Jak IV: The Avenging Angels:
So I was going to have an Author's Note, a week and a half ago, where I bragged about updating on time.
That didn't happen, because this past week has been literal hell for me.
Anyway, I won't let that stop me. We're nearing the end of the semester, meaning that I will hopefully be able to update quicker in the Summer.
Shoutout to those who reviewed last chapter, which includes ScreamGirl4998, Kazan645, a guest reviewer, Mooman1706, Ways, Oblique Strategies, two guest reviewers and StaticBomb324. Thanks for the support and sticking with me guys. I'm sorry for the constant delays, but as you know real life can get in the way sometimes.
Here we go!
Enjoy!
Chapter 33: Seeking the Truth
"Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge"- Plato
Icelands:
The five copies of Tech sped towards Shadow, who shot towards him like a bullet, radiating Dark Eco. Shadow flung her hands out, creating a wave of Dark Eco spears that impaled each one of the copies of Tech. Shadow gasped as all five vanished at once, and then again when she was sent crashing into the snow as an elbow slammed into her back. Shadow rolled to her feet, only a long beam of energy to latch onto her armor and lift her into the air. Behind Tech's visor was a man snarling in fury as he swung his arm downwards, slamming Shadow into the snow once more. The link of energy disconnected itself from Shadow and retracted back into Tech's hand.
"S-Stephen!" Shadow cried in her own voice, panting in pain as her vision swam. Tech winced and said "Hang in there! I won't let her take you!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself…I can give your lover control of her body any time I wish…such as when you try to subdue me…give me the Fragment, and I will leave her alone…" Arranst said smoothly as Shadow got to her feet, shuddering as black waves of Dark Eco practically rolled off of her.
"You monster…" Tech growled, clenching his fists.
"Please, I take it in stride. The Precursors had much, much worse names that they called me...What surprises me is that you were one of the first of them to catch onto who I really was…" Arranst purred as she vanished in a flash of Dark Eco. Tech didn't reply, and so Arranst continued.
"Imagine…all of the intellect that you possess…and all the power at my disposal…" Arranst whispered into Tech's ear. Tech's sensors picked up nothing except the readings of Royal, who was silently observing the situation while trying to wake up Crash.
"Together…we would be unstoppable…"
"No" Tech said coldly before turning around and firing a ball of crimson energy out his palm. Shadow suddenly reappeared and went flying backwards with a cry of agony as she crashed into the snow.
"S-stephen! Keep it up! Just worry about me, just…get her out!" Shadow cried out again.
"Silence!" Arranst roared, cutting off Shadow and rendering her mute.
"You are truly a cold-hearted one if you would be willing to kill the one you love, just to stop me" Arranst murmured as she forced Shadow to her feet.
"Oh no, far from it. I love Zelda with every fiber of my being. The fact of the matter is she'll never be happy unless we purge you from her body. Besides, she can take it. She's a much stronger person than you are" Tech said with a small smile before firing another ball of crimson energy at Shadow, who vanished on the spot once more.
Tech sidestepped a Dark Eco charged punch and blasted himself backwards as Arranst/Shadow released a deadly wave of raw Dark Eco in his direction. Tech flew into the air to avoid it and held out his hands. Two balls of white light formed in his palms and shot towards Shadow, who jumped backwards, doing a backflip in the air, and landed light on the snow before flung out her hands towards Tech and firing a arrow of Dark Eco at Tech. The genius swore and held out his hands, and the arrow of Dark Eco slammed into his palms. Warning sirens began to go off in Tech's helmet, and he realized that his Dark Eco storage unit was at maximum capacity. He had to either offload the storage somehow or manage to dodge the rest of her attacks.
"I've got to get her out of Zelda. And the only way to do that is…" Tech pulled out the Light Eco Rod and a spear tip molded at the tip of the rod. Tech pointed it at Arranst and said "One last chance. Leave Zelda, or I'll force you out"
"Please…make my day, you pitiful little human" Arranst said with a growl in her voice.
"Alright. I warned you" Tech said with a small smile before warping again. Shadow spun to the left and fired an arc of Dark Eco at Tech who reappeared and flung up an energy shield to block it. The shield held for a few moments before cracking. Several moments later it shattered and the Dark Eco washed over him, sending him flying backwards and crashing into the snow. The Light Eco Rod flew from his grip and fell into the snow. Tech stumbled to his feet before Shadow shot towards him, leapt into the air and slammed a foot into his chest, sending him crashing into a nearby building. Tech blasted the rubble away and fired a burst of ice energy at Shadow who vanished on the spot. Tech walked back into the open and said "Come on Arranst! I know my Zelda doesn't run like that, so why are you?"
As if in response, Shadow reappeared in a burst of Dark Eco and swung her sickle at Tech, who swiftly ducked under the blow and swept out Shadow's feet from under her, causing her to fall into the snow. Tech aimed his palm at her and fired a blast of icy energy at Shadow once more, but she vanished on the spot again and reappeared behind Tech, this time close enough to slam the sickle she was holding into his rib cage.
"Ah! You may seem powerful, but without that suit of armor you're just a normal man! That crimson liquid dripping from that wound proves you are still just a man" Arranst laughed as she blasted Tech away from her with a burst of Dark Eco, sending him crashing into the snow with a yell of pain. Tech rolled to his feet and slowly pulled the sickle out of his chest. He fell to one knee, trying to keep his balance while at the same time assessing the situation.
He knew the cut was deep, Shadow's sickle was made to incapacitate and leave on opponent to injured to fight anymore. While the healing enhancements in his armor were already sealing the wound and repairing the damage that had been done, he still was trying to recover from the shock. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed a minute to recover from the near-fatal stabbing.
Tech warped then, avoiding a Dark Bolt from Arranst who scowled in annoyance. Tech reappeared, holding a green magnum and he fired three shots at Arranst, who threw up a wall of Dark Eco. She smirked at Tech as the bullets reached her shield, only o cry out in pain as the bullets ripped through her shield and into Shadow's body just a moment later.
"W-what…what are these!?" Arranst demanded, plucking a bullet out of her chest. The very bullet itself burned her fingers as she held it.
"Lightsteel bullets. Light Eco treated steel specially made to kill your children and Dark Eco based life forms. You see, while Dark Eco is effective against Light Eco, the opposite is also true. Light and darkness are two sides of the same coin, one can't exist without the other" Tech said as he pressed a hand against his wound and fired another shot at Arranst, who sidestepped it and flicked her hands at Tech, who kicked off of the ground and into the air, barely avoiding the surge of Dark Eco that exploded out of the spot that he had been standing on just moments before.
"Still not healed" Tech muttered as looked at Shadow/Arranst on the ground, who was currently scowling at him as he hovered thirty feet in the air above her.
"I'll save you…I'll do whatever it takes…just a little longer" Tech whispered as he took aim at Shadow with his Eco Pistol.
Tech let out a yell before unloading the rest of the clip of his pistol at Arranst, who used Shadow to skillfully dodge each of the shots. Shadow/Arranst then leapt into the air and lunged at Tech with a Dark Eco charged fist aimed at his skull. Tech shifted his body and leaned back in midair, causing Shadow to just miss his head. Tech then spun around and delivered a two-handed punch to her back, unleashing a massive wave of Red Eco that sent her hurtling towards the ground. Tech felt a thrill of horror as his fiancé rocketed towards the ground, and couldn't help but feel relief as Shadow/Arranst suddenly righted herself in midair and landed lightly on the ground, panting slightly.
"You have power…" Arranst admitted grudgingly.
"I learned how to fight from Zelda" Tech said as he lowered himself to the ground, his wound nearly healed. Tech clipped his pistol to his hip and said "Come on. Let's finish this"
"Gladly" Arranst replied with a cold smile, a large pool of Dark Eco forming underneath her. Arranst sank into the pool while several tentacles of Dark Eco shot towards Tech, wrapping themselves around his suit of armor and began crushing it. Tech howled in pain as the incredible strong tendrils of Eco crushed the life out of him, causing his suit to blare warning sirens in his helmet. His suit, several times stronger than that of the Hunters or Avenging Angels, was indeed powerful, but was no indestructible. Tech closed his eyes and took a deep breath before drawing both of his fists back.
"Here goes nothing!" Tech barked before slamming his fists together.
A wicked shockwave of Light Eco burst out from Tech's fists and enveloped him, shredding the tentacles of Dark Eco on the spot and causing Arranst to reappear from the depths of the pool of Eco, looking furious. Tech nearly fell as he landed on the ground and saw Arranst charge at him from the corner of his eyes.
Tech managed to duck as a Dark-Eco charged kick soared above his head and he kicked off of the ground, shooting into the air with a blast of fire. Tech flung out his hands and a crisscrossing series of lights shot out of his hands and slammed into the ground around Shadow. The Hunter reached out and touched the nearest beam, only to hiss in pain as the light burned her.
"This was an enhancement I never gave out" Tech grinned at Shadow/Arranst, who vanished on the spot.
"Damn it! How could I forget about that!?" Tech thought as his fiancé reappeared next to him and slammed a fist into his back, sending him flying towards the ground and slamming into the snow. Tech got to his feet with a groan before a series of Dark Eco blasts slammed into his back, sending him crashing into the snow once more. Arranst/Shadow laughed and said "You're wearing down…despite your genius, you're nowhere near the warrior the others are"
Tech scowled and then vanished on the spot. Arranst had time to turn around before something grabbed her by the neck and forced her towards the ground slamming her face-first into the snow. Tech scooped up the Light Eco Rod as Shadow got to her feet and turned around, just in time for Tech to slam the rod into her chest.
"NOOOOOO!" Arranst screamed as Tech drove the rod further in, letting loose a wave of pure white light. Tech could feel the raw Dark Eco leaving his fiancé's body and continued to drive the rod through her body.
Arranst's screams slowly vanished, replaced with the cry of Shadow. Tech yanked the rod out and Shadow fell to the ground, unharmed by the purification. Tech fell to his knees, casting the Light Eco Rod aside and pulled Shadow into his lap. Her eyes slowly opened and Tech slowly removed his helmet, setting it in the snow.
"Stephen?" Shadow whispered.
"Yeah…its me…you're OK now" Tech murmured, brushing a strand of blond hair out of her face.
"She's gone…she's gone…you did it" Zelda whispered, closing her eyes and passing out. Tech let out a soft laugh and set her down gently in the snow. He retrieved her helmet and put his back on when he heard a familiar voice yell out to him.
"Stephen, what in blazes is going on here?!" Royal demanded as he stumbled from his cover, aiming his rifle at Tech, who sighed and picked up his fiancé.
"I said get out of here Royal. Take Crash and go!" Tech said in a rough tone as he slung Shadow over his arm supporting her.
"Not until I get an explanation" Royal said, not lowering the weapon.
"How about…no" Tech said, annoyance evident in his tone.
"RAAAH!"
Tech looked to his left and saw a Dark Bolt heading right towards him. Tech held onto Shadow tightly and vanished on the spot, causing the Dark Bolt to slam into the nearest building and cause it to explode. Royal took cover and fired a few shots at the approaching Shade and Inferno, both of whom were pissed and dodged the shots.
"Come on out!" Inferno roared, fire at his fingertips.
"Royal! Run!" Tech yelled as he suddenly appeared out of thin air, his fiancé gone, floating above the two Hunters. Tech dropped to the ground as Shade swung his robotic fist towards him. Tech raised an arm to block and aimed a kick at Shade's side, releasing a wave of Red Eco into his hip. Shade fell to the ground with a howl of pain but rolled to his feet and pulled out his SMG, opening fire on Tech. Inferno flung out both hands and let loose a plume of fire at Tech, who was engulfed by the flames.
"Stephen!" Royal yelled.
"I said…get out of here" Tech said into Royal's helmet before reappearing out of thin air next to him. Tech grabbed Royal by the arm, placed a foot down on Crash's unmoving body, and the three of them vanished on the spot.
"Damn it!" Shade swore, releasing a blast of Dark Eco into the nearest building, destroying it instantly.
"This isn't good" Inferno muttered.
"No…it really isn't" a smooth voice said to the two of them.
Both Hunters turned around and saw a familiar looking man leaning against a lone support beam standing in the snow. Havoc's face was obscured by his helmet, but his amusement at the situation was evident in his tone.
"Havoc…what're you doing here? Why didn't you help us!?" Inferno demanded.
"I wasn't ordered to help you. Besides, I'm curious as to what this special find is that Tech was rambling about. We barely gathered any information from Shadow's mind before Tech banished the blessing from her mind" Havoc said in a cool tone as he got off of the beam and walked towards the two Hunters.
"So…you wanted him to get away?" Shade asked curiously.
"Yep. How else are we going to find what he's looking for? He's not going to show up here for a little while, so we should vacate the area" Havoc said to the two Hunters.
"Havoc…where's Lady Arranst?" Inferno asked cautiously.
Havoc glanced at the Hunter and said "She was possessing Shadow when Tech plunged that Eco Rod into her. She's withdrawn from my consciousness so she can recover…that sort of thing happens from time to time" Havoc explained coolly.
"So…" Inferno and Shade exchanged glances and Shade said "Havoc, you are aware that-"
Shade suddenly stiffened and fell to the ground, hacking and heaving. He ripped his helmet off and cough violently into the snow, staining it red. Havoc looked surprised and Inferno swore as Shade slowly got to his knees.
"Agh…I get it. I'll shut up" Shade gasped, blood dribbling down his throat.
"What the hell just happened?" Havoc demanded.
"Ask the Dark Goddess, sir" Inferno said to Havoc as he grabbed Shade by the arm.
"Come on. Let's head back to HQ" Inferno muttered to Shade, and the two burst into Dark Eco.
Havoc stood there, confused, and said "What…what am I aware of?"
"Jazon..."
Havoc flinched at the coldness of the tone and said "Yes, Lady Arranst"
"Do not let the thoughts of the peons distract you, my champion. We have work to do" Arranst murmured in Havoc's mind. The Champion of Darkness nodded and exploded in a cloud of Dark Eco on the spot, leaving the ruined town behind to rebuild.
Meanwhile:
MCC Mainframe Depths:
Vin floated within the depths of the Avenging Angels Mainframe, starring at his work. What he had found was indeed priceless, but at the same time…
Dangerous. He was playing with fire, but to him the end result would be worth it. Mixing his code with another programs, in this state, was dangerous at best. This would tax his processing ability greatly, but he didn't care. He had found fragments of Arch, what was left of her after being destroyed, and had found her original coding outline within the depths of Tech's personal archives.
His discovery of Arch's coding was a step in the right direction. It provided him a means to get her back. A chance to save her…That wonderful A.I. who he'd spend hours conversing with. A woman, even if it was and computerized woman, who acknowledged him and took him seriously.
"Arch…I swear to you…I will bring you back. Even if I have to revive you bit by bit, I won't rest until you're back" Vin said as he flung out his hands, initiating his newest program.
A swirling mass of blue materialized before him, sweeping up the small fragments of Arch that remained and Vin looked into the small storm of data intently.
"Come on…come on…" Vin murmured.
"…n…Vin…is…that you?" a faint whisper spoke to him, the faintest of sounds brushing against his ears.
"Arch! Yes, it's me!" Vin said to the small storm of particles.
"I…" Arch began to say before the small storm suddenly dissipated. Vin let out a yell of despair and fell to his knees and as the fragments of data fell to the ground once more.
Tech clenched his fists and said "I…I was so close…she's…there's so little left…I don't know if even I can bring her back…"
Vin floated to his feet and reverted his attention, until he could try to revive Arch again, to searching for the bastard that did this to her. Vin felt anger he had never felt before bubble inside of him at the mere thought of Tech, the renegade genius who had struck down Arch to save his fiancé. Vin had heard the reasons for his betrayal, yet the death of Arch and the mortal wounding of Chase were unforgivable.
Arch was just like them. She had hopes. She had dreams, personality, fears. She had confided in Vin, had trusted him…the two had worked together, for a short time, while the others ran around and played hero. She was just like him. So intelligent, yet so…misunderstood. To the others she was the A.I. that controlled many parts of the Sanctuary.
But really…she was an A.I. who's entire existence was to help those who help others. She was the one who watched the watchers, so to speak. When Vin began to speak with her, he learned so much about not just her, but life itself. She shared her experiences with him, her interactions with the others, maintaining he entire Sanctuary and lending aid on missions. She was delighted to have someone who could understand her and actually pay attention to her. She had apparently known the identity of Tech's lover for quite some time, but decided to never divulge that secret, even if it killed her. She was loyal to the Agents without reserve…
…She was dead…and now Jak, Daxter, Nightingale, and everyone else was going around being the heroes once again while he sat around and did nothing.
He was sick of it. He was tired of standing off to the side while Jak and the others made a difference. Vin smiled grimly and said "No more…its time I make a difference…I can be a hero too…"
How?
By finding Tech.
He obviously knew what was going on much better than the rest of them, and it was apparent that he was moving from location to location with a remarkable amount of speed. A worthy opponent…but just because you were a genius didn't mean you couldn't be outsmarted.
"I'll find him…the others can be the ones to kill him…but I will be the one who tracks you down…" Vin whispered as he closed his eyes and merged with the data streams in front of him, sifting through the massive amounts of information coming his way.
He would find Tech.
And he would make sure he paid for what he did…
Disten's Office:
Disten smiled widely and said "There we are…the final line has been translated. Now, let's see what the page says…"
The Chief leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment. Five months of translating the strange language and now the fruits of his labor were about to be reaped.
Disten opened his eyes and leaned back forward, and began to read the legendary journal of Gallus Jarkas.
My experiments with the artifacts have produced incredible results. The Precursor Rod we discovered seems to have a connection with the Prophecy. According to the monks, it has a connection to both Light and Darkness. I can only assume it refers to the Gates of Legend. One that brings power and salvation while the other brings ruin…The Rod must be hidden from those who wish to use its powers for evil. I will consult Charlles and see what insight he can offer me…
I must admit, at times I find myself wondering if we can truly win this fight. The Metal Heads numbers seem infinite. They can't all just be being hatched here…I think they may be arriving through some other method. One monk tells me that Warp Gates are a possibility, but that's ridiculous. Warp Gates are perhaps the rarest of the Precursor Relics. The Fragments of the Gate to Darkness are living proof of this…
The Gate to Darkness…
Goodness knows what horrors await us behind the veil. I woke up screaming the other night, monsters and evil filling my dreams. My worries and fear for my friends and family are manifesting themselves, even in my dreams. I pray to the Precursors for an answer, but my pleas go unanswered. I…I can't share in Charlles optimism any longer. The Metal Heads have gathered too much strength, their Leaders hide from us…and if what Charlles reports say are true there are a group of Metal Head…sympathizers mulling around.
Yes…I think that maybe our time on this world is just about up…
That is, unless the final great weapon of the Precursors can be found.
"Final great weapon…" Disten murmured under his breath.
Yes…that coveted magic bullet that can end it all. Somewhere in this world, a weapon exists capable of killing them all. I have seen the tablets…I have read the lore. Somewhere…it exists. I will find it. Somehow someway…I will find it…
Disten then began to read the next entry, where Gallus's elegant writing continued once more.
The Prophecy has been discussed to death. I could recite the legends in my sleep, while I toss and turn from the nightmares. As one of the few who can translate Precursor text, the Prophecy comes easy to me.
While the Champions of Light and Dark are powerful, they will fall without the aid of the third Hero. He who brings balance to both sides. Wielding the blade of legend, he will achieve true balance and create a path forward to vanquish the ones who came to our planet and corrupted it…all those years ago"
"The Avenging Angels will continue to search for this hero. Even when I am gone, I will instruct those who will lead in out stead to search for this…Hero of Balance. The other two Champions will come to us in time, I know this somehow…but this Champion of Balance…I feel he will be come later on, and truly change the face of the Avenging Angels forever….Yes…The very organization I help lead. The organization that helps protect the world from the Metal Heads…
Sometimes I wonder if we are doing the right thing. Sometimes hope alludes me…perhaps if we simply
No…that's ridiculous. Such thoughts of darkness and despair. My minds seems to constantly return to the despair of losing! Why do my fears haunt me so…ah…What would King Damas say if he heard me speak like this…oh how he would laugh. Randall and his father would laugh and laugh and laugh…I even laugh right now. How my age has made me a scared fool...
The Gate of Darkness will never be completed. I will consult the Spargus Monks right away for more details. More information…there's more to this prophecy…more to this tale...
I must know…will we survive?
Disten closed his eyes again and considered the question. this burst of insight into the mind of his successor and godfather helped explain so much and yet…raise so many questions at the same time. He considered Gallus's question and spoke to himself in a whisper.
"20 years later and we still fight…but we're closer to solving this riddle than we have ever been. The Precursors themselves have returned to lend their aid to this battle…"
One that would determine the fate of not just the world, but the universe.
Meanwhile:
Wasteland:
"You know…I usually don't think about murdering my teammates…" Jak thought to himself.
"On the road again…" Chill sang.
"But I might actually indulge in a bit of team-killing if I hear one more verse" Jak thought, his eyes narrowing in annoyance.
"Babe?" Blade said to his fiancé, who ignored him and continued to sing at the top of her lungs.
"Can't wait to get on the road again" Chill continued.
"Babe?"
Jak sighed and slammed on the accelerator, causing Chill to fly forward with a yelp and tumble into the passenger's seat and onto Blade, who laughed at how flustered Chill was now. Jak praised the Precursors for the silence and continued driving on the Scavenger.
"Jak, are you displeased with my serenade?" Chill asked, batting her eyes at the warrior.
"Chill, do you want to walk to Spargus?" Jak asked in a low voice.
"Nicole…maybe we should just tone down on the talking for now" Blade suggested.
"Fine" Chill pouted, folding her arms in an annoyed manner.
Jak sighed with relief and turned the wheel slightly to the left, causing them to come within view of the Spargus Garage. Jak slowed down as the large gate slowly opened up and drove inside. Kleiver was waiting for them inside, a smug look on his face.
"Well, well, well, if it ain't the conquering heroes" Kleiver chuckled.
"Hey, we're looking for Seem. You know where he's at?" Jak asked Kleiver, who scowled.
"Do I look like I know where every one of your bleeding pals are? Ask the King, I don't have time for this" Kleiver scoffed, waving the warrior's off.
"Well, he was rude" Chill scoffed as she removed her helmet and clipped it to her belt, flipping her long white hair out. Jak walked alongside her while Blade hung back. He glanced over at Kleiver and said "Hey, we've got a few repair jobs for you if you're interested"
"How bad did that bloke screw you ankle-biters over?" Kleiver asked casually. Blade raised an eyebrow and said "What?"
"I said…how bad did that kid screw you guys over?" Kleiver said again, speaking slowly with a small smile on his face.
"…How do you know?" Blade asked after a pause.
"Because he came here" Kleiver growled at Blade, who scowled at him.
"You…when?" Russal asked softly.
"Right after he grabbed his fiancé from the Hunters. I imagine he's anywhere from the Uvelt Firelands to Kras City by now" Kleiver said with a smirk.
"And you never thought it was a good idea to tell us?" Blade asked coldly.
"He paid me a good bit to keep quiet. At least until he was gone, which is why I'm telling you now. That kid's got a good head on his shoulders and is as smart as they come. I ain't screwing him over…I'm not dumb enough to even if I wanted to…you lot on the other hand…well" Kleiver laughed a little and suddenly was sent crashing onto the ground, convulsing in agony as green electricity surged through his body.
Blade lowered his Galvasword and said "You backstabbing bastard…"
"You little-! You'll pay for-!" Kleiver tried to say before Blade strode over to him and struck him again with a burst of lightning.
"Tech may have had his reasons, but it doesn't help that he betrayed us. His actions caused the death of two people I care about, while someone crucial to the planet's survival's life hangs in the balance!" Blade barked.
"I…you…" Kleiver growled.
"Now…talk" Blade said in a soft tone, leveling the sword at Kleiver's throat. The Wastelander looked into the eyes of the swordsman and said "Kid…you're-"
"Where is he?" Blade cut across Kleiver.
"Dunno…he said he was going to go look for something. Sounded like some sort of artifact from the way he talked about it. He said it was the crown jewel of all Precursor Artifacts" Kleiver said in a low voice.
Blade lowered the sword and said "That's a start. Any specifics?"
"He was being mysterious about it. His girlfriend didn't even know about it from what I could tell" Kleiver admitted.
Blade nodded and said "Anything else you want to spill?"
"Nothing that'd be of use to you" Kleiver spat. Blade smiled candidly at the Wastelander before taking a step back and sheathing his sword.
"Well then, I'll leave you to it. Oh, and don't think about sabotaging our ride, or I'll castrate you and with this" Blade said, tapping his Galvasword with his hand before stepping towards the gate, which slowly opened for him and let him pass. Kleiver got to his feet with a groan and said "Getting too old for this…"
Blade caught up with Chill and Jak and said "Sorry, had to discuss something with old Kleiver"
"Really? What?" Chill asked. Blade shook his head and said "The fool sheltered Tech when he ran from the Sanctuary"
"HE WHAT!?" Chill and Jak yelled loudly.
"Yep. Tech's looking for something…don't know what though. We'll figure that out later, for now we can get back to looking for King Sig" Blade said with a small frown.
"He's in there, probably on his throne" Chill said as she pointed up to the Arena Entrance. The group began to walk up the unnecessarily long staircase and made their way to the King's Throne. Just like always, Sig was eagerly watching the latest fight in the arena. He heartily greeted Jak with a grin and said "Hey there, Chili Pepper! How're things going with the AA?"
"Not good. We had a guy betray us and turn over artifacts to the Hunters" Jak replied. Sig frowned and said "That's bad. Some of those are incredibly powerful"
"You're telling me" Chill muttered under her breath.
"We're looking for Seem, do you know where he is?" Jak asked Sig, who shrugged.
"No clue. He said he was going to go clear his mind and meditate for a while. Monk stuff. He should still be in the city, why don't you guys go see if you can find him?" Sig suggested. The group shrugged and exited the Arena. Seem watched the group from atop a Leaper Lizard and said in a soft voice "The pieces are falling into place…one by one…"
Seem dismounted the Lizard, throwing a hood over his face and slowly walked up the steps to the Arena, a small smile on his face.
Meanwhile:
Haven City:
"It's good to be back" Rune said with a smile as she looked around at the waterfront.
The City seemed to be in a state of peace at the moment. No Metal Heads in sight, the streets seemed clean, and the Freedom League had soldiers patrolling the street. One of them walked over to the Agents and said "Hey there. Can I help you guys?"
"We're looking for the Green Sage. You wouldn't happen to know where is right now, would you?" Night asked the solider, and the man responded after a moment of thinking.
"Hmm…Samos eh? Yeah, he's in the City Garden District. Its been recently restored to some of its former glory, so he's there talking to the plants while he can. He should still be there" the guard said, pointing across the way and to a far-off path that led into the city.
Nightingale smiled and said "Thank you"
"Don't mention it. You guys need any help, let one of the guard know" the FL soldier said before he walked away, resuming his patrol.
"He was nice" Nightingale said in a soft tone.
"Well…considering the fact that we've kinda been helping out in the city lately is bound to make some people respect us a bit more" Rune said thoughtfully.
"How have you guys been helping out? The last time we fight in the city was when the Hunters said that they we're teaming up with the Metal Heads.
"Despite what you've seen, we've increased the number of Agents stationed in the city due to the recent attacks. We normally have one or two Agents keep watch in the city and giving aid to the Underground, or in this case the Freedom League, but now we've upped it to seven. That's why you don't seem some of the Agents around the Sanctuary, they're our eyes and ears in Haven City" Phoenix added.
"We also have Agents in Spargus, Kras City, and the Icelands" Nightingale added.
Daxter nodded and said "Hey, we should swing by the Naughty Ottsel first!"
"Why?" Phoenix asked curiously.
"I want to grab something. Tess told me about some sort of mod that she had been working on for Jak. She wanted me to get it for her" Daxter explained sheepishly.
"Sounds like someone's a little-" Phoenix then flicked her hand out and made a whipping sound. Nightingale and Rune laughed while Daxter scowled and said "The Great Orange Lightning is NOT whipped. I'm not Jak!"
"Speaking of…" Phoenix said mischievously, looking at Nightingale, who blushed on the spot.
"Oh no…"
"What happened between you two?" Phoenix asked deviously.
"N-nothing" Night mumbled.
"So, the two of you eating each other's face about an hour or two ago was nothing at all?" Daxter asked Night, who blushed scarlet.
"Daxter, shut up" Nightingale muttered.
"Leave the girl alone, Dax. We should keep looking for the Green Sage" Rune said with a grin on her face.
"Aww, I wanted to mess with her about finally getting a boyfriend" Phoenix pouted.
"He's my boyfriend now?" Nightingale said, bewildered. Phoenix burst out laughing while Dax rolled his eyes and said "Oh boy…I never thought I'd see someone more sexually repressed than Jak, I meet you"
"Sexually repressed!? What the hell do you mean by that?" Nightingale barked at Daxter, blushing scarlet.
"Not sexually repressed. She's super sheltered, that's all. Besides, your boy Jak took forever to realize he liked Night, so there!" Rune said as she wrapped an arm around Night's shoulder in a sisterly way. Phoenix giggled and said "Oh man…I can't wait until she does it with Jak for the first time. She'll-
"Shut up!" Nightingale yelled, clamping her hands over her ears and running towards the Garden District. Nightingale's face was crimson and she fought back the urge to laugh and scream at the same time.
She burst into the Haven Garden Plaza and let out a yell behind her, amidst the laughter, and said "You guys suck!"
"Excuse me?" a surprised voice said from somewhere to her left. Night turned around to see someone she had met a few times but never had the chance to speak to. The Green Sage…
"Ah, you're Jak's friend from the AA. Good to see you again, Agent Nightingale!" Samos said with a smile. He seemed to be a good mood, perhaps it was being around the plants? Nightingale nodded and said "It's an honor to finally speak to you, sir"
"You speak now? Wonderful! What was that screaming about, if you don't mind me asking?" Samos asked Nightingale curiously.
"Um…girl stuff…I-I don't really want to talk about it" Nightingale said with a small embarrassed smile.
"Very well. Oh look, more of you and-oh no…not him" Samos sighed.
"Well if it isn't short, old and greeny!" Daxter yelled loudly. Samos sighed and said "So, you brought Daxter here…but not Jak. I sense there's a story behind this"
"We've found out a lot about the Prophecy, sir. Jak's investigating a lead while we came to you for help" Nightingale said to the Sage.
"Ah, the Prophecy. I know bits and pieces of it myself. Perhaps I can help you make sense of some of the information you have gathered some time?" Samos offered.
"As much as I hate to admit it, we'll take you up on that offer now. We'll catch you up to speed on the way to the Forest" Daxter said with a grin.
"Haven Forest? Why would I go there? I mean right now?" Samos asked.
"We need your help. We're looking for a special herb known as the Akyanst to help save a friend of ours who might know where the Gate to Darkness is being built. We thought that you might be able to lead us to the herb…if anyone here is able to help us, it's you sir" Rune said to the Sage. Samos looked at the three women and said "There seems to be much to this situation. I want you to tell me everything on the way to the Forest. The plants seem very worried about what is to come…I sense it too"
"Can do" Daxter said as he hopped off of Night's shoulder and ran over to a large Zoomer parked nearby.
"Now come on ladies! Let's get going!" Daxter said as he hopped into the driver's seat.
"Oh no, I'm not stepping a single toe in that thing with him at the wheel!" Samos protested.
"Good, it'd probably rust the metal that second you came near it!" Daxter shot back.
"…Um…should we stop them?" Night asked Phoenix, who shook her head as she tried to contain her laughter as Daxter called Samos a tree-hugging old fart.
"Enough! Guys, I'll drive us to the entrance to the Forest. Just…please stop" Rune said pleadingly to the two men, who both sighed and said "Fine…"
"See? We all get along? Now buckle in and shut up!" Phoenix said with a grin as she hopped into the back with Samos and Daxter. Nightingale hopped into the shotgun seat and said "Alright…where should we start?"
"Let's start from the attack in on the City a few months back, and then go from there" Samos said to the raven-haired woman, who nodded. The Zoomer rose into the air and shot towards the Bazaar district as Nightingale, Daxter, Phoenix, and Rune began to explain what had occurred so far since the death of his daughter and Jak's recruitment into the Avenging Angels.
Meanwhile:
Spargus:
Jak walked along the water's edge, deep in thought. He was trying to work on keeping both sides in balance at once, but he just wasn't getting it. He would manage it for a moment or two, and then one side would overpower the other.
"Only when the two are in perfect balance will the way forward be clear" Jak muttered as he held out both of his hands in front of him. He took a deep breath and called forth both the Light and Dark Eco within him. As a ball of Light formed in his left hand and a ball of darkness formed in his left, he felt his entire body suddenly burst into complete agony as he turned into both of his forms at once. The right side of his body was glowing white with a wing shooting from his back while the other surged with Dark Eco, rippling with muscles and a horn shooting from his head and claws burst from his left hand. Jak held the state for a solid ten seconds before letting go. Jak fell to his knees, panting heavily, before he swore in frustration and said "Damn it…what am I doing wrong!?"
Jak got to his feet and said "I have to get this…otherwise we don't stand a chance…"
"Oh, having trouble, are we?" a cheerful voice asked him. Jak turned around and saw a young girl grinning at him from the rock wall above him. She had black hair with a blue highlight through it and wore a purple long sleeved shirt and jeans. She had three small red and white balls on her belt and seemed very…out of place.
"Personally I feel that when the time comes, you'll be able to pull it off. Faith in yourself is what really matters…well, that and eating a balanced breakfast anyway" the girl said wisely as she stepped off of the wall and landed lightly on the ground ten feet below her. She looked at Jak, grinned at him and said "I'm Vivian. You're Jak right?"
"Yeah…how do you know that?" Jak asked the girl cautiously.
"I have my ways…" Vivian said with a small laugh as she pulled out a strange instrument off of her back.
"You should know that the person you seek is no longer here. And before you ask, I just know these things" Vivian said with a grin as he flipped it in her grip and raised a small stick into the air.
Vivian then closed her eyes, her smile fading away completely. She then began to play her instrument by dragging a small wooden stick across the strings on it. The music she played was very soft and soothing to Jak ears that reminded him of the beauty of Nightingale's singing. The degree of intricacy to the piece she was playing was incredible, as she danced from note to note as though it was like breathing to her. As Jak let out a breath of contentment, he began to think of happier times in his life…
Goofing off with Daxter in Sandover Village, working with Keira in her garage, going on Metal Head patrols with Sig for the hell of it and coming back and celebrating their kills…being with Nightingale and just spending time with her…
Jak closed his eyes and listened to the girl play for some time. He didn't know when, but at some point she stopped playing. Jak opened his eyes, smiling, and turned around to speak to her when he found that she had vanished.
"What…where is she?" Jak said in a low voice.
"Hey Jak!"
Chill popped up on the wall and said "Been looking for you. We found out where Seem went, he's at the old Precursor Ruin Island...waaaay out there…what's up? You look spooked"
Jak sighed and said "I don't know…I just met this weird girl who played a song for me and then left"
"That's weird. Then again I can't judge, I had sex with Blade in the Arena while we were looking for Seem" Chill admitted with a lecherous grin.
"Why?" Jak asked in a bored tone.
"He said it was because he felt like doing it, and he knew that I was up for something like that…and I was" Chill said with a smug look on her face.
"Now come on! Let's go! To the Garage! " Chill said as she watched Jak jump up the rocks. Once he reached her, the duo walked to the Garages where they met up with Blade. From there they borrowed the Dune Hopper from Kleiver and headed towards the very ruins where Jak learned to use Light Eco.
Ruins:
"Ah…I have been waiting for you, Mar" Seem said with a small smile as the Dune Hopper slowed to a stop. Seem was sitting down on a rock near the entrance to the temple, looking at peace with the world.
"You have? That seems terribly convenient" Chill stated with a look of confusion as the group hopped out of the vehicle and approached the monk.
"Don't break the fourth wall hon, just sit back and enjoy the story" Blade muttered to his fiancé, who nodded.
"If you've been waiting for us, then you know why we're here" Jak said to Seem, who nodded.
"I do. You seek the Blade of Mar, one of the Precursor's greatest weapons against the Metal Heads. A weapon so powerful it had to be sealed away by Mar himself, only to be used again by one who also shares his name and lineage" Seem said in a soft tone.
"Where is it?" Jak asked Seem.
The monk smiled and said "Even the Precursors do not know. Their memories are great yes, but Mar kept that secret to himself until his deathbed"
"Go on" Blade said with a small smile.
"He then divulged his secret to one monk, an old friend of his who studied the writings of the Precursors and was trained in the ways of the Sages. This man was my ancestor, and so this secret was passed down to me as well"
Seem turned around and then glanced over his shoulder.
"Follow me. I will explain further as we walk" Seem said with a small smile.
Jak nodded and followed.
"…So…"Chill said in a low undertone.
"So?" Blade questioned.
"I can't…I can't tell if it's a guy or a girl" Chill said in a confused tone.
"Maybe it's a she-male. You know, like FlygonNick" Blade said.
"I wonder when he'll stop bashing himself in his own stories" Chill asked Blade, who shrugged.
(FYI: This is a joke. Look up YGOTAS Episode 21, at exactly the 4 minute mark. This is where I got the joke from. I am a dude. That is all...RESUME READING...I actually had to edit this in...huh...oh right, back to the story)
"Who knows? Oh crap, come on! We're losing them!" Blade realized before he sprinted into the ruin, Chill close behind. They caught up in time to see Seem press his/her hand against a wall and utter something under his breath.
The wall suddenly shimmered and faded away into nothingness. Jak blinked in surprise and said "Why didn't you show me this before?"
"It was not yet the time for you to know such things. You have grown a great deal as a hero and a person since the defeat of Cyber Erol and the Dark Makers. Love and loss have tempered your resolve and your strength has grown. However, a mastery of the balance of the forces inside you will provide a sure way forward" Seem said to Jak, who nodded.
"Come. The inner chamber will explain everything" Seem said in a whisper. He stepped into the doorway and descended down a pitch black stairway that seemed to go deep, depe into the earth. Seem snapped his fingers and a small ball of light appeared out of his palm, creating enough light for them to see where they were going. The group finally exited the stairway and immerged into a small chamber, seemingly untouched and perfectly preserved. Runes and writings lined the walls, written in Precursor.
"This…this is incredible" Chill said breathlessly as she beheld the intricate carvings and markings on the ancient walls.
"Yeah" Blade agreed, looking around the room slowly.
"But what do they mean?" Jak asked Seem, who sighed.
"That is a mystery we Monks have been trying to solve for centuries. However, the works have been translated to some degree. The actual Prophecy itself is lost…we only know and have Fragments of it"
"It says something along the lines of this…" Seem said in a soft tone, brushing his fingers against the words on the wall.
"Three Champions born of Light and Darkness will rise, together they will be bound by fate to unite at the dawn of damnation"
"Balance will undergo trials, gaining power over Light and Dark. Against the Metal Heads and Dark Makers he will fight, but will he overcome them all"
"He will meet Champions who will know not their true power, one whose life is shattered while the other's is enslaved by evil"
"The Broken One will be saved by love, and will find their Light when the Gate to Light is opened. Within sleeps the Precursor's greatest treasure"
"Shadows will envelope the Champion of Darkness, but shall be saved just when all hope seems lost.
"The Champion of Balance will embrace his duty before the others, but will gain his true strength last. Within the Catacombs lies the secret to attaining the power of legend, and unlocking his true potential…"
Seem looked at the trio before him and said "That is all I have been able to decipher. I will alert you to any more developments"
"Within the Prophecy and the writings concerning it there are many mentions of others who also have a role in this. The Genius, the Betrayer, the Forgotten Scholar, the Griever. All players in the game we call fate. All have roles in this Prophecy, which is ultimately centered around…you" Seem looked at Jak and said "Only you can save us, Hero"
"What you seek is a ruin that houses this great weapon that connects to the deepest part of the Catabombs. The Blade of Mar, or Yvantael, as it is known by us monks, is held within the depths of the planet. The ruin lies deep within the sands, on the westernmost island off of the coast of the Wasteland. Look for the pillars, marked with a red hue. The color of blood" Seem said in a soft voice.
"It can only be opened by the heir of Mar, and requires the aid of both Champions of Light and Dark to open the final door that protects the scared relic"
"How am I going to get Havoc's help? He's under Arranst's control" Jak asked.
"When the time comes, he will play his part. Do not underestimate the heart of the Champion of Darkness" Seem said with a small smile. Seem closed her eyes for a moment and said "We should leave. I sense there others who will soon be here"
"Others? Like who?" Chill asked.
"You will see" Seem said mysteriously, gesturing for them to leave. As the group walked up the stairs, Seem sealed off the entrance to the chamber and as they entered the entry chamber to the ruins, sealed off the stairway once more.
"You must not breathe a word of this to anyone you wouldn't trust with your life. This chamber must remain a secret. The wards are strong, but secrecy is paramount" Seem said to the trio, who nodded. The group exited the Entrance Chamber and walked towards the Scavenger.
"So, who's coming here?" Jak asked Seem as he took his helmet off. The others did the same.
"Are they friendly?" Chill asked cheerfully.
"Are they the enemy?" Blade asked in a cool tone.
Seem suddenly stopped right where the stone stopped and the sand began at the ruin. The trio turned to Seem, who simply smiled at them and said just one word…
"Both"
A wicked flash of white light surged in front of the group, causing them to gasp and shield their eyes for a moment before starring at the figure of Tech, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere with both Royal and an unconscious Crash. Royal yanked himself away from the traitor and said "Well…that was something"
The former AA Agent looked at the group in surprise and said "Wait…why are you guys here? I haven't broken into the Main Chamber yet, why would you be-?
Jak locked eyes with the traitor and let out a yell, cutting off his sentence, before pulling out his Morph Gun and firing a shot with his Piercer Rifle. Tech yelled out as the shot slammed into his visor, sending him crashing into the sand and rolling down the hill. He suddenly vanished on the spot in a flash of blue light.
"What on blazes are we doing here?" Royal asked Jak, Blade, and Chill. The trio shrugged in an offhand sort of way before Royal's shoulders sagged and said "I'm getting too old for this…I need a vacation. This boy does too"
"It seems as though the Genius Chosen by the Precursors has been found as well. Everything seems to be falling into place quickly...one by one everything is coming together…I must say I'm excited to see what happens next" Seem remarked softly, looking up towards the rising sun with a hopeful smile on his face.
End of Chapter:
Boom. Chapter done.
So yeah, thanks for reading. Please review and give me your feedback!
Also, follow me on twitter at FlygonNick for updates on the story or to hear me give fake dates for when I'll post stuff. Sorry guys, real life has been sucking lately.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!