Neko Kurai: "And here's chapter 5! I'm sorry I took so long to post the chapter; finals are the pits! Oh! And on a different note: I want to thank those of you who have read my story; I'm so happy that you are enjoying it:

kaa90

DFCC

CatWoman4Ever

Lockeli

Mioji Cooper

you guys are the first five to review my fic! Arigato! Arigato!"

Disclaimer: "I don't own anything Jak or anything Naughty Dog…blahdy blady blah…

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Jak looked over the tall building before him. According to some directions he recieved from the front clerk from the place he was staying in, this was Kras City's Office Of Information. Hopefully, what he was looking for was in there. He entered through the glass doors and approached an open window, where a husky looking woman sat filing her long red nails.

"Excuse me. I was wondering if you could give me some information."

"That's what we're here for." the woman replied sarcastically, not looking up from her filing. "After all, we are an Office of Information." she set down her file (still not looking at him) and turned towardsthe computer next to her.

"Can you give me information on a Precursor Temple that's around here." Jak said, disregarding her answer. The woman finally turned to him and looked exasperatingly over her horn-rimmed glasses.

"A Precursor Temple? You serious?" she said.

"Could you look." Jak's patience was wearing thin now. The woman did not turn back to the computer; she grabbed her file again and began to work on her nails.

"Sorry. No Precursor Temple." she said dryly.

"What? You didn't even look!"

"Listen, buddy. I've worked her for 20 years; I should know if theres a temple here or not, and trust me, there isn't. This is Kras City for Mar's sake. You think we'd have a damn temple here. I don't think so..."

"Listen lady--"

"If you're gonna cause problems, I'll call security. So--" suddenly a hand shot through the air and was clenching her hand threateningly. The woman looked up to the man and flinches as his eyes began to turn black; purpled current was flowing through his body.

"What the--"

"I said to listen. I saw a Precursor Monk a few days ago. And you're right, this is Kras City, so why would a monk tolerate such a corrupt place like this unless there was a temple near by. So I want you to tell me," Jak leaned in closer. "is there a temple here is isn't there?"

"I--I--I'm n-not sure. We used to have ol-older files, but t-they were erased long ago, a-and only one person can hold on to deleted files--"

"Who is this person?" Jak growled. The woman looked about her in fright before leaning in closer (though not too close).

"I-I shouldn't even be tellin' ya this, b-but all information, new or old, belong to the main honcho of Kras City--"

"So I have to speak to who? The mayor? A Councilmen, what?"

Here the woman allowed a smirk to ease upon her face. "Mayor? Do you really think Kras City is run by a Mayor? I'm talking about the real head honcho…" she leaned in closer to him and whispered into his ear; Jak's eyes widened in surprise. He finally let go the woman's hand and stomped out of the building. The woman sat back into her seat and sighed with relief as she grabbed her file again. She saw that one of her nails had been chipped during their exchange. She frowned but shrugged as she thought.

'No ones' ever gone to see a Gang Lord...and come out alive...'

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Torn didn't bother to tell Ashelin or the others about what Keira told him, and asked Keira to do the same; she agreed without asking questions and spent most of her time aiding the seasick Ottsel. For the rest of theway, he had locked himself in one of the rooms, feigning motion sickness as well as fatigue and lay broading until they reached Haven City. The ship docked near Haven Port near dawn and as everyone stepped off the ship and went their seperate ways, Torn made a beeline for the barrack (to the disappointment and puzzlement of a very frustrated Baroness).

He had to get his mind off things, and what better way to do that, than giving the squadron a little visit. Just ashe suspected, the new recruits (as well as most of the old)had slacked off during his absence (the mess hall was in complete disarray; bottles of beer, food and even...clothes? What the hell went on while he was away?). Torn stepped inunannouced into the barracks, loaded his gun and shot into the air. At once, every last Freedom League soldier flew off their bunks, staring around the room wildly until they spotted their Commander; many of them wished that bullet had shot through them that day.

"Well! If this isn't the sorriest looking FL's I've ever seen! I'm gone for a short while and I come back to see my base in shambles, and my units living like hip hogs! I won't have it!" he glared icily at them all. "ATTEN HUT!" at once, all the soldiers assembled before their bunks in attention as Torn began to pace before them. "Starting now, I want every last one of you too clean my base until it's brighter than the sun. And I want the Mess Hall to be so clean you could eat food off of, because for the next 3 weeks, that's where you'll be eating your meals! Afterwards, we go on a three mile hike through Haven Forest to let you rest up until drills. Am I understood!"

"SIR, YES SIR!" they said in unison. Torn stopped his pacing. The FL's continued to stand in attention.

"Well? What are you waiting for! GET TO WORK!"

He had never seen his squad move so quickly. Torn smirked as he followed them out and went in search of the pyro-maniac he left while he was out...

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"So this is it?" Jak said to himself as he parked his car. His eyes wandered upwards to the top of the huge building. According to some information he picked up off the streets, this was where he would faind the Gang Lord...

The Gang Lady as it were. He leaped from his car and made towards the building; every muscle in his body twitched with anticipation as well as anger; it was she who had brought him and his friends here in the first place and it was she who would endanger their lives all for the sake of power.

"Well, well, well…" a voice said from out of nowhere. Jak spun towards the voice and came up empty save for a light trail of grey smoke rising from out of a dark corner. Jak eyes narrowed angrily; he didn't need to see who the owner of the voice was, he'drecognize that voice from anywhere…

Razor approached him from out of the shadows, a smug grin plastered across his arrogant face. "If it isn't Kras's newest champion: Jak…"

"What're you doing here Razor?"

"My, my. So testy. Is zat any vay to greet a friend, hmm?"

"You still didn't answer my question."

Razor chuckled and tossed his cigarette to the trash. He quickly pulled out a new one and lit it; he inhaled deeply and blew a large cloud into Jak's face.

"I should be asking you ze very same;" Razor replied, eyeing Jak haughtily. "it's not smart to be vandering around zis part of Kras City, especially if said person vas ze oneresponsible for the death of the notoriousMizo…"

"Is that a threat?" Jak sneered; without thinking, he began channeling the dark eco from within hisbody, sending it surgingthrough his veins, Razor oblivious to the violet current of dark eco shooting from the tip of Jak's fingers.

"Don't be ridiculous;" Razor scoffed, blowing more smoke into the air. "Mizo vas only my benefactor. So long as his check went through, I vas happy to work for him. Ozerwise, I didn't give a shit about zat bastard."

"That's pretty cold… especially since you've been his driver for years."

"Is it now? Do not tell me zat you honestly thought I vas loyal to him?" Razor threw back his head and laughed spitefully. He sighed and mock wiped a tear from his eye. "Ah, Jak… it's zis zat makes me vonder how a man with such idiotic views such as yours could have survived the tracks…"

"Guess I'm just lucky," Jak grinned evilly; Razor's haughty expression changed to one of surprise; Jak's canines were longer and deadlier looking; he swore the Jak's eyes were blue, not black… "Or maybe you're not as tough as you claim to be." he popped his knuckles. "Care to find out?"

"Alright boys, that will be quite enough…" a soft british voice said from behind them. Jak felt his anger ease away; his canines grew back into place, to Razor's relief. Rayn face was hovering near them via floating screen. It quickly zoomed between them and the screen turned towards Jak.

"Jak, what a pleasant surprise." she said. "I never thought I would see you again so soon..."

"We need to talk." Jak said.

"Yes, yes. Come up to my office. Razor will show you the way," the screen turned to Razor. "Won't you, Razor?"

"As you vish." Razor said curtly, tossing his cigarrette.

"Excellent." the screen began to float towards the building. "I'll see you shortly then." it called out before disappearing into building. Razor tsked loudly as he headed toward the door, motioning for Jak to follow. The building inside was the most luxurious building Jak had ever entered; even the Palace in Haven City was not this fancy. There was a huge fountain in the center of the building; a statue of Mar made of pure gold,Jak was sure. Around them hung artifacts that Jak recognized assome of the things Krew hadsent him out for.He did not have the chance to look through them thoroughly; Razor led him through many hall ways beforehe stopped before an elevator.The doors opened and Razorentered it; Jak made to follow, but Razor held out a hand.

"No, no, Jak. Zis is for authorized personnel only," he pointed to a door which read, 'Starcase'. "Her office is at ze very top; Flight 38, large door down the hall..." he smirked as the elevator doors closed and added. "See you upstairs, Jak."

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"Valere?" Ashlin exclaimed, dropping the papers in her hand. Torn nodded and leaned against the doorway. He couldn't dodge this any longer; despite the drills and all the yelling he did that day, his mind couldn't seem to be distracted from that one name. He couldn't take it; Ashelin had to know what was going on; it envolved her and it was killing him to keep it to himself.

Ashelin sat back, running her hand through her hair absently. Torn sighed and went over to her, pullinga chair upto her desk.

"I know. I was the same way when Keira told me…." he said.

"Wow…I thought I'd never hear that name again…" Ashelin whispered, closing her eyes. They sat in somber silence, as the world around them continued to move uninterrupted; to those two, everything seemed to stop by that one name.

"How long ago was it, Torn?" Ashelin asked, breaking the silence.

"9 years ago…this month…almost seems like a coincidence, doesn't it?" he chuckled, though half-heartedly; he knew she was going to ask him that question; somehow it wouldn't have been right if she didn't. He looked towards Ashelin and sobered up immediately; she looked as if to be fighting back tears. He placed a hand over hers.

"Ashe'…"

"It's fine. I just…" she looked away, staring out the window, and down at the civilians below. An image of a green-haired woman holding a crying red head in her arms appeared before Ashelins eyes then disappeared as she blinked. "I just forgot…"

"Me too…" Torn replied as an image of a 20-looking blonde-haired man appeared before his eyes and disappeared quickly. He stared down at the floor in shame.

"And yet…" she sighed wearily, pulling away from the table. She went and stood before the window completely, wrapping her arms about her. Torn got up and went to her, he slowly wrapped his arms around her. They stood that way, in their silent comfort as their minds reeled into long forgotten memories.

"You can never really forget…" Torn finished. "even if it's what you want to most…"

"Does that make us bad, Torn?" she asked, leaning against him. "Wanting to forget…" He rested his chin on her head and sighed.

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Razor scoffed as the look of bewilderment on Jak's face shown before the doors closed completely. He really did not expect to see Jak here at Rayn's mansion (yes, it's a mansion, Krew was pretty rich, you know...) and it angered him to know that he was here and that he had to see him so soon. Being beat on the tracks by a mere boy who stole his title as top racer made him rage as he never had before; he was known to keep his cool, even under dire situations, but this boy he just couldn't muster the effort. Outside he knew Jak did not see him and he could have taken him down with one easy shot to the back of the head...

But why didn't he?

Was it because, deep down, he was glad for the challege that he hadn't had since he raced against him. The one man he was never able to beat; it was sheer luck that he had gotten into an accident that left Razor to become the new top racer...

Razor reached for a cigarette but thought better of it; Raynhad summoned him here personaly and he did not want to smell of smoke when he entered the room...he had to look presentable (and smell presentable)to the new Gang Lady...the attractive Gang Lady, even if his nerves were dying for a nicotine buzz.

He looked up at the numbers above the elevator door; it read that it was reaching level 37. One level to go. Quickly he smoothed back his hair and brushed invisible dirt from his red jacket as the elevator came to a sudden stop. The doors opened with a ping and he stepped out...

To see to his shock and bewilderment that Jak was standing by Rayns door, apparently waiting for Razor.

"What took you so long? I've been waiting here for 10 minutes." Jak smirked.

"How--what--" Razor sputtered. Jak grinned and pointed towards the door that read 'Staircase'.

"Just took the stairway, as you said..." Jak replied and turned towards the door; Jak had transformed into his Light mode and flew up towards the top floor, and just to make it fun, he stopped time for a few minutes. "Rayn won't be happy that you made her wait this long..." and without another word, he entered the room. Razor hand clenched angrily, and he could feel that rage boiling again...

"Razor? Aren't you coming in?" Rayn called from the room. Razor growled silently as he fought to retain his composure. After all...

He breathed in deeply and sauntered into the room.

He was here to meet with the new Gang Lady...

The attractive new Gang Lady...

Once he entered and shut the door, Rayn stood up from her desk and clapped here hands.

"I thank you for coming, both of you. Even though I wasn't expecting you, Jak, it's still a pleasent surprise," she sat backdown and leaned forward. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure for this--"

"Lets cut the small talk, Rayn. There's something you have that I want…"

"Ah…" Rayn sat back on her seat with a look of impassiveness. Razor shot a glare atJak but remained silent."I see. Very well, what is it that you're looking for?"

"It's information on a Precursor Temple that was here some years back."

"Hmm…not very valuable information, but still information that's under my care…" she leaned forward, folding her hands proudly. "And what, pray tell, do you want this information for?"

"That's none of your concern."

"I'm afraid it is, Jak…" she rose from seat and went towards a tall filing cabinet; she rummaged around in there until she came out with a large file. "However, I suppose I could let this slip once… " she placed it on the table. "Here… it's yours. The only file containing information on that Temple of yours…"

"What's the catch?" Jak asked, eyeing her warily.

"No catch; I consider it atonement. Getting you and your friends poisoned and forced to race against Mizo for my own personal gain…quite unsporting of me… Ah well…"

Jak sauntered over to the table and grabbed the file.

"Thanks for being cooperative…" he said, looking to her. Rayn was taken aback by his stare; she looked away and blushed. As he turned to leave, he felt Rayn place her hand on his shoulder. Razor scowled slightly.

"Jak…" she began. "When I would thank you…after all those races…I truly did mean them. Do you believe me?"

Jak smiled and walked out of the room, the door closing with a quick snap. Razor walked over to Rayn.

"If you like, I could send my boys after him; get your file back…"

"No. There's no need. I'm a woman of my word…" she sighed as she went and sat back on her chair. Razor followed her, sitting himself on the edge of her desk. He pulled out another cigarette.

"You seem flustered;" he added, clicking his lighter shut as he blew a smoke ring. "How un-chic for a man to leave a woman in such a state…" he looked at her intently. Rayn blushed again and looked out the window. "You sure he didn't upset you in some vay?"

"It's not that, Razor. There was something in his eyes… something deep, almost powerful…" She leaned heavily on the arm of her chair, resting her chin in her hand; she watched as Jak hopped into his car and sped off. "Whatever he is looking for, I did not want to be the one that stood in his way…"

"Hmm…" was Razor's reply.

"Ah well, back to business…" she grabbed a file with theword 'classified'stamped across it. She pulled out a picture of a man with long white hair (despite the fact that he looked to be in his early 20's) that covered the right side of his face, with one piercing grey eye that had a scar over it. Razorimmediatley knew who this man was; he was thinking about him not two minutes ago."I called you herebecauseI need a 'job' done for me.I want you to send some of your boys to pay this man a visit… according to my fathers will: those who did not take part in the reading of the will, or the race, must be sought out and... well, you know what to do."

"Ah...very vell. I will see to it zat this 'job' of yours is complete." Razor rose from the desk and headed towards the door.

"Razor…"

"Hmm?" he stopped near the doorway.

"I never thanked you for keeping me in touch with what Mizo was up too, did I?" she asked.

"Madame, ze pleasure," he bowed. "Vas all mine..."

Rayn smiled and looked towards the rest of the papers in her desk.

"Flattery won't get you anywhere, Razor. Especially not with me..." she looked up from her papers. "But I leave you with a warning: Don't let your guard down...my father said that he was dangerous..."

Razor was already out the door when she said this, and he shuddered slightly as he thought:

'You don't know ze half of it...'

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Torn entered the abandoned Underground Headquarters, pulling a long cord so that a dim light flickered on weakly, lighting his surrounds. After the war, it was made into a storage unit for items found in the former KG barracks (items that once belonged to KG's that died during the war). Inside many of these boxes were photos, charms, lockets, letters and uniforms that were not claimed by families (if there were any alive). Torn was put in charge of putting these items somewhere, and he didn't have the heart to toss them out like garbage; they were once a part of someone's life, and to him, they still were.

Torn managed to maneuver his way past the mounds of boxes until he was near a corner, where a poster of Erol hung (his face disfigured by an Underground member with a red marker). He pulled the poster off, revealing a loose looking brick. He easily pulled the brick from the wall and revealed that inside the hole was a small box; he sat upon one of the nearby boxes, putting the box on his lap. His fingers traced the box lovingly, delicately and his sharp blue eyes softened as he opened it.

Inside were pictures; the top picture held a tall, gruff looking man with a black goatee and slicked back black hair; his blue eyes shown sharply through the picture. Besides him stood a small woman with a pleasant face and large brown eyes, her long brown hair pulled back loosely; in her arms she carried a small boy with short brown hair, his face lit happily, yet his own blue eyes shown just as sharply as the man's. Torn turned to the next picture, and this one was of the same man, yet he was smiling as he held the boy in his lap as the boy pulled at his goatee. The next, of the man and woman in each other's arms, then of the boy alone, and so on and so forth...

Many of them were torn and burnt, even to a point where you could not really tell if it was a picture or not (but when looked at closely, you could tell) as well as worn by constant handling of its owner. Torn flipped through many of them until he stumbled across a familiar photo, this one newer and better handled that the rest. In this one, the boy was now a sallow-looking, puberty struck teenager. He looked very much like the man in the earlier photos, but his eyes were large like the woman's yet still as blue and still as sharp; on his left was a grumpy-looking red haired teen about his age and to his right, was a blondish teen of the same age. They were all wearing blue uniforms with the KG symbol stitched over the right side of their shirts.

The blondish teen grinned up at him through the photo, throwing a big thumbs up as he leaned against the brown haired teen in the middle; against his best friend. Torn's broke into a light chuckle, recalling how foolish they looked as they took that photo, his eyes lingering on the face of the blondish teen… the face of his best friend. He turning to the next one and found it; the one he was searching for. This one held a picture of a woman in her late 20's. She was leaning against the wall of the barracks, grinning widelywith her arms around a young (and familiar) red-head girl with green eyes. The woman had her green hair pulled back loosely; she had deep blue eyes…

"Valere…" Torn whispered, breaking the silence of memories; it startled him, somewhat. He never thought he'd ever hear himself say that name again. Not since that day…

The next picture was of Valere, this time playfully ruffling the hair of the blondish teen, who looked flushed yet deeply pleased at the attention he was receiving.

"So many years… it's been so many years since I've looked through this box…" he said to himself, continuing to stare at the picture. "To think that I had you forgotten all this time, only to prove that you were never really forgotten at all…" he placed the photos back in the box, closing it with a quick snap. He sighed wearily, bowing his head as he leaned on his legs, as if all this reminiscing was tiresome. Something glimmered from his face before it disappeared into his pant leg.

"I'm…sorry…" he muttered sadly. "I'm so sorry…"

'Commander Torn. Your assistance is needed in sector V. Awaiting your response. Over.' his com buzzed to life, startling him. Torn took up the com.

"Torn here. I'm on my way."

'Roger. Over and out.'

Torn placed the box back into its hidden concave, placing the loose brick over to conceal it once again. Making sure that a few of the larger boxes hid it completely, Torn existed the room, turning off the light and was gone...

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"Hey, Boss!"

A tall white haired man, who looked to be no older than 20, with one grey eye showing as the other was hidden behind a lock of his white hair,turned towards the doorway where a tall, brown haired teen was standing.

"What?" he answered unconsciously.

"Closin' time, Boss!"

The white haired man sighed. "Chett, how many times do I have to tell you--"

"Don't call me 'Boss'…" the teen finished with a grin. "Yeah, yeah…" he leaned against the doorway, folding his arms across his chest. "What's with you, man? You've been day-dreamin' a lot lately. What's up?"

"Nothing…I was just…" the white haired manchuckled lightly and shook his head. "Forget it. It was nothing important." he said, waving the thought away. The teen, Chett, tilted his head in confusion but shrugged and walked out, the man following behind him. The man reached out for his coat and the light bounced off his arm; it was metallic. He winced slightly as one of the gears inside stopped short, sending a prick of pain into his shoulder.

"Hey, Glin."

The man stopped and looked back at Chett as he rotated his metal arm; Chett face betrayed his concern. "You sure you're all right?"

Glin smiled softly.

"Never better, Chett." he replied.

"It has nothing to do with your condition, does it?" Chett added.

"No."he replied as he headed out the door. "Just...thinking about the past…can be tiresome sometimes..." and without another word, he left, the door closing behind him.

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Neko Kurai: "Damn! I just love this story! I keep throwin' em don't I! One twist after another; will there ever be an end to this twisty madness! And an intro of a very important character! Don't worry about the twistyness, it'll end soon...or will it (shifty-eyed look)" X3