Exile Storm - Chapter One

[lithic_rune]

Title: Exile Storm
Fandom: Jak and Daxter
Rating: PG13
Summary: The day Phoenix was exiled from Aeropa, things didn't happen as planned. The Sky Pirates attacked before his sentence could be carried out - but instead of being captured and ultimately becoming one of them, he escaped to the mainland instead.
Warnings: Spoilers for Lost Frontier.

-Chapter One-
A light mist splattered across his cheek as he stood on the deck of the Behemoth, chilled by the cold wind that tried to whip through his hair. Gray skies and fog made it almost impossible to see the sun. Perfect weather to sneak up on an unsuspecting swarm of Metal Heads.

For once, though, Phoenix's mind was not on how best to use the skies to his advantage. Instead, his attention was hatefully riveted on the man who stood in front of him.

"Phoenix," the Duke of Aeropa addressed him with a barely concealed sneer. "For your crimes against the people of Aeropa, sabotage of military resources, and treason against your Duke, you are hereby stripped of every title and position you hold and are henceforth banished. Should you ever return to either the land or skies of this realm, you will be shot on sight." With a peremptory gesture to the two men who stood behind the former Aeropan Commander, he added, "Take him away."

But even as the two men pulled at Phoenix's tightly bound arms, Phoenix resisted, throwing his weight forward. "You won't get away with this, Skyheed," he snarled. "I'll see you and every one of your experiments burned if it's the last thing I do!"

The only thing his threat earned was a look of parental tolerance for a child's tantrum. "I rather imagine you'll be too busy surviving to do anything of the sort, Phoenix. The island you'll be exiled to has facilities, of course, but you'll have to reclaim them from the Metal Heads that took the island over." Taking a step forward, the Duke leaned in with a smug smile. "Consider it a way to continue doing your part for the war."

With another snarl, Phoenix tried to lunge forward again, but this time the guards were too quick. One knocked his feet out from under him, and before he could regain his footing, they were already hauling him off. Skyheed didn't even bother watching long enough to see Phoenix dragged through the door, very deliberately turning his back on the man.

But there would be no blocking out the former commander's final words. "Mark my words, Skyheed!" Phoenix shouted. "This is far from over!"

Anything else he might have said was cut off when the elevator doors snapped shut.

-o-

It was a death sentence. Everyone on board knew it, and they knew that Phoenix knew it. However, it was not execution, and there was a chance he'd survive, so it technically wasn't the same. Oh, Phoenix imagined Skyheed would have loved to put an unquestionable end to his existence, but his standing had been too high to have him executed without a very good reason. There would have been a more thorough investigation, one that would no doubt turn up things the Duke didn't want the public to know - especially in regards to the Dark Warrior program.

So, this was the next best thing.

The fact that none of the crew protested told Phoenix all he needed to know about their loyalty to the Duke. They would rather follow him than see justice done, no matter what Phoenix said about the the Duke's actions. He would get no help from them. His mouth formed a thin line at the thought. So be it. It was unfortunate, but their unquestioning loyalty made them enemies and he'd have to think of them as such.

Even so, when the door to his cell opened and two guards entered - a different pair, he noted - Phoenix offered no resistance when they took hold of his arms and forcibly guided him out of the brig. He kept his head forward and his mouth shut, the very picture of a man going forward to meet his fate with every ounce of dignity he possessed. The guards didn't say anything to him, and that was just fine. There was nothing to talk about.

Silently, the two marched him down the halls of the Behemoth, stopping only to allow one to key in the appropriate codes to open the doors while the other stood with a gun ready in case Phoenix tried anything. He didn't, and so they continued until they reached the landing dock.

Several heads looked up when the three of them entered, but just as quickly bent back down as the owners pretended they weren't staring. Phoenix ignored them. He was far more interested in the ship his guards were taking him to.

"Everything ready?" one of them asked as another officer approached.

It was one of the larger gunships, with room enough for a pilot and up to four passengers, though ideally that fourth would be in the gunman's seat up top. Not the fastest or most maneuverable of ships, but it was sturdy and could take a beating. He could see at least one machine gun, which meant it probably had a match on the other side of the ship. There was something else mounted on top, possibly a Vulcan Cannon, but it was impossible to be certain from where he stood.

"Just waiting for you to load the prisoner," the officer confirmed. He barely even glanced at Phoenix, but Phoenix made sure their eyes connected. Dark brown eyes, graying hair and skin. Phoenix's gaze hardened as he recognized the signs of one who had worked too close and too long in the facilities that dealt with dark eco.

No. In some cases it would be all too easy to fight his former men.

The officer looked at Phoenix with disdain, then turned back to the guards. "I don't think I need to remind you, but bear in mind that, traitor or not, he was the Commander of the Air Forces. Don't lower your guard, and make sure he doesn't get loose until you leave him on the island."

"Aye aye, sir!"

Phoenix smiled thinly. Smart man.

"Best get to it, then," the officer continued. "The sooner you return, the sooner the Behemoth can get back underway."

The two men nodded once to acknowledge the orders, then tightened their grips on Phoenix's bound arms before pushing on. Phoenix could feel the eyes on his back as they marched him up the ramp that led into the ship. The door closed behind them with a sense of finality. That was it. That was the last he was ever supposed to see of his home.

Phoenix's jaw firmed. Not if I have anything to say about it.

Even so, he maintained his stony silence and seated himself in the seat farthest back without waiting to be prompted by the guards. There was little enough room to maneuver in the cramped cabin, but one guard stood with his gun trained on Phoenix while the other knelt down beside him.

"Try anything and there'll be a new hole in your head," the man holding the gun promised flatly.

Phoenix just gave him a look, ignoring the other as he fastened the seat's restraints. "Despite what the rumors might have you believe, I do not, in fact, have a death wish, lieutenant."

The comment earned a snort from the pilot, who was already seated up front, but the man apparently had enough self-discipline not to say what he was thinking. The guard Phoenix had addressed only nodded once to acknowledge his words and left the matter at that.

Professional. Admirable trait, really, but it might make things more difficult later on.

Once the two guards had seated themselves in the two side seats, positioned so they could keep an eye on Phoenix, the pilot turned the radio on. "Behemoth, this is Captain Larkin. The prisoner has been secured and we are ready for takeoff."

"Copy that, Captain," a voice came back over the radio. "Opening the docking bay doors now. Begin launch sequence in five... four... three... two... one..."

In front of them, Phoenix could see the huge doors that shielded the landing dock split apart, revealing a hazy gray mist that continued to defy the sun. Only the vaguest impression of water and land could be seen through the haze, but the pilot didn't so much as bat an eye at it before starting the launch sequence. Power thrummed through the ship as the engines came to life.

"Safe flying, sir. Behemoth out."

Then they were off.

Despite himself, and despite the sorry situation he was in, Phoenix could not help but revel in that initial moment of speed when the plane shot forward so hard and fast that it forced him back into his seat. His hands wanted nothing more than to wrap around the throttle and take the ship into a dive, or perhaps flip upside down just long enough to feel gravity's pull before righting himself again. No matter where he was or what rank he held, this was what he would always love. Even as the Commander, he'd still flown on his own at times.

After that initial moment had passed, though, Phoenix forced his attention back to the matter at hand. If ever he wanted to fly again, he needed to escape. Casually, he let his eyes drift around the cabin. The guards were being vigilant, but they were also confident in the upper hand they held. Every once in a while, one would glance past the pilot to catch a view of the sky. The pilot, of course, was focused on flying the plane, and Phoenix doubted he would do anything else until it became obvious the guards could not keep their prisoner subdued.

So. That left the two at his sides. Phoenix took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Another few minutes, to put some distance between this ship and the Behemoth, then it would be time to act. He closed his eyes, preparing to slump forward in his seat. If it appeared that he'd passed out, they might-

Wham!

Phoenix's eyes snapped open as something exploded against the hull. The ship jolted to the side, alarms blaring in protest. "What-?"

"Sky Pirates!" the pilot shouted.

One of the guards swore. "Damn it, of all the times-" Not waiting for any orders from either of his companions, he started unbuckling himself from his seat. Once he stood up, he had to catch his balance when the plane suddenly swerved.

Tatatata!

Machine gun fire peppered the air, tearing into the wings despite the evasive maneuvers the pilot was trying to do. With a curse, the pilot slapped a hand to the radio.

"Behemoth, this is the-"

Fwhoom! Another bomb blasted into their side, rocking the entire ship. Cutting off what he'd been about to say, Larkin pulled his hand back to the controls threw the ship into a barrel roll to evade the enemy fire. Only years of experience with such acrobatics kept Phoenix's stomach from lurching.

Fortunately for the lieutenant, he had already grabbed onto the rung of a ladder set into the wall when the ship started to spin. By hooking his feet around the lowest rung, he managed to keep himself from being tossed around the cabin. "I'm going to man the gun," the lieutenant said to his companion as soon as the roll was over. "Stay here." With that, he climbed up the ladder and popped the hatch before disappearing to the top of the ship. Soon, the sound of return fire could be heard.

Every fiber in Phoenix's being screamed at him to act, but he was still bound at the wrists and belted into his chair - and he was still very much a prisoner. Frustrated with his own uselessness, the former commander glanced at his one remaining guard.

"Don't even think about it," the guard responded grimly. "I've still got my eye on you."

Exasperated, Phoenix only barely refrained from rolling his eyes at the man. "Oh yes, because I'm going to hijack the ship while we're in the middle of an attack. Of course, I'd have to kill all three of you - unarmed, I might add - and then face the pirates myself. Alone. With no gunman." Then, just in case the guard couldn't hear the sarcasm he'd injected into his voice, he added a scornful snort, "I think my sense of self-preservation is a little stronger than that."

The guard had the good grace to look somewhat chagrined, but anything he might have said was cut off when the ship shuddered under another attack. Something in one of the consoles exploded, eliciting a curse from Larkin.

"What happened?" the guard asked.

The captain's response was terse. "Navigational sensors just got fried. Took out the radio, too."

Which meant they were flying mute, deaf, and virtually blind. The guard swore, and Phoenix echoed the sentiment. Damn it, this isn't good!

In front of them, a single man fighter plane swooped into view, followed by a spray of dark eco bullets. The crackling purple and black energy clipped an already damaged wing, and the next moment they were flying through a cloud of debris. Phoenix narrowed his eyes in grim satisfaction. The lieutenant was obviously giving them hell.

Two more planes replaced the one that had just been destroyed. This time, however, they were directly facing the ship. The lieutenant responded to the threat by opening fire on them as well.

But it wasn't enough. Bullets strafed the ship, the hard impact of metal on metal almost deafeningly close to Phoenix's head. Power systems flickered as glass cracked and alarms screamed, but all of that became secondary when the ship suddenly lurched.

"Captain Larkin!" Eyes wide, the guard hastily unbuckled himself and darted to the forward part of the cabin. Phoenix could not see what had happened to the captain, but the way the guard's face paled told all he needed to know. To the guard's credit, he did not dwell long on the apparently grisly scene. Roughly pulling away, he sat down in the copilot's seat and jerked the throttle back.

Phoenix's stomach sank. Precursors have mercy on us all. Twisting in his seat, he started unbuckling himself despite the bonds on his wrists. The ship shuddered and bucked, making it even more difficult to grab hold and undo the straps, but soon enough he was lunging forward to join the guard.

The guard snapped his head up, startled. "Hey! What're you-"

Phoenix snarled as he latched onto the throttle with both hands, not caring that the guard was still holding it, too. "If you don't want us all to die, you will let me fly this ship!" Without waiting for the guard's permission, he started steadying the ship and pulling it out of its descent.

The guard opened his mouth, but whatever protest he was about to make died on his lips when Phoenix leveled the ship out. Even so, he gave his prisoner a hard look before relinquishing the copilot's seat. "This doesn't change anything," he said.

Phoenix sat down, adjusting his grip for better control, and never once took his eyes off the scene outside the ship. "We can argue about it later," he said shortly. "Now untie my hands."

Thankfully, the guard didn't question the need to use his hands freely. However, once he'd removed the rope, he immediately pulled out his gun. "There won't be any arguments, Phoenix, and if you pull any stunts, I swear-"

He never had an opportunity to finish that sentence because that was when Phoenix swerved hard to avoid another strafing run, sending him stumbling into the arm of the pilot's chair. "I would suggest," Phoenix offered testily, "that you seat yourself and buckle up, Airman. That may very well be the least of the stunts I pull."

The comment earned a scowl, but Phoenix could not bring himself to care. The lack of navigational sensors meant that every ounce of his attention had to be devoted to what he could see through the bullet-cracked windshield. He was dimly aware when the guard did as he suggested, and just as dimly noted that the man still had hold of his gun. Irritating but admirable devotion to his duty. Phoenix shook his head and pushed the matter to the back of his mind. They would have to deal with that later.

Responding to the whine of another plane's engine and propeller, Phoenix pulled the ship up into a thick bank of clouds. The same weather that was useful for ambushing Metal Heads would serve just as well to hide them from the Sky Pirates, too. Gradually, the air darkened as they flew deeper and deeper into the forming storm. Cold wind whistled through the bullet holes.

Tatata... tata...

The sound of enemy fire started to taper off, but still Phoenix flew on. They weren't safe yet. Not by a long shot.

As if to prove his point, a missile streaked past close enough that he could see it despite the fog. Phoenix rolled once to the right to throw off their pursuer's aim.

Then suddenly his skin prickled. That was the only warning they had before a bolt of pure eco lanced across their bow.

"Shit," the guard breathed. "You just put us in the middle of an eco storm, you idiot!"

"An eco storm that will render the pirates' sensors just as useless as ours," Phoenix said tersely. "And the danger will discourage them as well. Whatever they thought we might be carrying, I highly doubt that they'll feel it's worth the risk and effort it would take to maintain their pursuit." His skin prickled again, and this time he let the ship dive. Light flared just at the edge of his field of vision.

"Fat lot of good that'll do us if you get us killed by the storm!" the guard snapped.

Phoenix ignored him. He could feel the energy humming in the air. Any second now, another bolt would come and he needed to be ready to move. His eyes pierced the clouds in front of him as best as he could.

Any second now...

"Did you hear what I said?"

Any second...

His nerves tingled.

Three... two... one...

Then the lieutenant's voice broke in. "What the hell is going on!"

-End Chapter One-

As always, thoughts are always welcome.