Noon the following day. The Rustbucket sat at a dusty gas station. While Max meticulously polished the RV's chrome until it gleamed, Tyler and the others lounged in the shade.
VROOOOM—WHEEZE!
The silence was shattered by the roar of engines. Three bikers on modified choppers skidded into the station, raising high-tech laser rifles. They opened fire on the storefront, the red beams melting glass as they demanded cash.
"Tyler, let's move! Civilians first," Ben said, his hand already on the dial.
Tyler stayed seated, giving Ben a confident nod. "You've got this, Ben. Show them what you've learned."
FLASH!
The Velocity Wraith appeared in a blur of blue and black. In less than a second, the three bikers were swiped off their seats, crashing heavily into the asphalt. Their rifles were snatched away before they even hit the ground.
"Now," Ben said, his mask retracting as he stood over them, crushing one of the laser guns under his heel. "You can wait for the cops, or you can find out how fast I really am."
"We... we surrender," the lead biker, a woman with a jagged scar across her eye named Rojo, muttered weakly.
Ben's "cool" facade lasted exactly three seconds before he broke into a smug grin. "See that, Grandpa? Piece of cake."
Suddenly, his expression went rigid. "More drones!"
Tyler didn't wait. He instinctively lunged toward Gwen, tackling her to the ground just as three Vilgaxian Drones screamed overhead.
"Ow! Tyler, watch the elbows!" Gwen hissed, her face flushed as she was pinned under him.
"Sorry, Gwen... reflex," Tyler apologized with a grin.
Gwen went quiet for a moment, her eyes drifting to Tyler's midsection as he helped her up. Wait... since when did he have an eight-pack? His loose T-shirt was straining against a physique that looked more like a professional athlete's than a middle-schooler's.
"Stay back! I'll handle the flying toasters!" Ben yelled, blurring back into action. He began weaving between the drones, causing them to collide in a spectacular shower of sparks.
However, Rojo and her crew weren't finished. They crawled toward their bikes, reaching for backup weapons hidden in the side panels.
"Tyler, they're going for an ambush!" Gwen shouted.
Tyler didn't transform. He simply sprinted. He reached the bikers before they could even draw their sidearms.
"Out of the way, kid!" one of the bikers growled, reaching for Tyler's hair.
Tyler caught the hand, pivoted his hips, and used his newfound core strength to execute a perfect shoulder throw. The biker hit the pavement with a sickening thud. He followed up with two lightning-fast strikes to the other two, dropping them to their knees.
"Oh my god," Max whispered, his jaw dropping. "Since when did Tyler learn Plumber-style CQC?"
"He's moving just like you, Grandpa," Gwen added, stunned. Tyler was taking down grown outlaws without even touching his watch.
A minute later, the threat was neutralized. Ben stood over the drone wreckage, while Tyler stood over the groaning bikers. They didn't wait for credit; the Rustbucket sped away just as the police sirens began to wail.
As the police arrived, they handcuffed Rojo and her gang. "You're going away for a long time, Rojo," one officer mocked.
Rojo stared at the disappearing dust cloud of the Rustbucket, her teeth bared. "It was that kid... and that blue freak."
Suddenly, metallic tentacles shot out from the drone wreckage, lashing onto Rojo's arms and spine. She screamed as the tech began to burrow into her nervous system. A cold, booming voice echoed directly into her skull.
"EARTHLING... OPEN YOUR EYES."
"I AM VILGAX."
Back in the RV, the mood was light. Ben was basking in the rare praise from Max and Gwen. He even used his XLR8 tail to grab a soda from the fridge.
"Hehe, so Grandpa... how about a bonus on my allowance for the heroics?"
"Nice try, Ben," Max smiled. "But no."
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion shook the horizon. Everyone looked back to see a pillar of black smoke rising from the gas station they had just left.
"Something's wrong," Max said, slamming on the brakes. "We're going back."
Ben kicked the door open. "Grandpa, don't worry about it! I'll zip back and check it out in ten seconds!" His voice was dripping with overconfidence.
"He's getting cocky again," Gwen sighed.
WHOOSH!
Ben vanished in a blur. Tyler closed the door, a cold pit forming in his stomach. That wasn't just a gas leak. Vilgax is finally playing his hand.
[New Alien Template Progressing... Name needed for the 'Error' version of the Loboan (Benwolf/Blitzwolfer)!]