Naruto jerked away as someone knocked on the door. The blond yawned and rubbed his eyes sleepily as he walked to the door. He opened it and blinked in confusion at seeing three Wastelanders waiting on the other side.
"Naruto?" One asked.
"Yeah, what's going on?" The fox teen asked, his fox tail flicking out nervously.
"Jak and Daxter are in Spargus's Hospital. They're recovering quickly, but they-"
"Take me to them, now." The two Wastelanders nodded and got on their Leaper Lizards, offering the third to Naruto.
"And I said 'No way! We are not going back!' and what does Jak do? Takes us back! First time feeling chills like that with fur on ya!" Daxter said as they approached the ocean. Naruto smiled at the two. Jak and Daxter recovered quite fast, but he could still see the sore-looking wounds under Daxter's fur and the bandages on Jak.
"Isn't it time for you ankle-bitters' naps?" Kleiver chuckled as they walked past. Naruto mentally groaned as Jak started walking towards him. Couldn't the green-blond take it easy for one day? Daxter jumped off of Naruto's shoulder and crossed his arms, mirroring Jak.
"Yeah. Whatever." Kleiver sneered at the animal before giving the trio a cocky grin and pointing at the gun turret behind him.
"That used to be the only thing that stood between us and the desert's cruel kiss. I'm the top puppy on that baby. Wanna try to beat me score?"
"Oh, don't worry, Jak 'beats' things all the time, eh Jak?" Daxter teased, only to have Jak smack him on the back of the head. The ottsel glared at him and yelled at him as he climbed the ladder up to the turret.
"Without 'em around you'd die out here Foxy." Kleiver said as he looked down at Naruto. The teen's tail flicked and fluffed out.
"What does that mean?"
"It means what it means. If it wasn't for Blondie here ya be raped and dead in an alley." Naruto's eyes flashed a dangerous red, his teeth barring. How dare Kleiver call him that!
"Bullshit! I can fight on my own and I'd make twice the Wastelander you are!"
"Wanna make that a bet?"
"What's going on?" Jak asked as he approached them, a protective gleam in his cold eyes.
"Nothing, just telling Foxy how it is." Kleiver said with a chuckle as he turned fully to Jak and Daxter, not noticing how Naruto's body was trembling. "You nippers walloped me score. Fine. The top puppy needs to be snipped sometime." He continued, not seeming too pleased at the two. "Law of the land says the top gunner holds a special trophy in honor of their skill." Although Daxter's ears perked up his blue eyes were trained on Naruto. "This crystal's yours now, but I'll be getting it back soon enough." Kleiver said and turned to Naruto after tossing the Light Crystal to Jak.
"Remember me words."
"Naruto?" Jak asked as he went up to the blond. Naruto's fox ears twitched but he refused to look at the once hero.
"Naru? What did he say?" Daxter asked as he hopped onto the fox teen's shoulder.
"Nothing, let's go…" Both Daxter and Jak shared a look, disbelieving what their blond friend just said.
Naruto's eyes flashed to everyone in the arena. Jak had clearly gotten a Vulcan Furry Mod with the sound filling the stadium and blue shells going everywhere. The fox teen's ear twitched, rotating behind him slightly.
"Oh! This will be good! Down to Sig and the new guy!"
Sig?
Naruto's eyes flashed back down to the lava filled arena to see Sig himself aiming to kill Jak. "No! Sig don't!" There was no way Sig could have heard him but after a tense moment the Wastelander threw down his gun. And, the entire arena was in an uproar. People screamed started to throw things.
The fox teen felt his fight-or-flight reflex get triggered and immediately left the arena. This was bad! What was Damas going to do? Wasn't the law that only one could live? What was going to happen? He needed to talk to Arit and Ine, now.
"Well, the good news is that Sig and Jak won't be thrown into the Wasteland." Arit said as he leaned against Dune Hopper. Naruto looked down at the sun burnt Wastelander, frowning.
"What's the bad news?"
"Damas is pissed and sent them into a Metal Head Nest." Arit continued as if it was nothing. Naruto groaned and banged his head on Dune Hopper's controls. This was just great. Jak and Daxter could be dead and he would have no idea. "Chin up Naruto. They took Gila Stomper. That car is a tank and has automatic, heat seeking machine guns. Damas may be pissed because of the arena incident but he values Sig and Jak. They're some of the best men he's got."
"What about Daxter?" Arit chuckled.
"That little fellow's going to be okay. He's kind of a packaged deal with Jak." Arit said, laughing more at Naruto's pout. They both looked up as the gate to Spargus opened wide and the Gila Stomper rolled in. Jak parked the massive car next to Dune Hopper, allowing Sig to step out.
"I'm going to report back to Damas, keep your heads down cherries." He said then looked at Naruto. "Didn't know you were here too chili pepper." The fox teen grinned down at Sig.
"Yeah, didn't know you were here either. It's nice to see you again."
"Same here. I better get going now before Damas thinks we're dead. See ya around chili peppers!" Sig called as he entered Spargus. Naruto glanced at Jak as he and Daxter climbed into Dune Hopper with him.
"Naruto," Arit said, regaining the blond's attention. "The temple is to the far southeast. Be careful." He said, offering Naruto a Scatter Gun Mod.
"Thanks." Naruto said, taking it then turned to Jak and Daxter, lowering his goggles and pulling up his orange bandana. "I'll drive." Jak grinned and copied him.
"Alright!" Daxter yelled, sliding his own goggles down. Arit watched as the Dune Hopper sped out of Spargus City before going back inside. Any longer outside and his pinkened flesh would go back to painful red.
Naruto had to admit there was something trilling about jumping large gaps between islands and almost dying. It was pure adrenaline. But even more exciting than that was standing in front of the massive Precursor doors and watching them slid open.
The trio walked up to the glowing eye that was watching them, but as soon as they got too close the eye's pupil widened and spikes came up, blocking their path. Naruto frowned at it, not noticing Jak walk away with Daxter on his shoulder. Once they were far enough away the pupil returned to normal and the spikes went down.
The fox teen took a few steps back, looking up at the eye. Sure enough it was looking at him. "Come on Naruto!" Daxter called. The blond looked up to see that Jak had already started to climb the temple but was waiting for him at the next platform.
"Coming!" Naruto yelled as he raced to catch up with them, feeling the eye's gaze on his back.
"Nice." Naruto said as the got to the top of the temple and found a Precursor Glider. He knelt down to inspect it as Jak looked out over the Wasteland. "Seem said they lost an expedition of monks on the volcano. I bet they built these gliders to reach the top." Jak said, now looking it over as well.
Naruto looked out over the Wasteland towards the volcano as Daxter spoke, "Yeah 'lost' being the operative word." The ottsel growled as he slid off Jak's shoulder. "If they vanished, don't ya think that was sign? Hello!" Daxter continued tapping his head.
"Yeah but you've got me." Jak said cockily. Naruto stood up and walked next to them.
"There's accelerator rings scattered throughout the sky. We could use those to reach the volcano." The fox teen said.
"Oh no!" Daxter screamed. "See any feathers here? Looks like fur to me! No feathers, no flya-da-Ottsel! There's NO WAY you're gonna get me on some Precursor monk crap! Absolutely zippo chance!" Daxter yelled, turning his back to the two. "Forget it! Finito! Fat chance!" Jak and Naruto shared a look and a grin. "Not gonna happen! Nope! Nu uh! Never!" Jak slowly reached for Daxter's turned back.
"JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAK! NARUTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO O!" Daxter screamed as he clung to Naruto's shoulder as they glided off the top of the temple.
Naruto's blue eyes widened as the glider went and crashed in the beams. He had let go a second early and landed cat-like on the ground. Jak hung from a beam and kicked his legs till he was spinning on it and let go, grabbing the one below it then landed on the ground next to Naruto. Jak held out his arms in a 'what are you going to do about it?' pose as he looked at the ruined glider.
"Well, now we can't go back that way." Naruto stated dryly. Jak smirked then looked out onto the rocky path.
"Then let's go check it out."
"Right behind ya!" Daxter yelled causing both of them to look up. Daxter was looking down at them with a plea to help him in his blue eyes. "Far behind ya…" Naruto held out his arms.
"Let go!" The fox teen called. Daxter gave him a 'are you crazy?!' look before releasing his grip. He landed with an 'opfh!' in Naruto's arms.
"Thanks partner." Daxter said, climbing to the blond's shoulder. Jak flipped his gun mod to the Beam Reflexor and Naruto pulled out his new Scatter Gun. The trio leaped and fired their way past a large group of scorpion Metal Heads. They paused at seeing a Leaper Lizard, saddled and everything at the top of the climb.
"Hey, a Lizard!" Naruto said as he approached it. The beast sniffed his hand but as soon as the blond went to grab its reins the Leaper Lizard let out a startled sound and leaped backwards, running away. Jak laughed as Naruto watched it run away in disbelief.
"It could come in handy! Let's catch it!" Daxter said pointing after the Leaper. Before Jak could point out the bad idea of chasing after it in an active volcano the two were already sprinting after the reptile, skillfully jumping off falling rocks and firing at Metal Heads that got in their path.
"Wait up!" Jak yelled, taking off after his two best friends. When he did catch up them he blinked as Naruto grinned, slowly creeping up on the grazing lizard. A matching grin was on Daxter's face as they lunged at the Leaper Lizard. It let out a squawk and ran right for Jak, who easily grabbed the reins. "Are you guys done?" He asked with a laugh as he climbed on.
"Oh hush! We almost had him." Naruto said as he went up to Jak, allowing Daxter to jump onto Jak's shoulder. "I'll follow on foot." Jak frowned, as did Daxter.
"You sure?"
"Sure as sugar! Now get going! Just wait for me!" The once hero nodded and took off on the Lizard, leaving Naruto. The fox teen frowned once Jak was out of sight and looked around. It felt like someone was watching me…
He shrugged it off and ran after the ottsel and elf, easily taking the jumps but not questioning why he could. Half way through he lost his footing on one of the jumps, having misjudged it. Naruto let out a yell as he fell forward, only to be jerked back.
"Got cha!" A female voice exclaimed. Naruto wheeled around, only to blink as he saw a blond cat-like tail disappear into the lava.
"Naruto?" Jak yelled.
"I'm fine!" He yelled back then finished making the last few jumps towards his friends. Once reunited they continued on, only to come to a dead end, causing Daxter to groan.
"Wait here, I'll be back." He said dryly, climbing up a tree then grabbing the netting near it. Jak grinned and turned to Naruto, frowning slightly at the far off gaze in those blue eyes.
"What happened back there?" Jak asked, jarring Naruto out of his own mind.
"I missed a jump and would have died, but someone saved me…"
"Who?" Naruto shook his head.
"I don't know…all I saw was a blond cat-like tail go into the lava."
"Into the lava?" Jak asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, weird ri-" Naruto was cut short as a massive rock fell onto the little island of land, Daxter running down it towards them. He leapt onto Jak's shoulder, glaring at them.
"You two can thank me later." He growl, the fur on his tail a little burnt. The trio continued on through the volcano, easily taking down Metal Heads as they went. Until, that is, they got to a steam vent without a rock to cover it with. Naruto looked at the metal pipe then to Daxter while Jak looked at the rock on a high cliff above them.
"Do I have to do everything?" The ottsel groaned as he jumped down then crawled into the pipe, his claws scratching at the inside as he climbed upward. Naruto chuckled slightly and looked at Jak. The green-blond shook his head, amused greatly by their ottsel friend.
Jak watched Naruto as he leaned against a wooden beam, his blue eyes closed. There had been so much going on they hadn't been able to spend a whole lot of time together and after what happened when they defeated Kor… "Hey Na-" Naruto jumped violent as the rock came crashing down next to them.
"Miss me?" Daxter asked, climbing up Naruto to stand on his shoulder as Jak pushed the rock over the vent. The trio pushed onward until black and dark tubing started to appear. A cold shiver went down Naruto's spine as he looked at them, then to the massive ship thing across a river of lava.
"Let's aim this right." Jak said then easily made the jump, followed by Naruto. They climbed the ladder but what was at the top almost made Naruto violently ill. An elf was clinging to a dark idol with a look of horror on his dried out, hollowed face. Daxter pointed his thumb at the poor elf as Jak helped Naruto steady himself.
"Looks like it didn't agree with him." He joked, earning a dark look from Naruto as he and Jak approached the ottsel.
"Don't touch it, Daxter." Jak said when the ottsel tried to get it from the elf's hands. "Who knows what more Dark Eco will do to you." Jak said, walking closer to get it.
"Look at me." Daxter said, motioning to himself. "I'm short, I'm hairy, and I itch in strange places. I couldn't do worse." Naruto chuckled slight causing Daxter to grin. "Relax. I know what I'm doing." The ottsel went to get the idol again and groaned. "Ooooh yuck! Cold, clammy dead hands… Oh I can't look…" He said, turning his head away as he started to yank at the Dark Eco idol.
Naruto gasped as Daxter fell onto his back, the dead fingers snapping easily and the idol flying in the air, aimed straight for Daxter's belly. "DAXTER!" Jak yelled, leaping forward and grabbing the idol. The idol turned a violent purple-red and Jak disappeared, even from Naruto's eyes.
"Jak?" Naruto cried.
"Where are ya, buddy?" Daxter asked as he stood in a panic. There was a shattering sound and Jak reappeared, the idol turning to dust in his hands.
"It's a dark power…" Jak said breathless, staring at his hands. "Some kind of invisibility." Daxter pouted at him as the once hero leaned heavily against Naruto.
"Yeah, well cut it out!" Daxter said, trying to cover up the worry in his voice. "If you'd have moved that fast a long time ago, I'd still be wearing pants!" The ottsel said, walking away before pausing. "You know what I really miss? Soft underpants…" Naruto gave Jak a weird look. "You know how it lifts and cradles?" Daxter sighed out. The ottsel looked at them and shook his head at the looks they were giving him. "You two wouldn't understand. We're outta here."
Naruto glanced at the dead body as Jak and Daxter continued on. He looked around, feeling eyes on him again. "Who's following us?" The fox teen asked to the air before chasing after his two friends.
He joined back up with them at the place where the glider crashed. Jak and Daxter stared up at the eye, whose pupil was wide, activating dangerously sharp spears blocking their way into the Wrap Gate. Naruto gasped in surprise when Jak turned away to touch the newly awaken idol the pupil shrank and the spears went away, just like at the temple…
"Come on Naruto." The fox teen jumped slightly at seeing Jak in front of him. He must have passed by when Naruto was looking at the eye.
"Right." He said, jumping through the gate with his two friends.
Naruto smiled as the door opened and the eye disappeared. Jak waved him over once he was visible and they continued on their path deeper into the temple. "SPIDERS!" Daxter screamed as an entire horde of JET board size spiders crawled up the steps at them. "I HATE SPIDERS! Especially temple spiders!" Daxter yelled as they got to the bottom, a vent of pure Dark Eco before them.
Naruto frowned as Jak waved his hand in it, the Dark Eco visibly traveling through his veins as his hand turned into the Dark Jak form. The fox teen's hairs stood on end as they entered the dome chamber filled with Precursor guns. "Watch this." Jak said walking over to the idol on the other end of the room, making sure not to step in the circle with the guns.
The blond watched as Jak and Daxter disappeared then reappeared as Jak jumped onto the button in the center of the guns. Terror crossed his face as he looked at his friends, those guns could still sense them if they made one wrong move. Naruto's blue eyes widened as Jak transformed into Dark Jak then leapt in the air. He crashed down, slamming his fist on the floor causing a wave of Dark Eco to ripple out and destroy the Precursor guns. Sparks of blue and dark purple filled the air as Jak shifted out of his Dark Jak stage, having expelled all of the Eco inside him.
"Show off…" Daxter mutter as the three met up at the newly opened hall. "DAMN THESE SPIDERS!" The ottsel yelled loudly as another horde entered the hall. Naruto easily blasted them away with his gun mod, only to cause gates to rise up, slicing up the hall.
"Oops…" Naruto said as they walked towards the beams with an eye watching over them, which lit up at seeing Jak and Daxter. The fox teen watched as they used and traveled to the other side, killing the eye and allowing Naruto to cross. They repeated this three more times until all the gates lowered.
"JAK! NARUTO! SPIDERS!" The ottsel screeched as he covered his eyes. Naruto chuckled and easily slaughtered the incoming wave, causing Daxter to growl. "Sure! It's all funny when YOU aren't chased by a Temple Spider hundred times your size!" Daxter said, only to have Jak put his hand over his mouth as they walked up to this massive Precursor Oracle. Naruto's fox ears twitched and pulled Jak aside.
"I want no excuses!" Veger's voice yelled out. Jak and Naruto shared a look and carefully peered around the corner. "You told me this could be done." The count said, pointing at Seem. "Now make it so!"
"But we have so little time. The Day Star approaches! You know what it brings.
"Unfortunate, yes, we will deal with that as soon as I have full accuses to the catacomb. Just continue your work, and I'll deal with those idiots in Haven. I promise you will meet your makers." Veger said walking away as Seem followed him, frowning deeply in thought.
"Why are the catacombs so important?" Naruto whispered, looking at Jak and Daxter.
"I don't know." Jak said, waiting for the coast to be clear before walking up to the Oracle. "But wha-" He was cut off at the eyes of the Precursor Oracle opened with a shockingly blue light.
"Greetings great warrior!" The Oracle said, causing them to all jump. "Your return brings us great hope. This planet's future is at a critical juncture. The Dark Ones have found your world again, and fate hangs in the balance where the part and the future collide." Daxter stared at it for a moment then turned to Jak and Naruto.
"Do you have any idea what he just said?" The ottsel asked. Naruto when to answer but Daxter continued. "Speak-a-da-normal-language, okay?"
"You will need all the power you can muster to survive this terrible test, great one."
"I can handle it!" Daxter boosted.
"…I was talking to the tall one…shorty!"
"HEY!"
"Look into the light and receive a power, hero." Naruto gasped as a beam of pure light shined on Jak, lifting him into the air. The once hero hovered for a moment before dropping to the ground, staring at his hands in awe.
"…The Dark Eco…it feels far away…" Jak said, smiling at his two friends.
"Great!" Daxter said, crawling onto Jak's shoulder. "Now let's blow this burg before I decide Precursor Oracles aren't in this season." Naruto chuckled and followed them, pausing at the Warp Gate. He turned back and stepped up to look at the Oracle, a sense of familiarity washing over him.
"…Things keep getting weirder and weirder…First these powers, the chrysalis in Haven Forest, the feeling of being watched, and that cat tail in the lava…What's is it? Who am I?" He asked the Oracle, jumping when it responded.
"We are glad to see the ninth son is safe, but your questions must be answered by yourself when you recover the memories you've forgotten." Naruto blinked then scrambled to ask more.
"Memories? What memories? Who are Gaara, Fu, and Yagura? Please! Answer me!" Naruto pleaded, only to be met with silence.
"Where are we going?" Naruto asked as Jak turned away from the direction leading to Spargus City.
"Ashlin called while we were waiting on you. She waiting for us at the Oasis." Jak said.
"Yeah! And she said she didn't have much time!" Daxter added. Naruto frowned in thought. What could she want? He didn't have long to think on it as Jak parked the Dune Hopper near the blue Hellcat. Daxter grinned and jumped off Jak's shoulder, running to Ashlin before Naruto or Jak could get out.
"Hey baby, ya thought you'd dumped me, huh?" Ashlin rolled her eyes at the ottsel's behavior as the other two joined them. "I knew you'd be back for some more Orange lovin'" Daxter said, smacking his rear as the redhead governor glared at him."Get a good look, it's the last time you get to see it." He continued, pointing to his face.
"What are you doing here?" Jak asked
"It's good to see you guys again."
"You left us in the desert to die." Naruto said, earning a nod from Daxter.
"Yeah! So talk to the tail! Cause the whiskers," He playfully brushed his. "Ain't listening. We out!"
"That beacon you gave me…thanks." Jak said, even though he looked away slightly.
"I knew someone would find you." Ashlin said. "Jak, Naruto, I need you to come back to the city. We're losing the fight. Veger is drunk on power and he's taken total command. He doesn't understand what he's up against. I need you two-" She was cut off as Marauder cars came roaring over the dunes, surrounding them.
"Shit." Naruto cursed as Daxter climbed onto his shoulder. Jak, Ashlin, and Naruto pulled out their weapons, ready to turn the golden sand red.
Ashlin panted as the last of the Marauders fled. "That's the last of them." She said, walking to her Hellcat. She leaned over and pulled out two JET-boards. "Keira wanted me to give you two this. Your friends need you." She said, giving them the hover boards. Jak sneered at her last sentence.
"The city threw me out, remember? They can rot for all I care."
"But what about your-" Ashlin went to ask as she touched his arm.
"Forget it!" Jak snapped, jerking away from her. "Just leave."
"So the hero I knew did die in the desert, or was it long before that?" She asked, sliding into her Hellcat, tossing something at them. Naruto caught it, it being the Seal of Mar. Jak's eyes narrowed at seeing it.
"I'm through saving the world." Jak said. Ashlin sighed and took off, leaving them in the desert again. Naruto slowly examined the Seal of Mar.
"Jak…we need to go back to the temple…"
"Why?" Jak and Daxter asked at the same time. Naruto walked over to Jak and put the Seal in his hands.
"This Seal was on one of the doors there."
"…Alright." Jak said clutching the Seal in his hands before heading to the Dune Hopper., Naruto right behind him.