Corad: Sorry for this being quick. I'm on the move at the moment, and I'm doing many things at once. Ok, this in the next chappie. It's getting there now, and hopefully after this, it will be more exciting than what it already is. Thanks heaps for those nice reviews, and I hope you enjoy this next installment.
Don't own Jak and co...never will...
Chapter 20 – Locked Doors
Some time had passed since Jak got back, and he was getting increasingly bored. Figuring he'd better go wake up his ottsel friend, he stood up off the stool, and was about to leave when he heard Erol speak in his sleep. "No you don't," he said groggily, waving his arm about as if trying to hit someone. Jak snorted at the sight, and laughed out loud when the ex commander began imitating driving a zoomer. Jak figured that Erol was still having dreams about racing, and didn't bother to wake him up.
Instead, he made his way to the room upstairs, and approached Daxter's little basket like bed. The ottsel was sleeping soundly within it, but Jak knew all good things must come to an end. With that, he began prodding Daxter in the head and back, before he finally started stirring and cursing at the same time. "What do you want now! Can't you see I'm winning!" the ottsel spat, his eyes still closed, but he was coming round.
"Dax, get up. We have things to do today," Jak snapped, giving the ottsel an extra hard prod in the back. Daxter's eyes shot open immediately, and he began gasping for air. "Jak!" he yelled, flailing his arms about in alarm. Jak rolled his eyes, and took a step back from Daxter and his bed. "Why'd ya wake me so early? I was dreaming off stuff!" he spat, struggling to sit up.
"Because we have things to do. Torn wants us to help him and Jinx kill some new-formed metal head nest. And I want to see Keira before I go to work out this racing tournament," Jak replied, fixing his morph gun in place in his back. He heard Daxter groan before seeing Orange fur walk past him to the bathroom. A few moments later, Daxter returned and scurried up to Jak's shoulder pad.
"Fine, we have to go so early, let's go (yawn) now..." he muttered, scratching his backside. Jak rolled his eyes again, which seemed to be a habit when around Daxter. He then made his way quickly out of the room, and down the stairs to the bar. Erol was still asleep, and still trying to race in his sleep, which made both Jak and Daxter snort to hold back laughter.
"God Jak, he look's kinda uncomfortable," the ottsel said, peeing at Erol as Jak wandered past towards the door. Jak stopped and approached Erol for no particular reason. He glanced down to see his uncomfortable sleeping position again, and felt guilty once more. "Maybe I should give him some sheets or pillows or something," Jak suggested, turning away from him and continuing on out the door. He made sure it was locked, so Erol couldn't escape and go on a killing spree if he wanted too.
"It's locked Jak, now let's just get moving," the ottsel complained, after Jak locked the door with a padlock. "I know Dax, but knowing Erol, he'll find a way out. We can't risk it," Jak replied, after finally turning away from the door and approaching the same zoomer he used before. He lifted a leg and swung it over the seat, before resting his weight evenly on it. He turned on the ignition, and heard the engine come to life before speeding off to Keira's garage near the rebuilt stadium.
After about ten minutes of flying, Jak pulled up outside the stadium and switched off the zoomer's engine. The paved street was quiet when the engine was off, which stirred an unpleasant feeling in the young elf. Figuring the sooner he was inside Keira's garage, the better. Jak swung his leg back over the seat, and stood up, shuffling his hair back behind his ears. He couldn't see any citizens around, which also sent a shiver down his spine.
"Jak, hurry up and get up those stairs. This place gives me the creeps," Daxter muttered in Jak's ear desperately. Jak followed his friend's direction, and ran swiftly up the stairs, and only stopping till he reached Keira's closed door. "Keira! Open up! It's me, Jak!" Jak called through the door, banging his fists on the cold metal. He could hear someone moving about inside and banged again. "Keira!"
He stood back in alarm when the door suddenly slid up a little. "Jak, roll under ok," Keira whispered, opening the door just enough to let Jak slide under. Jak got down on the ground, and rolled quickly under the door, before Keira slammed it down again. "Sorry for that. We've been told to keep our doors locked in this section. Someone disappeared last night without a trace, and well…as you can see; people are too scared to venture out, even in broad daylight. So, what brings you here?" Keira asked happily, walking over to a small desk littered with old oily rags and paper.
"Well, we've come to sign up for that racing tournament. That is, if it's still running," Jak replied, approaching Keira at the desk. He glanced down at the stuff on the desk, and picked up a note written in cursive writing. "Who wrote this?" Jak asked suddenly, scanning his eyes across the torn and filthy paper. Keira looked at him, and a small blush crept across her face.
"I'm not sure. I just found it on the floor. I think someone must have come during the night, and slid it under the door. Please don't tell anyone Jak. I'm curious as to who would write something like that for me. It wasn't you…was it?" she asked hopefully, her eyes connecting with Jak's serious gaze. Jak's eyes flickered for a second, before turning away and shoving the note down on the table.
"No. It wasn't me, but I think I know who would write something like that," Jak snapped, his back now turned to Keira. "Enough of that. I promise I won't say anything about this little "love" note, ok. I wanna know about this racing tournament though. So, when's it starting and where do I sign up?" Jak questioned enthusiastically. Keira smiled lightly, and rummaged around in the rags and paper on her desk. She lifted up a small diary looking book, and opened it up. She then picked up a pen tightly in her hand, and scribbled something down on a page.
"Ok, I – will - add - you – to – my – list," she said while writing down some more notes. Jak waited patiently until the diary was thrust in his face, followed by the pen. "Just sign at the bottom. Oh, get Daxter to sign too," Keira instructed, leaning against the desk and crossing her arms. Jak signed the page, and handed it to his ottsel friend, who had been significantly quiet for the past period of time. Once Daxter had "Signed" it, Jak handed the diary back, and Keira tossed it on the desk.
"That's all there is for now. I'll contact you when I have the rules and races organized. You know you can come practice any time on the track. I'm always open too, if you need to borrow a racing zoomer," Keira said, walking over to a notice board at the back of the garage. She roamed her eyes across the board, until reaching up and taking a piece of paper from it.
"Here are the dates of the races too. I've gotta sort out all the competitors first, before I can safely say which race you'll be in. You may just get into the first race," she said softly, handing over the piece of paper to Jak, who took it gratefully. He examined the page, before it was torn from his hands. "Thanks Keira. Me and Jak here will kick some sorry ass," Daxter spat, looking down the page now. Jak rolled his eyes, a teasing smile across his worn out face.
"What ever you say, Dax. Thanks Keira. Try get me into the first race, 'Kay. Dax and I have to head off to meet Torn and Jinx now. We're going metal head hunting," Jak said, imitating holding a gun and aiming it around. Keira laughed quietly, as she wandered over to the door. Jak followed whilst stuffing the race dates into his pocket. He stopped short at the door, and waited for Keira to open it for him.
"Jak, please be careful, ok. I'm worried about all these disappearances, and I don't want you to mysteriously vanish either," Keira murmured, before unlocking the hatch at the bottom of the door, and sliding it up a little. Jak smiled at her in reassurance, before getting on the ground again and sliding underneath the door. "See ya Keira!" he shouted, once outside.
He heard Keira wish him good luck, before the door closed quietly. Jak stood up off the floor, and gazed around at the eerie site. The street was deserted. Not even any Freedom League fighters were around. "Jak, let's just get outta this place. Where are we meeting Torn and Jinx?" the ottsel asked, clinging tightly onto Jak's shoulder pad as they walked down the stairs. Jak didn't answer his friend though. He was more concerned about the massive stain of blood on the far wall.
Corad: Ok, if you want to review, then it'll make me happy. If you don't want to review..it'll make me happy anyway...but yeah...I hope you liked this one, and the next one should be up in a couple of days. Thanks for reading guys! See ya later!
PS Sorry if there are any grammer mistakes. I didn't have the time just now to reread it ok.
