Hello everyone, and welcome to my attempts to get back into writing in the form of a Jak II novelization. The story will follow the story of the game, but will receive changes to accommodate the written format. Some missions will be removed, some events will be changed slightly, some OCs have been created to help flesh out the world, and Jak is going to go through a lot of hell. There will be a slightly stronger character focus as I have an interest in exploring these characters, but for the most part the story is faithful to the game.

Disclaimer: Jak and Daxter is owned by Naughty Dog, the story is merely an adaption of there concept altered to fit the written format. Any characters that appear in this story that are not owned by them are owned by me. In the event that this adaption is requested to be removed by the company in question I will do so.

Rating: This fanfic is rated T for teen for violence, language, and suggestive themes.

Chapter One: Dark Breaths, Dirty Water

The first injection made his body go number.

The second set it on fire, his heart racing as he tried to fight what they were doing to him.

It was the third that made him scream in pain as the dark eco coursed through his blood to his brain. His ability to think breaking apart as the pain took hold of him.

The fourth…the fourth was expected to trigger his transformation. But the only thing it did was made him feel like his entire body was being ripped apart piece by piece. He could feel his restraints digging into his skin as he thrashed in the chair he was strapped too screaming at the top of his lungs.

It felt like an eternity but in an instance everything became numb again and he collapsed. Sweat poured down his face and his eyes fluttered disoriented before closing.

"Dark eco injection cycle complete. Bio-rhythms nominal and unchanged."

The voice was one of few reliefs he got in this wretched place. It meant this round of tests was over, that the pain and torture were coming to an end that day. The ones that came next brought no relief, only fear and anger. "I was told this one was different." That voice. One of two men in the room and both which made his blood boil with rage every time he heard them.

"He's surprisingly resistant to your 'experiments' Baron Praxis. I don't think we'll trigger another transformation."

"He changed once before. Why isn't he doing it again?"

"Unfortunately whatever secrets Gail unlocked she took with her to her grave." The other said his voice sly and a tiny bit sarcastic. Almost like he was partly accusing the Baron he was speaking to as being partly at fault. "I'm afraid we have to consider the Dark Warrior Program a failure."

The news struck the Baron hard or it sounded like it did because of the angered growl he let out in the large almost completely empty prison. The man shot his rage at the first person that he could find, grabbing the young boy's hair and lifting him up out of his chair as far as the restraints would let him.

"You should at least be dead after all the dark eco I pumped into you." He yelled right at the boy's face. His rage was blind, if the Baron had been paying attention after he slammed the boys head back into the chair he would have seen the younger's hands ball up into fists and his neck tighten. What he wouldn't give to put the Baron in the same chair he was strapped to now, and listen to his screams as the dark eco ripped through his body. He'd enjoy that. He'd really enjoy that.

"What do we do now?" The other asked, "Metal Heads continue to press their attacks on the walls, without a new weapon my men can't hold them off forever."

"I will not be the man who lost this city to those vile creatures." Baron Praxis shouted, "Erol, move forward with the Final Plan. And finish off this thing tonight."

"As you wish." Erol said any semblance of humanity fading from his voice as he reached over grabbing the young boy's neck. His eyes fluttered open for a moment taking in Erol's sick green eyes, pale skin, and red hair. "I'll be back for you later." He said calm and cold before moving away and down the hall leaving the boy in the chair.

The young man heard the door slam as the two men left the prison and the quiet let his tired mind take in everything that just happened. Today was the day, they had finally had enough of him and he was going to die. It would soon be over. The thought was the happiest one he had in longer than he could remember and he relaxed in the chair as best as the restraints would let him.

The comfort started to lull him to sleep only for him to feel something bounce on his abdomen. "Whoa what the heck happened to you?!" Another voice, this one sounded so familiar. "Jak it's me…." The voice faded in and out and Jak struggled to open his eyes. A small head and beady eyes covered in orange and yellow fur greeted him before he closed them again. "Well that's a fine hello." The animal said rambling incoherently his words only partially reaching Jak's ears.

As he spoke Jak could feel the eco irritating him as its influence went through is body. The creature sounded so familiar, like a voice he had heard a long time ago. A voice that made him a promise.

"Don't worry Jak I'll save you before you know it!"

"I've been looking for you for two years!"

The first thought that came to his mind was that the little rat should have looked harder.

"Say something! Just this once!"

His anger flared, a deep seated monster inside him that made him see red as his eyes flashed open. There was only one thought on his mind at that moment and it was directed right at the man that had subjected him to this hell. "I'm going to kill Praxis!" He yelled and in an instant the small animal's hands were covering his mouth shushing him.

"Right now I gotta get you out of here. Just hold on one moment."

He didn't have a moment Jak felt his blood boil as the dark eco coursed through his body. His hair began to stand on end and veins bulged on arms as his hands balled into fists. The small animal watched him in shock before jumping off his arm as the eco seemed to pulse from his body. His skin turned purple, his hair white and his eyes so black there was no light reflecting in them. With an animalistic howl Jak broke his restraints in an instant.

"Or you could just do that…." The small animal said losing his voice as he watched the man in front of him. "Those claws are, uh,new." he muttered. Jak glanced at his fingers flexing his muscles as a psychotic smirk formed on his face clearly liking the new addition on his body. He then turned his head to the small animal as he got out of the chair.

"J-Jak?" It said and how it knew his name was of little concern to the now free dark warrior. He only had one thing in mind, kill the small creature, rip his lungs out. Then go for the Baron. "Jak easy, it's me your old pal Daxter remember?" The small creature said raising his hands up in defense and fear. Jak growled lifting a claw ready to slice the small animal open.

Then he stopped. The name was familiar like he had heard it before. The creature was familiar, a small furry orange ottsel that used to be a strange looking young kid with orange and red hair. He remembered seeing the kid get sea sick while on a boat, the boy falling into a vat of dark eco and –miraculously- not dying but instead turning into a strange furry creature. He remembered how the small creature would make sarcastic comments, how he rode on Jak's shoulder across Sandover and the rest of the land, how he'd make smart comments about Samos and flirt with Keira. How he stuck around with Jak even when he was absolutely terrified.

"Daxter?" The word came shakily as his vision began to clear and he could see the strange furry creature in front of him with more clarity. Slowly he felt his rage recede and with it the effects of the eco. His vision blurred momentarily as he took a few steps back his legs becoming weak making it difficult to stand. He groaned in agony as the claws receded back to normal fingers and the adrenaline and eco that triggered the transformation faded. Within seconds he was back to his tan skinned blonde self and he stared at Daxter the small animal in shock.

"What was that?!" The ottsel said and in an instance deflected the frightening situation with humor. "Geeze remind me not to piss you off."

Jak stayed silent taking in Daxter's movements. He seemed perfectly calm, but he could see that the small animal was keeping his distance from him. "Come on tall, dark, and gruesome let's get you out of here." He said as he picked up a decent sized bundle wrapped in brown paper. "Here put these on, right now you look like you have an 'escaped prisoner' sign on your neck."

Jak stared at him before carefully taking the package and opening it. Inside were a long sleeved navy shirt and a pair of white pants and brown boots. He looked at the clothes his mind still hazy and then to Daxter who rolled his eyes and then turned around to give Jak some privacy. After a small hesitation Jak took off the prison uniform, parts of it sticking to his sweaty skin, and put on the top and pants. The shirt felt too tight with his newfound muscle mass and the pants a bit loose. The boots felt strange on his feet having never worn them before and preferring sandals.

"Trust me when I say wearing those is better than going barefoot out there." Daxter said having turned around after Jak had put on the rest of his clothes to help him with the buckles on his boots. After they were secure he jumped on Jak's shoulder making the boy flinch at the touch. For a second he was sure that someone was going to shove him onto the floor or back into that chair. If Daxter noticed he brought no attention to it instead directing Jak toward a nearby vent.

The escape was mostly quiet and as Daxter directed Jak on where to go he was amazed at how well it seemed that Daxter knew the facility. He heard Daxter mumble something under his breath as he jumped off Jak's shoulder and motioned for him to follow. He jumped across one of the gaps motioning for Jak to follow. He looked down noticing how far the drop would be before stepping back and leaping across. When he landed he stumbled, his legs giving out on him.

"Oh come on Jak, you landed jumps longer than this before." Daxter said and Jak looked at him before struggling to his feet. He reached up to the next platform and climbed up taking more effort than he knew it should have. "Getting old huh."

"Shut up." The words escaped his lips before he could stop them and Daxter stared at him completely speechless before climbing back on Jak's shoulder. Now that he was moving more than a few feet Jak could feel exactly how weak he had become. Sure his muscle mass had increased because of the injections but he lacked the energy to do much with it. The lack of good food and exercise had left his body shaky and he felt slower than he did before he was forced into this nightmare. He had only been in there for two years; he felt like he had aged ten.

Daxter did not speak again unless he needed to direct Jak around an area, the silence between them awkward. Another path down and Jak stopped when he heard some muttering. He pushed himself to the wall Daxter doing the same and peered out from the corner. Two crimson guards were standing around talking to each other.

"My money's on Erol for the big race this year."

"Feh, I dunno that chick from Kras City's pretty good. Almost reached class one last year."

"No combat racer can beat a good zoom racer."

"How do you know? Have you ever seen a racer from Kras City?"

"….no. But neither have you!"

"…Yeah but still….getting damn tired of Erol winning all the time."

Jak looked down at Daxter expecting the ottsel to know of another way out. The furry animal opened his mouth before closing it and shaking his head. Jak let out a small growl and peered out again. The guards weren't even looking at them. He put a finger over his mouth to keep Daxter quiet and stepped out keeping himself crouched and low to the ground to keep his footsteps quiet.

"So I hear the Krimson girls are petitioning to get different uniforms."

"Oh yeah? Why?"

"Apparently they're getting tired of being confused for prostitutes."

The other guard stared at him dumbfounded looking at the man giving him just enough space out of the corner of his eye to see the man behind them. "Hey you!" The guard yelled getting the others attention as Jak cursed his luck. "Prison break!"

Almost without thinking Jak lunged at the first guard before he had a chance to call for backup punching him in the face the guards visor cracking. The other, raised his staff blue electricity glowing from it. "Oh no you don't!" To Jak's surprise Daxter jump onto the guard covering his eyes with his hands. The guard cursed reaching for the ottsel dropping his guard giving Jak the opportunity to grab the staff. He flipped it on and shoved it into the guard's chest. The guard – and Daxter – made gurgling sounds before collapsing. Daxter flew off the guy and into a wall before flopping on the floor.

"Wow! What a shock!" He said sniffing the air as Jak approached him. "Hey do you smell fried chicken?"

Jak stared at his friend for a bit and Daxter watched as the brief ghost of a smile formed on his face before shaking out his fur and climbing back on his shoulder. He pointed out the loose panel in the floor. "Down there!"

Jak could see some kind of window or open vent at the end of the prison and at Daxter's excitement and pointing made that his destination. A light breeze told him that it did indeed lead outside and unconsciously quickened his pace to reach it. He put his hand on the frame almost not convinced that it was real and poked his head out.

The bright light of the sun made it hard to see at first, but it only took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust. Outside he was greeted not by the wind and sound of the beaches near Sandover Village, but instead with a buildings just a year yards away, sunlight partly blocked out by smog, and dirty paths. He jumped down onto the ground losing his footing momentarily. The ground felt harder than he expected, like stone rather than sand. Slowly Jak straightened and his feet started moving walking him down the street as Daxter spoke but he didn't hear anything the ottsel said. The tall buidings were mesmerizing and the air – while fresh compared to the prison – smelled and tasted toxic.

It was almost like this place was dying, like a disease had infected a once lively and colorful place and it was rotting from the inside. And Jak was not sure why but he thought he had a pretty good idea who was responsible.

He continued walking eyes gazed towards the large buildings as people walked past him some going into the buildings others just sitting down on the ground. It was getting dark and it was possible that had something to do with it.

Not everyone was going inside as Jak walked he noticed an old man who appeared to be staring at him, with a mix of perplexity and concern. A young boy was holding his hand. "Hello there young lad." The older man said getting his attention. "You look lost, my name is Kor, can I-"

"You look like a reasonably smart man." Jak said almost spitting in the elders face as he grabbed him, "I want some answers. Where the hell am I?"

"Jak!" Daxter said tugging on the teenager's ear before looking at the man. "Uh sorry he's a bit new to thew hole 'conversation' thing." He said and Jak quickly realized what exactly he did. He looked down at the ground for a second not sure where that anger came from.

"S-sorry." He stammered almost expecting the old man to whack him in the head with his cane. Instead the man gave him a calm sigh, dusting off his shoulder.

"Oh it's quite alright my angry young friend." Kor said, "You're face is unfamiliar I take it you have never been to 'glorious' Haven City. I take it you were a 'guest' of his 'majesty' Baron Praxis."

The sarcasm was dripping from Kor's lips and Jak couldn't help but respond. "Yes, I 'guest' in the Baron's Prison." He said.

"In a cell or inside the city, we are all surrounded by walls." He said looking down at the child who was tugging at his long robes to get his attention. Kor turned around his eyes widening and him backing up almost bumping into Jak. "Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've move on if I were you."

A set of Krimson Guards entered the location and Jak could feel his blood beginning to boil the eco inside him resonating. "By the powers of Lord Baron Praxis, everyone in this section is under arrest for the harboring of underground fugitives and escaped prisoners." On the last part of that sentence the soldier looked right at Jak and flipped on his stun rod. "Now surrender and die."

"Uh don't you mean surrender OR DIE?" Daxter asked.

"Not in this city." Jak heard Kor mutter as the Krimson Guard spread out to surround them. He looked at one after the other trying to find some weak spot in there formation.

"Hey!" One of the guards shouted. "That's the kid!"

"The heir?" Another asked and Jak glanced down at kid who was clinging to Kor's leg. "Get him!" One of the guards said and Jak felt his anger flare up as the first guard stepped forward. He flung a punch right into the guards face grabbing his stun rod as he stumbled stabbing him in the chest.

"Forget the kid, get the freak!"

Freak. That's what he had been called while experimented on in prison. His rage becoming uncontrollable he swung the rod over another guards head before grabbing him by the throat and wrestling him to the ground. He punched the guard in the face again and again breaking the man's visor ten his nose, blood coming from the soldier's mouth. The only thing that stopped him was a shock to the back by a few more guards one of which he punched as he got up.

Somehow two of the soldiers managed to get their hands on his arms, a movement he struggled against as another shocked him in the chest. He breathed hard as his vision became red, the eco pulsating in him as the guard said something. He could feel his skin burning as his anger overcame him – his skin turning purple his hair white and his eyes black. Whatever the guard said made him snap and he forced himself out of his enemies grip and lunged for the one that had shocked him in the chest letting his claws dig deep into his armor and penetrating his skin. He then went for the next one damaging there armor and wrapping his hands around his neck.

Each guard after was greeted with claws to their chest or to their throat and with each kill Jak reveled in it. The blood dripping from his fingers was satisfying, and the shocks they tried to pin him down with only made his anger grow. After the last one was defeated he looked around for more his eyes settling on an old man nearby. And a small creature who looked terrified but walked over against the older man's better judgment.

Jak was ready to raise a hand but stopped when he realized he knew this small animal. Daxter. A friend.

Slowly Jak felt his anger subsiding and his mind clearing. He put his hands on his head, the eco inside him causing his body to become hot and his vision to blur as it let go of his madness. Daxter was staring at him and then down at his hands which Jak found himself looking at. His eyes widened as he saw them covered in the crimson liquid and looked down at the bodies. Each guard was dead, pools of blood everywhere.

He could feel his stomach lurch and if he had anything in it he probably would have lost it right on the street. He did this. He killed them all. And somewhere deep down, it felt good.