While Gwen frantically flipped through the pages of her spellbook searching for anything that could reverse Max's mutation, she noticed Ben crouched nearby, once again fiddling with the damaged Omnitrix.
The watch was sparking harder now, unstable green electricity jumping from the exposed core every few seconds.
Gwen stared at him like he had completely lost his mind.
"You seriously think turning into another random alien is a good idea right now?" she asked.
Ben glanced toward Grandpa Max's mutated form lying nearby.
"If I don't try," he said quietly, "that's gonna end up being all of us."
That immediately shut Gwen up.
Nearby, mutant Max let out a weak groan while Gold Ship carefully held onto one of his slimy clawed hands.
"We're fixing you, Grampa," she said stubbornly. "No matter what."
Orfevre stayed beside them protectively, though her eyes kept flicking toward the giant machine overhead. She clearly looked like she wanted to punch Dr. Animo directly through a wall.
Above them, the massive mutant ray suddenly hummed back to life.
"Oh no," Gwen muttered.
The giant cannon rotated slowly toward the group again while green energy gathered around the barrel.
"Everyone move!" Orfevre shouted.
The machine fired.
Ben and Gwen immediately dove in opposite directions as the green beam blasted through the platform where they had been standing seconds earlier.
Orfevre grabbed Gold Ship under one arm and rolled across the wet metal flooring just before the beam scorched past them.
The explosion shook the entire observatory.
Before the group could recover, the mutant frog suddenly landed directly between Ben and Gwen with a loud splash.
The massive mutant frog suddenly landed directly between Ben and Gwen, blocking their escape route. Its giant red eyes locked onto them while drool dripped from its mouth.
At the same time, Heatbat screeched overhead before descending in front of Orfevre and Gold Ship, flames pouring from its wings as it trapped them against the edge of the platform.
"Great," Orfevre deadpanned. "Now we have Heatbat problems."
Gold Ship clung to her sister. "BIG BROTHER HELP!!"
Ben clenched his teeth before slamming his hand directly onto the exposed Omnitrix core.
The damaged watch erupted into a blinding burst of green light.
The mutant animals screeched and recoiled while even Dr. Animo shielded his eyes from the flash.
When the light finally faded, a new alien stood where Ben had been.
He looked like a fusion between XLR8 and Diamondhead.
His body was sleek and streamlined like XLR8's, but crystalline armor covered his limbs and torso. Sharp aquamarine crystals jutted from his shoulders and forearms while wheel-like structures spun at his feet. His visor-like face glowed green beneath the cracked Omnitrix symbol on his chest.
The alien flexed his clawed fingers before grinning.
"XLR8 and Diamondhead?" he said excitedly. "Okay, yeah, I can definitely work with this."
Dr. Animo leaned forward inside his machine while studying the transformation with fascination.
"Well, well," he taunted. "What exactly are you supposed to be? A blocky lizard on roller skates?"
Diamond8 pointed sharply toward him.
"Turn our grandpa back to normal!"
He thrust both hands forward and unleashed a rapid barrage of crystal shards.
The spikes shot across the observatory like bullets.
Dr. Animo yelped and ducked behind his controls as several shards slammed into the mutant ray machine, sending sparks bursting everywhere.
"My machine!" Animo shrieked.
"Don't just stand there!" he barked toward his mutant pets. "Stop him!"
The giant frog immediately launched its tongue toward Diamond8.
But the fusion alien suddenly blurred forward with incredible speed.
The tongue snapped harmlessly through empty air.
In the next instant, Diamond8 appeared beside Gwen and grabbed her shoulder before speeding her away from danger so fast that she nearly lost her balance when he stopped.
"Warn people before doing that!" Gwen shouted dizzily.
"No promises!" Diamond8 replied.
Heatbat suddenly swooped toward Orfevre and Gold Ship while unleashing a stream of fire.
Diamond8 instantly accelerated again, the wheel structures on his feet spinning wildly as he dashed across the observatory floor in a streak of green light.
He grabbed both girls and pulled them away milliseconds before the flames engulfed their position.
The Heatbat screeched angrily.
Diamond8 skidded across the floor before firing several crystal shards directly at the mutant bat. The projectiles pierced through its flaming wings and forced it backward.
The giant frog lunged again from behind.
Diamond8 ducked low before sprinting around the creature in tight circles at blinding speed.
Sharp crystal spikes erupted from the flooded ground around the frog's legs, trapping the mutant animal in place.
The frog croaked furiously and began smashing through the crystals with brute force.
Meanwhile, Heatbat dove again from above.
Diamond8 raised one arm and generated a crystal shield just before the flaming creature slammed into it.
The impact pushed him backward across the wet platform, but the shield held.
"Okay," Diamond8 muttered while digging his feet into the floor, "this combo's actually awesome."
Heatbat screeched overhead and launched a volley of fireballs downward.
Diamond8 accelerated again, wheel-feet spinning violently as he zipped across the observatory faster than the explosions could catch him.
He raced up broken walls, across rusted platforms, and around pillars while firing crystal shards behind him at the pursuing mutant animals.
The crystal projectiles exploded against Heatbat's wings while several more stabbed into the giant frog's legs, slowing it down.
Using what he learned from Evan's Diamondhead, he aimed for weak spots and limbs to slow them down.
Diamond8 circled around them at high speed. The mutant frog roared angrily and tried snapping at him with its tongue.
The frog's tongue missed him completely before Diamond8 sent a crystal shard into it mid-stretch.
The mutant frog roared in pain, blood slipped from it toungue.
Using his momentum, Diamond8 spun violently in a massive circle before slamming the gigantic frog directly into one of the observatory walls hard enough to crack the stone.
Heatbat dove toward him from above with flames erupting from its mouth.
Diamond8 quickly formed a massive crystal wall in front of himself.
The fireball exploded against the crystals while Diamond8 immediately burst through the smoke cloud at top speed and rammed shoulder-first into Heatbat's chest.
The flaming creature screeched as it crashed through several rusted catwalks overhead.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Brainstorm continued weaving through the observatory ruins while the Xenomorph and Predator pressed him from both sides. The Xenomorph crawled along the walls and ceiling with terrifying speed while the Predator stalked him from the shadows, firing shots whenever he saw an opening.
Brainstorm's claws sparked with electricity as he ducked under the Xenomorph's bladed tail. The tail sliced through a metal pipe behind him, showering the flooded floor with sparks.
"You know," Brainstorm muttered while narrowly sidestepping another slash, "most species usually wait a few minutes before trying to murder someone."
The Xenomorph lunged straight for his throat.
Brainstorm instantly tapped the dial.
A golden flash erupted.
Fasttrack appeared in his place and immediately vanished in a blur of speed.
The Xenomorph crashed into empty air while Fasttrack ran circles around both enemies, his claws scraping across the wet floor hard enough to leave burn marks behind. Using his speed, he kicked off the air itself and sprinted sideways across the observatory walls.
The Predator tracked him with his shoulder cannon and fired repeatedly, but every plasma shot missed by inches.
Fasttrack smirked. "Too slow."
He suddenly charged directly at the Predator before slamming the dial again.
Gold light exploded around him mid-sprint.
Diamondhead emerged at full speed and drove his shoulder directly into the Yautja hunter's chest.
The impact launched Predator through a crumbling wall in a burst of stone and rusted metal.
The Xenomorph snarled and immediately tackled Diamondhead from behind, slamming him into the flooded floor. Its claws scraped violently across his crystal body, sparks flying everywhere.
Diamondhead grunted as the creature pinned him down.
"Okay, seriously, personal space."
The Omnitrix flashed again.
His crystal body melted apart into thick muddy sludge as Sludge instantly expanded in size beneath the Xenomorph.
The alien beast suddenly found itself sinking into the massive mud-like body.
The Xenomorph hissed violently as sludge wrapped around its limbs and torso, dragging it deeper while thick mud tried to force its way into its mouth and airways.
"Let's see how you like being stuck for once," Sludge growled.
Suddenly, a plasma bolt slammed into his back.
"AAGH!"
Part of Sludge's muddy body hardened into dry clay from the heat blast.
Predator leapt back through the broken wall with his shoulder cannon glowing hot, immediately firing more plasma shots.
Sludge quickly slapped the Omnitrix dial again.
Golden light flashed.
Feedback appeared and absorbed the incoming plasma directly into his plug-like fingers. Electricity surged across his body as the absorbed energy crackled loudly.
"Thanks for the recharge."
The Xenomorph finally tore itself free from the mud while Feedback rushed straight toward Predator.
The hunter extended his wrist blades and lunged at him head-on.
Another golden flash erupted.
Feedback transformed mid-charge into Quilava, instantly curling into a blazing spinning wheel of fire.
The flaming tackle slammed directly into Predator's chest and launched him backward across the flooded floor.
The Xenomorph's tail whipped toward Quilava from behind.
Quilava uncurlled at the last second and barely avoided the strike before slamming the dial again.
Gold light exploded once more.
Stitch appeared crouched low on all six limbs, growling while water dripped from his blue fur.
The Xenomorph screeched and charged him immediately.
Despite being much smaller, Stitch slammed directly into the larger creature without backing down. The Xenomorph's claws raked across him repeatedly, but they barely seemed to do anything against Stitch's ridiculously durable body.
Predator recovered and opened fire again.
Stitch instantly crawled across the Xenomorph's body at absurd speed, forcing the plasma blasts to strike the black alien instead.
The Xenomorph shrieked in pain and swung its tail wildly.
The bladed tail slammed into Stitch directly.
Stitch blinked once, feeling the bladed tail failed to even pierce him. "...That's all you got?"
Before either alien could react, Stitch grabbed the tail with all four arms and suddenly started spinning.
The Xenomorph's screeches echoed throughout the observatory as Stitch swung the massive creature around like a ragdoll before hurling it straight toward Predator.
The Yautja barely rolled aside before his own pet smashed through another support beam behind him.
Predator looked up just in time to see another golden flash.
This time, the air itself suddenly felt wrong.
Predator's vision distorted violently with static-like interference as a splitting headache slammed into his skull. Even the Xenomorph hesitated uneasily.
Standing across from them was a tall, pale, faceless alien. The surrounding lights flickered violently.
Predator grabbed his head in pain while his targeting system malfunctioned completely.
The Xenomorph lunged instinctively, forcing Slender to glide backward to avoid its claws.
Slender tilted his head slightly.
"Interesting. No eyes. No fear response to visual pressure either."
The Xenomorph snarled again, completely unaffected by Slender's ability.
"Well, that's annoying."
He tapped the dial again. Golden light burst outward.
A pale gold ghost-like alien floated above the water, chains hanging from his body while a single golden eye glowed from his face.
Ghostfreak immediately phased straight into the Xenomorph.
The creature let out a horrific screech as its body convulsed violently.
For a moment, Predator watched his pet twitch and stagger unnaturally before it slowly turned its head toward him with glowing golden eyes.
The possessed Xenomorph snarled.
Predator hissed angrily. "Damn you..."
The possessed beast charged him. Predator met it head-on with his wrist blades extended, only for Ghostfreak to suddenly phase back out at the last second.
The confused Xenomorph accidentally impaled itself on Predator's blades.
The alien beast screeched furiously and retaliated immediately, tackling its owner into the water while the two violently attacked each other in confusion.
Ghostfreak floated above them calmly for exactly one second before tapping the dial again.
Gold light flashed. Big Chill emerged from the transformation and spread his wings wide.
A freezing wave exploded outward.
The Xenomorph and Predator were instantly trapped inside thick ice mid-fight.
Big Chill floated there for a moment, staring at the frozen pair.
"Now they are taken care of."
Right then, the ceiling above cracked loudly. Big Chill looked up just in time to see Diamond8 crash straight through the floor with Heatbat and the mutant frog tumbling down after him.
"Little help!" Diamond8 shouted before crashing into the water below.
Big Chill instantly swooped down into the water and dragged him out.
"You okay?" Big Chill asked in his cold, echoing voice.
"Yeah, thanks for the save," Diamond8 replied while regaining his footing. "Not gonna lie, this fusion thing still feels weird."
Heatbat screeched, rising from the water.
Big Chill inhaled deeply before blasting both mutant creatures with an enormous stream of freezing breath.
The entire flooded lower level froze solid in seconds. Heatbat and the mutant frog became trapped in thick ice almost instantly.
Diamond8 stared at the frozen enemies before grinning. "Okay, that's actually really cool."
Big Chill still holding on to him while ice mist drifted through the observatory. "Animo?"
Diamond8 smirked and pointed upward.
"Knocked him out while protecting everyone at the same time. Multitasking."
Big Chill smiled before the two headed back upstairs together.
As soon as they floated back upstairs, Big Chill set Diamond8 down and the group immediately turned toward the destroyed mutant ray lying in pieces across the observatory floor, its body still covered in crystal shards from the fight.
Ben, Gwen, Orfevre, Gold Ship, and Max were all gathered around the wreckage, while the unconscious Dr. Animo lay off to the side where Big Chill had frozen him solid.
Big Chill looked over the scene and immediately frowned. "What happened here?"
"It was Animo's machine," Diamond8 said, pointing toward the shattered cannon. "That thing caused all of this."
Big Chill's golden eyes narrowed as he turned his attention toward the frozen scientist. He floated forward, calmly breathed a blast of ice over him to make sure he stayed put, and then turned back toward the others.
"Is there any way to reverse this?" Big Chill asked as his wings folded back into his cloak.
Gwen lifted her spellbook and shook her head. "I'm looking for something, but I haven't found anything yet."
Big Chill glanced at the book, then back at her. "Of course you haven't. That is a Level One spellbook. If you want stronger spells, you usually need something higher than that, depending on the max level."
Charmcaster had only given Gwen the beginner book so she could learn the basics and get used to magic first, and honestly, Gwen had already shown a lot of potential with it. She was learning faster than most people would have expected, which made it pretty clear she had some real talent.
Big Chill turned toward the broken machine again.
"But maybe..." he murmured.
He floated closer to the damaged ray and studied it for a second, then tapped his Omnitrix dial.
Golden light flashed. Brainstorm appeared in his place.
Then he tapped the dial again.
Another burst of light erupted, and Super Brainstorm stood there instead, his energy crackling more intensely as he focused on the machine.
Using his electrokinesis, he tore the giant device apart piece by piece, separating the damaged components and sorting through the mess. The others watched as he worked with complete concentration, moving faster and more precisely than anyone else could have managed. Within moments, he had created a small chip from what had once been a massive ray cannon.
The little piece floated in front of him.
Then, just as he finished, red light flared around him and Evan returned to human form.
His Another Omnitrix had reached its limit and was now recharging. The rapid transformations, especially the jump into Super mode, had drained it completely.
Evan barely paid attention to that right now. He simply tossed the Omnitrix faceplate back to Ben while holding the chip in his other hand.
"Try placing this over your Omnitrix dial," Evan said. "Maybe when you time out, it'll merge back on."
Diamond8 caught it and looked down at the faceplate, then nodded as he pressed it carefully against the emblem.
Since the Omnitrix could change shape depending on its user and adjust its size during transformations, Evan figured it might be able to fix itself if the faceplate was put back in the right place after a time out or a transformation.
Ben has the same idea, but Evan had just said it before him.
Then Evan opened the interface for his Another Omnitrix and let the chip drop inside.
[Data Upgrade Detected. DNA Stabilizer Mode is now available.]
"Omnitrix, activate DNA Stabilizer," Evan said clearly.
[Begin DNA stabilizing process.]
The dial popped up and began spinning as bright golden light flooded the room.
A moment later, the device finished its work.
[All unusual DNA has been restored and recovered.]
"GRAMPA!" Gold Ship practically launched herself at him before he could even sit up properly.
Max groaned while rubbing his head. "Oooh... feels like I got hit by a truck."
Gold Ship hugged his leg tightly. "You're alive! And not slimy anymore!"
"Grandpa, you're back!" Gwen cheered, running over to hug him too.
Max blinked a few times and rubbed his head, looking more confused than anything else. "Thanks... uh, where exactly did I go?"
"We'll explain later," Orfevre said with a tired little sigh of relief, though she was clearly glad he was back.
Max slowly sat up while still looking disoriented. "Okay... because right now I have a really strong craving for worms and crickets."
Gold Ship gasped dramatically. "The transformation left emotional damage."
"So nothing change." Evan said plainly.
Ben suddenly held up his Omnitrix with a grin.
"YES! It actually works! Good as new!"
Evan glanced over at him and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Huh. So the DNA Stabilizer also affected your alien and forced you to time out."
Ben barely even heard him. He was too busy admiring his repaired watch.
"That's great, Ben," Max said, still trying to wrap his head around everything.
Gwen stepped in front of Ben with her hands on her hips and a smug look on her face. "Oh, Ben. I almost forgot."
Then she leaned closer, smiled sweetly, and said, "I TOLD YOU SO!"
Ben gave a small shrug, already expecting it. "Yep. Saw that coming."
...
After making an anonymous call to the police and requesting aid from Lt. Steel under the name SAM. The good Lieutenant and his S.E.C.T. soldiers quickly arrived to pick up Predator, Xenomorph, and Dr. Animo.
While the Tennyson family was out on the road again.