Hi there! I'm new to the whole Jak and Daxter franchise and I just finished ALL the games just the other day. This would be my first multi-chap story for the duo so wish me luck there. After seeing that nobody has done a revised version of Jak X, (and I see plenty of Jak 2 and 3 stories out there) I thought I should give that a stab (no Mary-Sues, I promise.) Sorry if the beginning seems slow but I just wanted to set it up. Also, I'm being true to the J&D games so when it comes to spoilers, this is TPL and on. Maybe even a couple Daxter references.
Other than that, I can't wait until the supposedly new Jak and Daxter game comes out next year!
last edit: 3/4/12
Chapter 1
Kras City Welcoming
Kras City. It was like any other city in the world. Buildings, clubs, and restaurants. And just like any other city, you would guess that money, crime, laundering, extortion, alcohol, and gangs would be present. Kras City could even be mistaken for it neighbor, Haven City, if you squint hard enough. But if you say that out loud, prepare to have your throat slit. Only because Kras can be very territorial (much like Haven) and any associations to the other city is usually left with disgust and bile. You can thank the previous Governor of Haven for that. But otherwise, Kras was just another city. But only a couple things stands out in the city that makes it known world wide: the combat racing circuit.
Kras was known for it's world famous races for the grand championship just as well as its well known deaths in the sport. Like the famous Kit Blitz, whose life ended tragically after a successful sabotage attempt. Leaving behind his only son to his ex-wife. Otherwise, Kras would be like any other city without the scattered racing stadiums. But another thing it was famous for was its number of crime bosses. The two biggest lords, in fact, were Krew and Mizo. And the two crime families despised one another with the utmost hatred.
Krew lived out in Haven but had many strong connections to Kras. But sadly, Krew was left for dead by a certain blond hero who also saved Haven from the Metal Heads and the world from the Dark Makers. As rumors go anyway. But when Krew passed on, it gave Mizo the chance to claim his throne as king of crime and killing anybody who thought otherwise. As well as owning the whole racing sport. Manipulating it so the odds were on his side at all times.
So when he heard that a couple of Haven's own racing champions were coming to Kras for the reading of Krew's will and the season starting soon, he couldn't help but feel concerned. He didn't know what Krew had up his flaps but he knew that it wouldn't be good for Mizo. That was when he called his flunkies to "welcome" the Haven newcomers.
Meanwhile, a certain furry orange animal with a pilot's cap and a pair of jeans trouncing up and down a local Kras bar, the Bloody Hook. Swinging around an empty beer mug, telling the tall tale of how he and his best friend came to this city to a couple of bar thugs.
"So there we were, wheel to wheel with the nastiest racing cars I've ever seen. Razor sharp chrome gleaming in the dark, weapons bristling under rumbling hoods," the fuzzy ottsel said. Extending his sentences to give a dramatic effect.
"Oh... the Kras City welcoming committee," one of the thugs said with a smug smile on his tattooed face and burnt ears. The same thug grabbed a nearby bottle and started pouring into the animal named Daxter's mug (with a skull and crossbones on it but Daxter didn't notice.) "Have a drink, friend."
"Yeah, well, whoever they were, they messed with the wrong racers!" Just as he said it, Daxter jumped and tossed his drink. Emptying the contents to the floor. Failing to notice the sizzling sound the drink made when it hit the ground. "Jak and I are world famous! And we're connected too. We've been-" Daxter continued while the other thug poured the drink into his mug. "Thanks -invited to Kras City for the reading of some will. A rich guy named Krew."
"The big gang lord?" the other thug asked, apparently surprised with hearing the news.
"Yeah, big is right! We were Krew's muscle in Haven City, but old tub of butter kicked the bucket. Anyway, where was I?" Daxter put the mug to his lips, the two thugs looked at him with smug faces but were suddenly disappointed when the orange animal pulled away before taking a sip. "Oh yeah!"
At another part of the city, the same blond hair, blue eyed man who was responsible for Krew's death looked around him as he got into his Sand Shark. Noticing that cars were circling around him and knew immediately that they were there to do more than just race. He sat down quickly and hit the gas.
"Slowly the racers circled us. The smell of fear hung in the air, and the smell of something else too," Daxter added to one of the thugs. "I told Jak, 'Lose the suckers!'"
Jak started off in break wind speed. Getting away from the mercenaries that were now chasing him. Noticing a nearby ramp, Jak hit the pedal to the metal and went up the ramp and went flying through the air. He landed with no damage to him but that didn't stop the thugs. But one of them did steer off course and drove right into a pillar that held up an arch. The resulting explosion killed him on the spot.
One down, two to go, Jak counted in his head with a little malicious smile. He pressed a button on his dash and release a land mine and one of the remaining flunkies ran over it and had half the side of the car blown off and steering him into a building. Jak took a sharp turn with a now determined look as he neared his destination.
As all this happened, Daxter had his goggles lowered and held out his arms to look like he was the one driving. Probably to embellish his story some more.
"My, my, sounds like this city's terribly dangerous." Daxter lifted his goggles and looked over at the newcomer whose accent caught his fuzzy ears sounded close to being Romanian. As soon as the orange animal saw the man, he was taken aback with this man's look. A sly smile to go along with his slick back black hair, soul patch, and red racing coat. "Maybe we should get law enforcement to crack down," the man continued with a stifled laugh while lighting his cigarette. Daxter didn't know why, but this man's poise suddenly made him feel nervous.
"Yeah, well, this place don't scare us," he said with a shaky voice and then added with a little more defiance. "No nasty gang is gonna get us to turn tail and run."
"Sounds like they had you dead to rights. How did you survive?" the man asked, quirking an eyebrow with false interest.
Jak continued down as the last of the thugs were chasing him. But he used his cunning to turn at the right time, sending the thug to another building. Just when he thought there were no more thugs, a couple more popped out of an alley he just passed and mentally cursed at them. Not even bothering to think about why that is, he just continued to out race those additional thugs and tricking them to drive off a nearby port.
He started hearing gun shots and suddenly saw the car shooting at him racing towards him. Also seeing one behind him, Jak put on the gas and raced towards the one in front. His thumb tracing a button on his wheel and waited.
Wait for it, wait for it, he thought and then when the time came, he pushed it and sent a missile towards the car in front. No time to avoid, the missile hit the car sending him over Jak and hitting the car behind him. Jak avoided the carnage that was coming his way and then did a one-eighty and stopped. Taking a breath and closing his eyes. Hoping that it was all over until he heard the sound of another car coming. He quickly opened his eyes to see just that and the cars were coming towards him.
Where are they coming from? He thought and then hit the pedal with great force. The Bloody Hook was now in sight.
"Jak was barely able to handle himself, but with my help we took 'em all out until only one was left," Daxter continued to jump, spilling more of his drink.
"Really? You know, people in this town have a way of getting in over their heads... like at the bottom of the ocean," the mystery man added with a threatening tone. Flicking away his cigarette and the two thugs now beside him.
"Ehh... easy boys, my story's almost over," Daxter said with a shaky voice as the three fully grown men rounded up to him.
"Yes, it is!" the man said as he took out his switchblade and pointed it to the ottsel's neck but took it away as light shown in through the aquarium that stood behind the bar that served as a window. Backing away as the light glowed more brilliantly
"Wait a minute it gets better. Really!" Daxter exclaimed, now desperate to finish his story. But the lights didn't allow it as a crash came through the aquarium. A car following behind with an impressive jump over the bar and Daxter looking up with wide eyes and glued to the vehicle as it landed before the bar. Jak stood up from the seat and looked straight at Daxter.
"Dax, get in the car!" Jak yelled with urgency in his voice. Now the ottsel glared at him.
"Jak! Are you crazy? You ruined my story!" he threw a fit as well as the now empty mug in his hand to the ground. He got down from the bar as Jak looked around him and noticed some of the thugs starting to recover from the crash as they slowly got up. He turned back to Daxter with a demanding look.
"Now!" he continued to yell as the knife that was in the red coat man's hand was thrown and stuck to the bar right beside Daxter's head. The orange animal screamed and ran over to the Sand Shark.
"What are you waiting for? Step on it, Jak!" Daxter now yelled as he got on to the metal caging and clung on for dear life. Jak sat back down and shifted gear and drove out the same window he came in and drove away to safety.
"I told you not to go out. We're getting death threats, Dax. Someone doesn't want us here," Jak explained as he drove to the meeting place for Krew's will.
"Ya think? I say we take the next boat home!" Daxter exclaimed, already having enough of this city. Jak got a determined face as he glanced at his orange friend.
"Not a chance! Hang on!" he yelled and cranked up the speed.
"JAK!" Daxter yelled as the red sun was rising.
Jak continued to drive like a lunatic, avoiding a couple mishaps along the way until he came to a stop in front of a law office where he was suppose to meet his friends for the reading. He got out and glanced up at the tall building with that familiar look in his face. While Daxter took a couple heavy breaths.
"Next time you decide to drive like a maniac, remind me not to ride with you," Daxter said with every other breath. Jak sent a smirk his way.
"C'mon, we faced worse than that," Jak countered.
"Don't remind me. The last thing we need is to go on another world saving adventure," Daxter said as Jak walked by while Dax jumped on his shoulder. "And besides, if we knew Krew, he probably left us nothing," he continued to rant. Jak tilted his head, he did have a point. So why were they even there?
They stepped through and was directed to the conference room where the will will be read. He stepped through the door and scanned the room to see Torn and Ashelin on their side having a private conversation but nodded in Jak's direction. He nodded back as he continued to survey. Eyes now stopping to meet the slender figure that belong to his other best friend as she leaned against the table. Looking around the room with her dream like face. He walked over to her and took his seat beside her which now caught her attention.
"Hey Jak. I see you made it here in one piece," Keira noted.
"Define 'one piece,'" Daxter said as he got off Jak's shoulder and walked to the center of the long table.
"Had trouble, huh?" Keira asked.
"Yeah, nothing I couldn't handle though," Jak smirked and Keira couldn't help her stomach flutter.
Keira always liked Jak ever since they were little kids in Sandover Village and couldn't deny the fact that she wanted him to herself. She also use to know that he felt the same way for her back when he defeated Gol and Maia from spreading Dark Eco across the planet and when he killed Kor and stopped the Metal Head invasion. But when he was kicked out of Haven was when she really worried about him. She didn't think it to be fair to leave him out at the Wasteland when he didn't do a single thing wrong while the Metal Heads started invading again. She knew he didn't do anything and there were a number of times when she tried to tell him that only to have him push her away. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Jak was only trying to protect her and didn't want her to see or even come near him when his alter ego took over.
However, as strange as it may seem, he sought comfort from Ashelin and after he killed Erol for the second time was when they started dating. Unfortunately for her, she was the first person he told. She was heartbroken of course and she honest to God wished she could hate him for it, but she couldn't find any reason to. She can hate Ashelin no problem but when it came to Jak, he was still the same mute boy that she fell for and wanted nothing more than him being happy.
But that happiness didn't last long. After two months, the couple called it off. Saying that they were too much alike and that they would only get in each other's way when it came to duty. According to him anyway. They seemed to have a mutual respect for each other now and it had only been ten months since the break up. But, surprisingly afterwards, Jak started hanging out with Keira again. Sure it was bitter at first but she always found a way to forgive him and that came fast as he helped her rebuild the Mar Memorial Stadium to its original state with much more improvements that the previous Governor and Ashelin's father, Baron Praxis, oversaw. Now they were back to their best friend status as he accepted the fact that she liked him no matter what form of eco he may take. And now her childhood crush on him is back in full force and this time, he is not getting away that easily.
"You okay?" She blinked in his direction as Jak gave a questioning look.
"Oh! Yeah! I'm fine," she said, now realizing that she had been starring at him and quickly looked away to hide her blush.
"Let's get this over with and blow this burg." Daxter's voice rang out through the chambered room as he swung a wine glass that was placed on the table. Keira, for once, grateful for Daxter's rudeness. "Who called us here anyway?"
"Krew's daughter. Rayn," she answered as she turned to him.
"Krew had a daughter?" Jak asked with a lifted eyebrow.
"Krew... reproduced?" Daxter said as he now had a look of disgust as chills went up his body and dropped the wine glass with a clatter. "Eeew... Can you imagine what that tub of jelly must look like?" he asked as he splayed his arms out in front of him to display imaginary fat surrounding him, because Krew really was, as Daxter put it, an old tub of butter.
Then the sound of doors opening reached all their pointed ears and they turned to see a moderately attractive woman come in with a bottle of wine in her hands. Her misty blue braided hair bun bounced with every step.
"Thank you for coming to Kras City," the woman said with an accent sounding similar to Krew's. "It looks like some didn't make it, ah well..." With those simple two words, everyone knew who she was. She stopped in front of the table where the wine glasses stood and looked to each person in the room. "I'm Rayn. Before father died, his wishes were simple, to have his will played for his closest associates and for us to drink to his passing." As she said this, she started pouring the wine into the glasses. Placing one in front of her and leaving the rest for the others to get. "This special vintage he kept for the very occasion. To toast his death." Everyone grabbed a glass as Jak and Daxter exchanged looks. "Here's to old friends, and to father's untimely... death." They raised their glasses and gave a long sip to Krew. But Jak hesitated before drinking. Watching Rayn to make sure that Krew didn't do anything to the wine.
"So, without further delay," Rayn continued which sent a signal to Jak's mind that the drink was okay before taking in a rather long sip. "His message to us."
Rayn picked up a pad while everyone seated themselves and with a press of a button, a holographic Krew appeared over the table. Looking just as disgusting as ever.
"Hello nearly friends and mostly enemies," Krew's hologram said in that very same wheezy accent and that hover chair that carried him everywhere. As if in real life, Krew started hovering around all over the room. Occasionally stopping before certain individuals. "If you're listening to this message then I must be dead, oh well... As you all know, I loved racing almost as much as I loved weapons. Alas I never fulfilled my living dream of winning the biggest race of all - the Kras City Grand Championship. But even in death, I will field the greatest racing team ever assembled and win the biggest race on the planet. You are the best and you will race for me!"
As if on cue, everyone in the room protested with Jak exclaiming at the end: "Forget it!"
"I expect you're all riled up by now so let me tell you why you will race, and will win. If all went as planned, you just gave a touching toast in my honor." Everyone's eyebrows, including Rayn's, raised in realization. "Sorry to say, but I put poison in that special vintage, quite unsporting of me really."
"Father!" Rayn exclaimed. Outraged by her father's treachery.
"This is where Rayn will probably get upset." Rayn closed her eyes tight, avoiding her dead father's face. "Sorry dear. It's a slow acting poison, or you'd already be dead!" As he said this, Daxter's eyes rolled in his head and fainted while Ashelin sent a glare towards Krew's daughter. "You have just enough time to finish this year's racing season. If you race for me and win, my associates will provide each with an antidote to the poison." Keira, whose head has been placed on her hands lifted as her left hand skimmed the table surface until she found Jak's. He glanced to her and saw her look of despair and immediately hated it. "Simple, eh?"
With that the hologram turned off and Ashelin pulled out her gun and went toward Rayn and pointed it at her face.
"What the hell did you do to us?" she yelled at the boss's daughter, rage clearly seen on her tattooed face as she placed her foot in between Rayn's legs to prevent the blue haired woman from getting away.
"Please, I-I didn't know." Rayn put her hands up in surrender as her voice quivered "I drank it too. Father never did play favorites."
"Yeah, well your father's crazy!" Torn now joined in with the yelling as everyone surrounded the quaking woman.
"We're all crazy for coming here!" Keira yelled as well, voicing out what everyone's thinking.
"I think she's telling the truth," Jak actually defended Rayn. Seeing earnest in her face and not to mention he did witness her drinking. Then the hologram of Krew came on again and everyone turned back to it.
"Well, it's been one minute, so I figure by now you're all arguing about how to get out of this mess. My advice is trust no one! Win the race and save yourselves!" Then the hologram disappeared again.
"Jak?" Daxter asked from the center of the table as his friend now put his attention on him. "Next time you invite me to one of your little parties... DON'T!"
Jak looked around him to see the doubt and hopelessness surrounding him. Even Keira's usual high spirits seemed to crumble.
"We can do this," Jak suddenly said with optimism in his tone. "We can race and we can beat Krew at his own game." Rayn then got up and smoothed out her outfit as Ashelin put her gun away.
"Father bought us the best mobile racing garage money can buy and each of you has a racing car waiting," Rayn informed everyone.
Keira looked over at Jak and was surprised to see his optimism still floating. She thought Jak lost that along time ago in prison but she guessed after a year of repairing Haven also seemed to rebuild him. And for that, she was grateful.
"We're in this together," Rayn continued. "So let's get to it."
Everyone met up again at the Kras garage after seeing their new vehicles and the mechanic in Keira couldn't hide the intrigue as she looked over to the various counters and tool boxes filled with toys that she'll know she'll have fun with. Jak walked over to her with Daxter on his perch.
"We'll meet you in the green room in fifteen minutes," Torn instructed as the other three left them. Jak looked over the counter as well and can't help but steal glances from Keira as she surveyed with that obvious glee for the tools. For as long as Jak could remember, Keira was always a tomboy but she was still different from all the other girls he has met in both Haven, Spargus, and Sandover. And she was always there to fix something up if he ever needed it. But seeing her happy look right now is what made him focused on her.
"As much as I hate accepting tools from a dead crime lord, Krew definitely had some taste," Keira noted as she looked over a very high end wrench and Jak couldn't help but feel a little miffed towards her attitude at the very moment.
"Y'know, for being poisoned, you seem all right with it," he said and Daxter smacked his forehead at his best friend's comment. Keira merely shrugged.
"Well, we've got you, Jak. And I know that you'll get us out of this," she replied, avoiding eye contact for fear her face might flush.
"What makes you think I'll get us out?"
"Because, you've done it in the past." She now faced him as she put the wrench back on the counter. "Whenever a situation seems hopeless, you always find a way to regain it. Like when you rescued my father." Jak couldn't help but blush at the memory when he saved the sages of green, yellow, blue, and red from the clutches of Gol and Maia while Keira gave him a totally foreign look that he can't seem to take his eyes off of.
"Speaking of ol' green log," Daxter finally stepped in, completely ruining the moment like he always did. "Are you going to tell him about the poison?" he asked a perfectly viable question and Keira turned away from them and looked down at the metal ground with a distant look.
"I'm going to have to. He's my dad. He'll have to know that his only daughter is slowly dying." Jak continued to look at her as the look of despair returned to her (and once again hating it.) He placed his hand on her shoulder and she gave a little jump to it as she turned to him again. Now seeing something she thought she wouldn't see ever again. His reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, it's like you said, I got us out of this before and I'll do it again." She returned his smile. "And if you want to, we'll be there with you when you tell him," he added with a friendly tone and she blinked at the two before shaking her head.
"Thanks, but I think I should tell him alone. And besides..." she trailed off as she approached Jak with a whole new seductive gleam in her eyes that made Jak stare at her wide eyed and as she came closer to him, his heart beat increased to twenty miles per hour. "I don't want you to impose. The others are waiting for us, we shouldn't keep them waiting, Jak," she said in a breathy voice that splashed onto Jak's exposed neck. She stepped away from him with a sway in her hips as she went towards the green room. Jak continued to stare at her as if he saw her for the first time. His face reddening as she disappeared from sight. Daxter could only roll his eyes as he whacked Jak upside the head. Bringing him out of his trance as the eco wielder sent a glare to the orange furball.
"C'mon, lover boy. The other's are waiting," Daxter said irritatingly and Jak could only roll his eyes at the new nickname as he walk to the green room. Upon entry, he saw everyone sitting on a circular couch on a caved in floor with high quality pillows, floor and TVs surrounding the room as well empty trophy cases. The duo took their places on the couch and they looked to Rayn expectantly.
"All right, even though we hold the Grand Championship here in Kras City, we need to win the qualifiers in other locations before even entering," she explained.
"So we won't be here until the end of the season?" Keira asked, now disappointed to hear that she won't be fixing up the cars in the Kras garage.
"If we make it to the end of the season," Torn added in.
"What about the garage though?"
"Father has outlet garages in the other locations so we only need to bring the tools needed. Anyways, we need to win all the eco trophies in hopes of getting the antidote at the end. The first is the Red Eco Cup which is being held in Spargus City."
"Spargus?" Jak asked. "A little far out, isn't it?"
"I'll arrange for transport to take us and the vehicles out there," Ashelin offered in her usual commanding tone.
"There's no need for the cars," Rayn cut in and Ashelin continued to glare at her. "There are vehicles waiting for us that are durable enough for the treacherous desert sands."
"That's a good idea. Driving on the desert is not easy," Jak added in, recalling his own experiences of hunting Wasteland Metal Heads, artifact retrievals, and killing Erol out there in the very same desert.
"And the cars will be equipped with weapons but reload is provided on the track in form of yellow eco. But the selection is random so you better hope you get a good weapon. Red eco is also on the track for defensive purposes. Blue is a turbo boost and will speed you up. And of course green will make small instant repairs. But not significant enough. Keira, I understand that you are a mechanic?" Rayn put her attention on the green/blue haired girl as she nodded in response. "Good, we need your expertise if we are to make it out of this alive." She nodded again, understanding. "Also, there are many events throughout the season and the first at Spargus is a circuit race. The rules are simple, first to cross the finish line wins."
"Sounds easy, and we thought this would be tough," Daxter gloated and Jak shook his head. If the races were anything like their "welcoming" than this would not be easy at all.
So? What do you think? Not bad I hope (other than some editing issues...) But reviews are appreciated as well as helpful. Can't wait to hear from you guys. :D
