Present Day...

Nova's body sinks deeper into the bubbles, and she lets out a sigh. "Orvus, what a day." So much is happening all at once, and there's only so much that lavender and chamomile can do. Her mind wanders with all of the big decisions made, and choices yet to be made. "Well, now they know." It's sort of a weight off my shoulders, she thinks, but now I wonder what they'll expect of me… "No turning back now I suppose."

Eyes wander to her phone, now lying beside the tub inactive. Reaching over, Nova picks up the device and scrolls through it. There are no new texts, but she opens the old messages anyway against her better judgment. Better times, those were. Things were simpler, more casual. Guilt didn't bite at her gut like it does now. Her brief responses, days apart at times, make things even worse. I shouldn't have been so distant. Why was I so distant to him, just casually? He didn't always ask about important stuff.

'Hypocrite, you betrayed me,' he had said. 'How did you expect me to respond?'

The phone is put away in defeat. Nova dips deeper into the water and blows bubbles up to the surface. I was awful. I don't blame him for dropping me like that. One less friend in the world, now.

The markazian slinks back to the bedroom, tightly wrapped with a towel. But he wanted more than that, I guess. I should have let him down gently. Maybe he wouldn't have turned like he did. She wonders how one would even accomplish that if and how rejection is possible without hurting someone in the process. I didn't want to hurt him, but...

Clank later catches sight of a dressed Nova lying on the couch, with her phone in one hand. The other hand is pressed to her temple, applying pressure to her sinuses.

Ugh, why didn't I just talk to him like a normal person? Despite her best efforts, Nova can't find an answer for that question.

"You have been quiet ever since we returned, Nova."

"Am I a bad friend, Clank?"

The robot shakes his head. "I do not think you had ill intentions, so no. You are not a 'bad friend'. However, I will admit that things could have been handled better by both parties. I believe that you were right to speak with him today."

"This all started because I went into the temple for answers my village wouldn't give. He went to Nefarious for the same thing. Information I chose not to give him."

There's a sense of deja vu in the air. Clank decides to keep this information to himself, unsure if the comparison would be what she needs to hear right now. "Do not blame yourself for this, Nova. There may be a similarity in concept, but those two events are completely unrelated."

"I drove him away, Clank."

Clank places a hand on her shoulder, attempting to comfort his friend. "You are not responsible for his choice to follow Nefarious. He is an adult, capable of making his own decisions."

Nova swings her legs around, sitting on the couch properly. She rubs her palms in her lap, staring into her hands. "No, but I am responsible for whatever happens to him now. He'll be hurt, or killed, all because I wouldn't date him. I know that's childish on his part, but I can't help but feel like it's my fault." She drops her hands and lets out a deflated sigh. "Maybe I should have told him yes."

"Did you care for Saros romantically?"

"N-no," she admits. "I was just flustered. It's flattering, but I just wanted a friend. You two were really all I had left."

There's no lie to her voice. Why does that information stick to his cpu? He pushes that thought to the back of his mind for now. "In that case, would you have been happy with him, or would you be staying in that relationship to make him happy?"

The young markazian thinks about it for a moment. "I never would have really wanted that," she finally answers.

"From what I have witnessed, love is a strange and powerful force." Clank pulls out his photo album, and Nova perks up at the familiar sound of flipping pages. Nova sits cross-legged on the floor to get a better look. Ratchet's love interests, and even Clank's own temporary flings are laid bare. "It only lasts if both parties give and take their affections equally. All participants must work to maintain that relationship for it to prosper. Take Miss Apogee for example."

The page is flipped to her section. "I once asked Ratchet why he married her, instead of his previous romantic partners. He told me that, well, perhaps I should play it. He could phrase it better than I."

Clank's speaker comes into view.

"...For all the times she's kicked my ass, literally and verbally, I've needed it. We may have met under tense circumstances, but she's always had my back. I'm happy, and I can tell she's happy. I can't really explain it, but I think we give each other something we never knew we needed. I hope you find somebody like that someday, pal. Someone that you look at their smile and it just...makes the world look brighter."

Nova picks up a photo of the bride and groom on their wedding night. Their faces seem to almost glow as they look at each other and smile. For a moment, the room seems cozier and she can't help but smile too.

"That, uh, sounds kinda corny when you say it out loud, huh?"

The recording cuts off. As she studies the photo, she can almost hear them laughing together, enjoying each other's company. "This warmth. They really loved each other, huh?"

"They truly did. The night they said their vows was one of the happiest days of his life. A few years after that, we fully retired and they settled down together." Clank points to a group photo. "Suzie, the young girl with the goggles there, was officially adopted soon after the wedding. We all worked together to raise her as our own, and she later joined the Defense Force. We worried for her safety, but she was taught well. We were all so proud of her."

"You all look so happy here." With a sigh, Nova's mind is brought to peace. "It's better that I told him no. That feeling, that warmth, I never felt it with Saros."

"He was not right for you, I believe." Clank puts the book away. "We all make mistakes in life, but that does not make us any less entitled to happiness."

She smiles at the encouragement. "Thanks, Clank."

A knock at the garage door breaks the atmosphere, and Nova narrows her eyes at the disturbance. She grabs her staff, charging it to stun the attacker. Listening against the door, the markazian can tell that it's not a crowd, or some thug waiting for payback for the arena. In fact, it's a single person trying their hardest not to squeal with excitement.

Opening the door, the young woman is greeted to nothing. The crystal loses its charge, no longer needed. She shrugs it off, turning back to go inside. "Huh. Guess that giggling was some little kid or something."

A figure pounces from behind a nearby stack of crates. A clear voice loud enough to make the windows vibrate announces their presence with a "RATCHET, CLANK!"

Out of reflex, Nova throws her staff at the intruder with a startled scream, making contact with a crisp thwack. The impact makes the green robot's head spin with the force, and he takes a moment to adjust it properly.

Two arms as thick as tree trunks grab Nova, lifting her into the air. Cold metal surrounds her, nearly suffocating her. Eyes shut tight, the chaos on Quantos comes to mind. The screams, the smell of spilled wine and gunpowder. Those metal claws that nearly ended her life. She scrambles to get free, hyperventilating.

Qwark sobs happily, blubbering on as he squeezes. "Oh, I missed you guys! It's been so boring around here without you two!"

Clank walks over, calling out to the old friend over the noise. "It is good to see you too, Qwark. However, Nova cannot breathe in that position."

"Oh, right." Qwark loosens his grip, and Nova falls to the ground, her hand at her neck. At the sight, Qwark's tone shifts to concern. "Hey, you alright little guy?"

Clank recognizes the signs immediately, recalling the details of when his friend mentioned her origins. How the villainous doctor had gripped her throat as he taunted her. He places a gentle hand on the woman's arm, his voice low. "You are safe, Nova." The act seems to ground her, and a vitals scan reveals everything to be settling.

Opening her eyes, she takes a deep breath. "Right. Thank you. Just scared me is all. I'm okay. Sorry I froze like that."

The green robot puts his hands at his hips as he tries to wrap his head around the strange reaction. "Since when are you afraid of robots?"

"I'm not," she clarifies. "The last time some huge robot grabbed me though, things didn't end well." Nova brushes the dust from her pants, adjusting her hair. Crisp blue eyes scan the new form in front of her. "Hmm. Green suit, huge chin, and, uh, quite the grip." Recovering from said grip, the woman rubs the back of her neck. "You must be Qwark, right?"

"In all his impeccable glory!" There's a series of grunts as the robot poses dramatically, showcasing his muscular build. "I couldn't let the universe go on without these guns!" The former hero moves himself in the light to allow the sun to shine on his chest. "Or this godlike torso!" With a spin, Qwark reaches downward, allowing his arms to glide up his legs. "Or these perfectly sculpted glutes!"

With a shocked blink and raised eyebrows, Nova lifts a hand to her face to block the glare and turns away from the robot currently smacking his own rear. "Uh...okay?" Guess the stories were right, Nova thinks. This guy's such a pretzel.

She tilts her head in curiosity. "So, you feared death, and became a robot to avoid it altogether?" A light tone suggests her words as being intended as a genuine question, rather than a snarky remark.

Quark freezes, not expecting the blunt response. He looks away sheepishly, but recovers quickly. "That's, uh, one way to put it I guess. Anyway, it's good to see you two again. I can't go back into the hero business without my favorite sidekicks!"

"Sidekicks?" The markazian raises an eyebrow, placing her hands on her hips. "Hold on, Ratchet and Clank were the main heroes, my shiny friend. Not you."

Quark cradles his face, beaming at the comment. "Aw, thanks! I polish daily, I'm glad it pays off. The point is, It's time to break the news of my valiant return to heroism!" Grabbing her hands, Qwark leans down to her eye level with shimmering optics. "I'm gonna throw a huge welcome back party and you guys have to be there!"

Wide-eyed, Nova backs up a few inches from his face. "A party? Like a ball?"

"Yup! And you two will be the guests of honor!"