Chapter I

Jack Finds a Mini-Jack

The older, wiser and stronger Jack moved like death through the streets, keeping to the shadows and to her strengths. She tried not to think that this shouldn't be how she has to get to her apartment every time she goes outside. Not trusting the usual entrance-way of the door, she walked into the side alley of the crumbling building and looked up the brick wall. Wondering why she had chosen such a high floor, Jack curled her hands into fists, releasing the steel claws that were usually sheathed. She had picked up this pair of bugnucks from her first kill, not long after she had moved from Imam's house back on New Mecca. They served as her favourite weapon, easy to release and even more fun to use.

Locking them in place, she began to climb the wall, not daring to use the fire escape that would probably fall on her the moment she touched it. She easily scaled the building, crumbs of brick falling down past her and dust coating her darkened glasses that she wore. Finding her window she unhooked the blades and swung herself into the open slot in the building, landing noiselessly on the dirty rug. Cleaning wasn't a priority to her. Survival was, regardless of what it left behind. That is what Riddick left her with after he left New Mecca, satisfied that she and Imam were safe.

At her eighteenth birthday it was either move into society or leave and Jack being Jack, took the first flight off of the bright planet. She had eventually landed up here, on this planet with one small sun that shone a brilliant blue, not unlike the one on T2. Since she almost never slept, she never had to think about that experience, her idolization of Riddick and her mourning of Fry. Daytime lasted a scant nine hours and night ruled supreme otherwise. It didn't bother Jack, she had grown accustomed to the dark and didn't even feel the need to get her eyes shined.

With a quiet grunt, Jack pulled herself up into the ceiling, where she had made a hidden loft. It was the only semi-clean place in her small apartment. Hell, she was basically a squatter, no one paid for shit around here. Laying back, she crossed her legs and folded her hands behind her head, looking up at the ceiling only two feet away from her. There, on the decaying structure, was tacked every article and printed piece of information Jack could find on Riddick. She had given up looking for him, but it kept her on her toes to know where he was last sighted. Barely closing her eyes, Jack rested for a moment before she heard a distinct whimper.

Her eyes snapped open behind the dark lenses and she soundlessly rolled off her loft and down onto the floor, looking around her. This was a human whimper, not some abandoned animal. Moreover, it sounded small, not like a wounded adult who was left somewhere to die. Discovering the source of the whimper to be in her 'closet' that she didn't use, Jack approached it silently, cursing to hell whoever was in there. She didn't want to have to look out for some runt that hid in her apartment. The whimpering stopped as she opened the sliding door the closet, letting in more darkness to the already dark closet.

"Get the fuck outta my closet." She said, not realizing she sounded like her once-idol. Gritting her teeth, Jack rolled her eyes and stepped from the closet. "C'mon, I know you're in there. Make this easy and get out of my closet and out of my apartment."

There was no reply and she mumbled a few choice curses, convinced it was some scared girl who had ran away. This made her stop suddenly. That sounded entirely too familiar. Living in a shit place in a shit life and being so scared that you ran away and hid wherever you felt slightly safe. Shaking her head, she hoped the girl would come out soon. Depositing herself on the floor, she sighed and leaned against the opposite wall, directly facing the opening of the closet.

"Alright, I'm going to be right out here waiting for you. I'm going to sharpen my weapons to pass the time, so don't be scared of the noise. Take your time, kid, I've got nowhere to go." Jack reassured the hidden girl before she released the 'claws'. First cleaning them, she got to work sharpening each blade, curving it into a wicked talon then polishing it.

Jack became intent in the work, but still kept a glance out for this scared girl to reveal herself. Sure she could've literally kicked the kid out and reached into the dark closet and dragged her out. But Jack had had such experiences and they were far from pleasant, so she decided to be patient. She was good at doing that. Being patient. She had almost lost track of the years she had spent waiting for Riddick, so she could wait for this girl to crawl from a closet.

Finally she finished and Jack saw that the daylight was breaking in, shining a blue light wherever it could. With a deep breathe, she began to sing softly in a language she didn't know, but the soft praise had always stuck with her.

"Uich gwennen na 'wanath ah na dhín.

An uich gwennen na ringyrn ambar hen.

Boe naid bain gwannathar,

Boe cuil ban firitha.

Boe naer gwannathach."

Her voice sounded ethereal and that of a celestial being when she sang, calming her completely as well as the frightened girl in the closet. As she finished Jack was shocked to find a audience sitting at the opening to her closet. She was more shocked to find that it was no girl, but a young boy, no more then nine years old. He smiled softly at her singing, looking just as entranced as the song itself was.

"May I ask what you were doing in my closet?" She questioned, not approaching the boy but letting him sit where he pleased.

Blue eyes stared back at her, accompanied by long un-cut brown hair that must've grown to his waist. The body was tanned and even muscled, if possible at such a young age. He was obviously on his own, because one only developed muscles like his if they were always on the run and hiding.

"Hiding."

"From?"

"That." He said, gesturing to the window.

"That does not look like something to hide from." Jack noted, wondering if this boy had ever even met his parents.

"No, not that. The outside. The people, they scare me." He said, explaining to her. Jack frowned, her resolve failing to harden. Something about this boy struck a chord within her, probably because he reminded her of herself before T2. At least he wasn't trying to pass a girl.

"Hm. So. Why are you still here?" She questioned, making his eyes dart back from the open window to her face, looking suddenly afraid and hurt.

"I…had to hide."

"I realize that, but what makes you think I'm letting you stay here to hide?" Jack wanted to slap herself for doing this, but she just had to dig a little deeper.

"Because…you…youcan'tjustleavemealoneliketherestofthem." He said in one rush, suddenly terrified that this woman was actually going abandon him. She had seemed so nice before. This confirmed it for Jack.

"What's your name?"

"I…don't have a name." He admitted, looking away. He felt safe with her, but she seemed to give off this aura of hate and anger. He suddenly was stabbed with the guilt of realizing he had just made himself look stupid and weak.

"Well, you should have one." She said, as if not caring that he didn't know it. Although inside she was worried. Not only did she now know what it felt like to feel responsible for another, but that to wander around for your entire life not knowing your identity could've driven him insane.

"Um…"

"Stand up." She ordered, making him clumsily stumble up. He would need work. Walking behind him, knowing she was making him incredibly nervous, she stopped behind him and knelt. "Ever heard of the Romans?"

"No." He replied, turning to look at her. With an unreadable face she stood and motioned for him to follow her. He walked behind her, his head barely reaching her elbow. She stopped at the 'counter' of her 'kitchen' and asked him to get up on the counter. Pulling himself up, he let his legs dangle over the edge.

"Well, every strong boy should know something about the Romans." Jack said and with that, she began to clean him up.

Within hours he was looking better. She had cleaned and trimmed his hair, tying it back with a leather string she had cut from a cuff she used to hold various weapons. Jack had tended to various cuts that had been left open for infection and was glad to see he was generally healthy.

Day in, day out Jack was teaching him Roman history. He listened attentively, never questioning her. He was almost worshipping her when she told him she was going to teach him how to properly fight. Although she wasn't pleased with having a kid tag along with her, she couldn't deny that strange attachment.

Finally his name was decided.

"Marius." Jack called, waiting for him to run in, completely attentive, if not obsessive.

"Huh? Who?" He asked, cautiously walking in, thinking she had called someone else.

"You. Your name is Marius. I'm going out, stay here and don't make noise. Don't wait up for me." She instructed and leaving him slightly puzzled, she disappeared through the window.

He contented himself by going through every move she had taught him, starting with the basics.

As Jack walked down the alley, she wondered how the hell she had taken on an apprentice. He was a complete open threat for her and it wasn't like she would be impassive if something happened to him. She briefly wondered if this was how Riddick felt about her, but she doubted it and picked up pace. Walking during the light hours was safer, but this place was still dangerous.

Keeping her fingers millimeters away from the release of her claws, Jack continued down the street. She wasn't on business tonight, but it was the difference between returning to Marius and tossed in the gutter, body filled with bullets, she preferred to be paranoid. Finding her target, she slipped to the side and with a kick, opened the old door. Closing it behind her, Jack walked in the darkness and finding her destination, knocked. The door opened, revealing an old-fashioned bar.

With a semi-salute to the bartender, she slid into her usual seat, waiting for her drink. Rubbing her forefinger over the polished wood, she sighed. Every week she came here, hoping to hear more on Riddick. It was habit now, and she always stayed a full four hours, whether or not she heard something about him. Now she had Marius to consider, but with her parting words, he could easily be expecting her to return the next morning. With a brief nod of thanks to the bartender, Jack took the shot of icy blue liquid and downed it in one fell swoop. Instead of burning her body like other liquors did, it hit her center in an icy explosion, sending icicles of frozen pleasure to every part of her body.

"So, I hear you're the gal to talk to about a quick and clean disposal?" she heard a voice on her left. Turning, she still held the glass in her hand and looked the owner of the voice over.

A little below average height, shaved head, one blind eye, tattoos covering his body, even his bare scalp. Somehow this bald head turned her stomach and the tinny voice didn't help.

"Maybe. Depends on the pay."

"You seem like the kind of woman who likes a quick escape." Jack's face stiffened slightly but he didn't notice it. "So, you…dispose of this guy for me and I'll give you your own ship." Jack couldn't help her sudden stare and quickly silenced the man.

"Watch what you say. There are people here who would sooner kill themselves for that kind of pay. Who is the guy?"

"Just some asshole who has been pissing me off for a while now. Can you do it?"

Jack briefly mulled over it, wishing her glass were full. She could finally have her own ship, get a way off this shit planet, take Marius and even possibly find Riddick. And what was stopping her from immediately accepting? She wasn't sure at the time, but later as she looked back on the moment, she cursed herself for even replying to this man.

"I'm hired."

"Good. You'll have a ship powered and ready to go when you finish. It's a good one, don't worry." He said, with a raised eyebrow at her glare. "Do it as soon as you can."

With a nod, Jack rose and leaving a few creds on the bar, left her bar. She wasn't in the mood to stay and get possibly pissed drunk. With a slightly lighter step, she decided to scrounge for some food for Marius as a sort of celebration.

(yes do read the note!)

Note: For those of you who have read and reviewed "Keeping Faith", firstly, thank you. Wasn't expecting that result. I'm testing this and I will finish it. I really meant to have "Keeping Faith" as just a single thing. I'll see how this works and there is a slight chance that KF will continue. Slight.