Shell Shock
Writers:
Denny and Leila
Rating: PG-RG
Warnings: Ratchet/Azimuth. Violence.
Disclaimer: We value our lives too much to even dare think about claiming Ratchet and Alister as our own. We borrow them for an RP, so don't worry. [Put the Wargroks back into your cage!]
Summary: Everyone's nightmare is to wake up in a cold, dark place without a clue where one is. Sadly, that's what's happened to us. What's even better, we have monsters and weird encounters to endure as well. And then there's them…
Lucky, right? If I ever get out of here, I will need some therapy sessions.
Chapter 4
A green face practically shoved itself into the younger's face. "Sir, may I show you Grummelnet's newest holo armor on your body?"
"Ratchet!" Azimuth yelled out, rushing to the younger as fast as he could, his wrench charged to its maximum that the usually bluish glow was nearly white and the Lombax ready to attack any enemy close to Ratchet - but when he saw the Grummelnet Armor Vendor, not only did the charge of his wrench disappear; instead of the grim, determined expression there was only a baffled, jaw-dropped one to be found.
"Another customer! Today must be our lucky day, traffic here is usually quite too busy to notice us so..." The armor vendor jumped into his monologue further without either noticing or caring the baffled expressions on the two Lombaxes. "-and business could go better so- Oh, where are my manners?" Stopping he peered closely now at Ratchet, eyes bulging even more the Golden Lombax feared they would pop out. The vendor clapped his hands. "My, if this isn't our best customer! Oh my, I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you instantly, Sir. It is an honor to meet you at this remote outpost - Grummel One didn't give you a discount without reason, after all. You have been using so frequently our services. Even more so as you are us armor vendors' favorite. Well, you're our all favorite customer, but my model type always appreciates characters on which we can show off our armors to shine. Even more so when they are as fine and lithe as you, not to forget handsome." By now Ratchet had relaxed completely under the familiar flirting of the armor vendor and shook his head with a grin as the vendor winked at him for good measure.
... Growling.
Azimuth didn't like how... close the vendor was to Ratchet and how... suggestive his flattering comments sounded. Not one bit. Absolutely not. It irritated him, made him want to take a leave - and then that charmed grin on Ratchet's face! Phssh. Irritating. Aggravating. Couldn't the vendor back off already?
Ratchet pushed himself up, noticing in the corner of his view how Alist- Azimuth's brow furrowed and clenched the staff of his wrench still. He was probably angry or annoyed that they had expected some of the guards and now a harmless vendor surprised them but that wasn't the Grummel's clone's fault. Lightly smiling now, Ratchet spoke to the vendor. "Yeah, thanks for the flattery but I don't know, isn't it also your model type's code of work to compliment all of your customers? You know, since you're basically selling 'clothes', just much cooler than the usual stuff in the usual places."
"... As if that was necessary...", was grumbled lowly, nearly inaudibly. The elder crossed his arms and leant against the wall, staring at the direction from which they had come from.
Azimuth's words confirmed his suspicions. The golden Lombax let the white be, he would calm down eventually. "So, have you got a new armor for me? The Ectoflux is neat but I need something with more resistance than the upgraded basic protection."
"Of course I have." The vendor lowered the curtain around his changing room, though gesturing with both hands first to his display. "I'd recommend the Thermaflux to you," he called up the armor's picture and stats, "It offers 30% of damage reduction, partly achieved by the added shin pads, partly by the redesigned nanotech circulatory system built inside. The helmet is enforced and the visor can be used as stylish sunglasses against flamethrowers, bullet fire or when you simply want to take a sun bath."
"I'll take it." 250,000 bolts less on his account were worth this one - besides even if he bought 10 of these, the rest sum would be enough to fill up his ammunition twice and still not be 'zero'. Stepping with one foot on the pad, he turned again to the vendor. "You're always talking about 'us at this place'. This wouldn't mean by accident there's also a weapon vendor close? I really need to stock up my ammo supply."
"Yes, he is just a few cubits further down, through that open door to the right where the third windows begin." Indeed, there was the blue holo-sign of a weapon shop behind the glass pane to where the vendor pointed. With that Ratchet stepped fully on the pad; the 'curtain' rose up and the machine's systems began their work on upgrading his armor.
Azimuth had been eying the two of them secretly. Phssh. So the Lombax decided to buy himself a new armor. The Thermaflux line, hm? It had to be quite expensive. His eyes stared at the metallic curtain surrounding the young Lombax, buzzing and humming coming from the machine as it was probably taking off all the parts of his armor and reattaching them-
... Oh great lords.
The elder suddenly tensed up, his eyes widened as he recalled something. Oh dear lord. No. No no no no no. He didn't do that. NO. LIES! This memory had to be false. Verification denied. It must be some kind of hallucination-
Even worse.
"Oh man." He growled, burying his face in one of his hands. One explanation worse than the other.
With a hiss the curtain's plates uncoiled and retreated in the ring's sheathing. In the first second Ratchet believed to be at the beginning of the red corridor again as this color tinged everything in his view. Calling up his personal computer, it confirmed the Thermaflux being online, status on 100%. "You look marvelous!" The Lombax turned to the vendor who looked pleased like a Tumfoid when spotting a cube of Gelatonium. "The red illumination frames you perfectly and I must say these pads are eye candy, you had good taste when you requested that design for them." Nodding his thanks to the Grummel clone, Ratchet frowned as he saw Azimuth still burying his face in a hand. "Yo, General, are ya alright? You're not having a headache, have ya?"
"I'm all right Ratchet, don't worry." Hell of an all right. If there hadn't been any fur Azimuth would have appeared just as bright red as Ratchet's new armor. "Are you done changing?" He mumbled through his fingers, not looking at the younger.
"Err, yes?" What was that for a question?
The Grummel clone called from behind Ratchet again, using the pause to point out the armor's plus points to the other Lombax as a potential customer. "You should see him, Sir, the Thermaflux suits him like he was born in it! You should try the special feature, the visor has X-ray vision and heat detection!"
Alister's ears perked up in shock, tensing up. Did he have to say that right? now?"... No... No thank you. I think I am well o- I'm good with what I have, thank you." God. Please, please, please let Ratchet not use his heat detector! That would be his doom.
"But, sir! Just look at your friend! He looks so marvelous - not that he wouldn't look snazzy in any outfit we have - and I am sure, after you had a good, closelook at him you'd like to have the same!"
... Oh. Someone. Shut that vendor off. Alone imagining how Ratchet looked right now made him go mad.
"Sir?" The Grummelnet vendor asked with an inquisitive voice, making Azimuth look up and into his direction.
"I said no th-"
His gaze passed Ratchet in his new, shiny armor. Red, glowy. Snazzy. Fitting. Emphasizing his lithe figure.
Oh well, shit. Now it was over with the elder. Mouth loosely open, he wasn't able to finish his sentence, just staring at Ratchet.
Ooooh boy.
... What?
Just within a second the situation had turned into territory Ratchet didn't know of what it was. Awkward? Funny? To decide that, though, he first had to decipher why Alister was staring at him like this, mouth open like a Drophyd out of water. So feeling oddly calm as he decided to figure things out first, and also a bit annoyed he put one hand to his hip, the other waved at the elder's face to get a reaction. "General? Planet to General, need a life signal."
"... Uh..." How ungeneral-like. But Alister couldn't help it - he couldn't help anything. Darn new armor. So shiny, so fitting. Too pretty. Too fitting. What was vendor out for? Actually giving Ratchet useful armor or just something that would emphasize the litheness of Ratchet's b- ...
Oh boy.
Azimuth's mind had another slap over it. This was no good, really no good. Imagination - or was it memory? - going wild. No, no, no, no, no...
Snap out of it!
"Something the matter?" He finally got out of it, straightening up and looking at Ratchet as indifferently as possible. Only that... this indifference seemed a little forced. "I'm just surprised how the armor looks."
"The armor isn't that different from the Ectoflux, mostly another color and more protection. Didn't you see it when I onlined it before we stepped into this corridor?" Ratchet stared back, completely at a loss, not that the General would see it with the visor over the Lombax's face. First Azimuth gaped at him like he was some kind of monster, stuttering - now he acted the other way around, as if it hadn't been anything out of the ordinary. The younger clearly saw that the other stood tensely, belying his words. And he didn't know what he should feel about it. The little sting in his stomach told him only so much.
Just another stare. Alister remained like this for another moment before he looked aside. "True, it's nothing especially new. Pretty much the same, but this looks good on you-"
Oh snap.
He covered his mouth, only a tad too late. The words were already out, and... Damn. DAMN. "I... mean that it really doesn't look like there's more protection on it. They must've improved the material so that it would take less space for more protection."
Wait a second. Had- Had that been a compliment on his looks? Ratchet felt so glad to have fur to cover his skin, also for the visor to hide his eyes. He was used to the comments on his appearance both the negative and the positive. In fact, apart from the occasional gushing from women and delighted children squealing 'cute', some men already had complimented him on his looks though half of them had been rather shady or leering, another part probably were attracted because as a Lombax he was quite the exotic; the Grummel armor vendor didn't count because he talked to all of his customers like that. But Alister was an ally, someone he had come to trust and as he too was a Lombax there was no 'exotic quality' to the younger. He simply admitted that the armor looked good on Ratchet, like Clank would. So why had Alister stared like that?
Ratchet shrugged awkwardly. "Could be. I just thought something was wrong because you looked so strangely at me." Why was this thought making him hot all out of a sudden now?
"No, no. Everything's fine." Alister waved it off, looking up to the ceiling. "I'm glad the bolts you used paid off."
Eerie silence followed. Silence where Alister kept glancing at Ratchet when the younger wasn't looking and when he pretended not to look when the younger looked at him. To Azimuth's displeasure, it was the cursed vendor that broke it.
"See, sir? You look splendid! I've told you from the beginning, and your friend over there seems to think... quite the same." The Grummelnet vendor giggled as he had secretly switched on his heat detectors to find out what the source of Azimuth's odd behavior was - and, as it turned out, the result of his little inspection was more than satisfying.
"What...?", Azimuth whispered, his voice low but dangerously calm.
"My, my, he seems to have taken quite a liking of your appearance, sir. I myself am astounded every time how well it suits you, naturally, but he - hehehe..."
"Shut it!" The elder bellowed, sending a blue jolt of energy towards the vendor as a sign of warning. Oh boy. Lucky, wasn't he. At least he had fur. Good fur.
Ratchet nearly jumped out of the Thermaflux at the Lombax's outburst, running to stop him to attack maybe further. "General! What the hell are you doing?" Luckily the Grummel clone, given his line of work with sometimes trigger happy customers, simply emerged again from his blast-proofed shell with a beaming grin, apparently not at all faced that the white Lombax shot at him.
"I knew you'd love the armor too, Sir! Your companion is always magnificent to show our line's plus points." He giggled even more and clasped again his hands. "I understand that you are so eager to get one of your own, I can right now take your measurement and tailor the basic holo-armor if you so wish."
"Wha..." The elder began, baffled as he realized out of which reason the vendor had made all these suggestive comments. Not out of a reason that concerned him specifically - the vendor had done that just for selling him one of these armors.
... Vendors. Source of all evil.
"Oh... You..." Alister growled and pulled his palm over his face. Really, that Grummel vendor had brought him into a really stupid situation - if he said no, Ratchet would probably grow even more suspicious, but if he said yes... He would get a new armor, or at least have to try one on.
Considering that the prior one didn't please him at all, he decided to let his growl turn into a grin.
"Hah, you've got me." He said, laughing a little. "You've got me real good. True, that armor seems really well made - after all, I wouldn't have expected it to be so much more resistant while looking just as light as the prior version."
Ratchet's jaw dropped. Not only metaphorical, his mouth hung open more than a bit if it took so long to close it. He could understand that for some people, the armor vendor's demeanor with his sell talks would sound annoying or even aggravate them - but for Alister to lose his temper like that? When he said now he liked the armor like the Grummel clone suggested? Had the elder really been so smitten by the Thermaflux he felt surprised, then annoyed that the Grummel clone pointed it out?
Ratchet shook his head, pressing the heel of his hand against his brow. Oh well. It wasn't like he was unused to absurd situations, so this was familiar territory. He quirked a discreet grin, wondering if he should point out to Alister later he had been added to the lists of his 'interesting friends' and 'weird encountered things'.
"..." Alister's glance went over Ratchet's face as he passed by. Wasn't that a grin? ... Oh boy. He hoped that this grin didn't origin in an explanation for his actions of Ratchet. Sighing, he walked towards the Grummel Vendor who was now smiling broadly and rubbing his hands against each other.
"Very well, sir! I am glad that you consider buying one of our armors. While I can't say that it will look as handsome on you as on your friend-" He giggled, for one because he thought of the younger, for the other because he found Alister twitching slightly under the remark. "I am convinced that you will look quite dazzling in it as well. Now..." The vendor hovered very closely around the elder, his fingers going along Azimuth's figure. "Mhm, Mhm... Interesting, hah... What measurements... Hehe."
Azimuth, absolutely uncomfortable with his current situation, sent a more or less helpless glare to Ratchet. "Does he do that with allhis customers?" He asked as he winced and shrieked under the sudden touches of the vendor as he was taking his measurements.
"Which part? The sweet talk or the prodding?" Ratchet didn't bother to hide his grin, his stomach clenching in suppressed laughter at the elder's annoyed glare and noises he made.
"Oh you..." The elder growled, as he saw the blatant grin on Ratchet's face. He bet that the younger was enjoying seeing him in such a spot - he didn't blame him, though. He knew that it had to look funny.
"What 'me'?" Ratchet grinned innocently, laughing even harder on the inside as the other squirmed under the Grummel's touches. He hadn't been better though it had been because the procedure tickled him like mad and it took ages before the vendor got all his measurements right. "You should know by now that all of the Grummel armor vendors talk like that. And he did the latter with me, after all I was a new customer so he didn't know my measurements the first time I bought one armor from them one year ago."
Ratchet had to say that. He just hadto say that the Grummelnet Vendor had been all touchy with him as well! And, with Azimuth's current state of mind, that was no good. The images...! Shaking his head violently, he looked into the opposite direction and tried to ignore the touches of the Grummel. Hopefully he would be done soon!
Different from his suggestive sell talk, the vendor kept silent the whole time, professionally keeping his touches as little invasive as possible. "Please raise your arm, Sir."
"Hmph." Alister did as told, watching as the vendor reached up and filled in the last bit of information that was needed. Satisfied, he distanced himself from the Lombax and entered the data into the machine. "Now, now... Let's see how our holo-visor would project you with our armor on you..."
Beeping, clicking, calculating. As it seemed, the creation of a preview was quite the ordeal - but the outcome, the hologram that was projected into the air surprised Azimuth. Not only was it accurate, but the elder nearly felt fooled into believing that there was a second self standing right before him. Unlike Ratchet, his version seemed a bit more... strong built, not in a bad way. Red lines glowing a little, not too much, the helmet and visor protection of the same color as Ratchet's. The elder made a surprised sound and crossed his arms, looking at the hologram thoroughly.
Hm. It didn't look too bad.
"Do you like what you see, Sir?" The vendor asked with a broad smile. "As I promised, it looks good on you. Even though your measurements aren't what we are used to, it almost seems as if it was waiting for someone of your statue." He giggled and hovered closer to the elder, tapping his fingers together. "So...? Would you like to try it on...?"
Ratchet blinked. Seeing two 'solid' Alisters next to each other, one crossing his arms and the other standing in the armor, was an odd sight, even more so due to the hologram. He had never seen another customer try on one of Grummelnet's armors - and the proportions with Alister just were different from his own rather frail form he always saw on the vending display. Every limb filled the armor with power, long, thick, legs supporting a triangular torso and arms mirroring now the original's stance stood like defensive struts in front of the chest. The head towered as ever over Ratchet's own, now half-concealed by the helmet and the visor, the red almost clashing with the white fur of the ears wouldn't it be for the red-brown stripes there. The color accentuated as a whole the elder's body, especially his shoulders and equally broad chest; Ratchet found himself staring at the lines of the muscles there pressing through the armor's material, then shook himself out of it, feeling hot in the face again.
If Ratchet incorporated speed and agility, Alister was walking strength and ferocity.
"Weeeell?" The vendor asked with an encouraging voice. "Would you like to try the armor on, sir?" Rubbing his hands against each other, he looked at Azimuth who, still watching the hologram, didn't answer. A clear sign for an experienced fashion armorer/salesman like him - the Lombax needed more encouragement! Perhaps from someone closer than he was. His glance fell on Ratchet, a devious smirk on his lips.
"What do you say, sir? Should your companion try it on?" Hovering to Ratchet, he put one arm around the younger and waved to the hologram. "Wouldn't you say that it would be dazzling if he tried it on?"
He tensed as the Grummel slung an arm around him, more because of the question than the touch. Da-dazzling? Why found he that word so appropriate out of the sudden with the imaginary combination of Alister and the armor? Despite that, the words stepped out before he even thoughtabout keeping his mouth shut in the first seconds to gain his bearing. "Sure, why not?"
Ratchet thanked again the armor's developer for adding a visor to hide the panic in his face he didn't know of where it had come from.
"Well, you heard your friend, sir! He too would welcome seeing you in a different light - or armor." The vendor giggled contently as he slid past Alister who, not sure what he should think of that, stared at Ratchet for a second before his attention was diverted by the vendor again. Rubbing the back of his head, Alister seemed not too friendly towards the idea.
"I'm not sure if I should really..."
"Nonsense, sir! You definitely should - not only will it protect you better, it will also emphasize the strong, masculine build you are hiding beneath this armor." The Grummel clone clasped his fingers together as he grinned contently.
"Well... I'm still not really convinced that..."
Tough customer. "And, if you like the feel of the armor on you, I will even give you a special discount, normally reserved for only the best of our customers." He winked at Ratchet before he returned his attention to Azimuth. "Well?"
Alister frowned deeply, staring at the hologram before he sighed and shook his head. "... Fine. I'm going to try it on."
"Splendid!" The vendor said, obviously content. "Now, if you would please enter the machine..."
Alister sighed one more time as he stepped into the machine - and as soon as he was within the circular marking, the metallic curtain rose and hid him from the other two.
Unlike an upgrade, the tailoring of a new armor requested a big part more capacity of the machine which in turn hummed loudly as it created the Thermaflux piece by piece, string by string. Ratchet knew from memory it had taken twelve minutes before he could step out again with his new holo-armor. He wasn't in any means impatient, but he had nothing to do either. The armor vendor's blue sign flashed through the window further down the corridor and Ratchet remembered he still needed to stock up on his ammunition.
"Please tell Azimuth I'm just with the armor vendor if he should be done before I come back." Already jogging past the Grummel who showed him a thumbs up, he stopped again though just a cubit behind the machine. He looked shortly back, tail swishing back and forth before he ran, turning into the room to the right. The vendor's display folded out, turning it to the Lombax. "Hiya Chief, need some ammo or a new weapon at this crazy place?"
Ratchet grinned warily back. "You have no idea."
What. What has brought this kind of fate over me. Why do I have to go through this ordeal? And why did I decide to take a new armor anyway?These were Azimuth's thoughts as he was standing inside the machine, having his armor taken off and replaced by a new, light and elastic, yet firm holo-armor. A sigh escaped him as he watched the old one vanish; somehow it had a nostalgic value to it. But well, one couldn't choose everything in life.
It was a slow process, the change - he watched the machines as they put everything into place and connected the parts, added components every now and then whenever one was needed. It was a little unusual, to have a different armor equipped - not that it felt bad to wear a Holo-Armor, but... it wasn't something he was used to.
"Our systems have registered a symbol on your old armor that could be attached to your current one. Would you like to have the Holo-Armor sign or your prior one attached to your protection?"The machine asked, having Azimuth insist on the latter. At least something had to remain the same if he had to change his armor, no?
"Holo-armor attached. Onlining it now."
A low hum came from the machine as it ignited Azimuth's new armor for the first time - it glowed slightly in red, just as it had been depicted on the hologram. And then, after some minutes which appeared to the elder like hours, he was finally released from the machine, taking a deep breath as he stepped out.
... Odd. This armor was really light, not to say too light. Unusual, yet comfortable.
"Sir, you look splendid!" The Grummel called out, squealing in joy and excitement. "Really, as if this line had been made just for you!" Content to an extent where it was surprising, the vendor fabricated a huge mirror that he used only for new customers. "Have a look at yourself, sir!"
The elder looked at his reflection, inspecting the mostly black armor that was pulsating slightly in red. There was no reddish and brownish tone on his protection anymore, just... Black and glowing red. So unlike the armor he had worn before that - except for the emblem on his chest; that was still there. Only that it didn't glow in an orange tone anymore - now it was pulsating in a reddish tone, just like the rest of the armor. ... Then again, his whole vision was red thanks to the visors on his head.
His hands stretched and bent the material of his gloves. Black as well, a little matte in reflection. Not that he minded, but... "So... unusual." He whispered, moving his limbs as he adjusted himself to the new protection. "Not bad, but unusual."
"Well, this is a good sign, sir!" The vendor squealed and rubbed his hands happily. "You will love this armor. It is light, elastic, and very... comfortable. Hehe." The vendor giggled.
"... Ah." Alister replied, raising an eyebrow over the Grummel's remark. "Well, only one way to find - where's Ratchet?" The Lombax asked, looking around as he could not see the other.
"Hm? The young one?" The vendor repeated, tipping his chin. "I believe he went to see my partner, just down the corridor." He pointed at the blue sign just a few cubits away before he turned his attention back to the elder, staring at him for a few moments before a snort, followed by giggling. "Eager to show off your pretty new appearance? Well, I can't blame you - you look really... dazzling in this new armor." As the elder was already about to attack him, the vendor fell back and covered his mouth.
"Well, better don't waste any more time! Your friend surely can't waitto see you in your snazzy new look." And with that said, he retracted, just right before a small blue jolt reached him.
Growling, the elder shook his head and stowed away his wrench. "Vendors. Pff." Then he walked towards the weaponry vendor where Ratchet was talking to the display. "Ratchet?"
"Sorry chief, no new weapons," the vendor blared, display tilting back a little before snapping back. "But ya have still Grummelnet's special discount as a recurring customer on last year's weapon line so if one of these babies come back for the market, you'll be the first to know. Until then, I simply fill up your whole ammo, deal?"
"That's okay, though more weapons I can use to shoot the bad guys down would be nice." Sighing after he had browsed through the goods' pages, Ratchet accessed with his personal computer the digital weaponry shop and chose the option to completely refill his ammo, the transfer finishing with clicking 'ka-tchick', the sound comforting to the golden Lombax. At least he could defend himself now better when the guards had pistols or shields or were sturdier than they looked like against which all three his wrench only did little.
"I see you went ahead to use your time efficiently. Who could have known that it would take so long for Grummelnet's technology to tailor a simple holo-armor?" Alister's voice sounded from the door.
"Hey, no bad words about our technology!" The weapon vendor called, the display turning past Ratchet to 'glare' at the other Lombax. "Quality takes it sweet time, no matter if arms or armor. It maybe costs you some ar-tee, but ya'll never complain about anythin' with fails and whut-not."
"Never intended to imply that." The elder replied with an apologetic smile. "I'm just not used to waiting at all anymore."
"You heard him, he doesn't mean it." Ratchet placated the Grummel, the display turning back to him. "I guess your partner annoyed him a bit too, you can't deny he can be a bit pushy."
"Yeaaaaah, but that ain't a reason to be like this. We do fine weaponry and armory, and we're efficient too. Nobody's faster with their delivery." A low grumble left the weapon vendor that soon turned into a sneer. "Then again, I guess yer partner has some right to be upset. I know that my partner's a bit... Let's say when we were built, he lacked sum straightening of his metal, if ya know what I mean." A grunty laugh followed the vendor's voice as his shell shook a little. "So dun take it too seriously, it's just his flow."
Ratchet chuckled. "Dun worry, I have talked with him or rather his model type enough to know this. The guy behind me however," he pointed with his thumb behind his back, "has worn the same armor for quite some time so he isn't used to dealing with him. It was so to say a learning experience." Still chuckling the golden Lombax twisted on the spot, coming to face the door. He had already forgotten how the hologram of Alister with the armor looked like so he stared a moment in surprise as he saw now indeed the real Lombax in the real Thermaflux.
"... What?" Uncomfortable with the stare resting on him, the elder rubbed the back of his head, looking aside and putting the other hand onto his hip. "Does it look that weird?"
When the question registered in the younger's mind, he nearly burst out laughing, remembering the similar situation only a few minutes ago when their roles had been reversed.
"Nah, it doesn't." He waved off while he took the time to properly regard the other. "It looks just unusual. I know that armor only from myself, so it looks different on someone who's taller than me. Not to forget the 'shock' of someone else having the same armor as I."
"... So you're afraid that it's taking away your uniqueness?" Azimuth asked with a smirk, now a little more relaxed again. "I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention." Silence, only accompanied by the slight humming from the vendor's processors came over them. Azimuth, who still didn't look at the other, was now shifting his weight from one side to the other, still rubbing his head as if he was waiting for something.
A frown wrinkled Ratchet's forehead. When Alister's words had reminded him of his anxiety when the other had stared at him, the elder refused now again to look at him. Unlike before he seemed anxious himself now, with how he shifted as if he didn't know what to say. But then Ratchet shrugged. Maybe Alister would tell him later what was going on with him. "I think you just politely used 'uniqueness' for 'weirdness' but I won't hold it against you." He crossed his arms with a smirk and the elder finally turned his head to him, eyebrow quizzically rising. "Besides, I think it looks good on you. Cool. The illumination and the black bites with my fur color, on you it fits because of the contrast between black and white and the red goes with your stripes. Saying it again - you look cool."
"... I guess that's a compliment?" The elder replied, not quite if he should smile or be puzzled. Cool, that was a word Ratchet's generation used to describe something that was good, so that was something nice to hear. Still... He hadn't heard the younger say it ever to express something nice.
"No, it's a love declaration." Ratchet rolled his eyes, striding to the elder. "Of course it's a compliment. I'd never say 'dazzling', but if these describe it better - you look powerful because you're taller and broader than me and in total black, and red just screams 'power' or danger. Add the visor and you're one mysterious guy others would rather find about first what weaknesses he may have before attacking him."
"... Sounds like an assassin or a sniper to me." Azimuth remarked, now smirking at the younger. "Not that I mind." Good. At least he didn't look like an alien from outer spa-dimensions. That calmed him down as he hadn't been for the change of his armor from the beginning. "So..." The elder began as he gave the younger a sign to walk on with him. After all, they hadn't reached the end of the corridor yet. "I suppose that you bristle with weapons by now?"
"Well, my weapons are bristling full with ammo. Unfortunately they had no new ones which would have meant maybe one more advantage against whomever we're going. I really wish I had the Mag-Net cannon..." While he talked, Ratchet still kept his ears strained to any other sounds above or under the Grummels' humming machines. Thanks the stars for sharp Lombax hearing.
"Well, at least we can defend ourselves better now." Azimuth spared a glance at the spot where the armor vendor was, snorting faintly before he entered the part of the corridor they didn't know. And as they proceeded, the faint, red light slowly reappeared, accompanied by small displays. To Azimuth's surprise, this corridor resembled the other one a lot - it was now to hope that they wouldn't find the same at the end of it though.
"Ugh, say, couldn't we have asked the Grummels if they knew if there were any guards close?" He clenched and unclenched the hand on his wrench, the similarity of the corridor to the former, blue one unsettling him.
"... We could have." Azimuth stopped and frowned. "... We could go back and ask them, but we would lose time. Then again..." His fingers tipped against his upper arms, surprised that he didn't feel the direct touch, but something very close to it. He raised an eyebrow over this realization as he knew that he had to get used to this armor a bit more. "Do you think it's necessary?"
"Necessary? I dunno, it could be helpful." Ratchet rubbed his chin then threw his hand outside in nervous manner. "The armor vendor told that there always someone running past them, never buying anything. Do you think whoever the guards are working for supplies them with weapons?"
"It wouldn't be wrong to assume that." Azimuth frowned as he followed this train of thought. "Or... they are simply not in need of any kind of weaponry. ... Truth be told, I like the first possibility better." His gaze went over the walls; pipes, displays - no room for secret doors; at least for ones the elder knew. He guessed, however, that the guards weren't in need of them - after all, their appearance had neither been robotic nor organic - rather something in between that could change its shape at its will.
... Well, that was an disquieting thought. What if they could emerge from any slit?
"... Yeah, me too." Ratchet murmured, following the elder's gaze along the walls, catching on what he probably thought. If even Alister considered his words of possible hidden doors through which the guards could step undetected by them...
"... Don't worry. We are better prepared now." The elder said as he noticed Ratchet's tension - not that he wasn't nervous at all. In fact, he felt uncomfortable - so many unknown facts... it wasn't something he was used to, and he didn't like it. If he had at least a bit of information...
Gripping the handle of his wrench tighter, the younger shook his head, scowling. Like hell he'd let himself be scared by those guys, even if they were creepy Shapeshifters. "You know, if the Grummels knew something I doubt whoever is behind this facility would them let stay here." He bit down 'alive'. "They're kinda obvious and if there are so many guards around, this place must be important - at the same time they don't bother with the Grummels."
"True." Azimuth nodded in agreement. "Or... they are just that confident in their guards that even if the Grummels knew anything, it wouldn't change a thing." He paused as he thought over his own words, shaking his head slightly. "I'm sorry. I'm a bit pessimistic right now - I just don't want to stand in front of these guards and then say that I didn't assume some possibilities." He sighed and looked forward. Such a long corridor, perhaps a tad longer than the other - or was it just his own impression?
"I think being pessimistic might save us our butts this time. But there's one good thing we learnt yet from the Grummels." Alister turned back to him and raised again that famous eyebrow of his which Ratchet answered with a cheesy grin. "If they're here, it means we're still in Polaris. So sorry ta tell ya didn't get to experience what it's like to be abducted to another galaxy."
"... Hah." Azimuth sighed in a relieved way, smiling faintly. "Well, that's one thing I'd love to remain as such. I wouldn't welcome being abducted by anyone in the first place." Stretching his arm to loosen some tension, another relieved sound came from him. "Then again, maybe Grummelnet has become so powerful that it reached to another galaxy as well?"
"At least you were never abducted so you should be happy." Crossing his arms, Ratchet's only mock glare at the broad back melted into real, though dimmed, anxiety. Walking past a surprised Alister, he stopped, not turning around. "Besides, the worst I had didn't take me into another - have you ever heard of a show called 'Dreadzone'?"
"Dreadzone?" Alister repeated, a rather puzzled stare in his eyes. "... I can't say I've heard of it - and even if it must have been only vague." He frowned as he tried to think of anything that could be related to it until he found something in his memory. "Wait... I think I remember something. There has been a rumor out here that there's a sector which was used for illegal gladiator games. Is that the Dreadzone you're talking about?"
A snort escaped Ratchet at that. He looked over his shoulder at the elder who seemed even more puzzled now, staring at him when the golden Lombax smiled bitterly back. "I'm not only talking about it. I had to liveit for some weeks."
"... What?" The elder furrowed his brows, blinking as he was confused about Ratchet's remark. "You... You were part of that?" So it wasn't a rumor at all?Azimuth felt his breath growing heavier as he tried to comprehend the meaning behind it - and when he did, his eyes grew wide as he stared at Ratchet. "But... Why and how did it come to this?"
The golden Lombax slowly turned his upper body first, then his legs back to Alister, his head hanging just the slightest bit and his eyes downcast. "Tell me first how much you heard about Dreadzone." Gloved fingers dug into his palm. He didn't want to remember that time but he had opened that can of Cragmites now.
"... Well... It isn't much more than I've told you already." Azimuth bit his lip, his gaze wandering between Ratchet and the ground. "It was rumored to be some kind of illegal sports, no gladiator show. Some said that heroes had to fight against each other there, others meant that it was just completely senseless violence to appease the viewer's desires. ... But other than that I don't know anything."
"It was. An. Gladiator show." The growl sounded through the corridor and only when Ratchet noticed the vibrations in his throat he realized it was coming from him. No matter if he had overcome his experiences in Dreadzone, he still felt getting hot in anger at its 'concept' Alister had crudely summarized. "It doesn't matter as what they sold it - Vox kidnapped and basically enslaved popular heroes in Solana to force them to fight against each other in the Shadow Sector, a lawless part of Solana. If it went to death for one or even both of them during the fights, so all the better in his view." He threw his head back, barking. "Good for the ratingshe would say because as you said, everything to appease the viewers' desire for violence."
Azimuth was tempted to step back at the sudden growl coming from Ratchet, surprised that just stating what he knew evoked such a reaction - but as he listened on to Ratchet's brief, but clear summary on Dreadzone, the elder felt his eyes grow wide. Then, as soon as the boy had finished and as he completely comprehended the information given to him, he sensed a sting in his stomach, as if his intestines wanted to turn around. ... The image of heroes forced to fighting for something as futile as rating... To Azimuth, this was simply... disgusting. Disgusting for he couldn't believe someone would think of such a concept for... idiotic reasons.
And Ratchet had been part of it?
The elder gulped silently as suddenly the image in his mind changed to one that included the younger. ... It just made it much, much worse. His gaze rested on Ratchet. Had the Lombax killed other heroes in order to survive? It would not be wrong to assume that, considering the circumstances - but... No. That couldn't be, right? Even if his mind now spat out the corresponding pictures, he refused to accept that possibility.
And with that going through his mind, Azimuth did not know what he should say to the younger. Could he assume that he could say something that actually was appropriate?
No.
But what should he do then?
"Luckily, I never had to kill anyone." The mutter barely was loud enough to echo in the corridor, lest to be heard by the other Lombax if he hadn't listened intently. "Or rather I refused to play Vox's stupid games. Dreadzone could corrupt you into enjoying the fights, hurting others, the cheering of the crowd clouding your head. But I didn't want that - I didn't want to hurt, less kill anybody just because it would get me fame. There maybe was an explosive collar around my neck, but damned if I would follow Vox's rules." He stared right into Alister's eye who actually fidgeted. I'd just have become like Ace Hardlight - he'd been a hero before but Dreadzone changed him, made him arrogant, high on his fame that pulled a dirty trick and shot Captain Starshield in the back without hesitation. When Al and Clank tried to remove the collars, he shot Al too - he's the reason why Al turned into a cyborg, even if he liked his new body. In the end when I defeated him, though, he realized what he had become as he warned me not to let Vox do the same to me what he'd done to him. So when he asked me to take Ace's position as the Exterminator and his product deal, I told him he was stupid."
As sudden as the tension had come, it left the younger, shoulders relaxing and with a grim smile on his lips. "Vox wasn't pleased, to say the least. He wanted to blow up the Dreadzone station, including the remaining contestants and his own employees. It got to bite him back as we all but him escaped and the explosion took him with Dreadzone." He remained like that for a moment, standing still with only his tail swinging lightly to and fro before he shook his head as if waking himself from a trance.
Silence. Azimuth was speechless, literally speechless and out of idea what do to. What Ratchet had told him was anything but light chit-chat he could brush off - it was... worse. Just hearing that... made his insides cringe. And Ratchet had survived that? All of it? It was impressive, especially regarding the circumstances under which he had kept his values - and, even thought Azimuth didn't know why he did, he felt a slight sense of pride for the younger. Really... Ratchet was something else. Just... impressive.
But that didn't help him find out what to do.
The elder bit his lip as he watched the younger just standing there. What could he say? What could he do? Just walk over and say "Yeah, you did well" and all this nonsense with no suitable content? No. But... walking over might be a start.
As he thought that, he slowly approached the younger, hesitatingly as he still wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do. He stopped half-way too, as he reflected on his actions again - was that the right action? He didn't know. ... And the more he thought about it, the more stupid seemed his idea to him.
... Ah, the pleasure of indecisiveness. He hated it.
As Alister's cautious approach, Ratchet chuckled half weary, half sheepish. "Sorry I went a bit dark on you, including the walk down the memory lane. Dreadzone is just a sore spot for me even now after these three years. I wonder why a grown-up teenager like me back then already had so bad luck."
"What?" Azimuth's ears perked as he heard the younger speak about his age at that time. "You... As teenager..." He stuttered as he tried to cope with the newly gained information. "But... This..."
Oh what in the world had Ratchet have to go through during his adolescence?
Great, he achieved to upset the other further instead of reassuring him. Annoyed at himself, Ratchet laid his palm over the side of his face, sighing with a shake of his head. "Forget it, please. I shouldn't have mentioned it in the first place just because you mentioned the stuff about abducting. Maybe I'm just not over as it as I thought I was if my mind jumped right there or it's still the concussion. I dunno."
"... Whatever the reason, it was... interesting to hear about yourself." Azimuth said hesitatingly. Not quite the most sensitive remark he could make, but he couldn't think of any better. "Or maybe you just needed to tell someone about it?" Slowly he walked towards the younger, stopping a bit before him.
"Maybe." He smiled at the elder, though he forced the corners of his mouth upwards. "Yanno, most of my friends are around my age, except for Cronk and Zephyr but they're in many points exceptions to the rules, so I'm kinda unused to talking about serious stuff with someone older." He stepped a cubit down the corridor before he stopped again, the smile becoming sheepish though more real this time. "It's kind of nice - I mean to have someone older than yourself to talk to."Slowly the tension of his relived memories left Ratchet - it helped greatly that Alister had worried for him, causing warmth in his chest - but the tension of an unknown threat ahead kept his eyes darting back and forth, ears twitching subtly to try to register any suspicious noise.
"... Heh. I take this as a compliment." Although I can't see how I've earned it right now.Azimuth smirked, relieved that Ratchet was smiling more honestly this time, and stepped beside the other Lombax, continuing to walk that way as they prolonged their exploration of that corridor. Not that it was particularly interesting - it was simply the red version of the blue corridor, with a difference every now and then. Which was why Alister's attention was on Ratchet, even if it was only subconsciously.
Ratchet spoke the truth when he admitted it was nice to have someone older to turn to. It felt truly different to see Alister worry for him compared to Ratchet's other friends but just as nice, maybe because the other Lombax was much more experienced and wiser than him. So slowly the tension of his relived memories left Ratchet but the tension of an unknown threat ahead kept his eyes darting back and forth, ears twitching subtly to try to register any suspicious noise.
Just then as they turned around a corner, a familiar dull sound echoed through the corridor. It reminded Ratchet of the inside of the Hollowon Torren IV.
"... Something the matter?" Azimuth asked, his voice turned down to a whisper. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah, it sounds like the assembly line in the Hollow." Indeed Ratchet did now believe also to hear what might be hammers hitting metal and other sounds of a factory.
"... Now that you mention it, it does sound similar." Alister frowned, the grip around his wrench growing tighter. "I don't think we'd meet Vullards here, though. So... Who could be working there?"
The next corner and suddenly opening, giant hall answered Azimuth's question. Molten metal cascaded from a cauldron into forms caved into ground in front of the balcony they were standing on, the heat scorching the Lombaxes' fur, they even felt it on their skin.
Another field with shapes connected to the red-yellow glowing inferno but it was calm, the cooled metal there now in an ashen gray. Workers in silver protective suits were busy pulling out the parts with what seemed magnets on sticks as the metal stuck to the round ends. The air flickered, smoke and steam obscuring partially walkways on the other side of the hall.
"What..." Azimuth could but stare at what he saw before him. Such heat! It was nearly unbearable. "What is this place?" The noise around him made him wince a little as it was quite a big change from the silent environment before - still, he couldn't stop looking at the workers. What were they doing?
One of the workers had suddenly jerked, the motion then going through the other's like an impulse went from the first through an invisible wire from one to the next. They scrambled into a straight line, holding their batons horizontal as if they were presenting. Puzzled by this behavior, both Lombaxes edged to the frame, Ratchet a bit closer to it.
A green, round-pointed form appeared at the bottom view over the rail. Ratchet stopped shortly. Could it be...?