Chapter 11: Safety in the Forest
Ratchet was hanging onto consciousness by a thread while Kit rocketed through the umbral skies of Misericordia. He was held in one of Kit's hands, while Rivet was held in the other, Segen riding on the yellow bot's back with Clank strapped to his.
Other than that, Ratchet could not really put his mind to anything, and the steady droning of Kit's engines were putting him to sleep.
Eventually, the two days of no rest and the countless fights he had endured caught up to him and his eyes slowly closed, a vague outline of a glass pyramid being the last thing on his mind before drifting into a dreamless sleep.
Ratchet's eyes felt as though they had weights put on them. A languid feeling invaded his body as he tried waking himself up for almost what felt like minutes, always failing just as he was about to get up.
Whatever he was laying on was like marshmellow, always swallowing him back into a comfortable sleepiness. But tugging at his consciousness were a series of thoughts that refused to quiet down. "Where's Clank? Are Rivet and Kit alright? Where did Segen end up taking us?" These questions swirled around his mind, eventually defeating the lure of sleep and allowing the lombax to fully wake.
When he rubbed his eyes to wash the last of their tiredness away, the world around Ratchet slowly came into focus, and the hero could have sworn he had wound up on another planet.
There were trees, enormous, gigantic trees that rose to the heavens above him. Lush vines filled with spreading stems and dotted with orange flowers covered the rich brown bark of the trees on which wide patches of moss could be seen. There was a coolness in the air that could be seen as the shimmering dew that hung on the tips of leaves and on the mossbeds, and everything was illuminated by an almost ethereal white and blue ambient light Ratchet could not find the source of.
After days of seeing nothing but the dark, swirling nightmare that were Misericordia's skies, Ratchet felt the need to pinch himself to confirm he was not dreaming.
After the awe ran its course, Ratchet was able to notice he was laying in what appeared to be an all-natural bed, worked into the wood of a huge branch and covered with soft moss and leaves.
It was a large bed, having the space to fit a much larger being than himself with room to spare. Or two beings his size with room to spare.
Rivet was getting up a few paces away from him, rubbing her head and groaning as she kneeled up, dropping her hands on her lap.
Then, green eyes met blue, and both lombaxes went stiff as a jolt of electricity ran between them.
"Ah, awake at last." A voice came, snapping them both from their short spell.
Ratchet turned to the source of the voice and saw a familiar outline. Despite her large stature and imposing armor, Lanari's sweet voice and disposition made it impossible for the hero to perceive her as a threat, especially when he could see joy sparkle in her eyes behind the lenses of her mask.
"Lanari," Rivet breathed. "It's so good to see you again! Do you know where we are? How long have we been out?"
"It is good to see you too, sweetie, both of you" The elderly Bishop reciprocated. "As for your questions; you are currently inside the Vertical Forest I look over. You've been out cold for a whole day, but don't worry, dear," She raised a soothing hand. "When your lovely yellow friend arrived, Segen explained everything to me and I got straight to tending to your wounds while Segen said he'd get to handling the rest of your troubles." She explained calmly, getting the worry that nagged Ratchet's thoughts to finally ease up.
Seeing her words settle the duo down, Lanari continued. "I must say, you are quite the reckless lot for picking a fight with Samson of all Bishops, you were very lucky to survive!" She scolded, placing her hands on her hips. Her tone of voice made Ratchet's ears droop.
However, the woman then let out a boisterous laugh, and Ratchet felt a surge of confusion, one he shared with Rivet from what he gathered after glancing to his side and seeing her mirror him.
Lanari however, continued. "On the other hand, I want to rip my blasted mask off and kiss you both! I've prayed to Alterra for years for that rotten zealot to drop dead!" She admitted, laughing yet again. When she caught her breath, her voice grew calm yet again. "You have my deepest thanks, and I am in your debt."
Ratchet felt his voice fail halfway up his throat at the sight of the Bishop leaning down into a deep bow. When she rose, it was with an almost loving, hidden smile. "Rest my dears, you have nothing more to worry about." With that, Lanari turned heel and walked away, humming a song that faded as she left, but stuck with Ratchet like a lingering warmth.
And so, he was left alone with Rivet. His eyes wandered over to the rebel, to her relaxed body, free of wounds or filth, to her beautiful, serene smile, her deep blue eyes. Maybe it was the light and the feeling of surreality that still nipped at Ratchet's subconscious, but the hero's heart was struck with a sudden and unbearable need to speak. He was ready.
"Rivet," He called, her name making his tongue tingle. She looked at him, a silent hope behind her eyes. "Remember before the Third Trial, how we said we would-"
"You don't have to say anything Ratchet," Rivet deflected, looking away. "You don't owe me anything, and it's not-"
"No," Ratchet firmly said, taking a hold of Rivet's hands, making her look back at him, pupils dilated. "I said… I promised that I would tell you everything after this mess was done. And well, it's done."
Rivet's mouth opened slightly, her eyes widening. She then gave Ratchet's hands a tiny squeeze, looking at him in patient silence.
So, Ratchet took a deep breath and took the leap. "I… I've been struggling with some feelings, feelings I thought I didn't want to have again." He started slowly. "After three bad breakups, you kind of get the feeling that getting attached to people is just a surefire way of getting hurt. You get comfortable, happy, and then little by little, all those good feelings start to fade, until suddenly, the person you thought you loved and loved you back, just… leaves." He paused, a particularly painful sting spurring in his chest.
"And yes, I… I have been pulling away from you, because, for a while now I've been starting to get those same feelings when I'm around you. And I keep telling myself that I know better, but every time I'm with you I just get carried away. Whenever we race, whenever we compete, or talk about stuff, or win a fight together, I get this feeling like I want to keep doing all of that with you forever." He admitted. "But then, I remember that it's not really up to me, that for any number of reasons, you could just decide I'm not good enough anymore. And well, with us about to get to the Lombax Dimension, I thought; 'hey! your one real card of being the only lombax she knows is about to expire, good luck keeping her around now!'." He finished mockingly, looking down.
A beat passed, and for a horrible moment, Ratchet thought Rivet was appalled, thinking he was pitiful. This fear increased exponentially when he felt her pulling her hands away and shifting on the mossbed.
But then, Ratchet felt Rivet's hands on the sides of his face, lifting his gaze to meet hers. When she did this, Ratchet felt his heart skip a beat, for she was looking at him with such a soft expression he felt he could never look away.
"Ratchet, do you really think I like you just because you are a lombax?" She asked softly, her tone was not accusatory, but the question made Ratchet's heart twinge.
"N-No."
"No, of course not. I like you because you're brave, and fun to be around, and caring, and trustworthy, and one of the best fighters I know. Do you think I would have trusted anyone other than you to have my back throughout this whole nightmare? Do you think I would have gone up against Samson with some random lombax, instead of you? " She asked almost playfully, as if the answer was obvious.
"I guess not, heh." Ratchet laughed, a strange knot forming in his throat.
"See? I like you because of all those things… and because you get me. I feel like you know me so well, even though we've known each other for a relatively short time. And yes, just like you, I also get that weird feeling whenever we race, and when we fight and when we talk. When I get that feeling, I think to myself; 'I want to share these things with you'. You hear me, hotshot? I want to share them with you. Not some lombax I randomly met, not some big shot hero from another universe. I want you. I… I love you."
There is was.
Ratchet felt the world around him come to a halt. He could not will himself to move, could not will himself to look away from the glistening eyes of the rebel in front of him. But even then, a warmth began to bubble in his chest, and it pushed him past his own hesitance. And so, breaking past the sudden paralysis, Ratchet spoke.
"I love you, too."
As the words traveled from heart to heart, the two heroes shuddered. Ratchet did not remember when his hands had moved to the sides of Rivet's face, but he really did not care, since he soon found himself leaning forward as Rivet did the same, meeting for a kiss.
It was tender, innocent. Ratchet closed his eyes and rubbed his thumbs across her cheeks while they kissed, feeling Rivet inching closer and closer to him to the point she was practically sitting on his lap, using her own hands to keep him close.
After a blissful minute, the two separated, their breathing hoarse, their eyes still closed. Ratchet then placed a kiss on Rivet's forehead before pulling the rebel into a tight embrace, putting his face in the crook of her neck. She reciprocated immediately, wrapping her arms and even her legs around him.
And there they stayed, chests pulled flush against each other for the first genuine lapse of safety they had since coming to this planet.
Neither one was in a rush to break that peace.
"Clank!"
"Ratchet!"
The two heros called to each other before Ratchet grabbed his silver friend into a tight hug. "Oh, buddy, we really need to stop getting split up like that!"
"I agree, it is quite distressing." The bot said with a chuckle. "And yet it appears to be an inevitability in our adventures."
"Let's hope we don't inherit that problem, ey Kit?" Rivet joked as he stroked her own pal's head while she clung to the rebel.
"Yes, that would be… quite distressing, as Clank put it." The bot agreed, letting go of Rivet at last.
"Aw, do I get a hug too?" Segen asked, approaching the group with his arms out.
Ratchet rolled his eyes and scoffed at the technician, giving him a sideways smile. "I mean, if you want one, buddy." He said, opening his arms.
Segen seemed to visibly short circuit at that. "R-Really?"
"Really. Bring it in, ya big jerk."
Segen hesitated, taking a step back and lowering his arms, but after skipping forward, the technician gave in and wrapped his arms around Ratchet. However, the hug eventually became a group thing, since Rivet and the two bots quickly piled on.
"Thanks… you know, for… putting up with me." Segen mumbled.
"No problem," Ratchet said, giving the technician a pat on the back. "You really helped us out, man."
"You are our friend now, Segen." Kit declared proudly. "You can count on us."
"Oh man, you guys are gonna make me cry." The technician sniffled. "I mean, first you help me kill Samson and now this? It ain't fair."
"Sheesh, you guys really hated that guy, huh?" Rivet asked.
"Ya have to ask?" Segen replied in a friendlier version of his common sarcasm.
"Guess not." The rebel conceded.
Afterwards, the hug dissolved, and Ratchet set his gaze on something over the technician's shoulder. "So, is she ready?" He asked the technician.
"Oh yeah, Clank and Kit were a huge help, so twenty four hours was more than enough time to install the Folding Drive."
Ratchet then gave a pleased smile as he watched Aphelion standing shiny and sleek as always, still showing off her Ruined colors. Apparently, after Kit had flown them all to the Vertical Forest, Segen and Clank had split off while the other trio was healing to go get Aphelion and bring her here, to the near top of the Forest in order to finally install the Folding Drive.
"Alright, so we're ready then. Right?" Rivet asked aloud, glancing between her companions.
"I believe you are." Lanari's voice came, causing everyone to divert their attention to the Bishop. "I hope you make it safely to your destination, my dears, and I hope you find what you seek there."
Ratchet felt that motherly warmth emanate from the Bishop nest itself within him once again. He felt he was going to miss this woman.
"Be safe, and keep one another safe." Lanari added as a farewell.
"We will… mom." Segen uttered, giving his mother a bow and a hand gesture Ratchet did not recognize, yet one Lanari mimicked with rehearsed ease.
After this, the technician clapped his hands together. "Alright, I think we should get going. The Lombax Dimension awaits!"
"Segen, dear?" Lanari called suddenly. "Are you sure you ran all your tests on the Drive? You wouldn't want your new friend to be blown up, would you?"
"Mom, I ran over everything, alright? It's fine."
"Actually, I think I'd like to take a look at this Drive thingy myself," Rivet interjected. "Just to make sure."
"Make sure of what? You don't even know how it works!"
"That's why you're gonna help me, wiseguy!"
"Guys, don't fight." Kit stepped in meekly.
The little bot's words seemed to instantly defuse the two larger figures. As such, Kit walked the two of them to the ship, bickering under their breaths all the while.
Ratchet had to fight back a laugh at the sight.
"Well, it appears that against all odds, we are finally a team." Clank beckoned him.
"Yup, you were right, buddy. As usual."
"I take it you talked to Rivet, then?"
"Yeah, I did, actually."
"And?" Clank prodded smugly, optics angled up.
Ratchet then brought his gaze to the rebel. As he saw her there, being own wonderful self, even after everything that had happened, everything they had overcome, and even as they laid at the precipice of getting to the Lombax Dimension, he came to a very simple realization.
"I think everything is going to be fine, buddy." He told his friend.
"Everything is going to be just fine."
00000 THE END 00000
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
And so it ends,
Yeah It's an open ending, but it is a proper ending.
Character arcs are completed, the Main Villain is dead, the big objective is accomplished, and the story is ready to continue. I feel it is rather improper to put a cap on the story of Ratchet and Clank. There always needs to be that sense that there's something else coming, so me taking the Lombax Dimension and either:
A: Finishing the Story by having Ratchet and the gang meet the Lombaxes and have a good time.
B: Do the trope of having the Lombaxes be in trouble and have the gang step in to help
Felt a little disingenuous.
I would much rather give you a somewhat different story, (That is if I even managed that) with a focus on things I don't usually see given focus in other fics: an emphasis on the weapons the heroes use, a brand new setting, a particularly twisted villain, etc.
So, if you liked it, then I'm glad. Beyond glad.
I hope you enjoyed what I've made.