Before I move on I just want to clear somethings up. If you are familiar with Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle, you may have noticed I named one of the dragons in my story Saphira. I am a big fan of the Inheiritance Cycle, read the whole thing from start to finish. Saphira is one of my favorite characters and I thought it was a grand idea for a dragon of Spyro's world to be named after her. Plus, if she really did exist in Spyro's world, I have no doubt that she and Cynder would be best friends. So I write with homage to the Inheiritance Cycle, and hope we can read more from Christopher Paolini in the future. Moving on, here is the next chapter, hope you all enjoy!
Ch6: Spargus
Setting: Wasteland Precursor Temple
The temple was now eerily silent, despite all that had occurred during the day, it was truly a sight to behold for the desolate wasteland. However, there were still many unknown secrets to the temple that had eluded so many, even for the monks that watched over it. One such secret had been revealed today, the arrival of an alien unknown to many people currently on the planet, and he was about to step outside into the land he came to once before, hoping to make a difference again. The warp gate at the temple's entrance began to glow and spin faster as the quarry inside started to emerge. First, out came Jak and Daxter, followed by their old friend, Spyro the dragon, an alien from a world far away. Spyro took in his new surroundings, feeling a sense of freedom after being stuck underground upon arrival. The temple entrance was a large cylindrical structure, with sunlight illuminating from above, and he was wondering what else may lay ahead.
"Well, not too much different from where I came, it's almost like I never left," Spyro said.
"Yeah, well take it in as much as you can, because outside these walls there is nothing but trouble and more trouble," Jak replied.
"Yeah, if you thought Haven city was dangerous, you haven't seen nothing yet purple boy!" Daxter added.
"With all I've survived I doubt there's anything else that can surprise me," said Spyro.
"Hold onto that thought," said Jak. He started walking toward the temple exit, over to their left. Spyro followed behind them, wondering what this land may throw at him next, though he was confident he could handle it. The ground beneath them turned to sand as they stepped outside, Spyro could feel his feet slowly sinking into the earth as they continued walking forward. He noticed above him there was a large columned wall, which apparently was the real entrance gate to the temple. On the other side he noticed something that he really hadn't seen before, it was completely different from anything he saw in Haven city. It was apparently some sort of vehicle like the zoomers in the city, but it had wheels like a cart, and some sort of pressurized legs up front and a huge tube in back. He stood back observing it as Jak jumped into the driver seat.
"Climb aboard," he said.
"This isn't a zoomer," Spyro replied.
"Nope, it's a desert buggy called the Dune Hopper, and in the wasteland it's the best way to get around, a zoomer wouldn't make it out here for very long," Jak explained. Spyro listened to his statement and finally climbed aboard in the passenger seat.
"I'd keep your wings down and fasten your seat belts," said Jak.
"Seat belts?" Spyro was confused, although Jak resisted taking a deep breath of disbelief.
"Yeah, seat belts, that strap behind you that's supposed to keep you from falling out," Jak explained again. Spyro turned his head and saw the strap hanging from an opening in the vehicle. He was still slightly confused, but took the strap in his hand and pulled on it. He was now searching for where to place it.
"Ahem"
Spyro turned and saw Daxter pointing toward a buckle in between the seats, finally indicating where to put it. Spyro took a breath, frustrated that there was more about this world that he had yet to figure out. None the less he clipped the strap into the buckle and heard it snap. The seat belt was finally fastened around his body ready to go.
"Ready," said the dragon.
"Still a tourist, oy were gonna have to teach him even more than before Jak," Daxter commented. Spyro gave the ottsel a glare while Jak could only shake his head, but he finally disengaged the safety and pushed the button to start the engine. The engine roared to life, and Jak finally pushed on the gas. Spyro held on for dear life and kept his wings closed as the vehicle began descending down the mountain. He noticed shockingly that there was a gorge coming up with no way around!
"Uh Jak…the gorge" he worryingly stated. Jak just kept moving forward but put his hand near a switch on the dashboard. Soon the gorge was 10 feet from them and Spyro could only close his eyes. Suddenly he felt a jerk hoisting them upward, and opened his eyes, the vehicle was flying through the air! However it didn't last for long as gravity brought it down again. They finally hit dirt and Spyro felt himself lunged forward, fortunately the seat belt kept him from falling out. As they continued forward, Spyro was thinking to himself, 'There are so many things about this world that I'll never understand, how I ever survived before is really beyond me.'
The ancient ruined structures that laid off coast of the temple mounts continuously felt the wrath of the sand blowing over them. The sand was just another hazard to Calidan, a hazard he faced every day out in the dunes. He had just re-entered his home from his secret tunnel in response to what he had seen earlier. The Monk Temple seemed to illuminate a great light, and he had no idea what was going on, but he was determined to find out. He climbed to the top of his lookout tower with binoculars in hand, eager to spot something out of the ordinary. He kept his focus on the temple, wondering what could be coming from it. He stood there for a good ten minutes, although all he had to hear then was the sound of Robin snoring below him. Calidan still kept vigil, knowing that something had to happen soon, the anomaly had still only just occurred and this was his only chance for some answers. His patience was rewarded, he saw dust kicking up down the slope that led to the temple, and in front of it he caught glimpse of a desert vehicle, one used by the wastelanders of Spargus. He was trying to figure out who was in the driver's seat, it looked like they were a mix of orange and purple. The vehicle jumped over the land mounts one at a time, before making the final jump back to the main ground. As they approached the monoliths to take the path in between, Calidan finally got a decent view of the passengers, one was a man in blue attire, with some orange furry creature on his shoulder, and a large purple lizard sitting next to him. As they disappeared from sight, Calidan was akin to wonder who they were. Only monks traveled to the temple, and the guy looked like a wastelander. That creature in the adjacent seat was unlike anything he had ever seen. Who were they? And what did they have to do with the anomaly earlier?
Jak pressed the gas a little harder as he drove around the corral which was housed in the middle of the wasteland, making the cross to the other side which would take them to Spargus City. In the meantime, he felt it best to bring Spyro up to speed. He was telling of what happened since he had departed with his friends, how Haven city ended up becoming divided against itself and everything…
"So the metalheads and the KG are now controlling different factions of the city, and our forces are just barely holding on, but there is not much left to be honest," Jak finished.
"I just can't believe it, we defeated the greatest threat on your planet, and the city goes to war again? Will the cycle ever be broken?" Spyro asked.
"It doesn't look like it right now," Jak replied, while Daxter was remaining silent for once, having nothing to add to the conversation.
"What about Torn, and Samos and the others? Are they still alive?" asked Spyro.
"Yes, everyone is alive, at least last time I was there," Jak answered.
"Why aren't you there now?" Spyro asked, while Jak was lighting off the pedal to tell him straight.
"I'm not there anymore…" he started while slowing the vehicle down, "because I was banished."
Spyro was shocked, "Banished?! For what?! You saved the city! What incentive gave them the notion you should be exiled?"
"It doesn't matter anymore, they weren't satisfied with how I handled the situation before so they got rid of me, end of story," Jak finished sternly. Spyro chose his next words carefully, feeling it was best to not press the matter anymore he chose to return to the previous topic.
"So Torn, Ashelin and Samos are still leading the charge? That's good to hear, at least they still have a fighting chance," said the dragon.
"Not much of a chance, there's hardly anything left to protect," Jak replied dismally.
"There has to be some protected parts of the city, what about the palace?" Spyro asked, though seeing Jak wince immediately made him wish he didn't ask that question.
"Spyro, the palace is destroyed," he said with Daxter dropping his head in unison.
"Destroyed?! That was the main part of the city! If it was destroyed," he was whispering the last part, knowing full well what it meant for Haven if the palace had collapsed. He could do nothing but shake his head, and press his eyes shut so no tears could fall out. He felt nothing but remorse for all the lost lives, he had been around too much death it was enough to make him sick, but then he remembered Ignitus's words.
"Draw strength from others, and follow your heart, it will never fail you."
Spyro felt so fortunate to have a mentor like Ignitus, at the same time he felt pity for Jak, having to go through this ordeal by himself. Although he knew Samos was to Jak as Ignitus was to him, but he wasn't here right now. Deciding to heed the advice he had been given and share it, he spoke again, "I'm sorry Jak, I wish I could say I've felt the same pain, but from what you've told me I have not, so I won't pretend."
"I appreciate that Spyro, I do," Jak replied.
Spyro finished with a statement of reassurance, "just hold on to what you have, there's always something to fight for."
"Quite the philosopher eh purple boy? Haven't heard much of that since old greenie," Daxter commented.
"Helps to have good teachers," Spyro replied.
"Amen to that, now it's my turn to teach you," Jak added, "we're living somewhere else now, and it has its own set of rules." They were approaching a large gate embedded in the rock just a mile ahead. The Dune Hopper kicked up sand behind it as its large tires continued to spin, the engine revving as the pistons inside continued their revolutions as was driven by the crankshaft. Jak hit the brakes just before they reached the gate, and turned to Spyro.
"You'd better make yourself scarce for now, head up atop the cliff and stay out of sight, until I find out how I can introduce you."
"Understood," Spyro said with a nod, and unbuckled his strap, and then jumped out of his seat onto the sand dune. Jak pushed the pedal down again and drove towards the gate, which opened up in a triangular shaped manner on both sides to let him and the Dune Hopper in. Spyro took flight and set course for the left side clifftop right above them. As soon as he set foot on the cliff, he looked down to his right. He saw Jak was parking the Dune Hopper in the vehicle stable and dismounted. He looked up to Spyro, and gave a silent gesture, which the purple dragon nodded to. Jak approached the Spargus gate with his pass, and presented it to the scanner on the side. There was a hissing noise, and the gate opened up top and on bottom to allow access.
Jak walked into the city with Daxter on his shoulder taking in the scenery he was now familiar with, cliff carved homesteads with doors embedded in the rock, keeping the occupants secure and comfortable in their desert home. He walked over to a leaper lizard on the left, these wild creatures of the wasteland had been tamed by the city, becoming the main source of transportation around Spargus. Jak mounted the lizard and kicked the reins to move forward. The lizard sped forward with its passengers and set forth for the middle of the city, where Jak planned to meet up with the ruler of Spargus City, Damas. He was wondering exactly how he was going to explain to the king that an alien had landed on their planet, it wasn't something that happened every day, even in the wasteland. He passed a couple wastelanders out on their patrols, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. Perhaps he could simply tell them they had another exile, they were always open to newcomers, provided they passed the arena trials. Jak hoped if it came to that, Spyro would be able to pass, though given the purple dragons track record so far, he didn't think it would be a problem. He just hoped that he wasn't attacked as soon as he was revealed. He rode up to the palace entrance stationed in the middle of the city. However, he was greeted by someone else he knew in the city, and not in the most friendly way.
"Well, look who's back, the newbies in the flesh," the wastelander said.
"Still greeting with the newbie comment Kleiver?" Jak answered with a question.
"You have a long ways to go pomper, so don't get comfortable," said Kleiver.
"As much as we're enjoying this conversation, we need to see all high and mighty right now, so let's save it for another day okay?" Daxter asked.
"Going to see Damas? You think you can just whaltz in whenever you feel like? Damas doesn't play favorites," Kleiver warned.
"I'm not asking to be a favorite, I just need to inform him, something has just occurred that could be of great relevance to him," Jak explained.
"Is that so? Could it be you two know something about the light show we observed earlier?" Kleiver asked. Jak and Daxter went wide eyed for a moment, and felt uneasy, it seemed that they already knew more than they thought. Explaining wasn't going to be any easier now.
"You do know something? Well then you better report it right now, otherwise I may have to leak that your holding important information, and he'll force it out of you otherwise," Kleiver warned again gesturing them to go ahead. Jak and Daxter gave him a slight glare before walking slowly toward the palace gate.
"I trust the Dune Hopper made it back where its posted?" Kleiver asked behind them. Jak entered the open gate and stepped onto the elevator behind it before answering him.
"Yes, just as you left it, and thanks for lending it to us, it came in handy."
"Like I said, don't get too comfortable, you'll end up worms meat if you do," Kleiver threw back with a chuckle. Jak gave him one last glare before the elevator lifted up. The lift only lasted ten seconds, in which time Jak tried to calm himself down, feeling the anxiety of the situation right now. The elevator came to a halt, and the two of them found themselves in the throne room.
"I see you boys have arrived fortuitously, I was about to seek you out myself," a scratchy yet demanding voice grabbed their attention. They turned to see a man in mix-matched wasteland armor and a crown embedded into his head, Damas the king of Spargus. Upon approaching his throne, both of them gave a slight bow.
"You two just came from the Wasteland correct?" Damas asked them.
"Yes sir," Jak answered.
"Then you observed the light spectacle that illuminated the sky?" the king asked.
"Actually we were underground at the temple, we didn't see it," Jak answered truthfully.
"Well everyone here saw it, and are demanding answers for which I have none," he said walking down from his throne. "From the tower I observed the source, the south side of the wasteland, where the temple is located." Damas's statement made Jak and Daxter feel uneasy, knowing where this was going.
"Since you came from the temple I will request only once, what did you find at the temple?" he asked sounding more like a demand. He was standing right in front of them with a strict look on his face. Shaking off the uneasiness, Jak decided to give it as straight as he could.
"We found something out of place at the temple, more like someone," Jak started.
"Someone? There was a being involved with this anomaly?" Damas asked.
"Uhh, you could say that, more like an out of place instrument," Daxter stammered before Jak could continue, "or just something that was thrown somewhere it doesn't belong, you know how messy housecleaning can be hehe," his nerves were getting the better of him, and was annoying both Jak and Damas, "but there is no indication it belonged there at all…" Daxter kept yammering on and on until…
"ENOUGH!" Damas yelled.
"Shutting up now," Daxter shrunk down behind Jak's shoulder.
"WHAT DID YOU FIND?!" Damas was feeling very angry having to ask twice, and Jak didn't hesitate to answer him.
"A friend," Jak answered. Damas's face went from angry to bewildered, he wasn't expecting an answer like that.
"He's a friend from far away, he visited us before a while ago, and he's made it back here through some anonymous circumstances, which I'm sure is what caused the light show you and everyone saw earlier. He's also looking for some answers too, and I'm sure we can help him."
"This…friend of yours, what do you mean from far away? Somewhere other than Haven?" Damas asked raising an eye.
"More like somewhere other than this planet," replied Jak.
"What? You've brought an alien to our world?!" Damas seemed to growing angry again at the thought of an outworlder.
"Hey, I didn't bring him! He just showed up, and I guarantee you he means no harm! He's saved my life before, and even helped save this planet! I assure he means no harm to you or to Spargus, he may even help us," Jak finished with confidence. Damas was stoic for a moment, wondering if everything he had just heard was true. His decision had to be for the good of Spargus, from what Jak told him, this foreign creature could be of benevolent use for the city. If there was anything not of value in the city it would be discarded, for everything that was of use was for their survival, otherwise it was just like the sand that littered the desert.
"Bring this alien to me, and we will see if your words are true, newcomer," Damas asked.
"Are you sure you can't come to him? The people might get freaked out and try to shoot him," Jak stated.
"Yeah, he's already had a rough first encounter before, and you don't want him coming in with a grudge if you know what I mean," Daxter added. Damas looked them dead in the eye, making them wonder if they had gotten through to him. He was silent for what seemed like near eternity, then took a step toward the elevator.
"Take me," he told them. They followed slowly behind him, wanting to keep Damas in a good mood and not overcrowd him. They stepped onto the elevator and it descended. Once it was halfway down, Damas decided to give Jak a final warning.
"You had better be right, for your life may also depend on his actions," he stated. The elevator had reached the bottom, and the king stepped off, while the two heroes edged behind him a little uneasy.
"We can never catch a break around here," Daxter told Jak.
A few minutes later, the Spargus group had just exited the main lock of the city, Damas was escorted by his warriors, which included not only Jak and Daxter, but Kleiver and two others named Krust and Bore. They came to a stop in the vehicle stable, and everyone turned to look at Jak. Without hesitation, Jak stepped forward to the king.
"Bring him in, now" Damas told him. Jak immediately stepped near the center of the vehicle stable and looked up to the right cliff up top.
"Hey! It's okay you can come down now! They want to meet you!" shouted Jak.
For a moment it seemed like his call had been unanswered, they heard nothing answer back. For a moment they thought they would be ambushed by the alien, even if they were unaware they weren't in any danger at all. There was a rustling up top, and they finally saw him, and were astonished by what they saw. A flying purple reptile like creature appeared over the cliff and was swooping down to the area in front of them. Bore and Krust readied their guns, but Damas gave them a wave to hold off. The creature landed and turned toward the wastelanders, hoping and feeling relieved that he hadn't put them off in a bad way. His native human friend introduced him.
"Damas king of Spargus, meet Spyro the dragon."
