Author's Note: I own nothing.

48 Plan A, Plan B, Plan C

It was working spectacularly, at first. It didn't take them long to get to the arch. Jen cleared the path, blasting DNAliens as Upchuck, tying them up as Swampfire, rolling through the front lines as Cannonbolt and if she was honest she had never felt better or freer. The Master Control let her change with not just a word but a thought, mid-swing and more fluidly than she'd ever managed before it was exhilarating. But breaking the arch turned out to be more difficult than Jen had thought. She screamed, the sound echoing around them from Way Big's lungs as the arch activated in her grip sending her crashing to the ground. She didn't even have time to worry about if she'd landed on the team or not before her eyes slipped closed.

Gwen cried out as Way Big vanished, a sure sign that Jen was unconscious if not worse. She raced off, Kevin keeping pace with her as they slid into the crater Way Big had left behind, the rest of the team not far behind them none of them noticing Darkstar slip off into the shadows.

Jen was in the center of the crater pushing herself back to her feet, looking slightly charred. But she hadn't lost either the determined look nor the hourglass in her eye. She stretched slightly and took a deep breath.

"Ok." She looked up at the ships overhead. "New plan. Kevin, Gwen, you're with me. We're gonna break into the main control tower and force the Highbreed in charge to stop the invasion. The rest of you are on crowd control. Take out as many of the DNAliens as you can." The others nodded. Jen glanced around. Paradox wasn't here. She picked up Azmuth and handed him to Cooper.

"Keep him safe ok Cooper?" The blonde nodded and the team split.

With the modifications Kevin had made to his car it was relatively easy to reach the tower though going up the stairs afterword took a minute. There was no elevator nor even railings Jen shook her head and ran faster as more ships came through the gate. She was never more grateful to have picked Swampfire than when the Hybreed she was fighting slashed its claws fully through her head, severing many of the vines there.

Kevin came too to Gwen screaming in rage and despair. He shoved himself up from where the Highbreed had thrown him and turned to find a scene out of a nightmare waiting for him. Jen was on the ground, aloe pooling under where Swampfire's head had been. But surprisingly that wasn't the worst of it. Gwen was flickering, her normal human appearance quickly swallowed by deep purple skin and bright pink strands of energy that served as hair. Her eyes, green nearly identical to Jen's though a shade darker, blurred. The color vanished, replaced with a bright white glow as the Highbreed who'd thrown Kevin was sent sailing out the window, which melted at the power of the explosion.

There was nothing Kevin could do for Jen but he wasn't about to lose Gwen, he couldn't. He raced to her, it was hard to get near her the very air around her was practically crackling with power. But he refused to give up. He made it to her and grabbed her arms, feeling his palms heat up.

"Gwen!"

"So much power!" Her voice was doubled, he almost didn't recognize it.

"You have to let go of it Gwen!"

"No!" She sounded sure of herself even as she shook in his grip. "I think I can beat the Highbreed, all by myself. They'll pay for what they did to my family!" It was at that moment that Swampfire's head reformed and Jen vaulted back to her feet.

"Ok now you pissed me off." Kevin let our a breath as Jen decked the Highbreed commander. He refocused on Gwen who was still a full on Anodite but had stopped shaking with the revival of her cousin.

"Your Grandma said it would take seventy five years at least to master that power."

"We don't even have seventy five minutes Kevin."

"Jen will find another way. Please, come back Gwen! I can't lose you! Please." His voice broke and the heat retreated. He looked back up and smiled at Gwen, once again a human teenager. He pulled her into his arms and held her there for a minute. Then she was grabbing his face and her tongue was in his mouth. It took him a minute to remember where he even was. Only the soft laughter from Swampfire pulled his attention away from Gwen.

"Sweet, Julie owes me money." Jen turned away from them and to the Highbreed she'd trapped in vines. "Now, call off the attack!" The Highbreed laughed.

"Presumptuous child! I do not have the authority to stop the invasion. Only the Highbreed Supreme may do such a thing! And he is safe on the home world. You've lost this war!" Jen frowned.

"The world on the other side of that jump gate?" It was then that the DNAlien backup showed up but someone else showed up too.

"Manny!" Gwen called out, excited. The blast of wind and disappearing weapons heralded Hellen, the spikes flying into the guns preceded her brother Pierce who grinned. Jen wasn't paying attention to him though. "That means!"

"Heya kids!" Both Jen and Gwen turned to the hole in the tower grinning like maniacs as Max Tennyson rode up to the hole on a Null Guardian. Both girls ran to him as he landed the creature. Jen transformed mid-step racing into her grandfather's arms.

"I thought you were staying in the Null Void until you had it sorted out." Max smiled at Gwen who'd spoken, Jen was still holding on to him.

"We've got things mostly sorted out there, the rest can be handled by the natives. Besides, I wasn't going to sit out the final round with the Highbreed." Jen nodded as she pulled back from the hug.

"Ok I have a plan. Grandpa, you and the Plumbers kids," Manny interupted her.

"Max Force!"

"What did I say about calling us that?" Manny shrugged at Max.

"I think it's cool." Jen laughed.

"You and the Max Force hold the line here. Stop them from taking back the control room. Gwen you have your phone?" Gwen nodded and handed her the device.

"Answer the phone Julie. Ah good! We need ship. Yep right now! Thank you!" Jen stepped over to the hole Gwen had blasted into the tower. Pierce stepped forward.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh, just stepping out for some air." She then stepped out of the Tower into thin air.

"Jen!" Max shouted after her only to roll his eyes as she came back into sight standing on Ship. "You need to stop doing that."

"Where would be the fun in that? Gwen Kevin come on!" The two teens laughed and chased after Jen hopping into the ship just before it took off toward the gate.

Flying Ship as Brainstorm had been a great idea, spectacular even but landing a hurt Ship as Brainstorm not so much. She was already feeling unusually scrambled, the fact that her seatbelt had vanished with her transformation did not help. She ended up slamming into the back door and tumbling down the ramp as Ship opened it. She groaned and her eyes rolled up into her head. She went limp on the ground as footsteps approached.

They'd been hoping Jen was alright as they raced out of the ship, Azmuth on Kevin's shoulder. Finding her out cold in the hands of a Highbreed was the worst outcome they could have gotten.

"Do not move Vermin or this one dies!" The Highbreed held Jen in one hand, the other had sharp claws under her chin, poised to rip into the skin there.

"Stop! We surrender!" Azmuth called out before Gwen or Kevin could speak. Kevin made to speak but Azmuth kicked him in the chin. He raised his hands and Gwen followed suit. The Highbreed laughed.

"Good, the Galvan were supposed to be more intelligent than the average vermin! You will walk now! The Highbreed Supreme will decide your fate after the invasion." None of them dared argue as the giant alien still held Jen who didn't look like she would be waking up anytime soon. They were marched into a holding cell and bound. Gwen was counting the minutes in her head. They had maybe an hour at Azmuth's estimate before the Highbreed fleet was all in Los Soledad and could uncloak and begin their attack. She just prayed Jen would wake up soon.