Chapter 11: Surf's Up on Pokitaru

Upon landing their ships on Pokitaru, Ratchet and Clank waited outside the TARDIS for Xoruxshy and IF. Five minutes later, they stepped out in bikinis, Xoruxshy wearing a one-piece boldly saying, "Foxy Girl!" and IF wearing a two-piece displaying the Idea Factory logo. Clank smacked his metal face against his palm. "Not you, too…"

"Hey, if we're going to be at a resort, we might as well dress for the weather," Xoruxshy said. "Besides, we still have our weapons on us."

"Well, that seems more reasonable…" Clank says, realizing that they don't intend on laying in the sand and relaxing while the galaxy is in danger.

Xoruxshy: Well, let's get going.

Taking the left path, they meet the guy they saw on the Infobot.

Resort Host: Hey, you four are the first friendly faces I've seen in weeks. You are friendly, aren't you?

Ratchet: To you, yes. (Pointing at Clank) To him, no.

Resort Host: Well friends, have I got a deal for you! Since the Blarg began dumping their toxic sludge into our ocean the wildlife has…uh…

Clank: Become ravenous mutants?

Resort Host: Yeah, you could say that. All my customers either left or became lunch so I'm closing the place down. However I just so happen to have three, count 'em, three, O2 masks left.

Ratchet: How much?

Resort Host: They're not for sale.

Clank: But you said…

Resort Host: I said I had a deal! And indeed I do. You boys and girls get rid of those Blarg ships and they're yours. Just escort me to the other end of this resort and you can use our jet fighter!

Ratchet: Jet fighter, eh…? Alright, but you'd better not try to stiff us.

Continuing on this path, followed by the resort host, the group came across a new type of Heartless, Dark Puffoids. These Heartless are mutated fish created by the toxic darkness-contained sludge dumped by the Blarg. Ratchet took out these Heartless with a new Omni-Wrench he got from the Nexus Station Vendor in Xoruxshy's TARDIS known as the Aqua-Wrench 1.0, an Omni-Wrench purely made out of water condensed together in a semi-liquid solid state based on the technology used to create the Artificial Chaos enemies on the Space Colony Ark. Beyond the Dark Puffoids was another type of Heartless, the Dark Psy-tcopus, a Heartless version of a normal Psy-tcopus with strengthened telepathic abilities. Xoruxshy used her newly acquired Caterpie Blaster, allowing the Resort Host to get to the hovercraft safely. The party then joins him before moving on to the next area. During this ride they are attacked by multiple Dark Puffoids jumping onto the craft's surface from the water.

After getting through this crazy ride, there are more Dark Puffoids and Psy-tcopuses for the party to defeat. IF takes out most of them with her newly acquired Caterpie Qatars, while Ratchet fries the rest with the Pyrocitor, clearing the way to the next hovercraft. Upon reaching the next area, there are more Puffoids in the main area of the resort. Xoruxshy blasts these ones easily. Hitting the switch to open the bridge, IF slices through the next group of Puffoids, causing them to turn into pieces of silk before scattering in the wind. Upon reaching the end of the path, the party stops in front of a locked garage.

Ratchet: We're here, now where's that fighter?

Resort Host: Right there in that locked garage. One tourist crashes a jet and wham! Lawsuit!

Clank: That lock is unlike any I have seen.

Resort Host: Very astute observation Mr. Shiny. I can't open it either. I don't trust the tourists and the board of directors doesn't trust me. So we have a little problem.

Ratchet: (outraged) We have a little problem? I just want the O2 masks, so if you can't open the lock that's your problem! Now cough up the mask!

Resort Host: Hold on, hold on. I can see that you really want to fly our jet so I'll tell you what. Go talk to Bob at his Roboshack. He knows about these locks.

The group heads over to Bob's Roboshack.

Bob: Well, well…whadda we got here?! (Picks up Clank)

Clank: Hey, watch it!

Bob: I rekanize that work. Ya'll been to see Al aint'cha?

Ratchet: Yeah, he installed the heli-pack.

Bob: I kin see that! I taught that idjit brother everythang he knows. Look, if you want some real hardware I kin fix this lil' feller up with a Thrusterpack.

Clank: Ooh!

Ratchet: Will it help us get past that weird lock by the fighter garage?

Bob: Ah…you know about those gizmos, huh? It sure as heck will! It's got a real special power-slam move built right in.

Ratchet: It's a good thing I need this to get to that jet or you'd be outta luck, pal!

Xoruxshy: Here, 2,000 bolts for the service fee, and a card to set up shop at the Nexus Station. Your little brother Al's already over there.

Bob: Thanks. (Reaches for Clank)

Clank: I've got it. (Uses the heli-pack module to hover up to the counter)

Bob: I'll have you fixed up faster'n a horny toad a hoppin'!

(Seconds later…)

Bob: There ya'are little buddy. Better'n new!

Clank: That's right…I am da man!

Ratchet: *yawn* Hmmm…not bad.

Returning to the lock, Ratchet uses the power-slam move to break the lock, opening the garage. Once in the fighter jet, Ratchet takes on the Blarg Saucers flying in the sky, Gummi Ship Heartless that look like UFOs piloted by Heartless Blarg Pilots, and the Toxic Waste Dumpers. Upon returning to the garage and meeting up with Xoruxshy and IF, they return to the Resort Host.

Resort Host: I guess that should do it, here you go! (Tosses Ratchet, Xoruxshy, and IF an O2 mask each)

Ratchet: It's about time.

Xoruxshy: I think we should be able to go back to previous planets and see if we missed anything.

Ratchet: Yeah. Where should we go first?

Xoruxshy: How about we go back to the Blarg Station? Clank told me about a Gold Bolt he saw out there that he couldn't reach. Then we'll go from there.

Ratchet: Okay.

After many Gold Bolt hunts, the group decided to return to Fort Krontos, and finish up there.

Location: Fort Krontos: City Entrance

Activating their Magneboots, the party traveled along the ventilation shaft, going one at a time to avoid falling off. Once across, they take out the nearby Blarg Paratroopers and Scoutbots, Ratchet using his Glove of Doom and Xoruxshy sniping the Scoutbots with the Caterpie Blaster which upgraded to the Metapod Blaster, as well as a nearby Bolt Thief, named for not dropping a single Bolt. Taking a single step onto the next layer of the city, a pair of Cannonball Tanks blow through a wall, forcing Ratchet to use the RYNO on them. After clearing the rest of the Scoutbots out of this area, Ratchet uses his Aqua-Wrench to turn the Bolt Crank. Before entering this area, however, IF goes back to check if they missed anything. Finding a Bolt Crank, IF uses her immense strength as a CPU Candidate to open the shortcut back to the previous area. Returning to the group, our heroes press on to the turret platform, and find the Plumber.

Plumber: Hey, I know you guys.

Ratchet: Look, the Plumber's back!

Plumber: (chuckles) Very funny.

Clank: What are you doing here, sir?

Plumber: Maintenance, what else? I help fix this planet's useless air defenses.

Ratchet: Well, I think you better hurry up.

Plumber: The turret works fine, ya little yahoo. It's the locals. They haven't got the skilled manpower to use it.

Ratchet: I'm a pretty good shot.

Plumber: You?! No, I could lose my job.

Ratchet: Oh, come on! What's the sense of keeping up a turret if nobody's going to use it? Besides, the Blarg chased you off the last planet. Why don't we pay 'em back?

Xoruxshy: Plus, they're using Gummi Blocks in their ships. Those go for a pretty good sum of bolts per piece due to how rare they are in this galaxy.

Plumber: Well, all right, go on if you want. Just don't break anything.

With that, Ratchet hopped in the turret and took on the opposing Gummi Ships. Destroying the Blarg Warships caused many Gummi Blocks to fall from the sky, along with one Navi-Gummi, which Xoruxshy pocketed for later. Upon jumping out, the Plumber pocketed the Gummi Blocks that fell into his lap.

Plumber: Well, well, well. Looks like he's good for something after all. Here, take this. (Tosses a device to Ratchet and Xoruxshy each)

Ratchet: What are they?

Plumber: It detects underground bolts. My grandfather designed it to suck up loose change on any planet in the galaxy. What a cheap old man he was… Well, see ya around sometime. (Leaves)

Upon returning to their ships, the group returned to Orxon to finish up there as well before returning to Pokitaru.

Location: Orxon

Equipping their O2 masks, the group went to the only open path, as the path Clank went through seemed to be locked off. Gliding down to the starting area of this path, they found a sleeping Toxic Crab. Wanting to be rid of it as soon as possible, Ratchet took it out using a RYNO blast. Beyond this are some Darters, mosquito-like bird Heartless. Xoruxshy smashed the electric fence power cell separating the heroes from the Darters, then used her Metapod Blaster to destroy them. Crossing into the next area, they awaken a Screamer, a Heartless with a big gaping mouth and a loud voice. Wanting to shut it up, IF slices it into ribbons with her now Metapod Qatars, but not before it has a chance to wake up the sleeping Toxic Crabs. Luckily a couple shots from the RYNO literally rips them a new one. Opening the electric barrier blocking the next area, the group of heroes finds a split in the path. Taking the left path first, they are attacked by a Blarg Saucer unexpectedly. Taking a couple hits, Ratchet uses the RYNO, destroying it in one go. Entering into the inside of the building on this path, they find a Dread Commander, which Ratchet promptly blows up with the RYNO. Clearing the building out allows Xoruxshy to knock down the electric barrier, after which she turns the nearby Dread Commander to silk threads before scattering in the toxic winds. Before they are able to cross into the next area, another Blarg Saucer comes out of nowhere, only to get blown up by the RYNO, along with other enemies in the next area.

Ratchet: Oops…

In the next area after this, they find another Screamer who immediately wakes up two sleeping Toxic Crabs, before IF slices it with one of her Qatars saying, "Not today, Satan!"

Xoruxshy: IF, you really need to stop watching GrayStillPlays…

Ratchet then blows the Toxic Crabs up with the RYNO, then smashes the power cells in order to progress into the next area before using the RYNO on more sleeping Toxic Crabs. Crossing into the area beyond on some metal platforms, the group are ambushed by Dread Commanders that are immediately dispatched by Xoruxshy's Blaster. Using the elevator to get to the next area, they find a Premium Nanotech Vendor, which they purchase Premium Nanotech from, increasing Ratchet's health by 500. However, in order to get the Ultra Nanotech, they would have to get 30,000 bolts. Seeing that it wouldn't be worth it in the long run, they continued on. Heading back to the split path through the unlocked gate, they take the right path this time, disposing of the Darters and Toxic Crabs in their path. This leads to an Infobot that they chase via a Magneboot/Swingshot path with flames on the Magneboot portion. Finally they reach the Infobot and activate it.

Infobot

Drek: Hello again everyone, Supreme Executive Chairman Drek here to fill you in on our progress. We have now found the perfect orbit for our planet, one which will allow for the optimum temperature, all year round! However, there is a planet now occupying that orbit, and sadly for its few insignificant inhabitants, it must be destroyed. And that's why we've created this - (camera zooms out to show a HUGE bomb) The Planet Buster Maximus, a device capable of blowing an entire planet to sub-atomic particles! We're quite proud of it! Here's how it works. We attach the Planet Buster to this ship, fly it into orbit around the planet, and let it go! Kaboom! Heheh, quite ingenious really. Once our trained professionals put the finishing touches on our new planet, everything will be complete! Thank you! Goodbye!

Ratchet: Now this guy's gonna blow up an entire planet?! That's just mean!

Clank: That's what I've been telling you!

Xoruxshy: And it seems the darkness is causing him to escalate.

Ratchet: Look, I'm still gunning for Qwark but if we end up taking out Drek too, fine!

Clank: …

Ratchet: What?!

Clank: You do care.

Ratchet: Don't push it, pal.

With that, the group returned to Pokitaru, deciding to explore the sewers and the rest of the resort. Once inside, the group equipped their O2 Masks and dove into the water which was surprisingly clean for a sewer. Once on the other side, they found an Amoeboid just chilling until it noticed them at which point Ratchet just whacked it to bits using the Aqua-Wrench before draining the area of water using the Hydrodisplacer. Then, returning to a previously noticed Trespasser lock, Xoruxshy opened the door with her Sonic Screwdriver, allowing them to continue deeper into the sewers once Ratchet replaced the water. In this area, they found a whole colony of Amoeboids. Ratchet used almost all of his ammo spinning around in circles using the Blaster destroying the Heartless. After reaching the next Trespasser lock and bypassing it, they dove into the water, destroying explosive crates for Bolts as they passed by. Once on the other side of this long watery passage, they ran around more Amoeboids, getting on top of a ledge for Xoruxshy to be able to snipe them from, turning them into a stringy slime.

Once these Heartless were exterminated, Xoruxshy bypassed the nearby Trespasser lock, opening the door, revealing the Gadget Engineer from the Blarg Tactical Research Station.

Ratchet: Hey, what are you doing here?

Gadget Engineer: I am searching for a very elusive and secret substance!

Clank: Raritanium?

Gadget Engineer: Uhhh…maybe?

Clank: The oceans on this planet are said to be an excellent source of that element.

Gadget Engineer: Well, not anymore. All that toxic dumping has obscured any trace of it. (Turns on a device in his palm and does a "Force Mind Trick" gesture at Ratchet) You will find Raritanium for me.

Ratchet: (mimicking his actions) No I will not!

Gadget Engineer: Piece of junk! My latest invention! The Persuader! I intended to use it to control minds but the only thing it's gotten me so far is a discount from Gadgetron vendors.

Ratchet: Hey, I could use that!

Gadget Engineer: Well… I'll trade it for some Raritanium.

Clank: I believe Planet Hoven is a source of that element.

Xoruxshy: Who knows? Maybe we'll find enough bolts to buy the Ultra Nanotech upgrade. For now though, my Miles Electric has detected a Gold Bolt. I will let Ratchet use it to find the Gold Bolt.

One Gold Bolt hunt involving steps, power slam switches, Dark Puffoids and Dark Psy-tcopuses later…

Xoruxshy: Now let's see what rewards I've got waiting for me…

Quests Complete!

Planet Batalia: Explore the walled city - Reward: Jigglypuff DNA Scan

Planet Batalia: Destroy the bombers - Reward: Zubat DNA Scan

Planet Batalia: Complete all quests - Reward: Batalia Mirage (Keyblade)

Planet Orxon: Explore as Ratchet, Xoruxshy, and IF - Reward: Oddish DNA Scan

Planet Orxon: Catch the Infobot - Reward: Paras DNA Scan

Planet Orxon: Buy the Premium Nanotech - Reward: Venonat DNA Scan

Planet Pokitaru: Check out the resort - Reward: Diglett DNA Scan

Planet Pokitaru: Help the resort owner - Reward: Meowth DNA Scan

Planet Pokitaru: Buy Thrusterpack from Bob - Reward: Psyduck DNA Scan

Planet Pokitaru: Destroy the Blarg ships - Reward: Mankey DNA Scan

Planet Pokitaru: Navigate the sewers - Reward: Growlithe DNA Scan