The ABC's of Perfect Mistakes

Chapter Five: E is for Eden

Parker paced outside Lucky Lena's for an hour and a half before she gave up and started to wander out of the Bazaar. Of course her best friend would be late for her own appointment, she had a feeling that Lena was still sleeping or working with Keira –who apparently found a racer for her new team, an arrogant jerk that wouldn't go away. She knew Keira wanted to place this year but she wasn't going to let that happen, this was Lena's year and Parker was taking home the first place ribbon.

She took a zoomer towards Keira's garage but stopped when she heard the sirens. It had to be part of her guard training that made her stop and automatically reach for her gun. Of course she didn't have any guns but just the knives –which was making her even more uncomfortable as the days went on. Yesterday she was almost killed when she was cornered by a group of guards, they accused her of stealing a loaf of bread, she only made it out after another Underground agent took pity on her and helped. She needed a gun, as soon as possible.

Instead she jumped off her zoomer and ran to an alley to hide but yelped when she was almost run down by another zoomer. She glared at the ride but was stunned to see Jak and Daxter jump off. A guard ran behind them firing at will, she rolled her eyes and ran at him, knocking him to the ground. After the obvious shock of being knocked down wore off the guard began to struggle with her, swinging his fists wildly but slammed her elbow down on his chest. He gasped and released his gun, she snatched it up and the other one of his belt. She never ran that fast in her left, she leapt over the steps and fell into the room the boys were in.

"What the hell?" Jak started as the room lit up and shot upwards. She gasped and forced herself to her feet. "What are you doing?!" He shouted as a set of doors opened. Parker gasped again, this time because she was suddenly out of breath and not shocked.

"What am I doing? What are you doing?!" She screamed back. "Who gave you clearance to be up here? That's the Baron's palace!"

"I know that."

"What are you planning on doing? Raiding the Baron's underwear dresser?"

"I just wanted-"

"Something to do?" She shouted. "God Jak, save a fucking tree or something! Don't go knocking on his door selling cookies! How on earth did you guys get up here anyways?" Jak glared at her. "What?" She snapped.

"Can I finish what I was saying?" This time she glared at him. "I wanted to get to the Baron, on my own terms. I didn't want to wait until the Shadow told me I could go after him. Now are you coming?"

"What?"

"Are you coming?" He said walking out of the room.

"Ah, no." She said backing up further into the room. "I'm going back down."

"The elevator only goes up sweetheart." Daxter laughed. "This is as close as you'll get to heaven."

Parker blinked. "You mean I have to go across that!?"

"That's the plan," Jak said jumping down.

Parker took a deep breath and moved out of the room, stepping lightly on the ground before peering over the edge. She gasped and inched back before climbing down the lower platform. She saw that Jak was actually waiting for her at two sets of spinning blue fans. She could feel the Blue Eco pulsing off of them, they vibrated in her bones as she jumped in between the gaps not looking down. She landed on the platform and it shuddered under her weight, it shuddered when Jak landed beside her. She paused at double row of sparking red platforms. She knew they had to be rigged, instead she followed Jak to the side and looked down at the smaller platforms.

"Are they safe?" Parker shouted over the wind. Jak looked to her before jumping down to them. They didn't give way so Parker dropped down next, staying a safe distance from the edge. She watched as Jak swung over the next set, landing loudly on the platform with a metal clank of his boots. Parker took a deep breath a followed, watching Haven below her spin up and down. She grabbed the next pole and swung until she let go and landed firmly on the platform where Jak had been. There was another set of red platforms, this time Parker went first and barely touched the platforms this time. When she landed on the side she cursed herself for not being more careful, she heard Jak curse behind her as a sentry gun started shooting at them.

Jak turned to her. "Ladies first."

She glared at him but moved, her feet leaving the platform and getting back on the main cable. She moved forward, sliding to the ground when it fired at her. She moved to the left when it tried to shot her again and felt the bump of the guard's guns against her butt. She smirked and pulled it out as she spun away from another bullet. She fired three times and the gun exploded. She started to feel it again, the dance of fighting. She moved forward, hopping on the only safe spot on a spinning spiked section. She fell back when a bullet flew by her; it gave her a chance to watch Jak run up and shoot the other sentry gun.

Parker got back up, following Jak past two more Eco fueled fans and swinging over another set of poles. She cursed when it started raining, she wasn't in the mood for this. She kept moving though, sometimes ahead of Jak and other times following behind him. He took out the last gun and she gave a sigh of relief when she realized they were near the end. They climbed the last of the platforms and walked up a nearby ramp. She felt a sudden rush of excitement, for the last couple of days she played the caution game. Avoiding Torn's calls and taking on missions that were way too easy for her. She ran to the skylight and looked in, she glanced to Jak and Daxter as they looked in as well.

Thunder rolled in the distance as Parker noticed it was Praxis, Erol and a holographic head of the Metal Head Leader.

"I've told you, I will have more Eco by week's end. We'll transport it directly to your nest, as promised." The Baron said.

"A deal is of no value if you can't deliver, my dear Baron." The Metal Head Leader teased. "I grow impatient with your puny gestures! Give me the agreed upon Eco soon, or the deal is off and your precious city will pay the price!" The holographic disappeared and Erol turned.

"He's toying with us!" Erol shouted and marched towards the Baron. "Let me lead an assault on the Nest before it's too late! I can take him."

"Patience Commander," Praxis said. "No one has ever penetrated the Metal Head Nest, you know that. I've seen what comes of such foolish plans." He paused. "No. Strength is their weakness, we play helpless, trained them to eat out of our hands and then… move forward with the plan! Tell Ashelin and Olivia to up their patrols! I want that Tomb found!"

"But your daughter hasn't been… agreeable." Erol mumbled. "And as for Olivia she refuses to do much these days."

The Baron growled. "I'll see to that problem, one way or another."

"Ashelin is the Baron's daughter?!" Jak gasped looking Parker, she just shrugged. It wasn't news to her and she didn't really care.

"And find that child!" The Baron shouted. "If you spent half you're looking for that little as you spend flirting with that little mechanic girl we would've pinned his royal ass to a wall long ago! And find that Drake bitch!" Parker twitched at her last name. "I want her head in my trophy room next to her father's!"

"As you wish. With enough persuasion I'm sure our spy will-"

"ACHOO!"

Parker jumped back from the window and spun around, and then she glared at Daxter. "Idiot!" She whispered-hissed at him.

"I was thinking the same thing." Jak growled sliding off the window panel. "Did you know Ashelin was the Baron's daughter?"

"Yes, I've lived in this city longer then you have." She started walking. "Any idea on how we're going to get down from here?"

"I'm working on it," Jak commented as a large metal machine flew up. Parker jumped back as it came closer and she could see the Baron.

"So we have a rat in the walls do we? A rat and his boy." His eyes slid to Parker. "And a traitor… Back for more Dark Eco Treatments are we? Well only me to put all of you out of your misery!"

"Duck!" Parker shouted tackling Jak to the ground, it was like hitting a brick wall but she rolled off him and recovered quickly. She started firing her guns at him, she dodged his fire as he moved closer to her. She felt a bullet whiz past her cheek and she felt the warm surge of blood running down her cheek. She ducked behind the wall as Jak ran forward, firing at the Baron with a study hand before he could reload. Parker raced after the Baron and Jak, sliding behind another wall before running out. She ducked past his blasters and took out her knives, she threw one at the glass window and the glass down on the Baron confusing him for second. She threw three more at his blasters, the third one stuck and they exploded. The Baron spun away.

"You're good at this!" Daxter shouted from Jak's shoulder.

"I know," She joked. "Try and keep little boys." She ran ahead and stopped when a bullet hit her shoulder knocking her back into Jak, he fell to the ground and the Baron laughed. Jak recovered faster and got up but he grunted when he did. The Baron laughed again as he sent out twisters of pure Blue Eco, Parker rolled away from one as she heard another explosion.

"The dark powers I gave you can't protect you forever! Since I made you, I can destroy you!" The Baron shouted. "We'll meet again soon!"

"Yeah whatever!" Daxter shouted. "Bye, bye."

"That was fun," Parker grumbled. "Let's never do it again."

Daxter chuckled. "That was kid's play! You're rolling with us baby."

"WHAT?!" Jak and Parker shouted at the same time. They glared at each other before Jak stepped away from her. "We aren't a team."

"And we'll never be one." Parker finished. "I suggest you get a health pack for that wound," She said pointing to Jak's arm. "You don't want to die up here."

"I'm fine." Jak said shrugging off her concern. "You could use it though."

Parker laughed. "You're funny." She walked towards one of the main elevators, she stepped inside and waited for Jak before it went down. When they got to the bottom they were outside the main entrance to the palace, she glanced up at it and crossed her arms. "Funny I've never noticed what an eye sore this thing is." Her hip beeped. She pulled out her communicator and Lena's face popped up.

"What the Hell is going on?! Torn's been looking for you, hurry up and get to the Hideout… NOW?!"

Parker glanced to Jak, he was looking at his communicator as well. "Good news?"

He shook his head. "It's never good news."

"Down!" Parker shouted pushing Jak into one of the bunk beds. A wrenched bounced off the door and dropped to the floor. Parker got up slowly as did Jak, moving slowly as Lena stomped up the small aisle to them. She grabbed Parker by the shoulder and yanked her to her feet, Parker hissed as her cut, that wasn't fully healed yet, opened up again.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"Did she just throw a wrench at us?" Jak asked bewildered.

"Yah it's her thing." Parker said through clenched teeth.

"Do I need to babysit you 24/7?"

"The city's on high alert!" Torn shouted as they came into the main area. "What the hell did you guys do?"

"Us?" Daxter jumped on the table. "Uh, nothing. We've been… uh… sightseeing, right Jak?"

"You lie like a cheap rug." Lena snapped.

"Expensive rugs can lie too." Parker smirked.

Lena held up her wrench. "Don't tempt me Drake."

"Why are the Krimzon Guard looking for a dangerous young man with light hair and blue tunic, a hostile young woman with dark hair and brown vest and a rapid orange rat on the man's shoulder?"

"That could be anyone!" Daxter laughed. "Orange is the new black this season."

"Look we climbed up to the Baron's palace and we tripped a few alarms." Jak said calmly.

"Oh right that too."

"WHAT?" Torn shouted. "I didn't authorize a strike on the Baron's-"

"Hey we kicked the Baron's ass!" Jak snapped. "Unfortunately he escaped." Parker saw the Kid hop down from the table and hide behind the older man. He peeked around a gave her a small wave before hiding behind his robes again.

"AND..." Daxter cheered. "We overheard a secret meeting between him and the leader of the Metal Heads!"

"You saw the Metal Head Leader?" The man gasped.

"Not really," Parker grumbled. "He was on some kind of communicator."

"We heard him talking with Baron Praxis." Jak finished.

"The Baron's bribing the Metal Head's with Eco!"

"Hpmh," The old man scoffed. "It'll never be enough."

"But the Baron's gonna double cross 'em!"

"Is that so?" The man said stroking his beard. "Well our Baron's wonderful charm must've angered someone because there's word from the Wasteland Metal Head armies are on the move."

"Why didn't you tell me Ashelin was Praxis' daughter?" Jak shouted. "What's your connection with her?"

"And he just dropped the bomb." Lena sighed, Parker nodded looking to Jak.

"That's none of your business!" Torn shouted back. "Since you've stirred up the wumpbee's nest, you and whiskers here get to move five of our people to new safe houses! Shuttle each agent to a location they specify. Move all of them without any causalities. Don't screw this up Jak."

"Hey," Lena snapped stepping in front of the boys. "We're the fifth agent's," She said pointing to herself and then to Parker. "We're going to a safe house in the first Bazaar, finish up with the others and come back for us."

Parker jumped on the bed in her own room. She snuggled against the pillow and hugged it to her face. "I love this bed, I love this pillow and I love this awesome room."

Lena chuckled from the door. "Yah it's pretty awesome. Hey Amberly!" Lena called down the hall. "Where's the other girl?"

Amberly came into the room carrying two sheets and a quilted blanket, behind her a blonde girl, named Tess, had her toothbrush sticking out of her mouth. The girl was another Underground agent and she was a spy in Krew's bar, they lived on the fourth floor of the safe house. There were several other agents living in the house but Parker hadn't met them yet. She was happy to get out of the Hideout and sleep in a real bed for once. The flat had four bedrooms, one was for Amberly and Tess to share since they worked the same hours. The other was for Lena, another for Parker and the last one, the smallest, was for the other girl Tess referred to as Shay. They could've set up a bed for her on the roof and she'd be happy.

"Working, she works nights."

"How's the heat?" Lena said looking over Tess' shoulder at her communicator. "Still searching for Jak, Daxter and Parker?"

Tess nodded. "I hope my sweetie is okay," Tess cooed. "I don't know what I'd do if my Dax got hurt!"

Parker grumbled and grabbed her vibrating communicator. It was a message from Jak, or more likely from Daxter using Jak's communicator. "We're back at our safe house."

"They're safe," Parker mumbled.

"Now that Jak is a hottie," Lena purred. "Why don't you go for the blonde instead of the rat, Tess?"

Tess giggled. "Nope, Daxter's the only one for me."

"Tess," Parker said sitting up. "He comes up to your knee, I don't think it's gonna work out."

TBC…

Author's Note

So between working five days in a row, going on vacation and being hospitalized for an ear infection/ swimmer's ear I finally got down to writing these chapters. I'm hoping to get back to my normal update schedule soon, which means updates on Friday and Mondays. Anyways, thank you to EcoSeeker for her reviews, love u! And Epically-Awesome for their review as well. And a guest who asked about the updating schedule and reminded me that I needed to get my butt into gear. See ya'll later guys! xoxo Paradise Eco