Chapter 7

When Ratchet got to the Battleplex and landed his ship and got into the elevator and it went up. Once he got to the lobby he noticed it was filled with Agorians at game systems and the Terachnoids from Axiom City. He head up to the front desk to see a hologram, " Welcome, welcome, welcome to Open Fight Night at the Battelplex! You like to fight? You like to mix it up? You look like a mixer-upper. How 'bout your name?"

" I'm Ratchet." He answered to the hologram. The hologram laughs a little bit. " That's a silly name, boy. What, your folks lose a bet? Kidding! I'm Mac. You have to excuse the hologram. Folks around here have a tendency to throw things." Well him and the Agorians have two things in common: We both like to fight, and we both enjoying throwing stuff. " Take a look around. If you need anything, Mac's your guy!"

" Yeah, where can I sign up for the fight?" Ratchet asks.

" You got something to prove, huh? You got moxie kid, I like that. Head over to the gladiator entrance." He looked up and noticed the door and before he went upstairs he looked back at the hologram he asks, " One more thing? What's with all of the Terachnoids?"

" Ah, you noticed that? The Agorians may be strong, but they're a bit short-changed in the brain department." Ratchet will never bringing Quark with him ever again. " So they hired us to do their thing for them."

" Thanks, Mac." Ratchet said with a smile.

" Anytime, kid." answered Mac. Ratchet went straight to the door and entering the hallway, there's only a glass wall keeping the Agorians at bay. And that glass must be pretty damn strong, because there are a few of them pounding their fists on it. " You're gonna get ripped apart!" One of them shouts.

" Ratchet, where are you?" He could hear Quark from the link he has with Ratchet.

" I'm just checking out the sights at the Battleplex." Ratchet says nonchalantly. " Did you know have a full arcade here?" He was trying not to laugh at that.

" Really? Well, how wonderful for you because I'm about to get killed!" Quark yelled.

" Alright, alright. Clam down, don't worry, I'm on my way." Ratchet says as he enters the transporter and went into the battle arena. The arena is giant. It's like a stadium; there are rows and rows of filled seats and the arena is surrounded by molten lava. The Agorians have sent some challengers after him and have also called in the robots. Whoever the announcer is, he certainly doesn't sound Agorian. His voice isn't rough and he doesn't talk like he has a speech impediment. " We have a new challenger! Wait-is that a Lombax? Oh, you may not want to leave your seats for popcorn folks-" At first, he thought he was talking about stronger he was and everything till he heard " -This should be over within seconds!" After that, he hears a lot of booing from the audience. He started the rounds by killing all the robots and Agorians and then he heard the announcer say, " Now he's hardcore folks-no weapons, no gadgets, just a Lombax, and his wrench."

He was about to say something but couldn't because they've sent down more robots and since each different battle has different condition. Like no using weapons or gadgets and that also means that he couldn't use his hoverboots either. He needed to move fast and get this over and done. After wave five, he heard the cheering crowds and the announcer shouts over them, " How about that folks? Another amazing victory! Now, how about we give this Lombax a little backup?" More cheering from the crowd answers that questions. " Alright! Please welcome, all the way from the Solana Galaxy-" Ratchet looked around wondering who will be here from Solana till he remember who it was and he knew who it and shook his head when the announcer said, " Mister Copernicus Quark!"

He saw Quark with an Agorian being elevated into the ring. " That's Captain Quark!" The Agorian removes the shackles oh his wrist. " I didn't take a three-week hero correspondence course to be called mister!" The irritated nameless Agorian shoves a weapon at him and partially knocks the wind out of him. " Easy on the goods, pal!"

Once they battled all the enemies, Ratchet was exhausted that he could barely stand. Ratchet is leaning against his wrench that's propped up on the ground where I was sitting, but he was trying to catch his breath. But things go from bad to worse-and Quark didn't even jinx him! " Now, the moment you've all been waiting for-it's time for the war grok!" The announcer shouts over the excited crowed.

" Never fear, Ratchet!" Quark starts one of his babbles again, trying to look like the big hero he's trying to seem. " While I was in captivity, I trained with the elite Umbuko gladiators of Teraklon Six! My body is in peak physical condition! My senses as sharp as trillium razors!"

" Release the war grok!" The announcer yells out. They both see a purple monster with what looks like a black shell. It's almost twice as big as the Agorian that's trying to keep it restrained with a chain and collar. The war grok rips the chain off and then throws the Agorian into the crowd. They were...in trouble now. Quark pokes Ratchet on the head, shouts " Not it!" and then he runs away like a big baby. Quark once again proves to be damn useless, because while Ratchet was running off into certain death, he just stands there shouting out obnoxious cheers and claiming that he taught Ratchet that move where he throws him into the air so Ratchet can attack from above. Whenever the war grok comes at him, he just runs away screaming. It's a good thing Ratchet was allowed to use weapons now, otherwise, he would be dead by now. After a long fight the war grok falls to the ground. Ratchet's heart felt like it was going to exploxed. Ratchet got up to his feet and heard the announcer yell, " Gladiators! You must kill you war grok!"

Ratchet walks up to it with his wrench, only it's not unconscious and it snaps at him, causing him to jump back. He raises his wrench, when he heard a long and continuous " No!" and Quark shoves him to the ground and speaks to the audience. " Honorable lizard things, I understand your proud warrior ways." While Quark is being the stupid person he is, Ratchet looks to the side and his eyes went wide and he scrambles to his feet and runs away from the war grok that was trying to kill him. Ratchet hit the war grok in the face and the war grok pushes him to the ground, and the only thing that's preventing it from making Ratchet it's lunch was his wrench that's jammed into it's mouth. " Quark!" Ratchet growls " This thing is trying to eat me!"

" This Lombax are young. He don't understand that being a hero is 45% strength, 60% bravery, and 10% raw intelligence!" He said, tapping his blaster against his head.

" That's 115 percent!" Ratchet yelled while he tried to hold off the war grok.

" Your welcome." He drops to his knees. " Please, take me instead! All that I ask is that you name something impressive in my honor. Perhaps a school...or a food court."

The crowd becomes silent, but someone started to clapping. In a few moments, the people erupt with applause that turns into a storm. " By the blade of Argos," The announcer shouts, " You have honored us! You are a true hero!" Ratchet is thrown to the other side of the ring and he shakes his head and looked up to see the war grok was acting like a puppy, and he's on his back with Quark rubbing his belly. " Who's a good war grok? You are! I'm gonna name you snowball!"

" You've gotta be kidding me." Ratchet mutters as he got up to his feet.

" Hi-Oh Snowball, away!" Quark hops onto the war grok's back and runs away with it. Ratchet scratched the back of his head and shook his head about the whole thing. He went back to his ship and took off into space and was heading to Zanifar. Till he heard Quark voice, " Mega-hero to Ratchet, repeat, Mega-hero to Ratchet!"

"Mega-hero?" Ratchet asks.

"Eh, the fellas and I decided it was time that I graduated from 'super'. It's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it? So, I'm chillin' here at a Battleplex after party when this foxy young lady tells me of a secret entrance to Nefarious' station. At least...I think it's a lady. Hard to tell with Agorians. Either way, leave the investigation to me. I've got a plan!" Ratchet really hopes he doesn't have to save him again and Quark cuts off. As he continues to fly , Ratchet gets a message from Alister as Ratchet the Tombli barrier. " Just as I suspected. Vorselon is making a sweep of the entire sector. Ratchet, head to Zanifar. I'll lead their scouts as far away as I can. Good luck."

" Same to you, General, and be careful. Ratchet out." Ratchet said, going to radio silence.