It was fine day on Pokitaru (it always is, unless it's storm season, then it's not) a week later and a shrill screech that sounds not unlike a passing fighter ship – except it wasn't – it was Nightwing, soaring overhead with Ratchet on his back, the Lombax is testing a saddle without Talwyn at the moment, making sure he can stay on before getting Talwyn to join; as such Talwyn was on the ground with Clank, eating a bowl of the fried batons not unlike chips with a different seasoning not unlike chicken salt, watching Ratchet and Nightwing put a spin in their dive, levelling out and gliding overhead before landing a few metres behind them.
Talwyn and Clank walk up as Ratchet takes off his helmet; it was one of the basic ones he had stored in Aphelion already to prevent his eyes from drying out from the highspeeds. Clank logs in the manoeuvres into his harddrive as Ratchet hops down, the robot commenting with, "That two person saddle is holding up against the G-forces remarkably well."
Ratchet nods, agreeing, "Yeah, it's holding my weight pretty well," he admires his patched handiwork, having worked with scraps he scrounged from the nearby repair hangar. It doesn't look pretty but it does the job well enough.
"We should see if it holds two people, like it was designed to do," Talwyn remarks, beginning to prepare to get on the saddle when Ratchet stops her, "Talwyn, you just ate; you'll throw up. This isn't a ship," he mentions.
"Ratchet is right, the G-forces are stronger than they are in a ship," Clank expands, knowing Ratchet himself already nearly threw up after breakfast. (Well...not nearly, he did)
Talwyn relents, "Alright, I'll wait for a few minutes." She sits down next to Nightwing, the beast copying her, leaning over to sniff at her before deciding to just chill. Soon though the beast gets bored and begins to walk around the shelf that the group was occupying to keep the beast away from the town (and not because Ratchet coined the idea to charge people for flights on the beast). Ratchet soon joins his girlfriend in sitting down and they both watch Nightwing pad around the shelf while they wait for Talwyn's stomach to settle. The shelf was located near the main city though not to close to bother anyone.
"Hey Ratchet, what do you think we'll find when we officially fight Lyrebird and Veronica?" Talwyn asks out of the blue, Ratchet looking at her when she asked the question, turning away slightly to think about it before answering, "probably the usual, armed guards, danger, one of us nearly gets killed, more guards, one of us nearly gets killed, I face the leader alone, and either beat them or they kick my rear and you save me." He said it very casually and like he's been through it many times before. It never bothers him anymore.
A sad look passes over Talwyn's face before she answers, almost hopefully, "What if it's not the same? What if it's different?" she knows that the three universes he's been in, no one except her helped him to beat the villain; they all decided they had better things to do, even going so far as to charge him for upgrades and the like (not that he minded, really, he earns more than enough bolts).
Ratchet shrugs, "Then it's different, but I'm not going to expect things to be different. I want to be pleasantly surprised if that's the case," he states, leaning back to look up slightly.
"I for one will welcome a change," Clank piques up, he's telling the truth, sometimes being the only one or two or three people saving a galaxy or three gets really old after a while.
Talwyn nods, then thinks, "What world do you think we'll be going to? Terra-1, Terra-2 or Terra-3?" she asks, leaning back on her arms in the sun.
"Hmmmm, Terra-1, more traffic has been going to it so that one seems more likely," Ratchet suggests, pulling what they knew already and matching it to the most plausible planet.
"I wonder what we'll find..." Talwyn trails off, picking a flower and letting Ratchet weave it into her hair which she washed today, as well as letting him stylise it into a braid that hung down her back.
While they were doing that, Clank noticed that something was off: Nightwing is gone and he figures that it'd be a good idea to alert Ratchet and Talwyn, "Ratchet, Talwyn, Nightwing is gone," he says, walking around the shelf, looking where the beast might've ran off to.
Talwyn and Ratchet go wide-eyed with horror, quickly getting up – and in Ratchet's case, literally leaping up – and going to look around for the beast; Ratchet cups his hands to his mouth, "Nightwing!" he calls, summoning the beast if he's anywhere. They hear a call from the next shelf above them, sounding like it's stuck in something and they climb up to go find the source. Talwyn using rocks to climb up and Ratchet just does a standing leap onto the shelf with Clank on his back.
They start looking around the shelf for the beast, mostly grass and rocks with a grate to the sewers that looks suspiciously like it was shoved open then moved back on its own. They jump when a guilty sounding warble floats out of it, Ratchet and Talwyn peering in to to see Nightwing standing in sewer sludge looking rather sheepish; the closed grate preventing him from leaping out since it's also too deep for him to do so, as well as having no grip.
Ratchet had no idea how to feel about this, instead of feeling mad he just hung his head and chuckled slightly, leaning down to the lift the grate up when he finds it's a lot heavier than expected; he waves Talwyn over, "Help me move this." Talwyn walks over to help him slide the grate open, before finding that it's even too heavy for two people to slide up. After straining to try to slide open they both step back, trying to look at from another angle when Ratchet notices something, pointing it out to Talwyn and Nightwing, "The ladder's missing!" Sure enough, it was, Nightwing looking around for this 'ladder' while Talwyn figures out how it's gone missing, looking at the mounts.
"It looks removable, someone must've removed it after they got down to prevent others from following," she observes while Ratchet is telling Nigthwing what a ladder looks like using his hands and telling him, "Two vertical bars with horizontal bars holding them together." He turned his head as Talwyn speaks, registering what she said; he nods as they watch Nightwing walk down one length of the tube to look for the ladder, clearly knowing not to drink the swill accumulating stuff in the pools he's walking in.
Something comes to Clank, "Why would someone remove the ladder? Even the Plumber leaves the ladders intact," he muses, trying to wonder why the ladder was moved.
"Possibly for another entrance?" Ratchet supplies before adding, "probably not much to it, don't think so far into it." After that it fell quite and they all listen for the sounds of Nightwing hopefully returning with a ladder.
A series of periodic clangs echo down the tube followed by a loud clatter that made Ratchet wince; a shrill squealing noise echos down that was very short lived as Nightwing found not to drag it, making disgruntled snorting noises before he carries it back to the grate: it was a ladder.
With Ratchet's and Talwyn's help he figured out the mounting bits on the ladder (that part was without their direction, which was impressive) but he needed help guiding it to the slots; once in he immediately scales the ladder, the metal surprisingly holding his weight as he helps ratchet and Talwyn to open the grate, doing so easily and he slips out. Once on the grass he tries to shake the gunk off without licking, the smell alone told him not too.
Ratchet grabs a nearby hose, attached to a facet and he turns it on, accidentally spraying Nightwing's rump with the jet function before promptly fixing it at the beast's startled expression, causing both Talwyn and Ratchet to laugh before using the shower function and some soap to clean off the gunk that was clunked up on the saddle as well.
Soon they were finished and Nightwing was a very clean animal who then promptly rolled in the grass, causing the trio to laugh as he gets some of the excess water off; he finishes and pads up to them, lowering himself down so that they could climb up to test the dual person saddle before it's time to leave to get on the transport and go to Veldin. Nightwing launches himself straight into the air, catching an up-draft and soaring up into the sky, briefly flying vertical to spin and catch said up-draft, leaving his riders a bit dizzy. Talwyn had some aviator goggles that she slipped on before the beast launched up.
He starts to do several more spins, corkscrews and dives, actually aiming to try to knock Talwyn off to fully test the saddle; after the gut-wrenching manoeuvres he levels out and simply soars from current to current, hardly finding the need the flap as he makes this look easy, cutting through the winds like a hand saw blade through an arm. He then pulls into a sharp dive, opening his spines he then opens up his wings and rockets above the water, kicking up spray and weaving, bouncing from current to current.
They're on their fourth lap around the island when Aphelion catches up to them, matching Nightwing's speed easily. "Our transport to Veldin is here," she informs, Nightwing immediately banking to turn around to land in the transport ship, showing no fear of it; Aphelion followed and the conductor decided he really liked Nightwing for his behaviour as both ship and beast get themselves situated in their assigned spots.
The transport proved to be very empty, mostly filled with other animals and other imported stock to go to Veldin and they soon got to the desert planet; the galaxy saving crew gets off first to avoid being trampled by the other animals. Nightwing flinching at the heat from the planet before being coaxed out by Ratchet and Talwyn, soon they're on their way to Slim's hideout.
Clank was the first to walk after jumping down from Ratchet's back, walking into the warehouse, catching Slim's attention. "We found something that belonged to you in Veronica's 'care'," the Robot says with a small chuckle.
Slim quirks an unseen eyebrow, about to ask what he means when Nightwing bounds in to escape the heat, Ratchet and Talwyn stepping in after him; the beast looking at Slim and crooning. "Ah, I was wondering where he went...She must have stolen him. So what did you find out?" He asks.
"Veronica Buttress is the leader of Lyrebird, though the suspicions of her going to Terra-1 hasn't been proven," Talwyn reports as Ratchet pats Nightwing's scaly head. Slim groans.
"Though they don't have to be, clearly that's where they're going more often," Ratchet adds as he rubs Nightwing's scarred belly, the beast absorbing the attention which made the Lombax ask his next question, "What is Nightwing anyway? Since you've clearly been there."
"Else you would not have him if you did not," Clank adds in jestful accusation.
"The natives call them dragons, Nightwing – as you call him – is a dragon species called Night Fury, an endangered species due to the natives – these humans – hunting them and many of the other dragon species," Slim informs, sliding an electronic file forward, Talwyn picking it up and beginning to look through it. "Those are the dragons that I saw when I was there and before I came across Nightwing; there's a lot more there though," he continued from his previous thought.
Ratchet observes the scar on Nightwing's belly, a harpoon to the stomach, he wouldn't have survived this on his own without nanites, he turns slightly to face Slim's box, asking, "Hey Slim, is this wound why you gave him nanites?"
The floating pair of eyes that belong to Slim look over to the Lombax and dragon, Nightwing's golden eyes looking back at him as the hidden man answers with, "Yep, I saved him from a party of the native hunters there and well, he wasn't going to live long so I gave him a canister of the nanites I had on me. Then I took him up here to study – and because he followed me."
Ratchet looks to Night who croons innocently. "Why didn't you take him back?" Ratchet interrogates, wanting to know as much as he can.
"I didn't because that was also roughly around the time Lyrebird started becoming active and the police upped their patrol routes, and, well I didn't want to be caught with a foreign animal in my cargo bay," Slim answers smoothly as Talwyn gives Clank the file to download the other dragons off of. The hidden man watches the exchange before he continues, "But of course, you guys have the means and the allowance to go there with him."
Ratchet nods, standing up, the black dragon matching his movement in sync which got a laugh out of Talwyn, and her to earn a confused look from both Lombax and dragon. Ratchet focuses his attention to Slim, "Alright, we got it; Talwyn, Clank, let's get a transport to Marcadia and tell Sasha what happened on Pokiaru," he says, beginning to walk out.
"Good luck you three, it may be hard for me to get to Terra-1 but see what you can find before you need to contact me," Slim calls behind them as they depart the warehouse and begin their trek back to Ratchet's hangar.
"So what armour and weapons will we bring?" Talwyn asks as they stroll through the baked dirt, Nightwing stopping every so often to sniff at everything new; for that reason they walked slowly to give the dragon time to absorb the new world.
Ratchet thinks on it, "Duraplate for me, should do for now, I have a spare for you too. As for weapons, well I'll stick with my wrench and I have a retractable staff somewhere for you to use for the time there," he answers, Talwyn smiling at him as he thinks about where he put that thing.
Clank speaks up from in between the couple, "Not thinking about bringing any of the big guns?" he asks, Ratchet shakes his head. "I think we should make a better impression without them," he says, smartly; normally he wouldn't care, but he didn't want to help Veronica in screwing over a developing race.
Talwyn gasps, "We forgot to ask Slim where would be a good place to ask while on Terra-1!" she looked worriedly at her friends.
"Well...we could just fly around till we find something, but that would eat into time, Clank, did you find anything in that file Talwyn handed to you?" Ratchet asks, looking at Clank.
Clank nods, "I have something: the Monstrous Nightmare, Gronkle, Hideous Zippleback and Deadly Nadder dragon species are commonly found on an island called 'Berk', Slim's footnotes mention that these specific human natives tame the dragons to ride. We should try to find this place and ask there for help; I feel we shall be better received by riding a dragon," he finishes, gesturing to Nightwing who's already taking shelter in the hangar as the trio walk in to join him.
"I will organise with Aphelion the transport that will take us to Marcadia, or we call Sasha to pick us up in a drop ship," Clank offers, standing outside with the ship in question as Ratchet and Talwyn head inside, turning around when Clank spoke. The pair nod in affirmation, Ratchet gesturing loosely to the armour sets half on their stands and half piled up on the floor, commenting, "We'll be preparing loosely for the trip." They then went to tidy up and pack, leaving Clank and Aphelion to converse; Nightwing proceeded to sniff around.
Four hours later they're back at Marcadia in the conference room, this time with Nightwing stuffed into the room with them, the others looking on with confusion and to Ratchet to explain himself for bringing a very big reptile indoors.
Sasha voices this, "Ratchet...Why is there a giant black lizard next to you?" she asks, hesitantly watching the dragon look around the room with wide golden eyes.
"Aaahhhmmmm...Because there's more of his species and breed on Terra-1 and we rescued him from Veronica Buttress?" he answers with slight hesitance and knowing he might be a little screwed, he's wearing his Duraplate Steel armour, two wrenches strapped to his hip.
Clank speaks up, "We went to Pokitaru and found out that Veronica Buttress is leader of Lyrebird and they may be doing serious exploitation of Terra-1 that may also include exotic pet trafficking," he says, simply stating the facts of what was revealed and what added up.
"She tried very hard to remove us from the picture," Talwyn piques up, she's also wearing Duraplate Steel armour and what looks to be a retractable steel staff strapped to her right boot.
Sasha nods, absorbing the information and still staring at Nightwing, everyone moving slightly as the dragon decides to sniff around, becoming fascinated by Al's cyborg body, sniffing him quite thoroughly; the mechanic looking mighty uncomfortable, crying out for some help, "Raaaatcheet..."
Ratchet was talking with Talwyn, Clank and Sasha so he didn't see Nightwing bothering Al until the cyborg cried for help; the Lombax looking over and calling the dragon to his side first by catching his attention by calling out his name then taping his left thigh, Nightwing bounding over to Ratchet's left side quickly at being called.
Sasha takes a step back, "Y-you're training him?" she asks, watching how quickly Nightwing responded to both his name and the silent command.
Ratchet looks over to the Cazar at her question after he patted Nightwing, answering, "Yeah, I guess I am." He shrugs lightly, scratching underneath the dragon's chin, causing him to lean down for more to get the best of them; Talwyn laughing at it, Sasha smiling lightly, commenting, "he's like a house pet almost."
Nightwing nearly stepped on Clank but stepped over him, even gently nudging him out of the way slightly so he doesn't crush the metal companion in his love of getting scratches. Soon Talwyn adds some of her own pats to the scaly beast.
Ratchet and Talwyn stop petting him to give him a light break when Ratchet looks to Sasha, asking and offering something, "Would you like to pet him?"
Sasha shows some hesitance, looking at him then Ratchet and Talwyn then back at Nightwing; making a decision she slowly reaches her hand out, patting Nightwing's head and he croons. She pulls her hand away, smiling lightly, "Thank you," She says to all four of them.
They nod when Skid notices something, pointing it out, "Whoa dudes is that a saddle?!" he says, gesturing to the patch-worked leather and metal seat on the dragon's back.
Ratchet nods, answering, "Yes it is, it's for the both of us to hang on while we fly around the Terra-1."
Sasha remembers the mission, her ears perking up in realisation, "Oh that's right! You need someway to get there don't you? I can organise a drop ship as long as you guys are ready?" she offers, seems she definitely knows how important this is.
Talwyn, Ratchet and Clank share a few glances, nodding; Ratchet being the one that answers, "We've got what we need, we'll be able to quickly get on once it's ready."
The Cazar nods, departing from the room, leaving the four that are soon to depart to chat with the others on a supposed plan when they get to Terra-1; Qwark was being far from useful, trying to give them an exact plan when they had no idea what to expect from the planet. Soon Sasha returns and Ratchet, Talwyn, Nightwing and Clank are well on their way to the new planet. Aphelion had to stay on Marcadia because she could not come with them to where they are going.