Chapter 8: Power Struggles
Planet Shrius: Neutron Power Inc. Galactic Showroom
Ratchet whistled as he, Clank, and Talwyn walked down the aisles of boosters, afterburners, and starship engines. They had made it to the main outlet for Neutron Inc. and were prepared to buy four of the Neutron 3000's under the cover that they needed new power supplies for several remote space stations. Talwyn had to admit, that the proposed power that the products promised was impressive.
"...and this one has a triple-ionic booster with a double-hyperdrive. Oooooh! What's that one over there, Clank?" Ratchet said in excitement. The technology was like nothing he'd seen. Sleek, functional, powerful. He made a mental note to take Aphelion here after their job was done for a few upgrades. However, his reverie was popped when Talwyn took a firm hold of his shoulder.
"Now remember Ratchet. I do all the talking. I'm Miss Hiyan from an exclusive scientific organization and you are my bodyguard while Clank is my assistant. Got it?" she asked sternly. She was wearing garb more fitting to the style of a CEO of this galaxy. Instead of her usual brushed-back-into-a-hairband style, her hair was fixed into a dramatic up-do. She had several decorative hairpins which held all the loops and curls into place. She then wore a suit jacket but with dramatic bell sleeves which were ornamented on the cuffs. Erus said that such a suit was normally worn with a long, straight skirt, but Talwyn firmly refused, knowing that it would only hinder her if something happened. So, she instead wore long pleated pants. This was all topped with a sheer white hooded cloak. The whole style of her get-up was Erus' idea to ensure that no one would track the sale back to Evukar.
"Affirmative, Miss Hiyan," Clank said for both himself and Ratchet. They continued the walk through the showroom until they made it to the customer service area. Rows upon rows of desks each with its salesperson filled the space. Neutron Inc. had done very well in the past few years, with their company expanding to the furthest reaches of the Krayntixx Galaxy. It seemed that most of the representatives were busy when a short, orange-tone alien approached them. He had one large eye set in the middle of his head, two small holes for nostrils, and then one wide mouth which seemed much too large for the small creature. When he first saw Talwyn, he appeared to do a double-take, not quite sure that he could believe his eyes. But his customer service training kicked in, so he stopped staring at the strange group in front of him and started his spiel.
"H-hello and welcome to Neutron Power Inc! My name is Carl," he said in a friendly manner. "We provide comfort and convenience in the form of the cleanest, most efficient power in the galaxy. How can I help you achieve the ultimate in luxury today?" he finished as he gave them a large, toothy smile. Ratchet scratched the back of his head and opened his mouth to say something when Talwyn elbowed him in the ribs.
"Vy name is Miss Hiyan of zee Interstellar Council of Scientists. Ve are looking to acquire four generators for our Space Stationzz. Ve are interested in your Neutron 3000 model." Talwyn said in the accent that Erus told her to use.
"Aaah yes! Hot seller those are! They will give your scientists plenty of power for their research." Carl said nodding his head. "And who might these two be?" he asked, referring to Ratchet and Clank.
"Ze small one iz my assistant, and ze furry one iz my bodyguard...he dozzent speak much. Ze council leader insisted on him due to rogues in zis sector." Talwyn replied.
"Ah! Well, if you would all kindly follow me, we can write up an order form and set up a delivery of the generators to each of your stations Miss Hiyan. Neutron Power Inc. insures against any rogues or pirates so our customers have peace of mind!" Carl continued.
"No, no. Zis vill not do. Vy superiors wish to have zees generatorzz immediately. Zat iz vhy zey sent me to purchase zem and deliver zem personally." Talwyn replied, hoping that they wouldn't have to jump through any hoops to get the darn things.
"Uh, uh..." Carl trailed off, the situation having gone past any trained response he had learned. Just then, a much larger version of Carl walked over to the group; supposedly a manager, and took over the conversation.
"We are sorry, but at this moment Neutron Power Inc. is not able to complete any direct sales. All customers must fill out an order form." the manager said.
Talwyn sighed, and her heart sank just a little bit. "Why not!?" she said a little too loudly, however she re-composed her cover quickly and continued. "If Neutron Power Inc iz az great az you zay, zen you should have ze generatorzz in stock, yes?" she said, hoping to save the mission.
"I am sorry, that information is classified." the manager continued "Please fill out a form and your order should be ready between four to six Glarnian moon cycles," he said in a monotone, corporate tone.
"Uhh...uh.." Talwyn only managed to say, not sure what to do. Erus' power supply wouldn't be able to wait that long, neither would the space station for that matter.
"Look here one-eye. We want four generators now and we'll pay up front in cash! So, what's the problem!?" Ratchet said annoyed. This was why he did most of his modifications and tinkering himself; corporations were all about 'rules'.
Carl nor his manager seemed impressed, and the trio were swiftly kicked out of the building by security bots, landing on the front steps in a most ungraceful manner. Ratchet ran back up the steps and pounded on the door. "Hey! Heeeey! You let us in this minute or else!" he yelled. When no answer came, he pulled out his devastator. "Well, if they're not going to cooperate..." he said mischievously. His plan was cut short when he heard Talwyn scream in frustration.
"Of all the blasted luck!" she said as she tore off the white cloak and balled it up in her fists. "I wore this monkey suit for nothing!" she finished before she sank back onto the steps, her head in her lap. Ratchet and Clank gave each other a look and walked over to her.
"Hey, Tal, come on," he said, tentatively resting a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault. We'll get the money for the station some other way." he continued. It was then that Talwyn quickly stood up and brushed him off of her.
"This isn't just about the station anymore Ratchet. My father worked on this project. He left his home to protect it! This is more than just a job or bolts or anything else...Erus...he's allowed me to be close to my father again." she said, hugging herself.
Clank gave a sympathetic expression. "Talwyn, I understand how you feel. I too was able to feel close to my father when I was at the Great Clock," he said while placing a metal hand on her knee. "Your father did many great things, and now you must secure your home so that you will be able to do many more yourself," he explained.
Talwyn looked down at him and smiled. "You're right Clank." but then she let out a long sigh. "I don't know how Erus will handle the news though. Weren't there any other models we could use?" she asked, turning to Ratchet.
"All of the other suitable models had too much variation in their signatures. It would be too much of a risk," he said solemnly.
"That must be quite a risk if you of all people are unwilling to take it." Talwyn joked lightly. "Well, why don't we at least check out the second best, just in case?" she said, still trying to salvage the job, her father's work. Ratchet reluctantly nodded in agreement. He was glad to see that Talwyn was trying to be optimistic, but he was afraid of what would happen if any and all hope of completing the job was taken from her.
"In that case, we should head to planet Auznath where a factory is located that has just made a new power supply," Clank informed them.
"Well, no use hanging around here then," Talwyn said bitterly. The trio made their way to Lady Wraith to blast off to yet another planet. Talwyn hoped that they would be able to save her father's work. She felt as if she owed him to do this.
However, her mind was also clouded with what she had heard Ratchet say earlier that day in the kitchen. Did he really have feelings for her? Or was it just one of those brotherly-sisterly things? Considering the entirety of the conversation though, alluded to the former. And Talwyn wasn't sure how she felt about that. If Ratchet revealed such feelings to her properly, would she reciprocate them? She wasn't sure. They were close, yes. And Ratchet was truly an amazing friend, despite his brash and rough exterior. But there was still so much about him that she didn't know. Not to mention that she was also afraid that if she got too close to Ratchet, that she would lose him just like she lost the rest of her family...
"Come in Tal? You ready to go yet?" Ratchet said to her, breaking her train of thought. She hadn't realized that they were inside her ship now, and Ratchet and Clank were looking at her expectantly to start it up.
"Huh? Oh yeah, yeah. Why don't you drive, Ratchet?" Talwyn said as she sat in one of the passenger seats, staring off into the distance. The lombax and his metal friend exchanged looks before he spoke up again.
"Um...you feeling all right? I mean, didn't you tell me to never, ever, ever fly your ship, Tal?" he asked, remembering how furious she had been when he took it out for a quick spin one day and came back with a busted flux-drive and scratches along the side.
Talwyn sighed, wondering when she'd ever be able to sort out her thoughts and emotions. "Yes, I did. And now I am telling you to fly my ship this one time," she said shortly, holding up a finger for emphasis. Ratchet looked to Clank who also gave him a quizzical look. However, orders were orders, and it didn't seem that Talwyn was going to move from her spot anytime soon. Ratchet took the pilot's seat and gave one last worried look towards his friend. Has the whole Galaxy gone crazy today? He thought to himself before he turned back to the controls and started up the ship.
He slowly ascended into Shrius' atmosphere, and then into the empty vacuum of space. As he initiated the hyperspace jump to Auznath, he thought back to Talwyn. It seemed that every time she said she was 'okay' she actually had gone three steps back. It worried him greatly that her mental state might be deteriorating. He'd seen what that had done to Alister. And now it was very likely happening to Talwyn, and Ratchet still had absolutely no idea how to help. Emotions weren't his forte, he much rather preferred problems that could be fixed with his wrench. But I'll still try as long as Talwyn needs me. He thought determinedly as the endless void of space sped past him. He glanced at Clank, who seemed to mirror the hero's worries for their friend, and they both exchanged a silent, mutual agreement that they would not let her down.
Planet Evukar
The old man went about and tidied up his daughter's room as if she actually used it. He rearranged all of her dolls and plush animals that he continued to buy for her over the years. Despite the fact that her body had aged, Erus still saw her as the small, young girl that he fell in love with what seemed like an eternity ago. Erus hoped that when it was time, that Andromeda would still feel safe in her little corner of the world. He didn't have much control over what happened outside his home, but he did in this room.
"Hello there, my precious dear." he barely whispered as if she really was just asleep. She looked ethereal, floating in her chamber. Her long auburn hair lightly enveloped her features with soft curls. She wore a simple white shift, but with the added adornment of frills and lace. Even suspended in time, safe from the prying eyes of Maa'jer, Erus would not dress his precious girl in anything less than soft and beautiful things. In her state, Andromeda's light pink skin held a ghostly quality. But Erus knew that soon enough she would be glowing brighter than a white-hot star. Though they were closed, he imagined that her light purple eyes were open. Those curious, kind eyes that he fell in love with when her mother introduced her to him for the first time...
Erus and Galaecia had been in contact for some time. Originally working together over diplomatic affairs to help bring peace to Evukar, their bond quickly deepened. Eventually, she introduced him to Andromeda, her small infant daughter. So tiny, so pure. Erus immediately took to the young child, treating her as if she was his own. It took many years for Galaecia to even talk about the death of Andromeda's father, the royal Marukar prince, but Erus had always assumed it involved a sad tragedy. They had hoped that their love for one another would help show everyone that the Marukar were not to be feared. That they and the Agani had far more in common than people thought.
But, of course, thanks to the relentless propaganda over the years, the Agani did nothing but dig their heels into their prejudices even more. Whispers that the widowed princess had used some sort of magic on Erus to control him soon turned into full-blown conspiracies. Try as he might, he was never able to overcome the hatred that had been planted deep in the hearts of those who followed Maa'jer. The tension continued to build for years, blanketing the planet in an almost palpitable fog. Until of course that fateful day happened when it seemed that the match was lit, and the tension was pushed to its flashpoint.
Planet Evukar: Past
The attack had come unexpectedly. The political atmosphere of Evukar had been unstable for some time, but it seemed that an uneasy peace had finally been forged between all of the different races on Evukar. But the hatred for the Marukar had never truly gone away. Maa'jer's movement had simply taken a different direction. Instead of outright maligning the Marukar, his followers spread seemingly innocuous propaganda about the dangers of the reclusive race. But today had proven that Maa'jer and his followers were willing to go to any lengths to satiate their prejudice.
Erus ran across the courtyard, one of his hands gripping one of Andromeda's. The air had become electric as the plasma blasts and bombs ionized it. Erus could hardly hear with all of the bloodcurdling screams and explosions surrounding him. He swiftly picked up Andromeda, allowing him to run faster to the safety of his home. This had been his fault; he saw and ignored the signs. If only he hadn't been so foolish, then they would have been prepared. But now all he could focus on was to get Andromeda and his wife to safety. For he knew that they were the true targets.
"Papa! Vhere iz Mama?" Andromeda asked in a small yet shrill voice. She clung to him like a newborn babe, her eyes shut tight against the chaos around them.
"Do not fear my dear, we'll see her soon. The army will come and stop this madness." Erus said in false confidence. He knew that even with all of the military power in the city, it wouldn't be enough to stop a full-scale attack. They finally reached the safety of the royal temple, though they were not out of the woods yet. The walls and lights shook with each and every explosion outside. Erus quickly led his daughter downstairs where his wife was waiting.
"Oh Erus! You made it! I was beginning to worry." Galaecia said as she took Andromeda in her arms.
"It's them Galaecia, they won't stop until..." Erus paused as he glanced at his daughter's frightened face. "Until they've met their goal," Erus said, emphasizing the last part. The woman nodded her head as her grip on Andromeda tightened. "We'll have to wait until the fire dies down, and then I'll see to it that we escape." He looked towards his daughter, handing her one of her stuffed toys. "How would you like that dear? A whole new place to explore?" Andromeda only answered him with a small nod as the house shook among muffled sounds of explosions outside.
But just as Erus was about to lead his family down to the tunnel system for their escape, his attention was directed towards the sound of breaking glass as several explosives crashed through the large windows of the temple. A bright light blinded the three of them and a ringing sound disoriented Erus. He could feel the temperature quickly rise as many fires broke out throughout his home. He heard a high-pitched scream, and called out to his wife, but received no answer. His vision settled and he regained his bearings, quickly scanning the room for his loved ones. It was then that he saw him.
A so-called colleague of his who once shared his ideals. But then fate would have it that when the arguing and war started, that they chose different sides. "Maa'jer! Stop this madness!" Erus cried out. "You have no idea what you're doing! The Marukar are not a threat to the Agani! They've never been a threat to anyone!" he yelled, desperately trying to reason with the mad-man.
"You're a fool Erus! You could have been a great conqueror for the Agani, but you chose to turn your back on your own tribe." Maa'jer spat back viciously as he unleashed plasma blasts in Erus' direction. "Peace can never be an option for us as long as there is power that we crave!" he added, maniacally laughing. "The Tyrian, the Galel, and the Fridan have all pledged allegiance to us already! The other tribes will soon follow."
"Please Maa'jer! Stop this!" Erus once again pleaded. "The Tribes of Evukar are meant to be separate and free! Not held together under the rule of one!" he added. "If you do this, you will doom us all! The prophecy says-"
"Yes, yes, I'm well aware of the 'warning' of the prophecy. That a savior of Marukar will rise from the ashes of war and use The Gem of Fate to cleanse the planet." he scoffed. "You fail to see that the prophecy in itself signed all of the Marukar a death sentence. I don't believe it for a second, but the hope it brings makes our campaign that much harder. That is why I've come Erus. Tell us where she is, or all the Marukar shall burn!" Maa'jer laughed in homicidal glee as he awaited Erus' answer.
Erus coughed on the smoke that was now engulfing the area. "We will never give up hope Maa'jer. The Agani will fall if they continue this madness, I promise it!" he said as he threw a few grenades in Maa'jer's direction. It gave him the cover he needed to run and look for Galaecia and Andromeda. But when he finally reached their hiding place, he saw that Maa'jer had only been a distraction...Galaecia was dead. Her crumpled body shielded Andromeda, who was close to death as well. It was apparent that she had jumped in front of Andromeda to protect her from the full blast of an explosive. Erus grabbed Andromeda and begged forgiveness from Galaecia's spirit for the fact he was about to leave her body here, and he ran deep down into the catacombs of the temple.
Planet Evukar: Present Day
Erus broke out of his horrid memory as the latest vitals check came in, the high-pitched ping telling him once again that Andromeda was still alive. "Soon this nightmare will all be over," he said silently, placing a hand on her canister. He didn't care that the Agani had been overthrown within a year of the attack. He wanted the planet to see, for all of them to see, the consequences of standing by and doing nothing. With Andromeda, he would hunt down Maa'jer and destroy him, bringing forth a new world. At first, it was about the legend, about stopping the Agani. But when that had come and gone, Erus needed something to hold on to, something to center his focus. He chose Maa'jer, who after all these years he felt was responsible for his wife's death, and for the loss of his daughter's childhood.
Erus loaned the phony necklace to Neutron Power Inc. when he knew the time for Andromeda to come of age was approaching. He lived the last forty years holed up in his home to stay low. After the attack on the Marukar village was deemed successful, Maa'jer all but ignored Erus thinking that the old colleague was no longer a threat to his plans. Erus capitalized on this, using the opportunity to lie and wait until Andromeda would be ready. With the power of the prophecy by his side, Erus was confident that he would be able to overtake an old and decrepit Maa'jer. Then he'd make sure that no other Agani would die at the hands of a brother. This he swore.