DWP:. Chp 8 .:

The Dark Warrior reared up as Daxter tore through his skin, ripping out the hard chip indented into his neck. He roared, whole body scrunching up as Daxter let the slab of technology slide from his fingers, coated in slick blood. 

"J-jak!?" Daxter urged. "It's o-okay buddy!"

His head snapped to his side to stare at Dax, body wavering and eyes slowly closing once more.

"..... D.... Dax?" He mumbled uncertainly. "What... Are you... Doing here...? Who..... My...." 

Daxter's eyes were brimming with tears.

His eyes... They were... Afraid... They had a small glimmer of pupils...

It had worked.

"J-Jak.... Please..." The redhead's trembling fingers gently brushed over the Dark warrior's cheek. "Ya've got ta' stay calm."

But he was already passed out in his lap. A mass of bulging muscles and ashen hair spilling over his folded legs. Daxter trembled, fully aware that their time was passing quickly and soon Erol would be in their pursuit. 

"D-damnit all to heck...." He stood up, dragging the reptilian-like body of his childhood friend over his shoulder with a huff. Fuck he was heavy... Shaking the tears away, the redhead limped over to the door, securely holding the huge frame of Jak over his shoulder. Daxter suddenly flinched as he heard the distant ringing of alarms.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck..." Uncontrollable tremors racked through him, almost leading him to dropping Jak's body. He slowly sunk to his knees, a heavy sense of defeat rolling over him as angry tears fell down his cheeks. Not only had he found Jak, but maybe he had also found his defeat. His.. Dare he say it... End?

"I'm sorry, Jak..." He croaked, pulling the unconscious head of said male into his chest, fingers threading through the white hair in attempt to keep him as close as possible. "I failed ya... I couldn't even save ya like I promised.. I'm.. I'm not strong enough..." His eyes locked on the door sadly. "And now yer've been.. Changed... And I didn't even fucking recognise you...." Small sobs left his throat, clogging up any remaining words that he wanted to let out.

"Dax... ter..." 

Eyes snapping back open, Daxter looked down to see the male in his lap shuffling slightly.

"H.. Help... Me...." Jak croaked, shoulders trembling. "They've... Hurt me.... They've... They've..." 

Daxter felt his heart sink. He didn't know what was happening. Had bringing Jak back so suddenly broken him to an extent where he could never be brought back?...

"You... Came..."

A small nod, and the redhead held onto him tightly.

"L-listen, Jakkie-boy... Ya've got ta listen.. I'm here.. I saved ya, like I promised... But there ain't anyway I'm gonna be able ta drag ya outta' here by my bare hands. Ya've got ta use any energy left in yerself to help us get out... Please...." He touched his pale cheek gently. 

"...." Suddenly dragging himself up, Jak grabbed the redhead and threw him over his shoulder, earning a small squeak from Daxter as he instinctively clang to the ragged vest hanging from Jak's carved muscles. The creatures eyes were empty in that moment; a shell following orders from the one thing he recognised. Daxter trembled, unaware of what was going through the Dark Warrior's head....  

Did he really remember him?

Jak suddenly roared, slamming out the cell as two KG's ran down the halls towards them.

"Capture the freak! Don't let him escape!"

Daxter grit his teeth shakily, clenching his eyes shut as he tried to shut out the scenario. But even the two armoured soldiers weren't strong enough to withstand the force as Jak slammed through them, shoving them aside angrily as a guttural growl rose out from the pit of his stomach.

"M... Mine..." Continuing to stumble his way down the winding halls, Daxter felt Jak's shoulders tremble, muscles clenching rhythmically as his arms worked in time with his mutated legs. He looked back at them, eyes going small as the horrible realisation of what they truly represented came to mind. They represented years of pain and the snapping of bones, the forcing of unknown drugs into his muscles to turn them into something completely horrific and inhumane.

Lost in his thoughts, Daxter failed to realise that they had reached a small door that exited into the dank back streets of Haven. As he bust out through the doors, a sudden overwhelming sense of fear washed over Jak. His conscious was returning, and the desire to curl up and cry overwhelmed him. 

"D.. Dax... ter..." He whispered, legs buckling as he stared out over the streets, the alarm faint in the palace as numerous guards hurriedly rushed around, still in their pursuit. Daxter dug his fingers into the greyed back of the Dark Warrior.

"It's okay, buddy... Nearly there..."

But his words went unheard, and Jak's body slunk to the floor as unconsciousness clouded his vision. Daxter let out a small gasp, slipping in front of the male and pulling him into his lap. 

"J-Jak..." He was breathless, terrified and tired. He felt his muscles ache as the fear melted it's way into himself. "I c-can do this.." Scanning around, Daxter's eyes set on a two seated zoomer hardly seven foot away. A moment of silence passed before Daxter lumped the disfigured male over his shoulder, dragging him over to the parked vehicle sat alone in the back street.

"I've got ya, buddy..."

It was at that moment that Daxter swore to himself he would never let go of his best friend again.

"Keep searching!!"

Daxter bit his lip, forcing himself to stay silent and set on pulling Jak into the zoomer. As the creature's body slumped into a seat, Daxter practically threw himself into the drivers seat and quickly unlocked the control pad with ease. A moment of relief swept over the redhead as the vehicle rose and he quickly sped himself back to the Underground HQ.