Still wondering what Gol wanted to test the cannon on? Well, I'm not telling. Or am I? (Read and find out, my dearies….) (And "Jak 3" spoiler in paragraph one.)
Chapter 16: Worse Than Metal Heads
Jak and Daxter were once again riding the Air Train, but this time, they had a different destination in mind. Spargus. Many months after their return to Haven City, they had gotten a message from Sig. The new king of Spargus after Damas' death, Sig had formed somewhat of an alliance with Haven City, an act that was met with no small amount of protest from the citizens of both cities. Spargus was built by those kicked out of Haven City and left to die out in the Wasteland. It was no wonder the people of Spargus still felt ill will towards the other, while the citizens of Haven City got the idea that Spargus was a city of criminals, which was only half true. Sig had been keeping a close watch out for any suspicious activity in the Wasteland. Apparently, he had found some.
The transport stopped outside Spargus' gate, throwing up a cloud of dust with its anti-gravity boosters. Jak put his bandana over his mouth and nose in anticipation of this, but Daxter had nothing with which to protect himself as they jumped out of the transport. The ottsel hacked and gasped for air until after they had left the dust cloud, and then he was pelted by sand tossed about by the wind.
"Ah, the Wasteland," Jak said. "Can't say that I missed it."
The sun beat down at them, even at this early hour of the morning, as they headed for the huge gate of Spargus, a good 40, 50 feet high. The gate opened as they approached. As they passed through the city walls, the wind died down. This enclosed area was where the Wastelanders kept their vehicles. Jak had a few of his own stored here. Not much farther, and they had entered the main city. Out in the open, the wind picked up again. The area was lined with white, stucco buildings, while more buildings stood scattered around the middle of the large space. Many had spots in the walls that had been worn down to the foundation by the constant combination of windblown sand and hot desert sun.
Just like the place where they lived, the people, too, were rough, the women just as much as the men. Most, if not all, carried guns. Spargus had no need of guards as Haven City did. If trouble arose here, the citizens themselves would stop it. It would surprise those of Haven City that Spargus was possibly a safer place to be, as Wastelanders dealt harshly with any crime.
As Jak made his way to the palace, he was almost knocked down as someone ran into him. He caught his balance and looked down to see a young woman of about his age, staring up at him from where she sat in the dirt, her face turning bright red, and not from a sunburn.
She gave an awkward smile. "Sorry about that. I've been clumsy lately. Moved here several months ago, but I still haven't gotten used to all these people around. I keep just, bumping into them, y'know." She laughed. "Actually, I was just running away from another person I walked into."
"That's…that's fine," Jak said, as he grabbed her arm to help her up.
Once she regained her footing, she looked him up and down. "You seem different. Are you new here, too?"
"No, not really. I mean, I don't live here, but…"
"Oh, well… I don't want to keep you." Before Jak could make any response, the woman bid them farewell and ran off.
"What a weirdo," Daxter said.
Not long later, the two made it to their destination. They stepped into the elevator, and it sped upward. Jak crossed his arms. He had no idea what Sig needed to tell them. If it was just more Metalpedes in the Wasteland, he would have said so. Jak couldn't help but feel uneasy.
As soon as the elevator stopped, Sig arose from his seat at the back of the throne room. He stepped forward as the pair entered the room.
"Long time, no see, cherries! How've ya been?" Sig was a large man, made only more imposing by his armor and the Peace Maker that never left his side. Well, the gun was currently leaning against the throne, but it certainly wasn't far enough from Sig for any Metal Head's comfort. Actually, Sig's size alone was enough to make a Metal Head nervous, armed or not.
"Doin' good, Sig. Busy, but good," Jak said.
"Keepin' the Wasteland Metal Head-free, eh, big guy?" Daxter asked.
"You know it. Been dealin' with more of those nasty Metalpedes lately. We should go out and blast more of those bad boys some time."
Jak laughed. "Maybe another time, Sig. You wanted to see us about something?"
Sig's face grew solemn. "Sure did. And this time, it's not about Metal Heads."
"It's not those stupid Dark Makers again, is it?" Daxter crossed his arms.
"No, something else entirely. Something very strange… I better just show you."
Sig grabbed his Peace Maker (no self-respecting Wastelander would go anywhere without some kind of weapon), and they headed for the city gate. As they walked, the anxious feeling in the pit of Jak's stomach grew larger. If even Sig looked concerned, it had to be bad.
They got into the Gila Stomper, Sig in the driver's seat, and they headed out. The large, armored vehicle bounced along the sand dunes as they went at full speed, Daxter complaining until Sig told him to shut up. After some time, Jak didn't know how long, but the sun had since climbed high into the sky, they started to venture into a section of the desert he had never been before. All of the Wasteland looked nearly the same, but there was something different about this place, not just in appearance, but in its feel.
A couple hours into their trip, Daxter said, "Gee, Sig, kinda far out, aren't we? You plan on us stoppin' for a potty break?"
Sig gave the ottsel a look and continued on.
A million possibilities swarmed through Jak's head as they went farther and farther into unfamiliar territory. If it wasn't the Metal Heads or the Dark Makers, then what? Erol and Skyheed were dead. It could only be something new.
"Hey, Jak, why the long face?" Jak looked to see Daxter giving him a curious look, one eyebrow raised higher than the other. "I'm sure it's nothin' we can't handle."
"Almost there, cherries."
"Can't you just tell us what it is?" Jak asked.
"Yeah!" Daxter joined in. "Come on, big and chunky, we've waited long enough!"
"I told you, you need to see it for yourselves."
"But, I'm bored! And you drive worse than Jak! I'm gettin' bounced around like crazy here. I bet I got all kinds of bruises under my fur now."
Sig slammed on the brakes, the vehicle sliding on the loose sand, spraying them with dust and nearly tossing Daxter out, the ottsel saved only by quick reflexes and the fact that Jak was a sturdy enough thing to hold on to. "You'd rather walk?"
"…No."
"Good." He started to drive again. "Like I said before, shut up, and we'll be there soon."
Daxter whispered in Jak's ear. "Touchy today, ain't he?"
"What I say?"
"You said 'shut up'"
"Exactly."
Daxter crossed his arms and grumbled to himself, but other than that, he did as he was told. Jak couldn't help but grin. His friend was right. It couldn't be anything they couldn't handle. He hoped.
The air started to fill with a familiar smell. Jak hated that smell. The decaying, acidic smell of Dark Eco. He felt Dark Jak stir inside him, and he suppressed it. It had been a long time since his dark side had gotten free, and he planned on keeping it that way.
"Peeyu, what stinks?" Daxter said, pinching his nose. "Not me!"
His question was answered as they began to see a sickly purplish haze ahead. As they went farther, the ground gradually turned from golden sand to a more solid form of soil, almost glassy, and colored a mottled black and purple. Sig had slowed the vehicle, and the ground crumbled beneath the tires. Ancient trees rose up from the ground, their shape now twisted into freakish forms, black and scaly. The sun had a purple film over it, and the air was stale. It burned Jak's lungs to breathe.
As they neared the top of a dune, several objects started to come into view. They stopped at the top of the hill. It was worse than Jak could have imagined.
Short chapter, but not short on suspense, no? I am truly wicked, am I not? I promise I'll divulge the details in the next chapter. Cross my heart and hope to get a stubbed toe. Also hope you review. I hope I wrote Sig okay. And can you guess who the clumsy woman was?...