Chapter 11: Jak vs. Himself
The group of Ashelin, Samos, Keira holding Trajan, Daxter and Tess now filtered out onto the rooftop. Ashelin's communicator rang loudly and she picked it up.
"Ashelin, here."
"Ashelin! Jak is in the sky car heading for the Baron's old Strip Mines. Should we take action?" a KG shouted.
"Do not harm Jak. Take a few men and try to stall him at the landing area at the Mines. Torn will command you from there. Out." Ashelin said, motioning for Keira and Daxter to get into the vehicle.
Ashelin was about to shut the door after them, but Samos stayed her hand.
"I think I should go too, I may yet be of some use." He said, using his sagely energy to 'float' into the cruiser.
"You guys ready?" Torn asked in his natural throaty voice, turning around in his seat to face all of them in the back, "Here's the plan...We're going to have escorts fly with us to Jak. Depending on how the condition is out there, I'll try to land. From there," Torn looked down, losing his train of thought for an instant, "we just have to try and get his attention and make him change back."
He looked around the backseat for reassurance, but received none. Turning back around, he started the hellcat as Tess and Ashelin waved them off.
"The eco demon has almost completed its assignment," one Dark Precursors said to the other.
"Good. He will be rewarded with a quick death then," The other cackled sinisterly.
When the sky car landed, Jak was momentarily surrounded by KG's. He fixed the situation simply with a jump and pound of his fist against the ground, releasing a wave of dark eco in every direction. He continued through the Strip Mine, unheeded, as it had been abandoned by both elves and metal-heads after Kor's destruction. The dark eco hybrid glanced at an old eco tower that had been blown up. A memory flashed in front of the animal as it saw its better half ride a jet board up a ramp, throwing a bomb inside it. Jak had control for only a second before the creature noticed what he was doing. It was a struggle for control the whole way though the mines; A struggle that Dark Jak was winning.
The monstrosity seemed to know exactly what it was looking for when it came to a fissure in the face of a cliff. The opening led to a hollow tunnel revealing a very large and very old drill machine. It had the appearance of a crane, with its tall mechanical arm holding the drill, and the base connected to a small, rectangular vehicle. On the front of the vehicle was what looked like some sort of blast or cannon, most likely for clearing the way in construction of a various kind.
Having been instructed on what to do previously, Dark Jak opened the corroded door to the drill contraption and climbed in. The controls of the vehicle were quite complicated, with buttons and knobs laced with an intricate language unknown to the beast. Inside, however, Jak recognized the writings from the ancient books Samos had kept in his hut back in Sandover. Sure, Daxter and he had used the pages from the books for spitball ammo- but he recognized the writing all the same.
The creature was confused on what to do next, not even having an idea of which button turned the thing on. Seizing this diminutive opportunity of confusion, Jak once again overpowered his contentious dark eco side, but only to be forced down. Dark Jak growled at the insubordination of its host and began pressing a few buttons unsystematically. With dumb luck, it found the button that powered the old machine. It also found the button that fired explosives, leading to half the cliff face being blown apart.
Moving the vehicle was simple enough, as the fiend pressed the accelerator pedal down with its foot and navigated the machine with the screeching steering wheel.
Once out in the open, Dark Jak steered straight for a level spot in the center of the mining area. Still, Jak strived to regain control of his body with futile efforts while the dark creature released a knob, which lowered the tall metal arm holding the drill to the ground. Once more, he began pressing random buttons, causing more projectiles to be fired before the drill started digging into the ground, spewing dirt and rock all around with a deafening roar.
Torn heard the whirring of a machine from the air and ordered the escorts to go ahead of him, over the radio. Not even a minute later, one of the KGs radioed back, "Sir, it's some type of drill."
"A drill?" Samos inquired from the backseat of the hellcat.
Torn didn't have time to figure out what that would mean.
"Fire at the drill. Avoid Jak and do not harm him. Understood?" Torn radioed to the two guards.
"Yes, Sir," They answered concurrently.
The sound of bullets hitting a strong metal began as two red zoomer bikes opened fire on the drill. The beast howled in rage, while Jak could have shouted in elation, if he had been allowed. One incoming shot ricocheted off the tough drill and headed straight for the animal, but he ducked with effortlessness.
Torn's hellcat could now be seen heading into view in the dimness of early morning, making ready to land. When Torn found a spot to his liking and began to descend, he kept a weather eye on the stirring skirmish. He watched as one zoomer flew in low, trying to shoot the connection between the drill and the crane-like arm. The normally stern elf could taste the horror as he saw the demonic Jak leap upon the zoomer, slashing the driver's neck through his armor with its shining claws. Jak then leapt the 15-foot distance to the ground as an explosion sounded through the Strip Mines.
When the cruiser made solid contact with ground, Torn turned off the engine. The guard that was left was still distracting the brute's attention while he shot wildly in fear. Torn knew it wasn't long before Jak noticed them.
He turned around in his seat to look at Keira, Daxter and Samos, in that order. Giving them all a supportive nod, he offered the radio to Keira, switching the device to loud-speaker mode.
"Start by talking to him," Torn said as Keira nodded her head and accepted the radio from his outstretched hand. Facing forward again, Torn drew his rifle blaster. He quietly turned the safety off, just in case.
Keira lifted the radio to her mouth as Daxter and her father watched the scene played out before them through the windshield. She looked down at her sleeping son in her arms. What should I even say? She wondered.
Noticing his daughter's hesitation, Samos put an encouraging hand on her shoulder. The young mother looked towards her father, giving him an 'almost'-smile. Then, she took a deep breath and put the radio back towards her mouth.
"Jak..." She began, and listened to her voice echo throughout the mines. The creature stopped suddenly, hearing this voice, deciding if it was a threat.
"Its Keira...I'm here." She stopped, trying to think of what to say next. She could see him starting slowly towards their vehicle and heard Torn cock his gun.
If Jak hadn't been trying hard before, he was now. Inside he was screaming, longing to hear more of Keira's captivating voice.
In the background, seemingly forgotten, the drill slowly progressed deeper into the ground as the remaining guard continued to try and damage it in a fruitless attempt at stopping it.
"Trajan's here, too. He misses you. I miss you." Keira strained to hold back the emotional tears that were forming in the wells of her eyes. Although, she was becoming a little frightened as Jak closed the gap between them at a faster pace.
Torn saw his increasing speed and got out of the hellcat, rifle ready. Then, Keira saw it; green-blonde hair conquering the pale white. She dropped the radio and slid herself towards the door. He was changing back, gaining control!
She raced (or as fast as she could with the baby) towards him and saw his horns and claws retract.
"Keira! Wait!" Samos called after her, leaning out of the cruiser, while Daxter yelled at Torn for still having his rifle sights set on Jak.
"Jak!" Keira called to him, who was also running towards her, calling her name.
They reached each other soon enough, though a little out of breath. Jak stared at Keira with hungry eyes, and looked down at his son, grazing Trajan's head with his thumb and forefinger affectionately. Keira was about to pull him into a hug when he turned away from her quickly.
"Get away from me!" he growled at her unexpectedly, his body shaking.
Her eyes grew wide with fear as she realized his change had been temporary. Torn saw this too, even at a distance, raising his gun once more.
Ever so slowly, Keira backed away from her lover, telling herself that she had failed him. Torn knew she wasn't going to make it away from Jak fast enough as he sprinted towards her, dropping his rifle and drawing his curved dagger from its sheath on his back. He reached Keira and began pulling her back towards their vehicle to safety.
They had only made it halfway back when Jak's transformation to Dark completed.
Still at the hellcat, Samos and Daxter looked on in terror. They watched as the creature that was Jak ran for Torn and Keira with the baby. Daxter hopped back in the cruiser trying what Keira had done before by talking over the loudspeaker. But, the monster paid no attention and didn't slow down. Samos tried to levitate towards his helpless daughter, but was too taken with fear.
Jak was not going to stop. Torn had no other choice as he stopped abruptly, and threw his deadly dagger straight for Jak. Unfortunately and amazingly enough, the dark eco powered animal caught the knife by the blade and cast it aside, unscathed. After he was a few feet short of Torn and Keira, Dark Jak finally stopped, and crouched close to the ground, as if holding something in. Keira thought he was changing back afresh, only to be highly disappointed when it revealed a large, gleaming ball of dark eco in its hands. Without faltering, the animal threw the substance at them with vigor. Torn immediately put his back to Jak and shielded Keira and the baby with his body, bringing both the ground.
The blast hit him straight in the back and knocked him sideways and out-cold, while the evil substance ate through his thick armor plating.
All of a sudden, a low rumble erupted from the still spinning drill, followed by the ground starting to shake violently. They had forgotten about the drill, and now Torn was unconscious, possibly dying of contact with dark eco.
The earth continued to tremble as Samos was finally able to levitate and sped towards his daughter that lay on the ground. Luckily, Jak's counterpart had been distracted and headed back to the drill, allowing for Samos to make it safely to Keira and Trajan. The Sage held his daughter as they both watched the drill itself begin to shudder, then explode. Tiny fragments of metal landed on and around them as a great, dark cloud erupted from the hole.
"My Precursors! ...Dark eco gas!" Samos gasped as he used his powers to provide a green eco shield surrounding Keira, Trajan, himself, and Torn. Keira stared up at her father in awe, not knowing he had such capabilities.
The dark substance was not the only thing to arise out of the drill's hole as several grayish beings ascended swiftly in front of them. One laughed devilishly and spoke in a booming voice, "We have been released!"
Then, another of the Dark Precursors spoke to Jak, lifting him into the air, "And we have you to thank!" it cackled as Jak writhed in pain.
Next to the commotion, having yet to be seen, was the group of vulnerable elves. The dark eco cloud was beginning to fill the air around them, making for less and less visibility. All hope was lost. They were totally and utterly helpless against this almighty foe.
A scream of pain echoed through the air as Jak's levitated torture continued. Keira was bawling now, unable to take the hopelessness of the situation. The baby soon began wailing too, sensing the discontent of its mother.
Then, all at once, all sounds seemed to be muted as a blinding light pierced the darkness. Out of the heavenly light came three figures that resembled the Dark Precursors, but radiated a vivid blue color. They spoke to their darker look-a-likes in a strange, but beautiful dialect. The Dark Ones released their hold of Jak, who transformed back into his regular self as he hit the ground, comatose.
Keira and Samos were mesmerized by the awesome sight and shielded their eyes as the light brightened. Unearthly screams could be heard as the Dark Precursors seemed to disintegrate before them. Then, with a clap of one of blue figure's hands, the poisonous cloud of dark eco that had formed sucked back into the chasm from which it had ejected.
Samos let his green eco shield down while the great Precursors took to the ground and knelt beside Jak's limp body. Each one of the good Precursors had laid a radiant hand on him as his ravaged body began to glow. Then, as if they had never been there, they vanished along with the light.