Chapter 10: Get Ready For Science

Planet Auznath

Nebula-star's research facility was expectedly unassuming in nature. There was no one to impress in the jungle and so its structure resembled that of ancient industrial standards. Ratchet and Talwyn stepped up to the main entrance and typed in the coordinates that the clerk had given them. The heavy metal door slowly opened, revealing the low and cramped space inside. There was a single line of lights going down the hallway emitting a dull glow. Clank activated his light to give the trio a better look at the bleak walls.

"Well, ladies first," Ratchet said with a sweep of his arms. Talwyn rolled her eyes but still stepped into the space with a mix of eagerness and trepidation. Ratchet came in behind her and then the solid clunk of the door was heard as it fell closed. "Well the clerk dude said just to go to the security room and do a diagnostic on the systems. There shouldn't be anyone else here as Nebula-star doesn't have any active experiments at this location." Ratchet said, breaking the eerie silence.

Talwyn forged ahead, going in what she hoped was the correct direction. Her mind was focused on one thing now, their mission so close to completion. The abandoned nature of the facility didn't faze her as she kept her eyes forward. Ratchet meanwhile tried his best to keep up behind her, pistol drawn just in case. Even though the structure was simple-looking, the equipment that furnished some of the rooms was top of the line. He didn't have much chance to stop and admire any of it though, as his visuals on Talwyn kept disappearing as she rounded corners or made a mad dash down a hallway. Emitting a sigh, he picked up his pace as well. Soon he was right behind her again.

"So...Nebula-Star...not the best decorators huh?" He joked, trying to lighten the heavy silence that seemed to envelope them. Talwyn only gave a non-committal nod in reply. Ratchet was about to say something else, but was interrupted when she suddenly stopped.

"We're here." she said with a hint of excitement. Talwyn stepped into the room and spun around. The walls were covered with screens and the main console in the middle had all manner of flashing lights adorning it. Clank jumped off of Ratchet's back and took in a quick assessment.

"I do believe that I can continue from here. You two can go do an area sweep if you'd like." Clank announced.

"Well do it quick Clank. I want to get this done and over with." Talywn said as she turned her back and Ratchet was to follow but Clank grabbed his arm and whispered to him.

"You need to tell her Ratchet, she needs someone close again to heal." Ratchet responded with an 'I-don't-know' face but Clank only replied with a stern look of his own before he let go of Ratchet. The lombax turned around, not sure if he would take Clank's advice, and followed behind the Markazian deeper into the facility.

They were coming up on what seemed to be maintenance rooms filled with generators, energy converters, and atmospheric regulators. As there were still no signs of life, Talwyn plopped down onto an old crate, taking a much needed breather.

"I can't believe it...we're almost done." Talwyn seemed to say to no one in particular.

"Yeah and then your Station will be secure once more. We'll only have to come up with a million or two bolts, and I hear a new fighting area is opening up soon." Ratchet replied. He stood awkwardly next to her for a few more moments before he sat down on the crate too, looking away from her. "Ummm, Talwyn..." he started. Talwyn angled her head in his direction, though his face was still obscured. "You know, after this...the mission...when we get back to Polaris..." he paused, not sure how to continue on.

"Yes, Ratchet?" she said, holding her breath as she had an idea of what he was going to say next. She wasn't yet sure how she felt about his confession that she overheard. But it was still exciting all the same. And besides, if she was being completely honest, she always felt that she could trust him. That was a good thing right? "What is it?" she said, prompting him to continue.

"Well...I was thinking that maybe-" but he didn't get to finish as alarms started going off. Ratchet and Talwyn jumped up and got ready for a fight until they suddenly stopped and Clank's voice cut through the air.

"I apologize about that. I was making sure that the auditory alarm system worked. I am done now if you two would like to rejoin me." Clank's voice said.

Talwyn let out a small chuckle, and then turned to Ratchet. "So, what was it that you were asking me?" she said with a small smile on her face. Ratchet stared at her for a moment, wondering what it would be like for time to freeze right then and just stare into her face forever. But then reality set in and he shook himself out of his reverie.

"Oh, umm, nothing, really." he said before running off ahead of Talwyn. Talwyn chuckled again and set off after him. Soon she found herself back at the control room. Clank had just jumped up onto Ratchet's back.

"All systems are functional." Clank stated. "We can now give our report to the clerk." Ratchet or Talwyn didn't need to be told twice and soon they were making their way back through the jungle. It went a bit faster this time as they now knew of the places to avoid. The trio reached the ship in record time and Talwyn had them flying back to the main facility. Clank motioned to Ratchet and mouthed 'Did you tell her?' to which Ratchet shook his head and then promptly stared out the window. As Talwyn started to descend the ship, Clank mused that the courtship rituals of organisms were strange and complicated.

As the trio walked into the main facility, Xavier was once again asleep at his desk. Ratchet slapped the reception desk, waking him up.

"Well Xavier my man, that facility is A-OK! So how about those generators now?" he said in a loud, and hopefully intimidating, voice.

"Okay, okay. A deal's a deal. I be right back." he said as he left to what was most likely their warehouse. After several antagonizing minutes, Xavier came back pushing a cart that had four shiny new generators on it. "Here you go, now please go, you're interrupting my sleep schedule." he said as he walked off. Talwyn wasted no time and started pushing the cart to the ship. Ratchet noticed that there was more of a spring in her step and smiled.

The generators were heavy, but not unmanagable. Between the two of them, the duo was able to load them up with ease and soon be on their way back to Evukar. Light conversation filled the ship, as the biggest hurdle of the mission was over. All that was left was the installation, which Ratchet was confident that he and Clank could do, and then of course the payment.

However, Talwyn's mind was a jumble of emotions. She was saving her father's work. She felt closer to him now than she had in years. And then of course there was Ratchet. She was beginning to think that maybe she heard him wrong that morning. She told herself that she wouldn't worry about it. But now since Ratchet was starting to act weird, she wasn't sure what to do. The young alien decided that for now, she should just focus on the task at hand.

Planet Evukar: Erus's Home

"Well, that should do it." Ratchet said as he came upstairs. He and Clank were both covered in dust and rust from installing the generators. It was tricky business, but they still got it done.

"Oh splendid! And I saw from my control room that the signatures are matching within the paramaters, and the energy output is stable!." Erus exclaimed. "Thank you both so much. Your father would be proud, Talwyn." Erus said. Ratchet cleared his throat, reminding Erus of the last detail. "Oh yes yes!, your payment. Here." he said as he handed a card to Talwyn. "Ten Million Bolts, I added a little extra since I know these weren't easy to get." he said to her with a wink. Talwyn stared at the card dumbfounded. The rest of her debt...was in the card she held. Ratchet was about to ask her if she was okay, but then she jumped up and hugged Erus around the neck.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you! This is all that I had left! Now my father's station can be funded again!" She replied enthusiastically. However, upon receiving weird looks from her friends, she let go of the elderly alien and cleared her throat. "I guess, this is goodbye. I have a lot to do back home and now that this is done..." Ratchet saw a sorrowful look on her face. Meeting this Erus meant so much to her and as much as he was going to hate himself for saying it, he knew he had to.

"You know Talwyn," Ratchet spoke up, "Clank and I could handle that last commission you had if you'd like to stay here for a little longer. Catch up with your dad's friend and all." he finished, carefully using the present tense when mentioning her father. Talwyn's face lit up and she looked to Erus who nodded in agreement. She then gave Ratchet another death-grip hug before releasing him before he passed out.

"I'll leave in a week okay? I know it's not much." she said as she turned to Erus. "But it's still that much longer to learn about my Father." Not only that, but Talwyn felt that she deserved a little vacation anyways.

Erus smiled and patted Talwyn on the back. "Oh my dear, we'll have so much to talk about. I'll leave you two to pack for your friend's trip home, I must go check on my system. Old habits and all I guess." he said as he left the room.

Clank thought for a moment and then also started to make his leave, stating that he had to go calibrate Aphelion and make sure that she was ready for the intergalactic trip home. That left Talwyn and Ratchet to pack up the few things that Ratchet had brought with him. There was a comfortable silence between the two. However, both minds were busy thinking of something to say. Talwyn wondered if she should just ask Ratchet outright if he liked her, why couldn't it be straightforward like that? Ratchet as well was wondering if this was a good time to tell his friend that his feelings may be getting stronger.

"Ratchet-"

"Talwyn-"

"Oh sorry, you go first Talwyn." Ratchet said, a blush coming to his cheeks.

"Oh no it's okay, you go first." Talwyn replied finding the bag that she was carrying suddenly interesting. Ratchet took a deep breath and decided that he wasn't going to let this turn into some silly game.

"Talwyn...you know you're one of my best friends right?" he started, unsure of how he should go about this. Talwyn smiled and nodded in reply. "Well, we've been through a lot together, and if you don't feel the same way that's completely fine I'll never mention it again. I mean, it's really crazy a-and stupid ifyouthinkaboutit. AndbythewaythiswasClank's-"Ratchet's plan of no plan had un-suprisingly de-railed as he started to yammer on. Talwyn just rolled her eyes and grabbed his hands in her own.

"I know Ratchet." She said with a smile.

"See!Iknewthiswasa-"

"No, I mean, I know how you feel about me. I-I overheard you and Clank that one morning." she said simply which seemed to put the brakes on Ratchet's motor mouth.

"Oh, well, eh he he, um." He took another breath. "I don't know what this is Talwyn. I-I don't want to make any promises...but I would like to see if there really is something here. Maybe we could go see a holo-vid or something. Just the two of us? After your visit of course." He said, waiting for her reply.

Talwyn looked down at Ratchet's hands. They were soft on top where his fur was, and underneath they were calloused, yet funnily enough still soft and warm. It wasn't like he was professing his love for her or proposing or anything serious like that. Just a date. And as dates went, she figured he wouldn't be the worst.

"Okay." she said, with a small blush on her cheeks. At first Ratchet didn't register that she had said yes. But once he had, his face contorted into an uncontrollable smile.

"Awesome! That's great!" he said, then from a raised eyebrow from Talwyn he composed himself and covered with "I uh mean, that's cool...I guess." Talwyn playfully slapped the smirk off of his face.

"Okay Hot-Shot, enough distractions, let's get you packed already." She said, laughing as she helped him carry his luggage to Aphelion. Soon Clank emerged from the cockpit announcing that Aphelion was ready for the trip, noticing a strange expression on both of their faces. Ratchet gave Talwyn one last hug before he reluctantly let go and climbed in. Talwyn waved them both goodbye as the ship climbed higher into the sky, and then zooming towards the limitless space.

I'm baaaaack! Finally sat down and made a new chapter yall! I really really really want to finish this fic because I had so much planned for it. Hopefully with spring break coming up I can take a day or two off from chaos and finish! Anyway thank you all for the awesome views and reviews! Next chapter I promise I'm going to do a Q and A so if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, just post em in the review and I'll take a looky at them.

Stay Shiny!

~Stardust