Chapter IX

"You have made your choice, traitor!" Telther was saying to Soara. "But all traitors must perish. Echelon! Let's give this treacherous filth what she deserves!" The five other bounty hunters laughed, pulling out their weapons. Magellanic and Andromeda pulled out a sword, not electric like Soara's though, Reese pulled out a mace, and his sister, Shawn, a elctro-whip. Soara stood her ground, preparing to fight. There was a rustle from the trees above Soara, and Ratchet jumped down next to her, his omniwrench in his hand, and Clank still on his back. "Ratchet?!" Said Soara. "What are you doing here? I told you to get out! This is my problem!"
"Didn't get very far." Said Ratchet, looking at Soara. "Actually overheard what you said to your old buddies here. Thought you'd like a hand." Soara smiled. "Well, if you're offering." She said. "Very well." Said Telther. "This make our job easier. Andromeda, Magellanic! Finish them!" While the others stood ready, Andromeda went for Soara, while Magellanic went at Ratchet, both swinging there swords at their opponents. Ratchet ducked Magellanic's attack and swung his wrench back up at him. The wrench smacked Magellanic in the face, but, without hesitating from the strike, swung back at Ratchet. Ratchet had to jump backwards to avoid the sword from slicing his stomach. Magellanic elbowed Ratchet in the head. As Ratchet fell over, Clank fell off of his back, landing in front of Magellanic. "The price on your head is slim, little bot." Said Magellanic, raising his sword to Clank, who raised an arm above his head to block the attack. "Uh, Magellanic? I wouldn't do that if I were you." Said Soara, speaking as she was locked in a sword-clash with Andromeda. "Ratchet's really fond of- damn." Ratchet had lunged at Magellanic with a roar of rage, and swung his wrench directly into Magellanic's head, who landed a few feet from where Ratchet had hit him, now unconscious. Ratchet then picked up Clank and placed him back on his back.
"Give it up, Soara!" Andromeda was saying to Soara, still locked sword-to-sword. "You can't out of this."
"Oh really?" Said Soara. "Not even if I do this?" She flipped her electro-sword on to full blast. The voltage ran from one sword into the other, and through Andromeda who, with a shout of pain, exploded as the electricity coursed through her. "Sorry Andromeda." Said Soara, deactivating her sword. "It's nothing against you." There was a loud cracking sound. Soara turned in the direction on the noise just in time for Shawn's electro-whip to make contact with Soara, who was sent flying though the air, with a shout of pain. Soara landed in the dirt by Ratchet, who bent down next to her to aid her. But Soara groaned and stirred feebly, unable to move. Telther and Reese watched as Shawn pulled out a second whip, and activated it. Ratchet ran from Soara as Shawn made to swing both whips at him. Ratchet dodged by doing a summer-sault away from the whips. As the whips made contact with the ground, there was a loud cracking sound, followed by a flash of sparks. Shawn swung both whips above her head and down at Ratchet, who did a back-hand-spring away. Getting frustrated, Shawn swung her whips from the inside-out. Ratchet dropped to the ground this time, narrowly missing this time. With a shout of frustration, Shawn swung her whips inward. This time the whips missed Ratchet, and repeatedly wrapped themselves around Shawn's body. Shawn wretched and gagged as the electricity from her own whips shocked her entire body, causing sparks and smoke to emanate from Shawn. Ratchet averted his eye so not to see the horrific sight. Telther watched in terror as Shawn dropped to the ground, shaking violently as if having a seizure. "SHAWN!" Reese had run forward, deactivated Shawn's whips, then untangled her. "Shawn?" Reese held Shawn in his arms, shaking her to get her attention. But Shawn stared blinklessly at Reese. "You- you killed her." Reese said, getting to his feet, and looking at Ratchet. "YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED MY BABY SISTER!" Taking his mace, Reese ran at Ratchet preparing to strike.
Soara slowly got to her feet, still disoriented from the shock. She then saw Reese attacking Ratchet, swinging crazily at Ratchet, who could barely block. "Rese, Stop!" Soara shouted. Before she could run to help, Telther had grabbed her from behind, taking both of her hands. "Oh no you don't!" Said Telther as Soara struggled to get free. "We will watch together as your beloved Lombax perishes." Soara pulled her arms forward, and lunged back into Telther. There heads collided, knocking Telther out, who let go of Soara. Reese struck Ratchet with his mace in the stomach. Ratchet fell on top of Clank, as Reese rose his mace to strike again. "Reese NO!" Soara had put herself between Ratchet and Reese, practically on top of Ratchet. Reese froze as he saw Soara get in the middle. "Soara." Said Reese. "Get out of the way! I have to do this!" Soara stood up, and gently took Reese's mace out of his hand. Reese took Soara's hand lovingly. "I-" He said. "I Can't let him-"
"I know, Reese." Said Soara, kindly. The two leaned in to kiss. BAM! Soara instead had punched Reese in his head, knocking him into the ground unconscious. "Don't know what I ever saw in him." Said Soara, looking at Ratchet, who was gapping at her. Soara then extended her hand, which he took. As the pressure was relived off of him, Clank collapsed to the ground. "Clank, are you okay?" Said Ratchet. "Oh yeah." Said Clank, getting to his feet. "But that one hurt." Soara and Ratchet chuckled. "It's finally over." Said Soara. "Not yet." Said Ratchet. "We still need to get off of this miserable rock." Soara smiled, looking at the unconscious members of Echelon. "You know." She said. "We could always take their ship." Her smile faded from her face. "What's going to happen to me, though." She said. "Where I am going to go, what I am going to do." Ratchet and Clank exchanged smiles, apparently sharing the same idea. "Well." Said Clank. "We don't know what's going to happen, but in the mean time, you could come with us."
"Really?" Said Soara. "You're okay with that after all I have done?"
"Well, I can't garentee that my girl friend won't try to maim you for trying to kill us." Soara laughed "I guess I have it coming. Alright then. let's get out of here."
Telther groaned as her got to his feet. There was a rumble over head as Telther saw his ship take off with Ratchet, Clank and Soara inside. "This isn't over, Soara!" Said Telther, Enraged. "When I get out of here, I will eliminate you! And your precious Lombax as well!

THE END
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed!