Disclaimer: I do not own Ratchet & Clank!

Setting: During the fall of Fastoon

Chapter 1: Family

"What have I done?"

This was Alister's only thoughts as he watched as everything that he had tried to protect, everything that he help build, and everything that he loved was destroyed. And knowing that he had caused it all.

Everywhere he looked there were homes on fire, buildings reduced to rubble, and innocent Lombaxs running for their lives trying to escape the devastation.

All caused by his mistake.

"What have I done", Alister said aloud as he fell to his knees and placing his face in his hand trying to block out all the chaos around him. Folding his ears back trying in vain to block out the screams of fear and pain. Trying to block out the sounds of buildings falling and of the screeching of the war machine that was destroying everything. But he was mostly trying to block out the sound of lives being destroyed.

Suddenly hands were on his shoulders, shaking him, trying to awaken him from his shock.

"Alister wake up"

Alister barely heard the words spoken to him through his deep state of shock. When he was all of a sudden slapped in the face, finally waking him.

"Alister," Kaden yelled inches from his face, "Get a hold of yourself".

Finally putting everything into focus, Alister realized that Kaden was right in front of him. Kaden's expression looked like a cross between worry and anger.

"Kaden," Alister whispered. "What have I done?"

"We don't have time for this." Kaden yelled while pulling Alister to his feet. "We got to get out of here." And with that said, Kaden grabbed Alister's hand and pulled him away from the destruction. But then he stopped and slowly turned around and said in a hush voice, "My family."

Kaden activated his hover-boots and rushed towards his house.

"Wait Kaden." Alister yell, while turning on his hover-boots and rushing after him.

Alister raced after Kaden, dodging falling rubble and sparks of fire with Kaden a few yards away from him. That was until Alister was hit by a falling branch from a tree that was hit but an energy blast. Alister crashed into a nearby wall but quickly collected myself and continued his chase after Kaden. Then Alister turned the corner to behold Kaden's house which was now in a state of disrepair. The house was on fire and part of the roof had caved in. But he didn't see Kaden.

Alister went to the house and called out for Kaden. He walked over the rubble and searched the rooms, calling his friends name over and over again. His search came to an end when he came to the nursery when he saw Kaden kneeing over the body of his wife. She had been half buried in the rubble that came from the collapsed section of the roof. Alister stood in shock by the sight but snapped out of it when he saw Kaden shaking. Alister took a step towards him when he saw a small buddle in his arms.

It was Kaden's new born son, Ratchet who had only been born two days ago. They had only brought him home this morning before the attack that afternoon. The baby was asleep despite what was happening around him. Warped in his blanket Ratchet continued to sleep as his father held him in his shaking arms.

"She's gone…." Kaden muttered, "she's gone…" he again chocked out before he let his tears fall from his eyes. "But..." he said while looking at the buddle in his arms, "we still have each other." He said to his child.

Unfortunately, this did not last long. For after he muttered these words the remaining part of the roof gave a groan signaling it was going to collapse.

"KADEN," Alister yelled to him waking him from this depressed induced shock letting him react right as the roof had collapsed onto him.

"KADEN," Alister yelled going to the pile, and digging through it to get to Kaden. He found him, after what felt like an eternity still half buried in the rubble and with his remaining upper half of his body he was protecting his son.

Kaden turned to Alister picking up Ratchet with one arm while supporting himself with the other. "Alister," Kaden groaned. Alister went to his side trying to get him out. "Don't worry I'll get you out." Alister said continuing his digging until he was stopped but Kaden's hand.

"I'm… I'm not going to make it" Kaden whispered. "Don't say such things," Alister said with tears in his eyes. "We'll get you out of this."

Kaden raised Ratchet to Alister for him to take. Alister stopped to take the child in his arms. Ratchet shifted position in his arms. And with Kaden last breath he said, "Take care of him." And with that Kaden fell to the ground and never got up again.

Alister fell to his knees, completely stunned by what had just happened. He sat there and watched the lifeless body of his best friend lay motionless on the ground. He stayed like his for what seemed like hours until a small noise awoke him from his trance. The noise came from Ratchet who was shifting in his sleep. Alister watched the child who was oblivious to what had just transpired. This innocent child, who hadn't even opened his eyes yet, was unaware that both his parents were now gone. He had no one else in the world to take care of him, that is except for Alister.

Alister slowly lifted his hand and ran it over the child's head in a soothing gesture. Ratchet purred as Alister kept petting him. Alister smiled at this and when he stopped, Ratchet put his head down and went back to sleep.

In that moment Alister knew what he had to do. He out of the ruins of the house turned on his hoover boots and started his race to his ship. Alister focused on the task at hand and expertly dodged all the obstacles that were in his way. He had to reach the landing platform before anything happened to it. He had to get Ratchet out of there. He had to keep Ratchet safe.

Alister finally made it to the platform and found that his ship was the only one left. All the others were out there defending the city. With Ratchet in his arms he ran to the ship, jumped in, started his engines and flew off into the sky.

Alister looked out of the cockpit window to see the city in flames. He knew that because of his mistake that he will never be forgiven. With one last glance he turned his ship around and blasted off into space. Once out of orbit he looked back at Fastoon for the last time. A small feeling of regret came over Alister as he thought that he will never see his people ever again. A small cry broke him from his thoughts. Alister looked at Ratchet as he cried out and with that cry a maternal instinct awoke with in Alister. Alister gently took hold of Ratchet, brought him to his face, and started rubbing his cheek on Ratchet's head. A low purr came from throat as he continued his cuddling of the child. Ratchet's crying soon got replaced by a small purr of his own and he too started to rub his head against Alister's.

Alister was surprised by his actions but started to enjoy it. A small spark of joy came into his heart when he heard Ratchet's purr. The child's purring momentarily stop when he let out a small yawn but soon continued as he drifted off into sleep. Alister waited a little while to make sure ratchet was asleep before he put him back down. Alister stared at the little sleeping form for a minute before he steered the ship into open space.

Alister flew through space with a mission in mind. That mission was to not only protect Ratchet but to also care for him. He will love him and raise him as his own child. He will become his father and guide him through life. They will become each other's family.

A small look of fear came onto Alister's face at the thought of him failing the child. But with a look at the sleeping child a smirk formed on his lips and the look of fear was replace with a look of determination. He can't know if he didn't try. Without a second thought he activated his afterburners and started his journey to start their new life.