The locks and gears began to whir as the gates slowly opened, bestowing Kailah with a view of the destroyed town. Sliding on her leather combat boots, Kailah hoisted herself up and out of the metal chamber. A foul stench wafted through the air; the stench of rotting houses and flesh. Swallowing hard, Kailah bared herself for what was to come.
Generally, all who ventured from the city died out here. It was a wasteland now, overpopulated with Metal Heads and other scavengers who nested within the town ruins. It was sad to look upon, especially for Kailah; it used to be what was called home. There was a resounding silence within Dead Town, the summer night providing a cool breeze that rippled the overflowing waters across the town ruins. It was nearly daybreak; about an hour or two and the sun would be rising, along with the Metal Heads.
Kailah slowly wandered through the ruins, bits and pieces of memories returning as she walked by certain areas. Smashed bricks of the city center crunched under her boots, as Kailah wandered aimlessly. Sighing, she looked above at the night sky, stars twinkling above as the smashed bricks turned in to damp earth beneath her boots.
Crossing her arms, Kailah stared out at the what seemed to be endless waves that surrounded the ruins. The waters rippled against the dirt shore, causing wooden planks that connected the land segments to sway and drift. Following her gut feeling, Kailah let her soles carry her across the planks and deeper into the destroyed houses, her mind relaying the images of the previous hours.
So much had happened in one night; the fight with Erol, being pursued by the Krimzon Guard and now returning home. Kailah wanted nothing more than to break down and cry; to curl up and just lie there. But she had to stay strong, she had to survive like she always did. No matter what. Even if it meant to steal, lie, to sell herself... Kailah cringed at the very thought of giving away her body to a stranger, memories of the situation flooding her mind. She gagged, remembering her conditions, and promised herself that prostitution was out of the question. Maybe she could get a job in the Port, there was that bar, the Hip Hog; they could be hiring...
Looking up from the dusty, cracked cement, Kailah had realized that her feet had led her back to the place she dreaded most. The old house. It was worse than she remembered; the door was kicked off its hinges and the roof had been burned into nothing, burn marks and ashes coating the walls. The possessions were all destroyed, pictures smashed and furniture burned into piles of cinder. Wanting to get closer, Kailah attempted to step forward, but she was frozen. All of the emotions and pain was too much for her; she saw her parent's faces behind her closed lids now, smiling. Hot tears began to spill down Kailah's cheeks as she fell to her knees, the sobs wracking her chest and rendering her senseless as her reddish locks shrouded her face. All Kailah knew was the pain from the losses, the hate for the Metal Heads and the Baron; but also the fear. The fear of finding out the fate of her lost father, only hoping it could be a good one.
'I'm sorry,' she whimpered, not knowing what to say, 'I'm sorry!' Kailah shouted, her voice echoing and bouncing off the ruins, resonating within her ears. Suddenly, a distant clatter brought Kailah out of her tearful numbness. Metal Heads. She rose quickly, wiping off the tears with her tunic sleeve. Slowly, Kailah took a step backwards, her ears perking at the distant noises that seemed to be approaching from all angles, the echos confusing her senses. Retracing her steps, Kailah attempted to make her way back to the city wall, hoping the guards had given up for the most part. After making her way through the maze of ruins, Kailah had come to the conclusion she was lost, the twists and turns confusing her in the darkness.
'Great...' she murmured, swallowing hard. The clatters began to come closer, low growls reverberating through the walls and sending shivers down the youth's spine. She wanted out; the walls now seemed to be closing in and her heart was pounding. Sweat began to prickle at Kailah's forehead as she slowly turned, only to be faced with the slobbering maw of a Metal Head.
A pang of fear radiated through Kailah as she let out a piercing shriek, dashing to the right and through a smashed window. The scraping of nails could be heard behind her as the Metal Head gained, smashing through old house frames and growling with ferocity, pursuing the young elf. As Kailah continued to sprint through the Dead Town remains, there was suddenly nowhere else to run. She was stuck between a 20 foot drop, and a bloodthirsty creature. Neither looked too good. Turning away from the ledge, Kailah planted her feet and faced the creature; raising her forearms to protect her face as it snarled and approached quickly. Grimacing, Kailah prepared herself for the mauling, accepting the fact that this was it.
Slowly, the gap between them was closing, 5 feet, 4, 3... Opening her eyes one final time to gaze upon her killer, Kailah shrieked as a gunshot crashed through the air. The Metal Head was now at her feet, it's head gem glowing ominously as it twitched and exhaled a final time.
Feeling as if she was going to faint, Kailah crouched down in front of the monster, attempting to calm down her frantic panting and heart rate. It's eyes were now lifeless as it stared up at her, Kailah felt the bile rise in her throat. She swallowed it back down.
'What do you think you're doing out here!' an exasperated voice called out. Kailah snapped her head up only to lay her eyes upon an orange, fuzzy rat 2 feet away. He had a skeptical look upon his whiskered face, his small arms crossed over his chest.
'Oh, um...I was just,' Kailah mumbled, still astounded at the fact the rat was talking to her. He was recognizable though, his little face was familiar to her...
'Well? Is that it? Cause I have no idea why you'd wanna be out here with all these slobbering monsters,' he questioned, now standing on top of the Metal Head and eyeing Kailah. 'But have no fear angel face! Orange Lightning has taken care of all harm to come your way,' he shouted, bowing deeply as he observed Kailah, winking playfully.
'Well, thanks 'Orange Lightning', but I was fine by myself,' Kailah muttered, rising to her full height only to be face to face with a much larger, and taller figure. She swallowed hard as the blond looked down upon her skeptically, a gun that was most likely loaded, in his large calloused hands.
'Uhm, I guess I should be thanking you?' Kailah said, smiling weakly. His stern stare intimidated her, little emotion crossing his handsome face. He was young, Kailah could tell, but still close to her age. Maybe 19 at the minimum. His eyes were breathtaking Kailah noticed; vibrant shades of light blues intermingled with a deep shade of navy blue. Kailah felt her cheeks redden as she scanned his full frame, he was obviously well built and battle hardened.
'What are you doing out here?' he grunted gruffly, sliding his gun back into his holster as he grabbed the Metal Head carcass and threw it over the ledge, barely straining. Kailah felt her mouth open slightly as she watched him throw the creature as if it weighed no more than a brick.
'Nothing,' Kailah lied. He didn't need to know she was hiding from the Krimzon Guard right at the moment.
'Oh really?' he said, raising an eyebrow, 'Daxter, show her the flier.'
'Wait, what flier?' Kailah hastily cut in, her heart rate slowly increasing.
'This one toots,' the orange rat named Daxter answered, handing a folded piece of paper to her.
Kailah unfolded it, eyes widening at what she saw. It was a drawn picture of her, every detail there from her flowing red locks, the rings in her ears and every last freckle across her nose. Below, it stated Kailah Hagai, and there was a reward for her capture and return to the Fortress; she was listed as estranged and could possibly be seen as a threat and or dangerous.
'Ugh, this is just fucking great,' Kailah moaned, crumpling up the flier and throwing it over the ledge and into the water below. Apparently neither Erol or the Guard had slowed down the search for her. Kailah began to pace back and forth across the worn cement, her boots clicking slightly. What was she going to do? She for sure couldn't stay out here with the Metal Heads, it was suicide for sure. Maybe, she could cover her face and sneak back through the security walls and into her apartment. She could change the locks and hide there for a few days as she looked for a new place to stay... Yeah, that might just work.
Kailah looked over at the two figures as they spoke in hushed tones to each other, a smile crossing over Daxter's face once or twice. Kailah felt her heart drop as she realized what they were talking about; they were going to cash her in for the bounty, and leave her to rot in prison with Erol. No, she wouldn't let them have that chance.
Without warning, Kailah began to sprint through the wreckage, hoping to gain a small head start. She looked back only to see the blond running after her with Daxter on his shoulder. She couldn't help but think she recognized them both from somewhere in the city...
'Wait!' the blond called out in his rich voice, the gap between them slowly closing.
'Get away!' Kailah called back, panting hard as she jumped through the empty house frame and down the makeshift steps leading to the city center. 'I can't go to prison!'
Just as Kailah began to make a jump for the wooden planks, she felt her wrist being grabbed and her body being pulled backwards away from the water.
'Let me go!' she begged, 'I can't go to prison; I can't go back to him!' she cried, as the tears began to stream uncontrollably.
'Hold on a second!' the blonde shouted over her pleads, grasping her face between his large hands. 'Just look at me! We're not taking you in, I promise.'
Suddenly the realization crashed down on Kailah, 'I know you - you're with the Underground! You're Jak and Daxter,' she exclaimed. But before she could speak anymore, they quickly silenced her.
"There is no way of telling what people may be lurking out here,' Jak whispered.
Kailah looked around, her eyes wide as she considered Jak's words. Slowly down her breathing, she look back over to Jak and Daxter, swallowing hard.
"We're not going to take you to prison," Jak said in a soothing tone, smiling a little at her as he spoke. Kailah nodded at both him and Daxter as she took her arm from his firm grasp.
"I can't go back. Errol will be hunting for me possibly...I have no other choice but to stay here," she whispered finally.
The duo looked at each other and then back at her, before Daxter finally spoke up. "Come with us. I'm sure the Tattooed Wonder won't mind some more help around the hideout," he said, winking mischievously.
