The Metal Bat Cousin

Camp Fear

Rainy Road No POV

On a moonlit, rainy night, the Rustbucket drives through the mountains, where inside...

Ben: Change it!

Gwen: No way! You change yours!

Max's eye twitches as he drives while Wade looked like he was gonna murder someone. Rip was inside a cabinet sleeping.

Ben: It's your turn!

Gwen: <flipping through a book of preparations> Sorry, but I already picked the cake, color-coordinated the balloons, and sent the invitations! By the way, here's yours.

She hands Ben a card with his name on it. He takes it and throws it away in one motion, and resumes rubbing his itching foot.

Ben: Ugh! Who plans her birthday party six months in advance?

Gwen: The one who gets to celebrate it on her actual birthday this year...?!

Ben takes his sock off his foot and puts it on the table to rub it better.

Ben: I don't think so. Grandpa promised he's taking me for laser tag for my birthday.

Gwen: But you can't miss my party, Grandpa!

Max: Now you two have shared the same birthday for ten years, and if you don't stop arguing, NEITHER of you will make it to eleven! Here, Ben, try this on your foot. It gets rid of all kinds of fungus. <He tosses Ben a yellow powder bottle.>

Ben: "Athlete's Foot Powder"? Well, I am an athlete!

Gwen: More like an athletic supporter, if you ask me. Wade is that yours?

Wade: yep.

Ben shoots Gwen a look and sticks his tongue out before continuing to apply the powder to his shoe.

As Max drives, a young boy in a camp uniform stumbles onto the road, holding his arm. He shouts as the RV's headlights catch him.

Camper: They're coming! Heeeelp meeee!

Max sees him and slams down on the brakes, though it might not stop in time.

Ben & Gwen: Grandpa!

The Rustbucket narrowly misses the boy, though as he dives out the way of the swerving RV, he falls off the road and hangs from a tree root above a tall drop. The RV skids to a stop and Ben jumps out.

Ben: Stinkfly to rescue!

He slams down the Omnitrix and turns into Cannonbolt.

Ben: Hoh, man. Can't this thing ever get it right?

He curls up into a ball and rolls off the road. Just as the boy loses his grip and falls, Ben dives after him and grabs him in the air.

Camper: Aah-!

Ben: Gotcha!

Ben curls up around him and uproots a tree, as they hit the forest floor and go tumbling down into a clearing. Ben uncurls on his back; the kid safely on his stomach. He steadies his spinning head and makes out Ben's face.

Ben: You okay?

He screams and faints on his belly.

Ben: Uh, I'll take that as a "no".

Ben flops to the ground; rain pelting him from above. The Tennysons have the boy laid down in back of the RV.

Max: Just a few scrapes and bruises, that's good. But he's out cold.

Gwen: His name's Gilbert.

Ben: Whoa! How'd you know that?

Gwen: <smugly> Women's intuition.