Hello again. This is my favorite/least favorite chapter. Don't forget to follow/fav.
All noncanon characters are mine.
Kaden took the younger lombaxes to his hideout. It was small but oddly cozy, machinery scattered everywhere and everything in a general organized chaos. Talia decided not to join their crew as she was very angry with her brother for what he did. She told them she would join them later after the urge to kill her brother went away.
"I know it's not much," Kaden said, clearing some spaces to host his guests. "But it's home." He sat down and faced the three younger lombaxes, smiling. "I never thought I'd see another lombax again, let alone my son, my sister, and Alister's kids."
Rolin nodded and smiled at his uncle. "I never thought I was going to meet you," his smile turned sad. "Everyone thinks you're dead."
Kaden sighed and rested his hand on his knees. "That might be for the best, actually. They're safer there."
Kori looked at Ratchet for a moment and then to Kaden. "Well...what if the lombaxes came back?" The other three looked at her with looks that made her question opening her big mouth. "The Cragmites are gone, aren't they? The lombaxes would be safe from them and we'd be able to come back to our ancestral roots and rebuild."
Ratchet looked back at his father. "Right, that's what Alister fought for. To bring the lombaxes back to their full glory and not hiding in a pocket dimension." He spoke firmly. "Tachyon is gone, the lombaxes are safe now."
Kaden shook his head. "The lombaxes will never be truly safe, even with the Cragmites gone." He placed his hand on Ratchet's shoulder. "That's why I sent you to the Solana Galaxy, to protect you."
Ratchet lowered his head and Rolin spoke up. "Why didn't you send him with us to the Lombax Dimension? He could have grown up knowing his people and, in a way, you."
Kaden sighed sadly. "You have no idea how many times I questioned my past decisions." He leaned back in his seat and couldn't look at the youths in front of him. "I knew I needed someone to protect the lombaxes from this dimension, and in my mind, that was my son." Kaden closed his eyes and rubbed his brow. "But Tachyon was closing in and there was an escape pod. I set it to the Solana Galaxy, not thinking about the life I set up for my son but thinking about saving my son's life.
"I really should have known how hurt Talia would be." Kaden nodded and looked at Ratchet, who looked back at him with sadness. "She never wanted kids herself but she loved being your aunt." He took a deep breath and looked away. "Talia was the one taking care of you when Tachyon attacked, she led everyone to the Court while carrying you. I went to save your mother but…" he dropped his head and closed his eyes.
Kori moved closer to Kaden. "A lot was lost that day. We have a memorial every year on the anniversary of Tachyon's assault."
The room was quiet for a little while before Rolin sighed and placed his hand on Kori's knee. "I think it's time we went home." Kaden nodded silently.
Kori looked at her brother and frowned. "But, Rolin, we are home."
Rolin shook his head. "We don't belong here anymore, we belong with the rest of our family."
Kori looked at Ratchet and Kaden. "But…" Her heart leaped to her throat.
"We can't stay, Kori," Rolin grasped her shoulders. "I promised Mom I would bring you back, she'd be lost without you." He took a deep breath and pulled her closer to him. "You're one of the last things she has to remember Dad by. You can't just take that away from her."
His sister's eyes welled up with tears, she took her arm and forced Rolin's hands off her. Kori stood up, looked at the others before she turned and left, pulling the formally sliding doors hard behind her. Rolin and Kaden sighed and lowered their heads.
Ratchet looked back and forth between his elders before following Kori out. Kori had torn the doors a little off their tracks, putting them back on Ratchet was able to get out. He found Kori in the Court, curled up in a ball in the center of the floor. "Hey," He said quietly. "Mind if I sit here?"
The slightest nod from Kori gave Ratchet permission and he sat down next to her. Clank dropping off Ratchet's back and sitting on Kori's other side. She smiled a small smile through her tears, seeing both Ratchet and Clank. Kori sniffled and grasped both her friends' hands. "I don't want to go…"
Ratchet squeezed her hand. "Then don't."
Kori leaned on Ratchet and shook her head. "But my mom…"
Clank moved more in front of Kori. "Your mother loves you, I'm sure she would understand." Ratchet nodded and rested his head on Kori's. "I'm sure your mother wants you to be happy."
Kori smiled and rubbed her right eye's tear away. "This is why you're the smart one, Clank."
Clank laughed and smiled. "It is just some wisdom I had said to me once."
Ratchet rubbed away Kori's tears. "And he'll dish it out when it's needed." Kori smiled at the two and hugged them tightly.
"Time for final goodbyes," came the voice behind them. They turned around to see to General Olympic, Rolin, and Kaden. General Olympic got on her com and spoke firmly. "Hounder, we are ready for pickup. The girl is in hand and threat is neutralized."
Hounder's voice came through. "Copy. Locking onto your position, the portal should be appearing shortly."
Rolin picked Kori up off the ground. "We're going home now, Kori." He tried to dust her off but she hit him. "Say goodbye."
Kori stepped back toward Ratchet, Kaden, and Clank. "I'm staying."
"Don't be stupid, Kori." Rolin grabbed her hands and pulled her toward himself and General Olympic. "You're coming home."
Kori fought against her brother. "That place was never my home." She stomped on her brother's foot and pulled against him it felt like his arms were coming out of their sockets. "Let me go, Rolin!"
Ratchet and Clank stood and tried to help Kori. "She wants to stay here." Ratchet tried to pull Kori's hands from Rolin's grip.
Clank helped Kori stomp on Rolin's feet. "It is her choice to stay or go!"
Kaden held out a hand, frowning deeply. "Son…"
General Olympic looked at her brother and frowned. She was still upset with him. Olympic went to the group and separate them. "Enough of this." She ordered. "Kori, you are coming back to the Lombax Dimension, that is not up for debate. Kaden and Ratchet," she turned to her brother and nephew. "It was nice to see you. Goodbye." She turned and walked away.
Ratchet watched her. "Goodbye, that's all?" He frowned and almost followed after her. "You're not even going to offer to take either of us to the Lombax Dimension?"
Olympic couldn't look at Ratchet. "I believe it best that you are continued to be believed as dead." She remained firm and stern. "Years ago I believed what was left of my family to have been lost to me. Now that it is my choice, I wish to continue as normally as I can."
Kaden took a step toward his sister. "Talia, I'm sorry."
Olympic growled and glared piercing daggers at her brother. "I have no reason to forgive you for what you've done, Kaden." She jabbed her finger at him, standing firm. "You broke my heart long ago. My own brother." Olympic's hands turned to fists. "You left me alone to repair a broken people, you took away the two loves of my life."
Kaden tried to go up to his sister but he stopped short when she held up her hand at him. "I know that what I did was wrong. I hurt you and I'm sorry." He pleaded with her. "Talia, please don't let this be the end."
Olympic turned away and looked down. "The Talia you knew back then died, Kaden." She turned her back on her brother. "Her still-beating heart ripped out the day you left her." Without another look at her brother or her nephew, Olympic walked away to wait for the portal.
Rolin took a page from General Olympic's book and grabbed Kori's arm firmly. The room was deathly quiet as the portal opened up before them. Olympic walked in without looking back, Rolin dragged Kori but before she was pulled in she ripped her arm from her brother's grasp.
"Kori!" Rolin grasped wildly for her.
Kori pushed her brother into the portal and backed away as quickly as she could. "I'm sorry." She breathed. "Tell Mom I love her." The portal closed up behind Rolin and everything stood still.
Ratchet slowly came up behind Kori and touched her shoulder. Kori smiled at him wildly and tackled him in a hug. Ratchet looked at Kaden and Clank, who smiled at him and gently hugged Kori back.
Kaden nodded and clapped his hands together. "Now...how about we rebuild?" He grinned at Kori and Ratchet.
Clank smiled too. "With three lombaxes and my help, it should be easy."
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