[Co-Author: butterfly123199]
A mysterious scent wafted itself into the bunkers, it was so early in the morning that whoever's awake found it disbelieving.
The jet-black haired woman was grumbling, opening one half-lidded eye, and instantly realized that it was the smell of... 'Food? Since when did anyone cook here?' She thought. Groaning softly, she pushed herself up out of bed and checked a clock beside them.
Five Thirty
"Who's up this early?" Elise huffed and rubbed her face with her hands. She glanced over at Jak's bunker and smiled tiredly at the sight of him peacefully sleeping. Being as light footed as she could, she walked her way to their shared bathroom and washed up.
Dawn: Who's up?
Beth: Most likely Torn or Trinity. Those two are like bats!
Dawn: Sad but true.
Elise chuckled softly and dried her face with a small towel, "Guess we'll find out who in a second." She whispered. She looked down at her attire. It was one of Trinity's shirts(which was very large) and a pair of shorts she randomly found in Torn's drawer. She shrugged. "Trin's gonna be pissed. So is Torn… Oh well. They chose to share a dresser with me. Their fault, not mine." She grinned.
She slowly walked her way into the 'rural' area. It's practically things they set up to make the place more home-like. She paused, seeing someone with their back turned, until she saw a familiar red glint.
"Trinity?" She called, rubbing her eyes yet again. "What are you doing up so ea- Wait you're cooking food?" She grinned. "Gimme!"
"Wh- what?" The man turned around, STILL wearing his mask even at this time. "Why are you up so early?"
"Because I'm hungry and smelled food," She eyed down his clothes before snickering and raising an eyebrow. "Is that an apron?"
Looking at himself and judging by his surprise, it seemed he had forgotten he was wearing one. "Er…" Trinity struggled to find an excuse, "Yes - yes, it's an apron." Looking at El, who's holding back a bout of laughter made him narrow his eyes and put his hand on his hip. He flipped whatever food was being cooked using only the pan without even looking at it. "You going to make fun of me about cooking? Or wearing an apron?" He felt his cheeks go rosy as he put the food on a plate.
Impressively however, he didn't even look at his own actions, he kept his eyes on Elise the entire conversation through.
Elise's expression softened from laughing to one of admiration. "No, I think it looks pretty cute," She went back to grinning. "For mister bold, masculine and secretive. It's cute, buuut if you want me to make fun of you, I'd be happy to do so~" She cooed in a singing like tone.
"No!" He flinched at his own volume, "Uh, don't!" He whispered. As breakfast was all done and ready to serve, he stretched his arms and hung the apron. "It's just a dumb hobby of mine." Trin scratched the back of his head, sighing.
"Dumb?" She playfully rolled her eyes at him, "Any man that can cook has me sold. Especially if he wears an apron while doing so." She winked at him in a joking manner. "So if you're waiting for an engagement ring I'm gonna have to get back to you on that Trinny. Gotta see if it tastes as good as it smells."
He wanted to shoo her off before she ridiculed Trin, but as soon as she stated something on how his food tasted…
Trinity suddenly smirked. "Hm? You doubting my cooking?" Secretly however, he'd hoped he wouldn't have to prepare a meal for the entire rebellion if they found out.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," Elise clicked her tongue as she tapped her fingers on the 'counter top'. "You've never told me you could cook before… is that telling me you're bad at it, Trinny?"
"Hmph. It's up to you to try it now, ain't it?" He smiled secretly under his mask. "It's not poison, go ahead. But don't tell the others."
She held up her hands in defense, "I promise. My lips are sealed, Chef." She chuckled and glanced down at the meal. She stared at it for a good while, her smile neutralizing on her face. Only when she shook her head did it return. "If you put rat poison in this, I'm gonna haunt you."
Trinity laughed. "Oh well. I'll just have Jak and Dax wolf it down then -"
"No!" She quickly dragged the plate towards her chest. "Those asshats would eat it even if it had poison!" She looked down at the food and picked up a fork, taking a bite of the meal. She paused and quickly looked up at Trinity. "Trinity. This is the best food I've had in my entire life. Please teach me how the ever loving hell you've learned to cook like an utter god." She blurted out quickly.
He crossed his arms and looked to the side, "Told you, it's just a hobby of mine." Trinity gave a hearty laugh. "We need to get this show on the road, we got ourselves some escortin' to do."
She hummed happily as she ate, pushing half of the meal towards Trinity. "Eat the rest, then. I need some clothes that aren't yours or Torn." She teased and stretched her arms up. "Thanks for the meal and shirt, Trinny."
'She would NOT be comfortable knowing how much blood got on any of my shirts.' He quickly pushed the thought away. "Yeah, yeah. You thief. I don't honestly care, but Torn might haha and I've already eaten anyway.."
As time passed, Trinity had already hollered over the others for the food, or whoever was up and awake this early. Tess had dropped by for a short report about Krew and a visit. It was then Elise had learned that only Torn and Tess knew about Trinity's secret hobby.
Jak and Dax had (predictably) gobbled up the food like a couple of Hip Hogs!
When the briefing came, Trinity spoke up in Torn's place. "You all remember from last night. Four of our members to escort, no casualties. We can't afford to lose any more than we already have had once before." He took out his device and so did the others, Dax's being a flip-up version. "They've all got signals on our Communicators, we split, and we safely shuttle them to where they need to be. Got it?"
They nodded and all had headed out. Trinity grabbed Moria's Stradivarius, while the others began checking on their ammo.
Trin made the air whoosh all around him as he instantly hopped on his Hoverboard! "Once we're done, Torn will contact us."
Jak dashed outside and gripped onto a zoomer, throwing himself into it (and the driver out). "Got it, Trin!"
Elise blinked and grumbled to herself as she walked outside. 'Men.' She mumbled and shook her head. She too had stolen a zoomer and drove her way to her objective.
There was no alert or trouble as all of them had picked up the UG members, but trouble had already been brewing. As soon as they pushed the Zoomer's engines to the absolute limit, KG Hellcats were on their tails. The hot pursuit was more difficult than before.
'Maybe our fiasco at Baron's Palace wasn't such a great idea - but it had to be done.'
"Trinity, sir?! There's a lot of them on our six!"
"Heh. Here's hoping you didn't eat too much, grab on!"
Trinity was mashing the hover button furiously, racing against the clock! They weaved in and out of the traffic, the Krimzon Guards having trouble keeping up!
On Jak's side…
"Eyagh! Step on it Jak!"
"Shoot 'em Dax!"
"Pray to Mar this is going to go well!"
It wasn't any easier on Jak's end either, or Elise's even.
Something was definitely off though, because the KG's weren't shooting them to oblivion. 'Are they trying to catch us alive?' An incoming roadblock made him snap out of his reverie.
Elise's side…
It was a little sloppy on the getaway just like Jak's, both having issues intertwining with the traffic jams that her Zoomer kept scraping against the concrete walls.
"C'mon, c'mon!" She gritted her teeth as her escort was busy ducking and covering their heads. 'Why aren't those bulky bastards killing me?' Secretly, El had wished Trin was behind the wheel.
Back to Trin…
There were roadblocks in every possible corner Trinity could find. 'This...is far more calculated than usual.'
Seeing that the Baron wasn't going to let any of them slip this time, he knew it was going to be a tough one losing the KG before dropping off the rebels.
Meanwhile, when El watched her back as she was flying away - she noticed some of the pursuits broke off into the opposite direction. She easily flew by the alleyway, both dismounting.
"Thanks, you saved my skin. Good luck out there along with the others!"
Both had quickly separated ways.
El was on the lookout for any guards. "That's one…" She whispered. "What was that about?"
The same had ended up with Jak, some of the KG's split and didn't find Jak interested anymore. He (along with the agent) exited rather violently off the vehicle as it headed off into another path and was bound to explode.
But it was perfect for attracting the KG's attention into the wrong direction. "I don't like the feeling of this…"
"Me neither Dax."
His Communicator flew to life as he didn't waste another second to flee. 'Already done?'
But his answer was quickly proven wrong.
? (Communicator) : [Jak? Dax?]
"Elise?"
Elise (Communicator) : [How's your end? I got one down.]
"It's too easy." He muttered low as he shrank into the shadows.
"So easy that stealing from a lazy, sleeping Yakow would be too hard compared to this!"
"Shh!"
"Eheheh… Sorry, buddy."
Elise (Communicator) : [Easy, huh? Well, the KG were on my tail, but they weren't shooting.]
Jak (Communicator) : [You too? They were tailing us as well, but it's like what you said.]
Elise (Communicator) : [The Baron wants us alive. I just hope Trinny's alright. Pick up the last agent, I'll meet you there so we can take 'em together. I'll try to contact Trinity to see if he's alright.]
Jak (Communicator) : [Alright. I'll see you there.]
Jak flicked off his communicator and hesitantly peered his head out from the shadows. A snarl never removed itself from his face as he eyed some civilians down. Daxter stood up on his shoulder yet again.
"It looks all good. Now let's get movin' so I can see that sugar plum!"
Jak squinted towards his friend, "You do realize Elise hates you?"
"All the reason to keep trying. I like 'em feisty!" Daxter brushed his ears back.
Jak let out a hearty laugh, rolling his eyes as he hopped onto an empty zoomer. "If she doesn't kill you with her bare hands, a pot of oil will."
Daxter shrunk. "You wouldn't really let her cook me, would you?"
"Depends. Keep testing my patience, Dax. And we'll find out soon enough."
"Jak!"
"Wait- "
The duo hugged the walls more cautiously, hearing gunfire roar overhead.
But it was soon heading in their direction.
*WHOOOSH!*
They watched as the civilians began looking at the same intersection, and they began to scatter in panic as a double-seated Zoomer whizzed past! Not too far behind were the KGs trying to explode the vehicle.
"We've found our answer." Jak and Dax eyed each other, but the ottsel was furiously shaking his head 'no'.
On Trinity's side, he had one escort down and done. Unfortunately his platter was full and couldn't answer his Communicator as the others tried to contact him.
"Jump with me! We're going to the Water Slums!"
"B- But I can't swim!"
Trinity rounded into another corner!
"Then hang on to me!"
Yellow tracers burned into the skies and he heard the familiar Blaster Gun bellow in the air!
Some of the Hellcats turned to try and get the attacker, luring some of Trinity's chasers away from him. 'Thanks, Jak.'
"Who was that?!"
"The newbie - now JUMP!"
*SPLASH!*
"H- help!"
"I got you, don't flail your arms. Let yourself float - now shh…"
Sure enough, he noticed how uncomfortable the agent was with the murky water. But it couldn't be helped. They silently swam under the docks, lying still as the escortee had a deathgrip on the wooden beams.
They watched above them, heavy footprints and stomping pounded boards on top of them. It was as clear as glass how one was shaking in fright while the other (in the mask) was as serene as the waters itself.
"Nothing to report here, keep moving!"
"That traitor's gotta be here somewhere."
"Or in another place if you don't stop talking."
Their watchful eyes traced the heavy metal boots clinking away and boarding their Zoomers.
"C'mon…"
"Okay…"
They climbed the ledge, Trinity hoisting the other up and he pulled up his black hood.
"Thanks, I'll contact The Shadow myself. Thank Mar."
He walked away and Trinity had taken a parked vehicle to zoom off.
Torn (Communicator): [The operation was a success, all Underground members are safe. Come back to the hideout, I have a new mission for you while we wait for this alert to blow over.]
As Trinity nodded and drove off back to the Slums, whatever scrap that was parked at the back made the place a mess. "You really did a number on those Zoomers."
"Jak told me that the KG tried to do a number on you." Elise was standing by the door.
"Nothing I can't handle. Let's go."
"When can we even meet The Shadow at this point?"
"Soon - this next mission will be an interesting one…" Before Daxter even said anything, Trinity had already headed in. Both recruits curiously wondering what he had meant.
JV007 A/N: Chapter might have been boring for this one, I apologize. Next one is a twist! But not mine, the game's plot twist itself!
Butterfly A/N: I'm both excited and hungry. :D Can Trin cook me some food too? (:
JV007: Ey, if I really could be there, I'd definitely cook random diabetic and heart-clogging shtuff lmao
