Hello everybody. We're all super excited by the new Ratchet and Clank game coming up in a month.
For me, the best part of the game is, of course, Rivet. I mean, just look at her and her gameplay. She's so cool and funny (and beautiful). Let's be honest, I also would love to see a romance between her and Ratchet. Too bad he's already dating Talwyn according to de creators of the last games, so my wish probably won't come true. Can't always have what we want.
I decided to make this little one-shot where she and Ratchet meet since we have no indication about how that would go or if it will happen at all (I believe it probably will). Hope you all like it.
Light suddenly clear away the darkness by which Ratchet was surrounded for now at least a day. Two maybe? Hard to tell when you're in a high security dark and soundproofed cell somewhere in a huge palace. Ratchet look away from the light bulbs and blinks several times, letting his eyes adjust to the new luminosity. He is in a gray room with nothing but light bulbs and a camera on the roof and a large vertical table to which he is attached by electronics bracelets on his arms and legs.
"Wake up biggy cat. I have a surprise for myself."
Hearing the voice of Nefarious makes Ratchet groan internally. He still can't believe he was captured. Right after escaping Nefarious City, he fought his way to the last known location of Clank only to discover he arrived too late. His best friend was gone, and so was the Lombax who kidnapped him. Ratchet tried to track them down and that is when a bounty hunter robot got him and brought him back to the palace. Even worse, Nefarious has somehow managed to usurp the identity of the emperor. For a mad scientist, that robot sometimes can be surprising.
Looking in the direction of the voice, Ratchet sees Nefarious standing in the doorway. The robot has a devilish smile on his face as he walks in and stands in front of Ratchet. A small robot was standing behind Nefarious, but the reinforced door was closed right on his robotic nose, leaving Ratchet and Nefarious alone.
"I knew coming in this dimension was a good idea. After all these years, I finally defeated you," Nefarious gloats as if he was speaking to a crowd.
"Don't be too quick on your bolts Nefarious. You have gone too far this time. Destabilising the omniverse? Threatening every kind of life that ever existed? That crazy even for you."
"Oh, save your heroic drama speech for someone who cares. Once I've repaired the Dimensionator, the omniverse will be fixed and I'll rule this universe mostly populated of robots without annoying Lombaxes and their little robot ruining my plans. Even in another dimension, your kind is a pain in my circuits. It made me so mad I disintegrated twelves soldier robots."
"My kind," Ratchet asks. "I was right, Lombaxes still exist in that dimension."
Since his arrival, several times he came across things telling him at least one Lombax was around, but he still hasn't seen even one in person.
Looking at Ratched, Nefarious devilish smile returns. "Yes and no. And since I'm a generous emperor…", Nefarious takes out a remote and takes a dramatic pose, "BEHOLD my latest success. The PRISONNER L-2."
Nefarious presses a button and a hatch open in the roof. Another vertical table comes down and lock itself on the ground not far in front of Ratchet. On the table is another Lombax. With a different fur color and tail shape than Ratchet, but still unquestionably a Lombax. A girl according to her appearance. Ratchet is speechless as he looks at her. After all, he only saw one other Lombax in his life and it wasn't a girl.
Just like him, she has electronics bracelets on the arms and legs keeping her from moving. Strangely, he could swear he already saw her somewhere. But where? Suddenly, it clicks in his head. Her clothes and the piercings in her ears. They are the same as the ones on the Lombax he saw taking Clank on the security camera footage in Nefarious's office. She is the one who took him.
"You?" Ratchet says.
If she's here, then that means Clank too was captured.
His voice attracts the Lombax attention who, when seeing him, is as surprised as he was. "A Lombax? Or am I still under drugs effect from the Tuna darts," she wonders out loud.
"Where is Clank," Ratchet asks her before looking at Nefarious. "What have you done to him?"
"Don't ask me Ratchet," Nefarious answers. "I'm still waiting for my army to find him."
"Ratchet?" the Lombax says. "You're Ratchet? Clank's best friend he wouldn't stop talking about."
Ratchet looks back at the Lombax. "Yes. Where did you take him and why?"
"I don't think you want me to answer that in front of a robot," she responds titling her head in Nefarious's direction.
"Oh, but please do tell," Nefarious urges her rubbing his hands in a evil manner.
Ratchet think about it one second and realise she's right. He can't risk giving away Clank's location "Yeah. Later then. So…who are you? Are you the only Lombax in this universe?"
"My name's Rivet. As for the Lombaxes, I'm afraid there are very few of us left nowadays," she looks away as she says this as if saying it brought back painful memories for her.
"Oh," Ratchet says disappointed.
Nevertheless, he choses to not press the question further since it seems a delicate subject for Rivet.
"How sad. Now, surrender the location of Clank or both of you will feel my wrath," Nefarious orders in a dramatically threatening fashion.
"Wait," Ratchet interrupts him as he notices Rivet's right arm is different from her left one. "Is that a bionic arm?"
"Uh, yes it is," Rivet answers a bit surprised looking at said restrained arm. "I built it myself. Completely made in Teratannium and fully mobile like a real arm. Even more."
"That's awesome! Could I examine it once we're free? I'd love to see the mechanics inside and how the power cell was incorporated in the redistribution circuits."
"Hey, I was threatening you," Nefarious says offended. "And who said you will free yourself?"
"Wow. You meet a girl five seconds and already ask to check her arm? Kinda fast if you ask me," Rivet says to Ratchet.
"Wh…I…," Ratchet is taken aback and maybe a bit red on the cheeks. "I didn't mean it like that. I was just curious. It's not every day I see such a high level of technology without it being used to try and hurt me."
"Tell me if I'm a third wheel," Nefarious mumble angrily.
Rivet laughs. "Relax Lombax boy, I was joking. I also have lots of other cool gadgets. At least, I did before Nefarious troops blow up my hideout on Sargassos two weeks ago."
'Lombax boy' Ratchet thinks not understanding.
"ENOUGH" Nefarious screams stomping his foot on the metallic ground like a capricious child. "I'm the one deciding here and I decided you will tell me where is the last annoying being who could oppose my plans."
Rivet looks at Nefarious with a cold expression in her eyes. "Like I'll speak with some robotic clone. Is the self-proclaimed emperor too much of a coward to even face his opponents now?"
"I'm no clone. I am the NEW emperor. All that happened those past weeks was my doing," Nefarious says walking next to Rivet and grabbing her chin. "And I'm not the patient type, so you better cooperate now unless you want me to use gadgets of my own invention on you. You have one hour."
Nefarious let go of Rivet and turns toward Ratchet, putting his finger on Ratchet's forehead. "As for you, I'll deal with you after I got Clank too. Until then, don't try anything unless you want the population of Nefarious city to suffer. My predecessor had great weapons that I would love to try. Mouahahahahahahahah."
Nefarious leaves the room as he laughs. When at the door, his laughing transforms into a cough. Once the cough has passed, he opens the door and leaves. A robot guard then enters and position itself in front of the door who automatically close itself.
"Well, always fun to meet the other version of our evil emperor. Seems more unstable thought." Rivet says before looking at Ratchet. "Wanna trade?"
"I'm good with just my version of Nefarious thank you. Clank, can you at least tell me if he's safe?"
"Don't worry. I don't trust robots, but that smarty bot is different. He's quite endearing too. He's safe. Trust me."
Ratchet hesitates a moment. Should he? Beside the fact she took Clank, there is nothing telling him he should be wary of her. She doesn't seem bad, or full of anger like Alister was. So, he nods, deciding to trust her words. He looks briefly at the robot guard and the camera. Not wanting to be heard, he murmurs. "I must find him, stop Nefarious and fix the Dimensionator to repair the damage made to the omniverse. I need to find a way out of here."
"Clank told me about all that. You must act discreetly," Rivet responds also murmuring. "I can't believe I'm saying this, thanks a lot Clank, but even if Nefarious City is populated only by robots you can't just let Nefarious turns the city weapons against them."
"I don't know much this universe, but I have experience dealing with this Nefarious. Trust me. If we work together, we'd have better chance at putting an end to all of this."
Rivet think about it. Her and Clank plans to fix the omniverse didn't work and this could be a unique opportunity to finally overthrow the robot tyranny on her universe. Clank trust this Ratchet and she comes to trust Clank, so she guesses she can trust Ratchet too. "Alright. Do you have any ideas?"
Ratchet smiles, glad they are on the same side. It is also kind of nice to meet a new Lombax. He hopes when this adventure is over, he will have the opportunity to discuss with her.
"No escaping," the robot guard says having heard them.
He raises his robotic arms and hits them with a brief but strong electroshock, making the Lombaxes scream in pain.
"No escaping," the robot repeats when suddenly the roof above him collapse and fall on him crushing the robot.
Recovering from the electric shock, Ratchet and Rivet look at the pile of debris to see a small robot standing on it.
"Oh my. I hope that didn't make too much sound," the small robot says looking at the guard robot under him.
"Clank," Ratchet and Rivet says surprised.
"Clank! You're here. And free. I'm so happy to see you alive and alright pal," Ratchet adds.
Looking up, Clank see both his best friend and new friend and run toward them. "Ratchet. I am glad to finally have found you. My bolts are almost rusted after worrying about your safety for weeks. Oh, and I see you've already met Rivet. She's an ally and a friend. I'm glad to have found you as well Rivet."
"That's sweet Clank, but what are you doing here? I told you to stay hidden in the caverns with the Talagmites," Rivet tells him.
"My apologies. I couldn't stay inactive while you were taken captive. It wasn't easy, but using a mix of dimensional and electronic technology, I discreetly boarded the ship on which you were taken and later the palace. I did my best to locate you and, if possible, gather information about Ratchet's location. Luck must be on my side since the probability to find both of you in the same room was less than 0,000209305 percent. I take it I arrived at the right moment."
"Could have done without the electroshock, but otherwise it was alright. I'm impressed," Rivet answers.
"Way to go Clank, always the smarter one. Now, free us so we can put an end to Nefarious plans for good. Again."
"Working on it Ratchet."
After a few minutes, both Ratchet and Rivet are freed from the electronics bracelet. Their wrist are a little sore because of them, but it's nothing too bad.
"Our first objective is to retrieve your equipment," Clank tells the Lombaxes. "Without it, we have no chance of success against Nefarious and his army. Rivet, I know you prefer to work alone but your help would be once again valuable for us."
"I already told your friend you guys can count on me. One thing however, there is no way I'm leaving my hammer behind. It means too much to me. The rest can always be replaced, but not my hammer," Rivet says.
Ratchet is surprised by her words because he was about to say something similar. "I was about to say the same thing about my omniwrench. That's strange."
Clank can't help but laugh a little. "I believe you will quickly find out you both share many traits. Though now is not the time for that."
"Right, let's move," Ratchet says running toward the door.
While Clank is working on opening the door, Ratchet asks "Anyone know which way to go once we're out of the prison cell?"
"I've scouted the palace several times over the years," Rivet answers. "I have an idea where our equipment might be. Follow me."
I hope you enjoyed that one-short. Don't hesitate to give me your opinion or comments.
Have all a nice day. Until next time.