"...And so after I used the missile launch to shoot Vilgax into his own ship, I thought for sure that would be the last time we'd ever have to deal with him" Max said, having finished his long (long) flashback.
Driving the 'worse for wear' Rustbucket, Max turned his head to see the reactions from his grandkids. Gwen was still giving him suspicious looks, while Ben…
"YOU WERE A SUPERHERO?!" his eyes were practically shining.
"I was just a guy doing his job" Max replied humbly, Gwen arched a brow.
"And that job was?"
Max turned back to the road, old memories resurfacing "We called ourselves the 'Plumbers'. Officially we didn't exist, but we were the ones they called to deal with…unusual problems" he explained.
"Whoa, does that mean I'm like…a Plumber in training?" Ben asked excitedly, a series of conflicting emotions running through Max as he stared at his grandson's eager expression.
"So this means you KNEW about the watch this whole time" Gwen said accusingly, Max nervously refusing to make eye contact.
"J-just rumours and scuttlebutt really" he lied "I had no idea it really existed until it ended up on Ben's wrist"
"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Gwen snarked, causing Max to wince guiltily.
Did he feel bad for lying? Absolutely.
But he'll be damned before he admits to her what part he played in the Chaquetrix's creation.
"What she doesn't know won't hurt me-HER" he thought to himself.
Thankfully for him a convenient distraction arrived in the form of several emergency service vehicles. As the R.V pulled to the side to let them pass, Ben pumped his fist as he held up the Chaquetrix.
"Looks like a job for the Plumbers. Ready to get back to hero work, grandpa?"
Max shook his head "Both the Plumbers, and my days as a 'hero' are long gone"
Frowning Ben slid out the passenger seat and made his way to the back, as Max turned to explain himself he was just in time to see Ben make a dash for the door with his hoverboard.
"Maybe your days are done, but mine are just getting started!"
"Ben, wai-and he's gone" Max sighed, watching through the windshield as Ben sped off after the convoy.
It didn't take long to catch up, the emergency responders stopping outside a large hotel. As Ben brought the hoverboard down behind a fire engine, he crept closer to eavesdrop as the manager explained the issue to the driver.
"T-there's some kind of monster, it's tearing up the place-!"
Ducking back behind the truck, Ben brought up the watch and made his selections. As two bright purple flashes appeared from behind the truck, the hotel staff and emergency crews were both floored as a pair of women stepped into view.
"Is that…a sexy bug lady AND a sexy fish woman?" one of the firefighters asked, the hotel manager gave a flustered shrug in response.
One officer, remembering his job, attempted to step forward "Ex..(cough) Excuse me, ma'am? I…." as the 'heroes' turned to him, the officer realised just how little their 'costumes' actually left to the imagination "I…just want to say good luck" he finished, stiffly stepping while flushing bright red.
"Don't worry people, monster busting is our specialty" Ben called out, flying overhead as the 'heroes' strolled past the stunned crowd.
As Ben held the door open for them, Stingwing gave the crowd one last friendly wave as they slipped inside.
"They seemed nice" Stingwing chirped as the trio made their way into the lobby, taking note of the destroyed furniture and the fountain in the centre.
"Fancy a dip, Ripjaws?" she asked playfully, the aquatic 'hero' smirking in response.
"I could do with a refresher" she smirked back "What do you say, Ben?"
Ben, distracted while keeping an eye out for the 'monster', nodded in agreement "Yeah, sounds like fun"
As the 'heroes' high fived behind him, a snarl echoed through the lobby. Moving instantly to Ben's side the pair got ready to fight when the 'monster' stepped into view.
"Is…is that it?" Stingwing asked, giving Ben an uncertain glance as he also seemed nonplussed.
Ripjaws was less reserved in her opinions "HAHA, This little minnow is the 'monster'? HAH-OUCH!"
The monster, having grown tired of the mockery, launched a piece of rubble at the aquatic 'hero' with enough force to knock her off her feet.
"Ripjaws!" Ben cried out, hurrying to help her stand while Stingwing took to the air.
"Hey, you don't go for a lady's face creep!" letting out a stream of adhesive slime, Stingwing buzzed frustratedly as the tiny terror dodged every shot with surprising speed.
"Ripjaws, are you ok?" Ben asked, letting her lean on him as she pushed herself up.
"(hiss) Ow, I should be ok" she replied, before giving him a sultry grin "But…I do remember XLR8 mentioning something about a 'healing kiss'?~"
Ben fondly rolled his eyes "If you're joking like that you're fine".
"Joking?"
Before Ben could register that comment, Stingwing let out a panicked cry above them. As the pair looked up, they saw Stingwing frantically attempting to pull the 'monster' off her.
"Get. Off. Me-(riiip) Eep!" throwing the creature back to the ground, Stingwing looked down at the new ragged neck line on her suit.
"You handsy little-!" Diving down she attempted to stab it with her stinger, chittering angrily as it once more darted away…into the waiting claws of Ripjaws.
"Not so tough now, are you?" she growled menacingly as it struggled against her grip "So what do we do with it now?"
Spotting a small safe beside the check-in desk, Ben smirked "I think I have an idea"
One (overly aggressive) throw and a few shots of adhesive slime for good luck later, and the 'monster' was securely contained. Making a show of 'dusting' of her hands, Ripjaws grinned at her 'partners'
"You know, after dealing with that Vilgax freak this was a nice change of pace" she admitted, Stingwing gave her a flat stare.
"Says the one that DIDN'T fight him" she snarked, crossing her arms over her chest before wincing.
Ben stepped forward "What's wrong?"
"I think the little jerk caught me with his claws" she let out a sigh, before squeaking as she felt Ben's hand trace along her neckline "B-Ben?!"
"Ah, sorry did that hurt? I don't see anything there" He replied innocently, over his shoulder Ripjaws was giving Stingwing an extremely jealous glare.
Not that she noticed, as Stingwing's attention was entirely focused on her 'partner' "It's not so bad there, but maybe if you check a little lower?~"
Unfortunately for her, this was the moment an energy blast struck her in the side "ACK!" sending the insectoid 'hero' into the check-in desk.
"Stingwing!" while Ben was still reeling from the unexpected attack, Ripjaws let out a pained grunt as a second shot slammed into her back.
Seeing both his 'partners' down, Ben tensed as he turned to face the new threat.
It…was a human?
An older man, though not quite as old as his grandpa, wearing a grey jumpsuit and holding an advanced looking rifle.
"Well I'll be, two more aliens" the man commented, pausing as he got a good look at the downed pair "Definitely easier on the eyes than that Havoc Beast" he leered "Speaking of which.."
Spotting the slime covered safe, shaking as the Havoc Beast tried to claw its way out, the man grinned "Well, ain't this my lucky day?"
"What the heck is your problem?!" Ben snapped, the man jumping in surprise.
"What the-? Where did you come from, kid?" he asked, having missed the young hero thanks to certain…distractions "Nevermind, just stay back" he readied his rifle "I'll wrap this up"
"No you won't!" gripping the deactivated hoverboard like a bat, Ben pulled back and swung low…
Max and Gwen made their way to the hotel doors, having easily slipped past the arguing responders and hotel staff.
"I'm not sure what they're arguing about, but I'm sure Ben had something to do about it" Gwen muttered.
"I know Ben can be…well, Ben. But-" whatever defence Max was about to offer was drowned out by a pained squawk from inside.
"HHHHNNnnnggiii…."
"Ben!" Max threw the doors open "Ben, are you…o…oh no…"
Gwen hid her face in her hands as they saw Ben standing over a man in a grey jumpsuit holding his hoverboard over his head. Behind them, Ripjaws and Stingwing were both surprised (and just maybe a little turned on).
"Ben, what are you doing?!"
"He shot my partners!" Ben snapped back, still holding the board at the ready "I'm not letting him do it again"
"You know when he gets all intense like this…it's pretty hot~" Stingwing stage whispered to her fellow 'hero', Ripjaws nodding in agreement with a 'hungry' look in her eyes.
Gwen gave them a disgusted look "Are we sure we couldn't have let Vilgax take the watch?" she asked Max, who shot her an unamused glare.
A series of beeps and a pair of red flashes later, and Max managed to get a (reluctant) Ben to let the man up "Now, I think it's time we get some answers he-Phil?"
The man's head shot up "Max? Haha! Max it is you!" 'Phil' cheered , as Max pulled him onto his feet and into a hug.
Ben and Gwen shared a confused look "You know this guy, grandpa?"
Smiling while giving Phil a pat on the back, Max turned back to his grandkids "Kids, this is Phil. He was my old partner back during my Plumber days"
"You had a partner?" at Ben's genuine confusion, Gwen rolled her eyes.
"Seriously? Grandpa JUST told us the story about how he and his partner beat Vilgax"
Ben blinked in surprise "Oh. Yeah I was more focused on the whole, 'grandpa was a superhero' part" he shrugged dismissively.
"Anyway" Max cut in "Phil, these are my grandkids Ben & Gwen"
Phil gave Ben a half amused, half irritated look "Your grandson huh? Yeah that tracks, he's got a hell of a swing"
"You SHOT my partners" Ben stared back defiantly.
"Partners? How would you know those ali-" Phil's eyes widened as he spotted the device on Ben's wrist "Is that the Chaquetrix? I thought you were pulling my leg back in the day when you brought it up" Max frantically mimed for him to 'zip it'.
"What do you mean?" Gwen asked, narrowing her eyes at her panicking grandfather "No seriously, what did he mean by that?" Gwen pressed
"Well if Max wasn't pulling my leg, he's the 'inspiration' behind why the Chaquetrix works the way it does" he gave Max a teasing grin "Having it make those..'partners'...was a stroke of genius"
"YOU helped design the watch?/This is YOUR fault?!" Ben/Gwen yelled, Max withering under both Ben's misplaced admiration and Gwen's fury.
"...Say Phil, what were you doing here anyway?" Gwen deadpanned at her grandpa's blatant attempt to change the subject.
"Oh right!" Phil made his way to the still shaking safe "Lucky for these folks I was passing by, this Havoc Beast was causing quite the ruckus" he laughed as Ben frowned.
"I mean, Ripjaws and Stingwing did all the work…" he grumbled while Max 'hmmd' quietly.
"A Havoc Beast? I've not seen one of those since the one WE caught terrorising Denver years ago" he said, Phil simply chuckled as Max helped him lift the safe and bring it out to his car.
"Yeah those were the days. Hey, have you considered getting back to work? We could team up, relive the glory days" Phil asked hopefully.
"No thanks Phil. Like the Plumbers, I'm happily retired" Max replied, politely turning him down.
"Heh, yeah there wasn't much work for us once you took care of ol' squidface. But that seems to be changing these days, I'm actually starting up my own freelance Plumber business" securing the safe in the trunk of his car, Phil gave Max a small smile "What about you Ben? I think you'd make a great Plumber"
"Really?" Ben asked, his enthusiasm tempered by suspicion.
"Sure. Especially with those…'partners' of yours, must be nice having them around"
"Of course it is. They…" Ben began before Max suddenly began to usher him and Gwen away.
"WELL! It's been great to see you again, but right now we've got a Summer vacation to get back to. Happy Plumbing" he cut in, waving goodbye to a confused Phil.
"Why'd you rush us out of there grandpa?" Ben asked, slouching in the passenger seat while Gwen sulked at the table.
"Probably wanted us out of there before Phil brought up any more inconvenient truths. Isn't that right, Mr 'just rumours and scuttlebutt'?" she sniped, Max sheepishly avoiding her gaze.
The drinks holder on the dashboard suddenly flipped over, the screen flickering to life.
"Oh thank god, I'll take anything for a distraction right now" he thought in relief.
"Max" a panicked voice called out, as Phil's face appeared on screen.
"...damn it" Max sighed
"I really hope you're still nearby. There's two Vulpimancers tearing up a meat processing plant, on Highway 44"
"I don't know what a Vulpi-whatever is, but this sounds like a job for some REAL heroes!" Ben smirks, holding up the Chaquetrix while Max pulled a u-turn as they hurried to help.
Arriving at the plant, the Tennysons exited the R.V to find the doors torn from their hinges. A loud, and somewhat familiar, roar echoed from inside as Max cautiously led them inside. As the trio nervously made their way through the empty corridors, eventually making their way to the main factory floor where they found Phil collapsed on the floor.
"Phil!" hurrying to his former partner's side, Max helped him to his feet before a pair of low growls came from the meat locker.
As the four humans backed up, a pair of orange furred beast-like aliens emerged from the freezing mist. Both female, and while their heads may have been more slender they were unmistakably…
"Wait, Vulpimancers are Wild-Gal's species?" Gwen asked in surprise.
Pulling up the watch, Ben began to cycle through "Hey, maybe she can sort this out the easy way"
One flash and explanation later and Wild-Gal approached the larger pair, the three exchanging a series of growls and snarls.
"What do you think they're saying?" Ben whispered, Gwen shrugged back "No idea, but hopefully they'll be willing to leave.
"So you'll leave?" Wild-Gal asked the pair, siblings as it turned out, with them sounding off in confirmation.
"We'll take a few snacks for the road, then we'll go" the first replied, the second's gills however flared as something caught her attention.
"Hmm? That scent…who is the young male?" Wild-Gal tensed up at the question.
"Mine. That's all you need to know" she snarled, the pair scoffed in return.
"So selfish" one snickered. "What, are you afraid that if he has a 'real' mate he'll cast you aside like the runt you are?" the second asked mockingly.
Wild-Gal, in her opinion, handled the situation with professionalism and grace.
"Do you think it's going well-DAMN!" Phil cried out, the four wincing as Wild-Gal launched one of the older aliens into the air with a sudden uppercut.
While her sibling hit the ground a fair distance away, the other Vulpimancer was too stunned to react when Wild-Gal tacked her into the conveyor belt. Wild-Gal was the physical peak for a Vulpimancer…of her size. Once the shock wore off, the large female managed to get her hind legs up to kick her back.
Skidding to a halt next to Ben, Wild-Gal positioned herself protectively in front of him while Gwen watched the older alien warrily.
"So I'm guessing negotiations fell through" she joked, Wild-Gal snorted angrily "Had…no choice" she replied.
"Wait, where's the other one?" Max asked, realising the first Vulpimancer was nowhere in sight.
A vicious roar came from behind the right, as the Vulmpimancer sprinted at them from behind some hanging meat. Max protectively pulled Gwen behind him as it prepared to pounce…only to collapse as Phil pulled a small pronged device out of a suit pouch.
To the Tennysons it sounded like a low hum, but to the three aliens?
"Wild-Gal!" Ben couched by the whispering 'hero's' side as she held her head. Glaring up at Phil, he clenched his fist in frustration "What are you doing to her?!"
"Sorry Ben, but this is the fastest way to take down a Vulpimancer" he explained, noting Max's carefully neutral expression.
"Hmm, lucky for us you had a sonic pitch whistle on you" he commented, Phil shrugged innocently "Hey, it pays to be prepared"
A flash of purple drew their attention, as Ben summoned Crystal Knight to contain the two rogue aliens "Now stay" the 'hero' quipped, trapping the pair in a ringed prison of crystal shards.
"Well now. First time I've seen a female Petrosapien, impressive" as the former Plumber gave her a once over, the 'hero' shuddered and moved closer to Ben.
"Yeah, I know she's awesome. Now turn off the stupid whistle" Ben snapped, causing Crystal Knight to smile gratefully and Phil to frown.
As the sound cut off, Wild-Gal picked herself up groggily while Ben and Crystal Knight checked on her. "You good?"
At her 'partner's' question, Wild-Gal happily nuzzled into him drawing a tired sigh from Gwen "Better…now"
As she did, Crystal Knight could have sworn she was giving mocking growls to the two trapped aliens "Wonder what that's about?"
"Your 'partners' sure are something Ben, and you've got a pretty good head on your shoulders. Honestly, you remind me of your grandpa back in the day…in more ways than one" Phil praised, Ben looking torn between accepting it and holding onto his grudge.
"We made a good team today, why don't you guys come back to the hotel and celebrate a job well done. It'll be my way of thanking you for saving my skin" he offered cheerfully, gesturing for Max to follow.
Still wearing a neutral expression, Max agreed and (after moving the Vulpimancers into a storage room until they could be properly dealt with) followed him out.
"I don't trust him as far as Cerebra could throw him" Crystal Knight said bluntly, Wild-Gal growling her agreement.
"I don't like how he looks at you guys" Ben admitted, unable to understand exactly why he felt that way "It feels…wrong"
Crystal Knight smiled warmly as she tenderly ruffled his hair (much to his embarrassment) "I knew we could count on you to defend our honour ("HA!" Gwen snorted). Stay vigilant, ma-'partner'."
Ben nodded as the pair timed out "Ok, time to figure out what's up with this guy. No distractions" he muttered as he hurried to catch up.
"No distractions huh?" Gwen teased, as Ben looked up from stuffing his face with a tray full of shrimp.
"I can eat and keep an eye out at the same time. It's called multitasking, all good heroes can do it" he argued, flushing slightly at her knowing smirk "Whatever you say doofus"
Sticking his tongue out childishly, Ben reluctantly turned away from the free food and went back to watching Phil as he chatted with Max.
"This is a ritzy suit, it must have cost a pretty penny" Max commented, taking in the room.
"What, this? This is just a little 'thank you' from the manager for taking care of his alien problem" Phil replied "I know I said it before, but we do make a good team. Your experience, Ben's 'partners' and my instincts. Together we'd be unstoppable, what do you think?"
"I think that it's a pretty big coincidence that we ran into a Havoc Beast, and two Vulpimancers in the same night" Phil's smile faltered slightly, before returning full force.
"Aliens…go figure!"
Max's eyes narrowed in response, before he turned and made his way out "I'm going to get some air. I'll be back in a few minutes"
Phil's smile morphed into a harsh glare that he quickly covered up, but not before Ben and Gwen shared a knowing look.
"Hey kids, why don't you guys order something from room service? I need to step out for a bit" the second he was out the door, Gwen turned to her cousin.
"So he's suspicious as heck right?" she asked, Ben snorted while scrolling through the Chaquetrix.
"Totally. You'd need to be an idiot not to notice"
"I know, that's why you've surprised me" Gwen snarked, earning a glare as Ben slammed the dial down.
As Ultra-T appeared, Ben hurried to grab his hoverboard from the bed ("And you said I didn't need this" he smugly said to an unimpressed Gwen).
Making their way outside they found that (surprise, surprise) both the Rustbucket and Phil's car were missing.
"Where do you think they're heading?" Ben asked, unfolding the board to allow Ultra-T to fuse with it.
"If there's an alien problem, there's only one place around here they would go. Mount Rushmore"
"Then let's get going"
At the Plumber base under Mount Rushmore, Max wandered through the maze of corridors as he made his way towards a certain room. Opening a door, Max stepped into the room to find the pedestal at its centre empty.
"I thought so" he muttered grimly, unsurprised when he heard someone enter the room behind him.
"Looking for this?" Phil asked mockingly, Max turning to see him holding a large pistol-like device.
"The Null Void Projector. I thought all those aliens looked familiar" at Phil's smug grin, Max's fists clenched "Why are you doing this?"
"Job security. I release an alien, then get some hotel manager or mayor to pay me to catch it. Easy money" Phil explained carelessly, only serving to infuriate Max more.
"I'm not going to let you get away with this"
Phil sighed in faux regret "Yeah, I figured" suddenly raising the projector he pulled the trigger, forcing Max to dive to the side to avoid the shot.
As Max picked himself up the beam struck the wall behind him, creating a large glowing portal. A hulking, green female alien stomped through. Max deadpanned while Phil cracked a cruel smile.
"Hey, isn't this one of your many, many, ex girlfriends? A Wigzellian Orc Beast, you always did have…'exotic' tastes" he taunted "If I remember right, you had to lock her away after she took your break up pretty poorly. Wonder if she remembers you?"
Upon spotting the former Plumbers, the alien's eyes focused in on Max before letting out an angry roar "Guess that's a yes" while Max backed up, Phil put on a fake sympathetic look "And don't worry, I'll take good care of Ben…until I can figure out how to get the Chaquetrix off him that is"
"Dream on creepazoid!"
"Wha-HURK!"
Max and the Orc Beast blinked in surprise as a riderless hoverboard slammed into Phil's stomach, sending the rogue Plumber into the far wall. The hoverboard then pulled back and flew towards a pair of young humans at the entrance to the room.
"Ben, Gwen!" Max called out in relief, Ben already cycling through the watch.
"You're a big one. How about you pick on someone your own size?" slamming the dial down, the light faded to reveal..Scream Queen?
Gwen covered her face in second hand embarrassment "You've had that thing for how long, and you still can't get it to work?"
"Shut up" Ben groused, noticing that Phil was picking himself up "Scream Queen, take care of him. Ultra-T and us will help grandpa"
"Very well Ben" the spectral hero replied "The others want me to pass along some..complaints…to him anyway"
"Ben, you don't need to do this. We could rebuild the Plumbers together!" Phil desperately tried to beg, Ben glared at the fallen hero in return.
"Don't bother, I already heard you say you just want the watch for yourself! You'd just sick one of these aliens on me when you were done right?"
Scream Queen's eye flashed dangerously "Is. That. So?" her voice sending shivers down everyone's spines, even the boneless Ultra-T!
Realising how badly this was going to go, Phil scrambled out of the room with the 'hero' in hot pursuit. "Don't run. You'll only die tired" she taunted.
Gwen gave Ben a concerned look "She's joking…right?"
"Of course she is!" Ben said, immediately jumping to his 'partner's' defence "It's just superhero banter, tough talk"
Gwen was unconvinced.
While Ultra-T and the Tennysons laid the beat down on the unfortunate Orc Beast, Phil panted as he managed to make it outside. Pausing to catch his breath, he felt a chill go down his spine as a raspy laugh echoed through the night air.
"Show yourself!" he screamed, holding the Null Void Projector at the ready. Beads of sweat trailing down his head.
"Well…if you insist…"
Hearing the voice behind him, Phil turned ready to fire…only to freeze up under the 'hero's' glare.
"What was it you said to Ben, that we're 'easy on the eyes'? Well then, have a good, long, look" she mocked, pulling the front of her cloak open.
Had anyone been nearby, Phil's screams would have haunted them for the rest of their lives.
As the former Plumber collapsed in a sniveling heap, Scream Queen pulled her cloak shut once more.
"You'd never be able to handle the Chaquetrix, you're not even half the man Ben is"
Maybe out of a panicked reflex, or a surge of defiant anger at being considered less than a child, Phil raised the Projector and fired. Scream Queen simply turned intangible and let the shot pass through.
"Are you quite do-" her taunting was cut short as the shot hit the wing mirror on the Rustbucket before reflecting back, passing back through her and striking Phil.
"NOOO!" dropping the projector, he let out one last scream before the portal snapped shut….just as Ben and company emerged from the base entrance.
While Max and Gwen appeared horrified, Ben and Ultra-T were less sympathetic.
"Is this the human belief of 'karma', partner-Ben?" the technopathic 'hero' asked innocently.
"I'd say so" Ben replied, before catching Max's disapproving look "What? It was"
Max placed the Null Void Projector safely inside the Rustbucket, having agreed with Gwen that it might be handy to keep around.
"I don't care what Ben says, I don't trust that ghost..freak!" Gwen huffed. At the lack of reply, Gwne glanced around "Speaking of the dweeb, where is he?"
"He better not be messing with any of that old Plumber tech" Max grumbled, preparing to go look for his wayward grandson…when speak of the devil.
Ben stepped into the R.V with Cerebra and Ultra-T in tow "Hey grandpa, check out what we found!" he held up a silver disk about the size of Max's palm.
"Why do you have a rapid deployment, hazmat suit?" Max asked cautiously.
"It WAS a hazmat suit, buuut..Ultra-T and Cerebra had an awesome idea!" slapping the device to his chest, Max and Gwen watched as the disk expanded over him into the same grey jumpsuit Phil had worn.
"How'd you get a Plumber suit into the rapid deployment disk? Our scientists could never get that to work" Max asked numbly, while Cerebra grinned smugly.
"Oh I'm sure you did your best. But never underestimate what a Galvan, and a Galvanic Mechamorph can do together!" he held up her hand to 'high five' one of Ultra-T's fingers.
"Isn't this great grandpa?" Ben asked earnestly, pulling the hood of the uniform up "Now I can help out more, AND be safer at the same time"
Placing his fists on his hips in a 'heroic' pose he added "Plus, I look awesome in this"
"You sure do~/Affirmative~" Cerebra/Ultra-T agreed from behind him, their gaze a little lower than Gwen appreciated.
Gwen leveled a glare at Max "You know this is all YOUR fault, right?"
Max hung his head in defeat "...I know.." he sighed.
-Non Canon Omake-
"Well if Max wasn't pulling my leg, he's the 'inspiration' behind why the Chaquetrix works the way it does" Phil gave Max a teasing grin "Having it make those..'partners'...was a stroke of genius"
"This..was all your idea?" Gwen asked, eerily calm.
Max gulped "Now Gwen-"
"I've been driving myself crazy all summer, and it's YOUR fault?!" she screamed, weeks of frustration finally boiling over when…
(FLASH!)
Ben, Max, Phil and the 'heroes' blinked in surprise at Gwen's new look. Max especially looked nervous as the glowing purple humanoid figure fixed him with a fierce glare.
"...Ok. I might deserve this" Max conceded, just before he got tackled by an enraged Anoidte.