Man it's been a while. Sorry about that. But I'm back now. Give me thoughts. A.T.

As we walked the streets, following the old mans directions, I had to lean against the wall and stop for a minute. I was just too weak to go on. On the optimistic side, all I need is food and sleep and I should be fine. Even though I'm tired I can feel my muscles getting better. Jak turned to me then looked around. I squeaked in surprise when Jak picked me up and walked over to an unattended zoomer. For safety reasons, a.k.a. me falling off, Jak sat behind me while he drove us to our destination. I know the jerk was teasing me. Every time we had to wait behind others he would lay one hand off the handles and onto my leg. At one point he rubbed his thumb in circles making me twitch, and since he was resting his chin on my shoulder I could feel him smirking. When we got there, he helped me off and held me close as we walked over to the entrance. Sadly we didn't get very near. A blond woman stood in our way giving us the stink eye. Jak slightly tightened his grip before speaking.

" We're looking for a guy named Torn. Kor sent us."

A man with brown dreads tied back stalked up to us with a really angry expression. I'm guessing this guy has a rather... temperamental... disposition.

" Um... Are you... Torn?"

The guy was looking over us. I kind of wish I was a telepath. Then again, I have a feeling this guy would be going over several different ways to maim us.

" Maybe this guys a mute like you used to be."

Doubting that Daxter. Very much so.

" New faces make me nervous."

Ok. Bad temper vibe. Always angry look. And husky voice. Attractive to me but... I already have someone that happens to be standing in front of me. But can you blame me for my thoughts? The guy is pretty attractive. If I wasn't a one man only kind of girl I would jump him in a heart beat.

Wow. Ok. I need to get my hormones in check. Being around him and Jak will KILL me otherwise.

" Word is you're out to join the fight for the city. You know, picking the wrong side could be... unhealthy."

" We wanna see the Shadow."

Torn chuckled before pointing at us.

" Not likely. If you wanna join something, why don't you two and your pet go join the circus. Unless you've got the fur for a really tough task."

He took out his knife and examined it.

" Steal the Baron's banner from the top of the ruined tower and bring it back to me. Then, maybe we'll talk."

He flipped his knife and smirked at us. Jak looked back at me when I rested my head on his shoulder. I wasn't feeling to well. I fell to my knees and kept my head down. I had no energy left to do anything else let alone get a damned banner. Torn looked down at me while Daxter looked up at my face and Jak held me up.

" What's wrong with the girl?"

" They pumped her full of some Purple Eco stuff. And we ain't talking purple like Dark Eco either. Never heard of it. She ain't doin' too good, if you can't tell."

Thank you Daxter. I REALLY want everyone to know about that. Torn looked me over before turning to the entrance.

" Take her inside to one of the empty rooms, then get going."

Jak hoisted me up and carried me in and laid me on on of the beds. There were rooms down a small hallway, but this way they can watch me while Jak and Daxter are gone. Surprisingly comfy though. Daxter pulled the blankets over me before patting my cheek.

" No worries sweet cheeks. We'll be back in no time."

Daxter went out into the entrance way, leaving Jak sitting next to me. He took my hand and held it to his chest. Jeez it's not like I'm dying... Right? If I find out this Purple Eco is slowly killing me and not just the conditions I was kept in, I'm going to be Royally Pissed! Ok... Side effect to Purple Eco noted. Makes me very prone to anger. I reached behind his neck and pulled him down. I kissed him full on the lips, which he greedily returned, before I let him stand. I rolled onto my side and curled up. I heard his foot steps slowly fade away as I slipped into a dreamless sleep.

3RD

The boys left and Torn walked into the room, leaning against the door way as he stared down at the younger elf female. The blond from before walked in a while later and removed the corset from the girl so she could rest better. Torn saw how thin the girl was and it did little more than solidify his hatred for the Barron. The blond left for a few minutes before coming back with food, sitting it on the small bed side table. She only brought soup broth and bread to make it easy on the weak girl's stomach. The smell of food woke Scarlet from her deep sleep. She forced herself up into a sitting position, waving off help when it was offered, and slowly ate the food given to her. Torn just stared at the girl while lost in his thoughts. No one really knew anything about Purple Eco. It made him wonder. Of all the things to do to this chick... why fill her with an unknown Eco?

" You've been staring."

Torn snapped back to reality to see her looked at him. She looked tired but some color had returned to the girl from when she first came here a few hours ago.

" Wondering about the Purple Eco."

" Do you know anything?"

" No."

Scarlet sighed and left the last of her food to go cold. Torn left her to rest with the blond watching after her so he could see how the other two were doing on their little 'test'. Torn stood around for a minute before the two landed in front of him. Jak was holding the banner while Daxter laid sprawled on the ground. Before Torn could say anything, the ruined tower crumbled to pieces. Torn watched; impressed.

" Yeah. I guess you guys are in. Well your friend is doing a bit better. Meet me back at HQ."

Torn got back and leaned against the table covered in maps and waited. When the Jak and Daxter got back the ottsel began sauntering over the the water spout in the wall.

" WHOA! Being a BIG Hero sure makes you thirsty."

Daxter turned to the spout and turned the lever while Torn smirked in amusement at what was to come. Muck began spewing out at Daxter, making him cough and spit it out. Dax turned to glare at Torn.

" The Baron turned off all water to the slums. He's willing to sacrifice innocent lives just to destroy the Underground. I shouldn't be surprised. I've seen his evil before, while serving in the Krimzon Guard. That's why I quit."

" You were a Krimzon Guard?"

They three males turned to see Scarlet leaning against the doorway. She looked almost normal again other than a bit underweight yet. Guess Purple Eco helps heal faster like Green Eco. She stumbled over to the table and sat down. Torn and Jak looked at her before looking at each other.

1ST

Jak may have taken a page from Daxter's book this time.

" Well, that explains your charming sense of humor."

" My friend in the guard tells me the valve to turn the water back on is located outside the city. At the Pumping Station."

" Outside the city? But what about the security walls?"

Daxter finally spoke up while I just listened.

" What about the Metal Heads? There ain't no pettin' zoo out there. Peeps be getting deep six'd!"

" Find the large drain pipe in the north wall. It'll take you outside the city to the pumping station. Get to the main valve and open it. If you survive, the slums'll be indebted to ya'. If not, maybe we'll have a touching moment of silence in your honor."

" I'd like to give him a touching moment."

Just the face Daxter made had me holding my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. I stood up with renewed strength and tugged Jak's sleeve.

" I'm coming with you."

" You sure you're up for it?"

I gave him and incredulous look before heading into the restroom. I came back a minute later sporting my corset and boots. I began walking out. I felt different. Not really bad, but like I was becoming a different person. The three males looked at each other then watched as I sauntered up the stairs.

" Ooh. I think the sweet kitten ain't so kitten anymore. Huh Jak?"

Daxter nudged Jak in the head when they got outside, since he was distracted watching me straddle the zoomer bike.

" You boys coming or drooling?"

They looked stunned for a moment. That was so much more double sided than I intended it to be. Jak climbed on behind me and pressed really close. I took the controls this time with his hand precariously low as they wrapped around my hips. I revved the engine and off we went. I sped through the slums all the way to the pipe Torn mentioned. I sort of... maybe ran over a few guards on the way. Oops. I stopped on the walk way before climbing off the zoomer. While we waited for the door to open I felt Jak close behind me. He rested his hands on my hips and pressed me slightly closer while Daxter roamed around the small space. I slowly moved my hips side to side, eliciting a very suppressed moan from Jak. I could feel him harden a bit before the door opened. I smirked and winked at him over my shoulder as I walked away. In my mind I was flabbergasted.

'What am I doing?! I think it's something in the atmosphere. Makes you act different. Yeah, that's it. It's the air!'

As soon as we walked out to the area there were metal heads everywhere. We took a while getting up the the pump valve while also finding more orbs. We walked towards it and Dax decided to seen cool.

" Agh. The valve. Allow me."

He went to turn it, only for it to be stuck. I couldn't help but shake my head. Jak slammed on the pipe and the whole thing went awol on Daxter. The lever turned, the pipe opening sucked up Daxter and he went for a ride in the tubes. Me and Jak listened as he begged us for help as we made our way back to where we started and where the pipe ended. Jak turned the small valve and Daxter slowly popped out at first before the water pressure became to much and shot him out. We squatted done by Daxter. Jak went to say something but Daxter's hand shot up to stop him.

" Don't say it. Don't even chuckle. Next time, you turn the valve."

He then promptly passed out for a moment while Jak and I began to laugh. After we woke up Daxter, we left the station. We walked around the walkways for a bit before I saw a light coming from one of the huts over by one of the walls. We took a closer look to find an Oracle. I didn't think they had any here. We went inn and as Jak walked closer it spoke. I talked about a dark rage and stuff in Jak and that if we bring it skull gems then it will teach him how to control his 'dark powers'. As we made our way back to the Underground,, we saw one of those holographic things that are everywhere with the symbol for the Underground. We walked up to it and jumped when we heard Torn. He sent us on a ring race for speed. Once we won we went back to see Torn.

" The slums water is back on. I'd love to see the heads roll the Barron finds out."

" Yeah. I'm sure he's loosing lots of sleep over this armpit of a city. We've don't what you asked. Now when do we see the Shadow?"

Man Jak was mad. But he sounded... So Hot!

" When I say so, if I say so. But before I even think about it, I want you to take care of an ammo dump we've in the fortress. Lots of Krimson Guards, constant patrols. We know it's vulnerable, and the Underground needs you to blow up all the ammo you find inside."

When he said 'blow up', he whacked Daxter. I held in a laugh before I started coughing a bit. I guess I wasn't one hundred percent yet.

" Get all of it and we'll deal a body blow to the Barron."

" You're sending us in tough guy. So what's with this 'we'll deal a body blow' stuff?"

" It's fine. I want to Barron to know that it's me who's hurting him."

I was worried about Jak. He only seemed to get angrier and angrier. I ended up coughing harder causing the guys to turn to me. I hunched over and grabbed my throat while pushing the guys away when they tried to help me.

" I'm fine."

" No you're not. We don't know anything about that Purple Eco. So who knows what it's doing to you."

" I won't be weak."

" You're not. But you're not alright either. This Eco obviously is doing something to you. You need to take it easy for now. Come on Scarlet, don't push your self like this."

I looked between Jak and the others before sighing.

" I hate feeling useless."

" You aren't."

Jak picked me up and carried me to one of the private rooms down the small hallway. He slammed the door shut with his foot and shifted me enough so he could lock it. He laid me on the bed before laying over me. He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine gently before it became more hungry. He cupped his hand under my knee to lift it up to his waist as he pressed closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed us closer as he ran his other hand slowly up my side and to the tie of my corset. That was quickly removed followed by his armor and gun. Or boots were thrown aside with our shirts. We kept going till the both of us were in nothing but underwear, no bra included. I felt me cheeks heat up as I watched his smoldering eyes roam over me. He ran his rough but strong hands all over my burning skin followed by his lips. I smothered down a moan when his mouth molded to my left breast. I stroked his ears and I could hear the growl in the back of his throat. He hooked his fingers in the band of my panties and lowered them till they fell from my ankles. I watched him slowly remove his underwear till they joined mine on the floor. He laid over me again, our now naked bodies pressed closely together. His lips found mine as he pressed his member to my heat and slowly pushed in. I dug my nails into his shoulders as he pushed all the way up to his base. When he looked my in the eyes again all I saw was how much he cared. He pulled out and pumped back in at an even pace without breaking eye contact. The pace grew faster till we came close to our climax. We locked lips to keep our moans quiet as he filled me and we rode it out. He ran his fingers through my hair as he leaned over me on his elbows. He looked me in the eyes in seriousness.

" You aren't weak or useless. You're mine."