A/N: Dear, dear, it's been so long. I've been writing for this new fandom, Avatar: The Last Airbender. One story that I am particularly proud of, Floating Away, I have been writing a lot. But now, now comes the time for a double update of The Rejected! -throws party-

Thanks to all the reviewers and readers (Meowen, fluffys-sidekick, daxter the otsel, Emera Took, Yellow Drake X, ChibiSess, Ekobean, gohan11, baby-blues15, and shadows-of-flame) for being patient! Here you go! -gives out cookies-

Disclaimer: Meep. I only own my original characters and the plot. Everything else belongs to NaughtyDog and Jak and Daxter's creators.

Useful Things To Know

"Dialogue"

Emphasized Word

Sound

The Rejected

Chapter 9

Dark breathed in and out slowly, trying not to loose his concentration. Staying invisible for an extended period of time was quite a feat for the demon. He slowed his breathing even more, his heart thumping. It was difficult to remain calm. The creatures in the next room were so great, so powerful, even more so than him, he suspected. An unknown emotion was creeping into his mind, and it wasn't until he became visible again that he recognized it: fear.

He tried to summon the ability again, but to no avail. A creature almost spotted him, but his reflexes were quick enough so that he wasn't seen. Dark jumped up and clung to the ceiling, lurking in the shadows. He could not be seen. If he was seen, it would be catastrophic.

Silently scurrying along the wall, he prepared himself to enter the room with all the creatures. He crept very cautiously on the ceiling in shadow, hoping to the gods that he wouldn't be discovered. Inhaling slightly again through his nose, Dark noted that Arrah was being kept very close. It was going to be difficult to get her out without someone noticing.

Grasping out with his palm, he stuck his claws into the ceiling. Something dislodged from where he stuck his claws in, and Dark didn't wait to observe as the thing fell from where he'd been. A sickening feeling of disaster crept upon him, and he winced as the tiny piece of metal hit the floor with a sharp clang. He was in for it; he was doomed.

One of the monsters below looked up, did a double take, and roared out in some alien language. Some of the creatures began crawling up the walls, heading for Dark. There was no chance of escape with so many trying to get him. He tried his best to convince himself that there was nothing he could have done to prevent himself from being taken hostage, but knew otherwise.

This was his fault alone.

Jak sneered at the creature before him. It was Dark Jak, the one that had tormented him so long ago. The thing was going to die soon, but he wanted to keep it alive to give the Havenites and Spargusans a false sense of security. The demands of war were dire and terrible; few could really understand how things worked, but Jak knew better. He'd lived through enough wars to know such things.

"So, you thought you could sneak in here unnoticed? That your Host was that stupid and oblivious? Who sent you? Torn? Or was it Sig? Please, tell me, for this is very amusing," Jak said icily to Dark Jak.

Dark Jak hissed in response, a few flecks of Dark Eco crackling in the air. Jak wasn't affected by this; he was immune to it, almost sickeningly so.

"Ha! You don't fright me like you used to, Dark. Now that I think about it, it's almost… pathetic, really, the way you are so weak and feeble-minded."

Dark Jak just glared at Jak.

Jak raised a condescending eyebrow. "Fine, we just won't get information from you. I'll just have to give Torn a deal he can't resist…"

Dark Jak just continued to glare.

Torn flicked on the transmission machine proudly. He'd found a way to keep a private channel between Haven and Spargus with Keira's help. Now he was in Haven City, communicating with Sig over the transmission machine.

"Dark went out a few hours ago and hasn't returned. We don't know where he is," explained Torn.

Keira jumped into the conversation. "Yes, he said he was going for a walk and said he wanted to go alone."

Light sighed. "My brother is rather rash sometimes."

"Well, I'm not sure what we can-huh? I'm getting outside interference! How is that possible?" shouted Sig's head. Sig's head disappeared and in its place, Jak appeared.

"Torn! Sig! I still have your Wastelander. I don't want to harm her! But this time, I'll offer you a person for person. Give me Light and I'll give you back Arrah," exclaimed Jak over the transmission.

"What!" shouted Torn.

"Where is Dark?" yelled Keira.

Light sighed once again, speaking directly to Jak. "Greetings, Host," he said dryly.

Jak narrowed his eyes. "You! Ugh."

Light kept staring at Jak in indifference. "If it really need be, I will gladly hand myself over for the safe return of the Wastelander Arrah."

"No!" Keira cut in, "You're not! We won't let you."

"Yes," agreed Torn, "I don't want more any more people dying."

Sig's head popped up again. "Haven and Spargus will not give up on Light or Dark! You're not getting either of them!"

Jak's head appeared again. "But that is where you are wrong, King of Spargus. I already have Dark. All I need is Light and I'll leave your planet."

Keira gasped. Light shook his head.

"Host! Leave us!" Light bellowed, cutting off the transmission to outside of Haven and Spargus.

Sig's head popped up. "Torn? What do you think?"

Torn rubbed his temples slightly. At last, he responded. "Get some troops ready, just in case. Two hostages is way over the edge. We have to rescue them."

Sig nodded. "Over and out." His head disappeared and the transmission stopped.

"So, what do we do now?" questioned Keira.

Torn's eyes narrowed. "We make war."

A/N: That… was cheesy. WAY cheesy. Like Bleu Cheese cheesy. Nyah. Ugh.

Anyways, on to the next chapter! (Double update, remember?)