Chapter IX: New Darkness

LES: At this point, let's go back in time in my magic Time Machine, back to before the terrible day of Jak's banishment, not long after the events of the Underport, which sealed Jak's fate.


The mechanical horror roared at his companions. "Just what the hell have you done to me?" It demanded.

The Dark Monster watched, unconcerned. "You suffered a Dark Eco-related accident. You would not have survived if we did not alter your DNA."

"I'm…" The monster paused, piecing together the information. "I'm a freak! I'm just like him!"

"Not quite." The Dark Monster said. "You are even more than him." It grinned the only way it knew how, it bared its fangs. "You are destined to face that elf in combat, and win. If you tried to face him without your new powers, he would eat you alive. We have given you a chance of success!"

"Why?" The mechanical creature asked.

"Because you have a reason to kill him and, now, you are the only one with the ability to perform this task."

"But… why?"

"What a long and complicated story that is." The Dark Monster hissed quietly. "Let us just say you are part of a war that has been going on between my kind and our greatest enemies for eons. It is a great honor for you to be chosen this way. You have been specially selected from the millions of elves on your planet to represent us in the upcoming battle."

"What does the Freak have to do with this?" The mechanical being asked.

"He, too, has been chosen, by the other side." The Dark Being hissed the last three words. The Monster's mind wandered back to several months before when the Meeting had taken place…


(Flash-back)

A large Dark Being, one that stood head and shoulders above the rest, stood in the middle of a large room, gazing intently at a hologram of the Planet of the Green Sun, the only inhabited system in the universe that revolved around a green sun. The monster lifted its large head and growled loudly. Several of its smaller brethren at its side backed away several paces, as though afraid for their lives.

"Where is that damn Light One?" The large monster, obviously the Leader of the group of monsters, demanded. "It's not like a 'holy' Precursor to be late."

"I am here, Karnac." A voice said suddenly.

The Leader, whose name was indeed Karnac, spun around with unnatural swiftness. A Precursor was standing off to one side. The Precursor glowed with a bluish-white light that was a terrible contrast to the Dark purplish-black environment. The Precursor was naked, though it did not matter. It was impossible for a non-Precursor to tell male from female. Only Precursors understood the difference, and they were not about to tell. Karnac bared his fangs again in a smile. "Ah, the all-mighty Precursor arrives at last. You know my name, but I am yet to learn yours."

The Precursor seemed to give off a negative energy, the Precursor equivalent of a frown. "Names are not to be lightly tossed around. However, you may call me Tiatin."

"Tiatin, huh?" Karnac almost laughed. "Unusual name… for a Precursor. 'Dark Fate' is your name?"

"Dark Fate is I." Tiatin said simply. "Are we in agreement over the terms of this Meeting? Will the Ancient rules be followed?"

"Of course." Karnac said seriously. "Neither of us can risk open war again."

"The Choosing of the Champions…" Tiatin began. "Has been a vital part of this war since the tragic fight on Aeon. Never again would the Precursors and the Dark Makers fight in open war against each other. Instead, they would choose two Champions, one for each side, to decide the outcome."

"No need, Tiatin. We all know why we are here." Karnac growled. "I have already chosen my Champion."

"Really?" Tiatin asked. "Who?"

"A being that lives in the main City, Haven." Karnac said. "A being that had evil in his soul from the moment of his birth. He had a Dark Eco accident as of late, but we managed to get him here alive."

"Where is he now?"

"Recovering."

"Ruining his life, perhaps?"

"We are saving his life!"

"Altering a being's DNA, a being with no talent for the art of Channeling, into a Dark Eco-wielder?" Tiatin asked, a hint of sorrow in his voice. "You have no idea how it will effect him."

"Never mind." Karnac said. "He is perfect because he hates your Champion."

"My Champion? I do not believe I have named him." Tiatin said.

"It does seem fairly obvious." Karnac said with another teeth-baring smile.

"Yes, I suppose it does." Tiatin said thoughtfully.

"I must confess, I was rather… surprised in your choice." Karnac said. "A creature of Darkness? He is more like a Dark Maker then a Precursor."

"If that is what you think, then why did you not claim him?" Tiatin asked.

Karnac growled. "Because of his tiresome tendency to aline himself with Light."

"Precisely. It is not the type of Eco that resides within our bodies, but our decisions that shape who we are." Tiatin said. "Surely you must understand this."

"I understand this decision will be the death of you." Karnac laughed.

"I have every confidence in my Champion's abilities." Tiatin said simply.

"I was not questioning his abilities, only his conscience."

"Even the bloodiest weapon that has seen a thousand battles, and stained with the blood of a thousand men, can be wiped clean."

"Is that so?" Karnac asked. "You will find souls are more difficult to clean than weapons."

"Not so." Tiatin said. "Souls are, in fact far easier to clean than weapons."

"Really?"

"Yes. All you have to do is repent for your deeds and all is washed away."

"He will never feel sorry for his deeds." Karnac stated matter-of-factly.

"He has just as much capacity to feel guilt and remorse as anyone." Tiatin pointed out.

"He has no conscience!" Karnac roared.

Tiatin nodded. "True." The Precursor admitted. "Then I will have to find him one."


(Flash-forward)

The Dark Maker shook itself out of his memories. "You have been chosen, and once you are, there is no backing out."

"So, basically, I have no choice in the matter?" The machine asked.

"I guess you do not." The Dark Maker said calmly.

The machine's anger rose terribly. The Dark Eco that made up the surroundings began to vibrate as it soaked up the monster's anger, which was quickly turning into blind rage. The Dark Maker smiled. It was time for training.

Suddenly, the claws of the Dark Maker began to glow with Dark light. Dark Eco lightning curled out from its fist, and the sparks formed into a completely solid weapon: an enormous mace with huge spikes on it. The Dark Weapon could crush anything it hit into a pulp is seconds.

More unusual was the fact that Jak Mar, thousands of miles away, could do the same thing…


(Spargus, Present time)

Jak had been walking around Spargus for several hours, trying to figure out the lay of the land. As far as he could tell, they were situated between the ocean and a mountain range that went deep into the Wasteland. The City was divided into two sections: the upper, with the bazaar and the ocean; and the lower, which was living quarters. And speaking of living quarters…

"Mr. Jak?" Someone asked at Jak's elbow. He looked around and then down. There was a little kid looking up at him in awe. The child couldn't be any older than twelve.

"Yes?" Jak asked, still slightly confused as being referred to as 'Mister'. Back in Haven, most of the people he was in contact with called him an 'arrogant punk'.

"I…" The little boy seemed to be in complete awe. "I was told to lead you to your new living quarters."

"Oh." Jak said, slightly surprised now for a new reason. "But… why do they send children?"

"I'm not a kid!" The boy said indignantly. "I'm thirteen years old!"

The Dark elf couldn't help but smile slightly. "Okay, so why do they send thirteen year olds?"

"All the grown-ups are always busy." The boy said. Then he paused, staring up at Jak. "Is it true?" He asked suddenly.

"Is what true?"

"They say you're the greatest fighter in the world and that you killed the Metal-Head Leader single-handedly!" The boy exclaimed.

Jak blinked. "I don't know about being the world's greatest fighter, but I did kill the Metal-Head Leader."

"Why being so modest?" Daxter asked suddenly. "Listen, kiddo, my buddy here is the best fighter you'll ever hope to see. Back in Haven City, everyone was scared to death of him!"

"Is that why you ended up out here?" The boy asked curiously.

"Maybe." Jak answered quietly.

Silence ruled for several seconds. "Why?" The boy asked, child-like.

Jak didn't answer right away. "Because when people fear you, they don't trust you." He stated matter-of-factly.

"Umm… can we go now?" Daxter asked.

"Yes." Jak agreed. "Let's go. Lead the way." He said to the boy. The boy nodded and walked off across the sandy street with Jak following a short distance behind. The boy led Jak to a two-story, sandstone flat. He led the elf up to the second level and opened the door. "There's no lock?" Jak asked.

"There's no need." The boy said. "There's no crime in Spargus. King Damas is a strict but fair ruler. Any criminals get kicked out of the City as soon as they are caught. But no one's been sent out into the desert to die in a year."

"How long have you been out here?" Jak asked, curious.

"Mommy, Daddy, and I left Haven two years ago." The boy said. "Daddy heard there was a City out here and wanted to escape Praxis' rule.

"Do you…" Jak paused. "Do you ever get used to the heat?"

The boy laughed. "Give it a few weeks, and days like this will be kind of nice."

"It's got to be at least a hundred degrees." Jak sighed.

" A hundred and ten." The boy corrected.

"Precursors…" Jak sighed.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it." The boy said. "Soon, you'll think that eighty degrees is unthinkably cold."

"Eighty degrees? But that's a hot, sunny day in Haven City!"

"Good-bye!" The boy said suddenly, turning to leave. "Hope you get used to the desert soon!"

Jak turned and looked about the small flat. It was sandy and perfectly ordinary in every other way. There was a small living room, a small kitchen, a single bedroom and bathroom. It was already furnished with the necessities, which was enough for Jak.

"Look at this pad!" Daxter said, jumping off Jak's shoulder to check the food supply, wouldn't you know. "I wonder if there's liquor in here." He opened up the small refrigerator, which was more of a glorified cooler, and frowned. "Water? There's only water! Damn them!"

"Dax!" Jak hissed, he had already sat down on the couch, after closing the door. "These are desert people. Water is probably more valuable then Eco."

"So? Liquor is more valuable than water!" Daxter grumbled. "Don't you have anything?"

"Oh, Dammit!" Jak said sarcastically. "I think I lost all my liquor in the desert!"

"Really? So… it can't be far, right?"

"Dax! I didn't bring anything out here! Everything I own is back in Haven City: my morph-gun, the Jet-Board, the Seal of Mar… everything."

"Man, and that Seal is the only proof we have of your identity."

"What? Prince Mar, the nameless Prince of Haven City?" Jak asked.

"Oh right, the Prince was never named, huh." Daxter said, and then he exclaimed. "Wait! How do we know that 'Jak' is your real name?"

"We don't." Jak said. In truth, he had been thinking about it a lot. The Oracle said that his true name would one day be revealed, but they couldn't say if he carried his rightful name. It could be something completely different. "But Samos did call me 'Jak' when I first met him."

"Only because Samos knew the boy would eventually turn into you." Daxter pointed out.

"Let's just stick with 'Jak' for now." The elf said. "I don't want you going around, calling me 'Your Majesty' or 'His Royal Highness' or any other royal titles like that."

"Geez, you don't want anyone to know, do you?" Daxter asked.

"Ashelin has most likely figured it out, and you can bet she told Torn. Samos knows and you know. That's four people too many."

"Not even Keira knows?"

"No." Jak said. "I don't want her to know. If she learned that I am royalty, she would see me as a different person. Royalty or not, I'm still the same guy."

"But with power!" Daxter exclaimed.

"Dax…" Jak sighed, shaking his head. "I'm tired… inside and out. I'm sick of risking my life for others… I'm sick of being a hero."

"You don't mean that." Daxter said.

"But what if I do?" Jak asked. "I saved Haven City, and how did they thank me? They banished me and left me to die! I saved the world from Gol and Maia five hundred years ago…"

"Jak! Leave out the time travel! It's just confusing!" Daxter said.

"Okay… over three years ago and what did I get in return?"

"Uh… your name put down in history?" Daxter asked tentatively.

"No! We found that… damn machine that brought us here and I ended up being tortured for two years! I still have nightmares about my time in prison!"

"Boo-hoo!" Daxter said sarcastically. "You were tortured for two years. So what? The people who are responsible are dead and that is all in the past! You can't change the past, but you can fix the future, right?"

"Maybe you're right. I need purpose in my life again." Jak said, and then the old fire reappeared in his eyes. "I need someone to hate."

"That's not what I…" Daxter began.

"Vegar!" Jak growled.

"Oh great, here we go again…" Daxter rolled his eyes. "Please don't do the whole 'I'm-pissed-and-want-revenge' thing! That is so last adventure!"

"Too late." Jak said. "Vegar's just made the top of my Hate list."

"No, no, no, no!" Daxter cried.

"You know what that means?" Jak asked rhetorically.

"No!" Daxter groaned.

"Eventually, we're going back to Haven City!"

"Jak! Open your ears! You! Have! Been! Banished!" Daxter yelled. "There's no going back!"

"Since when has some stupid law stopped me?" Jak asked.

"Uh… never." Daxter said.

"That's right." Jak hissed. "That's right. It may take years, but I'm going back home."


LES: (humming)

Muse: Why are you humming?

LES: Because I want to.

Muse: You should be writing.

LES: I am. I'm writing down every word we say.

Muse: What? You're recording this conversation? (pauses and then grins) Pedro for President!

LES: What?