Chapter 8: Battle of the Machines

Previously:

Alex's watch linked with an alien research facility, revealing the existence of Project Predator and a mysterious warning about his device. But before they could fully process what they'd learned, the facility was shaken by a new threat: incoming drones.

The Siege Begins

The air hummed with tension as the sound of approaching drones echoed through the abandoned facility.

Ben clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with determination. "Here they come!"

Alex felt a strange sense of foreboding. His watch pulsed, almost as if urging him to activate his Predator Mode. The voice from the research log echoed in his mind: "If the Predator Mode is fully activated, the host may lose control."

Gwen shot him a concerned glance. "You alright, Alex?"

Alex quickly shook his head, dispelling the thought. "Yeah. Let's just handle this."

Max raised his scanner, his face set in a grim expression. "It's no ordinary drone this time. Get ready!"

With that, the sound of mechanical whirring grew louder, and the doors to the main chamber burst open, revealing a swarm of drones—much larger and more advanced than the ones they'd faced before.

Ben's Fight

Without missing a beat, Ben hit the Omnitrix, transforming into Four Arms. His massive form towered over the group. "Let's see what you've got, tin heads!"

Four Arms charged at the first drone, his fists connecting with a resounding crash. Sparks flew as the machine staggered back, but it quickly regained its balance and countered with a laser blast.

Ben ducked, narrowly avoiding the attack, and swung his fist, sending the drone crashing into the wall.

Gwen immediately drew her plasma blasters, firing precise shots at the remaining drones. "Take that, you metal menaces!"

Alex felt the urge to act—his instincts kicking in. His watch vibrated, and his vision blurred. He felt a pull, a primal hunger for the hunt.

Predator Mode.

Before he could stop himself, his watch shifted its appearance, and a wave of dark energy surged through him. His eyes glowed faintly as he felt the rush of newfound power.

Ben! Gwen!

Alex gritted his teeth. He had to focus, but the hunting instincts were already overwhelming him.

The Drones' Onslaught

Max, observing the chaos, didn't have time to warn Alex. More drones poured into the chamber, and these were heavily armed—equipped with laser cannons and energy shields.

Ben grunted. "These things are tougher than I thought!"

He switched to XLR8, his speed allowing him to zip around the room and dodge incoming laser fire. He dashed forward, using his momentum to knock several drones off their feet.

Meanwhile, Alex's senses were on edge. He could feel the danger closing in, but something about the drones triggered an intense desire to attack. His pulse quickened, and before he could stop himself, his arm shot out—his fingers clawed and sharpened as if extending his own predatory nature.

With a snarl, he pounced, slashing at the nearest drone with incredible speed. Sparks flew as its armor was shredded, the machine collapsing in a heap. But his instincts didn't stop there. Alex darted toward another drone, almost instinctively.

"Alex! Stop!"

Gwen's voice snapped him back to reality just in time for him to dodge a blast that would've hit him square in the chest.

Ben, still in his XLR8 form, skidded to a stop beside Alex. "Hey, buddy! Focus! You're losing it!"

Alex staggered back, shaking his head. The watch buzzed loudly in his ear, urging him on. "No. Not like this…"

He clenched his fist, struggling to regain control. It took every ounce of willpower, but slowly, the surge of energy subsided, and he was able to return to his normal state—exhausted, but grounded.

The Final Wave

Max shouted from behind them. "We're not out of the woods yet! Another wave is coming in!"

Alex wiped his brow, his hands still trembling. "Great."

This time, the drones weren't just ordinary machines. These were heavily armed—much like the experimental drones they had seen before, but more powerful. They fired in tighter formations, coordinating their attacks with deadly precision.

Gwen took cover behind a pillar, taking shots at the approaching drones. "This isn't going well."

Ben raised his hand. "Let me try something."

He slammed his Omnitrix again, this time changing into Heatblast. A ball of fire materialized in his hands, and with a quick flick of his wrist, he launched a fireball that incinerated the closest wave of drones.

The drones staggered, but they quickly regrouped.

"They're getting smarter!" Max shouted.

Alex's eyes narrowed. "They're adapting to our moves."

Just then, one of the drones launched a missile, aimed directly at Gwen's position.

"Gwen, look out!" Ben yelled.

In an instant, Alex felt the pull again. Without thinking, he reached out, grabbing Gwen's arm and yanking her out of the way. They both rolled to safety, just as the missile exploded behind them.

"Thanks," Gwen panted, still catching her breath.

Alex didn't answer. He was already focused on the incoming wave.

"We need to end this."

The Final Push

Ben shifted into Upchuck and began spitting explosive goo at the drones, causing massive damage. Alex, still in control, joined the fray, using the strength and speed of his normal alien forms to tear through the drones.

Max threw out a few well-placed grenades, causing some of the machines to stumble, giving Ben and Alex the opportunity to finish them off.

One by one, the drones fell, their once-impressive armor shattered and deactivated.

But Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

Aftermath

The facility was silent once again, the hum of the drones replaced by the distant whirring of the cooling machinery.

Ben, panting and covered in scorch marks, turned to Alex. "That was crazy, man! You almost went full beast mode back there."

Gwen eyed him cautiously. "You need to be careful. That 'Predator Mode'—it's too dangerous."

Alex lowered his head, feeling the weight of her words. "I didn't mean to… but it's like the watch is calling to me. It's hard to resist."

Max approached, clapping a hand on Alex's shoulder. "We've got to figure out what that device is really capable of. And fast."

Alex nodded solemnly. He didn't know what was happening with his watch, but one thing was clear: they weren't safe. Not yet.

They had only scratched the surface.

TO BE CONTINUED…