Chapter XXXIIV: The Origin Of War

LES: That's right, the Big Reveal, as I call it. Okay, now I urge you! If you don't understand anything about the following chapter, I urge you to ask about it. This chapter will help you understand the whole rest of the story! If I can answer it without giving away future plot details, I will do my best to explain it for you! Remember, the only stupid question is a question not asked. Okay... except for noob questions like 'Who is Jak?' and stuff like that. I'm just assuming you know the basics, here!


Jak walked into the forest and was instantly greeted by Tiatin.

"Follow me." Tiatin said gravely, moving away into the forest. Jak hesitated slightly before following the Precursor deeper into the woods.

He was unsure of how long he followed Tiatin through the undergrowth. Finally, Tiatin stopped before a large, telescope-like machine. "What is this?" Jak asked.

"The artifacts, please." Tiatin said. Jak held out the bag. The Precursor, using it's amazing control over the Ecos, levitated the objects out of the bag and each one flew into its proper slot on the machine. The machine activated with a slight humming noise.

Tiatin stepped back from the machine. "Look, Great One, and behold your enemies."

Jak hesitated slightly before he moved forward and looked through the machine's eye piece. He gasped in shock. The telescope was pointed at the Day Star. But it wasn't a star, at all! It was a ship, a dark purple spaceship! The ship seemed to be made out of pure Dark Eco, it was oval-shaped and had tentacles sticking out the bottom. "What is that?" Jak asked in amazement.

"That is The Veelen." Tiatin answered. "One of the deadliest battleships in the Dark Maker fleet."

"Dark Makers?" Jak asked, confused. "What are Dark Makers?"

Tiatin seemed to ignore Jak's question. "You realize, of course, that my kind are not the Gods that your kind portray us as." The Precursor said. "In fact, because the Precursors are the most powerful race in the universe, our mistakes are proportionately worse than yours." Tiatin paused thoughtfully. "You know... we Precursors used to be a lot like your own kind... the elves. Perhaps that is why we choose your planet for a final resting place, and also started to help your race to evolve from the rat-like creatures we found you as."

"Why did your kind help us evolve in the first place?" Jak asked, as he had always wanted to know the answer.

Tiatin sighed. "It was believed that, since your race had similar beginnings, given the right circumstances, your race would follow the same evolutionary track that we followed."

"You mean..." Jak paused, putting it together. "We could become Precursor-like beings?"

"Given the right circumstances... yes." Tiatin said.

"What cir..." Jak began, but Tiatin ignored him and continued his story.

"Possibly our worst mistake was the creation of Dark Eco." Tiatin mused. "It was necessary to have a balance to Light Eco, but considering the trouble it would cause, we were probably better off never making it. It was a terrible mistake, and proved how ungod-like we Precursors really are." Tiatin paused for several minutes, like he was going to reveal some dreaded secret. "The Dark Makers... they were once Precursors. The very Precursors who put their knowledge together to create the Darkness. But the process twisted their logic. Light Eco and Dark Eco are in perfect balance... Life and Death balancing each other. People die, and yet more are born to replace them. Death makes way for the next generation. One without the other would mean the end of life in the universe. But these Precursors began to believe that Dark Eco was the most powerful force in the universe, and that it should become the driving force of every race. Imagine... a universe run by death..." Tiatin paused once again. "When the Precursor Elders discovered their evil, they were banished to wander the depths of space for all eternity. Now, the Dark Ones believe that they were wronged by our Elders. Thus began the first and only Civil War in Precursor history."

"But... Dark Eco isn't evil... just as death isn't evil." Jak said.

"Yes, but death, the fear of death, can corrupt. The Dark Makers glorify Dark Eco... because they fear death." Tiatin said. "The Precursor-Dark One Civil War lasted for thousands of years. Families were torn apart, cities burned, leaders were assassinated, and there were heroes on both sides. It seemed that the violence and the bloodshed would never end. Then... came the terrible tragedy on Aeon.

"Eons ago, Aeon was, what you would call a 'backwater' planet on the edge of the universe. It was there that our two greatest heroes fought to end the war. Their actions ended one war... and started another. Their powers clashing created an explosion... a chain-reaction that destroyed a tenth of the universe."

Tiatin paused, to let the horror of this statement sink in, and then he continued. "It was the worst disaster in known history. Billions of suns, innumerable planets, and millions of sentient races... all gone within a fraction of a second. It was only after that terrible disaster that both sides realized the folly of our war. Our war would not only destroy us, but the universe and all life in it. Even the Dark Makers couldn't risk that.

"So the Precursor Elders met with the Dark Maker Leaders under truce. It was agreed by all that the war, as it was, could not continue. So, they made an agreement that day. Never again would the Precursors and Dark Makers meet in open battle. But... the two sides still wanted to resolve their differences, so a new system of war was developed for the purpose..."

"The War of the Champions." Jak said automatically.

"Correct. The War of the Champions is the longest running war in the history of the universe. While its predecessor lasted only thousands of years, the Champion War has lasted for eons. The concept was simple... a planet would be chosen, and then each side would chose a single Champion to represent them in a fight for the planet. Each side is allowed to prepare their Champion in any way they see fit."

"Let me guess... I am your Chosen Champion." Jak said.

"Yes." Tiatin said.

"So... who is my opponent?" Jak asked. "Who is the Dark Maker Champion?"

"Is it not obvious?" Tiatin asked. "The Dark Makers saved him from certain death... if only to face you in combat. He was terribly injured in a Dark Eco accident, but the Dark Makers have genetically altered his DNA so he can handle Dark Eco as you do."

Jak blinked. "You don't mean... Erol!"

"Yes... Erol." Tiatin said. "Both sides are aware of your history, and your family's history... but I want you to take pity on him."

"Pity him?" Jak demanded angrily. "You want me to pity him when he's responsible for my torture? When he turned me into... into a FREAK?"

"Erol was not responsible for your torture... and neither was Praxis." Tiatin said. "Both were merely puppets of a power greater than themselves."

"What?" Jak asked.

Tiatin ignored him once again. "And, yes, I want you to pity Erol, even if you must destroy him. Unlike you, he has been forced into this War to fight for a cause he personally doesn't believe. I highly doubt he even knows what he's doing. He has only been chosen to maximize the irony of your upcoming fight."

"What do you mean by irony?" Jak asked. "I see nothing ironic besides the fact that I'm fighting a man I've already killed."

"Both your ancestor and his ancestor has a history in this War. This is not the first time the War has come to your planet. Five hundred years ago, the war came here and the Champions were chosen as per the ancient rules. For the Precursors... a newly elected King named Mar... yes... your own ancestor. And for the Dark Makers, a young noble named Martin."

Jak was sure he had heard that name somewhere before... but he just couldn't place it.

"These choices turned out to be poor ones. Mar won the fight, but hesitated in the final blow. Mar couldn't kill Martin and end the war."

"Why?" Jak asked. "One stroke, and the war would have been over!"

"Because Mar was not able to slay... his younger brother." Tiatin said.

"Wait!" Jak gasped. "Are you saying that Martin is...?"

"Erol's ancestor? Yes. Your relation? Rather distantly, but yes. Both your names would appear on Mar's family tree. Strange how history repeats itself." Tiatin mused.

"My God... I can't believe it!" Jak felt all the strength leave him as he fell to the ground in shock. "But... if the War has already been fought here, then why are the Dark Makers here now? Wouldn't we be off limits?"

"No. You see, the rules clearly state that one Champion must destroy the other to win. Mar beat Martin, but he didn't kill him, so the War never ended. You must understand this. To end the war and save your race... you must destroy Erol."

"No problems there." Jak said softly.

"Now, you must know this." Tiatin said.

"What must I know now?" Jak asked.

"The price... of failure." Tiatin said. "If you fail to kill Erol, and Erol manages to destroy you... the Dark Makers will claim possession of this planet. I have seen what happens to a planet when it is taken. The Dark Makers will flood this world with Dark Eco... covering the face of the planet in death. Most will die instantly... Channelers... a few days later. It will be a darkness that nothing can pierce... and a death that none can escape. It would be the end of life on this planet as we know it. Do you understand the severity of the situation?"

Jak lowered his head in submission. "Yes."

"One more thing before you go..." Tiatin said. "The Dark Weapon system you have will be near-useless. The Dark Makers and Erol will have complete immunity, as you do. It will not hurt them."

"So... how am I supposed to fight Erol without any weapons?" Jak asked in a subdued voice.

"Does that mean that you will join our cause and fight?" Tiatin asked.

"Yes." Jak answered. "I will fight."

"You see now? That is your greatest weapon!" Tiatin said. "This is what separates you from Erol! Erol has been forced to fight for a cause he does not believe in. You, on the other hand... I have not forced you. I merely gave you the information you needed to make your own decision. That is the difference between being forced onto a battlefield, or walking onto a battlefield with your head held high! Your free will is your greatest weapon!"

"I doubt I could kill Erol with my free will." Jak said rather sarcastically.

"Quite right. Mar once wondered the same thing. What use is free will? He discovered the answer before the end, and you will too. But, you are also right that your free will alone will not harm Erol. That is why I'm giving you a new Light Power now."

"A new Light Power?" Jak asked.

"Yes. Light weapons, capable of gravely injuring Dark Eco-infused creatures like Erol and the Dark Makers."

Jak remembered the carving of Mar on the Temple wall, the carving of Mar with a Dark Sword in one hand, and a Light Sword in the other. It seemed that he was becoming more like Mar every day.

"Stay still. This will feel a little strange." Tiatin stepped forward and placed his hand on Jak's forehead. There was an extremely strange sucking sensation that reminded him of when he got his Dark Weapons. After a few seconds, it stopped. "The Weapons are summoned the same was as their Dark counterparts, except you should concentrate on the Light Within."

With a thought, Jak summoned a broadsword, only instead of a blade and hilt made of Dark Eco, a blade made entirely of Light Eco materialized in his fist. It looked exactly like the one Mar held in the picture. He quickly called the Dark version of the sword in his other hand.

"This is where I leave you." Tiatin said. "Know, at least, that you have the full might of the Precursors behind you, and we will not let you fail if we can help it at all. I hope you are more successful than many other Champions, who have failed and plunged their world into Darkness." With those final words, Tiatin teleported.

Jak stood still for several seconds before he turned and walked away slowly... he didn't make it very far at all. Just as his ancestor did before him, Jak slowed to a stop, dropped both weapons to the ground, and fell to his knees.

He felt as if a huge weight had been put on his shoulders. He couldn't stop thinking about the consequences of his failure. Erol was related to him... however distantly. His entire life seemed to lead up to his upcoming fight with Erol. His life would either end... or begin at that moment.

He slammed his fist into the ground and let loose a cry of rage that sent nearby birds to the air in fright.


From far away, Tiatin could feel his Champion's anguish. He understood his grief. Jak wanted nothing but peace, but he had gotten the exact opposite. It made Tiatin glad that he didn't tell him about what was going on that very moment back at the Freedom HQ. Tiatin could look into Jak's memories and could see the things he had recently been through... but what intrigued him most was his connection to this Keira Hagai... a connection that he thought was impossible in elves. Tiatin made a mental note to ask his Elders about it.

Tiatin could see as plain as day that Jak Mar cared about Keira more than he cared about life... he would quite literally die for her. Tiatin wasn't sure that Jak would be able to handle the news. More than one Champion had taken their own life before under all the stress. The young Precursor was sure that, if he discovered this newest development before he had time to digest the War of the Champions situation... nothing would stop him from killing himself on his own blade.

Tiatin hoped desperately that Jak would be strong enough to survive the upcoming tasks.


(Headquarters)

Keira sat on her bed, remembering the passion that she had Jak had shared just that night and pondering the nature of their relationship. It was just the sort of things a young girl ponders after giving herself fully to the man she loves.

She also debated the odds of Jak asking her to marry him. It seemed a given that they would marry each other, but WHEN was the question. Given... it would be weird because they had been childhood friends... not to mention almost brother and sister. But it couldn't be any weirder than it was last night.

Daxter had informed Keira that Jak had disappeared some time before to an unknown location. Not only that, but he told people to not follow him.

Suddenly, the lights in the room went out and Keira stood up in surprise. At first, she thought the power had gone out until an oily voice reached her ears. "Well, well, Keira, long time, no see."

What scared Keira was that she didn't recognize the voice at all. "Who are you? What are you doing in my room?"

"What's the matter, Keira? You don't recognize an old friend?" A pause. "I guess I have changed a bit... thanks to your boyfriend."

The figure stepped out of the shadows. Keira stared. "You!"

"Come, now, Keira..." The figure smiled. "That's no way to greet an old friend. Now... go to sleep."

Something slammed hard into the side of Keira's head, and she remembered no more.


LES: Oh... the mystery! This chapter took me a whole day to write! Everything was planned out months ago, but it had to be written clearly. I think you should appreciate the severity of Jak's situation. Once again, if you have any questions that I can answer without spoiling the rest of the story, ask, and I will answer.