Finally the lift juddered to a stop and with a swish the doors opened onto the main resistances HQ battle room. Dax looked around and gave a small smile as he saw the familiar people all look round to him. There was Samos, Kiera, Ashlin and Pecker; and they all looked anxious and worried, except Pecker who looked annoyed. Flying from his perch on the communication device he hovered inches from Daxter's face, making his fur stand on end with the breeze.
"And where have you been. We have been waiting up all night for some news. Anything might have been good." Pecker landed in front of Daxter looking arrogantly at him, waiting for a reply. However none came, Dax was so exhausted he barely even registered Pecker at all. Moving with sluggish steps Dax walked over to the communicator which everyone was gathered around. Stopping in between Kiera and Samos Dax gently tugged on Kiera's trouser leg. She smiled briefly understanding what was needed and quickly reached down and gently lifted Dax up onto the communicator. It was only then that Daxter realised that room was silent; Pecker was still in shock that he had been ignored, but the rest of the room was tense and filled with an oppressive anticipation. It was Samos who first broke the silence.
"So did you get the plant?" There was genuine worry in his voice, and looking around Dax could see it plainly painted on everyone's face. Giving a weary smile Daxter reached into his belt pouch and pulled out the flower. It was still giving off a pale light and it had fared rather well during the transportation, hardly a leaf was bent out of shape. Holding it out in his palm Dax could feel everyone, even Pecker breath a sigh of relief. Reached out and Dax dropped the flower into Samos' hand.
"Right this antidote will take about two hours to make. How long does Jak have Daxter?" Dax had only just wearily sat himself down on the counter, now he bit his lip and started to calculate. Horror flooded over him as he came to the result.
"From the time scale that the healer gave me we only have around half a day left to get the antidote to Jak before he is passed all help." Daxter felt the horrible chill he had felt in himself as he had worked out this news spread across the room, and the terrible oppression was back in the air. Samos simply nodded and hastily turned his back on the rest of them going to a desk that was covered in all sorts of equipment.
It was now when there was nothing more that Daxter could do at this moment that all his injuries and weariness caught up with him, almost crumpling him. Somehow he managed to stay sitting upright but started to sway back and forth. It was Kiera who noticed first and going over to a compartment in one of the desks she pulled forth an enormous medical kit. Struggling with its weight she managed to bring it up and place it next to Dax, who looked up tiredly as it thumped down next to him.
"Well I'm not so great on working with living things, cars are really my specialty but I'm sure I can patch you up a little." Dax smiled as he caught to tone in her voice, she was trying to give everyone, especially himself something else to focus on. As she opened the box and started pouring out floods of bandages Daxter couldn't help slipping back into his normal self despite everything.
"Thanks sugar, any excuse to touch the Orange Lighting huh!" Kiera had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing as she started to gently entwine Daxter in bandages. She continued in silence for a while, taking off Jak's torn blood stained scarf and placing white bandages in their place, rubbing his cuts and scrapes with some stinging liquid and generally fixing him up. Although he could still feel the pain it wasn't as bad as before and Daxter found he was able to relax as Kiera worked. Suddenly there was a flapping of wings and Pecker landed besides Daxter. Just before Dax could ask the bird-brain what he wanted, Pecker leaned over and placed a feather on the knot that Kiera was struggling to tie. She gave him a small grin and finished tying the knot which now firmly bandaged Daxter's leg giving him as much movement as normal. Still with his mouth open with his not started sentence Dax turned to Pecker in amazement. Pecker had now turned his back on both of them and had crossed his arms haughtily.
"You know feather face, your not as bad as you make out." Dax said, unmistakable humour in his voice, if only Jak had been here as he wouldn't ever believe that Pecker had been intentionally nice. In response to this Pecker took off being extra careful to make sure Dax got a slap across the face with a wing. Dax couldn't help laughing this time, so maybe things were back to normal now. Looking around thought he knew that wasn't true, although everyone was trying to act normal it was like there was abnormally large clock in the room, it's ticking counting down Jak's time.
It was then that Samos came back over to the group. In his hand he held a small vial containing a blue liquid which like the plant it had come from also had a luminous glow. Daxter stood up, he was now bandaged completely and as a result was able to move with much less pain, giving him back a bit more speed and agility. Samos gently and carefully handed over the precious antidote and Daxter placed it in the small pouch, tightly securing it. Suddenly the machinery all around them started screeching and bleeping in alarm. Ashlin was quickly at the controls, scanning the radar. Looking up to the group they saw tension in her face.
"We have been surrounded; the front entrance is being attacked from multiple units. Both KG death bots and Metal Heads, it looks like they are trying to seal us in." At this last part she turned to stare at Daxter. For a moment there was stillness amongst everyone, and then everyone burst into action. Ashlin was on the communicator to Torn trying to get their forces in and Kiera ran to a side room and came out bearing plenty of guns. Everyone moved forward and took a gun or two from the ones offered, even Samos.
"Right Dax," Ashlin said coming over to them "You need to escape your mission is the most important right now. So we are going to create a diversion round the front while you can slip out the back, hopefully unnoticed." Nodding Dax suddenly had an idea. Reaching for one of the communicators on his gun strap he flicked the on switch bringing the machine to life.
"Calling all cars is anyone there, over." There was a few seconds where the buzzing of the frequency and the sound of shots outside was all that could be heard. Then a voice spoke to the silence.
"This is Jinx; I hear you loud and clear. It's only been a day Dax, miss me already?" Sniggering Dax rolled his eyes.
"Hardly I'm here to call in the favour you owe me. I need another ride to the harbour transporter from Alliance HQ. We are kind of under siege here, so come around the back."
"Rodger that, over and out!" That was it, their plan was formed, and everyone was ready. This was the last push and there was very little time left. Dax jumped down to the floor and stood with everyone while they were checking their weapons, preparing to go out into the fray.
"Well Daxter, let us go down first and start the distraction then make sure you head straight for the back. Jinx should be there very soon." For a moment Ashlin's eyes softened. "Make sure you bring Jak back to us. We need him!" Looking at everyone Dax saw they all wore identical expression. Everyone was doing this for Jak; everyone was ready to battle tooth and nail for him like he had always done for them. Giving a solid nod to Ashlin and a salute she, Samos and Kiera entered the lift. The doors clanged shut and they were gone from sight.
Daxter stood alone. Looking at the doors where his friends had just gone into terrible danger just to buy Dax a chance to escape. Not only now was he on a mission for Jak, he was carrying the weight of their sacrifice now too. Steeling himself Dax walked towards the elevator doors. Going down Daxter could hear more clearly the sound of battle and by the time he had reached the bottom the sound of bullets was deafening. Turning his face away from his friends on the other side of the door Dax ran on all fours towards the hover pad zone and beyond that the back entrance to the building. Peeping his head through a crack in the door Dax found to his relief that the back alley was deserted except for Jinx who sat comfortably in a large two-seater hover craft. Dax bounded up to him and jumped into the passenger seat.
"So you want to go to the harbour transporter? Best buckle up this isn't going to be a pleasure drive its all out warfare around here." Jinx took out his cigar and indicated to the front of Freedom HQ. Nodding Dax locked eyes with Jinx.
"Get us there as fast as you can we don't have much time left." Jinx seemed to notice the slight trace of panic in Daxter's voice and revved the gas peddle with his foot, then without another word they were speeding away. Dax practically had to cling to his seat even with his seat belt on as Jinx was driving like a man possessed. They passed through the battle around the front of HQ and it was how Jinx had described it. Bodies and bullets were flying through the air and chaos was out in full swing. Dax was sure no one could know who or what they were firing at there was such confusion. Twice their craft got hit by two stray bullets and once by an half destroyed KG death bot. It was a testament to how good a driver Jinx was that they got hit so little, but Dax couldn't help thinking that had Jak been driving no one would have been able to hit them, there was nobody better at racing than Jak.
Before he had even enough time to feel sick and go green with the intense dives, rolls and other dangerous and scary manoeuvres Jinx was pulling off, they were already there. The harbour was full of fighting, there were enemies everywhere but thanks to Jinx's skilled driving they made it right up to the transporter without incident. Dax gave a small smile. "Well that's the first thing that has gone right today. I wonder how long my luck will last." Dax thought to himself as the craft came to a stop a foot from the transporter.
"Well Dax you better bring Jakkie boy back to us," for a moment or two his face was serious as he looked at Dax, but then he broke out is normal lopsided grin. "I still haven't forgotten he owes me money. He's not getting out of this so easily." Dax couldn't help but laugh. Then holding out a paw which Jinx grasped tightly in his own they shook. Releasing his crushed paw from Jinx's grip Dax jumped up onto the front windshield. Looking back at Jinx he gave a short mock salute but said "Thank you" in the most heartfelt voice he could muster.
Turning back to the transporter Dax leapt from the windshield to the floor and ran the short distance to the transporter. Pressing the button Dax started the launch sequence, the engines roared into life and the door shuddered open, allowing Dax to dash inside and take a seat. Giving Jinx a final wave as the door closed there was a sudden roar from behind both of their heads as two giant panther Metal Heads leaped through the air. They both landed on the closing door with a horrible grinding noise as their claws dug into the thin metal. The craft started to shudder and lurch to the left and right as the combined weight of the two Metal Heads proved too much for the craft stalling it midair.
Clawing violently both of the Metal Heads pulled and strained to get themselves up into compartment. Their eyes glowed yellow and drool dripped from their fangs as they eyed Dax hungrily. One of the detached his claws from the metalwork of the door and took a swipe at Daxter's head missing by inches. For all the situations he had been in today this just seemed like one too many, Dax actually found himself frozen in place. He could see his death gleaming in their eyes, still he couldn't move, couldn't even budge.
Suddenly there was the loud sound of a machine gun being fired and the Metal Heads found their back legs being suddenly peppered with bullets from Jinx's machine gun. The sound of the gun, Jinx's exhilarated whoop and the snarls and whimpers of pain from the Metal Heads woke Dax from his stupor. Reaching behind him and pulling out the pistol Torn had give him Dax took aim.
Bang, Bang. He fired two shots. Both from point blank range right between the Metal Head's eyes. Within seconds their bodies suddenly became lax and limp as death overtook their senses. Claws slipped from the metal and both beasts fell from the craft into the icy waters beneath them.
Dax fell back onto his rump as the transporter shot off now the extra weight had gone although something was wrong. It was no longer a smooth flight, it seems it had taken damage during the attack and now shuddered violently and swayed. Dax clung onto the seat with both hands for dear life and prayed it would make it to the desert. While his knuckles started to turn white from gripping so hard, Dax's thoughts drifted to Jak whose life now hung on the line.
"Please hold on buddy. I'm so close … just a little longer … wait for me."
Right this is the first time I have wrote a little note to you guys and gals but I felt the need. For one, if anyone read this chapter when I first put it up you will see I have made some changes. This is because I wrote it late at night and later found my notes with my more intresting plot. So if you like please review.
Also another point is that the next will probably be the final chapter. So for thoes of you who have read this all the way through I thank you very much. By the way, just for funnies if you review this chapter say if you would like a happy or sad ending, shall I make you cheer or weep. ^^
Love xx
