Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart,
Dimensional Warriors.
Chapter 3.
Sargasso, June, 20th, 2021.
8:42 A.M.
"...So then this Dimensionater was stolen by Dr. Nefarious who used it to bring you here?" Clank nodded.
"Now you just need to find your friend who is miraculously another Lombax, to save the day." Clank held up a hand.
"Yes he is but we also had an unexpected stowaway, so now we have two people to track down so we can all get back home." Rivet rolled her eye's and laughed.
"You must seriously think I'm an idiot." Clank felt hurt by her assumption, While Rivet continued.
"Look, As real as I'm sure this Dr. Nefarious is, this-" She panned to the ever growing cluster of dimensional rifts opening up all over. "- has the Emperor written all over it." The two were interrupted from their leisurely conversation by Rivets communications terminal lighting up.
"Help! We're under attack!" Mort came over the line frantically trying to get a signal out to anyone who was within range. Their frantic cries for help however were soon answered as the sound of explosions was heard.
"Mort! Whats going on?!" Rivet asked, she never got an answer however because a few seconds later her ship was rammed from below. Warning lights began to blare signaling that the propulsion systems had been damaged.
"Oh great." She looked over at Clank.
"Prepare for a crash landing." The little robot did as he was told and held his remaining arm close. Rivet meanwhile was focusing on landing as close to the Gelatonium Factury as possible. Seeing a small clearing up ahead she aimed her ship for the soft earth and held on for dear life.
Sargasso, June, 19th, 2021.
9:18 P.M.
Alex awoke to the sound of an engine roaring over head. Opening his eyes he was greeted by the night sky of an alien planet. Groaning he put a hand to his head as he slowly took in his surroundings. Lush plant life, putrid swamp gas, and other worldly creatures met his gaze.
"Where am I?" He asked as he got to his feet and looked around once more.
"Ratchet!" He shouted as he continued to look around for his companion. He hissed in pain as he looked down and saw that his shirt was torn, leaving a nasty bruise on his chest and side. A few experimental pokes found that it was tender to the touch and not at all ready for him to be up and around, but he had no choice. Getting his bearings was a hassle but luckily there were some lights in the distance. Steeling himself for a long journey ahead he set out into the night following the light.
Sargasso, June, 20th, 2021.
8:42 A.M.
Waking up to gunfire was not on Alex's bucket list but at least he could now cross it off as an experience. The shouting wasn't much better either. Over a dozen shrill voices all screaming at once, made his headache worse than it had been all night. He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath.
"Ok, time to go meet the locals." He was lucky in the fact that he'd found a small stash of ammunition for his gloves, but he had hoped that whatever threat was present here would be susceptible to his melee weapons. He really didn't like his chances of finding ammo on the fly. He grimiced as his side once more flared to life with pain.
"I should buy a gun next time find Ms. Zurkon." He mused as he continued to follow the screams.
A few minutes later Alex came across what looked to be some sort of industrial factory. Looking around he was surprised to see a lot of little furry creatures with hard hats on. Unfortunately their adorable appearance was mangled by the presence of some not so savory types. These guys were pretty decked out, reptilian looking alien's with jet packs and some mean looking guns.
"We didn't follow that Lombax and his robopet across dimensions just to get stopped by some fuzzballs." The creature growled as it racked the slide of it's behemoth of a shotgun.
"So you got like." He counted really quick. "Nine and a half seconds to tell us where they're at!" He demanded shoving the barrel of his gun into the face of one of the planets inhabitants. Alex had seen enough. He knew they were looking for Ratchet.
"Maybe they could be of use." He pondered as he began to form a plan. Seeing the look of terror on the little fuzzballs face however his grand scheme could wait. He took out a shatterbomb and lobbed it at a nearby cluster of the reptilian goons. The second group that was threatening the worker's began to frantically look around for the source of the explosion but that just gave Rivet time to get close to them.
"Hey!" Her shout got their attention and Alex's. "I know where you can find a lombax!" The goons were flabbergasted.
"Another Lombax? Tell us where your friends is brosephina!" Rivet was non plussed by this impromptu nickname. She grabbed her blaster pistol and fire off a barrage of hot plasma at the goon who screamed, dodged the orbs and fired his shotgun at her instead. Alex stood there surprised to see another lombax but then he spotted a robot that she had strapped to her back.
"Clank?"He shouted getting the robot's attention. Clank looked around as Rivet jumped and dodged out of the goons gunfire. As soon as he saw the strange person from back on Corson V, he began to look around for Ratchet.
"Rivet we may have assistance." He gave the female lombax a heads up as she heard more goons but also the sound of an omni-beam, it's metal clanging against the goons skull's. More goons began pouring in through rifts giving Rivet and Clank pause. Alex meanwhile had knocked out more than a few goons and decide that now would be a good time to start thinning their ranks. Seeing her get ready to lay the hurt on these guys made him smirk.
"Seems like her and Ratchet have something in common." Pulling out his Mr Fungi glove he threw a pod into the air.
"Now this is where the fun begins!" It shouted getting everyone's attention. As it fired off a few potshots at the goons Rivet held down the trigger of her blaster pistol sending a hail of hot plasma towards another group of enemies. While she had managed to nail a few of them and even down one the rest all scattered. Alex took advantage of this sneaking up behind one of the goons and slicing him in half, his screams of pain dying as Alex grabbed his shotgun and racked the slide for good measure.
"Lets see what this thing can do." He found a target and pulled the trigger and was rewarded with a wall of hot, fast traveling, shrapnel, the metal making short work of one the goons punching a hole through it's chest and jetpack. As the goon slumped over dead the fuel line ruptured and the dead goon as well as a few others that were to close got incinerated in the blast, their own packs going off as well. Alex looked at the new gun he had acquired and smiled.
"Oh yeah i'm lovin this!" He racked the slide once more and took the time to see how the other lombax was doing. She had managed to decimate a good chunk of the goons and to his relief Alex saw that no more portals were opening up. Looking around he found another unfortunate victim and blasted to kingdom come. Hearing a grunt to his left however he saw that the lombax was having a bit of trouble with a particularity stubborn goon. Rivet for her part was trying to get a good hit off on this guy but he was more nimble than the rest.
"Hold still!" He screamed as she dodged a fist he sent her way only to get smashed by the goons tail, one of it's spikes puncturing her suit braking off the goons tail. She let out a grunt as she yanked the spike free and tossed it aside, her nanites getting to work sealing the wound and the suit. She pulled out her hammer and took a swing at the goon who ducked underneath it and brought his fist once more in contact with Rivets face. As she fell to the ground the goon jumped at the opportunity and straddled her waist. Gripping her neck with both hands he began to squeeze the life out of her.
"Hey asshole!" The grip on her neck lessened and the hot liquid on her fur told her why. She threw the headless corpse off of her and saw Alex standing there hand outstretched. She was hesitant at first but seeing that he was gripping his side in agony gave her some assurance that if this was a trap she could kill him before he had the chance to do anything.
"Thanks." She grabbed his hand and felt him pull her to her feet. Alex gave her a nod.
"Welcome." Clank felt relieved and couldn't wait any longer. Hopping off of Rivets back he gave Alex a solemn look, Rivet decided to go and check on the other's.
"Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude but is Ratchet with you by chance?" Alex cast his eye's down.
"No Clank he isn't." He hissed as his side flared up again.
"We got separated, I got stuck here and he got sent back to Corson V." Clank was disappointed at not seeing his friend but he was glad to hear that Ratchet was at least alive.
"Sorry," Alex added as Clank shook his head.
"Don't be. Knowing him. he's probably on his way here right now." Alex grinned through his pain.
"Yeah he probably is." He sat down and sighed as he felt his exhaustion kicking in. Looking around he saw a few healing crate but he also saw that some of the fuzzballs weren't doing to hot either, some were a little shaken up, but other's looked like they had gotten hit in the cross fire. Rivet came over and glanced at the two.
"Well thanks to your timely intervention the Morts here aren't doing to bad." She held out her hand and introduced herself.
"Name's Rivet." Alex did the same. She then saw him glance over to some Morts that were shot and grimaced.
"Hey uh don't worry, ok?" She smiled trying to cheer him up. "It could've been a lot worse." Pain was evident across her face as she cradled her robotic limb. But this was gone in a flash as a lone Mort came up and gave out a hearty cheer.
"Rivet!" The head Mort came over and gave her a hug, one that she gleefully returned.
"Mort! Are you guys ok?" Mort looked touched.
"Us? When we heard those fellas were looking for a lombax, we were worried about you!" Rivet shook her head but smiled none the less.
"Next thing we know you and your friend there are here savin our behinds." Rivet looked back at Alex who was still chatting with Clank, a brief flash of concern rolling across her face. With a shake of her head she put on a smile and looked around. Then she felt fear.
"Wait where are the other's?" She asked as Mort pointed towards a large purple bubble that had made itself at home on what looked to be landing pad for a starship. Rivet ran over catching Clank and Alex's attention. Alex noticed Clanks predicament and grabbed the robot bringing him with.
"Some of the Mort's are stuck inside of that mess there." The purple sphere fizzled, popped, and randomly and rapidly changed it's shape.
"Not a clue what it is." Alex went over and gave it a look.
"All I know is that it keeps gettin bigger." Mort let out a sigh. "Between that thing and our new neighbor up there." She pointed towards a nearby Seekerpede in the sky's above.
"We arent doin too fine." Alex gave the giant machine a look and smiled as an idea came to his head. He went over to Rivet and handed Clank over.
"Leave the Seekerpede to me, ok?" Rivet took Clank and gave Alex a look of confusion.
"First how are you even going to get up there?" She saw his wounds and while they were healing it was very slow going.
"And second don't you think you could use some healing?" Alex looked around at all of the injured Morts and shook his head.
"Nope, I'll find some along the way, use what you have here for them." He then looked around for a way up to the giant machine. Spotting it off in the distance he just smiled and looked over at the goons that he'd knocked out.
"As for getting up there I'll just ask our friends here for a lift." Rivet watched as Alex walked over to the goons and they all shrieked back in fear.
"Now which one of you wants to help me?" He pointed to himself. "Get up there to stop that thing from killing everyone here?" They all looked hesitant to answer. Alex pulled out his gun and waved it around.
"Really now no taker's?" Still no one spoke up. Alex pointed his gun at them. "Ok then your going to die here when they come to kill us anyway so might as well get it done and over with now." Finally one of them cracked.
"OK, OK, we'll get you up there just please put the gun away!" Alex did so and clapped.
"Good, at least one of you has a brain." He quipped as he went over and untied the one that talked.
"What''s your name?" He asked as the reptilian gave him a look of apprehension, finally it mustered up the courage and told him it's name.
"Bill, my name is Bill." Alex held out a hand.
"Nice to meat you Bill, my names Alex." Bill gave Alex's hand a weary look. Alex just shook his head and retracted his hand.
"If I wanted you dead you'd already be with your friends." He spoke causing the mercenary to wince, as he nodded vigorously.
"Ok, Ok, so what are we going to be doing?" He asked causing Alex to groan. He looked out to the Seekerpede and pointed to it.
"We are going to fly up there using that." He pointed to the intact jet pack a few feet away form them.
"And take that thing out." Bill looked extremely nervous, but looking back at all that had happened a few minutes ago, he was just glad to be alive, and he really wanted to remain that way. So he took a deep breath, and steeled himself just like his bother had taught him. He gave Alex a nod.
"Ok when do we leave?" Alex gave his shoulder a shake.
"Good to hear, we leave when the minute I can get some ammunition for this." He pointed to the shotgun. Bill gave slight cough.
"Um well we aren't using our guns so uh…" Alex caught his meaning and went about stripping the three still living member's of their ammunition. He then grabbed another nearby shotgun and handed it to Bill. As he grabbed it however Alex held tight.
"Don't make me regret this." He said releasing the weapon. Bill once more nodded vigorously earning a nod from Alex.
"Ok Let's go kill a giant robot." He snapped his finger's bringing his sword to bare.