The details of Jak's plan were kept under wraps, only being dispensed on a need-to-know basis. The members of the Underground were sure that news of Jak's entry into the race had reached the Baron, but no action had been taken to remove him. What's he playing at? My father wouldn't allow this unless he had a plan… Ashelin had been in the Underground hideout with Torn for a few hours today, standing by a giant map of the city talking about Krimzon guard patrols, Eco shipments, Metal Head attacks, all the going-ons of the city and surrounding areas.
"By the way, I don't like this plan with Jak in the Zoomer races," Torn stated seemingly out of the blue. Ashelin didn't speak, she just looked at him and waited for him to continue. She'd known him for years and knew this was the best way to handle Torn; he was waiting for her to say something so he could argue. If she didn't speak, he couldn't argue. He sighed and continued, "He's too unstable, all that Dark Eco in him and we don't know what it'll do. He could turn in the middle of a race, crash, and die. Then where will we be? He's one of our best fighters, but his powers still aren't reliable."
Now it was time for rebuttal. "Have you been to the Bazaar lately, Torn?" Ashelin asked evenly.
"...It's been a while," Torn stated, hesitantly.
"It's incredibly busy during this time of day. People milling about, doing their shopping. That tanker we intercepted? It crash landed in the middle of the Bazaar. There were people all around. The Metal Heads were trying to attack them, it's like some of them had orders to kill civilians and ignore us. I saw him turn to Dark Jak, he slammed the ground and killed 8 Metal Heads at once."
"...Okay? I read the report, I know he turned."
"I was right next to three of them, Torn. He managed to kill them and not touch me. Same with the civs. They were in the blast zone and no one felt a thing. He has more control over his powers than you think," Ashelin kept her even tone, knowing that logic and facts were the way to best Torn in a disagreement.
"Well, what about racing? Most of these guys have been on the back of a Zoomer since they were born. How's Jak supposed to compete with them? He can still crash, even without turning. This whole plan is too dangerous. We can figure out another way to get him to the Baron."
"Anything we do is going to be dangerous. You send him on dangerous missions all the time, but because you didn't come up with this one, you don't like it?"
"I give him missions where he just has to fire a gun, not race in between other Zoomers and try not to fucking die," Torn looked pleased, he thought he got her.
"Maybe you don't, but Krew does." Torn raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Krew worked with the Underground but was not officially a member. Therefore, he didn't need to ask Torn's permission to request errands and missions. But, if Krew was putting the Underground's best weapon in danger, Torn was definitely interested. Ashelin continued, "You remember hearing about those Lurker workers that got liberated?"
Torn snapped his head around to face her. "I thought those were Lurker rights activists?"
Ashelin shook her head. "No buddy, that was Jak. So if he can fly in between civs on their Zoomers, shoot down transports, get the Lurkers on the back of his Zoomer, and then fly them to the safe houses, it's my personal opinion that he'll be able to survive a few races."
Torn had no response. Ashelin decided to double-down. "I heard he's working with that mechanic too. I don't know her, but I hear she's good. Erol won't shut up about her," Ashelin rolled her eyes at his name.
Torn dropped his head a bit and sighed, "Fine. We don't know if this plan will work, there's too many variables. But if it fails, I guess we can just do something else, no real harm in doing the race I guess. He just better not die."
Ashelin smirked a bit, "You seem pretty concerned about him."
"Shut the hell up." There he was, her friend and the Captain of the Underground. "I want you to start keeping an eye on the mechanic. With her working with Jak, I'm sure Erol is going to retaliate."
She groaned. Great, another responsibility. "Okay, I can do that between patrols. I can't remember, what's her name? Kayla? Kairi?"
"It's Keira."
"Whatever, I'll keep an eye on her."
These races always brought the city to life. Most citizens usually walked the streets with relatively forlorn expressions, numbed by the poor living conditions. But the annual races always brought color back to people's cheeks. Ashelin was glad that the people had something to look forward to, but she wished it could be a slightly more wholesome event. Some racers sought glory and honor; others just wanted to win, and they would do anything to get that trophy. Ashelin had seemed entirely confident during that conversation with Torn, but now that she was here, in the stadium, her heartbeat thundered in her chest. She was scared.
The excitement of the races always brought out the rowdiness in people. The Krimzon guards' presence in the stadium was simply a precautionary measure. Ashelin didn't mind looking the other way if she saw someone drinking out of a flask in the crowd; hell, she'd had a drink before coming to the stadium for her nerves. But when a full-on fist fight erupted in the stands (which occurred at least once during every race), she and the other guards were ready to break it up. "Keep order, but don't be assholes. We're all here to have at least a little fun," she'd instructed the guards on the transport to the stadium. Working the races was a bit of a privilege among the guards, which of course meant that Ashelin was given the opportunity every year. If you weren't working the race, you were working double-duty to patrol the city and would miss watching all the excitement. It was common for city guards to pop into a bar to catch glimpses of the race on the televisions; again, Ashelin didn't mind looking the other way, as long as they didn't completely shirk their duties.
Her position in the stadium offered her a great view of the track. She kept an even expression on her face as the signal lights blinked on one by one, until the green light blinked on and the racers took off. The race had started.
"C'mon everyone, file in and fill the back of the transport first!" Ashelin shouted over the excited chatter among the guards. They couldn't stop talking about how Erol had lost the race to some nameless nobody, a complete underdog that everyone had expected to explode on the first turn of the race. Ashelin supposed from all the talk that Erol hadn't been blabbing about how the "nameless nobody" was an escaped Dark Eco experiment. Most of the guards were not the epitome of moral upstanding, but if word about that got out, many of them would walk away or act against him.
Most of the civilians had cleared out of the stadium and connecting courtyard, so it was finally time for the Krimzon guards to head out as well. But Ashelin needed to see Jak and Daxter, wanting to congratulate them. Not only for winning the race, but for embarrassing Erol. Someone said he was in his mechanic's garage. Good. This'll be a good time to size her up. I can get at least some idea of whether or not she'll be able to hold her own if anything happens. She swallowed hard. Ashelin hated meeting new people, having to analyze them and choosing her words carefully.
She moved according to Torn's directions and found herself in a hallway walking towards an open garage door. She heard Daxter's nasal voice echo down the hallway. Did…did he just say 'gazungas'? Ugh.
Ashelin approached the open garage door and two stimuli hit her senses. One, the strongest smell of coffee she'd ever experienced in her life. It made her stomach flip once before she took a slow breath and got used to the aroma. The other, the sound of a woman's laugh. Unabashed and loud, but sweet and playful. It was strange having such an unpleasant smell mingled with the sound. Daxter's voice was also there, but Ashelin wasn't paying attention to what he was saying.
She shook her head and took another deep breath before squaring herself and walking into the room. I'll talk to Jak, get a look around, and get out. That'll be enough for today. Don't have to go telling this stranger my life story or inviting her for a sleepover, just get a sense of what she's like. Jak and Daxter were sitting on a couch in the corner of the garage. The mechanic was sitting on the Zoomer lift with her back to the garage door. Ashelin saw the mug of coffee in her hands as she lifted it to her face. Ashelin stopped a bit from the group, hands on hips and managed out the word, "Hey."
Three shocked expressions whirled towards her. Jak stood from the couch while Daxter was eye-banging her. Ashelin saw the mechanic's, Keira's, face snap from surprise to disgust. I guess introductions aren't in order… It was silent for a few beats before anyone spoke. Her nervous habit of flicking her locs out of her face kicked in. Damn this is awkward. Best to just spit it out. She moved slightly toward Jak and addressed him, "I watched your race today. You were amazing out there." Ashelin tried to convey her pride in him without breaking her tough-girl persona. Keira slid off the lift and Ashelin managed to look at the woman, right into her indignant face. Ashelin noticed how she stood ever-so slightly in front of Jak. Hmm. Protective. Brave. She obviously knows who I am, but she's not scared. Good. Her eyes moved down from her face and couldn't help but look at the woman in front of her. Shoulders squared, standing at her full height, a slightly-dirty outfit exposing her midriff, and well-worn gloves, goggles, and boots. Curvy figure… Good. Never trust a mechanic with clean clothes and pristine tools. And damn… I see why Erol visits the garage so often. After all the time working together, they finally had something they agreed on, though she would never tell Erol. Keira was hot. She snapped her eyes back up to Keira's face; her green eyes were so furious, Ashelin wondered if they would spontaneously turn red.
After a moment that seemed to last an hour, Jak finally responded. "Oh, uhh thanks. Umm Keira…this, this is Ashelin. She's just…" They must have some history. I'll have to find out what. For…security purposes.
Keira's eyes snapped up and down at Ashelin, potentially sizing her up. This is really not going well. Ashelin was nervous. If she were to be keeping tabs on this woman, it'd go a lot easier if they were on good terms. Keira, however, didn't appear to be eager to get to know Ashelin. She had her own opinions of her.
"Everyone knows who she is." Keira's voice expressed her disapproval. You know what, I gotta look at this as a win. She really is brave, doesn't give a fuck who I am. She's going to need that.
Jak turned to Ashelin, gesturing towards the teal-haired mechanic. "And Keira's a-"
"A friend," Keira cut him off, folding her arms and leaning forward in a subtle act of intimidation. "A very good friend." Okay so they've known each other a while. But…how well? Agh, it doesn't matter what their relationship is. If Jak trusts her, then I guess I have to trust her too. And she's working with the Underground, so how bad can she be? Plus, she's feisty. Erol's a nobody compared to me and my…reputation, and if I don't scare her, then there's no way she's afraid of that mush-brained psycho.
Ashelin's face broke and she smirked, impressed by the woman in front of her. She didn't know what to say in response, so she turned instead to Jak. They discussed a mission they'd completed and she thanked him for his assistance. After a few minutes, Ashelin excused herself and started walking towards the door, but something stopped her feet from moving. If I'm going to be watching over her, I have to earn her trust, even just a little bit. It'd make all of this so much easier. She hated being vulnerable, but if it meant they'd become even a little closer, then it was something Ashelin was going to have to do…but she was not going to look at Keira and Jak while she did it. She took a deep breath before speaking again.
"I'm not my father, you know. Ever since I was a little girl, I've looked down at the city streets from that ridiculous palace…" Ashelin thought of her life, her childhood she'd endured in the building. It looked like a palace, but to her it was a prison. She wanted to be among the people, wanted to make their lives better. This double life, as a Krimzon guard Commander and a member of the Underground was the only way, at least for now. She felt a tear threaten to well up in her eye, but she blinked it away. She kept speaking, "... and imagined a better place."
They all stood in silence for a moment, Ashelin still thinking about her life and the future. She snapped back to attention, eager to close off that vulnerability. She looked over her shoulder at Jak, "By the way, they're hunting for you. I'd watch out for Erol. I can't protect you from him." Ashelin added the slightest emphasis on the word "you" while speaking to Jak. She knew it probably wouldn't come across, but she really couldn't interfere with Erol's actions if she wanted to keep a low profile, especially when it came to Jak. Keira, however… Ashelin looked at the mechanic. Keira couldn't know the meaning behind her words, but she was going to try to protect Keira from Erol, as much as she could. The woman still looked wary of her, but her hardened expression had softened a bit since Ashelin had first walked into the garage. Okay, at least it's a bit better. Ashelin continued out of the garage, hearing Daxter exclaim something as she walked down the hallway.
She hurried outside and was glad to see that she wasn't the last one on the transport; a few guards still lingered in the courtyard, flirting with a gaggle of civilians. "In the transport! Now!" Ashelin shouted and the group jumped at the sound of her voice. The guards followed her in and they took their seats, buckling into the set of safety straps. And with that, they were off.
With her patrols completed, Ashelin sent her group of guards on their way. They happily obliged and eagerly began discussing a trip to Hip Hog Heaven Saloon. Ashelin turned the other way and started walking. It was late, probably around 1 a.m.; surely no one would be out near the stadium at this hour. This was Ashelin's chance to check how secure Keira's garage really was.
Before the courtyard was a wide entrance-like alleyway. A few guards patrolled about the area, giving her a small, respectful nod upon seeing her. She returned the gesture. It wasn't their business what she was doing here and they knew it, so no one stopped her to question her intentions. As she came around the corner of the alley and looked across the courtyard, there were no guards in sight. That's strange… Usually if they were in the general area, they didn't completely ignore a section, at least not without reason. What's going on here? Ashelin walked quietly across the courtyard, constantly scanning the area for movement or sound. As she approached the hallway that led to Keira's garage, she heard a voice, a man's voice, muttering expletives under his breath. The orange-haired idiot didn't hear Ashelin walk up as he fiddled with the padlock on the roll-up garage door. She realized now why the guards hadn't been in the courtyard; they'd been ordered to leave the area.
"I see you're not above petty breaking-and-entering," Erol let out a small shriek as he jumped and turned to face the woman speaking to him. He glared at her, obviously caught. Ashelin folded her arms and stood tall, stone face not giving away any unnecessary emotion.
"By the Baron, you scared me! You're lucky I don't have my blaster on me, or the side of your pretty face would be gone!" He spat his words and Ashelin saw him shift his body in an attempt to conceal his weapon, so as to make his claim appear to be true. But even without seeing the gun, she knew they were empty words. He would never attack her. No matter how much the Praxis liked Erol, Ashelin was his daughter; she was a higher priority to Praxis. He'd be publicly shamed, possibly tortured, and certainly exiled if he hurt her. And even without her father, Ashelin could easily beat the shit out of him.
"Uh huh, okay. So why are you snooping around here?"
"That's not really any of your concern, Commander Praxis. I have my reasons for doing things, as I'm sure you have your own reasons for exploring around in the stadium. I didn't know your patrols included this part of the city or, specifically, this hallway." Erol's lips curled into a suspicious smirk. He did have a point though. Her patrols were supposed to be in a different sector. They'd both been caught.
"Hmph. I do have my reasons, Commander Erol. It's none of your business what I'm doing near Keira's—"
"Keira, you say?" Shit. I shouldn't have mentioned her. "Well, I am so delighted to hear that the two of you have met! Isn't she such a wonderfully talented mechanic? It's been refreshing finally having someone competent work on my Zoomer, everyone else has been such a disappointment. I do say, it'd be such a shame if something kept her from my work. I discovered her, you know. So I get first dibs on her. So you better not be adding any more projects onto her very full plate." Though he had a repugnant smile across his face, his words were laced with venom.
"She's a free woman, Commander Erol. She can do as she pleases. As can I. Now maybe it's time we both leave." She slightly turned and gestured with her hands to encourage him to leave with her. He held his head back and as high as possible as he walked past her and headed down the hall.
"Very well, Commander Praxis. But I will be keeping an eye on my star mechanic. I can't afford for anything to happen to her. There's still two more races, after all. And I have an underdog to destroy." Jak. Ashelin followed him as he walked down out into the courtyard.
"So you're just using her for her mechanical prowess so you can win your little races. How unlike you."
He started to turn to face Ashelin. "Oh there's so much more I'd like to use her for, but I ju—"
By instinct, Ashelin's fist balled and slammed into his right cheek, the force of the punch spinning him clean around. As soon as it happened, Ashelin knew she'd messed up. What the fuck happened to keeping a low profile? But she couldn't have let that slide, not with what he was implying. Erol was still getting his bearings and holding his mouth.
"You're despicable, Erol. Talking about a woman like that. You should be ashamed of yourself." There we go. Make it a general thing. 'I would've punched you no matter who it was.' Hopefully he'll believe it.
Erol's eyes were wide with shock. He spat onto the ground. The blood made a wet splat and one of his molars plinked on the stone walkway. After a few breaths, his face was a mix of intrigue and blood lust. His smile was full of hate as he panted. "You're right. I am ashamed of myself. Ashamed that I haven't killed you yet when I've had the chance. I don't care if you're the Baron's daughter. You're a fucking bitch and you don't deserve to be in the Krimzon guard. You don't deserve to live in this city. You don't deserve His praise."
Ashelin was slightly surprised. They'd never agreed or gotten along, but this was the first time Erol was expressing his hatred so explicitly. She seized the opportunity to fire back. "You're so full of shit, Erol. Go ahead. Plan my murder. I'd love to see what your attempt would be. How weak it would be. How you'd fail and I'd finally have a reason to see you executed. Or, maybe thrown out of the city. Let the Metal Heads eat you." They'd kept their voices relatively low, yet a guard came around the corner on the far side of the courtyard, checking to see what the loud thwack had been. Upon seeing the two Commanders, the guard nodded and quickly left, not wanting to get involved. But they were reminded that there were others around.
Ashelin and Erol looked back to each other, the space between them still filled with electric hate. His cheek was already swelling up.
"Well, I'll be taking my leave with my unit, Commander Praxis. Do be careful going home to your big, sparkly palace. I certainly hope nobody jumps out and slits your throat."
"You be careful as well. I hope nobody cuts your dick off while you're walking to whatever bridge you live under, you fucking troll."
Erol laughed haughtily as he turned and trekked across the courtyard, "See you at the meeting in the morning!"
