Ratchet briskly walked through the Phoenix's hanger. He created a small stench wherever he went, thanks to the blood he was covered in. He coughed once, but ignored it.
He made his way to his quarters. The moment, the doors opened, Ratchet was stopped by Clank.
The little robot looked up at his friend, plainly. "Hello, Ratchet."
"Oh…… Hey, Clank," Ratchet calmed down a bit. He stopped out of politeness. He may have looked collected, but he wanted to get in and out of the shower as soon as possible so he could continue his scan. He lowered his arms and asked, "What's up?"
"Not that it is any of my business, Ratchet," Clank gestured, "but may I ask as to why you left in such a hurry…..without me?"
Ratchet blinked. He knew he had forgotten something. He gave a defeated sigh, and sheepishly smiled with a shrug, "Well, I……errr." He thought and managed to come out with, "I'm sorry about that," he scratched the back of his head. "It's just…..that there has been no villainous activity lately. I was so excited to go out there and kick butt…..that I forgot my partner and best friend. You understand, right?"
Clank nodded, "Yes…..I do."
"Thanks, Clank," Ratchet brightened. "And look on the bright side. Since Nefarious is back, you and I can go off and make sure his reign of terror is over."
Clank blinked his solid-green eyes, "Do not be sure as to assume that--"
"Later, Clank," Ratchet didn't feel like talking anymore. He 'courteously' excused himself with a wave of his dirty arm, "I need a shower……bad."
And he was gone.
Clank deflated sadly. He then shook his head and exited the room.
The top-ranking members of the Starship Phoenix had met in a boardroom. One ranger was posted at every corner of the room. On one side of the long table, sat Helga, Skidd, and Clank. On the other, Al, Qwark, and--for some reason--Skrunch. Each seat was refitted to make sure the sitter would be comfortable and reach the table's appropriate height. And, of course, Sasha sat in the middle.
"You all know why we're here, of course?" Sasha was the first to speak.
"Yeah," Qwark nodded with a grin. "To admire this new room you had the workers build." He leaned back in his chair, "It's lovely."
"……," Sasha starred.
Al cleared his throat. "To discus Dr. Nefarious."
"And why he attacked the Palace," Helga added with a hazardous wave of her bionic arm.
"I admit," Sasha explained, "tyhrranoids attacked the Palace, yes. But are we sure that Nefarious was behind it? Usually, he'd broadcast a message, announcing his 'amazing comeback'."
"Ratchet said that Nefarious isn't stupid enough to repeat his mistakes," Al clarified.
"True…but..," Sasha thought, "this just isn't his style."
"I agree with you, Commander."
"It's 'Captain', Qwark."
"Thanks, but you can just call me 'Qwark'," the costumed man rubbed his fist on the logo on his costume proudly. "You know me well enough to do so."
Sasha rolled her eyes, "Why do you agree?"
"Cuz I know the guy well enough to say that he likes to boast," Qwark placed a finger tip on the tabletop as he spoke. "Ever since we where in school together………he boasted about his work………….which I destroyed later on. Hehehe."
"………," everyone starred.
"….," Qwark cleared his throat and, with a thumb's up and a plastic smile, said, "Go on, Comman--err--Captain."
"Thank you." Sasha took a breath and continued, "So…here's what you'll do: You'll fan out, and patrol the following locations in three teams of two." She pointed, "Al and Skidd. Metropolis. No doubt that Nefarious will want to hit the giant City next. He never avenged his defeat."
Qwark grinned.
Al nodded, "Yes, Captain."
"….," Skidd was silent.
"McMarxx," Sasha raised an eyebrow, "did you hear what I said?"
"Uhhhh," he gave eye-contact. "Yeah, Cap'n….Al and I will go check on Metropolis," he smiled slightly. "No worries."
"Are you okay?" Sasha was slightly concerned. "You seem a little……..--"
"Spaced out?" Al suggested with a helpless smile.
"Not exactly the word I was looking for…..," Sasha leaned back in her seat and folded her arms with a tiny curve of her lips, "…..but, yes."
"S'nothin'," the former hoverboarder shrugged.
"Okay," Sasha moved on. "Qwar--"
WREEE-WREEE-WREEE!
The alarm went off, startling everyone in the room. Red lights flashed as everyone looked around while Sasha stood from her seat. She looked to her right, and--as she expected--a holo-screen hovered up to her face. A ranger's image was displayed.
"Report," Sasha said urgently.
"The ship has been infiltrated by tyhrranoids!" the onscreen ranger screamed. "That's all I know. L-44 sent me a message before he was dest--"
"'Infiltrated'?" Sasha interrupted with an unbelieving look. "That's impossible! Our radar would have seen it!"
"They must have been using cloaking technology or something, Captain…preventing its site and movement from being noticed!"
"How many are there?"
"I dunno!"
"Can you at least tell me what kinds?"
"Sorry, I dunno that eith--" The ranger was cut off by an explosion that sounded from off-screen. He turned his head to see…..and screamed, "AAAAAHHHH! ROBOTS--!" ZAAAAP-BOOOOOOOOM! Skssksstkssktktsktktksk!
The sound of laser, flashing lights, an explosion, and static.
Sasha starred for three seconds before turning the hovering vid-screen off.
"What's going to happen, Captain?" Al asked. He was now standing near the door, not sure if he should leave or stay.
"Ya-a!" Helga added. "What are your orders?"
"………"
Ratchet ran out of his quarters. He had clearly heard the alarm that was still sounding. He was half-dried, his fur was still dirty, and was only wearing the pants he meant to put in the laundry. In his naked hands were his wrench and storage watch. He surveyed the Phoenix's hanger with narrow eyes.
Surprisingly, nothing was damaged. Not even his parked ship. However, there was a tyhrranoid dropship inches away from coming in contact with the ceiling.
Ratchet frowned and equipped his Decimator.
PHWOOOOOM! PHWOOOOOOM! PHWOOOOOOM! BOOOOOOOM!
It only took three missiles to destroy the enemy vessel.
Ratchet lowered his missile launcher.
ZAAAAAAP!
He gasped and barely jumped out of the way of a screaming red laser that had almost cooked him.
He looked.
Five mechs stood in a line, their robotic drivers grinning metallic smiles. Behind them were the smoking remains of defeated rangers
Ratchet stood, dusted himself off, and looked at them plainly. "Don't tell me you're the only ones." He equipped his Plasma Storm. "Say 'cheese'."
FWOOOOOOM! Z-Z-Z-Z-ZAP!
The ball of plasma that was ejected from the electric weapon shot out five balls of plasma, instantly short-circuiting the tyhrranoids. All that was left were pieces of junk.
Ratchet put the Plasma Storm back in his watch. He grunted under his breath as he headed back to his quarters, "Disturb my shower with only five. What a load of--"
ZAAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAAA-AAAAAA-AAAP!
From out of nowhere, a yellow laser came and his Ratchet dead-on. The lombax shook and convulsed, his eyes screwed shut in absolute pain and agony. He let out a scream. "NRAAAAAAAAGHHH! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Finally, the blasting stopped, and Ratchet fell to the ground. This time, he was fully dry. There was a painful throbbing in his head as he panted with his hands and knees on the floor. He opened his watery eyes and looked at the attacker.
To his utter anger, he had missed one mech.
"RAAAAAAGH!" Ratchet growled and equipped his R.Y.N.O.
PH-PH-PH-PH-PH-PH-PH-PH-PHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Nine orange missiles flew out of the big gun's barrels and obliterated the last mech.
Ratchet starred hatefully at the spot where the mech used to be. He exhaled, and returned to his quarters.
"Thank you," Sasha said to a ranger. "That will be all."
"Yes, ma'am," the ranger saluted and trotted off to help clear up the remains.
Five minutes had passed since Ratchet's short battle, and already, the mess was all gone. Three rangers were busy hauling out the scrap.
"So?" Al was eager for results. "What happened?"
He stood near Qwark, who was leaning against the wall with Skrunch on his shoulder, and Skidd and Helga, who were both sitting on the stairs to the transporter. Clank wasn't there though.
"A dropship carrying six tyhrranoid mechs surpassed our radars with cloaking technology. They also managed to hack our systems from space, allowing them to enter easily." She took another breath, and spoke with a wondering voice, "But……we have no idea why only six were sent."
"It must have been Nefarious' way of saying he's back," Qwark murmured.
A door slid open. Immediately, steam flew out from the room…….followed by Ratchet, dressed in new and clean clothes. The ichor had been removed from his fur. He was relaxed, although meaning to go to his computers to continue scanning the galaxy for possible attacks.
Schhwish.
The door to his quarters opened.
Ratchet walked in casually.
"………!" he stopped.
He looked, eyes wide.
He stepped closer.
Past the table with the neglected VG9000.
He looked up.
He starred at the giant holo-vid screen.
His lips parted.
There it was.
Clear as day.
'IF YOU WANT TO FIND ME,
THEN GO TO PLANET FLORANA.
SINCERELY,
DR. NEFARIOUS'
The message was written on the visual's glass in white. Whatever the substance was, Ratchet didn't know. He didn't bother to know, because he was running from his quarters to tell someone.
However, a familiar figure stopped him.
"Hello, Ratch--"
"Clank!" Ratchet screeched to a stop. "I'm glad I found you," he gestured madly. "I have just found a message from Nefarious!"
Clank's eyes widened in amazement, "Really?"
"Absolutely!" Ratchet calmed down, but only for a second. "It's on the holo-vid! Come! Quick!" he ran back.
Clank jogged as fast as his little legs could go.
Ratchet then stopped suddenly.
"Is something wrong?" Clank asked as he jogged past him….but also stopped.
"It can't be…..," Ratchet was stunned. Then, he growled, "Impossible!"
"What can't be?" Clank inquired with one eye half-closed as an attempt at eyebrow-raising.
Ratchet pointed, his teeth bearing.
Clank looked. "I do not see anything out of the ordinary," he spoke as softly as he could without aggravating his already aggravated friend.
"No!" Ratchet shook his fuming head, clenching fists. "I know what I saw!"
The message was gone.