Author's note:
So… I kind of got a bit carried away again, and in my attempt to flesh out the Megapolis level more than it was in canon I ended up writing far more than I originally anticipated. In short, that means another two-parter for this arc with a possible interlude there after; I haven't decided yet since I'm still trying to type up the next chapter and I've no idea how long it's going to be yet.
I've gotten word back from Flowerstar and unfortunately she's got way too much to deal with right now and for the foreseeable future. Long and short is that nothing has been beta read, and although I've done the best I can with this chapter things will inevitably slip through the cracks so don't be surprised if I've missed a few things.
Before I go any further though, Nekolover3 has been busy once again and come up with another great piece of fan art; a digital rendition of Ellen in her outfit from the previous story. You can find it on her Deviant Art account under (art/Ellen-part-2-Time-Heals-All-551942553) should you wish, along with the vast collection of works she has created thus far.
Review replies:
GoldenLombaxGirl - Yep, they'll have him back before you know it. And as for DreadZone… Yeah, Ellen's definitely not going to be best pleased when that comes around to put it mildly.
zenith88 - Don't worry about trying to review on time, I honestly don't mind at all. I'm just happy this story is getting reviews in any shape or form, and that you enjoyed the last two chapters in spite of their hefty length. Hope you like this one too, take care.
Destiny - Thanks again, the arena battle took a while to finally put together but I think the end result was well worth the effort. With any luck, this chapter will be up to par in your eyes as well.
Nekolover3 - Well wait no more; this chapter's here and ready to go! Hope you like it.
vengarl22 - Aw, thanks. To be honest, I haven't really had much of a chance to advance their relationship considering they're getting shot at every five minutes; something I plan to fix once Clank's been rescued.
Firestar5277 - That's actually one of the things that bugged me about the second game. Despite all the crap she puts Ratchet and Clank through, trying to have them bumped off at every turn for the first act of the story, she gets away with virtually no repercussions whatsoever! That's definitely not going to happen here; there will be consequences, and Ellen especially will be more than happy to get even.
That's a very good point about Deadlocked as well; Ratchet and Ellen's differing viewpoints on the whole gladiatorial combat thing could easily put a strain on their relationship. Although since he already knows how she feels about such 'sporting' events and the fact they've yet to face Annihilation Nation, who knows how things will turn out once said events come to pass.
StaticBomb93 - Yes, yes it is, in more ways than one. I know it was a bit on the long side, but considering the original was topping 20,000 words I think it was the best call to split it as I did. As you can probably guess from the author' note up top, this chapter and likely the next are probably going to go down a similar route as well; although I'm going to try to avoid that happening in the future as much as possible.
Change In The Fire - Hey there, nice to hear from a new reviewer. I can relate in a way; having only played a demo of the first game before buying and completing Going Commando. It did spoil the story a little in a way, but not massively, and when I did finally track down a copy I thoroughly enjoyed the journey in spite of already knowing how it was going to end.
Point is, I think you'd like Time Heals All in spite of being unfamiliar with the first game. In fact, I'd go so far to say that not being knowledgeable about it would actually allow you to enjoy it more so due to the fact that you don't know all the major plot twists before they crop up. I'd probably wait until I've had a chance to fix it though; as you've probably gathered from the first few chapters, the story desperately needs to be reformatted to make it easier to read along with some embarrassingly basic grammar corrections.
That said, I'm glad you're enjoying this story thus far. The sense of repetition and déjà vu was a deliberate notion on my part, hence the chapter title. I wanted to create a sense of familiarity and overshadowing that would lull the reader into a sense of false security with regards to what was happening next, before twisting their expectations and leaving them wondering. Well spotted on your part. Hope you've enjoyed the series so far, and that this chapter will live up to your expectations as well. Take care.
Kairi671 - …Kay? They were actually fair questions in my opinion; and ones I have been asked repetitively week upon week, along with 'when do you update'. In any case, hope you like the new chapter.
BulletWitch1985 - I have to admit that the announcer did begin to grate on my nerves after a while during the arena battle challenges, especially when having to constantly retry the damn boss tag team match every time I failed and being forced to listen to the same damn lines over and over again. Thankfully that's what a mute button is for.
It's funny you should mention big cats, because that's actually partly where I'm taking the cues for some of Ratchet's quirks and instinctive behaviour in previous chapters; such as growling and purring, as well as the predatory glare you mentioned. Since lombaxes are essentially humanoid felines, their ancient ancestor was probably very similar to the big cats of Earth and at least some of those primitive traits ingrained at a genetic level would still likely surface even amongst a highly evolved civilised race.
I still haven't gotten to see Jurassic World yet, but I'll definitely be buying it on Blu-ray as soon as it comes out; same goes for the Ratchet and Clank movie assuming I don't get to see it on the big screen first. Hope to hear from you again soon, take care.
ReginaDC21 - Great to hear from you again, and glad you're liking the story so far. There was a point several years ago that I considered trying to write professionally, but I just didn't think any publisher would take me seriously. On the flipside, at least that means I have the time to dedicate to writing fan fiction for an appreciative audience instead and I don't have to worry about any books being rejected.
Angela will not be getting away unscathed, believe me. I honestly don't know why Ratchet doesn't chew her out in canon, but rest assured that both he and Ellen will be doing more than just giving her a piece of their minds once her identity is revealed. Ellen's thoughts with regards to gladiatorial combat still existing in such an advanced galactic community closely mirror my own. Although it makes for a nice break away from the main game and acts as an opportunity to grind for bolts and experience, if that kind of thing not only existed in reality but was deemed suitable for live broadcast it would cast a shadow on the morality of such a 'civilised' society.
I do have a few ideas churning in my head for side stories set between the second and third games; both mini adventures as Megacorp commandos and otherwise. The main draw for me though is Ratchet and Clank getting to visit Earth, and more importantly how Ellen's family will react to them and what the three have been through together. Whether or not that gets the green light will depend upon how popular the idea is and if I can properly see it through to completion. Just have to see when we get there I guess.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Ratchet and Clank movie too. I can only hope that the hype and the end product lives up to everyone's expectations, and maybe introduce a new generation to the awesomeness that is this series as well. Nice to hear from you as always, hope you like the new chapter. Take care.
The White Guardian - It's one of the standing issues in most games really; the fact that the characters never seem to tire, show fatigue, or soak up thousands of bullets and yet carry on as if nothing ever happened. Didn't really click with what you said about that cut scene on Nebula G34 until I looked it up; can't say I really noticed before, well spotted.
I'm as excited as you are for the Ratchet and Clank reboot, both movie and accompanying game; hell, I'll eventually be getting a PS4 just so I can play it. Well, that and Fallout 4. I try to paint a picture with words if I can; to immerse the reader in the story's world and provide a mental image of the characters and their interactions with the environment. Hope this story continues to whet your appetite until both are finally released. Fortunately Ratchet and Ellen have got their emergency supplies of basic survival gear and bottled water stored in their Star Explorers, but they say thanks anyway for trying; it's the thought that counts.
Kerbal Space Program sounds like an interesting game/simulation to me. Probably too complex for someone like me to actually play, but nevertheless a fascinating idea. Your experience could almost come straight from the pages of a movie script or sci-fi novel considering how many close calls were involved. Sucks the astronauts are stuck in orbit though; hope they bought a pack of cards at least to while away the time until they can be picked up. I'm flattered you decided to name the rescue ship after Ellen as well, here's hoping your next design is successful and you can bring them home. Take care, and enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Sonachugirl - Aw, thanks! I wanted to make the arena special, and I think I might have drawn it out a bit too much, but if you like it then I must be doing right. Don't worry, I know where you're coming in terms of shipping. This story is rated T, and as such there will most definitely be no… physically cementing their relationship, or at least 'on screen'. Plenty of innuendos and perhaps the occasional suggestive theme best left to the imagination, but certainly nothing warranting a M rating. Hope you like the new chapter, thanks again.
I'm always trying to improve as a writer, so please read and review. Constructive criticism is welcome, flamers are not.
If you enjoy this story, please feel free to check out the other stories on my account should you wish.
The search for Clank is on, but what lies in wait for Ratchet and Ellen… and how many pieces will be left over once they're through? Find out in Chapter 8.
- RevenantReaper337
Disclaimer:
Ratchet & Clank, associated characters, organisations, and intellectual properties belong to Insomniac Games. All other real world organisations and products belong to their respective governments, companies, etc. Original characters, creatures, weapons, etc. belong to me. Cover art belongs to Nekolover3 and is used with her kind permission.
'Thoughts'
Flashbacks
"Speech"
Chapter 8:
Trouble in Megapolis
Megapolis, Endako
Bogon Galaxy
G2.17.081 Galactic calendar
11:31am local time
Unsurprisingly, things were tense for both Ratchet and Ellen as they pushed their respective vessels to the limit; thoughts racing as they rapidly approached the planet from where the thief's threatening video message had been broadcast and Clank's last known location. From orbit Endako was truly a sight to behold and one the human would have appreciated more had it not been for the turmoil racing through her mind at that moment. The swirling pattern of silvery land masses interspersed with rich blue oceans almost looked like an intricate marble hanging amongst the stars; a dazzling array of lights covering a vast majority of the largest continent that were clearly visible from space even on the day side of the planet. But it was the greatest concentration near the centre of the said land mass that the duo was heading for right now at utmost speed. This was the city of Megapolis; the crown jewel in Megacorp's property empire and the financial centre of the entire Bogon galaxy.
Upon breaching the atmosphere it soon became apparent that despite sharing a vaguely similar name with the high altitude city among the clouds on Kerwan back in the Solana galaxy, the two couldn't be any more different, both physically and aesthetically. Unlike that eclectic mixture of retro-future architecture and green spaces hovering over the planet's surface, Megapolis was a picture of post-modern design and efficiency. Towering skyscrapers of glass, steel, and smooth geometric lines clawed at the sky; packed tightly around bustling express routes that were flowing with mid-day air traffic and stretching for as far as the eye could see.
There were subtle differences between each structure, but they all seemed to have the same minimalist palette of silvers, greys, and gold everywhere. The only real exceptions Ellen could see being the cylindrical power plant like building comprised of charcoal greys and red highlights close to where they were coming into land a few blocks away from where Clank's penthouse suite was supposed to be, and the massive, gleaming twin spires beyond it that she presumed to be the home of Megacorp's branch headquarters if the giant logo on the top was anything to go by.
Stepping out of the cockpit once the engines had spooled down, it quickly became apparent to the human that the corporation from which the city derived its name had its influence everywhere. From the hovering advertising boards promoting the Galactic Gladiators tournament to the Megacorp logo embossed in bronze every twenty or so yards on the raised boulevard leading off from their shared landing zone; wherever she looked, there was yet another reminder of the company for which both she and her lombax partner now worked.
For someone used to being inundated with so much choice when it came to various companies peddling their wares, the distinct lack of visible competition was more than a little unsettling for Ellen's still turbulent mind. Had it been under any other circumstances, she would have been more concerned over Megacorp's seeming monopoly over so many business ventures. But the only thing on the red-headed commando's mind right now was finding Clank, and if the worst came to pass, enacting vengeance upon the masked thief responsible for his disappearance.
"You sure this is the right place babe? Seems kinda weird for the thief to still be hangin' around the city after kidnapping Clank."
Tilting her head at Ratchet's approach, Ellen could clearly see the flinty glint of determination in his eyes as he similarly took in their surroundings; bringing up the decoded data packet on her Wrist Com more for his benefit than her own as she skimmed through it one more time. "Normally I'd agree. But seeing as that transmission I traced was only a few hours old and, that there's been no reports from customs officials or the local police about any individuals matching either of their descriptions leaving the planet in the last cycle, then we have to assume that both Clank and the thief are still here somewhere. Hell, we were lucky to get anything from the signal at all considering how encrypted it was let alone finding the right planet and city to within a hundred square miles of the source. Trouble is the trail runs cold right here, and we haven't the faintest idea where to start looking for Clank."
The lombax hummed in thought for a moment, eyes locked on to the holographically projected data scrolling on Ellen's arm mounted device as he voiced his thoughts aloud. "The penthouse suite Mr Fizzwidget gave us to stay in isn't that far away; that's why you had us land here, right?"
She nodded in reply, shutting down her Wrist Com before falling into step beside him as they both made their way down a flight of wide decorative stairs to the main boulevard just below. "Exactly. It's as good a place to start as any, and if that's where Clank was abducted then maybe we can find some evidence as to how and where he was taken."
Stopping off at a vendor near the bottom, the pair bought as much ammo as they could physically carry and checked for any new available weapons, only to find little worth noting. There were only two items of interest worth purchasing; the first of which was a Hellfire upgrade kit for Ellen's Spitfire, one that she eagerly bought and applied without delay. Once the nanites in the single use fabricator had finished their work, she was left with a much more robust carbine version of her bullpup weapon; a prominent carry handle doubling as back up sights running along its length and the blocky magazine almost twice the size of its predecessor.
The second item was a Nanotech booster pack; designed to increase the productivity and regenerative properties of the existing nanites in the user's own body, much like the tins of Premium nanotech both she and Ratchet had drunk on their final visit to Orxon almost a year ago. This stuff seemed a lot more potent though; using combat data gathered from the recipient's armour to predict the most vulnerable regions and supposedly boost the user's base resilience and rate of recovery by around 25%. Both commando's bought one pack each, and no sooner had they ingested the contained tablets when Ellen shuddered at the familiar sensation of ice tingling down her spine and through her veins as the Nanotech infusion went to work.
Less than a minute later she and Ratchet were pleasantly surprised to find themselves feeling... stronger for want of a better term; the health monitoring system in their commando helmets confirming that they could take much more of a beating before sustaining a life threatening injury that the nanites couldn't fix. It certainly would have been welcome just before having to face the Maktar Resort arena, that's for sure.
As they made a right past the vendor to head towards Clank's penthouse apartment once their business was concluded however, the two commandos soon ran into a problem. The way forward was blocked by a translucent blue energy barrier projected over the archway ahead, in front of which a black and white police cruiser was parked sideways behind a line of holographic yellow police crime scene tape. It was the portly novalian figure leaning against the air car wielding a half-eaten doughnut in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other that caught their attention however; the barely fitting blue uniform, burnished gold badge on his chest, and a pair of mirrored shades perched above an impressively waxed moustache made him easily recognisable as a law enforcement officer in spite of the cultural differences between galaxies.
Walking up to the edge of the cordon, the cop visibly straightened up as he turned to face them while forcibly trying to swallow the remainder of his doughnut with aid of swig of his coffee. "Sorry folks, this area's off limits. I'm gonna have to ask you to step away from the barrier."
Ratchet raised a hand in greeting while he leaned on one of the holographic projectors for the translucent police tape. "Hey buddy, you mind letting us through? We kinda need to-"
The rest of his sentence died on his lips as the novalian officer pushed himself off the squad car with a scowl on his face and one hand perched on his night stick as he took a step forwards. "What part of 'step back' don't you understand, son? This is a crime scene, and you're disturbin' it! Now back off before I arrest you for obstructing an officer in the line of duty."
The lombax backed off with his hands held up disarmingly, a sardonic smirk etched across his face. "Alright, chill. I can see you're real busy there, interrogating those doughnuts and coffee."
The already glowering cop didn't seem like the type who took well to wisecracks, and as much as she loved him, it was all Ellen could do not to smack some sense into the golden furred feline for deliberately antagonising a potential source of information. Clearing her throat to get the novalian's attention, she put on her most disarming smile as she stepped forward and into the conversation. "Sorry about him, he's just being a smart ass," she shot Ratchet a shut-up-and-let-me-fix-this look for a spit second before turning back to the listening police officer. "I'm agent Pearce, Megacorp security division, and this is my partner, Ratchet. We're currently investigating the disappearance of a high ranking company employee who was last seen in this area."
The intrigued looking cop checked the credentials she had pulled up on her Wrist Com, including the tier-one corporate operative clearance required by Megacorp commandos, giving the pair a veritable license to legally do whatever they saw fit to protect company assets short of nuclear warfare. "Commandos, huh," he mused aloud. "Y'know I could've been a big shot commando just like you, 'cept they said I didn't have the 'aptitude', or some crap. Don't know anything about any 'disappearances' either."
Ellen could hear the air quotes accompanying the resentful tone of voice with a healthy dose of suspicion, electing to steer the conversation to the point at hand lest he clammed up for good, especially since the metaphorical clock was still ticking on recovering Clank alive. "Look, I know you're not particularly fond to see us, but there are lives at stake here and we're running out of time. Please, just let us through so we can find the evidence we need and we'll be out of your hair in no time."
The officer, whose name was Barnaby according to his nametag now that Ellen got a closer look, shook his head slowly as he leaned back on the cruiser once more with his arms folded. "Sorry lady, no can do. Like I said, this is a crime scene. Nothing gets in or out until the chief gives the all clear."
Shifting his weight on to one leg, Ratchet cocked an eyebrow as he rejoined the conversation. "Why? What happened?"
The uniformed novalian shot him a dirty look, but answered nevertheless thanks to the pleading look on the human's face. "Normally I'd tell not to stick your nose into police matters, but I guess it's no secret considering we had to clear three damn city blocks and it'll be all over the news soon anyway." Barnaby sighed as he rubbed his tired face with a free palm; refocusing on the young, red-headed woman he assumed was in charge of the two considering how she carried herself. It probably helped that she was easy on the eyes as well.
"We got a call a few hours ago about some of the cleaning bots in this district acting up. Didn't think much of it until the ones with lasers started goin' berserk, along with some of those construction bots workin' on that new skyscraper down on seventh. We evacuated the area and locked it down, no one in or out. Now all we can do is wait until someone from Megacorp decides it's convenient," he emphasised with air quotes, "to send us the kill codes so we can shut the damn things down, instead of being stuck here waitin' for Christmas."
Ellen frowned in thought as she shifted her weight on to one leg. "Hang on, lasers? Why the hell would cleaning robots have lasers in the first place?"
Barnaby merely shrugged, polishing off another doughnut before deigning to speak once more. "To clean I guess; burnin' trash and stuff. How would I know? Your people built 'em, not me."
"Can't you just... blow 'em up?" Ratchet clearly wasn't impressed judging by his bored expression, usually a bad sign considering his borderline pyromaniacal nature.
"What, and get sued for damaging 'company property?" The portly police officer snorted in disgust. "The captain doesn't want to take any chances, and as far as I'm concerned it's Megacorp's problem now."
The lombax hummed in thought briefly before his eyes lit up and a somewhat devious grin began to spread across his face. "That so? Well, we're Megacorp commandos, so why don't you let us take care of it?"
Not giving the cop a chance to retort, Ellen decided to jump back into the conversation with her own riposte. "Do you honestly want to be stuck here guarding that barrier all day?" Seeing his hesitation, she continued. "We report directly to Mr Fizzwidget, and legally have the right to do whatever's necessary to secure company assets. Give us an hour tops and we'll have this place cleaning bot free; all you have to do is just let us through and leave the rest to us. What do you say?"
Heaving an exasperated sigh, Barnaby threw his hands up in the air; inadvertently sending most of his remaining coffee over the squad car's roof in the process. "You two think you can fix this? Fine! The barrier's more for keeping those things in anyway, and it's not like Megacorp's gonna send anyone else down here anytime soon."
The human flashed him a smile before making her way past the holographic police tape with her fellow commando in tow. "Thanks, you've no idea how much we appreciate this."
The novalian merely grumbled to himself, bringing up the override for the barrier on his Wrist Com as he turned to give them one last look. "Don't mention it. Once you're inside, that barrier's goin' back up and you'll be on your own." The forcefield shimmered briefly before spluttering out with a crack of static, Barnaby's parting words loud and clear as they crossed the threshold and entered the quarantine zone. "Good luck, just hope you're as good as you think you are."
The commandos hadn't taken more than three steps before the translucent forcefield flickered into life once more with a surge of electrical power and the pair found themselves starring out into the abandoned street just beyond. In spite of the distant sound of air cars flowing trough the city in the background, Ellen couldn't help but feel more than a little uneasy at the lack of life in the immediate area, with signs of abandonment everywhere. Heavy metal shutters were closed down over numerous shop fronts lining the right hand wall, looking out across the wide, open plan pedestrian walkway bordered by street lights and a waist high, bronze-railed fence that allowed a breathtaking view of the cityscape. In fact, the only thing that was still moving other than themselves was a trio of vaguely saucer like drones kept aloft with a single prop-turbine hovering overhead, underslung cameras pointed directly at the sole two organics occupying the street.
Another translucent blue forcefield blocked their path no more than thirty feet ahead, and with no convenient override switch like officer Barnaby had, she had no idea how they were going to get past. Fortunately Ratchet seemed to have something in mind, Ellen's head snapping towards him as he used his OmniWrench to knock over a neatly placed trash can which promptly scattered its contents across the previously spotless street. "What the hell are you doing?"
The lombax simply held up his free hand, emerald green eyes never leaving the energy barrier as he replied. "Just... watch. If I'm right-" He trailed off as the forcefield promptly dissipated with a crackle of electricity, a flat, artificial voice echoing from unseen speakers on the hovering drones above a split second later.
"Trash spill detected. Dispatching sweeper bots to attend."
Ellen experienced the same tingling sensation she had long since associated with teleportation a heartbeat before a brief burst of blue light lit up the barrier gateway, and a small, bronzed-yellow, spherical drone came spinning forth on a trio of rapidly-rotating sweeping-brush assemblies; a central omni-directional camera with a red tinged lens glaring their way, even as more blinked into existence just behind it. Other than being exceptionally persistent, the sweeper bots weren't much of a challenge; Ratchet leaping forth with his wrench already swinging while Ellen took the opportunity to try out her newly upgraded Hellfire.
While the Spitfire was little more than a bullet hose with little regards to precision, the new and improved carbine was actually fairly accurate for an automatic weapon and definitely more powerful shot for shot. The only real problem as such was that the Hellfire was actually quite slow to begin with; the rate of fire gradually increasing so long as the trigger was held down until the gun either ran out of ammo or overheated and needed a few seconds to cool off. Neither prospect was good, but Ellen found that by keeping the temperature gauge displayed on her HUD just above the ammo counter at around two thirds, she could keep up an eye watering torrent of incendiary rounds with barely any recoil. It would have been great back in the Maktar arena, especially for crowd control, if not for the risk of seizing up when it was needed most. She'd make do for now, but perhaps she could find some kind of heat sink to supplement it later on.
"Additional trash detected. Dispatching laser bot."
A flash of blue light bathed the gateway once again, and through the wreckage of the mangled sweeper bots came a man-sized, bronzed-yellow drone that consisted of three circular sections joined by a central ribbed, flexible tube. The wide, small-wheeled base unit was adorned with hazard tape and blinking orange lights; the flat, disc-shaped head with a pair of protruding antennae sporting a similar red flashing hazard light on top inside a glass dome. It was the central ring however that got the two commando's attention, seeing as it began to rapidly rotate a full 180 degrees while shooting concentrated laser beams from the two emitters that functioned as arms, scorching anything in their path. Thankfully the malfunctioning drone wasn't protected against military grade firepower, and so the following hail of automatic gunfire was more than enough to shred it to pieces.
Seeing that nothing else was likely to teleport in soon, Ellen took the opportunity to make sure her arsenal was fully loaded as she shot the smug looking lombax an inquisitive look. "Nice work with the barrier, but how did you know it would work?"
Ratchet merely grinned, waving her on as he moved past her to the now open gateway ahead. "Simple; I figured since they're programmed to clean stuff up, then those bots would have to come to us if we made a mess."
"And that means going through the barrier first." The human shook her head mirthfully with a dry chuckle. "You never cease to amaze me, fuzz ball."
"I try."
The pair cleared the entry way with weapons raised, moving past a blanked out advertising screen that covered the wall to their right and clearing out several sweeper bots occupying the stairway just ahead. Once they had reached the top, the two commandos turned off into a small tunnel that terminated inside a concentric room with public benches situated around the perimeter and an artistic lighting arrangement hanging from above, presumably representing the local star cluster going by the planetary theme. Three possible doors blocked the way forwards; two of the steel shutter variety that were embossed with Megacorp's logo, and a single circular archway on the far left with an active blue forcefield, making it the only really noteworthy feature in the predominantly brass and steel decorated room.
"Whadya say we see what's behind door number one?"
So saying, Ratchet gave one of the carefully placed litter bins in the spotless room a good shove; spilling the contents over the floor and causing the shutter on the central doorway to swiftly rise and unleash a tide of sweeper bots that promptly surged forth. With little room to manoeuvre in such a relatively small space, Ellen opted to draw her Versa Blade and sheared the closest drone in half with the heated edge; booting back another to gain some space before driving the point home through its single red optic. Ratchet on the other hand decided to take full advantage of the enclosed area in which they stood and switched out to his Chopper; a pair of throwing stars ricocheting off of every surface in a maelstrom of blades that ripped the remaining cleaning robots to pieces and had his human partner cursing up a storm at how close they came to hitting her.
The second shutter opened without warning even as the last drone fell apart, revealing a laser bot whose namesake weapons began to crackle into life even as the red-headed commando introduced it to her Blitz Gun. Preoccupied as she was, Ellen didn't even notice the second machine coming through the now deactivated barrier on the final door until a brilliant crimson beam scorched a trail past her boots, a startled yelp escaping her lips as she jumped back in shock. Ratchet wasted no time on dashing into assist with his wrench extended; locking the head around the central ribbed tube that formed the robot's core and using the momentum as he jumped overhead to slam it into the ground with a resounding crunch of rent metal.
"Thanks." Ellen breathed a sigh of relief, shooting the golden furred feline a grateful look as she skimmed past the wrecked machines and joined him on passing through the disabled barrier and on to the raised shopping precinct beyond.
The two commandos followed the U-shaped walkway around to the left, passing abandoned businesses and making use of a pair of conveniently placed hover barges to cross a collapsed section while taking out any glitched robots that crossed their path. Neither was aware however of calculating eyes watching them from above with less than benevolent intent; poised to strike, yet content to let the pair exhaust their ammunition on those expendable drones until the right moment.
"Boss, we got 'em in sight. Want us to waste 'em?"
Logan smirked as the targets he was being paid to take out disappeared down an access ladder and out of sight once more, keying his ear piece with one hand as the other held the control stick of his heavily customised gunship steady. "Nobody touches the furball or the broad 'til I sez so. I know where they're goin', and when they get there, we'll have a special surprise waitin' for 'em."
{()}
Both lombax and human had dropped into what looked like some kind of maintenance area, considering the large number of crates and cleaning supplies stacked against the otherwise pristine walls in the T-shaped space. A pair of shuttered doors flanked either side, recessed into the walls close to where they had climbed down, while yet another distinctly blue forcefield blocked the way forwards once more; just past an innocuous looking bin that had the pair sighing in unison at what they would have to do yet again.
Ratchet threw his wrench at the receptacle, catching it on its return flight and standing back to back with Ellen as they respective automatic weapons on the now opening shutters in an anticipation of another attack...which failed to materialise. More than a little surprised at the lack of killer cleaning bots coming for them, the red-headed commando made to speak to her partner over her shoulder only to catch sight of the expected horde teleporting in by the dozen in front of the only door they weren't covering.
"On your right!"
Ratchet responded to the warning in an instant, hosing down the nearest sweeper bots while Ellen's slower readying weapon got up to speed as she joined in. The enclosed environment worked to the drones favour, allowing them to box in the two commandos with shear numbers in spite of their losses to the torrent of fire tearing them apart. Backing up into one of the storage closets unveiled by the shutters, the human switched to her shotgun in anticipation of the close range fight soon to come while her counterpart opted to give his Chopper a whirl once again.
Laser sharp throwing stars sliced through the swarm, ricocheting off the walls and coming in for a second pass that depleted their numbers further still. With the way finally clear once the last of the drones were reduced to scrap metal, the laser bot attempting to block the way through the now deactivated forcefield gate was merely an after thought once Ellen had introduced it to her Blitz Gun without breaking stride; the pair emerging at a combined taxi drop off point and elevator shaft leading up to their intended destination.
"Well, here we are; Megacorp Towers."
The building looked a lot more imposing up close; a towering mass of glass, steel, and brass furnishings that easily blended in with the rest of the city's aesthetics, yet stood apart with its sense of opulency. The fact people had to take an elevator just to get up to the front entrance didn't exactly banish the idea that this was a place that catered solely to an exclusive clientele. But if that were the case, then how did the thief kidnap Clank without anyone noticing? Surely the security measures in place to protect the usually wealthy and important residents should have been enough to prevent anyone seeking harm from even stepping through the front door. Combine that with the suddenly berserk utility robots overrunning the area and things were starting to look very suspicious indeed.
"We should keep moving," Ellen replied. "Hopefully there's still something left up there to find."
The short ride up the elevator left the two standing on a short, lamp-lit runway leading up to the main entrance; a pair of laser bots waiting to greet them near the thick glass doors inscribed with the Megacorp logo at the far end that were soon reduced to scrap metal as they made their way inside past another security shutter. Stepping into the building's tastefully lit lobby, their footsteps echoed unnaturally loud on the polished marble floor as they cautiously made their way past the half-moon wood-panelled reception desk towards the elevator banks on the far side. Unsurprisingly everything was locked down, with Megacorp branded metal shutters blocking all other routes into the building and deliberate littering apparently the only way to progress once again.
"You know, this seems way too easy," Ellen commented while shoving over a waste bin stood against a decorative pillar; Ratchet doing the same on the opposite side of the lobby before making his way back to the centre.
"And you're complaining? Considerin' Clank's life is on the line right now, I'll take any break we can get."
As predicted, the four shutters covering the doors leading off from the lobby slowly began to rise up; revealing a fresh wave of sweeper bots set on swamping the area with their numbers. Using the reception desk as a chokepoint between them, the two commandos forced the malfunctioning machines to come at them piecemeal from both sides of their makeshift barricade and straight into the line of fire. Ratchet immediately put his Chopper's throwing stars to good use, the laser sharp projectiles pinging off the walls and cutting through swathes of the frail looking drones like butter while any stragglers met the business end of his wrench. On her side, Ellen let the sweeper bots cluster up before eviscerating several at once with a well timed shotgun blast; falling back on her Versa Blade to finish off any survivors and conserve ammunition.
No sooner had the last of the cleaning robots fallen when the elevator doors opened in sync, revealing a quartet of laser bots that trundled out with their namesake weapons already starting to gather momentum as they lazily spun around. Both human and lombax ducked behind the front desk as a crimson beam sliced the top cleanly in half; not noticing one of the still active throwing stars from earlier ricochet off a pillar and return the favour in kind. Ellen leapt up with her Hellfire already spouting its namesake; resting the weight of the automatic weapon on the remains of the desk and drilling the closest machine with a withering torrent of fire, while Ratchet skimmed around to the left and sprinted forth before somersaulting over another sweeping laser from the last two robots and dropping a Gravity Bomb in their midst.
Once the dust had settled, the mismatched pair made their way across the now thoroughly ruined lobby towards the still open elevators on the opposite side; neatly avoiding a random light fixture smashing against the cracked marble floor and thumbing the button for the top floor once they were both safely inside the closest lift.
"So... what was that about being too easy again?"
Ellen merely rolled her eyes as she continued to observe the floor numbers on the digital display panel above the door slowly increase with their ascent. "I was just saying it didn't feel right. Everywhere we've gone the thugs have always been two steps ahead and lying in wait, yet so far we've seen nothing but cleaning robots and damn little else. Doesn't it seem a little strange to you?"
Ratchet merely shrugged, giving her a lopsided grin in assurance. "C'mon babe, you're just being paranoid. If it weren't for you tracing that signal we wouldn't even be here in the first place, so there's no way that thief could know we were coming. Heck, I'm more worried about the repair bill for the lobby."
The human snorted in mirth at his answer, readying her Blitz Gun as the elevator slowed to a stop near the top floor of the luxury apartment building. "Yeah, well the last time I was 'being paranoid' I turned out to be right about Qwark. Still, I hope the owners have got lombax insurance because I get the feeling they're going to need it once we're done here."
Ratchet gave a brief chuckle of his own at the thought before sobering as the doors cycled open; the two stepping forth with weapons raised down the plush-carpeted corridor towards the single entrance to the penthouse suite at the far end. Checking the door showed no obvious signs of forced entry or tampering that Ellen could see, though the small indentation on a nearby wall along with a dark patch of oil just below was more than a cause for concern.
"Do you think this was Clank's?"
The lombax turned his gaze to where his partner was currently knelt down, making his way to sit on his haunches beside her before swiping up a sample and rubbing it between his fingers in front of scrutinising emerald eyes. "I don't think so... This is a pretty thin grade, and Clank only uses the good stuff. Maybe one of those cleaning bots got in the kidnapper's way?"
The red-headed commando frowned in thought as she stood back up. "If that's the case, then where's the body? Considering what we've seen so far, I'm starting to wonder if someone else is involved in all this."
Ratchet hummed in thought as he rejoined Ellen's side; stacking up on the opposite side of the doorframe from her and attempting to operate the biometric lock keyed to both him and Clank, only for the metal door to glide smoothly open and admit them without any input on either of their parts. "Unlocked as well... Almost like he was answering a caller."
The penthouse suite was as extensive as it was minimalist in terms of decor, primarily consisting of engraved silver panelling on the walls and lacquered wooden floors with overhead ambient lights illuminating everything from above. The front door opened on to a compact kitchen area that somehow managed to squeeze in all the mod cons without compromising on practical space, leading on to the spacious living room that offered a panoramic view of the city through the floor length curved-glass pane that took up the entire far wall.
A weight lifting bench sat in one corner, opposite a mini bar adjacent to the massive window, while a three piece suite and coffee table sat in front of a ridiculously oversized widescreen holovision mounted on an otherwise unadorned wall. There were two other doors leading off from the main living room; a rounded portal that led to the penthouse's private landing pad, and a smaller wood panelled door behind which lay a short corridor leading to the master bedroom, guest room, and luxury bathroom.
It was there Ellen was heading now, following the still damp patches on the wooden floor towards the sound of a still running water; her eyes widening slightly at the luxurious conditions, including the half moon Jacuzzi taking up one side as she reached inside the shower cubicle to turn it off. There was little in the way of clues other than some half smudged wet footprints from where Clank had apparently exited and plodded towards the front door; lending more weight to Ratchet's theory on the short statured robot being kidnapped on his doorstep. Shaking her head in frustration with her stomach lurching at the thought of what her little metal friend was going through right now, the human returned to the living room where her fellow commando was inspecting a metal crate he had apparently jimmied open with his wrench and proceeded to rummage through.
"Find anything interesting?"
Ratchet's ears perked up at her question, looking over his shoulder to answer as he pulled out a few pieces that caught his eye. "You could say that. Check it out, my old Grind Boots and Swingshot! Clank must've been cleaning out his storage compartment."
The items in question were exactly the same as Ellen remembered, the lombax eagerly adding them to his Quick Select even as she pondered just how exactly the minute machine managed to store so much stuff inside himself when it was usually bigger than he was. Mass manipulation, maybe? Out of curiosity, she had a poke through the remaining contents herself and managed to find her old satchel bag she had given to Clank for safekeeping last year, along with the netbook inside and one other item of interest.
"What's this?" It looked like a slicker and much more refined version of her old Grapple Gun; the body comprised of a lightweight metal with smooth curves and a predominantly grey paint scheme that was a far cry from the bulky haphazard pistol design she was familiar with. Unlike the previous design however, the semi-recessed grappling hook still sat snugly in the barrel but had an internal spool of highly tensile cable instead of the external roll on the device's aft end.
"Heh, didn't realise Clank bought that with him," Ratchet mused at the sight of the gadget in her hands. "Remember when you gave Al the rights to your Grapple Gun idea way back? Well, turns out people liked 'em a lot, and he started making them by the dozen..." He paused. "Or at least until Gadgetron made to sue for 'copyright infringement' and had them all destroyed, 'cept for this one. It's a first edition, and we kinda figured it'd make a great gift for when we found you again. So, whadaya think?"
Ellen couldn't help but smile at the gesture; the idea that even though she was stranded an entire galaxy away from them, her friends in Solana hadn't forgotten her and were still trying to help in their own way. Her lips quirked further still upon turning the device on its side and seeing the product's acronym embossed on the side in gold lettering. "EGG? He called it the EGG?"
"Enhanced Grappling Gun," Ratchet clarified with an amused twinkle in his eye. "Al's idea, not mine. He and Clank thought it'd sell more with a catchy name."
The thought of the still missing robot sobered the human's mood, but before she could get back to searching the penthouse for any kind of evidence, a low whining of ionised engines from outside caught both of the commando's attention. Rising up from below the panoramic window was a sleek and deadly looking crimson-painted gunship; thrust vectoring nozzles glowing blue under down-sloping, slanted wings that bristled with unguided rockets mounted in rows. The body itself was primarily shaped like an elongated sloping triangle that cut off towards the nose; built around an oversized rotary cannon that protruded for a good five feet under the armoured bathtub-style cockpit, and was spinning up even now.
"GET DOWN!"
Human and lombax both hit the deck, hugging the floor as best they could as a non stop barrage of coke can sized rounds shattered the glass window pane to splinters and tore through the room in a sweeping arc that spared nothing. Cautiously raising an eye from his prone position once he was sure the shooting had stopped, Ratchet helped Ellen back up to her feet in the devastated remains of the penthouse before turning their attention to the grinning gunship pilot who was responsible; the human instantly recognising him from her research as the founder and unquestioned leader of Thugs-4-Less.
"Logan..."
With a similar heavily muscular build to the Thugs-4-Less brutes that they had previously encountered, Logan shared the same solid red eyes, stubby dorsal spines, and general reptilian appearance as his men. However, while the thugs tended to have sharp, predatory faces with various shades of purple-scaled skin, their boss had flatter, more humanised features with a squat nose, thick brow, solid jaw, and pale blue skin. What little they could see of his attire fit in with the rest of the mercenary group; from the black fingerless gloves to the prominent silver pauldrons with gold trim on his shoulders, along with the heavy, gunmetal grey chest plate upon which a crimson geometric pattern was stencilled, and the bandolier that crossed from his left shoulder to right hip.
"Greetin's morons!" he sneered, his voice amplified over the gunship's external speakers. "Since my employees did such a lousy job a takin' care a youse, I thought I'd come and take care of things myself."
"Oh shit..." Ellen's eyes widened in realisation, a nauseous feeling building in the pit of her stomach. "It was a set-up from the very start. The thief wanted us to trace that signal here."
"And used Clank to bait the trap, knowing we'd come running." Ratchet grimaced at the thought; having had more than his fill of traps being sprung on them for one day; his expression darkening as he glared back at the gunship pilot with his fingers twitching towards his Quick Select. "Well not anymore. Nobody kidnaps my pal and gets away with it!"
Logan's voice crackled through the speakers once again, a vicious grin on his lips as the gunship's rotary cannon began to spin up once more. "Now if youse two are finished, I've got a payday to collect."
His answer was a Gravity Bomb detonating against the machine's nose just below the cockpit, the blast powerful enough to send it reeling backwards for a few dozen yards with stray rounds chewing up the roof above until the pilot could right it once more. Ellen added her own stream of incendiary rounds to the mix, her Hellfire stitching a line of scorched dents across the armoured VTOL's body as Logan pulled up and around the building to attack from another angle.
"Hey, watch it! I just waxed this thing!"
The two commandos didn't bother with any witty one liners; right now their main concern was survival, and with the front door fried thanks to the gunship's first strafing run there was nowhere else to run. Thankfully some of the remaining furniture provided at least partial cover, and so as the walls quaked from a rocket strike slamming into the building just out of sight, the pair hunkered down and prepared to slug it out with what few weapons they had.
The crimson-painted attack bird rose up from below the window line shortly thereafter once again, Ellen managing to get a few good hits on the cockpit with her hand cannon that left a few hairline cracks on the canopy but otherwise did little to dissuade the murderous return fire that punched fist-sized holes in the kitchen counter she was now sheltering behind. Ratchet had a little more success with his Heavy Lancer, blindly firing over the top of the overturned fridge that had taken more than a few hits and managing to score a few glancing hits on one of the gunship's thrusters that had it lurching off out of sight once again.
"Alright, that's it! Time to earn your pay, boys!"
The faint whining of ion engines preceded a Thugs-4-Less dropship auguring into hover above the penthouse roof out of sight, its shadow cast directly through the remains of the living area as several ropes unravelled past the shattered floor length window. Ellen had seen this scenario far too many times before in movies and games to be surprised when a squad of the same lavender-scaled lizard-like thugs they had seen escorting the thief in the surveillance footage from Oozla came rappelling into the room; assault rifles already raised and firing even as they clipped off their lines and began to push towards where the two commandos were currently hunkered down.
Ellen dropped one almost immediately with her Leviathan, the second round tearing a chunk out of the remains of the surprisingly solid couch as her target ducked behind it before blind firing over the top and forcing her back into cover. Ratchet meanwhile opted to push forwards with his Heavy Lancer in hand, vaulting over the fridge he had been sheltering behind and stitching a line across the chest of a thug who had been in process of prepping a grenade; booting the explosive towards the one still hiding behind what was left of the furniture before ducking into the doorframe leading to the bath and bedrooms.
The resulting detonation rocked the entire penthouse and sent two of the remaining thugs rag-dolling across the room in opposite directions, the last falling prey to Ellen's shotgun as he tried to shake off the concussive effects and stay upright. Of course with the infantry taken care of and the dropship's swift departure, it wasn't long until Logan came back for another strafing run; the gunship's rotary cannon tearing chunks out of the building's top floor as he raked it with fire and further churned up the ruined penthouse.
Ratchet arced another Gravity Bomb towards the crimson painted machine only to see it fall short as the Thugs-4-Less leader veered backwards and to the left in order to evade it; Ellen taking the opportunity to pour as much automatic fire as possible into the exposed starboard engine in an effort to cause as much damage as possible. At least one of her bullets must have hit something vital, because the gunship dipped briefly with one engine spluttering before correcting itself; letting off a salvo of rockets that blew apart the circular doorway leading to the penthouse's private landing pad along with a good chunk of the wall as Logan pulled back once again.
"Grraahh! That's it, I'm chargin' double on this one! Crispin! Get down there and give 'em a warm welcome!"
The concussive force from the nearby explosion had left Ratchet slightly disoriented with his ears ringing thanks to his close proximity, the lombax shaking his head to clear it as Ellen darted forth to bodily drag him back into the relative safety of the kitchen once more. A trio of shadowy figures made their way through the opening blown through the ruined wall, their forms little more than silhouettes thanks to the thick cloud of dust and sediment covering the area.
As they emerged into the shattered living room, the two flanking thugs resolved into what first appeared to be a pair of Thugs-4-Less brutes. However, the bulkier armour boasting upscaled pauldrons, a small expandable shield strapped to their left forearms, and a half mask that covered the lower portion of their faces said otherwise. The fact both were packing bulky, wide-bore shotguns instead of the expected micro-missile launchers certainly marked them as an entirely different class of thug altogether. Some kind of... enforcer, perhaps?
But it was the leader that got the two commando's attention; his sinuous, wiry frame decked out in a crimson, full-body fire retardant suit adorned with numerous belts and pouches that covered his torso, along with a pair of canary yellow fuel tanks on his back. Heavy black boots echoed loudly on the ruined wooden floor; the scarred bare metal welding mask covering his face slowly turning towards the human and lombax as leather-gloved hands raised his oversized flamethrower to the ceiling and depressed the trigger.
"Who's up for some BARBECUE?!" Crispin giggled maniacally as he hosed the roof and immediate area with fire; the more combustible furnishings bursting into flame as the defending commandos ducked down behind the remains of the kitchen counter to avoid the searing heat.
"Are you shitting me?!" Ellen's voice was slightly muffled behind her helmet's oxygen mask that had automatically deployed due to the choking smoke rapidly filling the air. "How're we supposed to deal with this guy?!"
With his helmet similarly sealed, Ratchet pondered the exact same question himself; poking the barrel of his Heavy Lancer around his cover and holding down the trigger in an attempt to keep the fire starting thug at bay. "Dunno, but we can't stay here! We gotta push 'em back!"
With their pyromaniacal leader keeping them pinned down, neither human or lombax noticed the other two thugs use the distraction to push forward and bring their shotguns to bear until it was almost too late; Ellen noticing a flicker of movement in her peripheral vision at the last second before instinctively dropping on to her back as a cluster of buckshot shredded the space her head had previously been occupying. Now forewarned, Ratchet slapped aside the second enforcer's scatter gun with his wrench as it went off; spinning low on his heel with the motion and ducking under the following shield bash, followed by a retaliatory wrench strike to the knee that staggered his foe before finishing up with a skull cracking blow that dropped the thug in a boneless heap.
His red-headed partner meanwhile had instantly gone for her hand cannon the second she hit the ground, pointing it towards the first armoured thug and pulling the trigger as quickly as possible. Though the heavy slugs had a great deal of impact behind each shot, to her mounting horror they did little more than punch fist-sized dents in the merc's chest plate and push him back a few steps. Just what the hell was that armour made of? Rolling away from a second shotgun blast, Ellen drove her Versa Blade into her adversary's much more vulnerable foot; eliciting a pained howl of rage and more importantly buying the human precious seconds to aim for his exposed head, only to see him slump to the floor once Ratchet had clocked him with his wrench.
A tongue of concentrated fire scoured across the top of the kitchen counter, both commandos hitting the deck once more as Crispin reminded them of his presence with a cackling glee. "BURN BITCHES!"
Dealing with the lizard-like pyro was going to be a task in itself, but fortunately Ratchet had the beginnings of a questionably sane plan in mind. Sprinting from cover, the lombax barely missed the jet of flame being swept his way along with Ellen's creative cursing as he darted around the scorched room towards the shattered floor length window; taunting the flamethrower wielding thug all the way.
Realising the pressure was off of her for the moment thanks to the golden furred feline's nigh suicidal charge, Ellen popped up with her Leviathan still in hand and sighted on the canary yellow fuel tanks adorning Crispin's back before squeezing off a trio of armour-piercing rounds. Unfortunately the obvious target appeared to be a lot more resilient than she had anticipated; the few visible holes in the metal soon sealing themselves with a thick oily substance, and the pyromaniac to which the canisters were strapped let loose a string of unhinged giggles as he spun around with his weapon blazing a trail towards her.
"Shit!"
The human felt the wave of heat passing overhead even after ducking back behind the relative safety of the kitchen counter, her commando suit's temperature regulating system simply unable to cope with the intensity of the flames licking above. Having sheltered behind the surprisingly durable remains of the couch, Ratchet sprung into action once more as Crispin turned his attention back to where his partner was hunkered down; not wanting to give the maniacal merc any chance of getting near his girl.
Bullets didn't seem to have much effect on the self-sealing fuel tanks, and explosives were out of the question if he or Ellen wanted to survive the ensuing detonation considering how much flammable liquid they likely still contained. And so it was that the lombax found himself falling back on his Chopper once more; flinging a quartet of laser sharp throwing stars at the canary yellow canisters on the Thugs-4-Less pyro's back and watching them tear multiple rents into the shining metal that soon began to leak fuel quicker than the sealant could gum them back up.
"EXTRA CRISPY!"
Crispin appeared to be getting even more unhinged by the minute; his ragged breaths mixed in with psychotic laughter as he twisted the grip on his weapon and the nozzle narrowed down to a fine point, turning the flamethrower into a makeshift plasma cutter. The condensed white-hot beam sliced through the already ruined kitchen counter Ellen was sheltering behind, narrowly missing her head as it burned through at an oblique angle before scything clockwise across the room to where Ratchet was already in motion once more.
Through desperation rather than design, Ellen swapped out her hand cannon for her Hellfire as she leapt out of cover; holding down the trigger and spraying the exposed fuel tanks with automatic incendiary fire. All it took was a single spark; the dark fluid leaking from the cheerfully yellow canisters catching alight before spreading in seconds. Crispin had apparently realised something was amiss as he had stopped ranting and was now spinning around on the spot while trying to loosen the harness holding the soon-to-be fuel-air bomb in place while incidentally staggering ever closer to the shattered window.
"Heads up!"
The fire obsessed merc barely had a chance to glance up as Ratchet launched himself over the remains of the ruined couch and planted both boots in his chest; arms windmilling as he teetered over the edge with an angered screech before plummeting to the streets below. The resulting fireball a few seconds later rocked the war torn penthouse suite and caused the only two living occupants left to stumble briefly while fine debris rained from the ceiling above.
Though the occasion probably demanded it, Ellen didn't have the heart to say something witty at that given moment and apparently Ratchet was on the same wavelength seeing as he grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her towards the gaping hole in the wall Crispin had entered through. "Come on, we can't stay here. We gotta get in the open."
Considering most of the penthouse was now either on fire or otherwise destroyed she couldn't help but agree. The two soon made it through the choking smoke beginning to fill the abode and emerged out on to the private landing pad, disengaging their oxygen masks and deeply breathing in fresh air as their visors readjusted to the light. The pad itself was a roughly circular silver metal structure large enough to comfortably hold a pair of Star Explorer sized vessels with ease, the perimeter dotted with waist high rust red ornamental blocks that were the only notable feature on the otherwise plain construct unless one counted the spectacular view of the city sprawling into the distance.
"Well, what now?"
Ratchet honestly didn't know off the cuff. They may have escaped the burning penthouse, but with the only way back inside blocked off the lombax was at a loss for what to do. Or at least that was until a familiar crimson-painted machine rose up from below the platform on ion engines that whined with pent up power, the external speakers crackling into life once more as Logan glared at them from the safety of his cockpit with his finger twitching over the control stick's trigger.
"Well, it looks like my old man was right after all," he growled as he spun up the rotary cannon. "If you want someone killed right, you gotta do it yourself."
Another cliff-hanger, but you kind of knew that was coming, right? As you can tell, I've altered the level layout somewhat to better accommodate my vision of how it should have gone and turned the pushover mini boss into an actual threat. This chapter also sees the introduction of bit part OCs like Officer Barnaby, and original enemies as well in the form of the Thugs-4-Less Enforcer and Lieutenant.
The first is intended as a stop gap between the regular thugs and Brutes in terms of power; using their heavy armour and gauntlet mounted riot shields to get in close and let rip with their shotguns. The second however sprung from the realisation that Logan had to have some kind of subordinates in order to effectively run Thugs-4-Less; a handpicked group of loyal and utterly ruthless lieutenants who are head and shoulders above the average thug.
Crispin is the first among several that our heroes will encounter throughout the story, acting as mini bosses for thug operations and generally making their lives that bit more difficult. I intend to make each one unique in their own way, with differing strengths, weaknesses, and abilities that will hopefully make each counter memorable. I am however open to suggestions, so if anyone has any ideas for a T4L Lieutenant then please let me know; preferably with a short description of physical characteristics, persona, and weapons choice. Rest assured, any character pitches that are used will be fully credited.
Until next time, please review and check out my other stories once they're posted and/or updated.
Thanks for reading
- RevenantReaper337