Hey, what's up guys. I had no electricity for the past 5 days, so I wasn't able to respond to some of y'all's comments so I'll do so over a period of time. 'IF' you are wondering how chapters a still being released, I auto-scheduled the chapters.
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Jonah Melville's words had barely left his lips when his crew moved in perfect unison to the edge of the yacht's deck. Their malevolent eyes converged on Asher and the others below, and though they hadn't yet drawn their weapons, the hostility emanating from them was unmistakable.
"We should retreat now and avoid a direct confrontation," Asher whispered urgently, covering Max's right wrist with his left hand as he looked back at Captain Shaw behind them.
A tactical retreat would be their best option!
"I'm telling you!"
But to Asher's dismay, Captain Shaw stepped forward defiantly, pointing directly at Melville and his large crew. "If you do not leave this lake immediately, I will report you all to the authorities the moment we reach shore!"
"This is bad," Asher thought grimly.
Max's expression changed as well; neither of them had expected Captain Shaw to be so confrontational in such a dangerous situation!
Silence fell like a heavy blanket over the water.
Melville's friendly facade cracked completely, replaced by a cold, predatory stare as he eyed Captain Shaw with barely concealed malice. The false smile disappeared completely from his weathered features.
The crew behind him slowly tightened their grip on concealed weapons. Having been hidden below deck during their earlier encounter, Captain Shaw and the others couldn't see exactly what they were up against.
"Asher, what's happening?"
The sudden change in atmosphere sent a shiver down Gwen's spine. She unconsciously moved closer to her cousin, seeking reassurance in his calm presence.
"It's all right. Just stay behind me," Asher replied with steady composure, his voice carrying a confidence that immediately helped ease her fears.
Gwen obediently positioned herself behind him, finding comfort in his protective posture.
"Captain Shaw, we have to go now!" Asher tugged urgently at the captain's sleeve, his expression growing increasingly serious.
"Fine, let's go. When we get to shore, I'm going to press charges against every one of you!" Captain Shaw angrily rolled up his sleeves and stalked to the driver's seat, his pride wounded, but his survival instincts finally kicking in.
"You're not going anywhere!"
The cold voice cut through the morning air like a blade. A submachine gun had materialized in Melville's hand, its dark barrel pointed directly at Captain Shaw's body.
Captain Shaw's face turned pale as death itself. His hands shot up in instant surrender, his entire body shaking as the reality of their situation crashed down upon him.
The rest of Melville's crew emerged from below, each man wielding military-style firearms with practiced ease.
"Ben, stay behind me!" Max immediately pulled his grandson to safety, positioning himself as a human shield.
"This is trouble," Asher muttered, his hands moving to the Omnitrix interface. His fingers found the faceplate and flipped it open, revealing Four Arms' distinctive silhouette on the display.
If Melville's crew opened fire, he would have no choice but to transform in front of everyone, secret identity be damned!
"Bring him up here!"
Melville gestured coldly, his voice devoid of any human warmth.
Several crew members threw a rope ladder over the side of the yacht, the coiled line landing with a wet slap beside Captain Shaw.
"You can climb up now," one of the gunmen called down with false politeness. "Or we can discuss what happens if you don't cooperate."
Under the threat of multiple firearms, even a stubborn man like Captain Shaw had no choice. He grabbed the rope with trembling hands, and the crew above hauled him aboard like a caught fish.
"Gwen, Ben, the next time they try to take one of us, be ready to jump into the lake," Asher whispered urgently, his thumb hovering over the Omnitrix's activation core.
Even if it meant revealing his alien transformations to the world, this was no time for half-measures!
"Boss, what about the others?" One of the subordinates casually gestured toward Asher, Max, and the others below.
Asher's body tensed, his palm beginning to descend toward the Omnitrix's core.
Melville looked down at them with obvious disdain, a mocking expression crossing his weathered features. "A few children and an old man? What can they do to us? Let them go, they're no threat to anyone."
His words dripped with condescension and arrogance!
Dealing with weaklings like Asher and Max would be as easy as waving a gun in their direction!
He didn't consider such harmless civilians worthy of his attention.
"I've been underestimated," Asher thought with grim satisfaction, quietly removing his hands from the Omnitrix and slipping them into his pockets. "That's okay. I can find a private place to change."
"Get out of my sight at once!" Melville pointed arrogantly at Captain Shaw beside him, using the hostage as leverage. "Don't let me see you again, or this old man dies! After we catch the sea monster, we'll set him free!"
The threat was clear, Captain Shaw's life hung in the balance.
Asher took a deep breath, his mind already calculating his next moves. Your good days are numbered, Melville. All of you.
"Grandpa, let's go," Asher said aloud, maintaining his facade of helplessness while his eyes burned with quiet determination.
"Understood," Max replied, recognizing the tactical wisdom in his grandson's words. He gave Captain Shaw one last concerned look before climbing into the driver's seat and gunning the engine toward the foggy area of the lake.
Melville and his crew visibly relaxed as they watched the small boat retreat, the "harmless civilians" already out of their minds. They returned to their discussions about capturing the Lake Monster and dealing with XLR8, unaware that they had just made the biggest mistake of their criminal careers.
Perhaps they thought they were dealing with ordinary people who would cower at the sight of firearms.
They had no idea what kind of force they had just provoked.
When their boat reached the hiding fog, Max brought it to a stop on the calm water.
Max, Ben and Gwen all looked at Asher with silent understanding, their expressions making their thoughts perfectly clear.
Asher, it's time to teach these criminals a lesson!
"They never imagined..." Asher's eyes blazed with righteous anger as he walked to the side of the ship, his hand moving to the Omnitrix's interface.
"...what kind of power they just unleashed!"
His fingers found the dial and began to rotate through the available transformations, each alien silhouette representing a devastating power that Melville's crew couldn't possibly comprehend.
It wasn't just XLR8 that Melville and his gang were about to face.
But ten incredibly powerful alien heroes, each with unique and overwhelming abilities!
Asher alone was like an entire alien army!