-Outer space, on board Aphelion-

"Are you sure this is the way back to the Solana galaxy?" a robotic voice asked her mechanical counterpart.

"Yes, I'm sure. It's just around that star, and then... what the heck? There are no nine planet systems in Solana." Clank, give me the map.

"You can't read maps, that's why we're here." Clank replied, holding up the map, "We must have left the map. I think we've ventured into the Milkyway galaxy."

"Then, is this a bad time to tell you we're running low on fuel and have to land soon?" Ratchet asked tentatievely.

"You've got to be kidding me." Clank replied, "There are no space travel developed societies in this system. It will take years to get off if we land here."

"We don't have a choice." Ratchet answered, "give me the nearest inhabited planet."

"Planet Earth, the blue one. Make sure to aim for some kind of landmass. Most of the planet is covered in water." Clank replied.

"Okay, get ready for a crash landing." Ratchet said, "I lost power to most thrusters."

"You still in control?"

"Yeah, the rudders, flaps and wheels are hydrolic so I can wrestle those into place as we land."

"I suggest extending them as soon after reentry as you can. We need the extra breaking capacity. Hang on!"

-Planet side-

A red eyed fox, orange fox sat at the edge of the vulcano. The left half of his face, and his left claw was gray, and black bat-like wings. He had a red mohawk and three tails red tipped tails, one of which gray in color. Red spikes and a collar adorned his upper body, and he had white paws. Rugged black and red shorts and a red jacket adorned his body as he basked in the heat of the flowing magma, and gazed up at the stars. A ring pierced his right ear.

"Such a beautiful evening here... now... what's that?" he mused, "The shooting stars aren't coming for another month... and they're rarely solo... it's a spacecraft. Would Cortex finally send Crunch back-up? Guess I should check you up."

The fox got up, and spread it's wings, gliding down from the mountain in the direction of the expected landing site, occasionally flapping them to maintain altitude. He skimmed over the treetops, and the roof of a small village, before landing in a tree, at the edge of the crash site. The ship had obviously tried to land at a far too high speed, and been unable to find smooth floors.

"That's not one of us." he muttered under his breath as the smoke filled cabin opened and a strange furry with a bushy tail tip, and pointy ears, followed by a small droid.

The creature went to examine the ship, before sitting down examining what looked like an odd collection of guns. At some point, he grabbed a nine rocket launcher with what looked like a nasty dent in the handle. While he unscrewed the cap of the damaged handle, the weapon fired accidentally, launching missiles out of six of the nine tubes. The missiles swerved away in all directions, before some locked on to the nearest heat signatures, including the winged fox in the trees. "Oh cra..." Drake muttered, trying to leap away, but he got struck on the wing, and collapsed to the ground. Carefully, he folded his wing in front of himself with a sneer to inspect the damage. He was not happy with the hole in his smoldering wing.

Summoning two fire balls to his hands, he charged into the clearing.

- at the ship-

"Just the R.Y.N.O. seems to be damaged." Ratchet said, examining his weapons.

"I'm making a list of damaged parts on Aphelion. With the right tools, we might be able to fix her." Clank said, doing a full diagnostic on the ship.

"Now if I can just screw the side plate..." and the gun fired accidentally. He watched the missiles lock on to wild life and fly off before he continued fixing one of his favorite weapons, when a demonic looking fox with burning paws charged into the clearing, a gaping hole in one of his wings.

"How dare you shoot me!" the fox yelled. Two flaming claws swiping at ratchet, who activated his shield charger in the nick of time to save his neck. "I'll have your head."

Ratchet grabbed clank, and ran. Past mutated crabs, and biting plants, with an aggressive fox on his tail, using his dual vipers to both clear his path, and keep his pursuer at a distance. In the distance, he saw smoke rising, and set course for it, assuming some kind of village, which would be his chance to shake the fox.