|Leaving Spargus|

There had been times when Valentine felt Jak took too many risks when driving. The man lived for the feeling of just narrowly skidding past a cliff or nearly diving headfirst into a Marauder car. And maybe things were different behind a steering wheel, maybe if you were the one driving, it was actually fun doing all that stupid stuff.

Not once would she have expected Damos to be an even more dangerous driver than Jak. And yet they had made it back to the now deserted temple in record time, leaving her slightly green around the nose. Once this was over she would refuse to lay eyes on a car for the months to come.

On wobbly legs they'd made their way down to the Catacombs, not accompanied by Meta who had stayed behind in Haven. There was no way the Metal Head would have been able to fit in one of the strange cars with them and by the time the animal had reached Haven things would have been over, for better or worse. Damos hadn't exactly been talkative which suited Valentine just fine. Through the Catacomb road she preferred having a driver who was paying attention to the road.

"You and Jak… huh?" her King finally asked out loud as they made their way at a hurried pace through the old Eco mines. A few minutes ago she'd contacted Torn who had promised them a ride so they could help Jak.

She at once felt hot to the tip of her ears. "Wh-what do you mean?"

Damos raised his eyebrows at her in a way that universally was used to show they knew and the other party should just fess up everything. "Do you really want me to say it out loud?"

"Well…"

"Valentine, do you?"

She could feel the pressure rising like steam inside of her. Putting the age stuff aside - there was still the mental agony that in some weird weird way she was twelve years his senior - she was dating Damos' son. At least he hadn't seen the hickeys because then she might have just died from embarrassment. "Me and Jak."

Damos chuckled as they got in the elevator. "Good girl."

Valentine side-eyed him nervously. "Sir… about the other thing… do you have any thoughts about that?"

The silence that followed felt as if it could grow claws any second and rip a hole in between them. She shouldn't have asked him that, she knew, she knew that that was stupid. But she had to know because she wanted to tell Jak. Jak had a right to know. But she didn't want him to know only to be rejected by his father.

The silence endured ever longer until Valentine thought that maybe Damos hadn't heard her. Or he'd forgotten by now she'd asked the question. Maybe this was some kind of torture, see how long he could make her suffer before she cracked and told him everything she ever did wrong, starting from age six when she'd stolen a cookie from the cookie jar.

By the time she mentally was up to sins at age eighteen her King finally spoke, nearly sending her into a cardiac arrest. "I trust that you would not willingly deceive me."

"Oh…" Well, that was nice, she guessed. It wasn't 'oh dear Precursors this fixes everything' nice, but at least he didn't think she was a raving lunatic. Things could be worse, she thought as they climbed in the car Torn had gotten ready for them. When Valentine questioned how Torn would have gotten a buggy in town Damos showed a rather grim smile.

"I had it delivered here some months ago, in case I were to show lenience to the city," he explained in a low voice, his eyes avoiding the deterioration of the now crumbling city. Valentine nodded when his eyes flashed her way to show she understood, wondering if she should mention to Damos how the city looked near the central HQ. On the one hand it might make him feel marginally better but it might also just remind him he was a dethroned king in Haven.

"I'm sorry for making things so complicated all the time," she mumbled, averting her eyes as soon as Damos looked at her. Nobody liked apologizing and she always felt like a twit when doing it. 'Sorry' was such an annoying word because it didn't even come close to describing how wretched she was actually feeling. "I would have liked it if things could be more straightforward."

The car bounced when Damos drove it over a pile of rubble he could have easily avoided, which meant he had done it just so that she'd be forced to look at him. Having gotten her attention he placed a hand on her knee with a fatherly smile. "I know you like things to be straightforward. But life, Valentine, never is. Which is why people like us will always find ourselves to be at sorts with the natural order of things."

"People like us?" Valentine asked with a smile. Though they got along quite well, in between outbursts of almost teenage rebellion and exasperated fatherhood, few people would have said the two of them were exactly alike.

"Straightforward people. Which makes us quite competent at navigating life. Somebody needs to keep it simple for their surroundings." Damos clarified himself with an almost boyish smile. He seemed to be somewhat relieved at having a chance to have a chat with her in private, even if it had to happen in the ruins of the city he had once ruled. The buggy screeched over an unlucky Metal Scorpion as Damos shifted gears.

"I do hope that smile means you are agreeing with me and not that you are pitying the old rambling fool who is driving the car."

Valentine had to laugh out loud when she heard that comment. Strange how much better a simple talk with Damos could make her feel. Though he was not the same as her biological father, she didn't mind him filling the role. "I'm smiling because I'm happy, that's all."

"Hmmm," Damos ruffled her hair with a smile before returning his full attention to the road, which by now was more hole than actual pavement. The beeping which came from his tracker showed that they were closing in on her beacon, further inside Metal territory than she'd have thought Jak would be.

"This seems like a bit of a detour," Damos commented as he eyed the road Jak had obviously been following, judging the bodies of several Metal heads he had left in his wake. Valentine did not like the tone of Damos' voice as he continued.

"Of course he's just a boy for taking the longer route. We can catch up to him if we go this road."

The 'road' he had referred to was nothing but a pile of rubble with an occasional bigger piece of debris to hinder their way. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

Then again, why would anyone listen to her when discussing a route to follow? It wasn't like she lacked a death wish or anything. Per usual the person in the driver's seat ignored her helpful suggestions, leaving her to hold on for dear life while her teeth rattled in the rocky conditions.

"One of th-th-these d-d-d-days you're all go-gonna listen t-t-t-to me!" she shouted above the noise the car made before she bit her tongue. "Shit!"

"Language, young lady," Damos reminded her, before stopping in front of a seemingly massive wall. The bleeping of the radar had grown increasingly louder, showing that they were closer to Jak than before. In fact, judging from the intensity, the only thing between them was this wall.

Valentine knew that look. Jak got the same look in his eyes when he was about to do something heroic and possibly life-threatening. "Uhm… sir? Dad? Father dearest? Could we perhaps take a way around? I'm sure that-"

The rest of her sentence was lost to the roar of the engine as Damos stepped on the gas, the laws of nature dictating she should be plastered against her seat due to the sudden increase in speed. Narrowly avoiding biting her tongue a second time she closed her eyes, praying he indeed knew what he was doing. Once this was over she would make serious work out of those driving lessons. Anything to avoid riding shotgun in the future.

She felt more than heard how the seemingly massive wall crackled on impact and realized it had in fact been debris that had just managed to fall in a stable position for as long as nothing, like a speeding car, disturbed it. With a crash it tumbled down behind them while they hit something massive in front of them.

Opening her eyes she saw the last of the satellites the Dark Makers had sent out, plastered against the front of the buggy like some strange welcome sign. It screeched as they hit the ground, the satellite stopping it's movements in lagging gestures. Sounding as if nothing had happened Damos turned to the other side of the car. "You called for an army."

"Well, you're a long way from the desert. I thought you said a warrior never takes his opponent head on." Jak replied, leading her to emit a heavy sigh of relief. He was still alive, still safe. That fact alone was worth their earlier stunt.

"Well, that depends on how hard your skull is," Damos said with in a rare show of humor.

"You're all macho idiots," Valentine mumbled, leaning her head back in relief. The car slanted heavily, making her very unwilling to actually open her eyes.

"But we're your macho idiots, toots," Daxter shouted back at her. The sound of padded feet sounded on the hood of the car, leading her to look anyway. The Ottsel was walking towards her with a happy grin on his face as Jak moved to sit in next to her. It caused some need for rearrangements but eventually the four of them were neatly arranged.

On their way towards the catacombs there were fewer enemies than expected, as if most creatures were quite happy to steer clear from the place. Valentine yelped at one particular bump, nearly hitting her head against Jak's. "I hate this road."

"It's not that bad," Both Jak and Damos said at the same time, much to their surprise. In wonder both men shared a look, before Damos curled one corner of his mouth up in a strange half-smile.

"Perhaps it's not completely out of the realm of possibility."

Jak blinked, not knowing what had prompted the strange utterance before he ventured a response. "Well, I have been learning from the best. And from Valentine."

This earned him a jab in the side from said sweetheart, though quite good-natured. "Watch it, or I'll kick you out of the car."

"Seeing as how we have arrived that won't be necessary," Damos observed, stopping the car for a moment. In front of them loomed the entrance to the Catacombs, every bit as eerie at it should have been. Valentine and Daxter swallowed at the same time, not happy with what they were seeing.

A few moments passed, slow and solemn as they considered the road ahead. The wind howled around the scene, sending goosebumps up their skin. Compared to the desert heat this place was almost freezing, the impression aided as most of the landscape was covered in white dust.

"Do any of you guys hear that?" Daxter asked, his ears twitching in response to whatever he was picking up. Valentine shook her head, only hearing the way the wind seemed to pick up in intensity.

"Out of the car, now!" Jak ordered, grabbing Valentine by the arm. Panicked by the sudden order she looked behind her, in the same direction he was. A fireball hurled towards them, the source of the sound she had attributed to the wind. Before they could move away it was upon them, throwing the car upside down.

In the movement Valentine was thrown against Damos, the man folding his arms around her as if he wanted to protect her. Like rag dolls their limbs were tossed back and fro, metal dangerously creaking around them. Valentine thought she felt something strange tingle inside her stomach but she couldn't be sure. The world had been transformed in a dizzying place.

As the car stopped they bounced in place. Valentine was lying on top of something warm and massive. Dazed she blinked, just catching sight of a white, shimmering shield as it faded away along with the tingle in her stomach. Panicked she tried to hold on to the feeling. In response the shield strengthened, just in time because the car threatened to tumble down on top of her.

"Jak?" she cried out in panic. Damos was the one who was lying underneath her, blood seeping from a cut at the side of his head. She had to remind herself to breathe. Cuts to the head always bled a lot, that didn't have to mean anything. Fingers trembling she placed a hand to Damos' chest, unable to feel a heartbeat when her own was beating so fast. "JAK?"

"Val, I'm here," Jak said, showing up from the sides. Wisps of white energy flowed around him, closing up a long gash that ran along his side in a long rip of his shirt. "Are you hurt?"

"No," she said, her fingers still grasping the front of Damos' shirt. Her head was pounding as the tingle in her stomach threatened to fade.

"Help me!"

Jak nodded as he reached through the shield with ease, grabbing Damos' by the shoulders. Valentine moved along, unwilling to let go of the man as they moved. They were nearly clear of the car when she lost the grip on the Eco inside of her, unused as she was to actually being able to use Light Eco. With a thud the car slammed down, missing her feet by inches. Damos wasn't so lucky.

Jak's movement stopped as Damos' leg was trapped underneath the remains of the buggy. The lack of an outcry was proof enough that Damos was unconscious. Valentine dropped on her knees once more, pressing her legs against Damos. 'Dear Precursors, let him be unconscious. Let that be it and not something else. Please, oh please,' Valentine thought as a first sob broke loose from her. Of all the people in her world Damos was the one who could weather anything. His was too great a life to be ended in a place like this.

At the same moment thunder sounded above them, heralding the first drops of rain. Valentine paid them no heed, long litanies of prayer dropping from her lips. She'd thought she would never pray again after Praxis' dungeons. Now the unused words cascaded from her, slowly going towards a wail. Damos wasn't moving, but he couldn't be dead. Valentine wouldn't allow it because she needed him. She wasn't ready to let him go. She flinched when Jak touched her shoulder but let him grab her to mumble shushing words against her, felt his lips graze her hair as he promised her it would be alright.

"Don't cry, Val. Please don't cry."

"Can't… won't…" Jak should have been the one crying. Damos was his father and Jak didn't know because she had wanted to fix things. How could he ever forgive her if she told him now? All she had wanted was for father and son to be able to recognize each other. And now Damos was lying there, still and cooling down in the middle of a ruined city. "Sorry… so sorry…" That hated word again, still not enough to bare that raw emotion just above her heart. This wasn't happening, not really. It had to be a nightmare.

"How touching. So the old king died without knowing he had his son at his side all this time," A new voice was enough to jolt her out of crying for a little while. Jak let go of her with a swear, reaching for his gun.

"No no, I wouldn't do that if I were you. Wouldn't want my finger to slip."

Through her tears she saw the lanky figure of Veger, standing in the rain as if he hadn't a care in the world as he pointed a gun straight at her. "You don't have the right." Valentine spat out, tears threatening to choke her.

"Please, I have every right. I'm the master puppeteer of this little play," Veger laughed as he spoke, gleeful he could finally tell someone his master plan. "I took little Mar from Damos because I needed someone for my Eco experiments. It all went great until I lost the kid to the Underground. Oh, what's wrong? You look upset, freak. Did I tell you too late?"

"Liar!" Jak growled, dark sparks flying from his hands around him. Yet he glanced at Damos, some inkling of possibility dawning on him. 'Perhaps it is not completely out of the realm of possibility.'

"You were the son of the great warrior King Damos, descendant of the great Mar. And the freak you've kept beside you is the last descendant of the Guardians, so at least you had that birthright granted to you all this time. And he never knew how it all fit. Isn't that funny?"

Valentine felt the rage grow inside her as well, fueled by her pain about Damos. Veger dared to laugh about this matter? She moved to raise herself up and stand beside Jak but was stopped. A warm hand had closed around her wrist, keeping her close to the ground. All thoughts about Veger were forgotten.

"VEGER!" Jak shouted. Quicker than light Valentine grabbed Jak by the arm with her free hand, stopping him before he could pounce on the count. Jak's blue eyes had swam over with Dark Eco, snarling at her to be set free. From the corner of her eyes she saw Veger leave in a hurry, towards the catacombs.

"He's alive!" Valentine said, hoping she was getting through to Jak. "Damos is okay!"

I have remarkably little to say after this chapter. Then again, I did finish a dissertation yesterday in which I claimed Mephistopheles is a force of good in Marlowe's Dr. Faustus. I was brilliant, if I do say so myself.

LadyAmazon : No explosions, just the one schmuck who couldn't believe I walked away like it was nothing. I did find some blood on the back of my coat the day after, though it must've been a minor cut because I still feel perfectly fine ^^ And yes, the Damos part! You guessed right!

Oblique Strategies : It takes more than plain traffic to take me out ^^ And thanks for the honesty, though I'm still debating on whether/how to fix the chapter. Still, all feedback is appreciated =)

Guest : Hehheh, I'm glad you liked it. And hey, Damos does seem like the type to take his kid out of the fray because it's bedtime xD To me, at least...