Chapter 4 is now fully completed (8 YAY!~ Thanks for everyone enjoying my stories :D Its giving me motivation to write more and continue with this story xD Thankyou WhimsicalMayhem! 8D WOO! I loved writing the second half of his xD

Clank.

I wonder how it feels to be named after a noise your body made. "CLANK!" I'm grateful my mother didn't have the same idea, or my name would be Fart! Actually Clank's real name is XJ0461 and was given artificial intelligence when he was created by Orvus - keeper of the Great Clock. Throughout their adventures, Clank usually resides on the back of Ratchet - call it complimentary because it's better than forking over taxi fees. He almost looks like a lunchbox being hauled around by Ratchet all day every day, but Clank doesn't mind.

Truly how much cheerfulness can be contained inside such a little robot? Who said robots don't have emotions? His laugh is enough to melt even a solicitor's soul. His eyes lime-er than a lime. However being little, compared to most other robots, must be hard, but when one has compassion, intellect and a Lombax to ride on anything is possible. There is a deep connection within Ratchet and Clank's friendship. Like peanut butter and jelly. Nutella and marmalade. Even the game title would sound bland without Clank. So next time your toaster pops out a burnt piece of bread don't punch it, because it may have feelings of its own...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RATCHET & CLANK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 4: Pursuit of Happiness

The door slammed. Ratchet turned to see Clank waving beside the front door. Ratchet waved in reply from the couch. Clank ran towards Ratchet in his little robot trot and observed the Holovision.

"What are you watching?"

"Nothing - they're just showing old Vox re-runs."

"But Ratchet, you never watch Vox."

"It's Qwark, he's hanging around too much; he's rubbing off on me."

"It's been just over a day since Qwark arrived. I don't think he would have influenced your habits to change so quickly."

Indeed it had only been a day since Qwark decided to invite himself to Ratchet and Clank's new home in Meridian City. Clank could see that Qwark's loitering wasn't helping Ratchet's emotional dilemma about having to move away from Veldin. Ratchet still showed no signs of happiness and this troubled Clank. In fact Clank had spent the day thinking up ways to persuade Ratchet to participate in some cultural events in Meridian City that Clank classified as "fun". He hoped this would improve Ratchet's outlook on their new home and in progression make Ratchet happy once more.

Clank hopped upon the couch and shuffled towards Ratchet. He could see that Ratchet was miserable by the way he gazed at the Holovision; and bored – very bored. Clank decided to intrude.

"Since I see you are not engaged in any real business I would like to suggest a few activities that I believe may lift your spirits."

Ratchet stopped channel searching and turned towards his friend. Clank saw this and became filled with hope.

"The Full Moon Festival is coming up very soon and I thought this would be a great event for us to attend as I heard Grummelnet will have new products on display. Also the robot down the hall told me that the street next to ours is perfect for hoverboarding. What's more, I have coupons for Groovy Lube's 5th Anniversary! And I was thinking that maybe after that we could go and learn more about the city's history at the new museum?" Clank looked up at Ratchet, his green eyes shining.

Ratchet gave Clank one of his smug smiles. Clank replied with a smile of similar satisfaction.

Over the next 3 months Clank showed Ratchet the great things Meridian City had to offer and adjusted him to city life. Clank did everything for Ratchet – he really wanted to pull Ratchet out of his depressive slump. Clank decided it was time Ratchet appreciated this place as a blessing.

All what Ratchet really needed was to spend some well-deserved time with his best friend, and that's exactly what they did. Every day would be a new adventure, but not the usual adventure. Instead it was relaxing and Ratchet felt great. Clank enjoyed every moment with Ratchet showing him around and participating in the city's events and celebrations.

It was at the commemoration of the moon warriors that Clank finally built up the courage to get something off his chest. This commemoration was held every year at the Full Moon festival to remember the warriors in the Great Luna war that effected Polaris so long ago. The community of Meridian City would each hold a blue balloon and let go of them all at once to honour those who lost their lives fighting for freedom.

Ratchet and Clank looked at each other with a smile as they both let go of their balloons. The blue light shimmered inside the balloon as it joined its counterparts in the night sky. The blanket of black was now overwhelmed by millions of shining azure gems. The city cheered as the balloons danced and twirled in the wind.

The atmosphere was fantastic; the sky full of balloons. Laughter and applause filled Ratchet's ears. He felt a feeling that he hadn't felt for so long: gladness.

Though it was through the silence that lay in his friend next to him that made him ask, "What's on your mind pal?"

Clank was staring at the colours in the night sky. He felt his mind swimming with thoughts; thought of the past. Spending the last few months with Ratchet had made Clank realise what an amazing friend he is, and what he must have gone through when Clank disappeared. Clank felt rather troubled so he decided to get some things off his chest.

"Ratchet, I am truly sorry for what I put you through," Clank blurted out suddenly.
"Huh? What do you mean pal? What's this about?" Ratchet leant down next to his friend.

"My disappearance with the Zoni. I was gone for so long and it was so sudden. Ratchet, you must have been so distressed trying to locate me for all those months. If I had known a way to contact you, I definitely would have. I do apologise Ratchet, I really do."

Ratchet was alarmed by the sudden distraught, "Whoa Clank, it's alright. Of course I was upset, but I had faith that I would find you; and besides, Nefarious had you unconscious so it was impossible for you to ever contact me. It wasn't your fault Clank, so please don't beat yourself up about it, okay?"

Hearing this calmed Clank; though he still couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy looking at his reflection in his friend's eyes. Clank was a robot. Ratchet was an organic. They were so different, yet one would search countless planets and cross vast galaxies to find the other. Clank cherished Ratchet, though he had one last thing he wanted to say.

"If I ever, for some reason, lost my way and betrayed you, would you try your best to convince me otherwise and become friends with me once more?"

Ratchet looked at Clank with concern in his eyes, "Of course I would. Why did that come to mind?"

"Because I know a true friend would do whatever it takes to keep a friend safe, no matter the obstacles or consequences. I therefore would like to thank you once more for being my friend, Ratchet."

Ratchet beamed at Clank.

"Back at ya, pal."

Meanwhile, in a couple of star clusters away…

"It's for you sir."
"Who is it? If it's mum tell her I've started a new life breeding puppies!"

Dr Nefarious was in the middle of creating something big and important when Lawrence entered the room and inanely interrupted.

"Someone from the A.S.S. apparently," Lawrence spoke as if all feeling and emotion had been drained from his soul, "he mentioned something about a callback? However, I should mention his voice sounded painfully famil-"

"Give me that!" Nefarious interrupted as he wrenched the phone out of his butler's hand.

"Hello. This is the Actors Society of Solana. Is this Dr Nefarious?" The voice that emitted from the speaker was a manly sounding woman. No, that was not a typo.

Nefarious felt an onset of shock. The actors union must have approved one of the scripts he had written. Nefarious felt inner glee; this feeling distracted him from finding the voice familiar in any way.

"Speaking," Nefarious tried to sound professional, "I apologise as I had my doubts when I heard the abbreviation."

Ratchet came in the door to find Qwark sprawled out on the couch talking on Ratchet's cell phone.

"Qwark! What are you doing?" Ratchet dropped his belongings and briskly walked up to the couch Qwark positioned himself upon, "I don't just buy credit for you to waste on brainless conversation!"

Qwark floundered violently on the couch at Ratchet's entrance, but kept quiet all the same. He then spoke into the phone with a toothy grin.

"I have called on behalf of our chairmen, Al Kickurass," Qwark was the definition of utter stupor, "We have examined your acting reel and feel that you deserve your talent to shine in our upcoming stage performance…"

Nefarious squealed on the inside.

"…as a rock."

Nefarious's inside screaming stopped abruptly.

"We feel that your acting is so bland, boring and flavourless that a rock would be the ideal role for you. All you have to do is lay on the floor lifelessly for 4 hours. Think you could handle that?" Qwark let out a small giggle that was very Qwark-like and wished he hadn't.

Nefarious heard the giggle. He suddenly felt his body twitch as vicious realisations and rage built up in his circuitry. He clenched the phone creating scratches with his claws. Oh the hatred he felt for this moronic mortal.

"QWARRRK!" Nefarious shrieked ultimately as Qwark pulled his ear away from the cell phone.

Angry screams and curse words followed by an accustomed soup opera emitted out of the cell phone until Qwark hung up. Then there was silence.

"…who was that?" Ratchet asked with great concern.

"Oh, just an old high school friend of mine. Being president I have access to every organic or artificial being's number known to this galaxy," Qwark's face radiated with ecstasy, "Oh, and I'd change my number if I were you…"

Ratchet couldn't help but stare at Qwark with a bewildered look on his face.