(no subject)
Fandom: Jak and Daxter (Post Jak 3)
Title: Work
Chapter Title: Title and Registration
Rating: PG-13
Paring: Eventual Jak/Daxter
Warnings: Shounen ai themes, OCs,
Status: 5/?
Summary: Set after Jak 3, so there will be spoilers. Jak learns that his best friend is not as happy as he seems and aims to change it. Only, the remedy comes at a higher price then Jak had originally realized. And with the presence of Haven’s supposed new hero, he finds that Daxter’s life is a lot harder then he could have ever imagined. (OC alert. Yaoi alert, in later chapters. Slightly AU.)
He had always prided himself on his ability to talk himself out of any and every situation. It was something he was just good at. A trait he was born with and it had served him well throughout all of his nineteen years. But at this moment, as it had been with many in the past few years, Daxter found himself without words.
Jak hadn’t said anything since they left the temple. After the skirmish, and the transformation back to normal, he’d simply picked himself off the ground and headed straight to the transport.
To the untrained eye, his friend’s actions would have been dismissed as normal schizophrenic Jak behavior. And to be honest, it was. But it would take more then a scowl and a vacant gaze to fool Daxter. If there was anything the ottsel knew it was Jak. And his extensive knowledge on the subject told him that his friend was not exactly at ease with what had just happened.
With this assumption panning out to be more than feasible, the younger male was left with but one of two options. He could go with the old standard and crack a joke to lighten the suffocating atmosphere, or he could simply keep his mouth shut and ride the uncomfortable silence out.
It might not seem like it most of the time, but he did have some tact. So, he opted for the latter. Besides, by the looks of the rest of the group, joking was the last thing they wanted to hear right now.
Daxter hadn’t failed to notice that none of the survivors of this doomed excursion had been able to look his friend in the face. In fact, because of this Dax had made a point to keep his own eyes in his vicinity. It was bad enough that the tangy scent of blood was stinging his sensitive nose. He wasn’t too interested in getting an unwanted look at the sources of it either.
You’d think with all the time he’d spent with Jak and his socially challenged alter ego that he’d be used to seeing folks on the ground bleeding out their vitals. Maybe so, but before he had only been subjected to the violent ends of mindless, soulless Krimson Guards. Or other times, as much as he hated to admit it, the hapless Havenite that happened to be in the way when he and Jak were on a sprint in a hijacked zoomer. But now…
He’d looked each and everyone of Torn’s little troop in the eye at least once today and these boys were definitely real. They were maybe really unfortunate, but still very real nonetheless.
He had learned, not just through his own experiences, but by watching those of others as well, that it took a special type of person to walk a way from an encounter with Dark Jak virginal psyche in tact. Not to mention that breathing thing still working in their favor as well.
That Lee kid… Yeah, he was still on the undeclared list. And the other one, Quin, he had been lucky that it had only been a metal head that he’d gotten in the way of.
The most disturbing of the boys, however, had to be that dark haired one in the corner, hunched over and staring at his blood dyed hands. It was enough to send a chill up the ottsel’s spine. It had to be the eeriest picture he’d ever seen in a long time, all the more freaky because it was real. He wondered in a fit of morbid fancy, what exactly was going through the kid’s head at the moment.
Did he get that same light headed, queasy feeling when he caught sight of that sticky red substance? And did he find himself breathless and dazed at the sight of old dark and gruesome? Not that Daxter did anymore, but… he used to. And there was that other thing, the thing that never seemed to go away. The ottsel wondered, did the world slow to a crawl for him as well?
Dark Jak’s method of rescue may not have be the gentlest he’d ever seen, but the demon had saved that kid’s life. By the looks on the faces of the Torn’s little lackeys, they didn’t seem to be all that impressed.
The ottsel tried to ignore the judging looks his friend was receiving and turned his attention back to Jak. The two of them were in the furthest corner of the transport. The green blond looked to be sulking quietly, morph gun resting in his hands.
“Hey, buddy.” Daxter tried weakly.
He really was not in the sort of mood to be cheering anyone up at the moment but this was Jak. If he didn’t try who else would.
His friend looked up at him, a weak smile forming on his face. But there was something in his eyes. He looked… was that nervousness? What could Jak possibly be nervous about?
“Dax?”
It was the way Jak had said his name that make something in him click, made his fur stand on end. Why did he sound so unsure?
Jak was never unsure about anything. That was one of the things that made him… Well…Jak. He was the hero because he was the only one brave enough to make the split second decisions. He was the hero because he was the confident one. The one that never made a mistake and if by some minuscule chance he did, the Precursors usually blessed him for it and it turned out not to be a mistake in the first place. That was Jak. The bravest, luckiest bastard Daxter had ever laid eyes on.
So what in the holy name of the Precursor rats gave him the right to say his name like that? Like he was… Afraid!
Afraid of what!
But Daxter stopped himself before he even had the chance to act on that sickening twist in his belly. The one that wanted him to scream bloody murder at his best friend for looking so weak when he needed him to be the strong one because, he didn’t quite feel up to taking up the mantel at the moment. But he sucked it up and with a sigh, he forced himself to look his friend in those eyes that seemed so foreign to him now and hopped onto his shoulder.
Because that’s what best friends did.
“What is it, big guy?”
Daxter leaned in with an eyebrow raised for effect. “Ya hungry? That’s what it is right? Yeah, me too. Wiping out metal heads’ll do that to ya.”
It sickened him to have to joke about something like this, but it’s what he did.
Jak’s eyes flashed briefly, the emotion passing even too quickly for Daxter to catch it. That happened from time to time and it never failed to annoy the ottsel.
The blond’s head lowered back to the morph gun clutched in his hands.
“They shouldn’t have come.” He said it so low, that even Daxter’s ottsel enhanced hearing almost didn’t pick it up. “I shouldn’t have let them.”
Suddenly Jak’s head was raised again, his blue eyes focused on the remaining members of Torn’s troop. His nose twitched slightly before his head lowered again.
“It was supposed to be just me and you.” Jak continued. “If I’d just said ‘no’ none of this would have ever happened.”
Daxter’s eyes widened in disbelief, it had been a long time since he’d seen Jak like this. Years even. They had both been a lot younger then. Daxter barely remembered the reason for it now.
But it was different now, Jak was different now and this wasn’t like him at all. Plenty of people had died fighting metal heads. It was just a fact of life in this place. Why was Jak all broken up about it now?
“Hey, hey buddy,” Dax winced; he really didn’t want to go into this here. Those same boys they were talking about were only a few feet away from him. "These guys signed up fer this sorta stuff y’know. They knew what they were getting into. So no more of that feeling sorry for yerself, or them. Got it? Besides, you were gonna say ‘no’ ta ol’ Tattoo Face?” A small grin, “I think not my friend.”
Jak still hadn’t looked up from the morph gun, but Dax continued on anyway. As he fought down the heavy feeling in his chest he coxed himself into pressing on.
“And this second guessin’ thing ya got goin’ here buddy boy… It don’t suit ya, so I suggest ya suck it up big time ‘fore ya give what’s left of these boys a real reason ta worry what’cha gonna do next.”
The ottsel produced a lame chuckle, barely loud enough for even his self to hear over the roar of the transport’s engine. Even though, he whipped his head around suddenly toward the troop to see if they’d caught it. But something in the last thing he said must have clicked in Jak’s thick head and the older boy finally looked up at him. That confused and lost expression finally washed away from his soft features. The smallest twitch of Jak’s lips sent an instant rush of relief to the younger boy.
Dax leaned into the tangled mess that was Jak’s hair and ran his fingers through it absently. It was the first thing he remembered about the last time he and his friend had been in this situation.
The first time it had been Jak’s crocadog. The stupid mutt had gotten himself lost in the Forbidden Jungle and swallowed by a jungle snake. Jak had blamed himself for that too. But that dog had been an idiot. Everyone had seen that except Jak. But nonetheless, the poor guy wasn’t right after that for months.
Daxter had never liked that mutt but seeing his friend so distraught over the drool factory had sparked something akin to nurturing in the younger boy. Thus the petting thing that surfaced now and then. Though lately, it only happened when Jak’s dreams took a turn for the unpleasant.
He wasn’t even sure that Jak noticed him doing it most of the time. But the change in his friend was instantaneous.
“Yeah,” A small smile, “Maybe you’re right Dax. Maybe I shouldn’t worry so much. I mean, I never did before and things usually turned out alright, right?”
“’Course they did. You kicked those metal head’s asses and ya saved that kid too. Ya did good, buddy. That’s all ya can do.”
Jak didn’t answer. Daxter hadn’t expected him to. He just continued to run his tiny fingers through his friend’s hair. Trying his best to ignore the other bitter thoughts that surfaced at the barest notion that it just sucked that this was all he’d ever be able to do to comfort his friend. But that didn’t matter now, his friend needed him to be the strong one for once and he could do that even if it killed him.
~oo0oo~
It still amazed Davis how quickly everything had went so horribly wrong. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen at all.
But…
Now that the adrenaline was gone he felt only the slightest bit better, but he still couldn’t think straight. Everything was so loud. He just wished there was some way to make everything just stop. So he could at least think straight, if just for a minute.
The air conditioning of the transport made Davis’ flesh tingle. He was cold, prickly, sticky and covered in drying sweat. His uniform stuck to him, squishing and pulling whenever he moved. He was miserable and he just wanted to go home.
He couldn’t shake that annoying loose feeling… his limbs felt so numb. Just like last night. Last night when he’d been stupid and drunken and...
He just didn’t feel like himself at all. Most of the time that was a good thing. But now… Now he thought that he should. He should be here. There was something to be learnt from this.
There had to be, right?
He ran trembling fingers through his hair, only to have the unruly strands stick to and become tangled around his filthy digits. He pulled his hand away from his head and stared at the blood and now hair covered appendages.
He had forgotten. How could he have forgotten that his hands were covered in another man’s blood?
His stomach lurched at the thought. He’d believed he was ready for something like this. He thought that he would be fine. But when he was in there, in the thick of it all, running and shooting… and it all had seemed so… Unreal.
But it was real. All he had to do was ask Lee or Quin. If the boys ever regained consciousness he just might.
Although, when he really thought about it, he really didn’t want to know.
Vergil nudged Davis suddenly and gave him that look the older boy always gave him when he was acting in a way he deemed unacceptable. The raven-haired boy just glared back nonplussed. With an exaggerated sigh the blond turned the other way. Cold gray eyes immediately locked on their apparent savior settled in on the far end of the transport.
“He saved our asses.” Davis muttered quietly.
“Yeah, but we were supposed to be able to save our own asses, Davis.” The other replied with a frown.
Davis just sighed miserably and continued to stare down at his hands.
~oo0oo~
Jak didn’t quite remember getting off the transport. He didn’t even recall going in his pack and finding the gate pass. But he did remember the first burst of that wonderful muggy yet ocean crisped air that rushed him as soon as the second set of doors slid open. Then the feeling of being nudged roughly to the side as Torn and what was left of his troop carried the injured past with the assistance of a few Wastelanders.
Jak found that he didn’t have it in him to feel any of the anxiousness that surrounded him. He only felt the instant calm that he couldn’t quite explain when he entered Spargus’ walls.
There was a small flutter of emotion, something that nagged at him for not following Torn and the others and checking to see if they all were okay. But he just couldn’t bring himself to act on it. The desire to be elsewhere was more persistent, so as usual he went with the latter.
He barely listened to the constant chatter of his companion as he made his was down the familiar roads, nodding mechanically in response to what ever greeting he got along the way. It didn’t matter what Daxter was actually saying, just that he was with him while he was saying it.
And before he knew it, they were on the wooden lift and then he was standing in his father’s oasis of a throne room.
“It’s been a while, huh Buddy?” Daxter said.
For some reason this statement was clear in Jak’s ears. There was a strange hesitation in the ottsel’s voice. Jak smiled softly at the sound. He knew that his friend was worried about him. Afraid he’d say the wrong thing and dredge up a bad memory. But Jak’s life was full of bad memories; they couldn’t hurt him any more. Not with all the good ones there to stop them.
To be honest however, his overactive emotions were the last thing on Jak’s mind. He was still worried about his friend. Neither of them had spoken a word about Dax’s confession last night. The ottsel was seemingly acting like it had never happened. That was never a good thing with Daxter. The problem was, what else was there to say really? Jak didn’t have a solution to the problem. He be damned if he ever stopped looking for one though. But in the meantime, he just wanted Daxter to be happy.
He watched his friend as he dove head first into one of the mini pools of fresh water. The ottsel came back up a minute latter, gurgling comically on a mouthful.
“Ah… I really missed this place.” Dax said with a contented sigh.
Jak smiled at his friend antics before making his way up to his father’s throne. He turned around and got a view of it all from where the Sand king used to sit. He couldn’t however convince himself to take a seat on the stone chair.
It just didn’t seem right.
The two of them hadn’t been here much longer before they were confronted with Sig’s frowning face. Just the man Jak had hoped to run into at some point during their visit. The newly crowed king of Spargus didn’t look too happy to see them though. Jak hopped down to the floor fully preparing himself for a lecture.
“What the hell happened out there, Jak!”
“What no name calling? No Golden boy? We don’t even get a Cherry? He must be really pissed.” Daxter muttered as he rung out his tail.
Jak sighed and looked to Daxter out of the corner of his eyes. The ottsel immediately took the hint. He sprung up on his friend’s shoulder and went straight into his rant.
“Look, big man, we weren’t expecting no full on metal head invasion ourselves. Monk girl told us that there was a small herd of the buggers and we get there and the friggin’ place is crawling with the creeps! We barely got out of there with our fur intact.”
The ottsel tugged on a patch of damp, ruffled fur for affect.
“I can see that.” Sig said, unamused expression on his face. “I don’t know why I was expecting anything different from you two. But why the hell did you cherries have to bring the rookies with ya? Those runts coulda got you two in deep sh…”
“It was ol’ Tattoo face’s idea, not ours!” Dax countered before the man could finish. “Precursors know that we didn’t need anyone taggin’ along and crampin’ our style but Dread head insisted! Said something ‘bout tryin’ ta teach those boys a thing or two ‘bout dealing with metal heads or some crap excuse.”
He leaned his elbow into Jak’s head and crossed one leg in front of the other.
“Seems ta me they ain’t gonna be any use stringing together coherent sentences, let alone taking on any more ‘head’s any time soon!” A smug expression flittered over is fur-covered features.
The new Sand King’s only visible eyebrow lowered and he grumbled.
“Not my problem. If Haven’s honorable governess wants to send its brave, young, dumb out to their deaths then it ain’t no skin off my nose.”
“That’s not what I heard.” Jak smirked.
Sig returned the look.
“Well, cherry, I don’t think I know what you mean?”
“Oh, ya don’t huh?” Daxter grinned. “Well, we’ve been hearin’ some things.”
“Do tell?” The dark skinned man deadpanned.
Jak looked to Daxter.
“Yeah,” the blond added. “About you and Ashelin having some talks. Some top secret stuff about the future of Haven…”
“And this sand trap you like to call a city.” Dax chimed in.
“Funny, I never took you two as the type to keep up with rumors, let alone politics.”
The two friends just stared back at the man. Sig scratched his chin in thought and leaned on his ever presence peacemaker.
“Look you two, what I’m about to tell ya can’t leave this room, got it?”
“We’re wai-tin’…” the ottsel grinned.
“C’mon Sig, if you can’t trust us then who can ya trust.” Jak said interrupting his friend.
Though, the Wastelander was right. Jak was definitely not one for rumors or politics, but something about this just seemed too good to pass up. Especially if it had anything to do with something not even Ashelin thought he should know.
“Yeah, right.” Sig tilted his head to the side slightly. “Well, Red’s been tryin’ her damnedest to make up for all the bullshit Praxis put in the works when he was in power.”
Jak couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes.
“I told the woman,” Dax said shaking his head. “She’s gonna put herself in an early grave tryin’ ta fix all the crap ol’ tub of lard fudged up! That’s generations worth of therapy bills she’s gonna be racking up!”
The blond whose shoulder he was perched on growled softly in a fit of impatience.
“Yeah, well?” Jak sighed.
“The banishment proclamations seem to be next on her list of things to do.” The taller man continued. “Only we ain’t interested.”
“What’s so ‘hush hush’ ‘bout this that we got to keep our mouths shut, huh?” the smallest member of the trio barked.
“I ain’t finished, rat!” Being irritated by Daxter was the norm, but this political stuff was working on Sig’s last nerve. “But of course Red didn’t wanna take ‘no’ for an answer.”
By now the Wastelander had worked his way around to the other side of the room over to the throne itself. He was about to sit down when he paused suddenly. Jak locked eyes with him, something passing between them too quickly for Sig to pick up on. The tension lifted instantly however and he sat down stiffly, his eyes staying on Jak’s a moment longer before he continued.
All of it happened so quickly Daxter had barely noticed, but he had and he looked them both over before he pressed on. “And?”
“She’s been talkin’ about letting the people decide or something like that. We’ve already made our decision, but she keeps on insisting.”
“Typical Ashelin.” Jak groaned.
“It ain’t sitting well with some of the folks over in Haven, that for sure. The holier-the-thous that think we ain’t worthy of being let back in are kickin’ up a fuss. Even some of the Baron’s former supporters are pissed as hell.” Sig shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. “It would only be givin’ us permission to enter the city again. We’d be fine with just that. Most all of the people here still got family there. It would be good for trade or whatever… I just don’t know why’d she’d go through all the trouble though. A lot of folks are pissed enough at her as it is.”
It was starting to make a bit more sense to Jak. Though he was still miffed that no one had told he and Dax what was going on. If Ashelin was really in some kind of danger he would have at least liked to know. Ashelin was prideful but she wasn’t stupid. There had to be some reason why she hadn’t told them what she was planning yet.
“This would be the first diplomatic anything in Haven… ever. Tricky stuff for a town that’s only ever been ruled by a monarchy… or dictatorship.” Sig added looking round suspiciously. “But it’s already looking like a hell of a lot of trouble to me.”
Jak and Daxter looked at each other, mischievous smiles creeping up their faces.
“Sig ol’ buddy, y’should know by now that nothin’s too tough for the Demolition duo.” Dax said as he crossed his arms over his furry chest. “Ain’t that right, Jak?”
The blond in question simply nodded in agreement.
“And you should know better by now that this ain’t your regular brand of trouble.” Sig said shaking his head. “Some of the worst shit in history’s happened over mess like this. I’d be a little more careful before I stuck my nose in it if I were you. Believe me, if I had a choice I sure as hell would.”
~oo0oo~
He was awed into complete silence. He was pretty sure he was gaping too. But they were just so beautiful and so very colorful too. He’d never seen anything like them in all his eighteen years.
But just as he was about to reach his hand out to touch the glass, someone cleared his or her throat not far behind him causing him to nearly jump out of his skin.
“How’d you get back here?”
A woman with long auburn hair was standing right in front of Knox when he turned around and she did not look at all pleased. Her clothing, partially covered by an apron of some sort, was in just as bad shape as his uniform. Though it looked like she had tried to clean up as well, she was still covered in smatterings of his comrades’ blood.
She pushed an errant strand of her graying bangs out of her eyes. She looked to be quite tired as well as annoyed and that wasn’t making him feel any better about being caught snooping.
“I’m sorry,” the medic stuttered. “I think I got lost.”
“Really.” The older woman responded, a complete look of non-understanding plastered on her face.
“Umm yes, I was just looking for my friends,” Knox continued. “To tell them the good news. Y- you did a wonderful job, Doctor Ness.”
“It’s just Ness… or Doc if you insist. Not Doctor though. My medical license was revoked along time ago.” She said a strained look. “I’m sorry to hear about your partner though.”
Knox dropped his gaze to the floor.
“Yeah, um… Cutter was a good guy. A bit of a coward, but a good guy.” He said solemnly. “I only got partnered up with him about a month ago, though. After my last partner… uh…” He shuffled his feet nervously, “I guess he just wasn’t cut out to be a Freedom Guard.”
“Yes, well it happens. I supposed in some way or another you’ll get used to it.” Ness said with disgusted sigh. “You didn’t do half bad yourself though, I hear…”
“Knox.” The red head nodded rapidly. “Um… just Knox.”
“Hmm… well Knox. It seems Haven’s med program didn’t completely go down the crapper once I left.” She grinned at him.
He had to admit that he was vaguely creeped out, but he forced on a friendly smile anyway.
“Ah yeah, I guess. Uh…” He said turning to the colorful bins in front of him. “I was just admiring your…”
“It’s eco.” She finished his statement for him. “Haven’t you ever seen it in this form before, kid?”
“Uh… no. I didn’t know it still came this way.” Knox said, staring wide eyed at the large containers of the vivid liquids. “Haven doesn’t have many large supplies of eco anymore. Dark is the most plentiful, but that’s all over, I guess.” Turned to look at her as he went on. “And yellow. But only in gas form. That is by far the most valued anyway. Y’know with them using it in all types of explosives and artillery and stuff. They alter it with chemicals for the bullets though. But I’m sure you already knew that.”
He blushed when he realized he was rambling. He tended to do that when given the chance.
“But I have never seen red eco like this before. You’d think with it being so hard to come by that they’d find a better use for it then scatter gun ammo.” He smiled ruefully and adjusted his glasses. “It really is beautiful though… all of it.”
“That it is, pup.” She turned to the container of green eco in front of her, and checked the gages. Her head snapped up when she heard Knox squeak.
“Whoa, is that blue eco?” he gasped childishly and rushed to the far side of the room. “Blue eco, the purest form of kinetic energy, the core force of movement. It’s been documented that it can increase the follow of information across synapses in the brain, causing one to have faster physical as well as mental reflexes. Thus, actually increasing one’s physical velocity and cerebral as well.”
He turned to her, a broad grin on his face and gleam in his brown eyes. “Wow… I never thought I’d actually see so much of it in one place. There were even studies that tried to prove the existence of further cognitive abilities in subjects saturated with it. Um… but you probably already know that too.”
She chuckled at that.
“Yeah, kid but that’s okay. It’s good to know at least one other person does too though.” She walked over to him and placed and hand on his shoulder. And this stuff’s damned hard to come by, as you’ve probably already guessed. So, I’d appreciate it if you keep what you’ve seen down here to your self.” She sighed and then added. “…One of the reasons I thought I kept it hidden well enough.”
“Oh yeah,” Knox’s blush deepened. “Sure.”
There was an awkward pause. Knox hated those. They usually led to him trying desperately to fill them. And that usually led to him rambling on even more then usual and embarrassing his self further.
“I had always hoped to study it one day. Y’know, eco in general.” Knox said, scratching absent-mindedly at the back of his head. “Go off to university and get a PhD in Applied Eco Sciences and maybe even Anatomy and Physiology or something like that. I don’t know… It doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen now. Not much use for that type of learning in Haven right now.” He sighed, “Not that we had the money to pay for it and all. Uh… my pop thought I’d make a better soldier anyway.”
He dropped his hand to his side and smiled weakly at the woman next to him.
“At least the Guard paid for me to learn at least some stuff, huh?”
Knox let a nervous laugh work its way out of his throat and immediately winced. He took one last look at he colorful tubes of energy and turned heading for the door.
“Well, thanks for not gutting me for snooping around.” He said forcing a smile up on his face.
“You, come back here anytime ya like, okay, pup?” Ness called back to him.
His beaming grin turned thoughtful in an instant.
“Really?”
“Sure, why not.”
“Well, thanks a lot.” He chuckled. “Maybe one day I will.”
Ness shook her head after watching the youngster go. She was getting soft in her old age and she knew it. But she’d always been a sucker for a kid with an appetite for learning. It was a shame to let such potential go to waste. But she wasn’t going to go chasing after some runt either. If this Knox kid was seriously interested, then he’d be back.
~oo0oo~
At around midnight they had made it back to Haven. At about 1:45 am they had finally drifted off to sleep. Then at what Daxter had so affectionately referred to as ‘the ass crack of dawn’, (though more accurately it was about 6:50) Ashelin called them and requested their presence at Freedom HQ. But it wasn’t until 10:13 am exactly that they finally made it in front of the woman.
Said woman was not pleased about this, no, not at all. But she swallowed her anger despite all of this. Because of course she’d only called them here because she wanted something from them. Or wanted them to do something for her. And it wouldn’t do with her biting their heads off before they could comply.
Or at least that had been Daxter’s reasoning anyway.
“What do you mean Sig already told you!”
Jak smirked in response to the honorable governoress’ outburst.
“Well, c’mon hot stuff, how long did you think it was gonna take for us ta find out.” Daxter scoffed. “I mean, c’mon… we got friends in high places. Me and Jak are connected like that.”
Ashelin rolled her eyes.
“Well then fine. I suppose you already know what I want with you then, but I’ll let Torn fill you in on the details.”
Off to the side of the war table, looking a bit more worn then usual, Torn looked up from a steaming mug of what one could only guess to be coffee. Daxter’s nose perked up at the first whiff of it. His whiskers even twitched.
Jak unleashed an eye roll of his own. His friend was a sucker for coffee… anything with caffeine in it really. Not that he needed it. Precursors knew he didn’t, but there was no reasoning with the guy once he got his mouth set on it.
“Ah… Torn my good man…” Another sniff, “That wouldn’t happen ta be Wastelanders blend now would it?”
The Freedom League commander raised a hairless brow in suspicion.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Uh just wonderin’… Ah… where’d ya get it?” The ottsel twiddled his fingers anxiously.
“The Wasteland dumbass.”
Jak snorted, biting back a bark of laughter.
“Why you… Y’know what… forget it! It’s way too early in the mornin’ for this… An’ I ain’t gonna be pulled inta no verbal sparrin’ match wit ya when it’s obvious ya don’t know who yer messin’ with!”
Jak figured that the real reason for him giving up so easily was just because Dax’s brain still hadn’t caught up with the rest of his body. Or maybe he just didn’t want to get on Torn’s bad side before he got a taste.
Ashelin rolled her eyes again. This tended to happen a lot when she was in Daxter’s presence.
“Oh for Precursors sake! Over there!” the red headed woman said pointing at the high tech supposed coffee maker on table by the wall.
“Oh thank the Precursors! At least someone ‘round here’s got some manners! I thought I was actually gonna have ta resort ta beggin’!” The ottsel said before sprinted over to the maker.
After a brief fit of violence with the machine, he was soon petting his newly filled mug affectionately.
“And I’d do it for you, baby.” Daxter added, his eyes only for the steaming cup. “But first let’s get you all dolled up. Can’t have you just any old way now can we, beautiful.”
Jak pointedly ignored anything that came out of his friend’s mouth next, or tried desperately to anyway. Even after all the strange things he’d seen, talking dirty to hot beverages had yet to make in it on Jak’s list of normal activities. Torn seemed to share the sentiment, as he was looking a bit disturbed by now himself.
“Look Jak,” The brunet finally said, shaking off the image of Daxter and his beloved coffee. “I need you to head up a team of guards with me. Ashelin’s asked Sig to a meeting and things could get pretty ugly around here if a certain group gets wind of it.”
“You’re hot little something ain’t cha… got m’mouth all waterin’”
Now that one was completely unexpected. Jak’s eyes widened and his face went red.
“Cut it out, rat!” Torn growled.
“What!” the ottsel crowed in defense.
“We need you with us on this Jak.” Ashelin said after she was sure she wouldn’t be interrupted. “Besides Torn, you’re the only other person I can trust with a job like this.”
The green eyed woman pursed her red lips and gave him that look she always gave men when she wanted them to do something for her. Not that she had to give him those looks any more, but Jak appreciated the gesture all the same.
“Sure. Why not, me and Dax are always up for a little action.” Jak agreed.
“If things turn out the way I hope there won’t actually be any, but I’ll be glad to have you there all the same.” She said with a smirk.
“Sure thing Red, we wouldn’t leave ya hanging.” Daxter chimed in. “Hey!” He stopped mid sip. “Do we get one of those snazzy black suits? Y’know if we’re gonna be bodyguards we should at least look the part, right?”
Torn sighed in annoyance but gulped down some coffee instead of making a comment.
“Oww… and a pair of sunglasses too!”
“Dax,” Jak almost laughed. “I wouldn’t be caught dead in an outfit like that.”
“Hey, buddy,” The ottsel said with a frown. “Have I ever failed you in the wardrobe department before? I swear the guy wouldn’t know style if it crept up behind him and bit him on the rear.”
Torn did laugh at that.
“It wouldn’t be an bad idea to put you in a uniform though, Jak.” The FG commander said, a hint of a grin forming on his face.
Jak snorted indignantly and scoffed, “You’ve got to be kiddin’?”
Unfortunately for the blond, he seemed to be the only one to have a problem with this idea.
Title: Work
Chapter Title: Title and Registration
Rating: PG-13
Paring: Eventual Jak/Daxter
Warnings: Shounen ai themes, OCs,
Status: 5/?
Summary: Set after Jak 3, so there will be spoilers. Jak learns that his best friend is not as happy as he seems and aims to change it. Only, the remedy comes at a higher price then Jak had originally realized. And with the presence of Haven’s supposed new hero, he finds that Daxter’s life is a lot harder then he could have ever imagined. (OC alert. Yaoi alert, in later chapters. Slightly AU.)
He had always prided himself on his ability to talk himself out of any and every situation. It was something he was just good at. A trait he was born with and it had served him well throughout all of his nineteen years. But at this moment, as it had been with many in the past few years, Daxter found himself without words.
Jak hadn’t said anything since they left the temple. After the skirmish, and the transformation back to normal, he’d simply picked himself off the ground and headed straight to the transport.
To the untrained eye, his friend’s actions would have been dismissed as normal schizophrenic Jak behavior. And to be honest, it was. But it would take more then a scowl and a vacant gaze to fool Daxter. If there was anything the ottsel knew it was Jak. And his extensive knowledge on the subject told him that his friend was not exactly at ease with what had just happened.
With this assumption panning out to be more than feasible, the younger male was left with but one of two options. He could go with the old standard and crack a joke to lighten the suffocating atmosphere, or he could simply keep his mouth shut and ride the uncomfortable silence out.
It might not seem like it most of the time, but he did have some tact. So, he opted for the latter. Besides, by the looks of the rest of the group, joking was the last thing they wanted to hear right now.
Daxter hadn’t failed to notice that none of the survivors of this doomed excursion had been able to look his friend in the face. In fact, because of this Dax had made a point to keep his own eyes in his vicinity. It was bad enough that the tangy scent of blood was stinging his sensitive nose. He wasn’t too interested in getting an unwanted look at the sources of it either.
You’d think with all the time he’d spent with Jak and his socially challenged alter ego that he’d be used to seeing folks on the ground bleeding out their vitals. Maybe so, but before he had only been subjected to the violent ends of mindless, soulless Krimson Guards. Or other times, as much as he hated to admit it, the hapless Havenite that happened to be in the way when he and Jak were on a sprint in a hijacked zoomer. But now…
He’d looked each and everyone of Torn’s little troop in the eye at least once today and these boys were definitely real. They were maybe really unfortunate, but still very real nonetheless.
He had learned, not just through his own experiences, but by watching those of others as well, that it took a special type of person to walk a way from an encounter with Dark Jak virginal psyche in tact. Not to mention that breathing thing still working in their favor as well.
That Lee kid… Yeah, he was still on the undeclared list. And the other one, Quin, he had been lucky that it had only been a metal head that he’d gotten in the way of.
The most disturbing of the boys, however, had to be that dark haired one in the corner, hunched over and staring at his blood dyed hands. It was enough to send a chill up the ottsel’s spine. It had to be the eeriest picture he’d ever seen in a long time, all the more freaky because it was real. He wondered in a fit of morbid fancy, what exactly was going through the kid’s head at the moment.
Did he get that same light headed, queasy feeling when he caught sight of that sticky red substance? And did he find himself breathless and dazed at the sight of old dark and gruesome? Not that Daxter did anymore, but… he used to. And there was that other thing, the thing that never seemed to go away. The ottsel wondered, did the world slow to a crawl for him as well?
Dark Jak’s method of rescue may not have be the gentlest he’d ever seen, but the demon had saved that kid’s life. By the looks on the faces of the Torn’s little lackeys, they didn’t seem to be all that impressed.
The ottsel tried to ignore the judging looks his friend was receiving and turned his attention back to Jak. The two of them were in the furthest corner of the transport. The green blond looked to be sulking quietly, morph gun resting in his hands.
“Hey, buddy.” Daxter tried weakly.
He really was not in the sort of mood to be cheering anyone up at the moment but this was Jak. If he didn’t try who else would.
His friend looked up at him, a weak smile forming on his face. But there was something in his eyes. He looked… was that nervousness? What could Jak possibly be nervous about?
“Dax?”
It was the way Jak had said his name that make something in him click, made his fur stand on end. Why did he sound so unsure?
Jak was never unsure about anything. That was one of the things that made him… Well…Jak. He was the hero because he was the only one brave enough to make the split second decisions. He was the hero because he was the confident one. The one that never made a mistake and if by some minuscule chance he did, the Precursors usually blessed him for it and it turned out not to be a mistake in the first place. That was Jak. The bravest, luckiest bastard Daxter had ever laid eyes on.
So what in the holy name of the Precursor rats gave him the right to say his name like that? Like he was… Afraid!
Afraid of what!
But Daxter stopped himself before he even had the chance to act on that sickening twist in his belly. The one that wanted him to scream bloody murder at his best friend for looking so weak when he needed him to be the strong one because, he didn’t quite feel up to taking up the mantel at the moment. But he sucked it up and with a sigh, he forced himself to look his friend in those eyes that seemed so foreign to him now and hopped onto his shoulder.
Because that’s what best friends did.
“What is it, big guy?”
Daxter leaned in with an eyebrow raised for effect. “Ya hungry? That’s what it is right? Yeah, me too. Wiping out metal heads’ll do that to ya.”
It sickened him to have to joke about something like this, but it’s what he did.
Jak’s eyes flashed briefly, the emotion passing even too quickly for Daxter to catch it. That happened from time to time and it never failed to annoy the ottsel.
The blond’s head lowered back to the morph gun clutched in his hands.
“They shouldn’t have come.” He said it so low, that even Daxter’s ottsel enhanced hearing almost didn’t pick it up. “I shouldn’t have let them.”
Suddenly Jak’s head was raised again, his blue eyes focused on the remaining members of Torn’s troop. His nose twitched slightly before his head lowered again.
“It was supposed to be just me and you.” Jak continued. “If I’d just said ‘no’ none of this would have ever happened.”
Daxter’s eyes widened in disbelief, it had been a long time since he’d seen Jak like this. Years even. They had both been a lot younger then. Daxter barely remembered the reason for it now.
But it was different now, Jak was different now and this wasn’t like him at all. Plenty of people had died fighting metal heads. It was just a fact of life in this place. Why was Jak all broken up about it now?
“Hey, hey buddy,” Dax winced; he really didn’t want to go into this here. Those same boys they were talking about were only a few feet away from him. "These guys signed up fer this sorta stuff y’know. They knew what they were getting into. So no more of that feeling sorry for yerself, or them. Got it? Besides, you were gonna say ‘no’ ta ol’ Tattoo Face?” A small grin, “I think not my friend.”
Jak still hadn’t looked up from the morph gun, but Dax continued on anyway. As he fought down the heavy feeling in his chest he coxed himself into pressing on.
“And this second guessin’ thing ya got goin’ here buddy boy… It don’t suit ya, so I suggest ya suck it up big time ‘fore ya give what’s left of these boys a real reason ta worry what’cha gonna do next.”
The ottsel produced a lame chuckle, barely loud enough for even his self to hear over the roar of the transport’s engine. Even though, he whipped his head around suddenly toward the troop to see if they’d caught it. But something in the last thing he said must have clicked in Jak’s thick head and the older boy finally looked up at him. That confused and lost expression finally washed away from his soft features. The smallest twitch of Jak’s lips sent an instant rush of relief to the younger boy.
Dax leaned into the tangled mess that was Jak’s hair and ran his fingers through it absently. It was the first thing he remembered about the last time he and his friend had been in this situation.
The first time it had been Jak’s crocadog. The stupid mutt had gotten himself lost in the Forbidden Jungle and swallowed by a jungle snake. Jak had blamed himself for that too. But that dog had been an idiot. Everyone had seen that except Jak. But nonetheless, the poor guy wasn’t right after that for months.
Daxter had never liked that mutt but seeing his friend so distraught over the drool factory had sparked something akin to nurturing in the younger boy. Thus the petting thing that surfaced now and then. Though lately, it only happened when Jak’s dreams took a turn for the unpleasant.
He wasn’t even sure that Jak noticed him doing it most of the time. But the change in his friend was instantaneous.
“Yeah,” A small smile, “Maybe you’re right Dax. Maybe I shouldn’t worry so much. I mean, I never did before and things usually turned out alright, right?”
“’Course they did. You kicked those metal head’s asses and ya saved that kid too. Ya did good, buddy. That’s all ya can do.”
Jak didn’t answer. Daxter hadn’t expected him to. He just continued to run his tiny fingers through his friend’s hair. Trying his best to ignore the other bitter thoughts that surfaced at the barest notion that it just sucked that this was all he’d ever be able to do to comfort his friend. But that didn’t matter now, his friend needed him to be the strong one for once and he could do that even if it killed him.
~oo0oo~
It still amazed Davis how quickly everything had went so horribly wrong. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen at all.
But…
Now that the adrenaline was gone he felt only the slightest bit better, but he still couldn’t think straight. Everything was so loud. He just wished there was some way to make everything just stop. So he could at least think straight, if just for a minute.
The air conditioning of the transport made Davis’ flesh tingle. He was cold, prickly, sticky and covered in drying sweat. His uniform stuck to him, squishing and pulling whenever he moved. He was miserable and he just wanted to go home.
He couldn’t shake that annoying loose feeling… his limbs felt so numb. Just like last night. Last night when he’d been stupid and drunken and...
He just didn’t feel like himself at all. Most of the time that was a good thing. But now… Now he thought that he should. He should be here. There was something to be learnt from this.
There had to be, right?
He ran trembling fingers through his hair, only to have the unruly strands stick to and become tangled around his filthy digits. He pulled his hand away from his head and stared at the blood and now hair covered appendages.
He had forgotten. How could he have forgotten that his hands were covered in another man’s blood?
His stomach lurched at the thought. He’d believed he was ready for something like this. He thought that he would be fine. But when he was in there, in the thick of it all, running and shooting… and it all had seemed so… Unreal.
But it was real. All he had to do was ask Lee or Quin. If the boys ever regained consciousness he just might.
Although, when he really thought about it, he really didn’t want to know.
Vergil nudged Davis suddenly and gave him that look the older boy always gave him when he was acting in a way he deemed unacceptable. The raven-haired boy just glared back nonplussed. With an exaggerated sigh the blond turned the other way. Cold gray eyes immediately locked on their apparent savior settled in on the far end of the transport.
“He saved our asses.” Davis muttered quietly.
“Yeah, but we were supposed to be able to save our own asses, Davis.” The other replied with a frown.
Davis just sighed miserably and continued to stare down at his hands.
~oo0oo~
Jak didn’t quite remember getting off the transport. He didn’t even recall going in his pack and finding the gate pass. But he did remember the first burst of that wonderful muggy yet ocean crisped air that rushed him as soon as the second set of doors slid open. Then the feeling of being nudged roughly to the side as Torn and what was left of his troop carried the injured past with the assistance of a few Wastelanders.
Jak found that he didn’t have it in him to feel any of the anxiousness that surrounded him. He only felt the instant calm that he couldn’t quite explain when he entered Spargus’ walls.
There was a small flutter of emotion, something that nagged at him for not following Torn and the others and checking to see if they all were okay. But he just couldn’t bring himself to act on it. The desire to be elsewhere was more persistent, so as usual he went with the latter.
He barely listened to the constant chatter of his companion as he made his was down the familiar roads, nodding mechanically in response to what ever greeting he got along the way. It didn’t matter what Daxter was actually saying, just that he was with him while he was saying it.
And before he knew it, they were on the wooden lift and then he was standing in his father’s oasis of a throne room.
“It’s been a while, huh Buddy?” Daxter said.
For some reason this statement was clear in Jak’s ears. There was a strange hesitation in the ottsel’s voice. Jak smiled softly at the sound. He knew that his friend was worried about him. Afraid he’d say the wrong thing and dredge up a bad memory. But Jak’s life was full of bad memories; they couldn’t hurt him any more. Not with all the good ones there to stop them.
To be honest however, his overactive emotions were the last thing on Jak’s mind. He was still worried about his friend. Neither of them had spoken a word about Dax’s confession last night. The ottsel was seemingly acting like it had never happened. That was never a good thing with Daxter. The problem was, what else was there to say really? Jak didn’t have a solution to the problem. He be damned if he ever stopped looking for one though. But in the meantime, he just wanted Daxter to be happy.
He watched his friend as he dove head first into one of the mini pools of fresh water. The ottsel came back up a minute latter, gurgling comically on a mouthful.
“Ah… I really missed this place.” Dax said with a contented sigh.
Jak smiled at his friend antics before making his way up to his father’s throne. He turned around and got a view of it all from where the Sand king used to sit. He couldn’t however convince himself to take a seat on the stone chair.
It just didn’t seem right.
The two of them hadn’t been here much longer before they were confronted with Sig’s frowning face. Just the man Jak had hoped to run into at some point during their visit. The newly crowed king of Spargus didn’t look too happy to see them though. Jak hopped down to the floor fully preparing himself for a lecture.
“What the hell happened out there, Jak!”
“What no name calling? No Golden boy? We don’t even get a Cherry? He must be really pissed.” Daxter muttered as he rung out his tail.
Jak sighed and looked to Daxter out of the corner of his eyes. The ottsel immediately took the hint. He sprung up on his friend’s shoulder and went straight into his rant.
“Look, big man, we weren’t expecting no full on metal head invasion ourselves. Monk girl told us that there was a small herd of the buggers and we get there and the friggin’ place is crawling with the creeps! We barely got out of there with our fur intact.”
The ottsel tugged on a patch of damp, ruffled fur for affect.
“I can see that.” Sig said, unamused expression on his face. “I don’t know why I was expecting anything different from you two. But why the hell did you cherries have to bring the rookies with ya? Those runts coulda got you two in deep sh…”
“It was ol’ Tattoo face’s idea, not ours!” Dax countered before the man could finish. “Precursors know that we didn’t need anyone taggin’ along and crampin’ our style but Dread head insisted! Said something ‘bout tryin’ ta teach those boys a thing or two ‘bout dealing with metal heads or some crap excuse.”
He leaned his elbow into Jak’s head and crossed one leg in front of the other.
“Seems ta me they ain’t gonna be any use stringing together coherent sentences, let alone taking on any more ‘head’s any time soon!” A smug expression flittered over is fur-covered features.
The new Sand King’s only visible eyebrow lowered and he grumbled.
“Not my problem. If Haven’s honorable governess wants to send its brave, young, dumb out to their deaths then it ain’t no skin off my nose.”
“That’s not what I heard.” Jak smirked.
Sig returned the look.
“Well, cherry, I don’t think I know what you mean?”
“Oh, ya don’t huh?” Daxter grinned. “Well, we’ve been hearin’ some things.”
“Do tell?” The dark skinned man deadpanned.
Jak looked to Daxter.
“Yeah,” the blond added. “About you and Ashelin having some talks. Some top secret stuff about the future of Haven…”
“And this sand trap you like to call a city.” Dax chimed in.
“Funny, I never took you two as the type to keep up with rumors, let alone politics.”
The two friends just stared back at the man. Sig scratched his chin in thought and leaned on his ever presence peacemaker.
“Look you two, what I’m about to tell ya can’t leave this room, got it?”
“We’re wai-tin’…” the ottsel grinned.
“C’mon Sig, if you can’t trust us then who can ya trust.” Jak said interrupting his friend.
Though, the Wastelander was right. Jak was definitely not one for rumors or politics, but something about this just seemed too good to pass up. Especially if it had anything to do with something not even Ashelin thought he should know.
“Yeah, right.” Sig tilted his head to the side slightly. “Well, Red’s been tryin’ her damnedest to make up for all the bullshit Praxis put in the works when he was in power.”
Jak couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes.
“I told the woman,” Dax said shaking his head. “She’s gonna put herself in an early grave tryin’ ta fix all the crap ol’ tub of lard fudged up! That’s generations worth of therapy bills she’s gonna be racking up!”
The blond whose shoulder he was perched on growled softly in a fit of impatience.
“Yeah, well?” Jak sighed.
“The banishment proclamations seem to be next on her list of things to do.” The taller man continued. “Only we ain’t interested.”
“What’s so ‘hush hush’ ‘bout this that we got to keep our mouths shut, huh?” the smallest member of the trio barked.
“I ain’t finished, rat!” Being irritated by Daxter was the norm, but this political stuff was working on Sig’s last nerve. “But of course Red didn’t wanna take ‘no’ for an answer.”
By now the Wastelander had worked his way around to the other side of the room over to the throne itself. He was about to sit down when he paused suddenly. Jak locked eyes with him, something passing between them too quickly for Sig to pick up on. The tension lifted instantly however and he sat down stiffly, his eyes staying on Jak’s a moment longer before he continued.
All of it happened so quickly Daxter had barely noticed, but he had and he looked them both over before he pressed on. “And?”
“She’s been talkin’ about letting the people decide or something like that. We’ve already made our decision, but she keeps on insisting.”
“Typical Ashelin.” Jak groaned.
“It ain’t sitting well with some of the folks over in Haven, that for sure. The holier-the-thous that think we ain’t worthy of being let back in are kickin’ up a fuss. Even some of the Baron’s former supporters are pissed as hell.” Sig shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. “It would only be givin’ us permission to enter the city again. We’d be fine with just that. Most all of the people here still got family there. It would be good for trade or whatever… I just don’t know why’d she’d go through all the trouble though. A lot of folks are pissed enough at her as it is.”
It was starting to make a bit more sense to Jak. Though he was still miffed that no one had told he and Dax what was going on. If Ashelin was really in some kind of danger he would have at least liked to know. Ashelin was prideful but she wasn’t stupid. There had to be some reason why she hadn’t told them what she was planning yet.
“This would be the first diplomatic anything in Haven… ever. Tricky stuff for a town that’s only ever been ruled by a monarchy… or dictatorship.” Sig added looking round suspiciously. “But it’s already looking like a hell of a lot of trouble to me.”
Jak and Daxter looked at each other, mischievous smiles creeping up their faces.
“Sig ol’ buddy, y’should know by now that nothin’s too tough for the Demolition duo.” Dax said as he crossed his arms over his furry chest. “Ain’t that right, Jak?”
The blond in question simply nodded in agreement.
“And you should know better by now that this ain’t your regular brand of trouble.” Sig said shaking his head. “Some of the worst shit in history’s happened over mess like this. I’d be a little more careful before I stuck my nose in it if I were you. Believe me, if I had a choice I sure as hell would.”
~oo0oo~
He was awed into complete silence. He was pretty sure he was gaping too. But they were just so beautiful and so very colorful too. He’d never seen anything like them in all his eighteen years.
But just as he was about to reach his hand out to touch the glass, someone cleared his or her throat not far behind him causing him to nearly jump out of his skin.
“How’d you get back here?”
A woman with long auburn hair was standing right in front of Knox when he turned around and she did not look at all pleased. Her clothing, partially covered by an apron of some sort, was in just as bad shape as his uniform. Though it looked like she had tried to clean up as well, she was still covered in smatterings of his comrades’ blood.
She pushed an errant strand of her graying bangs out of her eyes. She looked to be quite tired as well as annoyed and that wasn’t making him feel any better about being caught snooping.
“I’m sorry,” the medic stuttered. “I think I got lost.”
“Really.” The older woman responded, a complete look of non-understanding plastered on her face.
“Umm yes, I was just looking for my friends,” Knox continued. “To tell them the good news. Y- you did a wonderful job, Doctor Ness.”
“It’s just Ness… or Doc if you insist. Not Doctor though. My medical license was revoked along time ago.” She said a strained look. “I’m sorry to hear about your partner though.”
Knox dropped his gaze to the floor.
“Yeah, um… Cutter was a good guy. A bit of a coward, but a good guy.” He said solemnly. “I only got partnered up with him about a month ago, though. After my last partner… uh…” He shuffled his feet nervously, “I guess he just wasn’t cut out to be a Freedom Guard.”
“Yes, well it happens. I supposed in some way or another you’ll get used to it.” Ness said with disgusted sigh. “You didn’t do half bad yourself though, I hear…”
“Knox.” The red head nodded rapidly. “Um… just Knox.”
“Hmm… well Knox. It seems Haven’s med program didn’t completely go down the crapper once I left.” She grinned at him.
He had to admit that he was vaguely creeped out, but he forced on a friendly smile anyway.
“Ah yeah, I guess. Uh…” He said turning to the colorful bins in front of him. “I was just admiring your…”
“It’s eco.” She finished his statement for him. “Haven’t you ever seen it in this form before, kid?”
“Uh… no. I didn’t know it still came this way.” Knox said, staring wide eyed at the large containers of the vivid liquids. “Haven doesn’t have many large supplies of eco anymore. Dark is the most plentiful, but that’s all over, I guess.” Turned to look at her as he went on. “And yellow. But only in gas form. That is by far the most valued anyway. Y’know with them using it in all types of explosives and artillery and stuff. They alter it with chemicals for the bullets though. But I’m sure you already knew that.”
He blushed when he realized he was rambling. He tended to do that when given the chance.
“But I have never seen red eco like this before. You’d think with it being so hard to come by that they’d find a better use for it then scatter gun ammo.” He smiled ruefully and adjusted his glasses. “It really is beautiful though… all of it.”
“That it is, pup.” She turned to the container of green eco in front of her, and checked the gages. Her head snapped up when she heard Knox squeak.
“Whoa, is that blue eco?” he gasped childishly and rushed to the far side of the room. “Blue eco, the purest form of kinetic energy, the core force of movement. It’s been documented that it can increase the follow of information across synapses in the brain, causing one to have faster physical as well as mental reflexes. Thus, actually increasing one’s physical velocity and cerebral as well.”
He turned to her, a broad grin on his face and gleam in his brown eyes. “Wow… I never thought I’d actually see so much of it in one place. There were even studies that tried to prove the existence of further cognitive abilities in subjects saturated with it. Um… but you probably already know that too.”
She chuckled at that.
“Yeah, kid but that’s okay. It’s good to know at least one other person does too though.” She walked over to him and placed and hand on his shoulder. And this stuff’s damned hard to come by, as you’ve probably already guessed. So, I’d appreciate it if you keep what you’ve seen down here to your self.” She sighed and then added. “…One of the reasons I thought I kept it hidden well enough.”
“Oh yeah,” Knox’s blush deepened. “Sure.”
There was an awkward pause. Knox hated those. They usually led to him trying desperately to fill them. And that usually led to him rambling on even more then usual and embarrassing his self further.
“I had always hoped to study it one day. Y’know, eco in general.” Knox said, scratching absent-mindedly at the back of his head. “Go off to university and get a PhD in Applied Eco Sciences and maybe even Anatomy and Physiology or something like that. I don’t know… It doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen now. Not much use for that type of learning in Haven right now.” He sighed, “Not that we had the money to pay for it and all. Uh… my pop thought I’d make a better soldier anyway.”
He dropped his hand to his side and smiled weakly at the woman next to him.
“At least the Guard paid for me to learn at least some stuff, huh?”
Knox let a nervous laugh work its way out of his throat and immediately winced. He took one last look at he colorful tubes of energy and turned heading for the door.
“Well, thanks for not gutting me for snooping around.” He said forcing a smile up on his face.
“You, come back here anytime ya like, okay, pup?” Ness called back to him.
His beaming grin turned thoughtful in an instant.
“Really?”
“Sure, why not.”
“Well, thanks a lot.” He chuckled. “Maybe one day I will.”
Ness shook her head after watching the youngster go. She was getting soft in her old age and she knew it. But she’d always been a sucker for a kid with an appetite for learning. It was a shame to let such potential go to waste. But she wasn’t going to go chasing after some runt either. If this Knox kid was seriously interested, then he’d be back.
~oo0oo~
At around midnight they had made it back to Haven. At about 1:45 am they had finally drifted off to sleep. Then at what Daxter had so affectionately referred to as ‘the ass crack of dawn’, (though more accurately it was about 6:50) Ashelin called them and requested their presence at Freedom HQ. But it wasn’t until 10:13 am exactly that they finally made it in front of the woman.
Said woman was not pleased about this, no, not at all. But she swallowed her anger despite all of this. Because of course she’d only called them here because she wanted something from them. Or wanted them to do something for her. And it wouldn’t do with her biting their heads off before they could comply.
Or at least that had been Daxter’s reasoning anyway.
“What do you mean Sig already told you!”
Jak smirked in response to the honorable governoress’ outburst.
“Well, c’mon hot stuff, how long did you think it was gonna take for us ta find out.” Daxter scoffed. “I mean, c’mon… we got friends in high places. Me and Jak are connected like that.”
Ashelin rolled her eyes.
“Well then fine. I suppose you already know what I want with you then, but I’ll let Torn fill you in on the details.”
Off to the side of the war table, looking a bit more worn then usual, Torn looked up from a steaming mug of what one could only guess to be coffee. Daxter’s nose perked up at the first whiff of it. His whiskers even twitched.
Jak unleashed an eye roll of his own. His friend was a sucker for coffee… anything with caffeine in it really. Not that he needed it. Precursors knew he didn’t, but there was no reasoning with the guy once he got his mouth set on it.
“Ah… Torn my good man…” Another sniff, “That wouldn’t happen ta be Wastelanders blend now would it?”
The Freedom League commander raised a hairless brow in suspicion.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Uh just wonderin’… Ah… where’d ya get it?” The ottsel twiddled his fingers anxiously.
“The Wasteland dumbass.”
Jak snorted, biting back a bark of laughter.
“Why you… Y’know what… forget it! It’s way too early in the mornin’ for this… An’ I ain’t gonna be pulled inta no verbal sparrin’ match wit ya when it’s obvious ya don’t know who yer messin’ with!”
Jak figured that the real reason for him giving up so easily was just because Dax’s brain still hadn’t caught up with the rest of his body. Or maybe he just didn’t want to get on Torn’s bad side before he got a taste.
Ashelin rolled her eyes again. This tended to happen a lot when she was in Daxter’s presence.
“Oh for Precursors sake! Over there!” the red headed woman said pointing at the high tech supposed coffee maker on table by the wall.
“Oh thank the Precursors! At least someone ‘round here’s got some manners! I thought I was actually gonna have ta resort ta beggin’!” The ottsel said before sprinted over to the maker.
After a brief fit of violence with the machine, he was soon petting his newly filled mug affectionately.
“And I’d do it for you, baby.” Daxter added, his eyes only for the steaming cup. “But first let’s get you all dolled up. Can’t have you just any old way now can we, beautiful.”
Jak pointedly ignored anything that came out of his friend’s mouth next, or tried desperately to anyway. Even after all the strange things he’d seen, talking dirty to hot beverages had yet to make in it on Jak’s list of normal activities. Torn seemed to share the sentiment, as he was looking a bit disturbed by now himself.
“Look Jak,” The brunet finally said, shaking off the image of Daxter and his beloved coffee. “I need you to head up a team of guards with me. Ashelin’s asked Sig to a meeting and things could get pretty ugly around here if a certain group gets wind of it.”
“You’re hot little something ain’t cha… got m’mouth all waterin’”
Now that one was completely unexpected. Jak’s eyes widened and his face went red.
“Cut it out, rat!” Torn growled.
“What!” the ottsel crowed in defense.
“We need you with us on this Jak.” Ashelin said after she was sure she wouldn’t be interrupted. “Besides Torn, you’re the only other person I can trust with a job like this.”
The green eyed woman pursed her red lips and gave him that look she always gave men when she wanted them to do something for her. Not that she had to give him those looks any more, but Jak appreciated the gesture all the same.
“Sure. Why not, me and Dax are always up for a little action.” Jak agreed.
“If things turn out the way I hope there won’t actually be any, but I’ll be glad to have you there all the same.” She said with a smirk.
“Sure thing Red, we wouldn’t leave ya hanging.” Daxter chimed in. “Hey!” He stopped mid sip. “Do we get one of those snazzy black suits? Y’know if we’re gonna be bodyguards we should at least look the part, right?”
Torn sighed in annoyance but gulped down some coffee instead of making a comment.
“Oww… and a pair of sunglasses too!”
“Dax,” Jak almost laughed. “I wouldn’t be caught dead in an outfit like that.”
“Hey, buddy,” The ottsel said with a frown. “Have I ever failed you in the wardrobe department before? I swear the guy wouldn’t know style if it crept up behind him and bit him on the rear.”
Torn did laugh at that.
“It wouldn’t be an bad idea to put you in a uniform though, Jak.” The FG commander said, a hint of a grin forming on his face.
Jak snorted indignantly and scoffed, “You’ve got to be kiddin’?”
Unfortunately for the blond, he seemed to be the only one to have a problem with this idea.