Aw, I just got through reading my last story and realized that I'm kinda holding back in my writing in this story. After going over both, the first one sorta drags you in more, huh? I guess that's why this one's not as successful. Or maybe it's just a slow starter, I don't know. But anyway, I was wanting everybody to give me ideas on another story, once this one's finished. Unless another Jak game comes out by then.

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I walked toward the main building, from the racing track. We had just finished a circuit race and lost. Jak got second place. I didn't race, in order to let the other teammates race their share. I wasn't really sure what place everyone else got, but all I knew was that the robot was too good. Razer had indeed mentioned its skills but I didn't actually expect it to be that great. We would just have to try even harder.

I waltzed in on the most unexpected thing. Everybody was crowded around someone. Someone with a deep voice. I walked closer and discovered who it was. It was Sig.

I grinned and ran over. Everybody was asking him how he was doing, other than Rayn who was a little confused. He spotted me and said hello. I noticed, another person not as super enthusiastic as everyone else was Torn, who was typing on some sort of computer in the corner of the room.

Sig announced that he was joining the team. This meant a single person from our team had to take a rest in order for him to win. We all agreed that whichever one of us was last would take a break from one race and then let the last person who rested drive. Made perfect sense. Since Torn came in last earlier that morning, he agreed to take a break and let Sig have his place.

I piped up. "Hey guys, how about I just drop out 'til I'm needed. I mean, I'm just a nuisance anyway."

Jak immediately threw me a look. "I don't think so."

"Why not?" I demanded pathetically.

"Because, we're trying to get you used to this."

"Yes." Samos added. "Quitting makes you no better."

"I'm not quitting." I muttered. "Just making room for the better drivers, that's all."

"We're trying to make you a better driver, sweetheart." Torn spoke. Though he called me 'sweetheart', he still said it in his razor-like voice. I turned to glare at him. His expression softened a bit and he shrugged, uncaringly. I sighed and nodded.

"Fine." I said and crossed my arms. "Then I have a question for the room."

Everyone looked at me. "Why doesn't Keira get to drive too?"

At first nobody said anything. But then Keira, who was standing beside the doorway, formally speaking to Sig, stomped her foot. "Yeah! You guys act like I'm ten years old! I can drive, I swear. Cars are my everything! I fix them, make them and I can sure as hell drive them!"

"Keira, I already told you." Samos tapped his staff on the ground impatiently. "I'm only protecting you. Imagine what could happen to a girl like you out there!"

"But what about Kirsten?! She's younger than me!" Keira fired back angrily.

I could see the color in her face brighten as she shoved her finger through the air to indicate me. I also didn't say anything. I fidgeted rather nervously with my ear and then ran my hand down my face, looking from father to daughter in questioning silence. I glanced at Jak. He looked at me in a You started this sort of way. I lowered my head regretfully.

Samos glared. "Keira, this is your home. You have too much to live for. We can't have you getting killed. Kirsten goes home if something happens, that's why it doesn't apply…to her."

My head snapped in his direction as I felt my blood freeze. This time the silence was solid. I ignored everyone around me as I stared at the small sage in shock. He suddenly looked nervous, as though he made a mistake to say it. I was pretty sure he said that if I died here, then I would go back home. My mouth opened to say something but not one sound came out. I was too confused to process words correctly.

But someone asked the proper question for me.

"What did you say?" Torn voiced in surprise

Sage looked from face to face, deciding if it was okay to tell us whatever he was hiding. Then he gave up and sighed. "I spoke with Onin."

"About what?" I snapped.

"Well it started as a question of the Precursors. Then she said that she had spoken to one of the three previous to Kirsten's arrival. They warned us of a great danger to seize us. A betrayal."

"The poisoning." Ashelin remarked.

"Precisely. She said that we would be visited by an old friend shortly after the tragedy. The stranger would be an immortal until the point of imitated death."

"And that means what?" I asked.

"It means that if you're killed here, whether it by purpose or accident, human or machine, you will return to your home world until the Precursors summon you once more, by will."

I tried to soak it all in slowly for better understanding. It all was explained so fast, I didn't really know how to rule it out, situation-wise. I shook my head in still more confusion. But in some way it didn't make since. I thought about how to word my next question. But once again, somebody else spoke for me. This time it was Jak.

He said quietly. "What about the last time…she left?"

Some looked at him and some looked away. I realized I wasn't really breathing for a minute and sucked in a long but silenced breath. Samos eyed Jak, a look of sympathy on his aged face. He sighed once more and shook his head.

"They told you. She wasn't meant to be here in the first place. Her being a unit of matter way one the other side of the galaxy really slowed things down, my boy. If she were to stay too long, the process of movement would freeze and work its way to our own world. And then it would be incurable."

"Father." Keira growled. "Some sensitivity?"

He blinked and nodded. "I mean to say that time would freeze and warp if she stayed."

Jak didn't really seem to be listening. He was staring at the wall above Samos with a look of pain on his angelic features. I wanted to reach over and touch his hand, but I was afraid it would make things worse. I said nothing. There was nothing more I could say. But then somebody interrupted the silence. Blitz was on the TV screen.

We all turned to see him standing there. And there was somebody else with him. Pecker. Daxter cursed out loud.

Hairman didn't seem too enthusiastic about the new co-host. This amused some of us and other glared at the screen in disgust. I myself thought it was great to see the bird again; after all it was another aspect of this world I had grown fond of. All the colorful characters. No pun intended

"That bird has his head stuck up waaay to far up his-"Daxter started.

But I interrupted him by pushing him off the couch. He landed on the ground with a thud and glared up at me. But I wasn't looking at him. I was watching Jak, who was walking away, toward the bedrooms. Everybody else was too fixed on the TV to notice him. All but one other. I glanced at Sig. He was looking at me. He pressed his lips together and nodded at the doorway. I knitted my eyebrows together in an uncertain way. He blinked shrewdly and nodded again. With a defeated sigh, I turned around and walked around everyone toward the hallway.

I rounded the corner and paused, seeing as he was just shutting his door. But I also stopped in reluctance, deciding whether or not to go to him. His mood sometimes shifted unexpectedly and I didn't want to upset him. But then again I would feel bad not trying to comfort him at all.

I sighed in my own defeat and walked further down the hallway, stopping in front of the red door. I lifted my hand up to knock, hesitating for a fraction and then lightly tapped with my knuckles.

I heard a creaking noise, evidently him getting off his bed. He opened the door enough to show his face. He'd removed his jean jacket and his goggles, a tired and cheerless expression on his face. I gulped and spoke softly to him. "Were you going to sleep?"

He shook his head, not speaking and looked at the ground.

"Then may I come in? If…if it doesn't bother you, I mean."

He nodded. "Yeah." And he opened the door a bit farther to allow me to come in.

I stepped in and looked around, noticing how similar all the rooms were. He shut the door and ruffled his hair, still staring at the ground bleakly. I sat down on the bed and kicked off my boots. I lay on the bed, stretching like a cat. I watched him lean up against a wall, crossing his arms. I didn't say anything.

It was silent for a minute. He looked up at me expectantly. Instead of babbling I patted the bed. He exhaled and lay next to me. He rolled to face me and I stared into his eyes lazily. He stared back, neither one of us still speaking. It was sort of a meaningful silent. An exchange of the eyes and mind.

And then he broke the silence.

"It's a soar subject." He murmured.

"I know."

He blinked and reached his hand out and rested it on my face, caressing my cheek lovingly. I struggled not to tear up. I lightly traced circles on the back of his hand and sighed.

"What is it?" He asked thoughtfully.

I bit my lip. "Nothing. It's just," I stared at the bedspread, "Nothing bad's happened yet."

He looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Well you know…it just seems like fate that something has to. I think I have to pay a price every time I'm sent here. Last time, all sorts of terrible things happened."

A look of despair crossed his features. "No, listen nothings gonna happen. I wouldn't ever let anybody hurt you, you know that."

And then the tears wouldn't stay back any longer.

"But what about you."

He smiled. "Don't worry about me," And he kissed me. "You're all that matters now."