Sam: I'm back!!! And only after four days!!! And this chapter is a doozy!!!

Dani: You've got bags under your eyes...that's not good.

Sam: Yeah, figured as much...

Aggie: Maybe you should get some sleep...you haven't slept even 6 hours per night.

Sam: (yawn) Yeah...wait! You're trying to take over my place tonight aren't you?!?

Dani: What?

Sam: I am ze author!!! I have the power!!! IT'S MINE!!! (hysterically laughs)

Zeke: Yeah...she needs sleep, I'll get her to bed, so we can run the show. (glint in eyes)

Blaze: Don't judge us, she's kept us out of the special author and friends box long enough.

Dani: So you guys were just mad you weren't let into the editing room?

Blaze: Maybe. Well, since I think I'm the only person who hasn't done a disclaimer or a "previously"...

Disclaimer: Sam doesn't own Jak 2, or any part of series for that matter, Naught Dog does.

Previously: So, apparently, Jak's just a pervert and thinks that Sam's sexy in the mornings.

Jak: You wanna die?

Ah, no thanks. But anyway, Jak, Daxter, and Sam got summoned back to the Underground HQ and found out that Zeke and Vin are trapped at the Strip Mine by Metal Heads and might get attacked by the KG due to Peyton's informing of the Baron. However, Sam's got a plan...

Blaze: Ja, so enjoy this new chapter of "Reality's Game": "A Broken Bond"!


Chapter 7: A Broken Bond

"You know, I really don't know if this is such a good plan after all…" Jak nervously looked about himself, hooked up to various devices and tubes. I stood up after plugging in the last of the tubes and dusted myself off. Daxter had a rather similar distressed face, seeing as how this looked eerily similar to the machine that he found Jak under when he came to set him free.

"Well, with help from Torn and Tess, we were able to reconstruct a primitive, but similar machine that forced that Dark Eco into your body," I wiped my forehead and Jak for some reason began laughing, Daxter joining soon after, "What?"

"You look like you got a mono-brow!" Daxter laughed aloud, Torn joining the room as soon as he heard the laughing and chuckled along with them.

"Oh, very mature guys," I vented, trying to wipe it off, but ended up making it look like a squiggly. I was sure that it probably looked squiggly since my hands still weren't clean and they began laughing even more, Torn actually full blown in his mirth.

"OK, when I come back, we're gonna start this," I told Jak, which instantly shut him up, "Torn, can you check my work for me?" He nodded and I went to the bathroom to wash up. Before I completely left the room, I looked to Jak and blushed slightly, nodding to him as well to calm him. As I travelled there, I thought of the plan that we had concocted and the events that occurred within a mere hour or two…

-2 Hours Ago-

"All right boys, time to put this plan into action before Vin becomes Metal-meat," I began, and pointed to the entire network of tunnels and sewer that laid under the city, displayed on Blaze's map.

"Don't you mean Vin and Zeke?" Jak reminded her, but she smiled and shook her head.

"I'm sure if they got in trouble, Zeke is more than capable of handling a few Metal Heads, but I'm not sure if he can protect himself and Vin at the same time. So, in any case, Vin's the most likely to go first," she proudly stated, then began to feel a little embarrassed, "Not to say that Vin isn't capable of handling things on his own as well." The incredulous look shot by Torn obviously meant that it was complete BS what I was saying about him.

"Yeah…shouldn't have even tried that one," I cleared my throat, "But I think he can handle himself for a while…against both KGs and Metal Heads, however, he's not going to last very long. We need to get him out of there, quickly, before the Baron decides between Ambush A and Ambush B, ala Peyton." They gave me strange looks and I sighed.

"Peyton likes to make multiple plans and strategies, so basically he has a back-up plan for his back-up plan," I focused and pointed again to the map, "OK, so, according to Blaze's map, there's actually several tunnels that lead to different parts of the palace." I looked through the various plans and that Torn had lain out. It was useful that he had been a KG and had people on the inside, as it afforded them valuable current schematics of the palace.

"Me, Jak, and Daxter saw an access tunnel they used to regulate the meetings with the Metal Heads to give them Eco," Jak and Daxter nodded in acknowledgement, "That's not the only tunnel they're guarding, but there are quite a few here that Blaze notes are poorly protected. Since they've established a steady relationship with the Metal Heads, it's assumed that as long as they give them Eco, they won't think about raiding the palace."

"The Baron and city's running out of Eco, though," Torn slipped into the conversation easily, his eyes darting between the maps and the latest Eco shipment requested from Krew, "And the Metal Heads are losing their patience. That's why they're attacking his mines, so that they can have direct access to the Eco without the middle man."

"Exactly, but this just makes the problem worse as the Metal Heads aren't sophisticated enough to work the mines while the Baron can't get any more Eco if the Metal Heads aren't letting them work," I shook my head at the predicament, "Besides that, even if the Metal Heads released the mines to let the Baron obtain more Eco, the Metal Heads demand more than the Baron can produce, even if he put to work every single citizen of this city to work. So, I think we should arrange a more…direct meeting between the Baron and the Metal Heads." I pointed to the sewer system lines that had less security.

"We can use these tunnels here to lure the Metal Heads to the palace. We don't want too many, since all we want is a distraction," I held up my access pass, "Since me and Jak got these babies, getting them into the city won't be that hard. Also, the sentry guns that Jak destroyed made the Baron second-guess his security. Torn?" I looked to him to explain the rest of the story.

"We got word that the Baron ordered a recall of all sentry guns, to be replaced by actual KGs, until a new model can be remade," Torn smirked at Jak and Daxter, "Thanks to you guys, he's spread his forces out more across the city, but it also makes the security at his palace weaker."

"Yeah, and that includes the security at the access tunnels," I nodded in thanks to Torn, "Punch out a few guards before they alert the others, and the tunnels are all ours. The only tricky part of this plan is how to lure the Metal Heads into the palace." I looked at Jak and Daxter, but Daxter held up his paws in denial.

"No way! You know how many times we get the crappy ends of the deals?!?" Daxter protested, but I shook my head. I knew that what I was going to say was going to upset Jak, but it was the only way. I thought of Zeke and Peyton's words, gathering courage.

"You're not going to be the bait," I told him, but I looked at Jak pointedly, "But we do still need you for the bait bit. Jak…I know this is a stretch, and I know it was terrible for you, but we need it."

"Need what?" he asked, slightly wary. I breathed in calmly and let out my breath in a sigh.

"What is the one thing that Metal Heads want?" I asked, and as Jak processed the question, thought of the answer, then realized what I was asking of him, he gave me a fierce look. I nearly shuddered at the sudden change in the atmosphere, as if all the heat had been sucked out of the room.

"There is no way I'm going back there," Jak told me with malice dripping with each word, backing up, his eyes turning dark. His hands looked as if they were going to grow claws, his teeth bared slightly. I held up my hands to make a submissive gesture, to calm him.

"You're not, we're going to do it here," I turned to Torn, "Torn, you have the plans of nearly everything the Baron has. Do you also have the Dark Eco Matter Machine?" Torn looked surprise and I nodded, Torn complying with a suspicious look and walking out of the room to search for it. For his safety, I told Daxter to help Torn look for it, considering how much junk there was in his room.

"For every process, there is always a reverse process," I began to explain to Jak, his guard still up, "What they put in, we can take out. In reality, you're probably the only source of Eco we have. And the Metal Heads want Eco, no matter what kind."

"…You're not putting me through that again," he quietly remarked in a scathing tone, "There is no way in HELL you're making me do this!" I put down my hands and walked towards him carefully, looking straight into his eyes.

"I know," I told him, "I know this isn't easy for you. I'm sorry, but I can't ask Torn to give up the Eco that is being used for the Underground."

"But you can ask me?" he snarled, his complexion going from tan to white for an instant. I felt terror for that instant and after that I wanted to slam my head into a wall. I shouldn't show any fear and grow a back bone, but at the same time…how close of a friend was I to Jak really? We do errands together and occasionally hang out, and there's some of that chemistry in the form of hormones that's working, as it does in all teens, but how close was I to him? In terms of relationships, I ranked probably 4th or 5th on his list and, in reality, barely knew him. In turn, he barely knew me. I was still a stranger in his eyes and vice-versa. How could I say 'I know' when I don't? I shook my head, understanding that I shouldn't have asked him, but there wasn't an alternative at this point. Time was short.

"Jak, please," I carefully and slowly took his hand, still looking him in the eyes, "My friend is in there…someone who never deserved to be caught up in such a terrible situation. He's fighting for his life against the Metal Heads, and it's only a matter of time before the Baron sends his troops in to kill or torture him. I…I can't let that happen. I already lost Peyton to whatever insanity that drove him to want to kill our friends, but at least I can save everyone else." I looked down as I thought of everything that had happened and the reason we were all here. It was my fault that everyone got sucked into the game, I knew. If I hadn't brought the game, then none of this would have happened. Dani would be eating sweets at her house, not hiding underground. Zeke would be able to focus on directing his movies instead of being attacked by Metal Heads and KGs from both sides. Blaze wouldn't crawling around in sewers, and who knows where Tom and Aggie are and what they're doing, but I'm sure that they wouldn't have wanted to be here anyways.

'It's all my fault,' I thought, thinking of how much danger my friends and I were in because I brought the damned game! I was gonna make it right, though…if anything, I owed it to them to get them out of this mess that I made.

-Jak's POV-

"It's all my fault," I heard her whisper, although it looked as though she was too deep in thought to really notice. I was still angry that she would even think that I would accept going through the hell I had been put through for two years again, but it seemed as though a heavy guilt had settled on her shoulders. I looked down at the hand that held mine. It was squeezing my hand softly, yet firmly.

"I can't make you do it," she finally spoke up again in a clear voice, looking me in the eyes, "But I'm begging you, please. This plan can't work without you. I'm leaving the luring of the Metal Heads to Torn and the Underground, but you, me, and Daxter are going to get Vin and Zeke out of there before the Baron figures out what's going on." I couldn't stand the look on her face and looked away, releasing her hand from mine. I walked to the table, placing both of my hands on it and keeping my back to her. Whatever she said about it being her fault, it was her problem, not mine. She had no idea what I went through, the pain I suffered, the taunts, the insults, the humiliation, none of it! I had been separated from my friends, my home, left to rot in that steel prison for two whole years, and for what? To become…this?!? This thing that strikes fear, even in her. What would Samos say? What would…Keira say? I had changed, and in looking back, I realized I was weak. I was always forced into doing work for others when they could've done it themselves and, besides Dax, Samos, and Keira, I never had anybody else. I was stripped of everything that day I came to this Precursor-forsaken place.

"Jak…" she spoke softly and I looked in subdued surprise to see her next to me, " I'm not trying to force you, it's your decision. But, I'm just trying to remind you of the circumstances and the situation we're in…I need your help." She wasn't close to me, but since we were the only ones in the room, it felt as though we were squeezed together. I nearly scoffed at her words, but chose to remain silent. I thought about the time she and I had spent together, of the hormones that sparked something in me when I looked at her. Who was this girl? And why…did I have these feelings when I looked at her? I already had Keira…at least, I hoped she had liked me back then. Now that I had become this freak…Keira…what would you say? Would you be afraid of me like Sam? I looked to Sam and pushed everything else to the back of my mind, wanting to get through this first.

"You think you can do this?" I asked, and she looked at me, surprised, then troubled.

"No…honestly, I've never done something like this before," I felt exasperation and outrage at her words, "But…I have faith that the Underground will help us out, especially Torn. I believe that he's on our side."

"He's on our side as long as we're the Underground's dogs," I argued back. She didn't say anything at first, probably knowing that this was mostly true.

"He's on our side because we're trying to bring down the Baron and prevent this city from destroying itself from the inside, out. And by willingly performing these tasks, he puts his faith and trust in us," she looked up, seeing Dani and Tess pass by again in the dark hallway, "Torn, Tess, and the Underground are all valuable allies…and who knows, they could become our friends in the future."

"Optimism and faith aren't exactly concrete," I retorted and looked at her, "I can't just act alone by your word and believe that everything'll be all right. I'm not that stupid." She seemed offended by my last remark, then sighed as if the world were upon her shoulders.

"Jak, every victory we have over Peyton means having a better shot of reclaiming the city as well as getting your revenge," I perked up at her words, "He turned you into the ultimate weapon by injecting Dark Eco into you, and by using some of that Dark Eco, we can get back at him. It might seem like an insignificant battle won, but I believe each success will bring us both closer to our goals." Although it made sense, I couldn't. She could ask me to fight KGs, bash some Metal Heads, anything but that. Every time I thought about it, I could feel the rage within me grow to the point where I couldn't control myself.

"Jak?" I was deep in thought when she touched me on the shoulder and I snarled at her on accident, feeling caged, cornered. She drew back and her eyes squeezed back, startled. Her ears also drooped a little in fear. This only made me feel angrier. Didn't she have enough faith in me not to hurt her? She could put her trust in Torn, Tess, the Underground, but not me? Ask me to go through that hellish torture of an experiment again, but not Torn?!? I felt the rage just intensify and saw her eyes open and grow wide with fear. I had turned and she just stood there, staring at me. I approached her, baring my teeth. I didn't need someone who didn't trust me…who saw me merely as a tool to bring them closer to their objective…and saw me as a monster…

-Sam's POV-

"Jak?" I noticed his expression getting angrier and tried to get him to talk again by touching his shoulder. Bad move. He growled at me like an animal, almost biting me and I jumped back, closing my eyes. There were two things I reacted sharply to: flying projectiles and aggression. And let me tell you…it wasn't a flying projectile that I was feeling. I opened my eyes slowly as I noticed his breathing was getting heavier and labored.

'Jak?' I looked at him and stared into coal-black eyes and a white face with razor-sharp teeth. My eyes grew wider and I could only feel fear upon seeing himself transformed. Where was Daxter when you needed him? Oh…right…I sent him away with Torn, leaving me with Jak…alone…I saw him come closer, but I didn't move. Finally, he was towering over me, giving me a good view of his fangs. Then, I realized something…if he was really going to attack me, wouldn't he have done it already? I began to calm down, and instead I just looked at him. When scared, you don't actually get a good look at what was scaring you, so instead, I just observed. His skin had turned to a chalky whitish-purple and his eyes entirely black, no pupils, nothing. It reminded me of obsidian, one of my favorite kind of stones. That trademark yellow and green-streaked hair had gone completely white and spikier, black horns emerging from it. His nails had turned into vicious purple-black claws that threatened to close around me as he held his stance over me. Finally, after a few seconds that seemed longer than a few seconds, I understood he wasn't the boogeyman in my closet that I should be scared of. I slowly and cautiously reached my right hand out to rest it on his cheek, having remembered something I should've done a while ago when talking with him.

"I'm sorry," I told him, realizing I hadn't said one apologetic word. Jak's face went slightly slack, finished with baring his teeth and now only giving me a blank stare. His shoulders and claws lowered and he straightened his posture a bit so that he wasn't towering over me. I kept my hand there until he changed back, both of us still staring at each other until he was done. Suddenly, I realized the awkwardness of the situation and removed my hand.

"Um…well," I turned around so that I didn't have to keep staring at him, "You have any suggestions on what we can do about the Metal Heads?" He wasn't saying anything so I was getting nervous…I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my skull. I slowly turned around and he was still there, although I swear to God I almost kissed his chest when I turned back. I didn't have the guts to look him in the eyes and began to back up when his arms went around my waist, holding me firmly. I blushed as I tried to get out of it, making an angry face.

-Present-

"Jak, what're you...OK, not the time!" I told him, pushing him away. I didn't look at him and instead focused on the sewer map on the table. To be honest, it thrilled me for a moment, but I didn't even want to think of the possibility that he liked me right now. I didn't want to admit it that I was getting attracted to a game character, for Christ's sake! Would you?!? That was when Daxter and Torn showed up, and we laid out the plans. Jak snapped back into serious mode and when I finally looked him in the eyes, he nodded grimly that he'd do it. I had to get Tess' and Torn's help since I wasn't really any good at building technology, especially technology I've never seen before, and we were done shortly after, leading up to me going to the bathroom…

"Hey Sam, are you done with that machine thing?" Dani asked, entering the bathroom since I had left the bathroom door open. She was holding a bunch of towels, and by the cloth tied around her waist like an apron, she had been put to use. Tess had told me that she helped with stocking the supplies and keeping tabs on the inventory, sort of like a treasurer and that she liked it. I was glad, since Tess had told me that her being a nurse might've been too much for her since the wounded were often the result of either Metal Head mauling or KG beat-ups. No one was on the Underground's side except for the Underground.

"Yeah…I just sure as hell hope it works and doesn't…" I didn't want to say it, but Dani could understand what I was about to say.

"Make him explode or something…" I glared at Dani, "Oops…sorry…but don't worry, everything'll work out all right. You'll see! Jak's the hero of this game, he definitely can't die."

"Yeah, if we weren't here, but since we all got here, everything's been kinda…different," I told her, blushing a bit remembering the 'hugging' incident, "I guess it's 'cuz we're seeing it from a different perspective."

"…What kind of perspective?" Dani asked, suspicious, and I swore under my breath. For all of her ditz and care-free attitude, she was surprisingly intuitive about attraction between two people. As soon as she has a whiff of those pheromones, she doesn't stop her hunt until she proves she was right about her prediction.

"Like, you know…we're in the game…and…stuff…" it was lame, but I really couldn't come up with anything. Again, Peyton was the witty one in our group. I quickly moved away before she could ask me anything else. Hopefully, she'd forget this and I wouldn't have to deal with her shenanigans to trip me up and get some juicy gossip. Besides, if she knew, she'd never let me live it down nor would she be able to keep a secret. Once, I told her I had a crush on a guy, and she wouldn't stop smiling around him whenever we were together…it was pretty creepy and she eventually scared him off.

"OK, everything's set up right," Torn replied when I entered the room again. I nodded and sighed in relief when I saw Dani returning to what she was doing instead of coming to pester me some more. Tess was also in the room, Daxter on her shoulder, watching in worry. Then, finally, I looked to Jak, who was so tense, the straps that were holding him down for his own safety were creaking with stress. I walked over to him and slipped my left hand into his left, putting my other hand on his left shoulder.

"Jak…thank you," I told him and squeezed his shoulder, some of the strain that he was putting on the bonds lessening, "Just take a deep breath…we're just gonna do this in one go, like ripping off a bandage. We don't have to take much out, just enough to make those Metal Heads intrigued. Besides, I'm sure the Baron has some secret stash of Eco in his palace somewhere. Eco means power, and that Baron sure is one greedy bastard." I nodded to Torn and then gave one last final look of reassurance to Jak. I began to pull away, but his grip held me a little tighter before letting go. I stood back and watched as the machine began to start up, Torn and everyone else standing with me, watching. Jak's eyes closed themselves shut, his hands turning into fists, bracing himself for the machine's extraction. Daxter jumped to my shoulder and I took him off of it, holding him in my arms, one of my hands holding his one of his paws in support.

"Ready to go in 3…2…1…" Torn looked to Jak then to me, to which I nodded, "Here we go…" He flipped the switch and the machine shot out a white bolt of energy that struck Jak in the middle of the chest, Jak's eyes going open wide as did his mouth. No sound came out though, as the machine's clunking and the electricity flying covered it up. For a few seconds the machine was on, but it seemed so much longer. Finally, Torn reversed the switch and it turned off, the white crackle of energy zapping back into the machine, and in a small part of the machine, Dark Eco had collected and was being transferred into a closed container. I felt a muscle in my jaw pop while I was grinding my teeth after watching Jak getting zapped, and it took nearly all my control not to run to him. Torn and Tess went to check the machinery and the Dark Eco while I went to Jak with Daxter back on my shoulder.

"Jak, buddy, speak to me!" Daxter jumped down on Jak's body, crouching next to his face on his chest, "C'mon! Get back up!"

"Jak…Jak!" I spoke first, then yelled, shaking him, "C'mon, wake up…please wake up…" Oh God, I killed him…that was my first thought until Jak coughed.

"Daxter, get off, you're getting heavy," Jak moaned weakly. I sighed in relief and began getting Jak out of the bonds, Daxter working on the opposite side. I slid an arm across my shoulders to support him to a more comfortable place to rest to get his strength back, a bed waiting for him at the end of the hall. Daxter decided to walk for once in his life so that I wouldn't have to carry extra weight. Soon, we got him over to the room and I placed him in the bed. Daxter's ears were down as he jumped on the bed and sat next to his best friend, deciding to curl up next to him and sleep, waiting until he was fully awake again. I sat down on the bed next to Jak after gathering the covers and placing them over him.

'Thanks Jak…I'm sorry I had to put you through that…' I thought, and patted his chest softly, 'It was unfair of me to ask this of you, but you still did it anyway. Thank you.' Jak's eyes opened slightly at the motion and focused on me for a few seconds.

"Did it work?" he asked quietly and I nodded, smiling at him. With that answered, he closed his eyes and his breathing steadied. I frowned, then just shrugged.

"Jak, you should remove your goggles before you sleep," I scolded softly, taking hold of the head gear and setting it aside, actually combing my fingers through his hair gently. Then, I realized what I was doing and flew away, holding my hands up as if he was going to wake up right then and there. Seeing that he wasn't, I sighed.

'The hell am I doing…? I was groping the poor guy!' I shook my head, trying to get rid of the heavy blush on my face. He didn't quite look so fierce or intimidating when he was sleeping I thought…looking around, I found that no one had followed and no one was looking in on them. Just in case, I closed the door gently and returned, quietly dragging a chair to sit at his side. As I looked at his face, I couldn't help but feel subdued. I had a bad mouth on me and I often was too enthusiastic or dramatic for my own good, even feeling irate at people who never deserved it. I was beginning to feel less tense around him, though, and in this I found a calm that I hadn't known except when sleeping.

'Jak…if I could like you…would you like me, too?' I asked mentally, laughing at myself in my mind, 'What am I talking about? There's no way…he's supposed to hook up with Keira, or already be with her. Even if he had spent two years away from her, I saw how you were lookin' at her in the garage, you perv, you…' I stayed for a few more minutes, just to make sure nothing was wrong, then went on to go see Torn and Tess to see if the Dark Eco was OK. After, I returned, deciding to sleep there with Jak, telling Torn that the plan needed Jak alive and kicking first. I also told him that I'd watch over him, to make sure nothing had gone wrong during the procedure, as coolly and laid-back as possible, so that Torn didn't get the wrong idea…although I was ready to punch him in the face when he smirked at me and waved me off. Soon, I dozed off, since I didn't get enough sleep last night. I told myself a thousand times and more to get up in an hour, since I didn't want to be around when Jak woke up…that'd just be creepy, weird, and embarrassing…

-Dani's POV-

You know, not a lot of people think I'm smart, but even I know when people are attracted to other people. I'm a love master, believe it or not! And I demand to be acknowledged! Like earlier today, Sam was saying something about a different perspective and she blushed! I TOTALLY saw it! And then she just avoided me! And if there's a couple of things I know besides love, it's my friends and beauty make-overs, and when Sam likes somebody, she doesn't like talking about it 'cuz she hates being embarrassed! It's so cute when she blushes, 'cuz you almost NEVER see it!

'She totally likes someone from the game…it has to be Jak or Torn…' I thought, putting the towels away in the bathroom, 'I'm putting my money on Jak…' I was thinking about talking to her, but I knew that she'd freak if I just rushed it. And no matter how strange it is, LOVE IS LOVE!!! I was just so proud of her! Ever since that time I freaked out the guy she liked by telepathically motivating him to ask her out, Sam almost never thinks about getting a boyfriend anymore! And if she really likes Jak, I'm all for it! Just then, I was about to put fresh sheets in Jak's room, having knocked on his door and nobody answering it. I nearly dropped all of the things in my hands when I saw Jak lying bed, with Sam at his side!!! I nearly screamed hysterically! I tiptoed over to her, seeing that she was asleep, and laid the sheets near the foot of the bed. This was so perfect!!! I wanted my camera!

"…Sam?" I poked her carefully, and she only stirred a little bit, not enough to make her awake. I smiled and looked at the situation. Yeah…she totally liked him, and I had a feeling that he liked her, too. I then had an idea and rushed over to Tess, who was taking apart some weird machine thingy…I had another feeling, telling me that I got left out of something.

"Hey, Tess, can I borrow your make-up? Pretty please?" I asked, holding my hands together. She smiled and told me I could, laughing a little. I got her make-up out of her room, along with a few brushes and returned, seeing that Sam hadn't moved much. I took off her goggles and scarf and brushed her hair real slow, so that she didn't wake up. I wet the ends a little so they'd curl and wave and took to putting some bronze-like powder on her, to make her tan-ish look even cooler. Next, I took to putting some black and earthy eye shadows, with some lip gloss to finish it. It was an enhanced natural look, and she looked gorgeous! I couldn't wait to see the look on Jak's face when he woke up and saw her looking like that! After some thought, I also applied this waxy spray, to make sure she didn't rub off the make-up. I wasn't going to have her ruin my hard work by tossing and turning! I sneaked out of the room and shut the door behind me carefully, snickering. This was gonna be good!

-Jak's POV-

"Ungh…" I groaned as I woke up, finally rested enough to get up. I propped myself on my elbows as I held my head with one head, remembering the intense pain that I felt as the Dark Eco was ripped from my being. Apparently, as long as it was apart of my body, I can replenish Dark Eco, as I could still feel its power there, stronger than ever. Then, I noticed something missing and brought my hand from my head.

'Where's my goggles?' I saw them on the stand next to my bed. Did Sam do that? I doubt Daxter would, sleeping next to my head as usual, and Torn and Tess wouldn't do that for a stranger. Still, I reflected on what happened today. I was okay…and like Sam had said, it was like taking off a bandage, quick and simple. It had hurt, yeah, but not for too long, and my body had become numb as opposed to sore and nearly wracked with pain as the Baron had done with the injection. It was more like torture they way he did it. I reached over Dax to get my goggles when I noticed something warm against my right leg. I looked down and was surprised at what I saw.

'Whoa…' her hair looked a bit wavy and she seemed to have make-up, although it was hard to tell because of how natural it was on her. She also had her goggles and scarf removed, her hair splayed out and her mouth slightly open. I couldn't help but keep staring. Why was it that I keep finding her in these kinds of situations? I glanced at Dax, making sure he was fast asleep, then slowly crawled over to Sam, examining her. It was as if her skin was glowing with natural radiance…I reached out and touched her, and she shifted, giving a slight moan and shrinking back in her arms. Being more bold, I reached out to touch her hair, which felt silky soft, untangled, and great to touch.

"Uh…Jak, what're you doing?" I heard Dax's voice and froze, turning around sheepishly. He was looking at me with a smirk, crossed arms, and a stance that said 'oh yeah, caught red-handed'. Shit…I'm never gonna hear the end of this. I turned around without making the bed move too much and drew in a breath to explain myself.

"Wonder what she'd say if I told her you were molesting her in her sleep?" Dax teased, and I just grabbed him and gave him a threatening stare, "Gack…OK, got it, not gonna!"

"Good," I let him go, "'Sides, I wasn't doing anything to her." I could feel the tips of my ears going a bit red as Dax laughed with a hand over his mouth, not to wake her.

"Says you, Jakky boy," Dax retorted, poking me, but then turned to her, "Though, she does have this look that says…'take me, I'm yours', don't it? I mean, she's just dying to have someone-" I silenced him with my hand and glared at him again. Hormones and Daxter's talk should never be mixed, it's like he read's your mind!

"Shut it, I'm gonna wake her up," I looked over to her and shook her shoulder, "Sam, hey Sam. Yo!" She opened her eyes slowly and got up, yawning. Looking over to me, she gave me a dazed smile and stretched.

"Hey Jak…" she muttered, yawning again, "...Jak?!?" She seemed startled and got up, blushing heavily. I couldn't help but smirk at her behavior. What was she getting so embarrassed for?

"It's…not what it looks like, just wanted to make sure that the machine didn't have any prolonged side-effects on you, not saying that it was, but I just wanted to make sure you were OK and…" she began blathering and me and Dax looked at each other, "Ah…shit, I'm talking too much aren't I?" I laughed and nodded, swinging my legs over. Sam found that she was missing her goggles and scarf as well and fetched them, dressing herself quickly. Daxter hopped on my shoulder as I got up slowly, Sam taking a step towards me thinking I needed help. I looked at her and smirked, Daxter thinking what I was thinking as he nudged me. I lifted my arm and she obediently came over, taking it and putting it over her shoulders. In all honesty, I felt fine, but it was fun having someone care for you.

"You know Sam…" I began as we walked over to the main area with Torn and Tess, "If you were just looking after me, you didn't have to do that." She gave me a confused look as we entered the meeting room, Tess, Torn, and, surprisingly, Dani were all there. I just shrugged and just looked at Sam again. That was a good look for her and I couldn't look away for more than a few seconds…hey, I mean, it was all for me, right?

-Sam's POV-

"We're here," I announced, shifting so that his arm didn't slip out of my grasp. They all looked up at us and gave us smirks and smiles, Dani's smile telling me she figured it all out. I groaned inwardly and gritted my teeth, taking Jak to sit in a chair before coming over to Dani and Tess.

"So…you mind telling me what y'all are smiling about?" I asked, although I knew why.

"Nothin'…" she smiled, and I saw something that made me twitch in between her teeth: the purple skin of Lampis fruit. This time, I groaned audibly and looked behind her, a stash of Lampis fruit piled high.

"What did I say about giving Dani sugar?!?" I looked to Tess who shrugged, then Torn came over and frowned as well.

"Hey, that's mine!" he went behind Dani and closed the cover, locking it, "Don't take from my stash, girl!" He pointed a finger at Dani who grinned and shrugged and continued to eat the already bitten into Lampis fruit.

"You know what happens when you get sugar! Why?" I asked her exasperated.

"I needed a good snack to watch the show!" she replied, smiling that terrible smile again. I rolled my eyes, though I was trembling on the inside. Shit…well, at least I can consult someone if I have a problem on what I was feeling. However, she REALLY needed to stop the creepy smile…it was almost like a fan-girl smile. Then, I stopped in my tracks, having been walking over to check out the maps with Torn to go over the plan that was discussed before. What did she mean 'watch the show'? I couldn't fathom anything that ran through that brain of hers, but I knew it wasn't good for me especially. I gave her a sideways glance before completing my walk over to the table.

"So, Torn, you got everything down?" I asked him, stepping into the only well-lit area. He looked up and just as he was about to say something, he stopped, his mouth hanging open.

"What?" I asked, confused, then Tess walked over and nudged him, getting him out of his stupor.

"We LOVE that new look of yours," she told me, "Going somewhere tonight? There's a new club just down from the power station that we can go to after the plan's done!"

"Wh…wha? What're you talking about, 'new look', I didn't do anything!" then, I had a sneaking suspicion and turned to Dani who was beaming full blown now, "Dani…what did you do?"

"She gave you a make-over," Tess told me, and I turned to her surprised, "That's what you borrowed my make-up for, right?" She nodded, giggling. I felt a vein throb in my forehead as I clenched my fists. So that's what Jak was talking about…I looked around for a mirror when Tess already had one and gave it to me. I looked at myself and frowned.

"Dani…you know I don't like make-overs!" I whined slightly, "Make-up just doesn't look good on me! Everything either blends in or looks horrible!"

"That's not true!" Dani got up and smiled, hooking the arm that wasn't holding her fruit with mine, "It doesn't blend in, it enhances!" She giggled and then crushed my arm, me yipping in pain.

"YOU LOOK GREAT!!!" she shouted, and I desperately tried to get her off when her arm released me and instead locked around my shoulders, "DON'T TAKE IT OFF! IF YOU DO, I'LL GLOMP YOU WHEN YOU COME BACK!" I sighed, then winced as she hugged…hard.

"Great…you know, I thought I'd not have to deal with a sugar-induced Dan-Dan for at least another week, but I could NEVER get that lucky, now could I?" I asked, causing Dani to giggle and laugh so hard, she slid down and hugged my waist again, "Oh no-GACK!!!" Tess had to pull her off, me wheezing as the breath of life got freaking HUGGED out of me.

"You…hide your shit better," I breathed, making my way back to the table with some effort, "She's like Armageddon on steroids when she gets sugar…" Torn nodded and gathered his secret stash of Lampis fruit, storing them somewhere Dani wouldn't find them. I looked to Jak and Daxter who were laughing.

"Hmph…hey Dan-Dan, look a stuffed animal!" I pointed to Jak and Daxter, and they stopped laughing. Dani threw off Tess as soon as she heard the words 'stuffed animal' and looked to where I was pointing, her eyes instantly targeting Daxter.

"PLUSHIE!!!" she screamed with joy and made a grab for Daxter, Daxter screaming like a little girl instead and hiding behind Jak. Jak got tackled by Dani who began chasing Daxter around the room, and I laughed my ass off. Tess just looked on in amusement and when Torn came back, Dani had finally caught him and was squeezing him near to death. Jak had gotten tackled several times because Daxter kept returning to him, his goggles askew on his head and was a bit dazed after the last tackle since she tackled him into the wall.

"What the hell happened here?" Torn asked, "Were we attacked?" At this, me and Tess looked at each other and laughed hard.

"Nah, this is what happens when you get Dan-Dan excited on sugar," I giggled before guiding him away from the scene to the table, "Let's focus. The plan's pretty simple in of itself, we need one person to lead the Metal Heads to the sewer entrance, take care of one or two guards, and then bolt. Then, when that happens, I'll take Jak and Daxter here to fetch Vin and Zeke and protect them from the Metal Heads as we get to the warp gate."

"Sounds simple, but these sewer lines are like a maze," Torn remarked, dragging his finger along the path that was the best, but still complex, "Even I'd get lost down there."

"Then we just need someone who knows the sewer like the back of his hand," I brought out my communicator and dialed, waiting for him to pick up, "Blaze, hey buddy, you there?"

"Yeah, what is it?" he sighed in an irritated tone.

"Hey, I didn't even say anything! Don't give me that tone!" I told him, frowning at the communicator.

"Well, when you say 'buddy', that means you want me to do something," I was guessing Blaze was glaring at the communicator, "So what do you want me to do?"

"We need you to help us with a plan. Zeke's in trouble," I told him.

"Zeke's in trouble?" he repeated, seriousness taking over the conversation, "What kind of trouble? And what's the plan?"

"The KGs know that we're gonna try and rescue Zeke and another guy named Vin from a strip mine that got overrun by Metal Heads," I explained, leaning on the table, "So, we need someone to distract the KGs."

"Oh goody, and let me guess, that'd be me?" he asked sarcastically.

"No, that'd be the Metal Heads," I responded and let it sink in, "You're the bait for the Metal Heads. You got demoted, congrats!" I couldn't help but sling something his way, since he didn't have to act like that every time I asked him to do something for me.

"Ugh…why did I ask? OK, so what do I do?"

"I have the map you gave me and I noticed that there's a sewer line that runs from the water pump station outside the city walls directly to dual canals that runs in a part of the palace that's being renovated right now. On this map, it should be in the 5D block, you have a copy?"

"Yeah, I see it…so I just have to make sure they get to this section of the palace?"

"That's it. We also have something to bait the Metal Heads with. And if you value your life, you won't open the container," I warned, "Just toss it into the room and make a break for the second canal that leads out of the room into another sewer. You should be thin enough to make it."

"Hmm…and what do I get out of this?" Blaze asked and I rolled my eyes.

"How about the satisfaction of saving our friend and not getting a knuckle sandwich in your face?" I asked, and he was silent on the communicator, "…Though, I guess I can owe you a favor or something…" I grumbled the last bit, knowing that favors with him were dangerous.

"Fine, a favor for a favor," he replied.

"You know, friends should help friends 'cuz they're friends," I muttered begrudgingly.

"So? In this world, we're gonna have to survive the best we can," he retorted, "Peyton's doing the same, even if he went off the deep-end." I sighed and informed him to meet me at the power station, shutting the communicator before biting it in thought.

"We've got our guy and we'll be executing the plan in a few minutes," I got up and came over to Dani who was now petting Daxter excruciatingly hard, "Dan-Dan, Samsung needs to go, so can I have the plushie now?" Dani shook her head, almost whipping me in the face with her hair.

"Can I have him if I give you a hug?" I asked, reluctantly opening my arms and bracing myself. She squealed with joy and let Daxter go, tackling me to the ground.

"OK…thanks Dani," I squeaked in pain, "You can let go now." She had wrapped her arms around my torso and was squeezing as if she were holding on for dear life. I then reached down and tickled her under the arms, causing her to melt into a fit of giggles and release me.

"I…will NEVER…do that again for you," Daxter was lying on the ground next to me, exhausted from her attention but grateful slightly.

"You…were the one…WHO GOT ME INTO THAT!" he replied back, breathing hard. We both got up, Jak coming over to us and laughing.

"That was sort of your fault," he shrugged, putting a hand under my arm to hoist me up while scooping up Daxter and putting him on his shoulder.

"Whatever, let's get going," Torn handed me the closed container of Dark Eco, "She'll crash in a few minutes, so just get her to her room and she'll be out cold." He nodded and he and Tess gathered the giggling mess that was Dani to get her back to her room. After composing myself, I hopped in the two-seater that Jak stole and we traveled to the power station, seeing Blaze standing there.

"All right, just call me when you have the Metal Heads at the palace," I told him, "Be careful, OK?" Blaze shrugged and saluted, but not before telling me that he liked the new look I had on, dashing off to the water pump station outside. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Then, I realized that meant I'd have to spend some more alone time with Jak and Daxter. It felt awkward for a few moments after we went inside the station, waiting for Blaze's message.

"So…how are you feeling?" I decided to ask. After all, it was probably awkward silence that I hated the most.

"Fine," he answered shortly, "You?"

"Fine," I mirrored, looking to the warp gate, "I just hope Zeke and Vin are still holding their own over there. Zeke's bound to be pretty tired by now, it's been nearly half a day since the strip mine was attacked."

"Then we'll find out when we get there," Jak looked at me pointedly, "Since you're a psychic, shouldn't you know already?"

"Technically, yeah," I shrugged, "But, the future changes with every little decision or interaction. And I never really expected me and my whole gang to be here in Haven City. That was never apart of my predictions. Psychics are never supposed to read their own futures since it's both taboo and near impossible."

"Huh…" he mumbled, leaning against a rail across the room from me. It became awkward again since I had decided to end that conversation quickly. Lies normally caught up with me if I wasn't too careful. I sat down and leaned back against one of the machines in the station, enjoying the warmth that it provided combined with the coolness of the metal.

"That look suits you though," he threw my way, making me look up. Daxter was gone, off staring at one of the machine's screens there and looked as though he was in a trance. I brought my knees up and rested my arms on them, intertwining my fingers and putting my head down shyly.

"Not really…" I felt a bit of blush cross my features, "I never wear a lot of make-up 'cuz it never looks good on me anyway…" Before, I never really cared about wearing make-up, but whenever I saw how much attention the girls got at my school for being able to wear a lot of make-up, I envied them. Now, with Jak looking at me, I kind of regretted not being versed in beauty tips. I heard Jak's footsteps and saw him come over and sit next to me. I didn't look at him and instead just stared straight ahead. He wasn't looking at me either, so I suppose he was just thinking like me.

-Jak's POV-

Was I sort of disappointed she didn't get dressed up for me? Yeah, a little. What was with that though? She wasn't wearing make-up when I went to sleep and then her friend decides to do her make-up in her sleep?

'She does look great, though…' I thought, glancing over to her. During the time we had wait for her friend, Blaze, I decided to think some things over. For two whole years, I was stuck in that prison in this terrible place. Daxter had been doing odd jobs around the city, trying to get me out of there, and now he was with me. However, at least Daxter and I had ended up together, Keira and Samos might have landed somewhere different alone. Hopefully, they were all right and weren't in any more danger than I was, although having been in that damn prison for 2 years meant that I was the worst off.

"Jak…should we get Daxter off of that?," I heard Sam speak up, then looked to where her eyes were and chuckled. Daxter was having fun, following the points of lights with his eyes then jumping to another screen when it shifted.

"Nah, he's fine," I told her, then we both looked at each at the same time. Our eyes met and it seemed as though we both held our breath. Then she turned away and continued to stare off into space. I sighed and looked in the same direction. This was exactly the same as that time before I was put under that machine…she was the one to push away first. Then again, I was the one who went with the flow. After all…Keira…I sighed and scratched the back of my head. If Keira saw me like this, what would she say? I looked so…different compared to back then, not to mention what the Baron had done to me for two whole years. Would she even be waiting for me after all this time? Did she find someone else in this crazy world? I couldn't imagine it, but it HAD been 2 years…

"Jak…is there something on my face or…what?" I heard her say and found that I had been staring at her, "It's getting just a little uncomfortable."

"Sorry, lot of things on my mind," I responded quietly, turning my head back and closing my eyes, "Just forget it." Keira…if I saw you know, how would I feel?

"You know, if you talk about your problems with another person, it might be easier to figure things out," Sam spoke again, and I opened my eyes, "Well, I mean, if you don't wanna then I understand, but…"

"No, it's OK," I replied, turning my head to her, "I'm just worrying about my friends…they got separated from me, kind of like how you did when you got here…"

"Ah…really?" she seemed nervous suddenly, "You have any idea where they might be?"

"No…" I then had a thought, "Hey, how did you guys end up in this place anyway? You definitely don't seem like the people here."

"It's…kind of hard to explain," she sighed, holding her head, "Really hard to explain." Her ears twitched as if trying to think of something to say. She brought her hand down and looked to me as if hoping for me to understand without saying anything. Something struck me as I gazed upon her expression…it was a suspicious feeling.

"Why?" I decided to press.

"W-why...you ask…" she mumbled and crossed her arms, "It's something you wouldn't believe…kind of like…something you'd find in a legend or a myth…" It sounded like my situation, in a way, after all, we had boarded an ancient Precursor vehicle and travelled here which was nothing like my old home and world. Still…I narrowed my eyes, standing up.

"Try me…" I told her, and she looked at me, surprised.

"Why are you…?" she trailed off then stood up as well, narrowing her own eyes, "You don't trust me? After what we've done together?" Daxter seemed to notice the commotion and jumped on my shoulder, eyeing the feud between us.

"What we've done together? As far as I know, you have always been the one to lead me and Dax into trouble," I explained, "If I remember, when we escaped the Baron's prison, the KGs found us pretty fast. Wasn't it because you were leaking blood? Did you get shot on purpose?" Her eyes widened and she backed up, then stopped and narrowed her eyes again. I walked towards her, feeling the twitch of rage within me begin.

"And when did Metal Heads like you so much? They seemed to like you a lot at the water pump station," I accused, "You told us that they ambushed you, but was it really for you or for me? And what about that tank? You knew about it, didn't you? And you activated it yourself…were you aiming to have me blown up?" She gritted her teeth and glared.

"No! I don't understand why you're accusing me of things that were just a coincidence or on accident! I admit it, I've done my fair share of screw-ups, but I have never done it on purpose!" she yelled at me, slamming her fist on one of the machines, "I would never put you guys in danger intentionally, and you guys normally find your way into it one way or another! Same as me!"

"That 'accident' at the gun course when you shot yourself with the morph gun caused the man hole cover that was my escape to be blocked," I reminded her, seeing her wince, "Who would purposely stand that close to a target and shoot?!?"

"It's not my fault I'm not drilled in the basics of handling a gun," she retorted, "Besides, how the hell would I pull that one off?!? No way I could've predicted that was the exact escape route you were gonna use and make everyone move…to…the other…" She looked nervous and she rested a hand on the countertop in serious thought.

"That friend of yours who brought us the sewer map…he could've helped you," I easily deflected her protest and moved on, "And now, he's helping us again…" Sam looked up at me and seemed extremely worried and troubled. Her stance resembled that of a small trembling animal that had been caught and was waiting to be eaten.

"You've been getting close to me, the Underground, even Krew, Sig, and that client of his that we're gonna be drivers for," I remarked, her eyes looking down again, "You'd be the perfect traitor." At that moment, she was stunned into silence. Sam shook her head slowly, still trying to deny it.

"On top of that, it seems your friends are integrated well into this city," I further explained my suspicions, "You and Dani are with us and the Underground, as is Zeke with Vin, and Blaze was working with Krew. Peyton is also working with the Baron to bring us down, and you were the only one who was there to record the evidence. So tell me Sam, who are you really? What am I supposed to believe?" Sam then clenched her fist again and looked to me, as if bracing herself.

"You're supposed to believe that I'm your friend!" she shouted, "Jak…I admit that everything up to now has been really suspicious but…"

"But…?" I encouraged her continue with a growl, "It seems like you've been hiding something from me from day one. Instead, I decided to trust you, but now…"

"Jak…" she loosened her fists and stood up straight, "When have I ever tried to deceive you? When have I ever caused you to believe that?" She walked towards me as she talked, her hands brought up in a defensive gesture.

"Nothing, but you've been pretty careful," I seethed, taking a fighting stance, "So who are you?" Sam just stopped and put her hands down.

"…My name is Sam," she began, now showing somewhat sad eyes, "And my friends and I came from a world very different than this one…" I didn't drop my guard, but I was listening.

"Someone…or something brought us here…for what, I don't know, but…" her shoulders dropped, "We have no way of getting home…and it was definitely my fault. I didn't do it on purpose, but…if I had never brought that…" She closed her eyes and seemed to be toiling with some sort of guilt.

"I guess I had to tell you sooner or later, right?" she smiled with pain in her eyes, "You won't like what I have to say, but it's the truth, so listen up. We're, my friends and I, from a world in which you…and this world…don't exist."

"What do you mean, 'don't exist'?" I asked, confused, but dropped my guard.

"Sorry, rather, this world isn't real. It's made up, the product of someone's imagination," she explained, and I widened my eyes, "In my world…you guys are just a game…a video game. Me and my friends aren't psychics; those was all lies. I've played the game before, that's why I know certain events and certain things before anyone else here. I wrote down my whole experience playing in my own special manual and now Peyton has it, that's why he knows, too. I'm sorry…I'm so sorry, but I think that this world is just a video game, and so do my friends." At that moment, I wondered if she had gone crazy. A video game?!? She and her friends thought they were in a video game?!?

"I know it sounds crazy, and believe me, if someone told me my world was just a video game to them, I'd freak, too," she held up her hands, "However…I can prove it. If I were to tell you that I know you and your friends got here through a Precursor gate on a Precursor vehicle, would you believe me?" I narrowed my eyes, wondering how she knew…then again, as a psychic she would obviously know.

"I also know that Daxter wasn't always an ottsel," she rattled on, Daxter quiet beside me, "But a human. Or…something thereof…where I come from, humans have short, round ears, not long ones. In my world, you'd be called an elf!" Elf?!? What the hell was an elf?!?

"It all happened when you were investigating an island…Misty Island if I recall from the first game, 'The Precursor Legacy'," she began, leaning against the machine, taking a calm demeanor, "You weren't supposed to be there, and Samos told you not to go besides, right? Yet, you two went, and witnessed Gol and Maia forming a Lurker army on the island. You were about to be caught by one just as you were investigating a Dark Eco pool, but you managed to blow it away with a Dark Eco canister. However, when you threw it, the force of the blow blew you back as well, into Daxter, making him fall into the Dark Eco. That's when he became an ottsel." How…

"And if I remember…Daxter," she turned to me, "You definitely miss pants. Did I miss anything?" I was stunned, but then just grew angry.

"Yeah, why are you lying to us?" I asked quietly. Sam breathed in and then let out a heavy sigh, opening her eyes to look at me.

"I'm not lying…I've done what I can to convince you," she narrowed her eyes, "If you can't accept what I've told you, you're an idiot. I haven't done anything to earn your distrust. I've always been your friend, always tried to help you the best I can. And even now, I won't abandon you at the time that I am needed, but let me tell you something Jak…after this, I'll be heading out on my own. Because you did the one thing I was afraid you'd do when I told you the truth…break the bond between us." I was silent, and then clenched my fists again.

"You sound as if I'm the one who made the mistake of asking, when you were the one who should've told us earlier!" I looked to Daxter for support, but he had stayed hushed throughout the whole thing. Dax seemed startled when I glanced at him, then shook his head, his ears down, looking almost confused and unsure. Growling, I turned to her, angrier.

"I wanted to tell you later," she replied, turning her back, "Since I knew that I could explain it to you better if I gave you the truth in pieces, then the truth would come together as a whole and you'd understand it better. You should have waited for me to explain everything clearly…not try to force the truth out of me Jak…I stick up for my friends, no matter what. You're my friend, too…or at least, you were." Sam looked back at me, sideways.

"It makes me sad that our friendship is only worth this much," she murmured.

"Don't give me that 'friendship' crap!" I yelled at her, walking forward and grabbing her by the scarf, "You could be the Baron's spies for all I know, manipulating everyone! How am I supposed to trust you after being in that man's prison for two years?!? How am I supposed to ever trust anyone again?!?" She just looked at me sadly.

"You trust Daxter…" she offered, and I glanced at Dax again, "You trust Keira and Samos." My eyes flicked to her again.

"You know them?" and she nodded, claiming it was her bull-shit theory on how we were all game characters. Who would ever believe that shit?!?

"Jak…you don't have to believe me, or even like me," she grabbed the wrist that was holding her scarf, "Since I won't give up on you…but there is one thing I won't stand for, and that's disrespecting me to the point of handling me like trash. Let go of me, or I'll break your hands off." Her eyes had turned cold towards me and it was at that point that perhaps I had pushed her too far…it felt cold and there was nothing that I could sense between us anymore. The bond had been broken.


Blaze: That was a freaking long ass chapter.

Dani: You know, I think I know where Sam gets her swearing from...

Aggie: Well, I thought that was a good chapter, lots of drama at the end.

Blaze: Whatever...

Aggie: ...Not as satisfying to brag about being in the editing room when the owner of the editing room and Zeke aren't here is it?

Blaze: ...Shut up...

Aggie: Well, we're gonna wrap things up, and-(Sam enters room and pumps fists)

Sam: I HAVE RETURNED!!! GET OUT OF THE ROOM YOU IDIOT!!! (points at Blaze)

Blaze: WTF?!? (escorted out by Dani)

Sam: And peace is restored to my kingdom, right Zeke?

Zeke: Yeah...somewhat...not really...what kingdom?

Sam: Please review, OK? I love feedback, 'cuz it makes my story so much better. Depending on the kind of output or...what was the word...whatever, feedback, I might change the ending, 'cuz there was another way I could've gone with this. Oh, and answering reviews!

Reader123456789: Wow, you reviewed for all of my chapters in a row! Much appreciated! For that, you get 6 times the amount of cookies I normally give for reviewers! COOKIE SHOWER!!! And Platinuum Mcawesome isn't my real life friend, unfortunately. Nice guess, though.

XxxJustxAnxEchoxxX: Thanks, and I'm sure Dani appreciates it. However, if you think I'm freaking feeding her any more sugar next chapter, you're mista-Dani?!? No, those cookies aren't for you!!! God damn it...she's gonna stash those cookies for next chapter...well, luckily, I have more than enough cookies for the rest of my reviewers! Cookies for you!

Angel Of Darkness808: Thanks, I liked that line, too! Cookie time!

Sam: Bye everyone! Stay tuned for another "Reality's Game" chapter next time! Reviews!