Chapter 6: Rilgar Rampage

Blackwater City

Landing in Blackwater City, Xoruxshy, Ratchet, Clank, and IF face two paths. They take the left, hopping across versa-targets into a watery area. Using the Hydrodisplacer, Ratchet drains the first pool, cleverly shifting the water to an empty one across the way, allowing them passage. Repeating the process, they reach a dead end. With a refill of the pool, they dive underwater, navigating to the next area.

Inside a cave slide, the water level rises rapidly after they open the floodgate. Dodging a watery demise, they find themselves outside Captain Qwark's trailer, guarded by a burly bouncer.

Bouncer: Hold it right there! Press conference is over. Captain Qwark ain't seein' no more reporters buggin' him!

Ratchet: We're not reporters. We need to speak with the Captain about a matter of galactic security.

Bouncer: You, your walking camera, and your two… floozies?

Xoruxshy & IF: Floozies?!

Bouncer: Don't play dumb, paparazzi. You wanna exploit the Captain in his underwear for a million bolts on the Info-Tabloid, right?

Ratchet: That's not what this is about!

Bouncer: Save it. I know your tricks. Grease the hinges, the door opens. You pay me a kickback – upfront.

Xoruxshy: Fine. By the way, we're nine and eighteen, respectively. (Transfers 4,000 bolts to the Bouncer's account)

Bouncer: Now that's how it's done! Sorry about the floozy thing.

Inside the Trailer…

Clank: (Sees Captain Qwark napping) Captain Qwark?

Qwark: (Startled awake) Who dares?!

Ratchet: It's Ratchet, Clank, Xoruxshy, and IF, Captain. Remember us, from the Metropolis obstacle course?

Qwark: Oh, right, right! Of course I do!

Ratchet: You do?

Qwark: Indeed! And thank the stars you're here. There's a terrible plot brewing to destroy our planets!

Clank: Ratchet, Xoruxshy, IF, he knows!

Ratchet: Great. Does this mean hoverboarding now?

Qwark: Friends, I've been keeping an eye on you. You possess raw talent, the makings of true heroes!

Ratchet: Really? Does that mean fame…?

Qwark: Absolutely! Here, take this infobot. (Gives them an infobot)

Infobot (Qwark's voice): What makes one man a hero? Strength, compassion, determination, or pure luck? Captain Qwark knows the secret! Learn it by conquering my Candidate's Qwonfounded Complexions! Prove your mettle, and earn a place in galactic history! (Disclaimer about dismemberment and results may vary plays) Meet me at my headquarters!

Qwark: (Embarrassed cough) Meet me at my HQ.

Ratchet: Captain Ratchet, what do you say?

Clank: We won't disappoint you, sir.

Exiting the Trailer…

Finding the shortcut blocked, the group returns to their ships and restocks ammo. They fight their way through Heartless Exterminators and a large Heartless tank, Xoruxshy's Infernoheart Blaster turning enemies to slag, while IF slices through them with her weapon. Reaching the bridge, IF swiftly activates the switch while dodging Exterminators' gas guns, allowing them access to the elevator.

More Exterminators and Amoeboids await on the elevator. Ratchet's Glove Bombs eliminate the threat, leading them to a taxi for Blackwater City Downtown, where a chaotic battle between Amoeboids and Exterminators rages. Taking advantage of the chaos, they take down enemies and a tank nearby.

A strange merchant approaches, offering the RYNO (Rip You a New One) for an exorbitant price. Knowing they can't afford it now, they decide to come back later. After battling through a cave system filled with Amoeboids and Exterminators, they reach an area littered with laser grids and enemies. With teamwork, they deactivate the lasers, Ratchet eliminating Exterminators with his Glove Bombs, Xoruxshy taking out Amoeboids with her Keyblade, and IF retrieving a hidden Gold Bolt. They then face two more Heartless tanks before entering the elevator leading to Blackwater City Raceway Plaza.

Blackwater City Raceway Plaza

A woman in a racing outfit greets them.

Racing Lady: Welcome to the Hovercon Intergalactic Hoverboard Competition! Captain Qwark's giving away a Platinum Zoomerator to the winner!

Clank: A Platinum Zoomerator! Perhaps that will be the proof Skid's agent requires.

Racing Lady: Wait, do you mean Skid McMarx?!

Xoruxshy: Yeah, he's stranded on Aridia with his agent. He gave Ratchet his old hoverboard, then vanished! His agent wants one of us to win a competition to become his new star. Actually, I brought my new Extreme Gear Board for a test run.

Racing Lady: (Chuckles) Sounds rough. Skid was always a bit flighty. Well, if any of you win, I might be willing to help build you better boards afterwards. Good luck!

The competition is fierce, filled with dirty tricks from other racers. Through grit and determination, however, they manage to tie for first place.

Raceway Plaza (After the Race)

A screen above the Racing Lady flickers to life.

Qwark (voiceover): Greetings, folks! Captain Qwark here, with a momentous occasion! This year's Intergalactic Champions are… (computerized voice cuts in) Ratchet, Clank, Xoruxshy, and IF!

Ratchet: All of us?!

Qwark (voiceover): Since these amazing individuals tied at the exact moment, we're awarding not one, not two, but three Platinum Zoomerators, complete with instructions for modification! These top-of-the-line Zoomerators, manufactured by Gadgetron, offer unmatched lift, speed, and maneuverability!

Clank: Well, we should probably get to Qwark's HQ.

Xoruxshy: Hold on, there's that stupid RYNO. 150,000 bolts? Looks like more races for us.

[Insert Scene Break Here]

Many Frustrating Races Later…

A weary Xoruxshy with Amoeboid gunk clinging to her fur stomps towards the shady salesman.

Xoruxshy: We got your ridiculous 150,000 bolts! Here! Consider yourself lucky I'm not suing you for selling illegal weapons!

The salesman, thoroughly sweating, throws the RYNO to Ratchet.

Ratchet: (Grunting) Woah, this thing is heavy!

Shady Salesman: Yeah, you try lugging it around for months.

Clank: Thank you, sir. We'll be sure to recommend your services.

Suddenly, the shady salesman grips Clank by his metallic throat.

Shady Salesman: Listen, you little twerp. If you tell anyone what you saw or what we talked about…

Ratchet: (Aims the RYNO at the salesman's face) Do I even need to say it?

Shady Salesman: (Gulps) You two have a nice day.

He scurries away.

Xoruxshy: Finally. Now, let's get to Aridia and see Skid's agent.

[Scene Change: Aridia - Agent's Escape Podium]

Agent: Incredible! You all tied and got multiple Platinum Zoomerators?! Great work! Well, gotta run. Hey, you have a way for people to contact you, right?

Xoruxshy: Of course. I own the Basilicom spaceship. If you want to contact me or my brother to sign any of us up for races, just use the numbers on this card.

Agent: Excellent! I'll represent all of you. As a bonus, take this device that attracts Sand Mice to aid you in battle! Paperwork will be finalized soon. My people will call yours! (He dashes off)

Ratchet: We finally finished our errands. Let's head to Planet Umbris and take a shower… but first, that Keyhole.

Just outside Blackwater City, the ocean parts, revealing a massive Keyhole. Xoruxshy points her Keyblade and seals it. The ocean fills back in, and a Keyhole-shaped landmass rises momentarily before disappearing.

Ratchet: With that done, let's go to Umbris!

Quest Complete: Locate Captain Qwark (Reward: Caterpie Scan Data for Omnitrix)

Quest Complete: Bribe the Bodyguard (Reward: Weedle Scan Data for Omnitrix)

Quest Complete: Win the Hoverboard Race (Reward: Pidgey Scan Data for Omnitrix)

Area Complete: Reward: Rilgar Mirage (Keyblade)