Author's note: Sorry for uploading so late. But school is being a pain to me. Also I warning, that this chapter contains a little sexual references. Not much to get higher then T rating. But still.
Sleeping with the stars
As Clank left the outer part of the room, and once Hobbes had calmed down from her laughter, Ratchet approached her. A little annoyed by Clank, that couldn't be denied, but also thrilled.
He and Hobbes had what one could call a tender moment in the hallway but even he himself did not know why he did it. And well maybe it was just the company he enjoyed or the fact that she was another Lombax, or even something completely different. But for some reason he was happy to be near her, as if his worries drifted away when being near her.
He liked the feeling, tough he was scared he never felt like this before not even for Clank!
The feeling could not be described really, it was a pleasant one yet it filled him with fear for what it was. His hands began to shake when thinking of it even if the rest of his body was standing completely still, his eyes gazing upon her. That form she had was perfect he thought tough well she was the only other Lombax he had ever seen. Yet for some odd reason it was as if he had met her before.
Hobbes did not notice the change in attitude of Ratchet, it was not like she knew him very well they had only met less then a day. But unlike him who couldn't understand his feelings, she could not understand why he acted this way. She had heard from Clank that he was sent to Solana wherever that may be, he was a mystery to her.
As Ratchet approached her step by step, he felt himself tingle yet again. "What is wrong with me?" he thought to himself. His tail began to sway behind him with each step and his hart pounded more and more till he came to a stop only a few cubits from her. As soon as he had stopped Hobbes turned around. "Oh my she noticed." He said to himself as his entire body froze by her look, that sweet innocent look. "Look over here Ratchet, you can see the stars there beauty from here." The female Lombax said pointing towards the window above her. She ran towards him and clamped her arm around his, dragging him with her to the ceiling.
Ratchet had seen this view many times yet it still amazed him. Looking out of that window made him realise how small they were. "Small…" he said softly, but alas for him Hobbes heard it. "What's small?" she asked curious as Ratchet sprung up into the air. "What WHAT? Ummm nothing I was just thinking." Ratchet blabbered out scratching his head with his right hand.
Hobbes stared into his eyes "He is so strange, yet intriguing at the same time." Her eyes gliding up and down his body, taking in every detail. She had to admit that for a Lombax he looked pretty cute even sexy if he wore another attire. She remembered how he stared at her when she woke up from the ship. Those big green eyes of his staring at her not knowing how to react. A giggle couldn't help but fall of her tongue as she tugged herself closer to him, making Ratchet blush by the sudden contact.
The sudden contact did indeed make Ratchet blush, but lucky for him his fur concealed his redness. As she watched at the stars he could not help but think, think of how she made him feel. That feeling a feeling that made everything seem insignificant. Her touch that he enjoyed, her form, her smile, her everything.
As Ratchet began to stare at her, he began to wonder "Am I possibly in love?" At that last word his mind began to think. Is it possible? Why now? Am I love? Thousands upon thousands of questions raced trough his head, yet he couldn't find an answer to a single one of them. Oh how he wanted to have an enemy near him, shooting even the toughest of Cragmites was easier then this he said to himself.
Hobbes looked at Ratchet, seeing that his mind was somewhere else. "He is cute." She thought as an evil idea came into her mind. It didn't go unnoticed to her how Ratchet's tail swept from left to right or the fact that his hands were shaking. Hell she knew perfectly what the poor male was going trough.
She was amused at it. Not that she mind tough, she actually found it an honour for her. The evil idea grew as a small smile came on her lips, and as she began to think what to do as that smile grew larger.
Ratchet couldn't help but looking at the sky. The sky that was filled with lights, how they reminded him of Hobbes. Yet as it did so did those questions arise once again. His tail began to sweep even *faster when he began to think of her. Everything began to remind him of her. Even his own fur! Hell he couldn't help it he needed to have her. That was for sure!
Yet what happened next was something that took him off guard.
His cheek was engulfed in sudden warmth. As he turned his face away to meet this he brought Hobbes her head, his hand going towards the place that had the warm feeling still as he placed his fingers onto it.
She smiled at him as he began to blush even more. "A kiss? She gave me a kiss!" He began get a little wobbly as his brain tried to figure out what had happened. "Why did she kiss me? Is this right? Why?!" He just stared at her not knowing what to say looking into her eyes as he searched answers, answers that he couldn't find.
As she laid the kiss onto his cheek, Hobbes felt the warmth of his fur. How heavenly it felt to her, that warm feeling that she gave him but that she too got back. As she let go of the kiss she noticed he was surprised, and not to say the least! She smiled and even began to giggle as he placed his fingers on where she had kissed him so tender. It was no shock to her that he was surprised, any male would be surprised by this action. And she loved to toy with him like it.
"I hope you don't mind me giving you a small present?" she said a little teasingly to him. The sound of her voice made him almost melt, as Ratchet tried to keep his head cool. "What does she mean by that?" he thought, as he stared at his feet unsure of what was going to happen. As Hobbes approached him each step getting closer to him, as his heart began to race even faster then before knowing that she would do something, but what. A small smile formed on her lips as she came within mere inches from his face. Both could feel the warmth of the other Lombax even trough there own fur.
As Ratchet wanted to say something he was cut of by Hobbes, who launched herself as him kissing him on the lips tenderly, as her hand made sure his chin would stay in place. That same warmth came over him again, yet something else of a stranger sort happened, a sensation in his stomach grew larger with every second as the kiss continued.
As she let him go out of her grip, Ratchet gasped for air. All the while Hobbes kept her eyes on him her ears standing up right and her own tail swayed very slowly. She noticed that he wanted more, she could smell it in the air around her. Yet did Ratchet knew it himself? Seeing how he reacted to a mere kiss, Hobbes thought that he might have still been a virgin. Even on something as simple as a kiss!
Ratchet felt himself being a little dizzy as he tried to remember what happened, he knew Hobbes came closer to him, much closer then anyone except Clank had ever been. (if you count it's on his back that is). And then everything got blurry!
"That was amazing…(pant)" Ratchet said as he tried to get the much needed oxygen into his lungs. Hobbes just kept her angled a little bit finding it rather strange what he said. Was he really this inexperienced then? Hobbes eyes grew bigger and bigger as she began to see the bigger picture.
A male Lombax always on adventure (not that it was uncommon for the species) never having seen another Lombax or knowing his own past. Her hand covered her face a little, not that Ratchet had seen it, as Hobbes blushed a little.
Ratchet stood up and walked to Hobbes, his ears drooped and tail low, not swaying anymore. "What's wrong Ratchet? Aren't you happy with what I gave you?!" the sound in her voice made him almost cry. He never had gotten a kiss like this before. Not this sincere and passionate. Well he called it passionate. "I'm sorry Hobbes, this feels wrong in a way." He said this softly yet to Hobbes it came as no surprise. Hobbes went to sit on the bed placing her hand next to her signalling for him to come over.
"Ratchet look, I know this is new for you don't worry." trying to comfort the male Lombax she placed a hand on his shoulder as he sat next to her. "I noticed that you don't know much of this subject and I did not want to force anything on you." She said trying to make him feel more comfortable.
"She is so sweet and nice to me." Ratchet said to himself as a small smile came on his face, his ears not as droopy as before. He began to realise that she cared for him and he cared for her. Tough she had a point out, he himself did not know anything! Not the slightest of what females wanted, knew; felt like, thought and so forth. An enigma they were to him an enigma smuddered in secret sauce. He gathered all his nerve with him, along with the hormones that were building up, as he asked her a question that he thought he would never dare to ask. "Hobbes.. I ummm… Well you see." He couldn't bring forth any good sentences, only some blabberish was able to escape his mouth. "Take a deep breath and say what you want to say Ratchet." Hobbes stared into his own eyes as he averted his gaze a little, not having the guts to say what he wanted.
But after a minute or so of silence he tried again. "Hobbes would you teach me?" he said in an innocent voice. She was shocked, Hobbes thought he would ask something else! Not something like this. Sure she was a bit experienced but asking this? Her mind began to fill with rage as he said those words, wanting to just slap him across the face for saying something like this!
She lifted a hand into the air ready to strike down upon the male next to her for even daring to ask something of her like that. Yet it never came, she lowered her hand next to him as the anger was replaced with another feeling. He looked into her eyes as they got bigger and wider begging her to help him, begging her to show him everything she knew. And deep inside Hobbes realised that he loved her, she realised that he would do anything for her if she asked of it. He was in love with her.
As she kept looking into his eyes, she gave out a small sigh, but not one out of fear or angst but out of rejoice and compassion. "Sure Ratchet, I'll help you." She said giving of a smile. She only wanted to give him a kiss and seeing his reactions, yet here they were and she even agreed to help him. Yet it did not matter to her, as she knew how he felt for her and Hobbes herself began to realise that even she had a few feelings towards the other Lombax.
As Hobbes gathered her nerve to set the first step, she asked Ratchet "What do you know about love?" this came as a shock to him, what did asking him what he knew have to do with helping him kiss?! Sure if two people loved each other they sometimes kiss, but this really confused him. "Well ummm… people that love each other sometimes kiss and they buy flowers and things." He said a little hesitant but he was able to say it. Oooh how he felt awkward saying this, yet the feeling in his stomach kept on growing, and for some reason he wanted to know more about what Hobbes was going to teach him. Hobbes on the other hand was only a little confused but also intrigued, "This guy has never had any education on this subject." She giggled a little even tried to hide her face away with her hands as she then noticed he was sitting next to her.
Regaining her self control, she explained there was much much more to it. "Well I'll start at the basic then…" she said with a smile to him, at which now Ratchet was blushing once more. "Love is something universal, from the smallest insect to the largest animal… Tough there are many kinds of love! And none of them is the same, tough all of them are true." Ratchet cocked an eyebrow "What do you mean Hobbes?" he asked at her curious.
"Well should you ask a thousand people what love is to them, you will get a thousand different answers. Yet all these answers are all correct. Love is something different for everyone." Ratchet only nodded when she told him that. So this is why Sasha feels attracted to Qwark then? Or why Clank and Venus are in love! It all made sense now. "Now you are correct that people that love each other kiss, this is to show affection towards them. A kiss even among friends bonds them together, it is a sign of trust and friendship between two persons." Hobbes found that she was explaining things properly towards him.
She laid her hand near his leg, bringing her face closer towards his. Mere cubits away once more. Ratchet begin to feel uneasy as he knew what was to be expected yet he wanted it. The rush of energy the flow of heat on his cheek.
The warmth that finally came as her lips brushed against his fur. Sending a small wave of pleasure trough his body as the lips made contact. And when Hobbes pulled back she smiled at him. "See? A kiss is something to show affection to someone you care for. Tough I must warn you that it is not always appropriate!." Hobbes said very serious "What do you mean Hobbes?" at which she responded "Well between two males, it can give the wrong intention, or if someone has a girlfriend or boyfriend this might come as a bad signal towards there mate. So you must always be careful when doing this. Do you understand?"
Ratchet was very interested, sure he battled space monsters. He went to distant planets searching for his kind. He saved several galaxy's from imminent danger and more! Yet this, this was better then everything before. Not because it was new but it felt good and to top it of it was with a person he cared for.
Hobbes continued telling her what she knew. "Ratchet have you ever seen two people in love?" Hobbes asked very direct towards him. The little Lombax just crept together, his tail circling his body as he tightly grabbed his legs forming a protective ball while whispering the word "no". This made Hobbes almost melt at how he said it, how innocent this man was. A person that travelled the galaxy, no the universe, who had seen things that others could only dream about. Was here admitting he had never had true love, nor even seen such things!
It came only as a small shock as Hobbes knew that Lombaxes were adventurous, and well adventure meant danger and danger most of the time meant trying to survive. So that the poor lad had never known anything of love was no real shock.
Hobbes in a way felt honoured, most Lombaxes went to school before going out on an adventure but that was not the case for Ratchet. And she was happy that she was allowed to show him this. And who knew, maybe they would someday bond together!
As Ratchet curled up more and more into a protective ball, even wishing he hadn't asked for Hobbes help, cause this was rather unnerving to him. She came closer to him, putting her arms around him, laying her head on his back making a small purring sound. It seemed to have an effect on him tough as his muscles began to loosen. "There we go. You don't need to hide from me Ratchet." Winking an eye as he began to sit normal again on the bed. "You mean it?" he asked a little shy. "Yes, everything that you wanna do or talk about we will, but only if you feel comfortable with it. I know I should have asked it first but you know, I'm a little enthusiastic with things." Ratchet eyes widened a little. Did she just offer her assistance for anything I wish to know? His mouth almost fell to the ground. He didn't know anything yet here she was telling to him that he may ask anything he wanted too.
"Well I kinda liked what we did a while back. The kissing…" Ratchet began to blush hard, even more so then before especially since he admitted he liked it. A grin on Hobbes face showed that she also liked it, yet if it was up to her she would teach the other Lombax anything.
"Well do you mind then if I continue where we left off, cutie?" Ratchet backed of at that word. "Did she just call me a cutie?" his mind began to process the words he heard. "Yes she did!" He couldn't help it but his body began to react on it's own, coming closer towards Hobbes as he planted a kiss on her cheek. His nostrils saved the aroma he smelled, the flavour he got from her and how she felt. Hobbes just let him, knowing fully that his body would react towards this. Tough sooner then expected.
"Hey cutie, hold your horses I know you want to try things out in the field. (giggle) but not until I'm done teaching you how. Deal?!" Ratchet only nodded like a small schoolchild being promised a candy bar if he behaved.
Hobbes explained to Ratchet that there were several sorts of kissing. From the most innocent kiss on the head from a mother kissing her infant. To the most passionate form between lovers. Ratchet eyes grew bigger at every word Hobbes explained to him, with sometimes the occasional blush on his cheek or the feeling inside his stomach.
To make things worse he got a strange sensation inside his lower region! He couldn't tell what it was, but for a strange reason he kind of liked this sensation, much more then what was in his stomach. "So you see there are many forms of kissing as well… Now do know Ratchet, that besides kissing there are other forms of showing affection to each other." Ratchet ears went straight upwards shouting "Buying gifts!" he yelled, Hobbes chuckled. "Hehehe true true, girls like gifts tough I meant besides kissing in terms of physical contact." Hobbes came a little closer to Ratchet placing her hands on his shoulders. "For instance, us Lombaxes love this!" Hobbes said as she rubbed her hands from top to bottem, going very soft downwards and hard upwards making Ratchet shiver with joy. "Aaaaaah…" a moan escaped his lips as he enjoyed what Hobbes was doing.
She knew that Ratchet never had felt this cause if he had he wouldn't be so sensitive to the touch of her soft hands. "Physical contact is something that also can express your love and feelings towards another person. Lombaxes love to feel as they have very sensitive skin." Ratchet couldn't help but purr a little, making Hobbes go a little faster, and even bringing her head towards his drooped ear as he was savouring the feeling. "And you know something else Ratchet?" she whispered in his ear. "I'll show you step by step what Lombaxes do."
At this Ratchet almost yelped in pain as he fell two strong teeth burry into his neck. He wanted to cry out but the cry never came as Hobbes sucked on the flesh of his neck before letting it go.
Her hands still busy with rubbing his back making him purring all the while. For Ratchet this sensation was enough to drive him insane, tough his body did not react it wanted more of this more of what she knew, his brain was beginning to be override by hormones that desperately wanted more.
As she let go of him, he felt cold and lonely by the loss of feeling she had given him. He wanted to feel it again but how? He could not just ask her could he? Yet he was interested in what else Lombaxes did to show affection towards each other.
He admitted he had no clue as to what they did and this was surely unexpected especially the kiss he gave her. He was rather surprised at what he had done, only after a while did he notice he had kissed Hobbes. He so enjoyed her company, the way she made him feel save and happy at the same time.
Hobbes herself began to feel that Ratchet was loosening up. She admitted he was very cute, handsome, funny and a lot of other things. She herself never would have guessed she would have feelings for someone and to make it stranger to be actually doing things like this! Her father once told her that love will find a way if it was destined and that when that day arrived she would know it.
She had some doubts, but in her hart she knew she loved him, as did he love her back. Well Ratchet was going a poor job at hiding his feelings towards Hobbes especially since the male Lombax had never learned these things.
Tough Hobbes wanted to be certain about this, did she really love him back? She only knew him for a day or so. Sure love amongst Lombaxes was known to both partners within a very short time. And was actually very simple.
Both mates would see each other and then admire each other, it would first be the male that would keep his attention focused on the female sending a message of "I want to know you better". Should the female allow his presence she would show him either affection or push him back. It all depended on whether the female would accept him or not.
To Hobbes it was clear, if Ratchet knew it or not, his spirit, soul and essence wanted to bond with Hobbes. The choice however was with her. Did she really love him?
"Keep focused Hobbes, you are helping Ratchet with this, don't go fantasising!" she told herself. All the while Ratchet stared at her, those big green eyes trying to see into her wanting to know what she was thinking about. And then there was that insane feeling in his stomach! From the day (well yesterday actually!) he met her he had that feeling for her. He wanted to know more about it yet he did not wish to disturb Hobbes out of fear that she might stop. And he didn't he wanted to be with her as close as possible. But if only he knew what it meant, if only she knew that he was in love with her, and if only she knew that she loved him back.
"Love is eternal for those that embrace it", a wise man once said. "For not even the stars themselves can shatter true love between two souls that fuse together as one"
Hobbes looked into Ratchet's eyes, seeing some sort of sadness, and she knew how to counter it. "You wish to try it then?" Ratchet couldn't believe it. "Well I need to know if you listened to me." Winking an eye to him. AsRratchet sat behind her Hobbes told him to take it slowly let his feeling guide his hands as he saw fit. As he placed his hands onto her back, touching the clothing, he took a very deep breath before slowly going upwards to her shoulders and then down again. At first it felt ticklish to Hobbes, but slowly Ratchet began to get better at it. And in no time Hobbes began to purr very lightly not trying to let Ratchet notice as she needed to focus.
"Very good… Your not bad for your first time. Now how about we continue?" Hobbes said to Ratchet who was more then eager to do so.
Meanwhile outside the sleeping quarters Cronk had finally attached the last bolts to his side. Well actually Talwyn had done that, but that was besides the point. It was nearing dinnertime at Apogee station and therefore someone was needed to cook. Naturally the two battle bots wanted nothing more then to show who cook better (or in there case, who cooked the least terrible.)
"Miss Talwyn, may I offer my services to you?" Clank said as he came down the hall stepping towards them. "It is the least me and Ratchet can do for allowing Miss Hobbes to sleep here for a while." The small robot did want to repay them, but a more logical reason was that he did not want to call an ambulance cause of food poisoning. "Why thank you Clank, I would be delighted for it." The Marcadian said whilst Cronk and Zephyr just looked stunned. "But but Miss Talwyn normally we cook!" Talwyn raised her hand towards her stomach at that sound before turning around to meet Zephyr. "Well Clank did offer his help and this way he could repay us." As she winked at Clank signalling that he saved her from another stomach turning meal.
As Clank and Talwyn made there way towards the kitchen, it hit her like a brick. They missed Hobbes and Ratchet! "Ooh Clank can you go ahead to the kitchen? You know where it is. I'll see you at the dinner table." Clank's eyes went wide, why was she in such a hurry anyway? Not that it mattered much as he had a dinner to prepare. "How can I be such an idiot we almost forgot those two! They might miss dinner if I don't get there in time." Talwyn said to herself as she ran towards the sleeping quarters.
Outside of the station the pirates began to get a little edgy, not for the fact that they needed to share a small space but rather because of the waiting. Some began shouting even as they wanted some action mores specifically revenge! "Ai mate, when we getting some Lombax head eh?! We been waiting for almost an entire day." Said one of them out loud, "Arrrh tis true! Why do we need to wait here? Let's just storm the place. They will never see it coming!"
Rusty Pete was stunned, "Listen up you grog drinking bolts! We got orders from the capt'n to grab the Lombax his friend. Then he will come back to us." But Lawrence corrected him at it. "Excuse me, but we had orders to capture the small robot Clank and the Marcadian named Talwyn Apogee. You can't miss it, she is short, pointy ears, has a tail and is female." Some of the robots began to grin at those words, "You heard it! Plunder and pillage lads. Leave nothing alive! But first we want grog…"
Meanwhile Talwyn had reached the door of Hobbes her new chamber. As she knocked on it she noticed that none answered. "Ratchet? Hobbes? Anyone home?" tough to her surprise she got no answer. Her hand grabbed the doorknob and slowly opened it, making sure that none could surprise her. As the door opened her eyes went even wider then the door ever could. There they were both fast asleep, her head on top of his chest whilst Hobbes her tail was curled around his and he lay snoring like a wild animal. Talwyn giggled a little, "It's kind of cute seeing them like that. Well it issn't that important if they miss dinner for an evening." She said to herself as she closed the door very gently trying to not make a sound.
Dinner for Talwyn went without any problem, thanks to Clank that is! She needed to admit that Clank had some wonderful skills when it came too cooking despite him being a robot. "Ratchet I envy you!" she said to herself, Cronk and Zephyr found it not so pleasant. Seeing that another robot took up there job to cook for there miss Talwyn.
All the while Ratchet and Hobbes were still sleeping in there chamber. Neither Talwyn nor Clank wanted to disturb there sleep, waking a Lombax was not a good idea! Something Clank found out the hard way.
Outside however, the pirates and Lawrence had no intention of letting anyone have a good night sleep this night. Not if they had anything to say about it! "Arrrr I want my booty!" shouted one of the pirates as they all began preparing there weapons. Each one of the pirates had something against that dreadful Lombax!
If it wasn't being knocked down to size, or given some of there own medicine with the combuster, it was for the fact he killed there captain. Well sort off anyway. "Ai mates listen up!" Pete said to his comrades, "We need two groups. You you and you." As Pete pointed towards some random pirates. "What we sir? What we do?!" "Nothing, but you three go towards the shuttle there and take it to the engine of the station."
The pirates began to understand what there plan was, sabotage the power supply of the station. As one of the pirates began to put his hands together almost clapping. "Oooh I so love this job!"
Then Rusty Pete pointed towards the other pirates and Lawrence, "Alright mates we board the station once the power is down. Wreck anything except the rum and bring back the target if ye found it. Alright?!" Pete said in a very low yet powerful tone. Several high shouts followed soon afterwards with Pete hitting em all on the head. "Ooh my, this is going to be exciting I think." Lawrence said softly as he giggled wondering what Nefarious was up to at the time.
"Stand still you!" Nefarious said towards Slag. "I would be able to hold still if ya didn't constantly shaked my head ye bucket o loose ends!" Slag shouted back at Nefarious. Both of them were a little cranky, Nefarious because he agreed to these ridicules terms and Slag as he was getting edgy about his new body. "Aarrr just can it! I need to concentrate here you know. And I can't do that with you blabbering in my ear!" Nefarious and Slag both found the deal good, if it meant getting rid of that darn pest of a Lombax. But at the speed Nefarious was working it would be several Blargian days before they would have the new robot suite ready for use.
"You there, bot, get the remote in the left canister over there." The evil doctor said at one of Slag's underlings. "Ai! Those be my crew ye are talking too!" "And I need to have my gear near me if I want this thing to be ready… Hurry up! I need to install some new features." Slag did not really like it that some robot was touching him on his most inner parts but if it meant a new body and a stronger one at that it would be something he would endure.
Nefarious was real busy, as if his life depended on it. Every bolt, every wire was put away carefully in order to not mix them up. Plate after plate of raritarium alloys went into the new body, something that costed the pirates a lot of bolts! And if it wasn't a plate being wielded into place, it was something different that the nefarious doctor Nefarious was installing all for the purpose of making that one rodent's death as painful as he could think of.
"Arrr, this must be a good body indeed! Pete could learn a thing or two from you matey." Slag said joyfully as he began to inspect the almost finished body. "It looks almost as good as me old." This made Nefarious cock an eyebrow. "ALMOST?! It's much better then that scrapheap you called a body! The plating is reinforced, the weapons are much lighter yet sturdier then before. And I've added a few little trinkets too!" pointing towards the Courtney Gears cup holder. "Ai, a fan of Courtney eh?" several of the pirates inside the room began staring at the holder. "Ai stop staring at my new waist! Get back too work you lazy pirates!" "Yes capt'n, scrubbing we are!"
As night had settled for the Apogee station, Rusty Pete and pirates began there approach using the rocks and debris around the station to stay undetected. It would not be long before the power of the station would be out and then the real fun could begin for them. "So you two got the plan?" one of the pirates was saying to his fellow comrades. "Yup, we go in, they take the power out." The first pirate slapped his hand on the head. "No no no noo, WE take the power out, and they sneak in. Got it? WE take there power out." The other robot give a nod to confirm, yet his head was held up high as if pondering something. "Umm if you two are taking power out, and the first mate is ransacking the place, what do I do?!" that almost made the other pirate robot explode. "You me and him take the power out whilst the others ransack the station. Ye come with us! Got it?" still confused at this masterful plan he just nodded a simple no. "Aaah just stay behind me!"
As the three pirates left the small ship, making there way towards the control grid. The tricky part would be disabling the power supply. But that would be after they would get past the defences.
Inside Apogee station the last of it's few inhabitants went to bed. Talwyn always closed the station down, as she did not even want to think that Cronk or Zephyr would do this job. It wasn't that hard of a job anyway, just press a few buttons and enter the security password. As she entered the secret code she yawned loudly, she had been very tired from the entire ordeal. A new Lombax, maybe a clue towards her father! Not that it really mattered now, she would think about it in the morning after a good night sleep.
But unknown to Talwyn was a mysterious shadow that got closer to the station. The sensors did not detect the strange object, not yet at least. "Huh?" Talwyn said as she turned around to face the window. Probably the lights of the warning beacons she thought to herself.
As the small group of pirates got onto the maintenance grid, they quickly made there way to the power coupling. One of them carried some strange round devices with him, not larger then a hand they were, but they were devastating against electronic devices. "Carefully a bloody fool! Less ye want us to be shocked as well?!" said one of the three, apparently not happy with the job. Well none would be happy with this anyway. As they made there way to the central area, the first pirate began hacking the safety lock. " Oooh a seven on four hexa cubic lock? Not a problem mate!" said the pirate as he connected with it. Several beeps could be mildly heard, and not long thereafter the hatch opened. "You own me seven bolts!" "Cheap shot anyone coulda opened that sinkhole… Bah!"
Not far from there, Lawrence along with Rusty Pete and the rest of pirates were waiting fro the signal to plunder and pillage. Finally the pirates would get there revenge against that saucy wench and her mangy friend Ratchet! A smile came on Rusty Pete his face, a chance to show Slag what he could do. Not only that but also to take revenge on the Lombax by taking that which he holds dear. "Are you ready lads?!" Pete asked, several ya's and whoops and other sounds were made by the band of pirates. "Now we only need to wait for the signal."
Pete had prepared himself properly thanks to Lawrence who had brought some heavy equipment.
"Do be careful when using these, doctor Nefarious does want his lasers back after this mission." Lawrence explained as two pirates took up some heavy gear. As the made there way to the closest wall they began cutting into the hard material, each second that passed they got closer and closer to breaching the door. Each cubic was another profit made by them. "Now we wait till the power goes down!" Pete said. And right he was, the sensors would pick up the disturbance in pressure and sound alarm. But without the power, the station was a sitting duck!
Time went by rather fast in the darkness of space, the occasional light that shined upon the centre coming from the beacons on the asteroids was somewhat annoying to anyone seeing into them. Lawrence and Pete began to get worried, and just as Pete wanted to check up, the lights inside the station began to grow dim at first. Slowly fading away, as if light itself was enveloped in darkness. "Aye mates that's the signal… Ya know what to do! Fire in the (hic) hole!" Pete shouted as the pirates banged open the holes they created. Before anyone would have time to notice anything the pirates had already invested the station. They weren't ransacking, not yet.
"Ya heard the man, find the person that Lombax is with! The finder gets a free pizza party!" one of the larger pirates said. "Aye? A pizza party? Well I be a Zoni's uncle. I'll find that lad.. Muhuhahahaaaa." The voice came from the largest pirate of the group, his major gun had been replaced by a large arm in order to walk properly. Every pirate was searching for there booty.
Lawrence had accompanied Pete, as they both went quietly down the hallway. They checked every room they came across, supply's, spare parts, training rooms. Everything was searched. "This is not what I had expected." Lawrence said a bit disappointed, as he entered another room empty, "I beg your pardon Pete, but when are we going to pillage this station?" Pete looked a bit bazzled. "No worries mate (hic) we will pillage this place once we found the bate for our trap. (hic)" Pete was confident and more importantly very happy with the idea of tearing this place apart like they did all those years ago. And pillage they would!
As Ratchet and Hobbes lay quietly next to each other asleep, the pirates outside came closer towards there room. The silence never broken by the intruders of the station, there mind focused on fulfilling there task that lay before them. "Check that room there! Make sure we don't skip even one inch of this darn rock! Or the cpt'n will skin us alive…" As the pirates came even closer to room there target was in, one of the pirates noticed something, a sound of some sorts. It was not easy to pick up, it was as if someone was snoring very softly.
As the pirate got closer to the source of the sound, he began to notice that it was indeed snoring he heard. "Lads?!" he said towards his fellow pirates near him. "I think we be crashing this party!" the pirate said before laughing. "Lemme take care of this!" the largest of the group said as he set himself in front of the door. His mighty arm ready to destroy the door like a carton board cut in two by a scissor.
On the other side of the station, Pete and Lawrence had less luck, Lawrence even began to get annoying much to Pete's annoyance. "Aye mate, if ya don't be more quite (hic) they might hear us!" the pirate robot said. It did had it's effect on Lawrence as he settled down a bit giving Pete some rest.
Both of them got towards a room with a magnificent door. It was located inside the terrarium on top of some sort of ladder. "Oooh my, this is a mighty door!" Lawrence said as he inspected the large metal barrier in front of him. Though he did not notice that Rusty Pete had searched the entire area and found something interesting as he made a gesture towards his friend. Lawrence was dazzled as he saw a hole inside the wall. "This must have been made by something powerful!" he said looking at the scorched earth all around him. The room gave off a warmth as if there was something inside. Curious as he was Lawrence along with Rusty Pete began to inspect it. Not even taken a step inside made Pete notice that this was a bedroom. "Ooh my we stumbled upon a sleeping quarter!" As he pointed out towards the two robots that were plugged in the wall recharging there batteries. As Rusty Pete got closer to the bed he noticed that he knew that figure and Pete yelled "The Marcadian, (hic) her! I mean shoot her!" As he grabbed his blaster out of it's hull pointing it at the female that lay in the bed.
"What is all that noise!? Damm younlings with there rock music!" said the blue robot, as he unplugged himself checking the room. As his sensors scanned the room, he was welcomed by something unexpected. A gunshot blazed right next to his neck barely missing him. As Cronk registered the fact he was being shot at he began to take his own gun, shouting heavily.
All the commotion had wakened Talwyn up along with Zephyr who thought that Cronk was busy with his fire drills again.
"Cronk? What is going on?" Talwyn asked sheepishly as she pulled the blanket away. "EEEEK! Cronk Zephyr HELP!" Talwyn yelled as Zephyr was awoken hard by the high tone. Pete and Lawrence were not happy by this. "Alright mates stick em (hic) up. Or missy here goes to the locker!"
As the pirate slammed the door in of Ratchet and Hobbes there chamber, they rushed inside gun at the ready to kill and destroy anything in there path. They ran past the outer room into the inner chamber were the two Lombaxes lay sound asleep still. "Aaaw aint that cute?!" one of the pirates said holding his hands against his chest as he saw the two asleep. "Bah! Aye it's cute, if you like fuzz balls. Ah wait a second, this must be the one we are looking for!" as he pointed out at Hobbes. An evil grin came onto his face as his hand reached out to grab her. His hand came closer and closer until he quickly pulled away, Ratchet his arm wrapped itself around Hobbes her waist as if he knew there was something that would take her away from him. "Just grab the female and get out of here! I want me bloody pizza I tell ye!" the smallest one said. "Aye aye! Grab her already!" they said to the pirate near the bed. "EEEEK! Cronk Zephyr HELP!"
All the pirates were shocked by the scream they heard. As they did not expect anything to happen. "Must be Pete! Trouble perhaps?" "Aarrrh never mind just grab the girl!" As the pirate reached out his hand, he grabbed Hobbes by the waist, tearing her away from Ratchet. "What is going oompphhhh…" as she was put into a sack, her cries muffled by her new surrounding as she cried her lungs out hoping someone would be able to hear her. She didn't know what was happening, but she didn't like it. "Ratchet!!! Talwyn?! Clank?!!... Anyone?!" she cried but to no avail.
Ratchet rubbed one of his eyes, his brain still asleep as he saw a yellow blur being put inside something brown. He tried to open his eyes well, but only heard a sharp tone in his ear as if sirens went off. "Hobbes? Is something wrong?!" he said softly, even yawning. "Aye pretty boy! There is something!" Ratchet's ears recognised the voice, as his senses sharpened, he sprung out of bed. "What? How did you guys get here?!" Ratchet said confused not really understanding what happened. As he took on a defensive pose. But before he could even attack on of the intruders he was smacked down hard onto the ground. "Something wrong pretty boy?! Here maybe THIS will help." Said the largest pirate as he banged his strong arm onto Ratchet his back, almost breaking it. He yelled out in agony as the pirates left the room, the pain still soaring through his body as he couldn't get up. Powerless to save Hobbes from those bastards.
"Let miss Talwyn go, you scoundrel!" Zephyr said as his weapon was pointed at her aggressor. Holding it firmly in his hands making sure he would not miss his shot. Cronk had done the same yet his concern was more with Talwyn getting hurt in the process. Alas he had not noticed that figures appeared behind him and Zephyr as they were about to shoot there weapon at the enemy. Two loud bangs were heard as both of the robots were knocked out cold, there bodies falling onto the floor with a thud, "Aye mates, what kept ya?! We got problems here (hic)!" Pete said annoyed. "Sorry pete, but we got what we need! See?" as the large pirate robot showed them the bag with Hobbes inside. "Well (hic) done mates. Let's get going before Ratchet gets here." "Yes that is a very good idea." Lawrence said as he waved his hand up and down, but not after he broke a vase on the table. "That will show those squishies who is the boss around here!" Pete looked a bit shocked but did not say anything.
As soon as the pirates had shown up, they left again. Talwyn was terrified by the assault, but got her nerve and ran towards Cronk and Zephyr. "Cronk?! Zephyr? Get up!" she shook them heavily eventually getting there attention as Cronk got up. "Hah! We are sorry miss Talwyn, that we were of no use." As Zephyr also regained his senses again, he looked around noticing Clank in the doorway.
"Miss Apogee, what is going on here? My senses picked up some unusual high tones and….Oh my! Did Ratchet fire his RYNOIV again?" Clank asked worried as he saw the destruction (and one broken vase) "Clank where are Ratchet and Hobbes? I think he might be in danger!" Talwyn got worried about him and Hobbes. "We need to get to his room quickly. I fear the worst!"
As all four of them ran towards Ratchet his room, they heard a low yelp of pain as if someone was wounded. "ratchet?!" Clank called out into the dark room. Because the power was down they could not see anything very well, this was until Cronk and Zephyr turned on there lights. All gasped in fright as they saw the Lombax laying on the floor, his hand stretched out as if he wanted to grasp something. "Zephyr, get some nanotech quickly! And restore power." Zephyr only nodded as he left the room. "Cronk, help me get Ratchet onto the bed again.
As time faded away for ratchet, he began to hear voices. But his vision and brain were still blurry. What had happened just moments ago? Was it just a dream? He couldn't figure it out. Yet the pain feels so real, as if it wasn't a bad dream. "Hobbes?" he said very softly, yet no answer came back. A tear formed in his eye as he tried his best to awaken fromthis horrible nightmare he was having.
Clank sat by his bed as Ratchet was lifted in it. "Hobbes?" he heard ratchet say. "Easy ratchet, don't worry you'll be taken care of by Cronk myself Zephyr and miss Apogee." Clank was worried, he had seen Ratchet been attacked by enemies before, but this was just cruel. He had scanned Ratchet as he was on the floor, his bio-scan showed he had problems breathing and a rib or two were broken. "Is he going to be alright?!" Talwyn asked worried about her friend. Clank nodded telling her he would be ok if Zephyr gave him the nanotech.
It hit Hobbes quickly that there was something missing. "Where is Hobbes?!" she said in a high tone jumping into the air. "Was she not with ratchet this afternoon?!" "Ratchet and Hobbes were here the entire evening miss Apogee. But I do not know where Hobbes is now." Talwyn began to think, if she was not here with ratchet then… Oooh no! "The PIRATES!!! They must have taken her." "Why would the pirates do something this crazy?!" Clank asked her, as he looked at his friend placing his hand on top of his. "I have no idea but she must have been in that bag they had with them. It's the only explanation!"
"A wench from Ardolis, once sad and drunk told us… A life of crime don't paaay! But pillage and plunder stealing and carousing fill coffers every daaaay!!! Hahahaaaa." Sang a few of the pirates as they entered there ship. "Aaarrh a fine pillage we did. No room unchecked and the booty is in the bag!" "Ooh yes it was most thrilling. A nice experience I assure you gentlemen. Did you see when I broke the vase?" Lawrence asked towards one of the pirates next to him, who just turned his sight away from Lawrence. As Pete saw this he just slapped his hands on his head in disbelieve muttering "Pirates in training… yeesh!" "Alright lads! Listen up, we need to bring this to capt'n Slag! And you three deserve a pizza party as promised. But no anchovies!" Several cheers came from the group, it was a merry and happy time for the pirates. But for Hobbes it was the opposite, she felt cold and alone inside her "prison". "Ratchet…" she said softly placing her hands on her face whipping the tears away. "Help me… Please help me." As she began to fall asleep her mind focused on only one thing, a smile began to form on her face as she began to dream of that one person, that person that would save her. "Raaatchet…"
A light appeared at the sky, filling the dark void with a small spot of light. It began to grow larger and larger! Ratchet did not know what was going on, he felt sick and his stomach was twirling. Well at the very least he had immense pain!
"…so he's awake?" He heard someone speak yet he couldn't hear them properly, the pain in his stomach was still too much to bear. Yet he felt someone, it was cold that overtook him for a moment as if his fur was frozen. Then nothing, no more pain or headache everything was gone. The light grew bigger and bigger until he finally opened his eyes and shot straight up "HOBBES!" he yelled out loud, before he fell back onto the bed.
Clank placed his hand on top of the Lombax his shoulder "Welcome back Ratchet, you gave us a scare there for a second." Ratchet just looked at him confused not knowing what happened. "Was this a dream Clank? What happened?... Last thing I remember was that several figures were in the doorway and then I can't remember a thing." Clank looked at Talwyn concerned if he should tell him what actually happened. He knew that his friend wanted an answer but was telling the truth the best thing to do? It could break his hart to hear what happened but he would find out sooner then later.
"Ratchet it wasn't a dream, the pirates attacked the station again and they kidnapped Hobbes with them." As those words sank into Ratchet his mind, his eyes began to get narrower he growled fiercely at his incompetence to protect her but most of all he would make sure that those pirates would pay for what they have done. "Clank? We are going to Aphelion get your gear!"
Talwyn looked on in despair knowing she couldn't persuade the Lombax to stay first and heal, she knew that but that didn't mean that Talwyn, Cronk and Zephyr couldn't help. "Maybe it would be best to go after him in a while." She contemplated as she looked at both her battle bots, who gave her a firm nod.
As the pirates ship made its way ever so close towards Ardolis, songs and grog were heard and drank along the way, celebrating a very nice mission. It was not only for the fact they kidnapped the friend of that Dreaded Pirate Ratchet, but also since well they were pirates.