A/N: I am back! Yay with the new installment! Things are getting interesting, no? Keira and Jak are finally together, Sala and Gareth are beating around the bush, Ashlin is injured and Torn is unaware, Tess and Daxter are… Tess and Daxter! Can you say drama? Those soap operas ain't got nothing on me! :P

                        WARNING: Okay, when special note before we continue onward. This chapter is a strong LIME (you all know what that is, right?) and some of friends (the more innocent ones) say this dances on the line of PG-13 and R. I didn't feel like switching the rating so I've warned you! If you don't like the hinting of sex then skip the first paragraph and don't cry to your parents that I've corrupted you, k? I get enough of that at school… from my teachers. Yes, I am that evil. ***insert eerie voice here*** You have been warned.

            Dark-invisible-rapist-stalker: You're name… it's ehh… well, it's… okay, you use the work rapist and stalker. Should I be afraid?

            Lunatic Pandora1: Patience my young Padawan… oops, er wrong storyline sorry. DJ is coming, not quite sure how soon, but he is going to be there! That I can promise! And as for Ashlin… let's just watch shall we?

            Krimzon-Yakkow026: The Metal Heads and harpies… what a pair, right? But no worries, I'm putting DJ into the story because I love him and all his wonderful deadly claws. It's just taking some time for me to get him turned into DJ, but it shall happen! ***waves fists in air***

            Wakka-steals-cloths: It's okay, sometimes we find the strangest things cute. Like me, for example. Don't ask why but I find geeky males with dark hair and glasses attractive. Believe it or not, I don't even mind the pocket-protector. Did you know that I watch Independence Day over and over again just to see Jeff Goldbloom?

            Lous-Me: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-oooooooooooooooooooooooooo (I could go on). Here's the next chapter! Happy now? No harpies! ***paused*** Hey wait, what about my crazy monkeys? Won't they protect me… ***ponders*** no they won't.

            Jackie Almasy: Hey, my favourite saying is 'this is kickass awesome!' I say that all the time like: these frog legs are kickass awesome, but them the hell away French-boy! Oh, did I mention I'm not too fond of the French?

            Specter Von Baren: You're right, I took the Crea-jumping scene from FFX-2 which is like my all-time favourite game (aside from FFX and Jak II of course). Mostly because it's easy, but also because I love sequels!

            Maieve: I think Daxter is happy being human… or elf… again, too. I know I would be. Who wants to be two feet tall, fuzzy, and running around without a pair of pants? Daxter said it himself folks!

            Cherie Duarte: Ah, a little you say? I say A LOT closer. ***reads Act Ten*** yup, a lot closer. As for the Tess/Dax romance, there won't be a lot of that (maybe in another story?) but there will be some. Since in my mind they're already a couple there's no reason to give them a lot of romance, but there shall be some! Sala/Gareth and Ashlin/Torn couples will be added as we go along. There will be a lot of that!

            Prexistence: Caffeine rules! So does sugar… though I'm not allowed to have it… ***pouts*** One day I shall own all the sugar in the land! MWAHAHAHAHA!! I'm on a caffeine high, too.

            Chris: Though whole Daxter-being-taller-then-Jak thing was a total spur of the moment idea. I was like: 'hey, compared to Jak, Daxter ain't got nothing going for him! I'll make him taller! That way he doesn't feel left out of the cool group.' Being tall is cool, right?

            Natasha: Hey, thanks for the info! I always try to take critique serious and work on it so I'll be sure to remember your wise words of wisdom! I'm glad you enjoy the story and thanks for all the flattery! Way to enlarge the ego!

            Laura-Sloan: Hey, glad you like… and here's the next chapter. And you know, there are clinics for Dark Eco addicts! Been to one myself… oh, not for me for my… um… sister! Yeah, my sister! Call 1-800-DARK-ECO-FREAK.

            Daheim: I'm usually lazy… but not when it comes to this… maybe because I enjoy writing it so much? Anywho, here's next chapter right on schedule. I am sooo not lazy… unless it's Wednesday which is trash day.

            Nak: I'm like that pink bunny thing. I just keep going and going and going and going… hey, where the hell's my drum and mallet? I want my drum and mallet? How am I supposed to keep going and going and going without them!?

                        On to Act Ten ladies and gentlemen! Fasen your seatbelts!


Act Ten: Lovers

"Love is what truly conquers all. Only love can destroy hate, only love can create light. But love is a fragile thing and can be easily destroyed."

                        The sun and the chirping of birds was what awoke her, not the dreams of the Goddess and her past. No, the Goddess was in her now. There was no reason for them to share dreams as they lingered in the space between the mortal realm and the Curtain of Power.

            Her eyes fluttered open as she took in the white of her room and the warmth of the body next to her. Her red, kiss swollen lips curved into a smile as she stretched like a lazy cat. Slowly, Keira leaned on her side so not to awaken the presence next to her.

            Jak looked so peaceful when he slept. He seemed to retain his innocence in his dreams and for a moment, with his fair hair wild and ravaged, he looked like the boy he had been from Sandover Village. But the Keira took note of the mature features that marred his face, replacing the preteen look.

            She touched his cheek briefly, recoiling when he sighed. She didn't want to wake him yet. There was still much she needed to think about. About her, about him, and them. About what they were.

            They were lovers now. Just as every High Priestess and her mate had been before they met their end. It seemed destiny for every High Priestess to chose her mate and then die.

            But Keira didn't regret it. She couldn't regret loving Jak. They were meant for each other, nothing would stop them. They could've tried to fight their passion for one another like they had before, but eventually they would've come together when the desire began to be unbearable. But then, their joining would've been a violent thing, filled with pain and want. It would hurt as much as it healed. She didn't want her and Jak's first time as lovers to be a violent, angry thing. Instead she wanted the soft, gently loving union that they had had last night.

            Some High Priestess and their mates had tried to deny each other their bed-rights, as if not joining in this primitive sense would stop anything. Last night, Keira had also been gifted with small clips of memories of the other High Priestess. So she knew how most of them had joined with their mates, painful or joyous.

            Her mother and her father… they had had a painful joining. As she pressed a hand to her chest, she knew. Her mother, Kikita, and her unknown father had done their best to stay away from each other but their passion, added with the magick in a High Priestess's veins which she passes on to her mate when she falls in love with him, couldn't allow them to be without one another for very long. Two months after Kikita had named her mate, they had joined together. It had been violent and angry, but the two lovers seemed to find rapture in that pain.

            She didn't want that with Jak—though the fast pace tempo of an angry joining sounded like something to try—for their first time. She was glad they had both been so willing to mate fully.

            She remembered leaving the Main Tower, their hands entwined. There had been no questions in their minds about what they were going to do, only simple acceptation. There had been no way for them to deny the passion. Not only was their emotions and magick of a High Priestess working that night, but there was also the feelings of the Goddess and the Grand Knight in them. Their passion, added with Jak and Keira' own, could not be suppressed. Keira wondered idly if they would've tried to stay away from each other if the will of the Goddess and the Grand Knight hadn't been upon them.

            A sighed of pleasure rose from her lips as she thought of her and Jak's joining. It would be a night she would treasure forever. She would hold it against her like a warm blanket whenever she was alone or afraid. Jak's lips and his taste would forever be imprinted in her.

            She shrugged, as if to say what's done is done, and sat up. At the foot of her white bed sat the Virgae-Mors Sword and her glaive. She frowned at the sword, a strange tickling at the back of her memory.

            There was power to this sword, she knew. It fluttered around the sword and around the room. She didn't know whether or not she liked this power, but she did know that this was the final weapon in a High Priestess's journey. Erisen would be on the rampage now, knowing Keira and Jak were getting closer and closer to him. What would his next move be?

            She gave a startled gasp as warm hands came up and encircled her waist. Jak pressed a hot kiss to the shell of her ear and whispered huskily, "I had been hoping you'd be still asleep. I would've enjoyed waking you up."

            She twisted her hips so she could look at him. Her breath caught in her throat. Did he always look like good waking up? His hair was tousled and his big, blue eyes were glassy from sleep. His lips were curved into a sexy smile as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder where he had left a light bite mark the night before.

            "Sorry to disappoint you." Keira said, her voice soft and wanton, "But I usually get up with the sun. You ruined my work schedule." She gave him a fake pout.

            Jak leaned forward and nibbled at it. He almost groaned as she gave a small shudder against him. He pulled away so he could look at her. God, how lucky was he? Her hair was wild, as if from savage kissing, and her lips still swollen from the pleasurable abuse they had taken the night before. Her body was milky white and tan, an odd mixture that was somehow exotic, and her curvy, supple body was pressed against him. The white sheet of her bed pushed against her rounded breasts acted as a distraction when they brushed his bare chest.

            Their lovemaking had been… amazing. Yes, he had been a virgin and he had no doubt she was as well, but they seemed to know every spot of each other's body perfectly and Jak knew he'd get no better gratification with anyone else. Keira was the only one that could make him feel hot and cold all at once.

            He closed his eyes as he remembered last night. He hadn't known way, but somehow it came as a mutual agreement that they would go to Keira's room. They had torn at each other's cloth, driven by their own needs as well as the Goddess and her knight, and entered her room in a rush. But once they had touched the bed their movements became soft, gentle. Ravaging kisses became gentle caress and clawing hands nothing more then butterfly touches. Their joining had been just as gentle.

            He sighed as he remembered the feeling of her soft, yielding body beneath his, his name coming from her lips in a cry. She had given herself completely to him and he in return had given her everything he was.

            Not a bad deal.

            He opened his eyes and saw Keira smiling into them. She leaned against him and pressed her lips to his neck, curling her body against his. Jak smiling and pulled her back down to the bed.

            Their lips met in a gentle hunger, much like the way they had done last night. They touched, tasted, lingered then broke for air before diving back into the recess of passion. Jak couldn't help but marvel at the feminine perfection of her body. The curve of her hips and the fullness of her breasts. The soft sigh that rose from her lips as he drew a passionate kiss from her almost had him begging.

            The kiss deepened. Soon it was no lingering one of brief passion but heat and power and love all rolled into one joyous tidal wave. Jak and Keira rode the heavy wave as far as it would take them, eager to see how long that road would be.

            Her lips were soft and moving beneath his. His lips were firm and warm above hers'. Their hands sought the plains of each other's body, remembering their movements last night. Jak pressed his tongue against the seam of her lower lip and she parted them, a shiver working up her spine beneath his fingers. Her callused hands reached out and tangled in his disheveled blonde hair.

            Finally, they broke so their burning lungs could draw in much needed air. After they had gotten their fill, they turned their eyes back onto each other and smiled. Keira up, Jak down.

            "You know, we should probably get up…" Jak muttered, nuzzling the sensitive area where her neck and shoulder connected, "We should train… I have a new sword after all…"

            "Hmmm…" Was Keira's breathy reply. Her fingers tightened in Jak's hair and her attention was drawn down to them. She smiled; they looked like snow sprinkled with gold dust.

            Jak chuckled and pulled away to draw a finger down her cheeks, "Did you hear anything I said?"

            "What?" Keira asked lazily, curling against him. Sleepily she mumbled, "Tired. And you're so warm. I could fall asleep." She closed her eyes to prove her point.

            Laughingly, Jak kissed her forehead and teased, "Don't you think you've slept enough? It must be close to mid-morning."

            Keira opened one eye and glared at him, "It's to be expected. You hardly let me get a wink of sleep last night." She said this in a slight lecturing tone.

            Jak's wicked fingers messaged her hips. He laughed as he drew a moan from her lips, "But you liked to being kept up, didn't you?"
            "Well…" Keira broke off as she bit her lip to keep from crying out as Jak's hands continued their tormenting path downward, "maybe… a little." She pressed herself more fully against him.

            "A little?" Jak mumbled in disappointment as he kissed her lightly on the lips.

            "Oh dear," Keira said when they broke, "I do believe I've bruised your fragile male ego. Okay… so maybe I did enjoy it more than a little. But there's no need to expand your already dilated ego, Mr.-I've-saved the-world-twice."

            Jak's hands tangled in her hair as he sat up, bringing her with him, "Hmmm… you know what?" He looked down between their bodies at the white barrier separating them, "This sheet is really started to brother me."

            Keira giggled and agreed with a nod of her head. She wiggled her torso so the white sheet fell away from her body. Then she pressed her naked upper body against Jak's bare one. He reached out to catch her—

            —and the door opened.

            Keira screeched and dived under the covers, leaving Jak to cover himself. He barely managed to get the sheet wrapped around his waist when Crea, Nyx, Sig, and Daxter walked into the room. There were many different reactions.

            Crea's eyes got this confused look to them. She cocked her head up at Nyx, who actually looked flushed. Nyx grabbed her young sister's hands and dragged her from the room.

            "But Nyx!" Crea protested, "What's going on!? Why's Jak in Keira's room? I wanna go see!" Jak had the idea that Crea was trying to wrench herself from Nyx's grasp. To bad for her that it was like iron.

            "Nothing!" Nyx snapped, "There is nothing going on in that room and you will not speak a word of it. Do you understand? Oh boy, I am too young for this…"

            Meanwhile, Daxter began to snicker, pressing his newly turned humanoid hands to his mouth, "Jeez, get a room you two. Oh, right you already did that. Good going, Jak buddy. Not a bad idea."

            Sig seemed uncomfortable with the whole situation and stared at a fixed spot above Jak's head, "Sorry to deserve you, Jak, but breakfast is ready and you gotta get to your trainin and all."

            Daxter grinned over at his burly friend and nudged him in his armored ribs, "Why are you acting like this, Sig? You never called Jak 'Jak' before. You know, just because he's got the Virgae-Mors Swords doesn't mean he's something special."

            "Because," Jak growled, glaring over at his best friend, "he, unlike you, knows when to keep his mouth shut or else."

            The Ottsel-turned-man shrugged as if it didn't bother him a bit, "Come on, Jak, gimme a break. How were we supposed to know you and Keira were going to—hrmp!" Daxter found his face filled with the cushion of a pillow, "HEY!"

            Keira, unable to resist, poked her head out from under the covers. Her face was twisted from trying to suppress laughter. She sat up besides Jak and positioned her half of the sheet across her chest so it was covering the right places.

            "You find this amusing?" Jak asked in disbelief, "You realize that we're both naked and they're looking at us, right?"

            Keira shrugged, but made sure to keep her sheet positioned across her chest, "Oh, I know that, but I've never seen you three act this way around each other before. You're like brothers." She giggled at the look on their faces.

            "Did she just say we're like—" Daxter began looking at Sig.

            "—brothers?" Sig finished for Daxter.

            They looked at each other for a moment before their faces feel and they said at the same time, "Ewww, that's freaky."

            "Look what you started." Jak grumbled, pulling Keira closing against him. Keira smiled over at him and raised her arms to wrap them around his neck.

            Daxter started panicking and looked over at Keira. In the thin sheet her outlines were shown perfectly. Every curve and dip and angle. Though he proudly said he was after and/or with Tess, that didn't mean he wouldn't appreciate other females. Daxter grinned down at Keira's attributes until he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. He raised his eyes and met Jak's angry cold ones.

            "Daxter," Jak growled angrily, "run." He said this in his very-famous 'I'm-going-to-kill-Praxis' tone. Sweat began to pool against Daxter's newly changed neck.

            "BYE!" Daxter screamed and raced from the room, praying Jak was more concerned with his new lover then he was chasing him.

            He got lucky.

            Sig looked between the two of them and then at Daxter's retreating form before saying, "I'll tell Sala you're… ah… well… ah busy with 'sleep'. You got an hour, cherry." He said before turning on his heel and walking off.

            Jak and Keira looked at one another and then burst out laughing. Keira pressed her hands to her lips to keep her laughter from rippling through the room. Jak leaned against her, pushing her against the soft mattress and his own hard body.

            "Hmmm," Keira said in consideration, twining her fingers through Jak's wild hair, "we only have an hour. Think we can manage?"

            "You'd be surprised." Jak answered as he leaned down to devour her mouth.


                        "Where the HELL is she!?" Torn demanded, slamming a fist down on the hardwood table. His Krimzon Guard officers winced at the harsh anger. Torn was well known among the ranks for his anger and they both cursed their misfortune to be the ones to bring him the news that Governor Ashlin Praxis had disappeared.

            "We… ah… don't know, sir. She disappeared about a day ago… she didn't… ah… tell anyone where she was going…" Krimzon Lackey #1 said, sharing a nervous glance with Lackey #2.

            "Goddamnit!" Torn cursed and then to the lackeys he thundered, "Get out! Get out now, you incompetent fools!" The lackeys sighed with relief and hurried from the room. Torn slumped into his large, black chair in the dark blue conference room.

            Where the hell is she? Torn thought, going sick with worry. Had something happened to her? Did she have a crash on her zoomer on the outskirts of the city? Did she run into some Metal Heads? Was she… Torn chocked in horror, assassinated? He didn't kid himself and pretend there was nobody unhappy with Praxis's death. There were people who had profited from the former Baron's iron fist and they were pissed that his daughter refused to follow in her father's unfair and injustice footsteps. They would love a chance to get even with the young woman.

            As Torn's mind filled with gruesome images of what could've happened to his consort, there was a flutter at his window. Growling, he jerked his head up and looked at Pecker as he plowed his head into the window. Surprised, Torn opened the window to allow the monkey/bird to land on the desk. Pecker never left his mistress, Onin… or not from what Torn remembered. Wherever she was, you could count on Pecker being there as well.

            She certainly wasn't flying in with him.

            "What the hell do you want!?" Torn demanded, biting off each word with venom, "I'm a little busy right now. A real A-class problem. Get lost, bird boy."

            "Ashlin!" Pecker panted, "I know! Ashlin in trouble!" Torn howled and grabbed Pecker by the collar, hauling him off the table.

            "What do you know!? Where in the seven hells is she!?" Torn cried, giving the bird an angry shake for good measure.

            "Stripe Mine!" Pecker cried in horror, not even bothering to curse at Torn for shaking him, "Onin saw her there in a vision! She bleeding and the Metal Heads almost have her! She locked in a computer room and—ow!" Torn dropped Pecker like he was on fire and turned from the room.

            Of all the stupid goddamn things she could've done, she does the one that gets her hurt. Stupid, stupid woman! Torn cursed her in his head as panic pounded in his heart. Pecker had said she was bleeding and surrounded by Metal Heads. How bad was her wound? How close were the Metal Heads?

            He hopped onto his Krimzon Guard zoomer and didn't even bother with his helmet. The engine roared to life as Torn zipped into the traffic, narrowly avoiding the other hovercars and bikes on the road. Curses rang in his ears, but he didn't acknowledge them. All he could think about was Ashlin.

            He made it to the Power Station in record time. Even as the Krimzon Guards guarding the Power Station doors saluted, Torn ran in. The scientists that normally worked here were happily enjoying a day off. Torn rapped his fist one of the buttons on the side control panel and the portal in the back of the room snapped on.

            He strode towards it, a snarl twisting his mouth. He jumped into the portal and landed on the hard gravel of the Stripe Mines within seconds. He scanned the area and tried to locate Ashlin.

            What he saw was Metal Heads. They were everywhere. They showered onto the land, slurping the Dark Eco like one would a slushy, and fought one another for food. Torn disregarded them with a wave of his hand.

            Pecker had said Ashlin was in a computer room. Probably the main one down further in the mine. He turned and stepped onto a jagged cliff jutting out from the rocks on his side. He didn't feel like having a confrontation with the Metals Heads—though with his Vulcan Fury Gun he could easily handle them—so crawling across the ledge seemed best.

            The Metal Heads were so concerned with their food that they didn't even notice the redhead man slid across the ledge over their heads. Torn worked hard not to loosen a single rock so as not to alert his metal foes to his presence.

            He reached the walkway leading to the main computer room and breathed a sigh of relief. His boots pounded against the metal floor as he pulled his Vulcan Fury from its holster. He loaded it and prepared to shoot any wavering Metal Heads.

            But surprisingly enough when he arrived there were no Metal Heads to be seen. He blinked in surprise but continued onward, making sure to have his gun handy. He reached the door leading to the computer room and pounding the 'open' button so hard, it snapped beneath the side of his fist. The door creaked open, having taken a beating from Metal Head claws. Torn stepped inside and made the door shut once more.

            It was pitch black inside. Torn reached down and pulled out from his waist belt a flashlight. He pressed the button at its center and a dim light filled them room.

            "Oh God." Torn whispered, staring down in horror, "Ashlin." He dropped to his knees and pulled her limp body into his arms. Blood was steadily pouring from a wound on her stomach and her whole body was caked in it.

            Ashlin groaned softly and moved against him. Her eyes opened slowly and she looked up at him, "Hmmm… Torn?" She whispered, reaching out for him, but she was too weak to even do that. Her hands fell back to her sides with a groan.

            "Ssshh." Torn tried to whisper soothingly, however with his voice it didn't sound at all gentle. But still, he knew that Ashlin was soothed just by the fact that he held her, rocked her, and ran a hand through her deep crimson hair.

            Ashlin smiled softly as she buried herself into his warmth, "You aren't mad, are you?" She asked tentatively, her voice soft from the loss of her blood, "Because I had to come out here, you know. I had to make sure everything was in working order. It's my job. Don't be angry."

            Torn found he wasn't angry. When Ashlin looked like this—pale, weak, drained—he couldn't be angry with her. After all she was all healed up; he was sure he'd be enraged with her but for now only one thing floated around in his mind.

            "Let's get back to Haven City." Torn told her and scooped her up in his arms. His arm cupped the insides of her knees and circled her back. Ashlin gave a small moan of protest as she was moved, but she pushed herself against him and remained silent after that. Torn moved from the room, his flashlight clattering to the floor. He realized with a dull dread that he couldn't use his gun with Ashlin in his arms.

            They burst into the light of the Stripe Mine. Torn shifted Ashlin as she curled against him, breathing into a heavy sleep. Torn turned and wondered in horror how he going to get to the portal at the other side of the mine with Ashlin. He couldn't use the one across the gorge; it was to far away.

            It was then that a new noise caught his attention. Torn leaned closer to the edge of the platform and looked down. His eyes widened and a gasp choked his throat as he scanned the area below him.

            "Holy shit."

            Beneath him and Ashlin were hundred upon thousands of Metal Heads. They were all positioned in a gorge just below the platform on which he stood. They clawed at each other and their growls harmonized to make one horrible drone.

            And Torn was not stupid… and he had been the army. He knew only one reason why there would be so many Metal Heads gathered together in a single spot. Metal Heads, by nature, were harsh creatures and solitary. They had territories and didn't like sharing it, even with their own kind. There was only one reason that could bring all these Metal Heads together.

            An attack on the city, Torn thought. They Metal Heads where planning to lunch a full out envision of Haven City, like they had months ago. And with the Eco Grids not up to full power, they could easily get inside Haven City's walls. There everyone would be mangled and maimed and feasted on by the horrible jagged teeth of the Hora-quan. Torn shut his eyes against the images of the blood.

            He had to get back into the city and find someway to boost the Eco Grid. If they could get up to full power, maybe they could hold the Metal Heads off until a better plan could be formed. Right now, he needed time to think. Luckily, the Metal Heads wouldn't attack yet. The Eco Grid was still powered but unless they managed to bring more eco to it, the Grid would shut down again. And with the Metal Heads guarding the mines and all other places where they retrieved their eco supplies there was no way to boost the shields.

            I wish Jak was here; Torn thought and immediately shook his head. He couldn't think about that yet. Right now his main concern was Ashlin.

            He turned and started to run. If his was lucky, all the Metal Heads were down in the gorge and wouldn't notice him streak over to the portal.

            Luck was finally on his side today.

            Torn jumped into the portal with Ashlin tucked safely in his arms. He rolled onto the floor, placed Ashlin there, and then stood. He slammed his fists down on the control panels and shut off the portal systems. No one would get in or out of the city without his knowing, he swore. Last thing he needed was for the smart Metal Heads to figure out how to use the portals.

            He turned back to Ashlin and knelt besides her, "Ashlin?" He gasped and noticed how ragged her breathing had become. She reached out and clutched her wound in pain. Her breathing then slowed so drastically it looked like she didn't breathe at all for a moment.

            In panic he reached for his communicator and shouted into it, "Get me Samos the Sage! Send him to the Power Station. NOW!"

            "Sir?" Questioned a Krimzon Guard who had picked up his frequency, "What's wrong, sir? I missed it. Who did you want me to get?"
            "Get me Samos Hagai, you goddamn son of a bitch! Tell him Governor Ashlin Praxis is wounded badly. Do it now! I want Samos Hagai here in six minutes." Torn ordered, his impatience showing in his voice.

            "Make that four, sir!" The Krimzon Guard answered and the line went dead.

            Torn sat down besides Ashlin and took her hand. She squeezed it in her own pale palm as she tried to draw in a deep breath. She recoiled in pain and almost pulled away. Torn, however, kept a firm grip on her hand.

            Then the door to the Power Station slid open and Samos Hagai, the Sage of Green Eco, stormed in. Torn stood and Samos swatted at him with a sticking, wanting a clear path to Ashlin.

            "Move aside, boy!" The wizened sage snapped, "You aren't doing her any help by being in my way! Move aside!" Torn quickly obeyed and Samos bent down besides Ashlin. He took her hand in his wrinkly own and spoke to her in a deep, soothing voice. The young governor opened her eyes and smiled softly at him before falling into unconsciousness again. Samos began to glow an odd green light that transferred to Ashlin's body.

            "Can you heal her?" Torn demanded, watching as the green sparks floated over Ashlin's rag-doll body.

            "I don't know. Some people are very resistant to eco and they're bodies won't accept it; even it is the only thing that will save them. Most people are resistant it, in fact." Samos answered in a far off voice and Torn knew healing like this had to take a lot out of him.

            "What about Jak?" Torn asked automatically, remembering how the young blonde man had absorbed eco like the deadly Dark Eco to become his infamous alter-ego and then the green eco of Samos to heal himself.

            "Jak is Jak." Samos answered as if that was that, "His body has always… well, in-tune I guess you would say, with eco. His heritage enables him to channel eco throughout his body, where as most people would die from shock by using it. It comes from Mar. The first Mar made sure that everyone in the Mar line was in-tune with eco, so to use it to its full potential. Eco has been flowing in Mar blood for many centuries so Jak—being a direct descent of Mar—is able to use it whereas most people would die from it."

            "Figures." Was all Torn muttered and then, "As of Ashlin?"
            "Her body is resistant." Samos said, but added, "However, not as resistant as most. Slowly, her body will accept the eco and use it to heal the wounds. She'll be fine in a while. She should be, in fact, up and about in one and a half days."

            "Good. Very good." Torn muttered and then, as Samos healed Ashlin, turned his thoughts to a different subject, "When I went to the Stripe Mine to get Ashlin I saw a whole Metal Head army down in the gorge. It looked like they could be planning a full-scale invasion."

            "They are. Onin had a vision about it and Pecker came to tell me what she saw. It is not good, Torn. If only Jak were here." Samos said.

            Torn wasn't sure how one man could make a difference but somehow having Jak around always evened the odds. Jak was always able to pull through for his city, despite the fact he claimed not to give a damn. Somehow whenever Jak was fighting for you, you would win. Maybe it was his Mar blood? But like Samos said, Jak is Jak and they needed him now. His city needed him.

            "We need him back inside the city. Not only for his fighting skills, but because he brings the people hope. We both know how much the residents of Haven City value their little 'renegade'. We have to find someway to bring him back." Torn said, watching as the blood caking Ashlin's exposed stomach turn green with the eco. He winced.

            "He's with Keira." Samos pointed him out, "Keira needs him."

            "His city needs him." Torn pointing out harshly, "Jak has a duty to Haven City. He is a Mar. He's sworn to defend this city, whether or not his girlfriend is sworn to defend something else."

            "You'll force him to chose between the woman his loves—my daughter—and the city of his blood?" Samos demanded, a strain in his voice. Torn knew it wasn't just because he was tired from healing Ashlin.

            "If that is what I must." Torn said, "We're standing and the threshold of war again, Samos. Why can't you see it?"
            "I can see it just fine!" Samos snapped, "I'm just not comfortable with my daughter's defender being torn from her in her hour of need!"

            "I don't care." Torn shot back and rubbed Ashlin's fiery top, "Jak will come back here, even if I have to order him. I'll go down to that damn city and drag him back here by the hair if I have to."

            Samos removed his hands from Ashlin stomachs and said in a grim voice, "I hope you know what you're doing. You better not screw up or… I'll… I'll prove to you that I don't just use this eco for healing." With that, Samos Hagai the Sage of Green Eco turned and walked away, his eyes burning with rage.

            Torn didn't even look at Samos as he reached for his communicator and called into it, "Find me the resident in house 7 in sector C-5. Bring him in for questioning. I believe he may not be of this city."

            "Yes sir!" Was the answer before Torn cut the line. Softly, he bent down next to Ashlin. He picked her up in his arms once more and pulled her from Power Station. He commandeered a hovercar and placed Ashlin in the back seat so no one would see her in this position. It wouldn't do to create a mass hysteria.

            But Torn knew, like he always knew, that this city was going to need Jak to survive. Even if it meant tearing Keira and Jak apart, Torn would protect his city at all costs. Nothing would stop him.

            Not even love.


                        Keira grinned and twirled, slapping her glaive against the sides of Jak's legs. Jak gave a chocked cry of pain and jumped away, swinging his Virgae-Mors Sword at her. Keira raised her glaive and used the curved metal to block it.

            Jak pushed her glaive away and recoiled, calling out to her, "You're getting very good!" Keira nodded to him as they danced around each other, trying to decipher their opponent's next move.

            "It's in my blood." She answered as she leapt over to him, trying to chop her glaive on his shoulder. She wasn't worried about the injuries he might sustain since they had two handy white mages to heal. Tess had proven her healing skills last night and Daxter was getting better at black magick.

            Sig stood off to the side with Nyx and Crea. Crea was waving her arms around like a fan girl as Sig and Nyx duked it out. Nyx brought her powerful spardone down, but Sig's equally powerful claymore blocked it.

            Sala and Gareth were no where to be seen but it was understandable. Sala was talking to the council about Keira's progress and the retrieval of the Virgae-Mors Sword. As well as Keira having named Jak her mate. Gareth—being Sala's right hand man—was with her.

            Daxter and Tess were off to the side, practicing with their magick. Daxter was having problems with his water spells—the musky spell of his fur was proof—and Tess couldn't seem to cast haste quite right. But they were progressing, especially for people who had never heard of magick before save a few weeks ago.

            "Whoa." Daxter said and decided to switch his magick spells back to thunder. Not a good idea. He quickly lost control of the spell and felt it go flying across the floor, "Hit the deck!" He bellowed at the top of his lungs.

            Nyx and Sig stopped in mid-attack. They turned just in time to see the wayward thunder spell and dropped to the floor, both cursing Daxter. Crea gave a squeal and jumped into the air, spreading her legs in a split so the spell zipped under her. Keira hopped out of the way, shouting a warning to Jak. Jak, unfortunately, wasn't able to move in time. The thunder spell hit him dead in the back.

            Luckily, by that time the spell had lost most of its power and all it did was send a dull shock into his veins. But it was the principal of the matter that had Jak turning and glaring at Daxter, who grinned sheepishly and waved.

            "Daxter." Jak growled and he heard Keira giggle behind him.

            "Ooooh!" Crea cried, bouncing on her heels like an overenthusiastic cheerleader, "Are you gonna killllllllll him?"

            "He—" Daxter began to correct immediately and then blinked, "Hey! You called me a he! She called me a he!"

            "Ah… I meant it." Crea said and Daxter howled in frustration. Crea gripped and clasped her hands behind her back, changing her enthusiastic bounce on her heels to a simple rocking motion.

            Seeing that Daxter was busy arguing with Crea over him being male, Jak looked over at Keira and told her with a mock-groan, "You know, there used to be a time when he was afraid of that tone of my voice."

            Keira chuckled, "If you try to hurt him, he'll probably panic and send another one of those spells at you and kill you by accident." She pointed this out with another easy grin.

            "Point taken," Jak agreed.

            "What the hell do you think you're doing!?" Sig thunder, stomping over to Daxter with a put-out Nyx at his side, "Ya almost got me killed, chili pepper. I don't take kindly to being zapped! You wanna have an early appoint with the Peacemaker?"

            Daxter cringed and pulled away, "Ah, no?"

            Tess laughed and waved her hands at Nyx and Sig, "No harm done." She point out and Nyx and Sig shared a look.

            "She does have a point." Nyx said, agreeing with Tess by a curt nod of her head.

            "Damn!" Sig said angrily and stalked away.

            Just then, Sala and Gareth walked in. They looked as put-out as Nyx but Keira suspected it was because talking to a bunch of old men about war was always exhausting. Keira would rather be fighting Erisen then facing the Council any day. Marisa was currently spending the day at the villa she lived in with Gareth. She claimed she needed to heal her wings, but Keira suspected that Marisa didn't feel like training today.

            Gareth looked weary as well. He stepped over to Keira and said in a soft, slow voice, "Lady Keira, may I speak to you?"

            Keira blinked at him in surprise and then at Jak. The young man of her affections had his face perfectly neutral. Because he didn't seem too angry and because Gareth was her friend, she answered, "Of course." She looked over at Jak once more to assure him, he was the one she wanted to be with.

            Jak nodded in way of agreement.

            As Keira and Gareth left the room, Daxter scooted over to Jak—he almost tripped as he did so, not being used to his new humanoid body—and said into his ear, "Aren't ya a little worried? I mean, isn't Keira your girl now?"
            Jak shrugged and answered, "I trust her."

            "Alright, buddy, but if that were Tess I'd be worried." Daxter said, smiling over at the blonde, "Gareth could steal any guy's girl away."

            Sala walked by him, shaking her head and saying softly, "I tried to talk him out of it. But Gareth can be so stubborn sometimes—"

            "Talk him out of what?" Jak asked, turning to her.

            Sala just shook her head and then said to Sig, "Do you want to fight Sigrid of Nobeck? I'd like to see how good you really are." Sig grinned in answer.

            Meanwhile, Gareth led Keira out to the hall of the Training Room. It was dim there, light from the other room barely shimmering. She squinted her eyes and tried to make out the handsome, smooth features of his face.

            They stood facing each other for many moments. Finally, Keira couldn't take the silence anymore and snapped, "Wait is it, Gareth?"

            "Lady Keira I—" Gareth broke off and coughed before going on again, "Lady Keira I—I wish to be re—removed as your guardian."

            Keira backed away from him in horror, "What do you mean?"

            "I mean, I no longer am able to be in your services, Lady High Priestess. I can—cannot protect you as a guardian should and thus most—most be removed from your services." Gareth explained, his voice trembling a little. He was pushing everything he believed away. He had grown up knowing he was to protect a High Priestess at all costs and here he was telling her he wished to no longer be just that.

            "Wha—why?" Keira asked tentatively.

            "Because I have failed you as a guardian." Gareth explained, "When you were fighting Erisen and he almost killed you, I had an opportunity to save you. But Sala was being overwhelmed by harpies. I had a choice, you or Sala, and I picked Sala. You are the High Priestess and I am sworn to defend you at all costs, but I choose—I choose someone else over you. I went against my sworn duties to protect Sala. What I did was unforgivable and I do not deserve the honour of being your guardian."

            "No, Gareth." Keira cupped his face and smiled at him in a sisterly way, "What you did was understandable. I would have done the same thing, had I been in your position. You had to choose between your duty and your heart, a most hard choice. You love her, Gareth. You couldn't see Sala get hurt, even if it meant her over me. I can completely understand that."

            Gareth shook his head and loosened Keira's hands from his face, "Perhaps, I am not sure of my feelings for Sala, but I failed you. If it had been Sala in position she would have chosen you. No—" Gareth raised a hand stop her protests, "She would have because she is dutiful whereas I allow my emotions, whatever it is I am feeling, to cloud my judgment. I—I no longer can be your guardian."

            Keira frowned at him in the darkness, half of his face shadowed by it, "Gareth, I can see I cannot change your mind. You're sure?"

            "It 'tis the only way I recant." Gareth said in a firm tone.

            The High Priestess sighed in resignation, "Very well. What must I do in order to release you of your duties for me?" Keira asked with a sad tone.

            "Simply say you no longer accept me as your guardian."

            "I no longer accept you as my guardian." Keira repeated quickly and said, "Gareth… since you're no longer my guardian… maybe you could look after Sala more? I think she likes you."

            "I do not know. Sala and I had a… falling through, if you will, about a week ago. She and I have been awkward since." Gareth said, moving back to the Training Room. Keira had no choice but to follow. She wanted to give Gareth some pointers in order to win Sala over, but she decided to let them figure that out on their own.

            Keira smiled over at Jak, who held out her glaive towards her. She accepted it with one hand and pushed her body against his, wanting to simply hold him. Jak seemed eager enough to hold her back. She inhaled his scent and smiled. She was glad she was with Jak, even if it had taken them forever to get to this point. Imagine if they had been like Sala and Gareth? They had been dancing around each other since they were younglings.

            Jak pulled away from her and looked down into her eyes, "What was that all about?" He asked, motioning with his head towards Gareth.

            "He's no longer my guardian." Keira told him and Jak's eyes widened, "He feels he doesn't deserve to guard me when he chose to protect Sala over me."

            Jak opened his mouth to speak when suddenly High Council Member Gunner Rin stormed into the room. His face was beat red and he looked a mad a hell.

            Sala and Gareth groaned. Sala explained to Keira with twisted lips, "High Member Rin has been raging ever since we told him of your choosing Jak as your mate."

            "High Priestess Keira," Gunner Rin began in a low, trembling voice of rage, "is it true you have chosen—chosen this—this Mar as your mate?"

            Keira glared at him—and his tone of voice for that matter—and stepped protectively in front of Jak, "Yes. And it is my choice."

            "You are following the same footsteps as your damned mother! I warned her of that man, but she chose him anyway! She chose him!" Gunner Rin shouted in anguish, "I thought with Gareth at your side, you would chose him but you betrayed your city like your mother before."

            "That's not true!" Keira thundered, "Jak is a good man and he will stand by me. And I will not take your talk against my mate, Gunner Rin!"
            Jak placed a hand on Keira's shoulder and glared at the old man, "I would never leave Keira like her father did her mother. Nothing would take me away from her, Gunner Rin. You need to see that."

            The High Council Member burst out laughing, "I think it's time for me to tell you of your true origin, Keira Kinover. Don't you agree, Sigrid?" He turned his eyes to Sig and they meet and held. Jak blinked and looked between them, but he was more concerned about Sig's eyes. There was a detail he hadn't noticed about them before. With only one eye visible, Jak had never noticed it before. But now that Gunner Rin was speaking, it was as clear as daylight.

            Keira had Sig's eyes.


                        ***Gasp*** Oh my, Sig is Keira's father! Yes, I did decide to go that way… and some of you saw it coming, I guess though I tried to keep it quiet. ***shrugs*** Oh well. Okay on the next installment, Act Eleven: Secret Origins, Sig remembers who he and Keira's mother got together and why he left her. It's not what you think I can assure you! Until the next installment REVIEW!