BOOOM!

A large, worthless piece of metal that blocked an entrance was blown to bits from the outside. Ratchet stepped in. He was slightly bruised. In his lowered hands, his Nitro Eruptor was equipped. And in his mouth, there was another cigarette one millimetre away from being useless. He spat the thing out and crushed under his booted foot. He looked around silently.

The room he was in was slightly tilted. This was the control room of the Leviathan. Glass shards of broken computers covered the floor where they could without sliding off. Railings were broken and rusted. Moss was present in some places, and some holes in the ceiling let some light shine in. Nefarious' old chair was still there and intact.

Ratchet slowly walked across the bridge. A small smile appeared on his face as he remembered Qwark's funny retort towards Nefarious' comment about the superhero gaining weight.

"Why're you smiling, Ratchet?"

He frowned at the voice. "What's it to you?" he shot back. His breath reeked of cigarette smoke. He stopped halfway on the bridge and strained his ears for the voice's location.

"Just curious, is all," Nefarious commented. "I've hardly seen you smile today."

"If you must know--Nefarious--…I was thinking about that joke Qwark made about Courtney Gears." The same smile came, "It was rather smart of him."

"There's a time to joke and there's a time not to!" Nefarious' voice barked.

Ratchet should have been amused. Instead, he said with narrowed eyes, "Come out and fight."

A mockingly childish gasp sounded, followed by, "So soon, Ratchet? But what about--?"

"Come out and face me!" Ratchet lost his temper and fired his Nitro Eruptor, reducing an old console to scrap.

"Wow, you really are temperamental…"

No matter how much Nefarious spoke, Ratchet couldn't find the location of the evil robot….until a kick to the back sent him stumbling forward.

Ratchet immediately spun around and shot another bomb from his weapon. Nefarious, who was standing in its path, simply ducked. An explosion of bright light occurred, showing a pointy-headed silhouette.

"You're pretty quick," Nefarious said. "…But I'm quicker." He blurred forward and landed a fist straight into Ratchet's stomach.

The lombax's eyes bulged wide. He coughed and dropped the Nitro Eruptor as he was allowed to sink to his knees. He now rested on all fours, panting, trying to ignore the pain in his abdomen.

"C'mon, Ratchet," Nefarious said, pacing around him with his hands behind his back while never taking his solid-red eyes off him, "…..this isn't like old times."

"You mean…," Ratchet wheezed, "…when I…..b-beat you..?"

"Pfft, all I remember is that you couldn't beat me without your weapons!" Nefarious screeched. "What kind of hero is that? At least Qwark used his fists! You're a pathetic example of heroism!"

"A-And you're…a pathetic…..example of…v-villainy….!"

Nefarious stopped. He bent down and grabbed Ratchet's right ear, forcing the lombax to look at him.

"Is that so?" Nefarious asked.

"Y-Yes…."

The ear was released. Nefarious walked and stopped in front of Ratchet, who was beginning to get up.

"Do you know what this is?" he pointed at his left wrist. A watch that was suddenly there was wrapped around it.

"Some sort of doomsday thingy?" Ratchet muttered.

Nefarious' eyes changed their shape slightly to emphasise that he was frowning, "You're not even close."

"What is it?"

"I want you to guess."

"Just say it…"

"Not until you guess wrong for about twenty times and--"

"Just SAY IT!"

"Jeeze, you need anger management," Nefarious pointed.

"And you need better things to do other than endanger the lives of innocent--!"

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it," Nefarious interrupted. He could have been rolling his eyes.

"……Just tell me what that is," Ratchet was ready to reach for his Nitro Eruptor.

The robot 'sighed', "It's an Anything-Guise."

"….."

"Kinda like the Tyhrra-Guise and Holo-Guise--BUT!--This can allow the user to take any form he or she pleases," his eyes narrowed in their trademark mischievousness. "Like this…" he pressed one of the buttons.

FFFWWWWSHSHSHSHPP!

Ratchet's eyes widened. He coughed once, either from the cigarette or the punch, and reached for his weapon.

"Aaagh!" he yelled as the flat side of a six-foot blade came down on his hand. He starred in horror and utter disbelief.

Instead of Nefarious, Chainblade stood. Blades and steroids and all. The gladiator winked a red eye and spoke in Nefarious' high and raspy voice, "Let's test this new gadget, eh?"

Ratchet's jaw trembled. The cold blade was removed from his gloved hand. He picked up his Nitro Eruptor, and stepped back a little. "I don't know what that is or what else you've learned, but I…." his voice lingered.

"Yessssss….?" 'Chainblade' leaned his head to the side.

"…I'm still going to destroy you!" Ratchet replaced his weapon with the Multi-Disc Gun.

"We'll see…," 'the gladiator' grinned like a Cheshire Cat and raised his blades.

Clank and Qwark sat in silence inside the dropship they where in. They sat on the same bench with four rangers on the opposite one. As usual, the vessel was set to autopilot, knowing exactly where to go.

However, Qwark had no idea of the destination, "Hey, Clank, you wouldn't perhaps know where--?"

"Planet Zeldrin," the robot interrupted as if the two words had been all he knew. His head rotated slightly to the right, "The crash site of the Leviathan, to be precise."

"Oh…..right," Qwark nodded and folded his large arms as he lade back against the wall.

Fifteen seconds.

Qwark leaned over and whispered in the place where Clank would have a right ear, "You and Ratchet didn't tell anyone that I--?"

"No."

"……Okay…..," Qwark sat back up. It was clear that Clank wasn't in the mood to talk.

The rangers spoke about something.

"I think Nefarious would most likely attack Veldin next," one of them said.

"Weren't you payin' attention, H-34?" another pointed. "Another team went there and found nothing."

"You're both wrong," the third one announced. "Nefarious is gonna attack Veldin, Marcadia, and Kerwan all at once. None of you were paying attention during the briefing."

"I was," the fourth one spoke.

"'Cept you, Z-66."

"How much time left until the attack?" H-34 asked.

"'Round half an hour," the second mentioned.

"Let's hope that our partners find the Biobliterators," Z-66 said.

"Amen."

"You 'n' me both."

"Ditto."

"Say, anyone know why we're not searching?" the second inquired.

"Well, G-29, I think it's cuz Sasha's worried 'bout Ratchet," the third spoke.

Z-66 looked at H-34, "Say, didn't you escort the Sarge to the Palace on Marcadia?"

"Yeah," the third agreed. "Weren't you?"

G-29 just listened.

"Yeah…I was," H-34 explained. He went on, "He was kinda serious and cocky at the same time. He was determined to beat the 'noids on his own…He didn't even mind the fact that Clank wasn't by his side."

"That's deep, man," Z-66 murmured electronically.

"Looks like our beloved Sarge has changed…," G-29 mused.

"He's probably gonna turn into a heartless monster hell-bent on beating Dr. Nefarious as if his life depended," Z-66 inputted.

Clank flinched un-robot-like, but let that slide.

"Uhh….sirs?"

Qwark and Clank looked.

The second ranger was pointing at the ship's screen. "Coordinates say we're here."

"Arighty," Qwark stood up and pointed at the rangers, "I want you four on your….err toes. Ratchet might need restraining," he felt that Clank was about to speak, so he added with a raised finder, "MIGHT."

"Yes, sir," the rangers said in unison with a salute.

"I've also got the locations of the other dropships," the same ranger said. "They will be following us."

"Nice."

"Oomff!" Ratchet's back met an old holo-vid screen. He was bleeding from his lower lip and his fur was ruffled.

The 'Thugs-4-Less Leader' stood over him, talking in the deep and raspy voice, "Wassamatter? Youz too weak ta fight an unarmed thug?"

"What do you expect, Nefarious?.!" Ratchet exclaimed with a clenched jaw. "Rrrrghh!" he got to his feet and ran at the copy.

The 'Leader' grabbed Ratchet's head, and used the momentum to hurl the lombax into the old chair.

"Nnngh!" Ratchet winced as his lower back hit the part where one's thighs should be.

The 'Leader' grinned and returned to normal. Nefarious put his hands on his hips, "Feeling tired?"

"N-No..!" Ratchet spat.

"Really?"

"What do you THINK?"

"Not even a teensy, wittle bit?" Nefarious teased as he put a hand up with the forefinger and thumb two centimetres away from one another.

"Why don't you grow up?" Ratchet grunted.

"Why don't you DIE? HA!" Nefarious let loose a red toxic cloud from his hands.

Ratchet's eyes bugged from the unexpected attack. He was expecting some more taunting. Nevertheless, he reacted by equipping his Swingshot, firing it, and being pulled out of the chair.

The hook had caught the ceiling right above him. Ratchet bent at the right angle, found the ceiling with his feet, made the Swingshot release its hook, and vaulted down towards Nefarious while letting out a warcry.

The evil robotic scientist back-stepped.

Ratchet landed in a nimble handstand, and pushed himself up to his feet. He swung a fist, "HIYY-YAAAAHH!"

"Hhhrrg!" Nefarious caught it.

Ratchet high-kicked at Nefarious' side.

Nefarious blocked it, using both hands.

Ratchet punched again. Nefarious swiftly blocked with his forearm. Ratchet grabbed that arm, jumped and attempted to 'swing' into Nefarious by pulling himself into him. The robot saw it coming and jumped while flinging the lombax under him.

Ratchet slid on his butt and tail, vaulted off the console under the holo-vid, slid the way he came, held his breath, and kicked up while balancing on his upper back and shoulder blades.

Nefarious would have been hit in the groin, not that it hurt. Instead, he grabbed Ratchet's ankles and hurled him over the chair.

"Daaaa--OOF!" Ratchet tumbled across the bridge. He groaned and stared with a clenched jaw, "WHY aren't you getting hit?"

Nefarious walked around the chair. He said, "Don't ask me. You're the one missing." He leaned against the chair ever so casually, "However, you are putting up more of a fight, I must say. Qwark wasn't so athletic."

"Qwark and I have nothing in common," Ratchet seethed. "And, apparently, weapons don't work on you," he added.

"They would," Nefarious closed his red eyes and shrugged, "if you could aim."

"You're really starting to bug me, Nefarious."

"Bleh," Ratchet was waved off. "You're wasting your time then. If anything, you should be trying to find the Biobliterators. Only fifteen minutes left."

"Search teams were already assembled," Ratchet began walking.

"Pfft, a simple 'team' won't help," Nefarious waved his arms around and stood up straight. "The Biobliterators will go off and you won't be able to stop them," he growled/whispered before letting out another high-pitched laugh, "AH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH--!"

"Stop that laughing!" Ratchet yelled and equipped his Quantum Whip. He swung the thing.

Nefarious jumped, hovered, and landed in front of Ratchet with a punch.

WHAM!

"Look!" Al pointed. "That entrance over there!"

Him, Skidd, Qwark, Clank, and twelve rangers had managed to enter the ruins of the Leviathan.

"Shh!" Qwark hissed. "I think I hear something…."

They listened.

Sounds of someone taking a beating could be heard from inside.

"Rangers," Clank began as he faced them. The robots stood at attention. "I want six of you to stay here and guard the door. If Nefarious is really here, then you must keep him busy until Ratchet can--"

"Ahem," the man in green cleared his throat.

"--or Captain Qwark can attack him themselves."

"Yes, sir," six of them saluted without another word and faced different directions.

"The rest of you are required to follow me," Clank concluded.

"Yes, sir!"

The ten walked in, Qwark up front, Skidd lagging behind silently.

What they saw made them stare. All of them.

Ratchet was moving round Nefarious' old chair. His movements were erratic. He was constantly flinching and grunting in pain for no reason. It was as if he was fighting something invisible. Or rather being beaten up by something invisible.

He was in a mess. His trousers were torn, his fur was messier, and he was bleeding from a fresh scratch on his belly. He suddenly stopped when he noticed he was being watched. He yelled out, "NEFARIOUS! BLOCK THE ENTRANCE!"

The rangers ran towards the opening, standing in a line. The rest stayed where they where.

"Ratchet?" Al cocked his head to the side. "What's going on?"

The lombax ran to the group, yelling, "What're you doing here?.! You're supposed to be searching for the Biobliterators!"

"Another group is--" Al began, but was cut off by Qwark.

"There are no Biobliterators!" he yelled. "There is no Nefarious!"

"What the heck?.!" Ratchet squealed as if Qwark was the stupidest person he ever knew. "You just saw him fighting me!"

"What I saw was you playing a game of charades at a stupid time in a carcase of a ship!"

"Are you insane?" Ratchet pointed at himself, "You think I did this to myself?"

"I dunno," Qwark glared. "Self-mutilation seems like the next thing out of your habits! Like smoking!"

Ratchet's eyes widened. A reflex made him look at Skidd in shock, "You told--?"

"I can smell it in your breath, Ratchet!" Qwark barked.

Ratchet was about to retort, when something caught his eye.

Nefarious was standing behind Al, pointing a ray gun at his temple. The rangers and Skidd didn't seem to notice this.

"AL, LOOK OUT!" Ratchet ignored Qwark.

"Huh?" the technician looked around. "What?"

"Nefarious was right next to you!" Ratchet passed Qwark.

"He was?.?.?" Al was ready for a heart attack.

Skidd looked around silently.

"How come you didn't see him?" Ratchet pointed at the rangers.

"B-But, Sarge..," one of them stammered. "We didn't see anything."

Ratchet panted, enraged.

"Hey, we're not done yet," he heard Qwark say.

Ratchet rolled his eyes and turned around, "Aw, put a sock in it, Qw--"

Nefarious was about to slit the superhero's' throat with a dagger.

"NEFARIOUS! TO YOUR LEFT!"

Qwark looked to his right. "I don't see anything."

Ratchet ignored Qwark's bad sense of direction, and yelled, "He's behind you!"

Qwark swiftly turned around, but found nothing.

"I didn't see anything," Al said as he stepped up.

"Then you're all blind!" Ratchet exclaimed. "Stay at the door," he passed Qwark and made for Nefarious' chair, "I'm going to--AAAAAAAGH!"

Everyone starred in shock.

Ratchet had been zapped by a green laser. Everyone's eyes fell on Clank, whose antenna was glowing that exact colour. His eyes closed sadly, "Ratchet needs help."

"I agree," Al approached the smoking unconscious body. "This could be serious. I'm calling Sasha."

"Here's the holo-vid," the screen floated from Clank's compartment.

Al punched in the frequency as Qwark hauled Ratchet over his shoulder.

"Captain Sasha here," the cazar's face said. "What's going on?"

"We've found Ratchet, Captain," Al said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "We think he might be hallucinating."

"Pffft!" Qwark huffed. "'Think'?"

"Bring him back to the Phoenix."

"Roger. Al out."