Jak and Crash
ACT 2: The Journey
Chapter 13: The Destiny…or Home is Where the Wastelander is

Spargus
Month 2: Feburia, Day 8
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Morning

The city of Spargus looked very much like a neighborhood town then something big and glorious. Truly, the only glorious locations lied on the tall orange Spargus palace and the stadium where battle constantly displayed. It wasn't uncommon to hear screams of pain and at least one body being fling off. The entire town could look like a rat hole for all any Wastelanders cared for just as long as the battle station remained in tip-top shape. Jak spent most of his time with Damas, explaining what he has been up and vice versa while his animal pals spend the past days exploring the wide desert city. None of them were told to leave outside of Spargus walls until Damas saw fit that they could. Neither one of them cared, especially Daxter who vastly enjoyed the inners of the palace where he had at least three servants following him wherever he went, being pampered and the likes.

For today, Jak decided best to explore outside the palace. Majority of the people carried guns and other various source of weaponry. You could never be too careful in an area where marauder attacks were plenty. On occasion, several Wastelanders recognized Jak and congratulated him on his defeat of the Metal Heads a year back. It's one less thing they had to deal with. Jak merely accepted the thanks and went about his way. Not many knew what he looked like or who he was, but he didn't seem to mind, enjoying the idea of walking without someone stalking him, begging for his autograph. Such an irony, he's well known as both prince and pauper. That said, he now turned his concern over the sky and noticed the violet star. Is it just him or is it getting...bigger?

"Hey! Check out these funny dudes, huh... hee hee hee... Nice threads. I didn't know rubber was back in." Daxter chimed in, pointing to a row of monks eyeing a dark object. A Dark Maker, just like the one Jak fought at Sentinel Beach months ago. From the way it was positioned (rather crooked and damaged), it seemed to have crash-landed here. No other Wastelander really stayed for too long, merely eyeing it and going. Perhaps they were afraid or perhaps with the monks around, they consider it too holy for them to walk through, although there is nothing holy about Dark Markers.

"What are ya working on, monk boy?" Daxter grinned, eyeing what looked like the main leader of the small group of Monks besides the giant dark item.

"It is none of your concern, animal." The monk replied in a rather hostile voice, shocking Daxter a little. Not a boy, but a girl, and a rather young one. She didn't give an age, but Jak immediately figured she looked at least 14, even younger then he was.

"Look, coloring book, we've had a hard week. Don't push it!"
"Daxter." Jak hushed.

"The arena shows all, dark one. Hate consumes your eyes." The monk girl spoke to Jak.

"Hate?" Jak gasped, "I can assure you, I have nothing that involves hate...well, maybe for these Dark Makers, but..."

"Hate for them, hate for your dark side..." She continued, her voice as harsh as ever. Jak sighed, a little annoyed.

"Great. Thanks for the tip." Jak rolled his eyes.

"It will destroy you... just as these Precursors destroyed themselves."

"I think you're a little mistaken, It doesn't look like any Precursor crap we've seen." Daxter eyed the Dark Maker, "It looks like...well, a Dark Maker thingamajig."

"These artifacts are an abomination. One fell on the great volcano. We sent an expedition to the mountain, but my monks never returned." Now she spoke in a manner of sorrow, waving her hands and finger around ever so poetically, "Ill tidings sing in the wind. I fear the remaking of the world is at hand."

"Remaking..." Jak repeated. Her words did not ease him and immediately he took it seriously, pondering. Daxter however didn't seem to think so much.

"I think you've been out in the sun a little too long. Let's go, Jak."

"You must leave this place! Heroes think they can save the world, when they themselves are lost. You could not possibly understand the dark forces at work here." The monk girl warned. Jak, clearly annoyed that this girl made such assumptions towards him angered him. He walked closer to her and raised a lecturing finger.

"Don't talk to me about dark powers. I want to know what this is." Jak pointed to the device. Upon pointing, the thing moved, at least one of it's tentacles did, "...Stay back." Daxter leaped out of his shoulders and joined Seem, Brutter, Ani, and Puar.

The other monks stepped aside as Jak eyed the machine. The Dark Makers, what are these creatures? What on Precursia did they want? Slowly extending his hand, Jak carefully touched the Dark Maker and immediately he was filled with sharp, painful visions: Fire, destruction, many more Dark Makers, Precursors, his loved ones, his beloved kingdom, everything seem to speed up and gang up on him, causing him to falter back. Next thing anyone knew, a computerized device of sorts came out from it's tentacle, displaying messages of an unknown language.

"What is that?" Brutter gasped.

"Hmm...looks old." Jak mumbled while rubbing his head from the shock of the visions.

"Strange... It speaks an ancient dialect. The earliest Precursor forms. Something about re-claiming this unfinished world." The monk girl kneel down to read.

"Okay, I don't like the sound of this." Daxter squeaked.

"Those look like coordinates." Jak eyed, impressing the monk girl. Not many can understand the ancient dialogues Precursors and their ancestors once spoke.

"It is picking up a very powerful signal." she urged. Before she had the chance to read any further, the Dark Maker suddenly flew up a few feet, then exploded, much to the attention of Wastelanders nearby.

"Even you cannot save us from this, hero!" She cried out, "The fate of the world is at hand and all shall fall from the darkness' wrath!"

"Hey, I'm the real hero here. You can call me... Orange Lightning. Zazaziing!" Daxter announced.

"Stay out of our business. You and Orange Lightning are not welcome here!"

"I am welcome here just as much as the next guy." Jak ordered, "I don't mean to get all ego on you, but if you knew who I really am, you'd have a little more respect for me!"

"I know of who you are, oh great prince of Haven." Jak and his little team displayed an utter range of shock.

"Like you, my prince, we monks have the ability to communicate with the Precursors and so that is how we know." She stated, "Our levels of communication may not be as great as that of you though, but that shouldn't suggest I respect you, now go away."

"No. I'm just as much part of these abominations as you are." Jak said sternly.

"You are still here?" She barged.

"Yeah, we thought we'd hang out... catch some rays!" Jak spat sarcastically, clearly losing patience with her.

"This isn't a game!" She spat back before calming herself down, "I am Seem. We monks are sworn to discover and protect the secrets of the Precursors. These Leaper mounts allow us to travel where you cannot." She pointed to several large bipedal lizards with tiny arms, wings underneath them as well as saddles for riding.

"Man. those babies sure stuff their faces." Daxter pointed.

"We saw one gulp a load of kanga-rats few days ago." Brutter came in.

"Stupid rats, they just sat..." Daxter never finished his dialogue as a leaper started to toss and turn Daxter around, thinking he was food. Immediately Ani and Puar tried to help him out while Brutter and Jak kept their concentration on Seem.

"Where can we get one of these leapers?" Jak asked.

"We get leapers in our own way, if you wish to gain one of your own. I suggest you ask around." Seem answered, "Why? What do you plan to do?"

"My own thing, that's what." Jak sighed, "I've got to save not only my kingdom, but the whole world...again."

"it is inevitable. The Dark Makers are angry at this planet and all will perish. We have plans to save ourselves however, so stay out of the way."

"We've only met for like 15 minutes, why do you hate me so?"

"Because you are unbalanced, an abomination in our mind." Seem said, "I do not see you as a great hero but an agent of darkness."

"I happen to have rejected the darkness, thank you very much."

"The two types, light and dark, when combined form great energies." Seem came, "One must find a balance between the two, but such a fate to befall onto one man...the end of the world slowly approaches, and not even the Precursors can save us when the day comes."

Seem then turned around and walked over to the other Monks, ready to head back home.

"Why are you so obsessed with death?" Jak asked.

"Because of that!" Seem pointed to the violet star above, "The Day Star approaches, and every day it grows brighter! This planet's final trial is coming! The Day of Tears as we monks call it."

The monks left Jak who eyed the area where the crashed Dark Maker once rested, then he eyed the violet star as he did back in Haven. It indeed grew larger. The silence ended when Puar ran with a message from Damas.

"Jak."

"Uncle Damas."

"Tell me, kid, you any good behind the wheels?"

"I've ridden Zoomers a lot."

"Our vehicles are not zoomers, we don't have the technology for that." Damas chuckled, "But I want you to go to Kleiver's place, I've downloaded a map to his place on your COMP. I told him to take you on an expedition to a lone Monk Temple to find ancient Precursor artifacts, think you can handle it?"

"Sure, why not? Always up a little Precursor related adventure." Jak smiled.

"Good, then get going." And with that, he signed off.

"What a friendly face." Daxter rolled his eyes.

"Monk temple...wonder if we coincidentally run into Seem?" Brutter asked.

"Ugh..." Jak's only response.

Filia
Month 2: Feburia, Day 8
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Morning

Filia, now a warn torn city had very few refugees, most of them stuck under the rule of Haven's glory. When Shuin's team arrived, they quickly managed to find themselves in a small rundown home where the Queen resided, as well as several of her people and her little six year old daughter Flora who had managed to bring them all over here. There, the Queen Fauna related her story.

"I did not understand what Haven meant when they told us to surrender or die by force." The Queen started, "For as long as we can remember, we have always been allies, even during the time of the Metal Head invasions when communication were strained due to the rampaging attacks of those once vile creatures. Now Krimzon Guards come and kill my people, destroy out homes, and cause me to hide out with my only daughter. I cannot let her grow up in a world of such turmoil. Why is Queen Alexandros and Prince Christof doing this?"

"I can assure you, the prince has nothing to do with these atrocities." Cortex stepped in, "In fact, when he heard of such a thing, he's reaction were anything but kind."

"I am sure the prince is doing whatever he can to fix this, your majesty." Shuin popped in, "In the meantime, we're here to help you battle the Haven force."

"Battle!" A Filian retorted, "Our kingdom is already overrun and look, there is hardly more then three of you as oppose to thousands of Krimzon Guards, what can you do?"

"Take out the leader and the rest will fall." Shuin stated quickly, "Do you know where he is?"

"I think he's inside the Filia Palace." Little Flora explained, "Possibly looking for us."

"Stay put." Shuin ordered, then he left with Cortex and Coco following behind.

"You know, that man has a point, thousands of guards, only three of us." Coco cried out, "Can you clearly NOT see the odds?"

"Fine, don't come." Shuin said, "Hide like a little chicken." And he walked off.

"HEY!" Coco ran after him. Cortex, far behind stopped and shook his head.

"Kids."

The Filian Palace remarkably stood high and mighty despite the invasion. Crystal filled, pale green in color, General Torn and some of the high ranking Krimzon Guards explored the throne room; no queen, no princess.

"They must've escaped." Torn groaned, "Search every single house in Filia. Leave not a stone unturned or a hole undiscovered, I want a fast, thoroughly search!"

"Yes, General." A Krimzon Guard bowed before leaving. Unfortunately he didn't get too far as someone flung him back in Torn's direction. Upon seeing one of his men land on the floor next to his feet, Torn raised up and saw Shuin, Cortex, and Coco.

"YOU! The kidnappers!" Torn immediately took out his sword, "WHERE'S PRINCE CHRISTOF? WHERE'S JAK?"

"WE ARE NOT KIDNAPPERS!" Cortex screeched.

"LIAR!" Torn hissed, "For your refusal to return Haven's beloved prince, the punishment is death!"

"Fine then." Shuin grinned, taking out his katana, "Death it is." And immediately he went to battle Torn, both their sword skills equal in match.

"Geez, when the guy wants action, he gets action." Coco groaned, whipping out her daggers while Cortex pulled out his gun. Even with three people versus one, Torn held his own. He easily dispatched Coco, using his full strength over her quickness, and his height over Cortex's shortness. Gunshots from his gun merely whizzed pass Torn and dagger strikes barely made a cut, seeing as he donned vast amounts of armor, fitting for the leader of the Krimzon force. It got to the point where only he and Shuin were left battling, a duel between swords. Neither side gave in, but admired their strengths and skills. Then Torn's communicator rang, distracting him long enough for Shuin to kick him back.

"OW!" Torn groaned as he staggered up, picking up his communicator, "Yeah?"

"TORN!"

"My Queen."

"Stop lollygagging in Filia and return to Haven! We got more nations to conquer, get over here posthaste!"

"Yes, ma'am." Torn reluctantly responded. He didn't enjoy leaving a battle left unfinished, but what choice did he have. He quickly got up and grinned, "Sorry, pup, but it's time for me to split."

Quickly he left the palace, zooming pass Shuin, Coco, and Cortex.

"HEY! He's getting away!" Coco cried out.

"I KNOW THAT!" Shuin screamed, running after him. Immediately outside the palace entrance, a Krimzon vehicle awaited for Torn, hovering several feet up in the air. Torn made a leap and rode on the front seat, next to a Krimzon Guard driving it.

"To Haven, NOW!" Torn ordered. Immediately the vehicle flew off, much to a frustrated Shuin who cursed under his breath, gripping his sword tightly.

"Great, he escaped...now what?" Coco sighed, crossing her arms.

"Well, I suppose Haven is our best option left." Cortex said, "Let's return to Lucius, get Jak, get on the airship (which should be fixed by now), and head over to Haven City and see what we can do." Immediately after he spoke, Cortex made his way out with Coco following behind. Shuin gave off a rare worried look. How would Cortex react when he finds out Jak isn't in Lucius?

Spurges
Month 2: Feburia, Day 8
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Noon

The entrance to Kleiver's place instantly surrounded Jak and his friends in a large room with wheeled vehicles: buggies.

"Ooh, now these are SHARP!" Daxter grinned, eyeing a large tank-like one with spikes perturbing in every corner.

"And ugly." Ani stepped in, "It's so big and hulky, how can anyone drive this? It looks like so unmanuverable."

"That's the thing with women, they don't understand mechanics." Daxter sighed dramatically.
"Oh yeah, what about Kiera?"

"There ya are." Jak and the others turn to face Kleiver, a giant hulk of a man with an noticeable tan mustache and equally noticeable physical appearance, armed to the teeth in Wastelander armor and materials, and a broad, glaring face, "You must be the l'il runt the King sent me. I'd have expected something bigger."

"Excuse me?" Jak placed his hands on his waist.

"Try eatin' some red meat, maybe you'll develop more muscles." Kleiver continued.

"I happen to be a vegetarian." Jak uttered.

"Ain't that many plants to chew on in Spargus, you'd starve."

"I've made it fine so far." Jak said, annoyed. Seriously, is everyone in Spargus such jerks? "What do you want me to do on this expedition? Drive for you?"

"Oh-No, I don't care what the King said about you drivin', but I ain't forking over my babies to you just yet. I'll drive, you're just my l'il sidekick."

"Sidekick?" Jak retorted.

"Now you know how I feel." Daxter chimed in.

They took the one named the Dune Hopper, a buggy designed to leap some 20 feet in the air. It was required for where they were going.

"Why do we need a hopping one?" Daxter cried out. He got his answer when Kleiver started to drive to a cliff.

"ARE YOU CRAZY?" Daxter screeched.

"Brace yourselves!" Jak gasped.

The Dune Hopper coiled back, then extended, leaping high up in the air, almost giving it a sense of flight. It jumped over the raging cliff water and landed on a small piece of land. Afterwards, Kleiver leaped over another and another until they finally reached a big land mass where in front of them stood the Monk Temple, nearly camouflaged from the rocky mountains. While Daxter shook violently from that experience (which Ani tried to calm him down), Jak hopped out of the vehicle and eyed the marvelous piece of display before him. The Monk Temple.

"HEY! Stop gawking and git over here, runt!" Kleiver cried out.

"My name is JAK!"

Unfortunately this would be a trait that went on throughout their trip. The temple in the inside remained just as rocky and ancient as it's outer appearance. Looking much bigger then he anticipated, Jak eyed the numerous Precursor writings on the wall, reading every one he could whenever Kleiver rested, thinking he's found an artifact. Torches burnt brightly, making crackling noises and lighting up dark paths. Every so often they could hear the gentle sounds of the wind as it flew from one of the many outer areas of the temple. Further exploration deduced the temple wasn't in the best of care; crumbling ruins, large gaps, dilapidated ceilings, signs of an old place. If the monks truly lived here, why didn't they bother to care for such a holy place?

"You, runt, git your animal pals and go check out that place over there." Kleiver pointed to a long, dark hallway.

"Oh, suuuuuuuuure, send US to the mysterious, creepy, dark place where something big might pop out and EAT US!" Daxter screeched.

"I'm on it." Jak said. With Daxter on his shoulder and Ani and Brutter following him, Jak made his way down the long pathway until he saw himself in a large, circular room. Various entrances could be seen from around and there stood a very large empty gap just below them, but what took the icing in the cake: A giant Precursor statue positioned in the middle, posing in a typical ancient deity manner.

……………

"Hey, it's one of those goober eyed Precursor thingies." Daxter pointed. Upon immediately saying that, the giant statue's massive eyes opened, revealing a shiny blue color.

"Greetings, Great Warrior." The statue spoke, leading Daxter to cry out a small shriek and hide behind Jak's legs, "Your return brings us great hope. This planet's future is at a critical juncture. The Dark Ones have found your world again, and fate hangs in the balance where the past and future collide."

"I was afraid of this." Jak muttered.

"Afraid? Do you have any idea what he just said?" Daxter leaped out, "Speak-a-da-normal-language, okay?"

You will need all the power you can muster to survive this terrible test, great one." The statue continued.

"I can handle it." Daxter pointed to himself, showing off his toothy grin.

"I was talking to the tall one…shorty!"

"HEY!"

"Oh, man…Pecker would have a field day with that one." Ani snickered.

"What powers must I use in order to stop these Dark Makers?" Jak asked, "All I have is my dark powers and my other magical abilities are rather weak to combat."

"Look into the light…hero." And with that, a bright light indeed shone down upon Jak, consuming him, causing him to float in midair briefly before calmly surfacing down to the ground.

"Okay, now you're scaring me."

"Take hope, brave one." And the statue's eyes closed.

"Dax…the dark eco…it feels far away…I feel better."

"Dark power gone from Jak?" Brutter asked.

"No, not gone, just weakened a bit…like it's been balanced with another power…a much lighter feel." Jak uttered, "I…I don't know how to explain it."

"HEY! Git your asses back over here if you didn't find ANYTHING!"

Jak's team made their way back to Kleiver who also seemed to have lacked in Precursor artifacts as well.

"Ahh, this temple is probably plum picked of artifacts." He grumbled, "No luck on your end?"

"No, sir."

"No, sir?" Gettin' all fancy on me, are we? Well, come on, we best be headin' back, a storm's about to come." Kleiver pointed out, "Anyone caught in a Spargus sandstorm is likely to have their skin ripped out of their bones from the winds."

"Yes, let's GO HOME. GREAT idea." Daxter stepped in.

……………

"GREAT idea, wondering around with a storm approaching!" Kiera shouted, "Why are we near the Spargus Wastelands anyways! We're after Jak, he's in Lucius!"

"The wind must've blown us off course, Kiera." Chiso stated, "WHOA! Easy where you drive that thing!"

"YOU WANNA DRIVE?" She screamed. Being the only one of the three with some experience in driving vehicles, Kiera piloted the Lurker balloon they received, however this only proved her expertise lied in Zoomers and not flying vehicles.

"Both of you, knock it off and concentrate on the road ahead!" Pecker stated, "One wrong move and we are toast and I do want to live for at least another hundred years!"

"Just how old are you anyways?" Chiso asked.

"That is NONE of your business!" The monkaw hissed, "The only person who knows my age is Onin…and Ani."

"Got a thing for dogs, do ya?" Kiera rolled her eyes, "Don't crocadog eats Monkaws?"

"…Shut up and drive!"

"I'M TRYIN--AHH!"

The Lurker balloon snagged a piece of a tall mountain, causing the balloon to start losing air. With the sandstorm getting increasingly violent, landing in the wrong place meant certain death for them.

"We're doomed." Chiso said nearly breathlessly, "WE'RE DOOMED! WE'RE DOOMED! I NEVER TOLD MICHEL I LO--"

CRASH!

The trio's balloon harshly landed in the middle of the desert city of Spargus. The Wastelanders, the ones still outside making adjustments before hiding in their homes from the storm eyed the three.

"Now where are we?" Kiera groaned.

Haven City
Month 2: Feburia, Day 8
Year: 2 AOTN (Age of the Nations)
Time: Afternoon

Icy cold containment…a body stored inside…almost lifeless. And yet, lifeless do not move their fingers. They do not cringe their faces, and most certainly, they do not seem to possess the ability to quickly use the surrounding water around him to add pressure to the glass dome, breaking it. The red headed one named Erol fell harshly to the ground where bits and pieces of the broken glass jarred his body. In a skintight dark body suit, Erol opened his topaz eyes and observed his surroundings.

Free. After a full year, Erol woke up from his coma induced state, seemingly breaking the glass through manipulation of water, but how? Why? All excellent questions and for a man stuck in a frozen coma for a full year would want to get it eventually…

To Be Continued…

…………………

Author's Notes: I admit I am rushing this chapter, but I'm trying to get the plot moving. I'm sorry if the story seems rushed anyways. I mean, I had to put several scenes from Jak 3 all in one go to make the plot moving, move things and reunite everyone soon, etc. When I look back at the earlier Jak and Crash, I admit I was dragging on the story more then it really should. It unfortunately has caused me to cut back on some of the things I wanted to use for the story. That said, I was originally going to show a talking Yakow named Bor here like I did with NeNe the talking Flut-Flut from earlier, but no time. Maybe next time. Keep in mind these talking animals DO have significant plot points to the overall story and not haphazardly randomly thrown about.
Oh, and I also spaced the dialogues because...well, I'm too lazy to unspace them and bunch them together.

Oh, and when it comes to the subject of whether Damas is Jak's biological father in here like it was in Jak 3...well, possibly…