-Chapter One: Banished!-
Veger and his soldiers dropped us in the desert during the sun rise. It was surprisingly cool in the morning. When mid afternoon hit, the tempter rose dramatically. The sun's rays fried us on the spot. My skin and hands burned so badly it ached. It made me wonder if hell was cooler.
It was just above a hundred degrees and the air was dry. It was hot enough to kill anyone, yet some how we managed to stay alive. Neither of us had food or water and I wasn't sure which way we were going.
Hot sand blew in my face. I tried to shield my eyes with my arm, but I could only hold it up for so long. I was completely clueless about the desert. The only thing I knew about it was what my guardian, Samos, told me when I was just a boy.
"You see my boy, the world is like an on going circle of kindness." He once said.
"The oceans gave the land rain clouds to grow grass and trees. The forests gave the animals protection and food. The Mountains gave us fresh water. The deserts, however, were greedy and kept everything to themselves. When the oceans, forests, and mountains refused to give their blessing to the deserts they grew angry. Soon they became hot and fruitless wasteland. As an act of revenge they killed anything that dared traveled through its harsh terrain."
No kidding. I thought if we were lucky the desert would have pity on us and spare our lives. After all we didn't ask to come out here.
It's funny how quickly your friends will turn their backs on you during a time of crisis. I risked my own life to save them and they kicked me right out on my ass. Since the war begun between the metal heads and Haven City, all fingers were pointed at me. I was blamed for everything. Why? Because of what I am, a dark "Eco Freak."
Dark eco is the worst substance on the planet. Samos told me it was cursed and only the evils that be can really live off its bad aura. Metal heads use dark eco to become stronger and it's the key to their survival. It's also the very substance that runs through my veins, body, and soul. It changed me into some kind of monster.
To become a completely different being in blink of an eye and destroy all my enemies so easily gave me rush I never felt before in my life. It's too bad the citizens of Haven City didn't feel the same way. They assumed that I was somehow connected to metal heads and I posed as a threat to their lively hood.
Witnesses proved that I used to work for a guy named Krew. He was the biggest crime boss in the city. I did a few missions for him. I'm not necessarily proud of what I did but it got me closer to the Baron. That bastard made me what I am. He's the reason I'm a monster and I wasn't going to let him get away with what he did to me.
I stopped the Baron, destroyed the leader of the metal heads, and saved the world. After all that I was punished for it. Banished from Haven City for life. Never allowed to see Keira or my back stabbing friends again. I didn't need them anyway. The city was going through hell when I left and I hoped the metal heads would kill them all. Only then will everyone regret dumping me out here.
The only two people I actually trusted were not even real people. Yes, it's sad but true. Dax and Pecker were the only ones that stood up for me when I was being prosecuted. They did however make the situation worse, but I knew they were only trying to help. Torn, Samos, Keria, even Ashelin didn't stand up for me.
Now I'm in the middle of god knows where because they wouldn't step up and help me.
Being out in desert for hours caused me to hallucinate. I noticed the ground underneath me started to move. The sky and sand swirled together and became new objects. I couldn't see or think straight anymore.
I blacked out.
-Flashback-
Veger's narrow face was a bright shade of red. It looked like his head was about to pop off.
"What do you mean the palace was destroyed?" He yelled.
Two days ago the crimson death bots destroyed the palace. Ashelin was more devastated by the attack then anyone else. Somehow she managed to hide her emotions but I could tell she was pissed. She saw her only home crumble down in an instant with no warning.
"Who is responsible for this?" Veger continued to demand answers, but no one was really listening. At least I wasn't.
I continued to stare at the fascinating grid table in the middle of the HQ. I watched the numbers and blue lights dance around the screen. I had no idea what it all meant, but I found it extremely interesting. Ashelin, Torn, Keria, Samos, Daxter and few soldiers stood in the room. No one had said a word since Veger came in demanding answers. Like everyone else, Ashelin had enough of hearing his mouth. She slammed her fist on the grid table giving everyone in the room a surprise shock.
"We were attacked unexpectedly! No one knew how or why the metal heads and the krismon death bots destroyed the palace." She said.
I loved the sound of her voice, especially when she was angry. It was so soft, powerful, and seductive all at the same time. Her sudden outburst gave us a little scare but Veger seemed unaffected.
"I'll tell you who knew about this and who's responsible," He said, "Your dark eco freak you keep around here."
'Freak' became one of my new nick names since the war started. I hated being called that, but I got used to it.
"Hey!" Daxter yelled from my shoulder. "No one calls my friend a freak Vexin! Only I have the privilege to do that."
"It's Veger you little rat!" He shouted back.
I couldn't help but chuckle at Dax's obvious miss pronunciation of his name. Sometimes I think he does that on purpose just to get a rise out of him.
"Don't be ridiculous," Ashelin said, "Jak had nothing to do with this. You need to stop accusing him for everything."
She always stood up for me in those situations. I never really understood why. I was fully capable for speaking for myself but when it came down to it, I couldn't control my anger long enough to prove a point. I had a quick temper and I tend to go off at certain times. I knew it was best to let Ashelin do the talking for me.
"I'm ashamed of you, Ashelin," he said to her "Your father was a great leader."
"My ass." I mumbled.
Veger ignored me and continued "His passing was a great loss to us all. I was hoping his daughter would follow in his foot steps and keep the metal heads from breaking through the city walls. But I was wrong."
Ashelin sighed. "I tried my best to stop them."
"As commander and leader of Haven City's army you should know that this thing..." He pointed his staff at me.
"His name is Jak and he's not a thing!" She corrected.
"He is the reason why Haven City is dying. You know it, and I know it. That's why I am going to arrest him for treason."
"What?" I said. "You can't do that."
"Yeah," Dax agreed, "Just because you wave that stupid stick around doesn't put you in charge."
"Oh, I beg to differ." He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a small envelope stamped with the council's seal. "This is a letter form the Grand Council that orders the arrest of the eco freak including those who try to stop me. So don't get any ideas."
"Let me see that!" Ashelin snatched the envelope from Vegar's hands and Daxter hopped off my shoulder to hers. He began to read the letter out loud, but I didn't understand a word of it. To me it was just some legal mumble jumbo. Keria came next to me and spoke softly in my ear.
"Jak this is serious" she whispered "Veger is a member of the council and I don't think you'll be getting a fair trail. They could sentence you to prison for life or worse."
'What could be worse than prison?' I thought.
"Well what are you waiting for Ashelin?" Veger asked her. "Do your job and arrest him."
I didn't believe for a second that she would do it. She was a friend and she'll never betray me. At least that's what I thought.
"Jak...I," She looked at me but not before she turned away.
"Arrest him." She told Torn.
I shook my head slowly, not believing what was going on.
"Is she serious? No she can't be." I said to myself.
Torn laughed."I'm not going to do that Ashelin." He said.
"If you don't I'm going to place you under arrest as well." She told him.
"Don't force me to do this Ashelin." He pleaded.
"I don't have a choice and neither do you."
He stood there deciding whether or not to obey her orders. Eventually he did. He ordered five solider to surround me. At that moment I felt like the whole world was against me. I was betrayed by the very people I trusted and loved. The feeling of betrayal suddenly turned into anger. Anger soon became hate.
Dark electricity jolted from out of my body and my skin turned pale as a ghost. I was changing but I didn't try to stop myself like I normally would do. I wanted to kill everyone, even my friends.
"Ah Jak." Dax said nervously "Turning all big, bad, and scary is probably not the best thing to do right now. Jak...Buddy?"
That was exactly what I wanted to do. Their job was to bring a monster to the court room not me, not Jak. I saw the fear in the soldier's eyes as they backed away from me. I was so close to losing it but then I heard her voice.
"Jak. Don't." Ashelin looked at me dead in the eyes, almost daring me to disobey her.
I snarled my teeth and a deep growl rumbled from my throat. I wanted to see the look on her face while I ripped her soldiers in half.
"Jak...Don't." She repeated.
I balled my fist ready to throw the first punch at anyone who even stood within two feet from me.
"Jak don't fight. That's an ORDER!" She yelled.
She used that voice again. The one I've grown so addicted to since the day I first met her. Soft, strong, seductive, and powerful all at the same time. I took a few deep breathes to keep me from going over the edge. The electricity stopped and my skin changed to its normal tanned color.
After Torn realized it was safe he order one of the soldiers to cuff me. He locked my hands together with a high tech gadget that was almost impossible for me to break form. One soldier came up from behind me and jabbed me in the back with his gun and ordered me to march. Keira and Samos did nothing. They watched as I was being escorted to the elevator.
Daxter hopped back on my shoulder just to be knocked down to the floor by Torn.
"This doesn't concern you ottsel." He said.
"Hey! If Jak goes, I go pal! Don't make me use my kung fu on you!"
No matter what type of shit I managed to get myself into Dax was always by my side.
"It's best to stay here Daxter." Samos said "I'm afraid you won't be able to go with him tonight."
I sighed as Torn and the soldiers continued to shove me inside the elevator. Before the doors slid shut Ashelin gave me a sympathetic look.
"I'm sorry." she said.
-End of Flashback-
"Jak...Jak...Jak! Wake up already!"
I woke up and looked up at the furry little ottsel. I was so confused that I couldn't even remember where I was. Slowly my memory jogged back and I continued to lie in the hot sand.
"Aaggrrrk!" Pecker squawked "Is he dead?"
"Of course he's not dead you moron!" Daxter yelled, "Look he's getting up."
I stood up on my knees and started to dust the sand off my face. I tried to stand up but I didn't have the energy to do so. It felt like my life was going to escape from my body. I knew the heat was making me weary, so I had to think of a way to cool myself down.
"These clothes I'm wearing are to damn hot!" I growled and tore the sleeves, armor and goggles off my body. I felt relief for two seconds before the sun's rays burned new exposed skin. I became frustrated. No matter what I did I couldn't cool off. Not even for a minute. I looked around at the never ending sea of sand, bones, and desert rocks. Then it hit me.
"They put me out here to die." I whispered. Dax and Pecker gave me a weird look. "They betrayed me, called me a monster and sent me hundreds of miles to the wasteland to die!"
I screamed out at the top of my lungs. After that I was completely exhausted. I fell on my hands trying to keep myself from falling face first on the ground. I dug my hands into the hot sand not caring how much it hurt.
"I think your amigo is going nuts." Pecker whispered to Dax.
"Nah, he just um...The heat! Yeah that's it." he walked over to my side and patted me on my right arm. "The heat getting to ya, huh buddy?"
I didn't answer.
"Com'on Jak, we're gonna be alright. You got me remember. Orange lighting!"
"Heh Yeah." I said. That guy was full of himself but I can always count on him to cheer me up.
I watched the small droplets of sweat fall from my face and evaporate when they hit ground. After what seemed like a few minutes I forced myself back on my feet.
"Let's keep moving." I told them.
"You just read my mind." Dax said. "Hold on there buddy. Ya almost forgot this."
He handed me a device Ashelin had given me before Veger and his guards dropped us out here. I didn't know what it was for or how to use it. But I knew she gave it to me for a reason.
"You just stay alive, you hear me? That's an order...Someone will find you, I promise."
I was given an order to survive and that's exactly what I did.