At the meat factory, the Rust Bucket rolled to a stop just outside the main building. The engine idled for a moment before Max turned it off, and the group stepped out into the open air.
They didn't even make it halfway to the entrance before a deep, guttural growl echoed from inside.
Gwen stiffened slightly.
"I really don't like the sound of that," she said, instinctively moving closer to Evan. Her hand found the edge of his old, slightly oversized coat, holding onto it without really thinking about it.
Evan didn't react to it. He just kept walking forward with the others, his attention already on whatever was waiting inside.
The group entered the slaughterhouse, the heavy doors creaking as they pushed through. The smell hit first, followed by the sight of Phil struggling to get back on his feet near a stack of crates.
"Phil!" Max called out as they rushed over, helping him steady himself.
"Max," Phil said, catching his breath. "Good timing. Two aliens, mean ones. We're gonna need a bit of that old magic."
"No worries," Ben said, already stepping forward, confidence back like nothing had happened earlier. "We've got this."
Another growl echoed, louder this time. Everyone turned.
Two creatures stepped into view from deeper inside the factory. They looked similar to Wildmutt at a glance, but there was something off about them, larger, more aggressive, their jaws hanging open to reveal rows of sharp teeth and long, lolling tongues.
"Friends of yours?" Gwen asked, eyeing them cautiously as Ben readied himself.
"Wildmutts!" Ben said. "Maybe I can talk to them."
"Ben-" Max started, but Ben had already slammed the Omnitrix down.
A burst of green light filled the room as his body shifted, reshaping into the familiar orange, beast-like form.
Wildmutt landed on all fours, the Omnitrix symbol visible on his shoulder.
Phil watched closely. "That's why I recognized the watch," he said. "It's the Omnitrix."
Wildmutt gave a small nod, then approached the two Vulpinmancers slowly. He let out a low series of growls, clearly trying to communicate.
The response was immediate. Both creatures roared in his face and lunged at him.
Wildmutt barely had time to react before he had to leap away, the two Vulpinmancers chasing him across the slaughterhouse floor.
"What exactly did he say?" Gwen asked, watching the chaotic scene.
"Vulpinmancers aren't exactly conversational," Max replied. "Even with their own kind."
Wildmutt dodged another swipe and jumped up, grabbing onto a hanging chain to pull himself out of reach. The creatures circled below him, waiting for an opening.
Evan shifted slightly beside Max.
"Should I?" he asked, tugging lightly at Max's shirt to get his attention.
Max looked down at him, then back at Wildmutt, now struggling to keep up with both Vulpinmancers at once.
He hesitated for a second before sighing.
"Go on."
Evan stepped forward without another word. His hand moved to his Another Omnitrix, and he pressed the dial down.
A golden light flared outward.
Where Evan stood, a humanoid, mud-like figure took shape, its body thick and shifting, with glowing golden eyes and the Omnitrix symbol set into its chest.
"Sludge."
Phil stared. "Another Omnitrix?!" he said, caught off guard. Everything he'd heard only ever mentioned one.
Sludge didn't acknowledge it. He was already moving.
The two Vulpinmancers were still focused on Wildmutt when Sludge closed the distance. His arm expanded outward, forming into a massive, spiked ball before he swung it in a wide arc.
The impact hit both of them at once, sending them crashing across the floor.
Sludge continued forward, unhurried, his gaze fixed on them as they recovered.
"Since when did Stay Gold find another Omnitrix?" Phil asked, glancing at Max.
"That's Ever Gold," Max said, his tone quieter than before. "Stay Gold's son."
His eyes stayed on the fight.
Sludge's arms shifted again, stretching and reshaping into long, whip-like tendrils. He lashed them out, striking one of the Vulpinmancers and pulling it off balance before flinging it aside.
The other one lunged at him from the side, jaws wide, claws spread. It connected with Sludge's mud-like body and dealt zero damage.
The creature paused mid-motion, realizing too late that Sludge's body wasn't solid in the way it expected.
Sludge's head turned a full one-eighty, looking back at it.
A fist formed from his back and slammed into the Vulpinmancer, knocking it away before it could recover. At the same time, he tossed the other one aside and shifted his focus entirely to the one behind him.
The second Vulpinmancer, seeing the opening, lowered its stance and darted toward the group instead.
Then, suddenly, a sharp, high-pitched screech filled the space.
It wasn't something the humans could really hear, just a faint pressure, but the effect was immediate.
Both Vulpinmancers froze mid-motion, letting out pained whines as they dropped to the ground. Wildmutt reacted the same way, clinging to his head as he lost his grip on the chain.
Phil lowered the device in his hand.
"Sorry about that, Ben," he said. "Only way to deal with a Vulpinmancer."
Max's expression shifted slightly as he looked at the device. "Lucky for us you had a sonic pitch whistle on you," he said, though there was a bit more caution in his tone now.
Wildmutt dropped to the ground, whimpering, before the Omnitrix timed out in a flash of green. Ben reappeared, rubbing his head.
Nearby, Sludge tapped his own dial and reverted back into Evan.
Phil looked between them, taking it all in. "So the stories are true," he said. "The Omnitrix exists… and there's another one too. Not bad, you two. Reminds me of your grandpa back in the day."
"Really?" Ben asked, immediately interested.
"Phil, look out!" Max suddenly warned.
The Vulpinmancers weren't down for long.
They snapped back into motion, one of them swiping Phil aside before bringing its paw down on the device and crushing it completely.
Max reacted instantly. He ran for a nearby forklift, jumped into the seat, and started it up in one motion.
"Why don't you pick on someone with a little more meat on his bones?" he called out.
He drove straight at them, ramming into both creatures and forcing them back. Before they could retaliate, he jumped clear, letting the forklift continue forward on its own.
It slammed into a row of large freezer units with a loud crash.
Max didn't waste time. He hit the control switch nearby, and the heavy doors of the freezer units slammed shut, sealing the Vulpinmancers inside.
The noise settled. For a moment, everything was still again.
Phil walked up beside him, brushing himself off before extending a hand.
"Just like old times, huh?" he said with a small smile. "I think this might be the start of a new partnership."
Max looked at the offered hand.
He didn't take it right away.
For a second, he just stood there, weighing it, his thoughts not entirely on the moment in front of him.
...
"It's fate that we all met up," Phil said later, back at the hotel where he was staying.
The place wasn't small by any means. It was a full luxury suite, big enough that the four of them could spread out without getting in each other's way. A dining table sat near the center, already covered with trays of room service. Ben had claimed that spot almost immediately, piling food onto his plate like he hadn't eaten in days.
Across the room, Gwen had settled into a chair by the lamp, a book open in her hands, though her eyes weren't always on the page. Every now and then, she glanced up, listening.
Evan stood near the window, looking out over the city. He hadn't touched any of the food. His reflection in the glass barely moved.
Max took a slow look around the suite before nodding slightly. "Nifty place," he said. "Must've cost a pretty penny."
Phil waved it off. "Just a little thank you. I helped the manager deal with an alien issue earlier, and we worked something out." He leaned back a bit, clearly comfortable. "And trust me, this is just the tip of the old alien iceberg."
Ben barely looked up. "Worth it," he muttered between bites.
Phil chuckled before shifting the conversation. "You know, kids… you two would make great Plumbers."
"We would?" Ben asked, mouth still full, before flashing a grin and giving a thumbs-up.
"Sure," Phil said. "You've got the instincts for it. You're both natural. Chips off the old block." He glanced toward Max briefly, then back at them. "Think about it, your powers, Max's experience, my instincts. We'd make a solid team. Could handle just about anything that comes our way."
He looked around, waiting for a response. "What do you think?"
"I don't want to be that guy," Evan said from the window, finally turning around, "but your instincts kinda suck."
The room went quiet.
Everyone turned to look at him. Evan didn't seem bothered by the sudden attention.
"I mean," he continued, "your instincts told you to call for backup. That's fine. Then your instincts suddenly remembered you had something in your pocket that could deal with Vulpinmancers."
No one interrupted him.
"And then your instincts let that same Vulpinmancer destroy it."
He said it plainly, like he was pointing out something obvious.
The tension in the room shifted almost immediately. Ben lowered his fork slightly, glancing between Evan and Phil. Gwen closed her book, her expression tightening just a bit.
Phil didn't respond right away.
Max exhaled quietly, already moving.
"I think I'm gonna get some fresh air," he said, heading toward the door without waiting for an answer.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Phil stayed where he was for a second, his expression unreadable, before letting out a small breath. "Well… kids," he said, forcing a lighter tone, "order whatever you want off the menu."
He gave a short nod, then followed Max out of the room.
The door closed again.
Ben stared at it for a moment, then looked back at the table. "…Now we're talking," he said, picking his fork back up and going straight back to the food like nothing happened.
Gwen didn't move right away.
"Something's going on," she said after a second. "Grandpa's not telling us everything."
She stood up, already heading toward the door. "Come on."
"And pass up free room service?" Ben said, not even looking up. "No way. I'm staying right here."
Gwen paused, then turned back slightly.
"…Yeah," she said after a moment. "You're probably right. It's probably some top-secret Plumber thing. We should just stay out of it."
Ben stopped mid-bite.
"…I mean," he said slowly, "I guess I could check it out. Just to see what's going on."
Gwen raised an eyebrow. "Of course."
She looked around the room.
"Wait… where's Evan?"
Ben blinked and looked up. The window was still there. The city lights hadn't changed.
But Evan was gone.
...
At Mt. Rushmore, Max moved through the hidden passage without slowing down. The mechanism behind the monument shifted open just enough to let him through, sealing again once he stepped inside.
The underground Plumbers' base was just as he remembered, dim lighting, old systems still humming quietly, everything left behind but not forgotten.
He made his way straight to one of the secured chambers.
The door slid open. Max stepped inside, already knowing what he was looking for.
Then he stopped.
"It's gone," he said, more to himself than anyone else.
"Looking for something?"
The voice came from behind him. Max turned, already knowing who it was.
Phil stood there, casually twirling a gun-shaped device in one hand. At the end of it was a small sphere, faintly glowing. His expression hadn't changed much, same relaxed posture, same smug look.
"The Null Void Projector," Max said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I thought those aliens looked familiar."
Phil's smile widened, like he'd been waiting for Max to figure it out.
"You stole it," Max continued. "You've been releasing the same aliens we locked away years ago."
Phil didn't deny it.
"You were always too smart for your own good, Max," he said. "But turning down my offer earlier? That was just plain dumb."
Max didn't react to the jab. "Why are you doing this?"
Phil shrugged, like it was the simplest thing in the world. "Job security. I let something loose, then I show up later and get paid to 'fix' it. Hotel managers, local officials, whoever's desperate enough. Easy money."
Max's expression hardened. "I'm not letting you keep doing this."
"Yeah, I figured," Phil said. "Too bad, though. We could've had something going again."
Without another word, he raised the Projector and fired.
A beam of golden light shot out. Max reacted immediately, ducking under it as it passed over him and struck the wall behind. The light expanded, tearing open a portal midair.
Something stepped through.
It was large, with a green exoskeleton that covered most of its body. Its arms ended in heavy claws, its mouth filled with sharp, uneven fangs. Four spider-like legs supported it from behind, giving it an unnatural, uneven stance.
Max stared at it, recognizing the type instantly.
"And don't worry," Phil added, stepping back slightly. "I'll make sure Ben and Ever know your last words were about how much you wanted them to team up with me."
The creature roared and lunged.
Before it could reach Max, something else slammed into it from the side.
The impact sent it crashing into the wall with a heavy thud.
Max looked over.
A tall, grasshopper-like alien landed beside him, straightening up. Its legs were built for jumping, its frame light but strong, and the golden Omnitrix dial sat clearly on its chest.
"What the-"
Crashhopper slowly lifted his body, his golden eyes locking onto Phil.
"It seems I was right not to trust someone with a scammer face like you." Crashhopper said, looking at Phil like he was looking at trash. "You're no Plumber. You're nothing but a faker!"
"Ben, listen to me," Phil frowned slightly. "We don't need your grandpa. We could start up the Plumbers again. Just me, you, and Ever. I knew Stay Gold too. I'm sure he would understand and convince his son to help out."
Crashhopper didn't even hesitate. "You're pathetic."
Seeing that this fake couldn't even identify the difference between the Omnitrix and the Another Omnitrix.
The alien charged toward them again.
Crashhopper moved first. He grabbed Max and leapt, clearing the distance in a single jump and landing on a higher platform. He set Max down before turning back toward the creature below.
"Since that's your answer," Phil said, already backing away, "say hello to an old friend. Wigsilian Org Beast."
The creature let out a low growl, its full attention now on them.
Phil didn't stick around.
"I'd love to stay," he added, already moving toward the exit, "but I've got more work to do."
He reached the door, stepped through, and shut it behind him, sealing the room.
Crashhopper watched him go for half a second, then tapped the Omnitrix dial.
A flash of gold filled the platform.
"Swampfire."
The transformation finished just as he jumped.
Swampfire dropped down from above, landing directly in front of the Org Beast. His root-like foot stomped into the ground as he steadied himself.
The creature roared and swung one of its claws down at him.
Swampfire's arm expanded outward, thick plant matter growing and reinforcing itself just in time to block the strike. The impact pushed him back slightly, but he held his ground.
His hand shifted, spreading and wrapping around the creature's arm and locking it in place.
With his other hand, he fired.
A concentrated wave of flame burst forward, hitting the creature directly in the face. The Org Beast recoiled, letting out a sharp roar as the fire spread across its exoskeleton.
Swampfire didn't let up. The flames intensified, fed by methane as he pushed more power into it.
The creature lashed out with its free arm, striking against Swampfire's body, but he didn't move. He just kept the flame going, forcing it back.
"Evan! No killing!" Max called out from above, afraid that Evan might cross that line and decide to never look back again. "We only do it if necessary! When there is no other way! That's why we lock them away!"
Swampfire paused. Not completely, but enough.
The fire weakened, then stopped.
The Org Beast staggered before collapsing onto the ground, breathing heavily but still alive.
Swampfire looked down at it for a moment, then reached up and pulled a few seeds from his shoulder. He tossed them down, and thick vines immediately burst from the ground, wrapping tightly around the creature and holding it in place.
Once it was secured, he tapped the dial.
The golden light faded, leaving Evan standing there again.
Max made his way down, already moving toward the control panel near the door, working through the system to get it open.
"Evan," he said, not looking away from the controls. "How did you even get here?"
"Got on the Rust Bucket before you left." Evan replied simply.
Max paused for half a second, then nodded slightly. That made sense. This place wasn't exactly something you could just find by accident.
"Where are Ben and Gwen?" Max asked as the door mechanisms started unlocking.
"I followed you," Evan said. "So they're probably still back there."
The door slid open with a low hum.
Max stepped into the elevator, Evan following right behind him. The doors closed, and the platform began to rise back toward the surface.
Neither of them spoke for a moment as it moved.