[center][h3][color=orange]Ratchet[/color] and [color=sandybrown]Jak &[/color] [color=darkorange]Daxter[/color][/h3]
[b]Level 6[/b] - (14/60) (+2), [b]Level 4[/b] - (7/40) (+2)
[b]Location:[/b]Dead Zone - Redgraccoon Police Department
[b]Word Count:[/b]1188[/center]

As Ratchet wandered the police station almost blindly, frustration began to overtake his sense of caution. Proceeding carefully became running around wantonly, throwing open doors and charging in. This was certainly not helped when someone joined him in the search despite his previous statement that it would be best if he looked for the killer alone. That said, he was surprised to see who this new companion was: Death. [color=orange]”Hey yeah, I remember you. You kinda wandered off after we were first freed… Surprised you recognized me after I absorbed Zer0’s spirit and gained a couple feet.”[/color] 

With the reunion acknowledged the search continued. That killer was almost certain not to show up now that the ghoulish looking scythe monster was at his side, but Ratchet decided not to argue the matter. Not that he had much time to think on the issue regardless, as the massive horde that had gathered outside began its assault on the police station. Near the library, where the preta was being presumably appeased with the feeding ritual, was when all Hell broke loose. 

The wall busted open and three bats of flame came in, as well as a demon with bat-like wings called a red arremer. The bats immediately attacked, while the arremer seemed to hang back a moment. Ratchet flipped backward, aided by Clank’s jet mode, which let the bat sail right underneath him. At the same time Death performed his own dodging, and then he… Just [i]left?![/i] [color=orange]”Yeah no, that’s cool, I didn’t want your help fighting them anyway!”[/color] Ratchet said sarcastically, producing his Coyote shotgun. When one of the firebats turned back on him he jet straight up and fired into the demon’s back from above at point blank range. The bat fell to the ground and he landed on top of it with an overhead wrench swing, bashing right into its brains.

The two remaining firebats attacked in a pincer formation, both diving from opposite sides. Ratchet performed the same flipping dodge he had before, but this time the arremer wasn’t going to sit out. The winged demon swooped in to slice into Ratchet, since the lombax was in midair and had already used Clank’s jet, leaving him vulnerable. The arremer’s claws sank deep into Ratchet, so deep in fact that they went right through him altogether as though he weren’t even there! And then Ratchet exploded into a burst of electricity, singing and burning the arremer. MEanwhile, the real Ratchet reappeared against the broken wall, where he fired two bone spikes from his handcannon directly into one of the firebat’s heads. It tumbled out the hole in the wall, turning to ash and leaving its spirit behind in the horde-covered street below.

The arremer screeched, harmed but still very much in the fight, and turned back to Ratchet to point menacingly with its pointed claw. Ratchet grinned in response, and that’s when Death decided to rejoin him from outside. The horseman gave a quick report about having to get out fast (yeah, no duh space brain!) before putting up his guard, ready to take on the arremer and the last firebat together.

[color=orange]”I guess we’ll just have to give up on our killer, then. I’d rather live today to continue to hero tomorrow!”[/color] He brandished his wrench like a samurai would their honorable katana. In response the arremer gave a throaty, scratchy laugh, then swooped in again. The pyrobat shot off a fireball from another angle, in order to cut off their movement options. Ratchet sideflipped, throwing his wrench at the bat like a frisbee, magnet-glove ready to call it back to him.

[hr]

[color=darkorange]”Come on come on come on!”[/color] Daxter complained with the utmost urgency at the civilians, most notably a large, slow moving dragon in a hat. [color=darkorange]”You all move like lazy yakows in molasses! Now if it’s not any inconvenience I would really [i]really[/i] like not dying today so GET A MOVE ON!”[/color]

Once the group had been cleared through, it was the survivors that had taken up refuge in the break room to be escorted. [color=darkorange]”Aw man, I HATE escort missions! They never have any sense of urgency and we always end up fighting an army to protect them! Especially that time we had to escort little you, Jak!”[/color] Jak just gave Daxter an annoyed look, causing Daxter to mime zipping his mouth shut. Of course, silence never lasted around Daxter, and it was in short supply today as they rounded a corner only to come face to face with a battle. The gunman Jones was engaged with some sort of ghostly wraith dual-wielding swords. It was a blatantly unfair fight as the human couldn’t keep up, but thankfully had the benefit of some sort of empowering dog on his side. Every time the dark barked, Jones was reinvigorated and back into the fray.

Jak was about to leap in to help, but Eddie suddenly found himself engaged in a battle against a zombie that had bust in through the window. That meant more were surely on the way, but it didn’t seem to deter the roadie who jumped straight into the main fray and summoned lightning against their foes with a guitar.

[color=darkorange]”Whoah! Remind me to book that guy for my next birthday party!”[/color] Daxter commented. He suddenly felt the wind of an eco blast fly over his distracted head as Jak fired the blaster at an approaching zombie that nearly grabbed Daxter. [color=darkorange]”Gah!”[/color]

[color=sandybrown]”Keep your head, Dax! We’re gonna make it through this!”[/color] Jak fired a couple more shots at the approaching zombies, the closest ones about to threaten the dog. Jones came to them, ready to high tail it out of there, but the wraith had other plans. It seemed the ghostly apparition could teleport and placed itself between the group and freedom, while the zombies received reinforcements from the stairs.

[color=sandybrown]”Time to clear a pa[/color][color=violet]thway. MOVE!”[/color] As he spoke, Jak’s muscles bulged and his skin darkened. His eyes became pitch black and dark purplish energy began arcing through his body. He stepped forward, facing the zombies, skeletal warriors, and this new abomination that decided to rip its way through other undead to get to them. He held his hands together in a similar stance to Ryu’s own hadouken and gathered energy together, powerful, potent, dangerous dark eco. [color=violet]”HURGH!”[/color] he cried out, throwing two orbs of dark eco held together by a single arc of power. It would plow through and mow down anything caught in its way, annihilating the small fry enemies in droves. Too powerful, perhaps, as it slammed into the wall of the stairwell and broke it apart, leaving a large hole. Jak reverted back to his normal form and pulled out the scattergun, charging forward. Did his actions give them a new escape route? Or did he just give the horde a new way inside?