Jak IV: The Avenging Angels
I'm also going to out the speculation to rest.
Lady Arranst is not Maia. She is an entirely new character and an OC made by me. Who exactly she is will be made clear very soon, but for now, I'll keep you in the dark.
Why?
Because I'm an asshole. :D
I could've had this up sooner, but I realized halfway through that the way I was setting the chapter up was all wrong, so I scrapped it. And then I got delayed by homework. And then I lost the chapter.
Shoutout to those who reviewed last chapter, which includes TC-Irish3, Katpet, Sage Nightwing, doubledamn, StaticBomb324, AlphaHowler, FanGirl1320, oddballooze, and a new reviewer known as Ishval Zero (For some reason that name sounds really badass).
Thanks for the support, and for bearing with me. I'm not happy with how this one turned out, but I can promise 30 will be better. I'll be back to edit this one later, probably tomorrow, but for now I wanted to get it up.
Enjoy.
Chapter 29: We Fight, We Claw, We Survive
We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival-" Winston Churchill
Three Days Later:
Wasteland:
"Watch out!" Chill yelled out as the lead Metal-Saur reared and lashed out at Blade, who jumped back and rolled into a crouch.
"This one's nasty" Blade commented calmly as he drew his Galvasword once more and slashed three times, blasting the great beast with green lighting three times.
"You're just pissing it off babe!" Chill yelled as she pulled out two laser pistols and began shooting at the beast, waiting for her armor to cool down. Her armor was coated in ice that was slowly receding, and when the armor got overheated the failsafe's Tech had implemented in it would start to fail. If that happened, then the ice generating circuits in her armor would slowly start to subject Chill to extreme amount of cold, which could kill her if not handled properly.
"I just got to get close enough to slice its head off!" Blade yelled as he suddenly shot forward, kicking off of the ground and shooting into the air. The Metal-Saur Leader looked up and roared as Blade came crashing down on its skull, where Blade slashed its head five times before the Metal-Saur hurled him off of him and sent him crashing into the sand headfirst. The Metal Head suddenly opened its mouth and a ball of raw Dark Eco suddenly began to form in its mouth.
"RUSSAL!"
Blade groaned as he rolled over, seeing the beam charging in the Metal Head's mouth as he rolled onto his back. As the beam shot from the creature's mouth, a white and blue blur moved in front of him, fling their arms upwards. The beam slammed into a wall of ice that Chill had coating her arms, with a terrible scowl on her face under her visor. The beam disappeared, and the ice vanished with several loud cracks.
"You leave him alone" Chill said coldly as she held out her hand, a small rapier of pure ice forming in her grip. Blade could hear the warnings going off in Chill's helmet from several feet away, with Vin and Arch advising her to calm down and let her armor cool down properly.
"Nicole…I'm fine" Blade said as he got to his feet, giving her a smile.
"Then on three, we take this thing down together" Chill said, giving her lover a small smile.
"One…"Blade said as he got into a stance.
"Two…" Chill said as she readied her armor, feeling the cold seeping into her skin from the overuse, but the rush and adrenaline from the fight was making the seeping cold a trivial matter for now. What mattered now was killing this thing.
"THREE!" Blade and Chill yelled.
Blade activated his Dash enhancement, shooting forward like a rocket while Chill ran at the monster, sword raised. The Metal-Saur roared in pain as the Galvasword slammed into its side and Blade lodged the sword in its chest. Blade pulled out a laser sword and began slashing away at the Metal-Saur with a growl. Chill kicked off of the ground, a jet of ice shooting from her boot, and landed on the creature's back. Chill flipped the razor sharp ice sword in her grasp and jammed it into the Metal-Saur's spine, causing the monster to roar in pain as the combined attacks began to wear it down. Chill felt the Metal-Saur tense beneath her and she jumped off of its back and landed safely in the sand.
"Russal, get away from it!" Chill yelled.
The Metal-Saur suddenly spun around in a quick circle, dislodging Blade and clipping him in the chest midair with its spiky tail. Blade crashed onto the ground with a yell as blood seeped from his chest. The Metal-Saur roared in response, only for Chill to let out a scream of rage as she dropped her ice sword into the sand.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Chill screamed as she charged up two massive balls of white energy in her palms and flung them at the Metal-Saur. The two balls of icy energy began to pulsate and blasted off towards the Metal-Saur, creating trail of ice along the ground as it soared across the ground.
The Metal Head roared in agony as the ice blasts slammed into its side, incasing it completely in ice with an incredible explosion of ice shards and mist. Chill walked up to the ice and punched it, her hand flashing white, and the entire thing shattered like glass, taking the Metal Head along with it.
"Agh…Nicole!" Blade yelled out as Chill began to shake violently before falling to her knees.
Blade stumbled towards her, still bleeding from where the spikes had slashed him, and said "We've got to get you out of that armor. Come here"
Blade slowly walked her to a rocky bluff where he sat her down. Chill's teeth were chattering horribly as Blade helped her out of her armor, which was freezing cold to touch. Blade ignored the blood running down his chest as he quickly removed the remainder of Chill's armor, finally freeing her of the frozen bits of metal.
"Better?" Blade asked softly.
"B-b-b-bet-t-t-er" Chill chattered as she shivered uncontrollably.
Blade walked over to the Sand Runner they had drove to the spot with and dug through it, pulling out the first aid kit. He quickly patched himself up before grabbing a blanket from under the seat and bringing it over to Chill, who smiled as he wrapped it around her. He sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close to him.
"That was dangerous" Blade said after a while as he set his chin as Chill's pale head. Chill smiled and said "It doesn't matter…I could have frozen solid, just so that you would be safe"
"You can't protect me like that Nicole. I…I don't want you to get hurt because of me" Blade murmured.
"Russal…what's going to happen with us?" Chill asked softly.
"Things are getting dangerous" Blade replied simply.
"More dangerous you mean" Chill said wryly.
"Yeah…" Blade sighed deeply and said "Gods, I never thought Beast would die like that…he was so tough"
"I'm going to miss the big guy" Chill murmured as Blade tightened his embrace.
"Nicole…I love you"
"I love you too" Chill whispered.
"I wish we could run away somewhere…and be safe. Not have to fight anymore…" Blade said with a sigh.
"We made an oath though, didn't we? To avenge those we lost and protect those who can't protect themselves" Chill said with a grin as she kissed Blade on the cheek.
"Yeah…" Blade said with a small smile as he held Chill close to him.
"Are you still cold?" Blade asked softly.
"Give me a few more minutes" Chill said. Blade continued to hold her close, and Chill slowly felt her body's coldness fade away as the heat of the desert and Blade's own warmth help make the cold fade away.
"Hmmm…"
"What's on your mind?" Chill asked her boyfriend, who smiled at her.
"Nothing…just thinking about some things" Blade confessed.
"What kind of things?"
"Things" Blade replied.
"Such as? Come on, we don't have forever you dork. Besides, we agreed that we'd never hide anything from one another" Chill reminded Blade as she leaned back forcing him to lay down as well on the rock they were sitting on. Chill turned around pressed her face against his, and the two shared a long kiss.
"I was thinking…" Blade said as they finally separated for air.
"Yes?"
"That because things are getting more and more dangerous, well….we've got to make some decisions quicker than others" Blade said in a soft tone.
"Like what?" Chill asked.
"Well…I've been thinking about you and I for a while. What you mean to me, what we've been through together. I've come to the conclusion that you're…you're special" Blade with a smile.
"Oh you" Chill said bashfully.
"I've come to realize that in life, things can be taken away from you. Life is short, so you have to make the most out of what you have, while you have it" Blade said to Chill, who nodded.
"What's this about?"
"Nicole…I've been thinking about me and you for a while. I can't stand the thought that one of these days, one of us is going to die. I can't stand it. So, I'm going to make to make the most out of what we've got left"
"Russal?" Chill said questioningly.
Blade disconnected himself from Chill and said "I never thought that my sex-crazed teammate would ever become the woman I'd come to love, but hey, life works in weird ways"
"I didn't think the calm and badass Wastelander with a S & M fetish would be my boyfriend either" Chill joked.
"The point is…I know we've been through a lot. Ups and downs, all that stuff…I guess the point is…" Blade seemed a bit nervous and said "After everything that we've been through together and what we'll go through, do you still want me?"
"Of course I do. I love you, you big dummie" Chill said softly, her eyes becoming misty and wet. What was the point of all of this?
"OK…then I know what comes next then" Blade said softly.
"What?" Chill asked.
Blade pulled out a small black satchel on his belt and opened it, much to Chill's amazement, and he pulled out a small black box. Chill's hand went to her heart and said in a breathless voice "Russal, you-"
"Nicole…" Blade said with a smile as he fell to one knee, opening the box and revealing a beautiful diamond ring with an intricate gold band. A tear rolled down Chill's beautiful face as she starred at Blade with amazement.
"Will you marry me?" Blade asked the white haired woman, who was now silently crying. With a tearful smile she threw her arms around Blade and sobbed into his neck, and the two fell into the sand.
"Yes yes, Gods yes!" Chill sobbed as Blade held her tight and got them both sitting upright.
The two held each other for a long while, and for a time everything was good in the world. The newly engaged couple kissed each other deeply on the dunes and sat there, holding each other's hands for a long while, but eventually the wind began to pick up, and they had to get going back to Spargus. They left for the Dune Runner, hands twined and hearts filled with love.
Spargus:
"So you see, I grabbed him by the neck and twisted like that. Nasty stuff" Sig said with a grin as he and Seem watched the ongoing fight down below.
"I see…how…interesting" Seem said, looking disgusted.
"If you wanted me to stop my story, you coulda just asked" Sig said with an amused expression.
"I…did not want to be rude" Seem said as her mouth twitched into a smile.
Seem's head perked up and she glanced off to the side and saw Jak, Daxter, and Nightingale standing on a far off ledge.
"You have company" Seem said softly.
"Huh? Jak! Daxter! How's it going cheeries!?" Sig asked cheerfully, beckoning them over. Jak grinned as Sig embraced them in a bear hug and said seriously "You guys look…different. What happened?"
"Agent Beast died a few days ago" Nightingale said in a soft voice to Sig, who sighed.
"I'm sorry for your loss. Did he go fighting?" Sig asked. He had met the former Marauder, and had liked him quite a bit. Guy was a monster, but they had never had a casualty when Beast was helping Damas.
"That's an understatement" Daxter said with a tired grin.
"So, is that Metal-Saur problem all taken care of? Me and that Sharpshooter guy finished early" Sig asked.
"All taken care of!" Chill said cheerfully as she dragged an amused Blade out of an entranceway.
"Hey, what took you guys?" Daxter asked curiously.
"Well, the last few caused us some problems" Blade offered before Chill held out her hand and showed them her new ring.
"Wait…you…and he…you actually proposed to her?" Nightingale asked in surprise.
"Congrats" Jak said with a grin.
"Yeah, about time!" Daxter said giving Blade a thumbs up.
"Yeah, took me nearly getting mauled by a Metal-Saur to do it" Blade said as Chill kissed him on the cheek.
"Congrats you guys!" Sig said with a wide grin as he walked over and shook both of their hands.
"Thanks" Blade said as he shook the king's hand.
Seem walked over to them and said "May your love endure forever, and may it blossom with each passing year"
"Thank you" Chill said sincerely as she hugged Blade tightly. Blade wrapped an arm around her and pressed his face into her hair, murmuring something to her in a way Jak hadn't seen before. He had known about Blade's planned proposal, and he was still amazed at the depth of his love for Chill. It was like seeing another side to the calm and skilled swordsman.
"So, that's a mission complete if I've ever seen one" Jak said with a laugh.
"Yeah, we should get going back to the Sanctuary. Sharpshooter should be back by now anyway" Nightingale suggested.
"Aw, come on. You guys haven't hung out in Spargus in forever. At least stay for some good old fashioned Wastelander lunch" Sig offered.
"Free food?" Daxter perked up.
"Fatass Ottsel!" Chill coughed, earning a middle finger from said Precursor.
"Sure, sounds good" Jak said, and the group began to make their way to the Spargus Palace. As they began to walk down the stone pathway, Jak noticed Nightingale grinning.
"What's up?" Jak asked.
"I'm so happy for them. They've been dating ever since I've known them, and now they're going to get married!" Nightingale squealed, hugging Jak's arm tightly. Jak laughed and said "Yeah, it's a bit romantic, huh Dax?"
"Psh. Whatever. Just wait to I propose to Tess! That'll be something" Daxter said with a grin.
"Say what?" Jak asked while Nightingale let out a sigh of happiness.
"So romantic" Nightingale said, leaning against Jak, who grinned at her. Daxter gave him a thumbs up and the group continued to make their way to the palace.
A figure watched the group from the rooftops, chuckling to himself. Deadshot took aim with his rifle and had the crosshairs aligned with Jak's head, and put a finger on the trigger.
"Gotcha" Deadshot said with a purr as he slowly began to pull the trigger.
"Deadshot! Where are you?" Shadow asked in his helmet.
"Doing some recon" Deadshot replied curtly.
"More like getting ready to shoot someone" Shadow replied coldly.
Deadshot threw his rifle on the ground and said "What do you want!?"
"Get back to base. Enough scouting, we've got to play it safe and wait" Shadow said to Deadshot.
"Wait? Are you kidding me?" Deadshot asked incredulously.
"Fathom says to wait. Eclipse says to wait. And I…say to wait" Shadow said slowly.
"Fine" Deadshot said as he picked up his rifle and turned around, ending the transmission.
"I'll get you all soon enough" Deadshot muttered before he banished in a burst of Dark Eco.
Meanwhile:
Sanctuary:
Sharpshooter groaned with relief as he slid into a soft armchair.
"Long day?" Rune asked, looking up from the book she was reading.
"You don't know the half of it. Metal Head's have been getting brave. They're starting to attack Spargus directly. I spent all day today with Jak, Chill, Blade, Daxter, and Nightingale. Still plenty that we didn't kill lingering out there, they just escaped" Sharpshooter said as he pulled out a beer he had brought into the library and popped open the cap, downing half of it in one go.
"Hmmm" Rune replied, not approving the beer in the library. Sharpshooter didn't seeme too notice, and slowly slurped and beer as loudly as he could, making Rune's lips turn into an annoyed frown.
Just then Jak and Nightingale stumbled into the library and collapsed into armchairs themselves, groaning with relief. They were both still wearing armor, and were drenched in sweat. Daxter was of course riding on Jak's shoulder, but even he looked tired.
"You too?" Sharpshooter asked.
"Yep" Daxter replied as he lounged on the arm rest.
"15 Metal-Saurs in a day…jeez…" Nightingale muttered as she wiped her black bangs out of her eyes. Jak smiled to himself and said "Well, at least it's over now"
"At least we got a meal out of it" Daxter grinned.
"Fatass Ottsel" Sharpshooter said casually.
"You guys can kiss my furry orange-"
"This is a library your morons!" Rune growled under her breath as she folded her book shut with an annoyed snap. She got to her feet, grumbled something about idiotic co-workers, and stormed out.
"What's with her?" Jak asked.
"Maybe it's her time of the month?" Sharpshooter suggested offhandedly.
Nightingale kicked him in the shin.
Meanwhile:
"Idiots…can't a woman read in peace?" Rune grumbled as she stormed down the hallway, now wearing her armor. Aptos, her Eco-Staff, was strapped to her belt and her pistols were clipped to her thighs. Rune walked down the hallway until she came to a certain door with iron bars on it, and knocked three times.
"Come in" said a bored voice.
Rune opened the door with a silver key she had and saw Chase laying down on his bed, reading a novel titled "The Tale of the Spider and the Yakow"
"That's an old children's tale" Rune said in surprise.
"Yeah, and?" the ex-Hunter Agent asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing…I'm just, you know, surprised is all" Rune said with a small smile.
"Hmm…so! What…" Chase closed the book and set it down next to him, sitting up with a grunt "do I owe the pleasure of having you come visit me?"
"Sorry I haven't come by recently" Rune said sheepishly.
"No kidding you haven't. You're the only one who really notices me here anyway, no matter how many times I tell them I've told you everything" Chase said darkly. Rune nodded, and then said "Well…how about a field trip?"
"Excuse me?" Chase asked.
"Everyone's running themselves ragged, or trying to cope with Beast's death" Rune said to Chase, who nodded.
"So…I was planning on heading out. Just a drive out to the Wasteland. Want to come with me?" Rune asked, opening the door behind
"And see sunlight again? Sure thing" Chase said as he got to his feet, stretched, and walked out with Rune into the hallway. Rune saw Tech hurrying down the hallway, and flagged down the Agent with a wave.
"No time. I'm trying to contain a virus!" Tech replied as he hastily ran down the hallway and turned right.
"Busy guy" Chase noted.
"Yeah, he is. He's not only the one who repairs and maintains our armor, but he designs the armor enhancements and experiments with weapons as well. He's a genius" Rune said with a grin.
"Really?"
"Yeah. He's also responsible for the advanced design of our armor, it's a couple times stronger than the Krimzon Guard stuff and twice as flexible. He's been around for a few years longer than me" Rune explained.
"So, how'd you get involved with the Avenging Angels?" Chase asked as he walked down the hallway with Rune.
"Well…my dad was killed by the Metal Heads, and me and my sister joined up a short time later. Not much more to it. We've been hanging around for about five years now" Rune said.
"Long time to be killing Metal Heads" Chase said.
"Well, someone's got to. They're evil, terrible things that want to kill us all" Rune said simply.
"Hmm…I guess" Chase shrugged.
"What do you mean?" Rune said.
"I'm sure most of them are evil, but I've heard that most of them are under the control of a higher power" Chase said with a scowl.
"So, you're saying they might not all be evil?" Rune said skeptically.
"Well, a lot of Hunters aren't evil. Some of them are some of the nicest people I know" Chase replied.
"I find that hard to believe, they were made to destroy us" Rune said dryly.
"OK, and do you know why most of us joined the Hunters?" Chase asked rather coldly as they arrived at the Motor Pool.
"No, I don't" Rune admitted. Chase turned around and took a shuddering breath, as if to give him strength to say the next few words.
"Because we were afraid" Chase hissed.
"A-afraid?" Rune replied questioningly.
"Yeah…we were scared, Rune. I joined up because I wanted this fight to end…a lot of us did. Hell, some of us lost family to the Metal Heads, and we still joined up. We were told that if we joined the Hunters, our families would be safe, and we would be the sole survivors when Lady Arranst arrives" Chase said softly.
"But, who is she?" Rune asked.
"No idea…some sort of dark, malevolent figure who controls the Metal Heads. She can control us to a degree as well" Chase explained.
"Controls who now?"
Chase and Rune turned around to see Sharpshooter walk into the Motor Pool, clad in a black t-shirt and a pair of cargo pants, his sniper rifle on his back.
"Hey, er…Sharpshooter, right?" Chase asked.
"Yeah. Chase?" Sharpshooter replied.
Chase nodded.
"Hey Rune. What're you two up to?" Sharpshooter asked.
"Heading out into the Wasteland. I need some fresh air, and Rune and me are having a chat about the Hunters" Chase explained.
"I'll come with you" Sharpshooter said, hopping into the back seat of the Dune Runner. Chase shot him a look while Rune looked amused. Her annoyance at him had faded just as quickly as it had arrived.
Rune hopped into the front seat while Chase rode shotgun. Rune revved up the vehicle and shot into the desert. As the wheels met sand, Chase let out a howl of joy, stood up and flung his arms out wide and said "AIR! FRESH AIR!"
"Jeez, you OK?" Sharpshooter asked.
"I've been cooped up in that cell now for ages! A guy like me needs room to walk and move!" Chase yelled over the roar of the engine and the wind.
"Glad you're enjoying yourself" Rune said cheerfully as she floored the vehicle, heading towards a rock that was slanting upwards.
"Uh oh" Chase said, his smile vanishing. He sat down and quickly strapped in.
"Rune, don't you even-" Sharpshooter began to say before Rune boosted the car, shooting them forward and making them go up and rock and flying into the air.
"HOOOOOLLLLLLLLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!" Chase and Sharpshooter screamed until the crashed down into the sand, Rune power-sliding as she did so.
"See? No worries" Rune said with a wide grin as she turned the vehicle around and started heading towards the shore.
"Jeez, what's gotten into you? You're driving's gotten worse as of late, it's like watching a train wreck or something.
"Don't mention that" Rune said quickly, snapping at Sharpshooter. Sharpshooter raised an eyebrow.
"I know what happened with Beast is a sore subject, but come on. It's a figure of speech" Sharpshooter said to Rune, who sighed.
"Sorry, I overreacted…it's just…damn it" Rune said softly as she slowed down a bit.
"Hey, it's fine…I just wish I knew how they knew. That attack was planned…they knew about our plan to use the train as cover and sneak the Fragment to the Sanctuary" Sharpshooter muttered.
"Yeah, trying to be sneaky there worked real well. I heard you were instrumental in the fight on that train too, bucko" Chase said sarcastically to Sharpshooter, who scowled.
"You weren't there, kid. I was in a firefight the whole time, making sure Deadshot didn't blast the hell out of the others. I kept his bullets trained on me as best as I could. We were outnumbered and outgunned!" Sharpshooter said angrily to Chase.
Rune smiled sadly and thought "He's trying to convince himself more than Chase. He feels guilty about what happened too, just like Michelle. He still hurts, no matter how much he jokes around"
Chase sighed and said "Yeah…yeah, alright, I'm sorry, OK?"
"Whatever" Sharpshooter muttered.
"You guys have had it rough lately, huh?" Sharpshooter and Rune nodded, and Chase said "He went down fighting right?"
"That he did. Took an entire clip to his heart, and he still got up. He was a true warrior…right to the end" Sharpshooter muttered.
Chase nodded and looked out across the desert, for the first time in a while, not seeing any Marauders roaming around.
Rune smiled, as if knowing what was on his mind, and said "I guess they're going to respect Beast's last wishes. He wanted the Marauders and the Avenging Angels to stop fighting. He hated the fact that they had to harm one another"
"Yeah…man, I'm going to miss that big lug" Sharpshooter muttered.
"Guys…I'm not going to lie, things look pretty grim. But…you know, you guys are supposed to protect people from the Metal Heads, right?" Chase said to the two AA Agents.
Rune and Sharpshooter nodded.
"Well…if you're going to do that, then you have to be strong. You can't let yourself be carried away with grief…you guys thrive on that stuff. You know? So…just keep on fighting. Do it for those who can't fight for themselves" Chase said softly.
Sharpshooter nodded and said "Yeah…"
"Chase…who did the Metal Heads kill that was important to you?" Rune asked softly. Chase raised an eyebrow, but sighed sadly. He didn't even question how she knew.
"My little brother. He…he was just eight years old, and they…they butchered him and his friends. They broke in through a hole in the wall, and they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time" Chase said sadly.
"I'm sorry" Rune said softly.
"It happened ages ago…my parents and I grieved, but we got over it. A few years later, I met Shade. He seemed to think I had some promise. He told me all about the Hunters, and a short while later I joined them" Chase said in a soft voice.
"They were formed ages ago, and helped kill the original two Leaders of the Avenging Angels. In secret we supported the Metal Heads, while we tried to find the Gate Fragments and the Champion of Darkness. I know a bit more, but not much stuff other than some history" Chase said to Rune and Sharpshooter.
"How are you able to tell us this? What about the mark on your tongue?" Sharpshooter asked.
Chase smiled and stuck his tongue out, and where an intricate mark should have been there was a black smudge.
"I can say whatever I want. The Dark Eco in me gave the seal power, so with that out of my system, the seal eventually faded away" Chase replied.
"Anyway...don't jump to conclusions about us. Some of the Hunters are…misguided, alright? The others do it to save themselves from the Metal Heads. We've got to find a way to snap some sense into them" Chase said seriously.
"You guys don't want the Metal Heads to rule supreme over the world?" Sharpshooter asked skeptically.
"No…I mean, maybe…I don't know. I'm still a little confused. We all were supposed to believe Lady Arranst and her Champion would lead us into the war and end the fight once and for all. We and our families wouldn't be harmed when the Dark Goddess claimed the world but…it seems as though she kind of doesn't care about us" Chase said to the two AA Agents.
"I don't know what going to happen…but one way or another…I'm done fighting for the Metal Heads" Chase said softly.
"I'm going to help you guys as much as I can from now on. I've seen you guys in action, and…I don't know. Something about you guys feels right to me" Chase said to Rune.
"Works for me" Rune said.
"I don't really trust you all that much" Sharpshooter admitted.
"I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to let me help" Chase said to Sharpshooter.
"Fine, we'll see" Sharpshooter relented.
"Hey, Chase?" Rune said as she drove alongside the beachfront.
"Yeah?"
"You really think we stand a chance against Arranst and the Metal heads…and the Hunters? Can you really say that we can win against them?" Rune asked the young man, who frowned.
"If you don't win, then there's going to be nothing left. The Metal Heads, they just destroy. If humans are going to survive, then we've got to fight. And fight. Until there's nothing left" Chase said to Rune.
"If there's one thing we're good at, it's fighting" Sharpshooter said with a smirk.
"That's the thing about humanity...No matter what…we fight, we claw, and most importantly…we survive. We find a way to keep going, no matter what. That's what going to keep us all going in the next few weeks…just the drive to survive" Chase said to Rune and Sharpshooter, who nodded in agreement.
The trio continued to drive through the desert, thoughts of survival and hope on their mind. Chase sighed inwardly and wondered how much more hell did they have to go through before this war was over.
Meanwhile:
Sanctuary:
"Do we really have to talk to them?" Daxter asked as they stood outside of the door.
"Yes" Jak replied.
Nightingale sighed and said "This is really getting to you, huh?"
"I…" Jak sighed angrily and said "It's not because of you Night…it's because I'm just not strong enough. I wasn't able to save myself from the Hunters and I got taken out by a shiny knife, and I couldn't save Beast"
"It wasn't your fault!" Nightingale insisted.
"Maybe…maybe not" Jak said as he raised his hand to knock.
"Come in already you birdbrains! We heard everything!" Pecker yelled in an annoyed tone.
Jak opened the door, revealing a small yet cozy little room that resembled Onin's hut in the Haven City Bazaar, before the Metal Head's ravaged the city that is.
Plants hug from the ceiling while several candles seemed to burn never-ending amounts of lavender incense, which seemed to be Onin's current favorite. Onin herself sat on the floor of the room Chief Disten had given to her, seeing as how she would be an asset to them and would be safer here than hiding out in an abandoned ruin or in Haven City.
"So…what can we do for you?" Pecker began to interpret as Onin waved her arms swiftly.
"I need to get stronger" Jak said to Pecker and Onin. Pecker scowled immediately.
"Left some weights then tough guy!" Pecker squawked.
"Excuse me!?" Jak growled back.
"Asking for such a thing is dangerous you fool. Power like yours is a gift, not something you can throw around to beat up the bad guys. And in case you haven't noticed, you're the Champion of Balance. You must stay in synch, or else you can't fill that role!" Pecker snapped.
"I already can't if I'm not strong enough!" Jak snapped back.
"You're just mad because you can't be the hero anymore" Pecker said to Jak, who scowled at him.
"If I remember correctly, the last time Jak had to be hero, you sat on Damas's shoulder and did jack crap the whole time!" Daxter replied, causing Pecker to scowl.
"No one's asking the idiotic God, thank you very much" Pecker said to Daxter.
"Guys, calm down!" Nightingale said to the others, who ignored her.
"What's with you Pecker? Is there a problem?" Jak asked angrily.
"With me? No…The problem is that things are getting this bad. The problem is that our big and bad hero isn't good enough to save us this time" Pecker admitted to Jak, who scowled at him.
"There has to be a way to get stronger then!" Jak growled at Pecker.
There's no-" Pecker began say before Onin nodded and began to make hand motions.
"What? Wait…are you serious?" Pecker said in surprise. Onin nodded, and Pecker looked at Jak and said "She said that you must merge darkness and light together, in order to achieve true power"
"What?" Jak replied, and Onin and Pecker elaborated.
"You see, there are two sides of the spectrum of life. Light and Dark. You are the balance between the two forces, the darkness that has manifested itself in Havoc and the pure light that has manifested itself in Nightingale. You are the medium between the two sides, and while you can access Light and Dark Eco…you are not truly in balance, not yet anyway" Pecker translated.
"Are you saying…?"
"I am saying that you have to get stronger by unlocking a third form. You were forced into learning how to channel Dark Eco…the Precursors gave you the ability to channel Light Eco…now you must learn to use both at once, and take on an even stronger form. This form can handle both Eco's at once, as well as provide true balance" Pecker said softly and seriously.
Onin made another movement with her hands and Pecker said "Onin says that this is not an easy transition. The key to unlocking your true power lies at the bottom of the Catacombs, and to reach it you will need the aid of the Champion of Light, as well as the Champion of Darkness"
"I need Havoc's help!?" Jak demanded, and Onin replied by shaking her head and gesturing some more.
"I never said it would be easy" Pecker translated.
"May I offer some advice?" Pecker said to Jak, who nodded.
"Onin says that there is no sure fire way to know for sure, but I'm thinking that in order to prepare for such a quest to the Catacombs, you need to train properly" Pecker said. Onin smiled up at Pecker and nodded in agreement.
"What do you mean?" Jak asked.
"I mean that you start learning how to use Dark and Light Eco at once. Darkness is powerful…so is Light…but together…" Pecker trailed off.
"I see where you're getting at" Jak said with a small smile.
"Iris can help you. Her abilities will be essential if you are to grow into the Champion of Balance" Pecker said, looking at the black haired beauty with a small smile.
"Thanks" Jak said to the two.
"Someone has to let you idiots know what to do" Pecker said with a smirk.
"Excuse me, um…Pecker?" Nightingale asked, breaking her silence.
"Yes?"
"I want to know…if Havoc is still able to be saved" Nightingale said softly.
Pecker closed his eyes as Onin folded her arms and then made several short arm movements.
"Onin says that he has sunken so far into the darkness, he can't be convinced how he is now to help you. You must break the control the Dark Goddess has over him" Pecker said to them.
"How can we do that?" Night asked.
"By helping Jak get stronger, and by becoming stronger yourself. Both of you must stick together, and keep each other strong. I sense a great danger approaching quickly…Lady Arranst draws near. And we'll need both of your strength to survive" Pecker said softly.
The trio exited the room shortly after that, and Jak sighed and punched the wall of a sudden.
"Damn it!" Jak growled.
"What's wrong?" Nightingale asked worriedly.
"I'm just not strong enough Night. I got my ass kicked on the train, and Beast got killed. I can't let anyone else die because of me" Jak growled. Nightingale frowned and said "Jak…strength isn't everything that determines the outcome of a fight, so stop blaming yourself. We all think it was our fault for his death, but it was the Hunter's fault"
"She's got a point Jak" Daxter said quietly.
"Come on, let's head to the MCC. Chill wanted me to head down there for something" Nightingale said to Jak, who shrugged. The two set off towards the MCC, with Jak's thoughts dwelling on finding the balance between light and dark and becoming stronger.
MCC:
"Come on, it can't be that complicated!" Chill said angrily.
"Don't test me!" Tech barked.
"Tech, stop it. Nicole, calm down" Blade said soothingly.
"Whoever made this thing is a genius" Tech muttered as his hands flew across the keyboard. Arch and Vin were nervously watching the virus as it roamed around in the mainframe, as though searching for something.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Vin asked nervously.
"No, but I'll keep trying. As long as you leave it alone, it shouldn't hurt you. I'll keep working on finding a way to kill it" Tech reassured the A.I.'s in the computer, who nodded.
"Hey guys" Night said as Jak, Daxter and her walked into the MCC.
"Hey guys" Tech said, offering them a smile.
"Vin, Arch, you two transfer yourselves to another terminal" Tech ordered, and the two A.I. complied.
"So, can you play it?" Chill asked.
"Fine" Tech relented.
"What's going on?" Jak asked.
"We got another message from Sunset Stratosphere, that awesome club in Haven City. Tech is trying to-" Chill began to say before the screen lit up, with an incoming call message on the screen. Tech got out of his chair and said "It's for you"
Tech walked off to the side while Chill sat down in his chair.
As Chill pressed enter, a small hologram appeared in front of them. It was a handsome man wearing a stylish dress shirt and slacks with a black vest, and holding a cane. He had a fauxhawk hairstyle and smiled widely at them.
"Rapahel!" Chill said with a laugh.
Raphael laughed and said "Hello Avenging Angels! Good to hear from you. Nicole, still dazzling as always"
"Thanks! I just got engaged I'll have you know" Chill said with a wide grin as she showed off her ring.
"Really!? That's lovely! Hey, you wouldn't happen to have that invite I sent to you, would you?" Raphael asked curiously.
"Yeah, I do. Why, you guys having a special event going on or something? What's with the message anyway? " Chill asked curiously.
"Haha! I'm glad you asked. We just so happen to have Lady Starlight coming to Sunset Stratosphere tonight for a sneak peak performance at one of her covers" Raphael said smugly.
"Ooh…that's worth a trip to Haven in of itself" Chill said cheerfully. Blade and Nightingale nodded in agreement, though Nightingale's eyes were practically shining in excitement.
"I was wondering whether or not you all would be interested in coming by the club and seeing what we have to offer. After all, you all work so hard to keep us safe, it's not fair that you all can't cut loose every now and then" Raphael said charmingly.
"Guys got a point" Daxter said with a grin.
"How about this then? I normally don't show special treatment, but if you swing by tonight, I'll make you guys VIP guests, with open bar privileges and access to the VIP lounge to come hang out with yours truly" Raphael offered.
"Open bar?" Daxter inquired with a wide grin.
"No animals allowed" Raphael said quickly.
"Why you son of a bit-!"
Nightingale smacked Daxter off of Jak's shoulder and said in a polite tone "That's very generous of you sir"
"No problem at all my dear. Think of it as a thank you for the hard work you guys do. Just tell the bouncer at the door 'As Sun and Moon cross, true beauty is formed' and he'll let you in and bring you right to me. I'll see you then!" Raphael said with a grin.
"Get dressed for a semi-casual, yet not incredibly casual, night out" Chill said to Jak and Night, who looked confused.
"You, jeans and a cute T-shirt that shows off your muscles. You, sexy black and red dress" Chill said pointing to Jak and Nightingale.
"Fine" Jak said in a defeated tone.
"If you say so Chill" Nightingale said with a smile.
"Fine! I'm going to have my own club! With blackjack! And hookers! In fact, forget the blackjack!" Daxter said in an annoyed tone.
"Don't you own a club?" Chill asked Daxter.
Daxter didn't reply to that, and the others laughed.
End of Chapter:
Alright guys! Next chapter is going to be huge!
Plot!
Singing!
Romance!
And a wicked left hook!
STAY TUNED!
Until then, leave a review and tell me what you thought!
Until next time, FlygonN out!