Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own works. Ratchet and Clank are owned by Insomniac Games and Sony.

"Thram? Thram's in the Zarkov Sector. It's mostly populated by scrapers and nobodies. There's nothing on Thram."

"That's why I'm interested in it."

"I've been there. There's nothing there. Just a ghost planet."

"Do you have the same to say for the entire Zarkov Sector?"

"Yes and no. Yes, it's empty. However, it's not a ghost sector."

"But you just sai-"

"It's a Nether Sector. Or... At least it WAS a Nether Sector. I went out to the Nether hot spots again when the Prog affair was finished. Everything has gone cold Nether wise. As I said earlier, now home to scavengers and nomads. Occasional smuggler or two every now and then."

"Well then... What about Merdegraw?"

"Pirate Planet."

"There must be some planet eligible for our projects."

"I have a few options."

A thick folder is dropped onto the table and is slid from one five fingered hand to a three fingered hand. The owner of the three fingered hand opens the folder and sees several files of several uncharted and in the dark planets.

"Torren IV?"

"Home to a colony of Vullards, but they have measures to keep their scrap project out of the prying eyes of the authorities."

"Oozla's in the Bogon Galaxy. I'm not interested in MegaCorp technology."

"But, an empty store that could easily be turned into a multi-room lab with a ecosystem just waiting to be made from an empty swamp monster's lair could be useful for the study of large, rare, and mysterious creatures. And even a small area for testing technology."

"Okay, explain your reasoning of Fastoon?"

"Lombax technology that has been left on the planet for nearly as long as I have been alive. Left in my care for the hopeful repopulation of the Lombax race... The planet is pretty much mine and I can have whatever I want on it and I can do whatever I want to there. You are talking to the Prince and the Last of the Lombaxes here."

"... ... And what about your companion's "little" lab. I'm very curious where he's getting all that technology an-"

"The Clock is off limits." Ratchet placed both of his hands down on the table and leaned into the light shining over the table. "Always has and always will be."

There was a few moments of silence between the Lombax and the hooded figure on the other end of the table.

"Fine. I'll leave the Clock alone... For now."

"Good luck with that. I may not live forever, but Clank and the Zoni will." Ratchet sat back down and allowed the figure to continue searching through the selected planets.

"Shaar? What's so private about a former DreadZone broadcasting planet?"

"As you said, Former. Ever since the DreadZone show was... "canceled", all it's hotspot planets have grown outstandingly quiet. Since all the camera's either shut down or the backup batteries died and the cameras either blew up from falling, or they were damaged in their falls. There's some authentic Vox tech there now left behind by the said Vox family."

"And explain this piece of Quantos."

"I though maybe you'd like a little place for spirit walking and meditating."

"I find that very humorous." The hooded figure said with a tone of anger in his voice.

"I did too." Ratchet smirked at the glowing red eyes under the black hood. He knew exactly who was under the hood. The voice gave it away the instant he heard him on the phone. The only reason why he was helping the hooded figure was due to two events. The figure saving a uncharted sector on a previous adventure and on one instance where this man saved his life not too long ago.

"Alright. I'll take... This sector of Fastoon." The figure slipped out a red marker and circle the wanted sector and slid other files to be selected.

"This temple on Shaar, and... I'll take the sector on Quantos. Can we make that a deal?"

"Deal. But keep in mind. The authorities may not be watching you, but I will be."

"I'll behave if you don't anger me."

"I can't promise that I can keep Qwark away though. He'll be bound to show up at one point or another."

"You know... I still know how to make his death look more like a accident."

"I'd ask how, but then Clank would kill me and make it look like I died on the toilet or something that'll embarrass me for my eternal afterlife... So, how would you make it look like an accident?"

"Simple really..."

I don't think there's no point in asking you guys because it's pretty obvious, but I wanna see who can answer it the fastest.

Who do you think is the hooded figure? (First person who gets it right gets a sneak peek at the next chapter!)

And as always, I'll see you guys later!

~Jak Cooper the Lombax