Chapter 5
The barely-acquainted couple had only spent two days in the desert city before they became noticed by the 'higher-ups' in the society of Spargus. Soon enough, Jak and Keira were summoned before the battle-hardened King Damas.
"No doubt you are Haven-ers, with attire like that," Damas eyed the two wearily from his throne of stone.
"Yes...your Highness..." Jak evaded eye contact, fearing he would be recognized and sent back into the hands of Errol if this desert King was in lee with the dictator Praxis.
"Who are you? And what is your purpose for coming to Spargus?" Damas's imposing voice echoed throughout the room and Keira inched closer to Jak for comfort.
"My name is..." Jak began and stopped. Could he dare speak his and Keira's names without risk?
"Do not lie to me, stranger. I assure you, It will not end well if you do."
Shit.
"My name is Jak...This is Keira."
"Jak?" Damas lifted his eyebrow, "The renegade who escaped the Baron's prison and continues to wreak havoc on his reign?"
This is it. I'm done.
"Yes," Jak replied crestfallen. He waited for a guard to grab him at any moment and chain him up.
"Then fear not, Jak, an enemy of the Baron is a friend of Spargus. But why have you come here? We hear that you are essential to the Underground movement in Haven. Have you abandoned it?"
"No...but it's a long story," Jak sighed in relief, looking Damas in the eye now.
"Tell me the short version."
And Jak did.
A confusing eight minutes later, Damas scratched his chin in thought as Jak finished his drama-filled tale.
"You may stay for the time being, then, Jak. But, if you wish to become a permanent citizen of Spargus, you need to pass our tests."
Jak and Keira exchanged glances.
"You don't need to decide now. We will talk again in a week."
The nearly-strangers left the stern, yet understanding, King Damas and chose to take the long way back to their temporary living space. They walked slowly and in shared silence, both looking down in deep thought.
Jak's mixed thoughts went something like this: Is this all worth it? What am I doing here, miles away from Haven, where the Underground is and real help is needed? What am I going do? And how do I feel about this girl?
Keira's were along the same lines, wondering what on earth she had gotten herself into, except her emotion dealt much more with dread rather than confusion.
Errol had always been a little obsessive, and sometimes vengeful. But she had always passed it off as 'a bad day at work'. Now she feared for her life and that of Jak's. Would the hints of the compulsive monster Errol was come after? Would he stop at nothing to find her? Errol had resources, legal and otherwise. What if he found them here? And what if Jak couldn't handle him like he did the time in the café? The 'what ifs' seemed to be consuming her mind, dwelling too much on what could happen.
The rumbling of Jak's stomach interrupted the pair's thoughts and their eyes met as they laughed simultaneously. Keira smiled sweetly, blocking all her recent negative thoughts, "You hungry, too?"
"Heh...Yeah," was the blonde's bashful reply.
The two walked by the market in the middle of the desert town and bought a few strange and no doubt native fruits with some of the money they still had in their pockets. Once back at their little 'home' they sat down on the floor, backs leaned up against one of the four walls that shielded them from the desert winds and sweltering sun.
"How old are you, Jak?" Keira asked unexpectedly before she bit into what tasted like mango-banana hybrid.
"I'll be 24 in a few weeks," he answered and looked at her for some reciprocation.
"Wow, you seem so much younger...I'm only 20," she looked back at him, not knowing what else to say, and it seemed like he didn't either.
Ever since they had arrived in Spargus it seemed like a slight air of tension and awkwardness had grown between them. To Keira it appeared that partly the reason for that was because Jak seemed to be withholding so much from her and looked sometimes like his head would explode if he didn't talk soon.
"Do you regret that this all ever happened?" Keira asked, setting her food down and looking at him sincerely.
Jak looked ahead of himself for a moment, fully contemplating all that the question contained.
"Yes and no," he said finally, looking at her, but not into her eyes that now felt like they were staring straight through his tough exterior. The young renegade felt a sudden rush of lust for her as he began to speak, "I regret that mess in the café, and I regret ever leaving your side that morning when I wanted to stay there so badly, holding you. But, I don't regret meeting you, Keira; I couldn't if I wanted to."
Jak watched at the blue hair girl in front of him bit her lower lip in an oh-so-seductively way and took in all of what he had just said. She opened her mouth as if say something in return, but they both seemed to have another idea at the same moment.
He reached for the back of her head, sifting his rough hand through her silky hair and pulling her to him in an indescribably caring kiss. Keira melted at his very touch, leaning forward against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his torso and broke their kiss, moving her head to his shoulder without the armor plating, beginning to cry.
Now Jak was really confused.
"Keira? What's wrong?" he rubbed her back in an effort to comfort her.
"I'm so scared..." she turned her head and cried softly into his neck.
"Scared? Why would you be scared?" Jak half laughed at her silliness, trying to ease the situation.
"Errol...What if he finds us? What if he does something to you for what I did?" she sobbed harder.
Errol. The name made his body tense with rage.
"He will never find us. And even if he did somehow manage to find us, he can't do anything to me, or you. I'll protect you. Don't worry."
Time seemed to tinker along in the desert, and Jak grew restless, having been used to the hectic way of city-life. Three days after they had spoken to Damas, Jak decided he might as well become a citizen, seeing as he and Keira's looked to be in their predicament for the long haul.
One morning, leaving Keira to sleep, he left her a note saying where he was going. It was still early, around 7 am, but Jak was never one to sleep in and waste time.
He walked briskly through the main part of Spargus, breathing in the cool, salty air deeply. Turning right, he made his way down a narrower path leading towards Damas's rock and water Palace. At the door, two particularly malicious-looking Wastelanders stood guard and eyed him suspiciously.
Saying his name appeared to ring a bell and the shorter of the two led Jak into the building and up the elevator.
Once on the main floor, Jak and the guard stepped off the elevator's platform and waited patiently as Damas was currently having a conversation with a rather fat Wastelander.
Noticing the new company, Damas's guest turned to leave and gave Jak a menacing grin and showing a ghastly scar that took up most of the side of his face and part of his ear. Jak ignored him and walked towards the Damas who was sitting in his sandstone throne. The brawny King stood up to meet him and gave an approving look.
"So, Jak, have you decided to stay?"
"Yes."
"Good. I was expecting it, even though I think it might be a blow to the Underground's fight against the Baron. I know you will do well here...if the tales of your reputation are true," Damas grinned.
Jak just folded his arms to his chest, wondering what other tricks the world would throw at him.
