Digital Nexus Book 3: The Ben 10 Code: Chapter 4 - Permanent Retirement
The Rust Bucket has stopped on a desert road, at an ice cream parlor. Ben and Gwen are getting ice cream, while Max is using the local ATM, and Xoruxshy is getting in contact with the Nexus Basilicom, and a big burly man walks up to Max.
Burly Man: Outta the way, "Grandpa". I got a major withdrawal to make!
He shoves Max to the ground. Max looks up and sees a buck-toothed man in front of him smiling; who seems to be the other man's associate.
In the parlor, the kids are choosing their ice cream. A frowning old man is serving them.
Gwen: What do you have that's non-fat with less than 3% sugar?
Parlor Worker: Napkins! (to Ben) What about you, kid?
Ben opens his mouth, but gets cut off by the sound of a large chain. He looks out the window and sees the burly man walking to the ATM with a chained metal hook.
Ben: I'm about to go "rocky road"! (He runs out of the parlor and primes the Omnitrix.)
Outside, the burly man digs the hook into the ATM and yells to his associate in the pickup.
Burly Man: Hit it!
The buck-toothed man tries pumping the gas, but nothing happens. Suddenly, the wheel melts out of his hands and the entire dashboard forms into Ben's black technorganic alien, Upgrade, while Xoruxshy in her newly upgraded Iron Fox Armor Mk III - Venusaur Model holds the pickup in place.
Upgrade: Your cash request has been denied!
Upgrade merges with the entire pickup and kicks the man out the door. He forms back into himself. The burly man grabs the hook, swings it in the air and throws it at Upgrade. He lets the chain wrap around his arm and tugs hard, launching the man upwards into a pole. As he tries to get up, Max puts his foot on his chest.
Max: Where do ya think you're going? Good work, Ben!
Upgrade: Oh yeah! I'm ready for anything! Bring it on! What's next?
Max: We're headin' off to see your Aunt Vera for the weekend!
Upgrade: Ugh, boring old Aunt Vera?! Nooooo!
The Rust Bucket continues driving through the barren desert.
Gwen: When Aunt Vera said she wanted to "move away from it all", she really meant it!
Ben: Aw man, this summer was supposed to be about F-U-N, not hanging out in some old lady's place.
Gwen: I like Aunt Vera!
Ben: Duh! That's because you act like you're a hundred years old!
Meanwhile, on her lawn, Vera speaks with Marty, a neighbor of hers.
Vera: It's been years since I've seen Max and the kids! I'm not sure I'll even recognize them! Stop by and say hello.
Marty: I'd like that.
Marty enters his house. The blinds are closed. He puts on a scary movie and gets a bowl of snacks next to him. A sentient green glob of liquid suddenly slithers up next to the bowl. Marty gasps in horror when he first feels it on his hand.
Marty: Help me-! (The glob jumps to his face, muffling his cries.)
The Rust Bucket finally enters Vera's retirement village. It drives past old folks' homes and some people out on the sidewalk.
Ben: This is gonna be soooo boring! Their idea of excitement in this place is probably watching the grass grow.
An old man is climbing on his roof, trying to reach his satellite, but starts slipping down. Instead of falling off, he makes an expert Olympic-level backflip off the roof and lands safely on the ground, just as the Rust Bucket passes by.
Ben: Woah! Did you see that?!
Gwen looks out her window and only sees old people.
Gwen: See what? The heat must be frying that pea-sized brain of yours. (Ben frowns and heads toward the TARDIS)
Xoruxshy: So, you think something is off with the old people here? Well, if you want to, I can lend you some of my nanotech recording software. Just tap the side of this little earpiece after putting it on your head, and it will broadcast it to us in the TARDIS.
Ben: Will do. Say, who were you contacting?
Xoruxshy: The Nexus Station's Basilicom. Picture it like this. The Nexus Station is basically connected to every universe in existence. Only select individuals can see it, since it's so huge it can be seen from the surface of the planet. The Basilicom is my home base. I do all my paperwork there. Since I haven't been in contact for a while, my big brother Tails got worried and basically sent me a bunch of messages. And now, I've got a backlog of paperwork, because a certain purple-haired airhead decided to take over for Aunt Sally, then got lazy and started playing video games. Funnily enough though, something happened to Sonic, and now he's a female twin-tailed fox with a penchant for staring at Tails's butt, named Sundae. She's still got the super-speed, but the way she's acting, I'd say it's only a matter of time before I start hearing noises coming from the bedroom.
Ben wisely leaves the TARDIS before his ears can hear anything not appropriate for his age.
The Rust Bucket has arrived at Vera's. Ben is the first to step out; he holds his hand up against the glaring sun.
Ben: Seriously, why do old people have to live where its soooo hot! (Gwen walks behind him and surprises him with a spray from a water gun.) Hey!
She laughs and runs away. Instead of running after her, Marty's window catches Ben's eye. Marty is staring at him, as Ben starts recording. He violently hisses at Ben, cracks his neck in every direction, and shuts the blinds on him. Ben submits the video feed to the TARDIS mainframe under the title "Alien Activity Surveillance #1".
Ben: Huh, they really make you feel welcome here…
Max: Just watch your cheeks, Vera's a pincher!
Vera: (coming outside) Max!
Max: Vera!
Vera gives her brother a hug, then hugs Gwen and pinches her cheeks.
Vera: I can't believe you're finally here! And look at you two, so - grown - up!
Gwen: Oww!
She hugs Ben and also pinches his cheeks.
Ben: Oww!
Vera: Come on in! I can't wait to chew the fat with all of you.
They walk in, while Marty sneers at them through a crack in his blinds.
Ben: (Ben sniffs the house air) Ugh, why do old people's houses always smell like somebody's cooking socks or something?
To eat, at the center of the kitchen table: a giant orange gelatin mold with brown and white bits. It sits on a plate, continuously wiggling.
Max: Ooh, Vera, this is delicious! Now, what are these brown chunks in the mold?
Vera: Pork chops, and the white parts are cauliflower! (Ben and Gwen exchange looks of disgust.) So, Ben, what have you been doing so far this summer?
Ben: (bluntly) Dealing with alien life forms.
Vera: Ohoho, you! Now, Max, you told me that you had some more friends joining you on your road trip, where are they?
Max: Well, due to certain circumstances, they had to go deal with some paperwork. You and I both know how that can be. It doesn't help that the paperwork was taller than their desk.
Vera: Oh, that darn paperwork.
Gwen notices Vera's shelf and gets up from the table to see. Various frames and trinkets are on the bottom shelves, but the top shelf holds many taxidermied birds of different species.
Gwen: Aunt Vera, is that a stuffed Red-Billed North American Chickadee?
Vera: (gasps; joining her) How perceptive, Gwen! And did you know the song of the Red-Billed North American Chickadee is actually-
Gwen and Vera: -a call indicating alarm or excitement! Brrrrrr!
Ben, while they're all distracted, moves his slice of mold onto Gwen's plate.
Ben: I am toootally stuffed!
Vera: Ben, would you like some candy? (She brings him a bowl full of small brown pieces.)
Ben: Now we're talking! (He delightfully shoots one in his mouth, pauses and spits it out.) UGH! Coffee? As a candy?! Is this some kind of joke? (getting up) I need to use the bathroom!
Ben runs into the bathroom and shuts the door.
Ben: It's "Attack of the Old People"! I gotta get out of here.
He gets an idea and turns on the Omnitrix. He slams down on it, turning into a phantom alien wrapped in white cloth-like skin: Ghostfreak! Ghostfreak flies out of the bathroom, making himself invisible. Meanwhile, Vera continues to show Gwen her collection, now moved on to a conch shell.
Vera: -and this one is a Valentiana. Can you hear the ocean?
Gwen holds the shell to her ear, but-
Ghostfreak (VO): Loser… (Gwen goes wide-eyed.) Loooooser…!
Ghostfreak cackles as he reveals himself to her.
Gwen: Ben?
Ghostfreak: "See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!"
He waves at her and flies through a wall, out of the house. He looks around the neighborhood.
Ghostfreak: There has to be something fun to do around here… And maybe I'll get some evidence of creepy things happening! (A neighbor's golf cart catches his eye.) Hello!
He drives the golf cart down the street. People on the sidewalk are surprised, as they see no driver. Ghostfreak only drives for a bit before he catches a whiff of a smell and goes to investigate.
Ghostfreak: Apple pie!
Indeed, an apple pie is sitting out on a windowsill, cooling off. Ghostfreak takes interest in the pie's cook: an old lady trying to swat a fly in a room. On instinct, Ghostfreak activates the recording software, the nanotechnology refitted to his form. The fly rises above her fly-swatter's reach and lands upside down on the ceiling. The old woman suddenly springs up on the ceiling and eats the fly right off it!
Ghostfreak: Eugh! No way! Ninja old people!
She lands back on the ground and cracks her neck, very similar to Marty. Ghostfreak loses interest in the pie; he turns around and sees Marty himself driving the golf cart. As he passes the fly lady's house, her automatic sprinkler system kicks in. Marty freaks out at the sight of the sprinkler and swerves the cart around it, to the point of breaking a sweat. He drives off, carrying a rolled-up rug behind him in the cart.
Ghostfreak: Wonder what Mr. Friendly's up to…
Marty (and Ghostfreak, still recording) arrive at a gated-off dumpster site. Marty stretches his legs beyond human capability and carries the rolled-up rug over the fence gate.
Ghostfreak: This place just keeps getting weirder by the minute.
Ghostfreak passes through the gate. Marty pushes one of the dumpsters aside, revealing a trapdoor underneath. As he opens the trapdoor, the Omnitrix times out and turns Ghostfreak back into Ben. The noise and light immediately alert Marty; his head rotates completely behind himself. Ben gasps. Marty lets the door and rug go, turns the rest of his body around, and roars at Ben.
Ben: AHHHH!
Marty grabs Ben. Ben squirms out and runs to the gate, climbing over it as fast as he can, while Marty elongates his legs to walk over it again. Ben jumps in the golf cart and rides it away, while Marty chases after. Even though he's the one on foot, Marty is catching up to Ben.
Ben: Uhh, I didn't see your face suddenly pop on the back of your head, I swear! (To himself) What kinda vitamins are these freaky old people taking?
The cart's main gauge starts lowering to 0.
Ben: Come on, come on!
Marty gets close enough to be able to stretch his arms and grab the two front bars on the cart, literally stopping it in its tracks and dragging it backwards towards him.
Ben: Let me go!
Marty hisses violently. As Ben tries to escape, he notices the bag of golf clubs beside him. He takes one out and makes a shot on the old man's arm.
Ben: Fore!
Surprisingly, the club slices right through, as if it was made of something more liquid than solid. It was enough to make Marty lose his grip and get the cart moving again. But as soon as Ben starts driving smoothly, he feels a rumble above him: Marty has made his way onto the roof of the cart. He extends his hands underneath, trying to grab Ben.
Ben: No!
Ben can't maintain his grip on the wheel. He swerves the cart over a speed bump, causing it to fly in the air and crash on someone's lawn. As Ben recovers, he sees Marty standing up. Marty cracks his arm and neck back into place and extends his arms to Ben, catching him and reeling him in across the lawn. Ben panickingly tries the Omnitrix, but it's still recharging. Suddenly, a sprinkler system goes off next to Marty. He winces at the water, dropping Ben and running away. Ben lies on the lawn, stunned.
Ben: Okay…what just happened here? (Ends the recording session and submits it to the TARDIS database as "Alien Activity Evidence #2")
At sundown, Ben finally gets back to Vera's. He rushes to Gwen and Max in the kitchen.
Ben: Grandpa! Gwen!
Max: Shhh, your Aunt Vera's in bed!
Ben: Seriously? It's like only 6:30. (talking quickly) Nevermind. Listen, this whole place is way creepier than I thought. Xoruxshy gave me the technology to prove it. First, this old lady runs up a wall - and then munches a fly! Then Marty, that weird next door neighbor, is an "E.T." or something! With a face on the back of his head, and these long sticky arms and this body that oozed right through this gate and-!
Gwen: Ben, you snuck out. Aunt Vera was hurt!
Ben: Ah, she's old, she'll forget. Okay, I say I go Four Arms and we check out Marty's apartment!
Max: Well, maybe we should do some investigating, but you stay as you are! (in an old man voice) Us old fogeys don't ferget as much as ya think!
He winks at them and leaves the room.
Gwen: (to Ben) You know, ever since you've had that watch, you're like a magnet for the weird.
Ben: (He makes his body snap and point to Gwen like a magnet.) You're right!
Gwen: Very funny.
Max opens the door to Marty's apartment.
Max: Hello? Anyone home?
The apartment is dark, deserted. The pendulum of a grandfather clock swings to and fro as the trio walk past it. Something suddenly startles them, but Max turns on the lights; only a jacket on a coat rack, blowing from the open window beside it.
Max: Well, nothing here seems out of whack…
Ben: Except for what he rolled up in his rug - that was right here!
Ben points to a rug outline on the floor. Max is puzzled.
Back at Vera's,
Max: You two sleep well. I'll be in the guest room if you need me.
Ben: But, Grandpa-!
Max: There's nothing more we can do tonight. I'm going for an early walk in the morning, but once I'm back, we'll check things out again. Now get some rest.
As Vera sleeps that night, another sentient green blob makes its way into her room. As her limp arm falls off the bed, it crawls up it. Just as Vera wakes up, it wraps around her mouth and eyes, preventing her from screaming.
In the morning, Ben opens up Vera's fridge.
Ben: Prune juice, prune juice, and- oh, what a surprise -more prune juice. (to Gwen) Why does it seem old people were always old?
Gwen: Morning, Aunt Vera! How'd you sleep?
Vera enters the kitchen, though something feels off about her. Just in case, Ben silently activates the recording equipment.
Vera: Just…fine. How 'bout you?
She violently grabs and shakes Ben's cheeks.
Ben: (pained) Fine, Aunt Vera!
Gwen: I made you some coffee.
Gwen brings her a tray with a mug of coffee and a glass of water, but she trips and spills both of them on the floor.
Gwen: Sorry!
Just before the spilled water makes its way to Vera's shoes, she jumps up and holds a perfect split against the walls.
Vera: CLEAN IT UP! CLEAN IT UP RIGHT NOW!
Gwen: (stunned) I'm sorry!
Gwen starts cleaning, and Vera lands back on the ground. She looks over to the empty guest room.
Vera: Where did your grandfather go?
Gwen: He said he was going for an early walk.
Vera: …Well, behave yourselves. I'll be back soon. (She leaves the house.)
Ben: (Submits the recording to the TARDIS Mainframe with the notification: Send Xoruxshy now!) She's totally one of them!
Gwen: "One of" what?
Ben: Whatever's possessing these old people. Something or someone's gotten to Aunt Vera, and who know how many other fossils around here?
Some time later, Ben takes Gwen for a walk through the village, followed by Xoruxshy in her Iron Fox Armor, taking alleys and out-of-site paths.
Gwen: So, where we headed, Sherlock. (She tightens the backpack she brought with her.)
Ben quickly hides behind the corner of the alley. Some old folks walk past.
Ben: We need to get to that trapdoor by the dumpster.
He holds Gwen back, waiting for the folks to walk further before quickly crossing.
In another part of town, Marty and another old man stand shifty-eyed. Vera meets with them.
Fake Vera: Is the food supply ready for transport?
Fake Marty: The pods are in the final stages of gestation. What about the young ones?
Fake Vera: Too chewy! They need to age more before they get nice and tender…
Fake Marty: I'm not talking about eating! The boy suspects too much. (Vera smiles.)
The kids continue, now close to the dumpster site.
Ben: It's right over there!
Gwen: Just follow the disgusting smell.
Xoruxshy: I should let you know that I analyzed the footage you sent me, Ben. It seems that whatever these things are, they're weak to water. In fact, I would say that it's deadly to them. Keep that in mind, you two.
They pass by two old ladies, innocently playing what looks to be street curling with small pucks. Ben and Gwen keep their eyes on them. They suddenly hiss with sharp yellow teeth and whack the pucks in their direction.
Gwen: DUCK! (She evades one, while Xoruxshy generates a plant-like shield from her armor)
Ben: RUN! (He evades one.)
The two bolt away, pucks flying after them. They hid behind a corner and catch their breath. Max is suddenly there.
Max: Guys, what's going on?
Ben: They're everywhere!
Max: I know! (His teeth are green. He starts stretching his arm, just like Marty.) Come here, I'll protect ya! (roaring)
Gwen: Let's get out of here!
The kids start running away with Xoruxshy following behind but blocking their path is Marty, Vera, and the other man, all holding up a car. Fake Max is behind them.
Ben: Ooh, this is not good!
They throw the car.
Act 3
Ben, Gwen, and Xoruxshy dodge out of the way of the car, just as Fake Max tries swiping at them. He gets crushed by the car.
Gwen: No!
Soon after, green slime flies out from under the car and assembles into Max, save for his left eye, which is bright green and orange. He and the other elders keep moving.
Ben: (to Gwen and Xoruxshy) Come on! The trapdoor!
Gwen runs to and finds it under a dumpster, while Ben and Xoruxshy stand off against the fake elders. As she tries to budge the dumpster, Ben slams the Omnitrix and turns into Wildmutt and Xoruxshy launches fast-growing vine seeds from her wrist launchers to slow them down. Gwen still struggles, so Wildmutt simply takes the dumpster and throws it at the elders. He slobbers at Gwen, "motioning" to the trapdoor.
Gwen: Got it! (Wildmutt pants behind her.) That's scary. I'm starting to speak mutt…
Xoruxshy: No, that's just the TARDIS translating for you.
The elders are back up on their feet and run after the trio. Gwen opens the door to a giant pit, leading underground. With no time, Wildmutt bucks her up on his back and leaps down into the pit, Xoruxshy flying down after them.
Gwen: Woah!
Xoruxshy: Geronimo!
As they're falling, Wildmutt tries to slow his fall by digging into the walls of rock, though they still hit the floor pretty hard, while Xoruxshy lands safely due to her armor's propulsion jets.
Gwen: Does the expression "look before you leap" mean anything to you?!
She looks above them. The elders are crawling down after them.
Gwen: Move it!
Wildmutt speeds down a dark tunnel for a while, followed by Xoruxshy, only stopping when he comes to a split path. Gwen gets off him.
Gwen: These tunnels must go under the whole complex!
Far behind Gwen and Xoruxshy, a pair of red eyes stalk her in the dark. Wildmutt starts sensing with his gills, and makes out the outline of Fake Max, just as he tries to grab Gwen with his stretchy arms. Wildmutt clamps down on the arms and tugs Max into a wall, but he quickly gets up. Wildmutt stands protectively in front of Gwen and charges at Max, but Max grabs Wildmutt by the neck and suplexes him. As Wildmutt gets up, Max punches him repeatedly, smiling; Xoruxshy, having enough of him beating up her protege, shoulder-bashes Max into a wall; and grabs his arm, swinging him around in a circle using her propulsors to produce enough momentum to launch him across the cave. Wildmutt runs to Max while he is down and raises his arms, preparing to finish him.
Fake Max: (His left eye forms back into Max's.) You wouldn't wanna hurt old Grandpa Max, now would'ya?
Wildmutt winces with hesitation. Max quickly kicks him away and twists himself back on his feet. Gwen climbs on Wildmutt's back.
Gwen: Hey, "short, dumb, & hairy"? Rule 1: he's not Grandpa, he's an alien freak! And that leads to Rule 2, which is we kick alien butt!
Wildmutt angrily charges at Fake Max, smacking him into a wall with enough force for rocks to crash down on him and bury him for good. Wildmutt suddenly senses something big.
Gwen: What?
He bolts off in a direction. Gwen struggles to hang on, and Xoruxshy follows, prepared to catch her just in case.
Gwen: Woah! You don't come with seatbelts, remember?
The Omnitrix starts beeping red; they are about to hit a wall of wooden boards and moss.
Gwen: Look out!
They just manage to crash through before Wildmutt turns back into Ben.
Xoruxshy: Hey, you guys okay?
Gwen: (getting up) Hey, freakshow! What do I look like, a crash test dummy?!
Ben: Listen, I don't know what it is, but I picked up some kind of scent in here.
They walk for a bit and find that the tunnel leads to an enormous room, with a large spaceship in the middle and small green pods lining the entire floor. They walk for a bit among the pods. Marty's unconscious body is visible in one of them.
Gwen: It's like everyone in Retirement Village has been podded up!
Ben looks to another pod and sees-
Ben: Grandpa!
He tugs on the pod and it cracks open. Max's body falls out and comes to.
Max: Huh, I was out for a walk, and then…can't remember what happened next.
Ben reaches for another pod.
Fake Vera: I wouldn't do that if I were you…!
The three remaining fake elders advance on the three Tennysons.
Ben: Well, you're not me!
Fake Marty: Not yet, I'm not!
Marty and the others morph into their true selves, green liquid aliens with orange eyes and pink internal organs, known as Limax.
Max: You can fill me in later!
The three Tennysons back up while Xoruxshy stands her ground, fists clenched.. Gwen accidentally touches the back of the ship with her hand and "activates" it, revealing a doorway to more pods loaded onboard.
Gwen: Look what's back here!
Max: Their ship!
Limax #1: They found it! We can't let them out!
Limax #2: Get the pods on board, they've been marinating long enough!
Max: "Marinating"?
Gwen looks inside the ship and sees Vera inside one of the pods on a wall.
Gwen: They've got Aunt Vera!
Xoruxshy: (growls audibly, causing everyone to turn to her in shock) Now I know what you are. You're the Limax. A race known for feeding on old people across all the known galaxies. And I know why you chose this place. It's the heat. Your species thrives off of it. It gets too cold and you shrivel up and turn into dust. But unluckily for you, you picked the wrong planet to harvest from. Do you know why?
Limax #1: Why?
Xoruxshy: (blue flames start to lick at her feet, producing no heat) Because you have attacked a protected planet. By the Order of the Shadow Proclamation, that gives me full authority to go all out on you.
Persona 5 Awakening Theme Plays
Infinite: (voiceover) So, you're unleashing your full power? Very well. I am thou… Thou art I… Show these fools that your power is truly limitless!
Xoruxshy: (Phantom Thief Mask appears over her face) I hear you. (Pulls at the mask) HARD… (Blood spurts as the mask peels off slightly) DRIVE… (Blood erupts as the mask is pulled off completely) DIVINITY! (The blood turns into red flames as Xoruxshy is consumed by them before revealing her in her 19-year old Phantom Thief HDD form, Digital Mirage 3.0 NEO Keyblade in hand, as well as a huge Venus Flower shield with bladed edges) I am the Maestro, and your song is ending! Now, Ben!
Ben turns on the Omnitrix and selects Heatblast.
Ben: You guys really burn me up! (He slams the dial and turns into Heatblast.)
Heatblast: Now, I'm going to return the favor!
Heatblast, knowing that they thrive on heat, but water is their fatal weakness, unleashes a wave of fire on the Limax. Instead of being damaged, they are unaffected, and instead grow into one big combined alien and speak in one voice.
Giant Limax: Whatever you are, you just made a terrible mistake. Us Limaxes live for the heat! Why do you think we came to the desert in the summer?
Heatblast: I knew that. I just wanted to get you all together in one group and make you a bigger target. Now, Mobius Heart!
Xoruxshy: Right! Take this! Digital Blizzard!
This causes the Limax to shrivel into a tiny puddle, before evaporating entirely. Emptying the ship of the pods, the heroes hear the ship start to make a whirring noise, indicating it's about to take off.
Max: Sorry, there's no drive-through service here!
The ship takes off, unknowingly having had a bomb planted by Xoruxshy set to go off once outside of the solar system. The Tennysons and Xoruxshy are now in an empty room, surrounded by the entire population of Retirement Village.
Max: …We should put them all back in their condos, so they'll think they never left.
Gwen: (Gwen sits against a pod.) That could take hours.
Heatblast: Gimme a few minutes, I'll see if XLR8 can help out.
The next morning is the end of the weekend. Max hugs Vera goodbye.
Vera: Don't be strangers!
Max: We won't.
Gwen: Bye Aunt Vera!
Vera: Bye dear- Oh, this is for the road! (She hands Gwen a green mold of hers in a glass container.) Ben told me how much you liked my gelatin mold. This one's lime with chunks of grouper and chick peas!
Ben smiles to himself as Gwen is forced to put on a smile.
Gwen: Uhh, thanks.
She hugs Vera and takes it to the Rust Bucket, leaving only Ben to say goodbye.
Vera: I'm sorry, Ben, if there wasn't enough excitement here for you. I hope you weren't bored to tears!
Ben: Actually, it turned out better than I thought!
Vera: I'm glad. Well, have fun on the road!
Ben: I will! (He hugs her and hops on the Rust Bucket.)
Vera: Oh, and Ben? Keep up the good work, dealing with all those aliens you were telling me about!
Ben: You're - kidding…right?
Vera: (She laughs.) Of course, dear!
As the Rust Bucket leaves the desert, it passes the giant hole the Limax spaceship left. Down it, and back through the caverns, the Limax that impersonated Max crawls out of buried rocks and slowly creeps along the tunnel floor…
