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Chapter Six
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The Interdimensional Archives of Urfdah Mesa, Planet Savali, Polaris Galaxy, Rivet's Dimension
Having come to Savali to perform dimensional research himself after learning from Rivet about her own findings, Carl Lepton Quantum had hopes that what he would learn more about Captain Qwark and any other counterparts of himself from across the multiverse would aid him to become the heroic leader of the Resistance he always longed to be. However, while Gary the Prophet and his fellow Monks were helpful in their efforts to point Quantum in the right direction over what information they did have in the Archives, and they had even gathered more since Rivet introduced Gary to Ratchet, it was only a matter of time before Quantum became discouraged by what he learned about Qwark.
"You know, there may be other counterparts of yourself other than Captain Qwark, right," Gary suggested to Quantum after a short period of silence had followed the latter's complete playthrough of what was known as the Qwark vid-comic series, "Perhaps there's at least one of them who you'll find the inspiration you seek from."
Quantum nodded at the Snivelakian's words, even though his eyes remained clued to the floor beneath them. "Maybe, Gary, but that last game was a bit of a letdown," he said back before adding, "I was willing to give Qwark the benefit of the doubt since I can be a bit vain, clumsy, and panicky myself, but outright bullying his Nefarious and then running away out of fear just feels wrong."
"What would you have done in his place," Gary asked in genuine curiosity without accusation that made Quantum feel a bit better.
Turning to make eye contact, Quantum said, "Seeing how bullying is wrong, I would've just let the future Doctor Nefarious study in peace. If he became a villain still, I would've taken him to the galactic authorities right away and stand my ground throughout the entire confrontation, or at least, just know when to call for help." Exhaling, Quantum then added, "If Qwark just kept his ego and fear in check, it would've saved him and his universe a lot of trouble."
Placing his left hand on Quantum's shoulder, Gary was about to say something when the former's telescreen from his person acted up, which prompted him to turn it on and reveal Rivet and the small robot from Veldin on the other line piloting a spaceship.
"Rivet and, uh, Clank, right," Quantum exclaimed cheerily while remembering the name of the robot that Phantom told him, "I'm sorry about what happened to your arm, old girl, but I'm glad you're alive. How goes your quest to save the Solana Galaxy of another dimension?"
Chuckling at the man's enthusiasm, Rivet replied, "It's going, Carl," then a bit more hesitantly asked, "How about your interdimensional research thingy?"
Catching the hesitation in her voice, though Quantum's smile turned upside down as he uttered, "Oh, boy. What did Qwark do when you met him?"
At that question, Ratchet came over from the cargo bay behind Rivet and Clank and looked as curious as they were as he asked, "What made you think it's Qwark-related?
"It's written all over your facial expressions for one thing," Quantum answered with a shrug. Folding his arms, he then said, "Plus, while I won't spoil the Qwark vid-comics, I did learn some details about the man from what the Savali Monks showed me that painted him in a less than great light."
Looking uncomfortable at the news, Clank said, "Yes, Qwark himself did mention knowing and thinking little of Doctor Nefarious when they attended school together," and, after a moment of hesitation, added, "when he ensnared us with a Blargian Snagglebeast as a favor to Chairman Drek."
"Seriously," Quantum exclaimed in angry disbelief with a facepalm while Gary tried to calm him down supportively. "What was his excuse? That Drek promised he'd go easy on the entire galaxy, if he sold you out?"
Ratchet could not resist scoffing at that before saying, "Actually, he sold out the entire galaxy for a sponsorship deal, which is even more sad."
"Unreal," Quantum muttered to himself in sheer disappointment and asked aloud, "If he actually did that for such a stupid reason, what does that say about me and what I could do?"
Holding her prosthetic arm up, Rivet sternly said, "Okay, that's enough of that, Quantum. Just because Qwark's your counterpart, doesn't mean you two are literally the same person. He's greener in spandex than you, your skin is darker than his, both of your voices sound different from each other, both of your initials stand for different names, and I know by experience that you would never turn on your friends or principles no matter what." Seeing Quantum look down dejectedly still, she then added with a grin, "So don't beat yourself up for what that jerk did, okay?"
Forcing an appreciative smile, Quantum nodded as he replied, "Thanks for the pep talk, Rivet. Now what can I do for you in the meantime?"
After supplying the aspiring heroes in another dimension with a Galactic Map of Solana with all the celestial entities indicated, Quantum and Gary then said farewell to their friends before the transmission was then disconnected. After a short moment of silence, Gary sighed before turning to Quantum to ask, "Are you really all right, Carl?"
Exhaling once more himself, Quantum admitted, "I don't know, Gary. I guess Qwark may have had the wrong idea on what it means to be a hero just as my friends always tell me that my views of piracy are misguided, too."
"You have a thing for pirates?"
"All my life, I've admired the classical depiction of them being singing adventurers. I mean, sure, there are many ways for such a lifestyle to be bad, but at least the local Robot Pirates look like they're having a fun time while opposing the Emperor."
"And stealing from anyone in their way," Gary could not help but point out.
"I know," Quantum replied guiltily, "I shouldn't be too taken in with the fantasy, but," after some hesitation he then added, "I have been thinking on and off about being a pirate myself."
Mouth opened wide in shock, Gary finally asked, "On and off? As in recently perhaps?"
Returning his gaze back to the floor in shame, Quantum answered, "I was actually going to tell Rivet and the guys my plan on infiltrating the Robot Pirates and proving my usefulness to them before the poor kid got sucked into a different universe. Of course, back then, I would've told them that I wanted to make an alliance between the Pirates and the Resistance a real thing at best, or just try to manage the Pirates as best I can at worst. Now, though, I just don't know what to do moving forward."
After another moment of silence, Gary then earnestly advised, "In the words of my father, Carl, acting like you know what you are doing should get you anywhere in life," he then added, "By that logic, it could work for you either as a hero, or a pirate, but what is it you really want?"
In response to the question, Quantum could not find the right answer.
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Fort Krontos, Planet Batalia, Solana Galaxy, Ratchet's Dimension
Traveling onboard Qwark's luxury craft to the planet Batalia upon seeing an infobot distress call back in the hangar on Umbris, Ratchet, Rivet, Clank, and Kit had called Rivet's allies in her home dimension for a nearly complete map of the Solana Galaxy just so they would have an easier time of knowing where to go, which incidentally connected their shuttle to Solana's Space Radio stations and Holovision channels. Granted, the Galactic Map did not point out space stations like the Blarg Tactical Research Station, and the quartet of Lombaxes and robots figured that infobots would still come in handy at some point down the line, but they figured they were adapting nicely which was more than enough for them.
Arriving on the lush, rainforest world of Batalia soon enough, the impromptu team watched as the local city/military base of Fort Krontos, located on a large rocky island, was sieged upon by Blarg heavy bombers in the midst of a heavy storm. Although they had no immediate clue on how to repel the Blarg right then, all four were determined to find a way all the same as they found their landing pad.
Once they exited the shuttle, the two Lombaxes and two robots were immediately set upon by the Commando from the infobot cry for help, a blue-skinned, thick mustached Novalian in a green military uniform, who did not waste time dressing the four unlikely heroes down. "At attention, you deserting maggots," the Commando shouted at the four, which prompted Ratchet and Clank to salute the solider instinctively while Rivet and Kit were more surprised at the Novalian's demeanor. "The next time you soldiers go AWOL, I'll shoot you my-" the Commando's berating was cut off, however, when an annoyed Kit headbutted him between his legs much to the former's pain which everyone else winced at.
"I humbly apologize, sir, but now is not the time to confuse us with your subordinates," Kit said earnestly to the Commando who was slowly catching his breath.
No longer keeping it to himself, Ratchet pointed to the Commando's legs with shock as he commented, "That was kind of overkill, don't you think, Kit?"
"No argument there," Rivet agreed with a nod.
"I am not even an organic lifeform, and I felt that," Clank shuddered with sympathy.
Recovered at last, the Commando noticed the shuttle the four landed in, especially the logo planted on it, and after clearing his throat, said, "I'm sorry about that performance as well, Qwark Cadets. It's just that after your own soldiers abandon you in a literal warzone, it's easy to get carried away in a frenzy."
Scratching the back of her awkwardly, Rivet replied, "I guess we can relate to that."
Ratchet then spoke up, "Still, we came after seeing your SOS, so what can we do to help?"
Thinking seriously, the Commando answered, "Well, I need some assistance at the city entrance. In the meantime, I think one of my idiot deserters should be somewhere along the grind rail. They may be cowards, but even they shouldn't have to be gun down by the Blarg and their robots."
"Understood, sir," Clank replied with a nod before turning to Ratchet, suggesting, "Perhaps you and I can find the runaway while Rivet and Kit aid the Commando?"
Showing the girls an uncertain look, Ratchet asked in Rivet's direction, "You sure you'll be all right?"
Knowing what he was referring to, Rivet nodded with a smirk before mounting Kit on her back. "Relax, hotshots, we'll be fine."
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Much later, after Ratchet and Clank had found the Deserter who had an infobot with knowledge of a new Blargian device in the works, and Rivet and Kit had used the former's magneboots to defeat the Blarg forces in the city itself and then manned a turret to take out the heavy bombers, the four regrouped back at the shuttle's cargo bay to exchange news and look over the Metal Detector the girls had acquired from the unlikely ally who abetted their use of the turret.
"Wait, so the Plumber Kit and I saw back there, who you also met back on Novalis, acted like he knew about me when you first met him," Rivet asked Ratchet for confirmation after she relayed the Novalian's physical description to him and Clank.
Ratchet replied, "Yeah, it was weird, and I have no idea how he could've known."
Thinking it over, Clank theorized, "Considering we have not heard any news of others in either of our dimensions making contact with one another, what are the odds that the Plumber may be related to the Savali Monks in some form or another?"
"Huh," Rivet let out aloud as she contemplated, "I thought all the Monks were Snivelakians native to my universe, but it could be possible."
"So then what," Ratchet questioned with the palms of his hands shown before adding, "Was the whole part about him needing bolts to get off Novalis just a secret test of character, or something?" He then reconsidered his words as he said, "Actually, that sounds likely."
It was then that Kit called out, "Everyone, you should check this out." Gesturing to the screen in the cockpit, Kit waited until all three joined her to see a news report on the Blarg TV channel owned by Drek Industries.
In an instant, Supreme Executive Chairman Drek appeared to announce with his smug smile, "Hello once again, fellow Blarg, I hope this message finds you well! As many of you know, our old world of Orxon is no longer habitable." As if on cue, the screen than changed to show what appeared to be the polluted, industrial landscape of Orxon itself as Drek added, "We've abandoned our factories, our laboratories, and our happy lives because of the encroaching pollution caused by ourselves, leaving much behind."
"Talk about irresponsible," Ratchet muttered with his eyes rolling before the screen changed back to Drek.
"Fortunately, the nearby planets will supply us with all we need to create our new home, which is nearing completion," the short corporate slimeball gestured to the artificial planet still being put together outside his flagship and then the screen changed to a warbot holding a Blarg scientist at gunpoint while the latter was overlooking a map with Drek saying, "Once our scientists locate the ideal orbit, the New Orxon will be perfect! So reserve your space now, prime locations are filling up fast. Good day!"
Once the announcement met its end, Clank shook his head in disapproval as he commented, "Surely Drek could have found a better way to make a new home for his people without resorting to this insanity."
"Yeah, somehow, I don't think he was the top of his class, if you know what I mean," Ratchet said back before showing an amused look, saying, "Still, I guess he knows how to pick a good anthem."
Meanwhile, Rivet traded an unimpressed look with Kit before they both nodded with the former quoting, "The ignorance of boys is adorable."
"What," Ratchet and Clank said in unison while turning to the female Lombax, confused at her statement.
Catching the attention, Kit answered, "I believe what Rivet meant is that the both of you did not notice Drek's closing sentence."
"You mean about the Blarg needing to reserve their space, or something," Ratchet asked unsurely.
"And about prime locations filling up fast," Clank added just as bewildered.
It was only then, though, that the eyes of the boys widened in realization with the girls looking pointedly at them as all four finally said all together, "It's real estate one-oh-one!"
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Took some time, but I decided to update Ratcheted and Riveted before January of 2022 ended. I know that I have other stuff to work on as well, but this seemed easier to do, so I went with it.
In the meantime, while I am not close to the end of the original game's events, I would like to read opinions on whether to return Rivet and Kit back to their home dimension once Drek is defeated or not.
I do have a Savali Monk-related idea on how to bring them home as well as thoughts on how they would still get involved in the following games when not undergoing their rebellious and archival works, but on the other hand, it can be argued that if Rivet and Kit took the fight to Emperor Nefarious from the very year they crossed paths, the latter would be crossed enough to destroy entire planets once his inevitable losses came to him.
At the same time, however, I can imagine some scenarios Rivet and Kit would be in if they stayed in Ratchet's dimension since the Monks' dimensional powers are supposed to be limited compared to a DImensionator, which would mean Quantum and Gary would have to work together to build one on their end the same way Ratchet and Kit did in Rift Apart, and then coming to the rescue when everyone least expects them to.
It is something to consider, though, so please, send some reasonable arguments in favor of or against the idea while the story continues.