Here we go with chapter 10 and I know its a little late to be saying this but, WE HAVE NOW HIT THE 400 MARK. Its actually at 411 views but I just had to get that out. Thank you so much for reading and supporting this story, seeing that tells me that you guys like this story and I should continue, It motivates me to move on you know. But enough about me lets get to the part where you guys start reading.

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Disclaimer:

Ratchet and Clank, associated characters, weapons, locations, etc. belong to insomniac games. some real world companies and organizations belong to their respective owners, etc. I only own the right to some characters and some weapons and events introduced in the story.

Fame Controls You

Blackwater City

Planet Rigar

4:03pm GST

It was a dark and cloudy day as the group landed outside Blackwater City. As they got out of the ship Jordan saw that they landed on an island formation and he approached the edge and took off his jacket and put it into the water. He saw that the yellow goo on his jacket hasn't really stained it and it came off with ease.

'I really hate wearing damp clothing, but I really have no choice at this point'. As Jordan came up towards the three he saw that Ratchet has bought another glove, but it looked different.

"What did you buy this time" Jordan asked.

"Its a mine glove" Ratchet replied. Jordan then put his jacket on and put Sophia on his back and the duo walked over into a small building where one of those men in the hazmat suits came out and shot green fumes at them. Ratchet and Jordan dodged it.

"Hey were not those green things, its ok" Jordan said as the man ignored him and continued spraying at them. The duo then ran back and Ratchet threw a mine in which the man didn't see and ran over it, causing the mine to explode and kill him. They then walked into the building and saw some bolt crates. Jordan let Ratchet grab them and then they walked out to where there were giant armored crates floating on the water, which lead to the other side. Ratchet stepped back a bit and used Clanks helipack to run and jump, causing the helipack to activate and give him a little boost to make it to the crates. Ratchet then looked back at Jordan and saw that he forgot about him.

"Hang on I'm coming back over" Ratchet said before Jordan stopped him.

"No wait, I have an idea", Jordan then saw the gap and knew that it was makeable with his machete. He then pulled it out, pressed the button, stepped back, and ran as fast as he could and made a giant leap. He barely made it as he drove the knife at the bottom of the crate, Ratchet then looked down and held out his hand. Jordan grabbed it and Ratchet pulled him up, Jordan then unsheathed his machete and the two jumped over to the other side. They saw yet another building but the door was locked by a yellow button laying outside the door. Jordan reluctantly pressed the button, then the door opened and three more hazmat men came out. Jordan decided to use his bomb glove and threw one at the men, but only two died. Ratchet then pulled out his blaster and shot the last one twice to take it down. They then went in the building and saw an ameboid. The ameboid saw the duo and started slowly making its way towards them. Ratchet took out his pyrocitor and started to burn it. Pretty soon it exploded into two giant globs and Jordan saw that they were moving. Jordan then saw that they transformed into two but much smaller ameboids. Jordan pulled out his blaster and shot each one. They both exploded into two even more smaller globs which transformed again. Ratchet used is pyrocitor on them again and this time they showered into green goo, but luckily didnt get back up again. They walked over a bridge and went into an elevator where they saw an ameboid and a yellow button. Jordan pushed it again and it opened two doors, where three hazmat men in each door came out and started attacking the ameboid. Jordan used this distraction to his advantage and went through one of the doors and saw on the other side was an air taxi. Ratchet followed him and the duo took the taxi to downtown Blackwater City. As they readied to land they saw that there were multiple ameboids being attacked by more hazmat men and on the other side was a tank patrolling up and down a road. They started to sneak past the fighting and made their way towards the tank. The tank noticed the duo and started to move towards them. Ratchet immedeatley tossed two mines down and the tank went over them, the first one damaging its armor, and the second one destroying it. Jordan then noticed a man with visors similar to Skidds was gesturing him to come over to him, Ratchet also saw him and followed. They soon approached the man and he had a deep voice.

"RYNO for your robot, Trade ya" the mysterious man said

"Well..alright" Ratchet said

"RATCHET" Clank yelled

"I'm kidding, sorry he's not for sale, whats a RYNO anyway"

"Rip ya a new one"

"What did you just say to me" Ratchet said, thinking that it was a threat.

"R-Y-N-O, rip ya, a new one"

"Why that's the most powerful missile launcher in the galaxy" Clank said "I know its worth alot of bolts, he must've stolen it from the Blarg".

"Stolen, look trash can, you better watch your mouth or I'll"

"Wait don't tell me, rip ya a new one" Ratchet said as he asked for how much it was. He told them he wants one hundred and fifty thousand bolts for it. The Lombax and human knew they would not get that kind of money for a while so they decided to come back once they have that much. The duo walked over to a button that the tank was guarding, it then opened a door leading to another elevator, they took the elevator and walked into a little caver where in the center there was a pit with multiple doors, three ameboids, and another button in the middle. They decided to go down, Jordan ran over to the button and pushed it, which made all the doors open and six hazmat men come out and start to attacking the ameboids. The duo then sneaked past the fight and went through one of the doors where there was another elevator. They then arrived at the top where there were multiple laser gates with more buttons. Ratchet pressed one and it unlocked one of the gates, they walked through and pressed another, opening another gate. But this time a hazmat guy was waiting behind the gate they open and came rushing at them. Jordan used his bomb glove and threw one at the man and killed him. They walked into the next one and opened another gate. This one though had some bolt crates which Jordan then destroyed, he now had 6300 bolts. They opened another gate and saw an ameboid on the other side this time. Ratchet took out his pyrocitor and started sweeping the first one, then the two smaller ones, then the final two smallest ones. They opened another gate and there was nothing in it this time, they opened the last gate and it finally led them to the other side. They saw a manhole that was being pushed up by steam, which made Jordan question how so much steam pressure could lift up such an object, But the two went on the manhole and it floated them up and over a high ledge. They went into a building where a tank waited for them. Unfortunately they got to close to it and it shot out a green gas that the two dodged and backed away and planned.

"Green gas, Really, I was expecting something a little more, combustible" Jordan said.

"Well what do you plan we do" Ratchet asked.

"Simple, just do what we did last time, I distract, you kill" Jordan said as he got closer and started to run around the tank, having it focus its gas on him. Ratchet then went up and threw one bomb which destroyed a little bit of its armor and then a final one finishing it off. The two went through another elevator and it took them up to an area where there were multiple trees and surrounded by lamps in the center was a lady dressed in purple spandex. The group approached the lady and she spoke.

"Welcome to the hovercon interglactic hoverboard competition, Captain Qwark is giving away a platinum zoomerator to the winner of this competition" The lady said, surprising Jordan that its made of something that is easily relatable to earth.

"A platinum zoomerator" Clank exclaimed "Perhaps that will be the proof of your accomplishments that Skidds agent requires"

"Wait, do you guys mean Skidd Mckmarx" The lady said surprised.

"Yeah Skidd couldn't make it so were here to, you know, fill in for him" Ratchet said.

"Guess will see about that", the lady then pulled out a holographic signing sheet that Ratchet signed, then a teleporter came out of the ground to take them over to the track. Ratchet put clank on his back and got in the teleporter and looked over at Jordan.

"Don't worry about us Ratchet, were just gonna wait here" Jordan said.

"Alright" Ratchet said.

"Oh and Ratchet", Ratchet then looked at Jordan.

"Good luck". Ratchet then got in the teleporter and dissapeared, the teleporter then went back in the ground and Jordan and Sophia situated themselves on a bench and saw that three large TVs were hovering and it displayed a time that said Race begins in 10.58 minutes.

It was real silent for the three minutes that they sat there, but soon Jordan decided to break the silence.

"So" Jordan said which made Sophia look at him

"Are you feeling ok" Jordan said

"Yeah" Sophia said, "Why"

"Just wondering". Jordan then sat there and thought what to say next.

"Uuh do you know how to swim Sophia"

"No", Jordan then sat there and he know what to say to Sophia but he is wondering if it would be the right thing to say to her, he didnt want to startle her or anything. But he decided to ask her.

"If you don't know how to swim, then why were you in that lake back on Veldin". Sophia was a little startled at the question and started to hesitate and look away. Jordan knew that she probably didn't trust him enough to say stuff like that but Jordan reassured her. "You don't trust me do you", Sophia still said nothing, "Its ok to tell me Sophia, I just wanna help you". Sophia then slowly looked at him and slowly spoke.

"Well, I was hungry and I wanted food, I saw fish in that lake and started to fish"

"I didn't see you with any fishing poles though"

"I found a sharp stick and used it instead"

"But you were in the center of the lake, maybe you should of fished on the shore"

"They were all in the center though and I wanted food really bad, so I found a log sticking out towards the center, and I started to climb it to reach them"

"But that's dangerous, the log could break and you could fall in the water", Jordan saw Sophia put her head down and saw her ears drop a bit.

"I am guessing that's what happened", Jordan then could see Sophia slowly look up.

"I saw one and got it, as I started to walk off it the log snapped and I fell in"

"Oh, well I am sorry you didn't get the fish"

"How do you know I didn't get it"

"Well I didn't see a stick or fish when I rescued you"

"Oh, well ok". Jordan then looked at the TV and it said Race starting in 5.10 minutes.

'Wow time flies fast', Jordan then looked at Sophia.

"Umm, Sophia, if I am allowed to ask, why did you say you didn't have any parents". Sophia was real hesitant again "You can tell me Sophia, its okay" Sophia then told him.

"Their dead"

"Oh, well, I am sorry to hear that, those are some nice clothes they gave you"

Sophia looked down at her clothes then looked back up at Jordan "My parents didn't give me these". Jordan was surprised when she said that, Jordan now wondered how she got those clothes.

"They didn't" Jordan said, and Sophia nodded "Well, who did then".

She hesitated a bit but then she said something that surprised Jordan "The people back at the orphanage did".

"Wait, you were at one", Jordan said and saw Sophia nodd. Jordan didn't think that she was already at one and reluctantly rejected taking her to one. He wondered though why isn't she there, but he thought if she is residents at one, then taking her back might actually be the right thing. "They must be worried sick about you...well once Ratchet comes back from the race, maybe I could help you get-".

"NO" Sophia yelled, interrupting Jordan, "Please don't take me back, Please"

"What do you mean"

"I don't wanna go back, that place is..." Sophia hesitated like she was trying to say something "Hell" she finally said.

"Hey, that's not a nice thing to say" Jordan said.

"I'm sorry but that's what it is" Jordan could then see tears develop "There mean to me".

"How are they mean, you mean the people"

"No, the other kids there, they call me names and bully me and always get me into trouble, And nobody believes me" Jordan could then start to hear her sob and Jordan pulled her into a hug again and let her sob into his jacket while he rubbed her back.

"Its okay Sophia...I'm sorry I ever asked. but, may I ask how you got out"

Sophia then looked up at Jordan "I saw a hole in the fence of the playground and it led outside the orphanage, I waited for everyone to sleep and stole the keys leading to the playground, I went out and crawled through the hole and got out".

"You escaped" Jordan could then hear Sophia quietly cry in his jacket and Jordan tried to calm her down.

"Its okay Sophia, don't cry, they wont hurt you now"

"I'm not crying because of that"

"Your not"

"Your taking me back aren't you" Jordan was shocked at what he heard from her. He was thinking about it but after she told him everything, he didn't want to now.

"What, No No No, of course not"

"Y-your not"

"No, I mean I was, but if it bothers you that much and it bothers you so much that you would escape, I wont take you back"

"You p-promise you wont take me back"

"You have my word" Jordan said as he raised his right hand and looked directly at her when he said it

Sophia then stopped crying and wiped the tears out of her eyes "Thank you" she said.

"Your welcome honey" Sophia then sat back in the bench and thought for a second.

"Jordan" Sophia said as Jordan looked slowly towards her.

"Yeah Sophia"

"What were you guys talking about back on Metropolis"

"What do you mean"

"I heard you yell, what were you guys talking about". Jordan was real hesitant on what to tell her but he told her anyway.

"Well, we were talking about taking you to a orphanage in Metropolis"

"What"

"I didn't make the call Sophia" Jordan said quickly "It was Ratchet and Clank who called it".

"Well, why didn't you take me"

"Because I told them you weren't there responsibility and you were more safer with me. I told them as long as I am still standing, I will decide what is and what isn't best for you".

"Well, uuhh, okay Jordan" The two then looked at the TV and it said Race starting in 0.15 seconds.

"can you see from there Sophia" Jordan asked.

"Uuhh I guess" Sophia said, Jordan then put Sophia on his shoulders and now she could view the TV. The clock then slowly counted down Race starting in 5..4..3..2..1... The tv then showed a birds eye veiw of the track and at the start were six holograms of Skidd on hoverboards and the last person behind them was no other than Ratchet and Clank, waving at the camera hoping the duo was watching. The camera then paned to a view where they saw the start board and the lights started going down until they finally hit the green and all of the racers were off, unfortunately leaving Ratchet in last place. The Track went around in a giant circle so Ratchet had plenty of space to catch up, Ratchet then went over an ion booster allowing him to catch up with the rest. Ratchet then merely avoided a stack of explosive crates but allowed one of the racers to hit it instead, this put Ratchet into fourth place. Ratchet used an ion booster to then go up a ramp onto a platform above one of the racers. One of the racers though went on an ion booster and caught up in front of him. Ratchet then jumped from the platform and onto an ion booster and jumped on a ramp over the racer putting him in third place. He then crossed the line to finish his first lap. Ratchet used another ion booster and caught up with the third person. This one was a little more smarter then the other two and used a ramp to jump over Ratchet and onto a platform above him. Ratchet had to think as they were getting close to the line and then he thought of something. He followed him and as the racer was ready to jump off the platform, Ratchet got in front of him, and caused him to aim his trajectory towards another stack of explosive crates. Ratchet was now on his final lap in second place. Ratchet now had eyes on the final racer, Ratchet saw more ion boosters and used them combining various jumps and platforms to catch up to him. They were now together and bolting it towards the finish line, Ratchet was now thinking critically and time was of the essence, he had to think of something and then he finally thought of something. Ratchet started pushing the other racer with the other racer doing the same. They kept pushing until they found another stack of explosive crates. Ratchet was now starting to get pushed closer to the crates until at a last split second, he saw an ion booster. He broke away and went on the booster, He then made a sharp turn towards the racer and pushed him into the crates. Ratchet kept pushing him until at a last split second, he sharply turned right to miss the crates and the racer flew off his hoverboard, off the track, and Ratchet went through the finish line, winning the race. The TV could now be heard with loud sounds of people applauding and cheering with Ratchet waving at the crowd. The duo started to clap at his accomplishment.

"He did it" Sophia exclaimed

"Yes,yes he did" Jordan added

'Not bad for that scrawny little furball'. The teleporter then came out of the ground again and Ratchet came out with the hoverboard in his hand. Jordan approached Ratchet.

"What did I tell ya, I told you that would be more useful to you than me", Jordan then held out his fist towards Ratchet and they both fist bumped. they looked at one of the screens and on one of them showed the recap of the race, and on another one was no other than Captain Qwark.

"Hi folks, Captain Qwark here, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce this years hovercon intergalactic champions, lets give it up for newcomers.." the TV then displayed a picture of Ratchet and Clank that looked like a picture from a surveillance camera then a robotic voice announced their names "Ratchet, and Clank".

"Hey look that's us" Ratchet said towards Clank, not knowing the picture didn't have Jordan or Sophia in them.

"Today's winners will take home a brand new professional grade model T15 platinum zommerator" The lady held it in her hand and then tossed it to Ratchet "Manufactured by Gadgetron, this hoverboard drive delivers more lift, speed, and maneuverability than any other anti gravity device on the market. Well folks that's all the time we have tonight, remember to set your infobot to the Qwark Classic channel for tonight's episode of fight over death canyon, starring yours truly. Thank you and have a Qwarktastic day" the screen then shut off and the group got on an air taxi which had unknown coordinates. The group took it and the taxi led them to an empty area but the saw in the center was a trailer and beside it was a hulking man. The group approached the man.

"Hey,Hey, Hey press conference is over, Captain Qwark doesn't want any reporters bugging him in his trailer" the man said.

"Oh, well you see, my friends and I need to speak to the Captain about intergalactic security" Ratchet said.

"You mean you guys and your walking camera, you paparazzi make me sick now beat it"

"But sir, I am sure the Captain will understand once we-" Clank was then cut off.

"No, No, save it, I know how it works. You convince me to let you in, you snap a picture of the Captain in his underpants, then you sell a picture to the info tabloid for a million bolts"

"You've got it all wrong" Jordan exclaimed.

"Meanwhile, I'm stuck here making six bolts an hour, And I have to listen to a lecture from that cheapskate Qwark. So you don't get in unless I get a kickback, In advance", Jordan decided to pay the bouncer the four thousand bolts he wanted, now having only 2300 bolts left. The bouncer moved from his spot and let them go in. "You see how it works, you grease the hinges, the door opens" Clank was the first to climb up the stairs to get into the room followed by Ratchet and Jordan. And once they got in they saw that Captain Qwark was sleeping on a bed and Jordan proceeded to wake the Captain from his slumber.

"Captain Qwark" Jordan said as the Captain quickly got up.

"Huh, W-What"

"Its Ratchet and Clank Captain, you know from the Hover-" Ratchet said as he was interrupted.

"Oh yes, yes I know who you are"

"You do" Jordan said.

"Yes and thank the galaxy you found me, there's an awful plot being hatched to destroy our planets".

"Ratchet, Jordan, he knows" Clank exclaimed.

"Great, does that mean we can go hoverboarding now"

"My friends, were all in grave danger and I believe that together, we can put a stop to this madness"

"Together, you mean you want our help" Ratchet said.

"Look Ratchet" the Captain than started to turn his attention more towards Ratchet, "I have been keeping and eye on you, and I have never seen anyone with such raw talent, you are a true hero in the making"

"Really, you mean, I could be famous"

"Oh absolutely, oh and take this" Qwark than handed the group an infobot which instantly opened its mouth revealing different slides with people of the same species as the scientists back at BTS. "What makes one man toil an obscurity while another becomes a hero, is it strength, compassion, determination, or just pure blind luck. Wise men through the ages have struggled with that very question, but Captain Qwark knows the secret, That's why he's been able to defeat more desperates, rescue more damsels in distress, and save more civilizations than any other hero in the galaxy. Now's your opportunity to see if you've got the stuff heroes are made of. This infobot contains coordinates to Qwark's secret base. Can you quickly conquer Qwark's killer candidate of qwonfounded complextions? Can you quickly qwon-can-can you Qwarkly quick, Eurgh, just make your way through the defenses to the center of the base. Prove yourself, learn the secret, and earn your place in galactic history" the video then showed Qwarks symbol before he quickly voiced over a health warning "Consult your doctor before attempting any strenuous exercise. Not responsible for death or dismemberment. Your results may vary" The infobot then went over to Clanks compartment and they saw from behind it, Qwark with a microphone announcing loudly "Meet me at...uh" Captain Qwark said before he hid the mic and whispered to the group. "Meet me at my headquarters on planet Umbris".

"Hey Captain Ratchet what do you think" Ratchet added.

"We wont fail you sir, we promise" Clank said determined. The group then left the trailer and took the taxi back to their ship. Ratchet and Jordan first decided though to buy some ammo for their weapons. The group got into the ship and decided where to go. To Umbris to Qwarks headquarters, or Aridia to see the agent and give them the reward.

Ratchet's letting fame get to his brain and Jordan has now had his first real conversation with Sophia. Who know what will happen next, will the group visit the agent so Ratchet could possibly become the next best thing, or will they go to Umbris and complete the course to hopefully become allies with Qwark. Find out in the next chapter, or two.

Thank you for reading