The large counter in the kitchen is littered with boxes, each one adorned with Grummelnet's logo. The bakery is almost ready for its grand opening, other than creating the goods themselves. As Nova finishes stocking the refrigerator, she turns to Clank. "You mentioned before that you liked to bake, right?"

"Yes, I did. It has always been a hobby of mine to create dishes of all kinds."

"You wanna help me make the desserts? There's a lot to make before we open." She moves to the pantry to store the dry ingredients, looking to Clank for his answer.

"I would be happy to, Nova."

"All right! Just let me finish this up, and I'll leave out the stuff we'll need. We can start with something simple, like chocolate chip cookies. Sounds good?"

"That sounds wonderful."

After most of the ingredients are put away, Nova gathers a pile of materials. At the side of the counter, neatly organized, is everything they'll need. Clank steps to the precious cookbook, placing a hand on the cover. "May I?"

Nova stops for a moment, appreciating the question. It's nice that he asked. His voice showed so much care, as if touching it alone showed the sentimental value in the pages. He wouldn't be wrong either; there are so many memories in that book. Her parents had it since before they came to Quantos, expanding upon the family's recipes with time. Her mother always planned to leave it to her, but never as suddenly as she did. "...Of course, it's page 617. The desserts are towards the back of the book."

Clank gently flips to the requested page, studying the recipes within. The tone of her answer is a silent 'thanks for asking', and Clank takes care not to dent or rip any of the pages. This book certainly means a lot to her, and it is a great sign of trust that she has given me. "Let us begin with preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit."

Nova is already at the dial, turning it to the required temperature. She moves back to the ingredients, waiting for Clank to continue. "We will need 8 tablespoons of butter."

Nova opens the bag of flour instead, then rips a piece of tissue off of a nearby roll and dips it in a bit of oil. She spreads the oil onto a pan, then sprinkles flour on the top. Grabbing the entire pan, she pats the edges and bottom, pushing the flour into an even spread.

Clank would question her methods, but a small note at the corner of the recipe page describes the act as a way to prevent sticking. He doesn't comment, watching as the focus he saw back when she was playing that hologame decorates her face again. After the deed is done, Nova picks up the softened stick of butter and drops it into the bowl, using a fork to break it out of its original shape.

"Next, we add the cup of sugars. One half cup of light brown, and one half cup of granulated."

Nova does so, whisking together the ingredients into the beginnings of dough. She's already working towards adding in the egg and a splash of vanilla extract before Clank finishes the instructions. She already knows what to do, so why did she ask for assistance? He watches Nova carefully, glancing down at the recipe for guidance.

"After adding in the cup of flour, fold in one cup of chocolate chips."

Nova adds in the cup of flour gradually, taking care not to throw flour everywhere. As the chips are stirred into the dough, Nova finally speaks up. "These have always been a favorite of mine. When Mama first showed me this one, I was blown away. She ordered the ingredients through Grummelnet and we made them in a big stone oven back home. I actually added the flour too quick the first time. It was such a mess!"

Nova giggles at the memory, and a warm smile spreads across her face. "I was covered in flour, she was covered. It took days to shake it all out. They turned out good though."

Clank listens to her story, and it clicks. She did not ask for assistance, she asked for company. She has never been alone before. Clank can relate to her a bit. He knew Ratchet from the day he was created to the day Ratchet died. "The first time my old friend tried to bake something, it was a disaster. He was trying to impress his girlfriend at the time by baking her favorite pie. It took weeks to clean the oven!"

Clank giggles at his own memory, and Nova joins in. "That must have sucked! At least he tried, though. I give him credit for that."

Nova picks up a spoon, carefully placing the prepared batter into small drops. Their placement is uniform, evenly spaced apart to accommodate for spreading while they cook. Nova slows down toward the end, as if there's a lot on her mind. She stops completely before putting down the last cookie. "Whenever I would mess up a recipe, I would always get pretty upset. I've always been a bit of a perfectionist, as much as I hate to admit it. My parents always told me that if I stick with something, put my heart and soul into it, that there's nothing I can't do. I wonder if they can see me now."

Clank closes the recipe book, and the familiar thud gains Nova's attention. "I do not know if they are alive or not, but wherever they are, I do know that they are very proud of you."

Nova's eyes threaten to water a bit, but a deep breath prevents the emotions from escalating. The beep of the preheated oven further distracts her from the past, and she places the last cookie on the tray. "Thanks, Clank. I'm gonna go put these in."

Holding the tray, she opens the oven and sets the timer. Ten minutes later, the cookies emerge from the oven to cool. The tray is placed on the counter, and as soon as they're solid, Nova peels one from the tray to taste. One bite warms her heart and puts a smile on her face. She hums in contentment. "Just as good as I remember."

"They certainly look appealing. I am sure that the customers will agree."

"I'm glad you like them. Baking is weirdly specific. If you get something wrong, the whole thing tastes off, or the batter doesn't act like it should. And if you screw it up, you've wasted ingredients you can't get back."

"Is there a dessert you are not as skilled at?"

"Not really a dessert, but a component of dessert: icing. I can never get it thick enough to use for anything, so I don't bother trying to make it from scratch. Shame, too, 'cause stuff always tastes better from scratch."

"I see. We have more batter at our disposal, so would you like to prepare the rest?"

"Yeah. We have to open up shop in a few hours anyway, so let's get ready!"

The two finish off the batter, placing the resulting cookies and a small assortment of other desserts in the display case. Nova's hair is restrained by a hair net, her clothes are clean, and her brooch sits proudly over her chest. Under the counter, Nova grabs the key to open the door. Before she can move to open it, Clank stops her.

"One moment. Before we open up, Nova, may I ask a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?"

Clank removes a vintage camera from his chest compartment, holding the object out to Nova. "May we take a photo? I would like to capture the moment, if that is alright with you."

"Oh, okay. Sure! It's a big day, after all!"

Nova drops to one knee, leaning close to Clank and staring at the camera lens. She strikes a pose, giving the lens a left-handed peace sign and the biggest smile she can muster. The flash activates, and the black paper emerges from the camera body. "Thank you, Nova. I will keep the photo safe until it develops."

"You're welcome, Clank. Now, let's get this party started!"

She unlocks the door as the clock strikes 6 and the morning light fills the windows. One by one, The few people waiting outside step in, taking in the unfamiliar atmosphere. One of the new patrons is Saros, eager for a chance to properly introduce himself.

The markazian takes a deep breath, giving a carefully rehearsed greeting. "Hello everyone, and welcome to Star Bits!"