Morph

Chapter 29: Making Amends

“Carmine” Jack’s voice is even and threatening. She’s stressed out and drained from the previous confrontation. Riddick however is calm and still energized. Riddick takes a deep breath and prepares himself for a stand off. He tries to glimpse inside of Carmine’s head, but Carmine is successfully blocking his thoughts. Something he’d learned to do years ago.

‘Very clever’ Riddick thinks.

With his gauge aimed at Riddick and Fitz close behind, Carmine slowly approaches them carefully. From the look on Riddick’s face, he can snap at any given moment. Jack looks equally defensive. Carmine looks down and sees Nate’s lifeless body on the ground.

“One down” Carmine casually says. He knew Riddick would kill Nate, he just hopes he can get his point across before Riddick decides to snap his neck.

“Please, just let us go. You will never see or hear from us again” Jack pleads.

“I can’t do that Nyla” he grips his gauge tighter.

Riddick places his hand on Jack’s shoulder and takes a step forward, “Then do what you came here to do” he snarls.

Carmine’s trigger finger hesitates. Fitz’s eyes shift nervously from Carmine to Riddick and back.

Carmine lowers his gauge, but Fitz keeps her aim. He reaches into his jacket pocket slowly and retrieves a disk. Riddick quirks his eyebrow and cock his head to the side. Carmine looks at the disk as if it causes him grief.

“This is what I came here to do” Carmine expresses, tossing the disk to Riddick. Fitz lowers her gauge, she knows where it’s going from here.

Jack looks at the disk in disbelief. Riddick does very little to hide his questioning look.

“Is that what I think it is?” Jack moves closer contemplating the small circled disk in Riddick’s hand.

“My files” Riddick simply says, still with a little uncertainty.

Carmine composes himself before speaking, “I can’t give you your life back, but I’m going to make sure that from now on the only person in control of your life will be you” Both men lock eyes. So much hurt, so much to make up for. This is a good place to start.

“Sir, they’re asking for our report” Fitz intercedes.

“Tell them there is no sign of Nate Jordan or Richard B. Riddick...Get out of here” Carmine says softly. Jack wonders what kind of demons Bruce has had to deal with over the years. He cares for Riddick, no doubt.

Jack walks over to Carmine and shakes his hand, “Thank you Bruce”

“Take care Nyla” he says with a fatherly tone. She would be very good for Riddick and vise versa.

“Its Jack” she says with a smile.

He nods, “Jack”. She turns and heads for the ramp, stopping to wait for Riddick.

Riddick secures the disk in his cargo pants. “Do us all a favor Bruce... retire” he scoffs. He’s not about to question Carmine’s decision.

Bruce smiles and nods, “Before you go. The body we found in Remora...” he questions without asking and places three fingers up, “Who was he? What for? and Where you’d get him?”

Riddick knows that Carmine needs an answer for his own piece of mind. So he answers him, simply and in order.

“Drifter. Research. Morgue” Carmine nods satisfied. Riddick goes up the ramp and puts his arm around Jack. They watch Carmine disappear as the ramp closes.

Fitz walks next to Carmine and asks, “Is it over?” she asks looking towards the ship as it takes off.

Carmine glances at her and back at the ship, “Yes, but I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of him”

To be continued...