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Chapter 6 - Chapter 5 - Fabric Pressure

{3rd POV}

Ben, with nothing to do, began to explore the abandoned factory. The place was filled with gears forming strange patterns. As he approached a control terminal, he began to examine it.

"What language is this? It seems random, or rather, it seems to follow a system of symbols."

Not knowing what to do, Ben simply moved forward towards a hallway that led to the exit of that room. Crossing through it, there were various systems of interconnecting gears that extended for miles.

Ben was intrigued by the appearance of the gears, forming complex and interconnected patterns. He wondered about the purpose of this abandoned place and how all these gears fit into a larger system.

As Ben continued down the hallway, he noticed that the gears stretched on for several miles. It was an impressive sight, almost as if he was exploring a mechanical labyrinth. Each gear seemed to have a specific purpose and was connected to others in a complex network of interactions.

Curious to learn more about this system, Ben decided to venture into the labyrinth of gears. He followed the path that seemed to lead further, hoping to find answers to his questions.

As he progressed, Ben noticed that some of the gears appeared worn out from time and lack of maintenance. Some were rusted and stuck, while others turned slowly, producing a metallic squeak. It was evident that this factory had been abandoned for a long time.

Nevertheless, Ben felt a strange energy in the air, a sense that there was something more than just gears in this place. He continued his journey, passing through narrow corridors and empty rooms, always surrounded by the presence of gears and occasionally encountering the remains of robots.

Determined to unravel the mystery behind this system of gears, Ben continued exploring, following the paths indicated by the gears. He was determined to reach the heart of this complex mechanism and discover the hidden purpose behind it.

As Ben continued his exploration of the abandoned factory, he was awestruck by the magnitude of the structure. The complex was colossal, with corridors stretching for thousands of miles, filled with metal and containers. These containers seemed designed to move large amounts of radioactive waste.

Ben carefully observed the containers, realizing that if activated, they would be capable of moving tons of waste per second. In addition to the containers, Ben noticed the presence of rivers of glowing green liquids running throughout the factory, connected to the mechanical structures. These liquids appeared to be linked to the functioning of the system, possibly playing a crucial role in energy generation.

It was at this moment that Ben understood the purpose of this abandoned factory. If it were fully operational, it would be able to harness the energy from the radioactive waste scattered across the planet. Through complex processes, the waste would be transformed into usable energy.

However, the factory had been abandoned, leaving behind only traces of its potential. Ben wondered what could have happened to halt the operation of this immense structure. Were there technical issues? Lack of resources? Did they have something better?

As he reached an area that seemed to function as a kind of kitchen, Ben began to hear canine barks echoing through the environment. Anticipating a possible confrontation if he continued to advance, he decided to retreat and seek another direction. However, his efforts were in vain, as the Vulpimancer had already detected him.

Intense barks and growls filled the air as Ben ran in desperation. He spotted a staircase leading to the upper floor and climbed it as fast as he could. Looking back, he saw his pursuer getting closer.

"A Wildmutt-like alien? Could this be their planet?" Ben questioned amidst the chaos.

"Come on, big dog, try to catch me!" he taunted.

In an instant, the Vulpimancer reached the staircase, completely ignoring it and began to climb it with its sharp claws.

"Me and my big mouth," Ben lamented, resuming his frantic run in search of a hiding place where the massive dog couldn't reach him. After moments of panic, he spotted an air vent smaller than the beast and ran towards it, desperately pounding on the grille to open it.

"Open, damn it, OPEN!!"

The Vulpimancer climbed up to the upper floor and was rapidly approaching Ben. Faced with the ineffectiveness of his strikes on the air vent, he turned to the beast and began to seek a solution to escape this desperate situation.

"1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17..." murmured Ben, trying to focus amidst the adrenaline flooding his body.

Dodging the first attack from the Vulpimancer, he rolled to the side just in time to avoid the next one. Then, he started running in circles around the beast, trying to confuse it. Although he managed to evade the subsequent attacks, he didn't escape unscathed, suffering scratches across his body.

As he circled rapidly around the malnourished Vulpimancer, Ben found the perfect opportunity to leap towards the air vent that had been opened by the dog's initial attack. The Vulpimancer, tired of playing with its prey, decided to end the chase and lunged with its fangs, but it was too late, only managing to grab onto Ben's shoe before he escaped through the opening.

While the Vulpimancer growled with its head stuck in the air vent, Ben looked back and taunted, "Hey, idiot! Need a little foot in there?"

Continuing to descend through the tunnel, Ben started to worry about landing in a dangerous place, so he decided to slow down before reaching the end. Looking down, he realized there was no green liquid or an insurmountable drop, and he began repeatedly kicking the grille to facilitate his descent.

With determination, Ben continued kicking the grille repeatedly, using all the strength he had. Each strike echoed through the tunnel as he struggled to make progress. The adrenaline still pulsed in his veins, driving him to push past his limits.

"Come on, give in!" exclaimed Ben, channeling all his energy into his kicks.

The grille began to give way gradually, creaking under the pressure. Sweat trickled down Ben's face as he persisted, knowing that every second counted. He could feel the tension building, mixed with the hope of escaping the bloodthirsty beast that pursued him.

Finally, with one last powerful kick, the grille gave way completely, clearing the path to the unknown below. Ben bravely leaped, launching himself into a corridor. The descent was turbulent, but Ben kept his composure and adjusted his body for a safe landing. His feet touched the ground firmly, and he found himself in a dark environment.

Gasping for breath, Ben looked around, ensuring he was safe, at least for now. Silence hung heavy in the air, interrupted only by the distant sound of the Vulpimancer's trapped barks from above. The situation was temporarily under control, but Ben knew he needed to find an escape route and move forward.

As the adrenaline subsided and serenity took hold of his spirit, Ben focused his mind on strategies to face the challenges that lay ahead. He knew he needed to gather his strength and wait for the Omnitrix to recharge in order to survive.

Ben walked through the environment, observing every detail and making sure not to attract the attention of any hostile creatures that might be nearby. He advanced with caution, analyzing the corridors and rooms in search of clues about where he could hide to wait for the watch to recharge.

The abandoned factory was vast and full of surprises. As Ben moved forward, he encountered more intricate gears, remnants of robots, strange machinery, and systems that seemed to have been deactivated for a long time. The atmosphere was dark and silent, occasionally interrupted by distant noises or the presence of small unknown creatures.

While Ben stealthily maneuvered through the corridors, he noticed a faint light at the end of a narrow hallway. Curiosity piqued, he decided to investigate and approached the source of the light slowly. As he drew closer, the light revealed itself to be emanating from a partially open door, casting a gentle blue glow.

Ben cautiously approached the door, peeking through the small gap. He saw a spacious and well-lit room with several screens displaying complex images.

Intrigued, Ben decided to enter the room, being careful not to attract the attention of possible guardians or security systems.

He observes the screens with curiosity, trying to decipher the displayed information. It seems to be the command center of the factory. Inside, he finds a kind of central control panel, filled with buttons, levers, and screens displaying incomprehensible information.

Ben approaches the command terminal, examining the marks and symbols present on it. He notices that the language used seems to have similarities to Mandarin, but it's not exactly the same. It appears to be a unique form of writing, perhaps specifically developed for this gear system.

The images show intricate diagrams of gears, energy flow patterns, and unfamiliar symbols. There seems to be an interconnection pattern between the gears and the generated energy, but it's difficult for Ben to fully grasp the meaning behind this information.

Despite not fully understanding the language, Ben decides to explore the command terminal, experimenting with the buttons and levers. He tries to determine if any of them have a visible effect on the surrounding gears or the screens displaying information.

As Ben interacts with the terminal, some gears start moving slowly, aligning themselves differently and forming new patterns. There seems to be a logic behind these interactions, but it's still difficult for him to decipher their meaning.

Realizing that he won't achieve anything this way, he decides to wait and use "Brainstorm" to try to understand how it works. Ben chooses to stay in the room. Turning to the door, he notices a security mechanism that closes and locks the door. Upon closer inspection, he sees a small terminal in the right corner of the door.

Finally, Ben breathes a sigh of relief, interacts with the terminal, and locks the room. Finally feeling a sense of security, he sits in a chair to rest. While Ben rests in the chair, the room becomes immersed in a peaceful silence. Fatigue and relief blend together, leading him into a deep sleep.

[Author's note: The planet he is on is Vulpin, the home planet of "Wildmutt". It is said to have been used as a waste deposit by other planets in the galaxy, and in the game "Vilgax Attacks," it is depicted as a factory planet.]

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