Chapter 2: A Green Annoyance
Presidential Office: Meridian City
"What!?" Ratchet yelled in disbelief. The trio had trekked to Igliak where they had just made their case to extend Talwyn's government grants. Galactic President Captain Qwark however, had different ideas.
"I'm veeeery sorry Ratchet and...uhhh...Tina-"
"TALWYN" Ratchet said, about to burst.
"Ah yes, Talwyn," Qwark said, unapologetic that he couldn't remember a friend's name. "I'm sorry, but there is a moral code that I must adhere to. If it gets out that the President is rigging the odds for something other than a re-election," to which the trio rolled their eyes, "then there would be utter chaos. Besides, the Apogee Space Station has long fulfilled any use it may have. I have many interested parties in the real-estate. Look, just explain to Teresa that we'll pardon all debts she owes if she goes through the with totally non-threatening government takeover. I hear there's plenty of swell low-income housing right here in the city. Perfect for a young lady like herself."
Ratchet grit his teeth and was about to blow his lid when Talwyn pushed him aside to get into Qwark's face. "Do NOT talk about me like I'm not here! That is MY HOME! And you better help us or so help me I'll-" Ratchet grabbed her and pulled her back before she could swing a hook at the President. As much as he wanted to let her, he was sure it would hose any chance of saving the station.
"Look, Qwark. Talwyn...we…" Ratchet emphasized by gesturing between the trio "are not giving up the station. How would you like it if someone stole your...eh...good looks...because you couldn't pay for your makeup artist?" This brought a gasp from the green-clad egotist. "All we need you to do is extend her grants for the next year. We'll come up with the rest." Ratchet added, hoping that Qwark would have one of his rare moments of reason about now.
"Look, Ratchet. To give grants to a research facility in the red...i-it's impossible. That would take string-pulling and illegal favors that I reserve only for emergencies...involving me." He said pointing to his face in an annoyingly bragging way. Ratchet glared at Qwark, wondering how much trouble he'd be in if he sent him back to Florana. "But! With this generous payment of three million bolts, the station can stay operational, provided that you keep up on the payments Miss Tanice, and once you're in the green...theeeen...I might be able to do something for you."
Talwyn sighed, knowing that it wasn't perfect, but at least it wasn't impossible either. Ratchet let go of her hand that he just realized had been holding onto a little tightly. "I will personally hold you to that Qwark. No one is moving," he said, turning towards Talwyn. "And no one is going to sell other people's property under their noses" he added, turning back towards Qwark. With that, all three left the office. They went to a park in a nearby plaza to get some fresh air and relieve some of the tension that Qwark always created.
"The nerve of him! Trying to sell my station before I'm even gone!" Talwyn said, visibly upset.
"Qwark has done many knuckle-headed, narcissistic things in the past, but this marks complete disregard of anyone other than himself," Clank added, resting a small metal hand on Talwyn's knee. Ratchet seemed all the more determined to save the station if only to defy Qwark.
"Well, I'm going to go take care of some things. Tal, why don't you and Clank get a bite to eat?" he said, hoping to help bring back Talwyn's natural glow that she once had.
"W-wait. Where are you going?" Talwyn said, suspicious of Ratchet's quick removal from the group.
"I...just some stuff, no biggie." Ratchet tried again, avoiding the question. However, a stern stare from Talywn convinced him that he should quickly spill the beans. "Look, I'm going to go add my name to the Mercenary registry," he said.
"What! No! No. I-I" Talwyn stammered "I would have never agreed to this if you told me that you were going to become a gun for hire Ratchet!"
"Look it's the only way, Tal. I'll choose honest-er jobs. Promise." Ratchet said with a sheepish smile. "I know you're strong Talwyn, but you need help. And I'm not someone who turns their back on a friend." Talwyn sighed, realizing that she had no say in the matter.
"Fine, fine. But add my name too. No way am I letting you risk your life while I sit all alone on a floating rock." she said, a little bit of bitterness in her voice.
"Thaaaat's another thing. Tal, Clank and I have noticed some..."
"Bodily changes." Clank piped in, gaining an arched brow from the young woman.
"Well, yeah..." Ratchet trailed off, seeing how the conversation derailed into an awkward zone so quickly. "Look." He tried again, looking her straight in the face, "You're thin as a rail and your grip is weaker than a sandfly's. We're worried for you Talwyn. I don't think it's healthy for you to be alone anymore. Sooo…that's why I'm moving in with you." Ratchet said, rubbing the back of his neck, admittedly seeing the awkwardness of inviting yourself to live with someone.
"Oh-ho-ho? So you think you know what's best for me now? I'm sorry that my physique disappoints you, Ratchet-" Talywn responded mockingly.
"That's not what I me-"
"But if you feel that way then you can just-oof!" Talwyn was cut off as Ratchet and Clank both wrapped their arms around her.
"You don't have to hurt anymore Tal. You don't have to hide it."
"We're here for you."
Ratchet and Clank said together. Talwyn melted into their hug and the trio sat that way for a few minutes until Clank cleared his vocal receptors.
"If you two want to be added to the registry today, then I think you should get going before the office closes."
"What about you Clank?" Talwyn asked "Are you coming to the space station too?" she said, hopeful that the seemingly cavernous station would be filled once more.
"Alas no." Clank said "I will stay here in Meridian City where I will lobby for a secure future for the Apogee Space Station. Even though the government won't fund you yet does not mean that others in the private sector aren't interested. But I will check in regularly and look forward to seeing it in its former glory." he finished, bringing another smile to Talwyn's face. She and Ratchet headed off towards the Defense Center.
It was a brisk, yet sunny afternoon in Meridian City. The towering cityscape shone brilliantly against a clear sky. Ratchet had thought Metropolis was big, but he was quickly proven wrong when he first ventured to Igliak. Some of the buildings here held tens of thousands of floors and multiple ship ports. The city stretched at least two miles into the sky and flawlessly blended into each of the cities surrounding it, making the urban expanse large enough to cover the continent. Most people go their entire lives without ever setting foot on Igliak soil. Ratchet however had decided if he ever moved to Polaris, that he would be sure to get a home at the surface level. The duo walked along in silence, enjoying each other's company.
Ratchet felt an immense sense of pride in himself, knowing that he was doing the right thing by Talwyn. She had helped him so much over the past few years and he had to admit that he felt she and him were becoming ever closer. He found her sense of adventure and intelligence attractive. He liked her laugh and the way that she smiled when she knew that he was exaggerating yet another intergalactic adventure. She never corrected him, always letting the Lombax enjoy his fun.
They made their way down a promenade between two buildings, and a cold breeze picked up making Talwyn shiver despite her usual bodysuit. Ratchet draped an arm over her shoulders, the warmth from his fur defeating the chill that had crept up her back. The young woman was about to shrug him off and tell him defiantly that she wasn't a child or some damsel that he needed to protect, but she stopped herself. He obviously knew that being that she rescued him several times, but friends still look after each other regardless. And so, she leaned into him, enjoying more of the warmth that was emanating from his body. Which of course brought an easy wide grin to her companion.
It wasn't long until the short walk was over, and Ratchet hailed a taxi for them. As the neon yellow vehicle made its way to the Defense Center, Ratchet watched Talwyn stare out the window seemingly lost in thought. He had a few good guesses as to what it was that was clouding her mind. However, he would wait until she breached those topics, remembering how hard it was for him to talk about Alister after the Great Clock. Finally, she spoke up, her voice almost a whisper.
"I wonder what they're thinking, seeing me almost lose the station," she said with the same distant face. Ratchet placed a hand on hers and squeezed it.
"Don't, Tal. They are proud of you. They were always proud of you. Look, I don't like to think about worst case scenarios. But, even if we do lose the station, they would know it wasn't your fault. That it simply was just too big of a responsibility for one person. That being said, we are not going to lose it." Ratchet finished. Talwyn gave a small, but genuine smile.
"Thanks Ratchet. I can't say the same...but your optimism is appreciated."
"Now, one more thing Tal. I know I can't stop you from signing up, but promise me that you won't accept any jobs until you get your health back?" he asked. He knew that he was starting to get pushy in her affairs, but he didn't know how else to help her. "The last thing that I want is to see you get hurt," he added with a slight blush to his cheeks. He turned away to try and hide it. Talwyn's smile widened a bit more as she nodded her head.
"All right Ratchet, I get it. I'll start eating again and looking after myself," she said, bringing a little relief to the Lombax. It was then that their destination was reached and the duo made their way into the large Center. There they filled out several sheets of paperwork to operate legally as mercs. Of course, it came with another, albeit much smaller fee, but it did beat being thrown in jail or having the station marked as a 'thug outpost'.
"Hey look Ratchet! We get to pick code names!" Talwyn said, having already reached the end of her paperwork. "Hmmm, what should I pick..." she said, tapping her holo pen against her chin. Ratchet smirked as he thought of a good name for her.
"How about the Raven Terror?" he asked while dramatically motioning with his hands that such a name would be accompanied with an air of mystery, which lit up the Markazian's face as she quickly wrote down the name. She then stared at him for a while, thinking once more. Ratchet looked up to see her scrunched up face. "What?" he asked, not knowing what the weirdness was about.
Talwyn relaxed and gave a smirk his way. "Oh nothing...Orange Terror." Ratchet gave a good laugh.
"Come on Tal, aren't matching names a little childish?" he asked. He didn't mind the name, but at the same time who is going to hire someone named 'Orange Terror'? Talwyn shook her head though, her mind was made up.
"No way Lombax. You picked mine, so I get to pick yours," she said, a mischievous grin on her face as she reached over and grabbed Ratchet's form.
"Hey- Wait!" the lombax complained. But it didn't stop the Markazian from writing down the name on his form before handing it back to him.
"Well, I just did it, so that's done." She said with a chuckle. "Oh, come on. Fair is fair. You picked mine, so I get to pick yours"
"I didn't pick yours, I only made a suggestion." Ratchet shot back with a playful grin.
"Okay then, how about we fight to the death over it?" Talwyn said in mock seriousness.
"Fine, fine, I'll be the Orange Terror," Ratchet said, holding his hands up in defeat. "No way am I getting in your crosshairs.'' This brought a smirk to Talywn's face.
The two submitted their paperwork and posed for their licenses. They left the building shortly afterward complaining about how it seemed impossible to take a decent picture. The sun was now low in the sky, setting the city ablaze in a wash of orange and red which reflected off of the buildings. They once again walked in comfortable silence down the wide streets. Ratchet let out a contented yawn and placed his arms behind his head, enjoying the moment.
"So, Tal, do you still have that target range set up at the station? Because I'm pretty sure we didn't settle our last match." Ratchet said light-heartedly. However, it was then that he realized she was no longer next to him. He swiftly spun around, his pulse quickening. Though it settled once more when he saw that she had simply stopped walking. Ratchet joined her to see what was up, only to see her staring at a billboard for the Intergalactic Museum of History. He knew where her mind was going, and so he spoke up.
"We have time to go visit them if you'd like," he said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. He knew to some extent the hurt she was going through. Alister was still a hard topic for him to deal with. Mainly because Ratchet knew that he would never be able to truly learn about the General being that most history about him was about his folly. Seeing the look on Talwyn's face, he also knew that her hurt was much deeper. Cronk and Zephyr helped raise her, protected her, and loved her like any parents would. The station will never again be filled with the sounds of one of their ridiculous arguments. He realized that she hadn't been able to grieve properly, being so concerned about it.
Talwyn turned and nodded to Ratchet. The two turned right and made their way down the central promenade once more, the Museum's unique shape jutting up against the sky. However, unbeknownst to our heroes, a new adventure awaited them in the far reaches of the universe...