Scarstu Debris Field... (Y/n's POV)

After some time, we finally made it to the debris field Rivet said Zurkie's was located. However, we weren't there just yet. Probably a few more minutes.

Rivet looks back at Clank who was rather silent.

Rivet: "What's on your mind?"

The small robot doesn't answer.

Rivet: "Come on, let's hear it."

Y/n: "What's wrong, pal?"

Clank: "... I am... feeling a bit responsible for all of this. Perhaps it is because of me me the dimensions are falling apart, that Ratchet and I are lost, and that you are stuck here, Y/n."

Rivet: "Oh... Yeah. Well... hey, your communicator's about to get fixed, so that's... something."

Clank: "Right..."

Clank didn't seem reassured by Rivet's attempt to help. So I only smiled at him.

Y/n: "It's okay, Bolts. It's not your fault. It's Nefarious' for stealing your Dimensionator and causing this mess. So don't worry, we'll fix this soon enough."

Clank seemed to smile at my words.

Clank: "That... helps a bit. Thank you."

Y/n: "No problemo."

I turn back to face the cockpit window, satisfied that Clank was at least a bit more reassured. However, I caught Rivet looking at me in the corner of my eye. I didn't say anything, however, but she began to speak up.

Rivet: "Hey, Y/n?"

Y/n: "Yeah?"

Rivet: "Can I ask you something?"

Y/n: "Shoot."

Rivet goes to open her mouth, but she hesitates. She soon asks me her question, however.

Rivet: "How did you get your cybernetics? Like, were they injured like mine and you had them replaced, or...?"

I hesitate to answer this and use my gloved hand to hold my robotic arm.

Rivet: "I mean, you don't have to tell me of course. That's your business, not mine."

Y/n: "Nah, it's fine. Just... been a bit since I thought about it."

Rivet looks at me and nods. I take this to explain why I look like the way I do.

Y/n: "It was a freak accident. I was just a young boy back then, no older than six. My father was a scientist back then before he..."

I trail off before continuing.

Y/n: "He was experimenting with the idea of turning biomatter into living metal. He made something he called the Metal Virus, but it was only a prototype. And there was an accident in the lab... I was caught in it."

I wince as I remember the pain of the explosion that sent me crashing into the wall. The agonizing pain of my body slowly turning into metal... It was fucking painful as a child.

Y/n: "My father did all he could do to stop the spreading of the Metal Virus through my body with the technology he had, but it never did. It only slowed it down, and I would've ended up as a metal statue sooner or later. However, my dad made this device and surgically placed it in my brain that sends an electric current through my body that controls the metal."

I tap my temple a few times with my metal finger. I then sigh and lower my arm back down to my side.

Y/n: "It stopped it from spreading, but my father could never get it off. I was seen as a freak by everyone but my sister because of it. I had no one... So I made Byte."

I turn to look back at Byte who was sleeping in his seat. I still remember the first time I activated him and he greeted me. It brought a smile to my face.

Y/n: "He was by my side when the entire galaxy was against me. He was my family. He's what kept me going."

Clank: "So that is why you acted the way you did back at the Seekerpede."

I nod.

Y/n: "Yeah. I don't know what I would do without him."

Rivet: "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. No one should."

Rivet places a hand on my leg to comfort me, and I couldn't help but smile at her. She was so nice. I'm nothing like her.

Y/n: "Yeah. But..."

Rivet: "What? What is it?"

I stop to think. Should I tell her about Amelia? And what I did to her?

No, I shouldn't. Rivet's the first person I could trust in a while, and I don't want her afraid of me.

Y/n: "It's nothing important. Nevermind."

Rivet stays quiet for a moment before nodding. I knew she wanted to hear more, so I was thankful she didn't pry further.

Clank: "If it means anything, I do not think you are a freak, Y/n. You are a friend of mine."

Rivet: "Yeah... Y-yeah! You're... my friend, too. You're not a freak, or some kind of broken thing. Your cybernetics are just another part of you that gives you more color. They show more shades of you that no one else cares to look at."

Y/n: "Wow... Wise words, sweetheart. Thanks."

Rivet: "You're welcome, Y/n."

I stare at Rivet in her blue orbs, and she stares back my (E/C) orb and my cybernetic. We stay like that for a moment with smiles on our faces, but we snap back to reality when Clank clears his throat.

Y/n: "Oop! There goes gravity."

(Hahaha! I made the joke first!)

Rivet and Clank: "What?"

Y/n: "Nothing. Ignore me."

Rivet: "Riiight..."

Rivet looks back at the cockpit window, and I swear I could see a blush form on her face. I blush a little myself as my tail wags a bit, as does Rivet's.

Clank: "Anyway, are we at 'Zurkie's' yet?"

Rivet: "Yep. We're right here."

I turn to look out the cockpit to see some kind of building in the middle of some asteroids. However, I take notice of the rifts that appear and dissappear nearby. They were bigger here than on Sargasso, which worried me a bit.

Rivet: "Say hello to Zurkie's."

The ship soon lands as I wake Byte up and the cockpit opens. Rivet grabs Clank and puts him on her back and I do the same with Byte. We jump out of the ship as I put on my armor, which Rivet giggles at.

Y/n: "What?"

Rivet: "What're you wearing?

Y/n: "My armor. I thought it looked cool, and I haven't worn it in a while. What do you think?"

Clank: "You look like a pirate."

Y/n: "That's the point."

Rivet: "At least take the helmet off. You don't need it."

I roll my eyes and deactivate my helmet. Rivet nods at this and walks forward with me right behind her.

Rivet: "So this is Zurkie's Gastropub and Battleplex. If there's anywhere in the universe we'll find a part to fix Clank and Byte, it's here."

Clank: "I hope you are right."

Byte barks in response as we draw closer to Zurkie's. Then we enter in which was thriugh some kind of rift, for some reason, and went down a hallway. Clank speaks up.

Clank: "The destruction of the Dimensionator seems to have caused some sort of... cataclysm."

Y/n: "Dimensional cataclysm? That doesn't sound good."

Clank: "It isn't. If I cannot find Ratchet..."

Rivet: "Don't worry, Bolts. I'll get you fixed up. Promise."

Clank smiles at this and I speak up as I look around.

Y/n: "So what is this place exactly?"

Rivet: "It's basically a safe haven for the Resistance. I hope the Emperor didn't find that out, too."

Y/n: "Highly doubtful. With how long he's probably been running the show and with how long this place has been up and running witn you guys, he'll probably never know it exists."

Rivet: "Hopefully. You have any safe havens you go to in your dimension?"

Y/n: "Uh, yeah. It's, and I know it's gonna sound stupid, The Bar With No Name. My pal, Pietro, runs it."

Rivet: "Really? The Bar With No Name?"

Y/n: "Yep. The place is down low, too, and only criminals, bandits, rogues, and bounty hunters know of its existence. To everybody else, it might as well be nonexistent. It became my home away from home."

Rivet: "I guess we all need something like that, don't we?"

I couldn't help but agree as we step through some kind of doorway. All of Rivet's weapons suddenly appear behind a counter as a robot greets us.

Receptionist: "Welcome to Zurkie's, your newly Intradimensional Gastropub and Battleplex. I will take your coat and also all your weapons!"

Rivet: "I'm never gonna get used to that."

Y/n: "What? No bar fights? That's the best thing about bars!"

Rivet: "Suck it up, charmer."

I roll my eyes as Rivet giggles a bit. We then enter into the main area of the gastropub, and it was lot more lively than the bar in my dimension. It actually had its own DJ, too, and not just some system playing a playlist on shuffle.

Y/n: "Nice place."

Rivet: "It's not too bad. Now come on. Zurkie's usually behind the bar. He'll know where to find the pirate with the spare parts."

I nod and follow my fellow Lombax through the gastropub. Tons of people from different alien races were there dancing or just hanging out with a meal. It was nice to see it all.

Ooh! That's a fancy looking necklace! I'll have to pocket that later.

Me and Rivet make it to the bar and she sits Clank next to a sheep while Byte just falls from my back. He then jumps onto the bar counter as the sheep burps, disgusting Clank. Rivet then waves Zurkie over, who turned out to be a robot.

Zurkie: "Namesta, and peace be with you, Rivet. As to you as well, friend."

He said that part towards me, and I repay the greeting in kind with a small bow.

Y/n: "Namesta to you as well."

Rivet: "So, Zurkie! Have you seen our favorite first mate anywhere? I need a signal booster and a voice box."

Out of nowhere, a tall blue pirate robot appears and startles me and Rivet. She nearly falls backwards, but I catch her and keep her steady.

Robot Pirate Captain: "Well, well, well! We meet again, my wee cherie."

Is that... a French accent?

Rivet: "I know you have the parts we need. Give 'em."

Robot Pirate Captain: "Did you follow me here? Another fruitless effort to win my affection?"

Yep. And it's a fake one, too. Already wanna scrap him and sell him for parts.

Rivet: "Give me the parts, Pierre."

I turn to Rivet and see the tight smile on her face. Yep. She was getting impatient, and so was I.

Wait a minute... why does this "Pierre" look familiar?

Pierre: "Time and again, I tell you my heart is taken, and yet--"

Wait a minute... I do recognize him!

Y/n: "Pietro?"

Peitro was my weapons dealer and info broker back in my dimension, and he ran The Bar With No Name. He was also the apprentice of the Ms. Zurkon of my dimension before she... died. So he took the head of her services and kept her business going in her name. She was a like a mother to me, and Pietro like a cool uncle.

Pierre: "Pietro? Who is 'Pietro'? I am Pierre Le Fer, pirate extradinaire! And who might you be, hm, Lombax? Rivet's little boyfriend?"

Rivet groans in frustration at this. She's probably tired of hearing that from everyone.

Y/n: "Psh. I wish. Name's Y/n L/n, thief extraordinaire."

I emphasize my title by lifting up my hand to show the hat that was once on Pierre's head. He grabs for it, thinking it was still on his head. He scowls and snatches the hat from me and places it back on his head.

Pierre: "You have no manners, do you?"

Rivet: "Here, how about we fight for the parts?"

This catches Pierre's crew's attention, and makes me smile. I always love a good brawl. However, Zurkie had different plans. He hovers out from behind the bar and in-between me and the pirate captain.

Zurkie: "Zurkie's is a violence-free zone. Take it outside."

He points over at a screen that turns green, and I assume it was used for the "battleplex" Rivet mentioned. I smirk as I crack my knuckles, laughing menacingly towards Pierre. He freezes at the sound, but corrects himself.

Pierre: "I am more lover than a fighter." *to Rivet* "But for you, I will always make an exception."

He flips a bolt into the air and catches it before leaving. Rivet turns to Clank with a smile.

Rivet: "Ready to kick some robobutt?"

Y/n: "Fuck yeah, I am!"

Byte barks in excitement for this as well.

Clank: "I have many issues with that question... but why not?"

Y/n: "That's the spirit!"

Rivet laughs as she takes Clank and I take Byte. We put the robots on our back, and I turn to Rivet.

Y/n: "Now where do we sign up?"

Rivet: "There's a computer on the big wall of windows over there. Come on, I'll show you!"

I nod and follow Rivet over to a wall completely made of glass. It overlooks what I assumed to the Battleplex, and I couldn't help but get excited!

Y/n: "You know, I once posed as a gladiator in my dimension to steal the Golden Head of Nefari-Hymn-Tka, a priceless artifact from the ancient times of Nefari-Prime."

Rivet: "Nefari-Prime? Never heard of such a place."

Y/n: "Maybe you haven't discovered it yet. Anyway, let's get signed up."

Rivet nods and accesses the computer. She signs up for the next fight which was against Pierre and his crew, and then she turned to me.

Rivet: "Now you just sign up and--Where'd you get the necklace?"

Y/n: "Hm?"

I look down at my collar to see that I had the necklace that caught my eye earlier around my neck! How'd that get there, I wonder.

Y/n: "Oh. Must've not even realized I slipped it from that patron back there."

Rivet: "Y/n, give it back!"

Y/n: "NEVER! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

Laughing like a Gremlin from Gremalia, I run from Rivet who chased after me all around the gastropub.

Timeskip...

After convincing Rivet to let me keep the necklace that I "collected", I signed up with Rivet for the Battleplex. We were then suddenly dropped from where we stood and into the Battleplex where Pierre was, standing on a platform which hovered above ground. Then a higher pitched voice speaks up, making me turn to see a smaller version of Zurkie, but he only had one eye. He must be the announcer.

Zurkon Jr.: "Welcome, my friends, to Zurkon Junior's Slaughterplex! Are you ready to witness the excitement, the pain, the carnage?!"

The crowd roars in anticipation and excitement, making me smile.

Y/n: "He always like this?"

Rivet: "Only all the time. Pretty sure he has a screw loose."

I chuckle at the joke and Rivet smiles as she blushes.

Zurkon Jr.: "Tonight! Fiend favorite Rivet will fight the thieving, traitorous pirates! But she's not alone! By her side is the newcomer, The Legendary Y/n L/n!"

The crowd roars and Rivet looks at me.

Rivet: "Really? That's what you signed up as?"

Y/n: "What? Had to get them to know how magnificent I am one way or another."

Rivet rolls her eyes in amusement and laughs before the sound of a rift catches our attention. We turn to see Pierre's crew jumping out of rifts and running at us. I look to Rivet who pulled out The Enforcer, and I smile as I take out my new Negatron Collider.

Zurkon Jr.: "Countless enter, only one leaves! Who will it be?!"

Y/n: "Byte, play my song. And put it on speaker."

Byte barks as I flip down my sunglasses. Byte then opens his mouth, and Bad by Michael Jackson begins playing from him.

I begin bobbing my head to the music, confusing the pirates along with Rivet and Clank.

Rivet: "What in the world are you doing? Are you playing music?"

Y/n: "Yep! Time to party!"

I smirk and turn to the pirates, opening fire with my Negtron Collider which blasts a few back. I hear Rivet's laughter before gunshots, meaning that Rivet was shooting The Enforcer at the robot crew as well.

Clank: "Oh dear... Why must every dimension have a dangerous battle arena?"

Y/n: "Because they're awesome!"

I declare as I finish off the last of pirates, finishing the first wave.

Y/n: "Who's bad?"

I smirk as Pierre speaks up.

Pierre: "I would fight you both myself, but first you must prove you are worthy!"

The second wave begins as more rifts open up, spilling out robotic pirates. Clank seems to finally notice this as me and Rivet open fire, with me now using my assault rifle.

Clank: "The pirates... are coming through rifts?!"

Rivet: "Gotta admire them for always finding a new way to cheat!"

Pierre: "Ah, yes, uhh... tearing through the fabric of space-time, a true pirate signature!"

I roll my eyes as Rivet switches to her Mr. Fungi and attacks with it. I switch to my Omni-Tool after taking out a few more pirates and turn it into an Omni-Hammer. I swing at some nearby pirates, sending flying back as they get turned into scrap metal and spare bolts.

Y/n: "Good thing we can even out the playing field!"

Rivet: "Right!"

I open a portal behind Rivet and she falls backwards into it. She then exits another from above in the air and takes out her own Omni-Hammer. She spins it around before slamming it into the ground, sending the remainder of the pirates into scrap metal, so ending wave three.

Y/n: "You're a natural at this!"

Rivet: "Hey, I fight here on occasion!"

I laugh as the third wave begins and more rifts appear. Smaller robots with blades for hands appear from them, obviously meant for closer combat.

Pierre: "As amusing as this is to watch... FIRE, MY MATES, FIRE!!"

I spin my Omni-Hammer around and charges forward with Rivet. We begin swinging at the robots and countering their attacks with ease. We smash through their ranks as I sing along with the lyrics to Bad. I even attack on beat sometimes.

Y/n: "You know I'm bad!"

*CRASH!*

Y/n: "I'm bad!"

*SLAM!*

Y/n: "Shamone! Ya know it!"

More bots get sent flying as I slide forward on my knees to duck under a blade while Bad continues to play.

Y/n: "And the whole world has to answer right now to tell you once again--"

I slam my hammer into the robot, destroying it. I spin my weapon around before passing with it, ending the wave.

Y/n: "Who's bad?"

Pierre: "This is embarrassing! If I were fighting we would have won by now!"

Rivet laughs as the fourth wave begins. More small robots with blade arms charge from more appearing rifts. I switch from my Omni-Tool to my dual pistols as Rivet switches to her Negatron Collider. We begin taking the robots down, but they were soon joined by the regular pirates again who split me and Rivet up. She was taking on the smaller robots while I took on the pirates.

The next few waves were easily a piece of cake. Me and Rivet tore through the pirate crew like hot knives through butter, making Pierre angrier and angrier with every loss he took. I was kinda upset that Bad had finished faster than I thought it would, but Byte was thankfully still playing Michael Jackson, so that was a plus.

Soon all of the waves were taken care of, and Rivet and I walked to the middle of the arena with smiles on our faces. The crowd was going crazy, and I couldn't help what I did next.

Y/n: "Are you not entertained?!"

God, I love Earth culture.

Rivet: "You're hilarious, you know that?"

Y/n: "Aw, you know you love me."

I see Rivet blush at this and I couldn't help but smile as she giggles. Pierre then comes floating between us as he held his ankle in pain.

Pierre: "Sacrebleu! I have sprained my ankle!"

Me and Rivet look at each other in amusement as Pierre passes us. We both knew he was playing the fucking coward and didn't want to fight us.

Pierre: "But have no fear, my less attractive stunt double will battle in my stead!"

He suddenly stands back up, his obviously pain-free ankle not showing any injury as he calls for a François. A giant rift then opened in the sky and a giant robot half the size of a Grunthor fell through. It lands on the arena, making it shake from the force.

Zurkon: "AHOOHAA! THE WEAK AND PITIFUL PIERRE HAS TAGGED IN HIS PARTNER WHO IS BUILT FOR CRUSHING!"

Pierre: "Pitiful?! I am hurt! It is a, uh... an honorable discharge!"

Y/n: "Whatever you say! Byte, play Smooth Criminal."

Byte barks in response and my song choice begins to play.

Me and Rivet roll out of the way as bombs get shot at us. I switch to my Shatterbombs and fling them at François who tanks them, but stumbles back still. Rivet opens fire with The Enforcer which catches the giant robot off-guard.

Clank: "François seems to be, uh... large."

Y/n: "Nothing we can't deal with!"

Rivet: "Why am I not surprised that Pierre's running from a fight? But it doesn't matter. We're getting that signal booster and voice box."

I laugh as I switch to my shotgun and aim at François' chest. He roars in pain and anger and swings at me which I dodge with a portal. Rivet then switches to her own Negatron Collider and fires at the robot, angering him even more.

Rivet: "You're gonna need a new partner, Pierre!"

Pierre: "Ha! Just because he is being horrible beaten does not mean you will win!"

François: "I can take it!"

A bomb hits his head which was thrown by me. He fires more explosives at me which I portal away to avoid them. I appear next to Rivet with a plan.

Y/n: "He's close to falling, I can feel it. Now, you take the low and I'll take the high. Alright?"

Rivet: "On it!"

I smirk as I run towards François with my Omni-Tool turned into an Omni-Screwdriver. I slide under the robot's swinging arm and Rivet throws some Shatterbombs at him. I then jump and run up François' back as I stab into him, making a large gash run up his back which makes him yell in pain. Rivet then swaps her Shatterbombs for The Enforcer as I put away my Omni-Tool and take out my knives.

Y/n: "Annie, are you okay? Annie, are you okay?"

Pierre: "Hahaha! He is fine! No one be concerned! Right, François?"

Said giant robot screams out in pain as I stab my knives into the crooks of his neck. Sparks fly from the attack as wires are cut and gears are broken.

Y/n: "Are you okay, Annie?"

Pierre: "François?!"

Rivet: "We almost got him, Y/n!"

Y/n: "Damn right!"

I laugh as I rapidly pull out and jab the knives back in a few more times. Then I stab the sides of his head and turn it towards Rivet.

Y/n: "FIRE!"

Rivet nods and switches to her Burst Pistol. With a single pull of the trigger, a bullet goes right through François' head, killing him on the spot. He falls to the ground limp and I front flip off of his back and next to Rivet. She offers me a fist bump which I kindly accept.

Y/n and Rivet: "Pound it!"

We both laugh as Clank congratulates us and Byte barks happily. My music stops and Zurkon Jr. speaks.

Zurkon Jr.: "What in the who now?! Rivet and Y/n emerge victorious from the ravages of battle! Cheer, friends! Cheer!"

The crowd in the stands roar and cheer, shouting our names. Rivet smiles as she poses with her Omni-Hammer and I just cross my arms. Pierre floats over to us.

Pierre: "A... defeat?! But how?! Eventually and dramatically I will get my revenge! But here, take your parts."

Reaching into his pockets, the pirate tosses a signal booster and voice box to us. I catch the voice box and Rivet catches the signal booster. I smirk and look at Rivet who turns to me. Then I kiss her on the cheek, taking the Lombax girl by surprise.

Rivet: "Huh?!"

Y/n: "Come on! We got some bots to fix!"

I say as I make my way back inside the gastropub. It took a moment, but Rivet nods as she follows me.

(Rivet's POV)

I held my cheek where Y/n kissed me as my heart raced. I couldn't believe it! He actually kissed me! But only on the cheek...

Wait, why am I so disappointed about that? Do I... actually like Y/n?

No. No way! I can't! He's a criminal, and he'll be going back to his dimension anyway after we stop this dimensional cataclysm. Even if I admitted it, we could never be together.

But why is my heart still racing? It shouldn't.

It shouldn't...

Right?