The Ninth Life

Shan'ica SilverPheniox

2: The 'Jects

As soon as she stepped off the ship Shane was blinded. The sun was always so much brighter here on New Brazil. Her glasses never protected her eyes enough. After a few seconds her sight cleared a bit and she walked slowly towards the customs desk. The stranger and his young companion were only a few feet ahead of her, walking slowly, as if nervous in approaching the customs officials. They were maybe a dozen feet or so from the desk when they stopped. Shane stopped as well, watching them. They were talking, almost arguing. While they were whispering in order to avoid being overheard, Shane could make out some of their words.

"What if...crash...fake...questions...D.N.A...Riddick..."

"Riddick? Where do I know that from?" Shane muttered, now extremely curious about these two people and their conversation.

"Shane Corvan?" A young man appeared behind her suddenly, surprising Shane.

"What?" Shane snarled as she spun around to face the boy, her fangs showing completely.

The boy shrunk back from Shane and her razor sharp fangs, then stammered, "Mr. Klidox sent me to pick you up, ma'am. He has already had you cleared through customs. If you'll follow me." He gestured toward a gate to her right.

Sighing, Shane looked back at the strangers. They had finished their argument and had reached the customs desk. She took a long, hard look at them both, studying them and dedicating their features to memory. She would search them out later.

Ignoring the young man who had spoken to her, Shane headed for the gate.

An hour and a half later Shane was in a luxurious hotel room in one of those upscale hotels that only the extremely rich stayed at. Not too bad. Her employer had good taste.

"If he can afford such a fucking fancy hotel room, why the fuck does he need a professional cat burglar?" Shane asked herself as she stepped into the shower. "Someone with that kind of money should be able to buy whatever it is he wants. Damn it, I hope this isn't supposed to be some sort of corporate espionage crap. I hate corporate jobs." She sighed, then turned her attention to how she was going to find the strangers from the ship. Neither had seemed the type to have a lot of money on them, so she guessed that they would be staying on the 'cheap' side of town. Not a pretty place. Shane had been there a few times and would swear that it got worse every time. Fortunately, she knew a few people around that area who owed her a few favours and who could ask a few questions without raising any suspicions. She would just have to give them a call and see what they could dig up for her. In the meantime, she had a meeting to get ready for. Getting out of the shower, dried off and went to change.

"God damn it, I hate this place!" Jack screamed as she killed yet another cockroach. This one had been at least as big as her hand. "Why did we have to come here?!"

Riddick just rolled his eyes at her complaints. He didn't like it any more than she did, but they didn't have much choice. "Be sure you get all that bug crap off of my shiv." He told her, turning his attention back to the comm channel.

He was searching for a fast way to make some cash without drawing too much attention to himself or Jack. They just needed enough to get them off of this godforsaken planet. In some ways it was almost worse than all those fucked up photophobic aliens on that eclipse planet.

The comm line squawked and Riddick turned his attention back to the device. "Shut the fuck up, will you!" He yelled at Jack, who was still muttering about the bugs. She made a face at him and stalked into the second bedroom, slamming the door behind her. He rolled his eyes again and muttered "We have got to get of this fucking planet."

"Ms. Corvan!" The voice yelled at Shane as she walked out of the office and headed for the elevators. Five minutes after the meeting started Shane had walked out on it. She hated people like that. They always thought that she was some sort of pushover, that they could win her over with a fancy hotel room and a ticket to whatever planet they needed her on. Not this cat. Not a fucking chance. That was only half her fee. She'd listen to him when he was ready to pay. But while he thought about that, she had work to do. If he managed to crack that damn wallet of his open she had to do the job fast. So she had to be prepared. Hailing a transport, she headed toward the 'jects. That was what the less than pleasurable side of the city was called. Apparently the word stood for 'projects', an ancient earth term for the slum areas of major cities. Shane never understood that. Really, Shane never understood cities. Give her a good old jungle any day. She hated all this cement.

One of Shane's contacts had gotten back to her just before the meeting started. He told her where she could find the strangers. Ironically, it was only a few blocks from where she was headed. She would have to stop by after she finished her scouting job.

Jack stormed out of the building in disgust. She couldn't believe that this was the best they could afford. And she really couldn't believe Riddick. She could help make some cash. She could help get them out of this crap hole. But no, she should stay in the hotel and let him do it. She would catch too much attention if she were caught. And Riddick certainly couldn't walk into a cop shop to pay her fine if she were arrested for pick pocketing.

"DAMN IT!!!!" She yelled into the empty street. She hated this. She hated being so unuseful.

"Jack!" Riddick's voice followed after her. He was looking for her. Why? What good was she?

"There you are." Riddick rounded the corner. She thought she saw a speck of relief in his eyes. "You shouldn't have run off like that. Not around here. Are you crazy?" His concern for her was genuine, and his smile relaxed her. She smiled back.

"I'm--" Jack didn't have a chance to say more. Out of nowhere this thick board swung around, hitting Riddick in the back of the head, hard. He went down hard. He didn't get up.