SpontaneousCombustion: Alright, I've changed my pen name. And finally finished Act ,1 It took me 15 chapters, but whatever. On with the show!

Puck: Story.

SC: Fine. On with the story. Happy now, Mr. Picky?

Puck: Yes. Thank you.

Diclaimer: I own Raye. That's it.

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Chap. 16

Meeting the Shadow

As Jak and Raye walked down the stairs into the hideout, the second door opened, revealing Torn standing there with his arms crossed. "The Shadow's deceded it's time to meet you."

Jak crossed his arms. "Why is that place in the old ruins so important to you?"

"There's a powerful energy force at the old house. The Metal Heads are attracted to it."

"No kidding? Daxter and I used to know the guy that lived there." As Jak was saying this, Dax was peering around Torn to see the Shadow.

The figure turned around. "So you're the new recruits who keep getting into trouble." Torn stepped aside.

Daxter moaned. "Oh no, not you!"

The Shadow ignored him. "Welcome to our humble Underground movement. I am known as the Shadow, but you may call me Samos. And you are?"

Daxter was still moaning. "Sheesh, Jak, we went through all that just to meet his holiness, ol' log on the head, grandpa green!" Torn was glaring at Daxter.

Jak looked sincerely confused. "Don't you know who we are?" He asked.

Samos shook his head. "Sorry kid... never seen you before. And I never forget a face... especially one that ugly." He pointed at Daxter, who just looked annoyed now.

"So it begins..." He sighed.

Jak covered his eyes in frustration. "How is this possible? We came through the rift with you... into the future, right?"

"Yeah! You used to look older than dirt and uglier than a knotted stump!" Raye glanced at Torn to see he looked like he wanted to strangle Dax. "What gives? Did you get a little nip and tuck while we were gone?" He pulled on his face. Raye had leaned up against the wall behind her, smirking silently. Normally, she would've protested being left out like this, but this was just too entertaining!

Samos cut Daxter off, "Listen boys, I don't know what kind of twigs you've been chewing on, but I don't have time for this! We've got a Baron to overthrow, a child heir to protect, an invasion of Metal Heads to stop, and a city to save! I'd say the schedules pretty full! Besides, I haven't gone through any rifts, I hate teleporting!"

Dax rolled his eyes, "Sure sounds like the old Samos."

Once again, Daxter was ignored, "Right now, I need you to go to Haven Forest and root out a few Metal Heads. That forest is the source of my power, but I can't protect it much longer. Chase down and destroy all the Metal Head Scouts you find there." He spoke up again as they walked out. "Good luck, and welcome to the fight."

As the second door shut behind them, Raye spoke up. "Was it just me, or did it sound like he had rehearsed part of that?"

-Raye's POV-

I was laughing as we walked back into the Slums. "You got thrown off! I can't believe it! You got thrown off of a Metal Head Scout! And into the water, no less!"

Jak glared at me. "Will you just shut up about that already?"

"Not a chance." I said, turning down the alley to get to the Hideout and seeing the Shadow standing outside with the kid and his Croca-dog. "Hey kid." The kid waved to me before he continued chasing the Croca-dog playfully.

Samos stepped forward, "I need you two to escort the kid over to Kor at the Power Station. He said he'd watch him, but I don't have time to take him over there myself or to baby-sit him here. Oh, and take the kid's Croca-dog with you." The Croca-dog growled at Samos.

"What's this kid's story?"

Samos glanced at the kid. "I found him wandering the streets, but the amulet around his neck may mean he is the true heir to the throne."

"That kid?" Daxter asked.

"Yes, Daxter. Do you see any other kids around here?" I motioned around the alley. Daxter glared at me, mouthing the words as soon as he thought I wasn't looking.

Samos sighed. "Just get the kid down to the Power Station. And if you happen to lose the Croca-dog..." Said animal growled at Samos again before running off with the boy close behind it.

Jak ran after him, "Hey, kid!" I cursed and pulled out my Blaster before running after him. I shot the KG that came at the kid, trying to get him.

"Jak, keep the Guards away from the kid!" I yelled, gunning another two down before they had a chance to charge their guns. I looked ahead of me to see a three-seater zoomer. I ran forward, grabbed the kid and his Croca-dog, and jumped in. "Keep your head down, kid." I ordered. He nodded and ducked down in the seat, the Croca-dog covering its head with its paws. I slammed into the Guard that was sneaking up behind Jak. "Get in!" I yelled. He blinked and climbed in, surprised.

"Drive, Raye, drive!" Daxter yelled from his usual spot on Jak's shoulder. I glared at him as I pressed down the gas pedal hard. I rammed down at least twenty Krimzon Guards before we got to the Power Station. The kid jumped out again after his Croca-dog. "There goes that crazy kid again!" Daxter yelled. Jak and I jumped out and followed the oblivious kid up the ramp.

"Why won't the door open?" I hissed, shooting all the Guards that I could. Jak and I had our backs to the door and were standing in front of the kid. Suddenly, the doors slid open and we all ran inside, the two elves who had weapons, i.e. me and Jak, panting for breath.

"Samos told us to bring the kid to you." Daxter told Kor, who was standing in the middle of the room. Vin was, surprisingly enough, nowhere to be seen. The kid ran over to Kor's side and Kor patted his head. "Thank you. I'll be sure to keep him close." I glared at him silently. 'Yeah, I'm sure you will.' I cursed him mentally, my fists tightening at my sides. I didn't notice the Croca-dog growling loudly at Kor until Jak scratched it behind the ears and it looked up at him, panting happily. "Interesting. That insufferable mutt never like anyone but the boy before." The dog growled again before looking up at Jak still panting.

"I'm just good with animals." He chuckled, looking at Daxter and grinning. Dax rolled his eyes.

"I hope we have enough eco to keep the Metal Heads at bay. During my travels in the deep Wasteland I saw some of the bigger ones. Awesome creatures." He waved his hand to emphasize his point.

Daxter jumped back onto Jak's shoulder. "We saw a big one coming out of a rift once. He was uuuuuuugly!" Dax made imaginary claws with his hands and stomped around on Jak's shoulder.

Kor was probably pretty pissed off right then. I mean, Daxter had just insulted him, unintentionally, of course. "Hmmmphh... I have some valuable information for you. The Baron is conducting an excavation at the Dig." He laughed, "He is still looking for that ridiculous Tomb." I glanced down to see the Croca-dog, ah, relieving himself on Kor's staff. Jak, Daxter, and I laughed silently as Kor shook off the staff. "Frankly, I don't believe it exists, but you might as well go out there and disrupt his operation just in case." I felt like yelling "Liar!" and shooting him right then and there, just to make him shut up. "Knock down all the scaffolding at the site." Kor said, waving his staff in Jak's face. "That should set him back. Here is an Air Train pass to get you out there." He walked over to the boy, who held out the pass. Jak took it from his hand. To him, that small gesture was meaningless. He had no idea how important it actually was.

As soon as we walked outside, the talkbox flew up. "Jak, there are some Krimzon Guard crates out in the Port. My racing client says that you have some skill with that JET-Board of yours. Get down to the Port and destroy all those crates! No one, not even the Underground, wants those crates activated. So get to it!" The box dissapeared.

I sighed. "You know what? You go take care of the site, I'll go deal with the stuff in the Port." He nodded.

As soon as we got to the Air Train, Jak paused. "Raye, are you sure? I mean, I could help you with this when I get back-" I held up my hand to stop him.

"I'll be fine. You go." I shoved him playfully. He shoved me back before jumping onto the Air Train. I sighed and got on my JET-Board. I was not going to enjoy this.

Two minutes, forty-six seconds later, I had destroyed all the KG crap in the Port. I chuckled silently at the reaction Krew would probably have when he found out that I, not Jak, I, had destroyed the crates. I glanced over at the spot where the Air Train usually was, but it still hadn't returned. I sighed. Oh well. The talkbox Torn had finally given me, quite reluctantly, might I add, flew out of my pocket.

"Raye, there's a disturbance in the Bazaar. I want you to go check it out." It clicked off.

I sighed and grabbed a nearby zoomer. "He could've at least waited for me to say alright." I muttered, heading towards the Hip Hog and turning as I got to the entrance normally covered by the yellow barrier. "Bet he would've let Jak get in an okay at least." I kept driving, avoiding Hellcats and KG zoomers until I got to where I had to go up on that stupid pathway. I jumped off the zoomer and walked in to the Bazaar. After turning the first corner, I ran into Ashelin and several Guards. "Ashelin!" I walked forward, braking suddenly when a Guard blocked me off with his gun.

Ashelin walked up. "Get out of the area! This is Krimzon Guard business."

"What's going on?" I asked, confused. I had no idea, this was one of those times when Jessi had the game. I always said I was going to play through on my own, but I never got around to it.

She glared at me for a moment before answering. "One of Vin's eco tankers is coming in from the Wasteland, but the clearance transmission sounded fishy. The driver was scared. We're checking it out, just in case."

"Anyway I can help?"

"I've got it covered." As soon as the words left her mouth, a large truck, the eco tanker, I guessed, crashed into the Bazaar. The top popped off, and a few Juice Goons and Grunts climbed out.

"It's a Metal Head sneak attack!" One of the Guards yelled. Ashelin pulled out her pistol.

"Damn! It's just us!" She turned to me. "Help me get rid of all the Metal Heads!" I nodded and pulled out my Vulcan Fury and hit the nearest Juice Goon with fifteen bullets.

I laughed. "Didn't know Metal Heads could fly!" I turned to the Grunt trying to sneak up on me. "Ah, ah, ah." The siren-like sound of my Vulcan was barely heard over the sound of firing KG pistols.

Finally, after shooting somewhere around two dozen Metal Heads, they stopped coming at us. I put up my gun and glanced around to see piles of dark eco everywhere. I walked over to one of the bigger ones and absorbed it quickly, before anyone saw. Ashelin kicked one of the eco barrels away. "We got 'em all! The Metal Heads are getting bolder every day. It's almost like they're testing out defences, like probing attacks. I've got a bad feeling about this." She walked off, her entourage of Guards following her.

I crossed my arms. "Yeah... you're welcome." I jumped as the stupid talk box rang once more. 'Please, don't let it be Torn.' I prayed silently.

"Raye? Where are you?" It was Jak. I sighed.

"In the Bazaar. There was a Metal Head sneak attack."

"What!" I heard his end hit the ground. "Wait, why are you in the Bazaar?"

"Torn sent me here."

Silence. "Just get to the Saloon. Krew has a mission for us." The box clicked off. I sighed and put it in my pocket, looking up at the sky. The sun was setting. This was going to be a long night.

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SC: Okay, I've finally finished this chapter! And on the last day of school! Woohoo! No more school! I know the chapter is short and I apologize for it, but I really needed to finish this up. Anyways, I might skip most of this next mission with Jinx, because I seriously want to get to the tomb scene. That, and Jinx doesn't happen to be one of my favorite characters. Read and Review!