Home in my arms
Chapter 14
By shadows/of/flame

"Party now, and party hard. This may be the last chance you have."

As Jak could now clearly see (or... not so clearly see), alcohol was NOT the answer. And probably never would be.

Silence had long since fallen on the Naughty Ottsel, signalling the end of all the partying that had been going on all night.
Everyone was asleep, save one lone person.

Samos couldn't stop thinking. Thoughts ran through his head at an almost alarming rate, yet he could process them all in a simple second.

He wondered if his plan would work. Wasn't war a tad extreme for the situation?

It depended really, he decided. Not only Jak and Torn were affected by this. Many others had friendships lost, and trust broken when Ashelin had changed sides.

The old sage wondered if the people of Haven City knew their predicament, or if they even knew Ashelin had betrayed her people.

The sage's eyes hovered, first to Dark and Light who were curled up under one of the tables, then to Jak and Torn, who were spooning peacefully in one of the booths.

He also wondered if Ashelin had been acting rationally when she had burst into the Naughty Ottsel with her decree. Well, Ashelin never did anything unless she knew what she was doing, so Ashelin being irrational was definitely ruled out.

Daxter had earlier voiced his concerns to the green sage about Jak's health, and his future with or without Torn after this law had been passed, and Samos silently agreed.

It could tear the boy apart.

So, a war WAS necessary?
Against Jak's father, Damas, king of Spargus, and Torn's old comrade, Ashelin, ruler of Haven City?

The old sage knew he would have to act quickly if he was to rally any of Haven's cavalry and soldiers on their side, and speedily, surprising for an old man, set off for the abandoned Power Station.

Samos hesitated at the doors, hoping rather feverently that his plan would work, and the even smaller problem of if the doors would open.

He had to have SOME part in saving the world.

But then again, if anyone knew what he was doing, they would stop him without hesitation.

Samos yanked open the doors, hurriedly finding the intercity intercom.

"Oh, how do you hack this damned thing... Dammit, I'm too old for this. I wish Vin was around."

Eventually, he managed to hack into the palaces' intercom system, and began to record a message through the Freedom Guard communicator system to every FG communicator.

"Freedom Guard of Haven City... we are at war with the Wastelanders, and we require your assistance to be rid of them. Soon, King Damas of Spargus and our own leader will be arranging a call to you and asking for your help. Remember that the Wastelanders hate you for throwing them out, they will not treat you with decency and respect.
So choose. Stay with Haven's cavalry and help your true ruler, or go to Spargus with your fake ruler and help them destroy us."

As Torn was a Freedom Guard officer, his communicator went off with the same message.
"War...?" he whispered as he listened to the message again, making sure he was hearing correctly.

Samos entered the Naughty Ottsel wearily, wondering what the Freedom Guard were going to decide.

An undercover FG had contacted him almost straight after he had sent the message to tell him that Spargus were already gathering an army.

If they didn't choose soon, it would be Sig, Jak, Daxter, Torn, Jinx, Keira, Tess, Dark, Light and himself against... thousands of Wastelanders. And Damas and Ashelin.

"What's going on? A war?" Torn hissed groggily, making a great effort not to wake Jak up. He needed his sleep.

"...Spargus are already gathering an army. It would have only been a matter of time anyway, we have no choice Torn." Samos replied.

"I still wish this had never happened. That Jak had never come to fetch me, that I had stayed in Spargus. None of this would have happened otherwise!"

"Staying in Spargus wouldn't have done you any good. It would have done you worse."
"But sir!"

The green eco sage sighed. "You're not the one at fault, Torn. Neither is Jak. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that is all. Ashelin and Damas are now spiralling out of control, and we are the only ones that can stop them. You understand don't you."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

"S'pose so."
"That's my boy. Now get some rest, who knows when Spargus will strike."

Very soon, as it turned out. Sooner than even Samos expected.

A lot of men came to offer to help with the war the next day, because as it turned out the Freedom Guard were only too happy to help after Ashelin's side change.

Samos could only hope that the Freedom Guard plus his allies would be enough to defeat the Wastelanders.
And stop this stupid brawl once and for all.