//------------------------------// // Time: People // Story: The Sparkle in his Eye // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// Ratchet and Twilight carefully made their way through Axiom City. Ratchet made his way through the various streets with a combination of hoverboot jumps and swingshot targets, while Twilight made her way on her own wings. They spotted some of Vorselon's robots giving some of the locals a hard time, and didn't hesitate to blast them to pieces, which was much appreciated by said locals. Following directions, they eventually found their way to the spaceport. Two Terachnoids approached them, at first looking belligerent...until Twilight stepped forward, at which point they became much more pleasant and...almost fannish. Twilight talked with the pair for a time in Terachnoid, and then Twilight turned back to Ratchet. "Alister did some damage on his way through while fighting Vorselon's robots. The defense grid activated, and they're completely trapped here until the reboot switches are activated." "So which of us is going to take care of that?" Ratchet asked. Smirking, Twilight closed her eyes, her horn glowing. On the other side of the security grid, the reboot switch triggered, resetting the system and dropping the security grid. "Hmm," one of the Terachnoids murmured. "We'll need to submit that security hole in the next report to Pollyx Industries. Telekinetic abilities do ignore a great deal of present security." "They won't do anything about it," the other countered as they made their way out. "There are only three recorded individuals in the trans-galactic census with abilities of that sort - outside the mythical Zoni - and of the three, one is the go to fix-it of the universe, and another has the highest IQ ever recorded on the Terachnoid scale..." Ratchet's eyes widened. "That second one was you, wasn't it?" he asked. Twilight blushed. "Uh...yeah, kinda..." "How does that work, anyway?" Ratchet asked as they continued onward. "Well, it analyzes an individuals ability to absorb and utilize new information, and adapt to an excess of information," Twilight explained. "It's scored out of 10,000 - a hundred hundreds - for predicted perfect cerebral potentia. Even robots rarely score over 5000, and most non-terachnoids can't even get to 1500." "Where do Terachnoids usually score?" Ratchet asked curiously. "Anywhere between 7000 and 8500," Twilight replied evasively. "...and you?" Twilight blushed. "...well, at first they thought the score was 1006, until they realized the printout was upside down." Ratchet decided not to say anything as they hitched a ride in a transport tube to Neurox Plaza. When they got to the end of the transport tube, Alister contacted them. "I'm in position, but Pollyx has increased security around the entire Plaza." "Why would Pollyx help Nefarious?" Ratchet asked, confused. "He's not a robot." "For the same reason Vorselon is, probably," Alister replied. "To use the Clock for his own purposes." "Well, Mommy's not about to let them do that!" Twilight proclaimed firmly. "So we've got some time to work with." "Not too much," Azimuth countered. "We have no idea what Nefarious or his allies have planned. I have to go. Call me as soon as you reach the Plaza." With the communication cut, the pair made their way through the city. It didn't take long for them to reach the Plaza itself, where they found Azimuth already engaged in battle with the invading robots. Even before he could speak up, Ratchet and Twilight had opened fire on the robots. "You got here just in time!" Azimuth shouted happily. "Time to see what you're like in combat!" "You'd better look fast!" Twilight shouted back, dashing through the attacking robots while lashing them with her magic, splitting them into pieces. Azimuth stared at the carnage, then smirked. "Not bad, you two," he complimented. "Time to get into contact with my man on the inside." "You know someone working for Nefarious?" Ratchet asked surprised. "Actually, he's a data miner for Pollyx," Azimuth corrected. "I saved him from becoming food for the Agorians." While Azimuth's plan seemed to be going well, someone managed to get on his contact's trail. The data miner, Jarvis, worked to find a workaround with Twilight's help, while Ratchet and Azimuth fought off Nefarious' forces. "Hang on a minute!" Twilight shouted out. "We just need the list of Obsidian Eyes, right?" "That's what we're here for, yes!" Azimuth shouted back. "Then why do we need to break into the facility?" she demanded. "Couldn't Jarvis just send us the file?" "Actually, I can," Jarvis replied. "That's standard information for all employees. The only one not under Pollyx Industries control is in Krell Canyon on Planet Lumos. Can't give you anything more specific than that. ...also, Nefarious is sending a super-mech after you." "Aphelion!" Twilight shouted into her communicator. "Super-mech incoming! Trash it!" "I'm coming in!" Aphelion replied, diving in to fight. Ratchet shifted over to Azimuth's side as Aphelion shifted to mecha mode - much to Alister's amazement - and engaged the incoming automaton. "I can't believe neither of us thought of that." "I did, actually," Azimuth responded. "Then why not do that?" Alister glanced away, gripping his lance. "I remembered how much Kaden and I enjoyed assaulting a fortified position like this together...and since this place belonged to one of Nefarious' allies, I figured there was no harm in blasting our way in. And...it would give us a chance to bond. I...have been without contact of my own kind for so long. I can't imagine what it must be like to have never known one of your own kind growing up. I...at least wanted to give you this, the two of us fighting side by side." Smiling, Ratchet patted Azimuth on the shoulder. "I appreciate it," he replied softly. "How about we take on Krell Canyon together?" Azimuth smiled. "I'd like that." "Can you give me a bigger challenge next time?" Aphelion called out. "This one went down too easily..." Azimuth stared out at the wreck of the giant assault robot Nefarious had dispatched against them. "...if those two leave anything for us," he offered jokingly, startling a laugh out of Ratchet.