Camping

"It's really pouring down today, huh?" Max remarked as he drove the rust bucket through the heavy rain. Fred was sleeping in the front seat, while in the back, Gwen and Ben argued about their shared birthday.

"If you two don't stop arguing, then no one will celebrate their birthday this year," Max snapped. "Finally," he sighed in relief as the two fell silent.

As they drove, a kid suddenly appeared out of nowhere on the road, looking panicked. Max quickly stepped on the brakes, the kid froze in fear, closing his eyes. After a moment, he opened them and noticed the rust bucket a few centimeters from him. He fainted, with Max sighing in relief. He got out of the rust bucket, picked up the boy, and took him inside.

"What was this kid thinking, running into the road this late at night while it's raining?" Gwen remarked.

"Moreover, he has one hell of a rash," Ben said, poking the kid's left arm. Showing from his sleeve was a strange infection.

"His name tag says he's Gilbert," Max said.

"And that's not a rash. It's probably a type of fungal infection," Gwen said sternly.

"I saw the sign for a camp a few ways back. Maybe that's where he's from. Let's take him back there," Max suggested.

"Why do you keep playing with that if you say it's disgusting?" Gwen remarked, seeing Ben still poking at the fungus.

Max started the rust bucket, made a U-turn, and headed back. After a short drive, they reached the camp and noticed that the place seemed off. Max parked near the camp's cafeteria. He, Ben, and Gwen went out to check if maybe everyone was just eating there. But as they reached the door, they didn't hear any noise, no cutlery clanging or people talking. Max opened the door; the lights were on, but no one was there. The place was a mess.

"It looks abandoned," Ben remarked.

"Yeah, but the food's still warm," Max said, inspecting the place. "Looks like they left recently and in a hurry," he added. The thunder crackled, and shortly after, the power went out. Max took out a torch and gave one to Ben and Gwen to share, but they started bickering over who should hold it.

"Enough, you two," Max said. Suddenly, dishes clanged in the kitchen, drawing their attention. They slowly approached the kitchen and entered to check what was going on.

"Haaa!" Ben screamed, thinking he saw a four-eyed monster. He tripped and fell, dropping the torch. As it rolled, it illuminated the monster, revealing two kids hiding there. They explained that the people left the camp in a panic over something.

Max decided it was better to head back to the rust bucket and get out of there, taking the kids, Andy and Mandy, with them. But as soon as they entered, they noticed Fred and Gilbert were gone.

"Huh, where could they have gone?" Max wondered.

"Uhhh, Grandpa!" Gwen called. Max and Ben went outside, and Gwen showed them tracks. "It looks like they were dragged out of the rust bucket. Look," Max said, taking out a tablet from the passenger seat.

"Seriously," Gwen remarked. "How can someone sleep through that?" she said, watching the footage from the rust bucket. It showed Gilbert waking up and rushing toward Fred at the front, shaking him. The rust bucket suddenly went into defensive mode, activating its shields. The outside footage showed the rust bucket swarmed by mushroom creatures. Fred, half-asleep, deactivated the shield and went back to sleep. The mushroom creatures shook the rust bucket, fully waking him. Pissed off, he went out and turned the mushroom creatures into dust using magic. Gilbert passed out again, seeing Fred look menacingly at him. Vines came up, took Gilbert, and wrapped around him, taking him away.

Gwen thought maybe Fred used his powers while half asleep. "I don't think that's the case," Max said. "Look," he pointed out Fred's hair turning from black to a deep cosmic black.

"This is like that one time," Ben said.

"Now that we know what's happening here, we have to save them," Max said. "Gwen, you stay with the twins. You'll be safe in the rust bucket. Ben, we'll go together to save Fred and Gilbert," he added. Ben turned into Wildmutt and followed Fred's scent. Max and Ben ventured deeper into the forest, finding a strange excavation site with mushrooms and vines they had never seen before.

Max and Ben entered a hole and soon got surrounded by mushroom creatures. Though slow and not very smart, their numbers weren't decreasing as Max and Ben fought them. Max used his blaster to shoot them down, but after Ben timed out, Max's concern for Ben's safety made him leave himself open. Vines quickly wrapped around Max, making him unable to move, and a defenseless Ben got captured too. They were both dragged deeper into the hole.

"Ben! Ben!" Max called urgently as Ben opened his eyes. "What happened?" Ben groaned, rubbing his head.

"You hit your head while being dragged here. Are you alright?" Max asked, concern etched on his face.

"Uhh, yeah, I think so," Ben replied, shaking off the dizziness.

"See if you can reach your Omnitrix," Max suggested, eyes scanning their surroundings.

"What about Fred and Gilbert?" Ben asked, worry evident in his tone.

"Look," Max said, gesturing. Ben saw Gilbert and some workers, knocked out and wrapped tightly by vines.

"But Fred's not..." Ben said, the worry growing stronger.

"I know. That's why we need to get out of here and look for him," Max replied.

Ben tried to reach his watch. Although it was green and the dial popped up, it refused to press down. "Stupid watch, why aren't you working," Ben muttered, slamming it down repeatedly. Finally, the watch selected an alien, and the green light faded to reveal an alien form Ben had never turned into before.

"What's that one do?" Max asked, curiosity mixed with concern.

"I... I don't know. It's my first time turning into this guy," Ben admitted. Instinctively, he broke free from the vines, sharp thorns protruding from his body. "But I like what this guy can do," he added, a grin forming on his face.

"Noooooo!" Ben suddenly heard a voice crying out, echoing around them.

"Huh, what was that?" Ben wondered aloud, looking around.

"What is it?" Max asked, tensing up.

"I don't know. I just heard a voice screaming," Ben said. Suddenly, the vines wrapping the other people loosened and turned pale, freeing them.

Max and Ben felt a wave of relief, thinking that Fred might have taken care of it. "Alright, let's move quickly. We need to find Fred," Max said, standing up and preparing to lead the way.

Together, they navigated through the labyrinth of vines and mushrooms, determined to find their missing friend and get to the bottom of the mysterious occurrences at the camp.

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