"And it was then that Captain Qwark, esteemed President of the Polaris Galaxy, heroically denied several million bolts and dozens of medals for his bravery because 'It was the right thing to do'—all before he even lost his first tooth."
Ratchet rolls his eyes with a groan, slouched on the couch while watching yet another documentary about Qwark's life.
He always found it odd that with every documentary, mini-series, cartoon, holofilm, hologame, biography, and autobiography, no one ever noticed how the stories all change. For example, right now, he was saving puppies and kittens from a fire in an orphanage when he was seven, when last month it was from a flood.
But, it was dumb of Ratchet to think that people would notice, nor even care. The type of people who still worshipped Qwark and the ground he walks on even after all his betrayals will eat up anything he says. Sure, Ratchet agreed that Qwark was definitely a far better person who has done his fair share of heroics out of actual good nowadays, but come on, the man tried to kill him. Twice. He just wants ONE person to call Qwark out on that instead of asking for an autograph.
Sighing, Ratchet distracts himself from that line of through by flipping through the channels once more, and after several minutes, confirmed for the fourth time this hour that yes, this documentary was somehow the best thing playing right now. He'd probably watch another Secret Agent Clank rerun instead, but there wasn't an episode he hasn't seen a dozen times already. Plus, the magic wasn't quite there when you're actually in the show and get a look behind the scenes. Especially when you never even really liked acting and stuff.
As the narrator goes on to say how little nine year old Qwark thwarted a bank robbery with just a lollipop, Ratchet gives a huge groan as he rubs his face with both his hands, a thought popping into his mind as it had thousands of times in the last few months:
Retirement was boring.
Sure, it beat nearly dying every five minutes when he was out stopping yet another galaxy-threatening wannabe, but at least it was exciting. He got to meet new people, visit new places, and most importantly, shoot all kinds of sweet guns.
But there haven't even been any threats for him to deal with that the Polaris Defense Force or Galactic Rangers couldn't handle on their own, not since the Progs. Ratchet knew that it was a great thing the universe is in an era of peace to induce a hero like himself into boredom, for however long it'll last, but he couldn't help but be disappointed in just wanting something to do.
He has his side-gig as a mechanic that he's had since he was a kid, yes, but it really paled in comparison to being a hero.
Even despite his love in tinkering and fixing up ships, it was very monotonous when it's always the exact same models coming in, basic hoverships that get Veldinites from point A to point B without getting too dusty. He swore he could build one from memory alone with how many times he's had to repair them.
Sometimes he'd get an off-planet visitor to get a repair as a chance to meet the famous Ratchet and Clank, but they were pretty few and far between, Ratchet making sure to keep his mechanic shop on the down-low from the public to avoid spoiling the peace of his Veldin home.
Throughout his retirement, he remembered more and more why he was so anxious in getting off this place when he met Clank. At least this time, he had a ship and some friends to visit every once in a while, but it's not like he could do that all the time to alleviate his boredom. He may be retired, but no one else he knew was.
Tal is always on a mission as Captain of the Polaris Defense Force, which eventually led to them mutually and amicably breaking up, but even though they were still best friends, no doubt about it, she simply didn't have that much time to hang out anymore.
Al's too busy running his RoboShack and hosting his RoboWars show, both expanding to new locations and getting renewed for even more seasons, making Clank's appointments with him a little more tricky with how full his schedule was getting now.
Sasha's in the middle of a campaign to get re-elected as Galactic President in Solana—which Ratchet doesn't doubt at all she'll win with how honestly great she was at it (being totally unbiased as her friend and ex-boyfriend of course).
Helga's training (maiming) the Galactic Ranger recruits, assuming Ratchet even wants to 'hang out' with her for a good time.
And most of all, Qwark's… Qwark.
The only person he could reliably spend time with is Skidd, hosting hover board races all the time, but one can only race for so long before it got just as tiring as fixing up a Sandsailer for Mr. Jenkins.
If it wasn't for Clank, Ratchet would probably eventually lose his mind and 'accidentally' instigate a prison-breakout riot in Zordoom just to stir up some excitement in his life.
But as Ratchet once again ponders over the utter boredom of his peaceful life, the narrator on the holovision beginning to elaborate on Qwark's twelfth birthday where he stopped a mugging, his ears perk up a bit, hearing metallic footsteps.
Clank walks into the room, and as Ratchet turns his head to see him, a smile spreads across his lips. Surely, he has an idea for something to do instead of watching an awful documentary that he knows Qwark paid for.
"Hey, whatcha doing, Clank?" He asks cheerily.
"Ah, hello, Ratchet." Clank returns the greeting, before noticing that he was watching a Qwark documentary—the sign that Ratchet was feeling especially blasé. "I am assuming that you are expecting me to provide a suggestion for a pastime?"
Ratchet nods, albeit with a tired look in his eye, making Clank give his signature chuckle.
"Well, I am glad, because luckily for you, that is exactly what I was about to do." He claims pointedly.
"Wait, really?" Ratchet's ears perk up as he sits up excitedly. "What is it?"
"It concerns a secret project that I have been working on for the past few months. I am happy to declare that I have finally completed it!" Clank says as he smiles proudly.
"Wait… What? Secret project?" He asks, raising an eyebrow, not expecting that of all things. "You've never mentioned anything about having a secret project?"
"Well, that is the entire point of a 'secret project', Ratchet." Clank says blankly, rolling his optics. "I am glad to hear that I have succeeded in keeping my secret project secret."
"Hey, screw you, you know what I mean!" Ratchet says, crossing his arms before tilting his head. "But… What is this project? And why did you keep it secret?"
Clank chuckles again before he turns around, waving a hand over his shoulder as he turns towards the garage.
"Why not come and see for yourself?"
Ratchet just stares at him walking away for a moment, wondering what the hell Clank had planned with all of this, but he shrugs and turns off the holovision before hopping over the couch to follow him out the garage connected to the home.
Inside, they pass Ratchet's workshop area, filled with all sorts of miscellaneous projects in various states of completion, parts and tools and gizmos spread all over the place. The large space in the center of the garage where a customer's ship would be parked was empty today, thanks to Ratchet having no orders for the day.
Or, week, even. The lack of customers lately only added to his boredom.
But they move right along past it to the small corner that Ratchet designated as Clank's own small, personal workshop, shortly after they first met. One can clearly see an imaginary line between where it began and from Ratchet's side with how clean and organized it was—looking like it's been dusted, too.
But looking at its cleanliness, meaning how utterly empty and devoid of a 'secret project' it was, Ratchet tilts his head.
"Erm… Was your secret project cleaning your workbench?" Ratchet asks dumbly. "Good job?"
"I am afraid not." Clank replies, walking to it. "Besides, it is always this clean, Ratchet. Have you not noticed, with how often you are in here since your retirement?"
He rolls his eyes with a scoff.
"Clank, I'm so used to working in my organized chaos that anything less looks brand new to me, so no, actually."
"I recommend you start working on that." Clank says as he starts rotating various tools on the wall of his workbench. "It really is beneficial to have a clean workspace, as opposed to the confusing mess you exist in. It is good for the mind!"
"Notice how I said organized chaos, not mess. It makes sense to me!" Ratchet clarifies, raising a finger before slowly lowering it in confusion. "And, also… What are you doing?"
Clank doesn't reply, instead continuing to place and rotate various tools in various odd angles that didn't make any practical sense to Ratchet, seeing that it greatly disrupted the otherwise neat, organized, and meticulous layout of Clank's tools.
But as Clank places a screwdriver next to a hammer and turns it ninety degrees, he suddenly hears a click, and the wall slides backwards before lowering down, showing a ladder inside a small space.
Ratchet's jaw drops as Clank turns around, smiling.
"Wha—Since when did you have a goddamn secret entrance, Clank?!" He asks indignantly as he throws his hand towards the new opening in the wall. "Is this the secret project?"
Clank chuckles.
"No. But, I did commission it to help protect my project, so I guess it is half the surprise. So, surprise!" He says amusedly before stepping aside, gesturing an arm towards the ladder. "After you."
"Just what did you make that requires a secret entrance to… 'Protect' it?" Ratchet asks, putting his hands on his hips with furrowed brows. "And you didn't answer me when I asked when this happened! This is my home, too! I bought this thing! I deserve to know when you made… This, you know!"
"I had it installed months ago while you were visiting Ms. Apogee back in Polaris." Clank answers pointedly, not skipping a beat. "And for your first question, yet again, I implore you to just see for yourself."
Ratchet eyes him suspiciously, wondering what the hell he was up to, and then back at the ladder leading down to who knows where.
He thought it was a little strange that Clank stayed behind during that trip to Tal's, but he just dismissed it when Clank said it was to give them some more 'intimate time together'. But, nope, looks like it was just so that he could build a bunker behind his back.
That made it all the stranger to Ratchet, though, because secretly building something ridiculous like a secret bunker sounded like something he would do, not Clank. And if whatever this was required Clank to go this far to protect it, then he was admittedly beginning to feel a little worried about what could be inside.
However… He trusted Clank more than anyone he knows, so if Clank wants him to see whatever this was, then he knows that he should see whatever it was.
Shoving down his concerns with a conceding sigh, he walks past Clank, and starts to descend the ladder, Clank following him from above.
It wasn't a long a climb by any means, but it was longer than what Ratchet might've guessed just looking at the entrance.
"You didn't build some kind of second Great Clock that might destroy the universe or something, did you?" Ratchet asks, climbing down the rungs to the lit up room at the bottom.
"No… But—"
"But!?" Ratchet asks, glancing up.
"But, if anything went wrong, I believe the consequences would have more or less the same degree of destruction." Clank answers nonchalantly. "But I am very positive it will not go wrong. I made sure of it."
"Wha—What kind of answer is that?!" Ratchet retorts as he stops climbing for a moment to look up at Clank, his green optics shining down on him in the dim shaft.
"Ratchet, I made sure the chances of that happening are absolutely minimal. It is why this project took me so long, after all! And, I once again assure you that it will all make sense when you see it. Trust me." Clank states earnestly.
Ratchet stares at him for a few moments before he sighs, resuming his descent while shaking his head.
"This had better be good." He mutters.
He eventually steps onto solid ground, being a metal floor, and can see light shining onto the wall the ladder was attached to in front of him. He turns around and is face to face with a decent-sized room, looking much like Clank's workshop up the ladder, with various tools and instruments hanging on the walls.
But unlike upstairs, this one actually had something sitting on a display in the center of the room, maing Ratchet tilt his head in confusion.
It was a gun of some sort, but instead of a typical barrel on the end, it terminated into a weird sphere, with purple lights glowing all over the gun. As Ratchet stares at it, just wondering what it could be, he stares peculiarly the end of it, kinda reminding him of the Dimensionator's form when it's opening a portal.
But as that thought flashes through his mind, he freezes, eyes widening as his jaw drops, this 'gun's true nature suddenly clicking—especially now that he notices a telltale glow of Phase Quartz in the device.
Distantly, he hears Clank dismount the ladder, stepping onto the floor, and slowly walking over to him as he steps beside Ratchet, who then slowly points a hand at the device on the pedestal, surrounded by various tools and devices.
"Is… Is that a… Dimensionator?" Ratchet breathes.
Clank nods with a proud smile.
"Indeed, it is. I'm sure you understand the need for all the security and secrecy now. We both have experienced firsthand what happens when the wrong people get their hands on it, after all. I ensured we need not experience it again."
Ratchet just stares at the device, speechless, his mind racing with dozens of questions. Why? How? When? What?
However, Ratchet's silence gives Clank the opportunity to walk up to it, gently taking it from off the pedestal that then lowers into the floor. He turns around, walking to Ratchet as he continues to stare in shock, and holds it up for the Lombax.
Ratchet doesn't move at first, but after a few seconds, hesitantly reaches out, and takes it into his own hands before starting to inspect it, holding it, turning it.
"You… You built one from scratch?" Ratchet asks as he reads over the display on the back, along with the controls, a far cry from the automatic voice-command nature of the device he'd used.
"I repaired it." Clank clarifies while holding up a metal finger. "It is the very same one we reclaimed from Tachyon and the Prog Twins. The reason it looks so different now is because the only schematics I could find of it were of this design, and it was the only way I could feasibly and safely repair it. I actually believe the hat variant was in fact a modification, as this one lacks some key functionality, like the voice commands."
Ratchet tears his gaze away from the Dimensionator and looks right to Clank in shock.
"Wait, wait, wait, but I saw the Dimensionator in the Galactic Museum just a few weeks ago! Tal even said so! Didn't you say you've been working on this for… Months?" He questions.
"The one sitting in the museum right now is merely a replica." Clank explains. "And do not worry, Ms. Apogee was more than willing to give it to me, as she trusted that I would protect it just as well as the museum would. And, after all, if your father was a Keeper, then it logically belongs to you after all, no?" He asks amusedly.
Ratchet blinks.
Tal knew about this?! What the hell?! Next time he sees her, he definitely has some questions for her for about why she helped Clank with all of this, because what the hell?! A new Dimensionator? All a secret from him?!
However, as much as he wanted to ask her about how she and his best friend plotted behind his back, that would have to wait.
There was something more pressing he needed to know. Something that made him recall that day back at the museum, right after they managed to stop the Progs and the Nethers, and answering Clank's fateful question about the destroyed Dimensionator…
"…Why?" He asks.
There was no accusation or anger, just genuine pondering.
"I… I told you I didn't want to see the Lombaxes back at the museum." He says, staring at the device in his hands. "I said I was happy with my life here. I said I didn't need to meet the Lombaxes, not after… Everything. You didn't have to do this, do any of this, so… So why did you go through all the trouble of repairing it? Even after I said no?"
He looks up, staring into Clank's optics for several seconds, the both of them remaining quiet in the silent bunker, Ratchet's question hanging in the air.
But after a few seconds, Clank closes his eyes for a moment, letting out a breath (at least gesturing that he was), and opens them to look back at Ratchet.
"Ratchet… Do you remember the decision I made back at the Great Clock? About how I decided to join you instead of remaining there as its Caretaker, as I was born to do?" Clank asks in return.
Ratchet blinks, not knowing where that was coming from, nor where it was headed, but knowing that Clank felt it was important enough to mention, merely nods his head with furrowed brows.
"I did it because I made a promise to myself that day." Clank says as he looks at his hand. "When I found out who my father was, and my origins with the Zoni—my species, my family… I felt a strange feeling. It was as if I felt… Complete. Like a part of me was no longer missing, now that I knew my true family… Even though I had no idea I even had a family. Outside of you, of course."
He then looks back up to Ratchet, lowering his hand.
"But at the same time… It made me suddenly realize that you could not feel this way if you were trapped in this dimension, unable to meet the rest of your species. Ever since I met you, Ratchet, you have professed how you had grown up pondering about your species, your home, and your family. I know that since then, you have now found the answers to some of those questions, after all we have been through. You know your home planet, the legacy of your species, your father, and… Alister." He finishes somberly.
Ratchet frowns a bit, glancing down as he hears that name, never failing to recall bad, painful memories with that name.
"And I know how he has impacted you and your opinion on the Lombaxes, too." Clank continues. "I understand that the things he has said… The things he has done played a great part in your decision to not meet them, Ratchet. I truly understand.
"But… I do not accept it, Ratchet." He then says firmly, making Ratchet look up in surprise as Clank stares back with determination. "I do not accept offering you the mere chance to experience the same joy I myself did with my own father and my own species. To forever throw away the key to gaining the answers that you have yearned for your entire life, all because of a broken device. After all, who was to say you would not once, in your entire life… Change your mind? I did not accept your decision because in that day at the Great Clock… I made a promise to myself. A promise that I would do anything I can to give you the chance to find your family as I did mine."
He walks over to Ratchet, standing speechless with wide eyes, and places his hand on top of his holding the Dimensionator while looking straight in his eyes.
"So… Now, I am giving you that chance." Clank states. "I did not accept your decision back then… But I am going to accept your decision now. Because back then, you decided to reject the mere opportunity to meet the Lombaxes, a decision that I, quite frankly, found as nothing more than an excuse. But now… You are deciding to actually meet them. Now you are making a real choice, and a real choice that I can respect. That I will respect. Because now… I have fulfilled my promise to myself by giving you the chance to make this decision."
He lets go of Ratchet's hand, still maintaining eye contact.
"Do not make any mistake, however, as I do not wish to pressure you into saying yes if you truly do not want to meet them." He continues. "I am aware of the possibility that you will refuse to do so, and as I have said, I will fully and completely accept it, Ratchet, and I will not judge you. If you say no, then you can simply put the Dimensionator back, and it will remain locked in this bunker until we so choose to open it, if ever, where it will be safe. I took great care in concealing their existence, so I can assure you that it will not be found. Not for a long time, at least.
"So… I leave it up to you, Ratchet; A choice for you to make. And that is my secret project." He finishes with a nod.
Ratchet remains silent, staring into Clank's optics, mouth slightly agape, digesting everything he had just said, mind churning and racing at this unexpected crossroads.
He remembers how long ago, he did once ask Clank why he left the Great Clock for him. After all, Clank was effectively a Time God at the Clock (even if he refused any such description of his job of Caretaker), so why would he choose Ratchet over what is literally the universe's most important job?
But, all he said was that it was simply because he would miss his best friend, his brother. And it was an answer Ratchet accepted.
He didn't know that it was because of this promise to help Ratchet find his species, all because of this epiphany in learning about Orvus and the Zoni.
And at the thought of it, on top of the confusion and shock… It made Ratchet feel extremely grateful that Clank cared so much about him to forfeit the Great Clock and his role as Caretaker for him. The thought that he so blatantly ignored him when he said he didn't want the Dimensionator repaired, never wanting to meet the Lombaxes, content with the life he had.
Ratchet tears his gaze away from Clank as he looks down at the device in his hand.
Because… Clank was right.
In these last few months… Ratchet did change his mind. Lately, he realized that… Maybe, just maybe… He wanted to meet the species he never knew after all.
Sure, it might've mostly come from having nothing to do in retirement, but also because all of this peace and alone time with his thoughts made him realize that he wanted a sense of closure.
He might have said no in the first place because of his fear in them not being what he'd expect—on them thinking that he's not what they expect. But as time went on, he began to realize that didn't mean it could stop him.
After all, if they turned out to be horrible people, or just didn't like him as his fears yelled at him, then it wasn't as big of a deal as he'd make it out to be. He'd at least get to see them for who they were, and could go on with the rest of his life feeling glad he did. After all, he's got a good life back here in his own home, and if he's spent his whole life without them already, then what's the big deal if he decides to keep it that way?
And if it turned out they were great, well, it's not like he was obligated to abandon his friends and live with them in their dimension. With the universe in such a peaceful time, it'd be possible to visit them back and forth, and maybe with Tachyon gone, start having them return to Fastoon, so he wouldn't have to choose. Optimistic thinking, of course, but it was plausible, at least.
But… With the Dimensionator destroyed, all he could ever do was wonder, and tell himself that the little he did know was all that he needed. Because, after all, it was all he was ever going to get.
Until now, that is.
A small smile spreads across Ratchet's lips, prompting him to look back up to Clank, patiently waiting for a response.
"I… Think that I just have one question for you, pal." He says.
"Of course, what is it?" Clank asks cheerily.
Ratchet then grabs onto the Dimensionator into a firing position, grasping the handle on the side as he leverages it on his hip, finger on the trigger, wearing a grin as he looks over the controls, looking as if he was posing for a photo shoot with one of his rocket launchers.
"How do you work this thing?"
Clank smiles, elated that Ratchet was actually taking this opportunity, just as he hoped he would.
But instead of answering him, he simply walks right past him, making Ratchet's posture falter as he furrows his brow in confusion, about to ask Clank where the hell he's going before he speaks up.
"I would rather we fire it outside." Clank says as he starts to climb the ladder. "I just finished cleaning in here!"
Ratchet stares for a few moments before he chuckles, proceeding to mount the Dimensionator on his back before he follows Clank up the ladder.
After they exit the shaft, Clank once again rearranges the tools on his workbench to close the entrance back up, the wall sliding up from the floor and into place, sitting seamless and flush with the rest of the wall. With the bunker all sealed up, he then leads Ratchet out of the garage and into the hot Veldin sun, sky shining blue with not a cloud in sight.
He gives Ratchet a quick overview of the controls, showing him how to select the coordinates for a dimension, and helps him input the Lombaxes' dimension, having made a note of it from the memory of the Dimensionator's last iteration, back when Tachyon opened it in their battle.
"And… there we are!" Clank says happily, stepping back from Ratchet with a smile. "Now all you need to do is pull the trigger."
"Yeah… All I need to do is pull the trigger…" Ratchet mutters, taking a deep breath as he aims the device at the air in front of him.
Just one small pull of his finger, and he gets to see the rest of his species. Just as he's been fantasizing about ever since he was a small child.
…
Now that he's right here, though… He feels the fears and doubts start crawling back into his mind, being so close to the brink.
Maybe he didn't have to do this today? It was hot out, and who knows what the heat could do to the Dimensionator? Didn't want to risk anything, after all. Maybe they need to do this on Grelbin, or something?
Maybe he just needs to take a quick break and refresh himself. But he might be too tired from that, so a powernap would get him rearing to visit them.
But what about dinner? He might get hungry over there, and who knew what Lombax food was like. What if he didn't like it? What if they didn't have Space Burger in their dimension?
And, man, what was he going to say? Do they even know his language? Sure, Tal mentioned that they have a few audio logs proving that Lombaxes spoke the same language but wrote in another, but what if she was wrong? Researchers are wrong all the time!
And what if these coordinates were for the wrong dimension? What if he opens it into a dimension of black holes? The dimension where Tachyon was sent to? A dimension filled entirely of Qwarks?!
What if—
"Rachet?"
He is snapped out of his thoughts as Clank's voice pierces his flurried doubts, causing him to look down beside him.
"Uh… W-What is it?" Ratchet asks, not noticing the nervousness in his voice.
Clank rests his hand on Ratchet's arm, and simply gives him a reassuring smile.
"I understand your anxiety, but do not worry. I will be with you every step of the way, like always."
It wasn't much… But… It was enough to calm Ratchet down, hearing such reassurance from his nearly lifelong partner, putting a small smile on his face.
"Thanks, pal." He says earnestly with a nod that Clank returns before letting go of his arm.
He closes his eyes, taking one more deep breath, and readies the Dimensionator once more.
This time, he doesn't give himself enough time to dwell on thoughts.
Gritting his teeth, tuning out his screaming fear, he forces himself to pull the trigger, and he feels it vibrate as a purple beam shoots out the end.
And in the air in front of him, the beam swiftly makes a tear out of seemingly nothing, and with a sound like shattering glass, if pierces open in front of him, revealing a portal glowing purple at the edges.
And beyond it… His breath hitches, as he could see a walled city, with buildings poking over the top, and ships flying all over.
It was a little ways away from the portal's position, but even from here, Ratchet could instantly recognize the similarity between this city's architecture and the ruins on Fastoon, with the distinct curves, round shapes, and suspiciously wrenched-shaped silhouettes of the skyline.
There was no doubt about it… This was a portal to a living Lombax city.
But this time, there wasn't a Cragmite trying to get rid of him, leaving both dimensions in danger.
There wasn't an extradimensional space witch trying to end the universe with her extradimensional family.
Nothing was nothing stopping him… Except his own two feet.
"Are you ready?" Clank asks softly from beside him.
Ratchet doesn't answer, staring at the city and the portal, almost unbelieving that this was actually happening, and the fears crawling up his mind trying to convince him that he really didn't want it to be the case.
However, Ratchet lets out a breath, closing his eyes.
"Probably not." He says, mounting the Dimensionator on his back. "But then again… I'll probably never be."
With a nervous smile, he opens his eyes as he turns his head, holding a hand out to Clank.
"Ready to meet some Lombaxes, pal?" He asks.
Smiling, Clank nods and takes Ratchet's hand, allowing him to mount himself onto his familiar position on Ratchet's back, who closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heartbeat.
You can do this.
He opens his eyes, and starts to walk forward into the unknown.
"Let's go."
In only a few steps, he passes through the threshold of the portal, to which it then quietly closes, leaving nothing behind except for a few lingering dust clouds from Ratchet's footfalls, slowly dissipating into nothing, silence befalling the landscape of their Veldin home.
One thing I forgot about Lost Time was the fact that I wrote it before I learned how one of Clank's shticks is that he never speaks with contractions, and the fact that I wrote him for nearly 200,000 words speaking super out-of-character, a fact that makes me cringe so hard when I reread this story.
How I was never corrected even once for such an egregious mischaracterization of one of this series' main protagonists, I have no idea, but now I must suffer for it by having to read such a bad mistake for the last two years, and having to redo ALL of Clank's dialogue for this rewrite.
I mean, granted, I'm rewriting this whole thing almost from scratch so it's a moot point, but still.
As I have said many times so far rewriting this and having to confront past me's horrible writing: "Fuck you, past me, you suck at writing."