"So we're really handing all of this over to the Plumbers?" Asher looked down at the Staff of Ages in his hand, then at Hex's sleeve robe draped over his arm. A twinge of reluctance flickered across his face, though he already knew what he was going to do.
These were hard-won trophies, after all. Defeating Hex hadn't exactly been a walk in the park.
"Don't worry about it," Grandpa Max said with a knowing smile. "We've stopped plenty of threats before, but this is the first time we've recovered magical artifacts of this caliber. When I turn these over to the Plumbers, they'll definitely authorize something special in return. Just wait here in the Rustbucket, I need to make a trip."
Max adopted his characteristic air of mystery, the one that always left the kids burning with curiosity.
A mysterious reward?
Asher's interest sharpened immediately. The Plumbers were the most secretive and arguably most powerful organization on Earth, possibly in the entire galaxy. They had access to alien technologies and artifacts that most governments didn't even know existed.
If the Plumbers were offering something in exchange for Hex's gear, it had to be valuable.
"Grandpa, can I come with you?" Asher asked, unable to contain his curiosity. "I'd really like to see the Plumber headquarters."
"When you're a bit older, we'll talk about the Plumbers properly," Max said, his tone gentle but firm. "For now, just trust me on this one."
Asher caught the subtle deflection. Max wasn't ready to fully reveal his past, or their possible future, with the organization just yet. Rather than push like a child throwing a tantrum, Asher simply nodded and let the matter drop.
He returned to the Rustbucket with Ben and Gwen to wait.
During Max's absence, all three of them tried searching for information about the Plumbers online. Ben typed furiously on his laptop while Gwen scrolled through her phone. But no matter which search engine they used or what keywords they entered, they found absolutely nothing.
No news articles. No conspiracy theories. No leaked documents.
It was as if the organization didn't exist at all.
Two or three hours slipped past before they heard footsteps approaching the door.
"Is that Grandpa?" Asher called out, rubbing his eyes. The long wait had made him drowsy.
"It's me! And I brought something incredible!"
Max's voice came through the door, barely containing his excitement. Even though he was trying to keep quiet, his tone practically vibrated with anticipation.
Asher, Ben, and Gwen snapped to full alertness instantly.
Asher reached the door first, pulling it open and ushering Max inside before closing it firmly behind him. Whatever Max had brought, it was clearly meant to stay private.
In Max's weathered hands sat a small red case. The container looked deceptively ordinary, like something that might hold jewelry or a pair of expensive cufflinks. But the way Max carried it suggested the contents were far more valuable than anything that mundane.
"Grandpa, what's in there?" Asher pointed at the red case, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Patience," Max said with a grin.
He moved to the table, drew the curtains closed, and sat down with an air of ceremony. Only then did his expression shift from secretive to genuinely proud.
"Kids, your grandfather just acquired something remarkable from the Plumbers."
He lifted the lid of the case.
Inside, nestled in protective foam, lay a single test tube filled with luminescent green liquid. The substance seemed to pulse faintly, almost like it was alive, or at least aware that it was being observed. Under the RV's dim lighting, it cast an eerie emerald glow across Max's weathered features.
"What is that?" Asher leaned closer, genuinely intrigued. The liquid's texture reminded him of something corrosive, yet somehow organic at the same time.
"This," Max said, his voice reverent, "is a genetic enhancement serum. It was invented by a biological genius among the Galvan, one of the most intelligent species in the galaxy. This serum can strengthen the human body at the genetic level. For people like you three, who regularly face life-threatening combat situations, this could make all the difference."
Asher's eyes lit up with recognition.
A genetic enhancement serum developed by the Galvan?
This wasn't just some random supplement or vitamin cocktail. The Galvan were renowned across the cosmos as the most technologically advanced civilization in existence. They'd created the Omnitrix, for crying out loud, a device capable of storing and replicating the DNA of over a million species. If they'd designed a serum to enhance human genetics, it had to be extraordinary.
This was essentially a super-soldier formula, except developed by beings whose scientific knowledge made Earth's greatest minds look like children playing with chemistry sets.
"There's only one dose here," Ben observed, disappointment creeping into his voice. "How do we divide it?"
He glanced at Asher, then squared his shoulders with visible effort. "I don't need it. Give it all to Asher, he's always on the front lines. Makes sense for him to get the biggest boost."
"I agree," Gwen added immediately, nodding at her cousin. "Asher takes the most risks. He should have priority."
Asher felt a warm rush of gratitude at their unconditional support. But he wasn't about to accept everything for himself, not when they were all in this together.
"Hold on," he said, producing three small cups from the kitchenette. "We're splitting this three ways."
He carefully extracted the test tube from its case and began dividing the serum into three portions. His own serving was noticeably larger than the others, roughly equal to Ben and Gwen's shares combined.
"You're sure about this?" Gwen asked, watching the glowing liquid settle into her cup.
"Positive. My physique is already more developed than yours, so I can handle a higher dose. But you two need enhancement just as much as I do. We're a team, remember?"
That reasoning seemed to satisfy everyone.
"Alright then," Asher said, raising his cup with a grin. "Cheers?"
"Wait, we should toast first!" Ben exclaimed, grabbing his own cup. "If we're doing this, we're doing it properly!"
"Count me in," Gwen agreed.
The three cousins clinked their cups together as if they were drinking champagne at a New Year's party rather than alien biotechnology in a cramped RV. Then, in unison, they downed the serum in single gulps.
"Woah, !"
The effect was immediate and intense.
Asher's face flushed crimson as searing heat exploded through his entire body. It felt like someone had ignited a bonfire in his bloodstream. Every muscle fiber seemed to be simultaneously burning and rebuilding, tearing itself apart at the cellular level only to reconstruct stronger than before.
His strength surged. His reflexes sharpened. His very bones seemed to densify, becoming harder and more resilient with each passing second.
This is incredible, he thought through the haze of sensation. If this is what the smaller dose feels like for them, I can't imagine,
He glanced over at Ben and Gwen. Both were experiencing their own reactions, though neither seemed to be struggling as intensely as he was.
Ben's face had gone red with effort, sweat beading on his forehead. His body trembled as the serum worked its way through his system, but after a few minutes, his expression shifted from discomfort to wonder. He looked down at his arms and flexed experimentally.
"I... I think I got taller?" Ben's voice cracked with surprise. He'd always been the shortest of the three cousins, but now he appeared to have gained at least an inch or two. More noticeably, faint muscle definition had appeared on his previously scrawny frame.
Gwen's transformation was subtler but no less significant. Her eyes had gone distant for a moment, as if she was processing something internally. When she refocused, there was a new sharpness to her gaze.
"My magic feels... different," she murmured, flexing her fingers experimentally. A faint purple glow flickered around her palm before fading. "It's like the pathways are wider now. Cleaner. I think my mana capacity just increased."
Trust Gwen to get the magical upgrade instead of the physical one.
Meanwhile, Asher was still riding out the final waves of his enhancement. The burning sensation had finally begun to subside, leaving behind a profound sense of rightness, as if his body had finally achieved its proper potential.
He looked down at himself and blinked.
His frame had filled out dramatically. Where before he'd been athletic and toned, now he looked like a professional martial artist in his prime. Lean but powerful muscles wrapped his limbs, and when he flexed experimentally, he could feel raw strength thrumming beneath his skin.
His features had sharpened too. More angular. More defined. The kind of face that commanded attention without demanding it.
"Okay," he said slowly, testing his grip by squeezing his own forearm. The pressure barely registered. "That worked."
"Asher! Let's arm wrestle!" Ben bounced up from his seat, clearly eager to test his newfound strength. "I bet I can take you now!"
"You're on."
The two cousins took positions at the table, clasped hands, and began their contest.
It lasted exactly one second.
Ben's wrist slammed against the wooden surface before he even realized what had happened. Asher hadn't just won, he'd demolished him with absolutely no effort whatsoever.
"What the, " Ben stared at his hand in disbelief. "You barely moved!"
"Looks like my enhancement was significantly stronger than yours," Asher said, unable to suppress a satisfied smile. He rotated his shoulder, feeling the power coiled in his muscles. "Makes sense, given the dosage difference."
Ben's expression cycled through disappointment, acceptance, and finally competitive determination. "Fine. But next time, I'm getting the bigger share!"
Growl.
Two stomachs rumbled in perfect synchronization.
Max laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Sounds like those enhanced bodies need fuel. Come on, let's find the best restaurant in town and celebrate properly."
He slid into the driver's seat and fired up the Rustbucket's engine. The familiar rumble of the old RV filled the cabin as they pulled away from their parking spot.
A new chapter of their journey was beginning.