A/N:

And so it begins...

Hey guys, RyJo here!

Man, I just love the Jak series. From being an age of single digits, to a grown adult in her mid-20's, my dedication to those games is unwavering. I used to think I'd eventually "grow up" and stop being a total nerd...but, oh boy. At this rate, staying a total nerd is inevitable. That's a good thing though, because my imagination is unlimited and ready for use.

I'll quit my rambling so you guys can get on with reading about our favorite heroes.

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Jak.

"Can you at least tell me what's going to happen?"

"No, Jak. God no. Telling you is even worse than acting on it. Do you know how many people could die as a result of me opening my mouth?"

"Darla, don't be so dramatic—"

"Dramatic? I'm dramatic?" My wife huffed in frustration and stood at the living room window. "You and I both know that's a lie. I am as serious as they come, Jak Mar."

I pouted impulsively and stared down at my boots. Sometimes I spat words that I didn't mean and it pissed her off...but I couldn't help the way I felt.

"Darla," I approached cautiously in an attempt to not feel her wrath. I gently touched her shoulder. "I understand the importance of keeping some visions to yourself. But you're scaring me. You're kind of freaking me out."

"Imagine how I feel," she turned around, her hands flying to her chest as tears sprung in her eyes. This surprised me, because my Darla was tough as nails and barely ever cried these days. "I have all these...these things in my head. These images of a future I cannot prevent. I've analyzed every possibly angle, I've stayed awake at night thinking and trying so hard to figure another way around this path. But I can't. Do you know how scary that is? To know ahead, and have no control over the results?"

I pulled her by her arm and wrapped my own around her. She curled into my embrace, inhaling and exhaling shakily.

"Love," I said warily, "listen to me," I pressed my cheek to the top of her head. "I'm sorry for prying. We'll get through this. We can handle anything."

She sighed heavily. "I know, Jak. And I'm sorry I get snippy. I'm sorry I can't tell you everything I see. I know it's frustrating and terrifying and—"

I dipped my head down, silencing her words with my mouth. My hands went to her hips and I felt her smile as she blinked up at me.

She released my mouth with a pop, lifting an eyebrow. "You can't solve every problem with your lips, hotshot."

I grinned sheepishly and leaned forward to kiss her again, when the bathroom door down the hall opened. The two of us gingerly peeked over in that direction just as my almost-three year old son stepped out, wearing nothing but a T-shirt, bare ass flapping in the wind.

I stepped around Darla and followed Sparxon down the hall. "Hey, buddy..." My spunky kid spun around and I knelt down to him. "Where's your pants?"

Sparky flashed me a dimpled smile. "Don't need 'em!"

I glanced over my shoulder at my wife, who was stifling a laugh. "Buddy," I repeated cautiously, "Dagny and Tara are coming over, remember?"

Sparxon's indigo eyes flew open, and he jumped and sped down the hall to his room. "I need pants!"

I waited until he slammed his door shut before I cracked up. I stood and sidled over to D. "His memory is really not all there, is it?" I asked as I took her in my arms again.

She rolled her eyes. "He takes after his Uncle Dax in that regard. But at least he's potty trained."

I nodded, "I can't say the same for Daxter."

We both laughed and I swiftly kissed her before heading down to my son's room to help him get ready.

Upon entering, I saw him on his bed, struggling to tug on a clean shirt, his cargo shorts unbuttoned around his ankles. I migrated over to him and sat on the mattress, helping his arms through the short sleeves.

"Did you brush your teeth?" I asked him as his head popped through the neck hole. I smiled at the front of his shirt—it had the blue, shining image of a Precursor, above it the word "blessed". It was supposed to be funny, but it was also funny because it was totally true.

"Yup."

"Did you wash your hands?"

"Yup."

"Clean your boots after being in the rain yesterday?"

Sparxon's eyes widened for the second time. "Oh no!"

I laughed. "I'll take care of it. We don't want dirty shoes in the house."

"Princess Tara likes dirt." Sparxon crossed his arms somewhat defiantly, then he hopped off the bed.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "Princess Tara's parents don't know she likes dirt."

My son handed me his boots, the laces dragging along the floor. He lifted them up to me with his tiny hands, then ran out of his room to get a wet rag.

I sighed, staring down at the small combat boots in my hands. I never thought I'd be here—having a relatively settled-down life, with my best friend and wife, and our kid running around happy as can be. I never thought the heroism would ever come to a stop, but it seemed as though the Precursors and their fates and destinies had taken a bit of a vacation. The world didn't need me all that much right now, and honestly, I was happy about that. Sure, I missed adventures with Dax, and I missed the travel and the wins, being a champion...but the losses and the anxiety and fear of failing everyone outweighed the adrenaline and excitement that came with it. I needed a break, and I needed a world that was safe enough for my son to grow in.

Sparx came back in and handed me the rag to wipe his shoes down. He sat onto the floor and I smiled down at him.

Out of nowhere, I had a flashback to being in prison. I'd thought about it several times in the last few years. It was like I had suppressed the memories and the trauma of being tortured and finally, now that my life had calmed a bit, the memories were surfacing. I often thought about how it was, being in there, where I held on with everything I had and held on to what gave me life just to keep myself going. But for a while, I really thought I was going to die. I really thought that I'd never see my loved ones again, never get a chance to be with Darla and explore our relationship. I sure as hell never thought we'd be married with a kid living in a shore-side apartment in a city I'd never really heard of. It's funny how life works out like that...especially after you expected to waste away in a prison cell.

Sparxon climbed up beside me then and scrambled into my lap, causing me to drop his clean boots onto the floor. His arms went around my neck and he squeezed.

"You okay, kid?" I asked, rubbing his back. I appreciated the gesture, but the way he was holding me made me feel as though he were being...sympathetic.

He nodded against my head, rubbing his face to mine. "Pop?"

I leaned my face into his messy blonde hair, breathing him in. "Hmm?"

He sighed quietly. "You're my very best friend."

My heart skipped a beat. "Really?" I asked, leaning back to look at him.

"Yeah." He smiled, but there was a sadness behind it. I tucked a loose curl behind his ear and pecked him on the forehead.

"You're my very best friend too, Sparky."

His arms went around me again and he rested his head on my shoulder.

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell Dagny. He's my best friend, too."

I laughed and shook my head. "I won't tell Dagny if you don't tell your Uncle Daxter."

"Deal."

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Darla.

I opened the door and the most beautiful little redheaded girl flung her arms around my leg. I scooped her up into my arms, her long, flowing burgundy ringlets bouncing as I lifted her. Her cerulean, crystal blue eyes bore into mine as she smiled at me sweetly.

"DD," She squealed, calling me by the name she'd given me when she first started speaking.

"Hiya, T." I kissed her on the cheek. "Where's your dad?"

"Coming up." She wiggled out of my arms onto the floor. "Dagny is sleeping on his shoulder."

I rolled my eyes and watched the door. "What a surprise..."

"The cavalry has arrived!"

Tess came scampering in on all fours, her furry little self scrambling up my boots, my pant leg and onto my shoulder.

I shushed her almost immediately. "Keep it down, Tessie. He's still here."

She covered her mouth with an "oops" and giggled. "Sorry. Well, Torn has the car parked out front for when you're ready to leave."

Torn finally came into the apartment, grimacing as per usual. "Can someone get this sleeping rat off my shoulder?"

I snickered, reaching for the one-foot-tall little drooling ottsel slumped over Torn's shoulder. He jumped awake in my hands and squealed frightfully, gripping his leather cap to his head.

"MOM!" He yelped, his spiked blonde hair sticking out from under his cap, making him look crazed.

"Right here, sweetie." Tess said from my shoulder and his darting eyes found her. He relaxed in my hands and I scratched behind his ear.

"Hi Aunt D," he said with a yawn, curling up in my palm.

"Uh-uh," Tess leaned forward and snapped the leather band on his cap, making him cry out. "Wake up. You're here to play with your friends!" She gestured for him to get out of my hands and followed him to the floor. "If you're so tired, you shouldn't be up late at night playing video games with your father!"

"Where is Daxter anyway?" Jak said from down the hall, placing my boy on the floor so he could run to his friends. The three of them began jumping around each other, laughing as they went sprinting around the couch. Jak smiled, coming over to me and kissing me on the cheek.

"We dropped him off at the garage on the way here," Torn said, crossing his arms as he watched his daughter with eagle eyes while she chased my son down the hall, Dagny bounding after them. "Keira is having a really hard time with tinkering, especially since she's the size of a whale right now."

I shoved Torn back and he tried to hide his smile. "Don't be an asshole." I scolded.

"I'd better get over there then," Jak said with a heavy sigh, "As good as he is with putting things together, Daxter has no sense of direction whatsoever."

Torn clapped a hand on Jak's shoulder, subtly trying to usher him out the door. "No need to stall then. We'll see you tonight in Haven for the big celebration?"

Jak stopped at the door and groaned loudly up at the ceiling, "I forgot about that."

Tess huffed. "How do you forget an annual event based on the day Haven City was finally free from all enemies?"

He turned back around and we locked eyes. I crossed my arms, indicating I was not going to let him skip this. "Jak."

He pouted, his brow furrowing. "I just hate that people tend to make it about me. And then they swarm our kid, try to take photos and get autographs and blah, blah, bl—"

"Oh poor you," Torn scoffed, his hoarse voice cracking, "the hero gets rewarded for being a hero. Stop your damn, humble whining."

Jak glared at Torn, then softened as I reached for his hand. He smiled sweetly, his shoulders relaxing. "Fine. What are we wearing?"

"We'll figure it out later," I swiftly kissed him on the mouth, pushing him out the door, "Off you go, I love you, buh-bye now, give Keira a kiss for me!"

Before he could respond, I closed the front door and spun around to face Torn.

Torn was shaking his head, staring at me with big blue eyes. "I thought he'd never leave."

"Tess," I said, addressing my girlfriend on the floor, "you'll be okay watching the kids and taking them over to Haven later?"

She made a psh sound and waved her hand nonchalantly. "Honey, I've got two boys at home, I run five different gun courses across three cities, and I am the size of a small child. I can handle three kids."

I blew her a kiss. "You're a lifesaver." I leaned over and peered down the hall. "Sparky! Mommy's leaving!"

My boy came happily buzzing down the hall, violet sparks zapping out from all parts of him. I bent down as he jumped into my arms, making the hairs on them stick up from his static.

"Love my mommy." He said, placing his hands on my cheeks.

I took one off and kissed it. "You'll be good for Aunt Tess while I'm gone? You'll play nice with the others, and do as Aunt Tess says?"

Sparxon nodded, his indigo eyes flashing onyx briefly, electric bolts sparkling across them. "Yes, Mommy."

I sighed and kissed his head. "Good. Behave." I moved to release him but he grabbed my face again, making me look at him.

"You be careful. No trouble." His eyes bore into mine with such intensity, I almost felt as though I were in trouble. I felt guilty, knowing where I was going and what I was doing was far from safe, and as usual it seemed like Sparky knew exactly what was going on.

Which, of course, was impossible.

I smiled at him and stood. "No trouble."

He looked at me skeptically, then sprinted back down the hall to his room at a speed that was almost inhuman.

I turned back to Torn. "Ready to roll?"

"After you, D." He opened the front door and gestured for me to take the lead.

I waved to Tess as we exited, "Thanks again, sweetie. See you tonight!" She blew us each a kiss as I shut the door behind us.

Torn and I hurried down the stairwell and out the apartment building doors. The car was a nice, larger model of the Sand Shark I'd come to often drive in Spargus City over the years. To my surprise, my best friend Maichael was sitting in the backseat.

I gasped happily and leaned over the door to give him a kiss. "I didn't know you'd be coming!"

He winked one of his big, brown crocadog eyes at me and patted a black duffle bag beside him. "Torn said you might need some muscle to back you up."

"What toys from Tess's armory did you bring along?" I asked as I slid into the front passenger seat. I tapped my boot with my hand, making sure my dagger was there, ready for use if necessary. "I promised my son I wouldn't get into any trouble."

Torn peeled out of the parking lot and onto the busy street without so much as a glance. "Hopefully we won't have any trouble. We're just going there to talk."

"I've got a blaster mod, vulcan attachment, scatter body with a scope..." Maichael counted, ticking his fingers as he went on, "one grenade launcher, one Peacemaker attachment, some new blue eco-infused laser gun—"

"Jesus, Maichael, are we prepping for a war?" I snorted as I buckled my seat belt. "It's just a meeting. It should be civilized like an other discussion between people in power."

"And we all know howwellthat usually goes." Maichael said sarcastically. "Come on, D, you said it yourself. These guys are dangerous and we need to settle this shit before a war breaks out."

"Leave it to Krew to screw us all even in death." Torn remarked, hands gripping the steering wheel. "He's been gone for years now and he's still causing a shitload of trouble."

"Krew was a crime lord, Torn." I said, "He was involved with theft, gangs, drugs, the lurker slave-trade, prostitution..." I made a sound of disgust. "Not to mention, he was a fat useless fuck. We tried to work with him, to use him to get to the Baron, but he was no help. Now our dirty work from the war against Praxis is biting us in the ass."

"Yeah, well, hopefully we can come to some kind of agreement with these psychopaths." Torn grumbled, flipping off someone who almost clipped us in the left lane. "They'll probably want money. Or some kind of deal. They could have the key to Haven City for all I care. I just want the baddies to stop."

"Torn, Haven is your city. Quite literally." I said, rolling my eyes, "Give them the key, and you and the girls will have to leave."

"You know what I mean." Torn snapped, "It won't come down to that. I won't let it. Haven needs to be a safe place for my daughter to grow. Tara needs a good home. Besides," the corners of his mouth lifted in a smirk, "You've seen Ash's hair in the desert heat."

The three of us laughed, and I leaned back in my seat, enjoying the breeze on this beautiful—yet nerve-wracking—sunny day.

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Jak.

"Keira, I don't feel anything."

"Just...wait."

I waited like I had the past fifteen minutes, my hand resting on the top of Keira's protruding, pregnant belly. I watched her glowing face skeptically, the sounds of Daxter tinkering around in Keira's new model, the Dragonfly, echoing throughout the garage.

Keira grumbled then, releasing my hand. "I swear she was just kicking, like, thirty seconds ago."

I shrugged sheepishly and went back over to Daxter. "Sorry, Keira. Looks like Penella Kazzi answers to no one."

Keira mumbled to herself, plopping down into a chair beside her new vehicle. "You talk about your goddaughter as if she's already here."

Dax's hand was outstretched, waiting for the wrench I had been holding, and I placed it into his open palm. "That's because I can already tell she's going to be a total sass-machine like her mom."

Keira flashed me her middle finger. "She'll be lucky."

"I can't argue with that," I examined a scuff on one of the headlights. "What happened here?"

Keira leaned forward as much as her nine-month belly would allow. "Well, let's just say I had to fire one of the guys."

I straightened up, frowning. "Which one? No, wait," I held up my hand, "Don't tell me, let me guess. Edje? Or was it Shiv?"

Keira bit her lip, avoiding my gaze and looking at her hands. "Well, let's just say I had to fire two of the guys..."

"Both of them?" I face-palmed, groaning, "What the fuck, Keira? We barely have enough racers left to even call ourselves a team. Now, you fire two of our best guys?"

Keira's face flushed red and I knew then that I'd be hearing an earful. She struggled to get to her feet, prepping to turn on the sass I knew so well. I helped her up, setting myself up for the beast within.

"They weren't our best guys," She began, jabbing me in the chest with her finger, "they were shitty guys. They were good racers, but that's all they were. Did you know they were 'testing out' the new cars? Did you know they were taking them for joyrides and charging gang members so they could take them for a spin?"

"This is...news to me." I felt my blood begin to boil at the thought of being lied to, and I shook my head, trying to ignore the darkest side of me rising up.

"Yeah!" Daxter shouted from inside the Dragonfly, "And the reason Keira found out was because I caught them!"

"He 'caught them' meaning he fell asleep under the backseat, and Shiv and Edje didn't notice him once they left with the car," Keira smirked slightly as Dax's head popped from under the hood.

"For your information, toots," he shot her daggers with his eyes, "I needed my beauty sleep. Dagny and I got this new game and we've been playing it non-stop. Plus, Tess and I have sex, like, four thousand times a day. It's exhausting being me."

"Video games and sex? Poor you." I slapped the back of his head and he rubbed the spot, getting back to work.

"Yeah, well, I caught the two idiots, didn't I?" He said. "Now we can start fresh. We need a good, clean team."

"Have you thought about racing again, Jak?" Keira asked me then. "I know you stopped because of Sparky..."

"I really stopped because of all the bullshit with the gangs that built up over time." I sighed, leaning against the wall. "The glory, the money, the thrill—sure, it was all fun, extremely exciting and fulfilling...until it started getting deadly. Now it's all about power, greed, the kill. People didn't die in races when we first opened up shop in Kras. Look how the city has changed."

"You're right," Keira closed her emerald eyes, leaning on the wall beside me. "Nothing is ever simply 'fun' anymore."

"If I'm being perfectly honest," I said, feeling solemness wash over me, "I think I'm really done racing. For good. It probably won't get any better, any safer. I wouldn't race again unless, for some reason, I really had to."

"Understandable. And I agree." Keira gazed at me sadly, rubbing her ready-to-pop belly. "Things were so much easier when we were all kids enjoying life in Sandover. Things were safer back then. Now we can't even let our own kids play in the street, even back home in Haven City. I'm afraid of bringing my first baby into this dark and sinister world. Where will Penny play?"

"Yeah, things were simpler in Sandover." I nodded. "I would've loved for our kids to grow up in our little village. Imagine Dag, Sparky and P, the best of friends playing on the same beach we played on when we were kids."

Keira's eyes welled up. "That would've been perfect. I mean, things wouldn't have worked out the way they did, had we not come to the future in the first place- where we actually belonged."

"Things worked out for the best, you guys. No need to dwell on the past." Daxter sat on the edge of the hood, dangling his feet over the side and gripping his wrench in both hands. "Besides, Sandover wasn't all that safe anyway. We used to jump off cliffs and shit and go in the ocean and mess with that pelican nest. And I barely knew how to swim."

Keira and I looked at each other and she shrugged. "The beach did always have those sand serpents lurking around in the dunes."

I laughed. "Plus there was a wicked-scary jungle next door, with man-eating creatures waiting to kill us."

"Not to mention the lurker sharks buzzing about the sea!" Daxter waved the wrench in my direction.

Keira smiled, "Misty Island? All the dark eco pools festering in the neighboring towns? Fire Canyon?"

"And the unpredictable, ancient Precursor technology that always got Jak and I into trouble?" Daxter hopped to his feet, "The very same technology that blasted me into a pit of dark eco and turned me into an ottsel?"

The three of us burst out laughing, and my stomach hurt from the heavy fit. I leaned forward on my knees, shaking my head.

"You're right, Dax." I wiped my watering eyes. "You're so right. The kids are better off here. We're all better off here."

"Well, I agree with what my father said way back then," Keira shrugged between giggle fits, "I still think Dax turning into a rodent was an improvement." She gasped suddenly, her eyes blinking in surprise. "You guys! P is kicking again!"

Daxter scrambled up my arm and we both put our hands on Keira's stomach. I looked up at her expectantly, figuring it wouldn't happen again...

"Oh!" I gasped in surprise, feeling the roll of some strange alien beneath my palm. "There's Penny." I chuckled.

Daxter's cheek was pressed against the spot near my hands, his face very close to Keira's boobs. "I can feel her kicking me in the head!"

Keira snorted and rolled her eyes. "Glad she's already kicking ass." She smiled at me and shook her head.

It was exciting to know Sparky's new friend Penella was going to arrive soon. To think, my two best friends since the very beginning and I had kids of our own now...and they soon would be best friends from the beginning as well. Dag was already riding on Sparx's shoulders as they ran around the house, just as Daxter rode on mine all these years. They were the spitting images of us. Which meant...they'd probably get into a world of trouble like us as well.

That's our legacy. I thought to myself.

"Do you think P and Dag will get married some day?" Daxter asked dreamily. Keira tore him from her torso, and dropped him onto the floor.

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Darla.

I acted casual as I leaned back in my seat, but I had my dagger in reach, a pistol attached to my hip and my demon side ready to unleash in case something went wrong.

It was one of those situations where everything could go according to plan, or just completely go to shit. And this guy, Razer, with his fake black hair, velvet red coat and hideous accent, seemed to be the ring leader of this particular group of thugs.

"I don't think we can agree on your terms, Razer." Torn argued, his voice raising as he got increasingly agitated. I was surprised he'd held out for as long as he had, considering I was properly ready to end these individuals' miserable lives. "I also don't have time for bullshit. How do we know you'll keep your end of the bargain?"

"Then there's no deal!" One of Razer's men banged on the desk with his fist. "Give us Krew's team, and his connections to the cartel over in Haven. Mizo gets what he wants, or there will be blood."

I leaned forward, letting the tips of my fangs slip down past my lips. "Don't get your panties in a bunch, sweetheart. You don't know who you're messing with. Besides, we don't have the rights to Krew's team. Someone else was given ownership, paperwork and all. That's out of our hands."

"We can't accept—"

I whipped my dagger out and jammed it into the desk, towering over Razer and his cronies, startling them all into silence. Electric bolts licked out from my skin, causing all of them to lean back in their seats.

"We did you a favor." I growled, "We paid off the debt owed to you. Now your job is to clean the fucking streets. You owe us."

Razer slowly stood, flattening his greasy hair. "My word... No need to get feisty." He snickered, but his thugs remained silent. "We'll hold up our end of the deal. But we won't be able to stop the underground gambling, especially now with the Kras City Grand Championship coming up. We may not have Krew's racing rights," He eyed Maichael, Torn and I each, "but we will still win the grand prize."

I dug a chunk of wood out of the desk and flicked it at one of the thugs' faces. "We don't give a shit about your race. Just keep the crime to a minimum, and Spargus, Haven, and my Freedom Force won't have to step in."

"Is that a threat, Mrs. Mar?"

"Yeah, actually." I slid my knife back into my boot. "I don't want more blood on my hands than there already is. If I have to kill to clean up the mess myself, I will."

Razer swallowed loudly, looking intimidated for a moment before he recovered with a sneer. His brief reaction was enough to satisfy me.

"I can tell you're a mother. And I know better than to mess with a bear and her cubs." He said oh-so-sweetly, leaning against the desk and covering the spot I dug out with his black-gloved hand.

"No messing around," I said, nodding to Torn and Maichael to indicate it was time to go, "Or bears will be the very least of your problems."

The silence was deafening as we retreated out of Razer's office at his bar, the Bloody Hook. If it wasn't so early in the day, probably would've demanded a bottle, but I wanted us out of there as soon as possible.

Once the three of us were back in the car, Torn turned on the radio, the channel playing some low, smooth rock music.

"So it's going to be war then?" Torn said as we drove along the coast, the sun sparkling over the sea. "There's no chance in hell those fuckheads are going to heed our warnings."

"Yeah, the inevitable approaches." I stated flatly, as countless visions of the future that was coming blinded me momentarily. "Everything's going to suck for a while, you guys. Royally suck."

"But we'll make it out okay, right D?" Maichael leaned forward from the backseat between mine and Torn's shoulders.

"I think so."

"That's goddamn reassuring, Darla." Torn said huskily.

"What do you want me to say, Torn?" I turned in my seat and Maichael shrunk back. "That Krew fucked us over so badly, our lives are going to be put on the line? That our kids' lives are on the line? That our loyalties to one another are about to be tested?"

"Well, yeah," Torn's eyes widened, "I'd like some warning."

"There you go. That's your warning."

Torn slid down in his seat. "Listen, I know we'll be okay. I know where my loyalties lie. You're all my family. If it's us against them—whoever 'they' will be—there's no splitting us up."

Maichael came forward again. "We just need to be prepared for whatever comes our way. There's going to be a war between crime lords—whoever took over Krew's businesses, and this Mizo guy. And with this big race championship coming up, lawbreakers are bound to crawl out from whatever holes they're hiding in. We just need constant vigilance, and we'll definitely need to stay off the streets at night."

"Not that it's much safer, but you, Jak and Junior can come back to Haven City until shit cools down," Torn suggested. "There's plenty of room at the new palace. Obviously."

"Thanks, Torn." I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to shake away the confusing visions. "But I need to stay here. I need to lead my Force if a war breaks out. Besides, no one can push me out of my own home, especially not some little bitch like Razer." I shook my head in distaste. "What the fuck kind of accent is that anyway? French?"

"I think he speaks the language of bullshit because that's all I hear when he talks. Hell, It might even be fake." Maichael muttered, earning laughter from the front seat.

"All I know is that we have to win." I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "Whatever happens, we need to win."

"Is it life or death?" Maichael asked.

"Yep." I turned up the radio to drown out my darker, more negative thoughts. "How much longer until we reach Spargus? Jak, Sparky and I usually organize a Hellcat to transport us there. I think they'll be setting up portals around the city in the next month or so at least."

"About time they upgraded. It should take us about two hours to arrive, depending on traffic." Torn said with a heavy sigh. "Also depends on whether or not there's a sandstorm. We can't drive if the roads are blocked by that shit."

"King Sig is expecting us to stay for dinner before we all head to Haven for the celebration," Maichael said, "I wonder if he'll start crying again."

"He just misses all of us, Maichael." I rolled my eyes. "And you calling him 'King Sig' doesn't make it anymore real."

Maichael grunted. "I have respect for my friend. He's a leader. I don't want him to think we don't take him seriously, because we do."

"It's hard to take him seriously when he cries so much when we reunite."

Our banter continued on like this for the rest of the ride to Spargus. As much as I wanted to relax, I couldn't stop my mind from whirling into all the possibilities of tomorrow. I was terrified, yet I wasn't, all at the same time. I knew we'd be okay, but I just wanted the nice, two year break we'd all had from the action to continue. I'd known a long time that past mistakes would rear their ugly faces in the future. There was nothing I could do to stop some of these things.

And I hated to admit it, but I was also ready for action. As much as I loved downtime, safety and protection was my first priority. I missed getting into trouble. Maybe it was my demon talking, maybe it was my personal preference, maybe both. But I loved being right in the middle of where the adventure was.

I'd meant what I said to Razer—when it comes to the people I love, and the good of the world...I was something much, much worse than a bear.

JDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJ

Jak.

I came home in the afternoon to an empty house. I immediately panicked because I knew the girls, Torn and the kids were all supposed to be there so we could leave for Haven together. I tried to rationalize, thought maybe they'd all gone out to eat or something, but there was no message on my communicator. Darla always told me where she and Sparky were going, even if it was down the street.

I instantly knew something was up, if not wrong, remembering that if Darla avoids my calls, she's usually doing something that would piss me off. She used to get into a lot of trouble, albeit for the right reasons, but it still scared the shit out of me. Plus, the kids were gone, and it was getting late. Kras at night was not a good place to be these days.

But it wasn't until I opened our mail from the box downstairs that I knew something was most definitely wrong.

The first letter I opened was sloppily written, addressed to my wife, and filled with threats against my family and friends. There was a letter addressed to me, calling me "Spargus City Shit" and "Bastard Desert Prince", saying that if they saw my "pet" at the Bloody Hook again, they'd skin him alive and hang his pelt over the bar. I'd told him time and time again to stay out of that shit hole, but he never listened.

The last letter was the only decent looking piece of mail: a red envelope sealed with a fancy wax brand, addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Jak Mar". I saved this one for later, because it was the only one that didn't look like hate-mail.

I tossed the papers onto the counter and dialed Darla for the fiftieth time. I left a heated message, then proceeded to call Tess. Eventually, I'd been home for over two hours before I really began to panic, and I called Daxter.

"Dax," I said, fuming, once he answered on the second try. "Where the fuck are our wives?"

I heard Dax hiccup, and I knew he was tipsy. "Something about getting out of town...I dunno. I'm out. Want to swing by the Bloody Hook for a few shots?"

I dragged my hand down my face in exasperation. "Christ, Dax, get out of there. I don't have time for this!"

"Lighten up, Jak!" His voice took a more serious tone. "What's gotten into you? So the girls are ignoring our calls. Is this really news?"

"You said something about getting out of town?" I said, hurrying down the hall to Sparxon's bedroom. As it appeared, it looked like his drawers had been messed with. I opened some of them, noticing a hell of a lot of clothes were gone. "Where the fuck would they go? Haven? And with no note—"

"HEY!" Daxter shouted into the phone, "Pass me that mic, it's almost time for your favorite storyteller to speak! HEY! HANDS OFF MY DRINK—"

The line cut and I snarled, my body shaking from anger. Not only did I have no idea where anyone was, but now I had to go get Daxter's drunken ass from the very bar his pelt might hang from by the end of the night.

I probably would've been better off cooling down and taking a deep breath before getting into the car that afternoon, but I was too infuriated to do so. I began driving in the direction of the Bloody Hook, mumbling to myself the entire way about how I'd feel better if everyone had been eaten by metalhead stragglers.

That's when I stopped at a red light. Two cars pulled up on either side of me.

Now, I'd think nothing of it, until I heard the revving of their engines. I looked to my right, seeing a jerk staring directly at me, who looked a lot like a marauder from back in the Wasteland, with the familiar mask that adorned his face. To my left, another asshole, grinning at me with a set of silver grills. I glanced between them as they revved again.

I knew at that moment they weren't just here by chance.

In a split second, I made the decision to fly through the red light to evade the fuckers, earning honks from surrounding cars. The thugs expected this, because they sped right on after me, guns blazing. I swerved across the road, heart racing as fast as I was driving, trying to escape their trail of bullets. I pressed a blinking red button on my dashboard, which then released slick oil out the back of my car.

The masked racer swerved out of control, his vehicle flipping several times forward in my general direction, while the other guy avoided my trail completely. I pressed another button, leaving a mine in my path, causing a car to explode in the way of the masked racer's rotation.

The evasive, silver-grill racer was hot on my heels. I floored the gas, aiming for the guardrail that protected drivers from the unforgiving ocean. I drove onward, teeth gritting as I timed everything accordingly. Come on...come on...

I swerved to the right at the last second, and the silver-grill driver went soaring through the guardrail into the sea. I did a complete one-eighty turn to avoid flipping, screeching to a halt in the front of a fountain near the square, which had emptied in all the commotion. My chest heaved as I panted, blowing out breaths of relief.

Until out from the smoke and fire came the masked marauder, driving at me full-speed.

I gasped and peeled away, swerving to avoid collision, but this guy was right up my ass.

Think, Jak, think! I mentally shouted at myself. I headed in the direction of the Bloody Hook, trying to figure out some kind of way to escape this guy while he shot bullets at my tires from his turrets. I thought of something then...but it was crazy. Borderline insane. People could die.

But it was either me, or them.

And I chose me.

I aimed at the enormous front window of the Bloody Hook, which was this big, glass picture window that held a tank of an assortment of tropical fish. I was sweating in my denim jacket, adrenaline coursing through my veins. There was no way the guy behind me had big enough balls to follow me now. I pressed on the gas, holding the wheel steady, determined to not shy away from this game of chicken.

As we neared the window, the marauder finally swerved down a side street, losing the game at the last minute. I smiled to myself, then closed my eyes as I braked, my car bursting through the aquarium window.

Glass shattered around me but I held my foot onto the brake, feeling the water pour into the interior of my car. I crashed through the bar and drifted across the floor, shaking out my now matted short hair.

I didn't waste any time putting the car into park and I lurched up from my seat, staring at my furry best friend cowering beneath a bar stool like the other citizens who had turned tail and hid.

"Dax, get in the car!" I growled as he gaped at me. He scurried out from under the stool and threw his beer stein to the floor in frustration.

"JAK!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, "Are you crazy? You ruined my story!"

I saw several burly guys, and a very wealthy-looking prick wielding a switchblade, slinking to their feet. I looked Daxter in the eyes sternly.

"Now!" I hissed, and the rich bitch flung the blade at Daxter, narrowly missing his head.

He yelped and scampered over to my car as I sat down, shifting the gear into drive.

"What are you waiting for? Step on it, Jak!" He climbed onto the spoiler and clung for his dear life, as I floored it out through the way I'd come and back onto the road.

As I broke all possible laws trying to get to the exit for the highway, Daxter let out a sigh of relief, sliding down into the passenger seat. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, still pissed as hell, but becoming increasingly grateful that I'd managed to get to him before something happened.

"I told you not to go out." I said, trying not to sound like the parent I was. "We're getting death threats, Dax. Someone doesn't want us here."

"You think?" His said through clenched teeth. "I say we pack our shit and take the next boat out of here!"

"Not a chance. It'll take more than just some sorry thugs to run us out of town." I smiled down at him, showing him that I wasn't afraid of anything. As we neared the sharp exit, I shouted, "Hang on!"

"Jak!" Daxter shouted as he scrambled to buckle his seat belt.

Once I knew we were far enough away from Kras to coast at a safer speed, I leaned back in my seat. "I was almost killed tonight by these two assholes with cars tricked out like ours. They were definitely professionals."

"Someone attacked you? What else is new?" Daxter said, staring out at the sun as it finally sank into the sea. "Glad you're not dead. I don't know what would've happened if you didn't show up at Bloody Hook."

"A storm is brewing in Kras." I let my hand fall from the gearshift to my thigh. "We should probably just hang out in Haven until things die down, since we're supposed to head there anyway. Did the girls say where they were going exactly? I thought we were all supposed to go together, but now I'm not so sure."

Daxter shrugged, closing his eyes as his ears flapped in the cool breeze. "I don't know about Darla, but the ol' ball and chain called me to let me know she took the kids to the Naughty Ottsel. They must be setting up for the party."

"Torn wasn't with her?"

"She didn't say, but I didn't hear his scratching-post voice chirping away, so I assume he wasn't."

I growled lowly. "He must be with Darla, then. I can't find her anywhere. I've called about a thousand times."

"Relax, man." He turned in his seat, resting his legs on the compartment between us. "D can handle her own. I wouldn't worry too much. You know she doesn't just do things without reason."

"That's what I'm afraid of." I rolled my eyes. We headed through a tunnel, the bright lights within it making me rapidly blink. "Hopefully everyone's in Haven by now and far from Kras. We need to lay low. I don't want anyone in danger, especially not the kids."

Daxter sighed heavily, resting his arms on his stomach. "We've been through worse pal. So much worse."

I nodded. We could handle whatever was coming. I knew that for sure. What I didn't know was what to expect. All I wanted was to not have it worry about the people I loved getting killed. I guess I should've known better than to expect a calmer lifestyle, what with the Precursors telling me there were "way more adventures" in the future.

My knuckles on my left fist whitened as I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

And so it begins.

JDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJ

A/N:

Well, well, well. How's that for a twist on the introduction to Jak X: Combat Racing? I have to say, I know that game was a different adventure than the others, but it was definitely one of my favorites. I was particularly good at it, plus the storyline was just as clever, mysterious and exciting as the others. And Keira and Jak finally kissed at the end of it, which was perfection.

I'd love to see more of the Jak world sometime in the future. The series needs to be redeemed after the shit show that was Jak IV: The Lost Frontier. Don't worry; I'll be modifying that story into a FanFic that helps the game seem not so bad. The story content had potential, but the execution was god-awful, so I'm going to make you all a better version once MTLH Part 4 is in progress (wow, part 4...can't believe we're 1/3 of the way there).

But for now, my focus is on Part 3, because without a 3, there is no 4.

Stay tuned for the next update! Love you all.

~RyJo