The Woods were high surrounding the facility. A Large concrete complex with massive windows made of materials that obscured the lights of the red sun that roared in the daytime.
The woods were safe, as the purple glow emitted from them. From the glow emerged two low crawling creature, one with brown fur and one with white. These were Lombax pups, or rather, Lombax youngbloods.
The Orange one gazed upon his companion and partner, who starred only at the facility ahead. He scurried up to the cliff side as his Companion crawled forward. When he found a place between two rocks, the orange Lombax removed the square rifle on his back, and laid down. He spotted the first guard through the window, and pressed the button on the rifle.
The White Lombax put on her visor, and watched as the green, invisible laser ran through the window, lighting up the guard's silhouette as he patrolled the facility. She crept forward, and found the vent. Carefully unscrewing the panel, she crawled up, careful to avoid possible drop points.
As the White Lombax crept through the vent, she could see the various guards on this side of the facility, thanks to her partner. This was normal for Lombaxes, to send out two youngbloods, around the age of 4 to the age 7.
The White Lombax crawled further into the facility, before she spotted the target. A right turn and she dropped down the vent. She undid the side panel with the screw driver, and crawled into the room with a massive computer.
She pulled out the microchip and inserted it into the computer. The password key came up, and quickly filled itself in, and opened the software.
While it was downloading, she rummaged through the filling cabinets, and found a lot of old tech they had already stolen… Wait.
That was new. She grabbed a file for….a prototype ion splitter. That was a little more advanced than what the Lombaxes had, and it was her duty to make sure that the elders got it before this civilization did.
She grabbed the file and put it in her small pack. The files finished downloading, and the White lombax did a quick search for schematics of the Ion splitter. There were two. She quickly issued a [delete] order and crawled back into the vent, right as her visor began to ping rapidly. What was he going on ab-
The door opened as a guard walked in, "Who's there?... Bah, it's just the boss. Left his comp on. I should… oh no, don't touch anything, remember… Idiots." The Guard grumbled to himself as he walked back out of the room.
She was glad her partner was there. That was close, and there was no rescue party.
The White Lombax Crawled up the vent and retraced her steps, going more slowly to allow her partner to support her. She had to keep from getting sloppy.
She found her way out of the vent, and made it outside. Her partner still flashed a light to indicate he was still in position, and would be until she got out clear.
She ran towards the forest. Once she got there, they wou-
A sharp pain rippled through her leg as she slammed into the ground and yelped involuntarily. She looked down and saw metallic teeth of a beartrap clamping into her calf. She tried to trudge forward as she heard a "Oi, What was that?"
The Lombax crawled forward, trying to get away, but the trap was heavy, and she couldn't use that leg. So she tried a different tactic. She removed her visor, and dilated her pupils.
The pig-faced guard came over, "Olright, wot 'ave we… Oi yah poor thing." He looked at her adorable face, so scared and clutching a…. microchip, and folders.
The Guard looked back and saw the tore open vent. "You little…"
She had been caught. The laser from the sniper crossed over the guard's face…then onto hers. Protocol had to be followed…
Several Years later…
Ratchet stood among the busted up machines that littered the city. The world had been saved…yet again, by him. It wasn't just him, though. He looked at his two newest friends. Socially awkward(although he was the same way) Lombax, Rivet, and Kit the warbot.
They just high-fived, and it seemed like they were becoming quite the team.
A Team…. Like a family. Ratchet thought about everything he knew about his dad. He was the guardian of the dimensionator… and that was about it.
He was worried about meeting the Lombaxes… Lomabaxesse? Lombaxi? Not Important.
But Rivet…she really wanted to go. He hadn't known her very long, but he felt like he had known her forever.
She felt the same way, but she knew why.
Ratchet came over and took a breath, "So… I guess this is…it?"
Rivet stopped and looked up at him, and their sadness projected onto each other. These two hadn't seen another Lombax in… a long time.
Ratchet decided, it was now or never, "So I was thinking that maybe… we made a little detour on the way back?"
Rivet smiled slyly, "Where are we going?"
Ratchet decided to play the sly card as well, "I think you know where."
They smiled for a moment. Suddenly, thunder seemed to roll in, and a comet tail emerged, slamming into the ground, and angry force was felt. Not evil, but certainly furious and destructive.
"HELL NO!" A voice growled from the smoke of the crater. Ratchet drew the Executioner, and Rivet pulled out her hammer.
A…Tall figure emerged from the smoke. Fleshly, like Captain Quark, but with a whole body, not simply a large upper body. This was a body that had seen trauma. There was no shirt, but there were pants(Thankfully).
The figure's dark brown hair, and purple eyes emerged. A head band with a half-infinity sign flashed true on the figure's head.
Ratchet could feel…power, like gravity and light itself were imbued in this…man.
Ratchet fist closed, and he realized the dimensionator was not longer in his hands.
The figure held up the DImensionator, "Do you know how hard it is to keep universes from exploding? Without some imbecile slamming holes in dimension constantly. Do you think I am going to let you fire this thing again? After seven universes barely survived the last five minutes?" The way he snarled made Ratchet think this was personal.
Rivet stepped forward, ready to fight, "We are just trying to go home."
The Figure snarled again, before squinting. Ratchet jumped in, "Yeah, I never met my family and I figured I could finally meet my mom…after saving the universe."
"You're a Lombax?" The Figure clarified. He knew about them.
"Y-yeah?" Ratchet felt a little uncomfortable from those purple eyes. Like they pierced his soul.
Then they flashed a strang eemotion: Pity. "You don't remember them, do you?"
Ratchet turned to Rivet, who was finding a special interest in the stone grounds.
Ratchet turned to the figure, "No, why?"
The figure turned around, before shaking his head, "Nevermind. You don't want to meet them. Just stay here, and I'll set the two dimensions straight really quick."
He vanished in a golden flash. What was that about?
"Rivet, What's that about?" Ratchet asked, cocking his head.
Rivet wasn't looking up. Kit raised a concern, "Is there something you aren't telling us?"
Rivet smiled nervously at the ground, "I… Just keep your expectations in check…ok?"
Ratchet nodded with a frown. What did that mean?
The figure re-appeared in front of them, "Ok, I can send you two to your home dimension… if that is what you want. I wouldn't recommend it-"
"We are going there." Ratchet exclaimed.
The figure growled, clearly upset. He threw his hand open and perfect rectangle appeared in purple light, revealing a concrete ground.
Rivet stood up, and walked in, and Ratchet looked at the doorway, and back at the figure who, again had a look of pity in his eyes.
Ratchet took a deep breath, and stepped through the doorway.
The world was dark, with black clouds looming over head, concrete covered the ground.
Ratchet turned around to find the doorway had closed.
The whirl of a siren roared out, and lights blinded the two.
Rivet spoke up, "Raider 1437 reporting back after deployment."
The light suddenly turned off, and they were met with rifled in their face…by armored Lomaxes.
Ratchet felt his hindquarters hit the concrete ground as Rivet Joined him in the cell. She sighed, "Well, I guess this the "hindsight is 20/20" part."
Ratchet slumped, "What happened? Why are we in prison? We didn't do anything?"
Rivet suddenly glared at Ratchet with a deathly glare, "Yeah, I guess we didn't do anything."
"Did I do something wrong?" He wasn't sure why she was so mad all of the sudden.
"Raiders 1492 and 1437. You are allotted one last request before your termination." An armored Lombax appeared in the hallway outside their cell.
"What? Why are we being terminated?" Ratchet was confused as all heck. What did they do?
"You are being terminated for Defiance of Protocol, Social Indecency, Defiance of Orders and Desertion." The Armored Lombax showed a clipboard with the listed reasons for termination.
Rivet sighed, "We came back."
"What are your requests?" Asked The Armored Lombax.
"Do We at least get a trial?" Ratchet asked.
"Is that your request?" Asked the Armored Lombax.
"Do we not get a Fair trial?" Ratchet wanted to clarify.
"Is that your request?" The Armored Lombax couldn't get it through his head.
Rivet groaned, "Yes, that is Ratchet's request. My Request is that we get our Robot friends back."
The Armored Lombax waited.
"Yes, that's my request." Ratchet Conceded.
The Lombax left the room.
Ratchet groaned, "Why are we even in here?"
Rivet grit her teeth. Did he really not remember, "You Screwed Up?"
Ratchet blinked, "What?"
"This is your fault." Rivet stated.