Miss.Ecofreak: okay, this chapter doesn't exactly have a lot of action in it. Most of it is about Daxter telling his story

Zakura: And Cornelius being punished, thouhgt you liked him?

Miss. Ecofreak: I like to torture the characters, even if I like them or not.

Zakura: and if you don't like them?

Miss. Ecofreak: characters I dislike are tortured even more

Zakura: right. coughErolcouhg

Miss. Ecofreak: enough talking, let's get this chapter started

CHAPTER 23

OF OTTSELS AND LOST PUPPIES

215, month 12

Kate

Cornelius weren't exactly greeted with open arms after our last action.

Shadow said it was dangerous for both him and innocents to break into the crimson school alone.

So Cornelius was grounded for a month and had to clean up the hideout (not to mention Shadow's house) for six weeks.

In spite of this (and lots of complaints from Cornelius' side) Tess was accepted into the underground.

The first thing she did was throwing a party, leaving poor Cornelius to clean up the mess all by himself.

I had brought Daxter home to my aunt where I had been living since my parents died, and nurtured him back to health.

It seemed like all he needed was a change of environment and he recovered quite quickly.

Now, three months later we had a more or less quiet period in the underground (according to Cornelius it was because the guards were to busy rebuilding the crimson school, but unfortunately for them, they were quite often "delayed")

I had spent most of my time at home with Daxter, who turned out to be a good conversation partner, according to Aunt Isabelle his biggest handicap was to shut up.

I asked him quite often if he had any other friends around in the city but as soon as I mentioned it he changed the subject.

"How about you?" he asked one day, "How did you end up with that Cornelius guy? Not to mention that bloody bird of his"

"Cornelius and I are old friends" I told him, "We've known each other since I was five and he was four. We met at a party actually. My uncle had invited us along with my cousin and her two cousins, Cornelius and his big brother"

I stopped there. I did not want to talk about the dinner party.

"Something wrong?" Daxter asked.

Come on, you keep asking him hard questions a voice in my head said.

"My uncle died that night" I said, "It was a fire.

"Oh, I'm sorry" Daxter said.

"How about your friends?" I asked, "You must have had somebody?"
Daxter looked away, for a moment I thought he would change the subject again but then he started talking again.

"My only friend was taken by the crimson guards" he said shortly.

"Is that why you hate them so much?" I asked.

"That, plus the fact that they always shoot at me. But one they I'll save him! And they will wish they never messed with Daxter the orange lightning!" the ottsel said shaking his fist in the air.
I giggled, the little guy was optimistic, though I was unsure that he could safe his friend all by himself, if his friend was still alive.

"What had your friend done to get taken away?" I asked.

"That's the worst part! He hadn't done anything!" Daxter said.

"Not even spoken a bad word about the baron? I've heard of people who actually get arrested for that" I said.

"Jak never says a bad word of anyone!" Daxter yelled, "Actually, he never speaks nicely about anyone either"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"For as long as I've known him I've never heard him say a word" Daxter told me, "It was annoying at first, since I was never sure what he wanted. But we figured out other ways of understanding each other".

"Your friend's name is Jak isn't it?" I asked and the ottsel nodded, "Funny, I know a kid with that name who doesn't talk much either. But he's just thee years old"

"Funny coincidence" Daxter said, "Except for the age. My buddy is twenty-one by now; we're at the same age. I know I look tiny" He said as he saw my puzzled look, "But I haven't always been a fuzzy rodent. I was changed when I fell into a hole of dark eco a couple of years ago"

"Isn't that dangerous? I've heard even a small dose of Dark Eco can be deadly" I asked.

"I was lucky I guess" Daxter answered, "Can we change the subject now? Or maybe you have an important mission you need to get to?"
Funny he should say that, as soon as the ottsel shut his mouth my communicator started ringing.

It was a short message from Cornelius on it; it said "HQ, now"

"I have to go. Can you stay her alone?" I asked, "If you ever need anything just ask my aunt"
"I'll manage, I've been on my own the last two years as well" Daxter answered.

I smiled at him before I ran out the door.

Aunt Isabelle's house laid a long way form the hideout; luckily I had recently gotten a small fast zoomer for my birthday.

It took ten minutes to reach HQ.

When I came in, Tess, Cornelius and Shadow were waiting.

"What took you so long?" Cornelius asked.

"Stop complaining, not everyone in this organisation are race-maniacs" I said.

Cornelius glared at me; race-maniac was one of his nicknames on Erol.

"So, what's the problem?" I asked.

"Not much really. It's just that little Jak's crocadog is missing. Kor tried to catch him earlier but you know what that dog feels about him" Shadow said;"Besides he's way to old for chasing a small puppy through the city"

"That dog hates everyone, except you and the kid" Cornelius said, "And since little Mar junior here can't go out without being treated worse that that ottsel you found earlier you are the only one who can catch him"

"Where is Jak anyway?" I asked.

"He's at my house, crying poor thing" Shadow said, "I had to lock the door so he wouldn't go out and look for the dog"

"Someone should be with him, or he might find other ways out" I said, "I'll look for the dog. But meanwhile you should keep an eye on Jak. Is anyone else looking for Crocket now?"

"I asked Torn to keep his eyes opened" Tess said, "He's patrolling the area where Crocket was last seen. But if the other guards see him first… you'd better find him quick"

"She'd better find him before Torn as well" Cornelius answered, "Who knows what Torn might do?" he still didn't trust Torn, not even after Shadow made him second in command.

Shadow told me where Crocket was last seen and Cornelius and I (on each our zoomer this time) went out to look.

Miss. Ecofreak: ooh, exiting. and let's just hope the kid does not get out of Shadow's house

Zakura: Houston we've got a problem.