Jak and Crash
ACT 2: The Journey
Chapter 9: The Difference…You Play with Fire, you're gonna get burned

Lucian Royal Airport
Month 2: Feburia, Day 1
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Afternoon

"Welcome to Lucius. Fire Empire of Magic and Mystics."

Immediately after Shuin spoke his piece, Cortex's main communicator from the Nicodemus II spoke up.
"This is Lucian Airbase to unknown ship, are you friend or foe? Repeat, friend or foe?" Cortex hesitated, not clear on what to say. He was saved by the bell when Jak grabbed the communicator and spoke through it with a calm and dignified manner.
"This is the Nicodemus II speaking. I am his royal highness, Prince Christof of Haven Kingdom requesting landing in your airbase."
"Prince Christof?" came a surprised tone, "News have informed me that you were kidnapped."
"It's a bloody long story, but I demand to land in your airbase and speak with the Empress of Lucius." After a brief silence where nothing but the sounds of static rang through the communicator, the airbase spoke.
"Request accepted."
Jak and his friends made off a small cheer. Nicodemus II flew towards the Lucian Royal Airport where Air Traffic Controllers navigated the airship on their landing spot. In time, everyone aboard the Nicodemus II left the airship, carrying their bags and generally stretching their arms and legs, happy to be off the ship.
"Wow, can ya feel the air?" Tawna gasped, "It's…warm. We don't need our winter jackets."
"Yea, Lucian weather tends to have warmer climates then Haven which is notorious for cooler ones." Jak said, "We don't need jackets this time around, the weather is perfect Spring-like weather." Everyone felt happy and relieved for that information. They all had plans to don cooler outfits once they made themselves comfortable in given time.

The first thing they noticed when they got off was that all the air traffic controllers were Anthros, just like Shuin, Coco, and Tawna.
"Well, now we know where Shuin came from." Cortex gasped.
Several of the air traffic controllers walked over to Jak and his friends, helping them with their bags while a couple went inside the palace, coming back with an elegant dressed tiger. He had long flowing robes composed mostly of white with red, a small hat, and long gray hair and beard.
"You claim to be the prince of Haven?" An air traffic controller spoke, "I don't buy it. You look too scruffy to be one."
"That will be all, Roko." The tiger spoke. He waved the one named Roko off and turned his gaze to Jak, smiling his toothy grin, "If you are indeed the prince of Haven, please give me some sign of evidence."
"Oh, sure." Jak then dug through his red scarf and pulled out an orange round pendent that looked a bit like the Yin-Yang symbol: the Pendent of Mar. Avalor eyed in closely and nodded.
"Welcome to Lucius, my prince." He made a small bow.
"A pleasure, Priest Avalor." Jak, too bowed, "Please, I must speak with the Empress of Lucius on a most urgent matter dealing with the recent invasion of Haven that occurred nearly two months back."
"Of course, of course, I've heard." Avalor nodded, "Come, come." Avalor placed an arm around Jak and gently nudged him to the entrance. The rest followed behind.

…………………

Rock Town
Month 2: Feburia, Day 1
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Afternoon

"Well, we're halfway in our goal to head for Air Razor." Chiso said, scrapping the leftover fruit on his plate. The two were sitting outside on a table near the restaurant where they ordered their meal.
"We probably would have gotten there faster if you weren't so busy screaming your butt off on every little thing you saw." Kiera said, "I don't want to have to babysit you."
"Sorry." Chiso mumbled, "…But you DID encourage me to join you, you know."
"I know and I think I'm starting to regret it." Kiera said, stuffing a shrimp down her throat. Chiso played with his food for a bit.
"Well, I guess it's my fault as well." Kiera said, urging a smile, "I was never good at navigating and camping and stuff, no matter how many times Jak and Daxter taught me. So I apologize for getting us lost a couple of times."
"Couple?"
"Okay, okay, more then a couple."
"Guess we all have our own faults." Chiso said, "You can't navigate and I'm too easily scared."
"Well, in time and with experiences, we'll get far." Kiera said, "Now come on, we're basically done eating and we should really move on." Kiera asked for the check while Chiso merely nodded.
After the two paid their meals, Kiera and Chiso continued as they walked past the Vegas-like Rock Town.
"Oy, I bet you Jak's reaction to Rock Town now would be less then favorable." Kiera said. Chiso merely remained quiet and nodded, "I mean, who'd have thunk a small village like Rock Town would end up being this huge and…flashy." Again Chiso merely kept quiet and nodded.
"Everything in the future is all "pay attention to me" and this and that." Kiera continued, "I can see why Jak misses the simpler times. Sometimes I miss it, too." Again Chiso responded with a mere nod.
"With so much colors going on at once, one can only imagine the strange people we bump into—"
"THERE YOU ARE!"
Both Kiera and Chiso turned around and let off a stunning gasp.

……………………

Inside the halls of Lucian Palace
Month 2: Feburia, Day 1
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Afternoon

"—And that is why I was "kidnapped." Jak said, finishing his story, "I must speak with the Empress and let her know of these dark beings known as the Dark Makers. Perhaps she can help us decipher these creatures."
"What are their intentions?" Brutter added.
"Why are they after Haven or this planet for that matter?" Cortex added as well.
"What are they exactly?" Daxter added, too.

By the time all was said, Avalor led them past the red double doors where they entered a wide, circular room composed of red banners and flags, as well as torches with fire brimming surrounding the walls. The red carpet the heroes were in led to the tall Asian throne. It was mostly square in shape with the top piers containing small torches. See through pinkish silk curtains graced the throne, covering the Empress' appearance making her look more like a shadow.
"My Empress, "Avalor started as he bowed to his knees, "Prince Christof and his friends have arrived, requesting a word with you."
With that said, the empress slowly rose up from the giant cushion she was sitting on and walked over to the front. She swept past the pink silk curtains to reveal herself as a tall figure. Unlike many of the residences of Lucius, her robes and garment were darker and cooler in color then bright red. She had on massive wing accessories on her back of some sort as well as feathers gracing around her upper shoulders and back. To top it off, she donned a matching color mask that covered her entire face except her lips. It too was lavishly dressed in feather and elegant Asian designs. Her looks and wear made it hard to tell whether she was an Anthro or something else.
Jak made a small bow. Cortex, Shuin, and Coco, all three from Asian backgrounds bowed next. Afterwards, the rest all joined in, some more hesitant that others due to cultural differences.
"I give you, Empress Aron Takoshi of Lucius Empire." Avalor stated.
"I've been hearing you got into quite a struggle to get here to Lucius, Prince Christof." Aron started.
"Yes, but for good reason." Jak started, "Creatures called the Dark Makers are making their way over to your planet. I have reasons to believe their intentions aren't good."
"No, ya think?" Coco sarcastically placed in her two cents.
"Coco." Cortex scowled.
"I see a lot of you are restless." Aron sighed, "Fine then, Prince Christof, might we speak in my office while your friends rest or do what they please in Lucius?"
"Sure." Jak nodded. He turned to face them, "Well, you heard her, run wild and free, but return to the palace come sunset."
"Ahh, finally." Tawna smiled. She, followed closely by a silent Shuin was the first to leave. The rest soon followed except Brutter who stayed to watch over Jak.

…………………

Lucius City
Month 2: Feburia, Day 1
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Afternoon

Immediately at once they left the palace after changing form their winter clothes to more appropriate ones fitted for Lucius' spring-like weather. Once outside the palace gates, the team started to split up. Brio and Gin made their way to the left of the palace.
"HEY! Stay out of traffic; you don't want to get run over!" Tawna shouted, chasing after them.
"Run over?" Gin bawked, "These cars look like they're from the 1920's, WE could outrun 'em!"
"STAY OFF THE ROAD!" Tawna shouted. It seemed she was more or less the designated "mother" to the two.
Cortex eyed the two and merely shook his head, smiling a bit. He then looked around and found Shuin walking from the right of the palace. Immediately he gave chase. Coco let of a deep sigh and followed the short man. That left Ani and Daxter to explore the path in front of them.
"Shall we?" Daxter asked.
"We shall!" Ani giggled, "The path in-between the light and dark." The two ran.

…………………

"Well, guess who finally wander his way back home?" The bartender, a well groomed dog anthro said, eyeing Shuin who casually walked into the bar. It wasn't a really seedy bar, rather quite clean and with a friendly nature. He made himself comfortable in a stool.
"The usual." He muttered.
"You haven't returned in years and you still want the usual?" The bartender asked, "How 'bout something different for once? I managed to sell my new product. A new alcohol design to help travelers who've been traveling for a long time, sure enough to—"
"Koti." Shuin sternly said.
"Alright, alright, the usual." Koti sighed. He took out a couple of whiskeys and wines and started to mix them together. During this point, Cortex and Coco entered the bar. Everyone turned their gazes towards Cortex, ignoring Coco.
"Well, no perverts hooting and whistling at me, that's a plus sign in a bar." Coco grinned.
"Hey, no Precursians allowed, git your furless ass on outta here!" Came a middle aged monkey Anthro.
"E-Excuse me?" Cortex asked.
"You heard him, no Precursians allowed." Came a giraffe Anthro, "Can't you read the sign outside?"
"What's wrong with Precursians?" Cortex asked innocently. Everybody at that point froze, and then started to laugh.
"Hey." Shuin said sternly, yet calmly. It was enough for them to quit laughing and literally stop them on their tracks. When silence filled the air, Shuin continued, "He's with me." Whispers and murmurs came about, but Cortex was brimming. He ran over to Shuin and sat next to him. Koti gently placed Shuin's drink in front of him, glaring at him with a mixture of anger and concern, one which Shuin noticed.
"Chill out, Koti, he won't cause trouble."
"Same can't be said for all the other rat bastards Precursians." Koti growled.
"What in heaven's name did the Precursians do to you Anthros?" Cortex asked.
"Like you wouldn't know." Koti responded, and then went to the back room to get more alcohol.
"Well, I don't." Cortex shrugged, a bit more irritated, "Shuin?"
"Anthros aren't exactly the biggest fan of Precursians." Shuin answered, "That's why a lot of people are uneasy on Haven's royals trying to establish a tight alliance with Lucius' Empress."
"That doesn't explain why they hate Precursians." Coco said.
"Well, the Precursians more or less hated us first causing us to hate them thousands of years back." Shuin said, drinking, "Bunch of prejudice beings who thought there were far superior to us. It seems only now that they're trying to make an effort to patch ties. That Jak kid sure seems to want to. After all, he possesses no problems flirting with you."
"Well, it's annoying." Coco crossed her arms, "The flirting, that is, not the alliance thing." Shuin merely made what looked like a nod and drank some more. Cortex slowly eyed him like a wishful child.
"Yes?" Shuin asked, finally.
"Nothing, just…observing you."
"Well, stop it, it's creepy."
"…I'm sorry." Cortex turned his gaze away and lowered his head. Shuin took a deep sigh.
"I have a feeling I'm gonna regret this, but tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"Your son. You said he looks like me; I might as well know just who the hell he is in your eyes."
"…Who he is." Cortex gazed away from Shuin and eyed a window which seem to glow brightly. Whether it was the gleam from the sun or Cortex's hallucination of a heaven where he's son might possibly be it just glowed. Coco merely watched as Cortex's face turned from a happy, childlike innocent to ironically, yet more fitting wise, old man.
"I haven't…really talked fully about him since his death…" Cortex started, "…But, it's not like I can escape it…" Shuin eyed Cortex.
"My son…was the result of a man who wanted love…"

…………

A man who ran away from home from his tyrant parents with the woman he loved. A marriage and a new home on three chains of islands below Australia. An island home he won off an auction and for him to keep. A castle built and a son gained. A happy family, it seemed.

He and his colleagues spent so long building their inventions, fascinated by the Anthros of their worlds, the very few left. The very few they desire to help. A man who had a son, who loved animals, rescued an injured baby bandicoot on the brink of death. A man who lost his son to an illness, consumed himself in his work. A man who lost his wife, distressed over her husband's obsession with his inventions, refusing to open his painful heart. Only when she had left did the man feel so lonely and upset.

"What if I can use that bandicoot to create an anthro? Create a son? I placed a drop of my blood. My DNA flowing inside him. In 9 months, a son was born. He has fur, he's not human, but he's my son. To my friends he was something to experiment on to help the dying Anthro population, in secret, he was my son who I loved and obsessed over. I watched him grow and I watched myself get humiliated by the science community. My son was a sin to nature even in the eyes of scientists."

"A man who's need for revenge and obsession, for them to see my view. My son never shared the same views as have I and rebelled against me. A struggling battle between the two of us…the classic Good vs. Evil, I to take over the world, he to save it. In the end, the powers that be took him away from me when he sacrificed himself ultimately to save the world from neverending darkness."

A man who found a small crystal deeply hidden in the depths of Earth. A present to my son when he was still just a child, the one he kept mostly in secret, but kept nonetheless. Fashioned in a collar, a man kept it when his son died, the glowing gem the last reminds of his son.

Perhaps fate is fickle like that. Fate doesn't play fair. The gem stopped glowing and for two years, the man sat in depression, losing all outside contact, locked in the safety of his castle. His son's room all but left untouched covered in dust and cobwebs. Fate is fickle, but that's why there is always hope. When a crystal glows and points in the direction you need to go, then maybe fate is being kind for just that one instant.

A man who lost his son gaining a possible second chance, so that he may hug his son one last time.

………………………

Atop a roof, overlooking the bar, Tropy eyed it with an emotionless appearance, or so it seem. Looking deep in his green eyes seems to show a sign of sadness and concern. His responsibilities for letting him die instead of Cortex…

Empress Office, Lucian Palace
Month 2: Feburia, Day 1
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Afternoon

"So, that's about it." Jak sighed, taking a deep breath, then drinking some of the tea placed before him, "I don't know what to do other then fight back." He was inside a very white room with the usual amount of red banners and decorations that already emphasized the entire Lucian Empire. He sat in a lovely matching white table nearby the window where the cool breeze blew past him. He too managed to don some cooler clothing.
The Empress Aron in the meantime pondered over Jak's words, hardly moving, looking like a beautiful porcelain statue. This made Jak a bit awkward. Brutter watched over the two before getting a light bulb in his head.
"Oh, this might be helping." Brutter fished out the dark eco crystal he kept in his bag, "Brutter got it from a Dark Maker ship." Jak took it and handed it over to Aron.
"Perhaps it's a clue we can use?" Jak asked, "Our scientists and magicians tried to decipher it. They only concluded that the Dark Maker's usage of dark eco seems to be the same as ours, making me wonder if the Dark Maker once roamed this planet."
"Perhaps." Aron said, "I not know where they have come from just yet, but the Dark Makers…they are vicious creatures whose instincts, goals, and exposure to dark eco have driven them to their current state." Jak and Brutter eyed each other before facing Aron again.
"Years ago, many, many years ago, predating written texts, the Dark Makers were once creatures of good until they obsessed over dark eco. They were cast away by the Precursors, but vowed to return someday. Apparently, now is the time of their return after such a long journey. Since then, they've only grown in number, ready to invade our beloved galaxy."
"Do they plan to rule Precursor Galaxy?" Jak gasped, standing up.
"Perhaps, maybe even destroy the planet." Aron said, "Perhaps reshape the galaxy to their own image. One befitting for such dark creatures."
"That is not good!" Brutter cried out.
"You damn right it isn't!" Jak said, "I just got done dealing with the Metal Heads a year back. It's bad enough to deal with monsters that invade our planet, now we have to deal with monsters that wants to invade the whole galaxy?" Aron made what looked like a nod and Jak sat back down, upset.
"Oh, for bloody sake." Jak eyed the ceiling, "I'm not saying adventures aren't bad things, but can't I have one without saving the bloody world? Why can't the Precursors ever cut me any slack?"
"Because the Precursors chose you, my dear boy." Aron said, "Surely you were chosen to be this planet's savior. You possess powers no one in your family has had before. You wield that dark power as well as a light, do you not?"
"Yes, I do, but for my sake as well as everyone else, I do not wish to bring back my darkness and have been avoiding to do so." Jak said, "I almost gave in when I was in the Precursor Basin, when I lost control of my emotions. I can't afford to let it loose and hurt the ones I love."
"The philosophy of our world is a balance, a repeating cycle that connects with one another." Aron said, "You possess both a light and dark, a unique combo that no one else holds. If the Precursors wished it, perhaps you are to bring balance with your two powers."
"I don't want the darkness." Jak said, half whispering.
"Darkness isn't necessary evil, my boy. If utilize right, it can be used in a manner you'd like it to be." Aron eyed Jak who gave of an unsure face.
"The darkness is forever bound to you as much as your light. It is inevitable."
Jak lowered his head.
"I will continue to investigate further on the Dark Makers." Aron said, "You should return home. I shall call you when the time comes."
"Yea…I…I guess I should." Jak said, disappointed.

………………………

Shuin, Coco, and Cortex left the bar. Apparently, Cortex's sobbing was getting to the customers.
"I apologize for getting us kicked out." Cortex sniffed, "Just the memories and all…"
"Whatever." Shuin shook his head, "There are literally only hundreds of bars all over the world."
"Man, Cortex just related a sad story about his son and you shrug it off like it's nothing but leftover trash on a Sunday night."
"Oh, and you should be one to talk, Ms. I'm-insensitive-to-whatever-Jak-feels-towards-me?" Shuin grinned, and then eyed Cortex with a rare, concerned look, "I was touched by that story. I can't do anything about it, but I can relate in some way."
"You can?" Cortex asked, that childlike innocent returning.
"Sorta, I have a father I used to get along with, is why." Shuin said. Then he started to walk.
"Now where you off to?" Coco asked.
"Wherever, it's not sunset yet, I can explore further. Besides, I haven't been home in ages, might as well explore."
"So, Lucius City is where you grew up?" Cortex asked.
"Oh, hell no, I was born a country kid in the Lucian Grasslands." Shuin answered, "Lived in a farm and all."
"Right, right." Cortex nodded.
"Hey, what the heck's going on over there?" Coco pointed. Cortex and Shuin stared at a massive wave of Anthros forming a crowd, shouting. All three ran and dragged themselves inside the crowd until they find themselves staring at—
"TAWNA! BRIO! GIN!" Cortex gasped.
"Cortex! Fancy time ya got here, we got ourselves in quite a pickle." Tawna said with a nervous laughter. Next to her and the two scientists she was babysitting was Ani and Daxter as well.
"Daxter, Ani!" Coco gasped, "What the fudge is going on?"
"HEY, LOOK! Another Precursians and those Anthros are with them!" cried an elephant Anthro. The crowd dragged the three in.
"Apparently, they ain't too keen on Anthros befriending Precursians." Tawna said.
"We've been down that road about an hour ago." Shuin said calmly.
"Why are you two here?" Coco eyed Daxter and Ani.
"Well, I am the one hanging on the shoulders of a Precursian, ya know." Daxter said, rolling his eyes, "Not exactly an Anthro though, but that doesn't seem to concern the ones surrounding us. As long as we have Precursian contact, we're considered traitors."
"Who'd have thunk just the three of us could attract such a large crowd?" Gin gasped, "It's almost flattering."
"Oh, don't flatter yourself." Cortex said, eyes half closed.
The crowd in one section started to open itself off, letting in an old anthro wolf. He had on a grizzled appearance, but his eyes spoke wisdom. He wore a blue robe, his bottom arms bandaged, one of them holding onto what looked like a katana, and he walked with a sense of grace yet gruffness.
"Who the hell?" Coco eyed him.
"Tret." Shuin whispered.
"You know him?" Cortex asked.
"Yes…he's my father."
To Be Continued…

……………………

Author's Notes: Man, I need to update faster. So sorry in any case, I mean, a week and half of this time was devoted to Kingdom Hearts 2 which overall is a great game, although I am a bit sad Vivi's role is SO little for an FF character in KH games compare to the others. I mean, I'm sick and tired of seeing friggin' Cloud and his endless cameo and searches for friggin' Sephiroth to end the darkness. Cloud…you've been chasing Sephy for like 7 games, you ain't never getting rid of the darkness. GOD. And the YuRiPi girls from FFX-2, man, without spoilers, their role overall is ABSOLUTELY pointless to the overall story and THEY get more spoken dialogues then Vivi who actually had a pretty important-ish role in the beginning of the game. Maybe I'm just bitter since Vivi is my fave FF character…well, he's in KH2 and he DID speak, so I should be grateful for that.

Err…that said, Sora is still awesome (forget Riku) and sorry for the long wait.

…………………

NOTES:

1. Kiera and Chiso seems to always bump into someone and ends in a cliffhanger on who or what they meet, don't they?

2. The entire story of Cortex's explanation of his son can be fully read in my prequel "Experiment Bandicoot" if the one right here in this chapter is too vague for ya. Although it's like 18 chapters of reading, ahahahaha…and when I look back at it, not as well written as I had hoped (I didn't get to emphasize a lot of things, among others, etc.)