Ratchet and Clank Lifeforce Chapter 42

Lifeforce Chapter 42

"There is no compromise when it comes to corruption. You have to fight it."

A. K. Antony

Its Time You Stopped Thinking and Wasting the Day

Ratchet stared down at the communicator in his hand with the stiffness of a corpse. After seeing memories that were not his, after he'd seen possession, death, and that thing creeping towards him through the Lifeforce, he'd been pretty sure nothing could beat the unease he'd already felt. He was wrong. He could hear the crackling of fire still, the soft beeping of the alarm far off in the place the other communicator lay.

What bothered him weren't the sounds. It was the fact he could hear them. Someone had known he was coming out of hyperspace at that exact moment, had called him, and was silently letting him listen to what they'd done. He should be happy, he realized, the villains getting their just deserts and slowing down a little. But...still. Something wasn't right.

His fur bristled when his ears pinpointed a new sound. Quiet, barely there. But he heard it. Breathing, steady yet a little laboured, as if someone had run quite a bit and was just calming down. Ratchet gulped, forcing down the shudder that threatened to make him move. As if the person didn't know he was listening already...

Then, abruptly, they hung up. Ratchet stared stupidly at the communicator, at a loss for words. It had to be the armoured lombax, but why? Why call him up to let him listen, when he could obviously see his handiwork? And if so why not say something...?

Ratchet placed down his communicator and gripped the steering sticks once more. He'd deal with it later, and find Clank. Maybe then he wouldn't feel like he was losing his mind.

Cranking up the cloaking device, he steadily moved forward, knowing the trio of scum on board would be having their hands full at the moment. He looked down at his communicator and wondered if they'd be able to pick up the small signal, with all the trouble they were having.

He knew it was risky, but he couldn't help it. He picked up the communicator, ignoring Trisby's warnings of contact ringing in his brain.

...

"They'll find out we're on the surface if they hadn't by now. We have to move quickly."

Clank did his best to follow Trisby through the large-leaved plants of Cobalia. The gel station he and Ratchet had met a certain blue smuggler on wasn't far, and it certainly was no library, but at least it would be a location to work with. Two small beings such as themselves would be hard to spot, now that Qwark was gone.

He ducked under a branch that Trisby had passed by, narrowly avoiding its slap. Still, being loud and quick wouldn't help. "Forgive me for saying, but I think we should travel at a slower pace if we are to remain unnoticed."

"Clank...your suggestions are nice, but they won't fit here. If the archaeologists let a lot slip, that means Tachyon's probably got his goons tearing the libraries apart looking for that dratted book." Trisby flicked a leave out of her way, scoffing, "If he doesn't resort to burning the place."

"He needs the book to find the Lifeforce himself. We know he has not obtained it yet; otherwise his forces would have left. We are in luck." Clank jogged a little to keep up with Trisby, who seemed to be doing her best to look forward and not at him. She sighed, shaking her head.

"We can't slow down."

"Why?" Clank finally asked, doing his best to keep the concern from his voice – pinning this on a deeper problem would have Trisby snapping at him again. Luckily she paid no attention, glaring ahead.

"We just can't, Clank. Call it intuition." Clank frowned a tad as they continued, and he argued no further.

...

Above their heads, several winged creatures, blending in with the branches and moss, eyed them quietly, stiff as boards. They watched as the two small figures moved to the gel station, hopping up the steps towards the higher pumps.

With a squawk, they flew out of sight again.

...

The Loki glanced down at the screen to his left on his hover-throne, noting a soft bleeping sound. Tachyon was berating several guards on their failure to catch the person responsible for their engine, and his own fury dissolved when he saw the message. He smirked.

"Hmm."

"What're you looking so pleased about, furball?" Nefarious snapped from below. The Loki rolled his eyes and turned to face him, placing a hand on the side of his throne to lean his weight on.

"Two of my kind that I sent to keep a look-out have spotted the tin can and that infernal woman heading to a gel station on Cobalia." He drawled, watching with hidden smugness as Tachyon's head jerked around in mid-rant and the robot stiffened. "They are alone. The lombax is not with them."

Nefarious slapped his hands together. "Splendid! It'll be all too easy to apprehend those two runts!"

"I do not plan on capture this time." The Loki retorted smoothly, and he meant it. Nefarious's eye twitched,

"Oh, fine mister sour, you can get rid of that cat lady, but we need the short-fry as bait to lure Ratchet in!"

The Loki opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off- surprisingly – by Tachyon.

"The heroic fool will indeed come after them. Do not fret – you will have your chance to end that mangy cat once we are done with the lombax and his companions." The cragmite gave a mirthless smirk. The Loki rolled his eyes,

"In my opinion keeping prisoners hasn't gotten any of us anywhere."

"Apart from the bean-spilling rock-studiers who told us about Cobalia..." Nefarious muttered, unaware he was backing up his rival villain. The Loki shrugged, standing up straight.

"Very well, I'll let you two play with your food –"

"Ironic as you are the feline here." Tachyon remarked, turning away on his own throne. The Loki scowled deeply as he stomped off. "Our decoy plan is still intact, but we will leave it for the lombax alone. It shall slow him down further."

"And where are you off to?" The Loki sneered.

"To find the other lombax myself. I'll scare him out of his hole." Tachyon sneered. The Loki watched him until the doors slid shut behind his walking throne, and he tittered. Nefarious eyed him, almost suspiciously. His smile faltered,

"And what are you looking at, Doctor?"

"...Nothin', you twit." Nefarious turned away as Tachyon had, moving off. Apparently they were leaving the cockpit to the Loki himself. Said spirit watched the robot doctor go with a narrowed gaze. The robot's confidence was faltering, he could see it. Any time now he'd be the first to aim his dagger at their backs, but he was ready. Nefarious had never led anyone else with a brain; just drones and other mindless minions. Tachyon had little more experience, ruling by fear, never dealing with the subtle politics the Loki had. He'd been among equals – or the closest to it, the Loki would add – and he could see an attack coming from years before.

He leaned against the wall of his throne again, shrugging carelessly to himself. But then something odd happened. A stir in his mind; like a dog in front of his eyes – and image appeared. For a second he'd seen a flash of a forest, blue and purple – and he recognised it as Magnus instantly.

He scowled. Standing, the Loki prodded his mind, and flexed his hands – or at least the hands he'd stolen. Never had an image from the mind of a creature he'd possessed poked its way through. How odd...

He'd have to keep a closer eye on his control. Not that there was any danger.

...

Dinkles remembered when the armoured lombax had crashed through the ceiling. However, something about him made him wish to leave the building. And he did; whipping out the window into the forests around the lab. Something just wasn't right.

Quietly he slid through the trees and leaves, keeping out of sight. Strange things still lingered even after the majority of the Loki had gone away. He paused on a branch, sitting down where he was and fiddling with his paws.

He peered around, and remained there for some time. It must have been a while, for he saw the lombax emerge from the lab. His ears lifted in surprise. Had he not been hurt? Where was Nevo and Dr Croid?

His ear twitched and he could hear them talking within the lab still. It wasn't too far and they didn't sound worried. The lombax, cloaked in the darkness of the night, sat down near a small stream and lay on his back.

Curious, but wary, Dinkles climbed back down from the tree and ventured nearer. The lombax did not move, and he idly wondered if he couldn't hear him at all. Then his head turned suddenly – and Dinkles fled before he could be seen. There was something...something about the lombax. But he didn't know if it was a good something or a bad something.

...

The group of Loki swooped down to the Thora clearing with none of the mocking expressions they usually donned. The second the Thora saw them the air seemed to take on a horrid chill, and mothers fled soundlessly with their children to the underground dwellings. Those who remained stiffened and looked over in apprehension.

Nikodemus was not among them, but there was one who held the same pompous air about him at the front of the gang, eyeing them all one by one – making it clear they were looking for someone. Some of the Thora paled when they realize – quite obviously – who it was.

"You won't find her here." A small Thora commented almost dimly from the side. The leading Loki male's head jerked to look at him, and he clearly forced down a smirk at the frail looking creature opposite him.

"I take it word does travel quickly among crawling insects." Fiver frowned a tad at this, but said nothing.

"I'm surprised the Loki responded to something like this." He ignored the looks of surprise from both Thora and Loki. What he really meant was that he was surprised the Loki believed what happened. Those who'd seen it happen had trouble believing it.

Well, the gaping wound of the Loki man that broke the Thora man's neck had to have come from somewhere. Tressakay had not been seen where she usually was afterwards. Some said she'd fled, others said she was waiting until more Loki came into her midst...

He glanced at the tunnel entrance. The Loki followed his gaze and sneered. Fiver cursed himself inwardly; he clearly took that as some indication.

"I'll save myself the both of nearing your inferior dwellings." The Loki said, folding his heavy arms, "Tell this...girl to face us and the rest of you won't be harmed."

There was a silence. The surrounding Thora exchanged looks, one by one, and soundlessly stared back at the Loki without a word.

The air shifted above, and all heads lifted – Tressakay had slid into view high above them. Her face was cast in a shadow and her single eye was a slit bearing down upon the groups – Fiver felt a chill run up his spine, one he'd never felt when seeing her face. The Loki's brow raised but he didn't look afraid, none of them did – just...surprised.

Fools, Fiver couldn't help but mutter in his head.

"You're not welcome here. I suggest you leave." Tressakay slowly floated downward; Thora shifted away as she halted in front of the Loki group. The leading male snickered.

"So this is the attacker? Surprising. That is, I'm surprised you where able to hold any sort of weapon capable of scratching a Loki."

"If by scratch you mean 'maim'." Tressakay muttered. Something was different about her, and Fiver could feel it. The air was freezing. The moisture on some nearby leaves had slowly turned to a crisp frost, unnoticed by all but him. Or maybe not, since the Thora all around seemed to have grown just as stiff, but where still watching attentively.

The Loki man hovered forward, his smugness gone. "My patience is limited, runt." His arm reached out without warning and he tried to seize Tressakay's – and a flash of blue sprang from around her, smacking it away. The Loki gave a strangled hiss as if burnt, gripping his arm with a wide eye. There was a collective gasp from all parties, and the other Loki jerked into far less pompous postures.

The Loki male looked up at Tressakay again, gripping his arm. "What – what are you?!" He didn't wait for an answer, and lunged. Tressakay lifted and arm and swung it down, and a whiplash of ice sprang from her skin just as before, striking the ground. Blue-white spikes spouted in front of her and travelled towards the Loki – they cast themselves out of the way and the path of spikes hit a nearby tree. It cracked and fell, demolished by the blow.

Another flicker of light surrounded Tressakay, like a faltering electric wire. The Loki where all looking at her as if she was a bomb, a very confusing bomb. Her lip curled just a little.

The leading Loki straightened up, near feral. "I won't stand before this insolence!" He lunged again at the Thora girl – and the other Thora gasped in horror.

Whether the horror was for him or her Fiver would never know. Tressakay slowly lifted her arms, as if waiting for the right second, and threw her hand out at the Loki. A blast of white flew from her palm and struck him, sending him flying back and rolling across the ground. He lay there, sparking as if he'd just been electrocuted.

The Loki stared at her, and fled, dragging him along with them, their faces frozen in shock. Tressakay was panting, staring after them. Fiver swallowed, looking at her, but she didn't look at him. It almost felt like she was doing her best not to look at anyone else.

The Thora woman gathered around the place where staring into her, but not with their usual scorn. Was it envy? He didn't know. He wondered...if he'd been able to, would he have done the same...?

...

Clank and Trisby reached the gel gate with almost no delay. Robots hovered here and there, but otherwise it was quite deserted. Clank remembered the Smuggler once telling them – that is, he and Ratchet – that this was Polaris's gel capital.

It seemed odd it would have a library, let alone be the library where such an important book lay – but then again, a planet is a planet, people would need to read, and Ickabar's first book needed to start somewhere.

He supposed all attention was on said libraries. So to find the one Tachyon's forces were searching, they simply had to locate the largest density of minion activity. "Perhaps we can find a radar of some sorts..." He mused aloud.

Trisby chuckled nearby, fiddling with some wires near one of the gates. "Chattering to the Zoni, Clank?"

He would have blushed if he was capable. "Simply thinking aloud." He returned, trying to keep the tone humorous. "What are you working on?"

"Just seeing if I can wire the gate from here, but it doesn't look like it. Guess we'll just have to move through the lil' nooks and crannies."

Clank watched as Trisby straightened up and wandered to the side of the platform. She frowned down at the moist ground below. Clank approached quietly and peered over the side to see what had caused her look.

He saw it. A ship partially covered on moss and cracks. Yet it didn't appear to be that old despite this, and it struck him as oddly familiar. "How odd...do you know the owner?"

"No...but if the staff bots where active here they would have removed a wreckage so close to the gel pumps. Which means they're not here."

"Odd, these gel factories where functional up until now, they were opened after Tachyon's power fell." Clank remarked, watching Trisby as she moved again, this time to the other side of the platform. She scrutinised the trees off the gel station's outskirts.

There was a blur of orange-bronze. Clank's optics widened. "Trisby...I fear we should take cover."

"You may be right." She turned and hurried quickly past him, seizing his wrist and pulling him further into the gel station. Behind them the orange-bronze inions burst from the bushes and approached; their humming voices carrying over the wind.

Trisby pulled Clank towards various thin pipes, and hopped up two or three before glancing back to see if he was following. Clank used his helicopter device to float upwards after her. With a half-grin she continued on herself.

"Nice gizmo, but it'll need to turn off once we find an air vent."

"Will there be air vents into the factory?"

"There's always air vents in places that should have security measures." Trisby replied with a grin.

Clank blinked, and continued following. Trisby stopped at a small air vent and pulled at the bars, giving a sharp groan at their refusal to open. Clank pulled a screwdriver from his hatch and was about to jab at the screws when a plasma blast sprang from behind them. Trisby and Clank jumped aside as the minions shot at them – and their blasts unwittingly opened the small vent hatch. Trisby smirked and dived down without a second thought. Clank looked back at the minions once before another blast hit the space right by his foot, and he hopped down after her instantly.

Trisby was already quite far ahead despite the second delay. Clank tore after her in a quick jog. "Trisby, I am falling behind!" He called, noting the blur of yellow going around the corner of the tunnel-like vent. To his relief, she called back.

"Out of practice, Secret Agent Clank?"

"Not at all." Clank called, trying not to laugh despite himself. He turned the corner and found she'd stopped, looking downward once more through some thin bars over an opening in the air vents. She was scowling. Clank, feeling an odd sense of déjà-vu, joined her and looked down.

A thug – dressed just like the ones that had been working for the Orange lombax who was clearly sanity-challenged – was standing below them with a remote-like device, pointing it at the controls of the gel gate. Beside him was an open communicator, and an oh-so familiar voice hovered from it.

"Make sure they don't know you're here. I wouldn't have to file your, ahem, resignation form would I?" The Orange lombax said in a half giggle. The thug swallowed,

"No, sir. Everything's-"

An alarm sounded. The thug jumped a bit and looked towards a security camera – he'd seen the robotic minions. "S-sir – the Loki's minions are here!"

"Goodie gumdrops. Let them have their rat race for now." Orange chortled. "I'll be in touch shortly. Keep the tiny couple and their minion pals busy." The communicator shut off and Trisby looked to Clank, frowning deeply still.

"We're being played like tuneless fiddles. It seems this orange maniac was able to track us somehow, long enough for him to plan in advance."

"It seems everyone knows what we will do before we do it." Clank remarked slowly. "It is rather...strange."

They looked at each other. Trisby was still frowning, and Clank forced down the ideas in his head. Trisby would not betray them, her motives didn't match up. But how where they being spied on so easily? It was possible something could have been planted on one of them, but tracking devices weren't mind readers. Orange's goons would have gotten here after them if they were following. No, they knew in advance.

"Maybe he learned from Tachyon somehow." Clank said aloud, though obviously keeping his voice low when they were so close to enemies. "Tachyon knew where the book was, Orange may be spying on him – and obviously since we're after the book he'd know we were coming, too."

"Hmm..." Trisby began walking again, her hastiness all but gone. "We can think out loud later. Right now it's just wasting time. Come on." Clank followed uncertainly.

Clank's commucator began beeping from within his square chest hatch. Trisby stiffened, and so did he as the beeping rang through the air vents.

"..."

"Whazzat?"

"It came from above!"

Trisby grabbed Clank by his antenna and pulled him along as those below, be it minion or goon, fired upwards at the air vents.

"If that's Ratchet on the phone, tell him I'll kill him!"