Disclaimer: I do not own Jak and Daxter or related characters, or the world of Jak and Daxter. I am though, using it for entertainment purposes. I do, however own my original characters both described here and it later chapters

Enjoy.

XxX

Chapter 1- The Corruption.

A day; the most simplistic of ways it could be described for it was not bright, nor extravagant. In-fact, it was dark, smog filled and a dampness hung in the air, weighing it all down. The smell of pollution was heavy in every corner of the reflective city. Everything industrial; paved streets and courtyards, scrap metal heaps for buildings, unnerving and insanity inducing lighting and not a smidgen of greenery in sight unless you were somehow ambitious enough to travel to the relatively small agricultural section. Haven City was its name. Ironic really for it certainly was no haven, except in the eyes of one individual. The man who sat on his royal ass all day, looking down upon the peasants below his palace like a little boy looks down upon an ant farm. Pathetic, really. All of this, and more running through the mind of a figure sitting atop a building in the water slums; an area of rickety and creaking boards for walkways and homes held up by sticks over a large flooded area. It was a true piece of junk in the armpit of the city.

The figure stood and shook his head, 'tsking' almost mockingly. A moist breeze blew by, picking up the man's long, green trench coat and flicking it lightly behind him. He tapped his large, brown, steel-toed boot slightly impatiently on the tin roof he stood upon before shoving his brown, gauntlet clad hands into the pockets of his coat and stepping off the edge of the building. He landed nonchalantly on the boards below.

"Enough of this…" He spoke to himself, "Pondering is always depressing." His stomach gave a growl, "And I'm hungry… hmm, let's see if I can score a little something in the Bazaar."

He turned on his heel to the direction back to the concrete jungle and began a brisk walk, a creak in the boards with each step he took in his heavy boots. It was rhythmic to him and so he began to whistle a tune as he went. He tried not to let anything bother him in this state. He was most often successful; it came with much practice. He passed a few Krimzon guards beating a young man trying to defend his child. The man in the green trench coat had taken note over the past little while, the guards had been 'confiscating' children for some strange reason. While he felt some remorse for not helping the man, he knew he had to lay low, in Haven, it was often every man for himself. He kept his pace and his tune and did nothing but move on. Nothing was surprising anymore. Things used to be surprising though, almost terrifyingly so. He had the scars to prove it, among other things. He looked down at his right arm and lifted his sleeve to reveal the brassy, metallic bracelet welded to his arm. From it strung blue markings in codes he couldn't decipher stringing their way up to his shoulder. The markings on the artifact now a part of him, still glowing that blue light, just as it did on that day.

XXxFlashbackxXx

Two years ago:

There he was no more than twenty years of age, strolling the streets of Haven City. It wasn't as terrible as it was now but it wasn't much better either. He was content, feeling as foolish then as he was now, out for the fun of it all and that's all that it should have been. He was also a collector; a collector of artifacts; things he shouldn't have and he knew then that if he were caught with even one of the pieces he claimed ownership to, the Baron would have him slaughtered, burned and his ashes buried at opposite ends of the earth. But that was all part of the excitement, he also just found it amusing how he had this odd knack for seeking them out.

It wasn't much longer into his stroll that something caught his eyes, glinting ever so lightly under the waters in the southern port. He raised his eyebrow and stepped over, closer to the edge of the waters to further inspect the object. He crouched and squinted, leaning in ever so slightly and he soon noticed that it not only had a metallic sheen, it was glowing ever so slightly in a soft tone of blue. A sly smile spread across his face and his green eyes glinted with a little mischief. He stood up and took a few steps back, after looking around quickly and listening for any patrols in the area he stripped himself of his trench coat and gauntlets, setting them down beside the edge of the waters. He took one more final look around to make certain no one was there, and then, he dove straight in.

He didn't have to swim very far before he was able to grab it and dart back to the surface. He quickly threw his treasure up onto his rumpled coat and then pulled himself up. He shook his body, very similarly to how a dog would; needless to say, it did nothing for the fact his reddish-brown dreadlocks were going to be wet the rest of the night. Still, he smiled happily, a sense of accomplishment welling inside of him and pride for once again, finding something new. He bundled up his findings in his coat, threw his gauntlets back on and began a quick and careful pace back to his little coop in the industrial section.

His 'home' as he'd put it, was made up of a small, abandoned apartment in an alley in the industrial section. It was hidden from the public, and you really had to be looking for it to find it. He didn't have a job and therefore had no money, so this was perfect, no rent… also no food but everything has it's ups and downs. He entered his hideout and sat down comfortably on his dust covered, beat up sofa that he conveniently found in the old building. He unraveled his coat and pulled out the glowing artifact. It really was mesmeric, nothing like he'd ever found before. He held it up to his eyes.

"It looks like, an arm-band or a bracelet… or something of those lines. Wonder who might have worn it, or if it's ever been worn." He muttered as he inspected it, "I wonder if it actually does anything."

He found a small button and pressed it, the artifact opened up fully. He was rather excited by this as he now knew how it worked. He grinned and looked it over with a little curiosity and brought it to his wrist. It looked like it would fit.

"Well, let's give it a go." He chuckled.

He placed his wrist in the artifact and the closed it. It clicked into place and it fit snugly, but perfectly.

"Wow… This is, really kind of neat." He gasped slightly, "Wait… what's it doing?"

Suddenly, the markings on the artifact began to glow far more brightly. He had to shield his eyes as the light became more intense. He decided this was enough and attempted to find the button to remove it, but to his dismay, it had disappeared along with the hinges and the opening. He began to struggle, pulling at it and trying to yank it down over his hand, but it wouldn't budge.

"W-What's happening?" He shouted in panic. It was then, the metal against his skin began to burn, and he screamed.

It burned, horribly. So much so that he could smell the flesh as it melted and the metal bonded itself to him. He fell to the floor, writhing in agony, still screaming at the top of his lungs that he did not expect what was to come next. From the burning artifact sprung symbols in codes, flying up his arm and branding themselves into his flesh adding greatly to the pain he already felt. At this point, he stopped screaming. He was in shock, it was all so overwhelming and he just couldn't handle it.

"No more… make it- make it stop…" He managed to whimper just before his vision blurred and everything faded to black.

When he awoke, he had to run. Someone had reported the screaming from earlier and the Guard found him. All of the artifacts he'd ever found were taken, except for the one… the one bound to him against his will. They were still looking for him.

XXxEnd FlashbackxXx

The man walked on in a trance. His green eyes seemingly fixated on his feet as he walked, it wasn't until he bumped into a random citizen that he snapped out of it. He stopped momentarily and put a hand to his forehead. He sneered and let out a light growl as the citizen moved on without even offering an apology. He really hated it when he found himself deep in thought like this. If it were left up to him, he wouldn't think at all.

"God, Dammit…" He growled again, "Was I even watching where I was going?" He looked up and around himself, tired, frustrated and slow in his movements. He recognized the area as his destination.

"At least something good came out of it. I don't remember the long, boring walk." He mused with a slight smirk on his face, "Never is much to see in this crap-hole these days."

He walked on, his stomach rumbled and he remembered what it was he was here for. He walked up to one of the many fruit and vegetable stands in the section of the city and leaned nonchalantly against the side of one. He watched carefully, and stood still so as to not attract much attention, especially from the guard. The stand owner, a short, pudgy man with a moustache turned to help a customer and that's when he made his move. Silently and swiftly, he swiped two apples and one red bell pepper from the stand, hid them in his coat and walked on. It was always this easy, no one ever noticed and he doubted anyone cared. Once he was far enough away from the stand, he pulled out the red bell pepper and bit into it. It was like heaven. He never did understand how such a hole of a city could have such sweet fruits and vegetables. It may very well have been the only highlight of the city. He chuckled at the thought and took another bite as he searched for a place to sit.

He moved at his same old pace as always through the many corners of the Bazaar until he found a single stand. It was a small wooden stand with only a few stools for seating and a simple and tacky neon sign above it. He grinned, his lips beginning to turn a red colour from the pepper he was still munching on. He approached it slowly and quietly as if he was sneaking up on someone. He smoothly swiveled his body around the wooden stool and lowered himself to sit, the stool creaked slightly and he flinched and froze.

"What? Who's there?" A deep and slightly clumsy sounding voice called from just below the counter.

The being whose voice had sounded popped up from whatever he was doing below the counter. All that was seen first was the back of a massive reddish-purple head, then he turned and one could see large eyes and a pair of glasses set on the tip of his nose. The lurker smiled broadly at the sight of the man sitting before him and he gasped loudly.

"Johan!" He shouted happily, "Where have you been, I haven not seen you in weeks! Brutter missed you!"

"I've been around," Johan laughed taking another bite out of his pepper.

"Where did you find that. Oh, has Johan been stealing from the stands again? I told you, you come here! Brutter feed you."

"Now, now, Brutter, you know my feelings on that matter. You need to conserve as much money as you can for your cause. You can't be feeding low lives like me. Besides that… where do you think I get any of my fun?"

"Brutter tells you that is not how he sees it. You befriend Brutter, you not judge lurker brothers by outside looks. You good man. You need not be getting cheap thrills from low life crime."

"That's not how I've been feeling lately, Brutter."

Brutter's normally joyous expression faded to that of concern for his yearlong friend. He raised one furry eyebrow before grabbing a pint glass and filling it with some strong brew and placed it in front of Johan. Johan looked at the pint and then back at Brutter's face and raised his own eyebrow.

"Can not put back into barrel. Better drink up now." Brutter grinned.

Johan relaxed his face and sighed before letting a small smile grow on his face. He carefully reached over and took the pint by the handle and took a quick drink from it.

"Thanks, Brutter…"

"Is not a problem. Does Johan wish to talk about problems?"
"Nah, I don't want to bring you down too, my friend." Johan replied before taking another drink.

"Brutter will not push. But, he will say that if Johan wishes to talk, Brutter will listen."

"Thanks again." Johan smiled once more before downing the rest of the brew.

He was beginning to feel a little better, maybe it was the beer lifting his spirits by deluding his perception of the world, or maybe it was that fact that he was able to sit around, relax and talk to a good friend. Brutter really was a good guy; it really was such a shame that he was put through so much hell. He worked so hard to save his brethren from falling into the pain of slavery. If there was anything Johan actually had the motivation and the mind to do, it was to help him out in whatever small ways he could. He leaned back a moment and thought through what had just run through his head. Perhaps he wasn't as bad as he was beginning to think he was a little while ago. He smiled again, more broadly this time. He was only dragged out of his thoughts when he heard Brutter scramble, peaking his head up from under the counter only to whisper to him.

"Johan… run!" Was all that he whispered. Johan raised a brow and turned his head slightly only to see a large patrol of Krimzon guards heading his way being lead by their ruthless commander. Johan recognized those eyes amber eyes immediately. He turned away, narrowing his own green ones, complimenting the sneer of absolute hatred on his face.

"Stay back. I can handle it from here on. Stand by in case he makes a move." The commander instructed. "Oh Johan, don't pretend to be someone else. We know it's you; I know it's you."

Johan turned around on the stool and put his arms in the air in a mocking, welcoming manner, "Ah, Commander Errol. What a surprise! Might I say, it's not a pleasant one, nor am I happy to see you and I'm none too keen on welcoming you here."

The Commander snorted, "It's been quite long enough that you've evaded us, you egomaniacal prick!"

"Wow, somehow I feel as though I'm being scolded by my wife. And I've not been, nor am I currently married. And if I might add, it takes an egomaniacal prick to know an egomaniacal prick so…"

"I've not the patience for your childish games, freak."

"I'm not playing games commander, I mean every word of it."

Errol's face grew red with fury and he grabbed his gun from its holster. He held it coolly in front of himself, taking dead aim at Johan's head. A wide, vain grin spread across the commander's face as Johan's expression faded into seriousness.

"You're caught, Johan. You're going to come with us. My men here are armed to the teeth. If you so much as lift a finger, they'll pump you full of lead in an instant. Give up." The Commander chuckled smugly.

"Armed to the teeth, huh?" Johan stood up and took two steps forward and the guards raised and cocked their weapons.

"That's right. You're coming with us this time, blue eco freak." The commander growled.

"Oh, you said it." Johan suddenly smiled and pointed at Errol. The Commander's expression faded very quickly.

"Said what?!" The Commander demanded.

"The name…" Johan replied, grin still plastered to his face.

Johan took one more step forward and Errol fired but the bullet hit the wall. In an instant, Johan shot from his position to a new one behind the commander leaving only a blue streak in his wake. He quickly turned and roundhoused the baffled commander in the side of the head, effectively knocking him unconscious. It was then the mayhem began. The guards began their firing, trying in vain to even make a scratch on the eco freak. Johan dodged every shot they had, weaving his way through the guards and taking them out one by one.

"You would think they would have greater reinforcements for something as serious as they make this out to be." Johan mused as he dodged another shot and brought his foot down upon the head of the next guard. He finally made it through the mess of goons Errol had brought with pride evident in his face, that is until he saw the other reinforcements.

"Oh, shit…"

"Fire!" A Guard shouted.

A new rain of bullets fell from the sky itself. At least twenty KG cruisers and forty more guards were set up in the second section. Fire flew about around him and he was scrambling to dodge even with his blue eco abilities.

"What's wrong with them?" Johan spoke aloud to himself, "Don't they see there are citizens in this area? Didn't they at least try to clear the vicinity?"

It was then, in the midst of his dodging he saw it. Sprays of blood littering the ground and a child fall. The mother screamed and ran to her child, but it was useless, the child was dead… but the bullets kept falling. The Father grabbed the frantic mother and tried to drag her from the chaos…but the bullets kept firing! The child still lay there, his blood flowing out over the filthy ground… And the bullets just kept on fucking firing!

Johan stopped, dazed, confused and enraged. A Bullet flew by and grazed the side of his face, drawing blood, he snapped. His eyes narrowed, and those orbs quickly transformed from green to an intensely glowing blue. He leaped into the air at such a speed he was nearly invisible. When he touched the ground next, he landed feet first with a massive amount of force on top of the helmet of an unlucky guard. He crushed him, shattering every bone and flattening him to a mere bloody lump of flesh on the ground. The next guard he managed to wrap his hands around had his brains punched out through the back of his head. The blood sprayed out like a fountain, soaking the first line of guards and making them step back in a sudden fear.

"What kind of creatures are you?" Johan demanded as he stepped forward.

He raised his right arm, glaring intensely with those bright eyes. The energy levels in the vicinity began to skyrocket evident by the malfunctioning of the KG cruisers, which came crashing down, exploding on contact with the ground. The silence of rage overwhelmed him. He heard nothing, he felt nothing, he only saw; and he watched the remaining guards drop their weapons and begin to run, but not fast enough. He raised his hand higher, reaching for the very sky itself. Electricity crackled in the air, He shouted and plunged his right hand into the ground; great blue bolts of electricity followed. They struck the guards and vaporized them, they struck the ground and crystallized it, and the heat was enough to make most of the people in the Bazaar run for their dear lives. Johan released a great roar in his rage. This finalized his outburst and with that, it all ended, and he hit the ground.

When he finally opened his eyes, the dust was still settling and people were still screaming. He sat up and blinked a few times, placing a hand on his head to quell his ripping headache.

"God… what happened…" He asked himself aloud, scrunching up his face in pain. He blinked once more and caught a glimpse of something that made him jump. He opened his eyes fully and found them growing wider by the moment.

Blood decorated the walls and the floor of the bazaar. Some armor left over from the guards was scattered in pieces, and only two of the bloodied bodies remained, the ones he killed first. His mouth dropped open, he tried to suck in the air, but he'd forgotten how. He was choking on his own breath. He couldn't breathe, he just couldn't. Had he done this? How could he have done this? He'd had outbursts before, but this, this was slaughter. He was finally able to suck in a breath and turned to his side, supporting himself with his left hand. He panted, heavily.

"I swore. Kill only in necessity; in the event that your life, or the life of family is in danger." He whispered to himself, "Was I defending myself or…"

Suddenly, something caught him out of the corner of his eye, stopping his muttering. A small figure in the dust, lying in a pool of it's own blood. The child he was too late to save. He dragged himself over to the fallen figure and looked upon it. The small boy, no more than maybe five, lay still, eyes still wide open, as if in shock. Too young to realize what had happened to him, and what was happening around him; too unfortunate to have lived in such a rotten place. Johan placed his fingers and thumb over the child's face and closed his eyes.

"They can't hurt you anymore now." He whispered, "I know what I've done."

Johan stood up and brushed himself off. He looked up at the palace towering above him and wondered if the Baron was looking down at him at the same time. He gave it a fierce glare and then walked off. There was no rhythm to his step and no tune to follow him this time, only thoughts.

XxX

A/N: Kind of a boring chapter. The Idea of it was to get you started on the introduction to one of the main characters here. That's right, one. There will be more! Anyhow, ignore the angst in the first chapter, which was to get it out of the way. For the most part, I want this to remain slightly humorous. Anyhow, critique is welcome and reviews are love.