Jak sighed as the rickety platform took him and Daxter deeper underground, into the Sewers. Today had been a long day from waking up and having to run the delivery to Krew and now this. He promised himself that this would be the last job he would take for the day. Just one glance at Daxter and the once Eco Hero could tell he was exhausted, and slowly even he was loosing energy.
As the platform stopped with a loud shriek Jak readied his Scatter gun, preparing for the worse. The doors opened with a loud hum, but what the two saw was the opposite of what they expected. Naruto sat calmly on the wet, metallic floors with his back to the rusty walls. The stench of the Sewers was over whelming, but not as much as when the blond looked up from his half slumber.
Dried tear trails fell from both his blood-shot sapphire eyes down his cheeks. His pale skin was covered in red-green bruises around what part of his neck and collarbone Jak could see. All the other visible flesh was forming the beginning of dark purple-black bruises. Naruto's lip was also swollen and there were teeth impressions on the inside, like the teen had bit down harshly on his own lip.
"Naruto, what are you doing here? It isn't safe." Jak said. Naruto shook his head as he stood, a forced smile appearing on his lips.
"But I can help." He said, trying to keep his voice even.
"Well, thanks for the help but we-" Daxter's sentence was interrupted when Jak's hand flew over his mouth.
"Sure." Jak said earning a very shocked look from his friend. Naruto's smile turned real as he stepped on a lighten switch, illuminating the ahead tunnel.
"This way!" The blond fox teen said as he easily leaped to the platform above the Sewer water. He quickly jumped back when a series of shots were fired at him. Jak walked past the now trembling blond then raced towards the sentry gun. Once it was shot at and destroyed the green-blond went to call Naruto, only to have his com-link turn on and Krew's voice filled the Sewers.
"That's one down, keep looking!" Krew growled. Once his voice was gone Daxter spoke up, keeping his voice low and close to Jak's ear as to not be over heard.
"So we found Naruto, why don't we just send him back to Krew now that he's safe?" Jak felt the Dark Eco inside him pulsated. There was no way he would send Naruto back to Krew, not if the man was like Errol and by what he saw it was highly likely.
"No, he could prove useful." Jak lied causing Daxter to give him a confused look. Before he could continue pressing the green-blond called for Naruto to join them, killing any chance the ottsel had. The blond followed the once hero across the capped pipes, mindful of the creatures in the water.
Naruto screamed and latched onto Jak's arm as a Metal Head crashed against the weak chain link fence. Daxter jumped violently, hanging off of Jak's shoulder pad at the sudden shock. The green-blond's cold blue eyes narrowed as he pulled the trigger of the Scatter gun. The Metal Head let out a dieing grunt as its skull met the full force of the Red Eco packed shell. Its body dissolved into chunks of Dark Eco, which quickly crawled towards Jak. A small crackle of purple static from his body was giving off as it absorbed the twisted Eco into his pores.
Naruto let out a shaky breath, he needed to stop jumping at everything it he wanted to give Jak and Daxter a reason to keep him around, a reason to keep him away from Krew. His hands shook as he released Jak's arm and Daxter reclaimed his perch.
"Ready?" Jak asked, looking down at the slightly shorter male. Naruto took in a deep breath before nodding and following the green-blond across the pipes. His sapphire eyes narrowed at seeing an aquatic cat-like creature and three toad-like ones. Just as Jak's finger tighten around the trigger Naruto lunged past the cat creature towards the toads. The loud sound of the Red Eco shells escaping their chamber twice filled the halls of the Sewer as Naruto's claws easily cut through the toads' slick flesh.
"Didn't know you could fight!" Daxter said as Naruto rose from his crouching position, watching in mute awe as the chunks of Dark Eco flew to Jak's body, quickly being absorbed. The blond looked away as the once hero's cold eyes met his.
"Well, fighting in self-defense is something everyone in Haven should know, right?" Naruto asked, scratching the back of his neck uneasily. Jak nodded then pressed forward, ready to step on the lighted switch. Naruto's eyes grew wide as three Metal Heads jumped from their slumber as bright lights filled the rounded chamber. Both Jak and Naruto's body reacted at the enemies. Gun shots echoed in the room, quickly killing off two of the Metal Heads as Naruto's claws sliced through the parts of unguarded flesh of the third.
The two cat-like creatures ahead were done away quickly by Naruto's claws. Jak walked past Naruto, who panted slightly with the energy he had recently spent. "Stay here." Jak said before both he and Daxter slipped around the corner, the sentry gun firing at them. Soon an explosion filled the Sewers. Naruto waited for the duo to return.
"Oh yeah~ This Sewer doesn't stand a chance against us!" Daxter bragged as the trio made their way down the metal path. The weak, old metal groaned loudly under their weight before falling out from under their feet. Daxter screamed as they fell, his body landing with a soft 'thud!' on the Sewer ground. Naruto groaned in pain as he held his head. The blond look over at Jak, who roughly removed a small triangular piece of metal from his calf. Naruto's sapphire eyes widen as the bloody metal was cast aside and Jak stood, as if nothing happen. Daxter's worried eyes met the fox teen's as Jak checked to see if his Scatter gun was still working properly.
"Uh, Jak?" Daxter asked as he jumped onto his friend's shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Fine." The once Eco Hero growled. The dark, twisting feeling in his veins was pulsating painfully as the Dark Eco cried out for release. Not caring about his wound, the green-blond pushed forward, Naruto trailing behind him.
As the light switch was stepped on the hair on the back of Jak and Naruto's neck rose and Daxter's entire fur coat was standing on end. Jolting awake from their slumber were eight infuriated Metal Heads. The large chamber was filled with grunts, short screams from Daxter, the Scatter gun's resounding shots, and the sound of dead bodies hitting the steel of the Sewer.
Jak pressed his palm to his forehead, trying to calm the massive amounts of Dark Eco inside him. His cold, almost insane, eyes flickered to Naruto, who had retrieved a few Red Eco disks for the Scatter gun and a box of portable Green Eco aid in some forgotten Krimzon Guard crates. He could not lose it here, not with both this new…friend…and Daxter so close. A comforting, furry paw was pressed against his cheek causing Jak's eyes to snap to the worried blue eyes of Daxter.
"Jak…" His voice was coated in concern and fear. Jak felt disgust pour into him, ever since he had nearly killed Daxter when he first lost control of, what he called, Dark Jak his friend always had that look of fear when his body absorbed Dark Eco. He needed to learn how to control himself and this darker side of him.
"Here." Naruto said as he handed Jak the gun disks. As soon as the ammo was in his hand the blond knelt, softly cupping the back of Jak's injured leg. The once hero's eyes narrowed; still repulsed at the thought of another male touching him after the two years he spent in prison. Naruto used his free hand to place the small decomposable aid box near the wound Jak receive earlier. He crushed the box, watching as the small wisps and chunks of Green Eco were absorbed into the skin, quickly healing it. "All better." Naruto said as he stood.
Jak watched as the blond started to climb up the ledges, waiting at the top for him. He shared a quick look with Daxter then climbed up to Naruto. The five toads above were easily dispatched by them. The sentry gun was taken out and the trio continued forward, Naruto having tensed when Krew's voice was heard on the com-link.
They entered a tunnel, hitting the switch and awaking three Metal Heads, but before Jak or Naruto could attack the lights flickered off. Naruto's blue eyes grew wide, only able to make out the golden gleam of the Metal Heads' eyes and gems on their forehead. Then they were upon him. His claws were reflected off their armor, his aiming off in the dark. Just as his eyes adjusted to the dark he wished they hadn't.
The Metal Heads were easily pulled off him by long, black needle-like claws attached to pure white skin. Long, silver hair had replaced green-blond and twisted, twin black horns shined even in the darkness. Soulless, completely black eyes shined with malice and rage as their owner tore the Metal Heads apart.
Naruto was terrified.
The monster turned to him, his claws shaking as Jak tried to regain control of himself. "Jak it's us!" Daxter yelled leaping from Jak's shoulder and onto the fallen blond's knee. "Daxter and Naruto! Your buddies!" The Dark Jak took a step back, recognition cutting into the black orbs. He raised both his hands to his face, hiding his eyes, as a powerful shiver shook his body.
Without waiting for Naruto and Daxter, Jak left the darkness and into the line of fire for the sentry gun. Naruto panted as he stood, Daxter crawling up his clothing and holding onto his shoulder. "What just happened?" The blond asked breathlessly. The ottsel looked torn between telling and keeping it a secret.
"The Baron…he did bad things to Jak with Dark Eco." Was the simple explanation Daxter gave. Naruto nodded in understanding, Jak would tell him once he gained his trust…maybe. The two raced to catch up to Jak, who stood on a metal grating above the Sewer water they ran into at the start of the mission. Wordlessly, the trio left the Sewers.
Naruto watched as Jak silently climbed into an older two-person Zoomer model which looked to be rusting. As the blond slid into the other seat Daxter jumped back to the other's shoulder. The engine roared to life with a choking sound causing Naruto to jump, he still wasn't used to these Zoomers.
"Where are we going?" He asked, voice shaking slightly as he broke the silence. A long tired sigh escaped Jak's parted lips as he switched hover zones. Another moment of silence before Daxter perked up.
"We could go to Westside Hotel; I can get us a free room." Daxter said. Jak nodded and listened as his friend pointed out the way.
Naruto stared in awe at the beautiful hotel. To think that something like his existed in the industrial part of Haven. His stubs of ears twitched as he turned to Jak and Daxter, following them to the front desk. The concierge blinked as he took in the ottsel.
"Oh, it's you. We don't have any bugs for you to exterminate so-"
"I'm not here on business my man." Daxter said as he jumped up on the desk. The concierge sneered, his hand twitching as if he wanted to disinfect the place Daxter was touching. "I need a room for me and my friends here."
"And you want it free don't you?"
"Bingo! And you owe me if I recall. No more bugs I see~" The ottsel sang, confusing Jak and Naruto. The concierge's neck muscles tensed noticeably before grabbing a key and sliding it to Daxter.
"Next time it won't be free." The red shirted elf sneered as he answered the ringing phone. With a goofy grin Daxter jumped off the desk.
"This way!" He said, leading both Jak and Naruto to the front elevator. A cheery tune filled the small elevator as Naruto fidgeted with a few tears in his clothing as they slowly arrived at their floor. Daxter walked out with the mien of a lord as he walked down the red carpeted hall ways to the room number 23. With a grin the ottsel pushed open the door after jumping up and sliding the key in.
Naruto awoke with a loud yawn, scratching the top of his head as he did. His blurry sapphire eyes widen as they took in Daxter's beaming face above him. "Come on get up! We have to go back to Krew now." Naruto's body tensed as those words escaped the ottsel. Were they really going to take him back to that awful man?
"Come on, we need to get going." Jak's cool voice said as he waited for the two to get up. Naruto sat up, stretching and letting a few of his joints pop before getting off the large red bed. The trio left the hotel room, Daxter giving the key back to the concierge with a deep voice saying, 'I'll be back.'
Even using the bulkier purple three person Zoomer with Jak's fast driving and ability to dodge foot traffic and Zoomer traffic they made it to Port in record time. The green-blond pulled up into a parking zone a few blocks from the Hip Hog Haven. Daxter threw him a confused look at his parking choice.
"You stay here Naruto, I'll talk to Krew." Jak said and went to slide out. Before he fully left the Zoomer the fox teen grabbed a hold of his sleeve, looking anywhere but at the once hero's face.
"Please don't tell him you know where I am." There was a moment of silence then a small nod of the head from Jak before he left. And while he was gone Naruto stayed hidden in the Zoomer, keeping his head bowed incase any guards noticed him or a familiar of Krew's walked by and recognized him.
Jak walked into the Hip Hog Haven, keeping his face emotionless as he approached the floating man who fanned himself. Daxter's face was similar, but with a hint of confusion. He understood that Naruto had proved himself useful but not returning him to Krew? Though, one look around the place and at the boss of it Daxter could see why. Right then he agreed to also keep Naruto whereabouts a secret from the crime lord.
"What is that horrible smell?" Krew asked as he sniffed the air. Daxter opened his mouth and out came another rant.
"Ooohh, great, we do yourdirty work in the Sewers," Daxter yelled jumping onto the post of the boxing ring. "And come back smelling worse than a wet hip hog in a warm barn." Suddenly the orange ottsel sniffed himself, the Sewer stench still in his fur. "This could have a serious impact on the lady factor." Daxter whispered to Jak, dead serious about it. Jak simply rolled his eyes as Krew turned to face them.
"No," Krew said just as a horrible, disgusting sound filled the bar. "Uh, I think it was my lunch actually." Both Jak and Daxter's faces morphed into a look of horrified disgust. "Nice work in the Sewers, 'ey. I guess you're looking for that weapon upgrade I guess, mmm?" Krew said turning his back to the duo still fanning himself. "Well there's a Blaster mod stashed in some crates at the Port." Krew continued flying up to the bar. "Find it and it's yours, oh and if you find the blond boy that was working here send him back here, 'ey? That boy needs to learn his place."
Jak and Daxter shared a look before turning away from Krew and leaving the Hip Hog Haven. "I'm with you, Jak. No way can we send Naruto back to that floating land mass!" Daxter said as soon as they were far enough from the saloon. Jak looked over at his ottsel friend as they approached Naruto.
The blond smiled at them as Jak slid into the front driver's seat. Daxter smugly jumped into Naruto's lap. "We've decided to keep you kid!" The fox teen blinked as Jak started to drive to the Gun Course. "You can fight, and I can- I mean, Jak! Can always use some back up." The once Eco Hero shook his head slightly at his friend's behavior. Naruto slid out along with Jak once the three person Zoomer was parked, Daxter climbing up onto the blond's shoulder.
Jak went right up to the oddly positioned box and opened it, attaching the Blaster gun mod to his Scatter gun. He grinned over at Naruto and Daxter just as Sig's voice came on over the com-link. Naruto watched as Sig talked Jak though a number of moves before going through the Blaster Gun Course, leaving Naruto alone seeing as Daxter wanted to go through the course with Jak. The blond sighed as he inspected the gun mods on the wall as the rounds from the Blaster echoed faintly in the room.
Naruto jumped as the door opened, showing a smug looking Jak. The blond offered a smile as he followed his two new friends out of the Gun Course. A small beeping came from Jak's com-link. Naruto blinked as he was suddenly hurrying after the green-blond as he jumped into a single person Zoomer. "Come on Naruto." Jak said, mentioning to the small space behind him. A dark red painted Naruto's cheeks as he slid on behind the once hero. He barely had time to wrap his arms around Jak before the Zoomer was in the air and speeding towards the slums.
Naruto clenched his eyes shut as he clung tightly to Jak, hearing Daxter's booming laughter over the roar of the engine. And just as it felt like they had just left the Zoomer was suddenly parked in front of a concrete door with a green circle on it, and in that circle was the Baron's seal with a hammer cracking it open. "The Underground." Naruto said breathlessly as he unwrapped his arms from around Jak. The green-blond nodded then entered the narrow passage of stairs, Naruto right behind him.
Torn was staring at the maps before him as the trio approached. The Underground member's coal blue eyes snapped up, narrowing instantly when they spotted Naruto. "Who the hell is he?" Torn growled out, tensing at the new face. Jak stepped aside to let Torn seeing Naruto fully.
The blond trembled under the brunette's calculating stare. He tried to steel his nerves but soon found that impossible. It must have been the horrid lighting in the dark base but Naruto could have sworn he saw recognition in those cold eyes.
"He's a friend, Torn! He's, uh…has been helping us out. No need to worry." Daxter said only to get a harsh glare from Torn. New faces made him nervous, and the fact that his freshest faces brought someone he didn't even know into the picture made his nerves tenser than they should be. But, for this mission they'd need all the help they could get.
"One of the Baron's mining operations is under attack by the Metal Heads." Torn said as he walked around the table, giving a small nod to Naruto as he did. He sore the kid's face was familiar somehow but brushed it off.
"That's not ourproblem." Jak growled at the mention of the Baron.
"It is our problem!" Torn matched the green-blond's tone, pointing a finger at Jak's chest. "When the foreman's one of the Underground's best informants. His name is Vin," At this point Torn stood straight and crossed his arms just as Jak did. "And he's valuable enough to save. Find the Warp Gate at the Power Station and use it to travel to the Strip Mine so you can rescue Vin's pathetic hide."
"Hey, Tattooed Wander!" Daxter yelled as he jumped on the table, having been trying to get Torn's attention the whole time. "How come we get all the crappy missions?" He continued to yell. The ottsel flinched back as Torn got into his face.
"Because I…DON'T…LIKE…YOU!" He growled as he jabbed at Daxter's chest with each stressed word until the ottsel fell off the table onto his back.
"Fair enough…" Torn shook his head as he addressed Jak again, but his coal blue eyes on Naruto, watching his every move.
"Whatever deal the Baron made with the Metal Heads, the city's Eco is almost gone and his time is running out." For the next part Torn's eyes were locked with Jak's. "If we don't get the kid back on the throne soon, there may not be a city left to defend." He stressed before going back to the maps. "Now get out, and take the weasel," "HEY!" "With you." Torn watched as Jak left with Daxter climbing back on his shoulder. His eyes stayed on Naruto's back before calling out. "What's your name?" Naruto tensed as he looked back at the ex-Krimzon Guard.
"Naruto."
"Welcome to the fight, Naruto." The blond nodded before rushing after Jak. Again, Torn swore he had seen that kid's face somewhere before.
Jak let out a deep breath from his nose as he, Naruto, and Daxter climbed up the steep walkway to the Power Station. They walked through the metallic doors, all their blue eyes widening at the glow of the numerous monitors and the hum of Blue Eco running in the computers' veins. Floating above them was a dark blue sphere dotted with lighter blue spheres. Naruto looked around in awe as the sounds finally pierced his cut off ears.
The echo of a scanner with the beeps and clicks of the computers as they did their job was everywhere. It was overwhelming. The fox teen was snapped out of it when Jak mentioned him forward, towards a Precursor Ring, Blue Eco looking aqueous as it rippled like water.
"I've never gone through one before." Naruto admitted, seeing Jak ready to jump in without worry. He froze and looked at the blond, Daxter giving Naruto a funny look. They had been using Warp Gates since they were children, it was no problem for them but to someone who never had used one like one would use a door it was probably scary.
"Just don't think about it. When you go through you'll feel cool, sometimes cold, but then it's gone. Like jumping through a calm waterfall in the early morning." Jak said. He watched as Naruto's face went from fear of the Warp Gate, thoughtful, then to being completely lost.
"What's a waterfall?" Naruto questioned, having never heard of such a thing. If they didn't exist within Haven's walls it was highly likely he didn't know about it. Daxter looked at the blond as if he had suddenly grown an extra head, jumping through and bathing under a cool waterfall was the best thing to do and here was someone who didn't even know what one was.
Jak sighed and offered his hand to Naruto. "I'll show you what one feels like." The sapphire eyed teen locked gazes with the once Eco Hero before nodding, placing his clawed hand in Jak's calloused one. With a tug the trio found themselves going through the Warp Gate to the Strip Mine.
It was just as Jak said, but since Naruto never really jumped through a waterfall he couldn't say it was just like that feeling. On the other side of the Warp Gate it was eerie quiet, it seemed as if even the air had grown still. It wasn't until Jak left go of his hand and pulled out the Scatter gun did Naruto realize that the green-blond had held his hand through the gate and for the few moments on the other side.
Before he could dwell on it, Daxter let out a high pitched scream as they rounded the corner between two massive piles of gravel. Metal Heads were everywhere, on the path and sliding down the hill. The Strip Mine was soon flooded with the Metal Heads' grunts and roars. Jak and Naruto started to run, the fox teen's claws tearing into any Metal Head that got too close to Jak and the once hero firing off rounds from both the Blaster and Scatter gun at every Metal Head they saw.
The trio sprinted towards the operating mine, wounds littering their body. Naruto steadily grew worried, for every Metal Head they killed that much more Dark Eco fell from their dissolved bodies, Eco which went straight to Jak. It seemed to not be affecting him as they fought their way toward the moving mine carts. The Blaster mod on Jak's gun running out of ammo but thankfully a few abandoned Krimzon Guard crates had some stashed ammo.
Once safely on the other side and the few Metal Heads there were taken out, Jak opened the door towards the control station. When the doors opened a panicked scream filled the once again silent Strip Mine. Jak and Daxter leap to the sides of the door as narrow Yellow Eco bullets flew past them. Naruto slammed his body on the ground, praying the shooter didn't shoot down from the crates barricading the entrance.
"Stay back!" The white-teal haired man yelled, still firing off rounds blindly.
"Do something! This guy's crazy!" Daxter yelled over the man's screaming and the 'pachoo!' of the bullets flying past them.
"Hey!" Naruto yelled trying to get the guy to see that they weren't Metal Heads, this only proved to scare the man more and fired off his Eco Pistol more. "Are you Vin? We're here to help. Torn sent us."
"Stay back!" The mad man repeated, the sound of him jumping around while firing clearly heard. Naruto sent a look at Jak, asking for a little help with this.
"Look, if we were here to kill you, you wouldn't be talking right now!" Jak yelled out as the man threw himself to the floor in what he must have thought was a fancy way of dodging. There was a moment of silence before the man, Vin, spoke up.
"Oh, friendlies?" Vin threw himself onto the crates, looking completely exhausted. "Oh thank goodness! We…so…whe…where's the army?" He asked standing up looking at the trio before him as they stood and brushed themselves off.
"Ah…We're it." Daxter said as Naruto gave Vin a sheepish smile. The blond flinched as Vin screeched out.
"What? Just you three? What do they think I'm worth?" He said dramatically, waving his pistol around and placing his forehead against the crates.
"I'm beginning to wonder that myself." Jak mused. "If you want you can stay here and be Metal meat, but we're leaving before those monsters get back." Jak continued as Vin was suddenly out of the control station, looking around in a paranoid fashion. Daxter ran past Jak and jumped through the Warp Gate, followed by Jak himself, then Naruto. Vin, still looking around and backing up, tripped and fell backwards into the gate.
On the other side, Naruto was still trying to shake off the cool feeling left under his skin from going through the gate. He soon found himself on the floor as Vin fell on him. The blond yelped as the scared man quickly gathered himself and rushed towards the computers, thinking Metal Heads were going to follow him through the Warp Gate.
Naruto groaned, pushing himself onto his hands and knees. His sapphire eyes blinked as a hand was offered to him. He smiled up at Jak and took the offered hand, allowing the green-blond to pull him to his feet. "Thanks." There was the slightest upward twitch of Jak's lips as he nodded. As he and Daxter, who reclaimed his perch on his friend's shoulder, turned to Vin, Naruto checked over their wounds, noticing how most of his were already healed over but Jak's were still bleeding. The once hero had taken hits for Daxter, who was free of any damage, and some for Naruto from the Metal Heads that the blond failed to hear coming.
The fox teen reached up and touched the stubs he now had as ears. Would they ever grow back? He shook his head at such wishful thinking as he joined Jak, Daxter, and Vin. The Underground informant's fingers were flying across the keys, his eyes darting to random screens. Naruto hesitantly approached the white-teal haired man.
"Vin? Are you going to be alright alone?" He asked. Vin looked up and turned to him, one hand flying across the keys as he kept his eyes on the fox teen.
"I'm safe here. No Metal Heads and surrounded by computers, yeah I'll be alright." The twitchy man said, turning back to the screen. "I'd be worried about myself if I was you. Being on the front lines for the Underground? I have no idea how you put up with the…the PRESSURE!" Naruto didn't have the heart to tell Vin he wasn't officially a member of the Underground. With a final goodbye Jak, Daxter, and Naruto left the Power Station, heading towards the slums.
It was a long walk. Jak seemed to be trembling and his hands were curled up into a fist, Naruto not only smelt the metallic scent of blood but saw tiny rivulets of red falling from Jak's hands. Daxter, who had claimed Naruto's left shoulder, was watching his friend closely, the fur on his back bristling. After endless minutes of walking the trio made it to the Underground base, but didn't go in.
"Naruto, you'll have to talk with Torn. I…need to go do something." Jak said, and before Daxter or Naruto could question him the once Eco Hero had already hijacked the single person Zoomer and was gone. The ottsel let out a long, depressing sigh but quickly but on his signature grin.
"Well, let's go talk to Mr. Sunshine." Daxter said jokingly, but Naruto could clearly see the worry, concern, and hint of panic in the ottsel's blue eyes. The fox teen lifted his hand and stroke the fur on his back and rubbed Daxter's ears soothingly. "Thanks…" He whispered, calming down slightly at the comforting touch.
"Any time." Naruto said giving his friend a smile before braving the stairs leading down to the Underground. Before he even approached Torn he could feel the man's coal blue eyes on him.
"Where's Jak?" He asked in his deep, rough voice. Naruto fidgeted under the stare Underground member but kept his gaze with him, he had to prove himself if he wanted to stay.
"Jak needed to take care of something, he'll return shortly." The blond answered, trying to keep his racing heart calm. Torn's eyes flashed to Daxter, who would have made a smart-ass comment by now. It un-nerved him that the ottsel was so quiet and zoned out. Even with the short time he had with Jak and Daxter he could easily pick out certain mannerisms they portrayed, and it was crystal clear that something was bothering the ottsel.
"And what about the mission?" Torn asked, keeping his observations stashed away for another time. He needed to know about Vin and the condition of the Strip Mine. That, and this fresh face had to prove himself. As those sapphire eyes stared into his own coal blue eyes the prickling sensation that he had seen the teen before arose.
"The Strip Mine was completely over-run by Metal Heads. They were everywhere. We were able to recover Vin, though he was a little…shaken. He's now at the Power Station." Naruto said forcing himself not to stutter in front of Torn. There was a pregnant pause as the seemingly second in command of the Underground looked him over.
"Good. There's some Green Eco aid in the crate over by the bed, heal up." Naruto nodded, shyly going over to the crate and taking a few aid boxes. The blond sit down and slowly began to put small amounts of Green Eco over the scabbed over and almost completely healed wounds. Naruto pouted as Daxter jumped off his shoulder and onto the bunk bed's pillow. He always healed fast and thought nothing of it, even the bruises Krew left were nearly all gone but now he wondered if Jak healed as fast.
The green-blond had taken a lot more damage than him. Now, he was somewhere in Haven, alone and hurt. Naruto sighed as he closed his eyes momentarily. The civilians didn't notice they were hurt on their way here because they stuck to the darker parts of the street. He could only hope that Jak was alright by himself.
Torn watched as the blond teen healed his wounds, surprised to see that most of them were already completely healed. Most of them looked to be from Metal Heads but a few were very questionable. The ex-Krimzon Guard filtered through his memories, trying to pinpoint anything that had to do with the blond before Jak brought him in or someone who looked liked him. He drummed his fingers mutely on the map of Haven's Bazaar sector. There was no way this…kid was the same one that the Baron had described in the guard.
"And this," Baron Praxis said as the screen flickered to another image. The figure in the picture was blurry. Only a vague shape of dirty brown clothing and a blurry red thing in the figure's hands was able to be seen in the foreground of it. The person had turned quickly from who ever took the photo in the industrial zone. A few clicks of the Baron's remote and the picture was zoomed in, focusing on the head of the person. Two, small triangles protruded out of the blurry blond hair was seen. "Is one of the most wanted people in Haven." The Baron said turning to address the group of new Krimzon Guards.
"This is the best picture we have of him and if any of you find him take him in, alive. He's only valuable if he's alive. You'll know him when you see him. As you can see instead of having ears like us he has fox ears-"
Torn's coal blue eyes narrowed at the memory of his debriefing as a fresh Krimzon Guard, just after he got his marking, his tattoos. There was no way the teen in front of him was on the Baron's Most Wanted list. The blond hair matched the blurry image he had seen, but there were no fox ears. Even if Naruto was the same boy from that picture so long ago there was no way Torn would hand him over to the Baron. Because whatever reason Praxis wanted that boy for was all the more reason for the Underground to keep him safe.
Jak's vision was tainted. Everything was misted over with a violent red color and Dark Eco edged his vision. The twisted Eco inside him was screaming, tearing him apart, begging to be free. Every person he passed as the Zoomer was weaving through traffic, both on foot and Zoomer; he could see endless way to kill, to destroy.
More than once he drove into a building or another Zoomer. He listened to the tug on his body, leading him deeper into the slums. It wasn't until he was flying over the brown water did he realize he was heading to the Oracle.
The once Eco Hero jumped out of the Zoomer as it sped into the Oracle's hut, exploding into an inferno of metal. His body jerked and he could feel Dark Jak's traits already seeping through. The green-blond forced his body to listen to him and not the Dark Eco inside him. His body went into a series of spasms, forcing him to the ground before the Oracle.
Jak gasped and his body arched as the Oracle filled his body with more Dark Eco. Even as the Dark Eco twisted inside him, burning and lapping at his soul like waves on the sand of a beach he felt…in control. The Oracle spoke but Jak drowned it out, watching his white skinned claws flex when he told them to. His black soulless eyes now shined with some sort of dark life. There was silence as Jak listened to his body, the Dark Eco now whispering ways to be tamed, but only the minimal could be tamed, it was taunting him.
It still had control of him. He was only allowed to scratch the surface of control. The once hero listened closer to the Dark Eco, closing his eyes even to concentrate then it whispered things on power.
Jump host, jump and attack the ground. Let me pool into your power, allow me to send out a wave of myself. Jump! Jump and attack the ground!
Jak didn't even register jumping and slamming his fist into the ground, but he did feel the Dark Eco rush to escape him. It left his body in a massive wave of Dark Eco. His body fell lifelessly to the floor, staring vacantly at the sky blue rug. So much stored Dark Eco and now it was suddenly gone. Pale eyelids slid over cold blue eyes as Jak's body forced itself to sleep and recover.