Chapter 24 ~ Reflections
Ratchet at first was completely silent. He didn't even look at me. Rather he continually kept his wide eyed gaze on Alister's statue. Had it really been that much of a shock? Then again when I first learned I was silent too. But then I was angry….for a really long time.
What if he was...
Suddenly Ratchet began to chuckle until he was full on laughing as my mouth dropped completely surprised.
I knew he would react but of all reactions this was definitely on the bottom of the list. Did he think I was kidding?
"What...what is so funny?" I asked confused.
"I- I'm s-sorry. I promise I believe you." He stuttered through his chuckling.
"Then why are you laughing?" I asked trying not to join in his ridiculous reaction but it didn't help that I was smiling along. His joy rubbing off on me. When his laughter finally subsided, he began to explain.
"The universe has an interesting sense of humor. I gave up looking for the Lombaxes Lombaxes awhile ago. Ready to live in this dimension for the rest of my life as the last one. But then you show up out of nowhere with your friends and drag me into this crazy adventure. And just when I think you can't surprise me anymore…. Bam your Alister Azimuth's daughter."
He was still smiling when he stopped talking, but his gaze was on me now. Trapping me under a spell. His eyes truly were unique and bright...just like Kathryn's.
"So…. you're not angry?" I asked looking away back towards the statue. I knew it was a silly question to ask, but I needed to hear him say it. So that I could believe him.
I expected a simple yes or no. Instead he grasped my hand with his, but I didn't look. That smile of his was dangerous and if I knew him he was definitely still wearing that stupid expression.
"No, I'm not Roslyn Azimuth." He warmly said my name, gaining my full attention. I couldn't pinpoint why it caused a strong reaction, but I knew I was liking it. Which was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
"I'm very happy. I'm happy that you're fully trusting me. Though I'm sure it wasn't easy."
"More like I didn't make it easy." I joked making the both of us laugh a little. When it died a comfortable silence settled between us as my gaze again returned to my father's statue.
"I'm glad you knew him." I told him truthfully meaning every word.
"Even though it was only for a short while, he was...the closest thing I've ever had to a father." He paused for a moment as I looked at him. His expression was a mixture between sadness and longing. As I reached to return the favor and offer some consoling he spoke again.
"I was told my father sent me to solana before he was killed. He stayed behind to give the Lombaxes a chance to escape. While my mother died during the attack. There was no note with me when I was found. So no one knew my name, where I was from, nothing about me that I didn't already know or learned. The people at the orphanage named me Ratchet."
I knew my eyes were wide from his story. Aside from his mother and lack of a sister. The story was familiar to Kaden Rogers. The famed hero of the Lombaxes. The one who had stayed behind when our race left. What if Ratchet was Liam? Leah's long lost son...
Even though I wanted to ask for his father's name.
"I'm so sorry, Ratchet."
I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not right now, not when both of our emotions were probably at their breaking points. Even if he was by a small chance….he didn't need me to spring that heavy subject on him immediately after.
He smiled trying to hide the pain as he took my hand in his giving it a squeeze.
"You don't have to say sorry to me, Roslyn. You lost people too." He consoled me and my heart broke just a little.
"Yeah...but I had Kat and Leah. Leah knew my parents. I've known who they were my whole life. I knew my name. You...you were abandoned never knowing who you were. How can you be so-?"
"Okay with it?" He said finishing my question.
I nodded.
"Remember when I told you how I lost Clank for a while?" He asked.
I nodded.
"I was so focused on finding him that everything else was at the back of my mind. Along the way, that's when I met Alister and he answered my questions. At least all the ones I could think of. Then when he died and Clank was found. I realized soon after there was more for here. Then there was over there. The Lombaxes moved on. It was time for me to do the same."
I nodded understanding his reasoning and yet at the same time I couldn't. If our roles had been in reverse there's no way I would've reacted the same way he did or just simply accepted it. There was no way I could just move on and continue on with my life. I would've risked everything to see the Lombaxes. To find my race. To find a place to call...home.
I smiled bitterly thinking about the whole scenario because in a way I did risk everything. I risked Kathryn, Flynn, and Samus's lives. I've risked the very peace of this dimension. I've risked so much for so little in comparison all because I couldn't move on.
"Wish I could've learned that earlier. Maybe I wouldn't have made so many mistakes." I said, looking at him before leaning my head against his shoulder. For a long moment I feel him become rigid but soon his body relaxes as his head leans onto mine,
"I promise we're going to track down Harlequin and Gears." He said firmly. "We will save Kathryn, Roslyn. I swear."
I close my eyes relishing on his words as I imagined Kathryn's smile allowing the quiet to once again entrap us. Finally he moves his head away as he begins to pull me away from the statue.
"Come on. Let's head back to everyone. I'm sure they're worried." He says softly. I don't fight him as we walk back, hands still grasped like a lifeline until we reached the entrance of the museum.
He lets go and I find myself missing the feeling of his hand in mine, but I quickly dismiss the thought as Flynn walks over.
"You good?" He asks looking me over.
"Yeah...I'm good." I answer before turning to the rest of the group as they meet us. "So what now?" I asked.
"Thankfully the crew you captured will be taken in for questioning." Sasha answered, making everyone's eyes draw towards her. "You'll be the first to know if we learn anything."
Each of us nod our heads in thanks as Sasha salutes us before taking her leave to join the Rangers.
Ratchet grips my shoulder from behind offering a comforting smile. I smile back towards him before watching the Ranger's ship fly off into the atmosphere.
3RD POV
UNKNOWN SECTOR
Deep within the heart of an asteroid field mixed with desomatted starships was a large space station. Though on the outside it looked old and abandoned it was very much still in use. The robots inside of the station worked tirelessly as they prepared weapons for the future war they were going to bring to their master's enemy. The master in question cackled in victory as he drummed his mechanical fingers together listening to his underlings deliver the successful news through the transmission.
"And you're sure they don't suspect a thing?" He asked. The female Captain smirked as she placed her hand on her hip.
"Aye Nefarious. I've got them landlubbers so twisted about their friend. They've no time to batten down the hatches."
The Doctor snickered once more as he stood from his desk turning toward the window fewing the galaxy before him as it awaited it's conquering fate.
"Now that we've have the Dimensionator the rest of the plan will easily fall into place."
"Not so fast Doc. We need to discuss the terms of the deal we struck."
"WHAT!?" The Doctor shouted angrily grasping the monitor as the famous singer turned towards the female pirate in irritation.
"You can't do that to him. He gave you the crew you wanted!"
"And I gave him that female Lombax I found." The Captain said sighing as she turned away from the singer sounding bored.
"Which by the way is completely useless now! Seeing as you lost us both Apogee and Orvus!" Gears shouted making Nefarious once again shout angrily at the news. "No one can understand her!"
"Technically that waist of a crew, that yer lover gave me, let them escape. I had nothing to do with it." Quin argued as she glared at Gears. "So here's the new bargain I'm gonna offer ye." She said coolly as she patted the dimensionator.
"I'll lend ye me dimensionator in exchange for the guarantee of once it's fixed and ye used it for yer guest of honor. It's mine once again."
Nefarious glared at the pirate as her cheshire grin grew.
"I'll even bring Ratchet and his merry band right to yer doorstep to their demise. All wrapped up in a pretty bow. You can even keep the Lombax that calls herself Roslyn. All I want is me Dimensionator back. After all I did pillage it from the museum, savvy?"
Again the scowl on Nefarious's expression grew as the female robot spoke, but what else could he do. Harlequin had the dimensionator in her hands.
"For now...:"The Evil Doctor thought.
"I'll agree to this under one condition. Bring me Pollyx from Axiom City before delivering the dimensionator. He and I have unfinished business."
Harlequin smirked as she stuck her hand out to Courtney Gears.
"So do we have an accord?" She asked drawing out the last of her question.
Gears looked to Nefarious, who nodded agreeing to the terms, before shaking hands with the Captain sealing the deal.
With a new course set Harlequin immediately begins barking orders to the remainder of her crew disappearing from view as Courtney Gears bid her farewell ended the transmission. Leaving Nefarious to brood and plot alone in his station. That is until an idea popped into his mechanical brain.
"LAWRENCE!" He called just as he faithful butler and frankly only friend, though he would never admit it, appeared from nowhere.
"Yes, sire?" He asked.
"Contact Pluto Hades! Tell him I wish to offer him a deal if he wants his champion back and much more."
"Shall I ask him to come to the station?"
"OF COURSE YOU-" Suddeningly Nefarious stopped in his tracks frozen solid with his mouth wide open as he began to broadcast another episode of Lance and Janice.
"THAT'S RIGHT LANCE! I HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF YOUR PRECIOUS JANICE ALL FOR THE SAKE OF REVENGE! NOW WATCH AS I YOUR EVIL TWIN BROTHER ENGLEBERT TAKE OVER YOUR ENTIRE LIFE!"
"YOU WILL NEVER GET AWAY WITH THIS ENGLEBERT! I WILL SAVE JANICE FROM YOU'RE EVIL CLUTCHES!"
"HAH! I LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!"
Lawrence had slapped his master across the face snapping him out of his frozen state allowing Nefarious to finish his insult!
"-YOU IMBECILE! AND GET IT DONE NOW!"
"Right away, sire."
ME: Hello everyone and happy end of February! I can hardly believe we are already two months into the new year. Crazy right?! Anyways sorry this chapter took a bit longer than expected. I started a new job and I've been juggling with it the past few weeks. Learning all the ropes and getting used to the new schedule. Plus I was seriously struggling with how I wanted this chapter to written...Regardless I hope you guys enjoy it and as always I'll see you for the next one! :)
