Good day to you all, and boy...this chapter has been a pain. I've been working on this one for about two weeks now, seeing as how the last chapter was practically done even before I started posting this story and thus required only a little bit of tweaking...and I'm still not sure if I've got it down good enough...if that should prove to be the case, rest assured that this chapter will be yanked off the net.
At any rate, to those of you who have reviewed.
ChibiSess- Glad that you enjoyed the chapter, I wasn't really certain how well people were going to take the whole makeover deal with D.J. In this chapter, I shall now attempt to make a half (expletive deleted) attempt to explain what happened (crosses fingers). Also, rest assured that Errol will get what is coming to him, and his death will be painful. Still, as far as the K.G. is concerned, some of them have to be decent, or at least tolerable, as I'm fairly certain that the Freedom Guard, or whatever they're called in number three, has to be made of mostly of reformed K.G., as there's no way that they could have gotten the military up and running with fresh recruits that quickly. On another not, did you get that last e-mail that I sent you about the drawing you were trying to make? Oh yeah, and best of luck to you in your own writings.
Xeno-Freak- To answer your question, yes D.J.'s claws are now permanently shorter, as I figured his normal talons would make it difficult for him to grab Kitetsu. Thank you for the ideas on the dark powers as well, I'd been planning on Jak getting some normally, to sorta replace the morph gun. Let's face it, if you can throw out Dark Eco powers that rival a Sith Lord in their potency, why in the name of Heaven do you need a gun? Also, about the K.G., I threw in a scene especially for you towards the end of the chapter, hope you enjoy it. (smiles and bows)
animedragongirl- Thank you so much for the critiquing, especially on chapter two, I'm probably going to have to go back and revise that at some point in time... At any rate, I apologize for the bad grammar, as the grammar checker on my computer misses a lot of stuff sometimes, and I lack a beta reader. I try my best to catch my mistakes through proofreading...but it seems like I can never find the most glaring errors until about two days after I've posted the chapter...and it infuriates me to no end. (slaps self upside the head). Still, I'm glad that you liked the chapter, and I'm happy that i could make you laugh. (bows)
dude- Glad you liked it, though I'm going to need your email address in order to send you the picture. Other than that, I hope that you enjoy this chapter too, where i attempt to explain the mysterious change in our favorite inner demon.
Lunatic Pandora1- Glad your okay with D.J.'s new look, and it is sorta Balrogish now that I think about it. And Speaking of Diablo, did you ever notice that Light Jak's wings were a blatant steal from Tyrael's? Also, I don't know what so bad about a paper fan as a weapon. Think about it: death by paper cut! (cackles insanely) At any rate, hope you like this chapter too, as I'm really going out limb here.
bureiku- Glad you liked D.J.'s description, and may you enjoy the rest of the work.
Evil Manic- Not sure what you mean by wind scar, could you clarify? Thanks for the weapon ideas too, but I'm pretty certain that I'm going to have to leave out the Warthog. As Paska will tell you, I've ripped enough from Halo as it is. (chuckles nervously).
Philoworm- You flatter me, and if you think I'm good, check out some of the things Lizzy Rebel has written, she's light-years beyond me as far as skill is concerned. Also, to answer your questions, yes that attack was inspired by the impulse, and I apologize for not being any more original in its concept. The second, Jak will indeed receive his own variety of Dark Channeling powers, and they will replace his guns for ranged combat. Finally, I intend to stop this at the end of Jak 2, but there is a sequel that I am trying to iron out the details on, though it will be semi-AU due to one radical thing that will become apparent in this chapter.
Of Darkness- You needn't worry about offending me. In truth, I feel as though I should apologize to you, as when someone is disappointed in what I turn out, I feel as though I've come up short somewhere. Suffice to say that D.J.'s new look, which was actually meant to be more akin to that Balrog from LOTR, has to do with another sub-plot which will have its beginnings in this chapter, and I hope to God that it conveys the point well enough. if not, feel free to shoot me...or rather...my ashes, as Paska sorta nuked me to dust a few chapters back... At any rate, other than that, I am glad that you have enjoyed the story up to this point, and on a final note, D.J.'s eyes are still black for the most part, its just his irises that are red.
just another writer- Thank you for your input on the last chapter, and fore explaining hat thing about Dante, as I always wondered why he never had to reload. Not sure if I'd be able to work that into the storyline, but I'll try to see if I can. Hope you like this chapter just as much. (crosses fingers and bows).
Farr2rich- Yes, Errol will be the one to receive your little arm gun...and it will be sliced off again in their final showdown...and he will also lose it at least once in the sequel (I plan on making it something of a running joke). I've never actually seen the show your referring to, as Kitetsu's new look was inspired by the daedric katana from the P.C. game Morrowind. Also, Praxis isn't really happy, is just that bitter sort of laugh you sometimes do when something really, really unexpected happens. Hope you like the chapter, and update your own story soon. Also did you get that e-mail that I sent you the other day? Computer's been a little...bothersome in that regard of late.
Exardas- Sorry to hear about what happened to that story that you liked. As far as this one is concerned, "oni" is a Japanese term for demon, I thought it might sound a little more...mysterious and dangerous than always calling D.J. a devil. Also, I hope you'll let me know what you think about this chapter, really not sure how well its going to go over as there are some major league AU stuff coming in here. Best of luck to ya in your own writings.
TUG- I'm sorry that you didn't like D.J.'s new form, but the reason that I changed how he looked will have to do mainly with a sub-plot I'm bringing in in this chapter, which will eventually explain the Channelers' origins, and how they are both more noble, and at the same time, more pitiable, for that. Also, rest assured that Errol's death, while somewhat humiliating and quite painful, will not involve him begging for his life in any way, form, or fashion, as it would likely be OOC for him. Errol...well...sociopathic as he is, he strikes me as the kind of person literally too proud to beg in such a fashion. Also, Jak will not get much satisfaction out of killing him, at least not for himself.
Shakai- Ouch, your little sibling lost your memory card? Had that happened in my house...and I say this strictly hypothetically, not that mine has done anything like that...(stares around nervously)...there would be a nice little imprint of my younger brother in his bedroom wall. Still, I'm glad that you liked D.J.'s new look, I'm going to hopefully be able to explain just what happened to him in this chapter. To answer you other question, yes the sequel will go into Jak3, but it will be somewhat AU. Hope you manage to find your card, it would suck to lose all that stuff...
SRHumphrey727- Glad that you liked the chapter, with the maiming and the killing and the exploding tanks. (laughs insanely). Did you get the picture/website address that I tried to send you, my hotmail's been known to act up, so I'm not sure. At any rate, hope you like this installment, and I pray I'm not getting in over my head here. And yes, God willing, there will be a sequel that will cover Jak 3.
MariaShadow- I am pleased that you and so many others like the makeover of out favorite Dark Eco demon, and I hope I can continue to serve up chapters that inspire such reactions. As to your question about Jynx...well, I'm not sure, I'll try to work it into here somehow, but that was mostly meant to be something of a one liner joke.
Air of Mystery- Glad you liked the flying demon of death. I never really liked L.J. that much, as will become obvious in this chapter...not sure why. (shrugs) At any rate, I hope you enjoy this installment, and I wish you the best of luck in your own writings.
Light-Eco-Sage- The picture is the same one hat I sent you way back in February with the rough draft of the last chapter. Still, I have a question/advice that I need to ask you, and I was wondering of there was a temporary e-mail address that I could send it to. And yes, the arm tossing was foreshadowing, as Errol will lose his left arm at least one more time before all is said and done. Sorry to hear that you still are having internet problems and I hope you can update your own stories as soon as possible.
Every Heart Bleeds- You're not far off on the loosening of bowels part hehe, And Jak/D.J. are going to get even badder before the tale is over, to say nothing of when they acquire Mar's armor early in the sequel that I'm planning.
To everyone else who did read, but did not review, I hope that you enjoyed the chapter, and that I may continue to please.
Lawyers: if you don't know the drill by now, you need to find another profession.
Also, I feel obligated to warn you people that there are several AU concepts being brought to the table this time around, and I'm really nervous about how they're going to be taken by you guys. If this chapter does suck, do not hesitate to tell me and I will take it down until I can get it fixed.
On a final note, I forgot to mention in the last chapter what I meant by D.J.'s voice being 'distorted'. If any of you have ever played any of the DMC games, it distorted in the sense of how Dante/Virgil sound in their devil forms.
That out of the way, here's chapter twenty four.
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In Which a Blind Seer Does Some Explaining
He wasn't quite sure where he was, only that he seemed to have the distinct feeling of floating, and that everything seemed to be black, though he could still see just fine. He floated along like this, twisting about, for an unknown period of time, before he finally felt ground beneath his feet. At least, it felt like ground at any rate. The reason as to why he wasn't sure was simply that he hadn't bothered to look, as something else had occupied his attention.
It was the demon. It was before him, sitting on the ground, its head bowed and its legs crossed in lotus style, apparently meditating of all things. The dark elf stared at the creature for a while, listening to its rhythmic breathing, until it at last looked up at him, and opened its red eyes. As soon as it did so, it rose to one knee, and bowed before him.
Jak cocked an eyebrow, not sure what to make of this apparent gesture of servitude. At last, he found his voice, and began, for the first time, to converse with this strange being.
"What are you?" he inquired, staring at the oni.
"I am not sure of that myself." It rumbled in response. "I know only that I am spawned of you, and as such, I defend you and those dear to you."
"Is that why you're bowing before me?" the Channeler asked, still a little baffled over the current situation.
"I serve you as a warrior serves his lord." it affirmed, nodding its head slightly.
Jak remained silent, pondering this strange turn of events. He knew that what Errol had done to him…correction, them, had altered them somehow. He thought back, trying to piece everything together, and he suddenly could recall screams of men dying in agony and horror. He remembered the strange music of blaster fire and Kitetsu's singing as it cut down their opponents. And he remembered blood, it had been everywhere.
Still, Keira, Daxter, Samos and the others were safe, and that was all that mattered in the end. However, that meant he owed a rather large debt of gratitude to this demon, this…split personality?
"You need not thank me." it replied, as if it were able to read his mind. "I care for them as well, and would defend them to the death."
Surprisingly eloquent for what had started out as something of bestial intellect, the dark elf thought, before a strange notion entered his head.
"Do you," he paused for a moment, trying to figure out how best to say what he wanted to, "have a name?"
"I have thought about a title to set myself apart from others." the creature answered, before suddenly looking straight up at the dark elf, its hell fire eyes staring into him, though the stare did not possess the fury that had caused so many to cower in fear before it. "Kage."
Jak smirked as he translated the name. It was rather appropriate, considering the demon's nature. His smiled widened, and he nodded his head approvingly, which resulted in a grin appearing on the oni's own visage. As it did so, it also stood, unwrapping its wings from around itself in the process. Also, the dark elf felt a bizarre pull, like something was drawing him away from this place within his mind. Before anything else could be said, the image of his alter ego faded, and there was only blackness.
He became aware of other voices around him, and the feelings of sheets. Realizing what must have happened he went to open his eyes.
'You might want to be careful when you…'
However, Kage's warning was suddenly cut off as Jak felt a piercing light enter his vision, drowning out all else. He yelped in pain, and threw his arm across his field of vision in a desperate attempt to block out the burning sensation in the back of his eyeballs.
'Open your eyes.' the demon finished. 'Our vision seems to have become a tad bit sensitive. Give it a moment or two and you'll get used to it.'
Sure enough, after a bit of blinking, his eyes adjusted, and he looked about. The room he was in was fairly nondescript, with Keira, Daxter, Samos, Tess, Torn, and Ashelin sitting around him, their expressions one of amazement and their conversations forgotten. He stared at them, somewhat confused as well.
"What?" he inquired, trying to figure out what was so interesting about him.
"Your eyes." Keira said, awed.
This only caused further confusion until someone managed to produce a fairly shinny piece of metal. The dark elf gazed in wonder at his reflection, and blinked several times. Still, what he saw did not change. His eyes remained as they were, looking like some kind of reptile or feline's. For an instant, a mural appeared in his mind's eye, and he saw an armored king, with eyes just as his were now.
"What in Mar's name?" was all he could mutter as he continued to stare.
"A very apt statement." Samos said suddenly, standing up from where he had been sitting down. "And one that I feel will be answered sooner than you might think." He added, before whispering something into Keira's ear and slipping out the door.
Shortly thereafter, Tess excused herself to go take care of something, and did Torn, with Ashelin providing him with some much needed help, as he wasn't used to crutches. As for why he was using such crude instruments to move around, well, worried as she had been over the elf that held her heart, Keira hadn't exactly gotten around to building him a new left leg.
"How long have I been out?" the Channeler inquired, looking at Keira.
"About two days." she answered, apparently somewhat relieved that he was alright.
"And to answer you next question, Jakky boy," Daxter put in, hoping up onto the bed where he was, "yes, we're in the Underground base."
"Why?" the dark elf asked somewhat confused.
"Apparently," Keira answered, "Praxis didn't decide to squeeze the location of this place out of Torn when he had the chance, so we thought it best to just stay holed up in here."
'An unwise move on his part', Kage mused, and Jak had the sudden mental image of the demon scratching his chin, 'one that we should exploit at the earliest opportunity.'
"I agree." Jak said aloud, before he could think twice about it, and promptly stood up out of his bunk.
Keira and Daxter appeared somewhat confused again. However, before they could question the dark elf as to what he had meant, Jak suddenly stiffened, as if he was suddenly made aware of something. Indeed, that was the case. He had subconsciously ignored it when he had first awoken, the condition of his eyes and the need for a few pieces of information having a more pressing need. But now, not distracted by those, he could feel it, a subtle pulsing within himself, something that he had not felt since…
Vaguely aware that Keira and a certain rodent were asking him if something was wrong, he felt deep within himself, noticing that even though it had literally been years since he had practiced these skills, it was still far easier to locate than it had been before. He stretched out his hand, and willed the power to come forth.
And come forth it did, as a ball of darkness formed within his outstretched palm, before firing off into the wall of the room. It detonated, and in addition to all of the racket that it had made, had the result of leaving the room without a wall or a door.
The trio simply stood in place, the mechanic and the Ottsel staring at Jak, who in turn stared at his hand as if it were some sort of alien being. After a few seconds, drawn by the noise, others began to arrive, and carefully peeked their heads around the hole in the wall, not sure what they would find within.
Oblivious to their gazes, the Channeler slowly began to realize what this meant. True, his powers seemed to have changed, to say the least, but it was better than nothing. And then, just to be certain, he felt within himself again, and this time, purple lightning sprang from his hands, surging between his palms. From there, he found it a surprisingly small effort to will the Dark Eco to move to his command, and easily formed it into a twisting double helix.
For several seconds, this continued, as all present stared at him, the air itself seemingly hushed and anxiously awaiting what came next. Surprisingly enough, it would turn out to be laughter. It started out small, only as a chuckle, but swiftly grew in size, until tears were nearly streaming down Jak's cheeks. After another few seconds of this, he dispelled the lightning, and stared at his hands, a smile nearly splitting his face in two.
It was only natural, after all. If you were to take someone, and suddenly strip them of something that was part of their very nature for several years, they would be significantly changed. Then, if said person were to somehow gain what was taken back, even if it was different than it had been, it would only be natural for them to be quite elated.
The dark elf turned around to stare at Keira, his alien eyes practically glowing. It was a grin that she soon emulated. Daxter, meanwhile, noticing at how they were staring at each other, rolled his eyes, and began attempting to shoo the others away. Once he'd accomplished that, he turned around just in time to watch his two best friends lean in close to each other, and share a quick kiss.
The diminutive rodent simply crossed his arms, and smiled.
"So why exactly did ole grass stain want us to come down here, anyway?" Daxter inquired, staring around the science/med bay that was located deep within the bowels of the Underground base.
Not fifteen minutes after Jak was up and walking about, Keira had brought them all down here, without giving them time to so much as grab a bite to eat. Needless to say, this course of action had not boded well with Daxter, who was himself a creature of instincts when it came time for him to be hungry. As a result, the Ottsel was in something of a bad mood.
"I'm not really sure." Keira answered with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Well, knowing him, it's probably got something to do with my condition." Jak mused, his head bowed in thought.
'The old one confuses me.' Kage 'said' suddenly, his consciousness coming to the forefront of the Channeler's mind. 'He speaks in riddles, and acts as if he knows something that the rest of us do not.'
'He's always been like that.' Jak responded. 'Even back in Sandover, I always got the notion that he knew a lot more about things than what he proclaimed to.'
'Speak of the Devil.' the oni muttered.
For it was at that moment that Samos himself walked in, looking as haggard and rough as he ever was. Jak nodded in acknowledgement of the Sage's presence, while Keira once more embraced her adoptive father. Daxter, however, simply crossed his arms, and began tapping his foot impatiently.
"So, bark breath," he remarked with a frown, "what was so important as to have to drag us down here now?"
"I felt that Jak had the right to know a little bit more about himself, and what he's become." Samos growled, his voice indicating that he had not taken kindly to the Ottsel's insult.
"Would have been so hard to let us some breakfast, log for brains?" the diminutive rodent shot back. "I mean…"
Whatever Daxter was going to say was swiftly cut off, as Samos put his Ottsel smacking talents to use again, a well placed blow from his staff sending the rodent screaming through the air.
A door suddenly slid open, and out stepped the Shadow, Torn, and Ashelin.
"How should I know what the old coot called us in for?" the younger Samos remarked, throwing his arms out.
As luck would have it, that particular gesture would result in Daxter getting hit once again, this time propelling him straight across the room. And then, as if someone upstairs really, really hated the little guy, a second, more conventional door opened, courtesy of Delta Sixty Seven, and walloped the rodent for a third time. Careening through the air back to where Jak and Keira were, he smashed into a view screen, sticking to it for a few seconds before he slid down to the counter top.
Everyone stood stock still for the most part, not noticing that Jynx was holding the door for a certain ages old seer, or the blond haired elf that came in after her. All eyes were on the elder Samos, as the newcomers pondered what had just happened, while the dark elf and the mechanic exchanged glances. It was then, that the old sage went and did something that was quite surprising to say the least.
"Yeeeessssss!" he shouted, pumping his fist into the air, and staring around triumphantly. "I've still got the touch!"
"Daddy," Keira replied, looking down at Daxter, who was currently picking himself up, still somewhat woozy, "was that really necessary?"
"Relax, dearest," the old elf remarked, "I hit him on the head to make certain that I wouldn't cause any permanent damage."
This resulted in Daxter lifting up a hand, and shaking a fist in what he believed to be the general direction of the Green Sage.
'The small one is surprisingly resilient considering his size.' Kage said inside of Jak's head, his voice sounding somewhat amused.
However, Tess quickly came over and removed the Ottsel from where he was, ensuring that the 'nasty old man' could inflict no further harm for the moment upon Daxter. Smirking at the sudden position in which the Ottsel found himself, the dark elf nonetheless quickly returned his attention to Samos, who seemed to be the only one to really know what was going on here. Right on cue, he began his explanation.
"I know that you are all somewhat curious as to why I have called you here," he said, looking around to them all, "suffice to say, that it pertains to you, Jak…"
"And no doubt that thing that's inside of him." the Shadow stated, looking somewhat nervous about the situation.
"Kage." Jak said abruptly, before anyone else could get a word in.
"Excuse me?" the resistance leader asked, not fully understanding.
"Wait a minute," Ashelin said, holding out her hands and shaking them slightly, "you named it?"
"He named himself." Jak answered, stressing the first and last words in his remark, so that all present would get his meaning. "He's not an animal, Ashelin." he said, wishing to further explain what he meant, "He's a sentient creature. He thinks, he learns, he has feelings and emotions, everything that we possess."
There was a very pregnant silence following that little tidbit of information. Fortunately, Samos was able to quickly get attention focused back on him.
"I asked for Onin to come here," he said, gesturing to the seer, "so that she could better explain the situation, and I'm pretty certain that Jak has some questions for her."
Aware that all eyes were upon him, Jak thought carefully, and finally decided on something to break the ice, so to speak.
"What happened to me back in the Fortress?" he inquired, crossing his arms over his chest.
As it had been when he had been in her tent, a veritable 4th of July display suddenly began to appear in thin air, and Pecker, ever the faithful familiar, began to translate.
"What was started was finished." the monkeet said, before continuing. "You have completed your transformation, Dark One, and have become what you were born to be."
"I beg your pardon?" Jak said, a dictionary definition of the 'baffled look' upon his face.
Once again, the symbols filled the air.
"You know of your heritage as a Channeler, what makes you unique, do you not?" Pecker translated.
"I've got Precursor blood in my veins." Jak answered, stating what was common knowledge.
"Correct," Pecker stated, raising a wing as Onin signed, "you are descended from elven/Precursor hybrids, it is that blood that gives Channelers' their ability to wield Eco as they can. However, sometimes, things happen in the genes, and a mutation will occur."
"A mutation?" Keira asked, her curious nature taking over.
Symbols met her query, and Pecker was on the job, as usual.
"Channelers are normally capable of wielding all the different varieties of Eco with equal proficiency." The familiar stated. "However, as you doubtlessly saw in the Tomb, the Precursors themselves tended to be more oriented towards a single type. It is a rarity, but occasionally, for some unknown reason, a Channeler will emerge that will have this type of natural orientation."
He paused dramatically, peering around at everyone, his eyes half closed. "They were sometimes called Ascended Channelers, because they appeared to be able to more closely emulate the abilities of the Ancients, gaining more power, at the cost of only being able to wield a single type. Though," he added, almost as an afterthought, "they are able to use that one type in a greater variety of ways than normal ones can."
"How much power are we talking about here?" Torn inquired, his gaze floating back and forth between the dark elf and the familiar.
"Ever heard of the phrase 'army of one?'" Pecker responded, smiling when the Delta nodded. "Well, now you how it got started."
The monkeet stopped again after that, looking back over his shoulder to Onin, whose blind gaze was once again piercing the dark elf. She etched a few more symbols in the air, slowly this time, and Pecker then put words to what everyone was beginning to realize.
"You are one such Channeler, Jak, one of darkness." Pecker finished.
"But I've used other kinds before…" Jak said, before Pecker cut him off.
"But, if you will recall, you found yourself unable to use other types not long after your injections began, no?" the monkeet stated, smirking triumphantly as Jak slowly nodded his head. "That is because after being exposed to that particular element, your body, shall we say, became rather reluctant to part with it."
Those present seemed somewhat confused, and with a weary sigh, the familiar rolled his eyes and proceeded to once more explain what it was that Onin was trying to get across.
"Okay," he groaned, putting a wing to his forehead, "I will explain this very slowly, especially for the sake of rat boy over there." he gestured to Daxter, who shot him a venomous look in return. "Have you never wondered, Jak, that despite how much of that stuff you have left dripping all over the ground as you bled, how much your inner demon has unleashed upon your foes, why you have never needed to absorb more Dark Eco?"
"The thought has crossed my mind a few times." Jak conceded, wondering where this was going.
"That is because your body now turns that stuff out like a stinking manufacturing plant." the monkeet replied in a superior tone.
"Okay," Keira began, looking at the seer and her familiar as if they were both nuts, "first, how is that possible, and second, if he's body's been making this stuff, why did these changes only happen after that last treatment."
"Weeeelllll," Pecker remarked, scratching the back of his head nervously, "the best answer I can give you in regards to your first question is a guess, an educated one mind you and doubtless better than anything you'd be able to think of on your own."
"So spill it, banana breath!" Daxter remarked, apparently having recovered from his trauma sufficiently to hurl insults.
"I'm getting to that!" the familiar retorted, glaring at the rodent. "As I was going to say before I was rudely interrupted, the best answer I can give you, Keira, is that the Precursor DNA in Jak's genetic code has more dominance than it normally does, thus making his abilities more akin to theirs." the monkeet said with a shrug. "As for your second…well, let's just say that when Errol made the remark about the Dark Eco being concentrated, he wasn't kidding." He finished with a weak laugh, almost instantly silenced by a multitude of death glares. However, he quickly recomposed himself, and finished. "It pushed Jak to the necessary point, in a sense, completing his body's transformation."
"And the reason that I can only now Channel without letting Kage out?" Jak prompted, his alien eyes staring at the blind seer, while getting a few strange looks.
Onin answered in her usual fashion, and once again, Pecker was her mouthpiece.
"As she just had me tell you, you were incomplete." the familiar said, scratching his head once more. "You were sort of, you might say, stuck at the halfway point, not fully able to wield you new powers, and unable to take advantage of your old ones. I would also like to add that your transformed state was also imperfect and as a result, deformed. Which was why it looked like a failed mad science experiment."
'I take offense at that.' Kage growled ominously, his tone given Jak the impression of someone who had just had his honor slandered.
"I'd be a little more cautious with my words, Pecker." Jak remarked, opting to Channel some more Dark Eco between his hands, riveting everyone's attention upon himself. "Keep talking like that, and Kage might just develop a sudden taste for poultry."
Tess and Daxter stifled some respective giggles, while the monkeet's visage became several shades whiter, and a very audible nervous gulp came from his throat. Fortunately, before the situation could become any more awkward, Onin began signing once more, her gestures rapid and precise.
"Onin wishes to see Kitetsu one more time." Pecker said, his voice somewhat shaky after Jak's 'threat.'
The dark elf reached back, and unsheathed the blade, before walking forward and presenting it to the soothsayer, hilt first. With a single deft movement, she snatched it from him, running her hands over the weapon as she did all those months ago when Jak had met her for the 'first time'. Her fingers made their way to the end of the hilt, and to the surprise of all, felt around, fiddling with something they could not see for a second or two. The next thing they knew, she had managed to pop the end of the hilt off, and it clattered to the floor.
Jak stared, amazed by what he saw. There was a strange slot like area in the butt end of the grip, almost as if something was meant to be inserted there. Then it hit him, his mind flashed back to the statue in the sewers, of the strange protrusion that Mar's blade has possessed. He stared at Onin intently, watching with a sort of anxious anticipation for what happened next.
The blind prophetess reached down, and opened a pouch that she had around her waist. Then, with her own powers, levitated a strange crystal out of it. Instantly, the dark elf felt his blood react to this thing, whatever it was. The rock was a strange, translucent purple, and it was angular, shaped almost like a rather jagged icicle, except for the slight curve at the end. It was also somewhat small, being about two inches in length.
"A Dark Eco crystal!" the Shadow breathed in awe, his mouth flopping open while his older counterpart merely rolled his eyes.
For the moment, no one thought to question as to just where and how the ancient elf had managed to scrounge that thing up, and watched as with a few waves of her right hand, she connected sword and crystal. Almost instantly, there was a humming sound, and a pulse filled the air, as dark electricity surged over the blade's length, while the runes suddenly began to glow a violet color.
Onin withdrew the hand that had been holding the katana, her powers keeping the blade levitating. Her blind gaze fell on Jak, who felt some strange compulsion come over him. Not knowing what to expect, he stuck out his hand, and to the surprise of all, it flew unerringly towards him, and he clasped his hand around it. The crystal, perhaps due to its small size, or something else, was nearly weightless, and it took only a few experimental swings to get the new balance of the weapon down. Also, none missed the strange distortions the dark katana seemed to leave now in its wake, as if it were cutting the air itself.
Still gazing at the blade in awe, the Channeler looked back at Onin, his gaze one of a person who was expecting an explanation for what was going on. She was apparently happy to comply, waving her hands about as she weaved her symbols through the air.
"Kitetsu truly is a blade of darkness." Pecker said, tapping his feathers together. "And due to some unknown technology, the Precursors were even able to make the weapon sentient to a degree."
Confused stares met the monkeet, and he went on to explain what Onin had meant.
"That is what drew you to it in the first place, Jak," the familiar said as the blind seer stared into him again, "it sensed you, and felt within you the makings of someone who could wield it to its fullest potential. That is why it called out to you, it wanted to be used again."
"You'll pardon me," Jak remarked, a frown suddenly making its way across his face, "if I find this entirely too convenient for my liking. I mean, me just happening to stumble across a weapon like this that just happens to react with my nature. Would you care to give me the odds on that?"
Flashing symbols met his query, and pecker groaned suddenly, massaging his mouth. Sighing, he proceeded to do his job.
"Onin is unsure as to how Kitetsu arrived in Dead Town, it is a mystery that eludes even one such as she." he paused for a moment, throwing in his theatrics yet again. "However, as to why Kitetsu reacted to you, it was because it sensed in you what it sensed in its last true master, and I think we all know who that is." he remarked suddenly, crossing his wings. "After all, this city only considers him something of a saint and savior."
"Wait a minute," Jynx said, entering the conversation for the first time, "are you saying that blondie here, is…"
"Jak is what Mar was." Pecker confirmed.
To say that this little revelation sent a proverbial shockwave through those present, would have been very accurate. For several moments, nothing was said, as everyone attempted to comprehend what they had just been told.
"And the reason that no one knows this would be?" Ashelin asked, raising an eyebrow.
Once again, Onin wrote in the air, and her familiar began to translate what she said.
"Onin says that it is interesting what history chooses to forget." He said with a smirk.
"Then just how do you know about it, oh mystical one?" Daxter said, stretching out slightly as Tess scratched him behind his ears. "I mean, I realize that you could theoretically be that old, but still…"
The Ottsel's sudden stop was caused by the seer that he was addressing, who was giving him a glare that would have caused Baron Praxis himself to gulp nervously.
"I guess age must be a universal thing among women." Jynx muttered to Torn, and the other Delta snorted, only to be promptly thwaped over the head by Ashelin.
"Onin knows because certain ancient texts tell of Mar being able to summon forth dark lighting and hurl balls of black energy at his adversaries." Pecker said, staring around at everyone, and attempting to get the meeting back on track. "They say how 'no mortal weapon' could slay him, and," he said pausing one more time, and smirking, "some say, that when battles became desperate, how the king's power would become as a devil incarnate, and how nothing could stand against him as such."
Keira and Jak suddenly looked at each other, remembering the same thing. They remembered a mural, in which a winged demon stood at the front of an elven army, its wings and blades spread wide in challenge to the advancing Hora-quan, and how Mar's eyes had been slitted in the picture that had shown him unmasked.
This revelation definitely put a new light on things.
Some time passed, and eventually, duty had called for all except the original quartet, and Tess. Onin and Pecker were still there as well, though it looked as if they were about to leave.
The blond elf and Daxter made flirtatious remarks to each other, the Ottsel's hunger apparently forgotten, while Keira and her father basically just talked about things, trying to catch up after all that had happened. Jak, stood by himself, twirling his blade, pondering the course that things had taken.
Towards the end of the conversation, Samos' younger self had made the remark that Onin made it sound as if it were the dark elf that was going to be the one to fulfill the ancient prophesy, rather than Alexander. The old seer's reply had only further confused them, a guarantee that Alex would play out his role in things, while assuring them that the boy was unharmed.
She had also advised that the Channeler and his friends pay a little visit to a certain talking statue. When asked for a reason, she simply pointed to the katana that Jak held.
He looked back up, and saw her heading for the door, apparently not needing her sight to navigate her way through the place. Abruptly, the dark elf detached himself from the wall he was leaning against, walked up to her, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Wordlessly, the blind woman had turned around, her expression one of resignation, as if she already knew what Jak was going to ask.
"I'd like to know one more thing, Onin." he said slowly, before deciding that it was now or never. "I'd almost forgotten about it until I saw my past back in the Tomb. Errol said that he'd been waiting for me…how?"
Pecker shuffled his feet nervously, and sent a silent prayer that the old soothsayer had been right in her proclamation that the elf was no longer as hate filled as he had been. After all, he hadn't forgotten the subtle threat that Jak had slipped him when he had insulted the devilish entity running around inside of his head. So it was with a justifiable amount of uneasiness, that Pecker began to translate as Onin signed once more.
"Onin says that…" the familiar gulped, and mentally prepared himself for the next life, "she is the one responsible for that."
Conversations suddenly stopped, and all eyes were upon the trio. All of the reactions were different. Daxter halted in mid joke, his mouth flapping open, Tess' eyes were bugged out, and there was a clatter as Samos' staff hit the floor, all his gruff dignity forgotten in the wake of yet another earth shattering revelation. As for Keira, she too was thunderstruck, and her hands slowly clenched into fists as flames began to crackle in her eyes.
The most surprising reaction of all though, came from Jak himself, who simply blinked once in sudden surprise, and went silent for a few seconds, his strange eyes slowly closing as he digested this bit of information. Finally after an eternity of silence broken only by Pecker's knees knocking together, he spoke a single word, his voice more confused than angry.
"Why?"
Her head bowed, Onin traced out a few symbols in the air, and then nudged her familiar with her foot when he became reluctant to find a voice for her.
"Sometimes," Pecker said, gulping nervously before somehow summoning up the will to continue, "for the sake of many, one must suffer. Onin, ex-extends her sincerest apologies, Jak, but, but there was no other way."
The monkeet then braced himself for what he believed would be certain death. However, after several seconds passed, and he found that he was still by all senses, alive, he dared to open one eye.
Jak had his head bowed, his chin upon his chest as he apparently mulled something over in his mind.
'Is this forever to be my fate?' he thought, memories of his battles in Sandover coming back to him, the agonies that he had endured there flashing before himself and his guardian devil. 'To have to forever suffer for others?'
'One would think you had already done enough of that for a lifetime' Kage said, his voice somber. 'Still, one thing does puzzle me, though.'
'What would that be?' the dark elf inquired, curious about what his alter ego was on to.
'I do not understand why Praxis would believe her.' He rumbled, his mental image scratching his head with one of his wing talons. 'Is it customary among elves to naturally take the word of blind old ladies without question?'
'No, it isn't.' Jak thought, before adding a voice to the oni's question.
To this, Onin simply flashed a crooked smile at the Channeler, and replied in her usual fashion, which Pecker, still somewhat uneasy, but becoming more optimistic about his chances of getting out of the base alive, translated.
"Onin says that she was not always a blind old elf who peddles her skills to people with trivial problems. Once, she was something more." he said, which got him some confused stares.
However, Onin apparently felt that she had answered the query sufficiently, and turned around, leaving the room, and leaving its occupants to look back and forth amongst each other in wonder.
It was later that day, that Krimzon Guard corporal Benton Davis and his squad were on patrol near the waterfront slums, a routine duty that they'd been doing every day for the past several months. However, all of that was about to change in a few seconds, as one of his men spotted something.
"Hey," one of his troopers said, and he turned to see the girl, a private first class, pointing at something, "that's him, that's the guy!"
The corporal followed the f.p.s' gesture, and found Haven's Most Wanted making his way through the crowd, a couple of elves following him, both of them high ranking Underground members as well, not to mention that little orange rat that always seemed to be at his heels.
"So it is…I wonder what he's doing out here." Benton muttered, already knowing what he was going to do. "Still, at any rate, we're not getting involved."
"What?" was the virtually unanimous outburst from his soldiers.
In response, Benton merely shook his head and sighed. These guys with him were fresh out of basic, and he was the only one to have ever actually seen combat, even it had just been a few square offs with Metal Head patrols. They had yet to learn to temper their zeal to serve with the practicality of their orders, and it was up to him to teach them that valuable lesson.
"Look," he said, facing his squad mates while he walked over to a building, "you've heard the rumors leaking out of the Fortress, right?"
He was met with affirmative nods, and then went on to explain his logic.
"So," he drawled, "if that guy can turn into something out of a bad dream and wipe us out by the dozens without even trying, what in the name of the Precursors makes you think that we're going to be able to take him on with just the six of us?"
There was a scratching of feet and a general murmuring among the others, before the female soldier that had spoken first spoke again.
"But we have out orders…" she began.
"And feel free to try and carry them out, I won't try to stop you. As for me though," the corporal said, leaning back against the building he was next to, "I like life."
"So, then, what do we do?" a third person muttered.
"We act like we didn't see anything." the squad leader replied.
The rawer soldiers looked back and forth amongst themselves, apparently having learned that discretion was indeed the better part of valor.
They walked inside, and the Oracle remained where it had been when Jak had first entered after his hunt with Sig, unmoved and apparently untouched.
Greetings to you all, brave ones. said the voice of the statue, its eyes glowing eerily as they had before, causing Keira and Samos to exchange looks with each other. I sense that you have found your balance, Dark One, and it seems as though you have finally realized the truth about yourself.
"I've got you to thank for that." Jak responded, smiling as he removed a pair of sunglasses, as he had thought it wise to hide his new…acquisitions from the general public.
I require no thanks, Channeler. it said, pausing for a moment before it continued. I sense the blade of darkness with you as well, and I ask you, do you know why you are here this time?
"We were told you might know some things about Kitetsu." Keira said, having apparently gotten over the shock of this new experience.
I do indeed, young elf, more than one might think. it answered, before explaining itself. But in order for you to understand what it is I know, you must realize what I am.
"Could you cut to the chase, Rocky?" Daxter said, somewhat irritated by all the riddles he'd had to put up with all day.
I am a construct of the Ancients, a Holocron. It said.
There was a deafening silence and Jak could have sworn that he heard a few crickets chirp for a couple of seconds.
In layman's terms, I am a computer designed to hold and store specific types of data, and then transfer it directly into a target's mind. the 'statue' rumbled, and Keira's eyes suddenly bulged outward, apparently comprehending what it meant.
"Another computer?" Daxter muttered incredulously.
"What can you say?" Samos responded, shrugging. "Apparently, the Precursors liked computers."
Stored within my databanks is a special set of files that Mar had me record in regards to Kitetsu. the construct continued, undeterred by the Sage's and Ottsel's comments.
"Such as?" Jak prompted, raising an eyebrow.
Information regarding attack techniques and abilities that the sword itself possesses. Came the reply, before the Oracle continued. The Dark Eco crystal in the hilt allows for the blade to supplement its own wielder's skills with those of its own.
'Hmmm, sounds useful.' Kage mused, to which Jak agreed. 'But such power cannot be limitless.'
You would be correct in that assessment, demon. the Oracle stated, and only Jak had the privilege of watching the oni's face bear the look of the utmost surprise. However, while the crystal's power is limited, it can be recharged.
"How?" Jak inquired, drawing the weapon and staring at it.
It is now capable of absorbing Dark Eco through the blade, through either the environment, or out of a creature carrying the substance within it. the construct answered.
"Note to self," Jak said with a grimace, "make certain not to get stabbed with own blade."
"No kidding." Keira remarked, gulping.
The other knowledge I possess is of a fighting style that Mar created, but deemed too dangerous to pass on to others.
"What, in case it 'fell into the wrongs hands?'" Daxter remarked, rolling his eyes.
No, because of the danger to the wielder if the techniques are performed improperly. the Oracle said, finally starting to sound somewhat irritated with the Ottsel. Rest assured, Mar was very apt when he named the Juyo style.
"Juyo?" Jak inquired, translating the older elvish language with a strange look upon his face. "Blade-Storm?"
'I like the sound of that.' Kage said, sounding eager to see what it offered.
Now, Dark One, the Oracle said, I will warn you in advance that this will feel somewhat uncomfortable, just so you know.
That was all the warning that the Channeler got before images suddenly began to explode through his head. In the passing of a few seconds, he saw the armored king using Kitetsu in maneuvers that would have caused most to flee from sheer intimidation if performed correctly, or that could have resulted in severe bodily harm if one screwed them up. He also witnessed Haven's first ruler unleash the dark katana's abilities, and his own. They too, left him in awe.
And then it was over, though he spent several moments trying to get his brain back together, as having such information 'downloaded' into his memory was certainly a new experience, and while not painful, left him with the feeling of having pulled all-nighters for a good week.
With Kage it was much the same, as the demon's eyes twitched and rolled about, as did his head.
'Information…overload.' he muttered, suddenly clutching his skull.
The feeling will pass shortly, Dark One, the Oracle stated matter of factly, though I would suggest you practice what you have learned. You may have the knowledge of how to use Kitetsu to its fullest, but it is not the same as actual training.
"And I think I know how you can do that." Samos sudden interjected, drawing all eyes back to him. "I need for you to help me retrieve something from a shrine that is smack in the middle of Dead Town."
"You mean?" Keira began, getting a somber nod from her father.
"Yes, Keira," the old sage said, his voice suddenly sounding older, "that very same place."
"What are you two talking about that we don't know about?" Daxter said, once again irritated about his lack of knowledge.
"Something you guys need to see." was all that Keira said, and Jak could have sworn that he saw the shimmer of a tear in her eye.
&
Okay, (takes a moment to compose), I have the sinking feeling that there are a multitude of lethal objects being pointed in my general direction at the current moment, and I cannot say that I blame you in this respect.
For those of you who might be wondering, yes, this means that there effectively will NOT be ANY Light Jak in the sequel. There WILL however, be someone using Light Eco, and I assure you that it will not be an OC.
Also, I will go into further detail in the later chapters about the whole Channeler heritage deal. In fact, a certain Leader of the Metal Heads will be the one to explain what possessed them to suddenly decide to start breeding with an entirely different species that was, at least at the time, little more than nomads still trying to figure out the concept of the bow and arrow.
That said, I wish you all a good day, and I think I will start running now.