Author's Note.

So, now they are finally in Playcare. Could they meet new friends? New enemies? Or ones that aren't exactly human? So, leave a review, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

Chapter 9

Home Sweet Home

They turned a few times until they were in what looked like a large factory with three, huge glass tubes connected to a machine, one of them with red smoke inside.

"Welcome to the Gas Production Zone", said Ollie. "The beating heart of the whole evil Playcare system. All that gas you see coming from that machine is made right here in the factory. It's called 'the Red Smoke'".

"Not the most creative name" said Gwen.

"Right now, it's all headed off to the right", said Ollie. "We need to make that red smoke go left instead. That's how we can get to him".

"Him?" Wondered Ben.

"The machine probably has a few dumb safeguards for you to work around", said Ollie. "But I think you can do it. I'll call you once it's done". Ollie then hung up.

"Well, that helped NOT AT ALL!" Shouted Ben.

"I still don't trust Ollie" added Gwen.

"I don't see any other choice", said Max. "We either accept Ollie's help, or run around like headless chickens". Ben and Gwen looked at each other, they knew Max was right. They didn't like it, but he was right.

"If this is anything like the last few things", said Max. "There are probably batteries around here".

"I can make this easier" said Ben before fiddling with the Omnitrix and slamming the dial down and turned into Ditto.

Ditto then split into 6 copies of himself.

"Alright, I say we split up", said Ditto 1. "Two mes with Gwen, two with Grandpa and the last two on their own".

"Huh, that's not a bad idea, Ben" said Gwen.

"Heh, I'm full of good ideas" said Ditto 5. The group then split up.

5 minutes later.

Max, along with Dittos 3 and 4 had found the first battery. It was located into in a room with a large hatch on the floor.

"Alright, we got one" said Ditto 3.

"Let's get this into a slot" added Ditto 4. The two of them then grabbed the battery and headed towards one of the slots by the door. They shoved it in and the door rolled up and Gwen and the other Dittos arrived.

"Wonder what's in here?" Asked Ditto 4.

"Only one way to find out" answered Ditto 2.

They walked inside and saw that it was a narrow corridor with something at the end. Ditto 1 then saw a VHS on the floor.

"Hey look", said Ditto 1. "Another one of those VHS tapes".

"Wonder what's on this one?" Asked Ditto 5.

"Play it and see" said Ditto 6. Ditto 1 placed the VHS into the player and it turned on. It showed the 'Grab Pack 2.0'. It had upgraded version of the original Grab Pack. It had:

Longer wires.

The ability to swap hands.

Air Jets to help slow falls.

"Well, that sounds like an upgrade" said Ditto 1. Max then took off the old Grab Pack and wore the new one.

"Check it out", said Ditto 3. "We got a new purple hand". Max looked at the Grab Pack and saw that there WAS a purple hand attached to the Grab Pack.

"Well, we lost the red hand when we first met Mommy Longlegs", said Gwen. "So, maybe this is a replacement?".

"But, who would leave a Grab Pack here?" Wondered Gwen.

"Here's another question", said Ditto 3. "What does this hand even do?"

As they retraced their steps, they saw a large, hand print on a panel on the floor. He then fired the purple hand at the panel and he was hurled into the air before coming back down.

"Well, at least we know what hand does now" said Max.

After jumping over rivers of liquid poppy gas and solving some complex circuits, they managed to turn the power on to the main machine of the Gas production zone.

"That should do it" said Max. He then pressed the button and the process started. However, the power cut out.

"What the heck happened?" Wondered Ditto 1. The phone then rang and Max answered it.

"Oh-no", said Ollie. "Someone killed the power".

"Thanks for the bulletin captain obvious" said Ditto 3.

"I sent you another key", said Ollie. "It's under the statue".

"And that key leads where?" Asked Gwen.

"Home sweet home", answered Ollie. "Get in there, and find the building's backup generator. Good luck". Ollie then hung up.

"Okay, back to the statue" said Max. They then walked out of the Gas Production Zone, back to under the statue and grabbed the key.

"Hey, check that out" said Ditto 3. They then saw that one of the machines in the room had been smashed.

"Looks like Catnap's been busy" said Max.

"Then l suggest we get going" said Gwen. Ditto 1 then turned to his clones.

"Alright, split-up," said Ditto 1. "See if you guys can find anything." The other Dittos gave a salute before heading out. Max, Gwen and Ditto 1 then headed towards Home Sweet Home.

"This place is creepier then that school you tried to get into" said Ditto 1.

"Not funny, Ben" said Gwen. Max then placed the key in the lock, turned it and a click was heard. Max then pushed open the doors. The interior looked like a house from the 60's and was now in disrepair. The three of them then walked in and saw some stairs.

"Down we go" said Gwen. The three of them then walked down the stairs. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, they saw a hallway that ended in a door.

"Well, this isn't suspicious" said Ditto 1. He then heard the sound of the Omnitrix beeping. His watch was about to time out. And since his clones weren't around.

"Oh-no" sighed Ditto 1. The other 5 Dittos came flying towards him. They then merged back together, but the force sent Ditto and Max straight through the door, right into a room full of red poppy gas.

"Ben! Grandpa!" Shouted Gwen in worry. A hand then came through the window and pulled Gwen out. Gwen struggled and tried to get out.

"Hey! Let me go!" Shouted Gwen. The figure then placed a finger on Gwen's mouth and then held out it's hand. In it, were three gas masks.