Author's note: Yes its me again. I guess you get sick of these notes always at the top of the page... wasing space...
Anyway thanks for reviewing guys! I hope I can make the 'climax' of the story more exciting. Anyway I hope this quells any cliffhanger jitters!
Good day!
Jak paced on the airship as it made its way across the ocean towards the Wasteland. Jak's worry and stress was being vented outwards. Jak had let go of his light powered 'vision' and now was in his blindness since there was no need to 'see' in the airship. Jak knew his Light Eco levels were getting low again. He had used it immensely before to check out the Spargan palace, consistently used it for sensing, freeze time and he used it to protect himself and Daxter. He had to conserve what was left of his powers until this whole thing was settled and he could recharge again.
Jak had laid Daxter on one of the seats knowing that the Ottsel would have to wait for medical attention when this situation was resolved.
Jak couldn't help feeling he was going to be too late. He didn't want to fail and he didn't want to be a puppet for Rygar for his amusement. If a few weeks ago he knew all this stuff would happen he would've tried to relax and enjoy the peaceful quietness of his solitude. Even if he was blind with no hope of ever doing a mission or ever living life again he did have all this other stuff on him.
It was one extreme or the other. Isolation or given great burdens.
Jak wished for one day someone could take all this stuff away from him just for a little while. Jak didn't want to deal with anything or be forced to jump through hoops but there was always someone making him do it. Jak wanted to run away, far away and didn't have to bother anyone again. He wanted to be himself, he wanted to do what he wanted. He remembered the good old days before winding up in Haven City he could do what he pleased and he was free but it seems everyone else had other plans.
Jak realized this wasn't who he was, he was given responsibility but he wasn't his job. He was so caught up in the tasks he had to do he lost himself somewhere along the way. He didn't know who he was or even what is his favorite colour is. Josan, the disability helper, was right. He wasn't his job and Jak was lost in a spiritual sense. Everyone knew who he was but why couldn't he see it?
The sound of coughing brought him out of his musings. Jak instantly knew it was Daxter. He was ok!
"Daxter!" Jak came in and knelt by his friend, "Come on buddy, wake up"
"Ugh!" Daxter moaned, "I feel like crap"
Jak was relieved that Daxter pulled through. He didn't think the little Ottsel would actually recover on his own since the state he found him in was pretty serious. Jak guessed that the Metal Head egg, that Daxter was in, was acting like a stasis chamber while slowly sucking him dry...
"I feel like a dead weight" Daxter complained, "And I'm covered in some icky stuff! My shorts are ruined! Ruined! Jak! Explain!"
"Uh, you were taken by Metal Heads" Jak answered
"METAL HEADS!" Daxter exclaimed, "You're joking? Tell me you're joking?"
"Uh..."
"Great! That explains this disgusting crap all over me!" Daxter growled, "Why those guys have to be so messy? Can't they be clean for once?"
Jak stood back up knowing Daxter was always in a cranky mood when he woke up.
Daxter seemed to notice Jak since he said, "Hmm something different about you. You had a hair cut! No a spray tan... no wait! You had a growth spurt!"
Jak frowned at the last suggestion, "I'm not short"
"Hey uh where are we going?" Daxter asked as he struggled to a sitting position realizing that they were in an airship
"To Spargus"
"Erh why? What's wrong with going home? I could use a nice hot shower..." Daxter trailed dreamily
"Long story" Jak replied
"Long story? What do ya mean 'long story'?"
Jak sighed, "To give you the short version, HQ has been taken over, everyone had been taken by the gang leader Rygar and now I have to play his game and get everyone back"
"Whoa rewind there leaper! HQ had been taken over? The Freedom HQ?"
Jak sighed and then he remembered...
"Here I think this belongs to you" Jak pulled out Daxter's goggle cap
"Hey my cap! HEY it's broken!" Daxter snatched if off Jak and Jak guessed he was inspecting it, "You know how much I paid for this? You know its the only size that fits me?"
"Uh-"
"I can't go around with a broken cap! What if a piece of glass falls and cuts my eye open? Did you think about that?"
"Uh-"
"You broke it didn't you! Trust you to break it! You know they don't make these any more? You know how much it costs just to fix it! Oh but you wouldn't care because you got your own! You shouldn't go around breaking stuff, you know having broken stuff is bad luck" Daxter ranted
"Uh..."
The airship slowed down and was preparing to land on the sand. Jak immediately tapped into his powers as the airship descended. He automatically targeted Daxter's life force and placed the Ottsel at his left shoulder as the door opened out.
"We'll talk later" Jak jumped down from the ship and ran towards the entrance into Spargus.
"Whoa! Hey how did ya do that? Wait... is there something I'm missing? How long was I out?" Daxter threw a volley of questions, "Wait don't tell me! I was cryogenically frozen and now I'm 30 years into the future!"
Jak rolled his eyes and ignored him as he entered the garage then the city. He mounted a Leaper and raced across the morning drone of the city. Jak headed towards the palace and found a large strong life force at the mouth of the large cave that led to the palace.
"Nothing has changed in 30 years..." Daxter commented
"No one is to pass here until further notice" the man ordered
It was deep and commanding but it wasn't Rygar. He sensed an energy signature coming from a weapon, like a long neck gun. Perhaps a Peace Maker?
"You don't understand! I have to get to the palace" Jak urged
The man pointed his Peace Maker at them, Jak's Leaper made a ugly sound and backed away.
"I have my orders!" the man snapped
"I have to see Rygar!" Jak almost yelled as if they guy was crazy
"No one is to pass!" the man threatened
Jak glared at the man's life force before turning away.
"You can get more sense out of a brick wall" Daxter passed the comment
"Is the sun up yet?" Jak asked
"No" Daxter replied, "But it's going to be in any second, er why?"
Jak swore before racing his Leaper down to the hill towards the Light Eco vent. He had to recharge his light powers.
"AHHHHH! Slow down! I just had a traumatic experience! UGH! I think I'm gonna hurl!" Daxter exclaimed
Jak jumped off the creature and entered the Light Eco stream, slowing down to a stop.
"Uhhh...oh thank the Precursors you've stopped" Daxter breathed then asked, "What are you doing?"
"If we can't go through it, we'll have to go over it" Jak smirked before morphing to his light side and sprouting his tentacle-like wings.
"Jak! Daxter cried in warning as he gripped the shoulder armor that was now white, "You know how much I hate flying and I don't feel so good!"
"We don't have enough time! The sun's going to come up any second!" Jak exclaimed as if the Ottsel was crazy
"What do ya- ahhhh!"
Jak launched into the air, beating his wings profusely, knowing he had the lack of experience in using this power. Jak thought he was going to fall back to earth but after a few hard flaps he became airborne. Jak managed to get to a certain height before making his way over towards the palace. He could sense where he was and where he needed to go.
Daxter had his eyes squeezed closed before easing them open. He swallowed and breathed deeply, desperately trying to contain the contents of his stomach. His blue eyes spotted a man on the roof of a building.
"Look there's a guy on the roof" Daxter pointed towards the figure completely forgetting that Jak couldn't physically see his arm.
Jak didn't need his direction because he could feel the man's distinct life force on top of a high structure near the palace.
"All units prepare to enter at my command. I repeat there are dangerous fugitives inside and they are to be shot on sight!"
"Torn?" Daxter exclaimed at the voice his ears registering the ex-krimzon soldier, "He sure put on a lot of weight!"
"It's not Torn" Jak corrected, "Rygar"
"On my count! Three, two, one..."
Jak suddenly felt his light powers weaken and drain away. In mid air, Jak's light side left him, his light form and wings disappeared in a blaze of white embers.
"This is why I don't like flying!" Daxter yelped
They both fell from the air as the ground came up fast in an eager greeting.
"AHHHHHH!" Daxter screeched
It was over in a few seconds and Jak managed to break his fall by landing on someone. After being in a daze for a few seconds Jak realized what had happened and tapped into his light powers. He connected and his sensory 'vision' came to him. He realized that he was on top of someone, someone he knew.
"Argh!" the low voice grunted from beneath him
Rygar? Jak was still in a daze.
"Get off me!" the man growled and started to push him off
Jak's mind focused and scanned for the voice changing device. He felt its energy signature a few inches in front of him. Jak reached over and grabbed it and the communicator that was also near by. He fumbled for the switch since he couldn't physically see it.
"NO!" Rygar roared and tipped Jak off him to leap for the communicator
Jak's finger found the button and he instantly spoke as he pulled the communicator towards him.
"All units stand down! I repeat stand down! False alarm! Return to-" Jak spoke as Torn's voice commanded into the communicator
Rygar grabbed the communicator interrupting the order, "NO! Give it to me!"
Jak growled and gritted his teeth and held onto the device. After a small struggle Rygar managed to yank it out of his hands and get up.
"Ha! Your little plan failed" Daxter teased only catching onto a little of what was going on, "See everyone's going home!"
Jak got up and he could sense that Rygar had looked down as he could feel his disappointment and anger. Jak could sense the HQ soldiers were moving off into airships to return to Haven City. He could feel the old Krimzon soldier's anger grow to absolute rage. Jak backed away a little.
"Ughhh! Jaak! I don't feel so good..." Daxter groaned somewhere in the background
"YOU!" the old man roared, "YOU will pay dearly for this!"
"Hey I played your stupid game!" Jak growled, "I did what you wanted! I just think you're a sore loser"
"Heh, heh, you think so?" Rygar's voice suddenly went dark, "Guess who knows the last location of your friend? I am still in control here Jak"
Jak gritted his teeth knowing it was true. Unknown to him the man smiled sadistically. In the background Jak could hear Daxter retching.
"I think she will pay for what you did here. There was no need to get violent I'm a man of my word" Rygar's voice was sly and smug
"If you lay a finger on her-" Jak threatened
"Then what?" Rygar cut in, "You don't know where she is! I can do with her what I please"
Jak growled, "Not if I kill you first"
"Kill me and you have no hope of finding her!"
"I rather look for her myself then play this game!"
"Even if it costs you her life?"
Jak couldn't answer that. Silence came only to be disrupted by Daxter's vomiting. Rygar sniggered at Jak's silence.
"I thought so" Rygar said almost gleefully, "But since I am honorable and forgiving man I'll give you a small clue"
"Not another riddle!" Jak groaned. He was sick and tired of them, "Just give it to me straight!"
"Oh where's the fun in that?"
Jak sighed as Daxter stopped being sick everywhere.
"In the city that never sleeps, prime authority is where the next clue keeps. Fate stirs the creature heaps from within it's eternal rest where the darkness sleeps"
"You have WAY too much time on your hands" Jak commented
"Oh, if you only knew how much time I have been preparing for this... Now if you excuse me I have a flight to catch!" Rygar suddenly turned and jumped off the roof building
Jak's mouth opened only to follow his life force falling down to a large metal object with energy that he sensed was a large vehicle. By the sounds of the engines he could tell it was the Freedom HQ cruiser. He felt another life force at the wheel as Rygar landed on the ship. Jak guessed it was one of his gang members. Jak felt the ship's power signature diminish out of range as the roaring engines grew quiet..
Jak turned back and sighed. He rubbed his forehead as another worry had set in. The safety of Keira.
"Uhhhh... sick..." Daxter moaned, "Too much adventure for one night! If you excuse me I'm going to pass out..."
Jak heard Daxter collapse as the smell of spew reached his nose. Jak picked up the unconscious Ottsel and went away from the mess. Jak could feel the sun on his warm skin as he sought away down from there. He didn't understand why his powers stopped working in mid flight. Jak had recharged completely before take off so there was no need for his powers to just stop working like that. At least he could still 'see'. It was like a system crash, as if he couldn't sustain it any more.
It was just fortunate that he happened to land on Rygar when he was about to make the command...
Jak entered inside the throne room to find everyone awake. Jak could feel all their life forces wondering around or sitting, though he still couldn't tell who was who, he had to work on that. He was exhausted with three hours of sleep and five hours of running around saving people. Jak knew that his body kicked and screamed for rest and Jak wanted to just do that.
"Where the hell have you been?" Torn's voice snapped, "You're lucky I didn't come out and bust your ass!"
Jak was surprised at the greeting but his face went into a mask of annoyance.
He pushed past him, "What are you now? My babysitter?"
Jak deposited Daxter onto the stairs as he felt the rest of the life forces approach him.
"Typical, goldenboy going off on his own" Sig snapped, "We agreed to leave in the morning, which is now"
"What? Well its not like I wanted to go off on my own!" Jak defended
"Jak we need to stick together" Ashelin urged, "I have a feeling Rygar is planning something big, he has a reason for doing all this but I don't know what or why"
Why suddenly everyone is attacking me? Didn't I just save them all from getting massacred?
"Back off!" Jak snarled, "Its bad enough that I have to deal with Rygar!"
"Rygar?" Torn's voice changed, "You saw him?"
"Hmph" Jak grunted, "Let's just say we bumped into each other. He left me another riddle"
"Well lets hear it" Samos urged
"Yeah and I'm fine too thanks for asking" Jak shot back
He couldn't believe it. They were angry at him because he went off on his own and had to get Daxter. They were completely oblivious to what just had passed. Is it me or everyone is grumpy when they wake up?
But he didn't have time to explain everything, he had to concentrate on getting Keira back. He had a feeling it was going to be harder this time. What ever Rygar had in mind was bound to come out and Jak had a feeling it wasn't going to be pretty
Jak gave a heavy sigh and rubbed his tired sightless eyes as he recited the riddle, "In the city that never sleeps, prime authority is where the next clue keeps. Fate stirs the creature heaps from within it's eternal rest where the darkness sleeps"
"It's talking about Haven City" Ashelin translated the first bit
"The Freedom HQ" Torn finished, "We'll find what he's up to there"
"But its been taken over, how can we get it back?" Ashelin asked, "We don't have the man power or the technology to break in"
"We don't but Vin does" Jak suggested
"Yeah, we can get Vin to link up with the HQ computers through the network and get him to override the security codes and open the doors" Torn caught on and explained, "Once we're in we can reboot the system and configure everything back to the way it was"
"I hate to rain on your parade but what about the HQ soldiers? I don't think this Rygar character isn't going to let you just waltz in there and take back HQ" Sig pointed out
"Why not?" Jak asked, "He's got everything he wants. I wouldn't be surprised if he copied all the information off the systems"
"Still he wouldn't just let things go unless they work to his advantage" Ashelin supported Sig's argument, "He doesn't do things unless they work for him"
"Unfortunately by doing this we're probably doing what he wants" Torn replied
"But we got no choice, I've got no choice" Jak replied, "Keira is still out there and I'm not going to let some old Krimzon fart get the last laugh!"
"We can divide into two teams" Torn continued, "First team will contact Vin and the second will enter HQ. Jak and Sig can make contact while Ashelin, Samos and I round up as many troops as we can and storm inside once the all clear is given. Radio silence unless its for emergency so that means no coms until the signal, got it?"
"Then what?" Jak asked
"You two head back to HQ once its cleared and we'll see if we can find out what Rygar is up to" Torn finished, "Any questions?"
No one replied.
"Good. Lets move out"
Jak and Sig rolled up outside the Power Station. Sig drove almost hitting everything along the way so the vehicle ended up all smashed and smoking.
"I think today has been too much for my stomach" Daxter groaned after the ride
"Sorry chillipeppers, this ride doesn't move like its suppose to. I hate Haven City's technology" Sig muttered
"It's ok" Jak jumped out
Suddenly a small beeping sounded. Sig responded by reaching in a hidden pocket and pulling out a communicator. After a few seconds he turned to them.
"Sorry cherries but I got business at Spargus. It seems marauders are trying to attack again. I'm gonna have to sit this one out"
"Its fine we can take it from here" Jak replied
Sig nodded before reversing and heading the way he came.
"Not much has changed" Daxter commented, "I mean I'd expect something different if I went 30 years in the future"
"Dax you're not in the future" Jak sighed at Daxter's belief that he was cryogenically frozen and made his way to the future, "You've only been missing for over a week"
"Oh"
Jak turned and entered the Power Station. With his Light Eco powers he could feel the large amount of Eco and electrical energy that coursed through the lines and systems in this room. The quiet hum and the occasional crackle of electricity reached his ears. What got Jak was he could also feel two other occupants in the room.
"Jaaak!" Daxter warned, "Those are the guys that tried to take the bar away from me"
"Huh?" Jak frowned
"You know? These guys show up saying they were apart of a gang and my bar was on their property. Yeah right! I like to show them what's their property!"
"Was that the last thing you remember?" Jak asked
"Yeah until I woke up all slimy" Daxter muttered
"They're apart of Rygar's gang" Jak almost hissed
"Hey!" One male voice grunted, "What are you doing here? You're not suppose to be here!"
Jak didn't recognize their voices and he could feel they weren't here for a friendly chat. His guess was right in believing they were Rygar's cronies.
"Maintenance" Jak replied with a smug tone, "I heard there were problems with the system so I came to check it out"
"Problem eh?" the other asked, "Well we kinda have a problem... we can't get this thing operational"
Jak approached them, "Really, what sort of problems?"
"We can't access the systems" one explained
"Oh really?" Jak stood next to them, "Let me take a look"
"Wait a sec" one said suspiciously, "I know that rat"
"Hey! Watch what you call me buddy!" Daxter snapped
With that Jak threw a punch at the two men. In one swing he knocked one and with another aimed swing he knocked out the other. Both of them fell to a unceremonious heap on the floor.
"Ha!" Daxter made some 'kung fu' moves, "And that's what you get for taking me to the Metal Heads!"
"Whoo that felt good" Jak commented then smirked, "You guys rest for a while, while I talk to the System Manager"
"Are... are they gone?" a computerized voice asked
"Vin!" Jak called, "Buddy! I need your help again"
Jak felt a small computer energy signature from a hologram appear above him.
"Jak? Thank goodness you're here! Those goons showed up and messed with the controls! I had to freeze the panels! What's going on? Is there another Metal Head invasion? Oh no! There is isn't there! I knew I should have-"
"Vin it's ok" Jak cut him off, "There's no Metal Head invasion. Its a long story but Freedom HQ is not so free anymore. It has been taken over"
"What! By who?" Vin asked
"The Metal Heads!" Daxter shouted waving his arms
"AHHHHHHH!" Vin screeched
"Ha, ha, ha! You fell for that hook, line and sinker!" Daxter grinned, "Oh yeah, still the same ol' Vin"
"NOT FUNNY!" Vin yelled
Jak pinpointed Daxter's life force and hoped he gave a glare and shook his head.
"What?" Daxter claimed innocence
Jak turned back to the hologram energy signature, "I need access to HQ computers and I need them doors opened"
"Well everything is wired into the network. Lets see what I can do" Vin replied, "Hmmm... OK"
Jak stood there folding his arms as Daxter flopped down on Jak's shoulder.
"I'm hungry" Daxter muttered, "Really hungry"
"Can it wait?" Jak asked
"I haven't eaten in a week!" Daxter exclaimed, "Let alone pee! Which reminds me..."
"Ok I'm in!" Vin announced
"Great" Jak grinned but it was short lived
"Huh? Something's wrong... AHHH! Virus! Oh no its infecting the system-"
Jak could feel Vin's hologram energy signature suddenly disappear. Jak perked up and blinked trying to feel the energy.
"Vin? Vin!" Jak called
Unknown to Jak the light's flickered as all the blue screens turned blood red.
"Oooh spooky" Daxter commented, "Cool special effects"
Suddenly a deep laugh echoed in the room and a hologram energy signature appeared in front of him. Jak could tell it was a different signature, probably on a different frequency or something.
"Hello Jak, surprise" a familiar voice echoed
"It's that guy, whats-his-name?" Daxter frowned trying to think
"What do you want Rygar?" Jak asked folding his arms
"I knew you would come here to open the Freedom HQ doors. Ahh you are so predictable! This is a recorded message while I am off else where with the last of your friends. Keira is it? She is such a pretty girl. So beautiful and intelligent, such a rare thing to come by these days..."
Jak gritted his teeth.
"Don't be mad. If you're watching this then by now the city is already infected with a computer virus, anything linked to the network is infested. It will turn this city into chaos when nothing works. I've broadcasted a signal from the satellite dish on the roof of the HQ building disrupting weapon function, vehicle function and anything else that runs on Eco. Humans are pathetic in their conquest on harnessing Eco but I know you've mastered it.
This would have never had happened if you hadn't knocked me over. You will soon see the destruction, you have caused..."
To be continued...
Ahh another day, another visit! Looks like Rygar has Jak under his thumb, once again. What has Rygar have in store this time? How can they take HQ back with no Eco power and no firepower? Akkk I knew this couldn't be easy! Stay tuned to find out more!
Review! Everyone likes a review! Don't be afraid to tell me what you really think, honesty is the best policy or something about freedom of speech and using it...