Well. It's been exactly a year since I first posted this. 365 days.. or was it a leap year? Anyway. I am rewriting this story for 2 reasons.

1 - To see the difference in my writing - And trust me... There's a big difference

2 - People actually liked this story. So I thought I'd make it better!

So to everyone who read this last year. I hope you enjoy it now that it's decent and understandable. And to new readers, I hope you enjoy it too!

Oh and I will be renaming the story soon to 'Distractions' Because I'm adding more stuff in and that's a much better title.

Now without further adue - Here it is!

The Markazian and the Lombax / Distractions

The Universe had just been saved. The Great Clock had been guided away from misuse. Nefarious was gone, for all I knew, and I was glad for that… But there was still the death of another I had yet to mourn. The closest I'd ever get to knowing my race, my family…

Alister Azimuth. Four-Bolt Magistrate of the Lombax Praetorian Guard Elder Councilman for the Center for Advanced Lombax Research. My father's best friend. He was gone. Dead for both the wrong reasons and the right. But I had Clank back, didn't I? That's definitely an upside to todays near death experience. But still...

I looked over at my best Pal whom was still sitting arms outstretched behind his head. He turned his head as I turned mine and looked at me with a sombre expression before nodding like he knew exactly what I was thinking about. He probably did too. That was just one of the many great things about Clank.

I returned my attention to the wheel and watched as space passed us on either side. We were finally going home. After however many months the two of us could get some rest together, work on various contraptions, laugh at the stupid things we each do. Not save the universe. That was what I was looking forward to the most, although it would serve as a nice distraction from the buffet of thoughts my mind was sifting through. I was now again the last Lombax. I wasn't really any closer to finding their Dimension. If Alister had understood where they were, maybe we could have had the chance to get to them. Maybe he'd still be here… No. I need a distraction. C'mon, think of something to say… But what? Eh, we'd be home soon enough anyway. Home. Where was that? Veldin? Kerwan? The Apogee Space Station? Apogee…

And then as if he had been reading my mind, Clank spoke the first words of our long ride.

"So, Ratchet. How's Talwyn?" His green eyes beamed at me, asking me the question I should've been able to answer with a 'Good' or 'Brilliant'. But no. I hadn't contacted her since we found out where Clank was. Since she gave me a Constructo Pistol to replace my old Combustor. Since she kissed me… And I just left her at the space station.

"You haven't contacted her for the past two months, have you?" Clank asked when I didn't respond. But that wasn't true! We had gotten close for the first month of looking for Clank. It was only after Merdegraw where I got Qwark to help…

"I haven't seen her or contacted her in three weeks," I finally said without looking at him, feeling pretty humiliated. At least this was a distraction...

"Well she is probably worried sick. Lets call her, let her know that we are both okay," Clank spoke with pure understanding which left me wondering how he understood this as a robot… Either he downloaded something of the Holo-Net, or he had just spent way too much time around me. Either way I was thankful, yet still sceptical.

"But..."

"But what?" He gave me a confused look.

"I, uhh… She, ahh…" I didn't know what to say, and Clank looked slightly worried.

"Did something happen, between you and Miss Apogee?"

"No! Well, yes but no. Uhh, Maybe?"

"Ratchet, I am your friend. You can tell me anything. Only then will I be able to help."

"I know Pal. I know. It's just, well, while you we're gone… We got close. I just wasn't sure what to do because I have never felt this way before. And just before I left for the Breegus System… She kissed me, and… I just left. I didn't know what to do then, and I still don't," I let it all out, slammed on the brakes and put my head in my hands out of the stress of the situation. This was a distraction alright.

"Do you have feelings for Miss Apogee?" He asked outright. You could always count on Clank to do that. I hesitated just a bit, but;

"Yes."

"Do you love her?"

"I think so."

The little robot leant forward in his seat without answering me and started swiping through our contact list. I nearly pushed him back, but I need to do this. I can't run forever... Even though I was planning to.

"Ahh, here it is. The Apogee Space Station." Clank said as he tapped the screen once more and the dialer came up, automatically calling our friends back at the station.

BEEP BOP BEEP BOP BOP BEEP BEEP. BIING BIING.

It started ringing.

BIING BIING

I was having second thoughts.

BIING BIING

Maybe they weren't home?

BIING BIING

Yeah. They're not there. Phew. For a second I almost thought I'd have to talk to her.

BIING BII-

"Hello. Uhh, I'm sorry. Now's not the best time to call us. Tomorrow would be much better." Zephyrs voice came through the speakers. Normally Talwyn answered these calls though...

"Zephyr! Is that you? It's Clank!"

"Clank!? Is Ratchet there with you?"

"Yeah. Hey Zeph. How's it going?"

"Ratchet! Oh it is good to hear your voice! I'm good. Well, not bad."

"Great! How's Cronk?"

"Apart from falling apart for the 3rd time this week! He's fine."

"Great. Good, yes, uhh.."

"How's Talwyn?" Clank intervened when I started choking on the sentence.

"Ahh, Well you see. That's why she didn't pick up the phone straight away like she has been since you left. Apparently you died when the Nefarious Space Station exploded 4 hours ago."

"What?" I was shocked. Alister saved Clank and I seconds before it exploded… Alister… Back to the distraction.

"Yeah, She's been crying since."

"Well as you can hear, we're definitely not dead. Could you put her on the phone for us, please?"

"Well I'll try, But I must warn you. She is very emotional right now. Has been for the past 4 durn hours... Talwyn!" We heard his distant voice shout as he moved his mouth away from the phone.

"Go away!" I heard Talwyn scream through sobs and suddenly felt even worse for not calling her.

"There's a very important person on the phone who needs to talk to you"

"NO!" She screamed this time and I shrunk even more into my seat.

"C'mon, Miss Talwyn. You need to talk to them."

"I said no Zephyr. Just tell them to fu-"

"Talwyn. That is no language you should be using!" Cronk shouted from seemingly nowhere. There was silence for the next three seconds before we heard Zephyr again.

"Tal. I'm opening the door to pass you the phone…"

"Ugh, fine. I'll tell them to piss off myself!" She shouted again and she stomped towards the door. There was a scratchy noise as she snatched the phone from Zephyrs metal hands. Her huffed breaths were audible as she locked her door and stomped back to her bed.

"I'm sorry, but I'm just not in the mood to talk right now, call me next week, or month, or better yet, never-"

"Talwyn!" I cut her off. "Just stop for a second. Please?"

"What? No!" She yelled "Who the hell are you anyway?!"

"It's me, Ratchet"

"Do you think this is a good joke? At this time? Pretending to be him for whatever selfish purpose this may serve, after what just happened?! You're a bastard! I'm calling the cops on you, you selfish! Ignorant! Filthy piece of-"

"Talwyn. Stop" I cut her off again.

"No! If you think you can just-"

"Your favourite colour is red. Your favourite weapon is the Judicator. You love to explore. You hate Space Pirates. Your dad is lost somewhere. You are accompanied by two old war bots. You snowboard for fun. You hate anyone evil. We took down Tachyon together. We looked for Clank together. And I am your best friend, Ratchet. Just please believe me."

She didn't respond, but she didn't hang up. I think she's in shock.

"Miss Apogee, please believe us. It is me, Clank. Ratchet and I just left The Great Clock."

"But you DIED! It was on the news!"

"Well hey! You can't believe everything they say."

"I… I dunno.." She sounded very uncertain and insecure...

"Look. Clank and I will be back in about 4 hours and from there we can explain everything. Okay?"

"Sure, Okay... I just so glad you're alive. I couldn't handle the thought of you… Not coming back."

"Well I'm safe and sound. We'll see you soon, alright?"

"Yup, just… Promise you'll make it back in one piece, okay?"

"I promise"

I did not know that once I had ended the call that Talwyn had screamed out of excitement so loud that the Leviathans around the station fled from the area. I also did not know that I wouldn't be home as soon as I thought...

"That went well" I smiled at my friend beside me, happy and relieved that I had finally made the call. But I felt so bad too… And I'm confused as to how I managed to convince her it was me. I don't know how I managed to even talk to her! Natural instinct, maybe?

"Indeed. You should have done this earlier"

"Yeah… I know. But don't lecture me please. I've given myself enough of those already. Anyway. How's your last couple of months been, Pal? We haven't really had the time to catch up."

"I have only been conscious for the past three weeks. Before that, nothing eventful happened"

"Haha, I bet. Were you-"

"Warning, Warning." Aphelion blared suddenly, cutting me off mid sentence.

"Unidentified metallic sphere homing in on u-" Aphelion was cut short herself as a massive silver ball knocked through the windshield, sending glass shards everywhere.

Dazed, I tried to look around. There was a metallic surface inches from my face and I was just grateful that it didn't make contact with my face… But I was now finding it hard to breath. The oxygen had been let free of the ship and whatever was left was being quickly gaped up by me. I saw a silver tentacle sprout out of the ball… It was following something… My O2 mask appeared on my head… The tentacle latched onto Clank… It shocked the both of us… I blacked out.

So did you like that? If you did - Please leave a review! :3