The leaper lizard was rather easy for Jak to ride, even with Shining sitting in front of him in the saddle. Not only could it jump high and run fast, it had small wings that allowed it to hover at the peak of its jump for a short distance. While hunting the kangarats Kleiver had sent them after proved difficult as they were hard to spot and track, it did give them a chance to see the whole city.
Unlike Haven, Spargus was built almost entirely of stone, and the houses were spread further apart even when they were blocked together. Many houses were also raised above the sandy ground, likely for extra ventilation during the heat of the day. Between that, large windows, and the expanse of sky visible above, Spargus felt a great deal like Sandover to the trio. The people were also a lot tougher looking than those in Haven, male and female, even more reminiscent of the time in the past when everyone worked for every mouthful.
"So...I'm not the only one feeling seriously nostalgic here, right?" Daxter asked as the leaper lizard snatched and swallowed the first kangarat. "I mean, add a few bridges between houses and water instead of sand, and this place is Sandover all over again."
"Know what you mean," Jak agreed. "It feels like...coming home."
"I actually like the change to sand," Shining commented. "There's a lot more room for me to run in, so I'll have an easier time keeping up with you two."
"I mean, even the fashion is like home!" Daxter proclaimed, gesturing to some of the women walking by, their wardrobe plainly chosen to minimize heat retention while maximizing defensive parameters. "It's just so...relaxing and refreshing, ya know?"
Neither Jak nor Shining had anything to say in response to this, so they remained silent. The silence continued as they hunted down the other kangarats. As they caught the last one, they saw a large metal construct that appeared to have somehow embedded itself into the ground. Several people in what looked like ceremonial clothes of some sort were gathered around the device, performing some sort of ritual.
"Well these guys are different," Daxter muttered. "What do ya think they're up to?"
"We could ask," Jak suggested, dismounting the leaper lizard and approaching.
"The arena shows all, Dark One," the monk spoke in a reedy voice as Jak got close. "Hate haunts your eyes, writhing in the darkness within."
"Yeah," Jak allowed. "I'm handling it."
"It will destroy you," the monk warned. "Just as these Precursors destroyed themselves." She - presumably, since the male monks weren't wearing shirts - stated, gesturing to the construct.
"That...doesn't look Precursor," Shining muttered.
"These artifacts are an abomination," she continued. "One fell on the great volcano. We sent an expedition to the mountain, but my monks never returned."
"If we're ever in the area, we'll see if we can find them and bring them - or word of their fate - back to you," Jak offered readily.
The monk turned to stare at him. "...it seems the Arena does not reveal all as I thought," she murmured. "Your rage and hate is great...but it is balanced inside of you. You are its master, not its slave. Perhaps...the remaking of the world can indeed be postponed."
"...how?" Jak asked. "What is this?" He gestured to the device.
Dark Eco energy leapt from his hand to the construct, and an interface port extended. Drawn to it, he focused his energy into the device, slowly but steadily disabling its security program. The monk tried to disturb him, but Shining held her back. When he finished, the device reconfigured itself, presenting an Eco Crystal.
"Don't touch it!" the monk warned. "Dark Eco!"
Undeterred, Jak removed the Dark Eco Crystal, undeterred by its energies as his body freely accepted them.
"Impressed now, aren't ya?" Daxter teased the monk. "Go ahead, give him his props."
"Those are solid Eco Crystals," the monk murmured, amazed. "It has been passed down through time that they power the greatest of Precursor technologies." She paused, seeing the interface screen had returned, now displaying text of some sort. "Strange...it speaks an ancient dialect. The earliest Precursor forms. Something about...reclaiming this unfinished world..."
"Those look like coordinates," Jak murmured. "Like on the Time Ring..."
"It is picking up a very powerful signal..." the monk murmured worriedly.
Shining's eyes widened as he felt a tingle along his horn. "Everyone get back!" he shouted, quickly backing away.
The construct leapt into the air, slowly seeming to swim upward before it exploded.
The monk turned to glare at Jak. "Darkness cannot save us from darkness, hero. You had best keep your distance from our efforts, for all our sakes."
"Hey!" Daxter complained. "We've got more than just darkness!" Another burst of Light Eco erupted from his palms. "Well, assuming I can learn to control it any time soon."
The monk stared at Daxter for a time. "Uncontrolled, the powers of our creators are more dangerous than those of our destroyers." Saying no more, she left with the other monks.
Jak, Shining, and Daxter glanced at each other. "Any idea what that was about?" Daxter asked worriedly.
"No clue," Jak countered.
"Me neither," Shining agreed.
After a time, Jak shrugged his shoulders and headed for the Leaper Lizard. "Let's go see Kleiver about that ride he promised us," he offered.
Daxter and Shining quickly joined him as they raced for the city exit.
At the exit, they found Kleiver watching over several sand buggies of various size. "Well, if it isn't the newbies," he greeted them blandly.
"Nice rides," Jak muttered, glancing over them.
"You like what you see?" Kleiver asked. "We use these babies to make runs into the deep desert to retrieve Precursor artifacts. Tough wheels for tough work."
Shining whistled appreciatively. "Impressive."
"So which do we get to ride?" Daxter asked eagerly.
"Those are for the big boys," Kleiver sneered disparagingly. "You can use that one." He gestured to a much smaller vehicle, little more than a seat with wheels, an engine, and an empty frame.
"What a runt!" Daxter complained.
"Seems to fit you," Kleiver taunted.
"Never mind," Jak told Daxter before he could get too riled up. "It's all we need."
"You seem confident," Kleiver murmured wickedly. "Care to wager on a race? Ya win, I'll let ya keep that vehicle for as long as you live."
"We, uh, don't have anything to wager," Shining pointed out.
"I'd say that rodent of yours is a bit bony," Kleiver pointed out, "but skinned and buttered he'd-"
Before Kleiver could finish talking, he found himself embedded in the inside of the city's outside wall, a severe pain in his sternum his only clue that he'd been hit. Dark Jak then slammed into him, glowing blue and red as his claws stopped millimeters from Kleiver's eyes.
"So much as look at Daxter or Shining in a way I don't like again," Jak growled out, "and I'll hang you from the battlements by your own intestines!"
"Jak!" Shining called out worriedly. "Remember what the monk said about controlling your anger!"
"I haven't gutted him yet!" Jak countered.
"Y-you wouldn't dare!" Kleiver barked out, struggling and failing to extract himself from the wall. "Damas would cast you out-"
"I wouldn't bet on that," Jak growled back. "After all...if I can kill you so easily, that means I'm strong and you're weak, doesn't it? And the rule of Spargus...strength and survival is everything." Jak leaned in close. "And what does it say about your survival instincts if you cross me like that again, when you know what I'll do to you?"
Kleiver swallowed nervously, seeing no mercy or hesitation in the black pools that were Dark Jak's eyes.
"I'm glad we understand each other," Jak agreed, hopping down and yanking Kleiver from the wall before tossing him aside. Reverting to normal, he walked over to continue checking out the buggy.
you should pair someone with kylo ren or something in the next crossover pwny series XDDD
I love how Jak handled Kleiver. Keep up the good work.
Jak don't play.
Oooooh snap~
Jak has either solved many future problems with Kleiver, or made countless new ones
7040283 well, unless he plans to wait for the next 2 star wars movies, kylo's out of the picture, but I can see someone like him getting a pony to change him/her
7040308
Star wars episode 7 came out months ago and theres only 1 story about kylo ren. Go figure
7040308
7040313
Oh, you're talking about the new Star Wars.
Yeah, I have no interest whatsoever in watching those.
7040319 Kylo Ren is the Darth Vader if Darth Vader was still Anakin Skywalker. I'm not even a fan and I can tell you that he's far from being a truly worthy successor to the Sith that made the Empire's enemies tremble in fear.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
I believe seem is a boy that may be 14 years old. It was always hard to tell with his voice
7040405
If it turns out Seem is a young boy, he can always correct their misinterpretation later if I feel like it.
THANK YOU for that ending. That moment of Jak betting his best friend just... ugh.
7040483
It was actually your rant about that scene that led me to first plot out this change to it.
Why can't I Like individual chapters?
7040283 Kylo Renn is a whiny bitch!
He got his face fucked up by an untrained chick who was literally using a lightsaber for the FIST TIME.
Darth Maul killed Qui-Gon Jinn, Jango Fet killed a Jedi, Darth Tyrannu (Count Dooku) matched Yoda with both the Force and a lightsaber, General Grievous had a collection of lightsabers from Jedi he'd defeated, Darth Sidious was throwing lightning like it wasgoing out of fashion and Darth Vader was able to choke a bitch from god-knows how many light-years away through a monitor.
You see why so many people have nothing but contempt for Kylo Renn?
7040457 Seem is voiced by Tara Strong. Which does not help distinguish genders.
7040527
Hear, hear! Kylo Ren is a poser of a Dark Side user who real Sith would have sent to the kiddy table to sip his juice.
7040595 Everyone from Darth Malak down to Galen Marek (AKA Starkiller) would look at him sideways before backhanding him across a room.
Even his lightsaber is a piece of shit. The cross-saber might LOOK cool, but because the guard is part of the hilt and not the blade, he's more likely to cut into his own arm that he is to use it to any effect.
7040659
And Reven would rip off his mask, mind wipe him and send him back to his Uncle with a note on how to better train the misguided fool.
7040319 I dont blame you
7040669 I'd bet even Yoda would bitch-slap Renn!
7040308
7040313
7040319
If there would be a Star Wars story I would prefer it to have Obi-Wan Kenobi to do the raising/training. So much story, such a great Jedi!
Ah, the buggy. Can't wait till they upgrade.
Holy shit! He put that ass Kliever in his place. That guy was so creepy pasta.
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
7040457 To be fair, I don't think they ever plainly state Seem's gender. I think in the commentary for the cutscenes I remembered some of the developers calling Seem a he, while the commentary for the cutscene where he give you the time map, they call Seem a she. I always went back and forth with it myself.
7040842 Vehicle customization. Gotta love it, except in Nuts and Bolts.
When he gets out of the wall Damas needs to do a Batman style appear from behind and back up the threat.
I like that Yet, it is such a wonderful word.
7040595 7040659 7040669 LOL, I can just see Anakin's Force Ghost shaking his head in disappointment. Even manifesting Ghost Vader and Anakin so both the Dark and Light side can berate the wuss.
7040742 What about Qui-Gon Jinn??? Since he trained Obi Wan, it would be interesting to see him raise or train a pony... especially if that pony kept him from dying on Naboo and that caused more changes!
7041256 "And that's my grandson? My legacy is a bitter disappointment."
7041335 A fool this young one is.
7040669
Dark Side Reven, Light Side Reven, or "Whatever the **** his morality is in the MMO" Reven? The correct answer is "Yes".
7041432 Revan was not from the MMO.
Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2 were RPGs for PS2 and Xbox made in a very similar fashion to Mass Effect with how decisions affect your moral alignment.
I'm honestly surprised Jak didn't do that in Jak III.
Really wish you could have done that in the game, that would have been SO satisfying
Seven years into the future and I still hate Kliever!
7041447
I didn't say he was from the MMO, I said he was IN the MMO. My point in that case being that he isn't Dark Side at that point, but he is still following a plan that'll wipe out one third of the Galaxy. ...I think. It has been a while since I watched that clip on YouTube. I don't play MMOs.
How come none of them commented on how Seem sounds just like Keira, since this is around when her voice changed?
I absolutely love the rework to these scenes!
I always wondered why Jak didn't go dark on Kliever when the latter looked at Daxter like a treat.
Now that was awesome near the end.
6988616
Oh wow, I totally forgot about this. Ok, um what was I talking about? Oh yeah. In the second game a few questions were left unanswered or plot points were left open at the end. While you did do a good job of fixing some of the WTFery some missions had, there was still something lefts unanswered. Like why didn't Jak, Daxter, or Shinning ever mention using the rift gate to get back there own time? While odiously Young Mar and Samous are the ones that HAVE to go through it for everything to make sense. There was still no mention or even explanation as to why it wasn't even considered. Maybe Keira should have explained it only had one use or something.
Another being what happened to all the Precursor ruins? There was a ton of it in Precursors Legacy and now there is almost none in the second game. What happened to it? Was it scrapped out in the later years? Was it destroyed by the metal heads? What happened to it?
~And why was Samous's hut the only thing to survive from the village? Now that I think about it.
Or what happened to all the Eco? Yeah, it ends up being made into weapon ammo. But why weren't those no open vents or anything?
And Finally, why was that Rivalery between Keira and Ashelin over Jak abruptly dropped? The whole game Ashelin is all chummy with Jak and then just stops at the end and goes for Torn Only to go back at it in the third game and Torn is never mentioned again.
Phew, sorry for the wall of text. Those things just bugged me when I played the game when I was a kid. Also, i'm writing these from memory. So, If i missed something or jumbled something up. That's why.
7049550
Let's address this point by point.
They never talked about going back because, by the time that was even a possibility in this timeline, Jak felt responsible for Haven City, and Shining and Daxter were too dedicated to taking care of Jak.
There were Precursor Ruins in the forest, which is roughly where they were in the past by relative geography.
Samos' hut survived because the Great Tree seed was inside, protecting it with high levels of Green Eco. At least, that's my headcanon.
Eco Vents are now being mined, as one of the missions actually covered.
And the rivalry never occurred because Ashelin's first meeting with Jak revealed she was his old baby sitter.
7049695
To be fair, I was addressing the issues in the game not your story, but thanks for clearing that up regardless.
And speaking of that, you got your work cut out of for you with what the third game left behind unanswered. Though, given what you've done so far. It should be good...and as for Lost Frontier. I'm curious as to how you're going to tackle that FUBAR of a game.
7041256 canonically, if we're going by the original trilogy, Yoda trained obi-wan, at least according to him.
That monk has no funk. She's crap... I guess? She needs to stop using Precursor Wikipedia.
7172262
We can; if you watch Attack of the Clones, you will notice that the young Padawans were all being taught by Yoda. Canonically, Yoda's job as the senior-most Jedi Master was the training of all Padawans until they were old enough to be placed with a Knight for further training.
7041026
Still, the cut scene of their first meeting, Daxter called Seem "monk boy", which he never corrected.