Again, some late night writing for my readers! Though an hour better than last time :D
Now this is where the main plotline begins. Well, the next chapter is the one that hints at it. This one is more like a hint of a hint :P
Anyhue, enjoy it! :)
I messed the place up even more as I sifted through the shelves for some nanotech and bandages. I found neither in the small broom closet we were in. All that was there was brooms, a bin, some sort of cleaning spray, sponges, cloths and… A bottle of water! I raced to grab it, as well as the cloths. Better a clean would than a bloody one.
In the process of wiping all the blood off, I used almost all the water, as well as a sponge to mop it up since the cloths were just smearing it all over the place. Bit im saying that, they made decent makeshift bandages, even though I ran out. With a now cleaner wound, I carried Talwyn to the control room. She flinched when I went too fast, so It took a bit longer to get back. Still a tonne faster than walking. When we arrived, I was glad to find no last minute Cragmites readying for battle in the room. I was also glad to see Clanks Security backup waiting for us.
"I cleaned up a few missing pieces of the virus that were hiding in Clanks feet. We won't be having any stowaways in this Robot, that's for sure!"
"More important situation over here…" I held back from shouting, throwing a quick glance at Talwyn to make it clear to the old bot who I was talking about.
"Oh, right. So I'm guessing she got hurt in battle? Luckily you're a capable young fellow. Else she'd be-" My glare threw him off his words. I really didn't have any time for this.
"Is there any nanotech around here at all?"
"Uhh, sorry but no. There is however a teleporter. Maybe you have a first aid kit in the garage?" For once a good idea came out of that mans mouth.
"Great. Now we gotta go, as you should be able to tell why."
"Right. Well thanks! Clank should be up in approximately 3 minutes and 55 seconds." I gave him a nod before stepping onto the teleporter pad. The last thing I saw of Clanks interior was the blue robot giving me a lazy wave and then all of a sudden; a massive garage overwrote my vision.
I quickly set Talwyn down on the ground and Zapped her back up to size. It only took another green flash before I was back up to size. I slowly picked her back up and walked her over to my room. Still unconscious, but not having any bad dreams, I left her on my bed leaving with a quick kiss on the cheek.
I knew for a fact that there was no nanotech in my garage as when I left to Kerwan, I took all my valuables with me. So it looked like I would have to zoom over to the hospital in the city, they should fix her up in a matter of seconds.
But before I left for the city, there was someone I had to catch up with. A small robot who lay on the floor, rebooting. Based on what Clanks Security Backup said, I still had about 2 minutes to wait, so I took this as the chance to tame the monster in my stomach. I chose 3 heat and eat pies for the speedy preparation, and stomach taming factors. Within the minute I was munching down on some delicious mince and cheese pie. Well delicious to the guy who hasn't eaten anything for at least 3 days.
Soon enough Clank sat up off the floor. He shook his head like anyone else would who had been unconscious for hours, and his optic receivers widened at the sight of the messy garage that surrounded him.
"Hey, Pal. How you doing?" I managed to say through mouthfulls of pie.
"Fine. You?"
"Fantastic. First thing I've eaten in three days. So good!"
The robot smiled at me before getting up. The quiet patter of his footsteps echoed throughout the garage as he walked towards me. His Heli-Pack helped him reach the barstool next to mine, and he sat down again.
"Were we not just in Polaris?" He asked me promptly. I grinned.
"Yeah we were… But a wormhole device led us here. Do you remember the Cragmite Vessel we checked out?"
"No. The last thing I remember was our phone call with Talwyn." The robot said to me curiously.
"Strange… Well you see. After that, a big metal ball hit our ship. Talwyn picked us up three days later, but instead of going home we decided to check out where this sphere had came from - You being awake at this time. It was a Cragmite Assassin Pod, or something like that. According to Aphelion, the Docking Vessel shouldn't have been too far away. So we got there, and found some, well not just some, allot, of blood. Then we found ourselves here."
"Hmmm, interesting… I have no recollection of anything after our phone call with Talwyn. Talking of her, how is she?"
"That's the next part to the story… Your Security Backup Guy shrunk me down to rid you of a Cragmite virus. Talwyn came along and got hurt in the process. She is now on my bed unconscious, and I need to get going to the hospital. No phone and no nanotech. Could you look after her for me please? I shouldn't be too long."
My friend nodded, understanding everything, and probably searching his offline databases for some information on Cragmite viruses.
"I will see you soon, Ratchet."
"Thanks, Pal." I gave him a quick pat on the back before hopping off my stool. I began to walk towards the door, quickly jumping over a few scrap heaps on the way. The cold air blasted into the garage as I opened the side door.
"Ill be back with an ambulance!" I shouted before the wind slammed the door in my face.
I sped towards the hospital at full speed, my hoverboots warming up my feet from the Ion thrusters which had been pushed to max settings. There were only two thoughts I had on my way to the hospital; Talwyn, and how much I hated having wet fur. Tool wasn't wrong when he said the weather wasn't going to be so great. The water was soon soaking through my holoflux armour which I had still forgotten to turn off. My tail was feeling twice as heavy, and I had to shake it occasionally so that the water wouldn't drag it down on the floor. The only things that were relative dry were my feet. It was quite an odd sensation having really warm feet but a cold face, body, tail, ears, hands and every other body part being attacked by the wind and rain.
It took a short while, but I eventually saw the lights of the city up ahead. A crowd cheered from the stadium as a wet game went on between two teams playing sports. The grey wall that fortified the city stood strong, and the guard tower had quickly flashed a heavy light at me. I gave them a quick wave whilst speeding, and the gates opened as I got closer. They probably knew me. Then again everyone knows me… Everyone 3 galaxies wide.
Passing through the gates, I decided to give my overheating boots a rest and run the rest of the way. It was only a two minute run anyway, not an endless one like that time I almost died looking for crystals on Tabora. That monk… 'Ommmnnnnn!' Which I translated into 'Go away until you have some more crystals for me.'
I slid around a corner, almost losing balance as I did so. Sprinting in the rain may not have been the best of my ideas, but at least it was for good reason. Up ahead, the Defence force headquarters was two my right, as well as the bar to my left. I waved at the security camera as I ran past, and I'm sure Tool would see that sooner or later.
Finally, the hospital was right ahead of me. A 5 minute hoverboot here would turn into a 2 minute ride home in the Ambulance. The while building with a blue cross on is, and paintings of nanotech orbs surrounding the word 'Hospital'. I stormed into the building. I felt pairs of eyes look at me as the automatic doors shut behind me. Some smiled, happy to see me. Others just went back do reading the paper, or moaning about not being able to see the big sports match.
"Ahh, hi. I need a doctor to come in an ambulance to my house. My friend is injured and-"
"Fill in the form and we'll be with you in half an hour." The bored nurse said without even taking her eyes off the screen.
"I'm afraid you don't understand. My frie-"
"I understand, Sir. This happens every day. Someone one's a special ride in the Ambulance instead of in their crappy hovercar. Or apparently their legs are broken. Most of all, it's a little girls birthday who want my job when she grows up. There's always an excuse for-"
"It took me 10 minutes to hoverboot here in the pouring rain, so I could get an Ambulance for my girlfriend who may or may not be bleeding to death, but I'd at least expect you to help so she'll be able to walk again thanks!" I finally yelled. And she finally looked at me, mouth wide open. Actually everyone was looking at me. I suppose it's not everyday you see the Last Lombax shout at a nurse. Talking of the nurse, I think she realised who I was because she seemed to be holding back some excitement.
"I'll be right with you, Ratchet. I apologise for my earlier attitude. How bad is her condition?" Finally! Some help!
"Unconscious, bleeding from the legs. It's been about 20 minutes since she was attacked. I wont bother with the full story"
"Derrick!" She shouted behind the counter suddenly. "Get the Zoombulance! Near death emergency!" I heard some paper fall down and a geeky voice response.
"Alright, Celia. Doing that now!"
"Right this way, Sir." She spoke to me again. What a difference one sentence could make to the attitude of a nurse.
She led me through the hallway to the Hospitals Garage. There were 3 hovercars stored here. Two white and blue ones, and a black one coated in flames. The Zoombulance was my best guess at it's name.
Derrick had began pulling a chain to open the door, muttering about a faulty door system, and Celcia was telling another doctor what to do, since as a supervisor she couldn't leave the hospital grounds.
Once he had finished, Derrick hopped into the car and started it up. It's engine rumbled through the room and I could only think of what illegal modifications were made on this.
"Where to?" The man asked me after the initial rev of the engine.
"24 Kyzil Plateau."
"Got it. Hop in sir, we're all ready to go.
I nodded and walked towards the rumbling vehicle. The plush leather interior didn't have tail holes though. This was going to be an uncomfortable ride, luckily it was going to be short. However, it looked like I was not going to be able to find out as a scaly purple fist made contact with my face. I was knocked to the ground by a mysterious person.
"Just go!" I yelled at Derrick, who probably noted that I could handle my own.
By the time I got back up, the rear side of the Ambulance was miniscule. But so was the traces of my attacker. My wrench was out, ready for anything and I looked outside for an untrustworthy looking person. Suddenly I was pulled from behind. My body was slammed up against the wall. There was a hand on my chest, a foot on my tail, and a gun pointed at my head.
"Hey, Ratchet. Long time no see."
Yay! Cliffhangers! I know you love me for it ;)
But that's all for now. At least it's only a 3 day wait, not a monthly wait :P