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Chapter Five

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Blackwater City, Planet Rilgar

Arriving at Rilgar shortly after leaving the Blarg Tactical Research Station, the Aphelion dropped off her passengers at exactly the right time for when a space taxi dropped off Cronk and Zephyr, who had the paperwork needed for Fred's employment at Apogee Industries. Once they got that done, and Fred parted ways with them, Ratchet and Clank then split up from Talwyn and the two warbots to participate in the hoverboard race while the remaining three looked around Blackwater City for Captain Qwark in case the latter was not delivering the grand prize of the race in person.

As the trio walked through the City's downtown area, Talwyn and her old caretakers were approached by a male, green-skinned Novalian that somehow looked even shadier than the local architecture. Having past experience with the black market back in Polaris, it was not hard for Talwyn to recognize the fellow as a smuggler of some sorts.

"Yo, toots," the Shady Salesman greeted Talwyn specifically and without tact before adding, "How would you like a R.Y.N.O. in place of your robots?"

Immediately affronted, Talwyn was about to defend the two closest things she had for father figures, but Zephyr quickly said in response to the Salesman's offer, "Hold it right there, rookie! You seriously want to trade an animal or something for a Lieutenant Commander like me?!"

"As Chief Admiral, I'll have to arrest you right now for this offense to the both of us," Cronk then added just as insulted.

"Wait, hold up," the Salesman could not help but squeak in terror at the thought of getting arrested. He then took out a large missile launcher off his person and shoved it into a surprised Cronk's arms before running away, yelling, "You can have it on the house!"

Once the Salesman was out of sight, Cronk then turned to his equally confused friends, saying, "Uh, what exactly just happened?"

After a moment, Zephyr started to chuckle before replying, "Looks like one of your senile episodes finally proved useful to us, you old bolthead."

Cronk was not amused as his own words indicated. "You were the one who pulled rank first, ya dope!"

"Easy, you guys," Talwyn interrupted just in time before grabbing the missile launcher out of Cronk's arms. While she did not expect a free missile launcher as a result of her friends' old military ranks either, she was not going to complain as the grin on her face indicated. Turning to both warbots, she then said, "Since we're not getting anywhere right now, how about you guys join up with Ratchet and Clank at the race while I scout ahead with my jetpack?"

Thinking it over, the two warbots saluted Talwyn before separating, and activating her jetpack, the latter took flight over Blackwater City and quickly spotted a trailer near the Raceway Plaza, which felt like a good place as any on where to find Qwark. Landing at that area, she was approaching the trailer before a large and broad Novalian wearing a biker-like skull shirt, stood in her way with a glare.

"Hey, hey," the apparent bouncer called out to Talwyn before adding, "Fancy entrance or not, Captain Qwark's not in the mood for reporters right now!"

Talwyn's response with a flat stare and a retort to match. "Do I really look like a reporter to you?"

Put off by the Markazian's unintimidated stance, the bouncer eventually answered, "Okay, the jetpack was atypical, but even if you aren't one, how can I be sure letting you see Qwark won't haunt me right now, or later? It's bad enough that he lectures me and only pays me six bolts an hour."

Talwyn smirked and replied, "What if I told you I'm hiring for security myself and once I properly settle in this galaxy, I could pay them twenty-eight thousand bolts a week?"

Getting the hint with a grin of his own, the bouncer asked, "You got down payment already?"

Taking out four thousand bolts and an Apogee Industries business card, Talwyn handed them over to the bouncer, saying, "Knock yourself out. We can talk more later."

Liking the circumstances, the bouncer then stepped away from the trailer with a nod, replying, "Right back at you."

Setting aside decorum, Talwyn immediately entered the trailer without knocking to see a snoring sophont in green spandex nap in the trailer's interior that looked more modest than what she thought it would. Admittedly tempted by the idea of waking him loudly, Talwyn instead opted to go for a quieter approach for the sake of argument. "Captain Qwark," she began to say.

In response to just a few words, Qwark instantaneously awoke with a start. "What the," he muttered to himself before noticing Talwyn look at him unimpressed. Steadfastly regaining his composure and standing up straight, Qwark then adopted a friendlier look as he said, "Oh, Miss Talwyn Apogee! I'm so glad you've found me at last!"

"You know me," Talwyn asked for confirmation, even as her surprised expression was minimal.

"Oh, of course, Ms. Apogee," Qwark continued to say, as if unaware of the young lady's distrust of him. Gesturing theatrically, he explained, "Word travels of the adventurous group that saved Novalis from the Blargian menace. I would've come to you and your friends sooner, but in order to better protect the galaxy, I had to operate under Drek's radar."

Talwyn could not keep a sardonic smile from forming on her face at Qwark's words. "Oh, really," she said in an almost innocent way before adding, "Then how come your ship was leaving on good terms with his fleet over Veldin a while back?"

"What," Qwark yelped in shock, but nonetheless attempted to save face by answering with a wide, sheepish grin, "Well, if you must know, the Galactic President himself caught wind of Drek's plan and requested that I infiltrate his inner circle, so that I can stop him before more planets are lost!"

Seeing the panic in Qwark's expression, Talwyn's look hardened as she replied, "Uh-huh, and I'm sure that the planetary chairman of Novalis was briefed on your mission by the President after my friends and I saved his planet while also letting him know about your connection to Drek, right?"

Qwark's innocent smile faltered at the news, and after a long moment of silence, he exhaled tiredly and sat on the trailer's makeshift bed, finally admitting, "Drek offered me fame and fortune as New Orxon's spokesman, if I kept the galactic authorities at bay from making a proper response," seeing Talwyn's disapproving glare, he then added, "But Drek promised me that no one had to go through anything bad so long as he got what he needed to build his new planet. I mean, yeah, homelessness and potential death, but he said it was all for the good of his people, and I couldn't help but believe him."

"Especially since he offered to reward you for your help, right," Talwyn pointed out harshly. Sighing herself, she then told Qwark, "Just tell me, where is Drek now and what else is he planning?"

Showing her an infobot, Qwark said, "Drek said his fleet would be moving from system to system, but I think this gizmo could have a clue. I just haven't looked at it myself to tell for sure."

Immediately activating, the logo of Drek Industries was displayed on the infobot's expanded screen as Drek's own voice was heard saying, "Good evening, fellow Blarg. Supreme Executive Chairman Drek here, with the latest update on our quest for a new home!" Switching to a map of the known Solana Galaxy, Drek continued to say, "Over the next few days, you may notice an increase in my company's activities around the galaxy. While this risks alerting the authorities, our current strategy is critical to securing safe passage for our harvesters."

Both Qwark and Talwyn traded uncertain glances, not liking the sound of Drek's words at all as the video moved forward.

"In order to do so, I've called for a fleet of some of our finest forces to be gathered at our depot on Planet Gaspar," the image then changed to a volcanic planet with a large outpost where multiple Blarg vessels were refueling before Drek then added, "Once they are prepared, the fleet will then be dispatched to a key military base with orders of permanently removing the problem it represents to our glorious plan! And once it is destroyed, our journey to New Orxon will continue closer to the final stages." He then fiendishly chuckled before the transmission finally ended.

With the infobot having wrapped up its recording, Talwyn turned to a guilty Qwark, unamused as ever. "Still think he's an all upstanding Blarg or something?"

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While Talwyn was looking for Qwark, Ratchet and Clank had signed up for the Hovercon Intergalactic Hoverboard Competition to meet with the superhero at the very most, or at the very least, acquire the grand prize which would come in handy for the hoverboard Skidd had given them. Winning the race in record time, the two obtained the Platinum Zoomerator from the race's host, even though Qwark himself did not physically appear.

Joining up with Cronk and Zephyr, who had come to watch the race at Talwyn's recommendation, Ratchet and Clank were soon reunited with the Markazian herself as she flew to them on her jetpack. With a frown, Talwyn informed the four of the extent of Qwark's betrayal and of the Blarg force being assembled on Gaspar.

Clank shook his head in disappointment at Qwark's reasons as he commented, "So much for believing that he was working undercover."

Ratchet shared Clank's feelings as his own frown and words suggested. "I don't suppose that you talked him into turning himself in using Helga and Al as examples," he said to Talwyn.

Talwyn exhaled before answering, "I honestly did, and Qwark said he would, but the scared look on his face said otherwise. I doubt he'll regroup with Drek all things considering, but he might as well be going into hiding as we speak."

Cronk, nonetheless, shrugged as he advised, "Probably best that we leave that fool to someone else, Miss Talwyn. We've got bigger problems at the moment."

"So, we should head to Gaspar then," Zephyr asked for confirmation.

Trading nods all around, the five then made their way to the Aphelion, so that they could be on their way to the volcanic planet.

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Took a while, but I was able to update Sargasso From the Get-Go. As for Qwark, while I can imagine inserting a scene of him in the next chapter or so, I do not think Ratchet and company will be seeing him again in this for a long while, and I believe you all can imagine why, knowing the games.