A/N: Hello! I'm back, and more inspired than ever to write this story. So, let's get this show on the road! Thanks to all you faithful readers and especially reviewers. I can't do this without you guys!
You know, as much as I am so thankful for the readers that review each chapter, I'd like to say that even those that only review once or twice are all part in making my day a much better one. Especially on a day like this, where you dive in the water too soon, smash your face on the bottom, and come up with a bloody lip. Ow. So wonderful, heartfelt thanks goes out to Faithful Reject, Blood Spirit and Camp Chess Friend (I think I know you personally, though… I'll ask in an e-mail, or you can tell me in a review – hint, hint)! Thanks guys!
Unfortunately, you awesome people are going to have to satisfy yourselves with a bit of a filler chapter. Sorry, but this isn't a very action packed chapter. Mostly conversations. NOT to say you shouldn't read it, because it's probably pretty important to the rest of the story's track. But my apologies if it drags on a bit. Hopefully, this will get the filler out of the way and leave room for lots of good stuff coming up! Like introducing Jak and Daxter into the story! (Two more chapters, I swear).
If you plan to review, a good portion of my credit should go to the best beta in the world, EcoSeekr247! She has been so patient with me through all the stress of writing this chapter, so thank you, thank you, thank you! Drop her a nice note if you find the time!
Disclaimer: I do not own the title Jak and Daxter. Naughty Dog does! Wow, even my disclaimer is as bland as the chapter. So, so, so sorry!
Part 1: Chapter 7: Unexpected Confrontations
"Erol," I growled, bearing my teeth in a rather feral way. He smirked as he approached me, taking his sweet time to descend the last few steps of the Mar Memorial Stadium that I had taken not moments before.
"Shae, where have you been?" he asked, oddly lightly. I gave him a look that said, I can see right through your pathetic act.But he gave me one that said, I'm having too much fun to stop now. "What were you thinking, running away like that? You gave me and your brother quite a scare."
"Oh, did I?" I said, annoyed and not hiding it, "Well, I'll be sure to apologize to Lex next time I see him. You'll tell him I'm doing well if you two cross paths, won't you?" Sarcasm was not typical for me, but this was Erol.
Erol chuckled lightly. "You always were the funny one. But we both know you can't act. So would you mind telling me how you managed to get into the race?"
"I would mind, actually. But since I didn't win, it shouldn't matter. Now, if you'll excuse me," I dismissed. I tried to push by him, but my evil brother leaned one arm against the tree, cleverly blocked my exit.
He placed his face very close to mine. "Cut the crap, Shae," he snapped, and suddenly, our joking light atmosphere was replaced by a dark and serious one. He wasn't speaking in a typical way either, but this was me. "You need to get back to the KG. Back in line, where you belong! All you're doing is adding to how harsh your punishment is going to be when you get back."
I cringed at the thought. "That doesn't give me much incentive to go back then, does it?"
He snickered, the most evil thing I had ever seen anyone do. My eyes caught the movement of his hand, and I couldn't help but allow them a quick glance. Erol's hand had twitched towards the gun on his side. His hand had been resting near it the entire time, but this was the first time his fingers had actually closed around it.
I flicked my sight back up to my brother, whose jaw was set and eyes unreadable. Had he meant for me to see him grab the eco pistol? No doubt.
"You don't scare me, Erol," I warned him quietly, "I know you'd never shoot me. You'd never shoot anyone with that thing." I sensed our confrontation – albeit brief – was drawing to a close.
"Now, see, that's where you're wrong." He took advantage of the opportune moment and brought the weapon up to the hollow between my neck and shoulder. With anyone else, I would have been scared out of my wits. But something Erol failed to realize was that no matter how much he had changed in the past years, I would still know him better than anyone else. And he would never shoot that gun.
"I'm giving you two options, Shae. You can either come back to the Fortress willingly, or I can have some guards escort you back forcefully. Your choice."
He beckoned some guards over with his hand, the gun not one deviating from its imposing position by my shoulder. I had to hand it to Erol; he was clever. He held the weapon in such a way that no one else would notice it at first glance, and likewise I was positioned casually enough that it appeared as though we were just having a conversation. Then there were the guards that strolled around on their daily patrols, but with the eyes fixated on Erol.
"All this for me? You shouldn't have."
"You're running out of time, Shae. Once these guards get here, it's option two, whether you like it or not."
"Is there a third option?" I inquired through clenched teeth.
Much to my surprise, he said, "Yes." But what I heard next was not the answer I had been hoping for.
"You try to escape, and we'll see how true my aim really is."
"Well, if it's anything like mine, we're in for a big disappointment," I muttered, but my previously-steady voice was now trembling too much for my liking. Erol wasn't playing fair; when we had been little kids, you had to battle things out one-on-one. Calling in backup was out of the question.
Still, the guards approached at a steady, constant pace. I refused to meet Erol's eyes, and turned so my back was facing him to illustrate this. It did nothing to loosen his grip on me, but at least I could see my surroundings more clearly now. The few KG were inching precariously close.
Come on, think! They can't get you this easily, I thought. And as I did a subtle scan of the Mar Memorial Stadium, an idea began to form in my head.
"Well, there is something to be said for having your gun this close to the target," I murmured slyly. In one quick, imperceptible motion, I grabbed my own gun out of my belt and pressed it into his side. Two could play at that game. "It's much harder to miss."
If he was surprised by my bold move, he hid it well. I frowned. I had been hoping for a reaction, a remark, anything that I could build from.
Then I realized why he made no attempt to stop me. If neither of us fired, the guards would eventually be upon us anyway, and my stunt would have been for nothing. If he fired, I would fire too, and we'd both be down. Furthermore, if I shot, so would he. We had arrived at an impasse, but one that would soon be broken by the KG. I needed a new plan.
Think, Shae, think, that little voice screamed. But there was nothing I could do. Erol knew me as well as I knew him, and would see anything coming before I had the chance to execute it. That was one of my biggest weaknesses; I was too predictable.
Then be unpredictable.
My subconscious chose that moment to give me intelligent advice. I wondered why a good plan like that hadn't popped up earlier in my traumatic week, but decided that pondering that would take too much time. Instead, I went with it.
What would Erol expect me to do? Like as not something stupid, like confuse him by dropping the gun and then try to take my adversaries out with fists. Or break off into a sprint as he handed me off to the KG. As good ideas went, those were definitely up there. But he'll see them coming.
My subconscious had another breakthrough at that moment. It was so good that I was prepared to applaud myself, and it was so clear that I began to believe to believe that it was really my active mind thinking of these schemes.
Don't think like a KG. Think like a rebel.
What would an Underground agent do? Probably something brash and impulsive, yet destructive and efficient, like actually shoot him. And as well as that would work, it was like the race: once one person started playing dirty, it shattered the unspoken oath, and all were free to do as they pleased.
Moreover, I could never shoot a living being. Maybe after a few months of training with the rebels, but not now. Not yet.
Still, the idea of shooting was so tantalizing that I almost took my chance. But my fingers froze up at the thought, and I knew I would never be able to shoot Erol. As evil as he was, he was still my brother, and siblings weren't supposed to shoot one another.
Well, maybe with toy guns. But that was another story.
"Time's up, sis," Erol murmured close to my ear, sending unpleasant shivers down my spine. Sure enough, I looked up and the KG were mere feet away.
COME ON! Underground agents need to think fast! You think fast, right? Do something NOW!
I used a move I had learned from wrestling with my brothers and twisted out of Erol's firm hold on my arm and threw the hand wielding the gun up into the air. All the guards, including Erol, froze, unsure of what I was doing. Before any of them could regain their bearings, I pulled the trigger on the gun, sending a blast of Red Eco out of the barrel.
The shot hit the tree beside me, sending splinters flying. I was prepared to duck, but the others were not so lucky. Many got caught in chinks in their armour, and Erol, whose face was not protected by a mask or even goggles, received a shard of wood in his eye.
While they were all distracted, I used the pieces from my earlier thoughts and tore out of there. How was that for impulsive actions? I asked my subconscious, half-expecting it to reply. Then I remembered it wouldn't, and focused my thoughts on finding a zoomer.
No one, save the KG, was in possession of vehicles in Haven City; one just had to find a zoomer that was in modest overall condition and ensure that it would start. I spotted one off to my left and sprinted towards it.
The one-seated zoomer, designed for speed and agility like the NYFE racers, ignited at my command, and I threw it into high-hover just as Erol called something from the crime-scene I had just departed:
"You missed!"
"Pretty sure I didn't!" I retorted, and sped off. "Shouldn't have taught me how to drive one of these things, Erol!"
Erol had let me drive a zoomer with him when I was little. He would sit on the back of course, but after a few practise runs I was able to steer independently. I was even given consent to use the acceleration pedals once I grew tall enough. Unfortunately, I had been required to wait awhile, as I took after Erol and was notably short for my age. By this time, Erol and I were roughly the same height, but Lex was a decent half-a-head taller.
I heard him growl in frustration. My body was filled with such adrenaline that I almost ignored the fact that his voice was closer than it should have been. In all the confusion, I had manoeuvred the zoomer right over top of the KG!
"Stop that zoomer!" Erol ordered, still rubbing his eye tenderly. The KG opened fire.
I screamed and banked to the side, nearly tossing myself into the air in the process. Once I regained my racing posture, I floored the pedal and took off in the right direction, out of the stadium and into Main Town.
Once there, I tried to blend in with the busy midday traffic. It was especially busy after a race, to my immediate relief. But I was still too ostentatious, and had to quickly rethink my strategy.
I veered into the middle of the street and punched the button to lower the zoomer back to the primary hover-zone. The vehicle plunged down, past the traffic, past the pedestrians, a stomach-unsettling drop all the way down to the water level. There was a small stream that ran through the middle of the wide paths, with a few bridges crisscrossing overtop. Two KG on their signature scarlet zoomer bikes dropped to my level and proceeded to shoot at me again. But the channel was so narrow I was able to serpentine to avoid the shots. One guard even lost control and was thrown into the water. His bike crashed into the wall of the channel and exploded.
That gave me an idea. There was an underpass after the next turn. If the guard came out of it and I didn't… it would certainly get them off my tail.
I lowered myself so my stance was more aerodynamic. My feet put as much pressure as I could muster onto the pedals, and the zoomer whined in protest as it accelerated even more. The guard was a perfect twenty feet behind me.
The channel opened up into more of a pool. I saw the tunnel coming up on my left. As I banked the zoomer and entered the passage, I noted how small it really was. I would only have one chance at this.
I turned the bike so its length stretched across the width of the underpass. Then I took a deep breath and braced myself for the impact. The guard entered after me and didn't have time to alter his course before his zoomer collided with mine. His made it out reasonably unscathed as far as I could tell, but mine became a blazing inferno of leaking fluids and destroyed metal.
I, of course, was well underwater as this scene unfolded. The only thing I had to be conscious of was avoiding the burnt remains of the zoomer as they plummeted down to the bottom of the waterway.
As soon as the KG was out, I pulled myself to the surface and gasped in a deep lungful of air. I heard the guards arguing amongst themselves, and barely had time to dive back into the depths before a couple of scout zoomers came into the tunnel to examine the damage.
They remained in the tunnel far too long. All my injuries were blazing with a renewed pain, whether from the shock, the explosion or the salty, polluted water, I could not fathom. But it was nothing compared to the screaming protests of my lungs, which were rapidly running out of oxygen.
Leave, please, leave. Seriously, get out of this tunnel. I need to breathe, you know!
The seconds ticked by at an agonizing pace. Still they did not leave, or even make any action hinting that they might move on soon.
Finally, they nodded in assent and left. I forced myself to stay in the dank, murky water for just another three seconds before using the wall, my muscles, whatever means necessary to break the surface as soon as possible.
I surfaced and took several deep, desperate breaths. I tried to keep them quiet, and the splashing to a minimum, terrified by the knowledge that any conspicuous noise might send the guards back down here, perhaps to do a more thorough sweep.
I gave it five minutes, alternating between treading water and clinging to protruding rocks on the walls. When I was satisfied they had departed, I slowly swam back out of the tunnel. There was a rather convenient ramp off to one side, which I used to clamber back onto dry, metal land.
Just as a precaution, I slipped my hood over my head and tried my best to tuck the wet strands of hair into it. It would do nothing to disguise me, especially if I was sopping wet, but I only had vain hopes to cling to at that point.
My stuff is probably soaked, I mused as I walked. I was so preoccupied with thinking inconsequential thoughts that I didn't even hear the guard call me at first.
"You! Citizen with the hood! Turn around!"
I silently spat a colourful word into the air before turning to face the guard. Well, he wasn't going to get me without a fight. And since my acting skills had been steadily ameliorating all day, I figured it was a great time to play innocent.
"Yes, sir? Is there something I can help you with?"
He marched up to me, standing a full head taller when he finally reached me.
"Citizens are not allowed to swim in any main bodies of water in the city. I'm afraid I'm going to have to take you in for questioning."
What? He was arresting me for just being wet? It could have rained, for all he knew!
My hatred towards this guard, towards every single KG, towards this entire city, put me on such an edge that I probably could have fooled myself into thinking the KG were the good guys.
"I'm sorry, but everyone was running around, and one of the guards knocked me off the path."
I wished I could see his face under the mask, to know what kind of reaction I'd drawn.
"Is that so?" he asked, and I gave him a very sincere nod.
"Oh, yes. But I saw there was a commotion over by the tunnel, so I got out as soon as possible." I was a very inexperienced individual, so it was always a shock when my abilities proved to be so proficient.
He gave me a grunt of satisfaction. "Alright. Now, move along," he ordered, and I acted all-too willing to comply. As soon as he was out of view, I began laughing out loud, despite my horrible standpoint.
I was able to make it all the way to the Slums before my life took another turn. My hair and clothes were all reasonably dry from the hot, overhead sun. It was an atypical day in Haven City when the sun came out. Usually the sky was overcast and gloomy, perfectly reflecting the atmosphere in the city. The temperature was rather unconventional too, so hot for a day in mid-autumn. It rarely reached this heat in the summer months.
It began with the eerie sensation that someone was watching me. Something I'd never dealt with before, since everyone ignored the short, annoying girl in the KG; likewise on the streets now.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and my posture straightened with them. I had been on high alert ever since I left Erol an hour ago, so the feeling was very unsettling. I tried to look nonchalant as I scan the perimeter, but most of my acting talent had been used up that morning.
Then I saw it out of the corner of my eye. I decided it best not to make a scene in the middle of the streets, especially since I had been unnaturally fortunate that the KG earlier had not recognized me. Once was far too many times, and my luck was bound to run out eventually.
I turned and walked very deliberately to a less-crowded area. The shadow caught on and followed me. I stopped just as abruptly as I had started, and turned to face my stalker.
"Hello, Torn," I said coldly. There was no pretending that time.
"You lost the race," he accused pointedly. Not one for introductions, I reckoned.
"So it would seem." I was beyond trying to convince him I'd still done a heck of a lot better than he could have.
"Still, second's not bad," he mused, seemingly to himself.
"Not good enough, according to you."
"I didn't say you had to come in first, kid."
I couldn't believe my ears. "Yes, you did," I blurted before I could stop myself.
"Do you want me to revert to my original order, or do you want to work with the rebels?"
"No!" I shouted. Then, "I mean, yes, I want to be on your side," muchquieter.
"Good. We'll talk tomorrow," he said dismissively.
"Wait!" I called. It wasn't right. He had made it very clear: win or go home. I hadn't won, so why was he still letting me join? I voiced the thought.
"Because you were smart enough to somehow get into the race despite your age, you can manoeuvre well enough for escort missions, you think quick, you can drive a zoomer, and you're clever enough not to get caught by guards when they chase you."
How had he gotten all that from watching me race? The first two, maybe three were valid enough. But after that? There was no way. Unless… unless…
"How long have you been watching me today?" I didn't need to know the answer.
"Long enough," he said, and one look told me I shouldn't question it further, for whatever reason. I did know that he didn't expect me to spy on Erol anymore, though.
"Okay."
"So, tomorrow, first thing," he said.
"Wait, why tomorrow? Don't I get to come into the Underground now?"
He chuckled, but I didn't find anything funny. What was he trying to pull now?
"Tomorrow. We'll negotiate then." He paused, trying to decide whether to say something or leave it at that. "Nice shot, by the way."
With that, he walked off, looking more like a normal citizen than I ever could. And he was the leader of the Underground, not me.
"Hey, Torn?" I called. He stopped, but didn't turn around. "Thanks."
He turned at that. "What do you take me for? A completely careless jerk?"
I fought the urge to tell him that was precisely what I took him for. Instead, I said nothing and walked in the other direction.
I took the road back to Main Town, taking the most direct route. I had been postponing something for too long, and I had promised myself that it would happen before the week was up.
I had to go home.
Our new house was really big. Not a castle, really, but much more sizeable than our little shack in the Slums. Although ever since arriving here, I've prayed nonstop that we could go back to the old place.
Well, it wasn't so much that I wanted the old house. Just something familiar, something to reassure me that the ground under my feet hadn't completely given way.
You're not here for long, my mind piped up again. Just long enough to get some food, dry clothes and stuff to help you survive.
I hesitated at the entry, my hand hovering above the handle. But no matter how reassuring my subconscious could be, I couldn't force myself open the door. For some reason, it felt like breaking and entering. Maybe because I spent so little time here. I only ever visited it on weekends, holidays and the occasional sick day.
To Lex and I, it was our house. Not Erol's, solely because he was never around. In the eighteen months we had lived in Main Town, Erol had never spent the night here. He preferred the Krimzon Guard Fortress. I could not fathom why, but since he was the Commander, he might have had better accommodations. But that didn't bother me; I could not have cared less if Erol was not around. It ruled out the chance that Erol would be there now.
I finally got up the courage to open the door. This was locked, much to my dismay. And I hadn't bothered to keep my key.
But that wasn't going to keep me from entering. There was a window I knew had a broken lock. Unfortunately, it was on the second story.
I sneaked into the alley between our abode and the shield wall. There was a post I had used to break in many times formerly, and I used it to hoist myself up.
Once inside, it was like a wind blew through, changing the atmosphere and feel. Everything seemed different, alien, as if I were seeing the interior for the first time. After a visual sweep through the house, I could affirm that nothing was out of place. Just me.
"My room" was the first stop. I emptied the contents of my bag onto the floor, replacing only the weapons and Eco crystal. Everything else got shoved in the closet. I selected another outfit and stowed some extra clothing in the bag. After a quick moment's contemplation, I decided to keep my KG boots. They would be useful.
Downstairs, I refilled some water flasks and grabbed some more food. I chose the fruits that appeared the least mouldy, the snacks that seemed to be within their expiration dates.
Finally, I was set to go. I lifted the backpack over my shoulders, much heavier now due to the replenished store of food and water. As I gave the room a quick glance, I remarked how final it felt. As though this was it; after I left, I would no longer be Shae, but an entirely new person. The threshold for the door seemed like the passage to so much more than just the outside world, the handle awkward and new under my trembling hand.
I drew back. There was no way I could do it; I wasn't strong enough, not courageous enough. I was the younger sister. Someone had always been there to take care of me, make sure I made the right decisions. Now, having to go out alone in the world, not knowing where each footstep would transport me to, I was clueless, completely out of my element.
Go on. Do it. Don't be a coward.
Don't do it. You're safer here.
Well, whatever you plan on doing, you had best get out of this house, because you aren't making any progress standing here!
Whichever part of my brain chose to speak up last, I had to agree with it. And once again, it all came down to one thing: what would an Underground agent do? Well, she wouldn't stand here, waiting for something to move her. She would move herself. With renewed valour, I grasped the door handle, threw open the lock, and the door slid open before me.
But I hadn't moved it. Someone on the other side of the door had. Someone who was tall, with red hair and gold eyes.
Lex looked shocked to see me, but his expression could be nowhere near as taken aback as mine. Every part of my body froze, waiting for him to say something.
"Hey, Shae," he greeted, smiling as ever.
Hey? Why was he acting so cool, so calm? For the second time in a week, his attitude baffled me.
Then it dawned on me: he didn't know anything was wrong. We had seen each other in a week, but that was normal. I was greeting him at the house on the weekend; also normal. I doubted Erol had even told him I was gone. But there was no way I would be able to act as cool as him through all this.
Besides, he was my closest friend. I had to tell him at some point.
"Hello," I mumbled, reaching for a piece of hair to tug on before I remembered it was all too short.
"Slammin' hair, sis," he chuckled. "Bet that goes much better under your helmet." He pushed past me and strode casually into the kitchen, grabbing a fruit off the table. "So, how was your week?"
"I quit the KG," I spouted. My thoughts weren't connecting enough for me to know whether I had said that advertently or not.
He just looked at me. "Really?"
"Yeah. Because I went to spy on that kid and Erol was torturing him and I couldn't stay after knowing that. So I ran off and I met this girl who let me stay with her but soon I had to leave. But she told me to join the rebellion and so I tried but the leader said I had to win the race to get in. So I did, but I only came second and then I met Erol outside who tried to take me back but I shot the tree and then…." I babbled incessantly, my voice slowly rising, until Lex finally stood up and crossed the room. He put his hands on my shoulders, and one look told me to stop speaking.
"Very interesting week. Got'cha."
"How are you still smiling?" I cried. "I've just told you about my week of post-apocalyptic events, and you look happy?"
"Quiet down, you'll wake up the neighbourhood," he said. I took a deep breath and tried to slow down my words and my heart rate.
"Sorry," I muttered.
"Are you okay?"
"I think so," I said tentatively.
"Okay. Then we'll just take the next few weeks as they come, 'kay?"
I gave a half-hearted smile. "Alright, I'll try."
"Good. Now, do you need anything else?"
I thought for a moment. "Yes. A place to stay the night."
"Well, lucky for you, you have a house."
"Yeah. And if it's not too much, I'd like to crash, like, now," I said. Everything that week had wiped me out.
"Sure thing," he said, and left me to my room. That was another great thing about Lex: he knew when talking was not going to solve anything.
I had a few final thoughts before sleep fell over me, like the blanket that was already settled about me:
This was my real Haven; the only place I was safe.
And maybe, just maybe, I life would be okay, for the first time in years.
Maybe.
A/N: Shae's subconscious took on a mind of its own here. I couldn't get it to shut up! Sorry if it got kind of annoying.
Well, that's it for part one, folks! Don't worry; part two is well on the way. This was just to set up the characters, setting, all that jazz. Next bit will be for the action, adventure and drama! Hold on to your socks, because I'm about to knock them off with the rest of this story!
Alright, flames, praise, comments, advice? The usual. Emphasis on the latter, though. Seriously, I love advice! Don't be shy!
Peace!
~Fishyicon
