i was hoping someone would at least review before i submitted the next part, but i guess ill just have to move on

also if your wondering what xexus looks like for this first segment, he wears a black and red version of the standard outfit the clones wear in size matters.

so again i own nothing but the story, my characters, made up places, and some other things enjoy!


Chapter 2: The others and the truth

3rd person POV

Training facility

Xexus quickly ran through the training course, hitting the majority of the targets with his lacerator while navigating the obstacles with little difficulty. 'there are two targets in the room to the left then i have to quickly turn around to engage the three that'll pop up behind me' he quickly jumped passed a doorway that was on his left, shooting the two targets inside then he twisted his body so he could shoot the targets that popped up behind him, he landed without any lose of momentum.

Quickly running into the next hallway, he saw the end of the course 'if i recall correctly-' he wasn't able to finish his thought when 10 targets popped up between him and the goal, but instead of the regular targets they were automated turrets. "Shit" was all he was able to say when they fired a massive barrage of laser fire and rockets.

Before he could get turned into a scorched pile of swiss cheese however, the parasite in his body reacted and slowed down his perception of time, allowing him to weave through the lasers and rockets. 'So the parasite recognizes what situation I'm in then reacts accordingly' xexus thought as he started destroying the turrets.

He dashed past the remains of the turrets and went through the goal, ending the course. "simulation over" a robotic female voice said as xexus began walking towards the exit, when the virtual course started to turn into bits of data.

When he got out of the simulation room he saw another clone leaning against the doorway to another simulation room, the clone was much larger than the regular ones, he looked like another elite clone but upon closer inspection, the clones eyes were red, which mean't it was another clone with the mysterious parasite in him.

"Xexus" was all the large clone said.

"Deroot". Besides xexus, deroot is the only other clone to survive a parasite infusion.

When a clone goes throughout the process, it can end in two ways, you get a clone with either a lot, or less control of his body, since the parasite also gets control over the body, forming a bond between host and parasite, or they become a highly dangerous abomination that can't be controlled and has to be destroyed, usually after killing a few scientist and destroy expensive lab equipment, and since its so rare for the test to go successfully, Otto only wanted two clones with the parasite.

"Your not usually down here in the training facility, which either Otto wants something or-"

"Well otto does want both of us, but at a later time, i just came down to see how you were doing." Deroot said as he got off the wall, "you beat your time again by 30 seconds, and you'll probably get even faster than that if what the researchers say." deroot said as he pointed at the monitor for fastest times in the simulator.

Sure enough xexus beat his original time of one minute and ten seconds and is now 40 seconds, placing him in the number one spot.

"I don't really care much for the leaderboards though, it has a bad habit of getting the others upset at one another." xexus said as he started walking out of the training facility with deroot walking right beside him.

"Well they tend to bicker about the dumbest things, but they are the only family we have, and the emperor said he still needs them for his plan".

"Thats just it though, what the hell is this plan he keeps talking about?" xexus said as they both left the training facility. "He said something about other scientists being involved if i recall correctly" deroot said as they got in a transport craft to get to otto's office.

Xexus sighed "if theres one thing i hate its being left in the dark more than anything else" deroot got a sly smile "besides water?" xexus immediately retorted "Hey that was one time only!"

"It was hilarious though, absolutely priceless!" they continued there argument of xexus embarrassing moment with water as the transport flew to otto's office.


central hub tower

Ottos office was located at the main facility, the facility towered over all the others while giving of an ominous feeling whenever you got close to it. "That's another thing i don't get either, why is there always some giant fish in almost every body of water on this planet!" xexus finished complaining as the transport landed in front of the towering structure.

"So what is it otto wants to tell us anyway" xexus gave a questioning look to deroot " i don't know but when he called and told me, he sound nervous". he said as they walked through the doors in the main lobby. Xexus began to analyze what deroot said, 'something that makes ottos nervous.' they walked past the security checkpoint in the main lobby with little ease and into the elevator to ottos office, 'nothings ever made him nervous before so its gotta be very important'.

The elevator made it to the top of the tower, the doors opened up to a very luxurious hallway, the pillars were that of pure raritanium, with the floor and walls having a granite finish with gold accents to them. The two clones then proceeded to the mahogany door that lead to ottos office. Opening the doors, the two walked into an equally lavish room, sitting in the middle was, like the door was a mahogany desk with a variety of holograms with status updates, statistic, and other things listed on them.

Ottos was currently away from the computer and looking through the giant window in the back of the room, watching the transports and drones fly around the base to their destination.

Deroot spoke "you wanted to see us sir?" otto didn't respond right away instead he continued to look through the window for a little longer before he spoke "do you know who we exactly cloned you two from?" he said, not moving from the window.

"No, you never told any of the clones about that." xexus said while moving to sit down in one of the chairs in front of the desk. "The person you were clone from, well, lets just say he's a unique individual with an impressive record of feats, that we took interest in." otto walked towards the desk and pushed a button on it, opening a panel on the left wall, revealing a monitor with 6 smaller ones surrounding it.

Otto continued "He's known to be a hero of the galaxy, saving it two times already, and now he sees us as a threat for apparently 'threatening the galaxy.'" he said as the monitors turned on, showing different fights against a variety of enemies being defeated by a small animal with yellow animal with orange stripes and green cargo pants, with the biggest showing the animal up close with a few key details:

RATCHET: savior of the galaxy

Species: lombax

gender: male

height: 5'1 ft

weight: 97.5 lbs

occupation: hero, rocket mechanic, heavy weapons expert(?)

threat level: S

"okay why is he a threat exactly besides the threat level?" deroot said "he a highly mobile opponent that knows how to use almost any weapon he gets his hands on, along with a unusual amount of luck that gets him out of almost any situation." xexus quickly deduced before otto could say anything.

"Thats… a surprisingly accurate assumption" was all otto could say, "he's also has a robot companion that helps him as well, but he's not considered much of a threat".

"okay but why are you telling us all of this anyway?" deroot, still completely confused about the situation said. Otto sat down in his chair, putting his hands together before saying "He's found the location of this facility, and is coming to destroy it along with the intention of killing me".

"WHAT?!" deroot shouted while getting up out of his chair, slamming his hands on the desk before anyone could continue.

"Otto, if you know he's coming then why aren't you trying to evacuate the facility, or alerting the army?" xexus said while trying to stop the ringing in his ears from deroots shouting from earlier. "It would take too long to evacuate and the only reason why i am only telling you is." otto paused for dramatic effect xexus guessed. "Is because i think the clones are ready for a little test run" otto said while a sinister smile found its way onto his face.

Now it was xexus's turn to get mad, getting out of the chair and walking past deroot before he could tell him to not freak out, "Are you nuts?! they need to know otherwise we could lose the entire facility! you should be focusing more on minimizing damage rather than risk everything thats been made here go up in flames!" before he could continue otto stopped him by shouting "ENOUGH, i think the clones are ready, they need a worthy opponent before the next phase of the plan can commence, now you will listen to my orders xexus or i will have you erased from existence, got that!?" otto quickly sat back in his chair when he didn't notice he stood up from shouting, they were both glaring so much that it looked like they were trying to look into each others soul, before xexus decided to back away from the desk, still keeping his glare trained on otto "fine" was all he said before walking towards the door, stopping a few feet away from it "how long until he gets here" he asked without turning around.

"He won't get here until tomorrow" was all otto said "I will call for both of you early in the morning to discuss the plan tomorrow, understood?" deroot quickly replied with understood while grabbing xexus by the shoulder and leaving the office.

Otto waited for a minute before deciding to speak out loud "when this is all over I'm gonna have xexus eliminated, surely when he finds out this is not for anyone but me in the end he'll want to kill me." otto turned his chair back to the window to watch as his plan continues on schedule.

When they left the building and entered the transport deroot decided to talk "man why do you always got to get into a fight with him? you know he's just trying to do the right thing for his people right?" xexus without looking at deroot quickly replied "I don't care about that, I just hate how he treats us, like were replaceable".

"We're clones xexus, that makes up replaceable". deroot said as the transport landed in front of the barracks they live in, since their an experimental unit, they live separate from the other clones, and since they're actually the only two that survived the parasite implant, there barracks were more like an apartment, they got out and walked to the entrance "Yeah but i still think its wrong".

They both entered and immediately went to their rooms, getting mentally prepared for what might be the last day they might live.


Yeah so expect the office part to be one of the only times i actually got describing something right.

Deroot's appearance will change drastically as well over the course of the story but right now he wears the same uniform xexus wears.

So as always see you next time!