Chapter 13: Light in the Darkness
Kryantixx Galaxy: Planet Evukar
Ratchet and Clank found their way to the small control room where Erus had messaged Ratchet. The room was cluttered with a number of supplies necessary for sustaining a few people through a siege. But no sign of Tal…Ratchet thought solemnly. He turned his attention to the console.
"Clank, can you hack into that?" Ratchet asked in an uncharacteristically even tone.
Clank looked over the computer console, before beginning to type away at the keyboard. Ratchet stood by, watching wordlessly. I'm going to find out your secrets yet. Ratchet silently seethed. His emotions for the past day seemed to flip-flop from anger to worry. He tried his best to keep the anger in check, as he knew that Clank was right that brash decisions wouldn't help them. However, that only left his worry for Talwyn, which didn't help him much either. Ratchet touched the faded red fabric on his wrist that was Talwyn's bandana and squeezed his eyes shut. I should have been here. He thought bitterly, blaming himself for his missing friend. What he wouldn't give to just be back home with her, and Cronk, and Zephyr.
"Ahem, Ratchet, I have accessed the computer files," Clank said, pulling the lombax out of his thoughts. His eyes went steely again with determination.
"Good. What do they tell us?" Ratchet asked, looking at the various files pulled up on the screens.
"It appears that there was some sort of civil war on this planet." Clank stated, "An alien by the name of Maa'jer was attempting to unify the planet under one government, though many people, including Erus, were against the idea." Ratchet silently nodded as Clank continued to type away, accessing more files. "There is a prophecy that warns against doing so." The robot opened a video file and played it on the screen. A much younger-looking Erus appeared, though his eyes were still filled with sadness and exhaustion. Clank increased the volume so that both of them could hear.
"…Maa'jer is intent on unifying the Agani, despite the prophecy. He has now started a genocide to ensure that the prophecy can never be fulfilled. I must stop him, but it will take time. Time that I do not have. I have enlisted the help of my old colleague Max Apogee under the guise that I am researching the historical importance of certain rare flora. Even though he should have a very personal interest in my plans, I cannot risk anyone knowing that she still lives…"
"Marukar? What's that?" Ratchet asked his metallic friend. Clank pressed a few more buttons, searching for any more mention of the term.
"According to this, the Marukar were a small but highly advanced species in this galaxy. They largely kept to themselves due to their intricate spiritual rituals and beliefs."
"What do they have to do with this 'Prophecy' he mentioned?"
"They are the ones who wrote the prophecy that Erus mentions. It warns that the galaxy will be destroyed if the 'Spirit of the Marukar' is revealed by someone of the royal bloodline with The Gem of Fate."
"So, this spirit…thing…is a weapon?" Ratchet asked, now even more concerned. What the heck did we get ourselves into?
"Hmmm, the translations are not precise." Clank continued "But it appears so. However, again, according to Erus' notes, it states that the entire galaxy would be destroyed, not just one's enemies. It seems that the threat of this prophecy has prevented many wars in the past."
"Well, it sounds like this Maa'jer guy figured out a solution. No more Marukar. No more prophecy." Ratchet said as he put two and two together. "What was Erus referring to when he said that 'she stills lives"?
"I cannot accurately say," Clank said as he continued to tap away at the keyboard. "However, there are several photographs of Erus, and what appear to be his family." He finished as he pressed a button and several pictures popped up on the screen. The duo saw Erus and even Max Apogee scattered across many of the photos. Ratchet's eyes flicked from pictures of Erus to one of a tall thin female alien, wearing a necklace with an intricately carved deep blue gem, standing next to a young girl, to one of Erus, Max, and the woman and child. "I would presume that the child's room we discovered belonged to the young girl shown here."
"Yeah, but who is she? And the lady with her too? They look Markazian." Ratchet said, comparing the appearances of them to Max and Talwyn.
"It says here that they are of the royal bloodline of Marukar," Clank replied. Ratchet's eyes went wide as he came to a horrible realization.
"Clank…that means Tal is Marukar." The lombax stated, realizing just how much graver the situation had become. "And now she's lost in a galaxy with a mad man that wants to kill them all!"
"It would seem so. The name 'Marukar' comes from the name of the planet that these people originally inhabited here. But they do appear to be one and the same with the Markazians in Polaris" Ratchet slammed his wrench against the wall in anger, causing a loud, reverberating thud. "Ratchet! Be careful." Clank admonished "I understand you are upset, but we will find Miss Apogee, I am certain of it."
"Careful? Careful!?" Ratchet yelled back "No, Clank, the time for careful has come and gone. If we wanted to be careful, we should have never left Tal here alone!" he yelled, his voice ringing off of the metallic walls, "How could I have been so stupid?"
"You cannot blame yourself for this. None of us could have known this was happening." Clank tapped a few more keys before stepping down from the console. "According to this database, there is an old Marukar settlement nearby, I suggest we investigate it for more clues. It could be perhaps where Erus has gone to." Ratchet pulled his metal friend up and onto his back before readying his blaster.
"Let's go," the furred hero said simply. I just hope we're not too late.
Kryantixx Galaxy: 3rd Moon of Planet Glignak.
Talwyn woke up in the small cell that had been her 'home' since she was brought here. The base appeared to be manned with numerous guards all of the same race as Erus and the murderer that brought her here. And they all seemed to share in his pure hatred of the Marukar, though she was still confused as to why they thought she was one. Either way, she loved nothing more than to be able to blast every one of them in the face, but she was given no chance whatsoever.
Despite being kept in this small cell 24/7, she was chained to the floor as well and was only given food or water through an airlock door. But that didn't mean she had given up. She spent every waking hour intently watching the comings and goings of the guards, of Maa'jer, and learning as much as she could about what their plan was here.
Her cell was a small, circular one in the middle of a large room. Every inch of the wall was filled with machinery and monitors. There was just one set of sliding doors which served as the only way in or out. Talwyn heard the familiar metallic swish of the doors opening and turned her head towards them. She narrowed her eyes at the figure that stepped through whom she recognized as the alien Maa'jer.
"Good morning my disgusting pet" The alien sneered at the chained-up markazian. "I hope you find your accommodations terrible."
"Compared to Zordoom Prison, this is a palace," Talwyn replied sarcastically.
"Well, we'll have to change that soon, then." Maa'jer sneered. "Reality has such a cruel sense of humor. The only way to achieve my goals is to use the very disgusting creatures I wish to eliminate."
"What the hell is your problem with me anyway?" Talwyn asked. "I've never even heard of you until you kidnapped me." She said, crossing her arms.
"I'm surprised Erus didn't mention me to his daughter, considering I'm the one that killed your mother." Maa'jer laughed. Why does he keep thinking I'm Erus' daughter? Talwyn thought. As much as she wanted to correct the maniac, Talwyn sensed that her being Erus' daughter was keeping her alive at this point, so she stayed silent and simply glared at him. "Oh, don't worry, you'll join her soon, right after I use you to finally conquer the Agani."
"Why did you bring me here then? Wouldn't you want to do this on Evukar?"
"Oh, ho, ho you have been kept in the dark, haven't you? No surprise being that Erus must've been keeping you locked up in that house for all these years to keep you from me." Maa'jer walked closer to Talwyn's cell and lifted the necklace around his neck to show it to her. "This is The Gem of Fate. And tomorrow, you're going to use it here, as this Marukar temple is built precisely over the powerful electromagnetic core of this moon. Then I can suck all the energy from you to power my weaponry." He laughed once more shaking his head in disbelief. "All these years that fool Erus was trying to protect you from the prophecy, but now you will be used to eliminate him".
Talwyn picked up on the mention of a prophecy once again and decided to push Maa'jer for a bit more information.
"Prophecy? Eh…father mentioned a prophecy, but never explained it." Talwyn said, continuing her ruse.
"Hmph. I would say it is a shame that you know so little about your history, but you are just a worthless Marukar anyway." Maa'jer started to slowly walk around Talwyn's cell while reciting a poem from memory. "When all is lost and future dour, the royal blood at the midnight hour will call the white specter, this galaxy's protector, with The Gem of Fate, to rid the hate, bring violence to an end, the world begins again" He stopped once more, starting at Talwyn with contempt.
"Your people kept everyone in this galaxy in check with the threat of annihilation if anyone stepped out of line." Maa'jer continued "But you see, I have figured out a way to control the power of the gem, which I will use to bring about the greatest empire of Agani that this galaxy has seen!" he continued to laugh maniacally. "Your body will be destroyed afterward most likely. But I consider that a win-win for me. With the last of the Marukar gone, then the cowards of this galaxy will finally all kneel…to me."
"You won't get away with this," Talwyn said fiercely. "I won't let it happen."
"Oh, my dear, you won't have a choice. I'll make sure of that." Maa'jer continued to laugh as he left Talwyn alone once more.