Expect a bit of action in this chap. Things are getting intense!

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Chapter 5

Jak walked into the Bloody Hook, the familiar stench of cigar smoke, liquor and motor oil filled the air. He searched the room through the thick clouds of smoke and found what he was looking for sitting at the bar. The man's long elfish ears had been harshly ripped off and his head was covered in orange hair that matched his goatee. He had an unidentifiable black tattoo encircling his left eye. He approached the man sitting on a stool and tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around and automatically growled at Jak but Jak spoke before he had the chance to lash out at him.

"Take me to your boss!" Jak snarled at Shiv.

"Why should I?" He gritted his teethe as he grabbed the collar of Jak's racing jacket.

"Because I have some info that may be of use to her" He tried to sound believable as Shiv searched his eyes in question.

"And why should I believe anything you're saying?" The thug raised his brows at him.

"Because if I was a threat, your boss would've killed me by now"

"Yeah that's right!" Daxter poked Shiv on his forehead and Shiv looked up to growl at the orange ottsel. He scurried back behind Jak's head to hide.

Shiv finally released his deadly grip on Jak, deciding that he believed what he was saying. If Jak were a threat, the boss would've killed him just as Mizo had wanted to do. It seemed Jak and his crew had some mutual understanding with the boss. As long as they didn't cross each other's paths or disrupted the order too much, they wouldn't stop one another. After the races they all parted ways and left it at that. Shiv wondered to himself why Jak would want to come back after he escaped the grasps of the deadly combat sport.

Jak followed closely on the black intertwining roads in his red and white Falcon. He followed Shiv's vehicle through Kras City. Jak felt the setting sun burning on top of his blond hair and the cool breeze coming in as he drove. He observed the surroundings in case he needed to come back to the place. Finally they arrived in a secluded city street. Some of the streetlights were broken and there was a yellow neon sign flickering to the entrance of a lounge. He had never seen it before during the races but he guessed there was a reason for that as he saw the numerous racing vehicles and motorcycles parked in front. Members only huh? Jak thought to himself as he followed Shiv to the entrance. There was only a large window covered by blue curtains and the wooden door. It seemed like a classy place for a hangout belonging to the thugs in Kras City. Shiv knocked on the door and a small slot opened in the door. A pair of brown eyes peeked through and observed the both of them.

"Open up, it's me Shiv"

"Why's he with ya?" asked the husky voice behind the door. Jak could tell that the voice belonged to a face that must've been snarling in anger.

"Says he's got some info for the boss" Shiv replied, pointing back at Jak.

The person behind the door seemed to hesitate at first, taking into deep thought what Shiv had just said. Finally the pair of eyes nodded and the slot slammed close. They heard the jingling and slight cracking of the locks being unlocked and the mystery person opened up the door.

Shiv and Jak walked into the establishment as Jak observed his surroundings once again. He glared at the person who had opened the door who was also glaring at him, still with suspicion in his eyes. He recognized the brown eyes from the door slot and they matched with the man's hair. He had driving goggles wrapped around his neck and wore a green vest. Jak remembered his name from the list of racers during the racing events, Edje.

The place smelled just like the Bloody Hook, smoke, liquor and motor oil. However there was one more scent that he couldn't quite make out. He stared around the classy lounge, searching for the smell. The bar was in front of him. He looked toward the window next to the door behind him that had about three blue sitting booths by it and flowersclear glass vases. What the- is that flowers on the tables? Yellow flowers? On white doilies? Jak shook his head and tried not to grin. Must be Rayn's touch on the place. He thought to himself as he continued to observe the snarling faces of those glaring at him. Jak checked off the familiar faces in his head that he must've shot at during the races and shot them a little smirk to piss them off. Against the wall by the booths were golden-framed photos of the Krew family line. His eyes went directly to Krew's picture and Daxter cringed in disgust at the familiar mug.

"Ewwh, and just when I thought I'd never see that face again. Boy was he the ugliest, fattest, most digu- stah-blah-uh…" Daxter's words turned to gibberish when he saw the British woman pop out in front of them with her arms crossed over her chest. She gave Daxter an evil eye and Daxter quickly changed what he was saying, "I was uh- just admiring your father's uh- talents for business?"

Rayn shook her head at the ottsel on Jak's shoulder and rolled her amber eyes. Jak gave Daxter a dirty look and the ottsel waved his furry hands in front of him innocently. Rayn turned toward the bar and lifted a piece of the counter, beckoning for Jak to follow. Jak nodded and followed Rayn behind the counter as she closed the bar. She spread open the dark blue curtains and stepped into a short dark hall. Jak could see the light at the end of it and the shadow of the woman in front of him. She stepped in and Jak followed, his eyes widened with surprise as familiar figure stepped in front of him to block his way.

"What is he doing here?" The man gritted through his clenching pearly white teethe as Jak looked up at the man dressed in his red and blue trench coat. His black hair shone in the light and he blew his cigarette smoke into Jak's face. Jak began to grit his teethe back at him.

"Now calm down Razer, it seems that he has some information that will help in the business. Settle down" Razer winced slightly at Rayn's words as he slowly backed away from Jak, moving aside to let him pass.

Rayn had decided that a hug was not appropriate because of the way she had left everyone at the Bloody Hook, revealing her secret that she was in with her father's plan all along. She guessed it didn't leave good impressions although she didn't consider them her enemies. She sat at a large round wooden table with several wooden chairs, dressed in gold embroidery covering. Once again Jak spotted the flowers in the middle of the table. It was a fairly large room, about the size of the Naughty Ottsel minus the booths and bar. The walls were covered in photos once again and it seemed like a place where she must've held meetings. Rayn motioned for Jak to join her as Razer leaned against the open doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest and a stern expression on his face. Daxter's eyes were wide and amazed at the decorating of the place and the large glass chandelier over the table. Jak laid back against the chair with his arms calmly crossed.

"I never thought I'd see you again due to that fact that I left my father's data pad when I left the Bloody Hook. I didn't think you'd be very fond of me since then" Rayn began, leaning her elbows on the table. It seemed her voice was sincere, almost as if she was a bit glad to see Jak again. Razer detected this in her voice and cringed as his look burned into Jak. Jak stood silent, not quite sure what to say to the woman who he wasn't sure was his friend or enemy. Seeing this, she continued, "Well, so I've heard you had some information that may benefit me. What brings you here and why would this be of any value to me?" Rayn returned to being professional.

"Well that depends on what you have to say about this…" Rayn arched a confused brow at Jak and he continued, "Recently Ashelin received a letter at the palace and it was a letter for her assassination and a threat to take over the city"

Rayn smirked, "I'm sure she deserved the threat with the way she carries herself" Jak expected for Rayn's dislike of Ashelin to show and it would only make his plan work better.

"Well talking about that, it seems that the letter had come from Kras City" Jak studied Rayn and she immediately took offense.

She stood up and slammed her hands on the table, "You think I had something to do with it! That's absurd!" Jak stared up at her and she quickly realized her outburst was only leading him to suspect her more. She straightened out the collar of her suit and calmly sat down. "Well I may not be very fond of that- that woman but I'm not the one who sent the letter. Disliking her is not enough motive for me to kill her unless it benefited me in some way"

"But killing her would benefit you so you could re-establish your power in Haven as well as Kras. Since your father died, he had lost alot of his hold in Haven City and the bar was taken over"

"Why would I want to take over Haven when I'm having enough troubles here?"

"What do you mean?" Jak leaned on his elbows so that he could listen to her more intently.

"Well ever since Mizo was defeated, as you know I have taken over as far as being the biggest crime lord in this city and it's surrounding parts. However it seems that I've heard some nasty rumors that there may still be remaining followers of Mizo's lurking about and trying to overthrow me and carry Mizo's will even after his death"

"Oh great! Even after he dies it's like his ghost lives on!" Daxter made a sarcastic remark, "Can't bad guys just die and not come back in one way or another?" He meant the second part toward Rayn but she took no notice.

Jak ignored Daxter's ranting, "Really? Have any idea who may be leading them or where they might be?"

Suddenly another familiar figure entered the room, "Now that, I can answer for ya" A sly grin spread across his face as he snatched the silver and red lighter from Razer's hand who was about to light his own cigarette. He brought it to his mouth to light his cigar and Razer grew furious, pulling out his knife to the unknown man's throat.

"Who the hell do you think you-"

"Jinx?" Jak interrupted Razer's threat and Razer looked confused.

Jinx released himself from Razer's grip and threw the lighter back at him. Razer caught it and was about to attack him again before Rayn put her hand up to signal him to stop.

"How'd you get in here?"

"Relax Jaky-boy, I got my ways" He gave Jak a friendly pat on the back as he sat on the table between Jak and Rayn.

Jinx gave Rayn a wink and her cheeks began to grow pink. Her face was burning and for some unknown reason she seemed a bit attracted to this sly man. Still she maintained her professional demeanor. "What do you know?"

Jinx calmly took a puff of his cigar, once again blowing the smoke toward Daxter. Daxter's hacking coughs and curses echoed behind Jinx's voice as he began to explain. "Well I've been doing some research and it seems that you're right. There are a buncha goons of this Mizo guy's still gathering somewhere and they want you outta the picture" He pointed at Rayn and she backed away. The cigar smoke combined with Razer's cigarette smoke was beginning to bother her so she calmly got up and walked over by the entrance. She went into the dark hall a bit to pull a lever that would open the ventilation vents.

"Do you know whose leading them?" Jak continued the conversation.

"Well it turns out that the leader may be one of Rayn's own"

At that, Rayn gasped in surprise and was about to protest until she felt two strong arms grip her neck and pull. She yelped for help as one arm locked her neck and the other pulled a knife to her throat. The three men in front of her got into offensive positions as they watched the helpless woman squirming inside this man's deadly grip.

"Yikes!" Daxter yelped.

"Release her you son of a-" Razer spat angrily at the man almost strangling Rayn in his one arm clutch. Her amber eyes glimmered with slight fear staring at the silver blade against her throat.

"Let her go!" Jak warned as his eyes began to flicker black and white.

"Yeah so the guy leading 'em turns out to be this guy named Cutter, I'm guessing that would be him" Jinx muttered, wishing he had noticed sooner that the man had followed him into the hall.

Rayn felt the rough wood from his mask against the smooth skin of her face. He breathed heavily as he refused to let her go. "C-cutter- you bloody- fool- gasp!" Rayn managed to squeal but her vision was beginning to get blurry.

"Release her or I will have to kill you" Razer threatened as he slowly began to pull out his knife once again.

"Liar, you'll kill me either way Razer" Cutter grunted, knowing that Razer would kill him even if he did release Rayn. He had seen Jinx around the city and suspected that he was snooping around where he didn't belong. Once he saw him walk in, he decided to follow him into the hall. Since his identity was about to be revealed he had no choice but to take Rayn hostage and find a way to escape.

Suddenly Razer's knife spun shot across the room at full speed towards Cutter's head. It stabbed through his forehead but his mask protected his face. The blade stuck out of his wooden mask as he desperately threw Rayn at Razer and ran down the hall. He pulled Razer's knife out of his mask and threw it to the floor. Razer caught Rayn who was gasping for air and handed her over to Jak. Razer ran down the hall and picked up his knife with Jinx trailing behind him. They saw the front door fly open and Edje ran after him. Or was he running with him? Together they hopped into their racing vehicles and sped away, leaving Razer and Jinx in their tire smoke. Razer was about to jump into his Havoc until Jinx grabbed his arm to stop him. He shook his head.

"We can't go after 'em yet. We still need to find out how many of them there are and do some more research. There may still be some spies inside"

Razer snatched his arm away from Jinx and kicked the garbage can nearby onto the gray concrete. "Bloody asshole!" He went back inside and Jinx followed, throwing his cigar on the floor.

Razer walked into the hall to find Rayn sitting down, clutching her throat and trying to recover her lost breaths. Jak had a concerned hand on her shoulder. Razer put his knife in his back pocket and walked up to Rayn, "Are you alright my lord?"

"Yes, yes I'm quite fine. Just a little out of breath" She reassured Razer. "Well I guess that answers all our questions now does it?"

"Well not exactly, just because Cutter may be leading a revolt against you doesn't mean that he sent the letter to Ashelin" Jak informed.

"And that other guy with the goggles went with him too" Jinx pointed to the door and Rayn's eyes widened.

"Edje too? Who do these people think they are?" Rayn slammed her fists on the table.

Jak turned to Jinx, "I think you should radio this to Torn in case"

"You got it Jaky-boy" Jinx nodded as he headed out into the hall to radio Torn without disrupting their conversation.

"First the other crime lords are doubting I can take over after Mizo and do a better job than my father and now this!" Rayn buried her face into her hands and shook her head in worry.

"Well I did say I came here with something that can benefit you…" Jak grinned and Rayn lifted her head to look at him.

"You can help us find this assassin and we can help you take down Cutter"

"What? That's absurd! Why would I have any desire to help Ashelin of all people?" Her red lips hung open in shock.

"Because if they happen to be the same person, it'll be killing two birds with one stone and you can return to your business here in Kras without any worries"

Rayn closed her mouth as she thought for a bit. He was right. If she helped them and they helped her, once she got rid of those rebelling against her, it would end her power struggle. The other crime lords were re-gain confidence in her and Haven would still have their governor so it would all work out. She finally nodded to herself despite the disagreeing looks on Razer's face.

She held out her hand, "Deal" and Jak put his hand in hers to tie a firm handshake as he nodded. They released their handshake and Jak brought his hand to his chin to think.

"So if Cutter sent Ashelin that letter, where would we find him? And if it wasn't him and it wasn't you, then who sent it?" Even though Jak and Jinx had successfully completed their mission in Kras City, there was still one very important question left unanswered. Who is Ashelin's assassin?

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I thought I'd take it away from Ash and Torn's POV for a while to show Jak and Jinx in action. What do you think of the slight Razer & Rayn action and Jinx & Rayn action? She even seemed to have a bit of a thing for Jak. Lol well in the actual game I suspect her having a bit of a crush on him but thank God Naughty Dog didn't pursue that. JakxKeira all the way! So now we know of the drama in Kras City. Was the whole taking Rayn hostage thing good? Review :-D