As the bits and pieces of the robot were salvaged and cleaned up, Jak, Daxter, Shining, and Keira found their way to a massive Precursor door, ancient and engraved with endless runes. Since it was stationed above the silo, it was plainly important. "What is it?" Jak asked, staring at it in amazement.
"It's a door," Daxter replied. "I should think that was obvious."
"How do we open it?" Shining asked, examining it from a distance.
Keira moved close to the door. "It looks like there's indentations for placing Power Cells," she stated, running her hand over one. "I count...100 of them."
"Holy Yakkow!" Samos called out, coming up behind the group. "That's a lot of Power Cells. You won't be getting that door open any time soon-"
"But we have 101 Power Cells," Jak pointed out logically.
"Oh. Of course you do," Samos replied, looking away. "Of course you do..."
Not really understanding the tone of Samos' voice, Jak placed the Power Cells into the slot, their Eco Power drawing them into the points on the door until every single one was filled. The group stared at the door for a time, waiting for a response. After a time, a crack appeared down the middle of the door, and the two halves swung forward slowly as it opened.
Behind the door was a massive ring of Precursor metal filled with light, and a strangely configured vehicle, large enough to seat four. The moment Shining's eyes fell on them, a shiver ran down his spine. There was something so...upsettingly familiar about them, as though bad memories were associated with the very shapes. He looked away from them, trying to get himself under control, only for his eyes to fall on Samos.
Samos was staring at the ring and vehicle with distaste. His hand stroked his chin as he slowly shook his head. His mouth was moving, and Shining's sensitive hearing picked up the quietest of words from his lips.
"Already? Why so soon? ...They're so young...so young..."
Shining's eyes went from Samos to the ring, to the vehicle, trying to make sense of what was going on. Approaching the vehicle, he stared into the seats. Climbing in, he stared up at the shining light within the gate...
Gate?
Samos' voice suddenly rang in his mind.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of you. That's a promise."
Shining clutched his head as he fell over into the vehicle, not hearing the concerned shouts of his friends and family.
As Shining slowly came to, he found Samos standing over him. "Feeling better, Shining?" he asked softly.
Shining Armor glanced around, seeing he was back in Samos' hut. "That vehicle...the gateway-"
"Gateway?" Samos asked in shock.
"It's the same as from my dreams!" Shining said quickly, standing up. He staggered as his knees buckled, but he held his ground. "The dream of the grey city and the black sky, and the other unicorn and two Jaks! It always ended the same way. You, me, and Jak sitting in that vehicle, staring into the shining light of that gateway as you promised to take care of us! How is it here, Samos? What does it mean?"
Samos looked at Shining for a time, then sighed. "It means that your dreams will soon make sense, Shining," he explained at last. "But I fear that once they do, you will find them to be nightmares."
"Sir?" Shining's eyes widened, his confusion very much apparent.
"I had hoped that you would have more time before this would happen," Samos continued. "But I fear time has run out after all...or perhaps caught up to us. Even hearing the whole story, it never made sense to me..." He glanced away, sighing ruefully.
"Sage Samos?" Shining asked worriedly, walking up to him and nudging him with one hoof.
"Don't think about it for now, Shining," Samos stated firmly. "Enjoy the time you have while you can. The time's not far off when this peaceful life you two have known will come to a terrible end, and pain and strife will become your bosom buddies. Joyous moments will be few and far between. I've prepared you both for all this as best I can...but soon you'll be thrown into the fires of adversity." He turned back to Shining. "Shore up every gap in the armor of your heart with whatever happy memories you can make now, young hero, so these fires may temper you only, and not melt you to slag."
Shining swallowed, nodding. "Yes sir," he replied. He wasn't entirely sure he understood what Samos was talking about, but he was beginning to think the answers he'd wondered about for so long were going to be unpleasant to learn. It was best to relax and be ready. "How long do we have?"
"Until Keira gets the vehicle and gate working again, young one," Samos replied. "When that day comes...our peaceful time here will be at an end...and an adventure you won't be ready for will begin." He shook his head. "I know something of what might happen...but I know not how it begins. Be ready...and be happy."
Shining nodded. "Alright," he replied. "I'll let my smile be my armor." Turning, he headed out to find Jak and Daxter. One of them was bound to have an idea of something fun to do. Maybe they could go back to the snowcap mountain and go skiing!
As Samos watched Shining leave, he sat back down to gaze out his window. "Time is a fickle thing, the way the Precursors toyed with it," he muttered. "We made it safely around last time...but will we this time, young Princes?"