Morph

Chapter 16: Vague


He decides to take a seat before answering the question, “I strongly believe that it was Ryan... indeed.” He finishes, looking away. I feel my blood boiling inside, my jaw clenches and I have to look away myself. Deacon notices my irritability.

“What of Riddick himself? Is he still alive?” Deacon asks trying to get his attention away from me.

Carmine purses his lips and shakes his head “ I don’t believe he is. He was pronounced dead when the merchant vessel he was aboard crashed on an unknown planet. His body was never found, but then again no bodies were found.” His eyes actually look sincere. “Are you certain that the Kyie woman and her husband are dead?” he asks and it dawns on me. Carmine is testing us.

“As dead as they can be, Sir” Deacon answers glancing over at me.

Feeling a little bit calmer I speak up “Sir, with your permission I would like to watch over Jason. We’ve kind of formed a bond and he feels safe with me.”

“Actually, Nyla, that is why I called you two in here. I want you both to be in charge of this child. Not only for security, but everything else, from tests, to his favorite pajamas. Whatever he needs I’m making you two responsible to provide him with, make him comfortable.” Too good to be true? Perhaps, but I’m willing to go on a little faith here. “So what do you say?”

I look over at Deacon and he shrugs. I smile and nod.

“Very well then” Carmine stands and extends his hand out to us, we shake.

“You can count on us, Sir,” I say reassuringly

“I know, Nyla, I know.” We walk out, leaving the Chief alone.

* How much do you already know Nyla? * Carmine thinks as we walk out. He entwines his fingers and places his feet on his desk. * I’ll be watching you, I hope that for your own good you’re telling me the truth *

Deacon and I head for our living quarters. We’re both tired and in need of a shower. As we reach our door, Deacon pushes me to the side and sprints towards the shower.

“Hey, no fair!” I yell at him, but he locks the door to the shower stall. “Damn you Deacon!” I huff frustrated. To my relief he only takes about 10 minutes in the shower. He comes out and I smack the back of his head causing him to chuckle. Entering the shower stall I don’t even notice that dusk is minutes away. I turn on the hot water full blast. As I undress, a steamy mist clouds over the bathroom making the shower more appealing to me. I step in, slightly wincing at the scalding water as it hits my flesh. It feels sooo gooood. I wash my hair slowly taking in the scent of the shampoo not the best stuff, but my hair will be clean nonetheless. Working up a good lather I soap my self from head to toe. I giggle, thinking of Deacon’s comparison for the soap “sand paper ” the soap is harsh no doubt and surely my skin will be dry after this, but I don’t care.

For some reason my breathing quickens, my heart begins to beat faster and I have goosebumps all over my body. It sort of fells like an aty aty attack. It’s like my gut feeling has been enhanced by 10. Something is happening. Riddick, he must be around, close. Without delay I exit the shower grabbing the nearest towel and covering my self. I push the door open and scuttle through the clothes on the ground to find something to put on, anything I could find

Deacon jumps from his bed, “What is it?” he asks, following my lead and getting dressed also.

I throw on some jogging clothes and slip-on sneakers, “ Something is wrong, I think Riddick is in trouble ” Reaching under my bed I pull out a plasma gun and Deacon’s eyes go wide. The only time we are allowed to be armed is in emergencies or for training. Right now this is an emergency situation for me.

“ You don’t have to come Deacon, I’ve put you in enough danger already” my words don’t stop him though, Deacon’s next to me, ready to roll.

“ Too late darling, we’re in this together, all the way. ”I nod my head and open the airlock. We make our way down the eerie corridors of the living quarters with caution. I think of contacting Riddick through the comm-link, but if he was in a tight spot a guard might hear it and he could be discovered. So for the moment I have to wait for him to contact me. Deacon and I agree on him checking the Maddox and I’m going to check Jason.

Rounding the corner towards the docking platform, Deacon stops dead in his tracks. Military guards are all over the place. The Maddox’s ramp is open and guards are inside looking for something. Riddick perhaps? Did they suspect something or had they know all along? He has to warn Jack... funny that’s the first time he ever thought of her as Jack.


Carefully I make my way up the levels until I reach the laboratory cell where Jason is being held. The laboratory is empty and quiet. The silence is deafening. I can hear my own heart beat loudly. A glowing blue light coming from the bottom of the room gives everything around the glass room a luminescent shadow. No guards. No white coats. At the far corner I can see a small shadow. Jason.
Gently I tap on the glass trying to get his attention, but he’s facing the wall and not moving.

There’s another presence in the room and as soon as I feel it they speak.

“No use, they drugged him” Riddick steps out from the shadows. His voice doesn’t startle me at all.

“I should’ve know not to trust those bastards. I specifically told them not to do anything witout my say so” I can tell that Riddick is pissed also “Where is everyone?” I ask looking around.

“Don’t know” he answers, my comm-link beeps and this does startle me. Its Deacon.

“Jack, have you found Riddick?” he asks in a low voice.

I look at Riddick and he’s back in the shadows. Something about Riddick’s move tells me he doesn’t trust Deacon.

“No” I lie, it hurts me to deceive him, but in the past I learned that Riddick’s instincts are never wrong. “What’s going on Deacon, where is everybody?” the signal becomes weak.

“.....they.......here......him......now.....” static makes his words muffled and I can’t understand anything he says

“Deacon, I didn’t copy that, repeat” the com-link goes dead “Shit” I huff.
Riddick steps back into the light, removes his goggles and grabs my arm.

“Jack, whatever happens, you MUST get Jason out of here” he tells me almost shaking me.

“We, are getting out of here together, OK?” my voice pleads like a child’s. I find myself reminiscing of that day. The day he said goodbye to me, for my own good. Would he leave me again? The answer comes to me. No he wouldn’t. Something is different about him this time around. He’s different and yet the same person.

“You have to go now Jack” he lightly pushes me towards the glass room.

This catches me by surprise, “What? Why?” I’m caught off-guard by his roar.

“Run Jack, now!” Alarms sound off all around us.

To be continued...