A chilling roar echoed though the halls of the Baron's palace as Jak was intensely pumped with even more dark eco. Erol and a Krimzon guard smirked and watched the boy suffer. Finally they stopped. Erol chuckled.

"I'll tell you this kid, you've got a lot of will power living though all of this. But you'll die just like all the others eventually. So tell me," he taunted. "Who are you living for? What could you really have left after fifteen months of being in here? You have no idea what is going on outside these walls kid. Whoever it is, is either dead or has moved on. So just give up."

Erol nodded to the guard who then removed the shackles on Jak's wrist and ankles. Before he could take hold of the prisoner however, Jak lunged at Erol.

"You! I'm gonna kill you!" Jak growled, dark eco sparks jumping from his body as he started to strangle the man. "You'll regret this! Arg!" Jak snarled then grunted in pain. Two other guards had joined the first in the room. All three shocked Jak then Erol kicked him aside. Choking slightly he stood, rubbing his throat.

"Throw him back in the cell." Erol commanded. As the guards did so, Erol followed. Jak was again, literally, thrown into the cell and only after the door was closed and sealed, did Erol approach to comment further.

"You suicidal freak! How dare you attack me! You'll never see anything outside this castle again even if this experiment is a success. I'll make damn sure of that!"

The four Krimzon Guards left, only after their footsteps had faded, did Jak stir. He sat up on the floor of the cell, cross legged and smirking. His skin was pale and the eco sparks were few, but still there.

Just you wait. All of you will pay. This power building inside me will be your downfall. You may have created me, but you will never control me. You leave me another opening and I will kill you all.

A knock on the door pulled Jak from his thoughts. He glanced up at the small opening and saw the Barron's mug staring in at him. The smirk left Jak's face and was replaced with a sneer. The Baron only chuckled.

"It seems as though you are getting antsy. Attacking Erol, your constant disregard of my authority, your refusal to speak at all. You're becoming more trouble than you're worth. However, you've survived over a years worth of eco treatments. The last one that lived this long was much like yourself… but in the end, destroyed himself."

The Baron was now pacing outside his door as he spoke and Jak moved to stand just inside the door, watching him carefully and listening just the same.

"Listen to me boy and you will not be the same as him. You will live and be my ultimate weapon in this war. You have so much potential and promise!" Jak began to chuckle and the Baron's steps froze. "What are you laughing at?"

Jak's chuckle slowed to almost mocking as he turned to face the Baron (though on opposite sides of the cell door). Below, in his hands, the dark eco bounced from palm to palm.

"I live my own life Baron. I will not be you're leverage in any war no matter what you do to me. Just you wait; you'll get what's coming to you." Jak's voice was deep and slightly scratchy. The Barons face contorted in rage. The first words he had ever heard from the boy, words that would easily get him killed. However, the Baron did not explode on the other, but attempted to take advantage of the situation.

"So you speak do you? I was starting to think you were a mute or maybe just really stupid. But that is beside the point. Are you willing to talk to me?"

"Maybe. I doubt you'll like the answers you get though."

"Then lets start simply. What is your name?"

"Jak."

"Well Jak, how are you feeling?"

"Like a caged animal."

"No no no. Inside you Jak. How do you feel inside?"

Jak smirked and repeated himself slowly. "Like. A. Caged. Animal."

The Baron growled. "The eco, boy! Damnit! The Eco! How is it affecting you! Don't play dumb with me!"

"What's wrong Baron?" Jak sneered "Just because I speak are you ruling out the fact that I'm stupid? Tsk tsk. I think I wouldn't be the only stupid one here."

The Baron roared in frustration and punched the cell door, only to cause himself more pain and anger.

"I like you better mute." He turned and stormed away, the whole scene most amusing to Jak.

"I'm sure a lot of people will feel the same."