Changing Paths Chapter Three.
Meeting New People!
Dax pointed in a random direction (or at least for Jak was) and started rambling about the races here. That piped Jak's interest, but it quickly died out when he started on a 'mysterious cute mechanics.'
Dark quietly trotted besides them, to absorbed in his surroundings. Jak was similar, looking around with wide eyes.
They entered the port area, and Dax said something about that the arena could be seen in the background. Dark pointed out the bare mountains further back. Jak mulled that over. Why were they inside walls if there was mountains and land to be explored? He quickly shrugged that thought off, he had heard Errol talking about something called a metal head; maybe that was what was behind the walls.
His eyes darkened at the thought of Errol, before he shook his head. He wasn't there now- he was free-they were free. Dark had started to stare at him when Jak visible tensed, and his eyes suddenly picked up on the spasms of pain randomly attacking Jak's body.
Dark widened his eyes- why hadn't he taken more consideration for Jak's well being? Of course he was in pain, he just had a treatment not even an hour ago, ran; something he hasn't done for some time, knock out 16 KG guards, and walked for about thirty minutes straight!
He looked more closely at Jak. His eyes were half lidded, and he was absentmindedly nodding at Daxter's comments. His arm was twitching, his finger rubbing against his shorts. His leg tensed up, almost tripping him as it went limp. A grimace found its way to his face before Jak pushed it down, forging on with a smile.
Jak's shoulders were bruised heavily, the black and purple spots barely peeking out from his shirt. The hand that wasn't occupied clutching his shorts was laid on his ribs which were no doubt sore, and possibly cracked or fractured. The said arm wasn't in to good of a shape either. The wrist was swollen and cut, dried blood caking it. The elbow was slightly bent at an unnatural way, and Dark had a feeling that it wasn't just sprained.
Jak's ears were hung low, the tattoos on them more promote on the pale body. His lip was busted, and his nose was bent upwards- undoubtedly broken. Blotchy bruises covered his chin, spreading down and creating a hand like dark spot on Jak's neck.
All in all, it was a miracle he was still walking. Dark felt his admiration for Jak grow. Precursors know how hard it must have been for him to talk.
Dax leapt off of Jak's shoulder, calling out for him to hurry up. A bright sign stood out from the grey building. Dark squinted to look at it, cursing his enhanced vision when he was blinded by the glare the sign created.
HiP HoG
The 'O' was flickering off and on, creating a poor impression on Dark.
"Come on, Jak! Here's the place!" Dax scampered up to the door. Jak trudged behind them, Dark choosing to float.
Loud laughter reached Jak's ears, immediately causing a headache. Jak limped up the small sets of stairs following Dax who was already in the building. The dark grey door slid open, revealing a less than peasant sight.
Dax was up on a table, puffing his chest out at a woman with blond hair.
"Hey, babe! You see Orange Lightning?" He started rattling off about his many adventures, and Jak's eyes slid to the other people around him. He spotted a Caucasian guy, dirty red (is that even a color?) hair strung up in dreadlocks, a half smile half scowl written on his face. What really caught his eye was the KG tattoos littering his face and arms. Dark growled beside him, but he mentally told him its okay; the guy didn't seem like much of a threat.
A curvy woman stood by his side, also bearing the KG tattoos and dreadlocks. Jak noted the strange piece of metal that was buckled on her waist, failing that info into his brain.
A lanky man was sitting in a chair, casually smoking a cigar. His laughter was most promote; his high voice not helping him at all. Two lackeys stood by him, looking equally stupid.
Finally, farthest away from the circle, was a big black guy. His skin looked like it was mixed, but his features told otherwise. A bionic looking scope took up half of his face, and Jak was vaguely reminded of the Baron. The man had heavy armor, and was holding a bulky looking twisted piece of metal.
Jak mulled this over, unconsciously walking over to where Dax was, filling up the space behind him. Jak, too caught up in his thoughts about the strange looking metals, didn't notice when a person walked up to him.
"Hey- kid." Jak snapped his head up, angered that someone called him a kid. He was what? Two years older than he was in Sandover?! Agony shot up his spine at the sudden movement, and Jak's vision wavered slightly. He was able to block out the pain when he was focusing on something else, but it had returned with a vengeance.
A single green eye looked down at him, another artificial one gleaming slightly from the not too great light. Jak realized the man to be the bulky one he saw earlier.
"Aren't you a little young to be wondering around in here?" The man says, his deep voice slightly accented in a foreign way.
Jak frowned at him, thinking a bit. He was what, 16 in Sandover? Yeah, he remembered his birthday party… So plus two: that would be 18? Yeah; he was 18!
"I'm eighteen." Jak's hoarse voice reached the man's ears, who blinked at him.
"You need to be twenty one to drink here." The man said slowly, as if talking to a kid. Jak stared at him, puzzled. He drank when he was 14, why did age matter? The man, obviously sensing his confusion, gave a short explanation.
"It's the law." Jak snorted, why should he care?
"I don't care." He stated simply, his attention returning to Dax. The man smiled at him, surprise mixed with happiness shone in his eye. He clapped his large hand on Jak's back, his grin almost splitting his face.
"You got some spunk, chili pepper!" Jak let out a painful whimper, his hands grasping tightly to the table. Dark materialized beside him, a worried expression on his face.
"Jak! Are you okay?" The man, seeing his pain, held a look of surprise. Dark snared at him when he approached, and large hands carefully picking him up. Jak bit back a scream of pain, it instead coming out as a strangled yelp. The man gently pulled him over to a table, slowly sliding Jak into the tattered chair. Jak fell forward, his arms to slow to try to stop the hit. A hand gripped his shoulder, enticing a low moan from him, before pushing him into the back of the chair.
"Sorry chili pepper, 'didn't know you were hurt." The man said, rubbing his hand behind his head.
Jak inclined his head, a universal way to say 'apology accepted.' The man smiled at him, before he turned serious.
"How'd you get like this? You don't seem like a bad guy." Jak blinked. He looked like hell, and this guy was saying he didn't look bad? Dark was sitting next to him, studying the man closely.
"Baron Praxis." Jak stated. He saw the man's features darken, and wondered what the Baron had done to him.
"Always him, right?" The man muttered, as if saying an inside joke. The man brightened, and stuck a hand out at Jak, who flinched involuntarily. After staring at the man for a couple seconds the man realized he wasn't going through with the custom.
"Name's Sig. What's yours?" Sig asked with a small upturn of his lips. Jak breathed shallowly, and Dark's eyebrows furrowed even more. How was Jak still conciseness?
"…Jak." His voice was still low and it was apparent he was trying to use the least amount of energy possible.
Sig nodded, and gulped down the drink he unfastened from his belt.
"Well chili pepper, I think your friend over there might need your help." Sig pointed in Dax's way and Jak saw that the osstell managed to have four thugs gang up on him- probably from a joke gone bad. Jak gave a grunt of thanks before sliding out of the seat with all the gracefulness his broken body could handle.
"E-eh hey! It doesn't gotta be like this! We're all buddies, r-right?" Dax stuttered. The thugs were looming over him, a wicked gleam in their eyes. Jak growled low in his throat before stalking towards the group.
Dark appeared on his shoulder in miniature form, eyes alert and focused. If this had been any other day- Jak would have of laughed about how cute Dark looked.
Jak materialized behind Daxter, a low growl emitting from his throat. Coupled with the fact that he was in rags and was a buff guy… Needless to say the thugs backed off. Quick.
Daxter glanced behind him, and let out a girly shriek.
"Precursors, Jak! Don' go sneaking up on someone like that!" Jak laughed silently, and grinned endearingly down at Daxter.
"You looked like you needed a little help."
Can someone plz review? Plz?! This might go back into the corners of my mind if you don't… Need 4 to go on..