Of Sentience and Predator

C9: Be Afraid of the Dark

The Uxorite backed away slightly before she asked, "Are you aware?"

There was a moment of silence before a voice in her head said, "Give me a moment..." The Uxorite nodded and crossed her arms as the Cerebrocrustacean collected itself. He stood up on his six legs and the shell opened slightly. Electricity danced around it for a few moments in time before disappearing. The shell closed and the Cerebrocrustacean refocused its attention towards her. "Forgive me for that, I..."

"We crash landed, you weren't prepared," the Uxorite summarized.

"Beyond," the Cerebrocrustacean telepathed, clicking his claws somewhat. "I never expected Vilgax to appear so suddenly..."

"I don't think either of us did," the Uxorite growled.

There was a moment of silence before the Cerebrocrustacean asked, "You were delivering the Omnitrix to Azmuth's chosen champion, correct?"

"Maxwell Tennyson, a former Plumber Magister, yes," the Uxorite nodded. "Why were you approaching Earth?"

"It was one of the few planets I saved for last when collecting DNA for the Nemetrix," the Cerebrocrustacean explained. "Myself and Khyber decided that he would go to Mythicon due to it being much more... volatile, while I went to Earth."

A beat.

"You're Doctor Psychobos," the Uxorite said, emotion blank on her face.

"I will admit, I am curious why you never noticed earlier. Who might you be?" the Cerebrocrustacean asked.

There was a pause before the answer, "Xylene."

-(...)-

'Damaged DNA found.'

Gwen was suddenly aware again.

'Ectonurite form DNA repaired. Unlocking Ectonurite: Styx DNA.'

Gwen's mind was flooded with what the situation was and what just happened.

'Reloading time. Transforming user into Ectonurite: Styx form. Standby...'

A surge of energy and green.

'Transformation successful. Allowing host access.'

Styx grinned under her sun skin, bright pink eye shining as she loudly proclaimed, "Styx!"

-()-

'Omnitrix Sync recognized.'

Fish Snatcher stopped for a brief moment when the Predatrix suddenly informed him of that. A green flash caused the vulture-like, the werewolf, and the mummy to look over.

'Form recognized. Restoring time. Transforming host to Belltail: Anurian Shadow form.'

He felt his body break, disintegrate, and condense within the typical red flash in barely half a second. Belltail's instincts threatened to take over, sensing the weakened prey around him.

"Belltail!" the Anurian Shadow screeched before swiftly ringing the bell at the end of his tail. He ignored the screeching of Ghostfreak as his pure white eyes traveled to the werewolf and the mummy.

-()-

EightEight quickly put together what just happened before yelling, "Styx, focus on the other Ectonurite! Kevin, attack the Loboan! Belltail, the Thep Khufan! I'll take the Transylian!" Kevin nodded and ran towards Belltail, the werewolf, and the mummy, electricity sparking around him. Smoke poured from the Anurian Shadow and fire flared within its mouth. EightEight took out her other talon and dashed towards the Transylian while Styx and the larger Ectonurite faced each other.