"If you're going to get involved in intergalactic affairs, you should know the name Vilgax. I'm sure you've heard of him, even if you don't know who he is. Vilgax is a Chimera Sui Generi from the planet Vilgaxia. I bet you can guess why it's called that. He was exiled from his home planet for his ambition and the lengths he would go for it. He came back a century later, bigger and stronger, and took it over. He became the planet's sole ruler and rebuilt it in his image. But he didn't stop there.
"Throughout the galaxy, Vilgax is known as a warlord and a conqueror. It's impossible to say how many planets he's set foot on but I promise you, each and every one of them has its fair share of horror stories. Vilgax is ruthless, merciless, and will do anything to get what he wants. You're lucky he decided to call upon us bounty hunters to go after the Omnitrix instead of using his own forces or coming down to Revonnah himself.
"I must say I'm ashamed at what I've done over the years for a handful of taydenite. I won't get into it- my story isn't important- but the missions Vilgax hired me for were the ones that made me feel the most calloused. Normally I can justify the things I do. You may say it's twisted, I say it's part of the job. I don't feel bad about it but some missions… Well, I won't scare you with the details. You know I'm not a good person and I don't want to make your perception of me any worse. Not now, at least. Some day. You deserve to know.
"I'm glad I stood up to him. It was a long time coming. I don't like working for that man. To be honest, life as a bounty hunter can be pretty good but clients like Vilgax are what make a lot of guys lose their stomach for the business. I guess I'm one of them now, aren't I? Huh. It's strange to think about. Anyway, what I'm getting at is that Vilgax is bad news and he won't give up. Neither will Sixsix or Kraab. But, we may have some allies now.
"I bet you've been wondering where the Omnitrix came from. What it's doing on Revonnah. Wat-Sen's told you the stories, right? It's a library of alien DNA. It could be a researcher's gateway to understanding or a lowlife's ultimate weapon. Blonko, you're the curious type. If you weren't being attacked all the time, you'd use the Omnitrix to learn about alien life. Maybe help out your family, maybe take the chance to leave your homeworld, I don't know. Point is, Vilgax isn't like you. He's a lowlife. Worse than a lowlife. I don't know what he's planning but he's smart. I doubt he'll just use the Omnitrix for himself.
"Vilgax has been going after the Omnitrix for some time now. How long, I don't know. A long time, maybe even before he took over his homeworld. I guess he found it or the Plumbers found it because somehow they ended up fighting over it. Not really sure how but seeing as it's latched onto Blonko instead of Vilgax, a Plumber, or a bounty hunter, I'm guessing Vilgax never got his claws on it.
"He got close though. A number of times, actually, but the closest he got was in a battle with Xylene and Bahrvad's ship right here in your star system. Xylene and Bahrvad are good Plumbers. Old, experienced, trustworthy- Emphasis on the old. Their prime was back in Wat-Sen's day, before the Plumbers had all the organization and power the red spots have now. They're used to operating off the grid. They know how to call their own shots and are ranked high enough to get away with it.
"Their mission was to keep the Omnitrix away from Vilgax. They were transporting it when they passed through this system and Vilgax attacked. Knowing Magister Wat-Sen was stationed here, they fired a pod onto Revonnah's surface in hopes that he would find it and be able to keep it away from Vilgax until the Plumbers could regroup and plot out their next course of action. That's why they hitched a ride with those merchants. They wanted to skim Revonnah's villages, hoping they'd find the Omnitrix on one of them. I guess they did, in a way, even if it was more like Antigravitesla threw you into their laps."
Tetrax's mouth was dry as he came to a stop. He licked his lips, trying to get some moisture back into his mouth. He wasn't used to monologuing. He didn't even know his mouth could get dry like that. Petrosapiens didn't really need water. Maybe they just weren't built for talking. They were a species of warriors, after all.
Shar and Blonko watched Tetrax with wide, fascinated eyes. Their faces reminded Tetrax of a simpler time, one where he saw the curious gazes of the young more frequently, but he tried not to dwell on the before times. He tried to crack a comforting smile to lighten up the heavy mood but the action just made his peranite lips feel more cracked.
"Is Magister Wat-Sen visiting with them right now? With Xylene and Bahrvad?" Blonko asked, breaking the silence. Tetrax could see his fingers absently fiddling with the Omnitrix, rubbing the smooth metal of the underwise rather than playing with the dial or the buttons on top. Part of Tetrax wanted to reach out and grab his hand, stopping the unconscious action, but he withheld. Blonko was so young for such a heavy burden on his should- er, wrist. Tetrax would let him have the little things, even if they weren't the most healthy in the long run.
"Magister Wat-Sen has not been home all day," Shar added. Tetrax didn't know how true that was, he'd been puttering around with the old Plumber that morning, but Shar wasn't exactly wrong.
"No," Tetrax told him with a shake of his head, "he hasn't been with Xylene and Bahrvad. They actually left a few hours ago. They said something about wanting to report to the Magistrata but I think Wat-Sen just didn't want any more guests. He's actually been talking to your old man all afternoon."
"...Kundo?" Blonko ventured, looking confused. Tetrax wanted to sigh. Revonnahganders and their literal speech. They were getting better but Tetrax had a lot to teach them.
"Your father. Rook Da."
Blonko and Shar looked startled. "Why?"
Tetrax cracked a smile, a real one this time, and leaned forward. "Why don't you go find out?"
Blonko and Shar were out the door before the last word left Tetrax's mouth.
As scary as Tetrax's foreboding warning about Vilgax was, the idea of Wat-Sen talking to Rook Da was scarier. It wasn't like the two didn't get along. Afterall, Rook Da wasn't Kundo. It was just strange. And out of place. And a bit alarming, to tell the truth. The two weren't close. They weren't friends. The only connection they had were their relationships with the five Revonnahgander siblings and even then the two usually kept out of each other's way. What could Wat-Sen possibly want with Da?
Blonko knew it had something to do with him and the Omnitrix. He just wasn't sure what it was. Wat-Sen had been so strict about keeping it a secret that Blonko hadn't even considered the possibility of Wat-Sen telling anyone. What prompted this? Blonko knew the Plumbers' visit was significant but not this significant. Was Da freaking out right now? What was going through his mind? Was he horrified that his eldest son was… Well, an alien? Would he even call him his son anymore? Was Bralla even in the room? What did she think?
Was Wat-Sen going to try to take him offworld? Once, that had been a dream and maybe it still was but Blonko didn't really want to consider that a possibility at the moment.
"Brother! Put me down! I don't need to be carried!"
In his panic, Blonko had somehow ended up with Young One in his arms. He hadn't even realized he'd run past him. His brother's words snapped him back to reality. "Contraction!"
"I think I deserve it," Young One complained as Blonko slid him onto the ground and he, Blonko, and Shard walked into the village. Blinko could still see some of Shar's fur standing on end, alerting everyone to her alarm. She was trying to flatten it at least. Blonko was sure his was sticking up even more than hers. "What are you two so worried about anyway? What is happening?"
"We are not certain," Shar responded. The other villagers barely glanced at the trio as they slunk further into the village. "Let us see if Shi and Shim know any more than we do."
Blonko hadn't even noticed Shi and Shim lurking outside the Rooks' home, peeking over a rock to nose on those inside without being seen. Were they getting better at hiding or was Blonko less aware of his surroundings than he thought? The two were sneaky and loved eavesdropping so he hoped it was the former. Quieting, Blonko, Shar, and Young One crouched down and ducked behind the rock with their sisters.
"Magister Wat-Sen came by after the height of the first sun," Shim reported. Not taking her hands off the stone, she glanced at her older siblings. "Do you know anything? You two have been spending a lot of time with Magister Wat-Sen after Blonko foolishly got his hand stuck in that trap."
Blonko wanted to defend himself from the light teasing. Though she was far from the truth, his middle sister wasn't exactly wrong. He had foolishly gotten his hand stuck in a trap, just not the kind she thought it was. Still, he allowed himself to scowl until Shar answered.
"No, we do not," Shar replied. "We did not know until a few minutes ago when one of, um, Magister Wat-Sen's neighbors informed us. We are curious as you are."
"If you were curious as us you would have been here forever ago," Shi snarked, a sharp but cheeky and playful glint in her eye. "Shame on you. If you truly wanted to know what was happening, you would be here listening instead of frollicking around the fields and relying on your poor little sisters for information."
"We were not frolicking. We were working!" Shar defended but an eye roll from both younger sisters showed that neither believed her. Shar huffed at them. "And do not try to guilt me like you two would not be spying whether I was here or not!"
"You should tell me when interesting things are happening," Young One pouted, drawing an unhappy face in the dirt with his tail. "I was not here at the house listening to Father and Magister Wat-Sen with Shi and Shim and I was not visiting Magister Wat-Sen's neighbor with Shar and Blonko! I never do anything fun!"
"Were you not playing with Rayona's sister and brother by the stream? Is that not fun?" Shi asked knowingly. Blonko tried to recall if he'd run by there on his way over. His memory was a blur at the moment. Young One merely crossed his arms and sat down heavily, not entertaining her with an answer.
"Hush," Shar said, waving her hand loosely in the others' direction. "I see movement."
Blonko opened his mouth to say that meant nothing when he heard the front door swing open. "I know you are there. Stop your snooping."
The Rook children slunk out from behind the large stone. Blonko, Shar, and Young One at least had the decency to look somewhat guilty but Shi and Shim were grinning unabashedly. This was nothing new for them. Da frowned disapprovingly.
"All five of you?"
"Blonko, Shar and me-" Young One started but was halted by a sharp look from Da. Young One sighed and started over. "Brother, Eldest Sister, and I only just arrived. We were not snooping!"
"Right," Da responded, looking unamused but patient enough to humor him. "And what were you doing behind the family stone?"
"Gathering information!"
"And how is that different from snooping?"
"Um… It was Shi and Shim who were snooping! We were merely asking them what they had learned!"
"Do not put this on your sisters," Da replied but glanced at his youngest daughters before they could register any kind of victory. "And do not think you have gotten away unscathed."
Wat-Sen laughed and shuffled off the porch. Wiping an imaginary tear from his eye, he said, "Da, be gentle on them. They don't mean any harm."
"You are not the one who must live with them."
"I don't see how you do it," Wat-Sen chuckled. He looked at Shar and Blonko. "So, I'm guessing my neighbor told you why I'm here?"
Shar and Blonko shook their heads. "No, he only told us that you came by to speak with Father and that your, um, visitors had left."
Wat-Sen smiled. "Good. I didn't want to get your hopes up before anything was confirmed. Besides, I wanted to be the one to tell you."
"Tell us what?"
"Magister Wat-Sen wants to take you two on a trip. And I agreed to let you," Da answered, prompting an explosion of responses.
"I just said I wanted to be the one to tell them!"
"A trip? What kind?"
"Lucky!"
"Only Blonko and Shar? Can I come?"
"I am very jealous."
"But it is harvest season," Blonko spoke up once he found his voice. He looked at his father. "There is much work to be done. Do you not want us here?"
Da still seemed a bit hesitant but he shook his head. "You two have been working very hard. You brought back a whole crate of amber ogia on your own between sunhigh and final sunset yesterday. You deserve a break if Magister Wat-Sen would like your assistance. But if you would like to continue working…"
"No!" Blonko and Shar blurted in unison. Da looked amused but Blonko and Shar had enough decorum to look embarrassed.
"I mean," Blonko corrected, coughing awkwardly into his hand before dipping his head to his father, "we are very grateful that you have allowed us this opportunity and we accept it gladly."
"Surprise," Tetrax stated casually, leaning against a small skipper ship with a knowing smile as Blonko and Shar approached with light bags in hand.
"You deceived us!" Shar exclaimed as they got near. She tried to sound angry but she couldn't, not grinning as much as she was. "You knew what Magister Wat-Sen was planning and you allowed us to trick ourselves."
Tetrax chuckled and stood up properly. "You have no idea how much I wanted to tell you but Wat-Sen said he'd skin me if I told you before he could."
"You do not have skin."
"Don't underestimate 'ol Wat-Sen," Wat-Sen replied, chugging after them. With his slower stature and greater gait, he ended up lagging behind the two overly excited Revonnahganders. By the time he was approaching the land outside his home and the ship within it, he was breathing heavily. "You youngsters need to slow it down if you want to keep hanging around with me."
"Did you tell them what we're doing?" Tetrax asked. He straightened a bit, looking concerned for Wat-Sen's health. Shar imagined he didn't spend much time around the elderly. He didn't know what was normal and what was not. Shar thought it was kind of sweet. Tetrax frequently said that he didn't have a good moral compass but Shar could see he had a heart. He wasn't fooling her.
"Shim said she heard you mention muroids a couple times," Blonko ventured hesitantly, looking at the old Plumber questioningly. Shar hoped he was wrong. While dealing with muroids may be a bit better than spending the next few days working, she didn't really want to spend her time off fighting rodents.
"Close," Wat-Sen replied. "That's what I told your father, at least. We are going to be dealing with muroids but it's not what you think. There's a village aways from here that trades offworld who ended up with some tainted amber ogia. Nothing too worrying, they were just experimenting with some new fertilizer that didn't work out all too well. Some muroids beat them to it and they didn't get the chance to eat it. They didn't think it was dangerous but those muroids want some more of the stuff and have gotten a bit more aggressive with them. They called me in to lend a hand."
"We thought it might be a good chance for you to practice using your Omnitrix. Muroids are a low risk opponent and these ones are just a notch above the ones you're used to," Tetrax explained. "Plus, this is a far off village that's used to aliens so you don't need to worry about hiding your powers."
"That is a plus," Blonko admitted, despite the unease it filled him with. How could he be simultaneously scared and excited at the same time? He found himself asking that question a lot lately.
Shar seemed to sense his fears. "Do not worry, Blonko. If anyone is afraid of you, you have Magister Wat-Sen, Tetrax, and me to protect you."
Blonko felt a flash of relief but also confusion. "How did you know?"
"I am not an idiot. I have noticed your hesitance surrounding your aliens. Besides, Rayona and I talk."
"Did Terrorsaur frighten her?"
"Very much."
"That is... unfortunate."
"But now you won't have to worry about your little girlfriend or any of your neighbors seeing you and freaking out," Tetrax pointed out. Blonko opened his mouth to say Rayona was not his girlfriend but Tetrax was still talking. "Perfect chance to cut loose and master the Omnitrix. Or at least get close. Great opportunity, am I right?"
Blonko nodded and tried to let his anxieties wash away. "You are right. This will be a good trip."
Wat-Sen handled the talking.
The flight was nice. Wat-Sen was sure the kids enjoyed it but neither were used to aircraft or spaceships of any kind and he could tell they were happy to be on the ground again. The flight wasn't terribly long but it wasn't exactly short either. A good length for their first time, Wat-Sen would say. And it wasn't like they had much to complain about either, being in a new village and all.
Wat-Sen was somewhat familiar with this one. He'd visited most of the villages with extraterrestrial trade at least once or twice. It wasn't hard, considering how few there were. Wat-Sen called this one the grassland village, though the term wasn't quite accurate considering the fact Revonnah didn't exactly have grasslands but it was close enough. Fields both wild and domesticated were far more rich and plentiful than the lands around the valley that the mountain village and lakeside village Wat-Sen was more familiar with. Amber ogia was hard to grow anywhere and it was clear these farmers still handled their plants with the same delicate, gentle care as any other place but the weather and land seemed to be in their favor, allowing them to prosper.
It was still a small, traditional village though and Wat-Sen had to mind his words carefully to ensure he'd have the freedom to do his work.
"What did they say?" Shar asked eagerly as Wat-Sen made his way back to the ship parked a distance outside the village. She, Blonko and Tetrax had hung back for this one.
"They've been trying to avoid the areas where the muroids are," Wat-Sen reported, "which is making this harvest season particularly rough. They've been farming in groups closer to the village but the muroids have been getting bold. They haven't been able to farm at all in the northwest chunk of land. They want us to clear out the muroids there and see if there's any salvageable amber ogia left."
"Muroids controlling an entire field?" Shar echoed, sounding shocked. "And they expect there to be fruit left?"
Wat-Sen shrugged. He wasn't a farmer. He didn't know much about growing amber ogia. "That's just what they told me."
"How many did they say there were?" Blonko asked. A warrior's question. That Wat-Sen understood.
"They don't know. The original group only had half a dozen but they think they've seen more than that in larger and smaller groups around the territory. They've never seen them all at once. It's impossible to say."
"They don't tag their wildlife? Even the pests?" Tetrax asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I have heard Revonnahganders have tried before but it is difficult to get close and muroids are burrowers so many markers will just rub off," Shar told him. She paused. "Unless you are speaking of another method."
"A lot of species use chips. Sometimes they'll piece an ear or put on a collar, if it's a more primitive species," Tetrax explained, "but your idea with the paint might be good in the short term. What kind of plants do you have around here that can be made into paint?"
"Amber ogia, amber ogia, and more amber ogia," Shar listed sarcastically, counting on her fingers as if to prove her point, "which the muroids will just lick off."
"Well, what about rocks?" Tetrax pushed. "Petrosapiens are pretty strong for silicon-based life forms. I'm sure I could grind a rock into some powder and mix it into paint without much trouble."
Blonko frowned. "Revonnahganders do not like disturbing the stones. They were here before us and they will be here after us. I doubt the villagers will be happy if you crush their rocks."
"I imagine this year's crop is a lot more valuable than one stone," Wat-Sen pointed out, putting his hands on his hips. Sensing Blonko's hesitance, Wat-Sen looked to Shar. "Shar?"
Shar also looked hesitant but she was coming around. "Perhaps a small stone? We do not need much."
Tetrax looked displeased but nodded. "I think I have some old dye somewhere. We can use that instead of coloring it with more rocks, I guess."
"So what is your plan?" Blonko asked as Tetrax began looking around the immediate area for a rock to crush up.
"I was thinking we go about this strategically. Patrol the area, mark all the muroids, see if we can find their lair, then decide if it's best to pick them off one at a time or take them all out at once," Tetrax explained before looking at Wat-Sen. He dipped his head humbly and said, "I mean, uh-"
"Don't worry your crystal hide," Wat-Sen responded. He wasn't the jealous type. He knew a good plan when he heard them. "We should work in teams of two to cover more ground. And rotate out so we don't miss anything."
"Blonko and I can go out now while you and Tetrax prepare our supplies," Shar offered, a bit too sweetly. Wat-Sen and Tetrax shot her the same doubtful look. Shar dropped the innocent facade quickly and turned on her more childish charm. "Come on, I have never been this far from the village before! Neither has Blonko, except last week when Antigravitesla threw himself across the planet. We know we must be diligent on this mission but please allow us the chance to explore?"
"We will be careful," Blonko added, surprising Wat-Sen. Blonko never seemed like the kind for fun but Wat-Sen supposed he was still a kid, by galactic standards at least. "I have the Omnitrix in case something goes wrong. I can turn into Terrorsaur and fly myself and Shar out of there if we run into trouble."
The mention of Blonko's Phantasian form made Wat-Sen have a double-take. Originally, he was going to say no but he knew how averse Blonko was to using that form. He was serious. Reluctantly, he nodded. "Alright, you two. But be back before dark. That's when the muroids are at their prime so Tetrax and I will switch out with you and start marking them when you come back."
Blonko and Shar nodded and scurried off, all too happy to escape for a few hours. Wat-Sen sighed as Tetrax selected a rock to grind up. He trusted those two but they were trouble magnets. He'd be surprised if they didn't end up in a fight before the sun went down. But, there was nothing he could do about it but have faith they'd handle whatever came their way.
"What are you going to turn into?" Shar asked once she and Blonko made it out of earshot of the ship.
"What?"
"You know. This is a training trip. Who are you going to try to use?" Shar pressed as they walked. They weaved around the oddly placed plants, careful not to step on anything important. "There is no water for you to use Tidetail Wave. There would be too much to damage for you to use XLR8, Four Arms, or Antigravitesla…"
"Stop trying to get me to use Archfiend or Terrorsaur," Blonko sighed, trying not to let his sister's pestering get under his skin. He wasn't exactly upset by her or their mentors' efforts but they were unwelcome and unpleasant. They were his aliens. He should be able to use them as he saw fit.
"Blonko," Shar whined. "I have never seen them! From what Rayona and Tetrax tell me, Terrorsaur is very powerful. And I do not know a thing about Archfiend. I do not understand why you do not use them."
"Archfiend was the first alien I turned into. It was a very traumatic experience," Blonko responded sharply, hoping the honest but shallow explanation would appease her. "I almost burned members from our neighboring village. Everyone was lucky we were on a sandy bank or I could have done a lot of damage. It is too risky to use Archfiend."
"I suppose that is fair," Shar sighed. She sounded a bit disappointed but she didn't let the dismissal get her down. "And Terrorsaur? He sounds like a phenomenal alien. Was it because you scared Rayona? Are you afraid I would be afraid of you as well? Or Magister Wat-Sen? Or even Tetrax? Though I guess he has already seen Terrorsaur."
"Partially," Blonko admitted. "It is just… strange being Terrorsaur. He is very powerful but his power is all internal. He is an animal, like Tidetail Wave, so it comes instinctively. I felt scary being him. I was not scared, not until afterward and I realized what I had been doing. But Terrorsaur, it feels like he has a nightmare inside of him. And he does not control it. They are one. It wishes to escape and he merely gives it… direction."
It felt nice, letting these thoughts out, but when he looked at his sister, he was met with a blank stare.
"Forgive me. It is hard to describe something so specific to someone who does not experience it," Blonko apologized. "It is just… What I feel as an alien is so simple. So truthful. Yet I know it is complex. What is normal for them is normal for me but I know it is not normal for you. It is like a new reality and I do not know how to share it with you."
"That is okay, Blonko," Shar replied almost tonelessly. She hopped over a small stone and came to a stop, making sure her brother was listening. "I am glad that you told me. You are right- I do want to understand. But I know I cannot. And I am okay with that. I only want to help you in whatever way I can."
"That is very mature of you," Blonko responded, voice taking a teasing tone. Shar smirked at him and shoved him lightly, making him laugh. He opened his mouth to say something else when his sharp ears picked something up. And judging by the way Shar stiffened as well, she heard it to. "What was that?"
Shar looked around. "I do not know. We have wandered far. Perhaps we have reached muroid territory. Quick, turn into something."
Blonko frowned. "I do not need to transform to defend myself."
"Neither of us are armed. We left our weapons at home."
That was probably a bad move, come to think of it. Blonko queued up the dial on his Omnitrix. "Okay but I do not wish to waste a charge. If we see something, I will-"
"Muroid!" Shar shrieked, interrupting him. Blonko whipped around, hearing a rustle nearby but unable to pinpoint its location. When had the undergrowth grown so thick? He was tall, even for a Revonnahgander, but the greenery easily went up to the bottom of his ribcage and the top of Shar's. It would be difficult to see if there was an attacker near.
Thanks to Shar's warning, Blonko was able to react in time. A muroid flew out of the grass and Blonko was able to nail it with a swift kick, hitting it square in the chest and sending it back where it came from. Its squeals told him that this wasn't like the muroids back home though. Back home, a muroid would usually get deterred by one hit. This one would be coming back for more.
"We should move to more open land," Shar spoke, drawing Blonko's attention. She was standing on the stone she had hopped over, orange eyes narrowed. "I believe there are at least three more. And there is more movement in the distance but I am unsure if it is the wind or muroids. Follow me and watch my back. I see a clearing."
Blonko didn't say anything as Shar took his hand, making sure they weren't separated in the tall grass. His mind went back to when they were young and Shar would drag him through the fields by his tail. They were both adults in the eyes of their fellow Revonnahganders but it was sometimes nice to remember things didn't really change since they were young.
Shar seemed to have a good sense of direction, despite the plants restricting their sight. She weaved through the grass and amber ogia plants, trying to throw off the muroids until they got to the clearing. It was a good plan and they almost made it, judging by the way the growth was starting to thin, but a particularly sharp-nosed muroid got the better of them and pounced only footsteps before they made it to the clearing.
Both Blonko and Shar went down, the muroid knocking them off their feet and sending them rolling into the clearing. Blonko pulled his arms up, trying to protect his head. Normally that was the right move but right now it seemed it was a mistake. His exposed Omnitrix dial hit the ground before he could select anything and he turned into-
Blonko felt his limbs and gut thicken and grow significantly. For a moment, he was afraid he was turning into Archfiend. He'd been so panicked when he turned into him the first time that Blonko couldn't recall what the transformation felt like. But thankfully, after his body grew to the necessary size, he felt ice spike through his veins rather than fire and baggy clothes envelop him. He was turning into a totally new alien. One very different from Archfiend, it seemed.
"Kringl The Summoner!"
A large humanoid with angry red skin and an equally red coat appeared in the clearing. For a moment, Kringl thought something had gone wrong with the transformation. He felt… disoriented. He could still see the brightness of Revonnah's suns, it was almost blinding, but he couldn't really see or hear anything else. Then he realized most of his sensory organs were covered by a floppy hat and a mane of thick, white hair around his neck and the lower half of his face.
"What is that thing?" Shar asked, still on the ground. She stared at the new alien, soaking him and all his glory in. She looked like she couldn't make heads or tails of the form. Kringl looked down at himself, trying to see if there was anything strange about him, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Or rather, unexpectedly out of the ordinary.
"Is there something wrong with this form?"
"No, it's just… It looks kind of like Wat-Sen. A big, red, and- dare I say it- jolly Wat-Sen."
Kringl snorted and was about to think up a comeback when he heard a growl and the muroid from before reappeared. And it looked like he brought friends. "Do you remember if Tetrax mentioned anything about this form?"
"No." Shar got to her feet, assuming a fighting stance. Her eyes skimmed over the muroids. There were only five present at the moment but there were surely more waiting in the grass. Plus, as Wat-Sen had told them, these muroids were bolder than the ones they were used to.
What Wat-Sen had failed to mention was that they were also bigger.
A muroid screamed and threw itself at Kringl. Kringl boxed it in the stomach with a gloved fist. He was lucky Kringl was a big alien but it seemed strength was not one of his powers. He did the job but he was no Four Arms. He needed to figure out what this alien could do before any of the muroids got too close to Shar.
"Any ideas?"
"Not, particu- Wait. His name is Kringl The Summoner," Shar realized. "Perhaps try summoning something?"
It's not that easy, Kringl wanted to say but he kept his mouth shut. He waved his arms at the muroids, trying to be as intimidating as possible so he could buy himself a few seconds to work. He had no idea if it worked but it was the best he could do at the moment. Now, to summon.
Summon, summon, summon… How did one summon? What even was a summoning? Obviously it wasn't, like, a parent summoning the child to the table for a meal. No, it was something more than that. Young Revonnahganders were all told tales of farmers who had bad crops and turned to the dark arts for aid. Spirits were summoned in those stories, right? But what even was a summoning? Kringl couldn't- Oh the muroids were attacking again.
One of them headbutted him in the gut, making icy spit fly out of his mouth. Kringl tried to wrestle the muroid away from him but his gloves covered all his fingers except his thumb, making it hard to get a grip. His hands just slid down the rodent's flank as the creature unbalanced him and sent him to the ground flat on his back. The muroid screamed victoriously and began shredding up Kringl's coat with its claws.
"Watch the beard!" Kringl snapped and suddenly got a brain wave. Gathering up as much spit as he could in his mouth, he spat as hard as he could in the muroid's face. The rodent cried out in surprise and released its grip, letting Kringl sit up and bite its ear.
"Blonko! That is disgusting!" Shar called from where she was fending off two muroids with a stick she found. She swung it wildly, keeping them at bay. Kringl shoved the muriod off him and ran to help her.
"I believe I am figuring out Kring's powers. They have something to do with ice," Kringl told her and he kicked one of the muroids in the soft space between their ribs and hips. It was awkward kicking with such stocky legs and Kringl had to spread his arms to keep his balance but the muroid was sent flying so he was doing something right at least. "The ice is best deployed via the mouth."
"I severely doubt that is true," Shar replied dryly. Now that she was only fending off one muroid, she was able to better utilize her stick. Holding it like a harvesting tool, she jabbed it in the muroid's face and struck it in the chest. "His name is Kringl The Summoner. I imagine he summons more than ice."
"Why?"
"Because if summoning ice was enough to be called a summoner, Bloxx would be called Bloxx the Block Summoner and Terrorsaur would be Terrorsaur the Nightmare Summoner. Clearly Kringl summons something greater than weak ice spit."
Kringl sighed. She was right. "Well then what do you suggest?"
Shar jerked her stick backwards, warding off a muroid trying to attack from behind. "You know how to call upon Bloxx's blocks and Terrorsaur's nightmares, yes? I am sure you can learn something from that."
"I thought you said his summoning was clearly something other than the ability to summon ice?"
"Whether ice is his summoning power or not, he still has it and you may as well try it before you time out and these muroids eat us."
"The muroids will not- You may be right," Kringl conceded. He'd never even encountered diseased muroids before, let alone muroids empowered by amber oiga pumped up with alien fertilizer. He had no idea what they were capable of. Maybe they had developed a taste for meat. "I will give it a try. Please warn me if you are in danger or if a muroid gets close to me."
Kringl was sure Shar nodded but he couldn't really see with the fuzz of his hat blocking his eyes. Or maybe those were eyebrows? He could ask Shar later. Right now he needed to focus on calling upon his powers. He'd felt and acknowledged the feeling of ice in his veins before. It felt just like Archfiend's fire, only colder. Not that he knew how to control Archfiend's fire but at least he wasn't searching aimlessly. And, ice was a lot less scary than fire. He was confident he could figure out how to manipulate the ice within him.
It felt like… Well, it felt more like Terrorsaur than Bloxx. There was this great power, this great energy in him, only it wasn't all concentrated in one place. It seemed to flow freely through him. That would make it hard to grab but not impossible. It actually felt a bit like being Antigravitesla, though Kringl couldn't place why. He didn't dwell on it. That was unimportant right now. He'd figured out where the power was and that was a start.
He played with it for a few moments, prodding it and feeling out its movement. Quickly, he realized he couldn't control the flow but he could redirect it. Building up the frozen power in his belly, Kringl drew it up through his body and into his arms. Extending them, he let out a massive ice blast, freezing all three muroids that had been bothering Shar in big blocks of ice.
"Well done, Blonko!" Shar congratulated but Kringl didn't respond, not yet. He was on a roll and another idea was coming his way. He suddenly realized why Kringl felt like Antigravitesla. There were two distinct powers flowing through him. Building up the ice in his belly had started up something and Kringl just had to figure out what it was. Drawing upon the mysterious power within him, he let it flow into his hands. Moving them fluidly, he felt a release and suddenly his senses exploded into clarity.
The world had a faint blue tint but he could see and hear properly again. More than properly, actually. It felt like he was seeing out of many pairs of eyes but unlike with Terrorsaur, they all weren't on his head. He had his own eyes and then there were the other eyes.
"They are so cute!" Shar explained, looking down at him. Or not him. Rather, an extension of him. An energy homunculi, his mind provided. An elf, smaller part said. Kringl's lips spread into a wide, sinister smile and he let his elves cut loose.
Cold, spiritual energy pooled around his hands as elves flew from them, leaving behind energy trails as they went. There were at least a dozen of them, their tiny forms slamming into the muroids and rushing off into the grass to go after the rest. By the time the Omnitrix had timed out, Kringl's lips were tingling with the cool afterburn of long, icy gusts and his belly was bubbling with leftover satisfaction from his elves.
The sun was just starting to set and Tetrax and Wat-Sen had a few bowlfuls of paint ready when Blonko and Shar returned. Or rather, XLR8 returned, dropped off Shar, and sped off again. Tetrax raised an eyebrow and shot Shar a questioning look. She just smiled cheekily. "You will see."
"I'm sure I will," Tetrax replied, a bit skeptical. What were those two up to? Surely they couldn't have gotten into that much trouble in just one afternoon but this was the bearer of the Omnitrix and Rook Shar they were talking about. They were more than capable of exceeding any expectations set for them.
Luckily, XLR8 was pretty fast and the aliens didn't have to wait long for him to return.
… With an enlarged muroid trapped in an even larger block of ice.
"I- Ho- Nngh," Wat-Sen spluttered, not believing his eyes. XLR8 suddenly appeared with another frozen muroid. "What did you kids do?"
Again, Shar merely smiled cheekily.
"...Your brother discovered his Somosapien form, didn't he?" Tetrax asked, already knowing the answer.
"That he did."
"And he already mastered its abilities?"
"We call him Kringl The Summoner."
"...That's a pretty good name for him, actually."
"I know, right?"
XLR8 dumped another frozen muroid in front of Wat-Sen and the man looked like he was about to faint from shock. Tetrax couldn't really blame him. He was rather surprised as well. Tetrax patted the elderly Plumber's shoulder comfortingly as he could. "At least we'll have fewer muroids to tag tonight, right?"
"You tag them on your own," Wat-Sen said, shoving the bowl of paint into Tetrax's hands. His eyes never left the frozen muroids. "I'm going to get some well-deserved rest in the ship tonight. You know, make sure the kids don't end up fighting Vilgax in their sleep or anything."
Tetrax snorted. "Fair."
In the morning, Wat-Sen did feel a bit bad about leaving Tetrax to work alone the previous night and let the rugged Petrosapien get some rest before the group headed out. That was fine, there was something Wat-Sen wanted to do anyway.
"Flourana?" Blonko echoed, sounding out the word Wat-Sen had just said. "What is that?"
Wat-Sen wished he had Tetrax's drawings right now. They were crude and borderline illegible but they were sure darn helpful. "It's the name of one of your aliens. A plant based one. I want you to try using it."
"Why?" Shar asked. She was sitting a few feet on a smooth stone, ankles crossed and swinging absently. "He used Kringl for the first time yesterday and did wonderfully. Should he not be practicing Kringl more?"
"Maybe," Wat-Sen replied, "but Somosapiens are ice beings. Ice doesn't go well with plants. We don't want to damage the crops anymore. A Flourana on the other hand…"
"...Spouts fertilizer?" Blonko guessed apprehensively at Wat-Sen's prompting.
"Not quite. Flourana are living plants. They-"
"Are plants not already living?"
Wat-Sen sighed. "Yes, Shar. Plants are already living. You know what I meant."
"I am actually rather confused," Blonko admitted, scratching the side of his head. "How can I turn into a plant? Plants do not have minds. They cannot move at will. Turning into a plant sounds rather useless to me."
"Flourana aren't quite like other plants. They're sentient and they can move just like you and me. They- Look, why don't you just transform into one and we can figure it out from there?"
Blonko looked at his Omnitrix dubiously before nodding. "Can you tell me what it looks like?"
"Big shoulder, legs look like roots. You can't miss it."
"Thank you," Blonko replied, polite as ever, and brought his hand down on the Omnitrix.
Wat-Sen had no idea what the transformation process felt like. To him, it was just a flash and suddenly Blonko was someone else. He imagined that this one was pretty strange though, flesh and blood converting to plant fiber and… whatever else plants were made of. Wat-Sen didn't want to think about it so a green light was good enough for him.
"Wildvine!"
"Wildvine?" Shar slid off the rock and walked up to Wildvine to inspect him. He was tall, both his head and shoulders towering over Wat-Sen. That was probably the least strange thing about him though. His bright green exterior, single blue eye, black back sacs, and leafy tendrils were a lot to take in. "Wildvine. Huh. I think this name suits this form."
"You think?" Wildvine said and Wat-Sen couldn't tell if that was sarcastic or not. He twisted around, trying to get a good look at his form. His root-like legs curled along with him. "This feels really weird. It is like… I can feel all the plants around me. And also I am one? They are not like people but I can hear them…"
Wat-Sen frowned. Maybe turning into a Flourana wasn't the best idea on an agricultural planet. "Is all the plantlife overwhelming?"
"Not really. Just… strange."
"Are you trying to teach Blonko how to use the Flourana's powers to promote agricultural growth?" Tetrax asked, stepping out of the ship. He was wiping water off his face like he'd just washed it but Wat-Sen knew there wasn't a bathroom on the ship. "I thought that'd be a good thing to bring up at some point but everyone keeps mentioning this harvest season thing so I figured it was a bad time. I don't know, I'm not a farmer."
"I can promote agricultural growth?" Wildvine asked, looking down at his hands. His long fingers curled as he closed his fists. "That would be incredibly useful during the tending seasons."
"And it means you might be able to save some plants the muroids got to before we leave," Wat-Sen told him, bringing it back to the original point he wanted to make. "I'm not positive it will work or not but you've been farming a lot longer and a lot more than I have. I'm sure your knowledge will fit well with your powers."
Wildvine nodded. "A lot of stuff… makes sense now. Brallada, I feel so different. It is invigorating."
That was a relief to hear. Despite all his encouragement, Wat-Sen was actually really worried about pushing this form on the young Revonnahgander. He didn't want to be the cause of Blonko refusing to use yet another alien.
Wildvine seemed to be having an awkward time walking as Tetrax led them out to the spot he'd seen the most muroids but he was managing. Shar was poking some fun at him and Wildvine was laughing so Wat-Sen figured it couldn't be all that bad.
"I counted eighteen muroids last night," Tetrax told them as they got farther from the ship, "and then there are the five Blonko and Shar brought back defrosting in the pit. Judging by their patterns, there should be a den around here. The plan is to find the den, use Wildvine's powers to block off the exits, and knock out the muroids. If Blonko hasn't timed out by then, he can drag them back to the pit and the villagers can decide what they want to do with them."
Wat-Sen didn't know what pit Tetrax was talking about but Wildvine and Shar were nodding along. Had they dug a hole to stick the muroids in while he was asleep? Dang kids, they have so much energy. He'd think they'd be tired after a fight but nope, they were prepared to do more work. Unless Blonko used his Tetramand form. Or Antigravitesla but Wat-Sen thought he'd notice if he had.
"Do you have any idea where their hideout may be?" Shar asked. Tetrax shook his head and looked expectantly at Wildvine. The Flourana's lone blue eye blinked back.
"Me? Why do you think I know where it is?"
"I imagine the den is underground. You're a plant. You're connected to the planet."
Wildvine frowned. "I guess I can give it a try."
"That's the spirit."
Wat-Sen turned away as Wildvine began his work. It seemed like an intimate thing, a native connecting to his homeworld on such a level for the first time. It felt like it should be something private and Wat-Sen didn't want to watch. Well, maybe a peek. No, no. He shouldn't. Wildvine would tell them whenever he was ready. Or he timed out. Whichever came first. He'd probably have to recharge at some point before this was all over.
After a minute or so, Wat-Sen heard the rustle of leaves and vines snaking across the dirt. Wildvine was moving. He'd found something. He remained silent but trusted the others to follow him just as they trusted him to guide him. But as Wat-Sen predicted, he timed out before we made it.
"Do you need time to wait for the Omnitrix to recharge?" Shar asked as they came to a stop. To be honest, Wat-Sen was grateful for the break, as brief as it was. His joints weren't what they used to be and he had a rock in his shoe he needed to get out.
Blonko shook his head. "No, I think I can remember where the den is. I will need to recharge before we battle though if I am to block off the exits."
"Can Tetrax not do that?"
"I don't want to leave peranite all over Revonnah," Tetrax responded, sounding a bit impatient, "and besides, a Flourana is a bit more subtle than a Petrosapien."
Blonko nodded but he didn't seem to really hear him. He was already moving again and quickly, as if he didn't want to forget the location of his target. Wat-Sen stifled a groan as he hurried after him and the rest of the group. He hoped it wasn't far. He didn't want to be tired and out of breath for a fight.
The Omnitrix had turned green again by the time Blonko came to a stop. He looked around a bit, seeming lost for a moment, before victory flashed across his face. "I have found it!"
Wat-Sen, Shar, and Tetrac huddled around him, peering into the opening in the ground. Looking at it like this, it was rather obvious but Wat-Sen knew he wouldn't be able to find it if Wildvine had not sniffed it out. It was out in the open, far from any mountains, but the greenery and rocks hid it from sight. Perfect for patrols of muroids to venture out of and hide in when necessary.
Blonko dialed up Wildvine in his Omnitrix. "I will block off the exits as planned. I will give you a signal when I am ready for you to come in."
Blonko transformed into Wildvine and wordlessly slipped into the ground, leaving his friends to prepare for the coming fight. Wat-Sen's hand went to his utility belt immediately and grabbed his gun. He slid a charge into it, a non-lethal one that still packed a pretty good punch. He reached for his second blaster and was about to hand it to Shar when he hesitated. "Maybe you should sit this one out, young lady."
Shar raised an eyebrow and snorted. "Maybe you should sit this one out, old man. I can hear your hips cracking with each step."
Wat-Sen looked to Tetrax for help. The Petrosapien merely shrugged helplessly, the traitor. "She has a point. And besides, two guns are better than one."
"Only two?"
Tetrax responded by removing his gloves and smirking. "I think I'm going to go back to the basics on this one."
Knowing Tetrax was going to be using his powers was a comfort but Wat-Sen was still uneasy. "The seeds on a Flourana's back are explosive. If you get backed into a corner, grab one off your brother and just throw it as hard as you can. The noise will distract the muroids at the very least."
"I shall keep that in mind," Shar replied dryly but she didn't sound angry or offended. Wat-Sen opened his mouth to continue when one of Wildvine's tendrils emerged from the earth, beckoning for them to come down. The three traded a final glance before stepping down into the tunnel. Compact dirt slowly bled into thick vines and the tunnel opened up into a wide cavern, not unlike the ones in the mountains near the Rooks' village.
Wat-Sen, Shar, and Tetrax stepped out of the tunnel into the dimly lit cave, standing on the ledge overlooking a dip into a wide, dry basin lined with sturdy vegetation. Wildvine's body winded around the basin, stretching over every nook and cranny to block any exits and effectively box the muroids into one place, eliminating any chance of escape. And the muroids weren't happy about it. They screamed and clawed at Wildvine's flesh, trying to climb out or hurt their warden enough to get him to release them, but Wildvine merely poked a tendril out and knocked them down anytime they tried.
Upon his allies' arrival, Wildvine extended his upper body from the part of the wall closest to his friends. "I have rounded them all up. There are a few young muroids here that were unmarked but I believe we are missing one or two that Tetrax marked."
"We'll deal with that when we get there," Tetrax replied, clapping Wildvine on the back. "Good work, kid."
Without another word, Tetrax let out a battle cry and threw himself into the basin, charging at the muroids with all the fury of a true Petrosapien. Wat-Sen gave Shar a final glance before letting Wildvine carry him down to join the fight.
The muroids were so distracted by Tetrax that Wat-Sen and Shar were able to stun a few before they even turned around. Shar ran at them, kicking a muroid in the throat with a swift blow. The muroid wheezed and reeled back in surprise. Shar shot it quickly, stunning it, and began firing at the next one. Wat-Sen felt a proud smile creep onto his face. For someone who'd only held a gun a handful of times, Shar was doing well. She was a quick learner. Maybe she'd show interest in becoming a plumber one day. If she did, Wat-Sen would support her all the way.
Wat-Sen, lacking any kind of reflexes or speed comparable to a young Revonnahgander and the power of a grown Petrosapien, kept his distance. He was a good shot, even with his fading eyesight, and watched Shar and Tetrax's backs with the skill of a sharpshooter. Tetrax probably didn't need the help but he picked off any muroids that dared get close and he made sure Shar had enough space to fight without risking taking muroid teeth to the arm.
Even Wildvine helped. His body was the barrier keeping the battle contained but he was still able to extend the occasional limb to slap a muroid that got a bit too close to his sister or friends for his liking. He didn't throw any of his seeds but that was okay. Wat-Sen thought that it would be hard to do better than they already were.
Wat-Sen revelled at the sight of them fighting in such unison. Fighting was an art but considering the fact he'd faced off against so many lowlifes over the years, he rarely got to see its beauty. This, however, he'd call beautiful. Tetrax was an absolute powerhouse but he had good form. Shar was small and fast, able to weave around the path in their foes he carved and take them down with a precision Tetrax lacked. And Wildvine- Blonko- was right up in there with them. His tendrils seemed to flow with their rhythm perfectly.
Wat-Sen wouldn't say he was jealous but he felt a tad bit sorrowful. Not at being left out, just that he'd never be part of such a well-oiled unit. Back when he cruised around with Max, Xylene, Devin, and Patelliday- those were the days. But his prime was long behind him and he was now training a new team. Wat-Sen was still hesitant to completely trust Tetrax but right now, he knew the Revonnahgander siblings would be in good hands if Wat-Sen croaked prematurely. Maybe he should start allowing Tetrax more responsibilities. Would that be something the Petrosapien would be open to?
Wat-Sen knew the trio would be fine if he dropped his fire but he kept it up anyway. He knew he'd picked off his fair share of muroids and it was always satisfying to dominate a fight like this. These muroids were more savage and hostile than normal but they still stood no chance against Wat-Sen's team.
The battle was over before Wildvine timed out.
The end of the trip was a lot less fun than the rest of it. Shar, Blonko, and Tetrax mostly stuck to the sidelines but occasionally they'd step in to help Wat-Sen with something or another. The villagers were grateful but there was still a fine line drawn between both parties. Shar was okay with it. This was a good experience overall and she was happy to help.
The group had stayed a bit longer so Wildvine could cultivate the damaged crops a bit and hopefully save them enough to have some growth over the following year but the trip still ended a lot sooner than anyone had expected. They talked a bit about staying longer so Blonko could practice using Kringl and Bloxx a bit but ultimately they decided it was best to head back. As Blonko had told their father all those days ago, it was harvest season and the additional hands were needed on the fields.
Besides, Shar missed sleeping in her own bed and she looked forward to using a bathroom she didn't have to share with three smelly men. Only it seemed that, as they neared, the rest of the group lost the once shared sentiment.
"What is wrong?" Shar asked as unease rippled through the pair of aliens piloting the ship. They were near Wat-Sen's mountain home. It was a bit too late to change their mind and spend a bit longer away from the village. Wat-Sen was still bringing the ship down but he looked like that was the last thing he wanted to do. "Surely the village must have seen the ship already. If you want to spend more time away, you decided too late."
Tetrax turned around from the co-pilot's seat. "Why don't you two stay with me at the mountain for a bit while Wat-Sen goes into the village?"
Shar felt a jolt of alarm. She hadn't really thought anything was wrong until she heard Tetrax's tone and veiled words. "Why?"
"Did you see something?" Blonko asked, rising to his feet to go to the window to see for himself but Tetrax held up a hand, telling him to sit back down. Blonko stopped but didn't seem happy about it, fur puffing up a bit in controlled anger. "It is our village. If something has happened to it, you must tell us."
"Maybe it's better if you see for yourself," Wat-Sen said slowly. He turned the steering wheel, bringing the ship around so they would land a bit closer to the village. Blonko and Shar were on their feet the moment they felt the ship touch the ground.
"Try not to panic at whatever you see," Tetrax murmured as he opened the hatch. "Remember, we don't have all the facts."
"Do not shelter us," Shar snapped and pushed past him, stepping out of the ship into her village.
Or more accurately, into what had been her village.
