Chapter III: Metal-Head Attacks (Or Not)


Jak ran out of the Palace. Metal-Heads and innocent civilians crowded the streets as the people attempted to rush to safety, and the Metal-Heads caught up to them and tore them to pieces. Strangely enough, instead of the Metal-Heads turning and attacking Jak as they should, they backed away from him, their ugly maws lowered as if afraid to meet the elf's eyes. Wherever he walked, the monsters instantly cleared a path for him. However, he didn't have time to ponder this mystery right now.

Only one thought ran through his mind now. Keira… was she safe? He headed off towards the Slums at a run, Metal-Heads parting almost respectfully along the way.


Keira was afraid. She had heard from a passing Guard that Metal-Heads had gotten into the City, but she couldn't believe it… that was until she saw one with her own eyes.

She was locked inside the small house with Carla, a kind woman who took Keira off the street three years ago and put a roof over her head. She was also highly concerned with Jak and Keira's relationship, for she had been the first to, in earnest, encourage their relationship. But while she seemed simple on the surface, there was an entire world shut up inside the woman. She was, in secret, the true Queen of Haven City, though none knew except Keira.

Anyway, they were locked up inside Carla's house, both listening to the screams of the poor people outside who had been unable to find shelter in time. Suddenly, someone began to pound on the door.

"Keira! It's Jak! Let me in!"

Keira gasped for joy and ran over to the door. She opened the door, pulled the elf inside, and then quickly shut and locked the door behind him.

After sharing a quick embrace that spoke volumes of how much they were worried about each other, Keira pulled out of Jak's arms. "Jak, what's going on?" She asked.

"Metal-Heads got into the City." Jak explained quickly. "I was sent out of the City to take care of a small Metal-Head problem, came back, and found it like this. I came straight over to see if you're alright."

"I'm fine." Keira assured him.

Jak looked around the small house. "It's not safe here. I need to get you to the Palace. You'll be safe there. Your… friend can come too if you want." Jak turned to head towards the door.

"Wait! What about the Metal-Heads?" Keira asked.

"Don't worry about the Metal-Heads." Jak said simply.

"What? 'Don't worry'?" Keira repeated. "If I recall correctly, you didn't want me to go to the Metal-Head Nest because it was too dangerous. Why the sudden change?"

"Because you're with me." Jak said.

"How is that any different than the Metal-Head Nest?" Keira asked.

"Because, for reasons that are beyond me, I have walked all the way over here and I haven't been attacked by a Metal-Head once."

"Not even once?" Keira asked, amazed. She had never heard of a Metal-Head failing to attack someone that was in the immediate area. Jak must've passed a hundred Metal-Heads on the way to Carla's house… and to not even be attacked once.

"Not even once." Jak confirmed. "Hell, they even make way for me to pass through!" He paused. "We've got to go now. Come on. Your friend too. Just stay close to me." Keira pressed herself up against her boyfriend and he put his arm around her. "And Carla… stay close and don't lag behind." Jak ordered. Then he opened the door with the hand that wasn't around Keira, and moved out into the street.

Metal-Heads were busy tearing anyone on the street apart. However, they looked up as Jak approached and backed away from the elf. Jak moved in the direction of the Palace and a path through the carnage was instantly opened up. Several Metal-Heads were even dragging dead bodies out of Jak's way.

"Oh my God…" Keira whispered. "I can't believe it."

"You're telling me." Jak said, and they slowly began to move down the street.

All the way to the Palace, Jak's mind was in turmoil. Why were the Metal-Heads treating him with respect when he had killed their leader? Shouldn't they hate him? He should be getting mobbed right now, not treated with practical reverence! Jak had no idea what was going on, but the terrible sense of foreboding filled him. He knew that the situation was looking worse for him.

"Keira, I need you to do something for me… you too, Carla." Jak said suddenly.

"Anything." Keira swiftly promised.

"Sure." Carla said.

"I need you two to keep this quiet… how the Metal-Heads are treating me."

"Why?" Keira asked, confused.

"Because I'm already on the Council's hit list." Jak said. "All they'd need is one piece of evidence…"

"I don't understand…" Keira said. "Is not getting attacked by Metal-Heads illegal?"

"No. But you can bet the Council will make it illegal."


They made it to the Palace with no incident, which was surprising considering that people were being attacked and killed all around them. The door of the Palace opened for Jak and shut alarmingly fast after he and the rest of the group had passed through. This was a security measure to keep out the Metal-Heads.

Torn was waiting in the main entrance hall and confronted Jak immediately. "Where the hell have you been? The whole City's going to hell in a hand basket, and you're off visiting Keira?"

"For your information…" Jak growled. "I was bring her to the Palace so she'd be safe."

"Some parts of the Palace isn't safe right now." Torn said. "It seems that the old Krimzon Guard robots have malfunctioned. They have turned against us!"

"What the hell is going on around here?" Jak demanded. "First the Metal-Heads, now the old Death Bots! I thought they were going to be destroyed!"

"They were." Torn said. "Someone must have reactivated them. This has to be an inside job. Such a massive revolt all at once?"

"What does that mean?" Jak asked.

"It means that there is a traitor in our midst." Torn said simply. Everyone glared at each other, as though suspecting that person of being the traitor. Needless to say, this caused a lot of unrest.

"Why are you looking at me?" Keira demanded of Torn, who had been glaring at her.

"Because you're here." Torn answered, which it wasn't much of an answer.

"Torn! Are you accusing Keira of being the traitor?" Jak demanded angrily. "You're the one to talk. You're the only one in this room that has ever been labeled a traitor. Old habits die hard…"

"That was a long time ago…" Torn began angrily.

"In fact, you were a traitor twice!" Jak roared.

"Shut up!" Everything went quiet as Ashelin walked into the room. "If there is a traitor, we will use all available resources to find them." Jak could've sworn that Ashelin glanced at him.

"I'm not a traitor!" Jak roared, much to the surprise of most of the people in the room.

"No one said…" Ashelin began.

"I don't care what people say… I'm not a traitor!" Jak yelled. Needless to say, only Ashelin understood the reason for Jak's outburst.

Keira grabbed Jak's arm and pulled him aside. "What's the matter with you?" She demanded. "No one thinks you're a traitor. Torn and Ashelin trust you with their lives!"

Jak sighed. "You're right." He lied. "I guess I'm just getting a little paranoid. But the Council…"

"That dumb Council wouldn't dare touch you." Keira said.

"Nothing seems right." Jak said, mostly to himself. "There's definitely something going on here."


(Several Weeks Later, Palace Security Room)

Unfortunately for Jak, there were records of his Underport mission that could not be erased or altered to fit Ashelin's story that had been made to keep Jak safe.

It began with a guard, one of the Commanders going through some old security recordings as they were required to do every once in a while. It was dull, boring work… watching the going on's at the Palace. Mostly all they ever found were guards that were messing around on the job.

Suddenly, he came across an interesting recording that took place in the Throne room a few weeks prior. Governess Ashelin appeared to be having a conversation with a man that could only be the Dark Eco Freak… he could never mistake him, as he held a rather large grudge against the man from his days in the Krimzon Guard, as a Captain.

"Exactly." The Governess said to a statement the Freak had just made. "I've got a group of guards loyal to me guarding the hole to make sure no Metal-Heads get through, but this is only a temporary measure. I need you to take the Ruby Key down there and seal those doors. The Guards are expecting you, and they are loyal to me, so I won't expect any trouble from them."

"That's good to know." The Freak said. "Don't worry, Ashelin, those doors are as good as closed." Then the Freak turned and walked out.

Excited, the Commander looked at the time of the recording and found, to his delight, it was a half an hour before the Metal-Head attack. Count Vegar was going to be very happy about this. The Guard dived into the recordings and found later conversations between the Freak and the Governess thinking up a cover-up story for Jak. The further the Guard dived into the recordings, the tighter the perverbal noose was around Jak's neck.

Ever since the Freak had wiped out almost three-quarters of his command during his days as a Krimzon Guard Captain, ever since he killed men that were like brothers to him, he had been itching for revenge. Of course, as long as he was under the Governess' protection, no body could touch him. But now he had the means to expose him as the murderous Freak he was.


LES: Well, all you need is one man who has a score to settle to find some dirt on you and you're finished.