Author notes: A somewhat less exciting part of the story. But a needed one to bring true feeling and purpose to this story.

A review is always.

A secret found

Having studied the symbols and hoping he translated them well enough, Ratchet began to press some of the buttons on the strange flat object. Just at with the book it began to light up. Quickly taking cover behind a small stone, Ratchet saw what happened, light emitted from where he just was as the a small part of the wall just disappeared, or at least was not there anymore. "Now I'll be a Qwark fan!" shouted the Smuggler.

Everyone gasped, Ratchet had formed an entrance to the inside of the ship. "Well then…" he said a bit nervous "… Let's check it out no?" Clank put on his lights as everyone made there way into the darkness below. It was damp yet warm as if the ship had just landed or whatever happened. The stairs went on and on, further downwards as if they would never stop. Until Clank stopped. "Oh my!... This can't be good!" he said as he shined his lights in front of him. It showed nothing, no floor, no stairs, nothing. Ratchet looked around, but only darkness came into his view, but as if by magic he saw something… "Yo Clank, watch this." As he jumped as far as he could standing on top of nothing? "It's fake! An illusion." He said as he tapped on the floor. "Now this is indeed something strange!" the Smuggler added as he too went on the strange floor.

Everywhere they went there was nothing to see except for empty halls, and tunnels on ends. Sometimes they would find a stair getting them deeper and deeper down. Until…

"What is that?!" Zephyr asek Cronk pointing towards some sort of well he did not know what it was. "Well, this seems to be the Mutant Hybrinator machine, which will when activated turn us all into mutants." Cronk told everyone. But this did not scare the Lombax one bit! As he approached the coffin like device, his eyes widened. It was covered in spider webs, but he had a feeling and this feeling urged him to get closer! "Ratchet, Are you alright?!" asked Clank seeing his partner in some sort of hypnotic state. "……." Said Ratchet, as if he was being drawn towards the thing in the middle of the room.

"Are you alright rookie?!" asked Zephyr concerned not knowing if this was natural behavior. "Ooh I knew it's the Mutant Hybrinator!! We are all going to die!" he screamed ducking for cover.

Ratchet waved his hand removing some of the webs from the device. It was not for several minutes that he noticed what he was doing. "Uuh Clank? Where are we?!" the Lombax asked, only to get a stare from Clank telling him they were on Cobalia. Ratchet turned his gaze towards the device once more, noticing something odd. As he removed more of the webs he noticed something strange, it was yellow like. "What the?" his hands moving faster and faster removing more of the webs and dust that had settled until he finally could see what was inside. He fell on his back as he realized what lay inside. "This…it… can't be!!" gasping fro air while trying not to faint. Clank approached along with the Smuggler, they could not believe there eyes. Inside laid a Lombax… A beautiful young woman, her figure was tender yet strong. She lay peaceful her golden fur seemed untouched by the existence of time. As Ratchet came back towards it he could not believe his eyes. Never had he seen such beauty, her sheer form was perfect. Her fur the same as his own ,only more feminine like." So the book was right after all, eh Ratchet?" said Clank towards his friend, but he got no response. "Yea… Have you ever seen anything like this before?" Ratchet said in a very soft and warm voice as if in love. "Well besides knowing you, I have not!" The Smuggler was not happy at all. He had found this darn place several years back and now the only thing in this piece of junk was THAT?!

"Clank, Cronk, Zephyr… Help me with this will ya?!" as all four stood around the it they began to lift the top of. Warm air flew from it as they put down the heavy lit. Clank began to scan, "Clank what are you doing?" Ratchet asked cocking an eyebrow at the robot. Who despite the question kept scanning, removing one or two spider webs and dust as he tried to get as much info as he could. A small beeping notified him that the scan was complete. His sensors retracted back into there original form as he began to speak "Ratchet, my sensors picked up very low vital signs…" but was interrupted as soon as the Lombax had heard low and vital. "She's alive?" saying as his ears stood up straight, as if he was a child that had received the most wonderful of presents one could imagine. "She is alive yes, but it seems as if she is in some sort of hibernation! Trying to wake her up could kill her". The Smuggler only grumbled as he searched for anything he might find useful, Cronk and Zephyr began to dispute again at each other with the several taunts of being old or rusty. Clank himself was more busy with the important things, things as how a Lombax could have wound up in a hibernation state or more importantly how to revive her from that dormant sleep. As it was not an easy thing to do, even with high-tech technology!

"Oh my hehehee… This is interesting indeed!" said the bot as he scanned some of the walls with his sensors, each one doing what they did best. Ratchet had not noticed what Clank was up to, being hypnotized by the creature he saw lying inside. She looked almost exactly like him. From the pattern on her fur to the height and all, only more feminine! "Arrr, this is just a waste of my time standing here. Hey kid! Toss me my bolts I'm out of this stink hole." The blue reptile said, almost hissing with his teeth as he pulled on has black hat. As soon as the words had sunk in with the Lombax he grabbed a bag of bolt and tossed it over. "Always a pleasure doing business with ya." Before walking off into the distance.

Several hours, and a two very tired battle bots, later Clank sprung up his circuitry glowing almost as if he had found a breakthrough for curing the hardest of diseases. "Ratchet I have analyzed the walls and might have found a solution!... These walls say that we need to insert that book we found." Ratchet was confused, did Clank just say to use that book? Be as it may but that book had to much info of his past! "Is there no other way Clank? I mean this is a very valuable book." "I'm sorry Ratchet, but this is what it says on the walls. Without it she will never wake up!"

The Lombax sighed but well at least he was able to meet another Lombax! And who knows, perhaps she knew more of his people then that book. "Alright then… Were do you need me?" he asked as Clank pointed towards a hole in the wall. It was the exact same size as the book was, as if both were pieces of an unsolved puzzle that wanted to be whole once more. He approached the wall, and set the book in place. But nothing happened, no glow anywhere… Nothing! The silence that fell upon them was unnerving to say the least, Clank was surprised the writings on the wall clearly stated that if they did what they had done that the Lombax would awake. "I do not understand. We followed the instructions correctly!" he said whilst scratching his head. "Oh well Clank you did your best it's not like this is a holovid! Were one places the book and then accidentally trigger something?" Ratchet waited as if he knew something would happen. "Mhhh strange nothing? Oh well it was worth a shot!" Clank was puzzled looking at Ratchet with his usual look "What? Oh come on it was like that with Tachyon, why not here?" he said jokingly. "This is not a battle you know. We are trying to save a Lombax from dying here! Please be more focused." Unbeknownst to Clank, Zephyr noticed something behind Cronk. It seemed to be a small opening within the wall directly opposite of the wall where the book was placed. "Hey young ones, look at this here…" he said as Clank quickly figured out what was wrong. "Aaah I see! Ratchet could you clean up that hole there? I think I might have found our problem." The green eyed Lombax did as he was told, but every hair on his fur had a bad feeling. Yet he was drawn towards the fact he might soon see another Lombax! As his hand reached to dispose of the dirt covering the small hole, he noticed a light. Hands quickly ravaged the dust and other objects covering the source of the light. Once uncovered he noticed, that it shined upon his own chest. A tingling sensation overtook him. Clank only sighed and said to stand away, and once he did the light came across the room hitting the book.

It was like nothing they had ever seen! As soon as the light hit its mark, the room began to lit up as if the ship itself became to life. What really got there eye was the fact that they seemed to be hearing something, not knowing what it was Ratchet and both Cronk and Zephyr took there blasters. But Clank being the more sane of them told them to hide there weaponry. He approached the center of the room, whilst the other three were still unnerved by what they heard. "Ratchet, RATCHET! You may want to look at this!" Clank said as the Lombax ran towards his friend to see what the fuzz was all about. His jaw dropped as soon as he got to Clank, his heart began pounding as adrenaline made it's way trough his veins, indicating that he was very enthusiastic! The Lombax girl that he had seen inside, was not dormant no more but sound, asleep. Every once in a while turning around as if having a nice dream.

What surprised Ratchet more was how much he felt attracted to her. He never had these feelings before.

Sure he did admit he had something with Angela, and that he had a relation with Sasha, but somewhere inside of him he knew it could never be besides she was a Cazar and he? He was just a mere Lombax. Even if Sasha found it ok there was always her father that would keep him away.

This was an entire new sensation, which almost knocked the poor creature of its feet. And knocked to the ground it was, once an arm had stretched out mere inches from his nuzzle. Clank's eyes grew wider as he saw the female Lombax yawn. Must be a trade amongst Lombaxes. To be able to yawn that hard he thought to himself. His eyes moved towards Ratchet, seeing how his friend could not divert his gaze from the female Lombax. The robot sighed as he made his way over towards his friend pulling at his trousers for attention. "Ratchet it is best that you don't ask to many question at once." Clank said as the bot pointed out, "Asking to many might frighten her or worse… And that is something we must prevent at any cost." Saying with a glimmer of joy but also some fear, as he knew his friend and well Ratchet was not one of the people that could just sit down and stay quiet for a few min.

The female Lombax stretched her arms out once more, even her tail was not missed as muscles and fur were tensing up then going back to more manageable state. Her hands moved towards her face as she rubbed her eyes, yawning at the same time. Her vision began to better as her eyes began to adapt to the bright light. Everyone else in the room just stood still as the female Lombax began to look around, not knowing where she was or more important what had happened!

She saw Cronk and Zephyr holding there guns low, but still she reacted giving a loud scream making Ratchet's ears fall downwards to protect them a bit better from the high pitched tone. "Hey watch it! That hurts you know…" he said whilst caressing his ears. This attracted the female's attention, who, now faced Ratchet eye to eye. She stared at him a for a moment or so, making him nervous beyond believe even making him blush at a certain point by the "attention" she gave him. Then she stared again around the room, noticing it was lit but at the same time narrowing her eyes as if something was amiss. "Good day miss." Came from below her, the Lombax looked over the edge and saw a small robot. Clank greeted her by waving his hand about saying hi, little did he know what she had intended. No sooner had she saw him, her hands making there way towards him grasping him and brining Clank high into the air. "Oooh aren't you the cutest little thing?" she said, her voice high pitched as it was before only now less hard and painful to hear. "What's your name cutie?" she asked towards Clank who himself would have sworn that if he was organic that he would blush then and there on the spot. His eyes began to glow as he told her his number. "Well miss, my serial number is B5429671, but my friends call me…" Clank could not even finish his sentence as he was tightly gripped by the Lombax holding him. Zephyr and Cronk could just not believe what they saw there. "Hahaaa, we need to tell miss Talwyn this! She'll never believe her eyes." Zephyr said laughingly as he padded Cronk on the shoulder. "Aah you've seen it once you've seen it a thousand times. But miss Talwyn will surely be happy!" Cronk added nudging Zephyr.

"Umm miss, might I please ask you to put me down?" Clank asked her, being happy once she had obliged to put him down. Even going as far as to hug him once again, before putting him on solid ground once more. Her eyes wondered of towards Cronk and Zephyr still holding there weaponry, it seemed to frighten her for some reason as she tried to hide back into the whatever it was she was locked in. "Do not worry miss, these are some of my friends, Cronk and Zephyr." Clank said to reassure her that there was no immanent danger, still she had a hard time to adjust to the 'heavily' armored robots in front of her. "Well its Lieutenant Cronk and Lieutenant Zephyr." Zephyr said, pointing out there rank as well as trying to boost of. "And what is your name if we might ask? A pretty thing like yourself must have a name…" Zephyr asked boldy at her. "Ooh how rude! B5429671 are these really your friends?!" she asked him cocking an eyebrow as a stunned expression came on her face by the boldness that had been shown to her just moments ago. "Indeed they are, I do want to point out that they can be a bit bold at times…" The female Lombax just gave a small humpf out of discontent towards the two battle bots, who immediately felt attacked. But did not do anything as this was the only other Lombax in the entire galaxy! The Lombax began to turn her head once more, this time facing Ratchet, who was still staring at her as if he was a statue. "Well well who is this handsome fella?" she asked shyly at him, Ratchet had no idea what she just asked until Clank stepped in and well stepped on Ratchet's tail. "OUCH! Hey Clank why did you do that for? That hurts you know." He said quickly grabbing his tail to protect it from more harm. A small chuckle came from the other Lombax who seemed to have enjoyed the small 'show' in front of her, tough she seemed confused as her eyebrow went up at the word 'Clank'. Why did he call the cute robot that? And more important why…

"Clank?" asked the female Lombax a bit unnerved by what it meant, at the same time Clank turned his head towards her as he asked what was wrong. "Wait is that your name?!" as Clank nodded to answer her question. "But was it not B54…" "That is indeed my serial number, but my friends call me Clank miss… Perhaps we may know your name as well?!" Clank asked as he stretched out his hand for a firm greeting. "Nice to meet you B… I mean Clank. My name is Hobbes." She said giving a small smile at Clank.

All the while Rratchet had not said anything, still caressing his tail from what Clank had done. His gaze never waned as he caressed the sore muscles in his tail. Still pulses of pain whirled around it from the weight Clank had put on the sensitive part of his body. Ratchet had not noticed he now in turn was being stared by the new Lombax, but once he did he backed up a few paces. "Sooo umm hi there…" he said as he tried to get his nerve back. This was the first time he saw another Lombax beside himself, this was in a way thrilling and exciting, but at the same time terrifying and a sad moment. For he now knew he was not the last Lombax in the Galaxy, but memories that his own people his entire was gone came back. Not being able to say anything Hobbes spoke "So do you have a name as well?... He does have a name doesn't he Clank?" asked Hobbes curiously at the small bot who could not hold back a small giggle. Same as Cronk and Zephyr who were laughing among each other.

"I am sorry Hobbes, it seems that my idea to grab Ratchet's attention has turned out not as I imagined." Said Clank as his gaze flew to the ground, feeling sorry for what he had done towards his best friend. Hobbes on the other hand stared at the male Lombax "So your name is Ratchet?! That is an odd name for a Lombax." Hobbes said chuckling a bit at the weird name. Ratchet finally spoke against her "You find my name funny?!" he said a little aggravated at the fact that his name was being mocked. "Oh no noo, that was not my intention it's just I've never had seen another Lombax who had such an umm 'special' name." she said as her hand covered her mouth holding down a small laugh.

"So miss Hobbes, might we ask what you were doing inside that cryo chamber?" Clank asked at her only to be confronted by a sad face from her. She almost cried then and there as she recalled what had happened. Both Ratchet and Clank noticed this, Clank putting his hand up her shoulder as high as he could, whilst ratchet just stared at her with compassion, for he had a good idea why she was sad at the question Clank asked. "Miss Hobbes?!" Clank as caringly at her as Hobbes began to tell her story.

"My name is Hobbes . I was the daughter of a very influential Lombax family. My father was a brilliant inventor, he created some of the modern Lombax technology. The device you found me in was one of these inventions. When the attack on Fastoon began by Tachyon his army, my father did what he could to save his people and his family. He himself along with several other Lombaxes had created the Dimensionator. Because of the Dimensionator, a device which could create portals to different dimensions, we were able to send most of our people to safety. But as the war had begun between the Lombaxes and the Drophyds many people needed to be evacuated from much further then only those on Fastoon. That is why this ship was created…" her ears began to lower as she came towards another part of her story. After a small sigh she continued her story as Ratchet, Clank, Cronk and Zephyr listened carefully at her. " I myself and others of my kind were placed in this ship. This was a sort of transport vessel to take us from one part of the galaxy to another one. But something must have gone wrong… That reminds me, where are we? I mean which planet." Her ears going high once again as she remembered what must have happened. "Miss Hobbes, we are on a planet called Cobalia." Not before Clank had spoken that word several tears fell from Hobbes her eyes into the fur below. Her tail falling to the ground as she sat down, sobbing at what she had just heard. It was true then, the ship never reached Fastoon! The one chance of seeing her people again, gone forever. Ratchet stood before her reaching out his hand, as she looked up at him with tears in her face. But who was this Ratchet then? And what happened with the rest of the people on this ship?! She asked herself many questions none of which she could get an answer on.

"Ratchet, Hobbes said there might be others here. We should investigate this!" Ratchet comforted Hobbes that everything was ok. But still she had her doubt about him and everything that had happened. As they made there way further down they noticed that all the other chambers like the one Hobbes was in were empty. Clank scanned for any bio signatures, but none could be traced, not even by his sensors. "It seems that you were the only one on board when we found you Hobbes." Clank said. Hobbes could not believe what she was hearing, she was the only Lombax left alive? Tears formed once more in her face, Ratchet wanted to comfort her, but Clank shook his head making Ratchet stop. "She needs to be alone for a while Ratchet." It was obvious that Hobbes needed to process this all, after a while tough she stood up and went towards the surface alongside Ratchet, Clank and the two battle bots of Talwyn.