The ABC's of Perfect Mistakes
Chapter Seventeen: Q is for Quell
After trying to beat the record, set by Erol, Parker left the stadium defeated by his time and the computer's set time. At this rate she might as well drop out of the race to spare herself the shame –and the future beating that she'd get from Lena when she lost to both Jak and Erol. Instead she took out her communicator and checked her messages, there was two, one from Vin that had been cancelled and another from Jak asking her to meet him at Onin's tent. She had a small feeling she should report to Torn but she ignored it and grabbed a zoomer.
It didn't take her long to get to the green tent and she wasn't surprised when she found Daxter and Pecker fighting again.
"Jak says have a nice day!" Daxter said skipping about. "Jak says I can't think on my own! Jak says go bite yourself!"
Parker rolled her eyes and walked past the two stepping up beside Jak. "Do I even wanna know what they're fighting about?"
Jak chuckled. "No."
"That's it rat boy! Now you've really pissed me off!"
"Knock it off, both of you." Jak snapped.
"You're lucky I'm famished." Pecker whispered but Parker could hear and she knew Jak did too. Pecker flew over their heads and landed on Onin's cap. "Onin says, take the energized Life Seed to young Samos in Haven Forest. It will give Samos the power to finally see the forest from the trees." Jak let the Life Seed land gently in his hands. "Go quickly." Pecker added as the group left.
"So," Parker started looking at the seed. "Where'd you get the big ass rock from?"
"It's a seed." Jak answered walking away from her.
"I saved it from the terrible grasp of the Metal Heads!" Daxter announced.
Parker ran in front of him. "Can I touch it?"
Jak raised an eyebrow at her. "Um… no."
She pouted as he passed by her. "Jeez, you have no sense of humour." She ran after him trying to keep up with his quick pace. "What are you going to do when all the walls fall down?"
"Shoot everything with a Skull Gem." He answered, he turned to her. "What are you going to do?"
She ran up the ramp to the Forest section and stood at the top. "I will befriend the Metal Heads, learn their ways and in time I will become their Queen."
"You're weird." Jak commented as he walked past her. The airlock opened and she followed him inside.
"And when you run out of ammunition?"
Jak smirked pulling his gun out. "I haven't gotten that far yet." Parker rolled her eyes and did the same, she jumped on the floating platform beside him and wanted as they floated over to the forest area. It wasn't long ago that she was here, sleeping under the tree with Jak beside her. She couldn't say whether Jak slept well but she assumed he didn't. Before she fell asleep she noticed that he was on edge, nervously pacing and hanging onto his gun. She jumped off the platform first, Jak jumped off next and she followed him up the path. She didn't really know where Samos was, and she wanted to thank him for saving her.
The forest was calm, she couldn't hear any Metal Heads. Her hand automatically went her gun, she'd never seen the forest so peaceful. There was always a threat looming, even last night when she told Jak everything was fine. She knew he didn't believe her. But this was unnatural, it was way too quiet. "Jak…" She whispered as he walked around the Tree of Life, she ran after him but slid to a stop when she saw The Shadow meditating under the tree.
"Samos told me to… I mean you told me to…" Jak started. "Or well… I mean your old version… ah… whatever." He mumbled. "I heard you needed the Life Seed." The seed floated over to Samos and landed lightly in his opened hands.
"Yes, it's power will help me speak to the plants."
"There he is!" Someone shouted. Parker spun when she heard the computerized voices of the guard, she stepped back as flying KG came towards them.
"Jak, Parker! Protect me from these guards! I must ask the trees vital questions about our future!"
Parker didn't wait to hear Jak's answer. She pulled out her pistol and ran forward, jumping onto the stone fence that surrounded the tree. She saw three guards running up the left hill and shot all three of them down, she chuckled and turned taking out the several that made it up the hill before she got to the stone outcropping. She heard shots being exchanged behind her, when she didn't feel any of the bullets hit her back she knew they were shooting at Jak or the Shadow. She wished she had her throwing knives and cursed Erol for taking them. Parker yelped when a bullet sliced her cheek, she jumped to the side and kicked the guard in the face. She smirked when she felt something break under her boots.
"Parker!" A voice shouted behind her. She turned just in time see Flint fire at her. She moved, but not fast enough, to the left and got the bullet in her shoulder. The force pushed her off the stones, she reached forward and grabbed the ledge but her hand slipped and she fell feet first to the ground below. She rolled forward ignoring the twist in her ankle, instead she threw a blade at one of the guards that rushed her. The blade stuck itself in a guards' leg, she ran forward grabbing the knife and slashing it across his throat. She turned quickly and kicked the next guard before grabbing the gun from the one that she killed.
She ran up the hill again, shooting down flying guard before Jak turned his gun on her. She froze. He was going to kill her, just as he promised. She took a sudden breath waiting for the bullet that would end her life, but instead he fired above her taking out the last flying guard. She ran to him as The Shadow stopped meditating and landed on the ground.
"The Life Seed gave me horrible vision!" The Shadow gasped as they came closer. "The Baron is planning to destroy the Precursor Stone! He aims to crack it open somehow! If he does this, the energy that's released will be beyond comprehension. It will destroy the world and more… ending all life!" Parker touched the space her necklace used to be, glancing to Jak as The Shadow's voice trembled with fear. "Jak the trees our crying out for protection!"
Parker looked to Jak. "What are we going to do?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Only thing I know best."
"Which is…?"
"Racing."
"There she is!" Lena shouted when Parker walked into her garage. Parker glanced around at the small room. She heard that she was renting it from Keira to be closer to stadium and that she would be returning to her old shop after the racing season was over. All the other NYFEs were gone, ready to race when the time came. Parker traced her family's seal. "Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"If you lose this race, you'll be kicked out of the Haven circuit."
"I know." Parker sighed. "How long will the ban be for?"
"A year, then you'll start at the bottom again."
"Will I still be on your team?"
Lena's mouth dropped open. "Are you stupid? Of course!"
"Attention all drivers," Parker shuddered when she heard Amberly's voice, first thing she was going to do when the Baron was off the throne was change the voiceovers. "The Class One Championship race is about to begin." Her racer started to lower into an open bay, she knew it'd be moved to the track right away.
"I'll be rooting for you." Lena said with a smile. "And I'll have the drinks ready when you win."
"And when I lose?"
"I'll have the drinks with extra shots ready." Lena threw her arms around Parker's shoulders. "You can do it Squeaker."
"Thanks Leanie Beanie." She gave Lena and extra squeeze before leaving the garage.
She walked these halls so many times before but she never felt so nervous in her life. She could hear the cheers of the people, they were chanting Jak's name. She stopped before crossing the line into the sunlight, into the views of the citizens, the people she's sworn to protect no matter what.
"Park!" Jak shouted behind her. He ran up to her and smirked. "I'm glad I caught you before the race."
"Why?"
He took her hand and opened it. "I found it when I came out of the temple. It was covered in blood but I managed to clean it." Parker waited before Jak dropped a heavy amulet in her palm. She stared at the green glow of her family's gem, she looked up to him and blinked.
"How did-"
"I found it." He said with a smirk. "I've been carrying it around for a while." He picked it up by its chain and hooked it around her neck. Parker shuddered at the sudden weight of it. Jak tapped it. "That thing is lucky."
"Thank you." She said putting her hand on it. "Thank you so much."
"All racers report to their NYFEs." Amberly's voice ran out. He didn't say anything as he walked forward, Parker followed and jumped through the opening. She landed on Sucker Punch and revved the gas, she looked to the other racers as they began to whisper. There was a general hush over the crowd as Jak and Daxter came up beside her.
"Whoa!" Daxter gasped. "Look at that ride!"
Parker smirked, she put on her headset and microphone she used to talk to Lena. Jak was about to say something when another NYFE pulled up in between them.
"I want more than just to win Eco Freak!" Erol shouted. "I want you!" He turned to Parker and sneered. "Enjoy your freedom Parker, because when I take this city back you'll be in the darkest cell."
She smirked and revved her engine. "You have to catch me first, asshole."
"Greeting racers!" Praxis' voice boomed over the crowd. Parker looked up at the man as he came in on a floating platform. "Today your nerve and skill will be tested for our amusement! If any of you should beat our Grand Champion, Erol, then will be reward with a month's supply of Eco!" He mumbled something Parker couldn't hear before he spoke again. "Good luck and die bravely!"
"Parker," Lena said into her ear. "Stay to the walls, use your speed when it's needed and remember the Kras golden rule." Parker smirked and revved her engine again. "Take no prisoners."
The lights above her went green, and she slammed on the gas weaving past the two guys in front of her. She took the turn gliding on the wall, she glanced back when she heard an explosion but she snapped her head back to the race. She didn't have time to worry about other racers. She braked when she came to another corner and watched as several other racers slid ahead of her. She gasped when she saw the giant gaping hole in the track and kept low to her vehicle, she would've been in the hole.
"You're doing great girl!" Lena shouted. "Try and get that lead back! You need to place at least a fourth!"
"Roger." She said over roar in the stadium. She kept to the walls like Lena told her, she looked down at her display; she was in fifth place while Jak was in third and Erol in first. In a spilt second decision, she takes one of the shortcuts and uses her boost to speed in front of Erol. She blew him a kiss and hit her boost again, she was in first place and she'd planned to keep it like that.
She yelped when someone hit the back of her racer. She spun around to see Erol, before she could process it he kicked her racer and she spun out. She screamed as it spun and hit the wall. Pain pulsed from her leg, she banged her head against the wall and gasped. Black dots appeared in her vision as she tried to shake them away, there was a loud ringing in her right ear. Her hair clip broke when she hit the wall, she felt it snap. She knew she should be upset but the only emotion she felt was rage. She saw red as she revved her engine again and made a U turn, she sped past the sixth place racer and found the fifth, fourth and third close together. She found both Jak and Erol fighting for first place, she floored the gas and sped in front of them taking first for that lap. Somewhere in her brain she heard a voice say it was the last lap, she glanced back as Jak and Erol stay neck and neck. She leaned to the right as Erol was able to push ahead –and she swore she heard Jak curse when he did this. Parker slowed behind Erol, taking a cool second. She tailed behind Erol as they entered the tunnelled area.
Before they left the tunnels, Parker hit the gas and lined herself up with Erol. He looked to her as she leaned towards him. He tried to move but he didn't have enough time, Parker lifted her right foot and kicked his NYFE. The force sent it spinning. Parker glanced to Jak as he drove past her, taking the corner on the wall and passing the checkered line in an explosion of cheers. Parker followed, throwing her hands up and letting her ride curse to a stop.
"We won! We won!" She heard Daxter shout as Jak lead their racer to hers. "A kiss for the winner?" Daxter asked. She laughed and snatched him off Jak's shoulder, she pressed a kiss to his cheek and tossed him into the air.
"Oh please, Dax, we all know who was really driving! You're a beast!"
"Damn straight!" Daxter cheered.
Jak rolled his eyes and jumped off his racer, he offered his hand to Parker as the other racers rushed by. Parker smiled and took his offered hand, she swung her leg over the side and landed wobbly on her feet. Not only did her legs feel like mush, which always happened after a race, her right leg burned. She chose not to look down as Jak turned her head and frowned.
"Your ear is bleeding!" He shouted over the roar of the crowd.
"I think I popped my eardrum!" She shouted back with a smile.
He nodded and grabbed the Palace Pass that floated down to him while Daxter blew kisses to the crowd.
"Thank you! Thank you very much. I love my public!"
"A brave man of the people," Praxis said with elation. "Who is this worthy opponent?" He asked. "In my world, good men are either brought or broken, so which is it?"
Jak turned. "Surprise."
"What?!"
"Come closer," Jak said motioning with his fingers. "We need to talk."
"Fools!" Praxis shouted. "Don't you get it Jak? All the heroes died long ago! Only survival remains by whatever means! This city is mine," He snarled looked directly at Parker. "These lives are mine! This war is mine! And in war people die! Kill him!" He shouted.
"Look out!" Parker turned to Jak, she didn't have enough time to ask him what to look out for before he grabbed her and dove out-of-the-way. She hit her head again, this time the world was tossed in a black fuzzy hole. In the distance she could hear an explosion and she felt it rattle her teeth. Someone touched her back and tried to get her off the ground but she felt another pair of hands on her arm.
"Go!" The voice shouted. "I'll get her out of here! They won't bother her if she's with me!" The voice's hands pulled her off the ground. "What are you waiting for lover boy, high noon? Go!"
TBC…