12HELLO, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST 3 STORIES AHEAD OF THIS ONE, NONE OF IT WILL MAKE SENSE. GO BACK AND READ.
OR LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE, IT'S UP TO YOU.
The ABC's of Orderly Chaos
Chapter One: A is for Armageddon
There was a time when I believed I was doing the right thing. I helped the small child that Torn brought to me, he told me he was the heir of Haven and needed to be protected. I took the child under my wing and gave him to my most trusted men. At the time I didn't think about who could betray me and who could destroy my rebellion. I watched as newbie after newbie entered the Hideout and I watched them leave either never to be seen again or to be moved out in a body bag.
But the blonde boy, he gave the Baron so much trouble. He was a tornado wrecking everything that the Baron built up. He left chaos and death wherever he went but it worked, he brought down The Baron and destroyed Kor. That's all I got to see, I took the child -Jak- back in time with me. I found myself a daughter and an uncle for the boy, he found a best friend. Together they saved the world and I knew what was coming.
I fell through the vortex back into Haven but there was something different. Someone different.
Did I mess up? She wasn't here when I was in Haven, Drake was a word whispered only in the Bazaars and around the temples. She shouldn't be here, but yet, there she was standing before him. Standing behind Jak as the hero came into the tent where Onin and I took up shop. She plays with her hair, twirling it around her fingers as she looks around the tent. She seems nervous, unsure of where to stand and where to look. She turns to the left to look at something and I see it. A small bruise on her neck, just under her jawline. Jak should've been with Keira, I think to myself as Onin claps her hands together.
"Onin says, she's happy to see you're back to your old self, Parker." Pecker says for Onin. Parker glances away from the things lining the tent like a child that's getting scolded. She gives Pecker a smile that has dangerous undertones.
"As am I," She twists a lock of hair around her finger and cocks her head to the side. "But I did learn a few things from the Dark Makers."
"Like what?"
She smiles and vanishes, a cloud of purple and green smoke is all that's left behind. Jak rolls his eyes as Daxter frantically looks around, suddenly she's back, slamming a book on the table in front of me. I jump back, staring at the book I've known for so long. The book I write everything I see down, the theories about Mar and the Precursors, Jak's adventures and my life. I glare back up at Parker as she steps back. "Is this your journal?"
I grab the book and tuck it under my arm. "Jak, we're in serious trouble!"
"Onin says, there are strange forces at work. Fate has been twisted by something more powerful than anything she has ever seen in her many years." Pecker caws. "Something now is awake deep inside the catacombs!"
"Let me guess!" Daxter pipes up. "You blow hards want us to go down there, correct?"
"The best access to the catacombs is through the Metal Head side of the city."
"Sometimes I really hate you guys."
"Onin says, she sees your fate turning black with uncertainties. Onin says, it will be very dangerous indeed. Onin says, Pecker will escort you to the catacombs and- WHAT?!" He bends over to face her. "What did you say?!"
"You will be Onin's eyes and Jak's wisdom," I offer him. "You must do this!"
"Aah, fine." He flies towards the boys. "I am gone the moment things go sticky, you three meet me to the entrance to the catacombs and take care of business." He flies towards the door. "I'll meet you there when the coast is clear."
"Translation," Parker nudges Jak's shoulder. "When we do all the dirty work."
"That's not dirt we're playing in." Daxter grumbles.
I watch as the boys turn to leave. I sigh, I've gotten used to seeing them leave. Trying to memorize their backs as they walk away, trying not to think about what they're heading out to. As much as I try, I can't get the image of their deaths out of my head.
And I pray to the Precursors that I'll never see that.
Above the grey clouds turn over themselves, producing a shower that rained down with a chill. Thunder rolled through in loud whispers, breaking Parker's thoughts as she looked down the road she was about to take. Jak stood ahead of her, he was a blonde God in the dark and hazy world ahead of her. She sighed as she took out of pistols, she walked towards him as Jak pressed a fancy button.
She stood on her tiptoes to see it clearly as Jak shook it. "What is it?"
"A beacon Damas gave me."
"That's worthless." Daxter added.
"I guess we're on our own." Parker muttered.
"You're not on your own, you've got me!" Daxter piped up.
"Well lead the way," Parker said curtseying to him, at the same time a Metal Head growled. Daxter paled slightly as Parker spun her guns a smirk on her face. "Try to keep up boys." She ran forward, firing at the set of three Claw Heads. They were easy kills, falling at three shots each. She followed Jak as he tore a path through the Hoppers that came at them, Parker cleared one side. She stopped firing once they stopped coming towards her, it was too easy. She looked to Jak and Daxter as they stopped too, she could see the worry on Daxter's face along with the frustration in Jak.
They climbed on a step of steps, Parker glanced behind her trying to remember what this section used to look like. They followed a path towards a Dark Eco well, Jak took advantage of it; powering up and blowing the door to the next section right off. Parker went through the doorway, stepping through as a gust of wind made her stop. She gasped at the massive hole ahead of her, below the darkness reigned and consumed the hole. Jak tugged on her sleeve, she glanced to him as he motioned his head forward, towards the Metal Heads that came towards them. She nodded, she'd have time to mourn her poor city. Jak took them out with ease, not bothering to slow down for her in her melancholy state.
They climbed over broken concrete, pausing only to shoot down a Metal Wasp or take out a Hopper. Parker paused when the crested a slab, she spotted the neon glow of Dark Eco. Dark Maker bugs crawled from a hole, crawling up the walls. She jumped when Jak grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from the Dark Makers, she glanced back at them.
"We have to kill-"
"Already dealt with those bastards," Jak grumbled. "They'll attack in a swarm," He pulled her around a circle of Light Eco Wells, he stuck his hand in one in passing before picking up speed. Parker gasped as she saw the gap in the walkway, they wouldn't be able to jump it -they'd have to find another way. She dug her feet into the ground, trying to stop Jak from leading them right off the cliff to their deaths. Jak growled and scooped her up, "We don't have time for this!" He shouted, Parker screamed as he jumped. She covered her face, hoping not to see their death. She gasped as the cool feeling of Light Eco came around her, she opened her eyes, looking at Jak's face aglow. She looked around, looking at the tendrils of wings that came from his back. They flapped gently in the air as they landed on the other side of the gap, Jak placed her on her feet as she stared at him.
"Yah," Daxter said leaning on Jak's head. "He did the same thing to me, he's got a sadistic side to him."
Jak chuckled and shook off the Light Eco. "Let's go," He ran off, Parker followed sticking close to the sides of the gap as they came upon more Metal Heads. She fired at the few that made it past Jak. They came to another gap, Parker took Jak's hand as they jumped again, his Eco flooding her as they landed. Parker broke free of him, running ahead. She took out her knives, throwing one, end over end at the furthest Grunt. When it collapsed, the others turned to run at her. She threw another one, she didn't watch as it hit home, she moved past the others with ease. She kicked the last one back, calling back her knives, she threw the last one into it's skull. She turned back to Jak as Daxter clapped.
"Now that's what I missed." Daxter praised as they passed her, Jak turned to his darker self. "Now watch the masters at work." Dark made a ball of Dark Eco, it sparked before he threw it at the door, breaking it just like before.
"What Masters?" Parker asked as she passed them. "I only saw Jak doing the hard work."
"I taught him how to aim!"
"That's it?"
"I taught him other things."
"Like what?"
Daxter jumped off Jak's shoulder onto Parker's. "Like how to fight!"
"And...?"
"And what?! The results are in the hero," Daxter announced. "Who saved the world 2 times already?"
Parker stopped and cocked her hip, resting her gun there. "2 times? A little bold of you to think that we've already won this fight."
"We stopped Praxis from cracking the stone and stopped Gol and Maia from flooding the world with Dark Eco."
"Sounds like a kids game with pretty effects, and it doesn't count."
"What?! If we didn't stop them- AHHH!" Daxter screamed as Parker stepped onto a platform, it crumbled under her foot, both of them falling downwards. Parker felt Jak grab her hand and them jumping to the next one, only to have it crumble as well. She jumped to the next one as it crumbled, she moved to jump to the next one but was too slow as she fell downwards. Jak grabbed her hand again, yanking her upwards. She flew upwards and knocked Jak over with an oof sound. She bounced off his chest and rolled down the hill, stopping down the hill at another platform that collapsed when her arm hit it. Her arm hung off the side of the drop as she watched the platform crumbled to the sharp rocks below. She took in a staggered breath as she moved away from the edge.
Jak slid down the hill, stopping just by her. "You okay?" He asked.
"AND, that's why I don't travel by Parker!" Daxter shouted from Jak's shoulder. "She's a walking death trap!"
"I'm fine," She mumbled dusting herself off as Jak reached out and grabbed her arm, spinning her and fired at the Grunt that climbed over the broken concrete wall. Parker pressed a hand against her stomach a wave of nausea washed over her from the pain just under her rib cage, she pulled her hand back to look at the blood. It seeped through her shirt. "Okay, maybe not." She showed him her hand.
"Does it hurt?" Jak asked trying to get a look, she stepped back.
"I'm fine, it doesn't hurt and I'll take care of it. Let's keep moving." She sprinted ahead, climbing over the concrete slab. She kept her pace, firing at the Grunts that came too close. When she turned the corner, they came to an opening. She stopped to stare, recognized the place even in pieces. It was where she and Erol meet for their Black Missions. She remembered herself, pacing the space where the chasm was waiting for Erol. It was also the day she was marked by Mizo, she turned her head as Jak came to stand beside her. He looked around at the area too, a troubled look crossing his face. "We'll rebuild this city," She said taking his hand. "I promise."
"Let's save the world first," Jak grumbled rushing forward. He turned back to her. "Come here, this involves flying." Parker nodded running to him, he wrapped an arm around her waist and carried her across the gap. They did this two more time before Jak blasted another door open. Running through the door, they came across another set of Hoppers that crawled out of the ground. Parker kept pace, running a little ways behind or ahead Jak. When they came to an open gap, Jak would grab her and take her over. Sometimes she'd hit the ground running or stumble slightly, either way, the fighting was wearing her down. She moved slower and her reaction times were becoming slower too. She could tell Jak could feel it too, he was slowing down. He didn't fly as high and he transformed to his darker side slower.
After blasting another door, the heroes ran up a small incline only to stop for a breather. Parker bent over and held her stomach, the ache from whatever cut her was still there. She looked at her hands, there wasn't as much blood. She straightened herself and ran forward, ready to kill anything that came at them when she saw Pecker.
"Pecker!" She cried out, she stopped in front of him and smiled.
"It's about time!" Pecker shouted, Jak jogged up to them. "I've molted three times already just waiting for you! Onin says, we must get through the palace ruins. But I think... uh oh..." Parker turned as she heard the too familiar sound of Dark Maker chatter. Satellites came into view watching her.
"'S e ar Banrigh..." One said, she stepped back.
"I'm not your Queen." She shouted at it, she gasped when Jak grabbed her. He pushed her behind him as two more joined it.
"Don't talk to it!" Jak shouted at her.
"Chan eil a 'Bhanrigh ..." One argued back.
"Tuilleadh mar Bhàin!"
"I'm not a traitor!" She yelled back.
"What the fuck did I just say?!" Jak shouted, she could feel his Dark Eco spike. "We're not losing you to these things again!"
"Kill orra!"
"Uh oh..." She grumbled.
"What did it say?" Daxter asked.
"They're going to kill us."
"Jak," Daxter started as he climbed behind his blonde friend. "Let me just say, before it's all over, riding on your shoulder, although it is kind of boney... and uncomfortable, well you've been a good pal."
"You too Dax," Jak glanced back at his friends. "These adventures have been great." He turned, grabbing Parker and tackling her to the ground as the creatures hissed again. Parker hit the ground hard as she heard a crash and the shrieks of the satellites. Jak got up, she heard the squeal of tires as someone chuckled.
"Did someone call for an army?" Parker glanced up at the sound of Damas' voice.
"You're a long way from the desert." Jak walked up to the vehicle. "I thought you said a smart warrior never takes his enemy head-on."
"That depends on how hard your skull is." Jak climbed into the vehicle. "I'd say you and I are both headstrong." He turned to Parker as she came towards them.
He passed her the jetboard. "Follow behind us, shoot anything with teeth."
She rolled her eyes. "You're acting like I've never been in a war zone." She activated the jetboard, hopping on and wobbled slightly. "I'm right behind you."
Jak nodded. "Let's finish this."
TBC...
