A/N: Thanks for reviews. Quick update between films ("The Departed" – ****ing BRILLIANT – and "(500) Days of Summer", not yet seen). Read, review, enjoy, correct...etc. :D ~ Mika

Sig took off back to Sandover, pushing the speedometer as high as it would go and then some. Attacking approaching Marauders with the rotating gun on his buggy as he went, he soon found himself at what he now thought of as Jak's house. He used to think of it in terms of Jakuelynn's house, but considering the young woman had not lived there for a full Season, that reference had long since faded. He checked the time. It wasn't too late in the day, and the sooner he told Jak about finding Jakuelynn alive and well, the better.

There was also Saldam to consider. Sig had seen, if not heard, the exchange between the warrioress and the Eco Sage; instinctively, he knew what that exchange had been, or will be about. As he parked the buggy, he wondered if he should tell Jak about Saldam. Considering the way Saldam had left Jak, however, Sig concluded that it would be wise that Saldam tell Jak himself, should the two meet, rather than have Jak be told through a secondary source.

"Sig," a rough voice croaked behind him, a door gently shutting. He felt the younger man's expectation of disappointment wrap its arms around his neck like a persuasive lover. He won't be disappointed this time, Sig thought, turning to see Jak simply standing there. "Anything...anything at all?" His voice was empty, colourless; devoid of expression, as if the negativity that came from Sig's mouth was now inevitable.

"I've found her, Jak." Sig stopped completely as the younger man's jaw dropped. "She's alive; she's safe. Sa-someone found her. She's with Seem and Eraux Ghosten."

"Eraux Ghosten?" Jak scratched his head. "Didn't he die or go missing almost thirty years back?" And why does that name sound familiar?

"Evidently, those damn Marauders or Metal Heads didn't find him 'cause he's alive. Wouldn't be if those things found him,"

Jak nodded in agreement. "So she's safe?"

"She's angry, hurt, upset...but she's alive, Chilli. You got nothin' to worry about." Sig watched the younger man as he calmed himself, the Dark Eco retreating from the fore of his body. Anger was replaced by hurt, and his body clearly and vividly spoke of his anguish more than his mouth ever could. I miss her.

"Sh-she was allowed to keep her Morph Gun for all this time, right?" Jak asked quietly, brokenly.

"Uh huh. She is gonna need some backup out there, though," Sig added, hoping the younger veteran would pick up on the hint bubbling under. The subsequent glint in his eyes confirmed that he did.

"Backup, you say?" he asked, a grin playing about his lips. "That sounds like an invitation,"

"An invitation? To a party?" Daxter suddenly piped up. His eyes widened in the moonlight as he padded out towards the men, his footsteps at odd with his voice. "Will there be hot girls there? You know how I like the laydeez." His eyes half-closed in bliss. "Ahh, the ladies..."

"The only ladies there are gonna be Metal Heads, Dax," Jak chuckled, shattering Daxter's illusion. He shuddered, but hopped onto his well-worn spot on Jak's shoulder. "Is Rufas going to be okay?"

"Ahhh, he'll be fine. Tess'll look after him. She's good with babies," Daxter replied cockily. Just then, a loud roar of "DAAXTERRRRRR!" shook the whole house and surrounding five miles, setting off car alarms and waking Rufas up. "Uhh...I think we'd better go. Rather face a bunch o' Metal Heads than her when she's angry."

Jak chuckled just as his communicator flashed. "Ah...hang on a sec. I'm being called. Yes, Rhogan?"

"Jak, do you have a minute? I have to see you."

The veteran twisted his mouth. "Is it important?"

"Extremely. We've had some new information, Jak, and I have to tell you in person. Alone. Who knows who's listening?"

"I'll be there as soon as possible," Jak promised, clicking off. He saw the look on Sig's face and raised his silver-streaked eyebrows in response. "I'll be back as soon as possible." He took off towards Sandover City HQ, his heart weighing a ton in his stomach, knowing inevitably what was going to come back the second he laid eyes on the younger man.

~x~

Saldam headed behind the cave, but Jakuelynn stopped.

"No. I'm not going too far from the cave." She stood her ground, arching an eyebrow.

"If you insist," Saldam said evenly, seeing her point. Her guard was so high it couldn't be climbed over to reach her. He had a feeling that putting her guard up high was in her nature; that it was only exacerbated by losing Deimin several months ago. He took a deep, calming breath beneath the cloth covering his mouth, the mild wind covering the sound.

"So, what was it you wanted to tell me?" Jakuelynn said, her voice steely.

"It's...it may affect you. Emotionally..." Saldam's words failed him and he could only gesture.

"Just...spit it out, Saldam," Jakuelynn said abruptly. She was tired and ached all over. More to the point, she missed her little family like mad, but Day worse, as always. Almost a year had gone since he'd died but the pain had not eased with time. In fact, it seemed to have exacerbated in the six weeks since she'd met his father.

"I don't know where to start," Saldam said quietly, almost to himself. He closed his eyes and concentrated for what felt like a long time, almost swaying on the spot. Finally, he opened his eyes and began writing something in the air between himself and Jakuelynn. He finished the last word and dropped his hand, the words he was writing – his name – shimmering in the air. Jakuelynn looked at him, confused.

"Saldam, I d-don't understand..."

"Touch the apostrophe and the "L"," Saldam instructed her gently. She did, jerking her hand back as they disappeared. The name now read:

SA DAM AR AIGHAM

I still don't get it, Jakuelynn thought, but then he rearranged the shimmering, light-blue words in the air without a word, his eyes vacant, staring at nothing. When he finished, the new words the letters formed made Jakuelynn's heart stop and her throat close up. She felt dizzy and suddenly heavy, her breathing wheezing. Her knees bent and she leaned against the rock to stop herself collapsing to the sand.

"No!" she wheezed. "It can't be true."

"I'm sorry. Y...You...I wasn't sure whether to tell you now or later...but..." The man's voice faltered and failed as he stared at the shimmering, electric-blue words in the air. The words revealed whom he really was; his birthright; his heritage.

DAMAS MAR HAGAI