"I'm Ben," he replied, offering a friendly nod. "This is Gwen, my cousin. That's Heartblast. And this is Laura."
Callisto's gaze shifted, assessing each of them in turn. "Surface dwellers," she stated, her tone laced with a hint of disdain. "What brings you to our home?"
Ben gestured around the cavernous sewer tunnel. "We were just at the supermarket, and noticed those old folks going down here. We just wanted to check it out."
He paused, glancing at the collapsed ceiling that sealed off the Limax. "So, uh, what exactly is this place?"
Callisto folded her arms across her chest, her expression hardening. "This is our home," she stated firmly. "We are the Morlocks. We live here, beneath the surface, away from the hatred and prejudice of the world above."
She swept her hand to encompass the makeshift dwellings carved into the sewer walls. Makeshift shelters crafted from scavenged materials, illuminated by flickering lights powered by jury-rigged generators. The air hung heavy with the stench of sewage, damp earth, and something else—a musky, feral scent that tickled Ben's enhanced senses.
"We are mutants, cast aside by society because of our appearances or our powers," Callisto continued. "Down here, we have built our own community, our own way of life. We protect each other, and we survive."
Gwen's eyes widened, taking in the scene. "I… I've heard rumors," she stammered. "Whispers of a group of mutants living underground, but I never thought it was actually true."
Callisto snorted, a humorless sound. "The surface world prefers to pretend we don't exist," she said. "They are content to forget about the monsters that lurk beneath their feet."
"Monsters?" Ben frowned, his protective instincts kicking in. "I don't see any monsters here. I just see people trying to live their lives."
Callisto's gaze softened slightly, a flicker of something akin to respect in her eyes. "You have a kind heart, surface dweller," she said. "But you do not understand our world. Down here, it is strength that matters. Survival is a constant struggle. We must do whatever it takes to protect our own."
She turned her back to Ben. Her gaze swept across the faces of her people. Her words were spoken with an unwavering conviction. "We have faced discrimination. Many have died. But here, we are free."
She turned back to the group. "Are you all mutants, then?"
Ben shook his head. "Nah, just Laura." He clapped a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "Gwen and I are humans. Well, mostly."
Laura gave a small nod, while Heartblast waved cheerfully, her fiery hair flickering in the dim light. "I am Heartblast, alien!"
Callisto blinked, momentarily taken aback by the revelation. She recovered quickly, her face like granite. "An interesting mix," she said, though the words lacked their earlier bite.
Ben rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze sweeping to the collapsed ceiling behind her. "So, those slime aliens," he started, "what's the deal with them?"
Callisto's expression darkened, a mixture of fear and anger in her eyes. "They have been taking us," she said, her voice low. "For months now. One by one, they snatch us from the tunnels. We try to fight, but they are too many, too strong. And seemingly unkillable."
She shook her head. "All we can do is run. Hide. Pray that they don't find us."
Ben frowned, his mind racing. Those Limax. They've been snatching people for months. That's a lot of missing persons. And those people are their food. He paused. From their previous conversation, they're in the final stages of digestion. So that means…
"Those… slime aliens," Ben said, his voice grim. "Their 'food'—it's in the final stages of gestation." He looked directly at Callisto, his expression serious. "And guess who that 'food' is?"
The color drained from Callisto's face. The Morlocks around her gasped, their eyes widening in horror. A low murmur of fear rippled through the cavern.
One of the Morlocks, a hulking figure with rocky skin, began to weep silently. "My brother…" he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "They took him too."
Ben stepped forward, his green eyes shining with determination. "I promise you," he said, his voice ringing with sincerity. "I will stop them. I'm gonna make sure they don't hurt anyone else."
Callisto raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And how do you plan to do that, surface dweller?"
Ben grinned, his confidence unwavering. "I'm gonna find their base, beat 'em up, and save everyone. Simple as that."
Gwen threw her hands up in exasperation. "That is the dumbest plan I have ever heard!" she exclaimed. "You can't just go charging in, guns blazing. You need a strategy, reconnaissance, something other than just brute force."
Laura, who had been silently observing the exchange, gave a small nod in agreement with Gwen. "She is correct," she stated, her voice devoid of emotion. "A direct assault is unwise."
Callisto's expression shifted, surprise flickering across her face. "We know where they are," she revealed, drawing Ben's attention back to her. "The Morlocks know these tunnels like the back of our hands. We have an idea where their base is."
"I guess thats One down," Ben said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Callisto scowled. "There are many of them," she stated. "They will not be beaten easily. They have strength in numbers and a ferocity born of desperation."
Ben shrugged dismissively. "I've got that covered," he replied, tapping the Omnitrix on his wrist. His expression became serious. "Do you have any containers? Buckets, barrels, anything that can hold a decent amount of water?"
The Morlocks exchanged confused glances, unsure of Ben's sudden request. "Water?" Callisto asked. "What for?"
…
A little while later, the tunnels echo with screams. Not of terror, but of agony.
Ben, Omni-Exo armor gleaming in the dim light, directs a spray of water from a makeshift hose at a cluster of Limax. The creatures hiss, their gelatinous bodies contorting as the water makes contact. They SHRIIIEK, their forms melting into puddles of green slime.
Gwen and Laura flank him, methodically dousing any Limax that try to flank them. Heartblast is too hot to get near the Limax, but she is able to group them up.
The Morlocks, armed with rusty pipes and makeshift weapons, watch in astonishment as the Limax aliens are taken down with something as simple as water. Callisto shakes her head, "I don't understand," she says, "after all our struggles, water could stop them."
Gwen looks at Ben, curious. "How did you know that water was their weakness?" she asks.
Ben shrugs, feigning nonchalance. "I noticed that old dude at the supermarket," he explains, "he looked real hesitant to touch that bottle of water. Figured they probably didn't like the stuff."
Ben couldn't let on that he had known about the Limax's weakness from his past life.
The group advances deeper into the sewer system, the stench of decay growing with each step. The tunnel opens into a vast cavern. In the center stands a saucer-like structure, alien in design. Surrounding it are hundreds of translucent green sacs, each containing a human form suspended in viscous fluid.
Gwen gasps, her face paling. "Oh my god," she whispers, "there must be hundreds of people in there."
Ben's jaw tightens. "We need to save them," he says, his voice grim.
Suddenly, more Limax emerge from the shadows. These aren't the shambling, unarmed creatures they fought before. They wield sleek, alien rifles that hum with contained energy.
"Intruders!" one of the Limax hisses, its voice a wet gurgle translated into passable English. "You are not permitted to be here. But…we thank you. You have delivered yourselves to become part of our food supply."
Ben stares, surprised. Laser guns?The Limax didn't have laser guns in the show.
The Limax open fire. Blasts of violet energy tear through the cavern, impacting the walls and floor. Ben, Gwen, Laura, and Heartblast dive for cover behind overturned pipes and concrete pillars. The Morlocks dive away, going back into the shadows.
"Okay," Gwen shouts over the din of the blaster fire, "what do we do now? We're pinned down!"
Before Ben can respond, a figure darts from behind their cover. Laura, clutching a bright yellow water pistol—a ridiculous contrast to the grim setting—moves with a speed and grace that defies her age. She slides across the slick floor, weaving between the violet beams with balletic precision.
Each shot finds its mark, a concentrated jet of water impacting a Limax soldier, causing it to convulse and drop its weapon. One alien tries to adjust its aim, but Laura is already on it, leaping onto its chest and jamming the water pistol directly into its face. The Limax collapses, a dissolving heap of green goo.
Callisto watches, a flicker of admiration in her one good eye. "Ferocious little thing," she mutters.
Ben grins, a plan forming in his mind. "Alright, listen up!" he yells, "follow Laura's lead! But watch your fire! We can't risk hitting the people in those sacs!"
Ben, Gwen, and Heartblast emerge. They charge, armed with their makeshift hoses, buckets filled to the brim, and the Omni-Exo's sonic gauntlets. Heartblast unleashes controlled bursts of fire, corralling the Limax soldiers into tighter groups, while ensuring the heat doesn't harm the suspended humans.
Ben, protected by the Omni-Exo, advances, spraying jets of water with one hand and unleashing concussive sonic blasts with the other. The water dissolves the Limax, and the sonic waves disrupt their aim, buying the others precious time.
From the shadows, the Morlocks surge, embracing their newfound advantage. Armed with their own containers, they swarm the disorganized aliens, water splashing and Limax shrieking.
"We are getting overwhelmed!" one of the Limax shouts in their gurgling voices, "Get the pods onboard the ship! They have been marinating long enough!"
Another Limax pulls a device from its robes, its eyes gleaming. It is small and metallic, humming with a contained energy that feels wrong. "Time to end this," the Limax hisses, throwing the device.
"GET TO COVER!" Ben yells, realizing what the Limax has just done.
[BOOM]
The explosion sends a shock through the cavern, throwing everyone backward. Chunks of concrete rain from the ceiling. The force of the blast shakes the already unstable ground. Underneath Ben, the ground crumbles, opening a gaping chasm.
Ben falls into darkness.
"BEN!" Gwen, Laura, and Heartblast scream in unison, their voices laced with worry.
Without hesitation, Heartblast plunges into the hole, flames erupting from her form as she follows Ben into the darkness below.
Gwen, consumed by panic, rushes towards the newly formed pit, ready to dive in after Ben. Laura's hand shoots out, gripping Gwen's arm with surprising strength.
"Don't be reckless," Laura says, her voice flat, pulling Gwen back.
A violet beam sears the air where Gwen had stood moments before, impacting the cavern wall with a shower of sparks.
"But Laura! Ben is—"
Laura cuts her off, her green eyes locked on Gwen's. "Ben will be fine. These tunnels don't fall that deep, and Heartblast already went after him. I am worried, too," she admits, her voice softening, "but those aliens are loading the egg sacs onto what seems to be their ship. We need to stop them."
Gwen takes a steadying breath, trying to regain her composure. She glances at the hole, then back at the chaos unfolding before them. Laura's words, though delivered without emotion, ground her. They need a plan, and she can't help Ben by falling into a pit.
Composing herself, Gwen addresses the Morlocks, her voice regaining its usual confidence. "Those aliens are trying to escape with those people," she calls out, gesturing toward the saucer-like structure, "we need to stop them. Will you help us?"
Callisto considers her, then nods grimly. "They have taken many of my people. We will stop them."
With renewed determination, Gwen turns her attention back to the fight, but her gaze flicks towards the darkness. Be safe, Ben, she thinks, please be okay.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz