Chapter Seven: Handsome and a Beast

Although Samos had heard everything, I wasn't the least bit embarrassed. It was altogether romantic and cute, even if I was some sort of... Thing. But I still don't understand, how could he feel this way? My Dark Powers are uncontrollable, what if something bad happens? But like Samos said, no matter what happens, I have to be strong and willing to fight, for the world is yet again in danger.

We came back to the bar after we woke up two hours later. Daxter thought we got lost, and immeadiatly started to yell at us. "Where were you two? I was worried sick!" We just shook our heads and sat down. Keira, of course, was dying to hear what happened. Even though she was like a sister, I decided it was best that it stayed between me, Michael, and Samos.

Jak was going to take me out to a secret place that he wouldn't even tell me about. He said he would train me with my powers, and I couldn't help but be a little worried. What if I hurt him?

That's impossible, Jordan. You have to remember that he has Dark Powers, too.

But, Samos...

Just trust him my dear...

I wanted to trust him with all my heart, but I just couldn't. We got up about four in the morning to begin. Jak came for me at the Naughty Ottsel and led me to his secret location. For some odd reason he took me to Vin's old lab. Then I realized where we were going. "We're going to the old Metal Head Nest!" He put a finger up to his lips and activated the portal. I'd already jumped through one of these, and I didn't like it. "Can't we drive?" I pleaded, not wanting to wind up in the wrong place again through a celestial error. "Don't worry! Everything will be fine!" he reassured me.

Yeah, that's what you said when Kleiver sent you to take out "a few" Metal Heads...

He jumped through first and I entered second. It was a lot like the first portal, only easier on my stomach. Surprisingly, I landed on my feet when the ride ended. I studied my surroundings. A small Metal Head scurried along the ground. Eeeew. "Um, Jak," I whimpered. "You did bring your gun with you, didnt' you?" He smiled at me and sat down on a rock. "Why?"

"Jak!" I whined. "What if something goes wrong!"

"You have me, what's there to worry about?"

"Well-"

"Nothing, that's what. Now, show me your claws." I held up my hands and turned them from side to side. "Not very big..." he said, unimpressed by their size. "But I bet they could do a lot of damage! Let's see!" He motioned for me to find a small Metal Head. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"No, actually. Get to it." I could see that he wasn't going anywhere until I found a Metal Head, for he had leaned up against the rock wall behind him. "Alright," I sighed, seeing that I wasn't winning. To my advantage, a scorpion-like Metal Head ran out in front of me. Streaks of purple and red flashed by my hand as I moved faster than the speed of sound to catch the monster. Look who's calling who what...

Who said that? Samos?

No, dearest, it is I, Vegar.

Vegar, you bastard! Get out of my head and stay out of my life!

Touchy, aren't we? I can see that you're angry at me. I will go for now, but remember these words: They will eventually destroy you. You can't stop them, no one can. Not unless you come back to me. Meet me at Mar's memorial tonight and I will see what I can do...

"Jordan?" I jumped, realizing that I was still back on the Metal Head Nest. "What's wrong?" called Jak, seeing my lack of movement. I looked down at my hand. There sticking to the end of my claws was the small monster, kicking its legs and screaming for dear life. Jak walked up to me and gave me further instructions. "Now, see that small bit of skin right there?" He pointed at a small break of its metal plates. "Bite it."

"WHAT!"

"Just do it." Not wanting to get in any more trouble, I obeyed. I pulled it up to my face and bent its neck forward. Making a face to show that I wasn't enjoying this, I brought my fangs down upon the squealing Metal Head. It fell limp. "What happened?" I asked.

"You killed it." I what? Why didn't I feel sick? Normally, even after squishing a bug, I would double over and moan. For some reason or another, I wasn't sorry for it. "Good work!" he said as he put his hand on my shoulder. "You see, Metal Heads are extremely weak under their armor. If you bite down on just a small piece of flesh, it will die. That's why they're covered in so much metal. Even the leader was." Interesting. I smiled and tore out the skull. It shined like the sun, only more dense. He picked it out of my hand and put it in his pack. "We'll keep this safe for ya'. Let this be known as your first kill!" I felt proud of myself. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. He told me to keep it, just in case I wanted to brag. It didn't look like much to brag over though. Its size was that of a toy poodle, and its legs were no longer than my forearm. Still, I kept it.

We went back to Haven after a few minutes of admiring my poodle-sized Metal Head. When we entered the bar, I hid the Metal Head behind my back. Michael walked up to me. "So, how was school, honey?" I sniggered and replied.

"I got you the coolest souvenier!" I drew the monster out from behind me.

"Oh my-" He suddenly realized that it was dead, and he turned all pinkish. "Don't you ever, EVER, do that again!"

"What's wrong, scared of it?"

"No! Well, I was until I knew it was dead!"

"Fraidy Cat!"

"Am not!

"Are too!"

"Children!" cried Samos. "Stop fighting! You're worse than me and Daxter."

"Are not..." mumbled Daxter. Samos glared at him and turned his gaze back to us. "Well, how did the training go?" I thought for a moment if I should tell them about my conversation with Vegar. No, I should see what he wants tonight... "It went great!" I said, making sure that I didn't sound suspicious. Jak stood forward and argued. "Well, there was this one time that you spaced out for a couple of minutes with the Metal Head still in your hands." Beads of sweat started to form around my brow. "Yeah, you've been doin' that a lot lately," said Michael, sounding like he thought I was up to something. I shook my head. "I'm fine! You know how I like to day dream!"

"In the middle of a battle?"

"Well, it wasn't a real battle." And it wasn't, I basically bit it and it died. Almost too easy. I grinned evily. "Ya' wanna know how I killed it?" Mike gulped and nodded his head slowly, curious as to how I killed it with such little effort. "Well, I picked it up and it started screaming bloody murder. Then, I slowly bent his neck forward..." As I told the story I did all the movements dramatically. "He screamed even louder. And then..." I paused, Michael was leaning closer with every word and motion. "Then what?"

"And then, I sank my long, sharp fangs into his soft, tender neck! He instantly fell limp as I brought my teeth further to his flesh with a loud squish!" Daxter put his hand over his mouth and ran to the back of the bar, Tess following much the same. Mike, however, thought it was the most wonderful thing in the world. "Awesome! Are you gonna keep it?"

"Yep! I'll hang him above the door for all to see!"

"Wow! I can't wait to see you kick more Metal Head ass!" Yep. I'll kick more ass. But it won't be a Metal Head...

That night I was careful not to be seen as I crept about the alley behind the Naughty Ottsel. Climbing through pipes and sliding down sewers, I quickly headed towards Mar's Memorial. To my disgust, the brown and bitter Ottsel was on his head, sneering an awful smirk. He jumped down and looked me in the eye, well, tried to. We stood in complete silence. Finally, he held out his hand. "I know we got of on the wrong foot my dear," he said through gritted teeth. "So why don't we start over. How can I make it up to you."

"By getting the hell out of this city. For good."

"Dearest! I'm trying to be reasonable!"

"Well try harder."

"Why don't I take away those silly powers?" I froze. Should I trust him? What if he only makes them worse? "Well?" he inturrupted. I could tell that he had read my thoughts, and now he was cooking up another plan to get to my core. Maybe he's not lying...

Jordan! Don't trust him!

Get out of here you fool! Trust me, darling.

He's only trying to make matters worse!

But-

Listen, Jordan. I can make you human again.

Come back to the Naughty Ottsel!

Stay!

Go!

"STOP!" I screamed. Samos and Vegar had been inside of my mind for long enough. I sprinted towards the direction of the Naughty Ottsel. When I got there, everyone was crowded around Samos. A strange portal was swirling before them. He... He said he didn't tell anyone! "You! You can't just mind your own business, can you? I can't believe you followed me! And after all those times you said you kept everything secret!"

"We're just trying to protect-"

"No! I could've been okay!"

"Jordan, be reasonable!"

"Mike, stay out of this! You don't know what it's like! To be..." I stopped. Can't. Keep. Control! Run! Don't go back, ever! Like before, I took off, leaving the others in my dust. I wasn't running at ninety, but still I was quick enough to resist being caught. You're not okay, no matter what they say!

Jordan, listen-

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Unfortunatly, another Freedom Fighter had grabbed hold of me. "You're under-"

SLASH! The guard lay before me, dead. Michael came running up behind me. "J-Jordan," he stuttered. I could tell that a knot had welled up in his throat, for he tried to swallow many times that moment, but failed. "I was wrong," he mumbled. "You are a monster." Reds and purples started to swirl around me, visible to everyone who was watching. "What the hell is going on!" Jak ran up behind Mike; Torn, Ashlynn, and Daxter close behind. Keira ran up behind me. "Stop, Jordan!" she screamed, but I couldn't hear her, the rage was too powerful. "Get... AWAY!" The cloud of darkness got bigger and bigger as my anger continued to grow. Suddenly, my feet left the ground. The pit was taking us all in!

A rough hand seized my shoulder. Sparks of purple left my body as I was electrecuted with Dark Eco. I looked down to meet the most fearsome eyes that I ever had. They were pits of blackness, revealing no signs of human similarities. I panicked as I realized who it was. Jak. I was slammed on the ground and the black hole disappeared. Fury was burning in my eyes as I gazed into space, trying to find the old Jordan within. Think happy thoughts... Like your first day of school... You got beat up by some fourth graders... How 'bout your first dance with Michael? I would never forget that day. He gave me my beautiful necklace two hours before the dance that way I would have no choice but to say yes. He even payed for everything. It was so romantic.

Jordan... The music was loud, but we managed to get to know each other better...

Jordan! And that annoying John cut in...

"JORDAN!" My head rolled around and snapped back into place. "Are you alright?" Everyone was standing around me with wide eyes, some people I didn't even know. A four year old reached out and touched my head around my horns. She seemed scared, but yet her curiosity got the better of her. My legs were trembling with fear. What will they do with me? Back up Freedom Fighters fought their way through the crowd and cuffed me. "Jak?" I pleaded. He didn't move. They all just watched me be loaded in the cruiser yet again. "Jak!" I called louder, thinking he didn't hear me. But he did hear me, and yet he continued to stare. As they shut the cage door to the cruiser, I caught him mouthing the words that actually hurt in a situation like this: "I'm sorry."

"No! Don't let them take me! HELP ME! I'M NOT A MONSTER! I'M A NORMAL TEEN! JAK! KEIRA! TORN, ASHLYNN... SOMEBODY, HELP!" I screamed their names and nobody followed. All I remember was yelling and kicking the sides of the cage, begging for mercy. Nobody cared...

I was wrong. You are a monster...

"I am a monster." I whispered those last words as they dragged me down the long chamber of cells...