This chapter will help in moving the story forward, don't worry we'll reach Haven city soon, enjoy!


Ch11: Journey to Haven

The group of heroes traveled all the way up the elevated hallway that led from the statue room. They flew up to it from the platform they were standing on, giving Daxter and Calidan a lift since they couldn't fly. Though Jak was still reveling in the fact that he could fly now, it made him feel like a dragon himself. Still he had a way to go before mastering his power. The same as Calidan had to go before earning his trust. Spyro was always quick to finding new allies, preferring to gain trust early so there were no difficulties later on. Cynder followed Spyro's example, given everything she had been through, finding new friends was great joy.

Calidan still was unsure about this group he had just gotten involved with, he had never had any real connections with anyone since his family disappeared, and never considered making any out in the wasteland. He had always considered the Spargusians the same way as the Marauders, though they were two opposing forces that waged war on each other in control of the wasteland. On the other hand, he had also never come across aliens before, or even considered they exist. Now they were here, one group was called dragons, an ancient race from across the stars, and the other group called the Dark Makers, a twisted version of the Precursors themselves that live only to conquer and enslave. Even though he had joined this ragtag team of heroes and aliens, he wasn't sure of what help he could be.

"So what do we do now?" asked Calidan.

"We need to get through the rest of this temple, and eventually find a way back to the surface," said Spyro.

"He's right, Spargus will need to be warned in order to be prepared," followed Jak.

"What about what the Precursor said? About a defense mechanism within the planet that could destroy that…that…thing?" asked Cynder.

"That's another matter, though honestly I would prefer to get out of here before thinking about that," answered Jak. As they conversed, they came to another junction, it was circular in shape, and had numerous pots stationed around the walls. Up toward the right the path continued through an open hall. They also noticed that it elevated up further, so they were getting closer to the surface. As they approached the top of the stairs, they looked up to see the wasteland sky was open to them.

"Are we outside now?" asked Cynder.

"Yeah, but not at the exit," said Spyro.

"So we're deeper into the temple?" followed Calidan.

Jak finished, "Yeah, however…"

"You are here," came a soft whispering voice. Everyone quickly turned to the right of the entryway they had just exited. A figure was hidden in shadow, though it appeared that it was moving towards them. Everyone else wondered who it was, that is except for Jak.

"Seem? Its you!" The head precursor monk appeared from the shadows, and the expression on her face seemed stoic yet relieved at the sight of the group in front of her.

"I remember you," said Spyro recognizing the monk he had seen from a distance upon his arrival.

"You do?" questioned Cynder.

"She's a monk," said Calidan, having recognized plenty of them during his expeditions into the wasteland. He had always figured the monks had traversed the terrain more extensively then he had. Though the appearance of this one did not bode well for him, and was now voicing his concerns….

"Uh, look if this about the mess in the atrium, I sincerely apologize for that, I was just following these guys, there was a crack and…"

"You speak many words," Seem said silencing him. "An unfortunate flaw for the youthful, for asking many questions without reason can boggle the mind."

"Say what?" asked Sparx.

"Don't even try, we've been baffled ourselves by her" mentioned Daxter.

"It is a welcome sight to see the dragons have returned to our world," said Seem.

"You know of dragons?" asked Cynder.

"Indeed, I have read the histories, though I expected you to be much…larger," she said, drawing sweat-dropped looks. "Of course you must be young, but great trials await you, and you must continue to grow strong to combat the coming threat."

"You know what were up against then?" asked Jak.

"I heard the ancient one speak," she said, "the approaching threat is worse than I could have imagined, even the precursors themselves required aid in combating this terrible evil."

"How can we be of help?" asked Spyro.

"You must make the trek back to Haven City, and enter the catacombs, for it is there where the answer to our salvation lies," Seem replied.

"Really?" asked Jak, causing all eyes to turn towards him, "I'm not exactly interested in going back there at all, they did throw me out after all."

His reply stunned Sparx and Cynder, and she asked, "they threw you out?!"

"Yeah, I'll tell you about it later," said Spyro.

"That's what everyone else is saying!" yelled Sparx, "we only just arrived and we are completely out of the loop!" His tirade caused the entire party to look at him with shock or annoyance. "We fell through another portal, only to wind up on the same planet as before, and found out Jak now has these new weirdo powers, not to mention there's a so called alien invasion on the way, and we now have another addition to our group, and no one is gonna question how he even showed up and how this mess even started?!" as he finished he finally took a breath, causing everyone to sweatdrop.

"Feeling better?" asked Cynder dryly.

"Huff, a little," he replied.

"As I was saying," Seem continued, "you must return to the city now."

"And as I said, why should I?" asked Jak sternly.

"Jak!" exclaimed Cynder, "how can you say that?"

"I know you're upset about being exiled, but that's no reason to abandon the others!" added Spyro.

"What's the point of going back?" asked Jak harshly, "They'll probably just throw me out again."

"Young warrior!" Seem stated harshly, "You must not dwell on past events! It is time to focus on the current matter at hand, and it requires all of your immediate attention."

"All?" asked Calidan.

"Yes, even you wastelander," stated Seem.

"Woah! Hang on a moment, nobody told me about going to Haven city, I've heard stories about that place, and journeying there is not on my to-do list," said Calidan.

"Hey, you can't expect to join our team and leave right off the bat!" declared Cynder.

"Like I said, I didn't expect going to Haven to be part of the deal," Calidan argued.

"This isn't about what we want to do, this is about what we have to do," stated Cynder.

"She's right," added Spyro, "We've all had to step up and take more responsibility then what's originally asked of us, not because we wanted to, but because of what was needed."

"That's a lesson everybody should learn," finished Cynder with a slight glare toward Jak who was still fuming. He was clearly contemplating that he still was not willing to return to Haven.

"The black one speaks wisely," stated Seem, "In order to save this world from destruction we all must take a stand." Calidan was silent, he felt torn, he agreed to join this team because of his need to protect the planet. Although, he didn't expect to be leaving the wasteland, he thought they were staying here in the wasteland, where he knew he could help them.

"I still think my best service is here, I mean I won't be of any use to you anywhere else," said Calidan.

"That sounds like an excuse to me," replied Cynder with a glare.

"It's a fact!" argued Calidan.

"Only because you think that," stated Cynder, "If you believe you are no good to anyone outside your comfort zone, then you never will grow, in body or spirit." Calidan was stunned silent, he never had anyone speak to him like that before, he wasn't sure if he was being insulted, or if Cynder was actually trying to help him. Based on what he had seen and heard recently, Cynder didn't seem to be the berating type, and neither did Spyro. Jak seemed like nothing but a stubborn punk to him, someone who only appeared to listen to his own arrogance, and had his own share of anger issues. The two little animals seemed to be comic relief to him, and that was as far as he could tell about this group he had just joined. That matter aside, he took what Cynder said to heart, and he was contemplating what to do now.

"Haven't you ever considered what lies outside the wasteland?" asked Spyro.

"The wasteland is all I know," said Calidan.

"Maybe, but it doesn't have to be," replied Spyro, who now caught Jak's attention as he tried to back up Cynder in reasoning with Calidan.

"With the current crisis at hand, the planet must become unified, with so much at stake, we can't afford for anyone to follow their own selfish ambitions," said Seem, who first looked toward Calidan, and then toward Jak.

"What?" Jak asked the monk.

"Your grudge holds you back Dark One, you are more caught up with your vendetta against those who wronged you that you fail to see the more crucial situation," she continued.

"I have worked before for what you mentioned and accomplished it," replied Jak, "and how was I repaid? I was thrown out! If all I'm going to get for doing the right thing is animosity and exile then what's the point?"

"Working for titles and reclamation is for the weak-hearted," said Seem, causing Jak to silently fume. "Working for the greater good is the true calling for all sentient people, or are you too succumbed by the darkness to believe that?"

"You really know how to lift spirits don't you?" asked Jak rhetorically.

"Jak," said Cynder catching his attention. "Can't you see she's trying to help you? The same with you Calidan, you can't keeping hiding in the sands, it won't make your problems go away, it will only prolong the pain of not dealing with them in the first place."

"Pain? What pain?" asked Calidan.

"The pain of sloth and loneliness," she responded.

"Hurtful much?"

"Tell me I'm wrong," asked Cynder. She was determined to get through to him, she was quite good at helping others turn their lives upside down. However since she met Spyro, that skill had turned beneficial, turning people away from the wrong side of the tracks and serving a greater purpose, just as Spyro once did for her. Calidan was silent once again, he wasn't used to being prodded like this, and it felt like a stinging needle. It made him feel uncomfortable, but unknown to him now, it was for his benefit.

"Time is running out young ones," said Seem catching everyone's attention again. "In your best interest as well as everyone who lives free, you must proceed, but choose your first step wisely. The subrails to Haven lie right in front of you." She turned around to direct everyone's gaze toward the staircase at the other end of the chamber.

"I wish you all the best," Seem said as she walked past all of them and down the staircase they had just came from. She slowly disappeared from sight as she neared the bottom. The new union of heroes was now left alone in the chamber now, the path laid ahead for them.

"She's still as eerie and uplifting as ever," commented Daxter.

"She reminds me of a creepy cheetah I once met," added Sparx, "guess every world has one."

"Well, she said the path was laid ahead for us, let's go," said Cynder, walking over toward the staircase. Spyro followed in suit with Sparx buzzing right behind him. Jak and Calidan however were stagnant, and appeared to be deep in thought. Their stoic forms caused Spyro and Cynder to stop and turn around.

"You can't still be considering just staying here can you?" Cynder asked them.

"Why not?" asked Jak.

"The Jak I remember would never have asked that question," replied Cynder.

"The Jak you remember is gone, when Haven exiled him, he vanished," argued Jak.

"I don't believe that, and I know you don't either," said Cynder. Jak turned his head away, trying to block her out.

"Stop acting like a spoiled brat!" said Cynder, causing Jak to fume and Daxter to look shocked. "I may not know the full details of what happened, but it sounds like the people of Haven acted like a bunch of jerks for what they did, but does that mean you should turn back on your friends? On Keira?!" The mention of Keira's name made Jak shake a little and soften his heart. She was right, so what if he was banished by Haven, he knew she had nothing to do that. Also, if she could, Keira would have made sure he wasn't banished in the first place, as would all of his friends.

"Calidan," Cynder turned toward him, and caught his attention, "You're still not staying here right? I mean, so many lives are in the balance, you can't just turn back on all this?"

"Why not? What difference can I make?" Calidan asked her.

"More a difference than you believe," Cynder answered.

"I can?" he asked.

His response made Cynder shake her head, "I can tell you've been living in isolation for so long that you're ignorant of how you can impact other people," she said. "I know one person can make a difference, I've seen it before, both good and bad, and now we have another event where both sides will collide. If the world is to be saved, we must proceed."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm scared," said Calidan, causing everyone to turn toward him with shock. "You're saying the fate of the world now rests on us? With me? I've never been dealt with this kind of responsibility before, I don't think I qualify, what if I screw this whole thing up?"

"You can't believe that" said Spyro.

"But I…"

"ENOUGH!" yelled Jak, silencing everyone and causing everyone to turn toward him. Daxter winced from his shout, nearly falling off his shoulder.

"Feeling sorry and berating yourself is no way to live," said Jak, "and if you continue to do so, no one will be alive, we have to take action, or lose everything trying."

Everyone was speechless, it sounded like Jak finally got his priorities back. He finally started walking toward the staircase, passing Cynder along the way, though he stopped to say, "thanks for that, guess I needed it."

"Yeah you did," Cynder smirked, Spyro responded with a nod. Seeing this whole union of people lift their individual spirits up was inspiring to Calidan, and finally figured it out, what's the point of living if it wasn't for the greater good? He finally let out a relieved breath and smiled, his spirit finally uplifted.

"Okay," he said catching their attention again. "I still don't know how much help I can be, but I'll do my part none the less, you can count on me."

"Great," said Spyro. The others nodded, and finally looked ahead to the staircase. They climbed the stairs one at a time until they came to the top, only to see that on the other side of the gate was an opening to a canopy of the Monk temple. They looked out, they could see nearly ruined structures lying around the area, and they were standing on a ledge that overlooked the whole scenery, with a bridge right in front of them.

"Well, this certainly looks inviting," said Daxter.

"It is if you can fly," bragged Sparx, "which I can." Daxter sneered at him.

"Do you two have a vendetta against each other?" asked Calidan.

"Yeah they do," Spyro exasperated.

"Let's not waste time on it please," said Cynder.

"Agreed," replied Calidan. They started walking toward the bridge until they were intercepted by a parrot-monkey flying in from above!

"There you all are!" said Packer as he set down on a rafter right next to the ledge, "I'm so squawking happy I found you."

"Packer? Great as if Daxter wasn't bad enough," huffed Sparx.

"What are you doing out here?" asked Cynder.

"Delivering a message just as I'm paid for, Ahhh...I see Spyro's party came after all, a little late though." Everyone gave him an exhausted look at his comment.

"A parrot-monkey?" asked Calidan.

"Whose this? Another tag-along?" asked Packer.

"Yeah, I'm new, who are you?"

"Don't ask," interrupted Daxter, "its best you not know."

"I heard that!" Packer shouted.

"Good!" Daxter shouted back.

"Knock it off," said Jak, "what are you doing out here? Did Damas send you?"

"Yes and no, I have received a message from Onin," Packer replied.

"Onin the soothsayer?" asked Spyro.

"Soothsayer?" questioned Calidan.

"She has contacted me through her mysticism, and says we must get back to Haven city, she says the catacombs are the key to the planets very survival. I told his royal highness that it was best you should journey back, so your immediate return was not expected anytime soon," Packer said.

"Seem said the way back was right in front of us," Cynder said looking at the bridge.

"Well what are we waiting for?" replied Jak, pointing at the other end of the bridge, where a door shaped like the Seal of Mar was located, "let's move out." They finally started walking over the bridge toward the door. However once all made their first steps onto the bridge, suddenly a crack echoed throughout the room, causing them to halt their advance.

...Craaaccck...

"Okay, that doesn't sound good" said Daxter, while at the same time everyone stopped moving.

"Please tell me that wasn't the bridge we were standing on," said Calidan.

...CRRAACCKK!...They all turned around, horrified to see that the bridge was collapsing at its anchor.

"MOVE!" Jak yelled causing everyone to break out into a run toward the Seal door, the bridges cobblestones continued collapsing underneath their feet. Spyro and Cynder were leading while Sparx and Packer were airborne by the door waiting for them. Jak was following right behind them, with Calidan bringing up the rear. He could hear and feel the collapse of the bridge behind him and ran as fast as he could to outrun it. Spyro and Cynder had reached the end, and Jak was making his final reach. Calidan had almost reached it until he could no longer feel anything underneath his feet. He made one last leap for the ledge, only to miss it. He nearly fell all the way…only for Jak to grab his hand at the last instant. The rest of the bridge collapsed to the ground below and shattered everywhere. Jak grabbed Cal's arm with both hands and pulled him to safety.

"Whew, thanks," he told Jak.

"You got it rogue," he said with a smirk. Calidan just shook his head, knowing that wasn't going to change anytime soon. They all stood at the door, but it didn't seem like it was opening for them.

"Anyone have a key?" asked Sparx. In response, Jak took out his Mar medallion again and held it up to the door. The medallion glowed, and the door gave an unlatching sound, before it split open before them, revealing an elevator.

"Did that answer your question?" Jak replied.

"Keep that handy, we might need it later on," added Calidan.

They all walked onto the elevator, and as they approached the center, it descended. Everyone stood still as they hung on for the ride, it was quite a descent, it lasted for almost 30 seconds. Finally it made touchdown, and everyone looked ahead to see an open orange sanctum. The dragons were first to step out followed by Sparx and Packer, and then Jak, Daxter and Calidan followed in suit. The sanctum, or subrails as was described to them by Seem, appeared to be a wide open arena similar to the temple atrium. In the center was what appeared to be an odd yellow vehicle, and it was hovering by the looks of it. To the right was a large open tube, leading to where, they did not know.

"Wow, this is amazing, it's like a modern built temple," said Cynder.

"My thoughts exactly," added Spyro.

"These subrails look like the catacombs Daxter and I saw in Haven City," finished Jak, "question is, do they really lead to Haven?"

"From what that lady monk told us, it should," said Calidan.

"So I guess we better settle in and hang on for the ride," said Jak.

"Riding in vehicles," said Spyro disdainfully, "Something I'll never get used to."

"I can probably say the same thing purple boy," Cynder told him followed by a nudge, "but we ain't on our world anymore, and its best we adapt if we hope to get anywhere."

"Just remember to keep your wings and tails inside the car at all times, do all that and you'll be just fine," said Jak.

"So he says," Spyro whispered to Cynder.

"Come on," Jak told him, giving him a light smack on the back of the head as he approached to board the vehicle, it had four seats, two in the front and two in back, enough room for all of them. Jak sat in the far front seat, with Daxter on his shoulder and Calidan sitting next to him in the passenger seat. The dragons took their seats in the back, keeping their wings tucked in close to them like a sleeping bird. Sparx clung onto Spyro's horn while Packer flew up toward the driver's seat and landed in front of Jak.

"I presume you know how to start this thing?" Packer asked him.

"Got it covered," said Jak, pulling his medallion out again and as he did, it started glowing again. The machine hummed and its hovering thrusters activated boosting it a little further off the ground. A compartment opened up in front of him, and a wheel extracted out in front of him. "Here we go"

He took ahold of the wheel, and pushed it forward, and the vehicle drove into the tube with a jolt, catching everyone off guard somewhat. Soon it settled down while picking up speed, and they entered the tube passing through the electrostatic field that blocked it off.

Flying through the subrails was like riding a roller coaster, only this one you had to steer in certain directions to avoid running into what would be considered scaffolding to the common people. From what was known, the subrails were built by Precursors, as a support structure for shaping Elorin into what it was. What the heroes were flying through was only one of many subrail structures within the planet. None the less, it was quite a journey, but eventually they saw the exit in front of them, a static gate similar to the one they had entered.

"We've reached the end of the line!" yelled Jak as they passed through the gate.

"Hit the brakes then!" Calidan yelled back. Jak looked to the floor, only in horror to see there weren't any brakes!

"Umm"

"No brakes!" screamed Daxter, "WE'RE GONNA SPLATTER ALL OVER THE WALL!" The dragons gasped, and the dragonfly fainted, wondering what to do next.

"Pull back the wheel!" yelled Calidan.

"The wheel?!"

"DO IT!"

Jak pulled in back toward his chest, and as the vehicle reached the top of the tube exit, it finally slowed down, though it was moving closer to the wall…closer…closer, until it nearly touched it, and then it shut off. Everyone took a sigh of relief that they had made it in one piece.

"Good call Calidan," complimented Spyro.

"Your welcome, helps to have mechanical expertise," said Calidan.

"Your earning your stripes, keep it up," added Jak. Calidan nodded and looked toward the opposite wall, and saw another opening to another elevator.

"The path looks clear, guess we better get moving," Cal said.

"Let's go everyone," said Jak hopping out of the vehicle, "but be on your guard, who knows what's out there." The dragons and their dragonfly compatriot nodded in response and jumped out as well. The whole group walked over toward the elevator with Packer leading the charge through the air. They all stepped on, and after 5 seconds, they heard it hum and come to life. It began lifting up toward the surface with its passengers, except for Packer and Sparx who decided to fly up ahead of them. Spyro and Cynder gave each other a subtle nuzzle along the way, while Jak readied his weapon with Daxter on his shoulder, and Calidan had his hand on his weapon behind his back. The elevator finally reached the top, and they all found themselves in some sort of canyon.

"What took you guys so long?" Sparx asked with humor.

"Oh you're a riot Sparx," said Spyro.

"Hey, someone has to show a sunshine attitude, with you guys so serious all the time," he said as he buzzed off through the canyon.

"So he's got a mouth too huh?" asked Calidan.

"Every world has one," said Cynder.

"Ain't that the truth," finished Jak.

"Rawrk! Everyone!" Packer's voice yelled in the distance getting everyone's attention, "come up here quick!"

"Listen to the bird! You guys gotta see this!" added Sparx.

Everyone moved forward into the canyon, only to find their way led up to a multitude of ledges. They couldn't clearly see what was at the top, but from what Packer and Sparx told, it was clearly important. Jak put his gun back in the holster and started jumping up each ledge, grabbing the edge of each to pull himself up. Calidan followed his example, and the dragons merely flew themselves to the top. Jak and Calidan has just reached the top ledge and pulled themselves all the way up. They were quite flabbergasted to see a full open canyon, littered with structures built into the walls, and what appeared to be some sort of rail system running along the open canopy between it, supported by tall stone pillars. Spyro was quick to question as soon as Jak walked up behind him.

"What is this place?"

"It looks like some kind of old eco mine," Jak theorized, "I bet that when Mar built Haven city, he carved out all these old caves to access the eco power."

"Sheesh," said Daxter, "That Mar guy must have never slept much."

"Mar?" asked Calidan, "now that's a name I haven't heard in a while, though from what I could remember, he was a big name."

"Indeed he was," said Jak, "He built Haven city to hide the Precursor stone, and even helped fight off the metalheads."

"Sounds like someone we could use right now," said Spyro, "especially considering what's coming."

Packer caught everyone's attention again, "I'm going ahead to tell Onin and the others were back, I'll also fill them in on you two dragons here as well, though I would watch your tail feathers, this is a spooky place."

"We'll catch up soon Packer, go on," said Jak. With that, the parrot monkey flew off, leaving the group of six to themselves.

"So, how do we get through here?" asked Calidan looking in every direction.

Jak turned toward the right and saw a huge door at the end of the railroad tracks. "From what I can see, that door needs to be knocked down."

"Knock it down? it's completely locked up! Unless you have some dynamite laying around," said Calidan.

"That's actually a dynamite idea," said Jak with humor. The dragons and the sidekicks chuckled.

"Say again?" asked Calidan.

"We blow it with dynamite, we'll follow those tracks, they'll have to lead to a mine car, and we use the mine car to blow the door open," Jak suggested.

"Look at the big brain on Jak everyone!" cheered Daxter.

"Good job Jak," commented Cynder.

"Yes yes very good, but how are we going to reach it? Mainly me? I'm the only one of this group that doesn't fly minus Daxter," said Calidan.

"You'll have to stay here, we can fly to the end of the track faster and we can release it from there" said Spyro.

"Alright then, I'll hold down the fort here," Calidan replied taking out his Omega Fire from his back.

"Let's fly," Spyro said as he and Cynder took flight with Sparx at their side. Jak stood still and closed his eyes, and put his hands together. Suddenly his eyes flashed open with light and he levitated into the air. Everyone went wide-eyed at the spectacle, but it went as quickly as it came, Jak touched ground again glowing with blue light and shining wings protruding from his back.

"That will take some getting used to," said Calidan.

Jak joined the dragons in the air, they all nodded together and took flight following the mine rail, leaving Calidan by himself.

The flight was calm, no fierce winds were ripping through the canyon walls. That being said, anything with wings was welcome, birds, parrots, though today there was something else flying through the air. It was both alien and extraordinary. The hero party of Jak, Spyro, Cynder, Daxter and Sparx flew side by side. The railway line seemed to stretch all the way through the canyon, starting off straight right from the base, but then it curved up and toward the right. With the railway line beneath them, they continued to fly until it reached its upper anchor.

"By the way Jak," Sparx said turning toward Jak who was right behind the dragons. "I forgot to say, welcome to the flyers club."

"Thanks," Jak said with a somewhat ethereal tone. "I have to admit its surreal."

"Just watch how hard you flap, your carrying me after all," added Daxter.

"Yeah I know, precious cargo," Jak shot back, drawing snickers from everybody except of course…

"Who are you calling cargo?!"

"Relax Dax," Jak retorted.

"I've been waiting for someone to say that! Haha yes!" Sparx cheered.

"Can it bug boy!" yelled Daxter.

"Enough," said Spyro and Jak, at the same time. They were now flying around another earth monolith, as the rail ran along it, held in place via supports mounted into the monolith itself. They reached the other side in no time at all, and they saw how the rail directed itself further up. It looped around the whole diameter of the monolith and up toward a ledge built into the side of the mountain.

"Wait a minute, the rails!" Jak called catching everyone's attention. They also saw that beneath the rails there appeared to be giant lights, and that in actuality, seemed to break the rails off of each other, causing a gap. It was logical to conclude that those light targets were a means to connecting the broken rails.

"We'll have to lower those rails if we do find a car," said Jak as they approached the ledge.

"I think we've reached the end of the line," said Spyro.

"You couldn't have phrased that a little better?" asked Cynder.

"Sorry."

They all flew up to the top of the ledge. Everyone set down on the catwalk overseeing the entire canyon. They saw that the rail led all the way up from the abyss to the catwalk which was built into the side of the mountain, where what appeared to be an huge shed door was present. They also saw that the catwalk led all the way down the mountain, in sight of the railway. Sparx buzzed up toward the door and took a quick peek.

"I'm not seeing anything that looks like a mine car," said the dragonfly.

"It's probably on the other side of that door," said Cynder, "if we could find a way to activate it." Jak had just deactivated his Light Flight mode and followed her advice, looking all over the area to see if there was a switch or lever. Unfortunately there was hardly anything on the outside, aside from some old wooden crates and chains. It was until he looked directly at the door that he noticed something familiar, as did Spyro.

"Look, the Seal of Mar!" he said. The Seal of Mar was indeed etched onto the door, though it seemed to be embedded into a small circular lock extrusion split between the two doors.

"Straight forward enough," said Jak, pulling out his seal again. It glowed, which caused the lock to lighten up as well. There was the sound of something unlatching, and shifting. Everyone present watched the door, as it split open and letting fresh air in after untold years of inactivity. Sparx flew in first.

"Hello!" he echoed in the chamber. Nothing answered him, much to his chagrin shock.

"Sparx, nothing alive is in here," reasoned Spyro.

"Couldn't hurt to ask," said Sparx.

"Sure, like we don't have enough to worry about, on top of a world ending crisis and what not?" complained Daxter. Sparx just sneered.

"I think we found our car," said Jak, pointing toward the back. There were indeed numerous cars sitting on various rails in the back of the chamber. It was like a turntable housing for mine cars. There was one already on the turntable, and by the looks of it, was filled to the brim with explosives.

"And hopefully that's how we get it going," said Cynder, pointing toward the wall on the right side. Two levers were sticking out of the wall mounted upward. Jak walked over to it, and gripped the longer one in his hand. "Here goes something."

A whirring sound echoed in the chamber, followed by the sound of gears turning. Everyone watched as the turntable started moving counterclockwise, slowly reaching the connecting rails that led outside. It took a good 30 seconds, but it finally connected, though the car wasn't moving anywhere.

"Can we unlock it?" asked Spyro.

"Let's try the other one," said Jak, gripping the second lever and pulling it down. The underlying brake assembly mounted on the track latching the car in place released itself, and the car started moving toward the open exit.

"Eureka!" cheered Sparx. Everyone nodded with satisfaction as they followed the car out, however it was to their shock, that they remembered the track was broken open. Jak in quick instinct grabbed his gun from his back and equipped the blaster mod.

"I'm on it!" he declared. He opened fired at the first track target in front of him. It immediately activated it, causing the rail to extend to the following rail in front of it. That was one down, but there were many more left. Spyro and Cynder took flight again, and Spyro took a hold of Jak's shoulders again.

"What are you doing?" Jak asked.

"We'll fly, you shoot okay?" said Spyro. Jak nodded in response, and the whole group of five took off, making sure to keep ahead of the rail car. They followed the rail down past the monolith, going the long way around, with the catwalk on their right. Spyro was doing his best to keep up with Cynder carrying Jak. Soon, another track target was in sight, and Jak took aim. The car was coming around the monolith as Jak opened fired. POP! His shot hit the target but caused Spyro to recoil back from the shock, he wasn't expecting that. His grip on Jak loosened as he lost his grip on one hand.

"WOAH!" cried Jak.

"YAAHH!" followed Daxter holding onto Jak's shoulder for dear life.

"Hang on!" assured Spyro.

"Spyro!" cried Cynder flying over.

"Oh man, we can't catch a break at all!" complained Sparx.

"Spyro," said Jak, "let me down at the catwalk, I'll follow the rail around by foot, otherwise you might end up letting go at the next shot." Spyro nodded, and flew over to the catwalk and set Jak down.

"Keep up with the car!" he ordered. The dragons nodded, heading his advice. Jak then ran along the catwalk to gain advantage over the car, which had already passed the second set of extended rails. It wouldn't be long before it reached the door.

Meanwhile back down at the canyon entrance, Calidan was busy scavenging through the crates that he noticed by the edge of the cliff for anything worthwhile. Since he was waiting for the heroes to return, he figured he would do something constructive. If there was anything left worthwhile to salvage in this old mine, he would find it. Other than finding a couple old tools which he already had enough of and some extra fasteners, it seemed like it was a dead end.

"Ugh, nothing," he was frustrated to say the least, "A mine is usually a gold mine in more cases then one, yet all I'm finding here are trinkets! Bet the others have been more fortunate in finding something more useful wherever they went. If only I could finish my latest invention, I'd…"

He was interrupted by the sound of a railroad car rolling, followed by what he could presume to be a gunshot, "Well, well, looks like it worked out for them after all."

He looked toward the far end of the canyon, where the group of five originally flew to, and observed as far as his eye could see. He reached into his backpack and pulled out his binoculars and took an extended look. He could just make out the shapes of the dragons flying through the air. However, Jak was nowhere to be seen. He ran to the edge of the cliff to adjust his range of vision, but still nothing, other than the dragons flying around the monolith and following the railway coming down. POP Another gunshot was echoed throughout the canyon, and he adjusted his binoculars again, and saw the catwalk aligning the side of the mountain, and finally sighted Jak and Daxter running along it. Then from out behind the monolith, the railcar was running on the tracks. It was beginning its final drop before it reached the rails to the door. He saw it run down, the dragons flying across Calidan's perch to keep ahead of it. POP Then another gunshot echoed through the canyon. Calidan heard the sound of running feet above him. Then suddenly he looked behind him to see Jak jump from the ledge to the left and run right past him.

"What the?" he asked aloud.

"Miss us?" Jak said before he shot at the final track target in front of him, however it was a wild shot and missed.

"No, but you did miss the target," Calidan said pointing at the still inactive light.

"Shall we try that again?" asked Daxter. The car had almost reached the end of the track.

"Now would be a good time," said Daxter, egging on the distress. This time Jak relaxed, and then fired POP the shot flew for a split second and this time made contact! The track extended for the last bit of rail. The rail car made all its way over and toward the door, about to blow up with a bang…


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