Five Years Ago

Kuri sat up with her eyes silver and walked out into the campsite.

Ben followed her sleepily. "What's going on Kuri?"

Kuri turned—but it was not Kuri.

Her eyes were dark, fathomless, and she looked to be a woman of at least eighteen. She had long dark hair. Her skin was pale and she looked frightening, like a ghost.

Ben transformed into Feedback. "Give Kuri back!"

"Oh you poor ningen." The woman said. "You just now realized?! I am Sadako. And this body has always belonged to me."

Sadako flicked out a hand and Feedback rose into the air and started to scream.

Ben saw memories of his failures, the times when Kuri and Max had gotten hurt and he couldn't save them, the times others had been hurt because of him.

"You aren't a hero, ningen." Sadako said. "You are a villain. I curse you Ben Tennyson. The Ultimate Power will become your damnation."

Sadako closed her hand as if it was a claw and Feedback started to choke and gasp.

Suddenly her hand dropped and Feedback fell to the ground, transforming back into Ben.

Sadako grabbed her head. "NO! The vessel is fighting back! I do not understand. Her love for you cannot be strong enough to—"

Sadako changed back into Kuri and ran over to Ben.

"This is bad. She cursed you." Kuri said.

"No big deal." Ben grinned weakly. "This curse won't hit a hero like me! Right?"

Present Day

"Let's get em!" Reiko said, running after Zombozo. "Too bad this clown is immune to my illuse."

"Yeah we could use that right about now!" Kevin said absorbing steel.

"I got this!" Ben transformed into Lodestar and launched steel Kevin at Zombozo, and then magnetically pulled Zombozo's brain case.

Zombozo was tied up later.

"We gotta go." Kevin said.

"Go? Where? First Kuri, now you?" Ben said.

"Yeah I'm going to Mugen Academy. It's where Skyian Acolytes receive their final training." Reiko said. "Kuri graduated from there with full marks at fourteen. I wanna do it at eighteen like a regular kid tho. Even Kevin is gonna attend."

"You. In school?" Ben said.

"It's a school for superheroes." Kevin said.

"Warriors." Reiko argued.

"Like X-men?" Ben said.

Reiko rolled her eyes.

She hugged Ben. "Say hi to Kuri for me."

Kevin grinned. "He's gonna flip when he finds out."

"What? Hey!" Ben said as they drove off.

Xxx

Bummed out, Ben headed to Mr Baumann's general store.

He noticed a girl with long dark hair wearing a Plumbers uniform with a sword at her waist.

She was wearing goggles-Plumbers issue, and so he couldn't see her face. She had a well-built body, toned from working out, and Ben decided she was rather beautiful.

"Please Ben can't you blend in?!" Mr Baumann said.

"I can do that!" Ben grinned and turned into Cannonbolt.

The girl giggled. "Same ol' Alien Boy."

"Are you—" Cannonbolt started, but a trio of alien criminals arrive.

"Pay us our taydenite, and we won't blow up the store." Bubble Helmet said.

The girl smiled slightly. "Sounds like it's Hero Time."

"You gotta be—" Cannonbolt said.

"Look out."

Cannonbolt turned and was narrowly missed by a flying piece of Taydenite.

"It's real it's real." Fistina said.

Cannonbolt rushed into the fight, and Bubble Head started the bomb and the criminals started to leave.

The girl stood up, and her mask melted away. "Maybe you need some help from Miko?"