Ben 10 - Ultimate Series

Chapter 2: Chapter 2 - Washington B.C.



The sun was high in the sky when Ben finally opened his eyes, still groggy. He turned his head to the side, glanced at the time on his wristwatch, and grinned. "Ah, summer... I love you."

Stretching, he got up slowly, still wearing the clothes from the night before. The Rustbucket 2 swayed gently as it cruised down the road. Ben yawned as he made his way to the small bathroom. Opening the cabinet, he began searching for his toothbrush but found... nothing. "Okay, where's my stuff? Toothbrush? Toothpaste? Anything?"

With no other option, he splashed cold water on his face and headed back to his makeshift room to change clothes. A few minutes later, he appeared in the front of the trailer, where Gwen was sitting with a notebook in her lap, jotting something down with intense focus.

Max was behind the wheel, softly whistling as he watched the road ahead. Gwen glanced up at Ben and raised an eyebrow. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. It's almost two in the afternoon."

"And it's amazing! Man, I love summer—no schedules, just rest. This is the life." Ben flopped onto the couch. "And before you say anything, yes, I was going to brush my teeth, but there's nothing in the bathroom."

"I know," Gwen replied, holding up the notebook. "I've already made a list of everything we're missing. Toothpaste, new brushes, clothes, toilet paper…"

"Great, a shopping list. How exciting," Ben said, rolling his eyes and glancing at the watch on his wrist. "By the way, I had a pretty weird dream."

Gwen looked at him with a smirk. "Let me guess: alien watch, transformations, robots?"

Max chuckled quietly but kept his eyes on the road. Gwen smiled mischievously and crossed her arms. "Oh yes, what a totally made-up dream. None of that ever happened."

Ben frowned, catching the sarcasm in his cousin's voice. "Wait… you're messing with me, right? It was just a dream. Right? Right?"

Max finally spoke, his tone calm but amused. "Well, Ben, if it was a dream, it sure left a pretty real souvenir on your wrist."

Ben furrowed his brow and looked at his wrist, where a regular watch rested. "You're kidding, right? This thing?" He pressed a side button, and immediately the device began to shift. The watch transformed, revealing its true form.

"Whoa..." Ben murmured, staring at the device with wide eyes. "So... it wasn't a dream? This is actually... real?"

Max chuckled and turned the trailer into a secluded area of the forest. "Well, I guess we've got some time to figure it out. Let's grab something to eat, then later we'll stop by that new 'MegaMart' supermarket to pick up what we need."

Ben wasted no time and pressed the Omnitrix button, making the core pop up and display the silhouettes of aliens. He grinned, barely containing his excitement. "Okay, this is gonna be epic."

Gwen crossed her arms. "Just don't turn this into another excuse to cause trouble."

"Who, me? Trouble? Never!" Ben replied with a mischievous smile.

_________________________________________________________________________

After a quick meal at the Rust Bucket, Max parked the RV in a secluded clearing, surrounded by tall trees and the soft sounds of nature. Ben was more excited than ever, fiddling with the Omnitrix's dial, while Gwen organized her notes on an improvised clipboard.

"Alright, Ben," Gwen said, closing her notebook and standing up with a determined look. "If you're going to be this so-called 'alien hero,' maybe we should start with the basics. How about some karate lessons? I think it'd be useful for you... and hilarious for me."

"Karate? Seriously?" Ben raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You just want an excuse to kick me, don't you? But fine. It should be easy. I'm a natural at anything that involves cool moves."

"Natural, huh?" Gwen laughed, adjusting her stance. "I'm going to love seeing your 'natural talent' flat on the ground, begging for mercy."

Ben scoffed, but before they could continue their banter, Max stepped in, walking calmly to the center of the clearing. "Hold on, Gwen. Teaching Ben karate might not be as useful as it seems."

"Why not, Grandpa?" Gwen asked, feigning innocence. "He already has a natural talent for tripping over himself. That's practically halfway there."

"Funny," Ben retorted, crossing his arms. "I'll remember that the next time you need help getting out of trouble. By the way, there's something in your hair... oh, never mind, it's just your bad taste!"

Gwen rolled her eyes dramatically. "At least my taste isn't based on sports team T-shirts."

Max cleared his throat loudly, drawing their attention before the argument escalated. Crossing his arms, he looked at the Omnitrix on Ben's wrist. "Think about it: each alien form from the Omnitrix has a unique body. How are you going to apply karate moves to something like Upgrade, which is literally a techno-organic liquid, or Stinkfly, who barely has legs and relies on wings to move?"

Ben glanced at the watch and then at Max. "Okay, but what about the more humanoid aliens? Like Heatblast or Ghostfreak, and some of the others I've seen in the silhouettes?"

Max nodded. "Even then, Ben. Their balance, articulation, and even their strength are different. A move that works for a human body might be completely ineffective—or awkward—for an alien with extra muscles or a different center of gravity. Not to mention that some might not even have the same mobility or reflexes you're used to."

"I think I'm starting to get it," Gwen said, pausing. "But doesn't it still make sense to learn martial arts? Isn't it better than nothing?"

"It depends," Max continued with a serious expression. "Most of the time, in real combat, what wins isn't martial arts techniques but the ability to improvise, use your environment, and act quickly. Unlike what movies show, a street fighter has a better chance of beating a martial artist because they're not bound by 'rules' or 'honor.' A low blow, a surprise attack—these things make a difference in a real fight."

Ben looked intrigued. "So basically... fighting like a hero has nothing to do with karate or anything like that?"

Max laughed, placing a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "Not quite, Ben. Techniques can help, but what matters most is developing instincts, spatial awareness, and balance. That's what truly counts in a fight. And that's something you learn with time and experience."

Gwen frowned. "And how do you know so much about fighting, Grandpa?"

Max hesitated for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Before I became a plumber, I served in the Air Force and the Army. I picked up a few things along the way—including things beyond martial arts."

Ben blinked, surprised. "Wait, you were a soldier? That's so cool!"

"Let's just say I've had my share of adventures," Max replied with a calm smile.

Ben looked at the Omnitrix again, pressing the button. "Okay, so what should I learn to fight like a hero? I want to be awesome at this."

Max chuckled and raised his hand, signaling Ben to pause. "First, let's start slow. Before you think about being a great fighter, you need to learn what you've got. Transform into something. I want to see your other forms."

"Okay!" Ben responded, spinning the Omnitrix's dial to a specific silhouette and pressing the panel. In a flash of light, he found himself towering over Grandpa, with an expanded field of vision that let him see both above and below at the same time. He noticed his red skin, and when he tried to lift his hands, he felt two arms moving on each side. He glanced at his reflection in the RV and grinned at the form he had chosen.

"Four Arms and a lot of muscle! Oh yeah!!" Ben exclaimed excitedly, striking heroic poses. Despite struggling to coordinate the four arms, his enthusiasm didn't wane. He quickly dropped to the ground and started doing push-ups. Gwen, laughing, jumped on his back to add weight, but it didn't seem to make any difference.

"Wow, really strong!" Gwen commented, impressed.

"Alright, Ben, now let's try getting you back to normal," Max interrupted the kids' antics. Ben, in the middle of using Gwen as a training weight, stopped and looked at his grandfather, curious.

Max approached and pressed the Omnitrix symbol on Ben's shoulder, reverting him to human form.

"How did you do that, Grandpa? I swear I tried everything yesterday when I was Heatblast!" Ben asked, surprised.

"Honestly, I don't know, Ben," Max replied simply. "Now, choose another form."

Though slightly baffled, Ben quickly spun the Omnitrix's dial again with an eager smile. After landing on an interesting silhouette, he pressed the button once more. In another flash of light, his body began to change.

When the light dissipated, Ben found himself in a completely new form. His body was covered in pale gray scales, his hands and feet ended in webbed digits with yellow claws, and he felt gills pulsing on his neck. Short fins extended along his torso, and a fishing rod-like lure on his head and a fish tail completed the transformation.

He glanced at his reflection, awestruck, and grinned at his sharp teeth. "I'm definitely a fish now! And the name... it's going to be Ripjaws!"

But the celebration didn't last long. Suddenly, he felt a tightness in his chest and struggled to breathe. The air felt dense, his vision began to blur, and he realized the problem.

"Oh no..." he murmured, gasping. "I need water!"

Gwen rushed over, alarmed. "Ben? What's going on?"

"I... I can't breathe... water...!" Ben said with difficulty, desperately trying to press the symbol on his chest.

Without hesitation, Gwen pressed the Omnitrix. The symbol glowed brightly, and in a flash of light, Ben returned to human form.

Falling to his knees, he took deep breaths, recovering slowly. "That's not fair... Everyone else can turn off the watch, but I can't?"

Max approached and placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "Yeah, it seems so. Be careful from now on. Not all forms are ideal for every environment. You need to learn more about them before using them." He smiled. "That's part of the process. But next time, let's try something safer, okay?"

"Okay, Grandpa."

After recovering, Ben looked at the Omnitrix with determination. "Let's try this again, but this time, something more controllable." He rotated the dial and pressed the button, selecting another silhouette.

This time, Ben became much smaller. When the transformation ended, he realized he was only six centimeters tall. His large, vibrant green eyes were striking, and he wore a white jumpsuit with a black stripe across the chest.

"Whoa, okay, now I'm really tiny…" he said, inspecting his new diminutive body.

Gwen, who had previously been at his eye level, now looked like a giant. Before he could process it all, Gwen crouched down with a mischievous grin and picked him up.

"Look at you, Ben! Now I'm the giant here!" she teased, lifting him up to her eye level. "Hmm... how about 'Frog-Force'? Or 'Croakzilla'? No, wait... 'Green Shadow'... Oh, I got it—Ben-a-toad!"

"Hey, Gwen! Put me down!" Ben protested, flailing his tiny arms. "I'm... uh... Grey Matter! Not some toad, okay?"

Gwen laughed, ignoring him. "Not my fault you turned into something weird. And honestly, this is almost payback for tossing me into the air like a football yesterday!"

Grey Matter's enhanced mind raced, formulating a way to escape, but then he noticed something. "Gwen, stop it! I'm not staying like this for long. The watch is gonna—"

Too late. The Omnitrix symbol began blinking red, reverting Ben to his human form mid-air. He fell directly onto Gwen, knocking her to the ground with a thud.

"Gwen! I warned you!" Ben grumbled, trying to get up.

Gwen, still on the ground, let out a muffled laugh. "Alright, Ben. That was fun, but I guess I deserved that."

Max, silently observing the chaos, smiled as he held a stopwatch in his hand. The Omnitrix continued blinking red on Ben's wrist, signaling it was recharging. "Alright, you two. That's enough havoc. Now, Ben, let's do some metrics. Let's see how long this recharge takes."

After five minutes, the watch finally returned to green. Max jotted down the time in his notebook while Ben was already preparing to spin the dial again.

"Okay, now's my chance to try another alien!" Ben said excitedly.

In the following tests, he transformed into a brilliant and sturdy crystal creature dubbed Diamondhead, a feral and beastly form called Wildmutt, and an incredibly fast, aerodynamic blue alien that Ben named XLR8. Each transformation brought new discoveries: the transformation time varied between 10 and 15 minutes, but if Max or Gwen manually interrupted the transformation, Ben could transform almost immediately again with about 25% of the remaining transformation duration. However, the recharge time for a full reset was shorter and somewhat random.

"Why is it that only you two can bring me back?" Ben asked, staring at the Omnitrix as it blinked once more.

"Maybe it's because we're family," Gwen speculated, furrowing her brow. "Or the watch recognizes us in some way."

"Or because it knows you two love messing with me," Ben quipped sarcastically.

Max chuckled, closing his notebook. "Or maybe it's a safety feature. We don't know yet, but it's something to keep an eye on. Also, Ben, I've noticed some transformations didn't match the silhouette you chose. It seems the Omnitrix has its own logic for how it works."

"I've noticed that too," Ben admitted, crossing his arms. "But hey, I'm awesome no matter what form I'm in!"

After wrapping up the tests, Max tucked his notebook away and turned to Ben with a serious look. "That's enough testing for now. Time for some real work."

Ben flashed a wide grin. "Finally! So, what's the plan? Fighting villains? Saving the world?"

"Not quite." Max pulled out a stack of papers and handed them to Ben. "Your task is to transform into Heatblast and hold these papers without burning them."

"What? That doesn't sound heroic!" Ben protested, staring incredulously at the papers.

"Ben, this is your most dangerous form. You need control," Max explained patiently.

"Oh, this'll be a piece of cake," Ben said confidently, spinning the Omnitrix dial.

In an instant, he transformed into Heatblast, the temperature around him rising noticeably. Carefully, he took the papers, holding them with his flames subdued. "See? Easy!"

For a few seconds, it seemed like Ben had mastered the task. But his excitement got the better of him, and his flames flared up, reducing the papers to ash.

"Oops," Ben muttered sheepishly.

Max shook his head, though a faint smile played on his lips. "Ben, it's not just about controlling your flames. It's about controlling your emotions. When you let yourself get carried away, you lose control, and things like this happen. Imagine if you were holding something more important than papers."

"Got it, got it," Ben said, folding his fiery arms. "Try again?"

"Of course," Max replied, handing him another sheet.

After a few more rounds of trial and error, Max finally checked his watch. "It's getting late. We need to hit the MegaMart before it closes."

Ben reverted to his human form, exhausted. Gwen gathered the remaining papers while Max climbed into the trailer and started the engine.

_________________________________________________________________________

It was late afternoon in Washington. The sun was setting on the horizon, painting the ground with hues of orange and purple. Faint light filtered through the grimy windows of a makeshift lab set up in a run-down apartment. Inside, a man was engrossed in his experiments.

The place was a chaotic mix of cobbled-together equipment made from recycled parts, occupying every available corner. Tanks of bubbling liquids, shelves stacked with caged animals, and an array of tools and scattered diagrams covered the floor. The air was thick with the smell of chemicals and the unmistakable scent of animals.

The man, with pale green skin and an intense gaze, meticulously adjusted the components of his machine. The fading light reflected off the silver wires of the helmet he wore as he muttered to himself, each word tinged with frustration and determination.

"Just a few more pieces, and my device will be complete..." he murmured, tightening one last screw. "At last, I'll have JUSTICE! Kelly is a fraud! Only the great Doctor Animo deserves that award!"

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps outside pulled him from his thoughts. He glanced out the window and saw the figure of a tall, thin man approaching the door.

Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself for the unwelcome interruption. Ignoring the loud knocks at the door, he continued working, but the door creaked open moments later with an eerie groan.

"Good afternoon, Animo!" the landlord greeted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I trust you've made good use of your time since our last... 'chat.' I'm here to see if, by any chance, you've decided to pay your debts before I involve the authorities."

Animo, still clad in his lab gear, turned slowly, his boots crunching on the papers scattered across the floor. He smiled, but his eyes gleamed with a dangerous mix of irritation and malice.

"Ah, Roger. Always so punctual. But I'm afraid you've made the mistake of underestimating me... again."

Roger took a hesitant step back, his gaze drifting to a massive tank in the corner of the room, where something was moving sluggishly inside.

"Listen, 'Doctor,'" Roger began, trying to sound confident. "I don't care what you're doing with your... pets. I just want my money. And honestly, this whole supervillain getup isn't helping your case."

Animo laughed, adjusting the transmodulator strapped to his chest.

"Money? Oh, money is trivial compared to the power I'm about to harness! Perhaps you need a demonstration to truly grasp what's at stake." He turned, activating the transmodulator with a decisive twist of its dial.

A red beam shot out from the device, hitting the tank in the corner. Inside, what appeared to be a harmless iguana began to thrash violently. Within seconds, it grew in size, its body sprouting spikes and bony plates. Its eyes glowed a menacing red as a guttural roar echoed through the lab.

Roger stumbled backward, his eyes wide with terror.

"What the hell is that?!" he shouted.

"It's my vision of the future, Roger!" Animo declared, stepping onto a platform to get a better view of the creature. "A future where ordinary beings become extraordinary under my command. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have plans to finalize."

The mutated iguana lunged toward Roger, who bolted from the apartment, tripping over the steps outside. But the creature was faster, catching up and devouring him in a single bite. Animo's laughter filled the air, reverberating through the walls of the lab.

With the iguana now calmly stalking around the room, Animo approached a small table where a television monitor displayed the latest news. He focused intently on a commercial advertising the grand opening of a new Mega-Mart.

"Mega-Mart, huh?" he mused, rubbing his hands together. "Looks like I'll be paying them a visit... and taking exactly what I need."

_________________________________________________________________________

At the Mega Mart, Max, Gwen, and Ben wandered the aisles, restocking items that had been destroyed the night before. As usual, Max was intrigued by the store's more exotic food offerings and held up a can of pickled octopus.

"Look at this! I bet this would taste amazing with some caramel sauce," Max said enthusiastically.

"Or disgusting," Gwen retorted, rolling her eyes. "Grandpa, please, can we get something that doesn't have tentacles?"

"Ah, you young people never want to try anything new. Expanding your palate is good for you!" Max replied, turning to grab another even more suspicious-looking can.

While the two debated culinary choices, Ben slipped away quietly into a nearby aisle. He had something far more exciting in mind than food — the Sumo Smacks cereal boxes, which promised a rare golden Sumo Slammer card. His eyes lit up as he spotted the shelf stocked with boxes. But there was a problem: he couldn't start ripping them open without drawing attention.

"Time to be sneaky," Ben muttered, activating the Omnitrix. In an instant, he transformed — though he didn't announce which alien he'd chosen. An unseen presence moved through the aisle, and slowly, cereal boxes began floating into the air. One by one, they opened, revealing cards inside: red or blue, but none golden.

"Not this one," Ghostfreak whispered, peeking into another box. The next card was blue. He rolled his translucent eyes and carefully slid the card back into the box.

Meanwhile, Gwen, tired of her debate with Max, decided to look for Ben. "Fine, Grandpa, keep doing your alien food research. I'll find Ben before he manages to destroy the store."

She called out her cousin's name as she strolled through the aisles, eventually reaching the cereal aisle. That's when she heard a faint rustling sound. Narrowing her eyes, she spotted Ben — or rather, Ghostfreak — phasing back into visibility.

She crossed her arms and yelled, "BEN! What are you doing?!"

Ghostfreak turned to her with an annoyed expression. "I'm trying to replace the golden card I lost yesterday thanks to those drones! I'm not leaving until I find it."

"You're using the Omnitrix for this?!" Gwen exclaimed, utterly incredulous. "You are, without a doubt, the biggest idiot I've ever met!"

"I'm not stealing, Gwen. I'm not even opening the boxes, see?" Ben said, holding up one of the cards as proof. "I'm just trying to replace what I lost. This is justice!"

Gwen dragged her hand down her face, exasperated. "Ben, do you even hear yourself? This is ridiculous!"

Before she could continue lecturing him, Ghostfreak noticed something: a decorative display featuring the entire collection of Sumo Slammer cards, including the elusive golden card, protected behind glass.

His eyes lit up. "That's it! The whole collection! If I grab that, my problem's solved."

Before Gwen could stop him, Ghostfreak floated toward the display. He was just about to phase through the glass to reach the cards when the Omnitrix began to blink.

"Oh, no... not now!" Ghostfreak muttered as the Omnitrix forced him back into his human form. He landed on the floor empty-handed, right in front of the display.

Gwen arrived behind him, out of breath. "You really never stop outdoing yourself in stupidity, do you?"

Ben looked up at her, frustrated. "That was my chance to fix everything! Now I'll have to live without the golden card. This is a scam, Gwen! A complete scam!"

Before they could argue further, Max appeared with a shopping cart full of suspicious cans. "All set, kids. Got the essentials. Are you two ready?"

Gwen glanced at her cousin, who was still glaring wistfully at the display. "Yeah, Grandpa. Let's go before Ben finds another way to wreck the store."

As they headed to the checkout, Ben mumbled under his breath, "I just wanted justice… is that really too much to ask?"

Before he could continue complaining, the sound of an explosion interrupted his thoughts. A wall collapsed as a giant lizard burst through the supermarket, crushing everything in its path. Max quickly grabbed Ben and Gwen, pulling them to safety.

"Hey, genius! If you hadn't been messing around, we'd have a hero by now!" Gwen scolded as they were dragged away.

"I…" Ben started to argue, but Max cut him off.

"Kids, now is not the time!" Max pushed Ben and Gwen behind a shelf and pointed at them firmly. "Stay here!"

As Max rushed off, the chaos escalated. On the other side of the supermarket, Dr. Animo stood atop a giant frog, laughing maniacally. He was aiming his device at the animals in the pet store section, mutating them into monstrous abominations. A hamster the size of a bear roared, a snake grew larger than an anaconda, and crickets the size of dogs began scurrying around.

Max returned, now armed with a frying pan, and faced the giant hamster. With impressive skill, he dodged its attacks and delivered precise blows to the creature's head and snout. The hamster howled in pain and retreated momentarily. Meanwhile, Ben watched in frustration as his Omnitrix remained uncharged.

"I don't need an alien to handle this!" Ben declared, running to grab a shopping cart. He shoved it hard into a shelf, causing bags of dog food to fall and trap the hamster temporarily.

"That's right! Even giant hamsters are no match for Ben Tennyson!" he celebrated, only for Gwen to yank him back to safety.

In the center of the supermarket, Max quickly scanned his surroundings for tools. Spotting an insecticide sprayer nearby, he grabbed it and sprayed a group of mutant crickets. They squealed and retreated, giving him a chance to hurl a box of canned goods at them, crushing several in the process.

Dr. Animo laughed wildly as he observed the chaos. "Foolish old man! Do you really think you can stop the great Dr. Animo? This is only the beginning!" He activated his device again, further mutating the giant frog into an even larger monstrosity. The creature lashed out with its tongue like a whip, knocking over shelves and nearly hitting Ben.

Max reacted swiftly, pushing a shelf into the frog and trapping its tongue in the debris. "You talk too much, Animo!" Max shouted before turning to Ben.

"Ben…"

But before he could say more, a giant snake coiled itself around him, squeezing tightly. Gwen screamed in terror, but Max stayed calm. With a quick move, he reached for a knife on a nearby counter. "You're not taking me down, you scaly freak!"

With surprising precision, Max gripped the snake with one hand while plunging the knife into the underside of its head. The creature let out an agonizing hiss before collapsing lifelessly to the ground. Max looked at Gwen and Ben, who stood frozen in shock. "Are you two okay? Stay alert!"

Enraged, Dr. Animo aimed his device at more animals, but Max seized the opportunity to grab a can of oil and hurl it at him, knocking the scientist off his giant frog. The monstrous frog lunged forward, but Max grabbed a rope from the gardening section and expertly tied the creature's legs together.

Defeated, Dr. Animo screamed, "This isn't over!" At that moment, the giant lizard toppled a stack of boxes to block the path, grabbed Dr. Animo, and fled while the scientist cackled:

"Foolish old man, this is just the beginning! I'll turn Washington D.C. into Washington B.C.!"

"Oh no, you won't!" Ben shouted as the Omnitrix finally activated. Transforming into Wildmutt, he bolted through the supermarket's wrecked exit in hot pursuit.

_________________________________________________________________________

Wildmutt charged forward with agility, his animal instincts guiding him as he tracked the scent of Dr. Animo and his giant iguana. He leaped over the debris littering the streets, dodging cars and scaling walls. Animo, perched atop the iguana, glanced back with fascination.

"Interesting! The boy turned into some kind of canine-fox hybrid?! Too bad I didn't create him myself, but I can study him!" Animo cackled, activating his device once more.

He aimed it at a flock of pigeons perched on a nearby building. Within seconds, the birds writhed as their bodies grotesquely expanded. Their wings grew massive, their beaks elongated into dagger-like shapes, and their claws became razor-sharp talons. They screeched eerily before launching into the air at Animo's command, heading straight for Wildmutt.

Wildmutt skidded to a halt, growling deeply as he eyed the oncoming flying monsters. His muscles tensed in preparation for the imminent clash. The first pigeon dived at high speed, its talons outstretched. Wildmutt rolled aside at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the strike. With a powerful leap, he grabbed the creature by the neck and slammed it into the ground, leaving it motionless after a few spasms.

Two more pigeons swooped in from either side, attempting a coordinated attack. Wildmutt jumped high, spinning mid-air to deliver a ferocious swipe with his claws. One of the birds was hurled into a nearby wall, while the second tried to exploit the alien's blind spot. Sensing the danger, Wildmutt lashed out with his muscular tail, knocking the bird into a heap of rubble.

Four more mutant pigeons circled above, their screeches echoing ominously. One of them dove in a vertical attack, its sharp beak aimed at Wildmutt. He leaped to intercept it, grabbing the bird mid-air and slamming it hard into the pavement. Without pausing, he turned to face the remaining three, his claws slashing through the air with precision and ferocity.

The trio encircled him, their movements calculated. One dove toward him, its beak aiming for a vital spot. Wildmutt dodged just in time, springing onto a nearby pile of debris. From his vantage point, he spotted a useful item—a fire escape ladder bolted to the side of a building.

With an impressive leap, Wildmutt reached the structure and ripped it free with brute force. Now armed, he swung the ladder in a wide arc, creating a metallic whoosh. One of the pigeons diving toward him was struck head-on, sent hurtling into a wall before collapsing.

The remaining two shrieked in rage, attacking in unison. Wildmutt raised the ladder like a shield, deflecting their assault. When one tried to strike from below, he used the bottom edge of the ladder as leverage, delivering an upward blow that sent the bird tumbling out of the fight.

The final pigeon hesitated, flapping its wings as it sized up its foe. Wildmutt growled deeply, spinning the ladder in a menacing display that filled the air with a sharp metallic sound. Provoked, the bird launched into a final dive. At the last second, Wildmutt hurled the ladder with all his might, striking the pigeon square in the chest. It crashed to the ground with a pained screech, lying still.

Panting, Wildmutt stood tall, his senses on high alert for any new threats. For a moment, silence reigned, save for the faint sounds of Animo retreating in the distance.

Without hesitation, Wildmutt resumed his chase. But before he could catch up, the Rustbucket 2 screeched into his path. Max blocked the road with the vehicle and shouted, "Ben, stop now!"

Confused, Wildmutt skidded to a halt. Gwen jumped out of the RV and smacked the Omnitrix, forcing him to revert to human form.

"Hey! I need that to track Animo!" Ben protested, frustrated.

"We already know where he's going!" Gwen snapped, dragging Ben into the RV before he could argue further.

"What? Where is he?" Ben demanded as Gwen shoved him onto a seat.

"The Natural History Museum!" Gwen replied quickly.

Max added, turning the wheel sharply as he maneuvered back onto the road, "And we better get there fast before he turns the whole museum into a prehistoric zoo!"

The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and red as Max sped through the bustling streets of Washington, D.C. In the backseat, Ben crossed his arms, pouting with a scowl.

After a tense silence, he leaned forward, eyeing Gwen, who was busy typing on her laptop. "How are you so sure he's going to the museum?"

Without looking up, Gwen turned the laptop toward Ben. "While you were running around as Wildmutt, I found something interesting," she began. "Five years ago, Dr. Animo was a promising researcher in veterinary science. He made incredible breakthroughs—until people uncovered his twisted genetic experiments. He was mutating animals into grotesque forms."

"Okay, so what?" Ben interrupted, still not following.

"So, when he didn't win some big prize called the Verities Award, he ditched the rules. He became obsessed with mutations and the past. Now, everything he does is to prove his superiority," Gwen explained, pointing to a photo of Animo on the screen.

Ben frowned. "Alright, but what does that have to do with the museum?"

"Everything," Gwen pressed, turning fully to face him. "He literally called this plan 'Washington B.C.'!"

Ben squinted, slowly piecing it together. "Wait… like turning the city back to 'Before Christ'?"

"Exactly," Gwen affirmed. "He's obsessed with dinosaurs and extinct creatures. The Natural History Museum is the only place in the city with the fossils and prehistoric resources he needs for his plan."

Ben slumped in his seat with a heavy sigh. "Great. Now I have to stop him—and maybe find another Sumo Slammer card while I'm at it," he muttered, still bitter about the earlier interruption.

Gwen glared at him, exasperated. "Seriously, Ben? You're still talking about that card?"

Ben turned to her, indignant. "Hey, that card was special! I lost mine because of the Omnitrix—it's only fair!"

"Oh, sure. Because saving the world isn't enough for the great Ben 10," Gwen shot back, rolling her eyes.

Before Ben could retort, Max intervened. "Enough, you two. We've got work to do."

The tension inside the RV eased slightly, though the hum of the engine and the flickering city lights kept the atmosphere charged.

Gwen resumed typing. "If I'm right, Animo is going to use the museum's fossils to create a new generation of mutant creatures. We have to stop him before he powers up his equipment."

Ben stared out the window as the streets blurred past. He felt the weight of responsibility but couldn't resist one last quip. "Well, maybe I'll save the day… and find another card along the way."

"Being a hero isn't about rewards, Ben. It's about knowing you've done something good. Being a hero is its own reward," Max said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who'd learned that lesson himself.

Ben scoffed, smirking. "What is that? Did you read that off a cereal box at the Megamart?"

Gwen sighed heavily, while Max kept his eyes fixed on the road.

_________________________________________________________________________

The Rust Bucket 2 screeched to a dramatic halt in front of the museum, kicking up a cloud of dust as Max, Gwen, and Ben leaped out. Ahead of them, the massive main doors were shattered, fragments of wood and metal strewn across the ground. The scene made it clear that Dr. Animo hadn't bothered with subtlety.

"Well, that's a good sign," Ben said sarcastically, nudging a broken piece of the door with his foot. "At least we know we're in the right place."

Max frowned as he scanned the surroundings. "Stay sharp. Whatever did this wasn't small… or friendly."

They moved cautiously through the main hall, dimly lit by flickering emergency lights. The only sound was the echo of their careful footsteps. The trio reached the prehistoric exhibit, where towering displays showcased dinosaur skeletons, fossils, and reconstructions of extinct creatures. In the center of the room stood Dr. Animo, his eyes gleaming with madness as he tinkered with his transmodulator, which pulsed ominously with energy.

"You… You're insufferable pests," he growled, tweaking the device with a snap. "But you're too late. My work is almost complete!"

Ben ignored the taunt, spinning the Omnitrix's dial. "Not this time, Dr. Freak-a-Zoid. This ends now!"

"Oh, you have no idea what's coming!" Animo cackled, gesturing toward the glass cases housing a mammoth and a saber-toothed tiger. "Prepare to witness the pinnacle of science!" He activated the transmodulator, and a crimson beam shot into the displays, beginning to animate the creatures.

Before Ben could react, a massive mutant iguana emerged from the shadows, letting out a thunderous roar. The beast was the size of a car, with thick scales, razor-sharp teeth, and a muscular tail that whipped through the air.

"Alright, we've dealt with uglier," Ben muttered, slamming down on the Omnitrix. In a flash of green light, he transformed into Diamondhead, his crystalline body gleaming faintly in the dim room. "Diamondhead. Let's make this quick."

The iguana lunged, its tail smashing through nearby displays with enough force to shatter glass and send debris flying. Ben conjured a crystal barrier, which splintered under the impact. Retreating, he formed blades on both arms and charged forward, striking with swift, precise slashes. Sparks flew as the blades collided with the iguana's armored hide, failing to penetrate.

"Okay, tougher than you look," Diamondhead admitted, crafting jagged spikes on the floor around the creature to trap it. As the iguana attempted to leap, Ben seized the moment, hurling sharp crystalline projectiles that pierced its flank. With a final roar, the beast collapsed.

As Ben finished the battle, Animo's transmodulator surged with energy. The mammoth and saber-toothed tiger began to stir, flesh and fur grotesquely forming over their skeletons. The creatures' appearances were hideous, with exposed bones and glowing red eyes.

"Ben, the mammoth's yours! Gwen and I will handle the tiger!" Max shouted, grabbing a chain from a nearby exhibit.

The mammoth bellowed and charged like an out-of-control freight train, shaking the ground with each step. Diamondhead stood his ground, bracing himself.

"Bring it on, big guy! Let's see who's tougher!" he taunted, creating a massive crystal shield on his left arm as he ran to meet the beast.

The collision was titanic. The mammoth's tusks slammed into the shield, sending a cascade of sparks flying as the crystal wall held briefly. Ben pushed back with all his might, but the creature's strength was greater than he had anticipated.

With a sudden jerk, the mammoth swung its head violently, flinging Ben like a ragdoll. He crashed through several displays, slamming into a museum column that crumbled under the impact. Ben groaned as he got back to his feet, brushing off shards of crystal from his fractured shoulder.

"Alright, maybe that wasn't my best idea," he muttered as the mammoth charged again.

Meanwhile, Max and Gwen battled the saber-toothed tiger. The beast pounced at Max, claws slashing dangerously close. He dodged at the last second, wrapping the chain around one of its legs. "Now, Gwen!" Max shouted.

Gwen grabbed a fire extinguisher from a nearby wall and sprayed a thick cloud of foam directly into the tiger's face. The creature roared, disoriented, as Max yanked the chain, pulling it off balance.

The tiger recovered quickly and lunged at Gwen. She grabbed a decorative replica sword from a display and struck its side. The fake blade shattered, but the force drove the beast back. "This is getting out of hand!" Gwen yelled.

Max improvised, hurling shards of broken glass at the tiger's eyes. The animal recoiled, blinded. Seizing the opportunity, Gwen pushed a heavy beam from a damaged exhibit onto the tiger, pinning it. The beast thrashed briefly before falling still.

Meanwhile, Ben devised a new plan. Summoning tall crystal pillars around himself, he forced the mammoth to rear up to maintain its balance, exposing its chest.

"Gotcha now, big guy," Diamondhead smirked, his crystalline armor shifting. Jagged spikes grew rapidly from his body, transforming him into a walking arsenal.

He crouched low and leaped into the air, spinning like a drill. "Diamond Tornado!" he shouted as he crashed into the mammoth's chest. The spinning spikes tore through its grotesque hide, shattering ribs and bringing the massive creature crashing to the ground with a deafening roar.

The mammoth lay still, defeated. Diamondhead landed gracefully amidst the wreckage, his glowing green form shining triumphantly.

"Diamond Tornado, version 1.0. Nailed it!" Diamondhead quipped before turning his attention to Animo, who was attempting to flee toward the dinosaur exhibit. Ben slammed his fist into the ground, erecting a crystal barrier to block his path.

"Not so fast, Animo!"

The scientist gritted his teeth, seething with rage.

"You won't stop my vision!" he shouted, readjusting the device. This time, he aimed at Gwen and Max, firing a red mutant ray directly at them.

"I won't let you touch them!" Diamondhead yelled.

Diamondhead reacted in the nick of time, stepping between them and the beam. The ray bounced off his crystalline body, ricocheting back toward Animo and striking him squarely, along with a pterodactyl exhibit nearby.

Animo's body was engulfed in the red light, his features starting to contort grotesquely. He let out a scream of pain that quickly turned into a guttural, monstrous roar. His muscles swelled unnaturally, and his skin turned as white as snow. Bones shifted beneath his skin, cracking in a disturbing manner.

His arms thickened, growing long and powerful like those of a gorilla, while his chest expanded with overwhelming strength. However, his head—still somewhat human—began to deform. His skull grew larger, and his eyes glowed with an unnatural green light, reflecting the unstable energy of the device.

"No! This wasn't supposed to—" Animo tried to speak, but his voice was now a deep, distorted growl. He stared at his now inhuman hands, letting out a roar of frustration that made the walls tremble.

Standing at the center of the destruction, Dr. Animo had become a monstrous hybrid: a giant albino gorilla with a fierce, terrifying appearance, but with a head still partially recognizable as human. His wicked grin remained, now even more unsettling.

"This…" he growled, looking at his monstrous arms and hands in awe, "is even better than I imagined! Haa! Haaa!"

"This is definitely not good..." Gwen murmured, her eyes wide with horror.

Diamondhead stepped forward, positioning himself between Animo, Max, and Gwen.

"Hey, Animo, you're even uglier now!" Diamondhead taunted, trying to mask the rising tension in his voice. "But don't worry—I'll take care of you in no time!"

Animo laughed again, this time with a guttural, animalistic sound.

"Oh, boy... you think you can stop me? I'm stronger than ever!" He slammed one of his massive fists into the ground, causing the entire museum to shake. The force of the impact knocked chunks of the ceiling loose and sent a shockwave that flung Diamondhead back several feet.

As Ben struggled to hold back Animo's fury, the pterodactyl swooped down from the ceiling, grabbing Gwen in its sharp claws.

"Gwen!" Diamondhead shouted in despair, reaching out for her, only to be interrupted as Animo struck him with a brutal blow, sending him crashing violently into a wall.

"Is that the best you've got, kid?" Animo mocked in his deep, distorted voice, standing triumphantly over Ben.

Diamondhead struggled to his feet, gasping for breath as he watched Gwen being carried away by the pterodactyl. Animo, laughing maniacally, leaped through the museum's glass ceiling, creating an opening for the winged creature to escape.

"You can't stop me! This world will be my laboratory!" Animo roared, his voice echoing across the sky as he vanished into the horizon with the pterodactyl.

Diamondhead slammed a crystalline fist into the ground in frustration, watching helplessly as Gwen disappeared from sight. The anger boiled within him. "Damn it! Damn it! If I hadn't been distracted by that stupid card, none of this would've happened!" His rage only grew as the Omnitrix blinked and reverted him back to Ben.

Max stepped beside Ben, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Take it easy, Ben. We'll get her back. He won't get far."

Max and Ben rushed into the RV, Max taking the wheel while Ben stumbled through the door, still catching his breath. The engine roared to life as Max floored the accelerator, the tires screeching against the asphalt as they sped off in pursuit of the pterodactyl disappearing into the horizon with Gwen in its grasp.

"Where do you think they're headed?!" Ben shouted, gripping one of the chairs tightly as the Rust Bucket swerved through Washington's busy streets.

"No idea, but he's heading south," Max replied, eyes fixed on the sky. "We need to hurry before she falls—or that monster does something worse!"

Ben glanced out the window, his worry evident. "She'll be okay, right? I mean, it's Gwen. She's tough!"

"She is, but she's fifty meters in the air with a giant pterodactyl. That's more than enough to worry me," Max said, sharply turning the wheel to avoid a parked car.

Taking a deep breath, Ben looked at the Omnitrix. "Okay, that's it. Time to act." He began scrolling through the aliens, searching for Stinkfly. "Just need the wings. Come on, give me the wings!"

As Max made another sharp turn, the phone on the dashboard rang. He quickly answered, "Gwen?!"

"Grandpa! He's heading for the Washington Monument! Hurry—I don't know how much longer I can hold on!" Gwen's voice was shaky but determined.

"Hang tight, we're on our way!" Max shouted. He glanced at Ben in the rearview mirror. "Now or never, Ben!"

"I'm on it!" Ben slammed down on the Omnitrix, and a flash of green light filled the RV's interior. When it faded, Heatblast stood in Ben's place, his fiery body radiating heat.

"Ah, great! Why did it have to be the fire guy?!" Heatblast groaned, staring at his flaming hands.

Max threw him a quick look. "Ben, it doesn't matter who you are! Go after her now! Gwen needs you!"

Heatblast sighed but quickly formed an idea. "Okay, flying fire... sounds insane." He ignited his hands, shooting a jet of flame beneath him to propel himself out of the Rust Bucket's sunroof.

"Ben, watch it! I don't want roasted marshmallows up there!" Max yelled after him.

"I got this! Control the flames, control the emotions, right?" Heatblast shot back, struggling to steady his flight.

Wobbling through the air, Heatblast awkwardly maneuvered himself upward, firing bursts of flame beneath him for lift. "Okay, this is way harder than it looks... but I can do this!" He zig-zagged, narrowly avoiding buildings as he chased the pterodactyl.

The creature noticed Ben's approach and let out a threatening screech. Still clutching Gwen in its talons, it sped up, weaving through antennas and skyscraper towers.

"Hey! Give me back my cousin, you oversized mutant pigeon!" Ben yelled, launching a small fireball. The creature twisted in the air, dodging the attack effortlessly as the fireball flew past.

"Seriously?! You wanna play it that way?" Heatblast muttered, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. He shot two more fireballs, but the pterodactyl evaded both with a mocking cry.

"Ben, watch out!" Gwen called from above. "He's faster than you!"

"I noticed, Gwen! Thanks for the tip!" Heatblast snapped, frustration growing. He focused all his anger into his flames, his hands glowing brighter. "Fine, you want a challenge? Try dodging this!"

Heatblast unleashed a massive burst of fire. The pterodactyl tried to veer away, but the sheer size of the attack clipped one of its wings, scorching it.

The creature screeched in pain and, in an instinctive move, released Gwen from its claws.

"Oh no, you don't!" Heatblast shouted, creating a fiery platform beneath him to stabilize his position. He launched another fiery blast, hitting the pterodactyl square in the chest. The creature, now engulfed in flames, spiraled down toward the river below.

With the pterodactyl out of the picture, Heatblast turned his attention to Gwen, who was plummeting rapidly toward the ground. "I've got you!" he yelled, propelling himself downward with a burst of fire.

He caught Gwen just in time, forming a fiery platform beneath them to halt their descent. "You okay?" he asked, panting.

Gwen, still shaken, glanced down at the dizzying height and replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Well, I'm still 100 meters off the ground, so… I've been better!"

Heatblast rolled his glowing eyes. "You know, a 'thank you' wouldn't hurt."

"Thank you," Gwen said quickly. "Now, please, get me to the ground!"

With a smirk, Heatblast carefully descended, adjusting his flames to ensure Gwen's safety. When they finally landed, Max rushed over.

"Great job, Ben!" Max said, visibly relieved.

"That was... intense," Gwen admitted, steadying herself. She looked at Ben and quipped, "But seriously, learn how to fly properly next time!"

"Hey, I saved you, didn't I?" Heatblast retorted, crossing his flaming arms.

Max intervened. "We're not done yet. Dr. Animo could still be nearby. Let's get ready for the next round."

Heatblast nodded, his fiery gaze fixed on the horizon. "Alright. But next time, I want the right alien!"

_________________________________________________________________________

In the ceremony hall, Kelly stood on the stage clutching her golden trophy, a nervous smile on her face as applause echoed through the room. Suddenly, a deafening crash shook the walls. The celebration was abruptly interrupted as an entire section of the wall crumbled, revealing a colossal figure.

"Am I late for my prize?" roared Animo, his deep voice reverberating through the hall as he stood tall, pounding his chest with enough force to send chandeliers crashing from the ceiling.

Kelly stumbled back, clutching the trophy tightly to her chest. "Animo?! What... what did you do to yourself?"

"Improved, Kelly! I'm no longer a mere scientist—I am the ultimate form of evolution! And now, I'll take what's rightfully mine!" Animo bellowed, laughing maniacally as he extended a massive arm, smashing tables and chairs as if they were toys.

Suddenly, a fiery explosion burst through the ceiling, raining debris and flooding the room with light. Heatblast descended on a flaming rock platform, landing in the center of the hall with style, surrounded by a halo of flames.

"Wow, Animo! Don't you think you've got a little too much fur? How about I trim that look for you?" Heatblast quipped with a mischievous grin.

Before Animo could respond, a small jet of fire shot from Heatblast's hand, singeing the fur on the gorilla's arm. Animo leaped back, roaring in frustration as the sharp scent of burnt hair filled the air.

"Oops, my bad! Thought you'd appreciate a more... 'crispy' style!" Heatblast taunted, laughing.

Animo growled, pounding his chest again. "You insolent brat! I'll crush you like the bug you are!"

Animo charged with a powerful punch, but Heatblast nimbly dodged to the side, leaving a trail of flames on the ground. "Wow, Animo! You've always been bad at biology, but with all that strength, you'd make a decent weightlifter!"

Heatblast fired a burst of flames directly at Animo's face. The gorilla recoiled, shielding his eyes with his massive arms. Taking advantage of the opening, Heatblast glided around the giant gorilla on his fiery platform, sending small bursts of fire toward the fur on his leg.

"Hey, don't worry—I'm basically a barber now! I just need a bit more practice on albino gorilla clients!"

Enraged, Animo tore a section of the stage and hurled it at Heatblast. The hero leaped into the air, using his flames to form a small fire shield that reduced the debris to ash.

"That's your throw? I've seen dogs toss sticks better than that!"

Animo tried to smash Heatblast again with brute force, but the hero soared upward on his platform, circling the gorilla. Flames began forming rings around Animo, gradually creating a fiery dome that encased him from all sides.

"You know what they say, Animo: if you can't handle the heat, stay out of... well, my flame dome!"

Animo pounded on the flaming walls, but the decreasing oxygen inside made him breathe harder. Sweat poured down his grotesque human-gorilla face.

"Feel that, Animo? That's the smell of defeat... or maybe just more burnt hair. Hard to tell."

Animo roared, thrashing desperately to escape. But Heatblast held firm, expertly manipulating the flames to strengthen the dome. Finally, he reduced the intensity of the walls, leaving space for his next move.

With a well-timed leap, Heatblast landed right in front of Animo, his hand glowing with a concentrated fireball. "Looks like it's time to shut down this 'evolution' of yours for good!"

Heatblast hurled the fireball directly at the transmodulator on Animo's chest. The device exploded in a burst of energy, sending Animo flying backward. His massive gorilla form dissipated as he reverted to his normal human body.

"No! No! My transmodulator! My evolution!" Animo cried, now kneeling and defeated.

Heatblast crossed his arms, smirking. "So, Doc, still feeling like the 'pinnacle of evolution'? Or have you realized your brain's still the weakest part of your body?"

Police arrived shortly after, surrounding the hall and taking Animo into custody as he kicked and screamed.

"That trophy was mine! I deserved it! I'm a genius!"

Heatblast watched the scene and chuckled. "You know, Animo, you and Kelly's golden trophy have something in common... both are yesterday's news!"

He stepped onto his flaming platform and waved to Gwen and Max, who stood among the rescued guests. "Time to head out! The city's safe again, thanks to the hottest guy around."

As he disappeared through the hole in the ceiling, Heatblast glanced down one last time, watching Animo being hauled away by the cops. He laughed to himself. "Guess a loss to 'Dr. Wacko' beats a participation card. I think I'm getting the hang of this!"

_________________________________________________________________________

It was night, and the Rust Bucket was parked in a quiet spot by a deserted road, surrounded by trees and under a starry sky. Inside the vehicle, Max, Ben, and Gwen were finishing up burgers and fries, the remnants of a quick detour to a fast-food joint on the outskirts of Washington, DC.

Ben wiped his mouth with a napkin and tossed it into the nearby trash can. "You know what? Beating Dr. Wacko and getting good food on the same day? I think I'm becoming a pro at everything."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Must be hard carrying an ego that big."

Ben opened his mouth to retort but was cut off by Max, who stood up from his seat with a small smile. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he pulled out something shiny that immediately caught Ben and Gwen's attention.

"Ben, I have something for you."

Ben tilted his head, curious. "If it's the bill for the fast food, just so you know, I don't have my wallet."

Max chuckled, shaking his head, and extended the object: the golden Sumo Slammer card. Ben's eyes widened as he instantly recognized it.

"Wait... Is that the golden card?!" He took it carefully, almost reverently.

"I picked it up during all that chaos with Animo, with the store manager's permission, of course," Max said warmly. "I saw how much this meant to you. But what really made me want to give it to you was what I saw today. You made tough choices, protected those who needed it, and showed that you're more than just a kid with superpowers. I'm proud of you, Ben."

Max's words hit Ben like an emotional punch. He stared at the card for a moment before looking back at his grandfather, his eyes glistening slightly, though he tried to hide it. The card wasn't the focus anymore—it was the gesture that truly mattered.

"Grandpa..." Ben began, his voice hesitant, as if unsure what to say. Then, without overthinking, he stepped forward and hugged Max tightly—a rare move for him.

Max was momentarily surprised but soon smiled and hugged Ben back, placing a firm hand on his grandson's back. "You've earned it, Ben. Truly."

"This... This is the coolest thing you've ever done for me," Ben said, his voice muffled against Max's shoulder. "More than any card or gift. Thank you."

Gwen, watching the scene quietly, smiled softly. "Well, look at that. Mr. 'I'm Amazing' has feelings after all."

Ben pulled back, subtly wiping his eyes before quipping, "Of course I have feelings. Especially when someone finally acknowledges my brilliance."

Max laughed, ruffling Ben's hair affectionately before returning to his seat.

After a moment, Gwen approached. "Ben... thanks for saving me today. I know you love playing the hero, but this time... it was real."

Ben shrugged, still trying to mask the lingering emotion. "That's what heroes do, right? Save their hopeless, defenseless cousins."

"You're impossible," Gwen replied, rolling her eyes but smiling.

Ben laughed, holding up the golden card as he walked over to the box where he kept his Sumo Slammer collection. He opened the lid, placing the card beside the others, but not before picking up the small piece of the transmodulator he'd confiscated from Animo. He held it for a moment, thinking about the battle, before carefully placing it in the box as a trophy.

Closing the box, Ben leaned back on his seat, gazing out the window at the starry sky. Max watched him silently, pride evident on his face. Gwen, already settled in, looked more at ease than ever.

Outside, the wind rustled the leaves of the trees, while the Rust Bucket stood steady, a haven of calm amidst the open road.

"Let's get some rest, folks," Max said, breaking the silence. "Tomorrow's a new day, and I'm sure more adventures await us."

Ben looked at his grandfather, a small smile on his lips. "If tomorrow's even half as good as today, it'll be worth it."

_________________________________________________________________________

The night was dark and silent in Washington D.C. Outside the police station, a towering SWAT van stood parked, holding Doctor Aloysius J. Animo, the eccentric scientist now in police custody. However, a mysterious presence approached, moving with discreet steps and a clear purpose.

Two men in black suits walked with firm, deliberate strides, exuding the confidence of those accustomed to high-stakes situations. The taller of the two, with a cold and controlled gaze, radiated an unshakable calm. Beside him, his partner, shorter and with a focused expression, mirrored his every move without hesitation. There was an enigmatic air about them, as if they were shadows unfazed by the chaos around them.

The taller man reached into his jacket and produced a simple badge that gleamed with professional authority. He approached one of the on-duty officers, displaying the badge with precision. His voice was serious, carrying a tone of undeniable authority:

"Good evening, officer. Agent Smith, FBI." He paused, studying the officer carefully. "We're here to take custody of Doctor Animo. Shall we proceed?"

The officer glanced at the badge, his confusion evident. "FBI? I haven't heard about this operation... What's going on?"

Smith gave a quick, enigmatic smile, maintaining his composure. "No further explanation is necessary. We have full jurisdiction over this case. We'll be taking him now. Thank you for your service, officer."

Without another word, Smith turned back to his partner, who looked noticeably suspicious. Smith leaned in slightly, speaking in a low voice. "Can we proceed with agent verification? The passcode is 'BLAST3R PULSE'."

Still uncertain, the officer took the badge and moved to his computer. He typed in the passcode with hesitant keystrokes, but the screen soon lit up green, confirming the FBI's authority over the operation and Animo's custody. The tension on the officers' faces immediately dissipated.

"Documentation confirmed," the officer said, returning the badge. "But what exactly are you planning to do with Doctor Animo?"

Smith shrugged, his expression unreadable. "There's a specialized facility equipped to handle... cases like this. Don't worry." He cast a glance at Wheels, who was already retrieving the scientist from the van.

With Animo in their custody, the two agents left the police station and headed toward a truck discreetly parked at the corner. At first glance, the vehicle seemed unremarkable, with a generic plumbing company logo painted on the side, giving it a perfectly ordinary appearance despite its true purpose.

Wheels, with calculated and deliberate movements, retrieved a small, oval-shaped device from his jacket. It featured a single button on top. Without hesitation, he delivered an electric shock to Doctor Animo, rendering him unconscious instantly as he slumped into the truck's seat. Wasting no time, Wheels pressed the button on the containment device. With precision, he launched the device at Animo. Even in his unconscious state, the scientist was swiftly absorbed into the sphere.

In mere moments, the containment sphere expanded, its surface taking on a yellowish hue as a soft light enveloped it. Then, just as quickly, it contracted, compacting itself into a sealed, impenetrable form.

With the task complete, Wheels signaled to Smith, who was already in the driver's seat. The truck's engine purred to life, and moments later, they were on their way. The vehicle pulled away from the police station as if nothing unusual had happened, leaving behind an apparent scene of calm.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

I've been thinking about how the Omnitrix would work in this fanfic. If you look at the series, the device's functionality is pretty inconsistent. During Alien Force (at least in the first two seasons), the Omnitrix seemed to be at its peak: Ben could switch between aliens at will, return to human form just by clicking the dial, and rarely got the transformation wrong.

In Ultimate Alien, however, the device had several bugs. In Omniverse, it appears more functional than in UA but still inferior to AF. The Omnitrix often transformed Ben into the wrong alien—whether due to carelessness, AI errors, random mode, or any other explanation. Additionally, Ben couldn't choose which alien to switch to while transformed; it was always random. Yet, he seemed to be able to return to human form at will without even touching the Omnitrix.

Another point is the issue of injuries reflecting between Ben and his aliens. In Alien Force, we see Ben scrape his knee while transformed, and in Ultimate Alien, he breaks his arm. However, more severe injuries, like an alien's death at the hands of Albedo or Eon, simply revert Ben to human form instead of killing him. This suggests that the Omnitrix only reflects minor injuries and activates a safety system for major ones. Could this be a "feature" that can be turned on or off?

Excluding the start of Alien Force, it seems there was an evolution in how Ben controls and masters the Omnitrix. So, I decided to create my own progression for the device, covering the entire series. While I doubt I'll rewrite the whole series, it's still fun to have a solid concept:

Omnitrix Phases in the Fanfic

F1 - From the beginning to the end of the 2nd season of the classic series:

The Omnitrix works like it does in the classic series. Gwen or Max can click the symbol to revert Ben to human form. The device has a white symbol and can be removed with proper machinery. It automatically scans any exposed DNA on the dial, unlocking the corresponding alien form.

F2 - After the recalibration at the end of the 2nd season:

Ben can switch between aliens while transformed by turning the Omnitrix dial and clicking to activate. For example, if he's on alien 5 and wants to switch to 2, he turns the dial three times to the right. If he's on 2 and wants alien 7, he turns five times to the left. Clicking without turning the dial reverts him to human form. The symbol turns green, recognizing Ben as its user, making it impossible to remove without killing him (except for Azmuth). The design resembles the Omnitrix from the reboot's second season or the Omni-Enhanced. The DNA Scan works by holding the button for more than five seconds, like in Ultimate Alien.

F3 - Upgrade by Azmuth, after OS but before AF:

Aliens are divided into playlists of 10, which Ben must select while in human form. Once transformed, he can only switch between the aliens in that playlist and cannot access forms outside it. This "nerf" addresses the issue of having too many unlocked forms (over 100), most of which aren't useful for combat. Azmuth provides a playlist manager, allowing Ben to organize and categorize aliens, such as grouping non-combat forms into civilian playlists and combat-ready ones into hero playlists.

F4 - After the end of the Highbreed War:

While transformed, Ben can switch to any alien by clicking the Omnitrix symbol and issuing a mental command. This is basically the Alien Force functionality.

F5 - After the battle with Diagon:

Ben can use mental commands to activate the Omnitrix, raise the core, and select a transformation from the playlists or let the device choose. He can also return to human form with a mental command. This represents the near-ultimate version of the Omnitrix, with almost full master control.

F6 - After turning 18:

Full master control.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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