Disclaimers: I don't own Ratchet and Clank. If I did, Captain Qwark would have been a playable character in multiplayer in the third game.
Thanks, slyfoxx, Gruntzilla, Sarge11 and jay.w., for reviewing.
Read this: As you all know, I'll be revealing the identity of Slim Cognito in this chapter. I just wanna say something first. This story takes place after the third game. If Insomniac Games decide to reveal the identity of Slim Cognito in a future game, featuring Ratchet and Clank,--and it wasn't what I have planned now--let me just say this is MY version.
Chapter Twenty-five: Identity, Part 2
A laboratory.
Metal restraints.
A cold table.
Containment unit.
A mad scientist.
A defenceless animal.
Hooks.
Sharp hooks.
Fifteen sharp hooks.
Holding his eyelids open.
A piece of metal on his head.
Connected to the hooks via wires.
And connected to a machine.
"Hit the switch!"
"Affirmative."
Pain…
Pain……
So much pain……………
Ratchet, Clank, Raxamis and Albert starred at Slim's person.
Ratchet rubbed his twitching eyes to make sure he was seeing clearly.
Slim stood his round body up and dusted his white skin with his free hand. His other hand held two fake eyes on a stick.
Slim looked at the shocked crowd and blinked his blue eyes.
"Phew, it sure feels better out here than in there," Slim said, pocketing the fake eyes in his blue pants.
Albert shook madly.
He picked up the items he had with him, which were Ratchet's old watch, the other two watches and the box of bolts which were attached to the slot. He put each item over his red storage watch. They electronically dematerialised slowly
Slim then walked over to the hole. The hole was where the cylinder once stood. He picked pulled out item after item after item. There where several of them, some old weapons, some unknown weapons--probably Gadgetron or Megacorp products--gadgets and a……………… Crotchitizer. Each one electronically dematerialising into his storage watch.
Slim stood upright and walked on his bare, clawed feet to Raxamis' lost laser sword. After picking it up with an amphibious hand, Slim walked back to Raxamis and held the weapon out to him.
"I believe this weapon is yours," Slim said, with a sharp-toothed smile.
'Uh……thanks," Raxamis took it slowly and returned it to his utility belt.
"Y-you're a… you're a… a… a…" Ratchet stammered.
"Yes?" Slim gestured with a hand for Ratchet to continue. "Go on."
"T--"
"Yes I am," Slim cut Ratchet off.
Albert was hyperventilating… as if he could breathe anymore.
"But how? You're skin is white, you're wearing pants and you can talk!" Ratchet was in a state of pulling his hair out.
Slim's eyes frowned and moved closer to Ratchet while the body remained where it was. "That's not a problem, is it?"
Ratchet's ears dropped. "No."
Slim's right eye turned and looked at Albert. He started walking to the butler, who was getting up after that dive he did.
Slim scanned Albert up and down. His eyes widened as the edges of his lips curved upwards. "I know you."
"……," Albert didn't blink. He just held Raxamis' purple cape in his arms.
The blue eyes widened some. "Oh, you're Albert!"
Albert jumped at the sudden outburst. "Y-Yes, I am."
"Nice to see again, Albert," Slim spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
"N-Nice to see you too… um, 'Slim' is it?" Albert obviously didn't detect the sarcasm.
"You know I'd bite your head off if it wasn't made of metal. About that. What happened? Accident? Heh heh."
"Nothing you'd be interested in," Albert sneered.
"If I wasn't so sleepy, I'd turn you into scrap."
Slim started walking away, but he kept one frowning eye on Albert. When he started walking up the stairs, he focused all his optics. His tentacled orbs started dropping.
"Now… it's… time to……… f-f-find………… a …………new place to……………" he collapsed on his belly, asleep.
"Come on, Clank," Ratchet said as he went up to Slim and started hoisting him up from his armpits.
"Ratchet, what do you think you are doing?" Clank asked.
"Helping Slim," Ratchet replied casually.
Clank trotted towards Ratchet. "May I ask why?"
"Okay."
"………."
"………."
"……………"
"……………………."
"………………why……?"
"Because, Clank, he's helped us many times before. Remember when we went to Planet Gorn to kick the Thugs-4-Less fleets' asses? We wouldn't have done it without his ship upgrades! My Megacorp weapons wouldn't be so powerful if Slim wasn't there to sell us the upgrades! C'mon on, Clank. Slim is a resourceful guy. And who knows? We could get great weapons and gadgets just like the Obliterator. We may even find out how he became the narrator for the fifth Qwark vid-comic! Or maybe, we could just help him find a better place to live."
"………," Clank was silent.
"Besides," Ratchet couldn't help but smirk. "Since when didn't you care?"
Clank frowned and angrily crossed his arms.
"Hehehehehe. Come on, Clank. Let's just get Slim outta here and we'll talk later."
"Fine," Clank walked the rest of the way to Ratchet, defeated.
When they left the room, using the teleport pad, they forgot one… two…………. twelve things.
Raxamis, Albert and the robo roosters were left alone. Forgotten.
Albert was shivering, as if he could feel cold. But even if he could, he wasn't shivering because of the temperature.
Plant!
Raxamis landed on the lower part of the room and slowly walked to Albert.
"Say Jeeves," Raxamis said, "I'm not gonna ask you if whether that guy was real or not, because I know what I saw."
"………."
"Before I continue rambling, may I have my cape back?"
"……," Albert gave the purple material to Raxamis without a word.
"As I was saying," Raxamis began as he put his purple clothing on, "it was as if that 'Slim Cognito' dude knew you. What's up with that?" he put his fists on his hips.
Albert finally snapped out of it. "I'll tell you later, Raxamis."
Raxamis frowned. "Nuh uh! You're telling me right now, Mister!" he pointed a finger.
"If I recall, Raxamis, you didn't feel like telling Dr. heinous and I about your origin," Albert wanted to smirk, but didn't.
"Yeah… well I… uh… er. Um, that is to say………." Raxamis stammered.
Albert glared at him.
Raxamis gave a defeated sigh. "Alright, you win."
"Good. Come along, robo roosters."
Raxamis shrugged. "I'm not even gonna point out how cliché it was that we didn't mention what Slim was." A beat. "Right now, I'll respect the cliché."
The pain lessened.
Only throbs.
The eyes are still held open.
"Let's improve his sight!"
"Got it."
Pins
Long pins
One pin aiming at each eye.
They move closer.
Closer…
Closer…
Closer…
Closer…
Closer…
Closer…
Closer…
Closer…
Closer…
Closer…
They stop.
One millimetre away from touching the pupils.
Someone presses a button.
Energy comes from the pins and goes into green eyes.
Dilated pupils.
Pain.
Pain…
Pain…
Screaming.
Half an hour later, Ratchet and Clank arrived back on the Phoenix.
As the two disembarked, Ratchet said, "Now remember what I told you, Clank."
"This is not going to work, Ratchet," Clank said.
"It's worth a try."
They began to pull Slim's sleeping body out of the ship.
"Hey there, Sarge!" a passing ranger greeted. "How's it going--AAAAUGH!"
The ranger had notice Slim, who was still sleeping.
"Sarge, don't move," the ranger pointed his arm-cannon at Slim.
"It's okay," Ratchet held his hands up in defence. "He won't hurt us. And if he could, then we could reason with him."
"Oh no, Sarge! It's controlling your mind. AAAAAUGH!" the ranger started running in circles. "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
The fearful ranger ran to the Bridge, screaming.
Ratchet sweatdropped. "Uh, I'm sure things will improve."
"I hope so," Clank replied.
"Let's take him to Nefarious and Lawrence," Ratchet suggested. "We could convince them to keep the secret."
"Are you sure we can trust them?"
"Hmm… Well, maybe not Nefarious, but I think Lawrence will comply."
"I agree with you on that idea."
"Let's quick wasting time and get Slim to--"
"Nnnnnghh!" Slim stirred awake. He stood up and observed his surroundings. He then looked at Ratchet and Clank. "Why am I on the Starship Phoenix? And why do I feel like I've been crammed in a small ship with you two?"
"How do you know it's the Starship Phoenix?" Ratchet raised an eyebrow.
"You're talking to Slim Cognito here. I have my ways of 'knowing'." Slim smiled proudly. "Now, why'd you bring be here?"
"Ratchet brought you here--" Clank began to explain but got cut off by Ratchet.
"Say, Slim, how come you knew that butler guy?"
"'Albert'."
"Whatever, Clank."
Slim seemed a little nervous.
"What's up?" Ratchet seemed concerned.
"I need to use the bathroom," Slim wheezed, clutching his groin.
"You use the restroom?" Clank half-closed on eye (raised an eyebrow).
"Got a problem with that?" Slim frowned. "Why are you asking; you're a robot."
Ratchet tried not to chuckle. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. Anyways, you seemed to know Albert. Why?"
Slim was about to say something--
"Ratchet!"
The three looked at the ramp.
Sasha--equipped with a Blaster--and the Q-Force, dressed in their pyjamas, where walking down the steps on the left side. They were followed by ten rangers.
"Ratchet!" Sasha yelled again, dressed in her white night gown and white slippers. "Care to explain why you brought a tyhrranoid on the Phoenix?"
"I'm telling you," one of the rangers said hysterically. "It's controlling his mind!"
"Well… we… er…" Ratchet stammered.
"Interesting."
Everyone looked at Al. He was examining Slim.
"An albino, blue-eyed, pants-wearing tyhrranoid," Al said as he scratched his chin. He was wearing bright blue trousers, a bright blue nightcap with a yellow puffball, his old, white shirt with 'BIG AL'S ROBO SHACK' on it and yellow slippers.
"Great, now I'm a sideshow," Slim droned.
Everyone gasped.
"Dude, did that tyhrranoid--like--talk?" Skidd asked. He was attired in a shirt with surf boards on it. He also wore similar pants.
"Yes, I did," Slim nodded. "That's not a--dammit I'm fed up with asking it!"
"Amazing," Al continued. "This tyhrranoid is capable of speaking modern English with intelligence." He smiled stupidly. "This is worthy of a Nobel Prize!"
"Can we stick with the subject here?" Sasha asked with a sweatdrop. "Why did you bring a tyhrranoid here, Ratchet?"
All eyes fell on Ratchet.
The lombax looked helplessly at Clank. "Clank, a little help here, please."
"I am sorry, Ratchet," Clank said. "You are on your own in this one. And whether I can help you doesn't matter. My systems are overdue for recharging." He began heading towards Ratchet's quarters--where Nefarious was probably still playing.
Ratchet fumbled for words. "Well, this is our friend Jack."
Slim raised a finger. "Actually, it's 'S--'"
Thwap!
Ratchet's heel collided with Slim's shin.
The tyhrranoid winced. "It's Jack. Yup, that's my name. Jack… er… Jack Otingoc."
"Yeah, that's his full name," Ratchet simpered. "Anywho, Clank and I found him at this freak zoo thing. It's a real horrible place where innocent and special animals are looked up for all to point and laugh. Some say that all these creatures were on 'Nature's Mysteries'. He wasn't happy there, so we bought him here. His mind is riddled with information of weapons and such. He could help us in our mission to defeat Nefarious' stepbrother."
Sasha sighed and yawned. "I'm too tired for this. You can keep him, Ratchet. Just clean up after him if he makes a mess."
"I cannot believe she's just letting him stay like zat," Helga whispered to Skidd.
(Author's Note: I don't feel like mentioning what Helga was wearing)
"She's just tied--" yawn "--like me."
"I'm glad you're letting me stay here, toots," Slim said to Sasha, "but Ratchet got me here when I was sleeping. He and his robot friend didn't even ask me. Hell, I didn't even ask for help. All I need is a bathroom and I'll be on my way outta here."
A beat.
Slim frowned, as if he remembered something. "And, what do you mean by 'clean up after him if he makes a mess'? For your information, I'm housetrained."
"Sasha turned towards the ranger fro earlier. "Next time, wake us up if there's an emergency."
"But--"
"Get back to patrolling," Sasha interrupted the ranger. She appointed at the other rangers. "That goes for you also."
The rangers left the scene back to their posts.
"G'night, dudes," Skidd said as he stretched his arms and walked away.
"Yeah, I'm packing it in too," Al followed Skidd.
"Sleep iz the best part of being in good shape," Helga departed.
"I'm guessing you're an insomniac then," Ratchet muttered, quiet enough for only him to hear.
Qwark--who had been silently listening (his ego was sleeping)--was about to say something--
"Qwark, show Jack to the restroom," Sasha ordered.
Qwark was about to protest--
"Best do what she says," Ratchet--now standing near him--said. "She gets cranky when she doesn't her sleep."
"What was that Ratchet?" Sasha raised an angry eyebrow.
"Nothing!" Ratchet innocently put his hands behind his back.
"Get to it, Qwark!" Sasha shouted.
"Why am I always stuck giving the tour?" Qwark grumbled to himself.
"After I'm done, Ratchet, take me to Blackwater City with your ship," Slim said.
Ratchet sighed annoyingly. "Fine."
Slim and Qwark were gone. Apparently, Qwark was leading Slim to the restroom near the VG9000 room.
Ratchet turned to say something to Sasha, when he realised she was also gone.
"Damn, she must be really sleepy," Ratchet said to no one in particular.
"Holy shit!"
Ratchet was knocked out of his own thoughts at the sound of Nefarious' sudden outburst.
"I'm guessing Slim and Nefarious have met," Ratchet ran to his quarters.
The pins moved away.
He could see much better.
However, the experiment changed the colour of his irises.
Green tears fell from his eyes.
"Let's improve his reflexes now. Make him more agile, nimble and flexible."
"I'm ready when you are."
"ENGAGE!"
"Right."
A laser.
A long laser.
Aimed at the square of his chest.
Another switch.
ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!
Pain.
Unbearable pain.
He screamed words which weren't of his native tongue.
Ratchet sat on the right couch, trying not to fall asleep.
Nefarious sat on the left couch. His right ankle rested on his lest knee.
The oversized holo-vid was off and so was the VG9000. The game controller rested on the table.
Lawrence sat a few feet away from Nefarious. Silent.
Clank 'rested' at the far right of the room. His arms, legs and head were contracted in his body to form the shape of a turtle.
Behind the door on the left is where Qwark and Slim were thought to be.
Ratchet stirred himself awake for the umpteenth time. His gritted his teeth in frustration as his eyelids grew heavier. "Can we talk or Nefarious plays a game or something?"
"What's the matter, Ratchet?" Nefarious mocked with a nasty grin. "Afraid I'll kill you in your sleep? Hehe."
"No, I just wanna remain awake so I can try convincing Sl--Er, I mean Jack to join us," Ratchet replied.
"Why? You already convinced me to join."
"I know, but this guy's very good when it comes with weaponry. He could help us in defeating Dr. Heinous."
"Nuh uh, squishy! I'll be the one to destroy Jeremy!" Nefarious snapped.
"What do you have against organics, anyway?"
Slim walked out of the restroom. "Man, you Starship folk are too hygienic."
He looked down and saw that Qwark had fallen asleep. The costumed man lad on his tummy, slowly rising and falling.
"………," Slim said nothing and proceeded to find Ratchet.
He neared the door which led to the game room.
The door was cracked ajar.
He heard something.
His pure-white hand stopped at turning the handle of the primitive, wooden object.
He could have sworn he heard a familiar name.
He listened.
"That's still not a good enough reason, Ratchet!" Nefarious pointed a blue finger.
"Another reason why I want him with us is because he probable knows a little about our enemy."
Nefarious raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? I'm the one who knows stuff about Jeremy."
"Yes, you know about his character, Nefarious. I think Jack knows about him too. Not his character, but something else. Raxamis and Albert where there the--er--zoo. Jack seemed to know Albert. And he also expressed hatred towards him. He might also know and hate Dr. Heinous."
"I know you'd hate to hear it, sir," Lawrence began, "but Ratchet may be r--"
Lawrence was cut short when Slim burst into the room from the door. He seemed angry.
"Jack, is something wrong?" Ratchet asked Ratchet, slightly less sleepy.
"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOUR ENEMY WAS DR. HEINOUS!" Slim yelled at the lombax.
Ratchet blinked. "Is something wrong?"
"Dr. Heinous is the reason I'm like this!" Slim gestured at himself.
"What?" Nefarious stood up in surprise. "You mean to tell me that Jeremy turned you into the tyhrranoid we see before us?"
"'Jeremy'?" Slim calmed down a bit.
Nefarious sighed. "Heinous' first name."
"Ah, yes. Anyways, he's the one who turned me into this freak!"
"What happened?" Lawrence asked.
"Oh boy," Nefarious smirked, sat down and casually leaned back, his hands behind his head. "I bet he's gonna tell you about some rough past he had with Jeremy. That's what I did. So, how long ago was it--?"
"This AIN'T A JOKE, NEFARIOUS!" Slim shouted.
Nefarious recoiled.
Ratchet winced.
Slim panted. "It was three years ago."
"The time when Chairman Drek was terrorising the galaxy," Lawrence said.
"Yup," Slim nodded. "Dr. Heinous had this crazy idea of stopping him."
"What was it?" Nefarious asked.
"An army of super-soldiers."
About time I updated, eh? Sorry if it wasn't what you hoped for. The next chapter will focus on Slim's past and how he became the mysterious shop owner we grew to love.
Please review, but don't flame.