Chapter Thirteen: Walled In

Dizzy and nauseous from speed and impact and pain, he lifted his head from where the Fusion Blossom had thrown him to the ground. In his mouth there was a revolting, acidic taste as if he had chewed on something rotten, and there was a stench in the air that he had only encountered once before, and that in Professor' Utonium's laboratory: Fusion Matter. The stuff was an assault on the senses.

Dexter squinted, trying to focus before he fully realized his situation. It was far from ideal. Towering walls of a shimmering, shifting force field rose all around him, reaching far into the sky and casting everything into a pale green light. On the ground beside him was a large canister of strange design that somehow put him in mind of a canopic jar from an Egyptian tomb. And hovering in the air a few feet away was a perverse and twisted copy of Blossom. Somehow all her beauty was negated in this form. She was glaring at him, her malevolence and intent evident in her body language.

He had never seen a Fusion before, but it was as revolting as he had been told. From what they had learned, the dopplegangers were made of refined Fusion Matter and DNA taken from a person (knowingly or otherwise). Whatever skills the person had were transferred to the Fusion, and they learned and adapted with frightening ease. Their emotions were usually unstable and violent and cunning. How Fuse had obtained DNA from the Powerpuff Girls, Dexter had no idea, but given their popularity and fame it would not be so difficult a task. Ditto on the Professor, though he might have been a bit more of a challenge than his daughters.

Slowly the boy genius rose and backed away from her. His infected ribs ached with each breath he took and he pressed his forearm hard against his side as a brace. A prickly, tingly sensation covered his back and head the nearer he got to the barrier. Another step and he felt pain. Another step and it was as if he had been electrocuted. The Fusion Blossom found his discomfort entertaining as he stumbled away from the wall.

"Dex!"

He recognized the raspy tone of an Aerophibian and the nickname he tolerated from only one person on the planet. Jetray's colors were distorted by the force field, but Dexter felt a wild surge of hope at the sight of his friend flying up to the screen at breakneck speed. Hope was replaced by fear when the Blossom soared up to face him. He recognized her stance, the cant of her head, and he knew she was about to let loose with her heat vision.

"Ben!" he cried. "Move!"

Tennyson dashed out of the way as the blast of energy penetrated the barrier. Dexter watched as she gave chase for a few moments. It seemed Planet Fusion's technology was complementary to its denizens, because the Blossom could shoot through the force field but the Aerophibian could not.

He could not see what was happening beyond the wall of energy caging him in – the walls were too bright for his eyes to penetrate the darkness – but something happened to set his captor into a frenzy. He blinked in surprise when she passed through the barrier with ease, then came back in a fit of rage and dissatisfaction. Lights flashed on the far side of the barrier. From where he stood at ground level Dexter could make out nothing of what was happening, but the situation changed instantly.

Blossom landed before him and seized him by the wrist, yanking his arm from his side and jarring his whole frame as she dragged him along with her. Suddenly someone stepped into the cage with them, and Dexter whirled to face the newcomer.

He gasped at the sight of the Fusion Utonium walking toward him. Beloved friend, co-worker, teacher, father – this man meant the whole world to Dexter. It was no coincidence that these particular Fusions were here. To see this evil, warped copy filled him with a sense of helplessness, and for a moment he could offer no resistance in face of the person he loved the most being turned against him. The mouthless, voiceless Utonium turned on him with yellow eyes that glowed with hatred and contempt.

That look changed everything for Dexter, even more than the actions of the green copy of the girl he called his sister. The Professor would never wear such an expression, and he would never sneer at Dexter like that. A hatred to match that of the monster before him filled the boy genius. He faced this grotesque caricature of the Professor with a sneer of his own. He may not be able to match their strength, but Dexter had no doubt that he could outstrip them when it came to loathing.

Without another glance his way the Fusion Professor turned to the canister and opened the top. An overwhelming stench filled rose up from it, and inside Dexter could see a shimmering green mass.

Oh, no. No. No!

He shook his head in useless denial, trying to back away. There was nowhere to go.

"Dexter!"

There was a flash of green outside the barrier. Ben was trying to reach him, shifting from one alien form to the next.

He twisted against the Blossom's hold, fighting with all the strength remaining to him.

"No! No!" he screamed, even as the Utonium doppleganger seized his right arm, jerking him up by the wrist. There was no time to cry out at the pain shooting down his side as his ribs protested the sudden movement. His glove was yanked off and instantly his hand was plunged deep into the vat of Fusion Matter.

He struggled. He fought. He didn't even notice when he was released. The stuff in there was not alive, but it acted as if it was. Cold, gritty, slimy, putrid – it held onto Dexter's arm with a force that was not suction - rather, for a moment, it felt as if it was part of him, part of his hand. He struggled futilely, his arm going numb as if he'd been struck incredibly hard, and then a burning sensation started at his fingertips and working its way throughout his whole body. Every nerve ending seemed afire and still he could not escape. Finally he braced his feet against the canister and pulled for all he was worth.

The motion was so sudden that he would have fallen over save that the stuff had yet to let him go. Stepping back, the Fusion Matter clung to his hand. Even as he watched the mass formed a hand, an arm, and then a humanoid body rose up out of the slime, consuming it all as it stepped free of the vat.

It was the same height as Dexter. He gaped with wide-eyed horror as he saw its features form: green hair, square-framed glasses, a red coat identical to his own lab coat, glowing red eyes.

In an instant, he was looking at himself - a sick, twisted, evil version of himself.

It had no mouth, but somehow it conveyed a smirk as it took in Dexter's fear and revulsion. In a sudden motion the newly-formed Fusion seized him around the head, its fingers digging in as it leaned close.

Suddenly Dexter's thoughts were winging backwards over the course of the last few minutes . . . hours . . . days. Plank. Making the hoverboard. Examining Ben's watch. Chili fries. The lab table melting. Trying to figure out the Omnitrix. The rally. Fever. His sisters visiting his hospital room. The Professor's panicked face. The explosion. Faster and faster his mimic flipped through his recent memories, searching, stealing, and exposing his thoughts and feelings.

When a scream rang out, he hardly recognized his own voice.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

The way Ben saw it, he had two choices: he could try to phase through the ground or through the barrier. He did not know what generated this electric fortress holding Dexter, but it was a safe bet that as much energy was being directed into the ground as into the sky. Through the barrier it was, then.

He was already phasing between states when Dexter screamed. Despite the pain and urgency in the younger boy's voice, Big Chill could not move any faster than he already was. The barrier was a type of energy the Necrofriggian had never encountered before and he was forced to proceed with care. While it did not disrupt his form as he tried to reach inside the cage, he never before had to struggle to phase through anything. An eternity passed in seconds. Pain shot through this alien body and it was only with difficulty he extracted himself from the barrier.

The sting faded and anger swept in to replace it as he took in the scene below.

"Mitts off, you little puke!" hissed Ben, his wings held wide and threatening.

The Fusion Dexter looked up in annoyance, and then returned his attention back to Dexter, his efforts exacting another scream - weaker this time – from his victim. On his knees before his evil twin, Dexter clutched the Fusion's wrists, vainly trying to pull him off and away.

He dove at the Fusion, slamming into the copy with all his strength. Dexter dropped to the pavement as the doppleganger was thrown across the pen. After a moment the newly made Fusion calmly stood, uninjured, and moved to stand beside the Utonium copy. Landing, Ben stood astride his collapsed friend and faced the three Fusions. What next?

The Fusion Professor reached into his pocket and pulled out the first device he had wielded, the one that created this cage. Ben quietly hissed a curse – he could not abandon Dexter and the Utonium was too far away to freeze with a blast of breath. A few adjustments to the controls, the push of a button, a final satisfied glare at the two beings within the walls of energy, and then the dark-haired Fusion nodded to the others.

To Ben's astonishment, they simply turned and left. The Blossom flew through the barrier and the two scientists walked out. He stared, wondering how and why he and Dexter had gotten off so easily. It was too simple. Somewhere there was a catch to all this that he was missing.

A groan escaped his friend. Ben powered down the Omnitrix to kneel beside Dexter.

"Dex? Dex! You okay?"

Another groan and Dexter slowly lifted his head, squinting at the older boy. If he had looked awful before they left the lab, now he looked like something Wildmutt might have yacked up. After witnessing the dawn of the Fusion Dexter and that brain drain, Ben would be happy if the kid could still stand, let alone reason.

"What happened?" demanded Ben.

He shook his head, not certain. "Ohh," he whispered, holding his head. "My brain hurts."

"You still have one? That thing didn't suck it out of your head or anything?"

"It tried. Ohh." He dropped his head again, every motion painful. "What – where did they go?"

Ben pointed. "That way," he said, trying to help Dexter to stand.

Gaining his feet unsteadily and holding onto Ben's arm to stay upright, Dexter gave his friend sour a look for that absolutely useless answer. "We have to stop them."

Replying with exactly the same look, Ben said, "Then you know how to turn off this force field?"

"Not exactly," admitted Dexter, blinking and trying to clear his vision and his head.

"Don't put the cart before the horse, boy genius. We gotta get out before we can stop the bad guys."

"How did you get in past that energy screen?"

"Same way I got in your lab . . . oratory," he added. "I turned into Big Chill and phased through."

"So go af-"

He broke off, staring, his mouth falling open. Ben followed his gaze but saw nothing remarkable.

"What? What's up?"

Dexter did not answer immediately, but turned and looked all around before facing Ben.

"The walls are closer. This space is shrinking."

A squawk of surprise and alarm escaped Ben and he looked for himself. Well, Dexter had found the catch.

"The barrier was past that curb before," said Dexter with infuriating composure. "If we don't get out we'll be crushed."

"Or fried!" Ben exclaimed, feeling some emotion was called for. "That's what that creep was doing!"

"Mmm," murmured Dexter, trying to put the disturbing memory of the Fusion Utonium behind him and focus on their dilemma. His dilemma, really, since Ben could phase through the wall again.

"Okay, Dex, this is bad," announced Tennyson, nudging him toward the center of the pen. He could hear voices in the distance. Probably some of Earth's Combined Forces and KND responding. They would never get here in time to help – not that there was much they could accomplish anyway.

"Yes," he agreed. "You should leave immediately."

Ben glared. "You're not too smart if you think I'm going to just up and leave you."

"Senseless for us both to be fried."

"Like I'd survive your dad or any of your sisters!"

"There is that. I apologize in advance, Ben."

"Yeah, well, let's just figure out how we're going to get out of here. You staying and getting smushed is not an option."

"Then take me with you."

"Huh?"

"Can you phase through again carrying me?"

The walls were getting uncomfortably close. They could feel the energy, like static electricity, and the smell of ozone filled the air. Ben's hair was standing up on end.

"I don't know," he admitted in all honesty. "I never tired to do something like that before."

Dexter actually smiled. "It's a fine day for science, Mr. Tennyson," he said above the growing hum of their cage walls.

"But – Dex! Phasing is cold! I mean super cold! You could freeze to death! Big Chill is built to take that - you're not!"

"Better to try than to stand here and die anyway. What's a little freezer burn between friends?" As he spoke Dexter retrieved his fallen glove and pulled it on again.

Ben stared at him, desperately trying to think of an alternative and coming up with nothing. Dexter looked at him patiently, waiting for him to catch up.

"But . . ."

Dexter stared right back. "The walls are getting closer, Ben. I can't stop them. I'd rather take this chance. If anything happens, it was my choice."

He struggled for a moment longer, and then hastily stripped off his jacket. "Put this over your head. You'll need all the protection you can get. This is gonna hurt. It hurt getting through."

"I understand." Dexter nodded. "Thank you," he said, taking the coat.

He understood Dexter was thanking him for far more than the coat, but Ben could not bring himself to answer with such bravado. "When I tell you, hold your breath," he ordered, adjusting the Omnitrix.

"Big Chill!"

It was hero time. Do or die.

Neither boy had any intention of dying.

The walls were closing in, their energy condensing along with the pen. The air around them was so energized it felt like sunburn on their skin and made their teeth and eyes ache. It was almost too loud to hear over the sound of electricity and the brightness was close to blinding.

Dexter covered his head, pulling his hands in tight. Big Chill quickly bent and lifted the boy with ease, wrapping his wings snugly around that skinny frame. So warm. So fragile. So trusting. So very, very human. He was worth the fight.

"Hold your breath," Ben rasped, his human mind doubting while his alien body gave way to instinct. He felt Dexter tense, but he obeyed.

And then he stepped between dimensions and into the glowing wall of energy. Cold and darkness unimaginable engulfed them both.