Disclaimer: I don't own Ratchet & Clank. If I did, all characters would keep their design from A Crack in Time so you would know. I own Loric Ellebor and the Unseen Destroyer.

Chapter 3: Beginnings

"Are you sure about this, Ratchet? Trusting a complete stranger from a totally unknown galaxy doesn't sound like one of your brightest ideas" Talwyn expressed her thoughts with concern leaving its stain on her tone. As a Captain of Polaris Defense Force for nearly more than a year now, Talwyn Apogee had learned to hide her personal intents and weaknesses. However, she never let her pressing duties affect her. She was always kind and caring to the ones she regarded as friends.

Ratchet did not answer immediately. His eyes searched the beautiful skyline ahead of him through the glass of the large balcony. They were on the highest floor of the Defense Force building. The sun had barely risen and the fading darkness of the night seemed to deliver some clarity and tranquility to the young Lombax.

He had been thinking of Loric's words all night. Clank had told him he would support him on whatever he decided. No matter how many times Ratchet asked him his actual opinion though, he wouldn't voice any particular opinion. He would just say he was there for him. This only resulted in Ratchet grunting in indignation as this was one of the countless times he failed to understand the robot's logic.

As this new legacy unfolded itself before him, it also chased away his desire to rest. All Ratchet did during the night was stare at the ceiling and think. There were in fact those times he counted the tiny and almost invisible cracks on the surface above him though as well as times he mentally planned to add new components to his OmniWrench. But mostly he spent those anxious, nighttime hours thinking over Loric's proposal.

Some seconds of silence passed and after he sighed, he spoke. "I know it sounds like a terrible idea. I thought I was beyond this, but it seems I was wrong. I didn't know it before but… I wanna know more about my father and the Lombaxes."

The Markazian looked at him with a kindly expression. "I understand. Just be careful. You always seem to attract a lot of trouble" she said in a teasing manner, a sly smile making her face brighter.

Ratchet looked at his friend's face with a calm expression and a warm smile. "Well, Clank and I could use some help. You could keep trouble away from us" he suggested. His green eyes gleamed with hope, expecting her to agree and join them on this mission that could only be described as defining for Ratchet's life.

"I can't. You know I have a lot of duties. I'm needed here" she reluctantly stated as her smile disappeared from her face, making Ratchet do the same.

"Right, I understand" Ratchet spoke in a rather sad tone. He tried to hide the fact that he felt crestfallen, he couldn't even admit to himself how much he enjoyed Talwyn's company whether it be on a mission or in non life-threatening situations. A while after Mr. Eye's attack he realised he had begun feeling different about her. For him it wasn't just friendship anymore, it was something else. Something more. Something he didn't think he wanted to comprehend right now, something he couldn't afford at the moment. He was Ratchet, intergalactic hero and the only Lombax left in the universe, love was something he'd never be able to come in terms with. What also made him keep these thoughts buried deep within was that he didn't even know if she felt the same way as him.

They only stared at each other for a while as the first rays of light penetrated the glass and illuminated the dark room and Ratchet's facial features. Talwyn's voice disturbed the silent sunrise.

"By the way, that research you asked me to conduct about Miss Cross" she began but Ratchet impatiently interrupted her.

"Angela! Did you find anything?" he asked with intensity as he walked closer to Talwyn, not wanting to miss any of her next words.

The more Talwyn observed Ratchet's hopeful stare, the more she wanted to delay her reply. Eventually, she was obliged to answer. "I'm sorry I… I didn't find any signs of her. There's nothing else I can do."

Ratchet's ears slightly dropped."So she's really gone, isn't she?"

"We know she was last spotted with my father while travelling to planet Jasindu. I remember Artemis Zogg telling me that he fled in another dimension to save her. I'm still trying to discover if this is true, though it probably is. Just remember, if I find him I also find a lead to her" she tried to reassure.

Ratchet realised she had said if she finds him, something he found strange. Talwyn always seemed to think that her father was alive whenever she spoke about his disappearance, ever since their first encounter. And now she had begun losing hope. He found it rather disheartening that Talwyn was forsaking her dream of reuniting with her lost father. He always considered her insistence to believe a sign of courage. And now only remnants of an unfulfilled wish marked her words whenever she spoke about Max. He just nodded and managed a weak smile.

"Don't worry about it", she went on. "Just be careful, though I know you've no idea what this means. At least Clank will be taking care of you" she teased in a more cheerful manner.

"Hey, I can keep myself safe" Ratchet playfully argued.

"I don't think so" Talwyn chuckled. Afterwards, she hugged Ratchet in order to bid him farewell. He embraced her as well.

"I'll contact you as soon as I can" he informed her after he broke their embrace. A flood of golden light filled the room as Ratchet took a couple of steps backwards facing Talwyn. Afterwards, he turned around and walked out of the room with steady steps leading him to his next adventure.

Talwyn looked at the horizon one last time, collecting pieces of past memories for several minutes. The sound of fading footfall kept company to her mostly morbid thoughts. Inhaling made her feel better, as if she had breathed in the golden light of the sun which had a soothing effect on her psyche. It felt like forever before she exited the room, following the same way Ratchet had.

TTTTTT ~~~ TTTTTT

Loric wandered into the main hall of the Polaris Defense Force HQ, waiting for the heroic duo to appear any second now. As predicted, he saw Ratchet and Clank heading for his position. He was confronted by nervousness for he was certain the Lombax would decline his plead for help. So the moment the two friends arrived, he began ranting uncontrollably after Clank wished him good morning.

"I know what you're thinking. I know what you have decided. And I'm telling you, this is not the right thing to do! Listen, you may not see it now but this will turn into a catastrophe if you do nothing" Loric proclaimed only to be faced with two confused stares.

"Whoa Loric, you haven't even listened to-" Ratchet said in an attempt to stop Loric's insane rant but was interrupted by… more rant.

"But, but, but I know what you have decided" he spoke with his index finger in the air. "Just so you know" he went on while pointing at Ratchet. "the Unseen Destroyer won't leave you alone now that he's found you. You can either fight him or allow him to play these insomniac games with you."

At that instant, Ratchet and Clank widened their eyes. "Insomniac games?" Clank began. "Does this sound strangely familiar to you?" he asked his organic friend. Ratchet agreed, dumbfounded.

Loric kept his gaze locked on the pair in disbelief and bewilderment, his one eye slightly twitching. "I was just speaking metaphorically!" he broke out in indignation.

"Anyway, can you just stop ranting?" Ratchet made Loric cease before he could say anything else. "We're gonna come with you."

Loric narrowed his blue eyes. "Really?"

"You think I'd wear my armor just to show you the door?"

Loric observed that indeed the young hero was equipped with a Holoflux Armor. He felt quite embarrassed after realisation struck him. He had begun rumbling like a senile old man for no particular reason.

He made a noise of clearing his throat. "Oh right, well, I should let you know then that you made the right decision" he stated while pointing his finger at Ratchet one more time, only in a much calmer manner than earlier.

"Now Mr. Ellebor" Clank began but continued after the Grey Mage demanded to be called only by his first name. "Will you tell us where the map to Kaden's Armor is?"

"Planet Zanimal" Loric pronounced with an enthusiastic smile.

"Pardon me, but you must be meaning to say planet Zanifar" the robot kindly argued.

"No, no it's called Zanimal. But it's a little tricky to find. Far away from Polaris there are two twin galaxies."

"Twin galaxies?!" an impatient Ratchet wondered puzzled.

"Indeed. Astarte and Triquetta galaxies. They are very close to one another and have exactly the same planets. That's why they're known as the Twin Galaxies. Their only difference is planet Zanimal. It belongs to the Astarte galaxy while Triquetta has no such planet. That's where the map is located" Loric informed.

"Huh, convenient" Ratchet shrugged. "Alright, upload the coordinates to my ship and we'll meet you there" he plainly added and he along with Clank began heading for Aphelion. However, they both turned around as they noticed Loric was cold on his tracks.

"Is something wrong, Loric?" Clank inquired.

"Eh, well I can't upload the coordinates. To be honest, I don't even know how it's done. Aaand I don't have a ship. I don't know how to fly one" the Mage confessed.

After a brief silence, Ratchet broke in a fit of laughter. Clank indicated to him how rude his reaction was by calling his friend's name in an annoyed manner.

"Then how did you get here in the first place?" the Lombax managed to ask after his laughter stopped.

"A very kind man agreed to bring me here. What a fella, he's been everywhere. He said he works as a plumber" Loric answered. The two heroes widened their eyes, a shocked expression written all over their faces.

"Seriously?!"

"That is indeed odd."

Loric was the next to speak. "Oh well. This means you have to take me on your ship."

"Whatever. Come on, Aphelion's this way" Ratchet gestured as he took the lead and walked ahead, Clank and their new acquaintance following close behind.

TTTTTT ~~~ TTTTTT

The three explorers were already on their way to Astarte galaxy. Aphelion was travelling through space, flying as trillions of stars graced the endless black void of the universe with their beauty. Ratchet was enjoying piloting his trustworthy Lombax ship, Clank was in a relaxing position in the middle as Loric had occupied the passenger's seat deep in a slumber. He had complained that long trips were not good for him at this age and that they made him nauseous. He almost vomited three times. Totally irked, Ratchet wore a gas protective mask and engaged the cryosleep function without a single sign of warning. Loric fell asleep at once, as if he had been just hit by Ratchet's OmniWrench Millennium 12. He simply couldn't allow Loric to do this to Aphelion's seats. Needless to say, Aphelion was truly content by her pilot's decision. Clank could only sigh.

After more than 40 hours of travelling (even Ratchet had to engage autopilot and take a nap a couple of times), they finally reached their destination. The Astarte Galaxy. Clank was able to update his star charts and confirm that they were in the right galaxy as planet Zanimal was present. After some moments of searching, they prepared to land on the surface of the yellow planet known as Zanimal. No matter what planet one dwells on though, things rarely go as planned…

Loric woke up on the passenger's seat, right where he had fallen asleep after he saw Ratchet wear some strange-looking mask. He turned to look left and right and saw his two co-travelers seemingly unconscious. Had they decided to drift off? Were they on Zanimal?

Loric asked Aphelion if she could open the cockpit but the Lombax ship didn't respond. He pushed the button that performed this order and was glad to notice his first guess had been the right one. He grabbed his staff and got off the ship. Loric let his eyes wander curiously, examining his surroundings. The sky held a pale shade of yellow, the land was barren with nothing but sand and rocks on it.

All of a sudden, Loric heard commotion behind him. He turned around to see the ship occupied by creatures with black cloaks. They were tall and seemed muscular. He expected the restless Lombax to wake up and strike them with his melee weapon or blow them up with his crazy guns. But neither happened. Not even the friendly robot or the ship was reacting. Something was amiss.

Then it all made sense. Unwanted realisation darkened the expression of his ocean-blue eyes. He understood. They hadn't landed. They had crash landed. Loric hid behind a tall rock as memories revealed themselves to verify his assumption.

"We have been hit by an unspecified object" Clank declared with a tone of worry.

"There was nothing in range one minute ago!" Ratchet yelled, astonished as well.

Loric had just began gaining his senses and overcoming the merciless embrace of cryosleep. However, he felt too drowsy and couldn't afford to do anything but blink and listen.

"Warning. Warning. Landing flaps damaged" Aphelion announced. The ship informed of some other kinds of damage as Ratchet literally struggled with all of his strength to keep the wheel stable and control their course. But to no avail. The ship was falling straight onto the desert ground of Zanimal, death welcoming them in a pale shade of yellow as the stratosphere of the planet enveloped them.

Loric heard what could be described as a deafening crash and then blackness took over.

Loric spied the men as they carried Ratchet and Clank away, both undoubtedly unconscious because of the rough landing. One of them took hold of the OmniWrench and walked away to follow the crew and their prisoners. Loric revealed himself after stepping out of his hiding spot as soon as he ascertained himself the men were out of sight and that there was no danger lurking in the foggy air of the hot desert.

The Grey Mage paced by the damaged ship, tracking the footsteps of the cloaked figures. With a sigh and a look of determination, Loric Ellebor clenched his staff and followed the path ahead of him while the sinister stillness of the desert forged his arrival to the place where the map to Kaden's Armor lay.