I know that Jak probably would have just blown those metal heads to Kingdom Come as soon as he saw them, but can we just forget his anger manegement issues for a moment, just while you read this? Thankyou.
Jak stood completely still, watching the spot between the two rocks where he was sure he had seen it… Suddenly, from his left came a low guttural growl, and from behind him, and in front – all around him Metal Heads with chameleon like camouflage were becoming visible.
'So Torn was wrong, there are still Metal Heads around here.' Thought Jak bitterly, as he spun around, aiming his gun at each one in turn, but he knew, that however many he managed to kill in front of him, more would he appear from every direction, and he knew that even he could not hit them all at once, not even with the Wave Concusser, and the ones he missed would almost definitely reach him before he had chance to recharge his gun, and yet he must not let them know this… He turned around and back again, trying to keep his eyes on all of them at once, but it was impossible. The Metal Heads advanced, growling continuously, closing into a tight circle, all around him, wherever Jak looked, all he could see was glinting claws and fangs glistening with saliva. He waited, seeing if the opportunity to dispatch all the Metal Heads at once would arise. He released the safety catch on his gun, and took aim between the eyes of the nearest, and largest Metal Head, the only thought in his head was to take as many Metal Heads with him as possible, before one caught him off guard, or had faster reactions than him - which he knew was inevitable.
Meanwhile, Daxter was on the other side of the stone tower, blissfully unaware of Jak's predicament, maintaining a steady flow of curses and complaints as he climbed. He had reached a tricky spot – the next ledge that looked sturdy enough to take his weight was quite a long jump away, and Daxter was so busy trying to judge whether he could make it or not, that he could not hear any sounds from below at all….
Jak's finger was on the trigger, ready to deal a fatal blow to the Metal Head, but he stopped and lowered his gun as a very odd thought crossed his mind. These Metal Heads wee different – a normal pack would have savaged him by now, he would have died in a flurry of whirring claws and fangs, firing as fast as possible to try and save himself, so why was he still alive? He looked into the nearest Metal Head's leering face, and it started to laugh. Thiswas not normal, Metal Heads do not laugh! They have no emotions, they just well, kill things! But this one was definitely laughing, a horrible snarling sound, but unmistakable as laughter. And encased in the laughter, Jak was sure he heard it shout… "WEAK!" It roared between cackles. Jak just looked at it, afraid, but also…curious. Metal Heads do not talk. Raising his gun again, he took aim, but was again stopped as the Metal Head reared up onto its hind legs, standing quite steady, it pointed at him with its right paw. Jak looked around as the other Metal Heads stalked closer, decreasing the size of the circle, thoroughly cutting off any possible escape route, any possible weak link in their circle.
Jak returned his gaze to the largest Metal Head, the one stood on its hind legs, obviously the leader. Confused, he glanced at the paw pointing at the middle of his chest, but with a jolt, Jak realised that it was not a paw at all, this Metal Head only had three paws, the fourth, was a sort of gun attached to its front leg. Jak stared. Then the Metal Head spoke, and this time Jak was sure he hadn't imagined the words, hadn't got them confused with the sounds of their laughter. "I was made for this, Jak." It rasped. Jak had no time for confusion, for as the Metal Head finished speaking it uttered a loud howling war cry, and a glowing ball of light, the colour of dark eco, and about the side of a marble, left the Metal Head's gun, heading straight for Jak.
It seemed to approach in slow motion, Jak's eyes widened in shock as he realised what was about to happen. The pack leader leer turned to a look of snarling triumph as the purple light made contact.
Jak gasped as the glowing pellet slammed into his chest, the force of it knocking him off his feet, sending him staggering backwards to collide with the Metal Heads behind him. They laughed, the same snarling, rasping howl as their leader, and digging their sharp claws into his back, they shoved him roughly back into the centre of the circle, where he fell, gasping onto all fours. He had dropped his gun as he fell.
The Metal Heads all fell silent, every eye was on Jak as he pushed himself shakily into a crouch; keeping firm eye contact with the pack leader, holding it gaze to avoid it noticing his left hand as it wandered across the ground, searching for the morph gun. Metal Heads are easily distracted.
He was puzzled, the Metal Head had shot him, definitely shot him, and yet, he didn't seem to be dying nor bleeding, actually, after the initial shock of being blasted backwards into several Metal Heads with very sharp claws, and being quite severely winded, there was no pain at all. Having found the gun, he pulled it slowly towards him, flicking off the safety catch as he did so. The pack leader stared at him, keeping its gun arm steadily trained on Jak; it snarled threateningly. Supporting the gun with one hand and his knee, and keeping firm eye contact with the Metal Head, Jak ran his free hand over his chest.