Sorry about the wait, I had a big project to finish.

As Jak was working his way to Raia and Daxter, Raia began to feel a pain in her ankle. Goddamn it, I hope I didn't sprain it. To test it, she stood, and while it was painful, she could put weight on it. Thank God, just twisted. Daxter noticed her struggle and got up from the corner he was curled up in.

"You ok? You looked like you're hurting." Daxter said with concern in his voice.

"I'm fine, just twisted my ankle on the run here. Adrenaline kept me from feeling it." She said, adding a smile to comfort him.

Daxter looked relieved and said back, "Know what will help? Ottsel in your lap." He bounded over to her and curled up in her lap. So cute, she thought. She wanted to bring up what happened to Jak before, but she was reluctant. She thought about it for a couple minutes, allowing her fingers to idly sift through Daxter's fur. Soon, she decided to just ask, no harm in a question, right?

"Daxter?" She asked curiously, although all she solicited from him was a simple "Hm?"

"What happened to Jak before we left? It looked like he changed to something more… dangerous." Daxter perked up as she spoke. He knew that if anything, Jak would rather explain this himself.

"You shouldn't ask about that." He said with a flat, half idle, half irritated tone. "That's something personal to Jak. If you really want to know," He now turned to look in her eyes, as if to set the point in stone, "you should ask him yourself. It's not my place to tell." With that he laid his head back onto her lap, soon falling asleep.

Raia noticed as he began to snore gently, not making noise at all. When was the last time he slept? She wondered. Where do they sleep? She looked around at the dark and wet sewer walls as she pondered. With a final, curious thought, she asked herself, Where is Jak?

(Break. Just want you all to know I am losing sleep over this.)

Jak finally emerged to find a half-asleep Raia and comatose Daxter in a large hub of the sewer. He guessed that they had gotten used to the smell as he did, because it was horrible. He wondered how they could sleep with that smell in the air, but he walked over to them regardless. He stepped a little heavier so that he would rouse her without scaring her too much, and it worked. She woke slowly and came to full attention to see Jak before her. Naturally, she was a little startled, but she remembered that this was just Jak. She lifted Daxter and set him on the floor as she stood.

She walked right up to him looking him dead in the eye with a serious look on her face. Jak was surprised that she was so brave, especially after his little display. She raised an eyebrow, cracking a smile after a minute or two. She flicked his long ear and said smugly, "To think I was scared of you." With that she began to walk back to the wall.

Jak picked up on her game, shooting back, "You haven't seen anything yet. And like you're so frightening. I saw how you limped over here, you shouldn't even be walking." She blushed, thanking God she was turned away from him. She decided to change the subject before she lost control of the conversation.

"How do we get out of here?" Jak was taken aback by the shifting topic, but quickly recovered.

"There's a way that leads to the Precursor Forest. But we will go nowhere before I get a look at that leg." Doc spoke out for Jak, feeling the forest's energy not too far away.

"Now just what is that supposed to mean?" She asked as she slid down the wall. It was then she noticed the odd green tine in his skin, a change in his stance, as if he were replaced by someone else. She felt comforted though, as if he truly meant no harm. Weird. She thought. Just like before, but this feeling is good. Calm.

"I mean that that leg is not suitable for walking. I need to examine it to see what I can do." Raia was surprised by the change of tone and syntax he had. Something definitely changed.

"Alright, but make it quick. We need to get home." We? Jak thought to himself as Doc walked his body over to her. Doc sat next to her and felt around her ankle, noticing a slight swelling and redness. He tested it with a squeeze, eliciting a grunt from her. Interesting, but it appears to only be twisted. A minor injury, but we will have to carry her. Doc thought over to Jak. Good. Now I have and excuse to do this. Jak thought, draining away the Dark Eco and Yellow Eco, replacing it with Red and Blue. 'Bout time. Called out one thick voice. Yea, took ya long enough. Rattled off another that was higher, faster, and generally more electric. With the transition finished, Doc backed away, allowing Jak control once again.

All Raia saw was a blank expression on his face for a couple minutes, during which time he was still holding onto her ankle. "Uh, Jak?" She spoke, pulling him from his head. "What's wrong with it?"

"Oh! It's- uh," he said nervously, releasing her ankle, "Just twisted." Just like you, bud. Wow, thanks Thick. Glad to see you're on my side. Kiddin' bro, cool your jets.

"So how do you plan to get me out of here, if I'm not allowed to walk?" Raia asked, immediately not liking the look on his face. "Oh, hell naw."

(Break)

They had woken up Daxter, who had just laughed at the scene before him as they began to walk. Jak borrowed a little Red Eco and began to carry Raia, bridal style with Daxter on his shoulder as they began to trek towards an exit. Jak did manage to retain his personality, thanking God because thick would make things worse. Not by much, bro. Shut your ass, Thick. I can tell she's hating my ass for this anyways. If it makes you feel better, Jak, I can tap into her mind, briefly. Just long enough to catch her train of thought. How the hell would you do that, Doc? I simply feel the energy radiating from her Eco. It's faint, but I can do it because your skin contact makes it a bit stronger. Go for it, but I know she's pissed.

And so Doc did. He was indeed surprised by the result. It was as such: Damn him and his strong arms, but I'm glad he doesn't know I'm enjoying this. When Doc shared this with Jak, he nearly dropped her. She yipped, a sound which made Jak involuntarily raise an eyebrow in her direction. You for real, Doc? Indeed. Doc replied simply. Looks like we got a couple 'a lovebirds. Thick threw out, wanting to get his hat in the ring. Fastback was about to get his licks in when Jak saw something that ran the voices dead silent. Damn it. Jak thought, noticing a four-legged blue beast ahead, but more noticeably, the large golden gem in its head. Metal Head. Then he noticed that there was multiple glowing orbs in the distance.

"Son of a bitch." Jak said, quite loudly in fact. He set Raia on the floor, having Daxter keep her from moving. He began to unload with his Scatter Gun, but started to run low on ammo quickly, having had only ten rounds to start with. Despite having little ammunition, Jak managed to kill all but two. Knowing that he wouldn't do well to attack them hand-to-hand, he summoned his Red Eco, to make sure each hit counted. With the power came slightly thicker arms, redder skin, and Thick's personality.

"You sons 'a bitches are toast." He said with a cocky smirk. Raia watched all of this, admiring his marksmanship and curious about this new transformation. This changed excited her, because this time she got to further examine it. She could sense a thick wave of energy radiating from Jak now, and she could tell he was much stronger. What she didn't know was the Red Eco actually just loosened his muscles and allowed them to flex and expand so much more that he nearly doubled his strength. She watched as he rushed into the beasts, knocking them to the floor with a smooth punch, looking effortless as he did.

Soon the beasts were dead and Jak collected the skull gems. He walked back to Raia, the Eco already drained from him. He picked her up and allowed Daxter to climb up his arm. They began to walk and Jak began to look sad or upset.

"Sorry you had to see that. I know it must freak you out." Jak said with a dejected look on his face, truly remorseful for what she saw as a harmless, helpful even, act.

"It doesn't." She said, trying to comfort him, seeing how fragile he was once again. "Thank you for that, you've been nothing but help to me. I really hope that you don't think I hate you or something stupid like that." She crossed her hands behind his neck as she spoke, looking him straight in the eyes again.

Damn, bro. Didn't think she cared like that. Neither did I. Yea, she really likes ya kid. Said Fastback.

"As much I hate to," Daxter said snapping the attention of the two, "I need to interrupt you two because we're here." He gestured toward a door before them that was in the process of unlocking. They saw that outside it was the Precursor Forest, green and beautiful, and that it was raining. They walked outside, trying to devise a route home.

Sorry again about taking so long.