Chapter XXVI: Deja vu?
LES: Let's see… I'm skipping the 'Destroy the Cargo in the Port' and the 'Rescue Lurkers for Brutter' missions. I never found the 'Destroy the Cargo' mission to be that important except that one easily changeable line. So those missions are omitted. Uh… that's all…
Muse: LES likes listening to Classical music!
LES: (death-ray eyes powering up)
Muse: What? You do!
"Hey, you two!" Torn called out of his office just as Jak and Daxter were trying to sneak by to get something to eat. Poor Jak found himself being given a mission every time he walked by Torn's office now a days.
In the past two weeks, Jak had been forced to do all sorts of boring missions that he was sure had been invented to keep him busy. Busy enough to keep him from pulling another stunt with the Baron in the Palace.
Jak stopped with a sigh, rolling his eyes. "What is it?" Jak asked with mock politeness. It was clear, however, that Jak wished Torn noting less than a thousand painful deaths. Daxter, even though he thoroughly despised Torn, couldn't help but be impressed by him. Torn was possibly the only being, besides Daxter himself, that antagonized Jak on a regular basis. And the most amazing fact of all was that he was still breathing.
Torn ignored the venom in Jak's voice as usual. "Go out to the alley. The Shadow's waiting there. He's going to give you an important mission." Jak began to walk away when Torn called after him. "Jak! If you screw this up…" Torn paused, thinking. "I'll personally make sure that you lose more than just your membership to this resistance." Satisfied with his threat, Torn returned to the maps on the desk.
Surprised at the seriousness of the threat, Jak backed out of the doorway and quickly turned to walk down the hallway.
Daxter whistled. "Sounds like a serious mission. What do you think they'll make us do?"
"Maybe they're sending us to kill the Baron or Erol…" Jak mused hopefully.
"After the Palace stunt?" Daxter laughed. "I don't think they'll send you within a hundred feet of Praxis or Erol."
The secret wall opened for Jak without complaint. He quickly crossed the small room and ascended the steps. The door opened and he saw Samos standing in the alley. The Underground Leader was accompanied by none other the Prince Kid and a small crocadog. The Kid and the crocadog appeared to be good friends as they played together. Crocadogs were famous for their supreme loyalty towards their masters, and infamous for their ferocity towards anyone else. Jak had heard more than one story of people being badly bitten by the monsters. This crocadog appeared to be very young as adults could get very big.
Samos spoke. "We've got a very bad situation here, Jak." He said. "The Baron is desperate to find the boy here…" He gestured to the young Prince, who was being chased playfully by the crocadog around the alley. "Too desperate for my liking. He has ordered that every child in the City should be arrested. Now, we can't allow this boy to be taken, but it's not safe here. Kor has promised to look out for the boy. But he needs to be taken to the Power Station, and I'm just too busy to baby-sit right now. Take the boy and the crocadog to the Power Station." At that moment, Samos moved too close to the crocadog. The dog skidded to a halt and snarled at Samos.
The rebel leader backed away instantly. "Isn't he sweet?" He asked with a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, about as sweet as vinegar." Daxter said sarcastically.
"So, what's this kid's story?" Jak asked. "How do you know that he's the Prince?"
"I found him wandering the streets almost a year after his parent's downfall from power, about two and a half years ago." Samos explained. "Do you see that amulet around his neck?" Jak saw it; it was the Seal of Mar thing. "The Seal of Mar, the symbol of the Royal Family of Haven City. Only the members of the Royal Family carried amulets like that." Samos then returned to his briefing. "Take the Kid and the mutt to the Power Station. Watch out for Guard patrols and defend the kid at all costs." Jak, who was focused on Samos, suddenly felt something grab his hand. Jak looked down and discovered that it was the Kid. Jak quickly got his hand out of the Kid's grip and backed away in surprise. It had been a long time since he felt something as gentle as the touch of a child. Mostly it was tearing claws and ripping fangs these days. "Oh, and if you happen to lose the crocadog…" Samos began.
However, he was cut off by a hissing snarl from said crocadog. It was plainly saying: 'I have no intention of abandoning my master, and you'd do well to remember that!'
"So…" Jak began, trying to ignore that crocadog's continued growls. "Will we have to walk the whole way?" There appeared to be no transport in sight.
"Of course not!" Samos said incredulously. "Do you think we'd make the Crown Prince walk across half the City? There's a two-seater zoomer just around the corner." He pointed toward the exit of the alley. "Now go! The faster you get the boy to the Power Station, the safer he'll be!"
The Kid stood before Jak, string up at him with an expression of mild curiosity. Jak and Kid stared at each other for a few seconds before Jak spoke. "Okay, come on, Kid." Jak walked down the alley, followed by the Kid, who in turn was followed by the crocadog.
"Told you this was a dumb job." Daxter whispered in Jak's ear.
"What do you mean? We've been entrusted with the Kid." Jak whispered back.
"No, we get to play personal chauffeur to 'His Majesty'." Daxter complained.
"More like bodyguard." Jak corrected, pulling the Blaster out of its holster slowly. The Kid grew worried.
"What's going on?" Daxter asked. Instead of answering out loud, Jak simply nodded southwest. Daxter looked up and saw a Krimzon Guard rushing toward them.
"Hey, you!" He yelled, obviously not recognizing the infamous outlaw. "You with the kid! Drop your weapon and surrender the child!" Suddenly, the guard stopped. It seemed he finally realized exactly what he was facing. "Back up!" he yelled into his radio. "I need back…" The guard never finished his sentient. He dropped dead with a bullet hole right between his eyes.
Jak lowered the still smoking gun, but it was too late. Every Krimzon Guard in the Slums would be coming to help their comrade. Jak looked around for the promised zoomer. It was about ten feet from their current position, and more guards were coming, yelling things like: "It's him!" "The Dark Eco Freak!" and "It's the Dark Monster!"
Jak turned to the Kid. "Go, kid, I'll protect you."
The Kid looked rooted on the spot with fear for a couple seconds. Then the fear disappeared and was replace by determination. Accompanied by his faithful crocadog, the Kid took off toward the zoomer. Jak followed behind, taking out most of the guards that came into view without warning or mercy. It amused Jak to discover that he didn't have to take out every single guard by himself. The stories of the crocadogs were, indeed, true. Jak was first aware of it when he heard the screams.
"Oh my God! My hand!" Jak looked over to see that it was a guard, clutching the bloody stump that used to be a working hand. Jak soon discovered who it was that had taken off the hand. The crocadog had been caught 'red-mouthed'. After that, some of the Guards gave up, but most didn't. At least five more lost their hands to the crocadog. The other's lost their lives. The Kid reached the zoomer and climbed into the passenger seat, followed by the crocadog.
Jak followed the duo closely and leapt into the driver's seat. "Step on it!" Daxter yelled as the Guards began to change their weapons from Shock-Rods to Blasters.
"Hang on, Kid!" Jak shouted as he turned on the zoomer with the push of a button and took off at the highest speed the chunky two-seaters could handle, leaving the guards on foot far behind. However, they were now bringing in Krimzon Guard speeders and fighters. These vehicles didn't have much fire power, but if they ganged up on you, you could be in serious trouble. "Keep your head down!" Jak ordered. Both Daxter and the Kid obeyed. Daxter got off Jak's shoulder and hid somewhere by his feet.
Jak entered South Town with about a dozen guards chasing him, one scared Ottsel hiding at his feet, one crocadog barking insanely at the pursuers, and one little Prince. However, Jak felt that he was having the time of his life. There was nothing quite like a high-speed chase that put your life on the line. Unbidden, a maniacal laugh escaped from Jak, the Dark Elf laughed madly at the foolish chase.
At once, Jak stopped laughing and almost ran into a wall in shock. The strangest feeling of deja vu had just come over him. He instantly glanced down at the Kid who was staring up at him once again' not with fear or curiosity, but with trust! An unconditional trust radiated from the Kid's eyes that reminded him of how he used to be… a pure, innocent boy that had been lost in prison.
"Watch out!" A voice yelled. It turned out to be Daxter. Jak looked up and found that he was about to run into a wall.
"Whoa!" Jak cried as he twisted the hand bars and avoided the solid metal wall by a mere inch.
"Could you concentrate, please?" Daxter demanded.
"Sure." Jak responded half-heartedly, getting back on course. Could it be? Jak wondered to himself as he went straight up the ramp to the Power Station, zoomer and all. Never mind, I'll think about that later. He thought as he allowed the Kid and the crocadog out of the zoomer. He followed them through the doors to the Power Station.
The only person in the Power Station was Kor, who turned around upon their arrival. "Samos told us to bring his 'Royal Highness' to you." Daxter said sarcastically.
"Don't ever call him a Prince in public!" Kor scolded. "He's the Kid. It's for his own safety. As for the boy… I'll be sure to keep him close." The crocadog snarled at Kor, who put on a very forced smile. "How sweet." He said sarcastically. On a whim Jak knelt down next to the snarling animal and scratched it behind it's ears. To everyone's surprise, the snarling stopped and the dog's tongue rolled out of its mouth in pure reptilian-canine ecstasy. "Amazing…" Kor observed. "That insufferable mutt never liked anyone but the boy before…"
Jak shrugged as he continued to scratch the crocadog's ears. "I guess I'm just good with animals." He stared pointedly at Daxter who hissed, Ottsel-like, at him.
"I have some valuable information for you." Kor said, commanding Jak's attention. "The Baron is conduction an excavation at the Dig. He is still looking for that ridiculous Tomb of Mar…" There was a strange sound of liquid hitting metal and everyone looked around to find that the crocadog was reliving itself on Kor's staff. Jak and Daxter both chuckled at the sight. Kor did not seem amused. "Frankly, I don't believe it exists…" Kor picked up his staff and shook it gently to get the liquid off it. "But you might as well go to the Dig and disrupt his operation just in case. Knock down all the scaffolding at the site, that should set him back. You do have an Air Train pass, right?"
"No." Jak answered, confused. "What's an Air Train?"
Kor blinked. "An Air Train will take you to areas outside the City wall, like the Dig." Kor motioned to the Kid, who began to rummage around in his pockets. "Here's an Air Train pass to get you out there." Kor said at the Kid produced a gray-colored pass.
Jak walked up to the Kid and took the pass out of his hands. Time seemed to slow to a drag and a strange voice filled Jak's head.
"Noaua Yhip eaaqi Mkqkua
Noaua Qukiq eaaqi Yhsv
Qoa xhrhvja lm mhqa ohvzi
Qoa jfjra jlvqsvkai hzhsv."
Jak understood the words perfectly, since Samos had taught him the Ancient Language, for that was the language the voice used, long ago. However, just because he understood it, didn't mean he knew what it meant exactly. The voice had said: 'Where past meets future/ Where trust meets pain/ The balance of fate hangs/ The cycle continues again.' What the hell did that mean?
Jak's hand drew away from the Kid. "Okay, what was that?" He demanded.
"What was what?" Daxter asked.
"That voice!" Jak practically yelled, while everyone stared at him. "It spoke in the Ancient Language! Something about the past and the future and the balance of fate… or something like that…"
"Jak… are you alright?" Daxter asked. "I didn't hear any voice."
"I—I don't know anymore." Jak said.
It wasn't three seconds after Jak stepped out of the Air Train than the TalkBox sprang out of his pocket. "Jak!" Krew's voice said. "Come straight to the Hip Hog, eh. I've got a new job for you." Krew then hung up before Jak could reply.
"Great, another job from Mr. Fatso." Jak grumbled. "Will it never end?"
"Doubt it." Daxter said as Jak stole a zoomer and began to head tow the Hip Hog.
Jak entered the bar to find Krew admiring some of the pictures that he had hung up. Jak kept his eyes firmly away from the pictures of Krew. He had no wish to have a sickness relapse.
"Years ago…" Krew began. Great… a history lesson. Jak thought to himself. "When I was an art… 'collector' I hit the local museum to… 'borrow' a famous statue of Mar, the founder of Haven City. In his hands, the statue held the Ruby Key to the City. An artifact of surpassing beauty, and of coarse, priceless worth, eh!"
"I just love art!" Daxter piped up.
Krew ignored him. "While smuggling the huge statue through the sewers, eh, a grueling rainstorm flooded the place. The statue… and five of my best men… were swept away."
Jak blinked, horrified at the fate of those five men. "That's terrible." He couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Yes, a tragic loss." Krew sighed heavily. "I've missed that statue ever since." Jak blinked again, then decided he'd just pretend that he didn't hear that. Krew growled angrily. "The sewers have been so full of water, Metal-Heads and different types of security that I can't get anyone to go down there and retrieve the artifact! But you're special, Jak… YOU can do it."
"Jak?" Daxter demanded. "Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?" Daxter would regret this comment almost instantly.
"Oh, don't I wish!" Krew began to lick his fingers noisily. Both Jak and Daxter's faces were etched in pure disgust. "Now, go down into the sewers, drain the water, and find that statue at the bottom. Bring back the Ruby Key artifact. It'll open up doors beyond our wildest dreams, eh!"
Jak rolled his eyes and sighed. "Great, more mucking in the mud."
"I'd hate to burst your bathtub bubbles, baby, but that ain't just mud down there." Daxter commented.
Jak gagged loudly. "Don't remind me."
After draining the sewers and heading back to the main chamber in which the statue was located, Jak and Daxter stood at the base of the statue of Mar. They could see the Ruby Key sticking out of the top of some sort of war-staff the great King carried. However, this meant that there was no way in hell that Jak was going to make it up there to get the Key.
"Dax?" Jak asked, pointing at the Key.
Daxter sighed. "Fine. Just because you can't get your fat body up there to get it yourself." Daxter scaled the statue as Jak rolled his eyes.
Daxter made it to the Ruby Key with little effort. Once there, he began to try and tug the Key from it's setting, but his little muscles just couldn't do it. "Come on, Dax! You can do it!" Jak encouraged from far below. Finally, Daxter gave a mighty tug and the Key popped loose. However, the sudden action surprised Daxter and he accidentally catapulted it into the air. Jak saw the Key go flying and he made a diving catch for it. Just before it hit the ground and shattered to a million pieces, he caught it right out of the air. He hit the ground hard, but the Key was safe and sound. Jak got up off the ground, holding the Key. "Got it!" He proclaimed, holding the Key up to prove it was still in one piece. "Where would you be without me, eh Dax?" Jak winked up at his furry friend.
"Well, Jak, I definitely wouldn't be short, fuzzy, and running around in the sewers without a pair of pants!" Daxter paused, then sighed. "God, I miss pants."