Sorry for the delay, school had been annoying for me. But I hope you'll enjoy this enxt chapter. R&R…
Fastoon on Apogee
As Aphelion slowly but safely landed on the landing dock of Apogee station, he was rather glad that they had found out what the secret was. He knew that he owed it to Qwark, even if he was a bumbling oaf, Qwark did have a hart. A small one perhaps in the face of danger, but a hart none the less.
As he stepped out of the cockpit he thanked Aphelion for the journey. The Lombax fighter, still a bit angry, lowered the hatch and went offline. Ratchet was confused to say the least "Women…" as he walked of into the space station. Not far from where Aphelion had landed stood the oh so proud battle bots Cronk and Zephyr, ever so busy with helping Talwyn in anything they could. And if they were not able to then they would try it. With hilarious consequences. "Guys! Just leave me alone, I'm not a kid anymore you know. Besides you two are embarrassing me in front of the others!" the Marcadian female said. Waving her hand into the air a little as her other hand brushed her long hair back into place.
"Ya see what you did ya darn fool? You made miss Talwyn angry at us." said Zephyr as he looked up at Cronk, whose only response was crossing his arms and turning his back against Zephyr. "Well we would not be in this mess if you would have just let me do my job." Cronk said as he found that it was his job only to help Talwyn with her landing. "You-you-your job? It's my job ya darn fool!" As both bots continued there ongoing chatter, Clank came closer towards Talwyn.
"Miss Talwyn, I hope you are aware that miss Hobbes can not stay with us. Perhaps she could live here for the time being?" Clank asked politely towards Talwyn, she herself knew that Ratchet and Clank were not the kind of persons to leave someone with them. Especially with Ratchet, as he could be rather impulsive at times. "Cronk, Zephyr!" Talwyn said loudly which immediately grasped the attention of her companions. "See if you can find a room for our new guest. She will be euh staying with us for a while." "Yes miss Talwyn" both bots said in unison as they hastily made there way towards the centre of the station debating yet again about nonsense and the likes.
Clank extended his hand towards Talwyn as his eyes glowed a little more brightly then usual. "Thank you miss Talwyn, we appreciate what you do for us." As the Marcadian just grasped the robot's arm she answered that it was something they would have done as well. Besides it was not that long ago that they helped defeat Tachyon! And that alone was quite an accomplishment. Especially for a single Lombax and his robotic companion.
"…. Ooh and you need to see the indoor pond! It's gorgeous. And then we have the guns ooh man those things can pound a ship within a single shot! And then there is the…" Ratchet was silenced by Hobbes placing a finger on his lips, she herself had enjoyed the ride with Aphelion. She merely giggled a little. "It's alright Ratchet, no worries we got time to explore this entire station. I'm not going anywhere you know." Hobbes said winking an eye towards Ratchet making him blush a little.
Not far from Apogee station a small ship approached it, a low singing could be heard if one listened carefully, but it was not a ship that anyone would have loved to encounter as a pirate flag stood onto the bridge of the small vessel. " A wench from Ardolis once drunk and told us a life of crime don't paaay…" Pete lifted his finger in order to silence the pirates aboard and Lawrence who surprisingly (tough not that much) had 'volunteered' to go along this small raid. "I do say Pete was it? That this is rather exciting, don't you agree?" the butler said towards the other bot. "Aye mate, you'll get used to it (hic). It's all about the aaaargh."
Apogee station was the most likely place for the cursed Lombax to be, either that or Fastoon. Luck it seems has for once chosen the pirates sides as there guess was lucky! "Aye men, you know the drill… Lots a pillaging and carousing and stuff like that." Pete said, who received a few aye's and aarrghs and even an oh my from Lawrence who was thrilled by it all. As the small vessel approached ever so closely.
"…what ya mean I need to give my room?! Give her your room dagnammit." Zephyr shouted at Cronk. "HA, my room? Never… I am older then you so I should keep my room." It seems the bots had begun a debate as to who would give up his room for the new occupant. Even if Apogee station was large, most of it was taken by the pond, the indoor yard and the defenses. The living quarters themselves where actually rather small. Large enough for say several persons but not that large.
As Talwyn heard the commotion she checked out why her 2 guardians had begun there fight once more. "Guys knock it off. I asked to find a room what's the big problem?" she said strict at which Cronk and Zephyr immediately began to tell there story. "Well miss Talwyn, we don't have any spare rooms anymore. Everything is packed with supplies after Tachyon fell!" Cronk said, Zephyr only nodded in approval. It was not the biggest disaster tough Cronk and Zephyr had the ability to exaggerate everything.
Talwyn began to think "Let think for a minute, perhaps we can find a solution." All three had not even heard Ratchet along with Clank and Hobbes enter the room. "Having trouble?!" Ratchet said cocking a small smile at Talwyn. "Ok then you figure it out…" Talwyn said at him, Clank had a feeling that this happened already "Déjà vu!" he said softly. "What's the problem then Tal?" Ratchet asked, as Hobbes began to stare out of the window towards space. It was a beautiful sight, minus the large lights that is, probably to keep ships from hitting the rocks she thought.
"So you are searching for a room for her? Well why can't she use my room?!" the Lombax said at which Clank's eyes widened. "Why Ratchet that is very noble and generous of you!" the small robot said at him as his eyes glowed a little brighter then usual. "You know me Clank, I give and give." Ratchet said with a large smirk on his face, but Clank began to think he rather did it to impress Hobbes rather then out of charity. As he placed his hand across his face a little thinking if Ratchet meant what he had said.
"That is settled then, Cronk Zephyr go get Hobbes her things into the room." Talwyn asked her two bots, who only nodded as they both left the room again bickering about who should carry what. "Those two can make any person nervous you know!..." Ratchet and Hobbes only nodded tough Clank was not all to happy with what Talwyn said, but he understood why she thought it.
"Ratchet?" Hobbes asked to him in a rather seductive tone, well that is how Ratchet took it in. He tried to control himself tough he was still to excited from the fact he knew another Lombax! "Yea Hobbes?" he said in a still voice trying not to make a fool out of him. Hobbes just looked at him "Is anything wrong?!" she asked a bit suspicious at which Ratchet laughed "Ooh no no not at all. It's just that well shall I show you your room then?" Hobbes giggled "Hey! That was my line you know." She smiled as Ratchet went down the corridor towards Hobbes bed. Leaving Clank behind who began to wonder if there was not something that had struck his friend. Love maybe? No that couldn't be the reason or could it?
Meanwhile back at the small pirate vessel. "No no no nooo mate you got it wrong! It comes from the throat not the stomach. Here try it again." Pete said at Lawrence as he gave the other bot a small punch. The pirates, much to there grief, needed to wait till morning. Well until most of them were asleep that is, before making there move on them. So Rusty Pete tried to teach Lawrence some 'real' manners. "Aaaarh" Lawrence yelled out loud. But Pete just hit himself on the head, this guy was worse then that Captain Qwark fella. Well at the least Lawrence voice was a tad nicer to hear too then that of Qwark. This was something Rusty Pete was at least a bit happy about.
"I do say that this pirate talk is proving to be much harder then I myself would have thought possible, Pete." Rusty Pete had succeeded in making sure Lawrence would say him by name and not master or sir as he hated hearing those words. They were too polite and too not pirate like.
Some of the other pirates just had there laughs at it, well since Slag was not around they could enjoy themselves a bit more then usual!
As both Lombaxes walked down a long hallway towards the resting chamber that had been given to Ratchet, he could not help but feel comfortable near her. Maybe it was the fact she too was a Lombax, but even so he could not pinpoint it why he felt so drawn towards her. Hobbes herself had not noticed that Ratchet had begun to stare at her for a minute or so as she was thrilled.
Thrilled because she now had a real bed to sleep in after all that time, but it was quickly replaced by sadness at the thought of her people, gone from this universe, crept in her mind. Much to Ratchet's confusing Hobbes seemed to have pain in a way. "Hobbes?" He asked gently not trying to show too much concern in his voice yet enough to make sure she heard him.
"I'm sorry Ratchet, it's just so much has happened in just such a short time." She said as her arm went towards her face. Instinctively he grabbed her by her arms and pulled her in for a warm hug. He knew that saying nothing now was the best thing to do, nothing just standing there holding her against him.
"Why is he doing this? He doesn't know me at all!" Hobbes thought as another tear fell down on his shoulder. Her hands beginning to tighten as her nails dig into his skin. Tough the pain was enough to make anyone scream Ratchet bit his own tongue as to not scream. He began to make a comforting sound to ease the girl he was holding in his arms.
As Hobbes opened her eyes she noticed a red stain near her hand. "Oh God Ratchet I'm sorry!" she backed away a step or so as she let go of her grip on his shoulders. Ratchet let out a small moan as the nails withdrew themselves, yet he hugged her again. "Why why?" she said in a very trembling voice.
No sound came from his voice, tough Ratchet wanted to speak his mind. It was an awkward silence, but after a while he spoke "Because you needed comfort." The Lombax exclaimed in a soft and low voice to her. Her eyes filling with yet another tear but not of sadness, but out of happiness for what she heard.
Not far from there Clank had made his way towards Talwyn's quarters, which after the incident some while back involving a huge laser and Ratchet blowing up the bedroom. That her room had been reset to a more secluded area. "Miss Talwyn I wanted to thank you for sparing some room for your guest. I can understand that this might not be a very comforting situation." Clank said in his usual polite manner towards the Marcadian. Talwyn just looked down with a glimmer of hope in her eyes "Well I am glad to help, tough it was Ratchet that gave her his room. Not me." As she made sure that Clank would have heard that it was Ratchet's idea and not hers.
"Still, I wish to thank you for your hospitality at this..." The small robot said before being interrupted by a heavy sound almost as if something has fallen down.
"Watch out you darn fool! Those are miss Hobbes her stuff." Zephyr yelled at Cronk who lay shattered across the floor. "Ha, me watch out? It was YOU who stopped in the middle of the hallway you rusty bolt bucket." Cronk said in retaliation. As both bots began to argue once more Talwyn came in running towards them. "Is everything alright?!" as both bots nodded, well Cronk did seemed a little torn up, but nothing that Talwyn could not handle by herself. "Clank can you check up on Ratchet and Hobbes for me? I'll be busy for a while with Cronk." Clank got the message and made his way towards what used to be a place of rest for him and his friend. Leaving behind an upset Cronk and a confused Zephyr.
As Clank walked down the hallway he could hear a small sobbing almost weeping like sound. It made him worried as he quickened his pace. But before he saw around the corner he heard something, his sensors sharpening to the right frequency to follow what was happening. Clank knew it was wrong to spy on his friend but sometimes it was better not to intervene.
"Why why?" was what Clank heard, and he knew exactly who it was. As he looked around the corner he saw both of them. Ratchet embracing her, it was a sight he not seen before with his friend. "This is wrong I shouldn't." Clank said to himself yet for a reason he was worried for his friends safety and that of the person he was with.
"Because you needed comfort." He heard Ratchet say, tough it was not what he heard that stunned Clank but the way how he said it.
"Ratchet are you falling in love?" Clank was shocked yet happy for his friend. He knew that listening further would be impolite and thus he made his way back towards Talwyn whilst trying to find the right words to tell Talwyn what he saw yet to not say anything specific of what he had heard.
As Ratchet looked down into her eyes a smile came on his face. "Here, take this" as his hand went into his trouser to retrieve a tissue. "For those tears." He said in a calm voice. Whilst stretching out his arm for her to grab the object from him. "Now let's go towards your room shall we?" Hobbes only nodded as she was wiping the tears from her face and fur.
As the door opened she gazed into the room. Her eyes fell upon the countless of Lombax artefacts that decorated the room. It was beautiful for her, like she had gone back in time and was back on Fastoon.
The room was large and divided in several compartments. It looked as if it was actually an outer room and an inner one. The outer side had been decorated in paint, a sort of sand like paint had been added to make it seem as if it were the cliffs on Fastoon, whilst the ceiling had been a huge glass ceiling resembling the sky. The floor had been partially done with tiles that bared Lombax architecture to represent a road towards the inner part of the room whilst there had been sand added to make it more realistic, along with a few thorn trees that had been planted and naturally grown inside the room.
As both of them walked over the tiles she kept gazing around the room. It was stunning for her to see, as if they were standing on Fastoon.
Once they reached the inner part, Ratchet opened the door by pressing a code. "Here we are, your bedroom until Clank and I have been able to create something for you." Ratchet said with a smile, towards Hobbes it came as nothing as she was almost hypnotised by what she saw.
The inner part of the room looked like an actual house on Fastoon. The inside had been made with metals yet everywhere you watched you saw carpets and naturally a place where Ratchet had placed all his wrenches. As Hobbes turned around she hugged Ratchet again only tighter this time. "Thank you." She said to him, "It's marvoules… How did you ever get it like this?" she asked to him.
Tough the answer did not came from Ratchet but from Talwyn who had arrived with Cronk and Zephyr with Clank not far behind, all carrying items that they had found in the abandoned ship. "My father made this room. Max Apogee." That name was said proudly by Talwyn as it was he who made this room, the best he could to resemble the real Fastoon.
It was Talwyn's room up until the pirates raided the station for the artefact they searched. But she was met with a curious look on the Lombax her face. Cronk sighed "Here we go again… Max Apogee was…" "IS!" Talwyn said annoyed "…is a famous explorer that travels the galaxy in search of rare objects of the Lombax culture." Cronk was happy that it was over as he hated repeating himself especially that part.
"So this all was found by your father? That is quite an accomplishment!" Hobbes said as she grabbed one of the items inside the room. It was a small object in the shape of a bolt, but she quickly placed it back as she thanked Talwyn for her hospitality. "Great I do hope you three will join us for dinner?" Talwyn asked Ratchet. "Well I would like too buu(oemph)…" As Clank had given him a small poke in the side. "It's settled then I'll see you all at 19:00 sharp!"
As Talwyn and her bots left Ratchet looked at Clank. "Hey what's the big idea!" Hobbes just couldn't hold her laughter in as she began to laugh. "Ratchet it's not polite to deny an invitation especially towards something like this!" Ratchet gaze just shifted from anger to confusion as he did not understand it. "Still buddy…ouch! It hurts you know." "Well Ratchet it is just that we sadly can't go back to Fastoon yet as Aphelion is not charged yet. Not to mention that if Talwyn offers a dinner that it is rude to cancel it. Besides I do believe that Hobbes would have a warm meal."
Ratchet ears just drooped by that. He was so happy and thrilled about meeting a new Lombax that he forgot that they are also living beings. "Yea I know sorry Clank. I need to think more about her right now." Clank just said that he was correct as he left the room. He knew that Ratchet would want to talk to Hobbes alone and more importantly if he let Cronk or Zephyr cook then they would surely be sick in the morning!