Chapter Nine:

Seeking Solutions

The lone cell was dark and dank, but it looked more like an old storage room outfitted to serve as a cell. Bars had been welded onto the one, very small window. What little light that shined though the grimy glass just left a grim glowing in the small room, which only lit of half of the cell. The large metal door was obviously a replacement of the original, as it was sloppily put into place. The only objects in the room were the small cot and a hard chair, both bolted to the floor so that she couldn't use them for weapons.

Erin sat on the edge of the small, hard cot. She was alone, and trying hard to find a way out of this mess. She knew that if she was to use her dark form, she may have the strength to rip the bed out of the floor and use it to smash the door, but she doubted that she would be able break though. Even if she managed it, everyone in the building would hear her and come running with weapons.

She knew it wasn't a very plausible plan, so she moved her train of thought. How else could she escape? Erin was really starting to get frustrated, perhaps because they hadn't bothered to get her any food or water. And the fact that Jak was out there on his own. Was he trying to get into the catacombs, like Krew had ordered? Erin had no idea what Krew or his mysterious employer needed in the catacombs, but she was sure that it wasn't good. They had gone to such lengths as killing Krimson Guard officers and an assassination attempt on the Baroness. Whatever was down there was worth killing for…

It was very unsettling for Erin. She had no idea that Krew had lived, even Jak had thought that he was dead, and now Jak was forced to do his dirty work. Yet again.

This is impossible! Erin thought as the moved from the bed to the large metal door. It had been a few days since she'd been captured and she was starting to get hungry, which didn't help her situation any. Perhaps because all she could think about was how hungry she was since she had nothing to occupy herself with.

Suddenly she heard the guards outside her cell. They seemed to be struggling with something or someone. Erin heard yelling and several booted feet dragging something that was giving them a lot of trouble. Erin moved closer to the door, trying to listen. She heard a feminine voice yelling to be set free. She placed her long ear against the door, just as it was opened. The door gave way and a mass of blonde hair was pushed into Erin knocking her to the ground. The door slammed shut again before Erin had a chance to try and escape.

Erin pulled herself to her feet, rubbing the spot on her forehead where they had smacked heads. The blonde hit the ground next to her and sat up as well. "OW!" The girl looked up and Erin realized that it was Tess.

"Tess, what are you doing here?" Erin asked, bewildered.

"I was jumped," Tess replied as she climbed onto her feet, "What are you doing here? No one knows where you are. Everyone's been worried about you!"

"I'm being used as leverage over Jak," Erin sighed. She moved over to the small bed and sat down heavily, trying not to think about what Jak was doing at that moment. No doubt doing what Krew ordered of him. Most likely dangerous.

Tess didn't know what to say. "What does Krew need Jak for?"

"I'm not sure what he has planned, but he's using Jak to find him a way into the catacombs."

"What does he need in the catacombs?" Tess asked.

Erin shook her head, trying to keep the painful worry for Jak out of her mind, which seemed impossible. She quickly changed the subject. "What does Krew need with you, Tess?"

Tess suddenly turned sour. "That slime ball captured me to build him more advanced weapons to use against the Krimson Guards."

"What is he going to do to you if you refuse?" Erin asked, honestly worried for her friend.

"I don't know, but whatever it is it doesn't matter. I will not build that freak any weapons," Tess answered decidedly.

Erin wished that it'd be that easy, but Krew was a smart man. He would find something that Tess treasured and use it against her, just as he had with Jak and her. Erin hated Krew, she had known that he was a lowly character, but he hadn't tried to take over the city when she had worked for him.

"I can't believe that guy," Tess continued, "How did that man escape prison?" In Tess's anger she started to pace in the small storage room/cell.

"I have no idea," Erin answered, "But it's obvious that he had some help."

"Yeah," Tess continued in a huff, "whoever that spy is in the KG better run, because if I ever get my hands on him…" She let her empty threat hang in the air.

"We just need to think of a way out of here," Tess quickly changed courses in the conversation.

Erin agreed. By staying here they would be helping Krew in his dangerous endeavors, and Erin had no intention of making Krew's job easier, whatever it was. If they could find a way out they could warn the KG, for Jak wasn't allowed to say anything, or it might cost Erin her life. Tess and Erin conversed in the corner of the "cell" thinking of a plausible plan that may gain them their freedom.

Jak woke before dawn that morning, not that he had gotten any sleep. He mostly had tossed in his bed thinking about what he had to do and worrying about Erin. He stayed in bed for his own benefit, not for the sleep. He needed time to think and consider a course of action. Jak had found it hard to think about anything other than murdering Cass when the traitor was around. The only chance he got to be alone was in his own quarters, seeing as Cass 'conveniently' showed up anywhere Jak decided to go.

Saying that Jak now had another person to hate much more than the Baron, Erol, and Kor put together would be an understatement.

Jak tossed angrily in his bed. Just thinking about that unimaginable jerk made his blood burn. He tossed again, his thought train didn't help his sour mood. Jak would be sure that Cass gets what's coming to him.

Finally giving up, knowing that he wouldn't be able to lie in bed anymore, Jak pulled himself out of the blankets. He threw on his uniform and looked at the clock. It was early, the sun wasn't even up yet. If he was lucky Cass would be asleep and Jak could have a few hours of researching without the spineless coward breathing down his neck.

In his thinking, Jak decided that he would go and seek Onin's advice. She was a seer and a prophet, whatever insight she could offer would be of great benefit.

Silently Jak slid out into the deserted hallway. The darkness seemed to calm him. Jak doubted that Cass would be up, giving him some time without him. Otherwise Jak knew he would be tempted to kill the bastard…but that wouldn't be good for Erin when Krew found out…

Swiftly and silently Jak traversed the long hall and made his way pass the Mess Hall. The cooks hadn't even started breakfast yet, which was a good sign. Jak continued to the main entrance of HQ.

"Going somewhere?" A low voice echoed in Jak's ears.

"Never too early to get to work," Jak said through clenched teeth.

Cass stepped forward from the dark hall that adjoined the Main Hall. Even in the darkness Jak could see his cocky 'I win' grin. Jak wanted nothing more than wring the man's neck. "I couldn't agree more," he smirked as he headed for the door. Jak grudgingly followed, cursing his bad luck. Cass had expected he would try and get out on his own for a while.

"So, where are we going?" Cass asked after exiting HQ into the cool morning air.

"The Bazaar," Jak answered shortly.

"Why?" Cass asked impatiently.

"To meet with a Seer." Jak tried to keep his responses as short as possible.

"A Seer?" Cass scoffed, "You don't honestly expect me to believe that rubbish, do you? Seers are nothing but a bunch of frauds."

"If that was true," Jak said through grinding teeth, "then your attempt on Ashelin's life would have been successful."

Cass was momentarily caught off guard, but he recovered quickly. "Let's get on with this wild goose chase, then," he scoffed, again.

Jak didn't bother to comment back, he just moved quickly to the nearest one-person zoomer. Cass could follow him in his own, for their was no way the Precursors themselves could force him to ride in the same zoomer as the slime ball. Once they each found a ride, Jak headed off in the direction of the Bazaar, making sure not to let Cass fall behind. Jak didn't want anything to happen to Erin.

It didn't take them long to make it across town. Jak lowered his zoomer to ground level and hopped off, hearing Cass not far behind. Jak walked into the large red tent first, shadowed by his stalker.

"AAAWWWRRRKKK!" Squawked Pecker, "Long time no see, Jak." He hopped off of Onin's large hat and flew forward. "Onin asks what you need."

"I need a way into the catacombs," Jak got right to the point.

The answer was short, and not what he was hoping for. "Only the Precursors hold that knowledge," Pecker voiced what Onin was saying with her hands.

Jak groaned irately, "Thanks anyway." Jak led the way out of the tent, Cass, as always, just one step behind. He didn't have time for dead ends, he needed to either get the information that Krew needed, which would be really bad for the city, or he needed a way to get Erin out of his clutches, which would be very difficult.

The buzzing of his communicator broke his chain of thought. He pushed the button to receive the message. It was Samos. "Jak, I need you to check out something at the Forest, it could be vital to our efforts to save this world."

And you're giving our information to the spy, Jak thought, knowing that there was nothing he could do to stop it without looking suspicious or getting Erin hurt. "What do you need me to do?" He asked into the communicator.

"Many stray Metal Heads have gathered in the Forest, I need you to clear them out and see what's drawing their attention, something tells me that it's Precursor related."

"Sure thing," Jak answered and turned off the communicator.

"You know," Cass spoke up, "every minute you spend not looking for a passage into the catacombs makes the Boss reconsider the deal."

Jak lost it. He turned on Cass and stepped forward. The man backed up considerably as Jak moved closer. "If I don't do my duty for the Krimson Guard, they may stop trusting me, which won't help me find the catacombs," Jak snarled.

He had Cass backed up to a wall, but the man had leverage over him. "I'd keep my temper in check if I were you."

Jak bit his tongue to prevent himself from pushing farther. He could taste the blood in his mouth. Without speaking a word, Jak turned and headed for his zoomer. Cass notably silent as he followed. Jak had made his point, but so had Cass.

After starting up the zoomer, Jak quickly started off again. It only took a few minutes to get to the greenery of the gardens leading to the Forest. Jak moved from the zoomer to the soft, grass-covered ground. It was covered in dew this early in the morning, the sun had barely started to rise in the eastern sky. Not a single cloud was present in the sky, which was quite opposite to the mood that Jak was in.

Without waiting for Cass, Jak started the trek up the long ramp to the security gate. It opened automatically as he approached. Cass appeared a moment later, and they moved into the Forest, weapons drawn and ready.

When the second door opened, it was quiet. No sounds of birds or bugs. The usual sounds of wildlife had be halted, leaving an ominous feeling as they walked into the trees. Jak went first, keeping a vigil eye and ear, searching for any danger. After passing a few trees, Jak heard them. There were Metal Heads close by, and by the sound of it, there were many of them.

Jak took a defensive stance by a tree and slowly leaned out from behind it. What was beyond it wasn't what he was expecting. In the open was the small pond, and surrounding it had to be at least fifty Metal Heads, all looking intently into the center. Jak was surprised to see that a large pedestal had appeared out of the water, shooting about thirty feet into the air. Whatever was glowing at the top of the large Precursor pedestal had the Metal Heads enthralled. They stared intently at it, and when one in the back would step closer, it would push one of the others into the pond. Being made of metal-like bone, they sank like rocks.

"What are they doing?" Cass asked stupidly, how was Jak supposed to know?

That's when Jak heard it. It had started out as a whisper at first, but now it was becoming clearer. The Precursor Oracle was calling to him. He needed to get to the pedestal. It must be calling to them too, Jak thought.

"Ready?" He asked Cass.

Cass nodded, he didn't seem too eager to take on such a large number of Metal Heads. Fifty versus two, Jak thought, I've been in worse battles. Without wasting another moment, Jak jumped out from behind the tree and opened fire on the Metal Heads closest to him.

Every Metal Head in the area turned to the noise in a maddened rage. As a unit they turned to swarm on the two of them. They both fired on them as fast as they could, but there was just too many of them.

Jak quickly formulated a plan. "Get back!" He ordered Cass, and without waiting to see if he obeyed, Jak turned into his darker self. In a flash of purple, Jak turned into the dark murdering machine and used the Dark Bomb to clear out as many of the Metal Heads as possible.

It only took a moment for the dark wave to sweep over the Metal Heads, killing the ones who were close enough, and throwing many more into the pond to a watery grave. The disorientation that always followed when using the power hit Jak. He just barely managed to keep his knees from buckling. With a shake of his head Jak cleared it and moved forward quickly, drawn to the pedestal in the center of the pond. Jak noticed that he hadn't managed to kill all of them. There looked to be about twenty left. Jak dove into the water before they could get to him.

One foolhardy Metal Head dove at Jak, missed and sunk like a boulder. Jak swam closer to the pedestal and as he approached, Jak felt the medallion of the House of Mar, which was hanging around his neck, started to vibrate and glow. As if in answer, smaller pedestals pushed their way out of the water in a circle around the larger one. Jak pulled himself on the lowest one and started climbing his way up in the circular path. When he reached the top, he heard the voice of the Oracle in his mind.

"Approach the Astro-Viewer, time warrior. Behold... the seed of our destruction," the Oracle's voice was sorrowful.

Jak did as he was told, placing his eye up to the floating telescope. Inside was a magnified blob. It was a large black ship, with many spike-like extrusions. It looked dark and foreboding, even at that distance.

"We Precursors built many worlds across the universe," the Oracle continued. "Shaping them with eco into something good... but we were foolish. The Dark Makers were once Precursors, but their exposure to Dark Eco changed them. They began twisting worlds, conquering life and dark ages ensued. Now the dark ones have found your world and are coming to claim it for themselves."

Jak listened in silence. He was being told a history that no one else knew.

"There is but one hope left," the Oracle's voice continued to echo in Jak's mind, "You will find a planetary defense system hidden deep at the core of the planet. There is still a chance to save your world. I hope you are more successful than many planets whose fate has already been closed."

"But how do I get to the core of the planet?" Jak asked the disembodied voice.

In answer, a collage of images flashed through his mind. He realized that he was at the entrance to the Palace, and in a flash he was shown images of several different halls in the Palace, leading him to the center of the structure. A secret door opened in a wall, which was a spiraling staircase that led to some underground levels under the Palace. The walls looked ancient and of Precursor design. Jak saw an image of a zoomer-like machine just before the image faded.

"That is where you must go, Great Warrior," the Oracle confided.

"The way to the core of the planet has been hidden under the Palace all this time?" Jak partially asked himself and the Oracle, who didn't respond. He had been given the message, so the Oracle's voice faded from his mind as well.

"Could I have a little help here?!" A voice cut though Jak's ponderings.

Jak looked down from the giant pedestal and saw Cass down below. He had gotten out of the way when Jak had used the Dark Bomb and had climbed a nearby tree. He had gotten the attention of the remaining Metal Heads, who were attempting to climb up the tree after him. Cass was firing at them, trying to keep them at bay. Jak wondered for a moment how fun it would be just to sit back and watch the Metal Heads overwhelm him, but pulled out his morph-gun and fired at them from the top of the pedestal. It took a few minutes to finish them all off, but once they had, Jak climbed down to the pool, jumped in, and pulled himself out of the water and onto dry land.

Cass jumped down from his hiding spot in the tree and walked toward Jak. "What the hell was that all about?" He mumbled. "What's up there that interested he Metal Heads so much to risk coming near the city?"

"It's some kind of Precursor artifact," Jak answered, "they must have been drawn to its power."

Cass just shrugged of his explanation. "So, where are we going now?"

"To the Wasteland," Jak answered obediently, trying to keep his temper in check. He hated being questioned by the slime ball.

To Jak's irritation, Cass asked another question. "And why would we go there?"

Jak took a deep breath to calm himself. "I think the entrance to the catacombs is somewhere out there," Jak lied. He thought it better to keep the real entrance to the catacombs to himself, it would be his own piece of leverage if his and Erin's situation got sticky.

It was after sundown by the time that Jak and Cass reached the outskirts of Spargus City. Jak had driven non-stop to reach Spargus. Cass had done nothing but complain the entire trip, which only served to put Jak in a horrid mood.

After reaching the garage, Jak turned off the dune buggy and headed into the city. Cass wasn't far behind, as usual.

"This place is such a dump," Cass commented. Jak was really getting tired of hearing the man's voice. It almost seemed like Cass was trying to be friendly. Maybe he was trying to lull Jak into a false sense of security, Jak wasn't falling for it. Ever sense Cass had been ordered to follow him, he had done nothing but talked. Maybe he was only just trying to push Jak over the edge.

Jak didn't bother to refute Cass's comment. He just continued down the dark street to the small hut that was his.

"Remind me, but what are we doing here?" Cass asked.

Jak had to put forth a physical effort not to groan. Does he just speak just to hear his own voice? Jak thought. "We need to get to the Precursor Temple out in the Wasteland, but we can't go until sunrise," Jak refrained from gritting his teeth. "We're going to rest until morning."

Jak entered his small hut and made for the bedroom. Just before he shut the door, he saw Cass collapse on the couch. Jak quickly secured the door to the room and laid down on the bed. He desperately needed rest, but he didn't plan on any tonight. Once he was sure that Cass was asleep, Jak planned on getting out of there and seeking his father's help, if there was any support that Damas could offer in the first place.

After over an hour in the bed, Jak moved quietly from the covers and moved to the back of the house. No doubt Cass wasn't worried about Jak leaving, since no structures in Spargus City had windows. The constant sand storms would break them as if they were paper, making it impossible to keep them intact. But what Cass didn't know was that there was an small exit in the back. Jak pulled the wood panel out off the wall and pushed himself through the small opening. Technically it wasn't a door, but a real door would have been too obvious.

Swiftly Jak moved through the darkened streets, heading for the Palace and hoping that Damas could help him in some way.

Author's Notes: MAN! I hate how this chapter turned out, so I finally cut it short and posted it so I can move on to better things... I had the worst case of writers block on the face of the planet, and so I just made myself type...and this is what came of it... Gah...next chapter will be better.