Gee this story's getting a little long don't you think. Oh well that's good for you guys right. Sadly I'd like to inform everyone that this might be my last Jak and Daxter fic for a while. No I'm not quitting but I just wanna try and write on other topics too. Maybe I'll write a Rayn and Razer one but I'm starting to run out of ideas and that's why I figure I should write other things till my Jak and Daxter vibe comes back and I get fresh ideas. Don't worry, I'll still be writing other stories and I will come back to Jak and Daxter eventually. It's just a break. :hands Kleenex tissues to all her readers: Don't cry :sobs: I love you guys too! I wanna write a FF-X2 fic, a Bleach fic is in the process and a Naruto one so if you're into any of that, please support my other fics when they come out.

Since everyone was so fast and good at reviewing I updated asap instead of waiting Lol. I was surprised to see all the reviews so fast but I'm glad.

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Chapter 8

The floors rumbled beneath their feet as the bright colorful lights flashed and blinked around the bar. Daxter had gotten a new surround sound system to play music on certain nights at the Naughty Ottsel in hopes that it would attract more business. It was Tess' idea. It was working. The walls pumped with the beats from the booming speakers as Dater happily controlled the music, nodding his head. He put a sign on the DJ spin table that read DJ Orange Lightning. No one was surprised.

The crowds danced and drunk all over the bar, regulars and people who had never come into the bar before were now filling it up wall to wall. Keira had made the lights for Daxter and everyone helped hook them up to the ceiling. Ashelin and Torn leaned their backs on the bar as they drank from the golden foaming liquid in their clear glass mugs. They kept their solemn expressions as they watched the crowd and Daxter bop his head with a pair of black sunglasses against his orange face.

Ashelin seemed to be lost in a daze as she smiled at the ottsel's behavior briefly before returning to her solemn face. Torn nudged her arm with his elbow and raised an eyebrow at her when she turned to him. She smiled and leaned into his arm so that he could wrap his arm around her. He was beginning to think that maybe taking her out was a bad idea after all. He was hoping it would get her away from things if he just took her out for some fresh air and drinks. Also she wouldn't need to be accompanied by any guards with him around along with Jak and the others nearby.

Torn leaned into her ear. He inhaled the sweet spice from her hair as he spoke to her through the noise. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine, just thinking a bit that's all" Her jade eyes expressed worry, "I just have a bad feeling and I'm not liking it"

Torn squeezed her shoulder, "Don't worry Ash, nothing can happen with me right next to you the whole time" He reassured her and she gave him a smile that he could easily see right through. His words didn't comfort her. It pained him as well as made him slightly angry.

Aren't I enough for you? Why don't you feel safe even when you're right by me? Is it that you feel you don't need my protection? Are you still thinking about the dream last night?

Torn couldn't think of anything else to say. He squeezed her shoulder again before taking a long gulp of his beer. He observed around the room as he thought about the events earlier in the day. He had paid Vin another visit to see if he found any personal information on Cutter. All Vin could find out was that he left Haven City shortly after his brother's death. No one knew why or what he was planning to do with himself. He just disappeared one day and now he's revealed to be one of Mizo's goons and a combat racer. He couldn't think of why he'd think of rising up against Rayn's power or if he could be sure if he was related to the letter sent to Ashelin. Why would he bother taking up Mizo's goals when he was dead when he could easily move on to something else? Maybe he was tired of running and moving on…

Torn searched around the bar to eventually spot a booth full of smoke and laughter. He squinted his eyes and grinned when he realized who it was. There was that sly blond surrounded by three ladies and beers, living up the night.

Jinx pulled the cigar from his mouth as he exhaled the streams of gray smoke from his lips. His sly smile spread on his face like butter on bread as he looked at the three ladies lost in their drunken laughter beside him.

"Yeah so there I was, surrounded by these pricks with guns in the middle of the deserted streets. I had lost contact with HQ and I was runnin' outta ammo"

The attractive brunette placed her hand on his chest and cooed "Oh my, what did you do? Did you get hurt?"

"Wouldn't you like to know sweetheart, Jinx here still had something up his sleeve…"

Jinx was quite the storyteller, except a lot of his stories unlike Daxter's weren't exaggerated. The women were attracted to him like bees to honey because of his occupation. They knew he was a higher up in the FL and was one of Torn's most prized men besides Jak. He didn't wield any Eco powers but he sure knew how to shoot a gun and his spy work along with his "delivery service" was impeccable.

Torn continued to scan the room. Tess was working at the bar while encouraging Daxter to play the music. She cheered him on as he played DJ. The blond ottsel even danced on the bar when she wasn't passing drinks. Torn looked past the bar toward the back door and it seemed that he had finally spotted Jak.

"Jak?" Keira tempted as she tugged Jak's racing jacket so he could get closer to her. She leaned against the back door as she stared up into his cerulean eyes with innocence. She played off an angelic behavior but Jak knew better. As she bit her bottom lip mischievously, it well betrayed her eyes. Keira lifted her slender finger to tickle against one of his side burns and down to his green goatee.

Jak looked down at the woman straddled between his arms against the door. "Yes?" He grinned widely as he played along with her.

Keira pulled his face down so she could whisper in his ear. He turned his face as she spoke, "I missed you while you were away"

Jak smiled again as he turned to press his lips on hers smoothly and briefly. He unlocked the kiss and leaned his forehead on hers as he held her against him. She continued to speak as she looked up at him.

"Did anything happen while you were over there in Kras?" Her lustful look transformed into concern as she played with the collar of his jacket with her hands.

Jak shook his head, "Don't worry Keira, nothing too big too worry about yet" He lifted his hand to her chin. His finger traced the edges of her delicate jaw line. He searched her eyes to see if she believed him.

She patted him on his chest, "Well let me know if you need anything ok? Upgrades, repairs…I wanna make sure you're prepared for whatever happens"

He leaned in to share another peck on her lips. Usually he wasn't this affectionate in public but with the crowd stuffed in the bar and being away from her for a while, that was the least of his worries. "Don't worry about that right now. I'll be alright. After all I am the legend of Mar" He cleared his throat in confidence with a wide grin. She laughed and gave him a light punch on his shoulder.

In seconds her expression changed again. He saw the desire in her eyes as she focused on his. She spoke seductively, "Legend of Mar huh? We'll see about that" She pulled him down for a heated kiss. His grip around her tiny waist tightened. He felt the vibration on his lips from her muffled moan trapped between their intertwining mouths. He ran his hand up her back and into her soft strands of green-blue hair. It sent goose bumps along her skin and she finally felt behind her for the knob to the back door.

After a few seconds she felt the round cool metal beneath her hand along the door. She turned the knob and began to open the door as they both moved away, still locked in kisses. Once the door was open enough she walked in backwards into the darkness of the hall that lead to Daxter and Tess' apartment. She giggled as she beckoned Jak with her finger to follow.

"Show me that there's nothing to worry about Mar"

Jak loved it when she called him that. No one called him that except for her when she was being seductive or lost in the mist of pleasure and lovemaking. Years ago when he was younger he would've never guessed that the woman in front of him would grow up to be such a tempting and seductive woman. The same girl who'd blush with him when they bumped shoulders as kids was now pulling him into a dark hall, pulling him into her web of blissful pleasure that awaited them.

He rushed in to grab her face and kiss her passionately. Her back hit against the wall as he embraced her. She slipped her hands into the warmness of his jacket and inhaled his scent of masculine sweat and old spice. Jak reached over next to him, struggling to find the knob with his eyes still closed. Finally he found it and slammed the door closed. All that was heard after that, covered by the loud noise of the bar was the click of the lock and Keira's devious giggles.

Torn rolled his eyes once he saw that they had snuck out through the back door. He hadn't realized he was looking at them for so long but luckily because of the commotion, no one seemed to noticed. Everyone was having a good time. Everyone but Ashelin. Torn turned his attention back to the woman leaning on his arm. He placed his empty mug on the bar. He observed her face as she stared at the transmitter on her wrist. Keira had made it look like a watch so that she could unbuckle it whenever she liked. It wasn't what Torn had asked for but it was better than nothing. He silently cursed her women's rights morals in his head.

Ashelin hadn't realized Torn's gaze burning into her. Torn took it upon himself to grab the cup of beer that was still almost full from her hand. She gasped from being startled when he gently released the cup from her clenching fingers. He calmly placed it next to his and turned back to her. She looked up at him, knowing he was going to continue to pry about her strange behavior.

"You look like you're having a hell of a shitty time" He grabbed the hand that was clenching the beer mug moments ago and realized her fingers were cold from the mug. He massaged her hand with his warm one as he looked to her for answers.

"No, it's fine. I guess I just feel a bit…suffocated in here" She took a deep breath and let go of Torn's hand to massage the back of her neck. She smiled half heartedly as she tried to avoid his eyes.

"You wanna step outside for some air?"

Ashelin nodded but just as Torn was about to lead her toward the exit she pulled him back. He furrowed his brows in question. She struggled to explain. "I need some fresh air but…I wanna be alone"

His eyes widened a bit. Her request stabbed him and he knew that he couldn't allow that when there was no one else but him watching her. He didn't want to make her feel like he was her watchdog but he couldn't resist the worry tugging inside his chest.

"But Ash, you know I cant-" He stopped mid-sentence when he saw the look in her eyes drop lower and sink into deeper disappointment. He knew she hated being treated like some little girl. She knew how to fight and she knew how to shoot, maybe even better than he did. He shouldn't be so worried. Just like she had trusted in him the night before, maybe now was the time to trust in her.

He released her and grabbed one of the pistols on his waist. He was about to hand it to her until she patted her side. She smiled at him, "Don't worry, you know I have my own" She lifted her wrist to show him the transmitter, "And I have this. If anyone tries anything I'll give 'em hell"

He put his pistol away and quickly placed a kiss onto her crimson locks, not caring if anyone saw. "Stay nearby and stay alert"

"Yes sir" Ashelin winked and Torn smiled. He watched helplessly as his eyes followed the woman he loved leaving the bar. He wanted her to stay beside him but he knew that he couldn't keep a woman like her locked up forever. He had to trust that she would take care of herself. He had to believe in her strength, not just his own. She wasn't governor of Haven City for nothing.

Ashelin observed the dark deserted Haven streets outside the bar. It was late and all you could see was the red and yellow lights of zoomers across the ocean on the other side and a few abandoned rafts. She rubbed her hands on her arms in attempt to keep warm from the cool night air. The sapphire night sky lit up with white speckles.

She looked up at them as she walked down the street. She was lost in her daze and not really paying attention to the direction she was heading. She had come nearby an underpass and a strange lump on the floor caught her eye. She lifted her pistol from her side and unlocked the safety. She searched the area as she approached the strange figure sprawled out on the floor. Her eyes widened when she realized what it was.

The young woman was helplessly sprawled out on the floor , her hands and ankles bound in beige ropes. Her black curls covered her pale face as Ashelin saw the glisten of tears streaked on her cheeks. Ashelin looked around one last time before bending down to brush the woman's hair from her face. The woman's body jumped at her touch but Ashelin hushed her. Her body relaxed at the sight of her governor and she let Ashelin remove the ropes tied onto her trembling body.

"Who the hell did this to you?" Ashelin was untying the last of the ropes. Right when the woman was about to rip the gag from her mouth, the woman's gray eyes widened in horror. Ashelin felt the threatening presence behind her and the cool sharpness of a blade pressed to her throat. Ashelin stood still as she clenched her teeth.

Damn!

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SUSPENSE! Haven't done that to you guys in a while have I? Well I hoped to lighten it up a bit with the bar scenes and everyone relaxing but now everything's gonna start heating up. Yay I've been dying to write the action scenes. If you've noticed I've been working on my description skills in this chapter so let me know if you see any improvement. Oh no, Ashelin's in danger, or is she? You won't find out till the next chapter.