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:

I keep writing ACIT!Ratchet, and I don't know why. Well, I threw some Alister Azimuth in there too, for good measure. I'm a sucker for backstory, and ACIT gave me a lot to work with.

Alister's character is a bit tricky to write. Oh well, I tried.

As always, feedback is greatly appreciated! It helps me remember that I'm not just some nutjob at a keyboard. (Though I still am just some nutjob at a keyboard on occasion.)

Chapter summary: When Ratchet worries about Clank, Alister realizes how similar he is to Kaden. Spoilers for A Crack in Time

5. Seeking Solace

Ratchet followed Alister down the dark cave. It was quiet, save for the disconcerting noise the water made as it dripped from the stalactites that hung from the ceiling. He'd been in plenty of creepy places before, but there were some things that you just couldn't get used to. Ratchet decided to break the silence, voicing some of his immediate thoughts to pass the time.

"I wonder where Clank is now, or if…"

The Lombax named Alister Azimuth tried not to roll his eyes as Ratchet launched into another tirade about the robot. By now, he had lost track of the number of times that Ratchet had brought Clank up in conversation. Alister could relate somewhat to the younger Lombax's situation; he knew what it was like to lose a friend, after all. Still, Ratchet acted as if everything would be fine and dandy as soon as he was reunited with that robot. He could somehow completely disregard the fact that an entire species, their species, had disappeared.

Despite Ratchet's clear lack of perspective, Alister would console him all the same. He was Kaden's son, after all. Alister was compelled to take care of him.

"…do you think I'll ever find him?" Ratchet finished.

It bothered Alister that Ratchet seemed more upset by the loss of one robot than by the loss of an entire species. Still, Alister had to cheer him up, somehow.

"Of course you will, my boy," Alister said, slowing his pace so that he could pat Ratchet's shoulder. "I'm sure we'll find your friend." And then we'll go to the Great Clock and set things straight, he failed to add.

Because changing time would mean that Ratchet and Clank would never have met.

Alister had brought up that idea earlier, and earned a negative response when he had touched upon the potential consequences. Now was not the time to mention it again. He needed to earn the younger Lombax's trust. Kaden had once joked about how if he had any children, Alister would be the godfather. They had been kids then—even younger than Ratchet—but Alister had been honoured all the same. Now, Alister felt a need to live up to the role bestowed upon him by his best friend.

When they emerged in a small clearing, Alister motioned for them to take a break. He sat down on the ground.

"You know," Alister started, motioning for Ratchet to sit down beside him, "Kaden would be proud of you for what you're doing right now."

The younger Lombax nodded, and took a seat. Patting his wrench, a gesture that seemed to bring him reassurance, Ratchet looked up.

"Could you tell me more about my dad?" Ratchet said.

"As I said before," Alister said, "Kaden was a brilliant Lombax. Take that cryo-mine glove that you carry: did you know that your father was the one who invented it?"

Ratchet pulled out the weapon in question, and examined it as Alister spoke.

"Your father was never one for excessive violence where it wasn't necessary, and he found his way out of tricky situations mainly by means of strategy. The cryo-mine glove helped with that." Alister paused. "Not that Kaden wouldn't fight for what he thought was right. He was a Lombax who valued his honour, and the honour of his friends."

Alister chuckled, then continued.

"Kaden was proud—perhaps a bit too proud sometimes—but his pride was also what made him such a good friend. Harm one of his friends, and watch out, because he'd rather die than let you get away with such a thing. Ratchet, the fact that you're going to such great lengths to save your friend is what once again proves to me that you are indeed your father's son."

Ratchet's expression lightened. Alister smiled inwardly, happy to see that he was helping.

"Another thing," the elder Lombax continued, tapping Ratchet's wrench with one of his knuckles. "Did you know that Kaden always carried a wrench similar to yours? Here, take a look."

Alister pulled out his watch, which he hadn't properly shown to Ratchet before. He handed it to the younger Lombax. Ratchet held it as if it were made of glass.

"He… he looks just like me," Ratchet whispered, peering at the photograph of his father. "And… his wrench."

It looked exactly like an Omniwrench 8000, a model which he had carried at one point.

"Wait a minute," Ratchet said, hit by sudden realization.

He still kept his old wrench around, for sentimental reasons, though he'd never admit to the fact. It was his first wrench, after all. Scanning through his arsenal, Ratchet finally found it, and extracted it from the hyperspace in which it was contained. He needed to check something.

There. Though the base was scuffed, he could still see the letters scratched carefully into the metal.

KADEN.

Now he knew what the word meant.

"So, my first wrench… actually belonged to my dad."

Alister chuckled. "You really are your father's son, Ratchet."

Ratchet stood up, determination in his eyes. He stowed away the older wrench and took out the newer, custom-built model, tossing it in the air and catching it.

"Well, if I'm really my father's son, then I've gotta go find Clank. My dad would do whatever it took to protect his friends, and so will I."

Alister sighed, then followed Ratchet. Off to search for that robot again. It seemed that the Lombax species would have to wait.

Still, as he slid the watch back into his pocket, Alister realized that he could empathize. He knew how much it hurt to lose a friend.