Jak and Crash
ACT 2: The Journey
Chapter 15: The Family or…Erol Got Back

Haven Palace
Month 2:
Feburia, Day 18
Year: 2 (AOTN)
Time: Afternoon

Everyone but Chiso and Jak spent the last few days rotting inside the dungeons located below Haven Palace, including Kiera whom Veger merely stated as her "being an associate with the kidnappers". Not hearing a word or even a visit from Samos prompt Kiera to assume he had not been informed of this grave news towards his only child. All of them, tossed into the same dungeon cell and all, they had nothing but themselves to keep company with each other…and N. Gin tapping the caged bars and slamming into them.

"Okay, you know I was afraid to ask the last few days, but seriously, why are you doing that?" Coco tiredly asked.

"Duh. Everybody knows there's always a fake bar in one of these things." Gin rolled his eyes.

"Gin, you've been brain damaging yourself for the past few days. If it didn't work the first day, it wouldn't have worked the following others." Cortex stated, then stopped before changing the subject, "…I wonder how Jak is doing?"

"Oh, who cares? Maybe Veger brainwashed him." Coco crossed her arms, "…Just what we need, brainwashed Jak. Well, as long as he brainwashed me out of his memory, I'm cool."

A moment of silence left everyone's lips as they either stared at one another or at the pouting Coco.

"…How long are w-w-w-w-we going to be imprisoned?" Brio asked.

"Not that long, I assume." Shuin stepped in, "We lasted some four or so days in this hellhole, a lot longer then I expect we'd last, but it's not going to hold up."

"Last?" Gin asked. Shuin made a grin and nodded.

"Chances are, we'd have been executed days ago…I believe Jak is fighting for us."

………………

"Christof, you need to eat something! The future of Haven can't depend on a stick figure for it's ruler!" Alexandros pounded on Jak's door.

"I'm NOT hungry!"

"You haven't touched food in four days!"

"I'll be fine!" Jak screamed, "I once went an entire week lost in the Forbidden Forest when I was 14 with nothing but bread and water!"

"Would you STOP being so damn stubborn? You're acting like your father!"

"At least my father had some common sense! At least he wouldn't have been so corrupted! He was a strict, but good man! How can you act like this?"

"I haven't killed your little friends just for your sake, haven't I?" Alexandros pointed out, "Although I still find it hard to believe they did not kidnap you, now GET OUT and eat!"

"You know they aren't the kidnappers, so why are they still in jail?"

"Veger informed me that they are associates of our enemy, those dark creatures."

"That's a load of cock and bull and you know it!"

"Don't argue with me!"

"Ever since father and my uncle died, you've tried to be strong, but you've constantly become depressed because you felt you couldn't save your sons!" Jak cried out, "That's why you were so strict with me and made sure I ranaway…but I still did anyways, if not because I felt I had a reason or purpose to. I don't get these visions for no reason."

Silence.

"You let Veger manipulate you during your time of depression just so you could find some sort of comfort of that of a great ruler."

"Christof…"

"--But you're already a great ruler." Jak softly mumbled, his mouth drowning in his own warbled speech as he struggled to continue without bursting into tears, "I beg of you, bring back the grandmother I know and loved!"

Another round of silence.

"Christof, get out of that room."

Jak's reaction, an appropriate series of tantrums and cursing.

"NO! I'm grounded, remember?" Jak sarcastically quipped, "For running away? I might as well enjoy my stay! My little speech meant nothing to you, apparently!"

"FINE, be that way!" And she stormed off. In minutes time, Ashelin later arrived, knocked on his door stating her name, then entered upon Jak opening the door for her.

"Here." Handing him a salad bowl, Jak miraculously got by through the days with Ashelin's help.

"I have to get out of here." Jak proclaimed, "But there's guards everywhere, on the hour, every hour. I can't take down every single one, especially if they listen to Veger's words. I can't go outside either." To demonstrate, he opened one of his windows, pointing to the small roving robots outside, hovering and moving about in scheduled circles.

"Security bots. One wrong move and I'm shish kabobbed." Jak sighed, "Terribly good aim. I wouldn't been having this problem if I was back in Sandover."

"So…what are you going to do?" Ashelin asked, "I don't think grandma can keep your friends alive for your sake for long. Veger's already got too much of a grip on her."

"I know!" Jak groaned, then sat on his desktop, slamming his head down before eyeing her again, "Torn's not behaving any better?"

"No, he's still loyal to the Queen." Ashelin shook her head, "Which doesn't make any sense to me. The reason Torn quit as a Krimzon soldier when my father ruled was due to his ruthlessness. How can he not sense grandmother?"

"I don't know." Jak mumbled. Carrying the entire weight of the world on his shoulders, and eyeing his cousin, it then dawned on him then, something changed in Ashelin, physically anyways. Eyes widening, head lifted, Jak pointed to her.

"What?" She shrugged.

"Oh, my Precursors! You're pregnant!" Jak stood up, "I can't believe I didn't see this before! Does Torn know?"

"Shhh! No, not yet." Ashelin whispered, "I rather not tell him while he's at this stage, but yes, I'm expecting."

"You can't keep this forever. It's going to be noticeable in the next few months." Jak whispered back, "I can't believe you never told me this when I returned!"

"Well, you already had a lot on your plate, so I decided to lesser your load for the time being." Ashelin sighed.

"What else aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing--"

"Miss Ashelin!" A lone Krimzon Guard came, "We got an eyewitness source that your brother may be heading for Mar's Memorial Stadium."

"WHAT?" Jak gasped.

"T-Thank you, Rubin. You may leave now." Ashelin shoo-ed him away, waving her hand ever so delicately. It seemed ever since she got news of a new mouth to feed, she got more in touch with her motherly side, even proceeding to wear more clothes as oppose to her usual revealing self, and generally more concerned and moody then before, although that could merely been affected from the pregnancy.

"Erol? EROL?" Jak shouted, "He WOKE UP? WHEN?"

"A…while ago." She answered sheepishly.

"And you didn't tell me? Damn it, Ashelin, I have a right to know about this, burden or not!" Jak screeched, "Oh, never mind. Come on, we better find him."

"What, now?"

"Yes, now! He's been frozen for an entire year, Precursor only knows he'd probably been dazed and confused right now."

"Jak, you can't leave, remember?" Ashelin gasped.

"I'll work something out." Jak said, opening his door only to be greeted by two Krimzon Guards blocking the exit.

"I'm sorry, your highness, by order of both the Queen and Count Veger, you are not allow to leave."

"Can you two bozos do me a favor and get the queen, I wish to speak with her."

The soldiers merely eyed each other absentmindedly, unsure if obeying the prince broke any rules the Queen and Veger set forth towards them, however Jak still retained superiority over them and such disobedience could prove fatal in the long run. That said, one of the soldiers left and returned with Alexandros and to Jak's dismay, Veger as well, tagging alongside her like tar paper.

"Christof?" Alexandros placed both hands on her waist.

"Alright, let's cut to the chase, grandmother. Ashelin and I wish to search for Erol out at Mar's Memorial Stadium." Jak started, "In exchange, I'll start coming out of my room and start eating."

"I see." She pondered.

"Oh, poppycock!" Veger stepped in, "Your majesty, this is just the boy's ridiculous excuse to try and free his addled brained friends."

"No, it's not. We just want to find Erol!" Jak cried, "Please! He's family and he belongs here with us, in the palace. Most importantly, he's Ashelin's brother. She's all he's got…baring us in mind." Again, Alexandros made a puzzling gesture.

"Erol's gone through a lot over his life, he could use some loving right about now." Ashelin stepped again, again with a sense of grace and delicacy. Alexandros pondered however despite the convincing words, Veger seemingly dragging her hands to her chins in thinking position, manipulating her like the deranged puppeteer he honored himself in his enemies' eyes, confident on her answers; all the while as Jak vehemently glared at the tall, bald foe.

"…Be back before nightfall." She said in a deadpan voice.

"WHAT?" Veger gasped, "Your majesty, this boy will surely cause trouble and--"

"My mind is made up."

"Oh, thank you!" Jak smiled, "We'll be back." Grabbing Ashelin by the arm, Jak bolted out of the palace before Veger could do anything except give off a dark look.

…………………

Mar's Memorial Stadium, Haven City
Month 2:
Feburia, Day 18
Year: 2 (AOTN)
Time: Afternoon

Mar's Memorial Stadium didn't change in just one year, looking the same as it always did. The same large arena still held multiple and quite famous zoomer races annually, frequently, on the spot. Zoomers served as Haven's pride in the field of sports and adrenaline. Nothing could beat the rush of the wind running through one's hair or the impossible speeds the vehicles could muster as they slammed or hovered past their foes in a pure blurry mess. And damn it, it brought back fond memories for Erol.

Upon exiting his coma induced chamber, his first instinct led him to his most favorite place in the wide world. He staggered to reach it however after finally opening his eyes in a full year, walking about like a drunken denizen before getting proper movement on his legs and feet which only caused more days to be wasted as his limbs continued falling asleep as it all tried to regain their feelings back. Still wearing the tight leather jumpsuit he wore throughout his long sleep, Erol walked inside the stadium while enduring many confused, mixed stares from passerby citizens.

Only some three to four people scattered about inside, seemingly making last minute adjustments to the next set of races that would come in the near future. Busy as they were, they all halted when they spot a red headed, tattooed man clumsily walking in, observing the race tracks, the seats that would be filled with screaming fans, water tanks to clean the race tracks, and the winning circle.

That…damn circle. Memories quickly entered his thoughts: he remembered the praise and devotion he got from his fans, cheering for him, holding up posters, asking for his autograph. Nobody could beat the great Erol, Haven's champion…until that devil in blue arrived, showing off a desperate streak like nothing he's seen before. And of course, as much smack talk he delivered to the "dark eco freak", the champion still couldn't be bested. And it nearly cost him his life. In a fit to prove he truly deserved the title of number one, he attempted to run him over, but instead ended up face first into a whole pile of dark eco barrels.

Dark Eco…no, did he, too possessed the sickening powers of blackness as his rival? Surely he would never, not after he displayed his utter disgust for it. No, all this madness, he only wanted the love of his father, the Baron. Where is Praxis? Where is Ashelin? Kiera…where's Kiera? And most importantly, where is Jak? How much he'd love to get revenge on the one that--

"Hey, you alright? You look a little pale." A worker approached him, "…I say, ol' chaps. Have a look here, flamin' red hairs, tattoo markings I recognize, I dare say it's the former champ himself, Erolior Romanir!"

That drove the other workers to steadily walk over and surround him, mumbling in astonishment.

"You just up and disappeared some while ago, rumors says you've been in a coma." Another worker pointed out, "You do feel mighty cold, maybe they froze ya?" He touched his hand to which Erol quickly pushed aside, backing away a bit.

"Now, now, easy fellows." The leader worker spread his arms to the others, "Look at 'is face, scared young man, ain't 'e?"

"Should we call the royal family or something or did someone else did it?"

"If he was spotted, surely the Krimzon Guards would have returned him home."

"Yeah, but maybe he ran off when they came or--"

"Yeah, or he could--"

"Maybe he--"

The workers huddle together like a team of football players, leaving Erol to watch them in confusion and annoyance before starting to walk off a bit, stopping by at a banner held above: "Haven City celebrates new peace from the Metal Heads, the Age of the Nations". Age of the Nations? Metal Heads? Peace? These words aren't familiar, that's not the Haven City he knew. Granted, on the way to Mar's Memorial Stadium, however long it took due to his disoriented nature, it seemed passing by, the city felt more serene and in calm with itself and it's surrounding, as if a great malevolent force lifted from the clouds.

"Praxis…Praxis…father…"

"What? Did you say something?"

"…..W-Where is he?" He struggled, speaking for the first time in a while, "Where?"

"Where's who?"

"P-Praxis."

"…Oh. Oh, geez." The leader worker placed a hand behind his neck and gave off a sorrowful look, "I don't know 'ow to say this, son, but…Baron Praxis passed away."

That certainly smacked him upside the head and beat him about with a sack of hammers. His father, the great Praxis, so powerful, so invincible, now fallen. With his cross demeanor and confident soul, Erol couldn't believe such a capable man died.

"…How?" He whispered.

"Found dead. No one knows what killed 'im, but the royals only gave off that a possible Metal Head attack caused it."

Plausible answer…no…it's not the Metal Heads! It's him. It's always been HIM. HIM. HIM. DARK. ECO. FREAK.

"Ey, you okay?" The leader worker asked, placing a hand on his shoulder as he eyed the red in Erol's face matching the same color tone as his hair, "Are you…mad about something?"

"Where …IS…HE?" Erol frothed.

"Who?"

"T-That dark ECO FREAK…JAAAAAAAAK!" Erol screamed, grabbing the worker by the neck, slightly squeezing his vocal cords out.

"I…I don't know!" The man wheezed, "E-'e randomly pops out…we don't know--GAH!--where 'e lives or where 'e goes! It's random! I…I swear!"

"I want him. I WANT HIM!" Erol's violent nature quickly came through as he continued to hold a tight grip on the lead worker. The rest, too stunned to watch didn't do anything except pray in their heads something would come. Their prayers would needed to be some sort of miracle as the water tanks nearby them started to act so absent-mindedly weird, raising so violently. Everytime Erol threw a threat, the waters raised from it's tank like a thunderous roar, as if dynamite were placed inside each tank, waiting to be released.

"WHERE IS HE?" The entire contents of water at this point exploded and drizzled everybody nearby, all the while as Erol continued to stand his ground, gripping the worker as his topaz eyes seem to glow bright red.

"EROL!"

Quickly he turned around to see the familiar faces of his older sister, giving off a concerned face, equally matched by--

"YOU!" Erol dropped the worker and immediately ran over to Jak who stood besides Ashelin.

"Oh, Erol." Ashelin gasped, making her way to him, only to be harshly shoved aside from her own brother. Before Jak could run towards Ashelin's aid, Erol grabbed his neck and tackled him down.

"EROL!" Jak screamed.

"DIE! DIE! DIE!"

"EROL!" He repeated, struggling to break free from the fiery madness that is his cousin, "LET ME GO! Y-YOU'RE CHOKING ME!"

"How DARE you?" Erol venomously cried out, "My father was a GREAT man, to die in the hands of an dark…eco…FREAK like you!"

"What? EROL! LET GO! LET ME TALK!"

While the two man tossed and turned, trying to one up each other, one of the workers carefully lifted Ashelin while another ran off to get the Krimzon Guards.

"W-What do the rest of us do, hide?" A worked asked.

"I think that's best, that guy nearly drowned us!" The leader worker hoarsely answered as he massaged his neck, "Strangling in my case. Come on, ma'am, we gotta 'ide."

"He tried to drown you?" Ashelin gasped as they dragged her away, half running, half eyeing the two struggling men.

"Aye! Those water tanks…they weren't empty before 'e came. 'E like…telepathically lifted the water or something!"

"…What?" Ashelin breathlessly cried out, "But that's impossible."

………………

"I cannot believe zee would rat out closed loved ones because zee is scared!" Michel scoffed. Jak's tailor and all around superstar carelessly entered Chiso's given room in Haven Palace where the lanky teenage boy huddle himself on his coffee table, eyeing untouched cup of tea a maid beforehand made for him, racked with guilt and fear. He didn't say anything as Michel continued spouting insults and lectures to the already lacking in self-esteem boy.

"Did you know, I zee not get moi way to the top of stardom through cheating and zee easy way out or any other form of nonsense of zat sort?" Michel lit a cigarette in his mouth, "I got zee way because I worked hard! I zee not cheat or betray others!"

"…"

"I am zee self-absorbed person, but I worked hard to get where I am at, and I know now not to take zee friends for value."

"…M-Mr. Petri, why are you in my room?"

"You put zee prince in distress! Do you know how many split hair zee prince gets when he is in distress or how many wrinkles zee gets?"

Chiso shook his head as his answer. "A LOT! He gets zee split and wrinkles a lot!" Chiso let off a stifled mumble, flailing his arm down in pure exaggerated fashion.

"I am trying to tell you to better your esteem for it is too low." He let out a trail of smoke, "I know you admire me--and who can blame you, I am very gorgeous and well loved--so as one of moi many fans, I am here to put you in zee right path!"

"But I…I just did what I was told."

"Do you not think of yourself for a change? You can zee be selfish every once in zee while. Be in control of your OWN life!" Michel screamed and emphasized the last part, sizzling his cigarette on the coffee table across from Chiso, if not to further intimidate the boy and the general clean feel of his room, as if even one speck of dust touching the very contents of his room would be demoted, arrested, and shipped away. The famous Havenian dramatically walked off, his two assistants (who were besides Chiso's door like guardians) following suit just as Veger entered and approached his young ward.

"I should have been smart and kept the fact that you were a spy until at least today." Veger muttered, "That idiot prince and his cousin are apparently off to fetch a member of the family and I didn't have time to establish appropriate spies, however I plan to execute his pitiful batch of friends while they're off." Chiso remained silent, but let off a small, barely audible gasp.

"So in the end, at least I'll be somewhat satisfied. Blacken souls they all have…no…when we get the light back in this world though, everything will have a soul, a good kind, rightful soul, one filled with the powers of all that is good and light. What a glorious paradise it would be." Veger practically drooled over as he raised his arms, trying to touch the very heavens itself, "And one day, the Precursors will look down upon me and grant me immortal life, to be their right handed man as we all judge the quick and the dead. I will send that accursed prince who's tainted with the power of darkness down where he belongs, in a spiritual plane of eternal torment."

Again, Chiso remained silent. He's heard this speech so many damn times before.

"The end is nigh, my young nephew." Veger walked over to Chiso, getting from behind and placing his hands on his shoulders, "And the world will be utterly ruined, remade into a new beginning. I will be there to witness it and bring forth a new Precursia."

In Chiso's mind, this was all a pipe dream, blasphemous even. Caught in his own delusional state, desiring power only someone like Jak is worthy of, but when has he ever crossed his uncle's path? When had he ever spoke against him, yelled at him, berate and tell him he was wrong? Not a day went by where Chiso did not think of why his parents sent him to live with his despot uncle who continuously squeezed the boy's shoulder, treating him more like a prized figure then his own family figure. Michel was right. Chiso played the lack of self-esteem role to a perfect tee.

"You've done good, my boy." Veger smoothly planted words in his ears, "Very good indeed. I suppose as a reward, I'll merely cut back about fifteen minutes from your magic studies. Maybe ten. That said, you'll be useful for any other plans I have for you." Then he walked off, leaving Chiso to finally withdraw the breath he held halfway since Veger's appearance.

………………

A dozen Krimzon Guards managed to subdue Erol as he flailed his legs around while his arms were held by them. Dragged out of the stadium to the main front near a water fountain adorned with statues of ancient Haven warriors, Jak, Ashelin, the workers, and the guards waited until the arrival of the Krimzon Guards in green (the doctors of the armed force) whom contacted the troop, stating they'd be over with some sort of sedative to withhold Erol. Ashelin and Jak kept a considerable distance, but remained close as they tried in vain to speak some marginal sense into him.

"LET ME GO! LET ME GOOO!"

"Erol, please, it's me, your sister, Ashelin--"

"LET ME GO!"

"Alright, calm down! I know I've done a lot to you that you didn't like, but we're family. Believe it or not, I'm your cousi--" Jak stepped in, almost revealing his identity to those nearby it not for Erol's constant temper tantrums.

"LET ME GO!"

"For Precursor's sake, can't you shut up for like a FULL minute and let me talk?" Jak screeched, "It's BAD enough you turned me black and blue!"

"Why should I?" Erol spat, "I hate you…I HATE YOU! Y-YOU FREAK! YOU…KILLED HIM! PRAXIS…FATHER!"

"HE DIDN'T!" Ashelin shouted, stepping dangerously close despite her condition, but it managed to silence Erol, "Jak did nothing to our father! He was killed by the Metal Head leader!"

"W-What?"

"That's right, Metal Head Kor who betrayed him and nearly wiped Haven City if not for Jak!" She pointed to him, "He saved this world and gave it a prosperous future."

"W-What?" He repeated.

"Most importantly, we're family, all of us." Ashelin stepped even closer, her voice more calm, yet whispering, "He's the kid…he's the prince of Haven Kingdom."

"…That's…impossible." He, too whispered, if not with a tinge of irritation.

"Time Traveling can make it possible." She answered.

"What happened?"

"You fell asleep…for a year after the accident, that's what happened." She again answered.

Erol at this point considered calmed down, if not to sink in all these bombshells. Praxis dead, Metal Head betrayals, Jak the prince of Haven, stuck in a coma for a full year after that crash, that incident. Dragging his body down, Erol let out a stifled cry. Bawling over all the missed opportunity due to his stubbornness and anger. Why do the Precursors torment so? With such a traumatic life, surely for once they would bless a young soul from such terrible misdeeds…no, maybe this served as his punishment, for following in the path of insanity and darkness.

"Erol, it's alright." Ashelin extended her hand, trying to touch his hair, once spiky and short, now droopy and seemingly long. However, Erol pulled his face back and barked out a harsh, "NO!" And the water fountain exploded. Massive waves spouting from it rushed over and knocked over the dozen Krimzon Guards, including the ones holding Erol. Jak quickly grabbed Ashelin and shoved her aside so as not to hit her on impact. Curiously, the only one standing perfectly still as wild gushes of water gave way was Erol himself as if he super glued himself to the ground.

Eerily, Erol no longer gave off an angry look as so much as he gave off a calm silence. Concentrating apparently, Erol lifted up the huge amounts of water and formed into a pair of some sort of disfigured cross between a mallet and a giant fist. Quickly it aimed for Jak who still held Ashelin. Jak dodged in the knick of time and told Ashelin to run. She obliged, although reluctantly, not one to run from a fight easily.

Jak, not able to completely counter someone who suddenly sprouted the ability to manipulate water instead spent much of his time dodging and trying to get in a few decent kicks and punches. Some managed to phase Erol for a sec, but other times, Jak clearly suffered a disadvantage, if not because getting hit by a full force of water felt like a bulldozer tackled him. The last hit managed to cause Jak to falter, struggling in vain to get up.

Erol's face, lighting up in anger walked closer to Jak, ready to deliver the final blow. The giant fist-mallet water slammed down towards him, but it got in contact with something in between. Jak, having closed his eyes for what could have been his final moment slowly opened to see a blue shield around himself. Did he create that? Could this be? A part of his light powers? Erol, too grew stunned, even more so when his water weapon dissolved into droplets upon Ashelin's bullet as she whipped out her pistol.

"…Sister?"

"Erol, please." Ashelin shakily spoke, gun aimed around Erol, hoping in vain she didn't have to shoot him if it came to that, "Please…listen to reason. We need to take you home, find out what's wrong with you so we can fix this."

Erol eyed her scared expression, her hand even shaking from holding the gun. Erol, now in a rare moment put on a brief contempt face, dropping the vast amounts of water he held. Jak let off a huge sigh and his shield disappeared. Erol slowly walked over to her as she lowered her weapon, but stopped when he heard more Krimzon Guards arriving. Distressed, Erol gave one more sorrow look towards Ashelin and a stoic one to Jak before running off.

"EROL!" Ashelin screamed, trying to run after him. Jak however grabbed her arm, "JAK?"

"Ashelin…he's confused." He softly said, "He needs time to think this through."

"But--"

"…When he's ready, he'll come back." Jak let out a grave smile which quickly turned into a small frown when Ashelin faced away from him, trying to hide her tears. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he uttered to her, "Come on, let's go home. Help the others."
To Be Continued…

………………

Author's Note: Erol's back, he's back indeed. And he's displayed some unknown powers he's never had before. More will be emphasized on that later, right now, he's got a personal journey to go through now.

Chiso and Michel interacting serves for more future development between them, considering Chiso greatly admires him and Jak must save his friends. We're almost about ready to end the second act and ready to move to the third act which will be a great part to the overall story.