A/N So, here I skip another mission, in case anybody cares… and I hope you're enjoying it. Muahahaha. Everything is going well according to plan! I mean… just read and review. Read and review….
Day Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine
Jaylie's Point of View
The elderly man Kor and the Kid arrived not long after Jak and Raven left to go do some other mission. Torn was giving them some advice and making plans when Kor showed Torn a wanted poster… and he got pretty angry.
''The city's on high alert! What the Hell did you two do?'' Torn shouted, slamming his fist on the table.
''Us? Nothing. We've been-uh-sightseeing…right Jak?'' Daxter replied, trying to look innocent. Something about Raven didn't look right. She looked like she was limping and wincing in pain at times. I didn't want to say anything-that might make Torn even more angry.
''Really? Then why are the Krimzon Guard looking for a 'dangerous young man with light hair, a blue tunic and a rabid orange RAT on his shoulder?''
''Ahhh…. Could be anyone. Orange is the new black this season.'' Daxter grinned.
''Look, we climbed up to the Baron's palace and… we tripped a few alarms.'' Jak rolled his eyes.
''Oh, right, that too…'' Daxter frowned.
''What? I didn't authorize a strike on the-'' Torn started, but Jak cut him off. I felt bad for the Kid… he just sat there looking from one to the other and twiddling his thumbs.
'''Hey, we kicked the Baron's ass! Unfortunately, he escaped….''
''And we overheard a meeting with the leader of the Metal Heads.'' I cut in.
''You saw the Metal Head leader?'' Kor gasped.
''No, he was on a communicator, but we heard him talking with Baron Praxis. ''
''The Baron is bribing the Metal heads with Eco!'' Daxter exclaimed.
''Hmpphhh… It will never be enough.'' Kor narrowed his eyes.
''But the Baron's gonna double-cross 'em!''
''Is that so? Well, our good Baron's 'charm' must have angered someone because theirs word from the Wasteland that Metal Head armies are on the move again.''
''Why didn't you tell me that Ashelin was Praxis' real daughter? What's your connection with her?'' I felt Jak aim this question both at Torn and me.
''That's none of your business! Scouts report movement in dead town… creatures moving toward the scared sight, just as before.''
''What happened before?'' Daxter asked.
''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.''
''And now you expect us to go out there again?''
''You catch on fast! If you prevent the Metal Heads from reaching the Sacred Site, the Shadow will be…most grateful. He might even ask to see you. Go on, get out of here…. And don't screw this up, Jak.'' Torn scolded him.
All three of or abilities were needed on this mission, so we got in a zoomer for three people and sped off towards the Dead Town elevator.
Everything was quiet when we entered at first, then we saw it. Metal Heads were everywhere. They were prowling the crumbling buildings in the distance, they were lounging on the ruins, and they were standing in our way.
''Come on, it's now or never.'' Raven whispered, pulling out her pistol and taking aim at a one resting on a nearby ruin. The second she shot her gun off, we covered her fire and took care of at least ten metal heads standing in our way. After that, we moved further through Dead town and climbed up some ruins before taking off in the right direction. Now, there had to be at least twenty of those bastards in our way. At this point, Jak was ticked and went into his Dark form. Within minutes, the entire area was clear of Metal Heads.
Now came time for more climbing. Once we hoisted ourselves onto a narrow brick ruin walkway, we carefully made our way into the larger ruins. More Metal Heads lurked inside, and these were dead within minutes. I led the group up a few steps and we turned a corner.
''Did we get all of them?'' Jak wondered, looking back.
''Yeah. This is the Sacred Site right here.'' Raven announced, pointing straight ahead. Jak and Daxter's mouths both fell open in shock.
''IS THAT-IS THAT-No, it couldn't be. That's not-''
''it's… Samos' hut….'' Jak whispered.
''But HOW WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY?'' Daxter covered his face. I saw it all click together in Jak's mind.
''We're in the future, Dax. This horrible place…is our world.''
''Wait-you mean to tell us that Sandover Village, the place you lived before you got brought here-used to be right here?'' I gasped, looking up at the hut.
''It has to be. There's no other way around it. Come on, let's go back. I need to talk to Torn.'' Jak frowned, turning back while the rest of us just looked on, awe-struck. We followed him back to the Hideout, where Torn was standing in the way.
''The Shadow's decided it's time to meet you.'' He had his arms folded, looking serious as usual.
''Why is that place in the old ruins so important to you?''
''There's a powerful energy force around the old house. The Metal Heads are drawn to it.''
''No kidding! We used to know the guy who lived there.''
''So… you're the new recruits who keep getting into trouble.'' There was an elderly man standing in front of the table, He turned and I could see that his head was made of what looked like a literal bush of green hair with a log stuck inside it and a bird's nest sitting on top with a speckled egg still inside. He was wearing all green and brown-even his skin was green! And he had a little mustache below his nose.
''Oh, no, not you!'' Daxter whined.
''Welcome to our humble Underground movement. I am known as the Shadow, but you can call me Samos. I believe you've earned that right. And you are?''
''You've already met me.'' Raven smirked.
''Yes, yes. Hello Raven. How are you?''
''Can't complain.'' She shrugged.
''I'm Jaylie.''
''Holy cats-you're the Baron's other daughter, aren't you? I healed you once before, haven't I? The ribs, wasn't it?''
''Yes, and thank you, but I'm not his real daughter.'' I shook my head.
''And who are you two?'' Samos pointed at Jak and Daxter.
''Sheesh, Jak. We went through all that just to meet his holiness- 'ol log in the head grandpa green?''
''Don't you remember who we are?''
''Sorry, kid, I've never seen you before… and I never forget a face! Especially one that ugly!'' He pointed at Daxter.
''So it begins…'' Daxter frowned.
''How is this possible? We came through the rift with you! Into the future, right?''
''Yeah! You used to look older then dirt and uglier then a knotted stump! What did you do, get a little nip and tuck while we were gone?''
''Listen, boys. 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, a child heir 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.''
''Sure sounds like the old Samos…'' Daxter mumbled.
''Right now I need you to go to Haven Forest and root out some Metal Heads for me. That forest is the source of my power, but I can't protect it much longer. Destroy all the metal heads you find there. Good luck and welcome to the fight.''
Raven's Point of View
Jaylie decided to stay behind, while I consulted Samos about the wound on my side that Jak had dressed for me last minute. He checked and healed some of it. I felt much better and more ready to fight then ever before.
''Good luck you two… and the rat as well.'' Samos told us before we left.
The moment we stepped inside the elevator, we spotted the two JET-boards leaning against the wall. The communicator popped up that girl from the race garage's voice came out of it.
''Hi, you two. I left my JET-boards at the elevator. The Shadow told me you would need them for the mission. Since you're working for the Underground, I'll even let you keep them.''
''Cool! The JET-boards are ours! I call shot gun.'' Daxter joked.
''You know, she wouldn't be talking to you if you weren't working for the Underground.'' I whispered, surprised I even thought it.
''You don't know that-and since when do you care?'' He raised an eyebrow.
''Since… since we started being sent on missions together. I don't think it's a good idea for you to get distracted.''
''Distracted? Are you sure that's what this is about?'' Dax suggested.
''What else would it be about?''
''Jee, I don't know. Maybe someone's a little jealous.'' He grinned like a Cheshire cat.
''Jealous? Hell no. I just don't want you to go astray. Samos is right-we have too many things to worry about.''
''I don't think it's a good idea for you to tell me what to do.'' Jak snapped, leaving the room and walking out into the sunlight. I felt bad immediately for what I said, but I went on destroying metal heads as usual. Once that mission was done and our JET-boards were strapped onto our backs, we were being asked to come to the bazaar by Ashelin over the communicator. She said something about a suspicious tanker…
Not a word was spoken between us as we climbed onto a two person zoomer and made our way out there. We had to walk the rest of the way, since most of the bazaar doesn't allow vehicles.
''How's it riding in the hood, red?'' Daxter asked.
''Get out of the area. This is Krimzon Guard business. One of Vin's Eco Tankers is coming in from the Wasteland but the clearing transmission sounded fishy. The driver was scared. We're going to check it out just in case. '' It sounded sort of like she called us here just to tell us to get out.
''How can we help?'' Jak asked, clearly a little nervous around all the KG nearby.
''I've got it handled.'' Ashelin said just before a huge tanker came crashing in through the nearby wall.
''AMBUSH!'' One of the guards yelled. We all joined in to help get rid of the Metal Heads as they streamed out of the tanker in groups.
''Damn! Help me take out all the Metal Heads!'' Jak, Daxter and I jumped into action, shooting and punching them out of the way. It seemed to be a never ending stream of Metal Heads until finally, no more were coming out.
Ashelin kicked an eco barrel away as we all caught our breath for a moment.
''We got 'em all! They're getting bolder every day! It's almost as if they're testing our defenses… like probing attacks. I've got a bad feeling about this.'' She walked away before Jak could say you're welcome. I was a little more angry now. I could see he liked her too. Now he was being distracted by that mechanic girl and Ashelin? Why was this bothering me? It shouldn't have bothered me at all, but it did for some reason.