EightEight's mind screeched to a halt. Her lips were touching his. His lips. The realization slammed into her, a cold wave washing over the surprise. She, EightEight, a seasoned bounty hunter, was in a compromising position with her target. An enemy.
The shock was quickly followed by something else. Confusion. He had saved her. Why? They were on opposite sides. She was here to take something from him, something he clearly valued. It made no sense. Humans are simple.
Then, an unexpected sensation bloomed within her. A warmth, starting low in her abdomen and spreading outwards. The contact, however brief, had stirred something unfamiliar. It felt…good. And his scent, a blend of something earthy and something sharply sweet, clouded her thoughts, making her head spin. She wanted more.
"!"
The bounty hunter's training kicked in, overriding the foreign sensations. She was a professional. Pride, ingrained since her earliest days on Sotoragg, surged to the forefront. She would not allow a lapse in judgment, not now, not ever.
With a surge of adrenaline, EightEight shoved herself off Ben, scrambling backwards until she was several feet away. She stood, her posture rigid, and narrowed her gaze. The heat, the confusion, the…pleasantness…of the kiss—all of it was shoved down, locked away. Now, she was EightEight, bounty hunter, and she had a job to do.
"Do not think this changes anything, Tennyson," she said, her voice regaining its usual clipped tone. "I am still taking the Chaquetrix."
Ben pushed himself up, ready for another round. He might have had a weird moment, but he still had to protect the Omnitrix… I guess it is the Chaquetrix and his friends. Just then, something spherical thumped to the cavern floor between him and EightEight.
[BOOM]
Smoke billowed out, obscuring everything. EightEight, her senses honed by years of tracking targets, felt a presence closing in from behind. She twisted, narrowly avoiding a crystal strike.
As the smoke cleared, she saw her would-be attacker. Diamondheart, radiating a soft blue light.
"Diamondheart? You okay?" Ben called out. Relief washed over him. At least one of his summons was still in the fight.
Standing beside Diamondheart, was Tetrax.
"You're betraying us, Tetrax?" EightEight spat, her voice laced with incredulity. How could someone like Tetrax side with a human?
Tetrax regarded her, his expression unreadable. "We were never on the same side."
Tetrax launched a barrage of crystal shards, forcing EightEight to dive for cover behind a cluster of glowing fungi. Diamondheart advanced, her crystalline form shimmering. Energy crackled around EightEight's gauntlets as she returned fire, the cavern echoing with the sounds of combat.
Even with Diamondheart's raw strength and Tetrax's experience, EightEight was a force to be reckoned with. She moved with impossible speed, her power swords deflecting energy blasts and crystal projectiles alike. Each parry sent sparks flying, the confined space amplifying the intensity of the clash. She anticipated their attacks, her movements economical and precise.
Diamondheart summoned a wall of crystal spikes, attempting to corner her. EightEight vaulted over it, landing behind Tetrax and unleashing a stream of laser fire. Tetrax barely had time to raise his shield before the shots impacted, the force pushing him back several feet. Diamondheart, seeing her comrade falter, hurled crystal shards that struck the ground around EightEight's feet, encasing her in a cage. EightEight roared as she slashed through the crystal, then emerged with renewed fury, her pink eyes blazing.
Despite their combined efforts, Diamondheart and Tetrax were unable to land a decisive blow. EightEight's armor deflected Diamondheart's strikes, and Tetrax couldn't get close enough to exploit any weaknesses. She was too fast, too skilled.
The Sotoraggian seemed to be enjoying herself, "Is this all you got?"
Diamondheart, though struggling, watched EightEight's movements, noticing how she favoured her right side when attacking. A plan formed in her mind.
"Tetrax," Diamondheart called out, her voice ringing in the cavern, "I have an idea." She quickly explained her strategy.
Tetrax listened intently, then nodded. "It might work. Timing is crucial."
As EightEight prepared another , Tetrax unleashed a barrage of projectiles. EightEight, as before, deflected them with ease, her power swords creating a blur of motion. Just as she finished batting away the last shard, Diamondheart shot forward, creating a ramp with her hand. As she neared EightEight, she created an cage, but this time, she put the top on it.
EightEight, caught off guard by the altered strategy, found herself trapped. She tried to escape, but there was no way out. Diamondheart solidified the prison and created another one. EightEight now found herself in a prison within a prison.
Tetrax approached and placed a device on the outer cage. "Cube Generator," he explained. "It will shrink her, and the prisons."
Tetrax activated the device and, with a flash of light, the cages and EightEight got smaller and smaller, until she was the size of a baseball. Tetrax picked it up and secured it on his belt.
Diamondheart tilted her head, concern etched on her crystalline face. "Ben, are you okay? You took quite a beating."
Ben brushed himself off, a grimace crossing his face. "I'm fine. Glad you're okay, Diamondheart. That was a close one." He shot a glance towards the Petrosapien, a curious expression in his green eyes. "Guess you made a friend."
Diamondheart nodded, her face softening. "Yeah, he is not an enemy. We just had a chat."
The fact that Tetrax was still a decent guy eased him. He had assumed that since he was now in the Marvel world, everything he knew from his past life was subject to change. It was a relief to know that some things remained the same.
With the immediate threat neutralized, the trio went to find Max and the girls. They moved carefully through the mine, the only light coming from Diamondheart's glow and the fungi. The air hung heavy with the smell of ozone and damp earth.
They found them beside the wreckage. Piles of rocks and twisted metal marked Kraab's burial site. Max stood with Gwen and Wildgirl, their faces etched with worry. Laura remained slightly behind. She was tense. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Tetrax, her claws extending slightly. She was ready to fight.
"Whoa, easy there," Ben said, stepping in front of Laura. "He's cool. Trust me."
Laura hesitated, retracting her claws but keeping a wary eye on the Petrosapien.
Max hurried forward, relief flooding his features. "Ben! Thank goodness you're alright. What happened here?"
"Long story, Grandpa," Ben said, clapping Max on the shoulder.
"Yeah," Gwen added. "We heard explosions and crashes. We thought the whole mine was collapsing."
"Almost did," Ben muttered, glancing back at the destruction.
He turned his attention to Tetrax, his brow furrowed. "So, what's your deal anyway? Why are you after the Chaquetrix?"
Tetrax sighed, his gaze sweeping over the assembled group. "My mission is to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Vilgax seeks to weaponize it, to control its power for his own twisted purposes." He paused, his eyes locking with Ben's. "I was sent to retrieve it, at all costs."
Ben's eyes hardened. "And what, you thought I was just going to hand it over? After everything that's happened?"
"I was prepared to use force if necessary," Tetrax admitted, his voice devoid of emotion. "But now, after seeing you in action, seeing how you use the device, I'm not so sure."
"What are you saying?" Ben asked, confusion evident in his voice.
Tetrax initially planned to bring Ben with him, by force if necessary. Talking with the summon and seeing the kid in action made him think otherwise. He seemed capable.
He looked at Diamondheart, his expression softening slightly. "You are an artificial creation, but you have the spirit of a noble Petrosapien warrior. You were brave."
Diamondheart nodded, a hint of pride coloring her crystalline face. "Thank you."
Tetrax turned his gaze to the pile of rubble, where Kraab was presumably still buried. With a flick of his wrist, another Cube Generator appeared in his hand. He tossed it towards the wreckage.
[BOOM]
The generator activated, emitting a pulse of energy that enveloped the pile of rocks and twisted metal. In moments, it shrank down to a manageable size, trapping Kraab inside. Tetrax then pulled a small, circular device from his belt, its surface glowing with intricate symbols.
He held the device aloft, and a beam of red light shot down from the cavern ceiling, enveloping him. "I am leaving now. But Vilgax will stop at nothing to get the Chaquetrix, so be prepared." Then, with a final flash, Tetrax and the small sphere were gone.
"Well, that was weird," Ben said, breaking the silence.
Max clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Alright, everyone, let's get out of this death trap. We can discuss all this back at the Rustbucket."
Gwen and Laura nodded in agreement, and followed Max out of the mine.
Ben fell into step with Diamondheart, but something was off. Her usual bright glow seemed dimmer, her movements less fluid. She was staring at the spot where Tetrax had disappeared. Ben laid a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you okay? You seem lost in thought."
Diamondheart blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. "I…yes, I am coming," she replied, her voice a little distant. But she didn't move, her gaze still fixed on the spot where Tetrax had been. Ben frowned. She seemed bothered by something. The group started to walk away, and Diamondheart then slowly followed.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz