"I have the flight coordinates Miss Cross." Clank declared as he entered the back of the ship.

"Great, if you could just upload those to the ships built in navigating system that would be super." Angela was getting Ratchet a place ready to rest for while they were moving. They had woken him up so he could walk out to the ship and he had been uncharacteristically slow on his way out, but it was no surprise really. He was standing behind her, up against the wall and was almost out of it again, he was having a hard time trying to stay awake.

"Sorry there's not much room in here Ratchet." Talwyn apologised. She wished they could have taken the bigger ship- the one Ratchet and Clank crashed but obviously that wasn't really an option. This ship was only meant to carry two people in the cockpit, and only had one bed in the back. One bed was all they needed right now anyway. Tal and Angela had sleeping bags packed.

Ratchet didn't reply to Talwyn's comment, he was focused on staying upright, leaning against the wall until the bed was ready.

Angela finished making the bed and stepped back to allow space. "There, done. You can lie down now Ratchet."

The Lombax stood up from the wall and walked unsteadily towards the bed. He wondered how he could possibly be this tired?! Angela had said surgery just takes all the energy out of you. She had apologised a few times for wanting him to make the trip so soon after the BPP but he felt like he was supposed to be stronger than that anyway.

"Thanks..." He muttered as he lay down, his eyelids involuntarily closing down over his eyes as he did so. He shuffled around a little, trying to stay off his wounds before dropping right off.

"Asleep before his head hit the pillow." Angela muttered to herself feeling guilty for making him walk all the way out to the ship right after a BPP.

"We should get moving." Talwyn suggested watching Ratchet in a concerned manner from her place at the end of the bed.

"Right, we should..."

Angela and Talwyn made their way into the cockpit and strapped themselves into their two seats. Talwyn flicked a switch, warming up the ship to get it ready to fly.

"Where are you going to go Clank?" Angela asked as she turned to face the little robot who was currently without a seat.

"If you no longer require my assistance, I believe I will head into the back room to watch over Ratchet."

"I think we're all set Clank." She smiled. "You're good to go."

Clank nodded in thanks and disappeared through the door.

The rumbling of the ships engine became a little louder as Talwyn began to take off. Angela drew her attention to the sudden momentum, almost having forgotten what it was like to be inside a moving spacecraft. It had been so long...

The ship rose slowly into the air and eventually out of the atmosphere. Angela looked out the side window admiring the view, but as she watched the planet slowly shrink out of sight, she felt a bit strange leaving after being there for so long. She knew she would miss it soon, and be regretting not saying goodbye to anyone but Tine before she left. It was strange feeling nothing but knowing it would eventually sink in.

Talwyn checked the navigation system to insure she was going the right way. They would have to make the jump to light speed to get anywhere near the planet Lecorm, but of course doing such a thing was a precise operation. Should she lean even a few metres too far in any direction it could dramatically alter which place they ended up in. "Get ready." She warned when she finally felt she'd gotten it right.

Angela braced herself, and without a seconds more warning, the ship jumped to an alarming speed. She felt almost like she was going to vomit for a second but it faded after they slowed down a bit. They had only been traveling at light speed for about ten seconds, what was wrong? Lecorm wasn't in the same solar system as them.

"Talwyn..?"

"Asteroid field up ahead. A bad one." The Markazian answered in a frustrated tone.

"Are we going to go around it?"

Talwyn leaned forward and fiddled with the built in navigator, frowning as she did so. "I don't think there is a way around... Not one that won't take at least a few days to bypass..."

"You're kidding right?"

"I'm not happy either, we take the three day route or we go through."

"Maybe we should play this safe..." Angela suggested. "If we crash or damage the ship it could be the end of us all the way out here." The inhabitants of iiculum the planet they came from didn't fly ships, if they got stranded it would take forever for someone to reach them.

A three day detour seemed a little unpleasant to Talwyn. Having a sick injured Lombax in the back was a pretty good reason she felt, for wanting to take the shortcut. They didn't have a lot of supplies with them due to lack of room, and she didn't feel like starving her friends or going hungry herself either. "I'm an experienced pilot." She started.

Angela grimaced but she didn't say anything.

"We don't have enough food on board to be taking the long way around. It's still a fair way to Lecorm after this and I don't want to take the chance on running out of supplies because we haven't come across a single rest stop in this galaxy. 

"I understand that. Maybe we should have just stocked the ship until we couldn't move..." Angela studied the screen of the navigation system, and pointed at is as she spoke again. "This is a class four asteroid field, five being the worst there is. Are you really sure you can handle that?"

"I've navigated asteroid fields before and survived..." Talwyn bit her lip, a little unsure about taking on a class four but there really was no other option. "This could get pretty rough but she's a tough old ship this one. I'm just gonna go for it." She decided, continuing to fly towards it. It was almost too late to safely turn around. "Hold on tight."

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Clank was in the back room of the ship watching over Ratchet as promised. The Lombax was lying flat on his back in bed, fast asleep, and Clank had some time to think.

The worry was starting to sink in more. He had never seen his friend in such a state... When he was injured in the past he had always just cracked open a box of Nanotech and recovered. In the back of his mind he was always worried Ratchet would get sick somehow and they would have to search far and wide for someone who could heal him. He had never imagined it happening like this.

What if he kept getting worse? What if they couldn't find a Cure? What if this person they were going to see wasn't there, couldn't help them or just outright refused? Ratchet could die, and while Clank was (mostly) used to the impulsive Lombax risking his life, getting into all kinds of danger, this was really different. He was strong enough to battle enemies but not this sickness. He was relying on them this time, he couldn't do it on his own, he needed them and if they didn't help him he wouldn't get better.

These thoughts weren't helping any– they were scaring him in fact! But this was the only chance he had had to let the info properly set in, and he supposed it had to happen.

Suddenly a huge jolt rang through the ships outer shell, rattling everything inside. Clank who had been standing up, was knocked to the floor. He quickly picked himself up but the ship jerked again and he went down for a second time.

He heard Ratchet shift and groan from his bed and became concerned. What was going on?

Preparing himself, the robot got up again balancing himself properly this time as the ship continued to knock him about. He made his way slowly into the cockpit to ask what was happening, and was met with the sight of thousands of asteroids out the front window ahead of them.

He saw Talwyn was working hard at the steering to keep them safe, though the asteroids were thick.

"What is going on?" Clank asked worriedly while he struggled to keep his balance as the ship rocked, swayed and jerked around. Talwyn ignored him, much too preoccupied to look away.

It was Angela who turned to face him looking a little shaken. "We're in an asteroid field, we couldn't go around." She said. "Is everything okay back there Clank?"

"I believe so... What happened?"

"This is a class four asteroid field... The jolts were caused by Talwyn clipping the ships wing." Angela replied.

"Hey I'm doing my best!" The Markazian retorted sounding agitated.

"Are you quite sure you can handle this?" Clank asked worried.

"I don't know!" Tal shouted back. "Listen just go back to Ratchet and make sure he's doing alright with this. I'll handle the flying." She didn't like yelling at Clank but she needed to concentrate. The asteroids seemed to be getting thicker...

Angela signalled for Clank to go back to his own tasks and try not to worry, so the little robot retreated back through the door to the back.

As he made his way back over to Ratchet, Clank realised he was no longer asleep. His eyes were shut tight, but he was leaning to the side with most of his weight on his right arm. He had his forehead pressed up against the arm he was leaning on, his face was scrunched up and he appeared to be panting. "Are you alright?" He asked but he received no reply.

"Ratchet are you awake?"

The young Lombax lifted his head slightly and opened his eyes, he didn't look at Clank but kept his focus on his arm while he tried to calm his rapid breathing down a bit.

What's wrong?? Clank wondered as he rushed closer to his friend.

"Clank..." He started. "Could you get me a bucket..?"

Clank suddenly realised the motion must have been affecting him badly as he was sick. Had Angela thought to bring a bucket? Clank quickly rushed over to the cupboards to find out. Just as he opened the door however, the ship turned almost all the way to the side and the contents of the cupboard tipped out and crushed him.

At the same time, Ratchet was starting to sweat, and had felt his mouth fill up with saliva he was unable to swallow. Knowing what was going to happen, he attempted to get up to find a more convenient spot but it was too late. His body heaved and his stomach felt like it was ringing itself out for it was near empty. He gagged at the taste of bile while his stomach continued to squeeze itself out in a frustratingly painful manner.

Finally after that, it was over. Ratchet lay back on his pillow with his arm over his forehead, still feeling dizzy and with a headache, panting and just wishing that he wasn't sick.

The ship finally turned upright again and Clank was able to pull himself out from underneath the supplies that had fallen on top of him. At least he had found an empty container for Ratchet.

Clank hurried back over to the bed with the plastic container and saw Ratchet laying on his back with his eyes closed. Then he saw the bile beside him and realised he was too late.

"I am sorry Ratchet..." The robot sighed in his typical apologising tone. "I found you a container for if it happens again." Clank placed the container gently between his pillow and the edge of the bed.

"Thanks Clank..." Ratchet said opening his eyes and feeling guilty for not being able to wait. "Sorry about that."

Clank took a cloth and wiped up what was there. "We will clean the rest up later." The robot turned and glanced at the food, drinks, first aid equipment and other assorted supplies spread all over the floor as he said this.

"What's going on Clank?" Ratchet asked, taking advantage of finally being able to speak without feeling too sick or tired.

"I believe Talwyn is attempting to pilot us through a class four asteroid field."

"What!? Why? How come she doesn't just go around?" Ratchet wanted to ask her himself. He got up off of the bed and headed through the cockpit door, Clank following close behind him.

Ratchet looked through the front windscreen but he didn't see any asteroids. Walking up to Talwyn, he startled the girls by voicing his question. "What's going on out here?"

"Ratchet? What are you doing, are you okay?" Asked Tal.

"Clank's supposed to take care of you, why are you up?" Said Angela.

"I'm fine. I assumed you were having trouble when the ship turned sideways. Also Clank said you were trying to fly us through a class four asteroid field."

"Not anymore." Talwyn said through gritted teeth. "Class four quickly turned into class five. Completely impenetrable"

"We're going around." Angela sighed sounding somehow disappointed and yet relieved.

"Why were you doing that in the first place?" Ratchet asked a little shocked that Tal had tried to go straight through.

"Because it takes like three days to get around and it's huge! We don't have tons of supplies and we need to get there soon so you won't die!" Talwyn looked like she was about to bang her head against the controls.

"Thanks." Ratchet muttered rolling his eyes at her last comment.

"It'll be fine okay, there's nothing wrong with taking our time when that's the safest option." Angela reassured Talwyn. "We have to respect the time limit not try to cheat it."

"I feel alright now anyway..." Ratchet said though he still felt a little dizzy with a mild headache. It had died off a bit since he threw up, he was starting to think it was like a virus. You just suffer for a few days and then it goes away on its own. That's what it felt like to him right now.

"Perhaps you were merely influenced by the motion of the transport and it was not the result of the Breesh poison at all, and that is why you are in less discomfort than before you vomited."

"Clank!" Ratchet yelled embarrassed.

"Did my flying make you throw up?!" Talwyn asked a little amused but also feeling kind of guilty.

"You should really get back to bed Ratchet..." Angela said getting up out of her seat to escort him back to his bed. From both experiences, when she was in her own home after eating a piece of the poisonous fish, to when she was in hospital recovering from her own small dose of Speed, she had only experienced vomiting as a symptom when it was getting worse - not better. It helped if you had eaten only it but not if the poison had already spread everywhere else.

"I feel okay..." Ratchet replied but he allowed himself to be lead back into the other room.

Angela also happened to know that with the body working so hard to fight the poison and heal, heavy fatigue was a symptom.

She stared wide eyed at the mess of supplies spread out all over the floor instead of in the cupboards where they belonged. She sighed and led her friend back to his bed. She quickly got him settled in and she saw a patch of dried up bile on the mattress but it didn't look like it needed her attention. She noticed he had a container for if it happened again.

Ratchet realised for himself he was suddenly very tired again, and turned over onto his side to get comfortable and pulled the blanket up over himself.

Clank stepped into the room and watched Angela walk away from the bed in which Ratchet was already dozing off.

She went straight over to the many boxes of food and bottles of water spread out on the floor and started to pick them up and put them back in the cupboard. Clank walked over as well to help.

"How are you doing Clank?" The lady Lombax asked as they both got to work.

"Quite well myself thank you Miss Cross, though I am worried."

"We all are. It'll be alright though, we just need to get to Lecorm and we can get this all fixed up." Angela sighed.

"I have been wondering, who is this person that we are going to see?" Clank asked, curious.

"Well, he's a friend of a friend of mine, Max told me about him. He's very good at fixing things."

"What is his name?"

"I'm sure he said he's called Kaden. Max said he was once the Keeper of the Dimensionator, he knew everything about it, so I'm pretty sure he can help."

Clank almost dropped the supplies he was holding. "Is that true Miss Angela?!"

"Yeah, um. I'm still a bit worried- I'm sure it'll be fine! It's just that... Let's say he was wounded in a battle and he lost all of his memories... He's still good at fixing things but we're kind of relying on him recognising the Dimensionator. That's all I'm really worried about."

Clank was shocked into silence but Angela didn't notice.

"It's very sad really..." She continued. "I have never met him because Max didn't want to visit him because of Tachyon. He moved to the Nyyla Galaxy which was too far away for Percival to find out about it, so we left him alone. It's just really sad... Max said he was a good man with a family and he doesn't remember them, they're gone... It's going to be hell reminding him of that if we even can..."

Clank quickly turned his head to Ratchet and was relieved to find he had fallen asleep. What Angela had told him... It wouldn't be easy to break the news to him either.

"Angela, if what you say is true I hope you understand this is going to be very difficult to explain to Ratchet."

"Because we have to get an old Lombaxes memories of a war back to heal him? You don't say."

"There is that..." Clank took the time to think about the rest of his answer. "But mostly because, when Tachyon came for Ratchet–

"Hey wait a second, Tachyon came for me too! That's how I met Max, he saved my life! How did you guys survive?!"

"I- if you'll excuse me but perhaps that's a conversation for another time Miss Cross."

Angela nodded. "Okay... Sorry go on?"

"After Tachyon came for us, Ratchet met another Lombax named Alister. He told Ratchet many things about the Lombaxes, the most interesting at this current moment being that Ratchet's father was Kaen, the Keeper of the Dimensionator."

"Oh my gosh!" Angela breathed. "Kaden... Kaden's his dad?! Orvus that's incredible! If Kaden recognises him he could get his memory back easier and he doesn't have to grieve a lost son! He could be happy instead! He could fix the Dimensionator, he could tell us what happened on Fastoon, we could even see other Lombaxes!"

"Please Miss Angela! Keep your voice down!" Clank said quickly.

"Oh right..." Angela replied glancing at Ratchet to make sure she hadn't woken him.

"I know it is exciting for you but you must listen, we can not lay all this information on neither Ratchet nor Kaden all at once. It will be far too much for them to process in one moment or perhaps even one day."

"I understand, I understand... Sorry Clank it's a bit like that for me too, but I get what you mean." Angela paused to think for a while. "Should we go tell Talwyn?"

"Yes." Clank agreed. "We should tell her when we can be sure she is listening instead of concentrating on something else."

"Now should be a good time, we're out of the asteroid field and we have a long way to go."

"Alright then." Clank said sticking the last water bottle back into place.

Angela reached out and closed the cupboard door. "We've got a lot of time to fill in anyway."

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It's Saturday again! Short week. And over 100 views on this story? Thank you guys! I really appreciate the comments and votes too, when you press that little star you send me happiness XD
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you next week