"Jak my boy, the future awaits!"
Fireworks blasted off in the distance, illuminating the sky and making quiet sizzles and faint pops. Their brightness cast a short shadow behind Jak, silhouetted by bright blues, greens and reds. Captivated by the sparks, Jak breathed and turned to his left, smiling fondly back at the old man, "Thanks, Samos. But like I said, I am DONE adventuring for now! I think I'll take a break from this whole 'saving the world' thing for a while. So, what do you say we start by heading back inside and having a drink?" he cocked his head back towards at the Naughty Ottsel and smirked.
"Jak my boy, I would like nothing better!" Samos grinned broadly and slapped him on the back.
Jak stumbled forward a step from the unexpected force, releasing a small puff of air.
"Whoa there, Chilli-pepper! Don't tell me you've gone so soft on me already that this old windbag can take you down!"
They all laughed in unison.
"Sig, you're lucky I thought you were dead until only a few moments ago, otherwise I'd be kicking your ass!" Jak tauntingly pointed a finger.
"Yeah yeah, I'll believe it when I see it! Now come on!" Sig whacked a hard hand onto Jak's metal shoulder plate, "I could use that drink! Besides, I hear Tess makes a mean ale!"
Sig and Samos nodded in agreement as they walked back towards the entrance of Daxter's new bar.
Speaking of which –
"Dax!" Jak looked back and yelled. His orange friend was still scuffling with the colourful bird. Their fight seemed to stop mid-motion when they heard Jak's sharp bark – Daxter was holding back a feathered fist above him, while Pecker had a knee up into Daxter's gut, and both had their eyes wide open in rage.
Jak shook his head and sighed. "Come on guys, haven't we done enough fighting already?" He crossed his arms and smirked.
Daxter stopped and rolled his eyes, knowing his best friend had a good point. "Yeah, yeah, WHAT ever!" Not wanting to be deemed the loser in this fight, he broke his grip on Pecker and brushed himself off. Acting coolly, he stated, "I guess I can just let by-gones be by-gones, for ol' Jak's sake of course. For now." He narrowed his eyes at the bird.
"OHHH!" Pecker squawked. "Why you – ohhh, you are just lucky that I must go take care of Onin now! If she were not drunker than the Baron on dark eco I would be wiping the floor with you!" He howled.
Electricity practically sparked between their eyes as they stared each other down and low growls erupted from within their throats. Jak just rolled his eyes at their incessant squabbling and sighed.
He uncrossed his arms and turned around to leave the two animals to their thing when he almost smushed his body against a small, but very well-endowed blonde.
"Whoa! Sorry Tess!"
"Oh hey Jak! Have you seen that little rascal of mine?" Tess beamed brightly.
Before Jak could say anything, Tess rushed past him and called out, "Oh, Pooky beaaaar!"
As soon as she spotted him, she gushed excitedly, "Oh! There you are, my little Daxter!"
"Huh?" Daxter broke his fixated gaze on the bird.
Tess leaned seductively against the bar door frame. "Why don't you come back inside, my big, strong, man? I'm dying to hear more about how you bagged that ginormous Metal Head all by your lonesome!" She leaned over a bit and exposed her perky cleavage.
"YOWZA!" Daxter's jaw hit the ground, all quarrels instantly forgotten.
"Hold on Snookums, Daddy's comin'!" Daxter raced to the door, and Pecker sulkily followed behind him.
Jak just shook his head and chuckled. Same old, same old.
But he was glad that even after everything that had happened, the most important things didn't change.
. . . . . . . . . .