I decided I need to commit myself to a fanfic, because I never write them anymore, and this fandom needs a good story that doesn't have a chick with blue hair.
Pretty much J/K, Dax one-liners, and everything you would find in a game but more, because ND would never put this much romance in a video game.
So, anyway, this takes place right after Lost Frontier. Only they never went on that adventure they said they were. They went back to Haven, to, well...take a vacation. But what they got was nothing short of another adventure.
Time paradoxes FTW.
Let's go!
Jak sat up straight in his bed, and hit his head squarely and promptly on the bunk above him.
He cried out in shock, and his hand flew to rub the slowly growing bump. "Dammit..." he mumbled. That was the third time that week he had awoken from a nightmare, only to give himself a concussion in the process. Maybe he should have slept on the top bunk.
He swung his legs off the edge of the bed, being sure to duck as he thrust himself upward and out of the sinking mattress. Here at HQ, his quarters weren't exactly comfortable, but they were better than nothing. Small and quaint, they were for soldiers and commanders and consisted of six bunk beds. He asked Torn to make sure there was a place to sleep as they were flying home.
Upon arriving home, there was a celebration. Jak, Keira, and Daxter had returned from their flight back to Haven City with no complications. They were out near the Brink, looking for a way to help the falling eco stores. It turns out, the Eco Core had been out of balance, and they sought to fix the problem and align the prism that was trapped inside.
Torn had offered Jak the position of general, because of his past efforts. Politely (or however politely Jak could be), he declined. It wasn't his part to play. He needed to be out there in the action, not guiding the newbies going in.
He strode purposefully out the door and into the main HG room. Ashelin was standing there, slightly leaning over the holographic display. Jak raised an eyebrow and checked the time on his communicator. It was only five A.M. What was she doing up this early?
"Ash?" he called out groggily, still a little drowsy from his restless sleep. "What are you doing up?"
She glanced up to him and, as if realized what she was doing, straightened her back and looked to the floor. "Jak...I didn't know you'd be up."
He shrugged and walked down the steps leading to the holographic viewer. Lights flashed about him, and he thought absentmindedly that it was too early for him. He studied the planetary viewer and scrunched his eyes up.
"What's going on?"
Ashelin shrugged as well and folded her arms behind her. She was uncomfortable as anyone would be. Her and Jak had history, however much he'd like to deny it, and however little history that might be. But she was still slightly attached to him.
"Just a little rumble in Haven Forest. I've got some scouts on the job, now. They seem to be doing a good enough job."
"Not as good as I could do," Jak smirked at her. She averted her eyes before she could blush.
"I guess you're right," she laughed. "But it's too late to send you in now."
Jak looked at her seriously, trying to decipher what was wrong. Why was she all blushy and avoiding his eyes today? He and Ashelin were very good friends, and he didn't understand what he did to make her forget that. "What's with you? It can't be one little scout mission keeping you up."
"It's...nothing," she muttered. It sounded like she was convincing herself, and she mentally kicked herself. Of course it was something.
"You should go get some sleep," he advised. She agreed silently. "You need to be rested if you're going to be the governess."
The doors to the elevator opened suddenly, and Daxter rushed in. He bounded over and hopped onto Jak's shoulder, as if it wasn't five in the morning. Ashelin looked relived to not have to be in the same room with Jak all by her lonesome.
"Jak!" Daxter shrieked. Jak rubbed his temple, trying to rid an oncoming headache. "Listen, this is important. You see, I was watching the news down at the Naughty Ottsel, and man, you are not going to believe this!"
Jak froze. Daxter, watching the news? This must be good.
"What, Dax?" Jak asked.
Daxter grinned. "They're talking about Mar again. The whole lineage thing. I wasn't really watching, but they said your name. Basically, there's this religious group who thinks you still have to do a bunch of stuff that has to do with your destiny. But I don't know if-"
"Wait up," Jak said quickly, stopping Daxter in his tracks. "You mean there's a group of people who think I have a destiny to fulfill? Are they insane? I've saved the world. Four times. Isn't that enough?"
"Apparently not," Daxter concluded. "Anyway, I kept watching, and they had a few lines about Mar. Dude, have you ever drawn the connections between you two?"
Jak thought a bit. He knew he was related to Mar, he just didn't know how. The greatest warrior who ever lived must have passed down some good traits to him, or he wouldn't have gotten this far. But honestly, he never saw any direct parallels.
Daxter sighed. "So unobservant. This group thinks that you're him. They think you have to go back in time to build Haven city. Isn't that wild?"
Jak laughed bitterly. "Because that's likely. Why would I ever want to change Sandover?"
"I dunno, dude. But they had some pretty good evidence to back it all up. You've never considered it? Not even once?"
Jak shook his head. The idea of going back to change his childhood into this living Hell was something he had never considered. He often found himself getting angry at Mar for changing all of his memories into dark, disturbing ones. Jak had always had a little rivalry with his ancestor.
"It honestly sounds like a conspiracy theory," Ashelin said, waving the subject off. "I wouldn't worry about it, Jak. Some people can be totally crazy these days."
They were right, and Jak knew it. He just didn't want to say anything conclusively, with the fear of being proven wrong. "I'm going to go take a trip down to the Naughty Ottsel. Will you be okay here, Ash?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I'll manage. Just be on call for a mission."
He did a half solute with his two fingers and nodded back. "Will do, ma'am."
As they were on the elevator, Daxter stared at Jak in surprise. Jak, turning away from his best friend uncomfortably, began to get annoyed at his gaping expression. "What?"
"Ash?" Daxter said bluntly. "Are you kidding me? Who calls her Ash? Even Torn calls her by her real name!"
"She's my friend, Dax!" Jak said defensively. "I can call her whatever I want."
Daxter rolled his eyes and folded his furry arms. "And it has nothing to do with the little fact that you two totally made out."
Jak started to blush, and hopped on his JET board when he got out of the elevator. "It wasn't making out."
"Then what was it? A mouth inspection?"
Jak blushed even more, but he hid it well as he pulled his scarf up to his face. He zoomed through the slum area, taking in note that the rebuilding was going quite well. Maybe someday they'd have this place looking shinier than New Town. "It was just a kiss. It didn't mean anything."
"It didn't mean anything. You have to be kidding. Precursors, she's hot, I don't blame you. And there is the whole issue with Keira. But you have to admit, you liked her."
Jak shook his head. "A little, I guess, but not as much as...her. Anyways, what's with all the romance talk? You know I hate mush."
"No, I hate mush. You're all for it. I'm just owning you at this conversation."
Jak scowled, annoyed, and stayed quiet the rest of the way.
I tried to be longer than I usually am. It's around...1,400 words. Better than normal.
So, what do you think of my plot building? Nightmares, romantic conflict...
And I brought the Bromance back. ;D
Didn't you miss it?
-Hero
