Chapter Two: Shocking New Developments
NRS: Ahh, another wonderful chapter of, 'Love Me, Hate Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me!'
Blaz: I am watching in amusement.
Disclaimer: A) I don't own Jak or Daxter. B) Fine, fine, I don't own Torn either…. C) FINE! I don't own anything from Naughty Dog!
…err… go home Sig…
I only own Dr. Labrowski and the seven new ecos. (Stupid grumble evil grumble lawyers… more grumbling…)
A loud shot rang through the air as Jak stood in the crumbling doorway of the Baron's Fortress. His blue eyes peered around, spotting the remains of the ammo tank and a few barrels of Dark Eco.
"Think there's a light switch around?" Daxter murmured as they followed Jak's flared-up Peacemaker.
"Doubt it. All electricity including power lights were cut off when the Metal Heads attacked." He said quietly, slipping through a thin crack and into the old experimentation room. The large Dark Eco needle was crashed into the ground and the cells were dented in. A small satisfied smirk crossed his face at the damage.
"We haven't seen a single Metal Head. Where are they?" Daxter wondered as Jak's gun lowered, the flare still going.
"Dax… it's perfectly intact…" Jak touched the glass cabinet and ran his hand across it. The glass shined with a bright air as Daxter professionally picked the lock and pulled it open.
Jak shined his gun onto the glass and they gasped, eyes widening.
"Oh My God!"
Freedom HQ…
Ashelin, Keira and Tess stared in wonder at the glass cabinet as Jak finally set it down on the stone floor. He wiped sweat off his brow and stood back with a grin on his face.
"Did you at least get the medicine?" Ashelin asked, sidetracked. Jak blinked and then started to groan.
"Ah… we'll you see…"
Daxter jumped up with a red bottle in his grasp. "Never fear! I am here!"
Jak sighed in relief and Tess gave a small cheer. He rested his hands on the glass doors and took a deep breath.
"Okay, here goes…" He pulled back the doors and a startled scream escaped Keira. She clasped her hands over her mouth, neon green eyes wide.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ashelin said moving closer.
Inside, the outer shell was orange Precursor metal, covered in small glyphs that represented life. Small machines filtered to life and several jars of eco at the bottom lit up.
"I found it in the Fortress, completely unharmed while everything else was crumbling!"
Keira crouched down. "We only know about seven ecos, but there's fourteen here!" Jak blinked and lifted a red jar.
He settled next to Keira and unscrewed the lid. He dipped his finger in and crushed a bit of brick.
"Red eco." He handed it to Ashelin and pulled blue, green and yellow out.
The blue eco made his finger twitch, the green healed a small cut and the yellow eco… he shot a small fireball at Daxter's tail, who yelped in response.
"These are all checked out." Jak sighed and shifted into Light Jak. The angelic form lifted the bright pale blue jar and dipped his nail in. The Light Eco seeped in and he handed it back to Ashelin.
"Hey, think that White Eco might change me back?" Daxter asked as Jak lifted the White Eco jar, he switched into Dark Jak and clicked his claws once.
"When we get to Spargus next time, we'll try." Dark Jak said and unscrewed the Dark Eco lid. It bubbled and he grinned, shifting back.
"Alright." He looked at the remaining seven.
"Orange, pink, gold, bronze, black?" Jak squinted his eyes and shook his head. "I don't wanna know…. Silver and midnight?" The last jar was blues and blacks, stars literally twinkling in there.
Keira peered down into that glass. "Amazing. Seven new ecos!"
Ashelin shook her head. "Only six. Bronze eco was genetically engineered by my father years ago." Jak stood up and caught the medicine Ashelin threw at him.
"You three check this stuff out. I'll take the medicine to Torn." Daxter jumped off his shoulder and sat down next to the small female ottsel. Tess smiled at Jak and he walked out into the cool, crisp air.
He stretched his arms over his head, muscles rippling under the skintight desert tunic. A yawn escaped him as he trudged down the moonlit streets. A few hookers on the corner made a few sultry comments and Jak walked past them.
The smell of hospital chemicals assaulted his nose as he walked through the automatic metal doors.
A nurse passes him in a flurry of ointments and towels, her face red as a cherry and panting.
"Dr. Labrowski?" Jak called quietly as he slipped into Torn's room. The commander was still unconscious and Jak winced at his bandaged head.
He looked at the bottle in his hand and uncapped it. Burnt leaves reached his nose and he grimaced.
"Red and green eco?" He murmured.
"Ah, yes. Green eco to heal and red to treat the Dark Eco." Dr. Labrowski said wisely, walking into the room. "And just in time too. The commander's body cannot hold Dark Eco as that monster could."
Jak winced at the mention of Dark Jak. "Yeah…" He quietly agreed. Dark Jak chuckled in the back of his mind and the Doctor lifted Torn's arm up.
"Let me get this in his system and tomorrow morning, he's free to go." Jak walked out, a slight chill passing over his skin.
He turned blue eyes onto a hooded figure in the street. The black cloak rippled with the wind and Jak blinked once. He was gone.
The outlaw discreetly rubbed his arms from the goosebumps that suddenly appeared. 'He wasn't elfin…" Jak thought and Dark Jak made a noise of agreement.
Jak took up a slow jog back to Freedom HQ, his mind running rampant on why there were new things bubbling about.
The intact Precursor artifacts… seven, no six, new ecos… and now inhuman beings coming into Haven City…
Freedom HQ…
"Dax… are you sure we should do this?" Keira asked as she looked at the impatient ottsel.
"I've waited long enough!" He snapped and Tess gave a small nod.
"Keira, you might want to wait until Jak gets back." Ashelin suggested, studying an ancient blade in her arms. A pad of paper next to her was being filled up with the translations from the sword.
"No! I refuse to wait any longer!" The little ottsel demanded, his brown eyes flashing.
Keira looked at the jar of White Eco in her hands and a slight look covered her eyes.
"Are you positive, Daxter? Tess?" Ashelin looked up from her sword, her green eyes attentive.
"Yes." Daxter said confidently.
"Yes…" Tess whispered, looking at Daxter for reassurance.
"Alright." Keira popped off the lid and stuck her hand in. She smeared a glop of White Eco on both Daxter and Tess.
Her and Ashelin moved back as the two started glowing. Tess looked at herself as her and Daxter were lifted off the ground.
Daxter fell to the ground first, clutching his body before Tess joined him.
The door opened and a gust of wind rolled in, followed by Jak. He closed the door and looked at the two in alarm.
Keira and Ashelin shielded their eyes as a blinding white light shot out from the ottsels.
A sweet hum filled the air, calming the spirits. The hymn continued into a fading distance, still there, as the light dimmed slightly. With one last, lingering note, the mist cleared.
Jak pulled his hand back over his eyes as another, much smaller light erupted.
Suddenly a figure stood up in front of him. A figure with red hair.
"Ashelin?" Jak asked, squinting his eyes to see better.
"What?" Ashelin called back, and it wasn't from in front of him. Jak gulped heavily.
A deep chuckle reached Jak's ears. "Oh yeah! I'm back!"
NRS: Hmm, I actually like the way it's going so far…
Blaz: Next Chapter! When Torn wakes up and the falling down begins!
Jak: (Rubs his head.) Aww, I ought to go get another ice pack.
Torn: (Understanding what 'falling down' meant.) Aw, hell. Get me one too will ya, Jak?
Nirvana and Blaz: Oh yeah. Things are getting good.
