Clank: Oltanis Orbit

Onboard Chairman Drek's Flagship, Drek and Qwark approached a shuttle.

"It's time to begin your new assignment." Drek declared.

"Ah," Qwark happily replied, "A photo op by your shiny new shuttle. Terrific idea."

Drek groaned, facepalming, "You really are an idiot."

"What?" Qwark genuinely asked.

"You are to take that shuttle to the moon base, and ambush those three miscreants when they arrive. After all, they've been using your shuttle to cause our recent string of problems."

"So, yeah, definitely a trap." Yang commented.

"And mom's going to get some payback, as Qwark will be waiting for them."

"Oh, yes, of course, those three, right, right."

Drek narrowed his eye in anger. "You can't even bother to remember them?!"

"No, of course I remember them. But…having a picture might-"

"Those THREE!" He pointed to a WANTED poster, showing the trio.

"Wait," Blake exclaimed, "Who put out a wanted poster?"

"Considering that, from the Blarg's perspective, Ratchet, Clank, and Summer are all trying to prevent their species from finding a new home, it makes sense that the Blarg might put out a bounty."

"But Drek's destroying planets!" Ruby retorted.

"Miss Rose, sometimes, people aren't given a good choice, only multiple bad ones. In which case, they usually choose the one that hurts them the least."

"Unfortunately." Blake muttered.

"Oh," Qwark exclaimed, "Of course…There is just one problem, I'm-"

"Too washed up for ground combat?"

"Not too washed up, but I haven't shaken off the rust, yet."

"I highly doubt that, but it doesn't matter. You're already familiar with my personal starfighter. After all, you used it back at your base. You still remember how to fly that, don't you?"

Qwark nodded vigorously.

"It's settled, then. You'll acquire the starfighter once you get to the moon," his tone turned dark, "Screw this up-"

"I don't need you to finish that," Qwark interrupted, "I'll be CCKKK!" Qwark made a choking sound. What unnerved him was that Drek chuckled.

"No, no. After all, you getting rid of the Ranger program made sure my plans could begin. And, besides, death would be too easy. If you mess up, the endorsement deal is OFF!"

Qwark gasped, "But that would ruin me," Qwark narrowed his eyes, "You wouldn't…"

Drek chuckled again, "Try me."

Qwark got into the shuttle that was clearly much too small for him, and flew out of the hangar, heading for Oltanis.

"Seriously?" Ruby commented, "This guy is just being a stereotype at this point. He's more concerned about his image rather than his life?"

"Ruby," Weiss replied, "When it comes to celebrities, your image is everything."

"But-"

"How did Blake treat me because of her perceived image of me and my family's company?"

Both Blake and Ruby flinched.

"Yes, yes, Miss Schnee makes an excellent point," Oobleck commented, "Perception is a critical component of life. After all, everyone might remember a warrior as being insane from history books, but meeting the warrior might reveal that he was actually a kind hearted man, who broke from the stresses of war."

"Approaching Gemlik base," Ratchet commented as they flew towards the station, "No signs of interception, despite knowing that this ship doesn't belong to Qwark anymore."

"All outer landing pads seem to be occupied," Summer added, "WIth one exception."

Both looked at each other with the same thought. 'Definitely a trap.'

"Ratchet, better get your weapons ready. We're going to need them. Expect bullets the instant we land."

"Got it."

Putting on their helmets, they landed at the lone pad, exiting their ship. They came out, ready to go guns blazing…only to be met with silence.

"I do not see Drek's ship," Clank commented, "We must have missed him."

"If he was ever here to begin with."

"Mom's right, Clank. But, at this rate, we're never going to catch him. We'll need a faster ship." Ratchet's ears began to twitch.

"Perhaps this station could supply the ship we need."

Summer nodded, "It is a military base, so maybe. We'll need to cross that bridge down below. Nothing too diff-"

"Hold on."

"What?"

"I said hold on!"

Summer actually flinched at Ratchet's outburst. Ratchet put his head to the deck.

"What are you listening for?" Summer whispered.

Ratchet narrowed his eyes, and she could see that he was adjusting his ears…before they shot wide open.

"OFF THE DECK!"

Ratchet grabbed Clank, and the trio jumped off…within milliseconds of jumping, the entire platform was engulfed in an explosion, sending debris in all directions. The force of the explosion sent them flying across the bridge down below. A good thing, too, as the explosion also ripped apart said bridge.

"Holy crap," Yang exclaimed, "That was too close."

"Yes," Oobleck adjusted his glasses, "It seems Drek isn't taking any chances."

The trio fell to the ground, sliding for several feet before stopping. Looking up, they say the charred debris of the landing pad.

"Well," Ratchet lightheartedly commented, "Now we definitely need a new ship. Come on, we're exposed here."

"An excellent idea," Clank agreed, "Especially since Drek's forces are already approaching us."

"What?" Summer exclaimed, turning to see a dozen robotic flying bird creatures descending to attack them, "You couldn't mention that before?"

"I just did."

"I think he's learning our kind of humor, mom."

"I regret to inform you that I might be."

The trio quickly dispatched the robots, but found their path blocked by a barrier.

"Clank," Ratchet commented, "Any ideas?"

"My scanners show that those pylons supply power to the station. If we destroy them, they'll be forced to redirect power to critical systems."

"And that helps us…?"

"Standard Blargian power redistribution, Mrs. Rose. The first power to lose access will be the closest to the afflicted pylon."

"Got it." Ratchet said, pulling out his Devestator, and firing a rocket at the tower, blowing it up. Within seconds, the barrier deactivated. After clearing the next area, and destroying another tower, they dropped down, only for a panel ahead to open up. Rising from below, a mounted turret, with a Blarg behind the gun, opened fire, forcing them down.

"I've got this," Summer commented. Chucking her axe, she teleported behind the Blarg, then shot him dead, "Alright, let's-crap." She deadpanned the last word, as there was an electronically locked door infront of her. Ratchet chuckled.

"And I've got this." Ratchet began to hack into the door, clearing the way…only for another turret to be blocking them.

"And I'VE got this!" Summer yelled, teleporting behind the turret, only to-"FUCK!" As she saw the locked passage.

"Is this a running gag?" Weiss commented.

"I am unsure," Clank answered, "But it was highly amusing."

"It does make sense," Oobleck comforted, "That there would be redundant security systems. This is a military base, and a trap for Mrs. Rose and her son."

Clank chuckled as, after the turret was dealt with, Ratchet, smirking, hacked into the door, with a very upset Summer watching. Once the door was hacked, they went up a flight of stairs, and Summer got very angry at the top.

"ANOTHER TURRET! If there's a door to hack behind it, I'm chucking you through it."

"ME?!" Ratchet exclaimed, "What did I do?"

"Make me look like an idiot twice. That's my job!"

"Your job is to make yourself look like an idiot?"

Ratchet puffed his cheeks out, the urge to laugh about to kill him. Summer was about ready to murder Clank.

"What?"

"You are learning from them," Yang laughed, "Either that, or you were really ignorant in the early days."

"I'd like to fear it was both."

"How does that make sense?"

"It doesn't. But, then again, neither does half the stuff we got into."

Taking out the next gunner, they went to the next area, with a laser grid blocking their path. Taking it out with a rocket to a tower, they entered, but found the path blocked. As they approached, Summer commented on the canisters, even CONKing one of them on the side.

"Clank, any idea what these tubes hold? They're bigger than us, and everywhere."

"Unknown, however, my processors calculate that they are highly toxic and combustible."

Summer immediately took several steps away, which made the son grin.

"So, Clank, any idea how to get past this?"

"My scanners say that the lock is attached to something."

"Well, what's it attached to?"

"They say the main objective of this room."

"Well, what does this room look like?"

Summer narrowed her eyes. "It's like…a hangar."

At that, she heard the roar of engines, and turned just in time to see a Blargian jet fighter blocking the entrance…with a clear line of sight, and no cover.

"MOVE!"

The fighter opened fire, causing the canisters to explode. A shot from both axe and rocket laungher made the engines combust, forcing the fighter to go straight forward, blowing up the exit, and clearing the path.

"Well," Ratchet commented, "That was quick."

"Blargian fighters are not built for direct damage, with the exception of captain models."

"Well, that helps us-" The doors open, revealing dozens of the hazardous canisters…and two more fighters, poised to fire, "-Or not!"

The ships fired, detonating the containers, and sending them flying back. Though, while their Auras took some damage, the resulting explosion created a smoke cloud that gave them time to cover. Summer was about ready to swing her axe, intent on teleporting.

"Mom, how about, before we jump in, since it looks like those fighters are above open space, let me handle this."

Ratchet then Requipped the RYNO, and ran out, quickly obliterating the fighters. With them gone, the trio continued through the base, entering an elevator down into it. A small chasm gave them a glimps at the highly toxic sludge slowly rising and falling from beneath them. Bypassing it, they came across another one, and a third one, though, Blarg soldiers were at the end of the third one.

"You swing across, I've got this."

Summer then teleported across, surprising the soldiers, as she tore them apart while Ratchet used his Swingshot.

"Alright, what's next?" Ratchet questioned.

"Apparently down." Summer pointed to the magnetic path. The group looked out, and saw red, hot materials, very similar to the toxic sludge, rising and falling, covering the patherway repeatedly.

"I've got no boots, and I can't make that throw. Clank, are there any other paths?"

"Unfortunately not."

"Mom, remember when I first stole your axe, before I understood how your Semblance worked?"

"Yeah, you hid on top of a ridge, thinking you could get away if you saw me climbing u-Oooooh."

Summer handed the axe to her son, and, tensely, watched him traverse the magnetic walkway, reaching the exit. He leaned out, showing the axe, and Summer teleported. The sudden weight nearly made Ratchet drop the axe, but the magneboots kepts him grounded (literally), allowing him to hold fast until Summer gripped the edge of the exit.

The trio continued to fight their way through the base, getting back outside. However, when they rounded a corner, THREE turrets blocked their path.

"I'll hack the door, mom."

Summer watched as Ratchet began hacking, but then she smirked. She threw her axe horizontally, just barely squeezing it between the opening in the turret that allows for rotating. She then teleported inside the turret bunker, catching them completely offguard. Summer quickly took out the Blarg and, when Ratchet hacked the door, his mother was waiting on the other side.

"Wha-?"

"You were taking too long. And I want to get to Qwark before he turns tail and runs."

Ratchet shook his head with a smirk, as the two continued onward. They eventually reached an elevator, one that activated his magneboots.

"That can't be good."

As he stepped on the activation button, Ratchet's words were confirmed, as the elevator not only went up, but started rotating. For Ratchet, it wouldn't be a problem, but Summer…

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Summer exclaimed, slamming her axe into the metal, and gripping herself to it. Once the elevator reached the top, the door opened to an upside down large room. With Ratchet walking in, and Summer flipping in, the room was eerily quiet.

"Trap."

"Trap."

"Alright," Summer yelled out, "Let's get this over with."

Either due to good timing, or realizing the jig was up, dozens of flying robots and Blarg soldiers began to appear, either from the backs of parked dropships, open hangar doors, or the nearby elevator.

Ratchet gulped, grabbing out his Blaster, while Summer smirked.

"Mom…don't to too crazy."

"Note how you didn't stop her from going crazy to begin with, Ratchet."

"With this many…there'd be no point in that."

"I'm…going to skip this part."

"She went too crazy, didn't she?" Oobleck may have questioned, but it was framed as a statement.

Clank remembers how she had torn the head of one of the robots off, then used the bite function of it at a nearby Blarg soldier. Or how he had used the engine of a nearby fighter jet to rip apart two Blargs. Normally, he wouldn't be opposed to describing such things, but, as he was with Summer's daughters…

"Most certainly."

By the end of it all, dozens of robots, Blargs, and half a dozen fighters were strewn about the room. Ratchet merely had a hand on his face, impressed but also embarrassed.

"Let's…let's just go."

"Sorry."

"No, no, you at least didn't run off this time," he then mutters, "I swear, sometimes it feels like I'm the adult amongst us."

Entering the elevator, they reached a set of stairs, which led to and open airfield, with-

"Qwark!" Ratchet angrily yelled.

"Hello, Captain Ratchet." He declared mockingly.

Ratchet Requipped the Walloper, and charged, while Summer fired a shot, but it was too late. He-

"I'm sorry, did he just jump!?"

Summer's words came back to bite her, as Qwark, laughing, rose up from the side, with a massive ship, recognizing it as the one from Umbris.

"Come and get me, heroes." He taunted.

"Ratchet," Clank commented, "That warship will destroy any ship we could use, we must take it down before it comes around for another pass."

Summer looked around, hoping to find some aerial defenses, when she smirked.

"How about that one?"

Clank and Ratchet turned, seeing a Blarg fighter in the hangar, the same model as the one at Pokitaru.

"Great idea. Take him down, mo-" He stopped himself. The last time she was in a fighter, against Qwark, she… He took another look, as Summer angrily glared at Qwark's fighter. He tightened his eyes. She was caught off guard. And, just as she trusted him to go on this adventure…he had to trust her to handle this.

"Kick his ass, mom."

"I'd say something about language, but I'm more interested in the big dumb traitor above us."

"Oh yeah!" Yang exclaimed "Round two, baby!"

"Kick his butt, Mom."

Clank's eyes narrowed in dumbward amusement. Since Summer was in the picture with Hunter Squad, it was a foregone conclusion that she'd win. But it was amusing to see others not consider that.

Summer quickly got into the fighter, just as Qwark turned around, heading towards them. He opened fire, impacting the hangar as Summer launched forward into space.

"Well well, Summer," Qwark taunted the two fighters parallel as they flew over the base, "Looks like we're at this again. If I remember correctly, you didn't fare well."

"And, if I remember correctly, you got the drop on us, traitor."

"True, true. But a real hero wouldn't have gotten caught off guard."

"Even the best of us make mistakes…such as believing you were ever a hero."

"WHY YOU-!"

And Summer opened fire with a pair of missiles and bullets. Despite being a starfighter, Qwark's ship wasn't very manuevable. In response, Qwark fired homing missiles at her position. However, due to her using a Blarg ship, the tracking was incomplete, allowing her to simply boost her engines and fly past them.

With another pass, Summer fired several rockets, destroying a section of Qwark's fighter. However, the traitor then deployed a minefield behind him, forcing Summer to dance through the field.

When another engine was destroyed, Qwark turned the ship around, and activated the tractor beam.

"Well, you aren't getting away this time."

"Unlike last time, I didn't have a ship that can bite."

And her words proved true as, despite firing missiles at her trapped position, the Blarg fighter had enough power to twist and turn, allowing her to destroy any missiles he'd fire. Eventually, she saw sparking coming from the tractor cannon.

"Dang it!"

Qwark then turned the ship around, releasing his hold on Summer.

"Performance issues?" She taunted, earning a grumbling from the captain.

Qwark launched another barrage of missiles, however, now that their targeting sequences were adjusted to match the hijacked Blarg ship, she was forced to actually flee, flying through the base to dodge the missiles, resulting in several blown up sections.

"OH, don't worry, I'm sure Drek will just take that out of your paycheck."

"Just hold still!"

As Summer returned, blowing up another engine, she saw a squadron of six fighters approaching.

"Haha! Now you're outmatched and outnumbered."

"Not for long."

Summer turned, heading through the base as her hull dropped to 70 percent, with the squadron splitting up to pursue her. Tactically, it was sound. Cut off her points of escape, boxing her in and destroying her…

If running was her intention, of course. Now, it just made them easier for her to pick them off. Rounding a corner, she fired a missile, blowing up one. When two more turned, she gunned them down, before swerving around to fire at the one that just arrived, following the explosion. She saw the final one flying off into deep space.

"Coward!" Qwark cried out, "I'll see your paycheck deducted for this."

"Chairman Drek must be informed of your failure."

"What?!"

"Ha!" Summer exclaimed, "Even your own men see you for what you are."

Qwark grumbled, "We'll see about that."

Summer chased back after Qwark, destroying another engine, leaving only the two central ones. Qwark turned around, activating the tractor beam again, and locking her in. Firing the missiles even faster, Summer couldn't turn her ship fast enough to take them all out. As missile after missile impacted her, the hull integrity dropped to 30 percent. Summer fired every missile she had left. The resulting explosion not only destroyed the tractor beam, but also the missile launchers, and the second to last engine.

"Uh oh."

Qwark then started flying away, launching whatever mines he had left. But, battered and bruised, Summer weaved through them, firing the guns until the last engine exploded. The ship began to spiral out of control.

"Uhh, oh dear. Mayday, mayday!" Qwark nervously laughed, "Well, Summer, I say you past the test, as did you son on Umbris. Haha, hooo boy," the ship began to spiral towards Oltanis, "HuwuwHAAAAAAAAA!"

Summer had a clean shot on his ship. She could fire, taking him out. But…she figured burning in the atmosphere would be a much more fitting end to a fallen hero like him. Even if he was barely that to begin with, so she turned back to the runway.

"And down goes the Captain-OFOFF!" Ruby cheered, only to be interrupted by a neckhold from her sister.

"May he burn on the way down."

"I'd agree," Blade commented, "Her piloting skills are excellent." Weiss nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes," Oobleck finished, "Defeating a fighter far above your class in combat shouldn't be taken lightly."

"Yes!" Ratchet cheered as Summer's fighter began landing, "Qwark is history!"

"Despite my earlier criticism," Clank commented as Summer jumped out of the ship, "I must admit, your mother's piloting skills are improving."

"I'd knew you warm up to us."

"But that doesn't help us locate Drek."

"He's got a point, Ratchet."

"Oh, come on, you two. Can't you just…take a moment…to relax and enjoy a little…success?"

The reason for his slowing of speech was the ship they were looking at. It was a sleek, jet black fighter with glowing green engines, and an orange canopy.

"Holy cr-Clank, do you think this ship could give us the boost?"

"It may very well. It appears more advanced than the ship we retrieved from Umbris. However, we will not know until we try it."

Ratchet cracked his knuckles, "Sounds good to me."

Before they could get any closer, and Info-Bot came out, relaying the message. However, it wasn't good. Darla Gratch, having survived her ordeal in Blackwater City, was reporting on the destruction of Oltanis's capital city, Gorda. Despite fierce resistance, the surprise attack made the destruction of the city a foregone conclusion. As the message ended, Ratchet could only lower his head in shame.

"Um…"

"Yes, I know," Clank comforted, "It is worse than I expected, too."

"There was nothing we could've done, Ratchet."

"I know, mom. But…despite how bad Drek is, I wanted Qwark to pay, too."

"And he has. We coudln't have known that he was really going to attack Gorda, or that he had already sent them before we even got here."

"The most we can do," Clank added, "Is make sure that he can't do it to any other planet."

"You're right," Ratchet nodded, must his face was still ashamed, "We got this new ship, we just took out Drek's most valuable piece, we can do this!"

"Now you are talking."

"There is a lesson to be had here, students. You can do everything right, and still fail. What matters is how you respond to that failure."

Ruby nodded. Sure, she'd have preferred that mom and Ratchet stopped the attack all together. But she also understands that, realistically, there wasn't anything they could do.

"So, you headed to Oltanis, right?"

"Indeed, Miss Rose," Clank answered, "Where we-Actually, that would be spoiling."

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