Jak Gets an Idea
Jak grabbed the hover-car just outside of the hideout, Daxter took his gun as usual. He would always help protect his friend. "So what did you and Gramps talk about?"
Jak looked straight ahead. "Dax, you can't tell anyone what I'm about to say. Kor… Kor is the leader of the Metal Heads." He saw Daxter get that panicked look on his face. "But he's not our enemy. I've realized it. The Metal Heads, the Hora-Quan are not our enemy. They're just victims of the Baron's tender mercies. And we need them if we're going to beat him. What we're doing isn't working. So we need another plan…" Jak turned his head slightly to look in the various storefronts. He stopped in front of one and looked inside. "Dax, do you remember the Sculptor, Leonardo?" He asked.
Daxter laughed. "Of course I remember our most annoying mission. Chasing that stupid blue rat all over Misty Island." He shivered.
Jak laughed. "No, I mean from when we were younger… He… he gave me a stringed instrument he made. A small guitar and he taught me how to play it. And I remember what he said…."
"Jak, always remember, while you may be able to fight your opponent with violence, it's not always the best way. But music will always soothe the savage beast. It's the one universal language that everyone understands."
Daxter laughed. "Oh yeah and I tried to use it for a bow and broke it and you got sooooo mad at me." The man playfully glared at him. "I mean, yeah, I remember that."
Jak led the way into the shop and looked up at a pristine, full-size, glossy electric guitar with an electric blue lightning bolt on a black background. "Hello?" He called out.
An elderly man came out of a back room, jumping slightly at the sight of one of the most wanted men in the city. "Hello… may I help you?"
Jak pulled out a pouch. "How much is that guitar?" He asked.
"Hmm? Oh the Blue Lightning Darby-Michels electric guitar?" He pointed up at the one Jak was looking at. "For the bane of Baron Praxis' existence? 100 Metal Head Gems."
Jak considered and opened his bag. The golden egg-like gems sparkled up at him.
He could hear Kor's voice in his mind. "These gems are our lives. Without them, we die."
"Would you take precursor orbs? I don't feel comfortable spending these gems." Jak explained.
The shopkeeper raised his eyebrows. "Why not?" He asked. "You earned those gems."
Jak shook his head. "Earned them by taking the life of another. I only did so to protect myself, my friend and others. I won't profit from it. They're no different than blood diamonds." He explained. "They were just acting on instincts."
The shopkeeper grinned. "You're an odd one. But I appreciate where you're coming from. Very well, but I'll only require two precursor orbs." He climbed on a ladder to retrieve the instrument and a supply of picks. "You have good taste. Have you ever played?"
Jak nodded and put the strap around his shoulder. He strummed a few chords. "How many roads must a man walk down before we call him a man?" He sang with a soft tenor. "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind."
The shop owner applauded. "Very good. Not many in Haven appreciate music anymore thanks to the Baron." He looked around at his shop full of instruments.
Daxter nodded. "The Baron's about two pineapples short of a bushel. Don't worry. Me and Jak are going to take care of him. You'll be back in business in no time."
The two renegades left the shop and got back in the zoomer. Daxter looked at the guitar now around Jak's shoulder. "So what's your plan, Jak? You gonna sing to the Metal Heads?" The breeze flew through his orange fur.
"The Hora-Quan, Daxter," Jak corrected him. "I don't know, but, I think music might be the key. The question is how? Music is universal. All creatures use a form of music to communicate. Bees dance. Birds sing," He shook his head as he focused on not hitting any other zoomers, particularly the red ones, or any of the people. "Baron Praxis has frightened the people so badly, they're afraid to enjoy music." The man growled, his eyes glowing black briefly. Daxter gulped and wondered what he should do until Jak's blue eyes returned. "He turned me into a monster, Dax… and I can't let him win. Even if it means they have to win."
Daxter shrugged. "Okay, I guess the enemy of my enemy and all that crap. But Jak, are you sure you can trust 'em?" He visibly trembled. "You could be dooming us all."
Jak rolled his eyes as they reached the city exit to Deadtown. "I know but I have to try Dax. I have to follow my gut on this." He sighed and looked out at the slum houses as they passed by.
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AN: It's hard to know exactly who to credit the excerpt of lyrics too. Bob Dylan supposedly wrote it but it's been sung by many. My favorite is the Joan Baez version. It just has a lot more heart and emotion. Don't report, it's just an excerpt. I only used a few bars.
