A/N: Many thanks to Tripleguess for their kind words and review! I'm glad you enjoy the story! I'm afraid I don't have a real legit reason for the other KG members calling him a 'freak'. Basically it's just because he isn't normal by their standards. Instead of hanging out, partying, racing zoomers, orthings like that, Keane happily spends his time in solitude practicing his fighting techniques and such. Plus the KG are immature.

Other: Italics indicate a flashback/dream sequence


Chapter Four


Keane watched with fearful eyes as the man walked briskly away. He could hear his footsteps get further and further away until at last he was left in complete silence. Trembling he rose wearily to his feet and looked at the small cell he had been thrown in. The walls that surrounded him were all made of smooth metal, and the floor beneath him was rough concrete. A dilapidated cot sat awkwardly on three legs against the back wall, and a tattered blue blanket lay rolled up in a ball on top of it. The only window was the small one at the very top of his door that allowed his captors to peer in on him every now and again.

Keane walked over to the cot and sat gingerly on it. In response to his sudden weight, the cot shifted violently before crashing to the floor. Keane coughed as the cloud of dust engulfed him before it settled back down. Dusting himself off, he leaned his back against the cool metal and hugged his knees close to his small body. The only thoughts that ran through his head dealt with where he was exactly, where his parents were, and what was going to happen to him. He trembled once more before soft tears began streaming down his face.

In another section of the Fortress, behind a closed door two men argued over the boy. A sneering voice could be heard, followed by a deeper one.

"My men were not informed that the Faolan's had a son sir."

"That is not a valid excuse Commander. I told you to bring me Phelan and Siofra, not some worthless child. You know better than to defy my specific orders."

"I know Baron Praxis, but perhaps this child could be of some use to us." The Commander stated calmly.

"Use to us? What the hell do you mean Commander! That child is only taking up space, and I expect you to have taken care of him by tonight. Do you understand?" Praxis's voice rose and one could hear him pound his fist hard against something.

"Of course Baron, I understand fully." The Commander knew better than to question the Baron's orders, but he decided to go out on a limb. "I was just suggesting that you do not overlook enlisting the boy into our newest KG operation. The boy is strong, and his father seems to have taught him some of his own ways. With the right 'coaching' I'm certain he could become a very valuable asset in the future."

Silence fell between the two, as the Baron seemed to think things through. At last he spoke, his rough voice calmed considerably.

"You have persuaded me Rayner, the first stage of the process shall begin tomorrow. I hope you are right about this boy, for your sake."

The door opened and Rayner stepped out, a grim smile set upon his tattooed face. He strode down the hallway back to where the prisoners were kept. He stopped by Keane's cell, looking in through the window with narrrowed eyes. The boy was curled up on his cot.

"Sleep now you little brat, for tomorrow your life begins."

Present Day

Keane opened one eye softly, for the other one was apparently swollen shut, and waited until it came into focus. He was in a damp, dimly lit room. The smell of burning wood greeted him, and he watched the light from the flames dance upon the wall opposite of where he lay. The room was small, and there was a desk setting in the middle of it. Several stacks of paper littered the desk, and posters showing various maps and such had been tacked to the wall behind it.

Groaning Keane ran a bandaged hand through his hair, and looked for where his captor might be. The last thing he remembered was a sharp pain in the back of his skull, and the noxious breath of a large Metalhead. Shaking his head softly he wondered just what he had gotten himself into.

"Ah! I see you're awake. You took quite the beating from those Metalheads my boy. Our Medic fixed you up though."A man chuckled softly.

With his good eye, Keane searched for the source of the voice, and was surprised when he found it. A short green elf stood in front of him, a thick log running through his dark green afro. A speckled bird egg of some sort lay nestled in his hair, as if it were a nest. The man's spectacles made his beady eyes appear quite large, and he had some odd form of platform shoes attached to his feet.

Keane shook his head in disbelief, surely he must be dreaming. If he didn't know any better he'd venture to say the man before him was a Martian.

"Uh yeah, thanks." Keane mumbled softly, turning away from the green elf before him. Suddenly bits and pieces started to come back to him. Erol, the mission, his men.

"My men! Where are they? Are they alright?" Keane spurted out.

"Easy there boy. A large cruiser came and picked them up shortly after my men found you. It's a good thing they found you too, the state you were in!" The man smiled warmly at Keane.

Keane nodded but felt the anxiety rising inside of him. He needed to get back to the Palace as soon as possible. He needed to find out what had happened, and of course, he needed toget back to work.

"Where am I? And how do I get back to the Palace?" Keane spoke quickly, his manners leaving him. He sat up abruptly, grimacing at the shot of pain that surged through his head as he did so.

"Calm down. I'm afraid I can't reveal your exact location but you're currently in a portion of the Slums. The Palace isn't too far off, though I don't know why you'd want to return there." The man bitterly spat out the last part, turning away from theKeane as he did so.

Keane was slightly taken aback by the man's last comment. Had this man no clue who he was?

"I sir, am the Lieutenant of the good Baron's Krimzon Guard. I intend to return there to carry out my duties." Keane remained calm as he explained this to the man, careful not to reveal his name just in case. The green man gave a look of disgust at the mention of the Baron.

"I told you he was an enemy!" Suddenly another man's voice rang out, and Keane watched as a lanky man leapt out of a shadowed corner of the room. The man had striking blue eyes and curly brown hair, but his appearance wasn't important to Keane. What was important was the gun that the man held in those thin hands, and the laser sight from it that was pointed directly at his heart.

"Calm down Dorian! We were well aware of the fact that he was a member of the KG when we picked him up, or can you not see his tattoos?" The green man's calmness left quite suddenly as he turned sharply and addressed the man who held the gun.

"So remind me again why exactly we picked him up in the first place? Do we want the Baron to know about us? Why don't we just put out a big sign with flashing lights, that oughta work quite well." The man spoke feverishly and gestured with his head towards Keane. Keane was doing his best to remain calm during all of this, and he sat perfectly still on the bed.

"I have not told this man who we are Dorian, though if you do not bite your tongue it will not prove to be very difficult for him to figure it out. I believe I have already explained my actions to you once before, so please do keep out of this." Again agitation was present in the green man's voice, and he glared angrilly at Dorian.

Keane's head began to spin as he began totake in everything the two men before him said. Obviously these people were against the Baron, and Keane found himself agreeing with this Dorian fellow, in wanting to know why they had saved him. But he didn't have time for questions; he needed to get back to the Palace.

"Will everyone please just shut up? Look I can tell when I'm not wanted, so if you'll please excuse me I'll just be taking my leave." Hints of sarcasm present in his voice, he climbed gingerly out of the bed, ignoring the laser sight that still focused upon him.

"Why not let me shoot him now? Once he squeals to the Baron we're dead. The Baron and the KG will be on us in a blink of an eye and all that we've worked for will have been a waste of time." Dorian cocked his gun.

Keane's hand instinctively went to his left thigh, where he drew his dagger out with his good hand. Keane stared the man down coolly, prepared to defend himself if necessary.

"Both of you stop it this instant! There will be no killing going on, not while I'm here. Sir you are free to go and Dorian I need to have a word with you." The short green man's face was flushed with anger as he turned to Dorian, stressing the last part of his sentence.

Keane smirked and placed his knife back in its sheath. Picking his KG armor up off the floor beside his bed, he turned andlimped gingerlyoverto the door. As it opened, he waved sweetly at Dorian before hobbling upthe steps and exiting out into the slums.

Keane took a look around, noting that he was in a dead end. He began to walk away before curiosity got the better of him. He limped back over to the door, carefully standing far enough to the side sothat it would not slide open. Pressing one slender ear up against the hollow wall he listened intently. Inside, Keane could hear the green man speaking calmly to Dorian.

"I told you, that man is Keane Faolan, Phelan's son. Keane was enlisted in that Secret KG Operation as a small child. We're not entirely sure what he endured during that time, but he has inherited his father's strong will and determination and we have high hopes that he will be able to fight the…"

Suddenly Keane heard quick footsteps approaching from the opposite direction. Stepping briskly away from the wall, he looked around anxiously for a place to hide. His heart pounded against his ribcage, as he tried to keep his cool.What a time to be stuck in a dead end.


Yes, I know I suck at cliffhangers. This chapter showed a little bit more about Keane's past, though that's all I'm going to say for now. All Jak and Daxter fans of course know who our wonderful log headed man is, sorry if he was OOC slightly.

But for now reviews and comments are greatly appreciated. I'm very interested in knowing what you think, and any advice or ideas you might have.