Chapter 9

A young man sat quietly in the small and outdated communications control room located just beneath the main floor of Spargus's Palace. The rare sound of static suddenly broke the silence, before a gruff voice sounded.

"King Damas of Spargus:" the voice spoke, directly addressing the King, "We have reason to believe that a dangerous fugitive of Haven is currently residing the confines of your city. We demand that he be returned to us immediately. He has caused much personal strife to many...Reply."

But the man was already running up the chipped stairs for his King before he heard the whole of the message. "My King!" the youth hastily kneeled before the greater man that sat before him, gaining his full attention.


Damas arrived just as the message from Haven was being repeated in a harsher manner.

"...If you refuse, it will not end well, I assure you Desert King."

"Praxis," Damas spat at the dust microphone, provoking an aggressive man miles away.

"Do you know of the creature which I speak of, then?" The Baron asked, trying to sound of a regal standing and clever, but it was a mask Damas saw through all too well.

"Any citizen that resides in Spargus has passed our tests is under my authority, and will remain under its protection. Forget the fugitive, Praxis, he is no longer of your concern."

"So it appears you have met with the cunning Jak, yes? He is a clever beast, amazing on the battlefield, no doubt. But he has committed too many crimes to go unheeded, you must return him to Haven or prepare for consequences."

Damas grew angry at the second threat that the tyrant directed towards him and his city through the speaker. "Jak is a citizen and will not be 'returned' to you as if he were property. Do not further agitate me with your false threats."

"You endanger your own city, you fool." Static radio silence followed the greedy ruler departure.

The graved faced Wastelander man looked around the box-like room until his eyes fell on the violet-haired communications officer.

"Tell Sig to prepare the Wastelanders."


Paranoia...Fear...Two emotions that Jak had only experienced once before, in jail. Now, something new was thrown into the mix. Love...and Keira. Neither would admit it, but they both knew it was there, even in its early stages.

Jak took a gulp of clean water, a new luxury that he had only came upon in this seemingly uninhabitable desert.

"He's coming for you. And Keira." Torn's phrase echoed in his thoughts. Was he supposed to take on an army that Errol would surely back himself up with? Well, at least Errol would have to gain entry to Spargus first, which didn't seem like an easy feat, seeing as Damas didn't think too highly of Haven and its consorts.

"One hour at a time, Jak," Keira teased, rubbing his shoulder as she came up from behind him. "Stop thinking so much, and relax. I know that seems kinda crazy now, but we both know Errol can't just waltz into Spargus..."

"I know..."

"Hey, come to the garage with me...I offered to fix some driver's car there. Maybe he'll let you drive it afterwards, hmm?" She smiled as she saw a flash of happiness make its presence on Jak's handsome, bronze face.

"That sounds good. Being outside makes me feel better anyways." He gave her a hopeful grin as he took her outstretched hand and allowed himself to be led out the door by her.


On the way to the garage, they noticed that hardly any people were walking the streets as usual, and the ones that were hurried about carrying various weapons and armor.

"Something's up." Keira stated the obvious and looked to Jak.

"And my guess is that it's probably not good..." He felt his muscles tense, his hardened senses become alert.

Their suspicions were confirmed when they heard the loud, whirring engines of flying crafts coming from where they were heading. There was no doubt that they were from Haven, as the Wastelanders here all used land vehicles.

"Jak-" Keira gripped his wrist as she pointed upward to a red carrier with the Baron's emblem emblazoned on the sides.

Jak set off at a run, Keira still clinging to his wrist and trying to keep up with his quickening pace. They made it to the garage door and waited as the hissing door creaked open and revealed a large amount of angry Wastelanders, headed by none other than King Damas. The opening of the door behind the group attracted their attention and they all turned to stare at the couple.

"Just in time for the fight, then, Jak," Damas loudly stated over the surrounding noise, beckoning for him to come to him.

Jak turned to Keira, "You should go back. If Errol saw you, and got to you somehow, I don't know what I'd do..." His gaze fell to his shuffling feet as his voice trailed off. It was one of the first times Jak had ever mentioned his feelings (however hinted) out loud.

Keira nodded and kissed him lightly on his still bowed head, "I'll see you when you get back," she said firmly, ensuring a safe return in her mind for both of their sakes.


Jak adjusted the bronze-colored corselet that Damas had given to him only minutes before. His gun was in its place, in its holster strapped securely to his back, as it always was. The young warrior felt anxious, excited even, for he couldn't wait to release some of his pent up energy, and not to mention his overflowing store of dark eco deep within. Fighting is what he was born to do, or so he had been told by Torn and other members of the Underground that held him in high esteem. He couldn't wait to rip Errol's head off once and for all.