Disclaimer: Ratchet and Clank and all related characters, locations, and concepts belong to Insomniac Games. All other ideas and characters are my own. I am not a lawyer.

Author's Note:

It's been some time since my last update, mainly because I've had to work on university applications. Filling them out is draining. This oneshot took me a bit longer to write, too; it's the longest one I have here so far.

In other news, I haven't really gotten any reviews so far, which is a bit unsettling. I think I have a fairly good handle on grammar, but I'm not sure if my writing is actually any good. I know that there's room for improvement. It would be great to get some feedback! I'd be happy with even just a few words. Don't be afraid of being harsh, either.

(EDIT: I've gotten some reviews now, for which I am deeply grateful. The request for feedback still stands, though.)

Basically, any reviews are appreciated!

Chapter summary: Ratchet's stuck in a dream again. For once, instead of being assaulted by enemies, he encounters a friend. Set during A Crack in Time; watch out for spoilers. May contain some allusions to Size Matters.

3. Light

Ratchet opened his eyes. For a moment, he didn't think that they were actually open. It was hard to see anything, given how dark his surroundings were. He tried taking out his wrench, and realized, to his dismay, that all of his weapons had vanished. The best course of action would be to wait, then. Ratchet blinked as his eyes adjusted to the darkness around him. The tunnel was mostly silent, save for the sound of water dripping, and maybe a faint humming noise. It smelled of rust and earth; he was probably underground.

Shapes began to emerge from the shadows, illuminated by bits of light that streamed through cracks in the ceiling. Ratchet realized that he was actually in a tunnel. Once he decided that he could trust his feet, he stood up. He noticed that ceiling was too high for him to touch, and that the ground was uneven under his feet.

Ratchet didn't know what he was doing there. His mind drew a blank when he tried to remember how he had gotten to the tunnel in the first place. The last thing that he could remember was being fired at. That wasn't much of a clue, though; hardly a day went by when somebody didn't try to kill him. It was part of the job description.

Where am I? he thought. Did Vorselon manage to knock me out and throw me in here?

Ratchet reached out and touched the wall nearest to him, trying to see if there was any possibility of breaking out. His hand passed through it, as if the wall were only a hologram. It tingled. He withdrew his hand, but then reached out again, curiosity overcoming caution. The second time he touched the wall, it was solid.

Then, it dawned on him. He was in his subconscious. That was why he couldn't remember anything. He'd been here, or someplace like here, before; back when he had been knocked out by the Technomites. He'd probably taken a few hits too many and gone out like a light.

The last time he had been in his subconscious, it had been downright nightmarish. He'd been attacked on an operating table and pursued by giant laser eyeballs. Familiar people had become dangerous enemies. At one point, his weapons had turned into butterflies. All in all, it hadn't been fun. Thankfully, the last time that he had been in his subconscious, Clank had pulled him out.

Ratchet remembered, with a pang, that Clank had been kidnapped.

Looks like this time, I've got to find my way out myself.

At least the dreamscape was calm, this time. The fact that he was in a tunnel was some consolation, too. He didn't run the risk of falling from platforms. Still, it was dark. Ratchet turned around, searching for a source of light. He spotted some phosphorescent goo on one side of the tunnel farther up. The goo continued down the tunnel as far as he could see. He began to follow it. It was worth a shot. At least then, he could see where he was going.

As Ratchet trudged down the tunnel, he noticed that it branched off in places. He kept following the main tunnel—following the glowing goo—but soon grew curious. Some of the tributaries were brighter, almost as if they could lead him aboveground. Others were darker, with strange sounds coming from deep inside them. At one point, when he looked down a tunnel, he spotted some movement on the ground.

Against his better judgement, Ratchet entered the smaller tunnel. It was probably a bad idea; he half-expected to encounter Qwark wielding a chainsaw. Instead, he found himself swarmed by miniature Agorians. They were tiny—only reaching up to his ankle—and they swarmed and attacked him like Tetramites. Ratchet tried crushing them underfoot. They evaded him. In a flash, they turned into butterflies and flew away.

Great, Ratchet thought. Why is it always butterflies?

Ratchet sighed. He was having another one of those dreams. The Lombax turned back and continued down the main tunnel.

After what seemed like ten minutes of walking—but which could have been five seconds or an hour—Rathet came to a fork in the tunnel. The goo, which had made its way to the ceiling, faded away where the tunnel separated. Ratchet paused in front of the fork. The tunnels were both the same size.

Clearly, he had to choose which way to go. He wondered if it really mattered. One of the paths was dark, while a brilliant light streamed from the other. Ratchet was inexplicably drawn to the darkness. Funny. Normally, you'd want to go towards the light, but this time…

"Ratchet?"

The Lombax jumped at the voice. It came from the darker tunnel.

"I've been waiting a long time to see you," the voice continued. It was deep and warm, and almost familiar, though Ratchet didn't remember ever having heard it before.

The shadows in the darker tunnel stirred, and another Lombax emerged. He was almost a spitting image of Ratchet, even having the same fur and eye colour. The only things that seemed to differentiate the two were the stripes that ran down the elder Lombax's cheeks.

"You, my dear boy, look just like your father."

Suddenly, it all became clear. Ratchet's eyes widened.

"D-Dad?"

The word felt strange in his mouth; Ratchet didn't know if he had ever used it before.

Kaden nodded. "Hello, son," he said.

Ratchet blinked. They stared at each other in silence for a moment. Kaden looked pretty much exactly as he had on the picture that Alister had shown him. His armour was similar to Alister's, too. Ratchet also realized that he and his father weren't completely identical; Kaden's face actually looked a bit different from Ratchet's. Kaden had a more pronounced chin, and a few more wrinkles. Still, the similarities were there.

"You know," Kaden said, "I had a different name in mind for you. Now that I think about it, though, 'Ratchet' suits you better… Hello? Ratchet?"

Ratchet realized that he was gaping like a beached Drophyd. He closed his mouth.

"Oh, sorry," Ratchet said. "I'm just a bit… weirded out— no, I… Hold on."

Ratchet looked down and rubbed his forehead. When he looked back up, Kaden was still there, looking at him with some concern.

Okay, Ratchet thought, so he's real. As real as you can get in this place, anyway.

Ratchet had so many questions, there were so many things he wanted to say. It was all a bit overwhelming. He blinked, reminding himself that this was all a dream. He didn't have a reason to be surprised. Besides, soon, he'd wake up and probably forget that all of this had happened.

"Just because this is a dream," Kaden said, "doesn't mean that it isn't actually happening."

It was as if he was reading Ratchet's mind. Maybe he was. This was the one place where anything was possible.

Ratchet tapped his chin, trying to gather his thoughts together. Finally, he settled on something to say.

"Can you tell me about the Lombaxes? I've got a lot of questions. Alister's told me some stuff, but he's keeping a lot of secrets…"

A strange look flitted across Kaden's face for an instant, before being replaced by a smile.

"You'll find out soon enough, son. For now, you've got more pressing matters, I think. Anyway, you've got to take the other path."

He pointed down the illuminated tunnel. Ratchet stared down it, but then looked back up at Kaden. He couldn't shake the thought that his father wasn't telling him something.

"Hold on," Ratchet said, "you're leaving?"

"I've wasted too much of your time already. You have many matters to take care of, and you'll find out everything you need to know in due time."

Kaden's voice had the intonation of someone talking about groceries or the weather. Ratchet fumed inwardly, trying not to let his frustration show. Was anybody ever going to give him a straight answer?

"Is it too much to ask for a little advice?"

Ratchet paused, realizing how harsh he had sounded. He looked up at his father. The forced grin on Kaden's face was gone. In its place was a weary expression, one that made Kaden look like he had gone to the end of the universe and back.

"It's not going to be easy," Kaden said. He sighed. "I can't tell you much about what lies ahead without causing a time paradox. I can tell you one thing, though. The past must stay as it is. You must keep everything as it is. That is of vital importance."

"Why—" Ratchet started, confused, before Kaden interrupted.

"I can't tell you any more. Just trust me, and remember. Now, we're out of time. You've got to go. Good luck, my son."

"Will I ever see you again?" Ratchet asked. "Well… uh… you know, not see you, but…"

Kaden laughed, resting a hand on his son's shoulder. "Just because you don't see me, doesn't mean I'm not always there." He pointed to Ratchet's chest, where his heart would be. "I'm your father, and I'm a part of you. That's what counts."

He turned around and began to walk away, his form fading at the edges.

"Wait, I—"

It was too late. Kaden had faded away, back into the shadows from which he had come. Ratchet still had questions. Maybe he'd ask them another time. If there was another time. He turned towards the illuminated tunnel, but took a step back when he spotted two floating shapes approaching. There was a flash of light. Suddenly, he saw Clank in front of him. The robot was swatting at some strange creatures with some sort of staff. Ratchet leaned closer to the scene, trying to figure out where Clank was.

"We will help you find him," a chorus of voices said.

The vision faded to reveal two Zoni floating in front of him. They disintegrated into two streaks of blue energy, which swooped down and dissolved into his chest, at the same spot where his father had touched him. Into his heart.

Good, Ratchet thought. I'll need all the help I can get.

His resolve renewed, Ratchet strode towards the light.