PSAS: The Era of Greatness: Jak and Daxter Intro

A visible, green, gas substance is coming out of a vent in the middle of a forest, brightening the area around it in the middle of the night. A somewhat big and unusual spider with a pod on its back approaches the vent, curious of its glow as its eyes glisten in a bright green color. The spider loses interest after staring at it for a few seconds as it then walks away into the darkness of the night. It then sees another source of light just outside the forest. The spider goes to the light, but before it could get there, it hears a sound coming behind it.

KRAK!

The spider gets run over by a hover car zooming through the forest, avoiding non-living obstacles in its path towards the light. The hover car drives around the hills, approaching a bazaar, which consists of blocks, defined by buildings and concrete walls to segregate separate market areas. The hover car goes through the underpass of an elevated, glass highway, and parallel parks in front of a building as its thrusters slowly turn off, descending to the ground gently.

"Did you really have to drive so fast? I thought was going to have a heart attack for a second there." One of the people in the hover car said, coming out of the passenger seat door.

"Quit yer' yappin!" Replied the driver, coming out from the driver's seat, "Just be glad we've made it in time for the party. We would have missed half of it if you were driving."

"Yes, but... oh, ewww!! Look at this!" The person walks underneath the light from the light post as she kneels down, seeing the bits of the spider they ran over oozing all over their car bumper. The person sighs as she stands back up, "That's it! I don't care if we ever get late to anything else again! I am driving from now on!"

The woman appears to be human, with the only abnormal thing about her is her very long, pointy, elf-like ears. The man with her also have the same ears, as well as the other people around the bazaar. The man with her sighs in annoyance as he then proceeds to clean up most of the spider bits off the car, with his wife berating him some more as the shops around them start closing up. The store owners lock up for the night as they, and many other people leave the bazaar, go to the heart of Haven City to celebrate for a special occasion.  

Haven City is a big, metropolitan state, resting at the bottom of large mountains in the middle of a wasteland, with the bazaar being one of the many sectors in its grand structure. The main town is the heart of the city, located in the center district; it is one the most visually appealing districts, having tall buildings made out of stone and concrete, and also having river bays, fountains, and statues around the concrete walkways. Just ahead of the upper half of the main town lies an enormous stadium where racing events are held; and floating over the upper half of Main Town is a huge race track with many dangerous turns and tight corners, only for advanced racers during a grand championship event. On the north, north-east district of Haven City is the New Haven district; a fairly new district that is as visually appealing as Main Town in its own right, having side walks placed between rivers of water on either side, decorated with various trees, shrubs, and water fountains, lined with skyscrapers, apartments, and other buildings, being more architecturally advanced than Main Town.

Encompassing the sides of Main town is the eastern bazaar, and the previously mentioned western bazaar, with the western side having the northern and southern Gardens surrounding it, serving as a passage between them; and the eastern bazaar having more elevated highways for safe, commerce transportation. Next to the eastern bazaar is the slums, the poorest district of the city, but it has developed greatly over time, having the small buildings and houses being fully constructed, and the roads being clean with no potholes. With the Freedom League having their base around the corner, the slums continue to smoothly progress into having better living conditions. Below the slums is the industrial section, home to many of the industrial buildings and steam plants, having a few elevated highways and maze-like walkways.

In the very center of Haven City is the newly constructed City HQ, the prime building and home to the city's highest officials and politicians, where they decide how the city will be managed, or how business deals with other cities will be sorted; basically, where all the city's decisions come from. It is the biggest building of the city, having a similar design as the buildings in New Haven; consisting of big watchtowers on the corners, a watchtower on the sides, and the base of operations being in the top of building in an oval shaped structure.

In the bottom of the flight of stairs in front of City HQ is the central plaza, where many citizens are gathering around an enormous tomb just down the path, with the tomb having a huge statue of the city's founder, Mar, on it. Fireworks are then shot into the air, exploding with glistening colors in the night sky as the citizens are at awe, enjoying this special night.

In the southernmost part of the city lies the South Town district, also known as the Port. The port consists largely of a bay of water, with two, large towers, located in the center of the bay, with bridges connecting them with each other as well as to the walkways of the city. The port is filled with people, walking around and seeing the festive decorations on the walls and banners held up over the center entrance. A couple walk along the left side of the port, going to an establishment called The Naughty Ottsel, which has a sign of a big, orange, furry creature with a devilish grin, with horns on his head, and is holding a pitchfork.

The couple go inside The Naughty Ottsel as some of their friends greet them, and head towards their table. The interior is decorated with 4 dining booths inside the walls on both sides, having blue, rectangular lights in their hexagonal entryways; a brown, triangular ceiling with the top center being flat, having 5 rectangular lights on each upper side between dark brown columns; several pictures hanging on the wall, mostly identical to the same creature displayed as a sign outside minus the horns and pitchfork; and a square bar in the center of the establishment, having a model of a race car on display over the liquor cabinets behind the squared counter. The place is nearly packed with people having a good time as the broadcast monitors hanging over the race car model is showing the news.

"It's 12:05 a.m. today, Haven City, as the first-ever Precursor Haven Day has officially begun!" A female anchorman with blonde hair, wearing an orange suit and a big smile said, having a big monitor showing parts of Haven city and its citizens behind her, "This is one special night you don't want to miss out. Isn't that right, Bob?"

"That's right, Barbara!" A male co-anchor with brown hair and moustache, wearing a blue suit, and having the same big smile as he looks back at the camera, "If you are at home, and are wanting to be part of this new holiday, then get up and get outside right now. Enjoy the day with your friends and loved ones, even with those that might not seem right in the head."

"Remember, kids; don't talk to strangers, especially if you are naive and gullible."

"Ha ha! Right you are, Barbara!" Bob said as he and Barbara laugh obnoxiously, "Hooo.. but seriously, folks; it is a great time to be living in this city, especially on this planet that we live in. We have faced hardships again and again over these last, several years, with the recent Eco shortage incident appearing to be the final nail to our coffins. But it's all thanks to the heroes of Haven City, Jak and Daxter, whom destroyed the Metal Head and Dark maker faction years ago, brought light to the mystery of the Precursors, and saved the world by bringing Eco back to our world once again!"

"Keira, daughter of the Green Eco Sage, Samos, were with Jak and Daxter at the Brink, helping them restore distribution of Eco to the world. We don't know how they did it, but it's thanks to their efforts that every living civilization will be able to live on in peace. Thank you, Jak, Daxter, and Keira; Haven City is forever in your debt." The news music then begins to play, "Coming up next, Pandaroaches: Are they cute, or just plain disgusting? More after this."

At the end of the interior is the main bar counter with a big mirror on the wall, with shelves filled with bottles over it, where the owner of the Naughty Ottsel is telling a story to his friends, re-enacting scenes with various gestures.

"And it flies up with the lava erupting after it! Woosh!" The small creature raises his cup of liquor up vigorously, with the momentum making the liquid shoot up into the air. The liquid falls as the creature poses with a smirk, catching some of the liquid back into his cup, while the rest just showers over his friends, causing them to groan in annoyance, "But thanks to me, we managed to catch the missing part we needed to get that second eco core running!" The creature then waves his hands down across his body with a smug look, "We couldn't have gotten out of that volcano in one piece if it wasn't for my virtuoso nature, and my 'Precursor' stature that kept my team in high spirits during the worst of it all. Yep! It just goes to show: I'm that awesome!" Most of the people at the counter groan and roll their eyes, with only one of them clapping in joy at the otter-weasel hybrid's 'success'.

He is an Ottsel; a small, slender animal, with a large tail, and four limbs that can be used equally in bipedal and quadrupedal modes, and has large eyes; a small, stubby nose; and a large mouth. He stands in 2'10" ft/ 86.3 cm tall, having orange fur with a yellow underbelly, having the same colored striping on his forelimbs. He wears a pair of brown goggles on his forehead, and aviator gloves on his hands, and is also wearing a snazzy pair of blue pants held up with a brown belt, and has circular, brown, knee patches over the knees, with the leggings reaching just below them. He is one of the heroes of this world, certainly NOT one of the best heroes out there, but a hero nonetheless -- Daxter.

"Oh, Dacky Wacky! How I love that you have done so much recently. It kinda pains me to not have been there to help out." Daxter's girlfriend said in admiration. She is the same species as Daxter, having blonde hair, wearing a green, heavy-duty top that stops above her midriff, with brown suspenders, short denim shorts, and tall brown boots which strap around beneath her knees -- Tess.

"Don't feel bad, baby, you know me; I can handle anything." Daxter replied as he then approaches Tess and coos at her, "Besides, I wouldn't want my Tessy-Wessy getting hurt out there in the Brink, would I? No, no, I wouldn't, Coochie-coo~." Tess giggles while everyone else groans again, which made Daxter look at them in annoyance, "What! You guys don't believe me?" Daxter then gestures at someone at the side of the counter, "Come on, Jak, tell these jealous numbskulls that's what happened!"

Daxter stares at the man, who is sitting down, drinking over the counter. He is a young man, standing around 5'10" ft/1.77 m tall, with a lean, muscular, yet athletic build; having a yellow-greenish, semi-long, mildly-spiky hair; a small goatee; and cerulean, blue eyes. He sports a metal plate on his left shoulder; a blue tunic with no sleeves, wearing fingerless arm gloves of the same fabric and color over his forearm bandages; blue armbands over his biceps; a pair of off-white trousers; brown and blue boots; and a steel ring in the center of his chest held up by three leather straps around his chest. He is a hero with a ruthless, yet caring personality, helping others in the only way he knows how: by blowing them up into smithereens -- Jak.

"You exaggerated on several parts about yourself, but yeah, that's 'exactly' how it happened. "Jak said with a smile, putting his cup down on the counter.

"Hey, you can't tell a story by skimming over the details; you have to tell it like it is so that the audience can see it in their heads more clearly."

"Well, let me tell you what I've been seeing my head this whole time." A half monkey, half macaw said, standing at the other side of the counter away from Daxter. He is around Daxter's height, having a monkey-like face, tail, and body; and having bird-like feet, feathered wings, and a head of a parrot. He has a red, blue, and yellow coloration typical to a scarlet macaw, and speaks with a Spanish accent-- Pecker, "You were clinging onto Jak's shoulder like a baby the whole way through. The end."

Daxter quickly grows irritated, and turns toward Pecker with a scowl, "Oh, I'm sorry; do YOU have a story to tell? Please tell us one of your greatest accomplishments of being a translator!"

"Hey! It's not as easy as you think!" Pecker replied pointing at Daxter, "The Great and Powerful Onin gets many visitors on a daily basis, and it is my responsibility to translate her visions to her clients with prestige and-- hey!" Pecker turns around to an elderly woman sitting on the counter with her legs crossed. She is arched-back and has gauntly limbs, having no pupils in her eyes, and is wearing tattered, green clothing; a sorcery skull necklace beneath her red scarf around her chest; and a large, concave, broad-brimmed hat Pecker often perches on -- Onin. Onin attempts to drink some liquor, but Pecker goes and knocks the bottle from her hand, "No drinking! I thought we agreed on this before coming here!" Onin replies irritatedly with several hand gestures, catching Pecker off guard, "H-How dare you! Y-You can't say stuff like that in public! Awrk!"

"Regardless on how it really happened, allow me to say that I couldn't be more relieved you've made it back." A short, elderly man said to Jak, sitting in the center of everyone and in front of the counter. He is a stout man with a stubby body; gaunt limbs; small eyes; large feet and hands; a large round head topped with a large log; a slightly green-tinted skin complexion; and he sports a full-blown beard and moustache trailing down the beard to his waist. He is wearing a plain, green tunic, and a waist cloth typical to olden-world villagers; a pair of glasses, with his left eye lens being larger than his right and has a few lenses attached to it from the side and over it; two thick stumps used as stilts; and a wooden staff he uses as a walking stick. He is the Green Eco Sage -- Samos Hagai, "Jak, you have grown faster than I have anticipated in these last few years. I could not be more proud of your accomplishments."

"... Thanks, Samos." Jak replied looking at Samos, appearing content with his words, but feels very happy on the inside.

Samos then looks at the woman sitting in between him and Jak, "And you, Keira, it's been a week, but I'm still overjoyed that you have obtained your sage powers! You have made your father extremely happy!"

"Heh heh! I know, Dad. Even though that is the 17th time you've said that, I... still can't believe it myself." Samos's daughter replied with a weak smile. She is young woman around Jak's age, and a little shorter than he is. She has appealing pale skin, dark green hair, and regular green eyes. She is wearing a white/lavender, midriff singlet, with very short, dark blue sleeves; black pant braces attached 3/4 purple and pink cut-off pants; and bandage-like straps around her arms and legs, both somewhat concealed, respectively, by brown gauntlets and shoes. She is a smart and strong girl, capable of surpassing her father's expectation's just as Jak did -- Keira.

"Um, aren't you forgetting someone, old man?" Daxter said as he leans towards Samos, who looks unamused, "I mean, Jak and Keira wouldn't have made it far without me. Heck, I was with Jak way before Keira joined up."

"Oh, sure~. Your consistent whining and demeanor throughout the years has certainly helped Jak and Keira become the respectable figures they are today." Samos replied sarcastically, "You, Daxter, have my eternal gratitude."

"I can smell the sarcasm from your breath, but who cares. You're welcome!" Daxter replied with a big thumbs up while Tess leans her head on his shoulder.

Samos sighs as he then rubs his temple, "It still boggles my mind even now," He then looks at Keira, "I specifically remember telling you NOT to go to the Brink! It's a dangerous place for a little girl such as yourself, and what's worse, is that you were in the exposure of Dark Eco!"

Keira then grows irritated, "Dad, I'm not--!"

"I know, I know... you're not a little girl any more." Samos interrupts, looking away from his daughter before turning towards her, "But even so; you have passed the trials in becoming a sage, but this is only the beginning." Samos then smiles widely, "Keira, it has been a long time coming, but it is now time that I show you the ways of a Sage. As soon as the Sacred Site is clear from those mutant pests, we will begin your training in our old home, just like before." Samos then points at Keira with his staff, "We will not cut corners with your reckless ideas," Keira frowns as Samos lifts his staff over his head, "We will be doing this the way I was trained; the old-fashioned way!"

"As if you have any other way, gramps." Daxter said as he is lying on Tess's lap, eating a grape she placed in his mouth.

Samos ignores Daxter as Keira then places her hand over her father's shoulder, "Dad, I appreciate your help... okay, we can do it your way."

"Wonderful!" Samos replied happily as he jumps off his seat, "We will start first thing in the morning! Get some rest, Keira; we will be hitting the books every day before doing the real thing in the sacred site. Don't flake out on me, got it?"

"Yes, dad. Got it. See ya later." Keira replied unenthusiastically as she watches her father leave in a hurry, "Uhh..." Keira then places her elbows on the counter, coursing her fingers through her hair to the top of her head, "That was more painful than I thought it would be."

"What do you mean?" Jak asked as he gently places his arm around Keira's shoulder, "Samos is proud that you awakened your sage powers. He just wants to help you master them."

"I can handle anything he throws at me." Keira said as she places her hands on the counter, "It's just that he can be so stubborn when he does things his way. -sigh-... What I'm worried about is that we might not see each other as often as we usually do given the circumstances and everything."

Jak smirks, "Well then... I'll just have to be there with you while you study."

"Ha! My dad won't allow it. He'll probably say you will be a distraction."

"Who cares? I'll talk with him; he'll have to say 'yes' eventually."

Keira turns her eyes at Jak with a leer, "Oh really? Hmm... I guess there are some perks in being stubborn when it works in your favor." Keira and Jak stare at each other's eyes for a few seconds as they close in for a kiss.

"Hey, Jak!" Daxter pops up between Jak and Keira, interrupting their moment as Daxter can barely contain his laughter, "Ha ha! Get a look at that, Jak! I helped granny get some booze behind bird brain's back, and now she's cursing the crap out of him!" Jak and Keira are more annoyed at Daxter to pay attention at Onin, whose nose is red as a tomato, cursing continuously as Pecker, who is petrified in disgust.

"P-Please, Onin! I have feelings too, you know!" Pecker cried as then turns towards Daxter with a furious and stiff movements, "You've done it now, rat boy! Now it's going to be harder for me take her back home!"

"Look at it this way, birdie," Daxter jumps back on the counter and waves his hand, looking away from Pecker, "You are the sidekick; you are not responsible for the old girl. Just stop pretending you make decisions for her and your head will feel even lighter."

"Awwrrrk! The only thing light around here will be your head after I'm done clawing it apart!" Pecker yelled as he flaps his wings and dives into Daxter, knocking him down on the ground.

"Oooww! Okay! It's go time!" Daxter fought back as he and Pecker tussle on the counter, with Tess watching worryingly, while Jak and Keira didn't really care as much.

"I knew there was going to be fight here this early at the holiday."

Jak and Keira turn around, seeing another friend of theirs approaching them through the crowd. He is a little taller than Jak, with blue eyes, pale skin with gray-blue tattoos on his face and on the visible parts of his body, and has brown-red, dread-locked hair, reaching just above his shoulders. He wears a blue tunic and armor around his arms; a red scarf around his neck; an oxygen mask resting on his chest, with tubes traveling towards his back; brown pants with gear on them; and spiked boots. He is the Captain of the Freedom League-- Torn.

"Hey, Torn. I didn't think you'd show." Jak said as Torn approached him and Keira.

"Had to do a few errands before clocking out for the night. I figured I might as well have a night off after a week of non-stop Eco management." Torn said in his usual gravelly voice.

"Is Ashelin with you?" Keira asked.

"Nah. She wanted to come, but she is still busy handling trade agreements with neighboring cities. It's the happiest thing she has ever done as the Governess of Haven City, though, so I can't really complain. You guys really did make a difference around here. I can't express my thanks enough."

Jak and Keira smile as Daxter look at Torn, pushing Pecker away with both hands, "H-Hey, Torn! You're late! I just told my awesome story, and I'm not going to tell it again!"

Torn doesn't express any emotion, "Great... so much for getting some sleep tonight." He said sarcastically.

"That's right! Hate yourself for me! Gah!" Daxter yelled as Pecker then tussles with him again. Jak rolled his eyes amusedly at the scene as Torn then clears his throat.

"Ahem, say, Jak, I really hate asking you this now, but I need a big favor from you." Jak looks at Torn with a concerned look, "We got a call from Sig at City HQ; he said that one of his spotters saw a group of marauders discovering a dark eco crystal on the mountaintop leagues away from Spargus and have made camp there. The camp is heavily guarded, and Sig doesn't have much aerial offensives, so he is hoping we can lend him a hand in that and help him dispose the crystal properly. It's nothing serious yet, but if that crystal isn't dealt with soon, it's gonna mess up the landscape around it, possibly something worse." Torn rubs his head ashamedly, "My hands are tied at the moment; all the troops are busy with their assignments with the city and trades, and the only people I have are a few rookies, but they're not ready to take on something like this yet. Jak, you're a natural when it comes to these kinds of missions, so I am wondering if you could lead my men at the Wastelands? I know you just came back, but I promise I'll pay you back one way or another."

Jak and Keira look at each other, not sure what to say. Jak then looks at the ground, deep in thought. He closes for a few seconds as then smiles, and looks at Torn, "All right; I'm in."

Daxter stops pummeling Pecker in the face as he gazes over at Jak in shock, "WHAT!? AAH!" Pecker head-butts Daxter, knocking him off the counter. Daxter falls on the ground with a thump, as Tess hurries over to his side.

"Thanks, Jak. I'll contact my boys to let them know you're going." Torn said happily as he then turns around and gets out his transceiver. Jak then looks at Keira, who looks stoic upon hearing Jak's answer.

"I, uh... probably won't see you in the morning. But I'll be back as soon as I can!" Jack assured nervously as Keira then laughs.

"Don't worry about it; I'll see you tomorrow." Keira gets up from her chair and kisses Jak on the cheek, "Happy hunting." Jak smiles as he watches his girlfriend leave.

Moments later, Jack enters his room on the second floor of the Naughty Ottsel, with Daxter following him while rubbing his head in anguish.

"Remember back then when you didn't know how to talk? You were so boring, but at least you kept your trap shut and didn't say anything stupid like just now!" Daxter said in a frustrated tone as Jak opens his locker, "I don't want to spend the new holiday in the wastelands working! That's not what they are for to begin with!"

"We haven't been to Spargus for at least a year. Besides the mission, it would be nice to see how everyone is doing... I think I am overdue for a visit." Jak said, looking at something he took out from his locker.

Daxter notices what Jak is putting on as he then sighs in defeat, "Gah, I hate it when you don't just spell things out. Fine, I'm coming too, but under my free will! Wherever you go, I'll go."

Jak smiles softly as he finishes equipping himself, "Thanks, Dax." Jak then turns around, now wearing the Armor of Mar over his current attire, sporting brown, Precursor metal bracers, grieves, a breastplate, and a shoulder plate. "Well... how do I look?"

"Fat." Jak blinked in confusion as Daxter rolls his eyes, "Well, what did you expect? I know those things are adjustable, but most of you is showing than the last time you wore it."

"Fair enough." Jak shakes his head as he grabs his blaster from the wall while Dax climbs on top of his left shoulder, "Let's enjoy the rest of the holiday, buddy." He said with a smirk.

"Lead the way, buckeroo."

Jak and Daxter leave their room as they close the door behind them, with the full moon outside leaving things bright inside through the window.