001 || video;

[double_edged]

[It's a peaceful, melodic sound, washing over the feed. The sound of lapping waves, the light, balmy breeze... and the distant sound of an aged man, moaning softly as the sand begins to shift.

As the view comes more into focus, a large furred husk takes up most of it, pushing himself up from the ocean's grasp to blink slowly at his surroundings.]

Where...?

[He stares for a moment longer, brow furrowing in thought, before his memories catch up with him - the Clock, the explosion...

His last words to Ratchet, and one last look at the pocketwatch he held so dear.

With a gasp, he quickly searches his own pockets, sighing in relief at the metallic feel, grateful to whatever force out there that it had still been in one piece. That, and his Praetorian Omniwrench, which laid a few feet from where he'd collapsed.

Considering this world was still in one cohesive piece, he knows that he'd successfully reverted his mistake. And... wherever he was now, this was where he was meant to be.

Except he hadn't expected death to be so... wet. The Lombax's ears droop over his shoulders, heavy with saltwater and dripping down to the sand. And that's where he spots the SFC, laying right next to his wrench. Curious at this little piece of machinery - certainly not Lombax build, that was for sure - he picks it up.

Hello, Vatheon. Meet the General.]

Comments

[Reaction - Not here yet. 1/3]

[last_lombax]

[Ratchet just stares at the video feed. This...this can't be happening. That's...

Why is he here?

So many emotions run through the young Lombax. Anger. Fear. Guilt. Remorse. They fight for dominance, all wanting to come out and be the frontal emotion.]

Re: [Reaction - Not here yet. 2/3]

[last_lombax]

[In the end though, only one can win out. Anger. And he grabs his SFC and gets ready to turn it on.]

[Video - 3/3]

[last_lombax]

General Alister Azimuth...

[Video ]

[double_edged]

...

[--congratulations, Ratchet! You've successfully thrown the General off-guard!

Your prize? A whole lot of dumbfounded staring as he tries to figure out why the other Lombax is here, and not at the Clock with Clank.]

Ratchet? I--

[The older Lombax's canines are bared, just as furious as his younger companion.]

Why. Did you. Follow me?!

[Because this wasn't happening. Ratchet wasn't dead. He'd reversed the blast, the timeshift shouldn't have happened!]

Re: [Video ]

[last_lombax]

[Ratchet growls back and chuckles darkly and shakes his head.]

Sorry to burst your bubble, oh the irony, but I've been here for months. You followed me here, General.

[Video ]

[double_edged]

[Maybe he hadn't reversed the blast after all. Maybe this was the start of the universe undoing itself, as Ratchet had warned. He should have never gotten to that chamber, should have never started this all in the first place...

The snarl is gone quickly, replaced by concern.]

...months? Ratchet, I just saw you. You were about to leap into the temporal energy before I'd stopped you. I shifted time back. That should have saved the Clock!

[The Lombax's shoulders slumped, auburn eyes trailing down towards the sand.]

Did... that fail? Did I fail?

Re: [Video ]

[last_lombax]

[Ratchet blinks and shakes his head. He's confused now but his face keeps a snarky expression.]

Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about. Last thing I remember is falling off the platform after you shot me.

[Video ]

[double_edged]

That--?

Clank pushed you out of the way, I saw it. It missed! I activated the Clock, we fought, and it started to break down.

Ratchet, I may be old, but my memory is not failing me that quickly.

Re: [Video ]

[last_lombax]

That isn't how I remember it. Clank didn't get a chance to push me out of the way with your sneak attack Alister.

[Voice]

[chosehope]

[Nunnally raised an eyebrow at the armor Alister was wearing. She had wonder what happened in his world but for now...]

I'm afraid that you're in another world called Vatheon, sir.

[Video]

[double_edged]

[Alister bears it stoically - with the Lombax Praetorian Guard all but disbanded, it isn't a surprise that someone from another plane of existence would take a fascination to his armour. He tries trying out his fur, to work as a distraction, keeping his tone calm and level.]

So I see.

I couldn't have been given a more, ah... graceful welcoming committee? Is everyone simply tossed into the sea as such?

[Shaking his boots now. Yyyep, that's gonna rust the plates.]

[Video]

[chosehope]

Well, there is a welcome committee but that is the usual greeting. That was how I first arrived here too.

Um...are you still in the plaza? I could find someway to get you a towel, sir!

[Video]

[double_edged]

[If being ripped from your homeworld and thrown into an ocean, somehow under the sea, was the greeting, Alister wasn't sure he wanted to meet the welcoming committee.

The Lombax picks up his wrench, shaking the excess water out of it, before holstering the weapon on his back. He double-checks his pocket to ensure the watch was still there, before moving on to adjust his gloves.]

I would prefer to dry off before I wander into town like a drowned Terachnoid, yes. Though it's a minor inconvenience, so there's no need to race.

[Video]

[chosehope]

Are there any buildings that you could find? I'm pretty sure they're more than willing to offer you one!

[That and she wasn't too sure about going up to random strangers...]

[Video]

[double_edged]

...I suppose I should behave and do this proper, if I'm to be trapped here.

Though at the same time, setting up base at the junkyard doesn't seem that terrible of a prospect, either.

[Video]

[chosehope]

Don't worry, most of the people in Vatheon are rather nice people. They'll do their best to make you feel as home as possible!

What do you mean setting up a base?

[Hopefully he doesn't what she thought it meant]

[Video]

[double_edged]

On the contrary, I would prefer this to be as little as 'home' as possible. And I certainly would not want to be coddled by those I've only just met. Talk, but leave an old Lombax to his thoughts.

[Though the General still smiles softly, shaking his head.]

No, it's nothing to be concerned about - perhaps my years in the Guard have me phrasing things differently nowadays. A 'base', simply in 'a place to duck in'. Not quite home, and not simply shelter, either.

text

[kingwithnocrown]

[Oh my God another furry. He looks similar to Ratchet. CONCLUSIONS ARE MADE. Izaya's doing his job aw yeah]

hi hi hi!! wow you're so cute and fluffy just like him! Hey are you a - lombax- as well. that's how you spell it right?

text

[double_edged]

Yes?

...would it be too much to ask who this is?

text

[kingwithnocrown]

not really no but it'd be kind of pointless since you won't know who i am a n y w a y ☆

but for the sake of being polite- i'm Orihara Izaya. or. Izaya

it's nice to meet you- um sorry what's your name?

text

[double_edged]

...Alister Azimuth.

[This guy's already triggering that old war paranoia in him, so he won't get much more information than that. Nefarious was already defeated, but who knew who this Izaya person was working for?

Why couldn't he make a face-to-face interaction, and why was he being so cryptic?]

text

[kingwithnocrown]

[Wow it's pretty smart thinking being cautious like this. Izaya has to hand it to the guy. He's not as naive as some of the idiots who come swimming through to Vatheon.

But seriously.]

do you know Ratchet?

text

[double_edged]

Why do you want to know.

text

[kingwithnocrown]

wow rude. well duh. he's the only other person here who looks really very similar to you. why would i not want to know?

text - FORGOT THIS WAS TEXT...

[double_edged]

We're Lombaxes.