"You'll have to pay more!"
The crab-like cyborg bounty hunter spoke with absolute seriousness, and even SixSix nodded in agreement beside him.
"You dare make demands of me?" Vilgax's voice dripped with barely suppressed fury as he glared at them through the communicator.
"Vilgax, I know how powerful you are," Kraab continued carefully, his mechanical voice unwavering. "But without sufficient payment, I'm not dealing with that kid. Look at what I've been reduced to. The repair costs alone will bankrupt me."
Vilgax studied Kraab's heavily damaged body through the screen. The cyborg was right. His own body, still suspended in nutrient solution, was a constant reminder of the astronomical expense required for such extensive repairs.
More importantly, he had felt the genuine threat Asher Tennyson posed.
"Leave then," Vilgax said coldly. "It seems you lack the commitment this mission requires."
Kraab turned toward SixSix, and the armored bounty hunter moved to deactivate the communicator.
"Wait."
Vilgax's single word stopped them both instantly. SixSix's clawed hand froze over the communication device. Neither mercenary would dare hang up on the warlord without explicit permission.
"Double the commission," Vilgax declared. "And that's per person. Retrieve the Omnitrix, and you'll both be paid handsomely."
Double the commission for each of them! The two bounty hunters exchanged glances, their previous hesitation evaporating. Money had a way of transforming cowardice into courage.
"Deal," Kraab said with renewed confidence, his mechanical pincers clicking together. "We'll bring you the Omnitrix."
"I don't care if the boy survives the process," Vilgax added with chilling indifference before terminating the connection. His decision was final. Asher Tennyson had become too dangerous to live.
After the transmission ended, Kraab grabbed an overhead cable and slid across the chasm toward the underground cavern entrance. SixSix activated his jetpack thrusters with a roar, rocketing forward alongside his partner. Both mercenaries consulted their tracking devices. The signal wasn't far ahead.
Meanwhile, Asher stood waiting in the abandoned industrial section of the underground facility.
The thunderous roar of rocket engines echoed through the long valley, announcing SixSix's approach. The sound served as a clear warning that both bounty hunters were closing in fast.
"They're moving," Tetrax observed, his crystalline features hardening with focus. His gaze dropped to the Omnitrix on Asher's wrist.
The device glowed green, fully charged and ready.
They'd had plenty of time to prepare, and Asher had every right to transform.
"Everyone, stay back and be careful," Asher said, taking a deep breath. "Keep your distance from the battle. Tetrax, I won't ask you to fight, but I need one favor."
"Name it," Tetrax replied, his expression unreadable.
"If Ben or Gwen gets caught in collapsing debris or crossfire, please help them. Can you do that?" Asher's voice carried genuine concern.
"I'll do it," Tetrax agreed after a moment's consideration. Perhaps Asher's unwavering determination had earned his respect. The Petrosapien wasn't one to make commitments lightly, but when he gave his word, he kept it.
Asher exhaled slowly, relief washing over him. Though he'd known Tetrax only briefly, he'd quickly learned the alien was steady, reliable, and cautious. He didn't pick sides rashly, nor did he make promises he couldn't keep.
"Asher, remember, your safety comes first," Max said firmly, placing a hand on Asher's shoulder before leading Gwen and Ben to shelter behind a distant building. Tetrax stepped onto his hoverboard and glided to a nearby vantage point.
The once-crowded space emptied quickly, leaving only Asher standing alone in the open area.
Taking no chances, he activated the Omnitrix interface. The screen popped up with its familiar glow, and he quickly navigated to his chosen transformation. This would be an alien he'd never used in combat before.
Asher remained motionless, deliberately waiting. He didn't want to transform prematurely and waste even a single second of his transformation time.
A small dark shape appeared at the valley's edge. As it detected Asher's position, it accelerated rapidly. The dot became a shadow, and the shadow resolved into SixSix's distinctive armored form.
As SixSix descended from above, Kraab emerged from the underground entrance below. His damaged cyborg body sparked occasionally, evidence of the electromagnetic interference throughout the facility. Despite his repairs being incomplete and one of his massive pincers missing entirely, the bounty hunter still cut an intimidating figure.
"You two finally arrived," Asher said calmly, watching the airborne and ground-based threats converge on his position. "I've been waiting."
His finger hovered over the Omnitrix activation button.
"Detecting sign-in objects: two mercenaries dispatched by cosmic warlord Vilgax, SixSix and Kraab!"
"Host must transform into Upgrade to complete sign-in!"
Perfect timing. The interface displayed Upgrade's distinctive pattern. This Galvanic Mechamorph could merge with any technology, which meant Asher could potentially possess Kraab directly and destroy the cyborg from within.
With a sign-in opportunity available, there was no reason to choose any other transformation.
"This is it. The final battle," Asher announced. Kraab, surprisingly sporting in nature, allowed Asher time to complete his transformation without interference.
Mainly because the cyborg knew he couldn't stop it anyway.
Without another word, Asher pressed down on the Omnitrix. The protruding screen clicked back into place, releasing the device's signature green energy particles.
His lean human form rapidly expanded and transformed into a large alien being. His back and head turned pitch black, while his front became white with symmetrical green circuit patterns flowing across his body. His face lacked traditional eyes, replaced by a single circular optical sensor.
Upgrade stood ready.
"Sign-in successful! Reward: Green bonus, Upgrade's Battle Mode!"
Battle Mode?
Upgrade paused, processing the influx of new information flooding his mind. The system's familiar method of knowledge integration delivered everything he needed to know.
The so-called Battle Mode was essentially a power amplification state that dramatically enhanced every aspect of Upgrade's already formidable abilities.
The others watching didn't know about the radical enhancement Upgrade had just received.
Kraab studied the seemingly harmless Galvanic Mechamorph before him, surprise flickering across what remained of his organic face. "You fool! You chose this weak-looking creature to fight me? You've just sealed your own fate!"
Upgrade possessed no obvious muscles, no armored plating, no elemental powers, nothing that screamed "dangerous combatant." He was simply larger than Asher's human form.
"What combat strategy is Asher planning?" Tetrax wondered aloud from his aerial vantage point, hand stroking his crystalline chin thoughtfully. "I don't know much about this species, but Asher isn't the type to transform randomly."
He must have carefully considered his choice before transforming.
So how would this Upgrade fight? Despite appearances, Tetrax had faith in Asher's tactical thinking.
"My services come at a premium price," Upgrade said, his circular eye tilting in what might have been amusement as he beckoned toward Kraab with one liquid metal hand. "So come here and let me show you what that buys you."
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