A/N: Here's chapter 8! I had alot of fun writing this, and 9 too. I'll upload 9 and 10 as a pair once i've got 10 written and revised. Hope you've all been enjoying this so far!
"C'mon, lets get going." Jak urged and Sake followed before casting one glance back at the corpse of the man she had just beaten to death. She was shaken, and an uneasiness was threatening to make her vomit but she fought the urge. By now they had come upon a dead end, the door leading deeper into the compound locked. Their only way to proceed was a grate in the floor which Jak tested. It wasn't latched in place and with a tug, it pulled it to the side. "Down here."
It let out onto a lower level and more catwalks. There were faint voices and sounds of movement coming from one direction while the other was completely silent. Quietly the band of misfits made their way along the catwalks until they came upon an incline, at the end of which was a set of doors that slid open without a sound as they approached. Bingo, the ammo dump.
Torn was right. The Guard had stockpiled enough munitions in this bay alone to burn down half the city. Off to the right was a few stacked barrels marked with the Baron's insignia. There was a small square device sitting on the top of one of the barrels and Jak took it.
"Cool! That's a security pass!" Daxter cooed happily, tail swaying side to side quickly. "We need those to get through city checkpoints!" The ottsel watched as Jak pocketed the security pass and suddenly the group froze at the sound of metal scraping against metal. With a finger to his lip, Jak signaled that they all go prone and they watched the action beneath unfold.
A handful of Krimzon Guards were maneuvering palettes of barrels all marked with the Baron's emblem via forklift, placing them in front of a large drain pipe. Two massive tiger-like creatures that Sake had never seen before peered out of the pipe. Their bodies were grey and speckled with black and they were adorned in several pieces of metal and strange tubing that seemed to be infused into their skin. One let out a hiss and the other growled low.
"These barrels are the latest shipment of Eco. The Baron says take them and get out." The lead guard said, fingering the trigger to his baton-rifle. Then as one of the creatures jumped up onto a pipe, the guards startled and raised their weapons, cocked and ready to fire.
"Metal heads in the city...?" Jak breathed softly. He turned to look at Daxter who raised an eyebrow. "Why are the guards giving them eco-"
A click, hum, then a buzz. There was a roar of engines. Shit! Jak grabbed Daxter by the ruff of his neck as Sake scrambled to her feet. Both scattered in either direction, the tank opting to target Jak as it began to roll forward. This tank managed to lock on much more quickly, Red Eco charged rounds kissing the ground where Jak had been just milliseconds before. He was running as hard and fast as he could manage, dodging around a large metal tube connected to one of the containment depots. The tank opened fire, its rounds ripping straight through the computers and sensitive equipment that monitored and stabilized the stash of volatile materials. The klaxons overhead cried out as yet another building-wide alarm was triggered but this one was a warning to evacuate. The chemicals scattered around were rapidly becoming unstable.
"Get the tank to shoot the ammo!" Jak barked over the roar of fire, gunfire and the tank's engines. The idea of playing hookey with bullets scared the daylights out of her but Jak had a point. The tank wasn't programmed to practice discretion with its shots. Instead it fired blindly at any place where Jak had been standing. Being slow moving, she was able to sprint into its line of fire before waving frantically. It locked on almost immediately and she dove away to avoid being perforated like Swiss cheese. Over half the ammo was on fire now and the alarms were shrieking like phantoms as the loudspeakers ordered all facility staff to evacuate immediately.
Daxter yelped as a single round from the tank blazed past his ear, carving straight through the skin and fur. It was only a nick but sonnovabitch did it sting. An emergency exit had opened on the far side of the room and Jak made a beeline towards it while urging Sake to do the same. Only one last coolant tube remained and as the tank's gunfire pierced it, the speakers overhead blared out warnings of an imminent facility failure and that a detonation was entirely guaranteed. Now Jak and Sake ran with all their might.
The explosion could be seen for miles. It wasn't so much damaging as it was just loud and big. Black smoke billowed as the shock wave threw the trio clean from the safety of the stairwell that crawled down the backside of the Fortress. Jak landed hard, save for a soft spot beneath his butt and Sake bounced then slid through the dirt a few feet passed Jak. Immediately the blond took to searching for his orange-coated friend. The soft spot beneath him shifted and protested before Daxter pulled himself free as he gasped for fresh air.
"This place has too much excitement!" Daxter panted as he worked further to emancipate himself from beneath Jak's weight. "We need to move back to the country..!" Jak couldn't help but crack a smile, but it quickly faded when he noticed Sake groggily rising to a sitting position. He rose, arm out as Daxter leapt up to his rightful throne.
"THERE THEY ARE, MOVE IN!" A guard shouted as a group of five rounded a corner. Sake shrieked loudly and rose to her feet in a fragment of a second. Another single-seater zoomer had been parked nearby and she dashed for it, throwing her weight onto it. Jak closed the gap.
"Let me drive!" He demanded. She popped his hand away.
"No time, GET ON." She finally located the ignition mechanism and engaged the engine while Jak reluctantly climbed on and swallowed nervously before wrapping just one arm around her waist. The zoomer turned over instantly and she revved the engines. "Besides, I used to drive my dad's Suzuki back home!" Jak assumed a 'Suzuki' was some kind of zoomer as he hadn't heard the name before. To Sake, the controls were much the same-Throttle, Breaks, steering, accelerator. She rammed her foot onto the pedal and the zoomer lurched forward at a breakneck speed. Daxter screeched and clung to Jak's shoulder for dear life.
Sake had no idea how to change hover zones, not that it mattered. They were on the ground where she wanted to be. Indeed it was much like driving a crotch rocket back home, though Sake reflected briefly that she only ever drove it around her street a few times when her mother wasn't home. If her old lady had found out, she'd've never heard the end of it. Unlike the bike which had great traction, this thing was like driving on ice. It only took two turns before she found the threshold to turn before it was too late to compensate and they were blazing through the narrow corridors at top speeds effortlessly. People dove out of the way as the screamed at them to move.
A Krimzon Guard zoomer was giving chase and even though the Hellcat was incredibly fast, it was far too wide and cumbersome to navigate some of the narrow alleys and streets that Sake turned down. It didn't take long for them to lose their tail completely and once she couldn't hear guards in pursuit, she slipped into a dark corridor between two buildings and killed the engines.
She was panting. Her heart was racing. She hadn't realized how tightly she'd been gripping the handlebars until her hands throbbed painfully with cramps. But goddamn that was fun as hell. She let out an exasperated laugh only to burst into a fit of the giggles. Jak seemed far less amused.
"I'm never letting you drive again." He protested flatly, only then realizing that he'd wrapped both arms around the girl's waist to keep himself from being thrown off. She noticed at that exact moment too and fell dead silent. Both of them flushed red and Jak cleared his throat. He quickly withdrew his arms before sliding off the back of the zoomer. She climbed off as well and did her best to act nonchalant.
"Right, like you're any better." She countered. They were leaving the alley now. It was only then that Sake realized- She had absolutely no fucking idea where they'd wound up. Jak was already evaluating the environment in question.
"Smell that?" His neck was bent and his nose raised to the air. Daxter was taking a wiff too. Sake tried, gagging.
"Smells like sewage. This place wreaks but I don't remember it smelling this bad." She said, fingers pinching her nostrils shut. Jak was leading the way now, walking with a brisk pace that she struggled to keep up with.
"We're near the water slums." He affirmed.
Sake suddenly froze. There was a peculiar low hum, one continuous monotonous tone that reverberated in her skull. There was nothing within range that could be making such a unique, attractive sound. "..Please tell me I'm not the only one hearing that."
"Hearing what?" Daxter perked, ears like radar as they searched for the wayward sound. "I don't hear nothin'."
"I hear it." Jak said, turning to face the streets that led into the water slums. Daxter was perturbed, crossing his arms defiantly.
"It feels like its-"
"-Calling me." Jak finished her sentence and the two shared a strange, almost knowing gaze.
Daxter waved a paw in front of both their faces, hoping to snap them out of their strange trance. They fell into an even gait and entered the water slums. The water progressively grew more murky as the trio approached the city's massive walls. The craggy and creaking wooden walkways jagged this way and that, most branches ending in dead ends or buildings with lights in the windows but they didn't stop at any of them. Finally the pathway opened up and the amount of huts became far less abundant. One particularly large hut sat nestled in the far north-eastern corner and seemed rather well taken care of. Its docks were relatively flat, and its stone and wooden walls weren't falling apart like many of the other structures. Even its sheet-metal roof lacked the layers of rust that turned everything else a garish brown-red.
The trio stopped just before the door that slid open without provocation. The scent of wax and sulphur creeped out, inviting as they stepped in. Then the door slid shut behind them and they beheld a wonder.
Sitting before them was a massive rounded statue that resembled the bust of a man. The room was almost literally paved with candles and old wax that drooled down in bulbous spires. Instead of a humanoid face, the statue had a large pointed 'beak' like a mosquito and two large glowing domed eyes. Another source of light was nestled beneath its beak.
Then, it spoke.
All three nearly jumped out of their skin, or fur in Daxter's case; but Jak and Sake approached curiously, seemingly entranced by the beautiful blue glow coming from its massive, almost judgmental domed eyes.
"Greetings Great Warrior" It began. The voice was everywhere and nowhere at the same time, syllables almost deafening. "I sense there is a dark rage burning within you.."
Jak swallowed hard, and something within stirred as if summoned. The blond bit his lip to fight it back.
"...And in time it will destroy you with its madness. Only the last power of the Precursors can save you.." The statue went on to say and Sake took a step closer to the statue. An uneasiness crawled up from her stomach and she shuffled nervously on her feet. She didn't know why she felt so on edge but she did. The statue spoke still, "Destroy my enemies- Those creatures you call the Metal Heads. Bring to me, their Skull Gems and I will teach you to control these powers."
The room fell deathly quiet. Occasionally a candle would crackle. Outside, there was the sound of a passing zoomer. Low, heavy, slow- A Hellcat. But they were safe inside, the Guard completely unaware of their presence. They waited, wondering if the statue had anything else to say. It was silent and finally Jak turned to leave.
Jak was halfway through the door when he turned to look back at Sake who was still cemented firmly in her place. "Sake, c'mon." He waved a hand but she turned slowly, glancing at him briefly only to turn back and face the statue. He shrugged, and took another step out when his bones rattled at the sound of the Statue speaking once more.
"Sake," It began, addressing her clearly by name. She made an audible noise of surprise and took another step closer. "You do not belong here."
Its words were plain and simple, and carried with them a crushing weight that slapped Sake hard.
"You were NOT supposed to be here." Its voice shook the building and a few of the candles fluttered, some even going out. "Your knowledge of the possibilities to come will be your downfall- you must not interfere with his destiny.."
Jak was eyeing Sake curiously now, brow drawn in close as he squinted. The statue's once subtle blue glow was now vivid, almost blinding. He watched her closely now, she seemed scared, even lost.
"But-.." A pause as the light dimmed some. "Because you have also felt the touch of Darkness, I will grant you the same offer... Become the harbinger of our salvation, and I may yet be able to save you as well.."
All was silent once more. The noise ceased and for once the trio felt alone. Sake folded her arms over her chest, staring at the ground. It knew. Then again how could it not. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she swiveled sharply to meet Jak's probing blue gaze.
"Sake, what's it talking about-" His words trailed and she turned away to break the uneasiness before making her way to the door.
"Can't really.. talk about it. I hope you'll understand Jak." She whispered and then was gone. Jak immediately gave chase but upon exiting the hut, she was nowhere in sight.
From around a corner, Sake watched Jak don a zoomer and speed off into the distance. Things were about to get dicey and If what little she knew about the 'future' were to actually come true, it'd mean that she could easily change the course of history. She had come to accept more than a year ago that whatever this was, this place, the pain, the torture, the sights, smells and sounds- It was all very real. She'd already experienced dozens of events that would've woken anyone else under normal circumstances, had this been a mere dream but that was not the case and here she was- still trapped in fantasy-gone-nightmare.
Once Jak was out of sight, she requisitioned a parked one-seater from an alcove along the docks and merged with the slow moving traffic, making a bee-line for the Underground's headquarters for some much deserved RnR. The Oracle's message played over and over in her mind.
An hour meandered by and over the course of which, she had found her way back to the Hideout after a few wrong turns. One of the other members was securing a box wrapped in brown paper to the back end of a one seated zoomer with a long rope and a few bungee cords. Neither regarded the other with any sort of interest as Sake made her way down into the bowels of the Hideout where Torn was already hard at work briefing the Renegade on his next mission.
"We saw something odd while torching that ammo-" Jak rattled off as Sake closed the gap, coming to stand next to him. He regarded her passively, crossing his arms. "The Baron's guards were giving barrels filled with Eco, to a group of Metal Heads!" Torn spun on his heels, face twisting into one of curiosity and worry.
"...Really?.. The Shadow will be very interested to hear that..."
"You know so far your gigs have been easier than stealing grass from a sleeping yakkow!" Daxter retorted, pointing at the older man accusingly before throwing his hands up in mock defeat. Torn only laughed low and deep while Jak sunk his face into his palm and shook his head disapprovingly. Daxter's fur tingled up and down his spine as the man's voice danced along his nerves.
"You and the rodent wanna start proving yourselves?" A grin parted Torn's lips and his teeth shined in the light. "One of our.. 'suppliers' needs his payment delivered- A bag of Eco Ore." Sake felt Torn clap eyes on them and she fought back a bitter expression. "Take the zoomer parked out back and drive it to the Hip Hog Heaven Saloon in South Town. Ask for Krewe- He'll be there.. And don't let the Baron's patrols stop you." He brandished his curved dagger, making a few swings at nothing for emphasis. "By the way- When you get there, pump Krewe for information- He's wired into the city and may know what the Baron is up to."
Daxter puffed his chest out, hands fisted at either hip. "You can count on us!" Torn stared back at the orange rat from over his shoulder.
"Are you still here?"
Sake and Jak shared a look, shrugging almost in unison before Daxter climbed onto his shoulder. The trio made their way out of the Hideout and into the alley where the zoomer in question hovered quietly.
"A one seater.." Jak mouthed quietly. "This might complicate things."
"What do you mean?" Sake crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"Meaning I get better speed and maneuverability without a second passenger." He commented as he checked the ropes securing the wrapped box to the back end of the zoomer. With a tug, he tightened the m, then nodded subconsciously, content with their tightness. Sake took in a deep breath and sighed heavily, nodding.
"Yeah I guess you're right. Makes sense.. What if I follow? I'm sure following the trail of chaos in your wake won't be that hard." She grinned and he scowled, so she playfully nudged him on the shoulder. The zoomer she'd stolen prior was still parked in the alley, so she grabbed the handlebars and climbed on.
"Har har. That was so funny I forgot to laugh. Just stay out of trouble." He smiled back, donning the package-laden vehicle before revving its engines. The pair sped away, weaving through traffic and people alike.
The first third of the trip was a breeze. They blew passed several guards harmlessly, dodging the meaty speed bumps that trudged down the streets. It wasn't until they came upon the industrial section that things went to Hell in a hand-basket. Just as Torn had anticipated, the Guard had assembled a sizable road block across one of the wider portions of street. Zoomer and foot-soldier alike were lined up and ready, with large metal barriers covering any gaps the guards couldn't.
Jak's communicator sprang to life from his belt pocket. "Jak, Sake, the guards set up road blocks, Keep moving!" Torn demanded. Meanwhile the blond jerked hard on the accelerator and sped through the guards, tossing several about like rag dolls as they lost the game of hookey with the front of his zoomer. Sake followed his example, gunning it and blazing by just seconds after while there was still gap enough for her to clear the road block. A few bullets bounced off the back of the zoomer.
Eventually Sake fell half a block behind Jak but as she had anticipated, it wasn't difficult to follow the screams and gunfire. Another third of the hectic drive flew by and they were once again faced with a road block that spanned a very narrow street as it dog-legged into the port. Jak repeated his stunt from before and braced for impact as he sped headlong into the pack of guards. The sounds of heads against concrete echoed out behind him and he glanced back for a split second to confirm that Sake was keeping pace. She had lagged back but was still visible amidst the chaos.
The streets opened up now, leading into a massive port nearly as big as half the city itself. The docks were arranged in a circular pattern and two large towers sat near the center, connected by power lines and bridges that could raise for larger ships. The skies were also quite busy with zoomer traffic, rows of vehicles coming from and going to the northern sections of the city, as well as branches spanning off to the west.
A neon sign flashed in the distance, bright pink with a large aging mechanical mascot atop its roof. Their destination was in sight but the Guard were still hot on their trails.
"We've got to lose them!" Jak called out. "Split up, meet me in front of that saloon once the alert goes away!" Jak had slowed just enough for them to get within earshot and she nodded in confirmation. They separated, and a few pursuers broke off to follow either one. Jak sped off toward a collection of control towers to the north, darting in and out only to hear an explosion behind him. He then tucked into a small nook, killing the engine. A smaller, more agile guard zoomer sped passed harmlessly, yet he waited. The sector wide alarm was still very much alive, sending the Guard into a frenzy like a wumpbee hive.
Sake, on the other hand, was far less successful at shaking her pursuers. As luck would have it, the Guard giving chase seemed perfectly capable of out-maneuvering her. He drove along side her now, rifle pointed at her as he ordered her to stop and surrender. One of the large towers was approaching fast and it gave her an idea. Hoisting herself up, she supported her weight on the handlebars and swung her leg out, catching the guard in the face. He yelped, jerking his zoomer hard to the left before crashing unceremoniously into the tower. She couldn't tell if he had had time to bail- If he didnt, well.. That was kill number two.
The buildings lining the port were laced with narrow alleys that she tucked into. Several minutes passed and the alarm finally died down.
Cautiously she urged the zoomer forward out of hiding. The saloon was a few blocks away, but the alleys made great passages to travel inconspicuously. By the time she arrived, Jak was already waiting outside. The skies overhead were turning gray, getting progressively darker. Lightning clapped overheard and thunder shook the city's foundation. Fan-fucking-tastic.
A/N: Hey all you lurkers! review/comment already! I know you're out there! ;) I see all those author-watches in my inbox!
Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out the original if you're interested.