The group was in the Plumbers Base. It was empty and the trio had been sitting around for a couple hours. "Why are we even here?" Kevin asked, sounding almost half-asleep.
"It's not like Grandpa Max to be late." Ben said. Gwen was reading a book.
"I'm sure he'll be here any minute."
"That's what you said two hours ago, Gwen." Kevin said, allowing himself to drift off. She stared at him, really annoyed.
"Okay, enough guys." Ben said. They'd been acting like this ever since the thing with the alien chips went down. At that moment, the door opened.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Hey, it's okay. Sometimes we all break the rules." Ben said.
"Well, almost all of us." Gwen said. Kevin got up.
"So, what's up?" Ben asked.
"Something's come up on a distant planet." Max told them. "No one can seem to figure out what, but rumor has it that there's a race of rogue aliens planning something."
"Let me guess, you want us to go check it out." Kevin said.
"Well, normally I'd go, but I've got to help train some of the new recruits."
"No sweat, we can handle it." Ben told him. As the group started to leave, Max stopped them.
"Hang on, there's something else you should know." The trio turned around. "Nobody else has ever been to this planet before, so you might want to bring some back-up."
"No problem." Ben said.
Meanwhile, in another office, Victor Validis was checking his watch. Suddenly, the door burst open. "I'm so sorry, Dad!"
"Elena, you're late." Victor had been reinstated after the attack and Elena had now become a part of the organization as well.
"So, what's the emergency?" Elena asked.
"Well, Max and I discovered something and after talking it over, we decided that Ben and his team should check it out." He told her.
"And you're telling me this because…"
"I want you to go with them." Victor said. "They could run into a lot of trouble since this planet's never been explored before."
"So you're assigning me to go with them?" Elena asked. "Wait, how will we get off planet?"
"I think one of Ben's friends can help with that." He told her. "Good luck."
Just outside the base, the trio was headed for the car. "Hey, guys!" The group turned and saw Elena running toward them.
"Elena? What are you doing here?" Ben asked.
"Uh, I work here, too. Did you forget?" Elena pointed out. "My father assigned me to go on this assignment with you guys."
"Are you kidding me?" Gwen asked.
"Anyway, we have to get to Julie's house." Ben said.
"Julie?" Elena asked.
"Ben's girlfriend." Kevin said.
"How come I've never heard of her?" Elena asked.
"It never came up and you never asked." Ben pointed out. "Come on, let's go." The group got into the car and drove off.