A/N: Chapter 10 hot on the heels of 9. Thanks for reading! Much love.
"Hoooooly crap, Why do I feel like I was just kicked by a horse?" Sake groaned. It had only been a mile or so on their way back to the hideout when Sake came around. Jak cringed.
"I-uh, kinda had to knock you out." He laughed, exasperated as his lips curled into a nervous smile.
"Yeah, whatever the Oracle did, it made you all mean and nasty." Daxter commented, standing on his hind-paws and arching his hands to imitate talons.
"Woah you mean I-" She swallowed hard. "Twice in one week- I'm so sorry Jak!" She shifted so quickly that it made the zoomer bob side to side, making them cry out in surprise.
"It's fine. Its not like anyone expects you to control it." His face was stone-cold and she watched his knuckles go white as he gripped the steering wheel of the two-seater.
They fell into yet another uneasy silence, except this one wasn't cute or awkward in the flirty kind of way. Then Sake let out a heavy sigh. Thing is, it wasn't that simple. Learning to control that.. whatever it was, that thing inside of her- it was paramount. Otherwise, she could wake up with her arm elbow-deep in someone's gut. Chances are, that someone would be Jak, or Torn, or Tess, or whoever else was dumb enough to startle her awake during one of the many nightmares she was no doubt going to suffer from.
Despite being free, despite escaping from the Baron's torture and Errol's ever watchful eye, she was still chained by the massive weight lodged deep within her- Herself, except it wasn't her.
The last few days and dreams had provided a lot of unsettling insight into the mind of this creature. It wasn't any sort of apparition summoned through a satanic ritual, nor a thing that goes 'bump in the night', it was her. In flesh and in blood, but it wasn't her all at once. Its thoughts and desires were disturbing and inhuman. She recalled vaguely some of its mental musings and she would struggle to will it back into her subconscious.
"By the way," Jak said, cutting off her concentration. Sake snapped back to reality. Just a few blocks until they were back at the hideout. "What the hell is a horse?"
Goddamnit.
Sake swallowed, stammering. "Don't have horses where you're from?" She said and Jak raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"Can't say that I do.. That's right- Where are you from exa-"
Sake turned away in the middle of his sentence. "It's best if we don't talk about that." Her voice oozed with a sudden aggression that surprised, and scared Jak. He watched a spark of violet dance along her, and he figured dropping it was a fantastic idea, lest she go 'mean and nasty', to quote his neon orange friend.
There was something unusual going on with this girl. He supposed he'd discover what was really going on, with time.
Much to Sake's surprise, the trio had seemed to fall into a lull. Four days had passed without so much as a peep from Torn or Krewe and his ebony statue of a Wastelander, aside from 'Make yourself useful and organize those boxes' or 'Clean the main hall.'
Of course they couldn't argue, though Sake did try. Torn was especially bitter, making it quite apparent that she had a debt to repay, she owed them for saving her life. He never intended for her to even become a part of their little organization, that his boss- the Shadow, had insisted they shelter her so she was at their disposal. It was a losing fight and finally the teen bent to the older man's will and performed each task grudgingly as they were thrown at her and Jak. Daxter couldn't do much other than whack at bugs with a fly-swatter that was almost as big as him.
And he was good at it. When Sake asked Daxter why he seemed so eager and talented at doling out cold hard justice to their insect invaders, he went on to explain that during the two years he searched for Jak in prison, he performed odd jobs here and there to get closer to saving him. His most prominent was being an exterminator for a pest control company based out of the Industrial section.
Torn certainly found the tale amusing and appropriate.
Day five of radio silence meandered into their week and Torn actually ran out of things for them to do. Jak figured it was the best time to hop down to the firing range in the basement and improve on their weapon skills. He already knew Sake would manage fine but there were a few finer points to discuss. There was a feminine shriek from elsewhere in the building, then a crash, and finally shouting. Daxter was teasing another female UG member, it seemed.
When they descended the steps into the basement-turned-firing-range, there was also a room off to the side where two other Underground members were sparring. Sake found herself entranced by their speed and agility, and the apparently older of the two men managed to pin his partner to the floor before they called it done and shook hands amicably.
"Sake, are you even listening?" Jak waved a hand in front of her face and she jumped a little.
"Huh? Oh sorry. Was watching them fight." She stammered, then focused on Jak. He was holding his Morph gun with the Scatter mod equipped.
"We could practice that instead. I noticed you don't have much hand to hand training." The blond holstered his weapon and Sake nodded. The two men who were sparring previously were leaving the side room, using towels to pad the sweat away from their faces. Their shirts were soaked.
"Yeah I'll admit, I'm pretty useless in a fist-fight." She admitted sheepishly.
"Alright, well..." He paused, as if thinking. "The most important part of any good fighting style is your stance.. let me see yours." he gestured as they entered the room. Sake undid the holster around her chest and set the equipment on a table against the far wall. Jak did the same, even ditching his metal armor, glove guards and pauldron.
Sake, of course, was completely clueless and did what any idiot with no training did.
She copied a movie she'd seen years ago, poorly too.
It only took a split second for Jak to analyze her stance as he circled her. Then he pushed against her left shoulder from behind with one finger and she nearly toppled forward. "Too much of your weight is shifted forward. You need to be balanced to react quickly."
She placed more weight on her left foot, which she naturally placed behind her. Heh, righty. He pushed again and she didn't budge nearly as far. Then he pressed against her forearms, pushing them effortlessly out of the way.
"Your guard is unreliable. You have too many openings that could be exploited." Then he took a stance next to her, placing his arms at certain angles. "Place your arms in such a way that you can still strike while covering your core." Sake emulated, and he nodded.
"How is it that you seem to move so effectively?" She asked, curious as he circled to her front and balled his hands into fists.
"Lots of practice. My village was never the safest, so I had to learn to defend myself." He looked ready to strike. "Now, I'm going to throw a few punches- Nothing serious. Try to block them." Sake nodded weakly and swallowed.
Jak's blows were swift and entirely unpredictable, and she managed for the most part to deflect them with her forearms, just by following his quick lessons. Then he pulled a surprise, raising one fist high and going for her shoulder and as she pivoted sharply to meet the fist, she left her midsection wide open and he went in for an uppercut with his other fist while the first was deflected harmlessly- a decoy.
His fist didn't make full on contact, but the tap was enough to make Sake subconsciously grunt as the wind was knocked out of her. She stumbled and bent over with her weight on her knees, panting. He was fast, and even restraining himself, it was impressive just how much force his punches carried.
She swallowed, taking in deep gulps of air to try and replenish her starving lungs. Eventually the feeling of breathlessness subsided and she peered up just as Jak offered her a hand. She took it and he hefted her from the ground. If he was going to sneak in a surprise attack like that, two could play at that game.
Her fists flew, and Jak reacted more quickly than she had anticipated. Most of her blows glanced off his arms, but with each blow she stepped forward and he took a step back until there was a wall behind him. Then, rather than deflecting her blows, he grabbed one of her wrists, pivoted around her while grabbing at her other wrist and pulling her in tightly.
It only took him a fraction of a second, but it was all he needed to restrain her wrists and pin her against the wall, chest square against her back as he squeezed his hands just enough to make her wince.
Then like a subtle flash in the back of her mind, Sake felt her ears and cheek burn, though they were already red from the exertion. She swallowed to choke back the weird sensations.
"Nice work on the sneak attack. It would have worked on someone with a lot less skill." He said into her ear and she nodded. They were both panting and their breaths were heavy.
Then from behind, someone shouted out to them. "Hey, Newbies, the boss wants to see you." One of the other UG members. "Oh and Uh- there's rooms for that. Not in the sparring room please."
Both teens shared a quick, awkward stare, and Jak finally released his hold. Sake cleared her throat then rubbed at her wrists to make the tingling go away. The man who had called to them before face-palmed and shook his head.
"Oi, teenagers." He turned and left, and Sake and Jak followed after gathering their equipment and rearming themselves with it. Jak found Daxter strutting down the hallway with a big grin across his face and Jak couldn't help but cock a disapproving smirk and shake his head.
Torn was waiting for them in the main room, seated at the table paved with maps and mission plans.
"Got a call from Krewe. He needs you two for another job." Torn said, without even taking a moment took look up at them as he wrote something out on a piece of paper. "Before you go, I have something for you."
Then he handed both of them envelopes and they opened each. Inside were a collection of uneven metal stamped squares and rectangles. Each had numbers, but all of them carried the face of the Baron on one side and the symbol of the Praxis family on the back.
"Money?" Sake questioned.
"What, did you think everyone worked here for free?" Torn quipped, finally setting down the pen and turning to stare up at them. It was then that Sake noticed he was left handed, not that his dominant hand mattered at all.
"Not exactly sure." She replied and he shrugged.
"That's less than what you'd normally earn because you're living here and those supplies you bought at the gun range aren't gratis. Either way, use that money for whatever you want. Its yours." Torn turned back to his papers, mumbling something incoherent to himself.
Jak pocketed the metal chips in a secure pouch on his belt while Sake did the same. All in all, they both had been given a hundred each when the values of the chips were added up. Before leaving the Underground Hideout, they each nicked a drink of water and a small meal.
The trio pulled up to the HipHog atop a single zoomer with Jak at the helm, much to Sake's annoyance. Once they hid the vehicle behind the bar, they made their way inside and were immediately greeted by High and Mighty himself. The bar wasn't yet open for business for the day and was otherwise empty.
"You three are turning out to be quite useful, ey? Hmmm, I have another task for you." Krewe said before any of them had a chance to really react. Jak crossed his arms, listening with only half interest. "The sewers used to be a fabulous smuggling route for me, before the Baron installed security devices.."
Daxter had crawled off Jak's shoulder, and from his vantage point on the ground, grinned like a Cheshire cat with a cream flavored ass. "And before those late-night snack runs kept you from fittin' out the front door!" He quipped, earning an enraged glare from the morbidly obese man.
"I bet you've hatched another brilliant plan in that hungry little brain of yours!" Jak gritted out, tapping two fingers against his head. "So- Who or what do we have to shake down, knock out, or blow up?" Sake didn't like where this was going.
"Weeeeellllllll..." Krewe said slowly, drumming his fingers together rhythmically. "I need someone to go down and shoot every sentry gun in the sewers. And I'll give you a sweet weapon upgrade if you succeed." He rattled his head back and forth mockingly, knowing the trigger happy teens would be more willing to do the job if there were bonuses involved.
Now it was Daxter's time to shine.
"Lemme guess." The ottsel began, immediately drawing everyone's attention. "Dank murky water?"
Krewe nodded.
"Wreaks worst than ya' breath, at an oyster fest?" Krewe scowled now. "Full'er o' Metal Heads, than yer' plate at a one pass buffet?"
Sake and Jak both stifled their laughter as Krewe's face struggled to contort into an expression that didn't seem humanly possible.
"And of course, weapons more lethal than your ever so tidy-whities on a hot summer day!" Daxter dared grab two big paw-fulls of the man's clothing, tugging back and forth. Krewe batted at his paws, but he couldn't reach. "Look Doughnut Hole, Why don't we float around here lookin' hot and heavy, while you go Roto-Root the pipes!"
Sake took a step forward, pointing an accusatory finger toward the man. "We're not doing anything until you tell us why Metal Heads are trading with the Baron's forces!" Jak stared and Sake scowled. Krewe closed the gap, getting within mere inches of her face and she struggled to maintain composure when the stench of his breath wafted by. He audibly growled.
"I should have you three Knee-capped, ey?" Krewe roared, then drifted away in frustration, sucking air in through his teeth. "All I know is that the Baron cut a desperate deal with the Metal Head leader." He was gasping for air now, blind with rage at the teens. "The Metal Heads NEED Eco, So the Baron supplies them with regular shipments. In return, the Metal Heads agree to attack the city just enough to satisfy the Baron's continued rule."
"Yeah, but how long can that deal last?" Jak interjected. Sake had her arms crossed, leaning to one side with an impatient scowl.
"Well- The Baron is running short on Eco, ey? And the Metal Heads are short on patience. Baron Praxis needs this war to keep in power, or the city will put the true ruler on the throne... Wherever that little brat is." Krewe's anger was subsiding, but that didn't stop him from breathing heavily and scowling at the trio.
"Daxter, Sake and I will clear your sewers- And, we haven't forgotten about that weapon's upgrade you promised in return." Jak grinned and exchanged a look with Sake who returned the sentiment. Krewe inwardly hissed.
"Blood suckers."
Daxter ascended to his rightful throne atop Jak's shoulder-plate and they left the bar, leaving Krewe to boil over alone. "How much more of this guy do we gotta' tolerate anyways Jak? He gives me the creeps."
"Until Torn thinks he's no longer useful, I'd say." Sake said, donning their stolen zoomer before Jak had a chance to take the driver's seat. He quietly fumed, taking a seat behind her.
"And considering he's been a long-time supplier for the Underground, I doubt that time'll come any time soon." Jak affirmed and they nosed their way gently out of the alley they parked in. Once clear, they sped off toward the nearest entrance into the sewers.
Finding the entrance to the Sewers took a little effort. Then again it wasn't exactly like they expected a flashing arrow pointing to it saying 'Enter here.' It was a small corridor nestled in between a collection of multi-story apartment buildings and the security door opened with little provocation, a putrid odor pouring out. All three curled their noses before peering at each other and stepping onto the elevator. With a press of a button, it descended into the bowels of Haven.
Almost immediately the sound of gunfire echoed down the hall and they could see red-hot bullets whiz by their hall as the body of a Metal Head fell from the catwalks and into the water below. The passageways were broad, but the platforms upon which they could walk were narrow lacked guard rails. The water below churned sickly, pieces of garbage drifting by,mixed with the decaying corpses of animal and Metal Head alike.
Sake clamped a hand over her mouth, stomach doing ten flips simultaneously. "Jesus, that's disgusting.. Lets hurry this up and get the hell out of here.."
"Couldn't agree more, sister." Daxter said back and they inched closer toward the tunnel from which the gunfire erupted. The gun had gone dormant but a small flashing light at the apex of its square frame indicated that it was merely awaiting the arrival of a new target instead of being completely inactive.
"This is gunna be tricky.." Jak mouthed more to himself than to anyone else. He leaned out for a better look and the gun immediately whipped around and fired a three round burst. There was barely enough time to lean back in to avoid being turned into Swiss cheese. "Looks like it takes a moment to lock on, like the tanks.."
"Jak... Whatever you're thinking about doing.. Don't do it." Daxter said, almost able to see the gears turning in Jak's head.
Then before he could protest anymore, his blond steed dove from their hiding spot and rolled, standing and dodging side to side as the gun split the air where he'd been standing just moments before with three round bursts of charged bullets. Overhead, the lights flared to life right as Jak entered. He had his Scatter gun at the ready and once within range, pulled the trigger twice in rapid succession.
Gunfire pelted the turret and he turned away as it fizzled and exploded, sending chunks of shrapnel flying. Sake peeked from around the corner and Jak signaled back the all-clear.
The next corridor was much wider and taller, and the waters below were densely populated with a creature that vaguely reminded Sake of a tadpole and full grown toad. As they crossed the catwalk, a handful climbed up onto the edge and hissed. One leaped at Jak and he knocked it away with the butt of his gun while Sake blasted the others away with her Scatter gun. The remainder, having seen their brethren die at the hands of these intruders, followed from a safe distance while waiting to exploit the perfect chance to attack.
The catwalk merged with another on the far side of the channel, and from there Jak peered into a dark tunnel along the right hand side. There was a second next to it, and both were sealed with an old chain link fence. As they passed the second tunnel, Sake caught the most subtle glint of yellow before the fence suddenly lurched and rattled.
A Metal Head ran head-long into the fence, the sudden commotion startling the trio. Sake shrieked, losing her balance. In a blink of an eye, Jak grabbed a pipe along the wall and then caught her wrist before she went spilling into the predator-infested waters below. He quickly reeled her in and one jumped out of the water and snapped its jaws at the air where she'd been moments before. It hit the water unceremoniously, mouth empty. It swam off, defeated. The creature behind the fence hissed, unable to reach its prey beyond the chain links.
Ahead, the passages dog-legged, the metal catwalks giving way to solid concrete floors. The channels ahead were pitch black but from their vantage point, they could clearly see numerous points of pale dim yellow light.
They crossed the threshold into the darkness and the lights overhead flickered on, revealing half a dozen Metal Heads. Some hissed while others growled and all at once the creatures stormed toward the trio. Scatter guns at the ready, both teens fired in quick succession and took down four of the six. Before Sake could fire on her last target, it pounced and pinned her to the floor, gun being knocked aside as it clattered against the floor. The Metal Head's jaws gaped and she raised one arm against its throat to keep it from biting her face clean off. Her other hand fumbled at the handle of a knife sheathed below her gun holster, plucking it free before plunging it deep in the beast's throat. It wailed and she stabbed it repeatedly.
Jak had downed his last target just as the Metal Head's body went limp atop her. He rushed over and helped her push it off, and she stammered to her feet wiping violet blood and saliva off of her face.
"I'm going to kill Krewe." She hissed, and Jak silently commended her for holding her own in a fight. With the knife back in its place, they moved on, but not before collecting the skull gems imbedded in the heads of each beast.
The next few concrete tunnels were crawling with assorted life, with its largest predators trying to make a meal of the trio. They were mowed down with ease. Jak could hear the turret ahead and as they rounded a bend, a round glanced off the opposite wall and buzzed by his ear. Daxter yelped in surprise, glaring at Sake when she dared giggle at his expression.
The next turret was no different from the last. It was centered on a tall spire in the center of a large room. The only way to get to it was a thin bridge- Dodging and weaving wouldn't work this time around.
Naturally, Jak formulated a plan and acted upon it, jumping to avoid the gun's fire before blasting it into little useless pieces. The third gun's fire echoed down the next hallways.
The safety and comfort of the concrete passageways bled into the rickety catwalks that plagued the sewers. Jak and Sake only made it a few years down the length of the first run of the catwalk when the whole structure groaned. The bolts securing the platform to the wall snapped and everything failed in a tremendous fashion, sending the trio into the darkness and murky waters below.
The water, though only shin-high, still wreaked and stained their boots a disgusting color. Daxter was thankful for his perch. As they rounded a corner to their right, more yellow points of dim light caught there attention. A rough count of a dozen, Jak thought as he considered the best way to remedy the situation.
"I have a plan but.. you'll need to stay back Sake." His voice was low, but it still carried well in the metal corridors.
"What are you planning to do?" She whispered back.
"Just stay back." With that Jak shrunk down his Morph Gun and holstered it, making a dash into the dark room. Daxter shrieked, then swallowed his fear as he hung on for dear life. Instantly the room came to life with hissing and roaring as the yellow lights began to converge onto Jak.
From her vantage point, Sake watched as the air crackled violet. There was an inhuman bark of excitement and a flash of light provided just enough light for her to see Jak's form shift rapidly.
Then he gave a great leap and crashed down, fist to the ground as a shock wave erupted, throwing beast and water about like meaningless garbage. The entire room was lit up as Dark Eco bolts danced between Jak's body and each of the creatures. Their bodies began to vaporize until all that remained were the metal plates on their heads and claws, and several shiny yellow gems.
Sake stared in awe of his power, the oily voice in the back of her mind jealous and spiteful.
"That was awesome." She finally managed to breath out.
Jak shifted back to normal, collecting a share of the stones while Sake did the same. In the darkness, they found a ladder leading back up to the collapsed catwalks and passageways.
The rest of the mission dragged on as the teens pushed deeper into the sewers. The remaining two guns were destroyed without much difficulty. The corridors looped back around and met up with the door from which they entered in through.
They really, really wanted a shower.
A/N: Chapters 11 and 12 coming after I write an update for Channeler Conduit and May It Be. Thanks for reading!