Asher's reasoning proved convincing, and it wasn't long before Max agreed that Ben and Gwen could join the fishing expedition. However, he laid down clear ground rules.
"You two must stay with Asher at all times, and there is to be absolutely no wandering off," Max declared with unmistakable authority, his weathered face showing no trace of humor. "If you can't follow this simple rule, you won't be going on any more trips."
"Don't worry, Grandpa!" Ben replied immediately, patting his chest with real conviction. "I promise we'll stick together!"
"Unlike some people, I'm not in the habit of running off everywhere," Gwen added pointedly, crossing her arms with characteristic superiority.
"Hey, nerd..." Ben shot his cousin a fierce glare, which she returned with equal intensity, muttering "dork" under her breath.
Sensing another fight brewing between his cousins, Asher quickly intervened. "What time is it? Shouldn't we be getting ready for the fishing trip?"
"Time?" Gwen looked at the display on her laptop. "It's eight in the morning. Grandpa, what time is our boat scheduled to leave?"
"Eight twenty," Max replied as he gathered their fishing gear. "We should get to the marina now."
Ben and Gwen, still somewhat chastened by the morning's sea monster incident, eagerly pitched in to help organize the gear, though Asher noticed that they gave him a wide berth, perhaps still in awe of his heroic transformation.
8:20 AM - The Marina
Armed with their fishing gear and backpacks, the four Tennysons walked from the Rust Bucket to the lake's small marina. The peaceful dock was no longer empty, as it had been during their early morning swim.
A weathered man in his fifties stood near the water's edge, wearing a faded red baseball cap over his gray hair. Despite his age, he carried himself with the energetic bearing of someone who had spent decades working on the water. A modest fishing boat bobbed gently at the dock beside him.
"Captain Shaw?" Max approached directly and extended his hand in greeting. "We're the group you agreed to take fishing today."
"That would be me," the captain replied in a somewhat lazy drawl, turning to face them with a casual expression. "You must be Mr. Tennyson. You and your grandchildren can come aboard whenever you're ready."
"Actually, there's something important I need to discuss with you first," Max said, his tone changing to one of serious concern as he placed a firm hand on the captain's shoulder.
"What's that?" Captain Shaw's interest was immediately piqued by Max's serious demeanor, his casual demeanor sharpened into attention.
"There is a dangerous creature in this lake," Max said, deliberately emphasizing each word. "A large aquatic predator. You need to understand the risks before we go."
"You believe in the sea monster legends, too?" Captain Shaw's eyes lit up with sudden enthusiasm, as if he'd discovered a kindred spirit. "I've been telling people for years that there's something unusual in these waters, but nobody ever takes it seriously!"
"I'm not talking about legends," Max replied, his voice growing uncertain even as he tried to maintain his conviction. "My grandson encountered this creature while swimming this morning. He saw it with his own eyes."
Even I'm starting to realize how crazy this sounds, Max thought privately.
Captain Shaw paused for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh. "Ha! Good one, Mr. Tennyson. You almost had me there. Are you planning to turn this into some kind of found footage movie? Add some Hollywood drama to our fishing trip?"
"It's real! I saw the monster myself!" Ben stepped forward eagerly, gesturing wildly with both hands. "It had massive teeth and a body like a dinosaur! It was huge!"
"Sure, sure, kid," Captain Shaw replied with good-natured dismissiveness, already climbing into the pilot's seat of the boat. "Why don't we all go aboard and see what we can catch today?"
Ben's face fell in obvious disappointment at not being believed.
Gwen shook her head in sympathy. "I don't think he heard a word we said."
"Asher, stay extra alert out there," Max said quietly, turning to his most responsible grandson with obvious concern. "I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry, Grandpa," Asher replied confidently. "I'll be ready for anything."
He was the first to board the modest fishing vessel, settling into one of the benches along the sides of the boat. The others followed, making themselves comfortable for the journey ahead.
On the lake
As Captain Shaw navigated them into deeper waters, Max struck up a casual conversation with their guide while Asher, Ben, and Gwen kept their eyes on the surrounding lake.
The scenery was undeniably beautiful in the early morning light. Wisps of mist drifted across the water's surface, creating ethereal patterns that sparkled in the sunlight like something out of a fairy tale.
But beneath this serene exterior, Asher knew that darker currents lurked.
After about ten minutes of steady cruising, they reached what appeared to be the center of the lake. The water remained perfectly calm, with no visible sign of the massive creature Asher had fought earlier.
It's probably still nursing its wounds from the beating the Ripjaws gave it, Asher thought with satisfaction. Still, his hand remained near the Omnitrix, which showed a reassuring green light, indicating full readiness for transformation.
"All right, this is the sweet spot," Captain Shaw announced as he cut the engine and allowed the boat to settle into a gentle drift. "Best fishing in the whole lake right here."
"Perfect," Max said, turning away from the captain to give his grandchildren a meaningful look that clearly communicated stay alert. He began handing out fishing poles to each of them with practiced efficiency.
"How exactly does this work?" Gwen asked with genuine curiosity, examining the fishing rod with scientific interest. "I've never been fishing before."
"It's really quite simple," Asher replied, demonstrating the proper technique. He held his rod forward, pulled the line back to create tension, then cast it forward with a smooth, practiced motion.
Plop!
The hook hit the water with a soft splash, the pre-baited line sinking into the depths of the lake.
The sound seemed to pierce the morning silence, rippling outward in widening circles across the mirror-like surface.
Through the slowly dissipating fog in the distance, Asher caught sight of something that made his blood run cold.
A massive, dark silhouette was moving just below the surface, and it was heading straight for their boat.
Ding!
"Login target detected: Returning Sea Monster!"
"Prepare for confrontation to complete registration!"
Asher's hand moved instinctively toward the Omnitrix as he realized the truth of their situation. The ancient predator had not fled for good; it had bided its time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back.
And now they were trapped in the middle of the lake with nowhere to run.
"Grandpa," Asher said quietly, his voice carrying a note of warning that immediately caught Max's attention. "We've got company."
The peaceful fishing trip was about to become anything but peaceful.
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