Jak wandered around Haven City, suppressing the dark eco within him. He wanted to let it out but he had to wait until he got to Haven Forest, not here, that wouldn't be good. Too many people. But at least one thing was good, so far he hadn't run into anybody from the Underground. If he did then he would have to explain why he wasn't looking over Torn.
Speaking of Torn, Jak couldn't help but wonder if he was okay. When he left him he seemed fine. But then again all the medical signs said he was in pain. But this was Torn, he fought through anything.
"Jak?" Came a questioning female voice from above him.
He winced he knew that voice anywhere. He looked up and his fears were confirmed, it was Ashelin. She was above him flying her hellcat cruiser with Tess in the seat next to her and Daxter on Tess's lap.
"What are you doing out here?" Tess asked as Ashelin landed the hellcat. "Who's watching Torn?" She sounded concerned. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine." Jak said, obviously angry.
"You okay, buddy?" Daxter asked sensing that Dar Jak was surfacing. He had known Jak long enough to sense this coming on.
"I'm fine," Jak lied. "And Torn is too, he's still at HQ."
"With Keira?" Ashelin questioned. "Jinx can't be with him, we just left him, he's working on a new project."
Jak didn't respond.
"So he's alone!?" She yelled. "What were you thinking, Jak!?"
Tess spoke up with a much calmer voice. "You know he needs constant watch, what happened to make you leave? Did you fight?"
"Well," Jak started. "According to him, he can take care of himself." He hissed and then began heading back in the direction of Haven Forest. This time grabbing his hover board from off his back and jumping on it.
"We have to talk to Torn." Tess said worried, "this stress can't be good for him."
"I'll leave ya to go and do that, baby." Daxter said jumping out of Tess's arms. "I should go talk to Jak, I know how to pull him out of it."
"Okay, sweetie." Tess said. "Come back to HQ soon, just so I know you're okay."
"I've been around Jak when he's gone all 'grr' before; I think I can handle it. Don't worry about me, baby, besides, what can a little bit more dark eco do to me?" He asked before running off in the direction Jak went on all fours.
"I'm worried." Tess said.
"Me too, and not just because you're dating a rat." Ashelin sighed looking over to Tess who gave her a slap on the arm. The two girls then proceeded to get back in the hellcat and make their way over to HQ.
Torn laid down in the bed breathing hard. He had just tried to get up and look at one of his maps to see what Jak had been doing for the past month. But the second he tried to stand on his own two feet his legs caved out from over him and he fell hard on the ground crying out in pain. It took all his energy to pull himself back up on the soft welcoming bed.
He was glad no one was around to see him in his moment of weakness. He knew that Jak had probably told everyone to leave for the next few days unless called in, he probably wanted to give him some peace and quiet. Which he was thankful for, he couldn't deny that.
Pushing himself up on his elbows once again he winced and gritted his teeth. Although it was horrible pain to even breath he was determined to get up and look at his maps.
"Torn?"
He moaned and looked over to see a familiar old man standing at the bottom of the stairs. It was the older Samos, not the young one Torn was used to the younger one. He was after all The Shadow. But then again, it didn't really matter which one he ran into, both were equally annoying.
"Samos," Torn grunted. "What're ya doin' here?"
"I heard Jak walked out, I came to see how you were." He replied calmly.
"I'm fine."
"Ha! Youth these days! Never admit to anything." He cried out as he walked closer to Torn's bed. "Torn, my boy, why must you insist on doing all this alone."
"Because I'm fine, I don't need any help."
"But you obviously aren't fine; a blind man could see that." Samos reasoned and just as Torn was about to respond he continued on. "Just let them help, you won't be able to survive through this alone, not only that but Jak has been thought this as well."
"But it's different with Jak, he was fine when he left..."
Samos nodded understanding. "It's true; Jak was given dark eco for so long he was stronger when Daxter helped him break out, it seems the rat does have some sort of use." He said as a side comment but then went back to a erious tone. "But that was because of the length he had been tortured with it. I assure you, during the first few months he was just as bad off as you are now."
Ton didn't know what to say, what could he say? He knew what Samos was saying and he understood it, but Torn didn't like to admit it when he was wrong. He didn't want the silence to drag on any further but to his luck the Green Sage spoke again.
"I hope you can find it in that hardened Krimzon Guard heart of yours to forgive Jak, you had, you have a very close relationship." Samos said with a small smile.
Torn scoffed. "No we don't, he's just one of my men."
"One of your men who you risked your life to save in a losing battle. How many of your men would you have gone in that battle for? If it weren't for Jak's dark eco you would both be dead now."
"I would have done it for any of them."
"Maybe, but you would have also took the time to find some more backup, not rush in like you did."
Torn looked away and shook his head. "Whatever." He sighed.
Samos frowned. "You're a stubborn child, you know that right?" He growled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I should go, I have some duties to attend to. And by the way, I think Keira and Ashelin are on their way over."
"Tell them I don't wanna see them." Torn said quietly.
"Not my place to stop them, my boy, nor do I think I could. They're worried about you, everyone is." He said before heading over to the stairs and walking up them leaving Torn once again alone in the hideout.
Jak reached Haven Forest quicker on the hover board, luckily when he arrived he found no signs of anyone or metal heads. He wasn't in the mood for one right now. He stood by the stream and let out a loud, long yell as he let Dark Jak take over. He didn't know that at this moment a small orange ottsel was hiding safely at the entrance. Even if Dark Jak did notice his presence Daxter would be out of there before Dark Jak could even begin to chase him.
The darkness had Jak consumed for a while; he must have been holding it in for some time. But soon though the broken trees and the disturbed lake and all the rest of the destruction he left behind Daxter's friend was back. Maybe not in the best condition, he was sitting by the lake looking down and breathing hard. But he was back.
He crept down the rocks and across the green grass and over to where Jak was sitting. Before he even got close to him, Jak spoke, his senses must have still been enhanced from the eco.
"Dax... what're ya doin' here?" He asked still facing away from him.
"Came to see how ya were. What? I can't do that?" Daxter asked now running over and running up his back to sit on his shoulder. "How ya feelin', buddy? Still wanna go all 'grr' on me?"
"I'm fine, Dax."
"Seems to be a favorite phrase now." Daxter said jumping off his shoulder. "C'mon, we should head back to the hideout."
Jak shook his head. "Not going back, Daxter."
"Yes you are!" He cried. "Jak, you can't be mad at Torn forever, we both know you're not even mad at him now."
"I am so!"
"No you're not!" Daxter yelled. "Now I know me and The Tattooed Wonder ain't exactly gotten along to well since he kinda insulted me, ya know first impressions aren't easy to break!" He referred to the time Torn had called him Jak's pet. It seemed like so long ago now... "But he's kinda my friend now. And you're kinda my friend and I know both of ya's, you're friends! Admit it!"
"Dax! It's not that easy."
"Why not? So he got mad? He has a reason, don't he? I mean you were... are kind of an ass." Jak shot him a look. "Hey I'm just tellin' it how it is. But you're not all the time, like now you kind of are, but not always."
"Thanks..." Jak mumbled.
"Hey, it's not so bad! He's always an ass so maybe it'll have no effect on him!"
"Is there a point?"
"Yes, you're not gonna leave him there alone, you know that and I know that. Aside form him me and Jinx are your only male friends! And hangin' out with a bomb fanatic and an ottsel can't be good for ya!"
Jak chuckled and nodded. "I see your point, Dax, I'm feelin' better now anyway, now that the dark eco's gone... for now."
"Fine then, let's head back, never know when this place could get infested with metal heads."
"I doubt they'll all come at once." Jak said standing up and allowing Daxter to jump on his shoulder.
"Like I said, never know."
AN: Hi, sorry I'm late, but like I've said school started and I don't have as much free time anymore. But I'm still putting chapters out, I'll never stop, well I'll have to eventually, I'll either die or this story will end one day. Hopefully it'll be the latter... But then again I'm sure I'll finsih this before I die... Okay I'm done with that pointless nonsense talk now. Review guys! You know I love the reviews!
