Jak
and Crash
ACT 3:
The Quest
Chapter
17: The Start…or Ready, Set, Go!
Lucius Palace
Month 2: Day 19
Year: 2 (AoTN)
Time: Afternoon
"There isn't a given record on how many Precursors there are, "Samos started, "However, there have been prophecies of their kind for ages, too many to name, I say. The most important one is the one most commonly referred to as the "Twilight of the Precursors."
"Twilight? So they're gonna suffer a black out." Daxter lightly teased as he, Jak, and everyone involved discussed the current matter inside Lucius Palace's conference room. All except Jinx and his team who left and is now wandering somewhere in Lucius City, saying the greater good is not their problems and they will only come when needed. Jak thanked their help from earlier and let them be. Chiso, too stood in the same room with them, but with several burly guards keeping a close eye on him, both his umbrella and magic book confiscated in case of both magical and physical attacks on them. Of course, with the boy's current guilt-ridden face, he had no intention to.
"NO!" Samos screeched, "Shut up and pay attention! Look, the Dark Makers were once the Precursors, but they were consumed by the powers of dark eco and turned into what they are now."
"Yeah, dark crystal looking warriors shooting like seven feet in height." Coco mumbled.
"Oh, and squid-like ones, like the one we encountered when we first met Jak." Cortex pointed out.
"There are more then just those two. The Dark Makers have created many cannon fodder as their army," Samos went on, "They were cast away by the Precursors thousands of years ago, back when Precursia was new. They vow to get revenge and thus traveled for many years to try and return back to this galaxy, creating vast amounts of armies to combat the Precursors…and I fear they have indeed outnumbered our deities."
"But they're like Gods to your world, surely they'd be able to stop them!" Tawna shot back, "This is a load of bullshit if they can't do jack! No pun intended." Usually Jak would make a smile and retort back a friendly, "No problem", but now he's mind filled with worries, doubts, and stress. Kiera reassuringly placed a hand on his shoulders to which Jak made a tiny smile of comfort back. Coco eyeballed the two and made a rather annoyed face.
"So are the Dark Makers, well, the ones who used to be Precursors, not those cannon fodders, " Samos corrected, "Now stop interrupting! As I was saying, the Precursors predicted their twilight…their deaths."
The residences of Precursia left off a starling gasp.
"Wait! A world without Precursors protecting us?" Daxter cried out. He eyed the ceiling, "Look, when I say your stuff was crap, I TAKE IT BACK!"
"What are you saying, that the Dark Makers will come and kill off all the Precursors?" Jak asked to which Samos unfortunately nodded, "But they are our deities, the higher divine beings we worship. They protect our planet, if they die, then this could mean an ends for our planet. How will our world flourish without them?"
"Oh, come off it, do these Precursors actually ACTUALLY exist?" Coco shrugged, "There's scientific reasons why rain falls or trees grow or--"
"Coco, I don't know just what you worship or not in your planet, but I'd appreciate if you gave off a little respect to our culture and the divine beings who brought life to our world." Jak sternly replied, clearly irritated. Coco gave off a rather offended face and turned around and while Jak said nothing, he mentally beat himself up for being so rude.
"Yes, yes, any who, the Precursors have stated they will die, killed from the Dark Makers very soon, however that's where we Sages come in. We were chosen by the Precursors as protectors of the world in a more physical sense. There are should be seven of us."
"But we only rescued four, including you, daddy, and from a sage himself, thus I only count five." Kiera shrugged.
"There are seven though." Samos nodded, "Two of the sages weren't "awaken" during that event 300 years ago, but they should be now. That stated, we Sages will be the next Precursors."
Another row of shocked and awkward silence fell.
"D-Daddy?" Kiera gasped.
"We've been training for this event out entire lives since the Precursors chose us and now, when the time comes, we will ascend into higher beings to watch over the planet and the Precursor Galaxy from above."
"Samos…" Jak tried to speak, but couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"Oh, crap, you're not gonna send lightning bolts down at me every time I make a crack about you, are you?" Daxter groaned. Ani smacked the back of his head.
"As a result, we must find the old sages for only they can awaken the new."
"New Sages?" Brutter scratched his head.
"Yes, they are among us, but probably not aware of their powers and their destined fate." Samos stated, "It is possible they have discovered some aspects of their powers, but that depends."
"So where are the original sages then?" Jak asked.
"Well, they should be in their respective temples, sleeping until the new sages come and wake them up so they can in return fully past down their powers to them. There are temples all over the world and I'm sure. Jak, you've studied this, you should know them as well," Jak responded with a nod, "Well, the Red, Yellow, and Blue Sages. Gol and his sister having been trapped."
"We need to find THEM as well?" Daxter gasped. Samos made a reluctant nod, "Perfect."
"Oh, perfect, where the hell are we going to find the new sages?" Shuin popped in, "It's like finding a needle in a haystack!"
"Yes, well, that's why I'M here, you ungrateful fool!" Samos yelled, "I volunteered to not put myself in eternal sleep until the new sages come because there needs to be at least ONE Sage to help find the new ones, plus…I…I didn't have the heart to leave my Kiera behind."
"Dad…" Kiera smiled, this time Jak giving her a friendly pat on the shoulder with Coco again making an irritated face.
"S-S-S-S-So how will you know when you f-f-f-f-find one?" Brio asked.
"It'll come to me. It truly depends on when and how." Samos states, "They each will awaken in different ways."
"So now what?" Coco asked.
"Well, for now, we can rest." Jak stated, "Tomorrow, when we're all fresh as daisies, we'll start looking around. Surely, something will come up."
"Maybe more." Samos spoke, "It's not certain."
"Right." Jak took a deep breath, "Well, the meeting is over. Go and goof of or something for the time. I…I just need to go and clear my head on a few things." Without saying another word, Jak immediately left the room. Everyone else eventually walked out and explored the grand palace.
……………………………
"I saw how annoyed you look when Jak and Kiera got close. Jealously, how cute." Shuin spouted out in a sarcastic, yet honestly blunt tone when he spotted Coco in the banquet hall where she admired the fine fruits on display before actually taking one and eating it.
"I was not annoyed. Just seeing too much lovey dovey crap makes me wanna puke." Coco muttered.
"Sure you are." Shuin, too took a fruit, "You better tell him how you feel or someone else will take him, namely that Kiera chick."
"She can have him, I don't like him. Just as a friend--an annoying friend."
"Mmhmm."
"Why don't you believe me?"
"You act all tough and uncaring, but it's obvious it's just a defense mechanism to hide how you truly feel."
"Oh, so NOW you're a psychologist, are you?"
"I'm just pointing out the blatant obvious."
"Why do YOU care? The only reason you're hanging around with us is that you were suppose to bounty Jak up and teach him sword combat in exchange for him to discover why there's a voice in your head which he hasn't even done yet!"
"The kid has his plate full. At least his swordplay is getting better."
"You are a nut bag. I mean, you're HEARING voices in your head."
"Hmm."
"I don't like him and you have NO idea what you're talking about."
"He's outside, at one of the highest section of the palace if you wish to talk with him."
Coco eyed Shuin who gave off a cheeky grin and walked away.
………………………
"Hey! You returned, so that means you promised to play with me!" came Aki. The young tanuki Anthro playfully tugged Danny's overcoat. Danny couldn't help but give off a small smile at such an innocent child. Only ten years old and while still a princess, her older sister is the reigning Queen, leaving Aki to experience a bit more freedom.
"Oh? Yeah, I did, "Jak sighed, eyeing the vast city of Fire from above the palace, "Look, I'm going through a lot right now. I know I said I'd play with you, but I'm feeling a bit down. I'm sorry."
"Oh…" Aki lowered her head, "…But NEXT time, you HAVE to play with me, okay?"
"Alright." Jak patted the girl's shock of blue hair and she giggled her way out, bypassing Cortex who had just made his way up.
"Hello, Cortex."
"Konnichiwa, Jak." Cortex smiled, "…It is my native's language for "Good Afternoon".
"Oh."
"The Queen told me you'd be here. I know you wish to be alone, but I figure I'd come and see how you were doing, is all. Maybe it's a father's instinct," Cortex stated, "…I know you're not my son or anything, but neither is Coco my daughter, but I treat her as such. Of course the way you two keep bickering like a--"
"Married couple?"
"I was going to say siblings, but yes, that'll work too, I suppose."
"Yeah."
"So I imagine with your tone of voice and current mannerism that you're still grieving over the current matters of Haven--makes sense, it's only been a day."
"Yes," Jak nodded, "But I'm not going to get down. Not now, this is a desperate time and it's not just Haven I have to worry about, it's the entire galaxy, so that's why we have to find the sages, all of them."
"Yes, yes, all business, but you can relax and cry once in a while." Cortex started, "Whenever you find time to just let it all out, then do so. It's not good to hold everything in. You'll only worry people further." Jak merely nodded.
"I didn't mean to snap at Coco, I really didn't," Jak then blurted out, taking in Cortex's advice immediately, "I'm already suffering animosity from her, and the last thing I want to do is provoke her further. I was just…frustrated. Some of her comments are so harsh."
"I know," Cortex nodded, "But she's suffered a great deal in her life that caused her to be that way. Unlike you, she has a trouble time letting go of the past."
"I wish she could just tell me why she acts the way she does. I like her…I like her a lot. I don't why considering she can be so rude…but I guess I was once that way, too."
"Oh, really?"
"I never really told this to you guys, but some two years ago, I ended up in situations and control beyond my own reasoning and understanding. With much confusion, I had no way out of the invalid positions I was put into. As a result, I was tortured…experimented…probed, treated like some hostile unknown creature they found in their backyard. The result turned me into a far darker creature then I could have possibly imagined."
"Is that why you were that dark creature we saw yesterday?" Cortex asked, his voice soft and caring. Jak nodded slowly.
"I wanted to get rid of that darkness. I came to control it over time, but I don't want to have anything to do with it. I…I just…don't want to hurt anyone and be such a jerk like I was years back."
"You're a kind boy and any girl would be lucky to have you…provided they're not gold diggers. The point is, your heart is in the right place and Coco will eventually realize how much you care for her."
"Enough to ask me out on a date?" Jak's face rose to give off a hopeful look.
"She did see irritated when you and Kiera were comforting one another." Cortex grinned.
"I noticed," Jak nodded, also grinning, "I admit, this does make me feel a lot better. That bastard Veger may have my kingdom, but Ashelin will stop him somehow or at least hold him off long enough until I can think of a plan to reclaim it back. I just hope she can get through to Torn. We need him on OUR side considering he commanders the entire army of Haven." He let off a sigh, "I never should have runaway from the palace. I should have thought of a better way. Maybe then Veger wouldn't have full control over Haven and further manipulated my grandmother."
"Relax, boy. Take it one step at a time as even the smallest difference matters in just a single lifetime. A single grain of rice can tip the scale," Cortex educated, "You just have to find your balance and if that also means coming in counter with your dark half, then so be it. Perhaps you were destined to hold both the dark and the light. Like the concept of Daoism."
"Daoism?"
"It's basically a means to believe in the balance, a world where we cannot exist without light and dark working together, good and evil, male and female. In fact, may I see your pendent?" Jak nodded and slowly fished it out from underneath his red scarf.
"Now…" Cortex took out a small notepad inside his coat and drew something, "See this? This is called a Yin/Yang. It is a symbol that showcases balance. See how the white and black are opposites of another, including the small circles inside, yet they coexist peacefully together. Notice how this Earthly pattern is similar to your Precursian pendent."
"…They do look remarkably similar," Jak gasped, touching the orange trinket around his neck, "I suppose Precursia and your Earth are a lot closer then I thought. We Havenians and much of the people of this planet believe in the concept of balance because the Precursors denoted it so. Perhaps maybe that's why they will die because the two are equal in strength; just the Dark Makers have a wider army…I don't know. I just never realized you all believe in the same as we do…although Coco doesn't seem to believe in the Gods of your world."
"Well, we have different religions though." Cortex spoke, "Daoism is just one among many, although many proclaim this as more of a way of life then actual religion. As a result, there have been many Gods and deities in our culture."
"Have you ever met any of them?"
"Just the ones known as Uka Uka and Aku Aku and a few others," Cortex smiled, "…It's a long story." With that, he started to head back inside, stopping only to eye Jak with a sincere look, "Coco does care about you, I've seen it…and never have I seen better results. Perhaps you'll be the one to finally soothe the beast inside her." Jak mulled over those words by the time he left which honestly gave him a great deal of comfort he's been lacking since Veger's takeover.
Contacting Ashelin or anyone in Haven proved to be an impossibility. It seemed Veger already got a hold of as much communications from Jak as possible. Ashelin with her added pregnancy basically made her a sitting duck at the current moment. It greatly worried Jak, even more so whenever he passed by Chiso's given room, heavily guarded and watched constantly. Shuin suggested a dungeon for the boy, but Jak stated as long as he didn't have his spell book, Chiso wouldn't get far in his magic. Not to mention Luicus served as one of Precursia's cornerstones of magic, many mages far greater then that of Chiso himself. He would not stand a chance. Being on constant alert in that room, Chiso got off a lot farther then his punishment should be, as Jak seemingly must have felt some sort of pity to not even consider execution or eternal prison time.
Passing Chiso's room, he mulled over all the happenings since he first met Coco and Cortex, when the first instance of the Dark Makers came…as far as he concerned himself. Feeling a bit of a headache just thinking about those dark creatures, he didn't notice himself bumping into Coco who walked the other way until she cried out his name.
"You really need to watch where you're going, are you that clumsy?" She asked.
"At times, but not often." Jak sighed, "…I'm sorry." The tone of his voice gave way that he apologized for far more then just the bump. Coco noticed, but merely raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it happens." She muttered.
"I just have a lot on my mind."
"I figured. Being a prince isn't easy. You're a mortal doing God's job." Coco stepped in, "And ya know, your family and kingdom are in danger and all. You must really care for them."
"I do and if I had the power, I'd stop this madness in a heartbeat, but like you said, I'm just a mortal."
"A mortal with strange powers. What the hell was up with that dark pale version of you?"
"Just…events that happened in the past. Events I'm not exactly proud of."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"I don't know. Someday, but I don't feel ready. You're not going to pressure me, are you?"
"Hey, you pressured me to talk about my life all the damn time. I SHOULD do the same, but I won't because it's none of my business."
"Hey, that's Shuin's line, "It's none of my business." Jak chuckled. At this point, the two started walking down the hallway with no apparent goal to enter any of the given room, just wandering aimlessly. Surprisingly, Coco let off a chuckle, too. Quicker then Jak's, but it came.
"You're cute when you have a smile on your face," Jak complimented, "I wish you smiled more often."
"I'm not a smiling type. I grin a lot, but I haven't officially smiled in years. Nothing for me to be happy about."
"How can you say that? You have an older sister figure in Tawna, friends in Brio and Gin, and a father figure in Cortex, so family, too. Those should be enough to at least help you better appreciate the life that have been given to you."
"It far outweighs the crappy stuff that's happened to me, one you can't cure."
"Maybe if you told me, I CAN, "Jak stepped in, "I'm not sure how far I can actually help, but it'll be a step up."
"You would like that, wouldn't you? Any excuse to get down my pants."
"That's not what I'm trying to do. Okay, I like you, I really do, but I won't take advantage of people, especially people I love and care for."
"You love me?"
"Not yet. I'm not far into that region, Coco, but I DO like you and I know you really do care."
Coco, speechless sidestepped.
"This is my room…I'm going to sleep now." Her voice soft and almost broken as she entered.
…………………
"So they took the Green Sage with them?"
"Yes. From what I gathered through research of the ancient scrolls, the Green Sage should be now beginning the process of awakening both old and new sages. With it, they can help bring light to the galaxy and rid of those pesky Dark Makers and I will rule Precursia when they grant me immortality, something you all vow to help me achieve."
"Yes, yes, ve'll all get to that. You just concentrate on lowering the defenses of the other Nations." Back in that mysterious place of enigmatic technology, Veger again spoke with the five mysterious associates, the leader, a voice of an accented speaking man.
"I have successfully taken over Haven City. That Queen won't even bother me, she's obsolete so to speak, "Veger chuckled, "Filia have already been successfully taken and we now aim for the city of Riveta before moving on towards both the hidden kingdom Spargus and the vast empire of Lucius."
"Good, good. You may leave now, Veger."
The snide man made a humble bow and left, leaving the five mysterious associates to talk amongst themselves.
"What a loser. That idiot doesn't even know we're working with the Dark Makers. He thinks we're part of the "spreading the light" team." The young teenager girl voice figured spoke.
"Yes, but is Green Sage Samos now looking for other Sages. What we do?" Came the giant figure.
"Yeah, if they find the new sages, then the old ones will replace the Precursors by the time the Dark Makers strike and kill them. They'd be left like sitting ducks!"
"Well, we obviously have to stop them, now do ve?" The accented leader spoke, "After all, ve are Sages ourselves. Ve have already discovered our powers and have been awakened by our grandmaster. They have not found the other sages and ve cannot let them."
"Yeah, but are we all going at once? We're kinda busy with our own thing. Is one Sage enough? I mean, we created those thunderstorms and giant storm monsters and other forces of nature at them and they ALL survived still!" A kid's voice came.
"Well, we just have to be more sneaky and not underestimate them as we did earlier," A woman's voice popped out, "And I already initiated a plan. I sent young Prince Jak a mail requesting their presences in the capitol of Riveta, Kras City. There, I can begin my plans to eliminate them."
"Then make it so, Rayn, Sage of the Wind." The leader ordered.
"No problem…"
To Be Continued…
Author's Notes: Well, now the real meat of the story can begin. Now we get to see more of those five mysterious beings from a much earlier chapter. Rayn, remember her? And to think, Jak X elements weren't going to be included at first. That said, man, I'm still surprised I've made it this far, considering all the other crap I'm doing. No less recently possessing "Okami" (thanks to a friend) is making me addicted to that wonderful game. Ahaha.
