A/N: Hooray! A new chapter at last! The next chapter might come sooner than you think! But in the meantime, enjoy!

No warnings for the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Jak and Daxter series or franchise. The property is rightfully owned by Naughty Dog and it's respectful owners.

-Chapter Four: Unexpected Business-

"Can I help you?"

Keira said to the odd man standing before her. She stood there near the open side door to her shop, waiting for a response in the dead of night. He stood tall and he had a stern look to his face. And yet his posture was very nonchalant as he took another heavy drag of his cigarette.

"Perhaps, I was not clear," he said, "or maybe I'm just not at the right place. You're a mechanic, or you not?" he asked almost with a hint of impatience in his voice.

Keira stared at him for a moment, studying his face and trying to pinpoint point the origin of his accent. It took a another second until she realized the question she was just asked.

"Yeah, Um, I'm a mechanic." She said almost meekly.

"Really," he pulled the cigarette out of his mouth, "You seem unsure."

Keira finally snapped back to reality and stopped focusing on the mysterious man's voice.

"Of course I'm sure!" she said with more confidence.

"I see," the man dropped his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it, ignoring Keira obvious disapproval. She didn't like the that the rude man just littered in front of her doorsteps. She didn't know who he was, but she already didn't like him.

"I'm having car trouble…" he spoke.

"You wouldn't be here if you didn't." Keira said folding her arms. Silently hinting that she too was losing patience.

The man cocked his head slightly to the side, "Hm, I suppose you're right." he folded his arms as well. "I heard about an engineer from Haven opening up shop in Kras. I'm assuming he's here?"

Keira wanted to scoff. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger brewing in the pit of her stomach when he mentioned, 'he'. It meant a number of things to her. One, that no one in Kras City knew who she was, except for a small minority of mechanics like Alex. Even after she busted her ass for months to make a name for herself. Which clearly didn't work out. And two, it's clear that the man in front of her couldn't believe that a woman like Keira would be able to run a shop.

But Keira contained her composer. She didn't need another outburst like earlier.

"You're looking at her." She said with an emphasis on 'her'.

She was expecting an apology, but instead he just raised an eyebrow and continued to talk as if he never said that the mechanic he was looking for was male.

"Good," he said, "I have an engine problem with my one of my cars. I need you to run some tests and fix the problem."

Keira couldn't believe how rude the man was. He didn't even ask if she was available or even open at such an ungodly hour. Keira felt like telling him off but she knew better. Even if the man was acting like a complete jerk, she couldn't afford to scare off any customers. Especially now, since she needed the money for an eco convertor.

But she wasn't about to get bullied into fixing someone's car. She had to do the next best thing.

"We're closed." She bluntly said, "We'll be open first thing in the morning and I can check your car then."

Her shop was indeed closed for the night, but if this was a different man, or had he approached her with more polite demeanor, then perhaps she would've worked overtime. But Keira judged his character the moment she laid eyes on him. And she didn't have a good feeling at all.

"Hmph," he unfolded his arms, "Perhaps I'll wait til morning then."

He walked away and just about as Keira herself was about to turn away, Alex, the pink haired blabber mouth rush past her. Practically bumping Keira into the side of the door.

"We're open!" She yelled out at the mysterious man.

"What? No we're-" Keira tried to talk to Alex, but she was completely ignored.

The man turned back, "You are?"

"Yes!" Alex said.

"No we're not!" Keira intervened, raising her voice.

Alex raised her hand in the air, "Listen, don't go anywhere. I need to talk to my boss!"

The man looked almost annoyed. "How long will this take?"

"A few minutes!" She grabbed Keira by the arm, surprising her. Alex quickly turned back, still holding Keira's arm, "Actually make that two, tops!"

Alex pulled Keira back into the garage, and it wasn't until long before Keira forcibly yanked it away from her grasp.

"What's wrong with you!?" Keira said rather loudly. She wanted to yell but didn't want that man to hear her arguing with her assistant. Although she didn't understood why she would care.

Alex looked at her, with an expression Keira was certainly not used to seeing. She wasn't smiling or looked cheerful as her normal do. Instead her expression of stern, and serious.

"Keira, that's that guy out there is Razer!" She said in a low yet deep whisper.

"Am I supposed to know who that is?" Keira said sarcastically.

"Yes!" Alex said almost immediately. Keira looked even more confused than ever. Seeing Alex take anything seriously wasn't something she thought she'd see.

"Listen, I'll just give the abridged version of what you need to know, okay?" Before Keira could respond, Alex continued. "Razer's one of Kras city best racers, he's big time! And he has connections to a lot of important people. Trust me, you have to take this job!"

Keira placed a hand on her hip, "I worked with famous racers back in Haven," she gloated, "Just because he's some hot shot here doesn't mean anything to me."

Keira turned around and headed back to the door to tell the Razer guy to leave. Alex, huffed and placed her hands on her hips too.

"Keira, he's loaded."

She stopped in her tracks. "Loaded…?" She said without looking back. "You mean he's…"

"Yep." Keira could almost hear the smile across Alex's face. "Rich!"

Keira sighed, 'So much for not selling out', she thought to herself.

-o-o-o-o-

She couldn't believe her eyes. The chrome steel beauty that was parked in front of her, in her very own garage even. It was a shiny, practically glowing red with gold streaks. The interior was made with leather seats. It had a custom made steering wheel, stick, and so much more. But that wasn't what had Keira amazed, all those things were just trimmings on fine delicious cake. It was what was underneath that made it a true wonder.

"This is a Havoc R16!" Keira exclaimed.

"Good, you know what it is." Razer said standing next to the car.

"This was built during Arin's leadership almost sixty years ago, it has the best EG-5 engine and powered by steel combat thrusters! This is car is a classic!"

Razer looked at her almost surprised that she was able to know so much without even lifting the hood.

He cleared his throat. "Yes, it has those parts. But how did you know?" He asked, "I had the-"

"You replaced the exterior look of the car with a new Havoc model's." She interrupted, not once taking her eyes off the car. "I'm not too fond of the fancy look but I'll live."

Keira spoke as if the car was given to her. Which, as long as it's in her shop, it was.

Razer, feeling a little offended that she was not to impressed with the look of the car, spoke up.

"Let's get straight to business, shall we?"

"Right," Keira said, "What's her problem?"

"Excuse me?" Razer asked perplexed.

"Your car," she said "what's wrong with her?"

Razer couldn't help but feel amused by Keira addressing the car as a 'she'. It wasn't because he's never done it himself, in fact, he's already given the old gal a name. It was the fact that he hasn't met a woman who was willing to address a car as female.

He walked around the car slowly making his way to the hood. "The old girl doesn't purr like she used to." He said, all the while tracing his tan gloved finger on the hood. "I'm afraid she's probably on her last legs."

"But," he continued, "If there's a chance to save her, I'm willing to pay whatever the cost to get her roaring again."

He turned to face Keira, "I've already met ten other mechanics this city. All were, how would you say…" he paused for moment to think, but something in Keira's gut told her that he knew exactly the word he was pretending to search for. "...Incompetent."

"So why come to me?" Keira asked, "I'm located in the middle of nowhere and I doubt I made it to the top twenty of the best car shop list."

Razer smiled, "Are you saying you're not up for the job?"

She scoffed. "Believe me, I'm the best in this city!" she said confidently, "Even if no one here knows it yet."

Razer smile didn't disappear, in fact, he looked even more amused than he did before.

"Pop open the hood, and start the engine." Keira ordered.

And Razer did just that. He hopped in the driver's seat and turned the key.

Keira didn't touch the car but instead stood in front of it and closed her eyes. Without opening them she spoke, "Rev the engine!"

With the car parked he did what he was told. The machine roared like a powerful monster! And to the untrained ear, it would've sounded like a normal race car. But Keira knew too well something was wrong.

"Again." She said over the dying roar of the red metal beast. Razer complied and rev the engine again.

"Stop." Keira said, and he did. Before he could even get out of the car, Keira grabbed her tool belt and wrapped around her waist. She went straight under the hood.

"Eager aren't we?" Razer said, but Keira completely ignored him as she began tinkering with some of the parts.

Razer folded his arms, "So how long will this take? A few days? Weeks?"

"Two hours." Keira said, not only surprising Razer but Alex as well. Who surprisingly stood silently ever since Razer drove his car inside. Keira made sure to make a mental note to ask Alex what her deal was.

"Just two hours?" Razar said with a sly smile. "Hmph, I suppose we'll see."

Keira didn't have a retort as she was too busy focusing on the car engine. Razor reached into his pocket and pulled out a fancy looking silver case. In it was a few cigarettes, he pulled one out and placed the case back into his pocket. Then he reached for a lighter.

"Don't smoke in here." Keira said, never once turning her back to look at him.

Razer looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. He looked at Alex standing across the room, she looked rather nervous. He was hoping to hear some sort of protest from her, but she said nothing. He placed the cigarette back into the case.

"Very well." he said without protest.

Alex then offered him a seat but Razer refused. Instead he chose to lean against the far wall and watched as Keira tinkered away at his beloved beauty. Keira couldn't see Razer, but she knew he was watching her. Every minute that went past, she could tell his dark gaze never left her back.

She told herself it was because of his insanely expensive car, and that maybe he was being overprotective by watching her for so long. But even so, his gaze almost broke her concentration… almost.

But at that moment it was just her and the beautiful metal lady in front her. When she worked, it was like no else existed. Her mind blocked out almost everything around her as she worked her magic on the car.

After an hour and forty minutes of tinkering away and moving gears, Keira was finished. She stood up and wiped the sweat from her face. She then asked Alex to hand her a rag to wipe the grease from her hands, she did, almost too quickly. She practically ran across the room to grab the towel to hand it to her.

Her behavior was quite off indeed, Keira thought. She wondered if it was because the client was a rich as she made him out to be. But still, should a rich guy make someone like Alex so nervous?

Ignoring her actions for the moment she turned to Razer, who still watching her.

"It's done," She said, "She should run as good a new if not better!"

"Is that so?" Razer asked in a tone that seemed he was doubtful.

"Hey, if you don't believe me, then why don't you see for yourself." Keira waved her hand at the driver's seat, challenging him.

Razer smiled cockily and jumped back into the car. He turned the key to the ignition and rev the engine. It roared like a great unchained beast! You didn't have to be professional to know that the roar of the engine was louder than it was a mere two hours pior.

Razer sat up in his car with a look that was clear he was impressed. A look that Alex and Keira can see clear as day.

"Like I said, better than ever." Keira smiled cockily.

Razer hopped back out of his car, almost lost for words.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't impressed," he walked up to her, "Miss?"

It was that moment that Keira just realized she never told him her name, or even asked for half the cost upfront before inspecting his car. She felt like an unprofessional idiot.

"It's Keira." She said.

"Well then, Miss Keira, how much do I owe you?" Razer reached inside his red jacket pocket.

"Well, for a easy job like that I guess three…"

"Ahem!" Alex loudly cleared her throat to get Keira's attention. She knew that Alex was trying to give her a hint to raise the amount she initially wanted to say.

"I mean, six hundred." Keira tried her best to sound sincere but she was sure that he saw right through it.

Razer pulled out a small stack of cash that almost made Keira's eyes bulge out of their sockets. He flipped through the stack with his fingers, brushing each bill gently until he pulled out some of it.

He handed some of the bills to Keira, "Here, this should cover the bill and your time."

Keira took the cash and started counting it, it was more than she expected. Way more.

"This is two thousand dollars?" She said almost confused.

"Is that a problem? It's more than what you've asked for."

"I can't accept this amount. It's way too much." Keira handed him back the cash but he didn't take it.

Razer turned to Alex whose eyes were almost begging Keira to take to the money. "I want to speak to your boss."

"O-okay" Alex said in a meek tone "I can stand-"

"Alone." He said with a stern voice.

Without even a word of resistance, Alex looked at Keira and nodded. She headed for the door and left.

They were alone, and Keira couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness she felt standing in front of a strange man. A rich man, but a strange one nonetheless.

"I'll be blunt," he started, "You're… unusual."

"Is that suppose to be an insult?" Keira already didn't like where the conversation was headed.

"Oh no, quite the contrary. I find you quite fascinating!"

"Really?" Keira said with no flattery in her voice. "And what about me that you find so 'fascinating?'"

She barely spent enough time with the man to even have a valid opinion. And she doubted that he had a good read on her too. Other than being slightly annoyed.

"I'm not used to people acting the way you do around me. Especially certain types." He glanced at the direction Alex left, as if to give Keira some kind of hint.

"I'm going to assume you've never heard of me before. But perhaps you know who I work for, Mizo."

"Doesn't ring bell." Keira said, trying to sound unimpressed, which wasn't too hard. She indeed never heard of Mizo, or even Razer up until that very night.

"Well, you should know very soon."

"I'm guessing he's some sort of hot shot like Alex told me you were?"

"Ah, so the little woman out there is named Alex, eh?" he said, "Seems like she would know a thing or two about Mizo. I'm sure she'll inform you."

Keira wanted to get back to the subject about the payment. She had very little interest in this "Mizo" guy.

"Listen," she began, "I can't accept this payment. I mean, it's gracious. Very gracious!" She looked at the cash in her hand longingly, before she snapped her eyes back to Razer's, "But like I said, it's way too much to offer for such a small job."

"Small job?" he said bemused, "My dear, I've met ten supposedly great mechanics that couldn't fix her. It took you less than two hours to get her roaring again!"

He placed his gloved hand on her shoulder and firmly held it. Even through his glove, Keira felt his warm hand on her skin.

"You're talented and you were confident." His smile gave Keira a small shiver and she could feel her cheeks slightly blush. "I like that!"

Razer removed his hand from her shoulder and headed to his car.

"Keep the money, my dear." he hopped into the driver's seat, "Believe me, it's nothing lost."

Keira looked at the cash and tucked into a pocket in her tool belt. She walked to control panel near the door and pressed the button that opened up the gate. Razer started the car as the gate door slowly opened.

He looked at her again. "I have other issues that need attending to." He said to her, "I might visit again soon."

"As long as their car issues... " Keira joked half heartedly. "Then sure. Come by when you can."

Razer smiled, with an almost devilish look. "Good night, miss Keira."

And with that he drove off into the city night. Keira stood there, staring down the dark road until the lights of the car disappeared around the corner. Alex finally walked inside and before she could say a thing, Keira spoke.

"Alex... who's Mizo?"

-o-o-o-o-

A/N: It was fun to finally introduce a character that it's the Jak X canon. And believe me, he will not be the last.