Jak II Chronicles
Part 3: The Future Awaits…
Chapter 24: For Whom the Bell Tolls

The school dance was always a highlight in the teenage life. I remembered my own and how I met my sweetheart who would then later became my wife. She's passed away, unfortunately. Because I had such fond memories, I made sure Jak looked extra nice for his dance.

"Well, what do you know; you DO fit into my old dance outfit." I chuckled, "Back then, I used to be a bit taller."
"Yes, as you've told me many times before, Uncle." Jak cleared his throat.
"Nervous?" I asked.
"Not really, it's just a dance." Jak shrugged.
"Most teenagers see this as an opportunity in the field of romance." I straightened his jacket. He wore a dark black jacket with matching pants that reached to his knees. He wore a white shirt inside. Gone were those goggles he always wore and I manage to convince him to keep his hair down and sleeked back then straight up.
"Maybe you need cologne." I suggested.
"You already gave me cologne…twice." I sighed, "I'm fine the way I am."
"You're going out with a girl, maybe you two will fall in love." I chuckled. Jak nervously chuckled back. Don't think I didn't see that blush as much as he tried to cover his face.
"Okay, my boy! Show 'em what you're made off!" I cried out, giving a light punch in his arms.

………………

The dance filled with well dressed teenagers in a matter of minutes. Some came in wagons driven by beautifully groomed Fluts-Fluts, carrying their date, or driven by hired chauffeurs. The dance was located near the giant backyard of the school where food and drinks were ready, as well as a band. It was a lively jig, this dance was. Every teenager had a date. Without one you were deemed "uncool", but they mostly made up for it by being witty and pulling stunts, such was the case with Daxter.

"JAK! I just drank 10 glasses of Ginger Juice!" Daxter sluggishly made his way to Jak, "Everyone cheered for me…ugh…I need to go to the bathroom!"
"Then go." Jak laughed, sitting on a random table.
"Where's Kiera?" Daxter asked.
"She's in the bathroom…been there for a long time." Jak sighed, "She looked nervous."
"Maybe she LURVES you." Daxter snickered.
"Oh, stop and go to the bathroom already!" Jak smiled. Daxter, holding between his legs, raced to the nearest boy's room. At that time, Kiera came back.
"Kiera, are you okay?" Jak asked. Keira, blushing, nodding.
"I'm fine." She chuckled, "Come on, let's dance." And they did. Jak was never one to tire out so easily, the boy kept himself in tip top shape. They lasted three dances before coming to a slow one. Kiera rested her head on Jak's shoulder like a teenager usually did. To Kiera, it felt magically, to Jak, I believe he was a bit awkward, especially when she started to talk.

"Isn't this nice?" Kiera asked, "A dance…you and me."
"Yea…yea, I guess." Jak nervously smiled.
"When was the last time we danced together like this?"
"We never did."
"Oh…yea…" She giggled, "We should go somewhere where it's all alone."
"Huh?" Jak gasped. Kiera giggled some more, ignoring Jak's confusion and dragged the boy far away from the school and up a hill where the stars showed best. There, Kiera sat on the cool grass and patted on the ground next to her, indicating Jak to sit next to her. Jak did so and stared at the stars with Kiera.
"Umm…you look nice." Jak started. Kiera was donning a lovely lavender dress. Violet and lavender was some of Kiera's favorite colors.

"When you see the stars, do you ever wonder of our destiny?" Kiera asked.
"All the time…wait, OUR destiny?" Jak asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"We've been friends for so long, Jak." Kiera sighed, "I always wondered though…could we be…more then friends?"
"What do you mean?" Jak innocently asked.
"You know…" Kiera gestured.
"No, I really don't." Jak shook his head. Kiera sighed and came closer to Jak.
"Jak, I have to tell you something." Kiera started to confess.
"What is it?" He asked, once again, innocently.
"…I…I have to tell you…" Kiera tried, "I...I…"
"Yea?" Jak asked.
"Give me a moment…I…Jak, that is…I…lo…" She was interrupted by fireworks, which shot up from the sky. It was common for the school to host fireworks in big events.
"WOW!" Jak cried, "I love fireworks! Come on, Kiera; tell me what you have to say to me! What perfect time then fireworks!" Kiera lowered her head, refusing to look at Jak, and then just smiled lightly, yet in a disappointed manner.
"…It's nothing." And the two watched the fireworks together…

………………

Mar Memorial Stadium
Month 3: Marcina, Day 9 (Spring Time)
Year: 299 TOMH (Time of the Metal Heads)

"…GO!" Praxis' booming voice rang on the microphone he wore around his head. The racer zoomers sped off. Immediately, Erol got into first place with Jak slightly tagging behind.

"OH! It looks like the race has officially started! Hello and welcome to the annual Spring Mar's Memorial Race. I'm your racing host, Canny Macher!" came a male announcer, donning a stylish black suit and sleek violet hair. He was inside a high booth which gave him a view of the entire race, "The race marks the 300th birthday of Haven City which comes in a mere two weeks! With me to host and deliver the winner's prizes is famous celebrity that girls just love, Michel Pe'tri!" Upon hearing that name, girls everywhere screamed in fangirl-ish praise as Michel waved at the cameras and made a wink, as well as showing his flashing white teeth. His two assistants, Mimo and Ginger were close behind him, awaiting his every command.
"How does it feel to be in today's race, Michel?" Canny asked.
"Oh, I feel it iz zee best I have evar been to." Michel chuckled in said snooty manner, "I give all of moi praisez to zee fans that watched all moi movies and brought all moi albums, az well as my clothing linez and other merchandisez…oh, be aware of moi new CD, "Too hotz for Haven", coming in zee two weeks during Haven City's 300th year."
"Ha, Ha, that's just great!" Canny's over optimism showed through, "Oh, look! No surprise, Erol is in the lead! The son of the King can do anything, now can he?"
Jak was still light-years behind and even other racers were beating him.
"Damn." Jak groaned, "I need to get to that palace!"

"COME ON, JAK, GET THE LEAD OUT!" Daxter cried. Then he proceeded to lift up a sign he made, "BANNON WIN, EROL LOSE!" Ani barked in agreement Daxter, with Kiera, Tess, and the Undergrounds shouting encouragements to Jak, even if he couldn't hear it. Torn kept his silent treatment and just watched, arms crossed.
Jak's friends that he made during his time in Haven made it their privilege to watch. Vin had himself popcorns as he watched in the Power Station from his COMP, cheering for him.

"GO GET 'EM, JAK!" Vin cried out.
"You can do it!" came the roar of Carmen, the archeologist who watched from her COMP during one of her evacuation.
"SHOW 'EM what you're MADE OF, BOY!" came the optimistic thrill of Avery as he and his wife, Mimi, and their friend, Stinky Pete watched from inside their home. Other Underground members from all over watched from their respective television set. Brutter watched from his COMP, shouting out praises despite people staring at him.
"BLOW THEM OUT! BLOW THEM OUT!" Pecker cried, with Onin shaking fists at the COMP they had, indicating that she, too, was cheering for Jak to win.

Haven City mainly cheered for Erol during the course of the races Erol has entered and won, but this time, Jak has reached an all time high in the people's list of popular people. Considering it was he who has changed Haven City (and for the better), more then half the people of Haven City and its surrounding was cheering for the young blonde. He was the city's hope. While Jak couldn't hear his friend's voices because of the loud cheers and the humming of the engines, Jak knew they were watching and cheering him, he couldn't fail them! He reached Erol until they were neck and neck.

"YOU!" Erol hissed.
"Surprise!" Jak cried, "You're not winning, not this year!" Erol led a frustrating growl and pushed Jak a bit from his zoomer. The crowd reacted, some thinking it was unfair, others thinking it was a righteous act.
"HEY! THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR!" Jak shouted.
"You won't win!" Erol cried, and then he zoomed past.
"HEY!" Jak revved his machine to try and catch up. The other racers were too far behind and it was highly doubtful that they would catch up. Unfortunately, Erol completed his second lap with Jak following behind. More cheers uproar.
"OH! WATCH HIM MOVE!" Canny the announcer cried out.

During the second lap, Ashelin came silently. She didn't sit down with the crowds, she watched from the edge of the crowd seating where a glass wall protected them from falling. There, she eyed Erol and Jak head to head with each other, and her father hovering nearby, located in the "King's corner" named for it's obvious hold for the royal family. Ashelin sighed. She was worried of her family, both her father and little brother. She decided to have a chat with both of them immediately after the race, even if it meant talking in front of the public. She had hopes that because of their public appearance, both Erol and Praxis couldn't walk off and ignore her. For then, she watched the events unfold. She loved her father and brother, but she had secret hopes that Jak would win. She remembered a time when things were peaceful in their family…

…………………

"Always remember the special bond that you two shared." came the soft voice of a beautiful woman with light brown hair and light green eyes.
"Why are you talking like that, Mom?" came a small voice that only a little girl could make. A little girl of only age 12.
"It's nothing, my dear Ashelin."
"You sound upset, mom." A small boy with red hair spoke.
"Erolior…it'll be alright. You two need to look out for each other." She smiled, "Someday, I won't be here to protect you all."
"What are you talking about?" The boy, Erol cried out, "You'll live! You'll live as we grow up and marry and have kids or our own! I don't know what's going on, but you won't die!" The mother…she could only smile.

A few weeks passed before she died from a terminal illness. Her husband Praxis was devastated to the point where he turned cold. Ashelin, being the more older and far more experienced got over her mother's
death faster, keeping her memories inside her heart. It was her little brother, Erol, who lost someone so special in his life. He loved his mother more then Ashelin and Praxis did. Perhaps because he connected well to her while Ashelin did with her father. Why did Erol have to suffer? He was only 9. Without a mother, he tried to gain attention to his father who, upon turning cold, started to ignore and even beat his only son.

"I want to gain father's attention…I'll do anything." Erol stated, "He was proud to see Ashelin join the Krimzon Guards…will he be happy if I joined?"

He suffered so much…how could he recover? He tried to so hard to please his father, but in the end, he was still pessimistic and upset. Ashelin was so caught up with trying to change her father to give notice to her brother. She forgot her mother's words…to look out for each other. To be her brother's keeper.

…………………

Jak raced pass the other racers who were slowly catching up. Some of the racers lost control of their vehicle and fell off while their zoomer crashed and burned underneath a horrid fire. Ambulances and paramedics nearby came to the ailing fallen racers. Jak's good eye caused him to move out and maneuver with ease passed the obstacles and drivers until he reached Erol again. Erol, eyeing this, continued to push Jak out of the way. Jak, frustrated did the same. It was a pattern of pushes, hoping one of them would crash and burn. This continued into the third race. Everyone was on the edge of their seats. More profanity, more shouting, more curses and cheers.

"THIS IS IT! THE FINAL RACE, WHO WILL SURVIVE?" Canny cried out with Michel starring at him in disgust. Mimo and Ginger came closer to Michel, shouting their encouragements.
"JAK! GO GET 'EM!"
"GO FOR THE GOLD!"
"JAK! JAK! JAK! JAK!" Daxter started a cheer with everyone following behind. He didn't care if he could talk in public or not, his loyalty to Jak was unquestionable.

"Go, Jak." came the soft voice of the kid, who, inside his palace, trapped in his room, watching from Puar. The little boy held onto his half of the pendent, like it was his good luck charm. In the stadium Ashelin whispered the same thing.

Jak and Erol continued their push and solve.
"Why must you wreak everything for me?" Erol cried, "WHY? Everyone I LOVED, everyone I CARED FOR, they made my life not worth LIVING! THEY ALL LEFT ME! MY MOTHER…MY FATHER…MY SISTER!" Jak gasped, he couldn't believe he was hearing all this.
"MY MOTHER DIED, YOU JACKASS!" Erol cried, "MY FATHER HATES ME, MY SISTER IGNORES ME! SHE GETS THE PRAISE!"
"WHAT ARE YOU JABBERING ABOUT?" Jak shouted, "HOW THE BLOODY HELL IS THIS MY FAULT?"
"I thought I was AT LEAST HAPPY with KIERA, but even YOU stole her from ME!" Erol was teary eyed, "YOU STOLE MY FAME IN THE RACING! I…HATE…YOUUUUU!" And he gave a final push, one so harsh that Jak screamed as he fell off his vehicle and skidded harshly on the floor. Everyone watching gasped. Everyone at their homes watching gasped. Jak's entire body ached in pain. His right cheek was scratched, his shirt and pants ripped. Blood entered in some part of his body. His vehicle was miraculously intact. Jak slammed his fist to the ground, cursing in full might.
"DAMN IT!" He cried. Silence fell on his most loyal fans as well as his friends. He's failed. He couldn't possibly catch up to Erol by now. Silence except for the fans cheering on Erol.
"I'm sorry…kid." Jak muttered, his head lowering down.
"Could this be it?" Canny shouted, "The end of Jak Bannon! Has all lost faith in the city's hope? WILL EROL WIN? WHAT WILL HAPPEN?"
"Oh, shut up, you're annoyin-WAH!" Michel shouted until he was knocked out by Mimo and Ginger who wanted to get a closer look at Jak.

"JAK!" Jak lifted his head up to see who cried for his name.
"JAK, YOU LAZY MORON!" It was Torn, "ALL THAT HARD WORK ON THOSE MISSIONS I GAVE YOU AND YOU CAN'T HANDLE A SIMPLE RACE?"
"Torn!" Daxter gasped, along with the others surrounding him, including Ashelin who heard from above. Jak was the most shocked upon hearing Torn actually encourage him.
"GET YOUR LAZY ASS BACK ON THAT VEHICLE AND GET EROL!" Torn commanded, "OR I'LL CUT YOUR PAYMENT NEXT WEEK! NOW MOVE IT! I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER THAT THAT!"
"Torn…" Jak smiled weakly. By this point, nearly everyone could hear except for the roaring side of Erol's, including Praxis who couldn't hear anything.
Jak got up, slowly, as he was in pain, but eventually got up. The fans ROARED! Jak grinned and gave a thumbs up and rode his zoomer.
"YEA, JAK!" Daxter cried.
"KNOCK 'EM DEAD!" Kiera cried also. Jak's zoomer now zoomed passed in an attempt to catch up to Erol.
"OH! AND JAK IS BACK IN THE RACE! Canny announced, "WHAT A PERFORMANCE!"
Jak used the entire extra engine he had until he was once more, neck and neck to Erol. Erol was, obviously shocked.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Erol cried.
"I KNOW you had a rough time!" Jak cried, "I feel sorry for you, I DO! But I…CAN'T…LET YOU…WIN!" and Jak's zoomer revved up passed Erol's. Jak's main engine was starting to smoke and the finish line was near.
"HIS ENGINE'S ON SMOKE!" Kiera cried, "It's going to go up in flames in seconds! He has to get out of that vehicle before it explodes!" Jak revved it up tighter…time felt slow…flashing cameras blinked, people watched and cheered, it felt blinding and deaf…the checkered floor…and then it all ended quickly. An uproar of cheers fell upon.

"He…won…JAK HAS WON!" Canny cried out. More cheers fell. Jak noticed he was over the finish line and his engine on the back on fire, so he made a quickly yelp and leaped off before it exploded in a giant blaze of fire. Jak landed on his butt, but he won. He stood up and saw the people's cheering for him. He made a giant smile, raised his arms, and screamed in happiness. Confetti rained down upon him. His friends, whether in the stadium or watching from their respective home cheered for their friend. The Baron came down from his platform with a trophy and an access pass to the palace. He handed it over to Michel who was to give it to the winner. Erol saw this from beyond. He was next to his vehicle. The crowds cheering for him, even the ones cheering for Erol, were now solely centered on Jak. Erol fell on his knees, hurt and embarrassed.

"Erol." came a soft voice. It was his sister, Ashelin.
"Erol." She repeated, kneeing down to his level.
"Ashelin…" Erol started to cry.
"I know you've been hurt…I'm sorry if you felt I ignored you." She shook her head, "But you know I'd never ignore you. I know we haven't been close after mother's death…I'm so sorry." Erol had his head lowered, but he listened, "I admit I was caught up trying to change father to give you some attention…I nearly forgot mom's special memories…how she told us to help each other!" Erol was silent.
"I never meant for father to take me as his favorite! I love all my family equally!" Ashelin nearly shouted, "We have to stop this! We have to stop father! People are getting hurt!" Erol eyed his sister, and then lowered his head again.
"Leave father alone…he's done nothing wrong." He mumbled.
"HE'S HURT YOU!" Ashelin cried, "How can you let him do this?"
"I love him." Erol mumbled, "Maybe you don't understand that, but I do. Now leave me alone." Ashelin stood up with a frown.
"You were the type to never give up…always ambitious!" Ashelin spat in disgust, "You can't be my brother…he cared." Ashelin stormed off. She already talked to Erol; she needed for Praxis to hear her words.

Daxter, Ani, everyone one of his friends came and crowded him, Jak, that is.
"WAY TO GO, JAK!" Daxter ran up and hugged the blonde man. Jak sheepishly smiled and offered a hug back.
"Glad that's over with!" Jak smiled. Michel came; he was to present the award. He sighed in disgust when he saw it was Jak.
"Hello, Michel." Jak smiled.
"Yea, whatever, just take zee trophy and access pass to zee palace." Michel scoffed which Jak gladly did. His two assistants praised Jak on a good race before following their boss back home. Then Praxis came.
"Ah, a brave man of the people. And who is this worthy opponent? In my world, good men are either bought or broken. So which is it going to be?" Jak turned to face Praxis with a cocky grin.
"Surprise."
"WHAT?" The older man gasped.
" Come just a little closer. We need to talk." Jak gestured, keeping that cocky grin.
"Fool! Don't you get it! It's over, Jak! All the heroes died long ago! Only survival remains... by whatever means! This city is mine! These lives are mine! This war is mine! And in war... PEOPLE DIE! Kill him!"
"FATHER! NO!" Ashelin came running and stood in front of Jak.
"Please, dad, stop this!" She cried, "This has gone far enough! THIS HAS TO STOP!"
"Ashelin, get away!" Praxis cried as he tried to reach for Jak who started to back off. He didn't leave; he wanted to know what was up.
"FATHER! THERE'S ANOTHER WAY! DON'T DO THIS!" Everyone was watching, even the ones at home. The cameras caught everything.
"Guys, you all better split and go back!" Jak ordered, "I'll handle this!"
"I don't want to leave you, Jak!" Kiera cried.
"GO! JUST GO!" Jak ordered. Samos practically had to drag away Kiera while the other Underground was ordered by Torn to leave.
"Don't you understand, Jak is a menace to this city!" Praxis shouted, "He deserves to die!"
"How can you act like this?" Ashelin shouted, she now had tears in her eyes, "You've been like this ever since MOM DIED!" The two argued. The KG behind Praxis was confused as to shoot Jak or watch the argument unfold. Praxis was getting inpatient. Erol watched from afar. His sister was standing up against Praxis…this hasn't ever happened, not as long as he could remember. This was his sister…he missed his peaceful family home…then he realized what he became of himself.

All my life…I've wanted to please father…but I never could. I became a KG for him, I did everything for him, dirty or not…I made a mess of myself just to please him…I've become someone I did not wanted to be…what would mother think? What would she think seeing her own son make an ass out of himself? Ashelin may have ignored me, but she never gave up on me! Now I know…I understand now…

His final call came when Praxis slapped his daughter, Ashelin, who fell to the ground from the impact of it.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Praxis shouted as he took out his gun and pointed it to Ashelin.
"NO!" came the shout of Torn who was now being held by two KGs, same with Jak along with Daxter and Ani.
"Ashelin…" Erol mumbled.
"DAD!" Ashelin cried.
"Ashelin!" Erol shouted. He quickly got on his zoomer.
"What is that?" A KG soldier spoke. The loud sound of the zoomer buzzed in.
"Sounds like…a zoomer." Jak answered. They all turned to see Erol. He was aiming for Praxis.

"I understand now…I know…" Erol said to himself with tears coming down his eyes.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Jak cried and they all did. Praxis immediately knew Erol was aiming for him.
"EROL!" Praxis shouted, as well as Ashelin who was dragged away by Torn to one side, Jak and his friends leaped to another. The zoomer came close to Praxis and he quickly climbed up the floating platform, operating it to go up. Erol couldn't think quick enough to stop and saw where he was heading for…the barrels of dark eco.
"Agggghh!" Came Erol's scream before he crashed into the barrels. The crowds watching let out a resounding gasp.
"EROOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLL!" came the cry of Ashelin. His mask that he wore at all times on top of his head fell out and landed on the track floor. The only thing that survived the wreckage. Praxis was silent for a very brief time before he eyed Jak and got his focus back.
"After them!" Praxis cried. Jak had no choice but to run as the KGs gave chase. He dropped his trophy, but pocketed the access card to the palace. Praxis then turned his attention to the wreckage, then to Ashelin.
"I need to have a word with YOU!" Praxis growled. Ashelin gasped.
"And YOU as well." Praxis eyed Torn who stayed near Ashelin, protecting her, refusing to leave her side.

…..I understand now…I'll never please my father…I'll never make him love me…not in this state…I understand now……so…I'll change…I'll do what I should have done…a long time ago…Sorry, sis…

To Be Continued…