Her wound was rapidly losing blood, and it would only get colder and with her damp clothing, that wasn't going to help.

"Damn. I cant let anyone find out about this. What the hell am I going to do?"

Yes, Hell indeed. 'Hell' was not burning in a desert, it was: walking through the cold, dimming streets, wearing wet clothing, and sporting a rather dangerous arm wound. Oh yes and doing all this while carrying some very important materials. It was just like something out of a video game. Oh the irony.

In the distance, Kaida heard an explosion and had a sneaking suspicion that it was Jak and Daxter finishing up their job. She was about to push all thoughts to the back of her mind and slum onward at the same snail pace when something sparked in her mind.

'If I get back just before Jak, then maybe nobody will notice me.I know for a fact that there is a conversation that will go on, so if I go in, drop off the papers, and head into the back, I will be completely forgotten in a matter of moments.' Kaida decided that this was a good plan and the thought of having to get to the underground first pushed a little adrenaline into her body and urged her forward. Her short burst only kept her going for a mere block then her head started to throb and her vision went a little cloudy. She had to stop moving altogether so that she could again know which direction was up.

'I cant take this anymore I am going to have to drive or I wont be able to make it back today, if at all.' Kaida looked around and, for the first time all day, luck provided. Parked next to a cold grey building was a large two person zoomer. It was one of the slower ones that had seats so they could be driven in her condition. She made it over to the craft and hopped(more like climbed and flopped weakly) into the driver seat. After a deep breath, she kicked the zoomer and took off.

As her speed got going and the alleys became narrow, she was forced to use both hands for control. The icy wind whipped past her, drying her clothes but at the same time chilling her to the core. The wind and moisture being pushed along her skin constantly grazed over her wound, causing it to burn painfully. She began to near the hideout and begged time to move faster.

As soon as the alley for the hideout came into view, she was filled with a mild weary joy, and moments later, she saw blonde hair and a blue shirt heading through the crowd. Jak had made hisappearance, just as Kaida had hoped that he would. He was closer then she was to the entrance of the alley, so Kaida gunned the zoomer and sped past Jak and into the alleyway. Jak paused for a moment, wondering who was zooming in, but continued on regardless.

Kaida jammed on the brake and hopped out of the vehicle without waiting for it to come to a stop. Kaida disappeared into the door just as Jak came around the corner. Kaida put a hand over her wounded arm to make sure no blood could be seen, then yanked the two pieces of paper from her pouch and made her way up to Torn's desk. Torn, however, was not at his table.

Kaida glanced anxiously around, then slapped the papers on the desk. She jumped slightly at the clunk of boots as Torn stepped back in.

"Well, finally you get back. If you weren't new, we would have assumed you'd been captured by now." Torn drawled out. The sound of the door reached her ears, and the heavy thud of boots sounded from the stairs of the entrance to the hideout. Kaida gave a quick nod to Torn and, in attempt to seem irritated at the fact that he had said he didn't think she would make it, stabbed the dagger Torn had lent her into the table, then stepped quickly away and into the bunk area of the hideout.

Torn looked after her a second, but soon turned to the papers Kaida had put on the table. One was the map he had given her and the other was a list of code. Torn faced the large map stuck to the wall behind him and began to try to search for the place indicated to in the code. Torn was quickly disrupted by Daxter;

"The 'demolition duo' has returned One BBQ'd ammo dump served up hot!" Even though his back was turned, he shook his head and a sneer almost instantly curled on Torn's mouth at that glass-breaking voice.

"We saw something odd while we were torching that ammo. The Baron's guards were giving barrels filled with eco to a group of metal heads." At Jak's news, Torn instantly became interested.

"Really, the Shadow will be very interested to hear that." Torn spoke as he turned to face the pair, his face held a thoughtful look, and a spark of plotting could be seen. Jak took this moment of silence to head into the bunk area's of the hideout. He could have sworn he had seen Kaida head in there just before he had arrived.

Kaida kicked off her boots by her bed and immediately headed for the showers. There was silence in the tiled room as she entered, and grabbed up a few towels. It was still only early evening, so she was sure that she wouldn't have to worry about people walking in on her, but either way, she still brought a towel- she could throw on at the last minute. Her boots made a sucking noise as she yanked them off her feet. She emptied the water out and washed out the filth from the dirty water, then set them to dry. She peeled off all of her clothing and stepped under the hot spout of water.

She watched the tile floor tint with the dirty water that flowed off of her. She let her hair down and the water became darker. Once the waters ran clean she venturedto remove her hand from her arm wound. It burned up the length of her arm as the hot water seared it, cleaning the open flesh. The clear water ran a dirty red as blood and grim exited the wound. Only when it was ruby red did she stop her scrubbing and wrap it in a small towel. No longer able to help herself, she slumped to the floor and sat under the warm falling water. She could feel the water streams sliding over her skin, playing a game of rapid tag, before falling onto the tiled floor.

Jak stepped quietly around the bunks, as a few exhausted bodies remained in beds, awaiting their night shift. He went first to the bunk they had used, but not finding her here, he continued to look around. He stopped as he heard the hush of running water in the showers. Daxter leaned over, speaking directly into Jak's ear with moderate quietness.

"Don't worry, I'll see if its her!" His tone was over enthusiastic and Jak reached up and stopped his little friend from jumping into the shower area. Kaida could hear the soft taps of boots at the entrance of the room, but they seemed so faint that he could not rouse her from her semi-consciousness. Everything seemed to far away too matter, no matter how close it really was.

Jak stepped as close to the entrance as he could without actually looking in(and without letting Daxter peep in).

"Kaida? Is that you in there?" he asked, loud enough to resonate in the showers. At the ring of her name, Kaida came alive and, identifying he source of the voice, she forced herself to stand and throw a towel on. She shut off the shower and scooped up her clothing and stepped quickly to the exit. Jak stepped back on the sound of foot steps to allow the person passage by. Kaida stopped in front of him and gave a small and slightly nervous smile.

"I thought it was you. How did your uh, mission go?" Jak asked, genuinely curious. Kaida gave a shrug.

"Ok."

"That's it? No problems?" Kaida shook her head, feeling it was best left unsaid exactly what had happened. Kaida gave another smile of reassurance and stepped past Jak, dropping her dirty clothes in a pile that seemed to be the wash, and began to pull more clothes out of the closet of random items for the underground. This time she pulled out only a pair of capri's and a white tank top.

'This,' she decided, 'will make it much easier to blend in.' Jak followed her, noting the towel, now specked with blood, wrapped around her arm. He was about to open his mouth to question her again but quickly shut it, deciding it would be too much of a hassle to work it out of her when she obviously didn't want to say. Kaida froze for a second and there was the distinct grumble of her stomach, echoed almost immediately by Jak's.

"Guess its feeding time. I'll go see what crap they got around here." Kaida nodded with a mildly enthusiastic manner, partly hungry, and partly wanting him to leave so she could change. Kaida turned back to her clothes. Jak stepped to go find some food, but before he did, pulled out a package from his pouch and set it on the bed. When Kaida heard him leave she went to her bed and quickly changed. She sat down with a heavy sigh, but stood up almost instantly when she felt herself sit on something. She turned around and saw the pack. It was a KG health pack. With a small smile she untied her arm and opened the pack.

The small amount of green eco contained within flooded instantly to her wounded arm. She watched as the flesh closed up and he pain vanished. She continued to smile and silently thanked Jak, knowing he was the only one who could have put it there, but her thoughts quickly changed and her smile vanished. Why hadn't she used a KG health pack? She was sure she had passed some crates on the way back; why hadn't she used them? She scolded herself inside and slowly began to feel worse and worse for it. She looked down at her still wrapped feet. She had completely forgotten about the glass she had stepped on. Why did she step on it? Why didn't she pay attention to where she was going? What was wrong with her? Her mood spiral was broken, thankfully, by Jak as he returned with a plate of what was apparently food. It looked suspiciously like the food that they had been served in prison.

Jak bent over slightly and offered the plate. Kaida gave Jak a smile of thanks and raised an eyebrow at the questionable food.

"Yeah, I know is sucks but what do you expect around here?" Jak actually had a minor smile on his face as he spoke to Kaida, and she had to smile as well. Kaida selected a few fruits and what seemed to be large bread buns. When she had finished Jak placed the plate up on the top bunk and climbed quickly up onto the bed. There was a creak as Jak took his spot and she could hear him begin to try the food. Kaida bit into a fruit and found it was actually good, though obviously old by how bruised it was. Up on the top bed, Daxter made a choking noise.

"Yuck this stuff is horrible"

"Hey," Jak spoke up, "its better than some food I've had, and its all you've got, so stop complaining. Don't worry it wont kill you." Kaida let out a chuckle and Daxter stuck his face over the edge of the bed looking distastefully at her.

"Hey, don't be such a jerk!" Kaida stuck her tongue out at him and he glared her. Kaida locked him in a staring contest for a moment before suddenly reaching up and yanking him down. She gave him a noogie and rubbed his fur backwards before letting him go. He jumped down and looked indignantly at her.

"What the hell was that for!" Kaida couldn't help chuckling at him. He looked so put off and yet funny, as his hair was sticking up in odd angles even as he desperately tried to rub it back down. Kaida continued to laugh and looked up as she heard a few deep chuckles from the bunk above. Daxter turned his back and crossed his arms.

"Come on, Dax. She was just kidding." Jak said once his desire to laugh had subsided. When Daxter didn't say anything Kaida suspected that he was actually angry with them. She quietly stood up and snuck up behind him. Before he had a chance to notice she reached down and grabbed him. He was about to start yelling when she suddenly stroked him nicely behind the ears, and he couldn't help himself. He was quiet and content instantly. Kaida let out another small chuckle at how easily he was pacified, then tossed him up to Jak.

Kaida went back to her food and finished up while listening to Jak and Daxter talk about various things. She found out to her happiness, that the bun was actually full of a meat-in-gravy paste and was actually very nice. As the talk continued she felt her sleep begin to catch up to her.

She felt as if she had only fallen to sleep for a few moments before she felt herself being shaken awake.

"Hey, wake up we gotta get back to work." She felt a sudden weight on her stomach and assumed that a certain furry orange rat had jumped on to her.

"Yeah, come on. The tattooed freak show wants us all." Kaida blinked her eyes and for a moment even the dim light blinded her. She blinked again looking up at Jak's face. She pushed her self up and slipped on her, now dry, boots. Jak turned and lead the way out into Torn's office. It seemed that with each step that short nap made her feel better and better, though she suspected that it was also due to the health pack she had taken. She almost felt as if her earlier experience hadn't happened. Torn was standing and watch them as they came in.

"Late again. I have another important mission for you." Torn's voice held that tint of constant annoyance at the world that he was famous for. But for all that Torn seemed to be in a good mood.

"You know, so far your gigs have been easier than stealin' grass from a sleeping yakow." Daxter had to open his mouth. Torn regarded him for a sec before letting out a sadistic seeming laugh.

"You and the rodent want to start proving yourselves. One of our "suppliers" needs his payment delivered- a bag of eco ore. Take the zoomer parked out back and drive it to the hip hog heaven saloon in south town. Ask for Krew- He'll be there. And don't let the Baron's patrols stop you." Torn looked to Kaida

"You, you'll run a decoy since the eco is important stuff." Kaida only nodded. "There is an identical zoomer on the other side of the alley for you. It has a false parcel on the back. Distract the guards if they chase you. I don't care what you do, just get it done. By the way, when you get there, pump Krew for information. He's wired into the city and may know what the Baron is up to." Daxter looked serious and grinned at Torn, who really didn't seem to care.

"You can count on us!"

"Are you still here?" Torn responded in a grumpy tone. Maybe he wasn't in as much of a good mood as previously thought. The entire trio frowned, but left none the less. Kaida and Jak started up their zoomers and headed slowly and inconspicuously into the city. Kaida lagged a bit behind Jak, so as not to seem like a pair. She knew that once they were in the main plaza they would be fired upon and her driving skills would be tested.

They glided into the open area and she could see the blockade on the other end. There was a loud clank and a motorized whir and the trio watched as the large cannons armed and directed at them. It was on. The buzz and sound of gun shots whizzed past them, and both drivers punched the gas. Jak heard a loud wiz past his ear and glanced over his shoulder noting that there were even more guards behind him.

'Oh shit.' The pair were bent low over their zoomers as they went along, Kaida slightly behind Jak. "Duck down!" Kaida yelled at exactly the right moment and they both dropped to the ground level and under the blockade. They whipped around the corners and when the road split Kaida yelled out to Jak again.

"Go left!" Jak instantly did what she said, and the Krimson Guards paused for a second not sure who to go after. Then, they split and went for both drivers. Jak had little time to worry if Kaida would be ok, and Kaida had little time to worry for Jak as they were both being tailed by the KG.

Jak already had a mental map of where this place was from looking at the one on Torn's desk, but it was hard to think and to drive like this at the same time. Though he was thankful that Kaida had managed to take some heat off of him, it was still going to be a long ride in his mind. There was a sickening jolt as the zoomer took some hits. Luckily, nothing vital was hit and the eco was safe. A little black smoke hissed out of the machine as he gunned it along a straight away. After a few more precarious turns the road widened and he could smell the waters of the port. There was a volley of fire the whizzed past him and he dove to the waters. The craft zoomed just over the surface, and he headed straight for the bar in his sights.

In the face of his speed, the guards were falling farther and farther behind. He rose to the highest level to avoid the wall in his way and aimed to the left of the bar. At the last moment, he grabbed the ego and abandoned the craft. It smashed into the wall and Jak disappeared into the crowd. From the guards distance, they didn't notice him abandon the craft.

"Figure he's done?" asked one of the pursuing KG.

"Yeah, 'sides, we don't get paid to waste our time on stuff like this." they all let out a sadistic chuckle at the notion of someone dying in a violent explosion, then turned and left. Jak watched them carefully until they left, and once sure that he sign was correct, headed into the bar.

Kaida let out a hiss into the rushing air as a shot grazed her shoulder. Not enough to cause more than a minor cut but painful none the less.

'The streets here are too narrow, I should have gone the other way! I need more room. They are going to kill me at this rate!' she screamed in her head. The zoomer jolted as it was shot again and again. The turns here were to sharp and for this zoomer, they were just too hard to make. She had to slow down, while the KG, though slower over long distances, handled so much better.

Somehow a KG caught up to her and slammed into her side. She veered to the left in a attempt to dodge another ramming. She whipped down the alley and around the corner, only to be trapped by a dead end. Her face showed pure surprise and horror as she threw her weight to the side and attempted to turn the zoomer. She continued to slide sideways due to the momentum, and as the wall came ever closer Kaida finally bailed out.

Of course, falling a story or two was not a wise way to land. The craft smashed against the wall and exploded as so many things liked to do in this 'game'. Kaida was still a little shell shocked as she stood, and it took a moment for her vision to focus. Several of the 10 or 12 KG had dismounted and approached her swiftly, guns in hand. She focused as best as she could and the moment they were close enough she lunged forward and punched them one after another.

Her resistance was short-lived, however, as she soon felt the electric surge of a gun rise though her back. She fell to the ground, her lungs frozen by the shock though before she could catch her breath, pain wracked her body as several guards caught her at once.

She could feel herself failing. She slammed to the ground when one of the guards hit her with his gun. They knew she couldn't stand and where having their fun with her.

'So, you are really gonna let them kill you like this?' a voice spoke in the back of her head. The voice was... familiar... familiar and haunting.

'Why don't you let me handle them?' Faintly in the back of her mind, Kaida wanted to resist that voice, but she could almost hear a crack as her head was slammed into the pavement by another soldier. Darkness swallowed everything for a moment then...

'Good, finally...' Her mind became clear, and she could not feel the blows being dealt to her flesh. A power ran to the very tips of her fingers and she had never felt like this before. And yet, she was throbbing with pain. It felt as if the electricity was tearing her apart from the inside. She rose to her feet, but something was wrong. The world looked clear, and she could see the Krimson Guards who had been attacking her. For a moment they stepped back, and seemed hesitant. But that was only for a moment. They were on her again, this time, only with guns.

To her surprise and horror, before they could reach her, she moved with incredible quickness, taking down one after another. What frightened her was her body was moving without her.

'Have no fear in this. It will all be done soon, and I am having so much fun!' That sickening voice in her head again. In her soul her eyes widened. This voice, it was the one in her dream. No, in her nightmares. In all those tortured sleeps in prison, and that one knight, when she met the voice... She watched as another guard fell dead to the ground, and willed her hands to rise so that she could see them. It was as she had thought, long dark claws on each hand, and pale-death skin.

Seconds later, she lost control of her body and was an onlooker as those claws sank into the throat of another. Slowly, the realization of what was happening solidified in her mind and an anger at herself for letting it happen festered.

'Yes, go on. Hate yourself and everything you are doing. Go on.' The fear and anger built up in her body. She was just some kid who had been playing a game at home. She shouldn't be out here killing people, and helping smuggle goods. No, it shouldn't be like this! She let out a scream in her mind and suddenly felt drag on her arm. A thud sounded as a body fell to the ground. She stood still trying to understand. She had control again, but the claws were still there and streams of dark energy arced to the open wounds of the bodies. That last one had been her. She had forced her arm and slashed the guard, but that was all she could take. She was lost in her mind.

'Yes, finally, you understand. Stay there, in your safe mind. Let me have this freedom. I so deserve it.'

Ok, just for the record, since it is her first transformation she did not have to collect dark eco. Yes, she will have to after this. Sorry again for having a lot of Kaida. Let me know if I need to improve her. Thanks!

To my readers:

Jediferret: Thank you very much for your input! I am glad that, although you don't like this kind of story, you are enjoying mine!

Hikari dragoness of light: Thanks! Yeah, the KG are really stupid. I suppose some of them remember the prisoners, but I think that with all of the deaths, the KG gets a faster employee turn over then McDonalds.

AnimeDutchess: Thank you very much! As you can probably tell I am trying very hard to keep my O.C. Characters done well so thank you very much for your feed back!

(Please note that I did not respond to all reviewers. If I did not respond to you please don't take it personaly, I just want to reply to only the people who have given specific examples or responded directly to a comment of mine. Thank you!)

PS yes I know not all responders got mentioned here. Don't worry I'll mention you next time!