Corad: I'm back again! (whole heap of boos and hisses) O...kay...O.O Thanks to all my readers and reviewers! I'm so happy that my reviewers forgive me! You make me so happy :) I said I'd update earlier to make it up to everyone, so here's the next chappie I guess...also, we find out about the new ottsel...don't know whether Some Dude is still reading this though...oh well, the new ottsel is given a name! WWHHOOOOHHH! Please enjoy!

Don't own, and knowing my luch, I never will...but I may have my own manga...someday lol.


Chapter 42 – Enter Simron

"Hey Torn! TORN?" Jak called loudly, wandering down the stairs of the base once again after a few minutes of walking. Torn was nowhere in sight, and Jak figured he'd be upstairs or something. Casting a gaze down at the black Ottsel, he made his way towards the desk and sat down, laying the Ottsel on the desk.

"Never, carry me like that again!" the black Ottsel shouted, brushing down his fur. Jak growled under his breath. "Maybe if you'd said ya name when I asked," Jak began, but stopped when he heard the underground door opening. He flicked his eyes up to the stairs, and saw Jinx and Torn come down; Jinx shirtless with new bandages wrapped around his top half.

"Back already Jak? Just been cleaning Jinx's wounds. So, found anything out?" Torn asked, approaching the table while Jinx rummaged around his bag of clothes for a clean shirt. Jak grinned and pointed to the black Ottsel, an unimpressed expression filling its face.

"What do we have here?" Torn said in amusement, sitting down beside Jak. He patted the Ottsel on the head, which began to growl in displeasure. "I'm not a petting zoo!" he snapped, crossing his arms. Torn sniggered silently, and turned to Jak.

"So, what's happening with the security walls? Have they been working, or what?" Torn asked, just as Jinx came to the desk and sat down, pulling a blue singlet over his head.

"Well, Vin claims that they've been working the whole time. He's been watching them, and says there hasn't been one time they've failed," Jak answered, leaning back in his chair. Torn nodded, and rested his head in his hands.

"Also said that the murderer could be inside the walls already," Jak continued, and he heard Torn mutter something behind his hands. "Exactly Jak…that's why I suspected Skytha," the older elf sighed, lifting his head and glaring at Jak through cold eyes. Jak winced inside at the sight, but pushed it away. He pointed down at the black Ottsel instead, trying to find something else to think about other than the possibility of Skytha being a murderer.

"What are we gonna do with this guy? I have a feeling he's been following me," Jak said blankly, as Torn surveyed the Ottsel again. The Ottsel didn't like being stared at, and began tapping a foot on the desk in impatience.

"What is this? A freak show?" he cried out, feeling uncomfortable. Daxter made it even worse after he leapt up onto the table and put an arm around his shoulders, all buddy style. "Show mercy on me…" the black Ottsel said softly, his face dropping.

"Well, in that case…what's ya name?" Torn demanded, picking the Ottsel up by the scruff of his neck. Thefurry onesighed, seeing no other way out of it. "Simron," he replied, before Torn raised an eyebrow at him. Somewhere in the background, Jinx began cackling in laughter, although he winced when he found out laughing meant pain.

"Odd name…where ya from?" he pressed on, putting Simron back on the table. The black Ottsel cast a dark look at all three elves and Daxter, before explaining where he came from.

"I was originally an elf…working for the Baron's guards actually…only a novice, but was gaining ground steadily. I went to watch the first class race couple of years back and well…got mixed up in a certain accident and dark eco. Went to watch Erol race, and happened to have been splattered with dark eco. Changed me to this for some reason," he recalled, looking down his furry arms and legs.

"That's like me! I got thrown into a pool of dark eco, and came out as a rat!" Daxter shouted in enthusiasm, looking like he was ready to bounce off the table. "Dax, you were thrown into it! I knocked you in…by accident…"Jak muttered, after realizing the horror struck faces of Torn, Jinx and Simron.

"Anyhow, been an Ottsel since. Been living around the stadium after it was rebuilt, getting scraps from that nice girl at the garage. She likes to feed me…been hoping to see Erol again, but I learnt he'd been killed, so I went after you for revenge. Figured it was your fault he died, so…yeah…" Simron explained in a casual tone, and Jak snorted in laughter, slamming his hands down on the table while laughing till his stomach hurt.

It took a while to control himself again, but when he did, he turned to the black Ottsel, and forced all humor from his voice. "Erol's alive…he was the one that shot at you before, not me. Besides, he's on our side now anyway…" Jak muttered, hearing a certain lethal growl escape Torn's throat. Simron stood rigid, looking up at Jak in shock.

"True? He's alive? I want to meet him again. I wonder if he'll remember me?" Simron wondered aloud, and Torn and Jak exchanged concerned looks. "I guess I could take you along. Maybe he'll even take you in…" Jak thought, shrugging as Torn looked at Jak again.

Jinx began laughing again at the situation, before hissing in anger and pain. Figuring he should just lie down on something soft, he left the table and laid down on his bed, burying his face into the pillow. Jak looked at his back, imagining the shreds under the shirt and bandages. It sent a guilty feeling rushing through him again.

"Maybe that's a good idea Jak. Erol might need some of his old fans back. How about it, you'll take him along? Beats him scavenging for food in dark alleys at night…" Torn muttered, scratching at his head. Jak smiled lightly, and agreed to take Simron along with him. He could stay at the bar for a while until finding a new place.

"Now Jak, Samos called while you were out at Vin's…he wants to see you in the Haven Forest soon. Said about half an hour, but it's been about 15 minutes, so by the time you get over there. He might tell you some important things," Torn murmured, getting up from the desk. Jak stood up too, and grabbed his trophy, before heading to the door.

"Daxter!" Jak shouted, getting his friend's attention. Daxter walked up to him, and Jak handed the trophy to his friend. "Here Dax, take this and show Simron the Naughty Ottsel ok. I'll go and see Samos, see what he wants, and will be back later ok. No fighting with new boy here either," Jak muttered, kneeling down so he could speak with him quietly.

Daxter took hold of the trophy, and waited for Simron to follow him up the stairs. Jak however, had already left, his hover board out and cruising beneath his feet. He had felt the need to talk to Samos for a while now, and figured this may be his chance. The Sage had always been wise and managed to offer help Jak knew no one else could give.

Following the path through the slums and industrial section, he took a turn and came face to face with the palace again. It's high structure reaching for the sky, the red paint on the walls sending a vision of blood into his mind. Ashelin had ordered for the Palace to be rebuilt, and Jak knew any day now it would be completed. He knew Ashelin would move back in, most likely taking Torn with her. He didn't want his nightmare to come true.

Trying to ignore the large building, Jak cruised past it, and entered the market place. He steered his board through the citizens, dodging them with little effort before he pulled out into the Yakow paddock region. He gazed around the green scenery, enjoying the serenity of it all, until taking a turn and following the dirt road to the Haven Forest entrance.

Jak jumped off his board, and clicked it into its holder on his back, while he waited for the doors to open. "Leaving Haven City" the security system said, as Jak stepped into the holding area. Before he knew it, the other set of doors had opened, and he stepped out into the quiet surroundings.

Pulling out his morph gun and setting it to peacemaker, he strolled slowly over to the platform to take him to the forest. He placed his feet slowly onto the platform, and it began to move smoothly across the small gorge, until resting on the other side. Jak gripped his gun tightly, and made his way through the trees, listening hard for any metal heads or wolves for that matter. This had been the place he'd received his wolfish curse, and figured there could be more lurking here in the shadows.

Jak ventured further into the forest, using his hover board to get across the lake and creek, before he ran up on of the two wooden ramps at the very end. He knew he could have taken the short cut, but didn't know where Samos would be exactly. He spotted the green sage however sitting on large rock, over looking the forest before him.

Approaching Samos slowly, he sat down beside him, and was about to say something, until a mystic voice rang through his ears. "Good to see you again, chosen one."


Corad: Another chappie gone...wonder how many I got left to write?...errr...too many to think about. I hope everyone thought that chapter was ok. We finally found out Simron's name too. I started drawing a pic of him with a mini gun at his waist...but kinda gave up. I'm not too good at drawing ottsels lol. But yeah, if you want to review, I'd really appreciate it. If not, that's cool also. Next chapter will be up...hopefully next week or sooner. If it's not up by next weekend, then you'd better all get your killing instruments out again for when I do update. Yeah, see yas my fellow readers!