Author's note: Thanks for your reviews! I know you have your hunches and your suspicions but I just have to add a twist... oh I couldn't resist! What fun is the story when you don't have a twist in it?
Anyway sorry about last chapter, the end seemed a little choppy. I'll try to keep it more smoother from now on.
Oh and merry what ever religion you celebrate this end of year season with! But from me Merry Christmas.
The afternoon breeze blew through the open room. The sun shone its last rays over the mountains as birds returned home and the nocturnal creatures were beginning to stir. Rygar stood in the middle of the Precursor structure, the ever working mechanics of Precursor technology hovered below the room. Rygar stared at the elevator watching, waiting for movement, waiting for the arrival of the planet's hero.
His few chosen men stood around. They were part of the Inner Circle, the only ones to ever really know his true intensions and plans. Usually they looked and acted like the rest of his gang but tonight they wore more traditional clothing and awaited for the final event.
"I didn't know you ran a cult. I knew Krimzon Guards had egos but I didn't think the KG were really up themselves" a female voice remarked
Rygar turned to the female with an icy stare. She was worn from the days of harsh treatment but her spirit was fiery and strong. Her aqua hair was stringy with neglect, her clothing were torn in places as the white of her shirt was stained with dirt. She was bound in KG cuffs and remained sitting on the floor with two members of his group posing as guards.
"A cult? These men have come freely and are apart of the Inner Circle in their own free will" Rygar replied, "I don't need to be surrounded by mindless idiots. All who are apart of my organization join because Freedom HQ offers them nothing of value so it is their fault and not mine, I am merely picking up the pieces"
"Yeah a real hero" Keira muttered sarcastically
"Why did you even join the Freedom HQ? You're young, pretty and have your whole life a head of you and yet you waste it with simple minded fools. You're throwing pearls at Hiphogs, only to get them trampled. Your rare intelligence with Precurian Astrophysics can but put to better use"
"Charming but no thanks" Keira refused, "I rather do my own thing than have an old has-been like you to take advantage of me"
"Too bad" Rygar shrugged, "All that talent wasted"
"For you that is"
Rygar chuckled, "Come on. Don't tell me you're letting this little incident drive a wedge in between our friendship. You sound like you hate me"
Keira just looked at him and if looks could kill... Rygar laughed again before silence resumed within the open room.
"Do you ever get curious Keira?" Rygar asked causally
"Curious? About what?"
"As a scientist I expect you are extremely curious about Jak"
"What? What do you mean? I should be asking you that since you've been really interested in him all of a sudden. Do you really hate him?"
Rygar smirked, "I don't hate Jak. He is quite the revolutionary. As a fellow scientist you must agree that he is a scientific wonder"
"He's not a lab rat" Keira snapped
"Come on. Don't tell me the thought of seeing how it all works has never crossed your mind?"
"I'm a mechanic not a biologist" Keira growled
Rygar chuckled knowing he was rubbing the girl the wrong way, "We are merely having a conversation. There is no need to get all emotional and moral"
Keira glared the old Krimzon Guard soldier as he gave another chuckle.
Suddenly the large round Precursor elevator powered up and whirred. Rygar faced the direction as the platform descended revealing a distant figure. Rygar waited patiently as the figure stepped off once at ground level and approached him. The last rays of light revealed the pale face, yellow hair, and typical clothing of the person he'd been expecting.
"Nice of you to join us" Rygar greeted
"I did what you wanted" Jak glared at him, "Give me Keira and restore the city and I'll give you The Sphere"
"Always down to business aren't we Jak?" Rygar teased
"Just do it already" Jak snapped
Rygar gave a chuckle before demanding, "The Sphere?"
Jak took it out of his backpack and showed it to Rygar. The flawless Precursor Technology was brightened with Eco power. Rygar gave a sly smile.
"Good. I'm a man of my word" Rygar nodded his head towards the two guards
The guards released Keira and she ran over to Jak's side. Jak sensed her approach as they both fell into a short hug.
"You ok? Did they hurt you?" Jak asked
"No I'm fine"
"Sorry to break up the reunion but I do want The Sphere now" Rygar demanded
"What about the city?" Jak questioned
"The power is already stored" Rygar lied
Jak seemed to hold it for a little bit, contemplating, but chucked it over and Rygar caught it.
"Ha! I guess I had my fingers crossed when I made that promise!"
Jak frowned as Rygar's mouth slowly crept into a triumphant smile.
"Finally its completed!"
"See I told you that thing was his final step to take over the world" Daxter said in a 'told-you-so' tone
Rygar held up the orb in the darkening light. Its florescent power glowed.
"Behold the new world approaches!" Rygar announced
The Inner Circle gathered men gathered as Rygar gave a long laugh. They all awaited something...
Jak could feel the atmosphere grow darker and with this he sensed something bad was about to happen. Jak could feel the life forces of Rygar's men gather closer in a semi-circle around the old Krimzon soldier. Rygar's strong spirit stood holding the energized and immensely powerful artefact.
"What are you up to?" Jak growled, the suspicion was always there. This whole goose chase had to have more depth than just saving friends and dealing with an old Krimzon has-been.
"Since you have made it to the end I'll tell you the inevitable" Rygar replied, "The past few days had been fun but it was all done to test you"
"To test me, what for?" Jak asked
"I studied you Jak. Everything you have done, I have recorded. You see before Errol, I was second in command to the Baron. I knew the most top secret projects. Then Vegar approached the Baron telling Praxis about a new kind of weapon to destroy the Metal Heads. Praxis became interested and gave the go ahead and told me to keep an eye on Vegar. As I did I studied what Vegar had been studying and came across an ancient prophecy. One that foretells of a new world, the dawn of a new age, one without darkness, a perfect utopia and a paradise that is vastly different to this life"
"You think we could have the short version?" Daxter asked
"Vegar had been striving to achieve this prophecy believing he was the light that brightened the darkness. You know the rest of his story and you also know that Vegar tried to use your ability, perhaps to gain this goal, but instead you were pumped with Dark Eco. The fool didn't understand what the writings truly meant and paid dearly"
"Ayeh I didn't think so..." Daxter trailed
"So why all this?" Jak folded his arms
"To prepare you for the final event"
"Which is..." Jak let it hang for a fill-in
"You will see..." Rygar replied slyly
The old soldier lifted his arm out and Jak felt the Eco energies inside the ball start to penetrate the Precursor Metal surface.
"The extra amount of Dark Eco you received while releasing Ashelin, helped your ability to cope with increased amounts of Eco. The fight with the Metal Head while helping Torn helped your mental as well as inner strength stability of the extra amount of energy. The rescue to help your pet rat proved your stamina and ability to cope under such pressures"
Jak was defiantly tired of this 'proving-self-worth' game but this time it wasn't for his own dignity. Jak glared his blind eyes at the man's life force and pulling out his gun. I could take him out now, while I have the chance...
"But this final task was different" Rygar continued, "I had The Sphere in my possession for a long time, but it needed a power boost and so I used the satellite to amplify it. You're a smart man, I knew you would figure out how the satellite got its energy. So you see I used you to do all the hard work for me"
Jak loaded his Blaster mod gun and fired but it came up empty clicks.
"I thought you would have known by now that I would disable your weaponry. I'm not an idiot to stand here unarmed" Rygar smirked
Jak gritted his teeth as his hatred for his man grew quickly. If I can't attack with my gun I'll just have to take him down myself! Jak ran forward, changing to his dark side as he went. Daxter held on as his emotionally charged friend as he came in for an attack. He saw that Rygar had pulled out a device with his free hand.
"Jaaak!" Daxter tried to warn him
It was too late Rygar gave a grin and pressed the button. Jak suddenly felt weak and he slowed down until he collapsed onto his hands and knees. Jak could feel all his Dark Eco drain away and his power leaving him. Jak suddenly realized he could no longer sense anything. He blinked his blind eyes a few times trying to re-tap into his light powers but it was as if they were never there.
What? Its just like when I fell from the sky and on Rygar back in Spargus. I'm losing my powers...
"Jak?" Daxter called, "Jak! Get up!"
"I know you Jak" Rygar gloated, "I know how you function, I know how your ability works and I know how much you rely on your Eco powers! I created devices to counter these things so when we eventually meet my task can be quick and painless!"
Jak squeezed his eyes feeling completely helpless and completely stupid. This guy had it in for him at the start. He was just being played like a puppet. He predicted everything and it scared Jak that someone knew him so well, especially when he didn't know much of himself.
"Jak!" He heard Keira call and come to his side.
He could feel her delicate touch on his arm. He failed them all. He was back where he'd started, blind and vulnerable. All this time he was ironically blinded to the fact, believing he had changed but all he did was found another way to see.
"I... I can't see..." Jak growled clenching his fists, "I-I can't see a thing! Damn it!"
Solrin was right. He was just using his powers as a tool. He never understood it at all. Now the tools were taken away he could no longer use them and was back where he'd started. Solrin warned him repeatedly and he didn't listen, now he was paying the price. Everyone was going to pay the price.
"I'm sorry" Jak shook his head, "This is all my fault"
"Its not your fault" Keira defended
"I let this happen" Jak continued, "I let him play games and get what he wanted! I should've stopped him! I should've seen it coming, I should-"
"Don't despair" Rygar's deep voice boomed over him, "You can still save this world"
"I'm not listening to you!" Jak snarled and struggled to his feet
Keira helped him up and kept him steady as Rygar laughed.
"You're not so tough now hot shot" Rygar gloated, "But you continue to impress me, even in your blindness you completed my tasks while using your powers, that is resourceful"
"You knew he went blind!" Daxter asked
"Oh of course" Rygar laughed and boasted, "I was the one that caused the accident"
"WHAT?" all three of them chorused together
Rygar gave a laugh, "Don't tell me you think it was an elaborate freak accident did you? Oh the freak storm was caused by a new Precursor technology I'd discovered and made sure the power surge and timing were perfect. And you blamed your girlfriend here for the whole thing! Ha, ha! That was gold"
Jak clenched his fists and growled as his body shook with rage. All this time it was Rygar's fault for making him blind. All the isolation, hope, despair, boredom, anger, resentment was all because of one man. That was low. Even for his most hated enemy Baron Praxis, that action had hit an all time low.
"Oh don't tell me I upset you" Rygar said nastily, "Don't take it personally, I only did it to fulfill the prophecy"
"Stuff your prophecy!" Jak roared, "You did this, all of this? You ruined my life and everyone else's just so you can fulfill stupid chicken scratches?"
Rygar gave a smirk, "Such temper. Maybe you should attend anger management classes?"
"Hey! Knock it off old fart!" Daxter snapped, "I had enough of all you hell-bent 'take-over-the-world' freaks that never leave us alone! What's so good about taking over the world anyway?"
"Two words. I rule"
"Its lonely at the top" Daxter countered
"But the power is mine"
"Power over what? A bunch of people and then you die" Daxter pointed out
"Shut up rat! You can never comprehend what I have in mind!"
"Yeah-huh" Daxter replied in a non-believing tone
Rygar boomed, "Now behold the power of The Sphere!"
Jak was completely oblivious to what was going on around him. He couldn't see and he couldn't sense so he was completely cut off from the event that unfolded. Jak had to only hear what Keira and Daxter were saying to get a clear picture.
"Whoa... is it me or the orby thingy is glowing really bright?" Daxter asked
"It must be emitting energized Eco particles. If all the city's Eco is combined in The Sphere it will grow unstable and become dangerous" Keira analyzed, "If The Sphere is opened or if it doesn't turn stable soon we can be looking at a mass wipe out, like the Precursor Stone"
"What!" Jak and Daxter chorused together
"Ahhh all that Precurian Astrophysical knowledge wasted" Rygar commented, "It's still not too late to join me in the new world"
"You mean all this time you were trying to create a bomb that will wipe out the world and bring about this 'new world'? Are you crazy?" Daxter yelled
"Oh you shallow civilians!" Rygar said exasperated, "If only you knew"
"It doesn't make sense" Jak murmured, "Why would he create a bomb to wipe out the world if he was going to die along with everyone when it goes off..."
"Look to the sky and you will see both our moons have aligned" Rygar announced
"Soooo we should be careful of werewolves?" Daxter guessed
"No you simple minded rat" Rygar chuckled, "To activate The Sphere. This artefact was created to simulate the moons in a perfect sphere. It activates every thousand years when the moons align but never has enough power to rise to its full potential. But now I've fixed that and we will all see what it is capable of and I will fulfill what the prophecy foretells!"
"Why do old people yap about prophecies anyway?" Daxter asked
"Now this is the moment that is long awaited!" Rygar announced
In the visual world The Sphere glowed to a bright white colour that blinded everyone's eyes, except Jak.
"The combination of all four Eco creates White Eco but the combination of Light and Dark Eco... both are charged and joined together to eventually create an all new substance! An ultimate Eco that synthesized by the two most powerful of Eco Energies! It's a power with unimaginable force! Only Precursors can wield such power! How do you think they power the Planetary Defense System?" Rygar's voice echoed through the light
Jak had to stop this madman. Jak pulled out of Keira's grasp and walked up to Rygar, still weak from his power drain. He was unaffected by the light and stopped when he could feel The Sphere's heat on his face. Jak clenched his fist and threw it towards Rygar, or at least he hoped it was the old man.
But a thick hand grasped his fist.
"You're weak and you're blind. How can you ever hope to defeat me? Now Jak, I shall show you your true purpose and your true destiny! The reason for your powers and the reason for your very existence!"
Jak blinked, "What?"
Suddenly the light was sucked into the orb and left the temple room in darkness but then soon after its power was released into a beam, right at Jak. With the close range and no warning, the man was a sitting flut flut and was struck.
"Jak!" Keira cried, "NO! You'll kill him!"
Daxter was flung off by the force and could only watch as Jak fell to the floor. Jak felt immense power enter his being. Liquid hot fire rushed through his body, as if it was running in his veins. He was in mindless in pain and in an endless scream as The Sphere relentlessly poured its Eco power into him. The combined Light and Dark Eco awakened his Light and Dark alter egos. The energy raised him off the ground as both of his alter egos fought their way out of him. They wanted to be released.
Rygar cackled in the background as the Inner Circle group dropped to one knee.
"No! Stop it!" Keira pleaded her logical mind knew what sort of energy it was and what it could do.
"It's too late!" Rygar replied, "The new world awaits!"
Jak's screams turned inhuman as his form changed. His fingers developed Dark Eco claws, his back launched out his Light Eco wings, his body turned to his Light Eco form but with a light purple twinge, as horns grew thick from his skull. Black film filled his sightless eyes as the Light Eco lit them up to create a purple glow.
"The very man who saved this world will now ruin it" Rygar smirked, "All that hard work for nothing, just as the prophecy foretold"
"Why does this look like something out of a Frankenstein movie?" Daxter asked no one in particular
"Arise!" Rygar shouted, "Cleanse this world! Bring it into everlasting paradise!"
"Oh quit the melodrama will ya?" Daxter snapped
The newly formed creature screeched as The Sphere stopped its power transfer and the beam disappeared. The surrounding gang members were gawking at it in complete fear as Jak's combined form gently landed on his feet. The creature stood up straight with authority and power, his form was saturated in so much Eco that he was glowing a light purple. The creature lifted his forearm as Eco sparks ran down from his shoulder to his clawed hand.
Rygar gave a triumphant smile as he held The Sphere out in front of him.
"Finally all my hard work and planning has paid off. I love when my schemes go smoothly and successfully" Rygar gloated
The creature looked up and glared at Rygar.
"Ahhh! Eco creature!" Rygar addressed it, "I was the one who created you and so you must obey me!"
Rygar waved The Sphere around as if it held some sort of power over the creature. Stunned silence filled the temple as the creature's footsteps echoed within the room. The creature stopped in front of the Sphere and its eyes glowed an angry purple as it looked down on Rygar.
"I can easily take away your power just I have given it!" Rygar threatened, "I am your master!"
The creature didn't move but then in a blink of an eye, the creature moved back and released a kick, which knocked The Sphere out of Rygar's grip.
"Arrgh!" Rygar growled nursing his injured hand
"I obey no one" the creature snarled
Rygar blinked, "What? That's not possible! You are suppose to-"
The creature back handed the old Krimzon soldier. The man fell to the ground.
Keira saw the whole thing and was completely stunned. She didn't think Jak could survive but... but he did. It was impossible! Technically he should be dead but she seen Jak pull miracles out of his ass and this time he did it again.
"I create my own destiny, you're not even worthy to grovel at my feet let alone to decide my fate!" the creature hissed, "So this world is mine and I'll do what I please!"
"This is all wrong! I went to all the trouble of preparing you for this fate! I gave you all the power of Eco and yet you still defeat me?"
The creature opened his clawed hand over Rygar as an light purple energy ball developed at his palm.
"I don't know what you're talking about but I don't believe a disgusting creature like you can ever wield the power of the gods!"
In the distance Daxter raised an eyebrow at this. Since when Jak behaves like this?
"Uhhh Jak? What happened to all the saving the world biz?" Daxter asked timidly
The creature turned and glared, his light purple eyes brightening with hatred, "You dare speak to me rat?"
"What do ya mean 'I dare speak to you'? We're pals, we're best buds of course I'll 'dare speak to you'" Daxter snapped
"You're just a lowly creature!" the creature spat before raising his right arm, "I don't befriend the weak and the stupid"
"Hey! I'm not weak and I'm not stupid!" Daxter defended
Light purple power formed at his palm and the creature shot it at the Ottsel.
"Ahhhh!" Daxter screeched as he dived out of the way, "What are you doing? Its me! Daxter!"
The creature formed another energy ball and shot at him again.
"AHHHHHHH!" Daxter screamed as the light purple Eco energy came right at him.
Suddenly a hand grabbed Daxter's ruff at the back of his neck just in time and hauled him up as they ran.
"Come on Daxter" Keira's voice reached his ears, "We better scoot before it gets messy"
"Keira?" Daxter blinked, "You... you saved me?"
Keira flung him on her shoulder as she ran to the elevator. The creature glared but turned back to where the Sphere had landed and saw it was gone. He whipped back around to the fleeing people and saw that the girl held the artefact.
"You dare defy me? I will kill you!" The creature roared before it ran after them.
The elevator made it to the top and Keira and Daxter were stopped by the upside-down floating rafts.
"Ahhh! We're doomed!" Daxter cried
"I've taken the liberty of borrowing Rygar's gun" Keira smiled before she shot the two platforms with the Krimzon Guard pistol.
"Why is it working?" Daxter asked, "I thought Eco was knocked out..."
"It does now. The satellite doesn't work anymore remember? Anyway this gun that Rygar has made isn't a gun that uses Eco. He created it as a safeguard"
The platforms both righted themselves and she jumped across them. Just as they reached the other side the creature showed up behind them in mid air. He screeched a distorted roar as he charged his Eco energy.
"AHHH! He's following us!" Daxter panicked
"I'll bet he's after the artefact" Keira replied
"But we don't have it!"
Keira didn't reply.
"Don't tell me, you've got it..." Daxter trailed
The creature flapped its Light Eco wings to gain some altitude before swooping in for the attack.
Keira dived out of the way and ended up in a roll.
"Wow, I didn't know you can do that!" Daxter said
"I learned that off Jak"
"Speaking about Jak, here he comes again!" Daxter screeched
Keira dodged another swoop from the combined creature. The creature roared in anger before taking to the skies again. Then suddenly blast sounds came from behind. They both turned to find the creature was raining small bubbles of Eco energy down on them. It started behind them and made its way towards them at a fast rate.
"Ahhhh! He's gonna hit us! We're gonna be Swiss cheese!"
Keira saw there was nowhere to hide or evade the attack in any way. She looked back to the front and saw her prototype vehicle next to the deactivated Warp Gate.
"What's this doing here?" she asked, "Its not even finished! I haven't tested the Juxtalink Cortex to see if it can process the-"
"More walk and less talk!" Daxter quipped as the shower of Eco Energy came closer and closer.
"But Daxter the prototype still has kinks and bugs that I've got to fix. It's not air worthy!" Keira argued
"We kinda had to borrow it" Daxter casually explained, "We had a little Eco problem if you hadn't noticed!"
Keira ran full speed to her vehicle, with the Eco blasts at her heels. She jumped into her prototype vehicle and switched on the engines. Daxter took the seat next to her. The energy attack came upon them and the creature's screech echoed across the mountain air.
As soon as Keira's butt hit the seat she smacked a button on the control panel. Instantly a shield appeared and surrounded the prototype airship. Blasts hit the shield like bugs on the windscreen.
"Wow... cool!" Daxter gasped at the bubble that surrounded them, "This is something new"
"How can anyone have a ship without a shield?" Keira asked
The engines powered up in a low whine. Keira switched to reverse and it backed out from the land into the air. The creature growled in rage.
"This baby should handle like the HQ cruiser" Keira replied as she switched it back to dive
"Well now you mentioned it does look a little like the cruiser" Daxter commented and bounced on the seats, "And feels like it too"
Keira slammed the acceleration pedal, the engine thrusters roared to life and blasted a white flame. The sudden force propelled the prototype model away before the creature could attack them again. A loud terrible screech echoed behind them as they left the Precursor Mountain Temple in their smoke. The creature glared and chased after them with a howl of fury.
"Ahhh! He's chasing us!" Daxter cried, "We're doomed!"
"The Sphere..." Keira trailed glancing at the artefact in her lap
The creautre came up behind them gaining speed. Keira jerked the vehicle from side to side and even upside down as incoming Eco energy attacks threatened to weaken the shield and destroy the ship.
"Wow! I didn't know you drive like this either!" Daxter exclaimed
"My first time" Keira gritted her teeth, "Crash course"
The creature stopped the attack and flapped his tentacle-like wings to get above the vehicle.
"At least he stopped attacking us... that's a good sign right?" Daxter asked
"Daxter I'm going to need you to take the wheel for me" Keira instructed
"What!" Daxter cried, "I can't even reach the pedals!"
Keira opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a loud whack. Both looked up to the source of the noise and found the creature on top of the shield above them.
"AHHHHH!" Daxter yelped
"Take the wheel!" Keira ordered
Daxter instantly done it without argue as they switched seats. The creature raised his clawed hand scratched at the shield, using Eco with each swipe, trying to weaken and break through the defense.
"Give me The Sphere!" The creature ordered, "I'll make your death painless!"
Keira held it within her arms as she laid back across the passenger side, facing up. Keira stared at the creature as what Rygar had said come to mind... I can easily take away your power just I have given it...
The shield started to blink as it was weakening to the creature's attacks. Suddenly an image came to her mind... In a blink of an eye the creature moved back and released a kick, which knocked The Sphere out of Rygar's grip. On closer inspection the creature's boot hit Rygar's wrist...
"That's it!" Keira gasped as an idea struck the light bulb
Suddenly the shield faded out and the creature landed on the ship's hull, behind the seats. The creature pushed through the rushing wind and reached over to Keira. Daxter turned and screamed.
"You want it?" Keira challenged, "Here take it!"
Keira forced The Sphere into the creature's open hand. As soon as the smooth cream surface of The Sphere touched the creature's glowing skin it sparked and it glowed an awesome white.
"Noooo!" the creature hissed and instantly pulled his hand away
The Sphere cackled in neon light purple Eco sparks as if it just sucked some of the creature's power. Keira sat up and came at him again with the Sphere to his other hand. Out of fear, the creature let go of the seat edge, but by doing so, his wings filled with air and he was dragged away from the ship. The prototype zoomed away as he was left behind flapping his wings to keep airborne.
The creature screeched in absolute fury. Instead of pursuing them he turned off in another direction, towards the city.
"The can run but they can't hide. I'll flush them out and keep The Sphere away from them!" the creature vowed before approaching the northern end of the city
Back on the prototype cruiser Keira wiped her forehead and sighed with relief. She turned to Daxter who was doing a poor job at driving. Daxter turned to her, half driving and half stunned.
"Is it over?"
"This isn't good" Keira bit her lip, "With all the city's Eco practically within Jak, thanks to The Sphere, the city has no way to defend itself against its latest threat... and no hero to stop it either..."
To be continued...
Strange... but disastrous! How can Rygar do such a thing! Rygar was determined to go as far as to make Jak go blind, to make his prophecy dreams possible. While he did succeed now its out of control! Jak's the bad guy and there's no one who can save the city... or is there?
Extra! Extra! Review all about it! This chapter is up so have your say! Don't miss out! Extra!
Oh and I'm not liable for any Metal Head damage from my last chapter review gimmick.