Seeing Ratchet and Twilight staring at him, Alister sank back against the wall to answer their questions. "I...made a mistake," he explained, closing his eyes against the pain of the memories. "After the Great War, Polaris was a...dangerous place. Even with the Cragmites gone, I knew steps needed to be taken to protect the galaxy."
"Not everyone agreed?" Ratchet asked curiously.
"No," Alister confirmed. "Even Kaden didn't like the idea of developing weapons technology further. We...had quite a few heated debates over that. That made things...even harder when it looked like opportunity came knocking."
"Opportunity?" Twilight asked curiously.
"One day, we were approached by an inventor with incredible ideas," Alister explained. "Technology light years beyond of what we were using! The inventor was someone...someone Kaden warned me not to trust-"
"Percival Tachyon," Ratchet and Twilight both stated together.
Seeing Alister's startled expression, Twilight smiled softly. "It's not that hard to put the pieces together," she explained. "He had to get the technology from somewhere."
"Yes," Alister replied. "From the Lombaxes...from me. Despite the fact that everyone else on the High Council distrusted him, I granted him full access to our technology, all of our secrets. I thought his plans could be used to help keep the entire galaxy safe!" He sighed, lowering his head. "But instead, he helped himself...to the whole galaxy. And we were his first targets.
"Most of us took refuge in the Court...but Kaden refused." Alister's head rose, pain visible in his eyes. "Vashiir had only just finished delivering you, and neither of you were stable enough for ship transport yet. He rushed back to save you both, but...by the time he got there, it was too late for her."
Twilight and Ratchet listened in stunned silence, both knowing to a certain extent that this was how their story began.
"After that, Kaden fled with you," Alister continued. "I...didn't hear from him again after that, so...I have no idea how long he survived before Tachyon caught up with him...but I know...I was responsible for his death. His, and your mother's. Your life without knowing your own kind, Ratchet, and the hardships that caused you...I am the reason. For these crimes...I was forbidden from joining the Lombaxes when they removed themselves from this dimension, in the hopes that doing so would limit Tachyon's destructive rampage as he turned his attention to pursuing us...and those of us that remained in this universe. Since I created the situation trying to protect the galaxy...I was left to try and protect the galaxy by keeping Tachyon in check."
As Alister sat in silence, Twilight tried to comfort him. "It's...it's not your fault..." she began.
"Yes it is," Alister countered. "How can it not be? None of it would have happened if I hadn't dismissed Kaden's concerns about Tachyon off as more 'anti-weapons tech paranoia'!" He almost spat the last words. "If I'd only listened to him...this is all my doing..."
"Thank you," Ratchet stated calmly.
Alister and Twilight's heads both shot up. "What?" they both demanded, shocked.
"So you're saying everything in my life - being raised by Nana on Veldin, raising Twilight, all our adventures together - happened because of what you did?" Ratchet asked. "Thank you. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Sure, I've wondered what it would have been like being raised by my parents, especially since finding Aphelion, but..." Reaching out, he stroked Twilight's cheek. "Wouldn't be worth trading away even a moment of being Twilight's father."
"...Daddy..." Twilight whispered, her eyes shining as she looked up at him.
"But...to never know your parents?" Alister countered. "Your own people?"
"If I want to know more about the Lombaxes," Ratchet countered, "I can ask Aphelion, or Angela, or you. But my people?" He shrugged. "My people are my family. That's Clank, a robot who is apparently part Zoni somehow; Twilight, a magical winged unicorn from who knows where; Aphelion, a living spaceship that's bigger on the inside; Qwark, an overgrown manchild who desperately wants to prove himself a hero, but even more just wants to belong and not be alone..." He smiled up at Alister. "And now you...Uncle."
Alister stared at Ratchet, completely poleaxed. After a time, he finally smiled. "Thank you, Ratchet."
"And Angela," Twilight spoke up. "And Sasha. And Talwyn, and by extension Cronk and Zephyr-"
"Yes, Twilight," Ratchet groaned, shaking his head as Twilight giggled at his discomfiture.
Alister managed a chuckle as he stood up. "Still...that doesn't mean we can't fix what went wrong. With the clock under our control-"
"Seriously?" Twilight interrupted. "You're seriously considering trying to use the Great Clock - a time machine - to alter time in such a way to negate the events that caused you to use it in the first place? Do you have any idea what that sort of Paradox could do to you? Do you even have any idea how it even works?"
"Do you?" Alister countered.
"No, but I wouldn't try to use a technology I just discovered until I knew everything about how it worked. In the case of the Great Clock, that'd be at least a year of study, if not two, from the sound of it."
As Alister and Twilight glared each other down, Ratchet stepped between them. "Look, let's set this aside for a moment, okay?" he spoke up. "Can we agree that letting Nefarious or any of his allies use the Clock is a bad idea?"
"Absolutely!" Twilight agreed.
"Most assuredly," Alister confirmed.
"In that case, let's focus on stopping him and saving Clank," Ratchet suggested. "Table any discussion of actually using the Clock ourselves until the danger of someone else using it has passed."
As he got nods of agreement from the two of them, Ratchet suppressed his own thoughts of wanting to use the Clock to try and track down Twilight's homeworld. Like he'd said, it wasn't the time for that.
So, it'd take her more then 10 seconds to figure it out? Clock must be damn complex then.
Is this story nearing its end?
6908075 According to the games, we have about runs a few calculations three more games to go. "All 4 One," "Full Frontal Assault," and "Into the Nexus".
6908109 Dang, I have been really behind then, because the last game I heard that was released was A Crack in Time,
6908070
In this setting It's literally the most complicated thing in the universe.
Honestly, if Twilight wanted to mess with time I'd ask her to make her own time machine first. One that isn't plugging a hole in space/time that could turn the universe inside out if the time machine in question stops working properly.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
6908176 Agreed! Oh and I would hide were I you, I just saw Akane heading into the kitchen with a cookbook in hand
6908115
6908109 You guys forgot to check the description which says which games will be covered. Full Frontal Assault will not be done by the look of things, but the other 2 will.
Fun fact: every single R&C game name after the first one is an innuendo.
6908379 Not quite.
Deadlocked.
Also, Up your Arsenal is more of a pun based on arse than an innuendo.
6908338
Because it's the latest Dues ex Machina, and there's no reason he can't try.
Besides, based on the primary purpose, it can observe all of space time for anomalies. In theory, he could use it to locate her homeworld if he knew what he was looking for.
Besides, the Dimensionator told him to contact Orvus about it.
... They have access to a Time Machine... and we have no actual proof that either of Ratchet's Parents are dead, just the records that they are gone, and Maybe Percival's gloating comments.
lets see they have access to a surprisingly complex Robot facility (aka Clank's Mom) and/or a whole lot of robot pirates that would love to spite Percival Tachyon a 'second', several variations of Holo disguises, including one that works on Organics, first hand information about the where and when of Vashiir's 'death', and a time machine. Combined with Twilight's brains, an off-hand comment Ace hardlight's cryotub, and that Paradoxs only exist if you don't plan on keeping 'known' History intact.
In all honesty it would not take to much effort to fake their deaths, saving their lives, even preserving Kaden's legacy, as a robot with a modified Holo disguise could keep the disguise active even after a 'fatal' blow. actually it would probably take two robots, one to spite Percival, and another to keep the cryopods hidden... they could also ask The Plumber for help if he showed up at the right time.
As for why I think this is possible, The Ratchet and Clank wiki I use just states that she was Gone when Kaden got to her last known location, And Alister did just tell them that he never did hear from Kaden after he fled with Ratchet.
... and before anyone asks, No I don't want to make things harder for Tatsurou, I just like how Heart warming his writing can be when he given a chance to let his muse run wild.
6908430
Major spoilers, but...
There is a much simpler solution that has already been foreshadowed.
6908430
...except the Great Clock isn't a time machine. It is a clock. One that the entire universe sets it's watch by. Hence the ending of the game.
That's another very mature moment for Ratchet. There are many ways to describe family. you just sometimes have to choose what it means to you. And, after all, Twilight herself represents frendship, and as the saying goes "Friends are the family you choose"...
6908070 Considering that it keeps time for the entire UNIVERSE, I'd be surprised if it wasn't.
The biggest issue I find is keeping Twilight from copying Sigmund so she could have him as a pet or something.
Also, puns.
6908389 What about taking it in the arse and that certain position that allows your partner to bodylock you?
This story is one of my favorite Past: Times. :)
Get it? Flipping the chapter title?
6908538
I think it would be much easier to use the Clock to scan the entire cosmos more the etheric signature that Twilight uses for Magic, and lock onto all the places it registers.
6908702
No. I mean analyzing the energy wavelength that allows Twilight to use magic, and then scanning the entire cosmos for that type of magic user.
And it wasn't etherial energies. It was because of the nature of that dimension's space-time.
6908702
...this isn't a TCB fic. Magic as an ambient energy isn't lethal in this setting. Besides, this is Twilight we are talking about. Ratchet is probably supersaturated with the stuff by now.
Edit:
6908768
Most stories go with Equus.
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
Twilight's family is badass.
And if Twilight starts messing with the Clock I think various time based characters from other series should make brief appearances, ie Sailor Pluto, all the Doctors poking their heads out of the TARDIS, Link playing the Ocarina of Time, Doc Brown and Marty in the flying Delorean, and the Telephone Booth from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. all passing through.
6908452 OOOHHHHHH, I see what you did there, great idea Tats. Will they need to beat up Gato 3 times to get enough Silver points???
6908768
Reread "Veldin: Promises".
6908544 *eyerolls* Up your Arse(nal) - pun, not innuendo. "You can take your bigoted opinion and shove it up your arse!"
Deadlocked: Refers to the explosive collars worn during the Dreadzone competition by participants. Not much of a pun or innuendo there.
Furthermore, Going Commando is not an innuendo either. It's a rather specific reference to not wearing underwear. As far as I know, it's a rather universal bit of slang in English.
An innuendo is typically at least slightly obfuscating the subject matter through word choice.
6908885
I believe they meant "double entendre".
Actually, that's not a problem with time travel in this universe. Clank turned back time for six minutes to prevent something that would negate him going back in time in the first place and everything was fine. Besides, you don't even have to use the Clock; just open a time portal and fix whatever you need to. If you were the one who did it then you'll retain all your memories of the original timeline, and there's no risk of temporal damage to the universe and no consequences, since in the game it's not something they even had to think twice about.
6908906
As Azimuth and Twilight both stated, neither of them know how the Great Clock actually works.
6908812
*Waves the point away* Same word, different spelling.
6908906 6908910
To be fair, I doubt anyone in setting aside from Orvus himself (and maybe Sigma and the Plumber) knows the full extent of how the clock works. Rewinding the entire universe back six minutes may have been doable with nothing worse than Paradoxal Causality (Clank remembers the original timeline), but trying to rewind several decades resulted in the Clock stripping a gear or six. ...million.
I think that we can all agree that:
i.ytimg.com/vi/spuQo1aa2Yo/maxresdefault.jpg
Well if Azimuth does make a dash for the clocks control Twilight can just grab him in her magic so they can restrain him, problem solved
6908885 I am aware of the puns and the collars. The point is that they are still very easily innuendos.
6908854 Yo you forgot Sans from Undertale!
6909456 I was listing all the classics I know off the top of my head, I have not personally played Undertale so I didn't mention it.
6909371 But they aren't innuendos! There is a key point to innuendo in that the choice of words has to be an allusion to something else entirely and not an outright statement of it.
Deadlocked inherently refers only to the collars, with a connotation of competition. If you can find a way to turn it into an innuendo that's great, but it would need context and heavy emphasis.
Going commando: as stated above this is extremely common slang for not wearing underwear. It is gender-neutral, and has a male-specific version in freeballing. While being inherently related to raunchy situations and conversations due to the subject, this is not an innuendo. The only people who won't get it are people who have never heard the term before. Innuendos are allusions based on context.
Up Your Arsenal: This is just a simple pun. The shortened version is a direct message with no veil at all to the meaning. This is not an innuendo.
Oh boy. It looks like Ratchet might be making Azimuth's mistake for a different reason. Please let it not be so.
6908075 There's still the Four Player coop thing.
Just in case your looking for story ideas, I wondered what one of the villains, like baby sombra, would be like in Land Before Time. Just a suggestion.
6916181
One, that should go on my user page, not an unrelated story.
Two, a plan for Sombra has already been announced.
6916210 k, my bad, as for the character in that saga, I just couldnt think of someone who would be able to make that more interesting.
6916362
I won't be working with Land Before Time.
6916376 understandable, im content with all the stories you have up already.
6916376 Bummer...
6908973 The only down side would be if he could knock out Twilight. Take out Twilight and things get less crazy and more difficult.
Yeah.
7141166
Ratchet would kill him for doing that, also Earth Pony durability times 1000 I'd like to see him try.