I don't own Jak and Daxter or any of it's characters, all I own are Krane, Schorn, Overture, and the new character, Marlin.

Thanks for the reviews kind people! To be honest, a part of me really hates this chapter. When I was writing it I was stuck it forever and whenever I look at it, it drives me crazy. I can't stand this chapter and I'd do it over again if I really had the time and the thought but I just don't. A lot of things happen in this chapter that are really important, this will reveal a lot, not as much as last time but still a lot. Moving on,

Enjoy!

"…inx? Jinx are you waking up?"

Jinx's eyes fluttered open once and then again until he finally opened his eyes all the way. The first thing that came to his eyesight was another bed above him, telling him that he was most likely in the Underground's HQ.

"Damn," Jinx said, brining his right hand to his forehead. "What da hell?"

"You went and got yourself shot," Krane said, appearing above his head.

"Krane? Where have you been?"

"Around," she answered plainly.

"Where?"

"Calm down," Torn said, walking over to the two. "Apparently you were wandering around the Palace when you tripped a wire. You're lucky Ashelin found you when she did, you almost bled out."

"You're lucky I had some Eco with me," the Shadow said, walking over to Jinx's right side.

"You mean with me!" the older Samos said.

"You'll be fine," Krane said, laying a warm cloth onto his stomach. "You'll just be sore for a little while."

Jak suddenly walked into the room, taking the attention of the two Samos' away. Krane looked up to see what was happening, and to make sure it happened just as she had read about in the book Overture had let her study.

"The Baron is still up to his old tricks," the older Samos said as he arrived in front of Jak.

"The Underground got word that several Krimzon Blast Bots are zeroing in on the hideout here," the Shadow said.

"They're armored bombs which seek all targets. If any of these Blast Bots reach this place, we're dead!" Samos said, raising both of his arms.

"Ahh, what are you worried about, old man? You're almost dead anyway." The Shadow rolled his eyes, triggering a fight.

"Well, if you'd TAKEN better care of yourself, I wouldn't be in the state I am now!" Samos growled.

The Shadow looked back towards Jak. "Take out those Blast Bots before they reach the hideout, Jak. They have proximity defenses, so do be careful."

"Good hunting!" Both of the Samos' said together, causing Jak to give them an odd look. He was about to walk out of the Underground when he saw Krane sitting down next to Jinx.

"So you've come back?" Jak said, crossing his arms.

"Oh." Krane laughed lightly. "Yeah."

"Do you mind if we talk when I get back?"

"No." She blinked, wondering what he could want.

"Fine." Jak turned away and walked outside of the Underground to do the mission he was assigned.

As Jak left, Jinx grabbed Krane's hand, bringing her attention back to him. Torn saw this and rolled his eyes as he walked away into the back room to leave them alone. The two Samos' began arguing with themselves, basically leaving Jinx and Krane to themselves.

"We've got matching scars now," Krane said gently.

"I was looking for you."

"What?"

"I was." Jinx looked away. "I was…worried."

Krane moved her right hand onto Jinx's stomach gently. He didn't look down at what she was doing; instead he just pushed his head deeper into his pillow.

"I'm sorry I did this to you," she said in a low tone.

"You didn't do nothin'." Jinx laughed a bit. "I got myself caught by screwing around like a dumbass."

"Don't say that!" Krane said in a high tone, taking Jinx by surprise. "You don't do stupid things! You were just too worried about me and I'm sorry I made you worry."

Jinx grinned. "I can tell you a few stupid things I've done."

"Like what?"

"You won't believe me." Jinx laid his head back down onto this pillow.

Krane blinked, not understanding what he meant by that. "What?"

"Nothin', just forget I said anythin' to ya." Jinx sighed.

"Jinx…" Krane hung her head.

"You're not leaving again are you?" Torn said as he walked over to the two.

"Oh." Krane looked up towards Torn. "I have something else to do. I'll be leaving again in the morning."

"Where are you going?" the Shadow asked, walking towards her as well. "We can't have you just getting up and leaving whenever you want."

"I'm going to have to leave tomorrow morning." Krane moved closer towards the Shadow. "This isn't a choice for me anymore."

"Why?" Jinx asked, finally sitting up. He bit his lower lip as a deep burning sensation ripped through his abdomen but he ignored it and sat up against the pillow in order to look at Krane.

Krane lowered her head once more. "I don't want to tell you."

"What?!" Jinx blinked, amazed. "How can you not wanna tell me somethin'?"

"I can't!" Krane hissed, bringing her head back up to Jinx. "I just can't!"

"Fine." Jinx moved his head towards the right, facing the front door. "If you're gonna keep secrets, then am gonna too!"

Krane stood. "Fine."

When Jak came back to the hideout, Krane was standing against the right wall of the door. Jak looked at her as she crossed her arms, and moved away from the wall.

"Are you ready to go?" Krane asked, looking towards Jak.

"Pretty much." Jak shrugged.

"I'm stayin' here tonight," Daxter said as he jumped off of Jak's right shoulder. "I'm way too tired from that race to do anythin' else!"

"Alright." Jak sighed. "Come on, let's get going down towards the Port before it gets too late."

The two walked down towards the Port in silence until Krane sighed heavily. Jak looked over towards her as she stuffed her hands down into her pockets.

"So who are you?" Krane finally asked.

"You know who I am."

"Really," Krane said, looking towards him with a slight glare. "You've got some weird shit going on around you and I want to know what it is."

"It's a long story."

"We're not going anywhere."

"I didn't start off here in Haven City. I was brought through a Wrap Gate to this place from my island in the past. Daxter," Jak laughed, "got turned into an Ottsel when I knocked him into a vat of Dark Eco, and came with me through the Wrap Gate. Keira and Samos came as you can see but what I don't understand is that Samos was here in the future as well. Does that mean I'm here too?"

Nothing from the timeline has changed. Krane said as she listened to Jak tell his life story. Things are going well.

"Maybe," Krane answered, looking up at the night sky.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What's your story?"

She shook her head. "Nothing that would entertain you. What do you know about Mar?"

"He founded Haven City," Jak said looking over towards her with a raised eyebrow. "I went through his Tomb to find the Precursor Stone and people in the Wasteland are always bringing back artifacts from his rule. Why?"

"He interests me," Krane confessed. "I've been told that's he's my ticket home."

"Where is your home?"

She pointed her right hand towards the sky with her index finger pointed outwards. "Up there."

Jak looked at where her finger was pointing, and then back towards her. "In the sky?"

"Somewhere out there." Krane brought her arm back and let it fall next to her once more. "I've been here for two years now….I want to go home."

"I felt the same way when I first got here."

Krane looked towards Jak with surprise in her eyes. She hadn't thought about how Jak might have felt when he first arrived; after all, it was never discussed in the game. Could Jak be feeling the same way she was this whole time?

"That was until I found out that here is home." Jak walked over to the edge of the Port and saw his reflection in the murky water. "This whole time I've been trying to get back home but I was home all along. This place is my home now, and I'm going to defend it."

"Haven't I made this place seem like home to ya?"

Home. Krane thought, letting Jak's line run through her. If Jak has found a home in his place, can I?

"Something wrong?" Jak asked, turning back towards Krane to see her deep within her thoughts.

"You and I are here and we don't want to be," Krane said, still looking at the night sky. "I'm so obsessed with getting home…and yet you've seemed to accept being here."

"Well I'd like to get home." Jak shrugged his shoulders gently. "But I have to clean this place up before I start thinkin' about going home."

"I wanna help you Jak." Krane looked back towards Jak. "I'll help you bring this city back to normal."

"Thanks." Jak grinned.

The next time Jinx opened his eyes he spotted Torn sitting down on his wooden table, writing something down. He groaned a bit and placed his hands on his stomach to feel a warm cloth over it.

"So you're finally up?" Torn asked, turning back around to him.

"Yeah." Jinx removed his hand from his stomach and moved his right hand up to his forehead. "Where's Krane?"

"She took off."

Jinx sat up, ignoring the pain in his stomach. "You let her go again?!"

"I can't keep her here," Torn said as he walked over towards the blond man. "She's not part of the Underground, she's just an informant."

"So?" Jinx hissed. "Ya could have tried!"

Torn sighed. "Look, you've got to get back to spying on Krew, Ashelin says that something big is going to happen."

"Fine." Jinx rolled his eyes.

"Can I ask you something?" Torn asked, walking over to Jinx's beside.

"What now?"

"When are you gonna tell her?"

Jinx raised his right eyebrow. "Tell who what?"

"Tell Krane you want her." Torn gave a grin at the end of his sentence Bashing Jinx about Krane always seemed to lighten his mood.

Jinx moved his legs over the left side of his bed and began slipping on his boots. "When you tell Ashelin."

"I don't want Ashelin." Torn backed away from Jinx. "I don't know where you guys get an idea like that."

"Because you're always with her and always talkin' to her."

"So?"

"So that's what makes me think you like her."

"Whatever." Torn turned away from Jinx, showing him his back. "There's nothing between Ashelin and I. She's more of friend then anything else."

"Sure." Jinx stood up, still holding his stomach. "And Krane's my best friend."

"Anyway," Torn walked over to his table of maps, "I need you to be there at the final race with Crater in two days."

"Crater?" Jinx sighed. "Ya know I hate that guy."

Torn shook his head. "For now I want you to go back to Krew's place. Don't let him know you've been hurt alright?"

"Fine, fine." Jinx moved his hand back and forth, dismissing Torn. "If you see Krane, tell her to stay alright?"

"Yeah."

Hours later, Jak walked into the Hip Hog and over to the bar where Jinx sat as well. Tess was working behind the bar; she had talked Krew into her giving her job back after she had been captured even though she didn't want to. Daxter crawled onto the bar and began talking to Tess while she began petting him.

"Hey! Back to work toots," Krew growled as he floated by the group.

"She's working beach ball! Quit your yappin'," Daxter answered, glaring up towards Krew.

Krew floated closer towards Daxter. "Watch it! Or you'll be yet another trophy hung on these walls. Jak, I want you to throw the championship race. Just let Erol win..."

Jak twitched. "You bet against us?!"

"Jak...Jak...It's just business." Krew chucked a bit. "You've become a symbol to these townies. They'll bet everything on a glimmer of hope. What better time to make money? Waddaya say my boy?"

Jak turned away from Krew. "I'd say you're going to lose a lot of money. Because I'm going to race and I intend to win!"

Jinx grinned at the comment Jak had just made and hit him with his elbow playfully. As this went on, the front door opened and Marlin walked in.

"Aggghh! You little... You're becoming more trouble than you're worth! I wouldn't get too comfy, if I was you! Everyone's expendable!" Krew yelled, floating away from Jak and Daxter. "I've already proved that I'm willing to do that with your little friend Krane!"

Jinx cringed as Krew said Krane's name and poured a drink down his throat. Jak looked away, growing angry that Krew could talk so easily about getting rid of someone he knew. It sickened him.

"There you are," Marlin broke in which made everyone turn around. "I've been looking for you Jak."

"Great." Jak looked away. "This day couldn't get any worse."

"In a hurry to die, boy?"

Erol suddenly stood, and walked out of one of the booths Jak had walked by. He stood a few feet away from Marlin and crossed his arms with a large grin across his face.

"Well, we don't have to wait for the big race! We can do this right now!" Erol continued. "One on one, through the city, using accelerator rings. Hit every ring from start to finish. Miss even one ring, and it's over! Keira already thinks you're a loser, and I'll prove it now, once and for all."

Jak stood up from his barstool. "You're on."

"Keira?" Marlin raised an eyebrow. "How about I get in on this little race?"

"Why should I let a lower class racer like you race?" Erol hissed, turning to Marlin.

"Lower class?" Marlin crossed his arms and laughed. "Erol I'd watch you're mouth. Out of the two of us, I have much more racing experience. Besides, I'm the only one in this room who has even entered the Kras City races."

"Don't start with me!" Erol glared towards the red headed man.

"Look, let me in on the race and if I lose, I won't race tomorrow." Marlin looked back towards Jak. "Less competition for you."

"Fine." Jak stood. "But what if I lose this little race?"

Marlin thought about for a moment, and then came up with an answer. "If you lose, Keira will continue to be my mechanic and not yours."

"I can deal with that," Jak answered.

Erol grabbed Marlin's shoulder. "And tomorrow if you lose then Keira will be my mechanic."

Marlin shrugged. "Sure."

"Are you sure about this?" Daxter asked, jumping up on Jak's shoulder once more. "There's a lot ridin' on this."

"I know," Jak whispered back. "But there's a lot I could lose by not doing this."

Daxter blinked. "What?"

"Good luck," Jinx said in a low tone. "I'll be here if you make it back here."

"I'll be back baby!" Daxter waved towards Tess who giggled and waved back.

Jak had to prove that no one was expandable. He would prove to Krew that he could beat Erol now, and that he could beat him on the track. No matter where he was or what he was doing, Jak would be able to do anything. There was no reason to think anyone was expandable. Neither he nor Krane were expandable.

When Jak stepped outside of the Hip Hog, Erol was on his zoomer with his racing mask down over his face. Marlin was on another zoomer with his goggles down over his eyes, and fingerless gloves on his hands. Grabbing a nearby zoomer, Jak pulled up next to the three.

"Ready?" Marlin asked playfully.

"Yeah!" Jak answered over the roar of his engine.

"Three!" Erol yelled.

"Two!" Marlin spat.

"One!" Jak yelled, pushing his zoomer forward.

The three took off down the street, heading towards the Racing Stadium. The first ring came up, and Jak managed to push Erol out of the way and get through it first, followed by Erol and then Marlin. Through all of the twists and turns, Erol finally came up ahead of the group and laughed.

"Dammit." Jak pushed his zoomer harder as Marlin met next to him.

Jak and Marlin moved closer towards Erol but as they grew closer, Erol hit a nearby guard, and sent him flying. The alarms placed around the city began going off and red lights flashed on. Krimzon Guards ran over to the three and tried to stop them but were only knocked to the side. Soon more guards came, and began shooting towards them, a few bullets coming close to Jak's head.

"Shit." Marlin pulled up beside Jak. "I've got to get these guards off of our backs!"

"Why?"

"Roadblock!" Marlin yelled. "We don't need one, I'll keep them back! Just beat Erol alright?"

Jak shook his head. "But—"

Marlin pulled back. "GO!"

Without looking back, Jak zoomed off, chasing after Erol while Daxter clung to his shoulder. As he drove, something came into his mind. Marlin was a strange man he didn't know but for some reason he felt as if he knew him. Something about him just felt so familiar, but there was also something else inside of his head telling him to be careful, and to watch Marlin carefully.

R&R please!