"Just a little tighter and...there we go! Good as new!" Ratchet proclaimed as he set his screwdriver down and held up the repaired left hoverboot. The child sitting idly in a small chair perked up and let out a happy squeal at the sight of the fixed hoverboot. She rushed over and took it in order to place both together and inspect them. She seemed satisified with the result and promptly moved to hug Ratchet tightly. "Thank you so much! You have no idea how much trouble I would've been in if dad found out I broke his hoverboot!"
The young mechanic looked down and shifted a tad, unsure of how to respond to this. All he can muster is a gentle pat on the back before trying to step away. "Hey, don't mention kiddo. I'm a mechanic! It's what I do. Now don't forget to spread the good word of Ratchet's Workshop, okay? Like you promised?"
The girl eagerly nods her head before starting to make her way out of the dingy garage. Of course she almost trips over a tool box while doing so but manages to catch herself before racing off into the vast and heated terrain of Veldin. "Of course! I'll tell all my friends!" She shouted as she skipped away happily towards home.
"Great! Thank you!" Ratchet responded as he gave a smile. Though it slowly but surely faded as the girl made her way out of reach and sight. "Because I could really use some customers right now." The mechanic sighed as he moved to close the garage door. After a whole week Ratchet had only managed to get three customers! A few repairs, maybe a new coat of paint for a gadget, and that was it. It was enough bolts to buy groceries to last him a week or two but in return that meant another light in the garage had to go. He just didn't have enough for everything for his place. If only he could get that line of customers like he always envisioned! That wasn't going to happen though. Not on a planet as arid and miserable as Veldin. The folks that lived out here weren't many and it's not like he could just up and leave this world. He'd probably have to fork over both his arms for that. Maybe an organ or two as well. Urgh.
"Ah, I need to wind down for a bit. Get my thoughts out of the gutter. Watching some tv should do the trick." The mechanic made his way over towards a ladder and climbed up. The upstairs portion was fairly small and basically served as Ratchet's living quarters. A dinky old tv sat on a small table, a worn-out chair to the side, and a decent mattress sat right in the middle. Plopping down on the mattress and reaching for the remote, Ratchet started flipping through what little channels he had. Nothing really seem to catch his interest unfortunately so the mechanic decided to leave it on the Galactic News channel. Eh, who knows. Maybe they'll have a funny story this time. However the looks on the news anchors Dallas and Juanita told him this current story was anything but funny. It looked like they didn't even know how to begin it considering how nervous the pair looked. Eventually the robotic Juanita spoke, collected but clearly unnerved.
"In a recent discovery we have been informed that Planet Tenemule is...gone. I-It's just...gone. It's not there anymore." Ratchet's brows furrowed as a look of confusion came over him. A whole planet? Gone? How was that even possible? That can't be right!
"It's been completely destroyed." Dallas spoke up as he brought a cloth to wipe his forehead. "Not...Not a single trace of it remains according to the Galactic Rangers. How or who...we have no idea. From what last month's records indicate, there were over one million workers stationed on Tenemule for Gadgetron's vendor distribution. A few have reported in to know that there are some survivors but...the majority did not make it."
Ratchet leaned back into the matress as he continued to watch. He couldn't wrap his mind around this. An entire planet destroyed. Just like that. How...how could that be? What kind of a madman would be crazy enough to do something so...so vile? So monstrous? He wanted to look away but something in him kept him glued to the screen.
"Our hearts, both organic and mechanical, go out to all that have lost their loved ones because of this sudden tragedy." Juanita spoke up. "In response to this sudden and out of nowhere destruction, the Galactic Rangers are asking anyone for help during this planetary crisis. Leaders, scientists, mechanics, heroes. Anyone will do."
The mechanic's fluffy ears perked up in response to that. The Galactic Rangers? The Rangers? Aka the greatest superhero duo in all of Solana?
"That's right, Juanita. Captain Qwark and Dr. Nigel are currently going planet by planet in search of any clues that can lead them to the culprit of this horrid crime. Please if you have anything that can help them, get it to them immediately. From what we've heard they're currently in Novalis and afterwards they will be making their way to Planet Veldin. When we recieve any new information we'll be sure to inform all of you. That's all for n-" The screen went black as his tv lost power. That tended to happen every so often. However Ratchet didn't even seem to take notice as his mind was focused on one key thing; Captain Qwark and Dr. Nigel were coming to Veldin! Literally the superhero duo who had saved the Solana system time and time again were coming to his backwater world! How incredible was that?
A gloved hand went to his chin as he pondered a thought. Juanita said they were looking for anyone to help and that included mechanics! He was a mechanic. Maybe he could lend them a hand and in return they could sponsor his little workshop! He'd surely have lots of customers after that, right? Ratchet would be rolling in money and wouldn't have to worry about anything! No more broken lights or a tv that barely worked most of the time. He could maybe even get himself an actual bed! Besides it's not like he could actually do much in stopping whatever thing is responsible for Tenemule's destruction. Qwark and Nigel will probably find the culprit by the end of the week and have them behind bars anyway! Yeah!
A smile adorned itself upon Ratchet's face as he leaned back into the mattress and closed his eyes. That was a great idea. Help the greatest duo out for a bit, get a sponsorship, and then finally fix all of his money problems. It was practically foolproof! What could go wrong?