Well...It's been three months. And from the date of this post, happy belated Thanksgiving everyone. And now, I'll repeat what I told natethedragon when I sent him the chapter for approval.
THIS CHAPTER TOOK TOO DAMN LONG TO MAKE!
I apologize for the long wait, especially because nothing real significant, happens in this one, and it's also an average length (6,000 words or so). Luckily, there were some factor to the delay I'm willing to explain.
-First, I was a god-awful procrastinator, wasting months away playing games and working. Days I should've wrote, I didn't, and I'm shameful for it. I could've gotten this chapter out alot sooner.
-Lastly, I spent quite a bit of time just trying to figure out the direction from here on. Now that Ratchet and his friends will have to deal with two different enemies, and the fact I have some pretty awesome scenes with the UNE, I thought about how I could only fit that into four more planets (Yeah, this game was extremly short, even for this story's standards). SO, of course i have an idea in mind. It will however guarantee backtracking to previously visited planets. So first, Ratchet and Jordan will end up dealing with the Technomites for these next two chapters. Then, they'll backtrack to the same locations to deal with the UNE. I've realized alot of it will be improvisation and I hope the writing is still entertaining to you guys. THEN, for the finale, I'm planning on maybe having a mixture of both the UNE, and the remains of the Technomites. Due to spoiler reason, I won't say any further.
But here you are with chapter 7. I hope it's worth the wait and looks past my arrogance :(
:)
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-Yeah I kinda knew Colonel Brown couldn't be trusted this is a great chapter: Thank you for your support and seeing the snake and the grass. Sad that Humans always have to resort to war to get the simplest things in life :)
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Disclaimer:
Ratchet and Clank, associated characters, locations, weapons, etc. belong to Insomniac Games. Some real-world companies and organizations belong to their respective owners. I only own the right to some characters, weapons, and events introduced in this story.
"Ratchet!? Ratchet, wake up!" with Lawrence navigating through deep space, Jordan placed Ratchet in the driver's seat, his entire body looming over the furball. He slapped his face side to side to wake him from his slumber. Michael sat in the passenger side while Sophia and Clank crammed their bodies towards the backside. They worried about their friend, and it felt like hours since they escaped the outpost, despite Lawrence assuring them it's only been several minutes.
"I don't think slapping him is helping!" Michael interjected.
"Got a better idea?! You're a doctor, do something!" Jordan snapped back.
"In case you haven't realized, I'm a HUMAN DOCTOR!"
"Please, we must all stay calm," Clank spoke through the noise. "We must focus on finding Luna; she could be the only lead to stopping the Technomites." his plan was logical and obvious enough to stop their bickering. The entire ship fell silent, everyone collecting their thoughts. "You.." Jordan broke the silence. "You said you had coordinates?" he asked Clank, the Robot nodding his head.
"Well, where are we headed?"
"Pardon me," the Robot climbed around Michaels's body and towards the dashboard, shaking the vessel. The Robot entered the number sequence into the keyboard. As Lawrence took off to their next destination, Jordan worried about the unconscious Lombax, fearing the worst.
Filrerock Plateau
Planet Challax
1:07pm local time
Through the window, the planet was barren, and the rocks were tall and sharp. Jordan worried about scratching the paint of his vessel, but a single landing pad answered his prayers. Jordan, Sophia, Clank, and Michael climbed out of the cockpit, leaving Ratchet inside. While Sophia and Michael stretched their bodies, Jordan and Clank scouted the perimeter for life, an endeavor that would last 2.3 seconds.
"Nothing. Not a single damn thing insight."
Jordan stared into the empty plains of silence. The atmosphere reminded him of Veldin, with its beige skies and bright yellow sand. But even Veldin was forgiving enough to harbor life. The blistering heat from the twin suns made life on this rock next to impossible, making Veldin look like a paradise by comparison. Sophia was somewhat mesmerized by the twin shadows that cast her body, but her already moist brows outlived her happiness.
A barren planet with little to no life seemed like the perfect hiding spot for a secret species.
"Are you sure this is the right place? All I see is sand and dirt." Jordan asked Lawrence.
"These are the exact coordinates as requested, sir." the AI replied.
Clank analyzed their surroundings. There were lifeforms but had no visual readings. With nothing in the distance, he looked towards the ground. How would they ever find these mysterious creatures? There, a small object caught his optics.
"Peculiar," he said aloud.
"What?" Michael asked.
"I believe this, may help us." he showed their savior to the trio.
A hovercar!
"Weird," Sophia said; They moved their eyes close. What Jordan's known to be the size of a small sedan was just the size of a raisin. The entire picture was evident in that instant. How can a galaxy of intelligent beings know of an advanced race; If they can't even see them?
He knew their next course of action but feared the journey ahead. He equipped the shrink ray in his hand, hating the idea of being shrunk for an extensive amount of time. Tiny locks were one thing, but endless valleys with fauna, harmless or not? The concept of becoming worm food was enough to draw second thoughts. But there was a more significant threat out there. The UNE, Earth, the Human Race; it would all have to be for the greater good.
"I don't know, kid." Michael was hesitant.
"Yeah." Jordan exhaled. "Me neither." Clank helped the boy enter Michael's height specifications. Once Clank's height was set, they all stepped back, Jordan pointing the device towards the medic. He shrunk the Human down to size, then Clank, and finally himself. "Jesus-" Michael said, clasping his mouth with his right hand, hearing the high pitch in his voice.
"I know it sucks, but what else can we do?" Jordan turned towards the towering child next to them, the girl crawling on all fours for a closer view. As Michael and Clank walked towards the hovercar, Jordan pondered a thought, staring up towards his vessel. Even with Sophia by his side, he was too concerned with Ratchet's safety to leave him alone. "Clank?" he called the Robot over, asking for a helping hand. The Robot configured the device to shrink Lawrence down. And with the press of a few buttons, was able to shrink the ship, and Ratchet with it.
"You guys should take the car while I use Lawrence to scout ahead," he said, walking towards the vessel.
"Hey? What about me?" Sophia said, her booming voice echoing above.
"Good idea." Jordan's watched the Robot enough to configure Sophia's height into the device. He shrunk the Lombax to size; she had no choice but to join them. "Hey!" she yelled. Jordan smirked at her tone. "Not funny!" she shoved the boy aside.
...
Despite his words, Lawrence was fully capable of scouting the land without the need for Jordan. The Human knew that and used it as an excuse to tend to the Lombax. Sophia was in the passenger seat, watching the boy pat the Lombax lightly on both cheeks. Jordan hated seeing him in his condition. The UNE was responsible for this;
But Jordan only blamed himself.
...
Ratchet fought hard, the machine gripping his body like he was an action figure. He exhausted all of his ammo and only left various marks in the hard metal. These difficult moments gave him seconds to observe his killer. Even through all the paint and scarring, he noticed something awfully familiar with the Mech. The skeleton bared a striking resemblance to the same armor Jordan wore in Gettysburg as if they brought it back to life. And was now being used to squeeze the life out of the Lombax. With no ammo and out of options, all hope seemed lost. The Human brought a large revolver from behind, pointing the barrel towards the furball. As he pulled the hammer back, its fingers depressed the trigger; Ratchet clenched his eyes shut.
POW!
Ratchet slowly opened his eyes. What should've resonated from the pistol instead echoed from a distance. An unforeseen projectile screamed through the air and struck the glass dome; Its interior painted dark red. The body careened towards the ground, releasing the Lombax. Ratchet landed on his side, rolling along the floor.
The Mech was no more, vanishing into a flock of butterflies. Whatever kind of nightmare this was, he had to escape and be there for his friends. He got up from his spot and rushed to Jordan's position. He was in critical shape, bathing in his own blood. As he moved to his side, the ground around him began to quake. The metal surface he stood on began to tilt down, plunging Jordan towards the darkness below. Ratchet slid down the side, using his hands to slow his speed. He fell into the black void, wondering when this nightmare would end.
For what felt like ages, a solid surface could be seen below. Ratchet landed on the ground, using his left hand to cushion the fall. Through the thick black, god-like rays shined above him. A single door appeared in the distance. Ratchet had his doubts but had no other option. He ran towards the door, hoping it doesn't vanish like before.
"Ratchet!?" Jordan's voice echoed through the void, Ratchet getting closer to the door. "Ratchet, wake up!" he heard again.
"I don't think slapping him is helping!" another voice said, different from others he's heard before.
"Got a better idea!? You're a doctor, do something!"
The Lombax was mere inches from the wooden frame. He grasped his hand on the knob and yanked the door open. Like before, the mangled body of Jordan Thompson stared him in the eyes. It was pure silence between the two beings until a door suddenly appeared behind the Lombax. The door shot open by itself, revealing the boy on his own two knees, unscathed. He looked distraught, but so was the Human in front of him. Ratchet took one last glance at the bloody corpse before rushing to the real Thompson, slamming the door shut.
He took a moment to catch his breath before looking down towards the Human. Through the silence, he could hear him whimper. "W-Why did this happen?" he let out. "I...I should've listened to my conscience. They weren't ready, none, of them. And It's all my damn fault." Jordan kept his head to the ground, overlooking the Lombax beside him. Ratchet kneeled down by his side, wrapping his arm around the Humans right shoulder, rubbing the appendage for comfort.
"Hey, it's not your fault. It's Luna and those stupid Technomites. They'll pay for what they've done, I promise." he spoke softly.
"W-What?" the Human looked towards the Lombax. Ratchet gave a warm smile to brighten his expression. Before the Human could speak, a door appeared beside them. Without warning, Jordan yanked the Lombax through the frame.
His vision fell to darkness.
...
"Ratchet?" a voice echoed through his eardrums. Slowly, the Lombax opened his eyes, his pupils clarifying his view. "You're okay."
There, worried out of his mind, Jordan Thompson loomed over his body, with Sophia beside him. As his vision cleared, not a single wound was present on the Human. No blood, no holes. However, a swollen set of lips could be seen with a streak of dry blood.
"Jordan?" he said, rising from his spot. "What the he-" Jordan embraced the Lombax in an instant, setting his mind at ease. As Ratchet wrapped his arms around his body, he peered towards his surroundings. Sophia's smile was a welcoming sight, and he felt the leather cushions against his back. Meanwhile, the scenery moved around them; They were inside Jordan's ship, and the only beings in sight were the Human and young Lombax.
"What the heck happened?" he finished. "And why do I sound like this?" he instantly noticed his squeaky tone.
Through the short joyride, Jordan explained the events that led to this very moment. He told him about Luna's betrayal and the surgery that was done on him. He pointed to the stitching on the side of his belly, fueling slight rage in the Lombax. He told him about their escape and the fact he had to carry his fat carcass through the entire ordeal. The minor insult granted Jordan a firm slap to his cheek but saw the Lombax chuckle just as quickly. However, through his honesty, housed utter deceit. He never talked about Anthony Brown and the UNE's involvement and hoped to tackle one problem at a time, starting with the Technomites. He never even mentioned the Human medic following below, but did catch the Lombax up to their current situation, including the reason behind their squeaky voices.
Ratchet took a moment to take the info in. "Clones? Of me!?" Ratchet asked.
"Yeah," Jordan said.
"But why me?"
"I don't know man, that's what we're gonna find out. Now just lay back and rest. Michael's not really sure what effect those drugs had on you."
"Who?" Ratchet asked.
"Just lay back." Jordan pushed the Lombax back into the chair, climbing back into the pilot's seat.
TechnoTopia
Planet Challax
1:35pm local time
Size Matters
"Whoa." Jordan, Ratchet, and Sophia awed. They approached what appeared to be a large city, with tall buildings that stretched to the skies above. Large walls encircled the city, with hulking turrets stationed at every corner. Small cars flew around the city, transporting its civilians from one place to another, and its clear glass reflected the sunlight. It all felt just like Metropolis but was only three and a half nanometers tall.
The perfect hideaway!
Lawrence found a suitable landing spot near the hovercar. Jordan and Sophia helped Ratchet out of the cockpit against his stubborn will. Ratchet leaned against the side, just in time to see Clank walk around the side. "Ratchet? Are you alright?" the Robot asked, concerned for his well-being.
"Never better, Clank." he tried to be strong, trying hard to stand on his own two feet.
"Yeah, right," Jordan replied, beside the Lombax in case he falls.
"Just give me 3 seconds," he whined. Jordan backed away and let the Lombax try to act strong. He pushed one hand off the ship and could properly stand, the disorientation fading away. Now stable, the Lombax look down to Clank, ready to offer his hand. Only, he stopped, noticing the deep black hole where his right optic should be. "Clank." Ratchet's concern was apparent.
"We must not worry about my being, Ratchet. I am a robot after all." he walked to the Lombax, grabbing his hand, the furball pulling him over his back.
"It's not that, it's just..."
"Oh, the kitty has feelings for him after all!" he exclaimed; Ratchet was far from amused. Clank's right, though. It's you, we should be worried about." Jordan reiterated.
"Well, I have a major headache, but other than that, I feel okay." he was cocksure of himself; Jordan hoped he was truthful.
"We better meet up with Michael then." the Human walked around the ship.
"See? You just said it again." Ratchet pointed to the boy.
...
Clank was confused on why Ratchet was unaware of Michael's presence, but nonetheless, Jordan introduced the Human medic to the Lombax, titling him as their "Savior" from the outpost. Ratchet was more than nervous about meeting a new Human face, but Jordan's confidence was enough to ease his worries. Before heading off into the city, Jordan left Sophia behind by the ship, helping her inside the cockpit.
"I never get to do anything around here," she muttered to herself.
"You're much safer here, Sophie." Jordan heard.
"I can handle it." she sat inside the pilot's seat, a large frown across her face.
"You're not just being left here. Your job is tooo..." that's exactly what the Human was doing, no matter what he would try to say to relax her. "Guard Lawrence. Yeah, that's exactly what you have to do." He closed the cockpit, jumping down from the nose of the vessel. As they made their way into the city, Jordan looked back one last time, catching the girl's lips moving, but couldn't hear. Three years ago, Sophia would stand by her place with confidence. Now, she just sits in the cockpit with anger. Jordan sighed;
What happened to the cuddle bug he used to know?
Moving down the glass walkway, They met up with the nearby Gadgetron Vendor. There, Ratchet noticed the absence of his E-Phone, struggling to equip his Lacerator. Jordan bought the Lombax a new device with his Quick-Select intact and stocked up on ammo. Afterward, Jordan helped Michael create a Gadgetron account for himself. The medic had no intention to utilize its limited selection of firepower. Instead, Jordan integrated his shotgun into the Quick-Select using the same Techniques from basic training. Before leaving, Ratchet eyeballed Gadgetrons current stock. Despite nothing new, Clank decided to give Ratchet his spare Lacerator. He may not have a new gun, but two pistols were always better than one. Once all three were locked and loaded, they were ready to investigate the miniature city for any whereabouts of Luna.
The only entrance into the city was locked down tight, forcing Jordan into the locking mechanism. First, he was the size of a grain of wheat. Now, he was about to be the size of a paramecium.
"Figures." he pouted.
...
"Ugh, I should've checked Gadgetron for a flashlight." the boy moaned, moving through the darkness.
"What do ya see?" Michael asked through the communicator.
"What do you think I see? I don't have a fucking flashlight!"
"Just making conversation, kid."
"I know, I know." Jordan focused on making it to the end of the circuitry. Through the silence, Jordan heard a low hum in front of him. Suddenly, three red dots appeared, hovering towards him. Jordan had his SMG at the ready. The glare from the light was enough to reveal his threat; Three small drones with propellors on their four sides and stun guns hanging from their chassis.
"What the f..." he was unsure if the Technomites were just wasting resources, or getting smarter.
He assumed the latter as he pulled the trigger. The drones were agile, swerving through the wires and past the bullets. Jordan had to be delicate with his accuracy; he didn't want to compromise the mechanism. He unequipped his gun and held both hands out; A single drone lunged towards his face. The boy's reflexes were quick, grabbing its tiny frame. He used all of his strength to resist the powerful propellors as another moved in from the left. Jordan ducked his head, the taser merely grazing his hair. With all of his strength, he pushed the first drone back, equipping his Vector and shooting before it could react. The third moved in to attack; he ducked once again. While its back was turned, he planted four rounds into its backside. Jordan waited for the last one to close in on his position. And with the proper timing, he destroyed the last drone before it could attack. The lock was finally clear, and his eyes began to adjust.
...
Ratchet and Michael saw the door swing open, Jordan crawling out of the lock. The boy resized himself; heavy breathing ensued. "You okay?" Ratchet asked.
"Other than some pesky malware, never better,"
They walked through the door into a small elevator. Once Ratchet pushed the red button on the floor, they felt the elevator take them down. Once stable, they exited the shaft and into an open corridor. On the other side, a laser gate blocked their way forward. Michael spotted a large terminal on the other side; a guard stood beside it. Ratchet eyeballed its attire; A bright yellow helmet, along with a yellow chest plate with alien writing in the middle. A belt with a ruby insert hugged its waist, and its weapon of choice was a strange baton with a similar ruby center. Jordan was hoping for a stealthier approach, but if scouring the city guns blazing was their only option, it would be the only way to save the Human Race.
"We ready to do this?" Jordan asked, exhaling deeply.
"Suppose so," Michael replied.
"Let's do this." Ratchet said confidently.
Jordan equipped his M249, walking towards the gate. The gap in between lasers was large enough to fit his barrel. When ready, he depressed the trigger, bullets piercing the console. The computer exploded, disabling the gate. As the trooper charged towards them, Michael stepped in to blast the creature away with his shotgun. As they moved through the gate, Jordan caught wind of the rooms around them. It felt similar to an airport back home, with its marble flooring, And large pane windows looking into the city. It became obviously apparent as they walked through reception. A circular conveyor belt moved endless loads of luggage to their left, with rows of metallic chairs stationed next to it. It all felt humble; it was a shame there was more evil to this race than meets the eye. Across the room, another laser gate blocked their path, but the console was inside with them. Jordan saw two shock troopers rush towards the entrance as Michael approached the console, slipping past its defense. "Watch out!" Jordan yelled. Michael retreated back towards the duo while Ratchet stepped up with his dual Lacerators. Somehow, his Lock-On Mod transferred over to the default blaster as he quickly gunned them down without even looking.
The Lombax was joyous that day.
Once the area was clear, Michael used his magic fingers on the console. Ratchet and Jordan approached the lifeless corpses. These troopers stood out from the others, draped in orange and green fabric armor. The green leather cap also had an antenna attached to the brim. And their scrawny legs were enough to support their hulking frame. Their weapon of choice was a cattle prod with a large antenna as the pommel. Technomites seemed to really love antennae to sport it around their entire culture. After a few moments, Michael successfully disabled the gate. Jordan equipped his LMG in case of any surprises, and Ratchet followed. As they were about to turn the corner, a familiar trashcan greeted them at the exit;
Slim Cognito!
"So? Got anything new for us?" Ratchet asked.
"I may have something of interest for your little friend." he gazed towards Jordan Thompson.
"And what would that be." the boy's question would be answered for only two hundred bolts. He gave the creature his pay, more specifically, for an upgrade to his Light Machine Gun. Jordan placed the weapon on the table as Slim Cognito worked his magic. In five seconds flat, he revealed his new gun. It appeared to be micro thrusters attached under the barrel, and a retractable handle could be seen behind the chamber. Jordan reluctantly held the weapon in both hands, gripping the handle with his left hand. He tried pulling the grip out but had strong resistance. With all of his strength, he yanked the handle out, the thrusters simultaneously activating. Only, no flames shot out from the bottom. Instead, it shined a bright blue hue as the gun stood in place. After further examination, the thrusters turned out to be vertical stabilizers similar to what he's seen on Lawrence. And if his intuition was correct, He spent two hundred bolts on a brand new bipod!
"Uh, thanks a lot Slim," he said, doubting the effectiveness of this upgrade; his gun already had superb recoil control.
"Pleasure doing business with you." he replied.
Jordan and Michael stepped outside into the open, but not before Slim convinced Ratchet to buy a new armor set. Michael and Jordan stared towards the Lombax, who was immediately draped with a curtain. "You really do care for that thing," Michael said.
"He has a name, you know." Jordan corrected.
"Yeah, Ratchet, or whatever."
"Yes, I do care. He's cared for me, and I do the same."
"Even if..."
"What?" he questioned, turning his whole body towards him. "I don't know what you take me for, but I never look down on race or species. Human, Lombax, or whatever, everyone in the universe is equal to the one beside them. He's family." a brief pause filled the air.
"Strong words, kid."
"And what about you?"
"What about?"
"You got a loving family back home? Maybe an alien lover I don't know about?"
The medic cracked a smile but would quickly fade as different thoughts filled his mind. "I think you should just worry about your friend right there." he motioned towards the Lombax, stepping out from the curtain with new armor. Its colors were a mix of red and orange, and a streak of fire was painted across the chest plate. Ratchet walked towards the duo, and Jordan listened to the medic's words. "Nice." Jordan complimented the Lombax.
"Eh, better than nothing," he replied, looking down to his own matching shoes. Now that everyone was stocked up, they looked towards the city. It was massive, even for being only nanometers tall. Across the courtyard, a large gate was locked down tight. There was no console insight, and the Raritanium was too thick to blast through even with conventional weapons. They focused on one problem at a time as two small dropships hovered towards them. One ship dropped four shock troopers, while another dispatched two super soldiers. All three began to spread out, with Ratchet equipping his Acid Bomb Glove. The Technomites rushed the two Humans, cattle prods at the ready. At that moment, Jordan knew it was time to test out his new toy. He yanked the handle out from the side of his gun as the bipod engaged. He trained the barrel of the blaster towards the four aliens, squeezing the trigger. Like a stationary minigun, the M249 shredded through the squad with absolutely no recoil. Both Humans now focused on the two soldiers rushing the Lombax. Jordan stood in place while Michael rushed with his shotgun. Ratchet threw two acid pods towards the soldiers, wounding the two. And Michael was quick enough to dispatch the aliens before they could harm the Lombax. "Hm." Jordan cracked; maybe this new attachment would be helpful after all.
They moved across the pavement and towards the gate, staring at the colossal gate. "Any ideas?" Ratchet asked.
"It'd take some heavy firepower to knock this thing down." Michael's words gave Jordan some inspiration. They both heard the boy talk through his E-Phone. "Lawrence, We may need your help for this."
"Right away, sir." within seconds, a loud roar could be heard over their heads. The ship quickly responded as it hovered in front of the gate, firing two rockets at the metal, blowing the barricade to smithereens.
'What would I do without that thing?' Jordan thought, watching the ship fly back to the hovercar.
"Jesus," Michael commented.
"Yeah. I'm proud of it too." Jordan said.
"You're welcome!" Ratchet exclaimed, the boy smirking at his emphasis.
The wide gate closed them into another courtyard, much smaller than the last. Thin grass lined the ground while fresh flora aligned the edge. And in the middle was a humongous Technomite monument of their leader himself.
Emperor Otto Destruct.
However, another locked door caught their eyes, positioned twenty feet above them. No ladder or elevator was in sight, forcing them to improvise. "If only we had some mimic plants to use." Ratchet said.
"Yeah," Jordan added. The courtyard was silent for a brief moment.
"Hmmm." Clank pondered. "If I may offer a suggestion. The statue seems to have low integrity at the base. With the proper leverage, we could use it as a makeshift ramp."
"Way ahead of ya." once again, Jordan contacted Lawrence for assistance. The ship hovered above them as Clank told it the plan. The three moved back towards the gate as Lawrence positioned the ship's nose directly on the chin of the statue. They saw the vessel hover back a few meters and use its thrusters at full power. Lawrence was able to knock the figure out of place, sent careening towards the building.
THUD!
The head was barely touching the platform but was stable enough for them to cross. One by one, Ratchet, Michael, and Jordan climbed up the giant monument and onto the platform. They all stared towards the floating ship. "Sir? If I may.."
"Yeah?" Jordan responded.
"Was all this really necessary?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't mean to question your judgment. But I could've lifted you all up here myself. There is no doubt the city will be aware of your presence, sir."
The group stared at each other; he had a valid point. "Yeah, you're probably right, but there's no sense worrying about it now," Jordan said, looking towards the lock.
'Note to self: complain to the writer when this is all over.'
Lawrence left the area while Jordan prepared for another expedition. Meanwhile, Ratchet, Clank, and Michael stood in complete silence. "Soo, you've known Jordan for awhile?" Ratchet broke the silence.
"No." Michael was quick, directing his eyes towards the skyscraper in front of them.
"Oh...So the UNE or whatever it's called. Do they all have to wear a mask like Jordan's? Or do you have-"
"Look, that's none of my business to say, alien. Ask him." Michael was rude, even offending Ratchet with the title;
Alien.
It reminded the Lombax of the incident with Jordan's parents. Humans may have unparallel technology by their side, but they still had much to learn for respecting other species. He let the medics hurtful words slide;
For now.
The door shot open in front of them, Jordan crawling out from the crevasse. After resizing, they all stepped inside the elevator and rode it higher into the city.
The glass panes presented them with a spectacular view of the surrounding city and barren desert. Strangely, it felt peaceful to the young Human. However, his bliss would be short-lived as a few inconsistencies clouded his vision. "This all seems too easy," Jordan muttered.
"What?" Ratchet said.
"Well, there hasn't been much resistance here. Not to mention the lack of civilian life."
"Probably evacuated them." he suggested,
"That's the problem. Don't ya think they would've used heavier firepower by now?"
"It is very peculiar." Clank commented.
"Then keep your damn guard up." Michael said. Everyone spread out and kept their eyes to the front, weary of any surprises. Unfortunately, through the corner of Ratchet's eye;
The calvary arrived.
"Ah, crap." Ratchet said. Jordan and Michael caught his gaze on an encroaching aircraft. The dark grey and red vessel had a red fin on top, with a blood-red visor for its cockpit window. Its thrusters doubled as its wings, and a large cannon could be seen on its undercarriage. The trio prepared themselves as two hovercars moved in, housing a small squad of shock troopers. Jordan wouldn't spare a second letting those freaks move in, equipping his guns tripod. He aimed the barrel towards the hovercar on the left, squeezing the trigger.
The glass exploded in front, the boy pelting the squad with heated rounds. Michael and Ratchet geared their focus towards the second squad, spraying bullets, and plasma rounds. Jordan successfully eliminated the first squad as the vessels closed in, but Ratchet and Michael had more difficulties. The shock troopers reached the elevator, jumping onto the moving platform. Ratchet equipped his wrench and swatted a single Technomite off the structure. Michael, on the other hand, used his Spas-12 to annihilate two more. As the last Technomite jumped towards the Lombax, he brought his wrench up to strike, but not before Michael shot the being in mid-air, splattering its green blood on the Lombax's face. "Uugh. Disgusting." he said, wiping the liquid off his fur. As much as Jordan wanted to relax, they had one more problem to deal with. They saw the vessel stare them down, but quickly turn tail to retreat.
They were safe; For now.
They all basked in the moment of silence, just in time for the elevator to stop. The trio stepped off the platform, staring out into the distance. The only things visible were the tips of the tallest skyscrapers and the clear skies above them. Their next move would lay twenty feet away, a zip-line leading back to ground level. Michael went first, using the shotgun as a makeshift handle. Next was Jordan and Ratchet. As Jordan wrapped his arms around his waist, a faint set of footsteps was heard. From behind, a soldier snuck up on the Human and rammed his cattleprod into his back.
"AHHH-" High voltage coursed through his whole body, stiffening his muscles. The soldier threw the boy back and made his move on the Lombax. Ratchet jumped out of the way and equipped his wrench. The Technomite was ready to strike the Lombax down, but so was Ratchet. Before the Technomite could make a move, loud flapping could be heard as a large mass grabbed the Technomite. The sun was blinding, but Ratchet could see an unforeseen ally carry It's victim away;
A large red dragonfly.
Ratchet was startled by the fauna and wanted to move in case it wanted dessert. The Lombax rushed to the Human's side; his moaning was apparent. "You okay, buddy?" he asked, holding his hand out.
"No." Jordan groaned, grabbing the Lombax's hand.
"Great." his sarcasm was obvious, pulling the Human up on his feet. After a brief assessment, they continued on with their mission. Ratchet and Jordan slid down the zip-line towards Michael's position. "Took ya long enough." the medic said.
"I don't see you getting tased in the back, do I!?" the boy was more than agitated by his rude comment.
"Sorry," he said. To relax the boy's nerves, he gave a personal assessment of his physique. A significant red mark could be seen where he was struck. "Eh, it doesn't look too bad. I'm sure you just gotta walk it off." Michael confirmed.
'And you're supposed to be the field doctor.' Jordan thought, pulling his shirt down over his torso. Before moving forward, they peered towards the dangerous obstacle course in front of them. Leaves and vines made up the long trail with minimal cover. But if they had any hope of finding Luna, what other choice did they have? Ratchet and Jordan went first as they hopped across three circular metal platforms. As they turned to watch Michael, trouble loomed over his head. The same dropship from before soared down towards their position, charging its Proton cannons. "Hurry!" Jordan yelled. Unfortunately, before the medic had the chance, the vessel destroyed the three platforms.
"Shit!" Michael exclaimed, the gap too far to jump across.
"Just stay there, and I'll call Lawrence." both Lombax and Human stood in place while the boy used his E-Phone. Unfortunately, time was not on their side as Ratchet saw the dropship fly back around. "Jordan, we gotta go!" he quickly said, pointing towards the vessel. The Human caught his motion, both beings sprinting down the vine.
"Lawrence! We're in a bit of trouble here!" Jordan said, the vessel inching closer and closer to their position. "We need you to extract Michael and provide some air support, okay?" Ratchet caught a glimpse of its cannon glow, ready to fire. And at the last second, a stray pair of missiles struck the side, shaking it mid-air. Lawrence soared above their heads and towards Michaels's position. His attack caused the dropship to fall back, giving the duo time.
Jordan and Ratchet jumped across a pair of clovers and onto another green stem. A minute would pass in silence until the dropship returned for round three. It made a beeline towards them, Jordan equipping his M249. He fired blindly at its frame, costing him precious ammo. If this wasn't problematic, their next obstacle would fuel his fears; A giant cobweb with leaves in its grasp. No arachnids were in sight, but it wasn't enough to calm his nerves. Whatever the case, they took their time to jump across one leaf to the other. A long row of thick branches would be their exit, and Jordan made it across without a second thought. At this moment, the dropship made an attack run with its Ion cannons. A volley of bullets grazed past their bodies, setting the flora ablaze. Ratchet and Jordan sprinted across the plants as fast as they could, the dropship at their backs.
"Ratchet!?" Clank yelled, the vessel charging its guns. In one last-ditch effort, Jordan aimed his gun at the dark red visor, using the bipod for support. He fired a barrage of bullets at the vessel, hitting the glass several times. The damage was enough to steer the ship away, giving Lawrence the perfect opportunity to attack. While the sentient spacecraft dealt with the Technomite dropship, Ratchet and Jordan saw the finish line. The vines ended behind a large tower, with an empty landing bay in sight. Jordan caught up to Ratchet as he jumped the gap and onto the platform. The Lombax saw his friend clear the gap the same, rolling onto the cold metal.
Both beings took a moment to catch their breath, robbed of all energy. "You okay?" Ratchet said under his deep breaths.
"Yeah, you?"
"Could be worse." Once calm and collected, their destination stood before their eyes, and they only had to cross a small bridge to reach it. "Well, Luna's not gonna wait all day, let's go-" before he could move, a thundering rumble could be heard, the ground vibrating beneath them; The sound originated from the door in front of them. Ratchet and Jordan wasted no time hiding behind large metal crates, guns at the ready. It was silent for mere seconds until the door opened. In shock, the duo saw two giant mechs stumble out from the door, proton Gatlin guns for hands. Their heads were made up of a clear glass dome, and two Technomites could be seen operating them. Jordan stepped out from cover, shooting the center chassis, only leaving orange burn marks in the metal. It would take heavier firepower to defeat these monstrosities, but that wasn't the least of his problems. The entire chassis looked awfully similar to the suit he wore during Gettysburg, even with all of the orange paint and attachments. Differences were present, with hydraulic tubing arching from the shoulders. And the frame looked menacing as if it was built out of a Mad Max movie; Spikes along the shoulders and kneecaps. The only question was, where on Earth did they snag the design from? It all dawned on his mind at that exact moment;
The UNE!
Ratchet sensed major deja vu at that moment, eyeballing the suit's design; the exact same in his dreams.
'N-no. It-It can't be real.'
The two mechs locked onto the duo, charging up their guns, both barrels pointing towards their tiny bodies. Ratchet and Jordan were ready to dive for cover; however, two objects caught their eyes. They both saw Lawrence fly above their heads, positioning the dropship right behind the mechs. With the proper calculations, Lawrence destroyed its thrusters with his powerful cannons. A smoke trail followed behind the ship as it soared towards them. The Lombax and Human ran away from the mechs, who saw the looming shadow above them. The Technomite dropship hit the ground, crushing the two Technomites and their suits. Ratchet and Jordan jumped to both sides as the pile of metal slid towards them. Their timing was perfect, and the dropship slid off the edge and into the sandy dunes below, dragging the mechs with it. As Lawrence hovered down onto the platform, The Lombax and Human assessed themselves for injury, making it out completely unscathed.
"Thought you might need some help." Michael said sarcastically.
After a few minutes, Jordan instructed Michael to stay as he, Clank, and Ratchet investigated the large tower. They walked through the large doors, and to their surprise, the building housed nothing more than a hollow interior. And as suspected, their target stood in the middle of the structure.
"There she is." Ratchet said, the trio looking up towards the small child, or in their case, large child.
"Yeah." Jordan was focused more on her stance. She stood in place, arms extended into a T-Pose. Even for an organic being, she was motionless, and they would gather no clues from their current position. Clank found a metal ladder to their right, leading up to the long bridge connected to Luna. Ratchet followed the boy as he threw Clank over his backside. As they both made it halfway up, Jordan's curiosity would finally be answered; a large door opened from the back of her head. Luna wasn't a living being;
She was a robot!
"What the-" Ratchet said.
"Well, that explains a lot," Jordan said, understanding her instant change in tone from Kalidon.
"I knew there was something off about that Luna girl. The Technomites have set us up from the beginning." Clank realized.
"Yeah, I don't know what history you guys have before you met me, but let's just get up here." Jordan reached the end, hiding in the shadows beside the entrance. Ratchet stuck beside the Human as they both peered their eyes towards the door. There, seven Technomites could be seen walking out of the Robot, their leader indistinguishable from the rest;
Emperor Otto Destruct himself.
Simultaneously, the door beside them opened up, another pair of beings walked out to greet them. What Ratchet saw next had him in disbelief. Seven Human beings, dressed similar to Michael and Jordan, walked out to greet the aliens. Only six had assault rifles at their side, while the last had formal wear, marking him as their leader. Only a single Human stood out from the rest, the same that harmed Jordan in his dreams. Blood boiled in Jordan's body, a race of thoughts storming his brain. He had all intentions to step out into the open and put an end to this, but Ratchet was with him and had to stay put.
Both leaders met face to face, The Humans mere inches taller than the Technomites. Colonel Brown held a beaker in his right hand, the crowd of beings obstructed their view of its contents, but Jordan knew what was inside. "I see the asset is, intact," Otto said to the Colonel, who carelessly threw the beaker towards the emperor. The Technomite caught the object mid-air with both hands.
"We didn't come here to play delivery boy." Colonel Brown spoke sternly.
"Ah, yes..." Otto Destruct walked towards the right side of the bridge, staring towards the glass panes above them; He held the beaker high. "Colonel Brown? A man of your intellect has done a great service to our race. But let me ask you this. Do you know what's more powerful than intelligence?"
"..." all Humans stood silent.
"The power a single mind can hold if fed a thousand others? With this, you have given us the opportunity to become the great-"
"Oh, quit tugging our balls, creature! I could care less for whatever, opportunity you have with that thing!" his eyes narrowed as he began inching towards the emperor. "We've spent a great deal of money and resources to make your weapons, not to mention your little operation on that space kitten. The United States is losing their patience. And Frankly, so am I." he loomed over the Technomite; his soldiers began to approach the man. UNE rifleman kept their guns down but remained vigilant. "We did our job, now you do yours. Take-us. Now." his face was mere inches away from Otto's.
"..." the Technomite was silent, stepping away from the Colonel. The creature stood tall, staring into his eyes. "What is it you Americans say...Ask, and you shall receive." he gestured with his right arm towards Luna. Otto and his men entered the Robot first, then Colonel Brown and his troops. At that moment, Jordan stepped out from cover and into the open. Staring down the Colonel. The door closed in an instant, but somehow, Jordan could swear he saw Brown glare back.
Thrusters on Luna's feet began to roar, blasting out of the tower and into the cosmos. Ratchet and Jordan were quick to slide down the ladder and run towards Lawrence. "What did ya find?" Michael asked.
"It was Brown! That's who?!" Jordan yelled, all three beings jumping into the cockpit.
"What!?"
"It's Luna. She's a robot, and Brown is with them!" Jordan wasted no time flying Lawrence into an open area of the desert, quickly resizing everyone back to normal. Luna was fast, but not fast enough to outrun Lawrence.
"Follow them!"
I don't know...Do you guys think a little Fourth Wall humor is appropriate for a story like this? I guess at the time I thought, if Deadpool can do it, why can't I? There even is a deleted scene during the boss fight itself that would've gave way to Michael also breaking the fourth wall. I originally wanted Jordan and Ratchet to take on the dropship themselves, then Lawrence would've landed. As they chased Luna, I would've had Michael talk about using Lawrence during the battle, and honestly, the entire mission. But Jordan would've responded; well the chapter wouldn't be interesting would it? The writers gotta put something out for them.
I also need to really keep track of Ratchet's weapons. I only really used the Acid Bomb and Lacerators only because I knew for a fact he had those weapons, but I'll make sure to recollect after this and keep track of his inventory for the next chapter.
As well, I apologize if my descriptions for new enemies or machines is very vague. If there's one thing that I really need to improve on, I feel like item descriptions is one of them. My mind tends to rely on the readers own imagination and understanding of the game and that's probably why there isn't much. But what if readers haven't played the game or understand what I'm talking about? That's where my concerns and improvement needs to come in. But the mechs, just think of the armor Jordan wore from MVM and OFA: Redux, with spikes on the shoulders and knees. That's really the best I can do at the moment.
And on one last note; What are your opinions so far on Michael Murphy? Is he interesting? Does he make a good addition to the group? Or is he just another sheep waiting for the slaughter (If you know what I mean)? Voice out if you like, and I'll make sure to pass your comments onto natethedragon himself.
Well, that's pretty much it for me. Now the heroes are on a wild goose chase for the two enemies. Let's see how it plays out in the next chapter.
I hope you're enjoying this story, even through these dark times. Fav, Follow or Review if you would like to show your support. I take everyone's enthusiasm and kindness to heart! Stay safe and have good health everyone :)
Thank you for reading