Chapter 29

After we had breakfast Daxter, Jak, and I headed to the track. Kleiver, Jak, and I were being interviewed by Blitz before the race. Blitz said, " Three of today's top contenders are joining me now, Kleiver, the muscle-bound god of track thunder, the nimble and lightning- quick racer, Jak, and the girl with flare and speed, Rachel. So Jak, Rachel, sources say there's a big bounty on you both. Everyone wants you two dead. Ha, everyone but me that is. You're great for the ratings."

Jak said, " The death threats and bounties don't bother us."

I said, "People wanting us dead isn't new."

Jak said, " We're not afraid to die."

Daxter pulled the camera down to him and said, " Whoa! Freeze frame! I'd like to go on record right here that I'm firmly and officially against dying. In any way."

Kleiver said, " Yabbers, all of ya! I'm gonna find you two on out on the track, and when I do, you'll wish you'd never wedged behind a wheel!"

I poked Kleiver and said, "Who is the one wedging behind the wheel big boy!"

Blitz said, " You heard it here folks. The gauntlet's been thrown and the two biggest race's of the season are coming to you live as-"

Pecker jumped in front of the camera interrupting Blitz saying, "-Jak, Rachel, and Daxter show us how they became heroes!"

_Time Skip_

Jak and I had actually tied perfectly. Blitz said, " And here's the lucky winners, ladies and gentlemen! These two racers crossed the finish line at the exact same second. Well deserved win... well deserved indeed. You're showing promise out there, old boy. What's your secret?"

Jak said, " Clean Air." I laughed and Jak put his arm around my shoulder smirking.

Blitz said and chuckled, " Love it! Ha Ha! LOVE IT!"

Daxter grabbed the mic still in Blitz's hand and said, " And I'd like to give a shout out to all my golden boys."

Blitz pulled the mic away from him and asked, " Yeah yeah, wouldn't we all. Tell me Jak and Rachel, you two just beat one of the top racers in a bid to qualify for the Grand Championship race. Your point totals are impressive. What make you think people won't kill you for this?"

Daxter stuttered, " Wha, wha, what? What?"

Blitz asked, " Did I slur my words? Aren't you worried?"

Jak said, " Tell you the truth, We're probably dead already, but that doesn't mean I can't take a few scumbags with me."

I said, " If were going down might as well be kicking and screaming."

Blitz said and then ended the report, " Well, you made the people cheer, and that's good for business. Very good indeed. Until next time, this is G.T. Blitz signing off."

Jak said to Blitz, " You got a sweet gig goin' here."

Blitz said, " Oh, it's all for show... for the bigger powers that be... Ha ha ha. I'd be careful, though. I hear Mizo had a pretty sizable bet on this race... and lost."

Jak said, " I hope he was watching."

I said, "Oh wouldn't that be nice its like kicking dirt in his face."

Blitz said, " I bet it was like kicking dirt in his face and I'm sure he was." I raised an eyebrow as he left.

I said, "That was suspicious."

Jak said, "What was?"

I said, "Oh nothing. Lets go."

_Time Skip_

We headed to see Rayn and she was watching a hologram of Krew. Rayn stopped it when we walked in and said, " I took the liberty of going back through Dad's things. I found his decoder for the will. There's more on the disc. I think it's his journal."

Jak said, " Play it."

Rayn hit a button and the Krew hologram rewinded for a second. The Krew hologram said, " Mizo and I both want the same things, and we'll stop at nothing to get them. So I rolled the dice and made this bet with Mizo to avoid a costly gang war between us. The winner of the next Kras City Grand Championship Race will win the other's dirty business. All I have to do is field a better racing team than him, win the big race, and Mizo and his nasty clan will slink off to whatever hole they crawled out of, eh?"

Jak said when the hologram stopped, " No wonder they both want to win so badly."

I muttered, "There has got to be something else to it I can feel it."

Rayn said, " My father made a wager with the Mizo crime family? He's been linked to some of the worst crime in Kras City. I'm sure he's paying top dollar to field the best racers to beat us."

Jak said, " So we're up against the world's nastiest crime boss with the best mercenary racers money can buy... And we've been poisoned. I've had better weeks."

I said, " Still it is pretty exciting." I did a cute grin and he shook his head and chuckled slightly.

Rayn said, " You two must believe me. I never knew my father was into all this. Hell, I never knew my father at all."

Jak said, " You're not alone in this."

I said feeling my heart start hurting like crazy and felt burning tears in my eyes, " Neither of us ever knew our family's thanks to this fucked up world and crazy people."

Jak got serious and said, " Don't worry, we'll win. We're not giving up no matter what!" I smiled at him and felt a hot tear run down my cheek. Jak wiped it away and hugged me tight. Jak said and pulled away, "Come on lets get going."

Sig, Torn, Ashelin, Daxter, Jak, and I were at our pit station on the side of the track when Rayn came walking up to us. She said, " Jak, Rachel, you're both looking good in the standings so far. But even if we win this whole damn thing, how do we know Mizo will keep his word and walk away?"

Torn said, " We don't. But how do we know Krew will keep his?"

Ashelin said to Rayn, " Look honey, I don't care about Mizo, as long as we get the poison antidote. You're family 'business' is your problem."

Sig said, " Listen, I've been around this crime scene for a long time. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that death is always in the equation. Mizo won't leave witnesses. Win or lose, he'll try to kill us all."

I said sarcastic, "Oh goody."

Rayn said, " I just don't think we should leave this bet to chance. My father wouldn't have-"

Ashelin interrupted, " It's not your choice. And I wouldn't start modeling you life by what your father would do. Jak and Rachel will tell you where he ended up. Won't you?"

I gave Ashelin a shut the hell up look. Jak said, " Look, let's just keep racing and winning. We'll think of something."

_Time Skip_

Daxter, Jak, and I well mostly Daxter had decided we should go to the bloody hook bar before the next race. Daxter said, " Step aside boys, the speed triplets are in the building. Looks like we're taking it to your best boys on the track, eh Razer?"

Razer said, " Ah, welcome back to the Bloody Hook. If we keep meeting like this, people will start to talk. Hmmm..." I raised eyebrow and thought to myself what the fuck.

Daxter said, " You ain't so tough. Although you do dress strangely well, and have a certain odd sexy style."

I smacked Daxter over the head and said, " Daxter! Really? Talk about these things when I am not here!"

Jak said, " We found out about your boss' little bet with Krew, Razer. Mizo won't win, no matter how many of your goons he hires to race against us."

Razer said, " Oh yes, Mizo wanted me to tell you two that he loves the competition and looks forward to the rest of the season. Of course, he's a far fairer soul than I."

I groaned and pulled Jak and Daxter not wanting to talk to Razer anymore. We headed back to the track and got ready for the next racer. I was kind of bummed about not getting a drink. We were fixing up Jak's car since we had finished mine already. Kiera said to Dax, " I need a GB spanner, please."

Daxter asked, " What's a spanner?"

Kiera pointed to a piles of tools and said, " That one."

Daxter asked and pointed to one, " That one?"

Kiera said and pointed to one close to it, " No, that one."

Daxter said and went to get it, " I knew that."

Jak said, " You sure know your way around cars, Kiera." I was sitting in the drivers seat testing the wheel listening.

Kiera said, " I can handle tools. But that's-"

I hopped out and growled, "Kiera! If you even finish that sentence I will get the spanner whatever and beat you over the head with it!"

Jak walked over to me and whispered, "Calm down your turning red literally." I took a deep breath.

Razer walked in and said, "Oh look. The grease monkeys are busy putting their toy cars together. So I can take them apart."

Jak growled, " This is a private party, Razer."

Razer said, " Of course, I just came by to tell you I'm officially coming out of retirement, just for you two Jak and Rachel. Everyone's screaming for us to swap paint. And when it's all over, this town won't mourn your passing, they'll only lament how much money they lost betting on losers." I rolled my eyes and after we had finished up we headed out to race.

I had beat Jak this time. We were back in haven city again and hanging out in the naughty ottsel bar. Sig, Torn, Daxter, and Jak were drinking and relaxing. I said a little tipsy, "I feel sad. I'm like the only girl here."

Suddenly Pecker came flying in. Daxter said, " What do you want, Pecker?"

Pecker said, " I came here to tell you all to watch your tail feathers. Let's just say that in my position, I hear a lot of 'off the record' interviews..."

Jak said, " Start flapping you beak, Pecker."

I said, " Yeah spill the beans bird."

Pecker said, " Okay, okay. It appears that the Racing Syndicate, run by Mizo, has been fixing racings for some time. You guys are the only wild card out there and they don't like it."

Torn said, " Yeah, when you're poisoned you'll do crazy things."

Sig said, " That's off the record, squawker. Nobody knows about the poison, and we'd like to keep it that way."

I said giggling drinking more, "Yeah if everyone knew. Then everyone would know." I fell off the stool I was sitting on and started laughing like a crazy person.

Pecker said, " She is fun like this. Anyway and oh, of course, you can trust me. I'll let you know when I have more info."

Pecker flew out and Jak helped me stand up. I said, "I-I want more and have there always been three of you." I started laughing.

Sig said, " She doesn't drink often does she?" Jak shook his head making me dizzy.

I stuttered, "Yo-You know what you nee-need to slow down? It's like you were you were talking and it was so so fast."

Jak said, " I should get her back to the room before she starts acting well ya know."

I asked as Jak started half carrying me down the street, "Are you mad at me?" Jak shook his head making me dizzy. I asked, " Do you love me?" He nodded. I asked, " Do you love Kiera?" Jak stopped and looked at me. I started laughing and he kept walking. I said, "You hate me when your drunk or I am total out of it huh?" I sat down as Jak let go to let me walk. I said, "Ow I fell." He tried to pick me up and I said, " No carry me. Please?" He sighed and picked me up carrying me back.