Jak IV: The Avenging Angels
Happy 3-Year anniversary everyone!
I hope your Spring Breaks were as good as mine was. There was a bit of drama that happened that delayed the chapter by a few days (my internet connection has also been a massive pile of crap lately as well), but thankfully I managed to hammer this thing together. I've already begun work on chapter 43, so that'll be up in a little over a week.
Now that I've had a week off to chill, contemplate the meaning of life, and eat more than half my body weight in French fries, its time we get back to the action!
And what better way to kick this chapter off is with a lengthy AN about my future as a writer!
I'm not going to beat around the bush, so I'm go ahead and explain something to you guys that I've been meaning to do for about 3 months now, but haven't gotten around to doing because it's a long explanation and I've always been pressed for time. Now I'm not, and I can now take a moment to explain so stuff.
There are many reasons why this story is being cut short (by five entire chapters as you may recall), as I have had to condense quite a bit and cut out many scenes I had planned. Originally, Blade was supposed to stay dead and Chill was going to go on a journey spanning the rest of the story to bring him back. This changed, obviously, as did many things. Even chapter 40, as long as it was, was supposed to be even longer. Again, I have to condense things and pick and choose what to cut out and leave in. So, if things seemed rushed, it was because they were to some degree.
Why am I in such a rush, and why is this story supposed to end by April?
Its because I am enlisting in the United States Air Force.
By the time this story is finished, by the end of April, I will officially be signed up.
Yes, I'll be becoming an active member of the military and be serving my country. I've always admired the armed forces and grew up in a military family. Given the state of the economy and the job market at the moment, this seems like a very good option for me at this stage in my life. So, I have been preparing for this as best as I can.
Before I leave though, I decided that this story needed to be finished. I needed to devote my full-attention to this story for once, as it has always been on the backburner and been neglected, something that I apologize for. However, this is my sole focus for the next month, and I will not disappoint you all. I want this story done by the end of April, so I can finally put an end to this part of my life and move on to the next. This story has been a 3-year long project, and I'm happy to know that I can bring it to a satisfying conclusion in just a few weeks and end an awesome story that many people have enjoyed.
I know many of you don't want it to end, but all good things do. The best I can do is make these last four chapters awesome.
Now, what does this mean for FlygonNick?
After all, joining the Air Force is a huge commitment. Well, I'm pleased to say that I've spoken to just about everyone I know with military knowledge and have been assured that I will be able to continue writing and do the stuff I enjoy doing in my off time in the Air Force. This means that, after Basic Training and Tech School, I will be able to produce more content for you all on this site.
I have two Pokémon stories currently in development, as well as a oneshot in the works that should be done by the end of the week. I'm hoping that those of you who have followed this story and "Apocalypse: Dawn of the Dead," will be following me as I write more stories for different areas of enjoyment. There are so many fandoms that I'm passionate about, and that I've always wanted to write for. Hopefully, now that I've got two big stories under my belt, these stories will come out to be even better than what I've done so far. I've grown quite a bit as a person and as a writer ever since I began writing seriously on this site.
Such stories include a Saints Row fanfic and a Minecraft fanfic, both of which are fairly developed concepts in my mind and are definitely stories I can do later on.
However, both aforementioned Pokémon stories I have in mind are very lengthy ventures (longer than Apocalypse, easily), so I'll have to pick and choose what I want to do and what I want to put on the backburner. These are stories I'll be doing for years, for a franchise I have spent playing nearly my entire life. No franchise has held my heart quite like Pokémon, so there's no worry about inspiration running short. It was the first game I have ever played, and series I have always loved dearly.
So, we'll see. I'll be signing up for the Air Force within two weeks or so from this update, and I'll begin the process of getting ready to head out. As always, I'll try and keep you all updated.
I will also mention that, along with profile updates every one or two days, I have begun regularly posting on twitter. If you'd like to stay up to date with my stories, then follow me on twitter FlygonNick.
Shoutout to those who reviewed last chapter, including KrimzonShadow, DaibenDarkKitty64, Ways, Oblique Strategies, a Guest reviewer, a guest reviewer known as Jaxter, StaticBomb93, Oblique Strategies (again), and StaticBomb93 (again), as well as another guest reviewer.
Thanks for the love and support guys. We're coming close to the end here, and all the support just gives me more and more motivation to make this ending as epic as possible.
I think it's about time I end this insanely long AN and get on with the chapter.
I will take a moment though and warn you all that this chapter gets very…well…Hmmm…
Remember that thing I did at the end of last chapter? Well, you find out some of the details from that.
Anyway, time for another chapter! Let's get to it.
Enjoy!
Chapter 42: Letting Go
"Come on Church…We're leaving."- Agent Carolina, Red vs. Blue.
"I thought we came all this way to kill him?"- Epsilon, Red vs. Blue.
"Church, remember what you learned in the memory unit? You need to let go. Your past doesn't define who you are…Just gives you the starting point for who you're going to be."- Agent Carolina, Red vs. Blue.
Planet's Core:
Precursor Development Chamber:
"And…We're finished." Tech said with a tired laugh as he beheld the glowing white bomb before him.
The finished product was much larger than Tech would have liked, though it could be minimized at the touch of a button for easy transporting. The bomb, the Kedical (Rebirth of Hope), was about four feet long and resembled a stereotypical missile in structure, though the inner workings of the bomb were…beyond anything he could have imagined. A glowing white needle like tip was at the end of the bomb, where a series of veins flowed throughout it like liquid diamond. The bomb itself was indestructible, and had been fine-tuned with the power of Gold Eco, supplied by Tess and Daxter.
It was their last chance.
It was a work of art, a piece of destruction created by the very gods themselves. Despite his annoyance and disdain for the original Precursors…He had to admit even he was humbled by the beauty of the device before him.
"I can't believe that we did it…Its done…" Tech murmured, wiping his sweaty brow.
"Did you expect us to fail?" Shadow said with a smile as she hugged her fiancé from behind. Tech smiled as he pried her of him and held her hands above him as he turned around.
"No…Its just incredible to think that after everything me and you have been through, we could help make the weapon to end all of this…" Tech murmured as he brushed a lock of hair out of Shadow's face.
"It's the culmination of a life's work, huh? And you know what…After this, we're going to be able to settle down and invent and create, and make this world so much better." Shadow whispered to Tech, who chuckled quietly.
"You're certainly optimistic about what happens next." Tech remarked.
"Are you still worried?" Shadow teased.
"No…Not with you by my side." Tech admitted as he kissed his lover gently, their hands breaking apart. Tech wrapped his arms around his wife-to-be and deepened the kiss, but before the couple had a chance to do anything more than that they heard someone clear their throat. Tech and Shadow looked behind them to see Daxter and Tess watching them.
"Are we interrupting?" Daxter asked the couple, who broke apart embarrassedly.
"If you two need to be alone, we've got the Pleasure Chamber in the back that you can try out." Tess said to the couple, who exchanged horrified looks. The Ottsels had done quite a bit of remodeling in the core of the planet, creating several rooms and chambers to house new artifacts and projects.
"Wait, what's the Pleasure Chamber?" Shadow asked Tess, who began to open her mouth before Daxter put a finger over it to silence her.
"Don't tell her. We've got to keep this story 'T'." Daxter said to Tess, who nodded and smiled in understanding.
"Wait, what?" Shadow asked, but Tech simply shook his head in annoyance.
"So, aside from the two of you about to defile the place we just inherited, we're done here?" Daxter said to Shadow and Tech, who nodded.
"All Jak has to do is deliver this to the seat of Arranst's power. That which connects her to the other Meta Heads. In destroying that and killing her, the Metal Heads will be done." Tech said to the Ottsels.
"That seems a bit vague." Daxter remarked.
"No one has actually been to the Metal Head homeworld. We can only assume that Arranst's seat of power is the source of her connection to the Metal Heads. If not that, then she'll most likely flee to wherever that source is when pressed for survival." Tech reasoned.
"Makes sense. I hope it's enough…We put every bit of what we had into this. The Masters did as well…If anything can destroy Lady Arranst, its this baby right here." Daxter said as he gestured to the Kedical.
"Good. I'll be glad when this is all over and we can start working on the new prophecy!" Tess said excitedly.
"Oh no you don't! We don't need more of this Precursor bullshit!" Shadow yelled at Tess, who put her hands on her hips.
"Excuse me? I can turn you and your boy-toy traitor into Precursors right now if I wanted too. Don't push it." Tess warned Shadow, who blanched at the threat.
"May I just interject for a moment and say how much I enjoy having flesh and not fur, and that you two are doing a great job here?" Tech said to the two Ottsels, who both grinned at the two ex-traitors before them.
"See? Cooperation is the key." Tess chirped.
"I thought memory was the key. And that the key was a sword. And when you stick it in people…it unlocks their death." Daxter replied, earning confused looks from everyone.
"What's going on anymore?" Tech asked as he tapped a button on the side of the Kedical, causing the bomb to shrink down until it was only a foot long. Tech tapped the device, pressing in several panels on it, making the needle retract inwards.
"We'll have to give Jak, Night, and Havoc a rundown on how this thing works." Shadow remarked.
"I still can't believe they were right about Havoc. They managed to actually get him back…And with no traces of Arranst left behind." Tech replied as he pressed in the center panel on the bomb, causing it to flash white for a moment before the light faded away.
"Looks like everything is all set. We'll keep the bomb here for safe keeping until you guys arrive at the Gate to Darkness." Daxter said to Tech and Shadow.
"So, what are you two going to be doing?" Tech asked Daxter and Tess.
"We'll be helping keep the Gate Open. Arranst may try and seal it herself to prevent them from getting back. Other than that, we'll see. We may just join in the fight ourselves." Tess explained.
"You guys should be getting back though. You want us to teleport you directly to the Watcher?" Daxter asked Tech.
"That'd probably be best. We've got to touch base with the Chief anyway. Thanks for everything, Daxter." Tech said to the Precursor, who nodded. Daxter sent to the two weapons experts away, and after a moment Tess tackled her boyfriend to the ground.
"You. Me. Pleasure Chamber. Now…" Tess purred, causing Daxter to smile widely in response.
Freedom League HQ:
The Next Morning:
Havoc hissed as the light shone through of his window, blinding him. He sat up in his bed before sighing deeply, regarding the empty room before him with a small smile of amusement.
"How long has it been since I slept peacefully…Days? Weeks? Months?" Havoc murmured as he flung aside his blanket and got to his feet.
He looked at the mirror in the room for a moment, taking in his appearance. Where before he had flowing black marks covering most of his body, showing just how much control Arranst had over him, his body was clear of these marks. He had healed most of the wounds on his body, due to Dark Eco having its own twisted restorative powers.
It only seemed to work on those who had the stuff in them already, though. That said, scars decorated his bare body, and with a morbid laugh he starred at himself and wondered if he simply enjoyed it all. Facing death in the face and confounding it time and time again.
Not that he cared, since the Dark Eco inside him and the other Hunters had prevented them from being killed time and time again. Oh sure, if a Hunter was caught off guard and couldn't heal the wound in time they could die from shock or bleeding out like any other man. He himself had only survived half of the injuries had had because Arranst was always there, supporting him as he carried out her will…
Havoc clenched his fists and let out a small growl of loathing at the thought of the Metal Head Queen. The monster who had all but enslaved him, ensnaring his thoughts and body so that she could use him as her instrument of destruction.
"You'll pay for this, my Queen." Havoc hissed as the Dark Eco inside of him threatened to spill forth, only held back by his control over it. With a sigh, he calmed himself and went to get his gear on. He had reacquired his Dark Eco sword, named Umbra, from the battlefield the previous night. It was a weapon he had used many time before, but had fallen out of use when Arranst gained full control over him. He decided that if Jak had taken up the blade, maybe he should as well. Havoc wondered if he could convince Nightingale to take up using a sword as well.
"If I remember right, she's even better at swordplay than me." Havoc muttered as he slipped his helmet on his belt. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a calming breath to ease his nerves, before he slipped out of his room. He nodded at the two FL soldiers standing outside of his room, who nodded at him.
"I'm going to get some breakfast. Follow if you want, I don't give a shit." Havoc said as he began to walk down the hallway. The two FL soldiers ran ahead of him and pointed their weapons at him.
"You're still under our supervision, Havoc." One of the soldiers growled.
"Meaning you don't go anywhere unless we say so." The other solider growled.
"Really? I was under the impression that you two were braindead morons who couldn't find your ass with a map and flashlight." Havoc replied, incensing one of the soldiers into swinging his gunstaff at him. Havoc remained still as the gunstaff smashed into his head, but did absolutely nothing.
"How about you, big guy? You want to try your luck?" Havoc asked the other man, who stabbed at Havoc with his spear-tipped gunstaff. Havoc knocked the staff aside and lashed out at both soldiers, knocking them both out within seconds.
"And that, gentlemen is why being a protagonist, and not useless cannon fodder, is amazing. Now if you don't mind, I'm in the mood for waffles." Havoc said as he strode past the men, feeling considerably more cheerful.
He walked into the dining area without attracting too much attention, spotting Chill and Blade quietly eating in the corner. After grabbing some food (mainly waffles), he went to join them, earning two surprised looks.
"Um, hey Havoc. What's up?" Chill asked, quick to recover. Havoc rolled his eyes at the surprise of the two Agents.
"Hey, just because I was manipulated for months on end to kill you guys doesn't mean we have to make it awkward. You're stuck with me now, so deal with it," Havoc said as he buttered his waffles before adding "And to answer your question, I'm fine. I'm somewhat hungover, but that'll pass soon enough. It won't stop me from eating waffles."
"It'll take some time before we get used to you being back to normal, man." Blade said with a tired smile. He seemed to be recovering from the battle well enough, though the fact still remained that he had lost his entire arm two days ago and would need time to recover and adjust.
Many of those who had fought were battered and weak, including many of the Avenging Angels. Advanced healing treatments and rest could only do so much. As always, time was what was necessary…time they didn't have.
"I guess so. So, how are you two holding up?" Havoc asked the couple as he added unhealthy amounts of syrup to his waffles.
Chill replied by laying her head on Blade's shoulder, a content smile on her face, while Blade replied "We're recovering. We've both had close calls, but nothing like that. Chill's been a bit…clingy, but nothing I haven't dealt with before. It happens every time I nearly die."
"Clingy!? Me!? How dare you sir!" Chill yelled loudly as she stood up and pointed at Blade, attracting the attention of every single person in the Mess Hall. Havoc looked at the two for a moment before silently eating his waffles.
"OI! Not all of us are morning people, Chill!" Chase barked from across the Mess Hall, where he was eating with Phoenix and Rune, the latter of which was sleeping quietly on Chase's shoulder and nursing a massive hangover.
"As I was saying, we're recovering from this whole ordeal. This isn't something we both can bounce back from. This is exactly what I was afraid of happening, Havoc." Blade said in a low voice.
"You're not fighting again if I can help it. Not after losing your arm," Chill said as she slipped an arm around her husband, hugging him lightly. Havoc smiled a little at the love between the two, since he had known them for years. It was nice to know that they had finally gotten serious about their relationship and tied the knot. That said…He understood neither one would be able to take it if something happened to the other. Chill's misery the night before had been proof of this.
Chill was passion and heart while Blade was strong and stalwart. Both were a fit match for one another, because they balanced each other out so well. It was a perfect kind of relationship.
"You probably won't have too. Jak, Night, and me have fought with Lady Arranst once before. Jak and Nightingale…and me…were too weakened by that point to fight her properly, and the Queen has killed scores of Precursors before. Daxter, Tess, and the other three were threats, but nothing she hadn't dealt with before. However when the three of us teamed up…I felt it." Havoc said quietly, a determined smirk on his face.
"She felt fear. She was afraid of what we were capable of. That the Prophecy she was so desperate to alter to her ends has turned against her. I'm more powerful than I could have ever been if I discovered my heritage on my own, thanks to her. Nightingale and me are about equal in strength, now that I don't have Arranst feeding me her energy. Jak's a bit stronger than either one of us, thanks to his experience and his knowledge of how both Light and Dark Eco works."
"Would he be able to beat the two of you in a fight?" Blade asked curiously. Havoc considered the answer for a moment, reflecting on the past two fights he had had with Jak and Nightingale.
"He'd beat us down quite a bit, but we've got more experience than him with fighting. Night's been trained by the Marauder's and I learned from the KG and Underground forces. I also have a knack for being a step ahead of people, though with Arranst doing the thinking I haven't been able to display that ability. On top of being Rush's protégé for most of her AA career, Night's one of the deadliest fighters on the planet. Jak's self-taught from everything he knows, and he's pretty damn good with weapons, blades, CQC (close-quarter combat), and his Eco Powers. Add his Guardian form to the mix…Yeah, Jak would be hard to put down. But between the two of us…We'd manage it." Havoc explained.
"Makes me feel a bit better about our chances." Blade admitted.
"We will kill her…I promise that." Havoc said in a low voice, his tone serious. Chill and Blade exchanged a small glance before they smiled.
"Thanks, Jazon." Chill said as she laid her head down on Blade's shoulder. Havoc nodded and returned to his waffles, but less than a minute later a new arrival made him stop eating and simply grin. He had seen this before, many years ago, after he had broken in his second girlfriend.
"Oh, I'm going to fun with this." Havoc thought as he exchanged a knowing glance with Chill, who beamed at him.
"Good morning Night." Blade said lightly to Nightingale as she slowly entered the room.
"Having trouble walking, I see." Havoc noted as Nightingale shuffled awkwardly through the room, her hair messy and her eyes half closed. She opened one eye wider and glared at Havoc before collapsing into a seat next to him and burying her face in her arms.
"My god, Jak must have fucked you silly last night, huh?" Chill said far too loudly, earning an exhausted glare in reply from the exhausted young woman.
"Yeah, he and Nightingale were going at it for a while." Blade remarked as Jak walked into the room, looking moderately less tired and able to walk without any issues, but didn't say anything to the others as he sat down at the table. Nightingale mumbled something and flopped down in Jak's lap, causing him to fight back a laugh.
"Jak, me and you are gonna have to talk later." Blade said as Havoc and Chill burst out laughing, catching the attention of everyone again.
"What's so funny?" Jak asked the three older Agents.
"They know what we did." Nightingale grumbled as she sat up, brushing her black bangs out of her eyes. Jak blinked and gave Nightingale a confused look before he turned to face Chill, who was beaming at him, her arms crossed and looking very pleased with herself.
"Yes?" Chill said to Jak, who sighed and shook his head.
"How and when?"
"I bugged your room just after I got Blade to lay down and got him situated. I needed something to cheer me up, and I happened to have it laying around. I was so excited when I realized that you two were actually…I mean what are the odds?" Chill asked the others. Havoc snorted with laughter as he tried to eat again while Blade simply shook his head, a wide grin on his face.
"So! Tell…me…all…about it." Chill said to the couple, leaning closer to the two of them with each word.
"She did well for her first time." Jak replied, earning a look from Nightingale that seemed both amused and pleased, albeit exhausted.
"Oh? And Night, your response?" Chill asked the young woman, who rubbed her eyes, even as they flashed white for a moment and a shiver of light ran down the length of her body. It seemed as though she was trying to heal away her lethargy and exhaustion. As she opened her eyes, she seemed moderately more awake and alert.
"It was…interesting. Jak was a gentleman and we had a wonderful time…but you knew that already." Nightingale muttered the last part darkly.
"Ooh, I want more. Details!" Chill urged the couple.
"No."
"Yes." Chill stood up.
"No. Not gonna happen." Night said as she got up.
"Night is so going to lose this battle." Blade said dryly, taking another drink of coffee.
"Oh yes it is. I'll make a montage of you screaming Jak's name and leave a copy of it on top of the Chief's desk-" Chill began to say before Nightingale sighed deeply, still standing up.
"What do you want to know?" Night asked, sounding defeated.
"How big was he? Who came first? What position were you guys in? How many times did you do it? And how long did you do it for?...To start." Chill said, causing Nightingale to close her eyes.
"Pretty big, me, I don't know what you call it but he was on top, twice, and for about thirty minutes each time. I was too tired to do any more than that!" Nightingale said in a rush, looking down with her face bright red.
Chill's jaw dropped as Havoc and Blade exchanged looks before cracking up with laughter, their heads banging on the table. Jak, keeping a straight face, slowly pushed Nightingale back down into a sitting position.
"Ummm…Wait, I mean…" Night trailed off, unsure of how to fix this. She had kind of just nervously cracked.
"That'll do, Night. That'll do." Jak said as he patted Night on the back, amused at what had just happened. He knew at some level he should probably be embarrassed, but Nightingale seemed to have really enjoyed last night. The two of them were closer than ever, having shared that kind of experience.
"Jak, you have earned my respect, having finally screwed your girlfriend. Fist bump." Havoc chuckled as he held his fist out, only for Nightingale to lean over the table and punch Havoc in the face, sending falling backwards out of his chair with a swear.
"And you've lost my respect by being an asshole." Nightingale said as Havoc got to his feet, holding his eye.
"OK, I deserved that." Havoc said, not moving from the floor.
"I'm surprised that she hasn't hit Chill." Blade said lightly as he took a sip of his coffee.
"No, that's too easy. I'll have to wait until after we kill Arranst to get even. I'm scared to do anything because I'm scare she'll end up liking it." Nightingale muttered, earning a thumbs up from Chill as Havoc got to his feet.
"Speaking of Arranst…We need to talk about something." Havoc said as his black eye began to go away.
"What's up?" Jak asked before Havoc summoned a sword pulsating with Dark Eco to his hands.
"If we're going to be taking on Arranst, we're going to have to learn how to fight together." Havoc said with a smirk before he turned around, looking at the dozen or so FL soldiers that were aiming a weapon of some kind at him.
"Stand down, boys. You couldn't do anything to me if you tried." Havoc remarked as Jak and Night got to their feet.
"Sounds good. I'm always up for a fight." Jak smirked at Havoc, who rolled his eyes.
"Meet me outside the Naught Ottsel in two hours." Havoc said to the couple, who nodded before Havoc turned around and walked out of the room.
"So, how are you two doing?" Night asked Blade and Chill.
"I'm…recovering. I still feel like hell from the battle, and it'll be a while before I get used to not having an arm." Blade replied as Chill frowned thoughtfully.
"I bet Daxter and Tech could work together to make you a replica arm, if you wanted." Chill suggested.
"Its possible. But I think I'll hold off on that for a bit. I doubt I'll be useful in the upcoming fights anyway. Even if I had my arm, I doubt I'd be in any shape to fight. I can barely walk on my own, even with the Eco treatments Samos gave me the other day…No…Time is the best remedy for me now." Blade said quietly.
"Then I'll fight for both of us!" Chill said cheerfully as she kissed Blade on the cheek, causing him to smile.
"I may not fight directly, but that doesn't mean I still can't participate in the final fight. I can help monitor what's going on and provide support that way." Blade said as he closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath before exhaling.
"I need to get more sleep. Nicole, you coming?" Blade asked his wife, who nodded in reply, though a look of worry appeared on her face. She helped Blade get to his feet and Jak and Night bid the couple farewell, watching them as they departed.
"Seeing Blade so roughed up makes me appreciate what kind of gifts we have…" Night muttered as Jak ruffled her hair.
"Yeah. He'll be alright though. We'll be moving out tomorrow, if what you told me earlier is true. After that…we can recover." Jak said in a low voice.
"Mmhmm…We should hurry up and eat before we meet up with Havoc." Night said to Jak, who nodded after a moment. The couple quickly ate and began getting ready for whatever kind of fighting they would have to do to prepare for their final test.
The battle against the Metal Head Queen.
Meanwhile:
Freedom League Hidden Garden:
Samos sighed quietly as he connected with the plants and trees around him. It was his own personal garden, his little sanctuary that allowed him a modicum of comfort. He had made sure Torn had made this place for him, within the HQ they were making for the FL, just so he could have some peace.
Beautiful plants, the sort that only grew within the depths of Haven Forest, bloomed around him in shades of red, blue, green, yellow. Birds chirped and sang around him, causing him to smile slightly in response. He chose to sit down on the soil today, rather than float above it as he normally did. The sun streamed in through the skylight in the middle of the room, warming his body and causing the plants to thrum with life and happiness.
It was one of the few times he had actually found peace in his mediations. After the death of his daughter, he rarely found sleep or comfort. His only motivation to even go on had been protecting others so that they too did not suffer her fate.
He was proud of Jak, who had come so far in so little time. He had truly realized his destiny and grown so much as a person. He had even managed to use the grief he had experienced at Damas and Keira's death and used it to strike at the Metal Heads.
And now…The fight would finally be over.
Speaking of Jak...
Samos opened one eye and saw Jak and his new girlfriend and the Champion of Light, Nightingale, sitting down next to him in meditative poses. Samos smiled slightly to himself and closed his eyes. After about an hour of comfortable silence, Samos finally spoke.
"So, did you glean anything useful from the plants, Jak and Nightingale?" Samos asked the young couple.
"No…But I feel very relaxed, sir. Its like the plants are helping keep my mind calm." Nightingale replied quietly, a small smile on her face.
"Very good. The plants seem to be hopeful of what is to come. They feel as though the world will soon be able to flourish like never before, despite what has happened to the city." Samos replied.
"You think Haven can recover from this?" Jak asked Samos, who smiled at Jak.
"Sometimes, Jak, the forest fire must burn fiercely and destroy the forest, burning away everything. Why is this? Because from even the ashes of the beautiful forest, a greater forest can grow and bloom." Samos said with a small smile as he gestured to the soil next to him. With a wave of his hands, green sprouts began to slowly rise out of the earth and grow.
"We will find a way to survive…Like the plants of this world, mankind always finds a way to survive. This will not be the end of us…No, I believe in the Precursors. I believe in the good of the universe…And I believe in you Jak. And you, Nightingale. And even in Havoc."
"Thank you, Samos." Nightingale said quietly.
"What do you two plan on doing for the remainder of your time here? As I understand it, you two have a date with the Metal Head Queen soon." Samos said to the couple.
"We're going to train with Havoc for a bit, but other than that, I guess just rest and recover." Jak said in reply before he looked at Night, who seemed troubled. Nightingale remained silent, however, and after some time the couple bid Samos farewell, allowing him to meditate in peace. Nightingale sighed quietly to herself, only for Jak to pull her closer to him and give her a light squeeze.
"Jak…No matter what happens, you'll be here for me…right?" Night said quietly.
"Of course…Want to tell me what's wrong?" Jak asked Night, who shook her head.
"I need time to think…" Night replied, shaking her head.
"OK…Let's go get ready and meet Havoc. We can talk about it if you want along the way, OK?"
Nightingale nodded, and with that the couple walked back to their room in silence, with Jak silently wondering just what his girlfriend was thinking about that made her so uneasy.
Outside the Naughty Ottsel:
Jak and Nightingale made their way down the destroyed streets, eyeing the construction efforts with worry and a bit of admiration for those relentlessly working to repair the devastated city. They saw Havoc waiting for them outside of the bar, leaning against the wall with a bored expression. He perked up when he noticed the two warriors coming his way.
"If we're going to be doing this, then we should first test out how me and Night fare against each other. Jak, you join in whenever we get to a stalemate and we can work from there. Use only your Guardian form." Havoc said to Jak, who nodded.
"This ought to be interesting." Night said with a small smile as she and Havoc began to walk apart, so that they were a good distance away from one another before the fight began. The two of them starred each other down in the middle of the street for a moment before Havoc spoke.
"You better believe it. Now, try not to be too awed by my greatness. Its pretty damn incredible." Havoc said as he held his hands out to his sides. A dark aura flared into existence around him, with two red glowing orbs becoming visible through his visor. Two black demon-like wings shot out of his back, flapping once before Havoc let out a yell.
"Agh…There we go." Havoc muttered, flexing his hands and allowing the darkness within him to rush forth.
"OK. My turn." Nightingale said as she activated her own light form, her body gaining a faint white glow as angelic wings shot out of her back, flapping once before she got into a fighting stance of her own.
"Ladies first." Havoc said to Nightingale, who nodded slowly before she vanished into thin air.
"Wait, what-?" Havoc said before Nightingale appeared above him, swinging her boot through the air. Havoc leaned back, the kick soaring above him, and flew away from the Champion of Light before turning around and firing an arc of black lightning at Nightingale. The Number 1 Agent summoned a shield of light and blocked the bolt before flying after Havoc.
Jak watched the two battle back and forth across the water, taking in just how powerful the other two champions were. Jak watched them go back and forth across the water, their moves calculated and powerful. Some people watched on in awe as the two Chosen Ones battled back and forth, displaying their skill and power prominently.
After a while, Havoc raised his hand to stop. He beckoned Night to fly over to Jak with him, with the two of them landing lightly on the ground.
"And now…We both fight against Jak." Havoc said as he turned to face the Guardian of Balance. Jak smirked as Nightingale grinned at him through her visor. This was going to be fun.
Jak drew Yvantael, activating Guardian. Gold Eco surged through him as his wings sprouted from his back, his body becoming encased in a golden-orange glasslike armor.
"Bring it." Jak said as he glanced between the two warriors. The two of them exchanged a glance before they flew at Jak.
Jak felt a grin spread across his face as Havoc swung his fist towards him, which Jak ducked under as Nightingale flew towards him, swinging her foot towards his head. Jak grabbed Night's leg in midair and hurled her towards Havoc, though Havoc vanished in a burst of Eco before Night could slam into him. Nightingale righted herself as Havoc reappeared in midair, arms held out, before a series of dark streaks of energy shot out of his palms. Jak flew into the air right at Havoc, flying and dodging the attack before kicking him in the chest, sending him flying backwards.
Night suddenly latched onto Jak from behind and spun around, hurling him towards the ground below. Jak crashed onto the ground, but quickly got to his fete and looked skyward in time to see two streaks of purple and white slam into him, causing him to scream out in pain before becoming engulfed in a massive explosion.
"So, between the two of us, we can create quite a bit of damage to Jak even when he's in his Guardian form." Havoc said as he crossed his arms. A golden blur shot out of the smoke and soared towards the two Champions, crashing into Havoc before firing a golden bolt of energy at Nightingale, who threw up a shield to block.
Jak sped towards Nightingale, slashing at her midsection as Havoc rushed him from the side kicked him in the ribs. Jak slashed downwards, knocking Nightingale out of the air as Havoc fired a series of black fireballs at Jak, who dispelled them with ease.
The three Champions continued to battle each other fiercely, getting a feel for their moves and strengths and weakness. Havoc was the most vocal, spotting flaws in their fighting styles and helping them correct any weaknesses he spotted. Nightingale instructed Havoc in some of the basics of Light Eco manipulation, as he seemed to have trouble dodging her and Jak's attacks and instead seemed to endure them and attack that way. Jak helped the two other Champions by giving them tips on how to control the Eco within the better.
"STOP!" Night yelled, causing the two men to stop in midair.
"If we keep going, we're going to wear ourselves out. I think we've gotten a pretty good grasp on what we all can do, right?" Night said to Jak and Havoc, who nodded in understanding.
"One last thing though. We need to test the limits of us working with Jak." Havoc said to Night, who nodded.
"What did you have in mind?" Jak asked Havoc.
"What I was thinking was this…" Havoc began to say as he launched into an explanation. As the trio floated in the air, Samos watched them from afar with a look of pride. Yes…They could do it. They could bring peace and balance to the universe and right the wrongs that had been so rampant for so long…
They could defeat the Queen and avenge the legacy of the Precursors, and all those who had fallen to the monsters known as the Metal Heads. Samos watched the three Champions for a while until began Havoc and Nightingale began glowing bright and creating balls of light around them. Jak would then fly through the balls of light, where he began glowing purple and white are irregular intervals. Samos watched them for a while before silently walking away, a smile on his face.
Another hour later, the three Champions stopped and ended their training session, deciding that they needed to spend the rest of the day recovering
"I've got to see someone before we leave. I'll be at the Watcher before the meeting." said to the two men before she flew off into the sky.
"Any idea what's up with her?" Havoc asked Jak, who nodded.
"She needs to settle something." Jak said in reply before he looked over at the Naught Ottsel. Havoc frowned as he removed his helmet, but before he could open his mouth Jak said "Don't ask. She wants to deal with this on her own." Night
"Hmm…Alright." Havoc said as Jak set off toward the bar. Havoc looked towards Nightingale's retreating silhouette in the distance before following Jak to the bar, eager to get a drink and relax a bit.
Freedom League HQ:
"We've got a shipment of fresh supplies from Kras City. Looks pretty sketchy, but I won't turn away support like that at a time like this." Torn said as he reviewed the report. It had come from Chief Disten, who had reported that one of his men had acquired the support of one of the greatest crime families in the world. Torn wasn't comfortable using channels like that, but at a time like this…he'd take what he could get. After all, there were no strings attached…It seemed safe enough, and he could trust the Chief.
"I can't believe that Agent Crash managed to get this Mizo guy to help us. I wonder what he wanted in return for the supplies?" Ashelin asked Torn, who looked at the Chief in response.
"Why don't you ask him?" Disten asked as the suddenly opened behind him, revealing Crash, Shadow, and Tech. Crash had spent all evening talking with the couple, and was now fairly comfortable with them now. It had taken a while before he could be convinced they were truly allies once again.
"Mizo made a mistake and looked like a dick for accepting Tech's offer. He managed to use the publicity from the fight we had to gather support for his team. I'll have to head back to Kras in a week or two, but with all of the resources we have and with me back in the picture, we'll win the championship this year."
"So that's why Mizo is willing to send us help?" Torn asked, surprised.
"Mizo's been keeping tabs on things for a while. Turns out his precious info about the comings and going in Haven is fairly outdated, as Kras City is where he's king. He's not one to let one of his best players get dealt a bad hand, so he offered me a…what do you call it?" Crash said, snapping his fingers.
"A boon?" Shadow offered.
"That, yeah. I told him he could help Haven after the smoke cleared in this big battle in exchange for my services, and for fucking up and letting Tech and Shadow hurt me. He's not nearly as much of a snake as Krew, you know. He can see a profit, but he knows that if this thing goes south he'll be screwed too. On top of the fact that he owes me…The ball's in my court, so to speak." Crash explained.
"Even crime lords have to realize that if the world is destroyed, their wealth and power means nothing." Torn smirked.
"I guess so. Either way, he's backing shipments and supplies for Haven City to help with the rebuilding efforts. The rebuild of Haven City is sponsored by the Mizo crime family. Congrats."
"I didn't ask for his help!" Torn barked at Crash, irritated at his tone.
"No. But its help. Mizo isn't going to try shit. He's doing it for publicity, to get in the good graces of the public. He's also not dumb…He knows that he has to keep me happy or else I'll walk out on his ass." Crash said as he crossed his arms.
"If I may interrupt." Disten said, stopping the conversation. "We're about ready to head off. I'll need to speak with the two of you privately before I meet up with my other Agents to discuss the final plan."
"I'll head back then. I'll be seeing you," Crash said as he turned around and walked out of the room, smirking as he did so.
"I don't like that we have to accept help from slime like Mizo…" Torn growled.
"We all do things we don't want to do. Crash risks his neck daily to get us intel, which helps keep us safe whenever we go to Kras City. He nearly died getting those supplies and had to kill one of Mizo's men himself before Mizo agreed to this." Shadow shot at Torn, who sighed.
"I guess if its what necessary…I need some air." Torn muttered as he walked out of the room, excusing himself and walking across the small walkway outside that led to the roof. To his surprise, he found a familiar black-haired woman waiting for him on the room, aiming a pistol at him.
Nightingale.
She had spent the better part of the day mulling things over, and after consulting with Samos after her training session with Jak and Havoc, she had finally decided to give things one final chance. Iris looked at Jakob as he slowly approached her. Iris smiled, despite herself, and lowered the pistol.
"Jakob." Night said quietly, leaning against one of the decorative pillars on the roof and putting away her pistol.
"Iris." Jakob replied, nodding to her as he slowly walked over to the railing of the roof.
"What are you doing up here?" Iris asked Jakob, who sighed slightly.
"I'm not a fan of how things are shaping up. Even if you three beat the Queen, the reconstruction efforts are going to nearly ruin us. We're depending heavily on Spargus, Kras City, and other settlements just to keep everyone going." Jakob muttered.
"We have to do things we're not proud of in the name of survival…You know that well, don't you?" Iris said icily, causing Jakob to flinch.
"So, you're leaving tonight?" Jakob said quietly, his voice rough. He sounded exhausted, as if he hadn't slept at all in the past few days. She realized that Ashelin was correct, in that he was most likely devastated by the destruction of his men. Iris allowed her tone to become less cold, but still firm.
"Yeah…We'll be gone tonight. We're finishing up the last bit of preparations now, but you already knew that. You all can survive until then, I'm sure." Iris said as she walked over to the ledge, leaning against it and putting her arms on it. Jakob regarded her for a moment before she added "Tomorrow will be the day we either succeed, or we fail."
"I guess so…"
Jakob's reply seemed to have a question in it. Iris wasn't so foolish. She knew what the question, be it unasked, was.
Why was she here?
Truthfully…She didn't know. Havoc, Blade, and Chief Disten's words rang out in her mind, but as always it was the words of her true love that rang out the loudest.
"We're about to go into the biggest fight of our lives…Do you really want to leave behind all of that hate? Night…Sometimes you have to let go."
"Jakob…" Iris murmured, bowing her head down. Jakob did the same, and for a time the two remained silent, unsure of what to say to one another.
"I'm so sorry…For everything…For leaving you behind. For breaking my promise. For every single hurt that you endured in the hellhole of a fortress…I'm so sorry Iris." Jakob muttered, clenching his fists. Iris could hear the hate and anger in his words, but they were all directed at himself. He truly regretted what he had done to her…
"Being sorry doesn't make up for everything that happened to me. They broke me…They broke me and turned me into nothing but a mute wreck. I had no hope, no desire to keep living. Even when I was rescued, I didn't even want to keep going. I wanted to die." Iris said quietly, looking up into the sky.
"After I was rescued, Rush became my guardian, protecting me and helping me learn how to hone my skills. Chief Disten became a father to me…The others, I didn't want to become close to. I was scared they'd hurt me like you…Do you know what its like, going through your life like that? Not wanting to trust anyone? Being all alone in your mind?"
"No…I don't." Jakob muttered.
"No…You wouldn't, would you?" Iris said quietly, causing Jakob to look away from her.
"You put me through so much pain…You ruined my life. You broke my spirit when you promised you'd be there…That'd I wouldn't be alone…But even after all that…You made me who I am now." Iris said quietly, closing her eyes. Jakob looked at her for a moment, noticing a change in her tone. It sounded resigned, but determined.
"I met Jak because I ended up with the Avenging Angels. I have friends I can count on…I have a family now. My suffering made me stronger than I would have ever been if you had held true to your promise." Iris said to Jakob, slowly opening her bright green eyes and regarding the man who had betrayed her as a child. The man who had struck her down, surrounded by killers and savages, to save himself.
"Your reason for betraying me was because you were scared. You thought they wouldn't be nearly as hard on me if they thought I was being used by you. In that regard, you were wrong…They used you as the tool to ruin my soul…And I can't ever forgive you for what you did for me." Iris said as she pulled out a knife from her belt and grabbed Jakob by the shoulder, forcefully pinning him to the railing. She had reclaimed her knife from Jak, the one she had give him so long ago, because it was a special weapon. It was a weapon she had made herself, shortly after being saved the Avenging Angels. It felt fitting, using this weapon on Jakob.
Jakob didn't bother fight back. He deserved this. If Iris chose to strike him down now, he wouldn't put up a fight. He'd accept it…He deserved whatever she did to him. She was his biggest regret…The reason he tried to be a better person. A better man…
Because once upon a time, he had broken a little girl's trust and used her to save himself. He had lived with the guilt of what he had done to her for nearly 9 years. If Iris claimed his life…It was something he had coming, he supposed.
"That said…We all have a chance to become better people. And I think that after everything I've learned in my time in the Avenging Angels…I've realized that you're not worth killing." Iris whispered as she slowly sheathed her knife. Jakob looked at her, surprised, before she grabbed Jakob's hand.
Iris pulled Jakob into an embrace, hugging him tightly for a moment before breaking it. Jakob stood there, bewildered at this sudden gesture, before Iris said "I can see it. In your eyes…What you did will continue to haunt you for the rest of your life. You truly do regret what you've done to me…And that's punishment enough. There's no reason to hate you…To hold on to that pain. I'm letting go…I'm letting go of the man who betrayed me to the Marauders, and accepting the man who stands before me now. The Leader of the Freedom League and Jak's friend."
"I'm sure whether to be happy or angry at that." Torn replied, sighing tiredly.
"You're supposed to accept it. It means that this grudge I have against you means nothing to me now. Its…stupid. With everything that's going on, should I really be holding on to something that's caused me so much pain?" Nightingale asked Torn, who remained quiet for some time.
"No…I guess not." Torn replied in an undertone.
"I'm happy now…I have a man who loves me, I have a family to support me and I have people I can call on as friends. I'm loved…That's all that really matters to me. I've managed to grow and become stronger as a person throughout this whole journey, ever since I met Jak." Night said to Torn, who smiled a little.
"He always seems to bring out the best in people." Torn admitted.
"He gave me what I had always wanted...He accepted me, with all of my faults, and helped me grow. He saw through my pain and was there to support me, even though I was just a stranger to him…I poured out my heart to him, and in return he became a friend like no other to me. I fell in love with him, because we had both suffered over the course of our lives…But we became stronger and better people because of that suffering. I suppose I have to thank you for that. Without you…I never would have met Jak." Nightingale said quietly to Torn.
"It still doesn't make up for what I did…I…" Torn trailed off.
"And when we return…We can discuss how you're going to fix things between us." Nightingale said to Torn, who nodded after a moment. Nightingale turned around and began walking away, only to glance back at Torn who was watching her. He smiled sadly at her, and she turned away again, flying away in a burst of light.
Yes, she had let go…But he still had a long way to go before they were OK again.
One Hour Later:
The Watcher (Inside the Briefing Room)
Disten stepped up to the table before he looked around the room. His family, his Avenging Angels, were gathered around the large table that served to demonstrate what would happen on this final mission.
If this succeeded…then the fight would be over. There would be no more struggle…No more fighting.
The fallen would be avenged.
"Those of you who were present during the battle two days ago already know what I am about to say, but I will summarize what has occurred for those of you who were not there."
"An incredible battle took place, between our forces, the Freedom League, and Spargus against the Metal Heads and the Hunters. Several elements of this battle have been left out, but now all will be explained." Disten said as his eyes drifted over each of the Avenging Angels.
He then launched into an explanation about the Gate to Darkness, the Metal Head Queen, and the true nature of the Hunters, including Havoc's manipulation. The surprise on the look of some of the Agents was obvious, as not all had been privy to the details (the identity of the Precursors came as a shock to several of them), but after a very lengthy explanation, the Chief knew that the Agents understood what would come next.
What would come next would in the culmination is what they fought for every day. With this understanding…Would come knowledge. Understanding of the events happening…They deserved to know why they could all die come tomorrow.
After answering a few questions, Disten glanced to his left and saw his adoptive daughter and her boyfriend watching him intently, holding each other's hands behind their backs. He fought the urge to smile and instead turned to the black-haired man standing to his side, looking bored.
"Now that we have covered the events that have occurred these past few months, we will now go over the plan in place to ensure the defeat of the Metal Head Queen and the end of her children." Disten said to the Agents, who looked to the Chief, and then to Havoc, who sighed quietly to himself.
"Agent Havoc, if you would." Disten said as he stood aside, allowing the Champion of Darkness to step up. He offered the group a small smile before he spoke.
"Arranst will be expecting us. She's intelligent beyond measure and more powerful than the Precursors at the height of their power. In fact, not one of us hold a candle to her. But there is a reason for her strength." Havoc said as his hands glowed purple. He waved both of them, a whirling wraith appearing before him. Within the wraith, glowing yellow ball formed in the center. Then, millions of smaller yellow dots appeared within the wraith, connected to the larger one by miniscule threads of yellow light.
"She is connected to the minds of the Metal Heads, her children, so to speak. Every egg hatched is another link that she is connected to, and she grows stronger with each Metal Head that lives." Havoc explained to the others.
"How is that possible…with that many Metal Heads?" Rune asked, her voice filled with wonder and horror.
"She's had millions of years to perfect the ability. She can control the actions of every Metal Head on this planet if she wanted to. That said, it requires an incredible amount of concentration for her to do that, and she's never done it on earth during the time the Metal Heads have been here." Havoc explained.
"Thank goodness for that." Rune said with a shudder.
"Yep. So, the question remains. What's the plan? Arranst can't be killed by normal means, considering how powerful she is. The only person who can deal lasting damage to her is Jak, who has the Blade of Mar at his disposal. As strong as he is, and as we are…We can't kill her by ourselves. I've seen it…We're just not strong enough to kill her." Havoc said to the group, who muttered amongst themselves for a moment before Havoc smiled darkly at them with his teeth showing.
Those who had known Havoc before his defection knew that was the smile he would have when he was about to create wonderful chaos, which was usually beneficial to them. They took it as a good sign.
"That's why we have the Kedical, AKA the Precursor Bomb." Havoc said as Tech and Shadow walked up to the table.
"Take it away." Havoc said, stepping away.
"For those of you not aware, the Precursor Bomb is our last shot. This thing is designed to destroy the entire Metal Head homeworld and kill the Queen. With the Queen dead, the Metal Heads will all die out as well. With that, this war will be over." Tech said to the others, who listened to the man intently, hanging onto every word.
"According to the information gathered by the Precursors and what Havoc has managed to figure, the Gate to Darkness has shifted somewhat. It now leads to a location a short distance away from her palace, where the seat of her power is." Shadow said to the group.
"What does this mean?" Night asked Shadow.
"It means that you, Jak, Havoc will have to make your way to Arranst before you fight her. Once you break into her palace, you'll have to take her on and overpower her, and activate the bomb once it is embedded into the source of her power. Get out of there before it goes off, and we'll be able to finally end this." Tech answered.
"What are the rest of us going to be doing?" Phoenix asked Tech.
"You'll be keeping the Hunters from interfering. They're not just going to let them go attack their precious Queen. So, everyone else will be fending off the remaining Hunters. Which is why we'll have two teams coordinating the attack on the Uvelt Stronghold while the Champions are dealing with Lady Arranst." Shadow replied as Disten walked up to the table.
"The plan will begin with Phase 1. We arrive at the Hunter base in the Firelands and open fire on the facility, using the cannons aboard The Watcher." Disten began.
"Wait, we're going to just open fire on their fortress?" Crash asked Disten.
"Yes, that is the plan."
"…That's the greatest plan I've ever heard in my life, Chief."
"Thank you, Daniel."
"You would think that this would be something planned out more extensively, but I guess time isn't on our side." Jak muttered under his breath, earning a smack from Nightingale.
"So, we blast the heck out of the base. I'm guessing that's to try and cause as much confusion as possible and to whittle down their ranks." Night asked Disten, who nodded.
"While we assault the base, Jak, Havoc, and Nightingale are to fly down with the Kedical and reactivate the Gate to Darkness with the help of Daxter and Tess. They will then enter through the gate and confront Arranst while we split apart." Disten explained.
"Team A will fly to the ground entrance of the facility and attack from the front while the remainder of the Agents, Team B, travel down to the Gate site and defend it. I myself will be leading the efforts of defending the Gate while Phoenix and Rune lead the attack inside of the base."
"Permission to join in on this little fight?" a booming voice asked, causing the group to turn towards the entrance to room as the doors flew open, revealing a large dark-skinned man covered in Metal Head armor and holding a massive gun.
"Sig? Wait, how the hell did he get onboard?" Tech asked in surprise.
"I let him on." Tess said as she and Daxter appeared in golden bursts of light, standing on Sig's shoulders.
"Why?" Shadow asked.
"Because there's no chance in hell I'm getting left out of a fight like this." Sig said with a wide grin.
"That seems very irresponsible. And this is coming from me, I might add." Havoc chimed in, earning a serious look from Sig.
"I've watched this monsters kill my friends and family for my entire life. They killed some of the best men and women I've ever known. Call it what you will…But I have duty to the people I rule over. If I let the chance to help end this damn war pass me by…Then what kind of ruler does that make me?" Sig demanded as he looked over at the Chief, who was staring at him intensely.
Disten then closed his eyes, as if in deep thought, before he said "I assume you've left a second-in-command in charge while you're gone?"
"Yep. He'll keep things in order while I'm with you guys." Sig said with a nod.
"Then we'll be glad to have you, King Sig. You can help Team B defend the Gate to Darkness, if that's OK with you." Disten said to Sig, who nodded.
"Fine by me. Now, lets get this show on the road." Sig said as Daxter vanished from his shoulder and reappeared in the middle of the room.
"Since you guys will be at this place by tomorrow morning, I'll be working on some side stuff to give you guys an extra edge in the fight with the Hunters and Metal Heads." Daxter said to the AA Agents.
"Like?" Chase asked Daxter, who smirked
"You'll see. Now, let's get this show on the road!" Tess yelled cheerfully.
"Everyone, you are dismissed. Estimated arrival time is in roughly 10 hours and 57 minutes. Please use that time to rest and make sure you are at your absolute best…Tonight we will dream. But tomorrow…We will win. We will survive…We will avenge." Disten said to the Agents, who raised their fists in the air and yelled out cheers. The bulk of the Agents left the room, and as the few remaining Agents walked towards the Chief, he asked the others "Hopefully that is the last time I have to make that speech."
"I hear ya. Public speaking is a bitch, man." Chase replied, shaking his head before Rune smacked him upside the head.
"Agent Rune and Chase, could you please escort Sig to one of our vacant rooms and show him our armory? You're of course welcome to whatever you need, within reason of course, King Sig." Disten said to the warrior, who smirked.
"I'll take a look, but I shouldn't need too much. That said…a bit of extra firepower never hurt." Sig said before he looked at the three Champions and the Ottsels on Jak and Night's shoulders.
"You five…Heh, looking at you all, you'd never think the world would rets on your shoulders. That said, I've got a good feeling about this. You're going to win this for us…I know it." Sig said with a smile before he turned around and followed Chase and Rune out of the room.
"Tech and Shadow…Prepare for us for takeoff." Disten said as he glanced over at Havoc, Jak, and Night, a small smile on his face as Tech and Shadow quickly left the room to coordinate with Vin and Arch in the front of the massive vessel. Disten quietly starred out of the window, with the Champions standing by him, observing the destroyed city visible before them.
A few minutes later, the Watcher roared to life, Jak looked through the window at the destroyed city before him. He found himself deep in thought as he eyed the ravaged city below.
"Sometimes, Jak, the forest fire must burn fiercely and destroy the forest, burning away everything. Why is this? Because from even the ashes of the beautiful forest, a greater forest can grow and bloom." The words of Samos rang in his mind.
Jak smiled a little as he felt Nightingale wrap an arm around his waist as she joined his side, with Jak settling his chin on her head. The fires of war may have ravaged Haven City, but after this was all over, the city would bounce back…It would regrow into something truly special.
But first…The matter at hand.
They had to deal with the Queen and her followers. The last of the Hunters and Gallus, their twisted leader...
This time they would bring the fight to the Hunters.
And they would win, no matter what.
End of Chapter:
3 Chapters to go!
What lies in wait for the Avenging Angels at the Uvelt Firelands? Will they succeed? Will they be blown away by the powers of the Metal Head Queen?
Stay tuned, because the chapters will keep rolling out. Expect another update soon!
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Until next time, FlygonNick out!