Hey guys, I know I promised major plot, there's a little… this was actually apart of the next chapter, but I wrote the end first and tried to attach this part to it. It didn't work out so here I am. The doors mentioned are really in the game, near the marauder base and the temple; they have no use in the game so I am using them so there! Thanks for the reviews guys…do it again, LOTS! # Forty wins!oh…. before J&D freak beats me… (cowers) I'd like to thank her for taking the time out her day to be my beta reader! That's cuase shes a 'beta' reader than you! Yup, thanks lots and lots to her, I take no credit what soever for the good grammar shown below (grins and waves)
---Get Your Freak on-- ch18--
Jak was surprised; there hadn't been a single marauder yet. They plodded along on their leapers, the rhythm of Cacti's pounding gate thumping through his body.
As they rode, Jak tried to decide which he preferred, the desert or the water in havens port. He was swaying toward the sewer water.
As the leapers ran, they kicked up sand which got in every thing. His hair, his eyes, his nose, everywhere. All of this was with goggles and scarf equipped, too!
Yet again, Clue made it look like he was out for a stroll. He was deep in thought, his brows were furrowed together and he stared at the horizon like a man possessed.
"Are we there YET?" Daxter's familiar voice rang from the saddlebag.
"No!" Jak yelled back, wishing that he could curl up in a saddlebag and escape the sand, too.
When they peaked the crest of a dune, a surprising sight met Jak's eyes. Below him, on a small island in the river, was a fortified camp. The river itself would have been amazing, but the camp topped it off.
"What is that?" Jak asked, sounding a little amazed.
"What?" Clue snapped out of it and looked where Jak pointed. "It's a Marauder camp," he responded, "Over a thousand people live there."
It looked quite possible; houses, towers and tents filled the inside of the walls and more tents lined its shores and the neighboring area. Red and blue dominated the color scheme of the tents and flags.
The camp made him think of the two twins from the arena. They probably used to live there.
"Hey, Clue?" Jak asked, still staring down at the small camp. Clue didn't answer he just looked at him. Jak continued, "Do you know what…. 'Hecky on tale' means?"
"Heeki en tahl? Of course I do, why? Who said it to you?" Clue sounded immensely interested.
"No one said it to me, but what does it mean?"
"It's the founding principle of the marauder people, so to speak. It means honor and trust, or honor and loyalty."
Jak didn't respond, he continued to stare at the colony below him. The twins' death still didn't make any sense to him. It probably never would.
"Hey," Clue dragged him out of his thoughts. "Let's go."
Daxter popped his head out of the side bag. "What's so important about this temple, anyway?"
"You'll see," the wastelander replied as he kicked up his leaper into a run and headed off toward the sea.
They rode swiftly along the coast in silence. Finally, they stopped when the land gave way to small islands leading out to a spire of rock. Jak studied the rock spire for a moment; he assumed it was the temple from the way Clue glared at it. What really caught his attention were the two large metal doors embedded in the cliff face next to them.
"Hey Clue, what are those?" he asked, pointing at them.
Clue snapped out of thought and glared at the doors harsher than he had the temple. "Nothing," He said gruffly, " now come on."
Jak looked at him. He had given Clue the benefit of the doubt long enough; something wasn't quite right. He looked back at the doors as he followed the Wastelander. Clue looked disgusted. His leaper pranced from foot to foot, impatient to leap the next gap in the island chain.
Cacti flapped her little wings and squealed with joy as Jak leapt her over the gap. It put a whole new meaning on island hopping. Jak was also enjoying himself; a little risk, heights, Daxter screaming like a girl--it was all good.
Clue tugged on the reins of his hyperactive steed, "Stupid…thing!" He finally took control of it and turned it toward the next island. Jak followed behind and shouted as he jumped the gap. They followed a trail that spiraled up toward the top of the rock formation.
"What the shit?" Clue stared at the washed out road before him; the waterfall had almost completely eroded the trail.
"Can we jump it?" Jak asked. Daxter, who had emerged from the pack, gulped at the thought of it.
"Good thing your freaking, hyperactive--" He mumbled at his mount, patting its neck almost affectionately, before turning back to Jak. "Only one way to find out!"
He urged the animal it to a full out bolt, and it lowered it head so its backbone was parallel to the ground. Clue leaned forward as far as he could, trying to lower the air resistance.
When it reached the edge, it leapt with no further prodding of any kind. For a moment, Jak thought he wasn't going to make it, but at the last second the leaper opened its little wings and fluttered like crazy. One, tree clawed foot landed heavily on the edge and it leapt forward, sliding to a stop. It squealed happily and continued to prance from foot to foot. Clue looked relieved.
"We can't do that. Jak, don't do this!" Jak ignored his furry friend and backed his leaper up.
Like he had watch Clue do, he kicked the leaper into a full-out gallop. Then, as the thumping sound of the leapers feet stopped, they where airborne.
"SSHIIIIIIIIIT!" Daxter's voice trilled and echoed as they leapt across the chasm. Jak's eyes grew wide as he felt himself start to fall instead of being propelled upward.
Just then, the pale green leaper's little wings started flapping. Both clawed feet stretched out before it, and Cacti landed squarely on the other side. Daxter sighed melodramatically.
"Booyah!" Jak said calmly, trotting past Clue. Clue stared at the cocky younger elf and shook his head.