Author's Notes: I had a hard time coming up with the title of this chapter, but eventually I managed to think up a good one. Do you like it?

Anyways, since I had this typed up a bit early, I'm posting it just two days after my last update. That's right, TWO DAYS! What madness is this? You're gonna learn a lot about the Sagai family in this chapter, including some things that may surprise you. What is it? You will find out.

Disclaimer: Sadly, Jak and Daxter is the property of Naughty Dog, not this "humble" author.

"The pilots of the Air Trains are among the best in the world. Needing to memorize dozens of security clearance codes, every button, switch, and lever's purpose, and how to handle turbulence can do that to all the men and women that come out of flight academy. Now, I'm not saying that they're some of the most skilled people in Haven City, but let's face it. Pilots have to be at the top of their game if they want to keep their jobs." -David Lamarr, headmaster of Haven Flight School

A beeping noise distracted Jessie from her thoughts, and she looked at her com-unit. It showed the familiar face of her friend, Luna. Black-fading-to-white ombre hair, deep red eyes, and a grin that struck fear into the hearts of lesser beings. Also one of Jessie's few Unfilled friends. That was Luna Zyan for you.

"Hey, Luna. What's up?" she asked, pushing the button to accept the call.

"What's up? Oh, I don't know, maybe ME! Where are you? I landed five minutes ago and you weren't here!" the older woman said worriedly. Jessie rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, Luna. I forgot you were getting in today and went to the garage. But I'll be there in three. Catch you later!" she said, ending the call before the pilot could go into a rant about the unreliability of friends. Luna was... many things... but chief among those was loyal, especially to Jessie. There was nothing she wouldn't do for her.

"Keira, I have to go. I promised Luna that once she got back from that run to Kras City for supplies, we'd go shopping for offerings together," she said apologetically. Keira smiled and waved her away.

"Go on, then. Don't worry about me. I've got Jamie if I need something. But one thing, Jessie. Can you swing by the Stadium and pick up the JET-Board for some cleaning? Who knows where that guy has stepped?" she requested. Jessie gave her a thumbs-up before backing out of the niche.

"Sure thing. But that doesn't mean I'm letting you off easy. We still need to talk about why you didn't want that guy for a racer," she said firmly, pointing at her for extra emphasis. Keira rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Tomorrow, maybe?" the teal-haired young woman asked. Her friend shrugged.

"If I have time after visiting the temple, dropping off the JET-Board, and taking care of something at my other job. See ya at dinner time, Jamie!" she shouted to her brother, switching targets. He raised a hand in reply and went back to comparing assorted lengths of wire.

"Love you, too, bro!"

With that, Jessie jogged over to the Stadium and down to the rack that held the marvelous machine.

"Poor thing. That guy really rode you, didn't he?" she murmured, holding it gently. There were scuff marks, dirt, and who knew what else on its surface, and she carefully shrunk it down and put it on her back.

"Don't worry, baby. I'll fix you up good as new!" she promised before walking out of the Stadium.

Was her affection toward machines odd? Depends on your definition of odd. Jessie had always liked machines better than people, because if they broke down, she knew how to fix them. If people broke down, she was useless. It was more a matter of protecting herself than actually favoring metal over meat.

The JET-Board secured on her back, Jessie went back out to her hover. It was in exactly the same place, though she could tell someone had tried to drive away with it. Tough luck. That was what the parking brake was for, and roughly twelve people in Haven City knew about that. Three were Jamie, Keira, and herself. Two were the drivers for any functions at the Palace. Five were the people who designed the hovers. And two were a pair of hoverjackers that usually worked in the Slums. But anyone with half a brain knew better than to take the Black Orchid.

Modified from a retired KG patrol bike to have a bit more firepower than the original maker had intended, painted a solid black with the name in small, light blue letters on the back, and souped up to have more horsepower than a herd of zedonks, the Black Orchid was the fastest zoomer in Haven City. It was easy to see why Jessie had won so many drag races on it, before she went clean and joined the NYFE league. Of course, when they had demanded she downgrade her racer, she had quit to be a mechanic. That had been a month ago, and was part of the reason why they needed a new racer.

She deactivated the brake, climbed into the seat, and gunned it through the streets to the Port, where Luna was waiting beside her transport.

"Finally! I think I aged five years just waiting for you," the pilot joked. Jessie rolled her eyes and disembarked from her zoomer.

"Sure you did, Luna. Ready to handle the bazaar?" she asked, pointing at the entrance to the main shopping district. Luna nodded and grinned.

"Only if you think you can handle it. This last haul brought in loads of credits, way more than that other job of yours," she said, raising an eyebrow. Her friend shrugged.

"Hey, I never took it for the money. I took it because it's the right thing to do. Praxis needs to pay for his crimes," she muttered, pressing a button on the control panel of the Black Orchid. There was a whirring noise and the entire back opened up, revealing another seat for a passenger. Her friend whistled.

"Whoa. When did you put this in?" Luna asked, looking at it appreciatively. Jessie smirked.

"A few days ago. I got tired of having to use two separate hovers whenever I wanted to go out on the town with someone. Besides, it makes it more fun. Get in! And you're paying for all the gifts, got it?" she said, climbing back into the driver's seat. Her friend rolled her eyes, but joined her.

"Yeah, got it. Besides, you have to shop for dinner, right? I'm not so evil that I wouldn't help out with that."

"But you admit to being evil."

"Of course!"

Laughing, the two girls drove to the bazaar to buy offerings for Jessie's foray to the temple tomorrow. They got off to continue on foot, mainly to take their time and enjoy their few hours together. Luna flirted with one seller of the crystals they usually bought, and Jessie snickered at her antics, even after he tried to get Luna's com-number. Naturally, he crashed and burned, mainly because Luna would be incredibly busy as an Air Train pilot for the next six months.

The pair met up at Brutter's stand in the bazaar once they were done shopping. Jessie had a basket of groceries on the stool next to her, but she moved it to let her friend sit down. The Lurker seemed happy to see them both.

"Oh, two of the darky ones are here today! What can Brutter do for nice darky ladies?" he asked brightly. Jessie smirked at him, partially amused by how simplistic his happiness was. Must have been nice, not having to worry about being caught by the KG and used as a reason to drive out the rest of the Unfilled.

"Just give us something nonalcoholic, Brutter. Jessie's driving, and I'm on duty in an hour," Luna said, ordering for them. Jessie nodded and looked at her spoils of the usual market war. Sadly, there were plenty of people who were quite willing to steal from a pair of "defenseless" girls quenching their thirst, and so she had to keep a close eye on them.

"Okay. Brutter will bring you cranappley juice," he replied, nodding vigorously before turning and busying himself with some pink liquid.

"What did you get?" she asked, resting her head on one hand. Luna grinned and held up her hard-won prizes.

"Some amethyst and rose quartz crystals, a few small pearls, and some potpourri. How about you?" she replied, peeking at the covered basket. Jessie lifted it and removed the cloth covering.

"A couple of small Yellow Eco crystals, one Red Eco crystal, a bottle of Tabasco sauce, and six cans of chili," she listed casually. Luna shook her head with amusement.

"Girl, your tastebuds are dead if you can eat that much spicy stuff without it catching fire," she replied. Jessie shrugged.

"Tell me something I don't know." The pair chuckled as Brutter finished making their drinks.

"Here darky ladies are! Fresh cranappley juice, with ice!" he enthused. She had no idea where he got that much optimistic energy, but it was contagious. Already, her bad mood was starting to drift away, unlike the clouds that shrouded Haven City.

"Thanks, man. Just put it on Luna's tab," she told him, winking at her friend. Luna rolled her eyes, but smiled and raised her drink in a toast.

"To the Ecolians, may they always watch over us," she said, holding out her drink. Jessie sighed and lifted hers as well.

"And to overthrowing Praxis, may he rot in whatever hell the Precursors decide to throw him in," she replied grimly. They clinked glasses, linked arms, and downed their juice in one go. They placed their empty mugs back on the wooden counter and grinned at each other.

"Brutter, another round!" Jessie said loudly.

All too soon, it was time for Luna to go back to her job and for Jessie to go home. Torn didn't have any missions that required her presence, so she was free to go back without any worries besides the usual (avoiding the KG and traffic, making sure she wasn't killed on accident, and avoiding some lunatic on a hover). When she climbed the stairs that led to the small apartment she shared with Jamie and Uncle Jinx, however, she was in for a surprise.

An old man, a crocadog, and a kid were inside sitting on the couch. The elderly man had a very impressive set of muttonchops, a blue robe, and a staff in his hand. The kid had simple blue and white clothes, and a tuft of green hair peeped out from beneath his leather cap. It was the traditional Unfilled garb of children, though she knew he wasn't anywhere close to being one. It was easy to tell when one was Unfilled or not. But, despite his obscured origins, she recognized them from around the hideout and groaned quietly.

"Damn, is it our turn to hide the kid?" she muttered, ruffling the back of her short hair then brushing the bangs out of her face. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, she walked further inside and looked around for her brother or her uncle.

"Ah, Jessie. Your brother said you would be back soon," the old man said. She winced and smiled at him weakly.

"Uh, hi, Kor. I guess it's our turn to hide him, right?" she said, hoping that she would be wrong. Funny how hopes can be raised and dashed so quickly.

"Indeed. I will be back tomorrow for the boy. Until then, dear," he affirmed, standing up and walking past her to the door.

"Oh, and Jessie? Be careful. There's a new member of the Underground that you won't like very much. If I were you, I'd stay far away from him," he warned before leaving. Jessie shook her head, looked at the kid and the crocadog, who were watching her curiously.

"Okay, kid, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna eat dinner, go to bed, and do it all without making a mess, got it?" she said firmly. He nodded, pushed off of the blue couch, and followed her into the kitchen, the crocadog at his heels. She didn't mind him watching her take out the cans of chili, use the electric can opener to liberate the contents, and pour the now-lidless cans into the pot she had pulled out. She also didn't mind him watching her stir the chili, though his silence was a bit unnerving. Jessie couldn't blame him for that, though. She had known him for two years, ever since she and her brother had joined the Underground to fight against Praxis and his laws restricting the Unfilled. It had been her idea to hide him in... an Unfilled skin, you might say, to show him to the world as something he was not. His palace clothes had been burned, and with them any trace of who he was. Which, she had to admit, was as cloudy as the sky above Haven.

Jessie had no idea who the kid was, only that he had once been nobility. His clothes had been proof enough of that, along with his crocadog. Only the rich could afford a rare pet like that, or a pair of hunters out in the furthest reaches of the Forbidden Jungle, where no man had set foot for centuries and lived to tell the tale. But despite his origins, the Shadow had said he was important to the city, and so she had come up with the plan to hide him. Disguise him as an Unfilled child, put him under the care of an old man, and have them move from house to house each night under the guise of training. Jessie didn't particularly like Kor, mostly because he gave her a weird feeling. Perhaps it was the Eco that lurked deep inside her, the traces of her initiation into the ranks of the Unfilled, that roiled like a pot boiling over whenever the old man got too close. Perhaps it was just the ghost of the voices of the Ecolians from when she was first brought to the temple and heard them speak. Either way, she only trusted him because he protected the kid from people that might harm him.

The sound of cheerful chittering behind her caught her attention, and she turned. Her muse, Sparkle, was sitting in the entrance of the kitchen, her head cocked to one side with curiosity. The kid and the crocadog looked at her, and the animal began growling. Sparkle replied in kind with some angry chatter.

"Oi! Stop it, you two!" she scolded. Both did as she asked and gave her adorable looks.

"Oh, don't start. I have to cook dinner. When the chili's ready, I'll feed you two," she said sternly. The two glared at each other, but didn't do anything else to rile up the young woman.

A few minutes later...

The boy, the crocadog, the muse, and Jessie were gathered around the dinner table, which had been cleared of the various small inventions and explosive devices her brother and uncle frequently left lying around and now bore three bowls. Knowing her uncle, Jessie had set aside a bowl for him in the fridge, to be reheated when he got back (which was usually around midnight; a demolitions expert has a "surprising" amount of work under a crime lord). Once she had set the table with the dishes and spoons, she set out two dishes and poured some Kritter Kibble into them for the muse and the crocadog to eat, which they did ravenously.

'Honestly, they act like they're never fed,' she thought with amusement.

Once the pets had their food, Jessie began serving up the bubbling chili, set on a trivet with a picture of a zoomer on it. The door hissed open with obnoxiously cheerful beeping, and her brother walked in.

"Jessie, I'm home!" he called, moving out of the way of the wayward door that seemed determined to close on him. After that episode a year ago, when he had almost deleted the AI he had created to recognize their family and keep out unwanted guests, the mechanism in charge of the entranceway had held a grudge against the younger of the Sagai twins (aka Jamie). But thanks to months of avoiding KG patrols (and his sister's habit of throwing knives at him when she got incredibly pissed off), he excelled at dodging any form of assault.

"I can tell! The door just tried to crush you!" she shouted back, nearly dropping an entire spoonful of chili on the table. The kid was quick enough to put a bowl underneath it before the hot food forever stained the gleaming table. Jamie grinned at her as he held up a basket of... something.

"What in the names of Lumina and Umbra is that?" she asked, pointing a dripping spoon at him. He shrugged and got closer.

"Ah, just some offerings I picked up at the Hip Hog."

"You went to see Uncle Jinx? Without me? Jamie, I am hurt and shocked that you would do such a thing," Jessie replied indignantly. He rolled his eyes and set the basket down near the other offerings Jessie and Luna had bought earlier.

"No, you're really not. Don't lie to your twin brother, Jessie. We've been together since birth, and frankly, that makes it hard not to know someone," he shot back, going over and sticking a finger in the bowl of chili nearest him. Jessie slapped the back of his hand lightly, but the damage was done. He pulled it out quickly and stuck the offending finger in his mouth.

"Mmm. Way to go, sis. Perfect temperature. I applaud you," Jamie said, backing a safe distance away from her glare. The kid smiled at him and pointed at his sister innocently.

"Yeah, she's a scary girl, isn't she? Don't worry. Jessie only eats bad little kids who don't finish their vegetables," he told him in the soft voice of conspiracy. The little boy paled and stole a frightened glance at her. Just for kicks, she gave him the most evil smile she could.

"But I also like the ones that don't listen to their elders," she said darkly. The kid paled even more and grabbed Jamie's shirt. She stared at him, then licked her lips for good measure. By now, the kid seemed ready to wet himself, and she didn't want to clean that mess up.

"Ha. Just kidding, boy. Now eat your chili before I do," Jessie said, pointing her eating spoon (not her serving spoon) at him and grabbing the bottle of Tabasco sauce from where she had placed it before serving food up. One hand pulled the cap off, and the other poured a scary amount onto her food, then stirred it in. Jamie, the kid, the crocadog, and Sparkle all had a look of fascinated disgust on their faces. The oldest person in the room (aka Jessie, though you'll never catch me calling her that to her face) stopped her utensil halfway to her mouth and turned her head slightly.

"...How can you eat that?" Jamie asked, marveling at the dead state of her tastebuds. She shrugged, shoved the food into her mouth indecorously, and gave them all a heated stare.

"How can you not?" she replied sharply.

Secretly, Jessie ate the hottest things she could find for more than the spicy thrill it gave her. She did it for the same reason she had participated in drag races throughout the city: to feel alive again. Losing her parents in the accident three years ago had caused more than just pain to her and the rest of the Unfilled; it had destroyed any hope she might have of a normal relationship. The death of Lucy and Joker Sagai had also been the death of her emotions. The blessing of the Unfilled was also its greatest curse.

Once the fire of the chili and hot sauce reached her throat, the sense of being alive returned to her. It hadn't been that long since she had last felt like that, but it had been too long all the same.

Half an hour later...

Jessie and Jamie helped get the kid to bed, walking past several things on the walls with cloth draped over them. Neither commented on the hangings, and the kid didn't ask, for obvious reasons. When they had managed to make a passable bed for him in Jamie's room, the two left him and the crocadog to their own devices and went out to the living room to watch some late night shows, Sparkle jumping onto Jessie's lap and making a cross between a purr and a buzz, and listening with half an ear while they talked to each other.

"Jessie, do you think you can handle visiting the temple tomorrow? I know you've been doing it for a few years now, but things have gotten worse lately. Torn says the KG are starting to up their patrols, and I don't think they'd take too kindly to an Unfilled visiting a place outside of the city, even if it is the temple," Jamie asked worriedly, ignoring the show on their vid-screen (a series about a group of geeks living in Haven City and trying to be popular with the ladies). Jessie sighed heavily.

"I have to, Jamie. You know I'm the only one that can," she replied mournfully. He nodded in silence and glanced over to a picture hanging on the wall. It showed a younger version of Jamie and his sister, each smiling widely in the foreground while three adults stood behind them, grinning just as happily. On the right was their Uncle Jinx, minus his usual cigar. On the left was a man who looked almost exactly like him, only he had a circlet of blue-white, twisting arrows around the top of his head. In the middle was a pretty woman with black hair and the same blue eyes as her children.

"I know. That doesn't mean I have to like it," he said, looking directly at the photo now. Jessie followed his gaze, and her face softened from its usual hard, barely-concealed anger to a look of wistful peace.

"Don't worry, Jamie. I won't die like Mom and Dad. As long as there are Ecolians, there will be Unfilled, and the city needs them for their Eco advice. There haven't been any more Sages, not for decades." Jamie smirked at that.

"Yeah, but their descendants survived. Just look at us," he replied wryly. At this, Jessie smiled a little.

"Look at us. I wonder how the Blue Sage would react to his descendants being like us, or the Yellow Sage, for that matter. I think they might have heart attacks," she said, her smile growing wider at the thought. Her brother rolled his eyes.

"Only if they saw you. I'm a perfect model citizen. I pay my bills and taxes, I don't kill people, and I obey the law, for the most part," he said calmly. This time, it was Jessie's turn to roll her eyes.

"Oh really? What do you call being a member of the rebellion against the 'merciful' ruler of the city?" she quipped. He grinned at her, but his cheeks were starting to flush.

"A model citizen with a few skeletons in his closet," Jamie said matter-of-factly. At this, they both started chuckling grimly. Their family had more than a few skeletons in the familial closet.

"Well, Mister Model Citizen, it's time to sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow, and I still need to clean up this JET-Board for Keira," she yawned, stretching her arms wide and nearly hitting her brother's face with one hand. He peered over her shoulder and arm and saw the machine in question.

"Have you been wearing that all day?" he asked, raising a black eyebrow. She twisted her head around and saw it.

"Huh. I guess I have," Jessie replied thoughtfully. He sighed and stood up.

"Well, Miss I-Have-No-Spacial-Awareness, I bid a good night to you. And good night, Miss Ophelia," he said, tipping an imaginary hat to her and the muse. Sparkle looked up and cocked her head to the side.

"Jamie, call her Sparkle."

"No. Her full name is Ophelia Sparkle Von Nitro-Sagai, and so I will call her by her first name. Would you like it if I called you Amaranth?" he asked, poking her cheek. She glared at him and pushed his hand away.

"No, but mostly because I don't want to be considered a flower. Anyways, Sparkle likes being called that, right, sweetie?" she cooed, looking at her muse. The animal mewed happily and jumped up to her shoulders, wrapping her long body around her neck.

"See? Good night, Jamie. I'll see you at our other job tomorrow," she said resolutely, standing up and walking past him to her room.

It wasn't bare, per se, but it was sparsely decorated. A bed with black bedclothes stood in one corner, a dresser with a simple lamp and alarm clock was arranged next to it, and a small door led to the closet, which didn't hold much in the way of clothing. Jessie took off her pants and tank top, slid under the soft covers, and curled up on the bed, Sparkle taking her usual spot just above her head on the pillow. They fell asleep to the lullaby of the city, the drone of engines, the cry of alarms, and the murmur of people creating a soothing melody for the Unfilled girl and her pet.

As she slept, a darker force than she could imagine moved its pieces into place; the game had begun, and no one in Haven City realized she was a pawn. Not even Jessie herself.

Author's Notes: To the reviews!

JakAttack13 (chapter 2, Dec. 26) – Many thanks! The Unfilled and the Ecolians are pretty mysterious and ominous, aren't they? But they're not all bad... kinda. They've just had a rough time of it, given what happened three years ago. What is that, you ask? Well, you'll find out.

Guest (chapter 2, Dec. 26) – Yeah, Jessie did have a point. On what, I don't know. You're probably talking about her view on Krew, right? Or Baron Praxis?

Wild Cat 214, out!