A tinge of unease hung in the air after the leading heirs left. Malea pushed aside her toast, no longer feeling hungry. Cal was blowing off steam next to her by complaining about everything she kept finding as she scrolled on the holopad.
Tarvi grumbled something next to them before following the leading heirs out the room. Malea feeling too numb to go after him, though he had that look on his face when he was about to do something stupid.
"Proto-pet... 'Dreadzone destroyer'... Hero of the Fongoids? What's a fongoid?" said Cal continuing to pace back and forth in the kitchen. "He's the poster-child of 'Veldin', too. Gah!" She flung her hands in the air, looking like she wanted to throw the holopad out the air lock. "And he'll just comfortablyadmitto all this? There's got to be something wrong with him! How cananyoneremain that calm when discussing this stuff? It's unnatural..."
Malea shrugged. "What can we do about it? I agree, we should probably just keep our mouths shut. Helps everyone out."
"Does it? Or is Lord Forrestier up to something and is using the bond to keep Lear in line?" grumbled Cal. She slumped in a chair. "Lord Forrestier is giving him a long leash. Leaving him here for daysand we thought the old man was keeping him close when we saw them at the rink."
"We'll go home, eventually..."
Cal looked Malea directly in the eye. Putting the holopad on the table with a dangerous 'tap'. She leaned forward, as if daring Malea to continue.
"You don't actually believe him, right? They have a way home. You don't just muck around with dimensional travel, land in theexactdimension in theexactlocation you were aiming for and then call itluck,"said Cal with a snarl. "And Lear isn't the type to justleavethings to his father. He broke out of the compound to hang out with Humali and interfered in the conference to defend her on his own accord. If Aquila was right, he also had afightwith his dad over the right towork.All this happened over the course of amonth.Lear goes after what he wants."
"So," said Malea. Her shoulders slumping. "You think they want to be here?"
"I think old Forrestier has told Lear tokeep ushere. Maybe as hostages? Or just to keep Lear safe until everything is sorted? Who knows?" she flung her arms in the air again. "Lear's freedom just seems so... odd. He's the clan's most precious resource. Keeping him in a hostile alien dimension should be against their self interest. It makes no sense!"
The door slid open as Talwyn walked in, causing the girls to jump.
"Oh," she said, noticing their reactions and frowning. "Sorry. Did I interrupt?"
"No, no..." said Malea, waving her hands with a nervous chuckle. "Just Lombax clan politics. Help yourself."
Talwyn relaxed then stepped inside. "I take it there's a-lot of that going on, huh? Rivet's been complaining about it for the past three days. She hates being tied to someone else's schedule."
"You have no idea," chuckled Malea. "I suppose it would be small compared to what is going on in the galaxy, though."
"Depends on relations between planets," shrugged Talwyn. " I find interplanetary politics simple compared to what goes on within individual races. The further you have to travel, the less complicated you want the rules."
"That makes sense," nodded Malea, actually a bit interested, but sensed Talwyn didn't enjoy political talk outside of work.
"Hey, Talwyn..." said Cal with a raised eyebrow. "Bit of a random question. But how much do you know about Lear?"
"You mean Ratchet?"
"Yeah..."
She crossed her arms and stared up in thought before nodding.
"A fair bit. I met him when he was on the run from Tachyon. He was already a big shot hero from Solana," she shrugged, then walked over to the sink, pressing a button for a cup of tea. "We then worked together in the Polaris Defence Force for a while. He played a crucial role in public relations and assisted planets in various rehabilitation efforts post dictatorship."
Cal scrunched up her face. "Public relations?"
"Well, yeah. The population only really communicated with the defence force when their 'hero' was doing the talking, back when it was just starting up. Ratchet had the 'only Lombax in the galaxy' title at the time and the story of him taking out Tachyon resonated with the public, so he became our public face for a while. Did a-lot of safety talks and promoting peace via planetary tours. Even acting in movies and going on talk shows promoting the values of the 'New Polaris'. He did all that while looking for Clank, too. "
Malea felt her stomach drop. Similar to what happened at the conference. "So he's a celebrity?"
"Pretty much!" Laughed Talwyn. "Though he avoidsothercelebrities. Much prefers hanging out in his workshop or exploring the galaxy. The only major city you'll find him in is Metropolis, and even then, just around his penthouse.
"No wonder he has a holofilm smile... He's used to being in front of a camera!" grumbled Cal.
With a fresh cup of harponic nectar tea, Talwyn took a sip, then chuckled. "He gotthattraining when he was part of the Galactic Rangers in Solana. They are incredibly popular in that galaxy. I swear their faces are everywhere! Ratchet often complains that he can't visit Veldin without getting swarmed by fans and interview requests, and he retired from the position years ago! I bet your dimension must feel like a vacation compared to his insane workload here. I don't know how he does it."
For once, this was information that made Malea want to laugh, despite how much more dangerous it made Lear seem. It answered the age old question - is the Forrestier's 'workaholic' trait genetic or is it thrusted upon them by their serious leader? Looks like it was the former.
"How come the more I learn about this guy, the more screwed we seem to be?" said Cal, her shoulders relaxing in defeat.
Talwyn stared at them, then tilted her head. "What do you mean? Is this about Ratchet's inheritance? He mentioned being next in line to lead a massive clan of Lombaxes and that you guys hate him because of it. He explained it to me after apologising about the fight you lot had the other day."
"Yeah, there's conflict between our clans. Nothing personal," explained Malea. Feeling a tad guilty for causing conflict in her home. "It's just how things are at the moment. The cost of being heirs means we are blamed for anything that happens to our clans and the pressure is high."
Talwyn continued to stare. "What's the big deal about it? Can't they just find someone else to take the role if no one likes you?"
"It's not that simple. Leaders have the capacity to command their clan members. Into combat, war, or submission. It's inherited through specific bloodlines. Though you can give it to another with the lineage so long as it's not too diluted," said Calaris, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't Lear tell you this?"
"I don't think he fully understands it either... Just that he has a 'connection' with he dad that he likes."
"He never seems to resist it," agreed Malea. "Weird."
"Weird?"
"The bond between us and our parents not only marks us as a potential leader, it binds us to them. Our parents can use it to force us in line. It'spainful," grumbled Calaris. Putting a hand on her head as if remembering the sensation.
"But it protects the clan and it's interest," explained Malea, frowning. Trying to put a positive spin on it. "There aren't a-lot of us. You can't just have heirs running off to do as they please. We have a duty and our livesdirectlyaffect ourclansmen and can alter our whole society."
Talwyn tilted her head. "So... it's basically what Ratchet's been doing this entire time? Helping others at the cost of himself? Sounds like he's finally found his home. Rivet's the same, though she was fighting for a resistance group."
There was a weight on Malea's chest as she stared at Talwyn. This foreigner who knew Lear better than all of the Lombaxes combined. Recognition from memories as she thought back to every encounter with Lord Forrestier and Lear.
"That explains everything," she said. Realisation kicking in.
"You think Lear has a good time with the bond because heagreeswith the actions of his dad? His experience over here would definitely give him a different perspective on these things," said Cal with a frown.
Malea nodded. "Remember what he said about Humali? That he would be more surprised if his familydidn'tplay a role in them getting together? He knows what they're like..."
"Yet didn't get pissed off," finished Calaris. "I know I certainly would have been."
"Oh, so he and Humali are arranged?" asked Talwyn, starting to look eager for gossip. "Ratchet would need the help. None of us over here thought he would ever settle down."
"It's complicated, but yes and no," sighed Malea. "It would be easier if theywere."
"Ain't that the truth," grumbled Calaris.
"They seem to suit each other though. He needs someone with his interest in tech who also isn't scared of the stuff he builds," said Talwyn. "The two of them were working on a scary looking gun yesterday, and Humali likes his little combat lessons. Poor girl looks like she needs an outlet."
"Humali always has a weird project. Nothing new there," shrugged Calaris.
"But they work on their projects together! I think it's cute!"
"Yeah... 'Cute'," said Malea with a nervous laugh.
Talwyn took one last sip of her tea then put the cup on the counter. "Well, see you guys later. I've got to head to work. Galactic security doesn't happen on it's own."
"You have a good shift, Talwyn."
They waved her off as she headed towards the hangar. Her strange tail curling around her as she walked.
One they were alone again, Cal sat up. The excitement from the holonet now gone. "Wanna go to the games room and try that 'Captain Qwark' game? I need something to distract me and that green guy looks stupid enough to do it."
Malea smiled, wanting the same thing. "Sounds great. I would like a change of scenery too.
...
Outside in the asteroid belt
Leviathans were beautiful creatures... from a distance. Their skin glowing with blue luminescent light along their elegant bodies which moved through space like a graceful slithering serpent. If only those bodies weren't attached to such an ugly face.
"Why is its head so big?" muttered Humali through her oxygen helmet. Gripping her new gun tighter - now coloured with new white and blue paint. Beside her, Alexios readjusted his own helmet, but remained silent as he watched with her.
They were standing on floating space rock. Gravity boots the only reason they weren't floating away into the surrounding astroid belt where the Leviathans were skulking around, or to the top of the Apogee Space Station towering behind them.
"Not sure, honestly. This species mostly eat space plankton, though they don't mind chowing down on whatever else catches their interest," said Rivet with a shrug, pointing to the left with a nod at Ratchet. "Though the ones on Cabalia prefer to hunt more traditional prey."
"Cabalia?" said Humali while turning her gaze to the expansive array of stars surrounding them with wide eyes.
"It's the gel capital of the galaxy. We'll have to sneak you out with the dimensionator at some point to see it. Not all planets arethatunsafe. I could even take you to Kerwan and show you my apartment!" said Ratchet. His lovely eyes gleaming with mischief. "I've got a bunch of materials in my workshop you can't find in the dimension."
"Careful, Hotshot. You'll lose her for a month if she gets a hold of your collection," said Rivet with grin. "Almost as bad as you in your Grandfather's hanger."
"Hey, we are adding trillium connection tabs to the next line of..."
Rivet playfully punched his arm. "We are NOT talking about work. Let's focus on these bad boys and then check on the toddlers."
Ratchet sighed, staring out at the beasts with a hand going to his weapons belt, then took on a sarcastic tone. "Yeah. Need to make sure they haven't killed themselves in the past twenty minutes. There's nothing to worry about..." He looked thoughtful for a minute. "Unless they touch the airlock. Won't be our fault if that happens, though."
"Or said something stupid to Talwyn. Geez, they know she could just put this place in lockdown and leave us here, right?" laughed Rivet.
Ratchet nodded, scrunching up his face at a gun before phasing it back. "Yeah, she could do that. But only if the rat keeps asking her questions."
Humali shuffled her feet at the mention of 'toddlers' and 'rat'. The isolation syndrome showing itself in the conversation. It was one thing, to read about the syndrome in books, but another to witness it in person.
Like most species, Lombaxes had a tendency to prefer their own kind - even to the point of self-sacrifice. It's what motivates races to care for the sick and elderly, even at the cost of resources and time.
It's why most societies invest in a military. They want to protect thegroup.
But for these two... their long separation from their own kind means that 'ally' doesn't necessarily mean 'Lombax'. It's reserved for those who could assist with theirindividualsurvival who weren't a waste of what precious little resources they had. That was how Ratchet was able to kill so many Kerchu a few days ago and not lose sleep over it. He didn't even flinch about the deaths Clank mentioned over the radio or when Cal came storming in with that news article, because he had the upper hand and none of these deaths personally affected him.
Why worry about what can't kill you? Spend energy on saving yourself and those who keep you alive. That's how her father explained it to her.
Humali gazed over at Ratchet as he brought out a pair of glowing blades, lining his arms. It was a sign he wanted to get close and personal. She smiled. Knowing that he cared enough to be the 'hero' if the situation demanded it. Isolation syndrome be damned.
He caught her gaze. "What are you smiling at?"
"Those things are pretty."
He grinned. "I've got another pair you can take apart later. But for now," he pointed to one of the beasts on a far off floating rock. "You need to know how your gun upgrades work on a live target. Don't worry, I'll help if they get too close."
She took a nervous breath, then nodded, clicking her gun into place. Then following him to the transporter to get closer to the beasts. Rock crunching under her boots with each shaking step.
"We'll take the left," yelled out Rivet. Swinging her mallet between her hands.
Alex nodded behind her with a smile. He swung his new double sided wrench in anticipation while flexing his shoulders, custom designed curtesy of Ratchet and the Apogee workshop. "They don't seem as bad as the ones on Sargasso."
"They're harder than a death worm though, cause they can change direction when they charge," said Rivet, displaying things sarcastically with her hands, causing Alexios to laugh.
They continued to talk trash as they headed to the transporter, with Rivet bringing out a scary looking gun with a brief mention of 'ducks', causing Alex to laugh harder.
Humali could feel the tension in her shoulders relaxing as they got further away, or perhaps because she was getting closer to Ratchet who stood at the the transporter with his hand stretched out towards her. A sparkle of mischief in his gaze sending a wave of warmth through her. She reached out to hold his hand, letting him pull her up.
She chuckled lightly before giving him a light kiss. For good luck. Or just because she wanted too. Something about the stars around them and the vastness of space made her want to be close to him.
Making her grateful he survived out here.
...
No one noticed the short heir who had followed them out the station. Small enough to hide behind the surrounding rocks while breathing in a make shift helmet that was too big for him. He blinked, having watched the entire exchange from behind a Rock that was twice the size of him.
"Dimensionator..." Tarvi muttered. His eyes set on Lear as he stood on the transporter, one arm outstretched for Humali as she stepped on with him. "Does that mean they have a way home? And why are they calling me a rat?"
He stood still, glaring at Lear and his stupid holofilm smile. Ofanyonewho survived out here why did it have to be this bastard? Why not a non-heir who wouldn't be a thorn in their plans?
Standing next to him in comparison, Humali looked rather average in terms of looks and, truthfully, Tarvi found her pale eyes unnerving, as did most of his classmates. Never able to tell what she was thinking behind them. He had swallowed his disappointment when his father had announced the marriage step, under the assumption the uneasiness will go away with time.
But Lear's eyes shone whenever he so much as glanced in her direction. Seeing something that no one else did. Tarvi certainly had no idea. Maybe Humali's alien like appearance appealed to a guyraisedby aliens, having heard the other day about him being adopted by a 'Grimroth'.
A pit of anger infected his stomach as he watched Humali give Lear a quick kiss. An action that seemed way too welcome by Lear.
Playing the part of a love match as if their parents had no involvement. It was sickening.
It reminded him of a memory from the start of that month. Replaying in Tarvi's head since he sat at the table with his father in whatwascelebration. Bringing out the hard to acquire whiskey for the occasion.
'Listen, Tarvi.'His father had said on the night they secured the first marriage step. 'Miss Humali may seem docile, but her mother used to be the same. Calm and sweet at the academy, but also one of the most vicious ace pilots of the Dexivier fleet. Miss Aurina was best friends with Felibeth Dexivier - the only other pilot who could outmanoeuvre her in the old angel fighter ships. They died fighting to protect their children. Miss Aurina succeeded somehow, but thankfully Felibeth did not. Losing both her life and her son in the carnage. I remember hearing the confirmation of her death. She died in the plaza desperately trying to get her son into an escape pod.'
His father then tapped his glass to Tarvi's own and took a swig of whiskey. 'It was a great win for us. Kaden and Hedrek have vicious streaks, but their wives were on a different level and make no mistake. Deep down, Humali has that same potential as her mother. Just look at all her inventions! She's smart enough to do it! We need to tame her before that evil is unleashed on us, and that responsibility is on our shoulders as her prospective in-laws.'
Now he stood on a floating asteroid, staring at the biggest screw up the universe could have given them, while said screw up kissed Humali and laughed with bright glowing blades lighting up his arms. Looking as dangerous as the stories of his blood line.
Against all prior knowledge, Felibeth Dexiviersucceeded. Getting Lear close enough to the plaza forsomeone elseto put him in an escape pod. She possibly used an angel ship similar to the one Lear flew here. The sight of it sending goosebumps up Tarvi's arms whenever he walked passed the hangar. As if the previous Dex heir had sought vengeance beyond the grave via that starship.
He gritted his teeth. Less than a month ago, the small clans had a stranglehold on a few key areas. Namely, the Ventore clan and the various heir positions at the HTA. They would have finally had a bargaining chip catastrophic enough for the larger clans to concede changing back the voting system. Even getting Lord Forrestier to attend the HTA for the sake of his clan. His resources would have been theirs eventually, as with Lord Dex's, who was planning a merger with the Forestiers in the hopes the younger Lord found a solution before the end of both their terms.
Slowly, they were squeezing out the leads with strategic marriage arrangements and deals. Making them come up with stupid ideas like that to keep their resources out of the hands of the smaller clans.
But no one was betting on Lear coming back. His survival was Lady Felibeth's last middle finger to the small clans.
He gulped, then stared down at his hands, thinking about what he could do to protect his clan from the threat teleporting away to another asteroid.
With a hand motion, he phased out a basic blaster, one that his father had said was strictly for emergencies. Feeling the weight of it in his hands.
"I suppose it's up to me to get us home..." He said to himself before staring back up at the teleporter.
Lear and Humali were gone, but he wouldn't be far behind.
...
Ratchet breathed, the tanked oxygen bringing back memories of space and hunting. Making him want to flex his skills on the snake-like leviathans in the area.
He would never admit it out loud, but he had missed this. Being at the station brought out the itch to hop on his ship and run to another planet. Pokitaru was nice this time of year... and he could check on Grim. See how the old fongoid was getting on. Maybe introduce him to Humali since she was already keen to meet a fongoid in person?
Next to him, the lovely Lombax gripped her new gun. Her nerves masking a fierceness which Ratchet had appreciated over the past couple of days. It had been a pleasure watching her demure facade fade whenever they found a new enemy. He supposed shooting alien toads gave her an outlet after all the bullshit she went through at the HTA. Which Ratchet was happy to continue encouraging. 'Appropriate' heir behaviour or not.
Or maybe he was just a bad influence?
Ratchet walked forward, relishing the crunch under his boots, while staring at their first target. It was a relatively big Leviathan, one that skulked at a snail's pace around and around the same rock. 'Big' meant it was an easy target. Perfect for a beginner.
"We'll start with this one," he said, pointing to it.
"Okay," said Humali, sounding nervous.
Ratchet tilted his head at her. "You weren't such a bundle of nerves on Sargasso. Everything okay?"
"Toads and bugs are different to...this.And The Kerchu are still normal sized. These things actually look like monsters," she said with a frown.
"You know, Humali. I find real monsters tend to be bipedal with brains. Quite selfish creatures, honestly."
"Like us?" said Humali, scrunching up her face.
"Yep. Like Tachyon and every other bad guy I have told you about. These guys only want dinner. Which I can relate to on most days," said Ratchet, responding with a cheeky grin. "Who doesn't like a good meal, right?"
"I suppose," she said, her shoulders slumping.
He walked over next to her, wanting to be close in case he needed to be the back up plan. Though he knew enough about the gun in her hand that it was unlikely he would be needed at all.
"You ready," he said to Humali. Waiting for her cue. "You need to aim for the head, the spikes along its back, or tail. They have multiple weak points along the body."
She nodded, taking a deep breath. Then squinted as she aimed.
After a few a seconds, she took another breath, then pulled the trigger - firing in rapid succession. Aiming along the spine of the beast as it snaked passed.
The first bullet hit the back of its head, and Humali's personal touch came to life. Ice like shards grew out from where the shot landed, causing the beast to yell out.
It turned to face them, rearing it's head for an attack, but the ice slowed it down, lodging in the gaps of it's armour and preventing it from moving.
And the more she shot, bullet layered on bullet, the bigger the ice shards got. Ratchet watched with morbid fascination. The ice was Humali's idea, he had just given her the equipment to build the thing while taking inspiration from his father's cryomines.
Eventually, the beast gave up, it's insides blowing up out of it's shell, leaving the ice shards behind in a twisted formation against it's outer coating.
As the soul went into Ratchet's storage, he gazed at the beautiful creation floating in front of them. The ice forming around the remains like an artistic sculpture with the light of the station bouncing off with a shimmer, albeit it's shell like head remained ugly.
He whistled, impressed. "Your weapons are stunning..." He walked closer to get a better look at the ice formation within the creature. "The shardsimpaledit! You were right about considering the formation angle."
Behind him, Humali stood with both hands still on the gun, her face lighting with adrenaline.
He gave her a knowing look. "Feeling better?"
She flushed. "Yeah."
"What do you think of the gun?" he asked, nodding to her hands.
"It's much easier to aim than the virus emitter," said Humali, gazing over at another asteroid, looking like she wanted to hunt another one. "The modifications definitely help. I like that I can change it."
Ratchet grinned. "You could picture Lady Hexaton's face on the next one. I've also got a negotiator that is phenomenal for stress relief."
"Negotiator?" she said with her eyes glinting at the suggestion.
"It's a rocket launcher that solves your problems in two easy steps. Point, and shoot."
That did it. She started laughing. "Or maybe I could imagine Tarvi and Lord Polivier. Though I suppose a leviathan is too big for them."
Ratchet laughed with her. "I'm sure there's enough beasts for everyone on your shit-list. And Talwyn would appreciate keeping their population low. These guys are pests, after all."
She scrunched up her shoulders in excitement, the same way she did when she figured out a solution during one of her projects. "Good! Cause I think I can last out here for hours. This is so thrilling! No wonder you and Rivet get bored back home."
"You've seen nothing yet...'
Crunch!
Ratchet's ears pricked. He glanced around. Not seeing any movement.
"Ratchet?" said Humali, her voice softening. "Everything okay?"
It happened in an instant.
A shot rang out, aimed at Humali's hands, causing her to drop her blaster. Ratchet tried to run to her, but was shot at several times himself. Preventing him from movingforward.Making him wish he chose a gun over his blades.
He glanced up as Humali screamed, gripping her hand. A familiar Rat lunged from behind her.
He held a blaster up at an angle, ensuring a small red light was aimed at the side of Humali's head, bright against her cream fur. The action causing her to freeze as much as the fallen Leviathan. Gasping in shock as Tarvi gripped her waist and forcing her to move in front of Ratchet.
Ratchet stood still. Not wanting to provoke the short-arse heir any further.
"I know you have a dimensionator," said Tarvi, gripping the gun tighter. "Now get us home!"