Chapter Three: Cure for the Itch
"What?" Daxter exclaimed as he finished going over the plan Hazel just proposed. It was bloody, wild, insane and risky…and Jak found this plan greatly attractive. "I'm not going to lure those idiotic guards after me…they might drool on my sleek coat." the Ottsel whined as they finally reached their destination. Jak nudged the Ottsel as a warning but it was too late, Hazel already had her hand raised up to slap Daxter.
"I would be careful about what you say in front of me." she whispered savagely but caught Jak's eye and disdainfully lowered her hand. Even though she was no longer a Commander of the Krimzon Guards…it was still a large part of her. Sighing heavily she leaned against the seat and closed her eyes, "You should hurry before second shift comes in." Jak nodded and grabbed the confused Daxter before Jak jumped out with ease.
With a final glance, Daxter squirmed out of Jak's grip and clambered up his shoulder. Running his small paws over his thin frame, he smoothed his ruffled hair and muttered a few curses. "I will never understand women like her…she reminds me of Asheline: sexy, mysterious, but stubborn as hell. I mean, with my charming looks and ways Hazel should be eating my every word with passion. Or at least stroke me like there is no tomorrow…like my love, Tess." Daxter spoke out his thoughts to Jak as they entered the back door of the KG Fortress…and to there surprise there was no one there.
"I like Hazel…she knows what she's talking about." Jak replied softly as he scanned the area like a hawk.
"WHAT? Are you crazy?" Daxter cried out but was quickly awarded with a hand over his mouth.
"No, but are you? You could of gave are position away." Jak replied as he moved his hand away from Daxter's mouth.
"She's a Krimzon Guard! Well former Krimzon Guard…and she has a thing with Errol. Errol, the guy who needs psychological help and a pacifier for his ranting mouth, remember him? Just think of it…Errol spawn. Gross." Daxter shot back smoothly as he folded his arms across his chest. Jak nodded slowly in agreement, he was right…for once.
The sound of voices up ahead silenced the two up as they crouched down and waited silently. There breathing was all that could be heard as they spotted their target in his dull yellow armor. Muscles tensed with anticipation, Jak couldn't help but grin widely as Daxter shivered with dread.
The engine rumbled softly with life as Hazel busied herself by making sure the vehicle was ready for a race. She knew very well the KG's cruiser couldn't match the many other vehicles, but it was the only vehicle that could take a hit and live to tell a story with it's scars. Stroking the side of the cruiser she smiled and crooned a few encouraging words. Her emerald eyes lit up when she heard the alarm suddenly scream in fury and already the hunt was on.
Glancing down at her feet, her helmet rested on the vehicle's floor and seemed to taunt her…challenger her. The helmet laughed at her new loyalties with the Underground as it's crimson complexion glinted in the sun. Running her slender fingers through her hair she paused when she felt her goggles plastered on her head. A small smirk tugged on her lips and she pulled the slim crimson goggles down to her eyes.
The door slid open and a panting man dashed out with a limp figure slung over his shoulder. Tossing the figure in front, the man strapped the motionless body and climbed into the back with the turret. "Let's go." he panted as an orange figure popped out of Jak's pack with a look of terror etched on his face.
The KG cruiser lifted into the air and was soon dashing off smoothly. The sound of crashes, gun shots and yells echoed through the air as they were now in hot pursuit. Two KG vehicles criss-crossed before her as she now zoomed through the dirty streets of the Slums. A pang of fear clawed at her insides, something about the vehicles' stunt made it seem too familiar.
"Hazel! We have company!" Jak called out over the howling wind. She frowned, of course we have company! Hello! KG forces are breathing down are neck and now he notices…Torn really needs reconsider those two. "Errol is closing in on us." Jak countinued as Hazel suddenly twisted around to glance at a gruesome mask of Errol.
"Shit. Jak get over here." she snarled, not able to contain the fear and rage boiling her blood. The young man gave her a questing look but began to crawl over to the front. "Take the wheel and head to the hideout. I…I'll lure these bastards away. Stop gaping and get ready to take the damn wheel!" she barked as she waited for a zoomer, that was going in the other direction.
This is crazy…insane and mostly stupid. They owe me drinks.
The wind hugged her body as her ready limbs released their energy and pushed her body out of the KG cruiser. Time seemed to slow down as she neared the zoomer, her hands ready to grasp the zoomer for dear life. She caught it but she was awarded with the wing scratching her side because of her risky act. Whimpering in pain she swung her body over and knocked the startled driver off the vehicle.
The engine roared angrily as she switched hover zones and sped through the ducking civilians. "Follow her!" a voice ranged out above the sound of the barring alarm and the shrieks from the civilians. Her side screamed with pain as she made a quick turn, already she could feel something warm slid down her skin.
I need to go near the Pumping Station…or at least in front of the entrance. She debated as she watched the bullets fly past her like shooting stars. The grin she first wore when she started this was now a frown set with determination to live through this all. The small shacks on there wobbly stilts came into view and she knew she might have a chance…might.
Immediately she changed zones as she avoided the chance of smashing into a building. The air howled with her and began to push against her body. Why is Mother Nature against me? Damn Precursors…damn Errol…damn everything. Another wave a pain jolted through her body as her zoomer was struck roughly from behind. The smell of sulfur and smoke filled her nostrils, soon making her cough uncontrollably.
Her zoomer soon dipped downward toward the murky water, beckoning for her to come inside and perish under the diseased-filled water. Groaning in distress she noticed she was actually going to hit a building. She pathetically jumped off at the last second and found herself clawing at the ground for support. Her emerald eyes looked up and spotted the lights of the KG forces heading her way.
Scrambling up to a standing position she limped forward but suddenly paused when a door beside her suddenly slid open. Quickly she turned toward the door and noticed the thousands of candles flickering with warmth. The sound of the engines immediately brought her slender form inside the building. The engines' growling was now lost as the doors slid shut…but what occupied the sound was now something even more deadly…silence.
Clutching her side where the armor has a medium-sized gap she noticed now the large wound dripping out blood. Hesitantly she began to take her armor off to see how deep the wound was. Pulling the armor over her head, now left with her black bra on, she tossed it before her and got on her knees as a wave of pain raked against her skin. My wound was slightly touched by my armor and I am already on my knees and crying…great. Pulling the goggles off and letting them drop out of her hands, she allowed herself to sob and failed to notice the precursor statue before her or the sound of a soft chuckle.
"You can't hide forever. You will eventually have to face your opponents." a voice broke through her crying and Hazel quickly wiped the tears away from her wet face. This wasn't like her to be crying…but lately she has been feeling lost and torn between too sides. It was frustrating.
Her emerald eyes stared at the precursor statue as she raised her head up. Did it just say something to me? The feeling of a hand brushing against her cheek made her jerk her head around to see a towering figure with a large grin on it's face. "Why do you run away from me?" the fiery-orange haired man asked as Hazel turned her body around and sat on her rear with surprise etched on her face.
"Surprised? Don't be…you just saw me this morning. Do you really think you can leave without leaving me a…farewell gift?" he countinued as his eyes told a different meaning. Hazel snarled as she heard this and struggled to get up, but her legs seemed to feel like lead. "Be careful, you don't want to hurt yourself even more." he laughed softly as his eyes traveled to her almost exposed chest.
"You know-" Errol began again but was silenced as her armor smacked into his face. "Fuck…what was that for." he cursed as he found himself on the ground rubbing his head roughly. His dark eyes shot up toward her and a grin escaped from his pained expression. On all fours he crawled toward her with a seductive look on his face.
"'Whatever female-based, emotion-driven dilemma you may be dealing with right now, I sympathize with you. But right now, we need to break this down into male-based, fact-driven logic.'" he spoke softly as he was now above her with his lips barely touching her neck.
"You use to love me, Hazel. What happened?" he asked as a tinge of bitterness crept in as he bit her shoulder. He found himself leaving hot kisses down her chest as his hands crept toward her waist. His tongue explored her collarbone as it reached the crook of her neck. The sound of a soft growl filled his ears as the silent Hazel suddenly snapped out of her shock and shoved him away from her.
"I made you love me, you fucking prick!" she screamed as she painfully got up and glared daggers at Errol and took a few steps back. The commander stared at her with disbelief but quickly smiled at her, it seemed things have really changed with her. No more smooth lines for today it seemed.
"You lie. Do you remember this morning…those sweetening words you dribbled out of your kiss?" he spoke softly as his eyes never left her's. Hazel suddenly felt herself blush and stagger backward. Why did he have to bring this morning up?
She looked away as humility slapped her roughly on the cheek and laughed at her. Her hand brushed against her waist and the cool metal from her gun met her fingers. Hazel looked up and forced herself to give him a taunting smile as she strolled over to him. Her free hand gently cupped the left side of his face as she leaned down to kiss him. Before her moist lips could reach his, she pulled her gun out and roughly hit it against his temple.
Thump.
There he laid silently on the ground, his eyes closed and his face reading a pained expression. Her gun was now pointed at his neck and she slowly readied her weapon. Her hand fell to her side and she sheathed the gun, before leaving the unconscious man she whispered softly into his ear, "You owe me one, lover."
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"Whoa! What happened to you?" Jak stared with a confusion and concern as he watched the shirtless and bleeding girl head to the bathrooms. Daxter sat down on the table and looked and Jak and then their victim tied up to a chair.
"Hey Jak…do you think she'll do her 'dirty' tactics with her shirt off like that?" the Ottsel grinned but was once again awarded with a smack on his head. Daxter muttered a few curses but became silent as the door slid open to reveal a lean figure with startling blue eyes.
"There is a trail of blood…did she already start?" the figure laughed with his gruff voice as he sauntered in. Jak shook his head as Torn stopped before him, "Where is she?" Jak motioned to the bathroom where a few drops of blood rested before the entrance. Torn frowned and walked inside and waited to journey in further until the door closed behind him.
"Hazel?" he called out as his voice echoed through the quite area. The sound of clothes rubbing against each other got his attention.
"I'm here." a voice replied from around the corner. Torn took a deep breath and walked forward to soon stare with amusement at the half-naked girl washing her wound with a towel. Her pants rested on her hips and were dangerously close to falling off as she cleaned a large gapping wound on her side.
"You look like shit." he grinned as he leaned against the wall and watched how her chest rose and fell from her breathing. His gaze went up to meet her emerald eyes that danced with frustration and relief.
"Funny…I feel great." she smirked and tossed the bloodied towel to the side of the sink before her. "Would you mind getting me something to cover this bad boy?" she sighed as her finger lightly touched her wound. Torn nodded and headed back out to leave the former Commander of the Krimzon Guards lost in her thoughts.
He quickly came back with gauze, a slender needle and thread. Hazel was about to complain but Torn quickly cutted in, "Do you want that hole to continue to bleed when you move?" Hazel shook her head slowly and averted her eyes. The Haven's top rebel advanced to her and motioned her to sit on the counter.
Carefully getting on she stared at Torn with curiosity as he lightly touched her skin. His blue eyes scanned her skin before he prepared the needle. "So what happened?" he asked softly as he protruded the skin with the needle. He felt her wince but she cleared her throat and prepared to answer.
"Ran in with an old friend." she mumbled back. Torn countinued to close the skin back together before taking a quick glance at Hazel. A sharp sigh escaped his lips and he turned back to his task. But paused as he stopped at her shoulder, it was a deep red with indents on her skin.
"It seems your friend was quite hungry." he growled back as he was almost finished with his job. Hazel winced again as a shot of pain filled her mind with tormenting emotions. Torn finished and tore the thread with his teeth before looking up at her with a concerned look.
Her hand gently caressed his left cheek to comfort the frustrated man as she could already feel his anger boil at the sight of Errol's doing. A smile formed on her thin lips as she whispered softly to him, "I'll be fine…he just needs to learn who is boss, again." Torn had to grin at that, it was always like Hazel to be the one leading the group or in control when she gets the chance. "Now all I need now is clothes. I believe there are some of my stuff on the top bunk near the exit." she spoke softly as her hand dropped to her side and reached for the gauze.
He left her silently, not sure how to react to her sudden touch of comfort. It was odd to have a girl who still manages to flirt with the enemy and yet prove to be one of the most loyal rebels in the Underground. But then again…life was always odd with Haven City in its horrible state. The eyes of Jak and Daxter followed him as Torn stood on a rung on the bunk bed's ladder. His hands searched blindly for her clothes and found them easily; pulling the neatly folded clothes to his chest he made his way back into the bathroom.
Hazel quickly took the clothes with relief sinking into her smooth face. Torn turned away from her and listened carefully as her old clothes fell on the ground with a soft thump. A minuet passed before her voice laughed with amusement, "Time to show my lovely skills."
Torn shook his head and recalled so many pained victims that would cry out in agony for hours. It was a horrible sight, but it was for a good cause… Hazel dashed past Torn and out of the bathroom, grinning widely at her waking victim. Her emerald eyes lost their sudden enthusiasm and took on a serious and darker look. "It's time to know the truth." she whispered softly as her victim's eyes were now opened with fear and frustration dashing through his pupils.
The quote was from Red Eye. Much love and thanks for Cillian Murphey who said this sexy line: "Whatever female-based, emotion-driven dilemma you may be dealing with right now, I sympathize with you. But right now, we need to break this down into male-based, fact-driven logic."
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