I made believe I didn't hear each page turn with a rapid flick.

I pretended to sleep while Jak would let out an exasperated sigh as he feverishly read reach entry. I let my mind wonder on what Damas talked about. About what he left to the world that treated him like shit. It's not like I could ask Jak. I didn't except him to answer; how could I? As his best friend I would let him take this one.

Like he took everything else.

Jealousy. I had a lot to envy. Jak unfairly developed biceps before me. He had the smarts, looks, and the girl I didn't when I was younger. But this was the breaking point of my heartbreak.

The father he had.

The king of Spargus only he could live up to. I imagine that this would be the time where Mar becomes Jak. Having a friend with a great legacy just about killed me. It wasn't the bitterness, but the sorrow of realization that my Jak, my one and only true friend, would soon leave me behind.

I counted the days.

The days I had left with him ever since he first channeled light eco back on Gol and Maia's cidial so many years ago.

I listened to a deep silence and I almost thought he had fallen asleep until I heard him sniff.

Jak was crying?

No… Hell would freeze over before…

Again I heard the same sniffled followed by Jak's blood chilling moan.

"Mother…" he said so softly, but with such conviction. "They took her from me too."

I wanted to jump on his shoulder and comfort him, but just what in the hell could I say?

What could I do beside listen to his cries?

I shuffled uncomfortably and Jak flipped another page. I pretended that I was somewhere else again. I made use of my active imagination and pretended I was still on that little boat. My grandfather would be driving the thing. I would be leaned against Anne's shoulder and her huge parasol would block us from the sun while she read to me.

She read me everything.

Her soft voice would drive angels insane. I sat there and pretended she never died and that I would still be human. She would still be reading to me even at nineteen years. It's funny; I would probably be smarter than Samos consider this woman always had a book in her hands. I vaguely remember she always started her sentences off with "Daxter, did you know…?"

It's just a damn shame I forgot a lot of what she told me.

A fucking shame for sure….

I concentrated on another figment of imagination; me being great. Well I am awesome, but not exactly great. I mean after years of trying I finally just a pair of pants! That's not even counting that I actually got a girlfriend out of the deal! I mean I know orange lighting could pull some babes, but Tess was a perfect 10.

I longed to be the great precursor. The greatest and strongest in the universe. I wanted to shaped the world into a place where no one would have to worry. I wanted the world to be a place where a lonely kid with buck teeth could still have a friend. A place like that surely would be somewhere where even that underdog could live a happy life. I often wished that's the deck of card life would deal me; me being the creator of the world, while Jak protects it.

I believed in that world.

But I didn't believe in my power to do so. After all, I was a orphan fuzz ball and Jak he was the prince of Hevan and Spargus and the great God Mar.

I opened my eyes and was met by two sparkling sapphire lights.

"Ahhh!" I screamed and fell down on the floor. A gruff laugh pulled the fear in my head and replaced it with annoyance.

"What the hell Jak?" I asked getting up. He stood up and the size difference was astonishing. I had to ignore the fact that I had to break my neck just to see him. He crossed his arms, but he still held onto his book. He just stared at me not talking.

"what? What?" I asked raising my voice slightly. Jak's lip twitched, it wasn't the same smug grin he usually had. It was hesitant. Something was wrong here…
"Daxter, you are crying." He said slowly.

"Are you high off of eco, buddy? I'm not…"

Jak bent down and wiped a tear from my face. The sudden closeness shocked me. Best friends or not we never actually hugged or anything to that fact.

He wiped off the tear and shook his head. "Want to explain why?"

I looked down and for once had no comeback. I must have not realized that I was crying. I guess that my imagination was so great, I imagined myself not dealing with any of sorrow.

Jak nodded and accepted that I didn't want to talk. He understood this better than anyone. It was a pause before he added. "I was crying too."

I raised an eyebrow and even in the dark I could see his red cheeks.

"I know."

"No body needs to know!" we both said in such a rushed unison it caught us both off guard. It was a paused before we both laughed. We laughed for five full minutes. We laughed because we were the only people on this earth who understood one another. We laughed because we survived so much. But mostly we laughed because we would have drowned in our tears that very knight, if we didn't. Suddenly he shushed me. "Dax, Cyrus is still sleep." He was still grinning and that was a very rare sight. I nodded and sighed. I shook my head. "I wonder when we will have a decent bed time. It has to be about 2 in the damn morning."

Jak nodded. "2:30."

I yawned. "Time for bed."

"Daxter, we are meeting Viper in a few hours by the way." Why in the hell was he always so nonchalant when it came to endangering our lives.

My eyes grew wide and he smiled. "It was going to be a surprise."

"Most people get tube socks for a surprise…I get a gun fight." I moaned. Jak laid on the couch and left a bit of room for me to curl up on the bottom. He took out the journal and started to read again. I took my spot without many words. I was wondering who jak could even read in the dark.

"I used a small amount of eco." He answered without looking up. He rose up his index finger and showed me the small ball of light eco hovering just above his finger tips. I was used to this. The whole knowing what I need before I say it. After all when your best friend is a mute you have to communicate without saying much. I was the first to perfect this. Believe it or not I could still read Jak, but it was hard considering it was just Jak in that head of his anymore.

"Fascinating…" I said.

"Mhmm." He answered. It was quiet for a bit and this time I noticed something he was trying to tell me the whole time. How could I miss something so simple? I scurried up to his left shoulder. It was a spontaneous little moment, but what the hell? I leaned over the book and wrapped my little arms around his neck.

Jak left out a deep sigh before relaxing and hugging me back.

"Proud of you partner. First thing after we get back home we visit Damas' grave?" I said knowing this was what he was thinking about. He could finally put back his worries.

"You read my mind."

A second later we heard a low chuckle. "Sorry to interrupt such a beautiful Bromance." I looked up and Cyrus was leaned against the wall arms crossed and very amused. Jak and I both jumped up and we were looking opposite ways.

He chuckled. "It's time guys."

"Huh? The sun hasn't risen…" I complained, but Jak was already loading up his gun.

"He is a crime lord, Dax. Why would be out in the daylight anyways?" Cyrus said. He looked like such a little kid standing there. No more than maybe 5'4. Kid had no facial hair either. I wonder a lot on how my body would have aged in the last few years. I wonder if I still had it. Jak was twenty now and he looked it. Beard and all.
But what if I was still the same young man I looked like in SandOver village? Now that wouldn't be pretty.

"How do we get past guards?" Jak asked. His business voice was in play and he was as serious as a heart attack.

"The guards know me so we can slip in. Here's the plan." Cyrus suddenly left the room and came back in a flash with papers and a change of clothes. He flung the blue shirt and cargo pants at Jak and then sat a map on the world.

De ja vu hit me hard and I couldn't help but grin at Torn's son.

"Ok so we are going to Destiny's main port here." He placed his finger on a point. "Located here is a mansion called Rock manor."

He looked up at me. "I believe it's what you would conceive it as being the "Blue Sage's old hut." But it's changed a lot since then, but the fact remains you know the area in case the battle takes a turn for the worst and we have to fall back onto the terrain."

I nodded and crossed my arms not showing my unease at the mention of my old world. If sandover changed into those ruins I hate to see how Rock Village.

"Anyways, Viper is alone between the hours of 4 and 6 in this room in here- He flipped over the map and showed the blue prints to the building-" We can used that to our advantage. I had hopped if I could hold off the guards you could make quick work of Viper."

Jak grinned and nodded. "Quicker than leapers on Steroids."

Cyrus handed us each a communicator. "Stay in touch. Don't die."

We all put the tiny box into our ears as Cyrus took out a box from the shelf. He handed us a first aid kit and extra eco ammo.

He meant business. I gulped as Cyrus took out his gun and loaded it up. "Don't act unless absolutely necessary. I mean it. If I give you two the signal then you guys starts beating everything until it's bloody."

"You have nothing to worry about, Cyrus. Jak is an expert at er "beating" things." I joked. Jak reached down and smacked me on the back of my head and Cyrus laughed and shook his head. He smiled at us.

"Mar, Daxter? For once in my life it's been a pleasure knowing working with one of my henchmen. Here's to victory, my comrades." He held out his fist. I grinned at Jak and we both bumped our fist against his. "You're alright, kid." I said nodding.

He opened his mouth to protest something, but Jak shook his head. "He doesn't change his mind once it's made up."

"Gentlemen? Shall we proceed to kick some serious ass?" Cyrus asked.

"I wouldn't have it another way, partner." Jak winked at Cyrus and I jumped on his shoulder. Cyrus left the room and Jak stopped suddenly.

"Hey Dax?"

"You scared already, big guy?" I mused.

"Like hell I am." He snorted. "It's something else. My father's journal? I um, I would like you to read it too one day, brother."

"Really?" I asked shocked.

"If you can still actually read that is!" he laughed.

I could only smile. Thank you Jak. Somehow the words didn't sell enough gratitude.

"Come on guys!" Cyrus yelled. "The hellcat is wasting gas."

"How in the hell did he get a hellcat so quick?" we both said sprinting out of the room and to our final battle here in Destiny Island.

You could tell that this was Rock village. The storming weather here had vanished, but I'll be damned if the terrain hadn't in the slightest bit. It was odd knowing that sunny tropical Destiny Island was just behind us. Cyrus drove the hellcat like no one's business. As soon as he landed we were confronted by guards. "Stat your business!" One yelled. He was wearing armor similar to what the KG wore only it was blue and there weren't any face plates.

Cool as Ice, Cyrus removed hair from his face and spoke. "I am Cyrus, Second in charge here I permission to be here Viper and…"

"Oh please, how can a kid like you be the Cyrus?" One poked him with the gun he had. Jak ensed, but Cyrus stayed cool. "Listen to me, I'm older than what I appear and I'm willing to prove…"

"Oh look kid is big in the britches." The other mused.

Cyrus' eyebrow twitched. I leaned over to jak's ear. "He looks like he is getting pissed." I said and Jak nodded.

"Please don't cut me off when I speak. I hate bad manors and I would appreciate if you didn't…"

But it was too late. The two guards started to laugh and make a big scene. "Hey guys look at this kid! They're in the gang!"

Suddenly a group surrounded us. Maybe fourteen of them came to see why the two main guys were laughing at. I guess this place was dull.

"Guys shut up, Viper is asleep, before we move out again. What's with all of his commotion?" one tall guy asked. He was dressed more elegantly than the others. He was clearly a big wig here.

"These kids and this rat claim to be dangerous!" One said. "I say we show them danger! Starting with the orange one! He'd make nice slippers!"

Jak left out a low snarl and I patted his shoulder. "It's ok." I said trying to be calm myself. Things were getting real heavy real fast.

One came close to Cyrus. "Listen, just go home and we will let you live, shorty."

Then hell broke loose.

With such speed and power Cyrus punched the guard into next week. His Body flew at least 3 yards before cashing into a tree. His body was limp and he tree snapped in half. The space between the guard and Cyrus was littered with teeth and blood. Jak gasped. My jaw was on the floor along with every guard there.

"Never. Call. Me. Short!" Growled Cyrus.

It was quiet and some guards actually started to run away. But the majority started to charge us. Cyrus Took out his gun and Jak followed suite. Cyrus really went to town though, Jak and I barely had to move considering he was still raged up on being called short.

Never call Cyrus short. Got it.

Suddenly we all heard a strange clapping sound and the few remaining guards looked up. There was somebody flying in the sky.

"Viper?" Cyrus called, but the figure soon cleared. It was a slim figure, one with long hair and curves. It was a scary and even Jak was taken back. "Maia?" I was shocked when the unknown lady stepped on the ground. But I was wrong thankfully, this lady was different. She was just as curvy and sexy as Maia, but she was visible older. She had an eye patch over her right eye and long blonde hair that was parted so her hair framed each said of her face. At the very bottom it was an off green/grey tint. She was wearing a dress that came down to her knees, like it looked like something a princess from my era would wear, but a few modern touches. "Bravo, Bravo." She said. Her voice, but low, yet inviting.

"I never saw that kind of a fight by one person. I'm glad my gang is protected by such a great leader." She was still clapping her hands in amusement.

"Wait." Cyrus said. "Your gang… that means…."

"Viper, Milady!" said the best dressed guard running up the lady. "What do we do?" He pointed the gun to us and viper held her hand out. "For starters you invite them into our house for breakfast." She looked to the sun that was just beginning to peek.

"Milady with all due to respect…."

"don't question me." She frowned at him. "Get breakfast ready. NOW!"

Holy yakcows! That lady made me want to go cook and she wasn't even yelling at me.

"Yes, Viper." The man said dashing off into the other direction.

Her smile returned just like that. "Sorry we never met before Cyrus, please come in and join me for breakfast. You and your charming friends." She gave Jak a wink and he jumped. I looked at him and his face was pale. I wanted to asked what was wrong with him, but now wasn't the time.

Cyrus hesitated.

"You can trust me. After all we play for the same team, right?"

"R-right." He said and gave us a look. "We will stay."

"How lovely." She said and she started to float again. I guess she really could manipulate eco. We followed the lady crime lord into the mansion.

I left out a whistle. "Looks a lot like the hotel I went to, back when I was an exterminator." I noted out loud and viper smiled and motioned to the room on the room to her left. "This is the dinning room. Please sit down and I will be there shortly with food."

We all awkwardly walked into the room and again I was blown away by the size of the table. Cyrus sat down with a gruff look. "This could work." He whispered after several long minutes. "If we gain her trust then an ambush would be easy, huh Jak. It appears she used light eco. I'm sure you can light Jak up and take her out while she was eating, right?" Cyrus looked up to notice Jak wasn't listening to anything he just said.

"Earth to Jak?" I waved my paw in front of him and he blinked. His forehead was soaked in a cold sweat. My ears went back. "Jak?" I asked. He smiled grimly and put his heavy hand on my head. "I can't Cyrus."

"You rather fight her head on?" Cyrus looked shocked. "that'll make things- difficult."

"No." he whispered.

"Is it killing her?" Cyrus leaned in. "Because she is a woman."

I shook my head. "No blood is blood to Dark." I explained in a low voice. "He doesn't care what he kills."

"Then why won't you…" Cyrus was getting irate.

And jak shook his head again.

"Damn it, we are so close!" he whispers violently. "This woman will kill Ashlien if we don't stop her. My mother's leadership is the only reason stayed afloat! We can't afford to chicken out!"

"I won't." Jak said glaring at Cyrus. Purple sparks played around his finger tips and I got in between them.

"I thought you were a hero! A hero isn't afraid to fight anybody. A hero kills evil."

"I refuse!" he yelled. Jak's eyes were starting to blacken out.

Cyrus meet him head on. Their foreheads were nearly touching.

"Why the fuck not?"

"Because she's my mother, damn you!" Jak yelled bashing his fist against the table. I gasped and Cyrus staggered back.

"w-what did you say, jak?" I asked unsteady. The feeling in my legs had left.

"She's my mother Dax. This is Queen Aurora…" he said still fighting back dark.

And at that point of time, I wish that I could slip away into my imagination again.

A/N PLOT TWIST! Hahaha! Did anyone see that coming? I hope the wait was worth it for this! Please review me what you think of the chapter! See ya guys!