Jak Dax and Nik walked out into the streets, but while Jak seemed completely interested in the strange place around him, both Nik and Dax were focused on their task… Whatever that may be. An old man a few feet in front of them came up to Jak as if he knew that Jak and Nik had just escaped.

"Hello strangers. My name is Kor. May I help…" Jak abruptly interrupted him as the old man held him back. He was about to grip the mans shirt angrily but Nik tugged on his sleeve and shook her head.

"I don't think you should talk to him Jak… He's got a bad vibe coming." Jak paused for a moment but brushed the mans hand away, instead pointing into the old mans chest, and forcing him back a few paces.

"You look like a reasonably smart man. I want information! Where the hell am I?" Daxter jumped off of Jaks shoulder as he pushed the old man back. He smiled to the little boy who was with the old man.

"ah… sorry. He's a little new to the whole conversation thing." The little boy smiled eagerly at Dax, as if he were a toy or a pet. Nik pulled him up into her arms and backed away as she noticed a small group of Krimzon guard approaching. She murmured softly for Jaks attention… The old man simply brushed himself off, ignoring Nik completely.

"Well, my angry young friend, you are a 'guest' of his 'majesty' Baron Praxis, the ruler of 'glorious' Haven City." Jak waved his hand in contempt to mock the man's expressions to mock the baron.

"I was just a 'guest' in the good Baron's prison." The old man shook his head and the little boy eyed the approaching soldiers as well as they came nearer.

"Inside a cell or inside the city… Walls surround us both. We are all his prisoners." Kor finally turned to see the men in red armor that approached the small wing of the slums. "Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I-I'd move on if I were you." He brought a hand to his face in surprise as he started to hobble away. The men came up and spoke through their communicators, now set to be heard by the people and not just krimzon guard.

"By order of his eminence, the grand protector of haven city, Baron Praxis. Everyone in this section is hereby under arrest for suspicion of harboring underground fugitives. Surrender and die!" the men handled their guns menacingly. Daxter walked up a few steps to them with a smile.

"Ah, excuse me sir, don't you mean surrender OR DIE!?" Kor backed away scared and Nik backed away as well, still holding the little boy.

"Not in this city! Protect us from these guards, and I'll introduce you to someone who can help you." Jak stared determined at the group of guard and suddenly found that he could not control his body. Just as it had in the prison, His hair and skin lightened, his nails grew black and he grew horns, and his eyes became endless black pools he roared and dark eco was released from him, electrocuting and instantly killing each guard it came in contact with. Nik backed away almost fearfully, but the kid noticed that small ripples of dark eco were running over her skin as well. She closed her eyes and whispered something to herself, willing the darkness to subdue. As the guards were finished off, Jak changed back with a painful look he panted, his body stiff.

"That was cool! Do it again!" As Dax had come up, Jak recovered from his headache, his body returning completely to normal.

"Something's happening to me… Something he did… I can't… Control it." Kor stroked his beard and smiled darkly as he nodded almost in approval of Jaks slaughter.

"Very impressive." The little boy had since buried his head in Niks arm and she placed him down gently, tapping his nose lightly to tell him to stay. Kor motioned to the boy as she placed him down. "What you just did was very brave. This child is important." Daxter came up to him and the boy covered his face fearfully, drawing out a soft laugh from Nik.

"This kid? He looks kinda scruffy…" Jak smiled as he noticed Nik chuckle but everyone stiffened up as a guard floated by, stopping to dip down to the pedestrians with a warning most unlike the KG to issue.

"You are in a restricted zone. Move along." The boy watched after the ship with disgust. But turned back to Kor as he thanked Jak for protecting them. Daxter interrupted him with an insulted yell.

"Hey! What about us?" Kor turned back to face them as the street became calm again. He appeared almost bored of talking with them and watched Nik almost warily as he spoke. Nik too appeared to be trying to figure out who Kor was, but while Kor seemed to be drawing a blank, Nik appeared to find him familiar…

"There is and Underground group waging war against Baron Praxis. Its leader, the Shadow, could use fighters like you. Go to the slums… Find a dead-end alley near the city wall. Ask for Torn. He can help you." In response Nik perked up at the familiar word.

"We get to meet Torn?" She hid her smile badly but once again, her blush wasn't to be seen. As they left the boy and Kor, Jak put a hand on his chin as he thought, and Dax jumped up on the metal shoulder pad of Jak's.

"When you saw that guy, Kor, and the kid, you seemed to recognize them Nik. And the kid seemed to like you." Nik waved him off as she continued forward, not realizing it but walking in the shortest route possible to get to Torn's hideout.

"It was nothing. I'm just good with kids. But I couldn't help but feel like I knew something about Kor… I just can't quite put my finger on it." Dax piped up as he jumped from Jaks shoulder to Nik's arms.

"Guy as old as that might have been around before we showed up. By the way Jak, how'd you pick up this girl in the prison?" Jak smiled sideways at Dax as he pulled ahead of them.

"Don't you remember? She was the 'beautiful girl' who fell in with us when we were sucked in this weird place. I don't remember everything after what I've gone through but Nik was right beside me to remind me." Nik continued to catch up, putting a disappointed Dax back on Jaks shoulders.

"I think the reason the two of us survived has something to do with the portal. Maybe the properties of the lightning bolt that struck the Rift Rider altered something in us that made us compatible…" she paused as they came into the slums.. "wow, looks like my memory serves me here better than it ever did back home. I can still remember the way to Torn's like the back of my hand." She led the way as they came to a dead end and were faced by a stony faced girl and a guy in dreads. Nik seemed to disappear as Torn came forward.

"We're looking for a guy named Torn. Kor sent us. Are you… Torn?" Torn leaned right up to Jaks face, surprising him and Nik giggled softly. Torn sent her a look and then stood up straight. Dax spoke before him though.

"Maybe this guys a mute. Like you used to be…" Torn pushed his head forward roughly, Jak finally taking a step back in reaction. He pushed Jak in the chest with a finger and automatically put his hands at his hips where his gun was. Nik laughed aloud again at how Jak struggled to measure up to Torn, who was almost a head taller than he was.

"New faces make me nervous. Word is that you're out to join the fight for the city. You know, picking the wrong side could be… unhealthy." Dax jumped off of Jaks shoulder as torn started to circle Jak like a shark, almost using a scare tactic to see if Jak had the gall to stand tall.

"We wanna see the Shadow." Jak did his best tough guy act as Torn grinned darkly at him. Nik covered her mouth as she watched the two boys pick a fight with each other. Torn noticed in a moment. "Something funny?" she lowered her hand and her face straightened in a moment to a tight scowl. She held a defiant look at him for a moment, completely silent before changing moods again like wearing a mask. She leaned forward into him with a seductive smile.

"Not unless you want it to be Torn. I'm sure if a martial general like Ashlin could get you loose, a face like mine could get you to do whatever I want." Torn appeared not to react to her momentary flocculations but Nik noticed the difference in his face. She then leaned to the side and slapped his back playfully. "Better watch it. You're pretty cute and I might just take something from you next time." He growled darkly at being played but she stepped back with a smirk. "I may not be the best actor, but I can manipulate emotions very easily. I'm not a fighter at heart, but I like to mess with people's heads. It can be very useful against other people." Torn jus returned to his condescension without missing a beat.

"There's no way your seeing the shadow. If you want to join something, Why don't you and your girlfriend, go join the circus?" Dax looked about to argue but Torn continued. "Unless you've got the fur for a really tough task?" Torn pulled out a curved throwing knife, brandishing it almost threateningly. "Take care of an ammo dump we've ID'd in the fortress. Blow up all the ammo you find inside. That aught to prove you're loyalties." As they turned around, Dax jumped back on Jak's shoulder.

"Who shoved a stick up his ass?" Nik chuckled and watched over her shoulder as Torn and Tess walked back into the hideout. During the short walk to meet torn, Nik had taken the liberty to steal the clothes of a girl walking by who was about her height. She now wore brown khakis and a ratty gray wife beater.

"I believe that would be Ashlin. She's the baron's daughter and a beau of Torns." She laughed aloud as a picture came to mind from watching the game… "That boy is more whipped than a yakow headed to the slaughter. That's what you get when you date the highest level of guard." She started walking backwards leisurely as she spoke to Jak face to face.

"So, do you know where we need to go?" Nik shook her head silently, but took a small device out of a pocket from the khakis she stole. She opened it like a compact and stopped walking, a small hologram appearing above the little device. Nik smiled widely.

"But I know where we need to go."

Shout outs!

K'sani:
I'm glad I have reviewers for once. The last version of this story didn't sell at all. I hope you'll stick around for the next chappie

Salena99:
What can I say? I'm not nuts. (Being an schitzo DOESN'T count!) But I do have a thing for psychotic bastards. I'm a sucker for the needy, always have been. I hope despite the fact you don't have a membership to put me up to give you a link you'll be back for the next chapter.

I wont even bother to do a shout out for vampy over there. He's just happy cause he's in the story. Remember to advertise Kay? I want more reviews!

Nik: I decided to skip as many scenes as possible or this thing will never be finished. But I still have to have Jak and Dax meet everyone and find all the info that was transferred, and unfortunately, that means one of my least favorite missions is a must-see. While running from those damned tanks, our lovable duo discovers that the guards are giving the metal heads eco, and that's some info the shadow will enjoy.