Chapter 29 ~ Risks
We weren't sure who we would be meeting beyond the large double doors. Even Kathryn, who had been in captivity by this lunatic, had no clue who we were dealing with.
"He always sent his butler to talk to me." She whispered to Ratchet's question. "A rather polite robot if you ask me." It was then both Ratchet and Clank realized who were dealing with.
"His name doesn't happen to be Lawrence, perhaps? " Clank asked.
"Yeah...how did you know?"
"Oh, y'know old nemeses and all that. It's a hero thing." Ratchet bragged, making us all roll our eyes at him.
"More like a you thing," Angela added bruising Ratchet's boasting by a fraction, making each of us snicker under our breath. Ratchet tried to act upset, but you couldn't deny the small smile adjourning his face. I couldn't say the same for everyone else, but it did provide some comfort to my heart knowing we were all trying to keep the morale high between us.
We turned a corner to a short hallway that led to a large door. Which I could only guess would be the bridge of the Nova Cannon. It wouldn't be easy, but if I could somehow get us to the front where hopefully the windows would be. I could send Samus an SOS location signal and we could get the hell out of here. Alive, hopefully.
"Alright, Kitty Cats," Harlequinn called gaining our attention. "Keep yer mouths shut unless ye been spoken too." She then nodded her head towards where two of her goons were standing by me. They too nodded and took me by the arm separating me from the rest of the group. Ratchet tried to step forward in an effort to keep me close, but once the rest aimed their blasters at him and the rest of the group. He glared as he stepped back in line. I on the other hand was struggling immensely to get away.
"What's the idea?" I yelled as the goons tightened their grip on me as Quinn grinned watching my feeble attempts.
"The good Doctor wants you specifically since you can give 'im what he wants." She answered.
"And what does Nefarious want with the Dimensionator?" Ratchet asked, glaring at Quinn who's smile grew more wicked.
"Ask 'em ye self, but I'd be careful. Doctor Nefarious wasn't too keen on keepin' ye alive." With that, she turned around as the double doors of the bridge opened revealing only the pop princess diva herself Courtney Gears, without Dr. Nefarious. Gears glared at each one of us crossing in her arms showing her displeasure of seeing us all still alive, but her eyes widened when she noticed Flynn was still among us.
"Umm didn't that sleazy Imp want his champion back?" She asked as we all filed into the large spacious bridge, which did have a large window that displayed the remnants of the war in a tragic beautiful way. Hard to believe that this very room was where the war most likely ended. If it wasn't for the impending doom looming over our heads at the moment, I'd love to explore it.
"Aye love, but then a couple of leviathans caught his eye." Quinn lied smoothly. "He said he would collect his champion afterward."
Gears, stupidly bought the tale as she rolled her eyes showing her annoyance. She then examined her nails, no longer interested in what Quinn had to say about Hades, who was probably being eaten at this very moment.
"That idiot's gonna get eaten." She sighed.
"Well, who are we as women to deny a man's guilty pleasures. Speaking of, where is the Good Doctor? I figured he'd be here relishing in his victory."
As if she summoned him herself, Doctor Nefarious, a tall blue robot with a green glass dome as a head that was branded with an impressive crack trailed across his lazy eye, emerged from the hall we just came through. With him was a robot wearing a butler uniform who I had to guess was Lawrence and a Terachnoid who was holding the broken dimensionator. More robots, who I could only assume were some of his robotic army, soon trailed behind all ready to kill any of us if we so much stepped out of line.
As he neared closer towards us he started to laugh maniacally, like a serial killer in old horror holo films I've watched with Ratchet.
"If it isn't my old nemesis Ratchet and Clank, here to finally meet your doom!" Doctor Nefarious shouted excitedly in Ratchet's face. Ratchet just rolled his eyes as I'm sure numerous memories of thwarting Nefarious plans flashed through his mind. Clank on other hand kept to a more heroic professional manner as he glared at the Doc. "And look you've met more of your repulsive squishy race. Pity that they have to share your demise and my greatest triumph!"
"So I'm guessing this is just classic revenge for Nefarious?" Ratchet asked.
"Killing you is one step in my plan of taking over the universe." Nefarious bragged. "But first,'
He then turns to me smirking as I glared at him. "I need a certain squishy to fix this confounded machine." He nods towards my direction, ordering the Terachnoid to hand over the Dimensionator to me. Taking it, I examine the machine taking in every detail of the damage done to it. Surprisingly enough...it just needed to be put back together and have the screws changed. Everything else looked to be operational.
"Well!?" Nefarious growled impatiently.
"It can be fixed," I answered truthfully. "Though this may take me awhile. It needs a lot of maintenance." That of course was a lie, but Nefarious didn't need to know that.
Nefarious didn't even note that I could fully communicate with him, rather his impatience with me was indeed growing thin.
"Then fix this confounded machine!" He says walking closer towards me. I parry by walking backward closer and closer to the window. "If a simpleton like you can build your own Dimensionator then this should be child's play! So fix it, you moron!" By this point, Nefarious was fully shouting at me empathizing his displeasure. But rather than g\glance at Quinn and Gears to keep in mind what they were doing.
Gears to no surprise kept her attention to her manicured nails paying no attention to what Nefarious was prattling on about. Whereas Quinn kept her gaze upon the two of us eerily watching Nefarious and keeping her hand on her blaster. Ready to pounce on her prize whatever that may be.
The Terranoid dropped a parcel of tools at my feet snapping me back to this situation I had put us all in. Again the options of what we could do were quickly leaving my grasp. Calling the Rangers and the Force was not an option. No need to bring an army in a now hostage situation. We would need them to cover our escape…
Calling Apehilion and now especially Samus would be a risky move, but a risk we would have to make, but not unless we were all together and hopefully out of this room.
I look at the others who watch me confidently with reassuring smiles that somehow we're going to get out of this…
I just hope their confidence remains.
"I'll need an extra pair of hands," I answered, taking notice of the looks of dread and surprise spread throughout my friends. "To help me hold certain pieces together."
Surprisingly enough Nefarious allowed Clank to come over after he volunteered. Regardless of why his arrogance took over, it was a stroke of luck for me. He then looks at the two of us nodding over the workbench closer to the window.
'Miss Rosyln," Clank whispered. "We cannot fix the dimensionator..."
"Clank I need you to pay attention," I whispered back taking out the welder to hold the pieces in place. "At this point, we have no other calls we can make. Now, I need you to hold this together just like how you held Aphelion's coils together." Clank does what I ask even it was reluctantly, but I'm fearing he's not getting the message.
"Miss Roslyn this will only give what Nefarious wants." He says adding a dreadful tone, and it was then I knew I had to take a different approach. Still keeping up with this facade I was playing I then grab the drill, testing it out to make sure if it was working and whether or not it was loud enough. Pressing the trigger praying to whatever deity was listening for something to go right. Then a loud and very clear whirring sound produced from the drill making sigh in relief. Ok, this I could work with.
"That's the plan Clank. Now keep your hands here while I drill this together." Again, wordlessly, Clank does what I ask. Taking the drill and one of the new screws I take a breath to calm my nerves and start drilling.
"Clank," I whisper loud enough for him to hear over the drill as I finish the first screw.
"Yes, Miss Roslyn?" He asks after I'm finished which only quickens my heartbeat, but I say nothing and try to remain calm. Looking over at Quinn, Gears, and Nefarious, they thankfully didn't seem to think of any of it. Thank heaven.
Starting the second screw I try to reach him again.
"Call," I whispered to him again.
This time he says nothing as I load the third screw. He was catching on…
"Aphelion and Samus." Clank nodded indicating he's getting the plan, but still says remains quiet as I load the fourth and final screw.
"I'll give a signal." I wink at him causing the small robot to smile. As I finish up I take a deep breath and call out to Neferious.
"One repaired Dimensionator coming right up."
"Finally!" He cries snatching the weapon from my hand as his goons aim their blasters at me and Clank keeping us corralled from the others. We needed to find a way over there, but how?
"We would need a diversion, but what in the hell could I do?" I think looking at the others, but then Nefarious's loud booming voice echoed disrupting any plan I was starting to form.
"The time for your DOOM IS HERE!" He cackled placing the machine on his head and suddenly I began to fear the worse… Where was he gonna send us? Or who was he gonna bring back?
"Dimensionator...FIND PERCIVAL TACHYON!"
It was worse than anything I could ever fear. I had single-handedly just doomed us all and my quick risky plan had just gone up in flames.