A Terrible Mistake
Chapter Five:
The final piece of the warp gate laid in the corner of the room under a desk. Sheaira crawled under the desk and grabbed it still grumbling, she had to make sure those lurkers weren't going to attack them. Even if it had ended up blowing up one of their only means of transport.
Sheaira's ears perked up at hearing Samos speaking with Julayla near the book case. She slowly crawled closer to hear the conversation.
"My assistant went missing months ago after going to see the Dark Eco Sages, she wanted to try and find the link between Dark Eco and Light Eco," Julayla was explaining to Samos, she pushed her glassed back up on her nose, "When the other Sages started to go missing, I knew something had to be amiss."
"The Lurkers also have become more vicious around the villages as well, the Blue Sages home was in ruins and the beaches near Sandover have nearly been overwhelmed," Samos frowned and looked over at the desk where the Red Sages work was.
"Yes, I have been concerned about that as well, a village of Lurkers who use to live nearby my lab have disappeared completely shortly after Jenniesa disappeared, it's not like them, they never wander far from their village," Julayla explained with a look of concern on her face, her light blue eyes gazed down and noticed Sheaira sitting listening to the two of them, "Ahem, can we help you Wildfire?"
"AH, uh no I just saw this piece of the warp gate!?" Sheaira yelped and held up the piece she picked up earlier. Samos' eyes sharpened at Sheaira suspiciously.
"Well then off you go," Julayla shooed Sheaira away with her staff pushing out from under the desk. Sheaira looked back once and then headed over to the bin where the rest of the pieces were. She looked outside to see John and Keira working on her mother's zoomer together. She put the last piece into the bin and quickly headed outside jumping carefully across the bridge, she really needed to tell her Dad to fix up the bridges one of these days.
"It's pretty strange how your mother managed to get one of these, are you sure she didn't build it herself?" Keira asked, she was holding onto a wrench and had her goggles on as looked at John curiously. John was wiping his oily hands on a cloth that was laying on the seat.
"Not that I know of, she has always had this," he explained he put the cloth down and folded his arms thinking to him self, "I suppose she could have built it herself…"
"I know my mum built the zoomer I have, she used to love racing," Keira spoke solemnly remembering the stories her father told her, "After Daddy found her zoomer in pieces and no sign of her he knew the worse had happened during one of the races. I wanted to rebuild it to keep her memory alive…Jak now mostly uses it." She smiled gently.
"I'm sorry for the loss of your mother Keira, did you know her well?" John asked gently reaching for the tool box and placing in on the seat of the zoomer. Keira shook her head and put the wrench down into the tool box.
"No, this happened when I was around 3 years old," she pulled up her goggles and sighed. Sheaira hopped up into the zoomer startling the two of them.
"Jeez Sheaira can't you let us know when you're there," John grumbled at his sister who folded her arms over her chest.
"It's not my fault I'm short and now covered in fur," she scratched behind her ear with her foot, "And I am overly itchy…"
Keira sighed and wiped her hands on the cloth as well, "So did you finally finish cleaning up the warp gate?"
"Yeah. Uh, do you two know anything about the Dark Eco Sages?" Sheaira asked looking back at the Lab where Julayla and Samos where still in. Keira tilted her head and gazed over the lab as well. There was a moment of silence.
"Sure, Gol and Maia Acheron where the ones studying Dark Eco," Keira spoke up and her green eyes gazed back at the Red Ottsel, "I use to see them all the time when the sages use to meet up together."
"What I don't remember this," Sheaira looked confused when she looked up at Keira and John.
"That's cause you were more interested in going adventuring with mum," John explained, "Dad and I went to the Sage meetings, we use to discuss about the uses for the Eco's, but those ended a few years ago." John began to ponder, "I wonder why…"
"Apparently the Dark Sages went missing first then this whole thing started to happen, I overheard the Light Eco Sage talking about her assistant going missing, and even a whole Lurker village disappeared recently," Sheaira explained and her brother glared at her raising an eyebrow.
"Where you eavesdropping?" John asked accusingly and Sheaira's ears fell as if she had been just caught doing something bad.
"What, uh no not on purpose at least," she responded and looked between both Keira and John who were looking down at her both crossed their arms and looked like disappointed parents, "Look I was just concerned about it, if Sages and others are going missing don't you think there's something sinister going on, I mean we were out right attacked up on Snowy Mountain by some creepy Lurkers. I'm pretty sure someone is behind all this; I was even attacked by a woman with mysterious Dark Eco powers…"
"She's got a point," Keira unfolded her arms rubbing her chin, "We should probably take extra precautions in protecting Daddy and the Light Eco Sage."
"Yeah," John nodded in agreement, "You should use the drone to get Jak and Daxter see how they are doing, Sheaira and I will head back into the lab and make some dinner."
"Sounds good," Keira nodded.
"Hey wait I can't cook anymore," Sheaira watched John start to head back to the lab and she jumped up onto his shoulder holding on tightly.
"You'd probably get fur in it, I leave cleaning duty to you," he looked up at his sister grinning at her knowing she hated doing clean up. Her shoulders and ears fell as she sighed in disappointment. At this point she'd rather cook thank clean.
"I'm going to need a bath after this," she groaned.
Meanwhile in Spider Cave Jak had just finished blasting the last Gnawing Lurker with a fireball of yellow eco. Another Power Cell fell to the ground nearby. Jak grinned looking back at Daxter who was collecting more of the Precursor Orbs.
"Good job buddy," he huffed as he climbed up Jak's back putting more of the Precursor orbs into his bag and Jak hurried over to claim the Power Cell. He scooped it up and held it up above his head victoriously.
"Alright that give us another 3 Power Cells," Daxter said as Jak handed it to him and he put it into the backpack, "Now if we could only find that last Dark Eco Crystal." Daxter sighed in annoyance, finding some of these things were very hard to find.
"Jak, Daxter? There you two are," Keira's voice came and startle both Jak and Daxter almost causing Jak to fall into the Dark eco pools, he quickly regained his footing and turned to the drone.
"Sorry I didn't mean to startle you," her voice sounded worried and Jak laughed nervously.
"You can't startle these nerves of steal baby," Daxter said flexing with confidence. Jak rolled his eyes at the ottsel, knowing that a few minutes ago he was hiding behind a rock begging Jak to kill the spider.
"Ha, sure Daxter. If you two have finished gathering up the Power cells the Red Sages children are making dinner for us," Keira responded to the boys. Jak thought for a moment, it did feel like they had been without food for a while. His stomach growled at the thought and Daxter looked down at him narrowing his eyes.
"I bet this big guy is starving," Daxter motioned to Jak and looked back at the drone, "Ya know I could go for a bite myself."
"Then we shall see you in a bit," the drone hovered off back to the entrance of the cave.
"Ya know we should probably hunt down that last Dark Eco Crystal before hand, we don't need the Lurker's getting their hands on that stuff," Daxter said crossing his arms at Jak. Jak nodded solemnly, he couldn't wait to get back to eat but they had to finish what they started.
Back at the Red Sages lab John had just finished frying the Yakcow meat and looked over at his sister scrubbing up the dishes, she had fallen in a few times being a small ottsel she wasn't able to clean them as easily. He could here her grumbling with her back turned to him.
"Hey maybe Dad will need to make a smaller sink for you," John teased his sister chuckling as he put the meat into the broth that was boiling with the veggies. The kitchen was downstairs from where the main lab was, it was an add on that their father had made to keep his family comfortable in. John knew their Dad was handy but he got distracted easily with his work.
"Oh, shut up, I'm not going to be an ottsel forever anyways!" Sheaira shot a glare towards her brother, she was soapy and wet and her hair felt very gross, she was obviously furious about her current situation.
"Why don't you go upstairs and freshen up," John said chuckling noticing she was dripping on the floor and just causing more of a mess, "I'll finish up."
"Thank the Precursors! I can't stand it anymore," her ears perked up and she jumped off the sink nearly slipping. She shook herself and water splattered everywhere. John cringed protecting the stew he was cooking.
"Okay go, get out of here, no one wants wet ottsel running around," John shooed her as she hurried up the stair to head up to their room where the bath was.
"I'm going already geez," she rolled her eyes and John huffed looking at the mess.
"I'm going to need a mop…"
As Sheaira headed up stair she saw Keira and the two sages talking, she wanted to know about what they were talking about but she really needed to get herself cleaned up. She quickly headed upstairs and into her bathroom.
While that was happening, Jak had finally found the last Dark Eco Crystal, however it was deep under water. Jak had tried to fire some Yellow Eco at it but the fire burnt out before reaching the crystal. He huffed in annoyance.
"You gotta dive in there and punch it!" Daxter motioned and hopped of Jak's shoulder.
Jak crossed his arms glaring at Daxter, "Relax buddy I'll keep watch make sure nothing sneaks up on is," he turns around and lifts his leg ready to kick something. "Hiya!"
Jak chuckled, he turned to the pool of water and took a deep breath jumping in head first, Daxter waited a moment and turned around looking a bit nervous. It felt like minutes but within a few seconds a Power cell popped out and Jak surfaced grinning as Daxter leapt for joy.
"We did it! Another Power Cell for us!" He began to dance while chanting 'We did it' over and over again. Jak shook his head, he pulled himself out of the water and grabbing the Power Cell and put it into his back pack watching Daxter. He stopped and looked up at Jak grinning.
"Right, now for a well-deserved dinner!" Daxter jumped up onto Jak's shoulder and pointed to the exit, "Let's get outta here to avoid being spider dinner."
Jak nodded and hurried out of the Spider Caves heading back to the Red Sages Lab.
In the meantime, John was trying to juggle the pot of stew along with bowls, spoons and a laddle. Keira hurried over to help him carry everything. Samos and Julayla began to clear off the desk so John could put the pot down.
"Thanks Keira," John grinned, "Sheaira's a lil small to help out with this part."
"I think you are spoiling her too much," Samos said moving the books to the floor, "She'll never learn anything if your too easy on her."
"Yeah, I know," John sighed shaking his head as he pulled of the lid of the stew and the smell wafted into the room. Keira looked into the pot and smiled.
"Smells delicious John, I didn't know you could cook," Keira smiled.
"Of course, I do Dad taught both of us when – "John was cut off as a voice called out.
"Honey, I'm home!" Daxter's voice rang out and everyone turned to the door to see the orange ottsel strut in, "Did ya miss me Babe," he grinned specifically at Keira.
"About as much as a thorn in the side," Keira rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips glaring down at Daxter. Her eyes gazed up as she saw Jak in the door way. Her expression softens as she asks, "Did you manage to find more Power Cells?"
Jak nodded and pulled off his back pack to show Keira, Daxter jumped up onto his shoulder, "Check it out baby look at all of them, we've been hard at work and worked up an appetite," Daxter sniffed the air and looked at the pot of stew.
"This great, I should only need 2 or 3 more," Keira said and Daxter looked back at Keira as his ears fell.
"What seriously?" he groaned in disappointment, he had hoped that was going to be enough to get both zoomers up and running.
"Relax, Gordy and Willard probably have the three we are looking for," Sheaira's voice came, she had appeared on the desk near the pot of food. Her red fur was shiny and she was tying her silky pink hair back with her orange and blue bandana. Daxter stared at her in awe. Jak nudged him raising his eyebrows at the orange ottsel who shook his head and glared down at his best friend.
"That's right we can get some off the two of them in the morning," John said, "Lets dig in and eat."
"How rude of you not to invite us," a voice hissed as in a poof of Dark Eco two people appeared. Everyone gasped and backed a way. Sheaira recognized the woman who floated before them as the one who attacked them in the Spider Cave.
"YOU!" she growled and then looked over at the man, his appearance was far more disheveled his skin greyed far worse than the woman. His jaw almost looked like it was falling off when he spoke. The women's yellow eyes gazed over at the ottsel as she sneered.
"What don't like your new form? You're lucky to have even survived," she growled narrowing her eyes.
"Maia? Gol? Is that you?" Samos asked stepping forward.
"Impossible, what have you done to yourselves?" Julayla was horrified.
"The Dark Eco has provided us with abilities beyond your wildest imagination," Gol said with a creepy grin on his face, he raised his fist for a dramatic affect. Daxter hid himself behind Jak shoulder.
"What have you done with our father!" Sheaira yelled at the duo, she looked at John who was protecting his stew by holding onto the pot. She rolled her eyes and looked angrily back at the siblings.
"Your father is a guest of ours, he's helping us with a little project," Gol sneered down at the little ottsel, "We are going to use all the eco powers to power our custom Precursor Robot to unlock the Dark Eco silos!"
"We will then shape the world to our liking," Maia grinned.
"Have you lost your mind!? No one can simply control Dark Eco," Samos shouted it was obviously madness to think they could use the Dark Eco.
"That's not what your assistant would say," Gol turned to Julayla, "Jenniesa has been doing a lot of research for us."
"Jenniesa?" Julayla frowned she had no idea that her assistant had become consumed by Dark Eco by the two Dark Eco Sages.
"All we need is your eco Samos," Gol looked back at the Green Sage.
"There's no way Daddy is going with you!" Keira shouted defensively. She stepped in front of her father. Jak reached out nervously to her, he didn't want her to do anything reckless.
"Keira…" Samos looked a little sad.
"Next time we won't be asking," Maia said crossing her arms.
"We will meet again," Gold grinned and the two disappeared into a poof of Dark Eco smoke. Julayla turned to Samos with a worried expression on her face. Sheaira growled in annoyance.
"That was Gol and Maia, the people who were suppose to help me turn back!?" Daxter shouted climbing back onto Jak's shoulder. Jak looked up at him as he slumped his shoulder, "I'm doomed…"
"We're all going to be doomed if they succeed in opening the Dark Eco Silos," Samos shouted back at Daxter.
"We have to find a way to stop them," Julayla said, "If we can somehow gain access to light Eco, we could use it to change them back into their original forms and bring their sanity back." The Light Eco sage paced back and for theorizing to herself.
"The only quick way to the Citadel is through the Lava Tube, but we won't have enough Power Cells to get us all there," Keira said, "I could only get my zoomer to have a heat shield…"
"Let's go to Julayla's Lab first… we will just have to take the safer route," Samos said.
"Finally!" Daxter yelled; he was glad they weren't going in the more dangerous route. Jak smirked at Daxter.
"Right in the morning we'll get the last Power cells from Gordy and Willard and we'll finish the zoomers and head to the Light Eco Sages lab, we're not doomed yet," Sheaira said looking up at Daxter, "If we get enough Light Eco, we might be able to change back too."
"That is a possibility," Julayla nodded and Daxter's ears perked up.
"Great!"
"Well let's dig in and then get some rest," John finally let the pot of stew go and held up the ladle, "I'm starving."
Everyone chuckled and nodded.
"Typical John," Sheaira shook her head.
Author's Notes: This took much longer than expected to come out, but I wanted the story to follow similar plot points to The Precursor Legacy. Let me know what you think.