Hello again, my readers!
Sorry for the wait.
And I'm going to try writing this story in third-person, just to see how well I do it with this fandom.
Also... I just got my braces off this morning! No more metal mouth! Except for the retainers I now have to wear 24 hours a day, but it's worth it!
Chapter Twelve:
Dezerae's mind was spinning as she struggled to find sleep. Listening to Natalie and Tess snoring softly, flashes of the conversation that had taken place a few hours ago in the Hip Hog bounced around in her skull.
"There's been a breakout..."
"...rumors say it's a demon..."
"...out for revenge on the Baron..."
"...tapes show some orange weasel in goggles got him out..."
"...called him 'Jack' or something..."
"...got mad and almost killed the rat...stopped for some reason..."
It couldn't be. Why would Jak be in prison? Saving the world wasn't a crime, was it?
Who knew? Maybe in this place it was. Dezerae wouldn't be surprised; things in Haven City were so different from her home.
Precursors, I'm a moron, she thought, sitting up and massaging her temples. This much thinking was giving her a headache.
Two years and I don't think to check the Prison files once.
Another question popped up in her head: Demon? Jak wasn't a demon, he could barely bring himself to hit anything other than a Lurker.
"It has been a long time," Dezerae whispered to herself. "Maybe Jak and Daxter've changed. I know I have."
And she had. Since arriving in Haven City she'd grown a few inches, and she'd gotten leaner. She was more willing to handle a weapon than before setting foot in the city. Her hair now reached the middle of her back, and more often than not was worn in a braid. Now when she looked at the photo of herself and childhood friends, she barely recognized herself.
"I wish I knew where they were," she breathed, sleep finding her at last.
A few days later, Dezerae got her wish, though it happened quite differently than she would have expected.
"Shit," she muttered, diving behind another crumbling wall as shots rang out behind her. Why had she run this errand for Torn?
Oh, yeah; because she was so sure of herself and thought she could handle it.
'Go help the newbie,' he said. 'You'll be fine,' he said. I'm going to frickin' murder Torn when I get back.
Torn had sent her out in the field, a rare event. Specifically, Dead Town. That meant that he either had nobody else to do if for him, or he actually thought she was that good. More than likely the former. Her mission was to locate a greenhorn who'd radioed in, requesting back up. It turned out that the rookie's companion had panicked and called in. The newbie needed absolutely no assistance, and for some reason, now saw Dezerae as a threat.
I haven't even seen the idiot, and he's already trying to kill me. Wonderful.
"I think you got it, Jak. Whatever it was."
"I don't think so, Dax. They might be trying to set us up for an ambush."
Dezerae froze. That couldn't be... But there was no mistaking the first voice: Daxter.
The other... No. Jak didn't speak. He couldn't. But Daxter had called him Jak, so it had to be him.
Now she knew she'd found them. Or rather, they'd found her. Whatever, same difference.
The light clunk of boots on dirt alerted her to the danger she was in; she knew them, but they didn't know that Dezerae was the one behind the wall. Jak could end up shooting her and not even know it until it was too late.
"Before you pull the trigger," she said, standing in her hiding place. "Think about who it is you'll hit."
The footsteps halted abruptly.
"And who is that, exactly?" the gruff voice inquired, sounding wary but curious.
"I'll give you a couple hints, Jak: I've known you nearly my whole life, and my brother is sitting on your shoulder."
She heard a gasp, and tiny footsteps hitting the ground, followed by considerably heavier ones.
The furry form of Daxter appeared around the corner of the crumbling plaster. Upon seeing her, he jumped at her, latching his arms around her neck and shouting, "Dezzie!"
Dezerae laughed, hugging her brother back. "The one and only. Nice to see you, too, big brother."
Suddenly, she was pulled into a one-armed hug by Jak, just like he always had when they were kids. Jak had grown over the two years like she had. He was still taller than she was (it figured; every time she thought she'd reached his height, he gained an inch or three), and his hair was longer, now hanging down the back of his neck in blond-gree tresses. He still sported the steel eco-ring he never took off as a kid, and the same goggles he always wore were on his forehead. His eyes, happy at the moment, seemed darker than before, more dangerous. Even now, though he radiated relief, his persona gave off a slightly angry air. Plus, he had facial hair. That hadn't seemed like a possibility back in Sandover.
Daxter's changes were more subtle. He looked slightly skinnier, and his goggle appeared to hang looser around his ears. But the relief from seeing both him and Jak erased all worry for the time being.
After several rounds of "Omigod, you're here, you're alive!" the reunited threesome decided to head back to HQ.
So, am I forgiven for the wait?
I think I did pretty good on the reunion. But it would mean a lot to me if you told me what you think!
