Ratchet followed the Lombax mercenary into their training faculties. A very well-maintained canister that would at one point smelt space junk before shifting it to a refinery tankard to sort the metallic debris into multiple grades of metal. It was an impressive chamber with multiple plates on the inside built to with stand high concentrations of heat thanks to a ventilation system that used the vacuum of space to help cool the chamber's insulation. The inside though held several signs of makeshift patch work to keep any leaks from the continual usage. The faculty seemed to be showing its age. Fitting a second-hand mercenary group used an ancient smelting factory for their personal services.
"Alright kid." Qrow finally spoke up turning to his guest. "Since I challenged you, I guess I should leave the rules of engagement to you. Course to the death's off the table because we have a public image too keep." Ratchet flinched and froze in place cautiously at the off handed remark. He glanced to the window seeing Clank and Qwark sitting in the window next to a group of tourists excitedly waiting for the exhibition match.
"Oh, um how… Thoughtful." He wasn't sure how to respond to Qrow's reaction as he thought on it. "How about we keep to a simple ranged blaster and a melee. Sound like a good ruling?" The lombax shook his head as he raised his arms in the air seemingly uncaring. "Oh yeah, right, Perhaps to a knock out as well."
Qrow sighed still very indifferent to the real rules. "Seems fine to me." He walked over to a ring in the center of the room. Ratchet followed his step stopping on a white line while Qrow continued to one on the other side. "HEY WINTER!" he yelled up to the observation deck. "BBRING DOWN THE WEAPON RACK!"
Winter nodded as she began to tap a few buttons on a panel before a few drones approached from the ceiling holding a very well garrisoned rack of numerous firearms. Many of which Ratchet could recognize from the countless nights he had trained with them in the multiple missions he had embarked on as well as the continual problem of destroying the blasters after his journey trying to modify them to become more efficient. It was a mystery how he had not yet killed himself from his malfunctioning "improvements" as he liked to call them.
The Black but graying haired Lombax approached the weapons rack grabbing hold of a standard Omni-wrench from what Ratchet could tell. No different from the ones he uses to fix his ship with Clank. The one that gave him trouble was a silver blaster with two red tubes arching from an energy pack to the barrel of the pistole. When Qrow turned it on the blaster's barrel hummed a little as an orange looking light came from the tip of the barrel as well as its mid-section. A Megacorp Lancer, a nasty piece of hardware, perfect for a duel like this with the blast it leaves behind. Ratchet stood there cautiously as the Lombax lazily twirled the blaster on his finger waiting for Ratchet to choose his equipment. He steadily approached seeing all the weapons available.
The Rack held numerous fire arms including several variations of the Ryno line launchers. Though they were overkill for a bout like this. He looked down and noticed another pistol, a ranger standard issue blaster. "Well, if you have to fight go with what you are familiar with." He optimistically muttered to himself grabbing the blaster and holstering it. He began to walkway.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" The mercenary spoke up looking at him rather unamused.
"huh?" He noticed the wrench sitting beside him. "Oh right. I have one already that has served me well." He finally responded. He pulled it off his back showing it to the Lombax. It was a similar model to his meaning it looked unchanged to either of them despite its metal being stained a soot black from the combat it has seen.
Qrow shrugged still waiting very impatiently. "Makes no difference to me short stack."
"Uh, but we are close to the same size." Ratchet rebutted still cautious of him.
"Just get to your starting position." Talking was not something he wanted to do.
Ratchet nodded reluctantly and turned to get behind the hastily spray-painted line. Qrow nodded before he turned to Winter and nodded. Within seconds the center of the room began to elevate up higher into the chamber so that everyone could witness the fight from a more theatre view.
"You guys really go all in with this presentation stuff do you." Ratchet complimented looking over the audience.
"Pays when famous has-been decides to show up." He quipped as he took a combat pose ready for the match.
Ratchet Nodded cautiously looking at the crowd. "Remember you two this is only until the first one is K.O. and is unable to battle any longer. Any rule applies like an actual combat situation. Once the buzzer begins you are free to attack." Winter's voice came over the inter com to reclarify the settled parameters of their match. Her voice as dully robotic as anyone could make it much to Qrow's dismay and Ratchet's concern.
The sound of the Combat alarm went off with no remorse. Qrow began to run quickly to the left of the arena quickly blasting several bolts of pyrotechnic energy toward the Galactic Commando. Ratchet quickly jumped out of the way in search an opening in mercenary's run and gun tactics. Qrow kept firing surprisingly fast. Destroying the rims of the arena as he began to target Ratchet's feet. The gun began to glow a hot red leaving little to tell that the Lancer was starting to overheat.
Qrow kept his paste still blasting until the Lancer's auto coolant device force shut down the gun and vented a massive amount of steam blinding him for a split second. He felt a sting in his shoulder as a red beam flew from the left of his perception striking him again in his leg. His jaw tightens its connection to the upper half of his skull as his teeth gritted shrugging of the taser strike. He saw the young lombax charge straight at him forcing him to dodge left as Ratchet dropped his Omni-mace-like-wrench down sparking on the arena floor. He saw Ratchet's face seemed to be directly dedicated to the fight despite his reluctance. Qrow quickly grabbed his own Omni-wrench to parry the second strike with a resound ting as the two wrenches collided. He jumped back in surprised at the skilled close quarters combat the lombax has performed.
"You're really somethin' kid." Qrow spoke up as he looked down to notice that the Lancer was still in the middle of restarting. His tongue clicked annoyed that this piece of outdated hardware was taking forever. "Probably would make a great huntsman with your skill."
"Um, Thanks I guess." Ratchet's mind was confused at his small banter but even then Qrow could tell his guard was up. "I don't really know what that is."
"It's nothing special." He muttered reluctantly knowing either of his two nieces would be either cheering him on for the fight or barraging him for becoming a killer. This was something he had to do for Remnant's sake.
Ratchet shook his banter off as mindless rumblings and refocused on the fight quickly going in for another strike with the wrench. Qrow countered again catching the handle in between the crescent's valley. He turned it only to see that it would not disarm Ratchet no matter what force he applied.
"For a small fry you're certainly strong." He mused up close as he waited to see what his next move is.
"Well, I was trained to be a mechanic." Qrow's opponent responded somewhat confused at Qrow's small talk.
"Not really the talking type are you."
Ratchet looked at Qrow still confused. "Generally, the ones with the maniacal super plan just gloat never compliment the opponent." He finally responded.
"Somehow I know the feeling." Qrow's eyes glanced up at Winter who seemed to be barely paying any mind to the fight simply reading over notes from her tablet. "But is blocking and staying still all, you can do?"
"Well There is one thing I want to try." Ratchet spoke with a bit of a grin creeping crossover his face.
Qrow's eyebrow began to raise as the look on Ratchet's face appeared as if an idea came to his mind. "What's so funny?" He asked not sure what to expect.
He did not have time to react as Ratchet moved his foot upward kicking Qrow's Lancer into the air. He looked upward loosening the tension of Ratchet's wrench He looked to see the Commando jumping back from both his own wrench. Qrow went in for another strike as Ratchet backflipped away from him only for the blaster to force him to defend with the wrench.
Ratchet stuck the landing looking up at the still airborne lancer. He looked at Qrow and fired three other shots at Qrow causing him to stay where he was until he could catch the pistol by its grip.
"Nice move." Qrow muttered while in his mind he was cursing his Semblance still screwing hi over despite it's weakened state.
"I'll be honest." Ratchet spoke up still apparently high from thee adrenaline. "I did not expect that to work.
"Don't we always." Qrow quipped see that the Lancer's barrel was now glowing an all too familiar orange. Ratchet drew both pistols aiming at Qrow while Qrow kicked Ratchet's Wrench off the side of the arena. "So, it's a Knife to a gun fight situation. I've seen this dance number a few too many times."
"I guess that explains why you seem calm about the situation." He chirped fondly of his current odds. "Though I think this may be a little too calm."
"Eh, this old fighter has a few tricks up his sleeve." He began to take a defensive position watching Ratchet cautiously. The face of which was now engulfed in concern as he brought both pistols together waiting to see what Qrow would do.
Seizing the new opportunity Qrow slammed his wrench into the ground forcing some of the ground platform up barely in time to absorb the blow of the lancer. The blast made him fall back forcing him to adopt a stance that kept his knees bent and legs extended to maintain balance. He ran in closing the gap a secondary bolt was launched at him barely missing his ear. The heat from the bolt burned the tips of the fur as it whirled past him contacting the reinforced wall. He kept dashing until he was past Ratchets arm length blasters and went in for a right hook.
Ratchet was pushed back by the blow seeing the wrench coming at him in triplicate as his eyes readjusted from the concussive blow. Shaking the daze from his vision he moved left just in time for the wrench sliding past the tip of his nose. He pulled the blaster and aimed directly at Qrow's leg. The blaster however jammed from the safety being turned on from his rapid dodge in the fray. He panicked to repull the blasters safety switch to the active state and let loose a few shots to scare off the Lombaxian attacker.
Qrow however was not deterred by the blast until the third shot landed directly on his boot making his entire leg fall asleep. He jumped back feeling the tingling feeling in his leg looking at Ratchet. "Good kid, I see why they call you the best."
Ratchet however stared cautiously at Qrow's ominous grin. "Uh, I think I'm missing the joke here sir." His tone was trembling knowing there was more to this.
"It's because I have a bit of a secret for you." Ratchet took yet another defensive stance unsure of what he was referring to. "This is my wrench's secondary form." Slowly Qrow drew the wrench out. The lower end of the crescent wrench slowly closed in on the upper end before flipping into a hollowed compartment. The wrench then let loose a small amount of smoke as the tip of the wrench began to expand out ward and curve downward behind Qrow. The weight had to be counter adjusted as the hilt of the Omni-wrench swung down toward the end of the handle forming a trigger looking device as an energy core revealed itself on the hilt. The blades sharp end began to glow a light blue and let out an electronic hum. The weight was massive enough to require the user to wield it with both hands.
Ratchet froze almost dumbfounded at what he just witnessed. "Well, um, that's something you don't see every day."
"Like what I did with it, was always more comfortable with farming tools than mechanic stuff." Qrow taunted flaunting the configuration. Ratchet however stood there unsure what to think of the shifted weapon. He shook it off quickly blasting the lancer at the center of the new weapon's staff. The strike flew Qrow into a circle from the reaction from the blast. He regained his footing as he began to dash at Ratchet who began to fire multiple shots from both guns only missing by mere inches or striking the blade of the scythe.
"Come on, Come on, Come on, Come on…" He hastily muttered as Ratchet began to run from Qrow still firing both guns in his direction hoping to slow down his chase. It proved to be futile as Qrow finally caught ahead and tripped him with the new weapon.
Qrow approached picking up the lancer from the ground as Ratchet tried to regain his Barings. He placed the blade close to Ratchets neck. "Okay, okay you win." Ratchet spoke up finally putting his hands up. "Good match right." Qrow however remained ominously silent. "Uh Qrow, you okay?" Ratchet's voice now much weaker as Qrow's face darkened. The blade came closer to his neck.
"Qrow enough!" Winter's voice finally came out of the intercoms snapping Qrow's silent murderous intent away from his gaze. He looked down at Ratchet silent in surprise.
"Right, good match for a rookie. Had me go all out at the end there. Not bad kid." Even with that tone Ratchet could tell even in the silent malice he presented he was still thinking clearly as he was now. He hastily got up and gathered his wrench and left the arena.
"You okay Ratchet?" Clank asked as he meant him at the ship port. "You appeared to be in distress."
Ratchet turned and noticed Qwark was in the middle of handling press over his defeat. More than likely his image had been sullied by this. "Keep this between you and me. I think he was trying to kill me." Clank backed up when he heard that.
"That may explain the uneasy feeling I have been having." Clank concluded as he contemplated the new data.
"Uneasy feeling?" Ratchet looked at him confused.
"The increase in attacks from Thugs-4-less goons seem way to contrived to be coincidental. They were not striking anything of real value." Ratchet shrugged as Clank explained some data. "In addition to this RPS suddenly appears with a convenient protection program despite how understaffed they appear to be."
"They just opened shop a few months ago Clank." Ratchet pointed out the problem. "We saw their ad. They probably will be hiring soon." Clank nodded thinking on his thoughts before interjecting.
"True, however see this detail." He called forth a monitor that showed a map of the system. On the map multiple systems that have signaled to a distress call before RPS's grand reveal. Many of which were a few parsecs away from the RPS headquarters.
"You think they staged them self?" Ratchet mused at the new details Clank presented.
Clank shook his head. "There definitely is a correlation but there may be more to it." He tilted his head to the left looking over Winter in particular. "Mrs. Winter as she dubbed her self seems much more robotic compared to the fellow you sparred with."
"Robotic?" Ratchet