Corad: O...kay...I kinda...died for like, three weeks. So, I'm terribly sorry for the pathetically long wait for this next chapter. Ya see, it was the end of term, and I had tonnes of exams to study for, and assignments to finish off...so, story had to kinda...you know...wait for a bit. But I'm finally back, so I will continue on with the story. Again sorry for the long wait, and enjoy...or try to enjoy...this next chapter!

Don't own Jak and Daxter...


Chapter 30 – Murder at the Stadium

The sun's rays cast a small glowing crack between the curtains the next morning. It was another day for Jak. Another tired and back breaking day. He opened his eyes slowing, and stifled a wide yawn. Daxter lay sleeping soundlessly at the foot of his bed. Last night he mustn't have bothered to get into his own bed, Jak thought. He cast his gaze around the room sleepily, before pulling his legs out from under the sheets and placing them on the floorboards.

The room was dimly lit, and Jak figured the sun was just rising over this part of the city. Grabbing his communicator and stuffing it into his belt compartment, he made his way swiftly out of the room and headed downstairs. He skimmed the room with his eyes in search of Erol, and saw him still sleeping in his booth. He walked over quietly to him, and gazed down at his sleeping form, his bandaged wrist being crushed unconsciously by his waist.

Feeling slightly guilty, Jak approached him, and carefully tugged his wrist from underneath him and laid it gently on the seat. He looked at the cramped sleeping style he had, and turned away, deciding to fetch him a quilt or something. He ran back upstairs, and walked over to the store cupboard on the other side of his bedroom. He opened up the door, and spotted a reasonable sized quilt for Erol. Grabbing it, he made his way quickly back down to the bar, and placed the bedding over the sleeping form.

"You know, I didn't think you cared about his welfare," Daxter said sleepily, after spotting Jak run into the room and leave with the quilt. Jak smiled softly, and walked over to his friend who was standing beside the counter. "I just saw him sleeping there Dax. Besides, Ashelin thinks I should make it up to him, so I did. Gave him decent bedding," Jak said quietly, tossing the mug of milk and coffee he had left on the table the day before into the sink.

"Want something to drink Dax?" he asked cheerfully, opening up the bar fridge. Daxter beamed, and nodded his head violently. Jak snorted in laughter, and named the things he could drink this morning. "Get me a hot chocolate Jak!" Daxter demanded, a big grin on his face. Jak pulled out the milk and chocolate powder, and made two hot chocolates. After drinking the lot, the duo discussed about their daily plans.

"I've gotta see Keira this morning on that racing tournament. You coming with?" Jak asked, after cleaning up the two dirty mugs. "Yeah, I'll come Jak. Why wouldn't I?" the Ottsel asked, gazing up at Jak. Jak shrugged his shoulders, and turned to go upstairs. "It's just you and Tess haven't spent much time together lately. Thought you'd spend the day with her," Jak said, before Daxter interjected.

"I spent part of yesterday with her Jak! Besides, I need some time away from her…talk about ruffling my doo," Daxter said, scratching his fur thoughtlessly on his head. Jak sneered and rolled his eyes at his friend. "Whatever Dax…let's just get going soon then. I'd like to have some time to myself today…been such a chaotic week so far," Jak said, taking the stairs up to his room. He grabbed his comb and made his hair presentable, then grabbed his morph gun. He put it into its sling across his back, and left to go downstairs again.

"Should we leave Erol unattended again Jak?" Daxter asked suddenly, once Jak had buckled up his shoes and was ready to leave. "He'll be fine Dax. Besides, knowing him he'll find something to do," Jak replied, motioning for Daxter to get up on his shoulder. Once the Ottsel was on safely, Jak wandered over to the door, and waited for it to open. He stepped out into the morning sun, and locked the door behind him. "Nice day," Jak muttered, striding over to a parked zoomer and getting onto it. He switched the ignition on, and changed the height of the zoomer.

"So, we're seeing Keira first…how about dropping into the gun coarse on the way back Jak? Get that gun Tess made tried out?" Daxter suggested, as Jak flew the zoomer quickly across the port. Jak grinned to himself about acquiring a new gun, and kept his mind on the new weapon while he made his way to the stadium. Once the duo had made it past the canals, Jak slowed down, and followed the light flow of traffic into the stadium area. His eyes gazed across the almost deserted ground below, and met a horrid sight to the far side of the stadium stairs.

"Oh my god…. Daxter, what is that?" Jak whispered harshly, lowering his zoomer to the ground and leaping off. He ran towards the group of guards huddled around something, and stopped short at the side of scene. "Jak! What are you doing here!" Torn hissed, striding over to Jak and shoving him hard out of sight.

Jak stumbled back, but regained his ground. "Torn, what's happened?" he asked, trying to look past Torn's pale face. He could only see the backs of the freedom league members though. "Jak…there's been another attack…this one however…we've found the murderer, and the victim," he replied, taking a side step to allow Jak to pass him. Jak wandered up carefully to the group of freedom members, and inched his way between to of them.

"I…I didn't do it…" Jak looked towards the fallen victim, and saw blood trickling out along the pavement. Large cuts and bruises covered the body, and the eyes were staring blankly to the sky. Jak also noticed a huge gash in the neck. He recoiled, and spun around, bumping into Torn. "That's is disgusting," he said, as Torn rested a hand on his shoulder. "Who did it?" he asked, and Torn pointed to a young girl standing a few meters from the dead body.

Her green eyes were staring at the ground, and her long, brown hair fell loosely around her shoulders, covering up part of her face. "She was found beside the body. Her hands and clothes are even soaked with blood," Torn said, as Jak spotted the red stuff all over her blue jeans and sleeveless coat. He felt an anger burning within him, but when he heard her voice, seemed to seep away.

"Please, I didn't do it! I just…. found him like this…please believe me!" she cried, but Jak found it hard to believe after spotting a small cut across her arm, also bleeding freely. "If I was a murderer, I would have fled by now! I am innocent!" she tried to persuade the guards and Torn, who stood blocking her freedom.

"You are found guilty! With it, you are sentenced to prison until you are heard out in court!" Torn snapped harshly, motioning to some of his guards to handcuff her. Jak however pushed through the freedom league, and stood in front of the girl. "No!" he shouted, and Torn looked up to see Jak's determined face. "Jak! Get out the way! This doesn't concern you!" Torn said impatiently, but Jak stood his ground.

"Torn, here me out. She is innocent. I trust her…she just seems…it's like I've seen her before," Jak said, gazing behind him slightly to see those green eyes burning into his own. "Jak, you can't trust your instincts! From what you've been through lately, how do you know your mind isn't just muddled up! She is a stranger Jak!"

Jak took a step towards the girl, and examined her face carefully. Her face was grave as she glared back, and didn't speak once. "Please Torn…let her go," Jak said, turning back to the group. Torn stepped forward and glared at the girl, before softening his glare on Jak. "Jak…we can't just let her go. She is a suspect of murder. Unless you are willing to take her into your own custody, I'm afraid she's coming with us," Torn said quietly, but Jak kicked his foot agitatedly on the ground.

"I'll take her into my own custody, if that means saving her from that horrible place! Just please Torn, don't put her in there," Jak begged, and Torn was silent for a few minutes, thinking it through. "Fine Jak…you are to keep her in your sight at all times…anything happens, you are to report to me, or another league member immediately. Got that?" Jak nodded in reply, and heard Torn call his guards off and sent some of them back to their patrol. Jak watched as he and another guard moved the body of the victim into the back of a caged hellcat. Blood dripped freely as they moved it, and he felt his stomach heave at the puddle left behind.

"Jak, I'll be seeing you around!" Torn called, getting on his cruiser, and following the caged hellcat into the canal district. Once Torn and the others were out of sight, he turned around to see the girl sitting on the far steps, head in hands. He walked cautiously over to her, and sat down beside her. "Are you ok?" he asked softly, and she looked up, her eyes burning with rage.

"I didn't need you help. I am a fighter, and so I am in no need of your worthless pity," she said, her voice full of venom. Jak's eyes widened in shock, but he pushed that aside. "I only did it, because I believe you are innocent," he muttered, not looking at her. She sighed heavily, and stood up, brushing back her hair from her eyes. "What makes you say that?" she sneered, watching as Jak stood up too.

"Because…I feel I have met your before…something about you seems familiar to me. What is your name?" he asked, surveying the girl closely. She kept her face grave when she answered. "My name is Skytha. That is all you're going to know," she hissed, crossing her arms. Jak nodded his head slowly, and looked away, aware that Skytha would like to be elsewhere right now. "Well, if that's the case, I'll take you to our bar. I am also looking after another at the moment. Maybe you two will become friends," Jak laughed, imagining the thought. Skytha didn't laugh however, so Jak just led her over to his parked zoomer, and sat down. Daxter appeared by his side a few minutes later, with news on the racing tournament. It made Jak think that he never saw his friend leave his side, which scared him a little.

"Who's this Jak?" the Ottsel asked, scurrying up onto the zoomer seat and onto Jak's shoulder. Jak motioned for the girl to sit down, and saw her disgusted face towards his friend. "Her name is Skytha. Torn accused her of murder, so she's under my parole till she's proven innocent," Jak replied, and Daxter turned around to look at her. As Jak drove the zoomer slowly to the bar, Daxter had discovered a new sport…getting Skytha to speak.


Corad: Was that ok for an update? Now I'm off for two weeks, I shall have more time to write, which will mean no huge waits for updates. If you're wondering, Skytha is an original character created by JakLover, so credit should go to her for the new character addition. We'll get to know a bit more about her later on, so I hope people are still...reading this...I feel so bad for not updating fast enough though...and this new system of story management has caught me off guard...I'm surprised if this actually makes it up tonight...knowing me I stuffed it up somewhere along the lines so it won't be updated...heh, then I'll just sit back and laugh at it all...before disappearing into the kitchen and never returning...nyeh, review if ya want. If you don't want to, I understand...probably will be my punishment...see yas later my fellow readers!