Disclaimer: I do not own Ratchet & Clank, or any of its associated characters and lore. That right belongs to Insomniac Games.
[RP]
The Racker Pirates
[RP]
Space Pirate Flagship over the Azorean Sea, Planet Merdegraw, Drogol Sector, Polaris Galaxy
A tropical world covered by sea and islands, Ratchet and Talwyn Apogee had been directed to Merdegraw per their unlikely ally's insight in the wake of Clank's abduction by the Zoni. While neither of them were eager about their arrangement with Rusty Pete and the rest of the Space Pirates, Ratchet convinced Talwyn to go along with the circumstances if it meant getting Clank back.
"I know I'm being a broken record about it," Talwyn was telling Ratchet while they stood on the Pirate flagship in the middle of the fleet itself during a stormy night, "but can we really trust Rusty Pete on this?"
Slightly taller than Ratchet, Talwyn was an apricot-skinned Markazian with pointy ears, a tail that was bald and long, blue eyes, and brown hair that reached to her shoulders. Attired in a red bandanna and scarf, green clothes, light brown boots that reached her knees, and metal shoulder pads, Talwyn also carried a jetpack for whenever the situation needed it, and she looked pretty eager to use it in addition to her own weapons.
In light of the pirates being somewhat involved in her dad leaving their native dimension, Ratchet figured he could not blame her for her doubts, especially since he could see where she was coming from.
Exhaling, Ratchet replied, "I know Pete's pretty crooked, Talwyn, but I don't know what he could gain from putting us in a death trap. He should know by now what we can do him after what happened to Slag." Showing the palms of his hands, he added, "As for the rest of the crew, like that Sprocket guy, we'll have to tread lightly, even if their new captain orders them to behave."
"That's part of the problem, though, Ratchet," Talwyn sharply responded before showing concern in her eyes. "They made you their captain, but are you okay with that? Being a criminal?"
Taking his time to answer the question, Ratchet said, "Can't say that any of my ex-girlfriends would approve of the career change, but if it keeps the galaxy safe from any pillaging and helps us get Clank back, I'll go along with it. Maybe if we'll lucky, it won't be permanent."
Seeing that Talwyn was silent in her disappointment, Ratchet decided to change topics and gestured to his present armor that she gave him beforehand. "I don't think I said thanks to you for the armor. Your old man's got a keen mind for science."
Sighing to herself at what Ratchet was doing, Talwyn replied with a tired smile, "Yeah, I'm sure he'd like you, too." Giggling, she then added, "Next time you go swimming with that thing, O2 Mask and all, I'll gladly take a picture to save the moment."
Gladly getting the joke at how he was somewhat wearing a fortified scuba diver's outfit, Ratchet returned the laugh just before they both heard an unforgettable hiccup on their left. Both sophonts turned with uneasy frowns to see Rusty Pete, Ratchet's first mate/starting subordinate, wave at them seemingly without malice.
A robot like his fellow pirates, Pete was built with a small face with large eyes, long thin arms, and very short legs which made him looker slimmer compared to the others. Immediately after Ratchet destroyed the previous Captain, Romulus Slag, the Lombax was surprised to see Pete immediately declare him the "Dread Pirate Ratchet" and was still even more uncertain on whether or not Pete's selection of him as Slag's successor was genuine. It was hard to believe, considering how tight Pete was with Slag before the fateful fight in the Ublik Passage.
Nonetheless, despite Ratchet and Talwyn's misgivings, or perhaps because of them, Rusty Pete was quick to offer them his guidance in finding the Zoni and further soothed tensions with the rest of the crew when some were uneasy in calling Ratchet their new captain. Ratchet had to admit that if Pete had not given out Angstrom Darkwater's name, he would have shown up on Merdegraw way later than he would have liked.
"Ahoy, Cap'n," Pete declared in apparent good cheer. "I just to tell you and the lass that we should be near Morrow Caverns," a hiccup interjected his words before he then finished with, "soon!"
"Uh, good to know, first mate," Ratchet replied unsurely before changing the conversation to a different course. "Is that Sprocket guy giving any further trouble," he asked in remembrance of how he had to fight the apelike Rogue to a standstill when he attempted a mutiny earlier.
"None at all, Cap'n," Pete answered in a way that sounded completely genuine. "Me thinks he'll keep respectin' ye, so long as ye show yourself top space dog!"
"Better than being called a space rat," Ratchet muttered under his breath and then told Pete in a normal voice, "Carry on then, Pete."
"Aye," Pete responded with a mock salute before moving elsewhere.
As soon as Pete vacated the distance, Ratchet turned to Talwyn to see that she was still unhappy about the whole scenario. Moving an arm to grasp her shoulder in reassurance, Ratchet said, "Well, whatever happens, I'm glad that I've got a friend to do this with. Two counting Aphelion."
Showing a small grin at the Lombax, Talwyn asked, "Just a friend, Ratchet?"
Caught off guard by the question, Ratchet stammered before saying, "Well, if you want to be more than that, you just have to ask."
In response, Talwyn cupped Ratchet's face and kissed him. Once separated, she then asked, "Ratchet, would you like to go on a date when we have time?"
Smiling broadly, Ratchet answered, "Sure, Tal. I'd like that a lot."
[RP]
I wanted to make this a longer story as well, but decided to hold back for the same reasons I did The Gadgeteers the way I did. Thankfully, I believe someone will do a good job at making their own Space Pirate Ratchet & Clank story in time.