Chapter VI: Life in the Year 2269

LES: Keira chapter. This one was a hard one to write, just because I so want to get to Jak, that it's like, I don't want to be bothered with this, but the fast I get this over with, the faster I can get to Jak.

March 20, 2269.

'Dear Diary,

I know what you are wondering. Why has it been five hundred and five days since I last wrote? Well, the truth is… it's only been five days. Somehow, that Precursor Ring took me far into the future. Now I'm stuck in a city called 'Haven City' which is ruled by a tyrant, under constant attack from these mysterious 'Metal-Heads', but I have also been separated from Daddy, Jak, and Daxter. And I have no idea where to begin looking. It scares me to think of my Jak, wandering these dirty streets. I can only hope that he has found somewhere safe to stay.

As for me, a nice 'slummer' woman named Carla has been kind enough to take me in. She is a very nice woman, but it is hard for her to feed one person, let alone two. (She is a widow, her husband disappeared, probably dead, and her son is gone too, also probably dead.) I have a feeling that I should get a job to help out. Besides, if I got out into the City more, perhaps I could find Daddy, Jak, or maybe Daxter.'

Keira set the diary down and sighed. She looked out the window in her small room and watched as a small child, no older than seven, pick though some garbage in an alleyway across the street. The child's whole body was the color of dust because; well… he was covered head to toe in dust. Keira got up and walked down towards the kitchen. Carla was making toast, and she pushed a single lock of green hair out of her eyes.

"Toast?" She offered some to Keira as she entered. Keira accepted the toast and took a bite. It was slightly burnt, but Keira wasn't going to refuse it. Beggars can't be choosers. She thought to herself as she ate the toast quietly.

Suddenly, the peace and quiet was shattered by the sound of an enraged man just outside. "AUGH! Run! You damn, stupid-ass zoomer!"

"Ignore it." Carla said calmly, but Keira was already gone.

Keira walked up to the man and his troublesome zoomer. From behind, she could tell he had brown hair and a slim build. "Excuse me?" Keira asked politely. "Can I help you?"

The man turned around and glared at her. His eyes were brown also, but a shade lighter than his hair. "There's nothing a silly little GIRL like you could help me with!" He spat.

Keira was slightly taken aback by this, but she didn't waver. She glanced at the zoomer, and grinned as she knew what was wrong with it. This guy obviously didn't know a thing about zoomers. She quickly let her fist fly and she slammed it onto the hood of the zoomer, ignoring the man's protest. However, just as Keira knew it would, it started. The man stared at her and Keira grinned smugly back at him before walking away.

"Wait!" The man called out as he ran after her. He caught up to Keira and spun her around. "How did you do that?" He asked in amazement.

"Simple." Keira replied. "Your power supply was knocked out of place. I merely bumped it back into place."

"Are you a mechanic?" The man asked.

"I dabble with machines." Keira answered, being humble.

"Are you interested in a job on a racing team?" The man asked.

Keira blanked. Hadn't she just written that she needed a job this very morning? "Yes, of course I will!"

"Good." The man said, getting out a piece of paper and writing an address on it. "I'm Tigran, by the way." He said, handing Keira the note. "Be there tomorrow at noon… don't be late." He hopped back on his zoomer and took off.

Keira looked down at the piece of paper. It said: 'Mar Memorial Stadium, Garage Three.' Keira slowly went back into Carla's house.

Carla looked up at her. "What was all that about?" She asked.

"Some guy named Tigran with zoomer problems." Keira said. "I fixed it for him, because I've always had a thing for machines. Anyway, the guy was so impressed that he offered me a job!"

"Really?" Carla asked. "That's great! Where?"

"This place called 'Mar Memorial Stadium.' Garage Three, tomorrow at noon." Keira said.

"Good." Carla said. "I'll take you there tomorrow."

"Just… how big is this city?" Keira asked.

"Pretty big." Carla answered. "Haven City is almost completely self-sustaining. There are only a few places outside these walls that are part of Haven, and only a few people go out there every year. No one else is allowed outside, the Baron kills anyone who tries… not that many people try to go out there…"

"Metal-Heads?" Keira asked, Carla nodded. "What do Metal-Heads look like?" Keira asked.

"I don't know." Carla said. "I've never seen one, and I don't plan to. However, I know that Metal-Heads come in many different species, but they all have one thing in common. A glowing yellow skull-gem on their foreheads. Thus the name: Metal-Heads."

"Yellow gems?" Keira asked. She was remembering back in Sandover… large monsters had flown from the Ring, and they all had yellow gems on their foreheads, including the monstrous one.

"That's what I've heard." Carla said, shrugging. But then she reverted back to a Metal-Head-free conversation. "So working at Mar Memorial Stadium, huh?" Keira nodded. "Must be involved with racing." Carla said happily. "Racing is the biggest sport in the City, and there's a lot of money involved, especially Erol's team." Carla added the last part with disgust.

"Erol?" Keira asked, confused. "I've heard of him, who is he?"

"He's the Baron's right hand man." Carla explained. "He's a worm of a man, but he happens to be the Grand Racing Champion of Racing in Haven City, maybe the world. He's never lost a race that he's entered." Carla paused. "However, I wouldn't want to work for him. He runs the Baron's more… questionable projects."

"How did you find all this stuff out?" Keira asked.

"My husband." Carla said. "He found these things out. He was… a Krimzon Guard… pretty high up, too. Perhaps that's why he's gone…"

"What do you mean?" Keira asked.

"He might've found out something he shouldn't have." Carla said. "The Baron is very good at making people disappear. He even made our King disappear… how I wish he was still around."

"Haven City had a King?" Keira asked, she couldn't remember being told this.

"Oh yes. King Damas Mar, Queen Anastasia Mar, and young Prince Mar." Carla said. "Damas and young Mar were the direct descendents of Mar, founder of Haven City."

"What happened?" Keira asked.

"Well, like I said, King Damas disappeared. His wife, Anastasia, disappeared also. Their only son, Prince Mar, is gone. Every now that then, there are rumors of their sightings, but they are never confirmed."

"How sad." Keira breathed.

"Well, they were great rulers." Carla said. "They will be greatly missed. One can only hope that Prince Mar will survive though the years and come back to rule us, or at least keep the line of Mar alive."

"How old would he be if he is alive?" Keira asked.

"Five." Carla answered. "So, you see, we can't put our faith in Mar yet, if he is alive. He is far too young to take the Throne. Even if Mar came back, Praxis would be able to hold the Throne, and Mar would make a disappearing act well before he was old enough."

Keira nodded, it made sense. A five-year-old kid couldn't rule an entire City. Keira looked up at Carla and was surprised to see that she was near tears. Keira, not wanting to pry into other people's business, got up slowly and left Carla alone in the room.

Once Keira was gone, Carla burst into tears. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small metal object, and held it to her chest. "I miss you… so much…" She sobbed. She opened her palm and looked down at the one object she had left that reminded her of her lost husband and son. A small tear landed on the cold, golden metal. It was a small amulet, the Seal of Mar.

LES: Bum bum bum buuuuum! Carla actually had several 'secret lives' before one stuck. First, she was going to be Keira's long-lost mother. I scraped that. Then she was going to be Sorus' wife, that one went down the toilet. And now… well, if you haven't figured it out, I'm not going to say. Jak chapter next, along with the long awaited torture scenes!

Jak: Awww, man!