Vilgax loomed over the command deck of his battered ship, his crimson eyes narrowing as drones worked tirelessly to repair the damage. Sparks flew from broken machinery, the scent of scorched metal hanging in the air.
"What do you mean it's not there?" Vilgax roared, his deep voice reverberating through the hull. "This battle nearly cost me my life, and you say the Omnitrix is no longer aboard the transport?!"
Robot Lieutenant, standing stiffly at his side, replied in an emotionless monotone. "Sensors indicate a probe was jettisoned from the ship just before boarding. It landed on the planet below."
Vilgax's gaze darkened, his fury palpable. "Then bring it to me," he snarled, turning to another nearby robot. "Go. I will not tolerate failure."
The robot bowed slightly before retreating to carry out its orders.
XXX
Back on Earth, Ben sat on the steps of the Rust Bucket in his Heatblast form, the fiery glow of his body casting flickering light over the clearing. He leaned back, staring at the Omnitrix on his wrist.
"So what do you think we should do?" he asked aloud. "And that girl… who do you think she was? She was…cool."
Kuri, standing nearby with her arms crossed, rolled her eyes. "That's such a boy thing to say. She saved your bacon, and all you can think about is how cool she looked?"
"She called herself Miko," Max interjected, glancing at Kuri with a raised eyebrow. "And the watch won't come off?"
Kuri stepped forward, tugging experimentally at the Omnitrix. "Nope. It's stuck tight."
Max frowned, his expression turning serious as he looked between Kuri and Ben. "No more fooling around, both of you. This is dangerous."
"Both?" Kuri complained, her eyes narrowing in mock indignation.
Ben's flames flickered as he transformed back to normal. "Whoa, finally."
Max nodded in approval. "Good. Now behave. I'm heading to the crash site to investigate. Stay put."
XXX
As soon as Max disappeared into the woods, Ben plopped down and began fiddling with the Omnitrix, twisting the dial and tapping at the watch's face.
"You're going to get in trouble," Kuri said from the doorway of the Rust Bucket, watching him with mild amusement.
"What? You're not even curious?" Ben asked, shooting her a challenging look.
Kuri shrugged. "I'm curious, but I'd rather not be caught in the middle when Grandpa Max finds out you couldn't wait." She stifled a yawn. "Besides, I'm taking a nap. Watch out for robots."
Ben blinked as she walked away. For a brief moment, her eyes flickered silver, sending a chill down his spine.
"What's with that?" he muttered. But his curiosity quickly returned to the Omnitrix. He grinned, flipping the dial. "Let's see what this thing can really do."
With a green flash, he transformed into Wildmutt.
XXX
Wildmutt stumbled around the clearing, fumbling to adjust to his new senses. The world around him became a blend of smells and vibrations, the unique way the alien "saw" his surroundings.
"Okay, this is kinda awesome," he growled, testing out his agility with a few leaps and flips.
Suddenly, a mechanical whirring noise caught his attention. He turned just in time to see a drone descending from the sky, its weapons charging.
The first blast narrowly missed him. Wildmutt leaped forward, smashing into the drone with his claws and sending it crashing into the dirt.
"Yes!" Ben said triumphantly.
But his victory was short-lived. A second drone appeared, larger and more heavily armed. Its energy weapons began firing in rapid succession, forcing Wildmutt to dodge wildly.
"Whoa, not good!" he muttered.
Before he could react, a familiar voice cut through the chaos.
"Ben, look out!"
Miko landed in front of him, her pendant glowing faintly. She reached for it instinctively, but the contact burned her hand, leaving an angry red welt. Wincing, she threw her other hand out, and a burst of silver light shot from her palm, striking the drone and knocking it off course.
Ben stared in awe. "You… have more powers?"
Miko didn't answer. Her expression was pained, and before he could press her further, she disappeared in a shimmer of light.
Moments later, Kuri appeared in the doorway of the Rust Bucket, rubbing her eyes sleepily just as Max returned to the clearing.
XXX
"I was worried you might get too popular with that thing on your wrist," Max said, his tone stern. "That's why I asked you not to fool around with it until we know what it is."
Ben scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry, Grandpa. But at least I figured out how to make it work. All you have to do is press the button, twist the ring until you see the alien you want, and then slam it down. Bam! Alien hero time."
"How do you stay an alien and not transform back?" Kuri asked, tilting her head curiously.
Ben shrugged sheepishly. "Haven't figured that part out yet."
"With a device that powerful clamped onto you," Max said, "we'd better help you learn how to use it… fast."
Before Ben could reply, a distress call came through the radio.
"Mayday! Mayday! Somebody help us! We're under attack by some sort of—I know you're not going to believe me, but—robot!"
Ben's expression hardened. "Those robots are looking for the Omnitrix. If those people are in trouble because of me, I have to help them."
"You mean we," Kuri said firmly, following him.
XXX
The trio arrived at the campsite, where a massive robot loomed over frightened campers. Ben activated the Omnitrix, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Let's see what this guy can do," he said, transforming into Diamondhead.
As Diamondhead rushed toward the robot, Miko reappeared, landing gracefully in the midst of the chaos. Her pendant flared with silver light, and she fired several flares of energy at the robot, momentarily distracting it.
Diamondhead nodded. "Nice timing!"
"Just doing my part," she said with a smirk, though her hand hovered protectively over her pendant.
The robot grabbed a park ranger, lifting him into the air.
"Put him down!" Diamondhead shouted. "You want someone to pick on, try me!"
The robot hurled Diamondhead into a nearby truck, but the alien hero emerged unscathed, his sharpened crystalline arm glinting in the light.
"Cool," he said, grinning.
Together, Diamondhead and Miko fought the robot. Diamondhead used his reflective surface to redirect the robot's laser blasts, while Miko's silver light chipped away at its defenses.
As the robot's systems began to fail, Diamondhead turned to Miko. "So, we even?"
She hesitated, her eyes widening as he added, "Or should I say… Kuri?"
Miko's mask of confidence faltered. "How did you—"
"You're not as subtle as you think," he said, gesturing to her burned hand. "You weren't going to tell me?"
She sighed. "I'm sorry, Ben. I'm not supposed to reveal myself. It's part of the Wiccan Rede. But—uh—later!"
Before he could respond, the robot lunged at him, and the fight continued.
XXX
After the battle, as the group returned to the Rust Bucket, Ben pressed Kuri for answers.
"I was raised in Japan," Kuri explained. "There's a barrier called a kekkai that connects this world to one full of Yokai—monsters. I became Miko to protect people from them."
Ben's admiration for her deepened. "You're amazing, you know that?"
Kuri laughed softly, winking. "Thanks, Ben. But now it's your turn. Let's see what this summer has in store."
As Ben transformed into XLR8 to pack up camp, Kuri watched him with a knowing smile.
This was only the beginning.