All That's Left When Everything Else is Gone

Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it?





Song is called ‘cold’ I think the band is called Crossfade. I know I said I’d use verses from ‘Somewhere I Belong’ Bloody fighting ahead. reviews please!





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I never really wanted you to see

The screwed up side of me that I keep

Locked inside of me so deep

It always seems to get to me

I never really wanted you to go

So many things you should have known

I guess for me there’s just no hope



Torn had once come across wild red eco. He’d been scouting the area outside of the precursor ruins. The glow of the eco had drawn his attention. Curious he had picked it up. The resulting surge of power had nearly knocked him out with the intensity of it. The power roaring threw every artery, every vein, every capillary was incredible! Never had he felt that amount of energy. He felt as if he could take on anyone and anything. Now he understood why the baron ditched the old blue uniforms for red. Red represented power! Of course it had been a small amount of eco and the effect had dissipated quickly. Standing up, a little shakily, Torn had returned to report to his commander. He never said anything about the eco, but he the never forgot that feeling of power.



Torn pushed and punch Jak as he kicked his legs trying to find enough leverage to throw the demon off. How the hell could he be so strong? His attacks didn’t faze him in the least; in fact it only seemed to amuse him. He just sat there with a hideous grin on his face while digging his claws into his shoulder while the other was poised to strike the final blow. Pain was continually arching through is shoulder were Jak’s claws dug deep into the soft tissue. Dammit! He couldn’t get his gun or knife. Jak’s legs blocked his guns and he couldn’t risk going for his knife when Jak could easily stop him, it might make the thing on top of him decide to just off him now instead of later. Casting his arm out he continued fight Jak while looking for something to aid him.



Torn’s hand closed over a nicely sized rock. He would take this monster down. It meant that he’d kill Jak but right now all that mattered was his continued survival. Gripping the rock tightly Torn swung his fist as hard as he could into Jak’s head. Caught off guard by the sudden movement Jak wasn’t able to counter the attack in time so the jagged rock slammed into the dark warrior’s temple. Dazed His grip loosened, sharp claws sliding out of abused flesh. Too bad it wasn’t enough to knock him off of him. Pale hands reached up to probed the bleeding flesh just above his right eye Torn held his breath sensing the calm before the storm. This was it, he failed. Jak was going to kill him. . The blood running down the pale face was suspiciously dark. Too dark for any normal person, but then again turning into some blood crazed monster isn’t exactly normal. himTorn curled his hand around the jagged rock. No, he wasn’t giving up; he would fight this monster with his last breath.



Torn swung the rock again. Maybe if he hit him enough he’d bash his brains in. Unfortunately for Torn, Jak the movement this time around and snagged his wrist before the rock could make contact Snarling Jak slowly tightened his grip until Torn’s hand went numb and he was forced to drop the rock. Jak didn’t stop squeezing however he continued to tighten his grip. Torn hissed in pain as his bones began to pinch together, then as Jak increased his grip, snapped. Now Torn had suffered broken bones before but this was much worse as Jak continued to squeeze his wrist so the bones shattered further. Then after turning his wrist into so much mulch began twisting his wrist this way and that so the splintered pieces ground against muscle and bone alike. All the while he grinned darkly at Torn’s cries.



He released his now useless wrist.



Torn panted with pain as Jak stood up. Threw bleary eyes He watched Jak stride away. Had he gotten bored? No, this version of Jak didn’t seem the type to walk away when his prey could still scream. Prey? Holding his ruined wrist to his chest Torn shivered. It sounded right because that’s what he felt like. He had a feeling Jak could have easily killed him but chose to have his fun instead. What had distracted him? Now that he could focus on something other than the pain Torn was suddenly aware of a growling that wasn’t coming from Jak. Turning his head he saw them, metal heads. Dozens of them, fortunately they hadn’t seen him, yet. . But Mar knew how long that would last; he wouldn’t be able to hold them off with just his knife and pistols. Not to mention a shattered wrist and torn shoulder to boot. A movement above them caught his eye. Jak was perched above them like some giant bird of death.



This was his chance, when Jak went for the metal heads He would make a break for the security doors. If he could get inside the gate he could lock Jak outside the city walls. And if he returned to normal he’d let him back inside and maybe he wouldn’t kill him. After all it would be a shame to loose his best man. Very slowly as to not attract the attention of either the metal heads or their stalker Torn sat up. Scooting back so he could brace himself against the wall Torn paused to watch Jak and the metal heads. With Jak’s focus entirely on the Metal Heads Torn could get a good look at him. It was strange how despite transforming he still looked like Jak. No, that wasn’t quite true. Jak was all bright colors and this… thing was darkness incarnate. Pale skinned and soulless eyes. Armed Sharp claws and vicious looking fangs. Hell it even had horns! Talk about your inner demons. Damn.



When he’d first saw the kid there was something just… off about him. With the rat you could see his differences but Jak… it was more of a feeling. His face was completely blank. But his eyes were so expressive that you could see what he was thinking. When Torn saw in them the first time it was disturbing. There was pain, the most obvious one. But in this city who didn’t. Rage and anger were the most prominent. He saw honesty and further down and nearly gone was the smallest spark of compassion, which surprised him, he didn’t expect that. But it was what lay underneath that bothered him. bloodlust. This was buried deep inside of him, smoldering just beneath the surface. The first two he’d brushed off… but the bloodlust was another matter. Jak was useful, so he ignored it. He wasn’t quite as angry nowadays or not as often, at least not around him, the missions from him and Krew probably let him work that aggression off. But the bloodlust never left; at times it seemed so strong that he looked ready to tear out the nearest living thing’s throat. This was most noticeable after dealing with metal heads or sometimes it was almost gone, like whatever lurked beneath had been satisfied for the time being.



It was when he came back from the pumping station he first noticed it. Before hand Jak was tense but after returning he was down right waspish. He could see the rage building underneath, how the rat never saw it was beyond him.



“That’s fine; I want him to know that it’s me who’s hurting him.” The vehemence behind those had given him pause. This was a man who held a grudge. Not like him and the rest of the underground, they’re fighting for the city. They had seen the evil and were determined to stop it. But Jak, for him it was personal. He didn’t care about the city, he just wanted his revenge. What had been done to him? Looking at Jak now Torn had to wonder. Praxis had been obsessed with the ultimate warrior when Torn left the KG, was Jak the product of that obsession? Where had he come from? He doubted Jak was an ex-KG, didn’t have the tattoos for one thing and he hadn’t known the city at all when they first met. Jak was probably some poor kid plucked off the streets somewhere, Kras City maybe? No, Jak’s obvious distaste for the crowdedness that came with any city seemed to point somewhere else. Not that this was the time or place to be pondering Jak origins



Torn looked down at his wrist all swollen and already turning a nasty black color. He’d be lucky if he could ever use his hand again. His sholder was torn, ragged and screamed in agony with the stightest movement, but that was nothing a little green eco couldn’t take care of. A roar of rage and pain pulled him from is thoughts. Torn turned his attention back to the metal heads and gasped. Jak had leapt right into the heart of them and was tearing through them like a hot knife through butter. Dark lightning crackled and snapped across his body and struck those before him. The sight was truly awesome and Torn momentarily forget he was supposed to be running.



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Dark sat on the edge of the long decaying structure glaring down at the creatures that had interrupted his fun. Stupid metal heads if he didn’t deal with them now they would be more of a pain later. In any case he had no intention of letting them near his new play toy, yet. Speaking of which… Ha! Planning an escape are we my pet. His pet was currently easing himself up the wall, cradling his wrist protectively against his chest. Dark grinned, he couldn’t help it. If his pet thought that was bad wouldn’t he be surprised to know he was just playing a little rough. If he couldn’t handle that then he wasn’t going to last very long. Pity. this one had a lot of fire in him. And better yet the ‘real’ Jak was awfully found of this one. This was something he couldn’t understand. all that man ever dose is bark orders. Dark rolled his shoulders experimentally. It had been awhile since he’d been in full control. It was nice not to have that saps morals clouding his thoughts.



Dark turned his attention back to the metal heads. They were just snuffling about. Stupid beasts. Crouching low to the building muscles tightened in anticipation, coiling like a spring. Then he was moving, so fast he was a blur. His claws tore through the nearest metal head slicing clear through it so neatly that it couldn’t scream a warning before Dark was already on the next. Blood, hot and sweet and laced with dark eco arched into the air as he ripped through them all. If he wasn’t pressed for time he would have stopped to take a sip.



Anyway getting back to the matter a hand. The metal heads below were snuffling about somehow never noticing the menace perched above them or the elf across the way. Dark’s smirk widened, time to take care of business. Dark crouched low, muscles bunched and tightened into coiled springs. Then he was moving A metal head lifted its head just in time to see a blur heading straight for him. The next thing it was aware of was pain as dagger-like claws ripped through him. Blood, hot and sweet and laced with dark eco arched into the air as he ripped through it. If he wasn’t pressed for time he would have stopped to take a sip. With its last breath the metal head bellowed in agony and rage. Before the other metal heads had a chance to react to their fallen comrade’s cry Dark was already tearing through three more of the stupid beasts before they finally rallied themselves into action.



Dark grinned savagely. Finally, prey was no fun if it didn’t fight back. The metal heads closed in on him at once in a vain attempt to over take him Dark leapt into the air dark energy gathered in his fist. Dark roared as he slammed back down to earth.



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It was that roar that shook Torn from his frozen stance. Jerking back to reality Torn did an about face and beat a hasty retreat. Fear made his heart pound. He’d lost his chance for a safe get away. If he could make it to the gates it would be a miracle. Then again Jak may be stronger but that didn’t mean he was faster, right? Torn sped up, no, Jak was lightning quick in battle. The doors were a few yards away. So close. A shadow flew over head. Jak slammed down to the ground in front of him growling in outrage. Streaks of something familiar sparked along the ground and around Jak. Torn began backing up a Jak stood and began stalking towards him, growling all the while.



Torn’s heart was a solid lump in his throat making it difficult to breath. Resistance and running hadn’t worked maybe reason would work. Torn swallowed with difficulty. “Jak?” Torn croaked. “Jak you in there? Come on man, wake up.” Torn felt a shiver When Jak suddenly smiled. “Not… Jak…” Torn stumbled back abruptly. He had hoped for an answer but that voice… it wasn’t Jak’s, not the Jak he knew anyway. Jak’s voice was smooth; this thing’s sounded more like gravel. Torn was confused, how could he not be Jak? Getting more nervous by the second Torn pulled his knife out as a precaution. “What? I don’t… Jak? You’re still in there, right?” Jak (or according to him not Jak) just kept grinning that insane smile. And smug like he knew something Torn didn’t. “Come on Jak snap out of it. Its Torn, you remember me right?”



Just the slightest tensing of muscles was all the warning he got before Jak was upon him. Out of reflex Torn lashed out with the knife. His blow struck home but Jak plowed forward his claws burying deep. Torn grunted in pain and raised the knife to bury it again. Jak roared in rage and retaliated by raking his claws down Torn’s sides and ripping up as much of his thigh as possible. Both Torn and Dark Jak fell to the ground in a bloody heap, Torn’s injured wrist catching between them making Torn scream in agony. Torn brought the knife down a third time, this time Jak threw his head back and howled in pain. Snarling Jak raised his hand to finish him off. To do this he had to sit up and Torn took his chance and with both Hands on the hilt plunged the knife as deep as he could into Jak’s chest.



Jak froze in shock, hands falling limply to his sides. Blinking down at Torn Jak, to Torn’s Horror, with the blade still buried in his chest began to revert back to normal. Shuddering as He came out of the eco induced faze Jak stared down at the man beneath him in a mix of guilt and horror. Blood leaked out of the side of his mouth.



“T-Torn?”



tbc