~ Chapter 23 ~ Secrets
One moment I was triumphant. Then the next I was falling. Literally falling towards what would lead to our end. I could hear the screams of Harlequin's crew below me as I watched her ship flying away. My blood boiled at being bested by her. I could imagine her and Gears face laced with a smug expression knowing they got away with exactly what they wanted. "Somebody help us!" I heard one of the crew members shriek as continued to fall.
I groaned as I quickly I send a quick S.O.S. message to Samus with my location. Within minutes she's there in the nick of time with the cockpit open. I land safely in giving her my thanks.
"Alright Samus activate the magnet booster. We're gonna need these guys alive." I say keeping my tone neutral strapping myself the seat.
"You got it, activating magnet booster now." The bottom of the ship begins to whirl and instantly the pirates are safely drawn to the ship.
"I'm sorry that they got away baby." Samus said as we headed back to the entrance of the museum.
"It's alright Samus. We have some of her crew. They're bound to know something."
My tone sounded more hopeful, but Samus wasn't fooled. She knew I was upset.
They got away. Which meant I was no step closer to saving Kat.
I know the universe's humor can be funny at times, but I'm really not catching a break.
After releasing the pirates into the Ranger's custody I leaped out of the cockpit to meet Flynn and Qwark.
"How's Mr. Apogee and Clank's father?" I ask Flynn.
They were definitely roughed up a bit." He explained. "But nothing a bit of nanotech can't help. How bout you?"
"I'm fine." I firmly said. Flynn didn't seem to be convinced along with Qwark.
"Well it wouldn't hurt for you to receive some medical attention."
"Thanks Captain, but right now I just need a minute or two alone." I said feeling relief with each step I took further away from everyone.
The Polarius Defence Force was already on the scene and I was expecting them to not let me back into the museum. However, to my surprise no one stopped me as I headed back to the Lombax History Wing.
By the time I arrived back into the wing the windows were already taped off and a sign was put up to indicate the exhibit would be closed for the time being.
I stepped under the tape entering the wing again feeling the cross breeze from the broken glass.
This time I really take in what the exhibit had to offer. There are only three main attractions that feature Ratchet and Clank, Percival Tachyon, and my father Alister Azimuth.
He was no longer alive. I knew that. Before all of this began I convinced myself that the odds of him being alive after all this time were very slim. Even so, a small part of hoped it wouldn't be true. I go to his first feeling a duty to pay my respects even though this wasn't his grave sight.
"Alister Azimuth. He was a great Lombax, until shame and anger got the best of him. To many, he was a villain who put the universe in jeopardy for selfish reasons. To others, he is a hero whose only crime was to correct a mistake."
"Looks like you made some mistakes too." I laughed painfully before continuing to speak to the statue.
"Like Father, like daughter as they say….. I'm sorry for all the pain you went through. It must of been so hard thinking that I was gone along with mom, who never got the chance to see me grow too. I really wish you were here right now dad. I feel like I'm failing everyone with every decision I make. I don't even know if what I'm doing is the right thing anymore. I just ...I need some kind of sign that everything I've done hasn't been for nothing. That this will end will Kathryn being safe and sound. That this path I've taken will lead to something good for everyone. I don't know anymore." Tears cascaded down my face as I choked out the last of my words in my native tongue. Gazing up memorizing every detail the statue had to offer.
"Roslyn?"
Ratchet is already walking over to me, concern clear as day on his face. I don't bother wiping the tears. He had already seen them. Instead I keep my gaze focused on my father's statue. Once he was beside me I can feel him studying my face. He doesn't ask if I'm okay. He just stood there waiting for me to say something.
"He's so patient." I thought trying to find the words I wanted to say. "I know I should apologize,but…" Finally I speak.
"Were you with him? When he passed?" I asked my voice barely above a whisper.
He doesn't talk for a moment, but he answers me nonetheless.
"Yeah ...he died saving the universe. All he wanted was to make it so the Lombaxes never had to leave Fastoon. Erase the past y'know and change the future. He smiled before he died. Told me to take care of myself."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that." I said simply and I meant it wholeheartedly.
"What was he like?" My voice became stronger then and the tear slowly began to subside.
Again Ratchet took his time finding his words, but still gave me an answer.
"I didn't know him long, but honestly he was like any old war general. Stern, blunt, and always focused on the task at hand. He actually got mad at me for saving him once." We both laughed a little at the memory. "But whenever he talked about life on fastoon before the fall or when we fought together. He was always smiling like they were the best times of his life."
"I'm glad to hear that. It ...puts my mind at ease."
Silence passed through us again before he spoke up.
"Why do you ask?" He asked me.
"Just wanted to know. I never had the chance to meet him. I was always curious about what he was like. Our people branded him a traitor to the Lombaxes. That his intentions weren't for the good of everyone, but I felt differently. Though he made a mistake it wasn't for malicious reasons. He made that choice for everyone because he felt it was best for galaxy."
I finally look at him the tears now long gone.
"I probably sound crazy." I sighed.
"No it sounds like you really admire him." He smiles reassuringly. Obviously trying to cheer me up. I look away ashamed by that comment.
"Not at first." I said. "When I was young I hated everything about him. I cursed everything he stood for and wanted to be nothing like him, but that was hard for people to accept. Especially when I would make choices similar to his."
I felt fear course through me expecting him to understand what I was saying without really saying it.
"Why would that matter? It's not like you were related to the guy!"
Clearly he wasn't getting it. I could tell he was trying to make a joke out of the explanation to get me to laugh, but when he realized I wasn't laughing with him. His expression became somber. I looked into his eyes thinking of either telling him or not. He was a friend to me that much was certain. Despite how many times I've challenged him or made him upset with me. He always stuck by me. Always so patient with me.
I knew I wasn't scared of him hating me anymore. How much he loved my father in a short amount of time proved that he could never hate me. But I feared what he would think once he knew. I feared how different things would be. How much he would treat me differently.
"Roslyn." He said my name rousing me from my thoughts. I looked at him again as he smiled softly. "Are you okay?" His voice was a whisper when he asked. I almost wanted to answer him hopefully moving on from the topic, but he deserved to know.
Ratchet needed to know the truth.
"That's what I thought until I learned the truth about my parents." I paused waiting for him to say something, but his eyes only encouraged me further to explain. I took a deep breath before letting out to continue what I was saying.
" When I told you my parents were dead that was true. I never knew them only the stories people told me."
I looked away from him and began fiddling with my fingers, but his eyes were steady on me. Taking in every word.
"My mother's name was Nora. She was a kind soul who worked as a nurse for the hospital. She died with me in her arms during the fall of fastoon. My father-" I stopped to look at the statue. Ratchet's eyes followed my gaze towards the statue. He didn't say it but in that moment I could feel the air shift and Ratchet knew who I was.
"My father was a general. He was stubborn as Lombaxes could come, but loved his race all the same. A four bolt Magistrate of the Lombax Praetorian Guard. Elder councilman for the Center for Advanced Lombax Research. A traitor to the Lombax race sentenced to live his days in exile. However he died a hero saving the Universe from utter destruction. Sacrificing his dream of reuniting with his race and his family. His name was Alister Azimuth. And I am his daughter Roslyn Azimuth."