Clank's optical sensors clicked as he slowly rebooted. Something had caused his system to momentarily fail. What had happened? He had gone to signal Cronk and Zephyr to their location when…everything had gone black. He blinked quickly, adjusting to the view in the dimly lit room. He gasped.
There was Ratchet, hanging limply on his knees, across from him. His wrists were raw and crusted in blood from the bonds around his wrists. His fur was matted and coated in some unknown fluids, and he hung there completely naked. Clank started, trying to run to his aid, but found he was chained as well.
"Pretty picture, ain't it?" A gruff voice said from beside him. Clank snapped his head to the source of the previously unnoticed voice: The Smuggler. Clank had found him, or rather it seemed, he had found Clank. This was a bittersweet moment, he had finally been united with Ratchet again, but now they both lay captive. The Smuggler approached Ratchet and softly stroked his head. Clank stared hard at him, anger broiling within.
"We've been having a whole lot of fun together." The Smuggler smiled at Clank, before moving back over to his side of the room.
"Don't worry though, I won't leave you out." The Smuggler said. He reached for the knife at his hip. As he approached Clank, Ratchet began to stir. Raising his head, he blinked bleary eyed, trying to glean what he was seeing.
"...Clank?" Ratchet muttered, still dazed by slumber.
The Smuggler plunged his knife into Clank's chest. Clank cried out in a choked grunt.
"Clank!" Ratchet jumped. The horrible noise immediately sobering him.
Clank stared down in disbelief at the weapon firmly planted in his chassis. It had only gone in a few inches, thankfully missing most of his vital components. Otherwise, he would already be dead. The Smuggler slowly removed it. Electric currents fizzled on the exposed wires that sprouted from his chest. His head involuntarily twitched in time with the sparks.
"Cute little toy you got here, wonder what he looks like on the inside." The Smuggler said.
"Stop! Get away from him!" Ratchet roared, straining against his restraints.
"Well... maybe if you'd be willing to take his place?" The Smuggler said, eyeing him.
Ratchet clenched his fists into tight balls, his nails biting into his palms. He clenched his jaw, growling at the Smuggler, before glancing over at Clank. He couldn't let Clank go through the same torture he had, but was self sacrifice his only choice? Clank would still suffer under the Smuggler's hands, but if he kept the focus on him, then Clank could be somewhat spared. What else could he do? He was trapped, they both were. He turned his head away.
"Fine." He muttered.
The Smuggler's grin split his face from ear to ear. He juggled his knife loosely in his hand as he approached.
"RAtcheT," Clank cried. His voice heavily garbled and distorted from the damage he sustained. "PLeaSE, NOOooo."
Ratchet couldn't look at him, couldn't bear to see the pain and grief written on Clank's face. He wasn't sure if Clank had parsed exactly what the Smuggler had done to him already, but the knowledge that he was about to show him exactly that, made Ratchet feel utterly sick and mortified. Being assaulted alone was one thing, but having his best friend be forced to watch? Whatever the Smuggler was going to do to him though, he would bear it. He had to. He couldn't give up now. Clank being here meant that the others must be close by, looking for him. He just needed to hang on a bit longer, just until they could get out of here.
The Smuggler crouched down to Ratchet's level. He grabbed the back of his head and yanked it up.
"Let's say we put on a show for your little friend." He whispered in his ear. Ratchet suppressed a shudder.
The knife started its journey near his knee and began its ascent up his thigh. It moved, but not with enough pressure to break skin. The hairs, however, let out muted cries as they were cleaved brutally in half. Ratchet tried to remain stoic. His gut tightened though, when the blade took a rest at his crotch. It settled at the base of his penis, making itself comfortable. The minute increase in pressure made Ratchet's breath quicken. It lingered there for a moment, as if debating whether to climb back down, and take a shortcut right through the flesh it lay upon. Ratchet watched it intensely, hands curled so tightly the blood began to trickle from his palms. Ultimately, it decided to continue its journey, and proceeded along the treasure trail. It passed over the soft skin of his belly; Ratchet wondered if it would repeat its previous excursion, and plunge beneath the ground it traversed. Instead it persisted, traveling the bumpy ridges of his ribs and gliding along the smooth enclave of collar bone. It roamed his neck and charted his jaw bone, before arriving at his cheek. Only then did it finally settle in. Drawing a bright red line from mouth to ear, marking its destination with only half an X. The knife disappeared, having successfully finished it's trek. Something softer replaced it. Something wet and warm retraced that half X, sopping up it's oozing red ink. It relished in the treasure the blade had procured for it, before it too retreated, darting back into the cave it lived in. The line still bled, strengthening its width, increasing its visibility. From the cave the soft thing moved, as something deep within vibrated.
"Excited, darlin'?"
Ratchet snapped back to the reality before him, watching the Smuggler snap his tongue, savouring the lingering taste of him. He dared a glance at Clank. His eyes had widened to the size of dinner plates, and shook unequivocally from more than just damage. The Smuggler pocketed his knife, and walked around him. Ratchet drooped in his restraints, worn out from the harrowing experience. As long as Clank was safe; he just needed to hold out a little bit longer. Ratchet could hear the Smuggler moving around behind him. He felt hands graze his backside. He couldn't really tell what he was doing, his brain too tired and foggy. That was until he heard the unmistakable sound of a belt and fly being undone. His head snapped back up, seeing his own horror filled face mirrored in Clank's.
"Ready for some real fun?" The Smuggler murmured grasping at his hips.
Ratchet's blood went cold.
Chapter 11 image: i imgur com KZsillz png