Why Me? Chapter 9, a jak and daxter fanfic

"The purpose of this particular route is to ensure no metalheads or scavengers are hanging about one of the entrances the monks use to enter the Great Volcano." Edith explained, tugging the bridle over the crocadog's snout. "The monks give service to Spargus. They offer medical aid, shelter, cloth, prayers and ceremonies." Glancing over to make sure Jen was doing the same thing to her crocadog, "In turn, Spargus offers protection and the share of the artifacts we find out there."

"Makes sense. Stop growling." Jen rapped Poofy on the snout. Poofy merely licked her cheek. And licked. And licked . . .

"Gah! Poof! Stop!" The licking finally stopped as Jen pushed herself off the ground. A blue ottsel head popped into view. Jen will forever deny the screech she let out. "Ah. So sorry about that," Elder said apologetically, image flickering.

"Forget that! What are you doing?! You can't be seen willy nilly!"

"Don't you worry. Your companions will wake up after I finish this bit of business. If you would turn your attention on your left, you will see a box right by your feet."

Jen couldn't help rolling her eyes at the first bit but she looked down to where Elder was mentioning and saw said box. "I know you had passing thoughts on seeing Vin in regards to your hearing aids but that will not be happening anytime soon. So we designed a couple of sets for you. We also left a few more gifts in there for you but for now, tuck it away in a bag. Quickly now." The image dispersed as she quickly tucked the box away in Poofy's saddle bag.

She tried to look around before realizing the tunnel was too dark. 'C'mon. Light eco. Light eco.' The spot where the black seal originally scarred stung furiously before the wings flared out, giving off enough light to reveal juice goons standing over the others, with staffs poised for the kill.

With a pulse of blue eco, she rushed past all of them. Stopping only a few meters away, she watched with minor amusement as the juices act confused, wondering where their staffs went. 'Ah, three, three, six staffs total. Six metal heads. Knife? No. Dark eco spillage means harm to my group. Claws it is. Suck it all up.'

Jen dropped her armload, letting the noise bring her to the center of attention. The gems started glowing brighter than before as the Juices studied her, most likely not going near because of the wings. Thrusting her hands down in a show of bringing her talons out, Jen widened her stance. "Come and get it."

There was only a growl for a warning before they lunged forward. Jen slid to the left and rammed her right claws into the eye of the first one. The claws slid right through with nary a snag. Sliding her hand out as it went down, multiple shots rang out and one Juice went down. That left four.

Before anyone could move, multiple blurs of green lunged forward and each Juice was trapped in large jaws, harshly shook from side to side before falling still. Poofy ambled past his brethren over to Jen and dropped his metalhead at her feet. Looking back, Edith was walking back to the riders, heavy pistol out. "In one piece Edith?"

"Just peachy. Keep those wings up and keep watch." Seeing that the crocadogs were still on guard, Jen kept her claws out. 'Mike . . . and Morgan. Now I remember the names.'

While Mike, Morgan and Edith had multiple lesions, they didn't seem too bothered. A quick bandage around the more serious ones and they were ready to move. Jen was mildly impressed. No complaints mean less time wasted. The tunnel was already starting to feel a bit cramped. The rocks littering the ground didn't help. Jen felt a little self-conscious when Mike made a passing comment about a smell. Tis not her fault she hadn't a proper wash for some time now.

They barely made it around the bend before encountering a disturbingly large hoard of metalheads.

"This is the beginner's route?!"

"Keep shooting!"

"Where the fuck did they come from?!"

The way the noise echoed made it sound like a warzone for Jen's ears. Felt like it too. Placing herself in front, she kept grabbing the tails or back legs of whatever metalhead that tried to amble past her and either slice the neck or chuck back into the swarm as hard as possible. Her wings kept flapping about, stunning the metalheads in place. Of course, she couldn't get all of them. Whatever did make it by was quickly shot down. Poofy and the crocadogs made good work themselves.

It felt like hours went by when it was really twenty minutes. Twenty minutes of pure adrenaline left Jen trembling all over. Ignoring the still stinging scar, she looked around to ensure the others were still standing. "All still in one piece?"

Edith shot forward and took hold of Jen's shoulders, "What the bloody hell were you thinking?! You could have been . . ."

Hands on her. Large presence. No! Never again!

"HANDS OFF!"

Edith's eye widened and she let go. Taking a few quick steps back, Jen hugged herself and went to check on Poofy.
Exchanging a look with his sister, Mike took the moment to speak up, "As much as I want to know what the hell that was about, it's best to get a move on."

It was an hour of walking with minimal talking and relighting the torches found along the way. Other than offering yellow eco, Jen had no intention of speaking after that outburst. 'I thought I had it all in control. I haven't had a freak out like that in years.'

"…ou from, Jen?"

"Eh?" Face shooting up, she tried to identify who said her name. "Where are you from, Jen?" Ah, Morgan. Quickly considering what to say, "Nowhere on your maps."

She smiled in amusement when Morgan's face fell. The Scout's mouth barely opened to ask another question when Edith raised her fist in a 'hold' position, ears twitching. "Drop the wings."

Jen froze, trying to listen in as well. Nothing. The air was free of skunk stench, no metalheads. A 'paff' later and the wings dispersed.
Edith ducked behind a large boulder, and everyone took the hint, even the crocadogs somehow managed to look like mossy rocks. The reason why came clear in just moments later.

Just up ahead, a section of the wall gave way. With a blast of heat, an orange glow and sounds of rumbling filled the tunnel. A small group of scruffy men stepped into view, five of them. One is very tall like the Northerns, the rest seemed average. Each of the averages were dragging a brightly dressed person, tightly bound in rope and a thick piece of cloth stuffed in their mouths. They also appear to have a thick ring of metal on their necks. 'Hey, I see them dressed as the four main colors of eco. Are they monks or something?' "Move it monks." 'I was right.'

"Tell me again why we're doing this."

"For the last time you mindless idiot, I got word that the short-eared wrench is going to be passing through soon. So far, she has the tendency of ignoring her own safety to save others. These monks will need to be saved," cue the glaring and increase in struggling, "we slap a collar on her," 'HELL NO!' "And pass her on to the buyer outside the tunnel. She's the one who wrecked the entire operation."

The scouts shared a look of disbelief before glancing at said subject of interest. Her hands were starting to glow white. Light energy surrounded the four monks and exploded outward, shoving their captors into the walls harshly. Edith, Mike, Morgan and crocadogs went down on the fallen while Jen stayed back and kept a dome around the monks. In moments, the Northern was the only one left alive.

Edith pressed her boot to the throat, "Haven't seen any of your kind lately. Where have you louts been hiding? And what is this operation you speak of?"

Lips curling back into a snarl, "Ask your wrench there."

Passing her switchblade to the red dressed monk after cutting him free, Jen gave a look of indifference, "You mean the multiple centuries long scheme of always attacking a place that has originally done you no harm? As I recall, you're supposed to be on your way back to the Icelands by now."
Edith's face whipped up, eyes wide in disbelief. "Lass, what are you talking about?"

Jen gave a nonchalant shrug. "It's true. If word has gotten out by now, you didn't hear because we are here."

"It is a very recent event." Tall figures stepped into view from ahead. Exonn and . . . his dad, 'Damn it. Never got his name, were in the lead.

The father stepped forward "We will be taking that one. It is time for him to . . ." He stopped. A strange look flitted over his face. "Edith, you still live?" 'Wait? The father knows Edith?'

"Bjorn?" Heavy disbelief clung to Edith's voice. She snarled. "What the hell are you doing here? Did father send you?"

"Father has been dead for years now sister."

The siblings stared at each other for several minutes. Jen and Exonn exchanged quiet glances, waiting for someone to break the silence. Exonn was starting to look a bit nervous to be in the sight of his newly revealed aunt. She did not look happy to be in company of her estranged brother.

"Take him. Take him and get out." The silence was broken by a harsh whisper.

Bjorn nodded. Two people from behind stepped forward and yanked the Northern up to his feet, holding form to his struggles. A key was yanked off and tossed over to the twins, who took the moment to take the collars off the monks.

"He is the last one. I hope our next meeting is under more favorable circumstances sister."

With the Icelanders gone, Edith's shoulders sagged. No one commented on that. The green colored monk stepped forward. "Your timing was inexplicable. Thank you warriors." She turned to Jen. "And you must be the one Seem would not stop talking about. It is a pleasure to meet you at last."

'Seem? Would not stop talking about me? But we only met once.' "GHISSS!" "Hopefully nothing too bad." She said politely before spinning around, pointing, "You Stop That!"

Poofy stopped hissing but left his teeth bared and snapped. His tail was swishing back and forth. He did not like the new crowd. "Cut it out fluff butt."

"Fluff butt?"

"Oh come on. He's a hecking floof. And those paws. They're potatoes."

Thanks to Jen's antics, the tense atmosphere dispersed. It didn't take long for the door to be resealed and the entire group was outside. Fresh tracks indicated that the Icelanders left just minutes ago. There were also large footprints, indicating the T Rex metalheads.
The monks have introduced themselves during the short walk. Jen knew she would have to get their names again later. The red was Jurgan. Blue is Shakir. Yellow is Tien. And green is Jarita. 'I'm going to have to make my own Bingo Book, like in Naruto.' "We look forward to working with you."

Giving their goodbyes, they vanished into a different notch hidden in the rock face. Morgan looked more relaxed than before. "And here I thought they would say something about that stench."

Mike made a face, "I think that's you Jen."

Pulling some meat strips from Poofy's saddle bag, she gave him a tired look, "It has been least a month since I last washed."

"Gross."

Gulping down lukewarm water, she couldn't agree more, "Yep." There was an explosion of sand and she was flying.

Jen tucked the boxes and bags along the right wall. The bike, draped by the metalhead skin, got the window wall. Sleeping bag has the left wall. Knife, belt, waterskins got left by the door.

The return trip was a mess. T Rex metalheads came over from behind the dunes and literally blasted right beneath Jen's feet, sending her in the air. The landing knocked her breathless, not that she cared. All she cared about was everyone else's safety. Needless to say, it was a lot of jumping and blasting with the strongest yellow eco stream she has ever done.

When they reached the gates of Spargus, Damas was waiting. "Report."

"A disaster, that's what." Edith hopped down. "You three go and drop your crocadogs in the holding pens."
After dropping Poofy off and unpacking him of his saddle and such, Jen was just done with the day. Damas met her outside the door and beckoned her to follow. On the left before the lift to the Thone Room, was a door with a circle engraved in it. "That is your residence. Your training starts tomorrow." Opening the door, it was quick to see that it was completely bare, with the exception of a . . . chamber pot? 'Of course. Limited plumbing.'

After a quick trip back to the medbay, Jen quickly settled in. Just as she started to pull her hearing aids out, there was a knock.

"Coming," 'Now what? I had enough activity for the day.' It was the twins. "Yes?"

Mike stepped forward, "Hey. We're heading to the bathhouse and figured you had enough of being covered in grime."

"Not like I have soap."

Morgan pushed a basket into Jen's hands. "That and other things for you."

'I suppose it's high time to get scrubbed.' "Thank you."

"Whoa! Where did that come from?"

Jen wanted to know that too. Lichtenberg scars. They were everywhere. Ropes crawling down and branching on every section of her body. And it all started from the spot where the seal once lain. There was even a rope coiling around her neck, and streaking across her face, covering her face in branches.

The bathhouse was a building not too far off from the water pumps. The light eco vent there also ran through the natural spring that fed the water, giving it healing properties.

Upon entering, Jen was a little surprised to see it was co-ed. Not that it bothered her too much. But still, so many naked people.

"Girl!"

"Lucy? You're out sooner than I thought."

"The eco you lent Dolly, worked wonders. I just need to take it easy for a few days." Lucy took Jen's free hand and tugged her towards a set of cubbies and started peeling her clothes off. Following suit, and making sure her glasses and hearing aids were safely tucked in the back, Jen was quick to step into the warm water. All sounds, muted. She could still hear the water splashing and people talking. It was just like in a cafeteria, where you block out the noise to the background. That was the norm for her hearing. Lucy kept chattering away. Jen was grateful for the company.

There is a section that has water being pumped at a faster rate. It's where those who needed a full out wash, like Jen. She spent a solid 30 minutes scrubbing the filth off her and out of her hair. 'No more greasy hair!' The light eco in the water was making work on the pains she has been steadily ignoring all day. Now she was just outright sore.

That was when the full extent of damage was shown. Her side was a bit lumpy from where the metalhead bit her flesh off. All her fingers have a large tear mark from the cuticle to the first knuckle. The scar on her face was a touch wider than she originally thought. But the biggest eye catcher was the Lichtenburg markings. And . . . all the other scars she forced herself to forget. 'They don't exist. They don't exist. They don't exist.'

"I think . . . it was from where I got in contact with a relic, just as it went off."

"Yowch. You . . . owing up . . . funeral tomorrow ni . . .? I think . . . really . . . go." Funeral?

"I dunno Lucy. I don't want to intrude . . ."

"We . . . go togeth . . ."

"Fine. You want me to go as well? You will have to come pick me up or I won't bother. In the meantime, how do people get food around here? Really don't want to start the day on an empty stomach."

Lucy said she'll stop by with something to eat at dawn. Knowing that her training will probably start early, she decides to call it a day. It was starting to get dark anyway.

Making her way back to her place, Jen noticed that other people were eying her as she walked past. 'Probably from the mess this morning. And the markings. Great. More attention I don't need.'

Shutting the door behind her, Jen rooted through her duffel bag, pulled out a small skull gem and placed it next to the door as a marker when it was completely dark out. Her first kill. Forgoing all clothing but her pants and gauntlets, sleep kicked in.

That thing just won't stay still. It keeps throwing itself in whatever direction it wants. Mostly towards people. Powered by red and light eco, I kept ramming myself into it to knock it off course. Then it would swiftly fly off. I use blue eco to catch up. It smacks into an infrastructure, stall, pipe and whatnot before diving down to the people again. My arms, shoulders and chest were really starting to hurt. I wouldn't be surprised if I end up with a broken bone or some hairline fractures.

It was by the oceanside. It happened so fast. The whip just flashed out. The guy's head just caved in, no resistance.

That's what did it for me. I launched myself up, tucked my knees to my chest and KICKED. I kicked that thing with all the red eco I could muster. The satellite sailed a distance away before falling under fire from the gun torrent.

It just managed to stay in the air, wobbly. That's when the squid reached up and pulled it down. Things fell silent as everyone waited and watched. The water turned purple before clearing.

As I got up, a man with a mullet, monocle and dressed in a suit reached for me, gripping my wrist rather painfully. Holding my jaw shut with his other hand, he started increasing the strength on my wrist. "Too slow." I screamed as my wrist snapped.

Jen bolted up, gasping. Her wrist was throbbing. Yanking the armor off, she could barely make out a hand shaped bruise. Before she had time to worry about it, the door opened and Jen nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Poofy walk in. "What are you doing here?" Poofy simply walked in a circle, curling his tail around her and plopped down, giving her a lick. It was clear he wanted to sleep with her. "Good timing Bud."

Readjusting herself, Jen was able to fall back to sleep without trouble. Poofy was warm. A good warmth. The night was spent in a dream of riding on his back over the expensive sand dunes.