"Al! Get to the turret!" Sasha yelled. "Take out anything else she tries to throw at us!" She adjusted the ship's communicator so that she would be broadcasting directly to the space station. "This is Cruiser 7234 Alpha. Request that you stand down. We're on a search and rescue mission and we're here to offer our assistance."
"You're here to offer assistance for your own search and rescue mission? That doesn't make any sense. Now clear the area or get blasted from the sky."
Sasha groaned in exasperation as she diverted power to the ship's blast cannons. "Requesting landing permission for the docking bay. I will explain everything in person. This stand-off isn't helping anyone." There was a short period of silence before one of the station's defense turrets started to glow.
"Uh, Sasha?" Al's voice floated nervously down from their own turret.
"I see it," sighed Sasha.
"I warned you," a singsong voice taunted through the ship's speakers.
Sasha shot a single pulse from the ship's blast cannon, destroying the turret before it had a chance to fire.
"Why, you little-"
"Hey, Talwyn!" An obliviously cheerful voice was broadcasting now. "Why are you firing on one of Ratchet's old ships?"
"Captain Qwark!" shouted Al. "Am I glad to hear you!"
"Ratchet's ship!?" exclaimed the original voice. Sasha and Al watched as several defense mechanisms retracted back into the station's complex. "Landing permission granted. See you soon."
"Well that certainly changed her tune," mused Sasha.
"You stole Ratchet's ship?" Al accused. Sasha shrugged as she maneuvered the ship into the docking bay.
"Borrowed it. It'll be right here for him when we pull him home."
"Uh-huh."
The ship's cockpit hissed as it opened to allow Sasha and Al to climb out. A young Markazian woman glided into the sparse, gray docking bay on a jetpack and landed lightly in front of them. Sasha recognized her as the same woman she had seen with Clank on the news report.
"Ratchet?" the woman asked hopefully. She tried to glimpse past them and in to the ship.
"He's not with us," Sasha began.
"What have you done with him?" the Markazian demanded. She drew two blasters from her hips and aimed at both Sasha and Al. Al put his hands up.
This is getting old real quick, thought Sasha, head pounding. She drew her own combuster, holding it in two hands, one foot forward. "Lower your weapons!"
"You lower your weapon!" the woman trained both blasters on Sasha. "This is my home! You showed up out of nowhere in my friend's ship and blew up my security system. This guy is like, half cyborg!" she flicked the gun in her left hand at Al. "And now it turns out you're not even with Ratchet! You tell me what you're doing here right now." Sasha and the Markazian stared each other down as Al tried shuffling awkwardly to the side. There was another hiss as the main door to the complex opened. Captain Qwark strode into the bay with confidence.
"Big Al!" he exclaimed in greeting, completely unaware of the situation in the room. "Captain Sasha! Are you here to help with the dimensionator?"
"Y-Yes, Captain Qwark," Al answered hesitantly, keeping his hands up. "Sasha and I thought Clank could use help with the equipment involved in the accident. We came from Solana as soon as we heard what happened." Sasha and the Markazian remained completely motionless, but Sasha thought she saw the woman's facial expression begin to soften.
"See, Talwyn?" Qwark scolded playfully. "Crowdsourcing really does work!" Talwyn the Markazian somehow managed to roll her eyes while keeping her full attention and both blasters on Sasha. Sasha successfully hid a smile, her combuster steady. "And Al," Qwark continued, "it's *President* Qwark now." Sasha's concentration snapped in half.
"Pres- President of what?" Sasha stuttered in disbelief.
"The Polaris galaxy, of course!" Sasha tilted her head towards Qwark while lowering her combuster off of Talwyn. Her gaze shifted slowly from Qwark over to Al and then back to Talwyn.
"I have a headache," said Sasha, defeated. Talwyn laughed and started to holster her blasters.
"I know what you mean," smiled Talwyn, readjusting her headband.
Sasha smiled back and clipped away her combuster. Far to Sasha's right, Al lowered his hands and visibly began to breathe. "No, really." explained Sasha. "I'm having a reaction to our ship's cryosleep. Meanwhile, is Clank even still here?"
"Yes, he's locked himself in one of the labs. Let's get you something for the pain and then see if we can get Clank out of there for an update. I'm Talwyn Apogee, by the way. This is my space station. Ratchet and Clank live here."
"Sasha Phyronix. Let's get moving." The ladies exited the docking bay quickly, Talwyn gliding with Sasha striding closely behind. Qwark and Al watched them leave, stunned. Eventually, Al broke the silence.
"Okay. What just happened?"