Chapter 3: Aridia

Upon arriving on Planet Aridia after Xoruxshy visited Verity to give her report on the Ivyblaster and getting it upgraded to the Venusblaster, as well as using her new Pokeballs to summon a Pidgey and a Bellsprout, the TARDIS arrives on Planet Aridia. Xoruxshy and IF come out, only to find Ratchet tapping his foot impatiently.

Xoruxshy: Were we keeping you?

Ratchet: Well, I don't know where to go without the gamer system.

Xoruxshy: Sorry.

Quest Objective: Find Skid McMarx

Quest Reward: Hoverboard Schematics + 1 Great Ball

Quest Objective: Find Skid's Agent

Quest Reward: Omnitrix + 1 Great Ball + Aridia Mirage Keyblade

Xoruxshy: An Omnitrix!? Sis, we totally have to get that.

IF: Okay…

The group decide to take the left path, which is filled with Sandsharks and Sandshark Nests, and immediately run into Skid McMarx.

Ratchet: It's him, Skid McMarx!

Clank: That man from the infobot.

Skid: In the flesh, little dude. You guys get a load of that epic space battle I was in?

Ratchet: We saw you screaming for help.

(Xoruxshy and IF giggle)

Skid: Uhhh… That was like, a war cry. My agent and I got ambushed on the way to hoverboard practice.

Clank: Did he survive the crash, sir?

Skid: Aaah, he's okay. But, I've had a little trouble getting back to my ship… (A few Sandsharks pass by while Skid looks at them in fear) …due to my sprained ankle.

Ratchet: (exasperatedly) Oh, come on!

Skid: If you can take out all of the Sandsharks, I just might have a spare hoverboard for you. Only one, however. I can however give you girls the schematics for something I found called an Extreme Gear. Not sure what it is, but it seems like a hoverboard to me.

Clank: We'd love to help you, Mr. McMarx, but Ratchet and I need to find Captain…

Ratchet: Shhh! One of your boards…? Hmmm… I've always wanted a decent hoverboard… Well, all right… you just keep that foot elevated.

With that, the group heads to clear out the Sandsharks. (A/N: I won't go into detail because it is way too boring to write) Along the way, they find another Gold Bolt.

Upon reaching the ship, Skid opens the hatch and pulls out a hoverboard and a set of schematics.

Skid: Here, man. Catch! (Tosses the hoverboard and the schematics to Ratchet and Xoruxshy respectively)

Ratchet: (Examining the hoverboard) A brand new Z-3000! You can't even buy these…

Skid: Well, I gotta bail. Catch you dudes at the hoverboard races.

Quest Complete: Find Skid McMarx!

Quest Reward: Hoverboard (Extreme Gear) Schematics + 1 Great Ball

Upon reaching the ship once more, the group decides to take the right path this time, running across some Sandsharks which are easily dispatched by Xoruxshy's new Venusblaster. However, beyond that they find a new enemy: a Constructorbot that ambushes them from the murky swamp. This enemy has a fuel tank on its back which it uses to fire the Pyrocitor at Ratchet. Due to grass energy not having much of an effect on fire-based enemies, Ratchet takes the lead instead, dealing with these enemies with his recently purchased Blaster. After making their way through this sandy path filled with enemies, they arrive at a factory of some sort. Going up the lift, they find two more paths. Taking the right one and eliminating the enemies with the Blaster, Keyblade, and IF's newly improved Ivysaur Qatar, they destroy any opposition in their way. Upon reaching the lift, they ride it down, running into more Sandsharks in the sandy pits of the building as well as more Constructorbots. Upon making it to the other side of the facility, they find Skid's agent.

Agent: Aaargh… No signal whatsoever! This down time is killing me!

Clank: Do you need medical attention, sir?

Agent: Don't be so literal son. The problem is I'm stranded on this backwater planet and my star client is nowhere to be found.

Ratchet: Hey. We saw you on that infobot! You're Skid's agent!

Agent: Was Skid's agent. Haven't seen him since our ship crashed and an agent without a client is like a flea without a dog. Say, you look like a group of athletic kids. If one of you can bring back the Championship prize from the hoverboard races in Blackwater City I'll make you my next star.

Clank: We have no time for trivial matters, sir.

Ratchet: Hmmmm…I could be the next Skid McMarx!

Xoruxshy: Or me.

IF: Or me.

Quest Complete: Find Skid's Agent!

Quest Reward: Omnitrix + 1 Great Ball + Aridia Mirage Keyblade

IF: So, why did you want this thing anyway?

Ratchet: Yeah, I mean it just looks like a giant metal sphere.

Xoruxshy: It's not the sphere, it's what's inside. (The Omnitrix pod opens up and the Omnitrix attaches to Xoruxshy's wrist) This is the Omnitrix, a device that stores over 1 million alien species DNA samples, allowing the wearer to transform into those aliens. Anyway, I say we should go back and examine that Swingshot path.

This turned out to be a good decision, as they found the Trespasser, a lock-picking device. After this they each returned to their respective ships, heading to Eudora.

Omake: Verity Triumphs: The Venusblaster and Beyond!

Reporter: Welcome back, Verity! We're excited to chat with you again about your latest innovation, the highly anticipated Venusblaster.

Verity: (Beaming) Thanks for having me! The Venusblaster is everything I hoped for and more. It takes the core functionality of the Bloomblaster and supercharges it!

Reporter: Supercharges it, you say? Can you elaborate?

Verity: (Eyes twinkling) Certainly! The Venusblaster boasts a more powerful energy core, allowing for longer-lasting blasts and a wider range of effects. Plus, the new "Ivysaur Bloom" feature adds a whole new dimension to combat!

Reporter: The "Ivysaur Bloom" sounds intriguing. What exactly does it do?

Verity: The Ivysaur Bloom is a secondary firing mode that launches a fast-growing vine. This vine can be used to grab enemies, trip them up, or even create a temporary shield! The possibilities are endless!

Reporter: (Chuckles) It sounds like Gadgetron might be kicking themselves for not taking your initial Bloomblaster design more seriously. Speaking of which, there have been rumors about you taking legal action against them for copying your ideas. Is there any truth to this?

Verity: (A steely glint enters her eyes) Let's just say I'm no stranger to hard work and innovation. Stealing those ideas wasn't just insulting, it was bad business. So yes, I have filed copyright claims on all my creations. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it doesn't pay the bills.

Reporter: And how will this copyright claim affect your future projects?

Verity: (A mischievous grin spreads across her face) Let's just say I'm branching out! Since Gadgetron seems so fond of "borrowing" ideas, I've decided to get creative with my own line of Gadgetron-inspired inventions.

Reporter: (Raises an eyebrow) Gadgetron-inspired inventions? Do tell!

Verity: Well, for a start, I'm working on a new pair of Qatars for my good friend, IF. These "Venusaur Qatars" will utilize the same powerful vine technology as the Venusblaster, giving IF a whole new way to fight!

Reporter: That sounds like a perfect fit for IF's fighting style. Anything else on the horizon?

Verity: Always! I'm also tinkering with a new version of the Omniwrench, this one made from Bulbasaur materials. Imagine the possibilities – a wrench that can not only fix machinery but also heal it with restorative properties!

Reporter: Verity, your creativity is truly inspiring! It seems Gadgetron has underestimated you at their own peril.

Verity: (With a confident nod) Innovation thrives on competition, but not the kind Gadgetron represents. I'm here to stay, and I'm just getting started!

Reporter: We can't wait to see what you come up with next, Verity. Thank you for joining us!