The loud bangs of footsteps against the metal floor echoed throughout the dark hallways, where all that was seen was the green glow of Ratchet's Aegis Mark V armor. "Ratchet, do not be so loud!" A worried Clank glanced over the Lombax's shoulder from where he was securely fastened onto his back.
"Oh, don't worry," Ratchet replied in a slightly annoyed tone. "no one's even here!"
"We do not know that," Clank narrowed his eyes, his voice serious. "Nefarious is one of the galaxy's worst villains, we must remain vigilant while investigating-"
"Nefarious was one of the galaxy's worst villains." Ratchet corrected, his ears swooping back and forth as he continued to take a look at his surroundings. "Trust me, he's not coming back after what I did to him." Ratchet had a smug look on his face but he took it back once he noticed Clank looking at him angrily. "Alright," The Lombax rolled his eyes as he corrected himself. "what we did to him."
After the two friends had successfully defeated Nefarious, Sasha made the decision to send them to the evil robot's old hideout to search of any clues or diabolical plans he might have in-store for the next time he tries to take over the world. Although Ratchet was convinced he had defeated the doctor for good, the worried Cazar insisted that they take extra precautions to remain safe, just in case he really did have any plans to return. Personally, the young mechanic thought it was nothing but a huge waste of time, as to why he wasn't taking it so seriously. But he knew Clank was there to make sure they got the job done.
"We must still consider it dangerous!" Clank warned, irritating him even further.
"Oh, relax, Clank! There's nothing even here." Ratchet said as he stopped in the middle of the hallways. "We've searched every room, and I'm just getting more and more tired and hungry!"
It was true, the two hadn't seemed to come a cross a single object that seemed even the least bit suspicious. The hallways were completely empty, minus the few lights that still worked. Although most of them suffering with cracks that wee caused from their battle, which took place a few days prior. Despite that, none of the lights worked in any of the rooms, which were empty as well.
"That is... odd."
"What, that I'm hungry?" Ratchet asked, looking over his shoulder.
"No," Clank answered, about having it with the Lombax's ignorance. "That all of the rooms have appeared to be empty."
"Yeah," Ratchet agreed, peering into the rooms as he continued to roam throughout the hallways. "It's like he took everything and left."
"But when would he have acquired the time to do so?" Clank questioned.
Ratchet put a hand to his chin, pondering this for a moment, but then removed his hand and shook his head. "Well, it's not like it matters." he began, as he started heading back towards the entrance, a.k.a. the hole they busted into the wall after taking too long to find the front door. "We defeated him! What more harm could he do?"
"We should check the map Sasha has acquired for us one final time before we depart, we must make certain that we have investigated every room."
"Yeah alright," Ratchet sighed, reaching into his pocket before fishing out a crumpled piece of paper. After taking about a second to unfold it, his emerald green eyes began to start scanning, only to stop at one specific spot that they hadn't yet explored. "The... janitor's closet?" Ratchet read out loud."
"Excuse me?" Clank asked, not quite hearing him.
"The janitor's closet." Ratchet repeated. "That's the only place where we haven't looked."
"Well then we must look there." Clank replied, wanting to make sure that he and Ratchet would return to the Phoenix with a complete report of the area for Sasha.
Ratchet groaned, "Are you kidding me, Clank? We've searched every other room, what makes you think that there's going to be something in the janitor's closet?" he said as he held the paper up. "What janitor does Nefarious even have?" The annoyed mechanic looked behind his back at the little robot.
"Perhaps it is the other robot who he talks to sometimes?"
"The one he screams at and does the laundry?" Ratchet scoffed, "Honestly Clank, we're waisting our time." he groaned as he began to follow the map, the hallways getting darker and darker as he did so. "We should just go back and tell Sasha the place is... empty?" Ratchet looked up once they had arrived at the closet. He shoved the paper back in his pocket as he and Clank began to take a look around.
"See, I told. Empty, again." Ratchet said, kicking an empty bucket made of metal behind him. Clank watched as it rolled away, narrowing his eyes at it suspiciously. Something didn't feel right.
"Does this place have a light-switch?" Ratchet asked as he continued to look around. He stopped once he noticed a single red button on the wall. As he walked over to it, Clank noticed a warning sign on the other side of the closet, but just before he was able to read it, a loud buzzing sound echoed throughout the room. Ratchet's ears perked up as he jumped backward in surprised as he crashed into the shelves, Clank's optics widening.
"I do not believe that was a light-switch."
The two stood frozen for a moment before the metal floor below them suddenly opened up like a monster's mouth about to swallow them whole. Ratchet's ears went down against the back of his head once he realized it was a trap. "Oh shi-" Ratchet stumbled as the two began to scream and fall head first into the dark pits of wherever this trap may lead. Ratchet hit his head against the wall as he stumbled down, the impact causing him to feel Clank snap off his back. The robot began to fall at a slower speed than him due to their weight difference. After hearing nothing but the two of them screaming in the dark for a few seconds, the Lombax's falling finally came to a stop as he hit the ground. The tip of Ratchet's tail fell on top of his head before he blew it off, groaning as he tried to prop himself up. Clank's scream became louder as the robot began to reach him, falling straight onto Ratchet's his back, knocking the wind out of him. "Ughhh…" The Lombax struggled.
"Where are we…?" Clank asked, hopping off of Ratchet's back as he began to search their surroundings.
"I don't know," Ratchet winced. "but I think my back might be broken." He said, putting a hand onto his back, cracking it as he stood up. Ratchet's eyes widened as he froze in place, noticing where they were. The room they were in was completely lit up, with large lights on the ceiling and purple glowing lines which went around the walls of the entire room, which was quite large. But what surprised the two the most was located on the side of the room. Where there was a giant tube of purple liquid, bubbling right to the top. A chair with straps to keep ones arms and legs in was right next to it. "Well," Ratchet said, a nervous smile on his face as he walked over to it. "that looks friendly." He inspected the chair as his hands came across a button located on the bottom. Letting his curiosity get the best of him, the Lombax pressed the button when suddenly a giant needle attached to a large machine came out of the ceiling at rapid speed, startling the Lombax as he yelped in fear, stumbling backward. The reflection of the needle shined in his green visor. His eyes were wide with fear as his teeth were clenched, and his boots banged against the floor, struggling to keep his footing. The needle stood inches away from his face were the Lombax stood frozen, purple liquid dripping off of it and onto the chair, where it began to sizzle, creating a burn stain. Clank looked over at him from the other side of the room, terrified. Ratchet chuckled nervously as he snapped out of his trance, taking a few steps back as to remain at a safe distance from the mysterious liquid. "Alright, lesson number one," Ratchet noted to himself. "stay away from creepy chairs."
He walked over to Clank, mostly because he was too afraid to explore this place alone after that, although he would never admit it. "Hm…" Clank said, lost in thought as he inspected a smaller bottle which contained the mysterious purple liquid as well. The robot made a clanking sound as he gently tapped the glass, which caused the liquid to turn green.
"Woah…" Ratchet said, squatting down to get a better look as he watched the strange substance change colors.
"It seems Nefarious has been working on some kind of serum." Clank theorized.
"Ya think?" Ratchet replied sarcastically as he stood up.
Clank dismissed this as his optics looked down towards a label which was on the right of the vial. It read 'Mechanicalized serum - extremely dangerous!', with a red radiation symbol printed next to it. "This does not look good."
"Nothing Nefarious makes is good," Ratchet said, his eyes landing on.a giant computer screen on the other side of the room.
"Agreed, we must find more information about this."
"Already on it," Ratchet said, walking over to the computer, Clank turned his head as he watched him walk towards it before following. "Alright," Ratchet said, hitting the on button. "let's see what you're up to, Nefarious." The computer booted up, a bright blue screen shining on it as it began to load, but an error popped up once it asked for a password.
"Password?" The two asked simultaneously, looking at each other.
"Oh, of course he'd have a password!" Ratchet said, putting his palm up to his forehead.
"What might his password be?" Clank wondered.
"I don't know!" Ratchet exclaimed.
"Perhaps there is a clue somewhere?" Clank asked.
"Looks like we're gonna have to do some searching." Ratchet said, putting his hands on his waist.
-4 hours later-
"This is hopeless!" The tired Lombax exclaimed, dark circles had formed under his eyes as he looked up from the paper-filled drawer which was in the desk under the computer.
"Yes," Clank agreed, looking over from the book shelf he was searching. An open book titled '1001 Robot Jokes' sat open on the small robot's head as he struggled to keep his optics open.
"Come on," Ratchet said, grabbing the robot's hand and he pulled him away, causing the book to fall off. "let's just guess it."
"But what if there is a consequence to giving the machine an incorrect password?" Clank worried.
Ratchet scoffed. rolling his eyes. "Oh, please!" He said, "what do you think is gonna happen, robot dogs falling from the ceiling and attacking us?" He laughed while Clank gave him a skeptical look. "Trust me, I've got this." The smudge Lombax lifted the robot and put him onto the desk next to the keyboard. Ratchet cracked his knuckles before raising them and placing them on the keyboard. "Alright," he began. "what could his password be?"
"How about, 'Ratchet is a dunderhead'?" Clank guessed.
Ratchet was just about to type it when he stopped. "heyyy…" he glared at Clank. The robot chuckled. But just as Ratchet typed in the first letter, the lights began to flash red as the whole room lit up and dimmed of the color, an alarm blaring loudly as Ratchet's sensitive ears lowered.
"Lombax detected! Lombax detected!" The computer repeated over the speakers.
"Well, well, well…" Nefarious's evil face showed up onto the screen.
"Nefarious!?" Ratchet exclaimed, terrified and surprised as the evil doctor looked right back at him. Clank looked surprised as Ratchet stuttered. "B-but- h-how did you-!?"
"Did you really think you could get rid of me?" The doctor laughed as the sirens continued to blare in the background. Both Ratchet and Clank continued to look at the screen in terror. "I knew the two of you would be here." The doctor's piercing eyes felt like they were stabbing Ratchet in the soul. "Trying to see what I'm up to, are you?" He asked, a smile creeping on his face.
"What are you planning, Nefarious!?" Ratchet yelled angrily.
"As if I would tell you, you disgusting, puny squishy!" Nefarious spat. "My plan is already in control," He explained as Ratchet and Clank glared at the screen. "now all that's left is to get rid of you." He looked Ratchet right in the eyes as he said that, and the Lombax's eyes widened before glaring at him.
"You won't get away with this!" Ratchet growled.
"Oh!" Nefarious laughed, holding up a remote with a large red button on it. "but I already have." His eerie smile sent chills down Ratchet's spin as the doctor pressed the button, the screen going black as a trap door in the back of the room opened.
Ratchet stood in a defensive stance as he summoned his Omniwrench, clank hopping onto his back as the two prepared for what was to come. Suddenly a dozen large robotic wolves came changing in the room, each one with firing red eyes that were enough to give you nightmares for a week. "Woah!" Ratchet said in shock, tightening his grip against the wrench as he took a step back. One of the dogs came charging at him as he held his Omniwrench out in front of him, causing the wolf's teeth to sink into the handle, barley missing Ratchet's hands. As he tried to pry his weapon out the monster's sinking teeth, another wolf started charging right at him. In a panic, Ratchet let go of the weapon as the wolf tore it up, bolts flying everywhere as Ratchet equipped his Razor Blade gun as fast as his neural sensor would allow him. He leaned back as he smashed the trigger button as fast as he could, letting razor blades fly all over the room, hitting many of the wolves and chopping the head off of the one which was charging at him. Ratchet watched as its head smashed into the ground, electronic circuits sparking all over the part which it broke. Ratchet's gun clicked. "Out of ammo!" He exclaimed, dropping the gun.
"Ratchet, look out!" Clank warned as another wolf came, its mouth snapping at the Lombax, who jumped into the air as fast as he could. Clank took it as he queue to use his Heli-pack to help his friend. Ratchet landed onto the desk, running away from the wolves as he skidded on old blue prints which surrounded the place. The wolf behind him grabbed one in its mouth, ripping it to shreds. Clank watched from Ratchet's back, afraid that would be them next.
"We've gotta get out of here!" Ratchet breathed, trying to keep his balance as he crashed into the side of the doorway before running out quickly. "Come on," he panted, trying to catch his breath. "there's gotta be an exit around here somewhere."
"I do not believe this was on the map…" Clank said as he looked around, worriedly.
"Because Sasha didn't know about this!" Ratchet exclaimed, skidding around a corner. "we'll have a lot to tell her!"
Clank looked as the wolves began to catch up behind them, Ratchet didn't seem to be going as fast anymore. "Ratchet…" Clank began in a worried tone. "they are gaining on us!"
Ratchet turned his head to look behind them, yelping once he noticed how close they were getting. He began to search through his weapons, trying his best to remain calm. But all he had left was the Combuster. Since he didn't expect there to be a fight when coming here, he had only packed the essentials.
"Incoming call from… Phoenix, Sasha." His radio blurted as he accidentally answered the call when he leaned down, a wolf jumping over him and crashing into the wall.
"Where are you two?" Sasha asked over the call. "I scheduled for you to be back half an hour ago!" The captain exclaimed.
"Sorry, Sash!" Ratchet yelled over the commotion of wolves barking. "Sort of in a fight with angry demon dogs!" He tried to explain.
"What!?" Sasha asked, confused as Ratchet skidded to a halt and shot one of the wolves down, panting. "Are you two okay?"
"We're fine!" Ratchet said as he continued to fight. "But we found some kind of substance in the doctor's lab."
"What kind of substance?" Sasha enquired.
"That's just it," Ratchet said, moving out of the way before one of the wolves tried to bite him. "we don't know."
"Bring a sample back with you," Sasha instructed. "we're going have to run some tests on it."
"What!?" Ratchet yelled. "Don't you know how hard that will be!"
"Ratchet, we need to learn what it does in order to stop Nefarious!" Sasha convinced. "I'll meet you back at the Phoenix, Sasha out." The Cazar said before hanging up. Ratchet smashed one of the wolves with all his might with his Combuster thanks to the anger Sasha just gave him. It took a few more minutes to defeat the rest of the wolves, rendering the Lombax exhausted as he wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead with his arm.
"Aw man," he panted. "that's the last time I'm fighting those things."
"Agreed." Clank said.
"Now let's fetch some of that death serum and get out of here." Ratchet said, pointing in the direction of the room they came from with his thumb. The two hadn't noticed the security camera's which were littered around the hallways.
"It seems your plan has failed, Sir." Lawrence said as he watched the footage.
"Impossible!" Nefarious yelled angrily, pushing his butler aside. He watched as the camera's recorded Clank hopping off of Ratchet's back and the two walking back towards the room which had the serum. Nefarious clenched his oil pina colada drink as he stared viciously at the screen. "Soon, Ratchet… very soon…" He watched as both Ratchet and Clank were sharing a conversation. "your winning streak… will come to an end."
….
"How do you suppose we get a sample of this stuff?" Ratchet questioned, looking at the giant vial. One of his ears twitched as he heard Clank clear his hypothetical throat behind him. He saw the robot standing next to what appeared to be a vial. "Oh, right." Ratchet said. "I guess that would be easier." He walked over to it, grabbing the shot out of its case as the serum changed color to red once the bottle came to contact with his hand. Clank began to walk towards the door as Ratchet followed, but it wasn't long before he stopped dead in his tracks, clenching his teeth after feeling a sharp pain in his hand. When he looked down, his entire world came to a stop. He could feel his heart beating faster as his eyes widened. That vial, was a syringe. And the tip of the needle had gone through his glove and into his hand.
hey guys. i hope you enjoyed this chapter and if it does well i might make another. thanks for reading!