Dear readers,

Because of certain complications revolving around the original "The Mark of Black", I have decided that I'll be reviewing my entire one-shot for the moment. Seeing as CaptRandom himself wishes for a more independent one-shot on my behalf, I have decided to go back more in time rather then starting at chapter 32. Therefore I have canceled that part until my own timeline collides with his.

1.) The Disclaimer: I do not own Ratchet & Clank, but I certainly wish I did

2.) I am not in total agreement with only being only able to use up to two genres when creating a story. I will say that this story is a DRAMA/ANGST, but note that it will also include FRIENDSHIP and ROMANCE.

3.) This story contains Yaoi, and it looks like will include Hetero themes as well (Perhaps yuri as well, it all depends on what readers want and what I find best furthers the story and character development), simple as that. It will become obvious early on in the story. If you do not like things like that, please do not read. Tough it will be stated if there are lemon scenes!

All Ratchet & Clank characters are property of Insomniac, all other characters are property of CaptRandom

(Next Chapters take place after Chapter 13 but before Chapter 14)

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The new Crewmember

A computer behind him beeped and the doctor the glanced at it, "Oh good, the blood work is finished," he said as he walked over towards the machine to look at the printout.

He placed the sheet onto his clipboard and began looking over it. Every once in a while, he would tap on the sheet and mumble under his breath, "Hmmm, well he isn't related to Captain Ratchet, but a few of these genetic similarities are odd." He continued looking over the reading but stopped when he reached the information on Abel's blood.

The doctor let out a gasp and the clipboard fell to the floor. He blinked for a moment before he shot his gaze at Abel, "… Simply amazing!"

He picked up the clipboard and examined it once more before walking over to Abel and looking over his right hand.

"I have to tell the Captain!" he exclaimed before turning to leave the room.

He only managed a single step before he felt a great figurative chill creep down his mechanical spine. He stopped dead in his tracks and slowly glanced back to see, a very much awake, Abel, who was giving him a very dark look.

"The results of your examinations will remain between us," said Abel to the doctor with a growl, "I do not want anything to push away Ratchet or the others…" His expression suddenly became sinister, "Speak one word of you findings and I'll make sure that it's your last…"

The doctor was stunned at what he had heard, but more by the fact of what he had seen on the sketch. But those words Abel had said made him shiver in fear. "I…I won't say a word as with…(gulp) other patience, this information will stay confidential, I promise." Said the doctor who was shivering where he stood. To his surprise Abel welcomed him with a warm smile "Glad you see it may way doc." He said blinking an eye to the robot standing in front of him before walking towards the door leaving the robot to do his job.

Once outside the infirmary Abel was greeted by several of the crewmember who congratulated him on his achievement in beating Ratchet. Something which seemed was a hard to thing to accomplish according to some. "You sure gave the Captain a run for his money sir!" said a robot named Y79 "Not only that but did you see fast he could punch? That was just wow Y79" "I noticed that D40, I was there also you know!" Abel stood there rolling his eyes as the robots chattered at themselves. They never even knew Abel had gone towards the bridge. As the door opened Abel was congratulated by the Q-force members.

Firs of was Clank who wanted to know how he was able to "foresee" Ratchet's moves as he had never seen an organic life form to be that fast at response. Tough Abel just said it was practise and that Ratchet was just tired from the run. "Well zis is quit an accomplish mend! Would zy care for a running match?" asked Helga in a somewhat very enthusiastic state as she had never seen anyone run like that before and wondered if Abel could keep track of her as well.

Skidd just gave Abel a high five, but to everyone's surprise Abel didn't know what to do. "Umm… what are you doing?" "C'mon dude! Don't tell me ya never gave a high five b'fore!" asked the skateboarder champion. "High five?" "Yea like this bro!" said Skidd as he showed how it worked. Skrunch and Qwark just congratulated him on becoming the newest member on the ship (even if it was a controversy to the standard procedure)! They were however interrupted as Abel's stomach began to growl loudly, making All laugh out much to his embarrassment. "Seems like you can use a nice meal. I'll bring ya to the mess hall… Perhaps then you can explain to me how you fixed that bug!" "Sure All was it? I'm starving…" said the blue eyed Lombax to the half man half android.

As they left the bridge towards the hallway, Abel was already busy with telling All how he had fixed the bug by just diverting the power from the C-grid towards the inductor coil of…( let's skip this shall we?)… As they passed by the VR chamber, Abel saw that there was a lot of commotion around the area at which All responded that his chamber was being prepared for him. "So I'll be sleeping there huh? Seems like you people are doing a lot of effort for me… And it…" "Actually it was on captain Ratchet's orders that you'll sleep over there." This caught the Lombax ears rather fast. "Ratchet said that?" with a glimmer of happiness in his voice as he almost jumped at hearing the other Lombax's name. "Well yea, but let's continue I'm getting more hungry by the minute." "Huh? Your half an android why do you need food anyway?!" asked a confused Abel who now stared the mechanical parts of the man. "Mind you that I'm still organic for 75% and they need the right fuel to work properly you know. Some Qwark cereals will do just fine thank you very much." It seemed that Abel had aggravated All a bit, which only made him chuckle in response to it.

As the door to the mess hall opened at last Abel was stunned to see how many people and robots worked on the ship. It's true he had heard already of the "Pride of the Galactic Navy" but it was still a sight to behold! He took a few steps into the bluish room. The walls were a very light blue of colour and the floor unlike the other rooms was a nice white colour. It didn't take long before he noticed something more fascinating for his nostrils to pick up.

"What is that smell?!" he asked jumping into the air. "Well that's the specialty of today. Stuffed chicken á la Helga's. Tough I must warn you it's a rather spicy dish!" said All as he scratched the back of his head. "I would rather recommend the soufflé! It tastes much better you know!" but the Lombax couldn't care less. Within a second he had grabbed a plate and filled it up until it could hold nothing else. He searched for the nearest available table there was and sat down. Letting his senses take in the colour, the smell, the taste of it all. Until it hit him "Crap I didn't grab anything to drink yet!" Abel said as he searched for the nearest drinking fountain. "What no fountains! What do you people drink then?" All just sat down in front of the Lombax as he told him that they need to grab there drinks over there where he got his food from. The room felt like a whirlwind had entered once Abel ran towards the beverages not choosing anything just grabbing the nearest one and then running back to his lunch. His stomach urged him to dig in and just eat it. Well what one could see then and there would even frighten almost everyone. As All was watching the spectacle from a few meters away, he said towards the other crewmembers to stay away from Abel if they valued there limbs! "One could loose it in there!" he said chuckling.

It didn't take long before Abel was completely full and even let out a loud burp, to which he turned red in disgust of his table manners (or what was left of it before he even started eating!).

Ratchet himself who had been busy with some of the robots to convert his room to fit for two Lombaxes, just entered the mess hall in time to watch the spectacle of seeing Abel eat. He cocked an eyebrow towards All, who himself gave signs back to Ratchet that he as well didn't have a clue of what was going on at that table. "Abel?" asked Ratchet towards the other male Lombax who was still drinking the beverage he had chosen. "Next time give us a warning when you'll be in the mess hall ok?" "What did I do something wrong then?" asked Abel who now was staring into those big greenish eyes of Ratchet. "Well" ratchet said giggling a bit "It is so that next time we can put up a sign that people won't get to close to you." This remark didn't do very good for Abel's image but to some people's surprise he began to laugh at the situation. "Well next time you give me a warning that food could taste THIS good!" he said as he licked off his lips with his tongue. "What do you about a small tour? I can show you where you will sleep and other important facilities." Said the green eyed Lombax, whilst smiling to Abel, who in turn turned a little red on the cheeks at this. Ratchet however didn't seem to notice it at all. "So let's begin shall we?"