Act III: The War Of The Champions
Chapter XXXV: The Fight For The Temple
LES: The beginning of Act III: The War Of The Champions! Everything is going downhill from here! Strange how the first act more or less followed the story laid down in Jak 3, the second act introduced a whole new challenge and a whole new level to Jak and Keira's relationship, and the third one will be the most original of all! How will things turn out? Will Jak get the happy ending he deserves? What effect will Jak's secret have on his and Keira's relationship? Find out in the amazing final act of my self-proclaimed masterpiece: War of the Champions! Oh, and one last thing... I made a change to Light Jak's appearance in this chapter. The tentacle wings always looked weird to me. O_o
Thankfully, Jak had no trouble finding the main power core of the War Factory and destroying it with a bolt of Dark Eco. This would effectively destroy the Factory's ability to make more Death Bots.
And that wasn't all Jak got out of the power core. Turns out some of the power was taken from a Light crystal, so Jak took it with him. All the while, Keira questioned him about different topics, while Jak explained as well as he could.
"Jak, I heard you mention the War of the Champions..." Keira began.
"Your father must've taught you about it." Jak said. Keira nodded. "Well, that's basically all you need to know. I have been picked as the Precursor Champion and Erol is my enemy, the opposing Champion."
"Erol kept mentioning your ancestors."
"This isn't the first time the Champion War has come to our planet. Erol and I are the descendents of the original combatants who fought close to five hundred years ago."
"Why did you call each other 'cousin'?" Keira asked.
"We're not really cousins." Jak said. "Our ancestors were brothers. He's family, as much as I hate to admit it. That's why my ancestor couldn't kill his own brother."
"But..." Keira began with just a hint of worry in her voice. "Doesn't one Champion have to kill the other in the end?"
"Yes. Either I will kill Erol, or he will kill me." Jak said. "But I am confident in my ability to win. He ran away today because he knew that I had won and that I was fully intent on killing him." Jak laughed sorrowfully. "And he called me weak."
"Jak, you are not weak, and you are not a freak... you are not a monster." Keira said. "You are the man that I love."
Jak rounded on her and pressed a hungry kiss to her lips.
It was possibly at that moment that Jak finally made a decision regarding something he had been thinking about for a long time. He pulled away from the she-elf and smiled down at her, and she smiled back. Could two young people be any more in love than they? They didn't think so.
They kissed again.
It was a short while later, and after the lovers had finished making out, that they found their way back to the Rift room.
Jak stood back and watched protectively as Keira jumped into the teleporter first. After he was sure that she was safe, he went in after her.
A second later, they ended up back at HQ, right in the middle of the control room, scaring the people that were in the room. "Whoa!" Torn jumped, and then he saw who it was. "Oh, so you got Keira back?"
"Keira!" It was Samos. "Oh, my daughter! You're all right!" Keira knelt down so that she could embrace her father. Finally, Samos looked up at Jak. "Oh, you saved my daughter! How can I ever thank you enough for this?"
"I talk to you about that later." Jak said.
Suddenly, the old Talk Box activated and Seem's voice sounded over the speakers. She sounded scared. "Jak... our Temple is being attacked by beings of Darkness. You are the only one that can save us. They must not be allowed to discover our secrets. Please... help us..."
"Who was that?" Keira asked, giving Jak a suspicious look.
Jak noticed the look on Keira's face. "Hey! Don't look at me like that!" He defended himself. "That's Seem, a Precursor monk who hates me. Seriously, she's like a female Vegar or something... or rather..." Jak paused. "I'm not actually a hundred percent sure that she's female..." Everyone stared. "I should go, though. Even though she hates me, she might turn out useful. However, before I go..." Jak turned towards Samos. "Samos, can I talk with you... alone?"
Samos seemed slightly concerned as to why Jak wanted to talk with him in private. "Sure, my boy."
Everyone else nodded quietly and left the room. Finally, when Jak was sure that they were alone and that there were no eavesdroppers, Jak turned his attention to Samos. "Samos, you know as well as I that the War of the Champions has come back to our planet, just as you know that I play a major role in it."
"Yes, the events did point to that." Samos said.
And you know that the upcoming trial has only two outcomes... success or death." Jak said.
"Are you worried about dying? I'm sure that you'll be more than a match for anyone who opposes you." Samos said confidently.
"Actually, you're wrong Samos." Jak said. "I'm not worried about dying... I'm worried about living." He paused. "I'm going out into the Wasteland, possibly never to come back." Jak took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "If I survive the upcoming trials, I would want nothing more than for you to..."
Jak left the control room sometime later, feeling plenty better. Sure, Samos had been put off at first, but after Jak expressed his determination, Samos agreed.
Daxter confronted Jak in the hallway. "So, how'd your talk with old Log-In-The-Head go?"
Jak smiled, just the opposite of how he was a few hours ago. "Very well, actually."
Daxter stared at his friend. "Why are you smiling? That's very out-of-character."
Jak ignored Daxter's statement. "Come on, Dax, we've got to get out into the Wasteland. Seem needs us." He said, walking back out into the control room.
Samos was gone, possibly to think about his conversation with Jak, but there was someone else waiting to say good-bye to him. It was Keira.
She embraced him and he embraced her back. "Hey!" Daxter protested when Keira nearly knocked him off Jak's shoulder.
Jak pressed a short, loving kiss on her waiting lips. "You're going out into the Wasteland again?" She asked.
"I have to." Jak breathed in her ear. "I have another Holy task to complete and all my instincts tell me it will end in the Wasteland... one way or another."
"Just promise me one thing..." Keira said.
"Anything." Jak felt like he would have promised her the world and all the riches it held. All she had to do was ask for it.
"Just promise that this won't be the last time we'll see each other." Keira said.
Jak hesitated before answering. The one thing he wasn't sure of. "I promise that I will do everything in my power to get back to you safely."
"And be careful." Keira said. "I couldn't bear the thought of losing you."
Jak didn't say anything for several seconds before he said. "You know... I died once." He said, and Keira looked confused. "I died in every sense of the word."
"But... if you died, then why are you standing here?" She asked.
Jak leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Because you brought me back." He pulled away and smiled. "Just trust in me and the Precursors... then everything will turn out all right."
"I know." Keira said. "Good-bye, Jak. I'll always love you... only you."
"I love you too, Keira... so much." He pressed another hasty kiss to her lips. "Good-bye." He turned away and rushed out of the control room, leaving his lover behind to head back out into the Wasteland.
"What is the meaning of this, Tiatin?" Karnac, the Dark Maker General, demanded as he pointed at a writhing Erol, apparently very hurt after Jak's Channeled Light Eco attack.
Tiatin gravely looked down at Erol, pity radiating from his very being. He felt sorry for Erol. "The rules clearly state that I may prepare my Champion in any way I see fit. It is no fault of mine that you infused this poor creature with unnatural Channeling abilities, Dark abilities that would react badly to a Light Eco-based assault.
"You picked your Champion because you made sure a Dark Eco assault would not hurt him!" Karnac roared.
"Wrong again, Karnac." Tiatin said. "I did not choose our Champion. My elders choose him before I was born... before he was born. It was the price he paid for life..."
Karnac laughed. "You hypocritical Precursors! You try to lecture me for changing the natural order of things when you go and make deals over another's life without their knowing." He paused, grinning evilly. "You Precursors have been planning this from the last defeat, haven't you?"
Tiatin sighed. "About that deal... you have no idea what you are talking about. And, about our plan... Okay, most we planned for... but not all." Tiatin paused thoughtfully. "Prison... and the Dark Eco torture was not in the plan, or at least not our plan."
"What are you getting at? Stop speaking in riddles, young Precursor." Karnac said.
"You would know all about Jak Mar's time in prison, would you not? You would know about the Dark Warrior Project because you invented it." Tiatin said. "Even in stasis, I felt fate being twisted by a powerful being... a Precursor... or at least a former Precursor. Karnac, you planted the idea into Praxis' mind. You gave Praxis the premonition as to exactly when and where Jak Mar would land. In short, in your attempt to sabotage our Champion... you have sealed the death warrant of your own."
Karnac lowered himself to Tiatin's level and bared his fangs evilly. "Prove it!" He hissed.
Tiatin sighed. "None could do that except you. And let me remind you that it is the Ancient Rules to interfere with one another's Champion. I'm sure even your own masters would be quite upset with you, just as mine would be if I attempted to interfere with your Champion." Tiatin looked down at Erol. "A pity. Your kind lacks the knowledge of Light Eco to heal him, but I do not." With that, Tiatin disappeared.
Karnac roared in anger. The Dark Eco environment vibrated as it soaked in his anger.
He glared down at Erol, who still writhed piteously. "Idiot!" He hissed. "Did I not tell you the importance of not harming the girl until after the Precursor's servant was dead?" The only answer was a low moan of pain. "Instead, you insisted on tempting fate and giving him the exact tool that he need to defeat you... righteous anger! Now, because of you, we will have lost this battle!" If Erol died of Light Eco poisoning, it would count as a victory for the Precursor's side as the poisoning had been caused by an attack that Jak had used. "It's no use to hide him away, as he will just die and the Precursors will win. But we can't send you against Jak again in your present state, he would eat you alive..." Karnac paused, thinking. "I think it is time to bend the rules a little bit. We can not touch him, but if he gives us his permission... yes. But what of the Precursors... we can't risk an open war..." He paused thinking. "Yes... they can't deny me retribution for the Mar-Martin humiliation. The son must pay for the father's mistakes... and he will pay for them... with his very soul..." Karnac roared with laughter.
Several hours later and Jak walked into the large temple, and found the place was torn apart. Alters were overturned, statues were thrown around, and several priceless-looking scrolls were ripped to pieces.
Jak walked over to a pile of the discarded and ripped papers and picked up one piece and read: "...Midnight of the Summer ni... the clans gathered un... and it was there that..." The rest was unreadable. But what Jak was really interested in was the small Dark Eco burn marks on the edges of the paper. That pointed out two possible options. Erol was one, but Jak was sure that Erol had been badly wounded in their last encounter. The next option seemed even less likely... Dark Makers, the Dark Exiled brothers of the Precursors. It occurred to Jak that he didn't even know what Dark Makers looked like. Were they merely Dark Precursors, or were they something else entirely?
"But... this isn't right." Jak said to himself. "Dark Makers aren't supposed to interfere."
Daxter blinked, confused, for he had no idea what the Dark Makers were. "What are you talking about? What are Dark Makers?"
"Okay," Jak sighed. "Long story short. Dark Makers are Dark Eco-infused Precursors. Long ago, they went to War with the other Precursors, but it ended terribly, so they created the War of the Champions. I am the Precursor Champion. Mar was also a Precursor Champion who had to fight his brother, Martin."
"Mar's parents weren't really good with names, were they?" Daxter asked.
"Be quiet! This is important!" Jak hissed. "Mar couldn't kill his own brother as the rules of the War demanded, so he let him go. I am a descendent of Mar, and my opponent is the descendent of Martin. In that way, we are related."
"So... who exactly is this 'cousin' of yours?" Daxter asked.
Jak sighed. "Erol."
"What?" Daxter gasped.
"Shut up!" Jak hissed, making sure Daxter's gasp hadn't attracted any unwanted attention. "Yes, Erol and I are related, but that will not stop me from killing him."
"Is that why you looked so terrible earlier?" Daxter asked.
"Well, forgive me that I got a little depressed after finding out that if I lose this war, the entire world will be drowned in Dark Eco." Jak hissed. "Sure, I'm perfectly happy!" He added sarcastically.
"But... I thought you liked killing. And, if it's Erol, isn't that doubly good?" Daxter asked.
"Well, yeah, sorta. But I thought I was done with Erol ages ago." Jak said. "It is rather annoying."
"You can say that again, bradda." Daxter said.
What confused Jak most as he walked through the Temple was the lack of any actual distress. There were recent signs of trouble, but he never ran into any trouble-in-progress. It was as if the Dark Makers abandoned their work just as he approached. Perhaps they still meant him no direct harm.
Finally, he entered the room that he was most concerned about: the chamber room for the Great Oracle.
The Oracle woke up with a slight hum. "Greetings, Great One."
"Oracle, are you all right?" Jak asked.
"Yes. Even the Dark Makers would not dare disturb me. They understand my worth, and would capture me to use my power. But they also understand that the true Precursors are my creators, and that I will not turn my back on them as so many of our other Artificial Intelligences has."
"It is good to know that you are safe." Jak said. "We can't afford to lose one of your importance."
"Likewise." The Oracle said. "As much as you dislike it, you are far more important than I. If I were destroyed, my creators would be able to build a replacement in a few hundred years. However... if you are destroyed... That is why it is imperative that you are as prepared as possible."
"Oracle, they say that you can see things that others can't. Can you tell me the outcome of this War?" Jak asked.
"You mean wither or not you will die?" The Oracle corrected. "The moment that Tiatin spoke your name as the Choosing Ceremony, your fate has been clouded by a Darkness that even my eyes can't pierce. Such is the way of War. If I knew the outcome, it would not be much of a War. One thing is for sure of your destiny... you will feel pain before the end of this ordeal."
"Hey! What's the big idea! Why are you torturing my best buddy, all for the sake of your stupid War?" Daxter demanded.
"I am afraid that is a question that I cannot answer." The Oracle said. "However, I understand you pain, as much as any of your predecessors. More than one Champion in the past has destroyed themselves, convinced that death was better. But you must be stronger than this. Once you are strong enough, when you are a true hero, then you will overcome your obstacles."
"But... is there an iron-clad way for me to win?" Jak asked. "If Erol pulls through, it might be impossible."
"Once again, it is not your strength or your ability that holds you back, it is merely yourself. Once you realize and embrace your fullest potential will you have the best chance of winning this War."
"Oracle..." Jak paused, wondering if he should ask the question on his mind. "Do you know my true name?"
"Your true name? A true name is not something to be lightly tossed around." The Oracle said. "However, I will say that your true name may be closer than you think."
"What does that mean?" Jak asked.
"Though you were born into Royalty, raised in the country, held in prison, and at home in the desert, your identity has become confused." The Oracle said. "A name may be nothing more than a jumble of letters, a label. It is your soul that tells who you really are. A more accurate question would be 'Who are you?'"
Jak opened his mouth to answer, and then closed it in shame, realizing that he had none. "I don't know." He said, hanging his head. "Maybe Erol is right. Maybe I am just an Eco Freak."
"Having the rare talent of Channeling does not make you a freak, and even less so you have your talent for Channeling the two most dangerous types of Eco." The Oracle rumbled. "Channeling is a gift that you should be proud of, for it, and it alone, connects you to our race. Once you know who you are, then you will discover what it is you truly want." The Oracle paused. "Because you are so important, and time is short, Tiatin has asked me to give you the last Light Power."
"Really? A new Light Power?" Daxter asked. "What is it this time?"
"A Light Power that has little use in combat, but is invaluable. This Light Power will give you the power to reach new places, places only in your dreams."
A light appeared over Jak's head and the elf was lifted off the ground as it's pure power filled him, causing the normal transformation. Then, something new happened, a sensation that he never felt before. It didn't feel bad, but it did feel strange, like his insides were being painlessly pulled out his back.
Finally, the power released him and he was set back down on the ground. As soon as he was in control of himself, he tried to figure out what his newest power was. He searched his mind for the evidence, but found nothing.
"What is the new Light Power?" Light Jak asked.
"Uh... Jak?" Daxter began.
"What?"
"Uh... look behind you."
Jak looked over his shoulder and almost cried out in surprise. Wings, large, feathery, angel-like wings sprouted from his back. They appeared to be made out of light made solid, and they, too, glowed with their own unearthly light. Using strange, new muscles, the wings flapped powerfully.
"Precursors..." Light Jak gasped.
"Hey! You really are an angel now!" Daxter exclaimed. "Hey, do you think you can fly?"
Light Jak didn't answer out loud. What's the point of having wings if I am unable to fly? He was still amazed at how powerful the wings were. They could be flapped with extreme power, but it hardly tired him, if it tired him at all.
Without even thinking, he spread the large wings to their full span, a whooping eighteen feet, and flapped hard, and launched himself into the air. He found that the wings were able to keep him aloft easily.
"Whoa! Watch where you're flapping those things!" Daxter yelled, clinging onto Light Jak harder because it was less stable in the air.
Light Jak landed softly. "Sorry, I've never exactly had wings before."
"Use this power well." The Oracle said. "May those wings allow you to never again fall into the Darkness." The Oracle began to fade away. "I wish you the best of luck, Great One..." The Oracle's presence disappeared.
Light Jak flapped his wings again in wonder. "Now, to find Seem."
"But can we not fly?" Daxter asked, but it was too late as Jak took to the air again. There was a door on the other side of the Oracle chamber that could only be reached via Jak's new wings. He reached the other side with little effort and landed safely. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to that." Daxter groaned.
Light Jak walked over towards the door and it opened. Then Light Jak saw it, at the far end of the hall... the prejudice monk herself. Spreading his new wings, he took to the air once more and flew quickly across the empty hall. Seem looked around just as the angelic creature landed. She knew instantly that it was Jak. For what seemed ages, the former enemies stared at each other. Suddenly, Seem dropped down to her knees before Light Jak in an act of reverence. (Catching both Light Jak and Daxter by surprise.)
"Forgive me, Great One." Seem whispered gravely. "I have made a terrible mistake in judging you so harshly." She pulled out a highly familiar artifact, a Time Map. "I was wrong, and I misjudged you." She added in the Ancient Language. "You have the balance needed to save us all." She offered the Time Map to Light Jak, like an offering. Light Jak couldn't stop staring. "This is our greatest treasure. Protect it, for it has more power than any of us know. Use it to once again bring balance to this world, over-thrown by chaos. Fear not, even in these Dark times, not all hope is lost."
"Why... why do you bow to me?" Light Jak asked.
"Because you have given me the honor of meeting my creators." Seem said, bowing even lower until her forehead touched the stone ground, like she was worshiping the very ground that Jak stood upon. "For that alone, I can never thank you enough. We of the Golden Order shall always be in debt to you."
Light Jak was still caught very off-guard by the reverence that Seem was showing him, so he couldn't think of a reply to this. He was plain not used to having people bow to him.
"Seem... there's really no need..." Light Jak paused, wondering if Mar had ever felt like this. "There's no need to bow to me."
"But there is!" Seem said. "I was wrong. I need the forgiveness of one of the greatest heroes that has ever walked our planet."
Light Jak was completely shocked, but he was able to reply. "You have my forgiveness."
"You know," Daxter interjected. "As far as completely freaky, beyond bizarre, paint-faced, super-weird monks go... you're all right."
Seem stood up now and nodded, apparently deciding to take Daxter's comment as a compliment. "Thank you, Little One. And do not fear, you shall find your courage." Seem paused. "And protect your friend."
Daxter laughed. "Listen, I'm not too good at the whole 'protect' thing. That's Jak's job."
"No, protect his soul." Seems said. "Very soon, you'll find his soul in jeopardy. If you lose your soul... all is lost."
"What are you talking about?" Jak asked.
"Remember, that people can live without their souls, but you are not you anymore." Seem said. "To be without a soul will trap you in an inescapable living death, unable to think or feel. You will be transformed into a lifeless puppet, a cruel joke and satire of your former self. And, if your soul is in jeopardy... another will be harmed to. Never surrender your soul... or more than one will suffer this fate."
Light Jak blinked, he wasn't sure why Seem was telling him this, but he could tell, for once, that she was trying to give him some genuine advice. Light Jak nodded, to show that he'd remember.
"Remember, Great One, if ever you require the services of the Golden Order of Precursor monks, just ask, and it shall be done." Seem said.
"I'll remember that too." Light Jak promised.
Suddenly, Jak's old Talk Box activated and Damas' face appeared on the screen. He hardly seemed put off that Jak was in his Light form with large feathery wings. "Jak, I heard you were back in Spargus."
"Well, I'm at the Temple, actually. But I can get to Spargus pretty quickly if you need me."
"We need you." Damas said. "Spargus is under attack, Dark creatures are falling for the sky. Pecker has informed me that you have an immunity to Dark Eco, so you are our best chance against these new devilries."
"Dark Makers..." Light Jak said to himself. "But Tiatin said..." Light Jak stopped mid-sentence. "I'll be right there, my King."
"Very good." Damas said before he disconnected.
"Dark Makers attacking Spargus? But... Tiatin said that Dark Makers couldn't interfere directly." Light Jak said.
"The Dark Makers are getting desperate." Seem said, looking up at the purple Day Star... the Veleen. "Their Champion is mortally wounded, unable to fight, so they are taking matters into their own claws."
"What does that mean for me?" Light Jak asked.
"It means that the Dark Makers no longer care for the rules." Seem said. "If you are to survive, I suggest you ignore the rules too."
"So... you want me to destroy the Dark Makers?" Light Jak asked.
"No, it is impossible for a single man... even one as powerful as you are, to destroy the Dark Maker armies." Seem sighed. "The one flaw with the War of the Champions is that no mandate was ever made of how the War would end. It will never end as long as there is a single Precursor and Dark Maker to continue the fight. The only way for the War to truly end is for one or the other to kill."
"Wouldn't Tiatin be in danger, then? He's the last Precursor, that would make him a prime target for assassination." Light Jak said.
Seem shook her head as if Jak were being foolish. "Tiatin is not the last of his kind, just as the Dark Ship in our orbit is not the only Dark Maker Warship in our galaxy."
Light Jak stared at Seem. "What? There's more Precursors?"
"They are spread thinly around the universe, but they are there." Seem smiled. "You are not the only one who spoke with Tiatin. He told me that when he went through the ring the night you released him, he went to visit his brothers on another planet. How else do you think Tiatin, who is an infant by Precursor standards, could know as much as he does?"
"I thought it was common knowledge." Light Jak said.
"No, his elders on another planet taught him everything there is to know about the War of the Champions. He is well-trained in the ways of War, but naive in other ways." Seem paused. "We have spoken too long. Go now, and be a credit to your great ancestor."
Light Jak didn't even bother to ask how Seem knew about his ancestry. It seemed that she knew a lot more than she let on. Light Jak spread his wings... it would be faster to fly to Spargus.
"Oh no, not again!" Daxter moaned as Jak took to the air. He flew out of the roofless Temple and made a Wumpbee line for Spargus, which wasn't that far away by air.
From his high vantage point, Light Jak could see the Dark meteors that rained down on the desert City. "I just hope I'm not too late." Light Jak said as he flew towards Spargus.
LES: I hope you're not too upset over Light Jak's change. I just like the angelic look better. Besides, I've already compared him to a fallen Angel many times. (See Onin's Prophecy, Back To You, Chapter 21) If Jak's a fallen angel on the inside, shouldn't he be an angel of Light on the outside?
