The team surrounded a small building advertising itself as Max\u2019s Plumbing and had a cartoonish version of Max. Batman and his family covered the main entrance with Ben, Royal, Shade, Optimus, and Arsha. Batman made several hand signals, but no one moved. \u201c\u2026I! Don\u2019t! Know! What! That! Means!\u201d hissed Robin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThree! Of! You! Go! Around! Back!\u201d Batman whispered in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy doesn\u2019t he just say that?\u201d asked Optimus. He pointed to Shade and Royal. They followed him to the back of the store. Ben then entered the store and went into a bathroom with a single toilet and an out of order sign on it. He then carefully pulled the chain above his head. A hidden elevator then brought Ben down into the base. He stepped out of the elevator and quietly approached a computer. He keyed in several commands and arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2026that\u2019s not possible,\u201d he muttered. He then made a call through the Omnitrix. \u201cEr, guys, I don\u2019t know how to tell you this, but\u2026it\u2019s empty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s gotta be a mistake, Ben,\u201d replied Royal. \u201cCheck and recheck.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI already did. There\u2019s nothing!\u201d The cell behind him then broke and Vilgax strode out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, well, well!\u201d snarled Vilgax. \u201cIf it isn\u2019t Ben Tennyson himself! Tell me, how are things going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI take it the Rumble-Disc isn\u2019t here?\u201d guessed Ben as his hand hovered over the Omnitrix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, so you know of their plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYours too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI WAS a part of it, until they abandoned me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, once you\u2019re back in your cell, we\u2019ll be able to find them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t find them in time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got Clockwork to help me find them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou say that as if the Author doesn\u2019t know of your aliens and doesn\u2019t have contingencies in place for them. He most assuredly has plans in place for Chronosapien interference. Admit it, Tennyson. We need each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo way! I need to stop them, and you only want me dead so you can get the Omnitrix! I don\u2019t see that as a good way for us to be allies!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI DON\u2019T want the Omnitrix right now! I just want their heads on a platter!\u201d Ben glared at his hated nemesis for a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBen, this has to be the stupidest idea you\u2019ve ever had!\u201d snarled Ben\u2019s Phury as everyone gathered around a console with Vilgax keying in commands. \u201cYou\u2019re just gonna buddy up with the guy who\u2019s been trying to kill you since you were ten all to stop a Rumble-Disc?! Ben, this is nuts!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not the craziest thing I\u2019ve done,\u201d replied Ben.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBesides, we need all the help we can get,\u201d observed Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you guys expect him to be buddies?!\u201d protested Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re anything but buddies,\u201d assured Ben.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGlad to know that,\u201d rumbled Vilgax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Yeah, sure, dismiss the Appoplexian\u2019s concerns! That\u2019s smart!\u201d grumbled Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not dismissing your concerns, Ma\u2019am,\u201d soothed Optimus. \u201cVilgax IS on a leash.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re getting closer to its location,\u201d reported Vilgax. \u201cJust a few more\u2026NO!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d asked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIT\u2019S GONE! THE RUMBLE-DISC IS GONE! THEY\u2019RE EARLIER THAN THEY LET ON!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d Megumi rushed to the computer. \u201c\u2026There\u2019s a comms channel here! Private and untraceable!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s see what the enemy has to say!\u201d urged Optimus. Megumi opened the comms channel and the Author and his team appeared onscreen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe I\u2019ve met you in person lately, Metaltron,\u201d growled Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had no reason to meet you at the moment,\u201d replied Metaltron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop me if you\u2019ve heard this one,\u201d chuckled Nemesis. \u201cThere were two fellows on a secure channel. One says to the other-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s the Rumble-Disc?!\u201d demanded Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou call that a punchline?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got a Joker-level sense of humor and, like Batman here, I don\u2019t share it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut we\u2019re linked, you and I! Like comedy and tragedy! Two sides, same coin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Rumble-Disc, Khan!\u201d snarled Megumi. \u201cOr I vow I will turn the smiles of you and your team upside-down!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, if it\u2019s discs you want, you can forget it!\u201d snarled Khan! \u201cUnless you surrender Life and her Source, Bellwood will get severe Dark Energon poisoning! There\u2019s no amount of Light Energon to counteract that!\u201d The call ended and the computer console exploded. Vilgax roared in fury and smashed the console\u2019s remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI WAS THE ONE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO CONQUER THIS WORLD!\u201d he roared. His shoulders then drooped. \u201cAll is lost. He\u2019s far too powerful to fight.\u201d Sora looked around, then spotted another console. As he looked at it, he got an idea. He briefly thought about how it would fail, then he looked at the Blue Lantern ring. His face then slowly went from doubt to determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You\u2019re wrong, Vilgax.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did you say?!\u201d snarled Vilgax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI said you\u2019re wrong!\u201d Megumi arched an eyebrow. This wasn\u2019t like her nephew. \u201cAll is NOT lost! I\u2019m willing to bet that the channel can still be traced! We just need to use another console!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat good will tracing the channel do?!\u201d demanded Vilgax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt means we\u2019ll know where the Rumble-Disc is going, and we can get inside it before it causes damage!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt IS easily breached,\u201d mused Phury. \u201cA couple strikes at the service hatch up top will get us inside.\u201d She sharpened her claws against one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd if we fail to damage it sufficiently enough, Way Big can toss it out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s right!\u201d agreed Ben. \u201cStraight into the sun!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHopefully with EVERYONE out,\u201d remarked Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Rumble-Disc automatically teleports its occupants to safety,\u201d replied Phury. She looked at the perplexed looks. \u201c\u2026Well, given our lifestyle, we kind of want our soldiers to stay alive as long as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d recalled Ben. \u201cAppoplexians value all forms of life, right down to the infants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSee? Even Ben knows how we work!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnly because he accidentally unlocked Rath and was stuck as him when transporting the Tiffin to Pantophage,\u201d remarked Optimus. Ben twitched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou see? All is not lost!\u201d declared Sora. He then pulled out the Blue Lantern Ring. \u201cThis ring stands for one simple creed; all will be well! In this hour, I say that is the one truth we ALL fight for, even you, Vilgax!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven if we do track it,\u201d grunted Vilgax, \u201chow do you expect us to get up there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeveral of us can fly and carry others with us,\u201d replied Sora. \u201cIn a few seconds, so will I! We WILL get through this!\u201d Just then, the ring flew out of Sora\u2019s hand before hovering in front of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSora Hishikawa Elizondo of Beyond City,\u201d said a voice. \u201cYou have the ability to instill great hope. Welcome to the Blue Lantern Corps.\u201d Sora opened his right hand and splayed his fingers. The ring then fitted itself onto Sora\u2019s ring finger. A blue lantern then appeared. Sora took the handle and put his ring to the back of the lantern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn fearful day,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In raging night,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With strong hearts full our souls ignite<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When all seems lost in the War of Light,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look to the stars, FOR HOPE SHINES BRIGHT!\u201d invoked Sora. With the Blue Lantern Oath taken, blue light surrounded him. The light died and Sora\u2019s robes were replaced with a set of blue armor with the Blue Lantern symbol on his chest and the kanji for \u201cNozomi\u201d, the Japanese word for wishes or hope, was emblazoned under the lantern symbol. He wore a blue eye mask with white lenses over his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026My nephew, a Blue Lantern,\u201d sighed Megumi happily as tears came down her eyes. \u201cI\u2019m so proud!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBen, see if one of your aliens can track the Rumble-Disc!\u201d urged Sora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn it!\u201d replied Ben as he activated the Omnitrix\u2019s selection screen. \u201cGray Matter will have that thing on radar lickety-split!\u201d He then slid the faceplate back and revealed the core. He slammed it down and a black ooze flowed over him. His chest then became green as green circuit lines appeared. A green ring then served as his eye as the Omnitrix\u2019s symbol appeared on his chest. \u201cUPGRADE!\u201d His voice sounded like it was his own with a robotic undertone to it. The top of the eye then depressed to make a semi-circle with the flat side on top. His head then stretched to the Omnitrix symbol. \u201cConfused about which alien comes from Galvan Prime, hm?\u201d he asked. \u201cOh well, I can make this work.\u201d Upgrade put his hand onto the computer console and melted, then flowed onto the console and made it black with green circuit lines and added a few extra bits to it. \u201cAll right, tracking the comms channel now and\u2026got it! The Rumble-Disc is headed towards Bellwood\u2019s Nuclear Power Plant!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHas the Author lost it?!\u201d yelped Phury. \u201cThat\u2019s a recipe for disaster! If it crashes into the power plant, the engine core will not only deploy the gas, it\u2019ll make a nuclear explosion that will propagate the gas across the entire United States and Canada!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got control of our new subspace tunnel generator,\u201d reported Upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut the boom it makes!\u201d protested Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a little pressed for time! Everyone, cover your ears!\u201d Everyone did as Upgrade suggested and a portal opened with a boom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cARGH! BOOM TUBE!\u201d wailed Robin. Upgrade then pulled himself off the console and it reverted back to its natural state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMinna, ikuze!\u201d called Megumi. \u201cCHARGE!\u201d Everyone dashed into the subspace tunnel and it shut behind them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The team surrounded a small building advertising itself as Max\u2019s Plumbing and had a cartoonish version of Max. Batman and his family covered the main entrance with Ben, Royal, Shade, Optimus, and Arsha. Batman made several hand signals, but no one moved. \u201c\u2026I! Don\u2019t! Know! What! That! Means!\u201d hissed Robin. \u201cThree! Of! You! Go! Around! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[754,880],"tags":[14,130,482,9,146,337],"class_list":["post-6317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-journey-through-wonder","category-story-journey-through-wonder","tag-batman","tag-ben-10","tag-fantasy","tag-kamen-rider","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6317"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6318,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6317\/revisions\/6318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}