Damn, sorry about the long wait for this one! I suffered from an unfortunate combination of college and writer's block, the latter of which kicked my ass thoroughly. I started this chapter like a dozen times before I was finally satisfied with how it turned out.

And honestly, I'm just sick of having to look at this chapter for over two weeks now, so I just forced myself to sit down and bang this out in 8 hours, not stopping until it was done and over with. So, hopefully, that hasn't affected the writing in this chapter too much, but I just want to finally get on with the story.

Enjoy!

Neither of them knew just how long they sat there like that, crying while holding each other in an emotional embrace. They both tried to say something to the other, but words couldn't describe the wave of emotions they were feeling at finally having been reunited after many long years. That, and the fact that they couldn't say anything outside of a blubbering sob.

Kaden was nothing short of ecstatic, of course, having all his fears and doubts of his son's fate squashed the moment he wrapped his arms around him. He dreamed of this moment far too many times to count, and even then, all of those couldn't even hold a candle to the sensation of Kieran hugging him in return, something that was indescribably gratifying to an extraordinary amount.

But seeing him grown up also made his heart ache. It told him that at the end of the day, he was too late to be a father, like he expressed to Julie only hours ago. The last time he saw Kieran was when he was a tiny baby, small enough to rest comfortably in just one of his arms. And now, he grew into a young man, almost his height, and Kaden never got the chance to witness it.

But as much as it hurt, Kaden knew the most important thing was that he was able to see him at all. And now, since he was here, he would be able to start making up for all of that lost time between them and try to be the father he never had a chance to be. And what better way to start, he thought, than with a hug?

Eventually, though, their cries begin to die down, and Ratchet breaks away from the hug before staring at Kaden with what could only be described as a shell-shocked expression.

"I-I don't understand!" Ratchet says, now finally able to speak coherently. "I thought you were dead! No, I know you were dead, so why aren't you? How did you escape Tachyon?!"

Kaden wipes his eyes and gives him a smile. "Like I said, it's a long story. And I'll tell you later, because right now I want to know all about—"

"No!" Ratchet interjects. "I need to know now! Because if you've been living with the rest of the Lombaxes here this entire time, then, then why… why didn't you come back for me?" He asks in a pained tone, his eyes still wet with tears. "Even though you had years to do so, you didn't. Did you not want me or something? Did you leave me back in the other dimension on purpose?"

Kaden's heart shatters as he stares at Ratchet in shock, mouth agape. His own son wasn't seriously thinking that he was abandoned, is he?! Can't he see how happy he was right now in just seeing him?

He is too dazed to even speak, his mind racing at the cold idea of Kieran hating him despite just only having him back again. And amid his shocked silence, Ratchet starts to frown.

"You're not saying anything because I'm right, aren't I?" He mutters quietly.

"What? No!" Kaden states loudly as he finally tears himself out of his thoughts. He suddenly latches his hands onto Ratchet's shoulders and stares right into his eyes, which look back at him with surprised confusion.

"Kieran, I never abandoned you! Don't say that!" He says desperately. "The first thing, the very first thing I did when I came back here was try and come back for you! I did everything I could, but…"

He sighs, trying to calm himself down to regain some composure. "The Council banned me from doing it. I tried to ignore them, and go around their stupid ban, and I even went to prison for it. Ever since then, it's been a never-ending battle, but I never stopped fighting to get you back."

He removes his hands from Ratchet's shoulders, and instead grasps onto his hands, taking them into his own with a firm squeeze. "So please, don't say that I never wanted you, Kieran. Believe me when I say that having you here with me is all that I've ever wanted ever since I had to leave on that doorstep on Veldin."

Ratchet stares at him for a moment, a little flustered from Kaden's sudden intensity. But as Kaden gazes onto him with a tender look, he could see something else resting within his eyes that seemed oddly familiar, and it comforted him for some reason.

But then it hits him that it was the same look that Ms. Perigee always had, that genuine love for all the kids she cared for, Ratchet included. She was the closest thing to a mother he had, and that look always made him feel reassured in troubled times, which in his youth, were more often than he would have liked.

But in his father's eyes, they seemed to communicate that feeling tenfold. It was as if he practically saying 'I love you' without even speaking. Maybe it was because it was coming from his actual, real parent instead of a sweet old lady who had the kindness and patience to raise orphans, but either way, it made Ratchet feel happy.

Because if his father truly did want to abandon him like he thought, there would be no way he would be able to give him that look or speak with so much pain as he explained why he couldn't be there for Ratchet. It relieved him, and in all honesty, he didn't entirely believe it himself when accused Kaden, but it was the only explanation he could think of as to why they haven't reunited sooner.

But even if he didn't mean to leave him back there on purpose, there were still a lot of other questions.

"I… I believe you." Ratchet says gently, sensing Kaden's frantic state. "And I'm happy I have you, too."

Kaden smiles, and he relaxes visibly, Ratchet feeling the tight grip on his hands loosen a bit.

"But I still don't really understand what stopped you, exactly." Ratchet follows up. "Who's the Council? What ban are you talking about? And you still haven't answered me about why you're still alive."

"It's because... it's…" Kaden tries to find a simple explanation for his questions, but realizes it's pointless, because it wasn't a simple answer. He really didn't want to spend the time poring over his past since it was practically irrelevant now that Kieran was here. He wanted to learn all about him, what he's done with his life up to this point, never having the chance to see him grow up, but… he knew it would be unfair to not tell him everything. He had to know why he grew up without a father, after all.

Kaden sighs, and he stands up, removing his hands from Ratchet's.

"Again, it's a long story." He answers. "And I have a lot of questions for you, too, but… I guess you deserve the whole thing. It's the least I can do for not being able to save you sooner."

He walks around the table to where his chair is, and he picks it up to set it down in front of Ratchet on his side of the table, not wanting to be separated any more than he has to be. He takes a seat, and Ratchet looks onto him expectantly as he takes a deep breath.

"After I hid you on Veldin, and the Dimensionator on Rykan V, I knew I had to go back to Fastoon and face Tachyon." He begins. "And in case you were wondering, no, I didn't plan on actually surviving. I knew full-well that I wouldn't leave that planet once I stepped foot on it, but I knew it was the only way to make sure you and the rest of our people were safe. I only lived because something happened, something I never would've guessed in a million years."

"And now, here we are." Kaden finishes as he leans back in his chair. "I hope that answered your questions."

Ratchet doesn't respond as he looks off onto the floor, processing his father's story. Kaden could practically see the gears turning in his head, and he didn't blame him, because there was a lot to unpack from his tale. He wished he could've told him everything in an easier, slower way for him to digest, but it was clear that he was adamant about wanting answers. So, he decided to just explain everything that happened, from the moment he walked back into the Court of Azimuth, to the years of appeals he had to suffer through.

But even if it was a lot to think about, Ratchet's silence was beginning to unease him a little. He's only just met him, but he could already tell that he was far from the silent type, much like himself. He was about to ask Ratchet for a response, but before he could, Ratchet finally looks back up to him, and opens his mouth.

"So… let me get this straight." Ratchet says he holds up his hands in front of him. "You were dying on the ground from Tachyon's heart-attack gun, or whatever it was called, but you fell through a portal and blacked out."

Kaden nods, relieved at getting an answer.

"And you found out that it was because two of your friends built a Dimensionator to save you, which were apparently banned by the Council, because they were too scared of Tachyon."

"That's right." Kaden says.

"And the reason you couldn't come back for me was because the one they used broke, and the ban stopped you from making one. And you tried to ignore it, but got thrown in prison because of it, so now, you have to talk to the Council every month to try and change their minds?"

Kaden nods again.

"And… you've been doing that for twenty years?" Ratchet asks with mild astonishment. "Even though they never listened… you really never gave up?"

Kaden smiles. "Now do you see why I'm just so damn happy to see you? For over 200 months, I've had to listen to those cowards tell me that you were dead and gone, and that it was pointless to try and save you. I'll admit, there were some days where I felt so defeated that I would start to believe them, but I knew I had to have hope. And just like them, I never listened, because I knew deep down that you were alive and well. And to see that for myself is just…"

He suddenly leans over and takes Ratchet into another hug, letting his actions speak for himself.

"This is the best day of my entire life." He replies from Ratchet's shoulder.

Ratchet, who was initially a little surprised from the hug, smiles and returns it warmly, finding his father's touch to be very comforting despite only having met him ten minutes ago. "I'm happy I have you back, too… dad." He finishes awkwardly.

Kaden stiffens, but Ratchet doesn't notice as he sighs. "Sorry, I've never called anyone that before, it feels weird to say." He explains, a little embarrassed.

Kaden suddenly squeezes him even harder, almost suffocating Ratchet as he lets out a strained breath.

"You have no idea how much it means to hear you call me that, Kieran." Kaden says, his voice nearly cracking with tears.

"Y-You're welcome?" Ratchet manages to say, struggling for air. "Man, you're strong!"

"Oh, sorry!" Kaden hastily replies, letting go of Ratchet as he takes a few breaths.

"I-It's alright." Ratchet reassures him, lightly rubbing his now sore chest. "But I can't help but notice you keep calling me that."

Kaden tilts his head as he wipes the tears from his eyes. "Calling you what?"

"Kieran." Ratchet replies. "Is… is that supposed to be my name?"

Kaden looks at him blankly, but then his eyes widen before he facepalms with a light groan. "I can't believe I've been calling you that this entire time without even realizing you'd have a different name." He says with some embarrassment. "How could I forget that?" He mutters to himself.

He removes his hand from his face, but then gives Ratchet a nod. "Yes. Kieran is the name your mother and I gave you." He answers.

"…Huh." Ratchet mutters, looking off onto the floor in thought. "Kieran…" He quietly repeats to himself.

"How do you like it?" Kaden asks, admittedly a little apprehensive for the answer.

"It's… weird, to be honest. But, in a good way!" Ratchet hurriedly corrects himself, returning his gaze back to his father. "It's just… I've always wondered what my real name was supposed to be, and to finally get that answer is… surreal, I guess? I'm not really sure how to put it in words." Ratchet says while scratching the back of his head. "My mind's honestly a little frazzled over everything right now."

Kaden nods with a smile. "It's alright. The important thing is that you finally know, at least. But while we're on the subject, I just want to know… what is your name?" He asks with slight embarrassment. "Since I forgot to ask earlier."

Ratchet smiles proudly. "It's Ratchet."

Kaden looks back at him with confusion. "'Ratchet'? Like the tool?"

He nods. "Yep!"

"That's… a unique name." Kaden manages to say. "But how did you get a name like that?"

Ratchet smiles. "It's a pretty dumb story, but when I was a baby, Ms. Perigee left me in the nursery to play, but then she had to leave to go answer a call. Or, wait, I think it's because she had to answer the door for a delivery guy, actually." He mutters, before shaking his head. "I don't know, point was, she left me alone for a few minutes. And when she came back, instead of seeing me play with stuffed animals or toys like a normal baby, I was messing around with a ratchet that a repairman left behind when he was going to the bathroom."

He chuckles. "She swears to this day that I was trying to unscrew the vent on the wall even though I was only a year old. I don't know about that, but she also said that I threw a fit when she tried to take it away from me, and I didn't even glance at the toys she tried to bribe me with. And after she saw how much I loved that tool, she decided to just buy it off the repairman." He smiles warmly. "I do remember that ratchet being one of my favorite things as a kid. I think I still have it hanging around in my workshop somewhere, actually."

Kaden smiles happily as he watches a nostalgic look wash over Ratchet's face. He left him in Solana so that he would be able to grow up safe and happy, and if that look was any indication, then it looks like he succeeded. It made him feel a little less upset about not being there for Ratchet if he was still able to look back fondly on his life despite not having a family.

"That Ms. Perigee sounds like a lovely woman if she did that just for you." Kaden says. "I'm not sure many others would've bought a tool just for a baby to play with."

Ratchet nods lightly. "Yeah. She was one of the only good things about Veldin when I was growing up. Even though she would grill me in her office for stealing scrap from a mechanic, she would always give me a cookie afterwards. And they were homemade, too."

Ratchet sighs longingly, then holds up his cuffed arm, where the chain constricting him to the table jingled. "Guess I'm not getting a cookie after this one, though."

His comment about her being one of the only good things about Veldin made Kaden a little worried, but him pointing out the chain made him suddenly remember the fact that they were sitting in a City Guard interrogation room, where his son was still technically considered a criminal. It also made him remember that he had a lot of other questions about Ratchet other than his name.

"About that, just how the hell did you manage to build a Dimensionator?" Kaden asks. "The Council took all the information we have about them when we fled the last dimension!"

"Oh, I didn't build it." Ratchet replies, snapping his attention away from his cuff. "That was my friend, Clank."

"Clank? Who's—" Kaden stops as he suddenly remembers the news broadcast earlier. "Wait, is he that robot that was with you in your chase? I think that's what you called him when they deactivated him when you were arrested."

"Yeah." Ratchet answers, before he looks at him quizzically. "Wait, how did you know that?"

Kaden raises an eyebrow. "You do realize that camera you were winking and waving at during your chase was a live news broadcast, right? The entire city saw you get arrested."

Ratchet's eyes widen slightly. "Oh. Huh." He says with little concern.

"You don't seem very surprised by that." Kaden states with some worry.

"I mean, I knew someone was watching me with that camera, I just didn't know it was a news camera." He explains casually. "I thought the guards were just using it to track me, which is why I decided to have a little fun with it." He says with a smirk.

Kaden recognized that smirk, filled a sort of cockiness that said, 'I'm invincible'. He recognized it because it was the same exact one he always sported in his more reckless days.

He didn't quite know how to feel about that. On one hand, there was a sort of pride and happiness in seeing his son pick up similar traits of his despite never having raised him. But on the other, Kaden knew firsthand what kind of trouble that cockiness can get you in, this interrogation room being an astute illustration to that, and he worried about what other trouble he's gotten into throughout his life for it.

He decides to just try and dismiss that dilemma by asking another question. "And why exactly were the guard chasing you, then? I mean, the news already said it was because you intruded the walls, but why didn't you just let yourself get arrested so you could explain everything without racking up all your felonies?"

Ratchet scoffs. "I'm not the type to just let myself 'get arrested'. Especially not by some chubby guy who kept calling me a stupid kid even after I told him at least three times that I'm 20 years old!" He crosses his arms with a huff. "And besides, I tried explaining that I'm from the last dimension back at the gate, I even showed him the Dimensionator! But no, 'that's not what a Dimensionator looks like, kid! There were no Lombaxes left behind in the last dimension, kid! Go run off back to your tree fort, kid!'" He speaks in a mocking tone before he crosses his arms with a huff. "I guess he can't catch a stupid kid like he said, after all, though, so there's that."

Kaden couldn't help but crack an amused smile. Yep. This was definitely his son, alright. For better or worse.

"But what he said confused me, though." Ratchet follows up. "Why did he say there were no more Lombaxes left behind? I mean, weren't you arguing the exact opposite for twenty years?"

"Well, the thing about that is…" Kaden sighs. "He's mostly right. Everyone who didn't manage to evacuate were killed by Tachyon, except you. And when I started making my appeals, the Council also banned me from disclosing your survival to anyone else."

"Wait, what?" Ratchet looks at him in bewilderment. "Why would they do that?!"

"Because they knew if I got the people on my side by saying the Council abandoned an innocent Lombax, they'd have no choice but to go back for you." Kaden answers distastefully. "And the last thing they wanted was to have to open a portal back home and risk having Tachyon slip though and invade us. So, they've kept you a secret from the public this entire time. As far as everyone else is concerned, you died with your mother."

Ratchet's jaw drops. "That's…!"

"Ridiculous? Harsh? Unfair? Tell me about it." Kaden says unpleasantly. "But I guess it doesn't matter now that you're here. And I'd say it's your turn to tell me about how that's the case, because you still didn't answer me about the Dimensionator. So, again, how did you manage to build one?" He asks.

Ratchet closes his jaw, but still felt a little dumbstruck at how insensitive this Council seemed to be. "Oh, about that, we didn't actually build it. Clank repaired it. It's actually the very same one you hid!" He says amusedly.

Kaden gawks at him. "How… how did you manage to find it, then?!" He exclaims in surprise. "I left it in a completely different galaxy from you! How did you know to look on Rykan V?"

"Actually, I didn't find it on Rykan V." Ratchet replies.

"Wait, what?!" Kaden exclaims in concern. "That's where I hid it, though! Where else could it have possibly been?"

Ratchet nervously scratches the back of his head. "Erm… it was stolen. By… Tachyon." He says hesitantly.

He already regrets mentioning that as he sees a wave of dread visibly wash over Kaden's face, his eyes widening as his mouth hangs slightly agape. "He… he stole the Dimensionator?!" Kaden exclaims as he turns away and begins ranting in a frenzy. "N-No, that's impossible! I chose Rykan because it should have been impossible for him to find it there! And even then, he shouldn't have gained access to the facility, only Lombaxes can open it! And the amount of firepower needed to break into it would've destroyed the whole thing anyways! There's no way that—"

He freezes as his mind finally processes the reality of Ratchet's statement. There was only one way he could have possibly known something like that.

He slowly turns to face him as a sinking feeling begins to settle in his gut. He feels his mouth has gone dry, but he opens it anyway to ask his question, dreading the answer.

"How did you know Tachyon had it?" Kaden asks carefully. "If that's the case, and you're here now, with the Dimensionator, doesn't that mean…" He couldn't stand to finish that thought.

Ratchet gives a nod. "I fought him for it." He confirms.

Kaden looks at him with wide eyes as he feels his blood run cold, that phrase echoing in his mind.

"Uh… Are you okay?" Ratchet asks worriedly as Kaden remains frozen with shock.

Kaden snaps out of his thoughts and looks back at him with anger and fear. "What? No! I'm not okay!" He yells, making Ratchet recoil back into his chair in surprise. "Everything I did for you was so that you wouldn't even have to hear of that son of a bitch, and you're telling me you fought him?! Why would you do that?! He killed thousands of Lombaxes, including your mother, and almost myself! Our species had to abandon an entire dimension to get away from him, and you willingly fought him?!"

Ratchet shrinks under his assault, the intensity of a protective father being an entirely new feeling to him. He weakly raises a finger. "H-Hey, I won, didn't I?"

"That just makes me even more concerned! How in the hell did you win?! Our entire military couldn't stand up to him! So how could you have possibly walked out of there alive?!"

Ratchet gulps. "W-Well, he wasn't exactly the first psycho I ever had to deal with." He explains.

Kaden pauses. "What do you mean by that?" He asks with dismay.

"Well, the thing is, back in the other dimension, I'm a hero." Ratchet says with a proud smile despite the fear he felt from his father's wrath. "I've saved at least three galaxies from supervillains like him. In fact, I think he was…"

Kaden watches in horror as he begins to count on his fingers. "The fifth one I've had to fight? Yeah, I think that's right." Ratchet mumbles to himself.

"But… but… you're so young!" Kaden sputters, almost speechless by the bombshell Ratchet casually dropped on him. "When did you even start with this hero business?"

Ratchet whistles. "Let's see, it was when I met Clank, and that was with Chairman Drek, which would have been… five years ago? Four or five, yeah."

"Wait, so you were 15?" Kaden asks in shock. "You should've been in school! Dating girls! Playing with friends! Not risking your life by fighting an intergalactic threat! I-I don't…"

He grips his head, his mind reeling with these revelations. He had a bad feeling when he saw how cool he was in his chase earlier, getting shot at like it was another Tuesday. And to learn that it was because it was another Tuesday for him filled him with anger and dread. He was supposed to live a happy, but safe life in Solana. Not become a teenage hero who endangers his life for a living!

For the millionth time in his life, he cursed the Council. How could they have let this happen? If only they had listened to him, let him raise Kieran on his own, he would've been given a normal life. He would've been protected from all the dangers of their previous dimension, safe behind these city walls.

"I-If it makes you feel better, I'm retired now." Ratchet speaks up, getting unnerved from the silence.

"I can't say it makes me feel better, because it doesn't change the fact that you've already risked your life countless times." Kaden argues, now too mentally exhausted to yell anymore. "I mean, you were 15 for the Zoni's sake! That is way too young to do something so dangerous!"

Ratchet tilts his head. "Hey, didn't you win the Agorians' Gold Tournament when you were 16? I think that's pretty dangerous."

Kaden pinches his nose. "That was different. You can tap out of a tournament, but you can't tap out of a real—"

He suddenly removes his hand as he realizes something. "Wait, how did you know that about me?" He asks, perplexed. "You don't know your real name, but you know something I did when I was 16? You didn't find a record or anything, did you?"

Ratchet shakes his head. "No, nothing like that. I… I was told." He says as he begins to shift uncomfortably in his seat.

Kaden furrows his brow. "Who would be able to tell you something like that?"

Ratchet doesn't reply for a moment. An odd reaction, Kaden thought, since he was so nonchalant about saying he had fought Tachyon of all people. But before he could ask again, Ratchet sighs.

"I… I met Alister." He finally speaks. "He's the reason I know anything about you at all."

Kaden's breath hitches in his throat. "Alister Azimuth?" He clarifies while leaning forward.

Ratchet nods solemnly.

"You… you actually met him? So, he's alive, then?!" Kaden asks hopefully, a smile beginning to form on his face.

Ratchet's face displays a look of pain at the question. "No." He says sadly. "Not anymore."

Kaden's heart drops, and he slumps back into his seat. "Oh."

A moment of silence falls between them as they both think about Alister.

Kaden always assumed that he died in the aftermath, either by suicide like Tachyon suggested, or in a vain attempt to avenge their species. But it was one thing to assume, and another to get a definitive answer. And to learn that he lived long enough to meet his son pained Kaden, as it meant he had to live for years thinking that Kaden despised him.

He still remembered the resentment he felt toward Alister in the Exodus, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't still feel a little bitter about him now. But after having all these years of relative loneliness and reflection about what could've been, Kaden began to realize that he wasn't entirely to blame for the genocide.

Growing up, it was clear that Alister was determined to do what was best for Lombaxes. It was a trait that he and Kaden shared, and it drove them to rise through the ranks of the Praetorian Guard. Alister was always looking for new ways to bolster their military, always being astutely aware of the increasing dangers of the galaxy. And when Tachyon showed up with his promises and inventions, it was as if he was handing them a solution to their problems on a silver platter.

It shouldn't have been a surprise that Alister gave him what he wanted, then. And honestly, thinking back, if he still trusted Tachyon despite Kaden's (correct) fears and prejudices about him being a Cragmite, then Alister was a better man to look past them and truly believe that Tachyon wanted what was best for them. And in the end, with Tachyon's tenacity, even if Alister refused him, he probably would've found another way to carry out his genocide.

Maybe it was because he opted to believe that, or because Alister was his childhood friend and brother-in-arms, but Kaden ultimately forgave him. In truth, he missed him, just as much as Marie and Kieran. And the worst part was that he had to keep it to himself, because if the Council caught wind that he sympathized with one of the most hated Lombaxes in history, then it would've thrown any slim chance of saving Kieran out the window.

But to hear that he's been alive all this time… it pained him.

"How did you two meet?" Kaden finally speaks, breaking the silence.

"Oh, uh, it was on Torren IV." Ratchet says as he snaps out of his own thoughts. "I was following a lead on Clank's kidnapping, erm, long story, and it pointed to some rebel named Alister Azimuth. When I first found him, he threw a grenade at me and pinned me by my neck against the wall with his Wrench, thinking I was some kind of assassin." He says with a light smile.

The thought of Alister almost killing his son put a sour taste in Kaden's mouth, but living in a galaxy controlled by a maniac hellbent on Lombax extinction definitely warranted having precautions.

"When he looked at me, he realized I was your son, and then told me all about you." Ratchet says as he digs into his pocket, taking out his pocket watch. Kaden's eyes widen as he looks at it, recognizing it instantly.

He points to it. "Is… is that…"

"His watch." Ratchet confirms, handing it to Kaden, who carefully takes it into his own hands.

He lightly brushes his finger against the bronzed surface, seeing that it's suffered some wear and tear the last time he saw it. But then he opens it, and his breath nearly catches in his throat as the photo inside practically throws him back in time to the day they were both promoted. A happier time where they didn't have to worry about a genocidal maniac that almost rendered their people extinct, only about who was picking up the tab at the bar they went to celebrate their newfound statuses as Generals.

Did Alister really keep this, despite everything? Even after Kaden beat him to the ground and shattered his heart, blaming him for Marie's death? How did he bear to even look at this picture?

"I'm… I'm sure he said some horrible things about me." Kaden says morosely, closing the watch.

Ratchet tilts his head. "What? No, he never said anything like that. He always talked about how you were one of the smartest and bravest Lombaxes he's ever known. To be honest, I think he respected you even more than himself."

Kaden looks back up to Ratchet with surprise. "Really? He said all those things about me?"

Ratchet nods, but he furrows his brow in confusion. "Yeah, why wouldn't he?"

Kaden looks back to the watch resting in his hand, and gives a sigh. "We… parted on less than friendly terms, to say the least." He explains. "I punched him, and kicked him, and blamed him for everything, including your mother's death. I told him that I never wanted to see him ever again. That was the last time we saw each other."

He sighs once more as he hands the watch back over to a speechless Ratchet. "If he still thought so highly of me despite all of that, then he really is a good man." He says mournfully.

Ratchet takes the watch back, and stares at it for a moment before placing it back into his pocket. "I… I like to think he was, too." Ratchet says.

"If you don't mind me asking, how… how did he die?" Kaden asks.

Ratchet doesn't answer for a moment. And as the silence begins to grow, Kaden starts to feel a little insensitive for asking that. He already seemed pained enough talking about him, and he seriously asked how he died?

He was about to tell Ratchet to forget about it, but he began to answer.

"He… sacrificed himself." Ratchet says sadly. "To save me and the rest of the universe. I… don't really want to talk about him anymore right now. I'm honestly still trying to deal with it."

Kaden nods, but can't help but be puzzled by 'saving the rest of the universe'. Just what kind of situation were they in where the entire universe was at stake? He also wanted to learn more about what Alister was up to during their time together, but he had to respect his son's wishes. Those were questions for another day, he decided.

"Alright. I think it's about time we finally deal with your predicament now, anyway." Kaden states, trying to dissipate the gloomy mood that's befallen on the room during their conversation.

"What predicament?" Ratchet asks, mildly confused.

Kaden wordlessly points to the cuff on Ratchet's arm, and his confusion disappears into a dull realization. "Ah. I'm still going to prison, right." He says blankly.

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Kaden says. "I'm on the Council, so I'm sure I can at least let you out of here under my supervision. But in order to deal with your felonies, especially concerning the Dimensionator, we're going to have to get the Council to give you a pardon."

Ratchet's face lights up as he hears he's not going to rot in prison. "That's great, but, how exactly are we going to convince them to give me a pardon? Don't they just ignore you?"

"Only when it comes to my appeals." Kaden answers as he stands up. "And this time, they'll have no choice but to give you a pardon, if they have any self-respect left."

Ratchet raises an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"Because the entire reason they banned Dimensionators was to avoid Tachyon. And, as much as I hate to say it, you took care of him, right?"

Ratchet nods. "Yeah, but how would the Council even believe me about it? I don't really have any solid proof."

"Oh, yes you do." Kaden says as he walks over to the MemoReader terminal, slapping his hand on top of it with a solid, metallic thunk. "You've got your memories!"

He then begins rapidly typing into the terminal, even faster than Chief Wells when Ratchet saw her messing with it. "Wow, you know how to use one of those things?" Ratchet asks in awe.

Kaden pauses for a moment to give him a smug smirk over his shoulder, something Clank would have recognized as identical to Ratchet's. "I helped invent it." He states proudly before resuming his typing. "I made it a few years ago in an effort to convince the Council to let me go back for you. I figured if they saw for themselves how heartbreaking it was for me to leave you on that doorstep, they'd change their minds."

He sighs. "But then someone ordered that I show them my memory of fighting Tachyon, and it scared them into doubling down on the ban. Hell, I lost two votes because I made this thing!" He exclaims as he waves his arms over the terminal indignantly. "At least it's streamlined interrogations. Now we can prove what someone did in ten minutes instead of talking to them for hours and maybe getting the truth. So, there's that."

With a final tap, he finally turns back to Ratchet, who looks back at him with a dumbfounded expression. "There, the Reader should be set up now. You can put it on."

"Oh, right." Ratchet says as he snaps out of his admiration. He takes the headband off the table and places it onto his head again, feeling the tingling near his temples once more.

After Kaden sees the 'RECORDING' on the screen, he gives a satisfied nod and takes his seat in front of Ratchet.

"Now, I'm sure Wells didn't say this, but the limitation for MemoReaders is that they can only read memories that you explicitly talk about." Kaden explains. "It helps the program pinpoint where in your brain the memory is when you have to actively speak about it. It's the only way to get accurate readings, because if it synthesized every place where your brain is lighting up, it can't tell the difference between 'memory' and 'regular subconscious thought that runs your body'.

He then gives Ratchet a playful smile. "Although, believe me, in the early prototypes, the visuals it got from those were wild. With the patterns and colors it came up with, you could just stare at it for hours, and it was like you were tripping on some kind of psychedelic drug, it was amazing." He sighs longingly. "I wish I kept at least one prototype for fun. It'd give me something to do on boring days."

He then turns his away in thought as something dawns on him. "Or, wait, I guess I can just make one, I think I still remember the code well enough. And I could specifically build it for those subconscious thoughts to really get those effects, and maybe tweak the visuals a bit, too. Oh, maybe I could even make it a holodisplay, so that it could—"

He stops ranting as he glances over to Ratchet, who looks like he's stifling a laugh. Kaden sits back up and clears his throat, but not before shelving that idea in his mind for later. "Ahem, like I said, you talk about the memory, it reads the memory. Simple enough." He states coolly.

"Now I see how Clank feels when I start to go off about my inventions." Ratchet says amusedly.

Kaden smiles, happy to hear that his son has indulged in his natural Lombax trait of inventing. But as much as he wants to learn about what he's made, he knows that now is not the time for it.

"Alright, let's get started, then." Kaden begins. "How did you… meet Tachyon?"

Ratchet places his hand on his chin as he looks up to recall the memory. "Let's see… Me and Clank were responding to a distress call in Metropolis, on Kerwan, when Drophyds started to attack us. They chased us for a while, until they cornered us, and Tachyon decided to introduce himself. Told me all about his plan to become 'Ruler of the Universe', or whatever." Ratchet says in a mockingly high tone, imitating him. "Didn't seem all that threatening, honestly."

It sends a chill down Kaden's spine. He was hoping deep down that he was lying about Tachyon, but if he knew how to impersonate him like that, then he was telling the truth. The only silver lining was that he actually lived to tell the tale, and hopefully, it'll get him that pardon.

"…Right." Kaden says, snapping out of his thoughts. "And, what happened when you fought him?"

"Well, we found out that he had the Dimensionator, and we went back to Fastoon to take it back." Ratchet says determinedly. "He taunted me, and gave me a chance to run away, but I stood my ground. I knew everyone was in danger if he was allowed to have it, so I knew I had no choice but to fight him. And, well, I won." He says with a proud smile. "I mean, I almost died, since the Dimensionator malfunctioned and almost sucked us into a black hole with him, but I lived."

"I… see." He really didn't like the casual way he said that. In all honesty, he was a little scared to see these memories for himself. But he knew he had to do it if it meant that he was going to spend time with Ratchet outside of the prison's visiting hours.

"I think we have all we need to convince the Council now." Kaden says. He stands up and begins to walk over to the MemoReader to end the session. But just before he starts typing away, he realizes something.

He turns back to Ratchet. "Actually, while we have the MemoReader on… is it alright If I ask you one more thing?" He asks a little apprehensively. "I… want to see something for myself."

Ratchet gives him a perplexed look, but he thankfully gives a nod. "Um, sure, I guess. But what is it?

"Could you… talk about Alister, again? When you first met?" Kaden asks. "I… just want to see how he was doing."

Ratchet hesitates for a moment. Kaden half-expected him to say no, remembering how diffcult it was for Ratchet to talk about him during their discussion earlier. But thankfully, Ratchet instead gives a nod.

"Like I said, it was on Torren IV." Ratchet begins. "I managed to find him, had to chase him for a little bit, and he almost killed me. But then he introduced himself and told me about you and where to find Clank. Is that enough?"

Kaden gives him an earnest smile. "It is, thank you."

He then returns to the MemoReader terminal and starts to type away at it once more, and after a few final taps, a small holotape is ejected from the machine, and Kaden places it into his pocket.

"There. I'll go and get Chief Wells to release you in a minute here, then we'll head back to the Center together. How's that sound?"

"Sounds good." Ratchet says as takes the MemoReader headband off. "But don't forget about Clank, he's coming with me." He makes sure to add.

Kaden nods. "Don't worry, I'll get him off the hook, too." He starts to walk over to the door, but stops just short of it, turning back to Ratchet. "Actually, there's something I need to tell you, before I go."

Ratchet looks at him with confusion as Kaden walks over to him. He stops in front of him, looking over him for a moment, but then takes him into a tight hug.

"I love you."

Ratchet freezes for a moment, those words hitting him like a freighter. Kaden starts to think that he broke him somehow, but then he recovers from the shock to tightly return the hug. "I… I love you, too, dad." He returns, not caring how strange it felt to be able to say those words.

Somehow, Kaden manages to squeeze him even harder, suffocating him once more. "Yep. Hearing that feels better than I imagined it would." Kaden says, Ratchet practically hearing the smile on his face.

Well, that, and his own strained breath as he tries to get air into his lungs. "T-That's great, but could you ease up a bit?" He struggles to say.

"Nope. If you can survive a fight with Tachyon, then you can survive a hug from your dad." Kaden replies smugly, starting to squeeze him even harder.

And as Ratchet tried to break from his unrelenting grip with unheeded protests, Kaden, for the first time in forever, started to feel like a father. And it felt amazing.

Again, sorry for the wait. But the good news is, I'm fairly confident that I've surmounted my writer's block, so the next few chapters should be coming along soon.

I'll try to have a more regular update schedule, like, ideally, a chapter a week. And while I might not be able to hit that quota 100% of the time, I promise I'll post a chapter a month at the minimum. If not, I'll be sure to let you know if that changes for whatever reason.

See you in the next one!