THEMAKEROFLIGHT: well now we get back to Haven in this chapter and a new plot is uncovered so you really don't want to miss it, and I noticed something strange, 110 people read chapter 1 but only 26 went on to read chapter 2, which isn't very good for my self esteem, and not many of you are reviewing, so please do, it really helps.
CHAPTER NINE: LOYAL TO A MADMAN
No one spoke on the journey back, each one was avoiding each others eyes, nothing could bring Karena out of her daze, she just kept blaming herself, she didn't hold him, she told herself. Jak was sitting with Keira in his arms, she had cried her eyes red when they got to the ship, trying desperately to get to the jungle to save him, she could still fel him, but only faintly, Jak convinced her that even if he was alive, the demon would get him any minute, and them as well if they went searching. Keira saw Maealans ragle land in a part of the forest, and a moment later she felt a life force snuffed out like a candle, and a great roar echoed through the air, and just as much sorrow went for the bird as for the men, the ragles were like people in their own way, each with their own personalitie, and emotions.
Jak looked out the window, he had always loved the surface of the planet, and most of the countries were vivible from just as high as the transport went, he saw haven city about four hundred miles ahead, and Damas to the north, which he himself had named, and down to the south the smoking remains of Shassa could be seen, and behind them, beyond the islands that had caused them such pain, was a dark scene, high black mountains rising and falling to the constant eco storms that blew over head, many crusades had been made by the ancient kings of Nissen, Ilian, and probably the island civilisation as well, to this deadly place, the metal head land, Hora Dailan, the dark world.
Most of Haven met them as they stepped off the walkway, the city had become crowded as repairs were still under way and many sections had been cordoned off because of the remains of metal-head structures beneath the pavement. Everyone was anxious to know if there was habitable land on the islands, they weren't happy with the answers they got.
"I, and my colleagues have visited these islands, and were quite sure that they were impossible to live in." Said Jak into the mic. "We left with five members of our group, we're returning with three, one of them...was a dear friend, there is a murderous creature on the main island, we found an old civilisation on one of the larger ones, all the people within were dead, they had been trapped inside with no rations, the creature had eventually broken through their defenses, they all bore the red fist of Mamoron."
The news that they were from Mamoron shocked the spectators more than the news of a giant cerial monster, they were used to massive beasts of darkness, Mamoron was highly renoued for their defensive skill, and were one of the few countries to have survived the metal head invasion without letting a single tin-head set foot inside their border, and were the one reason Shassa was kept safe for years, being the only city touching it, the only way to Shassa was through Mamoron.
"WHAT IS THIS CREATURE!" Yelled one of the press.
"We beleive that it is one of the ancient dark eco creatures of the old world, such things have not been seen since the days of Gol and Maia, before Jak here destroyed them. The old scriptures in Haven library written by Gol before he became twisted give detailed descriptions of each and every one of these thing, the one we encountered, was called a demon creature, Jak also had breif run-ins with a pool creature and a tiger creature." Interjected Karena from behind the podium.
"These things tend to turn up where ever there's eco." Said Jak. "So for this reason, we're outlawing any travel to Cafas due to its high eco concentration, only authorised runs are allowed. The only way we are going to beat these thing is if we take back that tank factory that was overrun by metal-heads years ago, scouts report that there is still a lot of metal-head activity, so we need the help of new recruits to get it back, join the freedom league and save the city. That is all."
The members of the collective press made their way back to the newspapers and magazines factorys to report the stories, a little downtrodden, they had expected their great king to say a little more on what happened to his lost companions, other than "five went, three returned."
Karena, Keira and Jak took a zoomer to the Naughty Ottsel, and found Daxter being coochie-cooed by Tess, his leg plaster still on from a brief scuffle with a four year old.
"I swear that kid had to be at least ten, he's too strong to be four." He excused himself. Despite being married for nearly a year, Tess still hadn't cottoned on to Daxter's tall tales, most of the army was making bet on how long until she figured it out.
"Hey Dax, still reeling from your fight with a toddler." Jak chuckled.
"Yeah yeah laugh it up, cos I'll have the last laugh, WHEN I USE MY SUPER ANIMAL KILLER INSTINCT ON YOU, WAAHH CYOOHHH CHAAA! Ow my leg."
"Well you can just chill there cos I'm gonna be out doind hero stuff while you're stuck here with Tess."
"YAY!" Creid Tess. "Maybe I can take you on a shopping trip, those trousers of yours are getting quite worn out, and I need a new bra, Daxter snapped the last one."
Daxter looked like someone had just let loose a metal-head in the room. "TESS! I told you not to tell them about that sort of stuff." He complained.
"AAWW but Daxie-poo, we love to hear about your sweet little stories, tell us some more Tess." Teased Keira.
"Aaahhh stuff it." said Daxie-poo. "I've gotta go, I got a colonial at three, seeya guys!" And wheeled himself out towards the pedestrian area.
Karena had been silent the whole time, just sitting at the bar throwing them down almost too fast for Tess to refill. She was deeply affected by Maealan's death, and by now everyone had figured out that there was something between them.
A familiar voice swept into the room. "What's wrong chillie-pepper, somethin' gettin' ya down?" I dont think this character needs an entrance.
"Hey there king Sig. How's Spargus been doing without me." Said the hero.
"Now what have I told you, you are the rightful heir to Spargus, to you I'm just plain old Sig, and besides, I'm gettin' sick of this king business. It gets downright annoyin' after a while."
"I am not the rightful heir, I was never a good son or king, you should be in charge cos I'd just mess things up, like I did last time." Muttered jak.
"Don't say that Jak, Damas would be proud of you, you saved the world three times and are rapidly coming up to a fourth." Consoled his wife. "And we all know that you could handle ruling both Spargus and Haven, and I'm pretty sure that you'll somehow end up the heir to Kras as well." She chuckled.
AT that tender moment Jak's comm decided to go off. Torn's crackled voice emmited from the speaker. "Jak, we've got a big force marching through the bazaar area, they're wearing KG armour and the Baron's sign, they don't look too friendly."
Jak gave keira a quick peck on the cheek and leapt onto his customised patrol vehicle, speedign off towards the bazaar. When he arrived, Torn's force and the intruders were just about to exchange shots, the others had the advantage, they obviously didn't give a damn for the civilians, while the FL would go to any means to protect innocents. The leader of the pack stepped forward and read from a roll of paper. "We, the last remaining loyalists to our dea departed Baron, declare that the false hero, Jak shal step forward, so that he may be charged accordingly."
Jak walked to the head of the FL force and said. "On what grounds do you presume to charge the king of Haven city?"
"We do not answer to a false king, we charge you with the murder of our beloved Baron, crimes against the people of Haven, conspiring against the KG, and worst of all, high treason!"
"Well you'll have to get through us first, the people love jak, the Baron was a tyrant, you have no power here, Jak is the rightful heir, and your so-called Baron seized power from the old ruler, and thereby attempted to break the bloodline of Mar himself." Yelled Torn and cocked his weapon, but jak lowered it to the ground.
"Let's here what they have to say first, then we'll kill them."
"We do not come here to be killed, we will fight to the last man if we have to, but not before that eco-freak is charged!" Yelled the leader.
"Now look here, I'm a reasonable man, and I'm inclined to give you a fair trial, but carry on like that and I'll kill you with my bare hands. Your Baron was killed by the metal-head leader, not me, the KG was a murderous bunch of cunts at the time, I did nothing to the people except free them, and as for high treason, how can you betray a fake ruler."
The loyalists didn't seem to have an answer for that, they had been told by their employer that Jak was a murderous bastard that had attempted to kill everyone in Haven, and then seize power from the Baron.
"It appears that our information was not entirely accurate, we wre told things about you by our employer, we were the last regiment to be stationed in Chairen before our forces were cut off from Haven by metalheads, we only just got back. I think its time we brought forward our employer."
And out of the pack, kicking and screaming, they brought Veger.
"I might've known, Veger you little rat, what lies have you been spinning now." Asked jak.
"None of this is lies you eco-freak!" Yelled the ottsel. "You helped the metal-heads get into the city.
"And you helped them bring down the palace." Returned Jak, making the loyalists give Veger a death-stare.
"Uhhh... well...you killed the Baron." He retorted.
"The Baron was killed by the metal-head-leader, not me, all I did was witness it."
At this point the now former loyalists decided that it was time to stop listening to Veger and give him the once over. They were just about to put a gun to his head before jak stopped them.
"Wait." He said. "I've got a better idea, we can send him to the islands, show him what it feels like to be exiled, his master died there, so its fitting."
The new force turned out to be led by General Jasen, who wasted no time in being brought up to date with what he'd missed, and getting a tour of the new and improved Haven, he was particularly impressed with how they had turned Dead Town into the pedestrian area, since he had fought in the battle there, he found it hard to think of it in any other way than destroyed. When they showed him Freedom Tower he was confused as to how the old Palace was brought down, when he learned that the metal-heads had actually made it inside the city he practically puked.
He was deeply ashamed with how he had acted towards Jak, and was worried that he and his men would be exiled, his worries were soon put to rest. Jak introduced him to all the gang, and explained the existence of Spargus, but the rest of the story would have to wait, there was a lot to tell.
THEMAKEROFLIGHT: well there's another character for you lot to think over, reviews would be greatly appreciated at this point, even flames, its always good to know what the readers like and don't like.