The ABC's of Perfect Mistakes

Chapter Nine: I is for Ignorance

"Can you taste it?" Amberly asked sliding a drink across the bar to Parker, both, Tess and Parker, looked to each other before Parker downed the small shot. She coughed and grabbed the glass of water Tess left her. "Is it bad?"

"I can't feel my fucking tongue!" Parker shouted back to her. "What'd you put in it? Gasoline?"

"Well there's Vodka and lemons in it." Amberly mumbled.

"Tess more water," Parker snarled. "Until I tell you to stop." She down another glass and took the other Tess offered her. "Don't quit your day job Amberly."

"Maybe we can give the Metal Head Leader a drink?" Lena said tracing the circle of iced tea that her drink left. "That way the war will be over quickly."

"Was it really that bad?"

"How do I say this politely?" Parker pondered. "Tess, more water."

Tess chuckled and slid two more glasses of water to the girl. She downed them a bit slower, as the doors opened and the boys walked in. When Parker woke this morning she found that both boys were gone, she assumed they went to the Dig for Kor. She went to see what Amberly's important mission was and it was taste testing her new drinks, now she wished she went with them to the Dig.

"Oh God!" Parker shouted. "I think it's getting worse! I need to eat dirt or something," She took another glass and downed the whole thing. She glared at Jak as he chuckled.

"What happened to you?"

"She's trying to kill me!" Parker shouted pointing to Amberly, she grabbed another glass and downed that one cursing herself for agreeing to Amberly's cries. She rubbed her breastbone. "I can feel it going down!" She looked to Jak as she finished off the rest of the water. "How was the Dig?"

"We went back to Vin too, he sent us on a mission to destroy the Baron's Eco wells."

"AND then, I bravely shot down the Baron's Eco Tankers!" Daxter piped in.

"Sure you did." Parker mumbled, the burning was stopping and she could feel her mouth again. "What else did you guys do while I was drinking poison?"

Daxter jumped onto the counter. "So there I was, toe to toe with five of the nastiest Metal Heads you ever saw!" He turned to Sig. "Slime oozing from their monstrous jaws. Teeth sharper than her daggers." He said pointing at Parker. "Slowly all ten of 'em surround me! But do I surrender?" Daxter asked. "No! I summoned my highly trained killer instincts and pounce!" He chopped the air and almost kicked Lena in the face, she growled as he jumped beside Tess. "And when the dust cleared, there were twenty less Metal Heads in the world."

"Wow, Daxter, you're an animal."

"Yah I know," He said lying down. "Scratch me there."

"But," Amberly stammered counting on her fingers. "Those numbers-"

Parker raised her hand to silence her. "Shh, it'll only give you a headache."

"Quite a story there, Golden Boy." Sig chuckled. "I guess you're just the animal I need for another dangerous gig. Combat Metal Heads have been spotted right here in Haven Forest. These new bad boys have special camouflage so they're hard to spot but I'm sure with your 'killer instincts' you'll manage." He turned to Jak. "Go to the forest and take 'em all out."

"Have fun." Parker said into her water.

"Oh you're coming."

"Oh no I'm not."

"We can make this a game."

"Do I look like I'm in a gaming mood?" She snapped.

Jak smirked and leaned against the bar. "If I win, you'll have to polish my guns and if you win-"

"Which isn't likely!" Daxter shouted.

"-you can have whatever you want."

Lena smirked. "Oh my, those seem like fighting words to me." She twirled a lock of Parker's hair around her fingers. "I suggest you boys rethink this game, it's dangerous playing with forces you don't understand."

"You make me sound like a murderous bitch."

"Prove me right, love, prove me right."

She put her glass down and spun to face Jak. "Alright Blondie, you're on. If I win I get him," She pointed to Daxter. "For three, count 'em, three missions of my choosing."

"No way!" Daxter shouted at the same time Jak chuckled and said: "Fair enough."

Parker tripped through the wrap gate, almost falling on her face but she caught herself. She stared to her right at the Mountain Temple and its beautiful glory, she couldn't help but sigh. She'd only been there once for burial of a close friend, she was always very young and didn't get to see much of anything. She tumbled to the ground when something smacked into her, she had a sudden fear it was a Metal Head when she heard Daxter laughing.

"What the Hell?!" Jak shouted. "You're supposed to move!"

"You're supposed to warn me!"

"Normal people move when they jump through the gate."

"Do I look like normal people to you?!"

"Ladies, ladies," Daxter chuckled. "You can both marry me, now can we go?"

Jak got to his feet first, dusting himself off. Parker followed suit picking a leaf out of her hair, she glared at him as they jumped on the platform. She glanced to him as the platform got closer, she could tell there was something on his mind. Something in the back of his mind bugging him and taking all his focus off the mission –and the game. She smirked and jumped off the platform as soon as it was close enough to the grass, she slipped on the water grass before darting into the forest –silently laughing as she heard Daxter calling her a cheater. She slid down a hill and rolled behind a tree, she took out two knives –they were silent killers. She heard the first Metal Head and snuck up behind it, surprising it, and its buddy, when she threw the knives into their backs. She didn't even bother with their Skull Gems, she followed the river and shot two of the Cloakers down from their hiding spot. She ran past their bodies, they weren't hidden very well considering she could still see their Skull Gems. She ducked behind a tree when she heard another gun shot, she peaked around and saw Jak run past two of the larger Metal Heads picking up Skulls Gems and blobs of Dark Eco.

Once again her mind was playing tricks on her, she turned just in time to duck the bullets of a Cloaker. Wood exploded above her and rained down, she rolled into a bush and cursed herself for not checking what this bush was before. The sharp scent of dying roses filled her nose but she could also feel the burn of the thorns digging into her skin. She crawled out the other side, hearing her socks rip as she got to her feet and ran forward. She glanced back as the creature ran after her, growling and snarling before she reached up, grabbed a branch and swung around, kicking it square in its back. The creature sprawled out on the ground, she jumped on its back and shot it in the head. She turned and ran up the pathway to the Tree of Life, she knew the Metal Heads would go after it –it was after all a powerful source in the forest.

On the hill, it seemed peaceful –calm even. She looked around and saw the yellow glow of another Cloaker. She fired at him twice before he went down. She turned and threw a knife at another one, she turned when she heard a growl and felt pain explode behind her knee. Something hit her, she fell to the ground and rolled onto her stomach just in time to see Jak shot one of the Cloakers down. She moved to get up when Jak motioned for her to stay down. She was confused for a second before Daxter jumped off his shoulder and ran to Parker's side.

Before she could ask what was wrong she felt the change in the air. It wasn't all the time Daxter was scared –he was never scared of his best friend. Parker opened her mouth to call Jak's name but it died in her throat as Dark Eco cracked through Jak's calm persona. The Eco snapped at the air, breaking all her thoughts as Jak –no, this creature– moved forward. It's sharp claws ripped the Metal Heads to shreds, ripping out their Skull Gems and absorbing the Dark Eco fell to the ground. Parker struggled to her feet and leaned against the tree, Daxter clung to her shoulder as they watched the creature destroy every Metal Head that was left. It turned quickly, looking straight at her with dark void eyes. It straightened and walked over to her, cautious at first but it quickly gained confidence as it came closer. Parker breathed quickly as It touched her face, dragging a sharp talon down her jaw line before it was at the tip of her chin. She could feel her blood bubbling to the surface, she gave a small whimper as it wrapped an arm around her torso and pulled her close to It. She put both her hands on It's chest as it licked the blood off it's talons, It chuckled before pushing her against the tree. It showed her It's fang, sharp needles ready to pierce her skin and drain all the blood from her. Instead It kissed her forehead, she felt the cold burn of It's lips against her skin. She cried out as the lips turned warm and Jak jumped back from her.

"Parker…" He started. "I'm sor-"

She didn't wait, she bolted from the tree, stumbling over an exposed root before running full force down the path. Her mind was screaming as she moved, cursing her for even working with him. She hated herself for letting her guard down, but she refused to knowledge the small voice called guilt. She knew what she had done but she didn't care, all she had to do was run until she couldn't run anymore.

That's what she gets for playing God.

TBC…

Author's Note

I have a confession to make. This is really hard. I'm a Canadian, I know it's shocking. But this weekend it was Civic Holiday up here and I went to the cottage with my friends. I wrote the last two chapters on the docks while my friends swum because ear infections and I didn't trust the water (I swear I saw a floating animal). Thank you to EcoSeeker for her review and the Unknown Reviewer with no name. See ya'll next chapter.