Next chapter is here in another fast update! This is what happens when I have to stay up till midnight waiting to register for classes next semester. XD Thanks again for the reviews, and enjoy!
By the way, the reason it looks like I added this chapter twice was that it didn't work when I first tried to upload it. And like I said at the beginning of the story: this isn't JakxOC, just in case it seems that way in this chapter.
DISCLAIMER: Only my OCs are mine. Everything else belongs to Naughty Dog.
Hours later, and back at the hideout…
I hadn't even realized I was crying until I reached up and wiped my face of the tears running down my cheeks. I was just losing my mind over the course of almost one day. Precursors, I thought sadly, looking down at my hands, What's happening to me?
I had to admit it felt good to break the rules, but at the same time…I didn't want to lose track of myself, either. Maybe that was what Lloyd meant earlier, before I…I shot him. I shuddered. I didn't want to think about it. Or Kor and his chilling words to me in the Power Station. Bastard, I thought angrily, clenching my hands into fists.
Suddenly, I heard the Underground door open and shut, and Daxter's voice caught my attention. "One less operation to worry about, thanks to me!" he was saying, and I assumed the two of them were finished at the Dig.
The voices got louder until the door to our room opened. Following that, the demolition duo entered and began taking their shoes off. "Oh, Paige!" Daxter piped up happily, "Guess what?"
"What?" I asked tiredly.
"Tess invited all of us to the Hip Hog!"
I bet he likes her, I thought as I sat up and faced the two boys. "Well, I'm sure you guys will have a lot of fun," I choked, "I can't afford to go back there. Not after running into Erol."
Jak narrowed his blue eyes at me. "You're going to let one bastard stop you from walking the streets?" he asked harshly, "You were doing just fine earlier before we showed up."
I gaped at him. "How much of my run-in with the KG did you see back in the gardens?" I asked.
"All of it," Jak replied, "You managed to hold your own."
I had to smile. "You really think so?" I asked.
"I didn't think you had it in you."
I sighed. "I know you didn't," I replied, "Jak, I don't want to be the person I was in the Fortress anymore. Always taking orders without thinking about it in the slightest, letting people walk all over me."
"You don't have to stay that way," Daxter said, "You can change it if you don't like it, ya know!" I looked away.
"Come on!" Daxter whined, "Just come out with us! I won't sic Jak on you or anything."
I chuckled to myself. "But you guys hate me," I argued, "I helped out with those experiments. You compared me to Erol and Praxis!"
"Oh, I'm still mad about that," Jak assured me, "But you seem too…I don't know…innocent to truly be evil like they are."
"Gee, thanks," I mumbled. I didn't think I was so innocent after these last few days.
"Well, we're gonna go meet Tess!" Daxter chirped, "We'll catch you later?"
I took another deep breath as I realized again that Jak was right. Maybe I was being a little too paranoid. Maybe I didn't have to be so afraid of Erol. After all, Jak wasn't afraid, and his experience with the Commander had been far worse than mine.
"I guess I could come for a little while," I decided, grabbing the helmet and getting up to follow them.
"That's the spirit!" Daxter cheered, and I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. He could be so obnoxious sometimes.
When we emerged onto the streets again, we spotted a one-seat Zoomer, even though it looked big enough to fit at least two people. Jak hopped on as always, ready at the handlebars.
"Okay," I began, "Now what-"
Whoosh! Before I could get the rest of my sentence out, Jak was already flooring it, driving the Zoomer slightly faster than usual. "Ahh!" I screamed as I held onto his back tightly.
Up ahead was a wall, and it looked like we were about to crash right into it. "Look out!" I cried, but Jak continued to drive right towards it before he veered off to the left at the very last minute.
I sighed in relief as Jak started cracking up in front of me. "You're crazy!" I cried, punching him in the shoulder, "What was that all about?"
"You're hilarious when you're scared," Jak commented, smirking at me.
"Oh, now you're trying to mess with me, aren't you?" I replied in the same tone he used, "As payback for the Fortress?"
"Already done," Jak said, "Hold on tight." I gulped and squeezed his waist even tighter now as he started speeding again through the Industrial Zone, cutting corners and narrowly dodging pillars and Krimzon Guards. He and Daxter seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, and over time, I slowly began to relax as well. Jak wasn't trying to get us killed. I hoped.
The ride suddenly became more pleasant, and as Jak and Daxter began to laugh, so did I. This was turning out to be more fun than I had thought it would be. This was also definitely the equivalent to joyriding back at home. Anna would die if she saw me now.
"WOOHOO!" I found myself shouting once we arrived in the Port and began flying above everyone else.
"See!" Daxter cried triumphantly, "I knew we'd get you to lighten up a little bit."
"I'm working on it," I assured him as we entered the Hip Hog. Out of instinct, I briefly looked around to make sure Erol wasn't here. Nope. Didn't see him. Thank the Precursors.
"Jak! Daxter! Paige!" a familiar voice cried, "You made it!" We looked up to see Tess standing at the bar, as usual, and Sig was situated in front of her.
"Yes, we did, baby!" Daxter replied, "Have no fear! The Daxtinator is here!" Tess giggled, and Jak and I glanced at each other as we took our seats on some stools.
"Has he always been like this?" I whispered to him.
"Since Sandover," Jak replied, and I nodded in understanding. I would have to ask him about Sandover later.
"Hello again, cherries," Sig greeted, smiling proudly at us, "I see you've been causing quite a stir around the city. Just like true soldiers!"
"I guess we have," I replied, grinning as Tess poured drinks for all of us. I could tell Jak was like me in that he didn't drink very often, but even he was downing some of the cranberry vodka Tess had poured for him. I picked up the small cup in front of me and studied it for a minute.
"Go on!" Daxter said encouragingly, "It ain't gonna kill ya!"
I examined it for another minute before deciding to take a sip, enjoying the slightly burning sensation in my throat. "Just let me know when you've had enough," Tess whispered out of earshot of the others, and I knew she was referring to my drunken escapades from the night before.
"Thanks, Tess," I whispered in response, and she winked as she handed a drink to Sig.
"See, this ain't so bad!" Daxter said to me, "Right, Paige?"
"No, it's not," I quipped, chuckling as I took another careful sip of my drink, "I'm working on it. Trust me."
"So, Daxter," Tess began, "You told me a few days ago you had a story for me. Wanna tell it now?"
"Oh yeah!" Daxter cheered, climbing down from Jak's shoulder and standing in the middle of the bar.
"What story?" I asked as Jak silently chuckled into his hand.
Daxter exaggerated in clearing his throat. "So there I was, toe to toe with FIVE of the nastiest Metal Heads you ever saw!" he told us in an excited voice, "Slime oozing from monstrous jaws! Teeth sharper than daggers! Slowly, all TEN of 'em surround me. But do I surrender? No! I summon my highly trained killer instincts, and pounce! Hya! Chooy! Whaa! HAA! And when the dust cleared, there were TWENTY less Metal Heads in the world!"
"Oh, Daxter!" Tess sighed, "You're amazing!"
"Yeah, I know," Daxter replied, "Scratch me there." He pointed to his back, and Tess began to massage it.
"When'd you do all that?" I asked.
"He's just exaggerating," Jak whispered to me.
"Am not!" Daxter snapped, overhearing us, "Even Sig thinks it's a great story! Right, Sig?"
"Quite a story there, golden boy," Sig agreed, "I guess you're just the 'animal' I need for another dangerous gig. Combat Metal Heads have now been spotted right here in Haven Forest! These new bad boys have special camouflage, so they're tough to spot but I'm sure with your 'killer instincts' you'll manage. Go to the forest and take 'em all out."
"Oh, boy, a mission!" Daxter exclaimed, "Ready for this?"
"You bet," Jak said, running for the exit to the Hip Hog, "Let's go!"
"Right behind you!" I cried, putting my drink down and following them.
The Stadium section was full of life by the time I arrived at one of the benches close to the. As I sat down, I checked my watch. It was almost time.
A shadow loomed over me, and when I looked up, there was Eileen. "Nurse Peterson," I began, shaking her hand, "Thank you for coming."
"I don't have a lot of time," she replied in a short tone, "What do you want, Erol?"
"Here. Sit. I don't bite." I patted the spot on the bench next to me, and glaring at me, she sat down.
"You and I have been working together for a long time after I saved your life," I told her, "So you should know why you're here."
"What business do you want to discuss with me?" Eileen asked.
"You're still spying on the Underground for us, right?"
"Unfortunately," she grumbled.
"What was that?" I asked.
"Nothing, nothing," she sighed, "Yes, I'm still spying on them. Why?"
"Have you picked up any valuable information on our renegades?"
"Paige and Jak?" Eileen responded, "I haven't even seen them since I drove Paige home when she was drunk." She then looked up at me, narrowing her eyes again.
"With all due respect, Commander," she continued, "I have to ask: do you really have to be so hard on them? They're just kids! They don't know any better!"
"Are you actually starting to care about them?" I replied, smiling smugly at Eileen again, "From where I stood over the years, you just yelled at Paige."
At this, she faltered, which amused me to no end. "I had my own reasons for being harsh with her, Commander," she admitted.
"Just remember who you are," I reminded her, pointing a finger at her, "You're a spy for the KG. Don't let your emotions get in the way. And remember who you owe your life to."
Eileen looked angry, and I wondered if she would try and hit me from where she sat, but luckily, she didn't. For her sake. "Yes, Commander," she replied, getting up and walking away. I was about to leave when I could have sworn I heard her mutter something else under her breath.
"When hell freezes over."
"Why do these Metal Heads have to be so vicious?" I asked out loud as Jak, Daxter and I ran through Haven Forest in an attempt to finish off the camouflaged beasts. Skull Gems and Dark Eco were scattered everywhere, and I made sure to stay away from the balls of Dark Eco as Jak ran around and collected them, as well as the skull gems.
When we had first arrived here, we hadn't had time to look around at the beautiful forest I had woken up in upon first entering this game. I had almost forgotten what it looked like, but the damn Metal Heads were ruining the peaceful atmosphere.
Jak made good use of his Vulcan Fury for most of the time, especially on the larger Metal Heads. "These things just don't give up!"
"AHH!" Daxter screamed as one Metal Head shot lasers at him. Jak quickly rolled out of the way before he suddenly put his gun away. In that moment, Metal Heads began surrounding us on all sides. I suddenly heard a snap, crackle, and pop, and I instantly realized what was about to happen.
"Get out of here, Paige," Jak growled at me, and I backed up a little bit as he changed into Dark Jak once more. The creature that I had unintentionally helped to create. I couldn't help but feel guilty as I watched Dark Jak run around, swiping at the Metal Heads in all his fury before finally performing one last mind-blowing attack.
"Holy shit!" I cursed as I watched Dark Jak jump into the air and then land back on the ground, sending out a large wave of Dark Eco and taking out the last of the Metal Heads around us. I had taken cover behind a rock so that the wave wouldn't hit me. Once the attack was over, I emerged from hiding as Dark Jak ambled towards me, clutching his head as he groaned and disappeared, Jak taking his place once more.
"Paige!" he cried, and I faced him.
"You okay?" I asked him.
"I'm fine," he replied, "Are you still afraid?"
Surprisingly, I wasn't. Knowing where Dark Jak had come from had somehow diminished that fear and replaced it with another emotion. "No," I told him, sighing, "But I feel guilty. Really guilty." Jak just nodded as he picked up some stray Dark Eco before motioning for us to go back to Haven City.
"Jak, Paige, this is Krew," Krew suddenly began out of nowhere, "I have another task for you. Meet me back at the Hip Hog, mmm?"
"This is the third time I've gone there today," I commented once we were back in the city and on our way to the Saloon.
"Maybe the Precursors are trying to tell you something!" Daxter suggested.
I laughed and shook my head. "I don't know about all that," I teased, "I'm not sure how much I believe in the Precursors."
"What?" Daxter shrieked, but we were already entering the Hip Hog and approaching Krew before he could continue questioning me.
"What's going on, Krew?" Jak asked as we stopped right behind him.
"Years ago, when I was an art 'collector', I hit the local museum to, mmm, 'borrow' a famous statue of Mar, the founder of Haven City. In his hands, the statue held the Ruby Key to the city, an artifact of surpassing beauty... and of course, priceless worth, eh!" Krew explained to us. There he went about this Mar guy again. What else was there to Mar that either my sisters never told me or that I didn't already know just from being in Haven City for two years?
"Oh! I just love art!" Daxter commented.
"Me too," I told him, smiling as Krew continued.
"While smuggling the huge statue through the Sewers, eh, a grueling rainstorm flooded the whole place. The statue and five of my best men were swept away!" He looked away for a minute as Jak looked genuinely sad over this.
"That's terrible," he mused, and I nodded solemnly.
"Yes, a tragic loss," Krew agreed, "I've missed that statue ever since."
What the hell? I thought, That's messed up. I opened my mouth to say just that, but Jak quickly grabbed my wrist and shook his head.
"The Sewers have been so full of water and Metal Heads that I can't get anyone to go down there and retrieve the artifact. But you're special, Jak. You can do it!"
"Jak?" Daxter cried, "Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?"
"Oh, don't I wish, mmm?" Krew replied, hungrily licking his fingers while Jak and I winced in revulsion, "Now, go down there, drain the Sewers, and find that statue at the bottom. Bring back the Ruby Key artifact, and it will open up doors beyond our wildest dreams, eh!"
"Great," Jak growled, "More mucking in the mud…"
"I hate to burst your bathtub bubbles, baby," Daxter replied, "But that ain't just mud down there."
"Oh, gross," I whined, swatting at the ottsel as he avoided my hand, "Sorry, guys. I think I'll sit this one out. No Sewers for me."
"You sure?" Jak asked.
"Positive," I quipped, "You two go ahead."
"Oh, sure," Daxter piped up, "Let us go down there to do the dirty work! Let's go, Jak!"
"We'll catch you later," Jak said to me, and I nodded as I watched him leave.
Draining the Sewers a few hours later…
Wow, was this a tedious task or what?
Draining the Sewers had required using the jet board, but that wasn't the problem. The smell was worse than when we had been here to destroy the turrets the last time. The whole time we drained all the water, I couldn't help but think about the recent turn of events. How the hell had we ended up wandering around in the Sewers? All I wanted was to find my friends and stop Praxis. Now, I was running around performing different tasks for everyone. I guessed that mechanic was right; maybe I was just an errand boy.
Oh well. I'd worry about it later. Right now, we had to find that Ruby Key. Fortunately, it was just up ahead, and Dax decided to go get the Key from the top of the Statue while I waited. It took a while, but he finally managed to toss it down to me, and I caught it before it could hit the ground.
"Whew!" I sighed in relief, "Got it! Where would you be without me, eh, Dax?"
"Well, Jak," Dax answered, "I probably wouldn't be two feet tall, fuzzy, and running around in a sewer without a pair of pants! God, I miss pants."
I playfully rolled my eyes. There he went about missing pants again. He had been missing them ever since the incident on Misty Island. Was it really that long ago?
"Paige, it's Jak," I announced into my communicator, "We're on our way to the Stadium if you want to meet up with us there."
"Sure," she replied, "I'll be right there."
Paige. She was so confusing. Granted, I was still annoyed with her over her part in the Dark Warrior Program, but she seemed genuinely sorry for what happened. No. I wasn't going to let her off the hook so fast. She would have to prove it on her own, especially because of something serious like those experiments.
After driving for a few minutes, we finally arrived at the Stadium and spotted Paige waiting for us outside the mechanic's garage. "I see you got the Key," she noted, nodding at the Ruby Key in my hands.
"We held our own down there," I told her, grinning to myself.
"I bet you did," she replied, "Let's go see the mechanic."
We entered the shop and stood outside the familiar green curtain. "We destroyed Krew's cargo," I announced.
"Great!" the Racing Client replied sarcastically, "I'll send you a medal. Now, if you don't mind, I'm on a deadline, so scram!"
"Are you always this difficult?" I snapped.
"Somehow, I doubt it," Paige commented, "Just with you." I glared at her.
"Let me handle this, Jak!" Dax suddenly said, jumping down to the floor from my shoulder.
"Listen, lady!" he started, "We beat your stupid course, and we can outrace anybody in this city! Now, there are just two things you need to know. One: we don't want to join your stinking race team! And two: you just lost a date with orange lightning! Let's go, guys!"
The Racing Client pushed the curtains aside and gasped with joy. "Daxter, it is you!" she shouted with pure happiness.
"Keira?" Daxter gasped. Keira! Keira was the mechanic this whole time? Paige didn't look surprised at this revelation like I was sure I did.
"Oh, I never thought I'd be so glad to see your furry mug!" Keira exclaimed, pinching Daxter's cheeks.
"Hi, Paige!" she shouted, hugging Paige, "I was wondering what happened to you! I didn't hear from you for a while!"
"I'm good," Paige assured her, "Don't worry." However, her tone said otherwise.
Keira turned to face me, and I felt butterflies in my stomach as the crush I had had on her back in Sandover returned to me after two years. "And Jak!" she began, addressing me at last, "You look…different." Her tone and facial expression instantly changed, and I couldn't help but feel a little bit stung. It was amazing how I was able to pick up on these nonverbal cues so well all of a sudden.
"It's been a tough ride," I said to her, and she covered her mouth in shock. It also just occurred to me that she had never heard me speak before.
"The Baron pumped our boy here full of Dark Eco!" Daxter explained as Paige looked away in shame again, "And it did something to him! Now, he's got super moves or something. And a few anger issues as well."
"I've been looking for you guys forever, and planning a way to get us back home. Somehow, that Rift took us far into the future. I've calculated the time displacement, and I think I've got it figured-"
"We found your father," I interrupted, "Well…sort of."
"Working with the Underground, fighting the Baron," Daxter added, "But he's…umm…"
"What?" Keira asked.
"You need to go see him," I told her, "And we need to get to the Baron." Paige nodded frantically next to me.
"You could try to win the Class One Racing Championship," Keira explained, "The winner of that big race always gets to meet the Baron in the Palace. But you have to qualify by winning the lower class races. There's a Class Three Race starting soon! You can drive for my team!" Keira took off her mask.
"But Jak, we should think about getting out of here! I don't like this place, and some of the people are creepy." As soon as she said that, Krew, rolls of fat and all, flew into the garage and found all of us. How the hell did he do that?
"Ahh, Krew," Paige piped up, "Long time no see."
"Yes, it has been a long time, mmm?" Krew replied, facing me and causing Keira to step back a little bit, "Jak, my boy, I need that Ruby Key you found, eh? A special client has requested it." What special client?
"Sorry about that, Krew," I apologized, chuckling and scratching the back of my head, "I, uh, must have forgotten."
"Riiight," Krew mumbled as I tossed him the key. He grabbed it and then flew away.
"Ugh, he's such a creep!" Keira commented, "I can't believe you work for him!"
"Attention all citizens! The Class Three Race is about to begin!" a voice announced.
"That's our cue," I said, "We'd better get going. Come on, Dax!" We exited the garage and headed towards the track while Paige followed close behind us.
"I'm going to go find a good seat," she told us, "Good luck down there!"