The rebuilding of Haven City went by faster than what anyone expected. In just the first week the government was up and running. Soon schools had reopened from the Baron's rule and hospitals were built. Metal Head numbers in the city dropped rapidly as the New Krimzon Guard was formed.
In three weeks repairs were almost fully completed. Trade deals were made and the food storages were rapidly climbing. The waste from the Sewers and drinking water pipes had been fixed and everyone in Haven was now getting clean water.
Jobs had sprouted up everywhere and work boosted the economy greatly. It seemed as if Haven City had never suffered under Baron Praxis or went through a war with the Metal Heads. But, as with all peaceful beginnings, they never last long. Within two months, the Metal Heads breached the walls again.
Naruto smiled as he held Sharon's hand while they walked through the Market Place of Haven. The young girl took in everything with wide brown eyes and pointed at everything for Naruto to see. The blond's fox ear twitched, picking up on the distance screams.
"Sharon." He said to gain the attention of the young girl. She blinked in confusion as Naruto picked her up, holding her tightly as his sapphire eyes looked towards the screaming, which was now loud enough for him to decipher what they were yelling.
"METAL HEADS!" Behind a few citizens was a horde of Metal Heads. It was a tidal wave of them, all trashing against each other and the walls of the city on either side of them. It was unconceivable to see this many Metal as Sharon clung to Naruto as he fled from the roaring horde.
There was no way he could fight them off and protect Sharon from them. At the rate the Metal Heads were flooding in the city would be over taken. But how could so many have breached Haven? The fox teen pushed his legs to move faster as the smaller, quicker Metal Heads snapped at the heels of those around him.
Sharon whimpered as Naruto placed her on a single Zoomer. He slid on behind her, a quick flick of a few wires and they were in the air. The blond held on tightly to Sharon as she cried into his chest, clinging tightly. Naruto's sapphire eyes flashed to the ground, his heart clenching painfully at the bloodshed as the Metal Heads over took the streets, the New Krimzon Guard just now arriving to help.
"How could this have happened?" Ashelin asked herself as she stared at the radar, showing numerous beacons representing Metal Heads inside Haven. Everything had been going so well for the city and now a third of it was overrun with Metal Heads, and there was no hope of reclaiming those areas.
"It's just like the first time." Veger said as he approached the governor. "This has to be the work of someone who wants to finish what Krew started. Someone is aiming to destroy the city, and it has to be someone who worked under Krew when he was still alive." Ashelin glanced at the chairman, too lost in thought about the state of Haven to see the dark intent behind his words. "Allow me to lead a full investigation into this matter. It'll ease your mind to have one less burden."
"Thank you Veger." The redhead said as she picked up her com-link. "Attention, I'm summoning everyone on this wavelength for an important meeting in half an hour in the Great Hall." Veger bowed shortly as Ashelin left the room to talk with the members. He smiled as he reached over to a pile of papers; quickly shifting through them before smiling icily as his found the ones he was searching for. The chairman tucked them into his book.
Just as he was about to leave the governor's room he paused at seeing a book on the desk that belonged to Samos the Sage. His dark eyes greedily drank in the worn, red leather book, the clasp lying uselessly undone. Veger glanced at the door, checking to make sure neither Ashelin or Samos walked in. He turned back to the book and opened it with one finger, his eyes darting as he read the words.
"I knew it." The chairman whispered under his breath before closing the book. With a smug smile Count Veger swept out of the room like a phantom. This just got better with this new found information.
Naruto let out a loud sigh as he stretched himself out over the couch in the second floor of the Naughty Ottsel. It was a boring day to say the least. The Metal Heads had sealed themselves off in the western part of the city and had been awfully quiet since the invasion almost three weeks ago. It was nerve wracking to say the least.
The fox teen glanced at the door, willing Jak to walk through them. Lately, Jak had been disappearing and would be missing for days before returning late at night or early in the morning. Even Daxter was worried at this unusual behavior, but managing the bar with Tess was keeping the ottsel busy.
He looked away and forced himself up and walked to the door. Tess, who was passing by his door, said nothing as Naruto walked past her and down the stairs. The soon to be seventeen year old felt the music more than he heard it was he walked across the bar, weaving between bodies wordlessly.
The cool air of Haven encased him in an icy embrace as he opened the Naughty Ottsel's front door. Naruto smiled as he walked away, his ears enjoying the silence of the city from the loud music. He shoved his hands into his pocket as he headed to the headquarters of the New Krimzon Guard. By walking it should take him a few hours.
Lazily, he kicked the same rocked ceaselessly. It seemed as if the world had disappeared around him as his thoughts consumed him. Everyone was so busy that he rarely saw them. They were either helping with rebuilding or fortifying the city, or trying to find out ways to flush out the Metal Heads that had leeched into their city.
Naruto paused and stared up at the dark sky. Was Jak having the same thoughts that he was? They both we're better suited for combat, and with the Metal Heads sealing themselves off that purpose was crossed out. Neither of them were leaders and politics were beyond them. How was Jak handing this?
For Naruto, he lazed about at the Naughty Ottsel eating ramen and helping out Quix whenever she needed it, though this was rare seeing as Yule and Rucah were always there. But Jak was never one to laze about like him. He was always on the move. Even waiting, standing, or sitting he had to move. Jak would bounce his knee, crack his knuckles and neck, drum his fingers, pace, or something; always moving.
Was that why he was never with Naruto anymore? Did he just become too still? The sapphire teen looked from the starless sky to the streets as he continued his walk. Maybe his laziness lately had repealed Jak away.
Naruto remembered though that sometimes Jak would stay around and relax with him, even if he did fidget a lot. And when he would return from where ever he went he would move the blond from the couch to his bed and curl up with him. If Naruto woke up before the green-blond, which was extremely rare, Jak would stay…but only for breakfast.
The fox teen made a last second decision and turned around, heading to the Gun Course. Jak may always be in motion but it wasn't always for the best. Sometimes his need to move got him into serious trouble. More than once, Jak returned home with wounds, also smelling strongly of Dark Eco and blood, which was always his own.
The blond entered the Gun Course, heading straight for the gun rack and picking up a Scatter Gun. With Jak motion was a double edge sword. It gave him something to do, but more than often that something was dangerous to himself. Naruto sighed as he examined the gun. Maybe he should try to get into motion before something forced him to.
Jak froze over his bed, his pale hand rubbing over the flat covers. It was cold and unmoved. Naruto hadn't gone to bed and he wasn't here. Never before did the hero worry about the blond not being at the Naughty Ottsel, but now the feeling crawled under his skin like the Dark Eco did.
Where could the fox teen be at three in the morning? Jak glanced at the open door to the door that lead into this home like area inside the bar, trying to will the smiling blond to walk in. His hands fisted the blankets before jerking them off the bed. Jak's dark blue eyes stared at the white sheet under them.
Did Naruto feel as if he was abandoning him because he was always gone? That must be it. Maybe he should have told him of where he was, and then the fox teen wouldn't have left. Jak looked back to the door as it opened and a tired blond stumbled in. His ears were dropped and he closed the door only partly behind him.
Naruto gasped as he was pulled into Jak's chest. A weak smile formed on the fox teen's lips as he returned the embrace, yawning as he did. "Where were you?" Jak asked against the blond's hair. The younger of the two looked up, giving the other a warm smile.
"Practicing shooting. I thought you'd be gone for a few more days…like always." Naruto said, not bothering to hide the hurt in his bright eyes or voice. Jak felt his heart clench tightly at the look on Naruto's face. He knew that his escapes were hurting the blond, but at those points he left Naruto was never there, and when he returned the blond never showed his hurt.
"Naruto, I'm sorry. I won't-"
"Just stay one day. I don't want a false promise." Naruto said, knowing full well of Jak's need to move and he didn't want the hero to give a hallow promise. Jak frowned and his green eyebrows furrowed as the fox teen slowly eased himself out of the hug, only to lace their fingers together and pull him towards the ruined bed for a short rest.
But for Jak sleep never came easy. He watched the rhythmic rise and fall of Naruto's chest. The Dark Eco inside him teased and tortured him. Playing with the bloodlust it filled him with that went unquenched since the end of the war and his own feelings for the blond.
Pictures of a broken and dead Naruto danced in his open eyes through the hours. Jak forced himself to leave the blond's side and sit with his back to him. His fingers swam into his green-blond hair before his nails dug into his scalp. The Dark Eco that gave him power to defeat Metal Kor and save Haven was now turned against him and there was nothing he could do.
Jak glanced at the deep sleeper, watching as his body quickly tangled itself into the blankets and his ears and tail would twitch every now and then. Every other breath would escape as a loud obnoxious snore. Did Naruto know the reason he was pushing him away was because he couldn't even tame the Dark Eco inside him?
He had tried numerous times to control it. Spending hours staring at his hands, locating the darkness and feeling it rush through his veins just to try to understand how it worked. Jak even went into any dark alley he could to find any hidden Metal Heads to build up his tolerance to the Eco, forcing his body to get used to it and be able to take in more before going into insanity.
Warm arms grabbed the hero from behind, pulling him closer to the body they were attached to. Jak smiled and placed a wan hand on Naruto's head, his thumb rubbing the sensitive spot behind one of the blond's fox ears. A purring sound escaped Naruto and he held tighter to Jak, a lazy, content smile on his face. With a sigh, the green-blond untangled himself from the fox teen's grasp, earning a mournful whine from him, before crawling back into the bed. Jak chuckled mutely as Naruto latched back onto him, greedily taking in his warmth as he slept.
The New Krimzon Guard Headquarters was in a mass chaos. Naruto was drowned in the sheer number of people rushing about, in, and out. All of their voices echoed over the mechanical sounds of the computers and mixed with the clatter of armor and weapons as the New Krimzon Guards rushed to get ready for the fight.
Tess was immediately pulled away from Jak, Daxter, and Naruto by a few guards, talking loudly over the noise about how some weapons were jamming up on the battle field and other such things. Jak, with Daxter on his shoulder, and Naruto pushed their way through the throng of bodies towards the elevator that would take them up to Torn and Ashelin.
It was easy to say the chaos inside the Headquarters was peace compared to the madness outside. The old floating KG War Factory suddenly started up and was spewing out KG Death Bots faster than ever. The city was now facing not only Metal Heads but also these robots. Not to mention on their way here people shied away from Jak and gave him looks of pure hate. Neither Naruto, Daxter, or Jak knew what to make of this.
When the trio arrived at the main room on the tenth floor of HQ Torn looked up the central radar briefly. "It's about time you got here. The city's divided. The industrial area has been completely over run with Krimzon Death Bots, even the vital sections, all under one hour. My men are getting their asses kicked!" He glared harshly at the radar, covered in pink dots on the red sphere, as he slammed his hands down. "The KG have a new leader. We're trying to find out who it is, but the communication to the Factory and all security cameras have been shut down. Whoever it is, they want us to stay out. Even Quix can't get near it with the anti-air guns and bots shooting down everything."
Naruto leaned over the radar, his sapphire eyes flashing to everything on it before looking up at Ashelin, who seemed to be looking away in shame. One of his fox ears twitched before his tail flicked out in suspicion. "Ashelin." Everyone looked at Naruto then to the redhead, who seemed even more guilty and shameful under their stares. "What's going on?" The governor took a deep breath then looked at Jak.
"The people are blaming you, Jak." She said. Torn turned to her, giving her a rare look of surprise. Jak's dark blue eyes went wide as Daxter's mouth dropped. Naruto felt anger boil in his blood, why would the people be blaming Jak? He saved them from Metal Kor. "Count Veger's been building a case against you. He's been gathering everything he can. Digging into old imprisonment files, reports from Underground members and Krimzon Guards, Praxis' personal notes, experiment logs, civilian reports, even jobs from Krew. All he needs is a reason to push the case into a trial that he can appeal to the council."
"That's bullshit!" Naruto yelled, his claws digging into the metal of the radar. "Who is this Veger and why is he turning the city against Jak? He saved them!" He couldn't tell but dull ruby had entered the edges of his blue eyes, and in the red glow of the radar no one else did either.
"He's the chairman of the council." Ashelin said, trying to shield herself from the looks of her friends were giving her. "I don't know his reasoning, but with his position it's hard to do anything. With Duhon and Peter's help I'm building up a protest against Veger's case if ever comes down to a trial."
"Which it shouldn't have to." Torn said in his rough voice looking back to the radar.
"How did this nut-job even get his slimy hands on some of those files? Especially the experiment logs! You told me that you got rid of everything thing on the experiments!" Daxter yelled angrily, pointing an accusing finger at Ashelin. "And half those files aren't his to touch! You're the only one with access to the Baron's notes and the things we found at the Hip Hog Haven!"
"I lied. Those experiment logs held vital informa-"
"You looked at them?" Jak asked, and even though he hid it well Naruto heard the waver in his voice and so did Daxter.
"I had to, Jak. It was for the best. I needed to understand what my father did. I-"
"That doesn't explain how this chairman got a hold of Praxis' notes." Naruto cut in harshly. Ashelin glanced to Torn for some kind of ally in this attack towards her but his expression was guarded; only a disappointed frown was on his face.
"He said he was helping, so I allowed him to look them over." The door slammed loudly, the defying boom echoing out loudly in the room. Naruto looked to where the door closed behind Jak. Daxter let out a long exhale of air before climbing onto Naruto's shoulder and looking at the governor pointedly.
"Obviously, this Vinegar person isn't 'helping' at all! And what's worse is you lied to me! You promised you would get rid of those experiment logs and you didn't! You even watched them! Do you have any idea how personal that is to Jak? You didn't even ask him! You…you…you TRAITOR!" Daxter screamed. Ashelin flinched away from the statement. She looked to Naruto, who was glaring venomously at her, the red in his eyes now clearly visible.
"Daxter's right." He said before gracefully turning his back to her and following after Jak. Ashelin placed one of her hands to her heart and then looked to Torn, only to see he was busying himself with the radar. It was a clear sign to her, who knew him for a long time, that even he was sour with her at the light shined onto what role she played, if she wanted to or not.
The chaos within the city grew and festered until it boiled over like a pot of water. Barriers had been built through out the city, cutting up Haven like an overly large cake. One part was consumed by the Metal Head Nest, the Port was cut off from the rest of the city by the raging war in the industrial zone and the slums (which the war zone itself was sectioned off into halves), the high class area where HQ was located, and the ruins of the once high class and stadium sector of the city made up the other slices. Even the Palace was being abandoned as the Metal Heads and Death Bots pushed further towards it.
Naruto stared out over the edge of the Palace, even from this distance seeing the war waging strongly below them. It was his, Jak, Daxter, and Samos' job to clear the Palace of anything important and everyone. The fox teen clutched his Scatter Gun as the other three men of his squad joined him.
"Report."Samos said into his com-link.
"It's bad." Torn's rough, and now static, voice replied as they observed the destruction below. "The city's become a battlefield!" Mechanized Death Bots have taken the industrial section and the surviving Metal Heads have expanded their hold on the Westside. We're loosing ground on all fronts."
"The council's meeting tonight in emergency session. Rumblings about you, Jak. It doesn't look good. They think your friendship with Krew helped the Metal Heads get into the city." Her tone was clipped and short, knowing her friends still were angry at her. "Veger's helped them to believe that. Your trial might happen without a trigger."
"They can't honestly believe that." Naruto said as more bombs went off around them. "Sig was set up by Krew the first time the Metal Heads breached."
"That's not the time they're talking about," Ashelin answered. "It's the second breach. Jak was the only one no one had seen all day that day."Samos shook his head before speaking.
"What's in the past is done. Right now, Metal Heads and Death Bots are assaulting the Palace. They're looking for something, and I have no idea-" A deep, low whirling sound filled the air as three red masses with a trail hurled towards the Palace. They struck with a vicious velocity that shook the entire Palace. It wasn't more before dozens more attacked, sending the four flying and scrambling for balance in any way they could find.
"HEEELLP! WE'RE FALLING!" Daxter screamed as the bulk of the Palace began to fall rapidly to the streets of Haven. Naruto struggled to get up as Jak helped Samos stand, Daxter screaming murder the entire time.
"HEY!" Quix yelled as her orange Hellcat flew towards them, Rucah in the passenger seat. "JUMP!" The sliver-blond yelled as Rucah stood, holding out his arms to catch the already jumping Samos. Jak easily leap into the turret with Daxter clinging tightly to his shoulder. "COME ON NARUTO!" Quix shouted as the fox teen raced towards them. Naruto jumped and crashed into Jak. The hero's arms shot out to steady the blond as Quix flew away as fast as the Hellcat could go from the falling Palace.
The busty woman quickly turned as the Palace crashed into part of the Metal Head Nest, crushing anything there mercilessly. Below the foundation of the Palace was Precursor Metal leading deep into the ground.
"By the Precursors!"Samos said in awe at the new discovery under the Palace. It was part of the Catacombs. The radio on the Hellcat game to life, Jewell's voice coming in loud and clear.
"I don't understand, the Palace just got attacked and next thing is all ground troops are ordered to arrest Jak on sight." Her voice was stressed and it was clear she was confused in the panic of the collapse of the Palace and the strange order. "It's under the order of that bastard Veger."
What's this? A squeal? So soon~? HA! Before posting A Fox in Haven I had it ALL typed and the first five chapters of this typed! Hope you like the start, and I hope you continue to follow Naruto, Jak, and Daxter's path in this all new adventure!