All right! Here we go with the next chapter! Sorry it took so long to update! Thanks to everyone who's been reading and alerting! :)
DISCLAIMER: Only my OCs and side plots are mine. Everything else belongs to Naughty Dog.
It was awfully quiet, Ashelin noticed as she and the others attempted to prepare for whatever races were approaching next. In fact, she and Keira were the only ones awake at this time, as they had volunteered to sit up and make sure Jak, Daxter, and Paige got back safely from whatever they were doing. There had been an awkward silence at first, so Ashelin decided to pace around the room and look out the window a few times.
"Do you think they'll come back soon?"
Ashelin nearly gasped as she glanced up; she hadn't expected Keira to say anything to her directly. Not that they hated each other, but they weren't exactly best friends either. And they both knew why: they both had feelings for Jak.
"I know they will," Ashelin said in a firm voice, "They always do."
Keira laughed tentatively. "I guess if they can survive being thrown out in the Wasteland, they can take on Kras," she joked, "Which leads me to my next question." She took a deep breath, and for some reason, Ashelin felt a hint of nervousness course through her.
"I know this will probably sound stupid," Samos's daughter continued, "But do you think Jak and Paige like each other? You know, as more than friends?"
Ashelin widened her eyes and then had to chuckle. "Jak and Paige?" she echoed, "Definitely not. What makes you think they like each other?"
Keira sighed. "Well," she answered, "They've done a lot together. I mean, she went out to the Wasteland with him and everything, and the way they're always joking with each other-"
"Is just friendship," Ashelin interrupted, holding up one of her hands, "I would think they were almost like brother and sister, the way they interact. Trust me, you've got nothing to worry about. Jak still likes you."
Keira reclined on the couch. "That's how I feel sometimes," she admitted, "But ever since the whole drama with Erol, he's been sort of distant. Not that we haven't been close a few times, but still…"
Ashelin felt slightly guilty; she knew what Keira wanted to really say, but wouldn't because she was in the room. "Listen to me," she began, "The way Jak looks at Paige is nothing like the way he looks at you. And she's never stated or suggested that she's interested in him in that way. You have nothing to worry about. Honestly."
However, the reaction she received from Keira was the last one she expected; the young mechanic suddenly faced her and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "You seem to be getting awfully defensive over the whole thing," she commented.
Ashelin responded by placing her hands on her hips. "No, I'm not," she insisted, "I'm just trying to tell you not to worry, because the kiss we shared in the desert meant nothing-"
"Wait, what?" Keira interrupted, going pale as her eyes widened in shock, "You and Jak kissed? When?"
Suddenly, Ashelin realized the mistake she had just made. Oops, she thought, covering her mouth.
"Ashelin?" Keira growled, leaping up from the couch, "When did you and Jak kiss?"
Busted, some voices deep inside Ashelin's head taunted. "Sorry, Keira," she apologized in a rough voice, "You might want to sit down for this…"
"This day is getting weirder and weirder," I commented, "David formerly working for Mizo."
"Well, at least we're getting somewhere," Jak said encouragingly, "See what else you can find, Pecker. We're going to rest up before the big race tomorrow."
While we had been in the middle of trailing Mizo's Dream Team, Pecker had informed us that the Red Cup Grand Prix was going to be tomorrow. Wow, that was fast, I couldn't help but think to myself. I guessed we had won enough races in order to be qualified.
"I will not let you down!" Pecker declared, saluting us with one of his wings before lifting off from my shoulder and flying away.
"We'll see about that," Daxter mumbled, and I covered my mouth and tried not to laugh. Even after everything from the last year, the two of them still couldn't stand each other.
"Ready for the race tomorrow?" I asked Jak, glancing over at him.
"Paige," he replied, "I was born ready!"
I laughed. "Ready for anything, huh?" I joked, "I'm ready, too. Hopefully after this race, my boot can finally come off." Jak nodded, and then the three of us fell silent the rest of the way back to the hotel.
By the time we returned, however, we heard something we weren't expecting to hear: voices having a very tense discussion. We all froze where we were as we recognized them. Keira and Ashelin! I thought with dread, Oh, crap.
We all just glanced at each other nervously, and Jak gingerly pushed the door open as we tiptoed inside. The sight we stumbled on shocked us; Keira and Ashelin were standing a few feet apart from each other, frowning as they had their little argument. "I always knew there was something about you that I didn't like, and now this proves it!" Keira was saying as she pointed at Ashelin.
"I told you it meant nothing," Ashelin insisted, putting her hands on her hips.
Before Keira could reply, Jak pushed past me and Daxter and moved to separate the two women. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" he cried, "Time out! What's going on?"
"You should know," Keira answered, glaring at Jak, "You kissed Ashelin after the war last year?"
I gasped and felt the blood drain from my face. Uh oh, I thought, She knows.
"It didn't mean anything," Jak tried to explain, "How did you even find out, anyway?"
"I accidentally blurted it out before," Ashelin explained to us, "I didn't mean to…"
"Didn't mean to what?" Keira asked, "Kiss my boyfriend or let me know?"
"Keira, calm down," I tried to say as soothingly as possible, though she glared at me next.
"You knew, didn't you, Paige?" she realized, pointing at me now, "And you didn't tell me?"
I sighed as I thought about what the Green Sage's daughter was saying to me. This was the second time I had technically kept something from her, the first being that I had been a part of the DWP back in the first war and that I had known Jak. I felt bad, but I also knew it wasn't my place to tell. I just folded my arms and looked away.
"You, too, Daxter?" Keira inquired, turning to the ottsel next, who for once had nothing to say. Instead, he just crawled onto Jak's shoulder and clutched it tightly.
"Sig knew, too," I whispered, and Keira widened her eyes again.
"Oh, Precursors," she petitioned, "Does Torn know?"
"Know what?" another voice cut in, and we all glanced towards one of the bedroom doors as Torn himself stepped into the room. Oh, great, I thought, face palming myself.
"Why is everyone shouting in here?" the ex-Underground member questioned, taking in Keira and Ashelin's red faces and the aghast expressions on the rest of us.
"Uhh, Torn?" I piped up, "You sure you want to know?"
"Shut up, Paige!" Keira snapped at me, "You didn't tell him, either, so you have no right to dictate whether or not he should know!"
"Again, know what?" Torn repeated, narrowing his eyes at all of us now.
"You better sit down for this," Ashelin told him, and looking suspicious, Torn sat down on the couch as Jak and Ashelin sat across from him. I felt awkward for my friends as Jak and Ashelin explained the kiss after Erol had been defeated. Torn also widened his eyes in shock, and he leapt up from his chair as if it had been electrified.
"You kissed my girlfriend?" Torn cried, shoving Jak and causing him to stumble back a little bit. Jak retaliated by pushing him in response.
"It was completely spur of the moment," Jak explained, "It didn't mean anything."
"It really didn't," Ashelin added in an attempt to stop the fighting, but that didn't faze Torn. He lunged for Jak again, taking out his curved knife as he charged towards the Wastelander. In response, Dark Eco crackled from Jak's skin, and we all gasped as we realized what was about to happen.
"Stop!" Daxter and I both shouted, racing forward. From next to me, I could see Keira and Ashelin approaching Torn as they grabbed him and moved him to the other side of the room. Meanwhile, Dax climbed onto Jak's shoulder and began whispering in his ear in order to calm him down while I held him by one of his arms. After a while, Jak and Torn seemed to calm down, though they were glaring at each other from opposite sides of the room. Keira and Ashelin, too, were eyeing each other with hostility as they backed away from each other. Torn took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes for a minute.
"You know," he began, breaking the awkward silence, "Suddenly, I'm not in the mood to be here right now. I'm going to take a walk."
"I'll come with you," Keira told him, glaring at us again as the two of them exited the hotel, slamming the door behind them. For a minute, all Jak, Daxter, Ashelin, and I could do was glance at each other.
"Shit," I cursed.
"Yeah, I know," Ashelin mumbled, "It was an accident. I didn't mean for her to find out like that."
"I was going to tell her when all of this died down," Jak said.
"You should've told her after everything died down last year," Dax pointed out, "Actually, both of you should have."
"Daxter's right," I agreed, shrugging as Jak glared at me. He lifted a finger to comment but I stopped him.
"Don't even think about it," I warned him, "Come on, let's go rest. We have a race tomorrow."
Keira knew about the kiss from last year. She actually knew about it. It shouldn't have happened in the first place, but there was nothing we could do about it now. I hadn't meant for her to find out like this, and I was hoping she would forgive me and Ashelin. I was going to make it up to her before all this was over.
The next morning was awkward. I got ready for the Grand Prix in silence as I thought about how Torn and Keira hadn't come back until early this morning. Where they had gone was a mystery entirely.
Sig was the only one in the living room by the time Daxter and I went to sit out there. Sighing, I reached for the remote and turned on the television, revealing GT Blitz and Pecker, like always.
"Once again, we bring you all the racing action as close as it gets!" Blitz announced, glancing down at his clipboard.
"Yes indeedy," Pecker added excitedly, "The winner here will move one step closer to qualifying for the big championship race."
"But that step could be right off a cliff!" Blitz cut in, "UR-86 has never lost in this event before and the crowd is screaming for another mechanical mashing here today." The camera then switched over to the robot himself, who was flexing his muscles and gazing into the camera.
"Look at '86's confidence, his poise, his game face is just rock solid."
"Yeah, well, he's a robot," Pecker told him, "What do you expect?" With that, I shut off the TV.
"We're dead," Dax declared, slumping back onto the couch.
"Watch yourself out there, Jak," Sig warned, "He can really light up a track, both with his speed and his weapons."
"Let's melt this sucker!" I declared, frowning at the screen before getting up. Next to me, I heard a side door open, and Paige emerged in her racing gear. She was just slipping her gloves on over her hands as she glanced up at us.
"Ready to race?" she asked.
"Yeah," I told her, "Let's go." Thankfully, she didn't bring up last night's little incident.
By the time we got to the garage, we spotted David checking our cars to make sure they were in working order. "David!" I cried.
David looked up. "Oh, hey, guys," he greeted, "I thought I'd check your cars quickly before you raced. Keira was here before, and went I went over to say hi to her, she just walked away and didn't finish looking them over." He bit his lip nervously.
"Did something happen?" he asked.
"Keira's mad at all of us right now," Paige explained, "Torn, too, actually. We haven't seen them since last night." I felt guilty again as she said this, and I looked away.
"Uh oh," David replied, "Whatever happened, I hope it all blows over soon. This definitely isn't the time to be getting angry." You and me both, I thought to myself.
"How are they looking?" Sig questioned the Freedom League guard.
"Right as rain," David reported, "You guys are gonna be great!"
"Thanks," I thanked him, eyeing him warily for a second. He was even more eager to help us, and it was a little strange how he felt like he had to go the extra mile to prove that he was not like his brother.
"There you guys are!" we heard Rayn cry as she and Pecker entered the garage, "We've been looking everywhere for you."
"Sorry, Rayn," David apologized, "I was just inspecting their cars for them."
"Well, the race is about to start," Rayn announced, "I just heard Blitz now. He's trying to say that you all are chickening out."
"Oh, no we're not!" Dax piped up, waving one of his paws in the air, "We're trying to form a plan on how to win this thing!"
"That's a first," Pecker mumbled, but before my best friend could reply, the moncaw flew over to David and landed on his shoulder.
"Since you're not racing, David," he began, "How'd you like to help me save Blitz's show? If I have to listen to him make anymore jokes, I think I will go loco!"
I couldn't stop myself from glancing at Paige and Daxter. I hoped Pecker's plan would work and that David wouldn't suspect anything. He clutched the wrench in his hands as he nodded a few minutes later.
"Sure, why not?" he retorted, "Might as well try and put him in his place. See you guys around! Good luck in the race!" With a tentative wave and a small smile, he exited the garage.
"Well, at least he doesn't suspect anything," Paige whispered.
"What are you cherries talking about?" Sig asked, but before any of us could answer, we heard a loud clanking noise just as UR-86 and Razer entered the room. Oh, great, I thought.
"Looks like we've got some tough competition, huh, 86?" Razer asked as the robot grunted something incomprehensible.
"Or maybe not so tough," he continued as he puffed on his cigarette, "Seeing as how they won't live to see the end of the race."
"That's what you think," I growled in response, clenching my fist as Paige, Dax, and Sig stood next to me in support.
Razer just laughed. "You trust people way too easily, Jak," he commented, "I know Lloyd was just in here fixing your cars. He could have sabotaged them for all you know."
"You're lying!" Paige accused, glaring at him as she folded her arms.
"Am I?" Razer asked innocently, waving before motioning to UR-86. The two of them walked away, and Paige suddenly began to check our cars to make sure David hadn't been actually sabotaging them.
"They look in working order to me," she assessed, "Razer's probably just being an ass, as usual."
"Let's get this race over with," Sig suggested, and we each climbed into our cars as we drove over to the track. Dax dug his claws into my shoulders as we finally arrived, moving to brake next to UR-86, Shiv, and Cutter.
"Welcome to the first event of the Red Cup Grand Prix!" Blitz announced, "Seems our band of newcomers has managed to survive all the way up to now, but will it be enough to beat 86? Only time will tell!" From the corner of my eye, I could see Paige shaking her fist at the sky in annoyance; GT Blitz wasn't one of her favorite people, especially after he had mocked her near-death experience at the beginning of the season.
"On your mark!" Blitz shouted, "Get set! And…GO!"
With the next bell, all six of us stepped on the gas pedal and peeled away from the starting line, beginning the first event of the Red Cup Grand Prix, where we had to accumulate as many points as possible in order to win. UR-86 slid into first place, concentrating on the road ahead of him as we struggled to catch up. To my left, Sig collected some Blue Eco and sped in front of me as he scooped up some Yellow Eco as well. To my right, Paige was trying to overtake Shiv, and the two of them were locked in battle, which she eventually won by ramming into him, sending him flying off track.
So far, our cars seemed to be in working order, now that we were driving them on an actual track. Razer was wrong; David hadn't sabotaged our vehicles. Keira, I thought randomly as I rounded the corner and grabbed some Red Eco in order to leave mines behind me. 86 was just up ahead, and I frowned as I vowed to catch up to him. Sig had taken over first place for a while until the robot hurled some missiles at him and knocked him off course. Paige and I accelerated and raced each other to catch up to 86 first, and I eventually managed to reach him.
"You!" 86 cried. At least, that's what I thought he said- the robotic voice made it impossible to understand him.
"Yeah, me!" I shouted in response, releasing the most powerful Yellow Eco weapon that would hit the racer in first place only. As Blitz announced that I had knocked him out, I drove around him with Paige and Sig close behind. We were all so focused on winning this event that we didn't notice 86's very fast comeback this time around.
"Jak, watch out!" Paige warned, but I was already way ahead of her: I laid a mine right in the robot's path, and we all watched as he exploded and got knocked off track again.
"Damn!" Dax gasped.
"You all right, cherry?" Sig asked over the din.
I was just nodding when I suddenly heard a missile explode out of nowhere, and soon, I realized I was sliding away from the other racers and towards the edge of the track.
"AHHHH!" Daxter screamed again as it looked like we were about to go right over the edge.