Author's note:

No drama on my part this week thankfully and I managed to curb this chapter back a bit to prevent it getting too long, although getting it finished on time was a bit of a struggle. Nothing really seemed to click for some reason, and I ended up spending a disproportionate amount of time staring at a blinking cursor with no idea what to type before having a rash of inspiration at the last minute.

In any case though, this interlude chapter will mark the end of the Megapolis arc; one that has ended up totalling a ridiculous number of words and that I am eager to push past in order to get the story moving again. No much else to say really, other than that I hope you enjoy the chapter for what it is. So without further ado, let's get on with the show.

Review replies:

Vengarl22 - Although perhaps not to the degree you're thinking (since this is a T rated story) things will definitely be getting 'interesting' for Ratchet and Ellen this chapter. Thanks again.

GoldenLombaxGirl - Maybe they will (smirks knowingly) and yep, we've got the whole team back together now. Hope you like the new chapter.

Shane Kor - Nice to hear from you again. I'm Glad you liked the way the last few chapters went and the mini boss concept, though I have to agree that the Logan boss fight ended up being way too long. I was trying to go for something more challenging than canon and it ended up exploding out of control. Definitely be trying to reign myself in for the coming chapters, although so far the word count seems to just keep rising in spite of my efforts. Good luck with the marching band, hope this chapter is to your liking as well.

Destiny - Thank you, I'm glad you approve. I just found the original level design a bit disjointed and tried to have it make more sense form a narrative perspective. The same goes for Ratchet and Ellen's search for Clank, although I hoped to make it a bit more dramatic along with a more realistic way of finding him in such a vast city other than seemingly dumb luck as in canon.

StaticBomb93 - While I can't kill off one of the main antagonists just yet due to him being important to the plot, rest assured that Logan didn't get off likely from that crash considering just how far he had to fall. He's definitely not going to be happy once he's recovered, and will be taking his defeat very personally. With the team back together and Clank's unique talents though, Logan won't be finding his job getting easier anytime soon. Hope you like the new chapter.

BulletWitch1985 - Hey there, and sorry to hear your AC is still on the fritz. Here's hoping the weather cools down a little on your end, or at least until you can get someone to fix it. It's good to have Clank back. I've missed being able to write for him, along with the group dynamic and byplay between the three main characters. I couldn't resist bringing back Al and Edwina for a brief cameo as well, seeing as they were two of my favourite supporting characters. I might be including them further still in this story but I'm not entirely sure just yet; definitely giving them a bigger role in the events of the third game though once I get there.

I was kind of surprised that there weren't any stories for Jersey Devil on this site, but hey, at least that means you'll get to post the first! A joint account sounds like an interesting idea when I think about it; the opportunity to potentially double the amount of posted content and keep a steady flow of updates going since there's two of you, and of course the chance for collaborated projects without most of the usual hassle with regards to communication.

In any case, great to hear from you again and hope to see you both as established authors sometime in the near future. Take care.

The White Guardian - All terrible jokes aside, welcome back, and don't worry about being late. At least your review got here before my Sunday deadline; I nearly didn't finish this chapter at all with the manic week I've had and it sounds like you've been pretty busy as well. Your rescue mission for the stranded astronauts on Kerbal reads like sci-fi book or TV series; in fact you could probably record it and serialise the whole thing on Youtube considering the amount of suspense and drama resulting from a 'simple' exploration mission to Duna gone wrong.

It's funny you should mention Clank's distress beacon in A Crack in Time because that's kind of what I based the whole signal tracking idea off of. I figured it had to have come from somewhere, and being kidnapped by the thief would have been the catalyst to get a proper beacon installed later down the line in case anything happened again. Listing what Ratchet and Ellen have been through in such a short period of time really brings home just how crazy the last 24 hours have been for them, so yeah, they definitely deserve a day off.

Didn't know about the wrench climbing glitch though, then again I never really bothered with first person mode other than a quick go for novelty's sake. It must be pretty weird to play through the best part of the game without Clank, and I can't help but wonder how it would affect the in-game cut scenes. Might have to give it a go myself when I get the chance. Good luck with your Kerbal rescue mission, and hope you enjoy the new chapter.

Zenith88 - yeah, my chapters are starting to get a tinsy bit long, and I am going to have to start curbing it after this one. You have a valid point with the GPS thing; it was more of a plot device than anything else to allow Ratchet and Ellen a way to track down Clank in a more believable manner and I'll have to try to think of an alternative that won't require a paragraph long explanation.

But to be fair though, the technology of the Ratchet and Clank universe is a weird mix of retro-future and more 'modern' at the best of times. Despite the existence of high-tech weapons, spaceships, and interstellar communication, Skid's agent in the first game still uses a cellular phone, while some of the monitors and screens seen throughout numerous levels are ridiculously chunky compared to the flat screen models we use everyday. Thanks again.

Sonachugirl - I don't blame you; I'd give him a hug too if I could, Clank is just… Clank! Sorry to hear about your dad though, hope he gets better and, well, you get a crack at your computer again. Rest assured there shall be fluff; maybe not as much as I wanted to squeeze in considering the perils of time constraints and writers block, but fluff nevertheless. Take care, hope you enjoy!

Kairi671 - Ah don't worry, just happy to hear from you again and that you liked the way the Megapolis arc has panned out thus far. Here's hoping you'll like this one too.

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.

Together again with time to spare, let's see what our heroes get up to in Chapter 10.

- 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 10:

A Night On The Town

Megapolis, Endako

Bogon Galaxy

G2.17.081 Galactic calendar

2:28pm local time

All told, it took roughly half an hour until Clank finally managed to find a way to free his companions from the room in which he had been held, Thanks to the assistance of several service drones and helpful construction bots, he had managed to circumnavigate the veritable maze of ventilation shafts and maintenance areas and find an alternative route from the one which Ratchet and Ellen had taken to find him. As it turned out, there was actually a disused security shutter on one of the chamber's walls that had been covered over with relatively thin metal plating; one he had been able to open from the other side once he had crawled through another air duct and triggered the emergency door release.

It didn't take long for the two commandos to carve through the faux wall, with the human slicing a hole with her Versa Blade's heated edge and allowing her lombax partner using his wrench to jimmy out the cut panel before letting it drop to one side. Clank was moderately curious as to why his long time friends appeared to have such elevated temperatures despite the room in which they had been stuck being relatively cool, but for some reason they seemed to shift awkwardly while shooting each other glances before deflecting his queries entirely. The little robot didn't press the issue seeing as it made his long time companions uncomfortable for some reason, and acceded to their wishes in leaving the area immediately. If there was one thing the last year spent living with Ratchet had taught the diminutive silver machine, then it was that organics were often times spontaneous and rarely made any logical sense.

After traversing through several maintenance corridors, and a trip past the cylindrical power plant-like building the lombax and human had seen early upon landing via a Heli-pack assisted gliding jump, the three soon found themselves back at the two parked Star Explorers once more. Officer Barnaby appeared to have left his post at the gate into the quarantine zone seeing as his squad car was now missing, leaving the energy barrier he had been guarding sealed and the holographic police tape in front of it intact. Considering all the emergency vehicles overhead making their way into the sealed off section of the city it didn't take a genius to figure out where he had likely gone to; Clank's glowing green optics staring at the still billowing plumes of smoke coming from the distantly visible top floor of Megacorp Towers.

"Ratchet, why is the penthouse suite Mr Fizzwidget gifted us on fire?"

The lombax sucked in a breath between his teeth, casting a quick sideways glance at a grimacing Ellen who gave him a pointed look before gesturing him to answer. "Yeah... Remember when we told you about the whole 'thugs ambushing us in the penthouse' thing?" At the questioning look and slight nod from his small metal friend, he continued. "Well one of 'em had a flamethrower, and with all the wooden decorations and all..."

"The chances of the furnishings combusting were a nigh certainty," Clank finished understandingly. "Do not worry Ratchet, I am sure that there are no material possessions within that can not be replaced with time. I am merely relieved that neither of you suffered any substantial damage from such an event."

Ellen chuckled dryly. "No worse than what we normally end up dealing with anyway. The only problem we have now is where to stay for the night."

"Stay?" the diminutive robot shuttered his wide optics in confusion. "Why would you wish to? Are we not resuming your pursuit of the thief who stole the protopet from Megacorp?"

Ratchet shook his head. "Can't, or at least not yet. The thief took off just before we found you; heck, he could be anywhere right now."

"The only lead we've got left now is a biker rally for Thugs-4-Less employees on planet Barlow," his human partner clarified. "Problem is, that's not scheduled to happen until tomorrow morning local time over there at the earliest. that gives us the best part of..." she quickly checked the time difference on her Wrist Com before continuing. "Twenty odd hours to get there; and between you being kidnapped and me and Ratchet running around the galaxy blowing stuff up all day, I think we could all do with a chance to have a rest while we still can."

Clank inclined his head towards her, falling in line beside his companions as they walked back to where their Star Explorers were still parked. "That sounds most agreeable Ellen. I have long missed your company, and it would be nice to be able to catch up with one another again after so long."

Ratchet's stomach made its presence known once again with a rattling growl, the lombax giving his friends a sheepish smile as he rubbed the back of his head. "Heh, maybe we should continue this over lunch. I dunno about you two, but I'm starving!"

"Ellen raised a brow at the lombax's declaration, leaning back against her ship with her arms folded as she gave him a pointed look. "What about that double deluxe Megaburger with cheese you had back at Marjorie's Kitchen? What do you call that?"

The golden furred feline hummed in thought with his fingers still poised over his Wrist Com before giving her an all too innocent look that was fooling nobody. "...late breakfast?"

Clank held a servo to his mouth to suppress one of his trademark tittering little laughs, while Ellen let out a sigh that was equal parts amusement and exasperation with the lombax's behaviour as she gently shook her head. Once the automated air cab he had summoned with his Wrist Com arrived and the three had clambered aboard, Ratchet punched in the intended destination and sat between his closest companions as they took off for the city's commercial district.

Although the human had flown over the city herself but scant hours before, both she and Ratchet had been narrowly focused on finding their kidnapped friend and filtered out everything else not relevant to the search. But now that the little robot was safe and the immediate threat to their lives diminished, Ellen could better appreciate the urban sprawl of Megapolis as the taxi weaved through the early afternoon traffic far above the streets below. A veritable tapestry of gleaming glass, polished bronze, and shining steel stretched out for as far as the eye could see; the city's layout appearing to shift from rigid and efficiently spaced skyscrapers to something more flowing and organic the further away they travelled from the corporate oriented sector they had previously fought through.

Tree lined boulevards inlaid with bronze decoration seemed to snake and coil around shopping centres and residential areas alike in multiple layers, often times crossing over one another or even through structures entirely in a seemingly nonsensical pattern while towering buildings stood like islands throughout. The streets themselves were lined with numerous businesses, towering apartment blocks, and monolithic mall complexes that still ascribed to the same post-modern aesthetic and smooth geometric lines as the rest of the city, but seemed to have a lot more variety in terms of both height and general stylisation between the various structures. In fact, the only real constant between the various regions of the city through which the three travelled was the all pervading presence of Megacorp advertising boards hawking numerous products that adorned nigh every surface.

Slight turbulence caused by the air cab descending as it prepared to land shook Ellen from her reverie, the vehicle gently swooping down to settle on a designated drop off pad in the middle of a now bustling plaza. The three soon disembarked, and once Ratchet had paid their fare the two commandos plus one short statured robot took a brief moment to gain their bearings before setting off through the crowds in search of wares to purchase and perhaps a late lunch.

As they began to sift through the throngs of mid-afternoon shoppers towards what passed for the main street however, both human and lombax began to notice something odd. Despite the hustle and bustle of so many sentient beings in such a small space the trio had little trouble in making headway; in fact people even seemed to actively get out of their way as they approached, with some shooting worried or dirty looks as they moved past.

"Why are they looking at us like that?" Ellen whispered aloud as she leaned towards Ratchet, not liking the stares or the sense of discomfort building in the pit of her stomach one bit.

"Don't know babe," the lombax replied with a furrowed brow; glancing at a particularly thick set novalian construction worker eyeing them as he walked past and subconsciously stepping closer to the human in a protective manner. "The way they're acting, you'd think they'd never seen a Megacorp commando before."

"Be that as it may," Clank interceded. "But I believe their concerns are more to do with the condition of your attire as opposed to current career path."

"Whadya mean?"

The diminutive silver robot merely gestured towards his companions composite weave jumpsuits, waiting patiently as both Ratchet and Ellen stopped to inspect themselves with a sense of puzzlement. It wasn't until the two commandos shared a confused glance however and inadvertently took in the state of their respective commando outfits that realisation finally dawned; the reason people were giving them such a wide berth.

Both human and lombax had long since become accustomed to the rigors of combat during their first adventure in the Solana galaxy; a state of mind reinforced by their more recent experiences battling the thief and his hired mercenary forces. As such, personal appearance had taken a back seat in favour of survival; the various blood stains, oil splashes, repaired tears, burns, and dings from ricocheting bullets accumulated in the last day or so largely forgotten. Now they were in a major city though, where people went about their everyday business and death wasn't simply waiting around every corner, it became a little more obvious. Considering most of these people had probably never experienced such violence in their lives and the two commandos looked like they had just stepped out of a massacre, it was small wonder they were getting such wary looks.

Ellen shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to be the centre of attention nor appreciating the ill informed judgement in the eyes of those passing by. Noticing her distinctly nervous disposition, Ratchet linked their arms and squeezed her hand gently; garnering the human's attention and giving her a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't worry about it. Let's just find a clothing store and buy some new threads; we can drop off our suits to be cleaned and pick 'em up later. Whadya say, babe?"

The human drew a calming breath and exhaled, ignoring their surroundings and focusing on the warm emerald eyes that looked back at her expectedly. "I... Well, we could both do with something a bit more casual. It would look pretty weird if we sat down to a meal at a restaurant while wearing full combat gear."

Her fellow commando snorted back a laugh at the mental image, a slight smirk adorning his face as he led her by the hand through the crowd with Clank keeping pace by his side. "Yeah, maybe. But at least they wouldn't think twice about giving us the Megacorp employee discount."

Ellen couldn't help but shake her head with growing amusement, her mental funk dissipating in light of the lombax's quip. "A whole two percent? How could we possibly miss out on that?"

They both shared a laugh at the idea, feeling in much lighter spirits as they continued down the main street arm in arm with a faintly smiling Clank walking alongside. Unsurprisingly, most of the major retailers lining their route were either owned by Megacorp or primarily stocked their goods; the corporate entity's distinctive logo plastered over virtually every available shop front, sign, and product in sight. There were however still a fair number of rival brands and independents here and there; from the family run cazar bakery selling freshly baked bread and picolot swirl pastries, to an electronics retailer touting the latest range of Wrist Coms, datapads, and cellular phones for those preferred the older technology.

It was however a particularly flamboyant looking store front around two thirds down the street that caught their attention. The decorative sign overhead was bordered by an intricate pattern of pink and white lace interspersed with colourful flowers and what appeared to be tribal style pin-striping, the entire ensemble surrounding a single word printed out in a flowing and cursive purple script with gold highlighting.

"'Debonairs Boutique'?" Ellen sounded out slowly, her understanding of written galactic common still fairly basic considering how little time she had to learn any of it during her journey to the Bogon galaxy. "Sounds... expensive."

Ratchet merely shrugged, his eyes lingering on a particularly risqué and flattering outfit modelled by a posed mannequin in the shop window and absently wondering what his girl would look like wearing it. "Could be, but you won't know till you look. C'mon, what's the worst that could happen?"

'Famous last words...'

The human kept her thoughts to herself however as she let the lombax steer her inside, removing her helmet so she could see better in the dimmed lighting within once they crossed the threshold and the automated doors slid shut behind them. The interior was actually quite small, the shop floor centred around two display pieces in glass cabinets with several carousel racks of clothing ringing them in a loose circle and a small cashier's booth crammed in one corner. Oddly enough though there didn't appear to be anyone around, either staff or customers; the trio's footsteps sounding unnaturally loud on the polished floor as they cautiously looked around.

"Hello? anybody here?"

Silence greeted the lombax's words; his patience waning and foot tapping at the prospect of being stuck clothes shopping any longer than necessary while Clank tried to placate him. "Perhaps the owner of this establishment was called away on urgent business?"

"Then why were the doors left unlocked?" Ellen mused aloud, stopping before one of the circular tube-like display cases and the doubtlessly expensive dress within. "You'd have thought there would be a sign out front saying 'be back soon' or something similar."

Ellen wasn't really a 'girly' kind of girl even before her experiences beyond her home planet, and often tended to put functionality before appearance when it came to clothing. But even she could still appreciate the beautifully designed number before her; a crimson floor length gown tastefully slit at the thigh that shimmered radiantly under the overhead spotlights and wouldn't look out of place at a high society gala. Matching shoulder length gloves with a flowing roll of rouge fabric draping along the entirety of its underside added to the ensemble, giving the impression of a birds wings that only served to highlight the avian inspired head dress. Caught up in her observations as she was, the human didn't even register the presence behind her until they spoke.

"Magnificent, ees eet not?"

Long honed instincts took over, the red-headed commando dropping into a spinning crouch with her Versa Blade drawn and halfway extended towards the speaker before her brain could form any coherent thoughts or even register what had been said. If the woman Ellen had been inches away from gutting had any concerns about such a violent reaction then she certainly didn't show it; a serene smile adorning her face along with a growing sense of amusement as she spoke again with what the human's Wrist Com translated into a distinctly French sounding accent.

"I know my dresses are to kill for darling, but per'aps not quite so literally. You must really like eet, no?"

Ellen jerked the blade away with wide eyed horror, her face ashen as she scrambled to her feet while stuttering an apology. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry! You startled me and I just... reacted! I swear I didn't mean-"

A slender finger on her lips silenced the human's rambling tirade, mirthful luminescent eyes holding her own as the alien woman merely chuckled in return. "Now, now, mon chérie; no need to apologise." She paused to take a step back out of the red-head's personal space and gestured to herself grandly, the seemingly permanent expression of cheerfulness never once leaving her face. "See? No 'arm done!"

Now that she wasn't near panicking Ellen could finally get a better look at the woman she had almost accidentally stabbed and was momentarily surprised by the appearance of what at first glance looked like an airbrushed fashion model in her mid twenties with pale blue skin. Her face was distinctly human-like with sharp flowing lines; half-moon glasses perched upon a slight nose, full magenta lips, and pencil brows arching over solid blue eyes that glowed faintly. The loose bun of long and wavy mauve hair with lavender streaks atop her head was held in place with a pair of metallic knitting needles crossed over one another; several tresses left free to cascade down past her shoulders that framed her face and obscured her ears.

The woman's attire consisted of a predominantly purple and gold-trimmed short-sleeved dress with a loose, floor length skirt and a violet leather corset over the top that only served to emphasise her sleek, curvaceous figure and plunging neckline. A black belt with an oval-shaped silver buckle engraved with some arcane pattern encircled her narrow waist, while a magenta choker encrusted with Raritanium fastened around her neck and numerous golden bangles and bracelets adorned the extremities of her heavily tattooed arms that bore a distinctive floral theme. If the distinct clacking sounds as she turned around to regard the human's companions was anything to go by then it was likely that the blue-skinned woman was wearing high heels as well, though whether that was the reason she was a good few inches taller than Ellen's 5'7" frame was debatable since the long skirt concealed everything below the waist.

"Considering your familiarity with the products on display," Clank enquired politely with a curious look towards the flamboyantly dressed woman, "might I presume you to be miss Debonair?"

"Zat would be me!" exclaimed the store's titular proprietor with a gracious smile, a palm held against her bosom while the other gestured with a dramatic flair. "But please darling, call me Debby; everybody does!"

"Oh... kay...?" Ratchet briefly blinked in bewilderment at the woman's exuberance before shaking his head and trying to get things back on track. "Look lady, it's been a really long day. Our suits are pretty beaten up, and we just need something-"

Debby, as she preferred to be called, was apparently a lot faster than she looked; darting in front of the startled lombax and scrutinising him with a growing sense of excitement. "So I see, monsieur lombax, so I see!" A tape measure materialised from... somewhere, and the blue woman rapidly took his measurements before he could protest; manipulating his limbs like a stringless puppet while a seemingly never ending barrage of words poured forth from her lips. "Zat radiant fur, zhose passionate eyes, ze strong and heroic aura! You need somezing... striking; powerful! Somezing zat will make ze galaxy sit up and pay attention!"

"Uh-"

"And you!" she continued with glee, practically teleporting in front of an equally stunned Ellen and putting her through the same measures as her partner. "Such an exotic creature you are with ze pale skin, ze cute little freckles, and zhose luxuriant red locks!" Slender hands briefly roved across the human's bicep and trailed down her arm, making her distinctly uncomfortable and involuntarily take a step back. "Yet underneath you are like ze predator; coiled and ready to pounce!" Debonair tilted her head to one side in thought, absentmindedly tapping her chin with a single digit. "Per'aps somezing sleek and deadly, but with feminine grace and style..."

While the fashionista was pondering aloud about what colour schemes wouldn't clash, the two bewildered commandos plus one moderately confused robot briefly exchanged glances before Clank interrupted her tangent with a polite clearing of his vocaliser. "Pardon me miss Debonair-"

"Debby, darling."

"Debby," he corrected, "but I am afraid you may have misunderstood my companions intentions."

The blue-skinned woman froze in mid gesture, glancing between the human and lombax with no small measure of puzzlement. "What do you mean?"

Ellen sighed aloud, hoping to let her down gently. "Don't get us wrong; we really appreciate all the effort you're putting into this, but we were just trying to find some casual clothing to wear until we could get our commando suits cleaned up."

"Oh," came Debonair's crestfallen reply; shoulders visibly slumping and her face looking like a kicked puppy. "I'm sorry darlings, I let my passion get away from me sometimes. With your armour in such a state, I naturally presumed you would want to commission a replacement set."

"Wait, you do armour?" Ratchet cut in, ears perking up with interest. "I thought this was some kind of fashion store."

Brightening considerably, the flamboyantly dressed woman's eyes positively sparkled at the renewed interest in her trade. "But of course!" she declared faux haughtily. "I am, after all, a woman of many talents. Aside from the latest and greatest in fashionable clothing for all species, I also craft the most stylish of armour for the disconcerting customer." A charming smile graced Debby's lips as she placed slender hands on her prominent hips, her blue eyes aglow with barely concealed eagerness. "So, I 'ave your interest now, yes?"

That she did, and a vivid imagination too if the numerous sketches she came up with during the consultation process were anything to go by. It was through these conversations that the three companions learned the exuberant woman was in fact a valkyrie; a warrior race with a female dominated society from the next galaxy over, who had moved to Bogon a few years back in search of a fresh start and the opportunity to start a business of her own. That at least partially explained her lack of concern when faced with a deadly weapon, along with the interest in armour lines considering her species martial culture.

Debonair was remarkably tight lipped though when queried about why she had moved so far from her original home, but Ellen could only assume that the answer was a source of particularly bad memories and so steered the conversation back to the topic at hand. Although Ratchet approved of the numerous potential candidates for his own armour that were 'strikingly heroic' as Debby put it, Ellen was less convinced and more than a little mortified at some of the overly... risqué designs the fashionista had come up with for the human.

"I am not wearing that... that thing!"

"But darling; ze poise, ze pizazz! Eet says 'I am ze swan, graceful and beautiful; but cross my path, and I will snap off your arm and beat you to death with eet."

"It's neon pink, Debby," Ellen retorted with a glare, "You can practically see everything under that mini skirt, and don't even get me started on that translucent skin suit and... 'chest piece.' I'd get more protection from a couple of sea shells covering my boobs than that skimpy little thing."

"Oh."

...

"...you want ze sea sh-"

"No, damn it!"

Well, you get the idea. Due to the pressing nature of both time constraints and budgetary issues however, the Valkyrie's more elaborate ideas were shelved for the time being and she agreed to simply up-armour their existing commando suits once they had been sent off to be cleaned; ready to picked up first thing in the morning. Thanking the blue-skinned woman for all her help, the lombax and human soon picked out and paid for a few casual outfits each before Leaving the store with Clank in tow and continuing down the street with their remaining bagged purchases in hand.

The two Megacorp commandos couldn't have looked more different than they had but half an hour before; the couple virtually unrecognisable thanks to their change in attire. Ratchet had gone for a smart-casual look with black jeans and a blue short-sleeved shirt with the top few buttons left undone; a pair of light grey converse style shoes and mirrored aviators perched atop his head completing the ensemble. Ellen on the other hand had chosen skinny jeans and a matching mid-riff baring denim jacket left open with rolled up sleeves; a plain white tee worn underneath and tan short-heeled ankle boots that wouldn't hinder her mobility in an emergency.

After a few twists and turns down the commercial district's winding streets, and Ellen's stomach starting to complain as much as the lombax whose hand she still held, the three finally found a small restaurant to grab some late lunch. The establishment in question was run by a catering robot and her novalian chef husband; the couple specialising in a broad selection of cross species cuisine, including inorganic meals for non-biological life forms. With the midday rush having already dissipated the trio had no problem finding a table; electing to sit near the restaurant's floor length tinted glass facade that gave an uninterrupted view of the still bustling street outside and giving them a chance to relax while they contemplated what to order.

Looking over the menu with her Wrist Com's translator working overtime to decipher the blocky text, Ellen couldn't help but wonder at just how strangely familiar the advertised dishes were to that found on Earth. She hadn't really thought about it at the time - both during her stint in Solana and here in Bogon - but numerous instances of food, clothing, appliances, and lord knows what else the human had encountered during the time spent on dozens of planets were far too close to that of her home world for it to be coincidental. Or maybe it was and she was just over thinking things. A majority of the species in the wider galactic community were humanoid after all, and the chances that at least some of them would share some similarities to humanity physically and culturally were statistically higher than one might think. The culinary coincidences and mysteries of the universe could wait for another day though; right now the human was far too hungry to care.

After thinking it over, Ellen opted for a novalian specialty known as galash noveau; a dish very similar to lasagne at first glance with its pasta layers sandwiching together a combination of rich sauces and mixed greens that was topped with melted cheese. Where it differed however was in the final presentation; the contents somehow draped across what looked like a half-cooked chicken as a base layer and served with a side of salad. Ratchet on the other hand Went for a more traditional barbeque rib steak with mashed potatoes and some sort of blue tinged broccoli-like vegetables, while Clank stuck with a small bowl of nickel-plated washers since he wasn't particularly famished.

With the attendant waitress having taken their orders and deposited the trio's beverage of choice, Ellen took a long draft of her naxa juice and set it down with a contented sigh before giving the other two members of their old team a fond smile. "So, now that we're all together again, what have I missed out on this last year?"

Ratchet had already gone over the aftermath of Drek's defeat with the human shortly after they had escaped the thief's flying lab above Aranos, but Clank was better able to fill her in on the events occurring in the months beyond. The redhead was surprised and more than a little flattered to hear just how highly the citizens of Solana thought of them and their efforts to save the galaxy, although the idea of people continuously mistaking her for a markazian was starting to wear thin.

More concerning however was the virtual disappearance of the blarg fleets along with a majority of their people into the uncharted depths of dark space. What if they were biding their time and preparing for a second attempt at their deceased leader's mad scheme? What if they somehow stumbled across her own galaxy, and subsequently Earth? They had already dispatched a probe to her home planet before after all, so what was stopping them from following through? Thankfully Clank reassured the worried human that the precise coordinates of Earth had likely been lost with Drek's death, and that the chances of any species stumbling across such an isolated pre-spacefaring society like hers again were statistically improbable to the nth degree.

For her part, Ellen regaled the pair with her attempts to reintegrate into human society after having her eyes opened to the wider galactic community, and how hard it had been to return to the mundanity of normal life after spending the previous three days fighting for hers. Ratchet felt a building sense of pride and warmth in his chest for the girl he'd loved, lost, and subsequently found again the longer he listened to what she had gone through both physically and mentally. Despite having to deal with the probing tendrils of the human authorities, her brother's funeral, and being separated by possibly thousands of light-years with no way of knowing whether they would see each other again, Ellen still hadn't given up hope; that fiery sense of inner strength and sheer determination he had long associated with her not diminishing one bit.

With their food soon arriving the conversation died down and the three ate in companionable silence, bar for the human and robot berating their lombax friend for his sorely lacking table manners as he practically inhaled his steak. Though she felt just as ravenous by now, Ellen had the presence of mind to savour her meal and was thoroughly glad she did once she took the first bite of her galash noveau; the blend of differing tastes and textures from the numerous varied layers combining to form a wonderful sensation that had her coming back for more.

All too soon everyone had finished, a sigh of content escaping the two commandos lips as they leaned back in their seats and observed the darkening hue of sky outside as the sun came down from its zenith and evening began to settle upon Megapolis. Once the meal had been paid for and his organic companions had the chance to stretch out their tired muscles, Clank led the trio out of the restaurant and back onto the now significantly less crowded street outside in search of a place to stay for the night.

With their penthouse suite burnt out they had briefly considered saving money and simply heading back to their ships, but had abandoned the idea almost immediately considering the amount of back pain that was liable to produce from not being able to sleep lying down. Considering time was on their side for once though and money wasn't that tight right now, it was decided that spending a few bolts to have a proper bed and a good night's rest rather than roughing it like last time would be worth it.

By the time they had found a suitable hotel after navigating the ever darkening streets, night had finally fallen and with it came a pale moon peeking through a clouded sky. Halseys House hotel and bar wasn't exactly a palatial establishment but neither was it rundown; the lobby flanked by potted spiky plants and minimalist furniture with faux wood trim. The bored looking receptionist on duty informed them that they only had a single room left with a double bed; giving the three an odd look along with the key card once Ellen had paid the requisite number of bolts before shrugging and turning back to her magazine as the three made their way to a nearby elevator. Wasn't any of her business what they got up to, just so long as they didn't break anything.

Once they had reached their room on the third floor and the human had swiped the card through the digital lock, she and her two companions soon discovered that the room itself was relatively small but functional; roughly divided between a combined living space/kitchenette area and two separately partitioned areas that held a cramped bathroom and bedroom respectively. With Clank pulling himself up onto the two-seater couch in front of the room's relatively small HV and Ratchet dropping off their bagged purchases, Ellen grabbed a few things from the lombax's arms and decided to hit the shower while heatly declining his offer to 'give her a hand.'

Locking the door with a flustered huff, the red-headed girl paused once she caught sight of the futuristic shower before her and realised she didn't actually know how the hell it worked. The multi-species shower unit was pretty much a cylindrical tube with frosted glass much like those found on Earth, but with multiple fixed showerheads situated far above a holographic temperature control panel and a slightly tapered floor surrounding a sunken central drain.

Settling upon the time honoured tradition of poking buttons until something works, Ellen soon found that the shower cycle could be set to include a combined shampoo and body gel with the water spray cascading from the showerhead; which made sense considering it was meant for fur-covered species as well. That was likely the reason for the final unexpected feature as well once she had rinsed herself off; hidden fans in the ceiling and floor flaring into life and blow drying her body with warm air within seconds.

Feeling a damn sight better and strangely tingly all over once she was done, Ellen re-donned her underwear and slipped into the baggy t-shirt she'd purchased earlier that would serve as her temporary pyjamas. Snagging a comb from the small pile of items she'd brought into the bathroom with her, the redhead attempted to tame her hair to an acceptable level before scrubbing her teeth; unlocking the door when she'd finished and stepping back into the main living space with her bundled clothing tucked under one arm.

"Bathroom's free if anyone want's it..." Noticing the distinct lack of her favourite lombax in the immediate area, Ellen turned a questioning gaze upon the lone robot still sat where she's seen him last. "Where's Ratchet got to?"

Clank looked up at the sound of her voice from where he was still perched on the couch, turning his attention away from the holovision science show he'd been watching on low volume so as not to disturb anyone. "Thank you Ellen, perhaps I shall take an oil bath myself should time permit. Ratchet is currently in the bedroom making the necessary preparations to sleep, I believe he was waiting for you to finish."

The human thanked him and rubbed his helm affectionately before padding bare foot towards the only other door in the hotel room, only to pause with her fingers poised above the release button once a sudden realisation crossed her mind. "Actually, where are you going to sleep? We've only got one bed..."

"I believe Ratchet intended for you to share since you both require a restful night's sleep," Clank replied with a cordial nod. "As for myself, I shall keep watch in the event that any unsavoury individuals attempt to assail you while vulnerable. I... have had quite enough sleep, and shall not require any for... some time."

Ellen thought of arguing against him, but faltered at the hesitant tone in Clank's voice. Being kidnapped had clearly affected the little silver robot a lot more than he had previously let on, and though the human longed to help him get over the traumatic experience she wasn't sure how. "Well... if you need anything, anything at all, just rouse me up and We'll come running. Goodnight, Clank."

"Goodnight, Ellen."

Slipping inside the bedroom with one last concerned glance at their mutual friend, Ellen closed the door behind and turned around to see Ratchet pause in the middle of getting changed to shoot her an appreciative grin. "Hey babe, that's a... interesting choice of nightwear you got there."

"Better than nothing," Ellen responded with a shrug, subconsciously hugging her arms around her stomach. "It's not like I got a chance to pack my pyjamas when Fizzwidget plucked me off Earth."

"Yeah, I guess that's true. Although..." The lombax trailed off with a mischievous look in his eye as he turned to face her fully; now only clad in a pair of boxers clung to his golden furred frame. "I wouldn't have minded seeing the 'nothing' option myself."

Ellen's face flushed at the insinuation, an indignant huff escaping her lips while discreetly letting her own eyes better appreciate his body in return. "You would fuzz ball; first thing you did when we met was strip me down to my damn underwear."

Ratchet held up his hands placatingly. "Hey, I said I was sorry... a lot... Y'know, right after you stopped tryin' to kill me with my own wrench." His features sobered as he dropped the teasing in favour of crossing the distance between them, taking one of her hands in his own and gazing up at the girl he loved. "Seriously, I was just messing around; I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. If you want, you can have the bed and I'll sleep on the couch."

A smooth-skinned appendage wrapped around the small of his back, pulling the lombax closer to the taller redhead while she sighed faintly. "Like hell you are. Clank's camped out there till morning, and if you think I'm spending the night alone when I've only just got you back then you've got another thing coming." Ellen fondly nuzzled the fur atop his head, breathing in the comforting and familiar scent before slowly exhaling. "It's just... I don't know! I mean, I know we've slept together before- not like that!" she quickly added at the bemused look on his face. "It's just that... this feels a lot more... intimate, and I don't know if I'm ready for-"

The lombax halted her nervous babbling with an extended finger on her lips, using his other hand to make soothing motions on the human's back in an effort to calm her down. "Hey now, just relax. It's not like we're gonna do anything you don't want to do before you're ready. Everything at your own pace, remember?"

She nodded silently with a red tinge still decorating her cheeks and a faint smile at the reminder of their heart-to-heart talk on Orxon seemingly a lifetime ago; not trusting her voice right now and honestly enjoying his relaxing ministrations far too much to do otherwise as he gently led her to the bed and pulled back the covers. "Come on, let's just go to bed. To sleep I mean," he added quickly, "not… y'know, unless you really want to that is."

Ellen couldn't help but chuckle at the golden furred feline suddenly tripping over his words, lying down on her side with the soft duvet drawn up to her neck while watching him circle the bed to climb in from the other side. "Perhaps next time. Right now I really am tired, and we could both do with a decent night's sleep."

"True," he replied, making sure the covers encompass them both before settling in to face her mere inches away. "It's been a helluva day."

"For all of us," the human agreed with a hint of sadness in her voice. "I'm... a little worried about Clank. He doesn't really show it, but I know being kidnapped has affected him more than he's letting on."

Ratchet gently laid a hand on her cheek, leaning in to give her a chaste kiss before pulling back to gaze into those worried ice-blue eyes of hers. "Yeah, I know, and it's not something that can be fixed overnight." He trailed his fingers down past her neck and along her side; a soft-skinned hand reaching out to grasp his own which he gave a reassuring squeeze. "But Clank's our friend, and when he's ready to talk it over we'll be there for him; no matter what. Now stop worrying and get some sleep, got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

The redhead smiled gently back at him, and he couldn't help but realise just how lucky he was to have met such a wonderful girl; both inside and out. That cute freckled face had seen him at his best and his very worst; always seeming to do or say the right thing to keep him from going over the edge of reason. That time after Qwark had betrayed them was a dark period for the lombax, and there had been several times where he could have given in to his urge to just say 'screw it' and seek revenge at the expense of everyone else. He often wondered how Ellen had ever managed to put up with the crap he'd put her through with his clouded judgement back then, but boy was he glad she did.

In but a few short days had captured his heart; the two going from acquaintances to partners, and finally something so much deeper. Losing her just when things were looking up and they could finally be together after saving Veldin from Drek's Deplanetizer nearly killed him inside; without Clank and the knowledge that the girl he'd come to love was still out there somewhere, Ratchet honestly didn't know how he would have been able to carry on living day after day. One thing was for certain though; through some twist of fate she had returned to him, and this time he wasn't going to let her go, no matter what.

Ratchet's pearly claw-tipped hands pulled her flush against him, his arms snaking around the small of her back while her softer appendages mirrored his actions with his waist considering their height differences. No words were needed to describe how one felt about the other, the look in each other's eyes were evidence enough as they snuggled closely together. The lombax's prehensile tail wrapped possessively around Ellen's bare thigh while she simply nuzzled into crook of his neck and her fingers tousled his warm golden fur; their legs becoming intertwined as they sought to become that bit closer with the one they loved so very much.

"Good night, fuzz ball."

"G'night, babe. See ya in the morning."

And so they lay there together, wrapped in each other's embrace. Relaxed for perhaps the first time since they had been reunited, and content to let sleep claim them both.

Megapolis, Endako

Bogon Galaxy

G2.17.082 Galactic calendar

6:09am local time

The golden light of dawn slowly began to rise above the horizon of Megapolis, casting its brilliance upon the shimmering city below and signalling to its residents the start of a new day. As those whose employment demanded it began their daily rituals and headed off to work in droves while others returned home from their night shifts, there were others still who continued to slumber on. Through the window of a small hotel situated on the edge of in the city's commercial district, the sun's rays peeked through the cracks between the blinds and fell upon the peacefully sleeping form of a certain red-headed human, causing her to stir.

Some lateral animal part of the girl's brain registered the tendrils of light playing across her face but ignored them in favour of snuggling into her furry pillow. Everything was so soft, warm, and fuzzy; her arms subconsciously squeezing the source of her comfort while breathing a contented sigh at the faintly vibrating thrum that briefly intensified before settling down once more as it coursed through her body.

...

Hang on, since when had her pillow vibrated like a... like a cat...

Ellen slowly began to shift beneath the covers with a groan, bleary eyes cracking open and a cavernous yawn escaping her mouth even as her mind tried to make sense of the input it was receiving. There was definitely something furry pressed up against her, golden yellow with dark tiger stripes and emanating an achingly familiar musky scent that jolted her awake and kicked her brain into high gear as the previous day's memories flooded in.

For a briefly terrifying moment the redhead had thought she was back in her shared flat in Glasgow, that her time in the Bogon galaxy had been but a dream. But feeling the lombax she had missed for so long pressed flushly against her chest calmed Ellen's hammering heart; breathing a contented sigh as she idly ran her fingers through his luxuriant chest fur. At some point in the night Ratchet had disentangled himself from her and turned over; the human ending up spooning his shorter form with a leg between his own and his tail still curled around her upper thigh with the pommel poking underneath her tee. She couldn't help but giggle at Ratchet's stuttering purr as she continued her ministrations, working her way down to rhythmically stroke his belly much like one would a Earth-borne domesticated cat and eliciting such a similar response.

Of course it couldn't last forever, no matter how much she would have liked to forget about the world for one day and just lay with the lombax she loved while basking in his warmth. They had a job to do, and according to her Wrist Com just over four and a half hours left if they wanted to get to Barlow on time. "Ratchet... Ratchet~ Come on fuzz ball, time to wake up."

"Mwuh..." he replied coherently, gradually shifting into a state of half awareness as the human gently tried to rouse him. Stifling a yawn, Ratchet eventually cracked open a brilliant emerald eye and turning over to face the amused blue orbs of the one who had woken him up at this ungodly hour. "Ugh... Ellen? What time is it?"

"Time to get up fuzz ball. Now come on, if we've going to make it to that Desert Riders meet on time we need to be heading out within the next hour."

The lombax merely groaned as Ellen promptly slipped out from underneath the covers and out of his grasp, a feeling intensified when she opened the blinds and allowed that accursed sun to shine down fully upon his face. Suffice to say he wasn't a morning person, and It was way too early to be dealing with this kind of crap. Stretching out while arching his back in a very feline way, Ratchet grudgingly pulled himself out of bed and started to get dressed as his red-headed girl did the same on her side while facing away; inadvertently giving him a view of the long healed and faded scars on her back from their last adventure together.

Of course he couldn't resist one last chance to feel that soft pale skin while they were still alone; his tail nonchalantly caressing the back of a bare leg as he walked past her to retrieve one of their bags, culminating in the tufted pommel brushing across her pert rear. Having been bent down at the time to retrieve her jeans, the unexpected sensation caused Ellen to bolt upright with a stuttering gasp; snapping her narrow-eyed gaze and faux scowl towards the culprit whose own emerald green orbs twinkled mischievously right back with an accompanying smirk.

Two could play at that game though, and as he sauntered off to grab his Wrist Com, Ratchet almost stumbled in surprise when smooth fingers ran along his sensitive tail from the base to the tufted tip; whipping his head around to see the human giving him a knowing grin and a wink that had he couldn't help but return. If this kind of teasing kept up, then sleep would be the last thing either of them would be experiencing for the nights to come.

Exiting the bedroom once they had tidied up and made sure nothing was left behind, the two rested commandos soon found a similarly awake Clank waiting expectantly for them in the main living area and together they made their way down to the hotel's lobby in order to check out. Retracing their steps from the previous day, Ratchet and Ellen stopped by the family run cazar bakery they had originally passed by and bought some picolot-cinimmon swirls for breakfast that were downed with fresh coffee and tea respectively thanks to a street vendor while Clank declined anything. Feeling a lot better for the caffeine induced pick-me-up, the three soon reversed course and made their way to Debonair's Boutique in the hope that the exuberant woman had finished modifying their armour and would actually be there waiting for them as promised in spite of the early hour.

Thankfully she was; ten minutes stood rapping on the glass-fronted doors yielding a frazzled looking but otherwise beaming valkyrie who quickly ushered them in. Garbed exactly as she had yesterday with her dress askew, bags under her eyes and apparently riding a caffeine buzz if her twitching gestures were anything to go by, it was pretty clear that Debby had pulled an all-nighter in her effort to finish their commando suits in time. Ellen resolved to pay the woman back with interest for being so dedicated to helping them out and was about to discuss doing so when Debby halted the procession in front of two raised pedestals covered by silken sheets near the back of the shop; halting all conversation with a flick of her hand before grasping the covers and yanking them off with a grand flourish.

"Et voila; your armour transformed!" Debonair postured with one hand on her cocked hip while the other swept over her displayed handiwork. "So, tell me darlings, what do you think?"

At first glance the figure hugging jumpsuits looked no different from before aside form the addition of a tubular neck guard, but upon closer inspection revealed a number of subtle changes that would help improve the two commando's survivability. The basic composite ballistic-weave material was supplemented by a temperature regulating protective gel layer that adhered directly to the body, helping to further dissipate the energy from physical impacts and incoming weapons fire. The lightweight segmented chest piece had been replaced entirely with a reworked design comprised of a microfibre honeycomb structure that momentarily stiffened when struck but was otherwise far more flexible than the original, while the knee and arm padding had been replaced entirely with actual armoured plating made from the same reactive material.

Their gloves and boots however were coated in a much thinner variant of the microfibre mesh due to the risk of breaking bones and losing mobility if the wearer struck someone or jumped from a fair height but otherwise remained unchanged, just like the associated helmet and utility belt. All in all, considering how little time the fashionista-come-armourer had to redesign and improve on their original commando suits, she had worked nothing short of a miracle.

"Eet was nozing, mon chérie," Debonair replied to Ellen's expressed gratitude with a tired smile, her lack of sleep finally catching up to her if the barely stifled yawn was anything to go by. "Merely a temporary patch job until I can make somezing truely befitting your nature. Now if you will excuse me, I intend to catch up on my beauty sleep until eet ees time to open for business."

Thanking her for fixing their suits on such notice, Ratchet and Ellen paid the flamboyant Valkyrie for services rendered and promised to visit again soon before heading back out onto the street and making best speed towards the nearest air cab pick up point. Once they had caught one of the automated taxi's and been dropped off back with their ships, the trio clambered into Ratchet's Star Explorer and made best speed back into the quarantine zone to pick up Ellen's Hellfire from the shady yet seemingly reliable arms dealer they had met the previous day.

Pushing the plinth mounted button once they had landed on the observation deck where the merchant in question had last been encountered, they didn't have to wait long until a familiar armoured silver van with burnished orange highlights flew in low to settle down nearby. Moving around to the rear as the engines spooled down, a shifty pair of eyes skimmed across the immediate area from the slit in the reinforced rear door before widening fractionally in recognition as the three came into view.

"Well if it ain't two of my most recent customers, and I see you brought a friend too. Almost didn't think you were comin' back."

Being in a hurry as they were, Ellen got right to the point. "Got a little tied up, and right now we're on a tight schedule. Did you manage to finish modifying my Hellfire?"

If the van-bound vendor was offended by her brusqueness then he certainly didn't show it; seemingly nodding judging by the slight bobbing of his eyes while the larger slot at the base of the rear door slid open. "Took some doing, but yeah, I got the job done." A dull clunk preceded the appearance of the man's handiwork in the gap below, an audible hint of pride in his voice as he continued. "Here, take a look for yourself. Of course, I assume you have the... requisite fee for my unique services."

Stooping down to pick up the modified weapon, Ellen was pleasantly surprised by the result now cradled in her arms. A good two thirds of the now elongated bullpup carbine was simply a stretched out version of her original Hellfire, sporting the same dull reddish paint scheme, blocky magazine, and the prominent carry handle running along a majority of its length. But that's where the similarities ended; a series of additional vents running along the flat edges of the barrel leading up to the trigger guard where a small release button had been installed just above the pistol grip to allow manual cooling, along with a digital temperature warning gauge that quickly linked to the existing display in her helmet. The reason for this was of course was the new and improved carbine's most prominent feature; a jacketed secondary barrel running under the first that was linked with a pair of industrial looking tubes and a prominent yellow button set around halfway along its length.

The newly installed grenade launcher, as the mystery merchant explained it, fed off of the waste heat produced by sustained automatic fire and converted it into a contained charge of volatile plasma; able to be arced through the air and adhering to whatever it struck before exploding once it reached critical mass a few seconds later. A maximum of five 'plasma grenades could safely be stored at any given time without risking the entire assembly having a meltdown; any excess heat being dumped either automatically until such time a spare slot was available for another charge. A quick field test on a nearby light fixture confirmed the newly christened Reaver Carbine was up to the human's standards, and she happily paid in full before thanking the anonymous arms dealer for services rendered.

"Pleasure doin' business with you. If either of you need any weapon modifications or... legally ambiguous upgrades, you know where to find me."

So saying, the shadowy merchant soon took off for parts unknown; our band of misfits soon following suit once they had dropped by their original landing zone to pick up Ellen's ship. Ratchet kept his engines running hot while his partner scrambled into her own Star Explorer, running through the pre-flight sequence as quickly as possible before lifting off to settle on the lombax's port wing. With the coordinates entered into their navigational computers, the two Megacorp fighters soon broke through the atmosphere and set course for planet Barlow at full speed; intent on reaching the supposed Thugs-4-Less biker meet before the two commandos only lead on finding the thief slipped away.

Of course if they hadn't been in such a hurry then they might have seen a certain pink infobot with a distinct dent on her helm frantically rushing towards them as they took off; moving as quickly as her little anti-gravity thrusters would go and frantically waving her tiny servos through the air in an effort to catch their attention. By the time she got to their now vacated landing zone however it was far too late, her shoulders slumping and saddened cyan optics staring up at the rapidly disappearing vessels with a building sense of frustration.

Twice now she had been thwarted in her efforts to meet the robot of her dreams through circumstances beyond her control; had she possessed legs then the little femme would have already been jumping up and down while throwing the mother of all hissy fits at losing out once again. But anatomy wouldn't allow it, and so she settled instead for dedicating her not inconsiderable processing power to marshalling her resources and tracking down Clank once again. Although it might take days, or even weeks, she was willing to be patient; for it would all be worth it in the end when she finally got a chance to meet her long time crush face to face. To tell him how much he meant to her, and hope that he would reciprocate her feelings in kind.

It was only a matter of time.

Still can't say I'm 100% with how this turned out, but I'm not sure why… Aside from the fluffiness and exploring the dynamics of Ratchet and Ellen's rekindling relationship, we have a bit more world building here to a degree and what I intend to eventually be a reoccurring original character as well.

Debonair is partially the result of a suggestion by ReginaDC21 almost a year ago with regards to finding a way to supply Ellen with some new outfits and armour for the rest of the series, and she just sort of grew from there. Rest assured though, the improved commando suits are just the tip of the iceberg; I intend for at least one or two more upgraded armour sets for both Ratchet and Ellen before the end of this story.

There are still a few more slots left for Thugs-4-Less mini bosses by the way if anyone's interested. If you have any ideas then please let me know via PM or review; along with a short description of physical characteristics, persona, and weapons choice. Any character pitches that are used will be fully acknowledged and credited.

Until next time, please review and check out my other stories once they're posted and/or updated.

Thanks for reading

- RevenantReaper337