Clank: Aridia


The flight to Aridia was, unlike before, filled with silence. This was mainly due to Ratchet still being unconscious, but also the lingering questions in Clank's mind. As the desert world became a ping in the distance, Clank decided that, if he was going to get any better chance to ask, he didn't know when it would come.

"Miss Rose."

"Yeah, Clank."

"Back on Kerwan, Ratchet displayed a unique ability, unlike anything I've seen."

Clank noticed the miniscule tenseness in her shoulders.

"I see."

"When I inquired about it, he claimed there were his 'Aura' and 'Semblance', and that all creatures can acquire them. Is this true?"

"Well, back on my homeworld, Remnant, everyone had it. Didn't mean everyone could access it, but they had it. Even animals, though that was more rare. I once saw a panther that had its Aura unlocked."

"Could you perhaps explain what exactly they are? Ratchet only briefly talked about it."

Summer sighed. She had an inkling on where this could potentially go. Regardless, she didn't want to foster animosity with the one person who could help them start the ship up.

"Very well. Aura is the physical manifestation of a person's soul."

She raised a hand, with a white outline glowed from it. Clank leaned forward, fascinated. He had skepticism on the idea of a 'soul' existing, but he wasn't going to start a philosophical debate.

"What exactly is the purpose of this 'Aura'?"

"Well, multiple things. It can act as a shield, much like Nanotech. It can sustain yourself during long periods of either starvation or extreme weather, and it can help power your Semblance."

"And that is…?"

"Semblances can only be accessed once you have your Aura unlocked. In short, they are a unique power tied to yourself, and unique to you alone. For instance, mine is Retrieval. I can bind myself to an item and teleport it to me, or me to it. You've likely seen Ratchet's Requip."

"Yes, the highly intriguing technique of his, able to summon weaponry from the miniature singularity. And can anyone acquire these Auras and Semblances?"

"That all depends. Auras can be unlocked naturally through meditations, but that varies. Not only do you have to be aware of Aura, but it also is different for each person. The other way, which is the more accepted path, is to have someone else unlock your Aura. As for Semblances, there's no shortcuts for those. You'll have to find that on your own."

"So, for instance, if you were to give it to someone like…Captain Qwark…"

Summer scrunched her eyes. She knew this was coming.

"Look, Clank, I know-"

Alarms rang out on the ship, accompanied by red flashing lights. Ratchet immediately woke up to the commotion.

"Gah! What's shooting at us?!"

"Bold of you to already assume that!" Summer replied as she turned, seeing several missiles coming from the planet, "Hang on!"

Summer began to maneuver the ship, spiraling down towards the planet's surface. Clank, as he struggled to hang on, mentally grumbled. He'd have to get his question answered later.

As they broke through the atmosphere, Summer went under the radar for the missiles, and landed on the outskirts of a construction site, with clear indications that it was under Blarg control.

"Okay," Summer breathed a sigh of relief, "Now that that madness is over, I'm picking up two escape pod signals, ones on the other side of the construction site."

"And the other?" Ratchet replied, popping open the cockpit window.

"Literally thirty yards from us."

Ratchet stopped mid step out of the ship. "Seriously?"

"Hey, I'm just going by the distress beacons. Now, whether or not the occupants are still there is another question."

The slight jab at Ratchet for choosing to go to Kerwan first did not go unnoticed.

"Hey, why did you say that me thinking we were getting shot at was a 'bold' assumption?"

"Considering what cause our first ship to crash, you know why."

Ratchet sulked his shoulders at Summer's second jab. The three headed for the much closer escape pod, finding it…as well as Skidd McMarx.

"Well, looks like finding Skidd isn't going to be a problem."

"Yes, Mrs. Rose, his appearance from the Infobot matches."

"In the flesh, dudes and dudette," Skidd replied suavely, "You guys get a load of that epic space battle I was in?"

Ratchet rubbed his chin. "Strange, I didn't know screaming and panicking were part of your skill set when in battle."

Summer stifled a chuckle as Skidd looked embarrassed.

"Uhhh, that was, like, a war cry. My agent and I got ambushed on the way to hoverboard practice."

"That explains the second distress signal."

"That probably be him, dudette. Guy can easily handle himself. Me, on the other hand, am finding a little trouble getting back to my ship…"

Skidd and the group turned, seeing a pack of Sandsharks running about.

"...due to my sprained ankle."

Ratchet rubbed his face in amusement. When it came to celebrities, they were either good at their job, and nothing else, or good at everything. This was clearly the former.

"If you can take out all of the Sandsharks, I just might have a spare hoverboard for you."

"We'd love to help you, Mr-HMHM!?"

Clank's words were interrupted as Ratchet placed a hand over his mouth.

"We'd be glad to. Mom, mind keeping Mr. 'War Cry' safe while I go clean house?"

Summer shrugged, "May as well. Good luck."

Ratchet nodded, picking up Clank and placing him on his back.

"Ratchet, why exactly are we doing this?"

"You never know when a proper hoverboard may come in handy."

As Ratchet charged into the dunes, slaughtering sandsharks left and right, Summer and Skidd stood in silence.

"So," Skidd suavely said, "How good are-"

He was interrupted when Summer jabbed the handle of her axe into Skidd's gut, making him fall to the floor.


"Wha-?" Ruby exclaimed, "Why'd she do that? Yeah, Skidd might not be a fighter, but that was uncalled for."

Yang patted Ruby on the shoulder. "Ruby, trust me, that was the wisest decision."


Skidd raised a hand weekly, his finger pointing up.

"Okay, no flirting."


"Oh." Ruby deadpanned.

"Told you."


"I'm happily married, Mr. Celebrity."

"I had to be sure," Skidd groaned, still on the ground, "You had the kid over there, but I saw no husband, soooo…"

"You get into trouble like this a lot?"

"Well, not really. Most are overeager fans, so I can easily tell that they don't have a significant other. At worst, they might have a boyfriend, but-"

"Not what I meant."

"Oh, the crash! Eh, more than you think for a pro-hoverboarder. Most of the time I can easily skate my way to the nearest harbor."

"And your agent?"

Skidd got up, dusting himself, "He's actually more of a fighter than I am, and, you know how they say his bark is worser than his bite?"

"The correct saying is 'worst than his bite' but, yeah."

"Well, his 'bark' could make anyone run for the hills."

"Hmm. Have you ever considered taking some lessons in self defense?"

"Nah, why bother? I can easily run away."

Summer raised an eyebrow.

"Eh, don't judge me! Not all of us can be smooth and kick butt, you know."

"Debatable, but I can see your reasoning. Not all of us who crave adventure can fight."

"See? You get it!"

"But that doesn't mean you can't at least have your foot in the door. What would you have done if me and Ratchet never showed up."

Skidd rubbed the back of his head. "I…would have thought of something."

"...If you say so."

After that, it was only a short while before the last of the sand sharks were killed. Summer escorted Skidd to his crashed ship. Skidd opened the side door, and reached in.

"Here, dude. Catch!"

Skidd tossed a hoverboard to Ratchet, who initially fumbled at the weight.

"Wait, this is a Z-3000! I thought this was only in the planning stages!"

"Yeah, I have a friend at Gadgetron who was able to hook me up with one last season."

"So that's how you beat Sandra last year."

"Uh, wait, what, no, I didn't use it there. I won with my rad skills, dude."

Ratchet rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, I've got to bail. If you guys are ever in Blackwater this season, ask for me. We can totally hang out."

Summer and the other nodded, before turning around and heading back to their ship.


"So, how exactly did Skidd get off Aridia?"

"He never said, Miss Belladonna," Clank replied, "Or, more accurately, every time we asked, he'd have a different story."

Yang snorted, "Which means the truth is either really lame, or completely embarrassing."


"Alright," Ratchet declared, reaching their ship, "Now, all that's left is to get Skidd's agent."

"There is an SOS signal located across the lake."

Summer looked over the muddy 'lake'.

"Yeah, Clank, I don't think I can throw that far. Even if I could, I couldn't do it with two people."

"It's okay," Ratchet replied, "I can wait."

"I meant Skidd's agent."

"Oh, right."

"With the seismic drill inoperable, our only method of reaching the escape pod," Clank declared, "Is through the construction site, guarded by Blargian forces."

"Welp, it should be a breeze."

"Careful, Ratchet…"

"Yeah, yeah, arrogance is the first step of defeat."

"So is using cursed phrases."

"Cursed phrases?" Clank questioned.

"You know, like 'what could go wrong', or 'how could it get any worse'."

Clank tapped his chin, contemplating how they could be cursed.

Summer shook her head. "Nevermind, let's go."

Crossing the sands, they encountered more sand sharks, as well as Blarg flame troopers. Entering the facility, the saw that it split into two paths.

"My scanners," Clank exclaims, "Are unable to determine which path leads to the crash site."

"Then we'll need to split up," Ratchet replies, "You head left?"

Summer nodded as Ratchet and Clank took the right path. Ratchet fought through the even less constructed parts of the building, as evidenced by the sand sharks prowling around. Eventually, Ratchet was forced to begin climbing, reaching the top of the structure. He could see the clearing where the crashed pod was located, just over some of the muddy lake. Not an issue for him, obviously, especially with Clank's heli-pod upgrade.

Reaching the pod, Clank dismounted, and the two could see Skidd's agent throwing a tantrum.

"Aaargh!" He angrily exclaimed, "No signal whatsoever! This down time is killing me!"

"Do you need medical attention, Sir?"

The Agent pointed angrily at Clank, "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."

"Yeah, we met him," Ratchet retorted, "Skidd's safe at your ship."

"While I'm surprised he's still alive, it won't matter until I get off this planet. Until then, I'm no agent of his. Without a client, I'm as useful as a flea without a dog."

"So, will you be alright here?"

"Oh, yeah. I've already gotten a ride."

"Then why were you complaining about a signal?"

"Because they aren't returning my calls, obviously."

Ratchet made a mental note that, if he ever sees Skidd again, mention how lax his agent is about ditching him.

"Say," the agent rubbed his chin, "You look like an athletic kid."

Ratchet raised an eyebrow, but decided against showing the grin tempting him.

"If you can bring back the Championship prize from the hoverboard races in Blackwater City, I'll make you my next star."

"We have no time for trivial matters, sir."

"Have to agree with Clank. Don't know if you notice, but Chairman Drek has been smashing up worlds across the sector. And I don't really have any interest in being a celebrity at the moment. So you'll have to do more than that."

The two began to turn around.

"Wait, wait! Alright, how about I give you a Sonic Summoner. It's a prototype Gadgetron purchase."

"Now, see, that has my attention. You just stay put. We'll be back…eventually."

Clank jumped back onto Ratchet's back as the two entered a nearby seismic drill transport. Since they were now where the transport itself was, it was an easy fix for Ratchet, and the two traveled under the lake, and back to their ship.

With a very angry Summer, pacing back and forth.

"Um, mom?"

"Ratchet, here you go."

Summer tossed a device to him.

"Hey, this is a Trespasser. Blargian high tech bypass equipment. Why was it here?"

"No idea, and I don't care. Let's just get on the ship."

"Mom, what happened?"

"..."

"Mom?"

"I couldn't go back the way I came, and the only way out was locked behind an electronic lock…which I needed to hack with the Trespasser."

Ratchet flinched, "Oooou."

"Let's just go."

"I'm sorry," Clank exclaimed, "What am I missing?"

"Mom's not that good with hacking." Ratchet whispered, as a demoralized Summer dropped into their ship.

Ratchet quickly entered, and set a course for Eudora.

"Time to take the fight to the Blarg directly."


Author's Notes: I will not like, I HATED the hacking portions in the first game. Hell, MOST of the hacking in the R&C games I disliked. So there's a bit of a self-reflection.

Also gave Ratchet a more legitimate reason to go Hoverboarding for the Agent. I mean, you get the reward for doing it anyways, but, in the game, Ratchet does it for a purely selfish reason. This one's less selfish.

As always, leave a review, fav/follow, and I'll see you all next time.