Jak IV: The Avenging Angels
HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF GOD!
I actually uploaded.
OK, enough of this.
Regular updates should be happening in the new year, thanks to a non-stupid schedule this time around. Hopefully this means I can focus more on getting chapters out.
Just so everyone knows, I have a very important question that needs to be answered by my reviewers and readers, but I'll save that for the end of the chapter. This one took a while, and I hope it turned out OK.
The song "Gold" does not belong to me, and is song composed by Jeff Williams and preformed by his daughter Casey Lee Williams, and is a part of the RWBY Soundtrack. I HIGHLY suggest popping it open in another tab (RT4Copyright is a good choice to find a good quality version of the song) and when you get to the part in the chapter where that song is preformed, play the song and start reading along while it plays. Much like "Mirror Mirror", it's an amazing song that helps inspire bits of awesomeness.
Shoutout to those who reviewed last chapter including doubledamn, TC-Irish3, Sage Nightwing, JakXter724, evilanimegenious, a Guest reviewers, FanGirl 1320, StaticBomb324, MooMan1706, Oblique Strategies, another guest, IshVal Zero, as well as two new reviewers known as Ways and ScreamGirl4998. Thanks for the support guys, and for bearing with me through the delays. Things should return to normal with a good schedule this new year.
Now, let's get down to it.
Enjoy.
Chapter 30: Operation: Fallen Angel
"It's particularly hard to take being stabbed in the back close to home. There's always a feeling of betrayal when people of your own group oppose you"- Catharine MacKinnon.
Jak leaned against the wall, looking uncomfortable.
"It's so tight" Jak scowled at Chill, who grinned back at him.
After finding out Jak had no dress attire of any kind, not even a short sleeved dress shirt, Chill had taken things into her own hands. She had managed to find Jak a light blue button-up dress shirt that used to be Blade's, and was rather tight on him. Jak was also forced, to Chill's ultimate delight, into skinny jeans,
"It's like my entire lower half is in a vice" Jak growled, trying to pry the waistband from his hip but to no avail. He figured even if he went into Dark Jak mode, he'd probably still be stuck in these.
"It shows off your muscles and your nice ass. You're going to a club, not a fight. Try and look sexy for once…besides…Nightingale would start drooling on the spot if you were to flex right now. She won't be able to keep her eyes off of you" Chill said teasingly.
Jak grunted in reply.
He was well-built, not some muscle bound freak.
Chill herself looked quite beautiful as well. He snow white hair had been expertly cut by Blade so that it now was shoulder length and she wore a dazzling snow white dress that sparkling in the light. Combine that with six inch pure white high heels, you essentially had Snow White in front of you.
"So where is Night?" Jak asked Chill.
"She should be coming along soon. She said that there were some things she had to get ready, she had to shower, and-oh hey Night!" Chill said cheerfully, waving to someone over Jak's shoulder, causing Jak to look over his shoulder, and then turn around.
Jak's jaw dropped as Nightingale shyly walked down the hallway, blushing pink.
"Well…what do you think?" Nightingale asked Jak, who starred at her.
Nightingale was wearing a short sleeveless black dress that revealed her long pale legs, which to Jak's slight disappointment were covered in black stockings. Nightingale seemed to be unused to something that covered so little of her body, and wasn't nearly as graceful as Chill was in her high heels. Nightingale, for the first time since Jak met her, wore lipstick, the same ruby red color as the intricate designs on her jet black dress.
She looked beautiful.
"You look great" Jak managed to say, and Nightingale flushed dark red, partly from embarrassment and the rest from pleasure. Nightingale walked over to Jak and looked him up and down and said "You clean up well"
"Trust me, I really don't like the muscle shirt thing" Jak said dryly.
"I do" Nightingale said softly, laying her head against Jak's shoulder.
Jak smiled slightly, pleased with the situation, and said 'Where's Blade?"
"Good question. Oi! RUSSAL!" Chill shouted down the hallway.
"Keep your pants on, I'm coming" Blade growled as he immerged from another hallway. He was clad in a black dress shirt and jeans considerably less tight than Jak's, his hair tastefully spiked upwards. He looked dashing, like the prince that would come along and save the day and rescue the princess.
"Come on guys, we should head over there while it's early. Lady Starlight is having a noontime performance according to the message we received" Blade said to the others, who nodded. They slowly made their way to the Docking Bay, where Jet was waiting for them in a considerably smaller transport than usual.
"Hey guys. Nymph's got a stomach virus right now, so it's just me today. Where're you guys heading?" Jet asked cheerfully.
"Sunset Stratosphere" Chill said with a grin.
"Mind if I tag along? I can be back here in five minutes dressed up and ready to go" Jet said with a grin.
"We don't have enough invites-" Chill began to say before Blade said "Don't you go there all the time though?"
Jet blushed and said "Well, yeah, I can get in myself. I was just wondering if I can come along"
"Why not?" Nightingale said cheerfully, and Jet grinned and said "Alright, I'll be back in a few"
Chill sighed and said "I did not want to go clubbing with Jet…"
"Sorry…I was trying to be nice" Night said sheepishly.
"It's fine" Chill said in a tone that implied it was NOT fine, but she'd deal with it.
Jet came back in a pair of jeans and a white dress shirt, and said "Come on, let's roll"
Chill followed Jak and Night into the transport, shaking her head slightly while Blade laughed under his breath. The group sat down while Jet hopped into the cockpit. After a few moments the transport rumbled to life, and it rose into the air.
The flight consisted of Nightingale and Chill discussing Lady Starlight, who apparently was considered one of the best artists of the century.
"You see Jak, Lady Starlight is what you would call a Lyric Hunter" Nightingale said with a grin.
"Lyric Hunter?" Jak said with a raised eyebrow.
"Yep. Not only can she sing, but she's pretty good at exploring too. She funds a team of explorers that delve into old ruins and try to find songs that were written in the past. She usually goes along with them too…While a good deal of history has been recorded; a lot of it has been lost to the Metal Heads. Lyric Hunters delve into these old ruins and cities, like the Dead Town for example, and search for ancient songs that are lost" Nightingale explained.
"Starlight is much more than that though Jak…" Blade said in a low voice. Jak looked at Blade, who smiled a little at him.
"Lady Starlight is one of the only musicians that is Haven City born that hasn't abandoned the city. She always comes back to the people there, and the city loves her. She's a symbol of hope for them. She can get the troubles of the war off of their mind for just a little bit with her songs…she's a bit of an inspiration to these people. It's good to see she's still going strong" Blade said quietly.
"She's kept some of us going too. Gosh…"Victim" was absolutely beautiful…that song just resonates with me, especially when I think about Rush, Beast…or my sister" Chill said in a soft voice. Blade wrapped his arm around his fiancé and murmured something in her ear, causing her to smile and kiss him on the cheek.
"So, what song do you think she'll do? This is only a one song show to set up for her big concert next month" Chill asked Night.
"I hope either Descent From Darkness or Gold really. I know every note of both of them-well, I know most of her songs by heart of course-but "Gold" and 'Descent From Darkness" are easy for me to sing" Nightingale said excitedly.
"Wait, is that the upbeat one?" Jak asked Night. Nightingale nodded and said "I forget how often you get to hear me sing Jak"
"Hey, why is she only doing one song?" Jak asked Night.
"She's building up hype for her concert next month in Haven. This one's supposed to be absolutely huge…I wish I could go" Nightingale said wistfully.
Jet chuckled from the front seat and continued to drive the transport through the skies, arriving in Haven City a short time later. Jet cloaked the transport as the others got out and said "OK, let's roll"
The group set out down the street, eyeing the reconstruction efforts in progress. Despite the damage done to the city, the Metal Heads seemed unwilling to capitalize on their attacks, and allowed the city to slowly gain their strength again. There were a few smaller Metal Head's crawling around that were quickly put down by Freedom League soldiers, so the Angels did not pursue the matter.
They eventually entered Haven City's Palace District. The rubble had been cleared ages ago, and the hole leading to the Catacombs had been sealed up and an armed patrol guarded the area 24/7. Jak's attention turned to the colorful club at the end of the street, with the dazzling name of "Sunset Stratosphere".
And then they heard a scream.
"What was that?" Jak muttered. Blade pulled out a long slim knife that was apparently hidden in his dress shirt, and earning a confused look from Night.
"At any given moment when I go into public, I have two blades of some sort on my person" Blade said with a shrug.
"Hence the codename Blade" Chill said as her fiancé tossed her a smaller knife.
The group heard the scream again, followed by the sound of gunshots. The group sprinted forward, past the bouncers at the club's entrance, and turned the corner after a minute or two of running by the large club. The path split into two paths, so Blade, Jet, and Chill went one way while Night and Jak went the other. Jak and Nightingale spotted the commotion after a minute of running.
A woman with flowing black hair lay down on the ground, twitching in pain as five doglike Metal Heads circled her. The woman's pistol lay out of reach, though three slain Metal Heads were on the ground next to her, meaning she managed to kill a few of them before being overwhelmed by numbers. Nightingale and Jak glanced at each other before they both went into Light Mode and dashed forward. Nightingale slammed her foot into the skull of the nearest metal Head, cracking its skull and killing it instantly. She landed on the ground, her wings flapping once, before she held out her hands and shot two balls of Light Eco at the two dogs lunging at her, causing both of them to explode in a shower of Dark Eco.
Light Jak grabbed one of the dogs by the mouth, holding the dog still while keeping its mouth open, and slowly forced the Metal Head to open its mouth wider and wider until…
SNAP!
Jak dropped the dead Metal Head to the ground before spinning around and punching the last Metal Head dog in the face, sending it flying down the alleyway and crashing onto the ground where it exploded in a shower of Dark Eco.
"There we go. Are you OK?" Jak asked the woman on the ground.
She had a beautiful face with flowing black hair with a glowing white and light blue streak going through it. She had bright green eyes and a small mouth. She wore a torn white dress stained with blood and had on white heels.
"I think so…agh, my arm" the woman muttered.
"Who are you?" Jak asked the woman, who chuckled at him.
"My name is Kassandra Avsisa, er, well, Lady Starlight as you may know me" the woman said as Jak helped her up. She was holding her arm oddly and looked shaken up, but otherwise fine. She picked up her fallen magnum and put it in a small pouch at her waist and said "Damn things came out of nowhere. Thanks for saving me"
"You're Lady Starlight!" Nightingale gushed, and the woman smiled and said "So, you're a fan"
"Of course! You're the best!" Nightingale said as Chill and Blade caught up.
"Lady Starlight?" Blade asked in surprise.
"More of you?" Starlight said with a laugh.
"We're the Avenging Angels Lady Starlight, you're in good hands" Blade said to the young singer, who nodded.
"I remember you…You're Russal, right?" Starlight said with a smile.
Blade looked confused before Starlight said "I have been to the Stratosphere a few times in my down time, I've seen you around once or twice…besides, it's not that often I see someone with that good of an ass" Starlight admitted, causing Blade to blush and Chill to smack Blade in said area and said "Damn straight"
"Come on, we should head inside, get you looked at" Blade said.
"Yeah" Jet nodded in agreement.
"Shouldn't we take her to a hospital?" Nightingale asked.
"Raphael has a doctor on hand at the club. Just take me inside" Starlight said to Nightingale, who nodded, and with that they group began to walk her over to the entrance to the club.
"Oh hey, you guys again…Lady Starlight!? What the hell happened!?" the bouncer with a mustache asked, clearly worried.
"Metal Heads jumped me on my way back from seeing an old friend. I had slipped out from the set for just ten minutes, and on my way back I was jumped. If they hadn't interfered, I'd be dead" Starlight said smoothly.
"Come in, come in" the bouncer said to the others.
"Oh wait, invites?" the bouncer asked. Chill flashed their holo-invite and the bouncer said "That's VIP access for four. What about your fifth?"
"Hey, Joel" Jet said to the bouncer, who blinked in surprise.
"Oh, hey kid. Well…alright, you can come in. If anything, it's because you've done alright by us. Otherwise I'd tell you to beat it" Joel the bouncer said with a nod as he let the others in.
The club itself was both extra extravagant and stylish, with several glass platforms raised in the air with dancing women on them. Lights and sounded reverberated through the club, making it seem as though they had stepped into another world. An impressive stage lay in the middle of the dance floor, with a thick crimson curtain behind it.
A massive crowd of people were on the dance floor, moving to the sound of the music and losing themselves in the sounds and lights. A large bar sat off to the side and a massive ball of light floated above the dance floor, showering them with an aurora of lights.
"I'll make sure Starlight gets taken care of. Thanks for looking out for her" Joel said as he led Starlight off in another direction.
"Feel free to do what you want. The Boss said he'd find you in a bit, so just enjoy yourselves!" Joel said with a grin.
"Nice guy" Chill said.
"He's got a good head on his shoulders, despite the sort of club rep bouncers get. Come on, let's go party!" Jet said as he quickly vanished into the dancing throng.
"Come on Russal!" Chill said gleefully as she pulled her fiancé into the throng of people.
"So…" Nightingale said shyly.
"So. Wanna dance?" Jak asked casually.
"Oh, my hero" Nightingale said with a blush as she grabbed Jak's hand and led him onto the dance floor. Several men starred at Nightingale as she walked by, and as she noticed a blond man starring at her chest, she pressed herself closer to Jak and made it obvious she wasn't interested. When they were far away from the man, the two began to dance. Awkwardly at first, but eventually they began to get more and more comfortable.
"This isn't so bad" Jak thought as Nightingale grabbed his hand with a laugh. Nightingale had a very interesting dancing style, slinking around Jak as though she wanted to drag him off into the corner and have sex with him. A thought that made him shiver. Jak grabbed Nightingale and said "You enjoying yourself?"
Nightingale smiled in response as Jak pulled her close, their bodies pressing into each other. Nightingale traced her hands over Jak's chest as she slunk around him, her movements smooth and fluid.
"So…you dance Night?" Jak asked. Nightingale shook her head with a silent smile and Jak grabbed her hand as the music picked up.
"Awww! They're so CUTE!" Chill squealed as she and Blade danced in the middle of the dance floor, dong a high-speed improv tango that was both erratic and erotic at the same time.
"I wonder when Jak will realize Nightingale loves him as much he does her?" Blade asked Chill, who grinned and said 'Who knows? They're both hopeless…in a good way of course"
"Hmm…"
"Aw, don't get all thoughtful! Come on Russal, shake your ass and GO WILD! WOOO!" Chill screamed, causing several people next to her to cheer with her and one woman gave her a high-five.
The day seemed to pass in a blur to the fighters, who slowly but surely began to forget their troubles. Even Jak managed to enjoy himself with Nightingale, who was a surprisingly good dancer for a beginner. Nightingale managed to get rather…close to Jak under the pretense of dancing, but Jak didn't seem to mind. In fact when Nightingale pressed her chest against his, he simply smiled down at her and said "Having fun?"
"I'm having a blast" Nightingale laughed happily as the song switched once more.
A few minutes later, Nightingale and Jak decided to take a breather and head to the bar, where they met up with Chill and Blade, who were currently downing ice water at an alarming pace.
"Breath guys" Jak said with a laugh as Chill choked on her water. Chill recovered in time to say "You two…how…have you been?"
"We've been having a blast" Nightingale said as she grabbed Jak's arm and giggled happily.
"You guys are so freaking cute, you know that?" Chill said fondly to the two of them, causing them to exchange looks and then blush at the same time.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" a cold voice said to the group of Angels.
Jak spun around, recognizing the voice, only for a bottle to smash into his skull and send him stumbling forward, teetering in and out of consciousness as Blade caught Jak, who was soaked with alcohol now. Nightingale screamed in horror as blood gushed from Jak's skull and glass shattered everywhere.
"Jak! Are you OK!?" Nightingale asked the warrior, who nodded a little.
Chill and Blade glared at the three assailants. One of which was a young woman with long purple hair, fairly pretty by eyeing with an anger. Another was a young albino man wearing thin pair of glasses and wearing a scowl as well. The last one was a larger man with dirty blond hair and wearing a pair of ripped blue jeans and a ruffled black T-shirt. Each one of them had flowing black tattoos on their shoulders, as if they were branded.
"Hunters…" Blade growled as he moved protectively in front of Chill.
Jak slipped into Light Jak mode and healed the back of his skull, annoyed that he had blood all over his shirt now. Now he'd have to hear it from Chill.
Awesome.
Jak spun around and said "Why the hell are you guys doing here!?"
"Heh. Like we'd tell you" Deadshot said with a grin before he lunged forward at Jak. Jak ducked under his outstretched arm and whirled around, aiming a spin kick at the base of Deadshot's skull, causing the Hunter to stumble into the bar.
By this point, the crowd had taken notice and a circle had formed, with the crowd egging them on. Doppelganger pulled out two daggers that suddenly burst into black flames while Violet simply pulled out a magnum from the folds of her dress.
"How the hell did they get all this past the bouncers?" Jak thought before Deadshot let out a snarl and grabbed a bottle of liquor, smashing it down on the counter and slashing at Jak with the broken bottle. Jak swiftly ducked under the blow and crouched low on the ground before springing upwards and shooting into the air, delivering a massive uppercut to Deadshot's jaw and sending him into the air and crashing onto the bar. Jak smirked before a shot went off, causing many of the patrons of the club to scream. Nightingale barely managed to dodge the shot before Violet fired again, apparently taking care not to hit any of the patrons of the bar.
Blade tackled Doppelganger to the ground and wrestled away his daggers from him, but as his hand brushed one of them a searing pain shot through his hand, causing him to yell out in pain. Doppelganger grinned and kicked out, knocking Blade off of him. Doppelganger grabbed one of his knives and drew it back, only for a bottle of alcohol to smash over his skull, courtesy of Chill.
Jak ducked under a bottle that was thrown at him and then yelled out as Deadshot lunged over the counter and tackled him to the ground, augmenting the move with Dark Eco. Jak howled in pain as Deadshot grabbed Jak and put him in a full nelson, only for Jak to snap his head back and smash Deadshot's nose open with his skull.
As Deadshot stumbled backwards, Jak dropped to the ground and aimed a kick at Deadshot's leg, sweeping them out from under him and causing him to fall to the ground. Jak jumped to his feet managed to pull out Nightingale's knife from his shoe. Jak glanced at the elegant knife, glad he had brought it, before lunging forward, kicking Deadshot in the side and sending him rolling away.
Nightingale barely dodged another bullet and shot forward, using a bit of Light Eco to speed herself up and grabbed Violet's pistol, aiming it into the ground and forcing her to the ground. The two women began to roll on the ground, snarling and fighting each other with bursts of Light and Dark Eco bursting out at random intervals.
Chill ducked under a slash and snatched up a broken bottle off of the floor, throwing it at Doppelganger (who quickly recovered from the earlier bottle attack), who sidestepped it and stabbed at her. Chill nimbly dodged the frantic stabs until Blade came from behind and tackled Doppelganger from behind, pinning him to the ground.
"Don't you ever…EVER hurt her!" Blade growled at the Hunter with rage as he struggled underneath him.
"Fat chance!" Doppelganger laughed as a surge of Dark Eco rippled through him. Doppelganger slowly pushed himself up, causing Blade to break his hold on the Hunter and take a few steps back from the now glowing Hunter.
"AAHHH!"
"VIOLET!" Doppelganger yelled as he spun around, seeing Violet crumple to the ground as Nightingale stood over her, fist raised and radiating Light Eco.
"YOU B!TCH!" Doppelganger roared, only for a fist full of Light Eco to slam into his jaw and send him crashing onto the ground thirty yards away. Jak lowered his glowing fist, giving Nightingale a nod, before turning their attention to Deadshot, who was glowering at them.
"You idiots…you have no idea of what you're up against…it's going to be all the more satisfying to watch when you feel the cold sting of defeat and betrayal" Deadshot chuckled before he shot towards Jak with two Dark Eco-charged fists. Jak ducked under the first one and jammed Nightingale's knife into Deadshot's chest. Deadshot pulled back his fist and threw it at Jak's skull, only for Nightingale to grab the hand and wretch it backwards, snapping it back and breaking it. Nightingale rolled into a crouch as Deadshot growled in pain, his wrist snapping back into place.
Violet and Doppelganger slowly began to rise and Nightingale and Deadshot starred each other down. Deadshot lunged forward once again, aiming a punch of Dark Eco at Nightingale's head. Nightingale ducked under the punch and spun on the spot; bring up her heeled foot and slamming it into Deadshot's skull, a burst of Light Eco emanating from the blow as it connected. The Hunter stumbled forwards, clearly disoriented, and growled as he spun back around. Deadshot grabbed a magnum from his hip and aimed it at Nightingale, who smirked and tapped even more into the Light Eco in her body, causing her green eyes to turn pure white.
"ENOUGH!"
Raphael burst out of his office, hands tight around his cane, and strode over to Deadshot. Before Deadshot could even open his mouth to speak, Raphael spun his staff around, a wicked burst of Light and Dark Eco radiating off of it, and jabbed him in the stomach with it. Deadshot howled in agony and was thrown clear across the club, about fifty yards or so, and was sent crashing down onto a table. Violet and Doppelganger looked at the irate man for a moment before taking a few steps back.
"Raphael…" Doppelganger growled.
"Deadshot, Violet, Doppelganger…you know the rules…no fighting…no discrimination…and above all...no hurting a guest!" Raphael yelled furiously.
"Get them out of here!" Raphael said to his bodyguards, who nodded. The two guards scurried off, and Nightingale looked at Raphael with awe. Raphael glared at the retreating Deadshot for a few more moments before his eyes caught notice of Night staring at him. He turned around and said "Yes? Is there something wrong?"
"You just blasted a Hunter Agent all the way across a nightclub. Who are you?" Nightingale asked, folding her arms crossly.
"Fine. I see that the cat's out of the bag now. Gather your friends and bring them here, and we'll head into the VIP section. Hope you guys like Mantrache wine" Raphael said as he snapped his fingers to the nearest employee, who took the cue and hurried off.
"Come" Raphael said with a tinkling laugh as he sauntered off to the other end of the club. A large intricately decorated door was flanked by a buff security guard, who nodded and opened the door for Eclipse and his guests.
Jak and Nightingale let out a whistle as they eyed the lavish room, tricked out with dim lighting, a soft shaggy carpet flooring, and fancy glass panels that allowed one to see the dance floor, but prevented anyone from looking in. A glass table lined with Precursor Metal sat in the middle of a circle of ruby red loveseats. A tad cheesy, but it was obvious this was where the VIP's would relax at while surveying the commoners.
"Take a seat guys. Refreshments will be her soon" Raphael said as he sat down on one of the couches.
"So, how goes the work at the AA?" Raphael asked.
"Not good man. We lost an Agent the other day" Blade said with a sad shake of his head.
"That's horrible…who did it?" Raphael asked curiously.
"The Hunters…bunch of monsters…" Chill growled.
"Ah…see, I knew we'd hit this snag" Raphael began to say before there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?"
"Sasha, sir!" a female voice replied.
"Come in darling!"
The door opened, revealing a beautiful dark skinned woman in a sapphire colored dress. She had dark flowing hair and a serene and striking face with ruby red lips. She smiled, glanced behind her, and said "Hey Boss, remember that boyfriend I've been telling you about?"
"Yes! Is he here? Can I meet him?" Raphael said excitedly.
"Come on in Jimmy! Stop being so awkward!" Sasha said as she grabbed someone from behind her and pulling them into the room. Chill's jaw dropped as she dragged the blondish brown haired man known a Jet into the room, blushing furiously.
"Jet!?" Blade said in surprise.
"Are these your friends?" Sasha asked Jet, who nodded sheepishly.
"Hey there guys. I'm Sasha, I'm a dancer here at Sunset Stratosphere. I'm guessing you're our VIP's for the evening?" Sasha asked the Angels cheerfully.
"Yeah. Nice to meet you" Jak said with a nod.
"Same here!" Sasha chirped with a wink. Nightingale scooted a little closer to Jak, who raised an eyebrow but received a small smile and a blush in response from the black-haired beauty.
"Women" Jak thought dryly.
"So Jet, this is the mysterious girlfriend I've heard so much about" Chill said with an evil smile on her face.
"Oh god, don't start" Jet groaned.
"What? I'm proud that you managed to land someone like Sasha! So, how long have you two been together?" Chill asked.
"About what…um, four months or so?" Sasha asked. Jet nodded and said "Four months and a week I think"
"And how did you two meet?" Chill asked with a grin.
"Well, at work naturally. Jet took to me a little more than a guest normally would, and I've always been a sucker for guys in glasses. So…I gave him a bit of a show, and then things snowballed from there. After a little while, he mentioned he was a pilot for the Avenging Angels. I'm guessing you guys are too"
"Chill"
"Blade"
"Nightingale"
"Chiaroscuro"
"Just call him Jak though, no one uses his codename" Chill said dismissively.
Jak growled in annoyance, but didn't reply to that.
"Codenames. How quaint" Raphael said with a smirk.
"So yeah, we've been seeing each other for a little while now. A lot of people think I'm weird for being in a relationship while being a dancer, but…whatever" Sasha said with a grin as she gave Jet a kiss on the cheek.
"You've got some mad skills for a pilot" Raphael noted.
Jak resisted an urge to add a "Yo" to that statement, but said "So, back to something that's bothering me" Jak said to Raphael, who nodded.
"Those people in the club earlier were Hunter Agents. Sworn to protect and serve the Metal Head Leaders and destroy the Avenging Angels. Why were they in your club, and why did it seem like you know them?" Jak asked the man, who smiled.
"Ah…you ask questions, but ask the wrong ones. I'll indulge you though, Mar…I go by Raphael to those who know me. Raphael Bigoti, the Boss…I have many titles, one of which is master of ceremonies for this ritzy and popular club that has remained untouched from the Metal Heads despite everything…"
"I allow the Hunters to come to this club for the same reason I allow you all here. There is no discrimination of any sort at my club. Not on race, sexuality, or occupation. All that matters is that you're here to have a good time" Raphael said. Sasha nodded in agreement and Chill said "So, no discrimination at all? Even to those who swear to destroy our world?"
"Ah…you don't understand the plight of the Hunters. Maybe you will soon…now…as to why I know them…well, that's a funny story" Raphael chuckled nervously. He then became serious and said "I must have your word that this conversation will not leave this room. Even your beloved Chief must not know, for the results could mean the end of my livelihood and my family's legacy"
Sasha, Jet, Nightingale, Chill, Blade, and Jak all nodded.
"Yes…you may know me as Commander Eclipse. I am one of the three main commanders of the Hunters" Raphael said to the group of five, who blinked in surprise, and then they shifted in their chairs.
"What!?" Chill said in disbelief.
"Sasha, did you know!?" Jet asked his girlfriend, who nodded.
"He's not evil though Jet" Sasha said to Jet, who shook his head.
"Lovely. We have such a good target for an interrogation, and now we can't even tell the Chief" Blade growled.
"If you're one of the higher ups of the Hunters, then why haven't you killed us yet?" Jak asked coldly, this revelation completely changing his perspective of the man.
"Hmm…good question. You see, a man of my characteristics…well, a man with my taste in people…well, we're used to be judged. Scrutinized if you will. I was picked on for most of my life, and even when I was an young adult, people mocked me. I managed of course, but the experiences I had when I was younger made me realized that in the end, we're all the same. And when I joined the Hunters, still under ownership of this club, I extended that philosophy to you all. And to them…" Raphael explained.
There came a knock at the door, and Raphael allowed several waitresses into the room, offering various finger foods that filled the room with an intoxicating smell. Small glasses of liqueur and juices were served in fancy glowing glasses. Raphael smiled at his guests, who refused to eat and said "Might as well eat. I can't eat it all and it'll all go to waste"
As the group reluctantly began to eat, Raphael sighed deeply and downed a dark amber drink in one go. A spark of life entered his eyes and he said "OK…so here's the situation. I'm choosing to trust you all, not because of the fact that I have revealed my secret to you…but because two of your number is in fact the Chosen Ones. So…here's the deal"
"We're being manipulated. For years we believed that the Chosen One would come, with the Dark Goddess in tow, and allow the Metal Heads to finally win this damn war. It would be over, and those who had pledged their loyalty to the Dark Goddess would be allowed to live…safe, happy, and under the protection of an all-powerful ruler"
"Some of us…our faith in the Dark Goddess is wavering. She spends all of her time with Havoc, urging us to find the fragments all the while not lending a hand in the fight against…well, you all…it's disheartening at best" Raphael explained.
"So, I have slowly begun to isolate myself from my peers. I still provide funding and a place to relax for my fellow Hunters, but in regards to leading and missions, I have all but ceased my efforts in the fight"
The Angels didn't respond to this, and Eclipse closed his eyes for a moment and said "So…call me a traitor, or whatever…but you all have a right to know"
"Know what?" Nightingale asked.
"That you have a your own traitor in your midst" Eclipse said softly.
There was a pause… the word traitor hung in everyone's mind before Night broke the silence.
"What do you mean…traitor?" Nightingale asked.
"Someone who is working against you…this person has been feeding us intel about you all for months now. This traitor is the one who provided the information that allowed us to attack you all on that transport. This person allowed us to secure the final free fragment and kill Agent Beast…though the later was an accident if I remember correctly" Eclipse said to the others.
"You're lying. There's no way someone would betray us…why would they?" Blade said in a low voice.
"They don't really have a choice. General Dark has a hold over them…and as much as I'd like to help you, I can't tell you who it is" Eclipse said with a sad smile.
"Why the hell not!?" Chill demanded.
"Because if I did, they would be killed, along with a close friend of mine…and Dark doesn't want this resource to go to waste, so he is going to utilize them and use them to their fullest potential" Eclipse said matter-of-factly.
"What is this traitor doing?" Blade asked.
"Trying to bring us closer to our goal. The Arrival is at hand…if I were you, I'd keep a close eye on those Gate Fragment parts…" Eclipse said with a small smile before there was a series of frantic knocks on the door.
"Come in!" Raphael yelled.
The door was flung open and Lady Starlight came in, arm in a sling, flanked by two bodyguards. Raphael gasped and said "Star, what the hell happened?"
"Metal Heads. Big ones. They came after me on my way here…any idea why?" Starlight said coldly to Raphael, who shook his head.
"I've been getting treated by your staff for the past two hours for shock and a sprained arm, as well as some fairly bad scratches and cuts. That's why I haven't gone off on you yet…so, why am I a Hunter target now?" Starlight asked coldly.
"No idea…they shouldn't have attacked so close to the club…someone's getting ballsy…or worried…Starlight, do you think you can perform tonight?" Raphael asked worriedly.
Starlight rolled her eyes and said "In this state? Look, I know this is an important show. People have been dying for me to come back to Haven for months, and this sort of performance lifts people up and gives them hope that things can get better…it gets their mind off of the pain and destruction, at least for a little while…but the thing is, if I go on stage with this scratches and my arm in a sling, then what sort of message does that send to the people of Haven?"
"I see…" Raphael said in a soft voice.
"Raphael, I know you Hunters have your reasons, but my loyalty is to the people of Haven. It's my duty as a Lyric Hunter to help them in my own way…by giving them hope with my music. I can't do that in this state…so what now?" Starlight asked.
"There has to be a way to keep the performance on schedule!" Raphael said to Starlight, who shook her head.
"I'm afraid there isn't…" Starlight said with a sigh.
"This isn't good…you coming here is a huge draw. The club hasn't been this insanely packed in ages…if they find out you can't perform, there'll be a lot of angry customers, drunk customers mind you, who aren't going to take that news well…" Raphael said darkly.
"What if we got someone to take your place?" Sasha asked Starlight.
"No chance. None of the singers has my voice range, and none of them could pass off as a lookalike. I know the dancers, and none of them have my hair" Starlight said as she flipped her flowing black hair back.
Jak glanced at Nightingale for a moment and said "How about you Night?"
"Me?" Nightingale said in surprise.
"Yeah. You know a lot of her songs, you sort of look like her, plus you have the best singing voice I've ever heard" Jak said to Nightingale, who blushed pink in response. Why did she blush so much when he said something nice about her?
"What?" Starlight said to Jak.
"He hasn't heard you before, Lady Starlight" Nightingale said modestly.
"Hmmm…Night, you said?" Starlight said to Iris.
"Nightingale" Night corrected.
"Hmmm…sing a line from one of my songs"
Nightingale thought for a moment before she cleared her throat. She opened her mouth and a sang a note before saying "Come at me…and you'll see…I'm more than meets the eye. You think that, you'll break me, you're gonna find in time…"
Starlight blinked in surprise and said "Wow…that was pretty much perfect. In key, perfect tone, goof emotion…wow"
"Told ya" Jak said with a grin.
"Nightingale, that was really good" Jet said with a grin.
"Hmm…OK…maybe it could work. I can delay the performance by an hour, and give you a crash course on how to perform. What do you say?" Starlight said to Nightingale, who looked incredibly nervous.
"I…I don't know. I've only ever sung for one of two people at once before, not an entire crowd of angry people"
"Night, you should do it" Jak said to the young woman, who looked at him in surprise.
"You think so?" Night asked softly.
"This is your dream, Night…you can do it" Jak said with a smile.
Nightingale nodded and then looked up at Starlight and said "I'll do it"
"Then we've got an hour until show time, and an hour to transform you into a confident duplicate and teach you the entire show and routine! Let's get to it!" Starlight said with a grin as she pulled Nightingale to her feet.
One Hour Later:
Backstage:
"Remember…confidence. Fluidity. Don't be afraid to interact with them, they're just people like you and me" Starlight said as two staff members ran a bright blue comb through the middle of Nightingale's long mane. Instead of the blue streak that she had, Nightingale's was bright red.
"I'm so nervous…this…oh god" Nightingale said in a whisper.
"OK, hold on" Starlight said as she opened a small case and pulled out, to Nightingale's surprise, and a syringe.
"I know this is common sense 101, and you shouldn't just jam a needle into your body like this, but this is an emergency. Besides, I'm a trained medial professional as well as a dungeon crawler and professional singer, so this is fine" Starlight said with a smile.
"What are you doing?" Nightingale asked.
"This is an adrenaline shot and bit of axiota, which is a herb shamans use to help ward off cowardice and increase confidence. I use it all the time when I feel stage fright. It'll give you the confidence to pull this thing off. Also, all natural, no side effects" Starlight said as she filled the syringe with a clear liquid.
"I didn't know you suffered from stage fright" Nightingale said to Starlight.
"I normally don't, but I have it on hand for my backup singers and it's just useful. Now, relax" Starlight said as she plunged the needle into Nightingale's arm. Nightingale hissed, but then felt the effects of the liquid right away.
"See?" Starlight said with a smile as she helped Night to her feet. Nightingale nodded as the blood spot where the needle went in was cleaned up and bandaged before her sleeve was rolled down to cover it. She was now in a stunning black and crimson dress with sequins that shimmered in the club lighting, with pure black heels on.
"Alright…show time" Nightingale whispered, a small but now confident smile on her face.
"You can do this. Remember, that guy is watching. The one you like" Starlight said.
"Jak? How could you tell that I-"
"You make it very obvious" Starlight said with a grin.
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen. May I have your attention please? Due to Metal Head activity, Lady Starlight's performance has been cancelled for the evening. We apologize for any inconvenience. We do have another performer set to -"
"Now, go! If you cut him off now it'll throw the crowd off long enough for the song to start! GO!" Starlight said, ushering Night through as the curtains opened. The crowd began to boo and yell and hiss as the curtains opened. They remained silent for a moment as Nightingale walked on stage, and then the booing continued.
"Who is this!?"
"Is that Starlight!?"
"Nah, she's a fake!"
"GO NIGHT!"
Nightingale's eyes darted to the voice that had said that, and she found Jak grinning up at her from the crowd. Nightingale smiled and glanced over her shoulder, nodding to the composer of the band, who nodded and began to play.
(Begin "Gold" by Jeff Williams )
Nightingale smiled to herself and closed her eyes. The entire orchestra began to play an upbeat song that Nightingale knew by heart. Nightingale sang one, pure note before starting.
Dream of anything
I'll make it all come true.
Everything you need
Is all I'll have for you…
Nightingale held the crowd spellbound, enthralled by the power and beauty in her words. Jak could only watch in amazement as she kept going. Nightingale's smile widened on her face as she went onto the next verse, the angry crowd now focusing their attention on the beautiful women serenading them with her voice.
I'm forever
Always by your side.
Whenever you need a friend
I'm never far behind.
Nightingale took a few steps forward, speaking to the audience, who hung onto her every note and word. The anger at Starlight's absence was quickly replaced with an awe and fascination with this new girl who seemed to be even more talented.
If the stars all fall
When there's no more light
and the moon should crumble
You will be alright.
Nightingale glanced out at the crowd and addressed them as she held out her arms with a wide smile.
Don't you worry about the dark,
I will light up the night with the love in my heart.
I will burn like the sun,
I will keep you safe and warm.
Like the smell of a rose on a Summer's day
I will be there to take all your fears away
With a touch of my hand
I will turn your life to…
A series of golden lights flashed down on Nightingale, who opened her eyes and grinned down at the audience, who began to cheer. Nightingale took a few steps back, all nervousness gone. She realized the wisdom in Starlight's words, and her grin widened. She flung out her hand, the other holding the mike and increased the volume of her singing.
Gold!
With a touch of my hand,
I'll turn your life to gold!
The lights flashed to a ruby red color and the beat changed. Nightingale stepped out onto the dance floor, causing the crowd to part around her like water. The rowdy crowd cheered Night on as she continued to sing.
"She's good…really good!" Raphael said to Sasha and Jet, who nodded wordlessly.
Let's have everything.
Nothing we cannot do.
Every heart just beaming,
Every sky turns blue.
Nightingale's eyes darted towards Chill, Blade, and Jak, who grinned at her as she went onto the next verse.
I'm so happy,
Just to have you here.
Smiles bringing sunshine,
And worries disappear
"Who would've thought such a shy chick like her would be such a natural performer?" Blade said to Chill, who grinned at him in response. Nightingale flipped her long black mane over and continued to sing.
When the days turn dark
And we start to fall.
I will pick you up and
We will fix it all
Nightingale walked away from the others and looked towards the crowd, walking through them again and going back to the chorus. The Hunters watched from the crowd, itching to fight…but they had their orders, so they continued to listen to the women sing.
Don't you worry about the dark
I will light up the night with the love in my heart
I will burn like the sun
I will keep you safe and warm.
Like the smell of a rose on a Summer's day
I will be there to take all your fears away
With a touch of my hand
I will turn your life to gold…
Nightingale and Jak locked eyes across and the floor and she turned around to face him, a small smile on her face. She slowly began to walk towards him, her voice soft yet still beautiful. She was filled with confidence, high off of the thrill of the audience backing her. She could do anything…
Don't worry I've got you
Nothing will ever harm you.
"She's so beautiful" Jak thought as she continued to slowly walk towards him, her walk so slow and slow careful, as if walking on ice.
I'm close by, I'll stay here
Through all things I will be near
Nightingale brought herself close to Jak, who starred into her green eyes. Nightingale gently raised her hand and brushed Jak's eyes downwards, closing them. Her words them became a whisper.
Close your eyes
Don't you cry…
Love's around you
In time you'll fly…
Nightingale slowly brought her lips up to Jak's and for a moment the two of their lips brushed, but after a pause, Nightingale grinned and took a few steps back, and Jak opened his eyes and blinked at her in surprise, a bit disappointed. He then broke into a grin at how playful she was being mid-song. The music started back up again as the crowd cheered and laughed at her antics.
Don't you worry about the dark,
I will light up the night with the love in my heart.
I will burn like the sun,
I will keep you safe and warm.
Nightingale strode back onstage and spun around, facing the crowd once more, a wide grin plastered on her face, giddy with joy at the crowd's tremendous support.
Like the smell of a rose on a Summer's day
I will be there to take all your fears away
With a touch of my hand
I will turn your life to gold!
Lady Starlight chuckled to herself and said "The kids a natural…she could be just what this city needs"
With a touch of my hand,
I'll turn your life to gold!
Nightingale closed her eyes , flinging out her arm to the side and holding the mic close to her mouth. The crowd exploded with applause, with Jak, Blade, Jet, and Chill being the loudest. Nightingale grinned at them and curtsied before Lady Starlight herself walked out onto the stage, flinging the curtains aside with a flourish. The crowd's cheering intensified as a crew member handed Starlight a mic.
"I think they liked your performance" Starlight said with a wide smile, a microphone in hand.
"LET HER HEAR IT FOLKS!" Starlight yelled to the audience, who went wild in response. Nightingale was nearly beside herself at this point with joy, her hands covering her mouth.
"Well then, Lady Nightingale, I think you'll find that you've got your own little group of lovelies here. I'm sorry I couldn't sing to you all tonight darlings…but, I think Lady Nightingale's performance here made up for it…" Starlight trailed off with a coy smile.
"Am I right?" Starlight asked the crowd, who broke into cheers and began to chant "Nightingale! Nightingale! Nightingale!"
"This is like a dream come true" Nightingale admitted with a shy smile, causing a few laughs in the audience.
"I bet…Alright now my lovelies, I may not have been able to perform tonight, but rest assured once I recover, I will be back to sing to you all! Make sure to listen to my interview on the HCR later on tonight! I love all of you! GOODNIGHT!" Starlight shouted to the crowd, which went nuts once more, chanting Starlight and Nightingale loudly.
"Come on" Starlight said to Nightingale, who nodded and walked through the curtains.
"So…when were you going to tell me that you're a professional performer?" Starlight asked Nightingale.
"I'm not…I was so nervous but…it just came to me. I'm still so nervous, in fact I'm not sure why I'm …" Nightingale trailed off as she fell to her knees.
"There we go" Nightingale said with a nervous laugh, looking up at Starlight, who chuckled a little.
"All it took were a few pointers and a bit an adrenaline shot and you're a hit sensation…I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up on the HCR tonight" Starlight said with a smile.
Nightingale gasped in surprise, as the HCR (Haven City Radio Program) was something she listened to all of the time. It was how she found out about Starlight…
Now she could join her on the airwaves…
"Wow…this…this is a bit too much" Nightingale said in a soft but awed voice as Starlight helped her up. She became aware that crew members were walking all around them, some offering Nightingale words of congrats and compliments.
Nightingale spotted Chill, Jak, and Blade walking towards her backstage, and Nightingale ran as fast as her heels would allow her and flung herself at Jak. Jak laughed and swung Nightingale around before setting her on the ground, hugging her tightly.
"Did you like it?" Nightingale asked softly.
"You were amazing" Jak replied in a whisper, and Nightingale nuzzled her shoulder with a happy laugh.
"So…did you like it?" Nightingale asked Chill and Blade as she broke away from Jak, still holding onto one of his hands.
"Awesome" Blade said with a grin.
"Fantastic" Chill said as she downed the rest of her drank and high-fived Nightingale.
"So, what now?" Nightingale asked the three Agents.
"What happens now? Ha!"
The four Agents turned to see Lady Starlight, Eclipse, and a short man with well-trimmed black hair walking towards him.
"Nightingale, I haven't heard singing like that in years. Who would've thought the AA had such capable performers?" Eclipse said with a grin.
"I have to say, that song sounded better coming from you than it did from me!" Starlight said with a grin.
"Kassandra, you're so modest…still, the fact that someone can out-sing Starlight on a cover like that is astounding. I thought Haven City was empty of such talent. It would seem as though I am wrong" the man said with a small smile.
"Oh, this is my manager, Kris Damzn. Kris was impressed by your performance Night" Starlight said to the young woman, who nodded.
"I am always on the lookout for talent, and you, my girl, possess a raw sort of talent I haven't seen since the day I met Starlight" Kris said with a small smile.
"I don't disagree. She's got talent" Starlight said with a nod.
"Which is why I want to ask you if you wanted a contract" Kris said to Night, whose eyes widened.
"A contract?" Nightingale asked in disbelief.
Kris nodded and said "You managed to cause a crowd of people to go completely out of their minds with approval, despite them being furious at first that Starlight wouldn't be preforming. Despite all of the anger directed at you, you managed to put an incredible performance, purely out of the blue, with just an hour or so of preparation beforehand. You won them over with your beautiful voice. Mind you, this contract is nothing unreasonable. You would go on tour with Starlight while we work on your image, get you out there and create a fanbase. Then, after some time…you will truly shine!"
"So, what do you think?" Starlight said to Nightingale, who bit her lip.
Jak at first wondered why she didn't leap at the offer. She often talked to him about her dream of being a singer, one that would travel the world and preform in front of thousands upon thousands of people.
He then realized that if she was off doing that…
She couldn't be with him. She'd be leaving them behind while she travelled the world, realizing her dream. Travelling with her idol, with a singing career all but guaranteed…
"I…ever since I was a little girl, I've wanted to be a singer. Even now…after everything, I want to be a fighter and a performer….but…I just can't. I have to stay with my friends…at least until this fight is over…we have to stop them…so…" Nightingale trailed off.
Nightingale sighed and smiled sadly at the singer and said "I can't Lady Starlight…thank you for this opportunity…I got a taste of my dream tonight, and it felt amazing"
"You were a true star, Lady Nightingale. Don't give up hope, even when all seems dark. One thing is for certain…all of you are truly the strongest of people, with hearts of gold…I sincerely hope you all stay safe, and I hope we can all meet again"
"Ah well. Here's my card anyway. Keep in touch. We can expect great things from you, Lady Nightingale" Kris said with a smile as he handed Nightingale a crimson colored card with gold writing on it.
"I can make sure you all get back to your transport safely. Starlight and Kris, you two stay with me for a bit longer so I can ensure nothing else happens" Eclipse said to the singer and manager, who nodded.
Several Hours Later:
Chief's Office:
Nightingale, Jak, and Daxter all stood in the Chief's office, finishing their account of what had happened. True to their word, they didn't reveal the identity of Raphael to the Chief, though they did say that met up with several Hunter Agents and learned of the traitor. Nightingale had just told Disten about the contract she was offered when Disten managed to piss of Nightingale.
Badly.
Disten nodded said "You were right to refuse the offer, Iris. We can't afford to have you traipsing throughout the country on something so trivial"
"Excuse me? You act as though living out my childhood dream means nothing to you" Nightingale said in an annoyed tone. Jak and Daxter exchanged glances, feeling that following Night here was probably a bad idea. Disten sighed and said "Iris…I didn't mean it like that"
"No, you did. Chief, I've fought in this war for two entire years, out of the four years that I've been able to move on my own free will. How is it fair that I can't indulge in my dream? I think I of all people have the right to be happy" Nightingale asked Disten angrily.
"You have responsibilities, Agent Nightingale. Do you think that the Hunters won't hear of this? You wanting to leave for months on end to sing for crowds of people!? They'd be chomping at the bit to take us out, especially if we have a trait-" Disten cut himself off, as if the word pained him. Jak, Daxter, and Nightingale knew what he was going to say, but decided not to push it. Disten regained his composure and continued.
"They will know the second your mind deviates from your quest. You're the Champion of Light, chosen by the Precursors to aid the Champion of Balance…What about Jak?" Disten said, looking over at the young man in the corner, who looked even more uncomfortable.
"What about him?" Nightingale said in a low voice.
"Night…do you think Jak can do this all by himself?" Disten said in an equally low voice. Jak winced at the accusation, despite the truth in the words. Not now, no…he couldn't fight Havoc and the Hunters by himself. This time, things were different. He needed help.
He had to unlock his true form…a form that combined both Light and Dark…and create a balance that would result in true power. And for that he needed Nightingale's help…
Nightingale seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Jak, though she said "I…Jak isn't weak, Chief. He's the strongest man I've ever met…if something happened to me…you don't need to worry, because Jak's strong enough to save us on his own"
Jak felt something in him stir at Nightingale's words. The very idea that someone believed in him that much…Jak felt something warm in his chest as Nightingale looked over at him with a small smile, and Jak smiled back at her before she starred down the Chief.
"I admire your confidence in him, Iris, but the fact of the matter is that Pecker and Onin are adamant that Jak is not strong enough to realize this prophecy…"
"So what? Am I supposed to let all opportunities pass me by like that!?" Nightingale said coldly.
"NO! DON'T YOU SEE YET!?" Disten yelled, slamming his palms on the desk. Nightingale blinked in surprise at the outburst, and even Daxter looked speechless.
"I am aware that people manage to have a life that is rather untouched by the war, and go their entire life without fighting…the thing you have to realize Nightingale…is that sometimes you have to push aside your desires, and focus on what must be done. You're not just some pawn in a power struggle…you're essential to this fight. We need you to survive…just like we need Jak" Disten said in a soft voice. Nightingale starred at her adoptive father for a few moments and said "So…
"I never said that you can't dream…by the Precursors, if there's anyone in this world who deserves a chance to realize their childhood dream it'd be you Iris…as much as I want you to be happy, and to get far far away from this war…we need you…" Disten said in a soft voice. Disten then closed his eyes and said "I need you…you're all I have left…"
Nightingale's expression softened at that and she murmured "Chief…"
Disten then ran his hands through his graying hair and said "I've had to cast aside my dreams and wants just like you Night…I hate fighting, especially when it comes to putting my own subordinates in harm's way…but I have a commitment to my father and Gallus to see through" Disten said as he glanced over at the painting on the wall.
The painting depicted two men, rather intimidating looking men in Wastelander gear. One of them looked much liken the Chief, with light blood hair and a warrior's build. This man also had an impressive mustache and held the Chief's staff in his hand.
The other man had long flowing black hair and an intimidating build, with wild dark blue eyes and a feral grin on his face. He had a thick build, similar to Beast, and had a long scar on his face.
"As my father lay there, dying…he asked me to take the reins and lead the fight against the Metal Heads…a fight I still lead, years later…if anyone understands Nightingale…it's me…" Disten said softly.
"I'm not going to say I will stop you…you've proven that you can do things on your own, time and time again…I'm asking that you think about this…I know you turned down the offer…but the idea is still there. Think about what I said…OK?" Disten asked Night, who nodded.
"Dismissed"
Nightingale turned on her heel and strode out, and Daxter let out a low whistle.
"She's PISSED!" Daxter yelled, breaking the silence in typical Daxter fashion.
"Yes…she's not happy with how I handled that" Disten admitted.
"Chief…"
"I know Jak…just…allow an aging man to be selfish…I hold Nightingale too close to my heart…that little girl…she's grown into a strong and fierce woman…" Disten said with a small smile.
"Yeah, she has" Jak said with a similar smile. The two shared a peaceful moment of silence before Disten spoke once more.
"Jak…"
"Yeah?"
"When are you going to tell her?" Disten said to the young man, who looked confused.
"I may be getting on in years, but I'm far from old. I can tell when a man is in love…so, when are you going to tell her?" Disten asked.
"I…uh, well…" Jak stammered.
"I see. Well, you in most cases I wouldn't be so direct, but Nightingale is not a usual case. My advice, just show her how you feel. She cares deeply for you, and I wouldn't be surprised if she…well, you know" Disten trailed off with a smile. Jak nodded and Daxter said "You two both need to have some alone time together and sort this out"
"I agree" Disten said with a nod.
"Fine! I'll have her meet me in the Bathing Grotto sometime later. Usually it's empty" Jak said in an annoyed tone.
The Chief chuckled and said "You should find her there. She likes going there when she's upset. Now go, I have something to attend to"
Jak and Daxter nodded and walked out of the room. Disten closed his eyes and said "Oh Iris…I all want is this fight to end…if only so you can be happy"
Disten pulled out a small locket from his suit and opened it, revealing two small pictures. One of which showed him as a young boy, with his mother and father. All three of them looked happy and normal, long before tragedy thrust them into the Metal Head fight. Disten allowed a small smile to cross his face before turning his attention to the other photo.
This picture was one of Nightingale, a few months before meeting Jak. She was smiling a little and was of course nervous at having her picture taken, but it was the sort of shyness he adored about her. So innocent and so…loved. The girl was Disten's only light left in this world, now that his family was gone and destroyed. He cared for the other Agents, but none were as close to him as Nightingale.
A small tear rolled down Disten's face before he closed the locket.
"Iris…I sense there is much tragedy and death I the future for not just me…but for all of us…be safe" Disten whispered.
Meanwhile:
MCC:
Stephen punched in a quick code and the doors flew open, revealing a room with one or two dozing operatives in it. Stephen silently walked into the room and walked up to the large glowing supercomputer that was in the room, housing both Vin and Arch.
Stephen sighed and walked over to the terminal, inserting a small drive into it. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the horrified screaming of Vin as Arch suddenly went offline. Inside of the computer's, Arch gasped and collapsed onto the ground with a groan.
"NO! What are you doing!? ARCH! ARCH!" Vin screamed in horror as the A.I. slowly began to dissipate, her body dissolving slowly but surely. Vin let out a yell of fury and suddenly all of the terminals flashed blue before going offline.
"He manually shut down the system to save Arch from being deleted…just as planned" Stephen said as he removed the drive with the Hunter insignia on it and walked out of the MCC, the two operatives still unaware of what had happened…though the drugs he had slipped in their coffee helped that matter.
"Sorry guys…but I can't risk you both getting in my way…now…let's begin" Stephen said as he put on his helmet and walked out of the MCC, his mouth twitching into a scowl as he began his mission.
Meanwhile:
Bathing Grotto:
Nightingale let out a scream of frustration and Jak smiled. She stomped around the Bathing Grotto, fuming and yelling angrily yelling how she wasn't a little girl anymore, and that she didn't just want to fight forever. Jak knew it was selfish of him to want her to stop the dream and just stay here with them, but the desire to sing and be a star was a dream that Nightingale had held dear for years. It was strong.
"I just…I know I have to give it up…but I was SO CLOSE!" Nightingale yelled furiously.
"She's cute even when she's mad" Jak thought with a smirk as he walked over to her. Jak put a hand on her shoulder and said "Night?"
"…yeah?"
"You done?" Jak asked.
"…I guess" Nightingale said in a soft voice.
"You want some company?" Jak asked.
Nightingale nodded, and Jak loyally sat next to her. She moved closer to him and gently placed her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. The two of them slowly lowered themselves onto the ground, where they lay still for a time. Jak could distinctly smell some sort of perfume on her. Some sort of tropical fruit of some kind. Jak smiled a little and said "Hey, Iris?"
"Mmm?"
"I liked your singing" Jak said simply, trying to rouse some sort of reaction out of her.
"Thanks Jak…it means the world to me…hearing it from you…" Nightingale murmured in Jak's ear.
"I've always loved your singing" Jak admitted in a soft tone.
"Always?" Nightingale said softly, opening one eye.
"Always…that's why I went over to you, the night we became friends…I heard this…voice. The most pure and beautiful voice I'd ever heard" Jak said thoughtfully. Nightingale blushed pink, her smile widening, and said "You're sweet"
"And then I got to the waterfall, and had this incredible view" Jak said with a smirk. Nightingale's smile faded and she said "Didn't you…wait, did you actually…?"
"Yep" Jak replied.
"You actually did see me naked?" Nightingale asked, eyes open and mouth agape.
"Yep" Jak replied again.
"WHAT!? I thought you were kidding!?" Nightingale yelled, mortified and blushing furiously.
"What do you expect Night? I'm a guy. Guys like pretty women. Sue me" Jak said as he playfully wrapped an arm around Nightingale's waist and pulled her into him. Nightingale growled and broke free, stumbling away. Jak laughed as Nightingale blew her long flowing mane out of her face, put on a pouting face, and said "So, you think it's fun to peek in on girls trying to bathe?"
"So, you think it's fun to throw a knife at a guy who happens to walk in on you by accident?" Jak replied.
"I had a knife in the door!"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that I'm using the Grotto!"
"Hey, you could have put clothes on at any point during that exchange, yet you stayed in the towel" Jak snapped back.
Nightingale blushed even darker red, smiling a little, before throwing herself at Jak, taking him down to the ground. Nightingale and Jak rolled on the ground until Nightingale had him pinned to the ground, glowering at the laughing hero for a moment, before sighing, her smile vanishing.
"Jak… do you always make girls fall in love with you?" Nightingale asked Jak desperately, before she realized what she had said…
"I…uh…I mean…oh no" Nightingale whispered as she closed her eyes. This was it. She finally slipped up…she was going to lose the man she loved, just because she couldn't keep her emotions in check…she had revealed her secret…she had said that she had fallen in love with him…now she'd lose him forever…
Jak laughed a little, and then smiled up at her and said "It depends Night…"
"On?" Nightingale asked in the softest whisper Jak had heard from her ever.
Jak simply leaned upwards and kissed Nightingale on the lips.
Nightingale's eyes flew open and she gasped in surprise. Nightingale's mind began to process what was going on, and she closed her eyes and collapsed on top of Jak. Nightingale let out a moan of pleasure and intensified the kiss as Jak ran his finger through her silky black hair. Nightingale melted under Jak's ministrations, privately thinking she was dreaming. Then-
"INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!"
Nightingale and Jak broke apart, gasping for air as a siren went off. Jak and Nightingale looked at each other for a moment, before getting to their feet, both blushing furiously.
"I…I…Jak…do…" Nightingale stammered weakly, panting from what just happened. Jak grabbed Night by the shoulders and said "Later…OK? We should find out what's going on"
Nightingale nodded silently before Jak smiled at her.
"We can continue where we left off later" Jak said in a low voice to Night, kissing her on the forehead and embracing her in a comforting hug.
Nightingale threw her arms around Jak and said "I've never been more confused and excited in my life...I hope you know that"
"Me too Night…me too" Jak admitted.
Meanwhile:
Stephen swore as he stowed the last of the Gate Fragments into his satchel, which was designed to be large on the inside but very small on the outside, allowing him to fit the relics into it. Stephen checked the three pistols he had on his person before walked out of the Vault. As the alarm went off, he bolted out of the room and then began to walk at a leisurely pace, with no one being the wiser that he was the culprit. The camera and security systems had their flaws, and thanks to exploiting him he could do whatever he wanted without anyone being the wiser.
Though he still had one more target before his mission was complete.
Meanwhile:
Rune and Chase pounded down the hallway as the alarms blared overhead.
"What the hell is going on Rune?" Chase asked worriedly. Nothing like this had ever happened before, and he was relatively defenseless thanks to the Dark Eco being blasted out of his system.
Rune pulled out an energy pistol from her leg and handed it to Chase, who took the gun gratefully.
"Everyone's scurrying about like crazy…check the Docking Bay. I'll swing by the Pit" Rune said to Chase, who nodded and ran down the hallways.
Chase burst into the Docking Bay, which was now completely abandoned, which struck Chase as eerie. He then heard the sound of boots clanking on the floor behind him
Chase turned around and saw a familiar figure walking towards him with a purposeful stride.
"Hey man, the alarm got set off or something. Do you know what the heck's going-?" Chase began to say before the figure sighed deeply and quickly pulled out a magnum, firing the entire clip. Chase jerked back as 12 shots tore through his chest. Chase fell to the ground, choking on the blood as it gushed from his chest and began to fill his lungs.
"What…the hell?" Chase gasped as he clutched his chest.
"Sorry, but you're longer useful to the Dark Goddess, according to Zelda. I hope you understand…I want to protect the others, but you're not one of us. So you don't fall under that category" Stephen said coldly as he began to walk down the hallway. Chase saw the retreating figure walk down the hallway and then all went dark around him.
A few moments later, Nightingale walked into the Docking Bay and let out a gasp and ran over to Chase, finding Stephen by him.
"What's going on!?" Nightingale asked Stephen.
"I should ask the same!" Stephen said with a frown
"What happened to Chase?" Night asked Stephen.
"I heard gunshots and ran over here, and found him in a puddle of blood. Jak's going to help him" Stephen said to Night, who nodded as Jak appeared and ran over to Chase.
"You should find the Chief. He needs to know" Night said to Stephen, who nodded and hurried off.
"Damn…" Jak muttered as he eyed the damage done.
Jak knelt next to the ex-Hunter and went into Light Jak mode, quickly getting to work healing the gunshot wounds. After a few tense seconds of pouring Light Eco into him, which caused Chase to scream in agony, he went still, breathing softly. He'd need to go to the Infirmary right away, but he'd make it.
"Rune, he's over here!" Jak called to Rune as she ran out of the hallway.
'Chase!" Rune yelled, dropping to her knees.
"Chase! Are you OK?" Rune asked worriedly.
"Guys…I…I know…" Chase trailed off before he fell unconscious.
"Know what?...What did he know?" Jak muttered.
"I'm going to go look for the guy who did this" Night said as she pulled out her knife and magnum.
"Be careful" Jak said to Night as three medics burst out into the Docking Bay and ran over to Chase, hauling him onto a gurney.
"Who could have done this?" Rune whispered as she watched Chase get wheeled away.
Meanwhile:
"Even if they heal him, the bullets I used will keep his chances of survival minimal. He'll be dead by morning, especially if Jak heals him with Light Eco" Stephen said to Zelda, who replied "Just stay alert. They know there's a rat in their midst, and they'll be out for your blood"
"Don't I know it" Stephen said with sigh as he ended the transmission.
"Know what, Stephen?" a cold voice said to the Angel Agent before he was sent crashing down the hallway as a blast of Light Eco slammed into him. Stephen howled in agony and looked up as Chief Disten walked down the hallway, holding his staff in hand and looking disgusted.
Chief Disten starred at Stephen for a few moments before saying "What have you done? After everything you've done for us…how could you do this…?"
Stephen sighed and said "I'm sorry…but I really don't have any choice…you'll understand later"
The warrior pulled out his pistol and opened fire on the Chief, who's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting him to actually shoot his old leader. Disten jerked back and grunted as seven shimmering green shots tore through his body. Disten fell to one knee, his eyelids drooping and a few moments later he collapsed onto the ground, his suit stained with his own blood. His staff clattered on the ground. The wounds on his body sealed up on the spot, but the Chief remained unconscious.
"None but that Hunter are going to die tonight" Stephen said as he slowly brought his hand up to his temple.
"Zelda, this is Stephen. I have the Fragments and have eliminated Chase and injured Disten. En route now" Stephen said softly.
"Be careful" Zelda said in a whisper.
"Yeah…OK" Stephen said as he ended the transmission. Stephen glanced at Disten for a moment before sprinting down the hallway as fast as he could.
"Come on…so close!" Stephen thought as he pounded down the hallways, all too aware of the blood spatter on his armor. His cover was blown. He had to get out!
As he entered the Motor Pool, he snatched a set of keys off of the rack and walked over to the Dune Runner. He then began the intricate work of disabling the remaining vehicles, which took much longer than planned. As he finally approached his car, a familiar voice said "What's going on!?"
"I'm searching the motor pool for any sort of trace of a vehicle they used" Stephen said calmly as Jak stepped out from the shadows, a scowl on his face.
"Both Arch and Vin are offline, with Arch in Recovery Mode. Vin isn't sure she'll make it and is terrified out of his mind. Chase was found shot to hell, and me and Night found the Chief laying in a pool of his own blood…care to tell me what the hell you're really doing in the Motor Pool?" Jak asked coldly. Stephen sighed again before aiming his pistol at Jak, who smirked.
"You really think something like that can hurt me?" Jak asked, tapping into his Dark Eco and transforming into Dark Jak on the spot. Stephen took a step back, sliding in a pure white cartridge of ammo into his pistol and aiming it at Dark Jak.
Dark Jak vanished on the spot, slashing towards Stephen's head with his razor sharp claws. The man suddenly moved with a burst of inhumane quickness and jumped to the side, and Dark Jak spun around and lunged at the man, who fired three shots at Dark Jak while in midair.
The three pure white bullets passed through Dark Jak, who yelled out in agony as Light Eco tore through him. After a few moments, Dark Jak slipped back into his regular form and collapsed onto the ground. Stephen aimed the gun at Jak's chest and fired the rest of the clip into Jak's chest before reloading the pistol, dropping the empty clip into the pool of blood on the floor. Jak glared at Stephen, who smiled at him through his helmet.
"Light Eco treated ammunition, specifically designed to incapacitate you. The fact you're alive is a testament to your strength…" Stephen said in a low voice to Jak before turning around once more as another person burst into the Motor Pool and screamed. It was Phoenix, clad in her armor but missing her helmet.
Phoenix took a step back, observing the horrific scene before her, and said "What the hell are you doing Stephen!?"
The AA Agent slowly lowered his green armor clad arm and then reached for his helmet, taking it off and letting Phoenix see his face. He had a handsome face with a dark brown hair and blue intelligent eyes, which looked sad. He reached into a small pouch on his armor and pulled out a small pair of black glasses and gently put them on his face.
"No…they said we had a traitor…but…not...not you" Phoenix whispered as she took a step back, her hands fumbling with the pistol on her hip.
The man slowly raised his arm and pointed the pistol at Phoenix, his finger on the trigger. A laser dot suddenly appeared over her heart, and Phoenix shook her head once more in disbelief.
Tech smiled sadly at Phoenix and said "Sorry Michelle…but I've got to save who I can...forgive me"
Tech pulled the trigger.
End of Part 3:
I have been setting this up for quite a while, I'm glad that I'm finally at this point.
Tech is Stephen, and has betrayed his friends! Will the others recover? Why has Tech betrayed those he cared for the most? Where on earth is Havoc? And will the Avenging Angels be able to recover the Fragments?
STAY TUNED FOR MORE…
Anyway, we're closing in on the climax of the story, Part 4. Many things lie in store for the characters with Tech's betrayal now known.
Follow the legacy on Twitter, follow me at FlygonNick!
Also, a small sidenote, and a serious question to all of my readers.
I have been debating changing my Fanfiction . net username from FlygonN to FlygonNick. FlygonNick happens to be my internet name, and is my twitter handle, RT Handle, and Internet Box handle, and I'd really like to make the switch on here as well. It's just easier to have everything be the same.
The problem is that I've amassed quite a following on this site, and most you know my as FlygonN. My question to you all, is would this throw you off? Or do you think that this would cause any problems for you? Please, let me know. I need feedback on this guys, so either let me know in the review section of vote on the poll that's on my profile page. Would you all be OK with me changing my name from FlygonN to FlygonNick, and will this create any sort of confusion to anyone?
Let me know your thoughts in the section below.
Make to review and give me your feedback on the shocking conclusion of this chapter, as well as the feedback about my name change!
Until next time, FlygonN AKA FlygonNick out!