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Chapter 3

Saving a Friend from Hell

I sigh, shivering against the cold. The Jumper I'm wearing does little to warm me, despite the fur lining I've stitched into it. My belt has at least 34 Skull Gems in it now, Stitched into the bottom of my Jumper, Holding it in place. My knives are against my arms, comforting metal soothing me as I make my way along crowded streets. Narrowly avoiding death by stampeded. I snort at my own joke, ignoring glances sent my way.

Of course they look at me. I seem strange to myself. I'm an Ottsel, a mammal about two feet tall. Kinda like a fox. But with a better bone structure that allows me to walk on two legs. I'm wearing a blue jumper, that stretches down my chest to my waist, Ended by a leather belt, studded by small yellow gems. Taken from the skulls of small creatures called Metal-pedes, The youngster version anyway. The jumper is constructed from pieces of blue fabric of varying shades. Leather on the elbows and shoulders.

My shoulders are embossed by armour. Small pads, made of the heads of small Metal-Heads. It's a style adopted by certain waste-Landers. I use it because the armour is useful for defending against the creatures they belong too. I have grieves and shin-guards made of the same stuff. I recently made myself knee-pads. But they're uncomfy, cuz they havn't been broken in just yet.

I make my way to my usual hang- out. A bar on the waterfront. I sit apart from everyone else. Everyone else being three people. And a loud-mouth guy who loves to taunt me. Blonde, stout. Strong, good rugged looking. An explosives expert. I ignore him like always. Jinx I think his name is. With a name like that and his profession I keep away. I have other things to concentrate on anyway.

A few day's ago I got a tip-off about Jak. Well…not a tip off as such, but a loose-mouthed guard who frequented the place. The other day he'd mentioned a guy he referred to as 'Eleven'. It matched Jak's description perfectly. Before he continued though, he noticed me and broke down laughing. It's a usual reaction, so I ignored it. He comes here every Thursday night. Tonight.

He comes in, like clock-work. Orders his usual drink. Takes a seat. The hours pass.

I finger my blades. I've been waiting for this opportunity for two years. In those two years, I've done things I ain't so proud of. I console myself by saying that I couldn' ta survived otherwise, Which is true… Don't make it any easier.

But… as long as I get Jak back…I don't care.

Most of my life I've been called a coward. It's cuz it's true. I'm not the bravest guy, I scare easy and I react on instinct.

But never has it been me saying it. I'm a coward. I...I actually did that. I failed to free my best friend in the entire world, and as a result get him kidnapped.

The guilt has been eaten at me ever since. For the last two years, I've ben gittin by, by pilfering what I can. Working on the side. I've toughened up. Watchin…waiting for any sign of him. And now I have one.

Blue eyes, Bi-Tone Hair. Greenish-blonde. Up in the Prison.

I waited for the guy. As he left his pals, I got ready. Let him go for two seconds before leaving to follow. I hugged the darkness. Making scant sounds. Wincing at his horrible, horrible singing.

Followed him to his home and snuck in. He never noticed a small rodent pilfering his access cards from his armour as he slept. He never felt the soft weight on his chest. Never had time to feel the blades slicing through his arteries. Barely registered pain in the three seconds it took him to bleed to death.

"That's for knowing where my pal is, and not doing anything about it!" I hissed at the corpse. I rooted the house. Taking anything of value. Looting the small pistol. Barely a pea-shooter to an Elf. But a proper Hand-gun to an Ottsel.

I rooted his clothes drawer. And removed a small box from inside my jumper. Before removing that. I ripped his clothes apart. Made myself a few inside pockets for my jumper. Stitched another layer on the inside. Stashed the money I'd found inside it.

I found a leather belt. Cut it to size, and donned it, full circle. From the large amount of left-over leather, I started cutting small loops. Stitched them carefully and strongly onto the belt. Wrapped it over my jumper. And looting the man of all the small-calibre ammo he had. To an Elf it was a bracelet. To the Ottsel, it was a bandolier.

I managed to sneak into the place. Got in through the sewers. Crawled my way through horrid shit and sneaked my way through corridors till I got to an access elevator. I looked at the card. B-4. Jacked the button and started down on the way. When I heard voices emanating from where I aimed ta go, I stopped the lift, hoping the talkers wouldn't hear. They were too busy talkin.

"Dark Eco injection cycle complete. Bio readings nominal and unchanged. Dark-eco storage system depleted. Please Re-stock system."

A silence preceded the announcement. The silence was broken by the panting of a man on a table, pained groans escaping his lips.

A growl emanated from a man who was half metal.

"I just sat and watched you pump 75 Eco-Units of Dark Eco into this …Boy who happened to fit the bill. Please tell me I don't have two years of torture on my head that didn't amount to ANYTHING AT ALL!"

Erol looked slightly chagrined at his superiors outburst.

"Perhaps, Erol if you hadn't spent quite so much time…fucking the poor bastard and screwing around with his head, we'd have a success. He's totally rejected every drop of eco in him. HE STARTED TO SHOW PROGRESS!! AND NOW? NOTHING!"

The man in metal raged. Punching the metal table. Leaving a small dent behind.

Erol had the sense to blush slightly.

Leaning forward the man-machine gripped the front of the man named 'Eleven's' tunic and pulled him to face him.

"You should at least be DEAD with the amount of Eco I've paid to have pumped into you Jak! You could have been brilliant. You could have changed this war!" He leaned forward, hissing into his face.

"But you havn't! You're a broken tool. But I made you! I will find a use for you! EVEN IF IT'S AS FERTILIZER!"

Turning to Erol he snorted and turned to leave. Talking before he reached the door.

"This project has been terminated. See that he is treated the same way."

"Sir! My men can't hold much longer. The Metalheads are advancing and if we can't come up with something new, we're going to lose a lot of people."

He paused, turning and lifting Erol by his neck, the younger man twitched in the grip.

"Shut your whiny mouth Erol! I've watched you drool over this boy long enough. You WILL control your men. I will NOT be remembered as the man who lost this city to those vile creatures! Move forward with the final plan! And finish off this 'thing' tonight!"

He released the man, who fell to his knees, clutching his throat.

"As…as you wish."

The Man in metal left. Loud clangs following every second step.

The younger man walked slowly to the table leaning over the occupent to stare into his eyes.

"'sigh' Eleven..where did I go wrong with you. You were going to be such a pretty little weapon. I'll be back later. I want one more 'session' before I need to kill you. I'll see you, pretty-boy."

And he walked away. A sinister chuckle echoing around the room.

I was creeped out, and annoyed. I wanted ta slap the guy for bein so god-damn...dramatic. I mean, even a 'bad'evil-villain knows how to avoid cliché. Dayam.

Wait, back to Jak. Always Jak. Focus.

I activated the elevator, letting my sarcasm reign as it shuddered to a halt.

"Ding ding, Fourth floor, body bags, roach food, Torture devices."

It felt good to talk again. Being silent around people for almost two years kinda does that to ya.

I spotted a him shackled to the table. My heart went out ta the guy. He looked...terrible. Face stretched, scars lined his body, and he looked so dreadfully tired. I leaped across the room and landed on his chest.

"Hey pal, have you seen a guy calle…oh my…Jak? Is...is that you buddy? Pal?"

His eyes opened lazily, snapped wide open when he saw me, a rusty smile graced his face, then dropped as he almost succumbed to sleep.

"C'mon buddy say sumthin! Before 'Metal-head' and Nancy-boy get back here!"

At the mention of 'Metal-Head his eyes opened again. Narrowed to slits. I didn't notice, I was too busy tryin ta figure out how'ta loosen the manacles.

The he screamed out.

"I'm Gonna KILL Praxis!"

I never thought I'd be tryin to shut him up with his first words, but no-one came. So I reclaimed my hand and shushed him.

"C'mon buddy! Get with tha program. Gimme two seconds till I get these manacles off."

I turned to do that. But I stopped. Jak.. Growled. It was filled with pain and rage, and as I turned back I gasped.

His eyes.. the pupils expanded slowly, until his entire eyeball was a single black orb, staring out at the world with rage. His hair became a ghostly shade of white, greyish fur grew from his skin and with a groan of pain, horns grew outta my best buddies head.

I was scared shitless! I jumped off the table to get away and had taken one step when I heard something the brought me to a standstill. He.. tensed, and the metal.. solid two-inch thick metal, groaned and bent like paper. I couldn't believe it. When he jumped off the table in front of me. Before fixing his black eyes on me. I.. backed away in fear.

"Uh…Jak! It's me! Daxter..your buddy..your pal..Jak..please don't hurt me."

I backed away until I hit the metal wall behind me. He got down on all fours, the claws of his fingers clicking as he went. He came right up to me, his teeth bared, his breath puffed against me in sharp hot gasps. He lifted a hand. I slammed my eyelids shut.

I couldn't watch. He.. sniffed deeply the air. Then again, softer, more insistent against me. I stiffened. I felt his fingers slide around my orange waist just below my belt. I expected to get my head torn off at any second… but instead?

I got nuzzled. Yup, you heard me nuzzled. He held me against his face with incredible care not to hurt me, and rubbed against me. I heard a deep throaty purr emanate from his throat. And I had to choke down a joyous outburst incase he tried to kill me again. After a while he slowly and painfully changed back, blinking in the aftermath.

Still holding me against him.

"D..Dax? Daxter? Is that really you?"

His voice sounded so different it hurt. Deeper, hoarser. More pained than I could imagine.

"Yea buddy…it's me alright…you okay?"

He hugged me tight I felt his chest buck softly. He was crying!

"I'm…so... fucking happy to see you buddy…I though…I ..thought you'd given up on me...I thought I was gonna die in this horrible place without anyone...but."

And here he lifted me so I could see his eyes watering with tears.

"You came." He said simply.

"You came back for me…Thank you…Thank you soo much Dax."

He hugged me again. I felt…warm. His emotion soothed and stoked my guilt. I hadn't found him for a long time, but I had. And that was all that mattered to him. I felt safe again.

"You're..ah..welcome. Any time Pal.. you can depend on me... I'm through running away. Let's get you outta here Jak. I got'ya sum clothes in that elevator."

His smile made my heart leep. His face seemed fuller. And he ripped off the tattered prison garb as he headed to the elevator. My eyes widened as I watched. Sleek muscled limb's and I thought to myself.

What. A. Wonderful. Ass.

I managed to break free of my spazmo gawping act before he came back thank god. He put me on his shoulder plate and headed to a particular block of cells. Wondering what he was doing, I was about to ask when he leaped. 12 feet. Straight up.

I could only whisper.

"What the hell did they do to ya in here Jak?"

He just nodded at the machine in the centre I noticed the needles, and my eyes widened. But I nearly had a heart attack when he said those two words.

"Dark-Eco."

"W..What? Those…twisted…evil sicko….bastards!"

He looked surprised up at me. I was raging. Seething. The thought that they'd hurt Jak like that. My Jak like that…

"No-one fucks with Demolition Duo and gets away with it! Not if 'I' have anything to say about it."

He looked surprised at my righteous anger.

"We'll get em Jak. We'll get em good. But first, let's get the hell outta this dump."

He nodded vehemently. And started running towards an open grate in the wall. A large ventilation duct.

He reached out and grabbed. The large fan spinning screeched to a halt. He jumped through. Ignoring the crunching noise as the gears struggled to get it back up to speed.

Somewhere deep inside the Prison. A guard noted the red warning sign on the grid. It labelled it as a jam. His eyes widened though when he saw where it was. Flicking through camera channels. The table was empty! He panicked, panning through screens until he caught a glimpse of an Elf running past.

"Shit! Praxis is gonna have my head!"

He slammed a lever down.

"Warning! Warning! Warning! Prisoner escape in progress. Level B-7 Authorised KG soldiers proceed through Ventilation system. Be aware. Target is extremely dangerous. Proceed with caution. Level DELTA-B7 Warning in progress. Sealing all exits."

We pounded along , taking twists and turns. We ran along a narrow corridor, which was intersected by others. When we turned we came to the back of a KG guard. I shouted a warning to run. But Jak Kept going. As he ran past. He grabbed the head and twisted. Hard.

The sound of a spinal column snapping sounded behind me. He paused only to grab a string of grenades and a pistol.

We kept going. Two guards rounded the corner in front of us. Jak leaped over the first, a violent double-handed uppercut slicing through the air. The KG's head snapped up, blood fountaining from a gaping mouth before collapsing. As he landed in front of the second man. He brought the gun to bear against the mans face.

He didn't have time to look scared. Two shots. Blood spattered against the wall. The crunch of bone as he stepped on him. And we were away again. A lone intersection lay ahead. I drew my gun. Feeling nervous.

As we flew past an opening, we saw three guards notice us and run in pursuit. I grabbed one of Jak's grenades. Tossed it back. Turned and took careful aim. They rounded the corner.

'Click'..BLAM!'

The grenade detonated, barbequing the KG bastards. I grinned.

"Nothing like deep-fried KG in the morning eh Jak?"

He grinned back at me. More violent thrill than enjoyment. We kept going. Leaving a trail of bodies behind us. As I became used to the bucking shoulder, my aim improved. My shots took down a fair number that might not have fallen had I not been their.

I felt the thrill of being useful for once flow through my veins. Proving Samos wrong, soothing years of insults.

Jak jumped and reacted faster than he ever had. When we got out we were in a water bypass room with a window at the top. Water flowed quickly on the floor, draining the system of waste water. Dim blue-Eco lights lit the long passage. Fan's and vents everywhere.

We were makin for it when a voice sounded behind us. It was kinda waivery.

Jak turned, bringing an armoured figure into view. He fingered his gun nervously.

"Hands up!"

Jak complied. I felt anger rise. We'd got this far to be stopped by some rookie? Before I could stop it, my gun rose. A single shot was all it took. The kid's hand spouted blood. He dropped the rifle, clutching at his hand.

Big Mistake.

Reacting on my opening. Jak lunged forward. His hand jus.. shot outta nowhere. He lunged forward grabbing his neck and shoving him to the ground. He held him and ripped off the breath-mask. Revealin the face of a kid, not much older'n us, but still dressed up like a KG Guard.

It was that suit that made Jak kill im.

He... he held him under the water. He watched him struggle. I could not look away. Until he stopped kicking. And...The …bubbles...stopped.

Only then did he let up. Only then did he let the body float away with the water. Only then did he turn for the exit.

I said the only thing I could think of. I turned on his shoulder. Placed a hand on the side of his head gently. Watched him visibly relax to my touch. I stared into his eyes. A bond forming slowly again after two years of absence. I'd grown up. Death is a part of things here. People die all the time. It…was just, hard, knowing that Jak had left that innocence behind as well.

"You've…you've really changed. Huh buddy?"

He looked at me, pain in his eyes.

"Yea…"

I never said anything else, just nodded and kept my hand where it was. He smiled a little, reached up to scratch behind my ears. Chuckled at the twitch I gave as he itched that special place. No-one had touched me like that for two years.

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