"JAK" He heard a feminine voice scream
In a space of a few milliseconds he realized it was Keira's voice. He turned to see Keira pinned under a Metal Head and the Metal Head about to strike.
"KEIRA!" Jak he cried out in fear
Then his rational mind took hold again and then instincts told him to kill the enemy. He whipped out the gun as the creature was about to strike the fearful female. Without a second to spare he squeezed the trigger repeatedly. Yellow energized bullets rang out and embedded its power painfully into the creature's form.
The creature screamed and hissed and turned to Jak. Jak realized that the creature didn't die. It stood there very much alive, looking dangerous and deadly. He noticed that it was different to the other Metal Heads. More dominate looking.
The creature still had Keira pinned on the floor, Jak shot it again but it just hissed and roared.
"Shoot me all you want Demon but I will not give up your…" it gave a evil grin, "mate"
Jak was taken in surprise as the Metal Head spoke to him.
"Surprised?" the creature hissed as it saw Jak's face, "I bothered to learn your foul language"
Jak's poker face returned, "So who are you? The queen of the bugs?"
"Yes. I was second in command of Metal Kor. I'm here to avenge his death and to finish what he had begun!" the Metal Head hissed ignoring his sarcasm
"So what should we call you?" Daxter asked
"Spar" he replied simply as long bug like wings shot out of his back
They began to flutter. Jak saw he was going to make an escape attempt and raised his gun and fired. The creature just hissed and grabbed Keira as she tried to struggle free of his grasp. Jak growled and shot him repeatedly as the creature rose higher into the air. The creature mearly laughed.
"Insufferable fool! You can't harm me with your weapons!" his laughed and shot out some Dark Eco from its mouth
Jak rolled to get out of the line of fire and shot at it more but already the monster was flying away from the ship with Keira in hand.
"KEIRA!" he cried,
Anger boiled inside of him, he up to the guarding rail and jumped off it and grabbed the creature's tail. Spar screamed and wiggled it's tail to get the aberrant man off. Jak felt the tingerly sensation go through his body.
"Jak!" came the pleading cry as Keira grew worried about Jak and wanted out of the Metal Head's grasp
Daxter held on to Jak's shoulder as Dark Eco sparked around his partner. The transformation took place again as it always done. Jak was too determined and angry to care that his skin changed, his claws grew longer, his vision changed due to the inky black that now covered his eyes or his long thick purple horns that grew out of his light purple hair. It was second nature to him.
Dark Jak started to climb his way up the beast. Spur roared as Jak's claws embedded themselves into his flesh. Keira felt her captor squirm and it tightened its grip on her. The Metal Head shot purple energy at him but Dark Jak shook it off and chuckled at the ignorant leader.
He was invincible to any attack. Another gift that the Oracle gave him.
Dark Jak's hands found it's way to the wings and caught it while in mid flight. The buzzing stopped suddenly. The creature screamed as only one wing flapped but couldn't do the job of two. Suddenly they dropped from the invisible floor they were standing on.
The creature let out a monstrous roar. Keira screamed as the sudden gravity hit her. Daxter yelled holding on to Jak's purple hair as the rushing upwards wind found it's way in his mouth and around his eyes. Dark Jak just laughed manically at everyone else's fear as the blue ocean rushed up to meet them.
***
Sig opened the last cabin door he could find. He saw what he was looking for and more. Tollanar was there but also an intruder as well.
A Metal Head.
The creature had Tollanar pinned down on the floor, at the mercy of its claws. The creature turned to the newcomer and screeched. It bounced off its victim and went to attack Sig. Sig with out his Peacemaker had only his fists. He cranked his arm back and put his large muscle power into it to deal a crushing blow. The creature screamed as the punch landed on its jaw. It rebounded and went at Sig with its massive claws. Sig dodged the attack and yelled as he pushed power into his punches.
The creature felt dizzy and too beaten to go on. It collapsed onto the ground then it disintegrated leaving it's Metal Skull Gem behind. Tollanar look at Sig in shock.
"Close that jaw cherry, I need my Peace Maker. Metal Heads are attacking the ship!" Sig commanded
Tollanar just nodded, still in shock. He closed his open jaw and pulled out a shiny Peace Maker from the cupboard. Sig took it and smiled as he felt the familiar weight in his hands. He pointed it at nothing in particular and brought his eye up to aim.
"I, I fixed like brand new" Tollanar stammered still in shock, "Something else was wrong with it in the first place but I fixed it so it be like brand new"
Sig tuned and pointed the weapon outside. He charged it up and fired to the empty air. He smiled and turned to Tollanar after he was done.
"It hums like a bee and sings like a bird. Thanks cherry! My Peacemaker is back online!" he announced and ran out to join the fight
Kranzar was barking orders to the Krimson Guard and his Crew. He himself had a gun and was firing at the intruders. Sig joined the battled powering up his Peace Maker and shooting it at the Metal Heads.
After a long time shooting, fighting and blood the Metal Heads suddenly retreated. Some large creatures sprouted wings that were hiding under a shell and the smaller troopers climbed upon them. They retreated away from the ship, the solders shooting after them.
Sig stood next to Kranzar.
"I wonder why the Metal Heads got scared and ran off" Sig said confused
"I don't know. Maybe we were too much for them" Kranzar shrugged
"Maybe" Sig murmured
Kranzar turned away and started to shout orders. Sig looked around realising that the rest of the group wasn't here. He started to look around for them. He knew Keira would probably hide but Jak would be right in the middle of it and Daxter would be too. But they weren't there shooting at the Metal Heads.
Sig looked around then he heard a scream. It was coming from the sea. He ran out towards the noise to see a large unusual looking Metal Head with Keira in his grasp, Jak on its back and Daxter at Jak's side. They were all falling towards the ocean.
Sig saw them enter the water and sink under. Fearing for his friends he called the crew to get a boat down there and help the people over board. All he could do was watch the crew unhook a dinghy and row to the crash site.
As the sailors approached, the Metal Head rose out of the water, with his two wings in full function. Sig saw it and charged his Peace Maker the fired at the flying monster. It screeched as the bolt hit it but it laughed after, as it didn't damage him. With no time to waste the creature flew away.
***
Keira! Jak's mind registered as they entered the cool watery deep blue. The creature had let her go and the shock was too much for her to mind to handle. She slipped from consciousness.
Dark Jak paddled towards her. With his deadly Dark Eco powered hands he gently grabbed her and paddled his way to the surface. They broke through, his lungs getting the air it needs. Keira seemed to breath in the oxygen too. He saw a boat coming towards them, he paddled his way through and lifted his love onto the boat. Then he suddenly remembered
"Daxter!" his low voice cried
He realized the orange fuzz wasn't on his shoulder on in his hair. Panic gripped him as he looked around the surface. It was just blue. He took a deep breath and dived under the water. His white-less eyes darted around the darkening blue.
He swam about until his lungs burst for air he rose to the surface and filled his lungs. Then he took another deep breath and went under again. He searched desperately for his pal. If he lost him he didn't know how he would live with himself. Daxter and him had been through thick and thin and been best buddies. Now Daxter was in a thin situation and Jak needed to help him.
Jak finally saw Daxter's wavy form sinking deeper. Dark Jak immediately swam to his friend and retrieved him. He quickly rose to the surface and swam to the dinghy.
One crewman took the little orange Ottsel from the dark creature and set him down on the deck. He realised he wasn't breathing and proceeded to do CPR. Dark Jak climbed on the boat and looked at his partner worried. Finally after a few minutes, which seemed forever for Jak. The little Ottsel breathed then choked up his waterlogged lungs. Jak felt such relief for his friend.
He felt his power die down and his mutation form returned to normal. He wiped his eyes clean from tears.
***
Daxter woke up. He felt his body weak from exhaustion. His mind showed him the memories before he found himself in the cold water. The Metal Head, Keira and Jak. He saw his friends in the room talking quietly. Their words were jumbled at first but his ears finally made sense of them.
"I'm sorry Keira" Jak mumbled, "For doing that"
"It's ok, I'm sorry for being so angry at you. In the future I'll respect you privacy" Keira apologized.
In that moment they hugged each other. Jak held Keira tight, knowing what he almost lost. Sig sat away from the scene cleaning his gun.
"Can ya keep it down? I'm trying to sleep" Daxter murmured not putting any anger into it
Jak turned and immediately sprang up and ran over to his little buddy.
"How are you feeling?" Jak asked
"Like I went through the washing machine and hanged out to dry," Daxter replied bluntly
"I'm sorry…" Jak murmured
"That's ok because you're going to plunge-into-water-to-get-rid-of-Metal-Head stunt! By yourself!" Daxter burst out the quipped, "You know my coat is dry clean only!"
Jak half smiled at Daxter's outburst. He knew Daxter well and he knew that his words meant he was forgiven but don't do it again.
"Rest up Dax, your going to need it" Jak murmured.
He turned to walk up the stairs and headed out of the Cabin. Keira got up and tucked Daxter in.
"Just go to sleep Daxter, we all had a wild experience with the Metal Heads" Keira soothed
Daxter didn't want to sleep, he wanted to know why the Metal Heads attacked the ship, who was this Star, Spur…Span who ever was this new Metal Head Leader was and if he could use Jak's Peacemaker.
But his body felt like unmoveable rock and his eyes drooped sleepily unable to fight the oncoming tiredness. He yawned and gave in to the exhaustion and fell peacefully asleep.
Keira saw that the orange fuzz was sleeping and stepped away. Turned to Sig and sighed, "We should go and see Captain Kranzar. I need to find out the damage report"
"Alright. It beats hanging around here" Sig replied
They exited the Cabin, leaving the Ottsel to sleep.
***
Jak leaned on the guardrail. The wind tore through his hair and brushed his face but he didn't care. Large pang of guilt rose up.
He almost killed his friends, for the sake of killing a Metal Head. He meant to save Keira's life but instead endangered it. What was he thinking? Daxter almost drowned and it would have been his fault.
Jak shook his head trying to deal with the emotions that raged on in his heart. How could he be so careless and so reckless? What was wrong with him? Questions raged in his head. Emotions supported them but there was no answer to them.
I told you to be prepared…Jak blinked a few seconds at the unusual voice that echoed in his head. Was that a real voice or his imagination?
"Are you ok there cherry?" a voice interrupted his guilt trip and confusion
Jak turned to see Sig standing in his upright posture holding his shiny blue Peace Maker gun, in his usual rugged grey clothing.
"Yeah, fine" Jak said in his usual voice but his eyes betrayed the casualness
"What's been troubling you chilli pepper?" Sig moved closer
Jak turned back around and sighed, "Nothing"
"Don't tell me 'nothing', cherry! You have been moping around or having anger rows since we left Haven City. You been pushing away everyone who tried to talk to you" Sig snapped
Jak growled," Because its none of anyone's business"
"It is our business because we're your friends cherry. We care about you. If you cover my six, I'll cover yours!" Sig continued, "Hell, I done things I'm not proud of and went through things that would make your spine freeze! Don't bottling things up cherry, its bad for your health"
Jak turned to Sig. Realization was all over his face. Sig hid a smile knowing he got through to the kid.
"Now come on. Me and Keira are going to see the Captain" Sig offered
Jak sighed and nodded. They both walked towards the middle of the ship. Keira was there talking to the Captain, Jolva and Tollanar. They joined the little gathering.
"Well I assure you Keira, nothing has been damaged in the cargo bay. All the Eco tracking equipment and computer systems are in peak condition" Kranzar boomed
She sighed, "Sorry but its just strange that Metal Heads didn't destroy that kind of stuff"
"Where did the Metal Heads come from?" Jak asked as he and Sig approached
"Apparently from the cargo bay" Kranzar informed, "They probably went to hide there when the large Hora-quan came to attack"
"You mean that large Metal Head was a distraction?" Sig sounded surprised
"I think so. We would have noticed that many Hora-quan on the ship if they just came" Kranzar explained further
"Why would they attack the ship?" Jak asked
"To stop us" Kranzar simply replied, "Keira said that they had a new leader and apparently picking up where Hora-quan leader Kor left off. I think he was to stop us reaching the Eco so there wont be any to power the city defence shield"
"Well he didn't stop us very much" Sig said
"Yes thankfully" Kranzar said
Suddenly there was a large backfire sound and the ship came to an abrupt halt. Everyone stumbled to steady themselves against the unexpected movement.
"What happened" Jak asked
"Tollanar! Check the engines now!" Kranzar ordered
Tollanar nodded. Jolva and Keira followed him to the engine room. Kranzar turned to Jak and Sig.
"I think we're not out of the blue yet"
Kranzar turned to the various members of the crew and gave them some orders. Jak decided to go to engine room to find out what was happening.
Jak flung the door open and descended down the flight of metallic stairs. He found the three mechanics inspecting a large smoking engine. Jak sauntered his way to Keira. Keira noticed he was there but didn't turn around. Jak came beside her.
"What's wrong?" Jak asked and fell into his crossed arm leaning from side to side position.
Tollanar popped his head from behind the engine, "We have a Blue Eco leak. It seems that the Metal Heads broke into the Storage Cylinders and at the same time disrupted the semi-econuclear cylinders. Because of this it seems the Hydro pumps over heated and stopped working, which in turn made the whole apparatus overheat which cause a whole system failure"
Jak looked at him in complete confusion, "Whoa there, in English please"
Tollanar sighed. He didn't like when he had to simplify things to make people understand, "The Metal Heads ate some Eco and also damaged the engine in the process. The engine overheated and exploded"
"Can you fix it?" Jak asked
Tollanar, "No. The whole engine is cooked like a winter's dinner. I'm afraid we have to replace it"
"We can't replace it!" Keira exclaimed, "We don't have another engine"
"Well we can't fix it. It's damage beyond repair," Tollanar reasoned
"Is it all the engines?" Jak asked
"No. There are two engines and just one is damaged. But if the ship runs on one we'll get there more slower then if we were on two. But I guess we have no choice" Tollanar sighed.
"Maybe we can run the single engine faster, father" Jolva suggested
"How?" Tollanar asked out of ideas himself
"Well if you connect the semi-conductor coils to the fusion rings, then run the Fisco Ranious through the System Core and then run the Eletric-Eco Drive to provide extra power. Then run the hydro pumps with more Glucine Gel and bring it up to full power.
As she spoke a smile slowly spread across Tollanar's face. Keira nodded in agreement as she heard how she was piecing everything together. As for Jak…he was as lost as if he was in a labyrinth in the dark.
"That's my girl!" Tollanar beamed proudly, "I'll go tell the Captain about the situation and your idea"
Tollanar ran up the stairs in an excited haste. Keira turned to Jak.
"You should leave, we have lots of work to do and you'll get bored listening to all the technical words" Keira suggested
"Good idea. My brain is already a reck" Jak half joked and headed back up the stairs
***
Daxter yawned. He didn't know how long he had been asleep but he felt refreshed, he felt good…
His stomach rumbled. He felt hungry.
He pulled his sheets back and hopped off the bed. He headed up the stairs and out onto the deck. His little orange feet patted on the metallic floor as he made his way to the dining hall. He hoped there was something other than some off white tasteless goo that Sig ate for breakfast.
He made his way through the open door and down the stairs of the eatery. He saw his best friend lining up for some food. Daxter walked up to Jak and ran up to his usual place upon Jak's shoulder.
"Hey Dax" Jak gave a smile as he felt the familiar weight
"Hey Jak! I'm starving!" Daxter greeted, "I didn't eat since this morning and…oooo is that cheesy nachos?"
Jak smiled, as his friend was his usual energized self. Jak grabbed the bowl of nachos and put it on his tray.
"Ooooh Jak, get the green stuff and get that one!" Daxter cried pointing to all the ones he liked
Jak did what his friend asked and soon his tray was full. Jak returned to the sitting tables. Sig was already stationed at one of them and the pair sat across from him and started to separate their food.
Daxter sat on the table and grabbed the nearest bowl he selected and gobbled the contents as if it was no tomorrow. He made large slurp and gulp noises that made Jak make a horrified face and Sig look at the orange fuzz funny.
When Daxter finished he wiped his mouth clean and belched loudly. He looked at the disgusted faces of his associates and gave a confused look.
"What?" Daxter asked
They kept looking at him in a horrid way. Daxter frowned and crossed his arms.
"What? Do I have something stuck between my teeth?" Daxter snapped
Jak finally snapped out of it and shook his head and turned to his food. Sig shook his head as well.
"You have some serious appetite there Chilli pepper" Sig filled in
"I'm hungry so sue me," Daxter snapped as he went for another bowl of some green stuff
"Hey Dax, I never got the chance to ask you this but I just want to know something" Jak started changing the subject
"What?" Daxter muffled through the food he was eating
"What were you doing in the cargo bay in the first place" Jak finished
Daxter chewed his bite, "I was looking for some alcohol"
Sig lifted an eyebrow, "Alcohol?"
"Yeah" Daxter started to chew through his bowl again
"What for?" Jak asked
"A party" Daxter chomped
"What made you think there was some alcohol on this ship?" Jak almost laughing
Daxter wiped his mouth, "Well someone must keep a hidden stash somewhere around here and the cargo bay came first to mind"
"Man, some mean Metal Head musta messed with your mind cherry. If you thought you could chuck a party and find some alcohol on this ship then…" Sig scoffed
"Daxter, if you hold out until we get back to the city we can throw a big party" Jak promised
Daxter looked up from his bowl with hope in his eyes, "Really?"
"Sure. The biggest, baddest, meanest party you ever seen!" Jak encouraged
"Really Jak? You really do that for me?" Daxter felt teary eyed
"Sure buddy" Jak confirmed
Daxter hopped on Jak's shoulder, "Thanks man. Can I have a go on your Peace Maker also?"
"No Dax" Jak said tiredly
"Please! You said I could have a go" Daxter bargained
"No I said I'll think about it" Jak corrected, "And my decision is no"
"Ok fine!" Daxter gave in, "But if you're in trouble and if it's up to me to shoot don't blame me if I miss"
Jak rolled his eyes, "What ever. If you saved some money…"
Daxter held his hand up and pointed his nose up in a snobby fashion, "Nope, don't wanna hear it"
Jak sighed and shook his head and returned to his meal. Daxter decided to finish lunch. Sig who had kept quiet though their small argument and couldn't help but give a chuckle. He got up and left the cafeteria.
TBC…
