Forgotten Past: Chapter Thirty Three-This is Not Freedom

The Charmer, trailed by it’s two companions, hurtled through space on
its course for the next battle. Riddick stood at the helm, checking
progress so he could give Carolyn the down low on the situation. She
was still resting up, much to Craig Starr’s relief.

That didn’t stop her from being in charge though, Riddick
acknowledged silently. Still in charge of every situation on board her
ship, Carolyn made sure nothing went down she didn’t know about.

Today’s project? Make Jake Nolan give his answer. He had a chance to
be a part of the team, or be a part of the scenery. Being sent, alive, into
space had never been a thought Riddick had relished, personally. He
doubted it was on Jake’s “top ten things to do before I die” list, either.

Another hour and Jake’s time to decide would be up, his fate left in
Carolyn’s hands.

Carolyn was almost of two minds, but at a more sane level. There was
the side she showed him and no one else. That was Carolyn. Some of the
crew closer to her knew that side as well, but it was a choice few. Then
there was Creed. In charge and vicious. One wrong step and you could
end up gutted in the presence of Carolyn’s alter ego.

When at the helm of her ship, Carolyn was Creed. She backed the bad
ass attitude she’d adopted with her pirating career with a firm fist and a
no-excuses-acceptable way of life. There was no margin for error when
it came to the way she ran her ship, and she made that perfectly clear to
everyone around her.

When he was put in charge, Riddick hadn’t needed to be told that to
realize that this ship was everything to Carolyn. It had been the one
constant in an ever changing environment permeated my nightmares
and half remembered memories of the past.

When nothing else had made sense, she’d been able to come here and
regroup. Part of the regrouping process had been Winter Keefe, but
with her gone Riddick could sense the loss Carolyn was experiencing.

Even mentioning Jake Nolan’s name in her presence caused waves of
hate and anger to roll of her in sheets. Riddick was more that a little
intrigued by the fact that she hadn’t out right killed Nolan.

Now the hour approached that would seal the man’s fate and Riddick
was curious to see the outcome of the meeting that would decide Nolan’s
future.

If Nolan was smart, he’d say yes to Carolyn’s offer and live. If he was
loyal to the Company, he would say no and Carolyn would send him off
to eternity with a wide grin on her face.

That was something Riddick didn’t doubt a bit. He knew that Carolyn
wouldn’t have any qualms about sending the man to a cold death. It
wouldn’t plague her conscious in the least.

The issue at hand, though, was the position of the next battle between
the rapidly growing resistance and the defensive Company.

It was becoming extremely obvious that the Company was losing its
once iron grip on the universe. Its position of power was failing as more
and more people joined with the resistance for one reason or another.

There would always be those that had zero scruples and would stick
with the Company no matter what, but the larger numbers were
moving to the side with a cause that made sense.

Colony upon colony was joining the ranks of fighting men and women,
and nations were joining the fight as well.

Governments were making the war official across the known parts of
the universe. And even those in the outer rim were setting after one side
or the other to be a part of the action.

A war of this caliber was something else to behold and the resistance
had been sending out messages for the next attack on a Company
stronghold for the last three days.

A space colony was the next target. It was housing for Company
employees, mostly Rangers and officials.

With the right numbers in favor of the resistance, the space colony
could be wiped from the face of the universe never to be heard from
again. Nothing but space dust. That was the plan.

Every resistance battle cruiser within traveling distance was asked to
come to assist in the battle that would surely ensue, and Carolyn’s ship
was only a two day flight from the target.

Bruce and Reed had greeted the opportunity to attack with open arms,
and so had their crews of their respective ships. Carolyn’s crew was
always up for a battle.

Ahsatan and Nylorac were close in The Charmer’s wake and they were
making awesome time as they flew for the battle at hand.

Rorrim, the first and head resistance group of the entire operation,
would be present with three of it’s own battle cruisers and would make
the light show something to go down in history.

Massive battle cruisers had been showing up on radar since the message
that battle was at hand had come over the wire.

The intercom flicked on and Riddick heard Carolyn’s voice filter
through. “Riddick, could you pick up Jake and haul his ass to the big
conference room on L4A?” came the inquiry and Riddick stalked to the
intercom on the wall.

“He’ll be there,” Riddick responded into the intercom and heard
Carolyn’s thanks before signing off.

~~~

Jake tugged at the hem of his jacket, awaiting his meeting with Carolyn.
Martina had returned, informing him that he had shower privileges and
that he’d be supplied with new clothes before meeting with Carolyn.

The same doctor that had patched him up initially checked him over
again. He approved him fit for activity, gave him a couple pain killers
and told him not to bend at the waist if he could help it.

Jake had thanked the doctor who merely nodded curtly in return before
having Jake returned to his cell. A few minutes later he’d been escorted
to a shower and when he got out he’d been given a new set of clothes.

Not a uniform like Jake was used to. Black canvas pants, white long
sleeved shirt and a plain black jacket. He’d been given his own boots
back and a fresh set of under clothes. Feeling human again didn’t ease
the tension in his stomach though.

Jake whipped around when he heard the door slide open and a large
man entered.

He wore canvas pants much like Jake’s, boots, and a black tank top.
Thick muscles rippled his arms and it was obvious the man wasn’t
someone Jake would like to tangle with.

“Time to go,” the man growled and Jake took in the shaved head and
dark goggles that shielded the man’s eyes.

Something was distinctly familiar about the man, but Jake couldn’t
place it. He knew he hadn’t met him before.

Deciding to opt for the direct approach, Jake halted just before he was
within the larger man’s reach. A memory of seeing the man back on his
own ship came to mind, but that wasn’t why he was familiar. Of that,
Jake was sure.

“Who are you?” Jake demanded. He was saying that a lot lately, he
noted ruefully.

Riddick eyed the man before him thoughtfully. Lean, dark hair cropped
short. Gray eyes. Could be a threat. Not to Riddick, though.

Riddick shrugged at the comment. “Who do you want me to be?” he
countered, using his most gravely voice. It had the desired effect,
Riddick noted, when Jake’s eyes narrowed and his muscles tensed.

“I don’t know what sort of game you’re all playing on this ship, but I
don’t appreciate it,” Jake bit out. The man was toying with him and
making it obvious.

Another shrug from Riddick. “No one on board this ship, including me,
cares what you do or don’t appreciate. Don’t bother asking to many
questions. Just come with me and get this over with.”

Maybe I should test this, Jake thought momentarily. He coiled his
muscles, wondering what the other man would do should he pounce
instead of going quietly. He might be able to escape, despite what
Carolyn had said. If he was right about the build of the ship, the lift
would be mere feet from the exit to his cell and the docking bay would
only be two floors down.

He could snatch a small transport and get out of there. Jake was only an
inch or so shorter than the man, and he was trained to be a killer. How
tough could the other guy be?

Riddick suppressed a grin, just waiting for Jake to spring. Trying to
look casual and harmless, Jake was giving away his secret urge to
pounce. The predator in Riddick, the killer, wanted Jake to go for it. To
make the move that would end his pathetic existence. The man in him
that cared about Carolyn’s decision told him to merely subdue the
asshole without killing him.

A little humility never killed anyone, Riddick consoled himself as the
flash in Jake’s eyes indicated the man was ready to attack.

Jake leapt forward, reaching immediately for Riddick’s throat. His
fingers were just about to close around the esophagus when Riddick
sidestepped, becoming a mere blur of lightening quick motion.

Jake found himself on the ground, the breath knocked out of his chest,
and a cold steel shiv pressed to his throat. The larger man was crouched
over him, face impassive.

“That was a stupid thing to do, Nolan,” Riddick chided, as if talking to
a very small child. “I’d kill you myself, but Creed is reserving the
privilege for herself. I’d do it anyway, but I don’t think you’re worth it.
Now, on your feet. You’re coming with me.”

Riddick grabbed the front of Jake’s exposed shirt in his fist and hauled
him bodily to his feet.

Jake was still recovering as, with shiv still to his throat, Riddick led him
from the holding cell down an equally empty corridor. When they
reached the lift, Jake sagged against the wall, barely noticing that they
dropped a floor.

Then Riddick was dragging him down yet another corridor, through a
door that slid open, and into a comfortably furnished conference room.

Riddick grabbed the chains Carolyn had supplied off the table and
shackled Jake’s wrists and ankles.

Jake didn’t object to the chains. His first judgment of the man had been
a correct one, he noted now. His bullet wound ached from the sudden
movement he hardly remembered and he could feel a slight tingling in
his throat where the blade had pressed so closely.

He saw Carolyn on the other side of the room. She was standing with
her back against the wall. Leaning on it, actually, he noted.

Riddick checked his restraints, then walked on silent feet to the other
side of the room to where Carolyn was eyeing him.

“That man’s an idiot,” Riddick stated, referring to Jake.

Carolyn raised a slim brow above her shades questioningly. “What did
he do this time?” she asked.

“Tried to jump me. I don’t think he really believed he’d get away. He
just wanted to test his limits a bit. I think you should dump him. Better
yet,” Riddick continued, “let me get rid of him.”

Carolyn shrugged. “It depends on what he’s got to say. But I’ll take that
under consideration, Riddick,” she replied, and he caught the evil quirk
of her lips before she pushed away from the wall to step up to Jake.

Jake looked down at her as best he could, but Carolyn was tall, almost
as tall as him in her thick boots, and the pitch black glasses that covered
her eyes were daunting.

He took in the black wings and white claws. “I feel like I’m on trial,”
Jake murmured, his eyes flicking over Carolyn’s shoulder to note
Riddick’s position. He was leaning against the edge of the table, his face
emotionless.

Carolyn grinned widely and nodded. “You are,” she confirmed. “Now,”
she began, rapidly changing from evil grin to pure business, “what’s it
gonna be, Jake?”

Jake lowered his head, thinking. If the Company was doing these things
to people, did he really want to be working for them? What sort of
integrity would he be preserving in dying for a corporation like that?
His doubts had been plaguing him since Carolyn had given him her
ultimatum.

What was his life worth to him, anyway? What was more important?
Loyalty to a corporation Jake had suspected of being corrupt for years,
or saving the universe from the same group of people.

The decision seemed clear to Jake in that moment and he was able to
look Carolyn in the eye as he answered, “I’m with you.”

A flash of some indiscernible emotion crossed Carolyn’s features, gone
as quickly as it had appeared. “All right, then,” she murmured and
pulled a key from her pocket. She undid the locks on his chains and
stepped away from him.

“Now, what?” he questioned, rubbing his wrists, unused to being
shackled.

“Now, you listen,” Carolyn answered and gestured for him to take a
seat.

Jake walked warily to the table and pulled a chair out for himself. He
sat in the chair and Carolyn stalked past him to pull a chair out at the
head of the table. She sat herself there and Riddick continued to lean
against the table.

Probably to keep me from running, Jake thought, eyeing the man.

“You might have made the right decision, Jake,” Carolyn began,
breaking Jake from his thoughts, “but you’re on my time, now. This is
no joke, and this is not freedom. Not for you, not yet. I don’t want you
to think that just because you’re not in a holding cell that you’ve got
any sort of rights.”

Jake nodded slowly. “Understood,” he answered.

“First off, I am in charge. As long as you are on this ship, you’re under
my rules. What I say is law. You disobey those laws, you’re dead.
There’s no second chance, no trial. Just dead. I won’t have you
screwing up on my ship.

“Next, you start from the bottom. And I do mean the bottom. Just like
everyone else that’s new to my crew, you live in the staff quarters.
You’ll have one room to yourself. What you do in there is your business,
but that is the only place you go without permission.

“No weapons. No guns, no blades. Not of any sort. No zip guns or shivs.
That gets you dead unless I personally give you a weapon. Until then,
use your hands. If you get in a situation where you think your life is
danger because of someone in my crew, you come to me. Do not attempt
to handle it yourself, and if you have to protect yourself you will avoid
harming your antagonist at all costs. You are not free here,” Carolyn
reiterated.

All this made sense to Jake, no matter how much he hated it. As far as
things went, he stood high enough on the food chain when he was
working for the Company to have some measure of power. This would
be harder.

He was at the ground floor again. But more than earning a new title, he
was earning his right to be on board. A part of something a little more
humane. Was it worth it?

Jake took in Carolyn’s wings and nodded mentally. Yes, it was very
much worth it.

“If you’ve got any questions, ask me. I’ll have Sleke escort you to your
quarters. You stay there until someone comes for you or Sleke tells you
otherwise. I haven’t decided yet. Don’t trust anyone on this ship unless
they say Carolyn sent for you. Not Creed, not the captain. Just Carolyn.
Anyone else is lying and you call me up on the intercom.

“Okay. I got it. I start at the ground floor to get any sort of freedom,
trust and acceptance around here. No weapons and no rule breaking. I
can do that. You’ve got my word, Creed,” Jake stated. He stood slowly,
stepped towards Carolyn and held out his hand.

Carolyn eyed Jake’s outstretched hand. It was a peace token, and she
still wanted him to pay for Winter’s death. It had been battle, but that
didn’t ease her pain and she wasn’t going to make this easy for Jake.

It was a start, though. A start for something that might bring the
resistance that much closer to whooping the Company’s ass.

Carolyn took Jake’s hand and shook it. Not releasing his hand she
turned it over, examining the fresh bandages, as well as the matching
ones on his right hand and the one on his left cheek.

“What happened to your hands and face?” she questioned, her voice
quiet.

Jake tugged his hand from Carolyn’s and eyed the bandages silently.
“Oh. Right. Call it a fit of temper. I was really hating my steel bed and
decided to beat it up. I think it won,” he finished wryly.

He heard Riddick snort but ignored it. At least he’d tried at some
humor. Jake half believed that guy never laughed.

“Okay. And your face?” Carolyn prodded.

“Your lovely sister indulged herself,” Jake answered, his voice still wry.

“Mhmm,” Carolyn commented, almost inaudibly and stood. Jake
noticed she limped slightly and that her shoulder was well bandaged,
but didn’t comment.

“Will you tell me who he is, now?” Jake questioned, indicating Riddick
by tilting his head in Riddick’s direction.

Carolyn faced him and laughed. “Oh, him?” she asked. “Why, he’s
Riddick.”

Jake felt a shock coarse through him as the large man flashed him a
feral grin and stuck his hand across the table.

“Richard B. Riddick. Escaped convict, murderer,” Riddick proclaimed,
offering Jake his hand.

Jake took it numbly, answering almost by instinct, “Jacob Nolan. First
Lieutenant.”

Riddick laughed gruffly then released Jake’s hand.

Jake heard Carolyn laugh slightly then heard her speaking into the
intercom. Five minutes later Sleke entered the room and conversed in
low tones with Carolyn.

“Okay,” Jake heard Sleke answer and then she was in front of him.

“C’mon, Jacob,” she instructed and led him from the room.

They took the lift down one floor and exited aft. They passed a section
of holding cells much like Jake’s, then showers, cryo-chambers, and
living quarters. Then they were at the back of the ship.

Sleke punched the keypad and the door slid open to reveal the dark
interior of a single room. She stepped inside and instructed the lights on
to illuminate the sparsely furnished room.

Unlike the living quarters two floors up, this room was basically empty.
Ten feet square, its only decorations were a chair and desk, single bed,
and a set of shelves.

“Showers and toilets are back the way we came. Cafeteria is at L4B off
the lift. Creed’s room is L1A. Don’t go there unless it’s an emergency.
Creed says you can do anything you want to this room that you want,
and like everyone else on board, you’ll get a salary. When we land at
different ports you can spend your money as you see fit on whatever
you want. Just don’t bust up the furniture or-” Sleke paused, her face
turning confused, “ ‘ try and beat up your bed,’” she finished slowly,
obviously quoting Carolyn.

Jake acknowledged this with a wry twist of his lips and then was told he
could go to the showers, the cafeteria and the common room at his own
risk. No where else. Sleke scribbled a few numbers on a piece of paper
saying that they were the codes for the lift and some directions to the
areas he was allowed in.

“Understood,” he answered and Sleke patted his slit cheek before
leaving him to himself.

Jake laid down on the padded bed and grinned. A bed. A real one. With
a mattress and bedding.

“A bed,” he repeated out loud to himself and promptly fell asleep.

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