Nova takes in the brand new city surrounding them. The platforms are high above the ground, and the traffic flies around the swingshot course. Floating billboards advertise various products, including something called a B-20 Crotchetizer. Considering the electric underwear from before, Nova figures it's best not to ask about that one.

"What is this place? I've never seen it before."

"This is modeled after Kerwan. Metropolis, to be exact. Figured here would be perfect to teach you how to swingshot." Ratchet summons an extra swingshot, offering it to Nova. She clips the wrench to her hex mount, and takes the new tool in her hands.

"W-What if I fall?" Nova stutters, leaning over the edge of the platform into the abyss below. It's a lot higher up than the canyon, and seems a lot less pretty.

"Don't worry, kid," Ratchet assures her. "You're in your own mind, so you can't die here. Don't ever hesitate with this stuff, remember what I said about falling. What was it again?"

"I won't fall unless I want to," She mumbles.

"Come on, Nova, with feeling. You won't what?"

"I won't fall." Spoken with more clarity and confidence than before.

"Good to hear. Now, the hoverboots are great, but you'll need the swingshot too. They're both gonna help to outmaneuver Nefarious."

Ratchet's mind catches up with what he just said, with what he's been doing all afternoon, and he gives a thoughtful smile. Heh, wonder what Alister would think of this. I'll have to tell him about today later.

Nova sees his mind wander, and tries to snap him out of it. "Hey, you okay? You spaced out for a minute."

Ratchet looks up, brought out of his distraction. There's a thin smile on his face, but a tired look in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm good. Just realized I sounded like the General, that's all. With the hoverboots and now. It's stupid to say since I'm technically old as dirt, but I feel old."

"Oh come on, you're not that-" Nova sees him give a questioning look, and suddenly remembers that he's not in his twenties like his projection looks.

Ratchet points to a metal orb in the air that glows a soft green. There's a platform a bit further out, but it's far too wide of a space to jump across. His body follows his instruction as he explains his methods.

"Anyway, Nova, aim with your hips, look where you wanna go. Use your swingshot to grapple to that target, and swing across. Thwip it out, then release as you come back up. Your momentum will take you the rest of the way, so watch and learn."

Ratchet backs up into a running start, and launches himself off the platform without hesitation. His wrist whips out toward the target, and a plasma rope appears, the only thing keeping him in the air. When he gets close to the platform, he drops onto it, landing perfectly. He turns around, waving for Nova to follow.

"Your turn, Nova! Get over here, and we'll move on!"

Nova gulps, staring at the target. He made that look so easy, how did he do that? She slowly steps back, lining up with the target. Well, I guess I have to try. I'll need this after all. Nova runs forward, but her feet catch on the edge of the platform as she hesitates. That's a hell of a long way down...No. She takes a deep breath, backing up for the same running start Ratchet used. Go for it, no looking back. Be who the universe needs, who Ratchet needs. Who Clank needs.

Defy gravity, and make it my bitch.

"Well," Nova straps the swingshot to her left glove, then shakes her wrists to ensure the gadget is secure. "Tally-ho I guess."

She runs, locking eyes with the target, and jumps. The hoverboots give a different feeling, a constant lack of solid ground, so with them inactive, there's a split second of panic as Nova's feet suddenly leave the stability of the platform. Like aiming a blaster, her wrist flicks to the target.

A cord of plasma flies out, attaching to the point. The wind whips across Nova's body as the platform gets closer, and Nova releases her grip. As the cord retracts, Nova's gut hits the edge of the platform. The force knocks the air from her body, and she scrambles to grip the ground, slipping. Before she can fall, Ratchet grabs her hand and pulls her to her feet.

"Not bad, but you let go a bit too early. Let's try chaining swings together, so you can get the rhythm down."

There's a much farther platform ahead, and two matching sets of swingshot points to carry them to it. Ratchet sticks to the left row, and Nova moves to the right.

"Okay, with chaining them, it's the same rhythm as a single one. Thwip it out to grab the first one, then release when you're in range of the new target. Rinse and repeat. You ready?"

"Ready when you are, Ratchet."

Ratchet leaps forward, and Nova follows. They hit the first point, and Ratchet coaches Nova as they move. "Release, Grab it!"

They do so in sync, and continue. "You got it! Keep goin'!"

Nova's too focused to respond, her mind stuck on the rhythm. Thwip, release. Thwip, release.

Ratchet speeds up a bit, landing on the distant platform as Nova works to catch up. She's not straight, but she's not falling, so that's something. Ratchet notices a large sign attached to the side of the platform, and gives Nova a heads up.

"Hey, watch out for that-"

The billboard that Nova thought she was going to miss meets her rather quickly, and Nova's body sticks to the metal. Ratchet snickers at the sight, and fails to stifle his laughter. Nova peels herself from the wall, and glares daggers into Ratchet. He's far too entertained to care.

"Sorry, sorry! I just-pff-you just-!"

Ratchet claps his hands, and the cackling gets stronger as his head leans back with the force. As much as the impact hurt, Nova can't help but begin to laugh along. Ratchet sighs as he regains his composure. "I haven't laughed like that in a while, thanks. In all seriousness, you did really well today. I'm impressed."

Nova scratches the side of her hair sheepishly, looking back to the chasm she just practically flew over. "Well, I did wipe out at the end, and I can't afford that in the real world."

Ratchet shakes his head as he reassures her. "Don't sweat that, it happens to the best of us. You'll get better and faster as you practice out there. Anyway, you'll have Clank to help ya."

Nova's lips form a soft grin once more, and Ratchet's ears flick as his previous assumption is made all the more obvious. A mischievous grin spreads across his face. "There's a guy back home waiting for ya, huh?"

Nova's entire body freezes, and her face lights up with a blush. I really don't like being put on the spot. Why does everyone assume we're dating? I turned him down. "No, it's not like that. Saros isn't-"

"I'm not talking about Saros, Nova."

Nova looks to Ratchet, and her eyes narrow as suspicion coats her words. "What do you mean?"

Ratchet raises an eyebrow again, and a teasing look plasters his face. "Every time we talk about him, you get that look on your face. Admit it."

"Admit what?"

He shakes his head at her cluelessness, noticing that the sun is dipping lower and lower into the horizon. "Come on, let's head back to the garage."

"The garage? What for?" Nova asks. "Isn't there more to do here?"

"Not really, but I'd like to head back before it gets dark."

"Oh, alright then. Do we have the time to hoverboot back?"

Ratchet doesn't believe her response for a second. "What happened to 'scared of heights'?"

"Oh, that's still a thing. Still don't like the idea of being flattened like a pancake by gravity." Nova smiles at him. "But what was it you said about falling again?"