Jak IV: The Avenging Angels

by FlygonNick

As the war with the Metal Heads escalates further, Jak allies himself with a group of Metal Head hunters known as the Avenging Angels, where makes new friends and creates new bonds. Join Jak as he realizes the final Prophecy of the Precursors, finds love and loss, and uncovers the identity of the true evil that destroyed the Precursors so long ago. Cover art by TaquetoCagy.

18. Never Again

Jak IV: The Avenging Angels

There were several ways I could've done this chapter, in order to set up for the next one. I decided to go with this approach, hopefully you all enjoy it.

Personally this was a very fun chapter to work on. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I think it's the longest chapter that I've done for this story.

Shoutout to the people who reviewed last chapter, which included evilanimegenious, JakXter724, doubledamn, Ecofreakrsa17, Toothless killer, StaticBomb324, Archangel Azrael, Hazz4rd, and Oblique Strategies, as well as two new reviewers known as manep5 and NameWithNoMeaning, thanks for the support everyone. Every review just keeps this story going, and I love getting feedback from you all.

Also, for those of you who are Black Ops II fans, or more specifically Zombies fans, I'm looking for people to add on my new PS3 account. This is for strictly playing Black Ops I or II Zombies, I don't do multiplayer or really much else multiplayer-wise. Anyone who would like to play a few rounds of Zombies with me should leave their PS3 username in the review section below. I'll message you and tell you my username, which I don't feel like giving out online. Thanks a ton!

Enjoy!

Chapter 18: Never Again

Jak's vision blurred and he slowly, slowly but surely, gathered his senses. Every beat of his heart sent a wave of horrible agony through him. The impact had knocked him unconscious, and just staying awake took all of his strength. His entire body felt ravaged, beaten, and bloody. He was very aware of how torn his armor was, and he knew that it was unfixable just by how mangled the armor was on his chest.

He also realized that he was still in his Dark form, with that knife still pumping Light Eco in him. He very slowly got into a sitting position, and tried to yank the knife out of his body. The knife held firm though, and even with his immense strength he couldn't make the knife budge. Dark Jak snarled and tried getting to his feet, but failed and crashed onto a rock, yelling out in pain.

"I…I have…I have to get out of here" Dark Jak grunted as he began to crawl into a standing position.

Dark Jak then began to painfully hobble down the mountain, each step taking an incredible toll on him.

"Got to get back…" Dark Jak grunted as he made his way down the mountain that he had landed on.

"Spread out and search!"

Dark Jak groaned and sank down underneath a rock. He recognized the voice instantly. Havoc and the Hunters had found him.

"They…must have planned this" Dark Jak realized with horror.

Dark Jak couldn't move though to get away, but he could still fight back a little. He prayed that there was only a few of them.

"The blood seems to lead over-" a Hunter nearby began to say before Dark Jak limped out from behind the rock and hurled a Dark Strike at the Hunter, who screamed in pain as the darkness washed over him and sent him flying before he evaporated into nothing but Dark Eco.

The remaining soldiers took cover, but Havoc walked calmly over to Dark Jak, who was leaning heavily against a boulder

"How in the world you survived that is beyond me. Now come quietly, or I'll be forced to get…rough" Havoc said advancing towards Jak.

Dark Jak's vision blurred horribly and he fell to his knees, unable to keep going. Havoc chuckled and said "So, the hero of the Precursors, brought down to this"

Dark Jak snarled at Havoc before the world around him went dark.

Meanwhile…

Sanctuary:

Chill limped off the transport, still looking horrified.

Chief Disten walked up to her and said "It wasn't your fault"

"Yes it was. If I had taken Violet out sooner, I could've helped Jak with Shade" Chill said miserably.

"You did well. Vin is safe and sound, and we'll have a armed search party looking for Jak within the next ten minutes" Disten said to the injured Agent.

"How do we even know he survived!? He fell at least ten thousand feet! He couldn't switch out of his dark form, which was weakened by that weird knife! Nothing could have survived that kind of fall" Chill groaned in dismay.

"He was in his Dark form, so he would be much more likely to survive that sort of fall than he would if he were in his normal state. You've done what you needed to and more. Now, go to the Infirmary, you're starting to bleed again" Disten said gesturing to Chill's shoulder, which was indeed starting to bleed.

Several medics walked towards Chill, who grabbed Jet's pistol from his leg and said "If you know what's good for you, you'll back off. I'll walk there myself"

"Are you sure you don't need an escort?" Disten asked Chill, who shook her head.

She wanted to be alone.

Chill started to make her way towards the closest hallway, but nearly crashed into Blade, who had been sprinting down the hallway.

"Thank the Precursors. I was worried about you and Jak when I heard you guys got attacked. What happened?" Blade asked anxiously, concern evident in his tone.

"I…Jak fell off the transport while we were fighting Hunter Agents on the roof of the Raven...He's probably dead" Chill said sadly, shaking her head.

"It's not your fault…are you OK?" Blade said softly.

"I've…" Chill nearly groaned as a fresh wave of pain rushed through her shoulder, nearly passing out.

Chill leaned against the wall, using her good shoulder, and murmured "I've…been better"

Blade swept her off of her feet and picked her up bridle-style. Chill blinked in surprise and said "You always surprise me Russal"

Blade laughed and said "Good. I like having that effect on you"

Chill sighed and passed out in Blade's arms, and Blade chuckled before taking her to the infirmary.

Meanwhile:

"This is NOT good" Phoenix repeated for about the 40th time as she ran her hands through her hair.

"You're telling me…I hope he's OK" Sharpshooter said as he reloaded his sniper rifle.

"Does…does Night know yet?" Rune asked the two Agents, who shrugged simultaneously.

"When she finds out, she'll be out for blood. That man means everything to her" Phoenix said grimly.

Nightingale, was in fact, in Disten's office. She was staring at the Chief, mouth agape in horror, as he told her the news. Nightingale, shaking visibly, said in a steady voice "Is Chill OK at least?"

Disten blinked in surprise and said "She'll recover. She blames herself of course, but she'll recover. She's on her way to the infirmary"

"I want to look for him. Put me on the search team. Please!" Nightingale pleaded.

"No. Iris, I know what you'll do if we encounter any Hunter Agents, who are no doubt searching for him. Dead or alive. I know how you get when you're angry Night. We need to deal with this quickly and quietly" Disten said sternly.

"How do I get? Please, enlighten me" Nightingale asked in a surprisingly cold tone.

"You become utterly driven. You will do anything and everything to achieve your objective, no matter how many enemies you encounter, and no matter what difficulties you face" Disten said.

"No, it's more like you know I'll kill whoever stops me from saving him. I need to do this" Nightingale said to the Chief, who shook his head.

"No. I'm forbidding you to search for Jak. You are to remain here until given further instructions" Disten said to Nightingale, who growled and said "I'm not a child"

"You're acting like one Iris. Now go. I have an Agent to look for" Disten said to Night, who growled angrily.

Rune, Beast, and Blade walked into the room and they observed the scene with interest.

"Um…everything OK in here?" Rune asked awkwardly.

"Everything is just fine. Nightingale. Leave now" Disten said lightly to his adoptive daughter, whose eyes narrowed angrily.

"I won't fail Jak like I've failed the others!" Nightingale whispered in a deathly quiet tone to her adoptive father.

"Actually sir…Crash found a huge bloodstained crater in the desert, which based on the coordinates Jet gave us were probably where Jak landed. He said the chances of finding Jak alive from that kind of impact are…well, nonexistent" Blade said awkwardly.

"No…" Nightingale whispered, going pale.

"Crash also find some tracks, they looked fresh. He said they may have come from Hunters, though he isn't sure" Blade added.

"Jak…DAMN IT!" Nightingale screamed angrily punching the wall and leaving a large dent in the metal frame.

"Beast, please restrain Agent Nightingale and get her out of here" Disten ordered.

Beast grabbed Nightingale around her arms, pinning them to her sides. Nightingale struggled and screamed incoherently. Beast's grip was iron, and after a few moments, Nightingale went limp, sobbing quietly.

"No…not Jak…please…not him…" Nightingale sobbed while Beast loosed his grip slightly.

"Iris! Calm down! We have over a dozen Agents getting ready to scour the desert for Jak. You must remain patient" Disten said sternly.

Nightingale stared at the ground, tears streaming down her face.

She then bashed Beast in the head with the back of her skull, sending him stumbling backwards with growl of pain. Nightingale fell lightly to the ground, and saw the others watching her in amazement.

"What the-!?" Rune said in surprise as Nightingale sprinted out of the room.

"Blade. Go talk some sense into her!" Disten ordered.

"Got it sir" Blade said walking out.

"That girl…I don't know what's with her as of late" Disten said tiredly.

"Love" Beast grunted.

"True. Night is absolutely smitten with Jak. She'd do anything for him" Rune said with a smile.

"I just hope she doesn't do something she won't regret" Disten muttered darkly, causing the two Agents to look at each other.

"Nightingale!" Blade called down the hallway.

Blade sprinted down the hallway and looked frantically for her. He searched all of the nearby hallways, and couldn't find the black-haired Agent.

"Damn it. I hope she doesn't do anything reckless" Blade muttered as he turned around and went back to Disten's office.

Nightingale numbly slumped onto the floor of a nearby hallway, trying to deal with the news. Jak was probably dead if Blade's report was correct. The person who had understood her most…who she felt so much affection for…the one who had finally eased the pain in her heart…

Was gone.

"No…" Nightingale whispered.

Nightingale got too her feet shakily, and then began to walk towards her room.

"No…" Nightingale whispered to herself again.

"I'm not losing anyone else…I won't let it happen…I WON'T!" Nightingale yelled as she sprinted to her room.

Nightingale practically threw her door open and suited up. After her armor was activated and ready to go, she walked to the Armory, nearly knocking down Rune. Nightingale quickly got herself an arsenal of weapons, attaching over 40 of Tech's new Disc Grenades to her body, as well as her two SMG's attached to her thighs. A large chaingun went on her back instead of her trademark shotgun. She'd need heavy weaponry this time around.

"I won't lose Jak…" Nightingale whispered frantically as she prepared her ammunition.

A few minutes later, Nightingale stepped silently into the Motor Pool and walked over to a small motorcycle. It was equipped for quick runs into the desert, complete with cloaking and light machine guns attached to the side. Nightingale walked over to it and murmured "Hey old girl…ready for one more ride?"

"Where're you off to?" a familiar voice asked.

Nightingale glanced back at Phoenix, who was sitting in one of the closest cars, watching her with interest. Nightingale noticed that she seemed to have discarded her crutches, and that her hair was brightly colored again with orange, yellow, and red streaks running through it.

"I'm going to save Jak" Nightingale said simply.

"Looks like you're pretty well equipped. You really think the Hunters got to him?" Phoenix asked as Nightingale turned the keys into the Motorcycle, starting it.

"Doesn't matter if they do or don't. I'm not planning on coming back until I've found him" Nightingale said revving the motorcycle and peeling out of the Motor Pool, shooting into the tunnel.

"If there's anyone who can find him, it's you Night" Phoenix remarked with a smile as she got out of the vehicle and walked out of the Motor Pool.

Nightingale winced as she felt the Failsafe Shield wash over her. The tires of the Sandcycle she was riding changed to fit the environment, now changing into a tire form that could go through the sand with ease. Nightingale revved the cycle and shot into the desert.

Meanwhile:

"MORE!" Shadow yelled.

"AAAAGHHHH!" Jak yelled as more and more Dark Eco was pumped into him.

Jak was an utter wreck. Not only was he stuck in his Dark Jak form, but he was unable to heal at all or stop the pain from the light dagger in his chest. His armor was still severely damaged and he was still bleeding from the crash. The Hunters had captured him, and were now subjecting him to their Dark Eco experiments on top of all of this. Jak was barely staying conscious, and he knew that if he passed out, he wasn't going to wake up again. He was chained to a chunk of black rock while the Hunters blasted him with Dark Eco over and over again like the Baron did so many months ago.

"Hmm...Whatever Shade used to stab Jak seems to be neutralizing his ability to switch in and out of his forms" Havoc said as he watched the proceedings with interest with Siren, and Shadow.

"That knife…it reeks of Light Eco. It seems as though Mar's dark form is susceptible to light. The reverse seems to be true for his Light form with darkness as well" Arranst murmured into the Hunter's ears.

"Good. Now pump more Dark Eco into him D! Do it for Skull!" Siren yelled.

"Increasing Dark Eco Output by 15%" Doppelganger replied as he pressed a few buttons.

Shade walked into the room, observing the proceedings with interest. When Nightingale had stabbed him with that knife, he could feel that it was a rather rare find and kept it, though it was close to impossible to remove from his armor, as well as the fact that the knife had weakened him considerably.

"We need to get back to HQ. Shade, Siren, we can count on you two to keep him here, right?" Havoc said.

"You've got it Havoc" Siren said, giving the Dark Champion a nod.

"Yeah, get back to HQ. Keep looking for the Key" Siren said to the other Agents.

Shade watched as Dark Jak roared as he was subjected to another blast of Dark Eco, and then he smiled widely. He loved in when a plan came together, even if it was in ways you didn't expect.

Two Hours Later:

"YOU WHAT!?" Disten roared at Phoenix, who winced.

"Yeah, I let her go" Phoenix said.

"WHY!?" Disten yelled, slamming his fist down on the desk.

"Because, she'll find him. I know she will. You didn't see her, I did. She's utterly driven" Phoenix replied.

Disten ran his hands through his hair in shock and said "I can't believe she'd go against a direct order"

"She's in love. You can't stop love" Phoenix said simply.

Disten sighed and said "I KNOW that. I just can't believe she cares so much. I don't want Jak to die or be captured either, but there are risks involved with going into the Wasteland alone with Hunters on the prowl"

"She can handle herself sir, she is our Number 1" Phoenix said.

"You also know what she's like when she's angry. Not annoyed, but in a pure fit of rage like she is now! She'll kill anyone who gets in the way of her saving Jak!" Disten yelled.

Phoenix smiled wickedly and said "That's exactly what I was hoping for sir"

A few minutes of yelling later, Phoenix walked out of the office feeling only slightly ashamed. She found Tech walking down the hallway and said "Hey, is my armor done yet? I want to try it out"

"Yeah, I just finished. Why do you need to test it now?" Tech asked.

"I'll tell you while we walk" Phoenix said with a small smile.

Rune was walking down the hallway, and found her sister chatting with Tech, and asked what she was doing.

"Come with us. All will be explained when we get to Tech's workshop" Phoenix said playfully.

Beast saw the large group walking down the hallway and he raised an eyebrow at Phoenix, who caught the gesture and said "Come with us, we'll need you too Beast"

And so the group made their way to Tech's workshop, where Phoenix told them of her plan.

Meanwhile…

Nightingale had found the base with little trouble. She had guessed where Jak had fallen based on the coordinates she had gotten from Crash and was somewhat surprised to find a hidden bunker in the dunes not even 30 yards away, hardly detectible. She only found it because of her third armor enhancement; so she wasn't surprised the base avoided detection. Nightingale realized that this entire scenario was incredibly well planned in order for Jak to have crash landed so close to one of their bases. Nightingale stowed her cycle away behind a dune and descended into the depths of the bunker, determined to find Jak.

Nightingale silently crept down the stairway and came onto a large catwalk, in which there was a large room filled with the Mercenaries and soldiers that the Hunters had hired for protection. It seemed to be the bunker's armory from the looks of it.

Nightingale scowled as she pulled out the large chaingun attached to her back and kicked off of the catwalk, flying into the air and landing in the middle of the room.

"What the hell!?"

"Who is that!?"

"Intruder Alert!"

"Get her!"

Nightingale began firing before any of the soldiers could do much more than yell, cutting through fifty of them with ease. By the time she ran out of ammo from the chaingun, the other soldiers were getting ready to attack. Nightingale hurled the empty chaingun at a group of three soldiers and sidestepped a grenade hurled at her.

"AGH!" a group of five soldiers yelled as the wayward grenade exploded at their feet.

Nightingale jumped backwards as a soldier tried to fire at her with a shotgun and sidestepped a swipe from a knife by another soldier. Nightingale kicked the knife soldier in the knee, breaking it and kicked him backwards, knocking him to the ground. Nightingale then pulled out one of the Disc Grenades attached to her armor and hurled one at the shotgun soldier.

"What the fu-ACK!" the soldier choked out as the grenade caught him in the chest, lifting him into the air a few feet before exploding violently, sending him flying across the room.

Nightingale whirled around, facing twenty armed soldiers aiming guns at her, and quickly activated another eight Disc Grenades, and hurled them in one fluid movement. The soldier cried out as they became enveloped in an almighty explosion that tore them apart. The remaining hundred or so soldiers hesitated now, unsure if they could defeat the Avenging Angel Agent, despite their numbers.

"Come on. You're not scared of me, are you?" Nightingale said coolly to the soldiers, who replied by opening fire.

Iris sprinted into the gunfire, somehow evading all of the bullets. She then jumped into the air and kicked a soldier in the head, crushing his skull and killing him instantly. Nightingale landed on the ground and swept up his gun, firing onto the remaining soldiers, who returned fire.

She kicked off the ground, flying into the air with her jet-boots, and the soldiers fell one by one as the furious Agent mowed them down from above. Nightingale landed briefly on the ground and flung the empty Assault Rifle at one of the soldiers before hurling another Disc Grenade at soldier trying to fire at her with a grenade launcher, killing him instantly.

Nightingale sidestepped a stab from a soldier with a saber and grabbed his arm and broke it before whirling around and kicking him in the back of the skull. Nightingale grabbed the pistol from his belt as the other soldiers opened fire on her and kicked back into the air. Nightingale soared to the other end of the room, where a large machine was hanging from the building by a few chains. Nightingale grabbed the chain and swung around on it, and then stood atop the machine, looking down at the soldiers who starred up in amazement at her.

Nightingale fired the pistol at the thick silver chains holding the machine up, breaking them. When only the longest chain remained, the entire machine swung towards the ground, and towards the soldiers trying to capture Nightingale.

"SON OF A BIT-!"

BAM!

Half of the remaining soldiers were knocked clear halfway across the room by the machine, and Nightingale dropped to the ground.

Nightingale suddenly turned around and knocked a shotgun out of the hands of a soldier trying to sneak up on her and promptly shot him in the skull three times. Nightingale was able to avoid every shot and every strike aimed at her, and she returned fire with ruthless aggression.

A Hunter Agent jumped into the fray, arms and legs crackling with Dark Eco. He tried firing a blast of Dark Eco at Nightingale, who held out two of her knives and held them in a defensive X stance. The blast slammed into the knives, dissipating into nothing. Nightingale whirled around, hurling the two knives before charging at the Hunter, which slammed into his chest, and kicking the knives through and through his chest.

Nightingale took the Hunter's pistol and fired into his skull three times, and then kicked his body to the floor. Nightingale took flight again, this time soaring around the room, letting the soldiers use up all of their ammunition.

After about a solid minute of nonstop firing, the soldiers all but stopped shooting, and Nightingale swooped down like an eagle and roundhouse-kicked a soldier in the head, caving his skull in. Nightingale fell to the ground and rolled on the ground, firing several shots with her pistol, each shot hitting a vital point that incapacitated her enemies. The people that kept her from her target.

Nightingale sensed someone coming from behind and activated her jet-boots and spun around, using the extra momentum to kick the unwary opponent so hard that they went flying fifty feet across the room.

"W-who is this chick!?" one of the soldiers asked, drawing a combat knife.

"She's an Angel! Like the ones who attacked that other base!" another soldiers yelled.

"Take this!" a soldier yelled, throwing a sparking canister at Nightingale's feet, enveloping the entire room in smoke.

Nightingale smiled and vanished into the mist.

"You just doomed yourselves" her voice said chillingly.

"Why'd you do that!? Now I can't see!" one soldier complained.

"Hey, at least she can't see either" the offending soldier said with a superior grin, aiming his pistol through the smoke.

"Really now?" Nightingale whispered in his ear before slitting his throat with one of her knives.

"Never again will the one's I care for die!" Nightingale said coldly as she slashed at the blind soldiers, who were desperately trying to shoot at a target could see them when they couldn't see her. Nightingale sheathed her knives and drew both of her SMG's.

"NEVER…AGAIN!" Nightingale screamed as she fired at the remaining soldiers with pinpoint accuracy through the smoke with her two SMG's, not missing a single shot.

As the smoke finally cleared, Nightingale stood alone in the room breathing heavily, an ocean of blood surrounding her. Nightingale helped herself to some of the weapons and ammunition in the room, taking a gunstaff with a wickedly sharp spear at the end of it and putting it on her back. Nightingale walked up to a large door with a small terminal.

Nightingale's hands flew across the keyboard as she began to hack the terminal. She was thankful that Tech had been her other teacher besides Rush, so she was an adequate hacker. The door flew open and Nightingale pressed on.

Nightingale sprinted down the hallway, her senses alert. She came across a group of mercenaries and hurled another Disc Grenade at their feet, causing them to be blown away. She dashed into a nearby hallway and caught her breath. She then sank into the shadows while several Hunter Agents walked by, armed to the teeth. To her horror, she saw Havoc and Shadow walking down the hallway, at ease and not even remotely rattled by the demise of their subordinates.

"We should leave now. Shade and Siren can handle Mar. We've got to find the remaining Gate Fragments, as well as get the Key" Shadow said to Havoc.

Havoc looked at Shadow and said "Yeah. Come on. D already made it back to HQ, we should hurry"

The two Hunters disappeared in a flash of black light and Nightingale waited for a minute before stepping out from her hiding place.

"Gate fragments…" Nightingale murmured, remembering the Relic Fragments they kept finding.

"What's their purpose, and why do the Hunters want them?" Nightingale thought as she dashed from her hiding place and sprinted down the hallway.

Nightingale continued to make her way through the base, taking a more stealthy approach. Nightingale heard a series of stomping sounds come down the hallway and jumped into the metal rafters in the hallway, where a series of pipes hung from the ceiling. Nightingale waited until the soldiers were gone before silently dropping to the ground and slinking down the hallway like a cat.

Nightingale continued to make her way through the base, eliminating each group of soldiers she came across, only attacking them only if they spotted her. Nightingale eventually found herself at the center of the bunker, outside of a large metal door that read "Dark Eco Dynamo"

Iris reloaded her weapons and took a few steps back, trying to see the best way to get into the room.

"No vents. No windows. Hmm…I'll just have to go with the direct approach" Nightingale decided with a grimace, pulling out a disc grenade.

Meanwhile:

"His vitals are falling. Stabilize him" Shade said.

"Got it" Siren said as she stopped the machine that was pumping more Dark Eco into Jak.

Dark Jak gasped and went limp, coughing up blood violently.

"So, what do you think Havoc wants with him?" Shade asked Siren, who shrugged.

"He said the Dark Goddess needs him. He and Havoc have crucial parts in the Prophecy" Siren replied.

"About that…so, you really think this will end up as a Golden Age for the Hora-Quan, or do you think it'll actually result in the Precursor's-" Shade began to say before Siren shushed him.

"We can't talk about it. And yes, I do. This thing has been predicted for hundreds, no…thousands of years. The Prophecy is essential to this entire thing, we'd be mad to ignore it. Havoc and Jak are but two pawns in a game that's older than our planet" Siren said quietly.

"If they're just pawns…then what does that make us?" Shade asked.

BOOOOM!

The door to the room exploded off of the hinges and flew across the room. Several smoke grenades went off in the doorway, obscuring the intruder.

"What the hell?" Siren said running towards the smoke.

"Hey, watch out!" Shade warned her as she drew closer to the smoke cloud.

Nightingale flew though the smoke, and slammed right into Siren, kicking her in the skull and sending her crashing onto the other end of the room. Nightingale pulled the gunstaff from her back an opened fire on Shade, who rolled to avoid the shots and pulled out his SMG, chuckling slightly.

"I remember you from Spargus…Thanks for that knife, it made incapacitating your boyfriend so much easier" Shade said lightly.

Nightingale snarled angrily and flew into the air, avoiding the first few shots from the SMG. She flipped in the air and used her momentum to run along the ceiling, and then kicked off of its hard as she could, shooting downward towards Shade.

Shade rolled to the side and tried to shoot at Nightingale, who managed to kick the SMG out of his hands and slash him with the tip of the gunstaff.

Shade jumped out of reach and pulled out a combat knife and began to exchange blows with Nightingale. Nightingale was surprised at how powerful the strikes of Shade were. She was a very powerful fighter, and she was barely able to keep up the offensive due to the strength of the blows, which were on par with Beast's incredible strength. Shade shot a burst of Dark Eco at Nightingale, who spun the staff in a quick circle to block it and fired seven shots with the gunstaff, causing Shade to have to take cover.

Shade rolled to avoid a shot and pulled out his pistol and fired at Nightingale, catching her in the shoulder. Nightingale hissed in pain and jumped back as Shade fired a Dark Bolt at her, nearly hitting her with the burst of Dark Eco. Nightingale grabbed a flashbang off of her belt and hurled it at the ground, closing her eyes tightly as it went off.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? AGAIN WITH THE DAMN EYES!" Shade yelled as he stumbled around, trying to recover for his temporary blindness.

Siren got to her feet and pulled out a tomahawk and sprinted towards Nightingale, who sidestepped a slash from the Hunter and kicked Siren in the chest, sending her skidding backwards. Siren snarled angrily and hurled the tomahawk, which caught Nightingale in the chest and sent her flying backwards and crashing onto the ground.

"Gotcha" Siren said with a laugh.

Nightingale gasped as the blood began to seep from the wound. She staggered to her feet and yanked the tomahawk out of her chest. She then pulled a GED off of her leg and clamped it onto her wound, healing it with a burst of Green Eco.

Nightingale put the GED back and drew her hand back and hurled the tomahawk at Siren, who sidestepped it. Unfortunately, Shade happened to be standing right behind her, finally recovering from the flashbang, and caught the tomahawk in the chest.

"AGH! YOU DUMB B!TCH!" Shade howled as he crashed onto the ground.

"Whoops…" Siren said with a snicker.

"Ahem"

Siren looked behind her.

BAM!

Nightingale punched Siren full in the face, sending her flying across the room. Nightingale cracked her knuckles and said "That was for Jak. Now where is he?"

Shade slowly got to his feet, yanking the tomahawk out of his chest. He healed the wound with a touch of Dark Eco and said "He's chained to that slab. No way in hell you're getting him out of here alive"

Nightingale glanced to the side of the room, and noticed a beaten and bloodied Dark Jak bound to a chunk of obsidian. Shade hurled the tomahawk at Nightingale while she was distracted.

Nightingale ducked under the throw and drew her gunstaff once more, and the two Agents readied themselves for another round.

Nightingale flew towards the duo, which drew their sidearms and opened fire. Nightingale soared out of range and fired from above, causing the two Hunters to scatter. She landed on the ground and began to exchange blows with Shade, who fired an EMP burst at Nightingale. Nightingale swung the gunstaff at the burst of energy, causing it to disperse into nothing. Siren clamped her hands around her neck, activating her sound attack which could render Nightingale unconscious. Nightingale swiftly drew a knife and in one fluid motion flung it at Siren, catching her right in the throat and cutting off the attack.

Siren choked on the knife and fell to the ground, twitching as blood seeped from the wound. Shade yelled out in distress and fired a huge burst of Dark Eco at Nightingale, who rolled out of the way. The attack slammed into the wall, burning a jagged hole in the thick steel frame.

"We've got to get you out of here" Shade muttered to Siren, picking her up off of the ground.

"We'll meet again, Agent Nightingale. And when we do…may the Precursors have mercy on you" Shade said before vanishing in a burst of darkness.

"Even though they're helping the Metal Heads, they still care about their own. Maybe they're not on our side, but they're not evil" Nightingale murmured to herself,

Nightingale walked towards Dark Jak, who was hanging limp from the chunk of obsidian, drenched in his own blood. Nightingale removed her helmet and approached him.

"Jak?" Nightingale whispered.

"Night…" Dark Jak growled weakly.

Nightingale's heart caught when she saw the extent of the damage done to him. His armor was horribly damaged to the point of disrepair. Jak's entire chest was visible through his armor, and Nightingale could see huge bleeding gashes on his chest where the crushed armor had been torn away. She recognized the knife that she had thrown at Shade was now in Jak's shoulder. It was a specially designed knife imbued with Light Eco, and was supposed to weaken beings of darkness.

"Shade must have kept the knife I used on him, and then used it on Jak" Nightingale realized in horror.

Nightingale reached towards the knife and gently pulled it free. Dark Jak let out a sigh of relief and returned back to his normal state. Nightingale quickly broke the chains and caught Jak in her arms.

"Jak. Please. Speak to me" Nightingale begged.

Jak slowly opened his eyes and brought his hand up.

"Night…is that you?" Jak asked weakly as his hand reached towards her.

Nightingale grabbed Jak's hand and placed it on her head and said "Yes…it's me"

"You came for me…I knew you would…" Jak smiled weakly as he ran his hand through Night's hair.

"Of course I would Jak. I'd do anything for you" Nightingale said as she embraced Jak, hugging him tightly.

"Come on…let's get out of here" Nightingale said as she picked Jak up and carried him over her shoulders.

Nightingale met no opposition and walked calmly out of the bunker. Havoc and the other Hunters were long gone, regrouping and preparing for a new plan of action most likely. Or maybe regrouping and trying to find her. Either way, she wasn't planning on sticking around. Nightingale was able to get on her cycle and drove her and Jak a short distance away. The arrived at an Oasis that was a frequent stop for Wastelanders, where Nightingale could inspect Jak's wounds easier.

The sight of seeing Jak so badly injured tore at Nightingale's heartstrings. He was barely breathing at this point, and his eyes were closed. She tried not to panic; she needed to remain calm in order to save Jak.

Nightingale pulled out her GED's and applied them to Jak's chest, trying to heal the wounds so at least the bleeding would stop. She injected a short burst of Green Eco to the wounds.

"Don't worry J-jak. We'll get you out of this" Nightingale said anxiously as she primed the GED's again.

"I'm…not scared…Iris…because…I'm with you" Jak murmured, a half-smile on his face.

Nightingale's heart fluttered when she heard him say that, and she injected another burst of Green Eco into his wounds.

"There they are!"

"Dammit!" Nightingale whispered as she spun around as three cars screeched to a halt, revealing several squads of soldiers.

And in the lead car was Havoc.

"Poor Nightingale. You really thought we wouldn't notice you saving Jak?" Havoc said, shaking his head as he stepped out of the vehicle.

"What happened to you Havoc? Why are you doing this?" Nightingale asked as she stepped protectively in front of Jak.

Havoc took off his helmet, and Nightingale gasped in horror.

Havoc's eyes were now black, with a red pupil in the middle. His skin was now a ghostly pale color, and a black vein ran down the side of his skull. Havoc smiled and said "Because, like Mar, or Jak to you, is the chosen one of the Precursors, I am the Chosen One of the Hora-Quan. You have your own role in this as well, Nightingale"

"Jazon…please…isn't there some other way?" Nightingale pleaded.

"Sorry Night...Maybe in the next life" Havoc said, drawing an all-black pistol and aiming it at Nightingale.

Nightingale sighed and suddenly whirled around, hurling seven Disc Grenades into the air. They all found their targets, the buggies with the mercenaries still in them. The cars exploded, killing all of the soldiers at once.

"NO!" Havoc growled angrily as he watched the soldiers die in the flames.

Havoc turned around, his body now crackling with Dark Eco said "You're too good for your own good!"

"If I was better, I could've saved you from what you've become!" Nightingale yelled as she pulled out her SMG's and opened fire.

Havoc threw up a Dark Barrier, deflecting all of the bullets back at Nightingale. Nightingale jumped to the side and rolled to avoid the returned gunfire, and Havoc pulled out an old-fashioned six-shooter and fired at Nightingale with both of his guns.

Nightingale hurled another Disc Grenade, which Havoc sidestepped. The grenade flew back around and latched onto Havoc's leg, and then exploded.

Nightingale flew right into the smoke that now engulfed Havoc and kicked him right in the face, shattering his helmet. Havoc roared in pain as he flew out of the smoke, his eyes and face bleeding freely. Havoc tore off his helmet and destroyed it with a burst of Dark Eco.

"I should've finished you off when we were fighting in the Pit" Havoc growled as he healed the wounds that, for now, blinded him.

Nightingale soared back a respectable distance and said "I should've listened closer Jazon. I could've helped you. I should've read the signs that you were in trouble…I'm so sorry"

Havoc smiled and said "Sorry for what? If I hadn't attacked you, you'd still be the miserable sad little girl you were before I beat you to a pulp. And I wouldn't have seen the truth"

Havoc charged up a ball of Dark Eco and fired it at Nightingale, who rolled to the side to avoid it. The attack slammed into her Sandcycle and it exploded violently.

Nightingale scowled and pulled the gunstaff off of her back, while Havoc opened fire with his pistols. Nightingale deflected the shots and fired a few blasts with the gunstaff. Havoc took the blasts head-on, as if they didn't even faze him.

"Dark…QUAKE!" Havoc growled, drawing a pulsating hand of Dark Eco back and slamming it into the ground.

Nightingale yelled out as he sand beneath her exploded and she went flying into the air. She activated her jet-boots, but they spun out of control and she slammed into the dunes.

"Agh!" Nightingale grunted as she tried to get to her feet.

A shot rang out and a bullet passed through her shoulder, and Nightingale cried out as the blood poured from the wound. She rolled around, clutching her shoulder, and saw Havoc standing above her. He put away his pistols, and drew a pitch black sword.

"Talk about a case of déjà vu" Havoc said with a chuckle.

Nightingale felt a shiver go down her spine; this was just like in that training scenario, where Havoc crippled her and sliced her back open. She was down on the ground, and Havoc was standing above her with a sword triumphantly. Nightingale glanced at Jak's broken and bloody form, and she felt a wave of anger go through her.

"Never again!" Nightingale thought as she hardened her resolve.

Nightingale snarled furiously and kicked upwards, kicking Havoc in the chin. She hopped upwards and hurled a disc grenade at Havoc, who caught the explosive in the chest and went flying across the dunes as it exploded. Nightingale was able to quickly roll away from the explosion, despite the distance. Havoc got to his feet, bleeding heavily from the attack. The bleeding gashes in his armor slowly sealed up, and Havoc growled angrily.

"Nightingale…it's over…" Havoc said quietly advancing towards Nightingale.

Nightingale sighed and said "I don't want to fight you Jazon. Please, try and remember. We were friends, weren't we?"

"I don't know. You never talked to me" Havoc admitted, still walking towards her with his sword drawn.

"I couldn't help it. If had been in my shoes, you would've never spoken again either. You don't know what it was like, screaming and begging for help as monsters whip and torture you, only to know deep down that no one cares how much you scream. I kept quiet, only because it kept me safe. Every time I trusted someone, they hurt me...just like you did…I'm so sorry Jazon" Nightingale said, her eyes sparkling underneath her helmet.

"Don't be. I know what I have to do, and it starts with your death" Havoc said firing a burst of Dark Eco at Nightingale, who jumped to the side to dodge it.

Nightingale flew into the air and did a roll in the air to avoid a Dark Bolt. Havoc continued to fire Dark attack after Dark attack at Nightingale, who continued to avoid them. Havoc eventually growled and said "E…NOUGH!"

A huge burst of Dark Eco washed over the area, engulfing Nightingale and causing her to plummet and crash down into the sand. Nightingale was twitching from the Dark Eco painfully rushing through her, and let out an involuntary moan of pain. Her eyes slowly opened, and she saw Havoc standing above her once more.

"Farewell Nightingale" Havoc said coldly as he pointed his six-shooter at her skull.

"ROAAAAH!"

"What the-!?" Havoc began to say before a large figure slammed into him.

The figure was in full biomechanical body armor and towered before Nightingale, who recognized the figure immediately.

It was Beast, armored up and holding his hammer tightly in his hands. He snarled at Havoc, who charged at him, radiating with Dark Eco. Beast walked forward, growling angrily and drew his fist back, punching Havoc in the skull, sending him crashing into a dune 50 yards away.

"W-what are you doing here?" Nightingale asked as she got to her feet.

"Helping a friend" Beast growled, holding his hammer in both hands and placing himself between Night and Havoc.

"Go. Get back to the Sanctuary" Beast growled at Nightingale, who shook her head and said "No! I'm not letting anyone else die because of me!"

Beast and Nightingale watched as Havoc walked out of the dune, darkness radiating from him. Havoc roared loudly, sending a wicked shockwave of darkness that turned the sand within twenty feet of him into white glass.

"So, it's come to this" Havoc said as two balls of Dark Eco formed in his palms.

Havoc ran forward and hurled both Dark Eco Bombs at Beast, who swung his warhammer and destroyed both projectiles. Beast ran at Havoc, who ran at Beast. Beast swung his warhammer at Havoc, who ducked and uppercutted Beast in the skull. Beast took the attack with ease and bashed Havoc in the skull with the rod of his hammer, sending him skidding back in the dunes.

Nightingale soared into the air and opened fire on Havoc, engulfing him with gunfire. Havoc snarled in pain as the bullets tore through his armor. Beast went in for the kill and raised his hammer high into the air and brought it down on Havoc, who caught it with two hands filled with Dark Eco. Havoc's face was contorted with strain, but he kicked Beast in the chest, making his loosen his grip. Havoc sucker punched Beast in the chest and stabbed him in the chest with his Darksword that he pulled out of nowhere.

Beast stumbled backwards and Havoc flung both hands at beast and fired a Dark Strike at him at point-blank range. Beast went soaring through the air with a snarl. He landed on the ground and got to his feet, his body now radiating Red Eco as his armor enhancement activated.

"Night. Stay there" Beast growled, and Nightingale nodded and administered a GED to her gunshot wound, healing it.

"Arranst?" Havoc asked.

"Of course. Draw upon my strength. Defeat that miserable worm" Arranst whispered.

Beast charged at Havoc, who's entire body turned black as night. Even his armor was immersed in shadow. Beast cautiously approached Havoc, who was remaining still, not moving an inch.

"Gotcha" Havoc's voice echoed hauntingly.

Havoc suddenly vanished on the spot and kicked Beast in the skull, sending him flying backwards. Beast righted himself and landed on the ground and threw a punch at Havoc, who dodged and delivered a series of jabs and kicks to Beast, who roared in pain. Each blow was strong enough to break bones, and even with his enhancement active, he couldn't keep up. Havoc eventually pulled out his Darksword again and stabbed Beast in the chest sending him crashing onto the ground, where he didn't get back up.

"Beast!" Nightingale screamed.

"You're next" Havoc said coldly as he reverted to his normal state. Nightingale staggered back to her feet and pulled out her gunstaff.

"Yes…go my champion…kill them all…" Arranst crooned to Havoc, who nodded and fired a bolt of Dark Eco at Nightingale who screamed in agony as the darkness coursed through her. The gunstaff went crashing into the sand and Nightingale landed on the ground once more.

Havoc snarled and five large tentacles made of Dark Eco erupted from his back and slammed into Nightingale's chest, causing her to scream in agony.

Nightingale screamed and writhed on the ground. She ripped her helmet off; her face contorted in agony, and screamed "I trusted you!"

Havoc stopped his attack. He hesitated, and said "You were a fool then"

"GET AWAY FROM HER!"

Havoc looked up and saw Jak charging towards him. Jak tackled Havoc to the ground, and rolled to his feet. Jak was still horribly injured, but he turned into his Light Jak form and shot a burst of light Eco into Havoc, who yelled out in pain as the Light Eco tore through him.

"KILL THEM!" Arranst commanded.

Havoc blasted Jak off of him, sending him crashing onto the dunes with a yell of agony. Havoc walked over to Light Jak, who was flickering in and out of his form. Nightingale slowly got to her feet and opened fire with her SMG, causing Havoc to have to go on the defensive once more.

Beast was slowly getting to his feet by now, and Havoc launched a bolt of Dark Eco at him. Nightingale hurled herself in front of the attack, getting blasted backwards into the dunes once more. She fell back and landed on a nearby rock, her skull slamming into the rock face and landing on the ground, where she remained still.

"NIGHTINGALE!" Jak yelled, returning to his normal form.

"It seems as though she's down for the count" Havoc said, eyeing Nightingale's unconscious form.

"RAAAH!" Beast roared, charging at Havoc and punching him as hard as he could in the face.

Havoc exploded in a burst of Dark Eco, and after a moment said "Good thing my powers are strong enough to create copies of myself, otherwise that blow would've killed me"

Havoc reappeared in a blur and did a double-handed judo chop to Beast's neck, knocking him unconscious.

"He's so powerful" Jak thought in horror as Havoc looked towards him.

Jak's vision blurred and Havoc said "Come quietly. Or I'll kill them both…slowly. No need for them to die"

Jak could barely stand, he had no Eco left, he had no weapons, and he had no backup.

"Just leave them alone" Jak said to Havoc, who nodded.

"HEY!"

Havoc turned to his left and yelled out as he became engulfed by a series of explosions. Jak turned to see Rune and Phoenix in a huge cruiser. Phoenix hopped out of the cruiser, holding a huge rocket launcher and said "Get away from them Jazon!"

Havoc got to his feet and said "You! I should've killed you back in that cell! Damn, this day is just filled with people I should've killed!"

Phoenix was clad in a newly repaired suit of armor that was a riot of colors. Her armor was actually glowing, giving off a radiant light. Phoenix chuckled and said "Time for some payback!"

Rune hopped out of the transport and ran over to Jak.

"Jak, you look horrible" Rune said worriedly.

"I fell ten thousand feet and got tortured with Dark Eco…again" Jak grunted, his entire body screaming in pain.

"True. Phoenix, keep Havoc busy. I'll get Beast, Night, and Jak in the transport" Rune ordered.

"Gotcha" Phoenix said aiming her rocket launcher at Havoc and firing another rocket.

Havoc snarled and punched the rocket midflight, causing it to explode around him. Rune went invisible and quickly grabbed Nightingale and hauled her over to the transport. She then quickly went over to Jak, who shook his head and said "Get Beast. Night healed me a bit, I can walk alright"

Rune nodded and sprinted over to Beast, who was now beginning to stir.

"Come on big guy, up you go" Rune murmured softly.

"Thanks" Beast grunted, trying to walk when he could.

"DIE ALREADY YOU SON A B!TCH!" Phoenix yelled as she reloaded and fired another rocket at Havoc, who dodged it and shot a burst of Dark Eco at Phoenix, who tossed the rocket launcher towards the attack.

The rocket launcher exploded, and Havoc scoffed.

"So much for that. Phoenix, you've slipped up if you've thrown your main weapon away" Havoc began to say before a very small orange dagger slammed into his chest.

"Born from the ashes, the Phoenix's flames shall burn all away until it returns to ashes once more" the Agent said as she walked through the smoke, ten orange darts in hand.

"AGH!" Havoc hissed as the flames engulfed him, burning his body faster than it could heal.

"Leave. Now" Phoenix said harshly.

"Retreat for now, you're low on Dark Eco, and you may not survive this encounter" Arranst said quietly.

"One last thing" Havoc said.

Havoc vanished in a burst of darkness and Phoenix glanced around quickly.

"W-where is he?" Rune asked as she walked towards Jak.

Havoc reappeared in front of Jak and stabbed him in the shoulder with his Darksword, running him through with it. Havoc laughed manically as he drew the sword out and vanished on the spot.

"JAK!" Rune yelled running over to him.

Phoenix and Rune helped move Jak into the transport, where Beast was sitting down, watching over Nightingale, who was shaking from the amount of Dark Eco in her.

Jak was vaguely aware of himself bleeding. He felt very light-headed, and his shoulder hurt badly. Compared to the other pain he had endured, this was nothing. He reached over to Nightingale as Rune attempted to dress and wound and grabbed her hand. With the last of his strength, he drew the Dark Eco from her into him.

"Wha…what happened?" Night asked as she slowly regained consciousness.

Jak passed out then and Rune yelled "Stay with me damn you!"

"JAK!" Nightingale screamed in fear as she crawled over to him.

Nightingale primed her GED's and injected her last shot of Green Eco into the wound, stemming the flow of blood. Phoenix hopped into the driver's seat and revved the transport before shooting off towards the Sanctuary.

Two Hours Later:

Nightingale watched as they pulled Jak into surgery. Iris had begged to be let in, but the medics were firm.

So Nightingale waited…

Sharpshooter, Rune, Phoenix, and Beast showed up to wait by her side to hear if Jak was going to make it or not. Nightingale just waited there leaning against the wall looking down at the ground, blaming herself and wishing that it could've been her instead.

Nymph walked out of the Infirmary, seeing as she was still a patient there at the moment, a few hours later, and said with a wide grin "He's stable!"

Everyone let out a sigh of relief. Nightingale fell to the ground, weak with relief. Beast helped her to her feet and grunted "You need rest"

"Yeah. Come on kiddo. Off to bed" Sharpshooter said with a grin.

"No. I want to see him" Nightingale said tiredly, and Sharpshooter sighed and muttered "Love-struck women...SIGH"

The AA Agent went through the double doors, and a few minutes later came back out.

"The doc said no, but Jak was conscious enough to tell him to let you in. The Doc reckons it'll be one of the few times he'll be conscious, so you've got five minutes" Sharpshooter said.

Nightingale beamed and hugged Sharpshooter quickly before dashing into the Recovery Room.

"She's absolutely smitten with Jak, isn't she?" Nymph asked with a laugh.

"Big time" Beast grunted, grinning slightly despite the broken ribs.

Nightingale burst into the room and saw the medic's attaching several IV's in Jak's arms. The surgery room was attached to the Infirmary, so Nightingale saw the medical tools that the medics had use on Jak as she passed into the room where Jak was. Jak was lying down on a bed, wrapped in bandages and looking like hell.

"You have five minutes Miss Nightingale" the medic said sternly.

"Thank you" Nightingale said with a smile.

Nightingale got down on her knees and grabbed Jak by the hand. Jak's eyes slowly opened and he saw Nightingale by his side. Nightingale smiled and rested her head by Jak's.

"Night…" Jak muttered.

"Don't speak. Save your strength" Nightingale whispered as ran her hands through his hair.

"You s-saved me…thank you" Jak muttered, holding Nightingale's hand tightly.

Nightingale flushed pink and said "You saved me Jak. You saved me in so many ways. I'd be lost in the dark, all by myself if it weren't for you…"

Jak smiled weakly and said "You're something special Iris…"

Jak's eyes slowly closed and his breathing slowed. Nightingale stayed quietly by his side until the medic came back around.

"You need to leave Agent Nightingale. He needs to rest" the medic said as Nightingale got to her feet.

"Of course. Can I see him later?" Night asked the medic, who hesitated, and then nodded.

"Iris…"

Nightingale turned around to see Jak looking at her. Nightingale went back down on her knees and brought her face close to Jak's.

"Yeah?" Nightingale said softly.

Jak leaned forward and kissed Nightingale's cheek. Nightingale gasped as Jak fell back into his bed and his eyes began to close.

"You're never alone Night…" Jak murmured.

Jak passed out on the spot, and the medic quickly ushered the awestruck Nightingale out of the room and into the hallway.

"Well?" Rune and Phoenix, the two remaining Agents in the hallway waiting for Nightingale, asked at the same time.

Nightingale slowly turned to face them, smiling like she had never smiled before.

"He…he kissed me" Nightingale whispered happily.

The two sisters high-fived each other and hugged Nightingale. It was a sign that maybe her affections weren't exactly hopeless after all…and after everything that had happened, a little hope was enough.

Five Days Later:

Nightingale was slumped over in a chair by Jak's side, holding his hand while they slept. Phoenix smiled and said "Even asleep, they're so cute together"

"Yeah, it's kind of a shame Jak doesn't realize Night's head over heels for him" Rune said.

"How long has she been here?" Rune asked Phoenix.

"She hasn't left his side yet, only when the medics kick her out" Phoenix said with a smile.

"Think she's loves him?" Phoenix asked.

"Oh, there's no doubt about it. She broke protocol and dived into a horde of soldiers to save him. If that's not devotion to someone because you love them, then I don't know what is sis" Rune said.

"By the way, what's going on between you and James?"

"Sharpshooter? What about him?" Rune said.

Phoenix sighed and said "Come on Ali. I know you way too well"

"Nothing really. I think that he may have a crush on me, and I have to admit, he is handsome" Rune said with a slight blush.

"Nightingale should take notes" Phoenix said wryly.

"Whatever. I'm not like, into him, I'm just saying that he's very charming when he wants to be" Rune said with a smile.

Nightingale began to stir and her eyes flickered open.

"Wha…what are you two doing here?" Night mumbled tiredly.

"Come on, off to bed with you" Rune said.

"No, I'm not leaving him" Nightingale said murmured, trying to stay awake.

"Night, the doctors said he'll wake up soon. You have to be patient, and on top of that, you need to actually sleep. You've done more than enough for Jak" Phoenix said to the raven-haired woman.

Nightingale looked tiredly at Jak, who was still sleeping soundly.

"He'd want you to take care of yourself" Phoenix said quietly, and Nightingale finally relented and bent down to where Jak's head was resting and murmured something that sounded like a hymn or a verse of a song. Jak's face relaxed a little more and Nightingale glanced at him before leaving the room.

Phoenix sighed and sat down in the chair Nightingale had vacated.

"How'd your leg?" Rune asked.

"Better. It's a little sore still, but I'll be able to go on the mission" Phoenix said brightly.

"Don't push yourself. You should still try to not put too much strain on your leg, though I doubt there'll be any problems with the two of us back together again" Rune laughed.

"Damn straight sis" Phoenix said to her sister, who grinned widely.

The Chief walked the halls, deep in thought. He knocked on a nearby door, and heard a tired voice say "Come in"

Disten stepped into Night's room, and saw his adoptive daughter looking at a mini-holomap on her desk, pouring over plans and strategies that she had worked on when she wasn't with Jak. She was supposed to lead the team sent out on The Mission, but the Chief couldn't send her out in this state.

"How are you feeling?" Disten asked.

"Fine"

"Iris…you disobeyed me" Disten said to Nightingale, who winced at his tone.

"I told you not to look for him. And you did. You were almost killed, as was Agent Beast. I should expel you from the program for endangering yourself like that" Disten said.

"Then do it. I don't regret saving him" Nightingale said finally, looking at the Chief with a weary frown.

"You…you know I wouldn't even think of getting rid of you…why did you go after him?" Disten asked.

"Because…because…I don't know anymore. He makes me feel special, like…no one ever has before" Nightingale said tiredly.

Disten walked over to Nightingale and put a hand on her shoulder and said "I know that. And I'm so proud of you for how far you've come since he's been here. Rush would be proud of you"

Nightingale smiled as she got to her feet and hugged Disten tightly. The Chief smiled and embraced Nightingale as well. Nightingale sighed and said "I've never said thank you…"

"For what?"

"For saving me. You were the reason I could come here, and start a new life…I'd still be trapped in that cell if it weren't for you" Night whispered, hugging Disten tightly.

"You never had to say thank you. You never had to say anything after what you endured. Yet you did, and that's why you are one of the strongest people I know" Disten said softly, causing Nightingale to laugh.

"Well, I had some good influences. Like you" Night said with a smile.

"That you did. Come on. You should eat, and then you can rest. The mission can wait until you've all recovered" Disten said.

Nightingale nodded and followed the Chief out of her room, closing the door behind her.

Meanwhile:

"Don't move. Conserve your energy" Blade said to Chill, who was making herself more comfortable.

"Jeez. At first I liked having you be my nurse, but this is getting ridiculous" Chill said with a smile.

Blade sat next to Chill, who was sitting comfortably in a large sofa in the library. Blade had insisted on helping her get through recovery as quickly as possible so she could be on the mission. Disten had found a special treatment that had accelerated the pace of recovery, shortening it to five days instead of five weeks. Light Eco and Green Eco treatments had been administered every hour on the hour for five entire days, and while it wasn't easy, as regular humans couldn't take so much Eco being forced into them, but she managed. She could now move her shoulder with some difficulty. She'd be ready for the mission soon enough.

"Nurse? Is that what you call what you made me do last night?" Blade said indignantly.

"I'm injured. The least you could do as my "friend" was comply with my absurd demands" Chill said with a wide smile.

"Making me dress up like that was a little excessive though"

"…I'm not apologizing"

"…SIGH…fair enough"

Daxter and Tesspopped out from behind a bookshelf and the four looked at each other for a moment.

"A library is not the place to discuss your sexual escapades" Daxter said, trying not to laugh.

"That's a big word for such a small rodent" Blade said with a wry grin.

"Why I oughta…" Daxter began to say before Blade unsheathed a knife.

"Never mind" Daxter said with a sheepish grin, and Blade sheathed the knife once more.

"Howdy people, what's up?" Sharpshooter said with a smile as he flopped down on a nearby sofa.

"Where did you come from?"

"Blame my mother. How're you feeling Chill?" Sharpshooter asked.

"Better every day, thanks to my nurse" Chill said, glancing at Blade, who coughed and muttered something about getting a drink and walked away.

"You never get bored when you're in the AA" Chill said.

"True. Though you've been around longer than me" Sharpshooter said with a smile.

"How did you join the AA?" Daxter asked Chill.

"Well, as you can see, I can be a little…flirty" Chill began.

"We hadn't noticed" Daxter and Sharpshooter said at the same time.

"Well, it's a long story. A few years back, about five years ago, I was working with the Underground. Torn, AKA Jakob, had me plant myself within the Baron's consorts, in order to get information out of them" Chill said.

"Like I said back in Haven City, I have no problem using my looks to get what I want. I can manipulate the idiots who think with their crotch and not their brain, and my Intel helped the Underground and saved a lot of lives. Torn managed to stay several steps ahead of Praxis thanks to what I learned from the cities nobles" Chill said.

"But…one day I was found out... It was just a few years ago, that awful day…They tried to force me to give myself up, and they captured my sister to make me surrender. I gave myself up to the Baron, anything to save my little sister…but…he was so angry…he said he would watch me suffer before he killed me…so he brought in a horrible, huge Metal Head…"

"And tore…my sister…to pieces" Chill whispered harshly, using a tone they had never heard before from her. It was the sort of loathing Nightingale had reserved for Torn.

"As I watched her die, I begged for him to just end it…and then…he came" Chill said sadly.

"Who came?" Daxter asked.

Flashback:

"YOU MONSTER!" Chill, at the time Nicole, screamed at the Baron with tears running down her face.

"Dispose of the body like the others" the Baron said snapping his fingers.

Nicole sobbed as she watched her mutilated sister be dragged away by two Krimzon Guards, who threw the body into a bag and hauled it out of the room. They then killed the Metal Head and she watched as it exploded in a burst of Dark Eco.

"Now…what to do with you?" the Baron said maliciously.

"We could always use her for…entertainment" Errol said with a disgusting smirk.

"No. That's too good for her. She can be a test subject for the Dark Warrior Program" Praxis said with a vile grin.

"I like it sir. I'll go prepare at once" Errol said with a grin.

"I'll be back to watch you die" Praxis said with a smile as he walked away, leaving the beaten and bloody women hanging by her wrists from the wall.

"My sister…my baby sister…how could he do this…now I can never help the Underground again…" Nicole sobbed, lamenting her sister and the people she'd let down.

"Personally, I feel as though you can get revenge AND help others" a man said to her.

Nicole looked to her left and saw to her amazement a man was leaning against the wall next to her. He stood at about five and a half feet and wore a sort of light grey body armor with black trimming. He had a crossed-sword emblem on his shoulder and was utterly covered with swords and knives, though he had a pistol held loosely in his hand.

"W-who are you?" Nicole asked.

"Call me Blade for now. So, what happened here?" the strange man asked.

"It doesn't matter, I'm dead now anyway...my best friend…the only family I had left in this miserable world was just slaughtered by one of those damn Metal Heads in front of me…I just want to d-die" Nicole sobbed.

Blade scoffed and said "For such an important informant to the Underground, I expected someone…tougher"

Nicole's eyes narrowed angrily and in an incredible feat of strength snapped the chain holding her right arm. Nicole lashed out at the man, kicking him in the jaw. The man stumbled backwards with a laugh and said "So, you are just as good as I thought you were"

Nicole panted angrily, ignoring the intense pain in her hand, and said "What do you want? Who sent you?"

"Who sent me? No one. I just hate the Baron and what he's done to these people. So, when I heard one of the Underground's best informants was captured, I decided to come spring you out. Didn't think you'd be so easy on the eyes though" Blade admitted, looking up and down Nicole body. Nicole for the first time in a while felt herself flush under the other man's gaze; she was dress in a ripped and bloody blue dress, hardly easy on the eyes.

Who WAS this guy?

Nicole scowled and said "Piss off"

"You're angry. You're furious that someone could be so cruel and evil. That he could just sic a monster like that on your sister, who was innocent, just to get back at you" Blade said softly as he drew a knife.

With a single fluid movement he sliced through the other chain. Nicole fell to the ground limply, but Blade caught her. She was surprised at how easily he carried her, like it was nothing at all. Strong, yet gentle.

"It'd be better if you just killed me and ran. We won't escape alive" Nicole muttered.

"That's why I brought backup" Blade chuckled.

"Blade, did you get her?" a voice asked Blade, though Nicole heard it too.

Blade tapped his communicator in his helmet and said "Target has been retrieved. We'll meet at rendezvous, the Baron's Throne Room"

"Who is that?" Nicole asked curiously as Blade picked her up, bridal style.

"A friend. Here, take this" Blade said handing her his pistol, which had a crossed-sword emblem on it.

The duo made their way into a nearby hallway and ducked around a corner. Blade set Nicole on the ground gently, inspecting her injuries.

"Leave me behind. Don't get yourself killed because of me, I'm not worth it" Nicole said to the man, who shook his head.

"Intruder!" a Krimzon guard yelled.

Blade walked out into the hallway, making sure Nicole was safe, and drew a wicked looking green sword.

"En garde!" Blade yelled as he dashed towards the guard, who fired at Blade and missed.

Blade stabbed the Guard through the chest and kicked him to the ground. Five more Krimzon Guard burst into the hallway and opened fire with their gunstaffs. Blade laughed wildly and began to swing his sword, blocking the shots and sending out bursts of green lightning from his sword, which struck down each of the soldiers to the ground.

"Can you walk?" Blade asked.

Nicole tried to get to her feet, but fell to her knees. Blade quickly put her on his back and said "Just shoot the idiots who come at us, OK?"

"G-got it" Nicole said.

Blade and Nicole quickly made their way through the hallway, stopping only when Blade had to duck out of sight when a KG Deathbot appeared in the hallway. Blade held his breath and Nicole did as well, and for a few these moments, they were utterly silent as the robot came by. When the robot passed, they let out a sigh of relief.

"Come on, my partner is keeping those idiots busy. We can get to the rendezvous if we hurry" Blade said to Nicole.

"I think I can walk the rest of the way" Nicole said.

"Good. Stay behind me, no matter what" Blade ordered, and Nicole nodded.

Blade pulled out a knife and went ahead, and then gestured to let Nicole know the way was clear.

The two quickly made their way through the next hallway when another huge KG Deathbot emerged from the hallway and saw the two of them standing there.

"Step back! I've got this" Blade said as he ran at the robot. Nicole took cover and watched in awe.

Blade slid underneath the robots legs, avoiding a series of deadly lasers, and stabbed the KG Deathbot in the middle underbelly, where it convulsed and shut down. Blade rolled underneath the robot as it fell to the ground and exploded violently.

"That was incredible!" Nicole said with a laugh.

"Think that's good? You should see me on a good day. I've had this crick in my neck, and it's been slowing me down" Blade said with a laugh.

Nicole sighed and said "Back to the getting the hell out of here"

"Right. Come on" Blade said gesturing down a hallway.

The two continued to make their way down the hallway and came into the Baron's throne room, which was empty. Blade tapped his helmet and said "We've reached the rendezvous. Where are you?"

"On my way" a voice replied.

"YOU!"

Blade and Nicole turned around to see Baron Praxis standing in the doorway, with twenty armed guards behind him.

"SEIZE THEM!" Praxis roared.

"Wrong move" Blade said calmly lifting his Galvasword.

Blade quickly darted at the soldiers and discharged a bolt of electricity at them, stunning four of the soldiers. Blade ducked under a gunstaff swing and stabbed the attacker in the chest before quickly yanking out his sword and slashing another soldier in the chest, downing him.

"You know, you can help too" Blade suggested to Nicole as he sidestepped a punch and stabbed another soldier.

"You're one of them! Those Avenging Angels!" Praxis snarled angrily as he watched the squad get decimated by one man.

"Yeah. And you're a tyrant, using your power to keep this city under your cruel iron fist. I should do everyone a favor and kill you now" Blade said as he blocked several blasts aimed at him and downed the remaining soldiers with five swipes of his Galvasword.

Praxis snarled and drew his own sword, a razor sharp cutlass that gleamed in the moonlight streaming in through the window. Blade laughed and got into a stance. Nicole just watched silently as the two slowly walked in a circle, watching each other.

"What are you doing?" Nicole asked Blade.

"Don't rush me…all good things come to those-" Blade began to say before the Baron charged at him and slashed downwards, trying to slice the Agent in two.

Blade quickly dodged the slash and darted under the Baron's outstretched arms, slashing him in the hip and drawing blood. The Baron snarled and lunged at Blade again, who began to trade blows with the cruel ruler.

Nicole watched the fight in amazement; she had never seen someone so easily beat so many trained soldiers. She watched as the Agent nimbly dodged every strike and slash the Baron threw at him. She knew the Baron was a capable fighter, as he would train constantly with his men when his duties permitted, but this…

Blade scored several more hits on Praxis, cutting open both of his arms and slashing him deeply on his left thigh. The Baron was resilient though, and kept up the fight.

"Blade!" Nicole called.

"Yeah?" Blade asked casually as he sidestepped another slash.

Nicole suddenly charged in and grabbed a small black scimitar that Blade had sheathed on his back. Nicole lunged at the Baron, who quickly brought up his sword to block the blow, which knocked the Baron to his knees.

"Baron Praxis!"

Several more Krimzon Guards burst into the room, led by Erol, and Nicole felt a surge of anger course through her as glanced at the Baron who had retreated several yards away to recover.

"You get Praxis. I'll handle these idiots" Blade said.

"Actually Blade…If I could do the honor?" a voice asked Blade in his helmet.

"Go ahead" Blade chuckled.

A large transport slammed into the wall and the turrets on the front of it opened fire on the Guards, who screamed as the shots tore through them and quickly cut them down.

A man clad in dark red armor like Blade jumped out of the driver's seat and said "Jeez, took you guys long enough to get here"

"Sorry Rush, trying to deal with these morons was more annoying than I thought it'd be" Blade said.

The two soldiers didn't realize Erol had gotten to his feet, and somehow avoided the attack. He drew his pistol, and opened fire on the two Agents, who avoided the shots.

More Krimzon Guard soldiers streamed into the room, and Rush pulled out two SMG's and said "I'll hold them off. Deal with Erol"

"Got it" Blade replied.

Blade glanced at Nicole, who was holding her own against the Baron, who had slowed down as a result of his wounds. Nicole's beautiful face was contorted in a fierce snarl as she traded blows with the man that had executed her sister by feeding her to a monster.

The Baron began to take a few steps back, and Nicole pressed on with even more ferocity, slashing the Baron in the chest with a yell of rage.

Blade deflected several pistol shots fired by Erol and easily defeated him by striking him several times with the lightning from his Galvasword. He then stabbed him in the shoulder and said "Do the city a favor…just die already"

Blade walked over to Nicole, passing by Rush who was dealing with the Krimzon Guards still, and jumped back into the fight, which at this point was just a way of punishing the Baron, because Blade could tell that Nicole could have finished the fight whenever she wanted to.

After continuing to trade blows with Baron Praxis for another minute, Blade eventually disarmed the Baron with a quick swipe of his Galvasword and kicked him in the chest, winding him. Blade whirled around and slashed the Baron heavily in the shoulder and sending out a spray of blood.

The Baron fell to his knees, bleeding all over, and growled angrily.

"It'd be so easy…just to end it…" Blade said softly, pointing his electrically charged sword at the Baron's throat.

"GET THEM!"

The group looked towards the doorway, through which they could see a swarm of Krimzon Guards, followed by several large KG Deathbots.

"Damn! This is taking too long!" Rush said as he reloaded and aimed his SMG's at the reinforcements.

Erol took advantage of this development and grabbed his fallen pistol and fired a shot at Blade, hitting him in the arm. Blade yelled out as his arm began to bleed and the Baron quickly punched Blade in the groin, an underhanded blow that was effective. Blade grunted and fell to his knees as the Baron stumbled away, bleeding badly.

"We need to leave!" Rush said as he backed up towards the transport, firing onto the horde that was running into the room.

Blade limped towards Rush, but Nicole remembered the unfired pistol that Blade had given her. She aimed the pistol at the fleeing Baron and fired a shot, hitting him in the foot, causing him to fall onto the ground.

"AGH! Why you little-!" the Baron snarled before Nicole smiled and fired five more times, hitting both of his shoulders, his right arm, and hitting him twice in the stomach. The Baron collapsed onto the ground and several Krimzon Guards kneeled down out of concern. Nicole ran towards the transport as Blade limped in and she jumped in just as the transport took off into the air.

"That was close" Nicole sighed as she sat down next to Blade.

Blade took off his helmet and dropped it on the ground before clutching his gunshot wound. Nicole blinked in surprise and said "Wow"

"Wow what?" Blade asked.

Blade was incredibly handsome, much more so than the usual slobs in the Baron's court that she had to interact with. She blushed pink and said "N-nothing"

"You OK?" Blade asked as he grabbed a first aid kit and applied a cloth to the wound, stanching the wound.

"Y-yeah. So, what are you guys?" Nicole asked.

"I should be asking you that. One moment, you're emotional and fiery and upset, and the next you're…" Blade trailed off.

"I'm…?"

"So…chill" Blade admitted.

"Chill?" Nicole chuckled in amusement.

"Only word I could think off that explained it. You see? Like now. You just shot the Baron multiple times, and you may have just been the one to finally end his life. Instead of being mad, or swearing to destroy the Baron, you're just sitting here blushing" Blade said, causing Nicole to smile slightly.

"That may be, but what are you two?" Nicole asked Rush, who was driving the transport.

"We're the Avenging Angels, a group of soldiers dedicated to the destruction of the Metal Heads" Rush said.

"Sounds fun" Chill admitted.

"Fun!?" Blade said incredulously.

"Yeah! I mean, I'll never be able to show my face in Haven as long as the Baron is alive, so killing those evil Metal Heads sounds like a damn good idea to me right now. Can I join?" Nicole asked.

"You handled yourself pretty good back there…plus you do meet the qualification to get in…why not?" Blade said.

"What qualification do I meet?" Nicole asked.

"Your sister" Rush said to the ex-spy.

Nicole's expression fell, and she turned away from Blade. She bit her lip hard, to the point where it began to bleed. Nicole took a deep, shaky breath, and it was obvious she was trying to keep her composure.

Blade's expression softened and he said "We've all been through it. Losing someone precious to us at the hands of those monsters…that is what we are. The ones left behind to grieve, the ones who wield our pain with both hands and use it to destroy a race that seeks to exterminate us, and to help those who also stand against them. That is the Avenging Angels. That is who we are"

Chill took a deep breath and said "I want to join. I have to do something, anything. I want to help, just like I did for the Underground"

Blade put an arm on her shoulder and said quietly "It's OK Nicole…let it out"

Nicole's expression crumbled and she broke down, sobbing onto Blade's shoulder. He wrapped a comforting arm around her, and held the ex-spy who grieved for her sister.

Rush sighed and said "It's never easy…you just learn to deal with the pain after a while…"

And with that, the trio travelled in silence, flying towards the Sanctuary, and towards a new life for a future top-ranked Agent for the Avenging Angels.

Flashback End:

Two Days Later:

MCC:

"So, any questions?" Arch asked Vin.

"Not really. I'm amazed that you can run this all yourself" Vin admitted.

"It's not easy. I hardly have time to go offline anymore" Arch said with a sigh.

"Well, um, I could help with that" Vin offered timidly.

"I'd appreciate it. But do you really think you can handle both the City's Power Grid and our own systems while I go offline for a few hours?" Arch asked skeptically.

"Of course I can! Don't underestimate me!" Vin proclaimed, causing the A.I. to chuckle and say "OK then hotshot, have fun"

"Jeez, get a room you two" Daxter said loudly.

Vin yelped and began to whistle embarrassedly while Arch laughed and said "Going Offline"

She vanished in a flash of blue light and Vin said "Wow…she's something"

Blade cleared his throat loudly, and Vin and Daxter looked at him and the other Agents assembled in the room. Blade sighed and said "All right, here's the deal"

"Jak was supposed to go on the mission...But, since he's still in the infirmary, that's not happening" Blade explained to Rune, Chill, Sharpshooter, Phoenix, Beast, Nymph, Royal, Daxter, and Nightingale.

Disten, who was tapping several points on the Holo-Map in the room, said "We'll have to do this mission without Jak. It's not any different than our plan was a short while ago"

"Night, as our Number 1, would you care to explain the mission in detail?" Disten asked.

Nightingale smiled and said "Sure"

"Nightingale will be leading from the field. Any objections?" Disten asked the group, who shook their heads.

Nightingale nodded and said "As you all know, there has been Hunter activity at Blackwood Island, an island to the west that we believe is their main base. It's surrounded by ever-present storm clouds, obscuring all attempts at recon. However, thanks to the Intel Phoenix was able to obtain while she was a prisoner, we now have a clear view of where the objective is, a map of the facility, as well as Intel on what kind of security we can expect guarding the Vault"

"Vault?" Nymph asked as Nightingale pulled up a map of the facility.

"Our objective is a high-security vault at the center of the complex. There is an incredibly valuable Precursor Map in there, which will show us the way to an even more important Precursor Artifact. What that artifact is exactly, we're not exactly sure. But we believe it is a key to an ancient Precursor Door, hidden away from the world somewhere" Nightingale explained.

"So say we get the map and key, how do we find the door?" Phoenix asked.

"With this" Nightingale said pulling out something from underneath her neckline and setting it down gently on the table.

It was a small amulet. An amulet of Precursor Metal encasing a small glowing diamond, with flowing black text surrounding the diamond. The amulet seemed mystical, and the group could feel the power thrumming from it.

"What is that? It's beautiful" Chill breathed softly.

"It's an ancient amulet, passed down in my family. My uncle kept it for safekeeping for my mother before she died. When the time is right, this will lead the 'Those chosen by fate' to the Door to Light" Nightingale explained.

"The Door to Light?" Sharpshooter asked.

"If I may, Nightingale?" Royal said.

"Go ahead"

"The Door to Light is the greatest of the Precursors legacies. Legend has it that only the chosen ones can open it and unleash the incredible power that lies behind it" Royal said.

"Any idea what kind of power lies behind it?" Blade asked.

"We do not. No one knows, but the Precursor's themselves" Royal said.

"This is why we need the Map. The Hunters can't get their hands on the key, and through that the power behind the Door, so we need to get the map from them and find the key before they do. The Chief has been reading up on the Door to Light, so he can provide more details later, after we acquire the Map and Key" Nightingale explained.

"We will be split into three teams. Team A is going to be the main party that goes into the base and will be charged with breaking into the Vault and retrieving the Map. Team A was supposed to consist of Sharpshooter, Rune, and Jak. I'll get back to Team A in a moment. Team B will be charged with distracting the Hunters and keeping them occupied. This team will consist of Nymph, Royal, and Beast. Team C will be responsible for taking care of any reinforcements that come when Team A breaks into the Vault. Team C will consist of Phoenix, Blade, and Chill.

"Rune, Sharpshooter. Since Jak was supposed to back you up on Team A, I'll join you myself to replace him" Nightingale said to the two Agents, who nodded.

"Don't be so quick to take my job Iris" a familiar voice said.

The group turned around to see Jak walking into the room, armed to the teeth, and ready to go. He was also wearing a brand new suit of armor.

Nightingale had seen Jak's old armor set, which he claimed was the Armor of Mar. It looked as though that armor merged with what was left from his previous AA one. The arms, legs, and chest pieces were now his Mar Armor, with white lightsteel encaging his chest. The Seal of Mar/ Eco Extractor in the center had been repaired, and on his arms and legs were his bracers and greaves, combined with the white armor he had before. His Morph Gun was on his back and he was locked and loaded.

Nightingale ran over to Jak and said "Jak!? W-what are you doing here? You should be in the Infirmary"

"According to their records, I am" Jak laughed.

"How's your arm?" Nightingale asked worriedly.

"It's OK. I should be out of the Infirmary tomorrow" Jak said with a grin.

"Tomorrow?" Nymph said with a raised eyebrow.

"Come on guys. You need me to get you into the base and get the Map. Besides, I'm not going to let something like a hurt arm stop me" Jak said cracking his knuckles and discharging a small burst of Dark Eco confidently.

Royal glanced at the two of them and walked over to Iris. He bent down and muttered in her ear "Nightingale, I know you look up to him, but with this mission, I'm not so sure that he should-"

"If Jak thinks that he'd good, then he's good" Nightingale said coldly to Royal, causing him to wince.

Nightingale leaned close to him and whispered "You're good, right Jak?"

"Look, I said I was OK. Good might be stretching it a little bit Night, but I can handle it. I'm not letting you go there without me" Jak said with a small smile, hugging Nightingale with his injured arm reassuringly.

"That's settled then. Jak, you will join Rune, Sharpshooter, and Nightingale in the main attacking force on Team A and break into the main facility" Disten said with a nod.

"Thank you sir" Jak said walking over to the others, who seemed to be glad he was better.

"You all know your assignments. You will be boarding the Raven-ships in less than one hour, which I suggest you use that time to prepare" Disten said to the group, who nodded.

"That's all. May the Precursors watch over you…You are all dismissed!" Disten said to the soldiers, who saluted their leader.

"Yes sir!"

End of Chapter:

The Mission is about to begin!

Action, danger, and explosions galore! Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Please let me know what you thought by submitting a review in the section below.

Until next time, FlygonN out!