The massive laser cannon gleamed in Max's hands like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. It was built like an electromagnetic rifle, but scaled up to absurd proportions, the kind of weapon that made a statement just by existing.
Max hefted it experimentally, testing its weight, then aimed at an empty patch of ground beside the Rust Bucket.
BOOM!
A brilliant blue beam lanced through the air. The impact crater appeared instantly, smoke billowing from the scorched earth. The shockwave rippled outward, and when it cleared, a bottomless pit marked where solid ground had been only seconds before.
The devastation happened in the literal blink of an eye.
"The firepower on this thing exceeds Vilgax's standard combat drones!" Asher's eyes widened with genuine surprise. "Grandpa, the Plumbers really built some serious hardware back in the day!"
"I like to think I've still got it." Max allowed himself a satisfied smile as he retracted the laser cannon with practiced ease. He moved to another storage compartment built into the Rust Bucket's undercarriage and popped it open with a smooth motion.
Inside lay an enormous hood assembly, pristine and clearly kept in perfect condition.
"Is that..." Asher started.
"Replacement parts," Max explained patiently. "When I was retrofitting the Rust Bucket years ago, I made sure to stockpile spares for situations exactly like this. I've been through enough scrapes to know you always prepare for the worst."
Experience really did trump youth sometimes.
"Grandpa, if we're going to completely overhaul the Rust Bucket, won't that take too long?" Gwen voiced the concern that was already forming in everyone's mind. "Vilgax is actively destroying things right now. If we don't stop him soon, who knows what other catastrophes he'll cause..."
Ben jumped in with his usual impulsiveness. "Why don't we split up? Asher and I can go deal with Vilgax while you and Gwen stay here to rebuild the Rust Bucket!"
Asher's eye twitched at the suggestion.
Had Ben never watched a single horror movie? The people who split up in those films always ended up facing the worst outcomes!
Without a second's hesitation, Asher pressed the Omnitrix's faceplate and twisted it several times. The holographic display cycled through transformation options until he found the one he wanted. He slammed his palm down hard.
FLASH!
Green light exploded outward, bathing the entire area in emerald radiance. The brilliance cut through their discussion like a spotlight, drawing all eyes to Asher's transforming form.
Within seconds, the transformation completed.
Upgrade materialized before them.
"There's no time for a slow rebuild," Upgrade said calmly, his electronic voice resonating with quiet confidence. "Just let me handle the rapid overhaul with my nanite systems."
The journey back and forth to pursue Vilgax would give him plenty of time to transform again anyway.
"Perfect!" Max nodded decisively.
"Let's do it Asher's way," Ben agreed immediately.
Upgrade didn't waste another moment. He and the others quickly gathered the replacement components from Max's stockpile, hoods, panels, thruster assemblies, weapon systems, and carried them to the Rust Bucket's entrance.
Upgrade's liquid metal body flowed forward, spreading across the vehicle's surface like living quicksilver. His nanite-enhanced form enveloped the replacement parts, integrating them directly into the Rust Bucket's framework.
CLICK-CLICK-CRACK!
The transformation began instantly.
The Rust Bucket twisted and reconfigured like a three-dimensional puzzle solving itself. Worn components peeled away from Upgrade's merged body, dropping to the ground in neat piles. Simultaneously, the new parts he'd absorbed merged seamlessly into place, upgraded and enhanced beyond their original specifications.
The entire process was a display of technological mastery.
Max, Ben, and Gwen didn't stand idle either. They brought in additional components, feeding them to Upgrade's form so he could strengthen the Rust Bucket even further with advanced Plumber technology.
One minute later, the transformation was complete.
Upgrade's liquid metal form separated from the vehicle, pooling beside the others like sentient mercury before reshaping into his humanoid configuration.
In everyone's eyes stood a completely renewed vehicle.
Calling it the "Rust Bucket" almost seemed insulting now, it looked brand new, gleaming with technological sophistication. The exterior appeared largely unchanged at first glance, maintaining its recognizable RV appearance. But the enhancement went far deeper than cosmetics.
The Rust Bucket's collision resistance, defensive capabilities, and maximum acceleration had all undergone what could only be described as an epic-tier upgrade!
"With this enhanced version, we can reach the target location in record time!" Max's face lit up with excitement that made him look decades younger.
"Grandpa, we shouldn't waste another second, let's go!" Upgrade scooped up both Ben and Gwen in his elongated arms, opened the Rust Bucket's door with one foot in a display of flexibility that would be impossible for a human, and squeezed his considerable bulk inside in one fluid motion.
Since his body was so massive, Upgrade had to bend himself into an almost banana-like curve, conforming to the Rust Bucket's interior space. The position looked distinctly uncomfortable.
Max secured the massive laser cannon in the passenger seat, then climbed into the driver's position and activated the full acceleration suite.
CLICK!
Wing-like aerodynamic fins extended from both sides of the Rust Bucket!
Rocket thrusters emerged from housings above each wheel!
The acceleration mode was primed and ready!
"Ben, Gwen, prepare yourselves for a tough fight ahead," Upgrade said seriously, looking at his cousins with his single cyclopean eye. His tone carried the weight of someone giving a crucial pre-battle briefing.
Both of them straightened, expressions turning solemn as the reality of the situation set in.
"Before any combat engagement, you need to replenish your energy and hydration," Upgrade continued pragmatically. "That's how you maximize your combat effectiveness when the fighting starts."
Then, with surprising thoughtfulness, Upgrade reached into the Rust Bucket's small refrigerator and extracted several of Grandpa's infamous homemade hamburgers.
He wasn't being a jerk about this...
He genuinely wanted everyone operating at peak condition for the battle ahead!
"No, no, absolutely not!" Ben recoiled as if Upgrade had pulled out a biohazard. "I'd rather take my chances with Vilgax!"
"Ben, you're breaking Grandpa's heart with talk like that," Gwen chided him, though her own expression showed considerable reluctance. "To avoid making Grandpa sad, I think you should punish yourself. Eat all the hamburgers yourself!"
The two of them pushed the food back and forth between them like it was a game of hot potato, each trying to avoid the dreaded meal.
Watching their theatrical performance, Upgrade couldn't help the small laugh that escaped his electronic voice. He picked up one hamburger himself and bit into it with his eyes closed, willing to lead by example.
Seeing Upgrade's demonstration, Ben and Gwen reluctantly accepted their own hamburgers and began eating.
But here was the thing...
Despite its absolutely terrible taste, Max's secret recipe hamburger was unmatched when it came to physical restoration!
The throbbing pain in Upgrade's right foot gradually subsided. His energy levels, which had been depleting after the sustained transformation and merger with the Rust Bucket, quickly climbed back toward full capacity. Ben's body, which had been aching from earlier exertion, felt considerably better. As for Gwen, though she hadn't taken any damage requiring healing, she could feel her mana reserves, her magical energy, completely replenished!
"Give me a couple too. One? No, make it two. I also need to restore my stamina!" Max called back while maintaining his focus on the road ahead.
Upgrade, taking advantage of his considerable reach, stretched his arm across the vehicle's interior and handed the hamburgers forward to Max in the driver's seat.
After everyone had eaten and regained their strength, they sang road trip songs all the way back toward the city!!
Max drove like he was competing in a high-speed racing game, drifting through turns, activating acceleration boosts, heading straight for the biological museum in the city center where Vilgax was causing chaos!
Whooooosh~
During the journey, the Omnitrix's familiar timeout sequence activated. Upgrade's form dissolved in a flash of red light, returning Asher to his human state.
Five minutes later, the Rust Bucket crossed from the highway into the urban district. With most civilians sheltering in their homes and the police forces already deployed elsewhere to deal with Vilgax's rampage, there was no one to issue traffic citations, even though they were definitely speeding.
Unfortunately, when they arrived at the first biological museum, they found only devastation.
The entire building had been reduced to lifeless ruins. The structure was completely gone, replaced by scattered debris and an eerie silence that hung over the destruction.
Max's expression grew grim. "Looks like we're one step behind. Vilgax has already moved on from here!"
"Wait, look! There are dinosaur footprints over there! If we follow the tracks, we should be able to catch up!" Asher pressed his face against the window, scanning the surrounding area. He spotted the unmistakable trail of massive footprints extending away from the ruins. He quickly moved to Max's side, pointing urgently toward the enormous tracks.
Vilgax had chosen the most conspicuous possible method of movement. While it certainly spread terror effectively, it also completely exposed his whereabouts!
The Rust Bucket pivoted toward the dinosaur trail and accelerated hard, following the tracks without stopping for even a moment.
The hunt was on.