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Chapter Ten

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Big Al's Roboshack, Metropolis, Planet Kerwan, Solana Galaxy

After the colossal defeat of Drek Industries, things had changed throughout the Solana Galaxy, if not the whole universe. For a time, Al actually enjoyed a lot of good business for his store from the ready endorsement Ratchet and his party gave him in addition to anything his first ever employee, Fred from the defunct Blarg Tactical Research Station, could bring to the table.

Putting work aside at the moment, Al and Fred as well as the former's visiting older brother, Bob, and another close associate named Helga von Streissenburgen had prepped the roboshack's holovision for them all to watch a certain show. Recent events had been a bit trying for Helga, which was why Al wanted to do what he could to lift her spirits up in any way possible.

Soon enough, the black screen showed the silhouette of a certain superhero they all knew much to both Al and Helga's mixed feelings as the offscreen presenter announced, "Welcome back to Behind the Hero," and then showed a familiar open garage on a distant place as the presenter added, "Tonight's heroes are the quartet who recently restored peace and order to the Solana Galaxy by the names of Ratchet, Rivet, Clank, and Kit."

As all four were sat relaxingly in separate recliners with Kit at the farthest left followed by Clank, Ratchet, and Rivet, the presenter than said, "So, ladies and gentlemen, tell us about your latest incredible adventures."

"This should be good, ja," Helga muttered to herself with eyes rolling.

Ratchet was about to respond to that before Rivet snorted a laugh at the presenter's inquiry. Seeing the camera's focus on her, she then showed an apologetic look while saying, "I'm sorry. I know this show is all about giving intergalactic viewers an in-depth look at their heroes, but for the past four weeks, the only 'incredible adventure' we've been having is facing the challenge of everyday life!"

While Rivet kept on laughing onscreen, Helga exhaled in exasperation. Seeing everyone's gaze on her, the heavyset Valkyrie robot said, "I'm sorry to be a party pooper, Al. It's just that," sighing once more, Helga then continued to say, "As much as I respect the weak children in a weird kind of way, they're not the Captain." Sniffling emotionally, she then added, "They're not Qwark at all."

While Bob and Fred stepped back awkwardly, Al placed a comforting hand on Helga's back as he replied, "It's okay, Helga, I get it. No matter how badly Qwark let us all down, I worry about him, too."

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Megacorp Armory, Planet Todano, Bogon Galaxy

"With all due respect," Kit said after clearing her throat to get the female Lombax to stop, "Rivet is admittedly downplaying what we have been doing as of late since Captain Qwark disappeared, which was really more of a fun diversion than an actual adventure."

"You heathens should not have been him chasing at all," a youthful Megacorp employee in a Captain Qwark-themed costume, Stuart Zurgo, angrily said to the so-called heroes on HV, "especially after you caused him to fall from grace in the first place!"

Without any knowledge of their critic's existence, Ratchet then took the time to remark to the show's host, "Yeah, as much as I want Qwark to just go to jail and be done with that already, we all pretty much went after the guy on Pokitaru and for a time after he broke out simply because we didn't have a lot to do and we figured it would do the people he conned with his whole Hygenator scam some good if he paid for that mistake and his partnership with the Blarg beforehand."

Clank released a chuckle before turning to his teammate. "I seem to recall that you almost used a Personal Hygenator yourself, Ratchet."

"Well, good thing I had friends who talked me into buying it just for analyzing the stupid thing, and not to actually use it," Ratchet retorted quickly enough before shuddering at the thought. "I would've hated Qwark even more if I got an itchy butt rash because of him."

Rivet's smile quickly fell at Ratchet's words as she agreed. "Yeah, that would've been gross." Her good cheer then quickly returned as she repeated, "Butt rash."

As both Lombaxes laughed much to the two robotic heroes' dismay, Stuart snarled in anger. "You Lombax scrubs are going to be praying for more than your tuchuses when I get my hands on the both of you, and your little bots, too!"

"Zurgo," a familiar voice shouted that got a panicked Stuart's attention. "Breaktime's over! Get back to work!"

Sputtering in fright, Stuart replied, "Right, boss, sorry!" He then hurried back to his job, even as he dreaded the incoming events of the day.

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Pirate Base, Planet Ardolis, Cerullean Sector, Polaris Galaxy

"Can we please get past the tawdry humor and talk about something else," Kit nearly begged before turning to Clank with an impish smile that many a Space Pirate recognized, "Like Clank's recent love connection?"

"Oh," many of the gathered crewmembers under Captain Romulus Slag's command, including he himself and his first mate, Rusty Pete, all echoed at the topic.

Clank, of course, was not amused as his tone and facial expression indicated. "Kit, please. What happened was not all that fantastic." Exhaling before turning to the camera, Clank said, "Not so long ago, Rivet and Kit pointed out to me that a female infobot was admiring me from afar. It was sweet at first, but before she and I could have a real conversation, the poor lady just gave me a flower bouquet and hovered off somewhere." Looking disappointed with himself, he then added, "I do not know what could have happened, but I feel as if I broke her heart somehow."

Looking down herself, Kit commented, "Such a circumstance can make a person feel responsible."

"You know, lads," Slag said aloud, "I can almost feel sorry for these poor souls."

Pete, though, raised a hand as he asked, "You still feel the need to kill them, Captain?"

Slag nodded with solemn look. "Sadly, yes, Pete. They do hold the blueprints for us to pillage entire dimensions, after all."

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The Great Clock, Breegus System, Polaris Galaxy

As he sat on the couch with his Junior Caretaker, Orvus sighed at the sight of Clank's expression. "My poor boy. I have absolutely no experience with women myself, and even I can tell he must've tried hard."

On Orvus's left, Sigmund commented, "That's the trouble with growing up, sir. You have to make mistakes and hopefully learn from them."

The two then turned their attention back to the screen as the show's presenter awkwardly asked, "Surely, there have been some positives, though, right? Tell us, have you been on better terms with the Blarg since you allowed them to safely and peacefully settle on nearby New Orxon?"

"Well, yeah," Rivet answered before showing a frown. "I still wish we can safely declare that scumbag Alonzo Drek as permanently dead, though. I mean, I know that some Nanotech side affects can make a dead person dissolve into nothingness shortly after they kick the bucket, but the way things happened almost make it look like Drek actually faked his death somehow."

"No need to panic, Rivet," Ratchet comforted with a grin, "Even if that jerk did survive somehow, his company and reputation are both in the toilet. What could he possibly do to make a comeback?"

Moving the conversation forward, Kit said, "Speaking of New Orxon's stabilization, we recently spoke to the Fixer from the universe Rivet and I hail from through our interdimensional communicator, and he wanted us to tell you all that he was happy to help back then."

"What a nice giant robot," the presenter remarked before adding, "Still, our viewers remain curious on how you were able to harness his power across dimensions to stabilize New Orxon and the other planets in the first place. Could you finally answer that question for us now?"

After a moment of silence, Clank was the first to answer, "I am sorry, but we most likely would have fewer secrets right now if we revealed that."

At the sight of all four showing wide smiles that tried to be convincing, Sigmund laughed a bit. "Wow, and I thought we were terrible at lying, sir."

Orvus chuckled in kind before saying, "They're still young, they should learn eventually."

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Galaxy Burger, Blackwater City, Planet Rilgar, Solana Galaxy

"Come on, you guys," Don Wonderstar complained at the fast food joint's local telescreen while he and his star client, Skidd McMarx, helped themselves to some burgers, "Talk about how you've been mentoring Skidd to be like that Phantom guy in the other universe."

"Chillax, Don," Skidd told the man calmly before adding, "I mean, I, like, probably wouldn't be much like the Phantom if other dudes knew what I was practicing on."

At Skidd's point, Don could not help but look confounded. "Then maybe I shouldn't have made those leaks after all."

"What leaks?"

Before Don could answer Skidd's question, the presenter on the telescreen forwarded a question to his guests, saying, "In any event, we got tips that the four of you have been mentoring pro hoverboarder, Skidd McMarx, in espionage training of sorts. Would you care to comment on that?"

While a surprised Skidd turned to look at a sheepish Don, Rivet facepalmed with her cybernetic arm, sarcastically, yet ironically, echoing Skidd's own thoughts. "Thanks a lot, Wonderstar. You really know how to protect client confidentiality."

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Presidential Compound, Capital City, Planet Marcadia, Solana Galaxy

Taking hold of the conversation, Clank then said, "Truth be told, when Skidd learned of his counterpart in Rivet and Kit's dimension, the Phantom, he came to us to learn more about him, arrange a meeting with him via telescreen, and did indeed ask if we could teach him the ropes, as he said."

"That must've been interesting," the Galactic President of Solana himself, Sasha's own father, commented with interest as they both sat on a couch watching Behind the Hero together.

Ratchet then inputted, "I admit, we weren't exactly pumped to be his tutors at first, but Skidd definitely does have a handle when it comes to a Hacker as much a hoverboard. He might not be too much like the Phantom, but that's okay since they're both two different people at the end of the day."

Kit then released a chuckle before telling the camera, "I still remember when Skidd told us his choice of code name was Shadow Dude, and how Phantom actually permitted him to keep it."

Both Sasha and her dad laughed a bit at the news themselves while the presenter slowly remarked, "That certainly lacks a degree of professionalism."

At those words, Sasha said in amusement, "That's one way of calling it."

Meanwhile, Rivet laughed herself while saying on the telescreen, "That's one way of calling it," which drew even more laughter from Kit as well as the two Cazares.

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Deep Sea Hideout, Planet Aquatos, Solana Galaxy

At the girls' laughter, Clank sighed before relenting with a shrug, and said to the camera, "If nothing else, it does give Skidd a certain degree of uniqueness in the multiverse, even though Mister Wonderstar did point how much of a marketing failure it might be."

Seated in his office chair, Doctor Nefarious rolled his robotic eyes in a sardonic fashion, remarking, "Yes, yes, sounds very tragic," then angrier and louder, "Now get back to Emperor Nefarious already! I want to hear more about my own counterpart!"

"Please calm down, sir," his butler bot, Lawrence, advised in his own sardonic tone of voice. "While I can imagine that this Emperor version of yourself has certain advantages, it should be important to remember that he might not be as tolerable as you, and that's saying a lot."

"No argument there," Nefarious's supporter in the media world, Courtney Gears, added before explaining, "If what Rivet and Kit say are true, the Emperor might have made a lot of his dreams come true, but something tells me I'd be less than a nobody if I was constructed under his rule."

At that, the Doctor allowed a nod. "He definitely doesn't like any competition when it comes to art and music as much as conquest. That actually does sound a bit over the top, even for me."

Back to Behind the Hero, Ratchet rolled his eyes at Clank's words, commenting, "Hey, if Skidd somehow pulls it off great, I can imagine that the guys who manage Lance and Janice could learn a thing or two from him."

"I suppose that is fair," Clank allowed with a grin and a nod.

Rivet laughed a bit. "I'll drink to that."

"Uncultured morons," Nefarious shouted in fury at hearing three of the four heroes mock his favorite soap opera.

Kit, however, did not look amused. "How many times do I have to tell you all that Lance and Janice are to soaps as Courtney Gears is to music stars? They both have great potential and should not be disparaged over little things like length and lyrical composition."

At the little robot's words, both Nefarious and Courtney could not help but exchange a pleased smile.

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DreadZone Station, Shadow Sector, Solana Galaxy

"Huzzah, a robot of quality," Dallas Wanamaker, one of the anchors for Vox News cheered at Kit's opinion while his co-anchor, Juanita Alvaro, their boss, Gleeman Vox, and three out of the four Exterminators all looked at him and Reactor, who was cheering alongside him, with flat looks.

Ultimately, Vox exhaled before shrugging. "Well, at least that dumb soap still has it's viewers, which means more money for me." He then turned to his pet Slugha with an affectionate pat on the head while saying, "Ain't that right, my baby girl?"

At Vox's words, Reactor slowly admitted, "Uh, actually, Mr. Vox, I was cheering at the kid approving my old girlfriend on live HV."

"Same here," Dallas added before turning to an unamused Juanita, flirtatiously saying, "Not that you aren't great yourself, Juanita."

"Oh, brother," the robot anchor dryly remarked while Shellshock bonked Reactor on the head.

"I get that it was because of Gears that you became an Exterminator," Shellshock began to say with an admonishment tone towards his friend before adding, "but you have to move on from her eventually, Reactor."

The lead Exterminator, Ace Hardlight, scoffed as he said, "You definitely know someone needs help when Shellshock is the one pointing it out."

Before a fight among the three Exterminators could then break out, the remaining member, the Eviscerator, chirped aggressively to get his teammates' attention, and, knowing the insectoid's reputation, Ace, Shellshock, and Reactor all backed down.

Turning back to the telescreen, the small group then watched as Ratchet replied to Kit, "You're not forbidden from liking Lance and Janice, Kit, but I'll have you know that I had a celebrity crush on Courtney Gears way before I learned Sasha Phyronix even existed."

"I have mixed feeling about that," Reactor commented while Vox exhaled again.

"And to think," the Slademan began to say, "I'm planning on going after these Lombaxes and robots in the future. And not just because they'd be good DreadZone material."

Ace then asked, "Would it help that once you get their Dimensionator plans you can probably find a universe that's exactly your kind of playground?"

Showing a grin at the thought of an entire universe where the one with the highest ratings owned everything, Vox simply replied, "One can only dream, Ace."

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Ephemeris, Magnus Orbit, Polaris Galaxy

It did not take too long for Ratchet to realize what he just admitted to on Holovision, which prompted him to embarrassingly add, "I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have said that out loud."

"No, you really shouldn't have," Rivet commented back.

While tending to his janitorial duties, Nevo Binklemeyer could not help but laugh a bit at the two young Lombaxes onscreen. "Ah, love can be so strange," he remarked only to himself.

"Nevo," the demanding shout from his master was then heard, prompting the poor, old Tharpod to suck his thumb in terror for that the Loki wanted then.

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Monoloth Fields, Planet Torren IV, Vela Sector, Breegus System, Polaris Galaxy

Coughing into his hand to move on, Ratchet then said, "Anyway, as you can imagine, we were pretty busy after Drek's defeat. There was a parade here on Veldin followed by a press conference, and then a fancy dress ball at the President's palace."

As he sat in his home, Alister Azimuth, a former Lombax general, said to himself in good humor, "I wonder if he actually danced with the President's daughter, or even his dimensional counterpart."

Rivet snorted a bit before saying, "It was actually amazing that the both of us looked so great in Ratchet's tux and my dress, and yet, we still felt so out of our element."

At that last part, Alister's smile dimmed a bit as he remembered what drew him to the Breegus System in his exile long ago, and how Rivet's mentioning of a potential threat to all Lombaxes in the multiverse changed that perspective.

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Imperial Fight Festival, Planet Mukow, Cerullean Sector, Polaris Galaxy

Allowing the fight below him to go on without his direct presence, Emperor Percival Tachyon had taken the time to look into news from the Solana Galaxy. While his enemies in Polaris kept him from expanding further at the moment, Tachyon had every attention to go after the two that dared proclaim themselves as heroes while holding plans to his ultimate prize.

Releasing an exhale, however, the Cragmite dictator muttered under his breath, "Still, what kind of threat had all their kind so spooked? As flattering as it would have been me, the timing doesn't work."

Returning his attention back to the broadcast, Tachyon heard the greyer robot say, "We were also invited to a wiener roast at Big Al's on Kerwan shortly after the ball, and then the Groovy Lube grand opening six months ago."

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Apogee Space Station, Nundac Asteroid Ring, Cerullean Sector, Polaris Galaxy

"Groovy Lube, huh," Zephyr, a former lieutenant commander in the Polaris Galaxy's armed forces remarked in interest.

"Sounds interesting," his fellow veteran warbot, Cronk, added with a nod.

Back on the show, Rivet told the camera with a wink, "And I'll have all of you know, that I kicked Ratchet's butt in the dance off at the time."

"You sure did," Kit added just as amused.

"Do you guys really have to bring that up every so often," Ratchet asked in annoyance.

Clank chuckled before turning to Ratchet. "Well, perhaps if you applied yourself more often, Ratchet," his words were then cut off as the yellow Lombax raised a hand.

"Don't go there."

The two warbots and their Markazian friend, Talwyn Apogee, all shared a laugh at the male Lombax's dismay before the young Talwyn cut her own laughter short as she looked downward, saying, "I'm glad that there are still Lombaxes in the universe, guys, but it makes me wonder if they might've met my father somehow."

Both Cronk and Zephyr shared an uneasy look, unsure of how to respond, and instead returned their attention back to the telescreen.

"Anyway, we're still pretty busy now, but in a more, uh, domestic sense," Ratchet said in an attempt to keep the interview going.

"Like what," the presenter asked in an uncertain tone of voice.

Offput, Clank could only say, "Well, yesterday, I did flush out my radiator core."

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Technomite City, Planet Challax, Solana Galaxy

As the interview kept on going, Emperor Otto Destruct of the Technomites kept getting more frustrated by the way the fools on Holovision were acting.

"It's inconceivable to accept that the means for interdimensional travel are in the hands of such pathetic children," the finely clothed ruler remarked as he shook his head in disdain and jealousy.

"Clank, do not say that on Holovision," Kit reprimanded her confused counterpart, as if the latter had said a taboo subject.

Not understanding the problem, Ratchet asked, "What's wrong with that, Kit?" He then chuckled a bit before commented, "It's not like he said that Qwark might as well have chiseled his way from prison using only his firmly toned buttocks instead of flushing himself down the toilet like a nut."

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Pollyx Industries, Axiom City, Planet Terachnos, Vela Sector, Breegus System, Polaris Galaxy

Within one of the biggest companies on Terachnos, all employees were deathly silent at the horrendous joke that the Lombax on HV made.

Thankfully, it had fallen to Kit to voice everyone's disgust. "That was worse than Clank's radiator core, and you know it, Ratchet. I demand you apologize to all ladies everywhere immediately."

"Same here," the other Lombax commented to her male counterpart with a raise of her cybernetic prosthetic.

"You tell him, girlfriends," a lone Terachnoid exclaimed with many of his coworkers agreeing.

"No time to dawdle, people," the head Terachnoid of Pollyx Industries aptly named Pollyx said aloud to get his workers' attention, "If those felines on the screen think we'll going to lay down our tools while they cover up interdimensional technology and obvious Zoni knowledge, they're all dead wrong! So get back to work!"

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Weeblesnog City, Planet Silox, Zarkov Sector, Polaris Galaxy

"Unfortunately," Clank began to say in annoyance, "we are running out of things to say in this interview."

While she and her brother, Neftin, did their own studies on interdimensional physics, Vendra Prog loudly scoffed at the little robot's reasoning. "That doesn't mean you two have to be so gross about it."

Neftin looked at Vendra in confusion until he finally asked, "The part about the radiator core was supposed to be gross?"

Huffing in agitation, Vendra answered, "In a robotic sense, he made a bathroom joke."

"Oh, yeah, that would do it."

Having had enough, Ratchet then turned to the presenter in defeat and disappointment, saying, "Bottom line, I guess no one needs a hero right now."

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Onboard Angela Cross's Flying Lab, Planet Aranos, Bogon Galaxy

As she watched Ratchet admit that much, Angela Cross could almost feel his pain, considering that she felt pretty restless herself upon being fired from her old job by an employer that she actually considered as a friend of sorts. Almost immediately, however, she then had a thought of contacting him and his team for help with her own problem, but was then surprised when she instantly saw Ratchet, Rivet, Clank, and Kit get teleported away from their Veldin garage, recliners and all.

"What the heck," Angela could not help herself from exclaiming her own surprise.

"What was that," the show's presenter asked just as shocked as Angela was before he then said to the audience, "I just received word that our heroes have been teleported away for mission of galactic importance by Abercrombie Fizzwidget himself, head of Megacorp."

Soon after hearing the news, Angela laid her head down in dismay as she knew what that meant before then glaring at the blue-furred menace when she heard it laugh at her from its cage. "Shut up."

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Onboard a Megacorp Carrier enroute to the Bogon Galaxy

As soon as Rivet and her friends acclimated to being teleported, or "abducted" as she herself described it, the four had listened to the hologram of Megacorp's big shot, Abercrombie Fizzwidget, ramble with made up big words as much as gibberish about a biological experiment of his company's being stolen by a masked thief. While Ratchet was definitely interested in the potential excitement in being a Megacorp Commando while Clank was willing to settle as head accountant to continue taking a break from the heroics, Rivet really had more than half a mind to yell the plumper, old man's head off before Kit suggested that the four of them convene on the matter.

"How can you guys possibly get behind all this," the female Lombax quietly demanded. "He just abducted us! And to top it off, with what I heard about Megacorp in this dimension, he's probably not any cleaner than Drek!"

At Rivet's outrage, Ratchet just shrugged with an irritating grin to say, "Oh, come on, Rivet, he doesn't look all that bad. Besides, between exploring a different galaxy and kicking butt while getting paid for it, this isn't a bad deal."

Clank then interjected to say, "I understand both of your wants, my friends, but I have enjoyed our relaxing period well enough that I do not want to return to adventuring right away. Rest assured, if anything happens, I will be there to support all of you."

At Clank's words, Kit placed her hands on her servos while saying, "And of course, you are curious about the masseuse Fizzwidget offered you to socialize with, Clank." Putting aside her counterpart's retorts, however, Kit then informed her friends, "All that aside, I am open to working in Megacorp's archives for research, and not just about the company's history, or even the Bogon Galaxy's."

Her interest arisen, Rivet then asked her partner, "What do you mean, Kit?"

Seeing that Fizzwidget was seemingly not overhearing their conversation, Kit quietly answered, "I recognized the experiment he showed us from the information Phantom shared about recent events back at home. Our Megacorp is presently selling artificial creatures they call Protopets, which, according to Phantom, were not easy to tame upon creating the violent carnivore that preceded them all. It was so bad that Emperor Nefarious threatened to have a good third of the company executed if the original Protopet was not successfully fixed, or repurposed to be an attack animal."

Nodding in understanding, Ratchet said, "So you think Fizzwidget may be hiding something."

"And perhaps this unknown thief could not be as malevolent as Fizzwidget claims he is," Clank suggested with a thoughtful expression.

Relaxing a bit to giggle, Rivet said, "I wouldn't be surprised if the thief's as much of a woman as I am, Clank, but you do have a point."

Raising an eye at Rivet's words, Ratchet could not help but ask, "What makes you think he's a she?"

Kit was quick to answer, "Sometimes, a girl just knows, Ratchet."

"Naturally," Rivet added as she and Kit laughed a bit.

Clank then grabbed their attention to suggest, "In any event, I suppose it is settled now, right?"

Trading nods all around, the four heroes then went back to Fizzwidget's hologram. Wearing glasses, a blue suit, a red bow tie, and a badge displaying his company's logo, he had two antennas on his balding head in addition to a white-haired mustache, and kept his optimistic expression. "Have you reached an affirmation," he asked eagerly.

Taking it upon herself to answer, Rivet said, "We've talked about it, Mr. Fizzwidget, and we're willing to go along, so long as you don't mind Ratchet and me being commandos on separate leads, Kit working in your company archives, and Clank getting the deal you offered him."

"I acceptably agree, but why do you want to be separate from Ratchet?"

Showing a shrug, Rivet answered, "Call it my adventurous spirit. And plus, there's gotta be some lowlifes who can help pinpoint this thief guy or gal in ways Megacorp can't do at the moment."

Smiling broadly, Fizzwidget replied, "I find that preposition quite innovative. Once you and Ratchet are then fully prepped from training, I'll direct you to Barlow where you can start insinuating yourself in the most daunting, freelancing operation ever propagated by the sons of Snivelak."

"You mean I'll be joining Goons-4-Less," Rivet interrupted in a daze before bursting in excitement. "Awesome! I always wanted to be in Destructapalooza!" She then quickly restrained herself at the odd looks everyone was giving her before attempting to amend, "Uh, for the sake of challenging myself. Not that I would ever do most of the vile crud the Goons do."

After a moment, Fizzwidget then said, "I was actually going to say Thugs-4-Less, but okay."

[R]

I have had an interest in multiple characters in a setting being cameoed during a broadcast in-story from reading the One Piece fanfiction story, This Bites!, so I actually liked making references to many characters and plots from Ratchet & Clank just from witnessing one such broadcast. As far as I can tell, the only pre-Rift Apart plot I did not reference was the Secret Agent Clank game, and that was mostly because until Klunk comes along, I did not think that his confederates would have much of an interest to get involved with the main quartet for now.

As for Drek's potential survival, my fellow Ratchet & Clank fanfiction writer, Tangent, speculated about that in the comments last chapter, but as I had Ratchet say, my thoughts for how that would go in the long term are quite limited. If anyone likes to leave an idea, they are welcome to do so.

In the meantime, I thought it would be funny for Kit to be a Lance and Janice fan after seeing some good fan art of her being absorbed in the show on the Ratchet & Clank Discord. If this was like Life of Pie, I can also well imagine that she would be the one reluctant to try pineapple on her pizza while Rivet and Quantum would not mind compared to how Clank understood that pineapple was a usable topping while Ratchet and Qwark went all "who would do that" in the animated short.

Also, I am sorry that I did not make the whole purple light scene from the last chapter much clearer then. I meant to say that Orvus used what dimensional power he had to contact the Fixer and then use the Deplanetizer as a conduit for his "fixing power" to then use on New Orxon and all the worlds that Drek tore apart, but I guess I got sidetracked.

Finally, when I wrote that Ratchet had celebrity crushes on Courtney and Sasha, that is all they were at the time. The poll on FanFictionNet is still ongoing.