A/N: Thanks so much to everyone for reviews. You all really don't know how they can make my day! Words can't express my gratitude… So, just for the reviewers, another chapter. Oh yeah, Light Jak is called Light, to let ya know.

Disclaimer: …………They're not mine! -Sniffle-
Helpful Stuff 'n' Stuff

"Dialogue"

Thoughts

'Dark Jak's Telepathic Dialogue'

Emphasized Word

The Rejected
Chapter Three

Keira was astonished at what had happened in the past twenty-four hours. First, there had been a massive massacre, and then Sig had sent it, no, him away, perhaps the only being she could even relate to out in Spargus. She missed the company terribly, and spent most of her time with Sig in the throne room and the Arena.

Now she was filing records in the new addition to Sig's Wasteland Palace, the Great Library. Sig would be an efficient ruler for the people, the first to keep records for Spargus. Keira was glad Sig ruled.

Keira sat down on a nook by a high window and sighed. She was exhausted from hours of reading, writing, and organizing. As she glanced out the window, a brightly glowing being broke her monotony of the endless day.

"Light!" she called out, happy to see the angelic being. Light grinned, and flapped his wings as he landed inside the open window.

"Keira! How is the sea?" he asked her. She smiled with a full face and offered a bit of blissful conversation, until she reached the news of the fate that had befallen Dark.

Light frowned. "So I've heard."

"Yes, he's at the-"

"Temple? I know, Keira. I've spoken with Seem and she discovered something that is very disturbing… Have you noticed that blue star in the sky? Well, it's not a star at all; it's a ship. In fact, the very same ship that Mar and the Precursors and Governor Ashelin left in three years ago."

Keira gasped. Impossible. "Why?"

"We have yet to discover a motive for their return, but… I have several theories, all rather unpleasant… Torn said he received a transmission from a ship but he failed to respond and it was lost."

Right, Keira mused. She had an uncomfortable feeling that they would be returning with hostility…

Torn sat in the government building of Haven City, watching a N.Y.F.E. race on a holo-screen. Samos was around, tending to plants inside the upper level where Torn lived. Samos lived with Onin and the birdbrain in her tent, which had been relocated to the newly renovated Bazaar sector. Samos assumed that Onin was the granddaughter of the Bird Lady from Sandover Village, whatever that meant.

"All right! Go Keli! ONE MORE LAP!" Torn bellowed, cheering on one of his old buddies from the days of the Underground. What a time he'd had with that kid… She'd been a smart ass like Daxter had, and always offered competition to any who challenged her because of her headstrong nature. She'd found a passion for racing after being introduced to Keira at the Race Garage two years ago, and been a very close friend to Torn even since Ashelin left.

Torn whooped as Keli finished first, and figured he'd head down to Damas Memorial Stadium to congratulate her. Suddenly, he'd found himself with nothing to do for the past six months after the rebuilding of Haven City ended, other than doing a few odd errands for citizens and watching races. Having tried racing once, and officially hating it, the citizens rarely saw Torn doing anything, as there were no Metal Heads to fight off or KG rebellions or poverty or anything. Though the duty of running the city fell on his shoulders, few recognized the elf as Governor, and saw him more as an upper-class citizen with combat skills and an average Joe sometimes caught hanging out at bars.

He tramped down the stairs and headed for the elevator to the city outside when he noticed a sudden sound of static from the holographic radio transmitter in the middle of the room. At first, there was just the first usual holographic pink orb circling around and around, but then he noticed a- face?

"Torn, come in. Torn, are you there?" called an oddly familiar voice. Torn approached the center table slowly, eyes flashing with disbelief.

"Ashelin!" What the hell is she doing here? Damned woman…

"Torn! There you are! How is the city? How are you? Where are Dark Jak and Light Jak?"

"Hang on, what? How are you here? You left!" he shouted at her.

"Yeah, I know, but I'm back! And so is Daxter and Tess and my guy, Mar, here."

Jak's face appeared in place of Ashelin's, and he had a serious tone to his face.

"Torn, you need to tell me, now. Where are my alter egos?"

"Whoa, where are you?" asked Torn.

"On the Precursors' ship, and they're fighting Dark Makers on Twilaris in the Taiwinian System. But you need to tell me where Dark and Light are!" he order in a loud voice.

"Why do you want to know, Jak?" interrogated Torn. This was getting really suspicious…

"Huh? Oh, right, my old name…" said Jak, "Well, you know the Dark Makers, they've taken over another planet. The Precursors are fighting them, but when I tried to help, they said that they no longer needed the help of only a third of myself, that I had abandoned my brothers, and that Light and Dark and my wish were the cause of this fiasco. I honestly have no idea what that means… But then Ashy (CURSE YOU, JAK!, Torn yelled in his head.) thought that maybe it was because my… alter egos were still around and living on this planet. They have to be eliminated, for the safety of the planet."

Torn stared with hazy eyes at the holographic projection of Jak, not believing what he saw and heard.

"Look, maybe I'll talk to you when you land… Keli just won the Class Two Race and I want to bring her some flowers. I'll see you around."

Torn shut off the transmission before Jak could respond, and banged his fist on the table, while screaming a curse. Then, Torn did something he hadn't done since his pet Geramster died when he was ten years old. He cried.

Dark thanked Seem for the Leaper and rode non-stop through the Wasteland for two days. He gasped in wonder as he spotted the high walls of Haven City to the East. He pushed the exhausted Leaper Lizard on. Just a little more, and he'd be back. And then he'd take the Leaper to the farmers in the Agricultural Sector and have them take care of it until he needed it again.

The buildings stood out easily on the night sky as Dark stared in wonder at the lit-up city-state. Finally he found an airlock and entered the city. Looking out at the old Canal sector, the sounds of Zoomers above, citizens walking the streets, and children playing greeted him. Dark stayed in the shadows, creeping slowly along with the Leaper following behind him.

He met up with a generous farmer who agreed to nurture the Leaper along with her heard of yakows. The poor woman shivered as Dark walked away from her. Dark sensed it and was saddened. He'd only been familiar to the citizens of New Haven, and had rarely left the area when he'd lived here in the past.

Dark took a parked Zoomer to New Haven, right to the very heart of Haven City, the Government building where Torn would be. He took the elevator up and spotted a dark figure crumpled on the Holographic Radio Transmission Machine.

'Torn?'

Well, there ya go. Reviews are very much welcomed and even more appreciated. Thanks in advance and check out some of my other stories if you'd like to.