaborate network of tunnels and chambers of varying sizes just under the surface. The animals are indeed doing very well. <<end of log<<<<<

There was nothing in the world that could possibly surprise Richard B. Riddick. He saw everything. Killing, hatred, money, wanting. He saw people being tortured, killed, saw them cry, plead, scream and yell. He saw the bribes, the anger, the selfishness and the foolishness.

But he never saw a smile on the face of Jack and he'd probably never see it, too.

Riddick was confused. His whole mind was focused on her, even though normally he could think about lots of things at once.

Johns abruptly stepped between him and Jack.

How the hell did he get here so fast? Riddick thought. Maybe he was staring at Jack a longer time than he'd like.

"Any problems, lad?" Johns asked, looking from Jack straight at Riddick.

Jack shook her head.

Now it finally struck Riddick. Jack was playing dumb! No 18-year old guy would have the voice like she did. The nice crispy voice she had…..

The moment someone heard her speak, they would know she wasn't a boy.

And now, Riddick was the only person who knew…

It took him a ridiculously long time to realize it though. If he'd been as smart as other people said he was, he would have noticed earlier. It was obvious. But any thought about Jack made his mind go off and his body on.

So, how long had he been staring at her?

" Jack, are you OK? Did Riddick hurt you?"

Jack shook her head again.

_No, he's just fucking around with my brain._

"Don't you make any trouble or I'll kill you," Johns said, his eyes beaming with rage. "And I'll say that a rock hit you in the head."

"The pleasure will be mine." Riddick's face revealed no sign of mockery, which made Johns even more furious.

_I'd really enjoy killing someone like Johns,_Riddick thought,_and maybe I will get a chance soon._

Jack was watching the little conversation. It was obvious how the two men hated each other. Maybe if she wasn't around they'd actually do something to one another. The tension in Johns' face was evident, he was scared of Riddick. Riddick on the other hand was showing a relaxed face. No fear, no tension. It actually looked like he was enjoying himself.

"Go away, Jack," Johns shrugged, "this is between me and him."

"No need," Riddick's lips quivered into a sincere snicker , "I'm on my way off anyway. But I'll be seeing you around."

Why did Johns have a feeling that the last words weren't for him?

He stormed off the other direction than Riddick.

OK, this was going to be hard. Jack had no clue on what to do. The only person who knew she wasn't a boy was Fry. No, she wouldn't use it against her. But the other person, the other person who knew…

Dammit. *Dammit*.

--Hell, Jack, why didn't you tell us?! Why are you acting as someone who you're not? You evidently don't trust us, do you? Fuck off, girl, we might as well leave you on this damn fucking planet behind! You didn't trust us and we don't trust you, simple as that. Get it? You fucked around with us and now we do the same to you.

How could she tell them, than she wanted to be a master hacker? It was damn illegal, but you'd get all the money and prestige. You'd have no problems in your life, everything would be taken care off. No need to sleep under bridges and in dirty alleys. No need to rob for food. No need to fight for your life when some psycho-bastard came at you at night. It was so simple. You only had to be a boy. The hackers organization, the CodX, took in everyone. Everyone. Except for women. No woman was aloud to step on their grounds or work for them. They were damn fucking chauvinists.

Jack spent her childhood with her friends in the streets from the age of 13. They lived there, took care of themselves. Through them she got to learn how to be a hacker. No-one ever asked her oldest friend Jacob where he'd got that cool CodX program.

Later she realized that all her friends were in the CodX Project. They were getting accreditation for the 'Master' title. The title that would get you a nice, trouble free life. Her friends had known she wasn't a boy, even though she thought she'd hidden it well. That's why they didn't tell her about the CodX. A lie for a lie.

Sorry, Jacqueline, but you're a girl.

The worst sentence she ever got to hear in her life.

Even from her parents.

Jack blinked away the tears as the thoughts in her mind took her to her mum and dad. The also wanted a boy. Her mum kept telling her that.

_If you were a boy, I wouldn't have to buy you all this stuff!_She used to say.

_Who's gonna have my name when I'm dead?!_Her father yelled.

Jack was the best though. She got the best grades at school, she never wanted anything; no clothes, no pocket-money, nothing. She played football, she was a good long distance swimmer. She tidied her room and did all the house work. Every parent would love her. But not her mum and dad.

"Daddy, it's not my fault! I didn't brake the vase! The dog did it! Please believe me!"

"Get better soon, you fucking bitch! We're not gonna pay any more for your damn healing! And you'd better be home working! God, why can't we have a SON!"

A son.

That's why she wanted to be a boy…..

She wanted to show her 'friends' she was no less than them. That's why she left to prove it. And that's how she got into Hunter-Gratzner in the first place. Some adventure…

She was stuck on this damn fucking planet with a serial psycho-killer, that tried to rape her and now he was fucking around with her brain.

What was worse than him? Probably nothing.

And now he was standing there, in front of her. She was literally shaking now.

"What's up, kid?" His face grew serious.

Kid? Darlin'? Jackie? It all seemed so strange from his mouth. It was the oddest sound. It was like he was talking to someone next to her.

She stepped back a bit, not knowing what he'd do. And he didn't know also.

He was walking away from where he left her and Johns, listening to Johns' heavy footsteps that were leaving the opposite direction. And then he could hear the faint sound. It was someone close to crying.

The thought that maybe Johns had said or done something to Jack when he left her, was ripping him apart. He turned around, watching Jack shaking hard.

And now he was standing in front of her, wanting to calm her down, hug her. Touch her. Make her feel better again.

Maybe it was something he'd done? The way he treated her? _You dumb shit,_he muttered to himself, _if it's because what you'd done to her earlier….._

He was mad at the beast within him, the animal that was close to getting out of it's cage and hurting her again…..

"Jack? Are you okay?"

_No, she's not okay, you idiot, she wouldn't be shaking otherwise, would she--_

"Get the hell away from me!" She seethed, braking his thoughts.

"Calm down, Jack," he said, his hands on her shoulders, "I'm not gonna hurt you."

_Am I?_

The beast inside him roared with hysterical laughter.

Jack? Now I'm Jack to him?! She looked at him, puzzled and furious at once. "Don't you fucking touch me!"

He wanted to step back. He was not actually making her feel any better, trying to hug her against her will. The last sane part of him made him lean back.

"I'm sorry, Jack."

_Who the hell is he playing at? A killer gone all soft and kind suddenly?! _She bit her lip,_he was playing around with her, again._

Jack knew that was what everyone did with her anyway. Made her do what they wanted. She stared up at the ceiling, blinking away the sudden stinging in her eyes. She was their slave. And she was not going to cry. Not in front of him. No fucking way!

>>begin log>>>>> Geological Outpost T2. Log 2.0086. Dr. J. Cohen . Our farther investigations show that the animals are in fact very pleased with their new surroundings. I am happy to say that Dr. Gregor was right. Everything is going as planned. <<end of log<<<<<