Natural Disaster

Chapter 10: The Deceptive Prince

(Disclaimer: I own nothing!)

Gwen woke up on a dusty army cot in a concrete box. Weak electric light shone through a high set window onto a rusted door. The last thing she remembered was leaving the police station, climbing into the R.V. and seeing Jenny before she was knocked out.

She held up her hand but couldn't use her powers, no surprise there. No cameras were visible in the small room but she was sure they were watching her.

With nothing to do Gwen flopped back on her cot, to any observer it would seem she had accepted defeat. In reality though she was using her body to shield her hands. A metal bar on the cot was lose and she was slowly working it out so she had some way to defend herself when they came. She was sure it wouldn't be long.

There was no sound except Gwen's slow breathing, she didn't know how long it had been but the waiting was getting to her. She couldn't seem to calm herself and kept catching her mind wondering to ben. If they had bothered to lock her up then she was probably bait, and knowing Ben if she didn't escape before he showed up then he'd get himself into more trouble.

Clicking noises came from the door, she clutched the metal so tight her knuckles turned white. With barely a noise the metal slid forward, footsteps coming closer to her.

"Gwen?"

She sprung, rolled off the cot and brought the rod up towards the intruder, missing by an inch as they stepped back.

"Whoa Gwen wait it's me!"

"Ben?" she threw her arms around him for a moment before pulling back to inspect him. Except for a few scrapes and mud stains he seemed fine.

"Gwen?"

"Oh yea sorry. How did you get here?"

"Jenny took your place, I'm sorry Gwen I should have noticed sooner. When she revealed herself I forced her to tell me where they took you. But we need to get out of here now."

He grabbed her hand and almost dragged her down the hall, he seemed to know where he was going taking turn after turn. They burst into the outside world with the bang as the security door slammed into the cement wall.

Gwen took in their surroundings. It looked like an abandoned military base, they were running towards a chain link fence.

A jeep crashed just ten feet in front of them, Ben pushed her to the ground and covered her with his body as shrapnel peppered the ground.

Mike stood to the side, another jeep raised above his head. "So close but no escape today."

Ben looked down at the Omnitrix, it was red. "Gwen, your powers working yet?"

She held out her hand, blue power surrounded them. "Yea."

Mike tossed the second jeep.

Gwen raised her hand. "Badickinis metalurca!"

The jeep froze in midair, then turned back towards Mike. Half a second to late he realized what was happening. The jeep plowed into him with enough force to send them crashing through two out buildings. Burying them in the rubble of a third.

Ben and Gwen were off running before the last timbers stopped falling. They slipped through a hole in the fence and crossed the sandy desert.

They didn't stop until they came to a small out cropping of rocks. Behind it they collapsed gasping for breath. The cool night air chilled the sweat on their bodies.

After a minute they peeked around the rocks to see if they were being followed, the night looked undisturbed. Keeping an eye behind them they started walking through the desert.

Half an hour later the landscape was the same, they were heading towards the glow of a city along the horizon but it was not getting any closer. "Any luck with the Omnitrix Ben?"

He glanced at it. "Still red."

"Couldn't we have taken a jeep or something?"

"We could have, if you hadn't blow up the last one." He reminded her.

"Oh right." Gwen looked at the sky; she guessed there was maybe an hour before the sun came up. "So do you actually know where we're going?"

"Yea, the Rust Bucket is near that city."

"If you're su Whaa." Gwen's foot fell through the cracked earth up to her thigh.

"Gwen!" Ben ran over and pulled her out of the hole as more ground gave way.

The fell at the edge of the now ten foot wide sinkhole. "Gwen, you ok?"

"Yea I think so." She stood, and winced.

Ben knelt down and gently pulled up the leg of her pants, her ankle was swollen and red. "I think it's broken."

"No, just sprained. I'll be fine."

"No you won't. At least not if you try walking on it. I'll carry you on my back."

"I'll be alright."

"Gwen."

"Fine."

He knelt down and she climbed onto his back, resting her head against him as they walked through the twilight before dawn. Despite how comfortable she was, there was also some little thing at the back of her mind, something that was just a little off. She couldn't even pick it out but still it was there and it kept her from relaxing completely.

A small RV park came into view just as the sun was rising to their side. The Rust Bucket was clearly visible set a little way from the rest. Ben started running towards it.

Gwen hadn't realized how relieved she'd be to see it until that moment. She couldn't help but give a laugh of excitement.

Just a hundred yards away, and they were thrown to the ground. Gwen's hearing was a piercing whistle, she pushed herself off the ground and spit out a mouthful of sand.

Turning, she saw the Rust Bucket, completely engulfed in flames, its top blown off, pieces falling around her.

(should I stop here? No I have an even worse spot to stop.)

Someone was shaking Gwen's shoulders, she could faintly hear her name being called but it sounded so far away. Slowly she turned and saw ben, his face covered in dirt. He pulled her up.

She ran towards the flames, even from there she could feel the heat blistering her skin. She tried to use her magic, anything to help but her powers were gone.

The smell of burning plastic and metal washed over and she nearly collapsed retching.

"Gwen, GWEN!"

She looked up to see Ben, her ears hurt badly but she could hear again. He grabbed her arm and started pulling her away from the wreckage. "We need to get out of here."

Gwen pulled away from him running towards the fire. He caught her by the arms and spun her around so their faces were almost touching. "Gwen! Listen to me, if Grandpa was in there, there is nothing we can do for him now. We have to get some place safe."

She gave one last lingering look at the fire. Ducked her head and let Ben pull away into the crowd that was forming to look at the disaster.

Ben burst into the room a looked around, he had spent all night follow Gwen's scent and it had led to an abandoned military base in the desert. The room was filled with black screens. Only one was lit playing the same clip again and again.

Ben rushing in and leaving with Gwen. There was a note card under the screen.

If I can't have Gwen's life, I'll settle for her.

-Jenny

(A/N: Another chapter down. Hope you enjoyed. Review!)