"Oh ho ho ho! Okay, okay. That's enough pictures for now." The muscle-toned superhero known as Captain Qwark paused as he had the small crowd of people around him before grabbing the two nearest ones. "Maybe just one more! Or four! That way everyone gets a picture of Captain Qwark!" The group of children and teenagers cheered as picture after picture was taken. The large hero ensured that he was in the center of it all.
Off in the distance however stood a far more frail individual as he leaned unhappily against the wall. Clad in a more purplish outfit and sporting quite the large cranium, one could infer this was his fellow partner-in-heroics; Dr. Nigel Arious. He grumbled in response before rolling his eyes as he looked onto Qwark yet again changing the urgent conversation to being more about him. This was the fifth time during their emergency trip across the Solana system to figure out what had happened to Tenemule and instead that self-absorbed chad had turned it around to taking pictures of himself! Frustrated beyond belief was an understatement right now! Eventually the doctor would approach and start shooing everyone else away. Hands would travel to his hips as Qwark watched his crowd go their different ways to avoid the angry doctor.
"Aw, Nigel. I still had a couple of photos left to take! If you wanted to be a part of it all you had to do was ask. You know you're always more than welcomed to join in." A finger is pointed up towards Qwark as Nigel frowns.
"We're not here to take photos, Qwark! We need to remain focused and figure out if anyone can help us on our mission!" Qwark's response was to shake his head slightly. "Like anyone's actually going to know what happened to a whole planet! Relax, Nigel. We'll figure it out eventually! We'll lock up the culprit, get a huge parade in our names, and do it all over again when another galaxy-sized threat pops up! It's easy-peasy." The doctor sighs in response as he runs his hand down his face.
"Whatever, Qwark. Just...help me up on stage. The quicker we do that the quicker you can go back to your stupid photo's and signing people's foreheads."
"That's my favorite part!"
"I know it is, Qwark."
"Uuggh...my head." Brax let out a cough as he slowly dragged himself out from the wreckage of the ruined blarg warship. Dusting himself off and bringing himself to his feet, he inspected himself for any injuries. Thankfully nothing too bad minus a few aches in his back from when he hit the control panel. What truly stung though was the taste of failure. It was one thing having a skilled target get away but...a fuzzy kid and a tiny robot? That was a blow to one's pride. Though to be fair it wasn't entirely his fault. His partner was just far too impulsi-CORA!
"Cora! CORA!" Brax called out to his partner as he looked around for her. She had unfortunately been on the side of the ship when the engines exploded and sent them hurtling downward. "Please don't yell so loud..." The kerwanian mumbled from on top of the ship. Brax looked up to see her slowly coming back too it before accidentally sliding down and landing face first into the sand. "Blugh..." Worry washed over the larger bounty hunter as he approached and inspected her. She had a few cuts on her face but otherwise nothing too terrible. The armor they wore no doubt took the brunt of the pain. Brax quickly dove back into the damaged warship to fetch some nanotech and brought it back to help heal his friend. The cuts on Cora's face swiftly vanished as the nanobots fixed up any damages. Slowly did the kerwanian stand to her feet and rub her cheek.
"Thanks, Brax. I needed that." A comforting hand is placed upon her shoulder. "Don't mention it. Just try and not blow us up like an idiot next time." The smaller bounty hunter pouts in response before lightly jabbing at Brax. "Hey! That wasn't my fault! But...yeah, I'll try. Might just stick to the good ole fashioned rocket launchers and buzz-saws! Those'll do the trick nicely!" A small laugh parts from her lips though the moment takes a turn as they hear Brax's holopad going off. Taking it out, Brax grimaces. It's a call from Chairman Drek. Oh no. The large individual looks onto his partner before she motions to the damaged warship. Drek is not going to be happy if they answer that call.
So Brax opts to simply throw it into the warship and the two venture off in the direction of Ratchet and Clank. They'll capture them first and then get back into contact with Drek.
"I hope I never have to do something like that ever again...!"
Breathed Ratchet as he took a moment to catch his breath. His knees still felt a little shaky as he bent over and collected himself. Clank looked on with sadness and worry. He did not intend for something like this to befall Ratchet but there was no turning back now. Drek was serious about his capture...and Ratchet's as well. The smaller robot sighed as a hand pats at what he can reach.
"Let us hope so, Ratchet. On the bright side we are almost there." The mechanic looked up to see the shining lights of the Galactic Rangers stage. They were almost there, weren't they? Just a little bit further and all of this will be over! He can go back home and not have to worry about any of this! The mechanic speeds off with renewed energy and eventually makes it to the area. As he approaches though his ears wiggle as he picks up noise. A lot of noise.
"Oh no..."
Ears drooped at the sight of the giant crowd surrounding the stage as Qwark and Dr. Nigel asked anymore for help. Most of the people weren't even from Veldin! They had clearly migrated from their planets just so they could see the Galactic Rangers in person. An agitated growl came from Ratchet as he looked on with displeasure. "There's no way we're going to reach them, Clank! There's too many people!"
A hand goes to his metallic chin to ponder as Ratchet turns around so Clank can see the ginormous crowd. His green optics scanned about as he tried to think up an idea. His gaze would stop on one of the countless speakers nearby that allowed the Rangers voices to reach every inch of the desert area. "Hmmm. I believe I have an idea, Ratchet. Do you think you could build a megaphone from parts of that speaker over there?"
Ratchet's brows arched in response as he focused his attention on said item. "You kidding me? Of course I could!" Clank smiled in response. "Then that is what we shall do!" The mechanic would then rush over and start opening up the object to get the needed parts. It shouldn't be too hard to accomplish.
"Oh yeah. How do you like these bad boys? They're great, aren't they?" Qwark grinned as he showed off his muscles to the front row of robotic girls. They giggled and whistled in response while Dr. Nigel ignored both parties entirely. "If anyone has anything they can contribute, please by all means do! We are DESPERATE for anything. Five planets already travelled too and we still have no leads! Anything will d-"
"WE DO!"
The overwhelming voice caused the entire area to go quiet, some people even letting out a cry or a scream in response. All eyes slowly but surely shifted to were the source came from. Far out from the crowd was a lone mechanic and a small robot...with a dismantled speaker and a makeshift megaphone in hand.
"My speaker! I paid five hundred bolts for that beauty!" Qwark cried out upon noticing it. A sheepish smile is given by Ratchet as he shrinks from all the attention being placed upon him. Dr. Nigel however is quick to shove Qwark out of the way and approach the edge of the stage before jumping off. He looks onto the pair with his fullest attention as he makes his way directly to them. Qwark follows shortly after. Ratchet opens his mouth to speak but finds that no words can come out. He's too excited and scared at the same time to really do anything than stand there like a statue. Clank appears to pick up on this fact and takes the lead, approaching Dr. Nigel specifically.
"Greetings. My name is Clank and this is Ratchet. We have vital information regarding the destruction of Planet Tenemule." Clank would open up his chest to take out the documents to back up his claim as he handed them off to Nigel. The doctor would shift through them as Qwark peaked over his shoulder to also look. "A man by the name of Chairman Drek was responsible for it and there will be more targets in the future I am afraid."
Nigel's non-existent eyebrows rose out of shock as his eyes scanned the pages. This was horrible. An act only a monster could think of! It was just the lead they needed. "Thank you. How did you two get this information?" He asked.
"I was...created by him. He attempted to destroy me when I discovered what he was doing. Just earlier this day he sent out bounty hunters to capture me and my friend here." Clank motioned to Ratchet who gave a weak wave. Why couldn't he talk? Probably because he didn't think he'd be this close to a pair of galactic superheros. It was all so intimidating.
A look of worriment washed over the doctor's face as he bent down to place a hand on the robot's shoulder. "By Orvus' hand! You two aren't safe! Qwark, we need to take them back to the ship for safety." The other hero nods his head in agreement before extending a hand towards Ratchet. The mechanic is a little afraid to touch it so Qwark opts to just grab the boy himself and host him up onto his shoulders. "Woah!"
Dr. Nigel does something similar as he takes Clank into his arms and the two venture off towards their Ranger ship, leaving the crowd all together. It was time to get serious.
"Should I take the shot...?" Cora asked as she held the sniper rifle in her arms and had the target right on the mechanic's head as the four were going to the ship. Brax looked on as he thought to himself before ultimately shaking his head. "No. If we do we'll have to worry about those two. I don't know about you but I don't want to face the two greatest superheroes of the galaxy! They'll beat the tar out of us!" Cora slowly nods her head in agreement as she lowers the rifle. "So what's the game plan then? The itchy trigger finger is still plenty itchy!"
A finger taps against his chin as he looks onto the ship, an idea slowly but surely formulating. "Think we can hitch a ride, Cora?" The kerwanian shrugs in response. "I don't see why not."
Brax smiles in response. "Great. They won't even see us coming. That's how we'll get them."