A/N: This is a short chapter. It is an action chapter. You learn more about Merlander. I don't own anything from Jak2. I'll try to return reviews. Please R&R.
Yomiori Wolfdemon: I read your chapter and saw that you took my advice. Keep up the good work. Thanks for the review!
Took Baggins: You were the first to notice that Darla is totally based of that girl from Finding Nemo! She has the same name and everything. I wonder why no one noticed it but you. Thanks for reviewing.
Rob the Hedgehog: Mog is not the name of the mapmaker. His name is Mod. I got the name from a villain off of Teen Titans. I thought it went with him. Sorry for all the confusion. It is fun writing for a mute. It gives me a challenge. And writing out his thoughts is really fun. And Daxter does not stay in the bag for too long.
WRTD: I had to have at least one strange person to like Erol. I cracked myself up writing that chapter. And Merlander does know tons of information. You figure this out at the end of this chapter. Thanks for the review and Merry Christmas to you too!
Red Hawk K'sani: I will not show Merlander's true colors till later on in the story. But he does have a side. I'll drop in clues along the way. This chapter will not be a Jak one. Next one will kind of be one. It will be half Jak and half Daxter and friends. Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 19
Merlander switched to a different zoomer that was not painted in blood red and fully saying that Merlander was a Krimson Guard. The worry look in the teen's eyes slowly went away as he sat on the zoomer on his way to the saloon. He got into some air traffic when he flew out of the Slums. He yawed out of boredom and put his fingers through his hair while waiting to go.
"Fire!" came a shout from the ground. Merlander's ears heard the command and looked down with wide eyes. An orange laser hit Merlander's zoomer and made it fly backwards.
"Crap!" Merlander yelled as he swerved his zoomer out of the line of stalled zoomers. "This is just not my day," he muttered to himself as he ducked to get out of the way of more fire from the ground. He slammed his foot on the gas and sped off.
"Mer!" came Torn's voice from a floating communicator that popped up next to Merlander's zoomer. "Get your ass out of there! Somehow they know it is you who is giving the eco ore to Krew. Come back here."
"I'll do things my way," Merlander said to Torn. "I'll call you back when I get to Krew's." He then hung up on Torn and made a sharp turn. He pulled out his pistol and fired at an elf that was driving a Krimson Guard zoomer at Merlander's. The guy fell out with a yell and the zoomer stopped coming at Merlander.
Merlander gave a two-finger salute to some Krimson Guards that he past by. Before they could fire he was already gone around another corner. A smile came to Merlander's face as he flew out into an open water area that just circled around. He saw a big sign that said in elfish 'Hip Hog Heaven Saloon'. He flew up to the door and jumped off the zoomer.
Merlander took out a communicator and pressed a button and said into it, "Made it." He then slipped it back into his pocket and picked up the package. He left the zoomer and backpack at the door and walked in.
"Another package in top condition for your royal fatness," Merlander said with a bow. He held up the small package to a guy who looked very strong. He had tan skin and wide shoulders. He took the package from Merlander and gave a chuckle.
"Ooo!" came a creepy voice from behind the big guy. "Torn came through again, eh?"
"Yeah," Merlander answered while coming up from his bow and putting his hands on his hips. "Somehow the Krimson Guards found out that it was I who was getting the package to you. You're going to have to pay Torn more for these kind of things soon."
"I already pay him enough," came the creepy voice that belonged to Krew. "He is eating up my money!" Sig, who was the big guy holding the package, went into another room in the back to unload the package.
"I'm sure he is eating up your money like you eat lunch," Merlander said with a wide smile on his face. Krew gave him a warning glare to make him shut up.
Krew was a big guy. Not just your average overweight guy. This guy was…like…BIG! He was so big that he could not walk. He had to fly around on a machine that let the only thing little on his body (his feet) dangle down. His rolls of fat jiggled every time he moved.
"How was your day?" Merlander asked Krew with a smug smile, and he put his hands behind his back while waiting for an answer. The Hip Hog Heaven Saloon was a small place. It was simple with wooden floors and a few booths. The bar had a few stools and a girl was cleaning behind the counter. She gave Merlander a smile and pushed a lock of blond hair out of her hair before going back to her work. (A/N: it is Tess if you didn't figure it out yet.)
"I had breakfast," Krew answered Merlander's question and was totally oblivious to the sarcasm. "Then I slept. Then ate and went back to sleep after that. I then ate again…"
"Okay, average day, then?" Merlander interrupted with a laugh. He loved teasing Krew. It was normal for Merlander to get Krew all upset then get kicked out of the Saloon with a mission that would last the night. "You always eat and sleep. You're like a cat from Earth."
Krew turned his head towards Merlander and glared at him with his evil eyes. "What are you standing around here for, eh? Go!" he growled at Merlander.
"I just love standing here and smelling the luscious scent from your body," Merlander said with each word dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't speak to me like that, boy!" Krew said to Merlander while curling his plumpy hands into fists. "And for that talk I'm going to give you a mission. A hard mission."
"You're too kind," Merlander said with a fake smile.
"Go to the Pumping Station and take down three big Metal Heads and drag them back here," Krew said. "My other ones are starting to rot and the smell is gagging me." He started to fan himself with the little fan he always carried with him.
"Are you sure the smell was not from you?" Merlander asked him.
"What was that?" Krew asked in a deathly tone to his voice.
"Nothing," Merlander said while a one-shoulder shrug. "Go on."
Krew gave him a glare and kept going. "If you do this for me, I might think of giving you a gun upgrade. How 'bout it, eh?"
"I love risking my life for you, Krew!" Merlander said with a fake excitement. "When can I do it again?"
"Stop messing with him, Mer," Sig said to him as he walked into the room. Krew flew off to a corner of the room to talk to some guys at a booth. "Don't hurt yourself out there, kid," Sig said while patting Merlander on the shoulder. "You know what I always say about killing Metal Heads."
"Surprise is the best attack," Merlander said with a nod. Sig was like Merlander's second dad. The one who paid attention to him and showed him everything he needed. Sig trained Merlander when he was only 10 in elf years.
"Now go get 'em, kid!" Sig called to Merlander as the teen ran for the door. Merlander gave Sig a nod and walked out.
Merlander parted a big leaf out of his way and crouched low to the sandy ground while looking straight ahead at the group of Metal Heads. He was in the Pumping Station and ready to get himself some Metal Heads. He had his big gun out and his fingers wrapped around the handle and barrel of the gun. His pistol rested at his side and ready to be pulled out at anytime.
The air was cold because it was at night. He knew fall was coming because it was cold enough for him to see his breath in white, puffy clouds that lingered in the air for two seconds and finally vanished. It was dark all around Merlander. A few lanterns hung around the Pumping Station, but mostly it was a black nightmare. The moon was behind clouds that locked the light into the sky.
Merlander made no sound as he slowly crept forward to the group of Metal Heads. The yellow skulls shone brightly in the dark and Merlander counted ten. Three were big with four crab claws as feet instead of paws. Those were the ones Krew wanted.
"Surprise is the best form of attack," Merlander said in barely a whisper to himself. He checked his gun to see how much ammo he had left and swore silently when he found out that he only had five bullets in it. His pistol had plenty, but it took a lot to kill some of the big ones.
The ammo for Merlander's big gun was Metal Head skulls shaped into bullets, and they could be hand carved or you could buy them. Merlander made his own ammo. Some elves found out that if you pierce a Metal Head skull into a Metal Head it would poison it and the thing would quickly die.
Merlander closed his eyes to sooth his nerves. He breathed in slowly and let it out slowly while opening up his eyes. He watched his white breath till it vanished and then finally looked back to the group of Metal Heads.
He fiddled with the strap to his backpack then took aim at one of the bigger Metal Heads. He noticed that something was missing before he fired. He counted the Metal Heads again, and when he counted nine he recounted to make sure.
"Where is the last one?" Merlander whispered to himself with confusion.
BAM! A Metal Head slammed into Merlander's back and sent him flying out of the bushes and into the clearing of Metal Heads. Merlander hit the hard sand with his arms that were protecting his face. He slid across the sand while his gun got lost. Everything in his backpack flew out, including Daxter with a loud yell of surprise.
Merlander winced as sand rubbed into his bleeding elbows. He knew the sting was nothing to what he was about to go through. He could hear the growls of the Metal Heads as they looked down at him. Then another voice entered into his ears.
"Nice Metal Heads," came Daxter's voice. Merlander looked up and saw Daxter giving the monsters around him a nervous smile. "Now you really don't want to eat me. I don't taste good, and I have too much fur."
"Where did you come from?" Merlander asked the Osttel with complete confusion in his violet eyes. "I thought you were with Roxie!"
"I was spying," Daxter said as he grabbed the bag of cookies that was from Berry to Erol. "Want a cookie?"
"Does it look like I want a cookie when we are about to get killed by Metal Heads?" Merlander asked while slowly getting up from the sand. The Metal Heads had formed a circle around the two and their mouths were dripping saliva. Merlander spotted his gun just a few feet away from his foot.
"I was not asking you for a cookie, you selfish yakcow!" Daxter said harshly while giving Merlander a glare. "I was asking the…whatever you call 'um."
"Metal Heads?" Merlander asked with confusion returning his eyes.
"I know what they are called! I was just testing you," Daxter said while reaching into the bag. "Have a cookie," he said while tossing a cookie at a Metal Head. The monster looked down at the cookie with puzzlement. He sniffed the cookie then ate it quickly. Then a faint of a smile went across its lips as he begged for more.
Merlander broke into a huge smile as he nudged Daxter with his foot. "Give them more," he said with a nod. "Give them the whole bag if you have to."
"Did you hear that, Metal Heads?" Daxter said to the creatures around him. "Merlander wants to share now." He then started to throw the cookies to each Metal Head. As the Metal Heads ate the cookies Merlander grabbed his gun and fired three times at three big Metal Heads.
Before any of the Metal Heads could figure out what was going on, Merlander had a bullet in them. One Metal Head jumped for Daxter, but Merlander grabbed the Osttel by his tail and threw him to a rock ledge to get him out of the way.
"Die!" Merlander yelled as he went trigger-happy with his pistol. He was like lightning as he turned one way then the other. He jumped out of the way of another Metal Head lunging for him and shot it before it hit the ground. He then whipped around and killed two more.
"To your left!" Daxter called from where he was above the mess. Merlander turned quickly and killed the Metal Head who had gotten really close.
"Thanks!" Merlander yelled over the gunfire. He ran out of bullets and quickly grabbed another cartridge that was in the strap around his shoulder. He shoved the new set of bullets in and started another round at the three Metal Heads that were left to destroy.
One Metal Head came close to Merlander and took a swipe at him. Merlander jumped back just in time, and the claws of the creature cut into the front of Merlander's shirt and ripped it. Merlander shoved his pistol into the Metal Head's mouth and fired down the monster's throat.
"You do not want to get me P.O.!" Merlander yelled to the Metal Head that slumped over dead. Merlander kicked the beast while breathing hard.
"Behind you!" Daxter yelled down to his friend while pointing at the last Metal Head that had been hiding in the bushes.
Merlander quickly turned on his heal and fired at the last Metal Head with a battle cry. Merlander gave a sigh of relief and put his pistol into his leg holster. He rubbed his forehead while walking over to pick up his gun that he had dropped.
Daxter slid down the rock hill and ran up to Merlander. "You're fast," he stated while pointing up to Merlander.
Merlander picked up his gun with a sigh and asked, "Why were you spying on me?"
Daxter gave Merlander a sheepish grin and said, "Roxie asked me to do it."
Merlander put his gun away and started to gather everything that had fallen out of his backpack. His clothes were stained with Metal Head blood that left a gross smell behind. "Why would she want you to spy on me?" Merlander asked Daxter without looking over to him.
"Whoa!" Daxter said while putting his hands up in defense. "Why are you so worked up about this whole thing with me spying on you?"
Merlander glared over to Daxter and shouted, "Incase haven't noticed, I work for everyone. I work on all sides. I know everything that is going on in his city. I know every detail of this city. But I have no sides, so I can't tell anyone. I even know who your looking for. His name is Jak, and he is part of the Baron's Dark Warrior Project."
"How do you know that?" Daxter asked in disbelieve.
"I just know things," Merlander said while taking out a knife. He started to cut off different parts to the big Metal Heads. "The only place I don't know about is Black Water. That is the only place I call home. So I don't try to figure out anything from there."
"You know how important you are for information?" Daxter asked. "You know tons of things."
"No one cares about me, though," Merlander said while putting all the Metal Head parts into his backpack. "And no one should know. So how are we going to settle this?"
"Huh?" was Daxter's only response.
"How am I going to make you quiet about all this?" Merlander asked while giving Daxter a sly smile.
"You know where Jak is?" Daxter asked with hope.
"Yeah."
"Is there any way you can try to get him back here?"
A smile came to Merlander's face. "I bet I can. I can pull a few strings while I'm taking over for Erol. Maybe Torn was right. This could work to my advantage."
"Done!" both said at once while shaking hands. The deal was made. Daxter had a little bit of hope.
A/N: Hope you liked the action. Next chapter will be half of Fort: Dark Warrior and the other half will be in Haven City. It will be a two in one thing. Please give a review. Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year! Here comes 2005! Sweet!