Ekobean: Chapter three everybody! Sorry I had to erase the first version, but it just wasn't appearing. So, here it is.
Jak blinked against the wind as Hellcat rushed forward. The wind had an icy chill that bit into his nose and face, but it was nearly non-existent to him. His heart, mind, and soul were all focused on that sole point of darkness that was roaming on Misty Island. He tried desperately to push the thought of Gol or Maia from his mind, but it was impossible.
The brother and sister were crafty, and had great knowledge of the workings of the world. Was it at all possible that at least one of them had found a way to return from death? A ludicrous as it sounded, Jak couldn't help but wonder.
The sky was overcast and cloudy, and the smell of raid was thick in the air. This was going to be a miserable trek. Torn was sitting in the seat next to Jak with his hands wrapped firmly around the wheel. His knuckles were white, and his teeth were clenched. Jak knew what was on his mind, if there was a being with power over Dark Eco, there was the potential for war.
Keira was sitting behind Jak, wrapped tightly in a furry coat of tanned Yakow hide. They had hastily asked their neighbor, Bal, to watch baby Mar as they trekked off on this expedition. For one instant Keira's green eyes met Jak's, and both knew that they felt the same emotion: worry. This was dangerous, and if one of them happened to be injured or worse, the impact on Mar would be severe.
Four other Hellcats were flying on either side of Jak's in a "V" formation. The one directly to the right was piloted by Ashelin and carried Samos and Brutter, while the vehicle to the left was piloted by Shady Sis and carried Sig, Tess, and Daxter.
A great, icy gust of wind rocked the plated body of the Hellcat, causing it to sway slightly. There was definitely a storm coming. Jak looked worriedly over his shoulder at Keira. "How are you doing?" he called.
Keira didn't answer, just slipper one gloved hand out from under the cover and game him a "thumbs up."
Jak nodded and turned back to face the oncoming island. True to its name, a thick blanket of fog hung over every bit of it, nearly obscuring it completely from view. Jak pulled his old Morph-Gun out from his satchel and began to polish the barrel, trying to distract himself from the upcoming task he would face.
Time passed much too quickly. The half hour it took to fly to the island felt like three seconds. As the first of the Hellcats touched down on the rocky ground, Jak vaulted from the craft and drew his gun, ready for any ambush that may have been set up. Torn, Ashelin, Shady and the rest of the troop followed his lead. Each of them carried a long Red Eco blaster, cocked and ready for action.
"Well Jak?" Ashelin whispered, "where is he?"
"Last time I looked he was still in the Metal Head Leader's cave." Jak closed his eyes and concentrated, again seeing the world as if it were fashioned out of pure light. Sure enough, the Dark Eco being was still sitting in the Kor's cave, as if it hadn't moved at all. "He's still there," Jak informed her, focusing back to normal sight.
"We'll move in there then."
The troop moved cautiously toward the cave in a tight circle, guns all pointing outwards. "I don't want any firing unless absolutely necessary," Ashelin ordered, "any Guard who acts otherwise will turn his badge in to Commander Torn. Is that understood?"
"Yes ma'am," the Guards answered in unison.
This mode of transportation was extremely slow. Every five yards took a full minute to cross. Daxter groaned, "We'll be lucky if this thing is even alive by the time we get there."
"Patience is a virtue, Daxter," replied the Sage wisely. Daxter muttered something disrespectful. By the time they reached the cave a full hour had passed. The troop bent down to their stomachs and crawled up to the entrance of the cave. Jak was the first to reach the ledge. The rest of the troop soon followed. Every elf gasped in shock at what they beheld.
A shiny, elf-ish cyborg was sitting in the middle of the cave in an almost Zen-like pose. Zaps of Dark Econetic energy were radiating from every inch of its "skin." It was unbelievably shiny, reflecting its surroundings like a mirror.
"Commander," said one of the guards, "I've got a clear shot at it. Should I take it."
"Don't bother."
The voice hadn't come from Torn. It had escaped from within the cave. Every head turned back to within the reaches of the cave. The robot was standing now, it's eyes were glowing in a deep shade of crimson. "You don't think that I am totally oblivious, do you? I have been awaiting your arrival this entire time." The robot's voice was flat and emotionless, as artificial as the rest of it. "However, only one of you will die today." The robot began walking toward the mouth of the cave calmly, it's arms swinging relaxed at its sides. It raised one of its clawed fingers and pointed to Jak. "You."
"TAKE IT DOWN!" roared Sig.
"No wait! Hold fire!" Torn yelled, but it was too late. The Guards were already firing at the robot, hundreds of bullets flying at mach-speed into its chrome body. The cyborg slowed momentarily, forced back by the bullets ricocheting into it. It seemed to regain its composure, and began sprinting. The rate of fire increased ten fold. Torn's yells were nearly inaudible over the thunder of gunshots echoing through the cave.
The robot was running full tilt. In just one second it would reach the cave mouth. This was when Sig fired a fully-charged Peace Maker shell point-blank into its chest. The robot cried out and was sent hurtling backward into the cave, crashing into the opposite side.
"How'd ya like them apples, cherry!" Sig hollered at the crumpled form of the robot. His victory cry fell short as the robot began to shakily rise from the rubble. It dusted off its frame casually and looked up at Sig.
"You are going to wish you hadn't done that." It stated plainly, and then it leapt. It easily cleared the expanse of the cave in a single bound. It landed in front of Sig and swept him off his feet with his own. The astonished Wastelander flew into the air. The cyborg rose railed Sig in the chest in midair.
The Wastelander flew backwards twenty feet, where he crashed into a pillar of rock and slumped to the ground, unconscious.
The rate of gunfire was deafening. The bullets of Red Eco ricocheted off of the robot by the thousand. The cyborg ran through the ranks of Krimzon Guard, dispatching them left and right in seconds. It swung its clawed fingers and hewed a Guard's esophagus in one clean stroke. The guard rasped and slumped to the ground.
It spun and sank its claws through another guard's chest plate and hurled him into a cluster of others.
In seconds the entire squadron, including Ashelin and Torn, were unconscious or dead.
Jak instinctively walked in front of Keira and Samos.
The robot, after examining its blood-soaked claws, turned its soulless eyes toward Jak. "You are mine now, Dark Eco freak."
"Wait, what?" Jak gasped. The robot said no more, and charged toward Jak with its claws out stretched.
Ekobean: By now, if you don't already know, I'm sure you have guessed the cyborg's identity. Watch for Chapter 4 coming soon: a kick-ass fight between the cyborg and Light Jak!