A Reluctant Encounter

I Am Ratchet

Ratchet was sitting next to his long time friend clank, he smile thinking how it was great being reunited with him but now the galaxy once again was in peril and he wasn't there to protect it. Ratchet felt it was his responsibility to save the galaxy but he was tired of it being in constant peril he didn't want to save it again, he had thought of going to live on Pokitaru but he felt like he had no choice but to save it ever since he met Clank he felt like he had to.

He knew Clank cared for him and he would not force anything upon him, Clank understood the stress of saving a whole galaxy even when you had to deal with people like Qwark who would steal the credit from you, like he did with him defeating Dr. Nefarious, and Qwark was going to be promoted to being the inter-galactic president of the Polaris galaxy but Clank had told him that a true hero did good deeds without anyone looking.

Now as he was waiting for Irving even when he knew that Rowe wouldn't let him go no matter what, until she felt he was trust worthy but Ratchet knew what he had to do and now he couldn't wait for permission from anyone, he and Clank would have to go alone even if they went by force and as he looked at Clank he could see a hint of sadness in his eyes. They would have to betray a friend, a friend they knew and yet they didn't know, and the consequences could be dire, he knew after this that they would be hunted down until they were captured and killed, maybe tortured, and all of this would be from a friend, a friend no more.

Clank realized this as soon as they looked at each other but deep down they'll be together to the end fighting for a cause and hunted for a reason Angela thought right. But they knew that the right thing to do was to prevent another disaster from happening and Clank had informed him that this new threat was getting severe by the day, that planets were being invaded and the army was growing fast, and if this kept going the galaxy won't have a chance and even he had his limits.

One day Ratchet won't be able to keep doing this alone with Clank, he'll meet his match and he will die, he and Clank realized this the first time they went on missions together even if he wouldn't admit it because of his stubbornness back in those days. He smiled at Clank and Clank looked back at him telling him it was almost time to go, and when they go they'll never look back, they'll keep going and maybe if they survived this he'll find away to forgive Angela, make it up.

Irving came back but with Rowe who looked at him funny, she knew that he planned something but he had no time he reacted grabbing Clank, Rowe had taken out a switch but he ran past her and as he pasted he whispered in her ear "I'm sorry, but I am Ratchet," hearing an alarm sound and a bunch of scientist screaming and diving for cover.

He ran for his life and rounded a corner to be faced with robotic guards armed with plasma coils, Ratchet wasn't armed and they fired. Ratchet reacted quickly running and avoiding the projectile by jumping off the side of the wall then slamming his foot against the head of one of the foes, he had enough time to snatch the plasma coil out of the guards grip and shoot the guard in the face causing the guards head to fly six feet hitting another guard which gave him enough time to somersault out of the way of an incoming blast.

"Ratchet!" Clank shouted to warn him of a guard who was about to hit him with it's weapon.

Ratchet ducked and darted through the hall "thanks pal I owe you one!" as he ran through the hall he could hear that the doors were closing behind him and the guards chasing him, he knew he was close to the docking bay by one floor, but the door ahead of him closed shut but he spotted a laundry shoot "brace your Clank we're going for a ride!"

Ratchet dived down slamming down on his back, twisting and turning then he shot out shoot landing on the ground painfully, but he had no time and he quickly pushed himself up and dashes through the docking bay towards his ship. But before he entered he spotted his wrench sealed up in a glass case next to a rock sealed in a similar case, Ratchet rolled his eyes.

"Looks like it's that puzzle again, use wrench to get rock and rock to break glass to wrench," Clank laughed his ever so familiar laugh that made Ratchet smile.

Ratchet used his plasma coil to shatter the glass and he grabbed the wrench "ok buddy, let's go!" he ran up to Aphelion. "Aphelion get ready to set course to the Polaris galaxy on the double!" Ratchet jumped in just as the guards started piling in and shooting.

Aphelion shot out of the docking bay gaining speed and entering space "WELCOME BACK RATCHET."

"Glad to be back Aphelion, I just hope we can make it on time," Ratchet said.

"Ratchet, they will be following and I don't think they'll be welcoming this time," Clank said worried.

"I know, but they will have to put up a fight to stop us now," Ratchet looked at Clank and smiled.

"Shouldn't you check up Talwyn?" Clank asked.

"We don't want to get them involved, I don't want anything to happen to them," Ratchet sighed.

"But Ratchet, she must be worried," Clank said looking at him sadly.

"Yes, but we need to keep going and we can't stay at the same places for long, but just when I know we're safe and aren't going to put anyone else at risk, that's when I'll visit I promise," Ratchet looked at his friend reassuring him. Ratchet and Clank escaped from the clutches of a now perusing enemy, not knowing what's in store for them in days to come.