Blackwater city soon glowed below upon the murky waters of the planet Rilgar. Ratchet brought the courier ship down curving to land safely onto one of the free floating docks bobbing on the ocean. Above the sky was overcast and dark with clouds. Further in the distance was the city where the sounds of the nightlife and people living the good life there spilled out from the skyscrapers, penthouses, and nightclubs. The city was one of celebrity, Ratchet could see as he and Clank jumped across platforms to the mainland. Garage space for visiting spacecraft within the city was rare as it was a waste of prime real estate for the rich and famous.
Then the due stepped into a city engaged in furious war. The smoggy alleyways and dim backstreets were filled with lasers, flames, and a greasy sort carnage that gave lie to the glitz and glamour of the celebrity city. The conflict that spilled out of the sewers and into the streets was between the city's ExtermiBots and the green slimy Amoeboids. Yet the territory of law and order slowly was being eroded away by the bio-hazardous creatures. It seemed as if the robots' weapons, a spray of green mist had no effect on the Amoeboids themselves, those piles of shouting off amused sounding blarghs as they went to consume the robots defending the city. The situation had prompted additional support, such as the tank came into view as Ratchet started making his way into the city. Then that same tank began a bombardment of slugs at the pair..
Unfortunately, unknown to the Lombax and the robot, there was a curfew was in effect within the city. The ExtermiBots were programmed to attack anything else that did not have a certain pass within the city. This included the Amoeboids and sadly Ratchet and Clank themselves, who could be at best be charitably called tourists.
That was why when Ratchet ran through the hordes filling the streets, the towering tanks pursued with energy blasts, and slime whips. It was with the glowing red trail of flames bursting from the Pyrociter, toasting the Amoeboids into dividing, divided again until the reduction of size from their fission led to their bodily structure collapsing. There were some unlucky Mist Troopers, the particular model of ExtermiBot patrolling the city, which had to be reduced to smoldering bolts that Ratchet collected. The lombax let nothing stand in the way of their mission. Even the tanks were taken down with the pistol and the glove of doom when necessary.
However, a greasy smell of salt and cholesterol brought Ratchet to a stop as he left an elevator bringing them closer to the city's heights and their goal. A mist of steam tinged with the essence of fat, gristle and meat coiled around the lombax's snout and tugged the boy over to a certain building. "Ratchet? Is something the matter? I do not believe this is the way to the race and Captain Qwark." Clank said, optics still on the mission and confused as to the deviation from the lombax's normal behavior .
Ratchet stood in front of a building stall that had a large green tacky sign that proudly proclaimed the name of Galaxy Burger. It just so happened that the lombax's stomach decided to protest the infrequent meals that it had more often than not been receiving the past few days. "Sorry Clank" Ratchet said, "it's just that."
"You haven't been eating regularly ever since we've began our quest." Clank answered, only now understanding the reason behind the lombax kit's actions. As a robot of his particular model, Clank did not need to intake any fuel source, relying on an internal power generator. If the situation the robot found himself in warranted it, there was an external power jack that Clank could utilize.
However, he understood organic beings needed to eat food at set intervals. Ratchet with the constant combat, searching, exploring, and trying to help save the universe hardly got the nourishment he needed. Also, according to Clank's databanks, that was a very dangerous situation for a growing young kit like Ratchet. "You should purchase some sort of food at this vendor then." Clank said, and continued to insist when Ratchet tried to play a tough front.
It was only after Ratchet bought a Galaxy meal from the establishment that Clank analyzed the food being served at the restaurant. The results had the robot expressing second thoughts about Ratchet consuming the fare here. It was too late though as the lombax dove into the galaxy burger and cosmic fries he purchased with gusto.
The mix of enhanced meat products and other artery clogging flavorings and preservatives was washed down with another storm of violence to some more tanks that had the bright idea of attacking Ratchet in the middle of a meal. Sure, the sauce was a bit on the sour side, the gristle on the fries was cool, and the bun was mushy but it was better than nothing in Ratchet's opinion.
There was the familiar sight of yet another Gadgetron vendor in one of the main street clearings and the boy went over to see if a free goodie leading to mayhem and explosions was being offered. What the lombax got was a little thing called the mine glove. "Hey Clank, what can I do with this thing?" Ratchet waved his hand around letting the artificial city lighting dance over its metallic components.
Clank checked the manual wirelessly and blinked. "The mine glove generates up to eight motion detecting anti-grav mines that remotely detonate when in the presence of any organic or robotic based life form that doesn't match the programmed bio-print." Ratchet looked back and asked for less nerd speak this time. The short version, it made floating mines that blew up when the enemy got near them.
For something that had a painfully slow rate of fire, it came in handy quite quickly. The city and the mist troopers had set up a maze-like barricade towards the upper crust of the city. The walls of the maze were bars made of electricity dancing between metal poles. The end result was the amoeboids being boxed into small squares.
That just made the resultant slaughter easier. Just a line of mines in front of Ratchet and the slime blobs crawled right into the blast radius. Their dividing into smaller amoeboids just triggered the other mines near the original mine setting off a chain reaction of explosions that Ratchet watched with a wide-eyed gleam. It was perhaps the best situation for the mine glove itself.
The mine glove's rate of fire per mine was not suitable for hectic battles with the user likely being blasted in the face before getting a single mine out. However, within this enclosed space and the electronic walls, Ratchet had the needed time to set up the mines into those chain reaction traps. Several of those things said in those talks given by Uncle Alister on the proper way to destroy a group of enemies within a reduced engagement area came up quite in handy.
The final set of electrical defenses had to be hacked into with the trespasser. Clank worked on it while smoking puddles of green slime rippled behind the two. Then there was the unusual surprise when Ratchet and Clank found out to reach the higher level of the city, they needed to ride a sewer manhole cover lifted up by the force of a jet of pressurized gas. Clank commented on its implausibility as Ratchet took out the last tank in sight. "They probably didn't want to spend more on another elevator." Ratchet said hunched and trying to keep a straight face as they were transported via another lift to a more residential area filled with small plots of plants and flowers and a higher quality of street lamp.
Ratchet spotted a purple dressed female alien, standing confidently surrounded by blimps with cameras and video screens. He thought she might be in charge of the registration for the race. Of course, her next words as he approached just confirmed his assumption. "Welcome to the Hovercon Intergalactic Hoverboarding Competition! Captain Qwark's giving away a brand new Platinum Zoomerator to the winner of this competition!"
"Sweet! Mind if I join?" Ratchet asked, pulling out his new hoverboard from his... Come to think of it. Ratchet thought, what was this thing exactly called? Noting that the alien receptionist said Ratchet could compete and was handling the procedures needed, the lombax turned back to that piece of technology strapped to his left shoulder.
It was simple at first glance, a smallish disk of some sort of unusual metal. Somehow fitting comfortably over his shoulder. While made of some dull metal, it glinted with a rainbow band across some of its parts. There were thirteen clear glass like orbs and there was several little flashes of memory that had these spheres change color. One orb in the device's center and there were two sets of six in an inner and outer ring. There was a bizarre hint of depth from the components stuffed inside, a mixture of clockwork, electronics, and even nanotechnology all stuffed into some sort of compact space.
What did that little guy say again? Ratchet tried to remember what else that shady cloaked guy said about this thing and how it worked. There was something about this disc being able to store stuff into some sort of pocket dimension and bringing them out whenever he needed it. Thankfully the explanation at the time wasn't filled with nerd speak. But still, Ratchet wished he had asked what this thing was called. He turned it from side to side while the race receptionist continued to handle the paperwork for his entry.
Ratchet guessed that because this thing could store and bring stuff out from some sort of trans-dimensional method, he could call this a manifestor. It was the trade name for the upcoming personal matter to energy digital storage that was almost ready to debut on the general market place. Currently storage technology involved devices compressing themselves compactly to become easier to carry. However, there was a lag time between drawing a device and having it operational.
This device seemed to work like the upcoming manifestors, in that they rendered matter into an energy pattern and could reverse the process with little to no delay. However, Ratchet shook his head at calling this gadget a manifestor. Since this thing was his, he should get to name it what he wanted cause it didn't seem like this thing worked like the spoilers in the gadget magazines he read about. "I'll call it a trans-arm then." Ratchet said the meaning behind it making sense to him. The receptionist cleared him to enter the race. Ratchet jumped up a bit and said thanks.
However there was a small problem, Clank couldn't enter with him. It was for purposes of fairness as the race sponsors wouldn't allow anything else that would lead to viewers questioning the event's integrity. Ratchet awkwardly looked back at the robot who had unattached himself from the back bolt of the lombax's harness.
"You going to be okay?" Ratchet asked, ears flopped down behind his head. Here was another time they both were to be separated. Ratchet's pulse raced and under his fur his skin turned clammy. He still wanted to race but not having that weight on his back that was turning into a comforting presence while he was alone had turned unthinkable now. When did that happen?
Still it wasn't too much of a surprise, Ratchet was still barely into his first decade.
On Clank's part, he didn't understand what he was feeling. This separation had his circuits flaring but he didn't know why.
There did not seem to be any logical reason for this discomfort. Still he said in his cultured voice pattern. "Do not worry" Clank turned to the receptionist "I expect there would seating for those who wish to observe the event?"
The receptionist said that there was seating for the event and there were seats reserved for those related to the racers. Clank said it was acceptable even as his components seemed to burn inside. Then both were teleported to their respective areas. Ratchet dropped his hoverboard onto the ground at the racetrack and started breathing deeply. He needed to win, being joined with the other competitors at the starting line. If they were going to see Qwark to inform the hero about Chairman Drek's crimes then he had to win this.
Ratchet began focusing on what was to come, with some difficulty from the scoffing at the small lombax within this professional race. Those faded away though with the dropping of the starting light. Every other racer here racing for fame, glory and the money. Then again there were some that were in it for the sheer enjoyment of racing. And when Ratchet's hover surged forward, letting the cool night air flush past his muzzle, his anxiety drowned in the sheer thrill of speed.
Meanwhile at a certain distance way, Clank sat down in the reserved seating for those that knew the racers personally. His green optics watching the course from afar though thankfully nobody else sat in front of him. With his telescopic vision, Clank didn't need to watch the floating screens connected to cameras hovering above the race.
The hover board race started, and the racers rushed forward bending and twisting upon their boards. Ratchet was a small blur of yellow against the dark grey of the racetrack. Clank watched as Ratchet jockeyed for position with the other racers. Everybody crossing boosts and accelerating faster with some even shooting off into the water. Ramps and platforms offered alternate paths with the promise of a painful prat-fall at the slightest hint of hesitation.
Clank worried at the sight but was compelled to keep watching, for he saw that upon the lombax's face, was a look of pure joy in the midst of the furious concentration of the other racers. The laps were burnt away with the outcome perilously close, as Ratchet was neck and neck with the third place winner from the last hoverboard championship. At the last, the other racer stumbled over the ramp and he won, Ratchet won! The lombax crossing the finish line to the surprise and cheers of the crowd. However the award ceremony was rather disappointing.
"Hi folks, Captain Qwark here. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce this year's Hovercon Intergalactic Champions! Let's give it up for newcomers-" The screen broadcasting the voice of Qwark showed a monochrome image of the two below, Ratchet and Clank. "Today's winners will take home a brand new Professional Grade Model T-15 Platinum Zoomerator! Manufactured by Gadgetron, this hoverboard drive delivers more lift, speed and maneuverability than any other anti-grav device on the market!" As the floating recorder spoke, the trophy girl glamorously slipped the zoomerator into Ratchet's hands much to the acclaim of the crowds. "Well folks, that's all the time we have. Tonight, remember to set your infobots to the Qwark Classic Channel for tonight's episode of "Dogfight Over Death Canyon", starring yours truly. Thank you and have a Qwarktastic day!"
"Well this was a bust, so now what?" Ratchet said storing the Zoomerator within his Transarm.
"Perhaps there is another method to talk to Qwark," Clank said.
"Like what? Go to his place and talk to him there?" Ratchet made his point with his gloved finger at the trailer where the captain was said to be in. It was behind solid titanium gates with no access port for the trespasser. A few seconds of searching the info-net gave Clank an idea.
The door slammed in Qwark's trailer. "Done what I needed on my end, now's your part then Qwark." A small hooded person said, dripping on the floor.
"Right but you sure?" Qwark was sitting on a flat shelf like bed, the green spandexed hero hunched over from the stress of the past few days.
"I don't like it as well, you know Drek won't stop at the end," The small alien said, the one who sold the Transarm and the Clank Zapper to the heroic duo now approaching the trailer.
Qwark clenched his fist, the hooting of monkeys and the humid mists of the jungle in the back of his mind and on the back of his back.
"You'll have to play your part for Drek's sake, and they'll be okay," The small alien said, though the hesitation in the alien's trembling voice had Qwark of all people realize his patron, his benefactor wasn't happy with this either.
"You seem like you like those guys." There was a bit of a mope in Qwark's tone. After all while the famed hero of the galaxy had made it this far with the other alien's help and his own manly demeanor and chiseled abs. Qwark did have issues with confidence when in a crisis such as the one he was in right now and having his benefactor worried more for those two
"They're the most important people ever to me." The alien said, and then snapped a bit good-naturedly at Qwark's kicked puppy expression. "Ah come off it, they both admire you, in their own way."
Qwark just looked at his hands and flexed with a weak smile. "Heh what isn't there to admire."
"Quite a bit but not as bad as before. Get ready the next act comes up soon" the alien said before vanishing.
Underneath Blackwater city was an entire cave complex connected to the sewers maintaining the water system. The only entrance outside was a lonely ledge that Ratchet and Clank had to swing-shot into the from the docks to get inside. There they were chased by the amoeboids who didn't take too kindly to the discovery of their spawning pit. Of course they were all blown up, it was their civic duty, even though the robot and lombax didn't live on Rilgar.
Ratchet's new hydro-displacer came in handy, changing water levels in the sewers in order to access new areas. And Clank felt a tiny bit of satisfaction with his Zapper giving jolts to those that were daring to attack Ratchet in the back.
There was a moment of panic however down in the murky and damp sewers. In order to reach the service elevator where there was an easy path of Qwark's trailer, Ratchet had to disengage some of the water pumps and dams within the sewer system. However this led to the water level where they were to rise. Now the sewers themselves were a complicated maze, and Ratchet found himself lost several times even with a rough map supplied by Clank. Besides needing to jump around service ledges, paths and waiting for platforms to rotate into place. The lombax found himself needing to swim in submerged tunnels, occasionally cutting it close with his air supply. Clank was thankful on his part that he was water proofed.
However they both were able to make it out of the sewers after one last panicked dive through a submerged tunnel. Funnily enough when Clank analyzed their path later. The duo had taken the most round about route with the least amount of chambers filled with water. In any case finally, their objective was in front of them. The trailer where Captain Qwark resided, finally after all this time the Captain would be warned of the threat to the galaxy. Even the bouncer in front of the trailer let them in with little trouble, saying that they were expected. This was to the duo's awe and surprise but some instinct had Ratchet's neck fur bristle.
Inside the trailer, they came face to face with the man himself who was lying down on some sort of sun bed. "Captain... Qwark?" Clank said, jumping back when Qwark sat up with a start asking who the two were.
"It's Ratchet and Clank, Captain! You know, from the-" Ratchet began but was cut off.
"Oh yes, yes, I know who you are." The hero said, much to the widening eyes of lombax and robot. Ratchet had to ask if the Captain really knew them. Qwark brought himself to his feet, and sternly looked at the duo. "Yes, and thank the Galaxy you found me." Captain Qwark said. "There's an awful plot being hatched to destroy our planets!"
"Ratchet, he knows!" Clank said, with a hint of excitement in his voice. But to the lombax something strange was going on here. How did Qwark know about Drek's plan? If Qwark knew about it, why was he here 'giving' prizes to winners of hoverboard competitions. Why wasn't the Captain already out there fighting Drek's forces?
Qwark went on. "My friends, we're all in grave danger, and together we can put a stop to this madness."
That gave Ratchet pause. "Wait, what? Together? You mean, you want OUR help?" To the lombax's surprise he found himself shaking with anticipation, especially when Qwark went on.
"Look Ratchet, " the man looked down into the lombax's gaze with a expression of expectation and approval. "I've been keeping an eye on you, and I've never seen anyone with such raw talent. You are a true hero in the making."
"Really? You mean, you really want me to help?" There was something frantic in the lombax's voice. Something born from being away from any sort of peers and the only short of interaction being with those that had the added responsibility to see him safe instead of an equal that could take care of himself.
Qwark himself seemed nervous about the tone in the lombax kit's voice for there was something close but no exact that he could relate to himself. "Oh, absolutely. Oh, here, take this." Qwark brought out an infobot, which played an infomercial filled with
slides mostly of Captain Qwark posing in relation to the narration in Qwark's voice. In the background, a triumphant orchestral score played illuminating the majesty of the hero known as Captain Qwark.
The infomercial questioned what made one man a hero while another remains unknown under the toil of obscurity. Qualities attributed to the success of heroes through the ages such strength, compassion, determination and yes even just pure blind luck were brought up as possible explanations. However Qwark himself claimed to know the answer, after all how else could he have defeated more desperadoes, rescued more innocents in certain peril and saved more civilizations than any other hero in the Solana Galaxy if he didn't?
Meanwhile on Planet Gaspar, a certain small hooded alien sneezed as he sniped down Blarg Destroyers. The warships were sent crashing down in flames and crackling electricity with precise plasma laser shots to key engine parts and even the cockpits. Furthermore what vehicles that survived the destructive barrage would have their fuel tanks filled to the wrong volume also have be stuffed with fuel into volatile ratios. The Blarg automated systems were really prone to bug related issues. After all why else would the depot be suffering from spontaneous machine combustion?
Returning to a certain trailer in Blackwater city, Ratchet was informed of his own opportunity to see if he had the stuff heroes were made of! Clank had downloaded coordinates to Qwark's secret base. A location filled with deadly traps, defenses and a variety of obstacles designed to test any candidate wishing to prove himself and earn a place in Galactic History!
Of course there came a quick disclaimer spoken excessively fast disowning all liability for death, dismemberment or guarantee of success. After all being a hero was not for everybody. The infomercial finished and the infobot retreated into the safe and sane depths of Clank's storage compartment.
"Meet me at... uh..." Qwark was revealed to be the one speaking entirely through the infomercial. There was a moment of awkward silence, mostly from Ratchet's part as he guessed that the slideshow was probably a piece of posturing on Captain Qwark's part. "Meet me at my headquarters." Qwark continued "And together we'll stop this menace to the galaxy." The hero punched the palm of his other hand.
"We won't fail you sir, we promise!" Clank said, adoration in his optics or perhaps just the reflection off the single hanging light in the trailer. The robot dragged the lombax out of the trailer, both eager to prove themselves to the hero inside. Though Ratchet was silent as they left to the ship, wondering just was off about the whole situation the duo was in.
And within the trailer, Qwark sighed as he sat back down on the bed. "I hope so too kid, I hope so too."