Chapter Forty-Eight: Null and Void

"There are no disruptors to save you this time, boy."

A shudder ran through Dexter as he stood behind his friend, and there was a faint trembling in the hands he kept on Ben's back. Ben glanced at the Omnitrix. If there had been even a hint of charge in the battery, he would have used it, but the device was dead. Van Kleiss smirked, his ultimate goal still within his grasp despite circumstances. Knowing his friend was far more frightened than he was letting show, Ben kept Dexter firmly behind him as the EVO's long, blue tongue darted out again. There was no time to dodge and so Ben10 braced himself, waiting for the worst.

Suddenly an enthusiastic howl of "Woo-hoo!" echoed through the night and Rex, his feet and lower legs converted to gigantic mechanical boots, landed squarely between the two parties and right on the creature's tongue. There was a crunch of machinery and a swirl of dust and a muffled howl from the dino-sloth. Rex pointed up at the dark-haired scientist in a magnificent display of defiance and contempt.

"He doesn't need one, Van Crazy! He's got me!"

"Rex!" cried Dexter, gaping at this audacity that seemed combined with something akin to stupidity. "Your feet!"

The Latino teen looked down, wondering. "My feet? My – my feet! Ow! Ow! Acid! Owowow!"

He danced up and down and from foot to foot, trampling the EVO's tongue and driving it mad with pain. Acid from the thing's tongue worked its way into the mechanics of the build and as far as his vulnerable human form, forcing his nanites to work overtime to neutralize the effect. The EVO tried to retract its primary weapon between steps, which resulted in Rex stomping the entire length of its tongue with his Punk Busters. He could not have planned a more effective attack.

Ben stared in speechless appreciation for the impromptu ballet routine being performed before his eyes, wishing he had his cell phone to get a picture. "I would have paid to see this," he murmured.

Dexter, amazingly, wasn't watching Rex's antics. Head cocked, he focused on something beyond the sound of fighting and screaming and dancing. Turning, he looked behind them, toward the two gunships waiting at the end of the road, and with a gasp he seized Ben's arm.

"Ben! Ben, the gunships! They've powered up the Null-Voids!"

If Dexter was this alarmed, then panic was authorized. "The cannons?"

"Listen!"

Ben stilled, straining to hear, and then his eyes flew wide as he recognized the distinct, high-pitched whine of a Null-Void plasma chamber building up a charge. He looked back at the C-57D sitting in a direct line to the dinosaur-sized EVO, and then at his best friend. In a rush of understanding he realized what Dexter meant: they were the only things keeping DexLabs from ending this. Dexter pointed.

"We've got to get Rex out of there!"

"Come on!" He seized Dexter's arm, and the younger boy stuck close as Ben darted toward the EVOs. "Rex! Rex! Get over here!"

Rex stomped a few more times on the tip of the EVO's tongue, acrid smoke rising up from his Punk Busters. Ben grabbed the tail of his jacket.

"Loose the shoes!"

He yanked the Providence agent back, freeing the dino-sloth. Rex abandoned the Punk Busters as he moved, tumbling into Ben as the EVO, crazed with pain and beyond Van Kleiss' mental control, went after Rex (and by association, Ben and Dexter) with its long tusks. The Latino youth stood his ground, undaunted.

"Oh, no you don't!"

Ben pulled Dexter out of the way to Rex's left side, shielding him with his own body as Rex called up the Slam Cannon. The rubble from Pernell Mine provided an endless supply of ammunition as the bolt from the huge cannon extended behind him and scooped up a shot's worth of broken stone. Without hesitation he aimed and fired, peppering the rampaging EVO with burning-hot rocks. The creature's shaggy coat protected it for the most part, but some of the projectiles got through even as Rex reloaded and sent another spray of pebbles at it. The transport EVO reared high on its back legs, bleeding in spots. As Van Kleiss struggled to keep his seat, Breach was thrown free from where Biowulf had strapped her to the saddle.

Though he could not see so far, Dexter cast a wild look back at the gunships. He could tell by the sound that the weapons were fully charged. All that remained was for them to -

"Get down!"

With strength born of panic, Dexter pulled, dragging down Ben, who dragged down Rex. The three teens landed in a tangle beside the relative shelter of a boulder, Rex abandoning the Slam Cannon as he fell. Sprawled on his back and facing the towering EVO – and its claws, tusks, tongue, terrible breath, and immense bulk - Rex squeaked,

"Uh, this might not be the safest -"

Ben jerked him down flat, trusting in Dexter and the people closest to him. He barely had time to close his eyes when a blinding-bright beam of pure white energy smacked into the transport EVO. Rex let out a shout of pain and turned his head sharply, striking Ben's chest. The creature screamed as another shot landed, then another. It staggered, dropping to all six legs. For a long moment it wavered, and then a final salvo from the C-57D's Null-Void guns dropped it. The gigantic EVO spilled slowly to its side, shaking the earth and sending up a huge cloud of dust.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Master!"

Biowulf's distant voice was the first thing Van Kleiss was aware of as the shock and pain of the Null-Void cannon's shots slowly wore off, replacing pain with numbness. His nanites struggled to restore the most basic functions, and until that happened, he was helpless. He could see and hear and think, but little else. Movement was close to impossible, and he could not hope to untangle himself from the transport EVO.

The Null-Void. Its effects were devastating. He must obtain one of the guns to study it. If Providence ever got hold of such powerful weapons the odds would be slanted greatly in their favor. He looked down, realizing the heavy harness and saddle had insulated him and Breach from the worst of the weapon's impact.

The day was lost. There was nothing left to do but escape back to Abysus if he could. If nothing else, he had a wealth of information to process, not just about Dexter, but about his Fusion double, that perverse creature. There was a relationship there, a connection Dexter feared, and if he could learn more he just might be able to use the situation to his advantage.

He could do nothing, though, until he was free. His hair stuck to his coat still as he turned his head as best he could. He spotted a white blur off to one side. Breach. She had been thrown clear of the transport when it reared up and even now she was slowly stirring. Van Kleiss' eyes narrowed as he focused on her. She was his only chance, and he hoped she would not prove to be difficult.

He opened his mouth to call to her, to rouse her to his cause, and –

Nothing.

He tried again, but he had no voice. Not yet. And until he did, there was no way to make Breach aware of the danger they were in and how close to capture they were. Clenching his teeth (or trying to) in frustrated silence, he cursed Dexter and all he had wrought. How could one obnoxious, arrogant whelp throw so many obstacles in his path? Rex at his worst could not compare to that loathsome brat.

There was nothing else for it. Biowulf and Skalamander were his only hope. Luckily Biowulf, whose loyalty bordered on nauseating servility at times, had seen his plight and was struggling to free himself of the skirmish with Providence. In a sudden frenzy of motion, Biowulf threw two of the black-and-white-dressed troops aside and made a break for it, dropping to all fours to cover the distance faster and to avoid Six, who was hot on his heels. Skalamander, seeing what Biowulf was about, stepped in to cover the werewolf's retreat. The lizard might be slow in some aspects, but there was no denying that the Pack made for an effective team.

And then he felt every strain and bruise from being wrenched about as he was cut free by his henchman's metal claws. Biowulf carefully lowered him to the ground amidst a flood of redundant questions. "Master, are you injured? Can you stand?"

By way of answer he just stared at Breach, willing Biowulf to display some intelligence and figure out what they needed. Fortunately Breach had recovered somewhat from her encounter with the Fusion Dexter. Staggering upright, she took in the situation at a glance, including the green-clad ninja bearing down on them with swords drawn. She watched him for a few moments, seemingly unaffected by the imminent danger, before turning to Van Kleiss with a sneer. Van Kleiss felt his ire rise. Breach knew what he needed her to do, but she was being obstinate and openly gloating. She wanted to pay him back for being so drawn to Dexter and wanting to keep the boy as a son and pet . . . and more.

Wretched child. Even now he was ruining Van Kleiss' plans. If he could have talked, he would have ordered Breach to snatch the genius when they left. As it stood, nothing he could do would compel her to take Dexter with them now.

"Get us out of here!" bellowed Biowulf, knowing full well that she was enjoying their rising panic.

With a smirk she called forth a dimensional rift - and stepped right into it. For a few precious seconds nothing happened save that Biowulf looked around wildly for a course of action as Six and a handful of Providence troops raced toward them. Van Kleiss would have been hissing with fury were he capable of expressing himself. A moment later, as Six's swords flashed in the unnatural light and he prepared to strike, Breach opened a portal right in front of the scientist. Biowulf didn't hesitate, but seized his master and leaped through the opening. Two more swirling vortexes appeared and swallowed Skalamander and I-Bol, and they were gone. Vanished.

Six skidded to a halt. The field was clear of enemies. The threat had eliminated itself.

It was over.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Dexter was the first of their small group to stir. Raising his head, he squinted at the odd shadows and too-white light of the glow sticks he had devised for Number Four. He could see nothing, but the sound of the fight continued. He shrank closer to Ben, mortally afraid of what would happen to him if Van Kleiss got his wish and managed to carry him off.

The slight motion was enough to rouse Tennyson. Instantly alert, he gave Dexter's hand a quick, tight squeeze to reassure him. He would fight to the end for his friend. Of that Dexter had no doubt even though they were in no shape to mount any type of defense if Van Kleiss came at them again. Dexter pulled the Mons Meg out of his pocket and pressed it into Ben's hand. It was all they had left.

"Just in case," Dexter said, and Ben nodded, carefully shifting to sit up. He watched the fallen dino-sloth, wondering why nothing was happening. The creature didn't move. The Null-Void cannons had done their job.

"Rex, are you all right?" demanded Dexter in the sudden silence. He kept his voice low, glancing nervously at the downed transport EVO which to him was a dark and distant blur. Nothing stirred save a cool breeze that dispersed the strong smell of ozone from the lasers.

"Fine, thanks," Ben replied.

Dexter gave his friend a little shove. "We know the Null-Void's residual energy won't affect humans too badly, but we've never studied the effect on EVOs."

"What's too badly?"

"We'll probably have headaches and spend tomorrow puking up our guts. On top of everything else we've accumulated since yesterday, of course."

Ben snorted. "Speak for yourself, Kiddo. I intend to sleep until next week."

"Probably a wise thing to do, Mr. Tennyson. Rex? Rex?"

Providence's secret weapon let out an undignified moan, stirring groggily. "What hit me?"

"If you want to get technical, you could say I did. Null-Void blowback," explained Dexter, reaching out to steady him. "We were too close to the beam."

"Blech." Rex made faces. "Tastes like Lima beans and root beer."

"A hitherto undocumented side effect of the ejecta."

Despite the situation, Ben smiled as he watched his companions. Dexter never initiated contact with anyone he didn't consider a close friend. It was a sign of trust from the Boy Genius, and he resolved to inform Rex of his good great fortune in this respect.

"I feel like I was jump-started," muttered the Latino, holding his aching head. Suddenly he remembered the EVO. "Van Crazy!" He surged out of Dexter's hold and scrambled to his feet. A second later he landed right back where he had been, too weak to stand and with nothing holding him up but the Boy Genius. "Well, this bites. Now what?"

Dexter looked at Ben, who glanced at the bulk of the transport EVO and shrugged helplessly, and said, "We wait."