A/N: I'm SO sorry for not updating last weekend. I had this project due really soon for school and I had no time all this week to update. The week before I had a bad case of Writer's Block and could just not find a way to set this chapter up. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting.
I hope this chapter is kind of funny to you. I redid it about five times and finally settled with this one. Thanks for all those reviews for the last chapter. I'm going to respond as best as I can to each one.
Yomiori-Wolfdemon: Everyone is insane. Don't beat yourself up for it. Your fan fiction is going great. For your next chapter put some of your writing skills to work and put in a fun chapter. It is where you build character and it really has to do nothing with the fic. But at the end of your chapter plug in your first thing of plot. Ask yourself "How will I introduce my plot to my readers?" After that, go with it. Come to me if you need more help. Thanks for reviewing.
Rob the Hedgehog: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Daxter is my favorite character in the games as well. That is why I had to put this fic up. I'm trying hard to put Daxter's character into place. In this chapter you don't see him much, but in the next one I'm going to put him in more. And I don't have a character named Mog in this fic. There is Meg, who is Roxie's mom, but she is just a minor character. Oh well, but thanks for reviewing.
Authraw: don't trust Simon. That is all I have to say. Thanks for reviewing!
WRTD: that diaper thing was funny. My little sister laughed so hard when I read it to her. Merlander will get more and more jealous of Akki. It is just another minor plot in the story. Thanks for reviewing!
Don't own anything from Jak2. Please R&R! Thanks!
Chapter 18
"Merlander!" Roxie shouted over the wind of his KG zoomer. He looked back at Roxie and she said with worry, "It is five!"
"Hang on!" Merlander said as he speed up his zoomer. "I'll find an empty street or something." He quickly flew into a dark alleyway, and Roxie went through her transformation in two seconds. Daxter jumped to Merlander's shoulder as Merlander had to put Roxie in front of him so she would not fall off.
"Aw!" Daxter said to Roxie. "You look so cute when you're little!"
Merlander laughed as he saw Roxie snap out with her fingers and yelled into Daxter's head something. Daxter jumped back as the tiny form of Roxie said something. "Okay," Daxter said. "I get it. Just don't yell like that. It gives me a headache." Roxie gave Daxter an evil smile and put her fingers up to Merlander's forehead.
"Let's go," came Roxie's voice into Merlander's head. Merlander looked down at Roxie for two seconds then drove off with his zoomer to her house just a little ways from where they were. He drove there and stopped. Daxter quickly snuck into Merlander's backpack without a sound.
Roxie put her fingers up to Merlander's forehead and said to him through his mind, "I loved the ride. See you tomorrow." She then hopped off the zoomer.
"Where is Dax?" Merlander asked Roxie. She just pointed to her door to say that he was already inside the house. Merlander nodded and said, "I'll be around. You go to school, right?" Roxie nodded. "I can pick you up before you go." Roxie nodded again then opened her door and walked in.
"Mom!" Merlander called above the music in his mom's store. "Where is my KG suit?"
Silence was his only response. The only thing he could hear was the music cranked up to full power. Merlander rolled his eyes while he looked around in the store for his red armor. Merlander flung his backpack into a dressing room as he found his armor. Daxter had to bite his lip to keep from yelling as the pack he was in smashed to the floor.
"It should be on the floor next to a dressing room, Mer," came a voice from the counter.
"I already found it, mom," Merlander called out with a bit of frustration in his voice. "Thanks for your help."
"You're too kind, Mer," his mom said. Merlander rolled his eyes once more and started to clip on his armor and only took off his light jacket. When he was done, Merlander grabbed his backpack in one hand and held his helmet in the other.
"Mer, darling!" his mom shouted to Merlander. "Your uncle just called me! He wants you to meet him at the prison right now. I hope it is for a good reason."
Merlander's stomach jumped when he heard what she said. "I'm on my way!" he shouted to his mother over the music. He did not want to meet the Baron at the prison. On his way out the door, Merlander bumped into someone.
"Mer!" Ashlen said when she saw him. Merlander stopped to talk to her. He liked talking with his cousin. She knew he was in Black Water. Merlander knew she was part of the Underground. The two knew where the other stood in the war and did not try to change the other.
"How's it going?" Merlander asked Ashlen. "How is the fight on the other side?" He made sure not to say anything about the Underground because he knew his mom could hear everything what he said.
"Fine," Ashlen said slowly while thinking it over. She gave him a nod and pushed a lock of red hair out of her face with a blue, gloved hand. "I just heard that the Baron called you to the prison."
"Yeah," Merlander said. "Do you have any idea what it is for?"
"Knowing my dad," Ashlen said while she rolled her eyes, "He would want someone to take Erol's place. He will not pick me because he knows I don't want Erol's job." She gave a sigh. She quickly changed the subject by asking, "Did you find the girl you were after?"
"Yeah," Merlander said with another fake smile. On the outside everyone knew Merlander as just some sweet teen that was a Krimson Guard all the time. On the outside Merlander had a whole different personality. No one knew the real him.
"You have to go," Ashlen said as she looked to a clock by the door. Merlander said goodbye and ran towards the door in a hurry. "And Mer!" she called to him. He looked back to her and she said quietly, "You're the greatest little cousin I've ever had. Don't hurt yourself by being bodyguard. Good luck."
"Thanks!" Merlander called over his shoulder. He shoved his helmet on his head and jumped onto his zoomer. He turned the keys with a sigh. He then headed towards the prison.
"Ah, Merlander," Baron Praxis called when he saw his nephew walk into the torture chamber. "You came just in time."
Merlander gulped down some bit of fear and asked with a steady voice, "Just in time for what?" He took off the helmet and set it on his hip and waited for an answer from the Baron.
"Just yesterday Erol found a good, strong Underground worker, and I've put him into my Dark Warrior project. Do you know what that is, Merlander?"
Merlander cringed as he saw a guy being dragged by two Krimson Guards to a seat in the middle of the torture room. He was strapped in after much protesting. Daxter dared to stick his head out of the backpack and looked over Merlander's shoulder to see what was going on. It was the same room from the vision Roxie gave him with Jak in it.
"I know what the project is," Merlander said slowly.
"It is truly wonderful," the Baron said with a smile. He had his back towards Merlander, so Daxter leaned sideways to get a better look and frowned. "Don't you think it is one of my greatest ideas, Merlander?"
The Baron turned to face Merlander. Daxter zipped back into his backpack. Merlander avoided the question and said with some sternness to his voice, "What did you call me down here for, sir?"
Baron Praxis narrowed his eyes at Merlander with anger for a few seconds. He knew Merlander did not like the Dark Warrior project. A dark purple spark zapped up from behind the Baron and a cry of pain was heard from the captured Underground worker. The Baron smiled as the yell echoed around the room. Merlander just dropped his head and looked to the floor.
"I'll tell you why after a few minutes," the Baron said to Merlander as he turned around and watched the torturing go on. It was finally over and Merlander wanted to barf. Daxter just sat in the backpack with worry for Jak. His friend had to go through that torture.
The two Krimson Guards carried out the man, and it was only Merlander and Baron Praxis in the room. Merlander looked up at his uncle and bit his lower lip to keep from saying anything.
"Now, my nephew," the Baron said as he circled Merlander with his hands behind his back. "You know Erol will be out for two to three days. I need someone to take his place. That someone I picked is you."
Merlander's stomach dropped when he heard this news. He opened his mouth to say something, but the Baron was not finished. "This is a great offer, you know? These few days were Erol's job to find people that would be right for my project. You only need to find three." He held up three fingers to Merlander's face and Merlander clenched his teeth together in anger. His uncle was testing him.
"I would love to take over Erol's job for a few days, but I have other things to do," Merlander said while lowering the Baron's hand while looking him right in the eyes.
"What kind of things, Merlander?" Baron Praxis asked his nephew slowly while still holding eye contact.
"Stuff," Merlander said steadily with a nod.
"Oh, stuff," the Baron said while folding his hands in front of his chest and glaring down at Merlander. "What should I tell your parents? Merlander can't take over Erol's place because he has 'stuff' to do? Give me a better answer, Merlander!"
"I just can't do it, okay?" Merlander said with edge to his voice.
"No!" Baron Praxis shouted. "It is not okay. It is not an offer anymore, Merlander. It is a command! So I command you to take Erol's place!"
"What?!" Merlander shouted. He had lost it. "You can't just do that!"
"I can!" Baron shouted to Merlander while walking towards him. Merlander backed up to get away from his uncle. "And I just did! And don't you dare raise your voice to me! Is that understood?"
Merlander backed up so much that he slammed into the torture seat and fell into it by mistake. He gave a shout of surprise when he fell into the seat. "Do you understand me?!" the Baron yelled once more into Merlander's face.
Merlander's heart was racing. He shook his head yes because he was unsure if could trust his voice. Baron Praxis then stood up and said, "You should get to your family. Tell them the good news." He put out his big hand to help Merlander up and out of the seat.
Merlander hesitated on taking the hand, but finally grabbed it. The Baron squeezed Merlander's hand and yanked it up. Merlander winced as he slammed into the Baron's body.
"And you better find those people I need for my project, Merlander," he whispered into his ear. "Or you might take the their place." Merlander's eyes went wide. Daxter heard the threat and tried hard to not say something to blow his cover.
Merlander quietly opened the door to his home. He stepped into the big house and tiptoed across the hall while glancing at his little sisters. Daxter looked through a hole in the backpack at the two little girls in the living room as Merlander passed them.
One looked to be around ten in human years. She had dirty blond hair put up in a ponytail and big blue eyes on one of the most sweetest of faces. The other girl looked to be eight in human years with red hair put up in messy pigtails. Scary did not even begin to describe her. Both did not notice Merlander sneak into the house.
Merlander went into his room and closed the door. He gave a sigh of relief when he locked the door and a smile spread across his worried face. He then started to take off his armor that was over his regular clothes.
Merlander turned around and gasped. He jumped away from the figure with fright. His cute little sister was standing there with a sweet smile on her face. Merlander was breathing hard and quickly saw who it was.
"Don't do that again, Berry!" he said angrily while giving his little sister a mean glare.
"Why not?" Berry asked innocently while pushing out her lower lip. "Did I scar you?"
"Cut it out, Berry!" Merlander snapped at her. "Don't play all fake and innocent. I know how you really are. Now what do you want?"
"Nothing," Berry said while looking to the floor of the neat room. "I just came in here to let you have a cookie." From behind her back, she pulled out a plate full of sugar cookies.
Merlander narrowed his violet eyes at her and said to her sternly, "Tell me what you really want."
"Fine!" Berry shouted while throwing the plate at Merlander with some unknown strength. Merlander yelled in surprise and ducked just in time. The plate smashed against the wall and shattered into bits of pieces.
Merlander looked at his sister with anger in his eyes. She lost her temper quickly with her older brother who knew she was not the sweet thing she pretended to be. Merlander was used to her throwing things around, but his parents would think it was he and not she.
Berry suddenly lost the anger in her eyes and gave her brother a sweet and sour smile. She pulled out another bag behind her back with a set of new cookies. This one had a tag that was pink and was shaped into a heart. Merlander rolled his eyes when he saw it, but he let his sister go on.
"I heard my honey-po got sick this afternoon," Berry said while looking to the ceiling with a wistful sigh. "Give this to Erol and tell him it is from his true love." She handed the cookies to Merlander and walked out of the room while humming a toon.
Merlander shook his head and gave a sigh. "I don't know what she sees in him," he muttered to himself and Daxter smiled from where he was in the backpack. He had watched the whole thing. Things were turning out to be funny.
"We learned about cannibals today!" Merlander's other little sister, Darla, shouted for the whole world to hear at the dinner table. Merlander came into the room with a far away look in his eyes. He picked up a cracker on the table and shoved it into his mouth and headed for the door.
"Where do you think you're going, son?" Merlander's dad asked him with his big, booming voice.
Merlander stopped at the door and said, "Out."
"Come and eat with us," his mom said as she powdered her nose. "Your stuff will have to wait. We want to talk to you."
Merlander gave a heavy sigh and sat down at the table and put his backpack at his feet. "Talk," he said with a nod to his parents.
"What did uncle Praxis want you at the prison for?" his mom asked.
"I'm taking over for Erol for a few days till he gets better," Merlander said in a rush. "That sure was a great talk. I have to go now!" He got up while yanking on his heavy backpack with Daxter inside.
"That is great, son!" his dad said. "Now tell us in detail how the talk went." Merlander wrinkled up his nose to show his disgust. He had no time to talk to his parents. They did not care about him. They only cared on how they would shine through him. He was wasting his time.
"I really need to go!" Merlander pleaded to his parents.
"You are so busy all the time!" his mom said with fake amazement. "Where do you have to go now?"
"I'm going to go around the city with Ashlen," Merlander lied straight through his teeth.
"Okay, then," his dad said. "But be back at around ten tonight. Berry said that you did not come home till around two in the morning yesterday." Berry gave Merlander a smile and he glared at her for telling on him.
"I'll be back by ten," Merlander said with a nod.
"We learned about cannibals today!" Darla shouted again. She then sunk her teeth into Merlander's hand to demonstrate. Merlander shouted at her while yanking his hand away. Darla gave her brother an evil smile.
"My family is all insane!" Merlander shouted while grabbing his backpack and flying out the door in a hurry to get away. "Stupid sister!" he whispered to himself as he hopped onto his zoomer. "Stupid family. Who needs them?" He then started the zoomer and took off.
Daxter had no idea where Merlander was heading. He knew at once when they were not in the slums when the smell changed. Finally Merlander stopped the zoomer and left the backpack on the zoomer and got off. Daxter poked his head out of the backpack but saw no sign of Merlander. He had vanished.
Down in the Underground hideout Merlander was talking with Torn who was leader to the Underground. Torn was looking at his map when Merlander walked down the steps to the hideout.
"What needs to be done tonight?" Merlander asked Torn as walked up to the table of maps. "I have all night."
"What did the Baron want from you today?" Torn asked the teen with his rough voice.
Merlander did not care how Torn got the information. He shrugged his shoulders and said like it was no big deal, "I'm taking over for Erol for a few days."
Torn looked at Merlander for a few seconds with his stern, blue eyes. He then gave the teen a wry smile and said, "This could work to our advantage. You're doing great, kid."
"The only reason why he picked me was because my mom is his sister," Merlander said while folding his arms in front of him. "Now what do you need for me to do? If you have nothing for me, I have other things to get to."
"Another pack of eco ore for Krew," Torn said while throwing a small pack at Merlander. "Hip Hog Heaven Saloon. You know where to go."
"Another easy mission," Merlander said to Torn. "Anything else?"
"Nope," Torn said and returned his attention back to his maps. Merlander knew that meant talking was over. He spun on his heal and walked back up the stairs and to his zoomer. Another long night of missions was normal for Merlander. He wondered what kind of missions Krew was going to give him.
A/N: You now know Merlander works for everyone. He is on all sides. You will see more of his family in other chapters. The next chapter will have action in it. Please give a review!