Arc the Third: Renegade
Chapter One

Dax curled his tail around Jak's neck, and looked the room over. As far as things went, he'd slept better when out on the streets, but there were four walls, a window, and a flimsy lock for the flimsy door. If things went south- and let's face it, it was Haven City, things were pretty much guaranteed to go down the toilet- there was a way out. Door or window, Jak could manage either.

Sig had arranged for the room. They couldn't spend forever in his apartment, after all.

"I think it'll do," Dax said.

Jak grunted, and tossed the roll of blankets into a corner. "I've slept worse."

Erk. "I do not like hearing that."

The room was empty of anything pretending to be furniture. In this area of town, that was pretty common. There was dirt on the walls- Dax figured the brown color was dirt, not paint- and on the floor and ceiling.

Jak nodded, and moved over to the window. "What now?"

Dax jumped down onto the sill, and peered out. It was almost impossible to see the streets from this angle; the buildings all seemed to lean towards each other, like drunks trying to stay upright just a little bit longer. "Now I tell you about the situation."

"I know enough."

"No, actually, you don't." Dax didn't know nearly enough, but no need to mention that.

Jak growled, and moved away from the window. "Well?"

Ah, Jak. Taller, broader, hairier- and just as impatient as ever. "To start off with, the KG. They're going to be a problem. We're going to have to get you a hood or something, Jak, because eesh. And those nails. Can we cut 'em, do you think?"

Jak looked down at his hand. "They don't break."

Of course they didn't. "Well, the nine inch nail look is good on you, really, but it'll get attention we really don't need."

Jak huffed, and nodded. "I'll see what I can do. I've been... practicing."

What? When? Dax frowned, and smoothed down the fur on one arm. "Practicing what?"

"For a few minutes, I was normal." Jak looked up, and either he was staring with intensity or glaring with complete and utter loathing, it was impossible to tell. Dax decided he'd just go with the first option. "I want that again."

"Then you're going to get it." Dax rolled his eyes. "But until then, d'you think you can shrink the nails?"

"Ye-es..."

"Then get into the habit, bud. Okay, so, KG. I know you want to kill all of them, but that'd be a bad idea. There's... groups."

Jak raised an eyebrow, and settled down on the floor, leaning back against the wall. His nails, Dax noticed, were gradually shortening.

"Look, remember that scam artist a few years back, who managed to take off with everyone's money?" Jak had gone after the guy, Dax complaining all the way, and gotten the money back. Which wasn't the point. "Well, there's a lot more like him in a place like this. Not every person's a good one. So, the KG was supposed to protect people from those who like hurting others, and protect the people from the metal-heads."

Jak nodded, and studied his nails. They were about an inch long, and didn't seem to be getting any shorter. "How do I tell the difference?"

Considering Dax had really, really over simplified the difference between general guards, investigators, and a whole host of other types of KG, he simply shrugged. "Trust me. You'll pick it up, but until then, I'll let you know. Okay?"

Not that he'd stop Jak from killing all too many of the guards. Most of them were nothing but vicious thugs, anyways.

And maybe Jak saw a little of that in Dax's expression, because he stopped looking sulky, and went back to looking kind of bored. Considering he looked kind of bored whenever he didn't have places to go, people to see, that was pretty normal and definitely a good sign.

"Okay, so, another thing. It's weird. But people don't care about each other's business as much. I mean, close neighbors, yeah, but even then it's not like it is at home."

Jak nodded. "So..."

"So, if the guard starts hollering, we just have to get out of sight, not look suspicious, and people probably won't give us away. Probably."

You just never knew, though. "Anyways. So, I was thinking we'd work with this group. They're called the Underground. They're rebelling against the Baron, which should make you happy, and if you hurt a bunch of thugs they wouldn't get too upset. Maybe about the mess, but hey. This is Haven City, baby."

Jak showed his fangs in a grin. "Yeah? Alright. A rebellion should have more behind them than what we've got."

Dax nodded. "Glad you see it my way, babe. But I'll tell you one thing we've got that the rebellion doesn't. And it packs one hell of a punch, too."

"I don't think Sig counts."

"For once, I'm not talking about Sig."

Jak stood up, and held out his arm. "Then what are you talking about?"

"Tess."

The Hip Hog was technically open during the day, same way it technically served food with the booze. There were maybe two people who'd come in during the day, and Sig was one of them. Pretty much everyone else waited until evening to do business with Krew, or get their drinks.

Tess, as a result, ran the place to her satisfaction during the day, not the clientele's. The music was quieter, and involved fewer instruments screeching their death songs, and singers who you could actually understand. The lights were still low- no one sane wanted to see what never got cleaned up- but it still seemed welcoming enough. About halfway through the day, when the sun was still up but work was over, the place got a few customers, which made it worth unlocking the doors during the morning, apparently.

Dax judged the hour as just about to turn from ordinary dock workers sucking down a cold one at the end of the day, to Krew's preferred, criminal clientele. The music was still this side of understandable, and no one had started the weekly bar fight.

Jak sauntered in through the open door, teeth clenched and body braced. Dax kept one hand on the top of Jak's ear, tail curled around his buddy's neck.

The scarf thing was going to have to change. Everyone in the room looked up, looked over at the newcomer- and hey, lookit that! Dax could now use the phrase "mass exodus" in polite company.

Jak's growl sounded pleased when the last straggler scrambled out. Dax resolved not to think about it.

"Who- oh, Daxxie-kins!"

"Tess, baby! Jak, hurry over there." Dax pointed at the bar, and waggled his eyebrows. "My honey-bun needs me."

"Honey-bun?" Jak raised his eyebrows, but sauntered over. Tess did a double take, but Dax wasn't sure if that was because of the horns imperfectly hidden, or because Jak's skin was clashing with his clothes. Knowing Tess, though... the second one.

"Snugglepuss, why don't you introduce your friend to me?" Tess cocked her hip, and folded her arms. The fact that both moves emphasized her waist and bust wasn't lost on Dax. Then again, he'd seen her use both moves right before taking down some asshole who'd tried running out on the bill, so.

"Snugglepuss?" Jak repeated, almost laughing.

Dax beamed. "Cuddle muffin, this is Jak, my friend I told you about."

Tess just lit up, like one of those flash bulbs. "Jak! Oh! C'mere!" She leaned over the counter and grabbed Jak by the neck.

Jak erupted. There wasn't any other word for it. One second he'd been smiling faintly, looking between Dax and Tess like he was waiting for the punch line. The next- yeah. Urk.

Tess had the sense to drop down behind the bar. Not that it did much good when Jak ripped the bar top up and tossed a good sized chunk back over his shoulder. Dax winced.

"Hey, buddy, stop. Stop!" And a table. Oh, and the chairs, yeah, don't forget those. Have to make them go smash too. Eesh. "Jak! It's okay! It's just Tess, just a hug, what the fuck?"

Jak roared, and tried to turn to face Dax. Since Dax was- very sensibly, thank you- still on Jak's shoulder, this kind of meant his buddy was turning in place a minute there. Sometime during the dizzy circles, Dax noticed Tess slipping into the back hallway. Good. Great, even.

"Jak, calm down. I get it, I do, that was a surprise and I'm guessing you're not too fond of surprises." Should he be freaking out now? Dax thought he should've been, but, well, would that help? Really? "Jak, if you don't calm down right now, so help me, I'm going to tell Tess all about the whumpbees when you were eight."

Nada. Nothing. Just more roaring and smashing. Dax hunkered down to wait.

"You're not allowed to drink. I bet you'd be a happy drunk, but why take chances?"

Jak huffed, and finally stopped. Discounting the somehow still intact bottles behind the destroyed bar, there wasn't anything left to destroy. Except the walls. And for some reason, Jak had decided no, not going to take out the walls, though he might change his mind later, who knew.

"Are you done yet?"

Jak blinked, and his snarl faded somewhat. "Dax?"

"Yup, that's my name, don't wear it out."

There wasn't any sign to show Jak was less freaked out. Just, y'know, confused face. "What happened?"

Dax sighed, and massaged his forehead. "Tess tried to give you a hug. You flipped."

Jak muttered something vile under his breath. "Is she...?"

"She's fine." Dax pointed towards the back door, which was slowly opening. "Show's over, snookums. We're all good now."

Tess slipped out, and looked over the damage. There wasn't any way the Hip Hog would be open for a couple days. "Wow," she breathed.

Jak looked like a whipped croco-dog. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so-"

"Oh, don't be. I've been telling Krew we need to replace the tables and chairs for months and months. He'll have to listen to me now, and I can finally get something that won't break the first time someone's tossed on top of it."

Dax grinned, and elbowed Jak's chin. "Ain't she great?" he asked.

"Uh..."

Tess smiled, and picked her way across the wreckage. "I'm sorry. I should've thought before I grabbed. Are you okay? You didn't hurt yourself, did you?"

Jak's jaw couldn't have dropped any further. "You're worried if I'm hurt?"

"Of course, sweetie. Let me see your hands." She grabbed at them before Jak could reply, and Dax tensed, slightly, ready for a repeat freak out.

Jak sucked in a breath, but didn't pull away or do anything else violent. He held still, eyes squinted almost shut, while Tess studied his fingers.

"There's a few nasty scrapes on your knuckles," she said. "Come along into the back, I can bandage you right up."

"Like I said," Dax muttered. Jak glanced over at him. "Ain't she the best?"

Jak shook his head, and meekly obeyed Tess. In short order, he was perched on a chair (that probably could've been used as a blunt object in a fight, and come out without damage), his scrapes bandaged, and with a cupcake on a plate in front of him.

"I tore up your bar, and you're feeding me?" Jak asked.

"Sweetie, Dax has told me all about you." Tess rubbed Jak's hair, right between the horns. "Besides, you need feeding up. You're too skinny."

"Yeah, Jak." Dax jumped down onto the table. "How you gonna get a wife, you so skinny."

He dodged a lazy swipe of claws, and snuck a taste of the cupcake icing. Eh, just a little too sweet, he'd leave the rest to Jak.

"You just eat," Tess told Jak, then turned to Dax. "Snookums, I know you had limited options, but why would you clothe my Jakie-poo in this?"

Her Jakie-poo? Dax smiled, just a touch sharp. "Babe, that's why we came here, I know when I can't do something. And no one's better with the clothes than you."

"Aw..." She scooped him up and cuddled him close. Dax's face was pressed up against Tess' neck, but he could see Jak start and dig his claws into the table top.

Deal with it, Jak. Tess was a tactile person. And her cuddles were some of the best.

"Well, you boys are very lucky." Tess let Dax back down onto the table, then tapped Dax's nose with one finger. "You just wait right here, I'll be back."

Dax admired the view as Tess walked away, then looked over at Jak. "Don't like cupcakes anymore?"

Jak blinked, and looked down at his snack. "Uh, no, that's not... If I eat this, I won't end up talking like her, will I?"

"I eat her cooking all the time, an' I talk just fine."

Jak raised his eyebrows, but picked up the cupcake all the same.

Tess returned only a few minutes later, arms piled high with clothes. "Now, Daxxie told me you like blue," she said. "Stand up, I want to see if this... No." She frowned at a perfectly inoffensive blue shirt, and tossed it onto a counter.

"Hey, I liked that one," Dax said.

"Too small across the shoulders, baby." Tess held up another shirt, and hummed. "This one's the right size, but, I don't know, too dark?"

Jak cleared his throat and looked down and to the side. "Whatever won't attract attention."

"Aw, honey..." Tess set the shirt aside on the table, and wrapped her arms around Jak's shoulders. "Just leave everything to me."

"Uh," Jak mumbled. "Thanks."

Dax grinned, and settled in for the long haul.

Tess had found a way of wrapping Jak's scarf around his forehead and neck in a way that hid the horns, without drawing the same attention a hood would have gotten. It also, somehow, detracted from his solid black eyes and bloodless skin, though Dax honestly couldn't have said how Tess managed that. Nonetheless, he paid attention to the scarf wrapping, so he'd be able to duplicate the result.

The rest of Jak's clothes- three shirts and two pairs of pants- were nearly identical. Blue shirts, and tan pants. Dax wanted to know why Tess had such clothes available- but at the same time, he didn't really.

It wasn't like Tess was working for Krew because she wanted to be a bar maid, or liked Krew. She'd let a few things slip over the months he'd known her, little things that on their own meant nothing but together meant... something.

Tess was watching Krew. Dax was reasonably certain it wasn't for the KG; even if it was for the Guard, he knew she would never, ever turn him and Jak over to Praxis' forces.

"There," Tess said, and fit the last of the provisions she was sending them off with into a pack. The clothes were at the very bottom, and a layer of food was on top. Dax was a bit bemused by the offerings, but hey. Having the pack meant they weren't limited to what fit in Jak's pockets, and they didn't have to leave anything important at the apartment.

"You don't have to," Jak started.

"But I want to." For a moment, Tess looked serious, not at all the airheaded bimbo she pretended to be. "You need help. I can give you help. Don't argue, okay, Jak? Just trust me."

Jak sighed, and looked over at Dax. "Alright," he murmured. "Dax trusts you. That's good enough for me."

Aw. "Tess, babe, I owe you one."

And just like that, Tess flipped an internal switch and returned to 'giggling blonde' mode. "We'll talk about what you owe me later, cuddle-bunny."

Dax grinned back, and hopped up onto Jak's shoulder. Tess showed them to the back door, which would let them get into the maze of back streets and side alleys without getting spotted, and headed back to her post. Probably to arrange a cleanup of the bar, if Dax guessed right.

"Dax?" Jak stepped over a pile of trash that had been there for months. Dax thought he might have slept in that pile, before meeting Sig...

"Yeah, bud?"

"You and Tess...?"

Oh, right. Yeah, you could get that impression, couldn't you? "Completely platonic, big guy. I'm one of the only animals she's not allergic to, and hey, I flirt back without getting all grabby hands with her." Dax shrugged, and crouched down. "Now, let's give your disguise a whirl. Place we're going, never closes down."

"Yeah?" Jak paused before hitting the main streets. "Where are we going?"

"Time to meet the Underground." And boy, wasn't that going to be fun?

Okay, remember how Jak was acting far too calm back in the Temple? Yeah, that's not going to continue. Physical contact won't be the only thing to set him off, either...

On a personal note- still no job, but I've had a few interviews so fingers are crossed. I'll post again next month on the 13th. (Also, whoever-you-were that called me lame for fainting after giving blood- you're hilarious. Really. Try again, n00b, and this time try actually engaging your brain, m'kay? Also, anonymous 'flames' are just a sign of cowardice.)