[Video, Once More With Feeling]

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

[Jak's off on a rooftop somewhere, looking down into... well, it's kind of a dump, actually, all broken concrete and discarded boards and muddy sandbars in a lake of grimy water. Standing up above everything on a little island are the remains of a hut. This is Dead Town, and it's all that remains of the village Jak grew up in.]

Wonder if it's weird that I still want to save a world, even if it's not this one, and even if the person I'd be saving it from used to be pretty nice.

[He sighs a little, shakes his head, and starts singing softly, almost to himself.]

A long, long time ago, I fell to this place
From another dimension
And thrust amongst the beasts
And they way they behave borders on dementia
Now, through all these years
I can barely take it,
I don't think I can make it...
Take me away from here,
I want to go home...

[He turns away again, and the viewpoint moves with him, looking over the city on the other side of the building. Nearby, it's barely in better repair than Dead Town, and off in the distance, beyond a dense cluster of vaguely futuristic buildings, lies an area of twisted spires and a sickly green glow from somewhere below the level that can be seen.]

I’m so sick and tired
Of the taste of tears, the sting of pain
The smell of fear, the sounds of crying
Now, as you're standing at the edge of your life,
What do you remember? Was it all you wanted?

[Jak sighs again and hops onto a Zoomer sitting on the roof next to him. A couple of red-and-silver robots fly up out of the dark area he passes over - Jak just pulls out something that expands into a massive gun and blasts them out of the sky.]

I'm trying to earn a set of feathery wings...
I wish I could protect you here,
Oh, please don't cry now.
Smile as you're standing at the edge of your life,
Your troubles are over,
Mine are just beginning...
I'm trying to earn a set of feathery wings
To take me away from here
It's me you leave behind...

[He glances over some of the high-tech buildings he flies over next, all neon signs and bustling people in the streets... but there's a massive ruined edifice looming in the middle of the city, what looks like the broken-off base of a huge tower.]

If only I could have been there,
I’d be a hand for the sinking.
If only I could have been there,
I’d be a prayer for the dying...

[He finally stops at another ruined area, this one apparently more recent. It's still crawling with dark, armored creatures, each one with a glowing yellow gem set in their heads. He settles onto the wall, but doesn't even bother taking potshots at them.]

See the pain etched in my face...
Oh, I’m so sick and tired of
The taste of tears, the sting of pain
The smell of fear, the sounds of crying
Now, as you're standing at the edge of your life
What do you remember? Was it all you wanted?

[Finally, a change comes over him, and he's surrounded by a blue light as most of his features fade behind the glow. A broad pair of wings, shaped more like tendrils than feathers, sprout from his back, and he takes off, soaring over the ruins to where an enormous vehicle, like a bulldozer covered with spikes, is sitting abandoned.]

I'm trying to earn a set of feathery wings
I wish I could protect you here
Oh, please don't cry now,
Smile as you're standing at the edge of your life
Your troubles are over,
Mine are just beginning...
I'm trying to earn a set of feathery wings,
To take me away from here.
It’s me you leave...

You're gone from here
Don't leave from here
Don't leave me here
I hate it here
You're gone from here
Don't leave me here
I need you here
I need to see you smile

[He finally sets down again in the seat of the vehicle, fading back into his normal form. He heaves one last sigh, then shakes his head and gives a grim little smile as he revs the engine.]

Time to get this thing back to the garage. Gotta find where Dad busted through the wall...

[The last view of the camera is the Slam Dozer effortlessly crushing a group of monsters under its spiked wheels. Seems like Jak's feeling a little better now.]

Comments

[originaldragoon]

You've also got affected by this singing virus that's been going around?

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

I guess so. Maybe I caught it from Steve's post.

[Read: Steve's post got him thinking about how much he hates time travel.]

[originaldragoon]

Possibly. Hopefully this does not mean I will start singing now.

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

Guess we'll just have to see. I'm trying to remember if I've ever heard you sing - we've had viruses like this before, haven't we?

[originaldragoon]

I believe so, though I have never been affected by this particular one before. I guess the community wanted to spare everyone's ears.

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

Oh, come on, you can't be that bad.

[originaldragoon]

I am a far cry from being a bard, Jak. I cannot even remember the last time I sang, so no doubt, my voice would crack if I tried now.

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

I never said I was going to force you to sing.

[originaldragoon]

No. I am just informing you why I think I am bad.

Permavid;

[omnomsgods]

[ Any other time, she would comment on someone else's singing. She's a bird after all- and females especially tend to be extra picky with the kind of songs others produce. But now? She cares less. ] Haa?! Trying to save the world-? Why's that?

[ Except she's still a bit dense. ]

Likewise~

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

It's what I do. I'm a hero, and that's not meant to be bragging. It's a job description.

And, you know, there's not a lot of other ways to respond when someone decides she's going to turn into a sun and burn the world to ashes.

[omnomsgods]

I don't know who you're talking about, but if you're the one that's supposed to fight them they shouldn't expect much!

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

I was talking about you. You know anyone else around here who turns into suns?

[omnomsgods]

[ o h ]

[omnomsgods]

Well, a tiny thing like you won't be a problem for me!

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

Tiny? I'm taller than you, I'm pretty sure.

[Yes, he knows that's not what she means.]

Besides, even if I wasn't, pretty much everything I fight is bigger than me. Well, everything that matters, anyway.

[omnomsgods]

[ A laugh. A pretty cliche one, too. ]

[omnomsgods]

You're out of your league, Jak.

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

No, I'm pretty sure you're just ignoring what my league is. How many times do I have to say "fought dark gods" and "saved world" before it gets through?

((OOC: Agh, sorry, got notifs in wrong order))

[omnomsgods]

Your power won't be enough! I'll burn right through it!

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

You haven't even seen my power. The only thing you've seen me do is fire a gun. How the hell would you know whether my power's enough?

[omnomsgods]

[ Points at the screen. ] Whatever that blue glowing thing...was! What are you, a fairy, a ghost?

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

I told you already. I'm a hero.

And the only thing you saw me do with that is fly, anyway.

[omnomsgods]

And slowly, too! You'd never be able to catch me. So go ahead and tell me- why I should care about a little glowing power?

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

That's because I wasn't trying. Besides, you did see that gun, right? I don't have to catch you. Just keep you in range.

[omnomsgods]

Ha! Then come on, then! Let's fight. Let's see just how your power compares to the sun's!

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

If you can find somewhere you wouldn't do more damage to the battlefield than to me, sure.

[omnomsgods]

Think I care about that? I'll destroy that entire city with a wave of my hand!

[ fff she is right about to worldhop over now!! ]

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

[Okay don't panic don't panic don't panic.]

I've got a better idea. Fight me out in the Wasteland. It's this enormous desert, we can both go all-out there.

[omnomsgods]

[ She spreads her wings, eyes glowing. ] ...Yeah? You better prepare yourself.

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

Trust me, I will.

Gotta visit the temple, need to make sure I have enough Eco...

[omnomsgods]

[ And just like that she signs off to worldhop over! ]