The alarm that activated when Alister came fighting through the station continued to ring as they dashed through the halls. As much as they wanted to leave, Kaden insisted they find Clank. They had found a picture of the lombax and the robot in a secret pocket Ratchet has, and they now know his appearance and size.

Finding a sign reading Torture Chamber, they began to worry for the little robot. Ratchet, still curled in Kaden's arms, refused to open his tear wetted eyes out of fear as the door opened.

Luckily, Nefarious was not present at the time, but they did find a small mechanical body on a table strapped down with a highly conductive metal. Smoke still rising from the blackened robot, they recognized Clank from the photo. A whimper escapes the broken lombax as Ratchet smelled the smoke, still refusing to open his eyes. As Kaden crept closer, he could see electricity sparking between Clank and his restraints, forming a buzzing sound matching the buzzing in his friends ears, who continues to whimper.

Alister was able to pop the conductive restraints off the table and now held a very limp and unresponsive Clank. A second alarm beeped and the rescuing trio made a run for it, hearing a certain mechanical villain screeching for the troops to recapture the rebels.

Alister contacted backup, saying that they are bringing back a few more than expected and may need help.

Managing to escape, the group dashes inside a starcraft that played a big part of Ratchet's past. As the ship flies away from the station, Ratchet opens his eyes for the first time since Kaden took him from the darkness. Looking around, the broken lombax smiles a little at a few memories of the place. A few pictures Alister hadn't noticed before hung on the wall, and on them were The Galactic Rangers of Solana. It started with just the four originals, Qwark, Brax, Cora, and Elaris, then Ratchet joins in, and after that Qwark gets kicked out with a newer picture replacing the other design made the four Rangers look a lot more badass than before.

Ratchet chuckled at a specific memory he held of the place, causing his father to look at him. Seeing the smile pulled the corners of Kaden's lips up, but soon sank as Ratchet eyes drifted closed.

A tailless female Markazian enters the room, sees Ratchet in his father's arms, and runs to Kaden.

"Ratchet!" Cora yells, "What happened?"

Kaden tried to start, "Nefarious—"

"Nefarious!" She was sounding particularly angry. "He always comes back at the worst of times!"

"Why did he capture my son?" The question startled Cora, making her look up at the older lombax.

"The two of them have been at each other for years," she finally answered. Then, upon seeing Kaden's suprised expression, she asked, "Did you ever know your son? He always fell silent when we spoke of family."

"No, he was only a few weeks old when we sent him away." The group began to walk down the corridors.

"Why did you send him off?"

These type of questions forces Kaden to speak of memories he wanted to leave behind a long time ago. "A cruel tyrant named Tachyon."

"Who is he? Ratchet mentioned him when he told us he rid Polaris of another villain, but Clank disapeared and he was going to look for him. That's the last we heard of him," Cora said.

"Tachyon is-"

"Gone." It was Ratchet. "He laid waste to Fastoon and forced the lombaxes to another dimension. He got a hold of the Dimensionater and claimed he killed my father before we fought, through a portal, and finished there," he explained.

"He thought he killed me," Kaden corrected. "It was my brother. I told him not to, but he wouldn't listen. Like another lombax I know." He threw a glance at Alister. Hearing no response from Ratchet, they look down at him. Baring his teeth, he had his eyes shut like he was fighting something on the inside.

L/N

SO! The fourth chapter is up and running! I'm glad you caught and read it, it means a lot to me.

Anywho, can you PLEASE comment? I really don't mind even just the stupidest remark.

Cya!

*leaves*