last edit: 3/10/2012

Chapter 2
The First Race

They were all ready to leave Kras City for Spargus the following day with new wardrobe fitting for the desert landscape. Leather would be too bothersome as the Krew team went for clothing that was ventilating but covered enough for when sand was beating against their skin. Water was an absolute necessity as they would dehydrate faster and would need that extra drop for any occasion. They were ready for whatever was going to happen as they waited patiently for the transport.

As they watched their ride slowly descend and open its door for them, Keira looked uncertain and nervous as she assumed her father was waiting patiently at the city for their arrival and for whatever the reason his daughter wanted to talk to him about. A conversation she was dreading but knew that it had to be done.

Jak noticed how quiet she was and the conflict evident in her face as he placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him as she waited for him to say something.

"It's going to be okay, I'm sure Samos will understand," he said, speaking of her father. She let out a breath of air that she didn't even know she was holding as she averted her gaze to the steel ground.

"I hope you're right." She subconsciously took his hand as they walked on to the transport and sat down in their seats as it lifted off to take them to one of the cities that was suppose to be under Jak's rule. But his desire to run Spargus and Haven was nowhere to be seen. Ashelin was already doing a good job of running Haven and Sig made a great King in Spargus. So no matter his birth right, he still did the jobs both asked him to do. Taking out the remaining Metal Heads and keeping peace between the cities. After all, he is the tie between the cities.

They landed outside the Spargus gate along with other transports for the other drivers and teams. They stepped off the transport only to be bombarded with bustling reporters and flashing cameras from the paparazzi.

"Ashelin! Ashelin! Is it true that you and Jak Mar plan on a wedding?" "Torn! Is Ashelin having an affair with you?" "Jak! I heard your ties with Krew are what lead you to race! Is that true?" The absurd questions kept coming for each of the competitors as they made their way to the nearby Inn which wasn't as shabby as the rest of the buildings. It was quaint and yet still had that underlying feeling. The group stood in the lobby where they saw the small green elf with logs tied to his feet, glasses that magnified his normally small eyes, the bird chirping on an exposed branch of the log tied to his head and a long white beard growing out of his chin.

"Daddy!" Keira exclaimed as she raced over to Samos the Sage and knelt down to give the green elf a hug. He hugged her back like any father would for his daughter.

"Keira, how was Kras? I hope you didn't get into too much trouble," he said in his sagely voice. She pulled away as guilt settled in her stomach.

"Well..." she sighed. "Daddy, we need to talk." They walked off from the group to a private area of the room while Jak watched the two talk and giving a reassuring nod to Keira as she glanced at him. Silently giving her courage.

"Okay, I got us all our own rooms for the time being. So all we need to do now is-"

"WHAT?" they all jumped and turned to see Samos's paled face. Jak with Daxter on his shoulder raced over to him and Keira.

"Is everything okay?" he asked. Samos turned to the man he raised and sent a heated glare at him.

"Jak! You got my daughter poi-" His mouth was quickly covered by Daxter's furry hands who quickly got off Jak's shoulder in time.

"Watch it, toe jam. (Daxter earned a glare from the sage.) We're in a room full of racers that can hear you."

"Daxter's right. We need to discuss this in private," Jak responded as they walked back to the group with Keira supporting her dad. Rayn gave each of them their own key cards for their rooms and it was decided they'll discuss this further in Keira's room. But when they entered, were they in for a yelling fest. Just like old times.

"How on Earth did you let this happen, Jak? I thought I raised you to know better!" the sage yelled at him.

"Hey! We're poisoned too y'know!" Daxter countered for Jak.

"But you didn't think things through like always! Just like when you went to Misty Island against my orders!" Jak and Daxter exchanged sheepish looks at the memory that resulted in Daxter's ottsel-fied transformation before Jak regained his composure as he put on a serious face.

"I suspected it at first but when I saw everybody didn't drop dead..." Jak trailed off, leaving Samos to fill in the blanks.

"And it never occurred to you it could be a slow acting poison?"

"Well, for someone who owns a bar such as myself, I'm telling you that it looked like wine, smelled like wine, and tasted like wine, therefore it was wine. So how the hell were we suppose t'know that it had poison in it? Huh?" Daxter argued with the sage. Samos slumped seeing Daxter's point.

"As much as I hate to admit it, and I really do hate it, you may have a point, Daxter." The orange animal looked at the old man in a mixture of triumph and insult. "But that still doesn't excuse you for what you did to my daughter!"

"Stop it, Daddy!" Keira yelled, finally having her word. The men (and animal) in the room turned to face her only to see her angry eyes. "I drank the wine. It was my choice. Jak didn't force me to drink it. And everyone else drank it without any idea it had poison in it. And you should be proud that Jak even considered it poisoned in the first place and took precaution."

Everyone stared at her in stunned silence, never expecting Keira to blow up at her father like this. Poison can do a lot of things but for Keira, always seen as a daddy's girl and one to never disobey him, was now pink cheeked and glaring intensely at Samos. Nobody spoke for a long while until Samos let out a sigh of defeat.

"Yes, I am proud of Jak for taking precaution, but the poison-"

"And this is Jak we're talking about. He saved us all three times already and he can do it again, I know it," she added while sending a smile in his direction. He returned the smile, feeling good for having her confidence in him.

"Yes, he has gotten us out a lot and I have no doubt that he will do it again. So, I apologize for the outburst on the both of you." Jak and Keira looked relieved upon hearing this. Knowing that Samos, who is and considered to be a father to them, didn't blame them for the circumstance at hand. Daxter, however, looked confused at the sage.

"What about me?" he asked.

"Huh?" Samos looked up at the orange animal as if acknowledging him for the first time. "Oh yes. You too, Daxter. Now then, I suspect the garage here in Spargus needs cleaning. Get to it, Daxter." The fuzzy animal stared at him gaped mouth as the sage turned to the door to leave and just before he closed the door behind him, he stared at the two elves. "Oh, and one more thing: Keira, you are not racing!" The two stared at him in shock and (in Keira's case) outrage.

"But Daddy, I-"

"And no buts!" he yelled and slammed the door behind him. The three stood there for a long while staring at the door Samos just left through. Jak slowly turned to her to see angry tears threatening to leak out. He let out a sigh as he turned his head to Daxter.

"Hey Dax, maybe you should do what Samos said and clean up the garage," he suggested calmly and the ottsel looked at him in question.

"Why would I do that? The garage is probably clean already and besides, you know I never listen to Samos." Jak glared at him, the message was slowly getting across the orange fur. "Ooooh, okay. I'll go do that." Daxter got off Jak's shoulder and walked off to the door without even a glance back. When Jak heard the door close, he turned back to Keira whose fists were now clenched.

"Keira?" he asked.

"Can you believe him?" She turned angrily to him as she threw her arms up in the air. "I mean, I know he's overprotective and all that but seriously! Who the hell does he think he is?" she added while she dropped down on her bed.

"C'mon Keira, you know he's only worried about you," he reassured her as he joined her on the bed.

"I know. But still, I'm eighteen years old for crying out loud and I spent two years in Haven City all by myself. Does he think I can't take care of myself?"

"I'm sure he does, he's probably just not ready that his only daughter is growing up." She let out a defeated sigh and scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He allowed her to take comfort in him as he automatically wrapped his arm around her shoulder blades. Like he always did when they were kids.

"I guess you're right about that. I just wish he can see that." He nodded in agreement. They sat in silence for a long while. Taking in one of the rare moments they had together without Daxter to mess things up. "Hey Jak?" He looked down at her and noticed how close her face was.

"Yeah?" he asked almost breathlessly.

"You think I'd be a good racer, right?" He blinked and then put on a warm smile.

"Y'know, I don't know who spends more time fixing up cars than you do, so I have no doubt that you'd be great." She returned his smile after hearing him say that. "But..." Her smile started to fade as he averted his eyesight to the ground. "I do have to agree with Samos in some aspect."

"Like?..." she probed.

"Well, this is combat racing and I wouldn't want anything happening to you." He blushed as he realized what he just said. She bit down a giggle as she watched him.

"Well, since you put it that way," she said, her upbeat attitude returning as she lifted her head and stared at him. He faced her again and seemed to can't take his eyes off her. It was true that he found her attractive in the past and he had been an idiot when he dated Ashelin but, in this moment where silence enveloped them and knowing that Daxter was long gone so he won't interrupt. Jak's heart rate increased and Keira, mesmerized by his dark ocean eyes and strong facial features giving her a feeling in her chest that she can't even begin to describe what it was.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Jak! Keira! You done in there? The first race starts in a couple hours!" Torn's voice yelled through the door and they hastily pulled back. Mentally cursing him for ruining the moment. They heard his boots echo away from the door and Jak let out an irritated sigh.

"Looks like I have to get ready," he said, completely avoiding her eyes.

"Yeah, and I have to get to the garage," she said, also avoiding his eyes. He removed his arm from around her shoulders and got up, trying his best not to look back as he went through the door.

A couple hours have passed and pacing in the Spargus City stadium green room took place. Mostly from Ashelin's angry stride as Torn watched her pace. Daxter looked over the waver that was handed to him with Samos not too far away. Jak was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest while Rayn stood next to him. Most were looking up at the TV which bared the face of the commentator for the entire season, GT Blitz. With a bragging chiseled face with flowing blond hair to add to his egocentric demeanor and a purple suit that would make a pimp jealous.

"Welcome race fans to another turbo charged season of high stakes, high speed racing. As usual, yours truly, GT Blitz, will give you a pit row view of all the action as the best racers in the world swap paint in their quest to claim the Kras City Grand Championship Trophy," Blitz announced through the airwaves in his game show host tone. "In the end, only one wheel jockey will claim the prize as the greatest racer in the land. And we'll be here to cover all the thrills, chills, and spills! The season's first race kicks off in a few minutes. So stay tuned, and keep those engines hummin'!"

"The first race," Jak said, mostly to himself but everyone heard him.

"I fear this affair will end badly," Samos said with dread in his voice. "A wise man once said, 'be watchful of those in front of you, but beware of those behind.'"

"What wise man said that?" Daxter asked as he threw the waver away after reading it over with a depressed face but his usual mug returned.

"I did!"

"Look, none of us is happy about this, but we might as well make the best of it," Torn said, apparently agitated by the situation.

"My father provided everything we need to win. One of us can do it if we all-"

"You father got us into this mess," Ashelin interrupted, her glare hardened at Krew's daughter. "So zip it before I come over there and play daddy!"

Suddenly, they heard the only door to the green room open and they turned to see the egocentric anchorman come in with a toothy smile.

"Well, well... I was told we had some fresh wax rookies this year, but I had to eyeball it for myself," he said as he stepped in further with a confident stride and a hovering camera following him. "GT Blitz is the name. I'm the Kras City Racing Commissioner and star of the highest syndicated sports event on the planet. I just came by to wish you luck and to skid down a few rules." They looked at him as the camera went around the room, getting profiles from each of the racers. "No side bets, no cheating, no rule breaks or we'll break you. You in gear? This is show business boys... and girls." He glanced over at Rayn with sort of a knowing and yet greedy look. She looked away to hide her smile but quickly his as she saw Jak watch the whole thing. "Only the best racers move up to the bigger events, so make me happy and make the crowd scream!"

"Let's race," Jak said with confidence.

Sig always liked to watch the arena battles and every once in awhile took part in the stadium races run by Kliever. However, since he became King of Spargus, he found very little time to leisure and being a Wastelander. Hunting down Metal Heads nearing the city as well as an occasional Marauder battle, but he took pride in his new position. His experience working along side Damas, the previous King and apparently Jak's father, had Sig pick up his tricks and habits on running a proper city. Being careful not to stir up anything and keeping the citizens happy. So when the opportunity to hold the Red Eco Cup came up, he agreed to let it be held here in honor of Damas.

So here he was, sitting up in his own section completely isolated from the rest and gave a bird's eye view of the track. He looked at each of the racers and seeing their determined and maniacal looks, Sig had to guess they were part of the Mizo team. But he was mostly curious about another team that caught his eye when his advisors told him that they were under Krew. Sig had been invited to the reading of the will but as soon as he heard that drinks would be serve he automatically declined. When he served under Krew, he knew the fat man well enough that he would dispose of him when he didn't need Sig anymore. Which was why he never drank at the Hip Hog Heaven when it was still around. That was proven when Krew sent him out on one last mission which almost turned into a suicide mission if Jak hadn't come in.

He had wondered who else went to the reading and he got his answer as he watched Jak with Daxter holding on to the metal caging, Torn, and Ashelin drove up to their positions behind the starting line. Confirming his suspicion about Krew's reading and the drink that was served.

Jak looked all around him to see Mizo's team staring daggers at him with one even running a finger across his neck. Another looked at Ashelin with a very greedy look. She merely rolled her eyes in disgust as Torn (who was watching the spectacle) sent a dangerous glare to the man looking at Ashelin.

"Welcome to the first race of season here in the lovely desert scene of Spargus," Blitz's face appeared on a monitor high above the stands as his voice echoed through the stadium. "The King was gracious enough to allow us to hold it here in honor of the previous King, Damas." Jak had a grievous look at the mention of his deceased father.

If I win this, this'll be for you, Damas, he thought as he put his racing face on again.

"And the first event is a circuit race. The rules are simple folks, two laps around the track and the first to cross the finish line, wins. Just remember racers, do whatever it takes to win and those that don't make it to the end... there will be a moment of silence in your honor. So lets see who's got the tramp to win it all!"

The light that signals the racers to start came down and hovered before them.

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEEEEEEEEEP.

And the racers were off. The man with the leather mask, known in the Mizo team as Cutter, was in the lead with Jak following close behind. He saw red and yellow eco on the track and quickly decided on the yellow. His Vulcan Furry instantly loaded. He aimed at Cutter and managed to slow him down a peg.

Ashelin ran over some blue eco and managed to catch up. She saved her yellow eco weapon, her Fragmentation Grenade Launcher, and used it on Cutter as well. She missed the first two shots but managed to hit him on the third. But the bastard ran over green eco at the last second.

"Damn it! This guy won't quit!" Jak heard through his ear piece from Ashelin and he was thinking along the same lines. Then he felt a rumble and he had no time to look.

"Jak! We're hit!" He heard Daxter say through the ear piece.

"With what?" He asked.

"Looked like a missile and you don't wanna see what that did!" Jak mentally cursed as he ran over blue eco. He hit the pedal for the boost and sped pass Cutter. Jak was now in first.

"C'mon, cherries, you gotta win," Sig said to himself as he watched the race and witnessed Jak getting hit. His excitement grew as Jak went passed a driver and was in first. "Yes, just make it one more lap and-" Just at that second, Jak got hit with another missile and it slowed him down to fourth. This disheartened the King, but the chance for green eco came up and Sig silently prayed for him to run over it. He didn't care that the green eco did minimal repair, he wanted Jak to win.

Jak saw the green eco and he used up the blue he had left and ran right over it. Fixing up whatever the missiles did. He was in second now and he could see Cutter's car in clear view.

Red eco coming up, he noted and swerved on a turn and ran over the stuff and got an attack drone. He pressed the button on the dash and the robot came hovering out and started shooting at the other racer. Slowing him down tremendously until he was fifth in line. The drone went away after it used up its ammo and Jak got a malicious grin on him.

Before they knew it, they were half way through the second lap. Jak got hit a couple of times but managed to recover in time and was now leading the pack.

"We're almost there, Jak!" he heard Daxter say and he was right. "All we have to do is not get hit and collect enough blue eco to cross the finish line with!" Jak didn't hear him say the last part because he was too focused on the track. Which turned out to be a big mistake.

A missile hit Jak and it made him swerve and brought him down to fourth again, but he saw the shooter in time to see it was one of the thugs from the Bloody Hook with the tattoo covering his right eye and burnt ears known as Shiv. He gave Jak a taunting look as he sped and was now in second. Jak's face hardened and thoughts of revenge crossed his mind. He got his wish when he ran over yellow eco and was rewarded with homing missiles. His target landed on Shiv and pressed the button just as quickly as Shiv swerved back to sixth place.

Serves that asshole right, Jak thought and sped up to the front while running over blue eco.

The finish line was now in sight and Jak had enough blue eco to pass Ashelin and win.

Wait for it, wait for it, he thought and at the right time, he hit the pedal for the blue eco and sped past Ashelin and made it through the finish line.

The crowd cheered for the rookie driver with enthusiasm and joy for the man that saved their city and Sig could've sworn he cheered the loudest.

Jak slowed to a stop at the pit stop and as he got out, he was immediately bombarded by the team's very own mechanic.

"Jak, you did it! I knew you would!" Keira exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Then Ashelin pulled to a stop followed by Torn. They approached the two hugging elves with gracious looks on their tattooed faces.

"Way to go, Jak. I didn't see you coming," Ashelin said and Keira pulled away to meet the other two approaching them.

"You did great, Jak. For a second, I thought you wouldn't make it," Torn said in his usual manner.

"Uh, thanks," he said, not knowing what else to say.

"Yup, that's Jak for ya!" Daxter said as he got up on Jak's shoulder. "He'll out race anyone!"

"You saw it here folks." The group turned to see Blitz approach them with the hovering camera following him towards their group. "At least those of you who didn't die yawning or switch to the Bran Channel." He joined the group and they all gave him skeptical looks. "An unknown driver wins his first big race... in lackluster fashion," he added with a slightly down tone. He turned to face Jak with the microphone held up to him. "So, tell us, what happened out there? Were you frightened?"

"No!" Daxter answered for Jak.

"Well, wait till ya race against the big name drivers," Blitz continued.

"It gets worse?" Torn inquired, giving Blitz a suspicious look and he only laughed.

"Much. Think you can handle it?" Seeing enough is enough, Keira stepped in and place a hand on Jak's chest.

"Give him a break!" she said straight to the game show host wannabe.

"I'll take that as a 'no' or a 'no comment.'" Blitz turned back to the camera with his toothy smile. "And with that, let's take it down to Greaser in pit row. That's a wrap." The camera stopped filming and Blitz turned back to the group putting away the mic. "Listen, I'm not getting much smoke off you guys. I need more spin... more heat! Ratings were down thirteen points on that last race. Not happening! If you want to get into the club, you gotta win a lot more, and you gotta win big! Accumulate serious points and maybe I'll give you another interview." Jak, Keira, Daxter, Ashelin, and Torn turned to face each other as Blitz laughed as he turned away. "If you're still around." He walked away with a little jump in his step.

"That guy seriously creeps me out," Keira said placing her hands on her forearms.

"There's not much we can do about that now," Torn said.

"And there's no doubt he's going to keep an eye on us," Ashelin added.

"So we might as well forget about him," Jak suggested and they all agreed as they started walking out of the stadium and met up with Rayn on the street.

"Great going, Jak. That was an excellent start for our team," she said in her usual manner.

"So when's the next race?" Daxter asked.

"Two days from now and it will be a Death Race. Don't worry, it's not what you think it is, you're just shooting drones for points," she added after she saw the looks on their faces. Relief came over them and the thought of actually killing real people on the track was something that didn't sit well. "Keira? Do you think you can fix up the cars in two days?" she asked the mechanic and the girl merely scoffed.

"Two days? Give me ten hours and I'll fix them up by then," she said with confidence.

"Good. Then rest up well until the next race." With that, Rayn turned to leave but not before leaving Ashelin's suspicion.

"And what are you going to do until then?" she asked and Krew's daughter merely turned her head.

"I'm going to see if I can find anything my father might've left behind. Just to see if there's more information than what he was leading on. Until then." Rayn continued walking on in her normal stride but Ashelin's glare on her hardened even more.