Chapter 1: Thugs 4 Angela
The enormous thuds of reinforced metal echoed down the maze of streets. Each thud increasingly closer and closer, with a vile and obnoxious laugh followed with each step. The Thugs 4 Less leader, power hungry and right on Ratchets tail, quite literally.
The town seemed to have previously been used for Air-Defense training, and Clank made it quite aware to Ratchet from the start, these turrets would be vital in destroying the towering metal beast.
"Hang on buddy" Ratchet said in his breathless sprint. A jump-pad boosted the two high above the buildings, allowing clank to use his powerful thrusters to safely let the pair land on a nearby rooftop. It had seemed so long since Bob had installed it back on Pokitaru for him but, it was barely anytime at all. Clank was still ever so thankful for his craftmanship, and had always hoped to see him again, just for old times' sake.
"This is the last turret Clank, we better destroy this thing fast!"
"His core is weakened Ratchet, only a few more shots and he should be too weak to continue!"
"You better be right about this"
The missiles swarmed the two, hailing down from the end of the abandoned town. Ratchet focused the turret between the screaming missiles and the now crumbling metal Robot. Sparks were beginning to fly from its joints. Ratchet knew it was only a matter of time until the Giganto-Mech was nothing but a pile of scrap. His determination grew, alongside with his belief that the Thugs 4 Less leader could be taken down once and for all.
The mountain of now crushed alloy remained wedged between two buildings, dust filled the air, concrete from the buildings beginning to crack and crumble from where the Mech had fallen. The Thugs 4 Less leader laid motionless, crushed under the robot's twitching arm. Clank analyzed the corrupt lizard as the pair approached. It was just by nature for him to make sure everyone, even the ones wanting him dead, were okay.
"Vital signs, active. Unconscious, however no serious injuries shown"
"Clank, I'd hate to burst your bubble, but the only thing I care for right now is that you're okay, not this stupid ass reptile" Ratchet sighed, his legs were beginning to give way. The battle was long, tough and had taken all his energy. Right now, the only thing on Ratchets mind was continuing their hunt for the Protopet and saving this galaxy from certain death.
"If you're okay Clank, let's go."
As the pair turned to leave, a voice piped up from the chest plate of the robot, in a tone in which someone knew they were in deep shit with.
"Umm hellloooo!? Aren't you forgetting someone?"
Angela's eyes pierced into the back of Ratchets scrawny head, one which she had always wanted to pummel. What sort of egotistical and bolt for brains could just forget the main reason for even coming to this god forsaken planet?! Was she truly that forgettable?
"Oops, I mean, after we free… Angela" Ratchet awkwardly scratched the back of his head as he spun around. His cheeks grew red and began to heat up.
"What an awkward mistake, nice going fuzzball" He thought to himself, drawing his lancer and shooting the lock on the cage keeping Angela captive.
His brain was fried. Now not only did he have to continue his adventure even as his muscles ached and groaned, now he had to do it with another Lombax who he knew at the next chance she had would slap him in the back of the head.
Angela dropped down onto the street, dusting metal shards off herself.
"Thanks. Now before you run off, take a look at this. I managed to pick it out of Lizard-boys pocket."
"You put your hand… in his pocket?!
"Ew no, not like that you moron! I saw the damn info-bot peeking out, just shut up and watch"
The info-bot's screen stretched and enlarged, showing the three of them the Thug 4 Less's leader speaking into the camera. He spoke of a large distribution center, seeming to be storing of "… three-point five zillion Protopets!" The Protopet epidemic was now truly showing how large of an issue it truly was, and Ratchet was getting dizzy thinking about how much danger the galaxy was in. How could they possibly stop that many Protopets from reaching the hands of innocent lives?!
"Are they insane?!" Ratchet exclaimed, his eyes wide with terror.
"The galaxy is in far more danger than I had imagined. Do you suppose Mr Fizzwidget…" Clank's pure and curious voice was cut off by Angela.
"We've wasted enough time on Fizzwidget already." She sighed, both of her hands found her faced, rubbing her temple in frustration and confusion.
"I swear that crazy old man is not the same person I used to work for."
Ratchets ears shot up.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You used to work for Megacorp?!" Ratchet couldn't believe it. No way this gorgeous Lombax, the one who was trying to kill him for a period was actually an intelligent scientist, working for the Universe's biggest technology company!
"Wait, did I just call her gorgeous?"
"Yes, in the genetics division." Angela took notice of the excitement in Ratchets voice. Why was he so interested? Why were his eyes locked with hers and why did it feel… weird? She quickly looked elsewhere and focused to his ears. They were twitching, his striped fur swayed in the planets cool breeze.
"… on the Protopet?!"
"… on fixing the Protopets flaws! And I was this close to succeeding when Fizzwidget suddenly pushed up the release date." Angela's held her fingers apart, showing the pair just how close this whole situation could've been avoided.
"Is it worth disrupting the Protopet shipments Miss Cross?" Clank chimed in.
"It's a start. But to stop them for good, we're gonna need to break into Megacorp headquarters."
"Break in? How? That place is locked down like nobody's business!" Ratchet had seen numerous Holo-vids focusing on the facility itself. A brief mention of its security systems popped back into his mind, and he shook his head figuring out how they were going to manage to pull it off.
Angela smirked, brushing her hand against her hair. She never got many chances to show off, and by damn she wasn't going to lose the opportunity to do so. At this point she knew Ratchet was entranced on her involvement with Megacorp. She felt… cool.
"I have an old Megacorp ID on my home planet."
"We'll split up then. Clank and I will go to the distribution facility, you go grab that ID."
"Be safe Miss Cross" Clank spoke as Ratchet lifted him onto his back. With his hands and legs now tucked in, he watched as Angela grew further and further away. Angela waved, the group had parted once again, but not before Ratchet took one last look over his shoulder, seeing the figure they had just saved disappear into the streets.
