Talwyn stared into the officer's lifeless eyes. Blood oozed out of his abdomen. It was obvious he had been dead for a while by the crusting of blood on his clothes. He was so young; she hadn't even asked his name. She had brushed him off like he was just getting in the way, led him into this twisted mess and now he paid for her negligence with his life. Talwyn felt guilt, but also extreme anger with the smuggler. He had killed the young officer because he felt he couldn't make a profit on him. Everyone in the galaxy knew who she and Ratchet were, but that was no excuse. The young man probably had a family, maybe a spouse and a young child, and friends who cared about him, yet that didn't matter to the crook. Talwyn suddenly realized how far the crazed man would go to get what he wanted and what he was willing to do and she became extremely frightened.

"Poor boy," The smuggler said with false sympathy. "Just another cop blindly risking his life to do what's 'good'. I'm actually surprised you found me though. Don't know what tipped you off, but I was prepared anyway. Thought you were just some druggy teenagers until I checked the cameras I have secured around the building. I had noxious gas rigged into the ventilation in there. At the touch of the button I was able to release it quickly, and here you are. Now let's get back to business."

Talwyn stared at the officer's corpse in a state of shock. The smuggler quickly snapped her out of it though by kicking her swiftly in the jaw.

Ratchet cringed as Tawlyn flew back towards him. He told her not to come find him. He knew this would happen. If only he had never existed, than he wouldn't have hurt so many people. His poor, sweet Talwyn, and now she was going to have to pay for his wrong doings. When did this all start? It felt like a life- time ago. It was hard to believe that just about a month ago Ratchet was sitting in his garage, more concerned with fixing his ship than whether he would live or not. It was then the lombax had a flash of memory from when he was in the hospital, waiting for the nanotech to completely heal him, and for his mental wounds to heal. He remembered sitting on a pristine hospital bed in a mint green hospital gown. In his hand he held one of the smuggler's knifes. Cronk had confiscated it from the smuggler's old where-abouts for evidence. When Ratchet had found out about it he had pleaded to see the weapon. He wanted to see the blade the man had used to threaten him with. They refused numerous times, but finally caved in when they saw the disappointment in Ratchet's eyes. So, there he was surrounded by his friends, holding the tool the smuggler had used to bend them all to his will. That's when the hero thought of ending it all right there. He thought of plunging the knife into his gut before anyone even had the chance to stop him. Sitting there he thought of the perfect way to position the blade so he would be dead before they could try and revive him. It would have been an ironic death. Dying by the dagger they had all worked tirelessly to stop from killing him. Looking back on it now, Ratchet regretted not following through with his plan.

Here's the next chapter. I haven't been really motivated to write, but I won't give up on this story just yet. I never seem to finish anything I write and finishing this will be a major triumph for me. So hang in there, this ride ain't over yet ;D