Chapter 13: Problems

Jak pulled her goggles off as she shut off the valve to the flamethrower. For the last several weeks she, Daxter and thirty others had been working on getting rid of all the metal head eggs within the sewer systems. They couldn't leave behind a single one. If they did, they would have another Kor problem. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she looked down at herself in the merit water that covered her boots. Her hair was way past her shoulders now. It was about mid-back and it was constantly getting into her face. 'Maybe I need to cut it,' she thought as she brought up her arm and looked at the watch on her wrist. It read 1:45 a.m. She stretched her arms and neck and sighed. She'd been at this since 6 a.m., and that meant she'd been at this for close to nineteen – almost twenty hours. She was ready to collapse. Suddenly, her communicator went off. Touching her side pocket it went into hover mode. "What?" she asked gruffly as she lit the end of the flamethrower once more and began taking out more eggs in this section of the sewer system.

"It's Ashelin," came the commanding feminine voice. "Jinx says sewer systems I through XXII are cleared. Where are you?"

"XXVI through XXXV are all cleared too." she said as she pulled her goggles back down. "I finished XXVI and just moved onto XXVII."

"That's the last of the systems," was the reply.

"Good."

Silence reigned for a moment making Jak believe Ashelin had hung up until the governor spoke. "The council has reconvened. They want you to make a public speech saying you have no claim on Haven."

Jak paused her motions. She frowned as she looked at the single flame at the end of her torch. "No."

"No?" Ashelin questioned.

"I won't deny who I am." Jak watched another egg pop and slammed her foot down on the fetus as it shook on the ground, its nervous system having been fried. She watched as the creature died, its demise only one of many to come. "I'm Jak Mar, child of King Damas. Protector of Haven City. To deny who I am is to deny myself the things I've accomplished for this city. I'm not a politician; I'm a warrior and currently that's exactly what Haven City needs!" She lifted her torch and just before she began blowing the bastards away she turned her comm off and put it away.

Hours later, Jak found herself exhausted and passed out on the couch. She hadn't had the strength to make it to the bedroom. On her stomach was the ottsel kid. It was purring softly and happily. Jak's eyes were closed tightly and she dreamed of Sandover, only instead of being the boy she'd been, she was the woman she was now. She was happier. No signs of the torture she'd been through. As she dreamt she found herself going further into the dreamscape until she stood before Mar himself. The towering soldier was commanding an army of warriors. The hair on the back of her neck raised as she watched him fling his arms this way and that. Dark eco raising out of the earth at his will. It formed over his head and he flung it behind her.

Turning, she saw it land in front of mechanical machines. These machines had a life of their own. Their movements were jerky and spastic. Their faces became move visible and looked ghoulish and zombie-like before suddenly they began rushing towards her and Mar. Spinning around she saw Mar pull a glowing red sword from the sheath on his hip and rushed towards his enemy with thousands of soldier running after their leader.

Their yells silent as was the clashing of swords. It was all muted; but in her head she could see flashes of what could happen if this was a battle taking place on the streets of Haven. She could hear the screams of women and children as their bodies were torn apart. She could smell the blood as it dripped out of the bodies onto the ground. She could feel said blood on her fingers. Bringing them up, she covered her eyes. She didn't want to see or hear this!

Suddenly everything muted and as she pulled her hands away she found herself standing before her beastial side. The pale skin of the being in front of her glistened. She could see the veins popping outward and glowing with the purplish ooze that was dark eco. Turning around the being looked at her with its black eyes.

"Adriana?" She asked her voice echoing around her.

The being gave a nod. "Yes," It said as it cocked its head this way and that. Its ears twitches as its voice bounced off the walls. "You were scared," She stated. "I brought you here."

Jak looked around herself. "Where is here?"

Taking her talon she touched the ground. Jak watched Adriana and watched the white void of the room vanish. The ground shifted and turned into sand. Jak turned and watched trees sprout from the ground and rise high into the sky. Geysers went off nearby and bridges and floating platforms appeared. "Geyser Rock," she sighed. "This is my home."

Jak nodded. "It's a good memory to make into a home," she stated towards her other self who nodded.

"You're exhausted," she pointed to the sandy ground next to her. "Sit. Sleep. I'll keep watch. No bad dreams will come here." Jak nodded as she felt her lead-like limbs fall to her sides. Laying down she closed her eyes as the sound of waves took her away from the pain of her past.

M-Angel: Sorry it's taken months for an update. It was entirely my fault. Been procrastinating and writing my first Inuyasha story. I haven't forgotten this story. I promise I will finish it! Hope everybody has enjoyed themselves during the holidays!

xoxoangii: Hope everyone had a great holiday! Can't wait to see you guys in the reviews! 3