Showdown above Ardolis
As Aphelion her engines started up, Ratchet quickly took his helmet as he placed it over his head. Anger filled his heart as he set a course for Ardolis, the planet where the pirates would keep Hobbes. Ratchet knew that, his heart was pounding, Clank looked very concerned about his friend hoping that he would not go on his gunho tactic. "Ratchet, be reasonable you can't just barge in there!" Clank said hoping his friend would listen to reason, but that was the last thing Ratchet was thinking about. He did not care if he would get hurt, he just wanted Hobbes back from those blasted pirates.
He bit his lip as a tear formed into his eye he couldn't hold it anymore, once the cockpit closed the lid, Aphelion her voice came over the COM link. "Is there a reason we are going away?" the plane asked a bit curious, but her scanners noticed that the Lombax had an increased heart rate, his blood pressure was high and he breathed very heavily. Clank just looked worried to his friend, he was lost. Clank knew Ratchet would not listen especially not now, but he could get hurt by what he was going to do.
Clank tapped on Ratchet his leg getting the attention of his friend, but Ratchet sighed his ears drooped downwards as he looked down at the floor. "Clank… I need to save her." He said as he turned his face towards the robot next to him. Clank his eyes got brighter as he looked his friends into the eyes. "I know Ratchet, and we will save Hobbes but we will do it together." Ratchet got a small smile knowing Clank would help him even now.
With renewed vigour he pulled on the steer of the ship and blasted of into space, a hot trail of engine heat left behind on the Apogee station.
A small bang was heard as the brown sack fell into the ground before Captain Slag his feet. The pirate leader looked very happy at this new catch. "Arrrr well done lads! This be good of ya all. And as said a pizza party for those who kidnapped the robot!" Several cheers came from some of the robots when they heard they would get the reward. Captain Slag stood next to Nefarious who was also very eager to greet his prisoner. He rubbed his hand together smiling an evil grin towards Slag. "Pete, cut open the sack!" Rusty Pete was not thrilled however as he wanted the party, but alas orders were orders even if a pirate was not happy he needed to obey the cpt'n (hic). He took his knife out of its holder and cut open the sack, after that he put it away smirking to at the very least see that worthless friend of the Lombax.
"Let me go you fiends!" shouted Hobbes once the sack was pulled down. Her yelling shocked everyone in place, most importantly Nefarious and Slag. "WHHHAT?! Who is this?!" demanded Nefarious, his hand going into the air gripping for the nearest pirate he could find. "Arrr indeed lads, what is this? Some joke!? This is not the friend of Ratchet!" Slag scolded out, "Never mind who this is! I want to know where Secret agent Clank is!" the pirate robots were confused by what was said, they did as ordered so why were Slag and this other robot so upset not to mention furious!
Nefarious walked around mumbling something until he was cut of by Hobbes "You are going to be in so much trouble when Ratchet gets here! You'll see he is coming to save me." At those words Nefarious turned his head around "You know Ratchet?!" "It seems she does sir." Added Lawrence "Shut it Lawrence… Tell me squishy do you know that Lombax?!" Hobbes began to shiver a little by the presence of the foul robot before her, her hands forming fists as if she tried to defend herself but she could not do anything against him. "Yes, you'll see he will come!" A laugh came from Nefarious and afterwards from Slag himself. Hobbes got confused, was it so that she said something bad? "Well then pretty squishy… let him come! It seems that we won't be needing Clank after all…Muhuhahuhahahahahaaaaaa." Nefarious laughed maniacally. "Does that mean we still get our pizza?" asked one of the pirates before his head exploded by fire coming from Nefarious his gun.
"Off all the things those space pirates ever did, this must be the dumbest thing up until now!" Ratchet shouted at his plane. Aphelion though not able to show how she felt, still felt compassioned with him. "Ratchet, you should know getting yourself angry will not solve this situation." Ratchet could only sigh at this, he knew Aphelion was right. Clank just sat next to Ratchet, giving him a comforting look to the young Lombax. He could see that Clank also was feeling bad about this entire ordeal, especially since he knew Ratchet had developed feelings towards the female Lombax, if not because of her being the last of there kind, but more because he was attracted to her. Must be something chemical Clank thought, but Ratchet knew it was more then that, something robots, even Clank, would not fully understand how.
Ever since this night he was certain that he wanted to spent his life with Hobbes, and there was in no way anyone that was going to stop that from happening, especially not a bunch of grogged up, idiotic, baboons of some space pirates robots!
As Ratchet pushed Aphelion's speed up even higher to make sure he would get there faster, he fell his rage disappearing for a while as he remembered what he and Hobbes had done, how she showed him things he never knew off, the feelings he got from being with her and the safety he felt when they held each other, the warmth he got when they fell asleep together. A small tear formed in his eye, but he quickly blinked it away as to not show Clank his emotions, but not to Ratchet's knowledge Clank's sensors picked it up faster then the Lombax could blink his emotions away. "Ooh Ratchet, you do love her." Clank said to himself.
A wind blew across the surface of Ardolis, icy and disturbing as it went by Hobbes. She was praying, praying that Ratchet would show up to save her, she knew he would. She just knew it. "Ratchet…" she said to herself softly, the name comforting her just that tiny bit. As if her problems fell into nothingness. "Arrrr what be you doing there lass?" Slag scolded at her, a few of the pirates started to laugh maniacally as if the situation was funny. "Shut it up you cans o bolts! Before I push ye all from the plank!" Slag himself was being a bit itchy, he had encountered that Lombax too much. And he knew very well that Ratchet would not leave this unsettled. Elsewhere not far from where Slag was, "Sir are you sure this is a wise idea?" Lawrence asked Nefarious, "Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence… My plan will not fail. That darn squishy will come! And when he does I will have a surprise installed for that darn cat! Muhuhahahaaa…" Nefarious laughed out loud. "That bumbling buffoon of a pirate has no idea I am just using him for my plan." Lawrence chuckled only a little with this "Well sir, only a buffoon can trick a buffoon." He said in a hinting voice. But Nefarious didn't understand the clue very well. Well when did he? "And this time that squishy of a Qwark is nowhere to help Ratchet. This is going even better then planned." Before Nefarious could say anything else, a beeping sound came on his wrist. The red gem began to glow but as soon as he touched it it disappeared. "Ai, Nefarious… Our scanners picked up that mangy tallywag's ship! He be landing soon on Ardolis." Slag said over the COM link as Nefarious grew a smile on his metallic face. "Lawrence… Activate the device for captain Slag." As Lawrence grabbed the remote he said in a glee voice "Right away, sir" before pressing the button. A holovid appeared, showing Qwark on the battleship Leviathan "Courtney Gears didn't seem to mind!" as Nefarious watched the vid his oil began to boil. "QWAAAAA… Oooh Lance you are so rugged! What do you do in the weekend?... Well I cut down trees, I stamp on wild flowers and I put on women's clothing and hang around in bars. I also wear high heels suspenders and a…AAAARK!" Nefarious shouted out as Lawrence hit him on the face. "Oh I do love this!" Lawrence said as he cleaned his hand. "Bah Lawrence!!!!" nefarious yelled out as he smacked his hand at Lawrence, knocking him down. "Ooh my, I must have recorded this a while ago. Dreadfully sorry, sir." Lawrence said giggling a little as he pulled out another remote pressing the button again. "Aaaah yes yes… This will do muhuhahahaaa. Now let the fun begin." As Nefarious began laughing even more and harder then before.
As a hyperspace window opened above Ardolis, Aphelion came trough it flying at top speed. "Ratchet, please you are going to get my circuitry fried!" Aphelion said towards the Lombax, knowing very well that she needed to go a bit slower or else they could get into trouble. "No can do Aphelion I need to get on Ardolis quickly." Ratchet said as he steered heavily to his left side. Rather did he know that Slag had been preparing for the Lombax his arrival, and this time he would make sure that that cat would not survive!
"Warning…warning… Enemy fighters spotted." Aphelion said as several small blinks came onto the radar. Ratchet growled a little, knowing that this would stall him more then anything else. "Ratchet, be careful don't be to hasty now." Clank tried to say as he placed his hand onto his friends shoulder only to be seen be the Lombax his big eyes. "Clank…" Ratchet said in a almost crying voice. "I know you want to save Hobbes Ratchet, but it is best that you try not to get yourself killed in the process." Clank said compassionate, trying to grab the Lombax his attention, and getting him towards his senses. As Ratchet only sighed he looked at Clank "I know Clank….*sigh*…I know. But let us get rid of those darn fighters first!!" Ratchet said his eyes narrowing as he steered forward, Aphelions weaponry charging up for the upcoming battle. A fight he did not want to loose he did not allow himself to loose this fight. He would win even if it meant playing dirty!
As Aphelion was heftily turned towards her right trying to evade some of the fighters, Ratchet noticed that there were more fighters then he first anticipated. "Seems like they prepared for our arrival eh Clank?" The Lombax said as he turned to face his friend with a grin. "So it seems Ratchet, but do be careful as we don't to be sh… LOOK OUT!" Clank shouted out loudly as, Ratchet turned his gaze back to the screen a sweat drop and fear came onto his face as he saw what shocked Clank. Several missiles were coming forth at them. "APHELION EVASIVE NOW!!!" yelledRratchet, as the ship tried her best to get upwards barely evading the missiles as they went below them mere inches of the ships hull. "Fuck! They mean it this time… Hang on to your bolts Clank this is going to be a rough one." Ratchet said as he narrowed his eyes, his hands clamping harder onto the steering mechanism.
The attacking fighters came from every direction, each baring the well known pirate mark. That gruesome smiling skull. How the Lombax hated seeing it, but it wouldn't matter, anyone in his path this day would either go out of his way or be destroyed. That he was certain off. As the Lombax pulled up the nose of his ship he noticed extra bleeps on his radar. "There behind us?" he said in shock, knowing that he would need to fight his way out of this one. "Clank prepare the missiles, let's give them some of there own medicine." Clank nodded as he began to start up the missiles. "May I advice you not to fire yet Ratchet, my sensors are picking up a much larger vessel in front of us." Aphelion said concerned as a beeping sound came from the COM link. As the screen lit up they saw Slag along with Rusty Pete. "Ahoy there young Lombax. This a fair morning aint it?" said the pirate in a glee voice towards Ratchet, who only growled as response. "Surrender that vessel o yours and you won't be harmed!... If not be prepared to be destroyed." Ratchet just rolled his eyes. "You know how it works Slag, you say how you'll kill me and such nonsense and then I destroy your fleet." The Lombax said with a taunting voice. This seemed to anger Slag a little as the captain just narrowed his eyes. "Then so be it Lombax… Pete?! Give the signal." "Aye aye captain… Signal is given. (hic)" as the link was broken, the screen turned black leaving Ratchet and Clank alone in the cockpit.
Ratchet seemed a bit happy "Oh no, I hope you are not going to do what I think you are, are you Ratchet?!" Clank asked a little concerned and frightened. "Only one way to find out eh Clank?" Ratchet said winking to his friend as he pushed the ship forward. Clank almost flew backwards by the sudden increase in speed as he charged into the enormous cruiser that lay before them. "You know what to do Aphelion!" he said as the ship made it's way towards there enemy.
On Ardolis Slag was brought before Nefarious. "So that squishy finally showed up?!" Nefarious asked with a grin on his face. "So it seems to be, sir. Shall I prepare the welcomes committee?" Asked Lawrence. "Arrrr, ye won't be doing anything lad! My men will take care of that Lombax in space. Ye shall see!" But still Slag hoped that the Lombax would survive, so he himself could skin up that darn cat once and for all.
All the while Hobbes sat there alone, guarded by those two pirate bullies. She tried her best to think of something to get her out of this predicament. "If only I was able to cut these ropes!" she though to herself, that was until it her like brick. As she tried to grab the small needle from out of her pocket. "Good thing we fell asleep together" she said to herself thinking about Ratchet. She had heard that he was near Ardolis and this, this gave her hope. Hope that he would come to save her, to get her out of this nightmare. "Ratchet… I need you, help me trough this!" she said to herself, the name comforting her as she began to poke the ropes with the needle. "Save me."
Heat began to build within the guns of Aphelion as massive amounts of bullets were shot from the loops. Hundreds upon hundreds made there way into the large cruiser before them, as small explosions occurred by the damage Aphelion did. "Oooh yea!! That's what I'm talking about!" Ratchet said happily as the cruiser took massive damage. Aphelion being brought underneath the ship, making another flight towards the large ship. As Ratchet launched the ship forward again, they were set out of there course by a missile coming straight at them. "Ratchet watch out…" Clank said as the ship rolled over it's side, the missiles crashing into the cruiser before them. Aphelion began to find this course of action not so pleasant. "Ratchet, do watch out! I am not some kind of toy you can use." Ratchet only grin eked a little "Sorry Apehlion." "At least try to hold yourself in doing such dangerous tricks!" the ship asked to the young Lombax. Ratchet only rolled his eyes "Tell that to the enemy!" As another spray of bullets were fired upon the fighters before them. The radar kept beeping of all the enemy fighters that were around them.
Each time, every single time Ratchet barely escaped the oncoming volley of attacks. He began to get tired, his muscles began to ache from all the manoeuvring trough the enemy fighters. It was wearing him down and he knew it.
The cruiser began to charge up its weaponry, "Target that vessel! The capt'n wants it destroyed." Said the pirate on the bridge of the cruiser. Several aye's and arrr's were shouted by the crew, as they quickly began to charge up the weaponry. At the lower decks the guns were being set up in place as the guns were being pushed out of the hull, ready to fire. "My sensors are indicating a massive amount of energy building up from that cruiser Ratchet!" Aphelion said, knowing very well that this would be it. The final act they would make. "Fire the guns at my command!" The pirate robot said, glaring at the small Lombax fighter, a small on his face as he shouted out the command. "FIRE!" "Uuuh Ratchet?!" Clank said his voice going up as he saw the cruiser firing there massive bursts of energy. As Ratchet saw the massive bursts of energy his life began to flash before his eyes. From the time he saw Clank to when he defeated Drek, saved Bogon from the Protopets, fighting of Nefarious his reign terror, making an end to DreadZone, finding out about his past, saving Clank from the Zoni! And finding Hobbes, his love. "So this is how it ends?" Ratchet said laughing a little at the irony. He who always found a way of getting out of situations like this. He who knew how to fight for his life. "This is how it will end now is it? This is the end of the line?!" The Lombax thought to himself, ignoring the shouts coming from both Clank and Aphelion urging him to do something, but they both knew that it was too late to evade the oncoming attack. They knew that the shields wouldn't hold out against so much firepower. As the glowing light came ever so close, the Lombax cried a few tears. Tears that he knew he would die, tears that he would never see Hobbes, Clank or his friends again. Fear about the unknown. As the beam came closer, he gathered his strength. "I won't give uupp!!!" he shouted loudly, as if he wanted to let the enemy ship know that he would never give up. The engines of Aphelion roared as he pressed the ship towards the beams. "Ratchet what are you doing?!" Clank almost yelled, not knowing if his friend had gone insane or if he found a way to survive this. As he clamped the steer, knowing what faith lay before him. The Lombax thought about who he was going to safe, even if he needed to give his life for this then so be it. His eyes narrowed as he bared his fangs, the ship moving at a massive rate towards there doom. His mind began to settle at peace knowing that he would someday see Hobbes again. He didn't know when or where but his hart told him that he would see her. They were destined for it. "Sir, the ship is coming straight at us!" said one of the pirates towards the commander. "Aye, that be good! Shoot everything we have against them, every gun!" Clank placed his hand on Ratchet his side, knowing what would come to be. He stood by his friend and this would be no different. "Ratchet, I believe in you." Clank said, his head showing compassion with the Lombax, knowing well that he was doing this all out of love for Hobbes. Sacrificing himself to save her from Slag and his minions. "Claaank." Ratchet said. That one word said enough to Clank, knowing his friend loved him. As they both looked onwards towards the beam ever so closely, as if a light brighter then a thousand suns enveloped the universe itself. The shields of Aphelion began to waver by the heat that almost surrounded them.
A mighty bang shocked the entire ship, almost knocking Ratchet out of the cockpit. It was as if they had been rammed, the Lombax looked surprised to see his environment. "Is…is this death?!" he asked towards himself. As he looked around he saw Clank sitting next to him. The robot was upside down in his seat by the massive burst. "What happened?!" he asked towards Clank and Aphelion, moments ago they were flying off into there faith and the next thing they were somewhere else?! The COM link lit up again, as the screen was distorted, they heard a voice over it. "Aaah so it seems I am not too late. You can thank me later buddy. All in a days work!" the voice said. It sounded very familiar towards Ratchet & Clank. As Clank said "Is that…." "CAPTAIN QWAAAA….ooh Lance, will you marry me?...AAARK?!" Nefarious shouted out as Lawrence hit him in the sides. The monitor showing the blubbering super hero. "Aarrrr who is this idiot?!" Slag demanded to know. "This is Captain Qwark I am afraid." Lawrence said as Nefarious sobbed. "Oooh why Lawrence? Why! That Squishy always ruins everything!
Ratchet was very confused by this all. "Uuh Qwark?! What are you doing here?! And did you save us?!" he asked. "Aaah well, I heard from Talwyn that you were going to Ardolis! And via the surveillance footage we discovered Lawrence was with the raid on the station." Qwark said, Clank was dumb struck, did Qwark actually save them?! And even more importantly WHY was he here?!
Qwark, for all it mattered, had indeed saved them. For once he acted unselfish, putting himself in imminent danger to help his friends. "Indeed Ratchet, it was I, Captain Qwark, that saved you. By using my ship as a ram I pushed you out of harms way. Even with the risk of being… oh my!" Qwark suddenly realised what almost could have happened if he himself did not have enough strength to get him to safety. "I could have died!" he said frightened. "Can you imagine, ME gone. A world without Captain Qwark!" As Ratchet pulled himself together from the entire ordeal. He suddenly realised they still had that cruiser to take care of. "Qwark, chit chat is for later. We got that cruiser to take care of first!"
As renewed vigour entered the Lombax veins, a second chance that was given to him. He launched Aphelion forward. "Arm the missiles Clank! Qwark can you deal with the fighters?!" Qwark just nodded "Leave them to me buddy." He said as the link was broken.
As the laser beams faded away, the commander of the bridge stared at the open void. "Muhuhahaaaa. They are completely vanished!" the pirate said with a glee. But as soon as he had stopped laughing, shock came over him. "He survived?! But how??!" The pirate was dumbstruck. None could survive something point-blank from that range! As he ran towards the window, he saw the Lombax fighter approaching from afar at massive speed. It was as if he could actually see the Lombax standing before him, the hate and anger that he felt from him, terrifying as it was to him.
Aphelion charged up her entire arsenal of weaponry. As every rocket was being set up by the mechanism inside her wings, grabbing the rockets as they were placed below her ready to strike death on that cruiser. Ratchet eyes narrowed even more, his head bent forward as he steered right towards the bridge. Seeing the captain pirate standing there, there gazes interlocked, as he opened up the clip on his steer. "This is for you Hobbes!" Ratchet yelled out, as he pressed the button.
Aphelion shined brightly as the missiles were released from there clips, each being steered forward by the massive burst of energy. As they flew across the deepness of space, they came closer towards the bridge. The captain in fear and shock by the upcoming doom. The remaining fighters hastily flew in front of the barrage, exploding as each of the missiles found a target destroying it immediately. But the pirates actions were to no avail as multiple missiles hit there target. The bridge of the cruiser taking on fire and explosions, as it burst out into a massive ball of fire. The entire ship began to break part in two, as several escape shuttles were launched by the surviving pirates.
Ratchet sighed to himself as he let his tired body fall into the chair behind him. Closing his eyes as he began to think of Hobbes. "I'm coming to save you my love." He said softly as he let his body rest from the fight. As Clank saw the fireworks before him as the cruiser exploded time after time, as if a lightshow had been set for them. "Woohoo! Nice shooting there buddy. Off course we all know you wouldn't have been able to win the day without me. Hehehe right guys?" Asked Qwark hoping to get confirmation. "Qwark, I want to thank you in name of me Ratchet and Aphelion for saving us. We are for ever grateful that you assisted us this day. We will not forget it." Clank said towards Qwark as he too began to enjoy from the fireworks.
Slag almost fell from his pillow at seeing the result. "Bah! This can't be… Pete?! Call the lads. We'll be having a cat for visit along with one of his friends." Slag said, as he stared at Nefarious who was evenly shocked. Hobbes just grinniked a little at the fact that Ratchet had won. Even from of the planet they could see the fire of the ship as it exploded As realisation struck into him of that Ratchet once again was victorious, and this time with Qwark, he ran towards Hobbes. Grasping her by the cheek. "That squishy of yours may have won.. But mark my words girl, he will NOT be able safe you!" Nefarious said as Lawrence brought forth something that struck fear and terror into Hobbes. The sight that she had to behold was worse then seeing hell itself. "He may have won this fight… But the war is far from over!! Muhuhahahaaaaa." Nefarious laughed at Hobbes.