Soaring

Second Arc: Act Sixteen

"We're back!"

Jak pushed through the Freedom HQ elevator doors and dashed toward Ashelin. The older woman stood in the center of the headquarters with her hands linked to her hips. Ever since Jak had received Ashelin's urgent message about Jam, he could hardly keep his focus. Daxter, Kat and Bell-bell trailed behind him but were just as anxious.

"We get one back and the other leaves!" Daxter announced and threw his arms into the air. "What's WITH you, girls?"

"Look," Ashelin broke in to calm the anxious four. "She left to get some fresh air. Its probably nothing too serious, we're just worried about her."

"She usually doesn't take off without good reason." Jak hummed to himself.

"Lately," Kat spoke just loud enough to gather the other's attention. "She's been a bit moody. I don't know why."

"You mean she actually has GOOD moods?" Daxter glared up at Kat.

"Well, we better find out where she is," Keira added. "I don't wanna know what Jinx will do if he finds out she's missing."

Jak looked to Keira and nodded. "Right."

"Does she have a radio on her?" Kat looked to Ashelin with a set of wide eyes.

"Not that I know of."

"Damn." Jak gripped his hand into a fist. "We're going to have to set up a search party."

Ashelin opened her mouth to speak only to have the sound of the elevator coming up cut her off. Jak jumped before spinning around to face the elevator doors. Maybe Jam had come back? He felt his heart begin to race as he waited. The doors slowly slid open and revealed Torn and Jinx. The two older men stood beside one another and proceeded to enter the HQ after the doors finished opening.

"Sig is decided to watch over the Naughty Ottsel," Torn directed his attention to Ashelin. "So we dropped him off."

Silence filled the air.

"What's 'da matter?" Jinx lifted a brow. "Yous look like yous seen a ghost, or somethin'."

Jak began to grind his teeth. Someone was going to have to spill the beans. Jak knew Jinx wasn't going to like the answer he was about to give but he had no other choice. Jinx would find out about Jam's absence soon enough, it would make things easier if he just told him the truth. Jak felt a droplet of sweat fall down from his hairline as he stepped toward Jinx.

"Jam's missing." He had to be blunt.

"What?" Jinx's jaw dropped open. "What 'chu talkin' about Jakie-boy?"

"She left." Ashelin filled in the gaps for Jinx. "She wanted to take a break so she walked out."

"What?" Jinx repeated himself, this time holding back the urge to chuckle. "I know Jam wouldn't jump ship."

"That's unlike her." Torn hummed.

"Look," Jak spoke again. "Kal will be coming back soon, it's better if we figure out what to do before he gets back."

"Yeah," Daxter nodded in a sarcastic manner. "Because I don't think he'd appreciate having his daughter going MIA."

Ashelin pushed her light body off the desk in the center of the room. "We're going to have to wait up for her. There's a good chance she's fine."

"But…" Kat lifted her fingers to her lips.

Jak turned to Kat and showcased a small smile. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. She's a strong woman."

Kat whimpered. She let her eyes hit the floor as her bottom lip trembled. Jak watched as her eyes became glossy with tears. She wasn't going to cry, was she? Was that what it was like to have a sibling? He had never known such an emotion. Even if they had their differences, they stood together no matter what. They argued but they shared a bond that no only-child would ever understand.

XoXoX

Hours passed. Every minute felt like a century. No word from Jam made the situation more intense. Matters didn't grow any easier once Kal and his servants showed up. With his daughter missing, Kal found himself in a tight spot. Jak knew he was angry, but what could he do about it? They had to play the waiting game, for now anyway. The strings on Jak's heart continued to pull every time he turned to face Kat. The younger of the two sisters sat on the ground, her knees placed just under her chin. She had a look of worry that Jak hadn't seen in a long time. She still appeared to be on the verge of tears and Jak was sure she was seconds away from crying up a storm.

"We're going to start the search," Ashelin's voice broke Jak out of his thoughts.

"Fine." Torn said with a single nod.

Ashelin let her index finger trace over the large map set out in front of her. "We'll start here-"

A loud buzzing sound cut Ashelin from continuing. She lifted her hand into the air, after the rest of the group was alerted. She waited for a moment or two before beginning to tap away at her the digital map.

"Its an incoming transmission." She said.

"Hello, long time no see."

Jak felt a cold shiver run up his spine. That voice, it could only be one person. The chill left his body within an instant and was replaced by a burning rage. "Veger!" He shouted.

"Um, excuse me, Mr. Vinegar," Daxter began. "We're trying to keep this line free, so if you don't mind…"

"Its VEGER!"

"What do you want?" Ashelin groaned.

"It seems we have quite the predicament," Veger's voice echoed through Freedom HQ. "I think I may have found something that you lost."

Jak's hot rage was diminished. His blood began to run icy cold. No, Veger couldn't be referring to Jam, could he? The words repeated in Jak's head and he again began to feel the heat of his anger run through his soul. He could feel his heart in his chest begin to beat faster. No, this wasn't right. He had to be bluffing!

"Give Jam back!"

Jak's ears twitched. He looked to his right to see Kat standing straight. Her back was arched and both hands were formed into fists that stood at chest-level. Her tail was pointing upward while all the tiny black hairs stuck straight out. The tears she had been repressing had begun to bud at the corners of her eyes. She was standing up for her sister? It was a rare sight to see Kat so outspoken.

"Oh, is that the Princess Kat I hear?"

Jak's heart stopped.

"If I hadn't been so blind in the past, I would have recognized you!" Veger broke out into a fit of laughter. "That drastic change in hair color does throw people from suspecting, doesn't it?"

"Veger!" Jak shouted.

"Oh, Jak, don't be angry." Veger cooed. "I've only come to collect what's mine."

"And what would THAT be?" Daxter barked.

Veger chuckled again. "It seems that a little birdie has informed me of the Princess' true identity."

"No!" Bell-bell shrieked. "He can't know!" He began to flap his tiny arms in the air wildly. "Princess Kat, you're in danger, here!"

"Shh!" Torn hissed at the small Hedgepine.

"I'm willing to keep that a secret. Of course, on one condition."

"What do you want?" Tears flew from Kat's eyes. "If you want me, take me! Just give Jam back!"

"Oh no, no! Its not you I want." Veger was quick to correct Kat. "What I want is your sister."

"What?" Jak asked, nearly breathless.

"You sick bastard!" Jinx shouted. "Keep yer mits off Jam!"

"You have two choices. Keep your identity secret or give me your sister. Its simple really."

"You can't do this!" Kal balled his fist and shook it in the air. "You can't keep my daughter!"

"Choose wisely."

The loud buzzing came to a halt. Jak knew it. Veger had ended the transmission. How could someone do this? This was worse then blackmail, it was the worst thing that could happen. To kidnap someone so close to him, it was enough to bring forth his Dark side.

"That's it." Kal stepped by Jak, catching his attention. "We have to go after her. I won't let my daughter stay with such a man."

"No doubt about that!" Daxter huffed. "But how do we know WHERE he is?"

Keira rushed toward the transmitter. "I can do a quick scan and see where the transmission came from. That way we know where he's hiding." Her fingers hit the keys with great force and speed.

"'Dat…'dat monster!" Jinx gripped his fists. "I won't let 'em run off wit Jam! I'll kill 'em!"

Torn rushed to Jinx's side. "Wait, we can't just rush in there and attack."

"Right." Samos said with a slow nod. "This could very well be another trap."

"We can't wait, I won't wait!"

Jak turned to Kat. She had her chin dipped down into her neck. Her pink strands of hair covered her weeping eyes. Streams of tears rolled down her red cheeks and hit the floor. Her fists remained clenched and her tail had fallen down her back.

"This is all my fault." She whimpered. "If I…if I didn't…" She had trouble with her words as she continued. "She wouldn't be…"

"Relax."

Jak placed his hand on Kat's shivering shoulder. He felt her jump after touching her. She lifted her head and the shadows over her eyes slowly faded. She turned her chin over her shoulder to face Jak. Her eyes appeared swollen and red. Tears continued to fall from her eyes and passed her cheeks. Why was she hurting so much? Why did she feel the need to be so guilty?

"I'm so sorry."

He could hear her voice repeating in his head. She was sorry? Why? It was something that made his heart ache. She shouldn't have to be sorry about someone else's wrongdoing. She didn't need to take on the hurt of the world.

"We'll get her back." He said in his most soothing voice.

"And just HOW are we going to do that?"

Jak lifted his hand off Kat's shoulder and turned to Star. The younger female stood with her arms crossed over her tiny bust. She had her bottom lip poked out and her foot tapping on the floor.

"Are we all going to pack up and just raid whatever building he's hiding in?" She asked.

"That's usually what we do." Jak replied with a smirk.

"Great!" Star groaned, throwing her arms into the air.

"I think it's a good idea." Lov said with a smile on his face. "I've been waiting for some action! Lets go!"

"Its not that easy, you moron." Torn sighed as he rubbed his temple.

"Oh its not, is it?" Star was quick to defend her cousin. "I'm sure a WampusCat could do the job easily."

"Come on!" Daxter threw his upper torso forward and groaned. "SURE, whatever."

"I have to agree with my lady friend on this one." Lov proceeded to wrap his arms around Star. "We could sneak into that 'mysterious tower' in no time flat." Lov then flicked his wrist back and forth. "In and out in a snap." He then finished with a delicate snap of his fingers.

"Give it a try then." Torn felt confident the two WampusCats would back down quickly.

Star pushed her body away from Lov's and stuck her nose into the air. "FINE! Got anything harder for us to do while you're at it?"

Torn's cheek twitched. "Don't push your luck."

"I got it!"

Jak turned to see Keira. The feisty young female ran toward Lov with a single sheet of paper in her hand. She handed the paper over with a confident smile.

"I got the directions to Veger's tower." She then pointed to the writing on the paper. "You two should be there in no time."

"Alright!" Lov once again took Star by the arm. He began to string her along as he made his way to the elevator. "We'll be back, Ms. Kat!"

"Yeah, bye." Star stuck out her tongue at Kat.

Jak felt a sigh coming on. He watched as both Star and Lov left the building. His gut told him this was the very last thing they should be doing. Letting two airheads led the way on a mission didn't seem like a wise decision. But he was sure those two would surprise him, in one-way or another.

Act End.