A/N: 2nd chapter is up! Yay! Just to re-cap, Jak and co. are in the desert. This chapter is kind of like a flashback, which coincidentally also has a flashback in it. Thanks for reading the first and continuing on to this chapter. I'm still trying to get used to the site and I might not be updating for a little while. The end of high school draws near and I'll need to focus on that. So, I hope you enjoy the second chapter! Many thanks to those who've helped me edit this story and giving me pointers. Much love to you all!

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Chapter 2: Unexpected Help

The streets were almost desolate due to the recent metal head attacks. Debris was found here and there but Daxter had no time to worry it. He had no time to stop and nurse the cuts he was getting from the broken glass strewn about or the mud that seemed to be the ground itself. He didn't know who else to turn to as he ran at full speed through the market district. The events prior to his excursion kept playing over and over in his mind. Ashelin nor the 'tattooed wonder' had been any help, and Samos just shook his head, saying it was 'out of his hands'.

------- [Flashback] -------

"So....how was the trial? Did he get off??"

Daxter had been pacing frantically back and forth in the Naughty Ottsel for the past, umm I don't know, 2 hours 47 minutes and.....15 seconds, but whose counting? Jak's hearing before the council was a private case, thereby forbidding anyone not involved (namely Daxter) and to be escorted out of the court room and off the premises. Upon hearing the sounds of people, the frazzled Ottsel turned his attention towards the door. Ashelin, followed closely by Torn ('whipped!' thought Daxter), walked into the bar. Neither one of them seemed happy, which did not bode well, especially since Jak was no where to be seen. Daxter quickly took this opportunity to ask them questions before everyone else had the chance.

Ashelin looked up to where the furry Ottsel was, almost bouncing with apprehension as he looked at them from the bar counter. She immediately felt guilty; there was nothing she could have done. The council was way out of her jurisdiction, despite the fact that her father had been the Baron.

"I'm sorry, Daxter. There was nothing I could do. The council..."

"WHAT?!" shouted Dax. "What d'ya mean 'nothing you could do'? He saved the city! If it wasn't for him..."

"There was nothing she could have done," growled Torn. "There wasn't a thing that any of us could've done."

Daxter just stared. He couldn't believe his ears. 'Nothing they could do'. Bullshit. There had to be something, anything that could be done. He looked around the room to where Jak's friends were. Keira looked as though she would burst into tears. Sig cast his gaze to the floor, while Tess looked sympathetic. He then turned towards Samos. Surely ol' green had some trick up his sleeve. He had known before about when Jak would save the day, so who was to say he didn't know a way out of this one, too? The answer, however grim it was, was answered the moment Daxter looked into Samos' eyes. He was as lost in all of this as Dax was. All that Samos seemed capable of was to shake his head, avoiding Dax's pleading stare, as he said all that he could before the small creature ran out of the bar and into the streets.

"I'm sorry, but...it's out of my hands..."

------- [End flashback] -------

He continued running on all fours, seeing as how it was a much easier and faster way to travel. For a moment, he thought he was lost. He began to look around, squinting in the darkness for a light, any sign of life. As if he had asked, a light began to shine through the night. A light he recognized. A light which belonged to a certain person who could answer all of his questions.

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"What should I have tonight? The sunflower or the mixed? I can't decide."

Pecker was currently rooting through the different baskets that lined the tent he and Onin lived in. He had not eaten yet and was looking for something that would satiate his hunger.

"I had the suet yesterday. What do you think, Onin? Ah, what am I thinking, you probably know what I'm going to pick anyway, huh?" He then turned his attention to the woman in the middle of the room.

Onin was an elderly mute, blind prophet. The only way she could 'talk' was through Pecker, her interpreter. She had the ability not only to see into the future, but the past as well. Knowing what he would choose, she made several hand motions to indicate what to pick.

"Ah, good thinking! The peanut mix should be good!" He replied, turning his attention to the basket third to his left. He turned back to look at her, ready to ask what she wanted him to make for her, when she began to say something else.

"What? Company? Oh, why couldn't you have told me before, then I would have eaten earlier!" he whined, haphazardly tossing the lid back onto the basket. "Well, who is it? Ashelin, Torn, Samos? Oh, I bet it's Samos, isn't it!" he snapped his feathered fingers, as if he had guessed right, ignoring the frown growing on Onin's face. "Oh, I get it," he said slyly, "you want me to leave you two alone, huh? Fine, but I'll be home by twelve, so no weird things better be going on when I get home." He crossed his wings over his chest with a smirk plastered on his face.

Onin just shook her head. There was no use arguing now, since there was going to be some in just a little while.

"Well," said Pecker, giving up his game, moving to stand in front of her, "who is it?"

No sooner had he asked, Daxter came barging in; muddy, bloody, and out of breath. In his excitement for a possible answer to his prayers, he hadn't stopped running; causing him to get tangled in the door flap, lose his balance, and slam right into Pecker.

Though she may have been blind, she could only imagine the tangle they were in judging from all the noise they were making.

"OW! Get your foot out of my eye!"

"Oh yeah? Well, get ya tail off my leg!"

"Ewww, you're all muddy!!! I just bathed!!"

"Not from I'm standing, ya didn't!"

"JUST GET OFF!!"

After a few minutes of de-tangling, the two were free; both slightly dirtier than before, but free none the less. Pecker, still brushing mud off his feathers, brought his attention to Daxter.

"What is the meaning of this?!" He screeched, waving his wings, "Barging in like that? What do you think you're..." He paused, now having a better chance to look at him than before when they were preoccupied. Fur ruffled and completely muddy, stood Daxter, gasping for breath. He noticed that some of the mud was not mud at all, but rather a dark red, almost purplish, thick liquid. Not to mention the fact that Dax was all out of breath.

"It's Jak!" Dax huffed out, almost doubled over, resting his hands on his knees. "The...ta council...they're gonna send him away!"

"What about the Underground?" Pecker asked.

"They're useless! They're doing nothin ta help! I thought if I came here..."he broke off, as he tilted his head to have a better view of Onin.

Onin gently nodded her head. She knew what was to come and what she would have to do, but that made it no easier. She started to make gestures to Pecker, blue lights undulating from her finger tips. All Daxter could do was watch and wait for his answer.

Pecker, watching as Onin finished, turned back to face Daxter. "She expresses her regret in saying that there is nothing that she can do." He whispered, templing his wing-tips together. "She says the best you can do is to stick by his side."

Dax had almost given up hope. This was his last chance. No one else would help....what was he supposed to do now?

It was then that Onin started to 'speak' again. Daxter didn't notice, he was too lost in thought to notice. Pecker on the other hand took full notice but did not like what she was saying at all.

"WHAT?!!" Pecker was outraged. "You want me to WHAT! Are you nuts?! That's like asking me and fur boy here to become 'best buds'!" he added sarcastically. It was only then that Dax broke out of his thoughts, having been brought back by the sounds of screeching.

"What'd she say?" he asked, a puzzled look on his face.

"Oh, ah,.... nothing," Pecker replied awkwardly, "nope, nothing at all...nothing out of the ordinary here, nope, no sir-y! Well, good luck with Jak! Stop again sometime, like...uh, never. Ta-ta!..." he said, as he put his wings behind his back and began rocking back and forth on his feet.

Obviously, she had said something worth hearing, as she then showered him with bluish dust with a clap of her hands. Knowing he couldn't win, he began relaying her message.

Sighing with defeat, he put a hand to his face as he began to explain, already feeling a headache coming on. "Onin says that I should accompany you to make sure Jak's alright. She says 'you must guard him from danger'. The usual 'voodoo' stuff."

"...........What is she, NUTS?!" Dax exclaimed!

"See?!" Pecker said to Onin over his shoulder. Once more, the two of them were covered in dust.

"Oh, alright, alright already, yeesh!" Pecker groaned, flapping off the dust. "What's a monkaw gotta do to get a moment of peace round here anyway! Come on, fur ball, let's go. Don't wait up, Onin!" With that being said, Pecker turned towards the door and proceeded out.

Before heading out, Daxter turned back to Onin. "Thank you..." was all he said.

He was just about to leave when he could have sworn she just beckoned him over. Perplexed, he moved closer. She held one finger up to tell him to wait as she moved her other hand near her head. From underneath the bowl she wore as a hat, she pulled out a small piece of parchment. She smiled to him and preceded to hand it to him. It was old; yellowish in color and frayed around the edges with some writing on it. Daxter had no clue as to why she was giving him this, but figured it was important. He folded it into squares sections and placed it between his head and leather cap. Something to think about later, when he wasn't stressed out about Jak.

It wouldn't do him any good to ask her what it was, seeing as how the interpreter had just left. All he could do was smile and wave goodbye. Onin could feel his presence leave the room. She hoped Pecker would do as she commanded and protect the boy. All hope rested on his young shoulders; the darkness within him might very well be balanced later by the light, but that was to be seen. A prophet can only 'see' so far into the future, but at times, more frequently as of late, her viewings have been cloudy and uncertain. She knew it was almost time. Her only hope was that Pecker would understand later as to 'why'.

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End Chapter 2

Thanks again for reading! Hope I left you in suspense! (evil laugh)....ahem, sorry, couldn't help myself. Don't worry, all will be explain eventually. Thanks again!