Disclaimer: I don't own Jak 2 or 3 or any of the characters except for Trista. Naughty dog does.
Chapter Sixteen
Was I ready? I guess I am, and even though this sounds really odd, I was looking forward to this. After all, I get to go home. I nodded and he smiled at me, and opened the door to the airship, but after I climbed in he pressed a small transmitter into my hand.
"Whenever I need you to come back, I'll use this. If you ever need me, just use this transmitter. Good luck." He stepped back and the door slid shut. One look at the control panel told me that it was all set up to fly on it's own, even the defensive pattern was locked in. I strapped myself into the seat and startled a little when the ship rose into the air. For a moment there was no movement, and I feared that something had gone wrong, but the ship flew forward and I relaxed my shoulders.
I tensed up again pretty quickly though, as blasts rocked the ship. I was clinging to the seat, and despite Errol's assurances, I was uneasy. I mean, who could possibly be relaxed in a situation like this. Another explosion caught my attention and a computer voice started speaking.
"Engine damaged. Beginning descent." Oh great. Well, here comes the big crash. Yet another explosion rocked the ship, and again the computer felt the need to feed my increasing tension.
"Landing thrusters damaged. Crash land in three…two…one." The ship hit the pathway and skidded forward, and I listened to the startled yells outside, but was distracted by the wall that I was headed toward. One huge explosion later, I was sitting in my seat, dazed and bleeding, but overall okay, while soldiers outside were yelling instructions.
"Open the door! Someone could be alive in there!" That was Torn's voice. I winced as the door opened, a ray of light was shining into my eyes, which I found really annoying.
"Step back! All of you, get that engine fire out! Trista!" I looked at Torn, who was staring at me like I was already dead or something. I waved slightly, and let my arm fall back by my side as he leaned forward and released the straps holding me in place.
"Rough landing huh? I have got to work on those." I grinned at him and he reached forward more and pulled my arm around his neck, and lifted me out of the burning airship. I thought about what I was supposed to tell him. Errol didn't say anything about what I was supposed to use as an alibi, and if he did, I certainly couldn't remember what it was, but I thought it best not to tell Torn about Errol just yet.
"Let's get you to our new hideout." Torn said, half carrying me along the walkway. I was a little dazed by the crash but there wasn't any significant damage to me. I shook my head a little to clear my senses, but that only made me dizzy.
"Easy." Torn said, and stopped in front of the bar that Daxter took over a while back, and pulled me inside it.
"Nice place." I murmured sleepily and he smirked, and helped me into a booth.
"Been a while Torn. How's life treating you guys?" He was staring at me now, and a different soldier brought over a med kit.
"Fine. Trista, what happened?" He exclaimed as I wrapped my arm with a bandage, and the soldier wrapped up the large gash on the side of my head, which I hadn't noticed. I made a mental note of not doing that again.
"I borrowed an airship to get back here, and I guess I got a little too close to that factory, whatever that is. Next thing I know, some explosions killed my engine and landing thrusters. I'm amazed I made it here." I explained, and saw his gaze turn dark as he thought about what I just told him. I swallowed nervously, and wondered if he believed me or not.
"You're lucky you survived. I'm glad you're safe, and that you came back. We need your help now more than ever." I glanced at him with a question in my eyes, and I guess he understood it, because he motioned for me to follow him. We walked over to the computer in the middle of the room and he touched the screen.
"The barons gone yes, but the palace was taken down. Kg's and metal heads are attacking us from both sides these days, and we got cut off from our main headquarters. You wouldn't believe what the city looks like these days. You wouldn't want to. It's all we can do to keep the people who remain alive, and even that's a struggle." He glared at the data being read out of the machine like it was its fault.
I shook my head and tried to comprehend everything he had just told me.
"What about the grand council? And Vegar? Aren't they doing anything?" Torn laughed bitterly and I jumped at the sound.
"Vegar? He plots and manipulates, he's as useless as the council is. We're on our own." I nodded and looked around.
"Where's Jinx and Tess?" I asked, but at that Torn smiled.
"Jinx is out blowing stuff up and Tess is at the gun course, why don't you go visit her?" I smiled and walked outside, heading to see an old friend.
Me: Yay! Read and review! Thanks to those who have.