A/N:

So many mysteries, so little time.

A lot had happened in the month of November; I was involved in a hit-and-run accident resulting in a hospital trip and the death of my beloved car. My grandfather's passing, just after Thanksgiving. Not being able to find a comfortable place in the post-college job search world. I am having a rough time adjusting to this in-between stage of a chapter in my life ending and a new one just beginning.

So, while I wait for this transition, I will focus on this new chapter instead. I poured a bit of my personal struggle into Jak's current struggle, and I am eager to share it with you all.

Again, I appreciate the support and love from my readers, and today I encourage you to do something nice for someone else. Pay it forward, and good things will come your way.

JDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJ

Jak.

You know something?

I have always wanted to fly.

Seriously. No joke.

When I was a little kid, I remember reading some illustrated book. I didn't know any of the words, but I remember the pictures very clearly. The story was about a young man who had been in some kind of accident in a science laboratory. The accident resulted in him having abilities people only dreamed of having; he could shoot laser beams out of his hands, turn invisible, and best of all...he could fly. This guy ended up choosing to fight crime and protect his home and city from danger. I wanted to be just like him.

He would effortlessly fly in the sky, fists out in front of him, not a care in the world. The artist who drew him created scenes where the guy would take night flights and have alone time to himself. He would have deep inner thoughts while he would float across the sky. In some pictures, his eyes were closed as he flew, and he had a small smile on his face, as if he lived for this secret he shared with himself. Like flying was the best feeling in the whole damn world, and no one could take that away from him.

How badly I wanted to have that.

I was always distracted while training with Sparxon Castello the past couple days. I felt bad because he was working so hard to prepare for another battle with the Dark Makers headed our way, and I was just lazily getting my ass kicked. I couldn't help but be distracted, though; all I could think about was when I'd visit Daxter, or if he'd ever get to meet his nephew. Or if he'd ever have kids of his own-

"-Jak!" Sparxon was shaking my shoulders, yanking me out of my thoughts. "Do you want to die?"

I made a face at him and signed "What?". I was lucky he knew sign language, otherwise this friendship would have been much more difficult to develop.

He squinted his emerald green eyes at me. "You're so unfocused. I need you to be ready for this. Remember the last fight?"

I rolled my eyes. Of course I remembered. I was working the turrets and shooting the fuck out of Dark Makers coming from the ocean. They attacked from the sea every time, because they knew that was our weakest side. It was the only advantage they had on us. And it was my fault they made it to the sand. I was too distracted by my thoughts, by my current state of mind, and I didn't even try. I lazily shot bullets and didn't pay attention to where their weak spots were. I wasted precious ammo and precious time.

Sparxon had snapped me out of it- okay, he punched me in the face. I wasn't mad at him for it. How could I blame him for needing help I could provide but wouldn't? In fact, I was happy he punched my lights out. I respected him for it. He gave me a piece of his mind, he told me how much he looked up to me as a warrior, but he wouldn't let me fail because of my inner struggles. He told me to wake the fuck up before everyone around me died. So I did.

I bobbed my head up and down, answering his question. I signed that I wanted to go one more time, for real this round.

"Okay. Okay." He nodded, sounding relieved. "I don't want to lose you again." He released my shoulders, rubbing his dark haired head. "Hand-to-hand combat this time."

I understood he meant mentally, he didn't want to lose me again. I'd been taking these little trips out of my mind and into my subconscious, physically doing day by day activities but never quite present. Sparxon hated it when I did that. The first day him and I spent on a mission for Damas, we got into a serious physical altercation. Back then I thought he was just angry I wasn't a good partner, that I was careless with whomever I dragged around. But then I realized he had respect for me, that he cared about me even though we didn't know each other well. Over the past three weeks, I had begun to realize how deep his concern for me really went, and we had developed a serious camaraderie. He reminded me a lot of Daxter, and I took to him very quickly. Sparxon didn't take shit from anyone, and he had my back. He also loved the hell out of Nica, and I loved seeing them together, as much as it made me miss Darla.

As Sparxon and I sparred, I couldn't help my mind wandering to negative places yet again. I didn't let it stop me from fighting hard, but it still lingered like a black cloud waiting to attack me with emotions. I couldn't stop thinking about Daxter. He started to look better on the outside, which I was grateful for. I hated that every time I would visit him, I felt like there was a stranger lying in that bed, like Daxter wasn't really there. God, I hated that. I hated seeing him like that. I hated seeing him and thinking of him not waking up ever again. I hated thinking...how could I live in a world, rescue a world where he didn't exist?

Sparxon had me on my back. We were panting and his brows were low, a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, then reached down to pull me up. I grunted as he pulled my arm and brushed myself off.

"That was better." He said through gasps. "But you're still dead."

I gave him the finger and he laughed. I signed "Beer, on me" and he agreed, clapping his palm on my shoulder.

As we left the training arena, the two of us both kept a sharp eye out for any Dark Makers. They had been sprouting up in random parts of Spargus ever since our first fight with them, each wave bigger than the last. But Spargus civilians were nothing like Haven's people; these desert warriors knew how to take care of themselves. Women and men were armed and ready to fight every second of every day. Children didn't even hide, as much as their parents tried to keep them inside. They were brave in the face of danger, brave against these monsters. Everyone was brave.

Sparxon and I sat in our usual booth at the bar in town. I ordered the most expensive ale- we earned it. Sparxon protested at first, but I gave him a look that told him to shut the hell up and let me do what I wanted.

He sipped his beer when it arrived, and clanked it down onto the table, making me jump slightly. "Listen, Jak. I don't want to come off as an asshole. But I think you should send a letter to Darla. Update her on what's going on. I could even ask Vaughn or Dumont to take it before they head back to Haven."

"You're not being an asshole." I signed. "You're right. I will. I will give it to Helena."

"Good." Sparxon stared at his beer solemnly and tapped the rim of his glass.

I pat the table to get him to look at me. His green eyes darted up. I signed "Thank you".

"It's really nothing, Jak." He responded, shrugging. "It's an honor to be fighting by your side, though I wish it were under better circumstances."

I shook my head. "I mean thank you for being more than just a partner," I signed, "You are a true friend. I have a lot of respect for you. You've been..." I paused signing for a moment so I could think of what I wanted to say. "...good for me. You keep me from spiraling."

Sparxon's face flushed red and he nodded. "Yeah. Of course. No problem, I mean." He ran a hand through his brown locks. "You're a good friend to me too." I made a face at him and he laughed. "No, really. You can't help how you feel, and I don't blame you for that. Before we met, I thought you were indestructible, this fighter who no one stood a chance against." He shrugged. "And you are...but you are also a person. A real person who loves and hates, just like the rest of us."

I was touched by his words. People normally didn't understand any of it. I didn't care that they didn't understand, but when that rare person came along who did, it meant the world to me. Sparxon was one of those people.

My communicator erupted in my pocket, and I yanked it out. I clicked the button on and Sparxon answered for me.

"Jak!" I heard Seem shout through the speaker, "Jak, please help us, Errol is attacking the Monk Temple, he wants the secret we have kept concerning the Dark Makers. Please hurry, if he finds what he seeks, it could undo this world!"

Sparxon and I looked at each other and simultaneously stood. He knew this was our chance...my chance to fight Errol again. Sparxon knew how desperately I needed to avenge my comatose brother. He knew any chance I had to kill Errol needed to be taken.

"We're coming now!" He said with determination set in his eyes.

JDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJ

Sparxon and I managed to fight our way through the temple and reach the oracle room where I had first received my light eco abilities. Seem was on an upper level somewhere on the opposite side of this location, and the closest we managed to get was to the oracle before we needed to think of a plan.

"Well, now what damnit?!" Sparxon spat, his hands on his knees while he tried to recover from our run. "This looks like a dead end." He did a double-take when he saw the enormous oracle statue. "What the hell is this goober-eyed thing?"

I chuckled through gasps. Daxter and him might as well have been brothers. I straightened up and gestured to the oracle, signing to Sparxon what it was and what it could do. I went over to the platform I usually stepped on when the oracle requested I approach it, and began signing how I got my light powers. But I was interrupted and startled by the boom of the oracle's voice.

"Once again, you stand before me, brave one," It spoke. Sparxon stumbled back and I barely had time to react before a beam of light eco swallowed my entire body, warming me in a familiar way. "And once again, your heroism shall be rewarded. I give you a new light power, one which will help you reach new places. Places only in your dreams..."

I closed my eyes, mentally preparing myself for whatever "gift" the Precursors were granting this time. The tingling feelings spread from my head to my toes as usual, a comforting sensation that made me feel everything was right in the world.

That was until I felt an electric shock of pain coming from my shoulder blades. I cried out from surprise, feeling my dark eco react to the sudden intensity bubble up in my veins. My darker half was mad...but I had to suppress him if I wanted to absorb this light eco ability. I pushed him away, embracing the weird little electric shocks that continued to lap my back. Eventually the pain stopped and I fell to the floor, the light eco beam vanishing as if it were never there to begin with.

"Jak," I heard Sparxon's quiet voice echo from behind, "Holy shit, Jak..."

I looked down at my iridescent blue hands, rolling my shoulder blades and relaxing my muscles. I stretched my back, suddenly aware of a new muscle that had been shifting where my shoulder blades were. I blinked my eyes in confusion, trying to clear the white film that typically covered them whenever I first changed into this form. It was a strange feeling, having a muscle you weren't aware of before...I glanced over my shoulder and inhaled sharply when I saw what was there.

Wings.

Beautiful, blue, iridescent, ethereal wings that protruded from my back like something out of that book I read as a child. They were magnificent, angelic and gifts from the Precursors themselves. I reached over my shoulder and hesitantly touched one of the tendrils. It was the softest thing I had ever felt; smooth and silky like a feather, but strong to the touch, like it was made of something that couldn't be damaged or broken. They were perfect, and it was the second greatest gift I had ever received, the first being my own son.

I pushed the light eco down into my soul, watching the glow from my skin fade back to the tan I had from the Spargus sun, the film over my eyes dissipating. I held onto the sensation in my back, keeping my wings from receding into my shoulder blades. I wanted to see them through my normal eyes.

"I wish I started coming with you on trips a long time ago, man." Sparxon slowly approached me, staring at the intricate shape of my wings. "It's never a dull moment."

I grinned at him and hunched my shoulders, trying to get my wings to flap. They folded behind me, then open wide. I shifted my shoulders again, trying to get more movement, but I felt weak. I breathed in and out, allowing light eco to drown out whatever dark was still flowing, and with a surge of energy, my wings thrusted hard and I shot up into the air.

I soared upward, feeling a slight breeze in the mustiness of the temple. I inhaled it deeply, closing my eyes and spiraling downward back to the floor. Sparxon was laughing, and I dive-bombed in his direction, causing him to duck before I flew back upward. Flying really was the best feeling in the whole damn world; this power, these wings...they were mine. And no one could take that away from me. It felt like something inside me had awoken, and there was no turning back now.

I floated back down, my feet scampering across the floor as I slowed to a stop. I rolled my shoulders and stretched my arms, walking up to Sparxon.

"Come on," I signed, "I know how to get to Seem."

Sparxon stared at me incredulously. "I don't like where this is going."

I hooked my arm around his waist and moved his arm around my neck. I squared my shoulders and the two of us both bent our knees and jumped up. I flapped my wings and propelled us upward, the extra weight throwing me off balance a bit. I took it slowly, Sparxon and I gripping each other anxiously, but I gained momentum the more I flapped my wings. I was much stronger than I thought I was...that was something I thought about often. How, yes, I was a person just like any other. But the things I had done and seen and felt and gone through- it showed how incredibly strong I really was. Even if I didn't always feel strong.

Sparxon was laughing hysterically. I couldn't help the grin on my face as we headed in the direction of Seem's location; his laughter was contagious, and it reminded me that this was the first and possibly only time Sparxon would ever get to really fly. He was timid at first, but I could tell that it was so exciting for him and that he wanted to enjoy it while the moment lasted.

I saw Seem on a landing across the way, several meters from our position. My smile fell when I saw that he was alone. Not that I wanted him in any danger but...I had expected to find Errol. I expected this to be my chance to hinder his plans with the Dark Makers. I thought it would be my moment to exact revenge on him for what he did to my brother.

My stomach flipped as I swooped down to the landing and I made wider strokes with my wings in order to land us gently onto the platform. Sparxon and I released each other and he held his head panting.

"That was the coolest shit ever." He said quietly.

Seem turned to us, a look of disappointment on his face. I shifted my shoulders and allowed my wings to disappear into my skin and approached the monk. He shook his head, and I didn't know if he was disappointed in the situation or in me.

"You are too late." He said, clasping his hands behind his back. "Errol has learned how to connect with the Dark Maker ship." Seem pointed up at the violet Day Star in the sky.

Sparxon came up next to me and crossed his arms. "The Day Star is the Dark Maker ship?!" Him and I glanced at each other in surprise.

My entire life I thought the Day Star was just a star in space, just like the sun. My whole life, I would look up at the sky at its beautiful purple glow, thinking of how amazing it was, believing it was something natural in our sky. But all this time...it had been the Precursor's- and our planet's- worst enemy.

Seem nodded solemnly. "If he can awaken its terrible cargo, he will unleash horrors beyond our deepest nightmares." He reached into a pack that was around his shoulder. He then pulled out a familiar Precursor artifact. "Not all is lost. I hid the most important artifact from Errol...take the Time Map." He handed the spherical shaped orb to me, placing it gently in my hands.

"I was wrong about you." Seem continued, his eyes shifting to the side. "You have the balance needed to save us all."

Sparxon lifted an eyebrow and bent down to Seem's level. "Out of all the rubber wearing, completely freaky, beyond bizarre, paint-faced, super weird monks we've met...you're all right."

Seem ignored his comment and looked directly at me. "I have now seen the truth, and I am at peace. At least I was granted the gift of seeing the face of my creators." He glanced between Sparxon and I. "Where is Orange Lightning, by the way?"

I frowned, but Sparxon stepped in. "He...had an accident. Errol's fault. That's all you need to know."

Seem pressed his palms together, closing his eyes in silent prayer. "Please, thank him for me."

"Ah...okay." Sparxon glanced at me, wide-eyed, and I shrugged. Monk Boy was always whacky and never made any sense.

Seem gestured toward a deactivated warp gate in the corner. "I will get this up and running so that you may return to King Damas." He nodded at me. "Constant vigilance, hero."

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Darla.

Dark Makers were no picnic, by any means.

I had foreseen the day they would attack Haven City, but I hadn't expected to be living at ground zero. Looking out the apartment building door with my month old son in my arms, I watched as a Freedom Fighter had his limbs torn from his sockets, the Dark Maker parading around with them as trophies. I called Tess immediately- I couldn't sit and watch people die right outside my home. I needed someone to watch Sparky while I rejoined the war and took back my rightful place as a medic.

I left Sparky with Tess at her and Daxter's apartment over the Naughty Ottsel, and kissed him goodbye at least fifty times. I kissed Tess goodbye just as much- the fact that I was placing my son in her care made me realize how much I trusted and loved her. I knew she would take good care of him while I was gone. His indigo eyes stared up at me while I pet his blonde curls, and it made me want to stay. But I knew what I was meant to do, born to do. Everything was how it was supposed to be right at this moment.

I met up with Torn near where the agricultural section used to be. Jinx was there too, for some reason, but I didn't question whatever Torn's plans were. I had geared up with a couple of gun mods, several red eco grenades and took two shots of vodka behind the bar so that I was fully prepared for whatever Torn needed me to do. I hooked my weapons to the belt around my cargo pants; tugged on my sturdiest boots and fingerless gloves; slid my favorite bulletproof leather jacket over my sports bra and went on my way. I traveled light, but mostly because I knew I could rely on my dark eco abilities if it came down to it.

As I approached the boys, Jinx gave me a once over and whistled. "Hey there, hot stuff. You look ready for action." He waggled his eyebrows at his own "action" pun.

I rolled my eyes and smirked. "I've been using the weight room at HQ so I'd be back to my old self in time to kick ass."

"It's a good thing too, because 'kicking ass' is exactly what you're here for." Torn said, his voice low. His eyes looked sunken in like he hadn't eaten in days.

I lifted my eyebrows. "I'm not here as a combat medic?"

Torn shook his head. "You, Jinx and I are doing this mission together. Get your guns out; you're gonna need them."

My heart began thudding in my chest. It was exciting- I always liked being the frontline. Destroying enemies while protecting those behind me...it was an adrenaline rush. But back when I was a combat medic and Fighter, I didn't have a child. Now I did, and he needed both of his parents alive and out of danger. If something happened to me on this mission, who would take my place as a parental figure?

My mind whirled. Jak and I would need to figure that out eventually. Sparky having both his parents fighting for the world constantly...it was a discussion we needed to have, whenever Jak came home.

But for now, my decision was made. I knew I lived long past this day, so there was no reason for me to tell Torn no. "What's the plan?" I asked confidently.

"Torn here says that Precursor pillar that Jak rose from the lake in Haven Forest has an Astro-Viewer he's used to access the Dark Maker ship," Jinx said, tossing his cigar to the ground and snuffing it out with his boot. "We know he's going to need to use it again, but it looks like the forest has become a home base for the Dark Makers."

"It's necessary to clear out the area for when Jak gets back." Torn said, nodding toward the four-seater zoomer. "That's what we're here to do."

Jinx and I followed him to the vehicle and I slid into the front passenger seat. I ran a hand through my blonde curls and pulled my gun out of the belt. "I'm totally down for this," I said, "But how come we don't just send a couple of Fighters in to do the job?"

Jinx moved into the backseat and Torn started up the zoomer. He shifted into a higher hover zone, then started in the direction of Haven Forest. "The Freedom League fights solely for survival of the city. They only know what they are told, and that we handle anything related to saving the world as a whole." He began to speed up, his face wrinkling in thought. "So the less people know about the Astro-Viewer, the better. Besides, we can handle a few Dark Makers, can't we?"

I blew out a breath. "I can definitely be happy with taking out those fuckers. After watching them kill a Fighter this morning...in front of my child, no less...revenge is necessary."

"The Precursors will be proud of our efforts." Jinx said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat. "They and the Dark Makers are sworn enemies, you know."

Yes, I knew. Everyone knew. Jinx was a little slow on the uptake...but he was smart when it came to war tactics. I figured Torn had him come because of how ruthless he'd be.

We arrived at the door to Haven Forest and hopped out of the zoomer. We each readied ourselves with weapons of choice, tying boot laces and squaring our shoulders in preparation. Torn stepped up to the door to unlock it while Jinx and I aimed our guns at metalheads in the distance, in case the door took a long time. Lucky for us, it was only a moment before the gears whirred and turned, sliding the steel doors wide open for us.

"Ready?" Torn asked, looking back at us and cocking his gun.

Jinx and I ran up the ramp beside him and I gave Torn a nod. "Let's do this."

Upon entering the forest, we saw how outnumbered we really were. Dozens, maybe a hundred Dark Makers were scouting the area, making nests for themselves and marking territory by tainting all the plants with dark eco. I remembered when the area was a place of refuge- a place to be away from all the sorrow. I remember several months back when Torn had taken us here for protection from metalheads and it had been our only means of escape. Though the forest had already begun to die at the hands of dark creatures at the time, I still preferred the way it was back then to this. It didn't even look natural anymore, nothing like the forest I'd come to take comfort in. As I fought at Torn's side, I thought about how some day, I'd have it all fixed up nice. Once the city would rebuild, Haven Forest would be a place of peace again. Outside the city walls was a scary place, but Haven Forest was one of serenity, life and sanctuary.

It wasn't long before I decided to let my darker half loose. Maybe it was laziness, but using weapons felt like a waste of time and a waste of ammo when I could just use my natural abilities. The Dark Makers were much harder to kill than metalheads though, and despite all the self-training I gained from my nightly escapes, I found myself struggling to keep my stamina up.

My inner voice was shouting at me while a Dark Maker had me pinned to the dead, browning grass. She was pissing me off- I totally understood the "motivational speaking" she'd give me from time to time, if "motivational" was the right way to describe it. But she was currently talking down to me, telling me I was weak, that my boy made me weak. My love for Jak made me weak. And I knew I wasn't really mad at her, but at myself because it was my subconsciousness revealing how I truly felt. I was more than aware that her and I were one in the same, and it angered me that I was telling myself that "love" made me weak. Is that what I really believed?

"Get off me!" I growled at the Dark Maker, whose claws had begun to dig into my electric, purple-tinted skin. He gripped me by the wrists and my own claws were sliding in and out of my fingertips, trying to scratch at any part of the beast I could.

Don't you get it, Darla? My darkness hissed. You have too much on your mind and in your heart.

I will never blame love for my own inability to fight something off. I twisted my body, trying to wiggle free.

Well at least realize that when dark eco and vengeance are on your mind alone, only then will you be the strongest.

As usual, she had a point. I had a point. But vengeance would only come when I felt angry. And the only thing that made me angriest was when the people I loved were in danger.

I mustered up enough fury to fire dark eco from my palms directly into the Dark Maker's face. He fell back, finally releasing me and I did a kip-up to my feet and readied for the next attack.

How's that for vengeance? I asked my demon. Can't be pissed without something pissing you off. Love makes me strong, not weak.

I rest my case.

The boys and I fought hard, killing every Dark Maker that came our way and then some. I fended off each creature that tried to hurt Torn or Jinx, protecting them as best as I could from any harm. After what seemed like ages, only a few stragglers remained.

Torn popped bullets into their brains and at last, the forest was free of monsters. I switched back to my human form and adjusted my leather jacket, while Torn turned to Jinx and I, wiping sweat off his forehead.

"I'll call HQ and have one of the guys send over a cleanup crew." His voice rasped as he panted. "They'll dispose of the bodies. We don't want any of these fuckers waking up."

Jinx was kicking one of the bodies repeatedly, scratching his square jaw. "I don't know if that's necessary, man, they seem pretty dead."

"We can't take any chances." I said, rubbing my sore and bruising wrists. "Not with Jak."

Jinx shrugged. "I s'pose your right."

"Let's head back to the Port." Torn slid his gun onto his back. "I'll call Dumont over in Spargus and see where Jak's at."

I sighed. Knowing I had my boy to go home to made everything feel better.

Once we arrived at the Naughty Ottsel and finished cleaning ourselves off at the sink in the kitchen, Tess was not ready to hand over my baby.

"Ohmygosh, D, he was just the most perfect angel! Other than zapping me a couple of times, of course, but that's not his fault, the poor thing." She squealed, nuzzling her cheek to Sparky's. "I absolutely adore him!"

I grinned at my friend. "He had a good babysitter." Tess reluctantly passed my wide-eyed baby boy to me. I pulled my gloves off and pocketed them, smiling down at my handsome little man. "Tell aunt Tess 'thank you'."

"OHMYGOSH AUNT TESS I LITERALLY CAN'T HANDLE IT!" Tess hopped up and down, her hands on her cheeks. "I love being an aunt!"

I laughed and leaned down to sniff my boy's head. It was so nice to see Tessie smiling again, especially after we'd received the news about Daxter's...accident. She had been so distraught over it and I didn't blame her- I loved Daxter too. He's my best friend and her beloved partner. Sparky and I had been over her apartment a lot since, and the only thing that cheered her up lately was holding my little boy.

Torn came over, wiping his hands on a dish towel, then rested a palm on Sparky's head. "I'm glad you came home to him in one piece." Torn grinned toothily at me. He removed his hand from the baby's head. "This little guy really is a miracle."

I locked eyes with my boy, and the moment it happened I was transported into a vision.

It was the same image of the tattoo on Nica's thigh- the one that said "Sparxon" on it. I noticed a magazine beside Nica and could only make out the words "Kras City" on the front page. My eyes wandered back to Nica's leg, and the colors of the Freedom League crest swirled around until the vision changed to something more sinister: my soulmate, my love...Jak on his knees in the sand, gripping the sides of his head, crying out. In pain or rage, I couldn't tell what it was. The image of him was silent, eerily silent, not a sound coming from his mouth. It disturbed me beyond belief, and I wanted so badly to reach out and touch him...

I snapped out of the vision and Tess, Torn and Jinx were all looking at me. I shook my head and adjusted the baby in my arms so that his head was on my shoulder.

"I have a question," I said, rubbing my boy's back. "Does the name 'Sparxon' ring any bells?"

"Sure," Torn said, crossing his arms skeptically. "Sparxon Castello. He's a co-commanding officer with Maichael for a Freedom League special unit. Him and a few other members usually travel between Haven and Spargus and lead other platoons in the war." He cocked his hip. "Why?"

I scrunched my face up, trying to picture the images that were related to his name. "I'm..." I began. I shook my head, slightly annoyed. "I'm not really sure. His name keeps popping up in visions lately. I feel in my gut that I know the name from somewhere, before I'd even had visions of it. But I know I'd never heard it until more recently. Maichael mentioned him once."

"He's in Spargus with Jak, maybe that's why?" Tess sat on the round table in the center of the room.

"Maybe. What's his connection to Nica?" I asked.

Torn lifted his hands. "I can't answer that. I've only spoken with her via communicator a few times since we discovered she was alive and well in Spargus City, so I don't know much about her personal life."

"I think Castello told me they were fuckin'," Jinx said, rubbing his dimpled chin. The three of stared at him and he tilted his head. "What? He tells me some things. A while back he told me they were doing the nasty."

I shook my head in disbelief at his filterless-ness. "Okay then." I turned back to Torn and Tess. "Anyway, I don't have enough information yet to know what's going on." I leaned my cheek against my son's head, closing my eyes. "But I think he and Jak may be in some kind of trouble."

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Jak.

Sparxon, Sig and I stood before the great leader of Spargus as he delivered the news we'd been dreading.

"The Dark Makers approach for another attack." The violet-eyed man paced back and forth. "Once again they ask for us to deliver pain. We will triumph again."

"Sir, are we prepared enough for another assault?" Sig asked, eyeing me out of the corner of his eye. "We've barely recovered from the last-"

"-Your job is not to question my orders, Sig." Damas stopped pacing and stood tall. "Spargus is always prepared for war. Since our city was built, everyone had been properly trained and prepped for any sort of attack. And even though this is the greatest war we've seen yet..." He paused and turned to look at me. "I have faith that we will power through and prevail. I have faith in in the survival of our world, and I have faith in Jak."

I bowed respectfully, moved by his words. Damas turned out to be everything I hoped to become someday; strong and selfless in his soul, with the abilitiy to lead others to be the same. What an honor it had been thus far to work for and with him. I truly idolized the man.

"We're ready for whatever you need us to do, King Damas." Sparxon said with a nod of his head.

"Excellent." Damas smiled broadly. "Get ready, gentlemen. A fierce storm approaches."

JDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJ

A/N:

We are nearing the end of Jak 3, but the story is not yet over. I look forward to completing this and beginning my third installment of MTLH.

Til the next chapter.

~RyJones