Chapter II: Just Life
LES: Okay, I admit it. This story was majorly inspired by a Disney movie, the first one to actually make me cry since 'The Lion King'. Just one hint. It's a sequel to a Disney movie that, as far as I know, is the only one in which the main character has two living parents.
But, by all means, romance wasn't only blooming for Jak and Keira. But Daxter, of all people, had a girlfriend of his own. It had happened after Jak had defeated Erol. Tess had been turned into an Ottsel by accident, which made their relationship not only possible, but down-right nessassary.
But Tess was currently only interested in Jak and Keira's realtionship, as well as their engagement and upcoming marriage. "I was really surprised when he proposed to her." Tess said off-handedly. "They seem so different."
"Well, you know what they say, baby. 'Oppisites attract'." Daxter said with a laugh. "They are different, no one denies it, but, somehow, they are practically perfect for each other." Daxter paused, and then grinned mischeviously. "You know... I asked them 'The Question'."
"What question?" Tess asked.
"You know... The Question." Daxter put empasis on the word 'the'.
"Oh!" Tess said, understanding what Daxter meant. "You mean 'The Question'?"
"Yep. I asked them, seperately, if they were planning on having any kids." Daxter stated proudly.
"Children? Really? What did they say?" Tess asked.
"Well, I got to Jak first." Daxter said. "I was all like 'Hey, Jak, are you and Keira gonna have kids'?"
"What did he say?" Tess asked excitedly.
"Well... he blushed worse than I have ever seen him blush since Sandover and said 'Maybe one or two in a few years'." Daxter said, over-exagerating Jak's husky voice.
"And did you ask Keira?" Tess asked.
"Sure. What kind of snoop do you take me for to leave the job half finished?" Daxter demanded.
"What did she say?"
"She said 'As many as possible'!" Daxter said, now over-exagerating Keira's voice. And then he sighed.
"I hope that doesn't start an arguement between them." Tess said. "And I definately hope that Keira doesn't start to bug Jak for kids before he's ready to give them. It would be terrible if they split so badly on the kid issue."
"Don't worry. I've already worked out a compromise for them." Daxter said. "Keira said 'as many as possible', but it looks like 'as many as possible' is only going to be 'one or two in a few years'."
Tess couldn't stop a sigh. "I think it's so sweet and romantic!" Daxter couldn't stop a gag that Tess, thankfully, didn't notice. "Just how long have they been in love with each other?"
Daxter laughed. "Since they were pre-teens. Hell, everyone knew they were head-over-heels in love with each other for ages... only they denied it."
"So... where are they now?" Tess said.
"Do you really want to know?" Daxter asked, but didn't give Tess time to answer before he answered her question anyway. "In Jak's room, hopping on the good foot and doing the bad thing." Tess giggled. "I'm serious!" Daxter said. "It's kind of strange knowing that your two best friends are sleeping together, but they are engaged, I guess they can do anything they want."
"You're right about that." Tess said.
"Oh! And, you know what's really strange?" Daxter exclaimed. "For the last few days, Jak's been coming home covered in bruises and in a really foul mood. I wonder what he's been up to..."
"Don't wonder." Tess said without thinking. Turns out, she regreted not thinking before speaking. "That will just lead to strange places."
Daxter and Tess stared at each other for a moment. "Eww!" They both exclaimed at the same time.
Later that day, Jak had gone, grudingly, to meet with Sig. Jak found him in a large, empty room of the Spargain Palace. "So, what torture are you going to put me through today, your Highness?" Jak grinned mockingly at Sig.
Sig, looking every bit a Wasteland King, ignored the young elf's comment, knowing that Jak was just trying to upset him into a rage. Sig pulled out a large katana that he used in the absence of his PeaceMaker. "I thought we'd go over the basics again." Sig said casually.
"The BASICS?!?" Jak erupted. "Again? I KNOW the basics! We've BEEN OVER the basics a million times! You've TATTOOED the basics on the INSIDE of my SKULL! If we have to go over the basics again...!"
"Whoa, calm down." Sig said. "I'm just kidding. How about we test you on how much you've learned?"
"You won't defeat me so easily this time!" Jak hissed, he had been waiting to pay Sig back for beating him the last time they dueled.
Sig sighed. "Don't make me have to kick your ass again."
"I'd like to see you try that again... old man." Jak sneered.
"Don't try to get me like that." Sig said. "Now, arm yourself."
Jak conjured a Light Sword and rushed at Sig in an instant offensive. Sig merely flicked the Light weapon aside and, within seconds, both were locked in a 'back and forth' action. Finally, the two swords locked as they fought for dominance.
"I wanted to talk with you." Sig began while he fought to over-power the short, but powerful elf.
Jak almost laughed. "Is this how you begin all your 'talks'?"
"This is serious." Sig said. "I know that you're Damas' boy."
"Daxter told you?" Jak asked, disengaging the weapon and striking at Sig, only to find that the King managed to block his strike and they locked again in a battle of dominance.
"Yes. I don't know if you're aware of this, but Damas named me the Godfather of his son."
Jak pulled away from Sig instantly, staring at him. "What?"
"Just thought you should know." Sig said, slashing at Jak, who barely managed to block the blow. "Also, about being Damas' boy, it's only a matter of time before the people scream for you to take the Throne of your father..." Sig said during the breaks of the fight.
Then, Jak lost it. He forgot everything that Sig had taught him about proper swordfighting and slipped back into his old 'beserker' style. He slashed haphazardly at Sig and the King was unable to block such an unortodox strike. The Weapon rested a mere centimeter above the skin of Sig's throat. Jak grinned in victory. "You're dead." He said.
Sig grinned back. "So are you." Jak felt something poke his stomach and he looked down. The Katana was about to impale him, the weapon's point resting just below where his breastplate ended. It would still have been a fatal blow if Sig has actually impaled him.
Jak dropped his sword and backed away from Sig and the weapon that came within inches of impaling him. "So, we're both dead... again."
Sig laughed. "See? Once you get emotional enough, you slip back into your old beserker style."
Jak laughed. "So... that's why you told me that you're my... Godfather and that people want me to take my father's throne? Just to get me to react?"
"Actually, no. That's all true." Sig said. "But it did work out well, didn't it?"
"Wait..." Jak fell silent for several seconds. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Wait a second... number one: When is that even slightly not weird. And, number two: Do I look like royalty material to you?"
If Sig would have answered the truth, he would have said 'yes'. But that wasn't the comment that Jak wanted at the moment, not when he had so many other things on his plate. "Don't worry about it, Jak, I figured you wouldn't take the Throne in a million years. Just know this now..." Sig paused, wondering how he should put this to not make Jak lose his head. "How long do you think you can last in this City, being Damas' son, and not take some sort of possition of power?" Jak didn't answer, but the question made him axcious. "Hey, I've got a job for you, to keep your mind off things."
"Now you're talking." Jak said.
"We've discovered some ancient machinery out in the desert." Sig began.
"Precursor?" Jak asked.
"Most likely not." Sig said. "It doesn't read like Precursor stuff. Some people think that it might be ancient Elvin machinery."
"That's rare." Jak said. "We didn't have a lot of our own machinery in pre-Haven time. Most of our stuff came from Precursor technology. So... you want me to drive out and find out what it is? Sig... I may have grown up five-hundred years ago, but I'm not an expert on ancient machinery... expecially not Elvin stuff."
"Well... you may not be... but your fiancee is." Sig said carefully.
Jak stared at Sig. "Wait a second... you want me to drive my financee into the Wasteland, find this machinery, then come back with a full report?" Jak paused. "Is it at least close?"
"Don't get your hopes up. It's at least a day's drive from here, deeper into the Wasteland." Sig said. "Just think of it as... an early honeymoon."
"Yeah, I'm sure dying in the middle of the desert will be a very romantic honeymoon." Jak said sarcastically.
"We won't send you out there unprepared." Sig said. "There will be enough food and water to keep you and Keira going strong for a week. Hell, you could even take Daxter along, if you wish."
"If I took Daxter, that really wouldn't be a good honeymoon, would it?" Jak said obviously.
Sig laughed. "You're right about that one. How about I keep an eye on Dax while you're gone?"
"Be sure to use both eyes." Jak said. "Dax can be a real pain in the ass when he wants to be... trust me on that."
"Oh, and Jak... good luck." Sig said.
"Don't say good luck!" Jak said. "Remember what Damas said? 'I'd say 'good luck', but then luck won't help you'. Don't jinx me, Sig." With that, Jak walked out, leaving Sig alone.
The Wastelander King couldn't explain why... but he couldn't shake the feeling that he just made the worst mistake of his life.
LES: Once again, I warn you, it's going to be a tragity that's not quite as epic as the last two stories.