A/N: Mysterious lady? Dark Makers? And Jak said he was bored! Well, duh, it's pretty obvious some action was heading their way. What kind of writer would I be without adding in a good amount of ass kicking? Hope you enjoy the second chapter!
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Title: Bless
Chapter Two
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"They call me, the Blessed One."
Sig sat back in his chair, trying to concentrate his mind away from the huge headache by listening to the soft trickles of water. The woman had said no more after that. Instead, Sig knew that anything she had to say needed to be said in confidence.
His confidence.
Something told him he really didn't want to get involved.
That same something told him he really didn't have a choice.
At the present moment, they hadn't spoken yet. The King had felt a nasty pressure in his head the second after she had said that and that was always a sign of trouble yet to come. He watched her as he rubbed his temples. She was perched on a rock in the middle of one of the pools of water, dipping her feet in randomly. Her green scarf was still in place, hiding away only her forehead. To Sig, the scarf was pretty damn peculiar. What good was something that only hid hardly a third or your face?
He sighed and felt his muscles finally relax out of the tension from the fight. His bright green eyes gazed over at her. She was a petite woman, seemingly innocent enough.
But everyone knows what they say about appearances.
"So, Miss...Blessed One, why the hell are three Dark Makers chasing you through my city?" His gruff voice echoed in the space. She looked up at him with a small smile, her teal eyes showing she was unfazed by his tone.
Instead, she came forward to sit before him and slowly removed her scarf.
"King of Spargus, my true name is Bless Preona. Please, feel free to call me Bless." Bless gave him a dazzling smile and Sig smirked at her politeness. He leaned back with his fingers laced.
"Then I'm in the mood for a story, Bless."
"They call me the Blessed One. I am a disciple of the Precursors. For hundreds of years, I have carried in me all the knowledge of their ways. It has been my duty since my many births to keep protected Precursor Knowledge from the evils the universe keeps creating. Recently, I have been visiting the East Temple of the Precursors."
Sig's eyebrows raised.
"Many births?" He asked inquiringly.
"I have been reborn a number of times, King of Spargus. Not even the Precursors can keep me from harm at all times and so I have fallen prey to many enemy attacks."
"But you're so useful to them that they bring you back?" The young woman nodded in confirmation.
"And what brings you to my city?"
"An attack caused by one of the last units of Dark Makers." Her tone was grave and hinted some disturbing facts about what was hiding in the desert.
Sig sighed and felt his suspicions about the metal head scouts become firmer by the second.
"Better start at the beginning, Bless."
She nodded softly and continued on.
"At the time of Baron Praxis's rising, I was in Haven City protecting one of the very last Oracles so that it may survive for the Precursor's chosen's use. Its wisdom is priceless. However, I was ordered to leave the city so that the Chosen may come and go without my existence being found out."
"They couldn't risk you dieing again?" Sig questioned. Of course there was someone protecting the last Oracles. He had been to see them himself. How else would something that was merely a statue and so old, move there on its own? Even with all its powers and wisdom, who else to light all those damnable candles?
"Indeed, to have my presence revealed would alert the Dark Makers. If I were to have died during the war, it would have been a major set back in the Precursors' plans."
"How? If we had no access to your knowledge anyways, what difference did you make?"
"The Temple that Seem the monk went to often? The Oracle there needed a power source as well as a connection line to the Precursors. I am their key."
"You sound more like a battery." Sig grumbled and she grinned a little at that. Bless was not without her humor.
"Yes well, after the Chosen had met the final time with the Oracle there, I left to escape the war. I visited the East Temple, however, I quickly became trapped there and only recently was able to leave."
"And a trail of Dark Makers followed?"
"Indeed, I'm sorry for bringing danger to your city." Her eyes followed him as Sig got up and started pacing.
"Then, I'm guessing more of them will be coming for you."
"In greater numbers now that they have locked on to my signal." She spoke gravely, her eyes glancing out towards the sky.
"Signal? Never mind..." He rubbed his hands down his face in aggravation.
"Do you have a safe place you can hold up in?"
"If I could get back to Haven City, I could send a message to the Precursors', who will then block my signal. In only a few months time, they will be back to give me new orders and duties."
For the umpteenth time, Sig sighed.
"Looks like I need to call in a body guard."
0
"Jak? You alright over there?" Keira looked up from her work on a new Zoomer engine. Jak was presently testing out its navigation system on a virtual course.
"Fine." He grunted out. He wasn't really paying attention, not after the first few minutes proved that there were fifteen bugs in the new system. If the elf had missed some bugs, it was no loss to him.
"Are you sure?"
"Hn."
"Jaaak." She folded her arms on top of the monitor he was working at, gazing at him.
"What, Keira?"
"You want to go grab some food?" She batted her eyes and nudged him with a hand.
"Yea, alright, let's go to the Naughty Ottsel. Tess should be cooking up something about now." Jak responded easily without looking up at her, going over to a two seat zoomer.
"Umm..." Keira started to call him back but gave in and climbed into the vehicle.
She stared at him half way through the city. Jak wasn't paying any attention. Not to her any way. Of course, he really hadn't ever since the defeat of Kor. Hardly even before that! He showed little interest in the relationship they had started in the past. Her eyes became narrow slits as she glared at the green haired warrior. There was no response as they zipped through the city smoothly.
"Aaah! Fine!" She sniffed and slouched in her seat. Keira didn't look at him again until they reached Daxter's club.
"Jak! Finally, someone to talk too!" Daxter raced up to them, jumping on Jak's shoulder and knuckling his head. Jak chuckled and threw him off.
"Is Tess not around, Daxter?" Keira asked as she sidled up to the bar. Dax turned to her and covered a side of his mouth, leaning closer.
"I love that girl, really, but sometimes she's a little giggly." He grinned and leaned back. His furry body jumped down, hopping around grabbing drinks.
"Tess!" He called out to the back. "Jak and Keira are here for lunch, baby!"
"Okidoke!" She giggled back. Daxter sighed, gesturing a thumb to the back.
"See what I mean?"
"It's alright Dax, I'm here now." Jak patted the orange ottsel's head. They started to laugh as an alert went off. Someone was trying to get through on the COM link. Jak reached over and pressed the receiving button. The hologram picture blinked into existence and Ashelin was now glaring at them.
"Jak! Can't you ever stay in one place?"
"Sorry, Ashelin. What do ya need?" Jak gave her an amused smile and she grinned back. Keira glared at the hologram behind him, clobbering Dax as he started to snigger.
"Sig contacted me a while ago, saying he needed you in the Wastelands ASAP. He's got a mission for you, he says it's crucial." Her serious face was causing Jak to worry about Spargus.
"Did he say anything else?"
"No, he seemed like he was in a rush though. I've got a transport waiting for you out in the bay."
"Thanks, Ashelin. I'll report back any news to you when I get there." Jak pressed the receiving button as soon as she nodded.
"Looks like I need a baggy lunch, Dax." He grinned over to the ottsel and Dax chuckled.
"Can do, Buddy. I'll leave it outside for you on your way back from the Gun Range."
"Finally a step ahead, Dax?" Jak shot out his question as he headed for the door.
"Hey! I'm so ahead I'm behind...or...something!" Dax yelled out as the door slid shut.
Jak jumped on a lone zoomer hanging outside and was shortly in front of the gun range. He grabbed his always trusty gun, quickly running through all twelve gun modifications. Testing each one brought back a number of unpleasant memories. With a grimace, he forced them back. There was no need to walk down memory lane. The gun clipped onto his back easily with the jet board. Stepping over to a new shelf of gadgetry and weapons, the elf picked out two wickedly curved daggers, and stuck them in holsters on his boots.
Tess's knack and "hobby" for creating and upgrading weapons had truly come in handy. Becoming an ottsel hadn't changed that a bit. Along with new explosives and bombs, there were small Eco Tanks. They allowed Jak to hold emergency packs of both light and dark eco on hand at all times in case he were to run low.
"I can't decide if I want to have to use them or not..." The wild warrior in him was, once again, itching to use the new technology to his advantage.
Now loaded up, Jak swiftly made his way back to the Naughty Ottsel. Surprise coursed through him as he noticed Keira standing there. She was poised against the wall, holding a container with the Naughty Ottsel logo on it.
"Keira?"
"Jak..." Keira's voice was soft as she started to speak, concern shining in her eyes. She set down the container and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jak's eyes widened as she held him close, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"Be careful, alright? You haven't died on me yet, don't start now." She gave him a light hearted smile. Something he hoped he would think about while he was gone.
"I'll be back, Keira. You worry too much." With a grin he raced off through the bay after jumping on the jet board.
"Someone has to!" She yelled after him, waving him goodbye.
0
The trip through the desert had been the same. No sign of life but him and the guard driving the transport. There was no sand storm for once and soon enough, he was at the gates of his home.
Walking in, Jak was shocked to see the vehicle bay had been widened and lengthened. It now held six new unique vehicles and twenty identical ones. It looks like Kleiver had been put to work quickly after the war.
He soon came to see that the vehicle bay was not the only thing to have changed about the outlaw city.
As he made his way through the city towards Sig's throne room, he noticed all the reconstruction. It had slipped his mind with all the mayhem in Haven City that Spargus had taken a number of heavy blows.
Jak finally found the entrance to the lift and stepped in. It whirred to life and glided upward effortlessly. The green haired descendent of Mar felt his nerves start to jump as the lift halted and slid open for him. A weight fell on him the second he stepped out; the tension in the room was tremendous.
"Sig?" He called out as he turned around and noticed the older man sitting on his throne. The look on his face was of total aggravation and worry.
"Jak! You wanted some excitement? She's right here waiting." The king gestured to the young woman Jak had overlooked.
Jak eyed her up and down. His mind started filing away what information he could get just from her appearance. Her hair was sun blonde and grazed just past her shoulders, sleek and shining. Teal eyes appraised him as well, both thoughtful and knowledgeable. From what Jak had seen so far in this future, she was quite beautiful with her petite frame accented by brown pants, black ankle boots, and a loose white blouse that gave nothing away. Her face was very memorable, however what truly set the woman apart was her forehead. Above her left eyebrow were three small brown dots forming a perfect triangle.
"She looks tame enough." Jak said as he looked over to Sig, glancing back at her briefly. She smiled but raised an eyebrow to signal her annoyance with his statement. Sig just slapped him on the shoulder, chuckling sadly.
"It's what's after her that's not tame."
"What?"
"I suggest the "gist", my king. I can give him the full story once we're back in Haven City." She spoke directly to Sig, her eyes releasing the dullness that had gazed upon him. Jak scowled at her lack of interest in him and gave his old friend a demanding look.
"I hear ya, Chili Pepper!" Sig threw up his hands and chuckled. "Bless is her name. She's pretty interesting when she wants to be." The king's mind went back to the few hours they had waited for Jak to cross the desert. Bless was...well, she was feisty.
"And the gist is?" Jak grumbled out, not caring if the blonde was beautiful or not.
"She's the main hook to the Precursors', she was out of sight in the war, and is now being chased by a legion of metal heads and Dark Makers. You need to get her back to the city alive."
A feral grin crawled up Jak's face. A legion?
"I like the sound of that."
"We have to hurry then. Thank you, King Sig for your assistance." Bless bowed to Sig and started for the elevator. Jak just stared after her.
"Now?"
"We have to get the enemy away from the city?" Her tone was obnoxious. The last Mar just glared at her.
"Right."
"Good luck, son." Sig gave him a serious look, all his concern weighing heavy in his eyes.
"Yea, I'll see ya later."
The elevator brought them down in an agonizingly slow trip. Well, that's how Jak felt about it. Bless's face was devoid of emotion, looking nearly bored. She was so detached, even from the second he had laid eyes on her. Her pretty face wasn't going to save her from dealing with him. Even Ashelin had been friendlier on their first encounter. He turned to speak to her but just as he opened his mouth the elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open.
"Stay behind me." He stepped out first before she could move, pulling out the Vulcan.
"I think all the trouble will be outside the walls, Chosen."
Jak grumbled under his breath.
"Then explain how Sig found you inside the walls being attacked by Dark Makers?" Blue eyes stared straight into hers and she backed down, looking surprised.
"Then you observe more than you make known. I will do whatever is needed." The blonde stepped in line behind him, staying close at his heals. Jak repressed any improper thoughts that might be derived from her words and moved on towards the vehicle bay.
"No kidding."
"Is your gruffness necessary?" Bless glared at his blue tunic, unable to see anything but his broad shoulders.
"I'm sorry, was I being cold to you?" He spun on her, staring her down. She showed no sign of backing down again but seemed to get the message in Jak's tone.
"Yes, you were. Thank you for apologizing." Bless smiled knowingly as her hands deftly tied her green scarf back onto her head. Her large teal eyes stared up at him, waiting for Jak to continue onward.
"You've got to be kidding me." Jak was still grumbling five minutes later as they finally made it to the vehicle bay. Ten guards were lined up by the door, all outfitted with serious looking weapons and gleaming armor.
"Are you guys actually necessary?" Jak said incredulously. Bless frowned beside him.
"Were you not listening earlier?"
"Was I talking to you?"
"I am the one with the answers, you should be."
"A bit arrogant, aren't you lady?"
"I-" Bless started to say, ready to poke Jak in the chest.
"Miss? Prince Jak?" One of the guards broke in tentatively. Jak whipped around and gave him his most menacing glare.
"Who the hell told you to call me that!"
"Well...I-t-the King, sir!" The guard nearly bit his own tongue as he stepped back.
"DON'T do it again, understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Why are you here?" Jak growled, not letting up on his glare. Bless rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the great door.
"There are Metal Heads outside the gates, Sir! King Sig sent us to help you escort Miss Preona, sir." The young man saluted, slightly shaking under Jak's intense gaze.
"Fine. I suppose they couldn't get the damn thing closer to the door..." Jak turned and grabbed Bless's hand, roughly pulling her to him.
"Stay close and don't talk." Jak growled down to her as he walked through the bay and to the giant doors.
The doors opened slowly, darkness spilling into the bay. Blue eyes widened in amazement as a sea of glowing yellow gems came in to sight.
"What did you do to piss them off?" Jak's voice came out raspy. Bless simply blushed and clutched his hand tighter.
"I didn't die."
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A/N: Second chapter down! It's still a slow start but, it's getting there. I plan for a lot of action in the next one, one of my favorite parts.