Chapter 14 - Chapter 14 - Evil prevails

Chapter 14 [br]
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Evil prevails[br]
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Gwen and Lantara gazed at the alien spacecrafts in horror. The shock and the fear incapacitated them for a couple of seconds. At first, they couldn’t even comprehend, that dozens of small interceptors began to swarm towards them. Suddenly, Gwen shook her head.[br]
- Lantara! Let’s get out of here![br]
- Too late! – the ectonurite shouted, as the interceptors fired several shots at them. A moment later, they have found themselves in the middle of a battle. Countless ships were circling around them. [br]
- Who are these guys? – Gwen yelled, as she fired a series of energy disks.[br]
- I’ll explain later! Protect Ben, I’ll clear the way! – Lantara replied, and jumped out of the purple orb. She accelerated and phased through a ship. A second later, the vehicle sparkled, then began to spin around its angle, eventually it exploded. Lantara repeated the action with several more interceptors, but there were too many. The alien pilots shot laser beams, trying to strike her down, but every time a laser came too close, Lantara just simply changed her protoplasma, and the beam phased through her body. She fought doggedly; she even destroyed a ship with only one blow of her claws. Her purple energy beams decimated the enemy forces; however it seemed more and more hopeless. Lantara was exhausted, and knew she could not triumph. The swarm of the alien spaceships slowly rolled Lantara back. As she looked back, she recognized, Gwen was right behind her. [br]
- I cannot break out! – She exclaimed in the enemy crossfire. [br]
- We’re running out of options! – Gwen yelled. [br]
Things got even worse, when they realized one of the bigger ships, as it was approaching them. [br]
- Lantara, you have to save Ben! Phase through with him, I’ll hold them off! – Gwen said.[br]
- No! I will not leave you here! Besides, I cannot change my plasma anymore… I’m too tired.[br]
- We have to do something, we can’t even move! – Gwen shouted.[br]
- Look out! – Lantara roared, as she saw the powerful laser beam. It was fired from the large spacecraft. Before they could react, the purple energy orb broke into pieces, and the laser struck Gwen. She lost consciousness and would have floated away into deep space if a gentle hand wouldn’t grab her. It was Jetray. He immediately returned the enemy fire with dozens of green energy beams. [br]
- Lantara, we have to escape! – Jetray declared and headed towards the planet. Lantara followed him. They maneuvered quickly to avoid the lasers, as they were getting closer to the upper atmosphere. All of a sudden, the attackers stopped. They have retreated, as a raspy voice in the radio ordered them to. [br]
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Jetray and Lantara landed safely. The omnitrix flashed as Ben reverted. He put his cousin on the ground. [br]
- Is she okay? – Lantara worried.[br]
- She needs medical attention. But where?! – Ben replied.[br]
- We have to go back to Washington! – the alien exclaimed. [br]
Suddenly, a very familiar voice interrupted them.[br]
- You are not going anywhere![br]
Then, a red teleporter beam struck the earth in front of them. The silhouette of GhostKevin emerged from the smoke.[br]
- Missed me? – he grinned.[br]
- Lantara! Get Gwen to safety! I’ll handle this! – Ben said.[br]
- Oh, sorry if I doubt that. – GhostKevin retorted. – I will… - he could not finish his sentence, because an iridescent beam struck him on the chest. It left a smoky, burnt gash on his skin. Unexpectedly, it healed within a few seconds.[br]
- Ha ha ha ha! This is the best you got? – the villain mocked. [br]
- That was only a warning shot! This one is for real! – Chromastone winked and shot another beam. This time, GhostKevin evaded and ran towards him, to attack. He avoided a few more blasts, but Chromastone fired them with so great intensity, that he couldn’t keep up. Realizing this, GhostKevin quickly morphed into a black liquid form, so that the beams had no effect on him. He took advantage of Chromastone’s straddling position, by flowing behind him. The villain became solid and instantly fired a yellow energy beam. The blast struck Ben down, but his crystalline body absorbed the energy and fired it back at GhostKevin, who wasn’t expecting this sudden move. He fell on the ground, and disappeared. Ben knew his enemy turned invisible. Chromastone went Wildmutt to capture heat signatures. He looked around and took a few steps ahead. It was quiet, only the wind blew. His senses sharpened due to the intense concentration. Suddenly, he located GhostKevin, but it was too late. He acted very fast, leaving no time for Ben to prevent it. He became visible right on top of Wildmutt and stabbed his deadly, gray claws into the alien’s flesh. Wildmutt screamed in pain. The strike caught him on his upper back, near to the neck. He could see the warm drops of his black blood. Ben changed alien forms, he transformed into Fourarms, then Diamondhead, then Cannonbolt, then Upgrade, then Shockwave, and Xlr8, but he was unable to remove GhostKevin from his back, and his sharp claws were still inside his flesh, causing more and more pain. As he struggled, GhostKevin’s devilish laughter echoed in his ears.[br]
- Wait, it gets better! – the villain hissed and quickly jumped off of Ben’s back. He emerged from the ground and before Xlr8 could react, he punched the omni-symbol on his chest. The symbol breached and green electric discharges came out of it. [br]
- Ha ha ha ha! I find your misery quite amusing! Oh, you can’t imagine how long I’ve been dreaming of this sweet moment! Seeing you crushed, defeated hopeless… ah… it feels so good! – GhostKevin said with the most fulsome voice he could make.[br]
Although he was bleeding from several wounds, and his legs were shaking because of the shock and the blood loss, he managed to surprise his enemy for the last time. As Xlr8, he could deliver a few rapid, quite powerful punches. Ben realized in horror, that he was unable to switch alien forms. The discharges around the omni-symbol were still pretty intense. He strengthened his mind and body to face GhostKevin once more. He ran towards him as fast as he could, but the villain changed his protoplasma, and Xlr8 ran through his body. GhsotKevin solidified himself and quickly grabbed Xlr8’s neck, forcing him to the ground. [br]
- You never give up, do you? Maybe I’ll have mercy on you, and grant you a swift demise! – GhostKevin laughed and punched Xlr8 on the face, breaking his visor. But he wasn’t done yet, he kicked the villain’s legs, making him fall off. That gave Ben a little time to catch his breath. He felt dizzy. He looked at his body and noticed he was bloody. He began to see two GhostKevins. He knew his status was getting critical. Suddenly, the yellow energy beam struck him. Fortunately he didn’t lose balance and managed to remain on his feet. Ben chose to retreat, aware of the fact, he could not triumph. He ran away as quickly as he still could, as Xlr8. GhostKevin fired another energy beam, but this one was different. Every time Xlr8 changed direction, to avoid it, the beam itself followed the movement. Xlr8 maneuvered rapidly, but the bema eventually caught up to him and struck him down. He raised his head and saw GhostKevin, as he towered upon him. His sadistic grin seemed more like a distorted mask, and Ghostfreak’s lifeless eyes were terrifying. The omni-symbol produced a large, green electric discharge and broke down with a bang. Xlr8 disappeared with a red flash, only Ben Tennyson remained. He looked at the omnitrix and saw it was smoking. The control dials were busted too.[br]
- What now, Benjie?! No more girls to hide under their skirts… no more aliens… no watch… it’s just us. You and me! And this ends now! – GhostKevin roared and struck down with his claws. Ben instinctively raised his right arm to protect himself against the blow. The sharp claws drilled into his flesh and damaged the tissues in his arm. Ben felt a new wave of pain running through his body. He tasted his own blood in his mouth. [br]
- With the help of the Highbreed I will destroy this planet and all your friends! Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see it, because you’ll die now! – the villain hissed.[br]
- What are you waiting for, freak?! Do it already! – Ben shouted.[br]
- I told you! Only we remained. You and me! – GhostKevin said and raised his hands to the final blow. [br]
- Think again! – a feminine voice exclaimed and punched GhostKevin on the face. He flew back. A moment later, a purple energy beam forced him to the ground. [br]
Lantara floated close to Ben. [br]
- Raven, are you ready?! – Lantara asked, and her chest closed, after she fired the beam.[br]
- Yes, come closer! – Raven replied.[br]
- Holy… He looks terrible! – said the ectonurite in horror, as she looked at Ben. [br]
- I might be able to help. But we need to go. – Raven remarked and pointed at GhostKevin who was rampaging towards them.[br]
- Do not interfere! Ben Tennyson is mine! I’ll destroy you all! – he roared, but he could not reach them in time. Raven swung her cape and teleported everyone away. After the black flash, GhostKevin realized his prey was gone. He collapsed and howled like a wolf.[br]
- Noooooooooooooooo!!! Ben Tennyson! You escaped me again, but I’ll tear you and your pitiful friends into pieces! I will destroy you, I sware!!![br]
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The last thing she remembered was Lantara’s warning… Then the blast… then blackness… Blackness indeed… A few fragment of memories… A black shape… a hood… and a cloak… then nothing.[br]
- Ah! – Gwen startled. She quickly stood up, but she realized immediately, that was a bold move. The pain in her torso and in her right arm seized her body with a cramp. Her face distorted as she tried to take a few steps ahead. She heard voices from the room nearby. She couldn’t make it and collapsed in the corridor. When she woke up again, she was in her bed. Lantara was there too.[br]
- What happened? – Gwen asked.[br]
- Relax, everything’s fine now. We were shot, but…[br]
- Ben! Where’s Ben? Is he okay? – Gwen stammered.[br]
- Don’t worry. He’s in the best hands. – Lantara smiled and commiseratingly put her hand on Gwen’s shoulder.[br]
- In a safe place… My home. – a voice said. Its source was standing in the door. [br]
- Raven? But how? – Gwen surprised.[br]
- Since our last… encounter, my senses are quite acute on you guys. I felt you were in trouble. I followed Ben’s energy trail, and I saved everyone before he could finish you off. – Raven explained. [br]
- Oh, I see. Well, we owe you our lives. Thank you.[br]
Raven nodded as a sign of her agreement. Lantara glanced at her with a nervous eye. [br]
- I would like to see Ben. – Gwen declared and wanted to stand up. The pain immediately ran through her body. [br]
- Easy. You need to rest for the moment. You took the worst of that shot. I’m doing whatever I can to accelerate your healing. – Raven remarked. [br]
- I understand. Thanks again. – Gwen sighed, as she bowed to her current status. [br]
- What was that?! Why didn’t you tell her?! – Lantara whispered, as soon as the door closed behind them, when they exited Gwen’s room. [br]
- Calm down! – Raven said.[br]
- Damn it, Raven! She must know! Ben’s absolutely not all right! She’s gonna find out, she’s not stupid! – Lantara lost her self control.[br]
- If I’d tell her now, I will not be able to keep her in bed, and she’ll regenerate slower. We need her at her full power![br]
- What about Ben? – Lantara asked.[br]
- He’s injuries are much worse, than his cousin’s. Despite my healing abilities, I don’t think I will be able to save his right arm. [br]
- What?![br]
- The tissue damage is too intense. It’s irreversible. – Raven answered.[br]
- Is there anything we can do?[br]
- As a matter of fact, yes. If Ben accepts, we could replace his arm with a cybernetic implant. I have something that might help, it’s far more advanced then Earth’s any other technology, but… - Raven stopped.[br]
- But what?! Say it already! – Lantara urged.[br]
- The only problem is I cannot perform such complicated surgery. – Raven admitted.[br]
- Neither can I. – Lantara said.[br]
- But I know someone who can![br]
Raven and Lantara turned back in surprise. Gwen was standing at the table. She was wearing a T-shirt, so everyone could see the new scar on her right arm. Fortunately it wasn’t that thick and it was quite blurry, but it was still recognizable. The scar began a few centimeters up from her elbow and ended on her hand, near the ring finger.[br]
- You should be resting. – Raven remarked.[br]
- I felt something was wrong with Ben’s mana, so I came after you.[br]
- You hear every word? – Lantara asked.[br]
- Loud and clear. I understand you were driven by right intentions, but I don’t like when someone keeps away such things. – Gwen declared. [br]
- Agreed. So, you said you know someone who might help us? – Raven questioned.[br]
- Yes. He’s the only person in the entire universe who can save him. [br]
- Who is he?[br]
- Azmuth. [br]
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