Jak IV: The Avenging Angels
Disclaimer, the song Mirror Mirror is by Jeff Williams, and is pretty much as close as you can get to what I've imagined what Nightingale's singing voice is like. I HIGHLY recommend popping open the RT4Copyright video of the song on YouTube when you reach the point in this chapter where the song appears. Seriously. The tone of the singing is perfect, and it really inspired the whole mirror angle I'm doing.
Also, shoutout to RWBY, Roosterteeth's upcoming new anime-style show. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, type in on Google RWBY Red Trailer, RWBY White Trailer, or RWBY Black Trailer, and experience insane amounts of awesome. Seriously, word needs to get out about this. Also, the yellow trailer comes out on the first of June. SO EXCITED. (If you watch any of the videos I mentioned, leave a comment about it to me in the form of a review)
Also, I'm aware that I used a lot of scene transitions for very small parts of the story, it's just how it happened. This chapter was a little hard to write, for whatever reason. It's also a little dark.
Also, special shoutout to JakXter724 ,who made the absolutely amazing cover art for this story. Seriously, it's bloody amazing and it goes to show that there's some serious talent out there in the Fanfiction…world? Populace?...some of you guys are really really talented! Jeez…
I suck at phrasing stuff.
Anyway, shout to those who gave me feedback from last chapter, which included Doubledamn, evilanimegenious, StaticBomb324, MiaqTheLiar, Oblique Strategies, a gust reviewer known as guest, as well as two new reviewers known as AlphaHowler and FanGirl1320. Thank you so much for your support.
Seriously, if you read this story, leave a review. It takes just a moment and it does actually matter to me, a lot more than you think.
ENJOY!
Chapter 22: Mirror Mirror
"What do you mean…die?" Rune asked as Jak hurried to Chief Disten's office.
Jak ran his hands through his hair and muttered "This is what she was talking about!"
"When did they leave!?" Jak asked hurriedly.
"Two days ago" Rune replied worriedly.
Jak found the door to the Chief's office open, and found Tech and the Chief in deep discussion. The Chief looked up and saw Jak and Rune waiting in the doorway.
"Hello there Rune, Jak. What can I do for you two?" Disten said.
"Chief, there's something I need to tell you. About Rush, and the mission he and Night went on!" Jak said urgently.
Rune nodded and added "This is bad Chief"
"They should be back by now…Jak, what happens to Rush on this mission!?" Disten asked, sounding worried.
"He and Nightingale find the Kerger Metal Heads, and at first they have some trouble. They start to get an advantage over the Metal Heads when Rush gets struck by lightning…he doesn't survive for much longer than that" Jak said quietly, looking down at his feet. Rune and Tech gasped while Disten swore under his breath and got p from his chair.
"Why didn't you tell us!?" Disten demanded furiously.
"I'm supposed to keep the past as stable as possible. He…he's been dead for a year in my timeline. It would've changed the future, and it would've completely changed Nightingale" Jak said tiredly as he sat down.
"I can't believe it…Rush…" Rune said quietly.
"That's crazy though. Rush is so strong and quick, there's no way he could die on such an easy mission" Tech said, unbelieving.
"It's true Tech. Nightingale will be the only one who comes back, and she'll always carry the weight of seeing Rush die with her… It still haunts her in the present" Jak said sadly.
"So you aren't joking?" Tech asked Jak, who shook his head.
"We've got to get to the MCC now! We might be able to get in touch with them!" Tech said urgently, the situation setting in for him.
Jak nodded and he and the other two Agents and Cheif sprinted out of the room, hurrying to the MCC. Within minutes, there were about a dozen people trying to get in touch with Rush or Nightingale.
Unfortunately, there was a huge lightning storm that was creating a lot of interference. Couple that with them being in the middle of a fight at the moment, the two Agents in Haven Forest were oblivious to any sort of effort to get ahold of them.
Jak's only thoughts were of Nightingale, and the pain he knew Rush's death would put her through.
Meanwhile:
Rush slammed into the ground, his arm broken and bloody. He staggered to his feet and looked up, seeing Nightingale fly around the Metal Head's, shooting her shotgun into their faces. Rush hissed as his self-healing armor enhancement took effect, slowly mending he arm and rendering it usable again.
"You go Nightingale!" Rush yelled happily as he pulled out his two SMG's and opened fire on one of the other Metal Heads.
Nightingale landed on the open mouth of one of the Kerger Meta Heads and hurled a grenade down its throat before jumping off of it and flying away. The Kerger Metal Head roared loudly before a massive explosion ripped through its body, causing the Metal Head to collapse onto the ground, twitching but not really dead. Nightingale landed lightly on the ground and Rush said jokingly "You wouldn't happen to have any more of those, would you?"
Nightingale shook her head and reloaded her shotgun. Rune aimed his two SMG's skyward and opened fire on the Kerger Metal Head charging towards them. The top agent rolled to the side with a huge burst of speed to avoid the monster and continued to fire at the Metal Head. Nightingale flew into the air again, only to be hit in the shoulder by a beam of Dark Eco. She flew out of control and slammed onto the ground, where the Kerger Metal Head lunged at her.
"Night!" Rush yelled as he sped towards her and scooped her up before the Metal Head's giant paw crashed onto the ground.
Nightingale nodded gratefully towards Rush and got back on her feet. She flew at the Metal Head again, this time soaring over another Dark Eco beam, and landed on the creature's back. The monster roared an flailed, trying to fling the black armored agent off of itself. Nightingale ran along the creature's back, shooting at it as she ran down the length of the creature's spine with her shotgun. Nightingale kicked off of the creature, and flew at another Kerger Metal Head, which snapped at her with its massive jaw, missing by mere feet.
Rush chuckled and said "Well, I can't let Night upstage me like that"
Rush started jogging towards the nearest Kerger Metal Head, and then activated his enhancement, causing him to rocket forward with an insane burst of speed. He kicked off of the ground which caused him to go flying through the air. The Kerger Metal Head lifted it's head up in surprise as Rush soared above it and flew down towards its head. Rush drew his arm back and it burst into a fiery red aura that gave off a wicked amount of heat. Rush sped down to earth and as the Metal Head began to charge up a beam of Dark Eco.
Rush sped forward again in midair with another burst of speed and punched the Metal Head in the head. The monster's neck spun backwards with a nasty crack and it fell onto the ground, unconscious. Rush landed on the ground, skidding in the mud as his momentum caught up with him. Rush recovered and looked over at Nightingale, who was flying in between the trees to evade the Metal Head.
"Well…two down in any case. We should incapacitate them and then kill them once we've got them down" Rush muttered to himself as he reloaded his guns.
Nightingale yelped as the last Kerger Metal Head whirled around quickly and its tail slammed into her chest, sending her flying across the ravine. Nightingale could feel the gashes in her armor, and looked down and saw blood on her armor as well. Nightingale stumbled to her feet as Rush ran over to her.
"You OK?" Rush asked.
Nightingale nodded and took a step forward before her leg gave out underneath her. Nightingale clutched her leg as pain shot up it, and she realized one of the spikes on the Kerger Metal Head's tail had cut into her leg pretty deeply.
"Stay here. I can take care of this thing" Rush said as he put a comforting hand on Nightingale's shoulder. Nightingale smiled underneath her helmet and let Rush step forward to challenge the beast.
Rush turned to face the Metal Head, which chuckled darkly.
"Foolish human. You cannot fell me like you did my brothers. We are the elite, the ultimate grade of Hora-Quan. You cannot possibly help to understand the powers that our kind possess" the remaining Kerger growled at Rush, its face contorted in a snarl.
The lightning flashed overhead as Rush said "Your kind are a plague on our world. You do nothing but ravage the planet and consume our resources, and slaughter our kind…you lay waste to every planet you visit. You're nothing but parasites, and I'll take you all out, one at a time, for what you've taken from all of us"
"You can try little human…but in the end, the Dark Goddess will judge you all" the Metal Head growled as it lunged at Rush.
Rush was already speeding towards the Metal Head, sliding down in the dirt and sliding underneath the Metal Head as it crashed onto the ground next to it. Rush thrust his arms out, and both of them became engulfed in the same fiery red aura as before.
Nightingale slowly got to her feet and noticed the two downed Kerger Metal Heads were stirring, and she readied herself to take the two of them on herself, regardless of her injuries. Nightingale pulled out one of her GED's and clamped it onto her chest, injecting Green Eco into her wounds and healing them. She did the same to her legs, very aware she had one charge left in each GED she had.
Rush jumped to the side to avoid a beam of Dark Eco and shot forward, uppercutting the Metal head in the skull. Then creature snarled and flailed its head, slamming into Rush and sending him flying backwards, slamming into the mud. The Metal head grinned evilly and pounced, but Rush was already gone once more.
Rush shot to the side to avoid the Metal Head's paws and sprinted forward again, punching the Metal Head right in the skull again. This time the Kerger Metal Head stayed down, falling onto the ground unconscious, blood trailing from its head.
Rush then heard a yell of pain and whirled around, seeing Nightingale crash onto the mud next to him. One of the remaining Kerger Metal Head's was barely alive at this point, riddled with bullet holes in its body, but the other was still able to fight, though it as still badly injured.
"Nightingale. Are you OK?" Rush asked, pulling out his SMG's and aiming them at the Kerger Metal Head, which was growling loudly.
Nightingale managed to nod before she felt a horrible shiver go down her spine. She looked up and saw a wicked flash before a huge blast sent her flying away, creating an immense wave of heat as well. She landed on the ground next to her, temporarily deaf, before looking up and seeing something utterly horrible. She then realized that she could hear after all. She also realized several other things right then and there.
The blast was hurt her was lightning hitting the ground.
The blast had been from it hitting the ground next to her.
And the horrible sight in front of her was Rush being struck by lightning.
Rush let out a scream.
A high, loud, and horrible sound that was made as a result of the lightning engulfing him. Nightingale could only lay there on the ground, bloodied and injured, as her idol was blasted by the powerful bolt, a wave of terrible noise that washed over her. Nightingale would forever be scared by this moment, leaving her with a fear of lightning that would haunt her forever as she watched the person dearest to her die before her eyes.
"RUSH NO!" Nightingale screamed in horror, breaking her long silence out of sheer terror.
She ran forward, her concern for Rush overriding her fear, and snatched him free of the lightning bolt, which was being to dissipate. She flew his charred armor upwards, away from the three Metal Heads that were now charging after them. She managed to reach a small valley before she landed. Nightingale, with her hands trembling horribly, took off Rush's helmet. His handsome face was bleeding, and his eyes had a glazed look. Rush took a shuddering breath and said "N-night…are you OK?"
Nightingale nodded and Rush smiled.
"Good…thank the Precursors for that…Night…I think I'm…I think I'm dying…" Rush muttered.
"Rush…please…don't…don't leave me…I don't want to be… all alone again…" Nightingale whispered as she looked down at Rush, tears streaming down her face.
Rush smiled and laughed, before coughing violently a spitting out some blood. He then smiled again said "I knew someday I'd get you to speak…your voice is beautiful Night…I'm so glad I got to hear it…before I died…"
Nightingale slowly removed her helmet, allowing her long black hair to spill free from the helmet. Nightingale pulled out her GED's, injecting Rush with a double burst of Green Eco, but as some of the burns healed, Rush shook his head at her. Nightingale let out a sob of despair as Rush coughed again, though this time it was clear, and Nightingale hugged him tightly.
"Please…you're like a b-brother to me…I'm s-so sorry I didn't speak, I just…I couldn't, not after what happened to me…Don't leave me…" Nightingale whispered.
"It's OK…it's OK…Night…I can't move…I can't…" Rush said, his eyes shimmering.
"I'm so glad I finally got to hear you speak…Nightingale…Iris…please…don't mourn me. Find someone else to lean on, someone else to care for. The others…they care about you…as do some other people as well…" Rush said, thinking of Jak. Rush realized bitterly why Jak didn't know him in the future. Why he was an unknown factor to Jak.
He was doomed to die. He wasn't in Jak's future, because he would never leave this forest, or meet Jak again.
Nightingale put Rush's hand in her's and she said "I…I'm so sorry. If I had just been faster, I could have-
Rush shook his head and said "It wasn't your fault Night. Everyone's gotta die sometime, right?...I guess it's just my time"
"I won't let you die!" Nightingale whispered desperately.
"You don't get any say in the matter Iris…this is my last mission…tell the Chief…I said thanks…for everything…let the others know…that I was so happy to have known them…goodbye Night…I love you kiddo" Rush said with a painful grin as a tear rolled down his face.
Rush's eyes slowly became blank and glazed, and with a shuddering breath the top ranked agent of the Avenging Angels slowly died in Nightingale's arms. Nightingale screamed into the night, her voice laced with misery and loss. Her voice unheard by anyone, just like her screams so long ago in the Marauder Fortress.
Meanwhile:
Rush's beacon on the large Holo-Map in the MCC suddenly turned black, and Disten swore loudly, and then sank into a nearby chair.
"It's over…Rush…Rush didn't make it" Disten muttered.
"DAMN IT!" Tech yelled angrily, slamming his hands down on the keyboard.
Rune gasped and whispered "No…not Rush"
Jak snarled angrily and punched a dent in the nearby wall, feeling 100% responsible for what had happened. It wasn't Nightingale's fault that he had died, it was…his.
Jak stormed out of the MCC while Rune and Disten tried to keep their composure, Tech had left the room. Only Disten was successful at not crying, and soon the technicians and the Chief were consoling Rune, who had broken down completely, sobbing uncontrollably.
Jak found himself a few minutes later in the Bathing Grotto for some reason, and he fell to his knees and muttered "What have I done?"
He was supposed to get to the past and retrieve the Precursor Key…that was it.
Instead, he had been the cause of Rush dying in the past, by not alerting everyone to that possibility. Rush may have already been doomed to die, but still, Jak could have prevented it completely. He was the reason Nightingale was so hurt for so long. He had hurt her. The mere thought left Jak feeling wretched and horrible.
Jak finally looked up, taking in several deep breaths of the moist air coming from the nearby waterfalls, and noticed something that was in the Bathing Grotto now that wasn't there in the future.
It was a mirror.
A huge intricate and beautiful mirror, with delicate silver decorations adorning the edges and a very polished and well-kept surface reflecting back at Jak a very clear reflection of the room. It was attached to a faraway wall, on a rock face. Jak starred into the mirror before turning away, for once sharing Night's hatred of the reflective objects.
Jak finally exited the Bathing Grotto, deciding that a drive in the desert might make him feel less horrible. He managed to get the keys to the Retaliator after a quick conversation with Beast, and a few minutes later, Jak peeled out of the Motor Pool and into the desert, ready to find some way to blow off some steam.
And he got his wish.
Jak eventually slowed to a stop outside of some crags and went to investigate them, due to some weird feeling he was getting in his gut, and his Eco Extractor glowing, particularly his Dark Eco Extractor. To his surprise, he found a small bunch of glowing purple crystals in a small crevice in the outcropping of crags.
"Dark Eco Crystals!? Incredible" Jak muttered as he walked over to the gems and began chipping them from the wall.
Jak put the crystals in a small bag, satisfied and surprised he had chanced upon such a rare find, when all of a sudden a shot rang out. Jak yelled out as the bullet went through his shoulder and he fell onto the ground. The bag fell into the ground and the crystals fell into the sands.
"Well, well, well? What do we have here?" an eerily familiar voice asked.
"What…?" Jak said as he turned on his back and looked at his assailant.
To his surprise, he saw an armored Hunter Agent aiming a sniper rifle at him from a mere thirty yards away. He wore bone white armor with a black skull emblem on the chest plate. He had a black pistol clipped to his leg as well.
It was Skull.
"But…I killed you" Jak grunted as he staggered to his feet.
BAM!
Jak fell to one knee as another shot tore through his chest. Skull chuckled and said "I think you've got the wrong guy"
"I forgot…I'm in the past…I haven't killed him…yet" Jak thought as he got to his feet again, turning into Light Jak as he did so.
"What the hell!?" Skull yelled in surprise.
"What's wrong? Scared of the light?" Light Jak asked with an amused tone as he healed his injuries.
"Wh-what…what are you..what the hell are you?" Skull asked, lowering his rifle a little.
"Let me give you some healthy advice. Don't mess with me today, because I'm really not in the mood" Light Jak said.
Jak turned back into his original form and turned around.
"I'm done here" Jak said as he started walking towards his vehicle.
"…EXCUSE ME?" Skull said incredulously, firing a shot at Jak, who ducked and whirled around, aiming his Morph Gun at Skull.
"FINE THEN!" Jak yelled as he unloaded his Vulcan Fury on the Hunter Agent, who took cover amongst the rocks.
"Hahahah! Now this is more like it!" Skull yelled gleefully as he dashed along the crags, sneaking up from behind Jak.
Skull suddenly jumped Jak from out of nowhere, pulling out a dagger and jamming it repeatedly into Jak's back. Jak threw Skull off of him and fired a few more shots with his Vulcan Fury, but Skull avoided those as well.
"I forgot how annoying it is fighting you" Jak muttered as turned into Light Jak again to heal his wounds. This time however, he stayed in his Light Form and activated his Light Shield, casting a protective blue shield around himself to deflect Skull's gunfire. The shield went down as Skull lowered his rifle again, and Light Jak placed both of his palms together, as if praying.
"Bah! Cheater" Skull remarked as he reloaded his pistol.
"Maybe so. But you don't play fair either" Light Jak said as he began to charge up enough energy for a Light Strike. A small white ball of Light Eco began to form in his hands.
"Too true" Skull said, pulling out a small switch, clicking down on the button with his thumb.
A ring of explosion went off around Light Jak, sending him crashing onto the ground, drenched in blood. Light Jak growled angrily, his wounds slowly vanishing as a ray of light struck him from above. Jak reverted to his regular form, giving up on the Light Strike for now. He needed a plan.
If he went into Dark Jak mode, he knew his anger and frustration would cause him to kill Skull, which would mess up the timeline. Jak took cover as Skull took aim again and fired a shot, blasting a small chunk off of the crag he was taking cover behind.
"Come on Angel! Hit me! Shoot me! Bring it on!" Skull laughed as he fired another shot.
Jak switched to his Yellow Blaster Mod and jumped from cover, firing a shot at Skull, who yelped in pain as the shot hit him right in the stomach, winding him. Jak stand up and aligned the laser-sight with Skull's head and pulled the trigger three times, dazing the Hunter Agent and causing him to stumble backwards and clutch his head in pain.
Jak ran forward and fired a few more shots, but Skull managed to recover and dodge them before pulling out a long knife and swinging it at Jak as he got within striking distance. Jak hand shifted as the blade came closer to him, hitting another setting on his Morph Gun.
Jak ducked under Skull's slash, running underneath his outstretched arms, spun around, and blasted him ten yards backwards with the second shotgun mod, releasing a massive wave of Green Eco into Skull.
Skull slowly got to his feet and hurled a black dagger at Jak, only for Jak to shoot the dagger out of the air and fire a few more shots at Skull, who jumped to the side and yelled "Come on Angel! You'll have to do better than that!"
"You know what…screw it" Jak thought angrily.
He needed to release some pent up aggression anyway.
"You want better! I'll show you better!" Jak yelled as the Dark Eco surged forth, transforming him into Dark Jak.
Skull took a step back as Dark Jak took a step forward. Skull quickly pulled out his sniper rifle and took aim, and Dark Jak chuckled darkly and opened his arms wide, leaving him wide open for an attack. Daring Skull to shoot him.
Skull pulled the trigger fourteen times with his semi-automatic sniper rifle, and each of those shots slammed into Dark Jak, who laughed at bullets that felt like bee stings to him.
Skull quickly reloaded and aimed his rifle again, only to find Dark Jak standing in front of him.
"My turn" Dark Jak snarled, grabbing the rifle from Skull and snapping it in half, raining bullets down on the ground.
Skull jumped back and pulled out a black pistol, only for Dark Jak to punch him in the chest, sending him flying across the dunes. Skull slammed into the sand about a hundred yards away, yelling out in agony. Skull looked to his left and saw Dark Jak calmly walking towards him. Skull slowly got to his feet and pulled out his pistol and took aim.
Dark Jak laughed again and charged up a ball of Dark Eco before firing it. Skull yelled out in terror and jumped to the side, but was still sent flying from the impact of the Dark Strike that was sent at him. Skull landed roughly on the ground again, yelling out in pain.
"W-hat are you?" Skull whispered in horror and as drew his pistol again and fired a few shots at Jak, only for them to either miss or for Dark Jak to calmly deflect with a wave of Dark Eco.
"You know. I was having a bad day…A REALLY…bad day. And then you showed up…" Dark Jak whispered with a sadistic grin.
Skull lunged at Jak, only from him to be caught by the throat and held up high into the air like a child.
"A…ACK…wha…what are you!?" Skull asked again, choking out the words.
"I'm Jak. And for the next five minutes, you're officially my b!tch" Dark Jak snarled as he hurled Skull another hundred yards, causing him crash into the side of a mountain.
"Come on! You were talking all that good sh!t a minute ago!" Dark Jak laughed as Skull fell from the rock face he was in and tried to get up.
Memories of what Skull and the Hunters did to him and his fellow Agents flashed through his mind, the torture of Phoenix being the clearest in his mind.
"By the way, this is for what happened to Phoenix. I'm going to make you pay for it in advance" Dark Jak said as he slashed at Skull, leaving a diagonal slash mark that tore through his armor, drawing blood. Dark Jak spun around and threw Skull halfway across the desert again, this time throwing him back into the crags that Jak had been at earlier. Skull collapsed into the dirt, barely conscious at this point.
He blearily looked up and saw Dark Jak standing above him, with a disgusted look on his face. Jak reverted to his normal form, still looking at Skull with a scowl.
Jak scoffed and said "I should kill you...it'd save me a whole lot of trouble…But I won't. Just get the hell out of here and leave us alone"
Jak turned around and began to walk away, scooping up and fallen bah of Dark Eco Crystals as he walked by them. About twenty minutes later, Skull managed to pull himself into a sitting position, and his eyes fell on a small shard of Dark Eco Crystal next to him. One of the pieces that Jak had missed.
"That must have been what he was looking for…" Skull muttered.
Skull reached towards the Crystal, his fingers barely brushing it. Skull retracted his hand, howling in pain as the Dark Eco in the crystal shocked him and sent a wave of pain through his whole arm. Skull stared at the crystal, panting heavily from both his recent ordeal, and from shock.
"No…there's power in these Crystals. Pure Dark Eco! I can feel it…I will control the darkness, and then…then I will finally hear the Dark Goddess. She will speak to me…and I'll be her Champion!" Skull laughed as he grabbed the Crystal tightly and held it to the sky.
Skull screamed as the Dark Eco surged into him, and ultimately sealed his own fate.
Docking Bay:
Jak drove back into the motor pool, and found several of the agents there waiting for him, Rune and Disten among them. Word was spreading quickly.
"What happened?" Rune asked Jak mournfully.
"You're covered in blood" Disten added worriedly.
"I met a Hunter Agent in the Wasteland. I paid him back for something he did in the future. Well…I actually kill him in the future and…agh, this is complicated" Jak groaned, holding his head.
"Time travel is always complicated" a new voice piped up, one that Jak knew instantly.
Jak spun around pulled out his Morph Gun, aiming it at the very person Skull wanted to be. The Champion of Darkness that he dreamed of being so desperately that he had resorted to poisoning himself with Dark Eco.
Havoc.
Havoc grinned and said "So…time travel eh?"
Jak scowled, but said nothing. Once again he was in a dilemma, mainly because if he did what his instinct told him and shot Havoc until his guts were spilled on the floor, it would change the future. If he did that, then Nightingale would never get hurt by Havoc, and in turn never befriend Jak.
So once again, Jak was forced to hold his tongue, taking the fact that he was once again making his own future worse with a grain of salt.
Jak lowered his gun and said stiffly "Sorry…I guess I'm on edge"
Havoc chuckled, waving at Jak dismissively, and said "It's fine man. Not the first time I've been held at gunpoint. Just remember who you aim your gun at"
Havoc walked away, whistling to himself cheerfully.
"He's in a good mood" Jak growled.
"He rose another rank on the Leaderboard today…what was that about, if you don't mind me asking Jak?" Disten asked cautiously.
"Remember how I couldn't tell you guys about Rush?" Jak muttered darkly.
"Same situation with Havoc, huh?" Rune said with a tired sigh.
Jak nodded, and a technician came running out of the tunnel.
"There's an unauthorized vehicle coming in through the tunnel!" the man yelled.
All of a sudden a Zoomer came through the tunnels, barely flying at all, badly damaged and sparking. Nightingale fell off of it, drenched in blood and mud, and Disten ran to her side quickly while Rune looked on, unsure of what to do.
Nightingale was still a mystery to the past agents. They never seen her or hear her speak before. How could they possibly deal with this?
Nightingale was then carried out of the Motor Pool by Disten himself. Nightingale's armor was bloodied and badly damaged just like her Zoomer. Part of the black leather suit of her armor was torn horribly, showing her bare skin on parts of her legs. The others watched silently as the Agent was carried by her adoptive father to the infirmary. Jak starred at her, as they went by, noting that her helmet was horribly cracked, she looked…dead.
Jak watched the whole scene, feeling sick to his stomach the entire time.
A few Hours Later:
"Jazon…"
Havoc's eyes snapped open and he tiredly sat up from his bed.
"2:45 in the morning? Damn" Havoc grunted.
"Jazon…accept your fate" the voice whispered.
"Suck it. I'm trying to sleep. Bug me when I'm training or something" Havoc growled as he poured a glass of water for himself and thirstily chugged it.
"Fine…now or later…it makes no difference, my Champion of darkness…" the voice said with amusement.
"What was that…a dream? A hallucination?" Havoc muttered, shaking his head.
Havoc got up and stretched. He felt tired, oh so very tired. He couldn't go back to sleep though, he had dealt with insomnia since he was a child, so this was nothing new to him.
Nothing like a walk after dark to clear your mind.
He had always preferred the dark as a child as well. He was never scared of it, and was generally happier at night than during the day. His brother always called him an Owl because of this, and they would always laugh at that.
He shrugged on his armor and walked out of his room, locking the door behind him. Havoc turned around and began his walking, strolling down the hallways slowly, enjoying the quiet.
Until he came.
Havoc saw the Time Traveller storm down the hallway, looking miserable, angry and defeated. Jak…that was his name. Havoc walked over to him and said "Hello there…I don't think we've been properly introduced, other than you trying to shoot me, hehehe…I'm Ha-"
BAM!
Havoc was suddenly on the ground, his eyes screwed shut in pain and clutching his jaw. Jak's balled up fist was still outstretched, from where he had decked Havoc in the face.
"Get away from me. I'm not in the mood" Jak said simply as he continued storming down the hallway.
"Damn, what's his problem?" Havoc muttered.
"Didn't you hear?"
Havoc turned around and saw Blade looking at him. His eyes looked rather red, as if he had been crying lately. But that was crazy. Blade didn't cry.
"What happened?" Havoc asked, concerned.
"Rush was killed on his mission" Blade said sadly, spitting out the words as if they were poison.
"No way" Havoc laughed.
BAM!
Havoc was again on the floor, this time clutching his eye. Blade snarled angrily at him and said "It's no joke Jazon!"
Havoc frowned and said "Damn…I liked Rush. He didn't think it was weird to laugh when things got blown up. Such is life I guess"
Blade shook his head in disgust and said "He was the best sort of man you'll ever find. And now he's gone"
"Wait…what happened to Nightingale?" Havoc asked, sounding concerned this time.
He had actually been rather fond of the silent Agent for a while now. She didn't feel the need to converse with others, allowing her actions to speak louder than her words, and he appreciated that a little more than the others did. She was incredibly skilled, and he felt a strange connection to her ever since he had met her. He had learned that the girl was a very good listener, and he had found that she made a rather good companion to talk to, if you didn't mind not getting a response back.
"She…she made it…but I have no idea what sort of state she's in right now. She looked nearly dead when she came back, I saw the Chief carrying her to the Infirmary" Blade said shaking his head.
Havoc sighed and said "Poor Nightingale…and Rush…what a night"
"Tell me about it" Blade sighed as he leaned against the wall.
"Wait. Does Chill know?" Havoc asked suddenly.
Blade paled in horror and said "Damn it. I think Rune told her already!"
"Find her. She needs you" Havoc said seriously.
Blade sprinted down the hallway like a madman, and Havoc sighed heavily and leaned against the wall himself.
"What a night…" Havoc murmured as he sank down the wall.
Meanwhile:
Disten slowly walked up to the door, hesitant.
The doctors had warned him that she was incredibly unstable right now, traumatized by what had happened on this mission, whatever it was. Not to mention how injured she was at the moment. Other than bandaging her wounds, she refused all other medical treatment, wanting contact with no one. All they had been able to get out of her was that Rush had died, and that it was her fault. Mutterings about being forever alone and lightning could be heard as she stumbled back to her room.
Disten knocked quietly on the door.
"Nightingale?"
"…"
"Iris, please…come out…" Disten said quietly.
The door creaked open, revealing a pair of bloodshot green eyes in a pitch black room. Nightingale was no longer crying, for the moment, but she muttered in a deadly quiet voice "I said…for no one to bother me…"
"I'm worried. Please, come out of your room, eat something. I had Turo make that soup that you like" Disten said with a pleading smile.
"I can't…I…I just can't" Nightingale whispered, slamming the door shut.
"Iris, please. Come out, we can talk about it" Disten said desperately.
"I just want the pain to stop…" Disten heard Nightingale whisper before she broke down again.
Nightingale fell onto her bed, sobbing uncontrollably. She was lost, all alone in the dark again. Loneliness consumed her as she sobbed her heart out. Disten may have tried to bring her out of her shell, but no one could get her through this…not this. She had lost her closest friend…no one could ever replace Rush…
It was like losing her brother all over again, and this time it was all her fault. If she could have just held her own, if she could have been a little quicker and pulled Rush free of the lightning sooner.
So many ifs…yet the outcome was the same.
Rush was gone.
"I l-let him d-die…I c-could've saved him…" Nightingale sobbed as she sank further and further into her despair. Into the pain of loneliness and loss.
Disten sighed deeply and said "May the Precursors watch over you, Iris…"
Chill looked out from around and the corner and said "H-how is she…you know? Nightingale…"
"She's…utterly devastated. Rush was the only person she felt comfortable around, and now he's gone…we don't even have a body to bury…" Disten murmured, sighing deeply as he leaned against the wall, feeling weak.
"I wish I knew what to do for her…but she's a mystery to me" Chill admitted.
"For good reason. That girl will speak to you all when she's ready, and she certainly won't be making any recovery after this…" Disten said quietly, glancing at Nightingale's door.
"I'm…I'm going to miss him Chief…" Chill said quietly, her voice breaking.
Disten smiled slightly and held out his arms, and Chill embraced him, sobbing into his shoulder.
"Why!? Why…damn it Rush! W-why did you…" Chill whispered as hot tears rolled down her face.
"He's in a better place now…we'll have a small private funeral for him…it's the best we can do without a body…" Disten murmured.
Chill let out a sob of distress and Disten continued to comfort another young woman he cared for, one who was more open about her emotions and willing to let someone else into her heart. Blade finally found the two embracing and said "Nicole!"
Chill looked up and saw Blade, looking at her sadly. Chill broke her embrace with Disten and threw herself at Blade, hugging him tightly. Blade smiled slightly as he wrapped his arms tenderly around Chill and said "Let it out Nicole. It's OK"
Chill broke down completely as Blade held her, and Disten allowed himself a moment to reflect on what had happened.
Jak had come from the future, knowing of the past…and had refused to tell them that Rush would die? He could have prevented this, all of this, if had just been more forthright and honest with them.
For once, for one of the very few times in his life, he allowed anger to overcome his judgment. He allowed his emotions to overrule common sense.
"Jak…He's going to tell me everything that's happened in between now and his timeline, or so help me he'll pay for this" Disten snarled angrily as he stormed down the hallway.
Blade looked at Disten's retreating figure and said "Nicole, I think the Chief blames Jak for what happened?"
"How is it his fault?" Chill managed to choke out past the tears.
"Jak came from the future, he knew Rush would die. That's why Jak didn't know him in the future, because they had never met. Jak didn't want to destroy the timeline Chill…but at what cost?" Blade muttered.
Chill let out another sob and Blade carefully nudged her chin upwards so she was looking him in the eyes. Blade carefully wiped her eyes and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Nicole. Let's go to my room" Blade said softly, holding her closer to him.
"I can't do that! Not now!" Chill yelled out angrily, pushing him away from her.
Blade shook his head and said "No…nothing like that. I was thinking we could just lay down in my room…get out of the open and behind closed doors…and just talk. It's been a while since we've done that"
Chill calmed down a little and whispered "I'd like that"
Blade smiled and let her lean her head on his shoulder, and they walked down the hallway, holding hands and trying to comfort each other over this painful loss.
Three Days Later:
"You'll stay here until we can decide whether or not you'll destroy any more lives. Timeline be damned" Disten snarled as Jak walked into his cell. The Chief slammed the jail door behind Jak.
Jak sighed and said "I didn't want him to die Chief"
…
Jak sat down on his new bed and sighed deeply, wondering how else it things could go wrong. He closed his eyes, wishing he could do something…anything to make things better.
To pass the time, he spoke with Blade, his current warden for the evening. Blade personally didn't think Jak was a fault, but he was under orders. Blade remained quiet for most of the time, letting Jak do most of the talking. Blade merely nodded when Jak said something, not really listening.
It was true; Blade didn't blame Jak for anything. He didn't agree with locking Jak up in the brig just because he COULD have saved Rush. From what he could tell, Jak had wanted to mention it, and was unaware of when in time he was. That wasn't his fault, and even if he did know it would have destroyed his future. Blade understood all of this, and yet the pain of losing one of his best friends tore at him.
Consoling Chill was a rather difficult task, because she had seen Rush as a role model as well, someone she could always look up too. Rush was the one who had convinced the two of them to start dating, seeing how compatible they were with each other. Blade owed Rush a lot, and now he'd never be able to repay him for his kindness and friendship.
A few hours later, Chill came to relieve Blade of his shift, giving him a swift peck on the cheek as he passed her. Chill sat down in the chair next to Jak's door and said "How're you holding up?"
Jak smiled at her concern and said "I could be asking you the same thing"
"I'll be alright…I think. It's just…" Chill sighed deeply and said "I don't want to talk about it"
"I'm sorry. If I had known how far back I was in time, I would've tried to save him, even if it did destroy the timeline" Jak said sadly.
"Thank you Jak. That does mean something to me, you know. We don't blame you at all. You're one of us, right?" Chill said with a shaky smile.
"Yeah. If I could just get to that ruin, I could get the key and be on my way…but I don't see how I can do that now" Jak sighed deeply.
"Me either" Chill admitted.
Jak passed the time training in his cell, using his newest Light Sight ability and testing it out. As of now, he could only see short flashes of things relevant in the present, mainly flashes of his fellow Agents. Havoc walking around in the hallways, Rune sparring with Sharpshooter, things like that. Jak kept trying to find some way to see Nightingale, to see how she was coping. To know how she was doing...
"I hope she's OK" Light Jak whispered to himself.
Meanwhile:
Bathing Grotto:
Nightingale fell onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably once more. She wore half of her armor, the top half being a filthy black tank top while the bottom half of her was her bloodstained armor, still filthy from the mud and blood that covered it.
Her heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces. It was like Jakob all over again. She had lost someone she had trusted utterly when all hope was lost, and like everything else in her miserable life, he was taken away from her. She was all alone again.
Nightingale slowly got to her feet and looked across the bathing Grotto and spotted the large intricate mirror hanging from the side of the rock face. Nightingale could see her reflection.
And she HATED what she saw.
Mirrors had always haunted Nightingale, simply because she couldn't stand what looked back at her. She was an socially awkward freak without any friends, unable to trust anyone around her due to being betrayed by Jakob, and now she had Rush's blood on her hands. Nightingale continued to stare into the mirror, the pain in her heart intensifying with every passing moment.
She then realized with a gasp that there WAS a way to end the pain.
Nightingale then smiled bitterly and looked down at the pistol strapped to her leg, unused from her fight with the Kerger Metal Heads. She frowned again and whispered "No more…I just want the pain to stop"
Nightingale pulled the pistol free and slowly walked towards the mirror in front of her. She then began to sing. Beautiful, calm, brokenhearted singing. The music seemed to flow throughout the entire headquarters, even reaching Jak hallways away.
Jak frowned in his cell and said "Night?"
(Play Mirror Mirror, by Jeff Williams)
Mirror, tell me something,
tell me who's the loneliest…of all?
Jak turned into his Light from and closed his eyes, allowing his Light Sight to take effect. Jak could finally see Nightingale, standing in the Bathing Grotto.
"Night…" Light Jak whispered.
Jak realized in horror that she was holding a pistol in her right hand as the tears rolled down her face. Her voice was steady. Beautiful, yet was the saddest thing he had ever heard. Jak bolted out of his bed and started pounding on door.
"LET ME OUT!" Light Jak yelled angrily.
"Sorry Jak, the Chief made it clear" Chill said dolefully.
Light Jak snarled and started slamming against the door. When that didn't work, he began to charge up a ball of Light Eco in his hands.
"Chill! Watch out!" Light Jak yelled.
Chill jumped away from the door, a few seconds later it was blown clear off of its hinges.
Jak burst out of the cell and sprinted down the hallway.
Mirror, tell me something,
tell me who's the loneliest of all?
Chill sprinted after Jak, who was running down the hallway like hell had come. Chill shouted for help, saying that Jak had broken out. Suddenly Blade was by her side, Galvasword in hand. Chill activated her armor enhancement and shot forward in a burst of ice and jumped on Jak's back. She yelled "Come on! What's wrong with you!?"
Fear of,
what's inside of me;
Tell me can a heart be turned to stone?
Light Jak hurled Chill off of him, and put on another burst of speed down the hallway. Chill fired a few blasts of ice at Jak, who deflected them with his Light Shield. An alarm had been raised at this point, and the hunt was on for the escaped prisoner.
Light Jak burst down the hallway, using his Light Sight once more. In his mind's eye, he could see Nightingale walking along the dirt path, singing sorrowfully yet beautifully. She continued to walk towards the large mirror, walking towards herself. Walking towards death, the one thing that would finally end the pain, now and forever.
She could be with Rush again.
Light Jak's vision returned to normal as he jumped high over Royal, who was slashing at him with a laser sword. Jak spun around and punched the older agent in the chest with a burst of Light Eco, sending him crashing onto the ground. Light Jak looked behind him and sent a way of Light Eco at Royal, sending him flying backwards into Chill, who fell to the ground with a yell. Blade jumped over the both of them and sent another blast if lightning at Jak. Jak turned into Dark Jak and vanished in a burst of Dark Eco, reappearing about thirty yards down the hallway. Blade sent another blast of lightning at him, and Dark Jak snarled as it shocked him violently.
Nightingale then sang a pure high note, and he put on another burst of speed, running as fast as he could despite the pain. He knew what Nightingale would do with that pistol. He wouldn't…he COULDN'T let this happen to her. She meant too much to him. Jak reverted to his normal state again and continued to run.
Chief Disten burst out of his office, and ordered Beast and Blade to catch up to Jak, who ignored them and continued on his frenzied run to save Nightingale from herself. Blade shot another burst of lightning at him from his Galvasword, and Jak ducked and continued running down the hallway. Jak heard something whirl through the air towards him and ducked just as a razor sharp knife slammed into the wall next to his head. Beast snarled angrily behind him as the chase continued.
Mirror, mirror,
what's behind you?
Save me from the things I see.
I can keep it from the world,
Why won't you let me hide from me?
Nightingale then walked up to a cliff, tears still streaming down her face. She continued to gaze at her reflection, the large mirror still showing her the person who had let Rush die. She loathed the person she saw in the mirror, the woman who starred back at her.
Jak burst into the Bathing Grotto, praying that he wasn't too late. Jak saw Nightingale, standing at the top of a small cliff, with a pistol aimed at her chest and tears running down her face.
Mirror, mirror,
tell me something…
Who's the loneliest of all?
Jak turned into Light Jak and slammed his hands together, trying to buy himself more time by slowing time itself down. As Nightingale began to open her mouth, he saw her slowly pull the trigger of the pistol. Jak kicked off of the ground and soared towards her as she sang the final verse of her song. Nightingale's eyes closed completely and a small smile graced her lips.
I am the loneliest of…all.
"NIGHTINGALE!" Jak screamed as the shot rang out.
End of Chapter:
Interesting…
Stay tuned, and please review and tell me what you thought!
Follow the legacy of Twitter, follow me at FlygonNick!
Until next time, FlygonN out!