Antlers
Sep
Bugman
mickilennial
Silverstein
Anciek
Zeus23
Nallore
Roman
|| Duron Canyon, Rangorn VI - 2 Years ago.
The transport roared across the canyon ridge, metal treads grinding against the rails as it barreled toward the mining outpost. Wind tore past the armoured cars, carrying the stench of fuel and scorched metal.
Four Arms landed on the roof with a heavy thud. The Tetramand’s weight made the metal groan, his four broad arms bracing instinctively as the train lurched beneath him.
Rocket was already ahead of him, firing at a cluster of Badoon scrambling out of a hatch.
“Move it, big guy! They’re swarming!” The small, cybernetically enhanced raccoon snarled as he fired a gun ahead of him.
Groot rose behind him, his colossal body of brambles and twigs towering over the Badoon. Two of the reptilian soldiers lunged with shock‑pikes, hissing through their teeth and scaled jaws.
“I am Groot!”
His arms shot outward in a sudden, violent burst of growth. They wrapped around both Badoon in an instant, yanked them off their feet, and flung them off the side of the transport. Their screams vanished into the ravine below.
Rocket barked a laugh.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”
Four Arms ripped a blaster from a Badoon’s grip and smashed him across the face with it, sending him sprawling. He didn’t wait for the others. He swung down the side of the car, fingers punching into the metal plating, and reached the sliding door.
He braced himself and tore it open.
Inside, the compartment was dim and warm, lined with shackles bolted to the walls. Dozens of aliens were chained in place, eyes wide, bodies trembling. Some were bruised. Some were barely conscious.
Four Arms exhaled, and green light washed over him.
Ben stood there instead, breathing hard, wearing rough, patched‑together Ravager leathers. The scavenged plates, torn sleeves, and dust‑stained boots had become his signature look over the last few years.
He knelt beside the nearest captive, a small figure with shaking hands and terrified eyes.
“Hey. I’m gonna get you out. Just hold still.” He forced a smile as he spoke, reaching for the shackle release as he did so.
A golden blast tore through the compartment.
The captive jerked once and collapsed, smoke rising from the hole burned straight through their chest.
Ben froze.
Titus stood in the doorway, Nova helmet gleaming, arm still raised from the shot.
“Step away from the detainees.”
Ben stared at him, disbelief twisting into something darker.
“Detainees? They’re slaves.”
Titus stepped inside, boots heavy on the metal floor.
“They’re Badoon property. This is a sanctioned transfer.”
“Should’ve known you were working with them.” Ben said through his teeth as his hands balled into fists.
Titus didn’t flinch.
“You’re out of your depth, Tennyson. Stand down.”
Ben looked at the fallen alien. At the scorch mark on the wall. Then finally at Titus’s hand still glowing with Nova energy.
The Omnitrix dial spun.
Green light erupted.
A towering, muscular feline alien stood where Ben had been. Orange fur, razor sharp claws, and fangs bared into a snarl. Titus froze for a heartbeat as he recognized the eyes, the teeth, the unmistakable silhouette of his own species staring back at him with pure, murderous fury.
“RATH’S GONNA RIP YOUR LYIN’ FACE OFF, TITUS!”
He lunged.
|| Bellwood, Earth - Present.
Ben hit the bottom of the slope at a sprint, gravel spraying behind him. The Forever Knights were still focused on the prisoners, the gang members still waving their guns around like they mattered. None had noticed him just yet.
His hand was already on the Omnitrix.
The dial spun beneath his thumb, silhouettes flickering until one pulsed with familiar warmth. His jaw tightened. He slammed the core down.
The familiar light engulfed him.
Ben’s body ignited from the inside out, with cracks of molten orange racing across his skin as stone plates formed over his limbs. Fire roared from his shoulders, his eyes burning like twin furnaces. Heatblast hit the ground in Ben’s place, embers drifting off him like sparks from a forge.
The Forever Knights finally turned. But it was too late.
Heatblast thrust both hands forward, sending a wave of fire across the lot. The nearest Knight’s sword glowed red hot, forcing him to drop it with a shout. Another Knight raised a shield; Heatblast punched it, and the metal softened like wax.
Three Knights rushed him at once.
One swung a stun blade and caught Heatblast across the ribs. The blade sizzled against his stone plating, sending a burst of sparks. Heatblast staggered half a step, then straightened.
“Heh. That’s cute.” He jeered, his voice now deeper and more gravelly.
He’d been fighting these guys since he was ten. Did they really think they had a chance?
He grabbed the Knight by the helmet and hurled him into his friends.
The gang members panicked instantly.
“Move! Move! Get in the van!”
They scrambled over each other, shoving and tripping as they piled into the vehicle. Doors slammed and the engine coughed to life.
Heatblast blurred forward, planted both burning hands on the hood, and melted straight through the metal. The hood sagged, glowing orange. The engine block collapsed in on itself with a hiss of steam.
Heatblast leaned in, flames licking up his arms.
“Yeah… you’re not going anywhere with that.”
The driver screamed.
Before Ben could do much more though, two Knights slammed into his back at full sprint.
The hit drove him forward hard enough that he crashed into a stack of equipment crates. The whole row toppled. One crate struck the side of the containment unit, knocking it loose. It slid off the stack, hit the ground, and shattered in a burst of frost and glass.
The small pale creature rolled free, limp and trembling.
Heatblast’s flames flared hotter. His mind flashed back to the Rangorn VI. Back to the train and Titus. He couldn’t let something like that happen again.
Clenching his jaw, he slammed a hand against the Omnitrix logo on his chest.
A burst of green light exploded outward.
When it faded, Rath hit the ground on all fours with a guttural snarl. Muscles bunched under orange fur. Claws dug furrows into the dirt. His tail lashed once, hard enough to crack a crate behind him.
“Rrrrgh… now you’ve done it.” He roared, rising to his full height.
The nearest Knight barely had time to raise his sword.
Rath launched forward in a single bound. He crashed into the Knight with enough force to lift him off his feet. They hit the ground together, Rath pinning him with one massive hand while the other ripped the sword from his grip and flung it across the lot.
The Knight struggled. Rath leaned down until their helmets touched.
“Lemme tell you something!” Rath roared. “Rath does not appreciate being blindsided!”
He slammed the Knight into the dirt once more for emphasis. The man went limp.
Rath rose, breathing hard, eyes burning with fury. Only one Knight remained. He backed up a step, sword trembling in his hand. The appoplexian simply growled. He stalked toward him, shoulders rolling, claws flexing.
“Rath is in a very bad mood, and you are about to be the example!”
The Knight swung. Rath caught the blade in one hand, squeezed, and snapped it clean in half. The Knight froze.
Rath grabbed him by the front of his armour and lifted him off the ground with one arm. The Knight’s feet dangled, kicking uselessly. Rath slammed him against the side of the van, holding him there with ease. The impact knocked the Knight’s mask loose. It clattered to the ground, revealing a wide‑eyed, terrified face beneath.
“You think you can just hurt people and walk away?” Rath shouted, leaning in close and fangs bared.
“Ben! BEN!” Gwen's voice called out loudly behind him.
“I’m busy!” Was all he shot back, refusing to take his eyes off his victim.
“Ben, look behind you!”
The Knight’s eyes flicked over Rath’s shoulder. His expression shifted from fear to confusion, then to horror.
Rath frowned.
“What are you looking at?” He growling, turning his head in confusion.
The creature from the broken container was no longer small. It had swollen into a massive, round, baby‑like blob, its limbs stubby and twitching as its body ballooned outward. Its skin pulsed with cold light, and thick vapour rolled off it in slow waves as it continued to grow.
Rath’s ears flattened.
“Ah shit.”
