Two months later...

"Sky?" Ratchet called, walking through the empty corridors of Kerwan's planetary defence centre. There was no-one else about as they were all at the ceremony. It was to mark the launch of the government's new aim to crack down on the slave trade and end slavery in Solana once and for all. At the moment, Sasha was giving a well rehearsed, thoughtful speech about the impact of slavery on the galaxy to an audience comprised of various officials and the media. Even Qwark had turned up, in his usual style of gate crashing as 'Galactic President coming through', immediately claiming the best seat for himself and his 'Deputy', i.e. the seats nearest the buffet.

The ceremony was to consist of speeches, a short service of award giving, and then a pleasant evening meal out on the large veranda. There was only one award to give out, to be presented to the creature responsible for the freedom of nearly 50 slaves from a facility on planet Florana. But she wasn't there.

"Skyla?" Ratchet called again as he looked this way and that for any sign of the grey Lombax. He reached the quarters she'd been set up in and went in without knocking.

It was a fairly large room, generously decorated with fine furniture and a large open window that looked out over the city. A full length mirror stood beside the window, a figure before it, their back turned to Ratchet. The curtains floated slightly in the breeze as Ratchet carefully closed the door behind him and made his way over. He stopped behind them, just looking into the mirror at their reflection.

She wore a dress, the first he'd seen her in, and whoever had chosen it for her certainly wanted her looking her best for the evening. The dress was midnight blue in colour and hugged her waist, accentuating her curves as it flowed right down to the ground. The strap only went over one shoulder, leaving the other looking distinctly bare. She wore no jewellery other than her flower bracelet, but her hair was brushed and neatly held back by a blue clip in the shape of a butterfly. Her arms and neck were exposed and looked almost naked, only the soft grey fur and darker stripes visible. There was the faintest trace of mascara around her lids, making her eyes seem that much bluer. But the blue seemed blunted, as if someone had dimmed the light in her eyes to barely a flicker. And they held the look of one who was haunted by a terrible something that they would never be rid of, that would follow them to the end of their days.

She was a ghost. A beautiful, haunted ghost.

Ratchet swallowed.

"They're waiting for you," he murmured. Skyla's shoulders sagged and she turned slowly to face him, her eyes lowered,

"I know," she paused, "I can't go out there." She spoke with the voice of one at least 5 decades her senior, one who had seen life and was weary from it.

"It's not hard. All you need to do is smile and accept the award from Sasha. You don't even have to stay for the dinner if you don't want to," Ratchet told her. Skyla shook her head,

"No, I can't go out there, Ratchet. I can't." Ratchet looked at her,

"Why?" he asked gently.

"Because I can't!" she cried softly, "not...not looking like this," she shook the dress, "not in front of all those people I don't know. Not to accept an award for...for...I can't do it. I can't go out there," she finished in hollow misery. Ratchet saw her eyes glisten with unshed tears as her head bowed, and his heart throbbed. For two months she had been all but mute and they had hardly spoken at all. What she'd just said was the most he'd heard her talk in weeks. He replayed her words in his mind, wondering how best to reply.

"You look beautiful," he spoke quietly, the words slipping off his tongue before he could catch them. She looked up at him, the blue light flickering in the void of her eyes. She gave him a small smile, but it was marred by the sadness,

"Thank you...but this isn't me." She raised a hand to remove the butterfly clip from her hair, but Ratchet reached out and stopped her.

"Don't," he whispered, moving closer to her. Her eyes tilted up again and met his, and he was caught once again by the all too familiar torment within them.

"Please," her voice was barely above a whisper, "don't make me go out there." The small whimper to her voice combined with the wisp of a begging tone and the child like plea in her eyes made Ratchet's mind up in an instant.

"I'm not going to make you do anything," he told her. There was a short pause as he mulled something over, then he asked, "will you come with me?"

"Where?" she enquired.

"You'll see," he murmured, smiling ever so slightly. Skyla looked at him for a moment, searching his eyes for a clue to his actions. There was no trace of deceit in his gaze, only honesty. She nodded her head once in assent and Ratchet's smile widened. Gripping her hand tighter, he began pulling her away.

"Come with me," he told her. So she did.

The two Lombaxes snuck out of the room and began padding quietly through the Planetary Defence Centre, keeping to the shadows to avoid detection. Skyla wanted to ask where they were headed, but decided against it, putting her trust into Ratchet.

They arrived in the main hangar and picked their way in between ships before arriving at Aphelion. Ratchet placed a hand on the ship's bonnet,

"Aphelion?" The ship stirred as if waking,

"Ratchet?" the feminine voice asked.

"We're going somewhere, but we don't want anyone to know we've gone until we're off the planet," Ratchet explained.

"Affirmative." The ship hatch opened and Ratchet jumped in, pulling Skyla up with him. She settled in the passenger seat as the hatch closed and Aphelion hummed into life. Ratchet pressed a few buttons and they began moving away slowly and quietly. When they'd left the hangar Aphelion's lights dimmed so they weren't drawing attention to themselves. Ratchet steered them through several back alleys, tapping away at the controls while he did.

"Masking our trail and letting Clank know where we've gone," he answered in response to Skyla's questioning gaze. Soon, they'd left the planet's atmosphere and were in empty space. Once clear of Kerwan's gravitational pull, Ratchet jumped Aphelion to warp.

"Where are we going?" Skyla couldn't help but ask, her curiosity getting the better of her and temporarily overshadowing all other thoughts. The other Lombax gave her a secretive smile,

"You'll see." A few minutes later they exited warp and were headed for a green looking planet in front of them. Skyla recognised it immediately.

They orbited the planet briefly as Ratchet seemed to be searching for something, then they began their descent.

When they came to the planet's surface it was the middle of the night and there was not a single cloud in the sky. They came to a clearing and Aphelion landed without a bump and the hatch opened. Ratchet jumped out and offered his hand to Skyla who took it and let him help her down.

She didn't need to ask where they were, she knew immediately. Stepping away from Ratchet and Aphelion, she took in her surroundings. They were in a wide clearing, trees all around them, except for the cliff edge that dropped away before her. Behind her, she knew she'd find the rusting remains of an old settlement. She turned to Ratchet, brow knotted in mild confusion,

"Why have you brought me here?"

"This is where we first met," the sandy Lombax replied softly. Skyla's brow knotted further. He was right, she knew that. There were still scorch marks on the ground from the fight, and bits of debris were scattered here and there. But this was also the planet where the Enyd had been slaughtered and their homes destroyed. Skyla closed her eyes as faces flashed before her. Heryn, Heryniel, Lhach, Beleg...Maia. This was where she'd been reunited with her friend...only to be separated again several days later. Separated permanently. The hollow feeling in Skyla's gut tore slightly, but no tears welled in her eyes. She hadn't cried in weeks...she hadn't been able to. Something came to rest on her arm and she looked up to find Ratchet beside her,

"There's something I want to show you," he told her. Skyla frowned briefly, then nodded with only a little hesitation. Taking her hand, Ratchet began to lead her away from the settlement, towards the forest on their left.

The woodland scenery enveloped them with its stillness. All creatures were slumbering, and all was quiet. Even the trees seemed silent, no breeze rustling their leaves as the two Lombaxes walked between them. Skyla wanted to ask again where they were going, but was afraid she would break the quiet so she swallowed her voice and simply followed Ratchet.

They walked for a while, travelling deeper into the woods with every step, further into the darkness. But Skyla wasn't afraid, because she had no need to be, not while she was with Ratchet.

Eventually, they came to a halt and Ratchet pointed between the trees.

"Over there," was all he said. Skyla followed his finger to where light was just trickling through the trees, indicating open ground beyond them. Something lay there, something outside of the trees. She glanced at Ratchet and he nodded encouragingly. Skyla let go of his hand and began to walk of her own accord. With each footfall she felt her heart begin to clench in fear, but she kept going, feeling sure that what lay beyond was worth it. The something became clearer as she drew closer, and soon she emerged from the shelter of the trees.

She found herself in a small clearing, like the one by the settlement as there was a cliff before her too. A large portioned of ground jutted out, forming a wide ledge that reached out over the cliff face. And the something lay at its centre, unmoving, as if it was waiting for her.

Skyla felt her feet turn to lead as she approached it and realised what it was. She came to its side and her heart stopped.

It was a mound of earth, several feet in length and a couple of feet in width. A small bed of flowers grew over it, freshly planted by the looks of it, a wonderful blend of lavender and white, like the bracelet Skyla wore. At its head was a large slab of pale stone, with just a few words carved into it.

Maia

A dear friend, a sister, a mother

You're Not Alone

Skyla's legs gave way and she crumpled to a heap beside the mound, beside the grave. Her hands reached out to the earth and clutched at it, feeling the dirt in her fingers, the gritty soil between her nails as she clawed at it.

Her head bowed as she felt it all cave in on her, the burdens of the past few weeks crushing her under their weight.

A single teardrop fell like a precious gem, shattering against the earth into a million tiny pieces before disappearing into the ground without a trace.

Another fell, and then another. One by one they fell, splashing to the soil where they sank away, leaving behind the barest traces of dampness. Over time, they became more and more, the trickle turning to a stream, and then to a river, and then to an ocean of water, pouring forth from her eyes like rain from the heavens. Skyla's shoulders shook gently as she sobbed over and over, tears running unchecked down her face.

And within her, she felt something give way and she opened her mouth.

And the words flowed.

"Maia, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. For everything I've done...I'm sorry. Because it's all my fault, Maia, it's all my fault. Baen was right. I'm to blame for everything. For the Enyd being murdered, for Jaymz losing his legs...for you d-dying. It's all my fault. And I'm so sorry. If I'd just stayed where I was, with you...none of this would have happened. We would still be there, back at the facility, living as slaves, but living together. I would still have you, and you would still have...your life. God, Maia, I'm so sorry. I wish...I wish this hadn't happened. I wish I'd never escaped that place. Because now...now..." she shook her head in distraught despair.

"I just can't believe you're gone!" she cried, "every day I wake up, it takes me too long to remember that you're not there. And when I do remember, it feels like I'm remembering for the first time, like these...emotions are new. And every day...I can't do it. I just...can't. I know you said I'm strong but the truth is...I'm not. You were my strength. And without you...I can't. You said you believed in me, you said I could do it...but I can't. Maia, not without you. And I'm sorry. I've failed you." She paused to take a shaky breath.

"I know you always say to look on the bright side of life, but I can't see it...I don't know if I'll ever see it again," she gave a short, dry laugh, "you should have seen me these past weeks. I've been so...empty. I am so empty. It's like...I have no heart any more. Ratchet and Clank...they've tried to help. I know they have. But...it's just...they're not you, Maia. I need you. But...I don't have you. I don't have Jaymz either, or Xavier or Cornelius...they've been taken away for recuperation. And...I feel so...so alone, Maia. I know it's not true, Ratchet's letting me stay in his apartment for now...but it can't last. I...I don't want to bring my mess into his life. I'm selfish enough already." She sighed heavily,

"I always thought it would be us. Us against the galaxy. When I thought you'd died on the cargo ship...I could hardly go on living. I did...somehow, and found you again. But now...you're gone. Truly and honestly gone and I..." her voice cracked, "I don't know what to do! Maia...without you..." she trailed off.

"I miss you, Maia," she sobbed, "and I love you, so so much. I love you and I miss you and I'm s-sorry." For a moment, Skyla simply let the grief gush from her, like water over a cliff, tumbling over in powerful waves...but it was a cascade that would not come to an end. She would never be free of this racking misery. And Skyla was ashamed, because she knew she was letting Maia down by allowing these feelings to drag her into their depths. But she didn't have the strength to fight them anymore.

Out of nowhere, a breeze picked up around her. It blew gently on Skyla, gently caressing her fur as it sent waves rippling through her hair. And in its touch there was a voice...a voice Skyla knew well. And the voice was laughing. The sound was light and gentle as it floated about her, wrapping her in a sweet embrace that felt warm and familiar. Skyla's brow creased as she listened to the noises in the breeze. It sounded so...free.

"Maia?" Skyla called, and the laughing continued, soft and merry as it skipped around her. It wasn't mocking, or patronising in any way, it sounded...happy, and free and...so full of life.

Slowly, Skyla got to her feet, her tears ceasing to fall as the breeze continued to flow about her, making her dress flutter as her fur shimmered in the light of the stars. Something tugged in her hand and she looked down. It was a flower, one from the grave. She didn't remember picking it up, but there it was, gently tugging in the breeze in an effort to break free of her hand.

And then it came to Skyla, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. She knew what she had to do.

With slow, deliberate steps she moved around the grave and stood by the cliff edge. Before her stretched the Baran forest, vast and magnificent in glory as the stars shone down onto it, illuminating it all with a beautiful silver glow. It was just reaching the early hours of the morning, but the sun was not quite visible over the horizon.

The flower pulled again and Skyla held it up to the wind. She paused.

She wasn't sure what she was doing, but something about it felt right, like this was meant to happen. Something told her that this wasn't a meaningless venture, that it was in fact an essential step for her to take. But she hesitated.

And then the breeze called to her again, bringing with it the laughter. Shivers ran up and down Skyla's spine as she recognised the sound.

"Maia," she spoke the name aloud and once again the laughter answered. Skyla felt a presence draw near to her, like a spirit, and in her heart she knew that it was Maia. It was Maia, laughing, and waiting on her. It was Maia, assuring her that this...this was what she needed to do. Hands cupped her own, encouraging her to take the step, encouraging her to move toward her freedom.

"I love you," Skyla whispered, and opened her hand.

Immediately, the blossom was caught in the breeze, twirling about as it was taken up into the air. And Skyla felt the presence go after it, taking with it a piece of Skyla's heart that grew wings as it broke free, flying away with the flower to the heavens above. Skyla watched as the seen and the unseen journeyed further up and further, growing fainter with each passing second. Up and up and up...

And then they were gone.

Skyla sighed.

A weight seemed to lift from Skyla's shoulders and instantly she felt lighter for it, as if she was being allowed to stand up for the first time. Skyla smiled a small, soft smile and the breeze dropped, taking the sound of Maia's laughter with it. And all was still around her once again.

A single tear trickled down Skyla's face.

"Goodbye, Maia," she whispered to the wind. A peace descended over her heart, like a door being firmly shut and locked, the key hidden somewhere deep within. Known, and not forgotten, but no longer used. Now, she was free. Guilt still remained, in part, for her past mistakes...but they had begun to close up, smoothing over to a blurred patch like an old scar.

"Skyla?" she turned at the sound of her name and found a sandy Lombax standing beside her, watching her carefully. He smiled, a smile she had come to know well over the weeks. And for the first time in a long time, she returned it with a gentle one of her own.

Ratchet's heart leapt for joy at the look in her eyes. The blue had brightened, and though he could still see the scars of her past, they were faded and not as prominent.

Skyla's eyes flicked back out over the cliff and a small frown creased her brow. Now that she was truly free, there was the future to see to. It was out there, waiting for her...but waiting with what? She had no home, no family...where would she go? What would she do? She could only stay with Ratchet so long, she was loath to rely on him, to weigh him down with her needs. No, it would be better for her to leave. But still...she had no idea what lay ahead.

"Sky?" She glanced up at the dear man beside her and offered him a half hearted smile. Knowing it would not suffice she asked,

"What happens now?" Ratchet looked at her in mild puzzlement and she felt the need to elaborate.

"I mean..." Skyla searched for the right words, "what does the future hold? Where do I go? I have everything I ever wanted...except the one thing I thought I would always have." She winced slightly at this and looked down at her hands. She still wore the bracelet the Enyd had given her. It was the one thing that she absolutely refused to be parted of.

"You can always...stay with me...?" Ratchet offered as lightly as he could. His heart was suddenly beating very fast and he felt panic begin to rise in him. What if she decided to leave after all? What if...after everything, she still left him? He didn't know if he could cope with that. But he forced himself to calm and wait for her reply.

A look of confusion entered Skyla's eyes as she went over his words. Stay with him? But wasn't she already? And wasn't she a burden?

"I mean...long term...stay," she clarified, "I...I don't want to impose upon your home, I'd just be a burden. You have your life...I must find mine."

"Sky..." Ratchet began, not quite believing what she was saying. A burden? Was she serious? The look in her eyes told him she was.

"Skyla, you could never be a burden to me," he told her seriously, "what in Solana made you think that?" Skyla frowned,

"But I..."

"Skyla," Ratchet cut across her, "you can stay with me for as long as you like. Forever, or just a day, however long you want. My home...it can be your home too," he told her with a gentle firmness. The confused look deepened as her eyes widened,

"F-Forever?" she stuttered uncertainly, "but...surely I should...I mean...forever?" Ratchet wanted to groan out loud and bang his head on something very solid. Was she really that blind? Couldn't she see he was telling the truth? Couldn't she see what she meant to him?

"Yes, Sky, forever," he paused briefly, then added, "I want you to stay." She looked at him in puzzled shock,

"You want me to stay?" Ratchet just stopped himself from facepalming and instead composed himself and simply nodded,

"Yes, I do. With all my heart, I want you to stay," he confessed. Skyla's mind whirled in turmoil. What was he saying? She was sure it would make sense to any other creature...but her brain had turned to mush and she couldn't think straight. Stay with him...forever? But...why? He said she wasn't a burden...but what else could she be?

"But why?" she cried in anguish, "why? I'm a mess, Ratchet. You've seen me over the past weeks...I'm broken! I'm hollow and empty and...broken. I would only...bring mess into your life. And I...I can't do that," she finished, her voice trailing off in misery.

"I'm a mechanic. I fix things for a living," Ratchet retorted with a twitching smile. She laughed lightly and looked down again, her eyes dimming,

"You can't fix me, Ratchet," she murmured in a low voice.

"I can try," he whispered. Skyla sighed,

"Ratchet...I..." her voice trailed off, "I can't" she said quietly. Ratchet had had enough. Gently gripping her chin he tilted her face up so that he was looking right at her.

"What will it take for me to get you to stay?" he asked her. Her brow furrowed,

"Wha-what?"

"Skyla," Ratchet swallowed, "I want you to stay with me, please. If only for a while. I just...I want to be with you for that much longer. Hell, the truth is...I want you to be part of my life...permanently. I never want you to leave...but...I'm not going to force you to stay. I told Maia I'd take care of you...and I will...for as long as I can. But...please, stay with me...for now," his voice was calm but inside his heart was thumping like a drum in wild panic. She shook her head in hopeless uncertainty,

"Why?" she mewed quietly, her eyes betraying her inner turmoil. Subconsciously, she knew that what Ratchet was saying was the truth, he would never lie to her. He wanted her to stay, but she was still struggling to see why. Who would want her, a broken, tormented soul to live with them...forever?

In that moment, Ratchet knew he would never be able to tell her, to explain to her in words why it was he wanted her to stay. So he decided to show her.

Without another thought he leaned forward and met her lips with his own in a soft, tender kiss. She gave a small gasp of surprise at the contact, but didn't draw back, not even moving at all as he cupped her face gently in the palm of his hand. He drew it out for several seconds before withdrawing ever so slightly, keeping his face close to hers and his hand on her cheek.

"Does that answer your question?" he murmured quietly to her.

Skyla stood in complete shock as she looked back at him, and into the green of his eyes. And what she saw there...shook her to the very core of her soul.

Because he didn't care. He didn't care that she was broken. He didn't care that she was a tormented soul. He didn't care that her past was as black and as bleak as a starless night.

He just cared for her.

In his eyes, there was only honest compassion, silently pleading to be recognised by her, to be acknowledged. And she hadn't seen it...until now.

And now she knew, the answer to his question and more. She knew why he wanted her to stay, and she felt embarassed. Had she really been so blind to not see it before? What kind of idiot was she to not even notice the blatant affection that was staring her right in the face?

"I'm so stupid," she blurted suddenly. Ratchet gave a breathy laugh as he nodded,

"Yes." Skyla studied him briefly, the pieces gradually falling into place in her mind. It was all beginning to make sense. While she'd been so caught up in Maia and her own selfish feelings of loss...she'd completely failed to see the growing light in Ratchet's eyes. The light which was still growing, even as she watched. And with a start of surprise she noticed that her own eyes were reflected in his...and they too were full of light. While she'd hidden behind a veil, her own feelings had gone ahead without her, blossoming into a delicate flower of emotion before her eyes.

And yet Ratchet had said nothing, simply waiting patiently for her to come to this realisation of her own accord. And she'd kept him waiting.

"I'm...I'm so s-sorry," she stammered, but the words seemed meaningless. How was she supposed to apologise for something on this grand a scale? How was she supposed to say sorry for ignoring such strong, powerful feelings?

"I forgive you," Ratchet murmured before leaning in once again.

The second time was like the sealing of the pact, fastening the two Lombaxes together...forever.

Skyla felt her heart start to sing for joy and relief as her caged emotions were finally set free, flying out on the wings of doves as they showered her with new, fresh devotion. It was like the dirt from her eyes had been washed away and now, finally, she could see clearly for the first time. And it was beautiful Because this, this was what she'd been missing out on. Stuck in her hole of misery...she'd neglected the light that was now shining through as clear as anything.

Because this was it.

This was what Maia had told her about, the unparalleled feelings between two beings, joined in the most intimate and precious of bonds.

This was what she'd ignored for so long in her depressive state, only to have it spring upon her in a sudden burst of realisation.

This was what Ratchet had been waiting, no, longing for her to return, to finally come to the conclusion he'd reached long before her.

This was Love.

Love in its purest and most potent form.

And the kiss...

It was like nothing Skyla had ever experienced. Right there and then she could have sworn by the stars that a million fireworks were going off in her belly, tumbling and bursting in a shower of bright colours. It was like she'd slipped into another world where only two things existed – her and Ratchet. It was...bliss.

Skyla angled her head slightly to ease the kiss, not at all sure of what she was doing, but feeling that she must be doing something right as he responded eagerly. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him, and she felt light shocks travel up and down her body at his touch. Her hands travelled up to rest on his chest, and even through the fabric of his clothing she could feel the firm muscles beneath them, offering comfort in their strength. His mouth fell open slightly and she followed his lead as the kiss deepened, a passionate delirium taking ahold of Skyla as she fell into the oblivion. She could quite happily remain this way forever.

Ratchet was in seventh heaven. This wasn't his first kiss, but it put his others to shame. The feel of her against him was something so exquisite he felt that he would never have enough of it. And the taste of her...it was so sweet and delicious, like milk and honey on his tongue, filling his mouth with its gentle flavour. He pulled her closer to him still, relishing in the feel of her body against his, their two hearts beating as one. How long had he wanted this? He didn't know...but all he knew now was that he finally had her. A deep need began to pool in his stomach, a thirst for more of her, more of her taste, more of her touch...but he could wait, and for now he was simply content with having her near him, feeling her lips against his and her hands on his chest.

Eventually their lungs had had enough and they drew apart, gasping lightly. Skyla took a moment to clear the dizziness in her head from lack of oxygen and excess of emotion, panting slightly with joyous exertion as her head rested against his. Ratchet drew her into an embrace, burying his head into her hair and breathing deeply. Her scent...a mixture of pine and other plants, soaked up from her time in the chamber. He could breathe it in for oxygen.

Skyla felt his arms around her, and for the first time in years, she felt safe. In his arms, there was no fighting, no pain, no loss. In his arms, there was only his strength, and his comfort. And they fitted together, their bodies folding against each other so perfectly it was if they were made for the other. In his arms was where Skyla belonged, and where she would remain. Her eyes closed and her lips tilted up into a content smile as she nestled into him, her saviour. Ratchet smiled as he too closed his eyes, just savouring the moment of quiet, when he could hold Skyla in his arms, and forget all else.

And as the couple held each other close, the sun began to rise over the horizon.