Cracking the Precursor Stone

Chapter 6

A/N: I do not own Jak and Daxter or any of their incarnations but will forever be grateful for their existence!

"Great yakow horns, Jak! What happened to you?!"

He was frowning down at the two Green Ones. He glanced to his side where Daxter was gripping his arm. Jak didn't like how nervous his best friend was. He wished he had just ignored the yell and just let Tess keep petting him. That was much better than the uncomfortable sensation he was getting by having the older Green One stare at him as he continued, "You have more energy pulsing off you than all of the dark eco silos combined!"

Dark eco…

Those were two words that brought a nauseous feeling to his guts. Yet, at the same time it also weirdly brought comfort. He didn't understand it. Part of him wondered if he even wanted to understand it.

He sighed. He just wanted to get belly rubs again.

Then he shivered as another pulse of energy came from within him. Ok, he definitely wasn't imagining it. Jak was almost certain that he was bigger now than he was a second ago.

"Holy Precursors! Did you feel that?!" The old Green One was speaking again, "I knew I felt something earlier! What is going on, Jak? Where did you get such a profound source of energy?"

Huh?

What was the Green One talking about? Source of energy? What did that even mean? Sure, whenever he glowed, he definitely felt energy run through him and it kind of felt like it was coming from his stomach, but he wasn't sure… He thought he had known what was causing it before, but his memory was being unreliable again. It did not help that the hunger pains were returning with a vengeance, and it was making it more than a little hard to think.

The younger Green One spoke next, "Wait a second. Jak, you entered Mar's Tomb. Did you find the Precursor Stone? Did you keep it out of the Baron's hands?"

Jak's brow furrowed.

He remembered biting something… Then a flash of impossibly bright light… Then the feeling of power flowing through him…

Something about all that seemed important but how could he explain something that he didn't even understand? Even Daxter's impressive ability to communicate with him had its limitations.

Opting to ignore these confusing questions and thoughts, Jak decided to playfully bump Daxter's side with his chin. The redhead laughed, "I don't think he feels like answering your questions. He's a lot less chatty like this."

"Only because you enable him! If he didn't have you speaking for him all the time, he would have found his voice by now!" The old Green One snapped.

Jak saw Daxter's body tense followed by his ears drooping as a result of the insult.

The old Green One was wrong! Daxter spoke for him because he was the only one who understood him! The Old Green One had barely ever even made the effort.

Stepping protectively over Daxter, Jak lowered his face in the direction of the Green Ones, bared his teeth, and snarled.

Sparks of dark eco crackled off his horns to hit the metal near the Green Ones' wooden shoes. Jak was pleased to see them jump back in surprise, and if he was interpreting that little glimmer in their eyes, fear as well.

He wouldn't let them treat his Daxter that way. They had caused enough trouble! Leaning back onto his feet, Jak freed his hands. He then reached out and picked up Daxter in his right and Tess in his left.

"Whoa, Jak!" Daxter yelped as giant fingers tightened to ensure he was secure, "What are you doing?!"

Jak just gave his friend a look that he was sure to convey his thought, "Isn't it obvious?"

He then stood up fully onto his feet and although he would have preferred to be on all fours, Jak could not deny this was a better way of keeping his friends with him. Besides, Jak had always been faster than Daxter and being fast meant he could get them out of this awful place full of bad memories that much sooner.

Absently, as he strode forward, he wondered if Jinx was still outside. Now that he had a moment to reflect, it had been rather rude to just ditch his friend outside. Especially after Jinx had helped him find Daxter. Jak made a mental note that he would have to thank Jinx next time he saw him. Maybe not with licks – those were for Daxter and Keira only – but maybe purrs? Tess liked his purring so hopefully Jinx would too.

Grinning to himself at his plan, Jak continued towards the doorway that led to the hallway, leaving the Green Ones behind. As far as he was concerned, they could find their own way out. Jak let them out of the cell. That was more than enough.

When Jak reached the door, he came to a sudden realization: there was no way he could fit through that door.

Crouching down, Jak tilted his head in confusion at the now rather puny-looking structure. How on earth had he gotten through it to begin with? Although seeing the large gouges in the metal in the corridor beyond clearly showed that maybe it hadn't been so easy. Jak had been just so focused on finding Daxter he had not realized. Still, the door was relatively intact so how did he get in?

"Uh Jak…" Daxter was rubbing at his knuckles, "I'm not entirely sure what your plan is here, but I don't think this is the best way to go about getting us out."

Tail lashed in irritation before Jak remembered something.

He had just blasted his way out of the roof of the cavern where he had first woken up earlier that day. He could do the same now. First, he opened his wings wide and then he carefully lifted his two friends over his shoulders where they would hopefully grab onto some of the strange black crystalline structures that were protruding out of him. Tess's soft voice confirmed she knew what Jak wanted, "I think he wants us to hold on Daxter."

"Ok…" Jak felt both of his passengers climb onto his strange adornments before lowering themselves into more secure positions. Daxter's voice still sounded a little nervous, "Not sure I love where this is going, but I trust ya, Jak."

Although his best friend couldn't see it, Jak grinned brightly at the complement. He then lifted his hands above his head and dark eco began to crackle and pop menacingly between his fingers. Then, after taking a quick inhale, Jak launched himself into the air and summoned a massive and solid beam of dark eco straight up ahead of him. As he had hoped, the beam was powerful enough to vaporize anything it touched and within less than thirty seconds, his wings were beating a path through the wreckage before he launched into the sky above the fortress.

Tess was cheering joyfully while Daxter tightened his grip on a chunk of Jak's white mane that draped past his shoulders, "Oh boy, we are getting really high, really fast."

Sensing his best friend's distress and not wanting either party to be worried about staying put, now that he no longer needed his beam of dark eco to make a path out of the fortress, Jak's hands were free again. Once more he lifted them over his head and easily scooped up his two charges.

"In mid-air?!" Daxter screamed, "Jak are you insane?! What if you drop us?"

With redhead securely in his grasp, Jak brought both forward but rolled his eyes directly at Daxter in a look that he hoped conveyed, "You really think I would drop you?"

Tess meanwhile was clicking away on a tiny device. It was the same thing Jinx had used when he had asked Jak to stay still earlier. Jak hoped she wouldn't want him to stay still again. He wouldn't be able to obey if he was airborne.

Thankfully, when the blonde spoke, she said nothing about Jak staying still, "Kiera sent me a message hoping that Jak was successful in breaking us out. I just messaged back saying that we're free and asked where to meet since I don't think the HQ is going to accommodate our big boy here."

Daxter had his face buried in Jak's knuckle and as he tried not to vomit, he mumbled, "How did you manage to keep your communicator from the guards?"

"A girl has her ways."

Tess' voice sounded like it was teasing Daxter. Jak didn't get the joke. If he remembered it later, he would have to ask his best friend about it. Daxter was always good at getting jokes.

The redhead groaned, "I shouldn't have asked."

Tess' eyes looked intently at the item for a minute before continuing, "Hey Jakkie, do you think you could take us to the Precursor Temple just outside the city? Torn thinks that might be a good place to keep you hidden while we sort some things out."

Jak didn't know how he knew where the Precursor Temple was but couldn't remember the word of the thing Tess kept typing into. The whole situation seemed rather odd, but apparently that was his life now. Nodding, he banked his wings so that he could turn himself in that direction. Tess' voice was pleased, "Good job, Jak! I was sure you could find the way!"

That was awfully nice of Tess to say considering Jak had spent the better part of the day roaming the streets of Haven hopelessly lost. Maybe this was a sign that she'd be willing to rub his belly again when they got to the temple?

About ten minutes later, and one scary mid-air glowing episode where Jak thought he was going to crash because he was so startled by it, and he was landing on a balcony of the temple. He was surprised to see four people already waiting for them. After gently putting Tess and Daxter down, he eagerly raced over to Kiera to give her several full body licks, "Oh gross, Jak! Not again!"

He then turned his attention onto Jinx. Bounding over to the man with a fresh cigar firmly between his lips, Jinx lifted up his hands at him, "I'm glad to see you too, Pretty Boy, but please don't start licking me. I need a commitment before I let anyone lick me."

Jak huffed in exasperation. Of course he wasn't going to lick Jinx. That privilege was reserved for Kiera and Dax. That still didn't stop Jak from nuzzling Jinx clean off his feet, "Whoa!"

With the frazzled bombardier stuck under his persistent nuzzles, Jak began to purr just like he had for Tess. He wanted to thank Jinx. If it wasn't for him, he would have never found Daxter! The bartender giggled from nearby, "I think he likes you, Jinx."

The dirty blonde chuckled, "Geez, Pretty-boy, you really are like my mutt growing up." Somehow, Jinx managed to squirm out of Jak's nuzzle bombardment before continuing, "And you know what me and Boomer used to love?"

"YAAAH!" With a mighty roar, Jinx launched onto Jak's head, between his horns and started to ruthlessly noogie him.

Although initially startled, Jak was soon beaming as he dislodged his attacker. Freed of Jinx's grasp, Jak lowered the front half of his body while eagerly pawing at the ground with his hands. His razor-sharp claws clacking every time they hit the metal Precursor floor.

"Hey!"

Jak felt his ears sink at his best friend's tone. Black eyes tentatively studied the redhead where his arms were folded across his chest, and he was tapping his foot impatiently.

"What do ya think you're doing?"

The giant felt his backend drop under Daxter's admonishment. Why was Daxter upset with him? He hadn't hurt Jinx. They were just having fun.

"I thought best friends got first dibs on roughhousing?"

The second Jak's ears perked up and he began to sit up, Daxter was sprinting over to him. Before Jak could catch him, Daxter made an impressive slide where he snuck right between Jak's forearms. Stopping right underneath the giant's belly, the redhead cackled as he began tickled at Jak's abdominals. Instantly, Jak was cradling his best friend with his massive hands as he rolled onto his back. With wings splayed out and tail lashing he continued to roll side to side on his back while Daxter mercilessly continued his assault. Finally, unable to handle anymore, with a huge smile fully displaying his fangs, Jak lifted Daxter's relatively tiny form away from his ticklish flesh. Blue eyes beamed down at him and overcome by the emotions he was feeling, Jak began to purr as he lowered the redhead back down. Flipping back onto his front, Jak firmly but gently secured Daxter under his hands before he started to lick every inch of him.

"Blech! Way to ruin the moment, Jak!"

Although Daxter complained, Jak could still see by the smile in those blue eyes that his friend didn't mean it. As a result, he just continued to lick the redhead with extra gusto. Finally, once Jak was satisfied with the thick layer of saliva he had left on his best friend, he fully laid down on his belly and still happily purring, snuggled up to his captive. It was about then that Jak allowed his attention to leave his best friend and see that everyone else was looking at him.

Not quite understanding why they were looking at him like they were, Jak released Daxter and tilted his head curiously. He looked at the two other men he had failed to notice in his excitement to greet Keira and Jinx. The first, was a familiar older elf with goggles and white hair and overall seemed a little twitchy. The other was covered in tattoos that Jak had seen on the Red Ones. Yet, despite the characteristic markings, Jak was sure that this person had already earned his trust.

Yes, Jak knew both these men. He just couldn't remember from where or what their names were…

He shivered as his body pulsed with another wave of both light and energy. Jak was starting to wonder if he should be concerned about why it kept happening. His train of thought was derailed at the older elf pacing anxiously back and forth.

"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear…" Said white-haired man gasped as he looked at the strange, flat, looking-glass-like object in his hands before looking at Jak and then back again, "His growth rate isn't slowing. We're still projected to reach two hundred feet by nightfall tomorrow."

A gruff voice came from the tattooed elf, "Calm down and think, Vin. There's gotta be something we can do to at least slow it down…"

That's right! That man's name was Vin! Now Jak just had to figure out the tattooed man's name.

"I've come across nothing so far." Vin's ears were drooping as he shook his head, "Frankly anyone surviving as much dark eco as he has been exposed to doesn't exactly garnish a ton of data, since you know, none of them survived! Then if we throw in the whole Precursor Stone question into the mix and suddenly, we're dealing with a situation with an infinitesimally small chance of ever occurring."

Black eyes blinked blankly. He hadn't understood more than a handful of what Vin had just said, but gauging by the look on Daxter's face, Jak knew what was said couldn't be good.

Daxter asked, "What's this about the Precursor Stone? I know before I got tossed in the slammer, Jak had thrown himself into Mar's Tomb to face the trials to try and get the thing. Does that mean he got it?"

The tattooed man – who Jak had silently dubbed Tattoos until he could remember his actual name – folded his arms, "Why don't you ask him yourself?"

Jak wagged his tail as his best friend approached him. He had been getting tired of trying to follow what the others were saying. Maybe Daxter was too? Maybe he wanted to play some more? Seeing the questioning look in his friend's blue eyes made him worry that Daxter wasn't giving him attention to play, "Hey Big Guy, do you know what happened to the Precursor Stone?"

Precursor Stone… Precursor Stone… Precursor Stone…

Jak could tell by the serious expression on Daxter's face that this was important. That meant Jak had to try and remember…

The flash of a bright light and warm liquid flowing down his throat came back to his mind.

Then he remembered.

He had swallowed the bright thing that had leaked the tasty fluid. It had felt good and made his tummy feel nice and warm. Come to think of it, he had felt a lot stronger since waking up after swallowing it. Was the glowing thing he had eaten the Precursor Stone?

He had known the answer before. Why couldn't he remember it now?

Ugh. It made his head hurt.

Looking down at Daxter patiently waiting for him to make a response of some sort, Jak knew he had to tell his best friend about the bright thing. Maybe if Jak showed him something similar, he would understand? Briefly, Jak shuffled away to look for a suitable prop while he heard Tattoos grumble, "What is he doing?"

"Just give him a second," Daxter snapped, "He's hasn't said a word since we met up. I'm not entirely sure he can talk at all, so we got to give him a chance to communicate another way."

A small grin came to Jak's face as he continued to search. He knew Daxter would understand. His best friend always knew what he was thinking or at least how to figure out what he was thinking.

Finally, he found a rock that he figured would fit his needs nicely. Plucking what to him was the equivalent of a pebble up, but to everyone else was closer to a small boulder, he did an awkward three-legged amble back over to the others. Once in front of Daxter, he poked his clawed index finger pointedly at it.

Daxter crossed his arms as he tried to interpret, "Nice rock, Jak. Is that supposed to be the Precursor Stone?"

The giant shrugged before using his dark eco to heat up the rock, so it glowed. The redhead frowned, "So you had a glowing stone."

At that, Jak silently nodded, "Yes, it was a glowing stone."

"It certainly sounds like it could have been the Precursor Stone." Vin was paying close attention.

"Ok, pal." Daxter gestured for him to continue, "So what happened to this glowing rock?"

Jak lifted it up and carefully placed it between his massive teeth. He then bit down on it just hard enough until he felt it start to give. Pulling it back out, he pointed at the fissures he had made on the once smooth surface. Freckled face furrowed, "It got cracked? How?"

After rolling his eyes, Jak gestured at his teeth and made a dramatic biting motion.

"Wait a second…" Daxter's blue eyes widened, "You bit into it?!"

A toothy smile followed as Jak grinned brightly, "Yes! I bit the rock, and it cracked!"

"Oh, bud…" Daxter was now rubbing his temples in distress, "Do I even want to know what happened next?"

Jak thought it was weird for his friend to suddenly not want to know what happened. He was the one who asked in the first place. He rumbled so the redhead would look at him again before once more pointing at the cracked rock in his palm. He then threw it up in the air and caught it in his mouth before swallowing it.

Jak immediately decided he really did not like the way every single person stared at him. Everyone's eyes were wide, and their mouths hung slightly open. After a good thirty seconds, Daxter found his voice. Jak adamantly knew he didn't appreciate how his best friend's voice cracked as he asked, "You ate the Precursor Stone?!"

If that was what the glowing rock was then that had been exactly what Jak had done. He nodded just in time for his body to glow again and him to swell up a few more feet in height.

"Mar have mercy on us. This is bad." Vin ran his bony fingers through frizzy hair, "This is very, very, very bad!"

"Oh, ya think?!" Daxter snapped at the older man, "My best friend just admitted to eating the thing that everyone wants to get their hands on! Praxis is going to dissect him alive if it means getting to that Stone!"

Black eyes lit up. He remembered that name! He had taken care of that man. He was certain of it. Chirping at Daxter, Jak gestured to his throat and made a slicing motion before grinning brightly.

"Hold on," Daxter tilted his head, "You killed Praxis?! When?!"

Nodding but exasperated that he was going to have to try and explain that bit of the story, Jak was relieved with Tattoos cut in, "Praxis was last seen going into the tomb. My bet is that our loose cannon here took him out right around the same time that he got the bright idea to eat the Stone."

At Jak's nod, Daxter sighed, "Well at least that's one less person who will want to get the Stone out of him."

Vin blurted out, "Do you really think it'll be just as easy as cutting a hole in his stomach and pulling the Stone out?! Wrong! Have you not seen how he keeps growing? The Stone has already been absorbed into his body and is clearly providing a constant energy supply to him. When his body gets overwhelmed with the power, it then has no choice but to grow. No person, no matter how saturated with dark eco, was ever meant to hold such power! Frankly, it's a miracle he's still alive!"

Once again lost at Vin's ramblings, Jak was quickly growing bored of the conversation. He was pretty sure they were still talking about him, but his hunger pains had been steadily growing since the fortress and he just couldn't ignore them anymore. Lifting his nose into the air, he gave several great sniffs before a small grin settled on his face. He knew that scent all too well: Metalhead.

While the others continued talking, he wandered out onto the balcony before scaling down the side of the cliff.

"Jak!"

"Where do you think you're going?!"

"Come back!"

He ignored his friends' shouts and continued to follow the trail until soon enough he found what he was looking for: a Ram Head. That would do. Honestly, he was a little disappointed that it hadn't put up much of a fight, but apparently his claws were very good at decapitating Metalheads.

He was half-way done devouring his prize when he heard Kiera's voice, "I had a feeling he was going to do something like this…"

After ripping off a front leg and popping it into his mouth, he glanced over his shoulder to see his five friends on the opposite end of the clearing. Vin was looking particularly green before he turned around and began heaving in a clump of bushes. Kiera wasn't fairing a whole lot better, but at least seemed to be keeping her nausea in. Tattoos and Tess looked pale, and Daxter just looked plain horrified.

Jak wasn't sure what they were all so upset about. It was one less Metalhead to threaten them. If anything, they should be happy that he had found it before it had found them. Turning back to his kill, he leaned down to rip a chunk of flesh off the side of the carcass. Massive ears tilted towards the sound of shyly approaching footsteps.

"Hey Jak," He glanced down where Daxter was tentatively inching closer.

Why was his best friend looking at him like that? He seemed so nervous. He had nothing to be nervous about. The Metalhead was dead.

Maybe he was hungry too? After tearing off a chunk of meat he offered it to his friend while making a soft rumble-like noise from his chest. Biting his fist, Daxter visibly gagged and took a few steps back from the gore. "Oh no. Thanks, pal. I'm good."

Jak shrugged. It was Daxter's loss. He then tossed the hunk of flesh into his mouth and swallowed.

Seeing his friend hang back but clearly wanting something, Jak sighed and quickly sucked down the rest of the corpse – bones, skull gem, and all – before wiping his mouth with his hand and returning his attention to the redhead. Carefully on all fours, he picked his way over to his friend before stretching out on his belly. Laying his head on the top of his knuckles he mewed inquisitively at the relatively tiny elf.

Daxter rubbed the back of his head and bit his lower lip in a manner Jak knew was a result of nerves. He still didn't know why his friend was upset. Had he done something wrong? He thought he had done a good job of telling everyone what happened… But maybe not good enough?

After a sigh his friend spoke, "Jak, I know you're in there somewhere. We really need you to find your way out."

He tilted his head in confusion. What was Daxter talking about? He was right here! He wasn't hiding anywhere. Honestly, he was pretty sure his current size would seriously hinder his previous skills at playing hide and seek.

"Look, I know you're confused, but we really need you right now. Not…" He gestured to all of Jak, "This."

Everything about Jak wilted from his shoulders to his ears.

Daxter… Daxter didn't want him?

What had he done wrong? He had spent all day trying to find his friend and then to find out he wasn't wanted after everything… He couldn't help but let out a hurt whine.

"Oh Jak," Daxter leapt forward and hugged his face, "It's not like that, pal. Don't think I don't want you around right now. I do. This version of you is a lot of fun, but I need you to be just a little more with it right now. Do you understand?"

No. He didn't understand. How could Daxter say he wanted him but not him as he was? He couldn't change what he was. He was him. Just like Daxter was Daxter. He knew he had been having trouble remembering things all day but that didn't make Jak any less Jak.

The hurt just continued to build making his chest tighten painfully. Pulling away from the redhead's grasp, he sat up and began to glow again. As he had before, he started to grow but this time it didn't stop after a few feet. It seemed that as the sorrow in his chest built, the larger he became. It didn't matter though. All that mattered was that Daxter didn't want him.

"What the hell did you do?!" Tattoos snapped from nearby, "He's never grown this much so quickly!"

"I don't know!" Daxter cried as Jak continued to expand, "I just tried to reach the real him!"

Keira strode forward, "I think you hurt his feelings, Dax, and the Precursor Stone's energy must be linked at least partially to his emotional state." She then trotted up to one of Jak's big, clawed hands and started to rub at his knuckles, "Hey, Jak, it's ok! Daxter didn't mean to be a jerk! He's sorry! Isn't that right, Daxter?"

The redhead immediately nodded, "I am, pal! I didn't mean it!"

"See?" She continued to rub soothingly, "Everything's ok. Just relax."

Seeing the tiny teal-haired woman's bright smile made the pain in his chest ease and Daxter's apology allowed it to crack. Exhaling, he nodded down at Kiera. Finally, he stopped glowing and growing.

"And now he's eighty feet tall!" Vin cried from near the bushes where he had been sick, "Things just keep getting worse."

"Can it, nerd." Jinx barked, "We don't need you upsetting him more!"

Jak was surprised to see Tess jump into action, but he didn't complain as her soft fingers began massaging at his other hand. His tail began to gently roll from side to side as she cooed up at him, "What a good boy you are, Jakkie!"

Having both women soothingly pet him had made him feel a lot better. Still, seeing an almost hurt look now on Daxter's face made Jak study his friend a little more closely.

Why was he hurt? He was the one who had just said he didn't want Jak to be himself.

Yet… Glancing down at both Kiera and Tess kneading away at his hands Jak knew he had to acknowledge something was very wrong.

He briefly closed his eyes in concentration. He had to remember. Things hadn't always been like this.

He hadn't always been this big. Right?

Ugh.

He opened his eyes. Why did his head hurt every time he tried to remember?

Maybe he needed to start with an easier memory. He looked around. He had been to this place before, it was the Precursor Temple. What had he done when he was last here?

Catching a glimpse of a pile of Precursor metal sitting on a distant pedestal gave him a brief flashback:

"I bet that's the prize! They won't miss that one tiny gear."

Daxter walked over to what essentially looked like a living statue with all its parts constantly spinning and whirling. His smaller hand and narrow wrist allowed him to reach the space where Jak could not, "Like candy from a baby."

With gear in hand, his friend walked away from the contraption. Daxter was oblivious as it began to shake and fall apart, "No one will ever know we were here."

In the ruins of the ancient machinery, Jak was about to tell his best friend off when a huge hunk of metal rolled by. He could only watch helplessly as it rolled off the cliff. Sighing he ran to catch up with his friend and once he was in stride with the shorter redhead, he sucker-punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow!" Daxter whined as he rubbed his offended arm, "What was that for?"

"For that!" In exasperation, Jak pointed at the destruction his friend had wrought.

"Oh…" The redhead rubbed his head sheepishly, "Oops… My bad." At Jak's lifted eyebrow, Daxter snapped back, "But we didn't have a choice. We had to get the artifact!"

"I know but…"

"Hey, it's not like I hurt anyone." Daxter folded his arms, "Actually, I'm the only one who got hurt and that's because you punched me!"

"Oh, you think that was bad?" A mischievous glint lit up Jak's blue eyes.

"Uh…" Freckled hands made a placating gesture as Daxter took several steps backwards, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Rawr!" Jak launched himself at the smaller elf and within seconds had Daxter in a headlock and was viciously knuckling his hair.

"Ahhhh!" Daxter squealed, "No noogies!"

Back in the present, twin black eyes blinked rapidly. Jak looked down to see himself towering over his friends…

…

…

…

A/N: In case you're wondering, at the beginning of the chapter, older Samos has no idea that Jak can talk now (when he's not hopped up on dark eco and Precursor mojo). So, from his point of view, he really does think that Daxter is what's keeping Jak from talking. Yes, he does vaguely remember when he was the Shadow that Jak could talk then, but Jak appearing as he is now is definitely not how things happened before and so he has no idea what other timeline changes are going on. Thus, he jumps to the conclusion that older Jak is still mute.