The next day, the trio found themselves navigating the crowded aisles of a local supermarket. Road trip preparations were in full swing, and Ben was determined to ensure they had enough decent grub to survive.
"Alright, Laura, listen up," Ben began, his voice laced with mock seriousness. "We need to stock up on some good food. I'm talking snacks, meals, the whole shebang. Trust me, you do NOT want to rely on Grandpa Max's cooking."
Laura tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face. "What's wrong with his cooking?"
Ben shuddered, a memory surfacing from his past life. He'd eaten some weird stuff back then, things considered delicacies in some cultures. But even those culinary oddities seemed palatable compared to what Grandpa Max could whip up. "Let's just say his dishes are… unique. And not in a good way."
Gwen chimed in, a look of disgust twisting her features. "Oh god, don't even remind me. Remember that time he made marinated mealworms? I swear, I almost lost my lunch."
Laura shrugged, unfazed. "Mealworms? Sounds like a good source of protein."
Ben and Gwen exchanged bewildered glances. "You wouldn't mind eating that?" Ben asked, incredulous.
"Not really," Laura replied, her voice matter-of-fact. "If it's nutritious, I'll eat it."
A long silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant chatter of other shoppers. Ben and Gwen stared at Laura, their minds struggling to process her nonchalant acceptance of insect cuisine. They shared a look, deciding to drop the topic.
"Okay, well, let's just… move on," Ben said, grabbing a shopping cart. "We need chips, cookies, sandwiches… anything to avoid Grandpa's 'special' recipes."
With a renewed sense of purpose, Ben steered the cart toward the checkout lanes. After what felt like an eternity, they unloaded their provisions onto the conveyor belt, a mountain of sugary snacks and processed delights. The cashier, an older man with tired eyes and a nametag that read 'Gary', began scanning their items.
[BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP]
Ben, however, picked up a faint, acrid scent, something akin to rotting meat and stale pond water. It was coming from Gary, the old man. His nose wrinkled imperceptibly.
They paid for their groceries and exited the supermarket. As Gwen and Laura headed toward the car, Ben lingered, casting a furtive glance back at the store. Gary was still there, ringing up another customer.
Gwen noticed Ben's hesitation and backtracked, her brow furrowed. "What's wrong, Ben?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I don't know," Ben replied, his gaze fixed on the supermarket entrance. "I just… I got a bad feeling about that old man."
I noticed for a while now, my hearing and smell has gotten better. Could it be because of the Omnitrix? He didn't have an answer yet, but he knew something was definitely up.
Laura, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped forward. "He smelled… off." Her tone was neutral, yet Ben sensed an underlying unease. She didn't elaborate, but her words confirmed his suspicions. He wasn't crazy.
"Here, can you two put these in the car?" Ben gestured toward the bags. "I'm going to check something out."
"Oh no, you're not," Gwen stated, her arms crossing. "I'm coming with you."
"Gwen, it might be dangerous."
"All the more reason someone needs to keep an eye on you."
Gwen turned to Laura. "Can you put these in the car?"
Laura stepped forward. "I'm also coming with."
Ben looked from Gwen to Laura.
"Fine," Ben relented. "But stick close, both of you." He knew arguing was futile, and honestly, he felt a bit better having them with him. Ben led the way back toward the supermarket, his senses on high alert. The scent was still there, a disturbing undercurrent beneath the mundane smells of a busy store.
They watched as Gary left his post, doffing his apron and heading out the back entrance. The trio shadowed him, keeping a safe distance as he walked down the sidewalk and turned into a narrow alley.
The scene that greeted them was strange. Several figures, all elderly, were gathered in a circle, their faces etched with an odd mix of anticipation and… hunger?
"Is the food ready for transport?" Gary asked, his voice now carrying a strange, guttural quality.
Another of the seniors, a woman with a floral dress, responded. "The pods are at the final stage of gestation."
"Good," Gary continued. "The feast is soon."
"And the progress?" one of the men questioned. "Are we finding enough?"
"It's going well," Gary said, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "We're finding more hiding in the sewers. They're practically begging to be… gathered."
Ben, Gwen, and Laura exchanged glances, confused. Sewers? Gathering? Food? The conversation was growing increasingly bizarre.
Gwen spoke first, trying to dismiss the oddness. "They are just talking about food. Maybe they are organizing some weird potluck."
Ben shook his head. "Yeah, but my gut is telling me it isn't just ordinary food."
Gary and his friends approached a manhole cover. With surprising strength, they pried it open, revealing a dark, gaping hole leading into the depths. One by one, they descended, disappearing into the city's underbelly.
"Okay, why sewers?" Gwen said, breaking the silence. "Are they planning some sort of underground rave? Because I am not equipped for that."
"No clue, but I'm following them," Ben responded, his voice tinged with determination.
"You're not seriously heading down there," Gwen said, exasperated. "It stinks, it's probably full of rats, and who knows what kind of diseases lurk in those depths?"
"You're welcome to stay here, princess," Ben retorted, a smirk playing on his lips.
Gwen sighed. "Why can't a simple grocery run ever stay simple? Every time we go out, it leads to some crazy adventure. The last time we went to the supermarket, we ended up meeting a crazy scientist mutating animals."
Laura turned to Gwen, her expression curious. "What is she talking about?"
"Oh, it's a long story," Gwen waved it off, approaching the manhole. "Just be glad you weren't there. Now, let's get this over with."
With a shared glance, the trio descended into the sewer, the metallic clang of the manhole cover echoing behind them. A rush of hot, stagnant air washed over them, carrying a symphony of unpleasant aromas. Ben tried to ignore the smell.
The sewer was dark. Ben and Gwen pulled out their phones, using the flashlights to guide their way. The stench was overpowering, a cocktail of sewage and decay that clung to their nostrils. The awful odor made it difficult for Ben, but he and Laura were able to track the scent of Gary and his friends. They pressed on, their footsteps echoing through the tunnels.
They rounded a corner and saw Gary and the others surrounding a group of figures. The figures were clearly mutants. Their bodies displayed physical changes, with some having blue skin, others possessing sharp, almost animalistic teeth, and still others sporting webbed feet and hands. The mutants looked terrified.
As Ben and the others watched, a disturbing began to happen to Gary and his group. Their limbs elongated and contorted, their teeth grew sharp and yellowed. The 'old' people started grabbing the mutants, who tried to get away.
"They're here!" one of the mutants screamed, while running.
"Those don't look like regular old people," Ben said, his eyes widening in realization. "And those people need help. It's Hero Time!"
His ring glowed, and the Omni-Exo Armor covered his body. He activated the Omnitrix and summoned Heartblast.
Laura didn't say a word. Her claws extended from her knuckles, glistening in the dim light of the sewer, before sprinting toward Gary and the others.
The initial strikes did little against the slimy forms. The claws slide across their skin, barely scratching the surface.
"Heartblast, fire!" Ben shouted, his voice echoing through the cavernous space.
Heartblast didn't hesitate. She unleashed a concentrated stream of flames. The fire blasted the senior citizens and sent them reeling.
The flames revealed their true forms. No longer could they be mistaken for ordinary old folks. Their bodies morphed. Their skin turned slick and brown, with glimpses of sickly pink organs visible beneath the surface. Multiple eyes bulged from their heads, and their limbs shifted and stretched. They now resembled grotesque, semi-humanoid slugs.
"What are those things?" Gwen gasped, her face paling.
Wait a minute, I've seen this before! Ben thought, racking his memory. The slimy skin, the multiple eyes, the disturbing forms… it all clicked into place. Those are Limax aliens! From that one episode of Ben 10 where they were trying to eat old people at the retirement home!
Laura, driven by her instincts, didn't wait for instructions. Ignoring Ben's shout, she charged toward the aliens. "Laura, no!" Ben yelled, but his warning came too late. One of the Limax, its form now a disturbing parody of a human, lashed out with surprising speed. Its elongated arm wrapped around Laura's torso, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Damn it, Laura!" Ben cursed.
The Limax tightened its grip, its slimy skin oozing over Laura's clothes. She struggled against the alien's hold, her claws scraping uselessly against its slick surface. Laura couldn't escape from its grasp.
Without hesitation, Ben raised his gauntlets and aimed at the Limax holding Laura. Concentrated sound waves pulsed from his armored fists.
The sonic blast struck the Limax. The alien released Laura. Its body buckled and contorted under the force of the sonic assault. It was flung backward, colliding with its comrades in a slimy heap. The other Limax snarled, their multiple eyes fixated on Ben.
Ben turned to Heartblast, "Bring the ceiling down on them!" he ordered.
Heartblast nodded, her eyes gleaming with fiery intensity. She turned her attention to the ceiling above the Limax, focusing her energy.
"Take cover!" Ben yelled to Gwen and Laura, grabbing Gwen's hand and dragging her behind a large pipe. Laura, recovered quickly, joined them.
Heartblast unleashed a torrent of fire at the roof.
[FLAME ON]
The sewer shuddered, the ground trembled beneath their feet. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling. Large chunks of concrete broke loose. With a deafening roar, a section of the roof collapsed, sending tons of debris crashing down on the Limax. The ceiling had created a wall. It separated Ben and the others from the grotesque creatures.
Ben, still clad in his Omni-Exo armor, turned to Gwen and Laura. "You two okay?"
Gwen nodded, brushing dust off her clothes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… peachy." Sarcasm dripped from her tone.
Laura also nodded, her expression unreadable.
The mutants, huddled together, watched Ben and his group with wary eyes. Their expressions were a mixture of fear and cautious curiosity.
Ben stepped forward, his voice laced with concern. "Hey, are any of you hurt?"
A woman emerged from the group, her eyes scanning Ben, Gwen, Heartblast, and Laura, assessing them as if they were threats.
"We thank you for your help, strangers," she said, her voice rough, yet filled with gratitude. "It's not often we find people willing to risk their lives for us."
She walked towards Ben. A black eyepatch covered her right eye, adding to her intimidating appearance. Her dark, wild hair hung around her face, framing her sharp features. Punk-inspired attire of a leather vest and ripped clothing completed her look.
"I am Callisto," she introduced herself, her gaze intense. "And these are my people, the Morlocks."
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz