Ratchet and Clank: The Long Road Home

by ASmash5Lucario

Rivet's and Kit's dimension is finally liberated from the remainder of Emperor Nefarious' forces, and the two Lombaxes are finally about to go to the Lombax Dimension. But something terrible has happened in Ratchet's and Clank's dimension while they were away, and the 4 heroes will to need to rely on each other if they're to survive the long road ahead of them

26. Homecoming

NOTES:

If you want a better-formated version of this story,

some of the chapters of which will contain pictures and illustrations of certain scenes,

head over to Archive of Our Own!

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Homecoming

Chapter Summary

Our heroes have arrived in the Lombax dimension at long last, but it seems they're off to a rocky start...

What's got into the Lombaxes here? Why are they attacking them?

In this chapter, we'll find the answer to this question, and Ratchet will learn a thing or two about his past.

*THUD*

Ratchet and Rivet both staggered sideways, clutching onto handrails on the doorway to the cockpit as the HG-06 starship gave a sudden, violent shudder.

"They have us in a gravity tether!" Kit said fearfully.

"What?! Why?!" demanded Rivet, straightening up and looking out of the window ahead, her eyes wide in bewilderment. "What's got into 'em? Don't the recognize two Lombaxes?!"

Apparently the attackers did not however, for a second later, with another jolt and a *thud*, their starship was being pulled irresistibly forward, held fast in the middle of three separate gravity tethers deployed by different ships.

The ship was completely out of their control; they could do nothing but watch as the settlements atop the flattened mountain peaks within that protective sphere drew nearer, with the clouds drifting lazily past and the mist from cascading falls above spraying the passengers windshield, delivering a mockingly inaccurate hallucination of peace and safety.

A horrible thought suddenly occurred to Ratchet, as horrible thoughts always do when you're nervous.

"(What if they're not Lombaxes?! What if Tachyon did get here first?!)"

Ratchet looked out of one of the windows and saw another of the A-GL Starfighters cruising on

their left side. Through the tinted glass of the cockpit, Ratchet could make out a vague shadow of two large ears and a long muzzle.

He felt a small wave of relief, though it was quickly dispelled by the fact the A-GL's ion turrets were aiming straight for them.

The vast force field surrounding the mountain top city vanished as they approached, and they were soaring high over what resembled a sort of base with high walls and towers, lined with pulsar cannons and several colorful specks which could only be Lombax guards.

The ship rattled again, and next thing they knew, they were descending slowly from the air.

"Clank, what're our options?" Ratchet asked, as the large raritanium-reinforced wall rose past the windows.

"Submit to their interrogations?"

"Options that don't involve giving up."

"Ratchet, I think he's right." Talwyn said.

Ratchet spun around, appalled. But the Markazian spoke again before giving the male Lombax the chance to protest.

"Look, we're in an unfamiliar place with allies-"

"'Allies' that're draggin' us against our will into their military base!" Rivet cut in.

"They don't know we're on their side!" snapped Talwyn. "What would you do if you were wanted dead by the entire universe and suddenly a great big hole opened up in the sky and an unknown starship came soaring over the very place you thought you and your family were safe?"

"Funny you ask-" Rivet shot back "That's exactly what I was going through ten months ago!"

"Rivet, Talwyn! Please desist!" Clank cried out, his optics glowing more brightly. "Now is not the time to-"

*THUD*

Ratchet and Rivet staggered again as their vessel was released from the gravity tethers and fell painfully to the ground below.

"Jeez, don't believe much in taking care of their prisoners, do they?" muttered Rivet, straightening up once more and glaring out from the cockpit.

Ratchet approached one of the windows and peered outside.

They had been placed in the center of a large, open landing pad, surrounded by dozens more of the A-GL Starfighters. Ratchet could see elaborately designed hangars and, making his ears flicker in interest, odd machines presently devoid of drivers littered about the vicinity, and he could only assume they were the Lombaxes' own creations to aid in readying and servicing their ships. He could also see what appeared to be an armory in the distance, and he momentarily felt a sudden, excited burning to go and investigate.

But the fleeting thought had barely finished processing when, with a *CRASH* and a startled shriek from Talwyn and Kit, the door to their ship had been blasted off its hinges, and next thing

Ratchet knew, he was being dragged none-too-gently off the ship and into bright afternoon sunlight.

"Hey, get your hands offa him!"

Ratchet struggled, craning his neck to look over his shoulder at the shout, and saw Rivet, close behind, shoving a tall, helmeted and hyperflux-adorned Lombax back with such force that he was thrown off balance and fell to the ground.

Another guard grabbed Rivet from behind and tried to force her down, but the female Lombax threw him over her shoulder and he landed on the ground with a crash.

"Rivet, Ratchet, wait!" cried Kit, but no good.

Ratchet threw his captor off as two more guards, drawing long electrically-charged rods sprinted for his girlfriend.

Rivet threw herself down and swung out at one of the approaching guards' feet, and he tripped over her and slammed into his fellow.

Ratchet drew his Omniwrench and swung back as a hand clasped onto his shoulder again, and he felt the satisfying *CLUNK* of the tool on his attacker's helmet.

"Ratchet, PLEASE DESIST!" Clank shouted again, but the Lombax was being attacked now by three soldiers at once, and he fired a mag-net which ensnared all three and brought them to land in a crumpled heap.

Something hard hit him in the side of the face and he fell to his knees.

"Ratchet!" Clank called fearfully, "Are you all right?!"

But before Ratchet could answer, he was jerked to his feet again, his arms held fast by two soldiers.

"Rivet! Ratchet and Clank!" Kit cried, and Rivet spun around, her eyes falling on the struggling male Lombax.

Quick as a flash, while her attention was diverted, a zeta taser materialized in another nearby Lombax's gloved hand and he jabbed it hard into Rivet's hip.

Rivet grunted, her body seized up, her face twisted in agony, and she fell to the ground as Kit gave a cry of shock and fear.

"Mother FUCKER!"

"Ratchet, WAIT!"

But too late; the male Lombax had already wrenched his arms free and thrown his captors off, hurling himself at his girlfriend's attacker with a roar of rage, blind to the fact that his foe was easily a good three feet taller than him and that he was surrounded by at least half a dozen Lombax soldiers.

But it made not the slightest difference in the universe.

*THUNK!*

Rivet's attacker was knocked off his feet as Ratchet's Omniwrench collided hard with the side of his helmet, and his foe fell to his back, still conscious, but clearly winded.

"Look out!"

Ratchet spun on the spot, and swerved to the side, catching a fist bearing a tesla rod that had just swung downward through the air.

Ratchet twisted the Lombax's arm and kicked him in the chest, forcing him back, and tugging the tesla rod from his limp fingers.

"Ratchet STOP!" Talwyn bellowed from behind, but two more attackers were rushing over from the parked A-GL Starfighters, and Ratchet took his stand before the feebly stirring and groaning body of his beloved Rivet, wrench in one hand, tesla rod in the other, ready for the fight.

"TALWYN WA-"

*BLIP*

A flash of light and a small pulsing sound, and both Ratchet and Clank froze where the stood, a bright blue field of energy encapsulating their bodies.

The Markazian let the chrono break pistol fall from her hand and lifted her arms in a gesture of surrender.

"T-Talwyn! Wh… What the fuck are you…?!" Rivet growled, still struggling, and her fur standing on end.

Talwyn merely ignored her as the swelling crowd of armor-clad Lombaxes ran forward, some with pulse rifles, others bearing Lombax-made melee weapons, each raised and directed right at the small crowd of Alliance Rebels.

Talwyn and Zedderek, who surrendered immediately and willingly, were merely cuffed and marched out of the Lombax stronghold by flanking guards.

Ratchet and Rivet however, who resisted and injured some of the soldiers, earned themselves the privilege of being escorted by a company of guards, both Lombaxes' hands chained behind their backs, secured by quasar links and locked in spherical devices called fisti-cuffs. To add insult to injury, both Lombaxes had shock collars locked around their necks.

"I hope you're proud of yourself!" Clank said angrily to Ratchet, locked behind the wall of a small translucent force field that levitated along his best friend's side. "This would not have happened had you simply listened to me!"

"That's enough, Clank!" Ratchet snarled.

Along a stone pathway they walked, making for what looked like the gates leading to the settlement, and which was glowing slightly with some unknown, purple energy. But then the guards leading the procession turned down onto a branching path that lead around the large, walled settlement, and they walked instead down a path covered by green, leafy trees that cast shadows on them all.

"You never listen to me, Ratchet! How many times has that worked out for us? Your rash actions always take precedence over my words of warning!"

"I said, shut up!"

"You would not adhere to Talwyn or myself, and look at the predicament we are-" "We don't need to hear your yapping, Bolts! Pipe down!"

Kit whipped about from inside another levitating force field and glared up at the female Lombax. "Rivet! Do not call Clank's rebukes 'yapping'! He is correct!" she snapped. "You were foolish, and Ratchet downright reckless!"

"Don't you call him that, that's MY job!" Rivet shouted shrilly.

Birds twittered carelessly, and there was the sound of gently running water nearby. But it was all unheard by the group of captive heroes however, whose shouts drained all noise from the surrounding forest.

"I cannot believe this!" Clank cried incredulously. "You are standing up for Ratchet's-"

"Wait Your job?!" interrupted Ratchet, his ears perking up in outrage. "So I guess you also thought I was-"

"Don't be stupid, Ratchet! I was right there with you tryin' to-!"

"Who are you callin' stupid?! I'm not the one who started this!"

"Are you sayin' I shoulda let these jerks manhandle me?!" "Of course not, that's why I got involved!"

"Ratchet, Rivet!" Clank butted in, "Had you just followed them in the first place NONE of this-" "They TAZED her, Clank! Did you expect me to jus-?!" "Will you guys SHUT UP?!"

Ratchet and Rivet gave cries of pain as a powerful jolt of electricity surged through their bodies, and the two Lombaxes stumbled before being jerked upright and forced onward.

They emerged from the shade of the trees and found themselves at another gate, similar to the one they had seen leading into the settlement a red light embedded into the metal paneling of the wall over the electrified gate.

A guard walked forward and placed his palm upon a scanner. There was a *ding* and the red light turned to green, the dim purple glow of energy covering the door fading to nothingness before the gate swung outward with a creak of metal on metal, and opening the way to a short tunnel.

They passed through, emerging onto what appeared to be a sort of outpost just outside the main wall to the settlement. There were a few guard houses here, and two lookout towers on either side of a dropoff over which had been built a vast landing platform where ships could dock and depart, and upon which a large passenger ship was undoubtedly waiting for them. Racks of weapons lined the high-rising paneled wall between the guard houses and the towers, and Ratchet could hear, dim though it was, the sound of what was unmistakably talking and laughing, as well as the constant whirring and hammering of tools.

"Get on, all of you!" barked one of their escorts, and Ratchet received a sharp prod in the back,

making him grunt in discomfort.

Rivet's head spun 'round.

"Hey! We got legs, jerkoff!" she spat.

The long-eared, dark, shiny, helmet turned and looked down at the four-and-some-odd-inches foot tall female and stared silently at her, and Rivet glared back, her own eyes reflected back at her from the red visor of the guard's helmet, her blood boiling.

"Stop talking, and get onboard!" said a guard at the ship's side. Rivet looked around at Kit, who gave the female Lombax a curt nod. "Ppfftt."

Rivet swung back around, her eyes narrowed and her cheeks flushed, and Ratchet would have been willing to bet, had their hands not been encased, that she would have loved nothing more than to raise her hand and give their escort a certain hand gesture, and at this thought, his lip curled subtly.

Nobody spoke as they boarded the large vessel; no one made a sound as the engine roared and they rose into the air.

Jammed in a seat beside the window, with Zedderek and Clank at his right, and Talwyn, Kit, and Rivet behind him, Ratchet stared out through the glass into the mockingly beautiful clouds and the floating islands, avoiding eye contact with everyone, and trying to catch a view of the city below.

The ship turned, and in the few seconds Ratchet had of his surroundings, he saw a large island, balanced atop the tip of a mountain and held in place by vast gears and support beams, upon which sat a large, stately-looking structure, and behind which was that colossal, sky-bound vessel, whatever it was, before the ship levelled out and the building and the mystery structure were whipped out of sight.

The flight was short, which was lucky, as Zedderek was leaning into the male Lombax and pressing him more uncomfortably against the window of their transport in an effort to distance himself from the faceless guards, who continued to stare at the six rebels as though expecting them to try for another escape any second.

The ship landed with a gentle thud, and the door in the side of the ship opened, a ramp descending to the ground.

"On your feet!" snapped one of the guards, and Ratchet was jerked unceremoniously upward, his feet momentarily leaving the floor as the nearest soldier grabbed him before wheeling him about and forcing the male down the ramp, hearing Rivet's growls behind him, and privately torn between wanting her to do nothing and hear her break free of her bonds.

His thoughts were cut short before they could begin entertaining him with fantasies of his powerful girlfriend at what awaited them outside.

They were being marched up a short, stone walkway in the middle of what was otherwise a grassy incline, lined by two rows of Lombax guards standing just off on either side, completely motionless, all of whom bore towering, double-headed Omniwrenches.

Lifting his eyes, Ratchet now had a clear view of the large, stately building he had observed from aboard their transport.

Just as he had surmised from the few seconds he had to observe it during their escort, and its stately air became more apparent. The building was large, made of refined, reinforced metal of some kind, much like the skyscrapers and the apartment in which he, Ratchet, and Clank had lived on Corson V prior to the Cataclysm. In fact, looking more closely, Ratchet saw it resembled closely Megalopolis City Hall in design. However, the metal columns, onto which were emblazoned familiar runes, and red banners embroidered with a brilliantly gold Lombax insignia crossed with a hammer and a wrench, were trademark design of Ratchet's and Rivet's kin.

And, thinking about it, Ratchet was suddenly visited with the possibility that this place, as the only principal-looking structure within sight, was in fact the Lombax equivalent of a city hall.

Up a flight of stairs they were led, passing by two sentinel guards who's heads turned as they passed.

But as Ratchet made to walk for a towering set of reinforced doors flanked by two more stoic-looking males and over which was affixed a slowly swiveling versa turret, Ratchet was jerked aside and led down a stair well.

"You done with the jerkin' yet?!" Ratchet growled as the natural light faded and bright fluorescent lights lining the ceiling took precedence. "Or is this your idea of some kinda shitty dance an' I'm jus' not warmed up for it yet?"

His cheek earned himself another jab from the tesla rod, and Rivet promptly earned herself another as well when she made to kick the guard for hurting Ratchet, and Clank and Kit both covered their faces, certain that neither of their friends would survive long enough to see wherever they were being taken.

Deeper and deeper into the building they went, passing walls lined with portraits, but still with no sign of where they were being led.

Unable to resist, Ratchet looked at them out of the corner of his eyes as they passed.

The first painting he saw depicted a large gathering of his kind at a familiar-looking round table with a large gap in its center. The console was alive and from it projected what appeared to be a stronghold of some sort.

The next portrait depicted several Lombaxes, bloodied and battle-scarred, raising their flag atop a fortress.

The next portrait showed a small group of his kind, shrouded perhaps in a poor attempt to disguise themselves but failing spectacularly in Ratchet's opinion because of their large ears protruding from their hoods, standing in the middle of a spotlight surrounded by a vast crowd of defeated and rough-looking civilians, the arms of his ancestors outstretched as though giving an oration.

The next portrait depicted a crowd of mixed races, all battling their hardest against a horde of shadowy monsters with insectoid bodies.

His eyes scanning ahead, Ratchet suddenly understood – he was looking at a visual history of the Lombax rebellion and the formation of the Galactic Alliance during the First Great War.

"Axel!" shouted a voice down the hall, and all heads jerked around to see who had shouted.

Another Lombax, female, wearing red-tinted hyperflux armor was marching toward them, her face hidden beneath a helmet, but her voice full of rage.

"The hell are you thinking bringing these outsiders into this place?! Hand them over to me, I'll take them from here!"

"Wait, what're you-!?" Ratchet began, but a split second later, he was grabbed by one of the female's flanking officers and jerked in the direction of a door leading off the hall.

He heard the same fate befall Talwyn and Zedderek, who grunted in objection and discomfort, but otherwise held their tongues. Rivet however, let out a shriek of rage.

"Hands off the arm, bitch!"

There was a powerful *THUNK* and a grunt of pain, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor.

Ratchet spun around as both his guards paused and slackened their grips.

The female soldier had grabbed Rivet's prosthetic in an attempt to pull her away, and Rivet had twisted fiercely before leaping up and kicking her in the chest with both feet, sending her flying backward.

There were shouts of fury and the crackle of tesla rods, and Ratchet saw a swarm of angry Lombaxes charging her, and there was nothing he could do to help with his hands chained behind his back and the shock collar at his throat.

Something thudded into his side and he fell to the ground with a vulgar exclamation of shock and pain.

He heard a powerful *ZZZTT* and a cry of agony.

"RIVET!" Ratchet and Kit shouted, panicked.

Rivet thudded to the ground at his side, and he felt something latch around his neck as he was pinned on the spot.

"Wait! PLEASE do not kill them!" Clank cried desperately over the noise of the swarming guards.

But before anyone could do or say anything else, the hall was filled with a roar that echoed off the walls and the tumult ceased at once.

"ENOUGH! Step aside, ALL OF YOU!"

The pressure on his legs, back, and neck vanished. There was a scrambling of feet and several thuds, and Ratchet saw the feet of the angry swarm lining up against the walls, assuming respectful, dignified stances as whoever it was came marching down the hall.

"The HELL is going on down here?!" the voice spat, his footsteps echoing loudly through the now dead-still and silent room. Something about his voice sounded familiar to Ratchet, but at present, it was veiled by outrage. "What is this, a middleschool playground and someone cheated in a game of grav-ball?! These halls are sacred to our kind, need I remind you again? After the fiasco last Liberation Day!? Now where are the prisoners you guys won't shut up about?!"

The footsteps drew closer, and eventually they stopped, some short distance away behind Ratchet and Rivet.

The voice scoffed.

"Well, seems there was some truth in that ridiculous story... Those tails, and those ears! HAH! Very well done indeed! Just too bad there were no survivors, so your little hologuise is useless! Stand them up and turn 'em around. I wanna see their faces."

Two sets of hands grabbed him under the armpits and Ratchet once again felt his feet momentarily leave the floor as he was hoisted upward.

Two more soldiers grabbed Rivet, and she growled furiously as the hands closed under her prosthetic, but she resisted the temptation to attack.

A male Lombax with light-gray fur and black stripes on his ears and cheeks stood before them. He wore a dark-green tinted plate of armor over his chest with a medallion affixed near his shoulder emblazoned with the shape of crossed wrenches, and he wore matching gauntlets, cream-colored synth leggings, and had a javelin slung over his back. His eyes were yellow and cold, and across his face was a long, deep gash - a scar from a terrible, unknown wound. He was a little shorter than the bulk of the inhabitants within the hall, but it was apparent at a glance this was somebody who commanded a lot of respect from his peers, all of whom remained respectfully silent.

The shockingly citrine-colored eyes of the Lombax officer stared, and the bright green emeralds glared right back, narrowed in dislike.

"…You…!" the officer breathed, his strong, sharp voice suddenly much softer.

Rivet looked between them curiously, an eyebrow raised.

Clank was watching Ratchet, feeling slightly apprehensive. He could sense the heat in Ratchet's body, and knew the Lombax was only one wrong word or phrase from acting rashly again.

Kit however, was looking at the officer, her blue optics narrowed in thought.

"Excuse me… Officer Lombax… What is your name…?" she asked.

But the officer didn't speak; he merely continued to stare at Ratchet, his eyes full of shock, of disbelief, and, if it were possible… unease?

Ratchet felt his face starting to burn as heads turned and began to stare at them.

Though their faces were concealed, Ratchet had the strangest feeling they were noticing something about him, for a few of the guards standing closer at hand suddenly jolted as though stung by an ant before leaning to their neighbor and hissing something into their carbonox-enshrouded ear.

However, after several more seconds of slowly breaking silence, Ratchet said, sarcastically - "There somethin' on my face, or am I just that easy on the eyes?" Clank covered his face.

The officer didn't crack a smile, but Ratchet's snarky question seemed to jolt the officer out of a reverie.

"…Tell me, kid… Where you from?" he asked, his voice lighter still, and very calm now.

Ratchet felt a sudden, fresh spike of anger.

"(Who's this guy think he is, callin' me a 'kid?!')"

The officer raised a thick black eyebrow.

"Solana." Ratchet said, flatly.

"I see… And the violent one?" the officer asked, jerking his head down at the female Lombax.

"Rivet." Ratchet growled through clenched teeth. What he wouldn't give to punch this guy in the

face right now...

"'Rivet'?" Repeated the officer. "Fitting name for a 'Lombax'… And is she-"

"Girlfriend. Polaris. Dimension D2-416." Ratchet said quickly, cutting across the captain and answering his next questions before he could ask.

"Dimension D2-416? How interesting…"

The gray Lombax sniffed and peered down at them both. His expression was exceptionally difficult to read… His face was set, and his eyes had gone strangely dark, as though someone had put shutters over them.

"What's your name, kid?"

Clank covered his eyes. Ratchet was now baring his fangs at being addressed as a child once more.

"Ratchet." He hissed.

"Really?" the Lombax captain said, his voice punctuated with unmistakable interest as whispers swept up the hall. "You hear that, guys?" the officer asked the hall at large, though surprisingly his tone was not sarcastic or disbelieving. "This is the legendary Ratchet! But that means-" the officer turned his eyes on Clank, still caught in that levitating force field. "-you must be Clank…"

Clank lowered his hands and nodded once.

The guards around the hall were looking at one another. Some shrugged, but others, after considering the Lombax and the silver bot for a while, straightened up and nodded at one another.

"Tell me Ratchet-" the Lombax officer said, looking down at him once more, "What matters most to you in the universe?"

Ratchet felt the anger drain out of him, disarmed by the unexpected inquiry. Was this guy real?

"Answer wisely." he added.

Ratchet averted his eyes, thinking.

What did matter most to him in the universe? Well, there were loads of things - the Tetrabit VG-600 he spent five months trying to attain, his private garage in which was parked his pride and joy Aphelion, not to mention all the doodads and trinkets he messed around with in the hopes of coming up with 'the next big thing', his weapons rack and all the guns he ever owned…

But even as his mind pondered these fabulous treasures, the pleasure and the joy they brought him felt curiously hollow. Sure he enjoyed killing time on quests and shooting things in a video game, and as much as he loved taking each of his guns to the range on a weekly basis, cleaning them and pondering upgrades, and though he enjoyed servicing Aphelion and tinkering with his various gadgets, there was a void in his chest that none of them could fill.

For fifteen years, the Lombax had spent day after day, week after week, toiling endlessly in that garage on Veldin – helping Grim repair customers' vehicles and starships, having dropped out of school to escape all the laughter and teasing over how different he was and to pursue his real passions - toiling endlessly on his own starship, dreaming of becoming a Galactic Ranger and making something of himself. But no amount of work or dreams and ambitions could distract him from the fact he was alone in the universe, and unwanted by all except Grim, his caretaker and mentor.

Until of course he met Clank on that fateful night.

Feeling depressed from being turned away by his then-idol Captain Qwark at the Galactic Ranger tryouts, Ratchet had returned to Grim's garage and gotten back to work on his starship, only to find out he needed a robotic ignition system. Dejected and angry, he made to retire for the night, until a flaming meteorite fell from the sky and crash landed in the Kyzul Plateau outskirts.

He rescued Clank from the ship before it exploded, and from then on, everything changed. They had their rocky moments at first, but together they defeated Drek, destroyed the deplanitizer, saved Veldin, and together they went onto save countless lives around the galactic system since.

He thought about everything he and Clank had been through over the years. Betrayals, death traps, depression, pirates, black holes, loss, evil dictators, relationship drama, anxiety, dimensional chaos, otherworldly monsters, embarrassment, his role on Secret Agent Clank… A lot of negatives… But negatives that Ratchet wouldn't trade for the universe.

Though his life was a lot more chaotic now than it had been during his fifteen years on Veldin, he had everything he had ever wanted – friends.

"(If I'd never met Clank, I'd probably still be on Veldin right now…)"

"(You likely wouldn't be in danger of losin' your head every other day, but you'd never have met the Rangers, Qwark, Tal, Skidd, Al, Kit, or… Or Rivet.)"

All these thoughts in an instant, in the blink of an eye, and he was looking back into the face of the stoic, gray-furred officer.

"My family." Ratchet said.

Rivet gave a small, hastily-stifled gasp, and her eyes widened.

Was Ratchet saying what she thought he was?

Rivet had always been the loner of any group she had been in. Although the Morts raised her, as Rivet got older, they began to feel more akin to what she considered friends than anything else; they gave her a place to stay and took care of her when she needed it, but she never felt the intimacy and affection toward or from them that she was told existed in a home. She had been love-starved, alone in a universe in which she thought she was the last of her kind. Meeting Ratchet however had unquestionably been the greatest thing to ever happen to her, for not only had she met someone whom she loved, but he loved her just as equally back… and he considered her apart of his family.

Clank however, after a brief moment of shock, felt suddenly and thoroughly touched. He always knew that to find the Lombaxes had been his best friend's dearest ambition. The Lombax had always treated Clank well, despite the rough patches they sometimes went through, but he had always felt out of place. He was a defective sentry bot designed to destroy; a robot with no one to

call his own. Ratchet on the other hand, was a lost Lombax separated from his kind by a genocidal dictator. Ratchet had spent six of the ten years in which they had known each other dreaming of being reunited with his family, but now, for the first time, Clank truly felt like he was where he belonged.

The Lombax captain straightened up, staring into Ratchet's bright green eyes and cocking his head to one side as though digesting the Lombax's answer.

"'Family', eh?" he repeated.

"Yes." Answered Ratchet, in a firm, strong voice, without hesitation.

The officer gazed upon Ratchet for a second longer, his citrine eyes raking face, before they moved onto Rivet, to Kit, to Clank, Talwyn, Zedderek, and finally back onto Ratchet's once more.

"'Family'… Heh… Kaden said the same thing."

Ratchet's ears twitched and he stared into the cold yellow eyes. Except they weren't cold anymore.

The Lombax officer was suddenly giving Ratchet a warm smile.

"You look just like your father, Ratchet."

He turned Ratchet around and began unlocking the fisti-cuffs.

"Axel, Rotor - release them and free the robots."

There was a *click* and Ratchet's hands were free at last.

Ratchet turned slowly around again, flexing his fingers.

Questions exploded like firecrackers in his mind. This Lombax knew his father… But who was he? Alister had never told Ratchet about any of his other friends or colleagues in the short time they had together…

The fisti-cuffs fell from Talwyns hands and she gazed over at the gray-furred Lombax.

"Who are you?" she asked, massaging her wrists.

"The name's Mags; General of the Lombax Praetorian Guard, Chairman of the Lombax Council, and-"

"Head researcher at the Center for Advanced Lombax Research…!" gasped Kit, and Ratchet suddenly remembered why the voice sounded so familiar to him. "You mapped every known dimension in the universe!"

"Why, yes, that's correct!" said Mags, looking a little taken aback at the astute answer, but wearing a rather smug grin all the same. "Managed it all in just under a year, in fact. From this, and how Rivet is from D2-416, I take it you guys've been to Savali?"

They all nodded, minus Zedderek, who merely looked confused.

"Just as I expected." Mags said with a grin, looking at Ratchet. "When you mentioned how your lucky lady here-" Mags nodded at Rivet, who's mismatched hands promptly curled into fists as the yellow eyes fell on her, and she took an almost imperceptible step closer to Ratchet. "-was from D2-416, That's when I started piecing things together. You get around a lot, don't you Ratchet? Solana, Polaris, alternate dimensions..."

Mags fell momentarily silent, musing over his own thoughts before he straightened up and turned around.

"Caliper - ", he said firmly, addressing the female soldier whom Rivet had kicked, "Cancel high-alert and send a notice to the settlement – all danger's passed."

Caliper gave a quick salute, and wordlessly she ran off at once, ascending the steps down which they had descended earlier, and vanishing from sight.

"The rest of you, carry on." Mags added, and the crowd of soldiers broke, making for passages at opposite ends of the hall.

"It's fascinating to meet you all! Might I trouble you each for a little backstory on yourselves? What about you, miss?"

"Huh?" Talwyn gasped, caught off guard by Mags addressing her so unexpectedly. "Oh, well… Okay!"

And so, taking about five minutes, Talwyn had summarized herself to the Lombax general, how she had spent her childhood and adolescence studying Lombaxes before joining forces with Ratchet and Clank in her search for her father.

"Ahh, so you're Captain Apogee's daughter!" Mags said jovially, and Talwyn twitched convulsively.

"You know my father?"

The Markazian took a step forward, her eyes bright and wide.

"I haven't seen him since I was a kid! Where is he? Can you take me to him?"

But Mags didn't answer right away. Instead, his smile faded somewhat, and Ratchet had a feeling, looking into his citrine eyes, that the General was thinking he spoke too soon.

Talwyn noticed the unease in Mags' eyes.

"General… Where's my dad?" she repeated.

"He… fled when Tachyon and his soldiers attacked Havenon IV." Mags said somberly. "I saw his starship jump to warp speed just before the Harbinger was released... He managed to escape, but as for what became of him after… I don't know… I'm sorry…"

"I… I see." replied Talwyn. "Well… Anyway… Zedd? Wanna introduce yourself?"

Tal's voice was firm, but Ratchet saw the disappointment and the despair in her eyes, and as the Markazian sank back beside Rivet and Kit, Ratchet was sure she had rolled attention off of herself on purpose.

Fortunately for her, Zedderek's story was an awkward and painful one. He broke off repeatedly and stuttered a lot, particularly around the parts where his involvement in Tachyon's return were involved. Knowing he would be imprisoned or punished more viciously for bringing the Cragmite back to power, Zedderek instead made it sound as though Tachyon had invaded his home world in a surprise attack and enslaved him as the brightest mind on the planet and forced him to work for his cause.

"*Sigh*…Yup…" Mags said, somberly. "You wouldn't be the first Tachyon's put to work under threat of destruction."

Mags turned, and Zedderek gave a sigh of relief.

"Ratchet and Clank… I know all about you two, of course!" Mags said, his eyes moving from the male Lombax then down to the silver bot. "Such incredible stories… Almost the stuff of legend, the things you two have done."

"Oh, well… Y'know…" Ratchet said, trying to sound modest as though it were nothing, but feeling his chest swell proudly regardless.

"Forgive my impertinence-", said Clank, suddenly, "But if you truly knew who we were, why remain silent for so long? Why not seek after Ratchet, the son of your friend Kaden?"

Ratchet's ears twitched. Clank rose a good point. Why had the Lombaxes never come after him, if they were so determined to bring all of their kind into this safe haven?

Mags looked a little uneasy.

"Well… I'll confess I never would have imagined the famous Ratchet was the son of Kaden… he disappeared during the chaos, and last I saw before the rift closed, Lyra had... And Kaden was..." but Mags broke off suddenly, and did not elaborate.

"(Lyra…)"

So that was his mother's name… she had remained behind while Kaden assisted with the evacuation, and died during the search for him, for Ratchet…

Recalling how he had lived on Veldin since he was under a year old, Ratchet wondered vaguely what had happened that caused him to be separated from his parents.

"When we learned there was a young Lombax out there keeping peace in the galaxies-" Mags continued, "-we were hard pressed; The Cragmites were gone, but we knew Tachyon was still out there, hell-bent on finding the Dimensionator and finishing what he started. To reveal ourselves, to reveal to Tachyon that we were comin' back would've put the entire system in danger… So we made the difficult decision to remain hidden… Though not without a plan, of course! Ever since the Fall twenty-five years ago, we've been scheming up ways to end Tachyon for good and put this eons-old conflict to rest."

Silence fell in the hallway again.

It did make sense, Ratchet thought… Mags was right – if the Lombaxes gave their presence away, it would put the entire system in danger; Had so much as a single soul caught even a glimpse of a Lombax's tail, the genocidal dictator would have laid the planet to waste. It was also the perfect means for the Lombaxes to plot a counterattack, undisturbed, should Tachyon come back. And hadn't Locke and Derek told them, their first night aboard the Phoenix, how the Lombaxes had come from 'nowhere' and began turning the tides in their favor again, before so many fell to the life-sucking Vixteron Staff? Such a prompt counterattack would certainly imply they had been scheming how to take the Cragmite emperor out during their time in exile…

Mags sniffed again, and Ratchet forced himself back to the present. "So much to talk about… But for now, let's hear from your lovely la-"

"Don't touch!" Rivet snapped.

Mags, who had extended a hand to shake Rivet's, promptly froze and blinked. Rivet was glaring up into Mags' confused yellow eyes, her ears flared, the muscles in her left arm flexing, and her posture that of someone preparing to defend herself from an oncoming attacker.

Ratchet's stomach began squirming uneasily, but after an awkward silence, Mags hitched a smile back onto his face.

"Your mistrust is understandable." He said matter-of-factly, turning on the spot, and gesturing for them to follow him as he set off up the hall. "After an unceremonious 'welcome home' like that… No matter, I'll make this up to you and your friends, I swear it. Now come. I have a lot to show you! With Kaden's son back, and his unstoppable robot companion at his side-" Clank looked suddenly smug, "-things just took a definite upturn!"

Ratchet hurried forward, questions about his father burning in his chest.

Mags leaned down as Ratchet approached, and whispered into his ear.

"A real fiery one, that girlfriend of yours… You really are Kaden's boy, heh… Lyra was the same way."

Ratchet blushed.

"Oh, ahh… Th-that so? W-well, I uhmm…" he stammered uncertainly, managing an awkward grin. He certainly hadn't planned on asking any questions like that about his parents…

They began ascending a set of stairs, Mags in front, Ratchet and Clank close behind, Rivet and Kit right on Ratchet's tail, Talwyn and Zedderek bringing up the rear.

"Since when've the Lombaxes spoken Omnilectus?" Talwyn asked over everyone's heads. "I was expecting Zedderek an' I were gonna have to interpret. The ruins all over Polaris are littered in Lombaxian."

Ratchet noticed the determinedly flat tone in her voice, and though he couldn't see her, he could tell she was trying to keep her mind off her missing father.

"Lombaxes speak another language?" Ratchet heard Rivet whisper to Kit.

"Since the Fall, actually." Mags replied as they stepped off the landing and turned down a high-ceilinged hall decorated with tall, leafy plants and hung with a Lombax banner, lit by sunlight through the tall windows. "A bit of a wakeup call you could say... The Council decided we should start picking up the universal tongue so that when we returned to strike back against Tachyon and his army we could smoothly transition into his enemies' forces without a language barrier… In theory. Didn't quite work out the way we planned… Once all those rifts started opening up seven months ago, word reached us that Tachyon was slaughtering every Lombax he could find. I don't suppose any of you would know anything about that, right?"

"Uhhhh…" said Ratchet and Rivet together.

"Just kidding, heh… There's no way famous Ratchet, the son of Kaden, Keeper of the Dimensionator, and Clank the unstoppable 'deathbot' woulda caused such a catastrophic disaster!"

The male Lombax's ears drooped and he turned to glance over his shoulder at Clank, who was looking immensely awkward.

"Once all that started happening it became a race against time... We were almost at the answer to solving the Cragmite problem for good when he found us. If only he'd waited just another day… The Hammer was so close… But me an' about a thousand others were captured and used as that Lord Valen's 'testers' for those foul creations of his… I was one of the lucky few to escape."

Ratchet's ears twitched.

Was Mags saying what Ratchet thought he was?

"Hammer?!" Talwyn gasped, but Clank's voice overrode hers, clearly following his own trail of thought.

"So you were the one who escaped! Documented in those research papers at Tekogai Outpost!" Clank added as Mags turned his head and raised a thick black eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, that was me." Mags said, simply, "Took a nasty cut and several broken bones, but I was able to escape with about a hundred others. Might notta been able to if the Council hadn't insisted I take over as General…"

"The Council insisted? Why?" Kit asked as they approached a grav-lift.

"No one else fit the mold, really… Says something about the state of things when an archivist is made a military General, doesn't it? Everyone else was dead… The only one rightfully fit for such a position woulda been Kaden and... Well, had Alister Azimuth not-" Mags broke off rather abruptly.

Ratchet's stomach turned over. He knew why Mags had stopped, why his eyes were suddenly full of bitterness. He knew how Alister, the former General and Elder Councilman for the Center of Advanced Lombax Research, had convinced the Council to grant Tachyon full access to their archives and secrets, the consequences of which had lead not only Ratchet's parents to their deaths, but put the entire Lombax race at the number one spot of the universe's most endangered races.

The memories of this revelation from years back, and of Alister's obsessed desire to repair what he'd done, even if it meant killing his best friend's son or destroying the universe in the process, were still painful to think about

"Who was Alister Azimuth?" Rivet asked, her curiosity overruling her pointed, disgruntled, and distrustful silence, and Ratchet's stomach clenched more painfully.

"Let us not worry about that just now." Clank said abruptly. "It is a long, arduous story; I do not think Mags is in much a mind to divulge at the moment. Is this a correct assessment, General?"

Mags' ears flicked back up to their full height once more.

"Spot on, actually… Maybe later, Rivet." Said Mags, the door to the grav-lift closing and beginning to ascend.

The knot in Ratchet's stomach eased, and he felt a sudden rush of gratitude toward Clank.

Rivet however looked a little put off, and her ears flopped as she gave a small frown and a small grunt of frustration. Be she merely crossed her arms and pointedly stared at the ceiling, her tail swaying easily behind her.

The lift slowed and eventually stopped with a small jolt.

"For now, I must check on something in the atrium ahead, then we must head to the Chamber of Belittlement."

"Chamber- Wha-?

"Not a name I chose." Said Mags, stepping forward as the doors began to open. "An old leftover from when Abracius Donahue got into it with Perseus Celsius over his proposal for waste-neutralizing underpants in UCE 426."

*SNRK*

Everyone turned at the loud, badly suppressed snort behind them in time to see Rivet forcing a look of determined stoicism on her face.

After a pause, Mags walked on and, rolling her eyes, Talwyn followed after him.

Ratchet raised an eyebrow at his girlfriend, and the corners of her mouth twitched.

"For heaven's sake Rivet, act your age!" Kit hissed as they followed after Mags.

"Aw c'mon Kit!" Rivet hissed back, the corners of her mouth twisting into an irrepressible smile.

"Didn't'cha hear that Kit?" asked Ratchet in a whisper. "A dude with a funny name like that thinking of inventing something as crazy as waste-neutralizing underpants?"

Ratchet and Rivet both began to giggle like children.

"Indeed!" Clank chimed in. "Engineering special-purpose undergarments… Such nonsense! Do you not agree, Ratchet?"

"What're ya talkin' about, buddy?"

"Imagine a teenage Lombax shock-charging his underpants and passing it off as testing the voltage required for a soothing massage! 'Electro-stimulation therapy' indeed…"

Ratchet's face burned scarlet.

Rivet's face flushed pink too, but she burst into a fit of renewed giggles, soon joined by Kit and followed by Clank.

"H-hey!" Ratchet said feebly, trying desperately to think of some way he could save face in front of Rivet over something he did when he was young and stupid, "It wasn't… But it was very… I mean, I… It was a HUGE hit on Umbris!" Ratchet yelped, his voice cracking, making Rivet giggle harder.

"Is everything all right?" Mags called, poking his head around the corner of a large arched doorway through which a hum of talk and a hiss of what sounded like water was echoing.

"Yes!" they both called back hastily.

Ratchet continued forward, but Rivet caught him by the shoulder and held him back.

"Riv?"

Rivet grinned, then leaned forward before saying, in a voice so low that neither Clank nor Kit could hear-

"Leave those 'massages to me, Ratchy~"

"O-oh~…"

Rivet giggled again before stepping away.

"What did she say?" Clank asked.

"N-nothing pal…"

"Is everything all right?"

"Y-yeah! Never felt better, actually…"

"Are you certain? Your body temperature is rising."

"It's- …y'know, just… really hot is all!" Ratchet stammered, following after Rivet and Kit, and trying not to pay more attention to Rivet's swaying hips than he could help.

"It is twenty-two-point-three degrees celsius…"

"M-maybe your temp sensor's malfunctioning!" Ratchet gasped, tugging at his collar as Rivet glanced over her shoulder and winked at him.

"Diagnostic says otherwise…" Clank replied. "Did Rivet say something libidinous agai-"

"What's takin you four?"

Talwyn peeked around the corner at the two Lombaxes and bots again, an eyebrow raised.

"We're comin'!" Ratchet and Rivet said together, the former feeling thoroughly relieved at an excuse to ignore Clank.

Stepping through the tall archway, all thought of the last two minutes promptly faded from memory.

The two Lombaxes froze, awed at what met their eyes.

Elaborately-designed columns, emblazoned with those familiar runes Ratchet recognized as the language of his kin, stood in the four corners of a vast atrium flooded with light. A large square of soft, royal blue carpeting was set into the floor on the opposite side of the room, upon which were tall statues of some unknown mythical beasts, as well as small tables and chairs in which sat a few of long-eared Lombaxes in lab coats. Spiraling staircases which encircled artistic light fixtures lead up to the second floor, which Ratchet could see was lined with decorative foliage and paintings of unfamiliar worlds. A brilliant chandelier made of solid raritanium hung from the ceiling, sparkling in the beams of the afternoon sun that poured in from the windows and from the glass-domed ceiling in the center of the roof.

Large red banners embroidered with the golden Lombax insignia fluttered lightly from a gentle breeze that blew in from above, and a fountain stood in the middle of the room, with three stone Lombaxes in the center forming a triangle, each holding three stone effigies over their heads – an Omniwrench, an Omniglove, and the Dimensionator itself, which all met in the center of the triangle the carved figures formed. Lastly, behind the water fountain and emitting a soft, glowing blue light that danced off the water of the fountain, was a massive, spherical projection of what looked like celestial bodies, around which were gathered the bulk of the murmuring Lombaxes.

"Whoah… This is…"

"Fancy…"

Both Lombaxes said, breathlessly. Talwyn and Zedderek had already walked off in the direction of the water fountain with Mags, looking as impressed as they felt.

"I quite agree!" Kit said excitedly. "This is more visually striking than anything my GPU could have fabricated! Even after my eight-thousand, seven-hundred and sixty-two hours of studying Lombax architecture on Savali!"

"How many hours?" Rivet asked, stunned out of captivated silence.

Clank however was focusing on the concentration of heat signatures near the large hologram in the center of the room.

"Ratchet, Rivet, Kit… What do you suppose all the Lombaxes are doing gathered around that map?"

"Map, ya say?" Ratchet asked, his ears twitching in interest, and turning to look focus more on the large projection.

Now he looked at it more closely, he could see that Clank was right. It wasn't just some pretty, decorative hologram with red and white specks of light dotting its surface; there were scrolling lines of text popping up above and beneath each light, and as they appeared, Ratchet distinctly saw the Lombaxes at the projection's base were deep in conversation as they pointed out different specks of light while others took note after note on PDAs. So deeply immersed in their speculation and note-taking were they in fact, that none seemed to notice their General or two outsiders who had approached them from behind.

His curiosity seizing him, Ratchet stepped forward, and Rivet followed suit, Kit at her back.

They passed the fountain, its soft rushing of water which poured from the three Lombaxes' ears draining out the low murmur of the crowd, and approached the gray-furred General, the towering Markazian, and the slightly hunch-backed Tharpod.

Now much closer, Ratchet could now read some of the lines of text that were popping up beside each of the specks of swirling light, and as he focused upon one of the red spots, his heart gave a jolt.

'Solana Galaxy –

population: ~94,791,064,322

planets: 196 known

Capitol: Aleero City, Kerwan

Status: Lost

Known Locations of Weakness: [Database file; click to access]

Known Locations of Strength: [Database file; click to access]'

Ratchet's stomach sank like a stone. So were these specks of light-

"What's all the red glowy stuff?" Rivet asked.

The female Lombax was approaching Mags' side, her curiosity overriding her disgruntled, pointed silence toward the General.

"Galaxies under Cragmite control." Mags replied, somberly.

"Wh-what?!" Kit and Rivet gasped together, the Lombax taking an automatic step back, and drawing the attention of a couple standers-by.

Talwyn's head snapped down to the Lombax standing right beside her.

"Mags, if what you're saying is true, then that means Tachyon controls over a quarter of our Dimension! This can't be right! If they were that powerful, then how come they didn't expand their reach beyond Polaris during the First Great War?"

"What you need to understand, Miss Apogee-" Mags said, not turning around, but speaking as yet another speck of white blazed suddenly crimson, "-is the Cragmites are far, far more powerful than they were in UCE 105. Not only did they have over four hundred eras in which to multiply and brood on their defeat, but they now have a leader armed with all the secrets and weapons the Lombaxes ever devised. They would have extended their empire beyond Polaris if they had the resources back then... Why else do you think they tried to build the Hammer?"

"(The Hammer…)" Ratchet repeated privately.

Mags had said earlier they had been 'close' and mentioned this weapon of destruction… The Lombaxes were searching for it too, but the General hadn't said whether or not they had actually acquired it.

"A genius plan, really-" Mags continued, and Ratchet forced himself back to earth. "Wipe out all members of a single race by the simple act of killing one creature, terrify the universe into submission, and expand the boundaries of your empire to their fullest extent all in one fell swoop. They're tearin' the dimension apart in their search for it… It's just lucky we found it first."

Ratchet's stomach leapt.

"You found it?!" he blurted, so loudly that passers-by actually looked up from their notes, recognizing they had visitors for the first time.

"Mags, are you serious? You found the Solar Hammer? Where was it? Where is it now?!" Talwyn Demanded.

The Lombax General turned around, looking rather taken aback at the sudden and unexpected urgency in her voice.

"Whoa, hold on Talwyn, just take it easy! Yes, we managed to track it down shortly after we escaped Lord Valen's creatures on Cheunor… It's parked in the sky behind the capitol here. But there's too much to say without having everyone present, so I'm calling a urgent conference in the next twenty minutes."

"'Urgent'?" Ratchet and Clank repeated together.

"For what?" said Rivet and Kit.

"We need to get you guys filled in properly!" Mags said, starting to walk toward one of the

spiraling sets of stairs, and the two Lombaxes, the Markazian, and Tharpod followed. "Can't expect you guys to come here an' join our cause without knowing the plans, right?"

He suddenly faltered, as though truck by a sudden thought.

"You do plan to join us in this war effort, right?" he asked, looking back at them.

"Of course!" Ratchet and Rivet said at once, and Ratchet's tail flicked behind him in a spark of pleasure. "We've been fighting for months in our dimension already!"

"Seconded." Chorused Clank and Kit. "You shall have us at your side." "I will do what I can." Zedderek said somberly. "Likewise." Added Talwyn.

Ratchet's eyes flicked onto her. Though she sounded sincere, there was an unmistakable chilly edge to her voice, as though she was disapproving of something. What was wrong with her all of a sudden?

Mags however seemed not to notice.

"Excellent! We need to know everything you can tell us about conditions on the other side."

Mags turned back and continued ascending the stairs as he pressed a spot on his left gauntlet and a holo-screen appeared before him, which he began entering a message into.

"Just a moment Mags-"

"Talwyn?"

"Delay that meeting another minute or two; I need to summon my co-captains."

"Oh! Very well then, we could use more bright minds like yours!"

Despite how seconds before she had looked and sounded cold and stern, the Markazian was suddenly looking rather taken aback at the unexpected complement.

"Well-" she said, somewhat hesitantly, "They're… I dunno if 'bright' is how I'd describe 'em but… they did lead the Alliance for five months all on their own so…"

Talwyn shrugged.

Five minutes later, Ratchet, Rivet, Clank, and Kit had the privilege of witnessing the entire Phoenix entering in through the rift, and Talwyn screaming into her communicator as the capitol erupted in a frenzy over the appearance of the Alliance's flagship.

Not having seen vessels so large since the massacre on Havenon IV, the Lombaxes raised an uproar, fearing another attack, and the Praetorian Guard was off in a flash, despite Mags' broadcast they would have friendly visitors.

"LOCKE, DEREK! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU GUYS THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" she shrieked. "Mags! Call your fighters off! There're CIVILIANS aboard that ship!"

A small passenger ship arrived about three minutes later.

Both warbots were taller than the Markazian, but they cowered as her rage crashed over them.

"Don't you realize what you LOOKED LIKE JUST NOW?!" she shouted, her face flushed and her eyes furious. "These people've been on high alert ever since Tachyon found 'em on Havenon IV! I'd've thought you two of all people woulda remembered that!"

Ratchet and Rivet averted their eyes, focusing on a beetle scuttling along the petal of flowers that had been planted next to some trees in a raised garden near the capitol's gates, while Clank and Kit began a whispered but no-less fascinating discussion on the hypotheses presented in Singularities and Other Cataclysmic Events, all four of them pretending they couldn't hear the shrieks from behind them.

"Wasn't our idea, captain!" Locke said, cringing away from the Markazian who stood less than a foot away from both of them.

"It was Cap'n Qwark!" Derek squawked. "Said he thought the Lombaxes oughtta know their savior'd arrived!"

"QWARK?!" Talwyn screeched, her voice growing so shrill that soon only bats would be able to hear her. "Where is he?!"

"He err… disappeared when he heard'ja screamin' over the communicator!"

Talwyn stormed off, raving to thin air over what she'd do to Qwark the next time she saw him, her speech growing so fast and furious that she was nigh incomprehensible.

Clank leapt off Ratchet's back.

"I will handle this. Do not fear-", he added, seeing the anxious expression on Ratchet's face, "I shall be back soon." And he bolted off after the steaming Markazian.

After a rather awkward silence, Mags stepped forward to introduce himself.

Locke and Derek both transitioned rapidly from nervous wrecks of old warbots to ecstatic upon meeting the Lombax General, but just as quickly, and rather abruptly, began berating Mags for leaving them in the dark once they recognized his voice.

"Just thought ya'd mosey on off an' leave us to thrash around in the mud, did'ja?" Locke asked, his voice full of sarcastic ire.

"You any idea the sorta mess you an' your Plutonium Guard left us in out there?!"

"Praetorian…" Mags corrected him, looking rather put off by the sudden abuse being rendered to him. "Yes, yes I know it's been bad - no awful - for you guys but-"

"But nothin'!" Locke interrupted, "While you lot've been up here tweakin your nuts-"

Rivet snorted again, and Ratchet fought to keep his face straight while Kit punched them both in the arm.

"-WE'VE been out there getting' squished like needle wasps caught between a-"

"All right, enough!" Mags said loud and firm, cutting across the two warbots for the first time. "Look, I know we coulda and shoulda kept you guys more informed, but it was too dangerous! We're the only ones with a plan to defeat the Emperor for good, and if we gave away our positions,

ALL hope woulda been lost! Just take my assurances - we have a plan and we're gonna fill all of you in. Just follow me, I've called a conference and we should be heading back inside or we'll be late."

"A 'plan' eh?" repeated Derek, his look of frustration vanishing as quick as a lightbulb blowing.

"Yes, a plan… And a good one too, you mark my words… It's been eleven months in the making, after all."

And on that enigmatic note, Mags turned and walked back through the gates into the capitol, followed eagerly by the two warbots and, after a short pause, joined by Zedderek.

"Perhaps I can be of use…" they heard him mutter.

The two Lombaxes and the former warbot remained where they stood for a moment.

"Well… It cannot be denied they know how to make a dramatic entrance." Commented Kit.

Ratchet's ears twitched at the familiar sound of clanking footsteps, and turning, he saw the diminutive silver bot walking alongside Talwyn.

"Where're they off to?"

She sounded much calmer now, though her long, pointed ears continued to glow crimson in the sunlight.

"Meeting's about to start." Rivet said, as Ratchet lifted Clank onto his back again. "You good?" Talwyn shrugged.

"Only until I see Qwark again…" she said shortly, and Rivet cracked a small smile, making the male Lombax's tingling nerves over Talwyn's recent outburst subside slightly.

Ten minutes later, Ratchet, Rivet, Clank, Kit, and Talwyn were ascending to the second floor of the capitol building and joined a small crowd of mixed Lombaxes, some in lab coats, others in full battle-array, their faces hidden behind intimidating-looking helmets.

Though the Lombaxes were not a tall people, the race of feline engineers nevertheless stood head and shoulders above their visitors, and cast curious, interested looks at the pair of them and their robot companions as they passed, while others glanced up into the towering Markazian's face, some looking intimidated by her stature, others intrigued at the newcomer's unfamiliar species.

Though distinctly uncomfortable at all the attention they were garnering, Ratchet and Rivet couldn't help gawking back in poorly disguised fascination at their lost family - Tall and short, bespectacled and lense-less, tails that were long and thin like Ratchet's and some as bushy (but not really) as Rivet's. There were coats of fur - orange, brown, white, black, gray, yellow, and red everywhere they looked, and there was even one that was a curious shade of blue. There were just so many… And they hadn't even seen the settlement yet!

The longer they walked, the more Ratchet began to notice the subtle change in the surrounding crowd's behavior.

At first having spared their two younger, shorter kin little more than curious glances or a warm smile in their preoccupied states, the Lombaxes of this safe haven were suddenly doing double takes.

Some Lombaxes still looked puzzled, others continued to smile warmly. But some whispered feverishly to one another behind their hands, and at first Ratchet wondered, with a sinking sensation in his stomach, whether they were being judged… Until he heard someone whisper Clank's name to a neighbor.

The whispering began growing louder as they trapsed toward the large set of highly-polished double-doors, upon which was emblazoned yet another Lombax insignia, and Ratchet perceived it was beginning to dawn on the crowd that 'Ratchet and Clank' had come to their new homeworld.

"Perceptive, these Lombaxes…" Kit hissed, sounding definitely impressed at the Lombaxes' astuteness. "We have been in this dimension precisely forty-one minutes, and already they know the famous Ratchet and Clank have arrived."

Ratchet blushed slightly.

"Oh c'mon Kit, don't kid'jerself! We've been outta action or years, it's you two these guys're talkin' about."

"Ratchet-", Clank hissed, so low that only the male Lombax could hear, "Do not shun Kit's compliments."

Ratchet glanced over his shoulder. Clank? Seeking praise?

Rivet's cheeks flushed slightly at Ratchet's words.

"Oh, I… Yeah! Totally!" she said, trying and failing to give a haughty smile, which came out more awkward and pleasurably embarrassed than superior.

The double doors ahead swung outward of their own accord, and the Lombaxes leading the procession entered a dimly lit room that reminded Ratchet, from here at least, of the conference room aboard the Phoenix.

"Ah, Talwyn, there you are!", said a voice behind them, and the Markazian jumped as Mags stepped out of the shadows from behind the door.

"Oh, sorry!" the Lombax General said hastily upon noting the rather annoyed look on Talwyn's face. "It's just that I've spoken with your co-captains and Zedderek, and they've given me a basic rundown of all that's happened. Do you mind taking the epicenter when the time comes?"

"The what now?" Talwyn said, looking frankly bewildered at the unexpected invitation and the unfamiliar terminology.

"Oh!" she added, as Mags gestured toward a wide, open space toward the center of the room.

Too short to see, Ratchet stood on tip-toe and leaned around in an attempt to catch what Mags was pointing to.

Around a column at the opposite end of the room, Ratchet saw large rising benches that formed a sort of miniature amphitheater, the seats all faced toward a platform that was elevated about half a foot off the ground. Leading off from this stage were two rows of tables that stood about seven feet apart, running parallel down the center of the room, and ending just a few feet from where the six of them stood. As he watched, the Lombax saw the rows of circular, rising benches beginning to flood with the crowd that he, Clank, Rivet, Kit, and Talwyn had followed, and a miniscule handful of Lombax soldiers were taking seats along the tables, leaving gaps between them as though expecting more to arrive.

However, as the benches began to fill, the seats running along the table remained almost completely empty of occupants.

"What are the tables for?" Clank asked.

"Ah, those are reserved for members of the Lombax High-Council."

"Where are the others?" inquired Kit, her blue, fluorescent eyes raking the many open seats. "There are still so many open seats!"

Mags' eyes darkened again, and his ears drooped.

"That's because there are no High-Council members left…"

Mags looked around at Ratchet, ignoring the shocked looks on the others' faces.

"Your father elected me as the next in line should something befall himself and Alister." He said, somberly. "At the time I thought it was silly; that the Lombaxes'd never need me."

He smiled bitterly.

"The universe has a cruel sense of humor, sometimes… Anyhow, let's be off; the meeting's about to-"

"I can walk, thank you."

Talywn jerked her arm free of Mags' grip.

"Oh, right! Sorry!" Mags said hastily, looking rather sheepish. "Just excited… We haven't had a convention in months, and this is likely to be the biggest one we've had since… Well…"

Mags' eyes darkened.

Ratchet watched him curiously. Was everything all right?

Mags jerked his head.

"Locke and Derek are waiting for us at the foot of the epicenter. Ratchet, Rivet-" Mags looked over his shoulder at the two young Lombaxes. "You two have seats at the foot of the stands."

Five minutes later, the rising benches were almost completely filled, Ratchet and Rivet sitting in the very front at the bottom. Despite the large crowd in the stands, only two more Lombax soldiers had added to those who sat at the long tables, whose chairs had swiveled so that their occupants could see the center of the stage.

Mags stepped forward, and as he did so, all but a singular light went out and the soft hum that filled the room since their arrival ceased immediately, putting Ratchet in mind of the one occasion Clank had convinced the male Lombax to go and watch a live musical performance back in Megalopolis.

"Thank you all for coming at such short notice.", Mags began, his voice loud and clear, and suddenly a lot more formal than it had been when Ratchet first heard it through the Lorbs on Savali.

"I understand each and every one of you are busy, monitoring the present situation. Things are reaching desperate levels; Data collected by our R&D shows the Cragmite Empire now spans across a quarter of D2-61, with no sign of slowing down." He said somberly. "Although we

anticipated swift action from Tachyon should he attempt to expand the reach of his power, the sheer speed at which he has accomplished this task has shattered all projections. We are forced to conclude, frightening though it is, and opening as many questions it opens as it answers, that the Emperor has acquired the Dimensionator."

Mutterings and whispers followed this disconcerting statement. The many researchers in the stands and a couple of the soldiers that lined the table where exchanging serious, uneasy looks with one another as they expressed their shared shock, fear, and in some cases confirmation, obviously from the few who 'knew' that this was why the Cragmites were spreading so rapidly.

There was the sound of something sliding across a wooden surface, and Rivet turned to see Ratchet slumped low in his seat, his ears drooped, and his expression that of one who was just told they had an incurable disease. Clank had looked away from Mags, his green, fluorescent eyes dimmed and full of remorse.

Rivet placed her metal hand on Ratchet's shoulder.

The darkened emeralds met the bright, breathtakingly blue sapphires, and Ratchet's feebly beating heart gave a leap of surprise.

The female Lombax had leaned forward, ears drooped slightly. Her eyes were fixed upon his, and though she remained silent, Ratchet perceived a thousand words of comforting reassurance behind her soft gaze, the small smile on her face.

Rather in spite of how heavy the weight of the knowledge that it was ultimately down to him and the wishes of his selfish, teenager self, and his pride on Cheunor that prevented him from freezing Tachyon in a block of ice to recover the Dimensionator, he could tell that Rivet not only didn't blame him, but understood only too well how he felt. She, after all, had spent sixteen years as an exile, dealing with failure after failure, each one more crushing than the last, and losing friend after friend in the war against Nefarious. If there was anyone who could relate to how he felt, it was the breathtaking, white-furred, bushy-tailed female sitting beside him, and after a short pause, Ratchet felt the weight on his heart lessen slightly, and he finally returned her soft smile, hoping to convey as effectively his gratitude.

He straightened up and looked down to his right in time to see Kit sitting back in her seat, and Clank's eyes glowing just as brightly as before, his expression once again free of misery and shame.

"That's one hell of an assumption you got there, Mags."

Ratchet looked around, peering down the table and into the shadow to see who had spoken.

The female soldier from earlier, who had ordered Ratchet and the others be taken away as they passed through the capitol's historical hall, had leaned forward and was eyeing the General with deep skepticism.

"Look-", she added, as all heads turned toward her, "it's a reasonable assumption, I'm not disagreeing with that, but still… We're talkin' about a tool that all races've an' all despots've been hunting for the last twenty-five years! 'Sides, even if the Cragmites did find the Dimensionator, there's no way it'd still be in any condition to tear open wormholes to transport the Cragmites across the dimension, especially in such rapid succession! D'you really think that Tachyon's got it? We know a billion different rifts opened a few months back, who's to say that ain't how the Cragmites came back an' the Empire's spread its borders?"

"Because we've seen it, missy!"

Heads turned again in the direction from whence the voice sounded, stern and slightly smug, and Locke marched across the epicenter, past Mags, who opened his mouth as though about to speak, but fell silent as the old warbot placed his metal palms upon the table and stared down at the female soldier.

"Mags, who in Zoni's name is this?" she asked flatly, staring up into the red eyes in mild irritableness.

"Err… Caliper, this is Locke… Locke, Caliper." Mags replied.

"Charmed." Said Caliper, coolly. "So Locke, you've seen it, huh?" she asked, sounding unconvinced.

"With my own two optics. I even made its keeper to stow it away before Tachyon's slimy right hand came aboard our ship an' stole it!"

"That so? You made the Keeper of the Dimensionator himself give it up, without a struggle, and Tachyon's servant came aboard your ship to steal it?"

"Right as light!"

"I see… Tell me Locke, what year were you manufactured, UCE 127?"

"Excuse me-!" Talwyn interrupted suddenly, her pointed ears turning scarlet again as she straightened up in her seat, glaring at the female soldier.

"Steady there, Madam!" Derek said quietly, though he also started to rise from his seat.

"Youth ain't no assurance of reliability, Clippy!" Locke hissed.

"And age is no guarantee of intelligence." Caliper shot back.

"Locke, Caliper, enough!" Mags interrupted, marching over and easing the old warbot away. "We're here to discuss facts and go over plans, not argue over opinions and cast childish insults! We're all adults here, so let's act like 'em, sound good?"

Locke stomped back beside Talwyn and fell into his seat with a thud.

"Look, I'd much rather side with you Caliper- and you, Sig." He added, waving down one of the researchers who had raised their hand to get his attention. They promptly dropped their arm back to their side. "But the fact of the matter is we got witnesses; Witnesses who saw the beginning of the invasion on Cheunor! And that was the location the swarm was traced back to originating from, correct, Keplar?"

"Correct-", piped up a soft, rather croaky voice from the stands behind them. "A Little over four months and twenty-six days, in fact."

"Exactly." Said Mags, resuming his pacing around the stage. "These witnesses not only survived the swarm at its point of origin, but they have joined us this afternoon as guests of honor, and have expressed their desire to aid us in the war effort."

"Hold on-", said one of the male guards at the table – a red-furred, wild-looking male. "You've recruited outsiders to our cause? A Markazian, two old warbots, a hunchback Tharpod, two

miniature data bots, and two runts?"

Both Ratchet and Rivet clutched convulsively at the armrests of their seats, their tempers flaring at once. But Ratchet felt Clank's cool, metal hand close over his, and the male Lombax took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Lombaxes, sure-", amended the soldier, "But still… Are we so desperate, General, that we're accepting help from anyone and everyone who'll sign up? We need experienced fighters; tough fighters! Not ragtag refugees!"

"I take it you didn't hear about the chaos of the last half hour, Vector?" Mags asked, addressing the wild-looking red Lombax.

"I… Of course I did!"

"Then you're well aware you essentially just called Clank, the deathbot of Solana, a flash drive, and Ratchet, the son of Kaden, a useless runt?"

Silence fell over the crowd, the type of silence that pounded on the ear drums like the roaring of a class B star cruiser.

"I…" Vector said, looking awkwardly from Mags to Ratchet and Clank, who sat half hidden in shadow behind the stage.

"You remember the brief alliance we formed with the rebels of D2-61 in the early days of Tachyon's assault, don't you?" Mags asked sharply.

"Of course! I lead three of our four assaults."

"You recall how we fought alongside Locke and Derek in the assault on Reepor?"

"Obviously, seeing as I nearly got blasted myself from that accursed staff."

"And you remember the stories of Ratchet and Clank that reached us on Havenon IV? Did you ever stop to think that, if they survived, they too woulda joined the Alliance?"

This time Vector held his peace.

"You're a Council Member now Vector. You remembered everything else, so next time remember who you are and think before opening your mouth."

Everyone was watching Mags. His ears had flared and he looked angry for the first time since he had shouted for calm in the hallway downstairs.

Mags took several slow, deep breaths, then said, calmly –

"Our guests are going to bring us up to speed on the current situation on things from the other side. Afterward, we shall discuss our plans going forward… Captain Apogee, would you care to start off?"

"Huh? Oh, right!"

Talwyn jerked forward in her seat, clearly forgetting she had agreed to speak, as Mags vacated the stage and sat down, his eyes fixed patiently and curiously on the Markazian.

The mention of Talwyn's surname prompted another excited murmur from the Lombaxes in the

stands behind them.

"Did he say Apogee? As in 'Max' Apogee?"

"No, of course not! That's his daughter, I'll bet you anything! "

Talwyn took up position in the center of the platform, and after a brief pause, she raised her hand for silence, which fell at once.

"Err, yes… Thank you." She said, slightly nervously. "Well… I'm Talwyn Apogee… Lead Captain of the Rebel Alliance, and, up until twelve months ago, Captain of the Polaris Defense Force. And… yeah, what Locke said is true – Tachyon has acquired the Dimensionator." She said, rather lamely.

"However, there is some good news to report…"

And so Talwyn began explaining the war efforts made by the Alliance – their failures such as the loss of the Neptune Research Facility and failing to destroy the Imperial Radio Tower on Theandris, to their victories such as when she, Qwark, Skidd, and Phantom successfully evacuated the planets of Polaris before they could be destroyed by Valen's creations, when Rivet and Kit defeated the Haluan Pirates, and Ratchet's and Clank's victory over Valen and destroying his facility.

"The Pirates are gone, and Valen's finished!?" Mags repeated, spinning in his seat to stare at Locke and Derek, whom Talwyn had requested join her to aid in recounting their journey. "You two kept that quiet when you gave me your summary of things goin' on out there?"

"Well, ya didn't ask now did'ja?" Derek said indignantly.

"Consider it a little payback for goin' so quiet'cherself when ya left us behind to deal with this mess!"

"Locke, Derek, not now." Talwyn said quickly as Mags opened his mouth to retort. "Yes Mags, Rivet and Kit defeated Captain Styggs, and Ratchet and Clank took out Valen and destroyed his facility." She continued, while Locke and Derek looked a little disappointed, and Ratchet supposed they had hoped for an opportunity to berate Mags further for going silent on them.

"Well…" said Mags, looking thoroughly pleased, "Well! Seems like the stories were all true about you guys, then… And it seems like Rivet and Kit are just as capable!"

Beside him, Ratchet heard Rivet let out a soft, barely distinguishable scoff.

"'Just as capable'…" she repeated, looking over into Ratchet's face, and raising an eyebrow at him.

Her eyes were dancing again – dancing with that flame he knew and loved so much, and that told him, quite clearly, that she was determined to outshine him.

"Why stop there?" she hissed, now definitely grinning, "Why not show this guy just who is the best? I saw a range back at that outpost outside the settlement. Whaddaya say, hotshot? Ya down?"

Ratchet grinned back, feeling the flame from her eyes now dancing in his chest.

"Oh, you can try, Riv~" he hissed back, teasingly.

"Yes, it's GREAT news-", said one of the male soldiers sitting along the table, "These victories will play CRUCIAL roles in the days to come!"

"'Zat so?" asked Locke, skeptically.

"Locke-", Talwyn began in a pacifying tone, but the warbot seemed agitated and determined to speak his mind.

"Listen here furball-" Locke said, marching up to Mags, who stood his ground with an eyebrow raised as he stared up into the red optics of the violet-colored machine, "It's all well an' good that we've taken out all these threats-"

"Without'cher help, might we add!"

"But Tachyon still controls a quarter of D2-61, rules an empire of seventy-two fortillion loyalists-"

"'Fortillion'… is not a word…" whispered a thoroughly confused Kit.

"-Possesses the Dimensionator, wields that bleedin' staff o' yours, AND he's empowered by the Lifehold Crystal! The loss of his puppet Styggs an' the lunatic scientist are but scuffs on his old metal-ly knees!"

"You said'ja got a plan, General, so let's hear it already!"

"You dare to speak to the General of the Lombax Praetorian Guard in such a manner?!"

Caliper rose from her seat, her hands curling into fists, but Mags waved her down.

"Calm yourself Caliper, I can handle this."

"He can hand- Derek! Did'ja hear what this rookie just said?!"

"Locke, Derek, enough!" Talwyn barked. "He told us there's a plan, so let the man talk, all right?"

A rather stunned silence followed this, during which every one of the Lombaxes in the rising benches looked everywhere but at the scene that unfolded below.

Ratchet was now twiddling his thumbs and pretending like he couldn't hear anything, though Rivet was watching eagerly, as though hoping to see a fist fly through the air.

"It is impolite to stare." Hissed Kit.

"Oh, fine." Rivet hissed back, a disgruntled look on her face as she settled back into her seat and folded her mismatched arms.

"So-" Talwyn said, pointedly. "Care to join me and let Mags take over again?"

Locke and Derek both bore every appearance of wanting to continue arguing, but even from here Ratchet could feel the chill from her eyes, and the two warbots conceded defeat.

Talwyn sat back down, flanked on either side by the two warbots, both of whom looked somewhere between satisfied and disgruntled.

"All right-", said Mags, loud and clear, and with a firmness in his voice that made Ratchet sit up straight in his seat, focusing all his attention on the Lombax General as he resumed center-stage.

"We've been informed of what conditions are like on the other side, now it's finally onto the main reason I called this meeting… Time to fill you guys in."

Mags was speaking now directly to the eight outsiders who sat in a group in the front and center of the stands, and Ratchet felt Rivet tense up slightly beside him as the citrine eyes passed over her.

"Tachyon does have the Dimensionator, the Vixteron Staff, and the Lifehold Crystal, and while Tachyon's expanding empire is undoubtedly a product of his instincts to conquer and destroy, the unpredictable pattern of each galaxy's fall leads us to believe he's still hunting for the Solar Hammer."

Talwyn shifted in her seat a few feet away, and Ratchet's eyes momentarily left Mags to look at her. However, the Markazian's face was half-hidden in shadow, and from this angle it was impossible to make out what she was thinking without openly staring at her.

He turned his eyes back on Mags.

"Now if you guys've found this place, it's only too likely you've heard of this Hammer too and know what it was built for."

All eight of them nodded at once.

"But like I said earlier- " Mags continued, "We found it first…"

Ratchet's ears twitched and he actually turned his head this time, for he had distinctly heard Talwyn clear her throat - something she had often done while the two of them had still been together, and which always happened whenever she was on the verge of telling him off.

"Naturally, we brought it here for safe-keeping. Our top minds have all been hard at work studying every facet of the machine… And found it's every bit as fascinating, and terrible, as legends said. In short, the weapon is a mobile spacecraft, engineered to be operable by a single pilot. To power its destructive beam, the Hammer draws energy from stars, or suns. The solar energy then undergoes a rapid sort of… 'refinery' process in which it's infused with something from the people whom the users of the Hammer wish to destroy - anything that contains the DNA of the condemned creature's species. When the Solar Hammer strikes anyone belonging to that species, they are vaporized from the intense heat and the crushing force of seventy-one zetatons per square inch. But at the molecular level, this refined and repurposed solar energy and the molecules that make up the repurposed DNA react with the shreds of DNA left behind by the victim, and causes what I can only describe as the 'light-a-match-in-a-room-full-of-dust-particles' effect, but on a universal scale. Powerful rays of this solar energy erupt in every direction and can travel trillions of miles in seconds. These rays, encoded with the DNA of the Hammer's victim's species, pass harmlessly through those whose DNA doesn't match, but when passing through a person or creature belonging to the species that was killed by the solar beam, immediately undergoes extreme, instantaneous ebullism as intense pressure generated by the heat and energy is released by these waves. The victim combusts as the blood and bodily temperature rapidly escalates to above nine hundred degrees Celsius, and within seconds nothing remains except ash."

"Typical Cragmite design-" Axel scoffed. "Killing in the most sadistic, theatric ways possible…"

Ratchet shivered slightly. This weapon was even worse than he thought… As if the means of death didn't sound horrible enough, the idea that you could be simply minding your own business, trillions of miles away, blissfully unaware of anything wrong in the universe, and suddenly in an explosion of agony your body erupted into flames, leaving you aware only just long enough to feel unendurable anguish and to know the end had come before everything faded and you and every

one of your kind ceased to exist.

He looked at Clank, who had his face in his hand, clearly thinking hard about what he had just heard.

Ratchet looked to his left and felt his stomach lurch slightly.

Rivet was sitting poker-straight in her seat, her mismatched hands trembling as she clawed at her arm rests, her eyes wide and misted over, and Ratchet realized, as her breathing started growing more labored, that Rivet was having a panic attack from the description of what became of the Hammer's victims.

Ratchet carefully touched her metal arm, and Rivet gave an audible gasp that drew curious looks from a few of their nearby neighbors.

Her head jerked in his direction, her wide, misted, sapphire eyes full of fright.

Ratchet began gently stroking her prosthetic, before trailing his fingers up her shoulder and neck and tickling her cheek, never breaking eye contact.

It was simple, but an effective tactic he had picked up on Veracros.

During the early days of their exile, Rivet had awoken in the middle of the night in a panic. She had experienced another nightmare, specifically one of the night in which she had watched two of her friends burned alive on holo-vision by Nefarious Troopers, and for a while she had been so upset and confused by the vividness of her dream she was borderline irrational.

Upon calming down, she had confessed to Ratchet how she struggled to sleep for half her life, fearing she would be captured in her sleep by imperial scouts, and sentenced to execution herself. She told him how she frequently woke up, fearing she heard someone attempting to force entry to her home in that small cave on Sargasso, and how her fear of being caught with no one to know or help kept her awake.

The entire time she spoke, Ratchet had sat right at her side, his hand cupping her cheek, caressing the girl he loved so much as she spilled her worst fears to him. He assured her he would never let anything like that happen to her, and that as long as she was with him, he would do everything in his power to make her feel loved, comfortable, and safe, all while tickling her cheek.

The female Lombax had closed her eyes and pressed her face into his hand as he spoke.

His touch was so gentle and so warm, and felt so good… She never had anyone treat her like he did before, like she was more than just a fellow soldier, more than an asset to bring about a greater good. Ratchet treated her like someone who held irreplaceable value, who deserved to be loved, and was more precious than the most fabulous treasures in the universe. And yes, though at the time she wasn't sure how she felt about being treated so tenderly, like she was made of glass at times, she never once asked him to stop… she didn't want him to stop… Because she knew that he treated her this way out of true, genuine love and care.

She blinked, and found herself looking into bright green emeralds that were alive with a slowly burning fire, but unlike the flames that slew so many of her friends, contrary to the searing hot rays that had crippled her right arm, the fire blazing in Ratchet's eyes flooded her with warmth and serenity, and she knew that she was safe. She knew that he would never hurt her, and he would take care of her.

She sighed, then lifted her metal hand and touched his as he continued tickling her cheek.

Her eyes had cleared now, and in place of the frozen mist, he saw again that blazing heat that was so often there whenever she looked at him.

She smiled, and he smiled back leaning over toward her.

"I'm here... Everything's gonna be all right, honey. I promise."

"I know." She hissed back, and she had to suppress a gleeful squeak as Ratchet planted a soft kiss on her ear.

"Fortunately-" Mags said now, and both Ratchet and Rivet returned their attention to the center of the room. "-The Cragmites' first attempts at utilizing this weapon were a complete and utter disaster for them. When we recovered it, the starcraft was in shambles – four hundred eras of decay, damages from its initial tests… Shambles, I tell you!" Mags repeated.

"Forgive the interruption-", Clank said, and heads turned to look at the silver bot as he stood up in his seat so as to be seen by the others. "-But what is the status of this Solar Hammer?"

Talwyn moved again, and Ratchet saw, out of the corner of his eye, the Markazian looking intently at Clank.

"You said it was in shambles when you found it-" Clank continued into the silence, "however the structure we saw on our approach to the capitol appeared in pristine condition… At least from afar… Is it operational?"

Ratchet and Rivet both stared at him. Did Clank realize what it sounded like he was asking? Mags answered at once.

"It was in shambles, yes, that is true… But you're absolutely right! The Solar Hammer is in excellent condition now!" Mags said cheerfully. "It is not functional, but rest assured, repairs are underway as we speak, and should be done in-"

"REPAIRS?!"

Everyone jumped at the sudden shout.

Talwyn had jumped to her feet, and Ratchet saw, with growing unease, the look in her eyes that he had seen on the night they had broken up – a look of cold, furious disbelief.

"Tal-", began Ratchet in a feeble voice, but the Markazian went on, her voice growing shriller with every word-

"That thing is a Cragmite weapon! It's a threat to the entire universe! Tachyon has the Dimensionator, the Vixteron Staff, the Lifehold Crystal for gods' sakes! Do you really wanna give him the chance to take the Solar Hammer too?!"

Talwyn was a good foot taller than Mags at least, and though his yellow eyes looked wary, the gray Lombax nevertheless stood his ground.

"I understand your concerns Talwyn, but rest assured, Tachyon will not be getting his claws on this one! This dimension is charted on only one dimensional map, which unless my memory is faulty from when you explained Rivet's and Kit's mission on Kelith Minor, you got rid of, right?"

"It fell into the sea." Kit supplied.

"…Even better!" Mags said cheerfully. "And apart from that, we have outposts stationed atop many of the floating islands and mountaintops as well as twenty-four-seven aerial patrols!"

"We noticed…" Rivet grumbled unexpectedly. It seemed she still had not quite gotten over their less than ceremonious welcome home and treatment from their own kind.

"I'm gonna have to agree with the Captain on this!" Locke said, standing up too. "This is outrageous! To learn of the Vixteron Staff and the Lifehold Crystal was one thing, but I'd'a thought ya'd learnt your lesson after Tachyon used the bloody staff to wipe out your entire Plutonium Guard on Reepor!"

"Tachyon stealing the plans and designs for the staff and the crystal were unforeseen…" Mags began, but Derek cut in now too.

"Let's just say Tachyon somehow does find this place. What's to stop him from takin' control of the Hammer an' open firin' on the settlement, eh?!"

"We keep the settlement and the capitol protected within class delta antimatter force fields!" Mags retorted. "It is one HUNDRED percent impossible for anything to break through, EVEN hyperatomic blasts! And we have a state-of-the-art dark matter repulsion field covering every inch of the Hammer; only certified Lombaxes wearing special ID tags are able to come within a hundred meters of the thing!"

Ratchet turned and looked at Rivet. She was looking back at him, her eyebrows raised, and apparently impressed.

Talwyn however looked anything but.

"Mags, you can't use it! I don't care how many security measures you and the Lombaxes have placed on it, it's too dangerous! It needs to be destroyed!"

"Wait, what!?"

Ratchet's and Rivet's raised, indignant voices chorused together, echoing through the hall and the hall, and yet more heads spun to look in their direction.

"Tal, what the heck're you talkin' about?!"

"Whaddaya mean destroyed?!"

"The Alliance needs this! You said yourself, Tachyon's got every last weapon we coulda used against him! Why should we back down from using-"

"Just think Talwyn! With the Hammer all we need is-!" But Talwyn had had enough.

"GUYS!" she shouted, and both Lombaxes fell silent at once. "Everyone at command, not counting Qwark, agreed that if we found the Solar Hammer, it was imperative we destroy it! I woulda thought that you-" Talwyn pointed around, starting at Ratchet, then sweeping her index across Rivet, across the stands, and finally onto Mags, "-of ALL people would agree to that! It's too dangerous!"

"The decision was unanimous, Talwyn!" Mags said, now with a hardness in his voice, "Everyone in the settlement, and this is no exaggeration, agreed on our decision to specialize it for the war

effort!"

"Is this what'cher plan is then?" Derek asked, his tone full of irony, "Was this what'cha've been workin' on as the universe's backup plan?! To sit here and tinker with a Cragmite genocide machine!?"

"What sorta fools do you take us for?" Mags demanded, his eyes hardening and his ears flaring, "We're designing it so that it will self-destruct the moment it kills the first Cragmite! You saw the map outside!" Mags pointed at the large double-doors leading back to the atrium. "There's TRILLIONS of Cragmites and imperial loyalists out there, you three! There's what, a couple hundred thousand members of the Alliance?! You've given us an advantage we didn't have previously from your hard work out there, but the odds are STILL in Tachyon's court!"

"The Bio-Weapons facility and Valen are finished-" Ratchet chimed in –

"And Styggs an' his crew are done for-" added Rivet-

"But what else do we have that can give us a chance against the Cragmites, Tal? Clank, tell her!"

"I think I would prefer to stay out of this…" Clank said feebly.

"Kit! You're on our side, right?!" demanded Rivet.

"This is a Lombax problem, not a two-foot-tall robot problem."

"The hell's that s'pposed to-?!"

"I can't believe this-!" Talwyn interrupted, staring at the two Lombaxes, her eyes wide and her ears flushed, "You two're actually defending-!"

"We don't have a choice, Talwyn!" Mags said angrily. "Do you think for a second it doesn't make us uncomfortable? We know what this thing was built for! None from the Council are happy about keeping such a dangerous weapon built specifically to erase OUR entire race from existence so close to our home, but it's all we have left now! We're losing this war, and we must take every opportunity we have to turn things around!"

"You're insane!" Locke blurted, furiously.

"All of you!" Derek added.

The red in Talwyn's ears had spread to her face, and her eyes were cold and hard.

Ratchet felt unnerved. He hadn't seen Talwyn this furious since the night they had broke up, and he perceived that the Markazian was restraining herself from punching Mags with every ounce of strength she had left.

But after giving all of them one last, furious look, she scoffed and walked away.

"Locke, Derek, follow me. We're not putting up with this idiocy. Tch. Lombaxes…" they heard her add in a growl.

The double doors swung open, momentarily flooding the dimly lit hall with the glow of early evening sunlight, then with a *CRASH* the doors slammed shut.

The room buzzed with excited, indignant babbling in the wake of the shouting match that just

occurred. Ratchet and Rivet glanced at their sides.

"Clank? Whaddaya think?" Ratchet asked, hesitantly.

Clank, his head cocked to one side, spun his eyes once.

"I… am hard-pressed." He admitted. "Talwyn, Locke, and Derek raise excellent points… But at the same time, so do you, Rivet, and Mags… Subtracting the Solar Hammer from our arsenal, I project a zero-point zero zero zero zero zero zero zero-"

"Okay I get it."

"Depressingly low odds of victory."

"Was that so hard?" Ratchet asked.

Clank glared at him, but continued as though Ratchet hadn't uttered.

"The Solar Hammer is incredibly dangerous… And yet I foresee no possible means of assuring our victory without it. It really does seem the best, and most optimal path to victory, is to utilize the Hammer against the Cragmite Empire."

Ratchet's heart lifted. He knew Clank was acting against his better judgement, but her knew that Clank was only too aware they had no chance without it, and hearing the small silver bot agree with him on such a heated topic felt incredibly relieving.

"Kit…?" Rivet asked, hesitantly, "How 'bout you?" Like clank, Kit was silent for a moment.

"I… must agree with you three, and Mags." She replied. "Though I know better now, my time as a warbot showed me that if ever there is a quick, easy path to victory in the face of impossible odds, that is the path you must take. I fear Clank is correct; this occasion warrants taking the quickest, most optimal route."

Ratchet and Rivet beamed.

"Thanks guys…" they chorused.

"And don't worry-" Ratchet added, "We'll personally ensure that the thing is rigged to self-destruct on killing the first Cragmite."

Clank and Kit both looked thoroughly relieved at this.

"Well!" said Mags, loudly, and all fidgeting ceased again. "That was err… An interesting discussion!"

"I'd've called it a disaster, but hey, you do you…" Ratchet muttered and he was surprised to hear Clank chuckle softly beside him.

"But still-" Mags continued, "You've relayed your information, and we've given you the general idea! Repair the Solar Hammer, fire it upon Reepor, destroy the Cragmite home-planet, the Cragmites in every corner of the universe, the Emperor, and the Solar Hammer in one fell swoop. We also have backup plans we've been working on. You four-" Mags pointed at Ratchet, Rivet, Clank, and Kit, "You guys come with me. Everyone else, meeting adjourned; back to work!"

The room was full of scraping and banging as the researchers and the few Council members stood up, and the four heroes got to their feet, the two Lombaxes placing Clank and Kit on their backs, and hurrying after the Lombax General, flooded with curiosity.

"What backup plans do you have?" Clank asked as they exited the room and Ratchet hurried to Mags' side while he descended the spiraling stairs into the atrium.

"Should we not be joined with the other Lombaxes while discussing such things?" Kit added, puzzled.

"Fortunately, they're already full in the know on these plans-" Mags said, "Plus this'll be an excellent opportunity to show you guys around… You've been here over an hour an' you haven't even seen the settlement yet!"

Ratchet's heart leapt.

They were finally going to see what their home was like… At long last.

Rivet glanced over at him, and as their eyes met, he saw the sparkle of excitement that he felt mirrored back at him.

They smiled at one another and clasped hands behind Mags' back as they exited through a large, reinforced steel door and stepped into the orange sunset.

Minutes later, they were aboard another passenger ship, approaching a starport on the settlement's outer wall.

Ratchet and Rivet both were sitting near a window and were looking over the sea of clouds, trying to get a view of the settlement. Clank and Kit were in seats just behind them, conversing in whispers.

Ratchet felt a little awkward; he could feel the Lombax General's eyes on the two of them, caring, thoughtful, respectful… Why respectful though? Sure, he was 'Ratchet', hero of Solana, Polaris, and goodness knows how many other galaxies just by extension alone, but Mags knew nothing about him as a person.

"(But he knew dad…)"

This knowledge, half-forgotten in the furor over all the news they had exchanged and the plan the Lombaxes formed with respect to the Solar Hammer, sprang suddenly to the forefront of Ratchet's mind.

Mags, working under Kaden's direction, had mapped all the dimensions that existed in the universe. Mags had been Kaden's partner, his friend, and his trusted researcher… He had also been given Kaden's vote of confidence to take over as Chairman of the Lombax Council, should anything happen to him and Alister. He had known his mother too, and Ratchet himself, which told him that Mags had been close with the family.

Burning with curiosity about his father and mother, Ratchet opened his mouth to speak.

"So where're you from, Rivet?"

"Huh?"

Rivet spun around.

Mags was smiling at her and Ratchet, but focused primarily on the female, his boots crossed at the ankles, and his gloved fingertips pressed together, sitting back in his seat, and looking at peace with the world.

Rivet however, appeared rather startled at being asked such a personal, unexpected question.

"Oh! Uh… S-Sargasso." She said, shortly, not meeting Mags' eyes.

"Ah, Sargasso! Only been there once, myself… Nearly fell into an acid pool when a Pterafoid Flyer mistook the glow from my chest harness for a zurpstone and knocked me from atop a tree I'd climbed." Mags reminisced serenely. "I didn't know anyone lived there 'cept the Kerchu. Ahh, but that's right – different dimensions, heh… What's Sargasso like in D2-416?"

"Ummm… Warm and… and swampy?" she answered, lamely.

"Are the Kerchu friendly there?"

"W-what's a 'Kerchu'…?" she hissed to Ratchet, her eyes wide and anxious.

Fortunately, Rivet had described her home world to Ratchet in the months they spent prior to their latest adventure, and in the days they spent on Veracros.

"There's no Kechu on Sargasso in her Dimension; just Morts." Ratchet answered, hastily.

"Ah, Morts! I met several of them in another dimension… Friendly folk, perhaps a little too friendly, I dare say… At least the ones I met were…"

"Y-yeah!" Rivet said hastily. "G-good guys, those Morts, hehe…!"

"You're a strong woman, Rivet-" Mags said, and Rivet flushed rather suddenly. "You a freedom fighter in your dimension, like Ratchet?"

The pink in Rivet's face beneath her shockingly white fur grew more pronounced, and she went rather stiff.

"Y-yeah… You could say that…" she said, her ears drooping slightly. She didn't like being reminded of the hell she lived in for sixteen years…

Mags seemed to recognize she was uncomfortable, for he said, suddenly-

"So Rivet, how did you and Ratchet meet?"

"Oh! Well, we umm…"

"That's a uhh… funny story actually! We-"

"I rebuilt the Dimensionator and it tore open space time, causing a dimensional cataclysm, all in the name of finding my best friend his soul mate."

A rather stunned silence followed these words.

Ratchet and Rivet spun around to stare at Clank, who sat back, appearing quite at his ease.

Mags burst into laughter.

"A hero with a sense of humor… I like that!" Mags choked, and both Ratchet and Rivet sighed

with relief before turning around again.

"Fair enough!" Mags added, still chortling, "So I suppose what really happened then is you just sorta fell through the rift during that chaos last year and into Rivet's waiting arms, didn't'cha?"

"Yyyeah! Yeah that's right!" Ratchet said.

"Yyyup! Totally what happened!" added Rivet.

"Hehe, excellent, excellent. So you two been together since, or…?"

"Four months." Chorused Ratchet and Rivet. "Started after we… We uhhh… Crash landed on…"

He broke off, feeling his face growing red again, and judging by the subtly increasing heat at his side, Rivet was blushing too. Maybe they shouldn't say what happened next… The mere thought of what transpired a mere hour after they landed on that paradise of a planet was making Ratchet feel suddenly desirous.

"Oh, very nice!" Mags said easily. "Kaden and Lyra dated for only three before they married, heh… Caused quite a bit of gossip, I will say!"

The heat in both Ratchet's and Rivet's face heightened. Ratchet could hear Clank and Kit chuckling behind them.

"They lived together a few years afterward before word got out Lyra was expecting. You used to fit in the palm of my hand…"

Mags' reminiscing smile suddenly faded.

"It was… Horrible, that day… The Fall… Kaden, Lyra, and their baby boy – gone."

Ratchet's ears drooped. He had no idea what to say to this…

"That's… that's horrible… I'm sorry." Rivet whispered, her eyes now fixed upon Mags, marking the first time they had deliberately done so.

"Yes… Thanks Rivet…" Mags said, dolefully. "But, time heals all wounds… And it isn't as bad as I once thought, after all! Kaden's boy survived, after all…"

His smile had returned, and he looked the male Lombax from his boots to the tips of his ears.

"I've said it already, but you're the spitting image of Kaden, dear boy… Looking at you, I feel like I've gone back in time…"

"I…"

Ratchet felt like he should say something, but no words came to him. He had so many things he wanted to ask, but so little time.

He opened his mouth again, a million questions burning in his chest, but-"Oh, hold on! We're about to touch down."

Sure enough, seconds later, with a small *bump*, the passenger ship touched down outside the settlement, and Mags stood up.

"Right!" he said cheerfully. Follow me! It's best I show you around first. I can fill you guys in on the details while we walk.

They descended the short ramp onto the ground, and Clank and Kit leapt onto the backs of Ratchet's and Rivet's harnesses.

But as they began their march toward the gates set within the towering wall-

"Going without us?"

Ratchet turned in the direction of the sudden shout.

"Tal?"

To Ratchet's utter astonishment, Talwyn, Locke, and Derek were walking forward, away from a second passenger ship that landed a short distance away.

"Wh-what are you guys doin-"

But the Markazian raised a hand, and Ratchet fell silent at once, and making Rivet cast her a rather disdainful look at cutting him off.

"First I just wanna make it clear that we still don't approve of your plan, Mags." She said sternly, gazing down into the Lombax General's citrine eyes while the force field surrounding the settlement materialized once more. "But at the same time, we recognize you have your reasons. We also overheard you talking about a backup plan as you walked these four to the ship. I gave you my word we'd join you in your war effort, and I stand by that statement… As do Locke and Derek."

"We ain't pleased with your plans, sonny!" said Derek.

"But we do not go back on our word. We will fight alongside you." Added Locke.

"So we're coming with. And I apologize for raising my voice at you." She added.

"Oh." Said Mags, clearly taken aback. "…No matter, I'm used to it. Happened quite a bit when I was training to be a General… Not easy, going from researcher to respected military leader in a month, let me tell you… Anyway!" he said, spinning around, and the light-hearted tone back in his voice, "Let's be off! Plenty to see and talk about, after all!"

"What happened to Zedderek?" Clank asked Talwyn as they approached the gate.

"Said he had important work to do for the days ahead… Didn't elaborate." She replied, shrugging.

The guards flanking the entrance stepped aside as the crowd approached, and the vast reinforced gates swung outward, granting them entrance.

They passed through a short tunnel like the one they entered as they were escorted to the capitol, and emerged on the top of a sort of hill set into the wall, which overlooked the most spectacular view Ratchet had ever seen.

The settlement at the foot of the hill was large and round, and descended in levels, with homes spread equally far apart at the top. Variously sized and shaped stone, wood, and metal houses, each with a garage or a nearby shed, some with decorative rock formations, fountains, bird homes, and some even with odd inventions, and each with trees providing shade dotted their grassy lawns were everywhere, and though far less impressive than the skyscrapers and the residences of Havenon

IV, the homes nevertheless glowed within from the light of inhabitants clearly having retired for the day.

The next level down appeared to be some sort of town square; this level was wide, and almost covered the level below from view. Atop this second level, Ratchet could see what appeared to be a memorial fountain with several statues in the center, around which a large crowd of moving dots, their exact colors and shapes masked somewhat in the slowly fading light, were going about what Ratchet could only assume was shopping, for he saw several covered stands and variously-sized buildings littering the plain that comprised the second level.

Encircling the settlement, was the vast wall, with large towers every few dozen yards. Ratchet could see small dots moving along the top, and knew at once they were Lombax patrols. He looked around, craning his neck to see high above him, and saw some more guards closer at hand, watching the sky for signs of trouble, armed with Head Hunters, Pulse Rifles, and Warmongers. Their frames were hidden by yet more hyperflux and carbonox armor that covered them from head to tail, though here and there was a lone watchman patrolled without headgear, tending to large, quad-barreled ion cannons that occurred in intervals.

"S'not much… But it's home." Mags said, modestly.

"It's incredible."

Ratchet and Rivet chorused, making Mags smile once more.

"It really is pretty impressive, actually." Said Talwyn. "How long'd it take you guys to build this place? I imagine it's a rough job hollowing out a mountain."

"Only a couple weeks, actually." Replied Mags, shrugging modestly once more. "Without a leader the Lombaxes that made it here before me were sorta scattered, but they got on fine regardless. Once I made it though, I helped plan, design, and build the place. It's a lot smaller than we're used to, but it's the necessities that count for now. Luxuries can come later."

Mags walked down the path leading to the settlement, and Ratchet and Rivet followed eagerly, accompanied by Talwyn, Derek, and Locke.

They began approaching the collection of buildings which formed a sort of pathway into the second level, and Ratchet's heart began thumping excitedly as the dull rumble of voices fell on his ears. But to his surprise, Mags veered off the path and turned down an empty side street before vanishing down a wide staircase.

"We're going down here first!" he called over his shoulder.

"What's down here?" Ratchet asked curiously, hurrying up to the General's side.

"Oh, you'll see… I think you and Rivet will enjoy this." Mags replied, an excited edge to his voice.

They came to an apparent dead end, with some large pipes and tubing from a dead air conditioning unit. But before anyone could ask what Mags' idea was, he turned one of the valves protruding from the pipes on the wall, and a small keypad slid out.

Mags entered a code and the keypad slid back into the pipe as a buzzer sounded from somewhere out of sight.

Suddenly, with a dull *clunk* and the grinding of what sounded like gears and stone, the pipes split down the center and slid backward into the wall, and Mags passed through the large opening.

Ratchet's jaw dropped.

They were in a vast underground cave that resembled something between a hangar, a garage, and a workshop, with what appeared to be walkways for the and bright red security lasers high above them over the opening to the sky above, that allowed natural light to fill the room by day. As it was now evening however, large light fixtures that hung from the walkways above illuminated the scene.

Ratchet looked around as Mags lead them all inside.

Long, tall tunnels hollowed out of the mountain opened up into the sky beyond. Nearly every tunnel had a ship parked at its entrance, the vessels each being serviced by a small team of Lombaxes. Other hollowed out areas of the cave wall only receded partially, and resembled private garages in which were all manner of fascinating tools and equipment.

"This is our development center-", said Mags, "-Where ideas approved by the Council for Advanced Lombax Research are made reality. Impressive, isn't it?" he added, catching the stunned, awed looks on Ratchet's and Rivet's faces.

'Impressive' couldn't quite encapsulate every thought going through Ratchet's mind… Mags was leading them through racks of equipment, passed tables and benches on which rested half-completed trinkets, and through networks of machinery. The room was packed – packed with tools, with gadgets, with bits of scrap, schematics, odd machines he had no clue the purpose of, but was sure it was amazing regardless. To some, the room may have appeared a cluttered disaster, like the aftermath of a pyrocidic blast mine salvo, but from Ratchet's perspective, it was an utter treasure trove.

A constant noise of clanging, hammering, or power tools of some kind filled the air, and every few seconds flashes of light accompanied by the crackle of electricity flared from a distant corner. The sights, the sounds, and the smells, though faintly unpleasant on the nose, nevertheless put him in mind of his own garage at his and Clank's apartment in Megalopolis, and he suddenly found himself longing to return to work at his desk once this was all over.

"Mags, what's this thing?" Rivet asked, holding up some long, thin device with a handle and a trigger, that had an oddly-shaped depression in the center at the tip.

"De-bolter – can loosen, tighten, and resize any bolt. Quite handy for big jobs like the ones we got now, and really cuts back on the number of tools we gotta keep up with, too."

"What's that?" Ratchet asked, pointing at an utterly incredible machine to which was affixed a massive jug full of some liquidy substance.

"Water jug." Mags said. "It can get hot in here sometimes, with all the blowtorches." "Oh."

Mags then led them deeper, passing what looked like a sort of break area with tables, trash bins, and chairs, around which were gathered small crowds of Lombaxes with their protective eyewear pushed up and sipping from cups, while others chatted and laughed jovially over unheard jokes and gossip.

Rather than pause however, they approached a hollowed out recession in which a large number of Lombaxes remained hard at work, some monitoring temperatures at a furnace, others taking notes as they observed what looked like raritanium ore but which floated in some purple substance, while

others still poured over a large sheet of graph paper, each wearing serious, thoughtful expressions.

One of them looked up and spotted Mags.

"Mags!" the Lombax gasped, sidestepping the table and approaching the General. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Evening, Perceus. The outsiders from the EBS alert earlier today are joining our cause, and I'm giving them a tour. Any progress on the Guardian?"

"Just finished a prototype, sir!" Perceus replied excitedly, reaching back for a small raritanium capsule on the table. "Would you like to see it?"

"Yes, absolutely!"

The Lombax straightened up, then opened the capsule, holding it out for Mags to see.

Upon a velvet cushion, glowing red and emitting sporadic sparkles of light, was a small device that vaguely resembled the status indicators in Ratchet's and Rivet's chest harnesses.

Though it looked remarkably unremarkable outside of its vivid red coloration to Ratchet, Mags leaned forward, took it, and held it up to his eyes, examining it closely.

"…Fascinating…" he whispered. "Just holding it I can already sense its protective capabilities… I trust you've already tested it?"

"Indeed, sir! It's withstood seventeen trillion volts without issue! We tested on dummies, fruit, and meat; no flaws or defects!

Mags appeared thoroughly pleased with this news.

"Excellent work, Perce! And what of the Excisor?"

"Excisor…?" Talwyn repeated, looking shocked.

"Also just finished! Look, sir!"

Perceus reached under the table and drew what appeared to be a metal, telescopic rod with three hinged, spiked probes at the end.

Mags took this also and squeezed a trigger on its handle.

The 'Excisor' crackled and the rod extended, three probes clamping hard onto a bit of solid rock in the wall the protruded outward, and ripped it clean out, leaving a small hole in its place.

"Oh ho! Marvelous! Great work to you and your men! I want a seven more Guardians and at minimum one more Excisor by the weekend, then we can multiply and pass the Guardians onto everyone else in the settlement, and distribute Excisors to each soldier in the Praetorian Guard!"

"Yes sir, it will be done, sir!"

Mags handed the odd devices back and turned around to find all seven of his guests staring at him, looking thoroughly confused.

"Uhh… Were we supposed to learn something from that?" Ratchet asked, feeling completely lost.

"'Excisors'?" repeated Talwyn, just as shocked as before.

"'Guardians'?" Asked Clank and Kit.

"Feel like sharin' your thoughts with the rest of us?" Locke asked.

"No worries! I didn't expect you to catch on immediately." Mags said reassuringly. "Come, let's get away from all this noise."

The Lombax General turned and began leading the way back to the large door through which they had entered.

"I thought'cha said ya had a backup plan!" Derek said indignantly as the hidden door slid shut behind them and they began to slowly ascend the stairs.

"All I saw was a buncha furballs playin' tinkerman!"

"What you really saw-" Mags said, in a determinedly calm voice that made Ratchet suppose he was offended by having his researchers called 'tinkermen', "Was the development of our backup plan."

"Your backup plan?" Repeated Locke and Derek together.

"Yes, our backup plan." Mags repeated, pausing as they reached the corner in the stairwell.

"Look, nothing is ever truly foolproof." Said the General in a matter-of-fact voice. "Engineering 101… We've done everything we can think of to prevent the Hammer from falling into Cragmite hands, but Tachyon is still the most powerful and intelligent of the lot we've ever seen… So we've been working on alternatives and safety measures in the event things go south, so we can save as many lives as possible should Tachyon get involved. That red, glowing stone Perceus gave me back there - Guardians, we call 'em – they're special, state-of-the-art anti-gamma shields, designed for the sole purpose of preserving the life of anyone struck by the Vixteron Staff's dark energy."

Ratchet's ears perked up.

"You found a way to counteract the staff?!" he blurted out, unable to restrain himself.

"Yes, I'm pleased to say we have." Mags said, solemnly. "It'll still hurt like hell if you get hit by it; dark matter has a LOT of punch, after all. But on the bright side, you'll still be breathing, and the Lifehold Crystal won't be charged with your life force. Tachyon's already got enough charge in that Crystal to last him a good thirty-two thousand years, easy… What foolish ideas, the Vixteron Staff and Lifehold Crystal…"

Mags sighed, and began walking up the stairs again.

"If they're so dangerous, why'd the Lombaxes build 'em?" Rivet asked, catching up to Ratchet's left as he walked alongside the General.

"Oh, same reason nanotech is so common and so cheap, same reason you see infomercials advertising miracle de-aging treatments, same reason we fight to preserve ourselves - To escape death. It was long, long before the First Great War… We were the universe's greatest engineers; we had created and innovated in so many areas, made lives across innumerable galaxies better. We hit a plateau. At the time, many of the processes and laws of physics and science we take for granted today hadn't yet been discovered, and… Out of desperation for something new to work on, or in our hubris, or both, we had the bright idea to research life and death."

They reached the top of the stairs and stepped back out onto the road leading into the town square. Night was falling now; Stars were blossoming and a distant, yellow moon was climbing slowly into the sky.

Mags paused, and everyone stopped behind him.

"We found the answer." Mags continued, his voice hollow. "A gemstone, more rare than Phaze Quartz, harder than diamonds, and full of so much energy… Bio-energy… It was a gemstone out of this world, and later served as the spark of inspiration that eventually led us to theorize the existence of parallel dimensions. We thought that if we could find some way to charge this gemstone, we'd be able to harness its power and extend life. Again, many of the technological advancements that are apart of daily life today were nonexistent then, so a tool was developed, by us, that could be bonded with the Crystal. We used a Vixteron Stone, another rare mineral similar to Phaze Quartz, which would harness and transmit bio energy to the Crystal. And it worked."

Mags sighed, and it seemed he forced himself to look at them.

"But at a terrible cost. The only thing powerful enough to give life, is life itself. History records the bloodbath that followed; the test subject went insane from the power he suddenly controlled, and killed hundreds of his own people to ensure his continued immortality. But there's a price to pay for such power; Eventually the Lombaxes were able to sever the Lifehold Crystal from his body and slay him. History's exact words on the first wielder of the Vixteron Staff when he met his end are – 'the nature-defying effects of restoring his life after each successive 'death' decayed gradually; the greater the wound, the more imperfect the healing. By the time the test subject was put out of his misery, he was no longer recognizable as one of our own'. History records the Staff was lost, along with the Crystal, once the test subject died. We already had made the Staff capable of destroying the Crystal as a safety precaution, but we never found either of them and assumed them lost. But to ensure such a tragedy would never happen again, the Lombaxes destroyed all records of both the Staff and the Crystal… But it seems someone made copies, and stowed them in our archives on Fastoon, where they lay hidden until Tachyon came…"

Mags sighed again.

Ratchet felt nothing but repulsion. A Lombax, one of his own ancestors, had used the staff and the Crystal to try taking control, just like the Cragmites… The Lombaxes were the ones who had lead the Rebellion against the Cragmite Empire during the First Great War, were innovators who created hundreds of inventions that had made the universe a better place… How could they have created something so terrible?! Because of the actions of Ratchet's and Rivet's ancestors, their race was now on the verge of complete eradication…

"So-", said Mags, and Ratchet forced himself back to the present. "That's the point of the Guardians – to prevent anyone else from falling victim to the Staff… We can't change the past, but we can prevent it from happening again."

Silence fell again, leaving the only sound the noise of the unseen crowd at the marketplace, which despite the falling darkness, still hummed just as audibly as before.

Nocturnal birds were cawing from the distant trees up on level 1 of the settlement, and fireflies were beginning to appear, their soft, greenish-yellow bodies flaring momentarily in the still, evening air.

"And… what of the Excisors?" Kit asked tentatively, breaking the silence at last. "Ah, now as for those…" Mags said, and Ratchet noticed he suddenly looked rather

uncomfortable. "The Lifehold Crystal physically bonds with its holder; they become entirely dependent on the thing from the moment onward. The Excisors are designed to remove the Crystal forcibly and efficiently from his body. He will remain as strong and intelligent as ever he was, but without that Crystal, he will be mortal again, just as much as you and I."

"'Forcibly remove'?" Clank repeated, sounding rather repulsed. "Is there not another, less barbaric way?"

"It's the only way." Mags said, sighing again. "The Crystal supposedly becomes one with the flesh of its holder."

He shook his head.

"But… yeah, that's the backup plan… General summary: Arm everyone with Guardians, equip my men with Excisors, finish repairs on the Hammer, then launch a surprise attack on Reepor. The finer details will be ironed out once repairs on the Hammer are done. So, any questions?"

Ratchet thought for a while. He could still see potential flaws, but Mags did say the finer details would be worked out once repairs to the Hammer were complete. Otherwise, as far as Ratchet was concerned, the plan sounded reasonably solid; Mags had clearly put a lot of thought into it, and, reminding himself that this Lombax had once been his dad's trusted friend and the head Researcher, Ratchet's initial concerns were soothed.

He looked beside him at Rivet, and she gave an approving shrug.

He glanced over his shoulder at Clank. He could tell the silver bot was thinking hard; he could practically hear the gears in his cranium whirring as he computed the various pitfalls and strengths of Mags' plan. But after a while, Clank gave a nod, and Kit followed suit.

Talwyn, Locke, and Derek, who had momentarily huddled together, broke apart.

"Fair enough." Talwyn said. "We got questions, but we'll save 'em for after the full assault plan."

"Excellent!" Mags said, his ears perking up and his tail flicking as he turned around to face the entrance to the settlement's town square again. "Come with me! Just one last tour before we end the night."

And at last Mags marched forward, leading the way to an arched door in a wall that enclosed the inner part of the settlement.

They emerged into a wide town square, illuminated by hanging, colored light fixtures that spanned across the main thoroughfare from building to building. The square was still packed, despite the lateness of the day, with Lombaxes finishing up their evening activities – shopping, eating dinner at corner restaurants, arguing over prices of merchandise at stands covered in colorful tarps. At each corner there rose a tower, where Ratchet could see watchful sentries observing the night sky for signs of trouble.

Rivet tapped Ratchet excitedly on the shoulder, and turning, he saw her metal finger pointing eagerly at a shop on the opposite side of the water fountain with a large sign for 'Spent Casings – Interdimensional Imports from your favorite vendors – Mrs. Zurkon, Gadgetron, Megacorp, and more!'

Unfortunately the neon sign in the window was slowly flashing ' CLOSED', but Ratchet nevertheless felt a thrill of excitement, and instantly knew the first place he was going to visit the next morning.

"I see you've spotted our weapons shop!" Mags called over the hum of the crowd. "They gotta whole surplus of weapons and supplies! Excellent place to gear up. Ah! And over there's our parts shop!" he pointed at a small, rather junky-looking store that looked more like a garage sale with all the hardware and tables the scruffy Lombax had set up. "You need parts for anything from a hyperdrive for your ship down to conduits for a signal booster, you'll find it there!"

Ratchet wished he had about eight more eyes; his head turned constantly, scared he might miss something. There were parts shops, weapon shops, dining areas, garages, starship exhibits, galactic maps that drew Talwyn away, miniature antique war history museums that had attracted Locke and Derek, libraries with big fancy words in the windows Ratchet had no clue what they meant but fascinated Clank and Kit and floral shops displaying all manner of unfamiliar plantlife.

Rivet was particularly interested in one specific gardening store they passed, and she paused momentarily to examine the odd, purple fruits blooming from the ends of drooping green stalks.

"What? Don't'cha remember I have a private garden at my place on Sargasso?" she asked, in response to Kit's surprised look.

The Lombaxes of this dimension, most of whom were taller than the two heroes, passed in every direction. Most seemed too immersed in what they were doing to spare more than a 'good evening' or ''scuse me' as they passed, though others turned and stared in awe at the sight of Ratchet and Clank, and the Lombax even heard, on more than one occasion, their names mentioned in whispers.

After spending at minimum twenty minutes examining the shops through their windows (most of them were closed), Ratchet retreated to the water fountain, negotiating his way through the thinning crowd, alone after Rivet paused to inquire about the plantlife that grew in the garden shop, and Clank joined Kit as she pondered a large sphere that hovered of its own accord in one of the library windows.

The soft rushing of water was soothing on his ears, and he had a good mind to perch on the edge of the stone wall and wait for Rivet, Clank, and Kit to return.

The stone fountain had several sculpted figures in the center – a robotic, one-eyed pirate, from whose stone replica of a corn-cobb pipe spewed a stream of water, a bipedal lizard that vaguely reminded Ratchet of the Goons or the Savalian Monks, and a Lombax who-

Ratchet did a double take.

The stone Lombax was fairly short, had puffy, scruffy cheeks on which were three short stripes, a and mess of short hair atop his head… a very familiar short mess of fur atop his head.

"I see you've discovered the fountain of heroes!"

Ratchet jumped and turned around. Mags had reappeared and was walking up to him.

The Lombax General stopped at Ratchet's side, and he too gazed up at the stone replica of Ratchet's father.

"'Fountain of Heroes'?" Ratchet repeated, wonderingly. What was his dad doing here? And who were these other guys?

"Yup… A fountain we built, dedicated to the memory of those who's actions prevented catastrophic outcomes. That pirate there-", Mags pointed, "-Sigmund the Second, or as he was more commonly known, 'Hawkeye', Scourge of the Phasmids. Originally an outcast he earned

respect when he singlehandedly held back an entire fleet of Phasmid destroyers while the people of Heggador in the Bogon Galaxy fled to safety. He lost his sight in one eye from the battle, but his aim never failed. History records he sank the Phasmid flagship, with one precise cannonball, but legends take it a step further, and say he sniped the Phasmid Chief from a kilometer's distance using naught but a burstlock pistol... This guy here-" he pointed now at the Monk, "Silvanus the Serene. Convinced a bloodthirsty, rampaging Space Worm to spare the planet of Nectis in the Terradon Galaxy and return to the void, through the power of 'peace and love'… Still not quite sure what that means, but the results speak for themselves. And this of course, is your father, dear boy."

"Yeah, I… I know." Ratchet said, his voice unusually quiet. It felt odd… Almost like he was looking at himself, but with deliberate mistakes in his appearance.

"Kaden was… Without him, none of us would be here today." Mags said, simply.

It seemed he wanted to say more, but at the same time, it appeared as though he didn't know where to start. Ratchet had the feeling however, that it was painful.

"Hiya Ratchet!" a soft, female voice said behind them. "What're you guys doin' here?"

Rivet appeared next to Ratchet's side, but he continued to stare up into the face of his father's memorial.

"…Ratch?" Rivet asked.

She followed his gaze, and her eyes widened as they too fell on the statue as well.

"Ratchet… Is that…?"

There was the sound of mismatched feet behind him, and he blinked, turning to see Locke, Derek, Talwayn, Clank, and Kit had returned.

"That's your dad, isn't it?" Talwyn asked, and Ratchet nodded, wordlessly.

"Hey… I recognize them two!" Locke said, his optics narrowed as he squinted at the stone effigies on Kaden's left and right. What's'er old man doing between Hawkeye and Silver Serenicus?"

"Kaden saved the Lombaxes during the Fall." Mags repeated, and everyone looked at him with tentative expressions. Mags' eyes were darkened again, and his tone was flat and expressionless. But he didn't elaborate. He simply stared at Kaden's statue, as though he wished for nothing more than the hunk of chiseled stone would start walking and talking.

Ratchet hesitated. He shouldn't ask the question that was burning in his chest; he knew that it was painful – too painful for the older Lombax to think about, if the mere sight of this statue of his old friend was enough to evoke this reaction from him. But he couldn't resist; he had to know…

"What were mom and dad like?"

Mags' ears twitched, and he looked around at Ratchet, those darkened, citrine eyes meeting the emeralds once more, and for a moment, Ratchet regretted asking.

"Good people, your parents…" Mags said, shortly. "Your mother was strong, fiery, and a protégé of her craft… she was chief engineer in our development facilities on Fastoon; Anything that we invented or expanded went through her before it was approved. She loved her job and your father, and of course you… Your father… He was brave, strong, and an utter genius. We grew up together

alongside Azimuth, who was a sort of 'older brother', you could say. I was sickly up into my teens, and seldom got to do exciting things such as hoverbooting around the galaxy like Kaden and Alister did, but he was a loyal friend and always dropped by, often to his own detriment, to check up on me. He was encouraging and supportive, and without his aid I would never have become head Researcher, or Chairman, of all things… After he and Lyra married, he was a loyal and dedicated husband, and, much like how he snuck out in our childhood to visit me while I was sick, he often snuck away during his breaks to visit Lyra, who worked in another building… Aided by me, of course, heh…"

Mags chuckled as he entertained these old, happy memories.

"After you were born, I saw little of Kaden or Lyra for several months. They took time off so they could spend time together with you. When they finally came back, they took it in turns; Lyra would keep you one day, Kaden the next. Neither would stop talking about their son... You were their pride and joy, Ratchet."

Ratchet's throat felt suddenly rather painful, and he felt an aching in his chest, rather like his heart was longing for something.

Mags had fallen silent again, but his head had drooped, along with his ears.

"Kaden was a genius among Lombaxes… Perceptive, wise… When Tachyon came to Fastoon with his plans for building new defense weapons and powerful machines, many of which were lightyears ahead of even our knowledge, Kaden saw through his empty words… But alas, Alister, as elder Council member, had more sway… He convinced the rest of the members to grant Tachyon access to our secrets."

Ratchet heard Rivet and Kit gasp behind him, and even Talwyn, who knew this story well, gave a sigh full of both resignation and gloom.

"That was when Kaden instructed me to map the dimensions – every dimension – so we'd have someplace safe to hide when Tachyon returned… only I didn't know that at the time."

Mags took a deep breath, and continued. Though he seemed at first as though he didn't want to talk about it, he was now speaking without prompt or request to continue, and Ratchet wondered when he had last spoken about this to someone, or even if he had ever spoken about it at all.

"Kaden and Lyra both tried to use their influence to put the Praetorian Guard on high alert, but Alister, who believed in Tachyon's sincerity, brushed these concerns aside."

Mags placed his hands on the edge of the fountain, his head bowed yet lower, and his voice full of bitterness.

"Then Tachyon attacked… Just days after I finished mapping the dimensions… We were caught COMPLETELY off guard… Within twenty minutes, half our Councilmen were dead, a quarter of Fastoon had been either murdered or captured, and the Praetorian Guard were in shambles. We fled to the Court of Azimuth, but were totally and completely trapped. Only Kaden had the answer; he used the Dimensionator, and as a ruse, faked sending us to a new, as-yet undiscovered dimension, when in reality he sent us to another, hidden planet in Polaris… Only he didn't come; He was determined to find his son and his wife, who had remained behind to search for him after Lyra's colleague was killed while watching over him… Thirty minutes later, Kaden, bloodied and tear-streaked, Lyra's wedding ring on his finger, and a small bundle of blankets in his arms, came sprinting into the hall, before we were attacked by a swarm of Drophyds. Even while holding you in his arms, Kaden fought to keep the rift safe, but there were too many… I and others were about

to join him, but he forced us back, telling us to worry about ourselves, while he rescued his son...

And then he... to keep us safe he… destroyed the rift… That… was the last time I saw your father…"

Mags' voice broke and he fell silent.

Ratchet blinked furiously, and felt hot wetness in his eyes, while the lump in his throat stabbed more painfully.

He had a sudden, strange vision, blurred and unfocused, like a forgotten memory.

Fireworks in the dark, night sky, the wailing of sirens, the screams of a thousand faceless people as his world rocked and shook around him, and heard a distant shrill, wild cackle of laughter that made him cry out in terror.

But then it changed.

He was suddenly swept up in the warm embrace of someone much larger than himself, someone with a soft, deep voice, and though it shook uncontrollably, the tone was familiar and comforting, in this frightening, unfamiliar place, and his terrified, wailing screams eased as a hand patted him gently on the back, and eventually he fell silent… For he knew, small though he was, that as long as dad held onto him, everything was going to be all right… Because dad always made everything all right.

He felt someone's hand on his shoulder, and Ratchet gasped, looking around.

Rivet had sidled up to him, her ears drooped, and tears in her brilliantly blue, sparkling eyes.

Talwyn was blinking furiously, her face averted and trying to hide her emotion. Locke and Derek looked troubled and lost for words – the first time he had ever seen either of them that way, and both Clank's and Kit's normally bright and glowing optics had turned off.

Rivet squeezed Ratchet's shoulder.

"We'll make him pay for what he did, Ratch…" she said, and Ratchet was amazed, though tears trickled down her cheeks, at how steady her voice was.

Ratchet wiped his face impatiently, and, feeling the muscles in his face working rather hard, he managed a smile.

"You bet we will." He said, his voice husky and low.

Mags straightened up.

"Well… That's what happened…" he said, still facing away from them all. "For twenty-five and a half years I've lived with remorse over not having done more… I've lived with the knowledge that my two best friends, and believing my best friend's son was dead… But you survived…!"

Mags' ears suddenly perked up, and he spun around. His eyes were bloodshot, but his fur was free from the marks of tears.

"You survived, dear boy! Kaden's son is alive, and not only does he fill his father's boots perfectly, he's an inter-galactic hero… Permit me to say, Ratchet… Your mother and father would be so proud of you."

The lump in Ratchet's throat, which had begun to subside, stabbed rather painfully again.

"With Ratchet on our side-" Mags continued, "With Clank, Rivet, Kit, Apogee, Locke, Derek, and all of your allies, I know we'll win this war… We'll make everything right."

"Yes, we most certainly will." Said Clank's voice.

"Absolutely!" added Kit.

Ratchet wiped his eyes again impatiently, and smiled more broadly.

"We'll finish what dad started-", said Ratchet now, "We'll finish Tachyon, and end the Cragmites once and for all."

"Hear, hear!" chorused Locke and Derek proudly.

"That's the Ratchet I know…" Rivet whispered, and she gave him a squeeze, making his heart, which had ached so painfully just moments ago, swell back to ten times its usual size.

"Excellent!" Mags shouted, proudly. "Now come, I have one last thing to show you guys before the night's up."

And turning his back on the statue of Kaden, Mags led them back out of the town square, and back up the slope to level one.

"Where're you takin' us?" Rivet called up the slope six minutes later. Mags had diverted off from the path and was walking along a brick road along one of the ridges that comprised level one, passing some of the houses. "This doesn't look like much of a place for more weapons research or where you'd conduct experiments to me…" she added.

Ratchet however was paying attention to the garages they passed. Despite the lateness of the hour now, there were still several Lombaxes working on various gadgets or parts to what Ratchet could only assume were starcrafts. Maybe they were going to visit one of Mags' workers at his or her home?

"Nearly there-" Mags said serenely, pointing at the numbering on the gates that lead to each house. "A-43, A-45… Aha!"

Mags had come to a sudden stop, and Ratchet nearly walked into him.

"Here we are! Lot A-47!"

They had stopped outside a reasonably-sized stone cottage at the very end of the ridge, complete with deck, garage, and a small, fenced garden.

Mags walked forward, and without so much as a knock, pushed the door open, leading into the dark home.

"Umm, Mags…"

"Yes Clank?"

"Forgive me, but is not umm… breaking and entering an illegal act?"

Mags stood stunned for a second, then threw his head back in a bark of laughter.

"Breaking and entering, HAH! You're good at this, Clank, hehe… There's no one home, c'mon an' see!"

And, feeling immensely puzzled, Ratchet walked forward with Clank on his back, Rivet and Kit close behind, and Talwyn, Locke, and Derek on their tails.

Mags flipped a switch, revealing a sizeable, cozy living room, complete with holo-vision, loveseat, rocking chair, polished wood floor and a thick, fuzzy rug. Down a short hall Ratchet could see, by the light from the ceiling lamp, a small kitchen and a bathroom branching off the hall.

"Huh… cozy place, isn't it?" Rivet said, squeezing one of the cushions on the loveseat as they followed Mags down the hall. "Wonder who lives in this place? Makes my home on Sargasso look like a dump, heh."

Another light flicked on, and Ratchet, Clank, Rivet, and Kit found themselves in a bedroom, complete with a soft, carpeted floor, bedside tables with lamps on either side of a large, soft, springy-looking bed, a sizeable closet, a dresser with a mirror, and a master bathroom with two sinks, and a large shower.

"Whadda you think?" Mags asked them. "Like I said, it's a bit smaller than we're used to, but it's comfortable enough."

Clank, who had leapt down upon entering the house, and who was observing a lit lava lamp in mild curiosity, answered first.

"It is quite cozy, actually… Rather brings to mind our apartment on Megalopolis, in fact."

"I am quite fond of the choice of colors!" Kit added, observing the bright yellow bath towels that hung from the bathroom door.

"Yeah, this is great n' all-" said Ratchet, "But uh… why're you showin' us this? Who lives here?"

Mags raised his thick eyebrows in surprise.

"Why, you guys, of course."

"Wh-WHAT?!"

Ratchet's and Rivet's shocked voices rang together in the momentary stunned silence that followed Mags' words, and Talwyn, Locke, and Derek appeared in the doorway, curious looks on their faces.

"Mags-" Ratchet said, breathing rather harder than usual, considering he was just standing in place. "Y-you mean… You're tellin' us…"

"T-this place is… our h-home…?" Rivet finished, breathing just as hard as Ratchet.

Mags looked rather surprised at the question.

"Why of course! You're Lombaxes! You belong here, with us!" he said. "This cottage has been empty for months; we built several more houses than we needed, just in case. I had some caretakers come and spruce it up for you guys while we toured the settlement. There are rooms for Clank and Kit too, of course."

Mags suddenly looked a little worried.

"You… do like it, don't you?"

"Of… of course!" Ratchet gasped.

"It's… perfect!" Rivet added, her voice hoarse.

Ratchet's head was reeling, his heart throwing itself around his ribcage in a parade of ecstasy. As if the Lombaxes weren't already everything and more that he could've ever dreamed of, they were already welcoming him and Rivet as one of their own, and if that wasn't enough… He had-

"(A home with Rivet…)"

Rivet - his girlfriend, his lover, his savior, and his soulmate… The mere thought alone was enough to make all the pain, anxiety, fear, and loss he'd been through in the last year worth every second.

"Oh, that's wonderful to hear!" Mags said, looking cheerful again. "I'm glad you approve!" "Home…" Rivet muttered. "Home with… with him…!"

She had never thought, never, in a million years, that she would ever find herself in a situation like this… She was loved, she had been reunited with her kind, and she had a home… A home with Ratchet, the famous hero, Ratchet… her first Lombax, her boyfriend, and the most wonderful person she'd ever met in her life.

She looked around at him, and Ratchet saw, making his chest glow warmer still, the wildly dancing flame and the sparkle of glee in her sapphire eyes. Her bright, toothy smile was infectious, and Ratchet felt a grin spreading his face as well.

"Clank, Kit-"

The two small bots looked up into the Lombax General's citrine eyes.

"There's a room, or rooms, if you prefer for you both just down the hall and to the left… I confess I don't know if you're together, or even if robots do get together these days… But-"

"Shall we try together, Clank?" Kit asked abruptly.

Ratchet's head snapped down onto the two bots, surprised momentarily out of his state of blissful delight.

"Oh… I…"

Clank was looking into Kit's round, sparkling blue, fluorescent eyes. The orange bulbs atop her head were glowing subtly, and the red light atop Clank's antenna was pulsing a little more quickly than it usually did.

"I… Would be delighted." Clank said after a brief pause, and Kit gave a delighted giggle.

"Seems you're still fulla surprises, even after almost eleven years, huh pal?" Ratchet asked, smirking as he bent down and gave Clank a playful nudge.

"Guess even a former warbot has a soft side, doesn't she?" Rivet asked, snorting and placing her metal hand on her hip as she gazed down at Kit, who continued to smile delightedly.

"Well!" Mags said, looking pleased to see the new arrivals so satisfied, "I suppose I'll be off myself now; it's getting late after all, and I expect you're all tired. Talwyn, Locke, Derek-"

Ratchet had almost forgotten about their captains standing in the hallway to the living room in the euphoria over discovering this place was his and Rivet's new home.

"I'm afraid the houses are reserved for Lombaxes, but we do have an inn back on the square, if you're interested."

"Thanks Mags-" said Talwyn, smiling slightly. "But we'll return to the Phoenix. Got some place we can dock?"

"Of course! I'll take you there, then give you a lift back to your ship."

Mags started guiding the three captains out of the cottage.

"Hold on-" Ratchet said, "You guys just gonna head off without a word?" he asked, smirking.

"Yes, a fair point." Clank said, walking forward. "Do allow us to see you off for the night."

"It is good etiquette to wish friends a good evening before turning in." added Kit.

Ratchet, Clank, and Kit followed after Mags and the others, but Ratchet paused in the doorway.

"Riv? You comin'?"

Rivet was still standing in the center of the room, her hands folded together, her head turning slowly, drinking the room in.

"Huh? Oh!" she said, realizing Ratchet was talking to her. "I'll… I'll stay here if you don't mind… Lotta stuff to take in…!" she said, smiling softly.

Ratchet smiled, and nodded wordlessly, before disappearing down the hall after Clank. He knew Rivet was probably feeling very overwhelmed right now. Just last year, she was fighting for her life against Emperor Nefarious, living her life as an outcast and a loner who didn't trust anyone. Now, not only was she a hero, but she had friends, a lover, and a home.

"(Yeah, jus' let her take it slow for a while… she deserves it.)"

"Promise you guys won't run off at first light?" Talwyn asked, smirking as they stood on the threshold of the cottage. "Locke, Derek, an' I saw some of the weapons in Spent Casings's window, and I gotta say… temptation to hit the range just quite a bit stronger afterward… Might even be able to get Skidd and Phantom to join."

Ratchet grinned up at her.

"Well… No promises Tal, heh… "

"You have nothing to fear-" said Clank. "Ratchet is a heavy sleeper, and a late-riser. He once slept through five separate alarms and was late to a meeting in Megalopolis three and a half years ago."

"It was four alarm clocks, pal…" Ratchet said gruffly. "Four alarm clocks plus one you put to sleep. Five alarms." Kit giggled and Talwyn snorted.

"No matter, just give a shout when you guys wanna hit the range. You do have a range, I'm assuming?"

"Sure do!" replied Mags.

"Thought so." Talwyn said, looking amused. "Well… G'night, Fuzzy… You and Rivet sleep well, all right?"

"*Ahem*…"

"And you two, Clank and Kit."

Raising their arms in farewell, the male Lombax and the two bots watched as the Markazian, the two warbots, and the Lombax General grew smaller, finally vanishing around a turn.

Ratchet yawned.

"Well… dunno 'bout you guys, but I'm done." He said.

"Retiring for the night does sound rather appealing… We have been operating for over twenty-nine hours now."

"That long? Jeez…"

The door closed and Ratchet entered a code stuck next to the door, which locked it securely.

"Well… G'night, pal… Night, Kit." Ratchet said, starting back down the hall toward his and Rivet's room.

"Good evening, Ratchet."

"Sleep well, Ratchet. Tell Rivet I wish her a good night's rest." Kit said, and Ratchet nodded as the two bots vanished down a branching passage and disappeared from sight.

He turned, and turned off the light, throwing him into total darkness.

"Huh?"

This was odd… The light in his and Rivet's room had been on just a couple minutes ago, why wasn't it lighting up the hallway? Had Rivet already gone to bed?

Ratchet walked down the dark hall, feeling his way along the walls.

"Riv…?" Ratchet asked softly, not wanting to disturb her if she was already asleep.

But to his surprise, he found that their bedroom door was shut, and heightening his sense of bewilderment, he saw light bleeding out from the cracks at the door's base.

Feeling puzzled, Ratchet turned the doorknob and eased it open. "'Sup, Riv? Why'd'ja c-close th-… the uuuhhhh… O-oh…" Ratchet froze in the doorway.

Where the bedroom had been pristine just a few minutes ago, the floor was now littered with clothes that had been discarded carelessly and lay scattered in every direction… Rivet's clothes

Ratchet's face blazed scarlet, and he felt the heat spread instantly to his neck, ears, and chest, feeling his pants tighten at the front as his eyes scanned up their bed and fell upon Rivet. .

His heart purred.

The female Lombax lay on her side, propped up on her metal arm, her normally white-furred cheeks flushed, the tips of her ears pink, her eyes narrowed slightly, and blazing with that intense burning heat Ratchet was so familiar with, and that drove him crazy.

Her good, muscular arm lay over her, covering her small breasts, and her tail swished slowly back and forth in a hypnotic manner, and Ratchet suddenly noticed, for the first time, the previously unopened box of condoms they had purchased from Karol's shop on Veracros all those days ago, its plastic wrappings on the floor, and a small packet lying expectantly at its base.

Ratchet gawked openly at her, gazing in unmasked, blatant astonishment and unmistakable lust at the beautiful, uncovered creature on their bed, not even trying to control his thoughts as they raced into hyperspeed, and his pants grew so tight that he felt they might soon tear at the front.

Rivet's small smile broadened.

"Took ya long enough-" she said, teasingly. "Was startin' to wonder if I was gonna have to drag ya in here myself~"

Ratchet gulped, and his heart purred again.

Rivet giggled, and the sound made Ratchet's head buzz in pleasurably flustered confusion.

"Ya just gonna stand there an' look?~" she asked, her smile widening yet further. "Our new bed ain't gonna break itself in, y'know~"

"Y-yeah… it uhh… G-gods, Riv… you look…"

His brain felt numb with shock. She was so incredible… her curves, her thighs, her muscular arm, her abs…

"I made'ja a promise back on the Phoenix, hotshot… Remember?~"

She lifted her good arm and rested it on her side, exposing her small, beautifully round breasts, and the bulge in Ratchet's pants gave a noticeable twitch.

"You're one heck of a Lombax, y'know that, Ratch?~" she extended her good arm out to him, and waved him toward her with a finger. "Now come n' get your reward~"

Something clicked in Ratchet's mind again.

He grinned, closing the door behind him, and locked it before peeling off his gloves and kicking off his boots.

"How could I say no to such a prize?~" he said, his voice saturated in licentiousness.

Ratchet threw his shirt across the room and let his cap fall to the floor as he climbed onto the bed, pressing his lips to Rivet's.

Rivet hummed softly, reaching up and running her fingers through the short fur on his chest, feeling those powerful muscles beneath her fingers that sent shivers through her body.

Ratchet reached down and began unzipping and unbuttoning his pants as Rivet's hand gently pressed against his bulge.

His pants fell to the floor as, with a click, the lights went out, throwing the two, lustful Lombaxes into dark, passionate oblivion.

Hundreds of trillions of miles away…

The thunder clapped loudly as a blinding streak of lightning illuminated the sky.

The roaring, lashing seas crashed against the twisted, wrecked ruins of what had once been a vast pumping station.

A light speared below the surface of the tumultuous waves.

Brighter and larger it grew, until at last, with a splash that sent seawater in every direction, a Cragmite equipped with oxygen and encased in a thick shell erupted from the surface of the sea.

It leapt from the foaming, churning depths, a small sphere clutched in its claws, and landed upon a rusted, devastated platform.

"The loss of Valen, the Facility, and the Harbinger were crushing defeats-" said a high, cold, gravelly voice. "The loss of the Pirates… an unfortunate setback…"

The Cragmite approached a thin figure adorned in a black cloak, and a red crown upon its head. In its left hand it wielded a long, golden staff with a sharp, pointed base, and topped with a pulsing, glowing red crystal.

The figure held out its hand, and the Cragmite placed the small, metallic sphere that gave off that subtle blue glow into its palm as another roll of thunder coursed across the skies.

Percival Tachyon's foul, yellow eyes fixed upon the silver sphere, a sadistic grin spreading his crooked, long-jawed mouth.

"…But the ruckus from Styggs' defeat has nevertheless opened the gateway to a thousand victories…"

Tachyon burst into wild, humorless laughter, the Dimensional Map held high over his head, and the Lifehold Crystal embedded in his skull flashing as another streak of lightning illuminated the sky.