Buzz!
The Rustbucket, now coated in black and green, erupted with surging green flames from its underside. The flames roared, kicking out a powerful burst of thrust that carried it cleanly over the black hole and down onto the other side of the road.
"That was close…" Grandpa Max wiped his brow, still shaken.
If they'd dropped into that pit, everyone in the car probably wouldn't have made it.
With the danger past, Upgrade quickly drew itself together and formed a humanoid shape inside the vehicle.
Then it tapped the Omnitrix on its chest and reverted to Lucian's original form.
"Awesome, Cuz! You're seriously insane!" Ben ran over.
He'd just finished brushing his teeth and was about to wash his face when Grandpa suddenly pulled a drift. Then a huge wave of green covered the Rustbucket, and the whole thing basically flew.
Once he saw the black hole behind them, Ben immediately put it together and sprinted over without even washing up.
"Big doofus, you really needed to say that?" Gwen crossed her arms, looking proud. "You forget whose Cuz that is?"
"He's my cousin too!" Ben shot back.
Whoosh!
A red blur, carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance, flashed past the bickering pair and dove straight into Lucian's arms.
"Little Lucian, you're amazing," Yenji said, wrapping her arms around him and rubbing against him happily. "Knew I picked the right man."
Gwen nearly blew a fuse. "Hey! You fox spirit! Can you stop trying to seduce my Cuz all the time?"
Ben stood off to the side with a mischievous grin, clearly ready to enjoy the show.
After getting the fox-woman to back off, Lucian turned to Grandpa Max. "Grandpa, let's get to Aunt Vera's house."
"Alright." Grandpa Max gripped the wheel and kept driving the Rustbucket.
...
Before long, they arrived at Vera's place.
Grandpa Max pushed the door open and led everyone inside.
The familiar kitchen, the furniture, the spotless floors… everything looked the same, as if nothing had changed.
Ben covered his cheeks and looked around nervously, like he was bracing for something.
"Hey, doofus, what are you doing? Did you pick that up from a circus clown?" Gwen said, annoyed.
"You forgot, Gwen?" Ben looked horrified. "Aunt Vera pinches our cheeks! Oh man, it hurts so bad!"
Lucian's expression stayed calm, but inside he was uneasy.
Because that familiar old-person smell was gone…
Last time they came, Lucian remembered it clearly. That distinct elderly scent had come from Aunt Vera herself.
Most older people had some sort of scent, varying from person to person. Some were musty, some had a milky smell, all kinds.
But right now, the air was unusually fresh, and that only made Lucian more cautious.
Had Aunt Vera already moved out?
Soon, they reached the bedroom door.
Grandpa Max knocked. "Vera, are you in there?"
"I am. Come in," Aunt Vera's voice answered from inside.
"Oh, that boring old aunt…" Ben's face went pale as he started to chicken out.
"Aunt Vera is sick. We're going in to see her," Gwen said, rolling her eyes at him.
"Right… right." Ben finally remembered.
"Let's go in."
Grandpa Max was about to push the door open when Lucian stopped him.
"Lucian?"
"Grandpa, let me go first. I really miss Aunt Vera," Lucian said with a small smile, taking hold of the doorknob.
"Good… good boy. Vera will be so happy to see how devoted you are," Grandpa Max said, nodding with satisfaction.
Lucian turned and spoke quietly, "Yenji, you stay right behind me. Ben and Gwen after that. Grandpa, you bring up the rear."
He arranged it that way for emergencies. Grandpa didn't have any weapons and, at most, was just a strong ordinary person.
"As you command, Master~" Yenji said sweetly.
Her red lips parted as she stepped forward on long, pale legs and gave Lucian a deep bow.
Lucian's mouth twitched. This fox-woman could really act. She was one trophy away from an Oscar.
Once everyone was set, Lucian opened the door and they went in, one after another.
The bedroom was dim. The curtains were still drawn, and only a small lamp on the nightstand barely lit Aunt Vera's face.
"Aunt Vera, are you alright?" Lucian walked to the bed and looked at Vera lying there.
Her hair was gray-white, her face old and worn. She gave a faint nod. A folded towel lay against her forehead.
"I'm fine… children, you finally came. I've been waiting for you for so long…" Vera said, then coughed several times. "Cough, cough!"
"Vera, how are you really? Alice said you caught a cold, and it's serious…" Grandpa Max asked anxiously.
"I'm fine, Max. If I rest for a few days, I should recover," Vera said, forcing a smile onto her pale face.
"Aunt Vera… you look awful. Is there anything I can do?" Gwen asked, stepping closer with worry written all over her.
Vera's expression flickered slightly. "No, Gwen. Just seeing you all healthy is enough to make me happy."
"Aunt Vera, you're not going to pinch our cheeks, right?" Ben asked as he edged up to the bedside too.
"Once I'm better… we'll talk," Aunt Vera said with a faint smile.
Watching Aunt Vera look so weak, Lucian's unease deepened. His eyes settled on the towel on her forehead, and something clicked.
"Aunt Vera, let me change that towel for you."
Lucian stepped forward, reaching to take it.
Vera's eyes shifted, like she was about to refuse, but then she nodded. "Alright. Thank you, child."
The moment Lucian picked up the towel, a cold glint flashed through his eyes, gone in an instant. He put on a sunny smile again. "No problem, Aunt Vera. It's what I should do."
With that, he turned and walked out of the bedroom.
"I'll go with you!" Yenji hurried after him.
Once they were out, Yenji's eyes darted around. Then she turned back and gently pulled the door shut.
In the kitchen, Lucian stared at the towel in his hand.
It was dry.
He tried turning on the faucet, but not a single drop of water came out.
So there really was something wrong with "Aunt Vera."
Of course, Lucian wasn't doubting the real Aunt Vera. He was certain the one in that bedroom was a fake.
A dry towel on her forehead?
Letting him go change it because she knew there was no water?
"Could it be… one that slipped through?"
A sharp chill flashed through Lucian's gaze as a grim possibility formed.
Back then, there were so many blob aliens in this town. Even if they wiped out everything in the underground caves, it was still possible some had hidden in the residential buildings and escaped.
Just then, Yenji moved close and whispered into Lucian's ear, "Little Lucian, I need to tell you something."
Her warm breath tickled his ear, making his skin itch.
"What is it?" Lucian asked.
He forced down the messy thoughts in his head. They had bigger problems right now, and they were still in the kitchen.
Yenji looked around to make sure no one was nearby. Then she asked in a low voice, "This 'Aunt Vera' you keep talking about… is she an Earthling too?"