With the Valkyries having abandoned the Citadel, Ratchet, Twilight, and Azimuth were able to make their way through completely unopposed. As such, it wasn't long before Twilight's scrying spell led them straight to where Clank was being kept in stasis. Once the stasis tube was broken open, Clank awakened on his own. "Hello, Ratchet," he said as his optics activated.
"Hey, Clank-"
"Mommy!" Twilight cried out, clinging tightly to Clank as she cried in relief, now that she knew he was alright.
Clank blinked for a moment, then rubbed Twilight's back with a smile. "I am happy to see you too, Twilight." He started to say something else, but he could tell that Twilight just needed him to stay silent right now. As such, he just held her close, unsurprised when Ratchet pulled them both into his arms.
By the time Twilight managed to get herself back under control, the group had returned to Aphelion, where Ratchet informed Clank of their failure in Zanifar's past. "I'm sorry about your father, Clank. We just...weren't fast enough..."
"This time around," Twilight muttered under her breath, the beginnings of an idea and understanding shaping in her mind. Something about the sound the Zoni made when they worked their energies tickled the back of her brain...
"It is alright, Ratchet, Twilight," Clank reassured them. "Nefarious will pay for what he's done. What matters now is that we keep the clock safe. It's only a matter of time at this point before Nefarious moves to take control of it, as I unwittingly opened the path to the Orvus Chamber for him."
"The Orvus Chamber?" Twilight asked curiously.
"The control chamber for the entire station," Clank explained. "If someone who doesn't understand the true nature of the Great Clock uses the controls there, they could tear the fabric of existence!"
"Well that's why we have this little lady," Azimuth insisted, patting Twilight on the shoulder. "She'll be able to figure out how to use the Clock safely if anyone can."
Clank stared for a time. "I'm not sure which scares me more. That you say that with such conviction, or that I genuinely believe Twilight could figure out a safe way to use the Clock to time travel, given enough time."
"How about seeing your father's face when she figures out how to use the Clock to save him?" Azimuth suggested. "Or Ratchet's face...when his parents embrace him?"
Clank frowned. While everything Orvus had said told him that it was too dangerous to risk using the Clock as a time machine, everything he'd seen of Twilight had told him that if anyone could figure out how to do it safely, it was her...but at the same time there was everything that could go wrong from having her study the Clock. "Umm..."
"We'll discuss it when Nefarious isn't an issue anymore," Twilight insisted. "Once we know no one will misuse the clock, we can talk about whether or not we'll use it."
Clank nodded. "I can accept that as a compromise," he allowed. "So, should I take my usual place on your back, Ratchet? Or would I perhaps do better fighting alongside you? I do have a few new skills at my disposal."
Smirking, Ratchet primed his weapons. "Lock and load, Clank."
Clank grinned widely as he joined Ratchet and Twilight in Aphelion. "...this is new..." he managed as he took in Aphelion's upgrades.
"You haven't seen anything yet...sis," Aphelion offered teasingly.
"Do not start," Clank scolded as Twilight giggled.
As the group entered space in the two ships, they received an unexpected communication. "Mega Hero to Ratchet! Come in Dad!"
"Is that...Captain Qwark?" Clank asked, shocked.
"Mom! You're okay!" Qwark cheered happily. "But if you're there, who's keeping Nefarious away from the Clock?"
"That's our job now, Qwark," Ratchet interrupted. "You said you were going to try and infiltrate Nefarious' base. How's that going?"
"Better than I anticipated," Qwark replied, sounding somewhat uncomfortable. "I can honestly say that I am...further undercover than I've ever been before. In fact, when this is over let us never speak of it again."
Twilight's eyes widened at the mere implications of that statement. "Umm...I need an adult..."
"You and me both, sis," Qwark agreed. His shudder could be heard over the communicator.
"We'll meet you outside the station, Qwark," Clank replied quickly.
"Oh thank god!" Qwark replied quickly.
"How's Snowball doing?" Twilight asked curiously.
"Better than me," Qwark answered. "Except for getting a bit hungry. There isn't much to eat around here for a War Grok his size."
"I will start preparing enough food to feed Snowball," Aphelion confirmed.
"Until we get there, Qwark, hold position!" Azimuth ordered. "We need to make this a focused assault to take Nefarious down hard. And once that's done...it will be time to move to secure the Great Clock."
Qwark was silent for a time. "...is this another one of those techy things where the temptation to misuse is nearly as dangerous as the risks of using in the first place? Like the Dimensionator?"
"And Qwark puts that together," Clank muttered. "Worry not, Qwark," he continued in a louder voice. "We will be quite careful with this. It is my legacy, after all."
"Ah, so Twilight's in charge then!" Qwark confirmed. "I feel much safer now. Qwark out!"
Ratchet, Clank, and Twilight turned to stare at each other, then burst into hysterical laughter, Aphelion joining in as she set course for Nefarious' station.