Chapter 7: Communication issues

Sig sighed as he cautiously walked around the Pumping Station, keeping an eye out for anything that wasn't a common breed of Metal Head. His boss, Krew, had decided out of the blue that he wanted some new trophies, and someone had reported seeing a unique type of Metal Head hanging around the Pumping Station. So, here Sig was, trying to hunt down said Metal Head, which he wasn't even sure existed the more that he thought about it.

At the sound of rustling and running a little distance away, Sig immediately raised his gun and aimed it in that direction. Thankfully, he was not someone with an itchy trigger-finger, allowing him to not fire as a figure that was not a Metal Head came bursting into view.

"What's a kid doing out here?" Sig wondered to himself.

He then reminded himself that it was a teenage boy he was seeing. Teenage boys usually thought themselves invincible and would go outside Haven's walls on a dare or to prove something. Any kids that didn't make it back to safety was just natural selection taking its course, as he'd heard the more jaded people of the city say.

On the heels of the boy was rather young croca-dog. And a few seconds after, a pair of Metal Heads.

Sig sighed heavily. "Of course." He said, preparing to step in and help the idiotic teen and his pet.

However, just as Sig levelled his gun at one of the Metal Heads, the teen whistled sharply and gestured. His dog ran off in one direction with one of the Metal Heads following it, leaving him with just one. The teen then suddenly turned around and jumped over the remaining Metal Head before striking down hard. The attack was enough to daze the Metal Head and the teen then descended on it with a knife in hand, stabbing into it and prying off the Skull Gem.

The teen stumbled on rising, probably having hurt himself in that strike. Given the boy's skill in taking down the beast in the first place, it was likely that he was a fighter out of practice.
The other Metal Head took notice and abandoned chasing the croca-dog to attack the teen.

Seeing its master hurt and in danger, the croca-dog ran over to him, ignoring the teen's attempts to order it around with whistles and hand gestures. With how young the pup was, it was obvious that it was still being trained.

Thankfully, both dog and teen were spared from any mauling by Sig, his shot piercing right through the Metal Head's body just as it was about to pounce on the teen, who had elected to try and defend himself instead of dodge out of the way.

"You were very lucky that I was out here today, cherry." Sig said as he approached.

The teen looked towards Sig in surprise and the man realised that he was familiar. It took a moment, but then he recognised the teen as the young healer from the Slums.

"Jak? I didn't think that someone like you would be foolish enough to be out here without anything to protect yourself with." Sig said.

Granted, he didn't know the boy very well. But with a younger brother to look after all on his own, and being a healer, Sig would have expected someone like Jak to be more level headed.

Jak showed off his knife, clearly trying to say that he wasn't defenceless.

"You do have some good skills." Sig agreed, wondering who had trained the teen. "But they're not good enough when facing off against Metal Heads. And those two were just small fly compared to what else is out here."

Jak did some signing that Sig struggled to understand, though he did recognise the sign for "thank you" in there. The teen's talking animal companion was absent, leaving no one to translate for the mute boy.
Jak then crouched down over the Metal Head that Sig had shot and pried out its Skull Gem, adding both Gems he'd collected to a pouch on his waist. Inside of it, Sig caught a glimpse of at least one other Gem already being in there. Apparently, Jak had had a run in with other Metal Heads before Sig had found him.

"Wait. Is that why you're out here?" Sig questioned. "Collecting Skull Gems. You can get a bit for them with the right seller but they're definitely not work risking your life over, especially when you don't even have a gun."

Skull Gem collection was a hobby for some but not a big one, as the Gems didn't have much use other than gaudy decoration. The inherent danger in obtaining the Gems did make them rare enough to be valuable, but not so valuable that it was worth leaving Haven solely to obtain them. Most people would just collect the Gems whenever they killed a Metal Head as a bonus, then sell off the Gems when they had enough for a collector.

Jak signed some more but Sig was only able to understand the words "need" and "told me". Trying again, Jak repeated one of the signs, joining his pointer fingers and thumbs on each hand and pressing them together with his middle fingers joining, pointing the fingers downward, then he brought the circles made by his fingers to his eyes like he was imitating glasses before putting one hand to his nose and bringing it downward. Sig still failed to understand.

Sighing dramatically in a way only teenagers could, Jak knelt in the dirt and wrote out a quick message.

"Gems for Oracle."

"Oh." Sig said, finally understanding that Jak had been alluding to the shape of the Oracle's face with his signs.

Skull Gems were an unusual offering to gift the Oracle, and the earlier observation of the risk-vs-reward still applied. But who was he to judge how Jak honoured and prayed to the Precursors? Perhaps it was a family thing.

But for religious offerings or not, Sig was not comfortable with Jak being outside of Haven's walls with only a knife, some fighting skills and a barely trained croca-pup for protection.

"Look, kid. That's not a good enough reason to be out here with barely any protection." Sig told Jak. "You can find other offerings for the Oracle that don't require risking your life. At least until you're old enough for a gun."

Jak scowled in a way that Sig found familiar, though he couldn't name who it reminded him of off the top of his head.

"Need them." Sig was able to fully understand Jak's sign this time.

Sig sighed in frustration. Some people could be really stubborn about how they did their religious practices. And he could see on Jak's face that he would not back down about gathering the Skull Gems.

Logically, he should just leave Jak to it. Sig was not the boy's minder and had no right to stop him. If the kid wanted to be suicidal in his pursuit of Skull Gems, that was completely up to him.
But the Wastelander's conscience was reluctant to let him. A suicidal idiot or not, Jak was still just a kid who didn't deserve to be mauled to death by Metal Heads. Plus, what would happen to Jak's little brother if he died?

"Look, cherry, I'm outside the walls a lot and kill a lot of Metal Heads. How about I give any Gems I collect to you?" Sig offered with a sigh.

It would add more to his work load to get the Skull Gems of the Metal Heads he killed, usually he just left them if Krew didn't want a trophy, but at least it would keep Jak within Haven's walls where he was questionably safe.

Jak thought about this but then shook his head. He signed some more and pointed to himself.
Sig didn't understand the signs, but still understood that Jak was saying that he needed to do the collecting himself.

Before Sig could argue with Jak further, the Metal Heads chose that moment to remind them that they were still very much an ever-present threat outside of Haven's walls, beasts larger than the ones before leaping out of the bushes and running around corners.

Cursing, Sig began firing.

The man tried his best to keep track of Jak during the fight but there were many Metal Heads. It seemed as though they had waited until there were a significant number of them before making their attack. Still, he did manage to catch sight of the boy using his fighting moves and knife to take out a few of the Metal Heads near the start of the fight, and spinning out of the way of others.

As the fight was drawing to an end, Metal Head corpses littering the ground, Sig thought he could hear some faint whistling, perhaps Jak trying to command his croca-dog. But then there came a yell, strained and short, but it was enough to get Sig's attention.
He turned to see Jak being cornered by some Metal Heads. He was clinging to a tree branch with one hand, clutching his croca-dog under his other arm, dangling very close to the Metal Heads and kicking them away when they jumped at him. The boy's grip on both the branch and his dog were slipping.

Dealing quickly with the Metal Heads still attacking him, Sig whipped around and shot at the Metal Heads trying to bite off Jak's feet. And not a moment too soon as Jak almost immediately fell to the ground, barely keeping hold of his dog long enough to prevent it from a rough landing.

"See, this is exactly what I'm talking about." Sig told Jak sternly.

Jak just signed a thank you, then set to work prying out the Skull Gems while occasionally coughing and massaging his throat.

"You would have been way outnumbered and mauled to pieces if I hadn't been here." Sig stated. "You need to stay inside the walls."

Jak just shrugged and Sig was once again reminded that this kid was a teenager. A teenager too stubborn to listen to reason.
No matter how much Sig asked for Jak to stay where it was relatively safe, the teen would be out of the walls and on the hunt for more Skull Gems the moment Sig's back was turned.

"Look…" Sig sighed heavily. "How about I allow you to tag along with me on missions outside of the walls? Then will you stay inside the walls?" He reluctantly offered.

It was not the best idea. Sig did not need a reckless teen tagging along on his missions and slowing him down. But at the same time, he would probably find it hard to rest easy at night if he let Jak continue on as he was. The teen's little brother did not need to lose his brother and the person who cared for him, and Jak did not deserve to die so young. And another part of Sig also recognised that Jak's death would result in the loss of a good healer and Eco Chaneller, which was something desperately needed in Haven.

Jak looked up at Sig in shock, then grinned as if the Wastelander had offered to adopt him (which he most certainly hadn't).
The teen nodded so hard that Sig worried his head would come off.

"Okay." Sig said. "I'll take you out on missions and you stay inside Haven's walls at all other times. Deal?"

The two shook on it.

Jak signed something and then pointed to Sig's gun. It was easy to guess that the teen was asking if he'd get a turn using it.

Sig laughed. "You've got no chance in placing your hands on my baby." He said, causing Jak to pout slightly. "And I'm not trusting you with a gun until I know what you're capable of. You being out here on your own doesn't exactly scream 'responsible'."

Sig then frowned.

"If you're going to be out here with me, we're going to need a better way to communicate." He told Jak. "I need to know when you're in trouble and I'll need you to watch my back, which we can't do when you don't speak and I don't understand you."

Jak shifted uncomfortably at that.

"Come on, let's get you back inside the walls." Sig said, indicating in the direction of the entrance with his gun.

Jak groaned and stretched as he walked through the streets, Chomp trailing behind him.

Like before he had underestimated just how dangerous the Metalheads were, especially when trying to train Chomp at the same time. Yes, he had been able to take some down, but they were tougher than Lurkers and were also more numerous, and he was also out of practice. If it hadn't been for Sig showing up, he would have been dealing with a lot more than some bruises and sore muscles from punching and kicking the Metalheads too hard.
Still, Sig had offered to take Jak outside the walls with him. So, at least he'd have a tough guy with a gun there the next time. Which was so cool.

Reaching his destination, Jak knocked on the door to a now-familiar house.

There was a small commotion inside before the door was opened, the kindly old face of Beatrix greeting him.

"Ah, you're back. Come inside, dear." Beatrix smiled and allowed Jak inside.

Jak had barely gotten the door closed before a small body impacted against his legs, nearly bowling him over.

"Aw. He missed you." Beatrix cooed.

Jak knelt down and accepted Mar into his arms. The young boy was crying and clung to Jak tightly, which was a bit funny considering how Mar had been perfectly fine when Jak had dropped him off with the couple.

"About time you got back." Daxter complained from where he was sat. "I couldn't take much more of the old-folk talk."

"You didn't seem to be complaining when you ate our biscuits." Teddy huffed from where he was sat next to Daxter in a well-worn lounge chair.

Since first meeting the older couple, the had run into each other a few more times and eventually come to an accord. As frail older folks, they struggled with certain tasks such as carrying heavy items, and Beatrix had also become slightly afraid of walking outside alone after getting harassed by that Krimzon Guard. Meanwhile, Jak had desperately needed someone to look after Mar while he hunted for Metalhead Skull Gems, as well getting one-off jobs.
So, in return for helping the old couple with errands and chores, they had agreed to look after Mar from time to time. And, as a bonus, Beatrix had offered to mend the holes that had started to appear in Jak and Mar's clothing.

Of course, Jak wasn't going to just leave Mar alone with an old couple he barely knew, no matter how kind they seemed. Which was why Daxter had stayed behind with them, to keep an eye on things.

"Oh dear." Beatrix said, pulling at Jak's tunic. "You tore it. Here, let me fix it before you go."

Jak tried to protest, but the old woman was already pulling his tunic over his head, causing him to have to place Mar on the floor. The young boy promptly forgot how much he had missed Jak and began to wander around the room.

"Now, don't be bashful. It's not anything I haven't seen before." Beatrix dismissed.

The tunic was removed and Jak huffed in defeat, crossing his arms over his bare chest to preserve some modicum of decency.

"By the Precursors, boy, what happened to your chest?" Teddy burst out.

Jak looked down at his body and spotted what the old man was referring to. It was an old scar, a jagged semi-circle that went down one side of his body, from shoulder to hip. A matching scar went down his back.

"Uh…" Jak tried to think of an explanation that wouldn't lower Teddy's view of him.

"That," Daxter spoke up with mirth. "Is the result of Jak playing a good old game of 'let's tease Mr. Bubbles'."

"Mr. Bubbles?"

"A lurker shark." Daxter explained with a large grin.

"A lurker shark?!" Teddy burst out. "You were teasing a lurker shark?"

Jak didn't sign anything, just stood there awkwardly.

"Kids these days." Teddy sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head.

"You know," Daxter said after a moment. "I wonder if Mr. Bubbles will show up in the Port. That asshole is vindictive enough to follow us all the way here for another bite."

Jak rolled his eyes.
During their journey to find and then rescue the Sages, they had encountered a lurker shark in the waters around Rock Village, just like the one that haunted the waters of Sandover. Daxter was convinced that both were the same lurker shark and that Mr. Bubbles had followed them from Sandover, hunting them down for the opportunity for another bite.

"Language." Beatrix admonished from where she was mending Jak's tunic with deft hands.

"Ugh." Daxter groaned. "The old nag has been driving me crazy, Jak. It's 'language' this and 'manners' that."

"Manners are very important young man. No one will be willing to listen to what you have to say if you don't remain cordial, even if you don't like them. That's what I always told the young-" Beatrix broke off with a forced cough. "Anyway, you will remain polite while in my home."

"Yeah, yeah." Daxter muttered.

Another moment past while the boys waited for Beatrix to finish mending Jak's tunic so that they could return home. Then, a light passed by in front of the window along with the loud whirring of a flying vehicle.

"Move along!" A voice came over a loudspeaker.

It scared Mar, who ran over to the nearest source of protection, who happened to be Teddy.

"It's alright, cub." The old man comforted. "Those monsters won't come in here."

"Teddy." Beatrix sighed.

"That's what they are Bea." Teddy said. "Monsters without a shred of decency in their bones. They gave up anything they had when they sold their souls to Praxis."

"Alright, old grumpy, we get it." Daxter huffed. "Krimzon Guard bad. Tell us somethin' we don't know."

Once they were sure that the Krimzon Guard patrol had passed, the boys headed out, bidding the old couple goodbye.

Back at their hovel, Jak set an increasingly cranky Mar down for a nap.

"Well," Daxter said, stretching. "I'm going out. I need some alone time after watching the kid and the oldies all morning. If those geezers had a heart attack, I wouldn't have been able to do anything."

With that, he hopped out the door.

Basically alone, Jak took his pouch and began counting out the Metal Head Skull Gems he had collected. He shuddered slightly as he touched them, feeling traces of Dark Eco within them. Then, he placed the Gems up on the highest shelf in the hovel, far out of Mar's reach.
He still had a long way to go before he collected enough for the Oracle, especially if his ability to go after Gems was restricted to Sig's schedule.

Thinking of Sig and some of what the man had said, Jak rubbed his throat again, though the pain had already faded. He almost hadn't been able to call out for help in time, a yell that he's usually be able to manage stuck in his throat as sounds sometimes did. It had strained his vocal cords to force that yell out when his brain decided that it didn't want him being vocal in that moment.
Sig had said that they'd need a way to communicate if he was going to bring Jak along on his missions, which wouldn't be needed if Jak could just speak when he wanted to.

The thing was, Jak did have the ability to speak. He had just never bothered to learn. Everyone in Sandover never had any issues with Jak not speaking and had gradually picked up on Jak's sign language, so they had never encouraged him to use his words. And Daxter had always done a good job of speaking for the both of them, with the two never being far from each other's side.
And up until coming to Haven, this had worked out perfectly fine.
He had tried to learn a couple of times in the past but had quickly given up. While words came naturally to other people from a lifetime of speaking, they didn't for Jak. Speaking felt forced, and the more worked up Jak would get, the harder it would be to force the words out. On top of that, while Jak knew what words were meant to sound like, it didn't mean that he knew how to form the correct mouth movements to say those words, it being something else that didn't come naturally to him.

But today had shown Jak that he couldn't let it go on anymore. He had the ability to speak, so he had to learn to, no matter how hard it was. He couldn't rely on Daxter speaking for him anymore.
Not just to communicate with Sig, but also for Mar's sake.

With this new resolution in mind, Jak picked up one of the learning books that Jak had managed to scavenge for Mar. It was a book that spelled out the words in it phonetically.

"Ahh…ahp…ap…u…" Jak began, trying to work his way past the tightness that appeared in his throat.

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