Two days passed since Ratchet picked up the book again.
The orange lombax stood in his and Rivet's bedroom, right in front of the mirror. Instead of his usual classic outfit, he had put on a smart pair of black jeans, a white shirt and even a tie for the occasion.
The hero fastened the buttons, straightened the tie upright and neatly before running a comb through the fur on his face again. Ratchet used this time much more to look good, because the orange one had something special in mind. Rivet wouldn't see it coming, but when the hero put his brown cap back on, he opened the drawer and pulled out a small box that fit in his hand.
He opened it briefly and took a good look at the contents. A silver wedding ring.
Ratchet swallowed hard. How many people had he talked to about it when he had been given this plan. First with Clank, of course, which was a long and emotional conversation. His best friend had asked dozens of times if the hero was sure about it, and Ratchet always answered the same way. He'd also talked to his friends, which of course Qwark hadn't been much help, but neither had Skidd or Pete's reassuring words helped in any way. At one point, the lombax thought about asking his ex, but that would have ended in a suicide mission. The latter was Grimroth, and after that conversation the hero had made his decision. He had thought about it for a long time at night until he scraped together his bolts and bought this silver specimen.
Ratchet pulled out the ring and put it in his pocket. The box would be too suspicious, so the hero decided to give it a try. He sprayed perfume on his shirt one last time before stepping out. Rivet was already standing in the living room, already dressed and waiting. She herself had kept her familiar glasses on, but her outfit was different. Ratchet had tried to persuade her to put on a magenta-colored dress for the "old days". He almost lost his tail in the process. Nevertheless, the rebel stood there with something a little more stylish. She had put on a nice pair of pants made of soft fabric, a white shirt on her body and a black leather jacket on top. She had also secretly worked on her eyelashes but without someone noticing her doing it. The orange lombax was amazed. His love could put on anything and she would still look beautiful in his eyes.
He then cleared his throat with a laugh: "Oh, hello beautiful. Do you come here often?"
Rivet turned around and saw her friend leaning against the doorframe. The rebel laughed at this and immediately responded, "Of course. I'm looking for someone who's supposed to be a pretty handsome guy. You probably aren't him."
"That one hurt," they both laughed out loud before the lombaxes came closer and snuggled up to each other. Their loving gazes met before they kissed. It didn't last long as the rebel took a closer look at her male counterpart, "Oh, you DO look really good! You've really dressed up for me." She ran her hands down his shirt before turning her attention to his pants.
But Ratchet immediately kept his distance. Not because he didn't like the gesture, but if Rivet touched the ring, everything would be exposed, "Hey... save that for dessert!"
"Suit yourself, hotshot," Ratchet stuck his arm out, to which the white lombax immediately clutched, and they both strode towards the door, "Clank, we're off then. See you tonight!" The two robots Clank and Kit sat comfortably on the sofa before waving after their friends, "Have fun, you two." In seconds, Ratchet and Rivet were no longer in the apartment and the bots giggled before turning their attention back to the TV, "Do you think she'll say yes?"
"I hope so," came from the silver one, who changed the channel.
The weather was more pleasant, so the lombaxes decided to walk to the restaurant. There was little going on in the streets as it was the middle of the working week, so the two furballs had an easier time getting through the crowds. "I hope this place is as good as you say it is," Rivet said at the male lombax, who couldn't help but smile, "It's great! Everyone who's ever been on a date has been there. I know the place well." The rebel continued to walk along the sidewalk with her friend before they both arrived at a market. It had some goods outside, such as flowers and fruit.
Ratchet immediately stopped and spoke to the merchant. Rivet didn't know what he was going to do, but then the lombax pulled out a small rose. "Here, this is for you," in a gentle voice he handed the flower to the female lombax, who immediately blushed, "Ratch...I am...thank you." The hero then kissed her on the cheek before continuing on his way. However, the sound of falling apples caught his attention. Next to the couple was an old woman in a gray robe who had dropped her groceries and was trying to pick them up. The lady leaned on her walking stick, but the effort of bending down hurt as she reached for the first apple. Before the elderly lady knew it, another hand reached out and picked up all her shopping again. Ratchet put the things back in her bag, zipped them up tightly and handed them back to the woman, "Here you go, everything as good as new."
"...Thank you..." came quietly from the old woman before she continued on her way to the boats in the parking lot with her walking stick.
"Ratchet, do you know that woman," asked Rivet as she looked after the old lady, a little worried. "Not exactly," came from the orange one, "I often see her shopping here. Nobody knows where she comes from, but she always has the same sad look on her face... I feel really sorry for her."
"Maybe her husband died," the two lombaxes went on with this theory. There wasn't long to go now, and Ratchet wanted to finally get there in time for his moment to come.
"What was wrong with her eye," Rivet whispered to herself before focusing on her date again.
After a few minutes, the two lombaxes were seated at a nice table near the window. The view was plain, and you could see the street with the hover ships, but nothing more. "I have to say, it looks really good here," Rivet wasn't usually so into these fancy restaurants for the rich, but she liked this place. The food she had gotten was also wonderful, even if it was expensive, "Ratch, I know you like doing this, but it's really expensive. Why don't we..."
"Rivet...honey, it's all on me, I want it this way," the orange one raised his hands before the rebel suggested paying together, "I guess I can't change your mind on that one, hotshot."
They both laughed again before continuing with the meal. They had each been given a fresh steak, which came from a Grunthor, as well as the fried potatoes and the wine they drank with it. "Not Zurkie's drop, but it's still good," Ratchet said in surprise. Rivet usually made these comments, but hearing that her boyfriend was making the move this time gave her an amused grin. Ratchet swallowed the last bite, took a big gulp and then placed his hand on her mechanical one. He wanted to show her that the hero loved his white girlfriend, with or without a metal arm.
"Rivet...we've known each other for a long time now," he suddenly began. The rebel raised her eyebrow questioningly, "R-Ratchet... have you done something wrong?"
"No, of course not," laughed the orange one, which made Rivet laugh too. "No...Rivet. I remember the first time I told you how I felt about you," the hero continued, while the rebel listened attentively, "We had a great evening, and...that was our first date. I'll be honest, I had a total of two steady relationships before we met...but I can't compare that to what you and I have."
The white lombax blushed again. Ratchet, on the other hand, felt a great deal of anxiety as he resumed, "You've filled a void I didn't think existed. You are my everything. I'll say it again: it's not because you're another lombax...I'd love you even if you were a robot or a raccoon." They both laughed again briefly before the hero continued resolutely, "Your personality...your nature and your character is what I love about you. I never thought I'd meet someone like you...and that's why." He was already putting one hand on his pocket, but he was still sitting on the chair.
But then his wine glass suddenly shook.
"Ratchet, do you hear that," As much as the orange one didn't want to respond, there was a sudden quake. The guests also looked around before the glasses all vibrated and the sound of large stomps could be heard. Fear slowly spread among the civilians before something large flew into the window. "LOOK OUT," Ratchet and Rivet immediately jumped for cover as a hover car was thrown through the windows. The aliens ran away in panic as loud footsteps were heard. A large combat robot, pitch black and adorned with thick armor, stomped its way through the street, terrifying the civilians. The lombaxes looked after the thing, which had its red visor pointed at them and suddenly placed its fists proudly on its iron hips.
Ratchet squinted his eyes in annoyance, "Please not him, please not him, please not..."
"HELLO, MEGALOPOLIS!"
And then the loud, scratchy voice rang out. The robot opened the armor that hid a cockpit and showed the pilot. Dr. Nefarious controlled the machine with his claws and his loud laughter came through the volume, "Ah, Ratchet and Clank! Wait, just Ratchet and...what's your name again?" He looked questioningly at Rivet, who just growled angrily, "YOU? The guy who almost destroyed my dimension!" The orange lombax quickly restrained his girlfriend as he turned his attention to his nemesis, "What do you want, Nefarious? I thought you were retired for good by now."
"And that's exactly what I wanted you to think," the robot doctor's words made no sense to the two hairy aliens, but the robot with the green head continued, "Now I'm making my move! Who needs a dimension with a stupid counterpart that has mistreated you..."
"You sound like you had a break-up with my Nefarious," Rivet said cheekily, and Ratchet grinned. Nefarious, however, was once again boiling with rage, "THAT DOESN'T MATTER NOW! I have a new plan, and I'm back. As you can see: BACK IN BLACK, BABY...that's why I don't have time for you, Ratchet, or you, Ruwit. See you later!"
"It's Rivet," before the doctor even heard that, the armor closed and the foot of the battle bot kicked at the two heroes. Nefarious turned his machine around and ran along the road, on his way to his true destination, "Farewell, losers!" Only the laughter could be heard by both of them before they got back on their feet: "He's running towards...the museum?"
"Then we'll have to catch up with him," Rivet found a hover bike that was standing open and then suddenly jerked out her blaster: "I knew it wasn't packed for nothing."
"Unfortunately, so did I," Ratchet also had his blaster with him before he climbed in behind his loved one and they followed Dr. Nefarious.
The museum staff ran away in panic as the giant robot approached the entrance and knocked the units down, "GET OUT OF HER WAY, SQUISHIES!" The black bot, controlled by Nefarious, broke open the gate and stepped inside the large museum. The visitors ran away in panic as the robot came at them, nearly crushing the people. "No...no...that's not it either," the armor again showed the cockpit where the doctor sat holding the wheel. He was looking for something specific, which he even had a note on, "Liquid phase quartz...hardened...this thing must be somewhere!" Dr. Nefarious looked around until he came to the antiquities department. There, in a display case, was a cylindrical, dried phase quartz stone that was not being guarded by anyone, as the staff had already fled.
"Ah, exactly as described," the doctor steered his machine towards it and stared at his target with wide eyes. "Oh, the research was worth it! Now you're mine," the large hand of his battlebot placed itself on the glass to throw it away. A small pull was made and the doctor opened his cockpit. He carefully picked up the stone and cuddled it to himself, laughing, "HE'S MINE! I'VE GOT HIM, I'VE GOT THE PO..."
Before his sentence was finished, something banged against the back of his machine.
The hoverbike rammed into the robot, causing the doctor to scream and close the cockpit. Ratchet and Rivet had reached Nefarious and stood with their blasters pointed at the villain, who stood up again, "Not another step Nefarious!"
"Put the stone back," ordered the rebel, but the doctor didn't even think about it, "Over my dead body, you rodents! You want that pretty little stone, COME AND GET IT!" The battlebot was again controlled by the Doctor and lasers came out of the fists. The Lombaxes dodged the attacks before taking cover behind a wall.
"Have you seen the weak spot yet," Ratchet suddenly asked as he heard the footsteps coming closer. The rebel nodded her head, "He's got a clear angle when he raises his arms. If we shoot at it, we'll take them out!" They both nodded and shrugged their blasters out again, "Ready?" Rivet placed a small kiss on the hero's cheek before they both smiled again, "READY!" The duo stormed out, drawing attention to themselves. Dr. Nefarious now shot his lasers at the little aliens again, who were just waiting for it, "Come here! I'll destroy you both!" The plasma was fired by Ratchet and Rivet, hitting its target directly.
The black battlebot's arms jerked up.
"Nice shot, honey," came from the orange one, before Nefarious' scream ruined the moment, "What did you do? MY ROBOT!" The arms then exploded off, sending the machine to the ground and onto its back. Rivet seized the opportunity, jerked out her hammer and rammed it against the head of the controlled robot, whose systems then failed. The doctor lay trapped in his cockpit and saw the lombaxes climb onto the glass, "Nefarious, it can go the easy way, or the hard way! Give me the stone!" The doctor looked at the phase quartz stone in defeat before his gaze became more diabolical than ever, "I still have an ace up my sleeve!" The doctor hit a red button, which briefly shot out air and blew the heroes away. The cockpit rose into the sky like an escape pod and flew away at breakneck speed, "HAHAHA, I'VE WON! HE'S MINE!"
Ratchet helped Rivet back up, who knocked the dust off herself, "Damn, he got away!" Ratchet also had an annoyed but disappointed look on his face, "I shouldn't have beaten around the bush."
"Hey, we'll get him," the white lombax put her hand on his shoulder. Only her reassuring look managed to put the hero in orange back in a better mood, whereupon he kissed her hand, "Let's check for injured people and then talk to the owner of the museum."
"Good idea," and so the pair set off to help the aliens.
