"Take a six-story spiral plunge, swooping down over two hundred feet at speeds exceeding twenty-five miles per hour! At the end, you'll splash down in our massive three-hundred-thousand-gallon wave pool! Welcome to the Mega Wave Zone!"
Under the sweltering summer sun, the water park teemed with life. Children shrieked with delight while splashing through the shallows, and dozens of adults floated lazily in the enormous swimming pool. Towering above it all, the park's signature attraction, a massive slide that zigzagged down from dizzying heights before depositing riders into the churning waters below.
Screams of exhilaration echoed from the heights as riders plummeted toward the pool.
Asher and Ben stood at the base of the Mega Wave Zone in their swimming gear, listening as Gwen enthusiastically described every detail of the attraction.
Yesterday had been the tedious museum visit, which, despite the boring exhibits, had at least rewarded them with excellent meals. But today was finally their chance to cut loose and enjoy themselves.
"Let's go!"
Asher waited patiently for Gwen to finish her explanation, then immediately headed toward the stairs, eager to reach the top. The others followed close behind.
Thanks to their enhanced genetics, all three of them climbed the six-story staircase without breaking a sweat. Even Gwen, whose enhancements had primarily focused on her magical aptitude, had gained enough physical improvement to handle the climb easily.
"Impressive muscle definition, kid," the staff member at the top said, holding the height measurement tool. He studied Asher with evident surprise. "You've got the build of someone much older."
Asher couldn't blame him for the comment. His lean muscles and defined abs made most adults look out of shape by comparison.
Height-wise, Asher cleared the minimum requirement with room to spare. Ben and Gwen both measured exactly at the standard threshold, fortunately, the genetic enhancement serum had given Ben just enough of a growth spurt to qualify. Otherwise, he would have been turned away.
All three passed inspection.
"Yes! I'm going first!" Ben darted past Asher, claiming the lead position on the slide. He threw himself onto the slick surface and shot downward with an excited scream that echoed across the park.
"Is it really that thrilling?" Asher couldn't suppress an eager grin. He followed Ben down, with Gwen close behind.
The sensation was incredible, like surfing on his own body, the rushing water carrying him through twist after twist at breakneck speed. Wind and spray stung his face as the world blurred past.
But honestly? It wasn't quite as exhilarating as racing across the lake with XLR8.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three splashes in rapid succession as they hit the water. Each of them plunged headfirst into the meter-deep pool before surfacing, gasping and grinning.
"Phew, that was close." Asher wiped water from his face and glanced at his wrist. The Omnitrix dial had popped up slightly from the impact. He pressed it back down carefully, relief flooding through him. "I almost triggered a transformation. That would've been hard to explain."
"My charm's still secure." Gwen shook the pendant hanging against her chest, the Charm of Luck, bound to a chain she never removed. A subtle shimmer passed through the crystal. "I activated its luck boost right before we hit the water, just in case."
Ben, meanwhile, had his own equipment concerns. The reactor disc was hidden beneath his swim shirt, pressing awkwardly against his chest. The concealment wasn't elegant, but at least no one seemed to notice.
All three of them stayed equipped, even at a water park.
What followed was pure, uncomplicated fun. They splashed through every attraction, raced down smaller slides, and challenged each other to breath-holding contests in the wave pool. For a precious hour, the weight of their responsibilities melted away.
Asher eventually found a shaded spot to rest. He had vague memories of something happening at a water park in the original timeline, but given everything he'd changed through his butterfly effect, he assumed those events had been safely averted.
Nothing to worry about. Safe at last.
On the other side of the water park, someone was having a much worse day.
Howell Wainwright pushed his glasses up his nose and sighed heavily. The alien enthusiast leaned against a fence in a shaded corner, completely failing to enjoy the summer atmosphere around him.
"The Forever Knights don't believe me anymore," he muttered to himself, his expression dejected. "They've rejected my spaceship photos, my alien evidence, everything. How am I supposed to make money now? Where can I find new aliens?"
He had no motivation to enjoy the park. Instead, he stood in the shade, staring blankly at the bright sky and the scorching sun overhead.
Then he noticed something.
Red light.
What?!
Three crimson dots flashed in the sky, growing larger with alarming speed. They resolved into distinct shapes, two Mechadroids flanking a much larger one, all of them descending rapidly toward the water park!
"Holy, robots! Living robots!" Howell's eyes went wide behind his glasses. He fumbled desperately for his camera. "If I can film this, the Forever Knights will have to take me seriously!"
Meanwhile, Asher spotted the same descending figures and felt his momentary peace evaporate.
"Does Vilgax seriously have some kind of obsession with us?" he groaned, rubbing his temples. "He just keeps coming and coming. This is getting exhausting."
"Asher!" Ben appeared at his side, already bouncing with readiness. "Leave the big one to you, I'll take one of the small ones!"
"No way!" Gwen pushed forward. "I should help too!"
Asher held up a hand before their argument could escalate. "Stop! There's no time for this. Rock-paper-scissors, winner goes."
Vilgax, watching through his robots' visual feeds from his ship in orbit, would have choked with rage if he'd heard Asher's words. His elite combat units had been reduced to prizes in a children's game?
"Fine! Rock-paper-scissors!" Gwen agreed instantly.
"Okay, okay!" Ben relented.
They thrust out their hands simultaneously.
Scissors versus rock.
The Charm of Luck pulsed with a faint golden glow.
The winner was obvious.
"Yes! The light of luck is always on my side!" Gwen pumped her fist in quiet celebration, then patted Asher's shoulder with a confident wink. "Asher, I'm going to change into my costume. Find somewhere to transform. Ben can stay here and watch our stuff!"
"Let's go!"
Asher didn't waste another second. He and Gwen split up, heading toward their respective preparation areas.
The instant they departed, the robots completed their descent.
The two smaller units hovered in midair, maintaining altitude while scanning the area. But the large combat robot slammed down into the pool with tremendous force, sending a wall of water several stories high crashing across the park!
"AAAHHH!"
"HELP! MECHANICAL MONSTERS!"
Panic erupted instantly. Tourists screamed and fled in every direction, desperate to escape the metallic invaders. Within moments, the pool area was almost completely empty, save for Howell, who was too busy filming to run, and Ben, who hadn't moved an inch.
"Omnitrix... Omnitrix..." The large robot's scanner swept the area, its red optical sensors tracking movement patterns. The beam locked onto Ben. "Friend of the Omnitrix owner. Surrender the Omnitrix immediately."
"Uh, sorry to disappoint you, big guy." Ben spread his hands with an exaggerated shrug, his expression theatrical. "I really wanted to fight you myself, but I lost at rock-paper-scissors. Your opponent isn't me."
The robots, all three of them, failed to parse Ben's meaning. Even Vilgax, monitoring remotely, couldn't understand the implication.
Lost? What did that mean?
"Irrelevant. Eliminate this one, he is a known combat asset. Remove potential threats permanently." Vilgax's voice crackled through the robots' speakers, issuing new orders with cold efficiency.
WHIRRRR!
One large cannon. Two smaller turrets. All three weapons systems locked onto Ben simultaneously, red targeting lasers converging on his chest. The weapons began charging, glowing with deadly crimson energy.
These units were far more powerful than the previous models Asher had faced.
Ben didn't even have time to activate his reactor before the crimson beams engulfed him completely!