Ratchet knew a lot about Clank, the robot had been his best friend since he was 15. Of course, their first memories werent the best. The Lombax had been horrible to the little robot in his first days of life. He had been impolite, self-centered, greedy, and just plain out cruel. He often pondered why he acted that way. It could be that it was because he had been abandoned as a newborn on an uninhabited planet. Or perhaps its because no one had really raised him after he turned 7. Maybe, just maybe, if a devoted adult had been in his life, he wouldnt have been so harsh. He took pleasure in the fact he had changed since then. He definitely knew that Clank had softened him quiet a bit. He was the first real friend Ratchet had ever had. The first one to put up with his attitude. Maybe growing up and getting a bit more maturity had helped too. Here he was though, 21 years old, and having the same feelings he had years ago. Why couldnt he just listen to Clank? This was his best friend, one who would never lie about something, especially not something like this. He was a robot, he wouldnt make up things. Not even if his circuits had been messed up, as Ratchet had questioned many times on their journey. And it turned out he had been correct. Ratchet hated that. He despised that Clank was always right. He couldnt stand that he had been so selfish that hed treated his only real friend like dirt. He had been so caught up in seeking a device that ended up almost wiped out thousands of people, that his rage rose faster than it had when he was a teenager. And to make it worse, the Zoni had taken Clank. The robots not-so-imaginary-friends had whisked him away, far from where Ratchet was, leaving him all alone to think about how hed acted towards his best friend in the past week or so.

A few years went by before he saw Clank again. He had convinced himself everything was gonna be ok, that hed be with his best friend for the remainder of his existence. That his long quest was finally finished, and he could be happy, truly happy. Not faking it so people would think he was doing alright. But then, Clank informed Ratchet that he would have to remain at the Clock. Why the Clock? Why was a dumb clock so important? Okay, so it basically kept the universe from collapsing on itself, but still, it had plenty of people tending to its many needs. Why did it need Clank? Ratchet tried his best to keep the tears that were forming in his eyes from sliding down his cheeks. Clank had never seen him cry, and he refused to let this be the first time. He remained unemotional on the outside, but more than anything, he just wanted to shout and sob and scream that this wasnt fair. He'd spend a long time searching for Clank, only to find the robot ready to leave him. Was this his punishment for being a jerk? Did he really deserve this? He figured he did.

Pressing two or three buttons on the ship, Ratchet waited to take off. He couldnt believe that he was about to leave his best friend here, at a clock, a gadget that didnt have emotions or anything. But, at least it couldnt distress the little robot like he had. It could never say anything unkind or foul. It couldnt take advantage of him like Ratchet did. Clank saved his life almost daily, but did he ever stop to thank him? He couldnt recall the last time that he had said, Thank you Clank. The ship started to take off. This was it. Farewell to his best friend, and the life he had once known. Goodbye to a real friend, a lifesaver, and a true hero. The opening of the ship started to shut, but it didnt manage to finish before something with a silver, metallic glint hopped into the seat next to him. It was Clank. Startled but relived, Ratchet flashed his friend a smile, and realized that Clank had put aside everything, for him. He really did have the best friend in the universe.