Love is such a fickle thing, isn't it?
Aiden stalked out of the palace into the hot sun, glaring at anyone who even looked her away. She pulled her goggles down in an effort to shield her vision from the bright light of the sun and walked what felt like an eternity to the town center water fountain. She found a spot to sit on the fountain, staring out at the ocean water, absentmindedly watching the people moving slowly through the streets in front of her. The cool mist of water tickled her neck and the sound of children laughing and mothers' faint conversations reached her ears, bringing her back to the present. The events in the palace came front and center into her mind... She had cracked the door open to sneak up on her dad in the training room, pausing when she realized that Jak and Torn's conversation was getting intensely heated.
She wished she hadn't opened the door at all.
The stone settling in her stomach made her nauseated. To know that Torn returned her feelings didn't leave her elated or delighted; it left her in despair. She felt like a last resort in some twisted little family drama, and her father calling Torn a pervert made matters worse. How dare he call Torn that? He had been nothing but a gentleman since she had gotten to know him, and even more so, considering he was a complete jerk to her for... pretty much her entire life.
She stood up once the sun started to cook her forehead and melted back into the crowds. Finding Dee would take her mind off these things, off Torn, off… of everything. Dee was a constant in her life and now, Aiden realized, she was the only person she could trust to make the world seem a little less insane. She missed her. I will make everything up to her. I haven't really seen her in months. Aiden promised herself solemnly.
At first it was overwhelming to be out in the city after weeks alone with only her thoughts to keep her company; Aiden had nearly become desensitized to what the rest of the world was doing and now she was in the swarms of people experiencing the same things they were. She adored the idea that she was just another nameless person in the crowd. No one knew her as the menace of New Haven, or "that monster kid". She was just another young woman alone in the desert city.
It felt brilliant. Refreshing even.
That brief swing of happiness changed when a familiar gravely tenor spoke out to her from behind. "Where are your guards?"
Aiden stopped and whipped around, pulling her googles up over her forehead, to see Torn coming toward her, excusing himself between two women carrying groceries. She scowled at the sight of him. "I'm a big girl. I can handle a few idiots thrown my way, and it looks like one is spying on me at this very moment." She sniped pointedly, turning back around to continue her mission.
"Aiden." Torn simply stated, moving quickly to catch up to her.
"I still have to find Dee," Aiden replied as he walked next to her. If she was stuck with him following her around then she would choose not to look at him, and so they slowly made their way through the market. Silence somehow permeates the air between them in the busy market place. She could feel his gaze scorching her profile.
"What exactly did you hear when your dad and I were arguing?"
Aiden stopped to the annoyance of the traffic flowing around them. Realizing she wasn't next to him, Torn turned around and watched the young warrior. People continued to bump into her, but she did not notice as she stared hard at him, hurt etched across her face. Her bangs blew into her eyes and Torn wanted nothing more than to sweep it behind her ear.
"You're in love with me, aren't you? Aiden slowly asked, searching Torn's face for a reaction to her question.
Torn put his hands on his hips. A bite to his lip, he looked away from her prying eyes, searching his mind for a safe answer that would make sense to the both of them. "It's a lot more complicated than you make it out to be."
Aiden stepped closer, Torn could feel her radiating body heat now, his fingers twitched on his hip, practically begging Torn to pull her in close, to touch and comfort her. Something he's been waiting for for what felt like a millennia. He stared down at his boots, unable to look her in the eyes.
"Love doesn't have to be that complicated. If you love someone you tell them 'yes, I am in love with you .' So, tell me, Torn Nolan. Are you in love with me?"
Torn snapped his head up and a wild look fell over his face as he swallowed hard, his Adam's apple visibly moving from the action. "Yes, I am in love with you!" The moment the word hoarsely slipped from his lips it felt right. He couldn't lie to her for the sake of Jak's feelings and thoughts. "For a few months now." He softly finished with a sigh and dragged a hand over his face, swearing under his breath. "Look, I'm sorry, but we just made our lives a lot more complicated with my confession."
Aiden studied his face, the mixed emotions running through his eyes. The fear, hope and anxiety that was evident, and she finally nodded. She understood that maybe she wasn't some last resort. He was actually serious about this. This was a giant admission for Torn, especially after the trial and embarrassment he went through to continue his role as her guardian. How did she miss the signs of attraction? Other than being a little nicer to her, there weren't any. She still dealt with the same bullshit she had since she entered the academy. He was good at hiding. He was good at not being selfish.
When would he get a turn at being happy? Precursors. She was a terrible friend.
"I get it. Now that I know, I understand." She sighed, and moved forward to pass Torn once more. "Fuck me." She muttered to herself. So, this was what it was like to be heartbroken. It was swift and it hurt . This constant control over her life from everyone around her was despairing. Her thoughts running in all directions, she finally focused again on searching for the only non-controlling person in her life: Delilah.
Torn grasped Aiden's arm to stop her. She looked up into his eyes with questions and confusion burning on her own. "What do you understand, Aiden?" His voice was low and desperate for her answer.
"Commander Nolan, we can't talk about this right now." Aiden pleaded, her voice sorrowful - honest. "I am looking for Delilah and Uncle Dax so lay off on the deep questions until I find them. Please. You'll have all of my attention afterwards, I promise."
Torn sighed in relief and ducked his head in agreement. This was better than the anger and silence. He would take this. "Okay. Let me help you." He released her and watched her grimly nod before turning around to continue the search.
That sickening weight of dark eco filled Aiden's belly as she moved through the throng of people and animals, Torn characteristically silent and hot on her tail. She scanned her surroundings feeling the weight growing stronger as she pushed through the crowd. She pulled her hand to her mouth in an effort to keep from vomiting. She pulled her weapon out, carefully cradling it with one hand, her trigger finger resting on the frame.
"Dark eco?" Torn questions. Aiden nodded carefully behind her hand. Torn flipped the safety on his gun, his calculating eyes scanning the crowd surrounding them.
Aiden swore she had seen orange fur stretched across the shoulders of a woman with white hair. The woman wandered through the market with a man with the same colored hair and matching orange fur resting on his shoulders. The pair were avoiding contact with the throngs of people, parting like water wandering around a stone. No one wanted to be near them or touch them, but the crowds hadn't the faintest idea as to why.
"Something is wrong." Aiden gritted out to Torn as she followed the pair. "Look at that man and woman." She pointed. "The pair ahead of us with the white hair and... blue skin?"
Torn followed her directions, his eyes went wide at the pair of sickly looking humans now looking straight at them, his gaze shifting to the Ottsels wrapped limply around their shoulders. "Holy shit. That's Daxter and Delilah."
"Dee." Terror rippled through Aiden as soon as she recognized the sight of her friend stretched across the woman's shoulders, unmoving. She couldn't tell if she was alive.
Aiden lifted her gun to point it directly at the man and woman, but Torn pushed her gun down. "Not here." He whispered. "Too many people. We need to verbally engage them and see what they want. Remember your training, now is not the time for emotions. Emotions get people killed."
"They reek of dark eco and our friends are wrapped around their necks like ornaments. I really don't think they want to negotiate with us." Aiden seethed back.
"Remember. Your. Training." Torn answered calmly.
The man did not walk, but rather glided toward the pair. Aiden noticed a ball and chain wrapped around his unnaturally thin waist, and his feet hovered inches from the ground. "Ahh, but on the contrary we do, young lady. You must be Aiden Mar. A pleasure to finally meet the daughter of the Legendary Jak. I am Gol Acheron, and this is my lovely sister, Maia." Gol bowed, Daxter began slipping off his shoulders at the motion, Gol snatched Daxter at the scruff of his neck, haphazardly throwing the unconscious Ottsel back over his shoulders. "Oops. Where's the fun in him not being awake for the fall?" He chuckled gruffly at his own demented joke.
"What do you want, Acheron?" Torn finally spoke, pushing Aiden behind him. The Dark eco sages here? What the hell is going on? Is this what Samos warned me about? "You should be dead for centuries now if history is correct."
"Ahh so you know our story? How delightful." Gol grinned shrewdly. "Eco sages are particularly favored by nature. Dabbling in the eco arts certainly gifted us with a long life."
"An unnatural life." Aiden spat. "Not a gift I'd wish upon anyone."
Gol raises an eyebrow at Aiden's outburst. "You speak as if it affects you, little girl."
More than you know. Aiden thought bitterly. She glared mutely at the Sage.
Gol slowly paced in the air, thinking slowly about Aiden's answer. "Ahh yes, it does affect you doesn't it?" He winked at Aiden knowingly. "Having a "monster" for a father? Such a pity he can't join us at this very moment. I would love to see this creature he unleashes. You see, I am deeply fascinated by the dark eco arts. I have been since my youth. He's achieved something I've only dared to imagine. It's a shame I can't keep him for observations."
Gol was interrupted by a frustrated groan. "Ahem. You know what we come for, Commander." Torn whipped around to find Maia had managed to get behind him, standing right next to Aiden. "You are a stunning specimen." Maia purred and stroked a finger across Torn's chest while simultaneously grabbing Aiden's weapon, crushing it in her grasp. She dropped the useless scrap of metal to the ground and grinned maliciously at Torn. "She comes with us or the Ottsels die."
"You want Jak I'm assuming?"
"Brilliant deduction, young man." Gol drawled.
"Delilah and Daxter for me." Aiden blurted out, putting her hands up in surrender. "Give my friends to my Commander and I'll go with you. Willingly . Please."
"Aiden…" Dread settled in the pit of Torn's stomach at Aiden's desperate plea. Torn wanted to protest, but at this point there was no stopping her, and he knew he couldn't protect them all on his own. Better to trade off the precursors and the safety of the crowd around them. These people, if he could even call them that, were far stronger than he could ever be, and he had no idea what their motives were other than seeing Jak in person. Torn knew when he was no match.
"Fine. No doubt, Jak's rodent will return with him anyway. Predictable and stupid." Maia smirked.
"If you are willing then I will accept your terms." Gol replied. "On the condition that Jak returns with the ottsel. Your skull will be crushed in front of your father in the event he shows up alone."
"I agree." Aiden solemnly nodded. Aiden turned to look at Torn . He saw the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. He wished he could offer her words of comfort, even words of peace, but all he felt was terror and anguish; he knew that if he opened his mouth to address her, he'd fall apart on the spot.
Torn tried to convey his feelings to Aiden with his eyes. Hoping she would understand what he was saying. I love you. Don't use your powers yet. Don't use them unless you have to. Please don't die. Don't, Torn thinks , widening his eyes at Aiden, hoping she can somehow read his thoughts . Please don't.
Torn reluctantly broke his gaze from Aiden's to glare at the Twins. "How do I know you won't hurt her?"
"You don't." Gol's lips curled up into a tight malicious smile, "You have my word and that will have to be good enough. I've waited too long for Jak. I will be a gracious host to this … delectable young lady."
"Don't touch her." Torn warned.
Gol merely laughed and slid Daxter off his shoulder, chucking him to Torn. Torn reacted quickly, pulling Daxter to his chest and sliding him into the crook of his arm, ready to catch Delilah next.
Maia sighed, stroking Delilah's fur. "But she'll make a wonderful fur hat, brother." She ripped Delilah off her shoulders and plopped her into Torn's waiting arms with disappointment written on her face.
Aiden moved to stand next to Gol and turned her attention to Torn. "I'll see you soon. Keep them safe."
"We will see you and Jak at the silo in Haven city. I think your little friend, Rayne, will guide you. If she's still alive that is..." Gol managed to gasp out a chuckle and the trio slid out of Torn's view. The flow of the crowd pulled back together, shoving into Torn, as if Aiden and the Acheron siblings were never there to begin with.
"Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!." Torn panicked and turned in a circle hoping to catch sight of Aiden but his efforts were fruitless. He bolted to the palace as fast as he could.
When he reached the palace gates 15 minutes later, Torn spotted Jak surrounded by guards. His gun and hoverboard strapped to his back. Sig and Diana were not far behind addressing a swath of guards surrounding them both.
He knows already .
"Jak!"
Jak looked up and noticed immediately that Aiden was not with him. "Where is Aiden? What happened to them?"
"The Acherons were here. She gave herself up in exchange for Daxter and Delilah."
"God damn it!" Jak barked, kicking the buggy tire hard and turning away, his hands on his hips as he looked at the sky in an attempt to control his anger.
"Look, Jak, I couldn't have stopped her even if I wanted to. We were in the market and there were too many people at risk to even try to engage them." Torn laid the precursors on the buggy back seat. "We need to find Rayne. Acheron said she knows where the silo is. They want you to meet them there."
"Lucky for us she's with Ashelin." Jak responded through gritted teeth. He turned back around and began prepping the buggy for their journey. Determination and fury etched into his movements, he strapped their supplies down with a vengeance.
"Why would they come here and collect her only to go back to Haven city?"
Jak frowned in thought. He moved to the front of the buggy, sitting down, flipping switches as he spoke. The engine roared to life. "They are trying to catch us off guard. They know I won't back down from a fight now that they have my kid."
Torn buckled the ottsels in as Jak spoke, ensuring they wouldn't slip out of their seats in the event of a marauder attack before sitting down in the front passenger seat. The duo waved at Sig and Diana as the gates of the city opened.
"They are weak without dark eco. They know they can't take me on without being surrounded by dark eco. If they make it to the silo, they might have an advantage- unless Aiden doesn't tell them she has powers too which you and I both know she won't; if they don't already know. Their impatience will be to our advantage. We'll go from 2 on 1, to 2 on 2 if Aiden can manage some semblance of control." Jak laughed grimly at the thought. "We're going to try and avoid that situation and just try to get her out of there as quickly as possible."
Torn scoffed. "You and I both know that is going to be incredibly hard to do, getting Aiden to leave the fight is a laughable idea."
"We're just going to have to try."
"You need to make sure you take Daxter with you. Even if he isn't awake yet. Gol said he'll kill Aiden if you come alone."
"I'm sure he'll be awake before we get to the silo."
Torn searched the glove compartment for goggles, pulling them over his eyes. "How are they going to enter the city? Ashelin probably has it locked down tight."
"Rayne." Jak scowled. "She's the whole damn reason we're in this mess to begin with. She opened up the silo chambers from outside the city and let them out. They have multiple ways to enter and exit."
Torn grimaced. " Of course she did. Suddenly her going off the map makes more sense."
Once we get out of the dead zone, we're going to contact Ashelin and find out where the coordinates are in Dead Town. She's trying to find the entrance now with Rayne. Apparently the twins busted Rayne up pretty badly so she's having a hard time focusing. She managed to find Ashelin to tell her what happened, but needed some healing done."
"Damn. They're that bad huh? When the bad guy comes to you to snitch on other bad guys? I could tell the moment I met them that I wouldn't have made it out of there alive if I had tried something."
"Bad is putting it lightly." Jak replied dryly, picking up speed as the expanse of the desert filled his vision. "They're filth and need to be put down tonight."
A/N: Thanks for reading! The end draws near. It took nearly 20 years to get there, but it draws near! T_T Bitter sweet.