|Moon's Note|
This time in front of the chapter, because I don't want to ruin the flow of this thing. Here it is. The final chapter. The big one. The accumulation of everything I've learned in the time period I've been writing this. Next will be one chapter epilogue, and it's going to be a big chapter. Huge. Like... at least 4 average chapters in total. That's it, I'll reply to you all one last time in the epilogue and then it's done... Wow.|
|Spargus Desert|
The car creaked and spat dangerously as Jak floored the pedal, dark clouds rising from the exhaust pipes. The Marauders had been very helpful when they found themselves on the wrong side of a gun, leaving them with the best scrap metal to have ever graced the desert. In front of them, the Dark Maker trudged towards Spargus in a steady pace. Valentine held on tight, teeth snapping shut every time they abruptly crossed a dune.
In the distance a beast roared, guttural and threatening. As they rounded a hill, just before gravity once more sucked them down, dark wings rose from Spargus. "That's Ma'al. He's started his attack."
The Metal King rose barely enough to miss the city walls, his wings beating wearily to gain more height. Valentine watched as Ma'al rose towards the sun, where his wings for a moment spread a shadow over the sand, the Dark Maker and their tiny buggy. Then, with a frightening roar, Ma'al fell towards the ground.
For a moment the trio lost sight of the Dark Maker behind a dune, but then they were high up once more. Erol shot dark purple beams at the approaching King. Ma'al dodged them all, barely adjusting his course. As he came closer to the ground, Valentine could see the fading sunlight reflect from his scales, murky red and dirty yellow. Daxter gripped his nails around her shoulder, stretching his neck to see what would happen. Erol shot again, and this time Ma'al roared in pain. Valentine flinched when long, leathery strips were stripped away from the inside of his wings.
"Ma'al!" The King had better not gotten killed.
Still, he crashed against the Dark Maker, knocking the machine to the side. The long, ungainly legs faltered, buckling in the unplanned motion. Sand, colored red and gold, wafted up in imposing curtains around the scene. Valentine clasped a hand in front of her mouth when they passed through such a cloud, clenching her eyes shut. Unlike Jak she didn't have her goggles with her, and now wasn't the time to be blinded.
In the distance, Ma'al rose, teeth flickering as he straggled to regain balance. Erol fired a new shot, at the same time maneuvering up once more. The shot tore a piece of the King's shoulder, knocking him back against the sand. Valentine reached out towards Ma'al, establishing a mental link faster than ever before. He was still alive, but hurting so bad. He had never known Dark Eco to burn his skin.
"We won't make it in time," Jak shouted, still not bothering to slow down. "We need another distraction."
Valentine nodded and reached out to Meta. As expected, her friend has taken to the sky as well, but had taken longer than Ma'al to arrive to the scene. Now she darted through the air, easily dodging shots aimed at her. The Scout was a far smaller target than a King. Valentine turned to Jak, placing Daxter on the seat between them. "I'll go."
"What, that's crazy! You can't go alone!" Jak shouted at the same time with Daxter.
"I'm not going alone. Meta's with me, and you guys will catch up quick enough. Trust me. We can do this, together!" Valentine shouted back as Meta plummeted through the sky.
"I thought you were supposed to be the brains of this team!" Jak growled at her, grabbing her wrist and yanking her close.
Valentine smiled, feeling the adrenaline run in her veins. There was nobody else who could stage an attack, nobody but her or Metal Heads. Of the two, she was the only one who could formulate a plan without someone telling her what to do. She leant forward and kissed Jak hard, twining her fingers in his hair. When they broke loose she smiled. "It's called roleplay, big guy. Now, hurry up and help me out. I can't do this without you."
He nodded, most of his facial expression hidden by the goggles. Still, she could tell it didn't sit well with him. As they rode up another dune, Valentine stood up in her seat. Meta flew behind them, gaining on them with every second. Jak kept the car as stable as he could. "We're going to talk about this when it's over, you hear me, Val?"
Valentine nodded, raised her arms up in the sky and then found gravity no longer had a hold on her. Meta had gripped her strong claws around her wrists, pulling her up with her in a fluent motion. Sand beat against her bare hands and reached inside her clothes, scraping against the skin. The air was still hot, like a furnace. And yet the prospect of this, the prospect of one final fight, made her feel alive.
Meta carried the both of them upward, away from the buggy that held Jak. Once there was enough distance between them and the ground, the Scout twirled in the sky, throwing her humanoid rider up and away from her. Valentine spread her arms, the wind nearly yanking them out of their sockets. A shot pierced the air beneath her and Meta roared in defiance, before grabbing Valentine again. The sudden arrest made her teeth clack together, but she didn't care. Below them the Dark Maker was rapidly approaching. "We need to stop Erol."
And suddenly there he was. The sunlight glinted in orange of his metal limbs, and there was no denying his glare when he spotted her. Then Meta released her grip, allowing Valentine to fall. Erol attempted to move away from her, but he wasn't fast enough. Valentine fell into him, knocking him away from the controls. In their dishevelment it was hard to notice how the Dark Maker lurched to the side, but there was no mistaking the creaking, snapping sounds. Something broke with a loud hiss, and then Valentine was tossed forward against the railing. Her head collided with the metal, and then she tasted blood.
Hastily she blinked, clearing her vision. Erol was only a few meters away from her, as disoriented as she was. Another snapping sound and they were both thrown backward, sliding across the smooth floor. When all had quieted down Erol stood up, his metal joints releasing sparks of electricity. "You bitch!"
"That's no way to speak to an arch nemesis, is it?" she quipped, grabbing the railing to pull herself up. With the back of her hand she wiped away the blood from her mouth, wincing when she felt the cut on her lip.
"You're dead," Erol stated, and something moved in the corner of Valentine's eye. Then Meta growled, appearing from the other side. A robot fell to the ground, where Meta at once started to dismantle it. The Metal Head bit at the most fragile components, leaving Erol to Valentine.
"Alone at last. C'mon Erol. Afraid to fight me on your own?" she spat on the ground, the red contrasting with the metal floor like rust.
Erol moved towards her, grabbing at her with his normal hand. That wasn't any good, she needed his prosthetic limbs to do damage. She ducked, moving towards him. He grabbed her with a cold metal hand, squeezing her throat. All sanity had left his eyes. "I never was afraid of little girls."
She bared her teeth, and found the Dark Eco coursing through his body. Sparks burst from his prosthetic hand, preventing him from breaking her neck. With a curse he dropped her on the ground. Before he could move again, she kicked against his head. "Then you should fear the woman grown."
He slammed against the control board, activating a row of buttons. Most of it was pretty harmless, but several smaller Dark Makers were suddenly released from the innards of the robot. Erol grinned when he saw her look. "This is a Terraformer, meant to transform any planet into a hospitable place for these creatures. There are more where these came from. Would you like to-"
He stopped his speech when Valentine slammed her dagger in his good hand. Blood mixed with Dark Eco oozed thickly from the wound, before she slammed the heel of her palm against his nose. More contaminated blood, crackling and burning, poured over her hand. On reflex he jerked, catching her legs and throwing her down. When she fell, a stabbing pain shot through her left hand. She hissed, rolling to the side just in time. Erol smashed down his prosthetic fist where she had just lain.
Meta lunged at him, jumping over Valentine to protect her. Erol backhanded the Scout, flinging her towards the rails. Before the Metal Head could retaliate, the smaller Dark Makers swarmed her. On instinct Valentine turned back, back to protect Meta. For a moment the Scout was once again a hatchling in need, and Valentine the only one who could save her.
Erol kicked her in the back. Valentine fell to her knees, scraping across the floor. She cried out, reaching a hand towards Meta. Then she was kicked to the side, pain numbing her thoughts. "This really takes me back, you know. To those good old times, when you still thought mommy and daddy were going to save you. But you always were a quick learner."
Erol thought he was right, but Valentine knew better. This wasn't a damp cell in the bowels of Haven anymore. Above her was the twilight sky, and wind, and freedom. And she wasn't defenseless anymore. And she didn't need protecting anymore either. She placed her palms flat against the Dark Maker, searching for the energy core. The Dark Eco fought her, every step of the way, stopping her from unleashing the guns on Erol. Instead she closed the hatches, stopping the flood of those infernal small Makers.
Her tormentor mocked her, laughing and taunting. Valentine bared her teeth again, growling like a Metal King. Then a bullet ricocheted from the side of his head, shutting him up.
Jak stepped over the edge, aiming his gun at Erol. The first bullet was followed by one, two, a barrage. They chimed as they made contact, forcing Erol to back away. Daxter dropped to the ground while Jak distracted Erol. "Val, are you okay? You gave me and our boy a real scare just now."
She raised herself, looking at where Meta had landed. The Metal Head bled from numerous gashes, but her teeth tore through one of the small Makers with ease. Meta was alive. Valentine felt tears well up in the corners of her eyes. "We're fine. Let's finish this."
When Valentine looked back at Erol, dents and gashes disfigured his body. Still he showed no signs of stopping, charging at Jak. The hero dodged him, albeit barely. With a growl Valentine grabbed the cold steel floor, searching for the Eco once more. "You're mine. Obey me."
A voice whispered in the back of her head, the one she hadn't heard every since Seem had given her the medicine. The Dark Eco called out to her, a taunting song, only this time it didn't try to possess her. It eluded her grasp, slipped like smoke between her fingers. But this time she would be the one in control. With the taste of blood rich in her mouth, she forced her dominion on the Dark Maker. Guns unlatched around them, every single one pointed at Erol.
Jak butted his enemy in the face, the back of his gun intensifying earlier done damage. Then he swiped Erol's legs from beneath him, and in one fluent motion shot down. The bullet sent flesh and sinew in the air, but still Erol laughed. The laughter was choked, guttural and insane, but it was still laughter. The bullet had gone through his throat, and still Erol laughed.
Valentine unleashed the guns, and Erol's metal casing withstood the assault. Jak attacked with all the rage he could muster, and only ended cutting his own skin. Light Eco danced over his wounds, while Dark Eco poured from his fingers in a half-transformed state. Yet Erol laughed, wide-eyed, saliva dripping over his lips. It was as if nothing could kill him.
Then he slammed a button, a hatch opened and he had disappeared. Left without a target the heroes looked around them, panting heavily. Cold sweat dripped from Valentine's body, sand sticking to exposed surfaces. Her hair waved about in a sudden gust of wind. Then Jak pushed her to the side as a gigantic head bashed to the ground.
The floor beneath them quaked, and someone screamed. Valentine didn't know if it was her or Daxter. Her wrist snapped audibly, and then she was certain she screamed. Jak covered her body one second, and pulled her up the next. The moved sluggishly, the floor tilting beneath their feet. Ma'al had attempted to help them, his large head and feral eyes glittering in the oncoming night. But his movements forced the Maker to tilt even more, hindering their movements.
Valentine tried to reach out to him, tried to tell him to stop. But her thoughts had been wiped away by pain and anger. All she wanted to do was end Erol. Bring an end to him and her pain and Jak's pain. She reached down to the Eco once more, groping blindly while Jak guided her around. Blood pricked in her eyes, hot and sticky. Then she found it, glowing in her mind, all the Eco the Maker had left. "It's head. Jak, shoot the head!"
She couldn't see, but she felt it. A blooming sun, pure energy, gathered at the head. But no matter how much she blinked, the blood clouded her vision. Next to her, Jak steadied her. "What does it look like? Val?"
"Big! And shining!" she shouted, making a guess, hoping she was right. Desperate she reached out, grabbing the Eco that ran towards the head where Erol hid. She forced it still, wrestling with the streams of energy.
"If I shoot that, it's gonna blow!" Jak warned her, his arm tightening around her. Daxter coiled around her neck, holding on to her as well.
Valentine shook her head, wishing she could see. "If you don't, everyone will die!"
She felt Jak nod, and how he aimed his gun. For a moment they were perfectly still, cradled in eternity. "I love you, Val."
And he pulled the trigger. The moment the bullet left, he threw his gun to the side. Instead he grabbed her, wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close. Valentine raised her hands and met him halfway, clinging to him. An explosion sounded, hot air blew over them, rustling their hair and clothes. Then their feet left the ground, but no flames followed. Heat didn't sear them in the kiss, though they were jostled against each other.
In the aftermath of the explosion, Valentine opened her eyes. She still couldn't see, but this time it wasn't because of the blood clouding her vision. This time darkness really enveloped them wholly. "Jak?"
"I'm here," He said, pulling her close to him. Daxter groaned loudly, struggling free from between their bodies. A leathery rustling sound followed, and then the last rays of the sun shed their light on them once more. Looking down on them, Ma'al showed a toothy grin.
"Are you unharmed, King Valentine?" He asked, voice rumbling as his Gem flickered. His wings had taken the brunt of the damage, but he was alive. Alive and very pleased with himself. "Now this was a Hunt that will always be remembered."
"Ma'al! Oh, I love you, you strange bastard!" Valentine cried out, leaping against the Metal Heads neck. She wrapped her arms around him, scales scratching her skin. Next to her Jak took his place. He tapped a fist against the scaled skin as well, looking weary but triumphant. "Thanks, Ma'al."
"Ma'al, I could kiss ya, ya big scaly weirdo!" Daxter shouted, immediately acting upon his word. He doused the Metal King's skin in slobbery kisses, promising the King to name his firstborn after him.
Behind them a plaintive cry sounded. Valentine turned around and at once released Ma'al, instead wrapping her arms around Meta. "Oh, Meta! You were so brave! I'm so proud of you!"
Deep gashes had been torn across the Metal Head's flesh, blood already crusting at the edges. Valentine kissed the Scout on the nose, cooing sweet words at her. Behind them the remnants of the Maker littered the desert. When Valentine heard a gate open, she realized how close to the city the battle had taken them. One deep breach in the walls showed what a close call it had been.
People ran outside, shouting questions or cheering. Ma'al at once was surrounded by several women, who all scolded him for taking such risks. The huge King swiveled his head this was and that, apologizing profusely to 'female Rae' and 'female Aila' and all other sorts of females. Jak found his hand pumped up and down by an overjoyed Kleiver, while Valentine was tackled by her students.
When the initial turmoil quieted down, Damos walked out of the city gates, a crutch supporting his movements. Valentine and Jak turned towards the man at the same time. He reached out a hand towards them, beckoning them close. Later Valentine would never be able to say which one of them had started, but eventually they were all crying. Tears of relief and joy to flood away the angst. Her King pulled them close, one in each arm, holding tight as if he never wanted to let go. He pressed a kiss on her cheek, warm and loving. "My girl, you did well."
Then she was pulled away by a worried Seem, who at once started to fuss over the wound in her head. As she turned around she could see Damos pressing a serious kiss on Jak's forehead, tears lining his cheek in the sun. "My son... you came back. You came home."