Corad: Hey ppls! Hope ya all had a happy Easter! Thanks for the reviews too! They help me get inspiration to keep writing. Well, this is the next chapter. I hope you all like it.

Don't own them, but I own this plot...I hope anyway...


Chapter 22 – Waiting for Help

"Well, we'd better see if it still works. If it doesn't, we're screwed," Jinx growled, approaching the car and leaping into the driver seat. He put the keys in the ignition, and switched in on. All that came from the car though, was a lot of black smoke coming from the exhaust, followed by nothing. The engine had died out completely.

"Oh boy…this is bad Jak. Real bad…" he muttered, trying to get the engine started again. He failed once more, before getting out of the car, and slamming the door shut in anger. "Damn car. Out of all the cars!" he hissed, kicking the side forcefully. He turned to Jak, and leaned against the windshield side. "I'm sorry to have to say this, but unless we can get this trash heap working, we're stranded out here."

Jak's eyes widened in horror, as the thought just struck him…he didn't have his communicator…nor his sleeping pills. "You're kidding right? I can't stay out here! We have to find a way back to the city, or at least Spargus!" Jak moaned, watching as steam and smoke arose out of the engine. "We have to," he said quietly, as he stared blankly at the ground.

"Jak, we can either wait till Torn realizes we're gone and send out help, or we can wait till waste Landers find us. There's no other option," he sighed, pulling away from the car and wandering a few paces around the back of the car. "I don't even know what did this either. If one of us…any of us leaves to get help, whatever did this to metal, will surely do this to us. It's not safe to leave the car. We're stuck here," Jinx finished, crossing his arms as he surveyed the exhaust pipe. He was satisfied that it was intact still, and that the thing didn't sabotage that either.

"Let me go find help. Please. I can't stay out here. I have to get back to the city before nightfall, or…" Jak stated, but stopped before he said anything about his curse. Jinx frowned at him, and shook his head. "Fine, if it means that much to you, I'll head out. If I don't find anything within an hour, I'll head back to you. I'm not promising anything Jak. If I don't return, then I've been eaten by something, got that?" he teased, leaning into the car and rummaging around under the seat. He pulled out a small knife, followed by a pistol, and lodged them securely into their holders around his arm and leg.

"See ya later Jak. Guard the zoomer with your life, coz it may very well be our only escape source," Jinx said, before turning away and walking quickly through the hot sand, disappearing over the closest dune. Jak sighed in impatience. He was stranded out here, without any food, water…his pills Samos had given him to control himself. If Jinx didn't return before nightfall with help, then a serious problem would occur.

"So ah, Jak. Have any guesses what did this?" Daxter asked abruptly, pointing to the deep scratches scattered across the bonnet. Jak shook his head, and gazed down at his shoes. He closed his eyes in defeat, and crossed his arms. "Daxter, what did this, is beyond me…I just hope that wolf isn't out here too. If he's been following us, we're not going to be able to defend ourselves…hey, we can't even run for it either!" Jak spat, kicking at sand in rage, and sending a wave of it filtering out in front of him.

"Jak, you can kill it. You've got your morph gun…that dagger Torn gave you. It's not big deal if he rocks up. Just shoot him up the ass with your peacemaker, and he'll be running!" the ottsel said loudly, scurrying up the car side to sit on the bonnet. Jak didn't pay much attention to his friend for the next hour and a half. He was thinking the situation through, and what he'd have to do when it finally hit nightfall. He just hoped Daxter and Jinx could run fast enough if it came to that.

"You know Jak; when we get back to Haven City, let's throw a party. Yeah, a big party, with all the snacks in the world, loaded onto the buffet table!" Daxter said happily, trying to create some entertainment out of the boring matter. Jak mumbled in return, and slid down the car side, sitting in the shade generated by the zoomer. His head was pounding due to heat and dehydration, and he was wondering how much longer Jinx would be.

"And then we'd have a wrestling ring, and force Erol and Torn into it. We could make big bucks charging people to see that fight!" the ottsel continued, leaping off the bonnet of the car and landing lightly beside Jak on the ground. He looked up at his friend, to see Jak's eyes were blank.

"Hey, are you ok Jak? You haven't said anything for a while?" he asked, nudging Jak in the arm. Jak looked up, and smiled weakly. "I'm fine Dax. I'm just thinking. I don't know what I'm gonna do if Jinx doesn't get back soon. I mean, if I…if I change tonight, I don't want to hurt you. Promise me, do whatever it takes to stay safe. Please…" Jak said quietly, looking down at his friend. Daxter looked slightly scared, but his mood changed almost instantly afterwards.

"Look buddy, we're in this together. There's no way I'll let anything happen to AARRRGGGHHH!" Daxter cried as Jak leapt on him, shoving him quickly underneath the car. Daxter screamed in shock, but Jak slid under the car beside him, placing his hand tightly over the Ottsel's mouth. "Ssshhhhhh…" he whispered, putting a finger to his lips.

Daxter trembled slightly, but Jak removed his hand and peered out under the car. He could sense something. Something that wasn't right. "Jak, what's going on?" the Ottsel asked desperately, leaning close to his friend. Jak turned his head towards Daxter and replied quietly.

"Dax, something's here. I don't know what, but I can feel its presence. I want you to stay perfectly still, while I go check it out," Jak said, slipping off his gun from his back, and loading it to Vulcan mod. Daxter watched as his friend crawled out from under the car, and kneel up. Jak glanced around the dunes, his gun raised to eye level, preparing to fire at anything. He couldn't understand what he felt. Was there really something there, or was it just his mind acting up again?

"Jak, what are ya doing!" Jak's eyes widened, and he leapt up, spinning around to face a hot-faced Jinx. "Well?" he panted, wiping away some sweat that was trickling down his forehead. Jak grinned sheepishly, and lowered his gun to his side. "I leave ya for a couple of hours, and look what happens. Have ya lost your marbles or something?" Jinx spat, collapsing in the shade on the car.

"I…just thought we were being stalked. Nothing really," Jak replied, slipping his morph gun to his sling again. Jinx rolled his eyes, as his head rested on the side door of the zoomer. He was breathing heavily, and Jak figured he'd been walking none stop the whole time. "So, any luck finding help?" Jak asked, sitting beside Jinx. Jinx shook his head in return, and closed his eyes.

"There's nothing for miles. I don't wanna risk walking too far, in case nightfall comes. Got no idea what's living out here in the dark," he spat, lifting his head off the side of the car. Jak crossed his arms in annoyance. "Well, what do you suppose we do now?" Jak asked, as Daxter crawled out from under the car. Jinx sighed heavily. "Jak, hell if I know. I've done what I can. Only other option is to wait for help, or try and fix the engine of the car," he answered, wiping more sweat off his neck.

"Well, let's fix the car. How hard can it be?" Jak snapped, getting up slowly and wandering over to the bonnet. He lifted it up, and steam filled his face, burning his eyes. "Arrgghh!" he shouted in alarm, dropping the bonnet back down which caused a loud slam. Jinx snorted in amusement. "Never did know much about cars, did ya Jak?" he said, shaking his head mockingly. Jak growled loudly, before storming back over to Jinx and sitting on the ground again.

"If I don't get outta here before nightfall…by the looks of it isn't far off…then you will be lucky if you survive tonight," Jak hissed, resting his face in his hands. Jinx glared down at Daxter for an answer, but Daxter shook his head. "All I'm saying is just believe him," the Ottsel replied.

"Nightfall is only an hour away. If getting outta here is important for ya, then fine. Let's take a look at this engine," Jinx spat, leaping up and opening up the bonnet again. He let all the steam clear, before putting his head into the engine, and picking at bits here and there.

The three spent the next while, sitting around in the cooling heat and attempting to fix the engine. But, as Jak had feared it, they weren't going to stay out in the dark…all night. He watched in defeat as the sun crept slowly across the remainder of the sky, and eventually, sunk bit by bit over the horizon. He knew what was going to happen within the next few minutes. He just hoped Jinx and Daxter would still be alive after tonight.

"Jinx, I have something to tell you," Jak muttered suddenly, wandering over to Jinx who was still busy fixing the engine. Jinx looked up, and brushed away some hair out his eyes. He has sand and oil all over his face and hands, but Jak figured he didn't care, seeing he had been going at it for over an hour. "What is it Jak?" he asked roughly, standing up straight and surveying Jak closely.

"I want you to run with Daxter. Make sure he stays out of harms way. Just keep running, and don't look back," Jak murmured quickly, watching the last ray of sun die down. "Huh? Why? Jak, what's going on?" Jinx spat, slamming the bonnet of the car down, and wiping his oily hands on his pants. Jak looked at him; directly into his eyes.

"Just do it," was all he managed to say, before that same pain erupted inside of him, and the world started to spin. He could feel his bones twisting around, and long, sharp claws growing out of his fingers. He felt two horns break through his scalp, and fur spreading rapidly across his body. "Run!" he growled in a deep voice, and saw clearly the shock on his friend's and on Jinx's face, before the beast took over him once more.


Corad: So...how was that? I'd love any comments that you have to say ppl. That is, if you have the time or enthusiasm. Anyhow...does anyone else realise Daxter's obsession over parties? But yeah... I hope this was ok, and the next chappie should be up soon. Sorry I left it at a cliff hanger again...I guess cliffies just like me...see yaz till the next chappie ppls!