"Dax! Use the brakes, for precursors sake!" I urged, clinging to the seat. Daxter laughed, grinning and pulling the lever. The car jutted to a halt, sending a large wave of sand over us. Daxter let out another chuckle, coughing as the sand invaded his throat. I desperately clutched the seat, frozen.

"I... There's a reason that I have never let you drive.." I gasped, letting out a breath. Daxter stretched, pulling his gloves lower.

"Ferst time fer everything, Jakie boy. I'm not THAT bad." He said, shrugging. I slipped my goggles up, leaning into the seat.

"We nearly there, dax?" I questioned. He squinted into the desert, scanning the wasteland.

"Yeah. Nearly."

I looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Still not allowed to know?"

He shook his head, a smug grin plastered on his face.

"Nope. You'll know soon enough!" His grin was mocking, and I pressed my thumb against his curled lips.

"You have no idea how annoying this is." I moaned, throwing my head back in mock temper. He tapped my forehead, flicking away my thumb.

"Temper temper, Jakie boy!" He sneered. "Keep yer cool. We're nearly there." I gave another moan, this time ending it with a grin.

"The sooner the better."

And with a swish of his hips, the Daxternator was back in the Dune Hopper. I chuckled, swinging myself into the vehicle with a grin. He revved the engine, and with a jerk the car suddenly burst into action, angrily spitting out sand behind us. Somehow, Dax was suddenly a great driver, easily cruising the desert. I raised an eyebrow at him, and he shrugged, that grin still firmly placed. I closed my eyes, pulling my scarf over my nose and mouth as the sand started to spit at us. It felt like a ritualistic action now, comfortably familiar and welcoming, in its own special way.

The car suddenly jerked violently, throwing me against the the front. I looked to Dax, my breath short. I ripped the scarf back down.

"The hell just happened?" I gasped, bracing my fingers against the seat. Dax shook his head, looking out of the side.

"No idea. Something hit us."

Fuck.

I pulled him back in, pulling his head out of danger.

"Dax," I hissed, looking him straight in the eye. "Drive. Now."

Daxter's eyes went wide, but he instantly obeyed my command. I ran my hand through my hair, fingers raking through the green. Any kind of shot, around me, in the desert, was bad.

Because unknown to dax, the marauders had a high bounty on the head of King Damas' son.

He threw the car forward, lip bit in concentration. I pulled myself up, looking out the roof of the car. No other vehicles were in sight, just the ever lasting stretch of desert and rock. I looked back to dax, watching his fingers dance over the lever that shot the gun.

"Dax. Do.not.shoot. Don't give us away."

He gave another nod, teeth grit in determination. A single bead of sweat slipped down down forehead, coursing down his nose.

The car suddenly jerked again, accompanied by the loud and obvious sound of a gunshot. I cursed, pulling my gun from back. The car started to drift at it's own will, skidding across the burning sand. Daxter let out a muffled yelp, trying to regain control of the vehicle. His eyes were wide. I offered a calming hand on his, partly controlling the car.

"Dax," I whispered softly. "Just keep cool and keep going."

He nodded, a question set in his eyes that I couldn't answer at that exact moment. Another shot suddenly sent the car smashing directly against a large, ashen white rock.

A moment seemed to freeze. We were stuck in that moment right before the car smashed. Dax cried out, his body jerking in the seat.

"Jak!" He screamed, before the car suddenly erupted into the rock, sending splinters of metal and sparks from our burning wreckage.

*************************

It took a moment for everything to come around. At first, it was simply a haze of red and pain. Then it enveloped, and I slowly realised the car had crashed. I was lying hardly six foot from the wreckage, which was currently spitting smoke. A scorching pain ate at my side, laced with heat and a jagged pain. I pulled myself up, groaning as my body wanted to remain still. I placed my had on my side, cursing as I realised a jagged scrap of metal was indented into it. Gritting my teeth, I ripped it out. A small spurt of blood sprayed onto my hands, but nothing more. The Eco would heal it, be it Light or Dark. Then I realised.

"Dax!" I called, my throat dry. I clambered to the driver side of the car, trying to find trace of him.

He.. Wasn't there.

"Dax.." I whispered.

 

 

"J..Jakie boy."

I whipped around, only to see his small figure standing a foot from the burning wreck. I let out a hiss.

"Thank Mar. I thought you.." I shook my head, my finger trembling as I pulled my goggles up over my hair, back in place. He smiled, and I could see he was shuddering.

"Lookit ya. All worried about lil' ol' me." He suddenly stopped. "We gotta get back to Spargus. Someone's chasin' us!"

I nodded, limping over to him.

"That's a plan. You hurt at all?" I mumbled, brushing his cheek lightly. He shook his head, his hand automatically covering my wound.

"Nah, but you are. You okay?" He questioned. I nodded.u

"Fine. I've had worse. I think it's taken it's toll on where that Eco gland was taken out though," I hissed, pressing down where he fading scar was entombed on my chest. Dax shook his head, suddenly trembling. I saw the dancing of Dark Eco on his arms. He groaned.

"Ugh.. Jakie boy.. I think, I think I'm shifting agai-"

His last words were lost to the bullet. His eyes went wide. We both stood staring at each other, transfixed.

"Dax-"

His hands slowly wondered to below his stomach, and he looked down. a large pool of blood started to seep from the gaping hole. I stopped.

"No." I hissed. His body suddenly became weak, his face pale.

"I-I think.. I just ruined yer day.." He mumbled, before his eyes rolled back and he fell to the floor, as limp as a rag doll.