Forgotten Past: Chapter Sixteen-Welcome to the Pack

Riddick grabbed the edge of the tarp and pulled it away, revealing a
small battle transport. Space capable weapons protruded from the sides
and from a transparent capsule on the top and bottom, such as those on
old fighter jets from the 1940’s. Riddick stepped back and close to
Carolyn, “Jack didn’t know about it,” he said quietly.

Carolyn turned to look at him. “Why not?”

He shrugged. “I guess I didn’t trust her not to take off in it,” he replied.
“Keeping it from her didn’t keep her with me, though, did it,” he
finished bitterly.

Carolyn noted the bitterness in his voice and her stomach twisted. He’d
changed so much since the crash, she almost didn’t recognize him as the
same man. Riddick’s persona was the same, that indifferent mask and
dangerous aura still hung about him like a dark cloak, but there was a
warmth, just waiting to be tapped below the surface. She realized that if
anyone could reach it, they would find a person more loyal than anyone
else, and definitely more protective. How could Jack turn her back on
that? “We’ll find her. She took off two days ago, and freighters aren’t
the fastest ships out there. If we leave within the hour, we can board
and rescue.”

“Rescue?” he questioned, turning to her. “Jack doesn’t want rescuing,
she wants to be away from me.”

Carolyn stepped in front of Riddick and grabbed his arms. “She doesn’t
know what she has. If Jack’s on a Company freighter, she’s going to
need a lot of rescuing.”

Neither knew how right she was.

~~~

*

Two Days Earlier

*

Antwone Knoll lifted his head and checked the readout screen. They’d
intercepted a message from one of the resistance organizations stating
that there was a freighter containing the cargo of aluthium alloy on
board. And a lot of it.

“We leave *now*,” he stated and Lucas Wallace pulled the ship into the
trade lane, pressing for Earth. They were only a week away, and could
have the cargo from the freighter in four days.

“We’ll hit Earth’s atmosphere in one week. We’ll intercept the freighter
before that, though,” Lucas was saying as he set the coarse for Earth.

“What about that advanced radar system?” Antwone questioned.

Lucas looked up at him and shrugged, “I don’t know. We haven’t
actually used it for anything yet, but I can give it a shot.”

Advanced radar was something Creed had come up with a few months
before her disappearance. Star charts were logged into the cruiser’s
mainframe computer, including coordinates for different planets and
landing stations. Calculations would be made and the approximate
location of a ship, or in this case a freighter, could be made. It cut down
on timing and minimized surprises. The components used were said star
charts, speed of the ship you’re looking for, when and where it took off
and where it was going.

Lucas nodded to Tatum Oakes, the radar operator, and she began
punching information into the radar system. After a few tense minutes
the holocube projected the image from the ceiling, displaying a detailed
3-D map. A red arrow pointed out the freighter’s approximate location.

“Can you find out where it’ll be in four days?” Antwone asked, looking
at the radar system.

A few more clicks of the keys and the coordinates changed. “Where are
we in relativity to the freighter?”

More clicking and the screen widened, the stars and the holographic
projection shrank down to a sixteenth of their original size, and The
Charmer was included in the picture. They’d be able to intercept in
four days and the crew of the freighter would be deep in cryo-sleep.

A slow smile twisted Antwone’s lips and he watched the holographic
images moving to intercept one another. “Perfect.”

*

Present

*

“The war between resistance groups and the Company is raging on
actively in many different areas of the universe. Despite action taken by
the Company, it is losing ground rapidly to the ever growing resistance.

“Company operatives, also known as Rangers, have been forced to pick
sides, and unfortunately for the Company, most Rangers seem to be
siding with the resistance...”

Company General Zach Munroe clicked off the holovision set and
threw the remote across the room, where it slammed into the wall and
shattered into plastic shards that rained down to litter the floor. A meek
maid ran out to scoop them up and he waved her away. “Leave us,” he
commanded, and the woman disappeared through a door that sat flush
into the wall. Munroe pressed his palms against the conference table
that seated ten representatives of the Company and lowered his head as
if in defeat. Lieutenant Ryan Lenac, the representative from the
Company’s Jupiter spaceport eyed Munroe cautiously.

Munroe turned on the group of people, his face grim. “This is what
we’re dealing with. Our people, Rangers such as yourselves used to be,
are turning away from the Company to join up with these ruffians that
claim to be a resistance. They don’t realize that without the Company
there is no trade in outer space!” he spat, smacking his hands against
the table to emphasis.

Bret Lee, another General from Alta 10 in the Calel galaxy, pointed at
the now silent HV projector. “This is actually a serious threat?” he
questioned. It didn’t even occur to him that any group of people would
have the power to wipe out the Company.

Munroe nodded bitterly. “With the sudden rise in desertion and the
execution of those that won’t join the resistance, our forces have
dropped dramatically. And mining of aluthium alloy is at a standstill
after the attacks on the mining operations. Every time we send out a
shipment it gets high jacked.

“Resistance groups are growing stronger and gaining new technology.
It’s a war out there, and the Company is under threat of losing.
Intelligence states there are at least thirty different resistance groups,
and ten or more of them have battle cruisers equipped with aluthium
shields. The resistance is now pulling in guns for hire and pirates,
making them even more deadly.” Munroe sat down hard in one of the
room’s plush leather chairs and ran a hand through his white hair.

Lieutenant General Shannon O’Brian was the next to speak. “Have any
shipments of aluthium been intercepted lately?”

Munroe shook his head. “No, not in the last three months, but a large
shipment left Earth two days ago. The crew will be in cryo by now, so
there only chance is to make it to Jupiter without mishap.”

“What are the odds of them making it?” Bret questioned.

“A thousand to one. They’ll never make it.”

~~~

*

Two Days Later

*

“That’s it,” Carolyn stated, pointing out the glowing green spot on the
radar screen.

“You’re sure?” Riddick queried. He wasn’t allowing any mistakes. Not
with Jack’s life. Something was telling him everything wasn’t right with
her.

Carolyn nodded. “Oh, yeah. I’d know a freighter anywhere. I attack
them for a living, remember?”

Riddick shot her an amused smirk. “I suppose you would know, then.”

She grinned wickedly and indicated that he should strap in. “Hold on to
your ass.”

He turned to say something, but was suddenly thrown back against his
seat. It felt like his eyes were being pushed to the back of his skull and
his lips were being pulled off the sides of his face. Then it stopped and
the Company freighter, with the name D76-490GSC, was directly in
front of the view screen.

“What was that?” he growled, his voice harsh.

“I recognized this brand of cruiser. It’s a space speeder. Best kind, too.
Don’t know where you got it, but the booster on these things is the cat’s
ass. I’ve been trying to adapt one for The Charmer, but I can’t seem to
get the components right. When I put the variables in the computer, the
image shows my ship blowing up into space dust every time.” Carolyn
grinned at him. “You know ships, maybe you can help me figure
something out.”

Suddenly Riddick pulled the seat restraints away from his chest and
leaned forward on his seat, pointing to a bulge sticking out from behind
the freighter. “What’s that?” he demanded.

Carolyn undid her restraints and leaned forward. “View screen,
visually optimize quadrant four of the screen.” The view screen zeroed
in on the section, showing a ship much smaller than the freighter, but
much larger than the speeder they were in. Carolyn’s face broke out in
a wide grin and Riddick shot her a questioning look.

“What?”

Carolyn leaned back in her seat and folded her hands across her lap.
“That’s my ship. That’s The Charmer.”

~~~

“Hey! Antwone, we’re ready to board, but the radar just picked up a
speeder ahead of the freighter. It’s just sitting there right now, but it’s
got the operating crew for the job worried. What do we do?” Tatum
questioned.

Antwone turned to the radar view screen and eyed the ship. It was
beginning to circle around towards their rear. A voice spoke up from
behind them, and Antwone turned to hear what Gabriel West was
saying.

“We’re receiving a message from the speeder, Antwone! It’s Creed!
Creed’s back!”

Antwone whipped around to the main view screen and stared. “Creed?”
he whispered, then turned to the crew on deck. “Creed! Well, let’s reel
her in!”

~~~

Carolyn got a return message immediately. “We’re reeling you in,
captain!” an excited voice spurted over the com waves.

Carolyn grinned. “Gabriel? Is that you, kid?”

There was an excited laugh. “Yeah, its me! Damn we’ve missed you!
Get ready to be pulled in!”

The little ship lurched suddenly and Carolyn and Riddick braced their
arms against the control console as the gravity winch began to pull them
towards the landing bay of the battle cruiser. “The Charmer” was
written in huge, iridescent silver letters across the starboard side of the
ship, and Riddick eyed it curiously. The ship was beautiful, and he
wondered if Carolyn would give him a shot at the helm. He’d kill for a
rig like this.

As it stood, a sloppy fool grin of pride was plastered across Carolyn’s
face as she gazed at her ship. The landing bay doors slid open and they
were pulled into the docking area. The doors slid shut and the monitor
above the view screen indicated that outside pressure and oxygen was at
normal levels.

Riddick stood up and pushed to the main hatch. He hit the open button
and the door lowered to the ground. He stepped down, Carolyn directly
behind to find himself face to face with a grinning group of dangerous
looking people. Over a hundred sets of shined eyes stared back at him
and he was taken aback by it. “Whoa,” he breathed as Carolyn pushed
past him to her crew.

“Charmers!” she cried, stepping towards them, and Riddick lost sight of
her as she disappeared into a crowd of enthusiastic hellos and hugs. It
was a wonder if she’d come out alive.

Then she was standing in front of him, grinning. “Welcome to the pack,
Big Evil.”

***

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