1The ABC's of the Mercifully Wicked
Chapter One: A is for Aza
There was something new in the air.
Jak couldn't put his finger on what it was and what it felt like. Sometimes it burned like an uncontrollable fire and sometimes it felt like a kiss in the night. He knew he should fear it, but it was hard to fear something he couldn't see. He kept these thoughts to himself, of course, he didn't want to scare Parker and Daxter, because he couldn't take the idea of another adventure.
That's how he got here in the first place.
He watched Daxter as he activated the treetop cameras Ashelin had installed in the forest. When she tried to hand the job off to a rookie team, Daxter piped up he could do it within 20 minutes and if not all Ashelin's drinks for the month would be on him. He didn't have to climb the trees, he had to keep the Metal Heads (who were few and far between) away from Daxter.
"Almost done!" Daxter called down.
Jak looked at his communicator, he had 5 minutes until the timer went off. Jak climbed off the rocks, heading towards the switch box. He could bring them back online and he could go home. The trek was easy compared to his former treks in the forest, everything seemed to be safer.
But the uneasiness still hung in the air like a horrible smell.
"Done!" Daxter called from above, Jak opened the switch box and pulled the lever down. He could hear the cameras come to life, each one giving off a hum as Daxter landed on his shoulder. "I told Ashelin I could do it!" He stretched.
"I never doubted you Dax."
"Thanks buddy."
"Well you did it," Ashelin's voice through, strong and pissy. "I guess I owe you a day as Baron. There are some rules we have to go over, which include not naming yourself the forever Baron."
"Damn it!" Daxter shouted. "I should've done that!"
Jak smirked. "Next time buddy."
"Maybe. Hey, we can get Parker to overthrow Ashelin's government!"
"I don't think she'll be up for that," Jak answered. "She's very busy."
"Oh yes," Daxter grumbled. "She's going to have a baby soon." He groaned. "This is so inconvenient!" He smacked the back of Jak's head. "You have a problem."
Jak chuckled. "I know, I can't keep my hands off of her."
"Eww! No, I didn't mean it like that! I meant you're gonna be stuck on diaper duty while I play the hero." Daxter frowned. "Now all I can think about is what you said."
He smirked. "Sorry."
"No, you're not!" Daxter shouted. "You're smirking! You think this is funny! It's not, she's giving birth to a human thing!"
"It's a baby, Dax."
"I know bu-" Jak rolled to the left, hiding behind a tree. Ahead he spotted a man, dressed in clothes that didn't match Haven's style. He was talking to someone; the person was a bit smaller than the man. The smaller person held out a box to the man, he took it and they shook hands. "Drug deal?" Daxter whispered.
"Could be," Jak answered. Ever since they left Kras City, Rayn had been flooding the Haven market with cheap drugs she called Stones. It was Eco mixed with morphine. When it first rolled into Haven, Ashelin didn't take action but now there were people dying in the streets. Some would even kill for one last hit. Jak had heard that Samos and Onin's hospital was overflowing with addicts and the dead. While Samos didn't admit it, Onin begged for Parker to help. She said yes after she was done being pregnant. "Go ahead, see if you can recognize any of them."
Daxter only nodded as Jak loaded his weapon, the smugglers had gotten into the attitude of killing anyone who got in their way. While he wasn't just some other citizen, he wasn't in the market of being shot today.
"Have you seen the wannabe Queen?" One asked, his voice a strong baritone.
"Not since Jak spirited her out of Spargus." The other answered with a chuckle. Jak paused, they were talking about Parker. They left Spargus two days ago. "Haven't seen her since, I've only seen Jak." The man chuckled. "I dare you to tell her that Drake is dead."
"Hell no." The man snapped. "I like my head attached to my body." There was a pause. "Do you think he killed her?"
"No." The other man answered quickly. "He's just hiding her."
A snap of a branch made Jak turn, even the men stopped talking as they looked towards the source. Jak stayed low as another branch cracked and it fell from the tree above, he thought it might've been Daxter, but he spotted a flash of orange above the men when he looked back at them.
"Here's the latest shipment." The low-voiced man said. "There'll be a newer brand coming next week, so much stronger."
"Good." The man took it. "I'll send you a meeting spot." Both men nodded, the package holder faded into the trees. Jak heard his heavy footfalls heading towards the exit of the forest, while the other man waited a couple of minutes before following suit. Jak followed suit, waiting before standing up.
"Why didn't you engage?" Daxter asked jumping down from the trees.
"Didn't have to," Jak answered looking to the cameras. "There's someone always watching."
Headquarters had grown since the Dark Maker war, but Jak still liked using the entrance he used during its humbled days. The elevator, only reserved for Ashelin's elite, went to the second floor, where Ashelin's personal offices were held. Whenever he was in the city, he used Parker's workspace. The little office she had claimed after the war, the woman from Mizo's team followed them to the city and worked as an assistant.
"These are for you," Cora said without looking up at Jak. "Sign where I've highlighted."
Jak looked at the document, it was a report on what he just did and witnessed. "How do you get these done so fast?"
"I rather work quickly then wait around." She answered. "Also, Samos wanted me to remind you that Parker has an appointment this week. He's concerned that she hasn't been to see him."
"Parker is doing her own thing." Jak answered.
"Yes, starting a new life is hard enough." Cora responded.
"Anything else, Cora?"
"They caught one of the guys you saw in the forest."
"And?"
"He's refusing to talk to anyone but Parker."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course, why not?" He grabbed his jacket. "I'm heading out." He paused. "Can you schedule a doctor's appointment with Slim and Samos for tomorrow morning?"
Cora glanced up from her screen. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes."
"Fine." Cora answered, going back to typing and ignoring Jak as he left.
He kept to himself, ignoring the other guards that walked around him and talked to each other. He knew most of his friends were either heading home. He'd dropped Daxter off at the bar when they came into the city, he headed to HQ because he knew Cora would want him to sign his work report -and if he didn't, she'd be on his front door that night with pen in hand.
Although, if Cora went to his house, she'd get no one.
The criminals were correct about him moving Parker. He couldn't help it; he wanted her close. So, under the cloak of night, he and Sig moved Parker back into the city with the help of the few Wolves Parker had left. He had to work in the city and while he knew Sig would help her if she needed anything, he wanted, needed, her in the city.
Daxter knew, of course, he offered one of the rooms above the bar. He went through the back doors of the bar, ignoring the hostesses as they did their make-up in the open bathroom. He headed up the stairs, voices filtered down to him. Voices he didn't know, most likely visitors to Haven or patrons wanting a safe place to sleep tonight. His room was at the end of the hallway, he knocked softly before opening the door.
The TV was on and it cast a luminous glow across the small room. Parker slept on the small couch in front of the TV, she rested on a pillow. Jak only smirked, shaking his head. She didn't get much sleep last night, he heard her tossing and turning the whole night. He placed his weapons and pack down by the door. He bent down to her level, he traced her chin before kissing her cheek.
He glanced down the hallway at the sound of whimpering.
He should be happy to hear that sound, but it only reminded him of the night he returned from Kras. The smell of blood was overwhelming, he stood in the doorway for what felt like hours until he heard the whimpering -followed by Parker's giggle. She whispered softly, I love you.
Jak headed towards the whimpering, the living room attached to a small bedroom. He and Parker slept in there -but there was someone new he was sharing her with. The bed was made but a few pillows were crowded around Parker's side. His eyes flickered to the small cradle Sig found in the palace, no one asked who it belonged to first -but they all had a feeling.
He peered over the edge. He wasn't sure what to expect when he saw Parker and the newborn on the floor of the living room. They were both naked, Parker held it to her chest and talked softly. She looked so happy but so helpless. When she saw him, she invited him to sit with her. He could only sit on the floor, staring at the two of them.
She stared up at him, her big green eyes scanning the area before landing on him. He stared down at her, she wore a onesie and a turban hat -something Lena made for her. He could see the turfs of black hair sticking out as she stared at him. She looked so much like Parker -too much like her for his comfort.
"You can pick her up," Parker called from the door. Jak turned, she smiled at him. "She's not in her biting phase yet."
"She bit you." He snapped.
Parker came into the room, she lifted her out of the cradle. "And that's why I'm not breastfeeding anymore." She rubbed her nose against the baby's nose. "No more boobie milk for you."
"Don't say it like that."
"Why?" She turned to him. "You don't like it when I talk in my baby voice?"
He rolled his eyes. Damn right he was tired of the baby voice. "You shouldn't be sleeping on the couch."
"Got tired of waiting for you." She answered.
"I told you I was working a double." He chuckled. "How are you feeling?"
Parker shrugged. "Less sore."
"Are you still mad at me?" He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Very much."
He looked down at his daughter. She stared up at him again, eyes wide as she searched his face. Panic filled his body, he remembered the first time he got to hold her. She wasn't very fond of him, crying and squirming in his arms -then he felt the surge of Eco. Parker took her back, trying to soothe her but she clawed her face. Jak glanced at her neck, a red scar was left on Parker's neck but it was starting to look better every day -but she was healing so slowly.
"I'm gonna shower." He stated.
"Okay, I'm going to feed her." Parker responded. "That should put her to sleep for a good couple of hours."
He kissed her cheek, "G' night, Parker." He looked down at the baby, she was now staring at Parker. Her eyes filled with wonder. "Goodnight, Aza."
TBC…
