History Timeline / RatchetAndClank

[[folder: The First Adventure]]
!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'':

[[folder: The Rest of the [=PlayStation 2=] ''Ratchet & Clank'' era]]
!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'':

!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'':

!!''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked'':

!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters'':
*
!!''VideoGame/SecretAgentClank'':
* A new holo-film in the ''Secret Agent Clank'' series is released, the plot being about Secret Agent Clank needing to solve a mystery in order to clear Ratchet's name, while Captain Qwark writes his autobiography alongside his assistant. The film also features Klunk as the main antagonist. ([[https://twitter.com/insomniacgames/status/818582634951380993 Insomniac Games' Twitter]])

[[folder:''Ratchet & Clank Future'' era]]
!!Prior to the ''Future'' trilogy:
* Dr. Nefarious and Lawrence crash-land on Zanifar, a Fongoid-inhabited planet in Polaris' Breegus system. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'')
* Crippled with anguish over somehow being defeated, Nefarious begins trying to understand himself to figure out how he might rise again. This therapy leads to him going to Quantos' Zolar Forest for a spirit walk, and finding out about The Great Clock via the Fongoid culture there. Given a purpose, Dr. Nefarious begins plotting to take control of the Clock, mess with time and create a new reality "[[BadFuture IN WHICH THE HEROES ALWAYS LOSE!]]" (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'')
* As part of a scheme to get knowledge of the master control "Orvus Chamber", Nefarious invites Orvus to Zanifar for a melding of minds. However, he then traps Orvus, demanding to know how to enter. With his refusal to talk, Nefarious uses one of his inventions, the Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler, to disperse Orvus's energy and kill him. However, in his last moment, he gets a scan of Clank, realizing he's the key to getting in. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'')
** In the original timeline, this is all that happened. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'')
** ''In the altered timeline, a Ratchet from the near-future, having observed these events, would throw a fusion grenade into Nefarious' face just after the event, damaging his cranium storage and eye.'' (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'')
* Over a year before the events of ''Tools of Destruction'', Emperor Tachyon comes into full power over most of Polaris. He then sets his sights on "Lombax rebel" Angela Cross. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'' space radio news, [[https://ratchet-galaxy.com/en/news/t-j-fixman-interviewed-by-fans interview with TJ Fixman on Ratchet-Galaxy.com]])
* Max Apogee rescues Angela Cross from Tachyon's wrath, with the female Lombax's last known sighting being fleeing the Cerullean Sector of Polaris in the famed archeologist's ship. Details regarding what else occurs around this time are sparse, but it is known that Apogee's ship was found on autopilot with the planet Jasindu as its point of origin. It is thus strongly believed that this was used to throw the space pirates and Tachyon off their trail, and that the two used the Dimensionator to transport themselves to another dimension, presumably the one the Lombaxes originally escaped to. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'' space radio news, ''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #5)
* Ratchet invents electro-shock undergarments known as "stunderwear". Despite Clank finding it ridiculous, the garment sells extremely well on Umbris. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction'')

!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction'':
* Ratchet and Clank, while spending time in Metropolis, begin testing an experimental nuclear-powered rocket sled. However, Emperor Tachyon soon invades the planet, looking to finally destroy Ratchet, the "last" Lombax. When the two parties come face-to-face, Tachyon orders Ratchet to surrender and accept a swift execution for the city's sake, but he and Clank commandeer one of Tachyon's cruisers. After escaping Kerwan, the ship puts the two in cryosleep, and eventually crash-lands on the Polaris world of Cobalia.
** Captain Qwark, also present for Tachyon's attack, is cornered at Kerwan's Planetary Defense Center. After fighting off a few Imperial soldiers, Qwark is subdued by Tachyon's forces, and brought to the emperor himself. The captain then decides to surrender to Tachyon as a confidant for his own safety, but also takes the opportunity to act as a spy within the Cragmite's forces.
*
* The Zoni, realizing that Clank is nowhere near ready for his destiny, take him to the Great Clock to be fixed, practically kidnapping him in front of Ratchet, Talwyn, Cronk, and Zephyr. Ratchet attempts to foil the effort, but he fails. He's deeply saddened by being separated from his best friend and later resolves to find him.
!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureQuestForBooty'':
* Many months after Clank's disappearance, Ratchet and Talwyn look to the IRIS Supercomputer to find a clue as to Clank's whereabouts.
* In their search, they run into Captain Slag once again.

[[folder: Ratchet and Clank's Adventure with Time]]
!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'':
* Ratchet and Talwyn, having gained a fondness for one another, spend some time together before Ratchet begins a more serious search for Clank. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries)
* Over a year after putting Clank in stasis, Dr. Nefarious accidentally slips out his hope that Clank's memory banks will lead him to the Orvus Chamber, with the listening Zoni retorting that the location is forbidden to all but Clank. The mad scientist thus reveals his deceptive nature to the Zoni, using a Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler device to backstab them. Unfortunately, the sonic wave blasts from the device damages the Great Clock's sensitive equipment, while also scattering the thousands of Zoni maintaining the machine across the galaxy. Clank is also awakened by this event, and attempts to escape from Dr. Nefarious, only to reach a dead end and be knocked out soon after. Dr. Nefarious leaves the Clock, ordering Lawrence to spy on Clank's progress so as to finally find the Orvus Chamber.
* As a result of the Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler damaging the Great Clock, time distortions and anomalies begin sprouting up all over the cosmos, putting galactic civilians in danger and at worst leaving the universe prone to more Erebus-like events.
* Traveling with Captain Quark, Aphelion is accidentally sent into a tailspin due to the time waves, crashing on a fongoid planet. Helping to fight off Lord Vorselon's forces (hired by Nefarious), Ratchet sees that something weird is going on, and rescues the fongoids, quark, and repairs Apelion thanks to the Zoni he finds in the area.
* Clank is fixed up by Sigmund, and given an orientation video about the importance of the Great Clock. However, on watching Sigmund watching Orvus's last recording, Clank begins to suspect that he might need to save his father in the past.
* Ratchet meets up with General Azimuth, gaining a new ally in his journey, and a new connection to his heritage.
* Realizing that Ratchet, Qwark and Azimuth still pose a serious threat to his plans, Nefarious hires the Valkyries to stop them.
* Clank destroys the Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler.
* Entering one final mental mindscape, Clank runs into The Plumber once again. He tells him that a true friend would understand Clank's new responsibilities, and advises him a mysterious line, "I wouldn't risk any more than six minutes."
* Clank and Sigmund finish the preliminary cleanup of temporal anomalies, reaching the Orvus Chamber. Unfortunately, Lawrence was right on their heels, knocking them both out and turning Clank over to Cassiopeia.
* Ace Hardlight is released from Zordoom Prison. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'' space radio news)
*
* General Glahm is sent to the Vartax Detention Facility after the battle of Krell Canyon. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #2)
* Engaging in battle, Ratchet and Clank fight Dr. Nefarious for the 2nd time. The battle takes them onto a spaceship, where the villain is defeated once again. This time, however, the aftermath leaves Nefarious in such a damaged state that they can't stop the ship's collision course with his space station. To make matters worse, Lawrence leaves using the ship's escape pod. Fortunately, Azimuth returns to help them out, and they escape as the ship crashes into Nefarious' space station, causing it to explode.
** Despite seemingly being left for dead and killed in the explosion of his space station, Dr. Nefarious is teleported to safety by Lawrence just before the destruction of said space station occurs. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #1, ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankAll4One'')
* Reaching the Great Clock, Ratchet drops off Clank to say goodbye, with the two sharing a brief hug. However, Azimuth refuses to accept the permanence of his actions and is consumed by his desire to save the Lombaxes and correct his mistake, causing him to snap and kill Ratchet with an energy blast from his [=OmniWrench=] in a fit of rage. Clank is left shocked and saddened as Azimuth makes a break for the Orvus Chamber, but Clank is just barely able to beat him there and shut him out. Alone, he is bombarded with all the advice and memories of the dangers of trying to use the Clock for personal gain and is forced to make a difficult choice: honoring his father's wishes or saving his best friend. However, he remembers the Plumber's earlier advice and realizes there's a compromise that will keep things stable without risk: not rewinding time by any more than six minutes. He does this, allowing him to go back in time to push Ratchet out of the way of the fatal energy blast.
* The two chase Azimuth to the Orvus Chamber, but unfortunately, Azimuth reaches the chamber first and begins rewinding time, with the duo fighting him in order to stop him from destroying the universe. Finally knocking him down, Ratchet tries to stop the process, but the lever breaks. When Ratchet spells out why his plan would destroy the universe, Azimuth realizes his mistake and uses his [=OmniWrench=] to stop it. He succeeds, but a stray blast of energy kills him in the process, leaving Ratchet as the last Lombax in this dimension.
* Clank changes his mind at the last moment and decides that he can't leave Ratchet yet, at least until the Lombax finds a family. He chooses instead to pass caretakership to Sigmund and leaves, missing what remains of his father's message: that he feels Clank should be free to follow his own path. As such, Clank rejoins Ratchet in ''Aphelion'', and the two head off to their next adventure.
* Thanks to the complete restoration of the Great Clock, the flow of time returns to normal across the universe.

[[folder:Post-''Future'' era]]
!!Sometime after the ''Future'' trilogy:
* Sometime after Nefarious' defeat, Ratchet and Clank retire from hero work and return to Ratchet's garage on Veldin in the Solana Galaxy in order to get away from the pressure of dealing with galactic threats. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issues #1 and #6)
* Captain Qwark, having survived being stranded with Snowball the war grok, settles down in Polaris while taking credit for Dr. Nefarious' defeat. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #3)
** Snowball begins living on a war grok reserve on Sargasso. ([[https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/07/ratchet-clanks-vacation-adventure Interview with TJ Fixman on IGN.com]])
* ''Unicop'', a show that Captain Qwark starred in, gets cancelled, causing his producer Cyrus to never want to speak to him again. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries #3)

* Artemis Zogg, the Minister of Defense for the Polaris Galaxy, runs for the Galactic President of Polaris while working on the Helios project, a contingency plan that would allow the government to teleport planets away and sustain them with an artificial sun in the event of a supernova, a black hole or other galactic disasters. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #3)
* Captain Qwark agrees to endorse Artemis Zogg to help his campaign. When meeting with Zogg, Qwark is also told about the Helios Project, the artificial sun and the Surinox comet shard that would be used to teleport planets. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #3)
* One month later, Cyrus visits Qwark and convinces him to run for galactic president himself by telling him about the publicity it would generate for him. Qwark proceeds to endorse himself instead of Zogg. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #3)
* Five months later, Qwark wins the galactic presidency and sends a cease-and-desist to the Helios Project as he declares the technology used to be too dangerous, citing the [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction Tachyon incident]]. Zogg decides to retire until he is informed about the project's termination, and decides to take the project's technology for himself. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #3)
* Artemis Zogg, via the Surinox Shard's teleportation capabilities, begins stealing planets from the Solana, Bogon, and Polaris galaxies to place them in his own "Artemis Galaxy" to exact revenge on Qwark. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issues #1 and #2)
* Galactic President Qwark pleads ignorance as planets begin to disappear. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #3)

!!''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] comic miniseries:
* Five months after Qwark's inauguration (and about a year after Dr. Nefarious' defeat), Ratchet and Clank begin repairs on a Skyburst 8000. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #1, [[https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/07/ratchet-clanks-vacation-adventure interview with TJ Fixman on IGN.com]])
*
* Three months after the duo arrive at the Vartax Detention Facility, General Glahm intentionally starts a fight with Ratchet to get them sent to the sector 9 airlock, where Cronk and Zephyr arrive to break them out of prison. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #2)
*
* Two weeks later, Ratchet and Clank, having decided to move to Polaris permanently, visit Galactic President Qwark at the presidential compound in Meridian City. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #6)
!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankAll4One'':
* Sometime after the Artemis Zogg incident (and two years after Dr. Nefarious' last defeat), Ratchet and Clank
!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFullFrontalAssault'':
* For the following three months after losing his chance at re-election, Captain Qwark begins managing the ''Starship Phoenix II'' ship along with Ratchet and Clank.
!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankIntoTheNexus'':
* Inspired by Ratchet and Clank's adventures battling villains such as Tachyon, Neftin and Vendra Prog attempt to break into the Intergalactic Museum of History in Meridian City to steal the original Dimensionator. When the two realize that the museum is too heavily guarded, they settle with stealing a tourbot known as Docent 427.
* Following this, the two violently assault Pollyx Industries and kidnap Pollyx himself, forcing him to complete an imperfect replica of the Dimensionator. While Neftin escapes with Pollyx to whereabouts unknown, Vendra is captured, arrested, given a quadruple life-sentence, and put into cryosleep. [[note]]The mobile tie-in ''Ratchet & Clank: Before the Nexus'' portrays Ratchet and Clank themselves as responsible for Vendra's defeat and incapacitation, but-- the dubious canonicity of the game aside-- this was not referenced in ''Into the Nexus'' proper.[[/note]]
* Six months after her arrest and being put into stasis, the ''Nebuloux Seven'' prison ship prepares to take Vendra Prog to the Vartax Detention Facility, with Ratchet, Clank, Cronk, and Zephyr as her escorts. Unfortunately for the heroes, their attempt to wake her from cryosleep just before reaching the facility leads to her powers sabotaging the ship and hijacking its operations. And as such, Neftin storms the ship, causing the destruction of the ship, and the death of Cronk and Zephyr.
* While Ratchet is dejected with his failure to protect Talwyn's family, Clank insists to him that the only way to honor their memories is to hunt down Vendra and Neftin. As such, after checking in with Talwyn, they work to escape the planet and go after the two.
* Reaching the twins' home planet, they learn their goal to use the dimensionator to bring "Mr. Eye" to their dimension so he can be their new family.

[[folder:''Rift Apart'' and beyond]]
!!''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankRiftApart''

* After competing in the arena, Ratchet exits to find a picture booth. The Lombax stops to take a picture for Clank as a souvenir, but after doing so, the booth's screen transmits a video from Angela, who has strapped Clank to a table somewhere in Metropolis. She electrocutes the robot into unconsciousness while warning that the same fate will occur to Ratchet if he doesn't leave the Bogon Galaxy. Ratchet is angered by seeing his friend get hurt and ignores the warning, determined to rescue Clank as soon as possible.

* Qwark broadcasts to Bogon's citizens, pinning the blame on Ratchet, Clank, and Angela for the Protopet disaster and declaring that he's about to amplify the Helix-o-morph's signal to pacify every Protopet in the galaxy. However, his attempt to use it on a Protopet to demonstrate goes horribly wrong; the Protopet instead grows to gargantuan size and devours Qwark and the Helix-o-morph, and Ratchet and Clank must do battle with the mutated creature in order to retrieve the latter device so Angela can fix it.

* Qwark broadcasts to Bogon's citizens, pinning the blame on Ratchet, Clank, and Angela for the Protopet disaster and declaring that he's about to amplify the Helix-o-morph's signal to pacify every Protopet in the galaxy. However, his attempt to use it on a Protopet to demonstrate goes horribly wrong; the Protopet instead grows to gargantuan size and devours Qwark and the Helix-o-morph, and Ratchet and Clank must do battle with the mutated creature in order to retrieve it so Angela can fix it.
* The two succeed in bringing down the mutated Protopet, and Angela has found the real Fizzwidget and freed him. As Ratchet begins to lament the loss of the Helix-o-morph, the mutated Protopet spits out Qwark who, in turn, throws up the Helix-o-morph. Clank quickly figures out the reason the device malfunctioned, and it's simple: Qwark put the batteries in backwards. After the issue is corrected, they use it on the mutated Protopet, which not only turns it back to normal, but makes it completely docile. Now certain it works, Angela declares her intention to use Megacorp's HV transponders to amplify the device and cure the remaining Protopets of ''their'' hostility. Meanwhile, Ratchet notices Clank mourning his destroyed admirer and promises that he can fix her.
* Ratchet, Clank, Angela, and Clank's now-repaired admirer enjoy some downtime in Clank's apartment after succeeding in ending the Protopet threat; meanwhile, Qwark is now working at Megacorp as an employee-- namely, by testing out the company's Crotchitizer. It... doesn't end well for him.

* Captain Qwark escapes Megacorp and hides in the jungles of the Solanan planet of Florana, eventually going savage after being surrounded by the local monkeys. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'')

* Returning to Veldin at nighttime, Ratchet and Clank battle through waves of Drek's forces on their way to the Deplanetizer, during which they find another platform that once again turns Clank giant. The two find Drek, who's decided to forgo any further minions and now pilots a large battle mech in an effort to deal with them himself. After a short fight, Drek shrinks Clank back to normal size and takes off for the Deplanetizer, with Ratchet and Clank following and fighting him the whole way. Once they land on the Deplanetizer, Clank pleads with Drek to consider another way to make a new home for his people, and in response, Drek reveals his true intent to repeatedly destroy the new planets he makes to get richer and richer, which angers and disgusts Clank. Drek presses multiple activation switches on the Deplanetizer, forcing Ratchet and Clank to deactivate the platform repeatedly as they fight him.
* Eventually, Drek's mech is catapulted onto the section of the Deplanetizer that pivots the laser, forcing Drek to dislodge himself before it hits him. This causes him to careen out of control and crash-land onto his planet. Ratchet and Clank notice the laser now points toward said planet instead of Veldin and take advantage of the situation, activating it and destroying the planet-- and Drek-- completely. However, debris from the planet rains down onto Veldin, with one such rock exploding in front of them, sending them flying off the Deplanetizer. Clank grabs a beam of the platform, and Ratchet grabs onto him in turn, but the Lombax's weight ends up damaging the servos in Clank's left arm, leaving it barely operable and forcing him to let them both fall. At the moment before impact, Clank uses his Thruster-Pack to fly into Ratchet horizontally, negating their downward momentum and allowing them to land in relative safety.

[[folder:[=PlayStation 2=] ''Ratchet & Clank'' era]]

%%A request from this page's original creator to any editors—in the period of time after its release, anything from the next installment in the series SHOULD either be hidden by spoilers or not added here at all. Despite the below disclaimer, it could be possible that some will use this page to catch up with the series' lore in time for the next game, and we still have to make it fair to them. If the mods say otherwise, go ahead, but I say wait a while. (Regarding Rift Apart specifically, the game will be a PS5 exclusive VERY early into the console's life, meaning that some may have issues purchasing it at first. The game also comes after a hiatus and is meant to be one of the PS5's premiere titles, so new players will be attracted as a result.)

* The original ''Ratchet & Clank'' game released in 2002 stated that, [[https://ratchetandclank.fandom.com/wiki/Ratchet_%26_Clank_(2002_game)_Goodies_menu#Epilogue via fictional magazine covers that be found in its gallery section]], the first game occurs in the year of 5354, with the year itself being composed of fictional months ("Octogus", "Marchember", "Mayjune") with a single one of them having upwards to 95 days. However, due to this dating style not appearing in any of the following games (along with how in-universe written language tends to portrayed as alien symbols in later games), combined with how a 2010 wall calendar based on the series [[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/959038-ratchet-and-clank-future-a-crack-in-time/51457348 dates everything in the same months and days as Earth's calendar]], it may be possible that this dating style has been [[{{Retcon}} quietly dropped]]. While this infers that time in the ''Ratchet & Clank'' universe uses the same units of measurement that we do, the games here will not be dated by specific years.
* It can be assumed via in-game dialogue that all the games occur in relative real time, with Clank's awakening in ''A Crack in Time'' happening "over a year" since Dr. Nefarious began experimenting on him in ''Quest for Booty'', parallel to the games' release dates. However, this may change as of ''Rift Apart'' due to the seven-year SequelGap between it and ''Into the Nexus''.

* While events will mostly be listed on a by-installment basis, individual events that occur before or parallel to the games' stories will be listed chronologically alongside the games they were revealed in. While on the topic, official lore revealed outside of ''Ratchet & Clank'' media will need to be sourced within this subpage. Any harder-to-find in-game lore, such as from ''A Crack in Time'''s space radio news broadcasts, will be need to be given a more specific origin.

* Sometime after ''Into the Nexus'', multiple dimensions begin collapsing into one another, causing rifts between them to appear. In the chaos surrounding this, Ratchet and Clank are separated across space and time, with Clank running into an unknown female Lombax.

* Rachet meets up with General Azumith, gaining a new ally in his journey, and a new connection to his heritage.
* Realizing that Rachet, Quark and Azimith still pose a serious threat to his plans, Neferious hires the Valkyries to stop them.
* Clank destroys the Hypersonic Brainwave Scrabler.
* Entering one final mental mindscape, Clank runs into The Plumber once again. He tells him that a true friend would understand Clank's new responsibilities, and advises him a mysterious line, "I wouldn't risk more than six minutes."
** Clank and Orvus finish preliminary cleanup of Temporal Anomalies, reaching the Orvus Chamber. Unfortunately, Lawrence was right on their heels. Knocking them both out, and turning Clank over to Cassiopia.

* Engaging in battle, Rachet and Clank fight Dr. Nefarious for the 2nd time. This time, causing the destruction of his space station, and crashing his system, while escaping thanks to Azumith.

* Reaching the Great Clock, Rachet drops off Clank to say goodbye. However, Azimith refuses to accept the permanence of his actions, and KILLS Rachet.
** Running to the Orvus Chamber to protect it, Clank is bombarded with all the advice and memories of the dangers of trying to use the clock for personal gain. However, he realizes there's a compromise that will keep things stable without risk: Six minutes of time reversed. Just enough time to save Rachet, and begin a fight with Azimith.
*** Unfortunately, Azimith does reach the chamber first, and begins rewinding time. Finally knocking him down, Rachet tries to stop the process, but the lever breaks. When Rachet spells out why this would destroy the universe, Azimith uses his wrench staff to stop it, but at the cost of his life.
* Clank changes his mind at the last moment, deciding to pass caretakership to Sigmund, missing his father's last message of encouragement to follow his own path. As such, Rachet and Clank head off to their next adventure.

** While Ratchet is dejected with his failure to protect Talwyn's family, Clank insists to Rachet that the only way to honor their memories is to hunt down Vendra and Neftin. As such, after checking in with Talwyn, they begin work to escape the planet and go after the two.
* Reaching the twins's home planet, they learn their goal to use the dimensionator to bring "Mr. Eye" to their dimension and be their new family.

* Clank and Orvus finish preliminary cleanup of Temporal Anomalies, reaching the Orvus Chamber. Unfortunately, Lawrence was right on their heels. Knocking them both out, and turning Clank over to Cassiopia.

*

* Six months after her arrest and being put into stasis, the ''Nebuloux Seven'' prison ship prepares to take Vendra Prog to the Vartax Detention Facility, with Ratchet, Clank, Cronk, and Zephyr as her escorts. Unfortunately for the heroes, their attempt to wake her from cryosleep just before reaching the facility leads to her powers sabotaging the ship and hijacking its operations.

* Ace Hardlight is released from Zordoom Prison. (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'' space radio news)
*

*
* Despite seemingly being left for dead and killed in the explosion of his space station, Dr. Nefarious is teleported to safety by Lawrence just before the destruction of said space station occurs. (''[[ComicBook/RatchetAndClankComic Ratchet & Clank]]'' [=WildStorm=] miniseries issue #1, ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankAll4One'')
*

** ''In the altered timeline, however, a time-displaced Lombax and his "talking lunchbox" arrive as the battle is taking place, fighting back the Agorian invaders and personally defeat Argos himself, before requesting the Fongoids to preserve Argos' ship for later use. As such, Gimlick Valley remains a peaceful vista for years afterward.'' (''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'')

* Following this, the two violently assault Pollyx Industries and kidnap Pollyx himself, forcing him to complete an imperfect replica of the Dimensionator. While Neftin escapes with Pollyx to whereabouts unknown, Vendra is captured, arrested, given a quadruple life-sentence, and put into cryosleep.

* Returning to Quartu with the Hologuise, Ratchet and Clank get past the Sentry-bot guards, arriving in the room where Clank was manufactured. Ratchet fixes the computer responsible for Clank's creation, which Clank considers his mother. It informs them that there's still more to do and manufactures an Infobot that contains coordinates to Drek's fleet and a video in which Drek again announces that they've found their perfect orbit, this time elaborating that said orbit is taken by Veldin. Therefore, he showcases the Deplanetizer which, like its predecessor, has been created to destroy Veldin and replace it with his new world. Infuriated over learning that his adopted homeworld is in peril, Ratchet doubles down on making it his mission to stop Drek, admonishing himself for taking this long to understand the threat the Chairman poses. Clank is elated by this declaration, certain that Ratchet has become the hero he "always knew was there". The two set off for Drek's fleet to figure out where exactly the Deplanetizer is above the planet.
* Ratchet and Clank land on Drek's fleet, and they hop from ship to ship, destroy turrets, and sneak past Sentry-bots with the Hologuise to get into the Chairman's flagship and Drek's control room within. While they don't find Drek himself, they ''do'' learn the exact coordinates of the Deplanetizer from an Infobot in the room and head off to Veldin to destroy it.

* After Ratchet thanks him for the rescue, Clank expresses worry about his damaged arm, but Ratchet insists he'll be alright and leaves. Believing that Ratchet's abandoned him, Clank begins to walk away sadly, but Ratchet comes back to get him, saying he still needs to fix his arm. Overjoyed, Clank walks with him to his garage, with Ratchet's act of kindness cementing his personal growth into a kinder person and the duo's developing friendship. He and Clank also become roommates.

* After learning that Ratchet and Clank survived Qwark's ambush, Drek quickly moves on from his now-former spokesman and tells one of his scientists that he and the others must now focus efforts on creating a new planet-destroying device that will be "foolproof" in comparison to the failed PlanetBuster Maximus.

* Ratchet and Clank land on Umbris and traverse Qwark's hazardous challenge course, at the end of which they find Qwark. The Captain tells them to step into the Ring of Heroes at the end of a walkway so that he can "give [them] what [they] deserve". Ratchet is suspicious of the gesture, but Clank's naive nature leads him to pull the Lombax into the Ring anyway, at which point Qwark activates a trapdoor that plunges the two into a pit with platforms and bridges suspended over lava. After a crestfallen Clank asks him why he'd betray them, Qwark reveals that he's the spokesman for Drek's new planet-- an opportunity he's certain will be his comeback-- and he refuses to let them interfere with it. He then exits, leaving the job of killing the two to the Blargian Snagglebeast that resides in the pit. Qwark's trap fails, however, as Ratchet and Clank ultimately fell the Snagglebeast through a combination of constant gunfire and tricking it into falling into the lava repeatedly, where it eventually sinks for good.
* Ratchet and Clank find Qwark's tour shuttle, as well as an Infobot that shows them a message from a commando on the war-torn planet Batalia that needs assistance in fending off a Blarg attack, due to his battalion going AWOL. Clank wishes to help him, but Ratchet refuses, enraged both at Qwark for backstabbing him and Clank for roping him into ''finding'' Qwark and thus unwittingly dragging him all the way here to fall into Qwark's trap. He angrily declares that he's done being a hero and is now only interested in searching for Qwark so that he can get his revenge. Clank attempts to appeal to the Lombax's good side to no avail, so he decides to withhold the use of his Robotic Ignition System unless Ratchet agrees to help the commando. Begrudgingly, Ratchet gives in to Clank's "blackmail", as he describes it.

* Qwark returns to Drek's fleet to meet with him, and Drek is furious to learn that the Captain didn't see to Ratchet and Clank's demise directly. He berates Qwark for deviating from his specific plan and orders him to come back with actual results the next time he's sent to do a job if he wants to keep his spokesman status.

* Back on Gemlik Base, Ratchet celebrates finally taking down Qwark and getting even, but Clank reminds him that his successful revenge mission hasn't done anything to help them find Drek. The two find a sleek new ship that Ratchet believes could be fast enough to catch up to Drek, along with an Infobot that shows them a report about the ravaged Gorda City. After seeing the destruction he could have prevented, a guilt-stricken Ratchet admits to Clank that the robot had the right plan from the beginning in stopping Drek, acknowledging his selfishness in pursuing payback on Qwark above all else. When reassured by Clank that they still have time to stop Drek, he redirects his focus toward doing so, much to Clank's approval. They use their new ship to head for Oltanis.