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Chapter 5 - Chapter 5

Ben's heart pounds as he remembers the store clerk. He rushes back inside, fear clawing at his insides. "Hey, are you okay?" he calls out, peering behind the overturned shelves.

He found her huddled behind the counter, eyes wide and glazed with terror. She didn't respond, just trembled, her hands clasped tightly over her mouth.

"Hey, it's okay," Ben repeats, trying to project calm. "It's over now. Just… call the police, okay?"

He backs away slowly, giving her space. He can't do anything for her right now. She needs to call for help. Ben turns back to Wildgirl, who was waiting patiently outside, sniffing the air.

He looks at the wreckage of the two Mechadroids, now just piles of twisted metal and sparking wires.

Wait a second.

Ben's mind races, flashing back to episodes of Ben 10. He remembers that in the first episode, Vilgax sent a giant robot with them to retrieve the Omnitrix. If these two showed up, what are the odds the big one's not far behind?

He could just ignore it. Head back to the mansion, pretend none of this happened. But that thing would cause some destruction if left unchecked. People could get hurt.

He could get hurt.

But the thought of innocent people caught in the crossfire settles it. He can't just stand by. Ben sighs.

"Alright, Wildgirl," he says, "we're going for a ride."

He gestures toward the Bugatti. Wildgirl perks up, her ears twitching. She bounded toward the car. Ben was about to warn her to be careful, to not scratch the leather, but it was too late. [SCRATCH!] Wildgirl's claws left deep gouges in the passenger seat as she climbed in.

Wildgirl whined, her ears drooping. She seemed genuinely sorry.

Ben sighs. He pats her head reassuringly. "It's fine, Wildgirl. Don't worry about it." He might have to get the car detailed, but it's not worth making her feel bad.

He slides into the driver's seat and starts the engine, the roar of the powerful engine echoing through the parking lot. "Hang on tight," he tells Wildgirl, "we've got a big robot to find." He shifts into gear and pulls out of the parking lot, heading back toward the highway. He accelerates, scanning the horizon for any sign of a towering metal menace.

He doesn't need to travel far before spotting a column of black smoke rising in the distance. [BOOM!] Distant explosions punctuate the air. Ben presses down on the accelerator, the Bugatti responding with a surge.

"Hold on, Wildgirl!"

The car eats up the road, the scenery blurring. As he gets closer, the sound of screams and the sharp cracks of energy weapons fill the air. Ben cuts the engine and skids to a halt at the edge of the town.

Before him, the Attack Robot wreaks havoc. It towers over the buildings, easily three stories high, a crimson metal giant. Its three insectoid legs churn up the pavement as it moves, leaving deep gouges in the asphalt. Each step sends shudders through the ground. The humanoid torso swivels, revealing a cannon mounted on one shoulder.

From the cannon's opening, energy blasts tear apart storefronts. Its massive clawed hands swat aside cars like toys. Smaller Mechadroids emerge from hatches in its shoulders, darting around the streets and firing lasers at anything that moves. Civilians scream, scrambling for cover.

Wildgirl growls, her orange fur bristling. She looks ready to charge into the fray.

"No, Wildgirl, wait!" Ben says, grabbing her arm. He knows she's strong, but that thing is on a different level. She wouldn't stand a chance.

He glances at the Omnitrix, cycling through the silhouettes. He needed something tough, something with some real firepower. His finger stops at a familiar shape.

Perfect.

He slams down on the watch. [Pink Light!]

The transformation washes over Wildgirl, replacing her feral form with something altogether different. In her place stands a being of crystalline beauty. Her body is almost entirely composed of shimmering, blue-green diamonds. Two sets of spikes jut from her back, the upper ones larger and more menacing. Her head is shaped like a short, sleek haircut, but with long locks that add a touch of elegance. Her eyes glow with a yellowish-orange light, framed by bold, black eyeliner. She wears a sleeveless black bodysuit with a white belt, the Chaquetrix badge shining from the center of her waist.

Ben stares. He knew what Diamondhead looked like from the show, but seeing her… her in person… it's something else entirely.

"Woah…" The name stuck in his throat.

"Diamondheart," he says, finally finding his voice.

Diamondheart blinks, her crystalline features shifting slightly. She looks around, confusion evident in her glowing eyes. Ben can almost see the gears turning in her head as she tries to make sense of her surroundings.

"Look, I know this is a lot to take in," Ben says, his voice filled with urgency, "but I need your help."

He points toward the robot. "That thing is trying to hurt people. Can you stop it?"

Diamondheart follows his gaze, her eyes locking onto the crimson giant. She studies it for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, deliberately, she nods.

The Attack Robot continues its rampage, crushing vehicles and blasting buildings. People scream and run, their panic amplifying Ben's resolve. He knew what he needed to do.

"HEY! TIN CAN!" Ben yells, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice. He steps out into the street, drawing the attention of the fleeing civilians and, more importantly, the Attack Robot. "Yeah, you! Over here!"

The robot pauses in its destruction, its head swiveling to locate the source of the taunt. Its crimson optical sensor focuses on Ben and Diamondheart. For a moment, it is still.

Then, its sensor seems to recognize something. The symbol on Diamondheart's waist. The Chaquetrix badge. Its metallic head tilts slightly, as if processing information.

Ben smirks. He has its attention. "Looking for this?!" he shouts, holding up his left wrist, displaying the fuchsia device. "Come and get it!"

The Attack Robot lets out a mechanical roar, the sound deafening. Its legs churn, and it begins to advance toward Ben and Diamondheart, each step shaking the ground. It raises its cannon arm, the barrel glowing with building energy.

Diamondheart steps in front of Ben, her crystalline form radiating a soft, blue light.

Seeing the robot's arm powering up, Diamondheart shoves Ben aside with surprising force. He stumbles, barely keeping his balance as he lands on the pavement.

[KRA-KOOM!]

A beam erupts from the cannon, a thick lance of crimson energy that slams directly into Diamondheart. Ben cries out, his heart leaping into his throat. "DIAMONDHEART!"

The light from the blast is blinding. The air crackles with energy. Ben shields his eyes, waiting for the smoke to clear, dreading what he'll find.

When he dares to look, he sees Diamondheart standing. The blast left a mark on her chest, a blackened scorch, but she stands tall, her crystalline form almost undamaged. Small cracks spread around the impact point, but they quickly reseal, the crystalline structure repairing itself.

Diamondheart flexes her hand. "I'm okay!" she exclaims, looking back at Ben.

[KRA-KOOM!]

Another energy beam hurtles toward her. This time, Diamondheart instinctively raises her hand.

[SHINK!]

A crystalline shield materializes, intercepting the beam. The energy disperses across the shield's surface, leaving only superficial marks. Diamondheart stares at her hand, now a solid wall of shimmering crystal.

Whoa, did I do that?

Ben, still recovering from the shove, watches in astonishment. Wait a minute! Diamondhead could make weapons, shields, projectiles! He shouts to Diamondheart, hoping she can hear him over the robot's din. "Diamondheart! You can form weapons from your body! Or shoot crystals!"

Diamondheart cocks her head. "Shoot crystals?"

"Yeah! Like, projectiles!" Ben shouts, pointing at the Attack Robot. "Give it everything you've got!"

Diamondheart nods, determination hardening her expression. She focuses, picturing the crystals forming. Her hand morphs again, this time into a sharp, gleaming blade. She tests its weight, getting a feel for the new form.

The Attack Robot, its cannon recharged, advances again. Diamondheart doesn't hesitate. She rushes forward, crystal blade raised.

[CLANG!]

She slashes at the robot's leg, the blade biting into the metal armor. Sparks fly as she carves a gash into its surface. The robot stumbles, momentarily thrown off balance.

Diamondheart follows up, leaping into the air. The crystals on her back extend, forming sharp spikes. She slams into the robot's chest, the spikes piercing its armor.

The Attack Robot roars again, a mix of fury and pain. It swipes at Diamondheart with its cannon arm. She dodges, narrowly avoiding the blow, and lands nimbly on her feet.

Now it was time to try something else. She extends her hand toward the robot and concentrates. Tiny crystal shards materialize in the air, shimmering like a thousand tiny diamonds. She flicks her wrist.

[SHWING!]

The shards launch forward, a hail of crystalline projectiles. They strike the Attack Robot's sensor, its arms, its legs. The robot staggers, its movements becoming erratic.

"That's it, Diamondheart! You got this!" Ben shouts, pumping his fist. He can see her starting to get the hang of her powers, improvising like a seasoned pro.

The Attack Robot, now riddled with crystal shards and sporting a deep gash on its leg, continues to thrash around, its attacks growing more desperate and less precise. It swings its cannon arm wildly, narrowly missing Diamondheart each time.

Seeing an opening, Diamondheart concentrates. Her crystal blade extends, growing longer and sharper, its surface gleaming. She plants her feet, takes a deep breath, and charges.

The Attack Robot tries to aim its cannon, but its movements are sluggish. Diamondheart is too fast. She closes the distance in seconds.

[SHWING!]

With a final, mighty swing, Diamondheart brings her crystal blade down on the Attack Robot's head. The blade slices through the metal with surprising ease, severing the head from the body.

[CRASH!]

The Attack Robot collapses, its severed head rolling on the ground. Sparks and smoke pour from its ruined chassis.

Silence falls over the scene, broken only by the hiss of escaping steam from the downed robot and the cheers of the people who had been watching the fight. Diamondheart stands over the wreckage, her chest heaving, her crystalline form shimmering with residual energy.

Ben rushes to her side, a grin on his face. "Yes! You did it, Diamondheart!" He grabs her hand and raises it into the air, acknowledging the crowd's acclaim. "That's how it's done, folks!"

Diamondheart beams at Ben. Her face is flushed, her eyes sparkling. "We did it!"

Ben glances at the downed Mechadroid and then rubs Diamondheart's back. "We sure did."

But as people began to gather, their faces filled with awe and curiosity, Ben thought they should probably take off. He couldn't risk the attention, not yet.

"Alright, superstar," Ben says, clapping Diamondheart on the shoulder. "Let's go before the press arrives."

Diamondheart nods, still basking in the afterglow of victory, then turns to the crowd. "Bye, everyone!"

They scramble back into Ben's Bugatti. It was a tight fit. With Diamondheart's spikes protruding from her back, they pierced right through the car's roof, leaving a jagged hole. She winces.

"Sorry about the car," she says, sheepishly.

Ben waves his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I'll get it fixed."

He starts the engine, and they sped away from the wreckage and the growing crowd, leaving the flashing lights of emergency vehicles in their wake. As they drove, the sky turned a deep indigo.

The landscape blurs into a streaky montage of neon signs and distant streetlights. Ben presses down on the accelerator, eager to put some distance between them and the scene of their impromptu battle.

Inside the car, it's cramped and quiet. The wind rushes through the opening in the roof. Diamondheart looks up at the stars.

Hours pass as Ben drives, and they reach the highway. The initial adrenaline has worn off, replaced by a strange sense of unreality. Ben glances at Diamondheart. The faint glow of the Chaquetrix badge illuminates her face, casting dancing patterns on the plush leather seats.

Ben reflected on what happened. A few hours ago, he was just a reincarnated firefighter enjoying his new life. Now, he's battling robots with an alien woman, and his car's ruined. It felt like some crazy dream. But as he looks at Diamondheart beside him, and the Omnitrix glowing on his wrist, he knew this was his new life. And it just got a whole lot wierder.

***

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