Another update, thankfully. I feel lucky I can get wifi where I am right now... x.o South Bethany Beach, DE = Wireless dead zone unless you know where to look. Bleh. Anyway....back to the story stuff! ^-^

Disclaimer: Seit, Skeleios, and the two nameless guards are mine; the rest belongs to Naughty Dog.

Reviews = Love! ^-^

Enjoy!


It had been almost a week since Seit had moved to the western bazaar and moved in with the quiet homeless person next to the ramp. He was pretty sure that he was well out of trouble with the guards in the slums and South Town, but he did not want to take his chances and move back. Besides, he enjoyed living near so many shops and stands that sold food since they made survival in this part of the city slightly easier.

Since he had changed where he was hiding out and living, he had been killing guards less often. He was afraid they would come after the person he lived with instead, and he could not bear the thought of sending an innocent person to prison.

While he sat in the corner between the ramp wall and the platform above him, he listened to the chatter of the civilians as they went through their daily business. From what he decided to hear, he had heard several people talk about how the city was winning the war against the Metal Heads. He knew this was only another bit of propaganda stated by the Baron to keep people's hopes up; from what he really knew of the war, the city was losing pretty badly. Hell, he had come within five feet of a Metal Head only a few weeks before in Haven Forest. For all he knew, there were plenty more just outside of the city walls waiting to take over the city at any given moment.

Quickly becoming tired of hearing about the bogus victories for the city in the war, he listened around to hear if anyone else was discussing something slightly more truthful. He overheard one man state his fears about this man who had escaped from prison who could turn into a monster at will. He said the monster man was working with the Underground and the Metal Heads.

Seit thought of this as more hearsay, but felt like he had to investigate this anyway. He got up and wandered around, looking around for a pair of guards to follow while trying to appear as if he was minding his own business.

He eventually found a pair walking side by side, and decided to follow them. He kept close enough to hear what they were talking about, but far away enough to make it look like he was simply going in the same direction as them. After following them for a few minutes, he finally heard the guards strike up a conversation about the monster man.

"Hey, did you hear that prison monster's going to the Class One race against Erol?" the guard on the left asked, referencing to the championship race that was always held around this time every year.

"Yeah, I did. I bet he's quite a mad-man on the track," the other guard said. "Erol will beat him, though, that's for damn sure."

"Not unless the new guy freaks out and turns into a monster in the middle of the race and kills everyone he sees like I hear he does. If that doesn't happen, then I'm sure the rabid rat on his shoulder will do something dangerous and at least injure somebody to some extent. I'm just glad I'm most likely not going to be asked to be the Baron's bodyguard during the race! I don't want to be there if that new guy goes crazy!"

"And if you are?"

"Then I think I'm screwed!"

"Eh, don't worry about it. It most likely won't be that bad. Besides, the Baron usually gives at least about a week's notice if he needs a bodyguard for anything. The race is in about four or five days, I think, so we're off the hook."

"You got that right. Hey, have you been noticing that kid who's been following us the past few minutes?"

"You mean the black-haired kid about two meters behind us with the black t-shirt that has a creepy-looking band on it?"

"Yeah, that's him. Doesn't he look like the kid our commander described as some kind of psychotic killer? Clothing-wise, I mean."

The guard on the right glanced behind him and looked at Seit before turning his attention back to his companion. "You're right, he kinda does. Do you think we should go after him?"

"Well, I was hoping to save some ammo for if and when we find that prison monster, Jak, but I think he's good enough for me if things turn for the worse," the left guard said as he slowed his pace down.

Seit took the signal to get as far away from the guards as possible. He turned and ran as fast as his legs would take him back towards the space next to the ramp to his comrade that he was being chased in case he had some kind of illegal merchandise around. As he ran, the guards started running after him, and they appeared to be running at a faster pace then he was.

He quickly turned a corner and suddenly felt a hand grab him by the back of the neck of his shirt and pull him up to the rooftop of the shop next to him. Slightly disoriented, he turned and saw that it was his companion from the ramp gap who had saved him.

"Thanks a ton, buddy! I really owe you one!" Seit exclaimed softly as the guards sprinted through the streets below them.

His homeless companion put his hand over Seit's mouth, then grabbed his wrist and began running along the rooftops towards where they had chosen to hide out. Seit ran as fast as he possibly could to keep up with him, and wondered why they were still running when the guards would most likely not be able to find them up there anyway.

When they arrived at the rooftop above their home, Seit was relieved to see that the guards had not caught up with them yet. However, he could still hear their shouts through the area, and knew that they would catch up soon.

His comrade motioned for him to follow as he jumped down to the ground below and started grabbing as many bags as his arms would carry. Seit leapt down alongside him and grabbed his original bag and most, if not all, of the bags his comrade was unable to carry.

After stuffing their arms with as many bags as possible, they jumped over the wall to the ramp and ran around to the north side of the palace's base to the more well-developed part of the city. From there, they hid in an alley in a mostly deserted area and waited to hear if they were still being pursued. Once they were sure their pursuers were long gone, Seit sighed with relief and relaxed against a wall.

"Hey, sorry about getting the two of us chased all the way out here. I guess curiosity really can kill the cat, huh?" Seit asked with a chuckle. "I can't believe how fast you can run, anyway! Where'd you learn how to do that?"

His cohort sighed and looked at him as if to ask, "Do you really want to know?"

"If you're trying to ask me what I think you're trying to ask me, yes, I do want to know," Seit stated.

His companion looked around carefully to see if there was anybody else with them, and then took off his hood. Seit found himself looking at a very familiar Metal Head face, and found he was speechless for a few moments trying to make sense of the situation. He had recognized the Metal Head as the same one he and Toright had seen in the forest roughly a month before, and was surprised to see it again standing right before him. He had lived with him for over a week and had no idea who or what he really was until now, and it left his mind spinning. The Metal Head put his hand on Seit's shoulder sympathetically, making his mind return to its normal state.

"So, wait, you've been living here since you followed me and my friend into the city? Without giving away what you really are?" Seit asked. The Metal Head nodded in response. "Dang, now that is what I call talent! You could easily fit as a spy or something. Anyway, you got a name? I've been meaning to ask, but keep forgetting to."