Chapter 23: Wicked

Scene One: Refining Billy's Battle Suit

The lab hummed with activity as Marshall adjusted the holographic blueprint of Billy's battle suit. The trio had spent the last several days ironing out the finer details, and they were finally nearing the point of a polished prototype. The suit stood on a mannequin nearby, its sleek black and blue design gleaming under the lab's fluorescent lights.

Billy paced behind him, still buzzing from the earlier tests. "So, tell me again, what's new in this version? I'm all for upgrades, but I need to know what I'm working with."

Marshall gestured to the blueprint, spinning the hologram for emphasis. "We've enhanced the grappling system for quicker retraction and increased cable strength. You'll also notice a reinforced exoskeleton for better impact resistance and upgraded shockwave emitters for more controlled blasts."

Peter chimed in from the other side of the lab, where he was assembling parts for his Spider-Man suit. "And we added a cloaking mechanism. It won't last forever—maybe two minutes max—but it's enough for stealth escapes or sneak attacks."

Billy grinned, leaning closer to inspect the suit. "Cloaking? Now we're talking. Can we make it glow or something when it turns on? You know, for the dramatic effect."

Marshall rolled his eyes but smirked. "We're going for practical, not flashy. You're not a walking light show."

Peter laughed. "Trust me, Billy. Subtlety can be cool, too."

Billy crossed his arms but nodded. "Fine, but I still want it to look intimidating. I need people to know I mean business."

Marshall turned back to the blueprint, already working on the finishing touches. "Don't worry. Once we're done, you'll look like you walked out of an action movie. Now, let's focus on the weapons system. We need to make sure everything's calibrated perfectly before the next test."

Scene Two: Crafting Peter's Spider Suit

While Billy admired his suit, Peter was deep in concentration at his own workstation. A combination of blueprints and electronic components was spread out before him, a reflection of his meticulous planning.

Marshall glanced over, intrigued by the intricate design Peter was working on. "How's it coming along?"

Peter adjusted his goggles, soldering a small circuit board. "Pretty good. I'm integrating the web-shooter mechanisms into the gloves now. They'll be compact but powerful enough for long-distance swings."

Billy raised an eyebrow. "Web-shooters? You're really going all in on this spider theme, huh?"

Peter smirked. "What can I say? It fits."

Marshall nodded, impressed. "Don't forget to include a tracker in the webbing. If you ever lose sight of a target, you'll want a way to follow them."

Peter made a note on his tablet. "Good call. I'll add that to the next iteration."

Billy walked over, examining the half-finished suit. "I've gotta admit, it's pretty cool. But are you sure it's enough? I mean, you're going up against bad guys, not running a gymnastics routine."

Peter shot him a playful glare. "Don't worry, Billy. I'll be fine. I've got strength, agility, and spidey-sense on my side."

Marshall chuckled. "And now you'll have tech to back it up. Once we're done with your suit, you'll be ready for anything."

Scene Three: Meetings with Potential Buyers

Later that afternoon, the trio sat in the conference room of Nexus Inc. HQ. Across the table sat representatives from several major companies, all eager to discuss partnerships involving Medi-Gel and H2. Elaine and Darren Phillips were also present, providing guidance and ensuring the boys stayed on track.

A woman in a sharp business suit leaned forward, her eyes scanning a detailed proposal on the tablet in front of her. "Medi-Gel is a game-changer. The medical field has been waiting for something like this for years. But I have to ask—how scalable is the production process?"

Marshall spoke confidently, his tone measured and professional. "We've already optimized the manufacturing process to minimize costs without sacrificing quality. With the right partnership, we can scale up to meet global demand within the next six months."

Peter added, "And H2 isn't just a companion bot—it's a multifunctional tool. Its ability to assist in both medical and educational settings makes it versatile for a wide range of industries.

Billy leaned forward, flashing his trademark grin. "Not to mention, it's got a sleek design. People love things that are both functional and stylish."

The woman nodded, clearly impressed. "And what about patents? Have you secured the intellectual property for these products?"

Darren chimed in, his authoritative voice filling the room. "All patents are in place. Nexus Inc. owns the exclusive rights to both Medi-Gel and H2. Any partnership would involve a licensing agreement, ensuring full protection of the company's assets."

The representatives exchanged glances, whispering among themselves. Finally, one of them spoke up. "We're very interested in pursuing a partnership. We'll need to discuss terms, but I can already see the potential here."

Elaine smiled proudly. "Thank you. We look forward to working together."

As the meeting wrapped up, the representatives left the room, leaving the trio to celebrate their success.

Billy leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Told you I'd nail the pitch. Charm always wins."

Peter rolled his eyes. "It wasn't just charm, Billy. The products speak for themselves."

Marshall nodded, his expression serious. "This is just the beginning. We've got a long road ahead, but today was a big step forward."

Scene Four: Relaxation and Reflection

The day had been a whirlwind of activity, and as night fell, the trio finally allowed themselves a moment to breathe. Back at Marshall's house, they gathered in the living room, surrounded by empty pizza boxes and cans of soda. The hum of a sci-fi movie played softly in the background as they sprawled across the couch, each lost in their thoughts.

Billy stretched, his feet propped up on the coffee table. "So, I've been thinking. We've got Medi-Gel, H2, and battle suits. What's next? Do we take over the world, or do we just sit back and let the money roll in?"

Peter laughed, tossing a crumpled napkin at him. "You're ridiculous. We're not taking over the world. We're just trying to make it better."

Marshall smirked, leaning back against the armrest. "Speak for yourself. A little world domination doesn't sound so bad."

Billy pointed at him. "See? Marshall gets it. If anyone's gonna run the world, it might as well be us."

Peter shook his head, grinning. "You'd crash and burn within a week, Billy."

Billy feigned offense. "Hey, I'm the face of this operation. Without me, Nexus Inc. is just a bunch of nerds in a garage."

Marshall rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Billy. But for now, let's just enjoy the moment. We've had a good day."

Peter nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, it's been a good day. But there's still a lot to do. We're just getting started."

The room fell into a comfortable silence as the movie played on. Despite their joking, each of them felt the weight of their responsibilities—and the excitement of what lay ahead.

Billy broke the silence, sitting up suddenly. "Alright, enough mushy stuff. Who's up for a game of cards? I feel like crushing you guys in poker."

Marshall smirked. "You're on. Just don't cry when I take all your chips."

Peter grabbed the deck of cards, shuffling them with practiced ease. "Let's make it interesting. Winner gets to pick the next project we work on."

Billy grinned. "Deal. But just so you know, I'm gonna win."

As they settled into the game, the weight of the day lifted, replaced by the easy camaraderie that had brought them together in the first place. It wasn't all about work or success—it was about the bond they shared and the future they were building, one step at a time.

Part Two: A Stroke of Luck

Scene One: The Magic Expo

The bustling Annual Magic and Mysticism Expo was an explosion of colors, sounds, and mystique. Marshall, Peter, Gwen, Ned, and Billy wandered through the maze of booths, each showcasing an array of enchanting displays. Everything from tarot cards to ancient runes was on display, with vendors enthusiastically pitching their wares.

"This place is wild," Gwen said, her eyes scanning the dazzling displays. "I didn't think so many people were into this stuff."

Billy trailed behind, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "It's all a bunch of junk. People will buy anything if you slap the word 'mystical' on it."

Ned stopped at a booth selling wands. "Yeah, but it's fun. I mean, who wouldn't want to feel like Harry Potter for a day?"

Peter smirked. "Or Gandalf. You'd make a good Gandalf, Ned."

As they moved deeper into the expo, Gwen's attention was caught by a large bin at the corner of a booth labeled "Lucky Charms – Clearance $25!" The sign was handwritten and crooked, as though hastily thrown together.

The booth owner, an older man with a scraggly beard and a patchy cloak, waved her over. "Ah, looking for a little luck in your life, young lady?"

Gwen crouched by the bin, sifting through its contents. The items were an odd assortment of trinkets: rabbit's feet, four-leaf clover pins, and small charms shaped like horseshoes, all tangled together in a haphazard mess.

"Is any of this… real?" she asked skeptically, holding up a chipped horseshoe charm.

The vendor grinned, revealing a missing tooth. "Well, that depends on what you believe. Some say luck isn't in the charm—it's in the person who carries it."

Marshall leaned over, peering into the bin. "It's just cheap metal and plastic, Gwen. Save your money."

Peter tilted his head. "But it's kinda fun. You never know—maybe one of these actually works."

Ignoring them, Gwen's hand hovered over a small golden charm nestled at the bottom of the bin. It was round with intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer faintly in the light. Unlike the other trinkets, this one didn't look mass-produced.

"How about this one?" she asked, holding it up.

The vendor's eyes lit up. "Ah, that's a special one. Been in my collection for years. I wasn't sure I wanted to part with it, but for you, $25."

"Twenty-five bucks for this?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.

"Consider it an investment in your future," the vendor said with a sly grin.

Billy scoffed. "Or in his wallet."

Gwen rolled her eyes and dug out her cash. "It's just for fun. Besides, you can't put a price on luck."

The vendor handed her the charm, wrapping it carefully in a cloth pouch. "May fortune favor you, my dear."

As the group walked away, Billy shook his head. "You just wasted twenty-five bucks on junk."

"We'll see," Gwen said, slipping the charm into her pocket with a smirk.

Scene Two: Testing the Charm

Later that afternoon, the group sat on a bench outside the convention center, surrounded by their various purchases. Gwen pulled the golden charm out of her pocket, holding it up to the sunlight.

"Alright," she said. "Let's see if this thing actually works."

Peter handed her a coin. "Flip it. If it's really lucky, it'll land heads every time

Gwen flipped the coin. Heads.

"Beginner's luck," Billy muttered.

She flipped it again. Heads.

By the fifth heads in a row, even Marshall was paying attention.

"Okay, that's… statistically unlikely," he admitted.

On the tenth flip, Ned's jaw dropped. "No way. That's gotta be rigged."

Billy snatched the coin, inspecting it closely. "It's just a regular coin," he muttered. "Maybe you're just good at flipping it."

Gwen grinned. "Or maybe the charm actually works."

Marshall frowned, his analytical mind refusing to accept the idea of magic. "It's probably just a coincidence. We'd need to run real tests to confirm anything."

"Or," Gwen said, standing up, "I'll just enjoy my newfound luck and see where it takes me."

Scene Three: A Lucky Break

The next morning, Gwen met the group at school with an unmistakable spring in her step.

"You're not gonna believe this," she said, waving a flyer in the air. "I entered a contest at the expo yesterday, and I won VIP tickets to the Hamilton premiere!"

Peter gawked at her. "You're kidding."

"Nope," Gwen said, grinning. "Guess my charm's already paying off."

Billy groaned. "Or you just got lucky."

"Exactly," Gwen said smugly, tucking the charm back into her pocket. "Lucky me."

Marshall watched her thoughtfully. He still didn't believe the charm was anything more than a trinket, but there was no denying that Gwen's week had been unusually fortunate.

"Maybe we should study it," he said quietly to Peter.

Peter chuckled. "Or maybe we just let Gwen have her fun."

For now, the mystery of the charm would remain unsolved. But as Marshall walked to his next class, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far stranger.

Part Three: Enter Hex

Scene One: Trouble at the Magic Convention

The convention center was packed with eager fans of all things mystical and magical. Booths lined the hallways, offering everything from fake wands and crystal balls to rare books on the occult. Peter, Gwen, Marshall, and Billy moved through the bustling crowd, taking in the sights and sounds.

"This place is insane," Peter said, clutching a bag filled with discount trinkets. "I didn't even know there were this many people into magic."

Billy smirked. "Well, most of them probably think magic is just sleight of hand. Real magic? That's the stuff of legends."

Gwen chuckled, adjusting her bag containing her new purchase—the lucky charm she had picked up earlier. "Or crazy discount bins."

Marshall stayed quiet, his sharp eyes scanning the room. Something about the energy in the air felt… off.

"You okay?" Peter asked, noticing Marshall's unease.

"Yeah," Marshall said, his voice low. "But keep your guard up. I've got a bad feeling about this place."

The group continued moving, eventually reaching a large stage where a live demonstration was about to begin. A man in a deep purple cloak, adorned with mystical symbols, stepped onto the stage. His presence was commanding, and his piercing gaze swept over the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the man announced, his voice booming. "I am Hex, master of the arcane, and I will show you the true power of magic!"

Marshall's eyes narrowed. "Hex? That name rings a bell."

Peter frowned. "Isn't he just a performer?

Gwen shook her head. "Something about him feels… different. Like he's not just here for show."

As Hex began his performance, sparks of actual magic flared around him. The crowd gasped, impressed by what they assumed were advanced stage effects. But Marshall knew better.

"That's not smoke and mirrors," he muttered. "That's real magic."

Scene Two: Chaos Unleashed

As Hex's performance continued, his tone shifted from entertaining to ominous.

"For too long, the arcane arts have been hidden, suppressed by those who fear their power," Hex said, his voice rising with anger. "But no more! Today, the world will witness the might of true magic!"

With a dramatic gesture, Hex unleashed a wave of dark energy. The lights in the convention center flickered and died, plunging the room into chaos. Screams erupted as the crowd scattered, tables and booths overturning in the pandemonium.

Marshall grabbed Peter and Gwen, pulling them into cover behind a toppled booth. Billy stumbled behind them, clutching his bag of souvenirs.

"What the hell is he doing?" Gwen whispered, her voice tense.

"Making a statement," Marshall said grimly. "A dangerous one."

Hex's dark energy coalesced into massive, shadowy constructs—beasts with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp claws. They tore through the convention floor, sending people scrambling for the exits.

"We've got to stop him," Marshall said, glancing at Peter.

Peter nodded. "Go. We'll cover for you."

Marshall ducked behind a nearby column, activating the Omnitrix. The familiar green glow enveloped him as he scrolled through his options.

"Time to get wet," he muttered, slamming down the dial.

Scene Three: Enter Water Hazard

In a flash, Marshall transformed into Water Hazard. His crimson-and-black armored body gleamed in the flickering light as jets of water formed around his hands.

Stepping into the chaos, he called out, "Hey, Hex! I think your smoke machines are broken!"

Hex turned, his glowing eyes narrowing at the sight of Water Hazard. "Another meddler? You dare challenge me?"

Water Hazard fired a high-pressure blast of water at Hex, forcing him to dodge. "Challenge? Nah. I just hate it when people ruin a good convention."

Hex snarled, summoning more shadow constructs to attack. The beasts lunged at Water Hazard, their claws slashing through the air.

Water Hazard dodged gracefully, his movements fluid as he countered with precision blasts of water. Each shot dissolved the constructs on impact, but more kept coming.

Meanwhile, Gwen and Peter worked to guide the remaining civilians to safety. Gwen's agility and martial arts training allowed her to evade the chaos with ease, while Peter used his quick thinking to calm the panicked crowd.

"You okay, Gwen?" Peter asked as they ducked behind a booth.

"Yeah," Gwen said, clutching her charm. "But Marshall's out there alone."

"He's got this," Peter assured her.

But Gwen wasn't convinced. She slipped away, weaving through the chaos toward the fight.

Scene Four: Lucky Girl Steps In

Hex unleashed a powerful blast of dark energy, forcing Water Hazard to dive for cover. As he prepared to counterattack, Gwen appeared beside him, her charm glowing faintly.

"Gwen! What are you doing here?" Water Hazard demanded.

"Helping," she replied, her tone firm.

Hex sneered, noticing her arrival. "Another fool to join the fray? Very well."

Gwen didn't wait for Hex to strike. Using her gymnastics training, she flipped over a collapsing table and landed a precise kick on one of the shadow constructs, shattering it. The glow from her charm seemed to enhance her movements, granting her uncanny precision and timing.

Water Hazard grinned. "Not bad, Lucky Girl."

"Lucky Girl?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.

"It fits," Water Hazard said, firing another blast at Hex.

Hex roared in frustration as his constructs began to falter. "You insolent children! You think you can defy me?"

Gwen and Water Hazard coordinated their attacks, with Marshall focusing on Hex while Gwen took down the remaining constructs. As Hex's power waned, his movements grew more erratic.

"Enough!" Hex shouted, raising his hands for one final spell.

Water Hazard didn't give him the chance. With a concentrated jet of water, he blasted the artifact in Hex's hands, shattering it. The resulting explosion of energy knocked Hex to the ground, his power spent.

Gwen dusted herself off, offering Marshall a hand. "Nice work, Water Creature"

Marshall deactivated the Omnitrix, returning to his human form. He gave Gwen a knowing look. "Thanks, Lucky Girl."

Gwen smirked. "Guess we make a pretty good team."

Scene Five: A New Ally

As the authorities arrived to take Hex into custody, Marshall, Peter, Gwen, and Billy regrouped outside the convention center.

"So," Gwen said, crossing her arms. "Care to explain the whole alien hero thing?"

Marshall sighed. "It's… complicated. But yeah, you're in the loop now."

Billy looked between them, frowning. "Wait, Gwen gets a cool nickname and powers? I'm officially the odd one out."

Peter laughed. "Don't worry, Billy. You've got your Battle suit and… uh, your face."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Don't get jealous, Billy. Your suit is almost done.

Marshall smiled, though his mind was already racing. With Hex defeated and Gwen now in the know, the stakes were higher than ever. But for now, they had each other—and that was enough.