Three days. Three long days and nights of the monks working to keep him alive, if only they would let her help. She has saved people before, and yet that blasted Seem wont let her near.
"You cannot help, a Dark one, helping a Dark one. I have said it before, you should leave"
If Seem wasn't a monk she just might have shot her, Lexi was so sick and tired of the dark one blather that the monk spoke.
It was a relief to walk into the throne room and see him not only alive, but awake and functioning.
She had stayed a step or two behind Damas as they entered, so she was unnoticed, more so than he.
The throne room was always impressive after being out in the harsh desert, what with the water falls flowing from the ceiling, filling all the little pools but for the rock pathways connecting the two sides of the room. All the water that flowed down further still went back into the pumping station that she knew was kept below. The stream that flowed through the palace was more than just mere decoration, it had purpose.
It was in one of the pools closest to the Throne that Jak sat with his legs in the water, and Daxter was sitting half submerged, moving his arms back and forth looking like he was quite enjoying himself.
"I love water. Oh yes, it's so good; desert bad." was he talking to Jak or just out loud. Either way they both jumped at the sound of Damas's voice
"Well, you've come back from the dead have you? And my monks were ready to pray for you." walking out of the shadows he ended up in front of the throne, his precursor staff in hand, that with his crown of horns made the next announcement almost redundant. "I am Damas, king of Spargus." the hair having gone white early making him appear older, the man in his late 40s was a lot more dangerous than he looked. She wondered if Daxters smart ass mouth would have him learning the hard way just how dangerous Damas really was.
"Spargus? Wait, nobody lives in the Wastelands—not a whole city." Jak had turned and looked at Damas, still not seeing the girl in the shadows.
"Ah yes, we are the forgotten ones. Haven City's refuse, thrown out and left to die" he moved, walking down the stairs of the throne space getting closer to Jak and Dax. ". Just as you were. But now that you have been saved, your life belongs to the people of Spargus. And we will use it well, if it's actually worth anything." Daxter who had been wringing out his tail stopped at these words
"Hey, that sounds like a bad deal!"
"You are in no position to deal. Out here, everything is either useful or dead weight. Prove yourselves worthy, or the desert will be your grave."
Jak stood turning to face Damas "You need to work on making a better first impression"
Damas closed the last few steps between them, " In the unforgiving wasteland, we value strength and survival above all. We will see where you stand soon enough. " he waved his fingers in Jaks face, "Complete your training, then enter the arena—just the bravest crawl out and are allowed to stay in Spargus. It's quite simple, really."
"Um, what happens to the ones that don't crawl out?" the voice came from Jaks shoulder Dax having climbed up as Damas was talking.
Lexi marched over still unseen as she circled around coming up from behind, only uttering the words as she stood right behind him "Then it will be as if we never found you."
Jak turned eyes going wide as her stared at her for several moments. The old haven clothing was gone and in its place was something...more breathable. The flat expense of her stomach showing the pale shirt ending several inches above the edge of her dark brown shorts, the topmost layer almost appearing like a skirt with the long front and back and short sides, showing most of her long legs, even the metal one. The bottoms of her stomach side and back tattoos peaked out. Despite the scars his eyes traced the length of them and there was no disgust or pity in his eyes.
"Nice tats, are there more", Daxter couldn't seem to help himself and piped up not making an effort to hid his staring.
She smiled before closing the distance leaving on mere inches between them. "Maybe if Jak survives hell get to see it one day and tell you all about it", her chocolate eyes met his and she could see a smirk played at the corner of his mouth.
"One day?"
"If he's really really good" the words were little more than a whisper but she knew he heard because that smirk got just the slightest hint bigger.
"You ready hero", her voice was louder this time designed to carry across the room.
"Always".
Hail all citizens of Spargus! Welcome to the Arena of Death, where we get to watch other people wet themselves in fear! These halls will once again test two newcomers, each fighting to prove their worth to stay among us! Let's hear it for Jak, and his obnoxious talking animal!
She could hear the words through the heavy doors if she tried, though instead of doing so she walked over to the far side of the walkway, settling against the wall trying to ignore the ball of nerves in her stomach.
Lex barely knew him, she was only as worried as she always had been with new potential citizens, right? Biting back a groan she let her head hit the wall with a dull thud, even though it was an internal lie it was still one of the lamest lies she had ever come up with.
Lex was unsure how long she had been standing there when the doors opened though her flesh and bone knee had locked up from the way she stood. By the time she stretched and slowly move over towards them they had nearly passed Kliever who made his presence known.
"Those were some sweet moves in the arena, boy. But a little more choke and you would have popped, eh?"
Jak walked right up to the larger man, a look that was a cross between anger and not impressed on his face. "You talking to me"
"Yeah you talking to...him", daxter nervously poked back towards Jak, possibly intimidated by the large man. Lexi laughed internally, it was hard for her to be intimidated by the larger man due to that diaper like bottoms he wore beneath the wastelander garbs.
"No, I'm conversing with me sweet departed mum" he clasped his hands together. "Of course you, you bore head. You two are from the big smoke, eh?" he towered over Jak, hell the man towered over a lot of people. Jak seemed to care little coming closer, though stopping several steps, for Kleivers belly was rather round preventing Jak from attempting to get in the mans face.
"Whos asking"
Kleiver leaned down into Jaks face, pointing at himself "The guy who runs this place, that's who! Kleiver's the name. You blokes stick with me, and I'll take care of you. In fact, I've got a job for you right now." straightening up he brought Jaks attention to the giant lizard behind him. " Ride me leaper lizard here and catch a few of those little buggers that have been raiding me store rooms. Snag me six of them puppies, and I'll let you drive one of me racing vehicles. That is, if Damas ever lets you leave the city."
That smirk despite only seeing it a few times Lexi knew it perfectly as it graced Jaks face "I think we can handle that"
It was said to Kleivers back as he had turned and started to walk away, only to stop as he caught sight of Lexi now leaning back against the wall.
"What do you want little girl"
"Oh Kleiver, still angry about that bet, what was it 20 precursor orbs on Rigs beating me to a pulp in the arena. Shame that he didn't make it out isn't it." Her voice was sweet, a little to sweet as she arched her back letting the gun strapped to her slid into view. "Those two are mine Kleiver, anything happens to them", she pushed off against the wall, walking straight up to the man and gabbing him harshly in the gut "Next time it will be you and me in that arena, and we both know which one of us will be walking out"
He growled as her face going red as his mustache shivered in anger. "You wouldn't be so brave if you weren't the kings favorite"
"Just remember Kleiver, your 1 out of hundreds. I'm 1 in hundreds. Theres a lot of men and women that could do your job, but only one desert sage.", her words were met with another growl and the man stomped off muttering viciously under his breath.
"We had that under control", a spark of anger from the boy, she wasn't surprised he probably thought that she believed he couldn't take care of himself.
"Kleivers a brute with a big ego, he thinks that he can fuck with you he will. I'd rather not have you die in the desert because he fiddled with the vehicle before you went out." She smiled as she turned and faced him leaning forward slightly. "Besides i love pissing him off." though shorter than Kleiver he was still taller than her.
"Didn't you mention something about tattoos earlier", Daxter flirted from the shoulder piece he was perched on and Lexi laughed.
" I said one day Fuzzball, and only if he was really really good."
"And just what do you mean by good".
"Oh don't worry, you don't have to behave. Just you know, shoot things collect things blow some shit up." Her voice got soften as she leaned closer, and that smirk was back on his face, intrigue replacing the momentary anger. "Show that you can handle…..yourself", Daxter fanned himself a little bit at that last comment, at least she was getting to one of them.
"Do you always flirt with so many….."
"Hey its not my fault if your mind goes to the gutter just because i stop to catch my breath"
"Catch your breath….right", those arms crossed again, but not in the same manner that they had before.
"Now then", she straightened, taking a step back " you boys have an errand to do don't you", she didn't wait for a response before walking away, swaying her hips as she did.
She did hear the low whistle though and chuckled softly to herself.
They were going to be so much fun.