Disclaimers: I don't own Ra--THAT'S IT! By now, it's obvious that I don't own Ratchet and Clank. So, there!

Thanks SLYFOXX, captain deoxys, Sarge11 and Nezdreg for reviewing.

I'd like to thank a reviewer for telling me when to put 'have a nice day'. I have deleted it from the last chapter.

I have the story's ending all figured out, but I'm having trouble squeezing in the boring bits. My muse, ya know?

Once again, this chapter will have hardly any connection with the title.

Here's another chapter.

Chapter Seventeen: Captured

Ratchet's ship landed in the Phoenix's hanger. The lombax stepped out of his ship. He had just returned from the Obani Gemini. He always went there whenever he was feeling down. It was just so peaceful.

After receiving greetings from the patrolling rangers, Ratchet head for his quarters for some good gaming. The doors slid opened when Ratchet noticed that someone was watching his holovid.

"Um. Hello?" Ratchet called.

The holovid switched off and a small robot came into view from behind the couch.

"Ratchet?"

"Hey, Clank," Ratchet said, "what brings you here?"

"Greetings Ratchet. It is good to see you again," Clank said. "Sit down; there's something I must tell you."

Ratchet sat down on the couch next to the robot. Clank didn't look 'happy' in his case.

"What's up?" asked Ratchet.

Fifteen minutes later…

"WHAT?" Ratchet bellowed.

(Author's Note: Clank explained everything blah-blah-blah)

"It is true, Ratchet," Clank confirmed, "Sasha came if five minutes ago and said that a dropship is transporting Dr. Nefarious and Lawrence here as we speak."

"But Nefarious will never team up with us. And if he does, how do we know he won't betray us?"

"That's a chance we'll just have to take, Ratchet. Dr. Nefarious is the only living relative of Dr. Heinous. He could know his weakness."

"But why don't they trust me?"

"Because, according to Sasha, you broke both your legs last time you encountered Dr. Heinous."

"I made a mistake, Clank! One which I won't repeat."

"Perhaps Dr. Nefarious could team up with us and make things easier."

"Fat chance."

Ratchet then remembered what Dr. Heinous had said when he and Ratchet first met.

"Did Nefarious send you?"

"Nefarious? HA! I don't take orders from that looser."

"Hey, Clank. If Nefarious betrays us, I don't think he'll team up with Heinous."

"What makes you say that, Ratchet?"

"Call it a hunch."

Heinous' ship was hovering above the base.

The base was just as Heinous hope it would be. It was just one gigantic cube and nothing more. One mile by one mile, forty stories high, a landing pad on top, several windows lined on all four sides except for the eighteenth floor downwards, made entirely of metal, several doors and, most of all, a dark orange colour.

There where thousands of constructobots. Some were walking around, carrying building material; others were using vehicles to transport material.

Heinous landed the ship on the landing pad. He disembarked the vessel, carrying Sandy under his right arm. The troopers and robo roosters followed. Three constructobots were tinkering with a satellite dish.

"Constructobots," Heinous called. The constructobots looked towards Heinous. "Come here." The robots didn't respond and kept tinkering with the satellite dish.

"Come here!" Heinous bellowed, but the robots didn't obey.

Heinous was getting angry. "GET YOUR STUPID ASS HERE AT ONCE! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!"

Nothing.

Suddenly, the pissed off Heinous remembered.

"I'll be leaving for a while, so in my absence, follow what this guy says until I return,"

It was obvious that these robots weren't the originals. Heinous had to find Albert and tell him to tell the constructobots to stop obeying him and start obeying Dr. Heinous.

However, Heinous wasn't linked to his butler via radio, so Heinous did the next best thing.

"ALBERT, GET YOUR ASS ON THE BASE'S ROOF RIGHT NOW! YOUR MASTER HAS RETURNED!"

After five minutes, near the edge of the roof a rectangular structure rose. A door slid downwards, revealing Albert.

"You called, sir?" he asked.

"Yes I did," Heinous said, as he marched closer to his butler. "These robots," he pointed to the constructobots which were still working on the satellite dish, "when I asked one of them to come here, it didn't come. I need you to go get me the original ten robots. Bring them to my room."

"Right away, sir," Albert said.

The robot blarg began to walk to the elevator, but he was stopped be none other that his master. "Hold it!"

"Yes, sir?" asked Albert, turning around.

"I have no idea where my room is."

"But you designed the building yourself, sir."

"You're right, Albert; I know exactly where to go," Heinous chuckled.

Albert nodded and went to the elevator. The elevator sank into the roof. Heinous turned to the robots behind him.

"Robo roosters, stay in or near the ship. If you go inside, don't touch anything. I'll be getting the laser inside soon, so be ready. As for you, troopers, follow me."

The robo roosters stayed put while the troopers saluted and followed Dr. Heinous. The scientist approached the spot where the elevator was. He stomped his right foot five times. The elevator arose from the ground and the single door slid downwards.

There was enough space for all the robots. Heinous walked in first, Sandy under his arm. The troopers followed. The inside of the elevator was that of a typical elevator. Heinous pressed the button for the thirty-fifth floor. The door slid upwards.

The elevator wasn't slow; the doors opened and all the robots stepped out, except for Sandy, who was still being carried.

The robots where in a hall which led in two different directions. There was a door in front of the elevator with a sign on it, which said 'STAIRS'. The floor, wall and ceiling were white. The walls were empty of decorations.

"If I know this base well… " Heinous began, scratching his chin, "… my room should be… that way," he pointed and gesture for the troopers to follow.

The robots travelled down the hall. Left, right, right, left….

The group arrived in front of a huge, metal door. It was bright orange and had a big, red 'H' in the middle. The door was clearly two stories high and had a rectangular shape.

To the right, a few metres down the hall, there was a small door. It was coloured baby blue and had a big, black 'A' in the middle. This had to be Albert's room.

Heinous approached the door. Somehow, the door detected the scientist's presence and slid to the left. The robots walked in.

The room was huge. Like the hall the square-tiled floor, walls and ceiling were white. There where four small windows on the far end of the room, facing the group. Other than those, there was nothing else; the room was empty.

Heinous went in the centre of the room and looked around, he was still carrying Sandy. The troopers silently waited for orders near the huge door which had closed.

"Yes, quite lovely," Heinous said, "this should just about do it."

(Author's Note: There's no need to tell me that Drek said this line in Ratchet and Clank 1)

"Troopers," he turned to the troopers. "Go back to the blue ship and bring all its cargo here. I'll sort everything out. Leave the blue ship in the cargo ship, though. The robo roosters will be helping you. Once you're done, wait outside the cargo ship. You do know which way to go and which buttons to press, do you?"

The troopers nodded.

"Well then, get to it."

The troopers saluted and left the room. Heinous sent a message via radio transition to the robo roosters to help the troopers.

The scientist waited in the empty room while looking out one of the windows at the working constructobots, his arm absentmindedly stroking Sandy. Each robot was tirelessly working hard to make their master proud.

'Soon, everything will be complete,' Heinous thought, 'all organic life in the Solana Galaxy will be no more and I, Dr. Heinous, will rein supreme.'

The scientist was disturbed from his thoughts when the door opened by themselves and troopers and robo roosters came into the room, carrying all of Heinous' and Albert's belongings. They carefully set the items down in the middle of the room and marched back to the ship to get more.

Heinous sighed.

"Sir?"

Heinous turned around to face his butler.

"Yes, Albert?"

"Sorry to disturb your thoughts, sir, but the robots you sent me for are here."

"Good, good."

The ten original constructobots stood, awaiting orders.

"Listen; since I'm back, I want you to only listen to me and send messages to the other robots to do the same. Kay?"

The constructobots nodded. Troopers and robo roosters came in again, carrying the last of the luggage. They left shortly after.

"Good," Heinous said. "Now, I'm going to need your and some other constructobots' help, moving a very delicate weapon. By any chance, is there a large machine with an extendible claw to reach out and pick things up?"

The constructobots nodded. How much the robots understood Dr. Heinous impressed Albert.

"Perfect," said Heinous.

Ratchet was playing some random game against Skidd, who was losing. Clank just watched.

"I win again!" Ratchet shouted as he stood up, holding the joystick above his head.

"Aw, man," mumbled Skidd.

Ratchet sat down. "How about another round, Skidd?"

"Nah. Sorry, dude; I've got important work to do at the Bridge," Skidd replied, putting his joystick on the table.

"Work? The only work you do is sleep."

"Hey! It's not as easy as it looks. Sometimes, I have to change position. Sometimes, there's a lot of noise from Helga, complaining. Sometimes, I have to make it look like I'm working. Someti--"

"Okay, Skidd, I get it."

"Cool," Skidd got up, "later, dudes." The man left the room.

Ratchet turned to Clank. "Hey, Clank. Wanna play?"

The robot gave the lombax a confused look.

(Author's Note: Imagine that)

Ratchet faced the holovid. "Yeah. Didn't think so."

He just started playing, when Sasha came into the room. Of course, Ratchet hadn't noticed this, because he was too busy playing.

"Greetings, Captain Sasha," said Clank.

"Hey, Clank," said Sasha, "hey, Ratchet."

Ratchet paused and turned around. He smiled.

"Hey, Sasha," he said.

"Listen, Ratchet. You need to know what's going on. When you where in the infirmary, we found information on Dr. He--" Ratchet cut her off.

"It's okay," he stood up and faced her, "Clank explained everything."

Sasha looked at Clank and received a nod from the robot.

"And you're okay with it?" Sasha asked Ratchet.

"No. I'm not," the lombax replied, "but if it means saving the galaxy, I have no choice."

Suddenly, a ranger charged into the room. He was running to fast and tripped. The robot slid and stopped at Sasha's feet. The ranger got up and dusted himself.

"Captain, I have urgent news for you!" the ranger said.

"What is it?" asked Sasha.

"The dropship has arrived."

(Author's Note: I'm feeling a little generous, so this chapter will continue. But I won't be so generous next time. Beware the cliff-hangers!)

Ratchet was the first to leave the room. He was followed by none other than Sasha and the ranger. Clank was last, running as fast as his little legs could carry him.

The dropship had landed. Its door opened. And then, Ratchet saw him.

Dr. Nefarious was being carried from his shoulders and feet by two rangers. The mad robot was in a state of unconsciousness. Another two rangers exited the dropship, carrying Lawrence in the same way the other two rangers were carrying Nefarious. Eight rangers exited the ship, followed by Ed, Will, Jane and Al.

Ed approached the captain.

"Where do we put them, Captain?" he asked.

"Put them in the Phoenix's hold," replied Sasha.

Ed turned to the rangers, "You heard the captain. Put Dr. Nefarious and Lawrence in the Phoenix's hold."

The rangers continued walking.

Another ranger came in from the entrance to the pod which transports people to and from the Bridge.

"Captain," the ranger called, "the president wants to talk to you."

"Now what?" Sasha mumbled Sasha.

The cazar ran up the stares, followed by Clank, who had just caught up, and Ratchet. The ranger also followed.

The group just arrived. The president's face was on the giant screen. Sasha stood in front of Qwark's chair, the 'superhero' too sleepy to notice. Ratchet and Clank stood behind her.

"Hello, Sasha, Agent Clank, chauffer," the president greeted.

Everyone rolled their eyes, except for Clank for obvious reasons.

"I just got word about this 'Dr. Heinous' guy who threatens to destroy all organic life in the galaxy. I've only heard about his rampage on Planet Kalebo III. And just now, I've gotten word that he infiltrated a base on Planet Koros, killed sixty-two people and stole a very powerful weapon."

"What weapon would that be, Mr. President?" Clank asked.

"Drek's deplanetiser, of course."

"What?" yelled Ratchet.

"I said 'Drek's deplanetiser, of course', Jeeves."

"But, Mr. President, wasn't the deplanetiser was destroyed?" asked Clank.

"Well, Agent Clank, it wasn't. Our research team took it, fixed it and put it on Base D on Planet Koros encase it would ever be needed again in the future."

"Well, that was stupid," Ratchet remarked.

"It was not, Jeeves!" the president retorted.

Everyone, including Clank, sighed.

"Where were you when the base was attacked? Hmmmmm?"

Ratchet crossed his arms, turned around and pouted.

(Author's Note: Sorry if that was OOC)

"Anyways," the president continued, "let me cut right to the chase. The reason I'm calling is that, if I heard correctly, you're gonna team up with Dr. Nefarious in order to stop Dr. Heinous, because he's the only living relative, am I right?"

Sasha nodded.

"Well, as much as I disagree with this, I'm gonna let it happen. Who knows? Maybe you'll become good friends."

"Yeah right," Ratchet mumbled.

"What was that, chauffer?"

"Nothing, Mr. President."

"Okay then. As I was saying, two other people and I will be coming aboard the Phoenix to witness you guys trying to convince Dr. Nefarious to team up with us."

"And who are those other two people, Mr. President?" asked Sasha.

"Why, Darla Gratch and her cameraman, of course. They'll be filming everything and broadcasting it on Channel 64 News."

"WHAT?" Ratchet bellowed after turning around.

"I said 'why, Darla Gratch and her cameraman, of course. They'll be f--'"

"I heard what you said," Ratchet interrupted, "but why do you want to show this on the news?"

"The public has a right to know, son. Okay, I'm done. See you in half an hour."

"But, Mr. Pr--" Clank began but was cut off when the screen went black.

"Great," Ratchet sarcastically muttered under his breadth.

"A little to your left… A little more… Now forward… Lower… Higher…. A little to your right… Perfect."

Dr. Heinous, still holding that damn sand shark, and Albert where in the lower level of the base, the hugest room, which was eighteen stories high. At the moment, a crane with four cables, much like the crane of the cargo ship, was positioning the deplanetiser.

Earlier, the cargo ship had lowered the laser into a vehicle; the vehicle transported the weapon inside a humongous room. A crane grabbed the deplanetiser and was moving it around until it reached the right area.

The big room, which Dr. Heinous called 'The Big Room', was, in fact big. It was eighteen stories high and, like the base, one mile by one mile. There where lots of stairs and railings everywhere. There were three elevators; two were for getting around The Big Room easily, and the other was for reaching the nineteenth floor.

Now that the deplanetiser was in place, Heinous summoned thirty constructobots outside.

"Listen up, constructobots," the scientist bellowed, "I'll be leaving this planet and going to Planet Daxx. While I'm gone, I'll need you to find me a few things." Heinous got out some blue paper from nowhere. "Firstly, fifteen of you will search for four items that look like these. If you can't find them, then build them," on the paper, was a picture of a giant magnifying glass that looked like it was attached to a long pole that had many joints. "Secondly," continued Heinous, "the other fifteen of you will build a mobile crane and, after you're done with that, build this." Heinous took out another blue paper. On it, there was a picture of a cylinder which was curved at the edges. There were very accurate measurings written on the sides.

(Author's Note: The cylinder looks like the egg you find inside a Kinder Surprise)

"Sir, what is that for?" asked Albert.

"I can't tell you, Albert. You'll find out some day… if you're still alive," Heinous replied.

Albert didn't like to sound of that.

"Okay," Heinous continued to the robots, "you fifteen," he pointed to fifteen constructobots, "scan this paper and do what I told you. When you're successful, put the items in The Big Room," the robots nodded and, one by one, scanned the paper which had the picture of the magnifying glass. They marched to the city.

Heinous pointed to five of the remaining fifteen constructobots and said, "Build a crane that has a hook big enough to lift this," he showed them the picture of the cylindrical object. The constructobots nodded and proceeded to the city.

"The rest of you," he pointed to the remaining ten robots, "scan and find. If you don't find then build," he held out the paper and the robots scanned it. The remaining ten constructobots began walking to the city.

Heinous sighed in relief. "Whew. I don't have to draw anymore."

"Right," Albert agreed. "Sir, what, exactly, did you mean by 'still alive'?"

"Don't worry, Albert. Don't think of the future; think of the present, in which we are making excellent progress."

"Okay."

"Robo roosters," Heinous called. The robots, which just happened to be being the scientist and his butler the whole time along with the troopers, came. "Help Albert carry his stuff to his room. You'll find his stuff in my room."

The robo roosters walked away and so did Albert.

"Troopers," Heinous called, "let's go."

The troopers saluted and followed Heinous to the cargo ship.

Heinous sat in the cock pit and buckled up. "This is gonna be easy," he said to Sandy while starting the ship up.

The cargo ship hovered and left the planet.

(Author's Note: Thought it was over? Think again!)

"Ugh, my aching head. Lawrence? Lawrence? Are ya there?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Where are we? Why is it so dark?"

"I honestly don't know, sir."

"Could you get some light in this place?"

"I wish I could, sir, but it seems as if my wrists and ankles are restrained."

"Mine too, Lawrence. And it feels as if we're on a wall."

"It certainly does, sir."

"Oh, I don't like this, Lawrence. What if we're stuck here for ever?"

"Now, sir, calm down an--"

"I can't calm down! Don't you see?"

"I wish I could."

"Lawrence, this is serious!"

"Sorry, sir."

"I can't believe it, Lawrence; we escaped only to be captured again and shoved in this dark and scary place!"

"Now, sir, there's no need to be so dramat--"

"Yes there is, Lawrence! Have I ever told you that I'm claustrophobic?"

"Yes you have, sir."

"I can feel the walls closing in on me right now. I'M RUNNING OUTTA OXYGEN!"

"Oh please, sir, we're robots; we don't breathe."

"Yeah, Lawrence, you're right."

"Why don't you use your powers to get us out of here?"

"That's a good idea! RRRRRRH! MMMMHMHHM! FFFFLFLFLFL! It's not working; there restraints are preventing me from using my powers!"

"Uh oh."

"Now, what do we do?"

"I don't know, sir, maybe we should--are you crying?"

"WHAT? CRYING? No way, Lawrence, you're imagining!"

"Of course. How could I have been so idiotic?"

"Yeah, Lawrence, how could you have been s--do you hear that?"

"Yes. It sounds like a door opening."

"It IS the sound of a door opening. We're free again!"

"I see light."

"So do I."

"I see a silhouette."

"So do I."

"I see the silhouette reaching for a light switch."

"So do I."

"The light is on."

"Yes it is."

"Huh?"

"WHAT? A SUISHY?"

The silhouette was that of Sasha.

"Hello, Nefarious," she said, "nice to see you again."

Nefarious growled.

"Are you the bastards who did this to me and Lawrence?"

"Yes we are," replied Sasha with a grin.

Then Al came into the room, followed by Skidd, Helga, Ed, Will, Jane, Ratchet, Clank, ten rangers, Skrunch and Captain Qwark.

Nefarious and Qwark shot each other deadly glares.

"Captain Qwark," said Nefarious.

"Dr. Nefarious," said Qwark.

"Dumb ass."

"Geek."

"Idiot."

"Nerd."

"Moron."

"Looser."

"Stink face."

"Hammer head."

"Ass-chinned."

"Pointy-headed."

"Cinder garden dropout!"

"Gym dropout!"

"False superhero!"

"Mamma's boy!"

"Ugly!"

"Spoilt brat!"

"Coward!"

"Loud!"

"ANNOYING!"

"SCREECHING!"

"ORGANIC!"

"METAL!"

It was funny how Dr. Nefarious completely ignored Ratchet and yelled at Qwark.

While everyone waited for Nefarious and Qwark to stop calling each other stupid names, Lawrence observed the room.

He and Nefarious were, indeed, restrained and hanging on a wall. Lawrence was to Nefarious' right. In front of the two, there was a sliding door where everyone stood. The room's walls were bright blue. The same for the floor. The ceiling was white. There weren't any windows. There was a small light bulb, hanging from the ceiling. Other that features those, the room was empty.

(Author's Note: Okay, I know you guys are tired of reading about the rooms being empty. Is it my fault that I'm a lazy bugger?)

"Will you guys shut up?" Ed yelled.

"DON'T INTERUPT!" Nefarious and Qwark yelled at Ed in unison.

Ed sighed in defeat.

A loud whistle stopped the argument. Everyone looked at Skidd.

"Can you guys, like, chill out?" said Skidd, removing his fingers from his mouth.

"Yeah," said Al, "we're not here to fight; we're here to talk."

"Talk?" Nefarious screamed. "Oh, I'll talk. Let's start with: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"

"We have a lot of explaining to do," said Jane.

"YA SURE DO!"

Suddenly the president walked in, followed by Darla Gratch and a man, holding a camera.

"Oh look," Nefarious said in a sarcastic tone, "the galactic president, Darla Gratch and cameraman. This just keeps getting better and better."

Another cliff-hanger. Glad that's over. It took me four days to write this.

I apologise if there are too many Author's Notes.

Whatever you guys do, don't give suggestions for what happens next; just review and tell me what you think.

I'll take a while to update the next chapter. Sorry…

Anyway, please review and don't flame!