Corad: Whoot, I'm back again. And my story's page is acting up again at my dad's, so sorry for the late update. Looks like I'll have to update during the week now instead of the weekend...you'll all be happy to know that I banned Athrun Zala from the kitchen, so he's no longer raiding the fridge.
Athrun: Look fatty, I raid any kitchen I like, and eat whatever I please! You can't keep me out!
Corad: Uh, not you again...maybe if we ignore you, you'll go away (shoots Athrun a death glare) Thankyou to the reviewers too. I'm glad some ppl get off their backsides to review. Yeah, we can sit here all day and complain that it's too much effort to hit the review button, or we can continue on with the fic. Thanks to Salena for your review! Hope you can get Lenna's profile soon. Oh by the way guys, I put up a pic of Lenna on Fanart...or go into my homepage...either way...that is, if you wanna see what she looks like. Awwww, Erol Lover! Ya make me all warm and fuzzy inside! Thanks for the nice review. I'll always treasure this ottsel trophy! Hahah, lol...yeah Happy Yaoi Lover, you're on the right track with the Krimzon Gaurd guess. Got it exact, but don't tell anyone...
Sharok: If they want to find out, they'll just read the reviews...
Corad: Err...no...no they can't...never (shifty eye thing) NEVER! (starts panicking) But yeah, I had that problem too. Erol, the best racer on Jak2...he attempted to take that short cut coz I was winning, and miscalculated his turn...poor, poor, blown up Erol. Ran into the wall (shakes head) He's such a lovable Idiot. I agree with you too. He should have been in JakX. You can get all the other Jaks in JakX too, so driving with 15 year old Jak is so funny...he just doesn't seem right in the racing car though. Ah Tom, you're still reading it! Thanks for the reviews! Now, on with the fic. I really gotta cut back on rambling -.-'

Don't own, never will. Please enjoy!


Chapter 56 – Another hunting mission?

"I don't need you words of wisdom, Jak," Erol groaned, picking Simron off Jak's seat and dropping him on the ground. He sat down, his muscles aching. "For your information, I lost control and…well…" he began, but trailed off, his eyes scanning over the other racers.

"Yeah, you lost control," Jak mocked, just as Keira began flicking bits of glass and metal out of his red hair.

"Look, freak. I saw that Krimzon guard out there. He ran off before I could get up after the crash however, his helmet was still on, covering his face. I don't appreciate mad men on the track. Only I may be as hostile as that," Erol growled, shaking his head to release some more ash and such from his tangled hair. Jak snorted back, visions of Erol's victims flying helplessly into a variety of walls, ditches and holes.

"I have my reasons alright. Stop pressuring me. Maybe I should have let you die," Erol hissed, standing up from Jak's zoomer seat and making his way slowly over to the exit. Jak turned to Keira, and forced a smile.

"I have to go Keira. I'll pick up my trophy later, ok. Can you take my zoomer back to the garage?" he asked politely, and Keira nodded in return. Simron scurried past Jak and Keira, running towards the exit after Erol. "Thanks Keira. I might come round later," he said quietly, before running after Erol. Keira sighed heavily, and took hold of Jak's zoomer, leading it out the stadium and back into the garage.

"Wait up, moron!" Jak shouted out when he spotted Erol heading hastily down the stairs leading away from the stadium. He grabbed hold of the red head's shoulder, and whirled him around. "What's your problem!" he snapped, his eyes narrowed up at Erol's. Erol softly snickered, and made a move to keep walking, but Jak forced his hand out in front of him. "Well?"

"Out of my way, Jak," he hissed quietly, his penetrating glare burning into Jak. The blonde shook his head and lowered his arm repressively.

"By all means leave Erol. I just wanted to know what had crawled up your—" Jak begun, but the other elf had shoved him up against a wall, his fist clenching tightly around his scarf.

"I told you, I have my reasons," he snarled, releasing Jak and striding away. Jak rubbed at his neck, and followed Erol back to the Naughty Ottsel, although he kept his distance. Simron was scurrying behind Erol's ankles the way back, and Jak had a hunch that those two would make the perfect team.

"So Jak, can we finally take a break now? We've been running round none stop for the past few days," Daxter said cheerfully, nudging Jak's cheek with his elbow. Jak smiled briefly at him, wondering what it felt like to be free again. He'd seem to have forgotten.

"I don't know Dax. I'd like to take a few days off, but you know Torn. Most likely have another mission for us," the blonde replied, traipsing down the path towards the bar. He could see it in the distance, the ottsel sign up front, still with the head on the trident. He could also make out Erol, kicking something away from his foot and yelling some profanity out. Whether it was Simron or not, Jak was unsure, but when he arrived inside the bar, there wasn't any sign of the red head maniac.

"Where's Erol?" Jak asked Simron who was busy pouring a drink of some description. The black ottsel gave Jak a dirty look, and pointed to the ceiling.

"Up having a shower," he replied, his voice barely audible. Daxter leapt down on the counter and got himself a drink also, while Jak sat down on one of the stools. It felt good to sit down and relax again.

"Did you piss him off or something?" Jak asked out of curiosity, seeing Simron wasn't being his normal, sociable self. The ottsel raised his furry black face to him, and rolled his eyes.

"He stood on my tail, I screamed at him, he screamed back and ran up stairs. All I wanted was a simple 'sorry' from him," Simron snapped, one of his eyes twitching unpleasantly, following by a twitch of an ear. Jak held back laughter, and shrugged.

"Well, Erol does find it hard to apologize you know. Hmm, kinda like Torn actually," Jak said thoughtfully, while the front door of the bar creaked open. Jak heard if faintly and turned his head, his heart plummeting. "Err, hi Torn…"

"Jak," Torn acknowledged with a forced cheerful complexion. He stepped aside and let another into the bar. Another with black hair, simple tattoos on his face (yeah, forgot to mention it before. It's on his pic though if you've seen it) and what appeared to be samurai armour around his waist.

"Sharok?" Jak enquired, once the two had approached Jak and the door had shut at the front. Sharok gazed down at him, and smiled warmly.

"Good to see you again, lad. How's things been going?" Sharok asked, seating himself beside Jak, while Torn pulled out a map and outstretched it across the counter.

"I've been on my feet none stop. How about you?" the blonde asked in return, moving his arms off the counter to allow Torn more space to put things.

"Not too bad actually. I've patrolled quite a few sectors, had to fight a few factions who apparently are against Ashelin's current rule. Torn tells me it's similar to when Baron Praxis was in rule, right Torn?" Torn lifted his head and nodded, before continuing on with setting up documents and notes among the table and other objects.

"Well, Praxis took the thrown by force. It's what I've heard," Jak muttered, and Sharok nodded his head slightly, surveying the younger elf carefully. "So, come across any metal heads yet? Ashelin hasn't bothered me about any nests regrouping."

"Nah, the city's been clean from metal heads lately Jak. Maybe that wolf thing is keeping the numbers down or something," Torn answered, moving around the other side of the counter and sitting on a stool. Jak gazed down at the paper mess littering the table, and raised an eyebrow at the Freedom League leader.

"Torn? What's this about?" the blonde asked, his eyes roaming across maps, rough notes, a few photos and the evidence that Jak had given Torn, which also included a new fang, a claw and a spike from a wolf's tail.

"Well Jak. Jinx managed to remove these three articles from the wolf he fought. Vin kindly downloaded a few more photos of the wolf species. He also gathered a little bit of information on them. Last night some of our freedom league men recovered the remains of a large metal head just outside the city wall. They were about to bring it back to test on, but they were ambushed by a few of them creatures. Luckily they all escaped with minor injuries, but they left the metal head behind. Figured it had been the left overs of their dinner," Torn explained, handing the small clear bag full of wolf hair, claws and the fang.

"Anyhow, with the current situation worsening, I believe we must tackle the wolfish while we have the chance. I've arranged a hunting trip today to attempt that. Jak, I need you to accompany myself, Sharok and a few of my men today. I need your experience with these creatures, along with your skills in battle."

Jak stayed silent, his brow furrowed as he read the notes Torn had hastily written down. "27 victims missing?" he thought out loud, and Torn sighed heavily.

"Yep Jak, 27. That's why we must do something now. The wolves are living beside the city walls at the present time, hunting metal heads. If they keep coming within the walls, killing off elves…" Torn said solemnly, shifting his penetrating gaze back down to the counter. He moved aside a few loose pages of paper and pointed down at the map. "Here is where the attack shall take place. They are staying in this area here," the older elf murmured, circling a small section of map with his finger.

"So, will ya come?" Jak snorted back, before agreeing. So much for relaxation time, but if he could aid the others in disposing the wolves once and for all, he'd be in it for sure.

"Yeah, I'll come with you guys. It's not like anything worse can happen to me," Jak joked, raising from his seat just as Erol wandered down, his hair dripping with water and a towel secured around his bare waist.

"Torn?" he hissed, his eyes glaring at the leader as he moved across the bar towards his booth. He shuffled through some of his new belongings and pulled out some clean clothes, similar to his old attire. "Torn…" he snarled again, before disappearing up the stairs. The bar stayed silent, eying each other nervously while Erol's angered and impatient yells could be heard up in his room.

"Stupid heap of, Argh! Get on you (beep) with the (beep) (Beep) (BBEEEPPPPP)!" From the sounds of things, Erol was struggling to get his new attire on. The others held back laughter, and were soon met with an angry fist slamming down on the table in front of them.

"So, why are we all here?" Erol growled sarcastically, his eyes darting between Torn, Jak, Daxter, Simron and Sharok. No one made a move to reply quickly, so the red head glared down at the table, his eyes falling on a photo of a wolf. "Ahh, wolf hunting? You'll need my assistance, no doubt."

"We don't," Torn replied flatly, gathering up his work and placing it into a "neat" pile. Erol began to snicker softly, tapping his fingers lightly on the counter.

"Torn, always in denial. I'm surprised you know, I would have thought I'd be the first that you asked to attend. Hmm, forgotten have we?" Erol said slyly, a small grin stretching across his face. Torn stuttered for a few moments, before growling in defeat.

"No, I haven't forgotten Erol. I haven't forgotten how you mercilessly slaughtered innocent lives just to impress me, and Praxis. How could I ever forget that?" Torn snarled back in defense, his fist turning white due to lack of circulation. Erol cracked up laughing, not a cheerful laugh, but a cruel one.

"Ha-ha, impress you! Unlikely Torn. You may have been the commander at the time, but I was proving to the Baron that I would better suit your position. Face it Torn, I am stronger, not only physically but mentally too," Erol sneered, his eyes flickering up to Torn cunningly. Torn gritted his teeth, and leant toward Erol, his hand resting dangerously close to his neck.

"Shut it, Erol. I can crush you now if I desired, but we have a mission to complete. Tag along if you must, but if you screw this up, even once, I'm leaving you out there to rot," Torn said, his teeth gleaming in the dim light on the wall next to them. Erol shoved Torn away from him, and strolled over to his booth, picking out his gun and slinging it into his thigh holster.

"Now that's settled, should we be off?" Sharok asked, breaking the heavy silence which had gathered amongst them all. Torn pulled out his communicator and switched it on, speaking clearly into it.

"Torn here. We are leaving shortly. Arrange all men at the port. We're taking the air train," he informed, before shutting it off and returning it to his pocket. Jak leant down onto the counter, and smiled at Daxter.

"Dax, you know how you wanted to relax? This is your chance buddy. I need you and Simron to stay behind and watch the place alright. Keep an eye out for Sky too. I haven't seen her come home," he murmured, and Dax crossed his arms, his face falling.

"Ok Jak. Just this once. I'm sick of being left outta all the good stuff!" he cried. Jak laughed at him, patting him over the head before turning to leave. Both Torn and Sharok had left the bar, and Erol was just departing before Jak whirled around.

"You should hang out with Tess, Dax. I'm sure she'll be wanting to see you sometime. Might even have another weapon for us," he smiled, his ottsel friend going wide eyed at the thought.

"Good idea Jak," he replied, turning to Simron. The two ottsels began discussing something, so Jak figured that was his queue to leave. He stepped out into the open, and ran after Torn, Sharok and Erol, all heading towards the air train.


Corad: Sweet, sweet victory...
Sharok: Um, Corad, what victory would that be?
Corad: Nout your business! It's nout! Now, I have one thing to say...Some Dude...where are you! I'm missing you...and Simron's missing you too! Maybe someday you'll come back...I hope ya do, coz like, it's not really the same without you reviewing and reading this. Haven't even been reading Palace Stories...(room falls into awkward silence)
Sharok: Get on with it, Corad (nudges her in the side)
Corad: (grumbling) Fine...hope you guys liked that chapter. The next one is fun...or kinda anyway. They go hunting, or kinda anyway...geez I smell, or
Sharok: Kinda anyway! You're like a broken record! Basically, if you want to review, then feel free to hit that small, purple button at the bottom of the page, saying "review". It's good for you. It's good for our idiotic, stupid, pathetic authoress too. She loves reviews, just as much as calling me her damn daughter! I'm a man Corad! A man! Do you want me to spell it out for you! Ok, I got that out my system...hope you all return for the next chapter. If you've gotten this far though and suddenly decide to quit reading, it'd be somewhat a wasted effort.
Corad: Stop bugging my readers! They're one of my only joys left, so quit harassing them! See ya all next time!