The Reason Why
~Chapter One~
Disclamer: I do not own the Jack and Daxter series or anything else. I own nothing.
Erol looked down at the official-looking paper in his hand, his face completely blank. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't be.
"Erol, what's wrong?" A girl with golden hair and the most gentle, green eyes poked her head between him and the paper. Even with her brow scrunched up with worry and her face covered in baking flour, she was still the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"I..." He had to tell her. There was no way around it. One way or another, he had to find the words.
He sat her down on their old, squeaky couch and held both of her hands in his. "There's no easy way to say this..." He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes, rubbing her hand with his thumb. "I've been drafted... Into the Guard."
"W-What? How? Why?" she asked, unable to comprehend what she'd just been told. "I guess they just don't have enough volunteers these days..."
"But... what about all of our plans? Maybe they just sent you that letter by accident..."
Erol looked back at her, the look of pain in his eyes indescribable. He wanted so badly to tell her what she wanted to hear. "They can wait, sweetheart," he said quietly, trying to stay strong for her. "This will only be for a little while. The war will be over soon, and then our lives - and everyone else's - can go back to normal." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her head gently as she started to cry, talking to her soothingly until she was asleep. "Everything will be okay..." he whispered, praying to the Precursors he was right.
In the morning, he awoke to the sound of his door being pounded on. He groaned and rolled out of bed slowly, pulling on a pair of pants. He caught sight of his reflection on his way to the door. His face as he'd always known it looked back at him. There was no trace of a tattoo anywhere on it. That would soon change.
Walking to the door, he wondered if she would still love him after he looked like one of the men that terrified her so much. With a sigh, he pulled open the door before it was broken down and found himself staying into the visor of a Krimzon Guard's helmet. "Can I help you?" There was no way they had come for him already.
"You Erol?" the man asked, his voice sounding computerized, like he was speaking into a voice changer.
"Yes, sir."
"You've got five minutes to say goodbye to this sorry excuse for a home," the guard said, no hint of emotion in his voice.
"Erol?"immediately going to comfort her. "I'm so sorry..." he whispered to her and rubbed her back as she cried. "I know you can take care of yourself until I get back. I know you'll be okay." He was panicking inside, but he had no choice but to hide it. For her.
For their remaining minutes together, he just held her as she cried and his heart threatened to make him do the same. He talked about their plans for when he got back, and the family they were going to have one day. He was in the middle of telling her what their wedding would be like when a guard's voice interrupted him.
"Time's up."
When he didn't walk away with them willingly, one stepped forward and pulled him back.
He fought against them, trying desperately to get back to her. But the more he fought, the tighter the guard held on and the faster to door to the transporter closed. And with the metallic click of the door locking, his entire life changed.