Disclaimer: Ratchet & Clank and all related characters are property of Insomniac Games. I only own the Unseen Destroyer.
Chapter 14: An Enigma and a Dilemma
"That Lombax freed us from Dr. Nefarious' containment camp five years ago. He was helpless. We couldn't just leave him" one of the locals explained, sentences interrupted by ungainly, wordless exclamations.
"I see" Clank muttered, deep in deliberation. "We are most thankful for your help. My friends were severely weakened" he was quick in expressing his gratitude to the Fongoids.
Nanotech had worked wonders on Ratchet and Talwyn, as if it possessed the ability to erase events of the past that had already been written into history's timeless book. No mark or wound to remind of any battle existed and no exhaustion befogged their minds. The cave resided away from the wroth red orb, though its wraiths were still out there searching for lives to take in the form of unsaturated rays.
Talwyn drew away from the crowd of fidgety children. The chatter of adults faded away as she moved near a Fongoid whose clothing discriminated him from the rest of the locals. There were heavy fabrics falling over his regular attire looking of paramount quality. He also held an intricately crafted wooden staff with a glowing blue shard on its top.
The Markazian walked close to the Fongoid, surmising he was the leader of the community. His friendly gaze motivated her to speak to him. "Were you able to bring all villagers here?" she wondered.
"We left no one behind" was the Fongoid's direct answer, hinting no doubt. "But the crops… all destroyed. No idea how we'll manage to fend for ourselves. I suppose we'll have to trade with Quantos now" he instantly gave a grimace of disgust. "Their food tastes terrible."
Ratchet was a few feet away and didn't bother to listen to any conversations. Ever since he managed to overcome his injuries, he only stood near the entrance of the cave and stared outside with stillness guarding his gravest thoughts. He was unable to make them drift away into the crimson light where they could evanesce, never to torment him again. He kept on trying to interpret that change in him, these negative thoughts that burdened his mind and chased away equanimity. They took the place of the waves of spontaneity that used to lead him from dawn 'till dusk. Lighthearted days had been lost in the murk of past years. Had he really grown up so fast? It seemed like yesterday since the days when he was trying to figure out which wrench was more suitable for fixing a ship's thrusters. Perhaps this quest had gotten too personal to allow him to think clearly. He could only see it as fighting Tachyon for the second time, as if he was alive and trying to put an end to his life so the world can forget that the Lombaxes ever existed.
"Now let's begin our game, shall we? Why don't you go to Zanifar and see what you've done to its poor inhabitants? If you ever escape the lab. Oh don't be mad at me, you're the one who hacked the computer and initiated my project. Behold, the Cragmites' last stand. Project After Omega!"
Ratchet shut his eyes to deliver himself from the memory that was making him even more vexed. He abandoned the stillness which served as nothing but a warden for his unbreakable doubt that shrouded his spirit with a veil of dejection. He walked towards Clank and Talwyn who were talking with the amiable Fongoid chief.
"We don't know what's deeper though" the inhabitant of Zanifar confessed. Ratchet quickly deduced that he had lost part of the discussion. "Nobody dares to go farther. I'd go myself but I'm claustrophobic."
"Can you show us where it is?" Clank questioned.
The Fongoid walked with rushed movements, heading into the cave's darker part beyond the crowd. Clank made sure not to falter as hurried steps helped him catch up.
"He believes there might be a way to get rid of the Red Sun, as they call it" the Markazian followed the same course after gently pulling Ratchet by his hand. The haze of troubled thoughts receded immediately, urgency bringing him back to reality.
The spot they reached was barely touched by the voices of intimidated dwellers, though distant echoes prevailed over natural silence. Ratchet spotted a crudely circular opening turning the umber-brown soil into a seemingly tiny black hole at the far corner of the caveway. A slight frown cast a shadow on his bright pair of emerald orbs as he wondered whether the answers lay beyond the subterranean trail.
"You want us to go in there?" Ratchet asked the affable Fongoid with an index finger lazily pointing at the opening of the underground pathway.
"There's something there. We've been hearing a lot of clattering and honestly, none of us want deadly robotic worms jumping out of this hole" was the answer the Lombax received from the local.
"You said there's an underground base underneath" Talwyn remembered being told a few minutes ago, wishing to establish the fact that their venture wouldn't be in vain.
"These are only speculations but some of the villagers believe it, yes" the Fongoid confirmed Talwyn's statement to an extent before producing yet another wordless exclamation.
Ratchet was not entirely convinced that entering the underground tunnel was a good idea but he had to find a way to consider it as sufficient for now. With a sigh and after a brief glimpse at the cave's ceiling in search for elusive hope, he took one step ahead to position the tip of his hoverboot right at the edge of the deep hollow. "Here goes. Come on, Clank" he spoke and took that daring leap, letting gravity pull his form beneath the dry soil and away from the dim vermilion rays that pervaded the cave as reminders of the danger outside.
His descent ended with an impeccable landing after elegance shepherded his mid-air flip. Ratchet arose and explored the parched earth around him with a spark of inquisitiveness seemingly brightening the green of his eyes. The sound of small, rapidly rotating propellers tore the air like wings of steel and it wasn't long until Clank's feet touched the ground lightly like feathers behind Ratchet.
"You're not leaving too, are you? What will we do if these Cragmites show up again?" the Fongoid attempted to make Talwyn cease every movement when she made her way near the gap.
Her blue orbs sent daggers to the one preventing her from following the same course as Ratchet and Clank but her ire melted and dissolved into the empathy her round eyes reflected when she saw the blistering disquiet of the Fongoid. She raised her thin eyebrows when the sound of worrisome discussions reached her pointy ears, the need to help the defenseless civilians already dictating her next actions with unconquerable decisiveness.
Talwyn crouched above the wide hole, her restless gaze exploring the barren surfaces of soil that constituted the entrance to the subterranean path. "I'll stay with the Fongoids. You go on" she loudly informed her companions. Her voice travelled among the begrimed rocks and beyond the faded shadows the weak crimson rays generated before it diffused in the underground area with a resonating effect.
"Okay. We'll meet you in a while" Ratchet replied, looking at the opening's direction. Hoping his response had reached the surface, he turned to lay his eyes on the path ahead that was domed by calcified soil.
The two adventurers trekked into the subsurface track straitened by emerging rocks and obstructed by brown particles floating around, carried away with every movement to counterfeit a dusty mist. With every step, a fearful thought played out in Ratchet's mind; he saw himself stumbling into a vulnerable part of the earth and becoming sunken in a landslide as if claimed by the mightiness of a whirlwind. A brief glimpse behind him reassured him of Clank's presence and his vigilant stare was fixed ahead again.
They were taken aback by an overloud noise that inundated the place. Ratchet's attention was impulsively driven to the source of the noise while Clank was harassed by an abrupt jolt before turning behind to search the reason behind the violent commotion. Excessive amounts of soil cascaded from above like a solid cataract and the light dust that floated aimlessly before coalesced into an ochre-coloured avalanche.
"Look out!" was Ratchet's instinctive warning and swiftly reached out to grab Clank.
The Zoni robot broadened the distance between himself and the solid brown mist that turbulently rushed towards him. Trying to overlook that excessive flow of electricity through his circuitry which made him feel highly deterred, Clank darted towards Ratchet with his small hand outstretched to hold his friend's. Million grains of soil were already sweeping away the steady ground beneath his feet and the earth seemed to turn into a wild torrent, causing him to momentarily loose his balance.
Ratchet noticed that and in a matter of split seconds dove into the ever-moving havoc, flouting the ominous manifestation of the earth's power. A strong will for survival had numbed all rationality within his mind and without regarding his own safety he swung his arm backwards and struck his melee weapon into a nearby dried surface. The evenly outstretching edges of the OmniWrench became entangled in some thick roots that protruded from the stable soil, providing Ratchet with a steady object to hold on to.
"Clank, grab my hand!" he shouted as he stretched out his other arm. All the while the impetus of the cascading soil was attempting to break his balance and make him relinquish the handle of his weapon that was giving him a chance of survival. His solid grip on the OmniWrench already sent an acute pain through his arm and his partly closed eyes and lowered eyebrows indicated he was struggling to remain where he was, striving to withstand the force of the earth.
The robot slipped but quickly snatched the ground and stood up despite the violent flow of soil that was bent on submerging him into the treacherous earth. A surge of resolution abated the fear in him and Clank seized the opportunity to regain his balance and run a couple steps before making a jump to reach Ratchet's rescuing hand.
Leather came in contact with alloy as soon as Ratchet's gloved hand seized Clank's. Forthwith, Ratchet pulled himself and Clank post-haste right behind the steady surface where his OmniWrench was nailed. A burning sensation conquered his arms, ache spreading slowly from the forearms to the wrists due to the disproportionate weight he was forced to tote to safety.
Once behind the concrete surface Ratchet loitered for a while, staring at the unstable earth that had hungrily attempted to confine the two of them into its suffocating clutches. He took a couple of deep inhales to mollify his turmoil. Immobilising apprehension was dislodged by the recesses of his mind and crystal-clear perception slowly settled in. His shoulders relaxed and lowered to their normal level and an exhale escaped him, an action which promptly pacified his fast heartbeat.
"Um, Ratchet? I think we are safe now. Can you… put me down?" Clank's voice invaded his striped ears.
The adrenaline still flowing through his system produced a low humming in his ears and Ratchet was surprised Clank's voice had managed to penetrate it. Looking down at him, he eventually came to the realisation that he had enfolded his robot friend firmly into his arms. A slight dropping of his ears worked as an indicator of Ratchet's state of embarrassment, which Clank found rather amusing. In fact, he was making quite the effort to abstain from laughing.
An awkward laugh preceded his next words. "Yeah, uh… Sorry" he expressed hesitantly as heat was accumulated on his cheeks. He carefully positioned Clank on the ground while in the meantime he tried his best to ignore the robot's entertained expression. He almost shook his head when he reluctantly realised he would be made fun of for this sooner or later.
The sound of distant muttering travelled near them like a creek serenely flowing to their direction. As if the sound was verily of liquid substance, Ratchet followed its trail while his forest green eyes captured and preserved the familiar glint of curiosity. A wide passage twice his height came into sight and rays of light emerged from there. The refulgent beams seemed to waver and playfully scintillate to form a visual balance between the tinge of the sunset's mild orange and a fire's lurid, conceited golden colour. Ratchet's tail flinched when the pathway came into view for disburdened as he might feel the fact that there was not an escape route they could resort to in case of great danger came as a derisive revelation to him.
Clank discerned the remote track as well and was quicker in subduing the potential frustration that would surface had he pondered their dire situation too much. Overtaken by ardour to discover what lay beyond, he was gratefully released from stagnancy and rushed to the opening with such fervent eagerness Ratchet had to hasten his steps in order to catch up.
The earth's multiple surfaces were gratifyingly disturbed by phosphorescent stones that sparsely filled the area but the individual Ratchet and Clank found, also the very source of the voice they had heard, evoked much greater interest.
"I'd say it's good to see a familiar face but that would be weird to say from this angle" the confounded mechanic inquired no more loudly than the sound of a rustling to suit his baffled state.
The person had his posterior turned at the heroes but soon he became distracted from his task of unclogging a pipe and veered to face them. An unexpected wave of enthusiasm made him beady-eyed as the line of his lips extended into a broad, curved smile. "Now this should come in handy" said the Plumber and scrounged Ratchet's OmniWrench. He then returned to his chore unperturbed and with a newfound devotion.
Clank blinked as he found the stolidity of his acquaintance quite peculiar. "What are you doing here?" he asked in a calm manner that reflected his courteousness.
"What does it look like I'm doin'? Fixing the sewer system. It's what plumbers've been doin' for the last four thousand and fifty two years" the Plumber replied amiably though his attention was still turned to the pipe, neglecting to look at the two adventurers. He ceased for a few seconds to put a finger on his chin in uncertainty. "I think they used to sell mosquito repellents up until then."
Ratchet's racing thinking stumbled into the wall of bewilderment the Plumber's words heightened so he quickly disregarded his statement and reminded himself the reason he had come all the way there. "Zanifar is in a state of alert. Do you know anything about this Red Sun?" he asked alerted. His fingers slightly twitched due to the memory of the effect the gigantic, maroon globe had on whoever stood beneath its light.
"Red Sun? I saw no strange-lookin' suns when I got here" the Plumber expressed nonchalantly while using the OmniWrench to tighten a coupling of two consecutive pipes. "Octogust is a cloudy month. You can barely see the sun at this time of year."
"But Octogust was five months ago" Clank informed with lenses wide open, forming flawless circles of lucent green while his gears whirred faster in dubiety.
"I've been fixing these pipes for five months? Wouldn't you know, these Fongoids could use some lessons on unclogging" the omniscient plumber thought aloud before a knock of medium volume was produced by the oversized wrench that hit the coupling. "There, that did it. Here you go" he intoned cheerfully and handed the Lombax tool to Ratchet.
Ratchet held his melee weapon but was fast in noticing a washy brown liquid on its steel edges. His strong reluctance to try and guess what it might be made him wince, his one eye slightly more closed as a reaction to his tool's abhorrent condition. "Ugh! Great…" he dragged his last word to openly show his annoyance and began his attempt to clean it in whatever way he could figure out.
"We are looking for a way to dispose of this matter. Have you located anything that could help ward the artificial orb off?" Clank requested to know.
"No but the crystals might know."
"Pardon me" the robot felt the need to verify what he had heard, his optics lightly narrowed in curiousness "Crystals?"
"These glowing gems" the Plumber specified before leaning closer to the small Zoni. "I think they're talking to me" he confessed, his voice silent but audible enough to evade the boundaries of a whisper.
Like a naïve child Clank's mouth became agape, eyes adjusted to the shape of two radiant moons that stared at the Plumber.
"Yeah, they talk to me too" Ratchet's voice tore apart the aura of enigma caused by the Plumber's words, right after he was finished cleaning his OmniWrench. "They're telling me I need a new holo-gaming system" he went on, contemptuousness materializing in his amused tone. "Come on, Clank. There has to be something down here" he called upon his friend as he traversed the area and advanced deeper onward.
Despite the Lombax's outright disbelief, Clank's thoughts equilibrated between blissful reverie and secular logicality. All his intellectual processes of such a probability resulted in numbers that contained mainly the digit of 0 but his inquisitive spirit visualized what it would be like if crystals could really talk, only for the fun of it, and his imagination was instantly incited. While following Ratchet, he produced a silent laughter as he let the fictitious scale lean heavier on the side of blissful reverie, just for a change.
"Good luck. And watch out for talking crystals" the Plumber wished the duo and started inspecting the connecting part of the two pipes until his acquaintances' figures had walked far enough to be consumed by the weak light and the miniscule, floating grains of soil.
The gleaming gems were replaced by opaque stones adorned with small, parallel lines as though iridescent ribbons were tied around them, resembling pieces of agate. Nevertheless the area darkened significantly as though a veil had covered all lanterns and somberness settled in, brazenly resonating disparity.
Inadvertently due to the murkiness, Ratchet diverged from the main route and observed the luminescent lines of the otherwise dull stones. He watched them acquire a different hue depending on the angle he looked at them from. The obscure place and the lack of light seemed to complot to remind him of his banishment to the Golden-Razor Jungle. Ratchet had a hard time pushing away the memory, the unsettlingly limited vision and the sultry air that refused to vitalize his body were reminiscent of the forbidding cave he had fallen into while predators were restlessly hunting him down.
The shallow breath he took left his throat cold and dry and his fur beneath the silver of his armor stood on end as though under the effect of electricity. He was on the verge of believing that the big wolf-being with the ominous red eyes was behind him. Instinctively he froze on his tracks, his breathing as quiet as he could manage in fear of falling victim to treacherous movement and getting spotted by the spectre from his ordeal. The growing tension sent a numbing heat to his feet that released them from sentience and prepared him in case he would have to run.
He heard his name and instantly snapped back to reality, turning around before taking a step backwards to conceal his startle. Although plagued by disorientation for a second, his glare dissolved into relief when a pair of circular, bright green optics focused on him.
"I believe this is the right track" Clank expressed with a finger pointed at the entrance to another section of the subterranean path.
A dim yet hopeful luster extended its reach near the Zoni robot and the promise of escaping the darkness was enough to disassemble Ratchet's disorder. "Good work, pal" he uttered gratefully and proceeded to explore the rest of the underground area with Clank following close behind.
"I have been thinking" Clank persistently prevented the silence from lingering as they walked beside a few yellow crystals that were scattered on the ground. "Why would the Plumber claim that these crystals talk?"
"No idea but I wouldn't mull over it, he's a bit strange" was Ratchet's plain interpretation. He briefly admired the twinkling gems as he went on. "Do you remember how he loved to smell those sewer crystals on Aquatos?" he was quick to remember and momentarily grimaced because of the memory of the keen, unpleasant odour that prevailed in the sewer system.
"Yes but… everything he says always results in aiding us greatly in the end. Do you not find it in the least strange?" Clank inquired while remarking the gems ostensibly expecting them to produce any form of sound before he set his gaze on Ratchet to elicit a reply from him.
"It's not the same, the guy's been here for five months" Ratchet asserted slightly more loudly than before, the intensity of his voice characterised by a lack of patience. "He may have started to become a nutcase by now!"
"That is rather rude to say, even if the other person is deranged" a voice out of nowhere enunciated.
Both heroes stood motionless, paralysed by their inability to determine the origin of the sound. Despite his efforts to suppress all sign of nervousness, Ratchet's tail didn't abstain from twitching. "Clank, did you hear that?"
"You heard it too?" the robot murmured, his uneasiness becoming tacit due to his immobility which made him resemble an inanimate statue.
"Over here boys, just follow my voice. Hehehehehe! That rhymed!"
On a vertical surface a partly buried sapphire could be noticed and even though it was visible only to some extent it was easy for Clank to assess its flawless shape and exquisite quality. "This is very odd" he voiced his bewilderment softly, not daring to be bolder in fear of perturbing the atmosphere. "That sounded like…" he failed to complete his thought, lost in ambivalence as his imaginary scale began to weigh even heavier on fiction's side as soon as the sight before him clearly corroborated the Plumber's words. Only that now instead of enthusiasm, apprehension was born in him.
"XJ-0461. At last we meet. I was hoping it would not be under such… bizarre circumstances" came a voice directly from the blue gemstone as it radiated an electric shade of the same colour with every word it articulated, its intensity fully depended on the volume of the creature's voice that resided in it. The bright light dimmed as soon as the speech was ended.
"It's talking?!" Ratchet drew away from the sapphire and involuntarily griped his OmniWrench with both hands, his defensive stance betraying his astonishment. Yet he kept staring at it which caused a bright blue dot to triumphantly stand out into the unique emerald green of his eyes. "Holy sh-"
"Father?" Clank called in disbelief.
"It is good to see you, son" the crystal spoke and emitted its vibrant light for another time, thus contrasting zealously with the monotonously coloured background.
Orvus' son became transfixed by wonderment. His optical lenses transformed into aqua circles as they were affected by the brilliant blue reflection dancing on the glass surfaces. It was an innate trait of him as a robot to be pleased only when he was able to acknowledge all changes and quaintness and evaluate them as non hazardous. But now, regardless of the paradoxical disclosure, Clank felt elated. He remembered the awe he felt as soon as he was brought face to face with the Great Clock's platforms. Walking on the edge of the platforms unveiled a spectacular view born by the preternatural reconcilement of concrete, floating hallways and the infinity of the astral sea, of the known and the unseen, of science and sorcery as he had been told at the time of his awakening. Now the same jubilation was resurrected in him, ascending from remnants of old memories and making the function of his sensors irregular for he felt as though he was hovering right above the ground.
"But I saw you… disappear. Dr. Nefarious captured you" Ratchet spoke with an uncommon calmness which was only a result of his failing attempts to comport with the transcendental event unfolding around him. The sense of repose that dictated the torpid movements of his arms and tail was a sign of his utter surprise that made his perception blurry.
"Us, the Zoni, have the ability to teleport in times of grave danger. It works as an ultimate act of defense so to speak, but it cannot be fully controlled at will" Orvus' modulated voice travelled through a luminous aura that wavered around the crystal. "It drains most of our power so there's no guarantee it'll work. Unfortunately, it did not quite succeed in my case and I ended up here. I've been encased in this crystal for about eight years now."
In spite of the fur on Ratchet's face, mild lines appeared on the spot between his eyes caused by the furrowing of thick brown eyebrows, as if he was pierced by a sharp thorn. "I'm sorry" he murmured morosely and in a manner that gave the impression his voice could scare the mesmerizing aura away had it been louder.
"Oh, no, no. Don't be. That's just approximately enough time to make me start feeling a little bit bored. If I were here for 500 years, yes that would be a problem. Things would start to get dull" the Zoni leader affirmed, the peacefulness in his words quelling the stings of guilt permeating Ratchet's chest. "Besides, this place is not so bad. The only thing that's really started to irritate me is the beeping sounds of the computer behind that big rock."
Shifting his gaze to the opposite direction the Lombax spotted a sizeable stone chunk that was distinguished due to its equiangular shape reminiscent of a rectangle, possessing all elements that could describe it as a miniature monolith. Engrossed by the purpose of a computer in a forgotten subterranean path, Ratchet rushed there to investigate.
With a tilt of his head Clank made an effort to observe the standing stone but his feet remained unmoving. One would think gravity had managed to exceed its permissible measure and gave into illicit supremacy that kept the robot fixed on his position but in reality, Orvus' presence into the sapphire was enough to bind Clank where he stood and protect the gem like a devoted sentinel.
"I was sure the Zoni would bring you to the Great Clock when I disappeared. You see, there are dangers in operating the Clock without a senior caretaker and you are the rightful successor. How come you're away from it?"
It felt like gravity now vanquished matter and extended its conquest to the atmosphere as Clank's shoulders were subsequently dragged closer to the ground by an invisible force. As though trepidation upheaved a frosty wind that burst around him, his optics slid partly shut and saturnine was his motion when he turned to look at the radiant crystal with small hands clasped together. "It is only temporary, father" he began with an unnoticeable tremor before his voice eventually steadied. Lying was not something he was fond of doing and he never thought he would lie to his father if he ever found him. "Ratchet needed my assistance on a mission, so I assigned the supervision of the Clock's operation to Sigmund" was his craven explanation.
His memory banks summoned up the time of his departure from the Great Clock, a decision easily taken when talking to a frozen phantasm of a keeper long gone. However no matter how great and honourable the reason behind his exodus was to him, he caught himself fearing his father's reaction if he learned that the fate of the universe which he had been called upon to guard was left aside for a single Lombax. Orvus never gave the impression of an authoritarian individual but the fear of reproach wielded his speech and wrung out of him words that twisted the truth, scared that any other statement would let the Zoni leader down.
"Oh, uh… Is that so?" pronounced the deity in the sapphire, though the light around it shone fainter than before.
"Clank?" a youthful voice came from behind the intricate rock, which immediately energized the robot's feet and led him to the computer in a pace more hurried than intended.
"I think there are some coordinates here" Ratchet explained as numbers and holograms flashed on the screen of the rather outdated device. He retracted his hands from the keyboard shortly when Clank approached it and undertook the gathering of clues.
"They pinpoint the location of Breegus Minor" Clank elucidated after he accomplished to decipher the numbers. "They also inform of the exact place where the Red Sun can be deactivated. But this too is the work of Tachyon" he alluded and concurrently put an index finger on the corner of the screen where the emperor's emblem was. Clank saw more than a mere icon in it. Behind the bold layers and lines, he could effortlessly conjure up the Cragmite's spiteful face deriding him and Ratchet. "I believe it is unwise to trust this information."
"Do you have any alternatives to propose?" Ratchet snapped, his abrupt question shamelessly suggesting he didn't expect a positive answer. "We can't leave the people of Zanifar helpless and this is our only lead. We need to get there fast or else we'll waste time and the Unseen Destroyer will use it to his advantage."
Seeing how potent his friend's argument was, Clank was forced to retreat. He watched Ratchet's glare reverberating fierce dispute, the disgruntled stare that emitted sparks directed straight at him and the resoluteness distorting the soft green dwelling in his usually benign gaze. Eventually, he had no choice but to fulfill his wish. "I will download the coordinates."
Once the computer had served its purpose it automatically shut down and the vacant screen turned into a caliginous looking glass that contorted their reflections.
"We cannot leave Orvus here" Clank mused with his head somewhat lowered, absorbed by indomitable perplexity and overwhelming joy for finding the benevolent Zoni leader.
"We won't" Ratchet reassured and hastily went where the light-blue gem was.
Clank followed the same route right after, developing a small distance between him and his friend. Ratchet let his melee weapon recline near him and with an overt eagerness he commenced his endeavour of releasing the guardian of time from his long-lasting seclusion. He forced his fingertips to delve into the soil around the crystal, removing the small masses of dirt that enclosed it.
"What's happening? Hehehehe, that tickles. Hahaha, cease what you're doing this instant" the voice implored in-between laughters that produced a light so strong it dazzled the mechanic. Ratchet shut his eyes almost entirely to shield them from the sudden bursts of gleam.
The gem eventually dispensed with the confining grasp of the earth, though tiny brown grains adhered on its pellucid exterior like a final, desperate attempt of the Zoni's former cage to cling to its captive and convince him to resign his quest for escapade. A cavity formed on the dry surface that echoed incompleteness and the apparent absence of the crystal made the environment even more prosaic.
"So where are we going?" requested the entity in the sapphire while enjoying the flight from Ratchet's hold into the open palms of his own son, who welcomed the crystal with the warmest of expressions.
"We will be heading on the surface. I believe you will enjoy the company of the Fongoids" was the robot's candid response spoken in a composed manner. "But we must carry on and stop the Unseen Destroyer."
"Unseen Destroyer?! Who is the Unseen Destroyer? Is the Universe in danger?" Orvus vociferated as the gem glowed fervently.
"There is no time to explain. Forgive me, father" was Clank's antecedent apology as he opened the inlet to his storing compartment and hurriedly positioned Orvus there.
"Kids these days. I'm never going to understand them. And never is a really long time for me" he seized the chance to complain before being led into the recess.
"Ratchet, come in" a jittery solicitation disrupted the static silence in the recipient's comm-link.
"Tal? Is everything okay?" Ratchet halted and looked at the caveway. The air was beginning to feel stifling possibly due to the dread that acquired form in the tremor of Talwyn's voice.
"Finally" she sighed. "I've been trying to contact you. Jasindu is under attack. Cragmite armies are already pillaging Kerchu City. And Aphelion contacted me. She says that this planet you crash-landed on in this Astarte Galaxy is transmitting a distress signal."
"Zanimal!" dismay took shape in the crescendo of Ratchet's exclamation.
"I've already sent troops to defend Jasindu but… I don't know if I can do the same for Zanimal. I can't afford to send rangers to die."
"Talwyn, we have to help Zanimal. I can't just abandon them. I'll go there myself if necessary" Ratchet retorted, viridescent orbs sending brief glimpses overhead that begged daylight to invade and shatter the suffocating dimness.
"No, your objective is to get rid of the Red Sun. I'll see if there are troops available for Zanimal, I promise" Talwyn argued. "Did you find anything?"
"We only know that the Red Sun can be deactivated on Breegus Minor" the Lombax informed remaining undisturbed by the audible steps of his friend scurrying next to him.
"I'm calling my ship to the cave. I'll meet you there."
"Where is the Unseen Destroyer?" Ratchet urged before his communication with the Markazian could be cut to an end.
"I don't know which of the assaults he's leading or whether he's even participating in any of them."
With a heavy sough Ratchet struggled to elude the feeling of the space around him narrowing, walls closing in to smother all life out of him and leave him to become part of the impending desolation, one with the wreckage. Another inner strife lost led his hopeless gaze at the ground. "Okay. We'll talk when Clank and I get there" he notified the Captain of Polaris' military forces before breaking the link.
Unease sank in when the warbot defect encountered Ratchet's frame, a motionlessness that separated him from vitality and forced his normally radiant eyes to part with their proud shine.
"What are we going to do?" Ratchet mustered the courage to slightly raise his forlorn gaze when Clank stood in front of him. "I can't help everyone. This is more than we can take."
"The odds have always been against us. But we manage to stand victorious. This time will be no different" Clank dared to claim with a bold defiance of the ruination clouding their clear judgment.
Even if it was to a little extent, Clank's words made the walls begin to collapse, the air resign its effort to asphyxiate the Lombax and daylight to chase the murk away. A soft smile cleared the bleak look off his face and Clank was filled with relief when he witnessed the flare of determination in his friend's eyes rekindle.
