Zakura: nobody can blame you for updating to slowly
Miss. Ecofreak: except if you HAVE to read one chapter each second, which I doupt anyone does.
Zakura: so... whats the meaning of this title? What the hell does Renegade have to do with Growing up in Haven City?
Miss. Ecofreak: with the main story: nothing at all. The title renegade symbolises the beginning of another story which starts right after this chapter.
I do realise that in some contries that does not make sense, but in Europe (more spesific Norway) Jak2 (second best game in the world) is called Jak2 renegade. This chapter marks the beginning of the game where Daxter runs of to rescue Jak.
Jak still does not appear in the story, if you want to see how the rescue mission went you'll have to turn on your ps2 (or a friends ps2 for all I care)
This chapter however, tells of ... read it!
CHAPTER 25
RENEGADE
Kate
Having Crocket tied up at the back of my zoomer was not easy.
He kept moving around in the cage so much the ropes which held the cage to the zoomer loosened.
"Perhaps we should just walk? You brought his leach didn't you?" Cornelius asked as I stopped for the fifth time.
"Good idea. It probably would be easier to find the kid when we're walking as well" I said, taking Crocket out of his cage.
But as soon as I put him down Crocket started growling again, he was looking at some garbage bags.
"What's his problem?" Cornelius asked while he moved both our zoomers out of the streets to park them.
"He probably smells rats or something" I said.
Suddenly Crocket ran forward, I hadn't managed to put his leach on yet.
He jumped into the garbage bags and out of it Daxter the ottsel jumped.
"Daxter? What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Does it matter? Just get that bloody dog away from me!" Daxter cried and jumped up at my shoulder to get away from the dog.
"You'd be safer if you stayed at home" Cornelius said, "This is no picnic"
I was about to ask Daxter what he was doing out here then it crossed my mind.
"I know what this is about" I said, "You're looking for Jak aren't you?"
"Don't everyone?" Cornelius asked.
"Not that Jak, another Jak" I answered, "Daxter as a friend who got captured by the crimson guards"
"Two years ago" Daxter said, he didn't care to change the subject this time, it seemed like it was easier to talk about it now that he'd already told me, "And for no reason! What's wrong with this city when you can't even stand around looking lost and confused without being arrested?"
"Baron Praxis is what's wrong with this city" Cornelius answered, "Everyone should know. Unfortunately if your friend was taken two years ago the chances for finding him alive are slim. I'm sorry to say this, but those who end up in the baron's prison cells never stay for long, and I don't mean they are released"
"I know he's alive!" Daxter yelled, "Don't ask me how but I know! And I'm the only one who can save him!"
"Poor guy" Tanya said, "If you're his only hope he was as good as dead at the day of his capture"
Before I got time to stop him, Daxter jumped of my shoulder and tried to grab the bird, which only ended in him falling head first down at the asphalt.
I picked up Crocket so he wouldn't attack while Cornelius helped Daxter to stand up.
"Don't talk like that!" the ottsel said to Tanya, "Jak and I have been through more dangers than you have feathers on your body, so shut the hell up!"
After living with him for four months "shut up" was two words I never thought I'd hear from Daxter's mouth, since it seemed like he never learned to do it himself.
"Stop fighting both of you!" Cornelius said, "You know? I think we should help this guy"
"What? Saving a total stranger? What's gotten into you?" Tanya asked as she sat down on Cornelius' goggles again.
"We don't have time for this! The kid is still on the loose!" I said, I didn't want to let Daxter down but little-Jak was my brother for the precursor's sake!
"Kid-Jak's got the whole underground looking for him. Besides I doubt he's in half as much trouble as one who's spend two years in prison" Cornelius said, he looked down at Daxter again, "And the only hope he's got is a tiny ottsel, no offence meant" he added quickly.
"So you will actually help me?" Daxter asked sounding both happy and surprised at once, "I didn't think anyone in this city knew what help meant"
"I still owe you after helping us in to the crimson school" Cornelius asked, "Although I'm the only one who seems to notice you saved a lot of lives back then"
"Well you know saving people is my hobby" Daxter said.
"You're nuts, both of you" Tanya said, "Two years and you think that Jak-guy is still alive? But if he is count me in"
"It seems I've been defeated" I said, "I'll help. As long as it doesn't involve blowing up the entire fortress" I added while looking at Cornelius who was smirking.
"I didn't think of that, but it's not a bad idea" he said, "But that'll have to wait. Blowing up the fortress now will only kill the prisoner we're trying to save here. But I've got contacts"
He took out his communicator and walked away from the road so the people passing by couldn't hear what he was saying.
After a couple of minutes he came back.
"Help is on the way" he said.
"Who were you calling?" Tanya asked.
"Just a relative of mine" Cornelius answered, "Unfortunately mentioned relative was to busy to come but she said she would send someone to help. Luckily not all of my family is as crazy as Erol".
About ten minutes later a red crimson guard-zoomer came flying and stopped right in front of us.
The driver was a girl at my age; although her face was covered by greyish blue tattoos I knew her well.
"Hello Corny, who would know I would meet you in a dump like this" she said smiling.
"Nice to see you too Tetra" Cornelius said, "Did you get it?"
"Special delivery from the baron's daughter" Tetra said throwing a security pass to Cornelius, "Just don't tell old Cedrik we took it, we like, forgot to ask first"
She put up her typical good-girl-look, "Excuse me Cedrik? Could we borrow a security pass so our friends can break into the fortress and rescue some lonely guy?"
She looked down at Daxter who was still staring at Tanya, "Are you the hero in this chapter? Cornelius mentioned you were small but not that small"
"I might be small but I've got a big heart" Daxter said, "Not to mention I've got great powers. In the old times I would go out in the forbidden jungle and fight snakes, vicious lurkers and large monster-plants!"
"Really?" Tetra said, she did not sound very impressed, "In what hole did you find this moron?" she whispered to me.
After going through the plan we went to the baron's fortress, the second most secure building in the city (beaten only by the palace)
The baron's prisons where in this building and rumours said it held large ammo dumps as well.
"Can't we just blow it up just a little bit?" Cornelius asked.
"For the last time Cornelius, there are more innocents in here than you can count" I said, "Underground agents and people who have only said some bad words about the baron are in here just waiting to be rescued"
"Or to die" Tanya remarked.
I tied Crocket to my zoomer, "Sorry buddy, you'll have to stay here" I said to him, "I'll call Shadow so he'll come pick you up".
"Getting in here is suicide" Tetra said, "Then again if it was easy it wouldn't be any fun would it?"
Cornelius walked up to the door with the security passed.
"Access granted" the computer announced and the large metal door opened.
We walked in, right inside the door stood a large red security tanks.
"That tanks will be activated if you try to get in there" Tetra said pointing at a passage to the left, "If there really is an ammo dump in this fortress it must be in there. But we're going this way"
She led us up some small stairs and trough another door.
"What makes me think there's something just as deadly in here?" Daxter asked, he was sitting at my shoulder again.
"I can assure you it does" Tetra said, though that didn't make Daxter feel more comfortable.
Tetra looked around a corner.
"There are six guards in there, elite troop" she said.
"Just six? Childs play" Cornelius said and pulled out his gun, he jumped around the corner and shot seven shots.
"All clear" he said afterwards, "Missed only once, that was unexpected", he checked his gun, "Must be something wrong with the aiming"
As we continued walking I tried not to look at the bodies of the five guards on the floor, one of them had fallen down into a hole.
"Not bad" Daxter said.
"Thanks, but we're not there yet" Cornelius said while picking up more ammo from the dead guards, "This might be useful later, and I doubt these guys will need it"
"Cornelius please" I said as I was about to throw up.
"Just ignore them, they were all evil anyway" Tetra said, I notices she wasn't looking at the guards either, she didn't seem totally convinced about killing these guys herself.
The next passage was blocked by a force field.
"We have to press those buttons to open" Tetra said pointing at several large buttons on the floor.
"No problem" Daxter said, he jumped of my shoulder and jumped up on each button.
As soon as he had pressed the last one the force field disappeared and we could enter the next room.
Our next challenge was several laser sensors, if we were his by those the security cannons would shoot us before we managed to get away.
Daxter and Tanya had the advantage of being small and easily passed the sensors.
Tetra and I managed quite well too.
Cornelius came last, but the last sensor hit his foot and the canon burned the steal toe on his left boot.
"Hey! That one weren't cheap! He complained.
"Be glad that wasn't your head" Tanya said.
As we walked on the floor seemed to disappear in front of us.
There was a hollow in the ground, and between us and the next room there was only this hollow and a wall.
There was no way we could go through the wall, but passing the hollow didn't look easy either.
"What is this? Some lame platform game?" Cornelius asked. (A/n: Lame? I don't think so)
"It probably wouldn't be a problem if we had a jet board" Tetra said,"Didn't your brother have one of those once?" she asked Cornelius.
"He did but do you think he would lend it to me?" Cornelius asked. "I guess we just have to try to pass it, and try not to fall into the hollow. The way up is steep"
"I can do it" Daxter said, he slid down into the hollow, grabbed the edge and moved sideways into the next room.
"That wasn't so hard" he said giggling.
"Don't get to cocky" Tetra said, just as a voice behind us said "Freeze!"
Cornelius, Tetra, Tanya and I turned around at the same time (Tanya had to turn twice because she forgot she was on Cornelius' head)
At least ten crimson guards were standing behind us, all with gun facing us.
I heard Daxter ran away on the other side of the room, he was not much help; I just hoped he managed to save his friend.
"Trespassers eyh? Well this is where your journey ends guys" the troop leader said and smirked, "The baron is going to give me a nice bonus for this".
Miss. Ecofreak: to see how Daxter saved Jak: play Jak2, To see if Kate, Tetra, Cornelius and Tanya gets out of trouble... read chapter 27, whenever that is uploaded (damn writers block)
Zakura: To see if Torn (or any other underground agent) find the kid, read chapter 26 which is even harder to upload than 27 seeing it is unfinished.
Miss. Ecofreak:I will update this story as soon as I can, I promise! meanwhile, review (suggestions on what might happen to Torn are most welcome)