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The Next Day, Starship Phoenix Medical Bay, Ratchet's Room

Ratchet was still sleeping peacefully when he felt something tickle his ear. "Mmpgh..." He muttered into his pillow. Yet who ever it was kept tickling his ear. He folded down his ears to try and stop it. But that only convinced his tormentor to start tickling his ribs. Ratchet rolled over to try and stop that, The tormentor stopped and Ratchet thought that he might get back to sleep.

Suddenly he felt a draft across his legs as the covers were ripped off his bed. That woke him up. Ratchet sat up shouting "HEY!" He looked around for his tormentor, but saw only Sasha holding his bed sheets and giggling.

"Captain Qwark boxers Rat?" She asked still giggling. Ratchet blushed as he grabbed the bed sheet back from her and covered himself again.

"Having fun?" he asked while shooting her a glare.

"Actually yes" she replied while still giggling, for some reason she couldn't get over it.

Finally she calmed down and sat down on the side of Ratchet's bed.

"Anyway I'm here to offer you something"

He looked at her quizzically. Sasha waved her hand at the door as two Galactic Ranger's walked in and saluted. Ratchet looked at them "I don't get it, your giving me Galactic Rangers?"

Sasha giggled again, "No I'm offering you your old rank back, if you want it."

"We could really use your help Sarge," the Ranger on the left said.

"Yeah, the 'noids are using us like stepping stones." the Ranger on the right added.

Ratchet looked at Sasha "'Noids? I thought they were gone..." Sasha shook her head.

"Some of them appeared when you disappeared into DreadZone. They have been attacking random planets ever since then."

Ratchet glanced at her in thought, "I missed alot didn't I?" It was then the Ratchet noticed Sasha's attire "Hey," he said slowly "That's what you were wearing when you had control over the Phoenix."

Sasha looked at him, quizzically "Well somebody had to take over after you vanished. They figured, why not the old commander of the Phoenix?"

"Oh, Then how would I get my old rank back?" He asked

"You would be Co-Commander"

"Co-commander?" Ratchet asked she nodded "...the hell? arent you Mayor or something?"

"Yes, I still don't know why I ever agreed to be mayor of Metropolis..." She sighed "That job was so.....Boring"

Ratchet laughed at that. "All right then"

Sasha looked hopeful "Really?"

"Hey, if it means spending more time with you, yes." He said as he grabbed her hand. Unfortunately the happy moment was interrupted by the two snickering Rangers in the doorway. Ratchet looked at them disdainfully, "Dismissed." The Rangers instantly stood at attention and walked out of the room.

Ratchet hopped out of the bed surprising Sasha. "Well guess I need to get my armor, then." he said walking towards the door.

Sasha was giggling again when she said, "Uh...Rat? Forgetting something?" Ratchet stopped as he realized he almost walked through the Phoenix in his boxers. Sasha laughed as she held up a flight suit, she could tell he was blushing again.

"So.....If you were captain again, were you sleeping in my room?" He asked while he put on the simple flight suit.

"No I took a different room" Ratchet finished dressing and nodded. "You're weapons are still there though." Ratchet looked guilty

"Oh, you found those huh?"

"Yeah, Why didn't you tell anybody about that? You have enough super powered weapons up there to supply the Galactic Rangers on the Phoenix right now. Not to mention the fact, that the RYNO's could level an entire planet from space." Ratchet glanced at her thoughtfully.

"What planet are the 'noids on again?" he asked,

"They, are on-" Sasha started, but abruptly ended herself midsentence "Wait.....No way... Ratchet!" Ratchet smiled "Hey, it was worth a shot at least." with that he ran out of the room leaving Sasha standing next to the bed shaking her head.

"Guess somebody's feeling better" She thought to herself as she walked out of the room.

As Ratchet walked into his room, he spotted Clank working at his computer. A wicked grin spread across his face as he got an idea.

Ratchet slowly snuck up behind Clank, as he raised his hands to grab him- "Do not even think about it, Ratchet"

Ratchet stopped with his hands just above Clank. "Hey...How did ya know?" he asked curiously.

Clank gestured at Ratchet's reflection in the computer screen. "It was hard not to." Ratchet rolled his eyes as Clank chortled. "I'm glad to see you back on your feet Ratchet" Clank said as he turned around.

"So what happened around here while I was out? Sasha was a little short on details..."

"Oh, not much" Clank tried to dismiss the topic.

Ratchet only put two and two together then, "You're the one who showed her my Weapons room, weren't you?" he said pointing a finger at Clank. Clank lowered his head "I'm sorry Ratchet, I-"

"Hey its okay I don't know why I tried to hide them in the first place. Come on I need to get some gear" Ratchet turned his back and felt Clank attach himself to the back of his flight suit. "Ah, It's good to feel that again" Ratchet flexed his back.

"Is something wrong?" Clank asked from behind him.

"Nothing, just been a while since we've had to do that, not to mention the two weeks I spent doing nothing in that bed."

Clank sounded worried when he spoke again "Ratchet, are you sure you are ready for active duty?" Ratchet nodded.

Unsure if Clank could see it he said, "Yeah, no more stalling. Afraid you won't be able to lift me off the ground anymore?"

"No I-"

"Then let's go!" Ratchet said as he jumped into the air and felt Clank's thrusters kick in.

As Ratchet activated the light switch, something came to his attention. As Clank lifted them through the hole, Ratchet asked, "Hey Clank. How'd you know I was back on active duty?"

"Sasha stopped by before she went to see you, to ask if I thought you would accept." Clank responded as they landed. Ratchet felt Clank drop off his back. "Clank, Go activate the Armors please,"

"Already on it, Ratchet." Clank replied as he walked across the room to a small computer. Ratchet stood in front of a row of small dips in the floor, he heard Clank call "Which one exactly?" Ratchet replied with out even looking over at Clank.

"All of them."

Ratchet heard Clank pressing buttons, and from the ceiling above the dips cylinders dropped down. Fitting perfectly into the depressions and small hissing sounds erupted as the cylinders locked into place. The cylinders split open to show every single suit of armor Ratchet ever owned. He reached for the Aegis Mark V armor he got long ago as a gift from the Rangers.

Clank walked up behind him. "Ratchet are you sure about that? Why not use the Infernox Armor?"

Ratchet looked down at him. "I never liked those suits, and now, now they remind me of DreadZone Armor."

Ratchet was in the middle of putting on the Aegis armor when he heard the door below open. He froze half dressed in the armor.

Ratchet slowly reached for his Shock Cannon while motioning Clank away from the hole. Ratchet moved towards the hole, His Shock Cannon pointed down through it. Ratchet immediately stopped, and put away his gun when he saw who it was.

Sasha was looking around his room, apparently forgetting about Ratchet's room above. Inside the room Ratchet was snickering quietly as he watched Sasha. He dropped down quietly behind her. He quickly reached forward as he saw her ears prick up at his landing, grabbing her and swinging her around while she screeched and giggled.

As Ratchet set her down he could only think of one thing to say "My turn to surprise you"

She giggled again as she gave him a quick hug before stepping away, "Very funny, Are you ready?" she asked pointing at him half dressed in his armor.

Ratchet nodded "Yeah, yeah... Just give me a sec, I'll see you on the bridge 'kay?" She nodded and left the room.

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