I'm going to start skipping some time now, btw. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 6: It Can't Possibly get any Worse

Two weeks later, there was still no indication of Jak or his whereabouts. The loss of Jak hit everyone hard, leaving a sense of vulnerability to the recovering city and new government. Keira of course, was by far the most affected, but Daxter came in at a close second. Both hardly spoke or ate, and spent most of the time moping around. This was harmful on one's behalf.

Keira was going through some ne changes; not from the absence of Jak, but rather from when he had been there. She had not yet come to grasp with it, but Samos had. He could sense it, new life growing inside his daughter.

*

Two weeks had not treated Jak any better than the others he had left behind. His experiences weren't so difference from those that had occurred in prison.

The strange race that had taken him captive would usually begin Jak's day by taking him to a large room made with pieces of Precursor metal. There, they would force him down with their superior strength and stick him full of syringes flowing with dark eco. Next, the ominous creatures would prod and provoke Jak into his dark transformation. Jak would fight until the ends of his vigor, always losing in the end.

Each time, they increased his dosage of the dark substance, little to his knowledge. The only thing that was consistent was that Jak would be thrown back into his eco cage, drained of energy and dark eco after every 'fight'. Unknown to Jak, this process was slowly, but surely, training him and pushing him farther into his former aggressiveness.

There was one thing that his overtaking animalistic instincts did not affect, however, and that was the way he felt about Keira. He would lie there at night, (or at least he thought it was night, for they were somewhere deep underground) and think of the night they shared together, or his boyhood memories of them, being closely watched by Daxter of course. Daxter; when he thought about him he was glad that he was not there with him for once, Daxter wouldn't have done well in captivity; not like Jak was doing any better. All the same, he hoped to the Precursors that he had escaped back to Haven, alive and unharmed.

Tomorrow was new day, and Jak wondered what would become of him.

*

A month and a half later, the captors were now allowing Jak to win, but not kill, to build his confidence. And sometimes, when he allowed his dark side's mind take over, he was even beginning to follow their commands, and they in turn, were beginning to trust him a little, letting him roam about outside his cage sometimes.

The increased intake of dark eco was increasing Jak's healing and fighting capability, and intensifying his anger. Yet still he remembered those whom he loved and had left behind, however faded their faces were becoming in his thoughts.

Back at the palace, Keira was more or less content. Even considering Jak had been gone for almost two months. Her stomach was beginning to bulge and she felt comfort when she thought of a little piece of Jak growing inside of her. (Note: I'm making elves have a six-month pregnancy, so as not to drag this along too slowly) Although, this was not to say that she didn't miss Jak. On the contrary, her heart ached for him. She implored the Precursors that Jak would even be sighted, or give any sign that he was alive.

One morning, while Keira was wandering the hallways, and not paying attention, she ran into Torn.

Ever since he had sent Jak on that assignment down to the sewers, Torn had been feeling truly guilty, wishing that he had gone instead to meet that enemy. Seeing Keira made him feel worse, especially with her current situation.

Torn mumbled a 'sorry' as he hurriedly continued towards the communications control room. Keira watched him go as she instinctively put a hand on her stomach and wondered what the rush was.

Torn reached the communications room, finally, to see several former KG captains hustling about. He had been called down to check on an incoming signal from the outskirts of the city.

"I'm here. Accept the signal," Torn said, taking a seat in front of a hologram screen. One of the captains followed his orders, and the next thing Torn saw almost made him fall off his chair. There was Jak, exhausted and with a look of...fear? Torn had never thought of Jak as being afraid of anything. Ever.

"Torn!" Jak whispered hoarsely, "I only have a little time..."

"Where are you?"

"I don't know; somewhere underground. Where's Keira? Is she safe? Daxter?" Jak asked, now with a look of worry.

"They're both fine, they're here at the palace. But what kind of army are you being held by? How many?" Both men were concerned about different things, and evidently not getting the answers they were looking for.

"No...You cannot try to fight these things, they're dangerous, but they're beginning to trust me and I-," He never finished. Something flashed over Jak's head and there was the sound a struggle, then static.

"I want to know where that call came from exactly! Find the source of that call now!" Torn called over his shoulder as he ran out of the room. Jak was everyone's only hope – they were going to get him back.

Torn ran towards the throne room where Ashelin and Samos were discussing some minor eco problems in the city. He explained what had just taken place with Jak, but stopped talking when Keira unexpectedly walked in.

"What's going on? Someone told me that you got some kind of call from Jak?" The young mommy-to-be sounded concerned and excited, and looked to Torn for answers. Torn looked at her and thought fleetingly, how he had neglected to tell Jak about his impending fatherhood.

"He came through over some kind of communicator. The only thing he was able to tell is that he is somewhere underground and being held captive by dangerous beings," he closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose, immediately regretting saying the last bit.

"Is he okay?" Her voice became squeaky, as she was ready to cry.

"He looked okay, just tired," he lied. Jak had looked very beaten up, and what happened at the end of the conversation was definitely not something to be taken lightly.

Keira nodded and walked out slowly. Torn looked around the room and took a deep breath, "Looks like we've got a rescue to plan."

*

I know – you guys have probably read sooo many 'Keira's pregnant' stories, but I really wanted it to happen with this story.

Reviews welcome!