This is a 'clean' version of my already existing R&C story Dimensional Rift. This version won't have any slash :) so yay!

Storyline and some characters belong to me.

Ratchet and Clank belong to Insomniac.

Dimensional Rift: Prologue

~Out With the Old and in With the New~

Space is home to many things, from planets to stars, suns to moons and even the occasional black hole. Space is so vast, you more often than not will get lost, if you don't have the right equipment that is. Space can also be regarded as nothing, it is pretty much empty space after all; however, to one lombax, space is more than just nothing, it is home.

Ratchet belonged in amongst the stars, since he didn't have anywhere to call 'home' exactly. Seven years ago, he would have straight out said Veldin, but after his latest adventure to Polaris and the Great Clock, he didn't know where home was. Was it Fastoon? Veldin? Perhaps it was where he felt most comfortable? He didn't know, but that was alright with him. As long as he was with Clank and could travel wherever he wanted, he didn't mind.

"Ratchet!" a sudden yell stirred Ratchet from his thoughts as he snapped his gaze back to the path they were traveling. An incoming asteroid narrowly missed the ships left wing as Ratchet shifted the spacecraft's direction.

"Woah! Good thing my reflexes are top notch," he joked, turning to face his passenger who didn't look impressed.

"If you are going to stare out the window, at least set the controls to autopilot," replied an angry Clank, "what is bothering you? Usually you are not so… distant."

The lombax shrugged, keeping one hand on the controls and using the other to scratch nervously behind his head, "just thinking about stuff, nothing important."

The robot didn't look convinced but let the issue slide. He didn't want to start an argument after all. It had been a month since the Great Clock incident and it seemed life went on as it usually did. There was one difference though. Ratchet was more agitated and thoughtful, as if he was always on alert and thinking of best possible escape routes if they were ambushed. It didn't surprise Clank the least. He had been gone for three years while his friend searched all over Polaris to find him. Now whenever they left the ship, Ratchet would give sideways glances every now and then to make sure he was still there. He didn't bother to call him out on it though, it didn't bother him very much.

On the other hand, Ratchet was thinking the exact opposite. He knew Clank knew about his change in behaviour and decided to tell him once they landed.

"As soon as we get to Axiom City, we can get that upgrade and I'll tell you my thoughts. How's that?" he offered a smile, dodging another stray asteroid. The sentence surprised Clank as Ratchet was never one to outright admit something, but it in turn made the robot happy as well. Then another thought crossed Clank's mind.

"Wasn't Terachnos that planet we passed an hour ago?" he asked innocently. Ratchet's eyes widened and he briefly froze. He then let go of the controls and face planted on the control panel, clicking the 'Autopilot' button in the process.

"Oops…" was the lombax's reply. Clank 'rolled' his optical lenses and sighed.

"You really are unbelievable, Ratchet," he stated unamused. A groan was all the response Clank needed in order to know his friend was really tired and annoyed. There was silence after that for a few minutes. Then a loud crash of metal could be heard, causing the ship to swerve to the left.

"Argh! What was that? Aphelion? Shouldn't she have warned us?" Ratchet wandered aloud. That's when Clank pointed to the on 'Mute' button.

The lombax laughed sheepishly turning the mute option off.

'Warning! Warning! Dimensional breach detected. Power at 75%,' Aphelion reported much to the duo's dismay. Clank mumbled an incoherent 'great'.

"Dimensional what?! Aphelion, reroute power source to backup generator."

'Negative, backup generator empty. Power at 50%.'

"What! Fine, engage the thrusters to full power and turn around!"

'Negative, thrusters offline. Power at 20%.'

"Ratchet, the magnetic waves coming from the breach is messing Aphelion's controls up. We can't do anything!" Clank interrupted, but Ratchet was still trying.

'Transmission to Captain Qwark failed, please try again. Power at 10%.'

"… You tried calling Qwark…"

"What? I only have his and your contacts!" he defended while Clank face palmed.

'Power at 0%," were Aphelion's last words as the lights insidethe spacecraft blacked out as they were dragged into the breach.