Hello all! I'm so excited to start this fanfic but I just need to say a few things before I really get going.
1. This is my very first fanfiction EVER, so please go easy on me in the comments.
2. This fanfic takes place after events that have not yet happened in the Ratchet & Clank series, so if what I say happens doesn't happen, that's one on me.
3. This fanfic will NOT use the characters from the original franchise. Instead I will be telling a tale of my own original characters, but don't worry! There will be plenty of references to the games and a definite cameo or two in the future.
4. This is NOT going to be one of those "Character X OC" shipping stories. This site has enough of those in the Kid Icarus section to last 6 lifetimes, and personally, I don't think we need anymore.
5. I do not own any persons, places, or things related to the original franchise. Only my OCs, storyline, and anything else I decide to create along the way.
6. Any fanfic with a storyline similar to mine is completely coincidental. If by some crazy means there is another fanfic with similar ideas used in this story, I'm very sorry and I promise I didn't know about it. Great minds think alike, right?
7. If I happen to mess up a reference, let me know so I can fix it as soon as possible. Though with my knowledge of the franchise, I doubt very seriously that it'll happen often.
8. Disclaimer: The prologue may be a little dark and/or violent by my standards, but then again, what do I know. I'll leave it up to your judgment.
9. As I write this note, it has been over 2 years since I started telling this epic tale. As such, things have changed from the original draft. I assure you it's better than it was before. You will be reading the Final Product, so if you're rereading this, I thank you for your patience with me over these past years, and hope you're not fed up with me over all these changes. For you noobies out there, welcome. And to all my readers out there, enjoy.
~STG
Fastoon, Ten Years Ago
The Reclaimed City of Gearmund, 21:30
The Lombaxes were celebrating their return to their home planet after many long years. People everywhere were cheering with glee for the lombax and robot that had defeated the cragmite tyrant years before. For the same lombax who brought them back. The son of Kaden.
'This will be a night they'll remember for a long time.' The figure stood on the desolate rooftop, running through the boss's plan for the third time that night. She snickered to herself as she slid into the alley below, merging seamlessly into the array of the party.
Coming ever closer to her target.
'It's almost too easy. Like taking candy from a baby.' She sneered at the thought, white fur glistening in the moonlight. She was standing only a few yards away when her earpiece buzzed to life; The Boss checking in.
"Hello?" a casual greeting.
"The mission's been compromised. Get the package and get out."
"Will do. White Fox out." The time for games was over. Time to act. Her final thought before nabbing the kid.
Jason woke up feeling terrible. He sat alone in a darkened room. He couldn't remember how he got there, nor who had taken him. He had heard bits and pieces of information from his captors, but he didn't need to know their motives to understand why they captured him. He was the cherished son of two of the most important lombaxes on Fastoon. His father was the High Elder on the planet's Council of Elders, his mother the Head General of the Praetorian Guard. There was no question why they kidnapped him; He was the richest kid on fastoon at age 8.
Suddenly the door to the room burst open, letting in streaks of light that cut through the darkness. Jason squinted against the glare. There stood his captor. "The White Fox", as she seemed to call herself. She strolled across the room with a wicked sneer on her face and a Gadgetron Blaster in her hand.
"Well, well, well. Looks like someone finally woke up." The White Fox hissed.
Jason didn't speak. He was too scared to even move.
"Get up!"
He reluctantly rose to his feet. The second he did, the cruel woman grabbed his arm and forced him along. They traveled down a long, white corridor arriving in a large room filled with electronics of all kinds; more than he'd seen in his lifetime.
"Ok kid listen up, 'cuz I'm only gonna say this once. We're gonna send a little video call to your daddy, and if he agrees to my terms, you could be back with your family before dawn. If not, well..." she paused only for a second, chuckling to herself at the thought, "There might not be much left of you to save." Maniacal laughter filled the small room, and the young lombax was filled with pure terror.
The party had gone beautifully. Every lombax was dancing with glee. It was almost Midnight when the High Elder prepared to give his speech to the people. He walked up to the podium on the stage.
"Excuse me. Excuse me everyone, can I have your attention please!" the crowd became silent. "As you know we're celebrating tonight to honor the brave deeds of Ratchet and Clank, the Saviors of our race." He gestured gratefully to the heroes on stage. "I cannot express how grateful we are to you. For defeating Tachyon, destroying the Dimensionator, and bringing our race back home. We are in your debt. We hope that our return will lead to a time of peace and prosperity for the entire Polaris Galaxy. Thank you for your service gentlemen."
The crowd went nuts; clapping and shouting praise for the beloved heroes. The clapping slowly stopped, however, and surprised gasps emerged from the crowd. Many people pointed towards the stage and murmured to themselves, trying to figure out what was going on.
The High Elder noticed this change of emotion and turned around, following the direction of the pointing. What he saw shocked him. In place of the photos of their heroes was a live video feed with a white furred lombax in the center of the screen.
He had a bad feeling about what was about to happen, but he hoped for the best and asked anyways.
"Who are you and why have you hijacked our display projections?"
"I wouldn't be asking too many questions 'Mr. High Elder'," she addressed him, sarcasm dripping from the official title as she spoke. "IF you want your son to survive the next day."
"W-What?!" He was shocked as the camera panned to the image of his son tied to a chair with a knife at his throat.
"It appears that you're ready to listen. I expect to see 5,000,000 bolts in my hands by dawn, If you want to see your son again….Whole. The coordinates are being downloaded to your Holopad as we speak." a set of coordinates appeared on the Elder's screen. The image changed back to the white lombax.
"If you fail to bring me the money within the allotted time, well...you'll just have to wait to find out." just below her chin, a clock appeared and started counting down the seconds, minutes, and hours until the deadline. "Better hurry... the clocks ticking." An evil laugh escaped her as the video went blank. The only thing left on the screen was the Countdown timer. A silence fell over the crowd.
11 hours:59 minutes:59 seconds
and counting
Hours had passed. They'd been the worst hours of Jason's life. Time was running out for him. Clouds of dust rose in the distance, revealing only a small shadow of an image. As it drew closer, he recognized the markings. It was a lombax ship; his father's, no doubt! Jason was filled with relief as his mother and father stepped out of the transport. His mother was armed with a top grade Gadgetron Flux Rifle. His father led a small transport, stacked with several large, armored crates.
"I see you didn't waste your time." His captor chuckling at her last remark.
"We have what you want, Bianca, now give us back our son."
"Ah, ah, ah. Let's not be hasty. I just need to make sure all the bolts are there. Can't have the boss man punishing me for something so stupid." She slowly checked every crate, revealing more bolts than Jason had seen in his life. As she counted the money, her evil smile slowly turned to a grimace. "Hmmm. Oh no. it seems you're 5,000 bolts short."
The look on his father's face changed to a mixture of terror and dread. "What!? Impossible! We counted it multiple times before coming! We sealed the crates ourselves!" His panic showed as he glanced towards his wife.
"No…" Jason's mother responded quietly, "we didn't..."
"Oh quit your whining. We still have more than enough. Go ahead. Take the stupid kid back. He's too much of a pain anyways." Everyone stared at the white lombax, confused by her sudden change in attitude. She used this surprise to her advantage. "...But I AM disappointed that you didn't bring me the correct amount." She said this as if she was truly saddened by the fact. "I may need some compensation."
Before anyone could respond, she drew her wrench, unsheathing a hidden blade, and swung at Jason. The sudden attack threw everyone off guard and all Jason could do was raise his arms and brace for the sting of death. The pain came seconds later, and he could no longer feel his right arm. He couldn't understand what happened next. He was in too much pain. The last thing he remembered from that day was seeing a group of Praetorian soldiers pursuing the White Fox, his parents' bodies on the floor next to him.
