Chapter 23: Mall Mayhem and Midnight Lulls
Morning sunlight streamed through the rust bucket's dusty windows as the gang roused themselves far later than intended. Ben's usual chirp was replaced by a groggy blink at his watch: 11:07 AM. Gwen sat up, brushing a stray ribbon from her face, while Fred rolled out of his bunk with a yawn so thunderous it rattled the cabinets. Max, already at the wheel, glanced back over his shoulder.
"You three look like you've been run over by a Plumber cruiser," he teased, voice tinted with amusement. "Rough night?"
Fred pinched the bridge of his nose. "We got up at the crack of dawn and ended up neck-deep in chaos. Lost count of how many worlds we nearly obliterated—then woke up on a floating hallway in the future. I'm beat."
Max offered a sympathetic grin. "Our next stop should help you recharge." He eased the rust bucket onto the highway, the engine purring along at a calm pace.
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Four hours later, as the clock nudged 4 PM, the rust bucket rumbled to a halt in a vast concrete lot. Fred blinked at the sprawling façade before him. "Wait—this is it?" he muttered, stepping onto asphalt and shielding his eyes against a bright, synthetic sky.
Before them rose Mega-Mall-Opolis in all its suburban glory: a broad, two-story building of pastel panels and glass block windows. Above the sliding doors, block letters proclaimed the mall's name in bold reds and blues. No weather dome here—just a strip of neon tubing and the hum of late-2010s air conditioning units.
Gwen, flipping through a paper brochure she'd picked up at the entrance, studied the simplified map. "They've got five hundred stores, seventy-two restaurants, forty-eight screens, and an indoor roller coaster. And look—free Wi-Fi, interactive touchscreen directories every fifty feet, and USB charging ports by the benches." She tapped at the guide's schematic with impressed eyes.
Ben darted forward, marveling at the gleaming polished floors. "It kinda makes MegaMart feel small. This place is like—mega times bigger."
They joined a small line of guided tram carts—open-air benches on rubber tracks that circled the mall's main arcade. The driver offered each of them a pair of earbuds linked wirelessly to the tram's audio guide. As the cart slid forward, Gwen took the left seat while Ben perched on the edge of his, scanning the mirrored directory overhead.
"On your left is the food court," said the tinny voice in their ears. They passed a cluster of benches surrounded by high ceilings and skylight panels—modern enough to feel bright, but certainly pre–2015. Digital menu boards flickered above counters selling sushi, burgers, and fro-yo. A little further, they passed a two-tiered fountain of polished brass; shoppers sat on planters topped with potted ferns and made hushed phone calls on their smartphones.
The tram curved around an atrium with a suspended stage set for local bands. Behind it, a carousel spun silently—lights twinkling in red, green, and blue. Down below, brightly colored kiosk stalls hawked cell-phone cases and novelty mugs. Ben leaned over the side, eyes dancing at the prospect of the VR station ahead. "They've got VR headsets and racing pods there—maybe I can try the space fighter simulation."
Gwen chuckled. "Just don't end up in a fight that needs real superpowers." She tapped her tram guide to mark the spot for the Gamer's Arcade on their brochure.
Moments later, the tram rolled gently back to the entrance portal. They hopped off, still buzzing from the miniature wander. Max, surveying the scene, carried a bundle of snacks—large pretzel rolls dusted with cinnamon sugar, and a handful of strawberry-mango smoothies that glowed like liquid sunset.
"This really is a mall for the masses," Fred murmured, leaning against a decorative iron railing. "Handrails are self-sanitizing, too—UV lights under the grip, so you never have to worry about germs. Kind of cool."
Gwen sipped her smoothie, nodding. "Everywhere you look, honest-to-goodness convenience tech—touchscreen directories, escalators that pause if someone falls, little conveyor belts on the moving walkways. Nothing too extravagant, but everything works smoothly."
Ben bit into a pretzel roll with delight. "And the variety is insane. Sushi, tacos, bubble tea—heck, they even have a made-to-order ramen station."
Max loaded the snacks into the rust bucket's rear compartment. "I say we camp out here for a couple of days," he proposed, slapping the bag. "You guys can rest, shop, have fun."
The trio exchanged excited grins. "I'm so in," Ben declared.
Gwen flipped through her brochure again, eyes sparkling. "I want to hit the bookshop—brainiac section only." She tapped a spot labeled "Interdimensional Books & Media". "They carry travel guides for parallel worlds. Imagine the research we can do."
Fred stretched as the last of the snacks went inside. "I could use a window seat and a power nap."
Max patted Fred on the shoulder, laughter in his eyes. "Then you three have a blast. I'll be right here."
They waved as Max climbed in and pulled away. Gwen, Ben, and Fred headed in to explore, the mall's glass doors whooshing closed behind them.
An hour later, they reemerged, each carrying some small purchase: a 3-in-1 manga box set for Gwen, a limited-edition "Slammers Slamdunk" collectible pack for Ben, and a sleek charging hub for Fred.
They paused at the entrance. Max had just parked the rust bucket under the neon Mall PD sign. "Ready to head back?" he called from inside.
Ben shook his head. "Can we stay another day? There's so much we haven't seen."
Gwen clapped her hands. "Definitely. I still need to check out the art gallery and the VR simulation center."
Fred yawned but smiled. "All right. Just—after a quick snack break."
As they loaded their purchases, a distant toll bell rang out. Gwen looked up to see two shadowy figures racing through the parking lot. Each clutched a display case glittering with stolen jewelry. The pair sprinted toward the mall entrance, heels clicking.
From around the corner of a booth came a golf cart emblazoned "Mall PD." A megaphone crackled: "Halt in the name of Mall Security!"
Max's grin broadened. "They even have their own police force."
Ben's eyes lit up. "Looks like hero time!" He dashed toward the lot—no Omnitrix dial needed. In one fluid thought, he transformed into Wildmutt: sinewy muscles and keen instincts primed.
"Rust bucket—after him!" Max called, shifting into drive.
Gwen and Fred leapt in, hanging on to the rails as the RV roared out. The wind caught their hair as they swung around pillars, tires squealing on the lot's asphalt.
Out front, Wildmutt darted between parked cars, snout lowered, tracking scent. The burglars skidded around a sedan, but their stolen cases dropped to the ground. Wildmutt bounded in, jaws snapping shut on the edge of one case. The criminals froze—hands in the air.
Meanwhile, Max screeched to a halt beside Wildmutt. The door swung open: Diamondhead erupted inside, crystalline spikes and all, to aid the capture.
Ben morphed back to human, crouching beside the stunned thieves. Gwen approached, trying not to giggle. "So—ninja grandmas?" she teased Ben.
Ben shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "They moved like it. Turns out they were two senior citizens—parolees from a mall heist ring. They didn't know Wildmutt was friendly."
Gwen laughed. "Only you would chase down grandmas."
Fred checked the watches on the cases. "Mall PD will be thrilled. Shall we?" He pointed toward the gated entrance, where a pair of Mall PD officers waited for them.
Max eased the rust bucket back onto the road. "Off to bed, then. Tomorrow we'll conquer the arcade."
Ben grinned at Gwen, anticipation still dancing in his eyes. "Best mall adventure ever."
Gwen nodded, cozying into her seat. "Just wait for the roller coaster."
Fred yawned dramatically as the mall's neon sign faded behind them. "And I, for one, shall sleep like a baby."
Max pressed the key fob for the rust bucket's hatches, quieting the engine. "All right, heroes—nighty-night."
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