They had been set up. Somehow, Gleeman Vox had figured out what they were doing. When Ratchet had arrived in the mainframe, there had been lights and cameras to greet him. Vox had turned their escape plan into one last pay-per-view special, and if Ratchet wasn't able to succeed, the audience, casters, and everyone else at Vox's studio would be killed. So Ratchet fought, making his way through the gauntlet as the fate of millions rested on his shoulders. Something he wasn't new to, but the pressure was substantial nonetheless, especially with an added live audience.
In the end, he made it through, and Vox himself made a grand appearance in a floating mech. Now, with the containment shields down, Ratchet just had to hold him back long enough for everyone else to evacuate. Clank had offered to pick him up, but he knew he was the only one who could do it. The act wasn't entirely selfless though. He had his own reasons for doing so. After everything the businessman had put him through, Ratchet wanted to rip him limb from limb, and enact his revenge. Especially after the night before. Ratchet stood at the ready, intending to take him down in one last final showdown.
"Congrats my boy! I knew you had it in you!" Vox cried jovially.
Ratchet was taken aback. This wasn't the reaction he was expecting of someone who just had their entire empire dismantled. Was this some sort of trick? Some sort of mind game, like when he had forced Ratchet to choose between his friends? Nonetheless, Ratchet stood his ground, glaring at the other, intent on not falling for any other trap. Vox continued to smile at him, bringing his arms out wide, enthusiastically.
"Heart pounding action to the very end!" He continued.
"Have you seen the viewer statistics? The highest I've ever had!"
"Just shut up and fight me." Ratchet said, woodenly.
"Fight you? Kid, I should be thanking you! With the ratings you've given me, I can die a happy man!" Vox laughed. Ratchet just stood glaring. His laughter tapered off quickly, before ending with a heavy sigh.
"It's been a fun ride, hasn't it? Too bad it's all over, now. It's just you and me, kid." Vox gazed off into space, he looked like he was genuinely about to cry. Ratchet only deepened his scowl. Vox stared off whimsically for a moment longer, before snapping back to attention.
"Anyway," Said Vox. "I got something for you. A little, sort of, parting gift." Vox brought up the shock collar remote. Ratchet's eyes widened and he flinched expecting pain. He was met only with a soft click. He opened his eyes, his death collar clattered to the floor. He stared down at it, utterly baffled, one of the only shackles left keeping him there and Vox had removed it.
Suddenly a mechanical arm sprang from Vox's suit and seized the lombax tightly. Ratchet grunted, as he was hauled off of his feet and closer to Vox. He cursed under his breath. Despite his diligence, he had been trapped, hook, line and sinker.
"Consider that part one, a little extra bonus. Now," Vox's voice took on a deeper, menacing tone.
"Let's find somewhere private to talk."
A semi-clear dome closed over the front of Vox's mech, as he flew the two of them up and out of the battledome. When they entered open space, Ratchet gasped for air, suffocating in the vacuum. With his arms pinned at his sides, he couldn't reach for his helmet. Ratchet jerked in his confines, attempting to free himself, as his mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Vox didn't seem to care, and continued flying them to their destination. They were headed toward the abandoned ghost station, a course Ratchet had run not too long ago. It was in close proximity to the battledome. His vision had begun to swim as Vox took them to one of the warehouses. As soon as they entered the vicinity, the artificial atmosphere switched on and Ratchet took a loud and grateful breath. As Vox brought them inside, he lowered his domed window again. He gave pause and watched quietly as Ratchet coughed, filling back up his starved lungs. When the hero had just started to become satiated, Vox let out an angry growl. He slammed Ratchet harshly against the back wall, immediately robbing his lungs of the oxygen they had worked so hard to reobtain. He slammed him again. And again. And again. Ratchet could do nothing, as he was thrashed around like a ragdoll. Vox gave him one last smack, before releasing the lombax and hurling him against the furthest wall. Ratchet hit it with a grunt and crumpled to the floor. Vox quickly approached, before stepping out of his mech. He stared at the fallen hero for a moment.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?" Vox inquired.
"You took down the big, bad media empire. You've wiped out my golden boy, you've destroyed all of my exterminators and you've left me with nothing."
Vox bent down and grabbed Ratchet by the front of his armour and forcefully hauled him up against the wall.
"This is what you wanted, huh!? To save the day? To be the big hero? Well, congratu-fucking-lations!" Vox practically screamed in his face. He shook him angrily in his grasp.
"Aren't you glad? Aren't you happy? Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"
"No!" Ratchet suddenly roared. He heaved in anger, his face twisted into an utterly vicious scowl. His eyes detailed all the pain and anguish he wished to impart on the other man. Vox was quiet, before giving a small chuckle.
"You would have made a great exterminator."
He dropped Ratchet to the floor and went back to his mech. Reaching in, he pressed a couple of buttons.
Destruct sequence initiated, Five minutes until Battledome detonation.
"More than enough time." Vox muttered.
Ratchet had scarcely moved from where he'd left him.
"Now for the second part of that gift I promised you." Vox said as he undid the bottom of Ratchet's armour. Ratchet tried to stop him, to fight back and push him away, but his brain was still scrambled from the abuse he'd endured. His blows were too uncoordinated and Gleeman deflected them easily.
With one hand, Vox pressed Ratchet down, while his other quickly undid his pants. He spit into his hand, and worked it along his shaft, before pushing a finger into his victim. A high pitched whine was pulled from the back of Ratchet's throat.
"We don't have nearly as much prep time, so you're just going to have to bear it, sweetheart."
"Fuck you." Ratchet hissed back fiercely.
"Oh that's right," said Vox thoughtfully. "You don't have your little buddies to worry about anymore,"
He leaned in close, as he wiggled the digit inside him roughly.
"Fine by me. Show me what you're really made of then, hero."
Vox moved that finger around a bit more, before ultimately giving up, opting instead to plunge himself in raw. Ratchet sank his teeth into his wrist, biting back pained noises.
"Fuck, you're tight! What are you trying to do, squeeze my dick off?" Vox exclaimed, yet began to move anyway. He used both his hands to guide Ratchet's hips, thrusting into him shallowly at first, before working up into a harder and deeper pace.
Ratchet cursed him under his breath, a chorus of 'fuck you's' tumbling out from between clenched teeth. Vox's rhythm became steadier, as his shaft began to coat in blood. His hand snaked down the lombax's stomach and between his thighs.
"Don't touch me!" Ratchet shrieked, his urge to fight back reignited. He kicked backwards, attempting to dislodge the tyrant, but was quickly out maneuvered again. Vox grabbed the back of his head and smashed the hero's face into the ground below. He did it twice more for good measure. Ratchet groaned, blood oozing from his nose.
"I'm just trying to make you feel good too, this is your gift after all." Vox let out a wheezing laugh. Ratchet growled and buried his face in his arms, as Vox's hand wrapped back around his dick. As he stroked and fucked him, Ratchet felt sick in the pit of his stomach. Again, being able to feel any sort of pleasure, when something so heinous was being done to him. And to make matters worse, he was getting close. How an orgasm could be wrenched from him, when he was in such physical and emotional turmoil, he had no idea. Perhaps all the stress of fighting, staying alive, and saving the galaxy yet again had left him pent up. He hadn't had the time to take care of himself during his stay in Dreadzone. Too focused. Too anxious. Too tense. There was really nothing he could do now was there? Vox was right, he did it. He was the hero yet again. But at what cost? His sanity? His dignity? His life? It was all over now. At least Clank and Al were safe. It was finally over, maybe it was finally time to throw in the towel. As Vox's rutting became quicker and more erratic, he felt his climax building up inside him. As much as he hated himself for it, he let himself succumb to it.
They both finished quickly, Vox inside him, and him in Vox's hand. As Vox panted, spent, he brought his hand up to inspect the viscous fluid dripping from it. He gave a breathy laugh.
"Hah, atta boy, Ratchet. Didn't think you had it in you."
Vox wiped his hand clean on his back side. He pulled out of him and Ratchet gave a small defeated groan. Vox quickly wiped his cock off in the same way and put himself back into his pants. He sat himself a little ways from him. Ratchet was thankful for this, finally having some breathing room away from that monster. Ratchet rolled himself onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, catching his breath.
60 seconds until battledome detonation.
Ratchet reached for his discarded armour and set about putting it back on.
"What are you doing?" Vox asked impartially.
"If we're gunna die here, I want it to be with some sort of dignity." Ratchet replied curtly. Vox gave him an indifferent shrug.
Once he was fully redressed, Ratchet slowly got up. He tried not to hiss in pain too loudly, as he stepped out of the building. He stood just past the doorway. He didn't bother looking at the battledome. It would only end with him waiting nervously for the explosion that would end him. He didn't want that to be the last thing he saw and thought of before he died. Instead he gazed up at the stars. The vast cosmos danced and twinkled before his eyes. Could he spot the one his home orbited? Hopefully Clank had made it out and was headed there now. He hoped Clank would be alright without him.
Suddenly, he spotted a ship circling overhead. As it came into view, it quickly changed directions, as if suddenly spotting him and headed straight towards him. Once it landed a few feet from where he stood, the hatch came down and a small figure emerged.
"Ratchet, we must hurry, there is not much time!"
"Clank?" Ratchet said, dumbfounded.
"What?!" Vox cried, jumping to his feet.
30 seconds until detonation.
With adrenaline pumping, Ratchet dashed towards his companion. Each step caused bolts of electric pain to radiate throughout his body, but he ignored it, like he ignored Vox's continued protests. Vox reached out to grab him, to stop him, but Ratchet had already stepped onto the platform and the ship had begun it's ascent. He had just nearly missed the other's arm. Clank held him steady as Ratchet stood by the door. As it closed, they climbed further and further away.
"No! Get back here! Come back here!" Vox screamed. The hatch closed and finally silenced him. Clank led Ratchet over to a bench to sit down. He grabbed some nanotech and got to work on his injuries.
"Are you alright? Your nose appears to be broken." Clank said, applying the aid fussily. He held him so gently as he did.
"I am sorry, I was looking everywhere for you. I should have come sooner."
Ratchet met Clank's hand, and held it carefully.
"You came, that's all that matters." Ratchet replied.
"Look!" One of the other patrons on board cried, pointing out the window. They all clambered around to see the spectacle. The battledome erupted in a bright blaze of red and orange. As they all focused their attention on the blast, Ratchet kept his gaze elsewhere. Watching as the tiny building he had just been inside mere moments ago, was rapidly engulfed by the ensuing explosion. He kept a keen eye out for any wayward specks, anything that had attempted to outrun it. He hoped Vox had stood there, had watched him go, unable to run away from the fate he had reserved himself to. He hoped Vox got exactly what he wanted