Jak and Daxter and all affiliated characters and places are property of Naughty Dog. No infringement of copyright is implied or intended in this fictional work.
Time to see if I can rescue a certain female from the character assassination attempts made by Naughty Dog. Bad Naughty Dog, bad!
Chapter 8: Keira
Two years of being alone and Keira found it was starting to wear on her. When she first came to Haven City she was completely surrounded by strangers. Jak, Daxter and even her father were nowhere to be found. All of her inquiries were met with indifference or outright hostility. The city was nothing like Sandover. It was cold and unforgiving where Sandover had been warm and open.
She desperately wanted to find her companions but Keira concluded, much like Daxter had, that she also needed to take care of herself, which meant finding food and shelter. And to obtain those she needed a job.
Through events she couldn't quite remember, she ended up at the Haven City stadium. There she observed the city's most popular and brutal sport, noting the frequency of crashes and vehicle problems. An idea popped into Keira's head. If she could get work as a mechanic here, not only would she have a place to stay, with the crowds of people that flowed in and out everyday she was certain to hear something about Jak and Daxter. That was, if they were even in Haven City. She refused to think that. She couldn't believe that fate would be that cruel as to scatter all four of them without any chance of reunion.
After one of the races, Keira approached one of the mechanics and asked about getting work. It was surprisingly easy and Keira was more than able to prove her worth. After she settled in, she tried to find word on Jak, Daxter or her father. None came. For a while she despaired, then remembered all of the times when she didn't know what was happening to Jak and how it had turned out fine. She figured that while she waited she could work on her own project. When Jak and Daxter had moved the Rift Gate to her father's lab, they had also brought a sled-like vehicle.
Keira believed that the Rift Rider, as she had mentally dubbed it, must have been part of the original Gate's mechanism. Perhaps part of the reason they were all separated was their failure to use the device on their way through. And perhaps, if she could assemble another one, they might have a chance of making it back home. She had studied the device a great deal before the Rift Gate had absorbed all of her and Samos's attention and believed she could rebuild it from memory.
It was a task easier said than done.
While working at the stadium Keira had made some good acquaintances but she hesitated to call them friends. She kept company with other mechanics developing friendly rivalries and the occasional enemy. But to her the most interesting person was a dark haired man a few years older than herself named Duran.
Duran was an apprentice to one of her rival's, although Keira believed his skill surpassed his master's. The problem was that Duran was a bit of an idiot savant when it came to machines. He instinctually knew what needed to be done but once he was finished he could not tell you what he did. This made him an object of ridicule and Keira hated that. She took it upon herself to tutor him in the proper terminology of what he did on a day-to-day basis.
The process was long and difficult but Keira felt a small thrill whenever Duran had learned and applied a new concept. The young man was very bright but terribly shy, so he would blush and stutter in Keira's presence. Over time, Duran gained a healthy dose of confidence but would descend into his old habits when extremely nervous or harassed. In return for her help, Duran would bring her lunch or dinner when she forgot to eat or would assist her with cleaning her garage at night. He was a rarity in Haven City, a genuine thoughtful person and Keira was grateful for him. She had always been fond of the unusual.
As a youth, Keira had not been a fan of convention. She had enjoyed defying people's expectations and pursued her own dreams. The villagers had expected a certain level of intelligence from her, being a Sage's daughter, but her mastery and understanding of Precursor technology astounded everyone, even her father. Keira took well-deserved pride in that although she never let it go to her head.
There were other expectations that were harder to avoid. As a young woman she was supposed to find a suitable young man and marry. And Keira admitted to having a crush on Jak but part of the reason was he was the only suitable boy available. There was Daxter, but he was Daxter, which automatically disqualified him.
Two years ago she could have seen herself married to Jak with a big wedding and all the children and responsibilities that came with it. Now that possibility was remote, if not impossible. It was not just Haven's way of crushing happiness but her own transformation as a woman as well. She hated the loneliness of her life but she liked the independence.
"Keira," Duran said, entering her workspace.
Keira peered around the green curtain she had put up to separate the rest of her garage and the Rift Rider. "What is it?"
"Some people are asking about you. I think they're from Krew," he said.
Keira scowled. Krew had been a thorn in her side almost since the beginning.
One night after she had just established herself as a mechanic, her workshop had been torn up. Luckily, the Rift Rider had remained unharmed but the rest of the shop was in ruins. Keira had demanded to know what had happened from the other mechanics. They were mum except for Duran. He explained that the stadium was under Krew's "protection." If a mechanic wanted to make sure that nothing happened to their garage they had to pay Krew a fee to keep their place safe. Keira had been furious but agreed if only to keep her shop from being attacked.
Thus she was one of Krew's many "clients" and she hated being in his pocket.
"Do you want me to send them away?" Duran asked.
Keira shook her head. "I'll take care of it. You should probably go back so you won't get in trouble," she said.
Duran smiled. "It's no problem. I just wanted to help." The dark-haired man ran off into the stadium.
She watched him for a few moments before ducking back behind the curtain. She preferred the cool anonymity offered by the cloth, particularly in the face of men like the ones who worked for Krew.
After a moment or two, she heard a masculine voice. "Er . . . hello, Krew said someone was looking for a race driver?"
Keira turned to see the newcomers. Through the curtain she could discern a male and a female figure. She was curious because Krew never hired women as bruisers. "I'm busy right now," she said. "You two must be Krew's new errand boys. Look, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm not interested in any new race drivers." That was a lie, but she sure as hell didn't have to use Krew's men. "And I've got work to do."
"Is there anything we can do?" the male asked.
This was new and different. Most of the time Krew's men would snap back at her and the whole thing would degenerate into a shouting match. "No. It's a secret . . . a top secret . . . vehicle project . . . thingy," Keira said.
"Okay, sorry," the man said. The woman raised her hand but the man elbowed her and she stopped.
Keira sighed. She really had no excuse being rude when this guy was so polite. "Listen, if you think you've got the guts to race in this town that my prototype Jet-Board over there. If you can beat the Stadium challenge I might consider using you on the racing team."
"Thanks," the man said. He picked up the board and walked out of her shop, the woman trailing behind him.
Keira turned back to the Rift Rider. That guy had reminded her of someone but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Was it wise to let a stranger use the Jet-board when she hadn't finished testing it yet? Back in Sandover she would never let anyone touch anything until she was through with it.
She smiled, remembering all the times she tried to use her inventions to win either Jak's or her father's approval. Daxter had always given her attention so she had never had to do anything special to get it. That was something she appreciated although she would never admit it.
After Daxter's accident, Keira had been preparing a heat shield for the journey across the volcanic road. While she was tinkering with that, she had also refurbished an old prototype zoomer in hopes of impressing Jak.
One bright morning she had finished and called everyone together for a meeting in Samos's hut. She had hidden her surprise under a bright tarp. The others looked at it with curiosity, much to her pleasure. With barely concealed excitement she said, "Since you guys have been running around getting Power Cells, I thought I'd make things a little easier."
Keira whipped the cover off revealing a beautiful machine. "See Jak, I built you a new zoomer, made especially for two." She batted her eyelashes.
Jak beamed. His greedy fingers stroked the shiny finish.
Daxter nodded her approval.
"Want to take it for a test drive?" Keira asked. She leaned against the side of the vehicle, striking a pose.
Jak nodded and turned to Daxter. He held out his hand. Daxter stared at him like he had grown another head.
"What, you think you can take me on another of your crazy adventures? Look what happened to me last time!" Daxter protested, planting her hands on her hips.
Jak then unleashed the most dangerous weapon in his arsenal, his pout.
"Ah, don't, no. Damn it, Jak. Fine, but if you get us killed, I'll kill ya," she said.
Jak mounted the vehicle, waiting for his companion to climb on behind him. Daxter sighed and adjusted her hands around Jak's middle. She looked over at Keira. "You know what this thing needs? Seatbelts. Great big—Aaaahhh!"
Jak pressed the gas and the zoomer shot forward. It sped away carrying its two erstwhile passengers to new territory.
Keira watched the two of them go, her chest tightening. That was not how that was supposed to go. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "Daddy, do you think it's wise leaving Jak alone with a girl?"
Samos gave her a wry grin. "You had wanted to go and you're a girl, Keira."
Keira stamped her foot, acting like a willful child and she did not care. "That's different, Daddy!"
Old Samos just chuckled. "It's not as if Daxter's a real girl anyway."
He was right, but Keira knew that didn't matter. For Keira it was the first sign of what she had always suspected, that given a choice between her and Daxter, Jak would always chose Daxter. Although her doubts started then, she only officially admitted it to herself about fourteen months into her stay at Haven City.
The admission didn't sadden her as much as she thought it would, time and distance had dampened her crush but not her concern. Jak was her friend and she was worried. She had talked to clients and spectators, hoping to hear something. But the name "Jak" fell on deaf ears. She learned more than she ever wanted to know about Haven City's inner workings but nothing about the others from Sandover. Keira hoped that wherever Jak was that Daxter was with him. Being mute in Haven City was a detriment and Jak would need a voice and a friend.
She sighed and pulled on a welding helmet. "Come back soon, guys," she mumbled and picked up her torch.
"What crawled up her ass and died?" Daxter asked. The twosome had just finished talking to Krew's "client" and she had not been very friendly.
"Krew," Jak replied.
Daxter shrugged. "Yeah, tons of fun isn't my idea of a good pal, either," she said. She glanced over at their newly acquired Jet-board. "So are we test-driving this thing?"
They entered an arena in the stadium designed like a skate park. On one side was a bulletin board with a point challenge. Tricks were rated according to points and then tabulated for an overall score. Daxter felt confident that they could beat it.
"No, I am," Jak said.
The redhead pouted. "How come you get to do all the cool stuff?" she asked.
Jak grinned. "'Cause I'm the hero." He took off on the board for the arena. The blond warrior jumped, twisted and flipped with amazing grace. Daxter watched from the side, clapping her hands with each trick.
Jak did a few practice runs before doing an official trial. Daxter's prediction came true and Jak easily beat the score. When he came back to the sidelines and dismounted, Daxter snatched the Jet-board.
"Now it's my turn." Before Jak could protest, Daxter sailed out onto the course and immediately fell on her ass. Not everyone was as uber-athletic as Jak and balance was going to be a problem. Jak started to rush out onto the course but Daxter held up a hand. "I've got it, big guy." She got to her feet and tried again. This time was much easier. She did a few practice swoops around the arena getting a feel for the Jet-board. "This is pretty sweet, Jak!" Daxter called out.
"Are you going to do anything or are you just playing with it?" Jak taunted.
Daxter responded with a rude gesture and a grin. She risked trying a few turns and flips, clinging too hard to the Jet-board to stay on. She did pretty well although none of her tricks were nearly as spectacular as Jak's. She looked up at the scoreboard and was surprised to see that she had also beaten the goal number. "Yes! The Ottsel strikes again. Grr," she said.
Jak shook his head and pulled her into a one-armed hug. He plucked the Jet-board from Daxter with his free hand. "Hey! I'm not done with that!" Daxter protested.
"We've got a mission, remember?" Jak asked.
"Yeah, yeah," Daxter muttered.
The two of them headed back for the workshop. "Did she remind you of anyone?" Jak asked after a moment.
Daxter walked faster to keep pace with the long legged blond. "No, why?"
Jak shrugged. "No reason."
Keira had just finished her welding when she heard footsteps approach the workshop. She looked up at the electronic tally-board and was surprised to see that both of them had beaten the challenge. Despite herself, she was impressed.
"We're back," the man said.
And she wasn't happy about it. Keira thought that maybe she could stall them until they lost interest. She said, "Yeah, well anyone can get lucky. I have work to do so why don't you go beat some people up or whatever it is you do for Krew. I'm on a deadline."
"Are you always this difficult?" the man said.
She saw the female figure twitch and for the first time, she spoke. "Let me handle this. Lady, we beat your stupid challenge. The least you can do is stop being a rude little—"
Keira perked up. That voice sounded so familiar. Could it be? "Daxter?" she called out.
"And we don't—" The woman paused in mid-tirade. "Yeah?"
Keira pushed the green curtain aside. Although time had taken its toll, she could recognize the faces of Jak and Daxter. She cried out with joy and pulled the startled twosome into a hug. "Daxter, it is you! I was starting to think I'd never see you guys again!"
"Keira?" Daxter asked. The redhead had found herself squished between the mechanic's soft body and Jak's hard muscles and she liked it! She tried to hide the leer on her face. Yes, she had missed Keira and was glad to see her but this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and she was going to enjoy every second of it.
Keira pulled back to look the two of them over. Daxter had definitely grown up in her time away but she still had the bucktooth smile. Jak on the other hand seemed very different. His face had filled out, becoming harder and more chiseled. His hair was long and he had a scruffy goatee on his chin. Jak had also grown more muscular.
She felt lame saying it, but it was all she could think of. "Jak, you've changed."
"It's been a rough ride," he said. That was an understatement.
Daxter took it upon herself to clarify, casually leaning against Jak. "The Baron pumped old Jakkie boy here full of Dark Eco. Nasty stuff. Good for the hero gig, not so good on the temper. So now we're doing the whole rampaging revenge thing. Not too lucrative but it's personally satisfying." She made a face and pinched her thumb and forefingers together, drawing them from her chin to pantomime a goatee.
Keira smirked. Apparently Daxter shared her negative opinion on the facial hair. She asked, "How long?"
"Two years, just busted him out yesterday," Daxter said.
Keira was shocked. She wasn't the only one dealing with Haven City alone. But she was still suspicious about a certain Underworld figure and what Jak and Daxter were doing with him. "So why are you working for Krew?"
Daxter floundered, waving her hands around. "We're not. Sort of, not really."
"We're trying to get information about the Baron. We're really working for the Underground," Jak explained.
That was easier to accept and made more sense from what Keira knew about the two of them. She still had to be honest about her feelings. "Okay, but I'm not happy about it," Keira said.
"Trust me, neither are we," Daxter muttered.
That put a smile on Keira's face. Precursors, she had missed them. "We've got so much to catch up on," she said.
"Well, what are you doing tonight, sweetcheeks? Jak and I are going to be at the Hip Hog," Daxter said. She wrapped an arm around Keira's shoulder. "I've got an in with one of the waitresses there. Free booze, babe." Daxter winked.
Although Keira paid Krew for protection she had never actually gone to his headquarters/bar. She shook her head and pushed Daxter off. "Not tonight, I've got to finish tuning up this zoomer for Erol," she said.
All the emotion drained from Jak's face. Daxter looked nervous and there was something that Keira couldn't identify in her eyes. Keira felt something in her stomach twist and became very frightened.
Daxter grabbed Keira's forearm and led her away from the fuming Jak. "Listen babe, Erol and Jak have some history. Bad stuff; don't want to go there. But you might want to be careful around him. Erol's bad news," Daxter said.
"How bad news?" Keira asked.
Daxter opened her mouth and then closed it, uncertain what to say. She gazed down at her feet for a moment before looking up at the mechanic. "Just trust me on this, okay?" she asked.
Keira had never seen Daxter like this and she didn't like it. Erol had been a lucrative client, but she had enough business that she could afford to let him go. Besides, these were her friends and even though the two years had changed them all, she still trusted them. "Okay, I'll fix the zoomer and tell him to find another mechanic," Keira said.
Daxter beamed in relief. "Thanks, sweetcheeks," she said and kissed Keira's cheek.
Keira playfully swatted Daxter's head and the redhead rubbed the sore spot, a fake pout on her lips.
They went back over to Jak who looked as though he had calmed down a little.
The mechanic cleared her throat. "You guys should come in early tomorrow for practice. There's a Class Three race at 11:00," she said.
"And we care why?" Daxter asked.
Keira put a hand on her hip. "Well you said that Krew wanted you to race and if you win the Class One Race you get a tour of the Palace. But to get there you have to win the lower division races," she said.
Understanding dawned on Jak's face. "And the Baron's at the Palace."
"Exactly," Keira said.
Daxter smirked. "Keira baby, has anyone told you you're a genius lately? 'Cause you are."
"We'd better get going. It was good to see you, Keira," Jak said.
"Good to see you too. Have you heard anything about Daddy?" Keira asked.
Jak and Daxter shared a look. "We thought he was with you," Jak said.
Keira shook her head. There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment. "We'll find him," Jak said.
"We know people in the Underground and the Underworld. We'll spread the word. See if Old Green Stuff's popped up anywhere," Daxter reassured.
"Thank you," Keira said.
Jak and Daxter nodded and left the stadium. Keira waved after them, sad to see them go.
She headed for her curtain when she heard a hesitant knock on the outside of her workshop. "Come in."
Duran poked his head in, a basket in his hand.
Keira's stomach growled. When was the last time she had eaten? "I forgot again," she said.
"Are you all right?" Duran asked, referring to the strangers. His eyebrows were furrowed together in concern, giving him the appearance of a worried puppy.
"Don't worry, they're old friends of mine," Keira said.
"From before?" Duran had heard stories about Keira's life in Sandover. She hadn't given him too many details but he felt that he knew enough. If the two strangers were from Sandover, then they had to be safe.
Keira nodded.
"Okay." Duran set the basket on the workbench and turned to go.
"Hey," Keira said, realizing she didn't want to be alone. "Do you want to share it with me?"
Duran beamed and started to set a table.
A/N
This is going to be a billion years long; I can foresee this. This is already longer than the longest fanfic I've ever written (The Devil Went Up to Canada for the BNL fandom) and it's longer than the full-length screenplays that I've written. I'm either a devoted fan or completely nuts. I haven't determined which yet. And why does this site hate my attempts at paragraph breaks? Why?
