**REVISED CHAPTER**
Jak and Daxter (c) Naughty Dog
Cry Of The Wolf
Chapter 11 – Leaving The Fortress
Jak awoke the following day, feeling like he had been drugged the night before. His eyesight was blurred and spinning, his head throbbing. As the ceiling above tilted to and fro, his stomach did a slow lurch, threatening to empty. Holding back the sickening spasm, he closed his eyes and tried to grasp a recollection of the night's activities. What had happened the night before? He couldn't remember.
Letting a moment pass, he attempted to sit up, only to find ropes loosely binding his body. He couldn't understand why he was tied up, and chancing a gaze around his surroundings, he noted he was also locked in a small cell. The realization sent an impulsive shiver down his spine, and memories of long ago began to panic him. With a sluggish groan, he struggled to break free from the ropes. He had no luck, and gave up in silence. His body was just not responsive or coordinated enough to remove the bindings at the current moment, and deciding to wait a little longer, he laid back on the hard, chilled ground. Surrounded by stilled silence, his mind began to wander again.
All he needed was just one clue to indicate to him what had happened. Just one.
"Jak, you're awake," came a soft growl from the cell door.
Jak glanced up briefly, looking through the small window to meet eyes with a groggy-looking Torn. The Commander had bags under his eyes, and as he fumbled for the door's latch, Jak had the impression that the older elf had had a rough night.
"Yeah, I'm awake," Jak grunted, feebly struggling to break free again. He had a sneaking suspicion that Torn was behind his predicament.
"Jak, stop struggling. I'll get you out in a sec," Torn said after finally negotiating the cell door open. He walked inside and knelt down beside Jak, hissing out in pain. Jak heard him and raised an eyebrow in surprise, but Torn failed to notice Jak's reaction as he grabbed the hilt of his dagger and swiftly slid it from the sheath. Lowering the blade closer to Jak's tense body, he firmly grasped the boy's legs.
"Don't move or you'll get a knife in your leg," Torn muttered, placing the knife against the ropes on Jak's leg. He began to slice away at the ropes until Jak's legs were free from their binds. "And just what exactly were you thinking last night?" Torn asked unexpectedly, switching his position to free Jak's arms.
Jak gritted his teeth, willing some kind of memory to make an appearance. "I don't know. I… I can't even remember what happened last night," Jak replied, staying motionless as Torn removed the ropes from around his arms and chest. Torn grunted in response, his face concentrating hard on the task.
"Yeah, well maybe this will refresh your memory." Torn twisted his leg around and showed Jak the bandaged limb. Jak stared dumbfounded at it. "Well?" Torn asked, unimpressed, as he returned the dagger to its sheath. Jak sat up, rubbing at the lingering sensation of rope burn on his legs.
"I don't know. Maybe if you'd enlightened me," Jak said, avoiding Torn's irritated glare.
"Well for starters, you changed into a vulwolf, almost killed Daxter and I, destroyed city property, attacked a group of guards," Torn growled, standing up straight with an inaudible wince. Jak's eyes widened at Torn's recollection, and he felt his heart sink. He'd transformed into a beast and almost killed Daxter? Worry began to overwhelm his senses as he wondered just how much damaged he'd really caused. Daxter's apparent absence was troubling him immensely too.
Torn picked up on Jak's declining stability and stood over him for a second, before extending a hand to him. Jak was brought out of his musings by Torn's gesture and took his offered help. Once on his feet, Jak felt his body sway dangerously, so he staggered over to the bed and sat down. He watched as Torn picked up the pieces of discarded rope and tossed them outside of the cell.
"How did that happen?" Jak asked, motioning to Torn's bandaged leg. Torn spun around and stared at Jak, his face partially contorted with frustration.
"I hate to say this, Jak, but you did it. Now, I want to know what happened, and don't leave anything out!" Torn said, striding over to the bed and sitting beside Jak. Jak could feel the angered heat radiating from the other man and he leaned away, shocked by Torn's outburst.
"Torn, I've told you! I don't remember. The last thing I recall is Daxter droning on about parties, and then my mind goes blank!" Jak answered, Torn's irritation fueling his own.
Torn sighed heavily and glanced sideways at Jak, before standing up and limping to the cell door. He lingered outside for Jak to follow, and when he realized the younger man hadn't moved, turned back to face the cell.
"Jak, get your sorry ass out here. We're leaving." He was met with a grunt as Jak grudgingly wandered out to join him, slightly swaying. "It's best if you rest at the Naughty Ottsel. I've noticed your business has been rather slow lately. Is Daxter scaring away all the patrons?" he said, biting back a snigger. Jak brushed aside Torn's comment and remained silent as they departed the Fortress. He was too caught up with his thoughts to pay much heed to the outside world. Torn hadn't given him any straight answers regarding the prior night's events, but he hoped he could rely on Daxter. His buddy would fill him in.
Once the two had stepped outside, Torn limped over to his zoomer and motioned for Jak to follow. "Do you want to walk to the Naughty Ottsel, or do you want to ride with me?" Torn asked, swinging a leg over the leather seat and sitting down. A small grin appeared on Jak's face and he seated himself behind Torn. He'd always had a love for the armed military zoomers, and would leap at the chance of riding one, even if it had meant hijacking one from a Krimzon Guard.
"Now, I'll drop you off at the bar. Daxter should tell you the stuff you want to know, and I bet he's dying to see you. I'm heading back to the HQ in the Slums. I have some application forms that need processing," Torn muttered, switching the zoomer on. Jak gripped Torn's waist as they gained speed and height. The wind tousled Jak's hair and the motion began to have a dizzying effect on him. Debating whether or not he should ask Torn to ease up, he was interrupted by his communicator beeping loudly in his pouch.
"Torn, slow down!" he shouted in Torn's ear, removing a hand from Torn's waist to retrieve his communicator. Torn gave Jak a sideways glance as he tapped the brake, slowing the zoomer. Gliding them to the pavement, Torn eased the vehicle to a halt. As they stopped, Jak flipped his communicator on and answered it breathlessly. A second later he was greeted by Ashelin's voice.
"Jak, I want to see you. It's urgent. Get here as soon as you can," was all Jak heard before she disconnected the call. He put the communicator back into his pouch and turned to see Torn looking at him expectantly.
"Well?" Torn asked, an eyebrow raised.
"It was Ashelin. She wants me at the HQ. She said it was urgent," Jak replied, wondering what had happened now.
Torn shook his head slowly. "Sounds like Ashelin all right. Just hang on tight, Jak." Revving the engine, Torn urged the zoomer forward. Merging back into the flow of traffic, he sped up quickly, wind whipping through their hair and clothing as he maneuvered around other drivers.
Speeding through the Slums and into New Haven, they were quick to arrive at Jak's destination. Gliding to a smooth stop outside Freedom HQ, Torn turned to Jak, "Better not keep her waiting."
Removing himself from the zoomer, Jak felt his vision momentarily sway. The lump on the back of his head was still throbbing and he tenderly rubbed at it. Sensing Jak's discomfort, Torn pulled out the two spare aspirin and handed them over.
"Here, Jak. Take these. I won't be needing 'em anymore." Jak took the offered relief with gratitude and slipped the tablets into his pouch; he would take them after he'd spoken to Ashelin.
"Thanks, Torn."
Bidding Jak a hasty farewell, Torn gunned the engine and disappeared into the traffic. Recollecting himself, Jak made his way up the lift into the HQ.
"Hey, Jak! You're okay!"
Jak's vision became a blurred mess of orange and gold as something furry and warm scurried up his body and latched onto his head. It took a moment for Jak to realize what was going on, before he pulled Daxter off his face.
"It's all right, Dax. I'm fine," he said, placing the ecstatic Ottsel onto his shoulder with relief. His friend certainly looked alive and well, and for that, he couldn't thank the Precursors enough.
"I was real worried, Jak!"
Patting Daxter reassuringly on the head and apologizing for his absence, Jak turned towards the holographic table. Ashelin was there waiting for him, concern overwhelming her features.
