Soaring

Second Arc: Act Seventeen

Kat sighed. The wind hit her face and threatened her eyes to produce more tears. She was tired of crying, it seemed that's all she had been doing since returning to Haven City. To make matters worse, Star and Lov had yet to return from their mission. Hours had passed with nothing. Not even a transmission to update the crew on how things were coming along. Leave it to her servants to mess things up!

Now she was stuck in a car with her Father, Jak, Daxter and Torn. The five were taking off to get to Veger's hidden palace to find and bring home Jam. Was it risky? Of course, but she had to take the risk. Jam was the only person who understood her; the only person who knew the real her.

She wouldn't give up her sister without a fight. If there was one thing she'd go down fighting for, it was her sister. It didn't matter if they fought, it didn't matter if they didn't see eye-to-eye on everything, this was her best friend. She had to try.

"We're here."

Kat jerked. She looked up to see that the vehicle had come to a stop. She looked right then left and saw that the other men had begun to exit the car. It was a good idea to get moving, less she look stupid. She hopped out of her seat and accompanied Torn.

The building before them was large. It was one of the only tall buildings to survive the Metal Head onslaught. It had come through with little damage to the outside windows and doors. So Veger had been protecting it? Clever.

"Now," Torn lifted his hand to his chin. "Where do you think Star and Lov got in, if they got in?"

"There's a good spot." Jak said.

Kat watched as Jak made his way to a small crack in the building's wall. It was a very tiny hole, something Kat would only expect Daxter to fit through. She paused for a moment before looking to Torn with a large set of eyes.

"Its pretty small, isn't it?" Torn asked.

"You'd be surprised." Kal answered. "Star can fit into anything, if she tries hard enough."

"Then Star opened a back door for Lov?" Jak pondered.

"That HAD to be a tight squeeze." Daxter managed to crack a joke.

Kal shot a glare in Daxter's direction. "Get to it!" He shouted.

Daxter rolled his eyes and let out a long, loud sigh. "Do I have to do EVERYTHING around here?" He asked before throwing his paws into the air.

Jak took a few steps back and allowed Daxter to enter the small crevice. He pushed his head into the hole then pushed with his back legs. He pulled and struggled for a short moment before he popped inside the small crack.

"Lets look for a back door," Torn commanded.

Kat nodded. She followed Torn as he led the way. The four teammates walked a long walk around the large building. They stepped and climbed over a few short, damaged walls before coming to the back of the tower. A small car garage stood in front of them; this had to be the way in that Lov took. Torn walked toward the garage wall and lifted his fist. He knocked on the wall softly twice. Kat had to assume that this was his way of signaling to Daxter.

Torn stepped away from the door and waited. Kat watched with large eyes. Would this work? This had to work! This was the time when she began her mental prayers to the Precursors. Please, this had to work. She shut her eyes tight and waited. Her sensitive ears perked at one moment. That noise, it had to be the door. Her eyes popped open and she watched as the garage door began to roll up. She cringed at the loud sound it made as it opened. Why did these things have to be so loud?

Kat looked inside the garage to see Daxter. The small furry Ottsel stood with his hands to his hips and a sarcastic smile on his face. He ran back to Jak in an instant and took his perch. Kat looked back into the garage to see that it was very empty. This was their moment; they had to go in without any hesitation. Kat waited for Torn to pass her before she walked inside.

After the last person entered the garage, Torn made sure to press the garage door button once more. The door slowly rolled back down and left the five teammates in the dark. Kat trembled as the darkness consumed the small garage. It was now or never. Torn opened the door that connected into the main hall and stepped in. He jerked his head to the left then to the right. After a moment of watching, Torn beckoned the rest of the group to follow him.

"Now," Kal said after stepping into the dark hall. "I'm going off to find Star and Lov." He whispered. "I'll meet up with you four later."

"Be careful." Torn said.

Kal nodded.

Kat watched as her Father's image disappeared into the darkness. She felt her heart ache. What if she never saw him again? She couldn't bear to think about it. The one male in her life she felt she could trust and he left her? It was enough to make her cry again. Kat began to grind her teeth, this was the last place she needed to be seen crying. She couldn't look stupid! Not in front of Torn, not in front of Jak…

"Okay," Torn looked to his teammates with serious eyes. "We're going to have to take them by force."

"And just WHAT do you mean by 'FORCE'?" Daxter leaned toward Torn and whispered harshly. "I don't want any 'FORCING' going on!"

"Shut up!" Torn lifted his hand and threatened to give Daxter a good whack. "We need to listen."

"For what?" Daxter cocked his head to one side.

A loud siren rang through the air. Torn lifted his finger and pointed toward the ceiling. Daxter released a few nervous chuckles before shrugging his tiny, orange shoulders. The alarm caused all of the hallway lights to shine and just like that, their cover was blown. Kat felt her heart begin to race, what was happening? She looked right and left, up and down, everywhere she could to see what was happening. The men were just as alert and had their hands to their guns, ready to fight.

"Well, well. What a surprise."

Kat froze. She gulped aloud before turning her chin over her shoulder. Slowly, the image of Veger came into her view. He stood with a devilish smirk across his face. Beside him stood two KG bots. The bots had guns lifted and cocked.

"Get them." Veger said with one nudge of his chin.

The KG bots surrounded the group within an instant. Before Kat could tell what was going on, the tight burning sensation of rope wrapped around her forearms. She let out a loud squeal as the rope tightened. The sensation of Jak's back slammed against hers, letting her know that Veger had tied them together.

"This is CRAZY!" Daxter yipped.

"Have you made your decision?" Veger asked in a calm tone. "Who will it be, you or your sister?"

Before anyone could answer, Veger lifted his hand into the air and snapped his fingers. Shuffling noises entered the air. Kat watched as a KG bot emerged from behind Veger. Hands bound by more rope, Jam appeared. The KG bot held tight to her rope, limiting her from moving around.

"Jam!" Kat screamed, tears exploding from her eyes.

"Kat!" Jam called back to her sister.

"Kat, calm down!" Jak looked back to Kat in an attempt to calm her. "You're tightening the rope!"

Kat shut her eyes and forced more tears to leak from her brown eyes. She sniffled and held back the cries that crawled up her throat. Her sister, she was just feet away and Kat couldn't touch her. If anything right now, Kat needed her sister to wrap her warm arms around her. What she wouldn't do for a hug right now.

"Daxter," Torn whispered down to the small Ottsel. "Try chewing on the rope. See if you can't break us out."

Daxter groaned. He sunk his sharp teeth down into the rope. He paused for a moment and brought his mouth away from the rope. "Pah! This tastes awful!"

"Just do it." Torn hissed.

Daxter grunted and inhaled through his nose. He plunged his teeth down into the rope and began to gnaw once again.

"I promise, if you leave your sister here for me, then your secret will be kept from the world." Veger laughed as he let his arm wander off to the right. His hand reached toward Jam's chin. He cupped her delicate face in his gloved hand and his wicked smile grew.

"I don't care!" Kat shook her head back and forth. "Tell anyone you want! Just give me back my Jam!"

"Tsk, tsk." Veger shook his head from side to side. "She would have made a beautiful bride."

"Then just let her go, Veger!" Jak snapped.

"No, I don't think so." Veger said. "I think I'll make both choices for you." Veger then pulled his hand away from Jam's face. "How does that sound, my dear?"

"No!" Kat screeched.

A loud snap noise shot through the air. The tears suddenly stopped. Kat's jaw dropped open and the pressure around her forearm disappeared. For a moment Kat looked to see the rope falling from her arms, almost as if it were in slow motion. She knew what she had to do; she needed to act before anyone could make a move.

She didn't waste one second before lunging forward. She sprinted, her feet hardly touching the tile beneath her. She found herself in front of Veger. His expression had changed within the instant of the rope snapping. His eyes and mouth had become wide with surprise and left himself defenseless. He only had time to lift his hand to cover his face. He extended his arm outward in an effort to shove Kat to one side. Kat moved her mouth forward and she opened her jaw. Her sharp canines caught Veger's gloved hand and she applied as much pressure as she could.

Veger reacted by slapping Kat away. "Filthy animal!"

Kat felt her backside hit the ground, hard. Her chin jolted upward and she saw Veger holding dear to his wounded hand. He shook it and cursed under his breath.

"Kat!" Jam called out to her younger sister.

"Get them!" Veger yelled to his KG bots.

The KG bots that stood behind Veger came to life. The charged at Jak and Torn with full force, guns ready to fire. Jak reacted by reaching behind his back and pulling out his Scatter gun. He stood beside Torn, who had gathered his handguns together, and aimed.

"Get the ugly one!" Daxter shouted and pointed at the bot holding Jam hostage.

Jak pulled the trigger and fired numerous times. The laser bullets filled the air with a popping sound. The bullets hit its target with an extreme accuracy. The KG bot began to topple backward after its hit to the head. It released the ropes that bound Jam. Jam yanked her arms from behind her back and dashed toward her fallen sister.

"Are you okay?" Jam whispered to Kat.

"Yes." Kat said with a single nod.

"If I can't have you," Veger loomed over the two girls, gun drawn. "No one will."

"Jak!" Daxter pulled on Jak's large ear to get his attention.

"Freeze."

Kat jerked. That voice, it was her Father's voice! With the aid of her sister, Kat was lifted to her feet. She watched as Veger's actions came to a halt. The KG bots around him fell to the ground, riddled with laser bullet holes. Veger's hands lifted in surrender and his handgun dropped from his hand. Kat then watched as her Father's figure came from behind Veger's body. Kal had his handgun lifted to the back of Veger's head. Star and Lov appeared soon after.

"Kal!" Jak exclaimed with excitement.

"Come on," Kal said and nudged his head toward the exit. "Lets get out of here."

Torn rushed toward Kat and placed both hands on her shoulders. He then began to push her out of Veger's way. Jam followed after Torn and stayed close to him. Jak and Daxter were the last two to pass Veger. Jak watched his eyes as he passed by him.

"Don't think I won't keep my promise." Veger whispered as a smirk crept across his face. "I will make certain that Kat's secret gets out, and when it does, her life will be over."

"We'll just see about that." Jak whispered back.

Jak watched Veger, as he was the last to exit the building. Outside, Jak met back up with his group of teammates. They had surrounded the large hover car and waited for him to join them.

Kat watched as Jak entered the vehicle and took a seat beside her. Kat looked at him with tired eyes. This day had been more trouble then it was worth! She watched as he inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. Was he just as tired as she was? Kat felt a smile tugging at her lips. Why now? Why did she feel the urge to smile at him now of all times? It was a little awkward, wasn't it?

She watched as he placed his elbow on the rim of the car. He then placed his cheek in his open palm. As the Torn started the engine in the hover car, Kat watched as Jak's eyelids grew heavy. How could she ever repay him for everything he had done for her? Inside, all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and tell him how much he meant to her. But she couldn't.

Kat shut her eyes. She had to let him know, somehow. Kat let her body grow heavy and she fell to one side. Her body landed beside his. She kept her eyes shut; if she pretended she was asleep perhaps he wouldn't suspect too much. She felt his body jump as she leaned against him. She kept her eyes shut and chewed on the inside of her cheek. Just a little contact, that's all she needed. He was so warm. His scent filled her nose and gave her inner peace. So this was what it was like to be close to someone? Kat fought back the urge to smile. Hopefully this showed him how grateful she was, this small contact would have to do for now.

Act End.