This was supposed to be in two parts but I didn't feel like prolonging this...hopefully it is good the way it is 😅.

Anyways, what's in this chapter? Several POVs and a *lot* of talking. You'll see...think of it as a recap of events. Can't just go into things without explanations, after all. It's important to the characters, at least! So, obviously, this chapter is a bit slow towards the end...I hope you all like it nonetheless!

Enjoy!

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

[Ratchet]

"You look great!"

Ratchet stood in front of Qwark proudly, wearing a set of armor (that was pretty worn) found in one of the storage lockers. It hardly fits, but it would have to do...

The armor was made well, all things considered, with a black matte finish and a pristine purple visor that covered his eyes. His ears couldn't fit in the helmet, so...hopefully, he wouldn't get shot in the head or something like that.

"I feel great!" he replied, stretching out his arms in front of him to get an even better look at the black arm guards, shimmering a dark purple and blue once he moved it in the light, "A bit...glittery?"

"It's from the metal, you nit-wit!" Nefarious rolled his eyes, "Besides, that's the only piece that could fit you. You stupid squishy."

"Do you have to insult me in every sentence you speak?" Ratchet glared at him, "I'll have you know that-"

"-AND let's cut to the chase!" Qwark interrupted, cutting off the argument that was about to happen. "With our numbers so low and timing so...unfortunate, we...kind of have to hurry it up," he said nervously. Nefarious scoffed, "Here we go again..."

"Why? What's happening?" Ratchet asked. Qwark winced, rubbing the back of his neck, "Well...we just received intel that The Creator's silly little goons are making their next stop at the trading depot...so-" he looked down to Ratchet, "No time to train you!"

"WHAT!?" Nefarious shouted, making Ratchet wince, "You're gonna let THIS squishy go onto the battlefield where he could accidentally SHOOT someone!?"

"Well...not like you have many options...." Ratchet muttered, making Nefarious glare at him, "What did you say, RAT?"

"It's not like anyone else is helping!" Ratchet gestured to the people around them, all worse for wear, "You're soldiers are on their last legs! It's not like you could stop me anyways! I'm here to finish this!"

"Oooh! Great!" Qwark cheered, "Let me go rally our troops! The Creator waits for no one after all and the people need a heroic leader such as me to save the day!"

Ratchet rolled his eyes as the man skipped away. Nefarious growled in frustration and kicked over a nearby barrel, "Right when I WAnTeD to CLEAn my OWn systems!" he clenched his fists, stomping out of the room, "I hope HE dies!"

Ratchet shook his head in bewilderment. Honestly, at this rate, everyone was probably gonna die unless something here changed. These people here were too weak or wounded to continue for much longer, and it seemed like this "Creator" guy wasn't stopping anytime soon...

He needed to find a way to help these people and get them all pumped to fight, but at this rate, that didn't seem like it was going to happen.

He felt someone tap on his armored shoulder. He turned,

"Aaron...what are you doing here? Joining the fight?" he asked, glancing down at the heavy-looking blaster in the man's hands, along with a circular-looking device, "No...unfortunately I won't be blessing the battlefield with my presence." he grumbled, "I'll be on medic duty. But this...this is for you."

Ratchet watched with bated breath as the man lifted Ratchet's hand up gently, placing the circular device on his hand and making sure it was attached.

It felt familiar....

"What's this?"

"I call it a Manifestor." Aaron said, "You can store any and all weapons on this thing and manifest them when you need them."

"Whoa..." Ratchet lifted his arm up, tapping on the device as a holo-screen popped up, looking at the empty spaces inside (besides a blaster pistol), "Where'd you get this?"

"I stole it." Aaron said simply, "I figured I'd rather give it to someone who'd benefit from it."

Ratchet smiled up at the man, "W-wow...thanks!"

Aaron smiled tiredly, before lifting up the weapon in his hands, "And take this too."

Ratchet took the blaster into his arms, stabilizing himself as the weight of the weapon threatened to tip him over. He grunted as soon as he rightened himself as if he was used to the strain...

"What is this!?"

"Well since you already have a standard blaster in your Manifestor, I thought I'd give you something more precise." he tapped on the weapon, "Meet the Headhunter!"

Ratchet gasped at the name, fingers gripping it in excitement. Aaron just shook his head, "Be careful with that thing. It's powerful."

"I could imagine...." Ratchet mused, storing the weapon in his Manifestor, "Why did you give me this?"

"Because sometimes it's better to think before you shoot." Aaron reminded him, "A blaster is all fine, but sometimes you need to step back, kid."

Ratchet nodded in acknowledgment, opening his mouth to speak before-

"Time to GO! PEASANTS!"

That was Nefarious...obviously.

He turned to Aaron apologetically, "I-I gotta go! See you when we get back!" he was turning to leave when Aaron stopped him, tugging on his arm. Ratchet turned back...

"Don't die out there, kid."

Ratchet grinned cheekily, "I won't go down without a fight!"

And Aaron let him go, standing and watching as the boy boarded one of the ships. Deep down he knew that more than half of those people were most likely gonna die, and the odds of it being Ratchet? Likely.

But then again, he didn't know the kid. Maybe he was blood-thirsty. Maybe he was a prodigy. Whatever the case may be, he knew that there was something different about the boy when he first met him...

Oh well...

He turned away regretfully, absolutely dreading the realization that there would be more wounded people to care for if they all make it back...

And hopefully...hopefully...he wouldn't be staring at the dead face of another kid next.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

[Ashby]

"C'mon boy! Move it!"

Ashby grunted as he lifted the crate even higher, shoulders and back protesting as the man behind him shouted. With all the strength he could muster, the crate successfully slid onto the transport ship. Ashby sighed in relief.

The man groaned, "Look, kid, I don't pay you all these bolts to just lift the small crates." he tapped the small boy's shoulders, "You need to toughen up a bit!"

"I-I'm trying..." Ashby stuttered out.

And it was true. He was, but for someone as young as him, he could only do so much before it was enough.

He wasn't strong enough...he knew that. All this work will make him too tired to get up one of these days...

The man just sighed, putting his hand in his pocket and pulling out a small brown bag of bolts, "Here's your pay, kid. Come back tomorrow morning. Early."

And then he just...walked away...

Ashby whimpered tiredly, opening the bag and counting the bolts.

He had enough to eat...not like he was really hungry, though...

He shook his head, too tired to be upset over anything at this point.

It's not like he could do anything about it. He was a child that needed a lot of things. The money that Clank gave him only gave him a night's rest in one of the inns and some food. Besides that...he was all on his own now...

He heads back to his cold ship to fall asleep, hoping tomorrow would be a (somewhat) better day.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

It wasn't

One moment he was laying on the ground, exhausted from morning work, and then the next people were practically stepping on him, screaming in terror.

He pushed himself up, holding his arms up to protect himself from more people stomping on him.

"Run!" Someone screamed, "They're coming!" another one said. The sounds of blasters firing and people hitting the ground hurt his ears. What...what was happening!?

He jumped up when one of the blasters sounded too close, running in the direction that everyone else was running in. He weaved through the crowd, ignoring the painful pushes and jabs from the people beside him.

"Stand down, citizens. Surrender and die!"

He heard some various *thumps* behind him as more shots rang out, but he didn't turn to see what it was, he just kept-

He was suddenly pulled to the side-

"Kid! Get into the ship!" it was his boss, "Now! We don't have time for-"

*thump!*

Ashby watched in confusion as the man clutched his chest, going down onto his knees and then falling forward face first. Ashby bent down, shaking him-

Not noticing the red liquid start to leak onto the stone...

"A-Are you okay?"

He shook the man but received no response, just noticing the red stain as-

*click*

He looked up in terror, seeing blasters aimed his way by big, heavily armored bots.

"Surrender!"

Ashby ducked behind a crate as the bots fired, decimating everything in their path and killing whoever failed to find cover in time. Ashby curled up, squeezing his eyes shut and covering his ears, wanting this nightmare to end...

Please...Stop! He begged for nothing in particular.

*Bang!*

Ashby shrieked in pain, a stray bullet cutting through the wooden crate and hitting his shoulder. He cried out in pain as he stumbled away from the fray, looking for another place to hide as his shoulder burned unbearably.

No...No! No!

"Hey! Get away!"

A new voice...

He ignored it, quickly crawling underneath a ship and hissing in pain. He held a hand to his shoulder, pulling back to only see red.

It started to stain his jacket...

He cried as everything became way too overwhelming. The sounds of bodies hitting the ground and people screaming in agony assaulted his ears. His shoulder kept burning to the point where it became numb...

Was he...was he going to die here!? Was he-

"Hey there!"

He jumped, looking up at the voice in fright. The morning sunlight gleamed off their armor as they looked down at him, head tilted. The only thing he could make out was the purple visor and...pointed ears...just like-

Just like-

"Clank...?" he whispered out desperately. The figure paused, shaking their head. Ashby couldn't make out what they were saying, but watched as they held out their hand...

"Hey! D-Don't fall asleep! Hey! Grab my hand!"

And Ashby reached forward slowly, hand shaking terribly as his eyes started to close...

...

The last thing he registered was the feeling of a warm, secure hand grasping his own...

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

[Kaden]

These dreams...

He was on the battlefield again, the smell of burning wood and flesh assaulted his senses as he looked around desperately. People ran past him, bumping into his shoulder and colliding with him as they ran to escape the danger.

He just stood, watching the scene before him. Be it shock or fear he didn't quite know for certain. But what he did know was that he couldn't find it in himself to move.

The sky was tinted red as the fires raged. Building grumbled as shots were fired in the distance. He could practically hear the silver bullets make contact with-

Silver...silver...Phoebe!

Suddenly he bolted forward, ignoring the shouts of the people he pushed aside in the process. The only thought on his mind right now was getting to his family...that was all...he needed to find them!

His legs burned in protest as he ran and ran and ran...closer and closer to where his house should be.

He turned when-

"Kaden! Kaden!" he heard his wife call out frantically. The next thing he could remember was lifting her into his arms and helping her stand. Their frantic voices melded together as the world became too much.

The only thought he had in his dream now...

His son...

He was in his crib on the top floor when the attack started, and unfortunately, it seemed like their house was one of the first targets...no surprise there.

Phoebe was certainly lucky to be alive but...but their son...

He remembers bending down to dig through the rubble. He remembers the broken glass cutting into his flesh. He remembers ignoring the pain in order to focus on his little boy.

It was all a blur until a beam was lifted, casting light on the familiar wood bassinet that collapsed to the floor. He thought he would regret looking up when-

"Shit!" he reached forward to grab his son, who started crying right when he was lifted. Kaden looked down, unable to make out the faint details, but he knew for a fact that his baby was injured.

He didn't have much time left.

He didn't even bother shushing the boy as he held him close to his chest, running as fast as he could to the portal, ignoring the cries of help he heard as he passed...he had no time.

It wasn't until his foot caught on something that he stopped and fell forward, turning his body so he landed on his back, saving the baby in his arms. He looked up to see what tripped him, only for his heart to drop.

No...No no no...

Tachyon...

He growled, immediately getting to his feet again before one of the arms to the mechanical throne blocked him. Kaden pulled out his blaster, holding his son even tighter as he glared up at the despicable monster before him, "You stay the fuck away from him..." Kaden spat, "Or I'll shoot you right in your fucking-"

Tachyon laughed loudly, standing upon his throne, "You? I'd like to see you try, Keeper." he leaned forward, "Pitiful."

Kaden, having no time for idle "chatter" fired his blaster, hitting barely missing the Cragmite as he turned to make his escape. He hopped over fallen debris and burning remains of ships. The baby in his arms was the only thing keeping him from collapsing in exhaustion right now...

Almost...there...

There was a searing, unbearable pain in his side when he collapsed. Being pulled up and around as the bundle in his arms was snatched from him. His blaster was no longer on him, crushed beneath the feet of Tachyon's minions...

He kicked and screamed and growled, watching in despair as the baby was lifted up by the back of his torn onesie-

Tachyon screamed out more insults, the most jarring being, "-This is what you rats deserve-!"

And in one fell swoop, another claw came in and Kaden watched the scene with widened eyes-

The ground painting red as he reached out desperately-

"NO!"

But...then the world just turned black.

He collapsed, sobbing away as the memories overwhelmed him. He never thought of it. Not anymore...

But now it's back to haunt him...

He looked up, the world bleeding into color again, and instead of seeing what was left laying on the ground...

"Ratchet...?" he asked in confusion. What...was he doing here? He reached forward in an attempt to touch the collapsed boy in front of him but-

He had no time to recover as a powerful, electrical bolt shot out in front of him, blasting any enemies around Kaden, making them stagger (even Tachyon, whose throne decided to tilt dangerously to the side...). Kaden felt him be lifted by an arm, turning to see Alister, who looked quite faint.

"K-Kaden...we have to go..." and he said it as if he knew what happened...

Perhaps he saw it. Perhaps he saw what stained the ground. Perhaps he knew he was just too late.

Perhaps he felt as guilty as Kaden at that moment.

Kaden didn't even nod before he was pulled along, numb to the world as all the sounds muted and all the sights melded together into one.

He failed. He failed and failed and failed....

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

He woke up with a quiet gasp, immediately jumping out of bed and heading to the bathroom. Phoebe is still deep in sleep...

He turned on the lights, immediately going over to the sink and turning on the cold water, splashing his face to try and erase the nightmare in his head, but to no avail. He lifted his head up to stare at himself in the mirror, green eyes dull and tired.

He hated this.

Out of all times, why did these memories start to plague him again all these years later? They stopped a long time ago....

He tried his hardest to forget.

But the sight of blood and the screams of pain were hard to forget. The sensations of glass shards cutting into flesh and the warm tears cascading down the cheeks were hard to forget.

He stood up them, pulling up the side of his nightshirt and feeling over the injured skin, long since covered by fur, but a scar was hidden beneath.

He thinks that if he never got shot with that blaster, he could have made it to safety.

If he wasn't so weak, his son would be alive.

He grimaced, getting rid of the thought and leaning forward to rub his eyes. Maybe he could try to go back to sleep and-

*Knock*Knock*Knock*

He paused, ear tilting up to make sure he wasn't just imagining things.

*Knock*Knock*

He walked out of the bathroom, glancing at the bedside clock-

Just past 3 AM...

The knocking became more frantic and Kaden went walking downstairs, unlocking the front door and swinging it open to see-

"Oliver!? What the hell is going on!? It's-"

The boy said nothing, panting as he bent down to lift up...a Lombax!?

Kaden surged forward, helping the boy bring the injured Lombax inside. Practically dragging them on the floor. "Why is he so heavy!?" Oliver grunted, closing the door with his foot as they dragged the unconscious Lombax in enough. He looked up to find Kaden in some sort of shock as he looked down at the injured Lombax...

What the hell...What the hell!?

He looked toward Oliver, then back to the collapsed form, then back to Oliver again, "Kade, what the hell happened out there?"

Oliver composed himself, standing up straight, "T-There was this s-space pod or something that crashed outside the city w-when I was walking around and-and I went after it when the guards were away! And I-I found him lying in the middle of the crash site!" he went to crack his neck, "He's really heavy."

Kaden got down on one knee, looking down at the solid silver Lombax laying on his back, eyes tightly shut. He felt around for a pulse...

Nothing...

"O-Oh my stars! I-Is he dead!?" Oliver started to freak out, wringing his hands. Kaden shook his head, "He's still breathing...miraculously."

They were so caught up in what was happening that they didn't hear Phoebe come down the stairs as well, confused, "Oliver? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be-" she gasped, "-Who's that?"

"We don't know." Kaden told her, "Oliver said he found him outside the city after his ship crashed and-"

Phoebe pushed him out of the way, looking over the injured Lombax. She pouted, "Well? Who's gonna help me lift him up to the couch? We can't just let him stay on the floor!"

Both Oliver and Kaden sprung into action and helped her, eventually laying the boy on the couch. Phoebe fretted, "I'm going to get a blanket. Kaden, check for more injuries!"

Kaden shook his head, amused, but complied nonetheless, "Doesn't look like anything is broken..." he mumbled. "What!? But he was just in a crash!" Oliver piped up, "How lucky must he be to avoid all injuries!?"

"That's what I don't understand..." Kaden felt around the kid's wrists, neck, collarbone, ribs...? It hardly felt like it... until he finally revealed his shoulder, pausing in shock. Oliver noticed this, "Uh...Mr. Callisto, are you okay?"

Kaden just stood up, pulling out his holo-phone,

"I...I need to make a call. Now!"

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

[Clank]

Starting Up....

Calibrating...Calibrating...

Loading Files...Checking System Database...

Done! Start-Up In-

3...

2...

1...

His optics opened to a blurry, pixelated world, attempting to focus on the world around him. Soon, the pixels evolved into smooth shapes, and from there, the picture became crystal clear. And once he could finally register what was in front of him...

Shocked green eyes, golden fur...brown stripes...

"Ratchet...?"

"Ratchet" immediately backed up, as did the other occupants of the room. A Lombax boy with caramel fur and cream stripes. A woman with silver fur and light blonde hair, blue eyes widened in a mixture of awe and terror. A man with solid burgundy fur and blue eyes looked rather excited...too excited.

And finally, the man that stuck out to him the most.

Ratchet

He sat up a bit straighter, frowning when he didn't get an answer, "Ratchet? Is that you?" He stood up, hopeful-

Until a blaster was pointed right at him...

"Kaden! Put that down!" the woman came over to slap him on the arm. "H-He knows him! He knows Ratchet!"

"Well, what if it's a lie?" Kaden asked darkly. Clank held his hands up in front of him. "Y-You're-" he looked at the man in bewilderment, "You're...Kaden?"

The man glared at him, "Yeah. What of it?"

"Y-You're..." Clank couldn't find the words to speak as he finally scanned the environment around him. He was in a garage. In an unfamiliar place. With his friend's father who was supposed to be dead...and he currently had a gun pointed to his head...

"M-My name is Clank!" he said, "S-Surely you heard of me? Just a little bit? Please tell me you know a little bit of-"

"Clank!?"

He turned to the caramel-colored boy, "I saw your name in his notebook, right!?" he looked towards Kaden and Phoebe, "You two saw it too! This must be that Clank!"

Kaden grunted, "It could still be a-"

"Oh, c'mon Kade! How many people could be named Clank and fall out of the sky!?" The burgundy Lombax laid a hand upon Kaden's shoulder, "I think we should trust him."

Kaden looked back at him. He made eye contact with the man, silently begging him to lower the blaster...

He did...slowly.

"Try anything and I'll blast your head off."

Clank gave a nervous smile, "I-I assure you, I mean no harm!" he lowered his hands, "But...I must ask. Are you really Kaden?"

"How many times do I have to say it? Yes!"

Clank swallowed audibly, composure breaking, "I...see." he mumbled,

He'd have to figure that out later...but first-

"I-Is Ratchet here!? I've been looking for him for ages and-"

"You just missed him." the other boy piped up, "He...well, we had to help him escape."

"Escape!?" Clank asked, but then he shook his head, "Nevermind. We'll talk about that later but I need to find out where I am." He looked around the garage, "At first I thought this was just a different dimension but...could it also be an alternate reality..." he tapped his chin, glancing over at the shocked people in front of him.

"Perhaps we should talk things out."

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

It was weird.

These people looked at him like he was a freak. Which, to be honest, was not far from the truth.

He couldn't blame them for being so cautious of him. He looked like an ordinary Lombax but was just a big computer disguised as one. He didn't expect these people to welcome him with open arms.

"D-Do you...want anything?"

He turned his head, only to see a very apprehensive-looking woman, "No thank you, Mrs. Callisto. I am fine." and he wasn't. His systems were so overwhelmed and he wished he could power down for a few days but it seems like that wasn't happening anytime soon...

Still, he was grateful for the woman for actually trying to make him feel a little bit welcome.

Phoebe nodded, walking quickly back to the kitchen and talking with the others,

An excited voice spoke quickly, "Kaden! Don't you know what this means!? We could totally-" they were cut off, "No, Mags! I can't trust that...that thing yet!" Clank heard a small hiss, "Kaden! Don't call him that! He's very polite!" that was Phoebe, "And he knows Ratchet! Doesn't that mean something to you!?"

"He's a bot! He can know everything! What if this is just a trick!?"

"Why would it be?" Mags piped up, "Look, Kade. From what you've told me Ratchet could be out there doing...well, anything! If push comes to shove we can always check the tin-cans memories. You have nothing to lose."

Clank sighed, flinching as someone stepped into his line of sight. He looked up from his seat on the couch, only to see the boy (Oliver, if he remembered correctly) standing there with his arms crossed. "You can come into the kitchen to sit and talk to us, y'know?"

Clank tilted his head, "Well, from what I hear in there I didn't think I was welcome."

Oliver started to rub at the back of his neck, "Look, we're just...freaked out, okay!? We have never seen anything like you!" and he winced at his own words, silently scolding himself for sounding too harsh.

Yet, Clank just stood up, ignoring Oliver's inner turmoil as he walked his way into the kitchen. All the adults turned to him after entering, ending their conversations to just sit and stare. He huffed.

Phoebe was the first to speak, "So...do you really know Ratchet?"

"He is my best friend." Clank stated firmly, "I have been searching for him for a long time. And-"

"See? That is what I don't get!" Kaden interrupted, "It had been months! Do you know how confused Ratchet was? Lost? And now here you are, right after he leaves!?"

Clank winced at the man's tone, "While it may sound...suspicious, I assure you that it is just a coincidence." He looked down at the floor in shame, "Many...unfortunate circumstances occurred that prevented me from being here."

"Like what?" Phoebe asked genuinely.

Clank was silent for a moment, considering his choices. Should he tell them the whole truth? About The Clock? The Creator? Nov-

No...not Nova...

With that, he went to sit on one of the seats, Oliver sitting in the seat right next to him (quite hesitant).

Clank waited a moment, biting the inside of his cheek, "Before I begin...how did Ratchet arrive here?"

Kaden looked away, unwilling to answer him. Perhaps he thought it was another way to trick all of them. Not that Clank cared...

Oliver piped up then, "General Azimuth-" Clank's eyes widened at the name, "-found him injured outside the city, badly wounded."

Clank grimaced, "I...see." he leaned forward a bit, resting his arms on the table, "Before all this...I thought Ratchet was dead." This time, Kaden turned to him, shocked beyond belief, "What?"

"There was...an accident. I couldn't find Ratchet anywhere after and I assumed that he was dead." Clank continued, "I..am not sure how he was transported here, but eventually...I followed because of my own mistake this time. I didn't believe Ratchet was alive until he sent out a message."

"A message?" Phoebe raised a brow, "He sent out a message?"

"You didn't know?" Clank tilted his head, "Well, it doesn't matter now, anyway. After that, I started to look for him and I got caught up in a...lot of things."

"Like what?" Kaden asked, a bit too impatient. Phoebe laid a hand on the man's shoulder, shushing him.

"Well...The Creator's forces. Things aren't going too well out there." He couldn't tell them about the deal...

Then again...

Wasn't his side of the deal unfulfilled? He was supposed to meet Ratchet here and now...now Ratchet isn't here...

...

He'll figure that out later. For now, he had to give a little lie...

"I was imprisoned for a while but I escaped using that damaged escape pod. I set a course here because I thought it was the best place to look for him." he frowned, "If only I was quicker."

Everyone was silent for a moment as the words sunk in. Kaden pinched the bridge of his nose, seemingly annoyed, "So, that's it?"

"Not exactly...there are still things that I don't understand." Clank muttered, "This whole situation wouldn't be possible unless one used the Dimensionator."

Everyone stiffened at that, Kaden and Mags even more so, "You know about that!? Who the hell told you!?" Mags shouted, "That stuff is all top secret now!"

"Well, not in my Dimension!" Clank retorted, "From where I'm from it's not exactly that much of a secret." he started to glare, "I am not from here. Things are different where Ratchet and I are from!"

This silenced Mags, but Kaden was a different story, "So you expect me to believe that you didn't use that thing to take you here?" he hissed, "That thing could bring danger to us all!". Clank winced at his tone, but spoke anyway, "I assure you, I would never touch that thing again."

Unless he had to...

"Nonetheless. Both Ratchet and I are here now. Far, far away from home. And...considering how you all reacted, Ratchet did lose his memories, correct?" At least, Ratchet stated so in his message from a while back...

"Yeah...he had nothing. Maybe some before he left." Oliver leaned back in his chair, " He had to escape. The Council didn't really...like him."

The Council? Clank thought, That must be where the leaders of the Lombaxian people...

He had to keep that for future knowledge...

"That's...understandable. It must have been hard to accept that someone just appeared outside the city and-"

"-Don't you dare! Those people in there are corrupt!" Phoebe spat, "They imprisoned him."

Clank hummed, Well...it wouldn't be the first time Ratchet was in prison...

"I'm sorry, my apologies."

He could feel a sudden shift in the room, looking around at the adults warily as he waited for someone to say something. Anything...

"So...things happened differently in your dimension?" Oliver asked excitedly, "Tell me, could there be another me? Are there actual duplicates of people? Could-"

"No." Clank said flatly, "In my dimension, the Lombaxes are no longer present. They left a long time ago after Tachyon turned on them." Oliver's eyes widened, "So...we're all dead?"

"No. The Lombaxes that were originally from my dimension moved to another for safety. Both Ratchet and I are unsure of their whereabouts and we only know a few that passed." Oliver nodded solemnly, "That means Ratchet was never with us, right? Where...was he then?"

Clank hummed, finding himself reliving the memories of meeting Ratchet for the first time, "Ratchet is from a planet called Veldin. I met him years ago and he saved me from a crash. Honestly I thought he was going to make me into a toaster at first but...he didn't." he smiled, reminiscing, "He was...brash at first, but he eventually warmed up and we did everything together."

Oliver hummed, smiling. He could tell that Clank was looking back on the memories quite fondly.

"Ratchet would do anything and everything for everyone. And when it came to searching for the Lombaxes..." Clank trailed off for a second, "He turned back in favor of saving everyone from destruction."

"Why?"

"I...don't know the exact reason." Clank answered honestly, "I think that...deep down..he was afraid. Then again, he was a hero at heart."

"A hero..." Oliver echoed, testing the word on his tongue. "Then that means-"

Suddenly the table shook as Kaden pushed it away, standing up angrily as he made his way into his garage. Clank looked on, confused. "Kaden!" Phoebe called out, "Where are you going!?" she went to follow him, Mags doing the same as the garage door slammed shut. Clank and Oliver were left at the table.

"Well...I guess that's over with..." Oliver mused. He then turned back to Clank, "Tell me more!"

Clank looked back, "There's...not much more to say."

Oliver frowned, "Oh...I get it." he leaned back again, "I just...y'see, before his escape we didn't leave off on the best...terms I guess. I tried to help him recover his memories and I went to mess everything up." he looked down, "We were friends for a while...I think."

Clank stared at him, even more confused, "Why would you say that?"

"Because I failed!" Oliver replied, "I failed my only friend! None of this would have happened if I helped him more..."

"You're not a failure." Clank tried to reassure him, "You helped him escape danger, right? If anything, that's what's more important."

"That doesn't matter! Friends are always supposed to be there for each other! No matter what." Oliver argued, "You can't just say that everything is okay just because I saved him. You've been with him for years, right? You wouldn't leave him like that!"

"No, I wouldn't." Clank said, "But sometimes the universe makes that decision for me. Yes, we would never want to leave each other, but sometimes we must do things alone." he made eye contact with Oliver, "I'm sure Ratchet held no resentment towards you."

"You don't know what he's like now." Oliver muttered, "You haven't seen him in months."

"That's true. But I know for a fact he wouldn't call you a failure." Clank said firmly,

"If anything, you saved him and gave him a chance, right? A chance to be free." Clank smiled, "I would call that anything but a failure. I would even go as far to say that it was pretty heroic of you."

Oliver found himself blushing a bit under his fur, flustered by the compliment but he quickly shook it away, "Whatever you say, tin-can."

Clank's eyes softened at that, reminded of Ratchet for just a moment at Oliver's words. He then turned to the garage door, watching as Phoebe angrily stomped out and headed up the stairs. He winced, debating his options,

"Perhaps...I could talk to him?"

Oliver shrugged his shoulders "You can try, but...he seems pretty scary when he is angry..."

Clank bit at his lip.

If he is to be stuck here for the time being, he has to get on Kaden's good side. Talking to him and discussing the truth could either help or make things worse, depending on how Kaden will react...

He stood up then, making his decision.

"Wish me luck..." he whispered down to Oliver, who grimaced at him before watching him walk away.

Time to face the music...

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

He walked in quietly, hearing Mags speaking to Kaden over by his workbench, obviously trying to reason with him. He waited a moment, before stepping forward to make himself known by tapping his foot on the ground...

*Tap*Tap*

Kaden stiffened as Mags looked up, glancing at him for only a second before patting Kaden's back, "I'll let you two talk things out!" he cheered, but his faux smile left nothing for the imagination. He looked over to Clank as he passed, "Be nice..." he whispered to him, but left before Clank could even respond.

He stepped forward more, approaching Kaden as the man tried his best to ignore him.

In the back of his mind, Clank compared this image to one of Ratchet when he got too frustrated with his work. That...or he was just being a bit dramatic...

Like Kaden is now...

"Is everything really...true?" Kaden asked quietly. Clank snapped out of his thoughts "Was everything you said true?"

"Yes. It was."

Kaden sighed heavily, before turning around to face him, "Was he...really alone?"

"We had each other, along with friends."

"Was he happy?"

"I assume so." Clank said, "He enjoyed what we did...most of the time."

"And...where was I?" Kaden clutched the table, "H-How did you know me?"

Clank paused for a moment, analyzing the man's expressions.

Should he...?

....

Oh...what was there to lose at this point?

"Unfortunately, we found that you passed during Tachyon's attack." Clank explained, watching as the man's ears lowered at the news, "But...you saved him in the end. Well...alternate you did. Ratchet was sent to the Solana galaxy before Tachyon could ever get to him."

Kaden was silent for a moment, "Damnit.." he muttered bitterly, "Is there even a dimension where this doesn't happen!?" he asked no one in particular, "Was it just all doomed from the start? Is my son just doomed to die here and then doomed to be alone somewhere else?" he slammed his fist on the table, "W-We found out not too long ago that Ratchet was our son and now...now he's just torn away and I don't know what to think!"

"He's from a different dimension. Alive. My son in this dimension died! Is-Is he even my son! I..."

Clank watched as the man whispered the words desperately, trying to make sense of them himself.

"Do you want him to be?"

Kaden turned to him, in shock, "W-What!?"

"If you are in such distress, it only leads me to one conclusion." Clank smiled, "You really, really care about him. And by scanning you, well, you have the same DNA. There is no issue with you seeing him as your son." Clank paused for a moment, considering his next words. "Perhaps now is not the time for these realizations, but I am certain that Ratchet wouldn't mind."

-and Ratchet really wouldn't...right? Deep down, Clank believed that he was always thinking of finding his own people. And if his assumptions were correct, Ratchet found a place to belong amongst these people...even if they are from a different dimension.

Ratchet must have been happy here despite what he was told about The Council or whatever...If these people were anything to go by...this place would be for him.

"B-But...you two need to leave eventually...to go back, right?"

Clank looked down,

In all honesty, their dimension could be gone because of what happened at The Clock, and if Sigmund died...The Clock had no Keeper...

No...he can't think about that now...

"Perhaps." Clank said, "But...that doesn't change the way you feel, does it?"

Kaden smiled tearfully, "No...I guess it doesn't." he responded, "But...I just don't want to lose him, y'know?"

"Neither do I." Clank said, "I know you don't trust me that much yet, but we want the same thing, right?" Kaden looked up at him, "We want to find him and save him from whatever is going on. That's what we both want,"

"We need to work together, Kaden. For Ratchet."

Kaden looked up at him, "Yeah...Yeah we do." the man said. "But you do anything fishy I'm gonna pop open that head of yours."

Clank shivered at the implications, before smiling mischievously,

"I understand."

Kaden chuckled before standing up straight, holding his hand out for Clank to shake, "Well, better late than never..." Clank hesitantly took the hand to shake, "Nice to meet you, Clank."

Clank smiled, feeling victorious, "Likewise, Kaden."

And while things were still left unsaid, Clank felt like things could start looking up...soon, at least. By tomorrow he'll start learning more about this place and consider his options but for now...this will do.

Just wait a little longer, Ratchet...We'll find you.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

These characters have been through so much...I think we need a good dose of fluff soon...hopefully...

I hope you all liked it! I really tried with this one and I hope it came out okay at least! Like I said in the beginning, this was supposed to be 2 parts, but I figure this story needs to be pushed forward a bit. (That, and I was so excited to get this out and I didn't want to wait any longer!) 😅

Well, that's it for now! I hope you are all doing well (if not, take a virtual cookie here---> 🍪 and try to feel better!) see you all next time!