Checking In
As Talwyn flew the starship in hyperspace with a set course to the Solana Galaxy, the entire company was talking about Vorselon's ultimate defeat.
"It's no wonder this whipper-snapper saved the universe seven times," Commented Zephyr.
"Yep," Cronk agreed. "You oughta have yer own holo-film series!"
"You did great, Ratchet," Talwyn said. "Tell us everything that happened!"
"…and then," Ratchet said, telling the whole story. "I took out my RYNO and shot the life right out of 'im!"
Apparently, he was doing a real good job of telling his story, because everyone was listening with great empathy. Even Talwyn had put the ship on auto-pilot just to turn around and listen to the tale.
"His head popped right outa his tank!" Ratchet continued. "Then I went up and smooshed it!" Ratchet held up his boot. There was still a little blood on it.
"EEW," Everyone said in unison.
"I know," Ratchet said. "It was disgusting, but it needed to be done nonetheless."
"Now entering Solana Galaxy," Talwyn's ship said. "Creating course for Planet Pokitaru."
"So yer not lettin' those reservations go to waste, are ya, Tal?" Ratchet said.
"No way that's happening," Talwyn said. "We would all miss out on one heck of a massage, huh?"
The entire ship went ecstatic after she said those fateful words. Not even Ratchet's Combustor's shot could not calm everyone down. (Even though it was only loaded with a blank shot.) In fact, it could hardly be heard over the commotion and excitement of the fact that they were going to get massages.
"Oh my, God!" Justin said to Cronk. "Can you believe that we get ta get massages? Oh, it's gonna be awesome!"
"Yeah," Ratchet said. "And the best part is that the masseur is a cute girl!"
Talwyn slapped him across the muzzle. And if there was anything more sensitive than a Lombax's fur, it was his muzzle. It began to ache as bad as it does when you take a sharp blow to the knee. It began the traditional aching almost instantaneously.
"Owwwww!!!!" Ratchet howled in pain. Clank calculated the reaction time at approximately point three seconds. "What was tha…?"
Just then, Ratchet understood all too well. "I'm sorry." He said.
"Thank you." Talwyn replied.
"Approximate distance from Planet Pokitaru: One megacubit," Said Talwyn's starship.
That meant that they only had one million cubits to go before they entered the breathable atmosphere of Pokitaru. And they were getting closer to the planet at a slow rate of twenty-five thousand cubits per second. About a minute later, the ship said: "Entering atmosphere of Planet Pokitaru."
"Everyone fasten their Space-Savs!" Talwyn said as she slowed down the starship and switched off the boosters. Space-Savs were a ship safety device that no real adventurer would fly without. It was basically designed to keep the pilot and any passengers in their seats so they wouldn't get snapped back by the force of gravity that any planet or moon had. This was an ingenious device that was invented by an old friend of Ratchet's named Nikone. Nikone was a Lombax who lived in the Leonoid Galaxy, but not with all the others. He lived on Planet Muggon in the Yetis Sector. He and Ratchet had not met in a long time.
Anyway, everyone fastened the belts and instantly found that they could not move. (Even though they all knew that it was useless to try it)
"We're all prepped for landing," Ratchet informed Talwyn as they came closer to the Jowai Resort. They were getting ever so close now, and three short seconds after he said that, the landing pad came into view. However, they were going pretty fast. A little too fast maybe…
"We're coming in too hot!" Talwyn said.
"It's okay," Ratchet said. "Just circle the landing area once or twice to burn off extra speed."
Talwyn did so. And Ratchet was right. The ship slowed down very quickly. Once the old ship's rockets were weakened enough to land, she carefully pulled in and set the ship down.
"Space-Sav system deactivated." Talwyn's ship said. The straps detached, and went back into the seats. "Opening hatch door."
The hatch opened, and everyone jumped out. Except for Talwyn, who used her jet-pack to float out of the ship. When Ratchet was out, he ran to the other side and saw Justin, scared to drop the six feet to the ground beneath him.
"C'mon, Justin," Ratchet said, soothingly. "I'm right here, just drop down. Nothing bad is going to happen." Then, Justin dropped down, or more like fell. Being only three feet tall, he had three more feet to go. But Ratchet, true to his word, caught Justin and put him down.
"Thanks, Uncle Ratchet." He said with gratitude.
"No problem, pal."
Ratchet rang the bell at the front counter. Almost immediately, a Cazar appeared from beneath the desk and said: "Welcome to the Jowai Resort. How may I be of assistance?" He was very polite.
"Can you rent us an island?" Ratchet said.
"Sure." The Cazar replied. "Which one do you prefer?"
"Hmm…" Ratchet said as he looked up at the island chart. He must have looked puzzled, because the concierge said: "Just to put this out there, we're having a special on the royal beach this month, but, it's probably a little out of your price range, anyhow."
Ratchet checked the bolt account on his Manifestor, it was at a steady amount of 1,250,000 bolts. All in a day's work. Ratchet thought to himself.
"No, it's okay," Ratchet said. "How much is it?"
"10,000 bolts a night, sir," The Cazar said.
"Done," Ratchet said giving the concierge a stack of 1,000 bolt pieces. But, maybe a few too many…
"Oops," Ratchet said, giving the clerk a quick wink. "I must have counted wrong."
"Thank you, sir!" The Cazar said with gratitude. "Thank you! Oh, would you like for us to fly your luggage to the island? Oh, and park your starship in the VIP lot?"
"Sure," Ratchet said. "That would be great."
"A transport craft is awaiting you, sir," The concierge said, giving Ratchet an envelope. "Please enjoy your stay, and I hope you find the island to your liking."
Ratchet was standing on the side of the transport hovercraft where the railing was. He was leaning against it, looking out to the many oceans and little land that was Planet Pokitaru. About ninety-five percent of the planet was covered with water. It was all dark for him though, because he was wearing sunglasses that he purchased for five bolts in the Jowai Resort gift shop.
Justin was next to him, watching the waves in the water as they flew by at 80 miles per hour. Then, the little Lombax noticed something in the water.
"Uncle Ratchet," He said. "What's that?"
Ratchet looked over the water where Justin was pointing. He noticed some shark fins lingering above the water.
"Those are Sewer Sharks," Ratchet explained. "Very dangerous creatures. I've gone fishing for them a few times.
This puzzled Justin. "How (and why) do you fish for them if they're so dangerous?" He asked.
"Trust me," Ratchet said pulling down his glasses a bit. "You don't wanna know."
As they flew up to the island, a large cabana in the middle of it came into view. Once they got a little closer, everyone noticed that it was three stories tall, just by looking at the windows.
When they landed on the island, everyone looked up at the thirty- foot house that was to be their home for the next week. Justin rushed in the instant he was off the hovercraft yelling: "Cool!!" Ratchet followed. Ratchet caught up with him in the living room. Justin was amazed at the technologically advanced room that he was standing in.
"You were right, Uncle Ratchet!" He said. "They have a Crystalline 2000 gaming system!"
Justin ran up the flights of stairs to look at the rest of the rooms.
"Dibs on this room!" He yelled from the second floor.
Then, Ratchet heard the stomp-stomps of Justin's little feet running up the stairs. From the top floor, he yelled: "There are two master suites up here! And best of all, they all have Holo-visions!"
Holo-visions were basically TVs in the Polaris Galaxy. You get around a thousand channels at the least on each one.
"Ooh, that's not all," Justin said. "Their all equipped with HVPs!"
That stood for Holo-Vid Player.
After everyone got inside, they stuffed their things in dressers that almost inhabited each room. Once everyone was settled, Ratchet and Justin looked at each other and gave a competitive smile.
"I'm sooooo gonna kick your butt at my hoverbike racing vid-game!" Justin said.
"In your dreams," Ratchet said. "You'd better get your notebook out, because yer gonna get schooled."
Within minutes they were neck and neck on the track. They might as well have been light-years ahead of the other racers, because it was a two-bike race to the finish on the last lap.
"It's all over, Uncle!" Justin said playfully mocking Ratchet.
"Are you kidding?!" Ratchet said. "Take this!"
Just then, a machine gun appeared on the side of Ratchet's hoverbike. It shot out barrage after barrage at Justin's 'bike, hitting him every time until the bike collapsed, and started rolling on the ground. After coming to rest in a smoldering heap of junk, it exploded.
But after the game reset Justin's hoverbike, he used all of his boost to get back to Ratchet's position. Ratchet put his hand over Justin's face to block his view. The little Lombax smacked it out of the way.
"What's yer hand doin' in my face?" He said. "My hand's not in your face!"
By now, everyone had gathered around to watch the epic hoverbike championship of the cabana.
It was now the final stretch. 1,000 yards to the finish. They both let loose with the boost. But, just a few dozen yards before the checkered flag, Ratchet ran out of boost, and Justin lurched ahead, taking the win.
"WOOHOO!" He shouted. "I did it!"
Everyone clapped while Ratchet looked at the Holo-clock.
"Good God!" He yelled. "It's 11:16! Time for bed everyone."
"Aww…" Everyone moaned as they made their way to their rooms.
Ratchet walked into Justin's room. He was watching some late-night cartoons before falling asleep.
"'Night, buddy," He said.
"Good night, Uncle Ratchet," Justin replied.
As he made his way up to his room, he thought: What a nice kid. He's just way too good at vidgames.