Here's another, Ratchet has a nightmare, or is it something more?
Had some fun with this one, will start part 2 soon.
As always, reviews are greatly appreciated.
Thanks again to Evil Ratchet 96 for the reviews, btw started Lost In The Ages, interesting concept, I like it. Thanks also to Trekker 77 for the review!
Chapter 7, Terminal Velocity part 1,
Ratchet was sleeping, or trying to. He was having a dream, not a good one.
He was walking through a forest. The sun was starting to set but it seemed like the color was drained from the land. The trees were immense and seemed to not end. He couldn't hear any wildlife and there was a mist on the ground. He heard a crow call but couldn't tell where it came from. He continued walking but was a bit spooked.
He came across a path and looked down it. He then looked down the other way and saw a silhouetted figure down the road. It was maybe fifty yards down the road; a white light shown from behind it. As such Ratchet couldn't make out any details but could see that; it was robbed, looked to be a lombax, had a staff, and its ears were about half the size of normal lombax's but their shape denoted the figure as a lombax. It also had two curved horns on the top of its head between its ears.
"Who are you?" Ratchet asked.
"I was about to ask you the same question." A smooth, sophisticated, female voice said.
"My name is Ratchet, you?"
"I'm someone who has an interest in you… You seem charming."
"What is going on here?" Ratchet asked as he was scared and confused.
"You have asked that question many times throughout your life haven't you? especially when you were at a… Great Clock?"
"WHO ARE YOU?!" Ratchet shouted now more than a little petrified.
A dark, malevolent laugh rang out from the figure. It echoed through the shadowy forest. The laugh was smooth and foreboding, like an approaching storm in the middle of the night.
The figure stopped laughing, "I am Ebony. Now, listen well, Ratchet!" The figure's voice became even more dark and foreboding. As she spoke, black and white flames appeared around the figure. She slowly raised her staff in the air. "You've had a great time with friends, both new and old. But… soon there will be great mourning… and death!" The figure's voice rose in volume and intensity and peaked as she finished. The colorless flames also reached a climax in intensity and exploded with vigor from the figure.
Ratchet jumped at the words and explosion of flame. Dread filled him and his face showed it.
The figure laughed insidiously before vanishing in a pillar of colorless flame.
Ratchet sat up in his bed, he was breathing hard, sweating, and shaking. "Holy crap!" he thought and said aloud.
He forgot that Sly was also in the room and he jumped up in response; "The heck?!" Sly exclaimed.
Ratchet sighed, "Sorry about that. Stupid nightmare," He said as he rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?"
Sly groaned as the clock was on the nightstand next to his bed. He rolled over, "It's 1:30, what kind of nightmare?"
"I can't remember," Ratchet lied and went to the bathroom. He splashed some water on his face and looked in the mirror. He looked at the spots Calamity had stabbed him, his shoulder and chest. Both spots had scarred over and, due to the Valkyrie; the fur was starting to grow back. However, it was growing back a bright white color. He looked down at the scars, seems like the scars will still be noticeable, Ratchet thought morosely.
He looked back up and saw a figure behind him; the only thing he could make out was that it had two, curved horns. It nearly made his heart stop and he spun around. There was nothing there but he heard a too-familiar laugh echo lowly throughout the room. Ratchet was creeped and started sweating again. His tail was twitching uncontrollably and his breathing was also erratic. Calamity is terrible enough but now what is this?
Ratchet left the bathroom and was in and out of sleep the rest of the night.
Sly awoke, it was a little before nine. He saw Ratchet turning and tossing in his bed. Poor guy, another nightmare; wonder why he lied to me last night? Must've been a personal nightmare, Sly could tell when someone was lying to him, even when he was half asleep.
He got ready as quietly as he could, grabbed his staff, and left the room. He made his way to Carmelita's room and knocked lightly.
"Come in," was her reply.
He walked in and found Oliver tending to Carmelita. The old lombax greeted, "Hello Sly, just gettin Carmelita ready for the trip to Velocity."
Thought we were going to New Elko, "Velocity?" Sly asked.
Oliver nodded, "Yeah, there's been a change of plans. The guys will explain why."
"How long will it take to get there?" Sly asked.
Oliver thought, "Depends on the mode of travel; foot, it'll take three days or so, horse and cart, a day and a half, an a 'course the fastest is by Atmo, that takes a couple hours."
"What's an, "Atmo"?" Carmelita asked.
"Short for Atmospheric Platform, it's a platform that uses balloons and thrusters. Unfortunately the next one won't come around here for another week. Think ya'll be taking a cart." Oliver said as he disconnected the I.V.
"Need any help?" Sly offered.
Oliver shook his head, "Nah, she's set to go. Though, might want to let her get dressed."
Carmelita stood up; she still wore the white gown. "Thanks Oliver, for everything."
Oliver grinned, "No problem, when ya'll are ready come downstairs. I'll get breakfast going." With that, he left.
"Feeling better?" Sly asked as he approached her.
Carmelita smiled, "Yes, Oliver did a good job." She embraced him, "When that rock hit me, I thought I was going to die. I realized I just wanted one thing." Sly felt something drip onto his shoulder. "I wanted to see your face again, ringtail."
Sly was deeply moved, his body was wracked with emotion. "Carmelita, I was so scared of losing you…" he felt his eyes getting wet as well.
They embraced in silence for a few seconds; just feeling the warmth between each other, the emotions, the love, and the care.
They let go and the two composed themselves. "I'll get dressed and meet you downstairs." Carmelita said not unkindly.
Sly smiled, "Sure thing, love you."
"Love you to Sly," Carmelita smiled as Sly left.
Sly made his way down to the bar and found Rykk, Leo, Atlas, Bones, Clank, Talwyn, Bentley, and Murray. They had joined two tables together and were currently having breakfast. "Morning Sly," Bentley greeted.
"Morning Bentley, what's going on?" Sly asked as he took an empty seat.
"We were just discussing what to do." Murray answered.
"Um, before we go any further," Rykk stated, "Could someone go get Ratchet and Carmelita? They need to be involved in this conversation."
"I'll go get them," Talwyn replied and got up. As she was about to go upstairs Carmelita passed her. "Hey, you're up. Everyone's waiting,"
"Thank you, I'm Carmelita."
Talwyn grinned, "I know, met Sly, and was bunking with you, I'm Talwyn; nice to meet you."
Carmelita blushed slightly, "Sorry I didn't recognize you."
Talwyn waved her hand nonchalantly, "Nah, it's ok; you were pretty out of it. See you later."
"Bye,"
Talwyn then made her way through the tavern's halls to Ratchet's room. She knocked but there wasn't an answer, "Ratchet, you awake?"
Sounds of moaning and quick movements she heard through the door, "Uh… yeah, just getting dressed!"
Overslept, heh, will that lombax get any time management skills? Talwyn shook her head. "Well hurray; there won't be any breakfast left!"
Ratchet just finished putting his boots on and quickly opened the door. He literally had just fallen back to sleep less than ten minutes before she came knocking. He had maybe gotten three or four hours that night, maybe. Man did he show it to; his fur was sticking up in patches, his eyes were red, there were dark circles under them, and he was a bit out of breath. "Sorry about that," he said as they began to walk to the bar.
Talwyn asked, "Rough night?"
Ratchet nodded, "Yeah."
"Why was it rough?"
Ratchet didn't want to tell her of his wild dream. "Soon there will be great mourning… and death!" "Freaking Hunter's Blood tore my stomach up." Maybe that's really the source of my dream? Then what about the bathroom?
Talwyn grimaced, "Ugh, don't need to know more."
That ended their conversation and they soon arrived at the bar.
Ratchet sat in an empty seat and was promptly given a plate of food.
As he began to eat Rykk said, "Now that we are all here we can continue. Here's the plan so far, if you have any ideas or objections please state them. We make our way to Velocity using a transport wagon we bought." A transport wagon was able to carry up to fifteen people and was drawn by two horses. The horses were enhanced with Valkyrie so they were much stronger.
"Thought you said we were going to New Elko? Thought it was closer?" Bentley asked.
"We were, but Bones informed us this morning that the political situation there isn't good." Leo answered.
"Yea, dat place 'as a lot of problems roight now," Atlas added.
"Once there, Leo, Atlas, and Bones will take you guys to get… enhanced, that is if you still want to take on Calamity?"
"By enhanced you mean...?" Sly asked.
"That will have to be explained there." Bones stated. "There's not enough time to go into that now."
"Wait… you said Leo, Atlas, and Bones, what about you Rykk?" Talwyn asked.
Rykk looked down, "Things are complicated between me and the citizens of Velocity. Best I don't enter it."
Ratchet wanted to protest but quickly realized the futility of the effort. He just took another bite of his meal.
Leo continued, "Until then the trip could be very dangerous. Being on the Plain overnight is not something to be taken lightly. That Prowler that was hunting you guys Sly is one of the worst things on the Plain. Hopefully we don't run into other predators. Then of course there's Calamity, heaven help us if we run into him." He took a sip of his coffee. "To help with any potential issues that may arise, I have some weapons that could help. Made a gun run last night; those that are finished, come with me." With that Leo and most everyone left; Ratchet, Carmelita, and Atlas were the left. Atlas had already eaten but waited for the two to finish.
"You up for tis miss?" Atlas asked Carmelita.
"Yes, I am." Carmelita said as she finished. "You have a nice rest Atlas?"
Atlas nodded, "Et was noice as far as me nights go. But Oi'm guessin dat Ratchet ad a rough noight."
Ratchet was eating quickly; he wanted to get some weapons, so he didn't hear Atlas right off. "Huh? Oh, yeah that drink I had of Hunters Blood I think was causing me trouble."
Atlas shrugged, "Eh, et effects everyone differently."
Ratchet finished a minute later and Atlas led them outside.
Leo led everyone to dozens of, wooden crates. "Let's open them,"
Rykk watched while helping Oliver load supplies onto the transport.
The group proceeded to lift the crates' lids and found the guns. They were unlike any Sly had seen before. There were four types of firearms; one, a pistol, two, a rifle, three, a lever-action shotgun, and a break-action, combination shotgun/rifle. The pistol was a semi-automatic revolver with its barrel lined up with the bottom of the cylinder (Like a Mateba Autorevolver); it also had a dark wooden stock and lightly-glowing, orange, horizontal lines on its cylinder's sides. The rifle was a semi-automatic, revolving rifle. Like the pistol, it had lightly-glowing, orang lines on its cylinder's sides. The two revolvers used cylinder-shaped magazines. Each mag had glowing orange circles arranged in a circular pattern, the circles were rounds. The lever-action shotgun had its stock and barrel sawed off. Both its stock and barrel-grip were made of dark wood. The last type was also the most interesting. It looked like a double-barrel; side-by-side shotgun except it had a third, smaller barrel underneath and in-between the two.
Sly picked up a rifle and examined it. For some reason he felt an attraction to the gun. Not sure why but this one seems to fit me. He held it against his shoulder and looked down its sights.
Talwyn grabbed two of the pistols and weighed them in her hands. The weight of the guns felt odd but she figured she could get used to them.
Bentley too grabbed a pistol but didn't examine it for long. He had no intention of actually using it.
Murray grabbed the lever-action shotgun. It was the biggest gun but still felt small to him. "Do you guys have anything bigger?" The big hippo asked.
Leo smiled, "Figured you'd ask that. So I got this." With that he opened a big crate and motioned for Murray to take a look.
Murray walked over and was delighted. Inside was a Gatling-gun with a box magazine. "Now this is more my style!"
Ratchet and Carmelita came out a minute later.
"Pick one," Leo said.
Carmelita picked one of the pistols as her firearm.
Ratchet looked through the various firearms. The one that got his attention was the break-action, combination shotgun/rifle. He picked one up and held it in a firing position. It was a bit heavy but he was used to big and ungainly weapons. "What do these fire?" He asked.
"A refoined and processed type 'a Valkyrie called Vector." Atlas answered, "Watch." Using his Utility, Atlas summoned a pistol, "Foirin!" He shouted and pulled the trigger.
A loud electronic-explosion was heard and a glowing orange bolt left the barrel. It hit an old, dead tree. It left a glowing, burning hole/crater in the dried bark.
"Eh Leo, why don't ya shew dem some of ya Provocator trainin?" Atlas suggested.
Leo grabbed a lever-action shotgun. He made sure it was loaded and spin-cocked it. "Alright," He looked around and found three trees that were about fifty yards apart. Together they formed the corners of a triangle. He then stood in the middle of the triangle; one of the trees to his back, the other two to his front left and right. He rested the gun's barrel against his right shoulder.
"Set!" Atlas shouted.
Within a second Leo, holding the gun in one hand; shot the tree to his right, spin-cocked it parallel to the ground, held the gun across his body, shot the tree to his left, he spin-cocked it again and rested the gun's barrel on his shoulder with the barrel facing behind him, and he fired and hit the tree behind him. Each shot fired a dozen Vector pellets and left multiple holes in the trees. He then started back to the group. As he did, he spin-cocked it again and ended the movement by resting the gun on his shoulder.
Everyone was amazed at his speed and skill with the firearm. "That… was… AWESOME!" Ratchet exclaimed.
Leo grinned, "Wouldn't try it though, took me bit to learn that."
"Hey guys; also got you these." Rykk said and set another crate on the ground before opening it. "Got each of ya a Utility Belt; those that picked a rifle get one of these." He handed Sly and Ratchet each a belt that had a rectangular tile on it in addition to the regular square ones. "The rifles and shotguns require a bigger Utility to hold them." Rykk explained.
Everyone put their belts on. "How do they work?" Carmelita asked.
"Just think about and visualize your gun in your hand and the Utility will put it there. Conversely just think about your weapon being in your Utility, and it'll be so." Leo responded.
Ratchet strapped his Utility onto his thin waist. K; let's see… um Ratchet pictured the gun then his Utility. There was a brief flash of green on his gloved hands and the gun was gone. Well that was cool, now let's get it out. He thought of the gun being in his grasp. A flash of green on his hands and the gun reappeared. Ratchet chuckled; this can be a lot of fun.
"Now that everyone has eaten and has a weapon, we need to get moving." Rykk said.
Well, well, what's going on with Ratchet? And what do you think of the guns?
Yes I based this... Ebony off of a certain Disney Villain that also happens to be one of my favorite villains of all. If you don't know who, well they just made a movie based on her.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned,