4"No! Absolutely not!"
Jak was adamant, consequences be damned, in refusing to aid Rayn Krew. Keira had to drag the Eco Channeler away from the booth, both to calm him, and to prevent giving Rayn's husband a valid reason to, Mar forbid, pull out a knife.
In contrast to Jak's outburst, the retired Mizo enforcer, was calm as a cucumber. Razer leaned against the booth where his wife still sat with Sig, hands ominously tucked into his pockets.
There was a flippant air about him, likely amused by Jak's warm reception, but there was no mistaking the quiet look of warning he cast towards them.
That man would not hesitate to kill any one of them.
One wrong move was all it would take, and Keira knew it.
The mechanic decided one war was enough in Haven, and eager to get this over with, did her best to placate her rightfully upset boyfriend.
Daxter, as usual, was not helping.
"I should kick him out of my bar," Daxter pointed, "I mean- Jak can kick him out, but yeah! We don't need the likes of him in here!"
"Jak," Keira lured Jak's attention to her with firm hands on his jaw, "I know this sucks. Rayn betrayed us, and Razer-"
"-is a murderous nut-job!" Daxter finished, his wary eyes never leaving said nut job as he remained safely perched on his best friend's shoulder.
"Yes, Daxter," Keira agreed, "He's a murderous nut-job, but one, let's not get a fight started in the bar, and two, if Rayn is right, then Haven is full of murderous nut-jobs right now.
I don't think it's a smart move to anger the one nut-job that is on our side or… I think he's on our- how the hell did Rayn end up with him? I thought they were enemies?"
"So did I," Jak nodded, "This whole thing reeks."
The blue-nette couldn't help, but agree yet again, despite that she was trying to defuse any potential violence from breaking out. While lending aid to Rayn gave her mixed feelings already, she was unaware that her aforementioned husband was none other than the former Kras city champion that they'd gone head to head with less than a year ago.
No one wanted a crime family war on Haven's soil. That much was true. Having to accept Razer's presence, however, was a wrench in the plan — pun intended.
When Keira caught herself getting distracted and noticed her Eco Channeler boyfriend matching gazes with the racer, her heart leapt.
I need to try and convince him.
Before she could try, Jak had made his decision.
"It's one thing if we have to help Rayn and her baby, but I sure as hell am not helping that bastard."
"Jak-"
Keira tried to block him, but Jak smoothly evaded, stalking towards Razer and closing the distance between them. Sensing the incoming confrontation, Razer put the unlit cigarette he was chewing behind his ear, and straightened.
Just as the blonde reached to grab Razer's collar, Razer swatted him off.
"If you value that hand, Jak, I'd be careful what you do with it."
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but if part of Rayn's terms include a cold blooded killer like you, you're gonna have to seek help elsewhere."
Keira noticed how Razer regarded his wife from his peripheral vision, the subtle shake of her head as if telling him not to push it, but of course, testosterone prevailed.
"Say what you'd like, Jak, but we're birds of a feather. Don't think you've kept your path of destruction a secret just because you're playing hero.
Rayn's father. Baron Praxis. Erol. Let's not forget whatever survivors remained of the Krimzon Guard after you literally ripped through their ranks-"
Everyone's eyes were wide like dinner plates.
"How the hell-"
"Did I know that? Oh, Jak…
Did you really think Krew didn't keep thorough records? And did you really think, that my wife wouldn't look into the man responsible for-"
"Razer," Rayn hissed, a very cross expression on her face.
The pregnant crime boss braced herself with the table, to push herself up and out of the booth. Sig, once again, motioned to help, but Razer stepped in to block his path. The racer's eyes narrowed with deadly intent.
Rayn hobbled to her feet on her own, and nodding to her husband, she said, "Let us be off. It's clear now, that coming here was a mistake."
"Rayn, I-"
"Thank you, Sig," she interrupted, "I know you did your best, but we mustn't dawdle. Our family has a war to win."
The crime lord tapped away in her flats, and Razer followed, but not without throwing Jak one last sneer. Jak hadn't seemed to notice, but Keira did — a subtle limp to the racer's stride.
Did he have a limp before? I don't remember him walking that way…
"Good rittens, is what I say!" Daxter waved his fist towards them until realization dawned on him, "Wait. I get to keep the bar, right?"
Keira couldn't help, but shake the feeling that there was more to this. She didn't know if it was woman's intuition, or if Rayn's attempt to garner her sympathy worked, but she definitely felt guilt gnawing at her as she watched them leave.
The expecting Krew daughter had a softer exchange with her prior to Jak's arrival. Perhaps there was no need for pride amongst Sig and just her.
"Keira, I know you have your misgivings about me," Rayn had said, "And I'm not here to ask for forgiveness. I just ask that you grant me a few minutes of your time."
Like Jak, Keira was skeptical at first, but the more Rayn spoke, the more Keira felt her guard coming down. Morals aside, they were both daughters who'd lost mothers. Keira was fortunate that she still had her father, whereas Rayn, discovered her father had been left for dead.
Losing her only remaining parent, and having to take over a crime family, before having properly grieved, could not have been an easy feat. Maybe it was wrong, but it was natural to want revenge on the man that put her in that position; that man being Jak.
And Razer was right.
While Jak had a good heart, he'd been swayed by darkness before. He had a lot of trauma that he was still processing till this day. The mechanic loved her childhood friend and she wanted to justify his actions. The truth was however, whether she liked it or not, Jak had blood on his hands.
Hearing that from someone like Razer chilled her to the bone. She was sure it struck a nerve in her boyfriend as well, and so she placed a hand on Jak's back. No one realized, aside from her and Daxter, he was trembling; most likely from the various emotions storming within him.
The blue-nette whispered softly to him. "You know we have to help her, right? I think you need this more than you think."
She didn't have to say it. Jak knew the rest.
You need this to atone. You need this to heal.
She felt Jak take a deep breath, before he grunted, "I know."
When they caught up to them outside, the Kras couple was down the street. Sig was watching them from the entrance of the Naughty Ottsel, and once he saw Jak approach, the wastelander brightened.
"I knew I could count on you, golden boy. I owe you a drink after this."
"You're gonna owe me several," Jak smirked.
"Oh joy, we're really doing this, aren't we," Daxter whined, but no one paid the ottsel any mind.
"Jak, they're getting farther away," Keira said.
By the time Jak and Daxter caught up to them halfway, Rayn and her husband were crossing the street.
It'd happened so fast. The roar of an engine. Screeching tires. The telltale, high pitched, whistle of a Super Nova being fired.
The piercing sound of the missile froze Keira, unable to call out in time before Sig was pushing her inside the bar for cover.
She only caught a glimpse over his shoulder, but it was enough.
Jak's not gonna make it in time!
The explosion boomed mid-air, shattering all glass windows in the vicinity. Innocent bystanders stampeded away from the scene, shoving Keira and Sig further in.
The mechanic resisted the sea of people with all her strength, and Sig, unable to stop her, shielded her from being yanked under.
"Jak! Daxter!"
By the time they were outside again, the smoke was clearing. The attacking combat vehicle was gone, and several other sets of tracks in the road, suggested others had chased it away.
"You okay, chili peppers?"
"Yeah," Daxter coughed, "Peachy. But what about…"
The group peered through the smog towards the middle of the road. The last place they'd seen Razer and a very pregnant Rayn before the attack. For a moment, Keira feared the worst, and already felt tears burning her eyes.
"Jak- is- are they-"
Jak pulled her to him, stunned as they waited for the road to reveal itself. It was an agonizing few seconds until the mechanic let out a sob of relief.
"Holy precursors!" Daxter said, and he was right.
While there were so many questions regarding Rayn and her shocking marriage to Razer, their most important question was answered by the scene they witnessed.
Huddled on the blacktop, was Rayn, and over her, was her husband. His back was littered with debris, and a gash, seeped an angry red down his back.
"He- he shielded her with his body," Keira said, incredulously.
Despite being a cold-blooded killer, Razer had protected his wife with his life.
When the smoke cleared, everything sped up again. After a brief and hushed exchange with Rayn, the retired racer scooped his wife up into his arms, and made a bee line towards the Naughty Ottsel. Jak opened his mouth to say something, but quickly snapped it shut. Razer's scathing glare had even silenced Daxter's quips.
The man appeared all the more terrifying with his hair disheveled and blood trickling down his temple. Rayn kept her face buried into the racer's neck. It wasn't obvious if she was conscious.
Within minutes, Sig had cleared a path for them into the bar. Daxter shouted for Tess to unlock the employee only room in the back. Jak and the gang were hot on Razer's heels as he rushed into the room, and placed Rayn gingerly on the couch.
Just as they attempted to crowd around them, like a wounded animal protecting it's nest, the racer growled.
"Get. Out."
"But-"
"Now!"
They all flinched, and after exchanging concerned looks, they all filed out of the room with the exception of Keira.
The mechanic went deeper into the room in spite of Razer's warning, retrieved the first aid kid by the water cooler and marched right up to him.
She could hear Jak start at the door, but before he could protest, she challenged Razer, "Let me help."
The former Mizo enforcer blinked at her incredulously at first, but just as there was a dangerous flicker in his eyes, a small voice behind him spoke.
"Leave her."
It was Rayn.
The distance closed between them, and Keira could make out the sweat seeping through his clothes. The mobster rose to his full height, eyes wild, as an uncomfortable lump formed in Keira's throat.
"Are you sure that's wise?"
"It's fine. Just her is fine."
Despite that Rayn gave permission, her husband remained rooted in place long enough for her to doubt he was going to move at all. Then he huffed and stomped to stand guard at the door to keep everyone else at bay.
"Are you okay? Anything hurt?"
Keira whispered when she knelt beside the Krew Heiress, sensing her need for privacy. It dawned upon her now, why her husband was so territorial. Up close, while Rayn faced a wall, her body quietly quivered.
Keira moved slowly to place a hand on Rayn's shoulder, knowing the heat of Razer's eyes on her back were just itching for her to make any sudden movements.
"Rayn?"
"These blasted- hormones-"
It took a second for Rayn to collect herself, and when she did, she said, "My ankle. Think I've got a nasty sprain."
Keira agreed with one glance at her ankle; the left was swelling more than the right.
Being an engineer, an inventor, a mechanic, a racer, and many other ubiquitous jobs — she was no stranger to injuries. She had her fair share of burns, scars, and fractures. Keira was confident she'd be sufficient care until the Freedom League arrived. If Torn and Ashelin were running late before, with the explosion, they would be here any minute, guns blazing and medics at hand.
Keira wasn't sure if that was a comforting thought.
"Can you feel your foot? Wiggle your toes?"
"Yes."
"Okay, that's a good sign. Let's get that wrapped up until help arrives."
One thing at a time. Jak's the angry half. You're the level headed half.
The sight of Rayn's glossy eyes when she faced her, steadied her resolve.
"Thank you…"
It wasn't long after Rayn was patched up when three familiar men arrived to report to Razer at the door. Keira didn't have to look to know Jak's hackles were raised.
"Well?"
"We took care of 'em," Cutter answered, Shiv and Edje at his side, looking equally menacing. "But there's probably more where that came from."
Rayn hobbled to her feet with Keira's support.
"Please tell me you at least interrogated the git before you offed him."
Keira was surprised when Cutter answered her, with the same level of respect he'd shown Razer. Jak's mouth was hanging open and Daxter had to close it for him. The King of Spargus however, appeared impressed.
It was really hitting now. The friend they'd made in Kras, turned frenemy, was now a mob boss who spoke of "offing" someone with the same casual air of someone talking about stomping metal bugs.
"Sorry, mistress, the missile we gladly returned to him was quick. His last words over comms were something along the lines of, 'Krew's era in Haven is over,' before, well, you know."
Rayn let go of Keira then, a momentary wince when she balanced herself on both feet, before she recovered her poker face.
"In that case, I think I know what's going to happen next. But before we keep talking business, I need to know where we stand."
Rayn's eyes travelled to each of them; Keira, Sig, Daxter and Jak.
"Do we have a deal? To help us get rid of the remaining Mizo extremists, which protects my family while at the same time, contains a mafia war from wreaking havoc in your city?"
Razer and his men's gazes trailed Jak's every step as he approached them. The air was thick with tension again.
Please Jak, don't be rash. Please, please…
Keira was pleading with her eyes because it was the most she could do, and to her relief, the hero offered his hand to Rayn and said, "Okay Rayn. We'll help. It's a deal."
"But we're not signing any more of those scammy contracts!" Daxter added.
"And once these loony bins are out of our city, you'll all be going back to Kras."
"Of course, of course," Rayn smiled.
It was easier to breath once the two shook hands. Afterwards, Rayn declared they all needed five to get their hands on straight, and to reconvene in the room after. Sig grabbed Jak for a well deserved drink, and Daxter, scampered to the bar to re-assure Tess that he was in one piece.
Keira excused herself to the employee restroom in the back. When she closed the door behind her, she immediately turned the faucet on to drown out the whimpers clawing their way from her throat.
The mechanic had done her best to be strong and empathetic throughout the whole ordeal, and now that the first hurdle was crossed, her relief abruptly turned to something else.
God, oh God-
Her breakfast, which wasn't much to begin with, cast itself from her body. When she was done, she washed the tears from her face and gave herself one last check in the mirror.
Okay, time to head back out there, Keira. You got this.
And just as that thought crossed her mind, there was a banging of doors and a chorus of guns heard outside the bathroom.
"Freedom League! Weapons in the air, now!"
Keira resisted the urge to throw up a second time and instead, cursed into her hands as she dried off her face.
When the mechanic walked out of the restroom, one would think all was right with the world based on her composure.
Upon sensing her presence, Torn and Ashelin turned to look at her. When Keira smiled, she successfully confused the hell out of them all, friends and enemies alike.
Perhaps her and Rayn were not so different after all…
A/N: So this looks like it might end up being more than 2 or 3 chapters. Yay! I'll be playing with POVs in this story. First chapter was Jak, this one Keira. Thinking the next one should be Torn. I miss Tornie.
For those confused about Cutter and how he regards Rayn, you'd have to read Without Parole. I basically made him into a main character - I'd like to mention Vera in here too if I can.
I didn't have this reviewed by a beta so please let me know if you spot typos. Always open for constructive criticism! In the meantime, now that Jak has joined forced with Rayn, what's in store for them next? Can they convince Torn and Ashelin to come on board? And what's up with Keira? All the mysteries, will be revealed in due time.
Happy new year's eve and see ya'll in 2020.
