Don't I Deserve a Happy Ending?
A destroyed Jak ends up in a strange, yet wonderful place where he must learn to leave the past behind him and move on, to heal and to forgive himself. And in doing so, he meets quite the assortment of people, and learns quite a few things about himself, the Precursors, and life in general.
Fight me.
He won't.
Fight me!
He's not going to fight you!
Jak flinched under the covers, both from the voices arguing and the hand that gently touched his shoulder. Somewhere in the back of his mind he registered that his shoulder should not have been that bony, but he ignored it and pulled away.
"Come on, boy. You need to drink at least…" Melo said softly, holding the bow of water carefully. The boy turned his head and jerked away again. "Please…just one sip is all I ask…" No reply, he fell still, the only sign of life being the slow rise and fall of his chest.
"Any change?" Baro asked, standing in the doorway. Melo shook her head.
"I fear the worse, love."
"He's a strong boy, anybody can see that. He'll pull through, I'm sure of it…"
Jak started to fight again, this time he was in the hot, sterile wasteland, one of the immense desert Metal Heads charging at him continuously, and he had nothing to defend himself with. But he was still fighting, flinging himself from that outcroppings of rock onto the behemoth's back and kicking at its eyes.
Fight your way to me.
He was in the sewer system under haven, dodging machine gun fire.
Keep fighting.
He was at the top of the palace, wrestling with Baron Praxis and reaching for weapons that jumped out of reach. He was so tired.
Don't stop fighting. Don't ever stop fighting.
He was throwing punches and kicks at KG's, who swarmed him in the Haven City slums. So many battles flashed before him, mindlessly swinging through them, fueled only by desperation as his anger dissipated. He panted from exhaustion and fell to his knees.
Keep fighting.
"No…" He was surprised at the voice that came from his own dry, ragged throat.
You must keep fighting.
"No more…"
You have to continue. You know that.
"I can't…"
Yes, yes you can. You are Jak Mar, leader of both Haven and Spargus. King of the wasteland and champion of…uh…many things. You must fight.
"No…" Jak sobbed, mentally begging to go back to the calm, cold darkness where he felt nothing.
You cannot give up. You must keep on fighting. Are you listening to me?
"No…leave me alone!"
There are people out there who need you! Hell, even I need you, and you must fight your way back! For the love of god, fight!
Jak's breathing came strained between a clenched jaw and snapped teeth as he felt anger build up again. Not just at the dark voice that was yelling at him, but everything else. Daxter. Torn. Ashlin. Samos. Keira.
You must fight until fighting is impossible, and then fight some more. You cannot stop and you cannot rest. You must fight your way to me. Follow my voice. Fight for me.
Jak crawled to his feet, glaring ahead with narrowed eyes as more enemies exploded into view before him.
"Bring it on…"
Baro grit his teeth as he held the boy down, his thrashing had already given both of them a multitude of bruises and his screams were loud and filled with a raw, untamed anger that made Baro feel like he was cornered by some nameless beast of fear.
Melo rushed back and forth, dabbing at his forehead with a damp cloth and peeling sweat-soaked sheets off him. He screamed again and she couldn't help but wonder what he was seeing in his head.
Metal Heads. Dark Makers. KG bots. Lurkers. The Baron. Gol and Maia. KGs. Erol. Errol. The enemies finally stopped coming after what seemed like an eternity and he fell to the cool, precursor-metal floor of the chamber he had ended up in.
You fought well.
"Can I…rest now?" He struggled out between gasps of breath.
But there is one last fight you have to do.
Jak groaned and looked up to find that the room was almost empty, except for a single, full-length mirror. He dragged himself upright and limped to the mirror before he gasped.
You have to fight me. Said Dark Jak as he stepped out of the mirror. Jak stumbled backwards until he hit the far wall, eyes wide with fear. You have re-lived a lifetime of battles, and yet you fear me? Jak narrowed his eyes and stepped forward.
"I fear nothing."
Good. Fight me. The two clashed in midair, claws tore at flesh, and teeth bit into skin. The two tumbled and screamed, Jak's own nails drawing blood of Dark Eco from his pale adversary. He screeched as Dark's claws found purchase in his rib cage, but Dark howled as Jak's teeth tore off the tip of a long, pointed ear. Jak finally pulled back after what felt like hours, and Dark still stood there, wounded, but strong. Is that it, Boy!
"I can't…too…tired…"
What would Damas say if he saw you now! His son, the mighty disappointment! Jak growled and launched himself forward again, anger bringing forth desperate strength as their battle started again.
"DON'T…YOU…EVER…EVER…MENTION…MY…FATHER! DON'Y YOU EVER MENTION DAMAS AGAIN!" And they fell, a flurry of fists, claws, fangs, and limbs that writhed like one being. Dark could feel Jak's fury fill him, giving him strength, but the second he mentioned Damas the fury turned to a deep, strong passion that filled the room with a throbbing power.
Fight until you can fight no more. Fight your way to me. Fight and you will win.
"Baro!" Melo shouted as she jumped in shock and surprise. Baro, was, by no means whatsoever, a small man, but this young boy with barely the strength to live just hours ago had tossed him like a rag doll.
"EAAAAAAAARGH!" He screamed, jackknifing on the bed as his hand clenched into fists. Melo ran to Baro's side as the man slowly sat up, groaning and rubbing a very sore neck.
"Wha-?" The boy suddenly twisted, tumbling out of the bed and onto shaky feet, clutching at his head as two sharp, black horns burst from his skull, color drained from his skin, leaving it pale as snow. Nails grew sharp and darkened, flowing forward into long claws that hooked onto the sheets, wrapping them about him
"Oh god…" Melo gasped as the demon like figure before her reared up and gave a single howl of anger that shook her very heart. He opened his eyes, bottomless pools of black depths with flickers of violet energy cackling across them. "Oh god…"
