I'M SORRY. GAH! I hate writer's block...seriously.
But...here you go...chapter 2! And by the way...THANK YOU :D Only one chapter in and already got 14 follows and 15 reviews...you guys are the BEST, and I'm sending you massive hugs wherever you are! I hope you all enjoy this story as much as you enjoyed 'You're Not Alone' :) It will be different in many ways, but I promise the ride will be just as exciting!
So here it is...chapter 2...enjoy :D
Meanwhile, on planet Kerwan in the Solana Galaxy...
Alister tweaked his tie and examined himself one final time in the mirror. He wore a dark suit that used to belong to his father and had since been passed down, complete with bow tie and cufflinks in the shape of gears. Plucking a white rose from the dresser, the young Lombax fixed it to his lapel and with one last smoothing of his hair, he was ready.
Leaving his room, he headed for the elevator, his eyes flicking to his watch. Almost as if sensing his gaze, the screen started flashing, the word 'mum' appearing beside a phone icon. Sighing inwardly, Alister tapped the icon,
"Hi mom."
"Alister, where are you?" his mother's face appeared as a hologram above his wrist, her brow creased in concern.
"We haven't left yet, but I'm on my way to fetch the others," Alister told her truthfully, "we'll be with you as soon as possible, I promise."
"Ok…" his mother chewed her lip, "please hurry, your father and I are getting nervous." Her son gave her a reassuring smile,
"Don't worry, mom, we'll be there on time." The other Lombax flashed him a grateful smile,
"See you soon!" she called, before hanging up. Alister stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the roof.
Seconds later the doors opened to reveal a magnificent roof garden with a large lawn of grass and flower beds dotted neatly about the place. The faint buzz of various pollinating insects could be heard over the sound of distant traffic, and there was a sweet scent in the air from the flowering plants.
However, Alister wasn't here to admire the garden, and there was one noise in particular that dominated the others. Two young Lombaxes were fighting in a makeshift ring at the centre of the garden, the clash of their weapons and occasional cry announcing their presence loud and clear.
Rolling his eyes, Alister shoved his hands in his pockets and waited for them to notice him. It didn't take them too long,
"Hey Al," one fighter called, wielding a silver double ended wrench decorated with a navy blue finish.
"'Sup bro?" called the other, parrying a blow from the former and returning with their own weapon; a single handed wrench rusty brown in colour and well loved by the looks of things.
"Do you know what time it is?" Alister asked them casually, barely keeping the irritation from his voice.
"Umm…no?" offered the second Lombax, sidestepping another attack.
"It's 11:54," Alister told them with a thin-lipped smile.
"What?!" both combatants stopped in their tracks, wrenches raised in mid-air. Alister refrained from rolling his eyes again,
"You heard me."
"Oh man…" muttered the second Lombax, scratching his ear with the tip of his wrench.
"Al, we're sorry," called the first Lombax, lowering her weapon, "we lost track of time."
"Evidently," their brother replied curtly, eyeing them disapprovingly. The first Lombax offered him a sheepish smile,
"Sorry?" she offered again. She had grey fur and dark grey stripes, with lush grey locks that were currently held up in a practical bun. Her frame was delicate, but had an aura of strength about it, and anyone could tell from the way she wielded her wrench that she was a trained fighter and not to be underestimated. Her eyes were bright green in colour, crackling with energy and radiating life and zeal.
"We can still make it, bro," the other Lombax slung his wrench over his back, tossing his brother a lazy grin, "promise." He was taller than his sister, with sandy fur and caramel stripes, and a striped tail poking out of a hole in his trousers. His broad shoulders and defined chest, combined with his easy smile and handsome features marked him out as a looker. The mischievous glint to his green eyes also hinted to a roguish, daredevil side to him that girls would no doubt swoon over.
His twin brother, Alister, while no less handsome, was different in colour, with light grey fur and grey stripes and clear blue eyes that emanated intelligence. It was clear that he was the responsible one of the trio.
"I'm not worried about whether we'll make it," Alister told them, still a little annoyed, "I'm just bothered by the fact that neither of you seem to care that it's our own sister's wedding day!" His brother and sister exchanged glances before turning back to him, guilty looks on their faces,
"We're sorry, Al," his sister said honestly, "we lost track of time, and that was a mistake. But you know we wouldn't do it deliberately."
"Yeah," her brother chimed in to back her up. Alister shrugged,
"I know," he gave them an exasperated look, then shook his head, hiding a look of amusement, "stop looking so glum, you two, and go get ready for our sister's wedding!" The sandy Lombax nudged his sister surreptitiously,
"We better do what he says, eh, Hope?" he said in a theatrical whisper. The grey Lombax nodded solemnly,
"I think we better, Kaden." With mock sobriety, both Lombaxes marched towards the elevator, deliberately throwing back their shoulders and puffing out their chests as they passed Alister.
The light Lombax tutted under his breath, doing his best to keep back a fond smile at his sibling's antics. He could never stay mad at them for long, and Orvus knew that would probably come back to haunt him one day. Honestly, he shook his head as he headed after them, they'd be the death of him for sure.
"HOPE, GET YOUR FURRY ARSE OUT HERE!" shouted Kaden from where he and Alister stood beside the teleport pad. His brother winced at the noise, shooting him a small frown.
"WHY DON'T YOU TRY WALKING IN PIN-POINTED STILTS, YOU GREAT HAIRBALL," his sister yelled back from where she was still in the apartment. A moment later she appeared in the doorway, wobbling slightly,
"I can't believe Maia's making me wear heels," she grumbled as she tottered unevenly to her brothers. Kaden just laughed, earning himself a smack on the arm.
"You look wonderful, Hope," Alister told her, and the grey Lombax's frown softened into a smile.
"Thanks, Al," she gave him a wink, "you don't look too bad yourself." Kaden cleared his throat loudly, but Hope just shot him a scowl.
"Hack it up, fur-face," she muttered, stepping onto the pad with them.
"Bare-bum," Kaden retorted, taking the mick out of her lack of a tail. Alister shushed them both,
"Children, please." He tapped instructions onto the teleport and a moment later there was a brief fizz of energy in the air, and then the feeling of being pulled apart into tiny pieces and put together again in the space of a second.
The trio appeared on a pad somewhere on the outskirts of the city, and were promptly seized on by their mother.
"There you are!" she exclaimed, wearing a navy blue dress and traditional 'mother to the bride' hat. Hope noticed, to her chagrin, that her mother's heels were a great deal shorter than her own.
"Sorry we're late," Alister apologised for them all, but their mother waved it away.
"Don't worry, you're here now…come on, we're nearly ready." She led them into a side room where their father and sister were waiting.
"Alright, Ratchet?" Kaden grinned cheekily at his father, a Lombax the spitting image of himself but older by a good number of years.
"That's dad or sir to you," Ratchet growled playfully to his son, cuffing him lightly around the head.
"Sure thing, pops," Kaden winked back at him.
"Maia, you look beautiful," Hope told her sister, going over to her side. Maia smiled, though she looked a little nervous, her hands fidgeting with the white silk of her dress.
"Thank you," she answered in her warm, soft voice, her eyes shining with anticipation and excitement. She wore a simple dress by bridal standards, with thin straps and long skirt, decorated by delicate embroidery. It seemed to shimmer whenever she moved, and the makeup on her face accentuated the blue in her eyes. Her fur was brown in colour, with darker stripes, her hair brushed neatly and held back by a silver tiara. Hope's dress was an even simpler version of hers, falling to her knees with a navy sash for decoration.
"You both look beautiful," their mother came over, beaming at them both. With one glance you could tell she was their mother; Hope had her colouring while Maia had her eyes.
"Absolutely stunning," added their father, stepping up beside his wife. Time had treated both Ratchet and Skyla fairly, and neither of them had yet to sprout a grey hair, though the creases about their face were beginning to show their prominence. Skyla clutched Ratchet's hand and for a moment they simply admired their daughters, both of them overflowing with pride at the wonderful young women they had become.
"Oh Alister, you're so handsome!" gushed Kaden from behind them, "won't you dance with me at the reception?" he batted his eyelashes, and Hope laughed while Maia smiled. Alister rolled his eyes, his own smile playing about his lips.
A knock on the door made the family look up, and a Kerwanian in an emerald dress stood in the doorway.
"Sorry to interrupt," she began, "but we're ready when you are." Skyla nodded,
"Thanks, Bethya." The Kerwanian smiled before disappearing again, and Skyla turned to her eldest daughter.
"Are you ready, Maia?" she asked gently, taking her daughter by the hand. The chocolate Lombax smiled nervously, then nodded,
"Yes," she murmured quietly. Skyla handed her to Ratchet who linked his arm through hers, a look of pride radiating from his face,
"Let's go."
The ceremony passed smoothly, and there were many tears, though most were from Captain Qwark from where he sat several rows back, sobbing quietly at the happiness of it all. Sasha Phyronix and her husband sat beside him, shooting him the occasional look of annoyed amusement whenever he blew his nose. Clank, Ratchet's best friend and long time companion, sat beside them, his green eyes bright and shining as he watched Maia, his goddaughter, walk down the aisle arm in arm with his old pal.
Many others from Ratchet and Skyla's long and heroic past had also gathered in celebration; Skid McMarx, Helga, Jaymz, Professor Xavier, Cornelius, Bethya, even the Plumber was here (though how Ratchet had found him, no-one knew). The only noticeable absence was Talwyn, but she was suitably busy in the Polaris galaxy, and had sent the couple a generous gift of Leviathan souls as a wedding present.
The groom was a Cazar named Julius, and he and Maia had met several years previously at university. He had been studying organic law and she had been reading bio-chemistry. The two met and hit it off instantly, spiralling into a beautiful romance that blossomed before the family's eyes. And in the not-too-distant future, here they were. Ratchet and Skyla were fully supportive of the match, both of them liking Julius very much and thinking him an intelligent, respectable young man. Kaden and Hope thought that the Cazar was a bit on the dull side, but both were happy for their sister and were perfectly happy to overlook their own opinions to engage in her time of joy.
Maia and Julius had opted for a traditional civil-service other than a Lombax Soul-Bond ritual, since Julius was a Cazar and neither of them felt there was much difference between the two. They were overseen by none other than Tiberius Tean, Mayor of Kerwan, who also happened to be Julius' uncle. Julius' father was Adryan Tean, an acquaintance of Ratchet and Skyla's and former colleague of Sasha Phyronix, who was godmother to both Julius and Maia.
After the ceremony was over and everyone had cheered for the new Mr and Mrs Tean, transports were rounded up as the guests headed out to where the reception was being held, at the Tean family house outside the city. A huge tent had been erected in the massive garden, and beautifully laid tables could be found inside beneath real crystal chandeliers and lush carpet. The drinks flowed, speeches were made, and everyone ate to their hearts content, laughing and dancing the night away in a perpetual state of euphoria.
From the corner of the tent, Hope watched fondly as Maia and Julius slow-danced together, her sister's head on his shoulder. It was worth the heels for this, to see her sister so blissfully happy. Hope wondered if she'd ever find the right man for her, but quickly shoved those thoughts aside. She was only 17, for crying out loud...she had to live a little first! Not to mention, she'd never actually been kissed...
"Well well well, if it isn't the sister to the bride herself," her quiet moment was ruined by a sneering voice she recognised at one. Cursing inwardly, she turned to face the speaker with a forced smile.
"Augusutus, how lovely to see you," she seethed, hoping the venom in her voice wasn't too obvious. Before her stood a young Cazar, around the same age as herself, wearing a smart suit and an arrogant smile. This was Julius' younger brother, though Hope would never understand how someone as kind and gentlemanly as Julius could have such a pig for a brother.
"The pleasure is all mine," Augustus replied, kissing the back of Hope's hand, his lips lingering against her fur. Hope had to stop herself from wiping her hand on her dress, instead smiling with false sweetness and praying that he would leave.
"I must say," he went on, "it is lovely to see you out of your baggy jeans…you do look," he licked his lips, "ravishing in a dress." It was all Hope could do not to gag in disgust, though she managed to pass it off as a cough...just about.
"Why thank you, Augustus," she replied smoothly, "you don't scrub up too bad yourself," she couldn't help but add, relishing in the look of irritation that flashed across his face. Before he could make a comeback, they were interrupted, much to Hope's delight.
"Hope, there you are," Ratchet stepped in to save his daughter, smiling disarmingly at the Cazar.
"Augustus, how are you?"
"I am well, thank you sir," the Cazar answered formally, "I was just…"
"Leaving," Hope cut across with a honeyed smile, a triumphant look flashing in her eyes. Augustus stiffened at this and shot her a quick glare before straightening up,
"Indeed," he bobbed his head politely, "good evening." He swiftly moved away, disappearing amongst the other guests. Hope sighed in relief.
"Creep," Ratchet muttered, and his daughter snorted in agreement.
"Thanks," she gave him a grateful smile.
"No problem," he replied, "would you like to go for a walk?" More than happy to escape the stuffy atmosphere in the tent, Hope quickly agreed and father and daughter left quickly, snagging a drink each as they departed.
The Tean family house was surrounded by impressive gardens, and the tent only took up an eighth of what there was, leaving plenty to be explored. Knowing her father wouldn't mind, Hope kicked off her heels, leaving them outside the tent and continuing on foot, sighing in content at the feel of fresh grass beneath her bare feeet.
"I hate heels," she grumbled, and Ratchet chuckled.
"Rather you than me." They walked a while, their path lit up by the silvery light of Kerwan's large moon, glowing brightly from its place in the heaven. Eventually, they came to a bench and Ratchet sat down with a heavy sigh. Hope took the seat next to him, looking up at the stars as he did.
Not for the first time, she wondered how many stars there were, and if anyone could ever visit them all. She'd travelled a fair amount in her life, but she'd only been outside the system three times, and the galaxy only once, and she'd been too young to remember much of any trip. Like her mother and father, she wanted to explore, to have an adventure of her own, but at the moment such a thing was not on offer as she was too young and too inexperienced. And, she was still in school, though she secretly wanted to leave and carve her own future.
"How many have you been too?" she asked. Ratchet let out a breath as he thought,
"Oh, I dunno…hundreds? I've lost count really."
"I want to visit them one day," Hope murmured quietly. Ratchet smiled fondly at his daughter,
"You will…one day." The young Lombax looked at him,
"What were you doing when you were my age?" Ratchet rolled his eyes,
"Hope, we've been over this before…
"I know, just tell me," she asked, her eyes imploring. Ratchet sat forward,
"When I was 17…I'd already left my childhood behind." Hope made a small noise of irritation,
"You know that's not what I meant…"
"It's what's important though," he told her. His daughter's green eyes that matched his own looked thoughtful for a moment, and then she shrugged in defeat,
"I suppose you're right," she mumbled. There was a moment of silence as the two Lombaxes just watched the thousands upon thousands of stars glistening from their spot in the sky.
"I'm getting old, Hope," Ratchet announced out of the blue. His daughter looked at him in surprise,
"No you're not."
"I am," the older Lombax retorted with a smile, "I'm over 50 now…not exactly a spring onion!" Hope shoved him playfully,
"You've got a good few decades ahead of you yet, old man," she teased. Ratchet laughed,
"I suppose…" he trailed off, his smile fading briefly. The look wasn't lost on Hope and her brow furrowed in thought,
"What's up?" she asked delicately. Ratchet glanced up at her, obviously thinking something over. He took a breath,
"Hope, your mother and I…we've been thinking." Hope waited patiently for him to continue, her heart already beating a little faster at his words and what would follow. Ratchet put his hands together, forming a steeple,
"We thought...since your sister's married, she'll be moving in with Julius now, and Kaden and Alister have their own bachelor pad at the university. Your mother and I…we think it's time to move on." He hesitated briefly to gather his thoughts, then looked up at Hope,
"We want to move to Polaris, and spend the rest of our time overseeing the reconstruction of Fastoon." Hope's heart skipped a beat…Fastoon, the Lombax Homeworld. Her mother and father were already supporting multiple projects taking place on the planet to clean it up and restore it to its former glory, but they hadn't actually been to Polaris in years.
"But," she refocused on her father, the word snagging her attention, "we've still got you to think about." Hope's mouth twitched, though a feeling of anxiety descended over her…what was to become of her? She was too young to live alone, but did she really want to stay...?
"And you've got a choice," Ratchet told her, recapturing her interest, "you can either stay here, on Kerwan, with Kaden and Alister, complete school and go on to uni, or…" he looked her in the eye, "you can come with your mother and I to Polaris." Hope blinked, then blinked again. Was…was he serious? Move...to Polaris? And not just that, but drop school and travel to the place where her ancestors lived! All her life, she'd dreamed of what Fastoon would be like, having only pictures and holograms to show her…but now, she could find out for herself! Maybe she could ever get involved with the projects too...who knew? All at once, a whole range of possibilities had opened before her like branches from a tree.
"Hope?" Ratchet's voice brought her back to the present, and she found him looking at her uncertainly. She realised she'd been staring at him and quickly looked away, feeling her heart rate quicken as her excitement grew.
"I know it's a lot to take in, and you don't have to decide right away…" her father went on, obviously taking her silence as uncertainty.
"Yes," Hope blurted without thinking. Ratchet looked at her,
"I'm sorry?"
"Yes," Hope repeated louder, her eyes flicking up to meet his, a new, exciting fire sparking within them as realisation struck.
"Yes…?" Ratchet left the question hanging, unsure what she was agreeing to. Hope sat up straighter, shaking slightly with excitement. There would only ever be one answer.
"Yes! I want to go with you!" she cried, "I want to travel to another galaxy! I want to go to Polaris! I want to see Fastoon!" Ratchet looked momentarily taken aback by her outburst, but then a slow grin spread across his face.
"You mean it?"
"Yes!" Hope shouted ecstatically, nearly jumping up and down where she sat, "I'd love it!" Thrill set Ratchet's heart racing,
"Great! Well, that's that, I guess...!" Hope threw herself into her father's arms with a cry of joy, hugging him tightly as he chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"Thank you, papa," she whispered to him as tears of happiness squeezed from her eyes. She was going to visit another galaxy…she was actually going to see Fastoon! Suddenly, the future seemed so much brighter...suddenly...she was going on an adventure!
Cliche ending, I know, but whatever :P
By the way, because I got such a positive response to 'You're Not Alone' and its sequel, I've decided to introduce a competition...yay! Basically, this story has a theme to it that will pop up throughout the tale, and the first one to correctly identify the theme will receive a grand prize! The prize will be an OC character of your choice (and creation), written either into this story, or into my Oneshot series (Of Planets, Stars, and Galaxies)! I might even do both if I'm feeling generous :P
So, dear readers, get scouring! I won't drop any clues (not even to you, PenMagic) and the theme will be constant, I promise :) If you have a guess, I'd suggest PM'ing me rather than reviewing...so no-one sees your answer :P
Let the games, begin :D
Oh, and in case you forget, please do review and follow...thanks :3