Author's Note: DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN JAK CHARACTERS OR ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. ALL RIGHTS GO TO NAUGHTY DOG & ANYONE ELSE INCLUDED. So here's the start of the story I guess & the usual 'this is my 1st fan fiction ever so go easy on me' thing.


The Painful Truth

Ch. 1

"Hey, uh, buddy. You okay?"

"Hm? Oh yeah, I'm fine. I'm just...thinking."

"Oh... okay." Jak had been acting like this for a while now. He would just sit there and stare off into space until someone brought him out of it. Someone would ask him what was wrong, and he'd answer with the same blasé answer that he had just given Daxter a few moments ago. Now everyone was becoming suspicious, and wondered if he was even thinking, or if he was just out of it. While most ordinary friends like Torn, Ashelin, Sig and Jinx may have thought it was just the stress of being the hero, his true friends knew it was much more. Keira, Samos, and Daxter all knew how Jak really felt. Especially Dax, who was always by his side.

He'd noticed his friend's personality change a few weeks ago. He was becoming more violent; more aggressive. Even his darker self had begun to change. (I know, stunning isn't it?) He seemed more eager to use his powers and caused more destruction than usual. Under normal circumstances, he would've only transformed if they were being overwhelmed by Krimzon Guards or Metal Heads, but now he hardly gave it a second thought. The most notable difference in Jak took place only a couple of days before. It was when Torn sent them to Dead Town to investigate the reports of Metal Head activity there. It was only meant to be a recon mission, but it ended up being much more than that.

Upon arriving, they hid behind the ruins of what used to be a building and watched as a small group of Metal Heads gathered together. "What do you think they're up to?"

"I don't know Dax, but let's crash this party before it even starts."

"But Jak, this was strictly a recon mission. Torn told us not to attack..." Jak turned and glared at him with a menacing look in his eyes, and Daxter didn't like it; it didn't look like the Jak he knew. "Uh look. I'm up for kicking some Metal Head butt as much as the next guy, but I think maybe we should listen to Torn on this one." Daxter didn't like to agree with the Underground commander, but he did so for two reasons: 1. If he said don't attack then there must've been a very good reason for that. And 2. He was worried about Jak. He didn't seem crazy, but he had a strange look in his eyes. A look that told Dax he was enjoying what he was doing.

"C'mon pal. You're not gonna chicken out on me now are ya?" He held out his arm as an invitation for Daxter to hop on, and for the first time in history he refused.

"You go ahead. I think I'll sit this one out."

"Suit yourself." He shrugged and leapt down into the crowd. Facing them he said, "Hey guys. Did I miss the party?" The largest of them stepped out from the middle of the crowd.

"It's him! The Dark One that killed our master! Get him!" Jak was surprised. This was the only other Metal Head he knew of who could speak English. The other being Kor. Daxter watched as his best friend changed into the 'Dark One' and began violently beating all the Metal Heads. He literally mopped the floor with them, and it wasn't until he started beating them with their own arms and legs that Dax jumped down to go stop him.

"I uh...think you got 'em Jak."

"Did I?" he snarled. He walked over to a rock and dragged a fearful Metal Head out. It was the leader of the pack. "Alright you worthless roach. What's your plan? Why were you and all those others out here?" He began to choke him.

"Ugh... I was sent out to...ug...gather as many as I could and get them...agh...back to the nest to retaliate against the city." Jak released his grip slightly before throwing him into a wall.

"You'd better tell me the whole plan or what happened to them will be the least of your problems." He gestured towards the pile of dead Metal Heads all the while keeping his black glaze fixed on him.

"Those were my only orders. I don't know anything else..."

"AARRRGGHH!" Tired of hearing him talk, he stabbed him with one of his clawed hands, effectively killing him. A few seconds later he stumbled a bit and changed back to normal. Daxter, too afraid to approach him in case he wasn't himself, kept his distance for a minute or two. His feeling of fear left him once he heard his breathing return to normal.

"Ummm...Jak? Is...is that you?" Jak turned, the look in his eyes gone.

"Yes, it's me." And he started towards the city entrance.

"Hey! Wait up!" Daxter caught up with him and hopped up on his shoulder. "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

"I feel fine. Let's just get out of here. It makes me feel...dead inside."

"Heh. You're not the only one." He said looking back at the Metal Heads.


Well here's the 1st chapter let me know what you think.