Chapter XXXIIV: Daxter's Big Race
LES: Rest assured, there is going to be a lot more yelling and screaming then there was in the game. Yes, I'm talking about a REAL argument!
Jak was greeted by Samos on the other side of the Warp gate. "Jak, I have to tell you… I'm sorry." Samos said those two words as if they were the hardest things that he had ever said in his whole life.
Jak blinked in surprise. He had never seen Samos apologize to anyone, much less admit to doing something wrong. Daxter was equally surprised. "What?" He demanded.
"For what?" Jak asked.
"For everything." Samos explained. "I made you come here, I let all this stuff happen to you, even though… I knew it was going to happen…"
"You knew? How could you know?" Jak demanded, he couldn't help but feel slightly resentful towards Samos.
In response, Samos pointed over to the Shadow, who was just leaving. "I was him, remember. I saw you like this…" Samos motioned to Jak to show that he meant his 'new look.' "Before I even saw you as a boy."
"So, you are from this time?" Jak asked.
"Yes, but don't ask me how I got to Sandover's time… I cannot tell you."
"I can't get told anything." Jak huffed angrily. "Why must everything be a secret from me?"
"You don't understand." Samos said. "If you knew the answer to that question before you were ready to deal with it, Time itself would disintegrate!"
"Then why do you know?" Jak demanded.
"I can't tell you." Samos said. Then Samos might have noticed the look of rage on Jak's face because he quickly changed the subject. "Jak, have you found my daughter?"
"Keira?" Jak blinked at the sudden change in subject. "Oh, yeah. She's working at the Stadium, the manager of a Racing team, would you believe?"
"Yes, I would." Samos said.
"I can drive you over there if you want." Jak offered.
"That would be nice, except… could you take it slowly? I'm too old for wild rides." Samos said. "I know what kind of driver you are now a days."
"Yep, that's Jak: The King of Speed and Road-Rage!" Daxter commented.
"Okay, I get it." Jak said. "So what if I drive a little hard…"
"Try 'insanely and suicidal'." Daxter corrected.
"Shut up." Jak hissed.
A short drive through the City brought Jak, Daxter, and Samos to the Stadium. To everyone's surprised, Keira was already standing outside, as if waiting for them. "Hey, Jak." She said, but she seemed to look at something that was past Jak's head. "I was about to call you…" She paused when she saw who was sitting in the passenger seat of the zoomer that Jak drove. "Daddy?"
"Hello, Keira." Samos said. "I hope you are doing well."
"I'm fine, Daddy." Keira said, smiling. She turned to Jak, and the smile became fixed. "The Class Two Race is about to begin. Go into the garage and change."
Jak nodded and walked into the Garage. He had a feeling that he didn't belong there anyway. After all, Samos was her father, and she hadn't seen him in over two years. Jak walked into the garage and took the racing outfit that was on the workbench. Then, he heard a highly unwelcome voice from behind.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Dark Eco Freak!" Jak spun around, Erol had walked into the garage.
"Erol?" Suddenly, he realized that he was holding the racing outfit and the helmet, being caught 'red-handed' as it were. "Crap." He swore.
"Oh, don't worry, Eco Freak, I already knew." Erol pulled out a piece of paper that looked like a racing contract. "If you are going to race under an alias, you shouldn't sign your own name on the contract, idiot!" Erol hissed.
Jak remembered something that Krew had said long ago. 'I've already signed your name to save time…' "Krew!" Jak hissed. His hate list seemed to be growing bigger every single day. Jak looked around. "Where's Keira? Is she still outside?"
"Don't worry, I'm keeping a close eye on her." Erol said, circling Jak like a vulture. "You're the talk of the town, Eleven. You give the people of this town 'hope.' How pathetic."
"The people hate me because of what you and the Baron did to me." Jak spat.
"No, the stories of your deeds travel fast. People believe that you are going to be the one to end the Metal-Head war. Some even say you will kill the Metal-Head Leader. Praxis and I thought this too, and then we realized that you are just like the rest of your unnatural kind… a failure. You don't give a damn about the war, do you? You just want to kill the Baron and myself. Well, here I am. I'm unarmed. I can promise that you'll never get a cleaner shot than this."
Jak smiled. "You are not unarmed. Your hand is resting on a pistol that's hidden in your pocket and there's an assassin in here somewhere who has a rifle aimed at my back."
"Astute little weapon, aren't you?" Erol asked with a mock baby-voice. "Don't worry about the assassin." And then said assassin, dressed in black armor, moved into view, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "I would've enjoyed killing you in prison, but it will be so much more fun to take you on the track, in front of the entire City! I can hear the roar of the crowd now… as everyone sees their hope die!"
Suddenly, Keira, Samos, and Daxter walked into the garage, but Keira didn't seem to notice the two elves in there. Her eyes were still firmly fixed on her father. "It's good to have you back, Daddy." She said.
"Yes, it's nice to be free again." He said.
"You know…" Erol whispered in Jak's ear so that no one else would hear what he had to say. "Keira loves winners. Someday, she'll be my mechanic!"
Jak couldn't bare the thought of his childhood friend, the one person that he cared about more than anyone else, working for Erol, the Mega-Bastard. "Stay away from her." Jak hissed.
Erol laughed as he walked out of the garage, followed closely by the assassin, who gave Jak a hard look that plainly said: 'If my Commander had allowed it, I would have blown your head off.' After the two elves were gone, a sigh caught Jak's attention… it had come from Keira.
"Erol's the best racer I've ever seen." She said.
"Keira…" Jak paused, how could he tell her that he was the one responsible for his tortures? "He's not what you think… he's…"
"And you think you're the judge of character?" Keira demanded suddenly, and everyone blinked. None of them had ever seen Keira treat Jak like this in living memory. The she-elf snorted. "Look at yourself, Jak! You're angry all the time, you think of nothing except revenge…" Every word she spoke was another stab wound to his heart, because he knew, deep down, that every word was true. But Keira wasn't done yet. "You've stolen zoomers, clothes, and food without any guilt or remorse! You put your own friends in danger just to get a damn adrenaline rush! And, worst of all, you are a murderer, Jak! A murderer! You don't even deny it! And I've heard the rumors… that you get angry and… change."
"Well, you can blame Erol for that one." Jak said, his voice raising dangerously. "He's the one who pumped me full of fucking Dark Eco every single day!"
Everyone, everyone being Daxter and Samos, seemed taken aback by Jak's angry outburst. Everyone but Keira, she wouldn't let Jak surprise her with anger and a bit of swearing. "So, you think that justifies what you have done?"
"Yes, it does!" Jak hissed. "He tortured me almost to death every single day for two years! I just want justice!"
"That's not justice, that's revenge." Keira said.
"Sometimes, they are the same thing!" Jak growled.
"Uh…" Daxter began, trying vainly to stop the two friend's argument, which could quickly get out of hand, judging by the look on Jak's face.
"No, they are never the same thing!" Keira said angrily. "And what about this 'Dark Monster' everyone is talking about? You've killed innocent people every day of the week! Your wanted posters don't even bother to keep track of your murder counts! Besides," Keira sneered. "The Jak I knew wouldn't be working for a guy like Krew! You are not the Jak I remember anymore."
"You're right, I'm not." Jak hissed. "Now are you happy?"
"No, just disappointed." Keira said.
No one spoke for several seconds. Finally, Jak said. "Fine. You do things your way, and I'll do them my way. Just don't come crying to me when the walls fall down!" And with that, Jak stormed out of the garage, tossing the racing uniform aside as he went.
Daxter laughed nervously. "Haha, that's a great joke, Jak. Where are you going? Jak? JAK?" But the Dark elf was gone.
"Attention all drivers…" The computer voice said over the intercom. "The Class Two Races will begin soon."
Keira didn't appear to hear the notice. She watched the door where Jak had just left with an angry… and somewhat sad look in her eyes.
"Now what are we going to do?" Daxter asked.
Keira started pacing, thinking. "You are going to have to drive from the team, Daxter." Keira said. "We need this win to qualify for the final Championship Race!"
"Are you sure that's legal?" Daxter asked.
"There's nothing in the rule books that say animals can't compete." Keira pointed out.
"Maybe because they never thought someone would be so daft as to try and enter an Ottsel into a Class Race." Samos mumbled under his breath.
"No problem, right." Daxter said optimistically. "You just hold on tight and point the thingy where I want it to go, right? And then there's the other thingy that makes it go fast." Daxter said, referring to the boosters. "Fast is good! I can do this! I'm ready to race!"
Outside the Stadium, Jak was sulking. "How dare she!" He hissed under his breath. "She doesn't understand what I've been through… what I'm still going through! She doesn't even know what has happened to me!"
Jak slammed his fist into a wall angrily, over and over until there was blood running down his hand and wrist. Jak looked down at his blood, deep crimson mixed with dark purplish-black, his own blood mixed with Dark Eco.
"I even bleed the fucking stuff now." Jak hissed, wiping the blood off his skin.
Suddenly, and with very little warning, Jak felt sick to his stomach. He leaned over and vomited on the ground. Once he was done, and confirmed that there was no Dark Eco in the vomit, he screamed: "Why is this happening to me?"
Several people glanced at him nervously before taking a wide detour. Jak didn't mind, it wasn't like he expected them to help him. 'Oh my God, you're sick and you are going to die in a few months? Here, let me help you with that. I happen to know a Precursor that will fix that right up for you. Heck, I'll even help you take out the Baron and Erol while I'm at it!' Yeah, like that was ever going to happen.
There were cheers coming from the Stadium, but Jak didn't care. What if I told Keira that I'm dying? Maybe she'll forgive me and realize that I do have a reason for my actions…
"Why can't… why can't she just put her trust in me? She trusted the Jak I used to be? Couldn't she trust me just the same?" Jak wondered. "Why can't I be that Jak… if only for her?" He paused. "Because we'd both know it was a lie. I'm not that boy anymore, no matter how much I pretend."
But, if I told her what happened to me… everything… maybe she'll accept me again.
Suddenly, there was a loud cheer again and Jak got up to investigate. He walked into the Stadium, looked over the railing, and gasped.
There was Keira's zoomer and riding it was… "Daxter?" Jak gasped out loud. Jak watched the rest of the race, or most of it. He spent half the time watching Daxter and the rest watching Keira. She never noticed him watching her. Finally, the race was decided, and Daxter came out on top!
Jak was among those who cheered for the Ottsel's victory. He didn't listen to the announcer's cries that this was the first time in known history that an animal had won one of the Class Races. He watched as several Krimzon Guards passed the silver trophy to Keira. She and Daxter took the special doorway into the Garage. Jak turned around to take the long way around.
Inside the Garage, Daxter was admiring his reflection in the silver Class Two Trophy. "Now there's a handsome winner!" Daxter exclaimed.
"You did it Daxter!" Keira exclaimed. "You helped us qualify for the Big Race!"
"Did you ever doubt?" Daxter demanded. "I back-seat drive for Jak all the time!" He turned to Tess, who was in the Garage. "Hey! When do I get the winner's big kiss?" He asked.
"Maybe later… if you're a good boy." Tess said teasingly as she rubbed Daxter's head.
At that moment, Jak walked into the garage and Daxter looked up at his friend. "Hey buddy, we… ah… showed those Class Two losers a thing or two, huh?"
"I saw." Jak said. Daxter jumped down onto the floor and Jak knelled down to Daxter's level. "You drifted a little high on the turns a few times." Daxter hung his head. "But, you hung in there. I'm proud of you, Dax." The elf said kindly, knuckling his friend.
"Really?" Daxter asked.
"Yeah, really, you did great." Jak said.
"No, we did great!" Daxter corrected, jumping up and Jak's shoulder. "Right, partner?"
Jak turned to face Keira. "Keira, I…" But she turned away from him and gave him the 'cold shoulder.' Jak stood there for several second, staring at Keira, before he turned and walked out.
Once Jak was out of earshot, Tess spoke up. "Keira, you're my friend, so I'm going to tell you this nicely." She said. "You are crazy! He's been through things that you and I can't even imagine!" Tess snorted softly. "Even mirrors are his enemy."
"Mirrors?" Keira asked, confused.
"You haven't seen his reflection yet, have you?" Tess asked.
"What's so important about Jak's reflection?" Keira asked.
"Because that is the only way you can safely see his pain." Tess said. "He's dying, even though he won't admit it. He spent one week in a coma not too long ago, on the brink of death, only to wake up to a vomit-fest. There are days when he seems top-notch, and others when he's so sick that he can't even stand. Do you know that he'll be dying in a few months?"
"What?" Keira demanded. "You mean… Jak's going to die?"
Tess nodded. "How would you feel knowing the time and manner of your own death?" She asked rhetorically.
"How do you know all this?" Keira asked.
"Daxter told me." Tess said. "Jak… doesn't talk about it much…"
Keira didn't say anything for several seconds before she asked. "Is it hopeless?" She felt sick to her stomach.
"Jak believes so." Tess said rather sadly. "I agree with him. Daxter told me that the only chance he's got is to find a Precursor that's willing to heal him. Everyone knows the Precursors aren't around anymore."
"You're right." Keira said, sadly. "Oh my God, Jak, what have I done?"
Jak drove away from the Stadium and Keira in one of his taciturn moods. "Hey, what's wrong, buddy?" Daxter asked. "I just won the Class Two Race! One step closer to the Baron."
Normally, the thought of being closer and closer to his revenge would at least bring an evil smile to Jak's face, but not now, he didn't even speak. "Jak, why won't you talk? You haven't gone all mute again, have you?"
Jak rolled his eyes. "No."
"Then what is it?" Daxter asked.
Jak sighed. "Keira. She wouldn't even let me explain myself. And she's realized, finally, that I'm not the Jak she knew back in Sandover."
"You may not be that Jak anymore, but you are still Jak, aren't you?" Daxter asked, and got no response. "I don't really see what the problem is."
"The problem is that I'm not her Jak anymore!" Jak hissed in a way that told Daxter to drop the subject, or else.
"I don't see what the big deal is." Daxter said.
"You want to know what the big deal is?" Jak spat out without thinking. "It's because I love her!" Daxter's mouth dropped open as Jak spoke those three deadly words, words that he had never said about anyone before. Jak seemed to realized what he had said a second later. A hand flew up to his mouth like he had just let slip a disgusting swear word. But it was too late. He had just told Daxter that he loved Keira, something he didn't even realize himself.
"You… love…" Daxter paused, his tiny brain struggling to compute this information.
Jak hastily worked to correct himself. "I didn't mean… that's not what I…"
"Too late!" Daxter laughed, pointing a finger in Jak's face. "You said it! In front of witnesses and all!"
"Dax, I swear on the Precursors, if you tell anyone what I just said, I won't protect you from Dark's wrath anymore!"
Daxter gulped. "Okay, I won't tell anyone.
Jak was now deep in thought. Do I really love Keira? As in 'truly, passionately' love her? Since when did this happen? Sure, we almost kissed once or twice, but does that mean I love her?
Since when did I love her? One part of his mind asked.
Since now, you dumbass. Another part of his mind answered.
Daxter once again interrupted his thoughts. "But, if you luuuuve her, why don't you tell her?"
"Because she isn't speaking to me and wouldn't believe me even if I did tell her." Jak said in a subdued voice. "She probably thinks that Dark Eco Freaks like me are incapable of love." Jak growled. "You know what, from now on, this topic is off-limits too."
"That list is getting longer and longer every day." Daxter grumbled. "So, can you tell me what happened between you and this infamous Captain dude?"
No, and you'll never know. Jak thought, and he lied quickly. "Nothing. He bugged me, pushed me over the edge, and I killed him."
Daxter seemed only half-satisfied with Jak's answer, but he dropped the subject quickly, sensing that it had also become an 'off-limits' topic of discussion.
LES Finally, Jak has proclaimed his love for Keira! Sadly, she was no where around and they are in the middle of a huge spat. But, no biggie, I shall fix it with style!