To the fabulous individuals who took the time to encourage this with a review (I'm too lazy to do that often) I'd like to thank you for your interest. I was expecting less, and getting reviews that aren't telling me to quit fanfiction makes me want to sing~
So MonsterChibiJaxmine, Miss/Mister Anonymous, jenn, Ottsel Instinct, Koure, and SkaleFlapper15, here's a shout-out. Oh yeah, and the next chapter.
Last day of Spring Break (very tragic), so the next chapters won't be as quick, but in the meantime, here's more of the boys and Torn, who's (you guessed it) ...pissed off.
Apparently... he friggin' could.
Torn was abruptly and unexpectedly made aware of this in the middle of a meeting dispatching agents to monitor the KG's new patrolling schedule. He wasn't omniscient (though he'd been fearfully accused of this on several occasions) but he knew damn well close to everything he possibly could concerning Haven's daily going-on's. Down to the minute the first patrol officer began and within roughly six of the end of their rotation. This costant attention often paid off when handing out missions on the wire.
The last meeting he'd had with the teen hadn't been wholly unenlightening, but the specifics of Torn's questions had been frustratingly left unanswered. He'd labeled the issue as unresolved, but now felt more comfortable in allowing it to remain so for the time being. Perhaps that hadn't been wise.
At first, there was an outbreak of pandemonium, followed by a steady, robotic series of heavy blasts and reloading of shots. They sounded dangerously close to the base.
Ear twitching, his head snapped up as the first shot rang out. His surprise lasted but a moment.
"Okay, everyone... Code Green. You know what to do." He instructed the seven startled agents in the room just after the screams broke outside. They nodded, professionalism back as they slipped out into the chaos one by one.
This was procedure. If ever they encountered threat of being discovered, the first action taken was to evacuate unnoticed, as quickly as humanly possible, providing that the opportunity presented itself.
However, as Torn later found out, the Guard hadn't been after them. Not the members in the room, anyway.
He'd hold down the fort, of course, willing to be the one exception. After hurriedly checking in with several agents, Vin was the first he got anything specific from, though he wasn't first in his list of contacts. The scientist wasn't exactly articulate when wound up, and unfortunately (for the Underground) prone to hysteria. That made his babbling extremely difficult to decipher. Torn did catch, however, the mentioning of "MOTION-CENSORED TURBO CANNONS!" already up and apparently being put to use in four or five sectors. The inconveniece was made complete by the expected flocking of KG troops to the scene, and mass panic in the streets. Super. Vin's report at least got him the gist of it early, along with the more informative addition that someone was in the process of shutting the guns down.
Though it still probably wouldn't have taken Torn long to guess the culprits on his own. Seeing as Jak hadn't reported in once in two days, that narrowed his list of possible peace-disturbing suspects significantly.
That would, afterall, have left those two plenty of time to conjure up a shit-storm.
They took their time coming in, unaccompanied by the usual level of cockiness. Jak rested one hand against the wall, as he descended the stairs, but removed it before (he thought) the distracted ex-commander could see.
Torn didn't miss a beat.
"The whole city's on high alert. The hell'd you two do?"
"Us?! Nothin'!" The rat swore, waving its paws in innocence. "Just doin' some sight seeing- right, Jak?" He demanded of his larger companion, who didn't reply.
"Oh, really." Torn deadpanned, "then why is the Krimzon Guard looking for a young man with light hair, blue tunic, and rabid orange RAT on his shoulder?"
The rat didn't seem to register it was found out.
"Coulda been anyone! Orange is the new black this season..." Daxter informed him persistently, presenting himself as testament, paws outstretched in a classic "Ta-Da!" position.
"Look," Jak finally cut in, probably to prevent his friend from being skewered, "we climbed up to the palace and... we tripped a few alarms," the blonde offered deviously, shrugging as he searched for the vaguest possible explanation. His lips turned up in smug satisfaction.
Fury registered before astonishment set in.
"What?! I didn't AUTHORIZE a strike on-"
"Hey, we kicked the Baron's ass. Unfortunately- he escaped." Jak's short sigh sounded genuinely regretful. And way too casual for what he was insinuating. Kid had the balls to take the Baron on in his own fucking palace? May the Precursors never cease to bestow such suicidal wonders.
For a moment, Torn couldn't pick where to start; You're Idiots For Starting This Up, You Really Expect Me To Believe That, You Just Endangered Half The Fucking Underground, Go Clean Up This Goddamn Mess Before I Kill You... Only years of professionalism allowed him to settle on a tamer version of the last option.
"Alright," he forced out, "Most of them made it to safety, but we still have a few agents left on the scene. Since you've stirred up the wumpbee's nest, you and 'Whiskers' here get to move four of our people to safe houses." He informed them gratingly, gesturing to the northern sectors of the city laid out on the map in front of them.
"Do it without any casualties." He added acidly, seeing the kid nod in silent understanding as he briefly studied the map.
He left him with a final warning.
"Don't screw this up Jak."
The duo shared a glance, but Jak's face didn't lose any conviction. He could trust them to do this... He hoped.
Mar, he was getting old for this.
"Drive, drive!"
Jak obliged, revving the engine to the limit, and narrowly avoided colliding with a two-seater taking up more than its share of the right air-traffic lane. After dropping to the lower zone, and finding it crawling with KG, he returned to the air immediately, knocking a few off their feet. The three outlaws flew through the streets, their last drop off underway.
"Hey man, cool your jets. We got it handled." What appeared to be a talking weasel assured the anxious man confidently.
"Man, what happened to Mr. 'Thank God You're Here?'" It was loudly whispering to the maniac at the wheel, taking a break from shooting down their pursuers, irony apparent in its voice.
"Look Mister, we got it covered, just tell us where to find your Happy Place and we can-"
The driver pulled a desperate-feeling turn into oncoming traffic, bouncing back and forth to avoid any head on collisions.
"Jaaaak!" the animal moaned, "Keep it up and I'll shoot your ears off. This thing ain't easy to aim- 'specially with these 'fun-sized' hands!" the wiggling digits instantly stilled as this triggered another thought; it pondered more seriously, "You don't think Torn meant no civilian casualties, too, do 'ya?"
The driver grinned, but focused on his attempt to keep them all in one piece. Daxter decided that wasn't such a bad thing, and let it go for the time being.
"Hope not. So! Let's hear it, buddy- Where to?"
In a steady voice the gruff agent managed to tell them it wasn't more than a minute away. Daxter had to give him credit, even if his arms betrayed him, as they were now in a suffocating deadlock around his friend's waist. Daxter supposed Jak's technique might scream 'suicidal' if he wasn't so freakin' good. There was no denying his friend was a natural with anything that included 'fast and furious' in the description.
Slamming the brake until the zoomer's end tipped dangerously forward, threatening to overbalance, they miraculously arrived at their stop, KG in earshot, but momentarily out of sight.
It was arguable that Jak wasn't, however, necessarily a pro just yet.
"Glad we've got you on our side," the man commented in thanks, before unsteadily making his way indoors.
"Aw, didja hear that, Jak? Someone's glad to have us here!" the Ottsel announced, finding it necessary to indulge in a victory pose.
"If only Torn was that easy to convince, am I right?" He wasn't quick to sense the ominous silence overtaking the area.
"I said am I-"
All of a sudden the orange furball was clinging for dear life to Jak's shoulder piece, as they hit the ground running; Heavy boots urgently pat-pat-patting the dirt they made impact with.
"TARGET IN SIGHT. HEADING TO SECTOR 6!"
"Zoomer's kaput," the ottsel's transportation explained quickly, ducking enemy fire as their Friendly Neighborhood Guard came barreling around the corner behind them in numbers.
"SHOOT TO KILL."
Daxter tossed the weapon to Jak, noticing its uncommon lightness, and the reason for it.
"Eh, Jak... hate to say it but we're outta rounds, too. Guess I need to calm down handling all that firepower, huh?" He joked, rubbing his head nervously.
His friend grunted, skidding to a halt as KG poured in from the corridor they were hoping to escape through. Redirecting himself, Jak doubled back the opposite way before it dawned upon him that their position wasn't looking particularly good.
Scanning upwards for the vagrant zoomer, his last hope of hijaking a ride out was dashed, as it seemed local drivers had conveniently found the sense to stay far away from the scene he was currently trapped in.
Swarmed on all sides by Praxis's men, guns all trained on the lone fighter, Jak stated, "Dunno about civilians, Dax... But I know Torn wasn't talking about KG casualties."
Violet sparks of energy emitted from the teen's battle-ready form, and the ottsel gulped in agreement.
He hoped they'd live to find out what exactly Torn had meant.
A/N: Stole a bit of the exchange in the cut scene entitled "What Did You Two Do." It's one I really enjoy, and thought it would get some beneficial, canon interaction in here.
I also changed the summary, since this isn't much of a one-shot anymore.
...And lastly, other guest appearances *may* become a factor. No promises, but any requests if it's a go?