Jak
and Crash
ACT
2: The Journey
Chapter
16: The Escape…or Jak's Great Escape
Haven
Palace
Month
2: Feburia, Day 18
Year:
2 (AOTN)
Time:
Evening
The return home interrupted before they reached the palace gates when Puar popped out of Jak's pocket.
"RING! RING! MESSAGE FROM SAMOS!" She screamed.
"Put him through." Jak sighed, disappointed with how the day ended.
"JAK! Get over to Onin's hut NOW! We got important matters to discuss about the Precursors and the Dark Makers!"
"Now now?" Jak cringed a bit. He so wanted to stay in the palace some more and put in more efforts to keep his friends alive, but the fate of the world never became something he would ignore.
"Jak, I'll keep an eye on them, you go to Onin's." Ashelin suggested, Jak giving off an uneasy look, "I'll be fine."
Jak sighed, nodded, then ran off.
………………
"Wh-Where are the others? Why is it just you, Jak?" Samos asked, shocked, "No Daxter on your shoulder? No Pecker? And my daughter…she's been missing for weeks and I assume she's been looking for you and I have hope she was with you."
"…Obviously the royal family hasn't gotten in contact with you." Jak carelessly muttered.
"Well, no." Samos replied, "They've been keeping a lot from me, no surprise, and with such high securities, I haven't been able to get through. How troubling."
"They're stuck inside the dungeon cell for "kidnapping" the prince." Jak added with disgust, "Despite me defending them. I'm trying to free them."
"Oh, dear…well, as long as Kiera is safe--even if she's stuck in that disgusting dungeon--but for now it can't be helped and we have something grave and important to discuss on the matters of this particular year." Samos tried in vain to get through his words with a straight face, but Jak could see the worried looks only a parent could give when concerned over their own offspring, adopted or not.
"What are you talking about?" Jak softly asked.
"The Day of Tears…it's approaching us." Samos whispered, "Onin sensed it, I sensed it, many mystic beings like us did, and I'm sure somewhere, subconsciously, you sensed it. The Dark Makers are coming to bring about an end to this world."
"Samos, is there something you want to tell me that I DON'T know? Like a solution to this problem?" Jak groaned.
"…Yes, there is a way." Samos added, sounding rather upset, "We need the Sages."
"Sages like you?" Jak asked, "…Wait, you mean the Red Sage, the Blue Sage, and the Yellow Sage?"
"And the one other Sage you probably weren't aware of." Samos added.
"But I don't know where they are…and…and…one more Sage? And…" Jak gasped, "Another Sage? W-Where do we find them? Where could they have been from the last hundreds of years since we've last saw them? Are they even alive?"
"We are VERY much alive, Jak!" Samos banged his staff, "I will have you know we Sages aren't exactly Precursians like you are and we are needed for the next phase of the universal order!"
"What do you mean?" Jak asked. Onin then lifted her fingers and waved her hands and arm in various serene motions, gesturing her facial expressions to match each of her movements. Jak never knew if Samos understood Onin's words or not or if Onin could get said prediction anytime she wanted, but he felt best to leave these hanging in the air, now was not the time for pointless questions.
"The Precursors…the very last ones that watch over our fair galaxy will die." Samos stated, "…This is the Day of Tears, the Twilight of the Precursors."
As if Veger trying in vain to usurp the throne and manipulate his grandmother wasn't bad enough, as if his friends captured and possibly awaiting execution wasn't bad enough, now he had to deal with the fact that the beloved deities he worshiped--hell, pretty much the entire population worshipped--are to die? Possible from the Dark Makers themselves? Like some invisible hammer, Jak felt like a huge smack to his head when he let all this sink in.
"…H-How can the Sages help?" Jak breathlessly asked.
"Well, we--"
Just then Puar leaped out of Jak's pocket and out came a message for him in the form of Ashelin who struck the most devastated face she's made since the death of her father.
"Jak…you have to come home…NOW!"
"Ashelin, no! I'm in the middle of something important and--"
"Your friends are GONE!" Ashelin screamed, "…They're not in the dungeon cells anymore. I think Veger took them to the dungeons and--"
Jak ran out before she could finish, refusing to hear the rest.
…………………
The return to the palace home for Jak garnered no welcome or calm with slight feelings of intensity, rather dramatic and tension. There inside the main hall, Ashelin gave off a sorrow look, holding her stomach. The only other person next to her stood Chiso who refused any eye contact towards the young prince, instead moving as faraway from him as possible, eyeing the floor. Jak cared little for what he did or thought at the moment and instead raced towards the dungeons cells to see his friends, only to find them indeed missing. Of course, as if it didn't indicate curiosity on why the soldiers would be so obedient to let Jak see his cohorts when the Queen--or should I say--Veger strictly forbid such a thing. There, the only thing left of them lied on the ground, bright red in color: Coco's bandana. Picking it up ever so delicately with his fingers like a fragile item, Jak stoically walked away.
Jak stumbled his way around the dungeon, eventually ending up in the same area where Krimzon Guards surrounded and arrested his friends, the giant Precursor Robot staring at him, standing still like the lifeless statue it apparently was. Clutching onto Coco's bandana tightly in his hands as if he tried in vein to absorb it, he heard faint footsteps that only grew louder until he came face to face with Veger who once again gave off a smug appearance, satisfied to see any sort of torture on the young man's face.
"WHERE ARE THEY?" Jak boomed, his eyes glaring in heated rage, "TELL ME!"
"Now, now, if you're going to get snippy, I'm not going to tell you so quickly." Veger teased. Jak however found little to joke as he screamed, ran towards Veger, and grabbed him by his collar.
"Don't give me that crap, where are they? MY FRIENDS! WHERE ARE THEY?"
"Well, while you and your cousin Ashelin were busy going off to save a dear family member, I took the liberty to execute them all. I figured it's about time we did."
"…What?" Jak's mouth grew breathless. He knew it was coming the moment Ashelin nearly exposed it to him earlier before he ran off, but hearing it outright from his own enemy felt like multiple stabs in the face with a broken wine bottle.
"I know you'd have been so emotional, so I told the Queen it is in best interest to kill them all while you were away, to lesser the pain for you, my dear boy." Veger grinned, "I don't think you'd have enjoy seeing your friends shot in the head, now would you?"
Jak, at this point shaking, struggling so hard to retain his tears dropped Veger carelessly .
"…No…"
"There screams, so achingly delicious. Poor Kiera…she shouted your name before her death."
Kiera…the bandana…no. RAGE. No…
"Well, since we're the only two down here, I can easily dispose of you now." Veger sighed, "The Queen is easy pickings to deal with. As for you, well, I'm just going to have it make it look like an accident, a colossal accident." And with that, raising his cane high up, the gem on top shined brightly, surprising Jak when it woke up the giant Precursor robot, awake from it's deep sleep, it's giant yellow eyes glowing an immense red in seconds.
"The Precursors will not have mercy on you now, boy." Veger snickered.
Immediately the giant robot laid waste as it punched the ground, creating a giant crater to which Jak nearly got smashed until he dodged at the right time. The robot continuously smacked at a jumping and running Jak to and fro, treating the small figure like an annoying insect who evaded escape one too many times, all as Veger watched, easily amused, but gradually getting frustrated when Jak refuse to die, so he decided to up the ante.
"How does it feel knowing you'll never hear them speak again?" Veger asked, "At least I'm sparring you once I kill the rest of your family: your grandmother, your pregnant cousin, hell, maybe I'll kill the general, too. I have a feeling he'll rebel once he finds his wife's dead body." Jak tried in vein to erase his words from his mind, but it became clear due to his fragile state at the moment that Veger had the edge in this little game of minds and wits.
"And of course we must've forget your insane, stupid cousin Erol once I find him." Veger added, "They'll all scream just as much as your friends did. I think that little female Anthro screamed out your name, too. Ahahahaha!"
Veger counted on Jak getting emotional distressed…he didn't count on how far it would take him. Jak's blue eyes suddenly turned dark and ominous, violet electricity circled around him, his skin turned pale, and long sharp nails protruded from his fingers. Horns grew from his head and in a matter of seconds, Veger stopped laughing once he saw a deadly dark figure of violet and black blur destroying the Precursor robot in a matter of minutes. The robot struggled with as much strength as it could, but a darkened Jak leaped up in the air and unleashed a giant Dark Bomb, causing the ground to crumble, sending the giant bot to an endless pit below.
Veger noticed that he himself would become this bloodthirsty beast's next victim as he walked over to him, letting off a growl, his back hunched, claws out, teeth bared. He leaped up and started to mull Veger, trying to rip out his clothes in hopes of biting him. Veger countered with a blast from his cane, sending him back.
"YOU DISGUSTING DARK ECO FREAK!" He shouted, aiming his cane and shooting him repeatedly, "I WILL DESTROY YOU! DIE! DIIIIIE!" Dark Jak, perhaps from not having used his dark powers in such a long time or his current emotional distress couldn't counter back as much as he thought he could, the bolts from Veger's cane stinging his body. All he could do involved blocking it as much as possible and growling in pain.
"I'm going to enjoy hosting your funeral!" Veger manically laughed, only to be stopped when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He quickly turned his face around to get intimate with a fist to the face, sending him back.
"Not if we get to yours first." came the sly voice of Shuin. Dark Jak shook his head, opened his eyes in shock and saw…them! Shuin, Cortex, Kiera, Daxter, Brutter, Ani, Pecker, and Coco…and even Gin and Brio, all safe and sound, and alive!
"GET HIM!" Cortex screamed, taking out his two pistols. Immediately they all went to gang up on Veger who countered as best as he could with his cane. Powerful spells could not deteriorate the sense of teamwork and love the group shared, so Veger desperately ditched them all and ran off to the palace top. The heroes didn't give chase though, instead eyeing Jak…or what they assume to be him.
"Oh-No…his darkness." Daxter gasped. He made a small gulp and saw nobody else moving, all of them rather shocked or mixed in emotions, so he made the effort. After all, no one's witnesses the dark side of Jak--quite literally--as much as he did, "…Jak? Jak? It's me, your friend--BEST friend--Daxter! I'm okay! We're all okay. S-So…don't try and kill us."
Dark Jak eyed the concern appearance of his friends, then he eyed everyone else giving off that shocked look, especially Coco who seem to be the most wide eyed. Fear, that look on her face…fear. And from that, Jak let off a groan and slowly turned into his normal self once more, taking in deep breaths afterwards.
"That's it, that's it!" Daxter nodded. Ani let off a bark and nuzzled up to Jak while Brutter came over and lifted him up.
"You is okay?" The big furry creature asked.
"…Y-Yeah." Jak answered with a stoic face. Immediately upon it though, Brutter gave him a tremendous hug, surprising him, "We is glad you is okay!"
"Yeah! Reunited once more!" Daxter joined in, "Nothing separates the demolition duo!" In a matter of seconds, Kiera joined in, her eyes filling with small drops of tears. Shuin, Cortex, Gin, Brio, and Coco merely watched as these old friends gave as much comfort to Jak as possible, one he noticed. For so long he hid the darkness, afraid to bring it out in fear it would consume him once more. Afraid he's friends would not accept him, but it mattered little to them. He noticed, they would do anything even then to help him and remain loyal. Dark, Light, in-between, it matter little, in the end, Jak is still Jak.
After all the intense hugs from his friends, Jak slowly eyed the others, the ones from another world sans Shuin. Their reactions initially calmed since the warm display they witnessed so that when Jak slowly walked over to them, Shuin cocked his hand on his waist and grinned.
"You gotta teach me how to do that." He joked. Jak let off a smile.
"It's good to see you again, Jak." Cortex warmly placed a hand on the boy's arm.
"Same." Jak nodded, eyeing Coco who remained silent. Walking over to her, he took out her bandana and extended it's reach for her. Silently, she took it and wrapped it around her head before eyeing Jak who waited for her bitter words…and bitter words he'd receive as she smacked him aside the head.
"What the HECK was THAT? You go off and scare me silly with some stupid crap like THAT?" She screamed, "How about a little WARNING next time, Casanova? I DON'T LIKE SURPRISES MUCH!" Typical, sarcastic Coco, perhaps her way of dealing with things. Jak took those harsh words to heart, just glad to be able to hear her scream again.
"I mean, GEEZ! I've seen some killer stuff in my days, but STILL--" Coco sighed, waving her arms frantically, "GOD! I want to GET OFF THIS PLANET! There's been nothing but CRAZY crap and other nonsense ever since we tagged along with HIM! What do you have to SAY for yourself, huh?"
Jak's answer: a warm hug, one Coco should have seen coming, but never expected.
"…I said I don't like surprises." She calmly stated afterwards.
"I'm just so glad to hear your whiny voice again." Jak smiled. Kiera cleared her throat loudly which afterwards, Pecker flew down towards the two.
"Okay, break it up, we must get out of here!"
"Yeah, we need to go back to Samos." Jak started, "He may have something important to tell us on how to save this world from the Dark Makers, so we have to go to Onin's hut now!"
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's mosey!" Gin leaped and in a bolt of lightning moment, the heroes ran out of the now ruined area, filled with broken robot parts, giant fisted sized holes, and a giant pit, Gin being the first to lead with Cortex as the last who merely pressed a button on a small remote control he pocketed inside his lab coat.
……………………
"I don't understand! How did you all escape?" Jak asked as they ran, "Veger…h-he said he heard you all scream! He witnessed your death!"
"Did he?" Shuin asked, "Well, we were about to be executed alright, stating that you and your cousin left to find a lost family member or something or another."
"They captured all of us, even me and Brio!" Gin shouted, "They confiscated Cortex's communicator and used it to trace us back shortly after putting these guys in jail."
"That means they must have taken your airship…but what about Tawna?" Jak asked.
"S-S-S-She escaped, w-w-w-w-we think." Brio added.
"One can only hope she used her head and STAYED in the forest." Cortex shook his head, "Knowing that girl…anyways, so they took us to this large room in this dungeon where we were to be shot to death. We were tied to stakes and here comes the weird part."
"Right as they were about to shoot us, there was a loud explosion that just went off nearby!" Coco gasped, "Someone must have thrown a bomb."
"It was enough to get Veger's attention, so he sent about half the guards to check it out." Kiera came next, "But another explosion went off and the rest, including Veger and the rest of the KGs followed suit to see who kept doing that."
"During that time, me, Daxter, and Ani chew through rope with bites and claws." Brutter stepped in.
"And we made our way out." Daxter grinned, "We went to look for the airship and you."
"I still don't understand it, Veger witnessed your death, how is this possible?" Jak asked.
"Kid, you're singing the same tune." Shuin calmly gave off the best answer he could, "Honestly, we don't know ourselves."
The heroes found themselves nearing the entrance to the main palace. Immediately however, they all found themselves surrounded by Krimzon Guards, guns aimed directly towards their faces as all hope dissolved right then and there in one of the palace's hallways.
"Stand down, NOW!" Jak ordered.
"They won't obey you." Veger sneered, "I ran and told the Queen how her only heir to the throne tried to kill a most trusted advisor to the throne, so I took that in cue and suggested how dangerous you and your dark powers were, so…you are to be killed alongside with these so-called friends of your's."
"What?" Jak gasped.
"Queen's orders." Veger grinned.
"NO! IT WAS YOUR ORDER, YOU MANIPULATIVE SNAKE!" Jak screamed as he tried to bypass the Krimzon Guards, "I've HAD IT!" His friends manage to pull him back before he could be consumed in darkness as Veger lifted his hands to initial the execution.
"Dangerous indeed." Veger snickered, "Dispose of them."
Dozens of guns aimed towards their head. With too close of a contact, they would not leave alive or unscathed, so they mostly held their breaths and cringed…then another explosion occurred nearby, but in a much more different light as part of the palace crumbled as the Nicodemus II flew it's way out, ignoring any hazards or blockage it passed on the way.
Immediately everyone turned their gaze to said airship seen from the trail of windows besides them before the heroes took that as cue as a sign of a miracle and ran.
"What--GET THEM!" Veger screamed.
"But the airship--" A soldier added.
"GET THEM!" Veger repeated, point his accursed finger at the trail of heroes with heated breath. As the soldiers made their first steps, another explosion cut them off short.
The heroes entered an lone empty guest room, locking the door (as well as barricading it with furniture) and catching their breaths.
"Great, we're sitting ducks now." Coco muttered.
"Not entirely." Cortex grinned, opening the balcony doors, leading to the now hovering Nicodemus II where Tawna greeted from the outer bridge.
"HEY!" She waved, "Come on, we ain't got all day!"
"Tawna, I thought you escaped!" Gin screamed.
"Gin, questions later, jump now!" Cortex shouted as one by one the heroes leaped from the balcony to the outer bridge. They then all marched inside the airship where Gin and Brio immediately seated to their respective stations, the former manning the vehicle alongside Cortex.
"Okay, we are out of here!" Gin stated.
"NO! We need to speak with Onin and Samos!" Jak shouted.
"We already got that covered, pretty boy." A sly voice rang, forcing Jak to turn around, eyes widen to see Jinx and his crew, as well as Samos…and Chiso.
"I…I don't understand." Jak gasped.
"Guess we got a long ways to explain." Jinx sighed. And with that, Nicodemus II left Haven City.
……………………
"YOU guys started the explosion? …I'm not surprised." Jak started off shocked, then mellowed down when realizing who he was talking to.
"Yeah, we created the distractions so Kiera and the others could run free." Jinx nodded.
"Yep, BOOM!" Mog illustrated by extending his arms.
"Then we went to the funky airship where we found this pretty chick (he pointed to Tawna) hiding inside a storage bin." Jinx continued.
"I admit, even I couldn't take on so many of them Krimzon Guards all at once." Tawna shrugged, "I fought as best as I could, but I had no choice but to hide in the end."
"We picked up Samos before we left to bomb the place, so…here he is." Grim gave a hearty pat on Samos' back who busied himself gushing over Kiera's safety.
"What--I don't understand, how did you know enough to help us?" Jak cried out.
"Oh, this kid." Jinx pointed to Chiso who reminded silent throughout, even to this point, clutching his spell book tightly near his chest, shoulders hunched, face red.
"What, the traitor?" Chiso raised an eyebrow. Everyone gave off a sense of mixed feelings, some more dangerous then others, except Jak who gave off a more confused appearance.
"Traitor?" Jinx cocked his head back. No one bother to fill him in as Jak slowly walked over to Chiso and eyed him with the same look, "Chiso…explain."
"…I…I knew they were going to be executed the moment you'd leave, sir." Chiso softly spoke, "S-So I managed to call Jinx and the others to deal with explosions. I also got a call from Samos during your absence requesting your audience, so but I told him you were busy, but then he said it was urgent--"
"VERY urgent!" Samos smacked his staff down.
"So while I handled bombing the necessary areas, Mog and Grim went and got Samos safely to Nicodemus II." Jinx pointed out.
"Y-Yeah, because I fear my magic wouldn't be reliable enough to create explosions." Chiso pushed his glasses up.
"But I spoke with Samos in Onin's hut." Jak gasped.
"Yes, well, they picked me up shortly after." Samos added.
"Any who, Mog, Samos, and I entered the Nicodemus II thanks to magic kid (he pointed to Chiso) over there who knew the location of the ships' storage, there we met Tawna." Grim came next, "And damn, she nearly killed us when she saw us, grabbing me by the neck, that was smart."
"Well, excuse me, I thought you guys were enemies or somethin'!"Tawna shouted.
"Well, any who, I told them to stay put there while Jinx finished off the rest of the bombings." Chiso added.
"And the executions? Did you have any part in it?" Jak asked.
"When my uncle and the rest of the soldiers briefly left the execution room and they manage to untie and get away, I created fake duplicates. Used all my concentration and was surprised it worked." Chiso shrugged, "So they killed magically created fake incarnations of you guys."
"What? But why?" Kiera asked.
"I…I wanted to help." He meekly answered.
"Is this your pitiful attempt to make redemption for what you did earlier because guess what? It doesn't!" Shuin hissed, arms crossed eyes deadly, "That's not how it works!"
"Wait, wait, let me get this straight!" Daxter stepped in, "Okay, the story goes is that Jak left to do…something--"
"Find Erol." Jak answered, one which Daxter and those who knew Erol gave wide eyes, especially Kiera, "…Yes, he's awaken. No, we didn't get him. He's in Haven…still."
"Okay, ANY WHO--Jak left for crazy redheaded searching, then we were sent to the execution dungeon, but Chiso had already told Jinx and his gangs beforehand, so during that point, Jinx blew crap up to save us while Jak visited Samos and Onin, left, then Mog and Grim shortly took Samos back to the palace--specifically the airship--before he returned to the palace."
"Wait, how did the two get to the palace before Jak did?" Coco asked.
"I mostly ran, my head was too in rage with the thought you all being executed when Ashelin called me in Onin's hut to think straight." Jak added.
"We took the tram for most of the ride, then sneaked in the palace." Grim added.
"Okay, stop interrupting me!" Daxter screamed, "LIKE I SAID--Mog, Grim, and Samos went to the captured Nicodemus II where they almost got kicked in the nuts by Tawna while Team Daxter (some of the people groaned at that name call) sneaked around to try and find that ship and you, Jak, provided you returned home by that point. Are we clear so far?"
"No." Coco sarcastically mumbled.
"During that time, I created the fakes and my uncle assumed he killed the real ones…I hope." Chiso gulped, "His eco powers are much greater then my own."
"Well, we found Jak, then escaped, got a run by Veger, got distracted by the airship moving on it's own, and somehow…the airship…flew to us near the guest room." Daxter scratched his head.
"That was my doing." Cortex showcase the remote control inside his lab coat, "I pushed it for the ship to automatically come out in autopilot to the location I was currently in. It managed to trace me to the guest room."
"That explains the airship going ghost riding on us earlier." Gin nodded.
"HEY, why does everyone keep interrupting me?" Daxter screamed, "Any who…hmmm…I think I'm done."
Jak eyed Chiso throughout the entire session while occasionally eyeing the others when they spoke out of turn. The young brown haired boy, eyeing Jak gave off the most meekest face he cold give, partially out of fear and partially in hopes the prince would forgive him, as par his general manner of giving second chances to others. One look on several of the heroes' face gave notion that they didn't want Chiso to get any ounce of praise.
"My uncle would kill me if he knew what I did." Chiso softly said, "…But…Michel talked to me early on and…and…I felt really guilty and…oh, by the Precursors." The boy got on his knees before Jak, trembling.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do all this…I…I just did what I was told to do. I never disobeyed my uncle until prior."
"That matters little, you little snake!" Shuin stood up, "Unlike you, my family--my country--values all that is honor and I don't tolerate liars and backstabbers."
"I say we push him off the bridge, make him into pancake." Coco suggested.
"No, no, torture!" Gin grinned.
"I'd say we beat 'im within an ounce of his life." Tawna smacked her hands together, eager to unleash some frustrations from the lack of fighting she's been refused since their first landing in Precursia. Each suggestion left a squeal from Chiso's mouth, even if he knew punishment would come.
"Oh, would you hurry it up? I have to tell my thing to, you know, SAVE THE WORLD!" Samos yelled.
"Jak, it's up to you." Cortex said, "We're still in Haven grounds and being it's prince…well, it's your floor."
Every eyes directed towards Jak, something he still felt awkward over despite having had thousands gazed upon him from the palace before, but this would be a decision that would affect the entirely of the team he held now, the only ones who possessed any chance of saving their beloved planet. Be it a testimony to his prince hood, to figure out a good course for both sides, Jak took a deep sigh and placed a hand on his forehead.
"Well?" Shuin asked, clearly irritated.
"Alright!" Jak snapped, "…What Chiso did was wrong, I won't deny that, but he merely did that because he doesn't really have that big a self-esteem, so his uncle keeps pushing him around. I know Chiso and he's a good guy. He risked his life and reputation to save us. Without him, we'd all been dead, more then likely."
"We wouldn't have been in this mess if NOT for him." Coco pointed.
"Yes, BUT be that as he may, he's starting to repent." Jak added.
"Not good enough." Shuin gripped the handle of his katana tighter making Chiso wince.
"Shuin…" Jak reassured, "Chiso will come with us, it's too late to send him back. We'll monitor his actions and keep a close eye on us."
"How do we know he isn't carrying some tracking device from Veger now?" Shuin pointed.
"We'll get him checked out." Jak sighed, "But he's stuck with us and we'll make the best of him…for the time. Maybe I'll make another decision once we land."
Shuin, Coco, Gin, Daxter, Pecker, and Tawna felt the strongest against Jak's decision, but said nothing. Brutter, Ani, and Kiera merely gave off concerned looks, Jinx and the crew as well as Samos stayed as neutral as possible, while Brio and Cortex remained the only ones who seem to share Jak's sympathy.
"…If he as so much as crosses the line, I'll collect his head…your highness." Shuin spat, then walked off. Both Jak and Chiso took a sigh of relief.
"Brutter, take Chiso to his own cabin and confiscate anything that might be of spy use." Jak ordered as the giant Lurker saluted and left with the feeble boy.
"Guess I can begin." Samos added.
"…Tomorrow." Jak motioned, surprised at even what he said, "…Please, Samos. I'm tired and…and…I can't think straight."
"Hmph! Don't tell me the royal life pampered you THAT much for you to delay world saving."
"Samos…that's not it, it's just…"
"Daddy, Jak's just not feeling right. Wouldn't you rather explain your plans when he's at his most top shape?" Kiera asked, giving off that innocent look he couldn't resist. Samos let off a dour face, then agreed, walking off with Kiera to their own respective cabins for the night.
Jak walked over to the main bridge, positioning himself between Brio and Cortex, still piloting, and eyed the window where the skies remained dark, the moon and the green sun giving off an eerie flow to the world.
"What if he can still remain c-c-c-c-contact with his uncle?" Brio asked.
"Huh?" Jak eyed him.
"Yeah, doesn't he have some sort of powers to keep in contact with his uncle?" Coco asked, "I mean, it's the only reason we were caught in the first place."
"I…I don't know." Jak shook his head wearily, "I…I'll think of something. Maybe I can get Samos to check it out."
"Are you alright?" Cortex asked.
"Yeah…yeah…no." Jak mumbled.
"Where do we go?" He asked.
"…Lucius, we can rest and think of something there." Jak ordered, "It's the only place far from Haven that hasn't been corrupted by them. I fear the nation of Riveta's close contact with Haven will prove nothing but danger for us and Spargus--I think right now, we need Lucius wide length for protection at the moment."
"Lucius it is then." Cortex nodded, "…Take heart, boy, we'll be fine. We just won't be able to go back to your home anytime soon, you know that, right?"
"I…I know." Jak nodded, "…But Ashelin--no, she can take care of herself, pregnant or not, but my grandmother…"
"Jak…"
"And Erol." Jak eyed the sky, "He's not himself…I worry. He has to find his path, but I worry."
Cortex placed a comforting arm towards Jak, "Have heart, boy."
"…I saw the look you gave me when I was making that decisions…thanks for supporting me."
"I know how Chiso feels, betrayals and backstabbing, they were once commonplace for a man like me."
Jak said nothing, giving off a look as if he wanted to spout some of his own words of wisdom, but instead eyed the night sky, contemplating his now given fear that Veger officially grasp his kingdom in his hands. Unbeknownst to him, Coco from behind gave off her own worried looks, seeing Jak rather down in the dumps, a look she could never associate Jak with, one she wished he never had to as there needs to be at least one person who's suffered so much, but made it his business to move on then mope.
…………………
"He is no longer a servant of the Precursors nor the prince to Haven. He freed the traitors, the ones whom kidnapped him, obvious he's suffered some form of Stockholm Syndrome. He defied our legacy and spat on our culture, he tried to kill me, and now my nephew's been kidnapped right with them. Truly your grandson has allied himself with the Dark Makers. He is our enemy, my Queen."
Veger pranced back and forth on the throne the old lady sat on, her face seemingly stoic, but in the bouts of emotional pain.
"You
hurt…don't you, my liege? You wish the pain to go away. You
cannot stand the sight of seeing your own kin against the Precursors.
You want this to end? Well…surely there are many ways to end said
pain…"
To
Be Continued…
………………
Author's Notes: Well, this Act is just about wrapped up and we're about to head to Act 3 where the truly meat of the story lies. That said, someone asked me in the reviews why magic exists when there is eco. Simple, the people of Precursia who use Eco on their everyday things is just for energy usage. There are several privileged few such as Samos, Jak, Veger, and Chiso who are able to manipulate the eco for further uses beyond average people's control, in short: magic.
That said, I had a headache writing this one, so forgive me if you're confused as well. I tried to get Daxter to best explain it as possible, ahaha.
