Jak II Chronicles

by Neo Yi

Yes, a Jak II fanfic adaptation, but do more then merely adapt it. But enhance it. The First in my Blue Curtain Trilogy. Special Director's Cut editiom. ALL CHAPTERS ARE NOW REVISED Finally.

28. The Fall of Haven

Jak II Chronicles
Part 3: The Future Awaits…
Chapter 28: The Fall of Haven

The months after that incident, things have only turned for the worse. The villagers now assumed Samos, Kiera, Daxter, and Jak was dead, no matter how much I told them they had traveled to another period in time. I'd figure they wouldn't listen to me. Their minds weren't scientific in thinking. They still relied on magic and Precursors. But at times, I wonder if they do make a good point…what if they died during their travels?

For months, everything went downhill. These creatures were known as Metal Heads and they invaded the entire continent, possibly the entire world with no remorse for the others. Precursians and Lurkers, smaller creatures, and others were under the same boat with the Metal Heads" We wanted them gone. Of course, we Precursians and Lurkers were stubborn, too stubborn to even consider teaming up to stop this desperate cause.
Most of the time, we had to fight to survive as they kept invading Sandover. As time passed, the village started to become unlivable. We could barely get any huts fixed before they would come and tear it apart. The constant meetings with the mayor who ask everyone to fight harder wasn't convincing enough. It was a desperate time. Most have come to the conclusion that without Jak, their miracle child, the village has succumb to doom. They believe the Precursors have sent them as punishment as responsibilities of what they did to the boy that fell from the sky. Most of the time, I stayed inside my home which was lucky to stay up despite the constant attacks. I was in too much of a disadvantage to fight. The cane which held my legs because of that one incident as well as many more injuries I received fighting Metal Heads have caused me to be placed under protection.
Nighttime was even more uneasy when we had to sleep and let off our guards. People in Sandover and neighboring villages of Rock Village took turns helping each other out and watching the night shift. The remaining three Sages have gone off. Where? It is unknown. We assume they went off to fight the Metal Heads. As I slept, it was mainly one without dreams. How could I dream? There were no happy things to dream off. Nightmares refuse to enter into my body, which made it even worse. At this point, I wish I had some sort of contact, even in the dead of the night.

As I slept, however, I heard a small ringing sound. I turned around and walked, but the ringing sound continued, like it was after me. I stopped when I heard voices, whispering voices piercing through my head. What power! What energy! Who was speaking to me? I gasped when I eyed that gem that Jak and the others used alongside the Time Map to travel to their destiny. Then I eyed this giant key with a red ruby inside.
"Haven…" the soft, whispering voices told me, "Haven…Haven…"
"Haven?" I repeated. Haven was the name of this kingdom that Samos told me he came from. But it still wasn't clear; Haven…how was I important? Do I create Haven? Will someone else created Haven? I saw the figure of a tall man who with a square jaw and bright, powerful eyes. He held a mystical sword and a crown on his head. Who is that? The man lifted his sword up and raised it over his head. He was going to strike me and he did, but everything was white at that point, then I woke up. What a nightmare, I thought. Then I realized that I might have had a vision…

…………………

Haven Palace
Month 3: Marcina, Day 16 (Spring Time)
Year: 299 TOMH (Time of the Metal Heads)

"Come on, we have to get out of here, all of us!" Ashelin cried, luring everyone from the palace: friends, maids, chefs, butlers, whoever.
"Ashelin, we can't just leave!" Jak cried.
"Right now, we need to get you and the Queen to a safe place." Ashelin ordered, "We can't let anything happen to you two."
"I can fight!" Jak cried.
"Out of the question!" Alexandros came towards Jak as they all made a mad dash to the bottom of the palace, "You're the future of Haven!"
"I can't keep hiding forever!" Jak cried.
"Well, we'll hide you people first, then help!" Ashelin cried, "Torn's fighting for us as well as Brutter right now."
"And I can't fight?" Jak struggled. Indeed, Torn and Brutter were already outside the palace fighting. Even Sig joined. Jak was disappointed, he was relegated to being rescued and taken to safety because of his status now. Anything that involved him using his guns and other skills he possessed and seen by others were now obsolete.
"Jak, you have to watch over Grandma." Jak was left in utter confusion and disbelief. The fact that he had to runaway and not fight was pissing him off, yet, Ashelin did make a good point: Alexandros was as sharp as her tongue, but she lacked any physical fighting abilities. Jak sighed and took Alexandros by the arm to help lure her out before he got a contact from his COMP. The message was scrambled, but Jak unmistakably knew who's voice was underneath the speaker.
"Jak... Kor... Construction Site..." Vin's weak, struggling voice spoke. Jak eyed the COMP for a long time, pondering on what he had to do. His concerned face then turned into determination and he started to run, leaving the COMP behind.
"JAK!" Ashelin gasped.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Alexandros screamed. Jak didn't answer, he just kept running. He ran past the front doors of the palace where Torn, Brutter, Sig, Tess, etc. all eyed him run. They all had the same expression as Ashelin and Alexandros did.
"Where the hell are you going!" Torn cried.
"NO GO, IS DANGEROUS!" Brutter shouted. Jak kept running, Daxter and Ani desperately trying to catch up with him. When the two animals caught up, Daxter quickly leap to Jak's shoulder.
"What's your problem?" Daxter cried, "What's going on?"
"This may be my last chance to save the kid!" Jak cried, "I have to do this!" And Jak ran. He ran until he reached a doorway that took them to the Construction Site, an area where the entire place was obviously in the middle of construction, probably to expand upon the city. Once inside, Jak was surprised as well as the others that the entire place was lacking very little in Metal Heads, as in, there was none, zip, zero. Perhaps they haven't reached this portion of the city yet. Either way, Jak finally found the person he was after: Praxis.

Construction Site
Month 3: Marcina, Day 16 (Spring Time)
Year: 299 TOMH (Time of the Metal Heads)

He was traveling with two Krimzon Guards, but most importantly, he had…the kid!
"The kid!" Daxter pointed loudly. Jak grabbed his snout and told him to "shut up". Jak sneaked from behind them, hiding in random barrels and metal steel lines whenever a KG looked over his shoulder to see who was behind them.
"Make haste, you two!" Praxis ordered the two KG, then he eyed the small boy who he tightly held by the boy's back collar, "That goes for you. I'm giving you one last chance to do this." The child was silent, yet his face kept that stern appearance. On his hands was Puar who was reassuring the kid every once in a while. Jak inched closed, hoping he'd at least grab the child and make a haste for it. Of course, Jak has a bit of a problem of being clumsy, so upon getting just inches closer, he stumbled upon some pipes.
"What was that?" Praxis cried, pissed. Even more so when he saw it was Jak.
"YOU!" Praxis hissed, he shoved the child to one of the KG and walked over to Jak, one hand on the handle of his sword, "You've been a THORN in my sight since you've escaped, but this time, you'll die in my hands!"
"You don't want to kill me!" Jak cried, "I'm more important to you then you think I am!"
"Load of cock." Praxis hissed, "I'll make sure your kind never wanders Haven City AGAIN!" Praxis was about to take out his sword if not for the fact that someone leaped down and got in between him and Jak.
"What th-" Praxis gasped. Jak, too, held the same face, even more so when he found out that it was Kor
"Kor? Wha- What the bloody hell's going on!" Jak gasped, moving back a little. Kor slowly turned to face Jak with an evil grin.
"I'm sure you know... deep down in your darkest nightmares." Kor quickly showed a quick show of fangs and white pupil less eyes, "We've met before, remember? Everything's going exactly as planned."
Everyone had no idea what to do or what they should be doing. Kor slowly started to walk while laughing diabolically. He walked away from them, threw away his stick, and then started to change as he stopped walking. Beefy arms, four insect-like wings, the goods. He started to turn around as he continued to transform. His entire body started to glow blue.

"Jak! It's the Metal Head leader!" Daxter shrieked. Indeed it was the same creature that Jak saw in Sandover, the same who battle both Praxis and his father three years ago. The blue glow ended and Kor was now the giant Metal Head Leader. Metal Kor.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Now you see! Without the shield wall disrupting my powers inside the city, I am my full potential now! So for the last time, give me the Precursor Stone!" Jak backed away from pure intimidation while Praxis stood his ground. He has had enough of this.
"If the city must die, then we all die! AAAGGGHHH!" Praxis ran head first into Metal Kor, with the two KG following behind. Metal Kor grinned at such a pathetic attempt and with one blast from his laser; Praxis was hurled to the ground. The two KG were then disintegrated by Metal Kor's laser. Jak hardly could breathe. The fact that he has had terrible memories of three years ago rushed to his head. He stood there as he watched Praxis slowly get up.
"I'll…defeat you…ugh…don't matter how…ugh…you've caused so much pain on us all!" And Praxis lunged at Metal Kor again, only to be knocked back again.
"You fool; YOU'RE the one who brought sufferings to this city as well as this kingdom!" Metal Kor cried, "You corrupted this kingdom and therefore, you must be punished!" Praxis lunged again, only to be sent back. Each time he saw, more scraps and blood covered his entire body. Poor Jak, he couldn't do anything. He even forgot about the one person he wanted to rescue more then anything.
"UNCLE!" The kid cried. Jak turned and faced the small child who was watching just from the right of this entire battle, clutching Puar hard. Like Jak, he was standing still, not doing anything except yell or scream. Again, Praxis leaped.
"Your land is plaque with your evil!" Meta Kor manipulated, "But once I have the final Precursor Stone, I will destroy this land and free the people of their sinful souls and create a land of our kind!"
"You're…disillusion…ugh.." Praxis spat out blood. Metal Kor let out a shrill cry, and then he swiped Praxis with his claws, then retaliated with his tails. Rinse and Repeat.
"JAK! We need to do something! JAK! ANI!" Daxter cried out, but they were both affected by the sight of Metal Kor. Daxter wasn't, he was the only one who wasn't affected because he was never there during that fateful event three years ago.

After further pummeling, Praxis looked more like a rag doll with a head. Metal Kor lifted the former King and tossed him recklessly to a tall building under construction. It crumbled as he hit. Metal Kor then eyed the child and quickly ran to him.
"KID!" Jak cried. He tried to run, but Metal Kor was much faster. Using his powerful magic, Metal Kor formed a circular, light blue transparent shield around the kid who screamed in fear and confusion. It knocked the kid off his feet and made him drop Puar. Kor's tail wrapped itself around the shield and started to fly off with the boy. Rain started to fall.
"I will find that Stone if I have to crush this city one brick at a time!" Metal Kor's voice rang. He started to fly off.
"JAK! SAVE HAVEN!" The kid cried. Metal Kor flew off. Jak started to catch him and manage to grab his tail. Metal Kor, pissed, waved violently and managed to knock Jak out. Jak rolled harshly on the sandy ground where his goggles and red scarf flew off, leaving his entire face bare. Then Metal Kor disappeared in the rainy clouds. Jak, stunned, just stood there. He was this close…THIS close to the kid, and he was taken away again. All because he couldn't stop himself from all the painful memories he had.
"Oh-No, Praxis." Ani whispered. She barked and Jak manage to snap out of it to notice the wreckage nearby. Running towards it, Jak started to dig out Praxis from the wreckage. The others helped and in time, they saw Praxis' weary body. His entire clothes were tattered, his armor scratched, his entire body covered in red by his own blood.
Praxis coughed before he eyed Jak staring right back at him, not with anger, but with concern.
"You…You are the supreme weapon, Jak. And I made you." Praxis coughed, "…Though now…I wish I hadn't…"
"Hey, hang tight; we'll take you to a hospital!" Jak gasped, "Just…just let me try to hold the blood!" Jak panicky searched his small bag for some bandages, anything to hold the blood.
"I…I was going to betray the Metal Heads, but I underestimated them." Praxis spoke, "They…they were… cough much cleverer then I thought." Jak eyed Praxis, and then continued searching.
"Just hang on."
"You…wished me dead." Jak stopped searching when Praxis spoke that, "You…wished…revenge against…cough on me…why do you…try…try to save me?"
"You need help." Jak's shaky voice came.
"Tell me!" Praxis grabbed Jak's collar, but rather weakly. Jak didn't know what to say. He feared telling the truth. Praxis tried to stand up and Jak manage to help him up until he was in a more sitting position. Praxis still had his hand around Jak's collar, refusing to let go as if Jak was his life support. He slowly eyed Jak and laughed weakly.
"What's so funny?" Daxter cried, "If I was in horrible pain, I wouldn't be laughing!" Praxis laughed more heartily, yet still weak, then he eyed Jak again.
"I was corrupt…he was right. My mind has lead Haven Kingdom to its downfall." Praxis weakly spoke, "It has led you to be dark, led to my daughter no longer…trusting me…led my son to be comatose…such an irony…cough …my son tried so hard to be accepted…cough …something I wanted to do…being born in the Romanir family…kept out of the royal family's secret…cough …Everyone favoring my brother…then me. I thought…" He stopped and tried to catch a breath.
"I thought…if I became King…people would respect me…cough …especially my family. I was a fool."
"Praxis…" Jak wanted to speak, but Praxis shut him up when he tighten his grip on Jak's shirt, staring at his face. He chuckled again.
"Okay…he's scaring me." Daxter gulped, "Are all dying people like this?"
"I guess being near dead…has its advantage…I can see your eyes, I can see your eyes, Jak." Jak kept that concern look, his face flushing red from sadness and upcoming signs of tears.
"The eyes of the Romanir…of the child…" Praxis smiled weakly, "I'm so sorry…I am…cough …I failed this city…but you can reclaim it back. I'm sorry for everything." By this time, Jak's quiet sobs he has emitted turned hysterical.

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY SHIT LIKE THAT!" Jak screamed, "WHAT WILL ASHELIN THINK? SHE LOST A MOTHER, SHE CAN LOSE A BROTHER, and now…SHE COULD LOSE YOU!"
"There is no hope…for me…I am…dying…" Praxis struggled, his breathe escaping him.
"NO! RUBBISH!" Jak cried, "YOU STUPID OLD MAN!" Jak sobbed as he lowered his head. Praxis smiled gently.
"I haven't…felt so…wonderful…so…peaceful…since before my beloved…cough …Minna died." Praxis's voice started to soften down, "Please…apologize for Ashelin…apologize her for me…"
"NO! YOU'RE BLOODY GOING TO DO IT!" Jak screamed, "YOU ARE! NOT ME! YOU'LL SEE HER AGAIN EVEN IF I HAVE TO DRAG YOU THERE!"
"She calls me…I see my beloved…I see my brother…cough …He watches you, too…I see them reaching out for me…" He extended his arm, "…Oh, yes…" He slowly took out a small button from his back in his belt.
"I am…dying…but still, any leader worth his salt always has his…backup plan..." He pushed the button and behind them all was, believe it or not, a Piercer bomb, like the one Krew made, "Remember, the first rule in making a bomb... is to always make two." Jak, remaining speechless, eyed the bomb then Praxis again.
"Please…tell Ashelin…tell Erol…I love them…undo the wrong…I have done…"

Silence.

………………………………

Daxter eyed Puar who eyed Ani. The three beings stared in complete silence, especially when Jak eerily uttered little word. Jak now seem to struggle for air. Both his hands were clothing onto Praxis' clothes hard. Finally, Daxter came close to Jak and slowly placed his small paw on Jak's back.
"Jak…" He started. Jak screamed as if he was in pain physically. More hysterical sobs rang through the empty construction site as Jak practically hugged the still body of Praxis.
"NO! YOU BASTARD! YOU DIED! NOBODY DIES! NOBODY!" Jak screamed, pounding Praxis' chest, "NOBODY!"
"JAK!" Daxter tried to pry him away. Ani and Puar trying to help, but naturally, Jak refused.
"YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO DIE! NOBODY…DIES! NO…BODY…DIES!" He kept pounding his chest before giving up and loudly sobbing, lowering his head down.
"No…body dies…" Jak whispered, his sobs now turning into more gentle. He cried some more before eyeing his companions, all with eager and depresses looks in their face.
"Jak, we can't do anything anymore." Puar flew near him, "What's done is done…the Precursor giveth…and the Precursors taketh." She no longer called her "master…"
"You gonna mope while the kid is kidnapped?" Daxter cried out, "You have a future to defend! Your kingdom cries for you! DO SOMETHING!" Jak eyed Daxter who gave his determined face again. His depression then turned into ambitious as he stood up, shivering in cold from the rain, but still moving. He headed for the piercer bomb and eyed the Precursor Stone on top. Jak eyed Daxter who sighed.
"Yaaaowww! Okay! I'm going in!" Daxter climbed inside the machine from a small gap on the top.
"Man, what a mess a junk in here! All jumbled coils and switches! Should I unhook the blue wire? Wait a minute! Are ottsels color blind? Let me just break a few more things and see if anything pops loose…"
Another set of silence befell, leaving the others anxious. Of course…
"BOOM! Ha! Ha! Gotcha!" He threw the Precursor Stone down where Jak caught it with relative ease. Daxter slid down the bomb to be near Jak. "Like candy from a baby!" Jak nodded and eyed the huge stone, near the size of his entire torso. Jak leaped off the platform where the bomb was and was met with Ani who held the red bandana on her mouth. Jak slowly took it, and then he eyed Puar with his goggles. Jak took it with the same hand he got the bandana, eyed them, then the Precursor Stone, then his friends, and finally…Praxis. Jak nodded, and then ran off. The rest followed.

……………

Haven City
Month 3: Marcina, Day 16 (Spring Time)
Year: 299 TOMH (Time of the Metal Heads)

Upon leaving the construction site, Jak immediately contacted Ashelin who didn't exactly greet him with welcome arms.
"Jak! Where are you?" Ashelin cried.
"SHHH!" Jak gasped as he quickly hid in an alley, away from Metal Heads, "I have the Precursor Stone."
"WHAT? HOW?" Ashelin cried to which Jak told her to shut up again.
"I'll explain later." Jak's voice was heavy and low, indicating that he was still upset, "We…have a lot to talk about, Ashelin."
"Yes, we do!" Ashelin scoffed, "We're at the port, we're going to take one of the reminding ships out of this city and hide and think of a plan. We're going to leave soon, so if you don't make it, we'll leave without you. Grandma's orders." Jak was silent.
"Jak…" Ashelin whispered.
"I'll come…I…I have to…I have to tell you…something." Jak softly spoke.
"Then come now." Ashelin ordered, "…Please." Then she hung up. Jak nodded and in the right time, Jak started to run. The Metal Heads noticed the shining green gem he held in his hands and immediately gave chase. Jak, noticing this, ran like the dickens. He reached the harbor where a ship was starting to leave, the only ship left in the harbor. The rest were destroyed.
"JAK!" Ashelin shouted, "HURRY!" Jak took a deep breath. He was already bruised and tired, but damn it, he couldn't give up. Not now. Jak took a running start, and then made a giant leap where he managed to grab onto the edge of the ship.
"WHOA!" Daxter shrieked, clutching onto Jak.
"I got ya, kid!" Sig popped out of nowhere and manage to pull Jak in in the same manner he did to him in the Ancient city. Once on the boat, it left the city with the Metal Heads gunning after him. Ashelin and Torn mainly kept them at bay by using their guns. Once outside, the ship went far away from the city, but enough that it was still in plain view. Once they felt the location was a safe one, everyone took a deep breath.
"Where's Dad! And the kid?" Ashelin ignore the giant, glowing stone on Jak's hands and Puar. Jak tried to speak, but felt catching his breath was far important. Obviously.
"Here, let me take that." Jak eyed Young Samos who literally grabbed the stone out of Jak's hand and walked to take it inside.
"Jak…what happen?" Ashelin asked.
"The kid…he's…he's…taken by the Metal Head Leader." Jak whispered.
"What, the leader is back?" Torn gasped. Jak nodded.
"The leader is Kor." Puar softly replied. Everyone naturally expressed their shock.
"Holy Crap, how many surprises are they planning to shove in our faces?" Torn scoffed.
"What about Dad?" Ashelin feared the worst.
"Ashelin…I'm sorry…Metal Kor…he killed him." Immediately, he felt a bad taste in his mouth for spreading this news. Ashelin's reaction was a quiet one. She stared at Jak as a single tear left her eye.
"Ashelin…" Torn tried to speak, but she wouldn't hear of it. Instead, she quickly left to go inside the ship, refusing to come out. Torn gasped, his face looking in guilt (even if he wasn't the one who broke the news), and sadness. He then eyed Jak who literally looked like crap. It was still raining which made his clothes look even worse. His head was low as he just stood there, upset and guilt ridden.
"Jak…" Torn tried to speak again, but Jak, like Ashelin moved away. Before he could go inside, a menacing laugh came off. Jak gasped and saw a giant figure above the palace roof. Soon, others in the ship came out to see what it was.

Metal Kor was on top of the palace. His voice rang loud enough for Jak to hear.
"I KNOW YOU HAVE THE STONE! MY KIND SAW YOU RUN!" Metal Kor cried, then he showed off the orb with the kid to whom the surviving citizens of Haven gasped, "WHAT I HAVE HERE IS THE TRUE HEIR TO HAVEN: PRINCE CHRISTOF!" More gasps rang.
"IF YOU WANT THE FUTURE OF HAVEN TO LIVE, YOU WILL GIVE ME THE STONE!" Metal Kor continued, "I WILL GIVE YOU TILL THE 300TH BIRTHDAY OF HAVEN KINGDOM…that's a WEEK away…you have till then!" Jak knew he was talking to him. How his heart hurt so much from all this stress. After a long, brief silence, Jak slowly went inside with the others following. In there was Old Samos who had stayed inside the whole time.

"Jak!" Old Samos gasped, "Thank goodness you're okay!"
"How is…everyone?" Jak softly asked.
"Well, we manage to get Brutter, Tess, a few Underground members, Sig, your animal friends, of course, Ashelin, Torn, me and my younger half, Pecker, Alexandros, and of course, Kiera. Am I missing anyone?"
"Where is she?" Daxter asked, searching around.
"She's in another part of the ship, finishing the last touches of the Rift Rider." Old Samos spoke.
"You manage to lift an entire heavy thing like that here with you hands?" Puar asked.
"Me and my younger self used out magic to lift it and bring it to the ship and believe me, it was not easy." Old Samos spoke.
"Yes, we had Torn and Ashelin to help keep the Metal Heads away as we lifted the machine." Young Sam continued.
"Okay, that's enough chitchat, we need a plan!" Pecker flew by, "I'm feeling guilty for leaving Onin behind…she should have come with us! Stubborn, she is!"
"So, what is the plan?" Sig spoke, "The Metal Head has the entire city!"
"We need a plan to destroy the Metal Head completely." Alexandros popped out of nowhere. Jak eyed the Queen who gave her stare. She was obviously pissed Jak ran off, but kept silent.
"To stop the Metal Heads from coming back…we need to destroy their nest." Jak softly spoke, "Mar's gun…it was going to open the location to the Metal Head's nest. We…we have to go there." Jak eyed the stone on the bed where Old Samos laid it. He walked over to it.
"We have to go to the Wasteland and destroy that blockage." Jak slowly spoke, not knowing if he was gaining any confidence or not, "Then…we'll drop bombs down the nest and destroy it. Kiera can make them."
"Jak…" Torn eyed him.
"We…we have to keep going." Jak softly spoke, "We have to." He wanted to cry and just lie down until he died, but he had to go on. The question is: How long can this last?
To Be Continued…