Digital Nexus Book 3: The Ben 10 Code: Chapter 5 - Hunted
Vilgax's ship, the Chimeran Hammer, continues to orbit the Earth. Inside the ship, on a levitating platform, three spotlights shine on three bounty hunters. The first is thin with purple and black armor; the second resembles a robotic half-human/half-crustacean; the third wears bulky gray armor and has a pillbug-like shell covering their face.
Vilgax (VO): Begin the audition.
The first immediately fires up a jetpack and lands in a circle of basic flying drones. He pulls a small blaster from a compartment on his joint and shoots a few down. A few fire back; he rolls out of the way and fires small rockets from his wrist in retaliation. He pulls a grenade out of another compartment for another cluster of drones. The second bounty hunter jumps down to join, pounding one on his way down, grabbing another with a massive claw and using them as a projectile against another. Two more of the drones rush him; he catches one with his claw and pulls out a sword to split the other in two. A platform opens up on the ceiling and a gigantic attack droid falls to the floor, ready to fire at the two. Now the turn of the third hunter, who deploys a hoverboard and rides it right into the droid's laser blast. When the smoke clears, he is completely unharmed. Without a moment to lose, he flies into the droid's chest and punches right through it. He folds his hoverboard back up as flaming robot pieces fall to the ground. A video screen of Vilgax in his recovery tank appears inside the room.
Vilgax: (labored) Impressive. You are all hired. Your objective - is to retrieve the Omnitrixes. (He shows them a picture of the watch.) The one who succeeds collects the reward. Do not disappoint me.
Three pods jettison from Vilgax's ship and fall to Earth.
On Earth, Max is constructing a small target practice structure of strung up tires and soda cans.
Max: (to Xoruxshy) So, do you want to tell me what we just saw back at Vera's retirement home? Something about "Hard Drive Divinity" and "the Maestro"?
Xoruxshy: (sighs) Well, me and IF are basically CPUs, or Console Patron Units. Another term for this is Goddess, since they are all female. I am a main CPU, while IF is a CPU Candidate. We get our powers from Shares, or the people's faith in us. For me and IF, we get our powers from an entire planet's faith, besides one or two very evil people, one of which is Dr. Eggman, or Ivo Robotnik. He was originally from here, before he was sent to Mobius through unknown means. Anyway, my Hard Drive Divinity is where I transform from my mortal form, into my CPU form, or Phantom Thief form. Of course, as you might no doubt have seen, it can cause changes in the CPU's form or personality, be it slightly or drastically. For my case, I become basically an adult in maturity, with a penchant for chasing after perverts with a mallet. In others, it can cause a lazy gamer to become extremely responsible, or an even lazier kid to become an extremely sadistic exhibitionist adult (Plutia). As for the Maestro bit, on top of being a Mobian and a CPU, I'm also a Time Lady, as shown by my TARDIS, and with that comes a title, mine is the Maestro, chosen for how I was said to have been Loomed. Of course, I don't remember that life.
Max has finished the structure.
Max: Anyway, thanks for telling me. It makes it a heck of a lot easier to trust you.
Xoruxshy: No problem. But, when are you going to tell Ben and Gwen the truth?
Max: I can't get anything past you, huh… Hopefully, by the time we get to Mount Rushmore. (shouting to Ben.) Hey, Ben, training time!
Minutes later, Ben is inside the structure.
Max: You ready?
Ben smirks and slams down on the Omnitrix, transforming into Diamondhead.
Diamondhead: Oh yeah.
Max: Remember to think out there, Ben. Don't just try to muscle it. "Might isn't always right"!
Diamondhead: I know, but it's always fun! (He forms his hand into a spiked stump.)
Max pulls a lever, sending six cans flying in the air. Diamondhead spins around and fires six crystals, piercing each one. Max makes target boards lower behind Diamondhead, who spins around and shoots them. Diamondhead has restless fingers and excitedly shoots cans from behind his back and a target cactus in front. He somersaults and nails some pull-up targets a fair distance away. He morphs his spikes back into his hand and blows on his "hot" finger. Gwen watches him from a lounge chair, applying sunscreen.
Gwen: Show-off…
Max: Focus, Ben. Think!
Diamondhead: Don't worry, Grandpa.
Some cans come flying at him. He bobs out of the way and shoots them behind his back, but doesn't notice a tire swinging towards him. It beans Diamondhead in the face, knocking him back and causing him to shoot crystals everywhere. Max takes cover behind Xoruxshy who puts up a Reflect spell on instinct. Gwen screams and hides as the crystals hit her chair and sunscreen bottle. As she starts crawling out from under a table, the leaking sunscreen lands on her head.
Gwen: (angry) Urrgh!
Diamondhead: (getting up; laughing relievedly) Oops, my bad.
As they drive away in the Rust Bucket,
Gwen: You rock-head, you almost turned me into Swiss cheese!
Xoruxshy: And if I hadn't put up that Reflect spell, I would've been forced to regenerate, and Max would've died!
Ben: I said I was sorry. What else do you want?
Max: What we want is for you to take that thing on your wrist more seriously, Ben. It's not a toy. You've got to think when you use it.
Ben: I know, but come oooon! You guys have seen me in action. I'm the baddest Ben in town! I've kicked so much alien butt, my feet hurt! (He puts his feet on the table.)
Gwen: (pushing them off) Yeah, well, one of these days, you're gonna screw around and get your own butt kicked, and I hope I'm there to see it!
Ben: Dream on, geek face!
The Rust Bucket starts sputtering and slowing down on the road.
Max: Uh oh, that doesn't sound good.
Meanwhile, the hoverboard hunter monitors a tracker that has led him to Max's target-practice structure.
Hoverboard: This is where one of the Omnitrixes was last activated.
The two other hunters, SixSix and Kraab, watch him from a cliff.
SixSix: (He speaks to Kraab in an alien language (unintelligible to us), then flies over to the structure with his jetpack.)
Kraab: You can say that again. A rock pile like this is better off space dust!
Hoverboard continues tracking inside the structure, until his tracker points to a can impaled with crystal. Just as he reaches for it, SixSix snatches it with an extendable grabbing appendage. He tries inspecting it first, but Hoverboard grabs the appendage and tugs it clean off. The angered SixSix entends six more armed appendages; Hoverboard puts his hand on his gun.
SixSix: (alien language)
Kraab: Whoah! Big talk from a 'gearhead'!
Hoverboard: (getting up in SixSix's face) Get in my way again, and I'll teach you how to say "dismantled".
SixSix backs down, sheathing his appendages, fold out wrist rockets, and an extra arm.
SixSix: (alien language; cursing)
He flies away. Hoverboard lets go of his gun and walks away. Kraab leaps up and spins his four legs very fast, acting like a drill and burrowing into the ground. Hoverboard's foot trips a cord and targets rise from the ground. He spins around and shoots the structure with his gun, destroying it in a giant explosion. He rides away.
Max managed to park the Rust Bucket in a ghost town.
Ben: Huh, looks like nobody's home.
Gwen: Not for a while. My IntelliMap program says this is Slaterville. Incorporated in 1857 after the discovery of silver. Went bust in the late '50s when the mine ran out.
Ben: Why does everything out of your mouth sound like a book report? (Gwen scowls at him.)
Max: Aha!
Max takes his head out of the RV's hood.
Max: I think I found the problem. (He holds up a dripping tube with a crystal shard running through it.) Leaky fuel line.
Ben: (smiling sheepishly) Uh…'lucky shot'?
Max: I should be able to patch it up.
Ben: Sorry, Grandpa. Let me help! (turning the Omnitrix dial) Maybe Four Arms. No, wait, Upgrade!
Max: I think you've done enough Ben. Xoruxshy, you said your brother Tails was a mechanic and engineer, right?
Xoruxshy: Yes sir. Best one on Mobius too.
Max: Do you think you could get him to come over here?
Xoruxshy: Yes sir. (Contacts Tails on a rectangular yellow device)
Tails: Yeah, sis?
Xoruxshy: Hey, bro. So, Max Tennyson has a leaky fuel line, and I was wondering if you could help him repair it and find any other issues with the RV that may have been caused by certain issues.
Tails: Yeah, just let me grab Sundae and my kit.
Xoruxshy: About that, why haven't you changed Sonic back yet?
Tails: Funnily enough, he confided in me that he always felt like a girl trapped in a guy's body. So, now she's perfectly fine with who she is. Helps that she's easy on the eyes, too.
Xoruxshy: Okay, bro, enough about your sex life. Anyway, Ben wandered off, so I'm gonna go with Gwen to figure out where he went and make sure he doesn't somehow blow everything up. In the meantime, after you finish up with Max, can you investigate any sightings of Eggman, or connections between him and one Aloysius Animo?
Tails: Sure.
Ben strolls into an empty warehouse.
Ben: Oh, talk about old school. Look at all this junk! (He picks up an old wrench.)
Gwen: (from outside) BEN? BEEEN?
Ben peers outside and sees Gwen walk past the warehouse with Xoruxshy. He gets a devilish smile and starts turning on the Omnitrix. A flash of green shoots out of the tall warehouse entrance. Gwen spots it and frowns before tapping Xoruxshy's shoulder and motioning to the flash's direction.
A tracker suddenly gets a bead on location. It's on SixSix's hand. He studies it before flying away in that direction.
Gwen stands at the entrance of the warehouse with Xoruxshy. The inside is darker.
Gwen: CALLING ALL DWEEBS!
No response. She worryingly walks in followed by Xoruxshy. As they pass by, a creepy shadow follows after them. As it reaches them, it passes through them, causing Gwen to shiver and for Xoruxshy's fur to stand on end.
Ghostfreak: (appearing in front of them) What's the matter, guys? You look like you've seen a Ghost - freak! (cackling)
Gwen: Get over yourself, doofus. You don't scare me.
The ground suddenly starts to tremble. Something underneath starts heading straight for the two. Ghostfreak pulls Gwen away before it hits, while Xoruxshy backflips away from the thing. Kraab emerges from the ground and walks menacingly towards them.
Gwen: But he does! (gasps)
The bounty hunter advances on them.
Ghostfreak: No problem, Xoruxshy and I'll handle this guy. (He flies up to Kraab.) Oh man… You put the 'ug' in 'ugly'!
Kraab: Hand over the Omnitrixes and I promise you won't suffer - much. (He pinches his metal claw.)
Ghostfreak: Dream on, 'claw-boy'.
Ghostfreak moves his eye along the cracks in his body, so he can talk to Gwen behind him.
Ghostfreak: What's he talking about?
Gwen: Duh? Why else would some alien track you down? It wants the watches, Einstein!
Ghostfreak: You don't have to get snotty about it, Ms. Know-It-All. (to Kraab) Sorry 'crabby', the watch and I are kind of - attached.
Xoruxshy: And trust me, he tried. The first time was with a branch, and then the second time was with his teeth. Almost ripped his whole arm off too.
Kraab: (winces) Ooh… That's not pleasant… Well, it won't be attached for long. And then I'll grab yours, too, little Mobian. (Another pinch of his claw.)
Ghostfreak: You have no idea who you're messing with.
Kraab: I was just about to say the same thing.
Ghostfreak: Oh, yeah? Do you know this one? "Now you see me, now you don't"!
Ghostfreak disappears; Kraab only sees Gwen behind him, who laughs nervously and runs away. Kraab steps back and carefully looks around him. Ghostfreak tries to sneak up behind him, but Kraab's head spins around.
Kraab: You're as arrogant as you are dim-witted!
His thermographic vision is able to detect Ghostfreak. Kraab faces him and fires from his large claw an orange liquid. As it lands on Ghostfreak, it uncloaks him.
Ghostfreak: Blech! What happened?!
Kraab: Your protoplasm is now solidified, making it easier to do - THIS!
He punches Ghostfreak into a wall, but somehow is teleported to a grassy field in front of Xoruxshy, who is wielding her Keyblade, Phantom Ruby glowing brightly.
Kraab: What is this?
Xoruxshy: You triggered my trap card. Illusion of Blinding Radiance!
A sphere envelops Kraab in blinding, radiant light so intense that it overwhelms his senses, creating a burning sensation that causes him to scream in pain before breaking out of it to see his armor sizzling like it was real, but he's back in the warehouse where Xoruxshy is out of it from using too much mana. Using this to his advantage, Kraab advances and punches her to the other side of the warehouse, followed by Ghostfreak who tries to tackle Kraab. Gwen runs over to help them up.
Ghostfreak: Oh, man. (to Gwen) Who is this guy?
Xoruxshy: I hate bounty hunters…
Gwen: Remember when I said I wanted to be there when you finally got your butt kicked? I take it waaaay back! (Kraab catches up to them.) You're the super guy, do something!
Ghostfreak: (flying up to Kraab) You better keep your claws to yourself-
Kraab opens his big claw and shoots an electric blast.
Ghostfreak: AAGH!
Ghostfreak goes flying back. Gwen watches as Kraab walks up to him and stands tall on a platform. Ghostfreak struggles to get up.
Kraab: Hardly worth the hunt… Your Mobian friend is more of a challenge than you are, even without using her Omnitrix…
Gwen suddenly spots a switch box behind the two, connected to the platform. She gets an idea.
Gwen: BEN, GIVE HIM A LIFT!
Ghostfreak spins around, notices the switch box, and pulls the lever. Kraab's platform suddenly shoots up towards the ceiling, squishing him against it. Gwen runs over to Ghostfreak as he detransforms.
Gwen: Ben, you okay?
Ben: Oh, man… That was even weirder than when I normally go Ghostfreak. How about you Xoruxshy?
Xoruxshy: I think my mana has recovered enough for me to keep going. I might have a few bumps and bruises, but I should be fine.
Gwen: Come on. Let's get out of here before 'crab cake' wakes up.
The kids run out of the warehouse as Kraab's still-crushed body twitches. Unbeknownst to them, the bounty hunter with the hoverboard was inside, watching them.
They run back to Max, Tails, and Sundae at the Rust Bucket, who have been joined by Ratchet, Clank, and IF.
Max: What happened?
Gwen: You know, the usual. Some jumbo-sized crustacean burst out of the ground and attacked Ben. It said it wanted the watch, only it kept calling it the "Omnitrix"...
Ben: (smiling) Just let me go Four Arms, and I'll turn him into a seafood special!
Max: No time. Repairs are done. We're out of here.
Ben: But Grandpa-!
Max: No arguing.
The Rust Bucket pulls out and heads back on the road.
Gwen: (looking out the window) No sign of 'crab guy' yet!
Xoruxshy: Good. I think he might have a counter for each of Ben's aliens that we know of.
Ben: He better not show up if he knows what's good for him-!
They suddenly feel a rumble on the roof. A circular saw blade starts cutting open the ceiling.
Gwen: I think we just picked up a hitchhiker!
SixSix tears open the ceiling and peers inside; Ben and Gwen scream, while Xoruxshy, Tails, Sundae and the other Interdimensional Freedom Fighters get ready for a confrontation.
Gwen: Who's that?!
Ben: Beats me!
SixSix starts reaching for Ben and Xoruxshy. Max slams the brakes, causing SixSix to fall off in front of the RV. Max confidently hits the gas, running over him. But his smile fades as the RV comes to a stop right after. He gets out and sees the tires are all deflated, having been covered with spikes. SixSix starts getting up. Quickly searching for some cover, Max points to a mine entrance.
Max: In there!
The Interdimensional Freedom Fighters (IFF) run in, followed by Ben, Gwen, and Max. Before SixSix can chase them, tremors interrupt him. Their source, Kraab, erupts from the ground.
Kraab: Remember me?! (He slams down on SixSix.)
Inside the abandoned mine, the Tennysons turn a corner and stop to catch their breath while the IFF waits for them. Ben slowly peers around the corner. He can see the outside; no one is at the entrance.
Ben: Whew, the coast is clear!
Kraab then bursts out of the ground in front of them.
Gwen: Don't you get tired of being wrong all the time?!
Kraab: The Omnitrixes! Give them to me!
Max throws a nearby piece of metal at Kraab, who crushes it instantly with his claw. The Tennysons run away with the IFF, but not before Xoruxshy launches a Chaos Spear at him, pushing him back a little.
Ben: (tapping the Omnitrix) Come on, do something. Anything!
They avoid Kraab bashing into a wall. The tunnel they run through empties out into an open chasm, trapping them on one side.
Gwen: (gasps) Now what?
Max: (Max looks around and spots a cable car.) We "take a ride".
Ben and Gwen jump in, while Max starts the car by pulling a lever. Sundae, Xoruxshy, IF, and Ratchet with Clank on his back grind on top of the cable. Kraab has nearly caught up to them, but Max manages to get the car going and leap across the gap to catch it himself.
Kraab: What a pathetic excuse for prey!
Kraab prepares to cut the cable with his claw, but is shot backward by SixSix. SixSix flies after the car, shooting at it and knocking the Tennysons around. Gwen peers above the car and sees SixSix gaining on them.
Gwen: We got company, closing in fast!
Max: We need a plan.
Ben: (Ben finally manages to turn on the Omnitrix.) Yes! Who needs a plan, when you have the watch? I'll take care of this! (slamming it down)
Max: No, Ben. That's just what it wants!
Ben turns into Diamondhead and leaps out of the car, grappling SixSix and causing them to plummet down the chasm.
Max: (looking down) Ben!
Xoruxshy: You dummy!
The two fly back up and into the wall on the other side of the chasm. The cable car continues through a tunnel.
Max: Ben, come on!
Diamondhead: (getting up) I'll catch up. First, I've got to put some dents in this walking soda machine!
Xoruxshy: I'll look after him. (Jumps off the cable and hovers down using her tails)
Diamondhead prepares to attack, but Kraab grabs him from behind and throws him into a wall while pinning Xoruxshy down with his claw. Diamondhead leaps at the two bounty hunters but is unable to defend against both of their attacks, and Kraab throws him to the wall and on the ground again. SixSix starts walking to him, but Kraab holds him back, while holding on to Xoruxshy with his other claw.
Kraab: Back off! That reward's mine.
SixSix: (alien language)
Kraab: Well, you don't have to get personal-!
A metal ball falls to the ground at their feet and releases a gas that knocks the two of them out, dropping Xoruxshy to the ground in the process, allowing her to breathe in fresh oxygen. A few feet away from them is Hoverboard, who fired the grenade. He flies over to Diamondhead, picking him up by his back spike before picking up Xoruxshy who is still catching her breath and carrying them out of the tunnel.
Once they come out of the tunnel and back into Slaterville, he throws Diamondhead to the ground.
Hoverboard: Billions of beings on this planet, and the original Omnitrix winds up on the wrist of a foolhardy youth, while somehow a Mobian obtains a copy of the same device, while barely using it.
Xoruxshy: Hey, I earned this thing. And I made sure to lock off other transformations until I'd mastered the one I was using first. Second, I barely use it because of all the other abilities at my disposal.
Diamondhead: And like I told your buddies, this thing doesn't come off. I've tried.
Hoverboard: Of COURSE it doesn't. Its power utilizes alien DNA, which binds to the host's own genetic structure. It cannot simply be removed like - taking off a hat…
Diamondhead sneakily readies a blade and rushes to attack him. Hoverboard, with his back turned, expertly dodges and counterattacks.
Hoverboard: Your choice of warriors is based SOLELY on brute strength, without regard for any strategy. Do you ever pause to consider your actions at all? And you, Mobian. I'll get back to you.
Diamondhead: Hey! I kick more than my share of alien and Heartless butt!
Hoverboard: Such as your recent success in the mine shaft with the bounty hunters.
Diamondhead: Honestly, you've got me there. I mean, Xoruxshy is a self-trained Keyblade Wielder/CPU Goddess and she couldn't get the jump on them. But still!
Diamondhead attacks again; the bounty hunter avoids and counterattacks as he talks:
Hoverboard: You were moments away from losing your life (block) - and the Omnitrix. (shove) Victory should've been swift (block) and effortless. (He pushes him to the ground.) The Omnitrix is not some toy for your amusement. It's the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. The key to an epic battle between good and evil.
Diamondhead: Then whose side are you on?
Hoverboard: …You're still alive, aren't you?
Diamondhead: You're a good guy?!
Hoverboard: My mission is to retrieve the Omnitrixes at all costs. Since they are attached to you two, I will bring you back for its removal.
Diamondhead: Oh, no. I'm not going anywhere.
Hoverboard: It's not your choice, either of yours.
Diamondhead: It is now…!
Diamondhead tackles him, causing him to drop his folded-up hoverboard, as Xoruxshy glitches out of visible sight with the power of the Phantom Ruby. Hoverboard grabs Diamondhead by the face and throws him off, and gets back up, shooting a crystal in a seemingly random direction, piercing Xoruxshy's clothes and pinning her to the wall, while all canceling her illusion.
Hoverboard: It's disturbing how little you know of this alien's strengths and weaknesses. You barely scratched the surface of its potential!
Diamondhead: (slowly getting up) Yeah? So what makes you such an expert?
Hoverboard's helmet slides open and reveals a face almost identical to Diamondhead's; although his crystals have a more blueish hue and he has green eyes. This is another member of Diamondhead's species (whose real name is Tetrax)!
Diamondhead: You're…me!
Tetrax: Wrong. I am a noble warrior, you are an impulsive annoyance!
(The Omnitrix times out.)
Tetrax: We have wasted enough time. (He picks Ben up and pulls Xoruxshy off the wall)
Ben: Hey! Let me dooown!
Tetrax looks for the dropped hoverboard, but it's disappeared. Kraab suddenly walks out from behind a building, hoverboard in hand.
Kraab: Looking for THIS?! You're not getting off this planet with the Omnitrix, and just to be sure…
SixSix appears, holding Gwen, Max, and the IFF.
Max: Hands off!
Gwen: Let me go!
Sundae: Get your freaking tentacles off my ass, you pervert!
Kraab: See, we've decided to work together! And split the reward - and you, in half!
He clamps his claw; Ben is slack-jawed. The two groups stand off in the setting sun. Tetrax continues to hold Ben, while SixSix holds weapons to Max, Gwen, and the IFF's faces… Kraab makes the first move, shooting beams at Tetrax. He blocks them with his back, shielding Ben. He flees into a house and drops Ben and Xoruxshy inside, who looks up to see Tetrax shielding against Kraab's heavy fire by simply standing.
SixSix: (alien language)
Kraab: Don't blow a gasket, 'metal-mouth', I know what I'm doing!
Ben: What are we waiting for? We've gotta save them!
Tetrax: (lifting Ben and Xoruxshy by their clothes) Don't be foolish. Keeping the Omnitrixes secure is the only priority here.
Ben: Not to me and Xoruxshy. Those are our friends and family!
Tetrax: You cannot save them. You would soon be overpowered and captured. The obvious choice is for me to retrieve my hoverboard, so that we may leave the planet.
Ben: But-
Tetrax: Stay here.
Xoruxshy: Bullshit. You haven't seen half of what I can do. I want payback for what SixSix did to my friends. So… (Vanishes from Tetrax's grip)
Tetrax: Stubborn child…
Tetrax puts Ben down and runs out the door. He leaps through the smoke of Kraab's fire and fires crystals of his own. They pierce right through SixSix's body, staggering him to the ground, causing him to let go of the IFF. As Kraab sees this and turns around, Tetrax has already run up to him. He leaps over an attack and snatches the hoverboard out of Kraab's hands. He opens it and flies away, dodging blasts from the now-recovered SixSix, who is also fending off attacks from Tails, Sundae, and Xoruxshy. He circles back and leaps off the board, landing on SixSix and causing a massive cloud to push back Kraab, Max, Gwen, and the IFF. Tetrax picks SixSix out of a small crater and punches him back. SixSix shoots a rocket from his wrist; Tetrax forms a diamond construct to shield it. Kraab appears and swings at him, but Tetrax grabs him and throws him.
Kraab lands a few feet from the house where Ben is in. Ben sees him and looks at the Omnitrix, now recharged.
Ben: Alright, hero time!
Kraab looks up and sees Ben flee back into the house. He crawls in while SixSix keeps Tetrax busy and the IFF distracted. Ben hides behind a table and turns on the Omnitrix. The dial first lands on Four Arms. Ben pauses, and thinks back.
Max: Remember to think out there, Ben. Don't just try to muscle it. "Might isn't always right"!
The bounty hunters overpower Diamondhead in the mines.
Tetrax: Your choice of warriors is based SOLELY on brute strength, without regard for any strategy. Do you ever pause to consider your actions at all?
Xoruxshy: That bounty hunter seems to have a counter for all your known aliens.
Ben turns the dial past Ghostfreak, XLR8, and Upgrade. He picks his alien and transforms. The flash of light alerts Kraab, who smashes the table and finds nothing. As he roots around in the rubble, Grey Matter spies him from the ceiling. He leaps on to Kraab's head, causing him to shuffle around, clawing at his head.
Kraab: GET - OFF - ME, YOU TINY LITTLE…!
Grey Matter slips down into Kraab's neck and roots around in the electronics underneath.
Grey Matter: There should be a nerve cluster in here somewhere. (He finds some wires and rips them out.)
Kraab: (stumbling out of the house; yelling out in pain)
Grey Matter eventually rips a wire that causes Kraab's entire head to spin around. He comes to a stop…and falls to the ground, completely out of commission.
Grey Matter: (jumping out) One down!
Tetrax and SixSix are brawling; SixSix grabs Tetrax and uses his jetpack to fly him up in the air and suplex him into the ground.
Grey Matter: (noticing; gasps)
SixSix spots Grey Matter and aims his wrist-rockets at him. Max quickly jumps on SixSix's back to throw his aim off.
Max: Ben! Run!
SixSix throws Max to the ground and starts menacingly spinning his circular saw close to his face, only for Sundae to use her superspeed to swipe Max from his grip.
Grey Matter: (hopping on SixSix's shoulder) Guess who?
Tetrax gets up and sees SixSix fumbling with Grey Matter on him.
Tetrax: I told you to stay out of my way!
Xoruxshy: Oh, hush already and let him think.
Grey Matter: Wonder what would happen if I did this! (rips wires in SixSix's armor)
SixSix's jetpack goes haywire and takes off, flying him in several directions and slamming into the supports of a water tower. SixSix eventually dives to the ground, the thrust of the jetpack dragging him across it. He finally stops right in front of Kraab, still on the floor. Grey Matter notices the water tower's supports failing and the tower starting to teeter.
Kraab: (as Grey Matter runs over his body) I hate this planet…
The tower comes crashing down on Kraab and SixSix's bodies and bursts open with water.
Grey Matter: (to Tetrax) Only one way to beat the desert heat, don't you think…?
Tetrax: Pretty smart…for a human. (Grey Matter nods.)
Tetrax uses a device to deploy a small flying cube. It travels to where Kraab and SixSix are laying, grows to engulf them, then shrinks back to its original size, and them along with it. Grey Matter times out as Tetrax places the cube in his pocket.
Tetrax: I'll return as soon as I am able, which won't be very long, as the Mobian and I have some business to discuss… preferably on that space station outside the planet's orbit.
Ben: What about this? (raising the Omnitrix)
Tetrax: We'll see… I expect you on the space station within the hour, Mobian.
Location: Nexus Station Basilicom
Tetrax: I hope you know that occupying protected territory with an unlicensed space station is against intergalactic law. I should have your station confiscated and stripped. But, as it stands, I am unable to do so due to this. (Punches a metal wall only for it to reform back into shape) What I can't figure out is why it took me contacting Gallifrey to figure out it was here. Thus they ordered me to figure out who was piloting this monstrosity of a time-space anomaly, as they put it, and arrest them for violating their order. Imagine my surprise when it's not possible to do that, due to the fact of the pilot being from a race that supersedes Gallifrey's Time Lord policy. You should know that you are on their radar now, and not even your Gamer abilities will protect you. They will be extremely displeased to know that you have a device that allows you to connect all times and places without messing with the "natural order", as it is heresy to them. As it stands, you will need a really good lawyer, and I suggest you hire the one Galvan who took the lawyer position when the time comes. Until then, (gives his hoverboard to Xoruxshy) give this to Ben. It may be of some use to him in the meantime.
Xoruxshy: So you lied about needing this to get off the planet?
Tetrax: Yep.
Tetrax takes a few steps forward. He pulls out a device from his belt; his helmet slides back over his face; and he presses the device, teleporting him away.
Back with the Tennysons…
Max: You could've warned us that the TARDIS would've taken the entire Rust Bucket with you.
Xoruxshy: That was an accident. Ben, Tetrax wanted you to have this. He lied about needing it to get off the planet.
Ben: Cool!
Gwen: How come you get all the cool alien stuff?
Ben: (proudly) Fits my style.
Gwen: Riiight… I have something for you too!
She pours sunscreen all over his head, getting back at him.
Ben: Ugh! Hey! What'd you do that for?!
Gwen: Wouldn't want that big head of yours to get sunburned.
Back on the Chimeran Hammer, Vilgax and a bioid lieutenant watch a feed of Earth; a speck of light exits the planet and shoots off into space.
Vilgax: Betrayed…
Bioid: Sensors indicate the Omnitrix is not with the mercenaries.
Vilgax: (labored) It would appear the creature who possesses the Omnitrix - is as clever as it is fierce, as is the one wielding the copy. But I shall not be denied.