Chapter XIX: So Close!

LES: I understand why Keira didn't recognize Jak, but why didn't he recognize Keira? She still sounded the same, and you can see her silhouette! I mean, COME ON!

Jak walked into the Hip Hog Saloon to find Krew studying several trophies on his wall. "I have a proposition for you, Jak." Krew said. "Racing is the biggest sport in the City. Erol…" Jak growled at the name. "…is the undisputed Grand Champion. He's crazy and dangerous on the track." Krew laughed. "My kind of guy." The floating blob floated over to Jak so that he was only a few inches from his face. "Only a fool would dare race against him, eh!" Jak gagged as the foul smell assaulted his nose. "And that's where you come in. A client of mine, the manager of the Bease Racing Team, finds herself in need of a racer. The poor girl has had to deal with all sorts of bad luck. First, Bease's murder in his own garage, and then the death of her racer, Tigran, on the track."

"She's a girl?" Jak asked. During the time he had spent in Haven City, it seemed that women were considered somewhat 'second-class.'

"Yes, she is the first ever female manager of a Racing Team in Haven's history, and she's damn good at what she does." Krew said. "Anyway, I promised her that I would keep a look out for potential racers. I think that you would make a great racer. Small build… light and speedy, daredevil personality…" Krew picked up a small security pass and a stack of papers. "Here's a pass to get you into the Stadium section of the City, and your… contract, with just a few trifles for me." Jak reached out to grab the papers, but Krew didn't hand it over. "I've already signed your name to save time." Krew tossed the papers aside and Daxter caught them.

He began reading. "We, the racers, hereby agree give Krew all proceeds from race earnings, endorsement fees, vehicle sponsorships, broadcast royalties, syndication residuals, mall appearance fees, collectable card assets, fast food tie-ins, all print rights including book, novella, comic, ticker tape, neon signs, and bathroom graffiti designs…" He paused, took a breath, and continued. "Toy lines, shoe lines, mood rings, game rights…" Daxter paused at this and took a double take. "GAME RIGHTS?" Then he continued. "City kick-back, movie deals, and… of course, all death and dismemberment accident insurance claims."

Krew laughed. "We can work out the tiny details later. If you can get from here to the race garage in less than three minutes, my client said she would consider you for her team."

"Sounds good…" Daxter began, but Jak stopped him.

The Dark Elf pointed an accusing finger at Krew. "We're not doing anything until you tell us why the Metal-Heads are trading with the Baron's forces." Jak growled.

"I should've had you both knee-capped, eh!" Krew threatened. "All I know is that the Baron cut a desperate deal with the Metal-Head Leader! Metal-Heads need Eco, so the Baron supplies them with regular shipments. In return, the Metal-Heads agreed to only attack the City just enough to satisfy the Baron's continued rule."

Jak snorted. "Yeah, but how long can that deal last?"

"Well, the Baron's running short on Eco, eh, and the Metal-Heads are short on patience!" Krew said. "Baron Praxis NEEDS this war to keep in power. Otherwise, the City would put the true ruler on the throne… wherever that little brat is…" Krew added in an undertone.

"Fine, then, Daxter and I will meet your client." Jak said, walking out.

"Three minutes!" Krew reminded him as he walked out.

There was a zoomer parked out front, the one-seater speedy type. Jak jumped on, started the engine, and took off for the Stadium…

(Stadium)

Jak pulled up to the Stadium with thirty seconds to spare. He hopped off the zoomer and quickly headed towards Garage Three. The large metallic doors opened as he approached. Jak stepped into the Garage; at first glance, it appeared to be empty.

"Uh… hello?" Jak called out. "Krew said someone was looking for a race driver?"

"I'm busy right now." A female voice called back out to him. Jak looked around for the source of the voice. The voice came from behind a thick curtain at the end of the room. All Jak could see of the woman was her silhouette, and the Dark Elf couldn't help but stare at the shadow of this woman, or more specifically, her curves. "You must be Krew's new 'errand boys.' Don't get me wrong, you did get here fast enough… but I'm too busy to hire new drivers right now, and I've got a lot of work to do."

Jak leaned up against one of the many busted zoomers that littered the garage. "Is there anything we can do?" He asked, making his voice slightly deeper in an attempt to sound more 'mature.'

Behind the curtain, the girl, which happened to be Keira, rolled her eyes. She had spent enough time with Tigran before he died to know when someone was trying to flirt with her. The nerve of some people, flirting with random women… hell, he didn't even know her! But, still, the last thing she needed was his help for she was still working on the Rift Rider, she moved in front of the vehicle, trying vainly to block the shadow it cast on the curtain. "Ah… no… I'm working on a secret ah… 'vehicle project'."

"Okay, sorry." The man sounded offended.

"Listen…" Keira continued. "If you think you have the GUTS to race in this City, try taking my prototype JetBoard out on the Stadium challenge." She leaned up against the Rift Rider, completely unaware that this particular position really showed off her curves. "Beat the Stadium Challenge then MAYBE I'll consider you for my team."

Outside the curtain, Jak wasn't listening to a single word she said. Oh sweet Precursors… He thought as he stared at the curvy silhouette. His mouth hung open and his eyes widened until they couldn't possibly get any bigger. Jak didn't even notice when Daxter waved a paw in front of his face. His left eye twitched.

To tell the truth, Daxter was amused by his best friend's reaction to this girl. In all the time Daxter had known him, he had never seen Jak out-right flirt with ANYONE! As Jak continued to stand in one spot, completely dumbfounded. Finally, the furry sidekick took pity on his friend and gave him a good smack across the head.

"Ow." Jak said automatically, more out of surprise than actual pain. Then he realized that he was standing in the same place like an idiot. The young elf took one last look at the girl before quickly walking out. Once they were safely out of ear-shot, Daxter broke his unusual silence.

"Now what the hell was all that about?" He demanded. "I'm the one who flirts outrageously with women! You're the quiet, non-flirting type."

Jak turned red. "I don't know where that came from, honestly!" He defended himself. "One moment I was fine, and the next…"

"It was lust, wasn't it? You got all lusty, huh?" Daxter demanded, Jak didn't answer, which was all the answer that Daxter needed. "Jak, the 'Goodie-Two-Shoes' of Sandover, capable of lust? Sandover wouldn't believe it…"

"I don't think they'd believe that I'm on the run for over a hundred counts of murder! I don't think that would make me a 'Goodie-Two-Shoes'." Jak snapped back.

"Okay… sorry for asking." Daxter said, backing off the topic instantly. Daxter could tell the subject had been put on Jak's 'Don't Talk About This Or Else' list.

The entrance to the Stadium was on the other side of the Stadium. The door was always open and when he walked in, the Stadium was arranged like a skate park. There was a small ramp leading down to the ground level of the Stadium. At the bottom there was a rack with a single object in it, obviously the JetBoard. Jak picked it up and stared at it stupidly. There was absolutely nothing to keep him from falling off.

Suddenly, the Jak's TalkBox activated. "Don't you know how to ride a JetBoard?" The woman's voice asked.

Jak looked up. There was no picture, audio only. "How did you get this number?" Jak asked.

"Krew gave it to me." She answered.

Jak growled loudly. If Krew was giving out his number, it could easily fall into the wrong hands. "I'll have to fix that." Jak said quietly to himself.

"So, do you know how to ride a JetBoard or not?" The woman asked again.

For a second, Jak considered lying, but that would get him nowhere fast, not to mention a whole lot of embarrassment when he fell on his ass trying to stay on the stupid thing. "No." He answered finally.

"Great." The woman said sarcastically. "It could take hours to teach you."

"Don't worry, I'm a quick learner." Jak said.

Let's just say that Jak did learn extremely quickly and he easily beat the stadium challenge. Jak walked back into the Garage. "We beat the Stadium Challenge."

"Great, people do get lucky." The woman said with very little enthusiasm. "Listen, don't you have someone to collect money from, or beat up, or something?"

"You don't like us, do you?" Jak asked.

"You work for that Slime-ball, Krew." The woman said. "What's not to like?"

Jak walked over to the Trophy case, studying the many metal trophies, all made out to Bease Racing and some guy named 'Tigran.' "It looks like your team has won quite a few races." Jak observed casually. "Isn't it true the City Champion gets to tour the Palace?"

"Yeah…" Keira said, behind the curtain. She looked at the curtain. What's this guy getting at? "Why?"

"Could you get me into the Palace?" The guy asked casually.

Keira rolled her eyes. Great, a Baron-worshipper. "A friendly visit, I gather." Keira spat.

"Yeah, I'm a real fan of the Baron." The guy spat right back, his voice full of sarcasm.

Okay, so maybe this guy's okay. She tried to peer though the curtain, but it was too thick. I wonder if this guy's as hot as he sounds? She thought without thinking. She mentally slapped herself. No! Think of Jak! She reminded herself. "Okay." Keira said. "I'll help you out if you stop bothering me! I once saw an old elevator at the base of one of the Palace's support towers. That old lift might get you up to the Palace if you can find a way to turn on the elevator's power."

"Thanks for your help." Jak said, but not really meaning it at all. He turned and walked out.

Once they were out of earshot, Daxter spoke up. "Is it just me, or goes she sound familiar?"

"Of coarse she sounded familiar!" Jak snapped. "Everything in this god-awful City is familiar!"

Daxter stared at his friend. "What do you mean by that?" He asked.

Jak glanced at Daxter. In response, he walked over to one of the statues of Mar. There was a strange symbol carved into the base. He knelt down and ran a hand over the symbol. "I know this symbol. It's as familiar to me as Sandover and I know it. It's like something from a dream. But I've never been to a City before, let alone this City. How could I know this symbol?"

"That's just it! You've never been here before. So don't worry about it. You're just getting all paranoid again."

Jak sighed. "You're right." He took his hand off the symbol. "I haven't been thinking straight since I got here. This whole City…" Jak shook his head.

"Don't worry, buddy, it's driving me insane too." Daxter said.

Suddenly, the TalkBox activated. Torn's face appeared on the screen. "Jak, where are you?"

"The Stadium." Jak answered.

"Well, get back to the Hideout. I've got a job for you." Torn's face disappeared as he disconnected.

"Thank the Precursors." Jak said, thankful for anything to get his mind off the situation. He promptly stole a nearby zoomer and headed off towards the Slums and the Underground Hideout.

Jak walked into the Hideout, Torn was pacing. Torn looked up at Jak as he approached. "One of my old guard comrades was sent to the Pumping Station." Daxter jumped on the table and began to make stupid faces at Torn, who apparently didn't notice. "There's been no word for the Patrol, and after what you two ran into out there, I'm afraid she may need some help."

Jak looked up at Torn in surprise. "Did you just say 'she'?"

Torn glared at Jak. "Don't even think about it!" He hissed. Then he looked around Jak at Daxter, who was blowing a silent raspberry his way. "Stop that!" Torn yelled at Daxter, who pulled his tongue back into his mouth. "This is serious, you moron!"

Jak lashed out to slap Daxter upside the head, but he dodged Jak's hand. "Ha!" Daxter laughed, pointing at Jak. "Getting a little slow, are we? That's right! Don't mess with the sugar!" Jak rolled his eyes.

"This 'friend' of mine has helped the Underground many times before." Torn said. "Go out to the Pumping Station and render assistance if needed." Daxter mockingly saluted Torn. "Now get your squirrelly ass out of here!" He ordered.

Daxter blew another raspberry at Torn. Jak grabbed Daxter roughly around the neck and walked out.

LES: They were so close! How much I just wanted Keira to throw back the curtains and see Jak! And they were both lusting for each other even though they didn't know it was the person that they secretly, passionately loooove!