|| Fifth ☄ ||

[guardiano_perduto]

--uh.

[Oh hey there Ratchet, where've you been? Stuff happened on the ship while you were gone.

...but something about the Lombax just doesn't look quite right. His fur's a bit bristled and it doesn't look like he's been sleeping very well at all. Scorch-marks cover some pretty broad sections of his armour, notably his hands. But he ignores all that and tries to address Cambot with as casual a demeanor as he can manage.

Which isn't that good.

Something's definately bugging him, other than their current predicament.]

I was gonna say something along the lines of how the heck I got tossed back and forth like this but, ah...

Could someone tell me why there's a talking dinosaur plastered all over the place?

Comments

[guardiano_perduto]

What, gettin' knocked back home and here? That's common?

...and yeah, why wouldn't I be?

[optimistickey]

I dunno how common it is, but I know it's happened to at least a couple of us!

You just look a little...down, I guess.

[guardiano_perduto]

Yeah, well...

It was probably better if I didn't go in the first place, y'know? I found Clank again, but...

[optimistickey]

What happened?

[guardiano_perduto]

You ever have something happen, something that finally made your life feel full, just to... have it taken away in the worst way imaginable?

[optimistickey]

Umm...I'm not exactly sure...

[guardiano_perduto]

...look, maybe this is too heavy for you.

[optimistickey]

Nuh-uh! I've dealt with a lot of really hard stuff.

[guardiano_perduto]

Including death?

[optimistickey]

Well...yes, sort of.

[guardiano_perduto]

It's... a long story, kid.

[optimistickey]

I'll listen, if you want me to.

But only if you wanna.

[guardiano_perduto]

Not over Cambot. Okay?

[optimistickey]

All right! I'm up on the cafeteria deck.

[guardiano_perduto]

Tryin' to get a little exercise outta me, huh? Alright, alright I'm comin'.

[optimistickey]

[And Sora is waiting in the cafeteria, with a couple of milkshakes from the synthesizer ready in case Ratchet feels like one.]

Hey there.

[guardiano_perduto]

[Oh, Sora, you're a bro and Ratchet's so, so lucky to have you as a pal. Because who else would talk about the impending end of existence over milkshakes? It's the start of a sense of normalcy, and one that's desperately needed.]

...

What is this, a date?

[Yes, that's how he thanks you.]

[optimistickey]

[That's some way to say thanks! Sora responds with a facepalm.]

Hey, come on! I was already getting one, thought you'd like one, too. Everyone likes milkshakes!

[guardiano_perduto]

Wellll... okay. I mean, you did get two.

[At least it gets a small smile from the Lombax, and he sits across the table from his companion.]

...seriously, though. Thank you.

[optimistickey]

[All right, a smile is what Sora was after. Now he's satisfied. He stops to take a sip from his own.]

It's no problem.

So...what's up?

[guardiano_perduto]

[...right. That was what he'd come here for in the first place, hadn't he?

Both of his hands rest on the cup of the milkshake, so he's fighting the urge to grasp at his wrist as the memories suddenly come flowing back, as real as the day it had all happened. But there is a sudden, pained look in the young Lombax's face, meeting Sora's eyes for just a moment, before they're averted.]

I... went home, I guess. And I met a guy I never thought I would.

Maybe I shouldn't have.

[optimistickey]

[Sora looks worried...he doesn't remember Ratchet ever looking quite this bad. Something really awful must have happened with him. Why did this keep happening whenever they got dragged back home?]

Well...who did you meet?

[guardiano_perduto]

...General Alister Azimuth.

He...

He was a Lombax, too. And a good friend of my dad's.

[optimistickey]

[That doesn't explain as much, except that maybe this Alister had done (or tried to do) something bad.]

Something bad happened with him, I guess?

[guardiano_perduto]

...he wanted to help our kind come back. He was obsessed with it, and nothing we said could convince him to change his mind. He--

[That much gets him to cut off, suddenly choking back a soft sob. Fingers move to pinch the brim of his nose tightly, the Lombax now leaning over the table.]

He wouldn't stop. It just got worse and worse.