So hello again! I have actually released this on time :o Probably due to the fact that I've been writing them up in advance... But eh. It's here for all of you to enjoy in 3... 2... 1...

For the next four hours I was elated. I couldn't sit still; I was so excited. It was only after the fourth hour that my dreams started dimming a bit. Cronk and Zephyr said they had probably stopped stopped for at galaxy burger for a snack, and I had my own theory that they had to go on a two-hour detour to save Captain Qwark. That kept my hopes up until 3 in the morning. From there I was worried sick.

I couldn't sleep and eat all over again. I didn't bawl my eyes out because he was at least alive. When it was 5 o'clock the next day, I started coming up with plans of action. Trace the call. Track the route he would've taken. Find him. But the Warbots said no; 'He's probably been contacted by the president or someone important.'

I didn't believe that wholeheartedly.

During the second day I started to question if it was actually him, or just some idiot who looked me up on the Holonet. But those things he said aren't anywhere else... Only the real Ratchet would know that sort of stuff, right?

By the end of the third day I had thought of every possible outcome. Everything that could've happened, even things that couldn't happen! Cronk and Zephyr got me to eat some food eventually, which in turn I scoffed down when I realised how hungry I was. They had rung the Galactic Authorities and the Breegus Space Police… Not that they would actually try anything in that sector with all the mercenaries and Valkyries roaming around.

Right now it was half two in the morning, and I was scrawling a quick note to Cronk and Zephyr explaining what I was doing.

'Hey Guys,

I'm going out for Ratchet. I traced the call and the best route for him to take, which I will be tracking. Don't worry about me. You guys know I can handle myself. I will be back by morning, maybe 8 o'clock?

See you then.

Tal'

I stuck it onto the fridge and set of to the weapons room to collect Ratchet's Shredder Claws. I had been using them since he left and they are almost as fantastic as the owner himself… Almost.

With the Shredder Claws on the seat beside me and my Blaster at my hip, I took off quietly, setting my ship to stealth mode and being thankful that to two old Warbots had replaced the garage door with a new, quieter model… It looked quite fancy too.

As soon as I was at a safe distance, I flicked on the afterburners. I just hoped that nothing bad had happened… And if so that I'm not too late.

For the next 3 and a half hours I tried to not think about the worst that could've happened. I blasted the radio till some pop crap came on, then reverted back to silence. Silence was the worst. well second worst. The music being released these days was the real worst, although I guess it served as a good distraction. So I turned it back on.

After the first hour I was feeling drowsy. My eyelids kept closing. I needed coffee. Luckily there was a spaceport close by and I ordered a mochachino. Double caffeine. I couldn't afford to fall asleep. Not now. I was 1/3rd of the way there.

The next two hours went by quickly. That was some coffee, it's like it sped up time…

For the last 45 minutes I was in the Breegus System, so I put my shields up, weapons at the ready. I was ready for anything.

It was a small dot when I first saw it. About 10 kilometres away from where Ratchet and Clank had rung; a silvery dot.

I sped towards it at an instant, only stopping about 50 meters away incase it was dangerous. I took out my binoculars to take a closer look the silver globe, but I was not expecting what I saw.

Silver tentacle like arms were coming out of The Sphere that was about the size of a large escape pod. They were all attached to a ship which windshield looked like it had caved in, well been smashed. But it wasn't just any ship this thing had smashed into. It was Aphelion.

Ratchets ship.

Aphelion herself looked different compared to the last time I saw her. A new blue coat of paint and some big new guns. Though none of that hid the fact that a metal ball was protruding from the cockpit and I couldn't help but fear the worst. I tried to look for a spot of yellow. Clank's green eyes even! But I couldn't find what I wanted. He had probably been crushed…

"He's dead…" I whispered to no one in particular as I slumped into my seat. But the tears didn't come. I still had work to do. The least I could do was take Aphelion back, maybe fix her up and find out what happened. Maybe he's still out there somewhere else!

I sat up properly and started my ship up again so I could get a bit closer to the wreckage. And a thought struck my mind as the ship dragged forward.

What if I find him there dead...

No. I couldn't think like that for now. I can not break down just yet.

I got 20 meters closer to the silver sphere before it beeped loudly five times. I slammed on the brakes and froze. Not even a second later, 3 new tentacles sprung out of the pod and we aimed straight at me. The arms struck my ship with three massive thuds and the lights in my ship started flashing. I jumped towards my o2 mask before opening my ship up to the depths of space. I had to get rid of theses things else I wouldn't be able to get home…

I mounted the Shredder Claws onto my wrists and climbed out onto the top of my ship, planning to cut the wires. I got to the first couple that were right next to each other, and swung my arms. The sense of thrill you got when swinging these blades around was exhilarating normally, and in space with no air friction, they seemed even more powerful. After slicing through the first two with ease, they were slung back into the pod and I just found an easy ticket over there without stuffing up my transport to home. I eventually made my way over to the final cord and held it with my left hand. I gripped it tight and prepared to be pulled 30 meters in a second. My right arm came down on the silver wire and the sudden jerk nearly dislocated my arm. It was all over in an instant. I let go before reaching Aphelion and positioned my jetpack so that it would boost me to the ship, rather than the sphere. It was a hard landing. I landed on a piece of glass so there was now a red mark soaking through my pants, but that's not what I was worried about.

Some of the silver tentacles had detached from Aphelion and were looking at me like snakes, getting ready to strike. But I decided to make the first move.

I swiped the claws at anything silver for the next few minutes, leaving a trail of thick wires in my path. The metal snakes themselves seemed to be a bit out of it, like they were using some outdated software, often striking a meter away from me or even in the opposite direction. I didn't really care though. It made it an easy battle to win.

After about 4 minutes of constantly slashing like I was making my way through a jungle, it finally cleared up a bit. 6 of them were left floating in the air… No. Now there were 10. 4 of them just pulled themselves out of the cockpit… I looked down at the last one struggling to pull itself out and caught a glimpse of something bright. Something that I almost thought I had lost… It was a bright yellow piece of fluff. A bright yellow piece of fluff that was connected to a tail. A tail who belonged to him.

Ratchet...

But I looked at the end of his tail a bit too long. The tentacles had caught my legs and I was helplessly dragged towards the metal sphere. I closed my eyes to prepare for contact.

I smacked up against something cold but soft. There was no longer any pressure around my legs, and the pod smelt horrible. I opened my eyes.

A computer was in front of me. Buttons plastered around the screen. Everywhere really. The screen was dimly lit with a message that read 'Mission Failure'. It was an odd office. Circular, lit with red lights. I guessed it was the inside of the pod. But what was that smell? It smells like a dead lizard…

A cold and sticky liquid ran down my back and gave me the chills. I Tried to rub it off but it just got all over my hand. I was getting a bit freaked out now. My hand was coated in a tar like substance… Blood.

I jumped out of what I thought was a seat and pressed myself up against the computer screen. A hunched figure was sitting on a leather chair where I just was. But there was no mistaking what it was.

Something that was 'Vaporized' all those years ago… or so we thought.

Something that was bought back 2 months ago just before we lost Clank.

A Cragmite was sitting in the black leather seat. But not just any Cragmite…

A dead one.

I screamed

So yeah, that's that. For readers who didn't read last years (horrible) version, What do you think will happen next?