**REVISED CHAPTER**
Jak and Daxter (c) Naughty Dog
Cry Of The Wolf
Chapter 12 – Ashelin's Mission
As Ashelin stared at Jak from the holographic table, he was preparing himself for what the Governess would say to him regarding the night prior. He felt certain Torn would have relayed the situation to her, and waited with stilled breath, wondering what punishment Ashelin would grace him with. It never came.
"Jak, I'm glad you're here. The Clinic called. They're down to their last vat of green eco," Ashelin said, handing Jak his morph gun and Jet-board when he'd approached. He took the items with gratitude and stowed them on his back, only now just realizing he'd been missing them. "The Clinic needs the eco to help the most vulnerable patients. Without it…" she trailed off, glancing down at the table.
"So, what do you want me to do?" Jak asked slowly, perching on the edge of the table. Ashelin murmured something inaudible under her breath while she went to fetch a document from a filing cabinet.
"My father kept a supply of green eco at the old Weapon Factory. I need you to go there and have a look around. It's well hidden, and only he and the Krimzon Guard Commander that worked there knew its location. This is very important, Jak. The eco supply has been delayed for a month, and the way we're going, some of the more critical patients won't survive that long," she said. Although her tone was steady, Jak could see the anxiety raging beneath her façade.
Taking the note of paper from Ashelin's extended hand, Jak examined it quickly. It was another map, this time of the Weapon Factory before it had been detonated, and as Jak scanned over the image, he noticed that regions were labeled on it.
"So, do you have any idea where it could be?" he asked, but Ashelin shook her head.
"All I know is there should be a supply out there. Father kept it for emergency purposes. Manufacturing weapons and explosives is risky. There had been a lot of accidents, so green eco was made available for first aid. He also figured that the guards could use it to heal themselves if they were ever under attack by thieves," Ashelin replied, stepping closer to Jak and looking down at the map herself.
"Well, I'll have a look around. See what I can scrounge up," Jak said, standing up.
Ashelin smiled and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Jak, we're all grateful, you know. Everything you do for me, you do for the City. I don't know how we'd cope without you." Her hand tightened around his shoulder, and she furrowed her brow, locking eyes with Jak's. "Please be careful out there. No one's visited the place for months. I don't know if there's anything dangerous lurking in the ruins."
"Don't worry, Princess, WE will!" Daxter said, crossing his arms. He was frowning, disliking at being ignored.
Ashelin sent him an apologetic smile. "You too, Daxter."
Quick to get the facts, Jak ignored Daxter and addressed Ashelin. "So, what does the green eco look like?"
"You're looking for small metal canisters of green eco, roughly two feet long. Bring back what you can. But Jak, if you run into trouble and need backup, don't hesitate to call. I'll send whatever help you need."
"Look here, Jak's our prime fighter! Nothing can get the Dynamic Duo down, right?" Daxter boasted proudly. Jak grinned down at his friend, thankful for Daxter's confidence for once.
Giving Ashelin a quick farewell, he left the Governess to continue on with her work. As Jak and Daxter neared the lift, Jak turned to his friend.
"So, how'd you get here, Dax?"
"Jinx drove me."
Stepping onto the lift, Jak had to stifle his laughter. "You trusted Jinx to drive you here?" He was surprised that Daxter would consider getting into a vehicle alone with Jinx. The man was hard enough to trust when there was both of them around.
"He was at the bar when Ashelin called looking for you. He offered to drive me to the HQ." Daxter heard Jak snigger, and sent a half-hearted glare his way. "What other choice did I have, Jak?" Jak chose to not answer Daxter, but was grateful for his friend's eagerness to be reunited with him. No matter what life tossed his way, he was certain Daxter would be there, watching his back.
Once the lift came to a halt, Jak stepped outside and glanced around, automatically searching for a zoomer to use. The smell of petrol fumes wafted over, and he directed his attention to the large fountain, where what looked like a broken-down zoomer was parked. Beside the zoomer stood a lean man, and Jak noticed him fidgeting and looking around warily. He was about to dismiss the sight, until a woman suddenly stood up from behind the zoomer to converse with the man. Jak's heart skipped a beat.
"Keira?" Jak called, heading towards her. As he neared, Keira looked over, her face brightening into a warm smile as she stepped over to meet them.
"Jak! Daxter! Fancy meeting you two here!" Spanner in hand, she motioned to the vehicle she'd been working on. "I was called out here on an emergency repair job," she said, wiping sweat off her brow with an arm. Daxter discreetly surveyed the anxious man, who continued to fidget and glance around nervously.
"What's with him?" he murmured, pointing over his shoulder at the man in question. Keira took a quick look at the man and turned to her companions.
"He said his wife vanished three days ago, and no one's seen her since. He's edgy being out in public. It was bad luck that his zoomer gave up the ghost just now," Keira replied, pulling a rag from around her belt and wiping the oil from her hands.
"Poor guy," Jak said, eyeing the man with sympathy.
Keira nodded. "People have been going missing lately. I know of three clients who knew somebody who just vanished. It's weird. I mean, how could someone just vanish into thin air?" Keira asked, reattaching the oily cloth onto her belt. Jak took another glance at the man standing beside the zoomer, wondering that himself. It certainly seemed like something shifty was going on. People didn't just disappear without a trace. Making a mental note to ask Torn about it later, he turned back to Keira.
"I can't stay, Keira. Ashelin's sent me on a retrieval mission at the Weapon Factory."
Keira frowned, "Be careful, Jak. I heard there are nasty beasts living out there now." Daxter visibly gulped at the news, but Jak took the warning to heart. "When you've got spare time, drop by the Garage. I've got a new racing proposition for you." Keira gave Jak a delighted smile before wandering back to the zoomer. She waved, and then crouched behind the vehicle again, disappearing out of sight.
Jak smiled contently at the thought of racing. He hadn't seriously raced since the day Erol had tried to kill him on the first class track. The thought of that day still left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"So, Jak, maybe we should complete this task for Ashelin now," Daxter said, nudging Jak's cheek with a furry elbow. Jak grunted in response, looking one last time to Keira, busy at work. He felt somewhat crestfallen when she didn't look up again.
Now that the two were finally alone, Jak decided to question Daxter on the events of the night prior. Scanning the paved streets around him for a vehicle, Jak lowered his voice, "Dax, tell me what happened last night." As predicted, Daxter was hesitant, but when Jak locked pleading eyes with his friend, he caved in.
"Well, Jak… you kind of changed into a vulwolf and rampaged around the city," Daxter said, his voice trembling slightly at the memory. "You chased Torn and I to South Town, then Torn went to catch you."
"I woke up in a Fortress cell," Jak added.
"Yeah, and good thing too! You could've done some serious damage, Jak!" Daxter sounded scared at the revelation, and in truth, Jak felt scared too. He couldn't imagine what kind of life would have greeted him this morning, had he done anything unforgivable to the city or the citizens. He owed Torn big time.
"Torn said I wounded him," Jak continued, heading over to a vacant zoomer. Again Daxter was hesitant.
"I didn't see it happen, but Torn said you clawed him. It was pretty nasty."
Jak didn't respond to this. The rush of guilt kept him silent as he imagined Torn, bleeding, while trying to fend him off. A shudder racked his body.
Approaching the zoomer, Jak hoisted himself onto the seat, and the two were off, speeding towards South Town. Landing with practiced ease at the air train, Jak hauled his body from the vehicle, and as a wave of dizziness erupted, he squinted his eyes shut. Palms pressed against the bonnet of the zoomer, he waited for the feeling to pass.
"You okay, buddy?"
Jak looked up, eyesight focusing, before turning to Daxter. His friend's eyes were wide with worry, but Jak straightened up, giving the Ottsel a small grin. Approaching the air train, Jak waited for the rear door to admit them entry. Once seated inside with Daxter, he fished out the aspirin that Torn had given him earlier. More guilt threatened to wash over him at the sight of the two pills, but he forced it away. It had been Torn's choice to give him these.
Daxter watched silently as his friend swallowed the tablets, and Jak could see the confusion on his furry face. Motioning to his head, Jak quelled his worries. "Just a bump, Dax. It'll pass."
All the way to the Dig site, Daxter kept shooting Jak anxious looks. It was beginning to annoy him, and just as he decided to say something, the air train suddenly stopped. The rear door opened, exposing them to sunlight and hot air from the jets. Landing with a thud upon the cement pad, Jak waited for Daxter to join him. Together they moved up the grassy slope to the Weapon Factory entrance. Jak had his gun out and ready, eyeing his surroundings suspiciously as he remembered Keira's warning.
"We've got to be very quiet, Dax. Anything could be lurking in there," Jak said, waiting for the door to slide open. Mounting the lift inside, they took it down, and when Jak stepped off, he swore under his breath. The sight that met him gave him the impression that finding these green eco canisters would be more difficult than anything Torn had ever given them before.
