Clank glanced guiltily at his friend who was sitting on the bed, oblivious as to who they were making this trip to see and for the past four days it had been bothering the little robot. He had been pestering Angela and Talwyn the whole time, reminding them the sooner they told him the better, and he was starting to wish he hadn't let them say 'not yet'.

He wondered if they realised the damage it could do if they left it too long. He wondered if they already had. They were only a few hours away from the next solar system after all, and it might not give his friend a lot of time to think about it before they have to go. He thought he was probably the only one who really knows, but Ratchet was truly a rather sensitive Lombax at heart, and this was exactly the kind of thing that could potentially hurt him the most. Clank wanted to do what was best for him.

From the cockpit he started to hear two female voices speaking aggressively at each other, and he mimicked a sigh. He wished they would stop their bickering. Mostly when they did this it would turn out they were fighting over who got to pilot the ship. This time as well as hearing them argue, he felt the ship's momentum start to slow. That couldn't be good... Getting up from his spot at the recharging station, he decided to go in and check on the girls.

"Hello Miss Apogee and Miss Cross. How are things going?" He greeted as he came through the cockpit door.

"Are you serious Angela?!" Talwyn was saying.

"Come on you knew this was going to happen. We were never gonna get there running on the amount that you packed. It's your ship Tal! We could have got some at Yymorin." Angela said as she pointed toward a gauge on the dash.

"No well... Listen I was stressed out okay?! I wasn't thinking about that I was thinking about-

Is everything alright?" Clank interrupted calmly.

Both girls turned to look at Clank and the room fell silent for a few seconds.

"Clank? I... I don't know." Talwyn started.

"Tell him, he could help." Angela sat down and sighed.

"Clank we're out of fuel again..." Talwyn admitted.

"Really? After everything that has happened, how could you forget to get fuel?" Clank asked.

"Okay look I didn't forget, I just didn't think of it... I was worried." She huffed.

"I understand Miss Talwyn. Perhaps we have spare fuel in the back?"

"Used it." Angela butted in.

"You guys were resting, but we actually ran out yesterday... That was our spare fuel we were running on, ugh I'm such an idiot!" Talwyn groaned.

"There is no need to get stressed." Clank assured. "Are we truly out?"

"Yes, I just told you."

"Then we should activate the emergency lazer signal. We are only an odd few hours away from the nearest solar system, so it shouldn't take too much time for the local rescue authorities to reach us."

"Oh thank Orvus for you Clank!" Talwyn said with a relieved smile.

"She's stressed, and I haven't flown a ship for years, you should be the pilot." Angela commented.

Talwyn ignored her and reached for the switch to the distress signal hoping not to accidentally blind anyone. "I wonder how many bolts this is going to end up costing." She sighed.

"Do not worry about that Miss Apogee, Ratchet and I would be glad to pay for the expenses. In the mean time, I think there's a certain talk we need to have with him. I am not pleased you have put it off for so long, but now would be the perfect opportunity to tell him if not the last." Clank mentioned.

"Yeah you're right. We should go tell him now." Talwyn confirmed.

"I agree." Angela nodded.

"I will let him know we are ready." Clank started to go through the door, but Talwyn stopped him.

"No wait, uh do you mind if I do it?" She asked. "I just... I'm going to check on him and see if he's ready."

"He will have to be." Clank sighed. "Because if we do not tell him now, he will be in for a shock."

"Yes, got it. I'll let him know." Talwyn replied before heading out through the cockpit door. She hoped he wouldn't be upset they hadn't told him yet...

-------------------------------------------------

Ratchet was seriously feeling more useless than he ever had. Four miserable days in a row he spent doing nothing but sleeping and the occasional chat with Clank. He had offered a few times to fly the ship, even though they were in the middle of nowhere and the autopilot would do just fine, but Talwyn and Angela had absolutely insisted he rest up instead.

He had more energy than before now, thanks to the drinks that Clank and Angela had gotten for him at Yymorin, but realistically it did nothing to help with the waves of fatigue he was having. It gave him more strength, but it didn't work the same way as food... It did help, but it left him feeling empty. He had been expecting to be feeling a bit better and he wasn't. When it came down to it though, it was there so he could be alive not comfortable.

He sat up on the bed rubbing his eyes before moving his hands to brush his ears back, thinking it wouldn't be too much longer before they got there. Suddenly he felt the ship beginning to slow, and he wondered what could be happening.

He looked up as the cockpit door slid open and Talwyn walked through. "Hey Tal, what's up is there a problem?" He questioned.

"Uh well technically yes, we ran out of fuel but don't worry, we sent out a distress signal. There should be someone here to help us soon enough. How are you feeling?"

"Oh better... Just bored, tired and a little lacking, that is not my best but not my worst. You're probably feeling just about the same?"

"Oh yeah there hasn't been much to do. Me and Angela have fought over who gets to fly the ship a couple times but it won't be long now."

Ratchet laughed. "Ah so that's why you weren't letting me fly!"

"No! It's because you fall asleep in the middle of things!" Tal exclaimed.

"Oh like its gonna make a difference out here anyway, there's nothing around." Ratchet said rolling his eyes.

"Well once someone turns up we'll reaching the solar system quite soon, and that brings us to the conversation that we need to have..."

"What conversation?" Ratchet raised an eyebrow. "Is it about the guy on Lecorm? Because I think if it's as important as you make it out to be you're going to need to tell me soon."

"How would you know that??"

"You guys have been talking about it! I am in the same ship as you, I hear you guys whispering and also Clank won't tell me. He says I have to wait for you because you all want to tell me together."

Talwyn paused. Yes, Clank had come into the cockpit many times asking if they were ready to have a talk with him, but he never mentioned Ratchet knew that much already. Talwyn nodded and opened the cockpit door, poking her head through to call Angela and Clank in.

"So what's so important about this guy, is he some kind of criminal we're gonna need to pound information out of or what?"

"Ratchet please, this is serious." Clank scolded and the Lombax went quiet.

"He is not a criminal and we will certainly not be hurting him. If you will let me begin from the start, he is a Lombax and we need to be careful with him."

"He's a Lombax? Wow Clank, after meeting Alister and now that Angela- you're back- I'm not sure I'm really that surprised. How's he gonna help us?"

"By fixing the Dimensionator..." Talwyn put in, and Clank pulled the broken device out of his compartment to show him.

Ratchet stared at the contraption confused. They were making this awful trip to meet some random Lombax who they assumed was better at him than fixing things? That was a little insulting... "You kept that-? I tried to fix this guys... I couldn't do it, it's busted. What makes you think this guy will know how to do that?"

"We don't know that he will be able to fix it." Clank admitted.

"Great, that's reassuring." Ratchet rolled his eyes but then repositioned himself nervously. He was admittedly feeling rather uneasy. "So uh, how did you know how to find this guy exactly?"

"Ratchet, Tachyon came for me too." Angela started. "I was lucky enough that Talwyn's father Max came to save me. Unfortunately, we had to part ways. He went to another dimension and I ended up all the way out here, but we did get a chance to talk about some things. Max knew this Lombax well. He was one of the few to escape Tachyons attack without being sent to the other dimension."

"But I am afraid that he was however injured, and the trauma caused him to lose a lot of his memories." Clank finished.

"We were hoping to be able to bring them back..." Talwyn added.

Ratchet's mind raced a bit. "Wait just hold up a second so you're saying that we are making this trip to see a Lombax with no real knowledge on what the Dimensionator is, we're expecting him to fix it even after I couldn't, and before he can even do that we have to get back his war memories?! Are you guys insane?"

"Ratchet-"

"No wait there's also the matter of Max, and you guys waiting until now to tell me about all this! How can that even be called a plan?! You just-"

"RATCHET!" Clank shouted. "Please try to keep your head, there is more to it than we have explained."

"What are you waiting for?" He pressed.

"He does know about the Dimensionator Ratchet." Talwyn informed. "In fact he pretty much knows more about it than anyone else."

"That's impossible..." Ratchet tried hard to understand. "Just tell me please, I don't...?"

"It's your dad Ratchet. We're going to see Kaden." Talwyn finished.

Ratchet's eyes widened in shock, his heart beating fast. Admittedly he felt a little hopeful as well, but it was much too soon to be getting his hopes up, and more than that he was upset. "What?! No he's dead, it's impossible!" He insisted though he hoped it wasn't true.

"Please listen Ratchet, we are quite sure it is him." Clank assured.

"Max told me his name was Kaden and that he used to be the Keeper of the Dimensionator." Angela explained. "Tachyon tried to kill him but when people from the surrounding planets came to check for survivors and survey the damage they found him. He had suffered significant head injuries but they managed to save him... We thought if we could show him the Dimensionator or if he met you, it could bring his memory back!"

"Wait I don't understand." Ratchet began, starting to feel sick again. "I just want to kn-

BANG! Something hit the side of the ship and they were almost thrown from their seats.

"What was that?!" Talwyn gasped.

"Perhaps help has arrived?" Clank guessed doubtfully.

Ratchet was pulled so abruptly from the conversation, but he wasn't done. He needed to know if his father was truly alive. He was about to ask again when-

BANG! Something else hit them as they were standing up to check, and they nearly all came crashing to the floor.

"Shit it sounds like someone's attacking us!" Ratchet shouted above the sound of the ship being knocked around, realising they obviously had a more urgent situation on their hands.

"I think you're right..." Angela breathed as they all rushed out into the cockpit to see what was happening. They were met with the sight of a ship coming up next to them, cannons sticking out the sides and a huge skull painted on the side of the ship.

"Oh you're kidding me!" Angela exclaimed.

"Space pirates." Ratchet groaned.

"They must have seen our distress signal." Clank realised.

"Those dogs! Trust a band of space pirates to show up the second they know you're vulnerable. What are we going to do?" Talwyn asked.

"I'll get my weapons." Ratchet decided.

"Ratchet no, you are very ill. You must leave this to us." Clank objected.

"Listen it's not like I don't think you guys can do it, but you will need a hand with this. I can still help. I'm feeling okay right now." Ratchet lied.

"If you fall unconscious or become unable to function they will not hesitate to take advantage of your state. You might be feeling better now, but the sickness will come back and we mustn't take the chance of that happening when you are in combat."

"I'll be fine, I'm not going to fall asleep in the middle of an attack okay, and besides I'll have you with me. You always have my back right?"

BANG! The Pirates blasted them again.

Ratchet retreated into the back room to put his armour on and grab his weapons. He returned a minute later and tossed one to both Angela and Talwyn. "Here Ange you take my Combuster, Tal you can use the Doom Blades. I've got plenty of others with me and it won't hurt you guys to have extras."

"What's the plan?" Talwyn asked.

"They're pulling up alongside us and they've stopped firing. If I had to guess they plan to come aboard. If they do that we'll be cornered in here." Ratchet replied.

"So what do we do?" Angela questioned.

Ratchet thought for a second. "Put your helmets on. I'm going to break into their ship and get them from behind. Clank you can come with me as always, and you two can stay here and defend. We gotta go now to make sure they don't see us." Ratchet instructed as he helped Clank up onto his back.

Clank, Tal and Ange all nodded in agreement and they heard a different kind of thump. They could see the pirates had attached an airlock so they could break into their ship. Then they heard a muffled countdown, and realised a bomb had been planted on the door.

"That's our cue, good luck." Ratchet said.

"You too guys, stay safe." Talwyn replied.

"We will do our best to keep out of harms way." Clank added before Ratchet went up through and closed the hatch.

Ratchet activated his mag boots and located a section of grav pads on the roof of their ship. "Alright now we just have t-

BOOM! Just then the door exploded and the pirates starting trying to board the ship. Angela and Talwyn wouldn't let them get very far.

"Let's get moving." Ratchet said.

"I see some more grav pads on the roof of their ship." Clank observed.

"Alright thanks pal." Ratchet let his mag boots deactivate and he leapt into the air toward the ship before he began to drift helplessly away. As soon as he was close enough, he reactivated the mag boots and he was instantly pulled to land on the roof of the pirate's ship.

"Ooh, I hope that wasn't too loud." He winced.

"There should be an emergency evacuation hatch around somewhere. It may not be easy to get inside, but if this is an older model ship we shouldn't have any worries." Clank informed him.

"Alright uh... There! That looks like one." Ratchet walked up to it and pulled. When it didn't budge, he took out his Omniwrench and he was able to lever it open with ease.

"Looks like these pirates need to update their ship."

"Please be very quiet, if we wish to make it out of here we should try not to draw attention to ourselves." Clank reminded him.

"Got it." Ratchet mumbled as he secured the hatch back in place.

Just then, a pirate rounded the corner and shouted. "Hey! What are you doing there?"

Ratchet quickly turned, pulled the Warmonger out on him and fired. The robot was blasted to pieces before he could even react. "Scrap that, we'd better get moving. Someone would've heard that for sure."

Clank sighed. "Oh Ratchet..."

Ratchet began to run but he wasn't sure where he was going. He just continued on in the knowledge that he would meet up with another pirate at some point. It wasn't long before he ran into a group of them. They all turned and saw him almost right away and immediately began to fire at him, but he acted fast. Pulling out his Pyrociter, he incinerated them before they could do anything else. Then they continued on until they were met with more enemies.

That was the plan. Take out as many pirates as he could from the inside, and it was working well as usual. They continued to obliterate pirate after pirate as they blindly navigated the ship's dark corridors. Clank was growing increasingly worried as Ratchet's pace began to slow, his breathing grew heavier and he was beginning to rely on the little robot every time someone came up behind him. They both continued on like this silently just doing their jobs, until eventually Ratchet had to stop.

The Lombax slowed to an expected halt and stood there, the sound of him breathing hard echoing in the empty hallway.

"Ratchet, are you alright?" Clank asked attempting to take a glance at his friend from where he was, but he was unable to.

"I'm uh... I'm alright I just- I just need to stop for a second." Ratchet panted, leaning forward heavily on his knees.

"I am very worried about you Ratchet, you must tell me what is wrong. If you are feeling sick or tired we will need to retreat to the ship as soon as possible."

Ratchet didn't reply for a minute, he had his hand pressed against his forehead waiting for a sudden wave of nausea to pass. He had been pushing himself he knew, but he had been determined to get his job done. Right now though he was starting to realise this was probably about as far as he could go. He was getting more dizzy, nauseated and tired with every minute he spent doing this. "Actually... I have to admit, I'm exhausted pal... I feel like I have to lay down."

"Then we must hurry and get back to the ship." Clank advised. "You have done enough, and besides Angela and Talwyn are capable. But if you do not get back soon, we could be in a very dangerous situation."

"Alright pal, agreed." Ratchet confirmed a little concerned as he wiped some sweat from his brow. "Which way?"

Clank quickly scanned the ship and was able to get the direction they needed. "We will have to go back to the same hatch." Clank informed him. "There is only one, however the quickest way to get there is not back the way we came. I will let you know which way to go."

"Thanks, which way now?" Ratchet asked as he got ready to move again.

"Left twice at the next two corners."

Ratchet started off once again and went left twice at the next two corners before going straight again. "Alright?"

"Continue on this way."

"Okay..." Ratchet continued on for a minute, beginning to feel worse until a four-way crossroad came up.

"Turn right up ahead."

As instructed, Ratchet turned right at the next turn but they were both shocked to discover a large group of pirates waiting right there for them.

Ratchet was for once caught completely unprepared, and he had no choice but to run as fast as he could back in the other direction as they began shooting at him. The pirates of course gave chase and Ratchet started to panic as he fumbled for a gun.

Blue buzzing bullets began to whiz by as he ran. "Ratchet! Electricity!" Clank called out.

The young Lombax didn't reply, he was trying to find a gun to equip that wasn't out of ammo. He was wishing he hadn't used up all his good weapons, he didn't have much else but Plasma Beasts, Arc Lasher, Nightmare Box, his wrench of course and about ten Fusion Bombs. He decided to use those, so quickly ducking behind a corner to prepare he pulled the Bomb Glove on as fast as he could.

He aimed as carefully as he could in his current state, jumped out from his spot and threw one into the middle of the group of pirates and blew one of them to pieces. He kept on jumping in and out of his hiding place as they shot waves of bullets at him. He was trying to be extra careful with the electric bullets, they were the 'one shot and you drop' types. On top of that- if one hit him it would damage Clank as well- but he could feel himself growing tired, almost like he was going to actually fall asleep then and there.

He didn't fall asleep, but he was no longer focused. He was dizzy and nauseated, and Clank was noticing he wasn't doing very well at dodging anymore.

One more bomb should do it. Ratchet thought and he prepared to jump out into the open once more, but Clank saw there was an enemy coming up the corridor from the other side. "Ratchet wait!" Clank called out but it was too late. Ratchet jumped out right in front of the other pirate, and the little robot had to make the split second decision to detach from his back before he did.

Clank could only stand and watch as in the course of a few seconds, Ratchet made a wrong move, and was shot in the back with a viscous blast of electricity.

The Lombax cried out in surprise and pain, before he came crashing to the ground, where he lay face down not moving or breathing.

A horrifying image of Ratchet being struck in the chest by an electric blast once before, flashed through Clank's mind, causing him to panic. Thoughts of 'No!' And 'Not again!' Struck him like an unseen force. It couldn't be happening again, it just couldn't! There was nothing he could do if Ratchet was dead this time! He would be gone forever and Clank would be helpless to it!

Clank was in a panicked trance, staring at his best friend as he lay unmoving on the ground.

The pirates cheered in victory and started to make their way over, but Clank didn't notice. He was waiting, wide eyed for Ratchet to move.

After what felt like forever he did, the Lombax began to gasp for breath. His eyes were still tightly closed as he wrapped his arms around his stomach, and curled up in pain. "Uuugghh oowww..." He groaned loudly. "Clank..?"

That snapped him out of it. He had to do something, Clank realised. He rushed out to his friend and started to regret abandoning him the waay he did, but in the back of his mind he knew things would be a whole lot worse if he hadn't detached.

The pirates began shouting as they realised they hadn't killed them both, and raised their weapons once more. Thinking quick, Clank stripped the Bomb Glove from Ratchet's hand and put it on his own hand.

He was glad to find that a bomb had appeared Taking quick and careful aim, Clank threw the last three grenades at the enemies in front and the one behind him and the pirates were taken out with a yell, and then all was still.

Now apart from a few piles of now scrap metal, he and Ratchet were alone in the room. "Ratchet?" Clank called desperately. "Ratchet please tell me you're okay!?"

"Clank what- what happened I?" The Lombax gasped.

"I thought you were dead...!" Clank admitted feeling near hysterics.

"I want to meet my dad..." Ratchet uttered, his breathing uneven. He struggled to move, but he found he couldn't get up. The pain from the electric blast was still throbbing mercilessly through him.

"What do you mean?" Clank asked, his heart beginning to ache at seeing Ratchet like this, and for fear of what his friend was trying to say, the guilt of having not told him about Kaden sooner still burning strong underneath that.

"I've always wanted to meet him, ever since I was a kid."

"I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner Ratchet..." Clank apologised sadly.

"It's not that Clank, it hurts..." Ratchet groaned. "I mean it really really hurts I just- I can't move..."

If Clank's heart was racing before that was nothing compared to now. He knew they weren't out of the woods yet, but if Ratchet couldn't move they were in more trouble than he thought.

"We have to get back to the ship Ratchet, if any more pirates come around that corner we will be in a lot of danger." Clank pressed.

"I can't Clank..." He winced sounding tired, defeated.

"Ratchet please get up, I cannot carry you!" Clank panicked.

"I'm about to pass out Clank!" Ratchet shouted.

Clank glanced around quickly searching for a solution. There was nothing left in the corridor except scrap metal and bolts. Looking back down at Ratchet, he noticed he had his eyes closed. Seeing this, Clank leaned forward and put his arms underneath Ratchet's. Preparing himself to attempt to drag Ratchet back to the ship, he began to pull and stretch him out.

Suddenly Ratchet's eyes came shooting open and he cried out as Clank jostled him. Clank quickly let go and jumped back in surprise, hoping he hadn't hurt him badly.

Ratchet gasped and curled in on himself once more in an attempt to get the pain to stop.

Clank's mind raced for a solution but he didn't have one. The one and only thing that would help right now is if Ratchet were able to move.

"Clank, what are you doing?" Ratchet groaned.

"I was trying to help you, I am sorry."

"Don't be Clank, I know you mean well." He sighed.

"I don't know what to do!" Clank continued to panic.

They began to hear footsteps echoing in the corridor.

"Please get up Ratchet! You have to be able to move!"

The sound of shoes pounding on the floor grew louder.

"I'm sorry Clank, I can't do this anymore." Ratchet said giving in. He felt sick, he felt tired. He had no energy left and the blast from the gun was still burning painfully in his back. "Just say hi to dad for me..."

Two figures rounded the corner and started running towards them.

"Clank, just go!"

"I will not leave you Ratchet!" Clank insisted.

"Hey!" A voice shouted from the end of the corridor.

"Guys is that you!?" Another voice called, but it didn't sound like a pirate.

Clank recognised the voice and suddenly his mind began to clear. "Angela?"

"Clank! Ratchet! Are you guys okay?" The other voice called as the two approached them. At last they both stepped into the light and they could see that it was Angela and Talwyn.

"What in Orvus' Great Clock happened here?!" Talwyn exclaimed when she saw Ratchet lying on the ground, his eyes beginning to slide shut.

"Oh my gosh!" Angela gasped when she saw the Lombax's state.

"Is- is he alright?! What happened?" Talwyn demanded.

"He was shot... He had started to feel sick and tired and he was not able to avoid the gunfire..." Clank answered.

"Oh no... We shouldn't have let him go..." Angela brought her hand up to cover her mouth.

"Ratchet hey, wake up." Talwyn said quietly as she kneeled down next to Ratchet. He didn't stir. "But Clank is he okay?" She worried.

"I do not know..." Clank admitted sadly. "But I fear for him, we must get him back to the ship before we are discovered."

"Oh uh, don't worry about that. We took all the pirates out already, that's why we came to find you guys." Angela told him.

"Alright then." Talwyn agreed standing up and inspecting him worriedly. "Let's get him back to the ship."

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Hi! Okay I'm really sorry for not updating this for ages, this chapter is 1'700 words longer than usual so that might make up for it a bit but I haven't read over it o_O Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed it and see you next next chapter :D