The three ended up in line for Kangaroo Commando The Ride, but the line was nearly empty—only a handful of people waited. Gwen folded her arms, smirking.
"Looks like people aren't that interested in hopping aboard with your hero anymore."
Ben frowned, brushing her off as he and Gwen slid into the front seats. Fred sat behind them, next to a teenager practically bouncing with excitement.
"Man, I can't believe people aren't into this ride anymore!" the teen said.
Ben turned, eyes lighting up. "I know, right? They're missing out. I'm Ben."
"I'm Brian," the teen replied, grinning. "Nice to meet ya."
The coaster jerked forward, climbing the rails. The wind whipped their hair as the ride plunged, twisting through loops before entering the simulated crumbling volcano. Lava effects glowed, smoke hissed, and the rails trembled.
"These special effects are awesome!" Ben shouted, thrilled.
But Gwen's sharp eyes caught something ahead. The track was broken.
"Uh… Ben? Could those broken rails be part of the effects?" she asked, voice tight.
Ben's grin faltered. "Nope. That's real. We've gotta do something—"
Before they could act, the coaster screeched to a halt, shaking violently. A rope latched onto the cars, holding them steady. From above, Kangaroo Commando swung down, gadgets gleaming.
Brian gasped. "Woah! I just got rescued by Kangaroo Commando!"
Fred narrowed his eyes. "Or staged. Suspicious, if you ask me."
Commando tied the rope to a support beam, then leapt onto the coaster. "You kids okay?"
Ben and Brian practically geeked out. "We're fine!" Ben said, starry‑eyed.
Commando pulled out a laser cutter, slicing open the safety bars. "Let's get you free."
Screams erupted. A woman dangled from the rails nearby. Commando fired his grappling gun, swinging to her rescue.
Fred muttered, "Thing don't look good." He knocked Brian unconscious with a spell, levitating him to safety. "This can't be coincidence. Come on."
The rails groaned, metal creaking. Gwen's eyes widened. "The whole structure's collapsing!"
Ben clenched his fists. "Then it's hero time!" He slammed the Omnitrix, morphing into Fourarms, and leapt into action.
Fred transformed into Wildvine, vines snapping outward. Gwen's mana shimmered, wrapping her in pink light as she became Lucky Girl, soaring into the air.
Commando landed with the rescued woman as the crowd clapped. But above them, another section of rail broke loose. Screams echoed.
The massive beam plummeted. Fourarms dashed forward, muscles bulging, catching the rail with his upper arms. Sparks flew as metal scraped against his palms.
"Need a hand?" Ben grinned. "'Cause I've got four of them!"
Commando blinked, confused. "Animatronic device?"
Ben shook his head. "No. Just a kid. That's what I've been trying to tell you."
The ride continued to collapse. Another coaster car barreled down the track, passengers screaming.
From the crowd, someone shouted, "Look—what is that?!"
Wildvine swung across the wreckage, vines lashing out to grab the coaster. Gwen's eyes glowed as she cast a telekinetic spell, halting the car mid‑air. Mana rippled like pink lightning. Fred stretched his vine fingers, wrapping around terrified passengers, pulling them safely to the ground.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Ben, still holding the rail, pouted. "You guys stole my thunder."
Wildvine and Lucky Girl landed beside him, smiling. Fred quipped, "Imagine the PR nightmare after this fiasco."
Ben turned to Commando, hopeful. "So… what do you say about teaming up?"
Commando's face hardened. "I don't do team‑ups anymore." He walked off.
Lucky Girl frowned. "Doesn't this all seem staged?"
Ben scratched his head. "But who would rig Commando's ride?"
Commando bent down, picking up a white glove stained with ink from the wreckage. He sealed it in a packet. "Someone who wore this."
Ben gasped. "That would mean—"
Commando declared, "The culprit is Tim Dean!"
Fred rolled his eyes. "Wow. Genius detective work." His sarcasm dripped.
Commando wasted no time. He stormed to Tim Dean's booth, dragging security guards with him. "You tried to destroy my ride!" he shouted, making a spectacle.
Tim raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"
Commando flipped the curtains, revealing Dean's sketches of a HandyBuddy ride and crates labeled "Explosives."
The small crowd murmured, unimpressed. Gwen and Fred exchanged skeptical looks. Gwen stepped closer, snatching the glove from Commando's hand. "Wait. This is a right‑hand glove. Tim Dean draws with his left hand."
Dean smirked, voice sharp. "Sloppy, North. Just like your career. Your detective skills are as pathetic as your fading show."
Commando's face twisted with rage. He lunged at Dean.
Commando and Dean crash into each other, fists flying, knocking over props. Security guards rush in, grappling both men, dragging them apart as the crowd gasps.
Gwen turned to Ben, voice calm but cutting. "Still think Kangaroo Commando is all that?"
Ben's eyes softened, conflicted. "He's… just stressed."
Fred shook his head, muttering. "Some hero."
The crowd dispersed, unimpressed by the drama. The trio stood together, the wreckage of the ride behind them, the truth still tangled in shadows.