STATION E-32
"Station E-32, this is Kyle Winters from E-31, over."
Static filled the air, punctuated by the absence of a reply.
It was the day after a warm welcome at E-31, the horizon offering a rare sight: clear pale skies beneath the hazardous atmosphere—a perfect day to explore.
"This is E-31. Anyone home? Over." He paused, a teasing tone creeping in. "Havorn, I hope you didn't break that radio dish again. Over."
More static...
Kyle furrowed his brow, concern flickering across his face. He turned to the crew. "Nothing."
Tagnok chimed in, crossing his arms. "Storm must've fried their comms."
Kyle shook his head. "That's impossible. If ours is still intact, that dish at E-32 should be fine."
"Regardless, we need to head up there and deliver the data. My men are waiting for an update," Tagnok insisted, his tone firm.
Kyle shrugged, letting the worry go for now. The team began gathering their gear, moving through the room and into the hall just as Ben walked in.
Ben glanced around, a smile forming. "So, uh, does this mean we're heading out?"
Tagnok nodded. "Yeah, gear up, Tennyson."
Ben grinned, ready for whatever awaited them.
Station E-31 - Storage Bay - Morning
The crew bustled about, readying themselves for the journey ahead. Tahr-Koruhl and Faye Lorr worked together to prep the land speeder, while Zeera scolded Tagnok about being careful with the data port boxes he was loading onto the vehicle.
Ben, transforming into Four Arms, lent a hand, his impressive strength helping Tagnok manage the cumbersome boxes.
Inside the vehicle, Dr. Lionel, Elya, and Da'leks were already suited up in protective gear, strapped in and ready to go. Kress approached the side of the speeder.
Kress: "Doc, I'll keep the server room updated. Be sure to send any changes over to the channels."
Da'leks: "Of course, my friend. That's precisely why I'm heading into that chaotic station."
A green flash lit up the room as Ben transformed back to his normal self, now clad in a protective suit.
Tagnok called out, "Let's go before another storm swoops in and traps us at E-32!"
Enceladus - Canyon Paths
The speeder sped through the icy chasms, Faye Lorr demonstrating impressive driving skills, his keen perception guiding them expertly.
Soon, boredom struck Ben, prompting him to transform into Big Chill. He soared above the speeder, performing stunts and maneuvers in the crisp air.
Tagnok shouted, "Hey! What are you doing?"
Faye laughed. "Oh, Tag, don't be such a control freak! That's Ben Tennyson you're yelling at. Besides, he can't hear you!"
With a resigned sigh, Tagnok settled back in his seat, crossing his arms. The three doctors in the back shared amused glances, chuckling at the exchange.
As they emerged from the final chasm, they were greeted by an endless expanse of permafrost. From his aerial view, Ben spotted a tiny dot in the distance—likely E-32. He descended, landing back on the speeder and reverting to his original form.
Da'leks remarked, "Ah, I see you've realized the long road ahead."
Ben grinned, leaning back in his seat. "Yep. Plus, no obstacles means no fun."
Da'leks smiled at his playful reply, the road ahead was indeed both long and boring.
It took a considerable amount of time before they finally approached the desolate station, which grew larger in size as they drew nearer. But alongside its size, so did their concern.
Faye: "E-32, Faye Lorr, E-31, sweeping by, over."
Silence.
Tagnok: "The hell..."
Faye: "That ain't normal, is it?"
Ben: "What's wrong?"
Tagnok: "No one's answering. At this distance, even commlinks should be picking up our signal."
Lionel: "You don't think something happened, do you?"
Elya: "Oh, don't be silly! Out here? Nothing happens apart from the usual drilling and Orctheloper stampede."
Ben listened to their conversation, already speculating a thousand possibilities in his seat. As they drew closer, concern shifted to palpable worry.
Tagnok: "Guys..."
Everyone turned their attention to the station as they closed in.
Not only was there no sign of activity anywhere on the colossal structure, but the structure itself appeared... scorched.
A few small fires flickered in areas above and below. The gates stood wide open, vehicles lay abandoned and dismantled outside, and yet, no one was in sight.
It was quiet—too quiet.
Faye Lorr's multiple eyes scanned the surroundings just as the rest of the team did. He decided to park the speeder in the usual spot out of habit.
The team hesitated to uncover the answers to this unforeseen event. All six disembarked.
Da'leks, perched on Lionel's shoulder in his tiny suit, spoke up.
Da'leks: "I understand a thousand worries are racing through everyone's minds, but we must stay focused. Faye, you'll remain here with the speeder in case anything happens. Tagnok, escort Dr. Barnes and Markov inside the station for safety and find out where everyone went. Tennyson, I need you to take me to the command center tower so I can access the servers."
Ben: "Got it, Doc." He transformed back into Big Chill and lifted Da'leks into his shoulder.
Tagnok: "Doc, what if there are any hostiles?"
Da'leks: "Then I suggest you put your training to use!"
Ben: "Hold on tight."
Big Chill opened his wings and soared upward, heading straight for the top of the station.
Faye: "You guys move in. I'll be fine here."
Elya: "If you see anything suspicious, you speed away, okay?" She patted his shoulder.
Faye Lorr nodded as they began jogging toward the station.
Station E-32 - Command Post
Ben easily slammed the command post door open, the howling winds from outside echoing through the interior. Whatever had happened here seemed to have occurred days ago. The command post was frozen inside, no different from the snowy ground outside.
Big Chill gently lowered Da'leks to the ground as they both entered the room and began to split up. Initially, it appeared deserted.
As Ben scanned the area, sifting through the evident chaos that had unfolded, his Galvan companion approached the data banks. Suddenly, Da'leks was startled by something-a stream of frozen blood staining the snow. His gaze followed the trail up to a chair, where the corpse of a Chimera Sui Generis lay frozen in place.
Da'leks: "Ben!"
Ben rushed to his side, equally shocked by the sight before them.
Ben: "Holy shit..."
The reaction was fitting. Before them lay a broken body, its throat sliced open, wrists slit wide, and legs punctured. The frozen expression was inhumane, horrifying, and repulsive. The duo stared at the body, speechless.
Ben: "Did you... Did you know him?"
Da'leks: "Gronel Vax... He is... was... the director of this station..."
Silence hung heavily in the air.
Da'leks: "What in Galvan Prime happened here..."
Tennyson composed himself, still fixated on the body.
Ben: "Come on, Doc..." He said, trying to bring his companion back to the moment.
As they continued moving throughout the room, the Doc climbed up to a table, trying to get the computer to work.
Ben immediately noticed, transforming into Upgrade. He merged with the technology, reviving it.
Ben: "What do you need?"
Da'leks: "Everything. Every record, file, security recording, everything that could tell us what the heck happened here."
Ben: "Got it ASAP." He started calculating the data, then forged a Intel disk, ejecting it out for the doc to grab it."
Da'leks: "Impressive. Now let's keep going, downstairs is where the research bay is."
Station E-32 - Interior Bays
At the corner of a hallway, Tagnok peeked through, his quadruple pistols ready in all four arms.
Tagnok: "Clear." He said quietly, gesturing for the doctors to follow him.
The station was in disarray: some areas burned, others frozen, while patches still had power, and some were completely dark. They all switched on their flashlights.
Elya: "A hundred and seventieth... a hundred and seventieth people in this station four days ago... Where did they all go?!" Panic began to creep into her voice.
Lionel: "I don't know, Elya, but keep your voice down."
They ascended a set of stairs, and faint voices reached their ears—Ben and Da'leks.
Tagnok: "That must be over at the research bay."
Station E-32 - Research Bay
Ben had transformed into Brainstorm and was in a heated debate with Da'leks when Tagnok and the doctors entered, mildly startling them.
Ben: "Have you ever heard of knocking?"
Tagnok: "Oh gee, it's kinda hard to knock on ice!" He shot back.
Ben: "Fair."
Elya: "What is that...?"
Before them loomed the subject of their debate: a giant block of permafrost dominating what used to be the research bay.
Ben transformed back to normal.
Da'leks: "Our theory thus far is that an expedition returned with something into the station before the storm hit. Whatever it is might be connected to our current predicament..."
Tagnok: "Well, unless they had Houdini frozen in ice, it doesn't explain how everyone just vanished into thin air!"
Lionel: "Or how this station could be destroyed in such record time."
Ben: "No, no, we know that. We're piecing this together."
As the four men continued their heated discussion, Elya Markov wandered around the research bay and discovered a door leading to an external hanging walkway that connected to the disposal bay.
The eerie wind and silence heightened her anxiety as she made her way toward the new door, the rails creaking underfoot. Stepping inside the darkened space, her fear deepened.
With slow, deliberate steps, she advanced toward the railing, which overlooked a large disposal pit.
Finally reaching it, she shone her flashlight down, revealing the depths below.
Station E-32 - Research Bay
Tagnok: "Listen, Doc, all I'm saying is we can't just leave here empty-handed. We gotta-"
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the stillness, freezing them in their tracks.
Lionel: "Elya?!"
They sprinted toward the sound. Ben transformed into Heatblast, and Lionel scooped up Da'leks as they barreled through the shadowy passageway, dread clawing at their insides.
Upon opening the research bay exit, and entering the adjoining chamber through the hanging passageway, they stumbled into Elya's terrified, ice-cold form. Her eyes were wide with horror, her breath hitching in a strangled cry.
Lionel: "Elya!"
Tagnok: "What's going on?!" He pointed his weapons wildly, paranoia surging.
Heatblast's flames cast a flickering light, illuminating the space, but the sight that greeted them was a hellish nightmare.
Tagnok glanced down at the railing, a chill of dread creeping up his spine. His skin went from red to sickly pale as he gagged.
"By Khoros..."
As Ben, Lionel, and Da'leks leaned over to see, their hearts sank at the grotesque revelation.
Bodies.
Hundreds of bodies.
Scorched, mangled, and desecrated beyond recognition, the corpses lay in a horrific heap at the bottom of the dispensary, their forms twisted and blackened. These were the remains of those who had toiled at this station for the past eight years, unceremoniously dumped as if they were fodder.
A variety of burnt species, once vibrant and full of life, now reduced to repulsive remnants. The stench of charred flesh and mingled death filled the air, overwhelming their senses.
Some of the incinerated corpses were grotesquely lodged in the metal rungs of the ladders that led to the rafters, as if they had been flamed down in their last attempts to flee.
The sight was nightmarish, a tableau of horror that shattered their sanity.
Da'leks, crushed by the weight of grief, clenched his fists, his eyes squeezed shut as he lowered his gaze in despair.
Ben stood frozen, angered at the loss of life. He had witnessed unspeakable horrors before, but none lacking in context.
This was genocide.
Station E-32 - Exterior Area
The crew trudged silently beneath the shadow of Station E-32, heading back to Faye Lorr. Only the crackle of Heatblast's flames and the icy whine of the wind filled the air. the shade stretched long across the snow, closing in like claws.
But then...
A creature, a sinewy Orctheloper native to this moon-bounded out of nowhere, its black eyes gleaming, startling the crew. It barreled straight for Lionel, but instead of attacking, it leapt and licked his face, tail flopping with excitement. Lionel, already accustomed to these types of creatures, managed a weak smile, patting its rough scales as the others staggered back.
Lionel: "Hey, hey! Ease up." He laughed softly. "Maybe it smells the scents off the ones back in '31'?" He suggested, out loud.
Then, as if in grim response to this rare moment of peace, the Omnitrix began to let out a screeching sound, forcing Ben to transform back to normal. It flashed a bright, erratic yellow light on Ben's wrist, letting out a loud, shrill beep as it vibrated harshly. He fumbled with it, realizing his transformations were locked. The watch was locked...
Ben: "Huh...? No, come on..." He waved his wrist, but the yellow light remained, flashing like an ominous warning.
A distant shout shattered the quiet.
"NO!" The voice echoed from high above, even reaching Faye Lorr across the clearing.
The crew looked up to see two figures, clinging to the frostbitten railings above- an Incursean and a Detrovite, their faces hollow with panic, laser rifles clenched in their trembling hands.
"Get away from it! Don't let it touch you!" The Incursean warned.
Tagnok: "Havorn?! Ark?!" He called out, eyes wide with recognition.
Ark: "It's too late! Blast em!"
The two figures pointed their rifles at the group, their faces contorted in terror. Before anyone could react, they fired, bolts searing through the cold air. The shots missed the Orctheloper, who sprang away, but Lionel's leg was struck, sending him sprawling with a choked cry.
In the distance Faye Lorr reignited the speeder, roaring to life and racing toward the crew. The two attackers leapt from the railings, weapons blazing as they closed in.
Tagnok's rage boiled over. He fired back, emptying round after round into the Detrovite until the figure crumpled, his body twitching in the snow.
Tagnok: "Damn it, Ark... Damn it!" He groaned in turmoil, looking at his friend's corpse as he charged toward the Incursean, tears hiding in his eyes.
Ben desperately shielded the doctors, frantically flicking the Omnitrix's handle, but the device only beeped back at him, shrieking like a broken alarm.
Ben: "Seriously, out of all places!" He looked up, seeing the Incursean trembling, rifle raised at him, panic filling his eyes.
Havorn: "I'm... I'm sorry!" He stammered, fingers clenching on the trigger.
A shot rang out. Tagnok's laser bolt tore through Havorn's arm, making him stagger back, the weapon dropping to his side only for a second.
Tagnok: "Drop it, Havorn! Please, I don't want to kill you!" He shouted, voice breaking.
Faye Lorr pulled up in the speeder, his various eyes contorted in horror.
Faye: "Havorn! Whatever happened... Just calm down, let's figure this out!" He reached out, voice pleading. "It's okay. We're your friends man, just stop!"
But Havorn's gaze darted between them, his expression wild, as if he saw something monstrous. "No... No! You don't understand!" He clutched his head, screaming. "You're... you're one of... I won't let you take me!"
Tagnok: "Havorn... Look at me. Just breathe, okay?"
Havorn's eyes flickered to each of them, his breathing ragged, fingers tightening on the rifle.
Ben: "Havorn, listen to your friends... Calm down and let us help you... Tell us what happened..."
Yet another minute of dread pursued, as no one dared move a muscle.
Tagnok: "Havorn... Please..."
Then, in a whispered rasp: "I won't let you have me."
The Incursean seemed to have made up his mind... He aimed the barrel at his head.
They all simultaneously began to shout at him, pleading for him to stop. Ben felt utterly helpless without being able to transform, one of his most feared scenarios unfolding.
Elya: "Havorn please stop this!"
Lionel: "You don't have to do this!" He shouted, still on the ground, with Da'leks aiding him.
Havorn simply clenched his eyes.
The shot echoed, and everything fell silent.
Faye: "Havorn!" The cry ripped through the air.
Two thuds on the snow followed.
Tagnok threw down his weapon, stumbling back, unable to bear the sight. Ben closed his eyes, a sinking pit of sorrow in his chest, the horror of yet another senseless death tearing at him.
They all stood there, grief etched on their faces, the weight of loss pressing down like a storm.
Faye: "Havorn..." he whispered, voice choked with sorrow.
Tagnok clenched his fists, his body shuddering with anger and pain.
Tagnok: "Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?" he growled, his voice cracking, as everyone else stood in stunned silence.
...
After the shock faded, they gathered what little they could salvage, tending to Lionel's wound and wrapping up the bodies of the fallen. With effort, they loaded everything into the back of the speeder.
Finally, with Lionel lying in the back, leg stretched out, they prepared to leave this place of horror. The Orctheloper- seemingly oblivious to the carnage- hopped into the trunk beside Lionel, its head poking up as it nestled beside him.
Ben's Omnitrix beeped again, yellow as ever.
Ben: "What's wrong with you now..." He tapped.
Lionel: "Hey guys, this guy's back again, just hopped onboard."
Elya: "We'll... We'll put him back with the others at base, Leo... Don't worry..." She faintly said.
Doctor Da'leks, in Ben's shoulder, looked back, glancing at the creature with a suspicious gaze, before turning forward again, glancing at the Omnitrix.
Lionel managed a weak smile, petting the creature as Faye hit the accelerator, speeding away from the forsaken wasteland of Station E-32.