We were all setting quietly in the Hover Vehicle. Daxter and I hadn't told the two girls what Sig said, though they had asked. We both agreed on waiting to tell them both when we got back to Haven.
I glanced at Daxter and saw that him and Tess were sleeping; Tess' head was on Daxter's shoulder and Daxter's head on Tess'. Keira had fallen asleep ten minutes after the vehicle went into the air. I watched her as she slept. With watching her sleep it was beginning to become harder with thinking about telling her that I was leaving. I thought it through over a hundred times now and in everyway I saw her trying to convince me to stay, or try to let her come along. I didn't want to leave her behind again, but I would have to.
I would look forward to this trip more if she was coming along, but she would need to stay here with Samos. I don't know how long I will be away from Haven and I don't want to drag Keira away from her father. They had been so close all her life; I don't know what it would do to the two of them if they didn't communicate somehow every few days. I always wonder what it's going to be like when the old man dies.
There was a hard bump and I knew we had landed in the port. I unbuckled and turned around to look out the window.
Haven had expanded ten times the former size in the last year. It was completely Metal Head and KG Robot free. The port had an additional forty stores and homes. The palace was still the same - Ashlin liked the old model best. The racing stadium was five times larger - Keira was thrilled with that. Underground had an actual headquarters - Torn wasn't thrilled about that; he liked being hidden. In the recreation of the of the city one thing stayed the same. Haven City Forest. Samos now lived there and had opened it as a safe Haven for Underground Members in need.
I grabbed Keira's shoulder and shook her gently, "Keira."
She opened her eyes than closed them again.
"Keira," she didn't even budge and I sighed, "Daxter."
He actually woke up, "What?" He stretched all his arms and flexed his otsel hands and feet.
"We're back in Haven."
"Great," he said sarcastically.
"Wake up Tess, Keira won't wake up. Which means I have to drive her home."
Daxter nodded.
I picked up Keira and she wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Hey, Jak, will you be at the Naughty Otsel tomorrow," Daxter asked.
I was walking out the door when I answered, "Yes."
--------------------
"Keira, you have to wake up," I demanded.
"What," she moaned; she tossed her head back and forth.
"We're almost at your house."
She set up and looked around. Her hair was a complete mess from the wind. Neither of us spoke to the other for several minutes, "Jak, can I ask you something," she asked meekly.
"Yeah."
She didn't speak for a moment, "Will you stay with me tonight?"
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. I faked a yawn, "I am rather tired."
I saw her face light up in excitement. I couldn't help but smile as well. I slowed down the Hover Craft so that she could fix her hair. I watched her from the cornor of my eye while she combed her hair with her small, long, and delicate hands. Without thinking I placed my hand on her thigh, and I knew I went to far. I withdrew it as fast I put it there. She turned to me with a questioning look, than she smiled once again. I looked back at the deserted road and I felt her small hand grab my free hand that I had leaning lazily against the arm rest. I froze for a moment than relaxed. I would have to get use to certain touches.
One Month Later
"Jak," Keira moaned into my chest, "can't I go with you? You're not the only one who wants to get out there."
I started at the ceiling and adjusted my arms behind my head. Keira draped an arm around my middle, and pressed her naked skin closer to mine. "I've already told you no. It can be dangerous."
"You sound like my father," she snapped.
I laughed, "I suppose I learned from the best."
"You both are a pain in the ass."
I smirked. Since she did her first race cursing and inhabited her vocabulary. I found it quiet humorous listening to her in the garage cursing at the top of her lunges. I would let her go on a rant for a few moments than I would intergect what I thought might be the problem. I would always get an ugly look with my remark, but atleast she would listen.
She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, "When will you be back."
I sat up as well; I creased my brows, "I don't know."
She glanced at me from the corner of her eye, "What do you mean you don't know? Sig must have told you."
I shook my head.
She rolled her green eyes and mumbled, "Boys."
I placed my lips on her shoulder and whispered, "I promise, I'll be back soon," I kissed her skin softly.
She took a finger and placed it under my chin and lifted it up slowly, "You promise," she cocked up an eyebrow.
I escaped her finger and put my face close to hers, our lips brushed, "I promise."
----------------
I had never said goodbye before I had to leave. Well, besides when I told Uncle goodbye before I went on the Rift Rider; even than, it wasn't a goodbye.
Keira was lingering as close to be as she could, Samos was on the other side of her, Torn standing in front of me, Ashlin next to him, and of course Tess and Daxter on the ground by me. Everyone, and the city, had a gloomly look.
I looked up at the setting sun and watched as the Hover Vehicle came flying over the wall. I felt Keira grab my hand and squeeze.
"Well, Jak," Torn spoke up first.
"I guess this goodbye," Ashlin paused, "for now."
"For now," I said sternly.
"Be careful, Jak my boy," Samos walked over and stood in front of me.
"We're always careful, aren't we, Dax," I said in a joking voice.
"If you can say that! At least now I don't have to clean Old Green Stuff's hut. That's the most safe I'll be for a while."
Samos whacked Daxter on top of the head. Daxter gave him his famous death glare, that he failed miserably at.
I glanced at them all, but I glanced at her last. Her eyes were beginning to become watery and she was looking off in the distance. I turned my whole body towards her, "Keira."
"What," her voice broke.
"I'll be back," I wrapped my arms around her and whispered into her ear, "I promised." This was odd. I never showed affection in public. I didn't want to for their safety, but this was defintly something I needed to do.
Everyone was staring at us with curosity.
She wrapped her arms tightly around my middle section, "Promises' are so easily broken," she sobbed.
I pulled back and made her look at me, "Don't I usually keep mine."
"Only because you're a sap," she laughed and a tear ran down her cheek.
A corner of my mouth went up. I started into her eyes and leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you," I whispered so only she could hear. I pulled away and walked to the vehicle. Daxter made a jumping leap onto my back and climbed onto my shoulder. I didn't look at anyone as I walked up the ramp, because goodbyes were to hard. I hope I would never have to do them again.
"JAK!" Keira yelled.
I turned around and she ran up the ramp towards me and threw her arms around my neck - Daxter fell off and grabbed the back of my shirt - and pressed her lips feverishly onto mine. She pulled away first, "I love you, too," she leaned in, again, and kissed my lips softly. She walked backwards down the ramp.
The vehicle started and the doors closed. The last thing I saw before the door closed completely was her face.
---------------
Daxter had his face plastered to the glass.
"Dax, you're going to get motion sickness," silence, "Dax," still no answer, "Daxter," I grabbed his small body and pulled him away from the window.
He looked dazed, and his pupils were going around in circles, "Jak, I feel sick."
I sighed, "There's a bathroom over there," I pointed at a metal door. He jumped off and scurried as fast as his small feet could carry him. "At least we weren't in the ocean," I mumbled. Five minutes later Daxter came walking out, "Better?"
"I can't wait to get to Spargus."
"Me too, Dax, me too."
---------------
Sig, Keliever, and Veger, on Keliever's shoulder, was waiting for us at the entrance gate to the city. There were now ten different vehicles on the edge of the wall, but the city it self looked the same.
"New additions," I commented.
"Yeah," said Keliever greedily, "Just got them in last week."
I nodded while looking at them all. Most of the new cars were smaller, which meant they were good for faster racing. I couldn't help but smile an evil grin with thinking about beating some of Keliever's men, again, though I would never be able to go out of the city without being shot at. I was just glad that they did no longer.
"Smooth ride, Chili Peppers?"
"I think the boat ride to Misty Island was smoother than that," Daxter commented - I saw him sway on my shoulder
I rolled my eyes and noticed the confusion on Sig and Keliever's faces. "Misty Island was this Island that inhabited Lurkers, and" I pointed at Daxter, "where he got changed into an Otsel, or Precusor."
Sig shook his head, "We're about to leave. Seem is having to stay here since she is getting closer to death everyday. She agreed to helping you two out for the first month, but than you two are all on your own."
I nodded. I looked around and saw some important things missing, "Where are the Monks?"
"They went up to that blasted temple in the dessert," Veger said angrily, "They wanted to pray for a safe travel," he shook his head and mumbled something that only Keliever could hear.
"Do you want the run down on anything, Jak," Sig asked.
I shook my head, "I think staying here for a while told me all that I needed to know."
"Okay, well, Pecker will be coming in a few days. He wants to help you as well since he was Damos right hand bird for a few months. He'll stay only three days than head back and help Onin with whatever she needs done," Sig laughed a deep laugh.
"That bird brain is coming," Daxter yelled.
"No, Daxter, I just said that to piss you off," Sig shook his head, "Of course he's coming," he glanced at us both, "Well, alright than, Cherries, see you in a year or two."
"That's how long you'll be gone than," I asked
Keliever jumped into the Hopper's front seat and Sig climbed onto the back. Keliever started it - it had this hum about it. "Yes," Sig yelled. And just like that they went storming through the gate and were gone in mere seconds.
I sighed and looked at Daxter, "Well."
"Well," Daxter repeated.
"We're stuck here for a few years than aren't we."
"Well, if we are lets make the best of it."
"How?"
Daxter rubbed his hands togther, "Let's go watch the babes on the beach."
