Chapter 2: Covered in Blood

Jak's sobs did not attract any attention, but the screams of the Explorer's nurse did. She had just come from her home at the Farmer's house (she was his wife after all) and was ready for another long day of giving the Explorer a sponge bath and listening to all of his boring stories about his adventures. She had heard them about a million times.

However, this poor woman came to her job that day and found her patient mutilated and dead with his mute nephew holding him and weeping. Her screams brought people. It took the Mayor, the Sculptor, and the Fisherman to remove Jak from the body. The town was in complete shock; normally Sandover Village was completely safe. The Green Sage's magic protected them from the Lurkers that inhabited Misty Island and Sentinel Beach. It was highly strange for someone to be murdered in Sandover Village.

A few hours later, Jak was in Keira's room. She had forced him to drink some milk that was (unbeknownst to him) laced with sleeping powder given to her by her father. She sat on a chair near her unfinished A-Grav Zoomer and watched as Jak slept on her bed, his chest moving up and down slowly; his face so peaceful and relaxed, for now. It was how bloody his clothes were that unsettled her.

Keira had actually cried when she heard the news, not because of the Explorer she barely knew the man, but she thought immediately about how Jak would feel. Then she had seen him cry and that's when she started.

He didn't say anything. Well, Keira thought, that's a stupid thing to say he's mute after all. Yet, there was still something silent about him, something unnaturally silent and Keira wondered what he would do when he woke up. Would he go back to Misty Island and murder Lurkers? Keira wouldn't blame him. It had to be Lurkers who killed the Explorer. She herself was angry and would even want to help him...or hold him.

She was interrupted when a little orange ottsel scurried into her room.

"Okay! What is going on", Daxter screamed, "Oh, Keira..."

He gave her an almost wink and seemed to try and strike a pose.

"Shh, don't disturb him", Keira whispered, "Get out of here."

"But baby, I just got here."

"All the more reason for you to SCRAM!"

She looked back at Jak to make sure she hadn't wakened him and grabbed a broom to try and sweep Daxter out of her room.

"Wait, wait", Daxter said quieter, "I'll tone down. I just need to know what's happening."

Keira set the broom down. "Okay, Jak's uncle is dead. He was murdered by Lurkers; at least that's what it looks like."

Daxter looked at his friend. "Oh, wow. Poor guy", said Daxter.

"Right, so let him get some sleep. Okay, what happened to you anyway? You look less ugly."

"Hey", Daxter exclaimed, "I've been through some tragedy too! I could use some comfort! Me and Jak went to Misty Island last night and I got knocked into a pit of Dark Eco!"

Keira looked at him fiercely and put her finger to her mouth indicating silence.

"Dark Eco", she whispered, "How are you still alive?"

Daxter shrugged his tiny shoulders. "Worried sweetheart?"

"Ugh, get out now." Keira grabbed the broom and chased him outside with it.

"Okay, okay", said Daxter, "But when he wakes up, I'm going to be the only one who can stop him from going on a rampage! He will kill every Lurker he gets his hands on!"

"And that's bad", Keira asked.

"Well, Jak is supposed to be helping ME get to Gol Acheron to change me back to human. It's sort of his fault I'm stuck like this."

"Is that all you care about!? Your friend just lost his uncle and you want him to do something for you?"

Keira swung the broom at him hard. Daxter was sent reeling a few feet away from the wooden footbridge to the mainland.

"Ugh, not again", Daxter said as he passed out.