Bab 74: I have finally risen...
Boston, Texas
The Sienna skidded to a stop at the end of a narrow street, its boosters propelling it forward in a burst of power. Dressed in full Peacemakers gear, Marcy quickly climbed onto the roof of the vehicle, her blaster at the ready.
A sleek blue car raced ahead, clearly being pursued by the Sienna. The driver of the car leaned out of the window, attempting to shoot Marcy while still keeping control of the vehicle.
Marcy easily dodged the shots, returning fire and expertly targeting the car's tires. With a loud bang, the wheels blew out, causing the car to swerve off the road. In the chaos, a burst of flames engulfed the vehicle.
On the next street over, a man clutching bags of stolen jewelry sprinted away, desperate to escape. Suddenly, Katherine leaped down from a nearby tree, landing gracefully in front of the man. She extended her arms and snapped her fingers, creating a protective force field around herself and the thief. The surrounding crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Katherine apprehended the culprit.
Marcy smirked at the sight. "Looks like she's having a blast."
BurnOut grumbled in response. "I could be the one getting all the attention if it wasn't for this stupid rule about not revealing the omnitrix."
"Don't worry," Marcy reassured him. "Once you officially join the Peacemakers, you'll have plenty of chances to shine. Speaking of which..."
BurnOut's eyes widened. "Wait, seriously?"
Marcy nodded, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Yep! We're heading to the Peacemakers compound."
[ Peacemakers Compound -A ]
Their small area trips were coming to an end, and Marcy wanted to make sure the final outing was memorable. So, she saved the best for last - a visit to the Peacemakers' new main base.
As they approached the base, Munch couldn't contain his excitement. "It waits... and he scores!" he exclaimed, shooting a powerful energy blast at a nearby tree. "The crowd goes wild! Cameron Lenardo is truly a legend!" Munch continued with his celebratory dance.
Katherine rolled her eyes playfully. "You know, dumpshit, if you ever want to trade powers, I'd be more than willing. Then maybe you can have that spotlight you always crave."
Cameron, now back in his human form, chuckled. "Nah, I'm cool with the omnitrix. But I am curious, Katherine, how does it feel for you?"
"Kinda overwhelming, to be honest," Katherine confessed. "Most mutants or superheroes take time to build their reputation, but I got that hero status instantly. Now, I worry that it could disappear just as quickly."
"Insecurities run deep, huh?" Cameron mused. "If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be insecure at all. People love me."
Katherine smirked. "I've seen the comments on your news clips. It's a mix of fear, mistrust, and admiration. You're quite the polarizing figure."
Cameron shrugged nonchalantly. "Haters gonna hate."
Together, they continued towards the Peacemakers' main base, ready to embark on their final adventure before bidding farewell to their small area trips.
It took the Sienna sometime, but after a couple of minutes it finally made it into the hanger of the base where vehicles were usually ordered to park or wait.
Most of the ride up until this point had been a spectacle. The main base of the Peacemakers was truly impressive, far surpassing the low-class bases they had encountered earlier. The hangar itself was as big as a base.
"There they are!" Grandpa exclaimed, filled with joy.
"Grandpa!" Cameron and Katherine ran towards him, embracing him in a tight and affectionate hug.
"How are you feeling, Grandpa?" Cameron asked, concerned.
"I'm feeling amazing now that I've been to therapy. I'm grateful that your mother suggested it to me," Grandpa replied.
"Same here," Cameron agreed.
"Grandpa is actually the leader of this whole organization," Marcy chimed in.
"The boss?!" Katherine and Cameron said in unison, surprised.
"Yes, but I prefer not to talk about that. What I do want to talk about is our little superstar," Grandpa said, looking at Katherine.
"Superstar?" Katherine wondered.
"He's talking about you, dumpshit," Cameron quipped.
"I know, it's called sarcasm," Katherine retorted.
"I can't believe you're already making a name for yourself in the superhero industry. Honestly, I expected Cameron to be the star first," Grandpa admitted.
"Can I just say that we all thought Cameron would be the big name?" Cameron added.
"I'm feeling a mix of excitement and overwhelm about this whole thing," Katherine confessed.
"If it's the public's opinion that overwhelms you, then calm down. As long as you're doing the right thing, ignore those who have issues with how you do it. At the end of the day, you're doing good," Grandpa advised.
"That's really valuable advice, Grandpa," Katherine acknowledged.
"The same goes for you, Cameron," Grandpa added.
"The advice would be useful if I wasn't being paid hush money to keep my involvement a secret," Cameron said with frustration.
"We don't work with the government, and you already have a bad reputation with most of the audience. So in this case, I think it's better," Grandpa explained.
"I guess," Cameron reluctantly agreed.
The three were already awestruck by the entrance to the facility and its secluded location away from the rest of society. The hangar was massive and unforgettable, but nothing compared to what they were about to see inside.
Finally, they arrived at the main control room, where a disheveled woman stood in the center, observing everyone in the room.
"Goodman, why are there so many people working today?" Mr. Lenardo asked, puzzled.
"We're just checking a few things, nothing to worry about, sir," Goodman replied, trying to defuse the situation.
"But I explicitly stated that only essential personnel should come to work today-"
"-I must have forgotten, sir," Goodman interrupted, sounding slightly evasive.
Grandpa let out a sigh. "Are you still upset with me for not accepting your idea for the organization?"
"Upset? No, I'm disappointed," Goodman retorted heatedly. "The idea I had for the organization was revolutionary, enormous in scope, but you shut it down after your therapy sessions."
"Goodman, your idea was extreme. Can you fully comprehend the risks and legal implications of venturing into other dimensions? I supported your vision of space exploration, but Dimension X? That's too far-fetched," Grandpa explained, trying to reason with him.
"Firstly, sending only four squads hardly matches my vision of building a space operative team. And secondly, it could work! There's nothing to worry about. Trust me," Goodman argued adamantly.
Marcy leaned in and whispered to the other two, "That's the second-in-command, General Goodman."
Now, let's polish this section of your story:
The three were already amazed by the entrance of the facility and how isolated it was from the rest of the public. The hangar was amazingly big and something to remember, but the inside was just jaw-dropping.
Finally, the three made it into the main section of the base: the main control room. A woman with disheveled hair stood in the center, observing everybody.
"Goodman? Why are there so many people working today?" Mr. Lenardo questioned, confused.
"We're just checking a few things, nothing to worry about, Mr. Lenardo," Goodman replied, trying to ease the tension.
"But I said that only those who have to may come to work today-"
"-I must have forgotten," Goodman interjected.
Grandpa let out a sigh. "Are you seriously still upset with me for not choosing your idea for the organization?"
"Upset? I'm disappointed! The idea I had for the organization was grand, it was amazing, but then you came out of your therapy session and shut it all down," Goodman snapped.
"Goodman, your idea was insane. Do you grasp the amount of work and consequences that would arise from exploring other dimensions? I agreed with your idea of venturing into space, but Dimension X?" Grandpa reasoned.
"Firstly, sending four squads doesn't even come close to my concept of building a space operative team. And secondly, it could work out. There's nothing to be worried about, trust me," Goodman argued.
'That person over there is General Goodman, the second-in-command," Marcy whispered to the other two.
"So, when grandpa decides to quit, is she next in line to become the leader?" Cameron asked.
"That's what second-in-command means, dumbshit." Katherine nudged Cameron.
"It could've meant anything." Cameron nudged Katherine back.
Katherine snapped her fingers, raising Cameron into the sky inside a force field. Cameron activated the omnitrix and transformed. A green flash shone, and 0verspeed floated above Katherine.
"You were planning on escaping my bubble with Overspeed?"
"I didn't have time to think, okay?" 0verspeed said.
"So, every time you don't have time to think, you just turn into a random alien?" Marcy raised a question.
"Pretty much, yes."
"You two must be Katherine and Cameron Lenardo!"
Katherine snapped her fingers, causing the bubble to disappear and 0verspeed to crash onto the ground. She then turned to Goodman and stood respectfully.
"Yes, we are."
"The girl with unknown abilities and the boy with the most interesting device."
A smile crept onto Overspeed's face. "Did you hear how she put more emphasis when saying my part?"
"Yeah, I heard. It's not that big of a deal."
"How'd you two like to explore the facility a bit more? You know, get the chance to see our amazing finds and discoveries."
"Oh, yes!" Overspeed glowed.
"This is gonna be so much fun!"
"Let's go."
So much fun was a large understatement for both Cameron and Katherine. The first room they were given the chance to explore was the squad hangout area, the general showed them the room with the intention they would become part of the squads.
The group had been exploring the second area for what felt like an eternity when 0verspeed's attention was captured by a peculiar room. It piqued their interest, especially since there were sealed locks with a clear warning sign that read "do not enter." However, upon closer inspection, they noticed that the padlock had not been properly secured, making it easily accessible. Despite General Goodman's explicit instruction to steer clear of the room, 0verspeed couldn't resist the temptation.
"We've been stuck on this never-ending tour for ages," 0verspeed grumbled, growing increasingly impatient.
Katherine, who shared the sentiment, questioned, "Then why haven't you turned back yet?"
"Okay, maybe it's only been seven or eight minutes, but still," 0verspeed countered, feeling the restlessness intensify.
"This is not what I signed up for. I expected to see some exciting secret agent action, yet all we've encountered so far is lameness. And now, we're on our way to the third room," Katherine expressed her disappointment.
"I don't know about you, but I'm gonna go check out that secret room," 0verspeed declared, their curiosity overwhelming any sense of caution.
"Take me with you!" Katherine pleaded.
"Sorry, sister, but I cannot grant your request. because one of us has to give a reason for why the other isn't there," 0verspeed explained, already darting off towards the forbidden room before Katherine could protest further.
"Why does it have to be... me," Katherine's voice trailed off as 0verspeed vanished from sight, leaving her alone with a heavy burden of responsibility.
A surge of freedom coursed through 0verspeed's body after escaping what he believed to be the worst tour trip in the world. With a wave of excitement, he raced towards the prison, eager to explore its hidden secrets.
As he approached, he noticed that the padlock securing the entrance was shoddily closed. It presented the perfect opportunity for the nimble speed alien to sneak inside. Smirking at his luck, 0verspeed casually pushed the door open and stepped into the room. To his surprise, it resembled yet another prison-like area.
"Wow," he exclaimed, his voice echoing against the cold walls. "This must be where they keep their most notorious enemy. I wonder who could be locked away in here." Just then, the omnitrix on his wrist emitted a bright green light.
Although the room was different from the others, its defining feature was a massive metal tube that occupied almost the entire space. Cameron strained his eyes to catch a glimpse of what lay inside, but the solid metal obstructed his view.
"There must be some kind of control panel here," he mused to himself, frustration creeping into his voice. "If only I hadn't transformed into 0verspeed, I could have used Static-Brain's intellect to figure my way through this."
Undeterred, Cameron meticulously scanned the control panel in search of a button or lever that could unlock the tube. Just as his hope began to waver, his finger brushed against a hidden switch. Without hesitation, he pressed it, causing power to abruptly shut off in the room. The metal covering the tube slowly rose, unveiling a peculiar and unknown alien creature.
A chorus of hurried footsteps resonated from the outside, jolting Cameron into swift action. Without thinking, he instinctively pressed the nearest button, hoping it would conceal the secret passage. Realizing his mistake, he swiftly corrected himself by hitting the correct switch. The room was instantly illuminated as the power came alive, and just as swiftly, a group of men burst into the room.
"Isn't this the Cameron kid, the one they claimed helped dismantle that cult with his watch?" one of the men exclaimed.
"Let's confirm with the general," another suggested, eyeing Cameron suspiciously.
"What the hell is this room anyway?" a third man asked, his voice laced with annoyance.
"It's the room that Goodman strictly forbid us from entering, you idiot," a fourth man retorted dismissively.
Brushing past the commotion and confusion, Cameron soon found himself seated in a sterile, white room with his grandpa and Goodman standing before him. The atmosphere was tense as Cameron faced the consequences of his actions, enduring a scolding that he would remember for a lifetime.
The scolding was abruptly cut short as a red beacon siren blared through the main base, signaling an outbreak. Grandpa's expression turned to shock as he realized the room the sirens originated from. He couldn't remember ever having a prisoner in there, but Goodman, always the one to spring into action, hurriedly dashed towards the room.
Katherine, however, was left behind, assigned the unenviable task of guarding Cameron. She grumbled silently to herself, clearly displeased with the duty. Meanwhile, Goodman and Grandpa raced through the main base, making their way to the room Cameron was in before.
Confusion and worry evident in his voice, Grandpa demanded, "Goodman, what is the meaning of all this?"
Goodman's face wore a grave expression as she replied, "Don't panic, sir. But remember when I mentioned trusting me about Dimension X?"
Grandpa's eyes widened in disbelief. "Goodman, please don't tell me-"
"Yes," Goodman interrupted, her tone urgent. "During your absence, due to your traumatic issues, a few of us agents took it upon ourselves to venture into Dimension X."
Grandpa's shock turned into anger. "Goodman, that was incredibly reckless! Not only did you risk your own life, but also the lives of those agents!"
"Please, sir, take a breath and listen," Goodman said, gesturing for one of the commanders who had followed them to make an announcement. "We need everyone to be on high alert."
Grandpa, struggling to contain her emotions, demanded an explanation. "Goodman, what is all this about?"
"Sir, when we entered Dimension X, we made a groundbreaking discovery," Goodman explained, her voice tinged with excitement. "Life exists there... We managed to capture a fragment of life from that realm. The story goes that we saved a small civilization from a tyrant monster, which we apprehended."
Grandpa's anger gave way to deep concern. "And now, that beast is loose, am I correct?"
Inside the white room, Katherine lay flat on her back, engrossed in conversation with some of her friends. Meanwhile, Cameron, who had transformed into EyeZ, was busy flexing his newly acquired abilities.
"I can't believe how boring this is," EyeZ complained.
"Well, if you hadn't messed up, we wouldn't be stuck here," Katherine retorted.
EyeZ glanced up at a red beacon on the intercom machine. "What's with that red thing?"
Katherine explained, "This room is completely soundproof. It's where they interrogate people and stuff. I'm guessing that red glow means there's an announcement, so we should be aware."
"And how do you know all this?" EyeZ questioned.
"There was a sign about it outside, dumpshit," Katherine replied. "Something must be wrong, I'm guessing we should help."
EyeZ grinned excitedly and turned towards the room's only door. With a burst of energy, he unleashed a powerful blast that shattered the door. Turning to Katherine, he displayed an overly enthusiastic thumbs up, to which she responded with a hesitant approval.
The duo dashed out of the room and found a fallen agent in the corridor. He pointed ahead, urging them to follow his lead.
Katherine froze in her tracks, her eyes fixated on the monstrous creature struggling to break free from the agents' grip. EyeZ recognized that creature from the secret room. As the agents turned their attention towards Katherine and Cameron, the distraction proved to be the perfect opportunity for the monster to launch its attack. In a swift motion, it raised its twisted arms, leaving behind two searing red lines etched onto the agents bodies. Their once unblemished skin now burned and charred.
"There's no need to fear, for EyeZ is here," EyeZ declared confidently.
"What in the world is that thing?!" Katherine exclaimed, her voice filled with fear.
"I have no idea," EyeZ responded honestly.
Unaware of their presence, the monster began to walk away. Seizing the opportunity, EyeZ quickly fired six powerful eye shots at its back, drawing its attention towards them.
"I think I may have angered it," EyeZ muttered under his breath.
"Ben Tennyson... I've finally found you!" the monster bellowed.
"Wait, who is Ben Tennyson?" Katherine asked, her confusion evident.
"Don't play dumb with me! I can spot the symbol of the Omnitrix from anywhere," the monster retorted menacingly.
"I really need to cover up this thing," EyeZ muttered to himself.
Before he could act, the monster charged recklessly towards EyeZ. Reacting swiftly, EyeZ unleashed a beam of energy from his middle eye, hoping it would deter the monster. However, the creature effortlessly curved around the beam, crashing into EyeZ and slamming him against the wall.
Taking charge of the situation, Katherine snapped her fingers and unleashed a powerful punch, sending the monster reeling away from her brother. In a flash of green and white, the Omnitrix on EyeZ's wrist flickered, transforming him back into Cameron.
"No!" Cameron cried out, his expression filled with frustration.
"This guy emits some seriously bad vibes. It's time for us to make our escape," Katherine said, determination in her voice.
"Already one step ahead of you!" Cameron replied, his eyes filled with determination.
The bubble sucked in both Katherine and Cameron, before Katherine snapped her fingers the monster touched the bubble the second it teleported taking it with them.
The two found themselves in the main room face-to-face with the menacing monster. Marcy and her squad quickly turned their attention to the towering creature, bewildered by its presence.
"What the hell is that?" Marcy exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.
"We're just as clueless," Cameron replied, scanning the room for any signs of weakness.
"I overheard it searching for someone named Ben Tennyson," Katherine interjected.
"But that doesn't make sense," Cameron chimed in. "Ben Tennyson belongs to a different universe, not ours."
Marcy furrowed her brows, trying to make sense of the situation. "How do you know that?"
"It's a long story," Cameron said, casting a glance towards the monster.
Before anyone could react, one of Marcy's squad members sprinted towards the monster with reckless abandon. Instantly, the creature seized the boy by the neck, its menacing red lines crawling up his body.
"Stop him! He's going to kill Jackson!" Amber cried out in panic.
Thinking quickly, Bailey swiftly hurled a knife, expertly embedding it into the monster's arm. The knife emitted a high-pitched beep before exploding in a cloud of smoke. As the smoke cleared, it became evident that the monster's arm was severed but its body remained unscathed.
"What is he?" Bailey exclaimed in astonishment.
"He's a problem, that's what he is!" Marcy snapped, her voice filled with determination.
In a blink of an eye, Marcy's own galvanic mecamorph built on her arm. She dashed towards the monster, delivering a powerful punch that sent them both sliding backward. In the chaos, the creature swung its arm, narrowly missing Marcy but inadvertently striking some of the nearby controls. An explosion of electricity erupted, jolting the monster with unexpected force.
"That's impossible... I thought I killed your little galvanic mecamorph," the monster sneered as it turned its attention to Cameron. "I keep mistaking you for Tennyson."
Confusion washed over Cameron's face. "Wait, that doesn't make sense. If this monster is from a universe with a Ben, then there shouldn't be a Cameron or Marcy in that universe. He shouldn't know any of us."
Bailey interrupted Cameron's thoughts. "What are you babbling about, Cameron?"
Marcy dove back into the fight, fiercely exchanging blows with the monster. However, with each clash, the red lines began to crawl up Marcy's galvanic mecamorph arm, forcing her to retreat.
In a desperate attempt, the monster lunged forward, throwing a double-fisted punch towards Marcy. Reacting quickly, Katherine summoned a forcefield bubble, successfully blocking the attack. The force of the blow caused the punch to ricochet back, striking the monster in the face.
"My power isn't enough. I need more!" the monster growled, frustration lacing its voice.
The monster maneuvered through the vents, putting distance between itself and the others until it reached the familiar room where it had been imprisoned.
"Where is my power?!" the monster growled.
Goodman, taken aback by the creature's sudden appearance, responded, "This area is for authorized personnel only."
"What have you done? You brought me to this strange world! Where is Ben Tennyson?"
Goodman raised an eyebrow. "Who is Ben Tennyson?"
"The boy who can transform into aliens! Stop pretending you don't know! WHERE IS HE?"
"I honestly have no idea," Goodman replied, genuinely confused.
Moments later, WoodWorks burst out from the ground, landing a powerful punch that sent the monster staggering.
"You've always been a nuisance, boy. This time, I'll put an end to you," WoodWorks declared with determination.
The monster and WoodWorks squared off, ready to engage in a fierce battle. The monster launched a series of punches at WoodWorks, but most of them failed to connect due to WoodWorks' snake-like agility.
WoodWorks capitalized on his advantage, dodging effortlessly. However, he soon realized that simply dodging wouldn't be enough to defeat the alien. To end the fight, WoodWorks needed to attack. Unfortunately, this decision proved to be a mistake. As both combatants morphed their hands into weapons, their attacks became evenly matched.
Despite WoodWorks manufacturing hammers and the monster alien producing laser blasters, the outcome of the fight was quickly determined in favor of WoodWorks. Their laser advantage proved to be the deciding factor in multiple rounds of the battle.
Caught in a precarious position, WoodWorks realized he needed a grand strategy to secure victory against the monster alien. With a fierce grip, the alien monster latched onto WoodWorks's arm and began absorbing his energy, causing the tides to turn against him. However, the resourceful wood alien swiftly maneuvered himself into the ground and broke free from the monster's grip.
"Foolish creature! Without Tennyson's assistance, you won't defeat me again," The monster alien retorted defiantly.
Aware that the monster alien possessed the ability to absorb him at will, WoodWorks heightened his guard and launched a series of extended punches, relentlessly assaulting his opponent. The monster alien found himself on the defensive, unable to mount a counterattack as he was continuously pushed backwards by the onslaught of punches.
"This won't stop me, you shall rue the day you messed with Melware!" the monster alien growled, focusing his attention on WoodWorks.
Suddenly, the Omnitrix on WoodWorks's wrist began to pulsate, emitting a mesmerizing blend of green and white light. Sensing a shift in the battle, the monster alien observed in astonishment as he was forcefully pushed backward, inching closer and closer towards a nearby tube. Determined not to be defeated, the monster alien charged up within himself, generating a formidable red beam from his stomach that he unleashed towards WoodWorks.
In a display of quick thinking and agility, WoodWorks mimicked the exact move the monster had executed moments ago. He gracefully contorted his body, curling around the incoming energy blast, and then fiercely tackled the monster alien, using his opponent's own attack against him. Just as the confrontation reached its climax, the Omnitrix flashed with a vivid green light, signaling a pivotal moment.
With perfect timing, just as the monster alien was on the verge of reaching Cameron, the previously unnoticed tube abruptly sealed shut, successfully trapping the relentless creature.
"We've got him!" exclaimed one of the agents, giving Cameron a thumbs up as relief washed over him.
[ Later ]
"I'm sorry for your vacation being cut short by that little incident," Grandpa apologized.
"No need to worry, we actually needed some excitement. It was getting a bit dull," Cameron revealed.
"Cameron's right, Grandpa. We needed something to get our adrenaline pumping," Katherine added.
"Well, I hope you three had a great time here, even with the unexpected events," Grandpa said.
"It was more than just fun, Grandpa," Marcy said with a smile.
The three of them got into the Sienna and drove off. As General Goodman approached Grandpa to apologize, she noticed a man emerging from behind him.
"Mr. Lenardo, may I have a word?" Paradox spoke.
Grandpa turned around, surprised. "Paradox."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone