I don't own ratchet and clank insomniac does

Hope you guys enjoys

Chapter 2

Scarlet sighed she was getting really bored by now with maths. Sure she was good at it but going over secondary school stuff got boring even when her test was next month.

Scarlet glanced at the clock and went back to her work, glancing every now and then to her peer who tends to misread the questions. Even though she tried to focus on her work her mind was elsewhere, she got word from her tutor that a new student was staring today, and he came from the same town as her.

"Right we'll finish there guys as we're out of time and I'll see you guys next week" stated the teacher

Everyone started to pack up as scarlet left the room in a hurry, sure she liked her peers but sometimes she just rather be alone, to think. She sat in front of the room she was in next with her eyes closed and music plugged in, her thoughts began to sway from her work to other things, like space and the stars and how beautiful they must look.

But like others she could never touch them. She sighed and looked up to the skylight where she could only see blue sky. Sighing again she hung her head when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs next to her

Great they're back from where ever they went to.

She glanced to one side where she heard the footsteps but what she saw made her look longer.

A boy about her age and height came up with golden blond hair that framed his face though his eyebrows were brown. His green eyes looked round as if he was lost, he wore a brown t-shirt that was darker on the sides and sleeves than in the front and dark navy trousers and brown boots he also wore a pair of brown gloves to complete his look.

All in all, Scarlet knew that she's never seen this guy before, but being her usual self she kept quiet and looked away, not wanting to get his attention.

She always did this, even when she first came to this college she always kept silent except when answering the tutors questions but all of it got her the title of geek and nerd but she didn't mind she saw herself as bit of a loner anyway, and people would probably call her depressing when they hear her taste in music.

The boy however came up to her anyway; looking down at her he asked what she thought he would "hey is this the level 2 class?"

Scarlet gulped as she looked up "um yes it is….. uh?"

"Richard"

"n-nice to meet you" she smiled shyly

Before they could say anything a commotion sounded from the stairs this time a whole lot more students came up all chatting away and being- as scarlet calls them- idiotic twits, as one almost fell backwards after mucking with one of the others.

"Well lookie here guys, new meat" said one of the guys who was an obvious bully by way of looks and speech go

"And as usual nerdy bookworm Scarlet is sitting by the door like a lost dog" added one of the more meaner girls that was clinging to the bully's arm like a towel

"Yeah too bad it's not very smart or it would actually be useful instead it just plays video games and read stupid comic books that aren't even the right way round"

"Yeah what an idiot"

Scarlet did her best not to cry she could handle being called a nerd or an idiot but being referred as an it and being called useless was a stab in the heart to her.

She was about to let her dam break when the new guy broke in

"Hey leave her alone will ya"

"Oh-oh-oh look like this ones trying to be a hero well look here kid this thing is useless and sticking up for it, well it's just not healthy"

"Oh yeah (?)" Richard smirked sarcastically as the bully launched a fist at him

Richard though was faster than he looked after dodging his fist he grabbed it and hurled the bully to the opposite wall. After that everyone was silent as the bully scurried away "huh, he's not so tough" Richard mused as he turned back to scarlet

"You ok?"

"Mm-hmm thanks"

"No problem by the way what's you're name?"

"Scarlet, Scarlet Ruby" she answered as Richard held out his hand to her.

Hesitating, she took it and let herself be pulled up meeting his eyes as she was standing up, realising that she was staring she jerked backwards and grabbed her stuff before following the others into the class.

Once she took her seat she tried to be as unnoticeable as possible, but that didn't stop Richard from sitting next to her, as he did she visibly shrunk in her seat "hey you ok?"

"Uh-huh" she replied as she buried her head in her textbook as the teacher came in, and class started

Fifteen minutes in, and most of the students where half asleep but Scarlet wasn't listening to any of the tutors rambling as she just doodled pictures of her favourite games, all the while Richard was taking notes with great speed and every now and then glanced at Scarlet's drawings, he noticed that the one she was working on looked like Talwyn Apogee and she was taking great care on the detail on it.

"Hey that's really good"

"Hm? Oh um thanks I guess" she replied dismissively as if she was in another world

"That kinda looks like-"

"Talwyn Apogee from R and C: tools of destruction, its one of my favourite games" she giggled in embarrassment

Richard though was dumbstruck "so uh what's R and C mean anyway?"

"Ratchet and Clank what else?" she smiled back

Richard smirked slightly well what d'you know "so you like them then?"

"Uh-huh I think those two are the coolest game characters along with five others" she giggled and smiled to him

"Who are the other five?"

"Nuh-uh I am not telling, at least not til I know you better" she pointed out

"Fair enough" Richard chuckled as they went back to their studies

As the class ended Scarlet speedily packed up and literally ran for the exit leaving Richard in the class but this left him more curious so he ran to catch up with her,

He caught up with as she left the building "hey scarlet wait up!"

The girl jumped and turned round "oh Richard sorry" she chuckled

"Mind if I walk with you to the station"

"Ok, I have to get on the train at the station too"

"Yeah where you getting of at?"

"Same place as you" she laughed

"Really? You're not kidding?"

"Nope"

"Cool so do you mind if I walk with you?"

"No in fact, id love it" she smiled

It was as they started walking that Richards pocket started beeping "oops, sorry I should take this"

"Ok no problem Rich" Scarlet smiled

Richard answered his phone "hello"

"Ratchet?"

"Yeah what is it?"

"Where are you, I have found something that is very important to tell you"

"Ok im on my way I'll be there soon ok"

"Ok please be careful, I do not trust these creatures"

"Your just paranoid, look gotta go" he hung up and turned back to Scarlet

"Sorry about that"

"No prob rich, sounds like your friend had urgent news" scarlet chuckled as they headed to the train

Both Richard and Scarlet sat down in the train seat as it started heading back towards their home town

But nothing was said between them, Richard stared over to Scarlet the whole time trying to read her but she just stared out the window just pondering

I wonder what Rich's story is? I mean why on earth did a cool guy like him defended a geek like me or even why did he enrol in the most boring college in the UK? I bet that guy has a cool intellect as well as cool looks

She glanced over to Richard as he jumped and looked away, but scarlet didn't notice but looking at him she couldn't but feel that she knew him from somewhere but even that didn't stop her from blushing at the sight of him.

Shaking it off she looked back out of the window when she thought she saw something flash in the sky, but she put it down to a trick of the light, that or someone playing with RC helicopters

She glanced back to Richard who now had a troubled expression on his face as he looked out the window apparently searching the sky for something

Scarlet was about to ask when they came to their stop so she thought that it could wait a while, both teens got up and left the train and walked casually out of the station when Scarlet was grabbed into a shoulder hug by another teenage boy with short black hair, dark blue shirt, jeans and black trainers as well as a wristwatch on his right arm

"Well Scar how is it hanging baby?" he casually asked

Scarlet just growled "for the last time, STOP. CALLING. ME. BABY!" she pushed the guy away but the guys simply chuckled and went to hug her only for scarlet to push him back by his face

"Your so cute when your mad sweetie"

"And don't call ME that EITHER" she stepped to one side and let go of the guys face causing him to fall on his face next to her

"Honestly, if there's something I hate more than Krew, quark or Xehanort its you, for the last time I DON'T LIKE YOU OK? Your irritating, perverted and nothing I say ever gets in your head" she sighed irritated

"Look honey, I like you but that geek talk is getting weird" the guy smirked causing Scarlet to glare at him again and sighed

Richard couldn't help but smirk at least she hates Quark too he walked up to Scarlet and smiled

"Hey Scar we going or what?"

"Sure rich" scarlet smiled but the guy first saw Richard and his love struck smile turned into a scowl as he stood up

"Uh baby cakes? Who is this?" the guy grabbed Scars shoulder defensively

"Ugh his names Richard ok? Richard this jerk is called-"

"The names Gordy I don't believe I've had the pleasure, Richard" he spat out the last word as if it was poison

Scarlet rolled her eyes and picked Gordy's arm of her shoulders and stepped to Richards side "see ya Gordy, come on Richard" she smiled at Richard,

Gordy looked hurt at Scarlet but that was followed by a death glare to Richard

"What's his problem?" Richard asked as he looked back following Scarlet

"oh he's just a guy from my old school who believes that I'm his girl or something, honestly I don't even like the guy he's always trying to get me to change he doesn't even like me drawing says it's a waste of time and anti-social, not to mention he goes mad when he even sees me near another guy" Scarlet sighed

"Yikes"

"Don't worry im sure after a while he'll leave it alone I mean he has to if we go to the same school" Scarlet giggled at the thought of Gordy fuming every time she and Richard walked to the train together

They walked down the towns streets together but were silent until Scarlet starting staring at the sky

"You ok?"

"hmm oh yeah im fine just like to stare at the sky sometime, think about what's out there, stars, planets galaxies, and whether or not there any life out there and if they even know about us or even if their tech is advanced as we think it is"

"Maybe" Richard shrugged

"Hmm well if there is I hope they're friendly and not warmongers, we have enough war here as it is"

"No kidding" Richard agreed glumly he found out about this planets wars by TV news reports

"Yeah" scarlet looked down glumly

"What's up?"

"Nothing just,"

"Just?"

"It's nice to actually talk to someone and them actually listening"

"Why wouldn't they?"

"Cos im considered a geek"

"Why?"

"Cos I like manga, anime and video games"

"Manga and Anime?"

"Japanese comics and cartoons" Scarlet explained Richard smiled again

"Ah ok so whereabouts do you live?"

"Just passed this next street" Scarlet pointed out

"I'm staying just a little further then that"

"Well maybe you can come over sometime" Scarlet smiled

"Hmm maybe have to check with my room mate though" Richard nodded

"Ok that sound fair, hey maybe he can come over too I live on my own and I always welcome my friends"

They came up to house that wasn't very large but was good enough as it had a balcony at the front on the first floor and a porch and a tree in the front garden "well this is me" Scarlet mentioned as she looked at the building

"wow I didn't know you lived that close Im just over there" Richard pointed over to a old run down building with a large shed at the back that was over run by vines that was just across the road

Scarlet looked over to the building "look like it needs a bit of work" she chuckled

"Yeah but it's what I could afford"

"Yeah? Well don't be a stranger rich, your welcome any time" scarlet called

"I'll hold you to it"

"Ok Rich see ya"

"See ya"

Scarlet smiled and turned to her home, she paused at the door and turned to see Richard crossing the road, smiling she went inside and collapsed on her sofa that was in her living room

She laid on the sofa before grabbing the TV control from the coffee table and turned the TV on and settled on watching her shows.

On the other side of the road Richard hurriedly got inside of the house just as his disguise flickered before turning off revealing the lombax known as Ratchet, man that was too close

Ratchet locked the door before moving into the dark living room, in contrast to the house opposite the house that Ratchet was staying in had torn wall paper and wash out floors, although the roof wasn't leaking, the house was barely liveable

The sofa itself was in a rundown state as was the staircase,

The floor creaked under Ratchets feet as he walked over to the living room at the back of the house

Once there he looked round the room before calling out "Clank! You there buddy?"

"Yes I am right here Ratchet" the small robot called from behind the sofa that was in the middle of the room

"So why did you want me back so soon"

"I have detected a ship outside of this planets atmosphere"

"So we might be able to get them to help us?"

"I am afraid not Ratchet as we have no way to communicate to them and I am afraid that I do not know if the ship is friendly or not"

"Now that's just great why don't you know?"

"Because I can not get a clear enough reading from this lack of equipment"

"Great (!) So what now?"

"I have a reason to assume that you have made a new friend, Ratchet"

"Yeah just a human that lives opposite, why?"

"Perhaps she could be of assistance to us if she knows the area she could help us with our predicament"

"Maybe we'll see"

Ratchet mused as he looked over to where Scarlet's house was unaware of what was happening at the other side of town

In a closed down warehouse a lot of mechanical sounds were heard as a young boy known as Gordy hiding in a long coat, his slicked black hair shone slightly in the warehouses light

"Yo boss bot ya there?" Gordy called out into the darkness as he stood the single light

A whirr of gears was heard as a group red triple eyed robots came out of the shadows with claw like hands, amongst them was a blue humanoid robot with a glass dome on his head showing the gears that were inside

By body and walk alone you could tell that this was the evil Dr. nefarious

"What do you want squishy" he yelled

"Sorry boss but you did say that I'd be able to get the girl but it seems as another bloke's got her interest" Gordy said sadly

"Well sor-ry but I have no interest in your hopeless love problems"

"Now listen boss cos im not finished the guy you described to me that ratchet guy right?"

Dr. nefarious raised one of his eyebrows and Gordy's grin got bigger

"Well the guy that I saw my girl with, well he matched the description apart from the fact he was human but I saw a device on him that was no way near human"

"Really?"

"Yeah so here's a question for ya boss? Know any device that allows a lombax to look like another race?"

At this sentence the maniacal doctor grin evilly seeing this Gordy smiled himself

Watch out alien Scarlet's MY girl and you're a dead man walking

Ok so there's chapter 2 so tell me what you think

Don't worry ill describe Scarlet next chapter