I have something special in this chapter….

And in answer to a guest review by InvisibleElf for the previous chapter, while Light Jak actually doesn't show up after "Jak 3", I assume Jak still should have this power. Currently in my story, however, Dark Jak isn't allowing any such transformation...

Chapter 33: Holograms

Once Ashelin entered the pass code, they all crowded through the doorway into a circular room surrounded by computers and screens with Precursor lettering moving across at such speeds, the average person would have trouble keeping up. The room was silent, aside from the hum of computers, and lit by the blue glow of the screens and a pulsing, red warning light. Danger, it said, as if that fact wasn't already apparent.

The Power Station. It was the brain of Haven City, powering the Eco Grid, the Shield Walls. Being of such importance, it was also one of the most secure places in the city.

No doubt aware of Jak's strange behavior their entire walk here, the two ottsels jumped down as he staggered towards the far end of the room, the simple act of walking an effort, and not just from his injured foot, the pain flaring up again from overuse. No, it wasn't simply that. It took all of his concentration just to pay attention to where he was going when Dark Jak's ranting was drowning out his thoughts, his dark side driven into a frenzy by the Dark Eco outside. It was taking over his mind, and it took all of his effort to try and push it back, to try to make at least a little room for some of his own thoughts, lest he fall fully under the control of his dark side.

Jak sat down as far from the others as he could in this small space, clutching his head, nails digging into his scalp, as if trying to see if he could choke out his dark side this way. Shut up! Shut up! Why'd they all have to follow him in here?

You followed them here.

Didn't they know he could kill them! Kill all of them!

They have nowhere else to go. Just hold it in. Keira's here. Daxter's here. If you need motivation to hold it back, there it is.

None of them could even stop me! I could butcher each and every…

"Great, now we're trapped in here," Torn said.

"And the Warp Gate's offline." Ashelin began to walk over to one of the consoles nearby. "If I could just—"

"Hey, hey, hey, don't touch that!" A fast, quivering voice shot out over the room.

"What in the—"

Before she could finish, a hologram flickered into existence above them, taking on the form of a blue and transparent dismembered head, complete with large goggles and a worried frown. "This room's gettin' sorta crowded…"

"Vin, how's it goin', ya big nerd?" Daxter said.

"Not-not so good. These last few years in here, I found there's plenty of-of new things to worry about inside the c-computer. Power surges, m-memory leaks… Wh-what happens if there's a…uh…a v-virus? What would be-become of-of me then?" Vin flickered, then disappeared.

"We have a few more important things to worry about right now," Ashelin said, watching the area above her where he had just been.

"I know. I saw through the cameras." Vin reappeared, the expression on his face even more dire than usual. "So I guess you're not here for a visit, are you? 'Cause it's…it's gettin' real lonely in h-here. I haven't been outside in-in years! N-not that I li-like bein' outside, what with all the M-Metal Heads and the mur-murderers and…"

"Look, Vin, we really don't have time for this," Jak said, voice strained as he fought in his head to hold his dark side at bay. It was clawing harder than ever to get lose. Sometimes he thought it wasn't the one trapped, but him. "You can activate the Warp Gate, can't you?"

"Sure, but what's the point? There's n-nothin' but monsters and Dark Eco out there." To himself, he added, "Maybe it's not so bad in here…"

"If we could get out of the city, then we could meet up with everyone else outside the city walls," Ashelin said. "Can you route the Warp Gate to the one out in Haven Forest? It should be fairly clear out there."

"It d-doesn't usually go out there."

"But, can you?"

Hurry up, already! Are you stupid? That Dark Eco…outside…it's talking to…are they looking at me? Don't look at me!

"Jak, are you all right?" Keira asked.

"I'm fine!" She looked taken aback at the outburst, but it wasn't his fault! Let's just get out of here! I feel like tearing off my skin! Stop looking at me! I'm not on display!

"Vin, just activate the Warp Gate already!" Ashelin said. Now she was looking at him! What was that look on her face? He wasn't a wild animal!

"Fine, sheesh!" The hologram disappeared and, after a moment, they could hear a disembodied voice, muttering all kinds of technical jargon. All the while, people kept giving him nervous looks. He wasn't doing anything! He was just sitting here! What was their problem? Did they want him to do something?

After a few more moments, the Warp Gate flicked on. In a sufficiently clear part of the room, the hologram reappeared, but this time, in the form of the Vin they were more accustomed to, baggy clothes and all, if Vin had been flickering and ghostly. "So I guess th-that's it, huh?"

"We really have to go," Ashelin said. "We have a city to save, but we can no longer do it from here. I can trust you to watch over the city while we're away, right?"

Vin gave a slight grin and scratched the back of his head (not that even that simple of an action was possible in his current condition), though the worry never left his eyes. "Of-of course, I-I mean, I hope so."

Jak forced himself to his feet, and Vin flinched. I'm not going to do anything to you! I couldn't hurt you even if I… Wait, were all of his friends afraid of him? Jak stood there for a moment, his dark side distant for now. Just for now.

"Jak, stop starin' off into space. You're freakin' me out."

He looked over to see Daxter standing nearby, Tess beside him, while everyone else headed for the Warp Gate, shooting glances his way as they walked by him, their eyes flicking away when they inadvertently met his.

"Sorry, Dax." He looked over to see Vin still watching him, a most unusual expression on his face, like a look between worry and curiosity. "Goodbye, Vin."

"Bye, Jak. Good luck. Not that-not that it'll make any difference."

It certainly seemed that way. Jak turned to everyone else, now all standing around the Warp Gate, the way they held themselves saying they felt the same way.

"Come on, let's go! I'm gettin' bored!" Daxter said.

"All of you just remember. This isn't over. We will return to Haven City," Jak said. He would save it. He couldn't let this be the end.

Ashelin nodded. "You're right. We can't lose the city. Not after all it's been through over the years."

The Governess went through the Warp Gate first, while Keira continued to watch him, deep concern on her face, but he felt it wasn't all for the city. Dark Jak was starting to push its way out again. Better get out of here. He limped to the gate and put an arm around her. "Let's go."

Haven City was not lost. Not as long as he was alive.

They went through the Warp Gate, all accounted for. At least, on the outside, because each of them knew they were missing something by leaving Haven City behind to rot. The city had been the site of many things. Pain and oppression and death. Yes, all those things had happened here. But, joy and laughter and victory, as well. They had fought to defend this city on more than one occasion, only after its all encompassing walls could protect them no longer, and then they did whatever was necessary to stop the newest invasion and return the city to its former state. Because even after all manner of terrible things had happened here, and even after Jak and Daxter had despaired over the fact that they were trapped in this place and this time after the Rift Rider had brought them to the future, it was still their home, and you didn't let your home die.

They trudged through Haven Forest, which had been spared much of the city's fate (which would have no doubt been a particularly great relief to Samos, if he had known, and if he didn't have even more important things on his mind), while Dark Jak crept back into Jak's head, pushing his thoughts aside once again. So determined now his dark side was to be free, it gave Jak no room to do anything else in his mind except struggle to control it, but Dark Jak would not be controlled. Not anymore. Not anymore would it be under the control of a mere boy. Not when Dark Eco was spreading across the world. This was its time. This was Dark Eco's time. It had been suppressed for too long by those who didn't understand it, who sought to keep it imprisoned, under lock and key, like a monster, while all the other kinds of Eco could flourish. No, they wouldn't have power over it anymore! It would rule over them now!

That includes you, Jackie-boy!

Darkness came, and the twittering of the day time creatures was replaced by the song of night insects and perhaps an owl, but the group didn't take this time to rest. Rather, this only caused them to move faster, as now what might wander the woods could no longer be seen. Plus, it wouldn't be long before they met up with those headed for Spargus. They would have arrived sooner, if moving through the city, but navigating the hills and lakes of the forest was not always easy.

Jak only knew to stop when he nearly walked into Torn, Ashelin and he stopping to listen to the sudden silence that had overtaken the woods. A cricket chirped once more, only to stop again, as if realizing now wasn't the time to sing. While he tried to strain his ears in the stillness for whatever they had heard, Jak could hardly detect a thing with Dark Jak yelling in his head like it was. Somehow he managed to push this voice back a ways when a snapping of twigs could be heard, but before he could respond, Torn and Ashelin had already taken out a pair of Metal Heads wandering amongst the trees, the sudden gunshots causing something nearby to take wing and fly away. Just Metal Heads. He almost missed them.

They continued on their way, the night sounds gradually returning, until it was like nothing had even happened. Jak was unsure if anything really did, so distracted he was by the thoughts of someone else that filled his mind. He hardly even felt the pain in his foot anymore. Had it ever even been broken? He certainly didn't remember that happening.

It wasn't until what felt like a long time later, but was likely only an hour or so, that they reached where the forest began to thin. Now with the trees not so much blocking their view, they could see in half-moonlight, obscured by clouds, a stream of people, defended by a line of soldiers on either side, keeping the finally dwindling army of monsters at bay. Yelling and sobbing could be heard underneath the gunshots and the roar of engines as Wastelander vehicles attempted to either aid in the fighting or pick up people to move them more quickly to Spargus. Hellcat cruisers, the few that had escaped the blast, tried to assist from the air. But, with so many people to protect and transport, it would be a long night. A very long night.

Jak found himself, in his haze, being led onwards until they reached Sig. The big man was directing the evacuation, while also firing at any creatures that dare come within range of his Peace Maker. He vaguely recalled Keira asking about her father, and the Green Sage appearing from the broken wall, and her kneeling down to wrap her arms around him. And he thought there were tears.

He had no idea how long these events took. It felt like everything was moving slowly and in the distance, as if underwater. So much Dark Eco. He couldn't stand it much longer. He couldn't…

Then, let me out.

No more! He felt like he was going to burst. That Dark Jak would emerge, and there would no longer be any Jak left. It would almost be a relief.

I'm coming.

Just let it be over! He was no use to his friends anymore anyway! He had failed to stop Gol and Maia for good three hundred years ago. He had gotten captured, leaving them to defend the city alone. And he had been unable to prevent the robot from devastating Haven City. He had failed. All he did lately was fail.

Then give up.

I want to. I really do. But, if I do, if I ever do, just know, I'm taking you with me.

His legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, clutching his head. The pain. It felt like his head was splitting open. Maybe it was. Maybe it finally was.

"Jak!"

He screamed. Maybe he was dying. Probably not. He didn't get that kind of luck.

"Get a hold of yourself!"

The pain increased, and he yelled louder as his nails grew and two points of pressure began on his head.

Not again. Please, no! No…

The rest, if there was a rest, if he wasn't just in some horrible nightmare, was a blur, and then there was blackness, which would have normally been a relief, but it didn't mean something terrible hadn't still happened. Didn't it always?

Poor Jak. And Vin is the only character that can compete with my love for Gol, so I had to give him an appearance in this story, even if it was just a brief one. Why'd Vin have to become some weird, AI computer thing, though? Why do bad things always happen to the characters I like! Anyway, please review.