Jak and Crash
ACT 2: The Journey
Chapter 10: The Separation or…A Royal Arrangement
Empress Office, Lucian Palace
Month 2: Feburia, Day 1
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Night
"Where the hell have you all been? I said meet at sunset!" Jak cried out, and then he pointed to a large, thin window, "Does THAT look like sunset to you?"
"Hey, relax, princely, we got caught up in a bigger situation." Coco said. Everyone was notably back inside the palace except Shuin.
"What could you have possibly been doing that caused you all to be so late?" Jak said, arms on waist, face glaring, as if he was an overprotective parent.
"…I met Shuin's father." Cortex softly said. And with that, Jak dropped his arms and his face turned wide eyed.
"…Oh."
"Yes."
"Is that why he's not here?"
"'Yep." Daxter shook his head, "He went back to his own home with his old man to have a chat with him." Everyone else basically nodded behind him.
"What is happening then, we must know full story." Brutter suggested.
"Cortex, ya wanna tell?" Tawna asked. Cortex lowered his head and merely shook it slowly.
"Alright, then I'll tell." Coco sighed, "Alright, everyone shut up and get ready for flashback time."
"Wait, do we (he pointed to Brio and himself) have to listen to it, seeing as we've live through it." Gin raised his hand, "Brio and I have to go check on Nicodemus II. It did suffer some damage from the air battle with Dark Makers."
"Yea, whatever." Coco shooed them away, "Any who…"
………………
Flashback Time
"HE'S YOUR FATHER?" Cortex pointed to the grizzled wolf. Shuin pushed Cortex's hand down.
"It's rude to point, especially to father." Shuin said, "You want to have your fingers cut off?"
Tret silently walked over to the little gang of heroes, making his way to his son. Shuin placed a calm face, but even the most naïve could tell he was uneasy.
"Shuin." Tret said.
"Father."
"You have returned. It's been a while."
"Yea."
"Bounty hunting much?"
"Like I always do."
Tret sighed and shook his head in a disappointed manner.
"It is quite a shame to see the son of a retired samurai work such a lowly job, but even worse being seen with Precursians…all of them having such tiny ears."
"HEY! I resent that!" Gin shouted, "In 6th grades, I had the biggest ears of ANY of my classmate!" Cortex smacked him.
"Shut up!"
"Please father, spare me your life story and mine." Shuin rolled his eyes, "I do what I please."
"Are you friends with these hairless creatures?" Tret pointed.
"Oh, he gets to point, but you can't?" Gin said, crossing his arms vindictively.
"Shut up!" Cortex smacked him again.
"I didn't think you could dishonor this family any further, but you did. Congratulations."
"Oh, don't praise me, father." Shuin said, his voice rising.
"Sheesh, commitment issues much?" Daxter cried out.
"SHUT UP, N.GIN!" Cortex smacked him again.
"That wasn't me!"
"…Sorry, force of habit."
Tret moved away from Shuin and ushered the crowd to back away. He took out his wooden sword.
"You Precursians are not welcome here." Tret said, "Leave now or face me. Precursians are not allowed here, it is illegal. If you have any respect for the law, you will all leave, including you Anthros who would betray our kind to hang around these freaks."
"F-F-F-Freaks?" Brio gasped, "You are n-n-n-n-not nice!"
"Shut up, Brio." Gin muttered.
"What do you mean it's against the law?" Coco cried, "The Empress certainly didn't seem to feel offended around us!" With that said, Tret's eyes widen.
"You…have met the Empress?" Coco nodded and the crowd went on an uproar.
"LIES!"
"She speaks lies!"
"Please, let us kill her for defying our beloved Empress!"
"Down with Precursians!"
Tret hushed them immediately with a wave of his hand. He came closer to Coco and eyed her.
"Her face tells the truth." Tret said, this time sounding a bit sadden, "We cannot deny it for our beloved Empress is trying to form an alliance with the Royal family of Haven. I have heard news of the prince's arrival."
"News travels fast." Daxter whispered.
"Our Empress, we love dearly, but if she forms an alliance with Precursians, we might have no choice but to commence a rebellion and ultimately, a battle."
"That's just damn stupid." Shuin said sternly.
"You hold your tongue, son!" Tret shouted.
"I'm 28 years old; you can't keep treating me like I'm 10."
"And I WILL keep treating you like you're 10 until you stop acting like one!" Tret shouted, "Always rebelling against me and your family, your family's beliefs mean nothing to you! You have no sense of honor!"
"Your ways are stupid!" Shuin retaliated, "And you're a damn hypocrite. You too are rebelling as well!"
"Do not talk to your father that way!"
"Sheesh, I don't know what's worse, them two or you and your kid." Gin whispered to Cortex. Cortex ignored Gin's words and merely stared at Shuin and Tret arguing. Rebellion…arguments…
"You're weak, my child. Weak…but I can make you strong…My army of mutant anthros, all charged and powerful, more so then regular anthros and humans combined…together, the Earth is my sushi…you are my son…I want you by my side." "No more! This end NOW! I don't want to do this, but this has gone TOO far off!" "You'll never change…not as long as I live…"
"No."
"What?"
"No. I should have said that many years ago, but I had thoughts that you'd change back and inside, I still do, but I can tell it's not now! You've changed. My caring father is gone, replaced with some demented sick freak I don't even know! You're NOT my Dad!"
"You…DUMB BANDICOOT!"
Cortex opened his eyes after those painful memories. He found that the crowd has died away, although they gave off death glares, and Shuin and Tret were nowhere to be found.
"Cortex, are ya back to the land of the living?" Tawna asked, "You, like spaced out!"
"What th—where the hell's Shuin?" Cortex gasped.
"Well, after the two argued, Tret left in anger." Daxter said, "Shuin went after him to continue arguing. Those people have issues."
"Yea, but Shuin managed to talk Tret enough to at least get us out of here, so no angry mob planning to chase us." Gin added.
"I suggest we get back to the palace and get the hell outta here before they do." Coco suggested.
"Oh." Cortex softly responded.
The heroes eyed the glaring animals watching them as they quickly made their way to the palace.
………………
"…Oh, flashbacks over." Daxter said.
"This is incredible." Jak sighed, "Well, it's not entirely news to me. I've been hearing of these prejudices ever since my grandmother and I decided to form an alliance with Lucius nearly a year ago."
"Yea, well, we need to leave." Daxter said, "Or I'm afraid we're gonna be part of a battle I don't want to be in." Surprising Daxter, Jak nodded as well.
"Yes, we should leave." Jak sighed, "I'm afraid there is not much information I can give to Empress Aron now. So for now, we should return and await her discoveries."
"Why can't we just wait here?" Tawna asked, "I can handle a mob."
"No guarantees when she'll have a discovery." Jak said, "And with angry rebels, it's best to move as soon as possible. Cortex, perhaps you should go and see when the Nicodemus will be ready." Cortex however just stood there like a useless lump.
"…Cortex? Cortex? CORTEX!"
"WHAT?" Cortex snapped out, and then eyed Jak's worried face, "Oh…right, right." He quickly left the room.
Airbase, Lucian Palace
Month 2: Feburia, Day 2
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Morning
"A few minor injuries in the inside, a whole lotta damage on the outside." Gin said to the others (which composed of Cortex, Coco, Daxter, Ani, and Tawna) the next day, "I guess a week and half should be able to fix up the damage."
"A week and a half?" Coco gasped.
"We have to suffer through a week and a half worth of angry mobs possibly wanting to turn us inside out?" Daxter squeaked. Gin nodded and the little ottsel let out another set of squeaks.
The heroes left Gin and Brio to do the work (while leaving Tawna to once again baby sit them incase they screw up and blew up the entire airbase or something). Fearing the mob outside, they all stayed inside and spent time eyeing the palace. Each of them went their separate directions. Cortex however went immediately to his guest room, staring outside his window in the hopes Shuin would walk back inside. Daxter spent the time getting the royal treatment with Ani watching, rolling her eyes.
"Come on, pup, I know you want it, too." Daxter raised his eyebrows, grinning.
Coco in the meantime just wandered around aimlessly. Occasionally, she'd walk out to a balcony and enjoy the morning breeze. Quite chilly and without a jacket, she rubbed her arms together to keep herself warm. As she was about to head inside, she heard a soft voice. Hard to make out, but the voice seem to apparently been singing. Normally, she wouldn't care for such little trivial matters, but somehow, she was quite…curious.
The voice was coming over from above, so she wandered around the palace, going upstairs until she reached a long hallway blocked by two guards. Coco tried to bypass them, but the guards immediately stepped in.
"I'm sorry, royals and officials only." One of the guards said.
"But—"
"Sorry, ma'am." The second guard said.
"Damn it!" Coco groaned. She walked down the hallway she came from and took a right. Pondering as she walked, she spotted a nearby window and let out a small grin. Opening it, Coco climbed out and started to walk on the outer wall to reach the other side where the voice was. One wrong slip however and she'd fall to her death, so Coco trend carefully.
She found herself at one the highest tower of Lucius Palace. Pillars, statues of mystical animals, and small bushes littered the area, much like it did in other portions of the palace, but with the smaller space, it felt decidedly more crowded. On the far end of the palace was the person responsible for the voice and much to Coco's utter disdain, it was Jak of all people (with Puar floating above him). There he was, arms resting on the balcony as he eyed the sky and birds constantly surrounding him. At times, Jak constantly fed them, but he mostly sang or just stared.
"How long have you been singing and staring?" Coco asked.
"Huh? Oh, hello, Coco." Jak smiled, "Since sunrise."
"That was like three hours ago." Coco said as she came near, "You definitely have a miracle inducing patience, what's your secret?"
"Meditation."
Coco let out a sarcastic giggle.
"What, I'm serious." Jak said, "Any who, why are you here? How did you get here? This place is forbidden to all but the royals and officials."
"Please, I've sneaked around places before." Coco said, "If not to do a little stealing."
"…Stealing?"
"I'm…a bit of a klepto." Coco confessed, "It's just due to a lot of stuff in my life, is all. I'm getting better or at least that's what Cortex said." Jak eyed her.
"Don't worry; I only stole stuff around Cortex's castle and generally little useless stuff like his beakers or a magazine."
"I see."
"…So what song were you singing?"
"Something I just made up, inspired by the two of us." Jak grinned, "It's still a work in progress." Coco once again put on a sarcastic face as she rolled her eyes.
"Trying to still butter me up?"
"You know it." Jak said, half joking. He stopped smiling when Coco glared at him, "Look, I just want to be your friend."
"Well, we are friends."
"If we are, shouldn't I get to know you better?" Jak asked, "You already know a marginal amount of me, why can't I know more about you and your past life? The way people have been implying your past life hasn't been so good."
"No, no it hasn't." Coco said, "After all, when your parents were killed in a car accident when you were little, sent to live with an abusive grandparent, then to an orphanage where someone you care for there is no longer…here…yea, of course I'd keep it quiet."
"…Wow." Jak said, and then a brief silence took place, "If it's any consolation, I know how you feel. I lost my parents when I was only five, killed during the Metal Head invasion…then again; I guess you know that since I wouldn't shut up about my life when we were introducing ourselves properly in Haven Forest." Coco nodded.
"I envy you, Jak." She spoke softly, "I don't understand how you can be so happy when so much crap has happened to you. How do you deal with it?"
"My philosophy is simple, "Don't cry over spilled milk." I learned that life is indeed rough and not as innocent as I made it out to be years ago, but it we cry over every little negative thing in our lives, well, how can we live?"
Coco eyed Jak with a rare sense of intrigue.
"It's okay to cry over things we loved, the people we loved, but eventually, we have to move on. Don't you think they would have wanted it that way?"
"Well, people react differently to the same situations. You can move on and be happy, I can't go that fast and still remain who I am."
"That special person…the one you cared for in the orphanage…who was he?"
Coco remained silent. She didn't face Jak; she didn't give out an angry or sarcastic face. Instead, she merely stared out the sky with a saddened expression. The only sound that was made was the wind and the birds. Jak, noticing her current behavior carefully placed a hand on her shoulder. Coco slowly eyed Jak, for once eyeing him as a true friend then an annoyance. Jak let out a small smile.
"…Could you sing that song you just sang?" She asked. Jak nodded…and he did…
………………
Lucian Palace
Month 2: Feburia, Day 2
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Morning
When Jak and Coco left the tower (with the two guards surprised that Coco somehow got in), Avalor quickly ran up to Jak with panic on his face.
"Your highness, please come quickly!" Avalor cried, grabbing onto Jak's arm.
"Avalor, what is it?"
"Please, it is most urgent, it is better to see then tell."
And with that, Jak was pulled into Aron's office where she was eyeing a holographic message. The screen was fuzzy and sounds of guns, people screaming, and terror could be heard. Jak immediately went over to Aron who looked as if she had on a calm face (who could tell with that mask on her?) as the man talked in panic over the hologram message.
"Please…zzzt….send men….Haven forces….attack…zzzt…doesn't have much longer…zzzt…Oh-No…Krimzon…zzt….HELP!"
Immediately Jak let out a resounding "NO" as he backed against a wall. Everyone stared at him with mixed feelings.
"That message came from the northern nation of Filia." Aron said calmly.
"NO! Why are the Krimzon Guards attacking Filia?" Jak shouted, "What has become of my grandmother? Why is she sending these forces, why…Veger."
"Veger?" Daxter gasped.
"That…that rat bastard! I bet he planned all this! He's been trying to manipulate my grandmother for years…and apparently, he has succeeded." Jak slammed his fist on Aron's desk, "I HATE THAT MAN!"
"Jak, relax, remember, dark thingie inside you." Daxter hinted.
"We must be helping them, we is not?" Brutter asked.
"Of course we have to!" Jak shouted, "But that DAMN Nicodemus…it's going to take a week and a half to make! Empress, do you not have any vehicles you can spare?"
"…I am sorry; all my vehicles are currently unavailable."
"What are you talking about? I saw plenty of airships back in the airbase. They look ready for—"
Cortex was cut off by Aron.
"All under construction."
"I refuse to stay here and do nothing!" Jak yelled, "We're going to Lucius by foot, so pack your bag and let's go!"
"Wait, now?" Coco cried out.
"No, tomorrow. OF COURSE NOW!" Jak screamed, "I swear when I see Veger, I'll KILL him."
"Christof." Aron said sternly. Jak let out a huge sigh.
"Yes?"
"Stay."
"What? Stay?"
"The rest of you can go."
"WHAT?"
"Prince Christof, although you've saved Precursia from the Metal Heads a year back, you are the next heir to the throne, risking your life by going on the front line could damage your nation." Aron said.
"I refuse to stay here! I want to fight, I have to help them!" Jak shouted, "I have to let them know my grandmother is nuts and Veger is behind all this!"
"Christof, please…"
"NO! I refuse! Come on guys, help me out here!" Jak eyed the others.
"Well…both of you makes good points…and…" Cortex scratched the back of his head.
"How can you doubt me during this time?" Jak cried, "Are you serious?"
"He stays."
Everyone turned around to hear the voice of Shuin as he walked over to them.
"Shuin." Cortex whispered, then he remained silent throughout.
"It's for the best." Shuin said, "After all, we wouldn't want to risk our prince to such danger when he has far more…better things to do." Shuin eyed Jak with a suspicious grin. He came close to Jak and patted him on the shoulder. After much pondering and silence, Cortex put on a brave face and nodded.
"You heard what Shuin said, it's for your own safety, so stay here." Cortex ordered.
"WHAT?" Jak's face started to turn red.
"As for the rest of us, to Filia!"
Jak stood there with his mouth hanging wide open. After all that much trouble, they decided to dump him here and leave him alone like some useless piece of trash? After all the help he's given them? He'd be left in a palace; the one place he didn't wanted to be stuck in, all alone?
"Err…if I may speak." Daxter said, "While I would LOVE to be out risking my neck in the middle of a war, I think I'll stay with Jak." Jak widened his eyes as did the others.
"He IS my best friends and…well, you can't have Jak without Daxter." The small ottsel left a wide grin on his face. Jak couldn't help but smile a bit. Daxter may have a lot of negative moments, but his friendship towards Jak was #1 in his eyes. Ani barked and joined up with Daxter as well.
"Looks like Ani wants to stay, too." Daxter suggested.
"I is not going at all as well." Brutter said, stepping up from behind Jak, "I is promise to protect Prince Jak for always and Brutter will never leave his side."
"I'm stuck with Jak, too. Like glue!" Puar popped out of nowhere as she usually did.
"Thanks guys, I really appreciate that." Jak said softly.
"Alright, the rest of us can go while we leave the prince alone to do…what he must do." Shuin once again let out a mysterious grin. Jak eyed Shuin as he and the rest left, knowing full well he was implying something.
……………
Haven Palace
Month 2: Feburia, Day 2
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Afternoon
"Well, we found out why you've been throwing up and suffering morning sickness, Miss Ashelin." The main doctor of Haven Palace spoke, "You're pregnant, congratulations!"
When Ashelin received that news about a week ago, her world turned upside down as she sucked in all this information. The Queen under dire stress and manipulation, Veger playing her like a puppet, Jak off on another continent and lack of communications to contact him due to security reasons, and her husband Torn off at war at Filia. Now she was stuck with yet another responsibility, her future role as a mother. Her first instinct however wasn't to call Torn or anyone of her family member to deliver the good news, instead she bizarrely went over to the cryogenics center in Haven Palace. Donning a warm jacket, she met her brother.
"Hello, Erol."
Of course he didn't respond back, but that didn't stop Ashelin from remaining silent, hoping he could.
"I just found out like a week ago that I'm expecting a newcomer." Ashelin said, "…You're going to be an uncle. I…I just figure you'd like to hear that…maybe it'll help you come back, seeing as you always did wanted to be "Fun Uncle Erol." Ashelin tried to hide back what she assumed were tears.
"Things have been…kind of crazy lately, but Jak's trying to make it all right. I…I'm not too sure what I can do, sometimes I just feel like a sitting duck, but I know I have to do something, especially now that I am carrying a child. I don't want him or her to grow up with that rat Veger in charge, and I know you don't want to either."
Ashelin gently placed a hand on the cold glass tube her brother was in.
"Oh, if only you'd give me some signs that you can hear me." Her voice nearly broke, but she tried her hardest to hold it in, "I'm going to try and be strong…I hope you will, too."
With that said, Ashelin walked away from the frozen tube, holding her stomach, pondering over future events. The cryogenics team shut the door and all was silent in the frozen room with no sense of movement. Except…Erol's fingers moved…
To Be Continued…
………………
Author's Note: Man, I vowed myself to not write another fanfic until I get this done, but aside from this, I recently started another fanfic based on Danny Phantom cuz' that show is addicting the living crap out of me. Man, now I'm gonna have my hands more full, but damn it to tell, I WILL finish Jak and Crash because I can be an ambitious person like that. Ahahaha.
…………………
NOTES:
1. This chapter was to serve the introduction of 10 year old Aki Takoshi, Aron's little sister. Unfortunately, I found myself not giving enough room or space to introduce her in. That said I bumped her to next chapter's appearance despite the main characters getting ready to move onwards with the plot. Ahahaha.
2. Cortex's flashbacks are direct quotes from my prequel "Experiment Bandicoot."
3. Coco sneaking in to find out Jak and him singing is a direct scene taken from FFIX where thief Zidane does the same to get to Princess Garnet. Earlier drafts of my Jak and Crash had many direct similarities to FFIX and in some cases, some still remained. FFIX is my fave FF game in the serious, so that's one of the main reasons. Yes, I DO prefer it over the overrated FF7.
Not to mention the whole "leaving Jak behind because of his status" was also a scene from FFIX.
4. If you guys are observant enough, you can see some hint of foreshadowing near the end of this chapter in a sense.
5. Man, I swear this chapter feels a bit cliché to me in terms of dialogues. I think I was in a sort of writer's block/runt when I did this one. Shame.