Chapter Six:

Different Worlds

Erin, understandably, couldn't sleep that night. That day had been one of the worst days in her life. Including the day that she had first been experimented on with dark eco. She had never been more embarrassed and terrified in her life. She had transformed into a creature that totally went against her morals. Her dark form was a temptress! She tried to seduce people to get her way! Her dark self disgusted her beyond words…

After the pain-filled transformation to that terrible…thing…she had tried to trick Jak into coming closer, when he didn't fall for it she attacked him. When she touched him in her dark form, it caused Jak to transform as well. There was no explanation. Nothing like what had happened to them had EVER happened in history, so there was no way to explain it. Erin figured that 'Dark Erin's' anger had set off Jak, causing him to turn. Which brought up a major problem…

Erin knew that there was no way to deny to herself that she had feelings for Jak. But now that they BOTH had manifested a darker self, they couldn't so much as touch each other without having devastating effects. Any chance that they had at a relationship suddenly was lost. And now there was a hole in her heart that she was sure would never be filled…

Tossing to her other side on her top bunk bed, Erin tried to stop thinking about her feelings for Jak. It was impossible for them to be together anyway, so what was the point in thinking about it? Somehow that didn't make her heart feel any more whole.

Jak heard her tossing and turning. He couldn't get to sleep either. He just stared up at the mattress above him knowing that Erin was having a terrible time trying to get to sleep, just like him. A large part of him wanted to talk to her, desperately, but he wondered if she was mad at him. He didn't move a muscle, not knowing how to fix this…

Erin rolled back onto her other side, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get comfortable. She just had too much on her mind. She wanted to talk to Jak, but he was asleep on the bunk below her. She had been terrified of the reaction their touch brought and raced off, not even bothering to talk to him. The only thing left that could scare her was herself. Life was just full of irony.

She heard movement from the bunk below her, could Jak possibly be awake?

"Jak?" She whispered, not daring to hope for a reply.

Jak was glad that she was ready to talk so soon. "Yeah?" He whispered back, trying not to wake the orange ball next to him on the bed.

Erin couldn't help but notice the overwhelming sense of relief she felt by just hearing his voice. His voice had comforted her in prison, and she still found it comforting. Though this time they weren't behind metal bars. The only cages that held them were invisible ones, forged from the darkness that corrupted their souls. The darkness, the only barrier between them. The only thing that held them back. The one thing Erin found that she hated more than the Baron.

"Can…can you take me to the Oracle?" Her voice was a whisper. In her voice he could hear what a terrible time she was having, now that she had started to change. Jak hated that he couldn't comfort her; what little help he could offer was taking her to the Oracle. Perhaps the Oracle would comfort her some.

"Yeah," Jak said as he quietly moved from his bed and trying not to wake Daxter.

Erin quietly climbed down from her bunk, they both put on their boots, and walked out to the common room. The common room was empty, for once. Perhaps Torn did sleep after all. When they reached the secret door to the outside world, Erin felt relieved. The cool night air was much better than the stale air inside the Hideout. Erin took a deep breath, letting the cleaner air rush into her lungs.

Jak just watched her take in the comfort of the night. Not saying a word. When she was finished she looked at him, noticing he had been watching her. She just smiled at him and he noticed her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Ready to go?" He asked gently.

Erin nodded and smiled. "Thanks for doing this, Jak."

Jak smiled back, "I DID promise that I'd take you to the Oracle. I'm just keeping that promise."

"Well…thanks." Erin's eye met his.

They both noticed at the same time how friendly they were being. Too friendly, as their darker selves were protesting. Their dark forms couldn't stand even knowing the other was there, Erin could hear her darker self scream for her to attack. She tried desperately to ignore it, but the vehemence that the voice used was hard to shut out. She broke eye contact with Jak and the voice dulled, but it was still there. It would always be there.

Jak stood there, struggling with two things. The first was trying to quiet the voice screaming in his head, a voice that he had no control over. Kill her….or she'll kill you while you sleep. She has her own darkness now, she cannot be trusted! Kill her!

The second thing he was trying to control was himself. He wanted to hold Erin, tell her everything would be alright. But it was impossible. She was terrified, though she tried to hide it, and he couldn't do anything to help her. Except take her to the Oracle, and that seemed like such a pathetic attempt to help.

Jak finally broke the long silence that had grown between them. "Let's go."

Erin just nodded, not making eye contact this time.

They both walked out of the dead-end ally. The dim streetlights casting a pale light on them. They walked across the deserted street to a two-person zoomer parked next to a building. Not saying a word they both crawled in, Jak in the driver's seat. Jak rose the zoomer to the top level and started in the direction of the water slums. Still, neither of them said a word.

It was a slow drive to the water slums. Jak looked over at Erin ever once in a while. She didn't make a sound as she looked down at the deserted and filthy streets. Another long silence filled the gap between them.

When they finally reached the seemingly abandoned building that the Oracle resided in, Jak felt like they hadn't spoken for days.

"This is it?" Erin asked as she climbed out of the passenger seat, observing the decaying building.

Jak nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't look like much, but the Oracle is in there."

Erin nodded back, about to go through the door…

"Wait!" Jak called, pulling a small bag from his belt. He held it out to her, she took it, making sure not to touch his hand.

"Take that in with you," Jak said.

Erin wasn't sure what to say. She just nodded and walked into the decayed building.

The inside was completely different than the outside. There were no signs of decay or rot. The walls almost seemed new. Large tapestries hung on the walls and hundreds of candles where lit on surrounding tables. Erin walked up to the large ominous statue.

When she got close the eyes lit up with a blue glow. "Greetings, great warrior. I sense the dark rage burning within you, and in time it will destroy you with it's madness."

Erin stiffened visibly. She hadn't survived the dark eco? It was still killing her, just slowly?

"The dark eco IS killing me!" She demanded of the statue.

"If you cannot obtain a balance within you, the dark power will eventually kill you."

Her mind was pounding, a balance? What could possibly balance what had happened to her?

After a moment of thinking to herself she realized she still had the small bag in her hand. She untied the string and poured the contents into her hand. Glowing 'gems' fell from the bag, she almost threw them when she realized what they were.

"You do well to ride this world of the Metal scourge. For this we grant you the power to control the darkness in your heart."

Purple energy shot from the statue, enveloping her entire body and lifting her into the air. She fought the darkness for a few long, terrifying moments. But it was no use, the Oracle was forcing the temptress from inside, forcing Erin to face the one thing that she feared most.

When the energy receded, Dark Erin was in her place. But this was slightly different. Instead of being a helpless bystander, Erin could control her movements. It wasn't such a struggle to turn into her normal self. Erin pushed the darkness away, not wanting to stay in that form longer than needed. She'd be glad if she NEVER had to change into the 'temptress' as long as she lived.

"This power gives you control, but this will not balance your soul. You must look in the right place to find your balance."

Erin's heart stopped beating as the Oracle's eyes went black, the light extinguished.

"Wait!" She called at the statue, as if it could feel pity. "How do I 'balance my soul'?" She yelled as she advanced on the dormant statute. When it didn't answer she lost her control. The last few days had been hard on her, the stress finally came to the surface. Erin couldn't stop the tears.

"How do I get home?" She questioned weakly, falling to the base of the statue. "What about my friends?" She sat near the statue and cried. The statue gave her some comfort, because it was her only tie to her home. A home that she probably would never see again, a fact that she was going to have to face.

Jak was pacing outside the door. It had been quiet in there for some time, but he wasn't sure if he should go in. Whatever had taken place was her business, and it wasn't his place to pry. But it didn't stop him from worrying.

He had probably walked in the same circular path for half an hour before Erin finally came out. She looked at him, avoiding his eyes, and tried to force a smile.

Jak noticed that her eyes were red, she had been crying.

"Is everything alright?" Jak asked, hoping she was alright.

Erin nodded, "I haven't been having the best time lately."

Jak completely understood. It hadn't been so long ago that he had gone through the same thing.

He didn't feel the slightest bit tired, but they would need rest for tomorrow. "We better get back to the Hideout."

She nodded again and climbed into the passenger seat of the zoomer, Jak followed suit and climbed in. It was another long, quiet drive to headquarters, several times Jak tried to say something but couldn't find the words.

They reached the deserted dead-end ally and Jak lowered the zoomer to the ground. Erin went to climb out, but he stopped her.

"Erin, are you sure your going to be alright?"

She heaved a big sigh as she stared down at her hands. "I…I think so," she said after a long pause.

"What did the Oracle say to you?" He asked, visibly concerned.

She sighed again, "It said…that," she paused and took another breath, "the dark eco is…killing me."

Jak nodded. "That's what it said to me."

Finally Erin looked him in the eye, if only for a moment. "What are we going to do?" She tried not to focus on the feeling of helplessness.

Jak started to think. When he had last talked to the Oracle, it had hinted that the Precursor power might help him, but there had to be another piece to the puzzle. "Did the Oracle hint about anything that could help us?"

Erin thought for a second, "It said something about 'finding a balance within'. But what could balance what has happened to us?" She looked to Jak for an answer.

Jak continued to think. They had been infected with dark eco, so to balance darkness…you'd use light! "Light eco!"

Erin looked at him, "Does such a thing even exist?" She asked dubiously.

His heart started to race, that had to be the answer! "Yes, I've seen it!" When Gol and Maia had tried to turn his world into a manifestation of dark eco, he had used light eco to stop them! This WAS the answer!

"Light eco, that is what will balance us! We just have to find it!" Jak's enthusiasm raised Erin's hopes. She looked him in the eyes again, he wasn't lying about seeing light eco.

"But how do we find it?"

He thought for a second, "It's very rare, but I'm sure we can find it."

"Well…it's the only chance we got…" Erin began.

"We WILL figure it out," Jak reassured her. Her slight frown turned into a smile in an instant.

"You don't give up, do you?" She smirked as she met his eyes.

"Nope," he answered, with a cocky grin.

Erin's smile faded into a serious look. "Thank you for everything."

Jak turned serious as well, "Any time."

Erin hated that he was so close and yet there was this 'wall' between them. He was just an arm span away, but he could've been miles away for all the good it did her. They couldn't so much as accidentally touch hands, let alone get close. So she pulled herself out of the zoomer, putting some distance between them, "We should at least try and get some sleep." She stated and headed for the door to the Hideout.

Jak sighed and climbed out of the zoomer, quietly following not far behind her.

"I have a proposition for you two. Racing is the biggest sport in the city. Erol is the undisputed grand champion. He's crazy and dangerous on the track," Krew paused and laughed. "My kind of guy."

Jak noticed that Erin stiffened at Erol's name. She obviously didn't wish to cross that man's path again in her life time. It was funny that Jak wished for the exact opposite. What would he give to see Erol walk into the Hip Hog at that moment?

"Only a fool would dare race against him, 'ey!" Krew continued, "And that's where you two come in. A 'client' of mine is looking for some fast drivers for her racing team. Here's a security pass to get you into the stadium section."

He tossed Erin and Jak each a security pass.

"Uh, and your contracts, with just a few trifles for me. I've ah…, already signed your names to save time, mmmmmnn."

The ever vigilant Daxter jumped from Jak's shoulder to the table that Krew tossed the contracts. He grabbed the one on the top and started reading. "We the racers hereby agree to give Krew all proceeds from race earnings, endorsement fees, broadcast royalties, syndications residuals, vehicle sponsorships, mall appearance fees, collectible card assets, fast-food tie-ins, use of likeness rights, talk show deals, clothing lines, all print rights including book, novella, comic, pamphlet, tickertape, neon sign and bathroom graffiti designs…"

Jak just rolled his eyes and continued to listen, but Erin couldn't just stand there and take it.

"We split all earnings 50-50," Erin cut in smoothly between Daxter's words.

"I would be a fool to take that deal, 'ey!" Krew almost seemed disgusted.

Erin smirked, "So what do you offer us?"

Krew considered it for a moment. "Ten percent is the standard rate--"

"Twenty," Erin demanded.

"Twelve," Krew countered.

"Eighteen."

"Fifteen!" Krew yelled.

"DEAL!" Erin finished, obviously pleased with the finished percentage. She didn't really need the money, but she wasn't going to be ripped off by a crime lord. He had enough money anyway.

"Fine," Krew drawled as he tore up the old contracts, "I'll draw up some new ones. But you better be worth the trouble, or you'll be missing the prison before I get done with you, 'ey!"

"No problem," Jak cut in. Krew just ignored the bravado in his voice.

"If you can get from here to the Race Garage near the stadium in less than three minutes, my client said that she would consider letting you two drive for her team. Now get out of my sight, 'ey!"

They both took his order and left before Krew decided to blow a gasket. They walked out of the Hip Hog and two single person zoomers were waiting to start the race to the stadium. They had just about started up the zoomers and started the timer when Torn contacted them on their communicators.

"Jak, Erin, come in!"

Jak pressed the comm button, "Yeah?"

"One of my old Guard comrades was sent to the Pumping Station. There's been no word from her patrol, and after what you guys ran into out there, I'm afraid she may need some help."

Jak's eye bows raised, he couldn't remember EVER seeing a woman in the Krimson Guard. "Did you say 'she'?"

"Don't even think about it!" Torn answered through the speaker. "This 'friend' of mine has helped the Underground many times before. Go back to the Pumping Station and take a look around. Render assistance if needed." The communicator went silent.

Jak looked at Erin, silently asking which she would like to do.

"You should go help the woman at the Pumping Station, you're the better shot," Erin stated.

Jak nodded, started up his zoomer and headed for the water slums.

Erin scanned the area, figuring the fastest way to get to the Stadium, started her zoomer, and took off as fast as she could.

After racing through the streets, and avoiding the Krimson Guards, she reached the Stadium with plenty of time to spare. She had raced before, and now that she had got the hang of these zoomers, racing had become easier. She dismounted the zoomer and walked into the Racing Garage. Only one garage was open, so she figured it was the one.

She entered the garage to find that it was empty. "Hello, anyone there?"

Erin heard a clatter, apparently she had snuck up on the owner. A muffled voice called out from behind a large green curtain. "I'm…I'm busy right now. You must be Krew's new errand boys. Look, I don't mean to be rude, you did get here fast, but I'm not interested in any new drivers right now, and I've got work to do."

Erin rolled her eyes, "Girl."

"What?" the voice called back, not understanding Erin's meaning.

"Errand GIRL."

"Oh…well sorry, I can hardly hear you," the voice called back apologetically.

Erin heard another loud clatter of tools hit the floor. "Do you need any help?" She called, reaching for the big green curtain.

"Uh…NO!" She called too late, Erin had already pulled back the curtain. The girl mechanic acted quickly and threw a white cover over the project she was working on.

"No, I DON'T need your help," she answered sternly after it was completely covered.

Erin felt stupid there for a second, she didn't think that what the mechanic was working on would be a secret. "Uh…sorry."

The mechanic rounded on her, trying to keep her voice civilized. "I already told you that I'm not interested in a driver right now, so would you please leave?"

Erin noted that the woman over-reacted. "You don't like me much, do you?"

The mechanic sighed and leaned against a cabinet full of tools. "You work for that slim ball Krew, what's not to like?"

Erin nodded, she understood where the woman was coming from. "If I had much of a choice I wouldn't be working for him."

The mechanic girl took in Erin's response and noted her face. She didn't seem like the type to work for Krew.

"We kind of started off on the wrong foot," Erin said trying to be friendly. "My name is Erin."

The girl looked at Erin's outstretched hand for a moment in hesitation, but decided that Erin wasn't the criminal type. "Keira."

Erin shook Keira's hand, "Nice to meet you, Keira."

When Jak returned to the Hideout later that day Torn didn't have another mission for him, so he decided to go talk to Erin and see if she had gotten onto the race team. He reached for the communicator.

"Erin, where are you at?"

After about a minute he received an answer. "At the Stadium," came her breathless reply.

"What are you doing?" Jak asked, wondering why she sounded out of breath.

"I'm trying to beat this stupid JET-board record so the woman will let me on her racing team," Erin obviously sounded frustrated.

"I'll meet you there," Jak said, curious to try a JET-board.

"Ok."

It didn't take Jak long to get to the stadium.

He descended the rows of vacant seats till he came to Erin in the middle of the stadium, who was trying to beat the JET-board record.

Jak just sat and watched as she finished her run, falling short of the record by five-hundred points.

She jumped off of the board and tried not to swear. She stomped her way over to Jak and leaned against a rail with her arms crossed.

Jak tried not to laugh, "Having problems?"

Erin just glared at his joking voice.

Daxter jumped from Jak's shoulder to where Erin had left the JET-board. "No problem, Sweet Cheeks. I'll take care of it for you."

He pressed the button on the middle of the board, causing it to start up. All in one motion Daxter jumped on the board and put too much pressure on one side of it, causing him to speed around in a circle.

"Get me off this thing!" He yelled, gripping the edge of the board and trying to hold on for dear life.

Jak just lifted a foot and the board slammed into it. The sudden change of momentum caused Daxter to fly off and land flat on his face a few feet away. "Mind if I give it a try?"

Erin's mood lifted a little when Daxter hit the floor, "Knock yourself out."

Jak took off for the nearest jump, excited to see what the JET-board could do. Jak managed to pull a flip. The instant he landed a small flying recorder followed him around, scoring his jumps and keeping time. He found if fun to figure out what all the tricks were worth. He tried many moves, but he fell short of the record the first time.

Jak took the board to the tallest jump he could find, took a deep breath, and started down the steep slope. When Jak hit the air he did as many flips and twists as he could before he hit the ground. The mechanical judge followed him, calculating the value of all of his tricks. Jak didn't pay attention to his points, he just continued to move from one jump or rail to another until time ran out. When the two minutes were up he had beat the record by one-thousand points.

Erin ran up to him to congratulate him, Daxter now on her shoulder. "Nice job, Jak!" Her voice showed that her irritation had died down.

"If you thought that was hot, you should have seen all the Metal Heads I took down earlier, Sugar Doll," Daxter commented, leaning closer to Erin's face. Erin just grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and tossed him to Jak.

"HEY, watch the fur!" Dax yelled disgruntled from Jak's arms.

Jak just shook his head and placed Dax on his shoulder.

"Well," Erin started, "let's go see if we're on the team."

Jak nodded and followed Erin to the mechanic entrance to the Stadium, and he reluctantly left the JET-board on a rack. After a few flights of stairs they made it to the racing garage. Erin led them into the right one.

"I'm back, and I brought the other hopeful for your racing team," Erin announced as she entered the garage.

"Great," Jak heard a voice mumble from behind a large green curtain. The feminine voice sounded anything but thrilled.

"We beat the stadium challenge." Jak stated, hoping to get the woman's attention.

"People do get lucky," the voice answered.

Jak quickly covered Daxter's mouth before he could make a snide comment. When they had met Ashelin at the pumping station, he had made countless passes at her, and the last thing he needed was for Daxter to say the same things again AND in front of Erin.

"So, are we on the team?" Erin asked.

"I already told you I'm not interested in a driver right now," the voice answered, slightly irritated.

Dax struggled slightly in Jak's arms, trying to make another comment. Jak just ignored him and kept his hand firmly over his mouth. Jak took a quick look over the garage and noticed several trophies in a case.

"Looks like you've won a few races. Isn't it true the city champion gets to tour the palace?" Jak asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, why?" The voice answered, trying not to sound interested.

"Could you get us into the palace?"

"A 'friendly' visit I gather," the voice countered.

"Yeah," Jak answered, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "We're real 'fans' of the Baron."

The voice heaved a deep, exasperated sigh. "Okay. I'll help you out if you stop bothering me. I saw an old maintenance elevator at the base of one of the Palace support towers. That old lift might take you up to the palace, IF you can find a way to turn on the elevator's power."

Jak considered how they could get the elevator moving, Vin could figure out a way. Jak turned to the door without saying a word, deep in thought and still holding Daxter's mouth shut.

Erin followed Jak, perhaps they had found something useful. With a thought that they would seem rude if they just walked out, Erin stopped at the door and turned around. "Thanks, Keira."

Jak stopped in mid-stride. Had Erin just said what he thought she said? He stepped back into the garage. In his shock he let Daxter fall to the floor.

"Keira?" They both asked in unison. Jak's heart started to race.

Daxter started to waddle for the curtain, but before he got there the figure stepped out.

"Daxter!" Keira greeted Daxter enthusiastically. "I never thought I'd be so happy to see your orange mug!" She picked him up and squeezed him, as if to prove to herself that he was really there.

She turned to greet Jak, but froze. He had changed drastically since the last time she had seen him. Jak noticed how she was shocked at his change in appearance.

"Jak, you look…different," she started, not sure what to say. Everyone noticed how the tension doubled in the room.

"Yeah, It's been a tough ride," Jak left the details out of it.

Daxter didn't take the hint that Jak didn't want to talk about it. "The Baron pumped our boy here with dark eco, and it did something to him. Now he's got super moves or something, and a few anger issues as well!" Daxter cut in cheerfully, not noticing how it made Jak uncomfortable.

Keira decided not to ask. "I've been looking for you guys forever and planning a way for us to get

back home," She changed the subject. "Somehow that rift took us far into the future. I've calculated th time displacement…"

"WHAT?" Jak, Daxter, and Erin all practically screamed in surprise. Erin had been quiet through the whole exchange of words, but what Keira had said jolted her mind into action. Perhaps that is what had happened to her.

"WE'RE IN THE FUTURE?" Daxter yelled.

Jak looked to Erin, who paled visibly. In a quick movement Erin raced for the door.

"Erin!" Jak ran out after her.

Jak wasn't there to see Keira's face flush crimson in anger. "He moves on quick, doesn't he?" Keira asked Daxter bitterly. Has he already forgotten about me?

For once Daxter was at a loss for what to say, instead he just ran out the door after Jak, which in turn made Keira livid. She stomped into her back room and slammed the door with all of her strength.

Jak raced through the city on his zoomer, heading for the only spot that he figured that Erin would go. The dead-end alley where the Hideout was. The shock of finding he was in the future was forgotten as he reached the deserted alley. He dropped the zoomer and ran to the dark end of the alley.

Erin was sitting there, again, like she had been the night before. Leaning against the abandoned building, sitting on the ground, with her head laying on her knees. Had it only been last night that they had been in the same position?

"You're from the past." Erin stated. It wasn't a question.

Jak wasn't sure what to say. "I…guess."

"Does it make any sense?" Erin asked, looking up at him standing in front of her.

Jak thought about it thoroughly, it did seem possible. Their village had been next to the ocean, just like this city. The technology was much more advanced than his home. "Yeah, it does." Jak stated as he sat down not far from her.

She nodded her head and laid it back down on her knees.

"Does that bother you?" Jak asked, wondering why she reacted the way she did. If anything he was supposed to be reacting weird to the news.

Erin shook her head, "No. It just got me thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Jak asked.

"About my home," Erin answered slowly.

It suddenly hit Jak that Erin had been just as lost in Haven City as him. "You're not from here either, are you?"

She shook her head. "When I first woke up in this city I had assumed that I had been transported to a primitive world. But if you're from the past, I think that means that I'm from the future."

Authors notes: Ok, SOOOO sorry that it has taken so long to update! I've had work and volleyball practice, not to mention a bad case of writers block. I hope that this chapter didn't seem too rushed, I finished most of it tonight... Hope you enjoyed! Please review, need input!