Chapter XXIX: Hunting For More Artifacts

LES: Just this one chapter before the return to Haven City! So, forgive me if things are squished or removed. I'm just eager to get back to Haven, not only for plot reasons, but romance reasons as well.


Jak woke up sometime later, still thinking about the dream. He had limited knowledge of what happened afterwards. But he knew that his father would face the Metal-Head Leader and fail. He would flee, mortally wounded, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves in Haven City. Obviously, during Praxis' coup, they had gotten separated. Jak would eventually fall into the hands of the Underground, while his mother would disappear without a trace.

Of course, saying the he 'remembered' these things would be a lie. The only things he knew was the things that the Metal-Head Leader told him, and what his dreams told him… if they told him anything at all.

Jak sighed and laid back down on the bed. Not for the first time in his life, he was overcome by extreme self-pity for his own amnesia.

Eventually, Jak sat up and pushed off those feelings. Shit happens, right, and there's really nothing he could do about it. He wasn't even sure how he got his amnesia. Had he bashed his head in as a kid, or had someone purposefully removed those memories? The thought angered Jak that someone would screw around with his memories. Besides, if someone did screw around with his memories, what exactly were they trying to hide from him?

'I don't know. Possibly the fact that you CAME FROM THE FUTURE, retard!' Dark hissed.

Jak growled in annoyance. You said you could butt in?

'I don't know…' Light interjected. 'Things tend to be more complicated then they first appear. There may be a deeper meaning behind the amnesia.'

'He got dropped on his freaking head as a kid! That's the easiest explanation!' Dark said. 'Case closed!'

I was not dropped on my head! Jak began to protest.

'You can't really say that, now, can you?' Dark pointed out.

Jak shook his head. I am not getting dragged into an argument with you!

'Maybe someone was trying to hide you from your true identity?' Light suggested.

My identity?

'Yes, your real name. For all we know, 'Jak' is just something to call you by until you discover your true name. Right now, the only name you really have is Prince Mar.'

I don't want to be known a 'Prince' anything! As far as I'm concerned, my father was the King, but the royal line ends there!

'So… you are 'Mar', then?'

Jak laughed sourly. People already give me strange looks when I tell them my name is Jak. If I started going by 'Mar', they'd probably stone me or… burn me at the stake or something.

'Why would they burn you? I thought that form of punishment was obsolete.' Light pointed out.

Never mind.

'Man, Pussy, you're a dumbass too!' Dark commented.

Jak ignored the voices. Whether having two alter-egos is a blessing or a curse… he'd never figure it out. Sure, they gave him the physical ability that exceeded any elf, but at the rate things are going… they'd likely drive him insane before long…

'Did you ever realize how similar I look to a Precursor?' Light asked suddenly.

Jak sighed. Too late.

There was a loud yawn and Jak looked down to see that Daxter, who slept at the foot of the bed, was waking up. "Jak?" He asked, his eyes still half closed in sleep. "You awake already? It can't even be five o'clock in the morning. Why are you up at this ungodly hour?"

"Nothing." Jak said. "Strange dreams… my stupid alter-egos… you know."

"Same old stuff, then?"

"Sure." Jak said, getting out of the bed and stretching briefly before he began to search for something to wear.

"Care to spill?"

"No." Jak answered simply as he pulled a shirt over his head.

"Coming over as all mysterious, are we?" Daxter asked.

Jak growled, but didn't make any intelligent response. Finally, Daxter seemed to have some sense knocked into him as he stopped trying to push Jak's buttons. (A dangerous game as the wrong move could bring you face-to-face with a demon.)

Jak ignored his friend's presence and continued to dress, strapping on armor as he found it. Finally, when things were all set, he roughly grabbed the small rat and walked out the door and into the early morning air.

However, he almost instantly ran into Sig. "Oh, hey, cherries, I was just on my way to wake you up."

"Well, I'm already awake." Jak pointed out the obvious. "So, what is it?"

"I heard that you're collecting Eco crystals." Sig said.

Jak shrugged. "I've got a few."

"Well, I've heard that there's a Light Eco Crystal in the Metal-Head nest, and it's yours if you want it."

"What's the catch?" Daxter asked.

"Well, the scopes have shown that Metal-Heads have moved there en masse." Sig said.

"See?" Daxter asked Jak. "There's a catch! There's always a catch!"

"What kind of Metal-Heads?" Jak asked.

"These are the big-type Metal-Heads: Metal-Pedes." Sig said.

Jak blinked. He had only encountered the Metal-Pede type once before, and it hadn't exactly been a victory. Though Jak had escaped that hell by the skin of his teeth, Sig had gone missing, presumed dead. "What?"

"Hey, so you remember those over-sized lizards." Sig said. "Don't worry, though. The weapons on our Gila Stomper will be more than enough to tear through that Metal-Head's hide."

"Just one thing… can I drive this time?" Jak asked, assuming that Sig was going.

"Sorry, cherries. Maybe next time." Sig said. "Now, let's go get those Metal-Heads!"


Five imploded Metal-Pedes later and Sig drove the vehicle out of the Nest while Jak tucked the Crystal way. Daxter sat in the cargo hold with Sig's PeaceMaker.

Sig laughed loudly. "I LOVE the smell of burnt Metal-Head in the morning!"

Jak looked over at the larger elf. "So, Sig, what's Damas got to do with Haven City?"

"If Damas hasn't told you, then I'm not either." Sig said. "That's his business."

"Oh yeah, then what was all that spying you were doing in Haven City for Damas, huh?" Daxter asked.

"Well, let's just say that Damas lost a little something in the City, and he wanted me to find it." Sig said.

"So… working for Krew… that was an act?" Jak asked.

"Sure." Sig said. "But once the infighting started, I left for Spargus."

"So that's where you went." Jak said. "We could've used your help."

"Sorry, cherries, but my job was to find Damas' lost… item and nothing more." Sig said.

"But that's playing with people's lives!" Jak protested.

"Why not? They played with my life!" Sig looked over at Jak in surprise. "Why do you care, man? Haven folk are a bunch of weaklings, you know that. They lost the war before it even started."

"So… what do we do now?" Jak asked.

"Just keep your nose clean and be on the winning side." Sig said.

"And which side is that?"

"The one on top of the pile." Sig said, then he added. "Unfortunately… it's gonna be a big pile."

"Yeah, a big pile of—should I cock this?" Daxter asked, holding up Sig's PeaceMaker.

The two elves ignored him. "Just keep your head down and do as you're told. I'll tell you when the action's coming." With that, Sig drove the Gila Stomper back towards Spargus.

They pulled into Spargus and found Kliever talking about his latest 'adventures' out in the Wasteland.

"You know," Sig said. "Kliever may be a fat bastard, but he might know where you can find your artifacts."

Jak nodded and jumped out of the vehicle.

Kliever looked over at Jak. "Ah, it's the ankle-biters. What do ya what this time?"

"I'm looking for some very… special Precursor artifacts." Jak said.

"What type of artifacts?"

"A Prism… a Quantum Reflector…"

"Quantum Reflector? What a tick. I think I just sold that very artifact… to a nice band of Metal-Heads."

"Metal-Heads?" Jak demanded. Ever since he found out that the Baron traded with the Metal-Heads, Jak had a special reason to distrust anyone who would trade with those monsters.

"Hey, don't look at me like that. A man's gotta eat, don't he? It was an ugly piece of hardware. Looked like a crocadog's breakfast to me. But those toothers paid handsomely. Good ivories, they had; you know, if ya dig fangs and claws. If you really want a Reflector all that badly, you and the offsider here could jump in a buggy and catch 'em."

Sig nodded. "I'll drive. Jak, you get on the gun." Jak nodded without complaint. "Daxter…" Daxter perked, ready for his orders. "Just get in, sit down, and shut up."

Daxter glared angrily at Sig and Jak couldn't help a quick laugh as they jumped into the Gila Stomper and took off into the desert in pursuit of the Metal-Heads.


Finally, the last of the Metal-Heads fell to the ground and ate burning hot sand as it died. The strange-looking Quantum Reflector fell out of the Metal-Head's grip as it died. Sig pulled up next to it, Jak jumped out and picked up the strange hardware.

"Only the Prism and the Beam Generator left." Jak said, returning to the vehicle so they could drive back to Spargus. The sun was just rising in the east.

As soon as they pulled into the Spargain Gates and jumped out, Kliever met them. "So, ya got the Quantum Reflector?"

"Yeah, no thanks to you." Jak said.

"Hey, I'm just doing me job. And, speaking of jobs, Damas wants to see you in the Throne Room about a job."

"Okay, come on, Dax." Jak walked away, followed by Sig. Daxter lingered behind.

"You know, rat, your lanky friend won't always be around to protect you, and when that day comes…" Kliever let his threat hang.

"Screw you, Mr. Krew-Wanna-Be!" Daxter said. "Jak will always be there for me!"

Kliever laughed like he knew something Daxter didn't, and walked away. Daxter shrugged and took off after his best buddy in the whole world.

Jak walked into the Throne Room, followed by Daxter and saw Damas sitting quietly on the stairs that led up to the throne, apparently deep in thought.

Jak approached slowly as to not surprise him. He knew better than anyone that you shouldn't surprise a seasoned warrior unless you're looking for a fight.

Finally, Damas spoke. "Keeping people alive out here, keeping them full of hope… it can be daunting."

Jak sat down on the step next to the powerful King. "I… I think you've made a good life here."

"You, too, must make a life for yourself, Jak." Damas said. "I've heard the stories about you. Fate and destiny weigh heavily upon you, forcing you into a single direction that has only one possible outcome." Damas grabbed some sand off the ground. "Look, sand cannot keep a shape by itself, but add water… and it becomes malleable. Fate can be such… if you add the right element."

Jak looked away, thinking. Then he brightened up as the answer came to him. He looked back to the Sand King. "Eco!"

Damas laughed. "Our minds think alike. We are surprisingly similar, both men who are burdened by the weight of fate and obligation. My monks have told me that Armageddon is here. But I am a survivor! I say we live on long after this world dies!" Damas stood up and Jak stood up also. "Be ready. You are shaping up to be one of my finest warriors. I'll need you for the trials that lie ahead…" Damas paused, and then looked off into the distance, a distinct sorrow clouding his eyes. "I mustn't lose you like I lost… my son."

Jak blinked and then looked up at the Desert King in surprise. "You had a son?"

"Years ago. But much has been sacrificed in this war so that others may live. Anyway… it matters not." Damas moved up to the throne and sat down. "We are having serious trouble with the Marauders lately. We've received word that a large battalion of their warriors is heading this way on a warpath to Spargus. I want you to drive out and meet them." Damas stood up from the throne. "Go, and make war your own!"


After the warriors were destroyed, as a bonus, Jak had found a Beam Generator in the wreckage of one of the Marauder vehicles. And Daxter was trying to make conversation, as usual.

"So… Damas had a son once?" Daxter asked.

"That's what he said." Jak said.

"Maybe this explains why he's so nice to you." Daxter mused. "You're sort of… for lack of a better word… a replacement for his lost son."

"I hope not. I don't want to be a replacement for a boy who's probably dead. If at all possible, I'd like to find my own father." Jak paused. "Although I do respect Damas…"

"What?" Daxter asked, amazed. Jak had never respected any authority figures, except perhaps Samos. Jak did what people told him to do, but those people couldn't boast that Jak respected them.

"I respect Damas a lot more than a do other people." Jak said. "He's a great King."

"You're just saying that cause he's taken a liking to you."

"That's not the only reason. Besides… I think it's kind of nice to be treated this way. Is this what it feels like to be someone's son?" Jak wondered out loud.

"That's a crime that you don't know what it feels like to be someone's son." Daxter commented.

Jak shook his head. "But… how am I supposed to act? I have no idea what to do."

"Don't worry, buddy. You'll know what to do, soon enough." Daxter said.

Suddenly, just as Spargus came into view, Jak's old communicator activated. "Jak." It was Seem. "We need your help."

Jak blinked. Those were five words that he never expected Seem to say. He couldn't help asking. "Are you feeling all right?"

"No, it makes me sick having to stoop so low as to ask for your tainted, unholy help." Seem said.

That was more like it. "So, what is it this time, Seem?"

"After the Marauder attack on Spargus, we believe it would be folly to not respond in kind." Seem said. "Your unholy powers are an abomination, but they do give you the ability to storm the Marauder fort alone. Go to the Marauder fort and… 'thank' them for their gifts of fire." Seem paused. "You shall be rewarded for your efforts. But don't let that make you believe that we like you."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Jak growled, showing just how much he hated the strange monk. Seem ignored Jak's obvious rage and discontinued the connection.

"I don't get it, Jak. You've walked and talked with the Precursors. Why can't she at least be civil to you?"

"Because, to her, I'm nothing but an out-of-control monster." Jak said without hesitation.


LES: Believe it or not, the 'Chase Down the Marauders' is my least favorite mission. It was the only one that got me really frustrated. Okay… Jak gets the Prism from the Marauders… blah, blah, blah, blah… and life goes on.