Chapter VII
The rain had picked up again. The sun had set once more. And Ratchet, Clank, and Soara had found a warm and dry cave to stay the night. Ratchet was striking two stones together over a pile of wood that he and Soara had gathered earlier, trying. Soara was off to side by the wall of the cave. She had her deactivated elctro-sword out, and was practicing several of her techniques with it. Clank watched as she swung her blade around, grunting with each air-strike. "You have quite some skill, Soara.' Said Clank, as Soara did an aerial, followed by a downward strike into the ground with a loud grunt. Blushing, Soara stood up, her sword in one hand. "Thanks, Clank." She replied. "I should, anyway. I've been using this thing long enough." She indicated her sword. "If I didn't have any skills by now, I'd have some serious issues." Ratchet had lit the pile of wood on fire, and was now blowing, to get the fire to grow. He then sat back, so not to burn himself. "So." He said, speaking to Soara. "Were your parents swordsmen like you, or is that just your own trait?" Soara lowered her sword. "Well, I Don't really know." She said. "Telther never told me about them as a child. And I don't remember them at all." Ratchet sighed, closing his eyes. "Yeah." He said. "I can relate to that. I never knew my parents either." He looked back up at Soara. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up."
"Hey. No big deal." Said Soara, resuming swinging her sword. "I haven't let it get to me in years." Ratchet watched Soara for a few more minutes, before standing up and saying "Why don't you show me a couple of your moves you got there? Just to pass the time." Soara smiled at him. "Oh, I don't know, Ratchet." She said. "You already have some pretty killer skills of your own. Don't think I want to add to them."
"Aw, come on." Said Ratchet, taking out his omniwrench. "You're not scared of me, are ya." Soara scoffed. "No. of course not." Ratchet stood next to her and copied her stance. Soara then lunged forward, jabbing with her sword. Ratchet copied, swinging his wrench downward. "No." Said Soara, watching Ratchet. "You want to do more of a stab. Before you slice your opponent."
"Well, I can't do much stabbing with this thing." Said Ratchet, indicating his wrench. Soara shrugged. "You could still do it to disorient your opponent." She said. "That way they won't be able to block when you strike again." Soara repeated the movement as Ratchet copied. They both did an outward strike, stepped forward, spun around, and did a downward strike. "You've been paying attention to my movements when we fought." Said Soara, who was watching Ratchet. "Well. you are kind of predictable." Ratchet replied. Soara looked offended, but said nothing. She sheathed her sword and sat down on the cave floor, away from the fire. "I didn't mean that, Soara." Said Ratchet, sitting down next to her. "I just meant-"
"You don't have to say anything." Said Soara quietly. "Telther has always said the same thing. I guess it's true then." Ratchet smiled kindly at her. "You're still a great fighter." He said. "And you really are a good kid." Soara glared at him from his last word. "I mean young woman." Ratchet corrected himself. Soara's glare was replaced by a warm smile. Ratchet yawned, getting to his feet and walking over next to Clank, sitting down net to him. "Well." Said Ratchet. "I'm beat. Guess I'm going to crash now."
"I believe I should shut down for a few hours, as well." Said Clank. Soara blinked at him. "You're actually feeling okay sleeping around me?" She said. "You're not afraid I'm going to attack in your sleep." Clank smiled. "I believe, Soara, that if you were going to kill us, you would have done so before, when you had the opportunity." Ratchet and Soara both smiled at Clank, before Ratchet leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes. Soara laid down as well, using her arms as a pillow. "Well, goodnight then." She said. "Goodnight, Soara." Said Clank. The lights in his eyes went out, and he was motionless. The whole cave was quiet, and the light of the fire danced peacefully around them. Things seemed peaceful.
Late in the night, the storm outside grew. The wind blew against the maroon trees outside of the cave. There was a flash of lightening, followed by a flash of thunder. Soara awoke with a start, not from the storm, but from the images in her head. Horrific visions either of her teammates from the EchelonVI killing her, or of her killing Ratchet. Soara sat up, burying her face in her hands. She had never felt this way before. She had never had real friends. She may have known her Echelon teammates since birth, but she had no real feelings for them like what she had for Ratchet and Clank. Where were these emotions coming from? Did it have to do with when Ratchet saved Soara, or had she felt it before then?
There was a faint beeping noise coming from Soara's watch on her hand. She didn't even realize she still had it. She pushed one of the small buttons on the side of the watch to activate it. Captain Reigh Telther's face appeared in the screen of Soara's com-watch. He was an Aqory like Soara. He too had blood-red hair, Pale skin, and the same cat-slit pupils in his eyes. But instead of violet eyes, like Soara, Telther's eyes were the exacted same shade of green as an emerald stone. "Captain?" Said Soara, surprised, keeping her voice down so not to wake Ratchet and Clank. "I- uh- how are-?" Soara stuttered, unsure of what to say. Telther interrupted her though. "Soara!" He began. "You are way over due! My patients in you have grown dangerously thin! Have you destroyed the Lombax or not?!" Soara cleared her throat. "Sir?" She began. "There were complications. I haven't killed Ratchet yet. I have been trapped on this unknown planet with him for the past few days, and temporarily had to form an alliance." Telther smiled at Soara. An evil, twisted smile. "Unknown planet?" He repeated. "My dear Soara. Your com-watch picked up your location days ago. We know that you are on planet Vitholon. The lone planet between the Solana and the Polaris Galaxies. And I, and the rest of Echelon are on our way now." Soara's heart jumped. "You- you're on your way here?" She said. "Indeed." Said Telther. "And right now Soara, you are facing execution for treason against the EchelonVI."
"What?!" Said Soara, not keeping her voice down. "You can't-"
"However." Telther continued, cutting Soara off. "I am willing to pardon your crimes forever." Soara stared intently at her com-watch. "IF." Telther continued. "You first complete your mission, and destroy Ratchet and Clank once and for all." The feeling Soara felt in her brain was like she had just shocked herself with her own electro-sword. It was her, or Ratchet. "I-" She said to Telther. "I- I understand, master." She said. "Good." Said Telther. "We shall arrive by morning. You have until then to get the job done. Telther out." Telther vanished from the screen of Soara's com-watch. All was quiet again. The Affection Soara had felt for Ratchet had suddenly vanished, replaced by her old desire to kill him. But she did not move. She stared at the place where Ratchet and Clank slept. She could do it now and get it over with. But still she did not move.