Chapter 13 - Secrets Part 2

Max strode through the Plumbers' base corridors, his face etched with the gravity of the situation. He greeted agents with quick handshakes or nods as he moved towards the command room. Each step was decisive, his demeanor making it clear he knew something big was about to happen.

Entering the spacious command room, Max was met by Phil, who stood before a large control panel displaying live external feeds and sensor readings.

"How are things out there, Phil?" Max asked, approaching quickly.

Phil slightly rotated his chair and pointed to one of the central monitors, which showed an aerial view of Mount Rushmore. "It's quiet… too quiet."

Max frowned, fixing his gaze on the screen. He saw a slight distortion on the horizon, like a heat wave shimmering in the air. Before he could ask, the Chimeran Hammer, Vilgax's colossal ship, emerged from its camouflage, slowly revealing itself as a shadow rising from the depths of space.

"There he is…" Max murmured, evident concern in his voice.

The camera automatically zoomed in, and Max saw the front of the ship begin to glow with an intense red. A sphere of energy rapidly grew in the center of a massive embedded cannon, pulsating with destructive power.

"They're charging an energy beam," Phil commented, with a tone of urgency.

Max slammed his hand on the table. "Activate shields to maximum! And send the ships to intercept! Now!"

The agents in the room began frantically typing on their consoles, activating defense systems. On the monitors, various parts of Mount Rushmore began to open, revealing hidden hangars and launch platforms. Small, sleek white ships, equipped with advanced weaponry, started to launch in formation, advancing towards the Chimeran Hammer.

However, Vilgax's ship wasted no time either. Small side portals opened, releasing swarms of metallic drones, each equipped with lethal weapons. They rapidly advanced, confronting the Plumbers' ships in the sky.

The screens displayed chaos: explosions lit up the horizon as ships and drones engaged in aerial combat. Some of the Plumbers' ships managed to get closer to the Chimeran Hammer, but one was suddenly intercepted by a spherical vehicle covered in metallic spikes that fired from the mothership like a projectile. The vehicle sliced through the Plumbers' ship like a hot knife through butter, reducing it to pieces.

Phil pointed to another screen. "The beam is almost charged!"

Max watched helplessly as the Chimeran Hammer's energy cannon reached full capacity. In seconds, a gigantic energy beam was fired, cutting through the air with a deafening roar.

"Shields to maximum! Hold!" Max shouted.

The beam's impact collided with Mount Rushmore's shields, creating an explosion of light and energy that illuminated the entire command room. The base's force field resisted for a few moments, trembling under the attack's pressure, but the cannon's overwhelming power eventually breached the barrier.

The entire base violently shook as the beam tore through the shields, destroying part of the mountain and devastating several sections of the underground base. Equipment fell from the walls, lights flickered, and a mini-earthquake shook everything around.

"Impact in the east section! We've lost area defenses!" yelled one of the agents in the room, as updated data appeared on the monitors.

Max leaned on the table to maintain balance, watching the chaos unfold. The spherical, spike-covered vehicle that had destroyed the Plumbers' ship was now heading directly for one of the base's entrances. With a devastating impact, it destroyed the main door, clearing the way for a swarm of drones that began to pour into the base.

Phil let out a heavy sigh, wiping sweat from his forehead as he looked at the monitors. "Well, at least we were lucky the beam didn't hit us directly…"

Other agents nodded in agreement, but Max slowly shook his head, his gaze cold and calculating. "It wasn't luck," he corrected, his eyes fixed on the screens. "Vilgax knew exactly what he was doing. He destroyed all the prison defenses."

Max straightened up, his posture now completely focused. He looked around at the team in the command room, his voice filled with authority. "You, with me! To the main armory. We need to prepare to contain Vilgax and these flying tin cans."

The soldiers immediately rose and began to follow him.

"Phil, take control here and keep the shields functioning!" Max yelled over his shoulder, as he ran for the room's exit.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the base, mixing with the alarms and nervous voices of the agents.

The safe room was silent, except for the low hum of alien lights on the ceiling. Gwen stood before the alien machine Max had mentioned earlier, observing the strange buttons and indecipherable symbols. She frowned, determined to figure out how to make it work.

"Okay, futuristic machine... let's see what you can do," Gwen muttered, pressing a large blue button on the panel. Nothing happened.

She huffed in frustration and crossed her arms. "Seriously? Not even a peep? This doesn't seem that advanced." Gwen tried pressing another button, then another, and another. Suddenly, a liquid began to gush from the machine with force, hitting her squarely.

"AHH! What is that?!" Gwen shrieked, as the liquid – apparently alien juice – ran down her face and clothes. She stumbled backward, waving her arms to ward off the liquid, but it was too late. She was completely drenched.

"Great! Of course, this would happen to me," Gwen grumbled, trying to dry herself with a cloth she found on a nearby shelf.

Her grumbling was interrupted by a scream from across the room. She spun on her heels, her heart pounding, and rushed to the bed where Ben was. He was awake now, but clearly uncomfortable, clutching his head with an expression of pain.

"Ben! Are you okay?" Gwen asked, kneeling beside him.

"No... ow... it hurts too much," Ben groaned, closing his eyes as he shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think I've felt this much pain since Kevin destroyed Upgrade..."

He slowly opened his eyes, blinking as he tried to adjust to the room's light. His eyes swept over the unfamiliar surroundings before stopping on Gwen, who was still a bit wet and had alien juice dripping from her hair.

"Where are we? And... where's Vilgax?!" Ben asked, alarmed, trying to stand up, but quickly giving up as the pain forced him back onto the bed.

Gwen placed a hand on his shoulder, gently pressing him back down. "Calm down, Ben. You're safe. We're in Grandpa Max's most protected room in the base. He left us here to make sure Vilgax wouldn't find us."

Ben looked around again, still trying to process the situation. "So... we're stuck in a room while Vilgax destroys everything out there? That doesn't sound safe to me at all."

Gwen sighed and tossed the cloth she had been using to dry herself onto a nearby chair. "Look, I don't love this idea either, but Grandpa knows what he's doing. He said we'd be safe here, and we need to trust him."

A slight initial tremor ran through the safe room's floor, but it soon escalated into a violent earthquake. The bed where Ben lay shook so violently that he fell to the floor with a thud.

"What the...?" Ben moaned, quickly getting up and looking around, still confused by the situation. He stumbled toward the door, ignoring the pain in his body, and began pulling it with all his might. "I can't just stand here! I need to get out!"

He pressed the control panel beside the door, trying to force it open, but the door wouldn't budge.

Gwen appeared beside him, still trying to dry the alien juice from her clothes. "Ben, do you think I haven't tried already? Grandpa locked us in here!"

She pointed to the scanner next to the door and continued: "It needs a password to open, and I don't know what it is. I tried several codes, but nothing works."

Ben looked at her, frustrated. "Seriously? You tried? Where's all that 'trust Grandpa' attitude now, huh?"

Gwen sighed, crossing her arms. "I trust Grandpa, Ben, but I'm worried about him."

Ben nodded, rubbing the back of his neck as he pondered. "Okay... well, you're right to be worried. But I can't just... wait here! I need a brain for this."

He raised his arm, activating the Omnitrix. The green symbol glowed intensely as he rotated the dial, selecting his next transformation. He smiled with determination and yelled: "Grey Matter!"

In an instant, Ben transformed into the tiny, intelligent alien. He looked at Gwen and, with his thin, agile voice, said: "Now, leave it to me."

Grey Matter quickly scurried to the alien food machine. He jumped onto the control panel and began reading the small symbols engraved on the metal. "Hmm... this machine uses a chemical dispersion system. Interesting."

Gwen watched, frowning. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for a chemical solution, of course," replied Grey Matter. He pressed a sequence of buttons, and the machine began to operate again. A viscous liquid flowed from one of the nozzles, while Grey Matter read the alien names inscribed on the panel.

"Blunarian extract... Triglon essence... ah, perfect!" He moved a cup under the nozzles, allowing different liquids and solids to fall into the mixture, adjusting the buttons with surgical precision.

Finally, he turned to Gwen and proudly held up the cup. "Done. Take this."

Gwen hesitated, looking at the cup suspiciously. "What is that?"

"It's a Blunarian-based solution that simulates ninhydrin-like effects," Grey Matter explained.

Gwen raised an eyebrow. "You made... a chemical reagent? Like it reacts with old fingerprints. It'll reveal Grandpa's fingerprints on the panel?"

Grey Matter smiled. "Exactly! Good one, Gwen. Now, let's use it."

He jumped onto Gwen's shoulder, who went to the panel. "Now pour the mixture on the keypad," he instructed.

Gwen frowned, holding the cup carefully. "Are you sure? What if this breaks the panel?"

"Trust me, Gwen," replied Grey Matter confidently.

With a brief hesitation, Gwen poured the mixture onto the keypad. The liquid ran over the buttons, and for a moment, nothing happened. But soon seven keys began to glow with a fluorescent blue.

"Wow!" exclaimed Gwen, surprised. "That's amazing!"

"Of course it is," replied Grey Matter, analyzing the keys. "Interesting... keys 0, 1, 2, 5, and 7 have usage marks, and it's an eight-digit password... considering Grandpa, he'd choose something personal but not obvious."

Gwen watched, curious, as Grey Matter began calculating possibilities. He mumbled numbers as he agilely hopped around the panel. After a few seconds, he stopped and said, "Of course! The password is..."

{Guess the password, LOL}

He jumped off Gwen's shoulder and pressed a sequence of eight numbers on the panel. The panel flashed green, and the door slowly began to open, releasing a whoosh of pressurized air.

"It worked!" Gwen cheered, as Grey Matter returned to the floor.

Gwen pressed the Omnitrix symbol on Grey Matter's back, bringing Ben back to his human form. She took a deep breath and smiled. "Good job, Ben. Now we need to get out of here."

But before Gwen could reply, Ben pushed her away from the door. "Sorry, but you're not going anywhere."

Gwen looked at him, confused. "What are you doing, Ben?"

Ben rushed to the open door, stopping for a moment before turning back. "I can't let you get hurt. Stay here, Gwen."

He pressed the button from the outside, quickly closing the door before Gwen could react.

"BEN! YOU IDIOT!" Gwen screamed, rushing to the panel. She punched the door. "OPEN! OPEN NOW!"

She tried to type the password, but she couldn't remember the code that Grey Matter had used. The door wouldn't open. She tried several passwords, but nothing worked.

Gwen punched the panel hard. The metallic sound echoed. She slipped and fell to the floor, pulling at her hair. "No... it can't be!"

She lowered her head for a moment, but then remembered something.

Gwen looked up. "Oh, so that's how it's going to be, Ben? Locking me in? Okay."

She pulled her grimoire from her pocket, hastily flipping through the pages. "If Ben can cheat with technology, I can do the same with magic."

The enormous subterranean prison door groaned under pressure, cracks forming on its surface. The deafening sound of metal yielding echoed throughout the space, and with one final blow of brute force, Vilgax breached the barrier, throwing debris behind him. The entrance was completely open, revealing the dark, stuffy prison corridor.

A shrill alarm blared, but it didn't last long. Vilgax crushed a nearby terminal with one of his tentacles, silencing the noise.

From within the prison, a whirlwind of prisoners began to emerge, desperately running towards freedom. Aliens of all shapes and sizes appeared: among them a blue Tetramand, Vulpimancers, a small but dangerous Lepidopterran, among several others, including some renegade humans, all with eyes gleaming with a mix of hope and despair.

Among the most recognizable were Kraab, SixSix, SevenSeven, and EightEight. They approached Vilgax, with calculating glances, but remained silent.

Chaos grew as alien prisoners cheered enthusiastically or shoved each other, trying to escape. Vilgax, imposing as ever, walked to the center of the crowd and raised one of his massive hands, silencing everyone instantly.

"Silence!" his voice boomed like thunder, reverberating through the corridors. Everyone stopped where they were, their breaths tense as they stared at him.

Vilgax swept his eyes over the crowd, his tentacles gently undulating behind him. "Listen well! If you seek vengeance against those who locked you in here, follow me. Under my command, you will have your chance to rise and destroy those who dared subjugate you."

He paused for an instant, his gaze fixed and menacing. "But know this: if you choose cowardice, if you dare to flee... you will not find freedom. You will find death at my hands."

A chilling silence fell over the area. Some of the prisoners exchanged nervous glances. Even the bravest hesitated to defy him. Finally, a murmur of reluctant agreement began to spread.

But a small alien decided he didn't want to be a part of it. He turned abruptly and started running down the corridor in the opposite direction, stumbling in his desperate haste.

Vilgax watched him coldly. "Coward."

His eyes gleamed with a red glow before firing an optical laser. The beam cut through the corridor with deadly precision, striking the fleeing prisoner directly in the chest. The alien fell to the floor with a dull thud, lifeless.

Vilgax turned back to the crowd, whose hesitation had completely vanished. All remaining prisoners were now wide-eyed, fixed on Vilgax. None of them dared to move without his permission.

"Now," Vilgax roared, his voice resonating with unquestionable authority, "follow me, or share the fate of that fool."

He began to march with determination out of the prison, his footsteps echoing like thunder on the metallic floor. Kraab, SixSix, SevenSeven, and EightEight were the first to follow him. The rest of the crowd, aliens and humans alike, hastened to accompany him, fearing the conqueror's wrath.

Vilgax left the prison like a war leader, followed by a horde of criminals ready to wreak destruction. The walls trembled with the sound of dozens of feet marching to his command.

Max and a group of soldiers ran down the corridor, their boots echoing on the metallic floor as they headed to the main armory. The tension in the air was palpable; everyone knew every second counted.

Suddenly, one of the soldiers stopped abruptly, raising his weapon. Something far off in the air moved fast, almost imperceptibly.

"Contact!" the soldier shouted, firing a volley of laser shots at the flying object. But the target dodged with impressive agility, the projectiles hitting the walls.

"Stop! Lower that weapon!" Max ordered, his voice cutting through the weapon noise. He stepped forward, frowning as the object elegantly landed on the floor.

It was Ben, standing on his hoverboard, a mischievous grin on his face. "Hi, Grandpa."

Max let out a heavy sigh and squinted. "Ben? What do you think you're doing here? I left you in a safe place for a reason!"

Ben stepped off the hoverboard and approached, crossing his arms. "Grandpa, you know I can't just stand by while Vilgax is loose. He's my enemy as much as yours. I'm going to help."

"You should stay out of this fight, Ben!" Max exploded, clearly irritated. He stepped closer, gripping Ben's shoulders. "But… we don't have time to argue about this now." He looked directly into Ben's eyes, his expression serious. "If you're going to do this, you'll follow my orders to the letter. No fooling around. Understand?"

Ben hesitated for a second, but nodded, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Understood."

Max released Ben's shoulders and motioned for the soldiers to continue. They arrived in front of a seemingly solid wall at the end of the corridor. Max put on his goggles, adjusting them with a specific code. He began typing in the air, as if touching invisible keys.

"What's he doing?" Ben asked the soldiers.

Ben, curious, simply watched, before a blue glow outlined a door in the wall. The sound of moving mechanisms filled the air as the entrance to the main armory was revealed.

"Welcome to the main armory," Max said as the door slid open, revealing the vast compartment. Rows of alien weapons, advanced devices, and combat vehicles filled the area. The room was immense, with a cold light that made everything gleam as if from a sci-fi movie.

Ben's jaw dropped, and he hopped back onto his hoverboard, floating above the soldiers as he admired the scene. "This is... incredible! I've never seen anything like it!"

Max stopped in front of a large exoskeleton stored in a special compartment. He opened the cockpit with quick commands on the panel. As he entered the suit, which automatically adjusted to his body, he looked at Ben.

"Ben! Stop floating around and come here! Go Upgrade. We need your best now."

Ben smiled, excited by the task. He tucked the hoverboard into his pocket and looked at the Omnitrix, rotating the dial until he found the Upgrade silhouette. "You got it, Grandpa. This will be quick."

He slapped the Omnitrix, transforming into Upgrade in a green flash. His new liquid, technological form slid across the floor to Max's exoskeleton, covering it like a second suit. The exoskeleton glowed with additional energy, neon green lines lighting up as Ben integrated his technology into the suit.

"How's it going, Grandpa? Liking the upgrade?" Upgrade's voice echoed from inside the exoskeleton.

Max smirked. "I admit, it's better this way. But stay focused."

"You got it."

Max, with his enhanced exoskeleton, took the lead, running down the corridor as the soldiers followed. The sound of their footsteps echoed like thunder, and the sense of urgency grew.

Upgrade, inside the exoskeleton, adjusted some settings as he kept pace. "You know, this is pretty cool, but I hope we can finish off Vilgax quickly. I had plans for today, you know?"

"Focus on the mission, Ben," Max replied, his voice firm.

They advanced down the corridor, the atmosphere tense. When they reached the end of a corridor, they found a large room where the lighting systems seemed to flicker intermittently, creating shadows that shifted with every slight tremor of the place.

There, standing and awaiting them, were Vilgax and a multitude of freed prisoners. Among them, aliens of various shapes and sizes, with menacing features and eyes gleaming with fury. Some were human, others creatures from other planets, all with the same look: rage and a desire for vengeance.

"Looks like we have a meeting, Max," Vilgax said, his voice deep and laced with contempt. He was at the center of the group, his red eyes like embers, an aura of menace emanating from his presence.

Upgrade watched the surroundings. The drones accompanying them buzzed around, awaiting a command, ready to attack.

"They were in prison, Vilgax. And that's where they'll stay," Max continued, his eyes fixed on the alien. "I'm going to stop you, and you, Vilgax... Soon you'll just be another one of them, or a body in the morgue."

Vilgax chuckled disdainfully. "Stop? You're already at the end of your tether, Max. Can't you see? They're with me now. They'll follow me to the end." He gestured with his hand to the prisoners around, who began to murmur and move, ready to act at any moment.

Max clenched his fists. "You don't rule here, Vilgax. You never will."

The tension was at its peak, and neither side moved, each awaiting the right moment to act. But then, a deep roar echoed through the room, a fierce sound.

"Rrrrraaaagh!"

The door opened, and an orange-skinned alien, almost as tall as Vilgax, appeared, a bag in his hands. Beside him, a Vulpimancer snarled, its teeth bared in a savage expression.

"Look what our canine friend found," the alien snarled in a harsh voice. He roughly opened the bag, revealing Gwen, tied up and disoriented. "She smells of almonds… Haaa!" He handed Gwen to Vilgax, with a cruel smile.

Vilgax took Gwen with one hand and held her in front of him, looking at her with calculated interest.

Vilgax held Gwen in one of his claws, observing her with a calculating and cruel gaze. "Very good, Vulcanus. Well done." He turned his attention back to Gwen, who was squirming, trying to break free. "And now... what shall I do with you, girl?"

"Let me go!" Gwen screamed, trying to maintain her courage.

"Perhaps, perhaps I'll kill her… or I might spare her. The decision will depend on something." His expression grew even darker, and the tentacles on his face writhed as if savoring the situation. "I am interested in a negotiation, Tennyson. A fair trade."

Upgrade in the exoskeleton shouted, "Let's make a trade! You want the Omnitrix? I'll trade my cousin for the stupid watch."

"Ben, no! Don't do it!" Gwen screamed, struggling against the claws.

"You're more important than this!" Upgrade insisted, his voice full of determination. He looked directly at Vilgax. "Let her go. Now."

"Ben, wait!" Max finally recovered from the shock and tried to stop him, "An agreement with Vilgax is not…" but it was too late. Max's exoskeleton was locked by Upgrade, who disconnected from it and began to approach Vilgax.

Vilgax tilted his head, assessing the proposal. A malicious smile formed on his lips. "HAAAA...HAA... Deal." He extended a tentacle towards Upgrade and touched the Omnitrix, bringing Ben back.

The tension escalated, but the stalemate was broken when one of the soldiers yelled, "We can't let the Omnitrix fall into his hands!"

Shots echoed through the room, hitting prisoners and walls. One of the shots grazed Ben, causing him to stumble.

Vilgax acted quickly, grabbing Ben with one of his tentacles and throwing Gwen away like disposable weight. He then dashed towards the exit. Behind him, the room plunged into total chaos. Prisoners attacked the drones and remaining soldiers, while Max tried to restart his exoskeleton to reach Gwen.

"Go after him!" Max yelled, his eyes filling with rage. He began restarting his exoskeleton and flew towards Gwen, who was falling through the air.

Max managed to catch her before she hit the ground, but when he looked around, Vilgax had already disappeared, taking Ben with him. The room, now a battlefield, was in complete disarray. Some smarter prisoners began to flee, while the more frightened ones or those who still wanted to fight continued the battle.

As Max and the soldiers tried to regain control of the situation, Gwen looked at the exit where Vilgax had vanished, a sense of despair washing over her. "Ben..."

Max replied, trying to calm her, "We're going to save him. Don't worry."

Vilgax emerged from his spiky ship, carrying Ben like a trophy. The door behind them clanged shut with a heavy, metallic sound.

Vilgax's strength and confidence made each of his steps echo through the metallic corridors, but what caught Ben's attention was the throbbing pain in his right arm.

He looked down and saw the open wound in his flesh – the spot where a Plumber's shot had passed through. Blood slowly trickled, staining his shirt sleeve. Ben tried not to show how scared he was, but the pain was intense.

"I know this sounds crazy," he began, trying to sound humorous despite the situation, "but the Plumbers really need target practice."

Vilgax tilted his head slightly, noticing the wound. He paused for a moment, observing Ben as if he were an ongoing experiment. Before he could say anything, the Omnitrix began to emit a green glow. He watched as the hole in his arm slowly began to close, flesh and tissue regenerating before his eyes. In a few minutes, the wound would likely disappear, leaving nothing behind.

Vilgax narrowed his eyes, clearly intrigued. "The Omnitrix is more deeply connected to you than I imagined."

Ben tried not to show it, but a chill ran down his spine. "What can I say? He likes me. He stuck to my arm and won't come off. I doubt he wants you."

Vilgax ignored the taunt and continued walking, carrying Ben as if he were nothing more than dead weight. The corridors of the place were dark and cold, with lights flickering irregularly. They passed by a wing of containment cells, where Ben managed to glimpse two prisoners.

In one of the cells, a blonde human man, with a bruised face and a visibly broken arm, sat on the floor, staring intently at Ben. When he realized who the prisoner Vilgax was carrying was, the man stood up, even staggering in pain.

"Benjamin?" he called, his voice hoarse and hesitant. "Max's grandson? How... how did you end up in his clutches?"

Ben recognized the man, though only from photos his grandpa had shown him. "Steel?" Ben murmured, incredulous.

Before he could say anything more, a female voice cut through the air. Ben turned his head to the cell next door and saw a mint-green-skinned alien, with two long tentacles on her head and another on her lower back. It was Xylene.

Her eyes widened as she saw the Omnitrix on Ben's wrist. "The Omnitrix..." she murmured, her voice filled with urgency. "You have no idea what you're carrying, boy! He can't get his hands on it!"

Xylene began pulling against the energy fields that held her captive, her tentacles stretching as she desperately tried to escape.

"Hey, Vilgax!" Ben shouted, trying to turn to face the conqueror. "You can't just ignore these people! They clearly have important things to say!"

But Vilgax walked on, paying no attention to Steel's shouts or Xylene's efforts. He finally reached a gigantic room that looked like a laboratory. High-tech equipment lined the walls, and in the center of the room, a containment table awaited.

Psyphon was already there, adjusting the controls of a complex machine. "Everything is ready, my lord," he said, bowing to Vilgax.

Vilgax placed Ben on the containment table, and energy devices were activated. Blue light beams enveloped Ben's legs and right arm, while his left arm – the one bearing the Omnitrix – was secured inside a reinforced cylinder with a glass dome.

Ben tried to move, but the beams were like steel, immobilizing him completely. He looked at Vilgax, trying to hide his fear behind a mask of sarcasm. "So, what's the plan here, Vilgax? What do you want the Omnitrix for? To swap your ugly face for something more presentable?"

Vilgax was unfazed. He crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on the Omnitrix. "The Omnitrix is no mere toy, brat. It is the ultimate weapon. You hold the key to a power struggle so ancient, so vast, it is beyond your weak comprehension," Vilgax said, leaning perilously close. "Imagine an entire army that can adapt to any enemy, any situation, in a matter of seconds. With the Omnitrix, I will not merely win battles... I will rule the universe! And the only thing between me and my destiny is you."

Ben tried to keep his tone light, despite feeling his fear grow. "Oh, sure, because who doesn't want an army of fashionista aliens with fancy watches on their wrists? Sounds like a foolproof plan. But, uh... how exactly are you going to take it from me?"

Psyphon, adjusting controls on a nearby panel, interrupted. "Everything is ready, my lord."

Vilgax examined the machines for a moment before saying, "Switch to an electro-static therapy test. I doubt any other method will detect anything useful. But keep it at a low level. We don't want to accidentally activate the Omnitrix."

Psyphon adjusted the controls as Ben looked confused. "Wait, therapy what?"

Vilgax paused for a moment, clearly trying to find an explanation Ben's mind could grasp. "We will map every cell of your body. Understand how the Omnitrix is integrated within you. Basically... we will run an electric current through your entire system. For a mind as limited as yours, let's just say it will be... uncomfortable."

"Oh, great," Ben mumbled. "Because being carried by you like a sack of potatoes wasn't uncomfortable enough."

Vilgax merely gave an impassive look. Psyphon activated the machine, and a jolt of energy coursed through Ben's body. He screamed in pain, the shock tearing through every nerve in his body.

"AAAAARGH!"

The Plumbers worked together to contain the remaining prisoners who had decided to fight. The smarter ones had already escaped, but the rest, stubborn or confused, still resisted. Shots echoed through the corridors as controlled explosions created barriers, sealing escape routes. Max led the soldiers, coordinating with military precision.

"Good job," Max said, watching the soldiers finish isolating the last fugitives. "Now it's up to you. I have something more important to take care of."

Max held Gwen in his arms as he ran down the corridors toward the hangar. The air was filled with tension, and Gwen, though exhausted and still a little dizzy, noticed the determination on her grandpa's face.

"What are we going to do, Grandpa?" Gwen asked, trying to keep up with Max's rapid thoughts.

"Rescue Ben," he replied without hesitation.

They entered the main hangar, which was filled with modern and imposing spacecraft. Gwen looked around, confused, but saw Max completely ignore the obvious options. Instead, he ran toward a vehicle that seemed completely out of place amidst all that advanced technology.

It was a worn and rusty trailer. Its sides were painted white, but the paint was peeling, revealing the metal underneath. Faded red and blue stripes ran along the sides, and large, mud-caked tires gave the vehicle a rugged, old-fashioned appearance. On the roof, antennas and satellites were mounted, indicating its function as an improvised communication unit.

Gwen's eyes widened as she recognized the vehicle. "Grandpa... wait... is that the Rust Bucket? The original?"

Max smiled slightly. "Exactly."

"But why not use one of those super modern spaceships? This thing barely looks functional!"

Max opened the trailer door with a confident gesture. "Trust me, Gwen. This is the best thing available. Never underestimate the Rust Bucket."

Max gently placed Gwen in one of the seats, his movements quick but careful. He looked at her seriously. "Buckle up."

Gwen, still hesitant, obeyed and held on to the seat. "This is safe, right?"

"Safe enough," Max replied with a slight smile as he went to the wheel.

Max sat in the driver's seat, pulled out his Plumber badge, and inserted it into a secret slot on the dashboard. The trailer's interior seemed to magically transform before Gwen's eyes. Old wooden panels gave way to holographic screens and futuristic controls. The steering wheel adjusted its position, and buttons that were once hidden appeared, illuminated with green and blue lights.

Max pressed a prominent red button on the panel. With a mechanical hum, retractable wings began to emerge from the sides of the trailer.

"What are you doing?!" Gwen asked, looking at the transforming trailer in disbelief.

Max replied without taking his eyes off the controls. "Getting us out of here. Hold on tight."

The Rust Bucket began to move, accelerating through the hangar with insane speed. The vehicle, now a hybrid of a trailer and a ship, sliced across the hangar floor like an improvised rocket.

"Grandpa, we're going to crash!" Gwen screamed, her eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching mountain exit.

"That's not a problem," Max said with disarming calm.

The Rust Bucket shot up a ramp at the end of the hangar and launched into the air, creating an ascending arc. Gwen held her breath as the vehicle seemed to almost lose momentum, but then Max pressed another button on the panel.

The trailer went through its final transformation. The main chassis rearranged, and previously hidden parts emerged from concealed compartments. The roof opened to reveal additional thrusters, while the trailer's body elongated and adjusted. What once looked like a worn old trailer now revealed itself as a fully functional spaceship, still bearing signs of age and wear, yet incredibly robust and efficient.

The antennas on the roof retracted to make way for advanced sensors, and the jets on the underside began to emit a blue glow as the Rust Bucket gained altitude.

"Unbelievable," Gwen mumbled, looking out the window as the ship ascended. "I thought we were going to crash..."

Max quickly looked at her with a confident smile. "This old man still has a few tricks up his sleeve."

As the ship advanced towards the sky, Gwen looked at the control panel and then at the vastness of space ahead. "This is amazing, Grandpa. But... how are we going to find Ben out there?"

Max pressed another button, and a holographic tracker appeared on the panel. "It's locked onto the Omnitrix's energy wavelength," he explained. "No matter where Vilgax has taken Ben, we'll find him."

"AAAAARGH!"

The shock finally stopped coursing through Ben's body, leaving him exhausted, his muscles tense and sweat dripping down his face. He took a deep breath, still held captive by the device that restricted his movements.

"Well," Ben said in a hoarse voice with a forced smile. "I guess now I understand what it means to feel... crispy."

Vilgax slowly turned to him, his gaze cold and assessing. "You are incredibly resilient, human. Most of your kind would likely beg for death after something like that."

Ben raised his eyebrows, trying to appear nonchalant. "I've had worse shocks. My cousin Gwen once tried to cook pasta."

Vilgax ignored the comment, focusing on the holographic screen beside him. On it, a detailed image of Ben's body was projected, displaying an advanced analysis of his biological structure. He zoomed in on his left arm, where the Omnitrix was located. The image revealed something surprising: biological structures that spread from the watch on his wrist up to half his arm, looking almost like microscopic roots connected to his nervous system.

"Report," Vilgax ordered, his deep voice echoing through the room.

Psyphon approached, manipulating the machine's controls. "These biological structures are fascinating," he began, admiringly. "Although they are made of cells and DNA corresponding to the boy's, this formation is not native to humans. They are hybrid, adaptive structures intrinsically linked to the Omnitrix."

He turned to Vilgax, with a satisfied expression. "Congratulations, master. These structures exist at an atomic level and would be impossible to detect with less invasive methods."

Vilgax observed the screen in silence, his gaze fixed on the biological ramifications. "And about the device's removal? How can we extract the Omnitrix?"

Psyphon adjusted some settings on the machine before replying. "Unfortunately, we do not have a definitive method for removing it. These structures are designed to resist external interference. However, if we use a Galvanic disionic diffuser, we can force it to release its connection to the host."

Vilgax pondered for a moment, his jaw tense. He finally made his decision. "That would require time we don't have. We will change the plans. Remove the boy's arm. Keep the cells alive and connected to an artificial system. Extracting the Omnitrix will be much simpler after that."

Psyphon bowed in agreement. "As you wish, master."

Ben's eyes widened, alarmed. "Wait a minute, this is a joke, right? You can't remove it in a less... drastic way?!"

Vilgax did not respond, merely nodding for Psyphon to proceed.

Ben began to squirm in his restraints, trying somehow to free himself. "I really like this arm, you know? Like, really like it! It's my good arm! Can't we negotiate here?"

Before he could continue, an excruciating pain shot through his left arm as Psyphon activated an energy blade that began to separate it from his body. Ben screamed, agony consuming his mind.

"You're not even going to give me anesthesia?! This is torture! Who taught you guys how to do surgery, huh?!" he exclaimed, trying to hide his despair with humor.

Vilgax finally looked at him, impassive. "The Omnitrix belongs to me. Your sacrifice will be a small price to pay for my conquest."

As the blade delved deeper, Ben felt a new wave of pain. The connection between him and the Omnitrix seemed to resist the separation, and the watch's green glow began to pulse intensely, briefly taking on a purple hue before returning to its usual tone.

Suddenly, Ben began to change. His body elongated and became translucent as he transformed into Ghostfreak. He slipped through the restraints that bound him with ease as he floated free.

Ghostfreak immediately attacked, his sharp claws lunging at Vilgax, leaving a considerable gash on one of his facial tentacles. Vilgax moved quickly to dodge a second attack. Ghostfreak tried to reach Vilgax's heart, his claws extending towards the villain's chest.

"Do you think you can destroy me, child?" Vilgax exclaimed, dodging with surprising agility and firing his optical laser at Ghostfreak.

Ghostfreak spun in the air, narrowly avoiding the attack, and flew upward, staying out of Vilgax's reach. "I'd rather be Four Arms right now... It would be much better for punching your ugly face!"

The Omnitrix glowed again, and Ben transformed into Four Arms in mid-air. Without warning, his large body began to fall towards Vilgax.

"What?!" Four Arms exclaimed as he tried to adjust his movement, falling directly into the path of a powerful blow from Vilgax.

At the last second, the Omnitrix flashed again, and he transformed into Grey Matter, the small alien cleverly escaping the massive punch. He landed softly on the ground and took a few steps back as he observed Vilgax.

"Okay, this is... interesting," Grey Matter muttered to himself, his mind now operating with the advanced analytical capabilities of a Galvan. He looked at the Omnitrix and then at Vilgax, who was clearly irritated. "So the watch is obeying me? This is new. Finally, some luck on my side!"

Vilgax narrowed his eyes upon noticing the transformation and rapidly advanced, raising his fist to crush the small alien.

"Priorities first," Grey Matter commented, calculating the blow's trajectory and dodging at the last moment.

The Omnitrix glowed once more, and Ben transformed into XLR8, disappearing in a blur before Vilgax could hit him.

XLR8 raced through the ship's corridors, his mind still processing the Omnitrix's changes. He reached the cell area in seconds, stopping abruptly in front of the control panel. The Omnitrix glowed again, and Ben transformed into Upgrade.

"Let's see what you can do here," Upgrade said as he merged with the panel. Within seconds, all the cells sprang open with a resounding clang. The metallic doors slid aside, and two prisoners emerged: Xylene and Steel.

"You must be Max's grandson," Steel said, looking surprised at Upgrade.

Xylene, in turn, fixed her eyes on the Omnitrix on Upgrade's chest. "The Omnitrix…" she murmured, approaching. "You're actually using it."

"No time for introductions!" Upgrade said, detaching from the panel and transforming back into XLR8. "You two need to escape now!"

"Wait! We need to plan this," Steel said, his voice filled with urgency.

"No plans! Just get out of here!" XLR8 replied, speeding back towards the main corridor before they could insist further.

Xylene and Steel exchanged glances. "Is he going to fight Vilgax alone?" Steel asked, incredulous.

"He's going to need help," Xylene said, before starting to run after him.

"I agree, but I think we're going to the slaughterhouse," Steel replied, following her despite his injured arm.

Meanwhile, XLR8 was already back in the main corridor, swiftly heading towards Vilgax. When he was a few meters from Vilgax, he leaped into the air, and mid-movement, the Omnitrix glowed. In a matter of seconds, he transformed into Four Arms, his massive fist colliding with Vilgax's face in a devastating blow. The impact was enough to send Vilgax several meters backward, making the ground tremble.

Vilgax staggered, but quickly recovered, wiping the corner of his mouth where his greenish blood began to trickle. With a furious roar, he moved to retaliate. Despite Four Arms' immense strength and size, Vilgax quickly overpowered him. He delivered a brutal sequence of blows that shattered the floor beneath them, each crushing punch knocking the air out of Four Arms.

Ben, realizing he needed to change strategy, activated the Omnitrix again. The green glow enveloped his body, transforming him into Grey Matter. With his small stature, he managed to dodge a deadly punch that would have been the end. He leaped away, with Vilgax roaring in frustration, and quickly transformed again, this time into Stinkfly.

Vilgax observed the change with an intense gaze. "So you've gained new control of the Omnitrix," he commented, his tone laden with surprise and disdain. "But it doesn't matter. You can come with any transformation! Any species fears before Vilgax."

Stinkfly ignored the remark and fired a volley of sticky goo directly at Vilgax's face, covering his eyes and part of his body, temporarily restricting his movements. He transformed into Heatblast before taunting.

"Good thing I'm not limited to one species then!"

With both hands, Heatblast unleashed a torrent of fire directly at Vilgax, who barely had time to raise his arms to protect himself. The goo began to react to the heat, resulting in a powerful explosion that sent him staggering backward.

"SUPERNOVA!" Heatblast yelled as he intensified the flames, illuminating the laboratory with a blinding light. The heat was so intense that nearby consoles and walls began to melt.

However, amidst the inferno of flames, Vilgax's silhouette began to move. He slowly advanced, his eyes glowing with cruel determination. His armor was cracked and charred, but he kept marching, relentless.

"Oh, really?!" Heatblast exclaimed, stopping the attack as he saw Vilgax approach. "Change of plans!" He activated the Omnitrix again and transformed into XLR8, quickly fleeing the line of fire.

With incredible speed, XLR8 circled Vilgax, gaining momentum before leaping once more. During the leap, he transformed into Diamondhead, his crystalline body colliding with full force against Vilgax. Vilgax's armor, already weakened by the flames, began to give way, and Diamondhead's crystals pierced it.

"You're tough, but this should help break your spirit!" Diamondhead declared as he fired crystal fragments in all directions, piercing Vilgax's already weakened armor.

One of the crystals pierced deep into Vilgax's flank, drawing more green blood. Diamondhead saw an opening and tried to attack again with a crystal blade, aiming for the villain's chest.

However, Vilgax, hidden by the surrounding smoke and dust, delivered a devastating punch that hit Diamondhead, cracking his body. The impact sent him flying backward with such force that he collided with the wall.

Before Diamondhead could recover, Vilgax advanced and pierced Diamondhead's chest with a brutal blow. The crystals on his body cracked even further as he screamed in pain. The Omnitrix glowed once more, and he transformed into Grey Matter, barely escaping Vilgax's deadly grip.

Quickly, he transformed into Wildmutt, using his claws to scale the walls and position himself on the ceiling, out of Vilgax's reach. He needed a moment to think and recompose himself.

At that moment, Xylene and Steel entered the laboratory, ready to help. However, before they could approach Ben, their path was blocked by Psyphon, who appeared with a cruel smile.

"No one interferes with my master's fight," Psyphon declared with a cruel smile.

Xylene did not hesitate. She extended her hand, using her telekinesis to lift the crystal fragments scattered across the floor. "Do you really think you'll stop us?" she said, throwing the crystals with full force at Psyphon.

Psyphon raised his hand and activated a device on his wrist. A blue energy shield rose around him, completely covering him. The crystals hit the shield, creating explosions that reverberated through the area. Psyphon was forced to retreat a few steps but activated another device on his arm, reinforcing the shield.

"Interesting," Psyphon commented coldly. "But you'll need more than that to defeat me."

While Psyphon stood in Steel and Xylene's way, Wildmutt, from the ceiling, acted without hesitation, he leaped, aiming directly at Vilgax. The warlord's glowing red eyes fixed on the orange blur, and he immediately fired two laser beams from his eyes.

Laser beams sliced through the air towards Wildmutt, but before impact could occur, he transformed into Swinejelly. His gelatinous, greenish body expanded and harmlessly passed through the beams, continuing its trajectory. Swinejelly fell like a sticky mass directly onto Vilgax's body, who tried to shake him off, growling and thrashing his arms, but the gelatinous creature was impossible to grab and spread out, partially suffocating him.

"Do you think these tricks will work on me?" Vilgax roared, furious, trying in vain to get rid of the alien goo, and before he could react, SwineJelly transformed again, turning into Ghostfreak, who lunged directly at Vilgax and disappeared inside his body.

For a moment, all was quiet. Vilgax stopped, his fury peaking. "You think you can control my mind, parasite?" he said disdainfully. "My will is unbreakable!"

From within Vilgax's body, Ghostfreak responded with a ghostly voice: "Control is not what I want." Before Vilgax could react, Ghostfreak changed form again, transforming into Buzzshock. An explosion of electrical energy radiated from within Vilgax, who screamed in pain, his muscles involuntarily twitching.

"That's for frying me before!" Buzzshock yelled, increasing the intensity of the electric discharge. Vilgax fell to his knees, trying to break free from the intense pain wracking his body.

Meanwhile, Xylene continued to attack Psyphon with objects from the room, using her telekinesis to keep the villain busy. Steel, clearly debilitated, searched the room for something useful. With difficulty, he lifted a large piece of debris with his only functional arm, positioning it as an improvised club.

"Xylene," he said, his voice firm despite the pain. "Do as we planned."

Xylene looked at him quickly, understanding what he meant. She nodded and intensified her telekinetic attacks, sending a shower of debris and equipment against Psyphon. Vilgax's assistant activated his shield again, deflecting the attacks while remaining attentive to both their movements.

Taking advantage of the distraction created by Xylene, Steel advanced, holding the club firmly. He approached Psyphon from the side, but before he could attack, Psyphon noticed his approach. With a quick movement, he fired a laser beam towards Xylene, forcing her to retreat momentarily. Taking advantage of the opening, Psyphon deactivated his shield and grabbed Steel's club in his free hand, holding it with ease.

"Did you really think that would work?" Psyphon scoffed, breaking the club with a single hand and throwing the pieces to the floor. Before Steel could react, Psyphon hit him with a brutal punch to the face, sending him flying backward and colliding hard against a wall. Steel fell to the floor, motionless, appearing to be out of commission.

Xylene screamed, but maintained her concentration. Psyphon turned to her, now focused exclusively on his opponent. "You're next," he declared, activating his weapons again.

As Psyphon advanced on Xylene, she launched a sequence of larger debris, forcing him to stop and activate his shield to defend himself. In the midst of the the fight, Xylene glanced quickly at Steel, who was still slumped against the wall. He opened the only eye that wasn't injured and winked discreetly at her.

Understanding the signal, Xylene gave a small nod and immediately hurled a massive piece of debris directly at Steel, then redirected her full attention to Psyphon, intensifying her attacks. "You won't emerge victorious from this battle," she declared, her voice filled with determination.

Inside Vilgax's body, Buzzshock pulsed intensely, his electrical energies surging like furious currents through the conqueror's organic fibers and cybernetic parts. Vilgax screamed in pain, trying to resist, but Buzzshock was nowhere near stopping.

"You're too overconfident, Vilgax!" Buzzshock yelled, electricity running wild through the villain's technological parts. "But relax, I'll give you a free shock of reality! Why pay, right?"

With a flash of energy, Buzzshock shifted form, transforming into Upgrade. The black and green body spread like living circuits, merging with Vilgax's cybernetic prosthetics. Upgrade let out a sarcastic laugh as he took control.

"Let's see how much you depend on those technological parts of yours," Upgrade commented, his green lines flickering as he deactivated Vilgax's systems one by one. Vilgax began to stagger, trying to fight off the invasion, but it was futile. "And now, let's just tidy this up," Upgrade provoked, literally tearing off pieces of Vilgax's cybernetic prosthetics.

Vilgax roared in fury, but could do nothing as the metallic parts were destroyed and cast aside. Finally, Upgrade leaped out of Vilgax's body, detaching from the last connections. Before touching the ground, he fired a powerful laser from his eye directly at the villain's chest, sending him sprawling backward.

"Take that, you fool!" Upgrade declared before glowing again, transforming into Four Arms. The four-armed alien roared as he ran towards Vilgax, who lay on the ground, gasping and visibly wounded.

"Get up, Vilgax!" Four Arms challenged, striking him with his massive fists. "This isn't over yet!!"

Vilgax tried to rise, but Four Arms was relentless, delivering brutal punches to the fallen villain's body. Each blow seemed to echo through the room, the sound of impacts mixed with Vilgax's groans.

"That's for attacking that city!" Four Arms roared as his fists fell like hammers. "And that's for threatening my cousin!"

But then, the Omnitrix on Four Arms' chest began to flash red. "Oh no! Not now!" Four Arms complained, his alien form dissipating as he reverted to his human form. He stumbled backward, panting and frustrated. "Damn it! I was almost done with him!"

Vilgax groaned on the floor, but to Ben's horror, he began to stand up again. His eyes glowed with rage, and though gravely wounded, he was still terrifying.

"You... will pay... for this, boy..." Vilgax snarled, taking a slow step toward Ben.

"Oh, come on!" Ben exclaimed, turning and starting to run as fast as he could. Vilgax began to pursue him, his heavy footsteps echoing through the destroyed corridor. He was closing in fast, but before he could reach Ben, the boy was pulled upward by an invisible force.

"Ben, hold on!" Xylene shouted, using her telekinesis to lift Ben into the air and bring him to her. Vilgax paused for a moment, watching Xylene and Ben escape.

"Thanks for the ride!" Ben said, breathing heavily as he looked at Xylene.

"Don't thank me yet," Xylene replied. "We need to get out of here before he regains his strength."

As Xylene carried Ben to safety, Psyphon approached Vilgax, examining his condition. "Master, you need medical attention," he said, but Vilgax raised his hand, interrupting him.

"No... ignore me. Go after the Omnitrix!" Vilgax ordered, his voice still filled with authority, despite his condition.

Psyphon nodded and began to run in the direction Xylene and Ben had fled, but suddenly, a blaring alarm echoed throughout the ship. Psyphon looked at his wrist terminal, his eyes widening as he saw the notification: "Self-destruct sequence activated."

"No... this isn't possible!" Psyphon muttered, accessing the security cameras. In one of the feeds, he saw someone at the main generator, manually activating the self-destruct sequence. "STEEL!" Psyphon shrieked, his voice filled with fury.

Ben, Xylene, and Steel raced through the ship's corridors, the metallic floor trembling with every step. The blaring self-destruct alarm wailed incessantly, a cruel reminder that time was running out.

"We have to find an escape ship!" Ben shouted, looking frantically around, as Xylene carried him through the air with her telekinesis and Steel limped behind, his injured arm dangling.

"This way!" Steel pointed to a smaller hangar ahead, his voice hoarse with effort. "I remember seeing some escape pods in this section!"

They accelerated towards the hangar, hope flickering in Ben's eyes. But just as they approached the entrance, a blue energy beam sliced through the air and struck the escape pod directly in front of them, reducing it to ash.

Psyphon appeared, flying down the corridor, his eyes fixed on the trio. His expression was pure fury.

"You're not going anywhere!" Psyphon vociferated, advancing with surprising speed, the devices on his arms glowing. "Do you think you can escape Lord Vilgax's justice? How insolent!"

Xylene reacted quickly. With an agile movement of her hands, she raised a shimmering telekinetic shield around them, the blue energy flickering in the air. "Protect yourselves!" she cried, her voice tense with effort.

Psyphon laughed disdainfully. He lunged at the shield, his fists enveloped in crimson energy. The impact was violent, a sound of shattering glass filling the corridor, and Xylene's shield trembled, cracking in several places. She moaned, her forehead furrowed in concentration, as her hands pressed with invisible force.

"Useless!" Psyphon roared, his eyes burning with determination. He delivered an even more powerful punch, concentrating all his strength on the shield's central point.

The force field exploded into fragments of light, and Xylene was hurled backward with brutal force. She spun in the air, a wave of pain coursing through her body even before she collided with the metallic wall. The impact was dry and final; she collapsed unconscious, her body limp and lifeless, a greenish stain slowly spreading on her uniform in the stomach area where Psyphon's blow had struck her.

"Xylene!" Ben screamed, desperate, his eyes wide.

"Ben, run!" Steel said, before stumbling forward, his face contorted in pain, towards Psyphon, a cry of primal rage escaping his lips. "You monster! Leave him alone!"

Psyphon paused, observing Steel with cold cruelty, a smile spreading across his metallic face. "How moving. A last futile attempt at heroism. But know, insignificant human, that mercy has no place in Lord Vilgax's path." He activated the laser blade on his wrist, the red light pulsating sinisterly. "Especially for those who oppose his destiny."

With a swift and calculated movement, Psyphon attacked Steel. The blade didn't cut directly to kill; instead, he maneuvered it with sadistic precision. The crimson glow dragged across Steel's already injured arm, slicing it slowly and agonizingly, leaving it hanging by torn tendons and exposed flesh. Steel howled, a guttural sound of excruciating pain, falling to his knees, blood gushing. But Psyphon did not stop. He slid the blade to Steel's abdomen, making superficial cuts that deepened and spread, hitting vital organs in a way that prolonged the suffering. The metallic smell of blood flooded the air.

Blood spurted, splattering onto the metallic floor. Steel gasped, trying to breathe, his eyes fixed on Ben with desperate urgency, as life slowly drained from him in slow, painful contractions.

"Steel!" Ben screamed, horrified, the sight freezing him in place. His wide eyes watched Steel squirming, life slowly ebbing from him, each breath a terrible effort.

"Ben... run...!" Steel mumbled, his voice almost inaudible, the last thread of strength fading, his eyes fixing on the horror in the boy's face.

Ben was in shock. He couldn't move, the scene burned into his mind. Slowly, he began to retreat, trembling, his eyes fixed on Steel's agonizing body, which still struggled to breathe.

Psyphon approached Ben, his footsteps echoing down the corridor. He stopped a few meters away, his eyes gleaming with sick pleasure.

"Listen closely, runt," Psyphon began, his voice a chilling, disdainful whisper. "You are not a worthy enemy. You are merely an obstacle, a small stone in the path of Lord Vilgax's glory. And all that opposes that glory... will be annihilated. Your insignificant friends, and even this pathetic planet you call home. You are mere insects crushed under the boot of true power. Your grandfather, 'Magister' Tennyson, tried to stop him before. But he failed. Just like this useless one here." Psyphon lightly kicked Steel's convulsing body. "Do you think that kindness, hope, or whatever it is that drives you, can resist the power my master possesses? It is an illusion. A fallacy."

He took another step, closing the distance between them. "The universe is a cruel place, Tennyson. And today, you will learn its true nature. Fear. Submission. And the inevitable arrival of your new lord. You are just a tool. A tool that will be broken, Ben Tennyson."

Psyphon extended one of his technological hands, ready to grab Ben.

But before Psyphon could reach out to grab Ben, a colossal roar shook the entire ship. A side wall shattered with impressive force, and the Rust Bucket, in its spaceship form, burst into the corridor like an out-of-control bull, flying directly at Psyphon.

Vilgax's servant barely had time to widen his eyes before being struck squarely by the side of the Rust Bucket, disappearing beneath the mass of metal and smoke.

The Rust Bucket's door hissed open, and Max, already in his exoskeleton, leaped out, his face contorted in fury. He didn't veer from Psyphon, but his attention was entirely focused on Ben.

"Ben! Are you okay?!" Max shouted, rushing to his grandson, who was still trembling. He knelt, gripping the boy's shoulders.

"Grandpa... Steel..." Ben stammered, pointing at the wounded Plumber. Xylene, further away, seemed like a blur.

Max turned his head, seeing Steel's devastating scene. His eyes narrowed in pain, but he maintained his composure.

"Psyphon!" Max's voice echoed, deep and furious. "You'll pay for what you've done!"

From amidst the smoke, Psyphon emerged, staggering, his armor charred and disheveled. Parts of his implants were exposed, and a wisp of smoke curled from his left shoulder, but his red eyes glowed with cold disdain.

"Well, well... if it isn't the legendary Magister Tennyson," Psyphon hissed, raising one of his arms to fire an energy beam. "Your fame precedes you, old man. But you're late to the party."

Max dodged with surprising agility for someone his age, the exoskeleton moving like an extension of his body. The beam hit the wall behind him, melting the metal. Max counter-attacked with a right hook, the exoskeleton's armored fist aiming for Psyphon's head. The villain raised his arm in time, and the impact reverberated, making him stumble back a step. Then, Max fired a concentrated volley of lasers from the cannon on his left arm. Psyphon created an energy shield to protect himself, his gaze bored.

Psyphon grunted slightly, forcing himself against the energy blast, his shield trembling under the impact. "Your rusty toys don't affect me, Tennyson. Vilgax gave me power to deal with pests like you."

"Toys, huh?" Max replied, without lessening the intensity of the attack. He delivered a side kick with the exoskeleton's boot, breaking part of the metallic floor beneath Psyphon's feet. "Then I guess you should have stopped playing watchdog and learned how to really fight."

As Max and Psyphon's fight intensified, Ben was still near Steel's body. The nausea returned fiercely. He fell to his knees again, hands trembling, unable to tear his eyes from the agonizing Plumber.

"No... no, Steel... please..." he muttered, his body shaking uncontrollably. A muffled sob escaped his lips. "I... I should have done more...!"

Suddenly, a sharp slap struck Ben's face. It wasn't strong enough to really hurt, but the shock jolted him out of his trance. Ben blinked, and saw Gwen standing beside him, her face serious, but her eyes filled with concern. She had just gotten out of the Rust Bucket, her grimoire clutched in her hand.

"Ben! Wake up, you Dufus!" Gwen exclaimed, her voice firm and sharp, trying to cut through his daze. "This is no time to freak out! We have to get them out of here!"

She didn't wait for a response. Beside her, a super-tech stretcher hovered in the air. It was an alien rescue vehicle, with a soft force field and retractable handles, which Gwen had quickly activated with a wrist console.

With surprising agility, Gwen moved to Xylene, who lay inert. She maneuvered the stretcher with a focused gleam in her eyes, quickly positioning the unconscious alien's body on it and activating the soft force field.

"Come on, Ben! What are you waiting for?! Help here!" Gwen yelled, hurrying him, as she already directed the stretcher towards Steel. "We have to get Steel to the Rust Bucket now! He's bleeding too much!"

Ben, still stunned, obeyed. With trembling hands, he helped position Steel's bloody body onto the stretcher. With a command from Gwen, the force field activated, enveloping Steel.

"Quick! To the Rust Bucket, Gwen! Quick!" Ben shouted, his voice choked, his eyes still fixed on Steel's wounds.

"I know!" Gwen replied, maneuvering the floating stretcher towards the Rust Bucket's open hatch. "Get out of the way, I'll get Xylene too!"

She guided the stretchers with Steel and Xylene into the ship. Gwen placed Steel in the central healing pod, a transparent cylinder that began to glow with a restorative light.

"He's going to be okay, Ben. Grandpa always says this thing heals almost anything," Gwen said, trying to convince herself as much as him. She looked at Steel's wound, a chill running through her. "He has to be okay!"

In the corridor, the fight between Max and Psyphon was relentless. Energy blasts collided, melting the metal of the walls and creating clouds of smoke. Max, in his exoskeleton, was a combat machine, delivering blows and dodging Psyphon's attacks.

Psyphon fired more lasers from his eyes, watching Max dodge with an expression that mixed anger and slight scorn. "Your legacy is a joke, Tennyson. The P.L.U.M.B.E.R.S. fell like flies."

Max rolled to the side, avoiding an attack. He lunged with a powerful punch, forcing Psyphon back and making his shield flicker. "Do you think a few deaths give you the right to talk about legacy, Psyphon? I saw empires fall before you were born."

He continued attacking with laser blasts and a concussion missile. Psyphon grunted slightly when the missile hit him, but quickly stabilized his shield, showing no pain or surprise. He merely moved his head minimally, as if regretting Max's persistence. With a quick movement, Psyphon fired a series of small energy projectiles that exploded around Max, making the exoskeleton creak.

"It's pathetic to see you struggle so hard, old man," Psyphon commented in a monotone, yet contemptuous tone. "Earth is insignificant. And you, even more so."

Max parried a projectile with his armored arm, feeling the impact vibrate through his entire exoskeleton. "Insignificant, huh? Then why are you wasting time with an 'insignificant old man' on an 'insignificant planet,' Psyphon? Vilgax wouldn't be proud of your... distraction."

The fight continued in a frenzy of metallic sounds and energy blasts. Max attacked with growing fury, each blow from the exoskeleton resonating through the corridor like thunder. He unleashed armored fists, spinning kicks, and laser blasts, forcing Psyphon to retreat. The lieutenant, with his cold arrogance, defended himself with irritating ease, his counter-attacks swift and precise, each calculating Max's weak points. A beam of energy from Psyphon hit Max's shoulder, making the exoskeleton hiss and smoke. Another laser blast grazed the side of Max's helmet, melting part of the metal.

"You tire yourself out," Psyphon hissed, his voice cold as ice and full of superiority, as he dodged a massive hook from Max. His eyes gleamed with scorn. "I do not. It's a matter of time, Tennyson. You've already lost."

Max's armor began to glow with an intense red, the exoskeleton groaning under the strain. He knew time was against him. With a roar of frustration, Max lunged forward, punching Psyphon's shield repeatedly, his breath heavy inside the suit. He felt the exoskeleton's joints seizing, the metal deforming.

"I... won't... lose!" Max grunted, his blows becoming more desperate.

Psyphon kept his shield firm, his eyes fixed on Max's, a glint of cold superiority in them. With each impact, he took a step back, as if merely playing.

Max attempted a frontal assault, but Psyphon intercepted him with a concentrated plasma blast that struck the exoskeleton's chest. The armor cracked, and Max staggered, feeling a pang of pain. He barely had time to recover before Psyphon attacked him with a rapid, fluid sequence of blows, using his implant arms. Each punch and kick was blocked by Max with difficulty, the sound of metal against metal echoing in the corridor. Max's exoskeleton now sparked with every movement, the armor's integrity clearly compromised.

"Your end is inevitable, Tennyson," Psyphon muttered, his voice cold as ice, as he forced Max against the wall. "Why prolong what cannot be avoided?"

Max felt the heat intensify within the suit, the air heavy in his lungs. He was being pushed to the limit. His left arm, where the laser cannon was, let out an alarming crack, and the shots came out weak and intermittent.

In the thousandth of a second that Psyphon's shield briefly wavered under the constant impact, Max activated a final sequence in his arm.

"Maybe," Max whispered, sweat trickling down his face, his voice hoarse from the effort. "But this tool... will take you down with me!"

A brilliant green light flashed from Max's exoskeleton, and the system began to screech and overheat. With a final command, Max did the unthinkable. He activated the exoskeleton's self-destruct.

"AHHH!" Max screamed, a mix of effort and searing pain, propelling himself away from Psyphon at the last instant.

Max's exoskeleton exploded in a cataclysmic wave of energy and metal, engulfing Psyphon completely. The sound was deafening, a massive detonation that made the entire structure of the Chimera Hammer ship tremble even more violently. The explosion shattered the corridor, sending flaming debris flying in all directions and tearing a gigantic hole in the side of the ship, exposing the cold vacuum of space.

When the dust and smoke began to clear, there was no sign of Psyphon. Only twisted metal and the darkness of space remained.

Max, panting, didn't look back. The smell of burnt metal and ozone still hung in the air. He ran toward the open hatch of the Rust Bucket, which violently trembled with the last spasms of the explosion. His exoskeleton, now dead weight, was discarded with a click, and he dragged himself into the cockpit, where Ben and Gwen watched, pale.

"Buckle up! Fast!" Max growled, throwing himself into the pilot's seat. The ship, despite external damage, still responded to his commands. He ignited the thrusters, the engine roaring with a sound that seemed more like a groan.

"Grandpa, Steel and Xylene..." Ben began, his voice choked.

"They're safe in the healing pod," Gwen interjected, her eyes fixed on the panel monitors, which showed the ship's exterior. "Let's get them out of here. It's their only chance."

The Rust Bucket shuddered and began to rise, veering away from the corridor's debris. Max forced the jets, the ship gaining speed as it approached the gigantic hole in the side of the Chimera Hammer. The vacuum of space awaited them.

"We're almost there!" Max yelled, his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel. He pulled levers, slammed buttons, and yanked the joystick desperately, feeling the ship groan as Vilgax's claws held it to the fortress's structure. Wires snapped and sparks flew from the panel as he pushed the systems to their limit, trying to free the Rust Bucket from Vilgax's crushing grip. The engine lights began to flash red, and a blaring engine failure alarm echoed through the cabin.

But before they could slip into liberating darkness, a colossal shadow loomed in the opening. Vilgax.

With a primal roar, the conqueror extended his massive tentacles, which seemed endless. Most of his body, once contained by his armor, now unfurled, revealing the extent of his muscular mass. The tentacles coiled around the Rust Bucket, like a giant serpent crushing its prey.

The ship groaned. Metal shrieked and deformed with metallic pain. The cabin lights flickered frantically, and the panels sparked.

"Grandpa! He's crushing us!" Ben screamed, clinging to his seat as the ship was squeezed like a can. He slapped the Omnitrix again and again, spinning the dial in frustration and punching it with his fist. The watch symbol remained a stubborn red, showing no sign of life. "Damn it! Work again, you stupid watch! Please!"

"I can't break free! The thrusters are overloaded!" Max roared, pulling the power lever with all his might, but the ship barely moved. The pressure was immense. Wires snapped and sparks flew from the panel as he pulled levers and slammed buttons desperately, trying to detach the Rust Bucket from Vilgax's crushing grip. The engine lights began to flash red, and a blaring engine failure alarm echoed through the cabin.

Vilgax squeezed harder, his red eyes fixed on the Rust Bucket.

"He... he's going to tear us in half!" Max exclaimed tensely.

Gwen gasped, her face pale. Her eyes swept the cabin, desperate, before landing on her grimoire. She grabbed the grimoire, its pages almost turning by themselves. Her eyes fixed on an ancient chant, her mind racing to gather the necessary energy.

"Not if you can help it!" Gwen shrieked, feeling the energy flow.

Gwen's body began to tremble, the veins in her forehead bulging, and her eyes, normally blue, began to glow with an intense and vibrant blue hue, pulsating in sync with the energy she was gathering. Mana flowed through her, and a brilliant blue aura burst from her body. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and began to murmur, her voice low and trembling at first, but growing in strength, her teeth clenched with effort:

"Ignis, aqua, terra, ventus... Spiritus elementorum, ad me venite! Fortitudo conjungite! Recede, monstrum, recede!"

As she recited the words, the energy around her intensified dramatically. The blue aura exploded into a golden, intense glow, and her eyes sprang open, revealing irises that now shone with a golden, almost wild light, as if magic itself were overflowing. A translucent, giant image of the Amulet of Bezel manifested in the air behind her, pulsating in sync with her magic, almost a possession of ancient power. The effort was immense; she moaned, her forehead covered in cold sweat, her body curving with tension.

The energy extended out of the ship, enveloping Vilgax's tentacles. The conqueror roared, pain evident in his scream. His tentacles writhed and, with a wet, disgusting sound, released the Rust Bucket.

Gwen collapsed back into her seat, exhausted, her breathing ragged. Her eyes, still golden for a brief moment, finally blinked and returned to normal green, though with a different, deeper intensity.

"Gwen! You did it!" Ben exclaimed, looking at the ship, which, though damaged, was free.

Max didn't wait. With one last effort, he fired the thrusters to maximum. The Rust Bucket, groaning and creaking, shot out of Vilgax's ship and into open space, leaving the conqueror behind, roaring in frustration.

Inside the Rust Bucket, Ben and Gwen clung to their chairs as the ship violently shook with the Chimeran Hammer's final explosion. The sound reverberated through space, and Vilgax's immense ship, which once seemed invincible, began to writhe, swallowed by a sequence of internal detonations. Green and red lights flickered across its hull before it transformed into a gigantic fireball, illuminating the darkness of space with a blinding glow.

Gwen, still panting, felt her body heavy, as if every bone weighed a ton. She blinked, her head throbbing, and her eyes still held an echo of the golden power. "Ugh... my head... it feels like a Tetramand tap-danced on it."

Ben chuckled weakly, his own body sore, but relieved. "That's because you almost turned into a ray of sunshine, Gwen. But it was worth it. Look!" He pointed to the ship's window, where the last flaming fragments of the Chimeran Hammer scattered through the void, a silent testament to their victory.

Max, at the wheel, watched the destruction with a serious expression, but visible relief in his eyes. "Good job, Gwen. You saved our lives."

"I just... I don't know what that was," Gwen mumbled, wiping her forehead. "That energy... it was different. Stronger. I... I felt like I wasn't myself for a second."

"I just... I don't know what that was," Gwen mumbled, wiping her forehead. "That energy... it was different. Stronger. I... I felt like I wasn't myself for a second."

As Gwen mused about the sensation of power, Ben continued to gaze out the window, his face pressed against the glass. His green eyes gleamed with a mixture of fear and awe at the immensity outside. Earth, now, looked like a tiny blue-green marble on the vast dark tapestry dotted with stars. He never imagined he'd see something like this. "This is so amazing! I'm in space! Like, for real! Who knew the old Rust Bucket was a disguised spaceship? And to think we complained about the mothball smell!"

Max chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know if I should be concerned about how excited you are, looking like a kid on Christmas after everything that's happened, Ben," he said, with an amused smile.

Gwen rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips. "He's a lost cause, Grandpa. But at least he's alive."

"Exactly!" Ben exclaimed, his humor returning. "And besides, who needs a spa when you have an intergalactic explosion to relax with? It was like... a static... shock!"

Gwen lightly slapped Ben's arm. "No time for that, Dufus!" But she couldn't hold back a laugh. Max also let out a genuine chuckle, the sound echoing through the cabin.

"Well, we'll sort that out later. First, we'll head back to Earth," Max said in a practical tone as he adjusted the controls. "I think you've had enough excitement for a lifetime."

The Rust Bucket accelerated, leaving the flaming remnants of Vilgax's ship behind as they headed towards Earth, with Ben still fascinated by everything around him, while Max cast an affectionate, but worried, glance at his grandson.

In the immense void of space, where quietness and darkness dominate, a spherical vehicle floated with controlled speed. Its exterior was covered with black spikes and sharp metal segments, and the sound of its navigation was muffled, as if the vehicle itself were a silent beast lurking. Inside, the lighting was dim, illuminating only the shadowy forms of Vilgax and, a few meters away, the prostrate figure of Psyphon.

Psyphon lay on the metallic floor, his armor broken and twisted in several places. Exposed wires occasionally sparked from his implants, and a dark stain spread across his chest, where Max's exoskeleton explosion had hit him squarely. He moaned weakly, his body trembling in spasms of pain, his metallic face cracked and revealing damaged circuits underneath. He was conscious, but clearly on the verge of collapse, struggling to move any limb.

Vilgax sat on the throne at the center of the spherical cabin, his heavy breathing echoing in the environment. His armor was shattered, revealing deep wounds in his dark green flesh. Blood trickled from a cut on his chest, and many of his tentacles hung uselessly, too damaged to move. Despite everything, his eyes glowed with burning hatred.

"We are far from Earth," Vilgax murmured, his words coming out with a fierce determination. Vilgax straightened up, his sore muscles protesting the movement, but his posture was still that of an absolute leader.

"This time," he said, his voice hoarse, but filled with a fury that still burned within him, "I will hide no more. We will begin conquering worlds. Each one of them, stronger than the last. Through destruction, through force, and, above all, through relentlessness."

He glanced briefly at Psyphon, lying on the floor, no sign of compassion in his eyes. Only a slight nod indicated that he noticed his lieutenant's presence, a reminder of the cost of his failures.

Vilgax closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath as his jaw clenched in pain. He held the side of his body where one of Diamondhead's crystals had pierced him. Despite the evident pain, his voice remained firm and authoritative. He leaned slightly forward, his breathing still heavy, as he gazed at Earth with an almost hypnotic intensity.

"And when I return..." he murmured, with a terrifying calm before raising his voice. "...the entire planet will kneel before me."

The ship continued to drift, slowly disappearing into the darkness of space. Even there, lost and wounded, Vilgax was still a force to be feared – and Earth had no idea what was coming.