Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Jak 3, Naughty Dog does. If I was working with Naughty Dog, I'd be trying to convince them to make a Jak 4 instead of working on this. My character, on the other hand, is mine…ALL MINE! lol

A/N: Jak 3 spoilers afoot! Plus, I get my all-important name change to better portray this...hopefully...


Chapter 2: The Beginning of a Journey

"Well, do you speak or not?" Damas replied, both surprised and irritated at the being at his feet.

David couldn't speak; he was in too much shock to notice that Damas was talking to him. When it finally hit him that the king of Spargus was addressing him, David had to act fast.

"Look, I would tell you right now, but we need to head inside…there's a storm coming, and it looks close by."

Damas thought for a minute. "Hmm…" he said, "you are correct. Kleiver, take our first set of newcomers inside. You two, join him, and make sure he wakes up with our usual welcome."

David sighed a little and turned to the gates of Spargus. But Damas turned him back around and said, "As for you, you will accompany me to my throne. You have some explaining to do."


David stood in front of the throne that Damas was sitting in. He had gotten new clothing, something more suited for the Wasteland and not the street life: an off-white colored robe, baggy blue pants (somewhat fashioned like Jak's), a light blue scarf, and a pair of goggles around his neck.

"Now explain yourself!" Damas exclaimed. "Are you a Wastelander?"

"No sir," David answered. He knew that he'd have to keep his wits with him, because he didn't desire to change the game as he knew it.

"Then where are you from?"

"A civilization, far to the north. You probably wouldn't have been there."

"Fair enough…now tell me, what is your name?"

David was stumped at that question. Should I tell him my real name, or make up a new one… he thought, trying to figure out a solution.

Fortunately, Kleiver gave him a temporary one.

"Sire, the elf newbie from the desert is finally wakin' up," Kleiver said from a set of speakers in the throne room.

"Very well," Damas replied. "Have him meet me in my throne room."

"Yes, your lordship."

"As for you," Damas slowly said as he turned to David, "you will go into the arena and earn your citizenship to Spargus. Complete your training above the arena, then you will fight for your first battle amulet. We will see whether you belong in Spargus or not."


The training arena, looming over the lava-filled arena, was a sight to behold.

To others, it would look dangerous and unstable. But to David, it seemed like heaven.

"Begin!" Damas exclaimed, starting David's training.

David rushed forward, collecting the shining tokens with ease. He knew he wasn't the most athletic person in the world, but he had to complete this test, so he put forth all of his effort to complete it.

Everything was in its place from when he played Jak 3. He knew when to jump, attack, and run. He knew he couldn't double jump, but he definitely made up for it with his normal jumps and the opposing ledges.

When he made it to the end of the arena, a platform rose out of the lava. Knowing what was to be expected, he jumped on top of it. However, he was instead ushered out to the right exit of the arena. As he walked out, he heard Pecker announce Jak and Daxter to the arena.

David sat next to a wall, watching the being he knew to be Jak perform the exact same routine as he did. Step after step, jump after jump, he easily cleared the path.

As Jak stepped onto the platform before Damas, he heard what he expected: Daxter's usual gloating, Damas' orders, and the ever-funny repeating of orders from Pecker, followed by the excuse flying.

Then David noticed an elf standing nearby. It was wearing face paint, copper armor, and seemed to be a woman. He instantly recognized the being as Seem, a Precursor Monk.

It appeared as if Seem had an interest in this fight. David knew that there was good reason to be interested.

After a few minutes, David caught a few painful screams coming from the arena. He looked down and saw what he somewhat expected…Dark Jak.

He looked even more frightening in person than from the TV back home. David checked back on Seem and noticed that she had a surprised look on her face. That face then changed to stern, almost mean. After giving Jak that look of anger, she turned around and left, leaving David to wonder what was going on in her head.

David almost didn't hear Damas call him out to the presentation platform. He made his way there and picked up a Morph Gun on the pedestal.

"Are you ready to prove your worth, stranger?" Damas asked, looking smug. David, on the other hand, looked a bit panicked…he totally forgot that he would've probably gotten a Morph Gun, and he had very little idea on how to use one.

He studied the gun carefully, noticing that it had a Scatter Shot mod attached on it. He found the trigger easily, and then noticed the safety light on it. He pressed it, and it went off of safety mode, ready to fire.

"Scared, newcomer?" Damas asked. "You can always quit."

"True," David replied, looking up with a smile on his face, "but I wouldn't get my citizenship if I did, right?"

"Sharp comeback," Damas said smugly. "Now prove your worth to us!"

David quickly jumped onto the moving platform on his left and pumped his Scatter Gun, ready for the Marauders who were to attack him.

As soon as he stepped onto the arena, he was immediately attacked by two waiting Marauders. David quickly fired off his Scatter Gun, knocking the two warriors back…and knocking himself back from the recoil.

"Powerful weapon…" David gasped, pumping it again. He then braced himself and fired off two more shots, killing the two Marauders assaulting him.

But he knew that there were more to come. And sure enough, they did in full force.

David used the combination of punches and the Scatter Gun with little flaws in them. He even managed to uppercut one Marauder and fire a shot up at him, sending him flying into the lava.

Then the sirens went off.

David knew full well what they were for as he headed to one of the raised sections on the arena: the lava would overflow the lower portion of the battlefield.

Unfortunately, a Marauder had the same idea and jumped up to land on the same box as David was on.

David quickly raised the only thing he could to protect himself: his Scatter Gun. Then he felt his arms fly apart as he looked square at a Marauder. He then looked at his hands to find two separate pieces of the Scatter Gun.

The Marauder had broken his Morph Gun with his sword!

Thinking fast, he tossed aside the two pieces of new scrap metal and ducked under a swing of the sword from the one warrior. He then elbowed the assailant in the chest and gave him a solid uppercut right on the chin.

That sent the Marauder flying off of the box and into the lava…without his sword. Instead, the sword was spinning in midair, heading directly for David.

What happened next surprised everyone, including Damas AND David.

He caught the sword, twirled it effortlessly, and took a fighting stance with the greatest of fluidity.

As the lava lowered, David jumped off of the box and quickly charged towards one of the remaining Marauders. With two simple slashes, he had removed the fighter's head and legs.

Everyone was stunned at the skill that was being shown, including David. He couldn't believe that he knew how to wield a sword like he was doing now. But he had no time to think deeply into the matter…he had a fight to win.

As David quickly finished off Marauder after Marauder, Damas looked down at what was taking place. His brain was ticking with new ideas and plans for this warrior to accomplish.

When David finished off the final Marauder, the two platforms rose out of the lava, awaiting him to step onto them. Before he did, however, he took a sheath off of a dead Marauder and placed it on his back. He then placed the sword into the sheath with the greatest of ease.

As David stepped onto the viewing platform, Damas stood up and started clapping for him.

"Excellent work, brave one," Damas exclaimed. "Though I do not know the name of the one who pulled that trickery off."

David looked Damas straight in the eyes and said, "Call me Stryke, sire."


A/N: WOOHOO! The name change has now been implemented, and now you know why this story is called what it is. But there is more on the horizon for this brave sword-wielder. Read, review, and tell me if this should continue!