Disclaimers: I don't own Ratchet and Clank or anyone or anything featured in the game. Anyone or anything NOT featured in the game is mine.
Thanks Clank, Illu, Mr. Grae, Nezdreg and Delta-62 Scorch for reviewing.
Chapter Four: Nefarious' diary
Three hours later, the scientist and the blarg met outside the small lab.
"Oh my! Sir, what happened to you?" asked Albert, rather worried at the site of Heinous.
Heinous was carrying a bag, which looked like it'd explode, if anything else were to be placed in it. He smelt like polluted lava that had been dipped in salt water. Every part of him that was exposed to the air, including his clothes, was covered in black soot. His left leg was bleeding; one would notice this from the red stain on the jumpsuit's leg. He had a long scratch on his face. He was also shivering.
"First I went to Planet Orxon and ended up smelling terrible. Then I went to Planet Hoven and got bitten in leg by one of those ankle biters, resulting in hypothermia, don't worry, I already took something for that. I then went to Planet Aquatos and got ambushed by ameoboids and ended up smelling worse. On Planet Pokitaru, I almost drowned. Those damn tribesmen almost sliced me with their boomerangs on Planet Florana. Fortunately, nothing happened on Planet Quartu. And finally, I almost got my ass melted on Planet Magmose," Heinous explained in one breath.
"That's interesting."
"What about you, Albert? You don't look so good yourself."
Albert's trousers were torn up to his knees. His legs and ankles had received many bites and were bleeding. The Magneboots were still okay though. The short blarg had a sack with something inside. It was struggling, trying to get free.
"Well, sir. I went to get the sand shark, like you said, and was attacked by a group of the scrappy creatures. They bit me countless times. Eventually, I managed to capture one and run away. Those sand sharks may bite, but they're slow runners."
"Well, at least, we got everything we need. Let's go inside. We'll start after I have a shower."
The two made their way into the lab and Dr. Heinous went for a shower, while Albert dumped the sand shark into a tank.
When Dr. Heinous returned to the main room, Albert was watching Secret Agent Clank on the holo-vid.
"Albert, quit watching that garbage and let's get started," said Heinous.
Albert grunted. Secret Agent Clank was one of the few holo-vid programs he ever watched. He also watched the News and Super Villain Weekly. He reluctantly switched off the holo-vid, and went towards his master.
Heinous picked up the bags he came with earlier and emptied their contents onto his desk.
"What did you bring with you?" asked Albert, amazed.
"Let's see," said Heinous. "From Planet Orxon, twelve screamer wings and seven gull's beaks. From Planet Hoven, four eyes of ankle biters. From Planet Aquatos, nine sewer crystals. I took twenty spikes from those mutated fish on Planet Pokitaru. I plucked thirty-four wings from those flies on Planet Florana. And, finally, I took one leaf from a fly-trap on Planet Quartu."
"What about Planet Magmose?"
Heinous turned around to face the wall.
Heinous then spoke, is voice so silent, it was almost as if he was whispering. "In the Captain Qwark vid-comic 'Episode Three: Shadow of the Robot', Vince was transformed into a robot. The reason was unknown until I investigated," he said.
"What was the cause, sir?"
"It turns out that Vince had made a machine that could transform organics into robots. He was planning to jump in there. He believed that turning himself into a robot would make him immortal. Qwark only sped up the process."
"How do you know, sir?"
"I found his diary in his old office and read it. Read the last entry," Heinous took a small, red book out of his pocket and held out his hand for Albert to take it. The curious blarg took the diary our of the scientist's hand.
On the front cover, written in bright green, was 'NEFARIOUS' DIARY. TOP SECRET. NO READING UNLESS YOU'RE NEFARIOUS OR, UNLESS YOU HAVE PERMISSION FROM NEFARIOUS.'
Albert flicked through the pages until he found the last entry.
'August 23.
Dear Diary,
Today is my last entry, I'm afraid. I won't need you anymore for the simple reason that there's no room left in you. My invasion of Blackwater City, with the Ameboids was a failure. It seems someone, by the name of Captain Qwark, has foiled my brilliant plan. I hope it's not the same Qwark from school. I'm now on my ship with my robotic butler, Lawrence, heading for Planet Magmose. The trip will take 6 days. I swear I will destroy Qwark at all costs.
Anyway, my project is almost complete. With this, I can turn myself into a robot and you know what that means. It means that I'll be immortal. That's right, eternal life for Nefarious. Not only that, I'll also have my own robotic powers. This project is waiting for me on Magmose. Soon, Solana will bow down to me, DR. NEFARIOUS, MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Well, this is the end of us.
Goodbye.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nefarious.'
Albert closed the diary. "Wow," was all he managed to say.
"Yes," said Heinous, "it was all part of the plan."
There was a pause.
"Wait a minute, sir," said Albert, "You bought a Captain Qwark Vid-Comic? I thought you hated him."
Dr. Heinous turned around to face Albert. He smiled and said, "I only bought it for Qwark's special costume. I still know the code by heart; up, up, down, down, left, right, circle, square, square." He chuckled. "He ends up in a tutu."
Another pause.
"What else did you bring with you from Planet Magmose?"
"The chemicals," replied Heinous. "The chemicals that where in those machines that Vince fell into. With these chemicals, we'll be able to transform ourselves into robots. We just need to mix everything, test it on the sand shark and see if it works."
"How do we do that, sir?"
"Just do exactly as I say. This is a very delicate procedure."
"Yes sir. I'm ready when you are!"
Don't worry, I'll write about Ratchet (eventually). More to come!