Sorry, a rather short chapter today.

Chapter 47: Help

Again, Jak made himself tell everyone the news, what he knew had happened and what he simply thought had happened and what he didn't know either way, answering any questions they cautioned to ask with what little he knew, and even that was difficult to say. But mostly, there was silence as they tried to take it all in, broken by the initial sobbing from Tess before the sound was muffled when she pressed her face to Daxter's chest, the ottsel giving her distracted pats on the back, though with his attention directed on anything but her.

They stayed up for quite some time that night, isolated and alone despite their proximity to the others that occupied the same room, as they became lost in their own thoughts, withdrawing into these very thoughts, though they were all thinking likely a variation of the same thing, including the fact that this war had finally taken someone from them. Of course, so many were already lost, but it was no one they knew, and that made it easier, even if it was equally as bad. But, now it was someone dear to them that those two monsters had taken away. This war had gone too far. It had just gone too far.

And eventually it was morning, a restless night making way to the longest day in quite some time, a day where Jak went off to wander again, early, before the sun had yet fully risen. And at this early hour, he found Spargus enveloped in shadows, fitting for how he felt right now. And these shadows allowed him to hide in their darkness, like he wasn't really even here, like maybe, what had happened hadn't really, because he wasn't really out here mourning for anything, because no one could see him doing it. And he didn't do all that much that day aside from the wandering and the thinking, or trying not to think, the day feeling like eternity until the sun finally decided to set, surely hours later than it usually did. Jak swore it was.

And then night came, and events were a blur, though they had been ever since that woman had come out of the desert like a ghost to give him the news. All he knew for certain was that, when nightfall finally arrived, he continued to think a lot, and at the same time, he didn't, just as he had been doing all day, and he thought he remembered meeting with his friends back home, but now he was somewhere else, standing outside with Daxter and Keira and Samos and Tess and Sig. And Ashelin. At least, she looked like Ashelin. But, just as she had been the last time he had seen her, she seemed so very…ordinary, not at all the Ashelin he knew, and maybe, he thought for one moment, maybe she wasn't anymore.

A bonfire was lit by the sea, Sig's idea, at the same spot where Jak had last seen the man they were here to remember, though he tried to ignore that fact, the darkness of night providing a little comfort, though not enough, as he still knew where he was, even if the scarce lighting largely hid it from him. The king of Spargus went on to explain to them, his voice sounding strange and distant even though he was standing nearby, that when Wastelanders were lost in the desert, lost to sandstorms or Marauders or Metalpedes, or whatever else might befall them, it was customary to light a fire to guide their souls back, the fire having a purpose very much similar to the beacon high above the city, for they could surely never find rest wandering the Wasteland. Torn was about as much a Wastelander as any citizen of Spargus, Sig had said, if he was brave enough to do what he did, and he deserved the proper respects, and Jak agreed. They all did, of course, though few wished to say anything at first. Eventually Daxter made a few comments that tattoo-head wasn't really so bad, after all, and maybe his tattoo wasn't that silly, either, and Tess followed with a confession that she always thought the man had a sexy voice, which received a look from Daxter. The ottsels' words inspired more comments here and there, people beginning to find it easier to speak up as the night wore on and offer what they could to remember their friend.

But, throughout all of this, Jak noticed that Ashelin remained silent, standing the farthest from the group than anyone else, and he didn't think she had done anything since they had gathered here but stare into the bonfire, the fire creating flickering light and shadow on her face, while her eyes…they seemed unaffected by the flames. Just dark and empty. Dead perhaps. And though he understood it, he couldn't know how she felt. It would be like if he had lost Keira. He didn't know what he'd do, then. But, he didn't think he'd be able handle it even as well as Ashelin was. It was hard enough losing Torn.

He was really gone, wasn't he? He really was. Jak wasn't going to wake up and find that everything was okay. He wasn't. It had really happened. It was unbelievable, that one of their allies really was gone. Jak remembered when he had first met Torn, the man had the nerve to insult them on their very first meeting, and after that, he was certainly not one of the most pleasant people to deal with, to say the least. But, after some time had gone by, he had found that the tattooed man was about as reliable as you could get and about as likely to back down to evil as Jak himself was. There were few people he'd trust to fight alongside as much as Torn.

They had been defending Haven City for years, both of them, and the one time that Jak had just sat back and allowed Torn to do it all himself… It was his fault. If only he had… No, he had been over this already. This same thought came to him over and over again, just one more thing he tried to ignore, though this one was the hardest to forget. But, there was nothing he could do about it now. It was too late. What happened had already happened. He could do nothing about the past, but he could do something about the future. He could make a change, but only if he stopped feeling sorry for himself and took a stand. That's what Torn had accused him of, the last time they had spoken, feeling sorry for himself, and that's exactly what he had been doing. He was completely right. Even Sig had told him much the same thing.

Several of his friends had already warned him that his pouting and hiding was foolish, and yet he had ignored them. He didn't listen to them, and this was the result. He hadn't realized the consequences would be so severe, and he was a fool for not thinking of such a possibility. He hadn't known, and couldn't, that such a thing would result from his own inaction, but now that he did know, now that he really knew how his actions could affect other people, he couldn't let it happen again. He wouldn't bury his face in the sand anymore (which was actually more than possible out here). He wouldn't sit back and let others get hurt for him. People depended on him, and he had let them down. He was not going to do it again. It was over. The old Jak had to come back. It was time for Dark Jak to move aside. It had terrorized him long enough.

Jak looked over at Keira, the woman standing not far from him, a silent comfort, even though she was lost in her own thoughts right now, and he moved closer to stand beside her. Things needed to change. Not just in their situation, but in him. He needed to change, he had to, but he couldn't do it on his own.

"Keira," he said, and she looked over, eyes reflecting the bonfire, the flickering light on her face giving her the most mysterious air. Yes, she was the only one that could do it. The only one that could free him from the hold that he, not Dark Jak, had taken over himself. "I need help."

They returned home late that night, but it wasn't time to rest. Rather, it was time for something Jak should have done long ago, before things had gone so far and before they had lost so much. Time was running out, he knew it, but Torn had given them a chance by killing Maia for them, and if they didn't take advantage of that, his death would be for nothing. And it wasn't going to be for nothing. He would not allow it. But, in order to do that, he needed Keira's help.

And so they retreated to her room for some peace, uncaring what Samos might think and Tess more than happy to stay with Daxter for the night, where she could concentrate on what needed to be done. While she could channel other kinds of Eco, Keira hadn't yet gotten the hang of Light Eco, and that's exactly what he needed if he was ever going to be himself again. He was sick, the Dark Eco within him a disease that had spread too far, with no hope of him recovering from it on his own. It had taken too much of a hold on him, and if he couldn't free himself from it, he wouldn't be nearly as much use to his friends or as capable of stopping this war as he needed to be. And with Keira as his only hope, but currently lacking in the ability to do what only she could, the only thing to do right now was practice.

They sat on the bed, the same one Jak had found himself in when he first awoke in this place after the bomb had gone off in Haven City, the small room lit only by a single oil lamp, tinting the room a flickering orange that faded to black in the farthest corners. And she got to work, though her efforts were not obvious, as she held her hands to Jak's chest, eyes closed in concentration as she felt for the Dark Eco churning inside him, studying it, and once she learned its ways, once she understood it, she'd be able to counteract it. At least, that was the idea.

And as they sat there, unmoving in the silence, he didn't bother to push his dark side away, for it was what Keira needed most if she was going to eventually restore the balance of light and dark within him. For his goal was not to get rid of Dark Jak entirely, as he knew that was impossible, because even when he had come into contact with Light Eco, this had only created another side to keep Dark Jak in check, preventing the eventual death he once had facing him back when he had only Dark Eco inside him. Even though he wished it had, the Light Eco hadn't made his dark side go away. Because the body needed balance, and if things could, at least, go back to the way they were before Dark Jak became too much for him, then he'd just have to be satisfied.

And even though Dark Jak was finally allowed nearly free reign of Jak's mind, for once it didn't bother him. Not now, because there was hope this time. If Keira could learn to channel Light Eco, he would be free again. And his dark side knew it. Its earlier glee at having taken further control of Jak's body had turned to panic. He could feel it, scrambling about for a way to prevent what was coming, but it was helpless to stop its eventual fate, a mere spectator of its own downfall. And the more it fought inside him, the more Keira could study it and the sooner it would be pushed back to the small, distant corner it once occupied.

Enjoy it while it lasts. You won't control me much longer.

It doesn't matter! This world will belong to Dark Eco soon! Even if you stop me, you can't stop them! Not this time! You will fail! You will fail everyone you love, just as you failed…

We'll see about that.

It's too late to stop them now! And once this world is transformed, you'll only end up under my control all over again!

Say hello to Light Jak for me.

They stayed there through the night, Jak dozing off and Keira appearing to do the same, though he knew she wasn't, as her grip on him never wavered. She was the only one who could help him right now. And she had never let him down before.

He was startled from a half-sleep when she finally spoke, hours later, and his eyes shot open to focus on her. She looked even more exhausted than he felt, which was no surprise, when he was the only one, thus far, able to find rest this night.

"That's all I can manage for now," she said, removing her hands to stare down at them as if they held the very substance she had been attempting to study. "The Dark Eco…it's filled with so much anger…and hate. Like it only exists to kill and cause pain. Jak, I'm sorry you've had to deal with this for so long. I…"

"Don't worry about me. I won't have to fight my dark side for much longer. I know you'll be able to heal me…"

"Jak…"

"I know you'll be able to do it."

She watched him with tired eyes before forcing a smile. "I hope so." And then her smile was gone, and her face took a far-off expression. "He's really gone, isn't he?" she asked, her voice quiet.

"Torn?"

She nodded.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Her eyes focused on his. "Be careful, Jak."

"I will."

"No, really, I mean it. One of our friends is already gone. I…I…" She turned away, but he thought he just caught tears. He slid closer to her, but she refused to look at him.

"Keira, I promise…" His fingers brushed her hair, and her head jerked to the side to face him again, eyes indeed wet with tears, but they fell no further.

"You can't promise me anything. I'm sure Torn didn't know what was going to happen, and yet…" She paused, biting her lower lip, and then her voice lowered. "Just be careful. No matter what you've done in the past…whether or not I can heal you… You're not invincible."

"I know that."

"Jak, I can't—"

"I know." They were close now, and she stared more at his chest than his face, wringing her hands. He put an arm around her, and she moved closer, laying her head against his chest, and they sat in silence.

She was right. She was absolutely right. Torn was gone, and no one could have predicted it, and it very well could be him next. But, he couldn't just do nothing, or else it could be his friends that shared the man's fate next. Keira and Daxter and everyone else. Maybe he couldn't promise Keira that he'd be all right. Maybe simply being careful wasn't enough. But, if anyone had to put themselves in danger, it should be him. If anyone had to be the next to go, it should be him. Not his friends. No, he would never allow it to be them. So he was going to prepare, and when Gol came for them, he just hoped he would be ready. And if he could help it, the next person to share Torn's fate, the last person, would be the Dark Sage. That's the only thing he'd be satisfied with.

Keira can only channel the other colors of Eco thus far, right?... And please review.