Chapter 5: The Chase

When Suzuka woke up on this day she woke up like she would any other day: expecting anything to come out at her. Or so she thought. For what she found this morning when she went out to train was that the new crewmember Jak had taken a spot on the roof and was doing some sort of morning workout, and blindfolded too. It looked to her like he was practicing some sort of old martial art. From the way it looked it seemed to her like he was practicing some form of Tai Chi. But two questions came to the former assassin's mind. One: Why was a member of the crew up as early as she was; normally she was up at about 6:30; and Two (probably the most important): Why was he doing a martial art that was meant more for meditation than fighting?

'Well, sitting around isn't going to get me the answers I need.' thought Suzuka to herself.

After waiting politely on top of the roof for him to finish, which took about fifteen minutes from when she first got there, she confronted him.

"If you really had something to ask me you could have waited until I had gotten back downstairs." said Jak as he un-did the blind fold. As he pulled it back Suzuka noticed that he also had put his hair into a ponytail for some reason.

'Probably so it won't get in the way.' she said to herself once again.

"Are you going to ask what you need to ask or are you just here to stare at me all day? Though can't say I really blame ya." said Jak boastfully.

"I'll have you know I have another purpose, especially one that doesn't involve staring at you. Actually I came up here to ask what you were doing just a few moments ago?" replied Suzuka.

"Tai-Chi." he answered simply. "My grandfather taught it to me when I was younger. It helps the user connect with their spirit and life force, as well as the world around them. It's more used as an art of meditation rather than a fighting style. I know I really need it."

"Wait, why do you 'need' it?" asked Suzuka.

"I said I wasn't going to tell you. So I'm not." Jak replied walking past her.

"Wait, this has something to do with the experiment doesn't it?"

"Why would you think that?" asked Jak. Suzuka could see how he visibly jumped at the mention of it.
"It's the only thing you told us you weren't going to tell us." stated Suzuka, matter-of-factly.

"Fine, if you want to know it's this: I have somewhat of a split personality. That time I told you about when the entire set of earring's I wear turned black. That was another side-effect. Now my anger, hate, even my passion, lust, and possibly love if triggered to a great level release something I call 'The Beast'. He's basically me, but a hell of a lot nastier. He's somewhat like split personality that triggers when a certain emotion is put into a high level." said Jak.
"So, how will we know when it happens?" asked Suzuka.

"You'll know. And I suggest one thing when I get like that: run, run your ass off." said Jak. He was now standing right in front of her with his face about half an inch from hers. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go back to storage to get my stuff. So, I'll see ya later."

'We certainly have picked up a strange one today, haven't we.' thought Suzuka to herself.

Later that day

After going through the rather normal day of getting Gene and Aisha up and awake, eating breakfast, looking for jobs and bounties; their searching ended.

A man by the name of Jeremy Crescent, a man wanted for: murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit murder, and fraud. Price: 30,000 Woo long. Well, needless to say, Jim and Aisha were the one's who brought him in, since Gene and Mel and left someplace mysterious, and Suzuka had gone off to deal with her own private matters. And this is where we continue the story:
"Well, that fight wasn't even worth the time of a mighty C'tarl C'tarl like my-self. That guy wasn't worth the bounty they had placed on his head." shouted Aisha boastfully as she and Jim made their way down the free-way on their way back home.

"Well, at least we got the bounty on his head. And it should be enough to keep us going for awhile. Let's just not spend it on a bunch of food we don't need. Alright Aisha?" asked Jim.

"What! Jim, you of all people know we C'tarl C'tarl need food in order to keep up our strength. I mean I'm an"-. Aisha never got the chance to finish her boast, though.

At that moment Jim had to swerve to miss a car that was coming up right behind them. This car, Jim noticed, was a 2005 model Ford Mustang GT 500, driving at about 250 miles per hour trying to outrun a bunch of other, seemingly faster cars than it. Now, it wasn't for the fact that this car was extremely old, or that it was outrunning supposedly my advanced cars, or that is was being chased, the thing that struck Jim as just plain odd was the fact that Jak was driving that Mustang and blaring hard-rock music out of the speakers.

From what Jim saw the white haired man was driving at an amazing speed and took the time to change gears in the process.

"JAK!" Jim yelled. "What the hell are you doing?"

At this point Jak looked over to the Ehfrau and saw Jim and Aisha. Well, the least that can be said was this: How in the fuck did he run into his crewmates while trying to outrun some sons of bitches after his bounty?

'This day just gets better and better doesn't it?' thought Jak rhetorically.
"Trying to outrun some bounty hunters? No, of course not, I'm having a tea party with my lesbian sister. WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE I'M DOING!" yelled Jak.

"Geez, all Jimmy asked ya was what you were doing!" yelled Aisha.

"Yeah, well right now I'm not in the mood for questions like that. I'll apologize later, but right now I need to ask for someone to call Gene and tell him to get the Outlaw Star or bring his caster here so I can get these bounty hunters off my ass!" responded Jak.

"Alright, I'll call him." said Jim.

Jim then reached for the communicator to Gene's earring.

"Gene, we've got a problem. We're on the freeway with Jak and some bounty hunter's have gotten after him. We need you to bring either the Outlaw Star or rent a car and get your ass over here with a caster."

"Alright, and Jim, a hello would be good next time."

"Gene, now's not the time for polite niceties, just get over here as soon as you can."

"Okay, I'll be there soon." and with that the conversation ended.

"Okay, he's on his way!" yelled Jim.

"Good, and kid, I'm sorry for before. But, damn, I didn't want to take this car out, but I didn't have any other option." Jak said as he slammed the steering wheel on his car.

After about 10 minutes

After ten minutes of constant driving an explosion could be heard. When Jak and Jim looked back they saw that Gene had gotten there in a rented car with Suzuka in the back and Mel driving. Gene was firing off rounds with his caster and blowing up cars one by one.

"Wow, that was pretty fast, nice job man." said Jak after they stopped to survey the damages.

"Yeah, well your stunt cost me 2,000 Woo long, so I'm hoping you're planning on paying me back." spat out Gene.

Before Jak had an answer for that there was a voice over an intercom somewhere.

"Well, Gene Starwind, I see you've picked up some bounty as your new partner. Oh, I've been waiting 5 long years for this. Now I'll kill you and take Melfina as well."

"Who the hell is that?" asked Jak

"Harry McDougal." Ground out Gene.

A\N: Okay, I'm sorry about the short chapter and long wait, but my stories will be going slower. I'm a junior in high school and was stupid enough to sign up for A.P. courses, and I have a job now too. So my writing energy has been drained, but fear not, I will not be abandoning my stories. There is going to be a longer time in between updates however. Well, hope you like the chapter, and thanks.
Sincerely

Devilman666