The Metal Bat Cousin

Midnight Madness

Mega Mall

The Tennysons and Hope have just finished shopping at "Mega-mall-opolis." Ben and Gwen are both enthusiastic, with Gwen continuing to read the mall booklet as they head back to the Rustbucket with their shopping. Hope also carried one as Wade left Rip back at the Rust Bucket.

Gwen: Five-hundred stores, seventy two-restaurants, forty-eight movie screens, an indoor rollercoaster!

Ben: We could just spend the whole summer here. This mall has everything. <dramatically falling to the ground expressing his joy>

Wade: yeah and run out of money with everything you want to buy.

Hope: money duplication spell, remember?

Wade: right.

A burglar alarm sounds, and the mall security comes running out to take the shadowy robbers down.

Mall Cop: Halt in the name of mall security!

Max: ...Including their own police force.

Wade: how rich is this mall to afford their own mini security force.

Ben: <cracking knuckles> Looks like the rent-a-cops could use a little help. Eugh, a hero's work is never done.

Ben cycles through silhouettes before transforming into Wildmutt. While in pursuit of the two robbers, masked in shadow, they are able to get onto a higher level in the parking structure by using a nearby street lamp as something to kick off of. The police are puzzled by their method of escaping, and are shocked to see Ben too, swinging up to follow.

Ben: <Growling>

Ben catches up and knocks the figures to the ground, scattering the jewels, but, to his surprise, finds that the two robbers were two normal-looking senior citizens. But they aren't as they seem when they start doing gymnastics and are fit enough to land a kick directly onto Wildmutt's face.

The elderly citizens dominated their fight against Ben, while Ben has difficulty even laying a scratch on them. The situation is complicated as the police arrive.

Mall Cop2: They let loose some kind of rabid dog to cover their tracks. Get him.

Siren blare as Ben makes a run for it while Max brings the RV round the parking lot so that he gets in.

Mall Cop2: They must be trying to escape in that RV.

The police set off after the Rustbucket and take pursuit of it.

Mall Cop2: Cut him off.

Max sees the police in front of them. He tries to avoid them, but he ends up crashing into a pole.

The police come in the RV to locate Ben. Instead of finding the beast, he finds the Tennysons, perfectly calm and cooperative.

Ben: Uh, looking for something officer? <Confusing the cop as he looks for Wildmutt>

The next morning, Ben and Gwen walk through the mall, Ben is drinking from a cup with a straw.

Gwen: Nice going last night, "hero". Not only did you let the robbers get away, but because they thought your furry-butt was inside, they played demolition-derby with the Rustbucket.

Ben: <mimicking Gwen's whining mockingly> Hey, the mall's gonna pay for all the repairs, and it bought us a few more days here while Grandpa waits for the parts. You should be thanking me. <Continuing to sip his drink>

Gwen: I guess you're right. Nice job, Wildmutt.

Gwen happily gives him a slap on the back, causing him to spit his drink. They continue on and Gwen finds a bulletin board that catches her attention.