A/N: Big, special thanks to NightwingNinja17 for beta-reading this chapter. Your help was enormous.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ratchet & Clank. I own Loric Ellebor.


Chapter 7: Awakened

It had been quite a lengthy walk on lands of golden, shimmering grains with merely barren trees as their guide but Loric was able to recall the location of the fallen starship and lead the group there. Ratchet inspected the damage and deemed it as a minor setback. He estimated the repairs wouldn't take long to be completed. Anything he asked, Egandor managed to provide. Tools, bolts, components. His allies even set up a handy construction with a sheet above his head so as to provide him with shade. With the right equipment and the poorly crafted but unexpectedly effective means of protection from the broiling sun Ratchet was allowed to work with the luxury of convenience, accompanied by the team's chattering which seemed to help calm down his nerves. Clank appeared every now and then, asking if Ratchet needed any assistance though he knew the young Lombax enjoyed the specific task and never saw it as a chore. As predicted, Ratchet claimed he was just fine and advised his friend to relax. After a little less than two hours, Aphelion was thoroughly restored. The first thing she said was something about staying out of the action and missing the fun again, a complaint she had expressed before in the past. "Well, at least we know her speakers work perfectly" Ratchet had remarked.

The quest for Kaden's Armor would soon reach its end since the destination of its location was finally disclosed. However, not everyone from the group intended to leave the ground of Zanimal and fly among the stars of Ceilif.

"Come again whenever you can and with the armor, please. I'd really love to have a look at it" Asyrian requested as she shook hands with Ratchet. "You could help me learn more about the Lombaxes so I can finally extend my research."

"Trust me Asyrian, I won't be of much help" Ratchet stated a rather sad fact but with a smile. "But Clank and I would love to come back some time. Right Clank?"

"Certainly" the robot nodded positively.

"Take care guys. And try to have fun in the meantime" Egandor winked as he shook Ratchet's hand.

"Will do, Egandor. Thanks for all your help" Ratchet expressed his gratitude to both of them and soon him and Clank hopped onto the ship. Loric only beckoned his head in valediction to those native to the planet and joined the heroic duo into the ship.

It wasn't long until Aphelion's engines came to life, announcing their departure. Soon the starship was above the dried ground, flying away and leaving Zanimal behind. After she abandoned the tremendous heat and the unwelcoming sand, she was embraced by an enchanting blackness embellished by embroideries of neon lines of light and tiny, sparkling diamonds; Space.

Egandor and Asyrian didn't even mind not being shielded from the blinding light of the sun and only kept on watching the glowing, red line on the sky prevailing over the infinite blue like a wound on the skin of a sapphire-coloured creature.

"I was sure you'd insist on us following them" Egandor commented in a casual, almost carefree manner.

"You've no idea how much I'd like that, to travel with them and witness the discovery of Kaden's Armor with my own eyes" Asyrian spoke in a nearly dreamlike state, hands on her hips and her gaze directed skyward. "But what of the people here?"

"Aaah… A little help?"

The female with the snow-white fur momentarily grunted and raised her seemingly rigid like iron rods hands in the air. "Don't you get it, Egandor? Our good and wise landlord transported all of the captives to his own headquarters. That's why there was no one at the Coliseum."

"And I believe that's, uh, bad" her brother added with an index finger pointed at Aphelion's now faded red line.

"He certainly didn't take them there to make the days of their captivity cozier. You know how his defenses work and I've broken into his facility. It's up to us to set them free and begin the revolution against that foul tyrant."

"Right! I'm with ya." Egandor's normally lively stare fell on the ground, oddly refraining from the typical zeal that adorned his eyes. He twisted his foot and made it sink beneath the sand, hands insecurely held behind him. "Asyrian?" he waited to see his sister turn to face him before going on. "Sorry if this sounds stupid but, could the Unseen Destroyer have left us to find the map on purpose? For his own tactical reasons?"

A sigh escaped her as a pessimistic sense settled in and showed its presence through furrowed eyebrows and the downward curved line of her mouth. "I wish it sounded stupid. Which is another reason why I didn't want to follow them. Because I feared we wouldn't be coming back. I even fear that… we won't see Ratchet and Clank again."

Egandor idled for a while while his mind processed what Asyrian had told him. His sister confused him on some rare occasions and this particular one was no exception. Despite having known her better than anyone and having spent his entire life with her, this statement made her sound like a stranger was talking to him. "So you just let them go? You could have warned 'em!"

"Trust me, they know." Ratchet's solemn and worried face came on her mind like a vibrant image shown right in front of her eyes. She had observed how nervous he was while roaming the dungeons, as though his instincts were warning him of imminent danger. And at that moment, she knew what stole away his excitement; they hadn't faced any opposition. And the possibility of the Unseen Destroyer being unaware of the map's existence was unlikely. But it was her firm, deep belief that Kaden's son must claim the map and that the Armor must be found. She couldn't encourage him to step back after waiting for so long for something extraordinary to happen. So she narrated the events about his father's arrival so as to bring forth his spirit of curiosity. "They know exactly what they're getting themselves into."

TTTTTT ~~~ TTTTTT

Loric became the source of good news since he apprised Ratchet and Clank of the short distance that separated them from Ceilif. As soon as the dim glow of the constellations in Astarte Galaxy was behind them, Aphelion updated her starcharts and informed them that it would take up to four hours to reach Ceilif.

For the first time ever since this fierce mission began Loric displayed a more pleasant side of himself and Ratchet and Clank actually started enjoying his company. The three of them talked about past adventures that mostly ended up in humiliating situations and lots and lots of laughter. Loric couldn't get over the story behind the Personal Hygenator. It kept him laughing ceaselessly. Another good thing was that he wasn't feeling nauseous so Aphelion's seats were safe for the time being. He made sure to buy lots of water from Zanimal as its consumption seemed to keep nausea away.

"Approaching planet Azalea's atmosphere in fifty seconds" Aphelion interrupted them from their gladsome conversation.

"Clank, check the map and see if you can find any coordinates" Ratchet instructed as he steered the wheel to fly right above Azalea's surface, which immediately drew his attention. He caught himself neglecting to look forward as he flew and instead his eyes remained fixed on the trees with leaves of dark purple hues as well as the billion stars that shone on the midnight blue sky once he raised his gaze. The excessive amount of stars made him believe that he could actually touch them if he were to outstretch his hand outside the ship and the glittering little spheres left him and Loric with a feeling of wonderment as their luminosity was reflected in a pair of emeralds and a pair of sapphires.

"I believe I found something" Clank proclaimed.

Loric escaped his spellbound state and examined the map too. As Clank had affirmed, the exact location of the territory shown in the map could be found if one looked at it more carefully. Ratchet somehow managed to find the strength to avert his eyes from the bewitching beauty before him and turned his focus on the ship's controls. A brief soar above the ground allowed the three explorers to observe this new, captivating world before Aphelion touched the ground. As soon as they were outside the starship, they gave into a short wandering as elements from the planet's peculiar nature seemed to call each and every one of them individually. There was grass that stretched into the distance as far as the eye could see and probably even beyond, save some rocky paths, and a scent of petrichor predominated the place.

"So, Loric. You've been here before?" Ratchet asked while the starry horizon enchanted him again, persistent and spectacular.

"Yes, one time. I had just entered adulthood and my father brought me here to show me how to use healing herbs" Loric responded. "That was so long ago though. Let's move with caution and be wary. You don't want to stumble on Irdvargs."

"And how should I know what an Irdvarg is?" Ratchet sighed, though he brought forward his question calmly.

"They blend with the environment. They possess skin thicker than the hardest mineral you could find. So they can't be dealt with but they can rip your limbs apart from you anytime and have them for lunch. You don't want that, do you?" Loric informed though Ratchet was certain he was also making an attempt to intimidate them.

"Wow I'm so terrified, please stop" the Lombax spoke sarcastically as he faked fear, mocking Loric's warnings. "As long as they can be blown up, I don't care about what they eat."

"Well I have bad news for you Ratchet, for no one through the history of this planet's entire existence has ever killed an Irdvarg. They're considered invulnerable to any form of attack. So I propose you just run as soon as they decide to show up."

"I do not think this is possible, Loric" Clank joined the conversation. "That would hurt his pride and trust me, he is too stubborn to heed any advice."

"Don't worry, Clank. We'll write 'Ratchet. Died with his pride intact' on his tombstone" Loric made an effort to joke and frighten the mechanic for a second time as he broke into a laughter that betrayed his guilt-lacking amusement. Ratchet could only roll his eyes as a reaction to the comment.

"I was wondering" Clank changed the subject as Loric took the lead and began searching for the location shown on the map. "Were you not aware of the Armor's existence when you came here?"

Loric made a sound of clearing his throat. "Well… Let's just say Kaden had just been born when I got here." Loric knew his confession would cause quite the shock.

"Whoa, seriously? How old are you?!" Ratchet asked fervently, eyes widened in curiosity.

"Ratchet, that is not very polite" his friend tried to tame his impulsive nature.

"Um, eh… Just check the map and see if we're on the right track!" Loric urged, desperately trying to distract the two heroes so as to avoid answering Ratchet's indiscreet question.

"Okay but be careful, I'd avoid getting upset if I were your age. Heart-attacks are more dangerous for you than those Irdvargs" Ratchet teased Loric and quickly unfolded the map. He knelt in order for Clank to have a better view of the beige piece of paper. "Right we're, uh… here" he pointed at the spot he declared as their current location.

"We are actually here" Clank pointed at another spot clearly on the other end of Ratchet's presumed location.

"Are you sure?" he asked with an awkward smile after tilting his head when he realised his mistake.

Loric grunted. "It's obvious, we just have to… Look, follow my lead" he insisted and moved forward without bothering to assure that his partners were indeed walking behind him.

Discussions were left aside while the three of them drew closer and closer to what Kaden had in store for his only child. However, for an inexplicable reason the atmosphere became heavier and Ratchet's instincts screamed that something was amiss. He stayed absolutely still for some seconds, causing his disseverance from the group. There was movement around him that made his muscles tense and soon the only thing he did was silently prepare his Alpha Disruptor as he restlessly glanced at the territory around him. Something rustled too close to him and Ratchet turned swiftly to the sound's direction but was faced by nothing apart from the moving grass. Perturbed as he felt, he clenched his teeth and stared at the spot on the ground with narrowed eyes and an unbreakable insistence. A waft of air seemed to blow as the grass moved to its command but the phenomenon limited itself to the spot Ratchet was staring at, something which instantly agitated him. There was no wind, yet the grass in front of him was moving.

Feeling like prey spotted by the predator Ratchet abstained from all motion as adrenaline rushed through him, making his senses keen. And all of a sudden, he distinguished a pair of ruthless bright yellow irises staring back at him through the grass. The only thing he managed to do before his mind could process what was transpiring was widen his eyes in utter surprise for split seconds thereafter, a creature that came out of nowhere launched forward exposing its dead set hostile intentions. With a yelp cut short, Ratchet was able to duck before the unforeseen attacker who landed right behind him, could cause any injury. He turned around quickly, the Alpha Disruptor now held firmly with both gloved hands and aimed at the slim, tall creature whose skin was cypress green with broad, brown lines running on its entire form. Ratchet's mind was fogged due to the assailant's abrupt arrival, so no rational thinking had intervened when he pulled the trigger of his weapon and allowed it to charge. Throughout this whole time, he didn't dare breathe in fear of missing his target. Once the weapon was ready to unleash its ravaging energy on its unfortunate victim, Ratchet ceased all pressure applied on the trigger and the cannon released a bright energy that struck his rival. However, when it dissipated the creature didn't seem harmed and the only change that could be noticed was that it had taken a few steps backwards in response to the blinding radiancy the weapon had produced. Despite the destructive force the Alpha Disruptor possessed, the only thing it had done was burn a few leaves of a nearby tree.

"No way…" Ratchet murmured when the dissolving light revealed the creature he had fired at to be in an intact state.

He witnessed several yellow eyes looking at him malevolently, seemingly belonging to the trees around him which he knew wasn't the case. It took a short while for the Irdvargs to abandon their camouflage tactic and show themselves in their true form; they all were of either bulky or thinner figures and were coloured with variants of green and brown as a result of using Azalea's environment to remain hidden and indiscernible. Ratchet lowered his Alpha Disruptor and shot nervous glares at the newcomers only to have a grim realisation dawn on him; If the most powerful weapon he currently carried had no effect on them, Irdvargs were truly invincible. And he was surrounded by a great number of them.

"Ah, about time" Loric exhaled from several feet away as he gripped his staff, the sapphire on top of it gleaming as if it was feeling the imminent threat. "Let's see how fast Lombaxes can run."

Disregarding the urge to come up with a witty comeback, Ratchet instead focused on finding a way out of the circle the Irdvargs had created after securing his weapon in his arsenal. His chest was rising and falling due to his shallow breathing as his features gave into an expression of anxiety, fingers slowly curling into his palms to form fists. His ear flicked as soon as he listened a sound of light footsteps coming hastily towards his way rising above the rasping breaths of the Irdvargs. Ratchet found an opening between two vicious, particularly muscular Irdvargs and immediately saw Clank standing there with a rather worrisome countenance on his face, waiting for him to react.

Ratchet thought it was about time he overcame the initial shock for with every second of immovability he spent he was diminishing his chances of survival. Boldly deciding there was nothing to keep him back, he ran towards his friend and somersetted in order to avoid an Irdvarg's approaching hand meant to grab him, its size big enough to cast a shadow on him born by the luminousness of the stars. The air instantly felt cooler out of the Irdvargs' entrapping circle and inhaling didn't seem to fill his lungs with oxygen until that very moment. But he didn't have the time to celebrate. He grasped the Zoni robot firmly and made sure he was attached to his harness before racing to Loric, a wish to create a great distance between him and the Irdvargs making him run as fast as possible.

He watched Loric dash into a dense gathering of trees before he could even approach him. "Follow me!" the Grey Mage's alarmed voice reached his ears.

Into the tree region Ratchet could barely discern the path he had to follow because of the entangled, thick branches and the broad leaves that covered them. The light blue glow the gem on Loric's staff emitted served as the most peculiar compass one could ever come across and thanks to it Ratchet didn't lose track of the course Loric was following. The many boles that arose from the ground forced him to cease running but he hadn't slowed down the pace. He could already feel fatigue's unpleasant grip. "Are they still after us?"

It took a while for Loric to give his typically aloof response. "Just keep moving."

A couple of minutes later, the flora receded and an open area full of greenery, resembling that of a valley, unfolded before their eyes as the sky of sublime dark-blue colours and countless stars floated above the already wondrous realm.

Relief filled Ratchet as his luck had decided to show its face for the thousandth time for he seemed to have escaped danger.

"Intriguing. Lombaxes are quite the runners" Loric observed in a teasing manner.

Ratchet saw him lean on his staff casually, a cunning smirk showing the prevalence of arrogance in him. "I take it they lost us?" he simply asked with a surly look, failing to see the humour in Loric's statement.

"As you might have guessed, they're pretty sluggish. So yes, I can assure you they lost us."

Clank detached himself from Ratchet's harness and took a few seconds to admire the impressive landscape. "We must be close to the Armor now" he finally uttered when he managed to avert his gaze from the exquisite natural environment of planet Azalea.

"It's in this building" Loric confirmed and gestured at an old building that stood a few feet away. Its exterior seemed partly ruined, touched by the heartless passing of years. "According to the map that is."

Tall, stony columns appeared sporadically around the old yet gigantic building as trees with violet leaves claimed dominance over the district. Ratchet and Clank stared at the structure in eagerness and would spend much time doing so if Loric hadn't called their names and distracted them from their silent exploration. They approached his position to find out what he wanted and with a soundless gesture he pointed at one of the columns with his staff. The two heroes recognised the Lombax writing on the hard surface. Loric was quick in giving them the translation.

"It says: By the stars

Freedom at last.

Healing the scars

To purify the past."

The Mage recognised the lyrical message. He informed the duo that it originated from a traditional Lombax song which was composed after the Great War. No one expressed what they thought of the message but the look on their faces showed it had managed to dig deep within them and speak at the mystical language of profound understanding and soul-searching. It had ignited a fire that spoke differently to every single one of them, each letting it lead them to separate thoughts that were their sanctuary of ideals.

However, Loric had once again stated they shouldn't waste more time and after Ratchet made a quick diagnosis that rendered Loric terrified of the concept of time, which occupied Clank with the task of trying to prove if such mental condition actually existed and left Loric with a quite angry look, they drew away from the column but not without carrying with them the spiritual gifts that the engraved words plentifully offered. The group of three approached the entrance of the building, where Kaden's Armor lay.

The building itself didn't hold any elements that invoked any admiration, yet to Ratchet it was among the most imposing ones he had ever stood before. A faint echo of his heartbeat reverberated in his ears, just like when he walked into the Court of Azimuth and that bewildering sense from when he entered the Corona Court returned, leaving him speechless and under the mercy of that force which swirled around him and threatened to drastically change the core of everything he knew. As though Loric held all the answers, he turned his head to look at him with a seemingly childlike curiosity.

"After you" Loric spoke prudently and gestured him to walk ahead of himself and Clank.

An exhortation heard clearly, yet something kept him back and pushed his will to discover what lay ahead aside, forcing it to the edge of involuntary timidity. In the end, Ratchet overpowered paralyzing confusion and reached the entrance with trembling legs. How could he, why was he acting like this? What was with this entrance that suddenly drained him off all of his strength and integrity? He could clearly hear his heart beat louder than the chaos he caused in every battle. He realised his legs felt too weak to take another step and so, he had remained still right in front of the entrance for countless seconds. In spite of the fact that he felt as though a heavy burden had been placed upon his shoulders, Ratchet ignored his unwillingness, battled fear and defied his instincts. With a sigh, he was able to find his missing courage and slowly walk into the building. Soon, he heard Loric and Clank do the same.

The place was humid and dark, though the starlight penetrated the openings of the ceiling and graced the hall with its majestic light. Ratchet felt great anxiety which couldn't be compared to how he felt everytime he was about to stop an evil villain from causing utter havoc. After a while, he and his companions were faced with a sealed gate made of a black, specular material unless his intense impatience and dread made him hallucinate, which he hoped wasn't the case. Thankfully, Loric's next words reassured him he hadn't become insanity's victim yet.

"I'm getting really tired of those closed gates and deadends" he seethed. "I suppose your weapons can deal with it?"

"I do not think they would do much" Clank acknowledged Loric as he elaborately studied what was keeping them away from their goal. "This gate is made of pure obsidian but only externally. The interior is made of steel, which is a very hard metal."

"Plus, my weapons would pretty much tear the whole place apart and I'd like to keep whatever's in there intact" Ratchet added.

"Technology is highly overrated" Loric remarked after he listened to what those objects Ratchet was so fond of carrying with him were capable of. "Now how do we get in?" he mused, talking mostly to himself.

"Maybe there's a switch or something. Or a hidden key. Let's look around" Ratchet proposed and all of them began their research.

Forty minutes passed and their efforts brought about no results whatsoever. Ratchet also took the initiative to search outside of the building, even looking for the slightest clue on the columns and the walls but it had been futile. Even Clank couldn't think of a way to get in. And if he said he can't come up with any solution, then for Ratchet things were really, really grim. The two friends along with Loric stood in front of the obsidian gate again, hope having forsaken them many minutes ago.

"I can't accept we made all this journey for nothing" Loric lamented. "You" he spoke to Ratchet. "You are the Son of the Stars and Master Orion has to know. I can't back up now."

The Lombax gave a subtle but clearly scornful stare at Loric. This whole mention of that strange title Loric had the habit of bringing up constantly as well as the mystery around Loric's leader made him feel uneasy. And Ratchet certainly didn't feel uneasy often but when he did, it made him overly hot-tempered.

"Ratchet, there must be something we are missing. Let us try to think this through" Clank composedly suggested.

"No Clank, I can't think this through" Ratchet fumed as anger began settling in his chest. "I can't think clearly when I know I'm stuck outside of my father's secret and can do nothing about it!" his tone arose as he gave in to his wrathful outburst. "I can't think clearly when I know that everytime I try to reach them, I end up Empty Handed!" he yelled that last part of his sentence and hit the door with his OmniWrench so hard that tiny shards of pitch black scattered on the ground.

Clank and Loric remained silent and just stared at the broken Lombax as he surrendered to rage. He struck the door one more time and thereafter, shut his eyes in defeat. He breathed in deeply and sighed sorrowfully as he allowed his muscles to relax and loosened his grip on his trademark weapon.

"I am sorry, Ratchet" he heard Clank say and his striped ears instantly dropped.

The starlight kept on deluging the dark hall, the shine of the tiny dots of the sky falling on Kaden's son and whispering canticles of hopelessness and disappointment. 'Empty Handed', his own yell echoed in his ears. He didn't dare open his eyes and see that cruel, back gate that was sealing him out of the secret. He didn't want to face the gate which reminded him that even if he had Clank, a part of him felt alone. The last of his kind. Forgotten by his own people. How could they? Why? 'How do I escape this?'

Even with his eyes closed he could feel the gate's mocking presence, and the fact that a mere object which possessed no mind or soul could belittle him in such a manner inflicted him with a growing sense of humiliation. In an attempt to gain the upper hand over it, Ratchet opened his viridescent orbs only to have his gaze fall on the pieces of pitch-black smithereens just in front of the obsidian door's surface. And this was when failure ceased overshadowing his perception; his vision travelled among the carved, parallel and straight lines that formed flawless squares on the tiled floor he was standing on. However, four of these lines that surrounded another perfect square gave the impression of having too much dust and trails of soil filling them. Ratchet voicelessly asked himself if this could mean anything, mostly wondering how Clank had failed to notice this small yet distinctive characteristic of this section of the floor. Usually he was the one pointing out the slightest details of whatever they were testing. With the faintest glimmer of hope, he knelt near the spot in question and remarked it rather inquisitively.

"What, did you… did you find anything" Loric spoke hesitantly, a quite unusual behaviour for him. Having the advantage of height, he espied what Ratchet was examining while Clank moved closer to the spot that caused an uncommon interest to the Lombax.

Pale green light illuminated the square as Clank walked closer to it. "This slab appears to be moveable."

Ratchet was quick in checking the piece of concrete substance with his hand and after applying pressure on it, he saw it lower and retract itself to be hidden beneath the solid piece next to it. The three of them detected a switch which, once unfolded, could only guide Loric to the conclusion that the key inside the room and probably to Kaden's Armor was finally under their possession.

Ratchet held the switch steadily as confidence showed on his face and threw it boldly.

The gate began moving and slowly allowed entrance to the long forgotten secret. Ratchet thought his heart had stopped beating for everything around him froze. He stepped a little farther from the now welcoming gate, feeling warmth within as he had finally approached the remnant of his father's past. Thinking he shouldn't have overreacted like he did earlier, he kept reminding himself to apologise to Clank after retrieving the Armor while he saw the door slide open. Once the process of revealing was completed, everyone walked inside to sight the artifact with their breaths stolen. And there lay the gift of the Keeper.

Kaden's Armor…

It was entirely silver, ornamented with beautiful, curved lines that were engraved on the pure alloy and graced with a lucent ruby right below the area of neck. A pair of gloves appeared where the hands should be, made of a hard, dark grey material in order to serve as a protection means and in a few parts they were enshrouded by a unique fabric that resembled a cambric. It was supported by an auxiliary but barely visible construction so as to be properly exhibited on the marble pedestal.

The treacherous trembling returned and Ratchet's eyes welled up, emeralds shimmering under the threat of tears falling. He didn't permit himself to shed any tears though. A hero had to be collected. His fatherwould want him to be collected.

"Look at it, Clank. It's… awesome" he managed to speak with a stuttering voice.

"I agree. It is magnificent" the robot said in accordance.

"By all suns of the Universe. It's truly extraordinary" Loric exclaimed stunned. He soon observed there was another object on the pedestal apart from the armor. "It looks like you'll be getting more than one gift tonight."

Clank shortly understood what Loric meant by that. "It is an old voice recorder" he informed after he examined the object.

"Wait. You mean…" Ratchet began but faltered.

Loric nodded, indicating that Ratchet's thought had been correct. "He has a message for you."

Ratchet instantly felt his stomach knotted, cold sweat making his fur dump. It was like with the push of a button, his father would temporarily come to life to greet his unfairly lost son. His childish side believed that Kaden would magically appear and embrace him, talk to him and then sadly leave. His voice. He'd get to hear his voice. That was something inconceivably beautiful to Ratchet.

"Do you want only Clank to remain in the chamber? Do you want us both out? Or…" Loric empathised with the young hero perhaps for the first time so openly ever since they met.

"No" Ratchet managed to reply warm-heartedly, despite his unshed tears clogging his throat. "You can stay."

Many seconds invaded Azalea and relinquished it elusively, yet they felt like centuries. 'No more running away.' No more. Ratchet sighed and slowly, almost involuntarily, pressed the Play button.

Everyone waited impatiently as the cassette's tape in the recorder reeled. And then…

"My son. If you are listening to this, then I'm probably gone. I wish you don't have to listen to this. I wish… I wish I'm lucky enough to raise you and tell you myself when you come of age."

"Father…" Ratchet muttered, his battle against his tears now becoming extremely hard. His voice. How amazing it was to escape the total unawareness about at least this aspect of his father's identity and be blessed enough to at least know how he sounded like.

"It pains me to say your mother's not here with me. I lost her. But I will not lose you. I won't-" Kaden's voice was shaking and he cut his sentence probably to compose himself and refrain from sobbing.

"It might be a misfortune to listen to this but it's also a blessing that you're alive to find the Armor. I know what you may be thinking. Why were you left behind? Why did I abandon you? Why did I leave you on Veldin when you could follow the rest of the Lombaxes into the new dimension and live in peace, though without me? Tachyon…" Kaden now gave up on fear and allowed hatred to take over.

"That treacherous bastard. He ruined everything. He destroyed our lives. My son, my dear son. I must lay a heavy burden on you. I remained here to guard the Dimensionator but I can't be sure that I'll survive for long. If I haven't come back to you, then it means I'm done for. What you have to do is protect the Dimensionator at all costs and hide from Tachyon. If you're here, the Grey Mages have found you. Go to Master Orion. Let him help you find Alister Azimuth and that girl that was accidentally forsaken. If Tachyon hunts you down, find the Dimensionator and destroy it. I've left artifacts behind to lead you to its location."

Ratchet remembered the famous 'Lombax Secret' that made Tachyon so obsessed and left Talwyn orphaned. If only his father could know, he went through this path a long time ago.

"It's only us now. Stay strong, be safe and be the reminder the Universe needs. Your presence will let everyone know that once a race that freed Polaris existed. The Lombaxes. This Armor is a gift that I hope will give you the strength you need. I know you won't let me down. You never could. I know my actions hurt you. You might not realise it but, son, I lov-"

"Well, well. Look whom I ran across. The Keeper" a second voice unexpectedly intervened. Ratchet and Clank recognised that voice, their widening their eyes in sheer shock was the living proof of it.

"Step away, Tachyon. You've caused enough terror already" Kaden bravely stood his ground, though he sounded horrified.

"Look at you, you worthless scum. Battered, wounded. You might have survived from our last battle but now, I'm in the pleasant position to inform you your luck has run out.". There was a short pause before the tyrant spoke again. "What is this? Saying goodbye to your pitiful son? I will find him. Even if it takes me years, I WILL find him". The sound of metallic feet approaching could be heard while Tachyon's throne walked towards Kaden.

Ratchet was visibly shaking in anger. "You useless piece of-"

"You will NOT touch him!"

"Don't worry, I won't kill him. If he's young enough when I find him, I'll tell him what your filthy kind did to the Cragmites and I'll teach him how to kill. And he will kill for me only to find the Dimensionator and bring back the Cragmites."

"You'll never find him or the Dimensionator."

"Too bad you won't be alive to see how wrong you are. Hmm now that I think of it, I might consider sparing you if you agree to kneel before your emperor" Tachyon commanded and then laughed viciously.

Kaden's unstable breathing could be clearly heard. Ratchet could tell he was fighting back sobs. "Lombaxes never kneel."

The next noises that the recorder produced were some choked screams. Flesh being torn and then a loud thud. The recording ended as a button being casually pressed was heard.

~ End of Part I: Illumination ~


A/N: I always wondered why Kaden didn't give Ratchet to the other Lombaxes so he could be raised in the other dimension, safe and with his own kind. He didn't have a reason to put his own child in danger by taking him with him, or at least we're never shown a legitimate reason in the games. So I tried to come up with a theory and that's what I found possible.