I gave a start as I suddenly realised that I was not in my laboratory.
I tried to move my body to little effect; my arms and legs strapped to something - I'm not entirely sure what - but due to my orientation, I can only assume it to be a table of some kind. It was rather basic in its form and uncomfortably cold.
My eyes opened faster than I anticipated or really expected.
Lights and senses assaulted my senses in a flurry of bright colours. A low white noise rang in my ear as I slowly adjusted to my new location.
I was under some kind of light, probably a surgical light or equivalent.
My eyes haven't fully adjusted yet. Though my hearing seems to be returning to me.
Just being able to make out voices conversing with each other. Unfortunately, not in a language I understand or recognise. Which is...
Slightly worrying.
Looking up at incredibly bright lights that made it nearly impossible to see anything else. Azmuth, the old fool, certainly wouldn't, not at this brightness at least; it just gets in the way instead of day-to-day procedures.
And the colour isn't that of Vilgax now that I think about it. Nor is the, for lack of a more proper descriptor, vibe. This doesn't give his biomechanical... vibe to it. For lack of a better word at current.
And yet...
...
...
Wait.
Something's wrong here.
'...Something's really wrong.'
I tried to get up, but to no avail. The cuffs, or whatever it was, were pinning me down to the table and were surprisingly strong as my head whipped side to side as I tried to see something, anything to help me figure out what had happened, where I was and who or what I had heard talking.
Though no matter how hard I tried, I was unable to move my body much of anything.
And what's worse, there was a hole in my memory. Maybe, I'm not sure, but that would explain why I don't remember how I got here. Maybe I was knocked out, but that wouldn't explain the sudden cutoff.
'My head hurts. I can't focus.' I don't get it. I don't understand how I got here; it just doesn't make sense. I mean, I know I was working on something, but that doesn't explain how this happened.
Vilgax wouldn't kidnap me; he has no reason to. Neither would Azmuth nor anyone else I've worked with.
Psychobos? No. He's too much of a coward to try that.
Khyber? No, I'm not one of those he'd want to hunt anyway. And he certainly wouldn't want to like this, all sterile and clinical. Plus, we were just in talks about working together. I wouldn't doubt he would try and "hunt" me when we're done, but so soon? That doesn't seem like something he would do. He's known as a great business partner
It feels like I'm under investigation or in a hospital.
'Was there an accident? An attack? No, surely not, there's no way Tennyson would allow such a thing. Well, assuming the Earth was attacked, of course, and there's only a handful of people who would be so bold to do that.'
I thought before I felt a sudden pit of dread begin to spiral from my stomach. 'But if there was an attack, is that why I can't move?! Am I paralysed?!'
Testing my body for a second, I made sure that I did, indeed, have motor functions over all of my body's limbs. Sure, they were still restrained, but I was still capable of moving them.
I sat or lay still for a second as my brain corrected itself from such a ridiculous thought. 'Wait, no, that wouldn't make sense, none whatsoever. It couldn't be, it's simply impossible; if such a possibility had occurred, I would most likely have bled out.' I closed my eyes as I tried to think about what I was doing before, well, this.
Properly this time.
...
I felt a headache come on as I tried to remember what I was doing before I was... wherever it is that I am now. 'I know that I was at my temporary base of operations at the moment after... an admittedly crushing defeat by Tennyson once again. Working on a device and an upgrade that would help further my Ultimatrix stabiliser.' Which is now in its glove base mode on my right hand... strange, it shouldn't be capable of acting or even morphing its own structure without some form of input.
Silver rim and faceplate, four white tubes on the side coming off from the dial and the four black knuckle indents. Okay, so nothing has been visibly done to it. Not sure about the internals.
'Wait, why is the core blinking blue?'
I mean, I never installed an AI core into the device.
Well, maybe the cores I reinstalled from my original Omnitrix and Ultimatrix, after I stole them back from Azmuth. But why would that start to make the core blink blue all of a sudden? I feel like I'm forgetting something important.
'At least, I think so, my memory certainly confirms that, but it's so blurry right now that it's hard for me to fully confirm.
Urgh, that felt disgusting just to feel and think. Never again. Tennyson and Azmuth will certainly pay for that, especially after leaving me stuck as a Celestial Sapian for, oh, what was it again? Ah, right!
For nearly a year!
Tch.
Deep breaths, Albedo, deep breaths. That's all over now; you'll never have to return to that wretched place ever again.
Anyway, I was working on my Ultimatrix when—'
There was movement in the corner of my vision, and I turned my head, hoping it was someone who could inform me on what was going on. But whatever I was going to say next died in my throat at what I saw.
What stepped out of the darkness into my vision wasn't human. Humanoid, perhaps, but the word reptilian was the first thing that came to mind. The weirdest thing is that I've never seen such a species before.
Sure, I wasn't the most well-travelled Galvan, but I was familiar with other species in my own solar system, let alone the universe. Not just the ones in or planned to be in the Omnitrix, too. I was at the top of my biology and species classes after all. Azmuth himself hired me partly on that.
The head of the creature reminded me of some kind of ancient Earth reptile, dinosaur, I believe they're called. Or perhaps crocodilian adjacent. It's definitely reptilian, though. The skull was expanded or rather bulbed in the back, and the way it tilted its head as it looked at me was birdlike.
Somewhat similar to a Pturbosaurian. Somewhat.
Green scales covered it where I could see its body, but some kind of jumpsuit covered most of its body.
Odd. I expected it to wear some form of lab and medical garments. Strange.
So, is this not a type of hospital or medical centre?
It was a little shorter than me, if I had to guess. 'Wait, wouldn't that make them smaller than a Galvan?', and the stilted way it moved along with the shape of its legs and arms made it clear that it wasn't built in the same manner as a human nor a Galvan.
"What in the First Thinker's name are you?" My mind whirled in a tizzy as I spoke in a soft whisper. I-I don't understand what was going on. Was I not on Galvan B or even the cesspit that was Earth?
Wait, now that I pay attention... moving my body again and... yes, I'm still stuck in Tennyson's frame. Five annoying, fat fingers and the incessant craving for chilli fries. 'Great...' So that means that it's only slightly smaller than the average human, maybe a foot or so. Hmm, that would also explain why my Ultimatrix is on my hand.
'Bu-But wasn't I on Earth to start with?' Argh, this headache is getting worse by the second. 'Why, why am I—'
[Uncatalogued DNA detected]
"Huh?" A sudden, synthetic, still voice spoke up, "What? Who said that? Show yourself!" I started to look around. I was sure I had heard that voice before, but I'm not entirely sure why.
[Ultimatrix has detected numerous unknown and uncatalogued species not documented within either Ultimatrix or Primus database]
[Ultimatrix has suffered damage during the time user has been unconscious, fully entering repair mode now; many functions will become unavailable during this time]
'What?!' I mentally screached as the light of the core dulled due to the power circulation within the core. The red core of the dial of my Ultimatrix darkened into a deep shade of blue as the… thing let out a series of hisses, clicks and growls, which I believe to be it speaking, but I couldn't understand it.
Sometimes I wish I had installed a translator in my Ultimatrix. Granted, I would rarely need it, but still.
'Wait, no, since I mixed and reinstalled the cores after I stole the Polymorphic Crystal, that function should have become available once more! Well, at least it wouldn't be if this thing weren't in recalibration mode right now. Well, it would still take time to understand the language, but still.
But what could have caused such damage to the core? What had transpired while I was unconscious
Wait, that means it's not a species that was recorded in the Omnitrix, let alone one that I had researched about for my final papers. I would have certainly mentioned their strange physiology and way of communicating,
Drat, it looks like installing a communicator or some form of translator really was required for my stabiliser. I should have added that feature after I finished completing my Stabiliser after raiding Inspector 13's hideout. In hindsight, I really should have added that feature to it. Well, now that I'm thinking of it, I really should install a lot of the safety and passive features of the Omnitrix into my stabiliser. Especially after finding out how easily hacked it was by Inspector 13.
Hmm, not to mention, even if I'm on Earth, there were never any reptilianesque people hidden underground. Not even in Undertown.'
Could those conspiracies that I saw on those Earthian forums be right? No, surely not, not with the amount of nonsense that gets posted on there. There's no way that would be true.
I snapped out of my mini-fugue as the lizard thing gestured, and large black disk-like drones of some sort floated out from behind him. 'Is that a medical Drone? Is my body really that damaged for such a thing to be needed? But I feel fine; I can still move, even if it's only a little with these restraints.'
It was, almost comically, shaped like a small stereotypical flying saucer that I saw in those black-and-white Earth films, and they had something kind of red light emanating underneath them. Perhaps a propulsion system? I couldn't get a good look at it, given the darkness surrounding me, though I do not believe that to be the case. The way they move is too odd and snake-like to be a simple propulsion system, not to mention clunky.
Getting a better look at them, there was a large pipe of some kind connected to the top of them. Okay, yes, that explains it.
'It was almost stereotypical.' I mentally rolled my eyes. 'But that does beg the question if this species is photosensitive. Could that be the reason for the consuming blackness that I've found myself in? Or perhaps it is some kind of prison or black room, meant to keep a target in the dark or to hide the rest of the room?
Wait. Am I being hired? Again! No, that can't be right. Why would anyone request my services like this, of all ways? When I find out who's responsible, I show them a taste of ultimate power when I finally get my Ultimatrix properly functioning again.
Hmm, maybe I could get them to help me with that plan for stealing Azmuth's intelligence. Finally, be on top over the fool for once. Let him know how this feels, to be insulted and treated like this for once in his centuries of living.'
It was about the size of my knees upwards, if not a bit larger, and looked rough and chitinous. The machines were of a dull grey colour, non-reflective. Though there were these lines spread throughout the object that pulsed with some strange red energy. I don't know why, but it felt... familiar?
Comforting yet very alien to me.
I'm not entirely confident in guessing why. There's nothing coming to mind except maybe... Malware? No, that can't be possible; there's no way these lot would be able to have obtained the Mechamorph, let alone keep him in such a confined state for so long without a Galvan's expertise.
Not to mention that would insinuate that all of these machines have a part of Malware in them. Given the state he was in the last time I saw him, I doubt it.
The drones floated over to me and promptly surrounded me. With them so close to my position, I could make out that there were four of them. There might be more of them, hidden in the shadows, but there's no reason to worry about that right now.
The underside of the machines, where the largest light source in the room emanated from, even outclassing the spotlight above me, pointed at my chest.
I had only about a few seconds to decide before they blasted me with whatever energy that was, if the sound the drones were making was accurate.
I don't think that they wanted to shoot me with a laser. It was unlikely. Especially going off of whatever strange energy that was resonating with me.
So most likely, this was some kind of experiment. Probably some kind of bombardment of energy to see what comes out of it.
So becoming a Petrosapien to deflect the blast would be questionable at best. It's hard to know what kind of energy they were going to use, and that wouldn't stop it from affecting me.
I could become either a Kineceleran or Citrakayah to run away, but I have no idea the size or shape of the room. So it'll be hard to properly move, let alone see where I'm going.
Maybe I could turn into a To'Kustar?
No, that would only complicate things. I could emerge out of a couple of buildings, and that would certainly get Tennyson's attention.
Wait, what if I'm in space? Shit, I didn't think about that. I wouldn't die or anything, but I'd certainly not get anywhere by just destroying this spaceship or satellite or station.
A Tetramand could do, would instantly be able to break out of these restraints just by transforming, but it wouldn't actually help me avoid the beams of energy.
A Vaxasaurian would have a similar effect, only that I would be much larger and therefore, a better target for whatever experiment they were trying to conduct with these machines.
A Pyronite? No, that's stupid. It's not giving off any sort of heat, and I doubt it's fire.
A Galilean? It doesn't give off the same kind of energy as mana either. So I'm unlikely to be protected from it.
The Crystalsapien? Hmm, probably. Same with the conductoid.
Hmm, the best option would most likely be a Necrofriggian, Amperi or Ectonurite. Yes, they would be the best for the current situation. Though, which is better for the situation? If I were to turn into a Necrofriggian, I would be able to freeze them instantly, though there's no guaranteeing that the drones would stop. I would be less manoeuvrable than an Ectonurite, but I would also be able to freeze the machines from a distance. Not to mention having a sturdier body, well, at least in comparison to an Ectonurite or Amperi.
Amperians, I could travel through the electrical wiring. They also possess intangibility like the other two, though again, how useful that would be in this situation overall depends on where I am. They read their thoughts, though I'm not sure whether I would be able to understand them. I don't believe I have turned into one yet; maybe? But I won't know until I try.
If I became an Ectonurite, I would lose out on the cryokinesis and bio-eletrokinesis, but my body's intangible properties would be far greater, plus I would be able to become invisible. And with the cloak, I may just be immune to the energy; however, that is a big may and ask of something that I still don't know the properties and make-up of.
Hmmm.
So it's decided then.
I let the machines charge up a bit more before I transformed.
My left leg rejoined my body in an almost wisp-like, snaking motion, fusing with my other leg as the bones inside both fused together. Creating a tail-like tip as my bones reshaped themselves into the shape of my spine.
Though even that didn't last the nanoinstant that it took place in, as the structure of my spine became even more snake-like. My head snapped back while my shoulders were made wider to prepare for the rest of my body, as my skull was twisted 180 degrees with an uncomfortable, snappy quickness.
My muscles swelled and congealed around my torso, akin to the inflating of a balloon as my skin shrink-wrapped itself onto my bones, forcing my muscles and organs closer together than they were already becoming during the transformation.
My skin darkened to a rough grey, withering and deteriorating along with most of my internals, as it was pulled away from me; a second layer, or coating, formed from it. Wrapping around my new body like a body bag. My new musculature and body structure nearly doubled in size as a result of the transformation procedure.
My organs bunched together near the centre of my mass and twisted and coiled around my spine. Gaining a slippery and strangely leathery texture to them.
I'm not sure if that's normal or not; this is my first time becoming an Ectonurite. And out of all species contained within the Omnitrix and Primus database, this is one of the few species I know little about.
If my body were normal, in any sort of context, I have no doubt that as I incrementally phased through my restraints, I would have looked like a scene out of one of those darker horror movies if anyone could have properly discerned what was happening to me due to how fast it was happening to me.
By the time I was halfway through the operating table I was on, my fingers had sharpened to a razor's edge, though they were, mostly, safely wrapped in my new second skin. My right eye had, from what I can tell, melted away as my left eye socket expelled a liquid through this new, grey, cloth-like skin.
The liquid travelled across the second layer, resembling that of cracks along glass, as my now only functional eye peered through and made itself known on my now wrapped-up body, along with my now blue-cored Ultimatrix, now partly covered by the wrapping on the middle of my chest.
As I finalised phasing through the table, I slithered my way through the air.
Those drones blasted where I was with some kind of radiation or energy. And there it is again, that strange feeling that energy gives off. 'Why on Primus does it feel so familiar? I'm not sure, but I don't think I really want to find out. At least, be on the receiving end of it.
Heh, though I wouldn't be afraid of experimenting with it. I wonder why I've been-' My thoughts and movements paused as I released something odd.
"This..." A deep, raspy voice escaped my mouth as I flexed my new body, "This is quite different." First that strange energy, and now this new body. I knew those of the Anur System were... different, but this. This is quite an odd feeling. Is this what Tennyson feels?
'I feel so... so....'
"So... strange? And yet so similar, curious." I examined my hand, slowly turning it around. Out of all the transformations, why is my Ectonurite one making me feel this way? Do I have others that make me feel so, so wrong?
"Ah!" A short shriek escaped my lips(?) as another blast of energy tried to bathe me in its glow. A sort of primal disgust of the light flooded me in a way I can't quite describe. The drones have since slithered around the operation table to chase me. Seems they're programmed for scenarios like this, hmm.
"Even my body looks different." I was certain that I was at least larger than Tennyson's transformation, a decent bit larger than the average Ectonurite, even. Though what could have caused this, I'm not sure. 'Granted, I haven't been to the Anur System and have only read up on them in the archives, but still, this feels like I've grown quite a lot.'
"It still manoeuvres and acts the same, but... tch, I just can't put my finger on it; there's just something so odd about this." I thought aloud as I evaded another round of energy bombardment from those machines.
My vision had started to adapt to the room's darkness, and I'll say, this seems to have been a kind of artificial darkness. Panels lined the walls and roof of the room, glowing in a deep black colour. Now that I can better see my surrounds i notice that my captors are wearing a kind of eye protection.
Not the goggles I was used to on Galvan Prime or on Earth, but they seemed to serve a similar purpose.
There are so many readings and screens around us, and yet, even from the briefest of glances I gave them, I am unable to read their written language.
It's not even one that I can approximate. Which only gives more credence that this is some kind of underground species that has escaped prying eyes.
'Perhaps I could find records of their history. If I meld with their servers as a Mechamorph, i will surely find what I'm looking for.' I thought as I avoided another series of beans aimed at my general spatial area. They weren't that accurate, and despite my lack of experience in this body, I'm having a rather easy time dodging them.
Perhaps they aren't trying to hurt me? They could have just injected me. Unless, of course, this energy is only capable of existing as an energy and can't be synthesised into a vial or liquid form.
...Or they could just be that bad at hitting their target unless said target is standing still. That too could be the reason. And I will admit, the faces they are making are quite funny.
It seems that there was one of those reptilian creatures behind the table; he seemed not to have recognised that I had escaped, or at least was confused as to what was going on as he looked around the room randomly.
'Heh, he was probably started from the machines randomly blasting in my airspace.' Moving my eye along the track across my skin, shifting it so it was now on my back, I found them quite close to my position. It wasn't as if I was moving very fast; to be honest, this room is big, but not that big.
The reptile and I looked eyes for a moment as I re-moved mine back into its socket from the back of my body, and stopped mid-air, just a few feet in front of him.
'I knew Ectornutites were capable of such a thing, but experiencing it first-hand is an entirely different feeling.' The screens behind him displayed a varying amount of data streams. I could roughly get the gist of them: vitals, energy fluctuations and levels, things of that nature.
From the looks of it, compared to the others behind and around me, at their own various stations, this one seemed to be on the younger side. I watched him closely as I felt the drones finally close in on my location, after that underwhelming "chase", and once more readied their exposure units for firing.
'I'll admit, I almost feel bad for what I'm about to do to him.'
My eye sharpened in a sadistic glee I did not know I possessed as I looked into the eyes of my newly recruited test subject.
'Almost.'