Gwen's mouth fell open. "Grandpa, you never told us."
Just imagine—finding out your grandfather was a hero all along. No one could stay calm after that.
"Alright, enough talk." Grandpa Max drew two silver pistols and clipped them to his waist. "Saving them comes first. We need to rescue Lucian and Ben before Vilgax takes off."
From Vilgax's tone, it was clear—he didn't just want to kill them. He wanted to destroy the entire planet.
Grandpa Max knew Vilgax had that kind of power, so he couldn't afford a single moment of carelessness.
Gwen nodded and followed him back into the Rustbucket.
Moments later, the floor lift activated, raising the Rustbucket back to the surface. Sunlight poured in through the windows.
"But how are we supposed to find Cuz and the others?" Gwen asked anxiously.
Grandpa Max quickly worked the control panel. A map popped up, flashing with a crimson dot.
"The Satellite Global Positioning Tracking System," he said. "It can track the signal from the watch."
As he spoke, he slammed the accelerator, and the Rustbucket roared forward.
"Grandpa, you knew about the watch all along?" Gwen blinked in surprise. "Why didn't you ever tell us?"
"I'd only heard rumors," he replied. "I always thought it was just a legend. Never imagined the Omnitrix was real."
He paused, then added, "What's even stranger is that Lucian somehow found two—and gave one to Ben. I still can't figure that out."
Gwen frowned at the map. "But there's only one red dot showing."
"That's the problem," Grandpa Max said quietly. "Vilgax couldn't figure it out either. That's why he captured them both."
"Grandpa, aren't you going too fast? We're doing at least two hundred miles an hour!"
Feeling the car windows shake, Gwen shouted in alarm. If they flipped, it would be disastrous.
"This speed is still too slow."
He pressed a red, dust-covered button.
Beep!
The Rustbucket's rear engines unfolded with a metallic clang. Wing-like panels extended from its tail as bursts of fiery red energy ignited. The vehicle shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
It slammed straight into a raging storm, thunder roaring all around them.
Inside, the entire cabin rattled violently. Cups, laptops, and tools clattered to the floor, bouncing from side to side.
"Ah!!" Gwen screamed, squeezing her eyes shut.
The modified Rustbucket blazed ahead at full power, trailing a streak of crimson fire as it sped toward its destination.
...
In the green valley, a massive space battleship hovered silently.
At the center of the command room, Lucian and Ben were restrained by machines, unable to move. The Omnitrix on Lucian's left wrist was clamped tightly by a cylindrical device that was severing the connection between the watch and its wearer. Once that link was completely cut, the Omnitrix could be forcibly removed.
Around them stood numerous robots, weapons in hand, forming a tight circle. Lucian struggled to break free, but it was useless. Ben was in the same situation, his face filled with worry.
Vilgax sat upon his throne, glancing at the robot beside him. "Prepare for takeoff. I will destroy this planet and erase it from existence!"
"Yes, sir!" The robot saluted and began maneuvering the ship, which slowly rose into the sky.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the battleship, blowing open a massive hole. The Rustbucket burst through the breach, trailing roaring flames as it generated immense thrust, crashing straight into the command room.
The robots exchanged stunned looks, then raised their weapons, unleashing crimson lasers toward the wreck.
Grandpa Max leaned halfway out the window, looking through his scope. He mounted a powerful laser cannon, charged it with energy, and fired a blinding blue beam that wiped out a cluster of robots.
"Gwen, we're getting out."
With that, Grandpa Max jumped down, drew his pistols, and spun them in his hands with dazzling precision, taking out one robot after another.
Gwen began chanting incantations, summoning Water Magic as she joined the fight.
"Grandpa, Gwen, you're finally here!" Ben shouted, eyes glistening with emotion.
Surveying the chaotic battlefield, Lucian's mind raced, searching for a way to break free.
Zzzzt!
Suddenly, a surge of energy pulsed from his wrist, spreading through his entire body.
In an instant, Lucian transformed into XLR8, then Diamondhead, then Grey Matter... then Swampfire—his forms shifting rapidly one after another. Beside him, Ben was experiencing the same uncontrollable transformations.
"It must be an energy pulse interfering with the watch's transformation function," Grandpa Max said grimly.
"Tennyson, it's you again!" Vilgax growled, rising to his feet and advancing toward him.
"Vilgax, long time no see!"
Grandpa Max aimed the laser cannon and unleashed its full power. Blinding blue light erupted, blasting the towering Vilgax backward and slamming him into the iron wall.
"Roar!"
Lucian, now transformed into Humungousaur, flexed with tremendous strength, shattering the restraints that bound him and stepping forward.
Meanwhile, Ben turned into Four Arms, ripping apart the cylindrical machine that held him captive.
Whoosh!
Swarms of Spider Drones poured from the depths of the ship, swarming like angry hornets.
Four Arms swung a massive punch, but mid-strike, he shifted into Ghostfreak, fading into the air. He immediately switched to Grey Matter, slipping into a Spider Drone's body and hijacking it to attack its own kind.
Humungousaur smashed through several robots in quick succession. Then, morphing into Swampfire, he hurled blazing fireballs, engulfing scores of drones in explosions.
Transforming into Buzzshock, he darted into enemy machines, draining their energy and releasing devastating bursts of power that annihilated over half the attackers.
At the control console, Grandpa Max's hands moved rapidly. "We have to stop the spaceship. It can't reach orbit."
"Grandpa, you can pilot a spaceship too..." Gwen gasped, convinced her grandfather could do anything.
Suddenly, a massive force slammed into Grandpa Max, sending him rolling across the floor. He came to a stop at the edge of the gaping hole—beyond it, fierce winds howled through the open sky. One slip would mean certain death.
Vilgax raised his enormous foot and stomped down on him. Grandpa Max braced himself, struggling to resist the crushing pressure, but he was about to give out.
Just then, having smashed the last of the nearby robots, Humungousaur saw what was happening.
"Let him go!"
With an earth-shaking roar, Humungousaur lunged forward, tackling Vilgax. The two of them tumbled together into the endless abyss...