Chapter 10: Heading Back to Far Drop

Jak woke the fallowing morning to find Keira still snuggled close to him. He smiled as he ran his hand through her blue-green hair and kissed her forehead. She opened her eyes and looked up at him with a smile, "Good morning." She said.

"Good morning." He said back. They got up, stretched and then looked over the side of the ship. Keira leaned up against Jak and sighed sadly. He looked at her, confused, "What's wrong?" He asked.

"I was just thinking about what you did yesterday, with that crystal. I've never seen anything like it. It was amazing." She looked up at him, "You're amazing. You've always been so good with eco, it's just something that comes so easy to you." She leaned on the rail looking back out at the horizon, "I just wish it could be that easy for me."

Jak laughed, "Are you kidding?" He asked, "You have it easy. You can only use one type; I'm stuck with all of them."

Keira looked at him, "But I'm no good with it; yesterday you made a crystal become a wall using green eco." She looked at her hands, "I'm lucky if I can focus enough eco energy to heal shallow cuts."

Jak just smiled at her, "This is still new to you; you'll get it."

She looked at him, "And what if I don't? What if my father was wrong? What if I'm not meant to be a sage?"

Jak pushed one of her bangs out of her face, "And what if you are? I've never known you to give up on anything, so don't start now." He smiled, "Besides, I don't think the problem is you."

"Well then, what do you think it is?"

"I think the reason you're having such a hard time is because, aside from the fact that this is new to you, there's just not enough eco for you to work with right now. Once we find the core, we can get that fixed; you'll see; it will be easier then."

Keira looked back at her hands, "I've never thought of that." She smiled and then kissed his cheek and then started to walk away.

Jak watched her, "Where're you going?"

She turned and looked at him, walking backwards, "To work with the seeker for a bit; make sure we're not missing anything." After that she headed below deck.

Jak stood there alone with nothing but his thoughts; yesterday seemed like a nightmare. But, oddly, there was just one question that he couldn't let go of. How had the project got from out here to Haven and how did the Baron get it? He looked at the water; Ashelin had known the project was from the Brink, he was sure of it. Why hadn't she told him? Because she didn't see it as important at the time; he sighed heavily though his nose, this wasn't the first time she kept something she felt was unimportant from him.

Deciding that now was not the time to be thinking about this he tried to push it to the back of his head. He started to head below deck to see what Daxter was up to or maybe to help Keira a bit. He was just about to step onto the elevator when Phoenix stepped off it. Jak glared at the pirate before starting to walk away. Phoenix was the last person Jak wanted to see right now.

"I have something to say to you." The pirate stated.

"Oh yeah, what?" Jak asked, leaning on the side of the ship.

The project-."

"Not interested." Jak started to walk away, giving a glare of disgust over his shoulder.

"Do you think I'm proud that I was involved?! Or of what my father and Skyheed did?! I wish I could take it back. Undo everything that project has done."

Jak glared at Phoenix, "You think that thing haunts you?!" He asked, anger seeping into his voice, "You don't know anything about it!" He snapped, "I was tortured by that thing; I listened to people scream for their lives as they died,because of it and wondered how much longer before it kills me!" Jak looked away from him, "You don't know anything about it." Jak closed his eyes tight, and leaned on the rail, trying not fall back into those memories.

Phoenix looked at him; he hadn't been looking to fight with Jak. In fact, now he was trying to get along with him. "How did you get involved in it?" He asked, hoping to understand the younger elf better.

Jak shook his head as he sighed and, looking out at the horizon, "I don't really know; I was thrown in prison because the Baron needed to use the project to create a weapon that would destroy the Metal-Heads." He inhaled through his nose, with a sigh, said, "And I became that weapon." He smirked, "Although it didn't work out like he planned. After two years, Daxter found me and I broke out; after that, all I wanted was to kill the Baron, and I didn't care what it took." Phoenix just listened to Jak as he continued, "You know, until yesterday, I thought the Baron came up with that project." He looked at Phoenix, "You don't know how it got to Haven do you?"

Phoenix groaned, also looking at the horizon, "I think I do." He looked at Jak, "I wouldn't put it past my father to sell the project to make a quick buck."

Jak shook his head, "Your father sounds an ass." He said, smiling a little to humor the situation.

Phoenix chuckled, "I know. You should have tried growing up with him. I bet your old man was a better man than mine."

Jak looked away from Phoenix sadly, "He was. Right to the end."

Seeing that he brought up a touchy subject, Phoenix quickly said, "You know, yesterday you said something about 'Jak' not being you real name, you want to tell me what it is?"

Jak looked at him, "Only if you tell me yours."

Phoenix glared at him, "I told you, Phoenix is my real name."

Jak shrugged, "Okay."

They two didn't say anything and then Phoenix asked, "Well?"

"What?" Jak smirked.

"You going to tell me?" He asked, laughing.

Jak shook his head, also laughing a little, "Even if I tell you, you're not going to believe me."

"Try me."

He shrugged and then, sighing, said, "My real name is Mar."

Phoenix just looked at him with a raised brow, "Okay, really, what's your name?"

"Told you, you wouldn't believe me."

"Are you trying to tell me that you're named after the most well-known and celebrated hero that's ever lived?"

Jak laughed a little, "I'm not just named after him, I'm related to him."

"Now I know you screwing with me."

"No, I'm not." Jak looked out at the water.

"How are you related? I heard that the last of Mar's descendants were dead."

"I'm the last living descendant."

"Okay," Phoenix said, laughing, "I'm done, you're just trying to mess with my head, and I'm done." Jak chuckled to himself as Phoenix walked away.

Jak got on the elevator and went below deck. He found Daxter still sleeping in a hammock. They wouldn't reach Far Drop for another day at least so he just let his friend sleep. As he walked to where he knew Keira was, he saw Klout walking to the hanger. Jak didn't like Klout; something about Phoenix's first mate just seemed off to him. But then again what did he really know Klout or any of the other pirates on the ship?

As he walked into the room Keira was working in, he saw her sitting at the table just staring at the seeker, mumbling to herself. Jak grinned mischievously; he didn't make a sound as he snuck up on her. He was standing right behind her and she still didn't know he was there; he reached out and grabbed her shoulders. Keira jumped slightly, dropping the seeker as she yelled in shock, she looked at Jak who was now quietly laughing. "You jerk." She said, playfully hitting him, laughing herself.

She picked up the seeker from the floor and got back to her work. Jak just looked at her, she slowly turned the seeker in her hand, no matter which way she would move it the arrow was still pointed straight to Far Drop. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"I just don't get it." She said, putting the seeker back on the table, "We're still missing two parts, but we're only getting the location of one of them and I don't know why."

"Maybe the two pieces we needed are together."

"Maybe." Keira said, her tone making clear that she wasn't convinced that was the case

Jak smiled and pulled her off the stool and held her close, "You're thinking about this too much. We're still a long way from Far Drop, why don't I help you with your channeling?"

Keira smiled, "I'd like that." Jak let her go and she put the seeker into a small wooden box, which, upon closing, she locked, sticking the key in one of her pockets.

They worked for a long while. Jak was a good teacher, he was patient with her, and he was always willing to explain things over again if she needed him to. After a long while, Daxter walked in, "Hey you two." He called. They looked at him, "What are you up to?"

Jak shrugged, "Nothing much, I was just helping Keira with her powers." He looked at his friend, really, he wanted to spend some time with Keira alone, but knowing Daxter he most likely wouldn't get the hint and just telling him to go away wasn't going to be any fun. He smiled; thinking of a great way to get a quick laugh even if was at Daxter's expense. He looked at Keira, "Hey Keira, you want to see me do that crystal thing again?"

Keira smiled, "Yes please." Jak dug in his bag to find a crystal.

"Yeah," Daxter said, "that is a pretty cool power and it's been really useful too." Jak found one and smiled at Keira as his hands began to glow with green eco energy. Keira watched, amazed and a little jealous at just how easy this was for him. He just smiled at her as Daxter continued to talk, "You know it's really going to be a shame when you lose tha- HEY?!" Jak had threw the crystal at Daxter's feet and it grew, encasing him from his shoulder down in the green crystal, "What's the big idea?!" He asked, a little scared, "Don't you remember what this thing did to that lurker?!"

Jak was laughing, "Relax, it didn't cover your head, you're fine." He looked at Keira, "So, you want to take one of the planes for a joy ride?"

"I'd like to but…" She looked at Daxter as he tried to break himself free Jak took her hand and they headed out the room, "you sure he's going to be, okay?"

"He's fine, the crystal will shatter on its own… eventually."

"HEY!" Daxter yelled as they left the room, "Jak, this isn't funny," he tried to wriggle himself free, Jak and Keira starting to laugh quietly as they headed down the stairs, "get me out of here! … JAAAK?!" they started to run.

Jak and Keira ran to the hanger, still laughing, "You are so mean." She chuckled.

He grinned at her, "You can blame the dark eco in my blood for that." Keira's laugh became an awkward chuckle. Jak walked over to the plane that he took for the rig. "Have you been able to take a look at this thing yet?" He asked.

"Castaway did," Keira said, "It's completely fine. And refueled. Why?"

He climbed in and held out his hand to her, "Thought you said you were up for a joy ride."

"I did, but…" she looked at the one seat plane, "I don't think we'll both fit." She said as she took his hand.

"Don't worry about it, we will."

Jak pulled her in as he sat down and she sat on him. The dome closed over them and Jak started the plane. Keira smiled at him, "This isn't safe at all, is it?" She asked.

Jak shrugged as the launch bay door opened, "Probably not," he smiled, "you scared?"

"No." They took off.

At first Jak just stayed by the ship, doing tricks with the plane, then he got an idea, "You want to see how fast this thing can really go?"

Keira smiled, "Yeah." The boosters screamed to life, and they shot off.

They flew for over an hour taking in the true beauty that was the Brink. The crystal blue water sparking like a diamond as the sunlight bounced off the surface. The sky was such a perfect blue, looking at the horizon they couldn't see where it ended. They saw islands, some bigger than others. Most of them seemed to be overgrown with plant life. There were cliffs that reached high into the sky; some had waterfalls over their sides. Jak flew up one of these and landed near the falls. The two climbed out and sat with their feet dangling off the side. Jak laid back, putting his hands behind his head, shutting his eyes. Keira smiled at him, "You comfortable?"

Jak winked one eye open, he grabbed her arm and pulled her down. She landed with her head on his chest, looking at him, smiling as he put his arm around her shoulders just to hold her close, "Are you comfortable?" He asked.

She smiled at him, "Yes."

Jak looked up at the sky, with a content sigh, "We don't get enough days like this."

Keira also looked up at the clear sky, "And you deserve them more than anyone."

"I won't argue with you there… especially after yesterday." Keira sadly looked away as she got up; Jak looked at her, confused, propping himself up on his elbow, "Keira? What is it?"

"We need to talk about what happened last night." She said, looking out to the horizon.

Jak just looked at her, "What do you mean?"

She looked at him, "I saw the fight, I saw what you did to those people."

Jak's eyes widened, "How?" He asked, now sitting up completely.

"The security cameras; Castaway and I saw everything. That's when he really had that break down. After you killed the last of them, I saw you change back and then pass out. I figured out how to lock the doors, and I waited for you to get back up before unlocking them." She looked away from him, "I was worried when I saw you go dark- but you were okay. And I…" she took a deep breath, "I watched you slaughter those people," she looked back at him, her eyes now shimmering in tears, "it scared me, Jak. You scared me."

Jak pulled her into a tight hug, "I am so sorry. I haven't lost control like that in a long time, and I never wanted you to see me like that. But Keira, please, please understand that I wasn't in control, I wasn't even fully aware of what was going on."

Keira was silently crying into his shoulder, her arms also tightly holding him, "I know."

Jak sighed in relief, "I hope you never see me like that again."

"Me too."

"Can we just forget about it, please?"

Keira nodded, "It was just something I need to talk about." Jak nodded, understanding. They both fell silent, still holding each other.

After a while, they relaxed back into calmly looking up at the sky, which now slowly was being covered in clouds. They stayed there all day just talking, as they talked, they couldn't help but notice as the day went on, more and more darkening clouds filled the sky as the sun started to set. Just as Jak and Keira began to think they should head back to the ship, the Phantom Blade appeared out of the clouds. Jak and Keira climbed back into the plane and headed back to the ship.

They landed and found Daxter standing there, arms crossed, glaring at his best friend. Jak climbed out smiling, "Hey Dax, you not still mad about earlier, are you?"

"Yeah, actually I am." He said, "Do you know how long I was stuck in that thing?"

"Actually, I would like to know." Keira said as Castaway walked in, carrying Rover with him.

"I was stuck in that thing for hours. I thought I was going to die of boredom."

"Actually," Castaway said, placing Rover on a table and picking up a screwdriver, "It was only a few minutes." He said, unscrewing Rover's back.

Daxter glared at him, "No one asked you." He snapped as all three of them walked over to the table.

"What are you doing?" Jak asked.

"Poor Rover's starting to glitch, normally when he start glitching I'd just take him apart and then rebuild him from scratch; but being that I'm not on my island and don't have the parts to do that, I need to figure out what's wrong with him."

"Would you mind if I took a look?" Keira asked. Castaway shrugged, taking a step back. Keira worked on the robotic dog for a few moments before looking at Castaway, "did you design him to relay messages?" She asked, looking at Castaway.

"No. At least I don't think so." Then looking as if he was really trying to think added, "What use would I have for that?"

"Well, in that case, I might have found the problem. Someone installed a relay in him and it's messing with all of his systems."

"But why would someone install that?" Jak asked.

Keira continued to tinker with it, "Well, whoever it was, they didn't want anyone to know they were sending messages or who they were getting them from." She pulled out a small round something that was blinking red.

"What is that?" Daxter asked, now sitting on Jak's shoulder.

"It's an encryptor, it keeps unwanted people from intercepting whatever messages is being sent or received." She looked back at Rover, "I don't know if I can get that relay out without damaging him."

Castaway was about to tell her that it was okay when Jak interrupted, "Maybe we don't want to."

"What do you mean?" Castaway asked.

"Just leave it and put that thing back on it." Jak said.

Keira looked at him, confused, "Why?"

"Because, if we mess with it then who's ever sending messages will know something up and will cover their tracks; we wouldn't know who it is or why."

"And if we leave it in and keep an eye on Rover we're bound to find out who it is." Daxter added, Jak nodded.

Keira looked at Castaway, "Are you okay with this?"

"Yep" he said, "If someone's using it to give information to someone else and that someone else happens to be Skyheed, we need to know about it and who's doing it."

"You really think it's Skyheed?" Daxter asked as Keira reattached the encryptor into Rover.

"Who else would want to know where the eco seeker will lead us?" Castaway looked at Jak, "You saw what he was willing to do at the rig and you saw the result at the barracks; do you really think he wouldn't want to get to the core just for the sake of power?"

Jak sighed angrily, just thinking about that man made him mad, "No." he looked at Keira, "Make sure no one will be able to tell we messed with it."

Keira smiled, "Look who you're talking to, it's not like Daxter's the one doing this."

"Hey!"

"Okay," she said, shutting the compartment and turning Rover back on, she put him back on the ground and looked at Castaway, "but if we leave it in, what's going to happen to Rover?"

"He'll keep glitching I suppose." Castaway stated, "Don't worry, he'll be fine. After all, he's only a robot I built because I was lonely. When this is all over, I can fix or rebuild him."

Keira nodded, "Phoenix should know what's going on," she started to walk away, "I'll go tell him."

Jak grabbed her arm, "That's not a good idea."

Keira glared at him, "Why not? He has a right to know if one of his men is sending secret messages."

"And what if it's him sending those messages?"

"Are you kidding me?" She asked, pulling her arm out of his grip, "Phoenix hates Skyheed."

"Even so, it's still better that none of us say anything to anyone, at least for now."

"Why?" She asked, still glaring at him and crossing her arms.

"Because even if he's not the one, he could tell his crew and then whoever it is will know we're onto them."

Keira, seeing the truth in his logic, sighed, "Okay." She said, trusting his judgement.

A loud crack of thunder shook the ship; all four of them jumped in surprise before running up to the helm where Phoenix was controlling the ship. He looked over his shoulder at them, "Jak, Keira, there you are."

"What's going on?" Jak asked as the ship swayed.

"We've flown right into a storm and a brutal one at that." Lightning struck the deck and started a fire. Phoenix looked at Jak and then ran for the deck to help with the fire.

Jak ran up and grabbed the wheel just as the storm began to shake the ship again. Daxter, Keira and Castaway fell as the ship swayed. "Jak, do you even know what you're doing?" Daxter asked, getting back to his feet. He didn't answer.

The ship swerved again, and Phoenix's voice came through the radio, "Jak, this storm is too fierce, take us lower."

Jak did, they dipped below the cloud line, but it was no better. The ocean water, which only moments ago was calm and peaceful, now seemed enraged. The water smacked the sides of the ship, threatening to force it over with waves large enough to wash over the deck. The four of them watched as some of the crew were nearly swept off the ship. Jak looked at Keira, "Take the helm, I'm going down there to help them."

Keira nodded, "Be careful."

Jak headed to the deck, Daxter jumping onto his shoulder. The two reached the deck and Phoenix looked at them, "What are you doing here, who's steering my ship?" He yelled over the howling wind.

"Keira." Jak told him. Before Phoenix could say anything else the ship was rocked by another wave.

Phoenix looked at the two, "Well don't just stand there!" They took off to help the crew. A massive wave over-took the ship; Jak, Daxter and Phoenix managed to get to a wall to keep them from being washed away. Klout, on the other hand, was now dangling off the side of the ship. He tried to pull himself up but the deck was too slippery and he was unable to get a footing.

Phoenix, seeing his first mate in trouble, hurried over to help him. He grabbed his hand to pull him up but Klout was just too heavy for Phoenix alone, they were both about to fall when Jak grabbed Klout's other hand and the two were able to pull him up. "Thanks." Klout said.

"Look out!" Daxter yelled as yet another wave threatened to overtake the ship. Jak, quickly thinking and hoping that this would work, focused all the eco energy he could and surrounded the ship with a blue eco shield. The ship stopped rocking as now the wind and waves could no longer touch them. The whole crew stopped and just looked at the protective shield around them. "Jak," Daxter said, jumping off his friend's shoulder, "how long can you hold this?"

"I have no idea." He looked at Phoenix, "We need to get out of the storm as soon as possible." Phoenix nodded and ran for the helm.

And then Keira came to them, "Phoenix said we're heading for the eye of the storm, we should be safe there until this all passes." Jak nodded, needing to concentrate to hold the shield.

It took a while, but they reached the eye of the storm and Jak dropped the shield. Exhausted, he leaned on some barrels to help him stay up. Keira looked at him, "Are you alright?" She asked.

"Yeah," Jak said, looking at her, his eyelids drooping a little, "I… just need a little…" He collapsed.

When Jak woke he found himself in a hammock. "Keira," He heard Daxter yell, "he's awake."

His vision was still a bit blurred as he heard hurried footsteps and Keira's voice, "Jak? How're you feeling?"

He rubbed his eyes, sitting up, "Fine, I guess, what happened?"

"Well, you completely passed out." Daxter said, climbing up on a nearby table.

"For how long?"

"A couple hours." Keira said, "The storms completely gone, and Phoenix said we should reach Far Drop by morning." She looked at him, "Are you sure you're, okay?"

Jak smiled, "I'm fine. I just over did it a bit."

"Yeah," Daxter chimed in, "never do that again."

Jak looked at him, "I saved us, didn't I?"

"Nearly killing yourself in the process!" Daxter yelled.

"I did not nearly kill myself."

"Actually Jak, you kind of did." Keira told him.

Jak looked at her, confused, "I just passed out for a little while."

Daxter and Keira exchanged an uneasy look before looking back at Jak, "That's the second time in less than twenty-four hours you've past out like that. It's a little frightening." Daxter said.

"I wasn't using light eco to make that shield, it was blue. It's completely different from what happened yesterday."

"Still," Keira said, "maybe you should take it a bit easier with your powers."

He looked at her and gently held her hand in his, "Okay, I'll try to take it a little easier." Keira wrapped her arms around him, and he pulled her into the hammock with him holding her close.

Daxter jumped off the table, "Well it's late, I'm gonna turn in." He started to walk away, "Good night." He knew he was as good as talking to himself, for Jak and Keira had wrapped themselves in each other and when they did that the rest of the world didn't exist. Keira, content with being in Jak's embrace, fell asleep quickly. Jak on the other hand, stayed up for a little while, just holding her close, watching her sleep as he too fell into a doze.