Talwyn stood stock still, her anger making her breathing loud and ferocious as Cronk and Zephyr stood behind her just as still. The bird in Cronk's hand flailed around in his until it freed itself and landed on the smuggler's shoulder and let out a loud squawk as a grin appeared on its face.
Ratchet's eyes fluttered as Talwyn began to speak.
"We want our friends back." She said between clenched teeth.
"I guess," The smuggler said lazily. "But I'd need someone else to fit the bill. You look fine yourself. Maybe I could do what I did to your friend here, would you like that babe?"
The man sized her up, and Talwyn shuddered. She felt as if he were undressing her with his eyes. How was she going to save her friends? Could she, should she sacrifice herself for her them? What exactly had he done to Ratchet? It was clear that he had raped him, but would he do worse to her because he seemed more attracted to her? Tlawyn's head spun and her heart pounded in her ears.
Suddenly a soft protest was heard, and all were shocked to realize that it was Ratchet who had spoken. It was thought he was surely unconscious and unable to pay attention to the scene.
"D- Don't take Talwyn." He said his voice raspy in his throat. His eyes were still closed and he licked his lips as he continued on.
"Leave her a-alone. Please. T-take me in-instead, let Clank go too, I'll, I'll do whatever you say, anything, if you'd j-just let them go. Please don't hurt them."
Talwyn covered her mouth as silent tears streamed down her face. She couldn't let Ratchet do this! She looked to Clank and could see pain etched on his face as well. This was all too much. Why? Why did this have to happen? Why did they all feel the need to sacrifice themselves? Even if Talwyn did take their place she knew her friends would be heartbroken and she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
"Shut up, bitch," The smuggler snapped at the lombax digging the knife deeper into his neck. "It's either both of you or the woman those are you're only options!"
"How about neither?"
Smuggler wiped his head up and realized that Zephyr was right behind his with his blaster pointed right at his head. In the confrontation he hadn't realized the robot had snuck up behind him.
"Brawk, you're screwed." The bird in his shoulder screeched.
"Shut up!" He screamed at the thing and lowered the weapon from the hero's neck. He let go of Ratchet's head quickly, causing him to land hard on his knees. The villain dropped his knife and kicked it quickly across the room. Talwyn, and Cronk had joined the other robot and now pointed their own weapons at him.
"Fine, you got me." The smuggler raised his hands in the air. They didn't realize quickly enough that the man had a small remote in his left hand that he had taken out while kicking the knife. He chuckled before pressing the button and the room flashed in a blinding light. They group tried to cover their eyes as the bright light filled the entire area. As their eyes readjusted to the light the smuggler and his parrot were gone.
"That bastard." Cronk huffed.
Talwyn was frustrated as well that they let the man get away, but her anger quickly disappeared when she saw her beaten and abused friends.
"Come on. Let's get Ratchet and Clank out of here."
Getting to the end now. Just one more chapter and I think we'll be done! I'm both happy and sad that it'll be over soon.