Chapter 11

Jak

Jak entered the hideout where Kor, the kids, and Torn were waiting. Torn yelled, " The city is on high alert. What the Hell did you two do? Two? Where's Rachel?"

Daxter said, "Listen our boy here doesn't need to be yelled at right now."

Torn asked, "Why what happened?"

Jak said, " Look, we've climbed up to the Baron's palace... and... we tripped a few alarms. And someone..."

Dax said, "Oh... yeah that too. And what he was saying was that Rachel she... died saving Jak."

Torn said, "Aw poor guy your sister how did it happen?"

Daxter said, "Well uh the baron was in this mecca thing and it had tentacles and one was gonna knock Jak off the building when he was reloading his gun so Rachel pushed Jak out of the way and got knocked off the building herself..."

Jak said, "...Yeah, and Praxis is going to pay."

Jak heard a voice say, "Really Jak? I mean that much to you?"

Jak turned to see Rachel coming into the hideout. Jak walked over to Rachel and hugged her tight. He whispered, "Your alive? Your alive!"

Rachel

I said, "I didn't know I meant so much to you Jak."

Jak said, "Of course you do your... my little sister?"

Kor questioned, "Sister?"

I said, "Yep Jak's my big brother."

Kor said, "Huh uh ah okay."

I said, "Jak you can stop hugging me now I am probably getting you soaked."

Jak said, "Okay...Daxter get Rachel a towel."

Daxter said, "Got ya El captain." Daxter rushed into the bathroom and came out with a towel.

I said, "Thank you Dax so whats going on?" I started drying out my hair and clothes.

Torn said, " The Krimzon Guard looking for... "a dangerous young man with light hair, blue tunic, and a rabid orange RAT on his shoulder."

Daxter said, "Well orange is the new black.."

I said, "Well that doesn't apply to me check it I was practicing on the way here. Black Hair. Blonde Hair. Red Hair. Green Hair. Blue Hair. Purple Hair. Brown Hair. That all I have really tried what do you think." I changed my hair color as I said it.

Jak said, "Nice job."

I smiled proud of myself and said, "Thanks so what else Torn?"

Torn said, "Not much but I didn't authorize a strike on the...!"

Jak yelled, " Hey, we kicked the Baron's ass. Unfortunately, he escaped. And Rachel almost died."

Daxter said, " AND we overheard a secret meeting with the leader of the Metal Heads!"

Kor asked shocked, " You saw the Metal Head leader?"

Jak said, " No, he was on some communicator, but we heard him talking with Baron Praxis."

Daxter said, "The Baron is bribing the Metal Heads with eco!"

Kor said, " Hmmph... it will never be enough."

Daxter said, " But the Baron's gonna double cross 'em!"

I saw Kor get a slight sneer on his face and say, " Is that so? Well our good Baron's wonderful 'charm' must have angered someone, because there's word from the Wasteland that Metal Head armies are on the move again!"

Jak asked, " Why didn't you tell me Ashelin was Praxis's daughter? What's your connection with her?"

Torn said, " That's none of your business! Since you've stirred up the wumpbee's nest, you, whiskers, and Rachel need to get four of our people to new safe houses. Shuttle each agent to a location they specify. Move all of them WITHOUT any casualties. Don't screw this up you two!"

_Time Skip_

We walked into the hideout and Torn said, " Scouts report movement in Dead Town. Creatures moving towards the Sacred Site. Just as before."

Daxter asked, " What happened... ah, before?"

Torn said, " Metal Heads broke through the old city wall. We fought them, but then the Baron pulled back, leaving everyone outside the 'new barrier' to die. Only the Shadow stayed and somehow stopped the attack."

I said, " And now you expect us to go out there again?"

Torn said, " You catch on fast! If you two prevent the Metal Heads from reaching the Sacred Site, the Shadow will be... most grateful. He might even ask to see you two." Torn pulled two gun modes from his pocket and said, " Hey, I'm probably wasting this, but here's two Vulcan Barrel for those pea shooters of yours. Believe me, you're gonna need it!"I loaded my gun and Jak loaded his and aimed it with a smile on his face.

I said, "Come on Jak before he gives Dax a gun." I walked out and we headed out to dead town.

_Time Skip_

We beat all the metal heads and came to the sacred site. What we saw shocked me so much. I said, " Is that... Is that... No, it couldn't be... that's not..."

Jak said, "Its Samos's hut."

Daxter yelled, " But... What?... How?... When?... Where?... Why?"

Jak said his voice cracking, " We're in the future, Rachel... This... horrible place... is... our... world!"

I shuddered and said, "Lets get back to the hideout." We left and I was so freaking out now.

_Time Skip_

We walked through the hallway of the hideout to have Torn meet us in the front. Torn said, " The Shadow has decided it's time to meet you."

I said, "Finally! If you can't tell I hate waiting!"

Jak asked, " Why is that place in the old ruins so important to you?"

Torn said, " No kidding? We used to know the guy that lived there." I saw Dax peaking over Jak's shoulder and wondered what he was looking at.

The man said, " So, you're the new recruits who keep getting into trouble."

Dax said, "Oh no not you!"

The man continued and when I saw him finally my jaw dropped, " Welcome to our humble Underground movement. I am known as the Shadow, but you may call me Samos. And you are?"

Daxter said, " Sheesh, we went through all that to meet his holiness, ol' log on the head, grandpa green?"

Jak asked, " Don't you know who we are?"

I said, "Yeah Samos you don't you remember us' I pointed at me' Rachel' next at Jak, 'Jak,' and how can you forget Daxter remember he fell into the dark eco and got turned into an ottsel. I know its been two years but..."

Samos said, "Sorry kids... never seen either of you before... and I never forget a face... especially one that ugly." He pointed to Daxter and I giggled.

Daxter said annoyed, " So it begins..."

Jak asked, " How is this possible? We came through the rift with you... into the future... right?"

Samos was about to speak when Daxter said, " Yeah! You used to look older than dirt and uglier than a knotted stump. What gives? Did you get a little nip and tuck while we were gone?"

I yelled, "Daxter stop insulting and kind of complementing, Samos before I rip all of your fur off."

Samos said, " Listen kids, I don't know what kind of twigs you've been chewing on, but I don't have time for this. We've got a Baron to overthrow, children heirs to protect, an invasion of Metal Heads to stop, and a city to save. I'd say the schedule's pretty full! Besides, I haven't gone through any rifts. I hate teleporting!"

I said to Jak, " Sure sounds like the same Samos."

Samos continued, " Right now I need you to go to Haven Forest and root out a few Metal Heads. That forest is my source of power, but I can't protect it much longer. Chase down and destroy all the Metal Head scouts you find there. Good luck... and welcome to the fight!"

_Time Skip_

We saw Samos outside and went to talk to him after beating those metal head dragon things. Samos said, " I want you three to escort the kid over to Kor at the Power Station. He promised to look out for the boy, and I'm just too busy to baby-sit right now. Oh, and take the kid's Crocadog with you! Oh, hee... hee... isn't he sweet?" The dog looked at Samos and growled.

Jak asked, " So what's these kid's story?"

Samos explained, " I found them just wandering the streets together. But that amulet around his neck means he may just be the lost heir to the city and she has a mark on her neck that says she might be the heirs one. Take the kids and the mutt to the Power Station. Watch out for guard patrols and defend the kids at all costs. Oh... and if you happen to lose the Crocadog..."

I patted both of them on the head and said, "Aren't you kids cute, come on." We took them to the power station as fast as possible.

We got inside and Daxter said, "Samos told us to bring the kid to you."

Kor said, " Thank you. I'll be sure to keep him close." The dog growled at Kor and he said, " How sweet..." Jak stroked the dog and so did I and it immediately stopped growling. Kor said, " Interesting. That insufferable mutt never liked anyone but the boy before."

Jak said, "I guess I am just good with animals." I smiled and pushed Jak.

I said laughing, "No bad jokes please."

Kor said, " I hope we have enough eco to keep the Metal Heads at bay. During my travels in the deep Wasteland I saw some of the bigger ones. Awesome creatures."

I said, " We saw a big one coming out of a rift once."

Daxter continued, "He was uuuuuuugly!"

Kor said, " Hmmmmphh... I have some valuable information for you. The Baron is conducting an excavation at the Dig. He is still looking for that ridiculous Tomb."I tried to hide a laugh when the Crocadog peed on Kor's walking stick. Kor continued annoyed, " Frankly, I don't believe it exists, but you might as well go out there and disrupt his operation just in case. Knock down all the scaffolding at the site. That should set him back. Here is an Air Train pass to get you out of there." The boy handed me the pass and we left.

_Time Skip_

We walked over to Ashelin in the bazaar and Daxter said to her, " How's it riding in the hood, red?"

A guard blocked us and Ashelin said, " Get out of the area. This is Krimzon Guard business! One of Vin's eco tankers is coming in from the wasteland, but the clearance transmission sounded fishy. The driver was scared. We're going to check it out. Just in case."

I asked, "How can we help?"

She said, " I've got it handled."

Suddenly an eco tanker crashed into the bazaar taking out all the guard excapt us and Ashelin. Daxter yelled, " Ahhh! A Metal Head sneak attack!"

Ashelin said, " Damn! It's just us! Help me take out all the metal heads!"

After we kicked metal head ass Ashelin kicked a barrel and said, " We got 'em all! The Metal Heads are getting bolder every day. It's almost like they're testing our defenses, like probing attacks. I've got a bad feeling about this."

She left then and Jak said, " Yeah... you're welcome."

We were standing outside the hip hog heaven saloon when Jak grabbed my arm and said, "Hold on I have been meaning to ask you. How did you live earlier when we were at the baron's palace? And I am sorry that I didn't try to help you..."

Daxter said, "What are you talking about you were gonna jump over if I hadn't stopped you."

I asked, "Really?" Jak nodded and I said, "Thats so cool anyway so I will tell you if... you don't laugh. Deal?"

Jak said, "Deal."

I started, "Okay so when I fell I was so scared but then I felt this huge serge of energy go through my body. A flash of blue came over me and I... uh turned into a bird..." I looked at him and Daxter. Jak looked like he was thinking and Daxter was holding back laughter. I heard a giggle like grunt and pushed Jak, " See I told you it was fucking stupid." I thought in the back of my head I hope he doesn't mind I didn't tell him the whole truth.

He said, "Hey even if it was at least your alive."

I said, "Yeah? Now lets go see Krew."

There it is hope you like it. Thx to my reviewers it makes me happy that people like reading what I wrote. :)