GT: *walks in* Uh, guys? I think we broke Kajun with the last chapter. Fixit just wheeled by, wheeling Kajun in a straightjacket to the set.

Z0: This arc was my idea so...My B! Ahahaha...hahaha...ha…

SZ:...Yeah…

GT: We're gonna get billed by Mewtwo for being a psychiatrist yet again. At least he likes to be paid in Pokeblocks, Poffins, and Curry.

Z0: Our psychiatrist is a Pokemon...and you wonder why I'm insane. *looks at readers*

SZ: Ahem! Anyways, we got another chapter do to for this arc of ours...and we got a guest joining us for this as well hopefully.

GT: Depending on computer and internet issues. But everyone has that trouble every now and then. So, anyway...

Offscreen: *screams of panic*

GT: ...She escaped, didn't she? *sees SZ and Z0 nod* ...She's behind me, isn't she? *sees them nod again* ...Bugger. *Screams and flees from a crazed Kajun Faycott* I DIDN'T MAKE YA SNAP! THAT WAS Z0! ALL HIM!

SZ: 0-0...uh...we own nothing aside from original content

GT: WHOOPWHOOPWHOOPWHOOPOOPOOP! *jumps at the screen, breaking it*

Z0: *as just a voice* I love these guys

"And you're sure it said Elementor?" Forge asked Ben and Makoto.

"Yeah...he shouted it as he tried to bake us alive." Ben spoke.

"He nearly burnt my tail a few times too," Makoto added, hugging said tail.

"I was concerned that thing would pop up…" Forge sighed.

"You know what that was?" Ben asked.

"Yeah," Forge replied, "A very dangerous techno-organic being. Do you remember the news talking about how a massive wildfire that was covering well over several thousand acres of land just up and vanished around ten or so years back?"

"Yeah," Ben replied, "Grandpa Max always felt it was unusual."

"...You're kidding me," Makoto realized.

"What?" Ben asked.

"What your girlfriend's realized is that Elementor is that wildfire contained in a living form," Forge filled Ben in, "He's part of a very dangerous race of aliens that can bond and enhance anything they bond to, including non-living things such as stuffed animals, elements on the periodic table, and even the very elements in nature."

"Wait...you mean...an Ultralink?" Ben asked.

"Steel?" Forge sighed.

"Yeah," both nodded.

"Steel and Max's dad used to be a team. But...we thought he died with Jim…" he sighed rubbing his chin, "Honestly, a part of me is kinda relieved...because Steel is the only person who could truly save Max without fail."

"Far as we know…" Makoto added, "I still have faith in my best nerdy friend."

"There is something else," Ben noted, "When I turned into Shock Rock, that Elementor guy called me a 'Fulmini.' What are they exactly?"

"!? A Fulmini?!" Forge exclaimed before facepalming, "Of course there'd be a Fulmini sample in that watch…" he looked at the two, "Alright, the alien race Max's dad comes from? They're living energy supplies basically. Always generating energy which is why he needed Steel. But that energy generating? Well...That just attracted a ton of problems, especially with one race that is on the verge of extinction now: the Fulmini. They were a race of warmongers always out to conquer and steal the energy of entire planets in order to fuel their homeworld because they actually drained all the energy of their planet. They could absorb energy through their bodies and create constructs and empower machines because they were, essentially, energy beings as well. But if they tried to take in too much juice..."

"Boom?" Makoto guessed.

"Exactly," Forge replied with a nod, "When they learned about the race Max's dad came from? Well...let's just say that the end results were not pretty at all. When Plumbers arrived, only a few dozen Fulmini were left alive and the only one we could find of the other was Jim." he looked at Ben, "That form is extremely dangerous, Ben. Use it with caution if you ever need it."

"I can tell it's powerful…" he admitted, "I hope I won't need to use it too much." he promised as the Omnitrix sparked slightly without anyone noticing, the green turning blue for just a moment.

=You stay away from me, Earth female!= Steel snapped, flying around.

"You get back here and let me study you!" Kajun shouted as she chased after him.

"At least Steel turned on the Turbo Dampening Protocols," Fixit noted, hiding behind an upturned table with a lanky Latino teen with messy black hair wearing a labcoat with the sleeves torn off over a suit of Proto-Armor.

"At least we don't have to worry about that...for now…" the man sighed as he muttered in Spanish to himself.

"Okay...guys...guys…" Max sighed as he watched this go on between Mai and Noel. He held his hands out and grabbed Kajun and put her down to stand next to him before he jumped and caught Stele mid-flight, "Focus...the 'me' problem?" he reminded, "Steel's issues can be handled later."

=Rude…=

"Hey, you just got life back. I want to be able to text without my phone turning into a grenade," Max argued.

"...Ahem. R-right...I apologize," Kajun whispered, gblushing lightly in embarrassment as she took a deep breath, "Okay...let's get back to working on your problem, Maxwell."

"Really Max is just fine, I only ever use my full name to make a point." Max chuckled.

=Yeah, while you do that, I'm gonna talk with these two on what I've missed out on in the last decade or so since, even with my memory damaged, I know fully well that Cybertronians did not like Organics or Technoorganics and certainly wouldn't join the Plumbers= Steel noted.

"That is a now outdated stereotype," Fixit explained, "We've long since gotten over it. Well...ehem...most of us."

=Hmm?=

"Their current leader, Sentinel Magnus, is a bit of a speciesist...IE if it's not Cybertronian or robotic in some way, it's a lesser life-form or a menace to them," Mai explained, "And that Techno-Organics are to be terminated immediately."

"He's a real jerk," Noel admitted, "A lot of Cybertronians that are living on Earth moved here just to get away from him."

"Yeesh…" Max muttered, "Sounds almost as bad as Steel."

=Hahahaha...I'm not speciesist...I just know I am of a superior type and...oh wait...= he blinked =I walked right into that…=

"Yes...yes you did," Max crossed his arms.

"Be glad you didn't meet Will Harangue," Mai stated.

=What is a Harangue?=

"Real nasty ex-news reporter that hated Ben and any other teen with superpowers and beings from other worlds," Mai explained, "He even teamed up with the incurseans so he could make sure everyone followed his mindset...Which really bit him in the behind once the Incurseans were chased off Earth."

"And my mom asks why I refuse to watch the news," Max joked, lightening the mood.

"Right...well, I suppose we should get to work." Kajun agreed with the sentiment of changing the mood.

"Do I need to do anything sciency?" Max asked.

"Not really…" Kajun replied.

"Lead the way," Max held his arm out for her to go first.

"Thank you, my good sir," Kajun nodded, "...Noel, don't even think about it."

"Mmm…." Noel pouted.

"Like I said, I don't have time for things like romance like Ben and Makoto," Kajun stated as she walked off as Max followed with a chuckle and a shrug.

"Ouch…" the teen muttered.

"I believe the term is 'crash and burn,' Roberto," Fixit noted, patting his shoulder.

=I sense no smoke or heat…= Steel replied, confused.

"It's a saying, and I think it's more...well Kajun has some high standards…" Mai explained, "That and...well honestly back at the academy, she barely...well actually...she didn't date anyone."

"Wait. So….she's never had a boyfriend before?" Roberto asked.

"Nope," Mai replied.

"This...is honestly the most time she's spent with a boy who's not just a friend," Noel added.

=Should I be concerned for my symbiotic partner?= Steel asked, his eye becoming a question mark.

"On getting a date from her? No," Mai replied, "Vivisection or being covered in lines from a black marker...eh…" she shrugged with an unsure look on her face.

=She can try...but she'll never break that suit=

=What do you mean we lost the TURBO Energy signature?!= Dredd snapped.

"Well, I-I-I don't know, sir. It just vanished. Shall we resume our initial plan?"

=NO!= Dredd snapped, making Naught nearly fall out of his chair =You will find me that energy or you will find yourself terminally unemployed!=

"Well alright then…" Naught gulped as the communication ended before he turned the chair around to see Forever fixing one of the devices he kept on him, "Might I ask why you retreated when Ben Tennyson turned into that unusual form?"

"He took on the form of a race known as the Fulmini," Forever replied, "An alien life form so dangerous that an entire other alien race became near-extinct to put them on the cusp of extinction themselves. They drain planets dry of all the energy in them and on them to act as energy for their planet, Fulmas, and their machinery."

"Such a thing exists?"

"With how massive a universe it is, it shouldn't be that surprising," Forever replied, putting the welding torch back in its place, "The Fulmini were conquerors and their ruler, the High Override, feared none. Rumors have it that he laughed at Vilgax and destroyed his fleet that he had when he attempted to conquer their planet with just one snap of his fingers."

"Hoo boy…W-Well...At least they're almost extinct now, right?"

"Hmph. Never settle for almost extinct when it comes to creatures like Fulmini," Forever scoffed as he walked away, "Thanks for the tools. As thanks, Red Knight will guard your tower for the night."

"Thanks. At least a ninja won't talk down to me…" he sighed.

"Okay, Test number 46," Kajun noted as Fixit, wearing a WWII-themed military helmet, picked up a silver and blue phone with a pair of tongs and held it towards Max.

"Uh...Kajun...not to question your methods...but why is the Robot guy handing me stuff?" Max pointed out, "No offense, Fixit...but I mean...I'm trying to make a point."

"No offense taken. Cybertronians can't be easily overloaded by TURBO Energy since we can convert it into Energon," Fixit replied, "Though exploding phones still are frightening."

"Alright...starting the test," Max spoke while taking the phone, "Take cover, Fixit!"

Fixit screamed as he sped away behind the upturned table Roberto and Kajun were behind. Max took in a deep breath before turning the phone on. For several moments, everyone was expecting an explosion.

"...No explosion…" Kajun whispered "...Fixit, Roberto, status report.".

"Checking," Fixit replied, a holographic screen popping up before them that they tapped away on.

"Looks like the small venting system put into it is working," Roberto noted.

"Try something with it, Max," Fixit suggested.

"Okay," Max smiled, "Ah...Uncle Forge! What's the WiFi password!?" he shouted.

"WHY?" he shouted from far down the halls.

"Reasons!" Max replied.

"Ask Roberto!" Forge called out.

"Roberto, what's the WiFi Password?!"

"It's a long one due to us having to change all the passwords thanks to that hacking incident with that crazy girl and those insane old men in Japan," Roberto replied before inhaling deeply, "A-R-l-o-P-I-I-E-E-E-underscore-exclamation point…"

Max barely kept up with the long string of numbers and symbols needed for the password. It took well over ten minutes for the password to be written, yet Max barely managed it.

"That was quite a long password," Kajun noted.

"Roberto was the one who suggested it," Fixit stated, "Roberto filtered it through several dozen different languages both on Earth and on different planets in order to make sure it would be difficult to hack."

"Hmm...It's quite a good code to prevent anymore hacking," Kajun noted with a nod.

"Okay...I've been at this for like ten minutes...pretty sure it's not blowing up anytime soon," Max spoke.

"Phew. Success," Roberto sighed in relief.

"One thing secured," Kajun spoke.

=Yes now you can waste time watching videos of people falling off stuff, hurting themselves, and cats playing the piano= Steel sighed =Wouldn't it be better to make weapons we can use to protect ourselves?=

"..." the two males of the trio shared looks.

"I knew we were forgetting something," Fixit muttered.

"At least they have a way to contact someone now," Roberto noted.

"Uh, Steel?" Max noted.

=What?=

*SNAP*

"I think you asked the wrong question," Max noted as Roberto and Fixit backed away from the twitching Kajun and her broken tablet.

"We just spent three hours working on a way to let you keep a cover as a 'normal' teenager…" Kajun spoke, eerily calm with a twitchy eye, "And you want us to make you weapons? Eh-heh...eh-heh-heh..."

=What's wrong with weapons?= Steel asked =We're the universe's number one commodity now! Bounty hunters, overlords, all of them will come for the TURBO power in Max=

"I don't think she can hear you," Max noted, slowly backing away as Kajun continued her laughing.

"Oh Steel~" Kajun spoke in a far too sweet voice...before she suddenly had several screwdrivers and a drill in hand, "COME HERE AND LET ME STUDY YOU FOR THOSE WEAPONS I'LL MAKE FROM YOUR CARCASS!"

=OH SUGAR HONEY ICED TEA!= Steel screamed, flying away.

"Hey whoa! Whoa!" Max spoke, grabbing Kajun, "No! No! I need that little maniac to live!" he reminded, "Huh...right...super strength...no wonder you're like crazy light…" he laughed, lifting her up.

"RELEASE ME AT ONCE!" Kajun snapped, kicking and waving her arms to try to get out of his grip before whistling sharply, "CYTRO, GET THAT ROBOT FOR DISSECTION!"

"The...heck...is...a...Cytro…?" Max spoke slowly as a large white and green robot marched out, its left arm a blaster.

"Hey...that's my Robot…" Roberto complained as the robot ran after Steel, "...Wait a second...You upgraded him to vocal commands? Oh, that is so cool!"

"Berto!" Max complained, "Now is not the time!" he grunted, reforming his helmet after Kajun smacked him upside the head once, "Ah! Hey! Easy with the monkey wr-where did she get a monkey wrench?"

"It seems she's suffered a mental break," Fixit noted.

"Ugh...Berto, Fixit...think you can handle the giant robot?" he sighed.

"Maybe…" both of them replied in unison.

=HELP! I DON'T WANT TO BE TURNED INTO SCRAP METAL FOR WEAPONS!= Steel freaked =I WANT TO POWER THE WEAPONS, NOT BE THE WEAPONS!=

"I'm taking her...to the people who know what to do with her." Max spoke, "Makoto! She snapped!" he shouted, leaving the lab, "And she keeps hitting me with tools she didn't have before I grabbed her!"

"...Fixit, just what did she do to CYTRO?" Roberto asked.

"Um, from what I was able to see, she added vocal commands, a semi-evolving AI with multiple limiters to prevent it from going the way of the Marvel Comics' Ultron, some Proto-Tool attachments, and...a coffee dispenser," Fixit listed.

=Macchiato?= CYTRO asked as his chest opened.

"..."

"...You are more interested in her now, aren't you?" Fixit deadpanned.

"Si," Roberto replied, making Fixit facepalm as CYTRO rammed through a wall that Steel had been before and barely dodged the bigger robot.

"So she's been like this for ten minutes?" Makoto asked as Max found her and Ben in the cafeteria.

"And she's already beaned me on the head with a monkey wrench, a hammer, a clipboard...well...several clipboards of different shapes and colors, a sledgehammer and how she lifted that I have no clue, and a tuning fork," Max replied.

"Oh this is that bad…" Makoto spoke with a cringe while standing up, "She pulled out the tuning fork…" she sighed, "Put her down."

"I don't think that's safe," Max replied.

"No worries. I got it," Makoto replied.

"I am...not feeling safe," Ben spoke as he slid under the table.

"Like I said: I got this," Makoto assured.

"Okay…" Max shrugged as he put Kajun down...then blinked as Makoto pinched her neck, making her pass out and fall over face first to the floor.

"Zzzz…" Kajun softly snored, barely anyone able to hear it.

"When she gets too stressed, she snaps and needs to be knocked out so she'll go back to normal," Makoto explained, "So...What was the tipping point?"

"Steel asked for some weapons after we just got a phone working for me," Max replied, holding up said phone, revealing the armor had already built a sort of slot in it for him to store it in.

"...Imma booting him."

"Makoto, down," Ben spoke, quickly coming out to wrap his arms around her from behind, "Max needs Steel to not blow up."

"...Imma thinking it," Makoto muttered.

"I don't blame you...OH!" Max suddenly shouted, spooking them, "I left Steel, Berto, and Fixit with the crazy robot she upgraded! I gotta save them!" he shouted, running off as his helmet reformed.

"...We stink at keeping watch on Kajun," Ben noted.

"Eeyup," Makoto agreed.

"What did you do?" Tsubaki asked, walking in and seeing Kajun on the floor.

"She got overstressed and went Mad Scientist Mode," Makoto replied.

"Okay, you're forgiven," Tsubaki immediately replied with a shudder.

"AH! I was not prepared to fight a robot!" Max shouted as he and CYTRO tumbled down the hall, wrestling with one another.

"...Okay, I better settle this then," Ben sighed as he turned on the Omnitrix and selected FourArms before pushing down, not seeing the green turn cyan.

In a cyan flash of light, Ben was replaced with FourArms...yet his body was different. The center of his chest sported a stone-like armor with the Omnitrix emblem in the center while his upper arms were now made of plasma-like energy. His shoulders were covered in bulky stone-made guards with green moss growing on the tops while his lower arms were made of the same stone with two fists made of plasma-like energy on each arm. His head was also made of the stone now with the moss making his mustache/goatee pattern.

"What the heck?" FourArms pondered, looking at his fists, "This is new."

"May need to change your name from FourArms to SixArms," Makoto noted.

"A little help?" Max called, rolling by with CYTRO before FourArms's hands shot out and grabbed the two, easily lifting them up and pulling them away from each other.

"Alright, alright. Stand down, both of ya," FourArms ordered, "..." he looked at CYTRO, "How heavy are you supposed to be?"

=550kg= CYTRO replied.

"Huh…I think my strength is enhanced in this form," FourArms noted.

"What the heck is with the armor anyway?" Max asked.

"Kinda looks like Shock Rock's body," Makoto noted before moving to poke an arm before yelping as it shocked her...and caused her hair and tail to poof up, "...If anyone laughs, I'm kicking their butt with a fist."

=Whoa...I think there is such a thing as 'too fluffy'…= Steel spoke, floating in and seeing Makoto.

"..." Makoto began to move for him, only to be picked up by one of FourArms' normal arms, "Mou…"

=Target located= CYTRO stated.

=Oh no=

"CYTRO, stand down!" Forge barked as he walked in.

=Acknowledged= CYTRO stated, lowering his blaster arm.

"Can someone explain what happened in here?" Forge questioned, "Except for CYTRO? The techies already told me about Kajun upgrading him."

"We...do not know," Four Arms and Max spoke at the same time.

"Ugh...Well, I do know one thing," Forge sighed, "No one tell Max's mom about any of this."

"She'll kill us," Max and Forge shuddered.

"I think any mom would…" Makoto pointed out.

THI was quiet as the moon rose in the night sky. Many of the workers had gone home for the night as janitors were performing their nightly clean up. A vent opened before a figure dropped down, revealing them to be a figure in a form-fitting black, lightly-armored bodysuit with their head covered in a black helmet with a vertical orange/yellow visor. They placed two fingers to the side of their visor and a yellow light shined down the hallway, revealing a series of red-colored light constructs.

The figure timed the movements of the constructs before running forward. They jumped and slipped through a gap in two light boards of the first wall, before rolling across the ground and jumping through the second. The figure jumped off the ground and grabbed a section of the ceiling, and swung their legs forward and slipped over the slim opening atop the third and final wall of light.

They made their way down the hall and towards their destination: the door leading to the CEO's office. They approached the access panel to open the door and tapped their helmet once more. The light shined on it and a light construct formed over the screen. The center of it began to spin as it started accessing the system to enter. A throat clearing made them look to see two guards, glaring at the figure. They looked at the two guards...before jumping up and doing a handstand on one guard's shoulders. They grabbed the guard's neck before throwing them down the hallway, knocking them out by their head hitting a wall. The other grabbed them from behind...only for them to slam the back of their armored head into the guard's face. A roundhouse kick later and the guard was knocked out as the code was cracked and the door opened.

With that, the figure entered the office while the yellow light construct vanished. Approaching the desk, the figure picked up a tablet and opened it, revealing it was still on. The yellow light shined on the tablet, scanning the information on it, before the figure closed it and put it back where they found it. Sitting down in the chair, the figure reached under the desk and pushed the red button under it. They sat up fully before the chair went down into the hidden room.

Once inside the secret room, they began scanning the screen as they brought up files on the computer which was left unlocked due to the owner believing no one would ever make it this far. However before they could pull up anything useful, they had to jump out of the way of a sword stabbing through the back of the chair. The Red Knight pulled their blade out as they looked at the intruder. The two began to circle one another before the Red Knight made the first move, throwing a set of the needle-like Bo Shuriken at the figure.

The intruder ducked to the side before reaching over their shoulder as a handle appeared from the armor on their back. They pulled it out as it formed a blade of yellow light. They ran forward and swung at the Red Knight, who blocked with his sword. The two pushed one another back, sparks coming off where the blades met. Both took a moment to regain their balance before holding their weapons up in a defensive stance as they slowly began stepping around one another again. The Red Knight attacked first as he thrust his sword forward to stab the intruder, only for them to swivel around and used their sword which the held with the tip pointing down, to deflect the Knight's blade away to the side, as the Knight's thrust made them continue to lean forward the intruder took this chance to bash the handle of their energy sword into the Knight's helmet, making them stagger back.

The Red Knight stopped their staggering before leaning back to avoid a swing aimed at their head. The Intruder kept with the speed of their attack and used their momentum and stepped off the wall and swung downward as the Red Knight spun away, making them miss again. The Knight swung again as they spun around to stand up straight, the intruder stopping and letting the blade just barely knick the helmet. The two swung and clashed again. As they stepped around one another, they took a step back before swinging and clashing swords again. The Intruder grabbed their sword with both hands and swiveled their weapon around to force the Red Knight to twist their own arm around lest they lose the sword. But to the Intruder's shock...the Knight's arm...spun around as if on a mechanical ball joint.

The Intruder began backing away as they both realized that this figure was either partly or entirely mechanical, and that conventional methods of subduing them would not work. The Knight rushed as they held their sword with both hands and began swinging with stronger strikes intent to land a fatal blow. The Intruder ducked and weaved around each swing, jumping back, and leaning out of the way of a close swing. They then jumped back and rolled across the computer as the Knight swung down and bisected it cleanly in two. The Intruder landed on their feet before swinging their sword around. They swung their sword around them, their hand moving in a figure 8 pattern as each rotation served to deflect another swing from the Knight. The Intruder grunted, backed into the wall, as the Knight thrust for a finishing stab...only to be parried by the intruder as they spun around the Knight...forcing him to stab his sword through the wall all the way to its guard. The Knight struggled to pull the sword out...only to turn around and find itself alone in the room now. The Red Knight looked around before lowering their head.

"So you live here?" Noel asked as Rook parked the Proto-TRUKK near an apartment complex.

"Yeah," Max replied.

"Since tomorrow's Saturday, we'll be here around ten to pick you up," Ben spoke.

"Works for me...after today...I'm just gonna fall on my bed and pass out," Max groaned, "What about you guys? Where are you sleeping? The base?"

"Pfft no!" Makoto laughed, "I'm not sleeping in some lumpy barracks bed. We sprang for a nice hotel!"

"Girls in one room, guys in another," Tsubaki cut in.

"Hai…" Makoto sighed.

"Sorry, but we don't want another close call like when you were in...that condition," Tsubaki stated.

"And like that, I am out," Max spoke, closing the door on them.

"I was not that bad," Makoto muttered.

"Your head was the only thing that wasn't frozen by Big Chill so you wouldn't do something after your first attempt," Tsubaki deadpanned.

"I did it out of respect!" Ben complained as if instinctual self defense.

=Organics are disgusting…= Steel spoke loudly so they'd hear him.

"I heard that!" Makoto snapped as they began driving off.

"Okay Steel...do the stealth mode thing," Max spoke as he jumped and landed on the balcony for his apartment.

=Right right, I should warn you though...when we...ehem...transformed, your clothing might have...disintegrated…=

"You mean...I'm naked under this suit?" Max asked slowly.

=Well...some...bits might be left behind…= Steel chuckled, =I'll...work on that= he spoke docking with his chest as the flash made the armor loosen and lift off Max before compressing and vanishing, leaving only a faint M-shaped mark on his bare chest from where Steel docked to him.

"Please tell me I have my boxers?" Max asked.

=Are Boxers...invisible?= Steel asked, floating in front of him.

"Max?" a woman's voice shouted.

"My mom!" Max quietly freaked.

=Your heart rate has increased= Steel spoke as they rushed into Max's room =Is this 'Mom' dangerous?= he asked.

"What...no!" Max hissed as he looked around, before grabbing Steel and throwing him into his clothes hamper before dumping some extra laundry over him to keep him inside.

"Max, is that you? Did you just get back from your Uncle's place?" the woman asked.

"Uh...yeah, Mom!" Max fumbled around as he tried to get dressed, "Just...getting changed for bed! I could sleep for a week after today!"

"Did something happen? ...You didn't get in a fight with a bully again, did you?"

"Wha...pfftt...when have I ever…?"

"Max...you always did it."

"I don't always do it...They just don't like me 'cause I'm smarter!" Max chuckled. "'Sides, better me than the poor kid they messed with before."

"...Just please don't do something to get yourself hurt…"

"Come on, Mom. You worry too much," Max sighed, "I'll be fine."

"...I hope so," she whispered as she walked off.

=Max...you need to clean this thing...I have no nose...but I can pick up scents...and this smells like a toxic waste dump=

Max kicked the hamper over, further trapping Steel inside.

=...I believe the Earth term is 'you suck'...=

"You're learning…" Max groaned as he jumped and landed on his bed, blissfully falling asleep upon his face touching his pillow.

=...well...I may as well do some more research on Earth culture…= Steel sighed.

"Ben, what did we talk about when it came to getting bored?" Tsubaki questioned the next morning...as Ben was fiddling with the Omnitrix in the Proto-TRUKK.

"I'm not bored, I'm trying to figure out what's going on with the Omnitrix," Ben replied. "Before I went to bed, I decided to get some chili-fries from Bellwood as XLR8...but when I turned into him, what happened to FourArms happened with him. I was faster than ever and my lower legs were wheels made of that weird energy."

"Eh?" Makoto blinked. "You didn't take a picture to show me!?"

"I didn't," Ben replied before thumbing at Rook as the Revonaghander parked near Max's home, "But Rook did." He then tossed her a small bag. "Also got you some sweet chestnuts from Europe."

"You are forgiven," Makoto said as she took the chestnuts.

"So you moved even faster?" Tsubaki asked.

"I overshot and came to a stop in Paris…France!" Ben explained. "Yeah, I moved even faster…"

"Feels like your Omnitrix is enhancing your aliens," Makoto noted, munching on a chestnut. "...Omni-Enhanced Forms!"

"Oh, I love it." Ben grinned.

"But why?" Tsubaki asked before her eyes widened a little. "...Your new alien."

"Shock Rock?" Ben blinked.

"After the incident with Max...your alien's energy must be leaking into the Omnitrix and having this effect on your other forms," Tsubaki gave her theory based on what she knew of the Omnitrix and this alien.

"...So that means all my other Aliens have an Omni-Enhanced form now?" Ben asked.

"...Try it with Way Big!" Makoto exclaimed in excitement.

"How about no?!" Tsubaki snapped, covering Ben's Omnitrix with her hands. "We don't know what kind of effects it may have had on Ben's To'Kustar form!"

"Max is arriving," Rook informed, seeing the energy-producing teen approaching, wearing grey jeans, black and white running shoes, a white shirt, and a blue hoodie with a design resembling Steel on the chest area.

"Hey, guys," Max greeted, "What did I miss?"

"Apparently, Ben's new form glitched the Omnitrix," Tsubaki noted.

=New form?= Steel asked, popping out of Max's chest and into the Proto-TRUK.

"Fulmini," Tsubaki stated.

=WHAT?!= Steel freaked, looking around =Where?!=

"You know what that is?" Max asked.

=Of course! They are horrible warmongering monsters with a gluttony for war and conquest! They are the worst species in the galaxy, and for the most part are all really rude= Steel explained. =Wait...He can become one?!=

"Yep. And unlocking it caused a glitch," Ben noted.

=So...you broke your Galvan-made watch?= Steel spoke, making Ben blink. =Sounds right...Humans can barely take care of themselves, so how could you take care of a finely tuned device like that?=

"Hey…" Ben frowned as Steel just crossed his arms and turned away from Ben to ignore any of his further protest.

"We can call Azmuth about this while getting to N-Tek," Mai suggested.

"Guy who made the watch?" Max figured.

"Got it in one," Makoto nodded.

=So driving again?= Steel asked.

"No," Rook replied as he entered an alley and pulled out his badge. "Fixit, we are ready."

=Activating Ground Bridge= Fixit replied on the line before a green and blue vortex appeared in front of them.

"What's that?" Noel asked as Rook began to drive into it.

"A new device. Based upon the Space Bridges built by Cybertronians," Rook explained while the vehicle emerged in the N-Tek Plumber Base's vehicle space. "They are called Ground Bridges since they are used to travel from different locations on a planet instead of different planets."

"This...will make getting around a lot easier," Ben noted as Rook parked.

"Unfortunately, it is still in experimental stages," Rook advised while they got out, "At the moment, they are only performing in-city transportation and only at bases with a Mini-Con currently working at said bases. Bellwood, at this time, does not have one."

"Aw man…" Makoto pouted.

"Well...with luck, we can get that up and running faster," Ben sighed, "Would save time if we can teleport across the world like this all the time."

"Oh massively," Makoto nodded, "Be nice to see Jen, Danny, and the others whenever we can now and again."

"Just hope we don't encounter any rabid fans demanding a match between me and Danny," Ben added, "...Or that polling on who I should be really paired with."

"...Oh lord, you found the Remix Heart fansite, didn't you?" Tsubaki sighed.

"Wh-?! You know about it, too?!" Makoto gawked, "How come I'm the only one th-wait. What's that about Ben being paired up with someone?!" she pulled him over to her with her tail and wrapped her arms around him, "My Boyfriend!"

"Relax, Makoto. Me and Kajun aren't interested in Ben in that way," Tsubaki assured.

"...Mai? Noel?"

"...We were in the top three with you being number 1," Mai explained.

"Yes!" Makoto cheered.

"And now I think it's a good thing I get a mask," Max laughed.

=I figured as much. Besides protecting your head...should keep the weird humans off our back= Steel spoke as they entered the elevator to head to the main part of the base.

"And you don't have to keep your language in check all the time even in private," Ben sighed, "Really hate being famous some days."

"Wait, really?" Max blinked.

"Believe it or not, he was HUGELY egotistic when I met him," Makoto chimed in, "But it took some time to break that ego down and to have him admit that fame isn't that big and all that...plus…" she paused as she hugged his arm, "He just needed the right gal to show him the way again is all."

"Sounds like you really got lucky, Ben, finding the right girl and what not!" Max laughed.

=I don't get it...but if it's true then it seems these male female pairs seem to enhance the good of the two as a whole= Steel added.

"Eh, there are more kinds of relationships," Makoto noted, "It's not just guys dating girls, sometimes it's girls dating girls and boys dating boys."

"Don't overwhelm him," Max chuckled, "He's still new."

"We had an intruder? In my office?" Naught exclaimed as Red Knight nodded before his visor glowed and displayed the recording of its battle with the intruder once more, "Oh, that's just great…So what's the damage?" Red Knight held up the broken chair, "...More than just the physical. Did they get any data?"

The Red knight shook his head no...and then pointed to the damaged computer as it sparked a bit. Indicating even if they left a virus or link to the computer, it was now pointless. Naught's eye twitched before facepalming.

"Alright...That's alright...I keep a backup harddrive with me," Naught sighed, "Good job." he looked at Red Knight, "Please inform your leader that if the TURBO Signature comes up again to be ready to go after it."

The Red Knight replied with a bow. Naught sighed and turned around; he turned to say something else, but the Red Knight had already vanished without a trace. Naught sighed as he walked away while rubbing his head.

"Okay...so...training." Max spoke, already armored up as he stretched, Steel floating around him.

"Know what you can and can't do, and the limits of your abilities with Steel should help us know what to focus on helping you with," Forge explained as Kajun and Berto stood next to him, "Also, it'll give the lady time to forgive Steel for making her mad." he coughed.

=I have a question= Steel noted before pointing at the other side of the training room...where Noel stood =We're fighting her?=

"Yes," Forge replied.

=...Really?= Steel asked.

"Yes," Forge deadpanned.

"For the record...he does not speak for me." Max spoke to Noel.

"Um...I'm not sure I…" Noel began.

"Noel, I have found that doll you were looking for. If you do not hold back even once, I will give it to you," Kajun stated before holding up a tiny stuffed Vulpix doll, "I will even add a device to let it say its name when you hug it."

"?!" Noel tensed.

=Huh? Uh, Max? I'm getting a weird reading from her now= Steel noted.

"Ah...I knew you'd make this hard for me." Max sighed as he formed his helmet.

*BANGBANGBANG BA-BANG!*

"..." the wall behind Max crumbled a bit, leaving a filled in outline of him behind him in the exact pose he was in, "..."

"I will get that doll!" Noel declared, Bolverk out and the barrels smoking.

=Okay, those guns are giving off really freaky readings= Steel noted, quickly going into Max's chest =And why am I afraid of her now?!=

"Oh wow...it's almost like she's not part of a team who fight villains and aliens who threaten Earth on a weekly basis…" Max spoke with heavy sarcasm, "You're an idiot, Steel…"

=I resent that!=

"Stop!" Max shouted, yanking Steel off his chest plate, confusing them, "Boomerang time!" he cheered charging Steel up and flinging him as he shot past Noel, confusing her, "Well...I'm not Batman that's for sure…" he chuckled before flipping away from more shots.

"Wow. Look at that little lady go," Forge noted as Noel was quick on her feet, shooting on the move.

"When it's something cute, fluffy, and/or completely adorable to her, Noel tends to go above and beyond to get said thing," Kajun stated with an amused look.

"This is not fun!" Max complained, his enhanced speed allowing him to avoid almost all the shots, "How long does it take a boomerang to fly back?" he complained.

=Stop me! I can't see where I'm going!= Steel shouted flying/spinning around the training room.

Noel shot at the floor, using the recoil as propulsion and landed before Max, making him skid to a halt...and right into her swung left gun.

"Is...Is she using her guns...as bludgeoning weapons?" Berto asked as Noel was delivering smacks and shots with her guns.

"Yes. She uses a style of fighting known as 'Gun-Kata,'" Kajun explained as Noel delivered an uppercut with her right gun, sending Max high into the air and ended up getting hit in the face by the spinning Steel.

=Okay...this...is getting old…=

"Noel...I am emotionally hurt...A toy is all it took to kick my ass…" Max groaned as he slowly got up, "Also...I'm physically hurt...I think that's a bruise…"

=I'm gonna check something= Steel noted as several screens popped up in his eye =Got something. Maybe a bigger form will provide better defense=

"Bigger what now?" Max asked before TURBO energy erupted off him and his suit transformed.

He floated up before touching down. Now towering over Noel...heck he towered over any normal person. He was probably around 8 to 9 feet tall at that moment. His armor had bulked out in mass, making him look like a mass of muscles. His armor was now mostly black in color, with large white shoulder armor and white gauntlets, and armored hands, the entirety of his gloves under the white armor pure blue. His helmet was also wider now to fit with his new size.

"That's new," Kajun noted.

Max smacked his right fist into his left hand as it made a loud metallic clang. He turned to Noel as the bullets bounced off his armor with no visible effect now.

"So...Turbo Strength Mode?" Max asked as he looked down at Noel, "In advance...sorry." he punched at her, making her run, as his fist tore through the ground and made the ground shake from his new strength.

"You sure you want her to continue?" Forge asked.

"Mmm...No," Kajun replied before pressing a button on the console, "Noel, switch with Makoto please. Your doll is right here for you to pick..." a blue and yellow blur zipped by and the doll was missing, "...up…" the three looked to see Noel nearby, cuddling the doll and they swore they were seeing hearts coming off her and her smiling, content expression, "Right."

"That was cold, you know…" Max spoke as Steel popped off and floated up around him.

=Well, my name is Steel. I'm a metal. I'm supposed to be cold until heated up= Steel shrugged.

"Whoa now!" Makoto gawked as she entered, "You got buff! Should I be worried 'bout a steroid going around or some alien salad?"

"I think I'mma call this...Turbo Strength Mode," Max joked, lifting up his arms, "I like it a lot."

"Ahh….well just to warn you…" Makoto began, stretching a bit as she cracked her fingers and knuckles, "I don't know how to pull back on my punches…" a moment of silence followed, "Well, I do, but if I say that then folks I'm fighting don't get all nervous and…"

=I get it= Steel deadpanned.

"Hey hey. Be lucky I'm not using my Astral Heat on ya," Makoto warned.

=Your what?"

"Astral Heat. Basically a OHKO more or less," Makoto shrugged, "Basically for mine, I punch ya so hard..you get sent into a moon-sized meteor, a giant imprint of my fist on it the moment you make impact...and boom. Said meteor explodes to pieces."

"Can you do it now?" Max asked, making Makoto freeze and fall over, "Okay then, I'm gonna take that as a big old nope." he chuckled.

"I've never seen someone shut her up so fast…" Kajun muttered, "Besides Ben...but that doesn't count since they are borderline engaged."

"You'll know when we're engaged and Noel better make sure Ro is snoozing when you do know!" Makoto declared, making Kajun facepalm.

=So, what? You can't do your best move?=

"Kinda need Ragna with his special arm active," Makoto answered, "Either that or a charge from a lot of mana."

=Too bad you can't process Turbo Energy= Steel replied.

"Yet…" Kajun replied.

"Begin!" Forge shouted.

At that, Max and Makoto punched at each other, their fists clashing with a powerful shockwave. Everyone cringed before looking as Makoto grunted, slamming into the window which separated them from the training field.

"He's...really strong…" she groaned, pushing herself off the glass.

"Sorry!" Max spoke up.

=I'm not!= Steel laughed.

"Oh you're in for it now," Makoto frowned as she cracked her knuckles and deployed her gauntlets in their Ice Mode.

=Wow. That is a really low temp coming off those= Steel noted.

"Oh boy!" Max spoke as he raised his arms and blocked Makoto's next attack, ice formed over his arms before shattering off as he bashed his fists together; he grunted and swung as Makoto ducked under his arms, "Bad side to being crazy tall...short people can dodge a lot easier…" he realized.

"I won't get upset given you're like nine feet tall!" Makoto laughed as she swapped to Fire mode and punched Max in the back, sending him sliding forward, "How's that?"

"Fireproof…" Max chuckled, regaining his balance.

=And the suit is Air conditioned!= Steel added.

"How's the insulation?" Makoto asked.

=The wha…= Steel began to ask before Makoto slammed her fist, now in Electric Mode, into Max's chest.

*BZZZ-CRACKLE!*

"GAH!= Max and Steel cried at the same time, the electricity being made brighter as the armor flashed all blue. They grunted as a burst of Turbo energy went out, making Makoto duck down. After all was said and done Max fell back, reverting to his base mode while twitching.

"N-not...not cool…" he grunted, spasmaning around.

"Sorry, Max," Makoto apologized, "And sorry if that fried ya, Steel."

=You s-s-s-suck…= Steel groaned.

"Oh, well then screw you," Makoto pouted.

"Well, we can jot down that electricity is a vulnerability," Berto noted.

"At the very least...being shocked causes Maxwell to produce more Turbo energy in a harmful manner," Kajun added, "We should be careful going forward and see what can set off his abilities."

"Got it...don't get hit with lightning…" Max spoke, getting up.

=More so...we are vulnerable to it while linked…= Steel added =With time, we might be able to overcome that…=

"Alright, take five, Max," Forge spoke, "Ben, get in here."

"Do I have to?" Ben asked outside the training room.

"You do," Kajun replied.

"But this is weird," Ben complained.

=What's weird?= Steel asked as Ben entered...covered in white circular stickers with needle-like pieces on them =...Pffft…You look ridiculous...=

"Oh hah hah," Ben deadpanned, "What are these for again?"

"Scanning you while you transform," Berto replied, "Maybe see where the process causes the..."

"Omni-Enhancement!" Makoto declared.

"And no going Way Big!" Kajun ordered.

"Aw man…" Makoto whined.

"Well, we know that it upgraded FourArms and XLR8," Ben noted, turning on his Omnitrix, "Let's try...Rath."

With that, he slapped down on the Omnitrix. In a flash of cyan light, Rath replaced Ben, transformed like the last time someone saw his change. His torso was covered in gladiator armor made from Shock Rock's rocks with braces on his lower arms, the limbs made of the plasma-like energy along with his fists. His head was made of the rocks and looked far more menacing with the plasma energy coming out of the eyes like flames while his backhand spikes had become elongated plasma-like energy-made serrated blades going a foot past his fists.

"RATH!" Rath roared before looking at his reflection, "Lemme tell ya something, Omnitrix malfunction! Rath is liking this new look!"

=Oh great...he can get louder…= Steel sighed.

"Lemme tell ya something, N'Baro Atksteel X377; Rath can get a lot louder!" Rath declared, pointing at Steel...before the 'blade' turned into a laser that Steel barely avoided, "Ooh~!"

=Of course you realize...this...means...war= Steel growled.

"Hahahaha...haha...ha...ha…" Rath's laughter died down slowly, "Rath doesn't feel safe!"

"Steel, don't you do it," Max warned.

=Fine...but be warned Ben Tennyson...something will happen, someday, some time, some place, maybe...could be happening right now= he floated down and vanished from view.

"He stole Ben's phone…" Kajun spoke up.

"And he got into it...Steel put that down!" Max ordered, walking after him.

"He what?!" Rath exclaimed before snarling and chasing after Steel, "LEMME TELL YA SOMETHING, N'BARO ATKSTEEL X377! RATH WILL DESTROY YOU AND SHOVE YOUR PIECES IN MAX TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T BLOW UP!"

"...Makoto, get rid of the popcorn," Forge deadpanned, seeing the Beastkin holding a container of popcorn as she watched on.

"Where did she get the popcorn?" Berto asked.

"She hides some in her tail for whenever he turns into Rath when there isn't anything going on," Kajun replied.

=My face...looks...like a...Butt, and posted to this social media thing= Steel spoke, floating out of Rath's reach =Wow...over ten thousand likes! Is that good...I think that's good=

"Grr...Rath is gonna do to you what Hulk did to Loki in the Avengers movie if you don't give Rath back his phone!" Rath snapped.

=Hashtag...angry kitty= Steel took a picture of Rath mid lunge, the flash blinding him and making him slam face first into a wall.

"...I should've seen this coming…" Kajun sighed.

=Oh? What is this? Relationship status? Hm...going to single n…= Steel began before a tonfa beamed him upside the head, making him drop the phone as he fell down next to Max =Fugaw!=

"Nuh uh...none of that," Makoto frowned, catching her thrown tonfa as she picked up Ben's phone, "Shame. On. You." she tapped Rath's emblem, causing him to change back to Ben, "And here you go. And..." she kissed his cheek while giving him his phone back, "...There ya go."

"This...this is why I love you…" Ben groaned as he fell over, still dazed from his time as Rath.

"You really shouldn't mess with a guy's online relationship status, Steel," Max shook his head, "Especially when they're world famous."

"After all the insanity from having to deal with the Kaka Clan in Undertown, that crazy Looma, and a lot of other things, you better believe that I'd do something bad to Steel and regret later," Makoto stated.

"While I understand...let's not...and say we did," Max smiled, "Sadly...I need him to not blow up."

"Which is why I'd regret later," Makoto nodded.

"So did that help figure anything out with the Omnitrix?" Noel asked Kajun.

"Somewhat…" she sighed, looking at a tablet, "From what I can gather, this 'Shock Rock' form is leaking it's energy throughout the Omnitrix's network. Since the perfect model stores all its forms in a digital library with a monthly signal sent to Primus to update it, it's able to do such a thing. If I had to guess why...when you tried to absorb the Turbo energy from Max, you overloaded Shock Rock and all the excess energy has to go somewhere."

"Making these...upgrades?" Max asked.

"I suppose that's one thing to call them, but they are closer to a glitch," Kajun explained, "One that if we aren't careful with...could damage it beyond my ability to repair. So I should get Azmuth to check it out as soon as possible."

"Oh great...He's going to get yelled at...and then I'm gonna get yelled at for letting it happen," Makoto cringed, "It is so weird that a tiny old guy can make me feel like I'm in trouble with my Grandpappy when I was five..."

"Azmuth...is weirdly like family after all these years." Ben admitted, "Even if he'll never admit it."

"It's better for the creator to fix a problem of this scale," Kajun added, "He might know something about the Ultralinks and Max's Turbo energy as well."

"World's greatest know-it-all it is then," Max chuckled.

=He tries to take me apart, I'm gonna punch him!= Steel spoke, punching the air a few times.

"If he lets you," Makoto noted, "He made a whistle out of a fossil that let him control an alien dog that could turn into alien predators like a Scraplet…"

=Scraplet?! Where?!= Steel panicked, looking around before hiding in Max.

"What just happened?"

"Scraplets are Cybertronian predators that eat any kind of metal," Makoto explained while mentally laughing up a storm at the blackmail this provided her, "But yeah, I bet he has something to disable Steel's moving but not his regulation of your Turbo Energy."

"I wouldn't mind that," Max laughed as Steel gave him an annoyed look.

"So what...I should stop transforming?" Ben asked.

"If you would be so kind…" Kajun sighed, "But given you are Makoto's soulmate…"

"That and the issues of having a lot of enemies with one of them being in this city," Makoto added.

"The Knight dude…" Max spoke.

"Forever Knight...taking his own group's name as his own..." Ben muttered.

"Guess they really want Max's Turbo energy," Noel added, "Just from what Max can do with it, who knows what scary things they have planned for it."

"Let's just hope…" Makoto paused, giving a slight shudder, "He isn't there the next time Forever comes."

"He?" Max repeated.

"Relius Clover," Tsubaki replied.

"The guy you were all concerned about the first time?" Max asked, "Why...what he do that makes him so bad?"

"Just from looking at him? Bring back some really painful memories or experiences," Makoto answered, "And I...I got it the worst last time. Seriously just talking about it..." she paused as she began to hug her currently shaking body, "It..it made me deathly afraid...like..I..I can't explain it, but..I remembered him picking my memories….bringing up the most painful ones until I was an emotionless husk...and it goes black beyond that."

"He's not exactly a super villain in the conventional sense...but he has committed some horrible crimes." Tsubaki added.

'That we can agree on…' Mai thought, her hand clenching a bit.

"Yeesh...duly noted," Max muttered.

=I don't get it...if he's so awful, why hasn't he been detained? Surely someone so horrible would have an entire slew of elite forces after him?= Steel asked as he began floating forward.

"We tried to search for him from many of the known Forever Knight bases given he's under their protection, but...nothing," Tsubaki sighed, "It's as if he doesn't even exist…"

"It's like this new boss Forever, he's just so many steps ahead of us." Ben added, "He knows everything about us...and he loves tearing us apart mentally to win over us."

"The only time he didn't have the advantage was with you Max…" Makoto added, "Since your not exactly…"

"A Well known hero yet." Max smirked, "Well I plan to fix that once I get the hang of this suit and my Turbo energy."

=If it's unpredictability that floors him, Max has that in spades…= Steel sighed.

"And Ben," Mai added, "...and Makoto...and Ragna...and Kagura at t-"

"No. He is predictable," Makoto deadpanned, "Perverted lazy drunk…"

"He's gotten better about it...kinda," Noel defended, muttering a little.

"Enough I'll let him be my boyfriend's friend." Makoto replied, "Barely…"

"Least Hibiki makes sure to keep him in line…"

"When he's around…" Makoto muttered, "But I think we're getting off topic kinda."

"I find it entertaining." Max chuckled.

"We kinda do that a lot," Ben grinned, "But yeah...I won't transform for a while...unless I really need to."

"Probably for the best." Kajun spoke, "According to this test I ran, the more your Fulmini energy is used. The More it spreads throughout the Omnitrix," she pointed to her tablet, "In theory one of two things could happen, an overload which could destroy the Omnitrix, or an overload to its core system that will shut it down."

"So...either way...the watch will go bust." Ben sighed, "Azmuth is gonna kill me…"

"And blame me for letting it happen," Makoto sighed as well.

"It's more my fault really." Max countered, "You tried to help me despite what this Turbo energy stuff does to technology. I don't know the old man well, so let him get mad at me, not like I'll lose sleep over it."

"I guess till such a time we can...clean the Omnitrix, Max will need to be our big gun." Tsubaki spoke.

"I don't like it...but I'd rather not lose the perfect Omnitrix after barely a year and a half...give or take." Ben sighed.

"How do you not remember how long you had it?" Makoto whispered.

"Time has moved fast since we met babe…" Ben chuckled.

"Me a big gun...well I'll try not to let it go to my head." Max laughed, "But try and get that watch fixed man, I don't want all your baddies gunning for me while you're on break." he chuckled slapping Ben's shoulder.

"Uh...what are we? Chopped-liver?" Mai asked, pointing to herself, Tsubaki and noel.

"Oh! I Can try and make something with Chopped-liver tonight!" Noel gasped out

"Ya see what you do…" Makoto complained to Mai.

"I know...and I don't feel guilty about it," Mai admitted.

=...I believe there are some red flags raising…= Steel spoke =...Let me guess, the shy one can't cook for squat?=

"Mmm...I can cook…" Noel pouted.

"Oh we know. It's just when it comes to cooking, your imagination can get rather…." Ben trailed off.

"You tend to go too far," Makoto blurted.

"...you can't stifle my creativity," Noel huffed, "Besides, just last week I made an all meat and fish casserole."

"H-how...that...that's not how Casseroles work!" Makoto argued, "...Please tell me you at le-"

"No. You know me...I refuse to taste any of my cooking when I'm making it," Noel argued.

"That's why Mai had to go up a pant size this year…" Kajun sighed, "But her size was very small before...so it's hardly noticeable…"

"...Hey…" Mai muttered, realizing what she meant as she held her hands over her rear end.

"...Now that I think about it…" Makoto began, making Mai tense up.

"...Makoto don't you dare."

"..."

"...I know that look. D-"

*GROPE~*

"EEK!"

"Wow...you actually went up a cup size," Makoto noted, stepping back from Mai-who immediately shielded her breasts while blushing- before groping her own breasts, "Then again...so did I. I think I got back up to a HH-Cup…"

"That's enough of this topic!" Ben shouted as he began pushing Makoto away.

"Well if you wanted to talk about this stuff in private, all you had to do was ask~" Makoto giggled.

"Well you started it when you groped Mai...wait. Why don't you…"

"Oh yeah..I forgot to tell ya I'm Bi."

"This feels like something we should have talked about ages ago…" Ben sighed, not even shocked, "It does explain why you're the one who's always rubbernecking though…and at women...in retrospect this was really obvious..."

"Heh heh…" Makoto gave a cheeky grin in response.

"...Still, my girlfriend's Bi….I'm so bragging about it," Ben grinned.

"Out...both of you out." Tsubaki pointed at the door, her paper fan already out.

"Yes, ma'am!" the two yelped as they rushed out.

"Ugh...honestly those two…" Tsubaki sighed.

"At least they have each other…" Mai sighed.

"Hai," Noel nodded in agreement.

"I'm worried for when they have kids…" Max joked.

"Currently my worst nightmare…" Tsubaki groaned.

"At least they have self control," Kajun muttered.

"Why do I have a hard time buying that with how close those two are?" Max joked.

"You would not be the first," the girls and Rook sighed in unison.

"This skill…" Forever spoke seeing the feed from the Red Knight, "That's not normal, even for a ninja...that skill, thought on its feet, technical ability...Plumbers...but not just any...N-TEK Plumber branch." he paused, "That level of agility, the flexibility in the hips and lower back, stronger legs then arms...a woman?" he mused, "They appeared inside the building, meaning they had a way in before putting the suit on." he stopped as he looked up, "Gather intel on every female employee recently hired within the last quarter." he ordered as the Knight bowed.

"Must you waste your talents on such meaningless tasks?" Relius asked.

"A promise is a promise, and a man always keeps his word." Forever replied.

"...Fair I suppose...though…" Relius paused, looking at a screen showing Max, "That boy...he interests me…"

"He's a member of Tachyon race." Forever explained, "Aliens near extinct, probably the only one left...and a halfbreed. It's like watching a Liger in the wild, powerful, interesting...but doomed to self destruction."

"And has encountered Ben Tennyson," Relius added, "And he was able to cause a new transformation in him...one that has possibly affected his other transformations."

"A Fulmini." Forever explained, "A problematic alien…"

"How so?"

"It's DNA in the Omnitrix could revive a war mongering species, so vile and powerful even Vilgax feared to challenge them at their peak. Believe me when I say...if they are revived...no amount of things from your time will stop them. Our work will end," he spoke, making Relius frown in understanding, "Their race...is worse then the Beast...by leaps and bounds."

"...that is problematic…" Relius whispered, "...and the boy can transform into one...all the more reason to procure the Omnitrix from him."

"Also important...the Fulimin form is infecting the Watch, and knowing Tennyson...if he goes on as he does. It'll be broken beyond use." He gripped his fist, "I dislike...complications to the plan…"

"...but knowing his comrades, they've advised him from using it for the time being, leaving him vulnerable," Relius noted

"If Tennyson is one thing...it's predictable. He will change again, and shorten the window for us even further. We need to take the watch as soon as possible, and capture the halfbreed. I'm not going to pass up the work that can be done with that level of limitless energy."

"...Then leave Tennyson to me," Relisu offered as a pair of soulless blue eyes flashed from the shadows behind him, "He's fought many an adversary...but I doubt he'll handle someone like myself."

"...which will leave me with Tachyon halfbreed," Forever noted, "You sure you can best him?"

"My good man…" Relius paused as a shadowy figure floated out of the shadows, "There is a reason I was once known as 'The One' amongst the Ten Sages."

"...okay. Not gonna lie, Ben...we both had a case of foot-in-mouth syndrome back there," Makoto admitted, she and Ben drinking a couple of smoothies back in the city.

"It's been...a weird month for us." Ben sighed.

"No kidding…" Makoto muttered, "One moment in particular I'd really like to forget about…"

"Same…" Ben sighed.

"Yeah...but on a positive note for this month, I finally got to meet your cousin Lucy," Makoto grinned, wanting to help change the mood.

"True," Ben smiled, "Closer to meeting all of mine...and who knows how long till I meet yours."

"You remember the promise?"

"I know I know," he chuckled.

"Good," Makoto msiled, giving him a light peck on the cheek, "If you did, I would've tail-bopped ya."

"You can do that in a harmless way and a very harmful way." Ben replied, "Either way, you get your fun out of it."

"Dang right I will," Makoto giggled a bit, "...Wonder how Jen's doing over at Hope's Peak?"

"We can always call...what time is it for them now?" Ben offered.

"Uh...let's see...time zone...it's like noon...so...give or take 5 to 6 in the morning…" she cringed realizing the time difference.

"We'll try later." Ben chuckled.

"Hai," Makoto nodded.

"...Still…" Ben sighed, looking down at the Omnitrix, "I get a new guy to use...and he affects all my other Aliens."

"Maybe you can talk to Azmuth about some kinda upgrade after the watch is fixed?" Makoto offered.

"Upgrade...what like the Ultimate feature?"

"That would be cool to finally see it outside of shaky videos posted on the internet." Makoto admitted.

"Don't think he'd go for it...he always kinda hated that feature. Saying it was disturbing and cruel." he explained, "Which I kinda get...it's forced evolution through combat, kinda messed up in concept. Only Albedo would think of it."

"...hmm...then maybe something like Max' armor," Makoto suggested, "Like when we tried to look for it while we were looking through the manual….ooh! What if it makes Way Big look like Gridman or something!?"

"Armor huh…" Ben paused, "I think Azmuth would be cool with that, it would be less creepy then forced mutation, and it would be a defensive measure."

"And add other sweet features to your aliens!" Makoto beamed, punching forward a bit, "Like maybe rocket punches for Way Big, atomic breath for Humungousar...oh! Or maybe…!"

"Stop!" Ben held his hand up to her mouth, making her go silent, "I love you...but you seemed like you were about to hyperventilate and pass out...take a second...chill...and write it down."

"Eh heh heh...right," Makoto sheepishly chuckled, "Sorry. My imagination got the better of me...again."

"And that is one of the many things I love about you...however last time I let you run wild in your imagination, you passed out from forgetting to breath...and Noel woke up the next day with a temporary Tattoo…in a place she still will not tell us where..."

"I swear I don't know how that one happened…" Makoto admitted.

"...Speaking of tattoos, you know where she got that intricate one on her chest?" Ben asked "Only time I've seen it was at the beach."

"I….huh. I honestly don't know," Makoto admitted, "Never asked her about it...demo...something about it seems...familiar to me."

"Really?"

"Yeah...like I've seen it some...where…" Makoto began before wincing, holding her head a bit, "Ahh...why does it hurt trying to remember it?"

"Maybe it's something you forgot when you came to this time." Ben offered, "You know it already, but your brain locked it up?"

"...maybe you're right…" Makoto whispered, her eyes widening a bit in realization, "...In fact….I recall falling into the Boundary a-"

"That's right...You fell into the Boundary."

"?!" the two tensed as they turned to the side, seeing Relius looking on at them in intrigue.

"Interesting…" Relius noted, looking right at Makoto, "Not a single mutation...and yet certain memories were blocked you say? Soka…"

"...what do you want?" Ben asked, frowning as he held Makoto's shaking hand in reassurance.

"Not much. I mostly came for you Benjamin, but…" Relius began as a slight grin grew on his face, "It would seem I can gain two test subjects out of this...one a being whose soul wasn't mutated or worse by the Boundary, proving another theory."

"...wh...what theory?" Makoto asked, a fearful tone in her voice.

"Well that depends...what do you know of Multiverse theory?"

"...less then we should," the two answered in unison.

"Perfect. You see...The Boundary is capable of connecting to thousands...nay. Millions of possibilities...alternate timelines and realities both in the past, present, and future," Relius explained.

"Wait...are you saying they are from...a parallel world?" Ben asked.

"Oh…?" Relius blinked, "You caught onto that very fast young man...say, could it be there is a bit of genius in you?"

"Let's just say I know someone who's seen those alternate timelines," Ben countered.

"Ahh...you mean the Timewalker Paradox, correct?" Relius asked, making Ben tense, "You see my dear boy...you're not the only one who knows someone who exists outside of time….but that's not important for right now," he waved off, "Now then...as I said, the Boundary is connected to multiple timelines and realities, and Lt. Nanaya here ended up in this one...one connected to what you call the 'bad future' she is from, and came here unaffected by the Boundary...minus the missing memories...or rather….ahh I see now..." he grinned a bit, "It seems she was the one who sent Lt. Nanaya here to prevent the Master Unit from catching on."

"What are you on about?" Ben asked, "Who...who sent her here?"

"I'd love to explain further, but even I am not certain to a full hundred percent, which is why I need you for studying purposes." he explained, "Surely something must be the cause of this phenomenon."

"...Yeah well I have a phenomenon for ya. A taste o-" Ben began, about to activate the Omnitrix before something grabbed his Omnitrix arm, "Ahh! What the…?!"

"Now now…" Relius began, a large humanoid robot with pupil-less eyes held Ben up by her razor-sharp claws, "We can't have you transform now...not before I examine your watch of course…"

"Ben!" Makoto gasped before glaring at Relius, about to shout at him...only for nothing to come...as if her entire body locked up just from looking at him, '...I...I can't say anything…'

"...Interesting...an instant lock up just from looking at me...ahh...I see. I must've used you as a test subject before in one possibility," Relius noted as he stepped forward towards Makoto, "I wonder...if you share that one's memories as well…"

Makoto struggled to move her body before Relius placed a hand on her head, making her eyes widen as she felt it...memories starting to flow through her head...bad memories. Somehow...she felt him examine...search….picking her mind piece by piece as she began to pant out, tears of fear forming in her eyes.

"Oh ho...soka...such mental damage to your psyche, both in this reality and the one your from...and I can feel bits of the other you's memories as well...very interesting…" Relius noted.

"St...stop...it…" Makoto whispered, mentally begging for her body to move.

"Truly...this is a discovery worth further investigation. Oh...what a wonderful day." Relius laughed happily ignoring the pain he seemed to be causing just from his presence, he moved his hand back, before reaching into his clothing for something, only to stop and jump back an impressive distance as gunshots hit the ground where he was standing but a few seconds ago.

Makoto gave a gasp as she fell to her knees, panting heavily as she managed to regain some control back to her body.

"Makoto! Ben!" Noel shouted as she rushed over, lowering her guns.

"An unneeded distraction…" Relius sighed, "I need only one subject from our world...you'll just have to leave. Ignis."

The Robot's eyes flashed before reeling her free arm back, slashing it forward as it sent out a pink-tinted saw at Noel, who quickly jumped out of the way.

"Hold on. I c-ahh!" Noel cried out, teh saw hitting her shoulder from behind, spilling a bit of blood as it returned to Ignis, reconfiguring into her clawed hand.

"You didn't think we'd just discard a hand did you?" Relius chuckled.

"Okay creepy...now you're just...asking for it!" Ben grunted, trying to free his arm from Ignis' grip.

"You realize you look stupid, yes?" Relius chuckled in amusement.

"Not...the first time!" Ben countered, "Gh...come on! Let go!"

"I'm afraid you'll find getting out of Ignis' grip nigh impossible, dear boy," Relius stated, tilting his head ot the left to dodge a shot from Noel, "Besides...like I'd give up the opportunity to give up examining your watch, and Lt. Nanaya."

"You want to take them?" Noel asked, standing back up as she ignored the pain in her shoulder, "I won't let that happen."

"While you are interesting, I'm afraid I can only take on so many projects at a time, so if you'd please leave us be." Relius sighed, "Ignis...once more to make her learn her place."

Ignis raised her arm and swung, sending the saw blade once more at Noel. Only to blink as a blue boomerang hit the saw sending it bouncing back. Relius blinked before grunting as a fist struck his stomach sending him, flying back and crashing through a window.

"Good thing this guy loves hearing himself talk." Max spoke, standing there as Steel floated back to him, "Gave me time to get here, clever idea Noel."

"You called Max?" Makoto blinked.

"He was so busy talking he didn't see me hit my badge to send out a distress signal." Noel explained.

"Ahh...good idea…"

"Yup. Now let's hurry and help Ben, Steel," Max spoke, earning silence in response, "...Steel?"

=That robot…= Steel spoke, examining Ignis as she just stood there, keeping a firm grip on Ben's arm still l=I feel something...alive within it…=

"Say what?" Max blinked.

=I'm not making this up...it's not like me...when I say it's alive...I mean...it's like a cyborg=

"Oh?" Relius spoke as he stepped out of the building he crashed into, looking unphased as he adjusted his mask a bit, "You could tell the difference?"

=...You...what did you do to that human?= Steel demanded, glaring at Relius.

"Ignis you mean? Ahh yes...she is part of some important research of mine...my research into the soul," Relius explained.

"Wait...you mean...this...is a person?" Ben asked in shock.

"Yes...well. She was once," Relius stated in a tone that made both Ben and Max' blood boil, "But I feel we've delayed this long enough...Ignis, grab Lt. Nanaya and let us be on our way."

Ignis nodded as she reached her free arm towards Makoto, only to back away as Max jumped in her path. Turbo energy leaking from him forcing Ignis to back away even further.

"Can't touch me huh? Yeah, me and machines don't mix." Max chuckled, "Now let go of my friend," he grabbed Steel again and began charging him with energy.

"My you are a confrontational one." Relius sighed, "How will you make me? I have already had Ignis analyze that maneuver you performed earlier."

"How bout this one?" he grabbed Steel by both arms and held him up as a beam shot from his optic and blasted Ignis forcing her to let go of Ben.

=Hey...it worked!= Steel laughed.

"I know! I was totally sure it backfire!" Max laughed.

"Using tricks even you don't know the effectiveness of...to experiment at such a time...you have my respect." Relius mumbled to himself with a smirk.

"And you have my laser, creepy!" Max argued as he fired a laser at Relius, only for a puppet-like robotic arm to spring forth from his cape and block it, "?!

"You thought I'd leave myself exposed that easily?" Relius smirked before snapping his fingers, "Ignis."

"?" Max raised a brow before tensing, ignis suddenly vanished from view, "?! Wh...where did…"

=Max look up!=

"Huh?" Max blinked before looking up, seeing Ignis coming towards him with her feet converted into a pair of spinning drills, "WOAH!" he yelped as he quickly dodged, causing Ignis to miss as she left a crater in her wake.

=I am not a fan of this!= Steel yelped.

"How do you think I feel?!" Max argued as he brought his arms up to block a slash from Ignis' claw, wincing from the force behind it, "I'm dealing...with a literal swiss army knife in the form of a cyborg!"

"That armor is also interesting...not much can withstand Ignis's claws...truly interesting." Relius added as he sat back and just watched.

"I'm glad Count Creepy is enjoying himself!" Max grunted.

"Oh I am," Relius smiled.

"First you creep me out and now you anti my jokes...you...are one evil guy!" Max grunted as he leaned back and cartwheeled back, "Steel! Go Turbo Strength!" he ordered as his armor changed into Turbo Strength Mode.

"It increased in mass and, based on the name, must be quite physically powerful," Relius observed.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," Max reared an arm back as his fist began glowing with energy. He swung and, even though Ignis stopped just short of getting hit, the energy exploded off and sent her flying back, "I...uh...meant to do that."

"...Projectile energy punches…" Relius noted, "Interesting…his abilities are still growing...and rapidly."

"I don't know how I did it...but Imma do it again! Noel, you help Ben and Makoto out of here. I got the Castlevania reject under control!"

"I didn't understand that reference and still feel hurt," Relius replied simply, "...and you didn't think I would anticipate that as well, young man?"

"...Ah crud. He's got back up…" Max realized before the Forever Knights came out of hiding, aiming their blasters at Ben and the girls.

"Like we said, always a step ahead of us," Ben muttered.

"Steel...got anything that can handle multiple baddies at once?" Max asked, backing up towards his friends.

=At the moment...no. Unless you have a random idea?=

"That monster yesterday...he sensed my Turbo energy...Steel...turn off the dampeners," he ordered.

=That is a horrible plan!=

"Do it now!"

=We are going to die!= Steel shouted as he did so, letting Turbo energy flood outwards. Everyone covered their eyes at the sudden flash.

"Using your own energy as a barrier is clever, boy...but how long can you expend that now that the machine is preventing self destruction?" Relius asked, using his cape to block the light.

"I'm not using it to keep you away...I'm calling it...here," Max replied.

"It...wait...no!" Relius realized as the ground suddenly exploded with fire, the blast knocking him and the knights over.

"YOU!" Elementor roared from a rooftop.

"Why?" Relius grunted, "Why bring that here?!"

"I figure you and him...aren't gonna play very nice," Max laughed, "If you can make me hate you...what about Toasty here?" at that, Elementor growled at Relius.

"You…" he growled, glaring at the scientist.

"Called it!" Max chuckled.

"But...that and…" Relius spoke as even he was having trouble keeping up with these turn of events, "...Blast it...my mood is ruined. Ignis," he ordered, Ignis moving next to him as she picked him up, her feet converted into a pair of boosters..

"Brunettes like us are quite the wild card," Ben chuckled.

"I underestimated you child...truly...you are an unknown element," Relius spoke as he and Ignis began flying off, "I won't underestimate you again!"

"Oh yay...I made an arch-nemesis…" Max sighed.

"...At least he's gone finally…" Makoto whispered, getting back up as she grabbed onto Ben for balance.

"Rrrr…"

=And now we're dealing with a hot head= Steel pointed out as Elementor crashed down before them, causing the Forever Knights to fall back and retreat.

"You…" Elementor growled, glaring down at Max.

"This won't be like last time," Max gripped his now giant fists.

"We shall see!" Elementor roared out, firing a stream of fire at him.

Max raised his arms and used his now giant body as a shield to protect the others from the flames and heat.

"Hoo boy!" Makoto yelped.

"Tsubaki, that flaming monster Elementor is back," Noel spoke into her Badge.

=So soon? Shoot...He must've detected Max…= Tsubaki whispered.

"Uhm...yeah...let's go with that…" Noel replied slowly as Max and Elementor wrestled around, "...Ano, what should we do?"

"Maybe some help here?!" Max shouted.

=Where are you at the moment?= Tsubaki asked.

"Smoothies!" Max shouted as he lifted a car and used it to smash Elementor several times until it began falling apart, "They just don't make cars like they used to...oh boy!" he shouted as he was tackled over.

=...Why am I not surprised Ben and Makoto would go to a Mr. Smoothies?= Tsubaki sighed =...Try and keep Elementor out of the city. Noel, you and Makoto help escort any civilians in the area to avoid casualties. Ben…if Max is overwhelmed, you might have to transform and back him up=

"I thought we agreed that was bad!" Ben spoke as Max tossed Elementor over their heads.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this." Max chuckled.

=We did, but we also agreed to use the Omnitrix only in case of an emergency= Tsubaki pointed out to Ben

"RAAAGH!" Elementor roared as he shot up, pillars of magma rising up behind him.

"Okay, he's using magma now?!" Makoto gawked.

"Yep, emergency," Ben gulped, quickly turning on the Omnitrix, "Okay...Might as well see what it'll do to Water Hazard or Overflow. Please be good."

With that, he pushed down on it and a teal flash went off. In Ben's place was Overflow with his legs, torso, and head covered in Shock Rock's rocks, the moss growing all over his back. Emerging from his back was a pair of cannon-like structures with the plasma-like energy glowing within.

"Whoa! Now this is cool," Overflow noted, looking up at the cannons, "So what will these do?"

"Magma!" the girls shouted.

"Magm-WOAH!" Overflow yelped as a stream of magma headed right towards him, prompting him to raise up the cannons before massive streams of water shot forth, colliding with the magma as it began to solidify while steam began to cover the area, "Oh neat! They're hydro cannons! Oh, I hope if Azmuth does do the armor, I get these for Overflow..."

=A little less talk and more SHOOT THE LIVING WILDFIRE MADE HUMANOID!= Steel screamed.

"Oh right!" Overflow yelped, "Girls, go get people to safety! I'll help Max out here with tall, gruesome, and burning!"

"Gotcha!" Makoto replied.

"Stay safe!" Noel added as she and Makoto rushed off.

"So what's the plan?" Max asked, grunting as he struggled with Elementor.

"The best plan: Get him away from the city, and beat him senseless!" Overflow replied while blasting streams of water from his cannons at Elementor, knocking him away from Max.

=That's your plan?= Steel asked.

"Well technically, the first part is Tsubaki's plan. I just added a little zing to it," Overflow answered.

=I get the feeling you do that a lot…= Steel deadpanned before Max and Overflow ducked under a blast of flames =Right, right. Gotta get this guy outta here now; snark at you later=

"Yeah," Max nodded, "Any ideas?"

"I'm thinking…" Overflow answered, pondering over as the two dodged another stream of fire from Elemetor, "...We need to catapult him out of the city."

"How?" Max asked before Overflow pointed at his cannons, "...You want me to throw him at you, don't you?"

"That or punch him towards me."

"I'm good with whatever."

=Can we throw him? That sounds more fun= Steel laughed.

"I will incinerate your bones!"

"Throw sounds good!" Max yelped, he reached out and lifted Overflow before aiming him to blast some of Elementro's flames, "And he goes for the knuckleball, but the catcher tells him no so he goes for the fastball!" Max narrated as he leaned back, lifted his leg up and swung tossing the alien at Elementor.

"The guy at bat is reeling for a home run, but…" Overflow began, aiming his cannons just as he was coming towards Elementor, "He's in for a rude awakening as it is a…!" he fired his cannons point blank, causing Elementor to roar out as he was sent flying into the distance, "STR~IKE!"

=I'm not a sports type of machine, but...wouldn't that be a…?= Steel began.

"Don't ruin the joke, dude," Overflow and Max deadpanned in unison.

=I'm getting double-teamed...And dampeners going back up to hide us= Steel informed.

"I told you it'd work," Max chuckled.

"Yup, and now that Heat Miser's incredibly angry cousin is out of the city…we can go all out without worry of casualties," Overflow smirked.

"That's a relief," Max sighed in relief, "At least there aren't anymore like him, right?"

"..." Overflow gave Max a look as Steel popped out of his chest to assist in giving Max a look.

"...What?" Max asked.

=I have been reading a lot about sentences that people really have to stop saying no matter where they're from in the universe= Steel informed =And you just said one of them=

Overflow's emblem beeped and he tapped it, "You're good."

=NO WE ARE NOT!= Makoto snapped on the communication link, making them jump as the sound of something metal was heard grinding into a rough surface =WHEN DID THE HOT HEAD GO FROM A WILDFIRE TO A BOULDER?!=

"...= Overflow and Steel shared looks =It was Max!"

"Wow just throw me under the bus, why don't ya…" Max sighed, "But he can change elements? Or...wait...could it be? Didn't My uncle say something about him being a race of alien robots?"

=YOU MEAN THERE ARE MORE OF THEM!?= Makoto snapped before Noel yelped in the background =Ahh! Noellie! Mou...just hurry over here guys!=

"Gotcha!" Overflow replied before turning back into Ben, "Trust me when I say this, you'll wish for peaceful days most days."

"I can already tell this is gonna be a long day," Max sighed a bit as the two rushed off.

"AH! Easy on the tail!" Makoto yelped as she jumped out of the way of a large rock, holding her tail close, "I would not like to become roadkill, thank you very much!"

"I will crush you!" the Earth version of Elementor who was covered in rock armor with jagged spikes and sections barked.

His jaw was much wider and made of multiple sharp jagged rocks as fangs. He roared and slammed his hand on the ground as pillars of sharp rocks began exploding out of the ground in an attempt to skewer them.

"Eep!" Noel yelped as Makoto grabbed her and jumped back form the sharp rocks.

"Seriously, as if the fire one was bad enough…" Makoto muttered as she put Noel down, only to grab her once more as she jumped away from another wave of sharp rocks, "Ah mou~! What's keeping Max and Ben?!"

"You think we are only two?" Earth Elementor laughed, "Idiot human slug...we are far more numerous then you can ever imagine…"

"...Uh….hello?! Did you not see the ears and tail?!" Makoto shouted, pointing to her ears with her tail.

"So? You look all the same, freak."

"...what?" Makoto's eyes narrowed dangerously at that.

"Oh dear…" Noel whispered in worry, getting out of Makoto's arms as she went into an alleyway to hide..

"Oh I hit a nerve? Maybe I should call you mutant. Or abomination. Or…"

"I don't think we're gonna need that backup…" Noel muttered, peeking out at the trembling Makoto, "Also...pay to fix the street...cause this next wave of damage...is gonna be our fault."

"Oh I got a better one! A…" Earth Elementor began in his mocking before Makoto was suddenly before him, her fist reeled back as her eyes were blank with rage, "?!"

*BAM!*

"FUGAW!" Earth Elementor cried out as he shot back,a fist imprint on his fast as he bounced along the street, breaking parts of it in the process before crashing through a few cars and into an old building, "...WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!" his head demanded as the rest of his body was slowly reforming.

"Makoto...you good?" Noel asked in concern.

"I will be once I grind him into dust...and throw him into a smelting pot to melt said dust, and then crush that metal into dust, and shoot it into the sun," Makoto answered, flexing her hand as she still had a look of anger on her face.

'...oh he just had to hit some of her big trigger words…' Noel metnally gulped.

"Okay we're here and...oh we're late…" Max's voice spoke as they turned to see him in a new mode, the armor on his upper torso became larger and wider with a hood of armor over his head forming an aerodynamic shape, his helmet larger with the white forming a mouthguard on his helmet. His arms and legs were now mostly white, his legs having a pair of thruster vents on the back of his lower leg. The large armor forming an oval pack with a large blue thruster, two pairs of wings formed, a larger pair with a smaller pair stacked over them, each wing had a glowing blue section that let out light that kept Max up in the air.

In his arms was Ben, who timed out on the trip here. Both excited from the flight, and probably embarrassed from being carried the way he was.

"...he said Makoto's trigger words?" Ben guessed, looking at Noel.

"Three of the Top five, hai," Noel responded.

"He had it coming!" Makoto snapped as Ben jumped down and landed in front of her, "My rage is justified!" she declared, before calming down as Ben began patting her head.

"It's okay...you beat him." Ben smiled.

"Think I can keep the head?" Max asked flying off.

"..I still w-" Makoto began before Ben scratched her behind the ear, "?!...Mmm~" she gave a content goofy smile, her tail swaying in content.

"...How...did you…?" Noel began, blinking a bit in surprise.

"Well...when you are in a serious relationship, you need to learn how to calm down your significant other's rage." Ben explained, "She knows how to do the same with me…" he chuckled, "Also I found this spot one day while we were...and I'm ending that story there."

"...Oh my," Noel whispered as a blush formed on her face.

"I wasn't talking about that ya nasty…"

"Mmm~!" Noel pouted, a little offended by that.

"You could've worded it better, man," Max noted.

"She's the one who thought of it!" Ben argued.

"Is she...okay?" Max waved his hand in front of Makoto's face to no response, "Dude I think you should stop scratching…"

"Oh. Right," Ben said as he stopped scratching behind her ear, "Babe?"

"Huh? Whuzzat?" Makoto blinked, "Sorry...I...blanked for a moment there...we didn't get caught in the heat of the moment again, did we?"

"No." Ben replied simply, "You did leave a bit of a mess though."

"I got his head." Max held up Earth Elementor's head as his body was fumbling around with no head to control it's actions.

"...Oh...oh…" Makoto cringed once she saw the damage, "...Tsubaki's gonna give me the look for causing to much damage...again…"

"I'm sure we'll be safe when we bring in...this guy." Ben pointed to Earth Elementor's head.

"Just you wait, humans slugs! When I get my body back I will crush you into dust!" the head barked at them as his body just kept walking into a wall repeatedly, "Grr...over here you idiot!"

"I...don't think it can hear you…" Noel muttered.

"SHUT UP! MY BROTHERS WILL GET ME!"

"Brothers?" they blinked.

"...By any chance...are you the stupid one?" Makoto asked.

"...shut up!"

"Yep...he's the stupid one." Makoto sighed, "Now I feel ashamed…" she fake-cried as she leaned her head on Ben's shoulder, "I wasted my anger...on the Big Dummy…"

"...which means the fire guy was the hothead…" Ben realized.

"He said brothers as in plural...does...does that mean one of them is the...smart one?" Max asked in concern.

"...We need to get back to HQ," the four teens spoke in unison.

=Agreed= Steel spoke.

"Fixit, bridge us back!" Max ordered tapping his helmet.

=Creating Ground Bridge!= Fixit answered

"What about Dumb and Dumber?" Makoto pointed to the headless body then the head as she spoke.

"The body seems kinds harmless without the head, which is also the main control unit." Max offered his theory.

"So we leave that for Forge to pick up later." Ben offered.

"And lock the head up now?" Noel guessed.

"Blast...geniuses…" Earth grumbled.

"Please someone give me back my anger and passion…" Makoto sighed, just ashamed she let this idiot rile her up so.

"There there, babe…" Ben patted her back as the portal appeared before the four, "I'll let ya pick anything you want for our dinner date when we're done with this mission."

"Really?" she asked, perking up back to normal.

"Yup. My treat."

'...Note to self; make sure Kajun has the house for just me and Ben for the night when I show him my old battle outfit once we're back home,' Makoto thought as they walked into the portal.

"More? You mean there are more of...this?" Mai pointed to Earth Elementor's head they kept in a cage.

=More or less yes= Steel replied.

"Already fought two of them. The fire one and this one," MAx added, jerking a thumb over at Earth Elementor's head.

"Since the theme has been Fire...and Earth...does that mean that his brothers we haven't seen yet are Water and Air?" Noel assumed.

"Given his name is 'Elementor'? Most likely," Mai answered.

"So they have a theme going on. But...how do you become one with Water and Wind?" Ben asked.

=From the records, they all seemed to have bonded with horrible elemental disasters= Steel explained, =Fire with a horrible Forest Fire, this one with a landslide, I'd imagine Water happened from this report of a Flash Flood caused by a dam burst just...vanishing. And Wind...from this Costal Hurricane that up and vanished= Steel displayed news reports of these events.

"...And if all of them gather, it could spell trouble…" Tsubaki whispered, examining each of the articles.

"Great...so they are literally living natural disasters." Ben sighed.

"So how would we stop them?" Makoto asked.

"We have containment cells that can hold them, but actually getting them in is easier said than done. These two are solid, how we capture water and air...I'm not sure," Fixit muttered.

"For water, we'd need something akin to a sponge or a similar object that can absorb moisture," Kajun spoke, looking through her tablet as she typed something in, "For air...simple. A vacuum effect to pull it into a container."

"A sponge...that's a silly answer coming from you, Kajun." Makoto pointed out.

"Says the squirrel girl who used a chestnut to destroy one of Billy billion's robots from the inside," Kajun countered.

"...Well, yeah b-"

"And using your Asteroid Vision to literally confuse Vulcanus into submission."

"Well I…"

"And using only your tail to literally beat Liam's face in."

"Alright I admit it...I...am silly." Makoto replied in a fake hurt tone, "But doesn't that just mean when I say something is silly...it's really silly?" she added with a smirk as Kajun froze mid-way through about to open her mouth to speak.

"I mean it could still work. We just gotta stick them in stuff they can't get out of." Max shrugged, "Maybe we can use some science stuff to change the water guy into something different, like I don't know...freeze him or turn him into jello?" he held a hand to his stomach, "I might be hungry…" he chuckled, despite Kajun and the others looking at him in interest.

"...Go on," Kajun spoke, looking over at him.

"I mean...water changes a lot...I pay some attention to science," Max replied, "Why not make some chemical that would freeze him into ice, or make him into a semi-solid goop he can't control. Or...we could make him into Cement Mix…" he mumbled, "Cement uses water to form."

"I...never would have thought of that." Ben muttered.

"Huh...you really think outside the box don't ya Max." Makoto nodded in agreement with her significant other.

"I do from time to time," Max nodded, "As for the wind one...like she said, vacuum effect into something to contain it. I don't know how you really catch wind..."

"We would need something to contain the wind one so it wouldn't' escape, but we sadly can't use Ben's Segmentisapien form," Kajun sighed.

"...and that is…"

"Basically think of a gorilla made of LEGOs," Makoto answered.

"That sounds like an awesome idea for a cartoon." Max admitted.

"Actually got pitched to me once by a tv producer," Ben admitted, "Turned it down the moment I heard Will Harangue was behind it."

"That guy just never stops…" Makoto sighed, "Still would make a funny cartoon though…"

=I think we are getting off track= Steel deadpanned.

"Right...first we need to find Fire again...then trap Water and Wind." Max spoke, "Otherwise we'll just have more problems."

"The Fire one should still be somewhere outside the city, so it should be easy to find him," Ben stated, "Other ones...might be hard."

"Just wait for them to come to me I guess…" Max sighed.

"It's our best strategy for now," Tsubaki stated.

"Guess I'll have to get stronger then." Max smiled, as he looked at Steel, "And to do that, I need to master the modes we have now."

=It would be better than trying to unlock forms we don't bother mastering= Steel spoke.

"That's what Ben usually does when he gets a new form," Makoto chimed in, "He's a freakin' pro with Diamondhead."

"Diamondhead?" Max repeated, "...let me guess, crystal-like alien?"

"Ya catch on quick," Ben grinned, "I'm kind of a pro at the whole multiple form things by now."

=Is that why you keep trying to turn into the same 6 things all the time?= Steel asked, making Ben flinch and tumble around a bit.

"...Only when the moment calls for it," Ben muttered.

"I don't think you two will ever get along." Max sighed as he watched the two bicker.

"Nope...and neither will I with him if he keeps with the lip towards me," Makoto added

=Not my fault you seem airheaded=

"Wh-?! AIRHEADED?!" Makoto snapped before Ben scratched behind her ear again, "...Mmm~"

"Has he always…" Tsubaki began.

"Don't ask." Max and Noel cut her off.

"They captured Earth?"

"That buffon always makes things more difficult for us."

"Regardless...our existence on this planet relies on the boy...and Dredd...so we'll have to get both back. Provided Fire doesn't ruin the plan."

"One time...and I thought it would be easy given the Omnitrix brat is as dumb as Earth."

"I think the Omnitrix brat is smarter...because Earth pushed that crossbreed's buttons if the Earth term is correct."

"It matters not. Humans are a lesser life form."

"Once we get the boy…"

"We can finally sign this world's death sentence as we use these idiotic life forms to bring back our kind."

"Agreed."

"And should anyone interfere...we make them extinct."

SZ:...Hoooooooooo boy. Things are gonna be big next chapter...also why does it feel hot, cold, and dragon-breathy in here, z0?

Z0: It wasn't my fault this time.

SZ: Then what…?*feels hot breath coming from behind, slowly turning to see an Alatreon glaring down*...who...lured an Alatreon here?!

Z0: Either me or GT...and since he's not here...it was probably him as payback against me. Ah don't worry I'll deal with it. Later…

SZ: 0-0….*flees as Z0 and the Alatreon glared eachother down*READ AND REVIEW FOLKS, AND TUNE IN FOR THE CLIMAX OF THIS ARC NEXT CHAPTER!

Alatreon: *roars out as it prepares to do Escaton Judgement*

Z0: Ah...I have to get rid of another world ending monster…*puts on helmet* See you next time folks!