Ben, in his Heatblast form, sat in the middle of the Rustbucket 2 with all the windows shut tight. In his hands, a stack of papers burned methodically as he practiced his pyrokinesis, trying to create shapes with the flames. His expression was one of intense focus, but the rising heat in the confined space left Gwen visibly uncomfortable.
"You do realize you're turning the Rustbucket into a sauna, right?" Gwen remarked, frowning as she fanned herself with a makeshift fan fashioned from a piece of paper.
Heatblast shot her an irritated glance, a small flicker of flame escaping one of his fingers. "This is training, Gwen. I need to master this for real-life situations."
"Oh, sure," Gwen replied with an eye-roll. "Because controlling fire into cute shapes is super useful when you're, I don't know, fighting actual aliens." She gestured to the slightly charred sofa. "Just try not to burn the couch again, alright?"
Heatblast paused and glanced at the already scorched sofa. "Advanced techniques require sacrifices."
"Then sacrifice your seat," Gwen quipped, shaking her head as she returned to her book.
Before their banter could escalate, Max's voice boomed from the front of the RV. "Ben! Something big's happening up ahead! Get ready!"
The Rustbucket screeched to a halt. Gwen and Heatblast peered out the window to see an overturned propane transport truck, flames spreading rapidly across the asphalt. A group of bystanders screamed in panic while the driver, trapped inside the vehicle, pounded desperately on the door.
"Well, this is bad," Gwen muttered, her brow furrowing.
"Bad? Try catastrophic," Max added, hopping out of the Rustbucket. "If that fire reaches the propane, it'll cause a massive explosion!"
Heatblast grinned confidently as he swung open the Rustbucket's rear door. "Looks like it's my time to shine."
Gwen followed him to the door, yelling after him, "No puns today, please!"
"No promises," Heatblast shot back before taking off, his fiery form blazing as he sprinted toward the overturned truck. The heat of the flames felt like nothing more than a gentle breeze to him. As he neared the scene, he began absorbing the flames around him with ease.
The truck driver stared at him, wide-eyed. "What... what are you? Some kind of fire monster?!"
"Hero, actually," Heatblast deadpanned, rolling his eyes. "Now stay calm while I handle this."
After extinguishing the surrounding flames, he approached the truck and used his flaming hands to melt the lock on the door, freeing the driver.
"Quick, get out of here before something else catches fire!" Heatblast urged, helping the man down.
The driver sprinted to safety, but Heatblast knew he needed to clear the area before the growing crowd got too close.
With a mischievous grin, he raised his hands and sent harmless bursts of flame into the air, creating a vibrant curtain of fire. The dazzling display captivated the onlookers, buying him just enough time to slip away unnoticed.
Back inside the Rustbucket, Gwen stood waiting with her arms crossed. As Heatblast reappeared, she fixed him with an exasperated look.
"A little roadside firework show? Seriously?" Gwen asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"It was strategic!" Heatblast defended himself, holding up his hands. "And, admit it, it looked pretty cool."
Gwen sighed, shaking her head as she reached for the Omnitrix. A moment later, Ben was back to his normal self.
"Look, Gwen," Ben began, flopping onto the couch. "I'm an artist. I save lives and entertain. Two for one!"
"Just don't burn my seat next time," Gwen replied, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
As the Rustbucket 2 resumed its journey, Ben looked back through the window, watching the last flickers of fire disappear from the road while the crowd still stared in awe.
"Mission accomplished," he murmured to himself, grinning.
Gwen glanced over, smirking faintly. "Okay, I'll give you this one. You did good."
_________________________________________________________________________
After hours of smooth travel and a few stops to enjoy the scenery, Max slowed the Rustbucket down as a colorful sign appeared on the horizon: "Welcome to Sparksville – Where Fun Shines the Brightest!"
"Alright, close your eyes!" Max announced, parking the RV with an almost childlike enthusiasm.
"Seriously? How old do you think we are?" Ben grumbled but complied anyway.
"Humor Grandpa," Gwen whispered, closing her eyes.
Max guided the two out of the Rustbucket and into position. "Okay... open them!"
Before them stood an enormous billboard illuminated with vibrant images of bizarre attractions: a giant hot dog, an eccentric planetarium, and something mysterious labeled only as "IT." The town itself looked like a traveling carnival that had decided to settle down, with colorful storefronts and twinkling lights everywhere.
Max spread his arms wide, beaming. "Welcome to Sparksville! Isn't it incredible?"
Ben blinked, unimpressed. "I'm going with... 'or what?'"
"Finally, something we agree on," Gwen added, arms crossed.
Max ignored their jabs, pointing to a large aquarium in the distance. "You haven't seen anything yet! Wait until you see the world's biggest aquarium!"
Ben followed Gwen as they trudged after Max, frowning. "Biggest aquarium? Grandpa, this place looks like a theme park that ran out of budget halfway through construction."
"Ah, Ben, where's your sense of adventure?" Max asked, clapping him on the back.
Gwen eyed Max skeptically, but before she could comment, a man in a blue suit with a perpetually forced smile approached them.
"Welcome to Sparksville," he began in a monotone voice. "As mayor, I extend our warmest greetings to you, seekers of awe and wonder."
The Tennysons exchanged awkward glances, wondering how many times this man had delivered that same robotic line. They thanked him and continued exploring the town.
"Look, the world's largest hot dog," Gwen remarked, pointing to a colossal plastic sausage perched on an equally massive bun. "What do you think of that?"
Ben squinted at it. "Ridiculous. Who's supposed to eat that?"
"It's just decorative, Ben," Gwen explained. "No one's actually eating it."
"I wish it was real," Ben muttered. "Imagine being the guy who ate the world's largest hot dog."
"Or the guy who ended up with the world's largest stomachache," Gwen shot back.
Max, undeterred by their banter, pointed to a nearby stand. "Well, they might not have the biggest, but the diner over there makes amazing miniatures!"
Ben and Gwen shared a regular-sized hot dog while Max enthusiastically snapped pictures of the giant one in the background.
_________________________________________________________________________
Soon, they stood before an exhibit labeled The Jack-A-Lope. Ben rang the bell at the ticket booth. To their surprise, Earl appeared as the ticket collector.
"Tickets, please," he said in an impersonal tone.
"I thought you were the mayor?" Ben asked, confused.
Earl, expressionless, replied, "Heavy is the head that wears many hats, kid. Watch for the signs."
Ben and Gwen exchanged uneasy glances before handing over their tickets.
With a slight nod, Earl added, "Don't worry, in Sparksville, everyone has their role to play."
As they entered, the first exhibit greeted them: a horned rabbit perched on a skateboard.
"That rabbit looks weirder than Ghostfreak," Ben remarked, staring at the figure. "And it doesn't even try to be scary."
Max, clearly excited, ignored the comment. "You need to see what's ahead! Full of amazing stories!"
Inside, the place was packed with oversized artifacts and bizarre replicas. A cartoonishly massive hammer dominated the center, while plaques on the walls read: "World's Largest Pair of Shoes" and "The Giants' Jump Rope."
Gwen stopped in front of an enormous soda bottle. "This must be for when you want to drink the Pacific Ocean's worth of sugar."
Ben dashed to another section, pointing at a massive artificial ice cube. "Okay, I need one of these."
Max laughed, snapping pictures with his vintage camera. "You're starting to get the magic of Sparksville!"
_________________________________________________________________________
After some time, they arrived at a barn with a glowing, enigmatic sign: "IT's Here!"
"Alright, I'm betting," Ben began, crossing his arms, "it's another giant food item. Like, I don't know, ice cream that doesn't melt or something."
Gwen eyed the dim entrance, surrounded by peculiar signs: "Don't Touch IT!", "No Pictures of IT!", "Respect IT!"
"This is starting to feel a little creepy," she muttered.
Max enthusiastically pushed the doors open. "Come on, you're going to love this!"
Inside, a greenish light illuminated the center of the room. There it was… the world's largest rubber band ball.
Ben stared, incredulous. "You've got to be kidding me."
"A rubber band ball," Gwen repeated, stifling laughter. "This is it?"
Max, unfazed by their reactions, launched into his explanation. "This ball was made with over a million rubber bands! It's a true testament to human creativity."
"Or to having way too much free time," Ben mumbled.
"Maybe IT stands for 'Inane and Tedious,'" Gwen quipped, chuckling.
Impatient, Ben leaned against the ball, striking a pose. "Hey, Gwen, take a picture of me here," he said casually.
The Omnitrix on his wrist emitted a faint glow and a low hum of energy. None of them noticed that as Ben stepped away, the device's charge began interacting with the ball's structure.
"I can't. No cameras allowed, remember?" Gwen reminded him.
Disappointed, Ben pulled back. "Oh, right."
As they left, Gwen glanced back at the room one last time. "Seriously, Sparksville. You've outdone yourselves… in the realm of nonsense."
Ben grinned. "Admit it, this town is amazing."
Gwen shook her head, laughing. "Only you, Ben."
Meanwhile, in the barn, the Omnitrix's energy awakened something unexpected within the rubber band ball. Random sparks transformed into a vibrant, electric creature. It emerged, laughing maniacally, before vanishing into the city's power grid...
_________________________________________________________________________
Max stood outside the motel, hands on his hips, staring at the chaotic scene before him. Streetlights were tilted, fences broken, and debris scattered everywhere. Sparks flew from dangling electrical cables, while a small crowd of onlookers began to gather. The sharp smell of burnt metal in the air made the situation even more surreal.
He scanned the destruction, his eyes narrowing. "What on earth happened here?" he muttered, struggling to believe what he was seeing.
Inside the motel, Ben and Gwen were sound asleep, completely unaware of the chaos outside. Deciding he couldn't wait, Max called out, his voice cutting through the quiet morning.
"Benjamin! Gwendolyn! Wake up and get out here now!"
The shout was enough to jolt Ben awake. He tumbled out of bed with a dull thud, quickly scrambling to his feet, still groggy.
"Ugh... What time is it?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes in confusion.
Gwen, equally groggy, glanced around, trying to process what was happening. "Why's he yelling like that? Did something happen?"
Ben, now more alert, sensed the urgency and replied, "If he's using our full names, we'd better hurry up."
The two rushed out of their room and froze at the sight before them. The once-quiet motel surroundings were now a mess. Bent streetlights, shattered fences, and debris were everywhere. Sparks still flew from fallen power lines, and the air reeked of burnt metal.
Ben stared in disbelief. "Whoa. Looks like a tornado hit this place."
Gwen's worried expression deepened as she surveyed the scene. "Or maybe an alien. Don't tell me you messed with the Omnitrix again."
Ben frowned, immediately defensive. "I didn't even use it! Chill."
Max approached them with firm steps, his serious expression leaving no doubt that he was far from amused. He fixed his gaze on them and asked in a low, grave tone:
"Do either of you know what happened here?"
Ben shook his head, still trying to piece things together. "N-no! We were asleep the whole night."
Before Max could reply, Earl came running up, gesturing dramatically with his hands. He looked even more flustered than usual.
"Well, it's pretty clear who's behind these juvenile antics," Earl exclaimed.
Max raised an eyebrow. "Juvenile antics?" He glanced at Ben and Gwen, suspicion growing.
Earl quickly cut him off. "Not them!"
Ben and Gwen exchanged uneasy glances. "It's not us?!" they said in unison.
Max's eyes narrowed as he continued scrutinizing them. "If it wasn't you... then who was it?"
At that moment, a small, glowing, electric creature zipped into view, circling Ben and Gwen. It made funny poses and goofy expressions before yanking Gwen's shirt over her head and tapping Ben on the shoulder with a threatening look. Ben simply stared at the creature, dumbfounded.
"What was that?" Ben finally asked, turning to Earl.
Earl, now looking more serious, replied quickly, "That's a Megawhatt."
"A Mega-what?" Ben asked, frowning in confusion.
"Exactly," Earl replied with a hint of sarcasm. "Some say it's a living lightning bolt; others think it's static cling with an attitude. Hard to say."
Gwen, her mind racing, offered a suggestion. "Maybe it's an alien."
Earl chuckled dismissively. "Alien? That's crazy talk."
The Tennysons exchanged uneasy glances, but before they could respond, the Megawhatt caused more havoc. Spotting a vending machine nearby, it darted over and began shaking it, seemingly absorbing its electrical energy.
Ben watched with suspicion. "What's it doing?"
"It eats electricity," Earl explained, oddly calm. "The more it consumes, the stronger it gets. Kind of like my mom."
Suddenly, the vending machine erupted, shooting soda cans everywhere. Ben, Gwen, and Max dodged the flying projectiles as the Megawhatt cackled gleefully. Earl, meanwhile, seemed amused by the chaos.
"It's got a dangerous sense of humor too," Earl commented with a smirk.
Taking cover behind a flipped car, Max shot Earl a disbelieving look. "You kept that thing locked up in a rubber ball all this time? That doesn't sound safe."
"Not as long as people obey the warning signs," Earl replied nonchalantly.
Ben's eyes widened as a memory surfaced. He hesitated before murmuring, "Oh no..."
Gwen turned to him, concerned. "What is it?"
Ben rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I think... this might be my fault."
Max's expression darkened. "Your fault? How?"
Ben winced. "Last night, I posed for a picture and accidentally bumped the Omnitrix against that ball. It didn't seem like a big deal, but... maybe it triggered something."
Before they could dwell on it, the Megawhatt leapt from one lamppost to another, leaving a trail of sparks and destruction in its wake. Earl, already retreating, called out over his shoulder.
"Good luck, folks. This is your mess now."
As Earl disappeared, the Tennysons regrouped and began devising a plan. Sparksville was in chaos: flickering lights, sparking signs, and blaring alarms created a cacophony.
"Maybe we can bait it with something irresistible, like a giant battery," Gwen suggested.
Ben snorted. "And what do we do when it shows up? Offer it a snack and politely ask it to stop?"
Before Max could chime in, the Megawhatt zipped by overhead, buzzing with energy. It dove behind Max, grabbing his belt and hoisting him off the ground.
"AAAAAGH! This isn't funny—it's painful!" Max shouted, flailing.
Ben suppressed a laugh and activated the Omnitrix. "Relax, Grandpa. I've got just the guy for this." With a smack, he transformed into Diamondhead.
"Diamondhead!" he declared, staring at his crystal hands. Raising his arms, he taunted the Megawatt. "Go ahead, Sparky. Show me what you've got."
The electric alien fired a powerful charge at Diamondhead. The electricity bounced harmlessly off the crystals, redirecting to the ground. "Seriously? Is that all? Kevin's shocks were better, and he's not even made of pure energy."
Frustrated, the Megawatt unleashed another series of attacks. Diamondhead casually walked through the sparks. "I'm literally made of crystal. You guys need to come up with better tricks."
"Ben, stop playing around and deal with it before it causes more damage!" Gwen yelled from a distance.
Diamondhead let out an exaggerated sigh. "Hmmm, good idea, Gwen. But I wanted to have a little fun first."
With a powerful leap, Diamondhead formed a crystal blade on one arm and delivered a precise slash, slicing the Megawatt in two. To his surprise, each half transformed into a new Megawatt. "Oh, great. Spontaneous multiplication. Who doesn't love that?"
The two Megawatts attacked together. Diamondhead dodged or absorbed their charges but noticed that each strike just created more enemies.
Watching closely, Gwen had an idea. "Grandpa, Megawatts are basically pure electricity, right?"
"That's right," Max replied, frowning.
"If we ground them completely, we might be able to neutralize them."
Max spotted a truck carrying the world's largest thermometer. "That might just work. Let's ground them for good."
While Max and Gwen maneuvered the truck, Diamondhead kept the Megawatts distracted. He created a crystal pillar and leapt to the top, taunting them. "Hey, Sparky! Bet you can't reach me up here!"
Attracted to the shiny crystal, the Megawatts fired their electrical blasts wildly. Sparks lit up the area as the charges hit the ground. Diamondhead kept provoking them, but then the Omnitrix on his chest began to flash and beep.
"Oh no. Not now!" Diamondhead muttered as a red flash transformed him back into Ben.
The Megawatts immediately noticed the change and focused their attacks on the human boy. With nowhere to run, Ben instinctively raised the Omnitrix to shield himself.
As the Megawatts made contact with the device, a burst of sparks exploded in the air. The Omnitrix glowed brightly before releasing a powerful energy pulse, scattering the Megawatts like leaves in the wind.
Ben stood dazed, feeling the residual heat on his arm. Lowering it slowly, he stared at the Omnitrix, now pulsing with a yellow light.
"Uh, what was that?" Ben asked, bewildered. "Since when can you do that?"
The Megawatts, disoriented, began to recover. But before they could regroup, Max and Gwen arrived with the truck, ready to execute their plan.
"Grandpa, what's the plan?" Ben shouted, jumping onto the truck's bed.
"We're giving these sparklers a science lesson they won't forget!" Max replied determinedly.
Max drove the truck with the Megawatts in pursuit. Gwen, standing on the back, yelled, "Hey, bright bulbs! Come and get us!"
With a quick move, Gwen released the giant thermometer, which landed upright in the ground. The Megawatts, drawn to its metallic surface, collided with it. A flash of light erupted as all the Megawatts were grounded, momentarily vanishing.
Ben ran to the group, still confused. "Whoa! What just happened?"
Gwen smiled triumphantly. "We just used the world's largest thermometer as a lightning rod. Who needs an alien superhero when you've got good old-fashioned brainpower?"
"And a bit of science," Max added. "The ground is basically one big conductor."
Ben raised an eyebrow at Gwen. "Uh, does that mean what I think it means?"
Gwen sighed. "Oh no. It means the Megawatts are just zipping underground, looking for a way back."
Almost as if on cue, phones began ringing across the city. The group looked around nervously.
"They're in the underground phone lines," Max concluded.
Suddenly, electrical lines flickered, and the Megawatts re-emerged as flashes of light, popping out of fuse boxes, streetlights, and even traffic signals. They multiplied rapidly, laughing and moving chaotically. Now, instead of two, there were dozens flooding the streets.
"What's happening?!" Ben shouted.
"They're using the city's electrical grid to multiply and move faster," Gwen explained, trying to stay calm. "We're just giving them more power!"
The Megawatts weren't limited to the grid. Some emerged from digital billboards, others from cash registers in local shops, scaring merchants. A group even hijacked an electric bus, making its lights flicker violently before it drove off on its own, causing more chaos.
"This is getting out of control!" Max said, surveying the chaos.
One particularly mischievous Megawatt jumped onto the truck's roof, laughing as it threw small sparks at Max. Max quickly opened the window and swatted it away with a folded map. "Get off! This isn't a playground!"
"Don't just stand there, genius," Gwen snapped at Ben. "Dial up some help."
"Duh, like I haven't tried," Ben retorted, showing her the red light on the Omnitrix. "No power, no transformations. Got any bright ideas?"
Before Gwen could respond, a loud crash echoed down the street. Everyone turned to see the Megawatts had toppled a giant jackalope statue atop a motel. Laughing and scattering, they darted around like unpredictable sparks.
"Where'd they go?" Ben asked, scratching his head.
"I don't know," Max said warily. "But this doesn't look good."
The ground began rumbling ominously. Moments later, an explosion ripped through a nearby building, revealing a massive planetarium structure moving like a mechanical monster. Lights flashed as it marched toward the edge of the city.
"Well, that's something you don't see every day," Gwen said, wide-eyed.
"Let's go after it," Max said, running ahead. "We have to stop it before it reaches the dam."
But when they reached the Rust Bucket, it was clear the Megawatts had already been there. The tires were gone, and the trailer rested on cinder blocks. To add insult, smiley faces were painted on the windows with green graffiti, accompanied by the words: "I'm lame."
"That's so weak," Ben scoffed, laughing. "Not even original."
"And the grammar? Don't get me started," Gwen added, crossing her arms.
"Aren't you worried they destroyed our only ride?" Max interrupted, pointing to the missing tires.
A distant sound drew their attention. The mayor, emerging from a nearby hiding spot, pointed toward the horizon. "They're heading for the hydroelectric dam. Those little punks love overloading systems. If they hit it, Sparksville will lose power for days."
Ben and Gwen exchanged looks. They had the same idea. Gwen spoke first. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Definitely," Ben replied. "Let's beat them at their own game."
_________________________________________________________________________
The hydroelectric dam was several miles north of Sparksville, a tough place to reach without a vehicle. However, that didn't seem to bother the Megawatt-Planetarium. The massive automaton was at the base of the dam, slamming its planetary fists into the concrete, leaving huge dents in the structure. Despite the damage it was causing, its "hands" were beginning to crack and splinter from the repeated impacts.
The creature was about to deliver another devastating blow when a fiery flash lit up the sky. Suddenly, Heatblast appeared like a meteor, gliding through the air on a flaming board that glowed brilliantly against the cloudy sky. He landed dramatically in front of the Megawatt-Planetarium, striking a heroic pose.
"I'm here to put out the party!" declared Heatblast confidently. "Or better yet, heat things up."
The planetarium paused for a moment, observing the fire creature. But, ignoring the implied warning, it resumed pounding the dam with full force, finally managing to create a significant crack. Water began to gush out as the concrete gave way under the pressure.
"Great. Now you've done it," muttered Heatblast.
Without wasting time, he leaped into the air, conjuring a new fiery board to reach the breach. Hovering over the critical spot, he started emitting controlled bursts of heat, trying to weld the crack shut before it could spread further.
Meanwhile, the Megawatt-Planetarium changed tactics. Abandoning its assault on the dam, it began climbing toward the turbines. Heatblast noticed the movement but kept his focus on the leak. "First the crack, then the maniac robot," he murmured to himself.
Once he managed to temporarily seal the flow of water, Heatblast flew toward the planetarium, positioning himself between it and the turbines. "Not so fast, big guy! Those turbines aren't your toys to destroy."
The planetarium ignored him and advanced, attempting to crush him with its massive fists. Heatblast dodged skillfully, using his fireboard to maneuver through the air. He soared up and down, spinning around the creature as if taunting it.
"You've got the size, but I've got the moves," he quipped, firing a small fireball at the Saturn ring adorning the robot's head, splitting it in two.
The planetarium grew even angrier and tried to grab Heatblast, but it was caught off guard by Gwen, who suddenly appeared atop the structure with an industrial fire hose in hand.
"Hey, lightbulb head!" Gwen shouted, aiming to grab the Megawatts' attention.
The small aliens controlling the planetarium noticed the girl and looked up. Without hesitation, Gwen turned the valve, releasing a powerful jet of water that blasted the Megawatts directly.
The impact caused the electric aliens to sizzle and scatter like uncontrolled sparks. They shrieked in rage and turned their attention to Gwen, chasing her in a flurry of electrical discharges.
"Great, now they're mad!" Gwen complained, dropping the hose and running away.
The Megawatts shot bolts of electricity at her, but the wet ground hindered their movements, causing small shocks that slowed them down. Meanwhile, Gwen managed to escape to safety, smiling with satisfaction.
"Water and electricity—never fails," she muttered to herself.
Watching the scene unfold, Heatblast chuckled as he stepped in front of the Megawatts. "Gwen, you sure know how to get under people's skin."
"Yeah, but I bought you enough time, so do your thing!" she called back, waving from afar.
With the planetarium now without its controllers, Heatblast formed a massive fireball and hurled it at the Megawatts. The Nosedeenians crackled with anger and darted toward Heatblast, but he released a dense cloud of smoke around himself. The Megawatts charged through the smoke curtain without hesitation, only to stop and look around in confusion, scratching their glowing heads when they realized the flaming alien had disappeared.
Following the scent of burnt material, they found Heatblast leaning against a large object covered by a tarp, blowing kisses into the air to taunt them. This only fueled the Megawatts' fury, and they transformed into a torrent of lightning, surging toward him in a coordinated attack.
"Now's the time!" said Heatblast, swiftly grabbing Gwen and soaring into the air. He hovered above as the Megawatts stormed into the covered area, furious and determined to reach him.
As the last of the Megawatts entered beneath the tarp, Heatblast descended quickly, landing beside the covered object. "All set, Grandpa! It's all yours!" he shouted to Max, who was ready with Gwen to execute the plan.
Max and Gwen yanked the tarp away, revealing the largest aquarium in the world, which the Nosedeenians had unknowingly invaded. The small electric aliens squealed in indignation as they realized they'd fallen into a trap, scrambling to escape.
Heatblast acted quickly, breathing a concentrated stream of fire to seal the aquarium's opening, melting the edges of the glass with precision. "Done! Lid's on tight!" he declared confidently.
The Megawatts, now trapped, crackled frantically against the glass, but their voices were muffled within the insulated dome. Ben didn't miss the chance to gloat, making a goofy face and sticking out his flaming tongue before the Omnitrix reverted him to human form.
Max looked at the aquarium and let out a relieved sigh. "With that non-conductive glass sealed, they're not going anywhere for a while."
"Once again, science saves the day," Gwen remarked, crossing her arms with a satisfied smile.
"With a little help from sci-fi," Ben added with a smug grin.
Later, back in town, a crowd of residents gathered to admire the new attraction: the enormous aquarium, now adorned with a sign that read "The World's Biggest Lightbulb—Powered by Megawatts!"
Earl, the mayor, grinned from ear to ear. "Sparksville will never be forgotten now!"
Gwen looked at the aquarium with a mixed expression. "Okay, that's impressive, but it's kind of weird... They literally turned aliens into a giant power generator."
Max shrugged. "Weird or not, it's efficient. And better than letting them run loose causing chaos in town."
"Good point," Gwen admitted, still eyeing the aquarium. "But I wonder how long it'll be before someone tries to break that glass, despite the sign."
Max laughed. "Well, with any luck, we won't be around to find out."
After a few more moments of watching the scene, Max gestured toward the trailer. "Let's go, time to hit the road."
The two walked back to the RV. As soon as they entered, Gwen looked around. "Ben? You in here?!"
Suddenly, a spark shot out of nowhere and zapped Gwen, making her jump back with a small shriek. Her hair instantly frizzed up as if she'd just stuck her finger in a socket.
"What the heck was that?!" she exclaimed, trying to smooth her hair as she looked around.
Max looked concerned. "Gwen, are you okay?"
"Yeah, just… what was that?" Gwen replied, still shaken.
Before they could move, a giggle echoed through the trailer. A small electric creature suddenly appeared, glowing with green energy.
"Wow, Gwen, love the new hairstyle!" the alien teased, laughing.
Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Wait a second... Is that a Megawatt? How did it escape?!"
The alien laughed harder. "Not Megawatt, BuzzShock! Way cooler, right?"
Max stared at it, surprised. "Ben? Is that you again?!"
BuzzShock crossed his tiny arms and nodded. "Of course it's me! Looks like the Omnitrix absorbed their DNA when they attacked me. Now I can turn into this! Pretty sweet, huh?"
Gwen huffed, still fixing her hair. "Sweet would be not shocking me next time, BuzzShock."
BuzzShock chuckled, closing his glowing eyes. "Alright, alright. But seriously, that hair is on fire—metaphorically speaking!"
Before BuzzShock could react, Gwen grabbed a water bottle and doused him. The small alien blinked as sparks flew from his body, and he collapsed onto his back with a tiny "Ow!"
Gwen smirked, leaning down and giving the Omnitrix a light tap, transforming Ben back to normal.
Ben blinked a few times, still lying on the floor. "Okay... I deserved that."
Max, watching from the RV door, burst out laughing. "Looks like you two are even now."
The three of them laughed together until Gwen suddenly paused. "But seriously, Ben Eleven would be a great name now that you've got 11 forms."
Ben gave her a deadpan look. "Gwen, Ben Eleven sounds like a convenience store. Like, 'Soda special at Ben Eleven!'"
Max chuckled as he drove. "Yeah, I think Ben Ten has more appeal. Less... commercial, let's say."
Gwen pretended to think. "Okay, but you've got to admit it'd be hilarious to hear someone yell, 'It's Ben Eleven time!' in the middle of a fight."
Ben sighed, giving her a crooked smile. "Hilarious for the audience, not for me."
The three laughed together as the RV rolled down the road, ready for more adventures