Title: The Love Disaster
Author: thequietgenius
Genre: General/Humor
Rating: K+ (Rating may go up.)
Summary: Keira plots revenge on Ashelin by concocting a potion to make Jak fall for her. What happens when it backfires? Now not only Jak, but Torn is infatuated with her too. Will this obstacle stray her judgment? JxKxT R&R
Disclaimer: The Jak Trilogy is owned by Naughty Dog, not me.
Chapter 5
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The weather was quite blustery in Spargus. The winds howled and swept sand from the ground in a spirally tunnel. The air was thick with the substance, so thick one breath would be enough to suffocate someone. This might've been the greatest—and worst—sandstorm for decades. The warriors who lived there were cooped in their homes. Even the marauders didn't dare brave the storm.
Absolutely nobody would be crazy enough to confront this tempest…Well, all except one.
"Whaddaya mean I can't have a vehicle?" A green-haired woman inquired indignantly.
"Are ya crazy, lass! There's a storm brewin' –even Damas himself, bless his soul, wouldn't face it!" An aged, bold man shouted incredulously.
"B-but I need to get some metal head skull gems for my potion—" The green-haired woman's whining abruptly stopped.
Kleiver heaved a sigh at the girl's stupidity and ignorance. "Sheila, your heart is in the right place. But your brain certainly isn't."
Keira mentally berated herself for spilling the beans. "For the last time it's Keira. Anyway, how did you find out about…?"
"The old log-headed sage told everybody. He made it clear to make sure you don't do anything foolish." He crossed his arms and eyed her deliberately.
"Even Jak?" Her eyes widened in dread.
"Everybody apart from Jak and Ashelin, I suppose."
"Thank Mar…" She said in relief.
"But it won't be long before those two find out. Their engagement is tomorrow, ya know."
The mechanic gritted her teeth. "Does everyone know about that?"
"Apparently. All the people the baroness knew were invited." Kleiver responded.
Which is like, the whole entire world! Keira thought irritably.
"Why are you so hell-bent on having Jak, anyway? They're plenty of other fine men around." The vehicle-maintainer informed.
The green-haired woman raised a brow. "Are you implying that you're one?"
"W-what? Of course not, girly! You're still a pup compared to me."
"I'm not saying that—argh—forget it!" She slapped her forehead in frustration. "Just give me a car, okay?"
Unexpectedly, a harsh current of air slammed against the gate. This caused the bolts to shutter violently.
"Mar, that almost broke down the door! Call Sig! We can't let the storm enter Spargus." Kleiver took out his Comm. unit and ordered soldiers to bring out the dome and close all openings. It was a gift from Haven for assisting in the fight against metalheads. The large metal covering would shield the city from the ruthless sandstorms.
"Listen Mira. Forget your crazy ideas and seek shelter. Besides the metal heads in the wasteland…they're not as puny as ya might think." He ordered, scurrying off to aid a group of warriors.
"That's Keira!" She hollered to his retreating form. But knew this was not the time for trivialities.
At the moment, the mechanic realized she was alone. In the garage. With two choices to choose from. Either go cowardly hide in a makeshift refuge counting on a bunch of burly men to save her, or go fearlessly (not to mention foolishly) metal head hunting in the desert where she would most likely be buried alive.
"Choices…" As Daxter would say in a situation like this.
And naturally, she selected the more risky latter.
"The things I do for love…" Keira muttered hopping into the Sand Shark, a perfect solution for dealing with pesky metal heads. Small ones anyhow, but she didn't know how cruel and unpredictable the wasteland could be.
---
The storm seemed to have calmed down somewhat by the time the mechanic arrived. Or perhaps it was only the eye of the storm. Either way she was going to have her hands full with this mission. Only Mar could save an inexperienced—and extremely lucky in the face of death—woman like her.
The vehicle bounced and jerked every now and then. Causing the green-haired girl to wince. Why did the seats have to be so darn uncomfortable? She complained. Another bump. Well, duh it's made for combat. Not for sensitive weaklings like me. She stated answering her own question. Beginning to regret going out in the desert in the first place. Maybe she was really insane.
For some reason, Kleiver's parting words came up. They're plenty of other fine men around.
He could be right, though. I mean how many people would risk their lives for someone who doesn't even like them back? Plus, that person is getting engaged to their worst enemy. I should move on but who do turn to then?
The mechanic slowed to a stop next to the oasis. To contemplate her next actions among other things. What she didn't notice was the slight vibration in the water next to her. A muffled thumping was heard from a distance. The stronger the vibration became, the louder the stomping grew.
Roused from her deep thinking, Keira got out off the car and scanned the perimeter. She saw nothing. What in the world could be making that racket? It must be something pretty bi—"
She stopped in mid-sentence at the sight in front of her. It was a large mammoth-sized creaturewith a large glowing gem on its forehead. A metal head…impossible. It's too gigantic. Then she remembered Kleiver hinting about wasteland metal heads:
Besides the metal heads in the wasteland…they're not as puny as ya might think.
"That jerk should've came out and told me instead of leaving me with guessing games!" Keira seethed.Deadly guessing games in this case. She was running out of options as the gargantuan neared. She glanced at the sand shark containing twin front mounted machine guns. Would they be enough to stop it? Can I outrun it?
The mechanic jumped in the car and attempted to speed off towards the city. This was all a stupid idea! Jak is not worth killing myself over, is he? Just as she closed in to the garage, another beast advanced in front of her. She slammed her foot on the brake, skidding a few feet before coming to an abrupt halt. Now, there are two of them!
The metal head let out a roar of anger before charging the vehicle. Keira gasped and zipped in the opposite direction just in time to smash into the second one. She screamed as the momentum of the collision caused the sand shark to fly in the air and land 10 meters away from the monstrosities. The vehicle sprung back from the ground and rolled a few feet away.
Keira groaned and felt a trickle of warm liquid from her lip but disregarded it. The shield meter was critically low. The mechanic had to think of something fast.
The car automatically flipped right-side up. The two metal heads stood there dumbly as if waiting for her next move. The mechanic's mind filled with strategies to defeat the dino-sized mammoths and obtain their skull gems…or at the very least high tail it out of there alive.
Suddenly a light bulb switched on in her brain. And she revved the vehicle into high gear straight at the closest metal head. The sand shark whizzed under it, purposely running over its foot in the process. He yowled in pain and snarled at Keira, ready to stampede once more.
The aqua haired girl slowed down to some extent for the metal head to catch up. Once it did, she zoomed up again towards the second metal head blinking stupidly and looking bewildered. Then she fired the sand shark's machine guns at it. Causing it to bellow in astonishment and hurt.
Now both giants were rushing her on each side. Right where she wanted them. Just before impact, she swerved sharply to the left. The metal heads had no time to react or think as they smashed into each other head on. Emitting one final scream before they were demolished. Without warning, the gems on their forehead broke into 9 equal pieces conveniently for Keira to collect.
She drove by each gem and loaded them into the car. Placing them securely in a sack. Then the content mechanic casually headed back towards Spargus.
---
A few minutes later the winds began to pick up again and the sky was an orange hue. The sand in the air made Keira's eyes burn. This made her worry a bit. I thought the storm finished half an hour ago.
Half an hour later things didn't improve. The sandstorm made her vision hazy and graveled the tires. She navigated slowly and carefully although her anxiety was distracting her. I should've been at the gate by now. She examined the scenery. All she saw was endless sand and sky. W-what if I'm going in the wrong direction? Or worse…traveling in circles?
The intense, blistering, heat of the sun was making Keira lightheaded and faint. She wasn't sure how much longer she could last in the wasteland. Not for long, most likely. This time the mechanic had no alternatives. The navigation system was busted from the metal head battle earlier. All she had was 9 skull gems and her wits. Both of which weren't going to help in this case.
All of a sudden, the vehicle stopped. Keira cursed obscenities and checked to see the problem. Then it hit her. The sand shark ran out of gas. Great, that's what I get for counting on Lady Luck. She tampered with a few parts here and there but it was all in vain. Now, she was stuck with a useless vehicle, 9 skull gems, and no wits. Her common sense must've gone down the drain before the mission even started.
The poor mechanic huddled in the back of the car. Distraught and hopeless. She was going to die out here and it all her fault. Not Jak, not Ashelin, hers. The woman only had herself to blame. I won't be missed, she though through tears. Jak and Ashelin will have their engagement in peace. Daddy will think, 'good riddance.' Daxter and Tess are too busy snogging to care. Torn…
At that point, she didn't bother thinking. Keira lied back on the seat. The sand piling the car and herself felt numb. My death won't matter. Who knows? Maybe it's for the best. Eventually the girl lost consciousness as the car was buried under the sheets of thick, yellow matter.
A/N: Poor Keira. TT But don't worry she'll live. Anyway, vote for couples. Keira with Jak, Torn or anybody else is acceptable. R&R