Chapter XXVI: Another Barrier Dropped

LES: I recently read a funny list here on the Internet that basically listed every RPG cliché in existence. Well, little do they know that there are clichés for all video games in general. In my experience, this rule that I thought up has been completely true, except for one single example, and that example is right in the Jak and Daxter games. Okay, here is my video game cliché! Having children is a death sentence! The mother will usually die in childbirth, from the disease that's ravaging the land, or from the 'Love-Bird-left-behind' syndrome. The father will either already be dead, or die something during the game, or simply not be present so he might as well be dead. The only exception to this rule that I've ever found is Samos. And it can't be right. Maybe Keira was adopted… Either that, or Samos' head is on the chopping block.


As Dark Jak moved out of the Metal-Head area and back into the port area, there was a suddenly flash to his right.

The Dark Elf instinctively slashed at the thing. Better safe then sorry. However… "Sweet Precursors!" Then Dark Jak jumped in surprise. What he had just slashed at was a hologram of Samos, and he looked rather shocked to have been attacked by Jak's Dark Form. "What in the name of the Precursors are you doing?" The old elf demanded.

Dark Jak laughed nervously. "Sorry about that, Samos."

"Why are you in your Dark Form? You're not out killing innocent people, are you?" Samos asked.

"I don't kill innocent people anymore, Samos." Dark Jak said. "Besides, its your guy's fault that I'm stuck like this, telling me to drain the Eco tank. It overloaded my system. And I might be like this for several minutes at least."

"But you have drained those tanks?" Samos asked.

"Drained and destroyed." Dark Jak said.

"That's good, but a new problem has come to my attention. I hope you don't mind flashbacks." Samos said.

"What are you talking about?" Dark Jak asked.

"Terrible cries have reached me from Haven Forest. The plants are in pain. There's been a lot of Dark Eco being moved around and several of the plants have become infected by the Dark Eco." Samos explained.

"You weren't kidding about the flashback." Daxter laughed.

"Is this another 'absorb' job?" Dark Jak asked. "Because I don't think my system will handle much more Dark Eco today."

"What about Green Eco?"

"No clue." Dark Jak said. "I haven't come in contact with any of the 'regular' Ecos since Sandover."

"Well, it's worth a try. Channeling powers just don't disappear." Samos said. "Several Green Eco wells have opened in Haven Forest in hopes of offsetting the Dark Eco. Now, go out there, channel the Green Eco, and heal those plants."


In the Freedom League fortress, Samos watched the slightly distorted image of Jak's Dark Side. It seemed that the Dark Eco field that surrounded his body distorted the signal. The image of the Dark Monster nodded. "Okay, Samos, I'll try."

"And if you find yourself unable to channel the Green Eco for any reason, do not try to absorb the Dark Eco. We might be able to find other Channelers…"

"No, Samos, it has to be me." Dark Jak's image said. "Channelers are rare. By the time you find another and get him out to Haven Forest, it will be overrun. It has to be me."

"Daddy?" Samos looked around and Dark Jak looked up. "Is that… Jak?" Keira was standing in the doorway.

Dark Jak had recognized her voice even though he couldn't see her because she wasn't in range of the hologram' view. "Keira!"

The she-elf ran up and stood next to her father so that Dark Jak could see her. "Jak? Why are you in your Dark form?"

"Just a small Dark Eco overload." Dark Jak said. "Nothing to worry about."

Samos, at that time, wisely decided to leave. "Remember, Haven Forest." He reminded the Dark Elf before he left the room.

Keira embraced the image, a strange sight to see since holograms are nothing but light. It was like watching someone try to embrace a ghost. Dark Jak embraced her back, but she pulled right out of his arms. Not because she was afraid; she knew that Jak was the one in control. Not that he could actually hurt her if he wasn't as he had proven when he had accidentally attacked Samos. It was just too painful for her when he was only a hologram, to have his image right there and not be able to touch him. It was the torture at the force field all over again.

"Keira?" Dark Jak asked.

"This isn't fair!" Keira said angrily. "We love each other so much, yet we can't even touch each other!"

A hint of sorrow passed over Dark Jak's face. "I know, Keira, I know. But nothing is fair anymore." Dark Jak reached out his claw and carefully brushed it against her face, a loving movement that Keira could not feel.

Keira's own hand automatically traveled up to meet his. The she-elf then let out a small sob. "Please, hurry back." She cried quietly. "I don't know how much longer I can stand this separation."

Dark Jak did his very best to embrace and comfort her. "Don't think like that." The Demon said. "Don't worry, Keira. I promise that I will find you… and soon. Keira… I would do anything for you. If you want the world… all you'd have to do is ask."

"I don't want anything but your love." Keira said. "I won't ever ask you for anything more than that." She paused, returning the embrace as best as she could for a figure make out of pure light. "Just love me… forever…"

Dark Jak screwed up his eyes as he embraced her more. "Forever and the day after… I promise."


(Back at Port)

Daxter watched his friends in amazement. The sight before him only did more to convince him that they were truly soul-mates. As they embraced, their bodies were so close together, and aided by the fact that Keira wasn't solid, but the couple no longer seemed like two separate people, they were now a single being with a single mind and single heart.

They were one.

They stayed this way for several minutes, even as Dark Jak transformed back into his normal form. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the couple separated.

"It won't be much longer." Jak said. "We've destroyed one barrier and there's two more let, not including the one around you guys."

"We'll take care of that." Keira said. "Just call us when the other two are destroyed."

"We'll do that." Jak said.

"Just… stay safe." Keira said. "If anything ever happened to you…"

"Don't worry, my love. It is your love that keeps me safe." Jak said with a smile.

"Good-bye, Jak. I love you." Keira said as her image faded.

Jak stared at the place where Keira's image had been seconds earlier. "I love you too… so much that I can't even explain it."

Daxter slowly approached the young elf. "Are you all right?" He asked.

"No, I'm not." Jak said. "But it's nothing that can be helped right now. The only thing to do right now is to do what I'm told until I can get back to Keira."

"Which means going into Haven Forest to rescue a bunch of ailing plants." Daxter said. "You see what I mean? Once the plants are in danger, then we've got a real crisis on our hands!"

"That's Samos for you." Jak said with a fake smile to hide his misery. "Ever the Eco-loving Tree-hugger."

"Let's go. The sooner this crap is over, the sooner we can get your girl…" Daxter paused. "My furry heart almost broke when I saw that. And I've decided something."

"What's that?" Jak asked.

"I've decided that I support yours and Keira's relationship a hundred percent." Daxter said. "Whatever happens, I wish you two nothing but the best."

Jak stared at his friend. "Since when have you been mushy?"

"Since when have you?" Daxter demanded.

"Good point."

Meanwhile, inside Jak's head, a certain Dark Monster was gagging loudly. That was so disgusting! I can't believe you made me do that!

'I think is was rather sweet.' Light said.

Of course you do, you big pussy. Dark hissed.

Hey! Could you two just butt out of this? Jak demanded. Precursors! Do you two always have to fight? You two are driving me insane!

It's not like you were perfectly sane before all this, retard. Dark said.

'It's completely inconceivable that we are really the same person.' Light said.

There is no way in hell I'm related to you two! Dark hissed. I'm way superior to you guys!

'Lack of love… not to mention manners does not make you superior.' Light pointed out. 'It just makes you… evil!'

Oh Precursors, that really hurt. Dark said sarcastically. Seriously, I think I'm gonna cry.

WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP! Jak thought the equivalent of a yell.

There was silence for several seconds before… 'Okay, shutting up now.'

Whatever you say. Dark said.

Good! Jak hissed.

"Hey, Jak, you okay?" Daxter asked. "You look upset."

"I'm fine." Jak said. "It's just my two alter-egos. They always have to put in their two cents, and, what's worse, they never stop arguing."

"Really? What do they argue about?" Daxter asked, slightly curious.

"Just about everything. Especially which one of them is superior to the rest of us…" Jak said.

"Ouch, I'll bet that one never gets old." Daxter winched.

"Enough about them. Let's go help these plants." Jak paused, and sighed. "I can't believe I just said that!"

"You got that right, brother!" Daxter said. "The next thing you know, Samos'll have us all hugging trees and believing that plants will one day rule the world." Daxter paused and laughed. "Do you really think he can talk to plants, or do you think that wearing that moldy old log on his head has turned his brain into a moldy old log?"

"You should respect Samos!" Jak said.

"No! You and Keira are the only ones around here that need to respect Samos! Keira cause, you know, he's her daddy and all. And you because he's protected you since before you remember. Not to mention that if you ever wanted to marry Keira, you'll have to kiss up to him a hell of a lot…"

"Dax!"

"Oh… sorry…" Daxter said. "Are you still touchy about marriage? Then what was with all that 'I'll-give-you-the-world' stuff?"

"I said that because I knew that she would never actually ask me for the world." Jak said. "I never want her to ask me for the world."

"Why?"

"Because I can give her the world." Jak said.


The final plant was healed. It turned out that Jak could channel Green Eco easily. It seemed that after years of channeling the more dangerous types of Eco, the easy types were… well… easy to channel.

Almost instantly, a hologram of Torn appeared. "Are you ready to blow up another barrier?"

"Hmm… considering that I nearly died blowing up the last one… Of course I'm ready." Jak said sarcastically.

"Good to hear it." Torn said. "But you will actually be out of harm's way unless you get yourself eaten by a Metal-Head. Jinx will actually be the one in harm's way."

"Jinx?" Jak asked.

"Jinx!" Daxter said.

"I'm sure you remember him. He worked for Krew also, but he's been helping us. He's discovered several critical power junctions that, if destroyed, will shut off one force field."

"That's great!"

"Your job will be to cover Jinx's ass as he sets the explosives, and to get him to each power junction."

"You know me, Torn." Jak said. "Just say the magic word, and it will be done."

"Do it, or I'll kick your ass from here to the Wasteland!" Torn said.

"I don't think that was quite the response that Jak was looking for." Daxter teased.

"You too!" Torn glared at Daxter, who cowered behind Jak's back.

"Don't make me come over there…" Daxter began.

"Enough." Jak said. "You know you are powerless."

"Anyway, Jinx is waiting for you in a vehicle outside Haven Forest." Torn said. "Remember, do this right and we'll be one step closer to getting back to Freedom HQ."

With that, Torn's image disappeared. Jak then moved through the trees towards the exit of Haven Forest when something caught his eye. It was the flash of sunlight off a piece of metal. Jak spun around, completely alert, for it could be a Metal-Head.

But there was no living thing there. The metal flashed again and Jak moved toward it. It was underneath some foliage, and it seemed to be an object that had been there for years, as the plants had grown all over it. Jak pulled away the plants and uncovered the object. "Oh Precursors!" He gasped.

"Whoa! Look at that!" Daxter said, staring at the object in Jak's hands.

It was a piece of armor, but no ordinary piece of armor. It was made out of Precursor Metal and it had Mar's Seal etched on the inside. It was a piece of Mar's ancient armor, a shoulder guard by the looks of it. Jak quickly attached it to the shoulder that wasn't occupied by Daxter. Like the others, it had been a perfect fit.

"I still find it hard to believe that Mar's armor, Mar who was the greatest hero who ever lived, would fit you like it had been made for you." Daxter said.

"It is strange." Jak said, rotating his shoulder to check his range of movement. It was perfect, like he wasn't even wearing indestructible armor. "Do you think Mar, or whoever, left it here for me to find?"

"Maybe Mar liked this spot." Daxter suggested.

At Daxter's words, a vision passed before Jak's mind's eye.

A young man moved quietly through the forest. He held two weapons at his side. In his left hand he held a long sword that was made of pure Dark Eco, and in his right he held another identical sword that was composed entirely of Light Eco. It was the Great Warrior, Mar himself! He wore a crown atop his green hair, and his green eyes were lowered to the ground.

The young King dropped to his knees and dropped the two weapons. The great hero began to weep bitterly on the ground. "Precursors…" He gasped. "Why must it be me? Why must it be him? Is there no other? I can't… I can't be responsible for the consequences if I fail…"

Suddenly, Jak gasped as the vision passed. "What the…"

"What? What is it?" Daxter asked.

"Mar!" Jak said. "Oh my Precursors… he didn't want it!"

"Didn't want what?" Daxter asked.

"He didn't want to be the hero that he was!" Jak said. "The consequences of failure for a hero is your death and the destruction of the world. He didn't want that responsibility!"

"Just like you." Daxter said. "This is way creepy! There are so many parallels between your life and Mar's life!"

"The question is…" Jak paused. "Will I save the world like Mar did, or will I be responsible for its destruction?"

"I'll just say this…" Daxter said. "I don't want to be remembered as the person who helped Jak destroy the world!"

"Fair enough." Jak said while they walked out of the creepy forest.

They spotted the vehicle that Jinx waited in instantly. As always, he was surrounded by a cloud of smoke that emitted from the cigar that he carried almost constantly. Jinx spotted him also. "Hey, Jakkie-Boy! Long time, no see! So, where have you been?"

"Took an extended vacation in the Desert." Jak said.

"Ah, the old Wasteland Desert. Been there, done that. Didn't like it very much. What that place lacks in shade and water, it more than makes up for in scorching heat and blinding sunshine."

Jak jumped into the driver's seat of the two-seater zoomer. "I rather liked the heat. It's this weather that I can't stand." The elf glared at the sky, which was gray with low clouds that completely covered the sun and the sky. At least you could ask a Wastelander the color of the sky and they would know its blue. A Havener would think that it's gray. How pitiful is that?

"So, you ready to rock and roll?" Jinx asked.

"Sure." Jak said, turning on the zoomer with the push of a button and took off.


The last of the power junctions blew up and the near-by force field deactivated.

Torn's image appeared. "Sweet Eco, Jak, you actually managed not to screw this up. Good job with the explosives. We're one step closer to reuniting with our friends."

Jinx laughed. "Not bad, Jakkie-Boy." He said as Torn's image disappeared.

"Hey, I didn't let a single Metal-Head or Death Bot touch you!" Jak said.

"But you didn't quite put on a show like last time we worked together." Jinx said. "Oh, so you wanted a show?" Jak asked. "Maybe you'll see me in real action… someday."