Disclaimer: I do not own Ben 10: Ultimate Alien or any of its characters or concepts. No profit is being made from this story.
Author's Note: A big thanks to everyone who enjoyed my last story. This fic however does not follow on from it but I hope readers will still enjoy it.
Warning: This fic contains character death.
Another day at the Channel 8 News Building had come to an end. Will Harangue made his way down the corridors, not taking any notice of the cheerful "bye Mr. Harangue's" said by his co-workers.
He was not in a good mood. Despite his best efforts, Ben Tennyson was only growing in popularity. Why would people treat the alien threat as a hero and a shining example? It made no sense to him at all.
Harangue told himself that he was just tired. It had been a long day. All he needed was some rest to clear his head and he would be able to devise a foolproof way to ruin Tennyson and his good name.
He stepped out of the exit into the evening air. It was a beautiful night, with no clouds and a clear view of the stars but he paid no attention to it as he walked up to his Mercedes in his executive parking space.
Just as he was reaching into his pocket for the keys he heard a sudden whooshing sound. Before he could turn to see what it was something shot past him and seized him by the shoulders. He cried out in surprise as he was hauled sideways and up into the air.
His captor flew across to an adjacent building and flung him unceremoniously onto the rooftop. He tumbled over the surface, feeling the gravel scrape away at his skin before he came to a halt.
Harangue's initial fear was replaced with anger. Tennyson he thought furiously as he started to get up. That menace thinks he can intimidate me? Well I'll…
Then he caught sight of his assailant. He was so shocked by the sight that he lost his balance and fell back down again.
It wasn't Ben Tennyson. The figure before him was dressed in a suit of high-tech armour that was highly familiar despite the mask that covered their face.
"Captain Nemesis?" he said in surprise.
The armoured figure said one word.
"No."
Then they struck in a blur of motion. Harangue felt something hard and cold slice into his throat and then felt hot blood gushing from the wound. He clutched futilely at his severed windpipe and carotid artery as he toppled over onto his back. A final gurgle issued forth from his lips and then he went still.
Karma had finally caught up to Will Harangue in a big way.
His killer gazed down at his body dispassionately and then tossed it over the edge of the roof.
"One down, two to go."
The next day Ben, Gwen and Kevin were sitting together on the settee, watching a news broadcast of Will Harangue's death.
"And the top story of the hour. Will Harangue, controversial news anchorman, was found dead this morning outside the Channel 8 News Building. Police investigating the crime scene have described the death as 'suspicious.'"
Kevin whistled. "Whoa Tennyson. I know you didn't like the guy but that was a little extreme don't you think?"
Ben looked stricken. "I didn't do it!" he exclaimed. "I'd never do anything like that."
"Calm down Ben" said Gwen as she shot an annoyed look at Kevin. "Kevin was just joking. We know you're not a killer."
Ben settled down slightly. "But do you think maybe whoever killed Harangue could be some insane fan of mine?"
"It's possible" Gwen replied. "But even if it is, this isn't your fault. You aren't to blame."
Ben knew what she was saying was true, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy. He loved being a hero and being admired by the public. It felt great to know that people looked up to him and were inspired by him. But had he now inspired someone to commit murder?
Julie Yamamoto smiled happily as she headed home from tennis practise. She was in a very good mood and with good reason. Her schoolwork was going well with her grades as high as always. Her tennis career was coming along brilliantly, having made a name for herself as a rising young star. Best of all things were back on track with Ben and he seemed to have gotten over the swollen ego brought on by his "celebrity" status.
Yes, overall things couldn't get better…
"Julie Yamamoto?"
She stopped and turned to see the speaker. Standing in front of a red sports car was a girl her own age dressed in expensive-looking designer jeans and a black jacket. Her hair was dyed violet.
"Can I ask a question?" said the girl. Without waiting for an answer she said "what's it like to be dating a monster?"
"Ben is not a monster!" Julie replied indignantly. "He's a hero."
"Hero?" the purple-haired girl repeated scornfully. She stepped forwards, her pale blue eyes burning with anger. "He's barely human. With all the monsters he keeps changing into it's only a matter of time before he completely loses his mind. Even if he doesn't he can't be trusted. He's a reckless thrill seeker who doesn't care anything for the consequences of his actions or the people that get hurt." Her were clenched into fists and she was almost shaking with rage.
Julie tightened her grip on her tennis racket warily but kept her voice calm as she said, "Ben is not like that. He cares about helping people."
The girl said nothing but the anger in her eyes intensified. Julie readied herself for trouble but a moment later she seemed to calm down. Without another word she turned away and got into the sports car.
As the car started to drive away a sudden impulse came over Julie. She reached into her bag and took out her notebook. Before the car was gone she was able to write down the license plate.
"Who was that strange girl?" she wondered aloud.
That night Jennifer Nocturne was in her trademark gold helicopter being flown home from a party. The young actress was chatting away to a friend on her phone when the helicopter suddenly shook.
"What was that?" she exclaimed.
"Sorry Miss Nocturne" said the pilot. "Just a little air turbulence. It's nothing to worry about."
No sooner had he spoken then a metal-encased fist bashed a hole through the floor of the helicopter right in front of Jennifer. She screamed in terror as something pushed through the hole, tearing the metal apart as if it were tissue paper.
The attacker wore a suit of orange armour identical to that of Captain Nemesis except for two additions. A mask fashioned into a hideous face with sharp fangs and black insect-like eyes covered the figure's face and their gauntleted fingers had gleaming steel talons attached to them.
Jennifer screamed again as the attacker seized her and dragged her through the hole it had made before flying up and away, propelled by yellow streaks of light from their boots.
"Let me go, let me go!" Jennifer screamed hysterically as she struggled futilely in her kidnapper's iron-hard grip.
"Okay" the masked figure replied. It released its hold and Jennifer fell.
She continued screaming as she plummeted through the sky. In utter desperation she began crying "Ben! Save me! Please save me!"
But Ben was miles away, battling a group of alien tech-thieves. Her cries for help went unanswered until she finally smashed into the ground and laid still, her neck and limbs twisted into odd angles, her eyes fixed open.
"Two down. Now for the real target" said the armoured figure as it flew away.