A/N: Hello everyone. Sorry I took so long, but I finally started on this chapter for the Ben 10 Rewrite series. And in case you're wondering, I decided to change things up a bit for this episode so that Phil wouldn't be the bad guy. After all, all of us who saw the first season finale of the Ben 10 Reboot saw how Phil turned out, so I took the opportunity to add a surprise villain in to mastermind the attacks. If you wanna know who, you'll just have to read it and find out. Plus, from now on, almost every alien that Ben turns into looks, and sounds, exactly like themselves form the Ben 10 Rebbot, 'cause let's face it, I like those voices better, at least for the little guy (AKA Grey Matter). As for the rest, I have no comment, other than, they're pretty cool. Of course, some aliens that weren't in the reboot would have different voices, like for example, Kevin Michael Richardson could voice Ripjaws, as well as Benwolf, later renamed Blitzwolfer (love his work for him by the way). Also, John DiMaggio voices Phil in this episode, 'cause, hey, I like this Phil better. Anyhoo, enjoy.
Ben 10 (2005) Rewrite
Chapter 1
"Truth"
It started when, at a sort of nuke testing facility, the missiles suddenly begin sparking some electricity under the yellow lights as the lids open up, letting the missiles float upwards away from their silos, much to the chagrin of two launch experts as the alarm identified a security breach.
"Security breach. Red alert."
"I didn't authorize a launch. Abort, abort!", shouted the launch expert.
"We're not launching the nuke, sir. Something's pulling them out of their silos.", the launcher explained.
The missiles were being lifted up into Vilgax's ship above while Vilgax's drones broke inside with an explosion and began attacking the security agents with lasers, stunning them. Then, Vilgax walked out from the smoke and eventually turned to his left toward the missiles only to be stopped by the lasers firing at one of his drones and then at Vilgax, pushing him back a couple of feet as he guarded against the pulse. Then, he saw two Plumber Agents in front of him.
"You...", Vilgax growled before one of them spoke back.
"It's over, Vilgax. You're going down.", the plumber agent announced.
"Many have tried, none have succeeded.", Vilgax retorted.
"Until now, slime ball.", the cocky agent said before dashing toward Vilgax as the second Plumber agent tried to warn him.
"Phil, wait!", exclaimed the second agent.
However, Phil went for the gun as Vilgax jumped into the air only for him to be kicked on the helmet, knocking it off, and then be caught in a headlock with Vilgax's arm as he not only aimed the gun at Phil, but also allow his drone to hack the middle to aim it toward one of the nearby cities as the screen stated "Launch Ready".
"Of course, you will now back away, knowing that if you refuse, one of your cities will be destroyed!", Vilgax threatened as the second agent looked up to see the missile covers above the missile open up to allow the missile safe passage.
Chapter 2
Vilgax still had Phil at point-blank range if his gun.
"If you value your cities, let alone your partner, you will lower your weapon, or else!", Vilgax reiterated.
Then, the second agent lowered his weapon as instructed, worrying Phil.
"You can't just let him get away.", Phil reminded.
"Never said I would, kid.", the second agent responded before shooting a mini-laser at Vilgax's gun, dislodging him.
Then, Phil elbowed Vilgax before pushing him back. By then, the word "Launch" on the screen turned from red to green just before the drone moved the tentacles back inside itself as Vilgax spoke.
"I'm afraid you're too late."
"Wrong. My timing's perfect.", the second agent stated before he lifted his gun up and then shot a sort of ball at him before it then turned into a sort of sticky net and trapped Vilgax and the drone onto the missile. Then, Vilgax began struggling to break free as the missile began to launch.
"Nooooooo!", roared Vilgax as he and his drone were being blasted off.
Phil then turned to the second agent, who turned out to be Max, who removed the helmet.
"What are you doing?", asked Phil.
"Sending Vilgax out with a bang."
Then, Vilgax shouted as the rocket neared his ship.
"Tennysooooon!"
Then, the rocket made impact with Vilgax's ship, causing it to explode before it then goes back to later at night with Ben, Gwen, Emily, and Max in the Rustbucket as Dave drove by next to it.
"And then, kablamo. No more Vilgax. Or so I thought, until today."
"After the last fight, Max told me the good news, so I happily retired and settled down with my wife, who left to go on a vacation retreat recently. Frankly, today was all kinds of surprising.", Dave admitted.
"Yeah.", Emily agreed. "I mean, I didn't think I'd have the same powers as Ben, let alone better. Look at me now."
Ben was very surprised about what Max used to do.
"Whoa! You were a hero?", asked Ben.
"I was just a guy doing a job.", Max replied.
Gwen was somewhat puzzled about what job Max really had.
"Excuse me, but exactly what was that job?", Gwen asked.
Then, Max had to answer.
"We called ourselves the Plumbers. Officially, we didn't exist. We were the guys who fixed the problems no one else could. Extraterrestrial, extrasensory, extraordinary."
Then, Ben had a realization, as did Emily.
"So, all this time I've been going hero, I've really been following in your footsteps.", Ben figured.
"So have I.", Emily gasped.
"We're plumbers in training!", Ben exclaimed.
"Uh, let's not go that far just yet, Ben.", Emily warned.
"And you knew about the watches the whole time?", puzzled Gwen.
"Not really. Just rumor and scuttlebutt.", Max replied. "I was surprised as you guys when it turned up on Ben's wrist. I also just heard about the Omni-Enhancer today."
Gwen, however, had doubts.
"You always told us we could tell you anything, Grandpa. Guess you didn't feel the same."
Suddenly, a siren coming from two ambulance vans and a police car just passed by the Rustbucket. Ben was quite thrilled as to what it meant.
"Alright! Could be a chance for the Plumbers to go back to work!", Ben exclaimed.
Gwen was a bit frustrated with Ben's excitability.
"Ugh! You should start by unclogging that hairball from your brain, Mr. Plumber.", Gwen joked.
"Ah, you're just jealous 'cause you're not part of the family business.", Ben guessed before sticking his tongue out.
"There is no family business.", Max reminded.
Emily, however, was a bit hesitant, as excited as she is.
"Max is right, Ben. And look. I like being a hero as much as the next guy, but we need to be patient about this. First, we find out the problem, then we solve it depending on what the problem is. It's that simple.", Emily suggested.
"Well, at least, that is how we Roosevelts solve problems now and then.", Dave added.
"Maybe so, Dave, but still, my hero days were over a long time ago.", Max responded.
Then, Ben hopped out of the RV through the sude door.
"Well, mine are just getting started.", Ben stated.
Max, however, felt it was not the best time.
"Ben, wait!", Max exclaimed.
But Ben activated his Omnitrix anyway.
"Time to XLR8!", Ben shouted.
Dave then turned to Emily.
"Make sure to keep an eye on Ben, Emily. Not that I don't like the kid, but his habits of getting into trouble looked ridiculous.", Dave urged.
Emily nodded as she headed out the door.
"On it, Dad."
Then, he turned the dial to XLR8 before slamming it down, only to become Ripjaws instead and notice it by checking the RV mirror.
"Aw, Ripjaws? What a rip-off.", Ripjaws reacted.
Then, Emily stepped outward.
"Well, on the bright side, not a minute too soon.", Emily stated just as it started to rain mildly. "The rain should keep you moisturized outside."
Suddenly, a fire truck passed by, catching both Emily and Ripjaws' attention. They then went after it, eventually being led to the scene of either an accident or a crime. As the fire truck stopped and its driver hopped off, Emily passed by.
"What are you doing, kid?", asked the firefighter.
"I'm here to help.", Emily replied.
"Okay, but I don't exactly see how kids like yourself can be helpful.", the firefighter replied.
"Well, actually, I'm 15.", Emily responded before she turned to the owner of a hotel.
"Anyway, what's wrong?", asked Emily.
"There's some kind of creature inside, tearing up the place.", the owner replied just as Ripjaws walked over to Emily, puzzling the owner, before she had to explain.
"Yeah, I can't stress enough that that's not the creature tearing up the place. If anything, he's with me.", Emily urged.
"Yep. We'll go in there, find the creature that's causing this ruckus, and bust him.", Ripjaws replied.
"Yeah, but it's probably not gonna be easy. In any case, we have to stop that creature somehow.", Emily stated as she activated her Omni-Emhancer and turned the dial to a silhouette of what appeared to be a new alien with water pipes on the arms. "Whoa. I wonder what this one does."
Then, Emily pressed down on it before growing a red Titanium-like exoskeleton armor with water pipes on her arms as well as the hoses literally built into the palms of her hands, surprising her.
"Whoa! Didn't see that one coming.", Emily admitted.
Then, as Emily and Ripjaws enter, they have a brief conversation.
"You know you're gonna have to name whatever that alien is, right?", Ripjaws asked.
"Of course, Ben, but I don't know what it can even do yet. We'll come up with it after the matter is resolved anyway.", Emily assured as Ripjaws took a look around and then spoke.
"Okay, who's the punk giving us creatures a bad name?", inquired Ripjaws.
Then, a small-ish, red creature roared before Emily giggled while Ripjaws started laughing. The creature then picked up a rock and then tossed it at Ripjaws, quickly catching Emily's attention.
"Ben! Look out!", shouted Emily, who got in the small Rock's path before it hit her armor with no feeling in it at all, surprising her.
"Huh? I-I didn't even feel that.", Emily stated.
Then, Ripjaws spoke to the creature.
"You picked the wrong day to be an alien, pal.", Ripjaws threatened before leaping toward it only to miss it as it hopped away and slide toward the fountain, giving him a bump to the head before standing up and glaring back at the creature.
Then, it leapt toward the fountain and took some of its water to put in its mouth before spraying it at Ripjaws, who was actually refreshed.
"Aaah. That's just a breath of fresh air to me.", Ripjaws complimented.
Meanwhile, Dave, Gwen, and Max went to the owner of the hotel.
"Anybody happen to see a giant talking fish come by here?", Gwen asked.
Inside, the creature crawled around a pillar out of sight before leaping off it as it growled. Then, both Phil, Emily, and Ripjaws accidentally bumped into each other and spoke to each other.
"Who are you? Who am I? Who are you?", went Phil, Emily, and Ripjaws.
"Look, we came here to look for the creature that's causing trouble and stop it before it wrecks this hotel.", Emily stated.
Phil grew very surprised.
"Oh. Well, the more, the merrier.", Phil stated before the creature appeared and waved its arms around a bit before Phil fired only to miss it as Ripjaws moisturized himself with the water from a fancy water cup by pouring it on himself.
"Aah. You gotta love room service.", Ripjaws admitted.
Phil and Emily looked around for the creature only for it to pop up on top of the bookshelf and topple it over Phil.
"Look out!", Emily urged before shoving Phil out of the way just as the shelf hit the ground.
Then, Emily decided to attack it.
"Relax. Have a drink!", exclaimed Emily before spraying water through her hands at the creature with enough pressure to knock it unconscious against the wall, without even damaging it.
"Huh. That's a new one. I'm calling this one Waterflood.", Emily admitted before touching the badge on her chest, changing her back to normal form as Ripjaws put the unconscious havoc beast in the safe before he timed out and changed back to Ben just as Dave, Gwen, and Max entered.
"Ben, are you all right?", asked Max.
"That creature certainly seemed a bit mischievous.", Dave commented.
"Yeah, it was. Luckily, we've had some help.", Emily replied as she turned to Phil.
Phil then walked over to notice Max.
"Max?", grinned Phil.
"Phil!", greeted Max.
Then, Max laughed as he and his partner hugged each other.
"You know this guy, Grandpa?", puzzled Ben.
"Well, you could say that. We used to be partners.", replied Phil.
Ben and Emily looked over to Gwen about the answer.
Later, that day, Phil was already putting the safe with the trapped havoc beast inside in the trunk before he turned to Max and the others.
"That car looks nice.", Emily complimented.
"Thank you, Emily.", Phil started. "Yeah, she's not much to look at, but it's better than that old Rustbucket of an RV you used to drive."
"Okay, I take it back.", Emily stated as a result from hearing an indirect insult at the Rustbucket.
"So, how are you?", asked Max.
"Pretty good, considering I just bagged a havoc beast. Seems like old times.", Phil replied.
Ben was quite peeved from hearing that.
"You bagged it?! As if! It was Ripj-", Ben began, only for Emily to stop him.
"This is neither the time, nor the place.", Emily warned.
Max then walked up to see the Havoc Beast.
"Havoc Beast, huh? I haven't seen one of those since the one we caught terrorizing Denver years ago.", Max commented as the safe jiggled around from the Havoc Beast's movement before Phil closed the trunk.
"Yeah, well, good thing I was around. Once a plumber, always a plumber, you know? Hey, Max, have you ever thought about getting back in the game? You know, take a trip down memory lane?", asked Phil.
Max, however, only politely refused.
"No thanks. I'm retired, and so are the plumbers.", Max refused.
"Yep, ever since what you pulled on Vilgax all those years ago. Taking him out must've hit the job with a dry spell.", Phil guessed.
"I'm just doing my job.", Max replied.
"And I don't blame you at all for that, Max.", Dave assured as he put his hand in Max's shoulder before Phil spoke.
"In any case, the alien activities have been getting their second wind recently, and I've even started my own freelance Plumber business and everything.", Phil responded before he noticed both the upgraded Omnitrix on Ben's wrist and the Omni-Enhancer, which resembles Ben's upgraded Omnitrix, except the color was blue-green instead of green, on Emily's wrist.
"Hmm. Interesting. These watches look so familiar.", Phil commented before Ben was willing to oblige an answer, unlike Emily.
"It ought to. It's the Omni-", Ben began before Emily shushed him.
"Would you keep it down?", Emily whispered before Max ushered Ben into the Rustbucket as Emily, Gwen, and Dave followed them.
"Well, look at the time. Well, we need to go. Nice catching up with you, Phil. Happy plumbing.", Max complimented.
"Happy plumbing.", Phil repeated as a goodbye.
Little did they know that meanwhile, a certain mysterious enemy with glowing red eyes was watching the scene as well as taking notice of the Omni-Enhancer in Emily's wrist.
"The Omni-Enhancer is in the possession of a female earthling? Now, I've seen everything." the stranger admitted before he touched his communicator on his arm and spoke to Vilgax.
"Master Vilgax. I've located the Omnitrix and Omni-Enhancer.", the stranger assured.
"Excellent work, Psyphon. Now then.., release the Vulpamancers.", Vilgax ordered before Psyphon stepped out of the shadows and replied.
"As you command, my master.", Psyphon smirked menacingly.
Meanwhile, Ben was somewhat peeved about the lack of info.
"I don't get it. How come you didn't tell Phil about the Omnitrix, let alone the Omni-Enhancer?", asked Ben.
"That's on a need-to-know basis only, Ben.", Max replied.
"That's right. The less people who know, the better.", Dave added before Gwen pitched in.
"Guess that's your answer to everything, isn't it, Grandpa?", Gwen asked before Emily quickly sensed Gwen's animosity and apparent distrust towards her grandfather.
"Don't be like that, Gwen. I'm sure he had a good reason to hide it from us until now.", Emily assured.
However, Gwen wasn't convinced.
"And what reason would that be?", asked Gwen.
"Because, we were too young and we would've gotten ourselves hurt if we knew sooner. Well, we've grown old enough now. I'm sure we'll find out more soon enough, but only if it's the right time.", Emily replied before Ben turned to Max.
"Hey, why don't we start up the Plumbers again? You, me, Emily, Dave, and Phil. We'd be super alien butt kickers!", Ben exclaimed in excitement as Emily grew somewhat peeved about her involvement in Ben's little scheme.
"I'd prefer it if you don't drag me and my father into this.", Emily urged before Max spoke.
"Ben, I'm flattered you appreciate what I did, but you can't bring back the past.", Max replied before Emily spoke.
"He's right, Ben. The only thing we can do is look to the future.", Emily added before the communicator visor popped up from the cup holders, showing Phil on the screen.
"Max! If you and Dave are out there, I'm gonna need some help.", Phil urged.
"What's the problem?", asked Dave.
"Two vulpamancers tearing up a meat processing plant on highway 44. You need to get there and quickly!", Phil urged before the communicator went offline, surprising Max, at least the fact about Vulpamancers attacking a nearby processing plant.
"Vulpamancers?", asked Max.
"Highway 44? But we just passed it.", Emily commented before Max took a U-Turn to Head back for the meat processing plant on Highway 44, leaving Ben excited.
"All right! The Tennysons are back in plumbing business!", Ben exclaimed before Emily sighed in disgust as she face-palmed herself with her right hand.
"Honestly, Ben. You get way too excited.", Emily commented.
Later, the Rustbucket, as well as Dave's RV, arrived at the meat processing plant before the group walked out and heard ferocious sounds, worrying Gwen.
"I don't like the sound of that.", Gwen commented before Emily put her hand in her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Gwen. Whatever's going on in there, we'll take care of this.", Emily assured as she, Ben, Max, and Dave walked in as one of the two Vulpamancers roared from far away before Gwen began to follow them with an unnerving look on her face, both unaware that Psyphon was watching from nearby.
Once inside, they turned to the right to notice a way into the processing plant's mechanics just in time to notice Phil on his knees.
"Phil!", Max exclaimed.
Then, Max and Dave ran over to Phil and helped him up.
"Easy, Phil. We got ya.", Dave assured as Phil smiled.
"Max, Dave. Thank goodness you two showed up. I managed to hold the Vulpamancers off for a while, but during that time, I've noticed that something was a bit off with them. Almost as if the attack was organized and well-honed. So, we have to find out what it is and fix it.", Phil stated.
"No worries! We're on it.", Ben assured.
"We'll find out the problem and fix it before you even know it.", Emily added before the two Vulpamancers then growled and roared as the dense smoke cleared.
"Friends of yours?", asked Gwen as Ben gave a worried look while Emily gave a more determined one.
Chapter 3
The two Vulpamancers were walking toward the group as they growled and snarled while Emily quickly figured out what they were.
"Those must've been the Vulpamancers who attacked Phil.", Emily theorized.
Ben, however, had a simpler name for them as he activated his Omnitrix, much to Max's chagrin.
"Wildmutts! Maybe I can talk with them.", Ben figured.
"Ben!", Max shouted before Emily sighed in disgust.
"Ugh, there's no reasoning with you, is there?", Emily asked in disgust before she activated her Omni-Enhancer, turned the dial to a Vulpamancer in the center of the dial before she pushed it down as Ben slammed his Omnitrix down, initiating their transformations.
For Ben's case, his right arm began to get bulky with veins as they went all the way to his face before Ben closed his eyes and them, revealing them to be orange eyes before he grew orange fur and his teeth sharpened into fangs as his nails grew into claws before he then gave a short roar as he became a a Vulpamancer before he extended his claws, placed them on the ground and roared. As for Emily, however, the same thing happened, except her eyes remained the same, her feet turned into Vulpamancer paws, and her changes stopped with her whole body, completely covered by orange fur, although she still kept her clothes, and her normal face, apart from her orange eyebrows and orange hair before she extended her claws from her hands, performed an aerial cartwheel Slash and placed said claws on the ground as a finishing pose before the transformations were complete, astonishing Phil.
"So, that's why I recognized the watches from before. They're both the Omnitrix, and the Omni-Enhancer!", Phil exclaimed before Emily responded.
"Apparently, yeah. I'm thinking about naming this one, Vulpinine.", Vulpinine replied before she and Wildmutt got close to the two Vulpamancers and conversed with them as Vulpinine spoke.
"Look. I've just changed halfway into a Vulpamancer, and I can already sense that you don't want to do this. It's almost like...", Vulpinine says before she gasped at the realization and noticed the mind control chips on the top of their heads. "You're being controlled."
Phil had a hunch that it had something to do with that.
"So, that's what was off.", Phil realized.
"Yeah. When they aren't mind-controlled, Vulpamancers were never big on small talk, even with their own kind.", Dave added.
Vulpinine grew a bit peeved, but more worried as the mind-controlled Vulpamancer roared as the mind-control chip whirred a sound that meant that a command is being transmitted to them.
"Uh, Dad, you think you could've mentioned it earlier?", asked Vulpinine as the Vulpamancer slave raised its arms and attempted to hit them with its claws, but missed as she and Wildmitt leapt back before they wind up being chased wolves after sheep. One of the Vulpamancers leapt toward Vulpinine, only for her to sense the oncoming attack from behind with what appeared to be gills on her neck, which actually acted as a second sight warning system before she leapt for the chain rope and swung toward another rope of chains, having some relief.
"Phew! That was close.", sighed Vulpinine before she suddenly noticed Psyphon in the shadows, working the controls in his arm just as one of the vulpamancers got knocked back by Wildmutt with a headbutt ram and had a barrel of meat juice and guts pouring onto it, disgusting Gwen.
"Gross!", Gwen exclaimed.
"Wait. Is that guy...controlling them?", Vulpinine slowly realized before one of the Vulpamancers bit into the meat from the bottom of the rope where the hook hung onto the top of it and began dragging it upward, surprising her.
"Oh, come on! Really?!", exclaimed Vulpinine before the chains broke off, forcing her to jump from chain to chain toward a conveyor belt where the Vulpamancer caught up and pinned her just as the meat was being crushed under the spiked rollers. But, just as Phil stopped the conveyor belt from continuing, Vulpinine successfully knocked the Vulpamancer back with her legs and stood on all fours.
"Sorry, Fido, but I don't plan on being minced meat anytime soon.", Vulpinine punned before she hopped off the conveyor belt and joined Max, Dave, Phil, and Wildmutt.
"Thanks, Phil.", Vulpinine gratified.
"Nothing to it, Emily.", Phil responded.
Then, as the group headed for the exit, Psyphon pressed a button on his arm to trigger the noise to command the Vulpamancers to surround them as one appeared in front of the group while another appeared from behind, worrying Gwen.
"Don't suppose you've ever considered becoming vegetarians?", asked Gwen.
Then, Vulpinine had an idea.
"I've got an idea.", Vulpinine stayed before she pressed her fingers firmly on the ring of the badge before turning it, Mali g the badge pop up and then press it down, causing the symbol to glow blue-green and encase her arms, legs, and some of her fur with blue energy, and rocks for armor, as her claws extend and become laced with blue energy as does her toenails, hands, and feet, although her hair remained the same while the overall fur on her body remains half unchanged while the other half is covered with blue energy and rock-like armor.
"All right! Time to see what this power-up can do for Vulpinine.", Vulpinine stated in surprise.
Then, Vulpinine quickly guessed what she needed to do as one of the Vulpamancers prepared to pounce.
"Okay. Ready.., Aim..,", the Omni-Enhanced Vulpinine began before it pounced, prompting her to pounce back.
"Slash!", exclaimed Vulpinine before she slashed the Vulpamancer with her Omni-Enhanced claws, creating a shockwave that's just as powerful as a sonic pitch whistle as the resulting shockwave also dismantled Psyphon's mind-control chip, knocking it out, and impressing Vulpinine.
"No way!", Vulpinine stated in awe as the tiny bolts traveled up the claws for a little bit before the Vulpamancer tried to attack, only to be brought down by another energy slash, dismantling yet another chip and knocking it unconscious.
"I can get used to this.", Vulpinine admitted before she timed out willingly and changed back to Emily as Wildmutt timed out unwillingly and changed back to Ben, surprising Phil.
"So, the legends are true. The Omnitrix, the Omni-Enhancer, they do exist. Those were some pretty good moves out there, Emily. You remind me of Max back in the day.", Phil commented, making Emily blush.
"Uh, thanks?", responded Emily with a blush as Ben gave a sort of peeved look.
Then, Max and Dave turned just in time to see the Vulpamancers coming to, sans mind-control chips.
"Phil, look out!", Max warned before the Vulpamancers whacked Phil to the ground and roared as Max hitched a ride on the forklift, straight toward them.
"Why don't you pick on someone with more meat on his bones?", Max exclaimed before ramming the Vulpamancers toward a seemingly dark and empty room as Max hopped out before the forklift crashed, along with the two Vulpamancers as Psyphon grew enraged.
"Must I do everything myself?", Psyphon exclaimed before preparing a red laser beam from the blaster connected to his right arm and aimed for Max as Ben, Gwen, Dave, Emily, and Phil saw him.
"That's the guy who was controlling them!", Emily exclaimed before she went for Max.
Then, Psyphon fired the laser beam just as Emily managed to push him out of the way.
"Look out!", Emily exclaimed as she successfully veered him and herself out of harm's way, angering Psyphon as he growled.
"You have interfered for the last time, earthling!"
Then, Emily turned to Max.
"That guy is really steamed! We better hurry!", Emily urged before Max nodded in response and closed the doors just as the Vulpamancers charged while Psyphon prepared another blast only for the gate to close with the Vulpamancers bumping into it.
Emily then sighed in relief and exhaustion.
"Just like old times, eh?", Phil asked. "I think this could be the beginning of a new partnership."
Max grew puzzled about it as did Dave.
Later, they returned to the same hotel.
"In a way, I'm glad we all met up.", Phil admitted.
Max and Dave took a look around as Ben ate a shrimp while Emily grew somewhat astonished with the room.
"Ah, ritzy suite.", Max stated.
"That must've cost a lot of pennies for that room.", Dave guessed.
"Well, apparently, that room was on the house for us helping the manager out with his Havoc Beast problem. And, Emily, you and Ben would make good plumbers.", Phil commented, surprising Ben and Emily.
"We would?", asked Ben and Emily in unison.
"Of course. We're gonna need all the help we can get against whoever controlled the Vulpamancers. In fact, with both of your powers, Max's experience and my instincts, we could find a way to fix the problem. Now, we don't know much about the guy who manipulated the Vulpamancers earlier, only that he used microchips to get them to do his dirty work.", Phil theorized.
"It was an odd coincidence for a Hyper Weasel and two Megamutts to turn up on the same day.", Max commented.
"I agree, it is a little unnerving, what with the Havoc Beast and the Vulpamancers appearing left and right on the same day. Whoever released those creatures in us was not willing to give up so easily. The only way those creatures to come back here is if..,", Phil began before he realized something.
"Wait. You don't think that..?", Phil started to ask before Max spoke.
"Someone could've snuck in and took the Null Void Projector.", Dave guessed, puzzling Emily and Gwen.
"Huh?", puzzled Emily.
"Null Void Projector?", asked Gwen.
"We'll find out together, but just this once.", Max decided before both leave.
"Right. The sooner we do that, the better. Also, you kids can order whatever you like off the room service menu. Came with the suite.", Phil suggested as he left with Max.
Ben and Emily were quite surprised.
"Really?", Emily asked.
"Now, we're talkin!", Ben exclaimed.
Gwen, however, still had her suspicions.
"Something's going on that Grandpa's not telling us about. Come on.", Gwen urged only to be refused by Emily and Ben for two different reasons.
"I don't think that's right, Gwen. As disconcerting as it is, I'm sure they've got a good reason. Besides, isn't it like spying on them?", asked Emily before Ben spoke.
"And pass up free room service? No way, I'm staying here.", Ben refused, ticking Gwen off before she had an idea to trick him.
"Eh, you're right. It's probably just some secret Plumber's mission. Better if we just stay out of it.", Gwen stated, making Ben halt his eating before Emily realized what was going on.
"Oh, no. Don't tell me that you're...", Emily began before later, Ben, Gwen, and Emily were outside on the front porch, only to notice that neither Max, Dave, nor Phil were here.
"No Grandpa.", Gwen spoke.
"No Dad.", Emily added.
"And no Phil. But where would they go?", asked Ben.
Gwen had a hunch as to what it could mean.
"If Grandpa thinks that alien weasel and those space mitts were connected to whatever the Null Void Projector is, there's only one place to check out around here.", Gwen theorized as both Ben and Emily activated their watches as she figured out the answer.
"The Plumber Base on Mount Rushmore. The guy I saw who was controlling those Vulpamancers earlier could be here. Apparently, that's all the more reason to check it out.", Emily figured before both Ben and Emily pressed the watches down, turning into different aliens.
For Ben's case, he turned into a slightly upgraded version of XLR8 with no faceplate visor, and a blue outline instead of white on his chest, also with a different voice than usual. As for Emily, she turned into a hybrid version of XLR8 with the only changes present being her new Black and blue-stripped tail, and her legs.
"Whoa! Is that how you look as half of XLR8? That looks beautiful.", complimented XLR8, causing Emily to smile.
"Thanks, Ben. And by the way, call me Fastlane.", Fastlane responded before XLR8 grabbed Gwen and put her on his back.
"Hang on, 'cuz. All aboard the XLR8 express!", exclaimed XLR8 before he dashed off with Fastlane following.
Meanwhile, at Mount Rushmore, Max, Dave, and Phil walked in to notice something missing.
"Just as I suspected.", Phil figured.
"It's gone.", Max added.
"Where do you think it wound up?", asked Dave.
Just then, a menacing voice rang out.
"Looking for this?", asked Psyphon, catching the three Plumbers' attention.
"Psyphon.", Phil guessed.
"After all these years, you still couldn't come quietly, could ya?", asked Dave.
"No. And for good reason. Tell me. Do you know exactly what this is, Max Tennyson?", asked Psyphon before Max turned around.
"The Null Void Projector. I thought all those aliens were familiar.", Max figured.
"You stole the Null Void Projector in order to release those aliens back then, didn't you?" guessed Phil.
"Astute, and I always thought Max would be the smart one.", Psyphon joked.
"Why are you doing all this, Psyphon?", asked Max.
"Isn't it obvious? To wreak my revenge against the very plumbers who tarnished my master's honor and aid Vilgax in conquering this pitiful planet., Psyphon replied.
"We're not gonna let you get away with this.", Max threatened.
Psyphon, however, saw that phrase coming.
"Unfortunately for you, you no longer have a choice!", Psyphon exclaimed before shooting out and creating a portal just as Max ducked and turned around to notice a four-legged Beast with claws walk out of the portal.
"Allow me to introduce you to your...executioner, Tennyson, for it is the symbol of our final triumph!", Psyphon began as the creature roared at Max, Dave, and Phil.
"And your final demise!", Psyphon finished before laughing maniacally.
Chapter 4
The creature roared before it tried to swing at Max, Dave, and Phil as Psyphon laughed only for the three to be saved by both XLR8 and Fastlane, shocking Psyphon.
"What?!", exclaimed Psyphon before XLR8 and Fastlane zoomed past him and set the three plumbers down.
"You guys okay?", asked Fastlane.
"Yeah, Emily. We're just fine.", Dave assured her half Kineceleran daughter.
"So, you're the guy causin' trouble, are ya? Well, you're nothing but a big drip if you ask me.", XLR8 commented to Psyphon.
"Have you forgotten who you're talking to?! I am Psyphon, second in command to the conqueror of 10 worlds himself!", Psyphon exclaimed as the creature tried to jiggle its hand loose.
Fastlane grew a bit puzzled.
"So, that's the guy who sicced his megamutts on us earlier?", asked Fastlane.
"Evidently.", Phil replied.
"In case you have forgotten, I have a very specific set of skills: skills I've acquired over a long period of my time as Vilgax's second-in-command. Hand over the Omnitrix and Omni-Enhancer and that will be the end of it. However, refuse, and my master will look for you, my master will find you, and Vilgax will take them by force before he destroys this planet and conquers the rest of the universe.", Psyphon threatened.
Fastlane knew that she and Ben would not let it happen.
"Really? Well, good luck with that.", Fastlane retorted before the creature jiggled the arm loose and then roared.
"I doubt that a Kineceleran could last against a Wigzelian Org Beast. Try to survive against that beast if you can.", Psyphon said with a grin before he ran off as the creature moved closer to XLR8, Fastlane, Max, Phil, and Dave just as Psyphon opened the gates.
"Enjoy your demise, Plumbers.", Psyphon smirked before he walked off as the gate closed behind him.
Then, the org beast tried to strike again, only to miss again due to XLR8 saving him before XLR8 and Fastlane went into battle as he dodged the Wigzelian Org Beast's swings and even a ground pound before XLR8 distracted the creature as Fastlane quickly pounds her feet against the creature's face.
"Ben and I will keep it at bay, but whatever you're gonna do, hurry!", Fastlane assured before Dave nodded and went with Max and Phil to the drawers.
The three plumbers the checked the drawers but had no luck with the first one.
"No.", Max spoke.
Then, Phil checked the second, but wasn't as lucky.
"Not here.", Phil said next.
Dave checked the third but wasn't lucky either.
"Not there, either.", Dave concurred.
Then, Max checked another but had no luck.
"Where is it? Where is it?", asked Max.
Then, XLR8 spoke to Max, Dave, and Phil.
"Hey, uh, hate to rush you here, but can you guys pick up the pace?", asked XLR8 before his Omnitrix began beeping and glowing red just as the Org Beast picked up a piece of the ground and tossed it toward him, much to Fastlane's Shock.
"Ben, behind you!", exclaimed Fastlane, only for it to be too late as XLR8 was hit, but fortunately, he survived before the Omnitrix timed out, changing him back to Ben.
"'Cause I sure can't.", Ben said weakly before Max finally got out the item needed.
"Got it!", Max exclaimed before tossing it at the Wigzelian Org Beast, putting it to sleep as it toppled over backwards before Fastlane dashed over to Ben and lifted the debris off of Ben.
"Ben! Are you okay?", asked Fastlane.
Ben only groaned a bit before he replied as he stood up.
"Yep. Never better, Emily.", Ben replied before he, Fastlane, Max, Phil, and Dave realized something.
"Wait a minute. If you two are here, then...", Phil began before the group asked in unison.
"Where's Gwen?"
Meanwhile, Gwen spotted Psyphon's pod just near Phil's car before she turned to notice the elevator lights adjacent to the doorway lighting up, prompting Gwen to hide in Phil's car before Psyphon appeared and then sat down on the seat of his pod before pushing a button to activate his hoverpod with the Null Void Projector in hand.
"Vilgax will finally be rid of the plumbers once and for all!", Psyphon triumphed as he went up to the surface just behind the "Road Closed" sign and took off just as the group returned with Phil going inside his car, just to notice Gwen, hiding underneath the mini-tarp.
"So, that's where you were, Gwen.", Phil stated as Gwen grinned a bit. "Do you know where Psyphon went?"
"He just left a second ago.", Gwen replied before Max and Dave got in their own RV's as Ben, went inside the Rustbucket while Phil got in his own car with Gwen still inside before Fastlane and the vehicles went back up to the surface and both sped off toward Psyphon. For Max's case, he pressed an apparent button that looked like a cup holder before it flipped over to reveal a sort of turbo lever, with which Max pulled it before the satellites went down and the turbo engines went up prepared to activate as the two boards went up, one for each engine, before the wheel opened up to show another engine as four more popped up, two for each side, along with four more boards as well before the engines activated pushing the Rustbucket at full throttle while for Dave's RV, the turbo engines opened up to show ion boosters before the car sped up with zero gas emission and blue lights trailed from the ion turbo boost engines, catching up to the Rustbucket, amazing Phil.
"Dave, you're just like Max! You both never cease to amaze me!", Phil admitted.
"Thank you for the compliment!", Dave shouted, as the engines were apparently a bit too loud before Ben spoke.
"So, how many aliens did you store in that Null Void thingy?", asked Ben.
"At least a couple a hundred, but it's a portal to an alternate dimension. In theory, it could have millions inside of it.", Max replied.
"If it it houses that many creatures, that can't be good.", Fastlane commented before Dave spoke.
"If I were a betting man, I'd wager he's not done yet.", Dave responded as the two RV's and blue car passed the "Speed Limit 65" sign.
Meanwhile, Psyphon was already nearing the last known location of Vilgax's ship.
"I'm almost there with the Null Void Projector, Master Vilgax.", Psyphon assured through his communicator to Vilgax.
"Good. Now, should the Tennysons intervene, you know what to do.", Vilgax urged.
"Very well.", Psyphon spoke before signing off just in time to notice a truck headed for him before swerving out of the way as it honked.
Then, a voice rang out from Dave's RV.
"It's the end of the line, Psyphon!", Dave exclaimed.
Psyphon grew enraged upon turning around and noticing Ben, Gwen, Fastlane, Max, Dave, and Phil chasing after him before he spoke.
"You honestly don't know when to quit, do you?", Psyphon asked rhetorically before pushing a button to activate the Autopilot as he held the Null Void Projector.
"Auto-pilot mode engaged.", the automated voice spoke before aiming his Null Void Projector for the area on the sky in-between his hoverpod and the two RV's with Phil's blue car just behind them while Fastlane was in-between the two RV's.
"You all made a grave mistake coming here!", Psyphon threatened before firing a portal from the Null Void Projector and releasing a winged creature with tentacles and only a big mouth on its face.
"Something tells me that's not the state bird of South Dakota.", Ben commented.
"Oh, really? What tipped you off, genius?", Fastlane retorted a bit as the creature then made its way to the Rustbucket, and then blocked the view, while also breaking the mirror with one of its tentacles as Ben knew what has to be done.
"We need some muscle to stop this thing. Four arms of muscle.", Ben guessed as he activated his Omnitrix.
However, the moment Ben slammed down on his Omnitrix, he wound up turning into Grey Matter, but this time, he was Omni-Enhanced.
"Grey Matter? Huh. It looks like I'm just as supersized as Four Arms this time.", Grey Matter admitted as the creature broke through with another tentacle.
Then, the Omni-Enhanced Grey Matter hopped aboard the winged creature before speaking.
"Okay, if my hypothesis is correct, triggering the correct sequence of synapses should allow me some rudimentary motor control.", Grey Matter hypothesized before he quickly grew puzzled. "I only wish I knew what I was talking about."
Grey Matter then lifted the rectangular flaps on the winged creature, pulling it back first and then straight toward Psyphon as Fastlane looked on.
"Okay. Time to follow that cue!", Fastlane admitted before pressing the badge in her chest, causing the symbol to glow blue before it gave off a blue pulse, sheltering her body with rock-like armor with moss on top for her chest and arms as the rocks went up to her tail, converting it into a lightning bolt-like tail before she even grew a rock-like helmet similar to XLR8's only with a blue arrow facing down at the top of the helmet and a blue flame protruding from the back of it before the rock-like armor went up to her feet and created disc-like wheels with blue energy pulsing out from the middle of the wheels, amazing Fastlane before the upgrade was done.
"Whoa! That looks amazing! I just-I just lit up, and then, bang!", Fastlane exclaimed before Grey Matter shouted to Fastlane.
"As impressive as your upgrade is, can you focus on the task at hand over here?!", shouted Grey Matter, slightly embarrassing Fastlane.
"Right. Sorry.", Fastlane apologized before a blue-energy laced visor shielded her face before she sped up toward Psyphon, leaving behind a trail of blue energy that quickly shocked the creature and caused it to land on Psyphon's hoverpod, causing both Psyphon and Grey Matter to crash as they fell to the street before the Null Void Projector landed on the ground as well.
Psyphon then stood up and glared at Grey Matter, who then spoke to him.
"It's over, Psyphon! Looks like your boss is gonna have to wait.", Grey Matter said.
Psyphon then reached for the Null Void Projector and aimed it toward Grey Matter.
"Back off, Galvan, or else I will release every creature imprisoned in the Null Void.", Psyphon threatened.
"Hah! You don't have the guts.", Grey Matter mocked, angering Psyphon before he prepared to fire just as Fastlane spoke with Phil.
"There has to be something we can do to stop him.", Fastlane hopes just as Phil noticed the rear-view mirror inside at the top of the car and took it out.
"Try giving this to Ben. Looks like he's gonna need it.", Phil guessed as she gave it to Fastlane, puzzling her before she quickly realized what it was for.
"Uh, How is he- Oh, right. That makes sense.", Fastlane realized before she dashed over to Grey Matter.
"Then, you're all going to be very busy!", Psyphon stated as the Projector began lighting up.
"Sorry, Psyphon. I'm on summer vacation.", Grey Matter retorted as Fastlane arrived before the visit went up, showing her blue, yet mostly human, face.
"Ben, catch!", exclaimed Fastlane before she tossed the rear-view mirror to Grey Matter, who caught it.
"Of course! Excellent work, Emily!", Ben complimented before Psyphon fired a beam only for it to be reflected by the mirror straight toward Psyphon, knocking him back.
"No!", exclaimed Psyphon before the Projector sent Psyphon back to the Null Void just before Fastlane caught it.
"See ya.", Fastlane started.
"And I definitely wouldn't want to be ya.", Grey Matter finished, making Fastlane giggle a bit before she then turned to the creature on Psyphon's hoverpod.
"All right, who's next?", Fastlane spoke as Max and Dave caught up with Grey Matter, Fastlane, and Phil.
Later, Max just sent the Wigzelian Org Beast back to the Null Void at the base.
"And that's the last of them.", Phil stated before Max turned to Ben and Gwen.
"I'm sorry I had to keep my past a secret for so long. I should've known I could trust you guys.", Max admitted.
Gwen only shrugged with a grin while responding.
"It's okay.", Gwen replied.
Then, Dave spoke to Emily, now back in her normal form, and Ben, who's back on normal form as well.
"And for what it's worth, Emily, you would've made a great plumber. Both you, and these two kids here.", Dave admitted.
"Hey, I'm your daughter and they're your friend's grandkids. What do you expect?", asked Emily before she hugged Dave with a smile before Max put the Null Void Projector back where it belongs.
"What about Psyphon?", asked Gwen.
"Well, Gwen, let's just say that there are some things about this job that we're better off not knowing.", Dave replied before the group walked away from the Null Void Projector.
As they did so, Phil was clearly impressed with Ben and Emily's watches.
"The Omnitrix, the Omni-Enhancer, they both truly are magnificent pieces of technology, and I'm certain there's even more to discover about it.", Phil guessed before he started taking his leave.
"So, where are you going now?", asked Emily before Phil turned to her.
"My services are needed elsewhere. Take care, everyone.", Phil stated before he continued leaving.
Emily had but one comment as she grinned.
"Huh. What a nice, mysterious guy.", Emily commented.
Meanwhile, Vilgax, who now bears a cloak, was slightly cross with Psyphon's failure, evident by the broken hoverpod and the wrecked street bars.
"Even Psyphon has failed me against Ben Tennyson and his dear friend, Emily Roosevelt. It seems I have to take matters into my own hands. No matter how long it takes, I will claim the Omnitrix and the Omni-Enhancer, and then, I will conquer the galaxy once more!", Vilgax proclaimed as the bottom of his cloak blew in the wind.
A/N: Surprise! Ben can use Omni-Enhancements as well, although they only appear at random in contrast to Emily's Omni-Enhancer. I have certain surprises in store that I'd like you to see when I release them in the near future. Also, I have a lift test appointment today at Goodwill for my job. I don't exactly have it yet, but still, I know I wanted to get one. Anyhoo, nice chattin' with you.
