Episode 7: Ratchet and no Clank
After Cream and Croc having a spazzy make-over… and a little 'love' that night, Team NiGHTS was back together. Their next mission was underway and Shadow was acting a bit strange since he arrived back at the headquarters with NiGHTS, who noticed. One day, at lunch, Shadow was busy staring at NiGHTS as she was eating. She felt a shiver go down her spine and looked up at Shadow. He quickly focused his attention back to his food and ate at his normal pace. NiGHTS raised an eyebrow in wonder as Tikal noticed.
"What is it, NiGHTS?" She asked.
"Shadow's acting a bit strange and I'm wondering why." NiGHTS replied in a suspicious tone.
"Maybe he has something he wants to tell you, but he wants to be alone with you."
"That may be the case. If that's how he feels, then I'll figure it out for myself."
Later…
"Shadow?" NiGHTS called. Her and Shadow were in NiGHTS' room, watching tv. Shadow still had his attention on the tv, but replied anyway.
"Yeah?" He replied.
"Did you wanna tell me something?"
"Why'd you ask?"
"Well, I noticed that you've been acting weird lately. I keep sensing that you're staring at me."
"Well… I… uh…"
"If you wanted to tell me something, all you had to do was say so. What is it?" She showed a sly smirk on her face as Shadow started fidgeting with his hands with his head down.
"Well, I wanted to ask you… um… if…"
"Yeah?"
"If you… uhhh…"
"Yeah?"
"…um… if you're… uh… available?"
"'Available'?"
"Well, yeah. Since you killed Zack and all…"
"Are you saying… you want me to be your… girlfriend?"
Shadow nodded fast. NiGHTS giggled as she blushed.
"You think I'm that dashing?" She asked.
"Well, you are pretty tough for a nightmaren… and you look so… beautiful." He replied as he held her hands in his gloved ones. They looked into each other's eyes as he slowly pushed NiGHTS down on her back on the bed.
"You thought we were gonna be just friends, did you?" Shadow asked deeply, leaning closer to her face.
"Yeah, but I didn't expect you…" They were closing in for a kiss as she spoke. "…to… be…" They were this close to the kiss until…
"NIGHTS! We got another mission to do!" Cream yelled from the command room. They snapped out of their love trance and blinked fast as Shadow climbed off of NiGHTS and the bed and cleared his throat while NiGHTS sat up.
"How about we save it for later?" Shadow asked nervously. NiGHTS chuckled as she walked past him and stroked under his chin suggestively.
"I'll be on top next time." She said seductively as she walked out ever so sexually. Shadow was in a daze as he was staring at her butt.
"Damn! So, that's what that nightmaren's hiding under her silky, shiny hair." He sighed as he walked out to the command screen where Argos was already shown.
"Well, first of all, I'd like to wish that both Zack and Randy will rest in peace. They were both great new additions to the team. Secondly, your next mission involves with Ratchet." Argos started. "His robot sidekick, Clank, has been kidnapped by the leader of the Tyrannoids named Quadrant. Ratchet says that he could do this mission alone, but the number of Tyrannoids assisting Quadrant is too great for him to handle on his own. Clank is being held captive in an abandoned warehouse somewhere in Marcadia and Ratchet could really use your help. The objectives of this mission is to find the warehouse, kill any Tyrannoids along the way, rescue Clank, and defeat Quadrant himself. Any questions?"
"What to Tyrannoids look like?" Croc asked in wonder. Argos was blocked off, but was still able to speak as a picture of a Tyrannoid was shown.
"Tyrannoids are like mutant baby t-rexes. They have muscular bodies and are all equipped with the Shock Blaster V5. Ratchet has a loads of weapons, including the Plasma Whip and the Infecto-Bomb. He also has a Shock Blaster, but it's the V3 version. He needs all the help he can get. Anymore questions?"
Nobody said a word.
"Good. Ratchet will be waiting for you in the Playstation Headquarters with Reptile from Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance(which is my favorite Mortal Kombat game). He's helping out as well. So, one of you has to stay… which is gonna be hard to choose who will stay."
"We can't leave Tanzanite. He's our source of transportation, since Ratchet's dropship can only carry two passengers." Tikal suggested. Cream lowered her head.
"Croc can stay." She said without hesitation. This made Croc show a shocked expression on his face.
"WHAT?" He exclaimed.
"I love you, Croc. I really do, but I haven't been on a mission since we had to do your mission. So, you gotta stay here alone until we get back." She looked into his eyes. Croc looked down at his feet with sadness.
"Okay. Be careful."
"I will." She kissed him on the lips passionately, ignoring the others watching. Argos sighed.
"Tender moment. Anyway, remember… Tyrannoids are extremely powerful when they're in one large group, so do the best that you can… all of you!" He reminded before he clicked off. At that moment, Cream and Croc stopped their kiss and looked into their eyes.
"I'll be alright, Croc. I promise." Cream said softly as she embraced him. He embraced back with tears in his eyes.
"I hope so." He replied. NiGHTS, Shadow, and Tikal were already on top of Tanzanite, prepared to leave. Cream walked over to the large purple dragon and Shadow pulled her up. NiGHTS began her teleportation and they disappeared, leaving the lonely Croc alone.
Later…
Ratchet was waiting in the Playstation Hedquarters lobby with Reptile. He was polishing his Shock Blaster V3 while Reptile practiced his sword maneuvers. Minutes later, Team NiGHTS and Shadow arrived on Tanzanite's back. Ratchet saw Cream and was stunned.
"Holy motherf… ahem! Sorry!" Ratchet said dazed. Reptile just stared at Cream and drooled his acid to the floor.
"We're here, Ratchet." NiGHTS announced in her normal tone. "When do we start our mission officially?"
Hours later…
Ratchet and Reptile were flying in the dropship while Tanzanite was flying beside it, still having NiGHTS, Tikal, Cream, and Shadow on his back. Ratchet was speaking from his communicator headset with NiGHTS, who had her own.
"Okay! The Tyrannoids are loose and running rampant in the main square of Marcadia. Taking them by surprise may be the best way to avoid any 'caught off guard' moments. You have any suggestions?" He explained.
"Since I'm a nightmaren, I could stall them with my teaser spell before we land. That way, there'll be a slower reaction time for them and that'll give us an easy advantage." She replied. Ratchet beeped in.
"Good idea. As soon as we land, you perform your spell and I'll signal your dragon to land behind me… but, first, Cream and Tanzanite need some ammunition. Put your headset on Cream for a minute." NiGHTS did so. "Cream, have you ever piloted an armored dragon before?"
"Never heard of them… nor have I driven one. Can you tell me how?" She asked.
"I'll explain everything once we get to that point where we can transform Tanzanite into an armored dragon. Give the headset back to NiGHTS." She did so. "So, that's our plan of attack. Got it?"
"Got it." NiGHTS replied.
"Good." Then, Ratchet's plane computer spoke.
"Now reaching Marcadia in T minus 5 minutes." It said in a female voice. Ratchet beeped in on NiGHTS' headset.
"That's your cue. You know what to do…" He said. NiGHTS nodded as she prepared herself to perform the spell.
4 minutes later…
NiGHTS held out her hands and a purple mist started coming out. The Tyrannoids were indeed stunned by the mist's fragrance and they looked drowsy and drunk as Ratchet and Reptile landed, followed by Tanzanite and the others, who jumped off his back while the ship's top opened, letting Reptile and Ratchet out.
"Now, let's go through these city limits and rescue Clank!" Ratchet demanded as he cocked his Shock Blaster and Reptile pulled out his sword. They mutant dinosaurs saw them, but NiGHTS' spell was slowing their reaction time to shoot. Shadow started his spinball attack, similar to Sonic. He rolled into about 20 of them and they were all knocked out.
"Too easy!" Shadow complained. "NiGHTS, your spells are amazing."
The human nightmaren blushed.
"Thanks." She replied bashfully. The other 20 percent of the Tyrannoids were still in a slow-reacting daze as the crew ran through the city and ran up the stairs, having NiGHTS flying beside them. When they finally approached the top of the steps, the Tyrannoids that were not dazed spotted them and began shooting. Ratchet stalled them by shooting back while Reptile slashed them with his sword. NiGHTS had a sheild around her as she flew forward, passing the attacking mutant dinosaurs without a scratch. There was a secret door with a keypad beside it. She whistled for Tanzanite to pick up Tikal and Cream and run over to her quickly. He did so without a scratch as well.
"I've found the secret shortcut to Quadrant's lair." NiGHTS said softly as Tikal and Cream jumped off the giant dragon. "I could figure out the pass code, but it's extra secure. We need to fight theseTyrannoids first before we can proceed." She flew off back to the fight while Tikal followed. Cream stayed with Tanzanite, guarding the door. Ratchet noticed them and he managed to dodge a few shots on his way to the two.
"I know the pass code!" He yelled at his comrades. They responded by flying up to the three with only 5 Tyrannoids left aiming at them. They saw this and froze.
"Don't make any… sudden… moves." Ratchet warned softly. "Once you lay a hand on the keypad, one of us is gonna get blown to bits."
Tanzanite managed to get the code by looking down with his eyes and seeing the numbers: "2278904" on Ratchet's code buster device. He carefully used his tail to quietly and slowly typed in the code and pressed the 'enter' key.
"Access approved!" The computer announced outloud. That was the crew's cue to make a run for it inside quick while the Tyrannoids shot after them, but didn't run. Soon as the door closed, the lights came on automatically, nearly startling them.
"Well, we made it to Quadrant's lair. Now, we just have to find him." Ratchet spoke as they walked down the narrow hallway. Security cameras were watching their every move, but the alarm didn't sound. Instead, we find Quadrant himself with Clank in a cage behind him with bars made of blue laserbeams. He chuckled as he saw the entire team walking, including Tanzanite. He bugged out when he saw him.
"That's an extranordinary dragon! But, that woman flying beside him… who is that?" He asked himself. "No matter! I must kill them!" He turned completely around in his chair and faced Clank. "As soon as your friends come within halfway through, you'll be my new ally soon enough."
"Ratchet would never give up!" Clank demanded. "He's the ultimate weapon!"
"Well, we'll just see how 'ultimate' he really is once I set out these two outcasts." He pressed a button and a giant green gecko emerged from the shadows, followed by a black rabbit warrior with a very masculine figure, green eyes, and was equipped with an enormous plasma shotgun on his back with a small laserblaster in his right pocket and gas grenades and explosive grenades in the left.
"I'm sure the purple-haired nightmaren human will recongnize you two once you attack." Quadrant said to the two. "Now, go! And I want that giant dragon alive." The two strong creatures nodded and ran out towards the hallway while Clank showed a look of confusion.
"Why the dragon! What does he have to do with this?" He asked.
"He's the chosen one for the Armored Dragon known as 'Tanzanikyte'. Once he's transformed, I'm done for! But, we he transforms and he's on my side, then I'll be victorious! AHHAHAHAHA!"
Meanwhile, in the hallway…
They were about halfway there and NiGHTS froze. This startled everybody else.
"What is it, NiGHTS?" Cream asked.
"Something's wrong." She replied. "I can feel it."
"What's wrong?" Ratchet asked. The two muscular creatures jumped out of nowhere. That answered his question.
"What the hell are those goddamn things?" Ratchet asked. The black rabbit walked up to NiGHTS and held her in an embrace. This shocked everyone, including NiGHTS.
"It's been a while since you killed me, NiGHTS." The familiar male voice spoke. NiGHTS gasped as she heard this. She took a good look at his face.
"ZACK?" She screamed with shock.
"Yes. It's me."
"But, how did you…?"
"It's a long story, but I'll tell you anyway. When you killed me, I felt my body being lifted. I knew it was you, but then a different soul came and took me in. Amazingly enough, he resurrected me and made me stronger. By that moment, he told me that he knew what my purpose of revenge was and well, here I am."
"You want to plot revenge on me! But, who's the giant gecko?"
"I'm surprised you don't reconginze him. Maybe Cream will."
Cream looked at the giant gecko and her eyes grew wide as she gasped.
"RANDY!" She screamed.
"Oh, my God! How can this be!" NiGHTS asked in a worried tone.
"I loved you, NiGHTS! But, since you had to defend for 'Mr. Hover Boots' over there, I guess you didn't have a heart for me after all. So, in this case, Randy and I will have to kill you!" Zack said furiously as he pulled out his giant plasma gun. NiGHTS didn't flinch.
"There's no way you can kill a nightmaren, Zack! Not even a plasma gun can take me down."
"Oh, is that so?" He placed his gun back on his back. "In that case, Randy…?"
Randy roared as he jumped for NiGHTS, but she flew out of the way. Zack spotted Tanzanite and ran towards him. Tikal noticed and she froze him in his tracks. Zack chuckled as he felt this.
"I see others have courage on me, but not enough!" He exclaimed smoothly as he pulled out his laserblaster and shot Tikal straight on her tiara and it literally shattered to pieces. She felt all her magic leave her body by a agonizing pain that went through her body. The pain was so strong that it knocked her out. Zack continued on his way towards Tanzanite while NiGHTS was still distracted. Shadow pitched in to help by slamming Randy under the chin and that knocked him over on his back. Zack saw this and ran over to help the giant lizard up.
"You haven't changed a bit." Zack complied. "I'm surprised. Let's say you and me settle this again in a private location?" He snapped his fingers and the lights went out. Then. shuffling of movement was heard for 10 seconds before the lights came back on again. NiGHTS looked around and was shocked to see that the others were gone, including Randy.
"This is starting to go too far, Zack." She said as she stood her ground.
"So what if it is?" Zack asked. "I'm just glad that you're here with me."
"What difference would it make? I thought you were gonna be the right man for me, but I guess I thought wrong.What's gotten into you!"
"Nothing, really. Just the extra strength I received from my resurrection from Quadrant. He thought Randy and I make a very good duo for his side… and you know what?"
"What?"
"He wants me to claim you as my wife. So you either accept this offer or you and your friends are gonna die."
"Me? Be your wife… after everything you've done that day with Randy? I don't even know why you have him with you. YOU killed him, remember?"
"But, I forgived him and he accepted. That's why he's with me."
"Ooh! Okay. I see your point."
"Good. Now, are you gonna take me as your husband or not?"
"Apparently not! Shadow and I nearly kissed earlier. That made me happy enough."
"What? That son of a bitch nearly kissed you? I'm gonna have to kill you for that!"
"I dare you." She didn't flinch as she said this. Zack came charging at her for a powerful punch, but at the very last minute, she blocked it with her hand right when Zack's fist was only a centimeter away from her face. This shocked him.
"Damn! Your skills have increased since you defeated me!" He exclaimed as he tried to commense a punch to her stomach, but she managed to block that with her other hand that was removed from Zack's fist. He was getting pissed at this.
"Is that the best you can do?" She asked sarcastically as she flew up. "I'm sure you can do better than that."
"Oh, yeah? Watch this!" As he said this, he kneeled down as a pair of dragon sprouted out of his back and flapped twice to dry the wet substance that went with them. NiGHTS' eyes grew wide as she saw this, but stayed in her spot as Zack flew up to her.
"Now that we both can fly, let's see how your skills are at flying and fighting at the same time." He said smoothly as he shot a plasma particle from his mouth. NiGHTS was able to fly out of its way and summon her dragon flame attack. It headed straight for him, but he blocked it with his powerful wings.
"Keep fighting all you want, you're not gonna win! I killed you once and I can kill you again!" NiGHTS screamed as she fired the same plasma eyebeams that killed him. Zack's eyes grew wide for a moment, then for a split second, it brought him back to bad memories. He remembered this same exact beam piercing right through his chest on their last encounter and he knew his wings were too weak to handle this attack, what did he do?
"I have some way of avoiding my death again…" He said smoothly before he curled up into a winged ball and it formed a large forcefield around him, making the strong plasma beam bounce off and head straight back to NiGHTS. She gasped as she noticed this and it impacted into her as she fell to the ground with a hard PING! Zack chuckled as he saw this and landed on his feet slowly, putting his wings in its rest position as he walked up to her unconcious body and picked it up.
"We've had our good times and bad times, NiGHTS. But, now it's time to face your LAST time on this planet." He said to her unconcious body as he flew up towards Quadrant's camera office. He laid her body on the floor gently and this made everybody gasp, except for Randy.
"NIGHTS!" Shadow screamed. Zack looked at him.
"This your girl?" He asked in a cool tone. "Heh, heh… my bad! Since she's gone, I thought I'd return the favor." With that, he was about to punch the black hedgehog in the face, but a sudden laser blast slammed on his back, making him kneel down in pain. He turned around and was shocked to see NiGHTS kneeling as well, ready to get up.
"What the hell…?" Zack exclaimed. Quadrant remeind calm as he took NiGHTS by her arms and held her tight with her arms pushed against her back.
"Calm down, Zack. Your wife is in good hands." He said to the black rabbit. NiGHTS cringed, but was still able to speak.
"I… won't marry… that stupid… bitch!" She studdered as she resisted the pain of her arms nearly breaking.
"I assumed you'd be happy to see your old boyfriend again. I know you thought Shadow was a great guy, but he wouldn't love you regardless."
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Shadow protested. "We nearly kissed earlier and I couldn't feel any better about it. I'm hoping we kiss for real sometime."
"That's why I'm attempting to kill you, so you won't!" Zack yelled. While this argument was going on, Ratchet placed the armored dragon pendant on Tanzanite's neck. Cream noticed and she walked up to him.
"Ratchet, what are you doing?" She asked in a whisper.
"I'm preparing for our 'catch-off-guard' attack. You and Tanzanite are gonna be the stars of our escape by the time this argument comes to it's climax." He replied in a whisper. Cream nodded as she got the hint and climbed on top of the dragon and waited for the signal.
"Zack, there's another good reason why I had to kill you…" NiGHTS pleaded.
"What?" Zack asked.
"You would never be with me, even if I never met Shadow. You would be one… guilty… goddamn bastard."
"I must agree on that one!" Ratchet complied before he snapped his fingers and Tanzanite began to glow while roaring with courage. Everybody froze as they watched him transform into the armored dragon known as Tanzanikyte. He became stronger as his muscles grew and taller as he began to grow. He soon grew too big for the cage and broke it to pieces, freeing his crew. Randy didn't flinch, however. He just stood there, brave as he was.
"Oh, no! I'm done for now!" Quadrant muttered under his breath. NiGHTS chuckled as she heard this, then elbowed him in the stomach. She flew towards Clank and picked him up and flew off. Zack flew after her. Tanzanikyte eyed on Randy deadly as he powered up his plasma raygun, which came out of his back and aimed straight at the gecko. Cream had to watch his only friend die, but luckily, she couldn't because Shadow took her and the unconcious Tikal by their hands and flew off as well, leaving Tanzanikyte, Quadrant, and Randy alone.
Meanwhile, outside the lair…
NiGHTS just flew out with Zack on her tail and Clank in her arms. Ratchet ran out next, followed by Zack, who showing a look of apology as he flew out. Minutes later, they saw the entire lair explode. They escaped just in time and Tanzanikyte flew out of the smoke.
"What happened to Quadrant and Randy?" Ratchet asked.
"They have been terminated." Tanzanikyte replied in a deep male voice. Zack just stood there and watched NiGHTS hand Clank back to Ratchet. He slowly walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry for actin' like a bitch." He said in an apologetic tone. "Now, that I'm back, are you still gonna be with Shadow?"
"I'll have to think about it on this one, Zack. I hope that won't worry you." She replied as she embraced him. "Besides, I'm the one who should be sorry. I acted like bastard myself. Sorry for killing you."
"Apology accepted." They looked at each other deeply. Shadow noticed and sighed. They both turned towards him when they heard this.
"What's wrong, Shadow?" NiGHTS asked.
"You two do make a better couple than her and I together." Shadow replied softly as he held NiGHTS and Zack's hands together. "I hearby hand your love to Zack for being modest upon each other. You may kiss your wife."
"You're still ongoing about this wife thing?"
"Yeah… and he should." Zack replied as he kneeled down on one knee right in front of her and pulled out a diamond box and opened it, revealing a pure shiny Tanzanite gemstone with its purple luster. "Will you have the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Oh, my God! How can I say no? I've loved you since we met and I'm not gonna disappoint you again. Of course, I'll marry you." She was in tears as she held the diamond in her hand before Zack stood up and gave her a lucious liplock on the mouth. She savored the sensation as she moaned deeply, wrapping her arms around him, avoiding his wings. She actually rubbed the scruff on the back of his neck while Zack slid his strong hand under her long, silky hair and began rubbing her butt sexually. Everyone around them awed at this sight, especially Cream.
"Shadow, you really didn't have to do that." She told the solemn black hedgehog, who smiled with passion.
"I know… but I was the right thing." He replied.
Later…
Team NiGHTS arrived back in their HQ just in time for Tikal to awaken from her coma. Zack saw this and pulled out a brand new tiara for her. She gasped with happiness as she saw this.
"Oh, Zack! Thanks!" She exclaimed as she took the tiara and placed it perfectly back on her head. "I finally got my powers back."
"No problem, girl." He said as he blushed. "Now, as for me and NiGHTS…" He paused as he pulled out a condom from his pocket. NiGHTS saw this and smiled sexually.
"You wanna start now?" She asked seductively.
"Hell yeah." He walked towards NiGHTS room and waited patiently while NiGHTS picked up Shadow and embraced him.
"Thanks, Shadow. I always knew we'd be friends." She said to him as she kissed him on the cheek and placed him back on the floor on his feet. She walked into her room and closed and locked her door. Shadow sighed as he placed his hand on the cheek she just kissed and blushed. Cream, Croc, and Tikal saw this and giggled.
"I guess you two are back to being just friends, huh?" Croc asked. Shadow nodded.
"Yeah. She deserves a man like Zack anyway. Besides, I'm too short." He agreed.
"Yeah. Say, you wanna play Sonic Mega Collection with me?"
"Sure." They ran towards the huge screen as Croc began to hook up the PS2. Tikal, Cream, and Tanzanikyte decided to watch them, since there was nothing else to do.
"Now, that Zack's back, what do you suppose our next mission will be like?" Tanzanikyte asked as he sat on the floor like a dog next to the couch where Tikal and Cream were sitting.
"Depends on what game the next mission is on." Tikal replied as she got comfortable.
"I hope it's what I think it is." Cream pleaded as she leaned back and relaxed.
Tender ending, huh? Anyway, on Episode 8, their next mission is taken to the extreme with Kinetica. Crank has gone mad and in order to get him back to normal is if up to four members of Team NiGHTS win a series of 6 races. If one wins the entire championship and the others didn't, they would still be victorious… but, it won't be easy since Crank is in those races as well. Wish them luck.