CH.8: Ratchet's decision

Ratchet groaned as he lay there. He was obviously still trying to get comfortable after being left like this. The headaches would not let him be and he had to adjust to seeing out of one eye. His arm was also in a sling as it was on the mend from getting torn up. Ratchet also had probably a few broken ribs or such so breathing really sucked.

"CLANK!" Ratchet calls out to his friend. He had gone off up to his room and honestly these past few days, or was it a week, he had been busy on some project he didn't speak much on.

"Ratchet there is no need to yell," Clank made his way over swinging both of his arms. Ratchet had managed to fix him up after their last adventure and truth be told his friend very rarely raised his voice if at all.

"Sorry, just, this sucks. I mean Rivet is out there racing for some mad guy and Grif is out there in danger! I imagine some part of you is scared for Kit too right?"

"I do not have such emotions, though, I do admit some part of me is worried about Kit." Ratchet sighs but lets that one go.

"How long am I supposed to just lie around here? We have no racer and something tells me that Rex will be on the look out for me or anyone Lombax like. I want to get better but not like there is much here to take care of that."

Grim had some medical supplies but it wasn't a sure fix. Ratchet wasn't used to sitting out an adventure and when his heart was out there with Rivet, well, he felt like he had to make things right.

"You really do care for Rivet don't you?" Clank inquires. Ratchet sighs as he places his one good arm behind him.

"I care a whole lot Clank, it is like, when she is not here...breathing is hard to do. I want to be with her, I wan to hold her, I want to...not even sure why I am telling you any of this. I just feel like I messed up, big time, and I want to make things right. I think I am falling hard for her Clank, and, I can't do anything for her laying up like this."

"You got that right!" Ratchet looks over and sees a familiar figure striding towards him. No way, what was he doing here?

"Captain Qwark? Hold up, what are you doing here?" He tried to sit up but groaned in pain and found himself lying back down.

"At ease Ratchet, after I received a call from your friend, I found I had some time to kill since the galaxy is at peace and all since Nefarious disappeared." He pauses for a beat. "And Ratchet no need to call me Captain, we are friends after all and Qwark will suffice."

"You are talking about Clank aren't you?" Ratchet looks over at his friend who in turn does his best innocent routine.

"I may have reached out to Qwark, I do apologize for doing so without your knowing. However if Rivet is indeed in trouble, it would take a small team to mount a rescue operation." Ratchet perked up at that.

"Alright, you are forgiven Clank, however, not sure I can muster anything in this condition." Ratchet laid his head down.

"Hey, no time for quitting there Ratchet, you have saved the galaxy a number of times and did you ever let one little thing stop you? I mean when I was out there doing my thing, kicking butt and not taking names, cause let us face it...names are hard to remember, I never let one injury keep me down."

"Qwark...I appreciate the pep talk but I don't even know what planet they went off to. And as it is I don't have anything to race in." Ratchet knew that in order to even think of rescuing Rivet it would mean getting a racer and somehow convincing Rex Stone to let him race.

"And that is where you are wrong, in fact, I may have managed to procure a racer for you." Ratchet slowly gets up and looks at where Qwark is pointing.

"What am I supposed to be looking at? Ooh is it invisible? Cause that would be so cool, plus, not like anyone would see me coming-."

"What, blast, just hold on a second...Elaris where is the racer?" Ratchet gawked not believing it but there she was. Elaris was rather tall and often overlooked, ironic, but at first she wasn't really considered much for her intellect and more like handling a lot of the chores for the Galactic Rangers.

"Keep your pants on it is coming, oh hi Ratchet!" She strode over with a remote in hand. Her finger was on a big red button and sure enough a vehicle appeared coasting towards them with repulsors going full and the beauty looked so sleek and well designed.

"This little darling is a prototype but when we heard about your lady problems we fixed it up and-."

"Er hrm, I do believe you mean I fixed it up while you posted to social media. Anyway this baby is fast as they come and can possibly fly circles around the competition. Clank managed to give me some assistance however so all the credit can't possibly go to me, but, a thank you would go a long way."

"Thanks Elaris, and, Clank...when did you have time to design a racer?" Ratchet walked over to the vehicle as he ran his good hand along it.

"I have perfected communication without vocalizing my intent. It is a bit out there but Elaris was patient with me."

"So does that mean Cora and Brax are here as well?" Ratchet makes an attempt to look for them but doesn't see anyone.

"I have actually got them on Nefarious watch so they won't be available for some time. Anyway myself, Elaris, and Clank here will serve as your pit crew. I feel like you will need it with this race. I have heard of this Stone fellow and let us just say he is quite the devious one-."

"Qwark is just upset because Rex turned him down early in his career to be a racer," Elaris volunteers.

"Wait, serious, are you telling me the Captain Qwark had dreams of being something other then a Galactic Ranger?" Ratchet fought a laugh though Elaris beat him to it.

"Hey, it was a long time ago, anyway we got your back Ratchet. I know you have put up with a lot from me over the years and let me just say it would be an honor to help you save your lady love-."

"H-Hold up, I never said I loved her, who told you that?" Ratchet felt flustered and he looked at the three of them.

"Yeah, let Ratchet be, though if you need any advice I am available to dish," Elaris says co-conspirator like. Ratchet sighs knowing he is not going to live this down.

"Look, even if I wanted to race...I'm not really in the position to do so. This guy Barry did a number on me and pretty sure you need to be in fit health to race." Ratchet walked back to his couch as he sunk down.

"Well...it is a good thing I have created the rejuvenator 3000, don't ask about the other versions. This baby will fix most any broken limb or body part and make it good as new. Time is of the essence though so if you wish to save Rivet...it might be one of those trial by fires situations."

Ratchet wasn't too sure about this. However they had done all this for him and he knew that if he simply let it be, put Rivet out of his mind, she would be lost to him...and good this time. Plus Grim was out there too so he felt like doing nothing wasn't the option here.

"Alright, I will do it, and...thank you everyone. I know you are putting a lot on the line here and I promise I won't let you down. After this I promise I will be coming back to the work full time."

"Well that is good, cause, nobody knows we are doing this. Anyway off we go to get you fixed up for this race!"

"Huh, wait did you just say-?" Ratchet had no time to say anything else as Qwark pushes him out of the garage. He was not going to let Rivet die, and, if possible he hoped he could work out just how he felt about her, ok so he had feelings for her but that didn't mean he loved her, ugh, feelings were so complicated.

END PART ONE

Authors note: I hope you have all enjoyed part one so far. I plan to start up part two at some point while also working on my other fanfic. Ratchet and Rivet still have a racing crisis to deal with but rest assured their romantic reunion is due anytime now. As of now as I put this up I am putting the finishing touches on chapter 9, but, apart from that it might be a wait but I am hoping to get right back into it when I have time and the concentration to do so. Apologies on the wait and this story is still very much alive.