Chapter II
This chapter contains a LOT of talking. But I think it is some VERY entertaining conversation. So just bare with me.
"Hey! Don't make me turn this ship around!" Ratchet was shouting. He and his four companions, Clank, Kronk, and Zepher, had managed to cram themselves into a single vessel. Unfortunately, Kronk, Zepher, and Soara, who were canned together in the back, had been arguing childishly ever since take-off. "Kronk! Will you get your hand off of my thigh before I break it off?!" Said Soara angrily, who was stuffed in the middle. "How about you get your tail out of my eye?!" Said Zepher, pushing Soara away from him, so she was practically laying on Kronk. "I Don't know what that is," Said Soara, trying to push herself off of Kronk. "But I don't HAVE tail! And if you don't stop touching me, I WILL SHOVE YOU INTO THE ENGINES! Why do I have to be on the hump anyway? I'm the only one who knows where Echelon's base is."
"Well, with the coordinates, you gave us, uploaded into the computer," Said Ratchet. "It doesn't really matter. Hey! Stop that!" He protested, as Kronk stated kicking the pilot's seat as he shifted away from Soara. "Sheesh! I suddenly feel like a father a three!"
"This would be good practice for you wouldn't it? Said Clank, smiling, who was sitting in passenger's seat next to Ratchet. Ratchet looked at Clank, both eyebrows raised. "Don't you and Talwyn plan on having your own-"
"Whoa! Clank, slow down there, pal." Ratchet interrupted. "We're taking it slowly. Kids aren't even something we've disgust."
"How much slower are you planning on going?" Said Clank. "It has almost been a year, has it not?"
"Eleven months, twelve days." Said Ratchet. "But that's not the point."
"Well, I know one thing for certain, Rookie." Said Kronk, pushing into the conversation. "That Miss Talwyn feels ready for the next step. She is just waiting-"
"No one asked for your input, yeh durn fool!" Zepher snapped at Kronk, leaning over Soara to yell at him. "It is none of our business how fast or slow they are going on their relationship."
"Wow. This is more entertaining then a holo-film!" Said Soara, crossing her arms behind her head. "Wish I brought some popcorn!"
"Okay, subject change!" Said Ratchet, shaking his head like a dog trying to dry itself. "Any of this look familiar, Soara?" Soara leaned over Zepher to look out of the window. "Looks like we're on the right track." She said surveying their surroundings. "Maintain current speed, and we should arrive at the asteroid within the hour."
"It's an asteroid? How original." Said ratchet, chuckling. "It's a remote asteroid." Said Soara. "No one else knows where it is, except for Echelon."
"And us." Ratchet added. "Which means no one will know where to look for our bodies." Zepher mumbled. Soara glared at him. "You still think this is a trap, don't you?" She said. "I trust no one who switches sides." Zepher answered. "Alright, fine! You got me!" Said Soara sarcastically. "This IS a trap! And I'm sending you straight into the execution chamber, where my pet wargrok, SCRUFFY, will devour you all one after the-"
"Will you three can it?!" Ratchet snapped suddenly. "The radar has detected another vessel coming our way." Soara quickly turned around to look out the rear window. She could see the silhouette of a familiar ship approaching them at high speed. "It's Reese!" She said, spinning around so fast, that her long red hair slapped Kronk in the face. "Hang on." Said Ratchet, quickly pushing a small button on the control panel of the ship. "Switching to stealth mode." He saw the wings of the ship fade away, so all that could be seen was the outline, and h knew that it had worked. Reese's ship drew closer, and was soon only a couple of miles away. "Do you think he knows that we are here?" Clank asked, watching the ship outside his window. "Nah, I don't think so, Clank." Said Ratchet, who too was watching Reese out of the window. "I think we went stealth just in time."
The five of them watched breathlessly as the ship drew closer, was level with theirs, then sped passed, and eventually out of sight, without any regards of the trespassers. Their was a collective sigh of relief as Reese's ship became a green dot in the distance. "That" Said Soara, who felt as if she had just swallowed a hot iron that was now caught in her throat. "Was TOO close."
"I don't see why we couldn't just take the young whipper-snapper out while he is ignorant of our presence." Said Kronk, sinking low into his seat. "Oh yeah." Said Soara. "Then when Reese fails to arrive on schedule, the others will KNOW something is up. when hunting, it's better to catch the whole herd off guard, than to pick them off one-by-one, and risk a stampede. "Good point, Soara." Said Ratchet, switching off the stealth mode. "I think we're approaching the base anyway." Up ahead was the large stationary asteroid that Soara had indicated. "That would be the one." Said Soara, seeing the asteroid herself. Land On the southern end over so as not to be seen, is low on security over there. Ratchet did as Soara suggested, landing on the south side on the isolated rock. As Soon as the ship had shut down and the top opened up Ratchet hopped out of the ship, followed by Clank, who hopped onto Ratchet's back. Then Zepher climbed out of one side, followed by Soara, while Kronk climbed out of the other end. Everyone stretched their limbs to prepare for the oncoming battle. "Alright. Here we go." Said Soara. "We're in Echelon territory now. That's my department, So weather you like it or not, you're going to have to follow my lead. Are we clear?"
"Chrystal." Said Ratchet, pulling out his omniwrench. Kronk and Zepher pulled out their own weapons, but said nothing. "Okay." Said Soara, taking a deep breath. "Let's do this before we come to our senses."