A/N: Hello again! I'm back with another chapter. Perhaps some of you noticed that I tend to update my fic every Tuesday? Well, I cannot tell a lie so I'll admit that I try to get a chapter for my fic posted every week and it just so happens that I first posted this on Tuesday. Got it? So now you know when to check to see if my fic's been updated. Anywho, on another side note I'd like to point out this chapter focuses entirely on my theory of how Keira came to be Samos's daughter and still look the same age as Jak. I blame my sister for this fic because it was she who brought up the whole 'why does Keira look the same age as Jak when she wasn't born in Haven City?' question.

            Krimzon-Yakkow026: Hehe, sorry I didn't thank you in the second chapter but ya did review it after I had posted the next chapter so… anyway, I'm glad you enjoy! Keep reviewing!

            Farli: Thanks for your review! I'm glad that you think I've kept the characters in… er… character. I was a little worried about that myself. I look forward to hearing what you think of this chapter since there will be more Jak II character action.

            Lunatic Pandora1: I'm glad you think it's cool even if odd. As for Dark Jak, don't worry he'll get his turn. ***laughs with glee at the thought of Dark Jak kicking some harpy ass***

            Shark: Yes, the secrets are revealed! Nervous are you?

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Act Three: Lies My Parents Told Me

"In our need to protect our children we forgot about them. How easy it is to lie to them when we feel that we are protecting them."

                        ~*~Samos the Sage of Green Eco was oddly tired that night. His whole, aging body ached. And perhaps, in some way, he was sad.

            It had been a month since the Sage of Green Eco had used the Rift Ring to bring young Jak into past, safely tucked away from the dangers of Haven City. The boy had been given to a man in the village. Apparently, from what his time twin had said, it was necessary that the boy grow up away from his hut on top of Sandover Village.

            He moved to the window and sighed. He could easily recognize this place as Dead Town only alive. He wondered vaguely what had compelled him to live in the house that was nothing more then ruins in a destroyed city.

            He scanned the small area of Sandover Village. He could see the Forbidden Forest, Sentential Beach and far off into the distance Misty Island. A place where so much would happen as the years passed.

            But his true interest was on the dim light shining in the house young Jak was currently living with his 'Uncle'. The man had taken an immediate liking to the boy and when Samos had said he needed a home the man had accepted Jak as if he was his own child.

            Poor Jak was probably passed out by now, Samos thought with a chuckle. After all, today had been a busy day. Samos, during the early morning, had taken Jak far across the world of their past to meet the various sages. They were all a little cheeky of Jak at first, especially when Samos said he would become a great hero, but they agreed to watch over the boy. He had even met Gol Akeron and his sister Maia. He was still confused by them. He had been told about the other sages by his older time twin Samos but the twin had failed to mention those two. He wasn't exactly sure what they were the sages of but they seemed to be overly interested in the Dark Eco. That made Samos weary. He knew what became of those who tried to experiment with Dark Eco. He swore to try to convince them to give up their research.

            And when he and Jak had returned from the sages they had been invited to a Welcoming Party in their honor. There Jak had meet his soon-to-be best friend Daxter. Samos had been surprised by the fact that Daxter was a boy, not an ottsel. But he still acted like Daxter and went around calling him 'big green' and 'short, green and wrinkly'. Samos had retorted by calling him a 'bratty little animal'. But he had to admit, he and Jak had hit it off immediately.

            He chuckled once more as he thought about the trouble those two would get into, even as children. And then, when in their teens, Jak and Daxter would travel to Misty Island and will start a chain of events that would forever shape their world. And little did they know that he would have a hand in that chain. He would tell both boys NEVER to go to Misty Island and Jak's curiosity would be piped. He and Daxter would be drawn to the place and would one day go there, against his wishes. And from there—

            Samos's trail of thoughts stopped abruptly as he saw the shadow. Instantly he reached out for his long, hardwood stick. Samos had grown up in Haven City and thus was always prepared for attack. His eyes never left the shadow.

            He watched as the shadow clumsily moved to his hut. As the form approached, he noticed that it was slimmer then he originally thought and that a bundle was tucked safely under its arm. The shadow started up the steps to his door.

            Samos turned and made his way to the door, still gripping his walking stick. As he neared it he heard a 'thump' as if had body had been thrown against the door. Worriedly, he opened it.

            A body, very small and petite, fall half-way into his house. It wore a black cloak, giving it its shadowy appearance. As it tumbled into the room, its head was thrown back and the hood of the cloak fell off its face. Green/blue hair covered an ivory skinned face. Red, deep lips parted as she dragged in deep breaths. But his eyes were caught on the crimson stain on her white shirt.

            He dropped to his knees and touched her shoulder lightly. The woman groaned and Samos picked her up in his arm. Blood spilled onto his shirt as he cradled her weak body in his arms. The woman reached between their bodies and shifted the bundle she held. Samos looked down as the blanket around the bundle loosened.

            A tiny face of a child, asleep, looked up at him.

            "I guess we cannot escape our red string." The woman mournfully, "I thought I could do it, but… but he left me in my hour of most need. He left our child to suffer my fate and he left me to face the god's wrath alone." Suddenly she cast her eyes to the sky, "Oh my Goddess why do you forsake me now? After we came so close to doing it. Why did you draw your protection away?"

            "What are you talking about…?" Samos said softly.

            But the woman didn't hear him, she was delusional, "But I still love him… and the child we made together. I cannot forget that… and… I most protect her from my fate, from her own red string. He mustn't get her. He mustn't harm her." She turned her gaze to Samos, finally seeing him, "Please, I came here seeking help. I came here for protection for my daughter. She is bound to an accursed fate but I will try to keep it from her. She cannot be harmed. She is the symbol of my love."

            She pushed the bundle into Samos's arms and sighed weakly, "My darling, my life and my only. My Keira." She smothered back the young girl-child's green/blue hair back and then she went limp. Her body rolled from Samos's arms as he tried to balance the child.

            He stood and stared down at the woman in horror. No doubt she was dead. Samos looked at her sadly before turning his attention to the child. The girl-child, seeming to be around the age of five, yawned in her sleep and curled against him. She totted her mother's hair though her skin was darker. He wondered what colour her eyes were. He ran a hand through her hair.

            Softly he said, "Keira…"~*~

            The Keira thirteen years later dropped to her seat in horror. Jak looked at her as if he wanted to offer so comforting words, but didn't know them. Daxter was shaking his head in disbelief. Even Gareth, Sala and Marisa were affected. Gareth had his head cast mournfully to the ground while Sala had her arms crossed over her chest and was looking away. Marisa's wings trembled as she clasped her hands together.

            Sig seemed to be most affected by it all as he sat heavily down in his seat at the bar and guzzled down his drink, "Unbelievable." He said softly.

            "I'm sorry, Keira." Samos said, "I had planned on telling you, but as you grow up I found myself avoiding it. I came to love you as my own and I couldn't accept that you were not. So… so I pretended you were."

            Keira found she couldn't look at her father so instead she looked at Sala, "Who was my mother? How do you know her?"

            Sala sighed so softly no one heard, "Your mother's name was Kikita. And she was the High Priestess of my city, the Holy City during my mother's reign as queen. She was… strong… unbelievably so. My people—and Marisa's destroyed ones—had been at war with an evil god called Erisen. My people still are today. Those harpies are his army. For as long as it has been written we have waged war against Erisen. For some reason he holds grudge against our Goddess and her people.

            "And since it has been recorded the only one capable of destroying Erisen was a magick-woman called a High Priestess, she has a special connection with the Goddess. In every generation, the High Priestess wages war against Erisen and in every generation that damned god has killed her. But not before she bares a girl-child. That child is then raised as a High Priestess. Erisen is forbidden to harm the child during her young years. He was not allowed to harm a High Priestess until she is eighteen summers. Even this god is bound by certain rules of the Goddess."

            "But with your mother he changed that. Kikita was stronger then any other High Priestess. She had Erisen shaking in his boots. But then something happened… I'm not sure, the Royal Council hides what happened with Kikita well but she failed in destroying Erisen at the opportune moment and failed to receive an ancient weapon needed to destroy him. After that she found she was pregnant by her lover, who disappeared before the birth had even been found out. She birth the child in the Holy City and Erisen knew that both mother and child were the ultimate High Priestesses so he set out to destroy you both. He hadn't expected your mother to fight back. Somehow she managed to defend you, though not herself, and gave you to this sage."

            "But how…" Jak began slowly, "did this Kikita manage to get Keira into the past?" He looked over at Keira, who's face was bleak.

            Marisa shrugged for an answer, "A High Priestess has many powers available to her. If she managed to somehow collect enough power she could have sent herself back in time. No one really knows."

            "Erisen sent your mother's body to us later." Gareth explained, "I'm not sure how… but he sent it to us and said he'd killed the last of out line of High Priestess. We searched for you for eight years and finally the Royal Court gave you up for dead."

            "And the lover of Kikita?" Sig asked, shifting his eyes, "What does your court say happened to him?"

            "Why? Do you know the lover?" Sala asked, baring her teeth, "He is a traitor to us. He left our High Priestess in her hour of need. Had he stuck around the war would have been won and we wouldn't be here today."

            "No, I heard of Kikita though." Sig said, "I was just wondering what happened to him."

            "It hardly matters." Marisa scoffed, "He was labeled as a traitor and if he was wise he would have killed himself. It may be called the Holy City, but it is not known for its mercy."

            Sig glared at her, "You people are harsh. Did you ever try to track him down?"

            "No," Sala answered, "he was not worth our time."

            Jak looked at Keira, who had her head lowered, and sat down next to her. Gently he took her hand and asked, "What now?"

            "She has to come back to Holy City!" Gareth said and the two looked up at him, "Please, my lady, without you Erisen will destroy us all. You're our only hope. Please…"

            Keira turned her head away from him and looked at Jak. Somehow she wanted to know what he would've done. But his face was carefully neutral. But inside her heart, Keira knew he wouldn't say no. He'd stand and help them because they were in need. He would be the hero he was.

            It made her want to tremble. She wanted to do as Jak would but she was afraid. She had never been forced to be the hero. She had been carefully tucked on the sidelines, safe from harm. But now, if these three people had their way, she would be sent head first into a war that had been waging for many millennia.

            Keira looked at Sala who scowled down at her and said, in far off voice, "But… but I don't know how to fight… I can't even shoot a gun."

            Gareth nodded in understanding, "Had you grown up in the city, my lady, you would have been trained to wield the weapon of your choice since you were old enough to handle it. But… you can still learn. Weaponry is in your blood. I cannot begin to explain to you how good a fighter your mother was and you have her blood. You'll do fine." He assured her.

            Keira wanted to argue but kept her mouth shut and looked away. Marisa stepped forward, "You know, now that Erisen knows that you're alive and well, he'll be sending his harpies after you. He won't stop until you're dead, my lady. You'll be safer at the Holy City then you are here."

            "I can protect her." Jak mumbled but no one heard him save Daxter who offered his friend a happy I-know-what-your-thinking grin.

            Samos took his daughter's arm and she turned to him with sad eyes, "Keira, I think you should go with them. Had I known how serious this all was… well, I'm not sure what I would have done. But I think you will be safer with them." He looked at her sadly and brushed a wrinkled hand across her cheek, "But know that I love you. I have always thought you as my daughter. I will always love you."

            Tears filled her eyes as Keira leaned against her father, crying softly, "Oh Daddy, I love you, too. Nothing is going to change that. You've been there for me, but I… I want to know… about her… they say I look like her."

            "You do." Samos said, remembering the young woman that had died in his arms all those years ago.

            Keira turned to Gareth, Sala, and Marisa and lowered her head for a brief second. Then she raised her head and said to them, "I will go. I don't think—" She broke off abruptly by the sound at the door.

            Jak jumped from his seat and stood protectively in front of Keira. As did Gareth. The two boys looked at one another and their eyes narrowed. For an instant they forgot about the pending danger.

            But the danger turned out to be nothing more a buxom blonde and man and woman with dreadlocks in their hair. The friends of Keira, Daxter, and Jak walked into the room. Torn, Ashlin and Tess gave the three newcomers confused glances.

            "Ah, and they are?" Questioned Tess the blonde with an amused half-smile. She looked like the stereotypical dumb blonde,—though those who came to know her knew that she was highly intelligent—but she was already figuring out what they wanted, who they were, and if she needed to fight them.

            Daxter grinned at Tess, allowing his gaze to scan her form. He'd never get tired of looking at the girl. He hopped down from the bar and swaggered over to the blonde, trying to look as manly as possibly in small-ottsel form.

            The man with brown/red dreadlocks glared at the ottsel as he strode over to them. With a disgusted look he dropped the bag of groceries he was carrying for Tess—he wasn't sure how the girl had managed to trick him into carrying them in the first place—in front of Daxter, "Anything else I can get for you, master?" He said in his rough voice, baring his teeth threateningly.

            Daxter looked up at Torn's hard face and almost winced. He was scared of the man truthfully but Daxter didn't like to show it. Trying look as if he was impatient Daxter waved a hand in the motioning of shooing, "No, that'll be all."

            "Why you little…" Torn said menacingly as he took a step towards the Ottsel. He halted when he saw that his consort, Ashlin, was looking at one of the newcomers with narrowed eyes.

            "Sala of Rye." Ashlin said angrily and Sala also glared.

            "Ashlin of Praxis." Sala said and crossed her arms, "I see you've made yourself governor of your city now that your father has passed on. Good job. Your father was no more fit to rule this city then the Metal Head leader himself."

            Ashlin's hands curled into fists. She may not have had many fond feelings for her father but no one insulted him to her face now that he was dead, "You watch what you say. I am now governor of this city. I can have you thrown into jail if I feel you're a treat. What do you want, Sala? I thought your mother and my father came to an arrangement not to bother each other."

            Gareth snorted, "Lady Ashlin, not everything our city does is about your city. In fact, few things we do are about your city. We're here for Lady Keira."

            Torn blinked in surprise and looked at Keira, "HER!? What's so special about her? She's got no special training or abilities…" He trailed off at Jak's glare, "What?"

            "I think we missed something." Tess muttered, picking Daxter up in her arms and moving over to the bar, "Maybe you should fill us in. Ah… Sala, do you mind?"

            Sala looked over at Tess in surprise. She was shocked to see the girl so bold. Most girls were intimated by her save for Ashlin, but then the current governor of Haven City was quite intimating herself. She felt a hint of admiration for the girl.

            So everyone did another take on their explanations for the sake for Tess, Torn, and Ashlin. Samos started if off with his story of how he came to be the father of Keira and Marisa, Sala and Gareth explained the history of the High Priestess and Keira's mother Kikita.

            Tess, when it was all over, blinked several times before looking over at Keira, "Wow. I always knew there was something off about you." But she said this in such an admiring way that Keira wasn't insulted. Tess absently ran her fingers down Daxter back as she leaned against the bar.

            Keira watched as Daxter's eyes rolled back in his head and looked like he had walked into ecstasy and groaned, "Ah… thanks."

            "I wasn't aware of this…" Ashlin said, shaking her, "I mean, I knew that you were constantly at war but I didn't know it was one this level."

            "I suppose you'll be going." Torn said to Jak, who nodded stiffly, "And Daxter's coming along? Surprise. Surprise. I would come but I have duties here with reorganizing the Krimzon Guard." Torn looked over at Daxter and bared his teeth, "On second thought I don't think I'd come either way."

            "I'm coming." Tess said and Daxter looked at her in shock, "Oh, don't look at me like that Daxter. There is no way I'm running the bar alone."

            "I'm coming, too, chili pepper." Sig said, slapping Jak on the shoulder, "High-time I saw what this court was all about. See like a bunch of tight-ass wigs to me."

            "An excellent description." Marisa muttered.

            Keira turned to her father and looked at him with calm eyes, "Are you coming daddy?" she asked.

            "I wish I could, Keira." Samos said sadly, "But I'm too old for a journey like the one you'll be partaking off."

            "Oh Daddy…"

            Jak stepped over to Gareth and they stared angrily into each other's eyes, "When are we going?" Jak growled, making it perfectly clear that he was going and nothing was going to stop him.

            "Day-break tomorrow. It is not wise to travel the Wasteland at night." Gareth said, crossing his arm and glaring haughtily back down at Jak. He was happy to say he was a good head taller then the blonde.

            Daxter groaned and said to Tess since Jak was to busy stating his territory to listen, "Why do I feel another save-the-world adventure coming? I got this queasy feeling down in the pit of my stomach." Tess shrugged but grinned.

            Ashlin sighed and walked from the bar, leaving the others to talk. Torn watched her leave and followed.

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                        Torn followed Ashlin outside the bar without a word. He knew she knew that he was right behind her but they didn't need to speak with each other. Lately each other's presence had been enough.

            Finally Ashlin stopped and allowed Torn to catch up with her. He stood by her side, her proud knight, and waited for her to speak. She knew Torn wouldn't press her for an answer unless she wanted to say it.

            That made her want to speak.

            Ashlin looked at Torn sadly and he finally understood why she had left the bar when she had seemed so happy to be apart of the group months ago. He reached out and took her hand.

            "You didn't tell them." Was all he said.

            "I had planned to." Ashlin pointed out, "But I could see it in Keira's face that she was set on going with those people. And I couldn't force Jak to allow her to go off on her own. That would kill him."

            Torn nodded, "If you had told him then you would have forced him to choose between the city he's sworn to protect and the woman he loves." He sighed and shook his head, "If only they hadn't come then we could tell him."
            "The Metal Heads…" Ashlin said, "are multiplying every day. Something is helping them grow. I don't know what but whatever it is its making their numbers swell. It's got me worried." She admitted, "I wish I could tell Jak."

            "We'll make due without Jak." He assured, "Or we can hold off until he gets back. You know, we all don't depend on Jak. I can take care of it myself."

            Seeing that she was bruising his ego, Ashlin chuckled softly, "I know you can but what can we expect from whatever is rejuvenating the Metal Heads? What happens if it's stronger then we think? What happens if I—"

            "You need to stop thinking you're gonna screw this up, Ashlin. You're the best thing that's ever happened to this city. Not even Jak will argue with that." He cupped her face and pressed his lips against hers in a reassuring manner.

            Ashlin smiled softly against his soft touch and pulled away. She took his hand once more and answered, "Whatever you say, tough-guy." Then they walked back to the palace.

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                        Awwww, an Ashlin/Torn moment. I hope they weren't too out of character for you! Anyway, so now you see the reason why this damn fic got started. All based on the idea of another city and the death of Keira's mother. Things grew from there. Please review this chapter (I'm begging you!) and then stay tuned for the next chapter where the journey begins!