----> I really tried to get all three perspectives in this for you all, but it got too long and I had to cut it off. So Ratchet's portion is in Part II.

Enjoy!

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

[Clank]

"Ashby, please get off that crate."

Clank carried a heavy box in his hand to another cargo ship. He had no choice but to do some odd jobs and tasks to earn a few bolts. This trading hub was the perfect opportunity to do things quickly and efficiently.

If the little boy would cooperate.

It was hard to communicate with a child that barely spoke most of the time. Clank didn't know if it was trauma from what Ashby saw, or if he was still wary of Clank himself, but it was quite difficult to get a point across.

...And, being a curious soul, the child got into anything and everything.

Thankfully, the boy decided to listen this time and started following him from behind. Clank sighed in exasperation, Reminding himself that he had to get the kid food soon.

Nonetheless, he arrived at his destination and set the crate down. The pilot thanked him gratefully and gave him his small pay. He nodded back at the man in thanks, He turned to look where the boy was, mentally groaning at the fact that he found another crate to climb on. The pilot looked at the boy fondly, "Is that your kid?" he asked, chuckling as Clank sighed, "No. He is not." he grimaced, "I am just looking out for him."

"I see..." the man mumbled, "Unfortunately, we get a lot of people like that around here with no place to go."

"Yeah...I see that.." he replied. And it was true. The number of people that he saw sitting against buildings or laying on the sidewalks was saddening.

"I believe I might try and find him a place to stay while I am gone. Do you know a place where he could go?"

The man hummed, tapping his chin in thought. "Tell you what, I'll talk with my co-pilot and see if we need an extra hand in cargo. The boy can stay with us, and you may go when you please." He offered, "However, where are you exactly going that makes you leave a kid behind?" The man asked. He didn't sound judgmental, just curious.

"I...I do not know." Clank replied honestly, "All I know is that wherever I go, it will be dangerous."

The pilot nodded, "I see. Well, come back later and I'll tell you if we can take the kid off your hands."

Clank nodded, turning away from the man and beckoning the boy over, "Are you hungry, Ashby?" the boy nodded, "Let's go get you something to eat then."

The boy nodded, clutching his plush bear close as he grabbed Clank's hand awkwardly and looked up at him. He seemed somewhat...afraid? Clank didn't really know at this point. He sighed heavily, before pulling the boy along.

He weaved through the crowd, heading towards the main trading hub, bumping shoulders with some people who stared at him...awkwardly?

He didn't pay attention. He needed to do what he had to to get more information on this war and where the Lombaxes were located.

He also had to find a place for Ashby. His mission was going to be dangerous. He didn't need an innocent child getting caught in the crossfire, after all.

He felt a small tug on his hand after they came out of the crowd. He looked down at the child questioningly, "Yes? Ashby?". The boy looked up at him, "Those people over there look like you!" He whispered out, pointing towards one of the more secluded sections of the hub. Ashby was right,

Those were Lombaxes.

He was about to step forward, but stopped once he realized something. He knew nothing about the Lombaxes here. From what Moira told him a while ago, they weren't involved in helping this war going on. If he was correct, these were the only Lombaxes he has seen so far, none of them walking around. And by looking at where they parked their trading and cargo ship...

They were a reclusive race.

Being who he was, it would be suspicious for him to just walk up like things were normal. They would probably ask why he was here or bring him back to-

Their planet.

He needed to get there.

But then he looked down at the child again, reminding himself that he still had responsibilities. He needed to remember that he needed to prepare, instead of blindly going into things.

"Yeah, they do." He answered, "But let's keep going. We have things to do after all."

The boy huffed, but said nothing to him as they swiftly avoided going anywhere near the other Lombaxes and entered the main hub. Ashby tried to pull away to look at the different stalls but Clank still pulled him along. "Later, Ashby."

The boy stopped tugging. Hopefully this time Clank really meant it. All the older did was work and Ashby was getting tired of it. They were doing this for more than a week! Surely Clank was done? At least he thought so...

He didn't know how to feel about Clank to begin with. Clank was stern yet lenient at the same time. His voice was quite monotonous, but he did his best to sound kind. It sounded close to the warm yet calculating voice of his father...but not at the same time. Clank was younger, but more mature than anyone could imagine.

Clank was mysterious, to Ashby, at least. Even so, he decided to listen to Clank most of the time anyway. He had nowhere else to go anyways....

He set aside his thoughts in favor of taking a meat sandwich from Clank's hand. He looked up at him in question. "What about you?" He asked quietly. Clank had to tilt an ear to hear his soft voice, he just shook his head, "I am alright for now, Ashby." He led the boy over to a nearby bench that was away from the crowd. Hopefully no one would bother them.

"But...I have never seen you eat before..." Ashby thought aloud. Clank looked over to him, but didn't reply. Ashby dropped the subject in favor of eating his food. He looked around in curiosity between bites, kicking his legs out. When he was done, he looked back up at his companion.

"Can we look around now?"

Clank was silent for just a moment, silently debating with himself if they really should go. He then made up his mind when Ashby looked up at him so expectantly, "Sure, Ashby. Just stay close."

The boy nodded, immediately crossing into the crowds to the other side of the market. Clank sighed in frustration. This wasn't the definition of staying close...

He followed the same path the boy took and found him looking through the trading stalls, staring in wonder at the artwork or clothing that people have made. Clank walked up beside him as he looked.

It was a rinse and repeat process, and Clank started tapping his foot in impatience. He said nothing, letting the boy look around to his heart's content for now.

They were at a clothing stall and Clank was debating getting the boy something warmer for the colder weather that seemed to be approaching. He turned around to look at the boy but-

He wasn't there

"Ashby?" He questioned, looking to the right, then the left. He quickly scanned the environment around him, "Ashby? This is not funny!" He said. Someone bumped into his shoulder as he turned back around. He could vaguely hear them curse at him but he wasn't focused on that at the moment.

"Ashby wh-" someone tapped on his shoulder. He turned around, eyes widening.

A Lombax.

They looked at him critically, green eyes inquisitive. "Are you the one they call Clank?"

Clank's eyes narrowed, staring at the other in apprehension. "Yes. That is me."

The other nodded and reached down into their pocket. Clank watched their hand as they moved to pull something out, only noticing that Ashby was standing right next to them. He looked at them in question, before looking up as the other Lombax held something out to him,

"Good thing the boy asked around. I would have never found you." Clank took the papers offered to him, "This is for you. No returns, however." And they turned before Clank could say anything. He looked at the envelope, then to Ashby, "Where were you?"

"The weird Lombax person was looking for someone named Clank! I heard them ask around and I told them about you!" The boy chimed, seemingly proud of what he said. Clank sighed, "Thank you. But you need to be more careful, Ashby. You never know if someone has bad intent."

"What does that mean?"

"...It means that they...might just be a mean person."

"Ohhhh." Ashby said, "Now I get it! Okay!"

With that, Clank looked back down at what he was given, before sliding it into his pocket. He'd look at it later when they were on the ship. For now, he looked back at the stall, nudging Ashby over. The boy, having got the hint, looked up at him before smiling.

"Pick something out for yourself." Clank said, "It will be getting cold, after all."

At this, Ashby started to feel excited. Did this mean that he got to stay with Clank? If he was buying Ashby a coat then that must mean he'll be staying with him, right?

He hoped that bringing that Lombaxian trader to Clank was what won the man over.

He heard what Clank said before to that pilot from the cargo ship....Ashby didn't want to leave....

So he put on a smile, and pointed to a simple russet-colored jacket with a few pockets and a hood. Clank nodded, "Good choice. It will serve you well."

Ashby smiled at him hesitantly as Clank bought the clothing and he handed it to the boy. Ashby, elated, slipped it on and left the front unzipped, "Thank you, Clank!"

The Lombax smiled slightly, before holding his hand out once more, "It is no trouble." He said, "Let us get back to the ship before it gets dark."

Ashby grabbed his hand and followed him quietly. Grimacing in the direction they were heading in. While it was the way back to the ship, it was also the same way back to that pilot that Clank was willing to give him to because his journey would be too dangerous. Ashby didn't know what that meant, but no matter what, he didn't want to be separated from the Lombax he had come to know. Clank took care of him. Clank watched out for him. And while he was stern, he still showed how much he cared through his actions.

Ashby didn't want to be handed off to some mysterious stranger that he only saw when Clank delivered cargo items.

He found himself squeezing Clank's hand just a bit tighter, absently wondering why his hand was so stiff and cold against his own. But he ignored that thought in favor of preparing for the inevitable.

As Ashby predicted, they stopped in front of the familiar cargo ship, watching as the pilot walked down the ramp and stopped just in front of them, crossing his arms and smiling,

"Hey there, Clank, was it?"

"Yes. You are correct."

"Well, I asked my co-pilot..." the man started, "We'll be able to bring the boy on board with us as soon as possible. He can run some cargo for us and help us with other things as well. We leave tomorrow, so...when should we expect him?"

Clank suddenly paused, looking down at the boy beside him. And then to his own feet, silent and unable to form any words at all. He looked back to Ashby again, and this time, the boy looked at him sadly. Ashby seemed to loosen his grip on his hand as if he was already preparing to be let go.

But as Clank looked into his eyes, and eyed the coat that Ashby wore and the small teddy bear now shoved into a pocket, he felt....he felt hesitant.

He could be making a big mistake...but oddly enough, he didn't care much anymore.

"I appreciate the offer, sir, but Ashby here will be staying with me."

Ashby looked up at him in shock, mouth widening. He didn't anticipate Clank saying that...

This meant...This meant that he got to stay!

He pushed down his excitement in favor of listening to the conversation before him.

The pilot seemed to brighten up, in a way. He smiled at the two before him, "I see, well, I'm happy you've come to a decision." He smiled, "Good luck out there and...stay safe. You don't know what's out there, after all."

Clank nodded, "Thank you, sir."

They bid their farewells, and Clank tugged Ashby away from the cargo ship and headed towards their own.

Ashby walked beside him with a pep in his step. Once they arrived, Clank went to open the hatch and let the ramp out, looking up towards the sky as Ashby skipped up the ramp and onboard the ship. "It's getting late..." he called out, "We should get ready for bed. We are going to want to finish up on this planet as soon as possible."

"You said that like...a week ago!" Ashby groaned, "How much longer!?"

"It is best to be prepared." Clank reminded the boy, "Especially you. I'm afraid our journey will not be easy, Ashby."

The boy then took in a deep breath and held up a fist, "I think I can do it! Besides, when we get back, I can tell my Dad all about it and he'll be proud of me! Right!?"

Clank paused, holding back a grimace. He didn't have the heart to tell Ashby that...that his father was most likely dead...

He dreaded to think what it would be like when the boy figured out that there was no home for him to go back to...

Nonetheless, Clank plastered a smile onto his face, "I am sure he will be, Ashby."

The boy smiled brightly, going over to sit in one of the front seats, taking his plushie out of his pocket and holding it close to himself. He watched as Clank walked around the ship, shutting some lights off and taking some items out from his manifestor and placing them in boxes. With all the items he had in his manifestor, Ashby could only imagine what else it held...something cool? Clank seemed like a cool person!

He was about to speak his mind when Clank turned around, "Let's get some rest, Ashby. I'll wake you in the morning."

"Can we sleep in?"

"No."

The boy just huffed, reclining the seat and laying back, turning his back to Clank. "You're no fun..." he murmured, yawning tiredly right after. He smiled a bit when he felt the man cover him with a thin blanket, walking away once he did so.

As he fell asleep, he imagined what it would be like to tell his father about the big, awesome adventure he was about to embark on with his cool new friend...

He couldn't wait to see him after all this.

He fell asleep with a smile.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

The boy was now asleep, and Clank finally sat back against the wall and slid the letter out of his pocket. He took the flap and ripped it open, revealing the paper inside. He unfolded it.

"Ratchet..." he mumbled out in shock, before covering his mouth with his hand to muffle his shout of surprise. His eyes raced across the paper, analyzing every letter, every crease in the paper. The handwriting was all too familiar, and the signature...

There was no doubt...this was from Ratchet.

Hey Clank

I'm not sure if you'll even get this, or if my memory just made you up, but if you are out there somewhere, I...well I'm kinda stuck, Pal

I lost my memory a while ago. I don't know how I got here or where I'm from but I think I remembered you. Hopefully. Please let you be real.

But, things aren't going so well. There's this whole war going on and I just found out a lot of things that...that are probably true and I can't make sense of it.

So, if you're out there, and you're real. Well, I hope you are but whatever! Someone will get this anyway...probably.

I'm ranting now...let me just get to the point.

Things are happening. And I have a feeling that once shit goes down, it won't be safe for anyone in this dimension. I can't get off the planet right now, so right now I guess it's up to you, pal.

I am running out of time. I don't know what will happen if this ever gets to you but whatever you do. Don't come for me. Not now, at least. Just don't. I have my things to figure out here and if you were to show up now things would get way worse.

I'll send another letter out once this blows over but until we meet again, good luck out there. If this war is as bad as I have heard, then we're all in danger.

Until we meet again...or if we meet again...

-Ratchet

Clank read the lines over and over again, a smile growing on his face as if this letter was actually from his long-lost friend. His friend that he thought was dead and-

Wait...

He said not to come for him!?

Clank frowned, making sure he read it right.

Yep, that's what it said.

He sighed in frustration, slightly crumpling the paper as he started squeezing it harder and harder.

After all this time...After all his suffering, and all his mourning....Ratchet has the audacity to say such things? If his memory served him correctly, this was the first time he felt such deep, seething anger towards his best friend...

But then...after reading it again...

Ratchet was lost.

He had no memories. He had nothing but he was definitely with the Lombaxes. That was for sure.

Ratchet was safe. That was all that mattered to him right now.

And, even then, Ratchet...Ratchet remembered him. He remembered Clank out of everything else and was basically reaching out in the dark for him. If he were to have never gotten into that fight with XR...

He never would have arrived here. He never would have received Ratchet's letter. He would still be mourning, while Ratchet would still be lost.

And with the way Ratchet wrote about this...

It seemed like it will not be the best choice to go and find him right now. Perhaps...perhaps he needed help when the time came to help get Ratchet.

Until then...what will he do?

Who could help him at this point? If this war was as bad as he has heard, then it wouldn't be safe to fly around everywhere searching for someone that could help him.

He looked over towards the small child on one of the pilot seats...

He also had other things to worry about now...

He sighed, folding the letter up and sitting in silence for a long while, staring at the ground.

Perhaps....XR was out there?

He didn't have a good bond with the other bot, but he needed to try. Maybe he could convince them to help him, but how? XR seemed to be one who hated listening to orders....

But this wasn't an order, was it? It was...a request for help.

He supposed...he would need to apologize first, if XR was out there.

He sighed out, standing up to walk over to the other pilot seat and lay back. He looked over at Ashby, who was sleeping peacefully. He reached over to pull the blanket higher over the boy.

Satisfied, he finally closed his own eyes. Slipping into sleep.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

The next morning, he let Ashby stay in and sleep if he wanted to with the promise that he would come back later to pick him up.

The boy agreed, and Clank set off.

He made his way through the early morning crowd, making sure to keep the lookout for any Lombaxes. He had to find who gave him that letter and ask if there was any way to send one out, despite what they said about no returns.

Keeping his ears down as best as he could, he approached the area where the Lombaxian cargo ship was yesterday. He ducked around a corner, looks like most of them weren't out yet...maybe he should-

"What are you doing here?"

Clank nearly jumped, startled by the voice. He turned around slowly to see the same Lombax that gave him the letter. He eyed them suspiciously, "Have you been following me?"

"Just a precaution." They said, "I mean, I do shady business all the time but this whole situation is very, very shady."

Clank huffed, "How so?"

"Well..." they began, "First of all, there is no known Lombax that resides off-planet. That, and the fact that someone on the planet knows about you enough to send you a letter. It makes me think that you are a spy or something."

Clank shook his head, "I assure you. I'm not a spy, but I know I can't prove it to you."

The messenger was silent for a moment, "I see. Well, why are you here now anyway?"

"I was looking for you." Clank stated, "I need to know if there is anyone here that can possibly send out another message, or broadcast one."

The other Lombax hummed, "Well, I don't have the tools to do so, but I do know someone here that can broadcast something for you. At a price." they said. Clank winced, "What sort of price?"

"Bolts." they replied, "Nothing else. Even then, there's no guarantee it will even get to whoever you want to send it to.".Clank nodded in understanding, "Where are they?"

The messenger looked around them, "I can guide you there. But that's it, understand?"

Clank nodded and started to follow the other Lombax, looking around the trading hub as they got deeper and deeper into the darker parts of it...people hung around in groups, most smoking or drinking their lives away as they watched the two Lombaxes pass. Some whispered to each other, glaring at Clank as he passed.

He didn't like it here.

It was at that moment he realized how familiar these narrow walkways reminded him of...

The way to Aaron's place was the same size, yet the stone and walls around him were darker and dirtier. The image was still fresh in his mind...

The decimation...the death...Aaron....and Moira.

He pushed his thoughts back and saved them for another time. The messenger stopped in front of a shady-looking...curtain?

Looks like it covered the entrance to the place. He sighed, apprehensive. Good thing Ashby wasn't here right now...

"This is your stop." the other Lombax said, "Good luck."

And before Clank could reply, the other Lombax turned and left, walking back down the dirty walkway and turning the corner. Clank looked over to the curtain-covered entrance and took in a deep breath to try and slow his anxious systems. He looked to his left, and then his right to see if anyone was staring at him, before pushing the curtain to the side and heading in.

Inside was dark and dreary. It looked like an old bar inside. Dusty stools and glasses for alcohol lined the bartop, obviously abandoned. There was a faint yellow light that emitted from the far end of the room, in which a small back room was, and Clank quietly made his way over.

"Hello?" he asked, creeping closer and closer to the backroom, the wooden floorboards creaking underneath his feet. He was about to look around the corner when-

*Whoosh*

Clank was met with a blaster to the face. He stepped back with his hands up, staring down at the weapon which pointed directly at his nose.

"Who the fuck are you?" A gruff voice asked, "I never seen ya' round-" they paused, pulling back the pistol. "Well...look what we have here."

Clank gulped as they stepped forward, a man with an eye patch covering his left eye and a cigarette lit in his mouth. He had brown hair, and dark brown eyes that stared at him suspiciously, a Markazian. Clank stepped back just a bit,

"A Lombax? In this place. Damn, you must all be getting desperate to come for a person like me."

At this, Clank stood up straight and brushed off his clothing, "Actually, I am here to make a request."

The man raised a brow, taking the cigarette out of his mouth and blowing smoke right in Clank's face. He glared at the man when he had the nerve to smile at him like he did nothing wrong,

"Oh? And what makes you think I would help you, Lombax?"

Clank, without responding, took out a pouch filled with a couple hundred bolts. He held it up, but far away enough so the man couldn't swipe it. "I heard you like taking bolts?"

The mysterious stranger looked at the pouch, then back to him, "I see..." he mumbled, taking a drag of his cig, "What do you need done?"

"I need to broadcast a message off-planet. Will you be able to help me?"

At that, the man smirked, leaning forward. Clank backed up a bit more, "Yeah, I can do that." he said, "If you agree to make a deal."

Clank looked at the man suspiciously, watching as the man tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for an answer.

"What is it you want me to do?"

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

[Nova]

Nolen took a swig of his alcohol, propping his feet up on his worn-down desk in his makeshift "office" room. He grimaced as he read one of the reports from the scouts that went out that morning.

Yeah...things weren't going so well at the moment...

He slammed his bottle down on the desk, throwing the paper behind him. It fluttered to the ground quietly as he almost growled in frustration. Why the fuck did everything have to be so difficult!? Why did-

"Are you alright, Nolen?"

The man looked up in surprise, seeing Nova standing just outside the door with their arms crossed. While their stance looked like they were fed up with what they were seeing, their face only showed a little bit of concern. Nolen huffed,

"If I said yes, that'd be a lie...so no, I'm not." he said, agitated. Nova just raised a brow, leaning on the doorframe now. They quietly stared at the man that looked like he could be the definition of "stressed" and "aggravated" at the moment...

Meanwhile, Nolen just wished he could sit in peace for once.

Nova was silent for a few seconds longer, sighing in frustration as they waited for the man to say something. "Did you forget what we were doing today?"

Nolen perked up at this, placing his elbows on the desk and bowing his head as he tried to remember what his actual plans were. Get himself a new glass of scotch? No...but that sounded good. Annoy the hell out of Louie while the other man was working? Also no, that was getting old anyway...

"We were supposed to go to that...shady market or whatever you said, today. You said it only comes around once in a while, after all."

Nolen sighed heavily. That's right, he did tell the kid that they would go. Nova hasn't been welcome on any of the scouting missions with the other scouts, so Nolen decided to be nice and take them out. Even if the place was a blank market for shady dealings and whatnot...

"Oh, yeah. Well...that market will probably be around tomorrow too." he murmured, "Why don't we go then?"

At this, Nova seemed to deflate just a bit. Their ears lowered,

Honestly, they were sick and tired of staying inside...it reminded them of The Clock all over again...

But seeing how tired and stressed the man looked, they let it go.

"Got it, chief!"

They stood up straight, turning to leave when Nolen stopped them, "Hey, wait!"

Nova looked back into the room, tilting an ear up in question, "Yeah?"

Nolen smiled wearily, "I guess...since I promised, we can take a quick trip. Since you're up for it..."

Nova smiled brightly, "Okay! I will go get ready!" and Nolen could have sworn he saw them skip away but he didn't say anything. Rather, he picked up his alcohol and downed the rest of it, too tired for this bullshit but too weak for the kid.

He turned off the lamp on the desk, and went to get ready.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

"So...this is what you meant by a shady market..." Nova whispered to him as they looked around. Nolen just shook his head in amusement, "More like a black market, but you get the gist." he looked over towards the kid, going to pull up the back of their hood, "Keep your hood up, damnnit!"

"But isn't it against the uniform?"

"Nova, you're a Lombax. People around here don't really favor your kind." he said bluntly, "Keep it up and you should be alright.". Nova's ears tilted down more. Looks like they weren't accepted anywhere...bot or not.

Why did Clank have to give them this body? This model? It seemed to be like everyone hated them because of it.

It felt like the universe was mocking them...

"Got it." they mumbled out sadly. Nolen grimaced, but said nothing as he led Nova along, weaving through the shifty crowd. "We'll be quick. You never know when the bots can find out about this place." Nova nodded silently, looking over the stalls that they passed, but Nolen did not find them interesting enough to stop and look.

Nova wished they could...

"Hey! Nolen! I haven't seen you in a while!"

The man turned to where the voice was coming from, "Annie! It's great to see you!"

Without another word, Nolen headed to the stall, and Nova had no other option but to follow. They barely listened to the idle chatter that Nolen was in with the stall vendor. They scanned the items behind the vendor...guns...ammunition.....and other illegal items that they did not want to think about at the moment.

As time passed, their eyes wandered around the environment around them, interest peaked when they looked around. They found themselves wandering away from the man and taking their own little adventure. Nolen failed to notice this, as he was too into the conversation.

Nova looked to the left, and then the right, some dreary-looking people walking past them as they went on their way. They found themselves scanning every little thing that they saw. This was the first time they were with a lot of people at the same time! They were excited! Until one of the people bumped shoulders with them,

"Watch it!" The person hissed out, continuing on their way. Nova watched them silently, eventually just rolling their eyes and turning back to what they were doing.

The crowd seemed to thicken as they navigated their way through the street. Eventually getting to the other side and seeing...nothing?

No stalls, no crates, no shady people. Just an empty alleyway that had a dead end. They were about to turn away, but stopped when something caught their eye...something shiny.

They were a bit hesitant, but their curiosity got the best of them and they started to creep forward. The item was just behind one of the rusty garbage cans, so they went forward to move it over and paused. They tilted their head at what they saw.

A small cleaning robot?

Its cranium was dented, and it was missing its right arm, the height of it barely reached their own knee.

The bot looked up at them, immediately going forward and bumping against their leg once, then twice, and finally a third time before Nova bent down to stop it. "Hey! What's wrong with you?"

The small bot didn't respond, but its orange optics looked at Nova expectantly, reaching an arm out and pointing to something on the wall of the alleyway. Nova paused, looking at the wall and seeing an old, dirty holo-poster that barely worked.

"What is it?" Nova asked the bot again, only to receive no response. Its arm still pointed to it though...

With a sigh, they picked the bot up and walked over, holding it out to the damaged holo-poster. "Is this what you wanted?"

Unexpectedly, the small bot reached out the arm and tapped the screen, which flickered to life...barely. Nova, entranced, looked at what was on the poster,

....

Clank!?

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Nolen was pissed.

Nova walked away from him without his knowledge and now he didn't know where they were at all. He would call out, but he wouldn't risk alerting anybody or anything at the moment. He hissed under his breath.

He knew he shouldn't have taken an inexperienced, somewhat naïve kid to this stupid market. He should have gone alone, or taken someone who would stick with him and listen for once. He growled, making his way through the almost silent crowd as he looked around. It seemed like there was no way in hell that he would find Nova anytime soon. It was becoming way too crowded and the kid could be-

He spotted them...

"Nova.." he growled under his breath, walking forward quickly and pulling the kid around by the shoulder. They seemed startled as he did so, looking up at him in fright, before relaxing after realizing that it was him. Nolen was about to reprimand them, before he looked down to see what was in their arms. He gritted his teeth,

"What are you doing holding that thing in your hands!?" he asked angrily. Nova looked down, before looking back up at him. "I used them to turn on the poster..."

"Why?" Nolen raised a brow, "From what I know, that shit is filled with propaganda." he seethed, "There's no reason to be holding it."

Nova looked down at the bot again, "There's nothing to be worried about." they said, "It's just a small cleaning bot." but the man wasn't having it, looking directly into their eyes, "You know as well as I that any bot is a threat to us humans." he said, voice low, "A small little cleaning bot can turn into something deadly given the chance."

Before Nova could reply, he took the small bot out of their hands. The small bot whirring in protest and Nolen dropped it to the ground and stomped on it, killing it's processors immediately. Nova's hands shook as they stared down, "B-but, it posed no threat to you! How could you-"

"We're leaving, now."

Without another word, he grabbed the back of Nova's hoodie and gently dragged them along with him. He wasn't messing around anymore, this kid needed to learn what it meant to be a living being on this planet. No sane person would ever lay their hands on a bot without killing it.

And there Nova was, handling the thing like it was a baby.

Now that made him even more pissed off than he was before.

Once they made it to the entrance of the hideout, Nolen stopped, turning to face Nova, who looked down silently. "Do you know why us humans have to live in places like this!?" he asked them, voice low and deadly, "The bots forced us to fight for our lives. We lost friends, families, everything to them! Can you not see that!?"

No response,

"I brought you out here today since you haven't had the opportunity to go out for a while. I could have easily picked someone else to follow me, but I chose you. First, you walked away from me. And then I find you holding one of our enemies like...like it was nothing!"

At this, Nova scowled, "I knew it wouldn't hurt me! It was an innocent-"

"None of them are innocent." Nolen reprimanded them. Nova, however, was having none of it, "Those cleaning bots did nothing to anyone. At best, all they did was clean homes and sidewalks, and you're telling me that you are afraid of something like that!?"

"I am just trying to protect our people, what about that is so hard to understand!?"

They both stood, silent. Nova looked down at the ground while Nolen crossed his arms and glared at the kid in front of him. After a minute or so, he made his way to open the entrance to the hideout. "You are not permitted to leave the hideout anytime soon." Nolen said, "You can hang with Louie or clean our guns or something. I don't care. But after what I saw and what you did, you are not going out for anything. Not even scouting."

Nova was silent for a moment, in shock a bit. They finally processed what was just said to them,

"W-what!?" they growled out, "Ground me!? What are you, my dad!? My warden!? You can't just-"

"I can and I will." the man replied, "I am your chief. The leader of this whole group and what I say goes!" He reminded them, "And when I ground you, I mean it."

Nova was quiet as he unlatched the lock to the hideout, "Get inside."

Nova stared at him for a moment, looking betrayed and....and hurt. Nolen could have sworn that he saw their eyes water as they hissed quietly and moved forward, bumping shoulders with Nolen, who just rolled his eyes.

As he slipped inside himself, he heard taunts and laughter coming from the main room,

"Heyyy, little Lombax! Something step on your tail?" a group of scouts laughed, "Maybe next time you'll actually contribute to the team!"

Nolen ignored this, and walked into the main room just as Nova left, heading down the hall. One of the scouts looked up at him, "Kid a pain in the ass today?"

Nolen paused, looking down at the scout before sighing, "No, they weren't" he replied simply, "Instead of antagonizing one of our members, why don't you all get washed up and head to your quarters? I wish not to be disrupted in my office, so...no partying or anything."

"Alright, chief." the scout replied. Nolen nodded and made his way down the hallway as well, passing Nova's door and pausing for just a moment. He was about to knock on the door, but stopped.

No...there was no time to be soft. Nova had to learn that what they did was wrong...

So...why did Nolen feel so guilty?

He sighed heavily, eventually making it into his office and closing the door. He plopped down heavily onto his chair, pinching his brow to try and alleviate the oncoming headache. He felt like he was going to slam his head on the table before he looked to the side. He gave a bitter smile as he picked up an old photo that sat on his desk.

It was of him and his wife. Her eyes in the photo burned into his mind and he remembered the things he forgot to say. The things that he forgot to do, and the things that he could have done that day, but failed to do in the end.

Absent-mindedly he wondered what it would be like if this war never happened and everything went back to the way it was. Would they have a house? Go on trips? Have a child?

The sad thing is, he would never know...

With that, he pushed back the chair a bit and opened the small chest under the desk, pulling out a bottle of alcohol. He popped the cap open and took a swig. He could have sworn he heard her voice reprimanding him on his actions now. He ignored it.

Time to drink his thoughts away.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Nova stared down at their shaking hands as they went over what transpired out there. That, and what they found out,

Clank was somewhere out there...looking for them.

They saved the message in their memory banks, going to go over the rest of it later in favor of processing what they were told...what they witnessed.

The small cleaning bot whirring in fright before being broken cruelly. Was that what would happen to them if they were found out? But they didn't hurt anyone? Did they deserve it?

They didn't know...

They felt tears come to their eyes once more, willing them to go away and try to repress these feelings.

They hated it.

And after Nolen "grounded" them...they were locked inside these walls, just like it was at The Clock.

They hated it.

With that, they pulled up a bit of the message Clank encrypted on the poster, faintly wondering how Clank got it there, but opted to ignore it. Looks like they would be up for a while doing this...

Maybe it was best if they left as soon as they possibly could once they figured out where Clank was...

It was funny, going back to their original captor that tried to keep them in one place forever. But now...the same thing was happening here...

Was the universe just one big prison that, for some reason, they are chained up inside with no way out of this cycle? Would they ever be able to live freely? Peacefully?

....

They didn't know.

With that, Nova decided to leave the code for another day, leaning back against the wall and shutting their optics to shut their thoughts out. They didn't want to even think at that moment because tomorrow was another day, after all. Their thoughts and feelings could wait...

....

For now, that is.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

I will protect Ashby (and quite honestly, all these characters) with my cold, dead hands and no one can stop me.

----> Like I said before, Ratchet's portion will be in Part II, however, still tell me who you all wanna see next chapter besides Ratchet. No guarantees, but I want to know who to focus on so you all enjoy it!

Anyways, I hope you have all been doing well and, as always, I will see you next chapter!