Miss.Ecofreak: take that stupid writers block!

Zakura: it didn't take that long

Miss.Ecofreak: oh so that's what you think? But maybe you will change your mind if I told you I wrote chapter 25 before I even uploaded chapter one?

Zakura: O.o. So it did take time to write this.

Miss.Ecofreak: Sure, now to the reviews. (reads review) It's good someone like my story.

As for Dark Mar's comment... Cornelius calls Praxis' Ugly because he hates him, it has nothing to do with Dork2 (besides, Jak is the one who says Ugly. the Kg calls him Fatty)

CHAPTER 26

THE CRIMSON REBEL

Torn

I looked at my watch.

If the kid wasn't found soon my shift would be over, and we could no longer ensure that the crimson guards didn't find the kid first.

"Is anything wrong?" Bart asked.

"Jim has been gone for quite some time now" I said, "How long can it take to get something to eat?"
"Knowing Jim he's probably checked in at a hotel and fallen asleep" Bart said, "That kid should never have become a crimson guard"

To be honest, I actually hoped Jim wouldn't come back, making sure Bart didn't find the kid was one thing, when they were two it was even harder.

But I couldn't let Bart know that.

"I hope we don't get teamed up with him again" I said.

"I don't know, he's right in one thing" Bart said, "We don't have a lot to do out here. The baron ordered us to look for some kid, I don't really see why. What does he need a little boy for?"

"I don't know" I lied, I knew exactly why the baron wanted little Jak to be found.

"He's promised a lot for the one who finds him though" Bart said, "I wouldn't mind some extra eco, the eco bill won't be cheap this month, with my oldest son always sitting on his computer, that's all he does when he's not in school"

"Kids need some fun" I said, "its not exactly fun going to crimson school, don't you agree?"

"Never been there myself" Bart said, "I joined the guards before the school was founded, shortly after the baron took over"

Lucky pig I thought for myself.

"What would you do if you found the kid?" Bart asked.

"I don't know" I said, not give him to the baron that's for sure I thought.

"Knowing Jim he might use the reward to do an expedition to the metal head nest" Bart said, "I almost hope he does, and then we'll get rid of him for good"

It wasn't the first time I got shocked by the older crimson guards' carelessness.

I hoped I would never turn out like that. Then again I didn't plan on staying for much longer, undercover or not, I was starting to get seriously sick of being a KG. (Fine, that doesn't make sense since I write crimson guard with C instead of K, but I've gotten used to it and don't care to change)

We didn't say anything for a while.

The city was quiet, I hoped the kid was safe, maybe he already had been found for all I know.

Minutes later I found out where the kid was, unfortunately Bart did too.

The kid ran out from a back alley right in front of us, chasing a small animal he had found (perhaps he wanted to keep it as a playmate for his dog).

"Hey! Isn't that the kid the baron asked us to look for?" Bart asked.

The kid turned around as he heard Bart's voice, when he saw the crimson guard uniforms I could see he was scared.

"I don't know, it doesn't look like him to me" I said, and tried my best to get Bart of the hook, it didn't work.

"Don't be silly, it has to be him!" Bart said, "Hi there kid, want to come with us for a while?"
But little Jak was not stupid, he turned his heals and ran, away from us.

"Stop him!" Bart shouted (forgetting that I was the leader) and ran after the kid.

I grabbed my communicator and called Kor (didn't mind calling Cornelius because he would only blame me anyway), telling him the kid was found.

I didn't have time to talk for long; I had to make sure Bart didn't get the kid.

For the moment little Jak had a head start but with his small legs Bart would easily outrun him.

I followed them as fast as I could, finally I could benefit from my year long training at the crimson school. I had more stamina than Bart.

"Where were you?" Bart asked as I ran up next to him.
"I had to call HQ" I said, almost correct, wrong HQ though.

"Good, cause this kid's got endurance" Bart said, he was already sounding tired.

The kid however, at an age of three he had lots of energy.

One thing he didn't have was any idea where he was running, so he ran straight into a dead end with his only way out blocked by me and Bart.

"Come on kid, we won't hurt you" Bart said.

"Perhaps we should just leave him here. Can't you see he's scared?" I said.

"No way, this is my big chance to finally get that promotion!" Bart said, "It's easy for you if you mess things up, you don't have a family to care for"

"But this kid probably has a family too" I said.

"Not from what I've heard" Bart said, "I heard he's an orphan who's been causing problems around the area. We'll be doing him a favour if we bring him in so the baron can find a home for him"
Sure, six feet under I thought.

What was I going to do? I wished Kor could show up soon, or anyone else from the underground.

But there was only me, I was the only one who could save the kid.

I knew I had two choices: let the kid die, or loose my cover as a loyal crimson guard.

"Sorry Bart, but I can't let you have this kid" I said.

"What's gotten into you? You know I would share the reward!" Bart said.

"I don't want any reward. This kid is not your average orphan. His life is in danger and no crimson guard is to touch him" I said.

"No crimson…? Hey! You're with the underground aren't you?" Bart said.

I ran up to the kid and grabbed his hand; he must have recognised me (despite of the uniform) because he quickly hid behind my back.

"Don't think your betrayal will go unnoticed Torn, you may have graduated from KG-school but I've been in the guard longer than anyone!" Bart threatened, he pulled out his communicator, "And I know when to call for reinforcement."

"Drop that com this instant!" a voice said, female, and very familiar.

I turned to see where the voice came from, so did Bart and Jak.

A woman with a gun stood by the entrance to the alley, and not just any woman.

"Ashelin?" I asked in surprise.

"The baron's daughter? What are you doing here?" Bart asked, still with the communicator in his hand.

"That's none of your business. Now drop the com or I'll be forced to shoot" Ashelin said.

This didn't make any sense.

Ashelin was baron Praxis' daughter, why would she save me?
Bart dropped his communicator on the ground.

"I don't know what's going on here but this man is trying to stop me from doing my duty" Bart said, "He's a traitor, he works for the underground!"

"Sure, and you need to inform the baron right?" Ashelin said, "Well don't mind that. He's busy with other business right now, so is the commander. You however, don't you have anything more important to do than to chase helpless children around?"

"But he's… he looks like… the baron said…" it didn't seem to matter to Bart that Ashelin was younger than him. No wonder really, since Ashelin was the closest thing to what the city had to call a princess, daughter of baron Praxis.

"What? That kid doesn't look like the little orphan the baron looks for if you ask me" Ashelin said.

Even though I said the exact same thing only minutes ago Bart didn't dare to disagree.

"Of course not. Silly me" He said stammering, "But what about Torn? He… well… he…"

"I'll deal with that, you just continue patrolling" Ashelin said, she looked from Bart to me, then back to Bart again, "Wasn't there supposed to be three of you? Where's Jim?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am. He ran of somewhere. I'll find him" Bart said. He left the alley and jumped on a nearby KG-zoomer. (Er… he can take that since he is a kg…)

As soon as Bart had disappeared around the corner Ashelin turned to me again.

"So… what am I supposed to do with you?" she asked, pointing her gun at me.

I tried to stay calm and pushed the kid behind my back again (he had come out when Ashelin appeared)

But to my big surprise, Ashelin laughed and put her gun away.

"Relax Torn, I won't harm the kid" she said.

"You… you know my name?" I asked, stupid question! You've met her before! I thought.. but then again, that was years ago.

"Although one brief meeting usually isn't enough to call you an old friend I know you" Ashelin said, "I've heard so much about you since we first met, my cousin told me about your little betrayal"

"And you don't mind?" I asked.

"Of course not, although my cousin hardly believes you actually left the guard. I guess I've got proof now" she said.

Hold on, her cousin?

"That cousin you talk of… it can't be Cornelius Elfin?" I asked.

"The one and only" Ashelin answered, "Though he rarely admits it. If it's one thing he hates more than being Erol's brother it is being baron Praxis nephew. But to more serious things, that Bart is sure to inform the HQ about your betrayal, I think it's time to quit your job officially"

"I don't mind, but what about you? He saw you protecting me" I said.

"As if he would ever talk bad about the baron's daughter, he won't tell" Ashelin said, "But you better get back to the hideout, as for the kid…"

She was interrupted by the roar of a zoomer.

Kor walked out of it.

"I came as fast as I could" he said. He was panting hard although he must have ridden the zoomer all the way, "Is he okay?"

The kid ran out from his hideout and straight into the old man's hands.

"Little Jak is fine, I think you'd better take him back to Shadow's house. The guards will probably be looking for Torn soon and it would be wiser if the kid wasn't with him" Ashelin said.

"Don't worry. I'll take him home" Kor said.

"Fine, then I guess my work here is done" Ashelin said and walked back to her own zoomer, "Do you want a ride back to the hideout?" she asked me.

I didn't need to be asked twice, after this day I was actually looking forward to do paperwork all day.

Miss.Ecofreak: hmm, maybe this could have been made better. but you don't have to take my word for it. review and tell me what you think and even if it do suck, read the next chapter when it's uploaded.

Zakura: possibly tomorow or the day after that

Miss.Ecofreak: if not, rest assured it will come, unless my computer blows up and I have to write it all over again. But it's like Phil Collins said in a cd I've got: "against all odds", beautiful song:)