Chapter 26

We had just finished the first race. Jak was in first, closely followed by me in second, and Ashelin in third. Blitz was interviewing Jak for winning the race I think, " You saw it here folks... at least those of you who didn't die yawning or switch to the bran channel. An unknown driver wins his first big race... in lackluster fashion. So, tell us, what happened out there? Were you frightened?"

Daxter yelled not letting Jak talk, "No!"

Blitz said, " Well just wait until you go up against the big name drivers."

Torn asked, "It gets worse?"

Blitz chuckled and said, " Ha, ha, ha... much. Think you can handle it?"

Kiera yelled, "Give him a break!"

I yelled, "Would someone let Jak talk? He can talk too you know!" Jak raised an eyebrow at me and I shrugged.

Blitz said, " I'll take that as a no or a no comment, and with that, let's take it down to Greaser in pit row." The camera stopped rolling and he said, " That's a wrap. Listen, I'm not getting much smoke off you guys. I need more spin... more heat! Ratings were down 13 points on that last race. Not happening! If you want to get into the club, you gotta win a lot more, and you gotta win big! Accumulate serious points and maybe I'll give you another interview. Heh... heh... if you're still around." I rolled my eyes and we headed back to the garage.

Torn, Daxter, Jak, and I were relaxing on the couch. Daxter said, " You know, except for a little rash in the nether regions, I feel fine. Maybe Krew was bluffing about the whole poison thing?"

Ashelin said, " I had the bottle analyzed. There were traces of Black Shade at the bottom. A rare and deadly plant found in the Wasteland. We were poisoned alright."

Rayn said, " Father never cut corners. Trust me, it's the real deal."

I laid down on the couch my head laying on Jak's lap. He stroked my hair and Daxter said, " Never fear... when the going gets tough... Jak and Rachel will get us out of it!"

Jak said, " We're just gonna have to win the whole thing."

Daxter said, " Against those lunatic racers out there? What are the odds?"

Torn said, " You don't want to know."

I laid on my back and said, "I'm thinking that means there's a better chance we die than we win."

Ashelin said then left, " No offense guys, but I'm not going to trust my life to anyone but me. Just stay out of my way, I'll win."

Daxter said, " Well, somebody here had better win, or I'm going to be very pissed... and very dead."

I glared at Daxter and said, "We're all gonna be dead if one of us doesn't win. Its really late so we should all head off to our rooms so we will be rested and ready for the death dome race tomorrow. Daxter your sleeping out here on the couch no argument or I tie you up and put you in the closet." I sat up and everyone else left Daxter curling up on the couch. I grabbed Jak's hand and walked off to our room together. I stood outside the door and turned to him. I said, " You know... I'm not tired." I smirked and started kissing him. He smiled and kissed back picking me up and taking me into the room.

_Time Skip_

After breakfast the next morning we headed to work on Jak's car. I crawled under the car to check for any leaks. Daxter said and kicked my feet, " Oh no! Here comes ol' tin grin himself."

I turned to lay on my stomach and crawled out. Blitz said, " You newbies are finally going to see what I've been talking about all along... What makes this the most watched sport in the world... ultimate speed and complete danger. I hope you didn't eat break-fast this morning, or you'll find it all over your suit later. Ha ha ha haaa..."

I groaned and Daxter said, " We're not afraid, right Jak, Rachel? ... Right, Jak? HEY! Say some hero stuff one of you!"

I growled at Daxter and said, " Don't make me kill you."

Blitz said, "I like a deadly woman." I raised an eyebrow and Jak stepped in front of me growling slightly. Blitz said, "Oh yeah there was talk you too are together. Too bad huh. Anyway Welcome to one of the fastest tracks in the world. This is the Dethdrome. Many people have died on those lanes chasing a sad dream. Make the crowd scream for me! Good luck, you'll need it... more than I need ratings."

He walked away and I said, " Man that guy is a freak and creepy and bald."

Jak looked at me and said, "Creepy and freak is right, but he's bald."

I said, "Are you kidding I could see that toupee miles away."

Daxter said and jumped off Jak's shoulder, "Oh burn. Well it would have been better if he was here. Oh oh the race is going to start soon."

I put my hand on Jak shoulder and kissed him quick, " Good luck. I'm gonna go get my car and this time you'll be second to me."I ran to the garage got in my car and drove to the starting line. I watched the light carefully and the second it turned green I hit the gas and drove forward full speed.

Towards the end I was first and about to cross the finish we my car was hit by a missile and I was launched into the air. The car flipped through the air and I saw through half closed eyes Jak cross the finished very closely followed by one of razers racers. My car crashed through the finish line right after I heard voices yelling. I heard Jak, Torn, and even Ashelin before I blacked out.

Jak

Jak jumped out of his car and ran over to Rachel's. He crawled under and grabbed her unconscious body. Jak noticed her shoulder was messed up and bleeding. He carried her over to his car ignoring everyone else and drove back to the garage. He picked Rachel up and took her in and laid her on the couch. He took off her jacket and ripped the sleeve off her shirt off. Torn came in and asked, "What the hell happened?"

Jak said, "Can you hand me the medical kit?" Torn handed it to Jak and Jak said, " A thug of Razers fire at her ride it flipped through the air and landed upside down." Jak rubbed antibiotic ointment on the wound and cleaned some of the dried blood off. He checked out her shoulder and figured it was broken. He went to the bathroom grabbed a hand towel and dumped water on it. He went back out and put it on her forehead knowing what would happen next. Jak watched Rachel grid her teeth and gasp in pain. He saw her shoulder twitch and her a terrible cracking sound, he saw her flesh crawl over the wound and fix itself. He hated that, but it was pretty useful.

Jak looked at her again seeing her relax. Jak felt pure rage and left to see Razer.

Rachel

I woke up feeling a slight pain in my shoulder. I saw Jak walk out of the garage room and decided to follow him. Jak got in his car and I got in another just parked outside. He didn't go far and I figured out he was going to a bar. I entered the bar after him quietly and heard Jak say, " Next time you and your thugs want a fight, maybe you should pick on someone your own size."

Razer turned to him and said, " My, my, I finally get to meet the great racer, Jak. And his lovely Rachel come in." Jak turned around.

I walked over to him and said, "Hi Jak."

He said, " Rachel. I thought you wouldn't be up so soon."

Daxter said to Razer interrupting me and Jak, " Hey! What about me?"

Razer said, " Oh yes, you're the loudmouth storyteller from the bar. But Jak... Rachel, Jak, Jak, Rachel. Your reputations precede you both. Oh, but I'm forgetting my manners. My name is Razer. Maybe you've heard of me? I work for Mizo. Eventually everyone does."

Jak put his arm on my shoulder protectively and said, " We're from out of town."

Razer said, " Yes, you two are, aren't you? And you're both showing up my boys on the track out there. Uhhmmhmmhmmm... Don't make me put on my goggles and show you how it's done. You wouldn't live long enough to see me cross the finish line."

Jak stepped forward and growled, " I'm ready whenever you are."

Razer said and then left, " Oh, I'm sure we'll match up soon enough. The race of the century, eh? Ehmmm... In the meantime, watch your back. I've heard someone arranged a few surprises this time out. Heh hmm hmm hmm hmm..." Daxter, Jak, and I headed to the bloody hook bar. I went to the bar and got me and Jak a drink. I came back and handed Jak his drink. He was watching tv.

I looked up at it and said, " Pecker's on Blitz's stupid show."

I heard his voice from behind us, " There you two are. Getting some local color? Ha ha... you two certainly need it, you're both positively pale on screen. Listen, I just wanted to tell your group that you can earl cool gadgets by performing odd jobs for the Commission and others."

Jak said, " What kinda job?"

Daxter asked, " What kinda gadgets?"

I asked and took a drink from my glass, " Anything special?"

Blitz said, " Good stuff! For instance, there are some dirt forming robots that went berserk in the Kras Dirt Stadium. They need to be destroyed before someone gets hurt. Hunt them all down and you'll be rewarded."

Jak said, " Sounds good."

I said, " Sounds fun."

Daxter said, " Sounds dangerous."

Blitz said, " It is... but the prizes are good, and you'll need them. That is if you want to continue upgrading your cars to keep up with the Joneses. The job's waiting if you want it. But be careful, we wouldn't want to hurt two of our star up and coming racers."

I rolled my eyes and stood up, " Come on, Jak. After what happened to my ride I need you too help me with some upgrades and repairs."