Jason let out a hitched breath before slowly sliding down the cliff as cautiously as he could muster. "Fucking... British twat stoners!... when I get my hands on them..." Jason grunted as he suddenly grabbed a branch to stop himself from falling to his death. Letting out a loud yell Jason felt his feet give way as he only wanted to get a good footing on the damn cliff, but the surface was so smooth he couldn't do it. Realizing that there was no way out of it Jason looked down to see how far his drop was going to be. It was still way too far for him to just carelessly drop, however, upon seeing another branch sticking out he sighed softly. "Let's make this count, Jason... On three..." Breathing heavily, he instantly started to breathe out harshly and knew he had one shot at this.
"One... two..." Jason shut his eyes tight and prepped himself up for this. "Three!" Opening his eyes again he dropped down from his branch and quickly grabbed onto the other one just below him. It hit his ribs as he reached out, but nonetheless, he had it. Looking at the ground below, he was still too high to drop without causing some serious damage to his body. Breathing out heavily again Jason managed to get some footing on the cliff before jumping to a rock strutting out just far enough for him to stand on. Standing up more fully Jason looked at his next options. "Okay... I think I can... do this?" Breathing out heavily Jason tilted his body a bit, and placed one foot down on the smooth side of the cliff before letting his other foot down. He quickly slid down the rest of the cliff and made it down to safety. Stumbling near the bottom he quickly dusted himself off and stood up straight. "Fuckers are so gonna get it."
Jason then started to walk. He was without weapons they even took his Kukri and radio. That was a problem that was going to be resolved quickly. Seeing a blue and yellow truck coming down the road Jason knew just what to do. Grabbing a rock he hid in the bushes aiming the rock just right. The rebels didn't seem him hiding as they were coming at a fast pace. Holding his breath he watched as the truck was just at him then threw the rock, successfully breaking the passenger window making the rebels go to a screeching halt. Jason watched carefully as the two male rebels came out of the truck guns at the ready. Typical AK's but one rebel had a Kukri and a radio, something Jason desperately wanted. Jason had to be stealthy about how he was going to do this he waited till the rebel close enough to him had his back turned. Once it was turned Jason took his chance.
Jason rushed forward and grabbed the rebel from behind making sure to use the rebel as a shield as he grabbed the AK. With his arm around the rebel's neck, he pointed the AK at the opposing Rebel and fired before the guy could. Two shots to the shoulders, it didn't kill the man but it did stun him long enough for Jason to turn the Rebel in his grasp around and head-butt him. That rebel fell to the ground allowing Jason to take the gun with ease and fire two shots into that rebel's head. One shot went right by his ear, this made Jason turn and fire multiple shots, with no remorse, into the remaining rebel. With Both rebels dead and out of the way Jason collected as much ammo as he could from the duo, the Kakuri, and the radio as well. Getting into the truck, Jason was off. While driving back towards Mohan's old home he grabbed the radio and started to talk. "Yo, Ajay! This is Jason everything alright on your end?"
Jason was only met with silence on the other side. Thinking he might be on the wrong station he started to flicker with the stations all while trying to focus on the road. "Ajay! This is Jason! Do you copy!" He yelled at the radio this time around. Still, nothing, with a sigh leaving his nose Jason flickered through the stations one more time. "Ajay! Do you copy!?"
"... I shouldn't be answering this, but, the prince is in trouble. He's currently been captured and placed in Noore's arena." A voice quickly and quietly told Jason in a hurried matter.
"Who's Noore? What arena?" Jason inquired as he continued to drive.
"The battle arena lets just say a lot of people go in... very few make it out..."
"Where is it?"
"In Shanath, if you are to help the prince be quick."
"Thank you, for helping me."
"I'm not helping you, or the prince for that matter, I'm scared of what Pagan will do if his son dies."
That was the end of it as the line went dead. Jason clipped the radio back on his hip and speed the truck up. The British punks will have to wait it seems.
Ajay could hardly think as he was being dragged along the ground. He didn't know what the think as he could hardly even keep his eyes open. Blacking in and out Ajay looked at the people dragging him. Two women and neither of them were wearing tops. That woke him up, not because the women were topless but because he recognized just who these women were. "Oh.. No..." He couldn't help but stammer as the slow realization hit him. The distant roaring the crowds, the sound of guns being shot off, yelling and screaming. He was going towards the arena.
When Ajay was younger Pagan would take him to see the bloodbath, according to Pagan, Ajay would just love it. That was before the golden path became too dangerous and before Noore worked there. Now he wasn't loving it, especially since he then realize he was naked. Nothing, no clothes, they didn't even let him keep his underwear. The doors burst open and he was thrown down face down in the dirt.
He could see Noore standing there looking at him like he was nothing but a stain. "People of Kyrat I give you, Prince Ajay Ghale!" She declared loudly. "The spoiled prince that has cost hundreds of people their families and loved ones! The same prince that rejected the golden path and stuck to Pagan Min! The prince that sleeps well at night knowing that Kyrat is suffering from this war!"
"Noore! That is enough!" Ajay finally got a hold of his senses as he stood up. "Have you forgotten who you work for?!"
"Who I work for!? Tell me, Prince Ajay... where is my family?" Noore asked him with a tilt of her head. Her eyes remained emotionless as she looked at Ajay, daring him to answer that question.
"Paul?" Ajay asked the man as he came out of his little torture chamber. His hands and torso were covered in blood, not his own Ajay could tell.
"Oh, hey, Buddy. What's going on?" Paul responded as he started to wipe the blood off of his hands with a rag.
"What's going on? I guess dad got some sort of doctor to work for him at the arena?"
"Ah yes, Noore, lovely woman from what I was told."
"How'd he do that?"
"Oh, well you know your father, Ajay, he does what he does best in this kind of situation."
"Kidnapped the family?"
"Yep! Now between you and me, that woman isn't getting her family back anytime soon, Buddy, don't let her know that though."
"I ask again! Where is my family, Prince Ajay!?" She demanded louder as the crowds roared, most booed at Ajay, some, fear of reputation perhaps, stayed quiet.
"... I don't know..." Ajay lied through gritted teeth.
"Liar!... I see if this is how it will then bring out the rebels!" She declared. A loud siren went off and Ajay, having no time to think of modesty, rushed for cover. Keeping himself hidden from the ten rebel soldiers that stormed the battleground each and every one of them had guns. Ajay had nothing at the moment, not even clothes. Looking around he saw his only option ten feet away from him. A kukri embedded in a dead body. Ajay was quick to snatch it up and stay hidden as the rebels searched for him. Holding his breath Ajay looked around carefully. He looked at the two soldiers nearest to him and silently slipped out of his hiding spot. Bringing his Kakuri up he carefully treaded across the ground. He was within arms reach of the soldier when he grabbed the man and stealthily put his Kakuri in the man's neck. He only let out a wet gurgle cry before dying right there. Grabbing the gun the man had on him, a shotgun, Ajay slung it around his shoulders and moved forward. Pumping the shotgun he gunned down the other soldier looking around for him. The man fell limply and Ajay grabbed some ammo along with a hand grenade. Pumping the gun once again, Ajay hid behind a barrel and looked around the corner.
"Just tell me where my family is, Ajay and this can all end..." Noore practically seethed with rage up top her little podium as she glared down at him. "Surely you don't want to be here, prince, you want to be at home with your stepfather, Pagan."
Ajay looked at her before pursing his lips into a thin line and pulling the pin out of the grenade. He let it cook for just a couple of seconds in his hands before tossing it over to two unsuspecting soldiers. "Grena-" The poor man never even finished his sentence before the explosion went off. It made Ajay's hearing muffled for a few seconds before it eventually came back. Ajay heard a shout to his left and realized he caught. Bringing his shotgun to his hip he fired twice blowing the rebel to bits. The crowd shouted and cheered for the onslaught of bloodshed. "Ajay Ghale!" A rebel screamed as he ran forward with a Molotov in his hands.
"Oh, shi-" Ajay wasn't fast enough this time as the rebel tossed the Molotov and hit the floor by Ajay's bare feet. Ajay jumped in pain as the fire started burning his feet, putting the fire out quickly he fell on his back. Ajay grabbed the kukri off of the floor and quickly blocked the soldier as he was trying to stab at Ajay with his own Kakuri. The two kurkis hit each other causing a small bout of sparks to fly. Ajay grabbed the soldier's hair with his free hair and yanked his head back causing the man to cry out loudly. Exposing the soldier's neck Ajay snarled and stabbed the soldier through the neck. Warm blood sprayed and oozed on to Ajay's face. The soldier slumped on top of Ajay. Ajay groaned and pushed the man off of him before taking his Kukri out of the guy's neck. Ajay groaned slightly as he looked at his feet he could see bright red burns and blisters forming. Five soldiers down, five more to go.
Jason grunted as he climbed up into the back of the arena, he could hear the crowd cheer loudly at the onslaught before them. Jason had his AK at the ready as he listened for any guards, turning a corner with his gun pointed straight ahead he narrowed his eyes at two guards. They were dressed in red showing that they were indeed Pagan's men and watching the fight from down below with much interest. Instantly Jason straightened up cautiously. "What is going on here?" He asked them both with a bark in his voice as he walked closer. Both of the pulled their guns out but didn't fire right away. "Calm your tits, I'm Prince Ajay's bodyguard!" He introduced himself as politely as he could muster.
"Well, you're a shit bodyguard then," the first one spoke with a bit of a smirk on his face as he thrust his thumb towards the arena down below. Jason push past the guards and looked down at the fight. Though the people fighting were small he made out Ajay almost instantly.
Butt naked Ajay covered in blood as he ran around trying to kill the other people in the arena. Jason backed away from the fight below, for the time being, he then sucked in a deep breath through his nose, looked at the two Kyraki soldiers before him, and with no hesitation shot them both in the head. "Consider that a favor. I have a feeling Pagan wouldn't have been so kind," The first thing that interested him was a sniper rifle that one had. He was going to need that, picking it up he put the AK to the side, for now, steadied himself. Looking through the scope he got a better vision of what he needed to do, however; oddly enough by the time he was ready to shoot... Ajay... had already won the battle.
"So, Ajay Ghale is victorious, yes, but let's see how he does against bears then, hm?" The announcer, a woman, spoke to the crowd. On her cue, about three bears came rushing out barreling towards Ajay.
"Shit!" Jason cursed as he watched the bears through the scope of the sniper rifle. They were going too fast for him to get a steady shot. Ajay had no clothes, probably very little ammo, and nothing to help him heal (maybe). Jason was going to have to think extremely quick on how to beat this one. Three bears, two brown, one black. Ajay was keeping hidden behind a barrel, but the bears were clearly on the lookout as they rushed around the arena. Ajay only had seconds, just mere seconds as the black bear rounded closer and closer to him. Jason watched as the bear seemed to slow down as it was homing in on Ajay's scent. Jason couldn't miss this shot, steadying the gun, he held his breath to make it as steady as possible. Ajay rose to his feet his own gun at the ready as the bear got closer, Jason waited for the bear to get into the crosshairs just one more step, and...
They both fired at the same time. Jason got the bear in the eye while Ajay blew it's brains to smithereens. However; Jason's help did not go unnoticed.
"Who fired that shot?!" The woman's voice roared over one of the dead guard's radio. "You are not to help prince Ajay! Find whoever did that and put them down!"
Jason tore his eyes away from the fight he heard rushing footsteps clamoring towards him, instinctively he raised his gun in defensive as a grand total of three Kyraki soldiers came into the room. "Not a step! How dare you betray your king and your future king like this!" Jason snarled at the men they all seemed to hesitate just a little. "Do you think Pagan will allow this? If Ajay dies, guess who's following? The soldiers that failed to protect him, that's who!" Jason snapped at them as he kept his sniper rifle at his hip in defense.
One soldier opened his mouth, either to argue or agree with Jason, but he never got a word out as three loud gunshots rang out. Each man fell to the ground dead as Pagan himself walked over to Jason. "I'm helping!" Jason quickly defended himself. "I know it's my fault but I'm trying to fix it, Pagan I swear!"
"Jason..." Pagan's voice was dangerously calm as he made sure to stare the American down. "...If my son doesn't come out of this alive... I can't even describe the things I will do to you... help my son. I'll deal with Noore..."
Jason didn't even wait for Pagan to leave as he turned around and lined his shot up with the bears once again. While Jason was busy it seemed Ajay somehow took down one of the brown bears. So, that left only one bear left to deal with them. Jason got ready to line up a shot and kill the bear quickly, but something stopped him. It was Ajay himself, the Prince was no fool it seemed like he was now gesturing towards Jason wanting his attention. Jason gave his attention to Ajay, Ajay was mouthing something slowly so Jason could understand what he was trying to say.
NO.
He didn't want Jason's help?! Was he crazy?! For a moment Jason thought about ignoring Ajay and shooting the bear anyway, but then his mind went back to the first real day he was in Kyrat, the day that started it all really. Ajay likes to hunt, Ajay took out several clouded leopards without much of a hitch. What's a bear to him? Swallowing hard, Jason was about to do the stupidest thing he's ever done, he put the gun down and watched. 'Don't die on me...' He thought to himself.
Ajay wasn't hiding anymore, he was naked, covered in blood, had scratches and gashes all up and down his body, and he just wanted this to be over. Circling the bear, Ajay watched as the animal snorted and let out a loud growl at him telling him to back down or to be food. Prince Ajay Ghale, stepson of Pagan Min was taught one important thing, never back down. He had one syringe, one grenade, a Kakuri, and no guns. The bear roared at Ajay again threatening him. Ajay took in a deep breath as he watched the mighty beast. Finally, it was the bear that stopped circling and just charged. Ajay ran forward with a war cry and slashed at the bear's muzzle first before going for the eyes in an attempt to blind it. The bear didn't take to that too kindly and with one mighty swing of its paw sent Ajay flying back into a wall. For a moment all Ajay could see were stars dancing his vision.
"-This ends now, Noore!" He heard a voice rage over the microphone. Still, in a slight daze, Ajay watched as Pagan and Noore struggled with one another. Noore demanding to know where her family was, and Pagan trying to take the microphone away from her, probably to signal the end of the fight. This wasn't how Ajay wanted it to end. Getting back to his feet he looked at the bear again. The bear charged first and Ajay jumped to the side before rushing at the bear while it was still confused. Ajay raised the Kakuri and shoved it into the bear's neck before taking it out just as quickly. The bear roared in pain as it bled out from it's wound, but it didn't die, instead, it just turned and slashed at Ajay's exposed torso. Ajay knew he looked bad, hell, Ajay felt horrid as he was losing a lot of blood. He wanted nothing more than to use his last syringe it wouldn't heal him all the way, but it would help him greatly, but he couldn't the bear was coming in for another attack.
Ajay dodged out of the way before the bear could attack him again. Ajay knew one thing it was now or never time, one of them was going to die, and it sure as hell wasn't going to be Ajay. Jumping on top of a barrel Ajay looked at the Kakuri then the grenade his only two weapons left. If the bear would hold still long enough for him to toss the grenade he would have done it already. Ajay tossed his Kukri in the air before hatching a plan in his head.
Jason didn't know just who to watch, Pagan fighting with Noore over the microphone, or naked Ajay Ghale trying to take down a bear with nothing but a Kukri. All and all it was a site to be held still Jason couldn't help but keep his eyes glued to Ajay as the prince suddenly jumped from the barrel he was standing on, attracting the attention from the bear that was now circling him with watering jaws. Over the roaring crowds, Jason could hear bits and pieces of Noore and Pagan's argument.
"-tell me-!" Noore demanded.
"-Stop this I'll have you-!"
"-For the love of god!"
It just went on like that, for whatever reason Pagan seemed to be hesitant about shooting Noore in cold-blood. Jason could only wonder why. Hearing the bear roar turned his attention back to Ajay. Ajay was stabbing at a dead bear on the ground. Jason watched as Ajay took a good chunk of bloody raw bear meat and just tossed it halfway across the arena. The bear took off running after the bait and started to eat. In one quick movement, Jason watched as Ajay tossed a grenade over to the animal. It was a bear so of course, he wasn't going to take off running like a human would...
However, Jason really didn't expect the bear to eat the grenade.
It happened in just seconds; the bear was no more as the grenade went off. Blood and guts hit the crowd causing gasps and stunned silence amongst everyone, except for Pagan's sudden outburst of-
"-They're dead, Noore!"
Now the tension in the whole arena was thickened. Ajay stood there trying to wipe the blood off of his body. He was covered head to toe in thick oozing blood. Jason knew most of it was Ajay's victims, but he could tell that Ajay was looking a little wobbly out there. Pagan seemed to realize what had just happened and brought the mic to his mouth.
"The winner of the arena ladies and-"
Jason acted fast as Noore suddenly pushed Pagan down and shouted as loud as she could, "Kill my family, Pagan?! Release the Sky Tiger!" and Jason pitied the poor fool that actually let the tiger out. The tiger was black and white, it almost reminded Jason of Rook Island; having to hunt the tigers for the people or new equipment. Still, Jason decided enough was enough as that tiger was coming straight for Ajay. He needed to get to the arena, now! Looking up he saw a thick metal rope, like ones that hold the radio towers up, leading down to the arena. Jason scrunched his nose up before using his sniper rifle to hold himself up to the rope. Jason gave the wall a good kick allowing himself to zip line down. The tiger had grabbed Ajay's arm by that point and was ready to tear into the prince who was hardly able to focus on anything. Ajay swiped at the tiger, but it did very little to the blood-hungry beast. Jason gave a battle cry as he got close enough he let go of the zip line, rolling on the ground past the dead bodies of rebel soldiers and deceased bears, Jason sprang to his feet. Jason held the sniper rifle like a bat as he rushed at the tiger and gave it a good whack in the head with the butt of the gun. The tiger snarled at Jason before giving him a roar so loud that it'd turn a normal person's hair white.
Jason Brody wasn't a normal person. "Try me, you oversized house cat!" Jason spat before throwing the rifle down and pulling out his AK. The tiger seemed to be smarter than it seemed as it jumped to the side just as Jason shot. The beast still got hit, but not in the head so it was gunning at Jason more pissed than ever. Jason wasn't fast enough to avoid the beast as it jumped on him and roared in his face. Jason mentally cursed himself as his Kukri was out of his reach. That wasn't a problem for much longer as all Jason felt on his face was something wet and warm. Confused and a little dazed all Jason saw was the tiger's neck as Ajay pulled his own Kukri out from atop the tiger's neck, killing it instantly.
Jason pushed the heavy beast off of him as Ajay brought his hand out for Jason to take. Jason gratefully took Ajay's hand and the two were standing side by side now. "Thanks for the save..." Jason breathed out heavily as he forced himself to look at Ajay's bloody face and not more southbound.
"Thanks for distracting the legendary Sky Tiger..." Ajay muttered tiredly. For a moment Jason felt like everything was going to be okay. It really all felt okay anyway as he looked at the roaring crowd's everyone wanting more bloodshed. Jason watched as Ajay suddenly stuck himself in the arm with a syringe. Ajay let out a soft sigh in response as the drug pumped through his system.
"Feel better?"
"It wasn't enough-" Was the only thing Ajay managed to spit out before falling to the ground unconscious.
"Ajay!"
Ajay was looking at the sky. That's the first that registered in his mind as he was looking up, confused, at the cloudy Kyrat sky. Trying to blink the sleep away from his eyes Ajay moved back. Instantly he came to see that he was naked in a hot spring. Ajay still felt tired as his mind was trying to register just what was going on. He could see that he had healing scars on his arms and torso. Some thicker and longer than others.
"Healing Springs your fathers choice-"
"Bah!" Ajay jumped a little at Jason's voice as his bodyguard came walking up beside him. Ajay quickly looked for something, anything, to cover himself up with, but came up empty-handed.
"Dude, I saw you fight three bears in an arena butt naked I really don't care if you're in a hot spring right now," Jason put it simply as he sat down with a low grunt next to Ajay. Ajay's mind started to come back, the arena, Noore-
"What happened to Noore?" Ajay questioned to Jason who just gave him a shrug.
"Dunno, your dad took her, kicking and screaming, to Paul. So, I can guess it won't be pretty."
"How long was I out for?"
Jason looked down at his watch for a few seconds before nodding a little. "A little close to five hours, if I have to guess."
"Jesus..." Ajay groaned loudly as he leaned back against the wall of the hot spring. "Where are my clothes?" Ajay asked after a few moments of silence between the two.
"Right there," Jason pointed to the neatly folded pile of clothes sitting to the right of Ajay. "Pagan should be here shortly, with someone named Yuma- oh that must be his convoy?" Jason pointed to the large convoy just about hundred feet away from hot springs. Ajay let out a groan before getting out of the hot springs and quickly getting dressed before the convoy got there. "How are you feeling?" Jason asked him once he finished putting his jacket on. Ajay rolled his shoulders a little before giving a half-hearted shrug in return. Truthfully he felt sore all over as some of his wounds were still healing from the arena.
"Fine, I guess," He half-lied to Jason as he stretched his left arm out across his chest. He had no clue why he lied, maybe he didn't want Jason to worry about him too much. Hell, Jason was like an open book with his emotions, Ajay observed. Every little move Ajay made Jason was watching with the utmost intensity like he was afraid Ajay was going to fall apart right then and there. "Just still a little tired is all." Ajay finished the lie as he stretched his other arm across his chest.
"I can imagine, that was one hell of a battle you fought in the arena," Jason tried to chuckle nonchalantly as he looked back over at the convoy. He felt a sense of ease as the convoy was starting to grow closer. The two of them now standing Ajay stood beside Jason as the convoy came to a halt by the hot springs. Out came Pagan with his army in tow.
"Ajay! Darling!" Pagan's earlier (scary as fuck) intensity was now melted away as he ran and hugged Ajay as hard as he could. "I was so worried about you!" Pagan squeezed Ajay tightly before letting him go. "But no matter, now that this is behind us, we can all go home and have a well-deserved rest!" Pagan breathed a sigh of relief.
Nobody argued, truthfully Jason thought sleep sounded wonderful it's been a hectic past couple of days, and he hasn't slept since he arrived. The two of them were shuffled into a heavily protected truck. Ajay went in first. "Yuma." He greeted with a grin.
"Ajay." Yuma lifelessly greeted back as she seemed to have more interest in her nails. Jason was shoved in next and sat beside Ajay. "Ah, the fuck-up, from what I hear." Yuma actually grinned at Jason. The guilt Jason felt was honestly enormous and she made it ten times worse. Pagan was the last to come in and sit beside Yuma. The door shut behind him and off the truck went. There was a heavy silence between everyone in the truck as nobody knew just what to say. Until Jason saw Pagan take out a familiar pen.
"I'm sorry, please!... don't stab me!" Jason quickly managed to choke out as he feared for his life for a split second. Ajay actually jumped. If it was because of Jason's outburst or not, Jason never knew.
"Although I would like nothing more than to punish you for your mess up I'm afraid I'm going to need you for a little while longer, Mr. Brody," Pagan coolly responded as he moved the pen from his back pocket to his shirt pocket. That alone made Jason sigh with relief. Jason didn't know how to respond when Ajay, to comfort him, gave him a simple pat on the arm. "Despite your negligence putting Ajay in the arena in the first place, you still seem to be the best person for the job. I don't give second chances often, Mr. Brody, the next time you mess up, it will be your last, am I clear?"
"Yes, sir..." Jason breathed out heavily. Pagan crossed one of his legs over the other. The truck rocked a little from the dirt road causing Jason to his head on the window often. Jason didn't even realize he had started to doze off until his head bounced against the window twice causing him to jolt awake. It was apparent that he wasn't the only one struggling to stay awake as Ajay was sound asleep. His head lolled to the side of the truck, mouth open, quick low breaths escaping his mouth as he slept peacefully. Looking over at Pagan and Yuma, Yuma was bored staring out the window with her head slumped against her fist. As if she was saying 'why was I needed for this?' with her expression alone. Pagan was staring intensely at Ajay almost like he was afraid his son was just going to vanish before his very eyes. Jason couldn't fight his own drowsiness anymore as his eyes shut for the second time without his command. 'Five minutes won't harm anyone.' he thought to himself as he felt safe enough to fall asleep in the truck right there.