At what cost

IV

The storm passed by the morning, leaving the dry planet drenched.

Alister couldn't bring himself to take off last night instead collapsing near Kaden's house, slouching against the rubble as he watched the beams of plasma shoot through the stormy night, the faint outline of the cliff at one point being lit up with a blast that boomed through the crying sky louder than the storm. The explosion vibrating his body to the point of pain.

He took note of Tachyon scuttling away into a large ship nearby, taking off sometime around dawn.

He was alone again.

Alister physically couldn't bring himself to make the ascent, sleep finally claiming him after two days of endless fighting.

By the time he woke the sun had crept over the horizon, its warm rays not yet reaching the surface.

Groaning he stood on shaky legs as he glanced up at the cliff face, a large portion of it a blackened mess of molten rock and dust.

A feeling of pure dread sat in his gut as he began walking up the path he had taken last night down the cliff.

It had been close.

What seemed like a whole platoon had passed him at one point scaling the rocky surface, he had ran harder than he ever thought possible in an attempt to avoid detection.

Alister took note of the sheer amount of corpses on the cliff, he had lost count by the time he came to the ridge where he had last seen Kaden.

He stood in shock for a moment, the only sound he heard being his own breathing.

Kaden lay dead on his back, his body soaked in the rain.

The feeling of shock gave way to realisation and Alister couldn't even make a sound. Tears welling up as he stepped closer to his best friend's corpse.

Falling to his knees he let tears fall down his face for the first time in years.

"No."

Alister half expected to hear Kaden's laugh fill the air, it wouldn't have been the first time he had played dead for a laugh.

He begged to whatever gods where listening that this was one of those jokes

A deafening silence all he heard in response.

Alister picked his friend up into a hug, his body giving off no warmth that made Alister sob silently, the tears in his eyes not stopping.

With shaking hands Alister threw the rusted shovel into the dirt behind him, he felt nothing but grief chew away at him, his ears drooping.

Letting out a shaky sigh he opened his eyes again and looked at the graves.

They couldn't even have the luxury of names on their headstones, just a broken piece of wood that had once been their bed, the only thing solid enough that would last more than five minutes.

Words failed him when he opened his mouth, instead he choked on his own breath.

He had nothing anymore.

Just broken memories and dead friends.

Himself to blame for it all.

Thoughts swirled in his mind as he took a few shaky steps backwards towards the now uncloaked ship.

The only things Alister owned anymore was the clothes on his back and his wrench, a reminder of the life he had lost.

Climbing into the cockpit he glanced at the large storage panel that took up the entire back wall.

Curiously he opened it, several books and blueprints fell out onto the floor as well as a pair of Hover boots that fell out.

The thing that caught his eye however was the watch that was dangling out, the gold glinting in the light. He had lost his own at some point fighting.

Picking it up he flipped it open to reveal the photo of himself and Kaden, younger without a care in the world.

Without the fear of dying alone in a storm.

He closed the golden watch with a click and put it back in the locker as well as the Hover boots and books.

With a shaky sigh he looked out towards the graves once more, the feeling of sorrow strengthening in waves.

"How long did you know my dad?"

The question seemed to come out of nowhere, catching Alister off guard.

Glancing down towards Ratchet he couldn't help but smile, he looked so much like his father.

"Since we were kids, met in school. He was your age when he had you."

Ratchet smiled in contempt while chewing his sandwich, they had found a great spot to sit after a long day of Teaching Ratchet how to use the Hover boots, something that had earned him a few cuts and scrapes so far.

They Dangled their legs over the edge of a cliff into the valley below, a several hundred foot drop illuminated by the setting sun.

"What was he like?"

"Like you, someone people admired, someone who cared."

"When he wanted something done he did it whatever it was, sounds pretty similar to another skinny Lombax I know."

A huff escaped Ratchet which made him smile even more, the grin close to falling off of the Lombaxes face.

A comfortable silence sat between them for a few seconds before Alister spoke again.

"He also ate a canyon wall first time he wore those boots."

Ratchet couldn't help but laugh a little only to groan when he felt the top of his head being ruffled, Alister taking the opportunity to do so whenever he caught him without his cap.

"Not as bad as you did though."

After another five minutes of watching the sunset Alister stood up and stretched.

"We should head back soon it's starting to get dark."

The sun had begun to hide below the horizon, the sky a deep purple.

Putting his cap back on Ratchet looked at his friend and kicked on his father's hover boots

"Hey Alister."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Alister stood still for a second before nodding silently.

He began to lead the way back to their camp, his thoughts of Kaden that were for the first time in a long while not a punch in the gut.

A smile began to grow on Alister's face, the feeling of hope returning for the first time in years.

He would bring them back, no matter the cost.