Authors Note: Hello and welcome to the second 'book' in my Jak rewrite! XD I hope that everyone who read and enjoyed Book One will enjoy Book Two just as much. As most people know, JakII was a much different game then Jak and Daxter, what with the addition of weapons and the depth of the storyline. I have done my best to make sure Tera will fit in with the story, and her sixteen year old self is quite different from how she was in Sandover. Not COMPLETELY different, as it's still Tera, but Haven causes people to change. Just look at Jak; I couldn't have Tera staying the same in a cruel world such as Haven. So, anyways, I hope that everyone will enjoy Book Two! It'll be longer then Book One was, since, after all, JakII is a bigger game, and has more to do. So, without further ado, enjoy! (and if you'd like to see Tera's redesign, I'll send you the link XD)
Disclaimer: I own nothing that comes from JakII. I do own Tera.
Through Another's Eyes: Book Two
"For every age, there is a time of triumph. The rocks faced such a fire before they were the strength beneath our feet. The plants braved vast winds before their roots could give us life. As a sage of considerable years, I have known only one such great ordeal, yet the hero it created was a champion for all time…" –Samos Haggai
Chapter One: Welcome to Haven
The sun had just begun to rise over the small village of Sandover, the majority of its miniscule population still sleeping peacefully. The Rift Rider, the great Precursor artifact that had been unveiled after Gol's defeat, sat at the end of a newly constructed ramp beside Samos' hut, the swirling, giant ring that had been found with it floating at the opposite end of said ramp. Tera stepped from inside the hut, her hand on the door's edge as she gazed down at the ancient Precursor technology, a strange feeling fluttering around in her stomach.
Nervousness? No, it was worse then that, much worse. Her hand strayed from the door to brush against her eco ring, securely tied around her waist. Tera hadn't worn it since she had discovered her eco-intolerance, but today, she felt as though she would need it. Her eyes strayed back to the rift rider. Keira stood inside the Rider, gazing at the ring ahead of her with a smile. She had never been one to pass up an opportunity to examine Precursor artifacts, and this was no different. Jak stood to the side of the rider, his foot propped up against it. The teen was calm, as per usual, and showed no hint of worry. Daxter appeared to be sleeping on the metal casing at the front of the Rider, carefree as usual.
Swallowing thickly, Tera moved down the steps, stopping just beside Jak as Samos walked up to them, her friend sparring her a quiet grin before turning back to the sage.
"Today's the big day, Jak," Samos paused, glancing at his daughters before returning his gaze to the teen hero, "I hope you are prepared, for whatever happens."
"I think I've figured out most of this machine," the three turned to look at Keira, the mechanic putting a hand on the back of the rider and looking towards the glowing at the other end, "It interacts somehow with that large Precursor ring." The girl sighed, turning and sitting down behind the consol, "I just hope we didn't break anything moving it here to the lab…"
Jak slid into the machine behind her, attempting to sit close but pushed back when Daxter, having woken up seconds before, popped up between them.
"Easy for you to say!" he quipped, motioning with his head between Jak and himself, "We did all the heavy lifting!"
Tera rolled her eyes at this, sliding into the seat on Jak's other side, a shiver running up her spine from the cold Precursor metal. Daxter's grin returned shortly after, the ottsel reaching out to touch a rounded object stuck into the consol.
"Daxter!" the ottsel recoiled at Samos' voice, "Don't touch anything!" moving to the edge of the Rider and sitting beside Tera (the girl had to move slightly closer to Jak in order for her father to fit), Samos continued, "Though the precursor's vanished long ago, the artifacts they left behind can still do great harm!"
Three sets of eyes rolled at this, and Keira took the opportunity to add "Or great good! If you figure out how to use them."
"I've had some experience with such things," Samos looked back to Jak again, his expression calm, "I know you can make it work."
Jak paused briefly, then, slowly, reached out, pressing against a red gem that was embedded in the precursor metal, the rounded object that Daxter had been so fascinated by before popping out of the consol to reveal a swirling gizmo.
"Looks like Jak's still got the mojo!" Daxter exclaimed, Tera keeping as far from the object as she could while Keira leaned in to take a closer look.
"Interesting," she paused, licking her lips, "It appears to be reading out from preset coordinates." The five jumped when the Rider suddenly jerked, the circular piece of metal attached to it's back beginning to spin, streams of blue eco streaming from the needles to the ring in front of them. The sky darkened suddenly as the ring came to life, breaking away from its supports and floating into the air, continuing to spin as a vortex appeared at its centre.
"Wow…look at that!" Daxter breathed, staring in awe at the spinning metal. Tera felt her body go cold, a sudden rush of something screaming at her to run, only able to hunch herself further into the seat.
"Finally…" a rough, sinister voice came from the vortex, "the last rift gate has been opened!" the light from the vortex turned sickly purple, black insect like creatures swarming out and over the village as the sky turned black.
"Aaahhhh! What are those things?!" Daxter screeched, hiding behind the control consol.
"So this is how it happened…" Samos mused to himself, watching the creatures swarm and spread.
Roaring from the vortex drew the groups eyes back to it, staring in aghast horror at the terrible creature that appeared there.
"You cannot hide from me boy!" it growled, clenching a single muted fist in Jak's direction.
"Do something Jak!" Keira cried, trembling just as much as Tera was.
"What's this do?!" Daxter jumped onto the consol, pushing random buttons, "or this? How bout that?!"
Jak grabbed a hold of the stick in front of him, the Rift Rider snapping into motion and shooting past the monster and into the vortex, flying through what appeared to be a long blue tunnel of energy.
"What was that thing?" Tera gasped, finding her voice for the first time since the monster had appeared.
"Hang on everyone!" Samos exclaimed as the Rider was suddenly jerked violently, rocking rapidly through the tunnel.
"I want off this thing!" Daxter yelled, clutching onto the control consol. A sudden lightning strike shattered the Rider, Keira screaming as she was thrown in a completely different direction then the others.
"Find yourself Jak!" Samos yelled before he also disappeared, thrown in yet another direction. Jak, Daxter and Tera continued to fly forwards through the tunnel, eventually finding themselves completely blinded by a white light.
They landed roughly, Daxter skidding on his stomach with the metal bar he'd been clutching still in his hands. Tera pushed herself up and off her own stomach, coughing slightly from the impact of landing, Jak sitting up and gazing around in confusion. The blonde stood and helped his female companion up, Tera's ears drooping at the metal mass surrounding them.
"W-where are we?" she whispered, Jak casting her a look that told her he was as confused as she was. Daxter stood, glaring at the bar he held, then threw it hard at the ground.
"Ok, I swear, that's the last time I ever, ever touch any stupid precursor crap!" Daxter ranted, not noticing the armed men coming up from behind him. Jak spotted them, pushing Tera behind him when one of the men pointed at him and motioned for the others to follow.
"There he is," a metallic voice came from one of the guards, the leader motioning them forwards with two fingers, "move in."
"Step away from the animal," another guard spoke, the others moving to surround the group. Daxter screamed and dived between one of the guards legs, running down the metal walkway.
"Forget the rat," the leader, the only man who wore no face mask, spoke, his voice the only human sounding one of the group, "the baron wants him."
"Hey!" Jak whirled at hearing his friends cry, eyes narrowing at the guards that had grabbed Tera and shoved her back, blocking her way to Jak with their guns. He moved to dash forward and attack, but was knocked onto the ground from behind, his wrists cuffed.
Forced once more to stand, the guards turned him away from Tera.
"Jak!" the girl pushed the guns down so she could see, "What are you doing?! He hasn't done anything!"
"Shut up, girl!" the leader snapped, pausing to look at her, "Although…"
Tera didn't hear the rest of the guards words; she couldn't hear anything. All she saw was the look on Jak's face and the clear message in his eyes. Run.
She took his advice, bolting away from the soldiers and after Daxter, ignoring the enraged shouts behind her and the tugging at her heart.
"I'm sorry, Jak," she whispered, not even noticing when Daxter jumped up onto her shoulder from where he'd been hiding. She paused only briefly, spinning to glance back at where the guards and Jak still stood to yell "Don't worry Jak! We'll save you as soon as we can!" before running again, not wanting to be caught by the guards.
Jak watched his friends go with hope; they would save him. He turned to look back at the leader, staring at him defiantly. The red headed man simply grinned.
"We've been waiting for you," were the last words he heard before the butt of a gun was brought down on his head, rendering him unconscious.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Two Years Later
Muted screams rang through the prison, forcing shivers up the spines of the people locked away in the cells below. On the top floor, in the centre of the room, Jak arched away from the metal table he was strapped to, throat working violently as Dark Eco was forcefully pumped into his system by the machine above him. His eyes constantly opened and closed, his cries having no effect on the Baron or the Captain of the Krimzon Guard, the former pacing back and forth beside the screaming prisoner as the latter stood calmly at the chairs foot, watching with blank eyes.
"Dark eco injection cycle complete," a metallic, female voice stated, the black arm that had been spread just behind Jak's head retracting, the purple energy still surging through the teens body, "Bio reading's nominal and unchanged." the rest of the machine withdrew from his body as well, leaving the blondes head to slump to the side.
"Bah, nothing," the Baron growled, turning to the Captain with a sneer, "I was informed that this one might be different!"
"He is surprisingly resistant to your… experiments Baron Praxis," Errol replied, stepping around the chair, "I fear the Dark Warrior has failed."
The baron growled again, storming back over to the teen and grabbing his hair, forcing him to lift his head, "You should at least be dead with all the Dark Eco I've pumped into you!" he snarled, releasing his hold.
"What now?" Errol demanded, neither noticing the semi-consciousness of the teen, "Metal head armies are pressing their attacks. Without a new weapon, my men cannot hold them off forever!"
The baron turned his back to him, "I will not be remembered as the man who lost this city to those vile creatures!" he turned on the commander, advancing so that Errol was forced to back up, "Move forward with the final plan!" he motioned to Jak, "And finish off this…thing tonight!"
"As you wish," Errol stepped aside to let the baron pass, then walked back to Jak, tugging at his shirt to get his attention, "I'll be back later." He promised sadistically before following the baron out, the doors slamming closed behind him.
Seconds later, a pack of clothing was tossed up onto the floor of the platform, a hovering mechanism manned by a small, orange ottsel soon appearing.
"Ding ding! Third floor!" Daxter spoke, rising the mechanism higher over the platform, "Body chains, roach food, torture devices!" he hopped off the platform onto the teens chest, motioning around, "Hey buddy, you seen any heroes around here?" looking at the teens face, he straightened immediately, "Whoa! What'd they do t'you?"
Receiving no response, Daxter turned, his ears drooped, "Jak! It's me! Daxter!" when all he received in reply was a quick glance before the teens eyes once more closer, the ottsel planted his hands on his hips, "Well that's a fine hello! I've been crawling around in this place, risking my tail!" he turned, then paused and looked back at Jak, "literally, to save you! I've been looking for you for two years!"
Grabbing onto his friends shirt collar, he pleaded "Say something! Just this once!"
The teen's eyes snapped open, his pupils severely dilated, "I'm gonna kill Praxis!"
"Shhhh!" Daxter hissed, covering his friends mouth with his hand, "right now we gotta get you outta here!" the ottsel straightened, hopping onto the blonde's arm, "just let me figure out how to open the security locks on the chair-"
A scream ripped itself from Jak's throat, his skin paling suddenly to a ghastly white, hair turning grey and his eyes darkening to endless ebony. His skin stretched as muscles expanded, eye-teeth sharpening to fangs and nails becoming long, black claws as horns pushed through his hair. Daxter jumped down onto the ground as his friend-turned-demon ripped his arms and legs free of the metal binding him to the table, purple energy crackling around him.
"Or, uh… you could do it," Daxter gulped, ears pinned back, "Jak? Easy now…" the ottsel took a step towards Jak as the teen swung himself off the table, then backed away slightly when Jak started to advance, "It's… It's your old pal Daxter! Remember?!"
Jak growled, bringing his hand forward to attack, then stopped, stumbling backwards as his skin, hair and eyes faded back to normal, claws returning to blunt nails and horns retreating, "Daxter?"
"What the heck was that?!" Daxter exclaimed, "Sheesh! Remind me not to piss you off!" the ottsel stepped around his friend, motioning towards the main area of the prison, "C'mon, tall dark and gruesome, we're outta here."
Daxter walked alongside his friend when he moved forward, "I'uh, brought you some new threads. Put'em on."
Allowing the blonde to dress, Daxter hopped back up onto his shoulder and pointed towards a stack of crates nearby, "I hope you still remember how to do all those fancy moves of yours, bud."
Jak smirked, nodding. He moved towards the crates and hopped up onto them, heading into the hallway there when he reached the top. Ignoring Daxter when he mumbled something into a small communicator, turning the corner in the hallway and continuing forwards. Roll-jumping to the other side of the gap in the floor, Jak turned into the next room, pausing to look around. The locker room was, thankfully, vacant of any guards, and he moved over to another stack of crates and hopped up, exiting into a more open area.
"Break those crates, Jak, maybe they have something good in 'em!" Jak did as the ottsel said, spin kicking the crates to reveal the contents. A health pack and several small blobs of Dark Eco fell out, the blonde stepping forwards to take the health pack. The dark eco flew from the ground and went straight into Jak's body, Daxter choosing not to comment on this as the warrior turned to look at the next area in front of him.
Jumping up the series of mechanized platforms in front of him, he waited for the last one to lower before hopping onto it and then to the platform on the left. Crouching, Jak sprang into the air and grabbed the edge of the platform, hoisting himself and Daxter up onto it.
"Hold it right there!" spinning at the shout, Jak punched through the key Krimzon Guards that were running at him, dashing forwards and leaping to the next moving platform, waiting then jumping to the next platform and punching out the next guard.
"I don't think the alarm's been tripped, they don't know we're coming!" Daxter exclaimed quietly, Jak nodding.
"Better for us," he grinned, jumping to the pole in front of them and swinging around it once before flying off to the platform above. Continuing on, he hopped onto the moving platform and looked around, trying to locate the way out.
"Behind us, Jak!" the blonde turned and, sure enough, a small opening was right behind the area they'd just come from, the hero jumping into the room and taking care of the two guards that had been unaware of his presence. Jak had to roll jump across two more gaps, then stopped just before a grated area in the floor.
Daxter leaned down to watch his friends face, pulling a confused look, "Jak? Why'd you st-"
"Shh, listen," the blonde cut him off, the two standing in silence.
"I don't hear anything, Jak," the ottsel whispered, Jak frowning.
"I thought I heard… never mind, let's just get out of here," he muttered, moving forwards. As soon as he stepped onto the grated floor, a barrage of gun fire come from underneath them. Cursing, Jak ran forwards, hissing when two shots hit his arms.
Daxter panicked, grabbing his comm. unit and shouting into it, "YO! WE COULD USE A LITTLE HELP HERE!"
Jak barely heard the vaguely familiar voice mumble across the comm., but he breathed a sigh a relief when the shots suddenly stopped, a few surprised shouts sounding before the silence once more encompassed them. Continuing on, though slightly slower due to his wounds, Jak dove through the wooden grate ahead of him and landed in yet another metal hallway, following it then roll-jumping over another gap. Heading towards a corner, the duo paused when the sounds of shooting echoed ahead of them, a couple of enraged shouts sounding before the wall went silent again.
Jak moved forwards silently, stepping out from behind the corner and staring at the sight ahead of him. Two guards lay sprawled out on the ground, a female standing between them with her back towards Jak, two small guns clutched in her hands. Despite the fact that he couldn't see her face, something about this girl seemed familiar to Jak…
"Tera, babe!" Daxter launched himself off Jak's shoulder and hopped up onto the girls, grinning, "Perfect timing, asssss usual!"
"Yah yah, I've always gotta save your butt, Daxter," the girl laughed, her voice exactly the same as it had been yet with a different tone to it. Processing this information, Jak stared at the girls back.
"Tera…?" the blonde turned, facing the warrior. Her eyes were hidden by a pair of goggles much like his own, but her lips twitched slightly before turning down in a frown.
"We're not outta here yet," she stated, moving towards a grate in the floor when Daxter went back to Jak's shoulder, "Almost, but not quite. Can you break this, Jak?"
The male nodded, silent as he had once been, moving forwards and head bashing the grate, falling down onto a metal slide of sorts. Tera followed slightly after, the trio landing in an area filled with water and several boxes and platforms.
"You're hurt," Tera frowned, looking at Jak's arms. He moved to shrug it off, but she turned and, spotting some Krimzon guard crates, aimed her gun and fired, two health packs and several blobs of Dark Eco emerging. She motioned for him to take the health packs, and Jak did so, not even paying attention as the Dark Eco once more merged with his body. Tera stared at him from behind her goggles, but simply shook herself out of it and headed for a stack of metal crates nearby.
"C'mon, we're pretty much out of here," hopping up onto the first crate, Tera swiftly pulled herself up onto the next one then jumped and grabbed the edge of the opening above her, climbing up and onto it.
Jak watched, surprised at how well she handled herself, then quickly followed after, the three soon dropping down into the city street.
"We're free!" Daxter exclaimed, stretching his arms out. Jak was looking at Tera again, the girl inspecting the area for any more guards.
"Tera." At the sound of her name, the girl tucked her guns away in the pouches strapped to her legs, pushing her goggles up onto her forehead and turning to look at her friend with those big, blue eyes Jak remembered. She gave him a lopsided grin.
"Hey, Jak," she spoke quietly, sounding more like the Tera he knew, "Long time no see."
"Yah," he walked forwards, Tera keeping pace with him easily, "Two years is a long time."
"It took us a long time to figure out how to get to you," she murmured, ears drooping just as they had when she was younger, "sorry."
"But HEY, we kept our promise!" Daxter piped up. Yet, despite his reunion with his friends and the regaining of his freedom, Jak couldn't get himself to smile. Rage lay just beneath his skin, rage that demanded to be let out and used against the baron. He turned around in a circle as they walked, gazing around at all of the metal buildings that surrounded them. The group paused when an elderly man approached them, speaking to Jak.
"Hello, strangers, my name is Kor," he paused, stepping in front of Jak, "May I help you-"
"You look like a reasonably smart man," Jak cut him off, advancing on the old man, "I want information. Where the hell am I?!"
Daxter hopped down on the ground, standing beside the kid that had been standing with Kor, "Uh, sorry. He's new to the whole conversation thing," he apologized, Tera stepping forward to stand beside Jak. Even though she could've easily told him where they were, she chose to let the old man answer. Something about him made her feel nervous…
"Well, my angry young friend," Kor brushed off his shirt, "you are a guest of his majesty, baron Praxis, the ruler of glorious Haven City."
"I was just a guest in the good baron's prison," Jak spat venomously, crossing his arms.
"Inside a cell or inside the city, walls surround us both. We are all his prisoners!" Tera watched the child that hid behind Kor while the old man was talking, her eyes narrowing slightly. Something about the kid seemed familiar…
Hearing the clink of armor behind him, Kor turned, his expression turning to one of fear, "Speaking of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, I'd move on if I were you,"
He moved to stand behind the trio, the kid following quickly. The Krimzon guards moved closer, Tera's eyes narrowing and her fists clenching at the sight of them. Jak was surprised by her reaction, but his own reaction was almost exactly the same.
"By order of his eminence, the grand protector of this city baron Praxis, everyone in this sector is hereby under arrest for the suspect of harboring underground fugitives. Surrender and die!" the leader of the patrol ground out from behind his mask.
"Uh, excuse me, sir," Daxter spoke, stepping forwards, "Don't you mean surrender, or die?!"
"Not in this city!" Kor backed further away, keeping the child behind him, "Protect us from these guards, and I'll introduce you to someone who can help you!"
"Bring it on assholes!" Jak stared in surprise when Tera dove into the fray, kicking the guards who came to close. Her attacks had apparently become stronger, but Jak still felt the urge to protect his friend rise up and he rushed in after her, taking out guards in a flurry of action.
After bringing down several, a sudden roar ripped itself from Jak's lips, dark energy rippling around him as his skin and hair once more faded to white and grey, eyes and claws blacker then night. The demon roared when a pack of the KG's surrounded Tera, flying into a raged fury and slicing mercilessly through the red armored soldiers. When all of the guards had been dispersed, and only Tera stood in front of him, Jak felt the rage sink back into his skin, his normal colours returning as the dark creature went back to sleep.
"That was cool!" Daxter exclaimed, standing in front of his friend, "do it again!"
"Jak?" Tera questioned quietly, stepping towards him, "Are you alright?"
"Something's… happening to me…" he ground out, clenching his fists, "something he did… I can't… control it…"
"Very impressive," Kor commented, raising a hand to his chin.
"Uh, you ok Jak?" Daxter asked his still panting friend, Tera putting a hand on the taller male's shoulder in an attempt to cal him down.
"What you just did was very brave," Kor motioned to the boy standing beside him, "this child is important."
"This kid?" Daxter walked over, poking the kid, who covered his face with his arms, "he looks kinda scruffy."
Tera looked up when a KG flew over them, keeping her hand on Jak's shoulder.
"You are in a restricted zone, move along!" was all the guard said before flying off again, Kor turning back to the trio.
"Thank you for your help, but I must get this boy to safety."
"Hey! What about us?!" Daxter exclaimed.
"There is an underground group waging war against baron Praxis," Kor turned back to them, "it's leader, the Shadow, could use fighters like you. Go to the-"
"The slums, right?" Tera cut him off, planting her hands on her hips, "I can take it from here old man, thanks anyways."
"When did she get an attitude?" Jak mumbled quietly to Daxter, who shrugged.
"Very well then, miss," Kor looked miffed briefly, then turned and ushered the boy off, "good luck."
"I take it you know who we have to see?" Jak watched his friend carefully, only now taking the time to see how much she'd…. changed. She was the same, yet different.
Tera snorted, scanning the air above them, "I work for the friggin underground, I think I should know who you have to see. Just need a zoomer… ah ha! There's one!" taking a few steps, Tera jumped up, grabbing onto the lower area of a two seater zoomer as it passed over head. Climbing up, she pushed the driver out and lowered the vehicle to ground level, smirking at Jak's surprise.
"Are you coming, slow poke?" Jak smirked and climbed in, watching the girl as she switched the zoomer back to the higher zone and took off, her foot heavy on the gas.
"Look who's not afraid to drive anymore," Tera gave a wry grin.
"Things change in two years," she replied, and they sat in silence for the rest of the ride, Tera finally slowing down the zoomer and switching back to the ground level as they turned into an alleyway.
"The headquarters is just down the alley," she explained, waiting for the guys to get out, "I need to park this somewhere not so close, so I'll be right back."
Turning around, Jak and Daxter watched her drive off till she was out of sight, then continued on into the alley. Just in front of a large door marked with a green symbol, a blonde woman stepped in front of them, frowning deeply.
"We're looking for a guy named Torn, we're with Te-" the woman looked to the right, and a man with brown dreadlocks walked up to Jak, staring him down, "um, are you… Torn?"
"Maybe this guy's a mute," Daxter quipped, "like… you used to be!"
"New faces make me nervous," Torn spoke, poking Jak in the chest; his voice sounded gravelly, "Word is you're out to join the fight for the city. Y'know, picking the wrong side could be," he paused, getting right in Jak's face, "unhealthy."
"TORN!" the three males looked towards the voice to see Tera running up, her eyebrows drawn down across her eyes. She stopped beside Jak, planting her hands on her hips again, "This is Jak and Daxter, my friends. Stop harassing them would you?"
Jak ignored her, glaring back at Torn, "We want to see the Shadow."
Torn chuckled humorlessly, "Not likely. If you wanna join something, why don't you and your pet go join the circus," he turned and took a few steps away, then looked back to them, "Unless you've got the fur, for a really tough task."
Pulling his curved knife from it's holder on his back, Torn ran a finger along the smooth side, "Steal the barons banner from the top of the ruined tower, and bring it back to me. Then," he threw the knife up into the air, then caught it again, "maybe we'll talk."
"Fine," Jak spat at him, turning to exit the alleyway. Tera moved to follow after him.
"Tera, no helping them," Torn snapped, the teen shooting him a glare over her shoulder.
"I know that, I'm just showing them where to go," she bit back, leading the guys over to a parker two seater zoomer, "C'mon, I'll show you where Dead Town is."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"There's the banner!" Daxter pointed towards the flag as Jak jogged up the final steps of the tower. The blonde grinned.
"That was easy. Just like old times, eh Dax?" the ottsel nodded, then paused.
"EXCEPT we didn't get to drag Tera along this time," Jak smirked at that.
"We'll just have to make sure to drag her with us next time," he agreed, pulling the flag from its place and striking a pose along with his ottsel buddy. Their grins fell, however, when a sudden crumbling noise sounded below them, the tower falling from under their feet. They fell, bouncing up off an old tarp and sliding down a nearby cable, Jak jumping off and landing nimbly on the ground while Daxter fell on his face.
Tera smirked up at Torn, who watched the old tower crumble in surprise. Then he looked to Jak, returning the grin, "Yah, I guess you guys are in."
"Nice work," Tera commented, giving Jak a thumbs up, "Torn, I'm gonna bring 'em back to my apartment. We'll be back tomorrow."
The brunette nodded, and Tera motioned for her friends to follow her, moving back to the gate in the city wall. Walking through the large metal doors, the trio hopped up from the large hole the gate was located in and walked out into the main area of the city, hopping into yet another abandoned zoomer and taking off.
"Are you ever going to let me drive again?" Jak questioned, bringing a true smile to Tera's lips.
"Maybe."
Jak watched the scenery change around them, going from grey to red metal, "Where's your apartment?"
"Industrial section, "she replied, swerving the zoomer around a corner, "the Underground actually pays fairly well, plus the girl who got me into the Underground got me it cheap."
Reaching the correct building, Tera lowered the zoomer and shut off the ignition, hopping out and leading Jak inside, climbing to the third floor then unlocking and opening a door.
"Ah, home sweet home!" Daxter joked, Jak looking around the small apartment. The main room was a mix between a kitchen and a living room, and a small hallway with two doors lay straight ahead of him.
"It's not much," Tera called from one of the rooms, exiting with a bundle of towels in her arms, "but it could be a lot worse. Here," she tossed the towels at Jak, "take a shower; you need one."
Jak rolled his eyes, walking into the bathroom and closing the door. Stripping, he turned the water to as hot as it would go and stepped in, shoulder slumping with the relief the water on his skin gave him. He hadn't had a proper shower since… well, since leaving Sandover.
"Tera's changed," he murmured, just loud enough for Daxter, who was washing his own fur, to hear.
"She's grown up, Jak," was the ottsel's reply, "Tera's had to toughen up in order to survive in Haven; you don't want to piss her off. She's not the little girl we need to protect anymore, eh Jak?"
"Yah…" he breathed, mentally continuing 'doesn't mean I'm not going to protect her…'
Finishing, he turned off the water and dried himself off, only pulling on his boxers and pants, carrying the rest with him. Silently opening the door to Tera's room, he stepped in and stopped. The girl sat with her knees up and her forehead resting against her arms, her hair falling loose around her ears and face. Once more, Jak stopped to look, really look at the woman his childhood friend had become.
She was still thin, but rather then being gangly and awkward, she was agile and built for speed, having developed the curves that came with growing up. She'd let her hair grow out, the blue ends now reaching her shoulders. The changes didn't matter though; she was still Tera. Hearing his heavier breathing in the silence of her apartment, Tera looked up, giving her friends a weak smile.
"Hey."
"Hey," Jak replied, suddenly uncomfortable. He was on her turf, and wasn't sure how to act in the situation. Rolling her eyes, Tera stood and grabbed his hand, pulling him back out to the living room.
Releasing him, she moved to the couch and pulled it out into its bed form, tossing some pillows and blankets onto it.
"You can sleep here, I hope it's ok," Jak simply nodded, laying down on the couch and watching her until she retreated back to her room, the lights going out.
Tera climbed into her own bed feeling better then she had in two years, happy knowing that Jak was safe and no longer in danger of being tortured. Just as she was drifting off, Tera felt her bed dip behind her and a muscled back brushed against her own as Jak settled behind her, back to back. Not bothered, and reminded of Sandover, Tera quickly fell asleep.
XX
Begin Introspection. Serial Code: Tera
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When I saw Jak again, for the first time in two years, I was thrilled. I didn't care that I had just spent two years fighting for my life in a strange city. I didn't care that I had just killed two Krimzon Guards, or that I'd killed roughly ten just minutes before that. I didn't care that he looked different, or that he could talk. I didn't care that he had changed. All I cared about was that he was safe; Jak was safe and we had gotten him back, Daxter and I, and we were a trio again.
I know that I've changed too; it's impossible not to in a place such as Haven. I'm not weak like I used to be, and I look different, to. But I don't care. Now that Jak is with us, I have hope again. We'll find Samos and Keira, and somehow we'll find a way back to Sandover. And then, everything will go back to normal. Samos would be his usual crabby self, Daxter would go back to terrorizing the farmer's yakows, Keira and Jak will be in love again and I'll still have my crush on Jak but keep it silent. But I'd be happy with that; because it would mean that things could go back to normal, and that I can stay by his side.
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End introspection
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