Chapter 15: The Eco Core
By morning they had reached the rig. Phoenix had Klout and the rest of his crew stay behind just in case Skyheed showed up. Jak asked Castaway if he would also stay on the ship, he didn't see any reason for more people to go; Castaway agreed. So that left Jak, Daxter, Keira and Phoenix to go find the core.
The four of them looked down the long hole that Keira had fallen down the first time they had come. Phoenix tied a rope to the control panel that if the rig was working would have called the elevator, but as it was- the only way down was to climb. Keira looked down the hole; it was pitch black, making it look bottomless, "Are you sure that rope will reach all the way to the bottom?" She asked.
"I don't know." Phoenix admitted.
"Well, if it doesn't," Daxter chimed in, "Jak can always use that crystal green eco thing. Right?" he asked.
Jak looked down the hole, "Let's hope we don't have to find out." he looked at Keira who had her bandaged hands wrapped around herself, she was also still unable to put any weight on her left leg and so was putting all her weight on her right. Jak held his hand out to her, "I can carry you if you like."
Keira looked down the hole, "I'll be fine."
"Come on," Phoenix said, already starting the climb down, "we need to get moving. It's not a question of if Skyheed will show up; it's a question of when."
Jak went down next, Daxter on his shoulder and Keira followed. The farther down they went the darker it got. Daxter looked down at the darkness below, "Hey Jak, how about a little light?" he asked. Jak looked at his friend.
"Daxter," Keira said from above them, "You know it's too dangerous for him to use light eco."
The two of them looked up at her, the light above her head was making it hard to really see her face in the growing darkness, "the other types glow too." Jak reminded her.
"I for one," Phoenix's voice called from beneath them, "would like a little light. If you could Jak, throw some eco down there let us know how close to the bottom we are."
Jak looked at Daxter, "I need a crystal." Daxter grabbed one out of Jak's bag and handed it to him. green light filled the hole, pushing the darkness back. Jak released the crystal and it fell. Once it hit the ground it grew, lighting the room below; they could see the end of the rope, the last few inches lying limp on the ground and a doorway that would have been the exit for the elevator if it was working, resting half open. The crystal shattered shortly after hitting the ground, plunging them back into darkness.
"Well," Phoenix said, "at least we're almost there." he said as he started to climb again.
"Again," Daxter said, poking the side of Jak's head, "How 'bout some light?" Jak rolled his eyes and let his hands glow red. "Well, that's creepy." Daxter said, looking down "But at least we can see." Jak gave a cocky smile as they continued down.
They reached the bottom, Jak holding a hand up letting the red light stretch as far as it would go. The partially open door led to a long dark hallway; a little way down it some dim lights still flickered. Jak and Daxter looked back at Keira when they heard her give a small moan of pain. She was looking at the palm of her hands. "Keira?" Jak asked. Keira looked at him, now holding her hands more to her chest clearly hiding something. "Keira, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing." Keira stated, "We need to get moving."
Daxter looked at the rope, his eyes going wide, he tapped Jak's shoulder. Keira gasped as Jak looked; there was blood on the rope. He looked back at Keira, who was still holding her hands to her chest. Jak held his hand out to her, "Let me see your hands." He said.
"Jak, I'm fine." Keira said, she was not fooling anyone.
"Let me see, Keira." He demanded Keira sighed and let him see the palms of her hands. Fresh blood covered the already stained bandages. Jak and Daxter looked at her. Jak taking one of her hands in his.
"Keira, why didn't you say anything?" Daxter asked.
"What's going on?" Phoenix asked from where he stood in the doorway.
Keira looked at Jak, who didn't say anything; he just kept looking at her hand. "Look it just stings a little, I'm fine." She tried to pull her hand out of Jak's but he wouldn't let her. She looked at him, "Jak, don't." she begged.
He looked at her sadly, tightening his grip on her hand, "Have you even tried to heal yourself?" he asked.
Keira shook her head, "Jak, I don't know if I can."
"Will you just try? Please." Jak pleaded.
Keira sighed, closing her eyes and tried to focus green eco to heal rather than just materialize. She didn't think it was working but still her hands started to feel better. She heard Jak wince in pain and her eyes shot open and saw that rather than green eco covering her hands, instead it was light eco. "JAK STOP!" she yelled, pulling her hands from his grip and falling to floor.
"Keira!" Jak managed to say before falling as well. Daxter jumped off Jak's shoulder as he fell, Phoenix ran over to them. Jak lay curled on the ground, his body starting to shake.
Keira held Jak in her arms, "Jak! Jak look at me! Open your eyes, please!" she yelled as Jak started to gasp for air.
"What happened?" Phoenix asked, Keira was too worried for Jak to hear him, Daxter on the other hand explained. Keira thought she heard Phoenix say something about not having time for this. But she didn't pay him any mind; she was still trying to get Jak to just give her any sign that he was going to be alright. Daxter looked at Phoenix before jumping on him and starting to dig though his bag, "Hey!" Phoenix yelled, taken back by Daxter's sudden movement, "What are you doing?"
"We need the seeker." He yelled. Keira looked at him; her eyes now going wide knowing what he was doing.
Daxter pulled the seeker out of Phoenix's bag and ran over to Keira who opened it. She reached into it and pulled the light eco from it, she winced a little, although light eco was known to be more tame than most other kinds and although she was next sage, the fact was that eco was still pure energy and not many people could just hold it in their hands. "Keira, we need that!" Phoenix yelled.
"Not as much as Jak does." Keira said holding the eco close to his chest. The energy flowed into him. His body stopped shaking and his breathing became more steady. He opened his eyes and looked at her. He reached out a hand and touched her face. Keira's hand met his; she was so mad and upset by what he had done to himself, she wanted to yell at him for it; but she couldn't, not with him looking at her like that.
Daxter on the other hand, did not share her feelings and slapped the top of Jak head. The two elves looked at their orange friend, "What the hell were you thinking?!" he yelled. Jak and Keira looked at him, "Are you trying to kill yourself?!"
"I'm fine." Jak breathed.
"Jak…" Keira said, he looked at her, she shook her head, "until we fix whatever's going on; please don't use your dark or light powers. It's just too dangerous."
"Okay." He said as he got up, "We need to get moving." He said, helping Keira to her feet. She leaned on him to keep herself up.
Phoenix's mouth fell open; he tried to point out that that's what he had been saying but the word just wouldn't form and instead came out as fragments. He sighed, "Whatever." He said as Daxter picked up the seeker and ran after them.
The hall was full of flickering lights that still hung to the last fragments of power that they had. They came to where the hall spilt, they could keep going straight or they could turn left or right. Jak looked at Phoenix, "Which way?" he asked.
"I don't know." Phoenix admitted, "I only came here a few times in the past and I never came down here."
Daxter looked at the seeker in his hands, "Why can't we just use the seeker?" he asked.
Phoenix shook his head, "If you'll recall, Keira took the eco out of it."
"Yes. Which means the seeker will be looking for a source of eco to charge itself."
Keira's eyes widened, "Daxter, you're a genius." She exclaimed as she took the seeker from him and now using to wall to help hold herself up.
"I know." he said, with a grin. Now jumping on Jak's shoulder.
"But won't it just be looking for the closest source of eco?" Phoenix asked, looking at Jak.
"It might, but we don't have much of a choice." Jak said, "Unless you guys think it's a good idea to split up."
"Not on your life." Daxter exclaimed.
"I agree," Keira said, "Splitting up is probably the worst thing we can do. For all we know it's nothing but a maze down here." they all nodded and Keira opened the seeker. "Hopefully, now that the spheres are in, it will just look for the largest source of light eco, not the closest." She looked at Jak who was now standing behind her. The little arrow popped up making a clicking sound and at first it pointed to Jak but then the arrow started to move, now pointing them down the left hallway. Keira pushed herself off the wall and tried to walk but fell.
The seeker rolled on the ground, the arrow still pointing in its chosen direction as it did. Phoenix picked it up and Jak helped Keira to her feet letting her lean on him, "Why don't I carry this?" he asked looking at the three. Jak nodded.
They walked down the hall following the seeker until they came to a lone set of double doors at the end of the hall. One of them hung open on its hinges but the other still sat locked in place. On the locked door's window read the words 'Top level clearance only' in red letters. They walked in and were greeted by nothing but darkness. Keira looked at Jak, "We need some light." Jak nodded, his hands glowing red. They moved deeper into the room; eventually they came to a flight of stairs and started making their way down, having to move slowly for Keira, Jak leading the way. The stairs led to a door, Jak opened it and they came to what had to be a control room. The room on the other side of the glass still had some working light, all be it dim ones. The Precursor door sat on the other side of the room. A giant drill hung just outside it. Jak looked at Phoenix, "They tried to drill though Precursor metal?"
Phoenix looked at him as they left the control room and headed down the stairs to the door, "Like I said, I never came down here. The only reason I know about this at all was because my father told me about this door and that they were trying to break though, but nothing else."
They stood outside the door, "Anyone else getting a déjà-vu feeling here?" Daxter asked, looking at Jak and Keira; they nodded, knowing exactly what he was talking about. Phoenix, however, looked at them confused.
"This is not the first Precursor door we've come across." Jak explained.
"Yeah, only this time we don't have any Power Cells." Daxter stated, jumping off Jak's shoulder and looking up at it, crossing his arms, "How are we going to get it open?"
Keira looked at Jak, "Jak; doesn't your seal open doors? Maybe we could try that."
Jak shook his head, "I didn't bring it." he told her, "And even if I did I don't think it would work, I haven't seen any sign of Mar's symbol out here." Phoenix just looked at them confused but decided that it was best not to ask.
Daxter looked up at the massive door. He leaned on it, looking up at his friends, "So how are… we… going… to…?" he trailed off. The moment that Daxter had touched the door the room started to shake. He backed away from the door as a seam right down the middle became visible and slowly the door slid open. The three elves stared at the orange rodent.
"… How did you do that?" Phoenix asked his mouth hanging open, "What did you do?"
Daxter just looked at his hands, "I… I don't know." he said, "I just touched it. That's it, I only touched it." he stammered.
Keira eyes widened, "He's a Precursor…" Keira said, almost whispering.
"What?" Phoenix asked.
Jak looked at Keira, she had that look that told him that her mind was going a mile a minute trying to piece together what just happened, she looked at him, "It make sense."
"Fill the rest of us in, will ya!" Daxter yelled, "Because I have no clue what I just did."
"Skyheed tried everything he could to open that door." Phoenix stated, "I know he did. And did you just say that he's a Precursor?" he asked, looking at Daxter.
"Yes." Keira said, "And that makes a lot of sense." She looked at the other three who clearly couldn't figure out what she did. She sighed, "The eco core is what keeps our planet in balance right?" she asked, "it's literally the most important thing on our planet. The Precursors would need a way to get to it easy, but they would also need to keep it safe. I'd be willing to bet that this door could only be open by one of them."
"But how is Daxter a Precursor?" Phoenix asked as they all walked through the door. On the other side was an elevator, one that was still in working order.
"I wasn't always like this," Daxter said as they walked onto the elevator, "I used to be an elf."
Once they had stepped on, lights all around the edges lit up and it took them down as Jak started to explain, "When the three of us were kids we would get into a lot of trouble."
"You got us into trouble." Daxter and Keira stated.
Jak rolled his eyes and continued, "There was an island near were we use to live. One night Daxter and I… barrowed the fisherman's boat."
Daxter shook his head, "You stole it."
"I gave it back." he said, grinning at his friend. "Anyway," He said, looking back up at Phoenix, "when Daxter and I got to the island we stated exploring and we came across this pool of Dark eco. Then this lurker ambushed us. I dealt with it, and I got thrown back into him."
"I fell in then got launched out of the pool looking like this." Daxter finished.
"I didn't even recognize him at first." Jak stated then with a chuckle added, "It wasn't until he started freaking out that I realized it was him."
"Okay…" Phoenix said, trying to understand what he had just heard, "But how does that make him a Precursor? I mean, are you telling me that they are all little orange rats?"
"Yes." Jak simply said.
"Okay, I don't know what temple you go to and you're free to believe whatever you want, but I think you've been misinformed." Phoenix said, scratching the back of his head.
"Um… actually," Jak said, looking at his two friends, "We're not religious, I've just always somehow been the Precursor's errand boy. So, Daxter and I know them personally."
Phoenix just stared at him, "You are either the strangest person I've ever met or the biggest liar."
"It's true." Keira stated, "Daxter is a Precursor."
Phoenix just looked at her and then at Daxter, "Aren't Precursors support to be really powerful? Any particular reason you didn't mention this before?"
Daxter just stared at him, "I don't have any powers; that's Jak's thing. I can't explain what happened with that door. I didn't even know I could do that." Daxter looked at his hands, "I've been leaning a lot about myself lately…" he mumbled.
"What do you mean?" Keira asked.
Daxter was about to tell her but Phoenix cut him off before he could get a single word out, "Explain later. Look." The elevator tunnel that they had been traveling down opened up as they drew close to the bottom.
The core itself seemed liked an enormous, purple rock… mostly, some parts of it glowed with different color eco giving the room just a little light, though not nearly enough. It also seemed to be locked in a Precursor structure of some kind. For a short time the four of them were at eye level with the core and as they continued down they couldn't help but to look up at it, not able to believe that they were the first to see this since the Precursors left this world, eons ago. The elevator stopped, the lights going out, plunging them back into darkness, something that Jak quickly fixed. They walked to the control panel, which sat right beneath the core. They stared straight up at the core, "This is amazing." Keira breathed. The elevator, unknown to them had gone back up, it made no sound, the four of them didn't know that their only way out had just left.
"It's certainly something." Phoenix stated then, looking down at the control panel, added, "But it doesn't look like this place has been in working order for a long time."
Daxter jumped off Jak's shoulder onto the controls. He hit a random button and nothing happened, "Well I've got nothing."
"Let me take a look at it." Keira said, reaching out to it. Jak let her go and once her hands touched the controls they reacted; she yelled and fell back.
Jak caught her, "Keira, what happened?" he asked as Phoenix and Daxter just stared at them.
"I… I don't know." Keira told him.
The panel came to life. The lights in the room were still dead but the controls were now glowing as the screens came on and some of the buttons lit up. Keira reached out to it again, but Jak held her back, "What are you doing?" he asked.
"I have to start working on this." He still didn't let go, "Jak, look at the core, there's something wrong. I need to figure out what." Jak let her go and she leaned on the controls.
"Keira, didn't this computer just hurt you?" Daxter asked.
She didn't look at him, "It just pulled some eco out of me." she looked at Jak, "Like the computers up in the rig did to you." Jak nodded and looked at the controls over her shoulder.
Phoenix also walked up to them, looking at his companions. One of them, a dark warrior with a past that he just couldn't believe was real. Another, a Precursor who had once been an elf. And then there was the next green sage, who was brilliant beyond belief. They were the oddest group he had ever met and yet the three of them fit together in a way that only true friends could… and where did he fit? The answer was he didn't and knew it. He looked at the screen that was closest to him, "Keira, what is this?" he asked.
She came over to take a look at it, the screen was flashing red. There were four bars on the screen, one of them significantly lower than the others. She looked at it confused before looking back at Phoenix, "I don't know what this means." She looked at Jak and Daxter, "I don't know what any of this means." She looked back at the control center, "Listen, I'm going to need some time to understand this thing before I can find out what's wrong and I'll work better if you three aren't hovering over me." she looked at the controls, "It'll take a while so why don't you all go back to the ship? I'll call when-" The three of them interrupted her at the same time.
"Not on your life!" Daxter yelled.
"Are you out of your mind?" Phoenix asked.
"I'm not going to leave you down here." Jak told her.
Keira sighed, she really hadn't been expecting anything different from them, "Fine, if you're going to stay then please give me some space to work." She looked right at Jak, "I'm sure there are places to explore down here to keep you busy."
"You do realize Skyheed could show up at any time, right?" Phoenix asked.
"Fine." Keira said, giving up on trying to make them leave, "But you guys need to be quiet so I can work." The boys did as she said and gave her space to work.
She mumbled to herself as she studded the controls. Several times she gasped as the panel randomly chose to pull eco from her. Three hours after she had started working, she called Jak over. He went to her, "What is it?" he asked.
"I think I know what's wrong." she told him.
Jak looked at her, shocked, "You do?" Keira nodded as Daxter and Phoenix came over as well. "Can you fix it?" he asked.
Keira looked at one of the computer screens, "I think I'm the only one who can."
"What do you mean?" Phoenix asked.
Keira looked at him and then back at one of the screens, "You see this?" she asked, pointing to what looked a blob on the screen, in it were what looked two layers. The outer layer was separated into four separate colored parts; red, blue, green and yellow, and the inner layer; separated into two, light blue and purple. The purple and light blue areas seemed very low but not nearly as much as the green.
"Yeah…" Daxter said, "what is it?"
"I think it's the core. The core is where eco comes from, the four main colors are the result of Dark and light eco braking down, however dark and light eco are made when all the four colors are combined, one cannot exist without the other."
"Okay, so that's what this screen means, but how does that help us fix this thing?" Daxter asked.
Keira looked at all three of them, "Do any of you know why sages exist?"
"Nope." Daxter stated. Phoenix shook his head and Jak just shrugged.
Keira sighed, "Okay, to put it simply; sages need to exist because of how vital eco is in our everyday world. Without them the energy is unable to replace itself, and like I said one can't exist without the other." They still just looked at her confused, Keira covered her eyes with a hand, "Okay, say for example, a Sage disappeared, just no longer exists- and there wasn't someone there to take his place. Basically, that means that whichever color that sage was respirable of can't restore itself, and if you take away even one color the core cannot make more dark or light eco which also means that it can't make the other colors." She went quiet for a long moment and then looked at Jak with a sad look, "Jak, I think all this happened… because of me."
Phoenix and Daxter looked at her confused. Jak shook his head, "What are you talking about?"
"My father was the green sage, back in Sandover. There hasn't been a green eco sage for over five hundred years because both him and I went through the rift ring." She looked at another one of the screens, "Look at this." she told him. They all looked at the screen that Phoenix had pointed out earlier. "These bars are meant to represent eco. You see how one is lower than the others?" the boys nodded, "That bar represents green eco." She looked at Jak, "I caused this because I disappeared, because I couldn't be the sage when my father left."
"Keira, this isn't your fault." Daxter told her, "Even if you were there, how were you supposed to stop this from happening? It's not like you could have kept the world from turning into all this. You weren't going to be able to stop progress. People were going to use eco."
"Daxter, I don't think you get it. People using eco isn't the problem; when the world's in balance, eco can restore itself. The fact that there wasn't a sage means that it couldn't. A sage simply existing is what keeps everything in balance. I don't fully know how it all works, I'm still learning this myself, but I do know that if I hadn't come through that ring and just stayed behind, the world might have been a different place. If I hadn't gone through that ring none of this would have happened." Tears were now in her eyes, "This is all my fault."
Jak took her hand and she looked at him, "No it's not, it's mine. None of this would have happened if I hadn't gone to Misty Island that night, Daxter wouldn't have never fallen into that pool, we never would have gone looking for Gol and we never would have found that ring. If this is anyone's fault; it's mine." He looked up at the core, "But right now it doesn't matter who's at fault; all I want to know is if you can fix this."
Keira looked at it and gave a half-hearted smile, wiping the tears from her eyes, "Like I said, I think I'm the only one who can."
She got back to work, Jak watching her, while Daxter and Phoenix went back to the other side of the room. She really wished he wouldn't hover over her like that but at the same time she didn't tell him to leave. Every so often the controls would pull eco energy from her. It got to the point that when it did that she need to stop and catch her breath. She leaned on the controls for support as Jak rubbed her back, "Keira, maybe you should take a break."
"No…" Keira said, still breathing hard, "I'm fine."
"No, you're not." Jak stated, "If you keep letting this thing pull energy from you, it's going to kill you."
"Would you stop?!" she yelled, Daxter wisely stayed where he was, Phoenix on the other hand was taking a nap. "You honestly think everything is going to kill me! It's not!" she was now putting all her weight on her good leg in order to stay standing as she yelled at Jak, "The closest I came to death was when the engine exploded, and I'm fine now but you act like I could drop dead at any time!" Keira, suddenly feeling very dizzy, leaned on the controls as she put a hand to her head.
Jak put a hand on Keira's shoulder and she looked at him, "Keira… I can't help worrying about you. I don't care how strong you think you are, getting energy pulled out of you is exhausting. Please, just take a break."
Keira sighed; shaking her head, "You're not going to let me work until I do, are you?"
"What do you think?"
"You're a jerk." She snickered as she fell into his embrace.
"Why?" He asked, holding her tight, "Because I care?"
"Yes." She said with a content smile. She closed her eyes; he was right, having her energy pulled out repeatedly was exhausting and she couldn't help drifting off to sleep. Jak felt her body go limp in his arms and he softly smiled. He picked her up bridal style so he could sit down. He was happy that she was sleeping; she needed it even if she wouldn't admit it. There really were sometimes when she was more stubborn than him.
Daxter went over to his friend; he looked at Keira, "Jak, are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked, "Phoenix is right, Skyheed could show up at anytime."
"I know." he looked at Keira, "But she's exhausted."
"Everyone is. I heard some of Phoenix's crew talking the other day, there aren't anymore supplies on the ship. I had to start finding places to hide because some of them were thinking about eating me."
Jak's eyes widened, "What?! Why didn't you say anything?"
Daxter shook his head, "You were too worried about Keira to listen."
"Daxter…" Jak said, concern on his face.
"Don't worry about it." Daxter said, "They couldn't find me and even if they did there's no way they would have caught me." he crossed his arms, "All I can say is after this we need to go too Far Drop and get some supplies."
"I know, we need food and medical supplies." He looked at Keira; she was hurt and exhausted, "I never should have let her come."
"We would have been screwed without her." Daxter stated. Jak sighed, knowing that he was right.
Keira slept for an hour though when she woke up she wasn't too happy that Jak had let her sleep that long. And she immediately got back to work. After a while Jak tried to talk to her but she ignored him and kept working. Phoenix had also woken up and had started looking at the elevator. After a while Jak gave up and went over to where Daxter was. He was looking at an odd looking door, Jak looked at it too; it was much smaller than the one upstairs, but it was still an old precursor door, that most likely hadn't been open in a very long time "What do think's behind it?" he asked.
"I don't know. But I want to open it."
"Do you want to open it because you want to see what's behind it or just because you can?"
Daxter shrugged, "Little of both."
"Well, don't."
"Why not?"
"Because we're dealing with more importin things at the moment." Jak said, the two of them looked at Keira, "Just leave it alone for now, we can always check it out later." Daxter nodded.
Jak went to where Phoenix was, Daxter walking beside him, "Um… where's the elevator?" Daxter asked.
"It must have gone back up. I've been trying to figure out how to get it back down here, but…"
"Great." Daxter stated, "Now how are going to get back?"
"I'm sure there's another way out." Jak looked at Daxter, "Maybe you'll have to open door after all."
"What door?" Phoenix asked.
"The Precursor door over there." Daxter said, pointing to it.
Phoenix looked at it, crossing his arms, "There's no telling where that will lead us."
"You're right. But" Jak looked up the elevator shaft, "if we can't get the elevator to come down then that might be our only option." The light in the room started to flicker on.
"Yes! OW!" Keira yelled, before falling on the floor. The guys looked at her. Jak hurried to her side.
"Keira, are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine." Keira stated, a big smile on her face.
"What happened?" Phoenix asked, as he and Daxter come over to her.
"I think I did it." She said as Jak helped her up.
"You fixed it?" Jak asked.
"Well, I wouldn't say the core is 'fixed' just yet." Keira started, "But, at the very least I've gotten it to recognize that I'm a sage. So in theory it should fix itself now." She looked at Jak, "But I don't know how long that's going to take."
"Can you at least give an estimate?" Phoenix asked.
She shook her head, "It could take a few hours or a few years, I don't know."
"You do realize that we might not have a few years, right?" Phoenix asked, "That storm that hit us a while back, that wasn't normal… at least not for this time of year. The storms are getting worse."
"I know. Look at this," Keira said, she made them look at another computer screen, "Here I can find out what's been going on anywhere." She looked at Jak, "I took a look at Haven and Spargus."
"And…?" Jak asked, the look she gave him told him that it wasn't good news.
"There both still standing but since we left, the wasteland has been dealing with seeming endless sandstorms and Haven was hit with a huge earthquake a few days ago" She paused, "I can only imagine how much damage it caused."
Daxter eyes widened, "Do you at least know where the worse of it hit? The slums? The stadium? …The port?" he asked, urgency in his voice.
"No, I don't."
"Don't worry." Jak said, trying to comfort his friend, "I'm sure the Naughty Ottsel's still standing."
"I don't care about the bar!" Daxter yelled, "I'm worried about Tess!"
Jak was quiet and didn't know what to say, Keira on the other hand did, "Don't worry, I'm sure she's fine, she's tough and smart." Daxter looked at her, "I'm sure she's okay, I'm sure everyone back home is safe." Jak looked at his friend, there was nothing he could do to keep him from worrying. Keira looked at the computer, she wished that it would show her exactly what was going on back home but although she could pull up information on anywhere, she liked, the fact was all she got was write-outs of the weather patterns of that place.
"So now we're just waiting for the core to fix's itself?" Phoenix asked.
"Yes." Keira said, "But look," she pointed at the screen that had the diagram for the core, "it's already started to build up energy. But I still need to keep monitoring what's going on, otherwise I don't know what could…" she trailed off, they all looked behind them. The elevator was coming back. And unlike when it had left, it made noise; there were people on it. Daxter jumped on Jak's shoulder as he and Phoenix pulled out their guns. Jak also instantly stepped in front of Keira, he felt her garb his arm with both of her hands.
As it came closer to the bottom they saw who was on it; Skyheed, and he wasn't alone. There was a small group of Aeropan soldiers with him. However, when the elevator stopped the four of them were able see some of Phoenix's crew behind them. They had taken Skyheed and some of his men hostage, Klout was beside Skyheed, with a gun to the man's back, "Lookie what I've found." The pirate said, pushing Skyheed forward, the other pirates doing the same with their captives. None of them said a word.
Phoenix lowered his gun, a triumphant smile stretching onto his face, "Well done Klout." He chuckled, "You actually captured him." Phoenix might have been happy but Jak was not. Unlike Phoenix, Jak kept his gun ready, the Aeropans were being too quiet, the soldiers had to know that the bullets from the small guns the pirates were holding would not penetrate their armor and the look on Skyheed face was just too content, he didn't even seem worried. And why had Klout brought him all the way down here? Right to the core; instead of keeping him on the ship? It worried Jak that Phoenix didn't seem to think about any of this.
Klout smiled, "Was just some old fashion pirate work." The other pirates snickered at Klout's words.
"Yes." Skyheed said, "You should be very proud of you crew." He started reaching into his coat, Jak instantly pointed his gun at him ready to shoot, Skyheed didn't seem to take notice. But it didn't matter, he didn't pull out a gun, instead it was a large stack of cash, "They are a true band of pirates." Skyheed finished as if trying to insult Phoenix as he threw the money to Klout, who caught it.
Phoenix's confident smile turned into a face of shock, "Klout… you… you were the spy?"
Klout laughed, "Well, can say it was all me, can I boys?" he asked looking at the pirates that accompanied him.
"Traitor!" Phoenix snapped.
Skyheed laughed, "I don't believe you have any room to talk. After all, you betrayed me, your family, your home."
Phoenix turned his anger on Skyheed, "Aeropa is not my home, not after what you've done. What you have turned yourself and your people into. Not only that, but you raid the towns and villages that are scattered all over the Brink and you either kill the people who live there, or you kidnap them for your twisted experiments!"
Skyheed laughed, "The only ones who die are the ones who are weak, the sick, the elderly and the ones that have no place in the world I am making."
Daxter glared at Skyheed, "And who, according to you, is that?" he snapped.
"Why anyone who is not like us." He said looking at Jak. "But I am not a monster, I spare the people that are fit enough to work. Aropa is a testament to hard work and the power of a whip."
Keira gasped her grip on Jak's arm tightening. Phoenix, who didn't take his eyes off Skyheed add in a low tone, "You don't even know what he dose to the children he takes.
"But I've made sure the children have it better than anyone." Skyheed said, still in that same calm tone as if they were taking about the weather. "After all they are the only ones who have the chase to truly join us. The chase to change into something better then what they are."
Jak stared at Skyheed, with a look of horror on his face "You lock children into that chair!?" He snapped angerly.
Skyheed shook his head, "Oh no" he said with almost a laugh, "I found a better way, a quicker way. The dark eco is converted into a gas that they can harmlessly breathe in. This works as a way to see if a child has the ability, Most Aeropan children survive it. I can't say much about the others though." He said.
Keira couldn't stop herself from letting out a small whimper. "You're sick." Jak hissed.
"Am I?" Skyheed asked, "Tell me Jak, how many people on the mainland have your power? Not many I assume. But out here, in Aeropa, it is the norm." he paused, "The world is changing; people are evolving, we are proof of that Jak, don't you see? We can control eco in a way that no one else can, which controls our world. That means that we, Jak; you, me and all of Aeropa, have the power to control the world itself." he smiled at Jak, "You belong with Aeropa, join us Jak."
"No." Jak snapped, he was about two seconds away from shooting Skyheed in the face.
Skyheed just chuckled, shaking his head, "You'll come around." he said as his eyes rose up to the core, "With the power of the core I can wipe the world clean of the weak; only those worthy of this world will remain. Those like you, Jak and like all of Aeropa; those who are able to use eco in it's basic form."
"You're completely insane!" Keira yelled, her grip on Jak's arm becoming even tighter, her short nails starting to dig into his skin, as Skyheed's eyes fell on her, "Releasing that much energy at once will destroy everything we know; including you and your people."
Skyheed shook his head, "The strong and the worthy will survive. As a sage I'm sure you will be safe." He looked back at Jak, "Jak, I know of your power, I know it's not just Dark eco that runs though you but all kinds, there is so much that my people can learn from you. And aren't you tired of being called a freak, of being a monster? I'm giving one last chance to join me. Come to Aeropa, start a better life. I can see you care for the young sage; you can settle down with her, start a family, live a peaceful life. I can guarantee this, but only if you join me."
Jak didn't need to even think about it, "Never." He growled.
The smile fell from Skyheed's face, "Very well. Kill Phoenix and the rat but take Jak and the sage alive." He ordered his men and the pirates. "As I said, there is much we can learn from him."
It happened in an instant, Klout's gaze fell on Keira and a wicked grin stretched a crossed his face as his gun moving from Phoenix to her. Phoenix's eyes widened as he raised his own gun and pointed it at the friend that had betrayed him; Klout looked back at the captain and knew what was coming before Phoenix pulled the trigger. Klout fell to the floor blood spilling from the hole in his head. Jak, unaware of what Klout had planned to do, quickly put a shield around the four of them, "Let's get out of here." he ordered. Phoenix, not having time to react to what he had just done, put his gun away and picked up Keira. She winced as the sudden movement agitated her ribs and leg.
Jak expanded the shield, pushing the Aeropans back, clearing the way to the elevator. They all ran for it, Jak keeping the shield up until the elevator started to rise.
"Thanks Phoenix." Keira said as he put her down.
"No problem." He said with no emotion in his voice. Then he asked, "Are you alright?"
She nodded, "I'm fine."
Phoenix sighed, "Good."
"Are you okay Phoenix?" Daxter asked.
The pirate glared at him then took a deep breath and looked up as the elevator climbed higher and higher, "There are bound to be more soldiers up there."
"You're right." Jak said, "Keira, give Daxter your gun."
"What?" Keira and Daxter asked at the same time. Jak didn't answer.
"Phoenix, I need you to carry Keira. Daxter and I will cover you." Phoenix nodded.
"Jak-" Keira protested.
"Keira, we're not arguing about this, you can barely walk- there's no way you're going to be able to run. And let's not even talk about your aim."
Keira just stared at him, "Alright," she said, handing Daxter her gun, "You're right." Daxter took the pistol.
The elevator reached the top and Phoenix picked up Keira. Jak walked off the elevator first, him and Daxter pointed their guns in opposed directions, there was no one there, "Come on." Jak ordered. They moved slowly and quietly, making their way back. They were back in the hallway when they heard someone behind them, they all looked and found the pirates and the Aeropans coming straight at them, "Phoenix, get Keira back to the hellcat." Phoenix ran, Keira in his arms. Jak and Daxter fired at them, Daxter aiming for the unarmored pirates and Jak aiming for the Aeropans.
They fired back, Jak put up a shield, "Jak, we have no cover here." Daxter told him.
"I know." he stated, dropping the shield to take a shot at the Aeropans. The bullet hit the soldier in the neck just below his helmet.
"We need to get out of here." Daxter said, also taking a shot, he missed. Jak put back up the shield and ran for it, bullets bouncing off the protective blue surface.
Jak saw the crossroads they had passed on their way down and got an idea, "Dax, I need a crystal." Daxter pulled one out of his bag and handed it to him, Jak had to focus on keeping the blue eco shield up and still channel green eco into the crystal. He had never tried to use two different types of eco at the same time, but he managed. He threw the crystal on the ground and it grew into a wall, stopping their pursuers. When that crystal wall came down they wouldn't know for sure which way Jak had gone.
They caught up to Phoenix and Keira, who were waiting right by the broken elevator, "Why didn't you go back to the hellcat?" Jak asked.
"We can't get back up." Phoenix told him, "Skyheed's men cut the rope," he peeked behind the door, "And their waiting for us at the top. We're trapped."
"Well now what?" Daxter asked.
"Give me a minute." Jak said. He thought. They had to have a rope or a ladder or something so Skyheed and his men could get back up; if he used yellow eco to get up there he could take them all out and get Phoenix and Keira a way out.
"Jak," Keira said, getting his attention, "Can't you use those green eco crystals to get us up there?" she asked, "After that we can make a run for it." Jak nodded, he liked her idea better.
Daxter handed him another crystal; Jak held it, channeling eco into it, "Alright," he said, looking at Phoenix, "once it hits the ground it will start to grow. We need to get on it as quick as we can, also with how big it's going to be once it stops growing it's going to shatter so we need to get off as soon as we reach the top. After that don't stop, no matter what. I'll put a shield around us so stay close." Phoenix nodded. Jak threw the crystal and just like he said, it immediately started to grow; they ran, Jak putting a shield around them all as the soldiers at the top began to fire down at them. They climbed higher and higher until they reached the top, "Let's go!" Jak ordered; jumping off the crystal as it began to shake, Phoenix right behind him. They reached the hanger and climbed into the hellcat. Jak took off, heading for the ship.