*2 months ago*

I stood beside Torn and three other underground members. Their names being Connor, Elis, and Travis. They didn't like me much, but respected my resolve.

"Listen up. The Krimzon Guard has a warehouse full of weapons, plans and files located in the waterway. I want you four to infiltrate this facility and get as much as you can. Only take an hour, got it?"

"Why do we gotta work with her? She'll slow us down." Connor asked.

"Because while the shadow is away. I'm in charge here. So what I say goes." Torn said, slamming his hand on the table.

"Fine. Let's go fresh meat." Travis says, they all walking away. I glanced at Torn and smiled, before turning around and following the group.

Once we arrived at the warehouse, Elis made quick work on the security and we slipped into the vents, separating into teams of two, I being with Elis to go after paperwork. We knocked out the guards and looked over the desk.

"Do.. do you realize what we stumbled upon?" I asked, putting some documents in my satchel.

"Yes. Property of the Baron." He says, putting on a mask and lighting something.

"What're you-" I began but gas filled the room and I fell, blacking out.

"Afterwards Torn found me and explained that Elis was part of the Krimzon Guard. But with the information we gathered we were able to get a clear idea on what we were dealing with. But this.. this is new to me." I said, we crossing the roof to get a look into the the throne room. Somehow we could hear their conversation, the Baron standing in front of a hologram of sorts. Erol was there too, standing between the two but not as to block it.

"-We should have more eco by weeks end. Transported to your nest as promised." Baron said

"A deal is of no value if you can't deliver, my dear Baron. I grow impatient with your puny gestures! Give me the agreed on eco soon or the deal is off. And your precious city will pay the price." The hologram says, before turning off.

"He's toying with us! Let me lead an assault on the nest before its too late! I can take him!" Erol said, turning to the baron.

"You couldn't stand up to a girl, the bruise on your face proves it."

"A girl powered by dark eco!"

"But patience, Commander. No one has ever penetrated the metalhead nest. You know that. I've seen what comes of such foolish plans… that's why I created them. The dark warriors. And the girl… Zoe Acheron… I believe she is a descendant of what they called the dark eco sage. But, strength is the metal heads weakness. We play helpless, train them to feed from our hands and then… move forward with the plan! Tell Ashlein to up her patrols. I want that tomb found!"

"But your daughter has not been.. agreeable." Erol mentions, which causes the baron to sigh.

"I'll see to that problem. I also need you to get Zoe back. Whatever the cost."

"She will not go without a fight."

"I told you shoot if necessary. Kill her of you have to. We'll just revive her again. One way or another…"

"Ashlein is the Baron's daughter?" Jak whispered to me.

"Yeah. Should've mentioned it earlier." I whispered back.

"-and find that child! If you Spent half as much time looking for the brat as you have been flirting with that mechanic girl we would've pinned his royal ass to a wall long ago."

"As you wish-" but we heard daxter sneeze, jak grabbing him and sliding out of sight, I doing the same hoping we didn't get spotted.

"What was that?" I heard erol ask we sneaking out of sight. Once we were in the clear, Jak turned around.

"How long did you know about Ashlein?"

"How do you know her?"

"Don't.. change the subject, Zoe."

"Im not-" I began but a rushing sound interrupted me, jak acting fast and pulling me into him as a rocket landed right where I stood a second ago. A mech flew up right in front of us, the baron inside.

"Thanks for the save." I looked at Jak, who only nodded and let me go, drawing his gun.

"So, we have rats in the walls do we? A rat and his boy it seems. Back for more dark eco treatments you two? Well allow me to put you both out of your misery!" he yelled, beginning his attack. He shot missiles at us, we both dodging his attacks fairly easily. I shot at him, bullets bouncing harmlessly against his armored Mech.

"This isnt working, Zoe! Got any more ideas?"

"Maybe. Give me a minute to think!" I yelled back, doing a backflip to dodge another missile. Then I spotted the bag on Jak's waist.

"Jak! The bag. Toss it to me!" I said, running past the now open barrier to where the baron flew to. He did, I catching it.

"What're you-"

"just shoot below the Baron's seat when I say so!" I commanded, the baron flying right above me. I grabbed the last bomb from the bag, sliding on the wet roof and placing it on a weak point on the mech.

"oh no you don't you brat!" he said, the wires grabbing my waist as I tried to slide away.

"Now, jak!" I yelled, but he shook his head.

"Zoe, I can't!"

"Damnit." I said, pulling out my pistol and shooting it, an Explosion ringing out. It caused a short circuit as I flew to the side, hitting my head on stone.

"The dark powers I gave you won't protect you forever! Since I made you, I can destroy you! We'll meet again soon!" he said, flying away. Jak immediately ran to me, I seeing his face full of worry.

"Zoe!"

"Hey." I said, he looking over me.

"That was stupid. Why did you do that?"

"it worked, didn't it?" I asked, my vision getting blurry.

"No. You are not going anywhere. Stay awake, Z."

"I'm not dying you idoit. I.. I haven't kicked the Baron's ass enough." I said, "He needs to pay for what he did.. to us."

"he will. But first.." but I didn't hear the rest, Unconsciousness taking over me.

Jak's POV

I layed Zoe down on a bed in the underground's hideout, ignoring Torn for the moment. Tess ran up to us, grabbing a Med kit.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Long story. Is she gonna be okay?"

"I can't tell. Kor has some medical training so maybe he can help." The old man shuffled in, the young mute boy peaking from the curtain.

"Let me see here… looks like an explosion. A burn or two, some cuts…did she hit her head?"

"I.. I think so."

"We can treat her here easily. But we need space."

"Im not leaving her."

"Jak. You can trust me." Tess reassured, I reluctantly going back to the main room.

"The city is on high alert! What the hell did you three do?"

"Us? Nothing. We've been, uh, sightseeing. Right Jak?"

"Oh? Then why is Zoe injured and the Krimzon Guard looking for a dangerous young man with blond hair, blue tunic and a equally dangerous woman with brown hair and blue jacket and a rabid orange rat on his shoulder?" Torn asked, the kid pointing at Daxter.

"Could be anyone. Orange is the new black this season." Daxter said.

"Look, I dragged Zoe into something dangerous. We climbed up to the Baron's palace and we tripped a few alarms." I explained.

"Oh, yeah that too." Daxter agreed.

"What?! I didn't authorize a strike on-"

"Hey, we kicked the Baron's ass. If it wasn't for Zoe we would've-"

"Zoe could've died! Don't you two idoits realize that?"

"What's your concern about Zoe?"

"Zoe is a valuable member of the underground."

"There's more to it than that." I said, getting suspicious.

"That's not important!"

"And we overheard a secret meeting with the leader of the metalheads!" Daxter exclaims.

"You saw the metalhead leader?" Kor asked, walking inside to where we were.

"No. He was on some communicator. But we heard him talking with Baron Praxis."

"The baron is bribing the metalheads with eco!" Daxter added.

"hmph. It will never be enough." Kor said.

"But the baron is gonna double cross him."

"is that so? Well our good baron wonderful charm must've angered someone because there's word from someone in the wasteland that metalhead armies are on the move agai.."

"Why didn't you tell me Ashlein is Praxis's daughter? What's your connection with her?" I asked Torn, slamming my fist into the table.

"that's none of your business! Since you both stirred up the wumpbee's nest, you and whiskers here get to move our people to the new safehouses. Shuttle each of our agents to a location they specify. Move all of them without any casualties. Don't screw this up, Jak." Torn said, I nodding. I then looked over at Kor.

"Is Zoe going to be okay?"

"hmm? Yes the dark eco that runs in her veins seems to be healing her. She should be awake in an hour or two. You best hurry if you want to be here for that." He waved, I grunting and heading out.

Zoe's POV

The cell was dark, a sliver of light coming from the bottom of the steel door, granting some kind of hope in my bleak state of mind. I was used to the dark, being taught that it was bad, evil by Samos even though faint memories of my father said the opposite. I remembered when he began to change. Him and my aunt Maia. That's when Samos took me away and told me never to pursue that path. But if onky he could see me now. The one thing he told me not to use keeping me alive. The door slid open, the man I most feared standing in the doorway. He walked in and roughly pulled me up, and wrapped his arm around my waist.

"My dark vixen.. its time for your treatment." His voice dripped with excitement, he loved watching me writhe in pain as he shocked me over and over. Or maybe I would get lucky and he'd inject me with eco. He dragged me to the table, not bothering to clean the blood from before. He strapped my arms in, letting my feet free. I tried to kick him but I had no energy left. He only laughed, sticking a needle in my arm.

"Lets see how much you can take." He said, grabbing my chin so I could see into his evil eyes. Then he pressed a button, and the pain began.