Galactic Shift Extend

by Seanzilla1988

A familiar Beastkin goes through a familiar abandoned Cauldron. However, she doesn't end up in another timeline, but Bellwood, home to a teen with a watch he wears on his arm that can change his shape to save the world from harm.

93. Animo Crackers

GT: You know the one drawback to owning the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection on two systems? *holds up Switch and gestures to PS4* You have to repeat Battle Network 5 four times, meaning you have to deal with a sad Maylu and missing RollEXE four times.

SZ: It…honestly felt confusing they basically left them out of the story…you could say the same kinda for Battle Network 6, but after 4…especially after the growth they had and their battle in the Red Sun/Blue Moon tournament…yeah…

GT: *nods before noticing the readers* Oh, hi readers. Get ready for timey-wimey stuff and hilarity in the form of a double dose of a certain evil veterinarian.

Z0: Things will get crazy, extra crazy…EXTREMELY CRAZY!

SZ: Eeyup…but before we begin as usual, we don't own anything aside from original content.

Z0: Release the Beasts! *giant door opens behind GT and SZ unleashing giant Zoids upon them* Oops…wrong beasts…just play dead and the giant Gattai dragons might get bored!

GT: OH NOT AGAIN~!

---

"You know…lately I feel like I've been a pawn for many a villain lately," Animo muttered, laying on top of a table as if it was a therapist bed as his…stuffed amalgamations 'listened,' "First it was that alien hunter that wanted me to create what should be my masterpiece…then it was VV Argost and attempting to revive him using Cryptid DNA…then there was getting dragged into Kamikaze's level of stupidity in an attempt to steal what doesn't belong to him all the way in Japan and encountering that…" he shuddered, "...abomination beneath the school…then there was Joseph Chadwick wanting me to rule the world for him…like I'm some sort of service monkey, but here? …Here they lock me up like I'm some sort of…mad man," he frowned as he slammed his fist on the table as he sat up, "They want mad do they?! I'll show them mad! They will be sorry that they ever crossed Dr. Aloysius J. Animo!...ugh. But then again…" he paused as he got up off the table, "Then again…I could be wrong. What do all of you think?"

"We couldn't agree more, Dr. Animo," a doll with a stuffed shark head 'spoke'...with Animo giving a falsetto accent for it.

"They don't appreciate your talents!" a bear with an eye patch 'added'.

"Ja. Zey are all nincompoops," a toy white gorilla with a male doll's head on it 'agreed'.

"And you're the greatest genius in the history of..!" Animo began in a dorky accent.

=There you go again, talking to toys…=

"?!" Animo tensed as he looked towards the pile, mainly focusing on the toy gorilla.

=...They're not real, you know…= the toy spoke as its head turned towards him.

"AHH!" Animo panicked as he jumped back, seeing the toy starting to move towards him.

=And no…It's not like that stupid Toy Story movie before you assume= the Toy Gorilla stated =I mean, really…toys being alive...how absurd can you get?=

"...a…a…a…and you are?" Animo cautiously asked.

=Obviously your only means to escape, so I suggest you get ready= it stated as it held a finger up, letting the tip fold over as pink electricity crackled off it =I don't want to keep my partner waiting, you know…=

"...P…Partner?"

---

"...Mmm," Tsubaki frowned a bit in annoyance, seeing Ben and Makoto looking on at the monitors…while munching on some snacks.

"What?" Makoto asked, pausing in taking a bite of her butterfly cut potatoes coated in melted cheese.

"Must you? I…I mean, really? Eating at the monitors?" Tsubaki sighed.

"You don't complain about the others doing it," Ben noted, wiping a bit of chili and cheese off his face.

"Yes, but at most someone has a bag of corn chips, popcorn, or gemstones or something; not an entire game night platter of cheese-covered foods," Tsubaki argued, pinching the bridge of her nose, "One of you is gonna gunk up the touch screens or buttons with cheese…"

"Hey. We have chili here, too, ya know," Makoto pointed out.

"Oh for the…" Tsubaki groaned, facepalming, "You know what I meant."

"Hey, we got it covered," Ben defended, "We know how to work the monitors and everything."

"You're about to press the emergency signal," Tsubaki deadpanned, causing Ben to pause in moving his finger to a button.

"...Okay, so Makoto is the button expert." Ben argued.

"Wait…that's what that button does?" Makoto blinked.

"...Well, at least we've been paying attention to the monitors."

"Okay, what happened two minutes, seventeen seconds ago on monitor 57 then?" Tsubaki questioned.

"Rat came out of the trash can on the far right with a moldy tomato slice and ran south down the alley to Monitor 60 and into a sewer grate," Ben replied, "Six different vehicles came westward while twelve came eastward. I can give you their license plate numbers, too."

"Hah! I'm in love with a genius!" Makoto smirked.

"Photographic memory for the win," Ben chuckled.

"It's called Eidetic Memory…but…yes…I forget you have that. Wait does this mean you can choose to remember anything I've told you but you actively choose not to listen?!" Tsubaki realized.

"What's that…sorry I don't speak angry…" Ben muttered with a panicked look in his eyes.

"Oh don't worry…I'll make sure these two stay focused," Skurd assured Tsubaki, "..provided they don't start sucking face."

"Hey…" Ben and Makoto frowned.

"You know he's right," Tsubaki sighed, "...in fact where's Max? He was supposed to be helping with.."

"Hey sorry guys! I forgot to get some…" Max began as he walked in from the elevator…carrying multiple bags and drinks before he noticed Tsubaki staring at him, "...Oh…eh heh…hey…"

"Really….really, Max?"

"Oh come on, this is the most boring thing on our chore wheel!" Max argued, "The only reason we're stuck with it is cause I was late to get to the drawing for who does what…oh and they forgot cause they locked themselves in a closet." he motioned to the couple.

"Hey…no…yeah he's right…" they shrugged.

"You may not like it, But Monitor duty is a serious job," Tsubaki stated, "Magister Pattilday entrusted us to this task while he and Grandpa Max went out of state for a personal trip."

"Yeah, I know, my Mom and Uncle are there too. I'm just saying, you put those of us who are often out chasing bad guys on the most mundane job in the base." Max argued.

"It's like watching siblings argue," Ben whispered to Makoto.

"Pfft…a Brunette and Redhead arguing in the family…why does that sound familiar…?" Makoto giggled before the elevator doors opened.

"Oh finally…" Tsubaki sighed in relief as she looked over…and saw a pouting Noel step out with Rook, "...what happened?"

"I had finished watching those movies Noel had recommended…I started questioning them and she got offended by it," Rook replied, "...Yet I still do not get them. I've seen how Ben and Makoto act around one another, so it is odd to see other people act in a different manner in romantic comedies."

"You don't question romance, Rook...ever!" Noel shouted.

"I am just saying how are they able to lose their ability to walk...and often trip or fall into bodies of water?"

"Rook, it's just a movie, they aren't meant to be realistic," Max sighed.

"Don't you start, too," Noel pouted.

"Though I have read that love affects the same area of the human brain…that is linked to insanity…" Rook went on.

"...That tracks…" Ben, Max, and Tsubaki muttered.

"I mean just listen to Ragna's stories of Jin," Ben joked before he then looked around, "...Huh. Normally that summons him…" at that, a door slammed open as Jin jogged up and glared at Ben, "There he is!"

"You will die…"

"How do you always hear that?" Tsubaki asked.

"My point…" Rook motioned to Jin while looking at Noel.

"Okay…you got me here, but just this one time," Noel pouted.

=Oh brother…= Steel rolled his eye before he floated over to Skurd =So what did I miss?=

"Oh nothing much...just watching the two lovebirds gorge on cheesy foods while watching the priso…" Skurd began before he noticed something on one of the screens, "...now what is this?"

=Hmm?= Steel blinked before looking at the monitor with Skurd, seeing one of the cell doors opening up as Animo-decked with his antenna for his mind-control device- and the toy gorilla stepping out =...uh guys…Animo's breaking out=

"Wait, what?" Ben blinked as he and the others looked at the monitor, "...I thought we made it so he couldn't escape like last time!"

=It appears someone…hotwired the cell's electronic locks…= Steel explained.

"...Since when does he know how to do that? Didn't he make techno bugs to hack tech for him?" Makoto asked as Noel shuddered.

"Ugh…let's go get him before he hurts himself again," Ben sighed.

"Right. Ben, you go with Makoto and Rook to cut him off," Tsubaki ordered as she grabbed her sheathed sword from nearby, "Jin, you, Max, and Noel are with me. We'll surround him from both sides."

"I'll activate the defense system," Makoto spoke as she typed a few buttons, "It's a bit much, but can't be too careful with the guy…"

"Is no one gonna question the walking gorilla doll?" Skurd deadpanned.

"Oh great…he learned to make walking, talking toys…" Ben sighed, "We'll just smash and burn it."

"I'll get the flamethrower if it starts twisting its head around and pulls out a knife," Makoto added.

"...No more Child's Play movies," Tsubaki deadpanned.

"I'm still gettin' it!" Makoto declared.

---

"Gh!" Animo tensed as he quickly skidded to a halt, a few laser shots firing at him and the toy gorilla, stopping them from reaching the central elevator, "What do we do? I don't have any weapons!"

=Pick me up…= the toy ordered, making Animo blink as he did so…only for the toy's eyes to light up as it fired off a pair of lasers to destroy the pillars =Now run ahead…and stop to hide in the crevice in the wall to prevent being seen by a few Plumbers=

"Hmm?" Animo blinked before he did so, quickly moving into a space in the wall of the prison area just as a few Plumber agents ran by, "?! ...How did you…"

=What are you waiting for, an instruction manual?!= the toy snapped =MOVE!=

Animo began running towards the next bridge leading to the central elevator. However, his footsteps still alerted the plumbers that he avoided just moments ago.

"Watch it!" one called out as they all ran after the deranged doctor.

Animo grunted as he ran faster and made it across the walkway, quickly spinning around to perform two actions. One: slap the button with his fist; and two: aim his seemingly sentient, laser-shooting gorilla man doll at the walkway. With a ding of the elevator, the gorilla blasted his optic beams and burned two lines through the walkway and cut the path off to the central elevator. Animo cheered before jumping into the elevator and letting his back land against the wall before he kicked the button to ascend and closed the doors before the Plumbers could properly aim and shoot. The Mad Veterinarian giving a final wave just as the doors closed.

=Head for that other elevator!= the toy ordered as Animo began running as fast as his skinny unathletic legs could =5…4…3…2…=

"Why are you counting?!" Animo panicked as his mind made him slightly panic as a machine counting down was never good. He then yelped as he quickly skid to a halt, narrowly avoiding the icy cutting wave that headed his way before ducking under a laser shot, making him look to see Ben and his team aiming at him from both sides.

"Hold it, Animo!" Ben ordered.

"And put down that…toy?" Rook blinked.

Animo…quickly held his hands up, the action tossing the toy down with a squeak.

=Right on Schedule!=

"How did you-?" Animo began to ask.

=Watch! Ben's about to try and go for Humungosaur! But instead he's gonna end up as Upgrade=

"Come on, Humungousaur!" Ben called out as the flash filled the room only for Rook and Makoto to blink as Upgrade stood between them =Aw…man…=

"There! You did it again!?" Animo pointed at Upgrade, "How do you know what's going to happen?"

"I'm sorry, what did he say?" Jin asked.

=Dear me, you are slow…= the toy produced two items =Now you take these and throw them!= he held up what…looked like a small battery wrapped in wires with two metal caps on each end, and in his other was a small sphere with multiple holes in it.

Animo quickly took the first and tossed it at Upgrade, and it bounced along the ground causing a current of electricity to flow into the Galvanic Mechamorph, making him scream in pain as his body went crazy. In his frantic state, he ended up whipping Rook and knocking him to the ground. And after a solid second or two of screaming in agony, reverted to a twitching Ben.

"That….was very unpleasant!" Skurd exclaimed, "I actually felt that!"

"Ben?!" Makoto gasped, running to his side.

"What was…?" Jin began before the second item landed at his feet, "What in the…" a burst of blue smoke suddenly shot out, covering Jin specifically, he swung his sword in panic before sniffling…and sneezing, the action making him lose control of his abilities and send out a formation of ice that forced his team to jump away in panic, "Wha…ACHOO!" he sneezed again as another formation of ice formed right in front of his face.

=Little known fact: the muscle contractions of a sneeze while Jin has his sword out cause him to involuntarily activate his cryogenic abilities= the toy explained.

"He's heading for the elevator!" Noel yelped, pulling her badge out, "Please, shut down all elevators immediately!"

=One more toss= the toy noted, holding up a sphere.

Animo quickly threw it. Noel fired a round and the sphere broke on impact…before a large pile of stuffed animals popped out of the halves and rained down on Noel.

"Ah!" Noel yelped as she was buried, "...So fwuffy~"

"Corgi's?" Animo blinked.

=Took us ages to get the right scent combination to stimulate the right nerves in her brain to reduce her to a temporary euphoric state not even Bolverk could suppress…even longer to figure out how to adhere it to felt= the toy sighed, =Oh…and duck. Makoto is about to jump and punch at you with her right fist in 3…2..1…=

"AH!" Animo panicked, dropping to the ground.

"Anim-Wait, wha?" Makoto blinked as she overshot and slammed into Tsubaki.

=Okay, that one was just luck. I didn't know Tsubaki was standing there= the doll explained, scratching his head for a moment =But given how much faster Makoto jumps with those boots…she'll be dazed for a few minutes. Now let's go!=

"AH! Tsubaki! Are you okay? Gwah…you are out cold!" Makoto panicked, shaking her best friend rapidly.

"Awua….bavarian chocolate waffles…" Tsubaki mumbled in her unconscious states, swirls replacing her eyes.

"H-Ho-ACHOO!-How is this happening!?" Jin sniffled.

"I can't believe this…the banes of my existence…defeated so quickly!?" Animo gasped, reaching the elevator, "What kind of miracle are you?" he asked the toy as it jumped out of his arms and stood before the elevator, "Aren't you coming with me?"

=No…but I'll see you soon. Besides I have one more move to make before declaring Checkmate on this game= he explained producing a small, well to his scale, deadman's switch as he clicked the button, causing an explosion below in another cell =Now…you escape and we shall meet with the third member of this operation at the designated location=

"I…don't…understand!" Animo declared in pure confusion as to what was happening just as the door closed. On the other side, the toy opened just the outer layer of the doors…before he used his arms to push the elevator up slightly. He jumped down under the gap…before his rear revealed itself to be an entire jet thruster as he began pushing the Elevator cabin up through the shaft…then out through the top of the base, then the store acting as a cover…and out into the airspace over Bellwood before arching off towards the woods outside of town.

"...The heck kind of toy is that?!" Max exclaimed.

=A pretty hi-tech one, I guess= Steel noted.

"What the heck just happened…and what was that kaboom!?" Makoto demanded, before everyone flinched as a loud roar made them all look down at the lower levels of the prison…as a giant black tiger with crystals along its left forelimb, and the sides of its face, "Max…is that one of yours?"

"What's…AH!" Noel yelped, snapping out of her cuddling upon seeing the same thing, "What is that?!"

"Extroyer?" Max blinked as the tiger roared…and ran through a door and deeper into the base, "Oh no you don't!" he formed his helmet and jumped down after the tiger.

"Extroyer?" Makoto repeated.

"I read his file," Rook noted, "It is not good that he is out. Noel, do not have Funkfreed assume his elephant form, please."

"Huh? Why not?"

"Because of Extroyer and his power that allows him to absorb animal DNA…even from fossils," Rook explained.

"EH?!" Noel freaked as she defensively hugged her sword, "Funkfreed, you are not allowed to go elephant until he is locked up!"

"Also that's a magical elephant…" Makoto added, "Who knows how weird that'll get."

"Is no-bzzt!-one going to question how that little t-Bzzt!-toy of Animo's knew what we were going t-BZZT!-to do?!" Skurd exclaimed as he twitched a bit, sparks coming off him now and again.

"We'll...figure it out…later," Ben grunted as he forced himself up, "For now...we gotta find Animo…Jin, you and Tsubaki stay back. Me, Rook, Max, Noel, and Makoto will track down that crazy mad scientist and that Extroyer guy. Meet us once you're able to help."

"I'll focus on Dr. Animo," Noel spoke, hugging Funkfreed, "I don't want Funkfreed anywhere near that Extroyer tiger thing."

"Oh, you would not like reading his background," Rook noted with a grimace.

"Stop adding fuel to the fire, Rook," Ben sighed, "And it's fine, Noel. He'll likely be in awe of Funkfreed anyway since I don't think he's actually met the big guy yet."

"...Still not letting Funkfreed transform until the tiger is caught," Noel stated.

"...Fair enough…"

"I think we should call in some backup for Extroyer…" Makoto muttered.

---

"Ngh…" Animo grunted as he climbed out of the elevator...which was now far out of the city as he fell out of it, grunting as he sat up to pop his already aching back. Just as he got up, he saw the gorilla toy nearby...completely unmoving with the doll head missing, "?! No ho~! Now what am I gonna do without you, my little gorilla friend~?!" he sobbed as he fell to his knees.

=Oh stop blubbering, will ya?= the voice he heard from it spoke up, making Animo tense up as a large blur jumped out of the bushes and landed before him.

Standing before him was...well a large...very large figure with a white-furred gorilla/giant ape-like body with large metallic collar on it as well as several metallic bolts along its arms and legs, but what caught his attention the most…was the glass case over where it's head shout be…containing what looked exactly like his head with one of his eyes cybernetic and having an actual scalp and not a brain in a jar.

"Who….Who are you?" Animo whispered as he staggered back a bit.

=Isn't it obvious? I am you…Dr. Aluysious James Animo…from the future= he replied with a grin.

"F…From the future?" Animo repeated, "So...you were the one who teleported that toy into my cell?"

=But of course!=

"...Well…glad to know I found a donor," Animo muttered, "But…how did you…I mean, me…I mean…" he gestured to the eye and then the body.

=Long story for the eye, but rather short for the body= Future Animo replied =Old man body not able to keep up with them, so had to take it up a notch! Won't tell you when, though, just know you will figure it out=

"..."

=No, I am not giving you the lottery numbers= Future Animo deadpanned.

"Blast! Curse you, Laws of Time Travel! Curse you and your meddlesome ways!" Animo cursed…before he grinned, "But…you do know what will happen from this point on, don't you?"

=Yes…well and no…ahem. Mostly= Future Animo muttered.

"Excellent…though I am curious…" Animo paused as he looked at his future counterpart, "Who's this partner you had mentioned? ...Oh please tell me it's not Kamikaze."

=Absolutely not= Future Animo replied in the same tone of disgust Animo gave.

"...Not the weird guy who talks to the plastic fish in one of his canisters, is it?"

=Toxzon? No, but he is a good conversationalist in a few years. Makes a wonderful lasagna=

"Hmm…and here I thought he was just wacky…but I do love Lasagna," Animo muttered.

=Yes. Also his work in chemical research and toxicology has helped me with a lot of tests. But oh lord is he a pain to work with. Ah…we just work better as friends. Some people you just shouldn't mix business and pleasure with=

"Hmm…I suppose that makes sense," he nodded, "If not him…then who?"

=Don't worry. He'll be here; and, after today you'll find yourself working with him a lot!= Future Animo smirked, =Besides, compared to the Benjamin Tennyson of my time…little Ben will be a fun afternoon=

"He gets worse!?" Animo gawked.

=Remember this one thing…when he and Makoto do have kids…don't. touch. the. children. Don't go near them, don't even look in their general cardinal direction in a scheme or the planning of one! You'd think it'd be Makoto who's the horrifyingly protective parent…but it isn't! It's Ben… He once went Way Big because someone accidentally knocked one of them over!=

"Now that is just overkill…"

=He is a very loving Father…trust me…I thought of it just once…and he appeared at our door…= he got in so close, he pressed his past self's face up to the glass of his dome.

"Okay…I am now terrified…" Animo gulped.

=But as long as we don't touch the kids…it's business as usual, capiche?=

"Yes, yes…very capiche…" Animo nodded quickly, 'No wonder I went gorilla body! The Future is terrifying!'

=Good! My only vital bit of wisdom is preserved. Now we begin our plans to dominate the world!=

"Yes!" Animo beamed, "So tell me…what do I owe this visit…from my future self?"

=Unbeknownst to me…that is you, the government has been busy working on the ARC Project= Future Animo as he held his hand up, causing a red holographic screen to appear as it showed a DNA strand and an image of an animal.

"...I don't know what that is," Animo deadpanned.

=Ugh. That's why I'm telling you!= Future Animo exclaimed as he dismissed the screen, =ARC…Archival Recombinant Codex; a collection of DNA samples of all of Earth's species in the event of a mass extinction=

"Oooh~~! Now I am certainly intrigued~!" Animo beamed as he rubbed his hands together, "With it I….no. We can take over the world!"

=Or at the very least, make an army of new mutant creatures= Future Animo grinned =And our partner...oh, he'd certainly enjoy this…now do you see why I came back to the past?=

"I do...it's pure genius!" Animo beamed.

"More like pure madness."

"?!= both Animos tensed up as they turned to the source of the voice =WHO DARES?!"

Standing before the two, was the duo of the Chrono Riders as they had been called by both themselves and those of this era.

=AH! You brats!= Future Animo shouted while pointing at them =You're both almost a fraction as annoying as Tennyson himself!=

"Well maybe if you behaved more, Hakase, you wouldn't have to keep changing bodies," Driver teased as she had her arms crossed.

"Who are they?" Animo asked.

=Time Traveling Superheroes who begin popping up a lot!= Future Animo snapped =They have the same annoying positive energy as Ben and Makoto! But more like Ben and Gwen in how they never stop complaining!=

"Ugh…siblings…" Animo gagged, only to yelp when Spanner slammed into him with propulsion via his rocket boots.

=Yeah…they do that…= Future Animo sighed as he blocked a punch from Driver before swinging her up and over. He smirked only to yelp when she flew down and slammed him into the ground, =...Nice try! But I don't actually feel much pain from this body!= he grabbed Driver's leg and swung her into Spanner, sending both tumbling along the ground.

"Aim for the head…the head! Is that so hard? You have literally abused that joke from the movie with Dad…" Spanner groaned.

"Don't start with me…I am stronger than any gorilla…" Driver groaned, flipping to her feet, "You should know after the only time Uncle K and Aunt A babysat us."

"They were a horrible influence on you. More so than Aunt N," Spanner sighed.

=You should pay more attention, brats!= Future Animo shouted, jumping off the devastated elevator cabin and into the air before raising both fists as he fell towards them.

---

"I hear fighting," Makoto spoke up as they searched the forest.

"I'm guessing that way is where we need to go," Ben sighed, "Lead the way, Babe."

"Right!" she nodded.

"How far could a toy even carry an elevator…?" Max groaned, "And figures I'd lose Extroyer out in the same forest…"

"Yes…an oddly ironic choice of place to try and lose detection," Rook mused as they followed Makoto.

Soon enough, the quintet found the clearing the Elevator crashed in…and were treated to the sight of the fight going down. Spanner was busy chasing the Animo they were used to, while Driver was wrestling with the Future Animo who was really only familiar to Ben. Ben sighed instantly figuring out what, how, and why this all happened.

"Okay…so…we found Animo…and the filming set of a…Toku show?" Makoto blinked.

"Well…that's Animo…those are new friends we made while you were gone," Max pointed to the Chrono Riders, "They're on the level…but the yeti is new."

"No…that's just another Animo," Ben sighed, earning looks from the others, "I fought him…back in the…future."

"...Context, boy. Context!" Skurd exclaimed.

"...Wait. Was this that one adventure you told me about?" Makoto asked, "The one where you and Gwen ended up in an alternate version of your guys' future?"

"Yep. First time meeting Ben 10K," Ben replied, "Future me was a jerk!"

"BEN!" Animo gasped as Spanner turned to look and flew over him, "HAH! Nice job, Flyboy!" he taunted as Spanner was able to correct himself and fly back around, "Curse you, Flyboy!" he shouted while running.

"Wait…?" Driver blinked.

=Finally! Ben 10!= Future Animo called out happily.

"Eh?" Driver blinked behind her helmet as she turned…and tensed when she saw Ben and the others staring, "Ahh…"

=As expected!= Future Animo used this moment to toss Driver into Spanner, sending them both tumbling along the ground, =Quick, Dummy, follow the plan! You go that way!= he pointed to the right upon getting his younger self's attention, =While I go this way!= he pointed to the left.

"I'm trusting the plan!" Animo shouted as he began running.

"Oh no you don't!" Driver shouted as she shot up and ran after Animo, "I got the skinny one! You get the yeti rip-off, Aibou!"

"Of course," Spanner sighed as he ran after Future Animo while muttering under his breath, "Leave the tech guy to deal with the muscle monkey and the muscle gal to go after the tech guy…"

"Okay, I am confused," Makoto admitted.

"We'll ask later," Ben advised, "Makoto, Rook, after our Animo. Max, Steel, Noel, with me and Skurd after the future Animo."

=Well we can say one good thing about knowing what he looks like in the future= Steel noted as they split up.

"And that is…?" Skurd asked.

=We don't have to look at his brain anymore; just a big gorilla body and a funky robo-eye= Steel replied.

"There is that," Max agreed.

"Do you think his head functions like the ones in that one show you and Makoto enjoy on your days off?" Skurd asked.

"Futurama? Maybe," Ben replied.

"I still don't get how that's possible," Noel muttered.

"Well, it is a cartoon," Ben shrugged, "Though some things in cartoons do tend to appear as the years pass."

=I still think The Simpsons predicted a lot of things= Steel muttered.

"I'll believe it when Trump is president," Max rolled his eyes behind his mask.

Up ahead, Future Animo leaped over a large bush as Spanner chased him. The future fighter raised his arms up in an 'X' before him. He squeezed his fists twice in rapid succession and a pair of hard-light green blades emerged from the back of his fists. He swung them, slicing the bush apart as he jumped over the remains.

"...Alright…Where are you, giant monkey man…?" Spanner muttered as he looked around, "How can something that big hide…"

"Yo, kid!"

"?" Spanner looked up to see a trio of Ditto looking down at him.

"I don't know what the big picture is, but mind telling us what's going on here?" the first ditto asked.

"Yeah. Why're you and your partner after Future Animo?" the second questioned.

"Otherwise we might find you two mighty sus," the third added.

"Wh-Aw come on, 3!"

"What? You know it's a good game we Time-Burped, 2!"

"I still can't believe none of us realized Noel was the Imposter that one game!"

Ditto Prime facepalmed, "And people ask why I don't use some aliens as often as they think I should…"

"Future you does tend to use Ditto as a way to use different Aliens to help clean up the areas fights occur at," Spanner admitted.

"Right…So what's the deal with Monkey Man and where is he?"

"Well, he's-ABOVE YOU!" Spanner panicked.

"Wh…" Ditto Prime began as he and his clones turned and looked up, only to tense as they saw the grinning face of Future Animo staring down at them, "?!"

=Surprise~!= he shouted as he swung down, knocking all three Dittos off the tree branch as they fell to the ground, before crashing down on the ground and backhanded Spanner into a tree, =And that's Dr. Monkey Man to you!= he quickly did a backflip, avoiding the charge of Max in Turbo Strength Mode =Ah, Max Steel. So good of you to join us, boys= he ducked as another tree shattered like a strong round had hit it =Well a pleasure to see you this day, Ms. Vermillion. How are Drei, Mari, and Funkfreed doing?=

"Eh? You know a-oh, wait…wait. You're from the future," Noel remembered as she got out of hiding.

=That's right! I know much of your futures! That puppy will indeed become a handful of another kind!= Animo declared.

"Eh?! You do not talk about my baby bundle of fuzzy cuddles that way!"

=Ah! I didn't mean it as an insult! I did not mean for an insult!= Future Animo panicked as he began to dart around, sounding like a panicked monkey as he avoided or was barely grazed by shots fired at him while she chased.

"You're under arrest for insulting a cute and adorable corgi baby!"

=It was a compliment! A compliment!=

"..." Spanner flicked his wrist and it showed the date and time, "Really glad it's not a few months from now. He'd be in bigger trouble then."

=Any chance for lottery numbers?=

"For the final time; no. We are not allowed to do that!"

"Good job, Noel!" Max cheered before flinching as the bushes behind him rustled, making him turn as a black tiger paw swiped and sent him flying, sending him sliding between Noel and Future Animo, "GAH!"

=...Oh thank god. Right on schedule= Future Animo sighed in relief, everyone turned to see the same Black Tiger that escaped from the prison.

"Max…Steel…" it growled as a purple glow made everyone flinch as the tiger twitched and began changing back to what could be called a man clad a black and purple armored suit, with his entire left arm covered in jagged sharp crystals stemming from his chest, which formed around his lower jaw like fangs as a few crystals protruded from the side of his head, his eyes glowing an eerie purple as he seemed totally bald as well. His left hand is giant and made of three fingers with jagged crystals armoring them.

"Extroyer!?" Spanner shouted in shock as he backed up a bit.

"You…You're the one who freed me?" Extroyer looked to Future Animo.

=I am a man of veterinary science…you are a man who Extroys the Animal Kingdom and becomes beasts…I would like to…collaborate with you…or 'Collab' as kids call it~= Future Animo smiled.

"...What kind of collaboration?" Extroyer asked.

=I'll tell you once we meet back up with my past self…and away from these nuisances=

"Past Self…well…now this is actually sounding interesting~" Extroyer smirked before turning to the heroes, "Then let's lose the brats." he growled as a purple glow spread across his body before he punched the ground and began growing until he turned into a giant Gorilla with the same crystals spreading along his left arm and side of his face.

=Oh not this form again!= Steel panicked.

"Are we playing some Donkey Kong game again?" Ditto Prime groaned as he and his clones regained their sense of self.

"RAAAGH!"

"OH JEEZ!" the Dittos panicked as they scattered, narrowly avoiding the slam from Extroyer's fist.

"Could really use Omni Kong for this…" Spanner muttered.

"I'm sorry. Omni Kong?" Ditto 3 asked.

"Spoilers," Spanner replied.

"I hate time travelers like you…" Ditto 2 spoke, making Spanner flinch, "You never shut up and reveal just enough to frustrate people!"

"Sorry," Spanner apologized, "Just trying to not cause a temporal rupture that would destroy time itself. We're not allowed to be fully blunt on what the future holds and over vague things are allowed if we speak to a person of the past." 'Sis, you better not have bungled that rule up!'

---

"Hey you get back here, Dr. Animo of the past!" Driver shouted as she ran after the other scientist, "You are not getting away from me that easily! I do track!"

"Good heavens! Future kids are annoying!" Animo yelped.

"Hey, I'm not annoying! That title belongs to a talking orange!" Driver declared, "I…am a distraction~"

"You're a what now?" Animo asked before yelping as a cable wrapped around his left leg and he was hoisted up below a tree branch.

"Huh, lookie at that…we've got one ugly pinata," Makoto noted as she and Rook walked over, "Anyone got a stick to hit him with?"

"I recommend that you surrender," Rook suggested to Animo as Makoto picked up a large branch, "I do not think I can hold her back."

"...Oh? Do you?" Animo grinned before his antennae began to glow, "Behold!"

"?" Makoto raised a brow before her ears twitched, looking up to see various squirrels poking out of the trees…mainly staring at the trio, "I…don't think this is me suddenly developing comic book powers…"

"No…no it is not…" Rook whispered as a few squirrels landed…and immediately transformed into mutated monstrosities, "?!"

"EVIL!" Makoto and Driver snapped, pointing at Animo, the former tossing the branch at his face.

"Gah!" he grunted as it hit him…yet it didn't deter the wide grin growing on his face, "These antennae can mutate as well?! Oh…I can't wait for the future~!"

"Seriously, I am going to punch your face in for this once you're back in your cell, doc!" Makoto snapped, 'Ah mou…the one time I could've shown off my new skills from that scroll Sora gave me back at Ban's world!'

"AHH! HELP!" Rook's voice panicked, making Makoto and Driver turn to see Rook trying to run away from the mutated squirrels.

"W-Wait…do they not register us as a threat?" Driver blinked as the two looked at their tails.

"D'oh! The stupid things must sense your Squirrel DNA and assume you are one of them!" Animo slapped his face.

"Oh…Ah! Sorry, Rook!" Makoto realized.

"Sorry…" Driver put her hands together in apology.

"Apology accepted, now please! Some assistance!" Rook exclaimed as a bunch of the mutated squirrels piled on top of him.

"Me or your friend! Choose Ms. Nanaya!" Animo laughed.

"Aaah! You are so getting punched later, Doc! Hang on, Rook!" Makoto ran to help Rook.

"...d'oh~!" Driver groaned before pointing at Animo, "You got off lucky...but next time I see future you…I'm kicking him in the kiwis."

"Go ahead! They aren't even my kiwis~" Animo smirked, crossing his arms, "Now one of you furry beasts chew me free!"

"...Actually…ya know what…?" Driver began as she picked up a chestnut…before tossing it right at Animo.

---

=GH?!= Future Animo tensed as he suddenly fell to his knees…holding onto where his 'family jewels' were located =This isn't even my original body...and I felt that!=

"AAAAH-HAAA! It's an angry monkey!" Ditto 2 and 3 panicked as they were clinging to Extroyer's head to cover his eyes as Max in Turbo Strength Mode tackled him though a few trees.

"Run Noel!" Ditto Prime shouted, carrying Noel away from the battle with surprising strength for a little alien.

"I see why Steel didn't want Funkfree to be shown to him~!" Noel whimpered.

"I think I have a plan…" Spanner muttered to himself as he looked around at the battle, "Animo is weirdly down…Ben 10 has Extroyer blinded and Max Steel is holding him down. If I can take down Animo with a well placed stun beam…we can all gang up on Extroyer…" he adjusted his glove.

"RAGH! Off me!" Extroyer roared as he tried to force the Dittos off him, only for the clone Skurd on each to extend to the Ditto's arms and make them into Wildvine tendrils that wrapped around the giant mutant ape's face, "GAH! Seriously!?"

"Bad Magilla! Go back to the Pet Store!" 3 scolded.

"Maybe he wants a banana!?" 2 shouted, "Where's Grape Ape when you need him!?"

"How have you not squished them yet?" Future Animo asked, only to yelp when a green beam struck his mechanical head and zapped him greatly to the point his skull was visible. He groaned, stumbling over a bit from the pain.

"That should give you time to consider what a bad Evil Monkey you've been." Spanner smiled before grunting as Ditto Prime and Noel bumped into him.

"Sorry…" both replied.

"Oh crap!" Max shouted as he was tossed to the ground in front of them before both Dittos were tossed into Spanner.

"Oh…I landed on something lean but lumpy…" Ditto 2 groaned.

"What's up, Lumpy?" Ditto 3 groaned, looking at Spanner's mask.

"Lumpy janai…Spanner da…" Spanner groaned.

"Yeah, yeah, okay…" Ditto grunted as he reformed into one version, "Okay buddy check. How many people we got?"

"I'm okay…as is Funkfreed…" Noel groaned.

"Just my pride…" Max sighed.

=It was already not worth much…= Steel spoke.

"They're teenagers, what do you expect…" Skurd argued.

"Grrr…" Extroyer growled.

=No time, we have bigger game!= Future Animo groaned, regaining use of his body.

"What?! I need to crush that little bastard!" Extroyer growled.

=Do you want ALL the power of the Animal Kingdom or don't you?= Animo argued, =It's 'crush him now while he has someone just as if not stronger as backup'…or…'get the entire power of the mighty tree of evolution for yourself?'=

"You make a good point, monkey man. Let's bounce," Extroyer smirked as he began glowing before turning into a gigantic spider almost as large as Future Animo currently was, with purple eyes, and crystals along his abdomen.

"Ah…" Noel squeaked before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell over, foaming out of her mouth with a look of pure horror on her face.

"Ah!" Ditto and Spanner gawked before yelping when the four were all trapped in a giant purple shaded webbing that kept them pinned. A green timeout filling the air just at the same time leaving Ben trapped with Noel and Spanner on top of him.

"Gah…I hate this form…" Max groaned.

"It reminds me way too much of Terroranchula," Ben grimaced, "It's like he's got his own Predatrix…"

=Nemetrix= Steel corrected.

"Makoto and I…ugh…discuss it later," Ben rolled his eyes.

"I…think I have something that can safely dissolve the webbing without harming any of us…and by that, I mean you, Ben 10 Sir…and Ms. Vermillion," Spanner grunted, "Your armor is kinda most things proof, Max Steel."

"Yeah, we know…Just worry about getting them out, I can just change size and slip out," Max sighed.

Spanner managed to get his arms together, letting him push a button on the left glove. A green smoke escaped from small ports on the glove, dissolving the webbing as it made contact with the gas. Within several moments, the webs were gone and let them all get up.

"Noel…you okay?" Ben gently shook her, he then pulled out a phone, and looked around in it for something, "Good thing I recorded this video of Drei begging for food. If this doesn't snap her out of it nothing short of the actual puppy will." he played a sound of a corgi puppy howling from his phone.

"Ah! I'm awake, Drei! I'll…get…you…" Noel looked around before looking at Ben, "You tricked me again. didn't you?"

"No time, we've got monsters to catch," Ben sighed.

"R-Right!" Noel nodded.

=So, future buddy…any idea why the future Animo came here?= Steel asked.

"Ever hear of the ARC Project?" Spanner asked.

"Only in a video game and in the comics based on that franchise," Ben replied.

"Not ARK, ARC," Spanner corrected, facepalming, "Do you remember Lieutenant Steel from your youth?"

"Oh! I saw an alternate version of him once," Noel noted, "Does that help?"

"A little since someone else knows him," Spanner replied.

"I have his business number," Ben noted, "Haven't heard from him in several years now."

"Ben, it's really important that you call him," Spanner explained.

"Hah…alright. Let's walk back to the ProtoTRUK, I'll make the call, the Omnitrix can overpower and get around any form of blocks and can't be ignored." Ben explained.

"Wait…you can do that?" Noel asked.

"Well who do I ever need to call that badly?" Ben argued.

"Touche…" she nodded.

"Also who makes actual phone calls much these days…we have texts," Max pointed out.

"Let's see…" Ben scrolled through his phone, "Ah! I knew I had it here."

"I'm on it," Skurd began inputting the commands into the Omnitrix, "And done!" he formed a pseudopod and slapped Spanner's hand away, "No touch, Future boy!"

"You're as difficult as the files say…" Spanner muttered.

"Rook...it's okay, pal…the angry mutant squirrels are gone…"

"?" Ben blinked as he and the others turned, seeing Makoto escorting a…really shaken up Rook into the area with a mumbling Driver walking behind them.

"...Animo escaped, didn't he?" Spanner deadpanned.

"That stupid future him and that Extroyer guy jumped us just as we were coming to you…" Driver muttered.

"We also had to save Rook from the mutated squirrels Animo made using his upgraded antenna," Makoto explained, "No beam this time, just instant."

"Yeah…That's tech Animo will have in the future," Spanner noted as he pulled out a dog plush and tossed it to Driver, who snatched it out of the air to hug, before tossing a corgi one to Noel and earned raised brows from the others, "What? You all have a required book Plumber Academy students have to read before they can be assigned to Earth for duty. Ms. Vermillion's has it that when she has a freakout due to giant insectoid aliens like Terroranchulas, provide her with a stuffed doll, preferably one that resembles her pet Corgi named Drei."

"Dang it, Noel, your adorable nonsense has affected the Plumbers!" Makoto complained.

"I'm sorry…It's just so fluffy…" Noel replied.

"Eh…don't be so sure. Your nonsense has as well," Spanner admitted.

"What the wha…? Pfft! Please, like I…"

"One chapter is dedicated to you and what happens if you encounter dogs and what to do to get you to come down from the Empire State Building…and why you always run straight to that to climb up…even when you're in Japan or anywhere else that's far from it."

"Spoiler…the only answer is…Call Ben Tennyson," Driver added as she roughly elbowed Spanner in the side, making him wheeze and fall over, "And shut it, you idiot… Why are you telling them all these things!?" she hissed, kicking him a few times for emphasis.

"Not on the list of what not to reveal," Spanner replied, groaning.

"Will you just stop talking then!?" She kicked him again, making him grunt in pain, "You never just shut up…Why would you even bring any of this up, you weirdo brain guy?!"

"Eh, talking's a pretty good tactic," Ben shrugged, "But no…this guy has a problem with shutting up, doesn't he?" he sighed.

"He has what all men have…Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome," Driver deadpanned.

"...Hey, that's my thing," Makoto blinked, making the duo tense, "Hey…look at that, babe, I started a thing and it catches on~" she smirked, letting the Time traveling duo sigh in relief.

"You see…this is why I tell you to shut up…" Driver whispered, using their helmets' interlinked com system to get her complaint across just to Spanner, "Seriously…what is with you!? What was all that!? That was so random and it just makes us look more Sus!"

"Oh like you're one to talk, Ms. Foot-In-Mouth Syndrome!" Spanner hissed back to her.

"Mmmm…"

"Look. Let…Let's just focus, alright? Gotta deal with our Animo, their Animo, and Extroyer."

"Ugh…I've only seen him in the future once when he wasn't locked up…" Driver shuddered, "Stories of him when he escapes don't do justice to seeing it in person…"

"Yes and we need to stop him before he and the other two Animos steal the ARC Project."

"Hey Steel! It's Ben…long time no see!" Ben shouted as his Omnitrix projected a holographic screen, showing a man in special military gear and blond hair looking down at a screen in confusion.

=Tennyson? I haven't heard from you in years and you call me out of the blue now while I'm working?=

"Well, to be fair, my past dealings with the government and how they deal with Aliens has not been…positive?" Ben chuckled, "I might have been upset about Area 51, but you know what? Water under the bridge…"

"What happened at Area 51?" Max asked.

"Think super illegal alien prison…" Makoto whispered.

"Oh…" Max realized.

"Anyway, we have under good word that Animo is after some fancy thing-ama-what's-it called the ARC…as I'm told spelled with a C and not a K," Ben explained.

=Animo's after the ARC Project? …Because of course he's after the ARC Project=

"What is it anyway?" Ben asked.

=The USA's initiative to preserve the DNA of all animal life on the planet in hopes of using cloning to revive any species that goes extinct in the future. And of all things…guess who's team was assigned to transport it to a secure location?=

"Wow. Talk about timing," Makoto noted.

=Who's that?=

"Makoto Nanaya, Lt. Steel," Makoto replied.

=Tennyson's girlfriend? A pleasure=

"Sir, it's not just Animo. Extroyer is working with him."

=Oh great…Troy Winter as well=

"Who?" Ben asked.

=That's Extroyer's real name. International mercenary wanted for illegal transportation of rare and endangered species over international borders=

"He had a long record before turning into a mutant animal shapeshifter," Max explained, "I first ran into him as he tried stealing a piece of alien tech…that eventually turned him into the nasty thing he is today," he sighed, "Luck of the draw that he smuggled animals…now he turns into animals…but bigger and nastier."

"With the DNA of every animal on Earth…him and Animo can…become crazy strong," Makoto realized.

"And the Extinct is also on both their tables…Steel…you wouldn't happen to have…extinct animal DNA on there…for posterity?" Ben asked.

=Tennyson, I deeply wish I could tell you no…=

"Hah…just hang tight. I'll ping your location and we'll catch up with you," Ben sighed, "Just keep Extroyer away…and don't be shocked if you see a giant albino gorilla with a human head on it…it's…a long story."

=If it's coming from you of all people, duly noted= he muttered before a crashing sound could be heard =?! Looks like it's sooner than expected…! Wait a…well, you were right, but you didn't say it was an albino purple-back gorilla, Tennyson!=

"It was a purple-back?" Ben asked, looking at the Driver and Spanner.

"To be fair…they're not an endangered species anymore in our time," Spanner explained, "And we were all more focused on getting the Future Animo."

"We're on our way, Lt. Steel," Makoto informed.

---

"Good...and hurry!" Lt. Steel shouted before ducking back into the armored van, narrowly avoiding some thrown debris as a caravan of armored trucks were chased after by one of the Animos riding on top of a large mutated frog.

"Sir, none of our weapons are affecting it!" one of the soldiers shouted before quickly jumping into the armored truck just as the frog smacked it away with its tongue, sending it tumbling down the side of the road.

"Focus on distractions! Don't let them get the project!" Lt. Steel ordered.

"Sir! Oncoming obstacle!"

"Oh what is…?" Lt. Steel began before his eyes widened on seeing a large tract of slime up ahead…with the road fizzing and bubbling beneath it, "Shit!" he cursed as the driver slammed his foot on the petal, causing the armored van to stop as the rest of the caravan soon followed, stopping just in front of the acid as they saw where it came from: a large snail/octopus mutation, "Because of course he has more than one."

=I do believe you have something which rightfully belongs in the hands of those who can use it effectively!= Future Animo called out, =And by that I mean us. I use slow words because you military jarheads tend to never listen!=

"Ready an explosive," Lt. Steel whispered to his subordinate, "We can't let anyone get the ARC Project."

"But…sir…"

"I'll take the fall for it if it means the project is out of dangerous hands," Lt. Steel replied before a Groundbridge opened and the ProtoTRUK drove out of it.

=I keep forgetting they have that in this era= Future Animo frowned.

"You guys alright?" Ben asked as he got out of the vehicle.

"We are now," Lt. Steel replied as Makoto jumped out and pointed at the two Animo.

"Okay, ya big baboon…and Animo! You can do a ton of things to me, but ya don't ever mutate cute, little squirrels and use 'em to spook my buddies!" Makoto declared.

"HE DID WHAT?!" Noel's voice exclaimed from the ProtoTRUK before she hopped out, Bolverk already converted into a minigun.

"Oh, I get the feeling if we don't win today, I am in big trouble when I'm put back into my cell," Animo whispered.

"When I get you back in your cell, you are not getting any new plushies or sewing supplies for a month no matter how good your behavior is!" Noel declared, "And any orders you have now will be canceled!"

"Oh come on, Ms. Vermillion! I have a tiger in need of the lion donor meant to come next Tuesday!"

"And I'll make sure to remember it in the future when you get put back in your cell then, Dr. Animo of the future! Two months for you!"

=What?! But I have an octopus in need of a tentacle transplant and I just ran out of the right threads for it!=

"..." Lt. Steel raised a brow at Ben.

"Eh, they actually behave in their cells so long as you give them plush animals to work on," Ben replied, "The better behaved they are, the bigger the plush they're allowed. I don't get it…but given I give him probably lasting brain damage…I also don't want to be a big jerk and deny it…"

"Hmm…fair enough," Lt. Steel nodded in understanding.

"See?! He admits to the brain damage!" Animo snapped.

"Only AFTER you escaped the Null Void and I thought it was okay to hit you harder!" Ben argued, "Seriously…Do you remember how much you tanked when you were D'Void when I was fighting you?! I swear if I had the Ultimatrix back then, I'd have to go Ultimate Humungosaur or Ultimate Echo-Echo to really get through how tough you were!"

=Mayhaps…but did you forget our partner in this little project?= Future Animo grinned before Extroyer landed right between both his and Animo's mutated creatures.

"Oh right," Ben noted, frowning a bit, "So…Extroyer, was it?"

"Indeed. And you're Ben Tennyson," Extroyer replied, "Have to admit, your little fights were quite the boon for jobs I had to do in Bellwood before my evolution."

"Aw what?!" Ben gawked, "Dude, not cool!"

"Well he was a scumbag criminal…now he just looks as nasty as he acted," Max spoke up.

"Yes well I have you to thank and blame for this form…" Extroyer stated before grinning, "And once we have the ARC…oh you don't want to know…"

"You'll steal the DNA for a gerbil and hug people to death…or a chipmunk so next time you steal stuff you can store it in your chubby cheeks?" Max asked, earning a snarl from Extroyer.

"So Animo…I kicked your butt as a little kid…and as an adult man, now I'm kicking both past and future butts in the present. I consider this a literal achievement in life," Ben smirked.

"D'oh…curse you, Ben Tennyson! Curse you!" Animo shook his fist.

"Why is it thanks to cartoons…I wanna buy a fedora now, thanks to just that bit?" Ben smirked.

"I think you have one as Cestus," Makoto noted.

"Eh, true," Ben nodded.

=Oh you just never change, do you, Ben…?= Future Animo growled, =Even into the future, you still approach certain doom with a devil may care attitude! Well frankly 20 plus years of you and your ego gets old!=

"Aw…it means a lot that you stick around even when I'm all grown up," Ben smiled before slapping the Omnitrix and turning into Shockrock, "Nice. Hope you're ready for a real shocker!"

"Wait, what does this one do?" Animo blinked.

=That's Shock Rock! It's walking energy contained within living stone! It is the bane of technology and one of Ben's stronger forms!= Future Animo explained.

"So that's what normal Shock Rock looks like…" Spanner noted to his sister via their helmets, "Dad abuses fusion so much I only see Shock Rock Fusions…"

"I know, right? Seeing their original forms is so weird, yet oddly awesome," Driver agreed.

"Right?"

"Enough!" Animo shouted, "No matter how powerful you may be, you cannot stop our combined might!"

"Yeah, well…I'm still gonna pop ya for the mutant squirrel bit earlier!" Makoto snapped back.

=Just you try it= Future Animo grinned =Extroyer, you may have fun with young Max...we can toy with Tennyson and his little 'harem'=

"Hey now…" Shock Rock held his hands up, "One girlfriend…and this is a dude." he pointed to Rook.

"You are not my type," Rook smirked.

=NOT WHAT I MEANT!= Future Animo snapped before his monster's tentacles shot towards the group, acid spilling off of it.

"Oh please, we both know I'm the pretty one!" Shock Rock laughed, continuing the bit as he grabbed the tentacles…and since his arms were solid-ish energy, nothing was there to melt. He then sent a surge of energy through the tentacles and zapped the monster and made it buck Future Animo off its back.

"I'm certain only Makoto finds you charming," Rook laughed.

"I'd be upset…but he's not wrong," Makoto smirked.

"Hey…" Shock Rock complained as he whipped the tentacles and tossed the creature off the road, and down the side of a cliff, "Lt. Steel, might wanna back up 'till ya find a new road…this one's good as gone."

"We'll keep the Creature Feature here!" Max shouted, going Strength as he tackled Extroyer in his Tiger form.

"...understood," Lt. Steel nodded as he rushed off.

=I am so confused as now there's an old dude with my name! Is this how you feel, Max?= the Alien Steel complained as Max pinned Extroyer.

"Hey, at least most folks our age call him 'Grandpa,'" Max defended.

=Even still...!=

"Rankyaku!" Rook shouted as he quickly shot before the two, sending a cutting wave at the tongue of Animo's mutated frog when it tried to hit the two, "Focus on detaining Extroyer…we have the Animos in check!"

"Do you now?! I w-YIPE!" Animo yelped as he barely ducked under an energy bullet, "Watch it, Ms. Vermillion! You almost hit my brain that time…"

"I am panicked, upset, and for some reason kind of ignored! I just want to send you back to your cell and go home and cuddle my new Puppy and other fuzzy pets while held by Funkfreed!" Noel huffed, "Now you stop this nonsense right now, Dr. Animo!"

"NEVER!" Animo shouted as his frog extended its tongue at her.

"Ahh!" Noel yelped before Shock Rock grabbed her at the last second…only for the tongue to end up grabbing Makoto.

"...Oh n-" Makoto began before yelping as the frog dragged her into its mouth…before she quickly poked out, "OH GOD! NOT…!" she began before the frog pulled her back in...before she poked back out, "THE KONOSUBA TREATMENT!" the frog pulled her back in again...only for her to poke back out, "GROSS FROG SPIT!" she screamed before it happened again…and she poked out again, "YOU ARE SO PUNCHED, DOCS!"

"Oh dear…I may have made things worse for myself later," Animo whispered before his Frog began to groan out…parts of its mouth expanding from its captive prey trying to escape before it spat out Makoto into the Chrono Riders.

"Ahh eww~! Frog Spit!" Driver gagged.

"Why do I keep getting hit with people…?" Spanner groaned.

"Yeah…that was on me…I kind of expected Makoto to jump…" Shock Rock sighed.

"I want to laugh…but I also pity the poor girl for that treatment," Skurd whispered.

"You…ack! Better…!" Makoto coughed as she stood up, her entire body and tail covered in frog spit, "Ahh…I just got this cleaned, too…!"

"Sorry, Babe! I'll help you with cleaning it again after this! Promise!"

"Oh you are totally doing Butler Boyfriend for me after this!" Makoto pointed at Shock Rock.

"Yes, M'lady…" he bowed, his arm raising up to blast the frog with a ball of energy, making it croak out in pain as it twitched around and zapped Animo off its back.

"Ugh…is it always this chaotic in this era?" Spanner asked as Shock Rock ran forward and formed energy into a giant warhammer as he swung it and bashed the Frog's face in, before smacking it off the road.

"That was pretty cool." Driver noted before Shock Rock turned around and used the hammer to block a swing from Future Animo, "The fight is on, come on Aibou!"

"...right!" Spanner nodded as he got up with Driver.

=Just you brats try!= Future Animo shouted as he leapt towards them, only to yelp when Shock Rock grabbed his leg and slammed him into the road, =Curse you, Ben Tennyson…= he groaned.

"Ah…never change, Doc. I love you just as you are~" Shock Rock smiled before suddenly raising his arm to clothesline Animo of this time as he tried to run past him.

"He's actually handling this a lot like he always does…" Spanner muttered, "He really is the best."

"Hey, we're here to help, remember? Don't fanboy out on me!" Driver complained as they ran up to help fight the Animos, only to tense as the Frog began climbing up, its webbed hands gripping the side of the road and causing the pavement to crack "No-no-no! Bad Frogger!"

"I got it!" Spanner shouted as he aimed his arm and blasted the Frog's face with an energy blast that made it croak and let go, letting it fall on the mutated octo-snail, "Phew…That was a close one. Almost destroyed that part of the road."

=Hm?= Future Animo looked over at them on hearing that =Wait a moment…I just remembered. The ARC Project was destroyed…because our frog broke the road and sent it falling down the cliffside!=

"Wait…what?" Animo grunted as he got up...and saw the part of the cliffside the truck holding the ARC Project starting to crumble a bit, "!?"

=AHH! NO! DON'T LET IT DROP!= Future Animo panicked.

"Wh-?!" Extroyer began before Max punched him hard in the face, sending him flying back as he crashed into the stone wall, "GH!"

"I do believe he has forgotten you are here," Rook noted as he landed near Max, using his ProtoTool to fire a few shots at the mutated octo snail.

"Ah…uh…oh! Ms. Vermillion! Think of all the precious fluffy animals that may not be saved if not for the ARC Project on that vehicle!" Animo called out dramatically as he gestured to the truck as more of the cliffside cracked.

"Oh, like she'd…" Shock Rock began before blinking as he realized his hands were void of one Noel.

"Smart man," Spanner sighed, an outline of Driver beside him, before pulling out a green capsule and threw it at Extroyer as he let out a roar, causing the capsule to land in his mouth…before it exploded into green slime that snapped his jaws shut, "It dissolves after an hour and designed to shift with your Extroys."

"Future tech rules!" Shock Rock grinned.

"Oh…Okay, which one to start it? Which to start?" Noel muttered, looking at the dashboard in the truck.

"It's a key!" Driver pointed out to the key in the ignition.

"Oh, right!" Noel replied, quickly starting the truck and quickly stepped on the gas…only for the vehicle to not budge, "..."

"You're still in pa…"

"I'm panicking on trying to save what could save so many adorable animal babies, okay?!"

"Same here! The world is not perfect without the babies of cuteness!"

"Oh…" Noel nodded, "You're like me." she blinked, "I've never met someone who thinks like me except my sister."

"That's understandable, and I'm sorry for shouting this next part," Driver began gently before inhaling deeply, "Drive, Woman!" she shouted, moving it into reverse.

"AHH!" Noel yelped as she ended up going in reverse, crashing into one of the armored vans.

"Ahh! Watch it!" Lt. Steel shouted from it.

"Sorry sorry sorry!"

"Hey, we're driving here, bub! Move it or lose it!" Driver shook her fist at them.

"...This is why I drive our transportation," Spanner shook his head before tossing out a pill that expanded into an airbag as big as him that caught the thrown Shock Rock, "She's a real Motoramus Fidgitus."

"Good to hear Disney's still going," Shock Rock noted, "Got anything that'll pin down Extroyer?"

"Not in his current form and not with my current arsenal since I wasn't expecting him to get involved. But…try to get him into his Black Cobra form," Spanner replied, checking himself over.

"He has a what?" Shock Rock asked.

"Just try, alright? Not gonna even try to ask you trust me on this since we've only met and I am a time traveler, but…just try?" Spanner replied.

"...Fine. You're the future dude…I'll trust ya," Shock Rock nodded as he got up, "Yo Max, tag in!"

"Ya sure?"

"Nope, but future dude's got an idea," Shock Rock replied before tapping his emblem and turning into Juryrigg, "Gyahahaha!" he looked around and spotted a broken vehicle Lt. Steel's team had to evacuate, "Break! Break! Break!" he jumped onto it and zipped about, tearing it apart, "Fix! Fix! Fix!"

=What is he…?= Steel began before Juryrigg laughed, revving the handlebars of a mechanical mongoose the size of Funkfreed.

"GO! GO! GO!" Juryrigg laughed as he made it charge at Extroyer in his Tiger Form, ramming him and knocking him away.

"Grah! You dare mock my powers?" Extroyer demanded, earning a raspberry from Juryrigg, "Insolent gremlin!"

"Ahahahahahaha~! Can't catch me! Can't! Can't! Can't!" Juryrigg taunted as he made his robo-weasel dart about, dodging the swipes and strikes from the Extroyed Tiger.

"Rrrr…" Extroyer snarled before he transformed, becoming a massive black-scaled cobra with the purple crystals growing out of its side and along its back.

"Oh…That is a big snake…big, big, big," Juryrigg gulped.

"And perfect," Spanner smirked under his mask.

He quickly activated his rocket boots and shot out at Extroyer. He whipped out a canister and threw it as the snake hissed and opened his jaws to strike at Juryrigg. The canister hit the roof of Extroyer's mouth before releasing a green gas. Extroyer's eyes widened before he let out a cry of pain.

"GRAH! It-It hurt!"

"Huh?" Max pondered, "Smells fine to me."

"Oh come now," Spanner huffed as he landed on top of Extroyer's head, "It's just a little cedarwood, clove, and cinnamon essential oils along with a touch of sulfur." he hand shot out and pinched a part of the snake, causing it to let out a startled noise, stiffen, and fall over, "Hephaestan Neuro Grip."

"Whoa…" Juryrigg gawked, "And you couldn't do that in tiger form, because…?"

"I practiced more on snakes, so hitting the spot is second nature," Spanner shrugged, "My parents hate them with a passion, so practice was normally done on snakes as I grew up." he pulled out a green and silver device and tossed it onto Extroyer's frozen form, causing a crackling TURBO energy-made net to ensnare him, "That should lock him into this form until you can get him into his cell."

"Not bad new guy," Jurryrigg noted.

"Thanks," Spanner nodded before looking towards the two Animos as the future one kept trying to grab Makoto, who jumped about the trees to dodge as Rook chased and shot at him and Animo, who was riding on Future Animo's back, "All that's left is them and making sure the ARC Project isn't lost."

"Oh please it's Animo; he always messes up," Jurryrigg laughed.

=I heard that!" both shouted.

"Spoilers: You were meant to!"

=Touche…but I have a retort!= Future Animo declared, before grabbing his past self…and flinging him over their heads.

"You threw yourself!?" Makoto gawked, "What if he falls over the cliff!?"

"Wait…where is…" Spanner tracked his trajectory, "Oh…" Animo landed on the vehicle with the ARC project.

"What was that?" Driver turned to Noel.

"Oh…did I hit the soldiers again?" Noel looked out in concern.

"Hahahaha! Victory!" Animo shouted.

"AH!" both girls panicked upon hearing his voice.

"I…Why did nobody stop that?!" Spanner gawked.

"Why didn't you?" Jurryrigg argued, making him slump.

"Why does everyone argue that?" he asked.

"Noel! Stop driving!" Rook called out, running after them.

"I can't!" Noel shouted, "I think the breaks are jammed!"

"Why are cars and trucks so dang fickle in the past?" Driver groaned, unbuckling herself, "You deal with the driving; I'll deal with the old scientist who is in a lot of trouble that's on top of the truck."

"R-ri-right!" Noel grunted as she ended up crashing into another armored van, "S-Sorry!"

'Funny thing is…she did the same thing when she got into a monster truck derby by accident in the future…' Driver thought, a drop of sweat going down the back of her helmet as she rolled down the window and pulled herself onto the top of the truck, "Alrighty, Doc! End of the line with ya!"

"Aha! Future Girl I do not know!" Animo pointed at her, "I don't know you…but for some reason…I don't like you! You give me the same energy as Ben!"

"Oh really? Thanks! He's a great role model!" Driver beamed.

"Yes, of course you would say that…but let me retort!" he pulled a canister out from behind his back, "Behold! Pacific Giant Octopus DNA!"

"Octopus?" Driver blinked behind her mask, "Like for Takoyaki?"

"No! Not for tasty Japanese cuisine!" Animo snapped as he opened and pulled out a small little glass tube, "How handy, multiple samples~" he wound his arm up before tossing it…and blasting it with a beam from his antenna, sending it flying…right into Extroyer.

"?!" Max, Juryrigg, and Spanner tensed as the Extroyed serpent began to glow.

A purple glow filled the air before the three were smacked away by a tentacle as a giant Octopus the size of a small building now stood before them; its dark purple skin pulsed as crystals formed along its bulbous head and along about half of its tentacles, making them barbed.

"Well well…now isn't this a development!" Extroyer laughed, "In fact…I feel…a little rejuvenated by that~" his body began glowing again as the octopus skin began growing rougher and jagged like scales…before the tentacles began twitching and changing into a total of eight black cobra heads, "Extroyer Hydra!" nine voices laughed in unison from the Octopus body and the eight snake heads.

"Oh come on!" they shouted as the cobra heads lunged and to bite them, making them all scream and jump away.

"Oh…That's not good," Driver noted, cringing at the sight.

"Huh…Was going for just octopus, but that works for me!" Animo beamed.

"Baka! You blasted him with that beam and infused him with octopus DNA while he was a giant snake!" Driver snapped as she jumped and punched Animo in the stomach, making him groan and double over.

"You have Ben's energy…but you punch like…gah…" Animo groaned, falling onto the vehicle with a grunt.

=Extroyer! Get the truck! The key to limitless power and forms is there!= Future Animo called out, =And save my past self, too! He becomes me! And We are the key to unlocking your full potential! The Chimera State!=

"Chimera?" Max repeated.

"Normally, it's a Greek monster made of a lion with the head of a goat on its back and a snake replacing the tail, but it's also been adapted as the word for any hybridization of more than two animals," Spanner explained, "And the ARC Project plus Extroyer multiplied by two versions of Animo…"

"Equals bad, bad, bad!" Juryrigg grimaced.

"You don't say…more of this…would be…nice~" Extroyer hissed as his heads turned to the truck.

"Noel!" Makoto called out as she spun around and kicked Future Animo before her boots ejected a blast of air that sent him flying.

=CURSE YOU WOMAN FOOTWEAR OF PAIN!=

"I love me my super suit!" Makoto beamed, "Right Noellie!" she turned around and jumped over to the others, she landed on Extroyer before punching down on his Octopus head, making him grunt in pain.

"Why you…" one of his cobra headed tentacles turned to launch at Makoto, only to slam into its own body as she jumped over and landed on the roof of the transport's main cabin.

"Noel!?" Makoto gasped, looking into window as Noel was frozen in place in fear, "Yeesh…." she ripped most of the roof off before plucking Noel out of her seat, "Ah! Hey Future Girl! We gotta bounce!" she called to Driver as she pinned Animo in an armbar hold.

"Hmm? Oh! Right!" Driver nodded before she slung Animo over her shoulder.

"Unhand me y-" Animo began before Driver's elbow bonked him on the head, instantly knocking him out as he slumped, "Blueagh…"

"Oh no you don't…" Extroyer hissed in anger as he sent his cobra tentacles at them, both girls…jumping off the edge of the road to escape him, "Wha…that…but…are they nuts?" all his heads asked looking at one another, only to hiss when he was blasted by Green and Blue energy making him turn to see Spanner and Ben as Shock Rock once more, "Grr…"

"Max!" Shock Rock ordered as Max Steel turned Flight mode and jumped off the cliff after both girls and the ones they carried.

"We're on it!" Max replied.

"Huh? Wh-what happened…" Noel whispered as she slowly regained consciousness…and soon saw she and Makoto were falling to the ground, "?!"

"Hang on tight, Noellie!"

"I wish you'd stop dragging me into danger; I'm a Pet Parent now!" Noel shouted.

"Don't worry! We should be rescued in 3…2…1…" Driver counted down before Max zoomed in and caught both of them.

"You know if this is going to be a habit, as your friend I will charge you with each and every mid-air rescue!" Max complained.

"I'll let you pick the next game for game night!" Makoto shouted.

"...Devil May Cry?"

=Max no! She's trying to tempt ya again!= Alien Steel exclaimed.

"Definitive version of 5~"

"You drive a hard bargain Squirrel Girl…" Max chuckled.

=Ah dang it…!=

"RAAAGH!" Extroyer roared as one of his heads lunged at Rook, only for him to dodge at the last moment as he fired a few shots at the extended head, "GAH!"

"How do we take down…this?" Rook asked in confusion.

"Well…he's just a big creature…he's not invincible." Shock Rock spoke as he formed his right arm into a stone gauntlet with energy spike knuckles before he punched one of the cobra heads making it cry in pain as it was launched reeling back by the energy shockwave, "Spanner had a good idea before, animals all have a weakness, they are alive and therefore need to breathe. Likewise all animals have something they are designed to survive…but take them out of their element, and they got problems. He's one part a tasty calamari platter, and another giant poisonous snake, one likes cold, the other warm, but even snakes have a limit to how much heat they can take, they can't cool down without outside factors."

"Th-that's right!" Spanner cheered, "If we can overheat Extroyer, he'll be forced to change forms to cool down!"

"Or, in the best case scenario, he'll pass out from heat exhaustion." Shock Rock stated, "Look for the best outcome newbie, if you don't picture the winning move the fight will never end."

"Right!" Spanner nodded, 'So this is him acting at his true potential, I knew Dad was smarter then Mom gave him credit, but that was actually genius, Dad must have faced so many animals thanks to Animo this must be second nature to him. In my time he works so fast I can barely even study what he does.'

"And if you need extreme heat," Shock Rock slapped the Omnitrix before turning into NRG, "You turn up za oven!" he clapped his hands together as they began glowing bright red, he roared bringing them apart before slamming them into the ground…and sending all that nuclear heat into the ground and under Extroyer Hydra, making all his eyes widen as his body began steaming and hissing, "What wrong Troy? Too hot for you? I thought snakes loved a nice hot rock~" he began blasting a heat beam from his vent and right into Extroyer's octopus head, making the beast groan as the heads opened their mouths and began hissing and gulping air, it's scales and enhanced biology protected from being burned…but the head was building up to fast and this form had no means of self cooling or sweating.

"Gh….gah…blasted…brat!" Extroyer hissed before he jumped back, changing back into his human appearance as he landed next to Future Animo, "No wonder your enemies find you annoying…"

=Worry not! We just wait for him to time out, and then we can gain the upper hand!= Future Animo assured.

"And when exactly will that happen?!"

=Right about…= Future Animo as Shock Rock began to charge, only for a red flash to engulf him as he changed back into Ben =Now…=

"Hah…same as it ever was, Omnitrix…" Ben sighed.

"Worst possible time, too," Skurd added as he noticed the mutant octo-snail and frog beginning to approach

"These are not good odds." Spanner muttered.

"No they are not…" Rook added just as Max landed with the girls..

=Just hand my younger self and the ARC Project over!= Future Animo demanded =It will make the sting of loss all the less painful…=

"Animo in all my life have I ever given up and let you get away?" Ben asked, "And yes I'm talking to you future boy."

=No you have not…but today will be different!= Future Animo declared =Today will be the tipping point as I bring a new age…an age of mutations and humanity all serving under me!=

"God this guy loves to hear himself monologue…" Extroyer muttered.

"Oh come on Doc…all this planning, having my back against the wall…and you want to just say one sentence? Didn't you have an entire speech prepared for when you finally beat me?" Ben asked, "I mean you got Extroyer as your super muscle, you have muscles again, and the win is right in front of you. Gotta say I'm more than a little disappointed you didn't have an entire speech rehearsed with choreographed musical accompaniment…"

=Nonsense! If I did, you'd use the chance to find a counteroffensive…but I will nto give you that satisfaction Tennyson!=

=This guy's really getting on my nerves= Steel deadpanned.

"Tell me about it..and we have to deal with him," Driver sighed.

"Well okay if this is the anticlimactic way you wanna win Animo, I can't blame ya." Ben sighed.

=Anticlimactic?! I have the formula for the ultimate Chimera Army! With my mind, and Extroyer's ability not only will he become the most perfect predatory beast! I will have data for dozens upon dozens of new Mutants who will rule the world! What about this is Anticlimactic!?=

"You really have to make me spell it out?" Ben asked.

=Oh I dare you to point out one thing I did that was boring! I traveled through time! I bested you at every turn! What did I miss?!=

"Time in?" Ben smiled.

=Time-Oh Phooey…=

At that Ben tapped the Omnitrix as he flashed into a new alien. His body was big and bulky mechanical humanoid in a green and white accented uniform, save for the violet/purple shoulder and head, said head extending from a black collar that formed a sort of gasmask with the Omnitrix in the center. Each hand has four fingers on each white gloved hand, which are equipped with green and white vambraces and arm length black sleeve covers. He also had a series of nozzles along his body, two on each arm, one each shoulder and three atop his head. A large belt formed around his waist and stomach with a green window in the center of his stomach with what seemed to be a swirling mass of gas floating around within.

"Gutrot!" Spanner cheered.

"Oh no…" Driver flinched at seeing the form, "Nobody pull his finger!" she panicked.

"Gutrot huh?" Gutrot spoke up as his voice had what to them sounded like a thick Brooklyn accent, almost like a wise guy from the movies "...Hey uh, future doc. You know stuff?" he questioned Future Animo.

=As a matter of fact, I do= Future Animo replied, making Extroyer give him a deadpanned look at how casually he was replying to him.

"Hey dat's great," Gutrot nodded, "So uh…mind doing me a solid and tell me what dis guy can do…and why Gutrot for da name?"

=You blithering dunerdhead…you picked that name because your innards are walking chemical laboratory!= Future animo explained.

"Get out of town…"

=Yes…you have the ability to combine various chemicals…and expel them as gas!=

"Oh!" Makoto and Noel realized why Driver panicked.

"Nasty…" Max muttered.

"Gh…" Rook cringed at the thought of how Ben could…abuse this.

=I am so glad I don't have olfactory sensors= Steel gloated.

"Black Friday shoppers must despise me, huh?" Gutrot noted, "I mean, they already get mad at me as Swampfire, but…"

=Is that all you needed to ask me, or is that it?= Future Animo asked with a sigh =I'd like to get back to finally defeating you=

"Oh no no, doc. Youse totally gave me plenty of info," Gutrot assured as he turned to the others and motioned them to move back.

"..." Makoto said nothing as she and the others began to move back…as far away as they could.

"Oh…but dere is one more thing though…" Gutrot added as he looked back at Future Animo…before crouching over as he began to expel gas all over the area.

"Gh! Ac…!" Extroyer coughed as he quickly covered his mouth, "Sulfur Dioxide…!"

=Wh…= Future Animo began before a bit of the gas slipped into his glass dome, =?! AHH! MY EYES!=

Both the mutant frog and octo-snail began to cry out, not standing the stench as they quickly ran as fast as they could with the frog climbing down the side of the cliff, causing more of it to crack in the process.

=No! Come…ack ack! Back, you cowards…!= Future Animo wheezed

"You…idiot…!" Extroyer growled out, "You let him goad you into explaining how that form works!"

=W-Who are you calling an idiot, Mister Criminal-Mastermind?= Future Animo slurred.

"YOU!" Extroyer snapped, "No wonder you kept losing to this brat…you're an idiot!"

=You…shut it you…multi…fashed…= Future Animo slurred before he collapsed, the stenching too strong for him =Blearugh…=

=...again: boy, am I glad I have no smell receptors= Steel whispered.

"Geeze…youse two are just built tough, aintcha? Well I hates to be dat guy…oh who am I kiddin'? I love being dat guy!" Gutrot laughed as he twisted the Omnitrix, making it beep before armor spread across his body, large purple shoulder pads and gauntlets formed along with purple boots and a large purple helmet, black armor forming around his upper arms, legs and lower torso as his glass stomach screen was left exposed while his helmet formed two wide V shaped visor slits. He held his arms up as tubes connected to the nozzles on his arms…before forming rectangular nozzles over each of his knuckles.

=Oh no…= Future Animo paled =Not Omni-Kix…=

"First off, why don't you guys chill~" Gutrot laughed, aiming his arms and blasting a thick blue mist over both Future Animo and Extroyer; and, after a moment…both were left totally encased in ice from the neck down.

"...Oh you are going to abuse this form, aren't you?" Skurd questioned from his spot on Gutrot's head.

"You better believe it, baby~!" he laughed before pausing, "Now…we caught 'em…but he knows 'bout time travel…that ain't good. He's just gonna pop on back and do this whole thing again…and again…and again…" Gutrot groaned as he tapped his helmet in thought.

"Ben!" Rook called out as they ran back over, "You did it?"

"Well, yeah…but now the issue of…they all know each other and about time travel!" Gutrot groaned.

"Time is a major problem here," Spanner admitted.

"True. He'll just keep coming over and over and over again until he succeeds," Driver noted with a sigh of annoyance.

"Too bad you don't have an alien with an amnesia beam," Max joked, no one noticing Spanner and Driver glance at one another behind their visors.

"Oh! Or like in those movies Noel made me watch, we can hit them on the head!" Rook declared as everyone but the Chrono Riders looked at Noel, "Especially when it is a wealthy person falling off a yacht."

"Okay, yeah…that one is on me…" Noel sighed dejectedly.

"It's a nice sentiment Rook, but all a bonk to the head would do is give them a concussion," Gutrot sighed before blinking, "But…you are on to something, guys. I just had a better idea." he began mixing gasses in his stomach, "Someone plop our Animo next to the ice blocks."

"Sure thing!" Driver replied as she walked over to the ice blocks…before putting Animo's tongue on Future Animo's and ran back over, snickering.

"Oh, you like doing the tiny jokes, huh?" Makoto snickered as Spanner facepalmed.

"Oh you better believe I do~" Driver giggled..

"What are you doing?" Rook asked.

"Oh, just mixin' up some fluoromethyl-hexafluoro-isopropyl-ether," Gutrot replied.

"Which is…?"

"A gas that induces short-term memory loss when inhaled," Gutrot replied as he aimed his nozzles and blasted all three.

"If I do remember anything today…it better be to never work with you again," Extroyer snarled at the two Animo before groaning as he passed out.

=Curse you, Ben Tennyson of the past! Curse you and your…meddlesome..waaaaugh…= Future Animo groaned as he passed out.

"Aww…He didn't finish the thing," Makoto whined.

"But it also means he won't remember a thing about today," Noel noted, "Though…I'm confused now."

"Why?" Rook asked.

"Well…since he came from the future, does that mean today was different until he came to the past, meaning there was a world where he didn't come back and making it not exist anymore? Or what?" Noel pondered, "I mean…it doesn't really make much sense."

"Time travel, Noel. It never does," Rook replied, shaking his head.

"But if someone had explained the situation clearly in the beginning…"

"That is just not how the universe works," Rook interrupted, wagging a finger at Noel.

"...Did he just do the argument I gave 'im on the way here about movies on ya?" Gutrot asked as he timed out.

"Mmm…" Noel fumed, "L…Let's just take the prisoners back to headquarters, okay? I need Drei kisses, Mari cuddles and Funkfreed hugs…"

"You can have two of them," Spanner spoke up, making everyone look to see him and Driver on Future Animo's shoulders.

"Yeah! Gotta take the big hairy one back to our time to get processed!" Driver replied, giving a wave, "Thanks~!"

At that, a bright flash of green light formed a massive orb that enveloped the three of them before they all vanished. Animo groaned as he slowly sat up.

"Ooowarguh…Wh…Wha' 'appened?" Animo slurred, looking around.

"You are very fortunate. Tonight is Movie Night," Rook explained, "The on-base prisoners will be screening Duet For Two and then The Fly duology."

"Ooh…classics…but do I have to watch the first one? Not a fan of Jennifer Nocturn and Daniel Huderson working together…"

"Unfortunately, you must since you did escape from your cell again," Rook replied.

"Ugh…" Animo groaned as he fell over in defeat.

"Come on, ya big baby," Makoto sighed, grabbing Animo by his leg and began dragging him off.

"And you, Extroyer, get to watch from the comfort of a freaky man-sized dog crate~" Max laughed, pushing Extroyer's frozen body.

"Just who were those two anyway?" Ben pondered.

"Eh, I'm sure we'll run into them again. Got a feeling about it," Makoto replied.

"Did you notice the girl had a tail?" Ben pointed out.

"Oh my god, I can finally talk about it!" Makoto cheered, "More Beastkin in the future…er…our future! Not the future I'm from a-a-and d'oh~! You know what I mean!"

"Yeah," Ben smiled as he booped her nose, "We got a bright future ahead of us." he looked over at Noel, "And speaking of futures, great job protecting the ARC Project, Noel."

"O-Oh! It…it wasn't much…" Noel rubbed her upper arm sheepishly.

"Well, aside from that bit of Octopus DNA, it's all accounted for," Makoto smiled, "You wanted to save all the cute things mostly, huh?" she teased slightly.

"W-Well…this could help save a lot of animals a-a-and yes…" Noel mumbled, blushing.

"Never change, Noel," Ben chuckled, patting her shoulder, "After we process Animo and Extroyer, let's get your favorites tonight, alright?"

"Really!?" Noel gasped in excitement, "Oh! It's been so long since I got to pick the take-out! Ah! I hope that restaurant is still in business since our last dimension-hopping trip…"

"Well come on. The faster we deal with all the nonsense, the faster we can get something to eat then head home," Ben smiled, "I'm sure after the giant Hydra…you could use some cuddles with your new doggy, your little mink, and your big ol' elephant-sword."

"Yes…and I want to get lost in the floof of my Eeveelution plushies, my precious boy Drei, my sweet noodle Mari, and be hugged by my precious big boy Funky," Noel nodded, petting said sword on her hip, "...all while watching a romantic movie."

"Okay, fine, but nothing with amnesia or time travel," Ben sighed.

"He didn't say anything about Korean false romance turning into true romance~" Makoto smirked at Noel.

"YES!" Noel cheered as she turned to Max, "Hurry now! The sooner we're done, the sooner we can watch!"

"Rook, Kung Fu movie marathon downtown? You in?" Max whispered as he pushed Extroyer.

"Done. I need something that makes sense." Rook replied.

=Oh goody! I can't wait to point out the choreography= Steel beamed.

"I…" Ben blinked, seeing Makoto cuffed their hands, "...am…going to spend time with my girlfriend."

"Smart man," Makoto smirked.

---

A green flash went off as the defrosted body of Animo…was plopped down in what to him was the Present of Bellwood a few decades into the future. The Evil Scientist groaned as he pushed himself up, he saw neither head nor tail of…of…wait what was he doing again?

=What…where am I?= Animo blinked =I had an idea…but…Grr! I remember nothing!= he flinched as loud bangs filled the air, making him turn to a giant metal door being bashed in.

"Hah! My punch dented it more!" Makoto's voice shouted.

"No way, that's my dent!" a warbled deep voice argued.

"Oh I love you, Ben, but you never win an argument against a spouse~" Makoto laughed.

"Why are you punching the door!? I have the key!" Tsubaki's voice snapped.

"You took too long," both muttered.

"Move!" At that, a sword pierced the door…before carving it out to let what looked like Goop in the shape of Humungosaur push down.

"Three more punches and we had it!" the two complained as a flash left the adult versions of Ben and Makoto standing next to Tsubaki.

"You are parents…what kind of example does this set for your children!?" Tsubaki complained.

"Good point…where are my kids?" Ben 10K blinked.

"Huh….that's a good point…" Makoto muttered before she pulled out her phone and dialed in a number, "Hey, Noellie…it's me. Have you by any chance…?"

=I just got to the house and surprised them with a special treat from La-chan=

"How do you lose track of them? When they were born, Ben kept them strapped to Baby Bjorn's on his front and back?" Tsubaki groaned.

"He did it 'till they were Four!" Makoto smiled.

"I did!" Ben 10K smiled happily.

"Why does it feel like your maturity level dropped after the twins hit double digits of age?" Tsubaki groaned as they walked over to Animo.

"Well by that age I was saving the universe…seems like a good time for them to mature." Ben10k stated before he looked down at Animo, "So…Doc…what did you learn in the past?"

=The past…I was in the past?= Animo blinked in confusion, =Oh Benjamin…I have a horrible headache…can you please just…send me to my cell so I can sleep this off like a bad hangover?=

"Alright, alright," Ben 10K chuckled, "Just to let you know, Noel knows what you planned and what you did."

=Oh, the headache has become a migraine…=

"Well maybe next time try not to mess around and find out, hmm~?" Makoto teased with a grin.

=D'oh…=

"Your paying for a new door to Kajun's experimental time chamber." Tsubaki sighed.

"I can fix it." Ben 10K smiled.

"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" Kajun's voice snapped.

"I can fix it!" Ben 10K panicked as he began fiddling with his Biomnitrix.

=He hasn't changed since he was 10…= Animo groaned.

---

SZ: And done..and more future shenanigans~

Z0: It's kind of our bit now.

SZ: Yup…and worry not. We'll get more done by…the stories…next anniversary….man time flies

Z0: Indeed, wow and we're close to finished…not like next month…but maybe next year or two.

SZ: Depending on the flow of…*yawns* things yeah…sorry just..really tired as of writing this and GT is sleeping at the moment, so at best I will say we hope you enjoyed this chapter, so please like and review…z0…*plops onto the bed*close us out buddy…

Z0: Just you and me now reader…*pulls out crowbar* You know me by now…I want your kneecaps! *jumps and breaks screen*

GT: Please read and review~!