You probably thought Jak was the only living specimen of the Dark Warrior Program. That's not true. You probably didn't notice me in the background. I was in the same predicament, in fact, Jak and I shared the same cell in the prison. We learned a lot about each other… not really. Mostly we tried to keep each other from going crazy. Jak doesn't talk much, but he did write out his name for me in the dirt in our cell. The only sounds I've ever heard from him were screams of agony from the Baron's experiments, though I'm pretty sure mine echoed his. Most of the time I rambled away, talking about anything and everything when I wasn't too exhausted or agonized from the experiments. It may sound crazy, but just Jak's presence made a difference. He may have been a silent companion, but he made everything survivable, just barely. I bet you're wondering who I am just about now. I guess I'll have to tell you sooner or later.
I was a grunt in the Krimzon Guard. I was on the war front, shooting Metalheads and doing basic soldier stuff. I was one of the few grunts that survived past their first year, and went on to survive many more. I was usually one of the only ones to survive a raid on a Metalhead nest or a mission into Metalhead territory. When the Baron came around the barracks, looking for volunteers to help with a new weapon development, I was one of the first to jump at the chance. I'd had enough of killing off Metalheads and almost being killed in the process. When the other recruits and I made it to what we believed was the weapons vault, we were attacked by fellow guards and subjected to this torment. Most of the others died off straight away, not being able to handle the dark eco being pumped into their systems. The few of us that lasted longer either went insane or became uncontrollable monsters that had to be "terminated" or "taken care of", as Erol put it. I was the only one who went mostly unchanged. I had a few blackouts, but those were common over the course of my imprisonment. I caught a few of the experimenters whispering about me, not very quietly, I might add. They were saying things like, "Uncontrollable" and, "Much too strong". I tried to figure out what they meant by this, but was stumped. Then one day they brought in a kid. He was small, tan and had blonde hair with green roots. His bright blue eyes were filled with fear and it wrenched at my heart. They started to experiment on him as well. Seeing this from my cell, I went nuts. It was the first time I stayed conscious throughout one of my changes and I figured this was what happened when I blacked out. I was horrified at the results.
I became a monster, a freak, something that went against nature. My skin turned an unnatural shade of bluish grey and my fingers changed into claws, ones that could rip out a man's heart. What little of my hair I could see had turned silver, with dark purple edges. I could feel the bite of fangs on my lower lip as well. My mind warped along with my body, becoming dark and twisted. When I was that monster, all I wanted to do was hurt the men hurting the kid. I wanted to rip their hearts out and shove them in places better left unsaid. As they noticed this, they decided to use the kid against me. Only experimenting on him when they knew I was watching or was even conscious. Any time I got really angry, I would change into the dark monster. That kid grew up to be the young man sitting beside me today. It must have been the dark eco, because he matured and grew up fast these last two years. He had even grown a green goatee. I chuckle, maybe a little maniacally, at the memory of him growing facial hair. He reminded me of my little brother. I guess he wouldn't be so little anymore, seeing as two and a half years have passed as I've rotted away in this hellhole. But they both had that determined gleam to their eyes, the one that told everyone else they could do anything, and would.
I play with the ends of my hair. It used to be brown, with blue tips. Now it's grown so long it reaches the backs of my knees and it doesn't just end at the blue. It starts off brown, fades into blue then fades again into the same dark purple of the dark eco running through Jak and I's veins. That wasn't the only thing that had changed. My canines had grown longer, like my fangs never really wanted to go away. And I saw that my eyes had darkened from light teal to a darker hue when I caught my reflection in a piece of metal. My skin has also gotten really pale. Not being able to see the sun has really taken its toll on my heart. I don't even fight the guards anymore, I've just given up. They drag me out of my cell, pump some more dark eco into me, make me mad enough to morph into the monster, and then throw me back into the cell once I've calmed down and reverted back to normal. It's pretty much the same process with Jak, but he never changes, he always either passes out or just lays there in a stupor. I'm glad he doesn't change. I wouldn't wish this curse on the Metalheads. This day is like any other, Jak is herded from the cell and strapped down to the table, then loudly experimented on. But something isn't right. I hear a voice I haven't heard for over two years. My long, tattoo covered ears twitch at the sound of it. I look and see it's the Baron.
"Huh, nothing!" he says in disappointment, "I was informed that this one might be different!"
"He is surprisingly resilient to your experiments Baron Praxis," Erol says, sounding like a complete Captain Obvious, "I feel the Dark Warrior Program has failed" The Baron growls.
"You should at least be dead with all the dark eco I've pumped into you!" he says, grabbing Jak's hair. Jak just tries to focus his eyes, but the Baron lets him go and returns to talking with Erol.
"What now? The Metalhead armies are pressing their attacks!" Erol informs the Baron, "Without a new weapon my men cannot hold them off forever!"
"I will not be remembered as the man who lost the city to those vile creatures!" The Baron yells, I smile at his discomfort, "Move forward with the final plan. And finish of this… thing tonight."
"As you wish," is all Erol says, "I'll be back later" He says this to Jak. I hear footsteps approach my cell. The Baron stops at the edge of the door and looks in at me and my sorry state. I send a glare in his direction, putting every ounce of hate and rage behind my eyes that I have. He just smiles.
"And you say this one is too willful? Too disobedient?" Praxis says, almost tauntingly. A snarl rips out of my throat as I lunge for his, morphing halfway between where I was sitting and the bars. He takes a step back before my claws can close around his throat. I snarl again.
"I'm going to fucking kill you!" I scream, for once the words coming from me instead of the monster. The Baron looks back at Erol once more.
"As you can see…" Erol says, lifting a hand in my direction to emphasize his point.
"This one is defective as well. Have them both terminated tonight." Erol nods and the Baron walks away, leaving Erol behind. He sends me a smug look, rubbing in the fact that there are bars between us.
"I can't wait for our date tonight," he wiggles his fingers at me before leaving this section of the prison. I tear out a chuck of the concrete wall before morphing back to normal. I feel drained, and doomed. I get to be killed tonight, by the guy that used to have a crush on me in boot camp! Ugh! Erol made it obvious from the beginning in the Krimzon Guard Training Camp that he found me attractive, but I shunned him, not wanting a relationship, especially with him. Ever since he was promoted quickly, he's had it in for me. He sent my units on the most dangerous missions, into the most infested territories and to the most hazardous zones, just to see me squirm. Unfortunately for him, I actually paid attention in boot camp and survived all the missions. I sit down with my back at the wall and just stare into space. This is just great! I survive through all the hell Erol's put me through, only to die like a defective lab experiment. Heh, well technically I am… I think to myself. My ears twitch again as I hear another voice from the prison.
"Ding, ding! Third floor…body chains, roach food, torture devices," it says, sounding male, but off somehow, "Hey buddy, see any heroes around here? Whoa! What'd they do to you?!" I look through the bars to see an orange weasel wearing goggles and fingerless gloves standing on top of Jak's stomach. The weasel is the one talking. Holy Precursors!
"Jaaak! It's me, Daxter!" it says. How the hell does this thing know Jak?! How did Jak ever make friends with a talking weasel?! Jak glances up at "Daxter" before lying his head back down on the table. I know how he feels, those experiments just drain the energy right out of you.
"Well that's a fine hello! I've been crawling around in this place, risking my tail-literally-to save you!" Daxter complains, "I been lookin for you for two years! Say something! Just this once!" Jak all of a sudden jerks up.
"I'm gonna kill Praxis!" he yells in anger. It's the first time I've heard Jak talk! I thought he was a mute! Daxter shushes him, covering Jak's mouth with his paw.
"Right now we gotta get you outta here," Daxter says, "Just let me figure out how to open the security locks-" Daxter is cut off and thrown from the table as Jak morphs into the very same monster that I do after every experiment. He breaks through the restraints easily, sending them flying. He looks like me when I've changed. Grey skin, silver-grey hair, long claws. I don't get a good look at his face, but I do see small horns in his long hair. Did I ever grow horns? I think to myself, totally not helping the situation. Daxter shies away from this terrifying version of Jak.
"Or, uh, you could do it," He looks terrified, and I feel the same way, but probably for different reasons. I'm just terrified that Jak has finally turned into this monster. I never wanted this terrible curse for him. I thought his body was just absorbing the eco then letting it dissipate, but I guess I was wrong. Jak rolls off the table and approaches Daxter, looking like he's gonna attack him. I jump up and run to the door, but my throat constricts any words I was going to say.
"Jak… Easy now, easy buddy. It's your old pal Daxter! Remember?" Daxter's words seem to reach Jak's reasonable side, the non-monster side. Jak stops himself from goring Daxter and stumbles, morphing back into himself.
"Daxter?" he says in a haze.
"What the HECK was that!?" Daxter yells, "Sheesh! Remind me not to piss you off! Come on tall, dark and gruesome. We're outta here. I, uh, brought you some new threads, put 'em on." Daxter says as he leaps up on Jak's shoulder. Jak walks out of view, probably going to change.
"Come on, Jak, let's get outta here. This place is givin' me the creeps!" I hear Daxter say.
"Hold on a sec, Dax. There's someone I gotta see first," Jak says. This is the most I've heard him say yet! Jak shows up at the bars to our cell wearing a blue shirt with white pants and brown boots. There is a large, silver ring in the middle of his chest, held there by three thick, leather straps. He's also got large, dark blue gloves and a shoulder plate of armor, which Daxter is currently standing on.
"Hey, Jak, who's the incarcerated hottie?" I'm not sure what surprised me more. The fact that Jak had a talking, orange, pet weasel, or that the weasel knew the word "incarcerated". Jak looks at his friend in surprise, probably thinking the same thing.
"Dax, meet Layla, Layla, this is Daxter," Jak introduces us. Daxter looks me up and down, giving me the creeps, and then stands on the barred window of the cell door.
"Well, what's a cutie like you doin' in a dump like this?" He flirts and I raise my eyebrows in surprised amusement.
"Being tortured," I reply tersely and look back at Jak, "Go, get out of here and take the Baron down, I'll be fine." Jak just shakes his head.
"You'll be dead," he replies, "Just hold on a sec while I find a way to open this door."
"Ya know, I didn't plan on bringin' along no chick," Daxter says, "But why don't we try this?" He fiddles around with the wires of the electronic lock, popping the mechanism open.
"How did you do that?" I ask incredulously. Dax just smiles and jumps back on Jak's shoulder.
"I got skills, hot stuff. Come on Jak, let's get outta here." Dax says, looking around for guards.
"Yeah, let's go," Jak agrees and I giggle. He looks at me with an eyebrow raised in question.
"This is the first time I've heard you speak. It's kind of weird." I explain and I see Jak nod. We set off finding an exit through the air vents, accidentally setting off an alarm. But we've got no time for that, we've got to get out. I never realized it before, but for a couple of people who just spent two years in prison, our motor skills work astoundingly well. It's like I just got out of training camp. Maybe it's the dark eco, or maybe it's just muscle memory, though I'm leaning towards the former. I see a couple floating, metallic eggs and pick them up. They might be useful.
On the way, Jak becomes silent and withdrawn again, being very serious as well. He ignores most of my attempts at conversation, Daxter occasionally sending me flirty looks and trying to talk romantically. Seriously, he's a weasel, how would that work out?! After Jak and I skirt around a large crane, thing, I find a storage room. Jackpot, I think to myself, now I can get some real clothes and maybe some armor. I grab a light blue sweater that folds down at the collar to cut across my shoulders, a pair of royal blue pants, with a leather belt, and a pair of sturdy brown boots. I also find a good pair of blue-grey metal shoulder plates, quickly strapping them on, the leather straps crossing in front of my chest. I find a decent pair of thigh guards as well, matching in color and a pair of goggles that I use for a headband to keep my hair out of my eyes. I strap the armor to my belt and my leg so they stay on my thighs instead of flying all over when I run. I grab a bag and fill it with useful things like rags, extra clothes, a map of the prison (after I study it), a pair of gloves, a holographic map of the city, even rations that were just sitting around. I exit the room to receive a wolf's whistle from Dax and a kind look from Jak.
"What, no weapons?" Daxter says after taking in my appearance.
"This is a prison, not an armory," I say as I roll my eyes, "They keep the weapons elsewhere. Let's go. I know a way out." Jak follows me, jumping up some transport crates being held in the air by more cranes. When we reach the platform at the top, there's a ledge that's really high. Jak immediately walks over to the side, crouches down and then jumps with all his strength. He grabs the edge and pulls himself up.
"Wow. Since when can you do that?" I ask, looking up at him. He just grunts, avoiding my question. I sigh and follow his lead, crouching then jumping. I almost reach the top, but I fall backwards, reaching for anything to grab onto. Jak grabs my hand and pulls me up before I can land back on the floor.
"Thanks Jak. That's twice you and Dax have saved my life," I smile, getting a small smirk out of him. We turn the corner to find a Guard running towards us. I quickly vaporize him, giving him a good kick to the face, followed by a punch to his sternum. That felt really good. I think with a smile.
"Ooh, cutie got skills!" Daxter says with a growl.
"Yeah, skills enough to take out KG's and weasels," I say, giving him a wolf's predatory grin. Daxter gulps and Jak chuckles a little.
"I'll have you know, I'm an ottsel!" He says with false bravado. I laugh and continue on with Jak by my side. We jump up and run across a moving platform to the next area. Jak takes out the Guard this time, vaporizing him easily. We come to a gap between floors that's only accessible by swinging on a pole and jumping at the right time.
"I got this one," I say with a smile and quickly jump to the pole, swinging around once and leaping off to nail the landing on the higher platform. Jak follows suit and we continue our escape. We walk down the path and jump to and from another moving platform to reach the next hallway. Jak and I find a couple of crates. I break one open and he does the other. Inside are globs of dark eco that suddenly absorb into our bodies. I shudder.
"I hate that stuff! Yuck!" I say, noticing the two Guards coming straight for us. Jak takes care of the closer one while I take care of the one behind him. We reach a gap that's too large for a normal jump, so Jak and I roll into it, pushing off at the last second to rocket ourselves across. Then we do the same at another pit. We reach a room with grates for floors and the Guards shoot at us through said floor. I just want to point out now, the KG has either gone very slack in their training, or they're desperate for soldiers. I only get grazed in the shoulder by a lucky shot and Jak narrowly avoids one in his head. Other than that, their aim sucks! I reach the dead end before Jak and wind a rag around my bleeding wound. It's minor and will probably heal in the next couple of days. Jak catches up and looks for an exit. I look down to see a very flimsy piece of flooring that I used to come across in my soldiering days. I catch Jaks attention then jump on it with all my force, breaking through to the level below. Jak jumps down next to me and leads the way down the hall. We jump another gap and take out two more guards. I bash through the floor and start sliding down a tunnel into a room filled with water. Jak flies out of the tunnel and lands on top of me, pushing me under the water. I come up hacking, trying to get the water out of my nose and lungs. Jak smirks and I just glare at him.
"Come on, there's probably a door around here somewhere." I look around and notice another egg. So I pick it up and stuff it inside my bag. Jak finds the way out and I join him. We jump up some stacked boxes and out a door. The KG has got to hire a better architect. The door was halfway up a wall and I was lucky I landed on my feet!
"We're free! All thanks to me. Nice to breathe some fresh air, huh?" Dax says, totally hamming it up.
"Who's the one who knew the way out?" I chide.
"Yeah, but I busted you two out!" Daxter retaliates. I have to give up on that argument. Jak walks down the street with me by his side and Dax on his shoulder. I know this section of the city. It's the Slums. Most of the worse-off families live here, and so did I. Though the air still stinks like a yakow's butt, it feels nice to be home. I think about what my family would be doing at this moment. Had my brother joined the Guard like me? Has my mom's stall near the Arena gotten any better business? I sigh and continue to walk through the Slums next to Jak and Daxter. We pass an old man and a child on our way, but the old man catches Jak's arm, stopping us both.
"Hello strangers, my name is Kor," he informs us, "May I help you-" Jak cuts him off, getting into the old man's face.
"You look like a reasonably smart man. I want information," Jak grabs the front of the old man's robes, "Where the hell are we?!" Daxter jumps off Jak's shoulder, landing next to the kid.
"Eh, sorry. He's new to the whole 'conversation' thing," he says, the kid reaching out hesitantly to pet Daxter.
"Jak," I warn in a low tone of voice. Jak lets Kor pull himself away from him.
"Well my angry young friends," Kor says, wiping off the spot where Jak grabbed him with the back of his hand, "You are a guest of his majesty the Baron Praxis, ruler of glorious Haven City." Sarcasm drips off Kor's lips, something I can relate to.
"Oh, so we were just guests in the good Baron's prison?!" I ask angrily, not liking this situation at all. Kor looks at me with sad, ageless eyes.
"Inside a cell or inside the city, walls surround us both," he informs us with a bleak tone, "We are all his prisoners." Here's a man who gets things around here. I think to myself. The child scoots closer to the old man, still looking at Daxter curiously. I feel bad for the child. Having to grow up in the slums with who I assume is his grandfather. His parents must have either died, or maybe they had enough children and shoved him off onto Kor. The child notices me staring and gives me a hesitant smile. I return with a small one of my own. I snap back to reality to hear Kor's worried tone,
"-ove on if I were you!" he ushers the child to get behind him and walk away. I see Krimzon Guards walking down this street, rifles out and looking lethal.
"By order of his Eminence, the Grand Protector of Haven City, Baron Praxis," the lead Guard says. Now that's just a bit overkill, don't you think? "everyone in this section is hereby under arrest for suspicion of hiding Underground fugitives. Surrender and die!" What the fuck?! Since when does the KG make group arrests and executions in the same minute?! What the hell has the Baron done with the Krimzon Guard?! I think as Daxter approaches the lead Guard.
"Excuse me sir, don't you mean 'Surrender OR DIE'?!" he yells.
"Not in this city,"Kor informs us, "Protect us from these Guards and I'll introduce you to someone who can help you two." I look at Jak and raise my eyebrows in question. He nods and we quickly jump into the platoon of Guards, hacking and hitting everything that comes within range.
In the midst of battle I feel a tingling and slightly burning sensation in the pit of my stomach, something I've come to dread. It's the dark eco making itself known and I can't do anything to stop it. If I do stop to calm down I'll be impaled or killed by a KG. I feel myself morph into the dark monster and I see Jak do the same. It takes everything I have to keep the monster from attacking the nearby citizens. As Jak and I attack the Guards with a savage fury, purple electricity flows off of us and attaches itself to the Guards, making one heck of a lightshow. My claws impale several Guards, vaporizing them into oblivion, Jak does the same amount of damage with his. When we run out of Guards to kill the monsters inside us go back to lying dormant again. I stumble a little at the sudden change. Jak just looks angry and slightly in pain.
"That was cool!" Daxter says, making me want to wring his furry little neck, "Do it again!"
"Something's. Happening to me. Something he did," Jak says, looking barely in control of himself, "I can't control it!" I lean against a wall so I can get my balance back. It feels as if every time I change, I become, not only stronger, but also more savage. It scares me that I've become such a monster. I can't control it any better than Jak. It took every ounce of my own willpower to keep the monster inside me from attacking innocent citizens. Jak looks at me with those bottomless indigo eyes and I simply shake my head in shock.
"Very impressive…" Kor says ponderously, "What the both of you did was very brave. This child is important." Kor gestures at the little boy. He hides behind Kor's robes before I can really study him, hiding from me and Jak. I push off the wall and stand next to Jak.
"This kid?" Daxter asks, "He looks kinda scruffy." Daxter messes up the little boy's hair and displaces his cap. A Guard flies over to us in one of the big Hellcat Cruisers and tells us to move along.
"Thank you for your help," Kor says, nodding at both of us, "But I must get this boy to safety." Kor turns to leave and Daxter opens his mouth to say something, probably something stupid, but I shut him up by shoving him behind me with my foot.
"Kor," I say politely, "You said something about introducing us to a friendly face?" Kor looks a little taken aback at my soft words, but he nods, remembering his promise.
"There's an underground group waging war against Baron Praxis," he says the name with disgust, "It's leader, The Shadow, could use fighters like you. Go further into the Slums and find a dead-end alley near the city wall. Ask for Torn. He can help you." Torn?! When did Torn quit?! Or is he a spy? Just what the hell has been going on these last two years?! Kor walks away with the little boy. I look at Jak.
"Well? Ready to become fugitives and rebels?" I ask, maybe a little sarcastically. Jak smirks and nods. "Let's go find a Zoomer. I think I know what alleyway Kor's talkin' about." Jak follows me while I look for an unmanned Zoomer, there are usually a ton just lying around in the streets. I find one of my favorites, the blue and yellow model and I hop on, Jak sitting behind me and Dax on my shoulder.
"Let's ride sweet-cheeks!" he says excitedly. I chuckle and hotwire the vehicle, getting it to start with a puff of smoke and a roar of the engine.
"Hold on tight boys," I say with an evil chuckle and I zoom off into the Slums. Jak's hands tighten around my waist and Daxter whoops in excitement, clinging to my shoulder plate.