Chapter Seven:
A Second Assault
Within the walls of Haven City, the euphoria which had enveloped the populace since the death of Baron Praxis had passed. The streets were quiet and somber. The mood had shifted so drastically that even the sun didn't seem to shine as bright as was the norm. The people who did find themselves in the streets on such a morning were quiet and reproachful.
Erin watched the sad people of the streets in silence. They were all hundreds of feet below the windowed tower of the Palace that she stood in. In the distance Erin spotted clouds, perhaps they would come to cover the city to make it resemble the feelings throughout the populace.
A comforting hand found its way to her shoulder, Erin turned to look into Jak's worried eyes. "It's amazing how quickly things can change." Erin commented as she turned back to the window. "It almost seems like the happiness the city felt was years ago, not just yesterday."
Jak's hand squeezed her shoulder. "And if you hadn't given Ashelin the cure, they would all be mourning, not just fearful."
"Onin knew something like this was going to happen," Erin thought out loud.
Jak and Erin turned around to face their commanding officer, who's footsteps they heard. Torn was pale, no doubt since learning that the crime syndicate was much more brash than originally thought. "Then you both should get back to Spargus and inform King Damas that Ashelin has agreed to the treaty."
Both Erin and Jak nodded their heads to Torn. Keira took a step forward and addressed them.
"The dune buggy you used to get here is in the Southern HQ Garage," she stated. "Vin can let you into the private part of the Garage."
"Speaking of Vin," Torn cut in, "you should take him with you. Maybe he can somehow set up a communication system between Haven and Spargus. It will be vital if we plan to integrate all of our information."
Jak and Erin saluted. Before they turned to go, Erin stopped and asked one last question. "Is there any more news on Ashelin?"
Torn sighed, stress obvious on his tired face. "She's stable, but no improvement yet."
Erin nodded sadly and followed Jak out of the room. Just outside, Sig was leaning against a wall, thinking deeply.
"Are you coming back with us to Spargus?" Jak asked.
Sig jolted out of his thoughts at the sound of Jak's voice. "I think I'll stick around here for a while," he answered.
Jak couldn't tell what the big man was thinking, but he left it at that. Jak and Erin walked down the large hall, leaving Sig to his thoughts. They reached the elevator quickly and it took them to the street level. When they stepped outside, the dismally overcast sky greeted them with a grey light. People on the streets looked understandably worried, no one knew if Ashelin was going to live.
The unforeseen attack on Baroness Ashelin rattled all the people in the city to the core. It reminded Jak, and all the people of the city, how fragile the peace they had established really was. Suddenly the scales had shifted to the enemy, whoever it was. The mystery made Jak feel uncomfortable. Before when Jak had been behind a cause, it had been clear cut. Baron Praxis was the enemy, just as the Metal Heads were, but with Praxis dead and the Metal Heads no longer a threat, it was almost maddening not knowing who the KG were supposed to be fighting. This new enemy had different tactics, shrouding themselves in shadows.
The last time the enemy wore a mask, Jak had lost something very dear to him. Jak looked over at Erin, he swore he wouldn't let anything happen to her this time. Erin looked up at him as he slipped his hand into hers.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
Jak just shook his head, "just thinking."
"About what?" She asked, intrigued.
"Stuff," Jak answered shortly and grinned.
Erin just smiled and shook her head, whatever he was thinking, he wanted to keep it to himself.
Jak squeezed her hand in a silent promise, he wouldn't let anything happen to her. All the mystery was making him worried, but as long as Erin was safe, he'd be fine.
It didn't take them long to reach HQ. The large, blue building stood out as a symbol of hope to the fearful populace. Jak slipped his hand out of Erin's as they reached the structure, having to get back to business. Vin greeted them as the entered the large portal, his voice a little higher than normal.
The poor sap looked terrified. He was shacking like he had just got shocked by live wires and his body was covered with scrap pieces of armor that had been lying around, which made him look thinner. His face was pale, and he was carrying a pistol on him. Not liking the last time they had met when Vin had a pistol, Jak looked concerned.
"Is everything alright, Vin?" Jak asked in a calm voice, not wanting to startle the finicky man.
"Alright? Is everything ALRIGHT? Yeah, yeah, just fine," Vin raved, making it obvious that everything was NOT alright. "Torn has just informed me that I am to accompany you two to Spargus, so, yes, everything is perfect! Does that man know how dangerous the Wasteland is? I could get killed! Torn still has no appreciation for all the work I've done for the city. If he thinks…"
"Vin," Erin cut across his ranting smoothly, "everything is going to be okay, we'll protect you."
Vin raised his eyebrows uncertainly. Perhaps he didn't want to insult Erin by complaining more, so he just turned and marched to the garage, where the Sand Buggy was waiting for them. Jak just smirked as he followed Vin.
They entered the garage and Vin grabbed two large bags of instruments and tools he would need to, hopefully, set up some sort of communication system between the two cities. He tossed the bags into the back of the buggy and Erin and Jak helped him tie them down.
Vin took the back seat, while Jak drove and Erin sat beside Jak. Jak threw the buggy into gear and headed out of the city. It was already getting later than he had hoped. It would be dark by the time they reached Spargus if they didn't hurry. Damas usually locked the gates of the city at night, so Jak would have to push it to reach the gates in time.
They reached the outer gate of Haven without incident and Jak headed out into the hazy, heat of the Wasteland.
Damas had been out helping to prepare the city for an approaching sand storm when the first wave of attacks started. The sun was just disappearing into a cloud of sand on the horizon when the explosions racked the defensive gate into the city. From high atop the city walls Damas had identified the assailants, Marauders. The Marauders had once been welcome inside the city walls, but their criminal behavior had forced Damas' hand, banishing them from the last haven they had from the deadly desert.
The city had grown accustomed to the small attacks from the rogue group of Wastelanders, but the force that was attempting to enter the gates by force was much larger than any before seen. It worried King Damas, he hadn't banished that many people from Spargus. Someone was helping them, giving them large siege weapons and many sand vehicles.
Another explosion shook the group of men attempting to fortify the gates of Spargus. Some chunks of the fire ball blew up through the air and landed at the feet of the king. Damas stomped on one larger red coal and moved forward. The red embers slowly faded and died.
"Report," the king demanded of Kleiver, who was ordering the other men around. They scattered around frantically, attempting to keep the gates fortified.
"Not good, sir," he answered in a drawl. "A few more hits with 'em catapults and they'll be through."
Damas stopped and analyzed the situation, deep in thought.
"Sir," Kleiver continued, "We shouldn't be hidin' in the city like cornered kangarats. I say we send out our best drivers and meet 'em head on."
The king continued to think, keeping silent.
"We should do it now while the doors are still capable of bein' opened," Kleiver added, trying to sway the king's judgment.
"Very well," Damas voiced, "Gather five of our best drivers."
"Five, sir? But there are six vehicles."
"I'm aware of that, Kleiver," Damas seemed to smile, even in this dark situation, "You don't think I'm going to send my men out there to die and remain behind, do you?"
Kleiver didn't have an answer to that, so he turned and went to gather any decent drivers who were willing to volunteer for the mission.
Damas just smirked, he wasn't going to ask his men to risk their lives if he wasn't willing to do the same. He found his way over to the Sand Shark. Back before they had built the city walls, he had spent much time on patrols, and the vehicle he found the most complementary to his driving style had been the Sand Shark.
It took only a few minutes for the other sand buggies to be filled. Several young men that Damas knew to be his artifact carriers clambered into the drivers seats of the other vehicles. Several other men took the passenger seats with guns and bags full of ammunition. A young man also took a seat beside Damas, who saluted to his king.
Damas started the engine, while the others followed. With a signal of his hand, Kleiver opened the massive, damaged gates, leaving the city vulnerable.
Damas was the first to burst through the open gate and into the chaotic assault that was partaking outside in the sand storm. He sped off into the shifting sands, looking through the sandy haze for an enemy. With the howling winds he couldn't even hear the engine, all he could feel was the vibrations.
Suddenly the sands parted revealing a target. Damas fired the machinegun rapidly, quickly dispatching the Marauder. After the vehicle exploded, Damas noticed that he had been facing away from the city.
Shots were fired at him from another Marauder, shoving the questioning thoughts out of his mind. Damas rerouted and returned fire while trying to evade the many bullets aimed at him. Damas' eyes started to water as some sand managed to get under his goggles and into his eyes.
Damas was trying to clear his eyes when another buggy sped by him. He recognized it as one of theirs just before he pulled the trigger. Damas blinked hard, finally dislodging the sand from under his eye lids. The world became clearer, and then he recognized the sand buggy that had sped by. It was the larger, more luxurious one that he had sent his emissaries to offer the treaty to the Baroness of Haven City. Damas couldn't help but smirk, they had returned when they were most needed.
The rest of the battle seemed a blur to anyone who had taken part. It mostly consisted of searching around blindly in the blowing sand, and when finding another vehicle, trying to decide quickly if it was an enemy. Even Damas, who had been in many battles, had to stay his hand several times so not to shoot a comrade. It was a nightmare, and he was sure that a few bullet holes marking the side of his buggy were from friendly fire.
After some time of not being able to find an enemy, Damas searched for his allies and signaled for them to return to the city. Damas followed not far behind.
When the gate closed behind Damas, he counted all the sand buggies. Everyone had made it, but each vehicle had obvious signs of battle scorched on the protective metal covering each vehicle's frame. The king slipped out of his seat and went to greet the other drivers.
Several of the drivers had managed to get shot, so Damas ordered them to the Palace for healing. He congratulated all the warriors and shook each man's hand. When Damas found Jak and Erin in the crowd, he marched over to greet them as well.
"Back when the city needed us most?" Jak smirked as he shook hands with the king.
Damas laughed genuinely. "Our minds think alike."
"We have brought news, Damas." Erin shook hands with him as well. "Ashelin has signed the treaty."
King Damas nodded his approval. "Very good."
He must've noticed the look that Erin and Jak shared. "Is this not good news?"
"I think we should speak in private, sir," Jak requested. Damas didn't know if he was going to like what they had to say, just by the looks on their faces.
Damas nodded and led the way to the Palace.
King Damas leaned back in his throne, going through the information that Jak and Erin had given him. There had been an attempt on the Baroness' life, and then an attack on Spargus. Big things were definitely happening, but who the culprit could be…
"Something tells me that the assassination attempt and the assault on Spargus are related," Damas voiced his thoughts.
Jak nodded, "I was thinking the same."
"You have no idea who could be behind it?" Damas asked.
Erin shook her head. "In Haven the problem seems to be coming from the crime ring, but it seems that someone is helping them out. We have no idea who, but it is thought that there is a spy in the Krimson Guard."
Damas thought for a moment. "The Marauders have always been a problem for the peace of Spargus, but never have they ever been so organized. Perhaps whoever is aiding the Haven crime circle is also aiding the Marauders."
"But it still doesn't help us find who's behind it," Jak brought up.
Damas nodded, "I assume that the KG is conducting an investigation?"
Jak and Erin nodded.
"We shall conduct one of our own," Damas concluded. "I need you two to go out and investigate the Marauders. If you could bring one back alive, we could question him."
"Sir," Erin spoke up, "Jak and I must be back in Haven by the morning. We're infiltrating the crime ring tomorrow."
Damas laughed, "I guess I'm not the only one who needs your help. Very well, you return to Haven City and I will have others investigate the Marauders."
"HEY! Don't push!" A voice echoed through the large throne room. Jak and Erin both turned to see Vin getting shoved forward by a big, burly guard.
"King Damas," the guard greeted when they were just in front of the king. "This runt demanded access into the Palace…"
"He's with us," Erin cut off the large guard.
The man ignored Erin and looked for the King's command. Damas waved the guard away, who left reluctantly. Once Vin was released, he dusted off his clothes and tried to straiten them out.
"Who's this?" Damas asked.
"This is the technical mind behind the continued defense of Haven City," Erin answered. "Ashelin sent him to try and establish a communication system between Spargus and Haven."
"Which will be no easy feat," Vin commented.
Damas waved another guard forward. "Take this man to the security room, and give him any supplies he needs."
The guard nodded and led Vin out of the throne room.
"I'll have my men repair your dune buggy, but it will take several hours. Gather whatever supplies you will need and get some rest in the mean time."
Both Jak and Erin bowed to the king and turned to leave.
"One moment, Jak, I wish to speak with you."
Erin gave Jak's hand a squeeze and went to the elevator and took it down to ground level. Once they were alone, Damas turned somber.
"My monks say the world is coming to an end, but I am a survivor. I say we live on long after this world dies. Be ready. You are shaping up to be one of my finest warriors, and I'll need you for the trials ahead. I mustn't lose you... like I lost my son."
Jak's heart clenched, what would Damas say if Jak revealed that he was talking to his son? "You had a son?" Jak asked, though he knew the answer.
Damas sighed, "Long ago, but much has been sacrificed in this war so that others could live. Anyway, it matters not."
"Sure it matters," Jak answered, "I'm sure you didn't want to talk to me just to warn me."
Damas gave a rueful smile, "Am I so transparent?" He paused for a moment and continued. "The amulet I gave you to present to Ashelin, I was wondering if you had seen it before."
Jak's lungs felt crushed. He didn't know what to say. If he said he hadn't seen it before, it would have been a lie, but if he said yes, how would he explain it? It had been the same amulet that had been ever present around the neck of his younger self. It would be a long story to tell, and at the end, would Damas believe him?
"Yes," Jak blurted out before he could change his mind.
"You have seen it before? Where?" Damas pleaded for the information.
It was Jak's turn to sigh. "It's a long story."
"Tell me," Damas voice asked.
Jak dove into the long tale of how he first got transported to Haven City. He thought it imperative that he tell Damas where he came from. Damas seemed shocked, but kept quiet. Jak then went into detail about joining the Underground, and that Erin was ordered to guard a young boy found wandering the streets.
"The young boy had that same amulet," Jak conceded.
"What happened to him?" Damas asked, intrigued. It was the first information he had learned of his son since his disappearance.
Jak continued with the story. He told Damas of how Erin was nearly killed and how the boy had been captured by the Metal Head leader, who had been hiding among them all along. Jak explained that he went into the Metal Head nest to retrieve the boy, and for vengeance for what happened to Erin. In his final sentence, he explained how the Precursors used the Rift Gate to transport the boy to the past, where he could grow up safe from harm. Jak left out the fact that he was that boy.
Damas was stunned, that had all happened to his young son? For many minutes the two stood in silence. The only sound was of the moving water in the throne room, seeming to draw attention to the fact that they had stopped talking. Damas' mind raced, trying to understand why the Precursors sent his son to the past…
Damas had named his son after the great leader who had founded Haven City, who's bloodline they belonged to, but what if his son WAS the real Mar? The thought was mind-boggling. That would mean that his son was the great ruler who had established the first great city, and that he has started he bloodline…
Damas thought that he was going to be sick. How could he have known that his son was destined to be such a great figure in history? What added to that sickening feeling was that he didn't get to watch his son grow up. He had already lived, and died, in the past.
"Do…Do you think he'll ever find a way back?" Damas said through a lump in his throat. He had promised his wife before she died that he would take care of Mar, but he had failed.
"I know he will," Jak said softly.
Damas looked Jak in the eye, "How do you know?"
Jak couldn't force himself to look his father in the eyes. "Because…I was that boy."
He found that he couldn't take the tension any more. Jak turned to leave his father to his thoughts. Perhaps he just thought that Jak was insane, or trying to become king. For whatever reason, Jak couldn't face Damas if he thought Jak only said that to hurt him or to get at the throne. The truth was that he didn't wish to rule, he wouldn't know how.
As Jak walked across the stone walkway to the elevator, the only sounds were of the persistent waterfalls and the echoing of his heavy boots. Damas didn't move nor did he utter a syllable to stop him. Perhaps he was silent with rage, or uncertainty. For whatever reason, he didn't try and stop Jak from leaving. Jak reached the elevator without a sound, and reached the silent street below.
After waiting for a while after she left Jak to talk to Damas alone, Erin decided to gather the supplies they would need and head back to the small house that Jak had called his home while staying in Spargus. The sun had set and the sand storm had passed, making the streets unusually quiet. Erin entered the small house and packed up anything more they would need, especially food and water.
Once Erin had finished packing the supplies, she waited for Jak. She sat on the couch and wondered what was taking him so long…
…Erin woke with a start. Movement had pulled her out of her sleep. She forced her eyes open. Jak was sitting next to her on the couch. She rubbed her eyes, she couldn't even remember closing them.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Jak apologized.
Erin noticed the somber look in his eyes. "Is everything alright?" She asked, concerned.
Jak sighed, not knowing how to put it into words. Erin saw the uncertainty in his eyes and moved closer to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I told him I was his son."
Erin squeezed his shoulder, "What did he say?"
"I walked away before he could say anything. I was so nervous," Jak answered quietly, "I thought he might have me arrested or something. He probably just thought I was insane. Part of me expects guards to come kicking down the door to haul me away."
"I don't think he'd do that," Erin answered comfortingly.
Jak looked into her eyes, and Erin could see all the pain that was in them. This time of being around his father but not saying anything had stressed him out. Erin slid into his arms, wrapping hers around him firmly. He needed comfort.
Jak buried his face in her warm hair, he couldn't imagine going thought this without her. "I'm so glad you're here," he whispered into her ear. "I love you," he whispered into her hair.
Erin pulled away slightly so she could look him in the eyes. The one time before this that he had said those words was when she was dying in a puddle of her own blood. Erin had figured that neither of them had said it since was because it was too painful for them to relive that moment. "I love you, too," she answered in a whisper, as if afraid that the world would come crashing down on them if it was spoken too loudly.
Jak pulled her closer and pulled them into a lying position on the couch, his arms wrapped tightly around Erin as her head rested on his chest. "We only have an hour or two until we have to leave, so you better get some sleep."
Erin could hear the firm, steady beating of his heart. Her exhaustion came back to her in a wave. She had never felt so comforted and protected in her life as she did in his arms. She closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat until sleep took her.
Jak climbed into the drivers seat of the buggy, ready to head off into the black desert to reach Haven. It would be just about morning by the time they reached the outer city walls. Erin climbed sleepily into the passengers seat.
"The Marauders wont trouble you at this hour of night."
Jak turned, surprised to see Damas there to send them off. He walked up to the diver's side door. He seemed to be expressly interested in Jak's face.
Jak looked Damas in the eye as well, he was quite shocked that Damas had shown up at all, and he didn't have a troop of guards following him. "This is for you," Damas said, "I've been saving it for years for my son."
Damas looked like he didn't know what else to say, so Jak looked down at the parcel that Damas had passed to him. It was rare and exquisite looking chest armor.
"I hope that armor keeps you safe," Damas said just before he walked away. Just as Damas turned away, Jak could have sworn he heard him say "You look exactly like your mother."
Erin smiled, sitting through the entire transaction without saying a word. She thought it silly that men could never talk about their feelings, especially to each other. Neither of them could come out and say they were glad to see each other, but both of them knew the truth. That was a start.
Erin squeezed Jak's hand one last time before the sped off into the darkened desert.
Author's Notes: Ok, now that I am officially graduated from high school, hopefully the next chapters will come much faster. No more school or homework to worry about for months! And I'm getting my own laptop so I don't have to fight the other members of my family for computer time!
Damas knows that Jak is his son! YAY! I always hated that you didn't find out until Damas was dead, well not in this story! Tell me what you think of it!