Chapter 8
„Hunted – Part 2"
Tennyson's rushed back to the Rust Bucket and entered it. Max quickly ignited the engine and floored it. Ben and Gwen were on the back, checking if the Kraab wasn't after them. After a few minutes, they sighed in relief.
„Good… He's not following us." -Gwen said as she slummed down on the couch.
„Tell me about. Man, he was creepy." -Ben said as he check the Omnitrix. It was still in recharge mode."Let's just hope that's the only one."
„Don't jinx it, Ben!" -Gwen scolded.
„Unfortunately, Ben's right." -Max informed."There are at least two more bounty hunters on our tail."
„How do you know that?" -Ben asked.
„One of my Plumber friends called me…" -Max said while clenching the steering wheel."Anyway, We have to get as far from here as We can. Ben, how long do you think it will take for the Omnitrix to recharge?"
„I don't know! It's random with this thing." -Ben complained as he turned the dial in all directions in frustration."Sometimes it takes ten minutes or less. Same with the transformations!"
„Easy Ben… We need to stay focused." -Max said calmly."Right now, it's important to get away from here." -Then, something landed on the roof of the RV."Or maybe not!"
Suddenly a laser saw come through the roof and began cutting a hole. Then the black claws split the roof apart and reveal the face of the bounty hunter. The bounty hunter was wearing a black and dark pink mask with four central lines on his helmet to provide outlines for his face, which seemed to be his eyes and mouth.
To his surprise, Ben and Gwen were ready and began shooting at the bounty hunter. The bounty hunter was forced to dodge the barrage of plasma bolts. Max suddenly hit the brakes, causing the bounty hunter to go flying in front of the RV. Max then decided to run him over. At first, it seemed to work, but then Max noticed that there was something wrong with their tires. Quickly getting out of the RV, Max noticed that his tires were severely popped by the metal rods.
„Kids! Come over here, now!" -Max called as he noticed the bounty hunter slowly getting up."Bring my rifle as well!"
Ben and Gwen rushed out of the RV with Max's rifle. They handed it to Max, who reloaded it. Then, Kraab came off the ground next to the other Bounty Hunter. Max glanced at the Omnitrix on Ben's wrist and cursed underneath his nose. It was still in recharge mode. Quickly looking for a way out, Max noticed an abandoned mine shaft.
„There!" -Max pointed out and the Tennysons dashed toward the mine shaft.
On their way, Ben and Gwen were shooting back to try to put some distance between them. When they went inside and hid behind a corner, Ben took a peak and saw no one.
„No sight of them…" -He said with a sigh of relief. He glanced at Omnitrix and frowned. Still in recharge mode."Dammit…"
Suddenly, the ground began to shake familiarly. Krabi burst out of the ground again, forcing Tennyson to turn around and run away. After a while, they managed to find a way outside to the center of the mine with a large crater. Max noticed a lift and pointed at it.
„There is a lift. Let's get on it!" -Max said and his grandkids followed him. While Max and Gwen were in, Ben stopped suddenly. He noticed that the Omnitrix was finally reached. Max took a notice of that."Ben! Get in! This isn't the time!"
„But it is! So what if We get in if they can just cut the line?" -Ben asked, pointing at the line above them. Then both Kraab and the bounty hunter came out of the mine. Ben pulled the lever, forcing the lift to move."I got this!"
„Ben!" -Max and Gwen cried out as they began moving away from him.
„Stupid little human." -Kraab commented as he prepared to cut the line connected to the lift.
Ben quickly shot his pincer pushing out of the way. He charged at Kraab, while other Bounty Hunter charged after Ben. Ben threw his gun at Bounty hunter and ducked before activating the Omnitrix. But then, Kraab punched him. It sends him flying over the crater before falling. Max and Gwen looked in horror, watching Ben fall.
„Six six… Go and grab the body. Then We can leave and split the prize." -Kraab told Sixsix who nodded.
Activating his jetpack, he flew toward the crater to retrieve the Omnitrix. But then, Six six came back and crashed before Kraab who stared at him, confused.
„Six-six?! What happened there?!" -Kraab demanded, grabbing and lifting Six six.
Then, Kraab saw that they were not alone. From the crater, an alien flew up. It was a humanoid alien whose entire body was solid black, excluding his white hands. He had tiny white star-like spots all over his body, giving him the appearance of a starry night sky. His eyes were green and lack pupils, and his forehead bore three horn-like protrusions. He had the Omnitrix symbol on his chest.
„Alien X!" -Alien X announced with his arms open. Looking at Kraab and Sixsix, Alien X suddenly blasted them away with a black energy beam, causing them to crash through the rock wall behind them. After a few moments, he stopped and put his hands away.
„Why isn't he moving?" -Gwen asked out loud.
„I don't know…" -Max said, watching Ben floating motionlessly."Ben! Come back!"
Ben didn't move. He was almost like a statue.
Then another bounty hunter appeared. He was standing on a hoverboard just above the mine entry. He stared at Alien X before flying over to him and stopping. Examining him, the bounty hunter tilted his head before lifting Alien X.
Noticing an incoming plasma bolt, the bounty hunter used Alien X's body to block the attack. The bolt bounced off of the Alien X body and hit the line connected to the lift that Max and Gwen were riding. The line snapped and the lift began to fall. Max embraced his granddaughter, fearing the end for them. But it never came. They suddenly stopped.
Looking up, Max saw that the bounty hunter hold onto the lift while carrying Ben beneath his armpit like a purse. Now, he could take a better look at the hunter. He wore a shiny grey suit with a black helmet, which housed a green triangle on the front. Under the helmet, the suit went all the way up to the bottom of his neck. This triangle was also on the center of his utility belt, and there were markings resembling it on either shoulder pad.
„Get your hands off my cousin!" -Gwen demanded while pointing her gun at the bounty hunter.
„Gwen, put the gun down." -Max ordered and Gwen stared at him."We're in no position to demand anything from him, so stand down."
„Better listen to your grandfather, kid." -the Bounty hunter said, and Gwen lowered her gun.
Later, the Tennysons and the bounty hunter stopped by the abandoned town on the other side of the mine. While the bounty hunter was checking something on his gauntlet, Max and Gwen were trying to snap Ben back to reality.
„It's been ten minutes already… Why isn't he turning back?" -Gwen asked while looking at Ben with worry.
„I don't know. There are still many things We don't know about the Omnitrix." -Max replied with his crossed arms.
„Should We trust this guy?" -Gwen pointed at the bounty hunter behind them.
„If he wanted us dead, then he would let us fall. He has some other goal" -Max explained."Might as well ask him now."
While they turned around and left to talk with the bounty hunter, they didn't see that Alien X's finger moved a little.
[Within Ben's mind]
Ben's voice felt tired from screaming. He wanted so badly for his family to hear him. But nothing came through. He had no idea what was happening.
„Bellicus, I think We should let him out…" -Serena, the voice of love and compassion, said with a worried tone."I don't think he wants to be here."
„Hmph! Then he should have thought about it before transforming into Celestialsapien!" -Bellicus, the voice of rage and aggression, replied with a grumpy tone."This child should learn that every action has consequences!"
„Still… I don't think he knew that this would happen." -Serena said gently to not upset Bellicus.
„Whatever… I don't care." -Bellicus replied.
[Outside of Ben's mind]
The bounty hunter noticed that Max and Gwen walked up to him. He turned around to face them.
„Kraab and Sixsix are still alive." -Bounty hunter said."It'll take them some time to repair themself enough to go after the Omnitrix again. I'm surprised, you know. Surviving a blast from Celestialsapien is something you see every day."
„Nice to know, Mr. Bounty Hunter." -Gwen said with her arms crossed."But that doesn't explain why you're helping us."
„I know, and I'll explain everything." -Bounty hunter replied and his helmet retracted back into his suit, revealing his face for the first time. His head was made out of the diamond-like material with a long and sharp end."My name is Tetrax and I'm a bounty hunter."
„You're Petrosapien…" -Max said in shock."I thought that your species went extinct!"
„I'm the only one left." -Tetrax replied sadly."But that's not important right now. I have a message for you, Max." -He took a disc from one of his pockets. It was a plumber badge.
„That looks like the Omnitrix…" -Gwen commented.
„It's a symbol of plumbers, Gwen." -Max explained and took the badge."Where did you get this?"
„Just play it." -Tetrax said calmly.
Max activated the plumber's badge and a hologram of an alien appeared. He resembled an anthropomorphic grey frog, with gills and sticky skin. He had bulbous green eyes with rectangular black pupils. Four thin tendrils grow out of his lower jaw, while two longer ones grow out of his upper jaw, giving him the appearance of having a beard.
„Azmuth!" -Max said in surprise.
„Wait, you mean the creator of the Omnitrix?" -Gwen asked in shock.
[… Hello, Max. It's been a while. If you're hearing this message then Tetrax has managed to find you and the Omnitrix. Or at least partially, because the DNA that Omnitrix registered was just a close match to yours. Meaning that probably your offspring or grandchild is wielding my device now. Regardless… I have terrible news, Max. He's alive… Vilgax is alive…]
„N-No…" -Max muttered, almost falling to his knees.
„Granpa, are you okay?" -Gwen asked with worry.
„It's true… He's the one who hired me, Kraab, and Sixsix." -Tetrax said with a heavy sigh.
[…He's alive and after the Omnitrix. Just like before, he wants to conquer the universe and with the Omnitrix, he might just do it. Right now, I'm unable to help you. I have other pressing matters to attend to. But perhaps this is for the best. You're the only person so close to kissing Vilgax last time. With your experience, the wielder of the Omnitrix might have a chance at stopping Vilgax for good… That's all I have to say for now. I'll do my best to contact you in the near future… Goodbye, Max…]
The massage ended. There was a minute of silence between the three. Max had a lot on his mind. He believed that Vilgax was head for the past 15 years. Now, he was alive and hunting for the Omnitrix that was attached to his grandson.
Max turned to look at Ben who was not moving. He was worried for his grandson. Out of anybody in the galaxy, it was Vilgax who was after the Omnitrix. Max knew Vilgax all too well. He'd do unimaginable things to torture Ben before getting the Omnitrix off of him.
„So… what are We going to do?" -Gwen asked.
„For now let's focus on dealing with Sixsix and Kraab." -Tetrax replied and looked at Ben."We have no other choice than to defend your cousin."
„There is something that I still don't get." -Gwen said while looking at Tetrax."You did your job, so why are you still here?"
„If you remember right, I was supposed to make sure that the Omnitrix was safe." -Tetrax replied and pointed at Ben."And with him being the way he is right now, the Omnitrix is not safe. So I still have a job to do…"
„Point taken…" -Gwen replied with a shrug.
„Very well, Let's make a plan." -Max said seriously while clenching his fist.
[Later.]
Kraab and Sixsix finally arrived at the location of the Omnitrix. It took them some time to repair all the necessary parts of their armor.
„Vilgax said nothing about fighting a Celestialsapien!" -Kraab snapped, and Sixsix agreed with a nod."Strange… No sight of those other humans nor Tetrax…"
„You've called?" -Tetrax asked as he walked out of the run-down barn next to them.
„Strange… Why did you go and collect the prize from Vilgax?" -Kraab asked."You won. Unless…"
Then, Max came out of the corner and shot at the barrel next to Kraab and Six six. It exploded while pushing the bounty hunters were pushed away. Tetrax transformed his arms into blades and then charged at Six six. As Tetrax was about to cut Sixsix down, Sixsix used his jetpack to get away and get to the air quickly.
Six was suddenly hit from the back. Turning to the source of the attack, Sixsix saw Gwen sticking out of her cover. She didn't stop shooting and soon enough, Tetrax followed the suit and began shooting crystal shards from his hands.
On the other hand, Max had his hands full with Krabi. It was obvious that Max was old and not as fast or agile as he used to be. In his prime, he'd be able to fight Kraab head-on instead of running around from cover to cover.
„You think you can run away from me, old man?" -Kraab asked, while almost snatching Max's shoulder."I'll rip you apart!"
Max barely dodged that one. He was getting tired of evading Kraab's attacks. But he had to push on, and fight to protect Ben. He had to do everything he could, even if it was going to kill him.
After a bit of struggle, Kraab finally manager to grab Max and hold him in place.
„Gotcha!" -Kraab exclaimed while pushing Max's rifle to the side."Not gonna let you use that annoying little toy… Now then, how do you wish to die?"
„Piss off, asshole!" -Max snarled and spat at Kraab's face.
„A slow and painful death then!" -Kraab said as he used his pincer to snap Max's right arm off.
„Aaaarhg!" -Max screamed in agony. His screams filled the silent town.
„Grandpa!" -Gwen exclaimed in shock.
As she lost her focus, Sixsix threw the grenades at Tetrax causing him to go flying right into the barn next to him. Six quickly swooped in and grabbed Gwen by her wrist and snap it, causing her to drop her gun and scream in pain.
[Ben's mind]
„Let me out! I have to save them!" -Ben demanded, growing more worried as he heard the screams of his family."Dammit! I didn't do anything to you! Why are you holding me here?"
„For this exact reason!" – Bellicus snapped."You are acting like a spoiled brat! Always abusing the power of the Omnitrix without thinking! You're using the most powerful device in existence, thinking that there are no consequences! Well, surprise! There are! And now you're facing them!"
„You think I know everything there is about the Omnitrix?!" -Ben yelled."I only had it for a few weeks! There is no manual for this thing! What are you on about?!"
„Please… don't fight." -Serena said gently. She was never one for arguing or fighting.
„Shut up!" -Both Ben and Bellicus snapped at Serena who gasped. Her lips quivered and soon she began to cry.
„Aw shit…" -Bellicus cursed underneath his nose."Great job, human! Look what you did!"
„Me? What the fuck are you talking about?!" -Ben said while pointing his finger at Bellicus."If you'd just agree to let me go, We wouldn't be in this situation!"
„Do you have any idea how long it's going to take to calm her down?!" -Bellicus snapped as Serena's crying became louder."Great… A headache for the next 100 years!"
„Should've let me go when I first asked." -Ben replied while crossing his arms.
„Tsk, fine!" -Bellicus finally said."It'll allow you to take the wheel for a bit and then never come back! Got it?!"
„Fine, I'm not gonna come back." -Ben nodded and turned to look at what was happening outside.
[Outside of Ben's mindset]
Max was beginning to lose consciousness. He was losing a lot of blood and Kraab could kill him at any moment.
„Now… I may be an emotionless killer, but I perhaps I can ease your pain." -Kraab said as he pointed to his piece rat, Max."I'll try to make it painless!"
Before Kraab could land the final strike, He was frozen in a black force field. Six who were about to kill Gwen were also frozen in a black force field. They suddenly levitated above the ground, while trying their way to wiggle their way out. They both began to scream in pain before their bodies exploded.
Gwen, who dropped to the ground, gently picked up her wrist. She winces in pain while looking around. She noticed Alien X floating in the middle of the ghost town. Then, in a flash of red, he turned back to Ben.
„Grandpa!" -Ben exclaimed as he rushed to Max. Gwen go up and made her way to her wounded grandfather.
„Grandpa! Just hold on! We'll call the ambulance!" -Ben said as tears formed in his eyes.
Tetrax also made his way to them. He looked at his wrist and activated his communicator.
„Gluto! Come to my location, ASAP!" -Tetrax ordered before picking up his gun. He took the charge out and tinkered with it for a moment."Show me the wound…"
„What are you planning?" -Ben asked without taking his eyes off Max.
„Just do it, kid." -Tetrax said, and Ben did as he was told. He gently lifted Max, showing his wound to Tetrax. The charge in his hand glowed as he pressed it against Max's wound, causing him to scream in pain.
„You're cauterizing the wound, right?" -Gwen asked, and Tetrax nodded.
„Gotta stop the bleeding somehow." -Tetrax explained before stopping. He threw the chargé which exploded moments later."This should be good enough for now."
[Tetrax ship, a few minutes later.]
Max was unconscious as he gently floated in the healing tank. Gwen was about to enter the second one before glancing back at Ben and Tetrax.
„Is this necessary?" -Gwen asked while holding her wrist.
„Not, unless you want to deal with that for a few weeks." -Tetrax replied as he pointed at her wrist."Don't worry… Unlike with your Grandfather, this will take less than an hour."
Gwen nodded and looked at Ben who was avoiding eye contact.
„Ben…" -Gwen said gently, making him look at her."This isn't your fault…"
Then, he entered the tank and her body was slowly submerged in cyan liquid. She closed her eyes as she put on a breathing mask and let her body float.
„She's right, you know." -Tetrax said after pressing a few buttons."You had no idea about two personalities residing in Celestialsapien."
„Doesn't change the fact that I could've done things differently." -Ben said bitterly."I could've turned into Chromastone or Jetray…But I decided to test the alien I had no experience in using. It was stupid of me to do so…."
„Then take it as a lesson, Ben." -Tetrax said as he turned to him."That no matter what… We all can make mistakes. Mistakes can have dire consequences. But it's how We do after… Are We letting them take a hold of us… or accept them and move forward."
„I…" -Ben had no idea what to say to that.
„Take your time with that." -Tetrax advised."In the meantime let's go on a walk…"
Ben followed Tetrax and the two left the medical wing. He was surprised at how big the inside of the spaceship was. It certainly didn't look big on the outside. As they passed a few rooms, they stopped by a closed door. Tetrax put his hand on a keypad and the doors opened. It revealed a small and empty room. The only thing that Ben noticed was that there were few hoverboards on the wall. Tetrax took one of them and a moment later it became smaller and formed a disc. He tossed it to Ben who was caught in surprise.
„You can take it." -Tetrax said.
„What? Why?" -Ben asked."This is yours, not mine."
„It's fine. I have many of these." -Tetrax said with a shrug."Besides, it might be useful in the near future."
„Thanks…." -Ben said unsure and they continued their walk."So… Where are We going?"
„To my trophy room…" -Tetrax replied without looking back at him.
„Why?" -Ben asked with a raised eyebrow.
„Gotta find a replacement for your Grandfather's arm." -Tetrax replied as they entered the trophy room."It's not gonna be perfect, but it'll do its job…"
After a while, Tetrax found a simple, metallic arm with three large fingers. He took it and they both left for the cockpit. After a minute of walking, they finally reached their destination.
„Gluto! Mind fixing this thing?" -Tetrax asked, as the pilot of the ship, Gluto, turned toward him.
Gluto had the appearance of a pink blob of slime. He had three yellow eyes with black stripes above them and two antennae-like protrusions on his forehead. He wore a grey and black suit with four four-toed feet and two four-fingered hands.
Gluto said something, but Ben had no idea what he said. It was all gibberish to him. But Gluto took the arm and left the cockpit.
„So… Now what?" -Ben asked.
„Now We wait…Unless you want to go the training room and have a spar." -Tetrax offered, and Ben pondered for a second.
„Alright…." -Ben nodded.