Chapter 8: "Contact"

The Precursor Temple was not only housing the monks after Frost's battle with Maia. The hulking, dinosaur-like cannon Metal-Heads guarded the long, winding slope up to the temple, as the ape-like, small, scorpion types, Leapers, and even the four-legged, hulking blaster-armed Metal-Heads all crawled over the mountain-side. There were even a few Metalpedes, occasionally visible as they thundered around crags to hide in the darker places they preferred.

And they were even inside the temple, much to the unease of the monks. The halls leading to the chamber Frost had been placed were simply brimming with the force he'd brought with him to answer Seem's distress signal. Clinging to the walls, ceiling, but mostly spread across the floor, even the ape-type Metal-Heads were almost anxiously waiting outside the small wooden door.

Inside, it was a room very like Seem's own, with a bed in an alcove in the left wall, and of similar size to the young monk's. However, this chamber featured a set of chairs and a table rather than a desk with a wall full of scrolls and books above it. A window was also nestled in the deepest surface of the alcove, letting light from the twilight sky gently drift over Frost himself. His hood was down beneath his neck, his head supported by a pillow, but he was otherwise in his usual attire and appearance. His claws had been placed gently on his front, right over left, and his body was quite straight, rather like Seem's own sleeping posture.

And the monk herself was seated on a stool next to the bed, looking down over him with her crimson eyes hazed over in thought. What wounds of his she could see, seemed to heal quite rapidly, and she imagined he would be fully recovered in less than a day more. What was curious, after all her treatment of him, and her patient vigil, she had not once seen the dark energies raging in his body come out of their own volition. Indeed, he had an exceptionally restful expression on his onyx face.

Coming out of her thoughts, Seem gently leaned forward, and reached out with her right hand. She ever-so-gently traced her fingers over the skull-gem in his forehead. Her eyes softened with consideration, her hand easing away faintly as she saw him physically relax even further at her touch. "You are so gentle beneath your rage… perhaps that is how you have restrained the energies…" she pondered aloud, just above a whisper. Seem's eyes became sympathetic again, and she lay her hand over his armored carapace, just above the gem. "I pray you find your peace, Frost."

Just outside the room, meanwhile, the younger female monk, who had been the last to leave after Frost's arrival, and the one to stand by Seem the longest, carefully eased her leg over a silent, docile Leaper Metal-Head, which was lying at the door like a tired old dog mourning its master. The young monk gently knocked on the door as she finally had her feet on even ground again, and listened with a faint jingle of the charms wrapped around her high-knotted hair.

The door opened smoothly, and Seem was looking at her, only to glance down and around at the Metal-Heads. The younger monk tipped her head. "My lady, as you see, the creatures are everywhere, but quite docile. I think they want to see him…"

Seem's expression became thoughtfully troubled, but she nodded without a word, and stepped aside within the room. Her younger companion did the same, and, indeed, a few of the closest Leapers and one of the ape-type creatures slipped inside, crawling up to Frost's bedside.

Seeing that they left a comfortable space around the bed itself, Seem gently moved back to the stool, sitting in their midst. She looked back to her young companion. "Leave the door open. It may agitate them to isolate him any further."

The other monk swiftly bowed, and vanished from sight. Seem looked back to Frost, and only wondered for a moment at her own ease with the Metal-Heads' presence. Yes, the darkness of their nature was palpable, but so was their complete calmness. There was no aggression or stress in their body language or general manner.

Focusing on Frost, Seem gently touched his shoulder, and bowed her head for a moment's prayer, whispering in the curious, melodic language once again. Frost gave a faint sigh, and she thought he might be waking, but he soon fell back into a deep rest as she watched him. The monk found herself smiling gently, glad she could at least offer some comfort to the poor man.

Her eyes were then drawn down to her left, where one Leaper was gently nudging its nose up onto the foot of the bed, giving a very quiet, rhythmic whine, indeed, very much like a hurt dog. Glancing down, she noticed its leg was injured, but had seemingly been healed. Seem considered the creature more directly, wondering if it was the same Metal-Head she had found Frost healing back at their nest. The creature itself just nuzzled Frost's foot for a moment, and then eased back down.

Feeling confident for a reason she couldn't identify, but also curious, Seem started to reach down toward the creature. She paused, glancing up in surprise as not only the Leaper itself quickly backed away from her, but the entire group of Metal-Heads in the chamber slinked back, as if afraid of her. They were behaving in a completely submissive manner, even the ape-type dropping his chin to the ground and crawling back, keeping his eyes averted.

At first she believed Frost had just woken up, by coincidence, but as she glanced back, she saw him completely asleep still. Her brow creased, and Seem stood away from the bed. The Metal-Heads shifted back, keeping their distance constant, one Leaper actually pulling back through the door. Now rather astonished, Seem stretched her left hand forward, just reaching through the air, and they split aside, parting at her mere gesture for her to pass.

"…Why…?" she breathed sincerely, looking across the creatures, controlling her mystification.

Then, focusing back down on the Leaper who had just nudged Frost's foot, she knelt down, gaining the creature's attention as it remained flat on the ground, and gently brought her hands, palms up, toward it. The creature eased further back, but then relaxed, and gently came closer, nudging her palms with the hard metal of its snout. It gave a low, gentle hiss, and remained crouched down before her, seeming to sniff the ground in front of her knees.

Fascinated, Seem gently brought her right hand up. The creature paused, hesitant, but allowed her to touch its head from above, and she began to gently caress it back along the skull-gem. The creature gave an appreciative hiss, its white eyes falling closed as it tilted its head back gently with each stroke of her hand. Seem's mouth was softly agape as she realized what she was doing, continuing to gently caress the creature with her pale hand. Even so, the other Metal-Heads did not come closer, nor did they relax from being completely submissive around her.

"…My lady…?"

Seem looked up to see her young friend had returned, and was staring in understandable shock at what the elder monk was doing. Seem offered a calming smile, and stood up from the Leaper, but paused herself when the creature instantly rushed down to the ground and eased away from her with a quick scuttle of its meal limbs.

The younger monk looked around. "…They are… afraid of you, my lady? Or…?"

Seem shook her head, but then turned, focusing back on Frost with an expression of surprised realization. "His mind… They…" she looked down, around herself, across the Metal-Heads. "His mind controls them…"

Her apprentice raised her eyebrows, blinking gently. "So they are doing what he does around you, my lady?"

Seem felt her cheeks growing warm, but nodded as she looked back to the younger monk. "Yes, exactly. And that is also why they are so docile. He is resting peacefully…"

"But they are not asleep, and the larger ones outside are standing guard for us…" She sounded as though she was much afraid of them as any possible intruders.

It gave her mentor pause, Seem glancing aside thoughtfully as her eyes tightened. "They are still independent creatures, however…" Her eyes widened, and she finally turned, walking back to Frost's bedside, looking down at him with great interest.

Her apprentice came up, gently stepping around the Metal-Heads in the room. "What is it, my lady?"

Seem's expression tightened with uncertainty, but also a vaguely wistful haze filled her eyes. "I think he is changing their nature…"

"Is that possible? Are they not forged of Dark Eco itself?"

Her mentor shook her head. "I honestly do not know, but I strongly suspect that to be true."

"How wonderful, if it is so, my lady."

Seem looked to her young friend, and smiled gently at the sincerely delighted expression on the younger woman's face. "How wonderful, indeed, Siluna."

Before anything else could be said, however, a communicator popped up, floating just beside the two of them. Seem focused on it as Sig's voice came through. "Seem, are you there? This is Sig."

Controlling her aggravation, Seem nodded to Siluna, who quickly bowed and left around the Metal-Heads. Seem then responded, "Yes, King Sig. How may I be of service?"

"I need your knowledge, Seem. Jak and Daxter got in some deep trouble finding an old Precursor artifact that was supposedly used by Mar to contact the Precursors themselves. They got it back here, but Jak's out of it, and you're closer than Samos and Onin."

Glancing down to the side, toward Frost without actually seeing him, Seem's expression tightened with anxiety. "…Will Jak recover?"

"He'll be fine, don't worry. Can you help me?"

"Please pardon me, my lord, but the temple was also attacked by Darken forces, and we were narrowly saved by … Metal-Head forces. I am afraid I am tending to the recovery of that matter."

"What?" Sig blurted out. "You were attacked as well? Unbelievable," he said in firm disgust. "Those damn, creepy-crawlies are just getting worse each day. Do you need support?"

Seem was hesitant, but replied, "No, thank you, King Sig. If you believe I can help faster than even Onin, I will—" she didn't have to finish.

"No, no, you're busy yourself, Seem. I'll just go ahead and contact Samos and Onin in Haven City. With Jak out of commission for a while, we can't do much anyway, I just wanted to check my resources."

Seem bowed toward the speaker out of habit. "I appreciate your understanding. I do not know of the device you mention myself, but I have scrolls on the matter to examine. I will see what I can find, but I am sure Samos and Onin will be of greater help even so."

"I appreciate it. Sig out."

And the communicator floated out of view. Seem bowed her head, letting her eyes remain closed. Afterward, she turned, stepping back to Frost's side, and touched his shoulder without sitting. "Rest, Frost. I will return soon…"

Seem started for the door, and watched the Metal-Heads part for her without any effort on her part; they simply cleared her path. Siluna spotted her, and hurried up to meet her mentor in the growing space. "My lady, what do you need?"

Smiling to her apprentice, Seem tipped her head. "Please bring me the scrolls on Mar in Frost's room. I may be able to learn something that will help King Sig while I watch over him."

"At once."

Watching the sincere young monk move away, Seem allowed her smile to remain, and returned to Frost's bed-side, to continue her vigil.

(Later…)

Morning light drifted through from a subtle landing and its gently flapping, pale white curtains. The room was rather like the one in which the Marauder survivor had been placed, square, spacious, and simply furnished, with a single, comfortable bed overhung by earth-toned sheets against the center of the back wall. Jak, his armor, jet-board, and morph-gun down against the left wall, was lying quietly in the bed, his arms over the blanket, and his eyes closed in rest.

Keira sat on the side of the bed, smiling gently down at him. She perked up a bit more when his eyebrows shifted, and he moaned. Drowsily, he opened his bleary eyes, but they quickly focused on her with a fond, wan smile. "My hero…"

The young woman blushed, giggling as she ducked her head down. "Just in the right place at the right time."

"It's all I ever did. Seems to make me one," her dear friend replied, maintaining his humor.

Playfully defeated, she just smiled at him, her eyes glistening in the early light. Jak's expression softened a bit as he noticed how the light sparkled across her blue-green hair, almost glowing around her like his own light form. He noticed her becoming considerate at his abnormal stare, a little anxiety pulling on her adorable features. Jak smiled easily for her, looking back into her eyes. "Sorry…" Pausing to confirm his choice to himself, he added, "You're really beautiful."

Her blush was much deeper and more serious this time, her eyes blinking a little wide as she pulled her head back. "J-Jak…"

Her hero just reached over and touched her left hand, which was resting on her own knee, the leg pulled up beneath her to sit further in on the bed. "Just being honest."

Keira's gentle, sincere smile, eyes, and relaxing frame emanated gratitude that didn't need words.

Clearing his throat, waking up more completely, Jak tugged himself upright. "That Zoomer does the job perfectly. You did it again, Keira." His fond smile remained.

Her adorable blush returned, and she shook her head. "No, no, it still needs a lot of work… It did enough for now though," she finished with a nod.

Jak returned the gesture, quite sincerely agreeing, and glanced to the small deck. "How much time have I cost us?"

Keira glanced over herself. "It's just the next morning, actually. Sig is already contacting the others to help figure out that artifact you guys found. Daxter and Tess have been spending some time together, too…" she trailed off, blushing a little again as she looked down.

Jak raised his eyebrows. "You were here the whole night?"

That her eyes remained averted and her blush turned almost scarlet gave him his answer. Sincerely surprised (since she really looked radiant despite an awkward sleeping position, for whatever sleep she'd managed), Jak calmed, and just leaned closer to her, wrapping his arms around her. Keira pulled herself to him with an appreciative little sigh, holding onto his back from under his shoulders. "…I don't know what I would've done without you… if I'd lost you…" she breathed.

"You'd hang in there, because you're strong, Keira… but thank you for saving me, even if just for this."

She squeezed, and he could hear her throat tighten with tears. Her eyes were shut tightly into his shoulder. "…I'm just glad I could be there for you this time…"

Jak's expression tightened sympathetically. He patted her hair softly with his right hand. "You're still blaming yourself for that…?"

"I could've done something… like Ashelin did."

Jak gently pulled Keira out to look into her pitifully watering eyes as she pouted up at him. "You believed in me," he said sincerely, looking into her eyes. "And I'm sorry… because there was a time there… when I really turned my back on you guys."

"We deserve—!" she gave a faint start as he cut her off.

"No, you didn't!" he said powerfully, gripping her shoulders. "Ashelin did help me realize that, but you all did. My banishment happened, alright? I don't know what you could've done either." His expression calmed, and tilted his head down. "…I forgive you."

It was all she needed to hear. She completely broke down into tears, but was smiling. Trying to hide her face in embarrassment with her hands, Keira actually laughed a bit through her tears as Jak pulled her hands down, and hugged her again. This time, when she returned it, it started to calm her, and soon they were just there, embracing happily in the early light.

The door knocking startled them both, and Keira pulled away, turning her face out to the deck to let her blush fade as Jak looked to the door. "Come in."

Sig pushed through, Daxter hitching a ride on his shoulder for once, and stepped up to the foot of the bed with a big grin. "Good to see you up, chili-pepper. How you feelin'?"

Jak glanced at Keira, who smiled back warmly, and looked back to Sig with a big smile of his own. "Pretty good, actually. So what's the situation?" he asked more seriously.

Sig nodded, Daxter hopping down onto the bed. "Here's the deal. I've contacted Samos and Onin in Haven City about that little gizmo you found. They said they'd find out what they can, and then come here. I tried Seem first, but it turns out the temple was attacked by more of those nasties, so she's busy with the recovery."

Keira and Jak shared their alarmed focus on the ruler of Spargus City. Jak managed, "She fended them off…?"

"Metal-Heads helped her, it looks like."

Jak calmed to a troubled look, Keira raising her eyebrows thoughtfully. The gold-green-haired hero started to pull the covers off of himself. "I think we should go check on her, see if they need help over there."

Sig raised a staying hand. "Whoa there, kid. You sure you're up for any kind of mission yet?"

Daxter leered at his friend. "Yeah. Or maybe you spent a little 'quality time' with Keira that wore ya out?"

Keira turned scarlet, staring down at her lap with wide eyes, her hands pressing into her leg, as Jak, red-faced for more than one reason, slammed his furry friend into the bed. "Daxter! You really need to learn when to draw the line!"

Sig couldn't help but chuckle as Daxter scrambled, his whining voice muffled in the bed-sheets. Jak finally let his friend up, holding his forehead in exasperation, Keira finally recovering with a nervous giggle. "H-He's just being Daxter, Jak…"

Daxter gasped for breath, glancing over at her. "Well it's not like the two of ya would be so embarrassed if nothing happen-WAGH!"

This time Keira dove at him, her hands clamping around his mouth from behind as she fell onto the bed, giving Sig and Jak a nervous smile and laugh as Daxter just sagged dryly, glaring up at the ceiling.

Shaking his head at his friend, Jak slipped off the bed, and started putting his armor on. "I'm good to go, trust me. Someone made sure I got plenty of rest," he finished sincerely, glancing over to Keira as she sat up.

She grinned, her overalls wrinkling as she finally stood up herself.

Sig was still smirking at the whole thing, his arms crossed. They all quickly faced the door when a Wastelander ran in, pointing back through the door. "My lord, Haven City ships are approaching the city. They've asked for permission to land inside the walls."

Jak finished placing his jet-board on his back, Daxter hopping onto his shoulder, and Sig nodded. "Let 'em on down. We need to see them anyway."

So the four followed the Wastelander down through the palace, out into the East part of Spargus City. Keira looked up, raising her hand above her eyes against the glare. "Two hellcats…"

"That was fast. I wonder what got ole Greeny so riled up?" Daxter muttered, crossing his arms as he stood on Jak's shoulder.

Sig, Jak, and Keira looked at him as if he had three tails. The ottsel sank his arms with a slow sigh. "Right, right… nevermind."

"Daxter!"

Tess came running up from behind, Daxter glancing back to her as she did so. "Sugar-tail!"

As he ran off Jak to greet her, Keira and Jak mouthed 'sugar-tail' to each other, confused.

"I heard about the ships from other Wastelanders!" Tess explained, and they both walked back to Sig's right, watching as the two ships eased around, landing amid blasts of sand over some of the exposed rocks in the hilly city.

Jak raised his eyebrows. "Ashelin, Torn? I didn't expect you two to leave the city…"

The Governor and commander of the Freedom League guard climbed out of the driving sides of the cruisers, Samos hopping down from Ashelin's, Onin easing out from Torn's with Pecker on her hat. Ashelin walked up with a half-grin. "Figured this was big enough to visit Spargus for. If you don't mind, King Sig?" she checked lightly with the big brute.

He just smirked back, nodding.

"Good to see ya, Jak," Torn greeted simply, tipping his head.

Jak returned it before Samos stamped his staff rapidly.

"Where's the device?"

Pecker squawked. "Yes, Onin says it is important to not waste any time at this critical moment."

Sig gestured back into the tunnel that led to the entrance of the palace. "Follow me, everyone. I have it in the throne-room."

(Later…)

Sig doubted the throne room had seen so many people in it since he'd become king, if not longer. Torn and Ashelin stood back, nearer the elevator, with Onin perched on a rock to the right of the central path, Pecker keeping himself in the air over her head, and Samos standing on the path itself, between the mystic and the two Haven City officials. Keira stood by with Tess and Daxter a little ahead, on the left side of the path, with Sig and Jak facing them. In the middle, floating by its own power above the stone walkway, was the glowing, metal cube Jak and Daxter had retrieved from the ancient chamber at the oasis.

Samos started, looking at Jak. "All we could discover for sure was that, apparently, only Mar himself could use the Oasis site to communicate with the Precursors. He never asked another to use it, but, on the other hand, no one else ever tried." His lips creased into a firm frown. "We also have no idea how he actually activated it. Ancient texts say that he simply spoke and they heard him."

Onin started gesturing as the others considered the information, Jak focusing down on the device. Pecker quickly interpreted. "Onin believes that you should be able to use the device, Jak, but that your guess as to how is as good as hers." He landed on her hat with rolling eyes. "Fat lot of help you are…"

A snap of her fingers and a fresh burst of sparkles made the monkey-bird squawk in surprise and fall into the water with a surprisingly loud splash. Onin just firmed her lips and breathed as the sputtering, colorful interpreter pulled himself out.

Jak shrugged, and reached down, pulling the device up to his face. "I don't know about being the original Mar, but Damas said we were part of that line, so maybe that's why it'll work…" he muttered to himself, and focused on one side of the device, into the glowing, circular gap in the dark bronze metal. "Anybody listening…?"

At first, everyone assumed something else would have to be tried, but the cube emitted a powerful chime that filled the throne-room along with a wave of light. Afterward, a curious cluster of voices clearly came from the cube, but the quality was unnaturally good, as if the voices were everywhere around them.

"Oh my goodness!"

"What's that?"

"T-That shouldn't be on yet… or hasn't been used for… Oh whatever…"

Though surprised, everyone in the throne room recognized the two voices. The Precursor leader and the idiot of the pair he'd had with him. The three Precursors had remained on the planet right up to being discovered by Jak, Daxter, and Count Veger during the Dark Maker crisis.

The leader continued in his lofty, proper, but rather high-pitched voice. "Hello, Jak. I see you've discovered one of Mar's resting places…"

Jak smirked. "I thought I told you to call me by the name my father gave me?"

"That would be rather confusing under the circumstances, Mar, but as you wish."

"Just making sure you remembered," the hero continued, quite amused for some reason. "We need your help."

The leader's voice came back a bit affronted. "Well isn't that nice? We offer to show you the stars and help protect the universe, and now you, after telling us to leave without you, are asking us to come back?"

Jak glanced up to the others, especially seeing the worried looks on both Samos and Onin's faces. "Something bad is coming, something you guys might not have prepared this planet for."

Curiosity took a moment to have its effect. "…What do you think is coming that we Precursors did not prepare you for? We put quite a bit of effort into these things, you know…"

"The Darken."

There was an ominous silence this time. When the leader's voice came back, it was grave and low, not like they'd ever heard before. "…We are changing course now, and will reach your world soon."

Jak blinked. "…Uh, thanks…"

"This situation is far worse than you realize, Jak," the leader continued. "The Darken is a foul entity even compared to the Dark Makers. He thrives on torture and misery. It is not just power he craves, but the very will of those who might resist him. …If you suspect his coming, I imagine there have already been attacks?"

"Yes. Creatures called Prowlers, and more powerful commanders. I barely fended one of them off with the light powers you gave me," Jak answered seriously, everyone else listening with rapt attention, even Pecker keeping his mouth shut.

"Yes, we feared as much. Every creature of the Darken is actually just an aspect of the original entity's essence, like Eco is part of our own. Still, I do not understand why he would aim so specifically for your world…"

"Seem…" Keira whispered.

"What was that?" the leader queried, apparently hearing her anyway.

Jak answered, "Keira, my… uh…" he blushed, looking over at her. Keira blushed as well. "…Good friend," he blurted out, remembering her own words from a quick spat with Ashelin nearly a year and a half ago.

Keira looked down, not sure how she felt about it, but Ashelin raised an eyebrow at the awkward interaction.

Jak sighed dismally. "Anyway, she's right. Seem… one of the monks who guards your secrets. She knew about the Darken first, sensed them, and also sensed a darkness here, on this world, drawing them."

The leader paused, but spoke with a manner closer to his usual, lighter air. "One of our monks…? Well, there! You see? I told you we prepared your world for these things! Anyway," he began again, back to being serious, "this is not something we Precursors can handle for you so easily. Do not assume our arrival will save your world. You all have a very hard struggle ahead of you."

"No kidding, man," another voice came over the cube, the distinctly vacant tones of a surfer clear. "This is, like, totally, majorly bad. That thing doesn't just remake worlds, he totally wrecks 'em. And if the big dude himself gets close enough, even Eco power isn't gonna do much good."

"Ye-eah!" an even more vacant, almost moronic voice cut in. "Didn't the last blast, like, bounce right off?"

"Oh shush, both of you! I've been stuck with you idiots for too many centuries already," the leader took over again, with the sounds of some bashing with his staff and the grunts and complaining of the other two in the background. "The point is, Jak, that we're going to need everything you can muster, if any of us are going to survive the coming conflict."

Jak firmed, and only replied, "We'll do what we can."

"See that you do… and where is the young monk? Seem, you said?"

Sig frowned, but Jak blinked, "Uh… she's… busy at the temple."

"Ah, of course. Those monks are a delight. I simply can't express how many head-aches they save us on countless worlds." The leader paused, and continued seriously, "Protect Seem. If she has become close enough to your world to sense the Darken when no one else could, then the world may be trying to tell us all something. We don't just build hunks of rock in space, our worlds our imbued with our essence, and can reach out to those who are willing to listen in warning."

Jak's expression softened. "Yeah… yeah, she's been a real help…"

Sig coughed faintly, and Jak remembered something else to address.

"Oh! Before you, uh… go… The Metal-Heads have a new leader, but he seems friendly. He's even helped protect Seem."

"The Hora-Quan do…? Hmm, this is interesting… Well, you should take all the help you can get, hero! Now go prepare your world! You will know when we arrive…"

And then the cube died away, falling limp in Jak's hands, the glow completely vanishing. He blinked, shaking his head, and looked around to the others, his eyes falling on Keira's, which were both attentive and saddened. Before he could speak to her, though, Samos cut in busily.

"If even the Precursors are worried for their lives, we're just about done. Sig, Ashelin, I think a full-scale alliance between the two cities is in order."

Sig nodded. "No problem. Just needed a reason."

Ashelin tipped her head. "Agreed. I'm afraid we'll be near it, though. We're only just beginning to get contact back with other cities in the wake of all the insanity these last two years."

Onin gestured rapidly, and Pecker interpreted, "Onin says that we should remember the Metal-Heads are still sizeable in number, and seem friendly to us now. We should look to their new leader for full-scale support."

Keira was trying to listen to something she knew was more important than her embarrassed, hurt feelings, but had difficulty. She suddenly looked up into Jak's eyes, and saw him sympathetically focused on her himself, even his hand reaching out a bit.

"Jak! What do you think?" Samos blurted out, twisting on one log-sandal.

Jak jerked, wincing, and exhaled. "Yeah, checking in with the new leader sounds like a good idea."

Sig set his hands on his hips. "Since we have some time, I think we should check in on Seem and the Precursor temple itself. I'm worried our dark little friends are gonna launch another assault, if they did already."

Samos and the others from Haven City gawked.

"The temple was attacked?" Ashelin blurted out.

"Yeah, old face-paint herself told us over the communicator," Daxter explained, trotting into the center of things with Tess not far behind.

Jak finally came closer to Keira, touching her shoulder. She looked into his eyes, and he opened his mouth. "Keira, I'm sor—!"

"Jak… oh, sorry…" Sig cut him off, but everyone turned and realized he'd interrupted something.

The young hero seemed dangerously aggravated, his eyes closed and his fists clenched, and Keira was looking down and away, blushing. Jak focused, and looked up at Sig. "Yes, Sig?"

"…I was just gonna ask if you wanted to come check out the temple, too…"

Caught between a good idea, since he was worried about Seem, and the situation he'd made with Keira, Jak seemed quite foul-tempered as he cringed, shaking his head. "I guess, yeah. Um… She said she was busy before, though, right?"

Torn coughed into his left fist as an excuse to look away from Keira and Jak, the others finding their own ways to end the embarrassing situation. Sig nodded to Jak. "You're right. I'll check with her."

He moved back to the throne to activate his communicator, the others filing up after him. Jak finally turned to Keira, touching her shoulder as they were the last ones down on the walkway. She looked up at him with some surprise, but he could also see a faint hope in her bright, beautiful eyes, saddened by his choice of words.

"…I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you like that. I wasn't… I mean… are we…?"

Keira blinked at him, a bit astonished at herself now that she was thinking about it. "O-oh!" she raised a hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry… too… I mean, we just hugged, we haven't actually talked about being…"

"Girlfriend and boyfriend, yet…" he muttered gently back, catching her eyes with his own again.

Her blush flared, and she nodded rapidly.

"…Do we know for sure yet?"

Keira found her expression softening as she looked at him. "…Not for sure…"

Jak smiled gently. "You'd like to think so then?"

She looked down to the side.

"I'll say girlfriend next time," he whispered in her ear, and gave her a peck on the cheek.

Shock exploded on her face, as did a fresh blush, and she looked up at him, touching her cheek where he kissed her. Seeing his happy expression, she lightened, giggling a bit, and nodding happily. "Thank you."

"Thank you," he emphasized lightly, and nodded back to the throne. "Let's hear what Seem has to say."

Agreed, they joined the others. Ashelin gave Keira a concerned look, and the other young woman was a bit surprised to see it, but smiled back. Ashelin returned the smile, nodded, and focused back on the communicator in front of Sig as he sat in the throne.

"Seem? This is Sig."

"A moment please," the young monk's rasped voice returned, a bit rushed and very quiet. They could all hear the noises of a door shifting open, and then being pressed slowly closed. "Yes, King Sig?" she finally spoke at her normal volume. "I have learned little of value regarding the device Jak found."

"Then I have good news for you," Sig replied, grinning with the others. "We contacted the Precursors, and they're on their way back."

Silence answered for several seconds. "T-That is… more than I had hoped for…"

Jak cut in. "This is Jak, Seem. The Precursors warned us not to relax. They want us to pull everything we can together to help fight off the Darken."

"Of course, hero," Seem answered. "Even our makers would consider this darkness a grave threat. I can sense that…" she trailed off ominously.

"Seem, can we come check in on you? Help with the temple?" Sig continued to change the topic to his own focus.

The monk exhaled slowly. "…I would prefer you did not. The situation here is… complex."

"We're worried they'll attack again, Seem. We don't want to leave you alone out there," Jak explained rapidly. "The Precursors even told us to watch out for you."

"Our makers…?" Her voice was strangely defeated as she muttered it. At length, she said, "I will not prevent you from fulfilling what you believe to be your duty, but when you come, please do not be alarmed by the Metal-Head presence."

They all shared a concerned glance, and Jak answered. "We're just worried about you Seem. We won't cause a problem."

"…I appreciate your concern. We will be here." And the communicator shut off.

Sig stood up with his peacemaker. "Alright… who's coming?"

Torn let his hands rest on the handles of his blasters. "I better stay here, start coordinating troop movement for our alliance, get the word out."

Ashelin nodded. "He can handle that, though," she gave him a wry half-smile, which made the commander quickly look down with a cough. "I'd like to come help, if I can."

Keira raised her hand. "And me. I can bring the desert Zoomer."

Jak smiled at her. "I'll go with Keira in the Zoomer. Sig, why don't you take Ashelin in the Dune Hopper?"

Sig nodded. "If you're alright riding with me, little lady?" he gave the governor a smirk.

Ashelin returned the smirk, nodding.

Daxter hopped up and down. "Hey! HEY! You're not leavin' without me, buddy!"

Tess pouted. "But Daxter… we were going to talk about plans for the wedding…"

Daxter twisted so quickly his neck popped. "You want to plan that now? With the world ending?"

"When better?"

Jak chuckled, crouching down with his friend. "I think you better stay with Tess for this one, Dax. Don't worry, this isn't even close to over. We'll stick it to 'em like always."

They punched fists, and shared a nod of agreement.

Samos stamped his staff. "We'll remain here as well. Get there safely." Onin offered her own gesture of safe wishes, Pecker waving with a wing.

Sig, Ashelin, Jak, and Keira returned the farewells for the moment, and hurried out of the throne-room, descending into the city, and to their vehicles.

(Author's Note)

First, sorry for the delay, especially for a chapter that didn't have much going on. I hope the character interactions were entertaining. As you can guess, my posting rate is going to slow down a bit more now, but don't worry, I'm still focused on this story, it's not abandoned.

As always, thank you very much for the glowing reviews. One of you mentioned grammar errors. Please email me what you saw, if you care to, as I'd be happy to incorporate any fixes when I re-post the first three chapters to fix those other errors. The positive reviews really help me keep focused, and critiques are always welcome. Edit: Been revising, and I did catch a few grammatical issues. I doubt I caught them all, so please let me know if you spotted them or sentences that just don't make sense for you

For those who may not know, since the issue of 'celibacy' came up. It's a vow, usually religious, that a person makes meaning they give up all romantic connections (no dating, no spouse, ever). It's generally a devotional vow, to show the person have given her whole life over to her beliefs. The Precursor monks always struck me as that type, so I went ahead and portrayed them that way in Dark War. I hope that answers any questions.

I'm going to do my best, but the next chapter may take a while to post. As you can see, the end-game is coming for this story, so I need to focus in on certain scenes, which are already long, and make sure they work. Thank you for your patience, please keep reading.