Smaller chapter today, we all need a breather. Hope you enjoy it!

Also, some warnings with some context :

(READ!!!)TW : Panic Attack (briefly). - Ratchet recollects a memory in this chapter, which causes him a lot of distress. If you are too nervous to read these sections, I will put warnings before these sections in bold, underlined, and italicized letters. [Like This]

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[Ratchet]

Things were a bit quieter during those 3 days.

Kaden and Phoebe were not angry at him anymore. They went easy on him for the next 3 days that he was confined to the house. He helped Phoebe cook whenever she got home and helped in the garden on the last day of his grounding. He watched Kaden work in the garage silently while he repaired a thruster to a trading goods transport ship. All in all, Ratchet had no complaints about it, they were pretty lenient on him, after all.

On the dawn of the fourth day, Kaden woke him up, which was surprising. Considering the fact that he wasn't on a strict sleeping schedule most of the time. Not that he cared, he rarely got sleep.

"Oh, you okay kid? You look exhausted!" and Ratchet grumbled, too early for him to speak. Kaden chuckled, "okay then, well I guess you want to miss the surprise I have for you?" Ratchet lifted his head up, his brain just starting to work the longer he was awake, "Surprise?" he asked, not sure if he heard correctly. Kaden nodded, "Yep! I want to get going as soon as possible. I'm sure you'll love it!" Even though I don't know what the surprise is myself...Kaden thought. Ratchet flopped his head back down, "5 minutes..." He whispered. Kaden smiled quietly, before exiting the room.

True to his word, Ratchet was ready faster than Kaden could blink, teeth brushed and fur neat. He still yawned, but he was awake enough to get going. Kaden tapped his pants pocket, making sure he had the yellow note slipped inside, before they left the house.

"I forgot to ask, how is your leg doing? I don't think I ever saw you use the wheelchair..." He asked, a bit concerned. Ratchet meekly replied, "Still painful, but it's getting better. I'm more sore than anything else." Kaden sighed, "I'm glad."

Together, they walked to the city square, many people greeting them along the way. It wasn't until they passed the Race Coordinators building did Ratchet pause, and look at the crowd. "W-what's going on?" he asked Kaden, who stopped to stare as well. "Well, after what happened at the hoverboard race, people haven't been happy, to say the least. They are downright furious. You and most others got injured during the race, and it could have been way worse." he explained, "These people want the race coordinators to take the blame for what they did, hell, our top racers are even in on it."

Ratchet nodded in understanding, taking note of the signs that some held up, all written in Lombaxian. In all honesty, they agreed with all those people. Then again, he also willingly put himself in danger on top of that. Hopefully whoever is responsible is willing to take the blame.

Kaden led the way to Main Street, Ratchet looking around curiously until Kaden stopped them in front of a big hoverboard shop. Ratchet paused looking at Kaden, then the shop, and then to Kaden again. He looked shocked, "U-uh, why are we here?" Kaden smirked, slipping the yellow note out of his pocket and waving it in the air between them. "When were you gonna tell me about this, huh?"

Ratchet looked confused, "I-Uh...I thought that was some sort of prank or something. Who even is Skid McMarx? Am I supposed to know him?"

Kaden's eyes widened, "Kid, he is practically a pro racer! You got noticed because of your skills, even though you are just a beginner.'

Ratchet looked at the note in amazement, "Really? It's not a prank?"

Kaden chucked, "No Ratchet, it's not." He said, smiling at him. Ratchet smiled back, eyes alight with joy as Kaden took him into the store, right to the back counter. Good thing the store wasn't busy today. "Now, I don't know what the surprise is. Let's be surprised together, yeah?"

Ratchet nodded in excitement as the store manager greeted them. Kaden showed them the note, and they broke out into a smile. "Well, well, well, look at who we got here today. Everyone's been raving about you, kid!" he said to Ratchet, "Even Mr. McMarx himself talked my ear off." The man chuckled to himself. If you two would like to join me in the back, Skid has a big surprise for you. I'm sure you will love it."

Ratchet followed the man, with Kaden right behind him as they entered the back room, looking around in curiosity until the man pulled out a solid, black case with a metal latch and strap on it. "Go ahead and open it, kid."

Ratchet looked toward Kaden in apprehension, but Kaden only smiled and nodded. He was eager to see it himself, and he also wanted to see the kit's reaction to whatever it was Skid gave him. Ratchet took a deep breath, and opened the case, removing one of the protective layers inside.

"No way..." He said, astonished. Sliding a gentle fingertip along the metallic, red casing of a brand new hoverboard. He looked up at Kaden, who looked equally astonished. The store manager chuckled, "You've earned it, kid. It's even signed by Mr. McMarx himself. You should be proud of yourself."

"I-I don't know what to say." he said, "This is amazing!" he said, gently shutting the case.

He looked toward the store manager after he put the strap around his body, "Thank you."

The man chuckled, "It's no trouble. If anything, you should be thanking Skid when you get the chance. I'm sure he would be happy to hear from his new favorite "little dude" or whatever he called you." he grinned, "You take care of that thing, you hear?"

Ratchet nodded rapidly, Kaden laying a hand on his upper back as they left the store. Kaden turned to look at him happily, "I'm proud of you, kid. You did really well. Are you gonna fly that anytime in the future?"

He thought would be elated to start using the board, but the kid surprised him, "No...I think it's better if I stay out of racing for a while. Of course I must call Mr. McMarx and thank him so much. I think I will put this in the garage for the time being." he paused, "I should probably worry about other things other than racing. I need to find where I came from, after all. Racing is gonna have to wait until I find my answers." Kaden looked at him, mouth wide in surprise. Even to this day, Ratchet still surprises him by saying things like this or acting like a normal adult Lombax would.

He wondered if this was just because of Ratchet's incident, or how he used to be before it. He supposed they would never know. Not until Ratchet gets his memories back.

"I see. Well then, anywhere else you'd like to go? We have all day?"

Ratchet thought for a minute, jostling the case on his back, "Actually, I did agree to split the prize with Oliver so..."

Kaden sighed, it was gonna be a long day. Especially if Ratchet would show Oliver the new hoverboard.

Which he did.

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It was that night when more things started to change.

Ratchet felt off after they left Oliver's house. It was this sick, festering feeling that wouldn't go away. Maybe he was getting sick? It felt awfully cold. When he commented on it, Kaden only said that it was the beginning of fall, not cold enough to bother anyone yet. This only served to make Ratchet more and more confused. He felt confused, nauseous even. It felt like he was balancing on the edge of something that he didn't even know himself. It was after dinner when Phoebe looked at him worriedly, "Are you alright? You've been awfully quiet this evening..." she trailed off, Ratchet sighed, "I-If I'm being honest. Ever since Kaden and I left Oliver's house I haven't been feeling well." Ouch...that was hard for him to admit..."I don't think it's anything bad though. You don't have to worry Phoebe."

Nonetheless, the woman walked over and placed the back of her hand on his forehead, and he almost jerked away in embarrassment. Phoebe, "A tad bit warm. You're welcome to go rest if you want. I'll clean up the rest and tell Kaden not to be too loud in the garage while he is welding away, okay?"

Ratchet looked down, and nodded, "Y-yeah, thanks Phoebe."

She smiled as she walked away, Ratchet getting up to do the same. He took a bit longer getting up the stairs because of his leg, but he managed. He started getting ready to sleep, as if on autopilot. Usually, he has immense difficulty falling asleep, but tonight seemed like it was going to be an exception.

With the door open slightly, lights off, ratchet fell to sleep immediately.

He will soon regret his decision...

It was as if his eyes were blurry. He looked down at his muddled surroundings. It was as if his world was shaking, his feet unable to stay stable on the ground. He fell to his knees looking up in fear. Why could he feel this? Why could he control himself like this? He was confused, this was no ordinary dream. He was confused...but this feeling in his chest gripped at his heart, which was beating erratically in his chest.

Looking up, he could see one, big blue light. It strung his eyes as he winced. Someone called out to him, but he paid no mind as he was entranced by the light. He watched someone else collapse around him, but couldn't quite make out who they were and what they looked like. He called out someone's name, but couldn't decipher what came out of his mouth.

It was like he was underwater, or moving through mud. He was stuck watching the scene unfold in shock.

Suddenly, the floor around him cracked even more, causing the section he was on to crumble and almost collapse. He tried to grip the ground, but nothing. He was falling.

The light above him got even bigger, beams from the ceiling crumbling into pieces.

He was going to die

He regretted even trying to stand up as an immense pain ran down his spine, from his head to his toes. His arms came up to grip his shoulders but to no avail. He was falling into nothingness before he could think and then-

[START] -Skip to where it says END

He woke up, gasping for breaths that he couldn't seem to get, he brought a hand up to his chest but to no avail. He was getting dizzy as he sat on the side of his bed.

"Hey kid, are you alright I heard some-" Kaden paused, before rushing forward, going down on one knee and holding his hands up, he didn't know if it was good to touch just yet. "Ratchet. Can I touch you? I can help you, kid. I just need you to look at me."

Ratchet nodded desperately, looking at the man as if he was his only lifeline. Kaden gently took Ratchet's hand, placing it on his own chest, exaggerating his even breathing so Ratchet could feel it. "Just copy me. You'll be okay." He reassured, "It was just a little dream, yeah?"

"N-No-" Ratchet gasped out, "I-I should- I died. T-the pain. That-that was r-real-"

Kaden shook his head, "Don't speak. Later, okay? Right now, you have to breathe for me, okay?"

Ratchet nodded, trying to get himself to calm down. He hoped Phoebe didn't come in here and saw him like this. He didn't want her to see him like this. Heck, he didn't even want Kaden to see him like this.

But, from time to time, people need a little bit of help. No matter how much it hurts to ask for it or receive it.

[END]

Kaden gently pulled his hand off of his chest, rising to hug Ratchet close as the aftermath of all that seemed to hit them both. Kaden held the back of Ratchet's head to bring him towards his chest.

"Are you okay?" he asked, gently. He felt Ratchet nod, and he pulled back, going to sit next to him on the bed. "Do you need to talk about it?"

Ratchet looked down at the floor, eyes tired and red. "I-I think it was how I got outside the city..." he mumbled, "I don't think I want to talk much about it."

"That's okay." Kaden replied, bringing a hand up to Ratchet's back, a silent comfort. "You're okay now, that's what matters.

Ratchet smiled softly,

"Thank you."

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It was close to midnight by the time Kaden left Ratchet alone in his room. The man was hesitant to do so, but Ratchet assured him he would be okay, and that he needed some alone time anyway.

He walked in to see Phoebe quietly reading a book in bed, she put it down immediately, "Is everything okay? I heard some commotion going on in there. Kaden sighed, "He had a ...really bad nightmare. Caused him to panic but...he is okay now." he sat down on the edge of the bed, putting his head in his hands, "He acted just like me when I had dreams of...that whole incident with Tachyon.: he said bitterly, "Why does someone as young as him have to go through that?"

Phoebe paused, smiling sadly at her husband, "That's how the universe works sometimes. It's...very unfair." she whispered, "All we can do is help him, you know that."

"Yeah, you're right."

"And also-" she said, gently, "-We are part of the very few people that he has to support him. He is probably very grateful that you were there with him in his moment of weakness." she paused, silent for a moment, "You two have gotten pretty close during his time here. I know that the whole incident just now shook you both up. You should get some rest."

Kaden shook his head. "No, that reminds me." he turned to look at her,

"We need to talk."

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Ohhh, I wonder what he has to tell Phoebe? What do you all think?

No Clank or XR segment this time but don't worry. There are big plans in store for that. You'll see the next chapter! :).

Oh and ALSO : I will be going back and reformatting other chapters and updating them with the new format sometime today. I don't know if this sends out notifications when I replace chapters with their changes (does it? I don't know, do you?) so if it does, you can turn off notifications for a while because I don't want to bother you all :).

Until then, see you later!