Jak, Daxter and I walked into Samos' Old hut, I being Reminded of all of our Memories here. Especially the one when we were Tasked with restoring the Warp gate at the Blue Sage's home after the incident at Misty Island. It might've been a tough task at the time, but it was nothing compared to what we faced now. Metalheads, corrupt government, dark eco powers… It seemed all too simple back then.

"I spent many a day cleaning up this place for ol greenie." Daxter said as we looked around for the life seed Old Samos sent us for. I spotted it floating above, I reaching out for it and it floating down to my hands.

"How did you do that?" Jak asked as I passed it to him.

"I don't know. Maybe it likes me." I teased, he rolling his eyes.

"Good Work you two and Daxter I suppose. Before We came through the rift long ago, I was nurturing that life seed from the great tree. It seems the metalheads are attracted to its power. Take the seed to Onin now. She will prepare it for Samos." Old Samos said through the floating communication device.

"eh, you mean you?"

"The other me, Daxter! My younger self needs the seed's power to become Sagely."

"So. Let me get this straight. It's fair to say that bringing your younger self the life seed now, we helped you become the sage you are today. We helped you get your powers in the first place! And you never thanked us?!" Daxter exclaimed.

"Thank you, Daxter, Now Go do it!" Samos yelled through the device.

"Wait a sec. You get your powers from a seed? Are all Sages different?" I asked him.

"Yes, Zoe. Unfortunately, when we came through the rift, we were not able to access the necessary materials needed for you to become A proper Sage. The facility that you three destroyed in the fight against Gol and Maia held secrets to the dark eco. It was lost forever." He said.

"So was my father." I said coldly.

"Er… Yes. Tragic as that was you still need to take his place. Controlling it was your first step and you cannot do it."

"I'm trying, Samos." I said before turning on my heel and walking out of the hut a pulling my gun out from my holster and preparing for a fight.

****(later at Onin's Tent) ****

"Hello Onin. Pecker." I greeted.

"Onin says, what took you so long? We had to skip lunch waiting for you three! Ugh. Okay, okay. She really says, thank you for saving the life seed. But I wouldn't say that if I were her." Pecker said as we walked by him, ignoring his antics. "Give Onin the seed. She will prepare it for Samos."

Onin began her magic, I watching intently. If she was able to unlock the potential magic of a seed… maybe she could- No. I shook my head. Thinking I was completely Hopeless like Old Samos probably thought. Like everyone thought.

"Mhmm Birdseed." Pecker said as he watched.

"Back off Featherweight!" Daxter said to him.

"Listen Tiny tail! I was leading 100 flocks south before you had fur one between your legs! Not that your fur means anything." Pecker snapped back.

"At least I'm not some overstuffed over yapping feather dusting mouthpiece for the world's oldest professional! Jak says have a nice day. Jak says I can't think on my own. Jak says go bite yourself!" Daxter retorted, Mocking pecker.

"That's it Rat boy! Now you really pissed me off!" He yelled as he both of them got in kung-fu stances.

"Knock it off, both of you." Jak said.

"You're lucky I'm famished. Onin says Take the energized life seed to Young Samos in haven forest. It will give Samos the power he needs to finally see the forest from the trees. Go, Quickly." He says as he waves us off after Jak grabbed the seed, we exiting the tent. As soon as we entered the busy market, my communicator went off. I answered it.

"Zoe, I have a request to ask you." Kor's voice came through.

"Uh sure."

"I need you to come to the power station to watch the kid. I do not trust Vin."

"Reasonable. I'm on my way." I said, putting it away and turning to the boys. "Sorry. You guys will have o have fun without me. Take the zoomer."

"Everything okay?" Jak asked. I nodded, passing him the key.

"Yeah. I got to Babysit." I smiled.

"Oh fun. Have a nice time." Daxter waved as the both of them mounted the electric blue zoomer and sped off towards the direction of the forest. I sighed, pulling up my hood and began my walk to the power station. I passed by many people, not many giving me a second glance. Was it not true what Erol said? That Jak and I gave people hope? I thought the idea of two monsters running around in human's clothing would terrify people. It certainly terrified me. Not knowing when the dark eco was gonna go off, I becoming the monster my father was. His Grey-blue skin… Yellow eyes and long white hair. Samos told me before we confronted them that he tried to warn my father against the Efeects of long term eco but neither of them listened. At least he gave me up to Samos before he had disappeared. I hated my father, until I saw him again. His green eyes flashed once before they fell into the Eco. He also said that the Eco probably killed them but I believed that it did. I sighed again before I entered the industrial zone near the power plant. Then I saw a group of Krimzon guards hanging out in front of the ramp. I cursed silently, trying to turn but running straight into Ashelin.

"Come with me." She spoke.

"You're not gonna arrest me, are you?" I asked.

"No. Unless you want Erol to find you, you should come with me." She says, leading me towards a nearby Coffee shop. We quickly entered, sitting in a corner booth I taking the seat against the wall. After she ordered a coffee, I finally spoke.

"What is this about?" I asked her.

"Well for starters, I need your help." She spoke. I looked at her, blinking.

"Uh. What?"

"C'mon. You heard me. Recently My father had… shown signs of recklessness, doing things he usually doesn't."

"It's because he has the stone. Those who aren't worthy it converts their minds to only care about power. He is a psychopath who only cares about being in power. You should've at least known that. Now, I don't know how he knew we were so close to the stone." I sighed.

"He… got the information from Torn."

"What? He… why?"

"Because I overheard my father threaten him to give up your location or he was going to kill me." She said rather bluntly. I groaned.

"Are you kidding me? You are a smart girl Ashelin! If he wanted you dead, you would've been dead the minute you showed him distrust. He used Torn's feelings for you to get to us." I shook my head.

"I knew that. I wished Torn did. But… what happened to you three?"

"The Baron attacked us and I used the dark Eco powers. It… caused me to pass out."

"You can't control them?"

"No. They are extremely unpredictable. But we are getting off track, what do you need from me?"

"I need you to go into the fortress and destroy the files on you and Jak."

"The dark warrior program. That's not gonna be easy."

"Torn said you are the best hacker he knows."

"What about Vin?"

"Vin is a coward."

"Fair. But how am I gonna get in?"

"The same way you got out. The room above your cells and experiment chamber is where all the files are held. I can get you in, but getting out would be the hard part. I can turn off the security for an hour. Here." She passed me a flash drive.

"This thing can disable the security for all doors and vents. You can also download the files on here." She says and also places an earpiece on the table.

"So, we can communicate I assume?"

"Yes. We'll meet at the south wall where you originally escaped at midnight."

"sounds good." I nodded, putting both things in my bag.

"Don't mess this up Zoe. I'd hate to see you killed in there. Or worse."

"Yeah. I'll avoid being caught."

"Uh huh." She says, standing up after me. "I'll dismiss the guards blocking your way." She says as she left the shop, placing money on the table. I followed behind, watching as the guards dispersed rather quickly. I then nodded in her direction as I walked up the ramp to the power station, the doors sliding open and the Croca-dog running towards me and the kid as well. Vin was floating above. I leaned down and picked the kid up.

"Sorry I'm late Vin. Got held up."

"T-That's okay Zoe."

"Could you do me a favor, actually?"

"Sure. What's up?" I walked to him, he floating down and getting off his machine. I passed him the flash drive.

"Can you tell me what's on it? Hey don't pull on my hair." I said to the kid. He smiled in feign innocence, I shaking my head and setting him down, "why don't you go color?" I asked. He pouted but did as I asked. After Vin took the drive and uploaded to his computer, a red icon flashed on the screen.

"What is that?" Vin asked, tapping away before it went away.

"I… was hoping you could answer that."

"It seems… codes to the security at the fortress!"

"So, she was telling the truth." I sighed in relief.

"Who was right?" He asked as he passed me the drive back, I pocketing it.

"No one. Do me another Favor. Don't tell anyone about this."

"N-no problem, can I ask why?"

"It's dangerous. If I mess this up… you won't see me again." I said as I walked up to the kid, sitting beside him and watching him color. He really reminded me of someone. But I couldn't remember where. His necklace was one from the house of Mar. I patted his head, sighing and determined to protect him.

I heard Kor walk in, the Croca-dog growling.

"Easy Boy." I soothed it.

"Thank You, Zoe. I'm sure he wasn't too much to handle?"

"Nope. You weren't gone long."

"Well, I had to check on something. How goes your training?" He asked.

"Not well. I think… Samos has given up on me." I said sadly, the kid hoping on my lap and taking my hand.

"That is not good. Perhaps it is because he is the sage of Green Eco, which acts differently than the dark eco. All Eco is different." He says, walking to me. "Darkness is the absence of light, and yet one cannot exist without the other. Take the symbol of Mar for example. It represents the struggle for balance between light and dark. Perhaps to understand your dark eco you must study the light."

"But all the research my father did was destroyed."

"Perhaps the Baron has his own research you could… borrow. If you are brave enough to return to where your powers hail from." He said as he walked up the stairs, the kid following close behind. Soon Jak and Daxter entered the Power Station. I stood, walking to them.

"Hey there, sack of nerves. How's the pzzz stuff goin'?" Daxter asked Vin, I rolling my eyes and smiling.

"I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that Kor tells me we have enough power to keep the shields up. So, for now the city's safe. But I don't know how long the system can hold!" He said, floating up.

"and the bad news?" Jak asked.

"We've detected a cluster of metalhead eggs growing up at the strip mine site. Now you gotta go back there and find a way to destroy those eggs before they turn into a whole new army of creatures!"

"I noticed the crane was lifting a large metal container. If we could jump onto the container, we could drop the crate from above."

"High? Jump? Drop?! Why don't I like the sound of that?" Daxter asked.

"C'mon Dax. Let's go." Jak smiled. I sighed, checking my watch. I had half an hour before I had to meet Ashelin. I looked up at the boys.

"You two look out for each other."

"Wait. You're not coming?" Daxter asked.

"Nah., I don't have a hoverboard. Besides, I'll just be in the way. Tell me about it when you get back." I smiled, waving as I ran out, jumping on my zommer and riding off towards the Fortress, a sinking feeling in my gut. I placed the earpiece in my ear the closer I got, parking it in a nearby alleyway beside a dumpster.

There's a bag near that dumpster. It contains what you need." Ashelin's voice said through the earpiece, I looking around for her. I didn't see her immediately, so I grabbed the bag and opened it. Skintight black jeans, tight black crop top and a belt with a grappling hook and holster. Perfect. I changed behind the dumpster, putting everything I didn't need in that duffle bag and attaching it to the zoomer. I exited the alleyway to see Ashelin in similar attire, but with red accents.

"Looking sharp, Zoe." She smiles as I rolled my eyes, staring up at the wall. The vent I left through was repaired.

"I'm assuming we are not going through the front door." I spoke.

"Obviously not. You still got the drive?"

"Yup." I waved it.

"Perfect. After you." She motioned to the vent above us. I sighed, taking out the grappling hook and backed up, swinging it twice in my hand before throwing it at the wall, hooking it on my first try. Ashelin looked impressed. I began to climb, reaching the vent in no time and kicked it in, it being made of cheap metal.

"For someone who really wants to keep people in, the baron sure has shitty building materials." I commented, letting the rope down for Ashelin to climb, I entering the familiar dark vents. I laid on my stomach as I crawled through, I hearing Ashelin behind me.

"We need to be as quiet as we can, Zoe." She whispered as we continued to crawl, I seeing so many claw marks on the walls beside us. Deciding to ignore them and the fear climbing to my chest I focused on our task at hand.

"Right here, Zoe." She whispered again after a few minutes of silence, I swinging open the vent bellow us open and landed on the floor bellow. There were two hallways. One to the right and one to the left.

"Use the drive on that keypad." She motioned to the one on the wall beside the right hallway, the door shut. I nodded, placing it in its proper spot. The door opened.

"This is where we split up. Down there is where you need to be. I'll meet you outside in an hour."

"What would you be doing?"

"Making sure we can get out, good luck Zoe."

"Same to you, Ashelin." I nodded, taking the drive and running down the hallway.