Had Ben known that Vilgax was going to pull him into the Null Void in an act of sheer desperation and rage, he probably wouldn't have insulted him so much. It had been his last fight against Vilgax or what was supposed to be anyway. He, his grandfather Max, and his cousin Gwen had come up with a plan to finally defeat Vilgax or at least get him away for a while.
First Ben would lure him to an old Plumber base in Ohio. Then Max would open up a portal to the Null Void. Gwen would then use an old piece of tech the Plumbers had found a long time ago. It was a gel filled with nanites, capable of sticking to anything. She would cover an old missle with it and launch it at Vilgax once Ben pinned him in place in front of the portal.
The plan actually started off going well. Ben as Four Arms had gotten Vilgax into position, Max had opened the portal with a modified projector, and Gwen had fired the missile. Then it all went horribly wrong. One of Vilgax's arms hadn't been caught in the gell and he managed to grab Ben—dragging him into the Null Void with him. It wouldn't have been so terrible if the Null Void projector hadn't malfunctioned and blown up, closing the portal and leaving Ben stranded.
On Ben's side of the portal he still had to deal with Vilgax and it wasn't going well. He didn't know how many asteroids they passed but everytime they passed one within reach he would be smashed against it. Only when the Omnitrix finally timed out did he get away. Flying through the air he landed on a small asteroid barely big enough for him to lay down on. Getting up and looking around he tried radioing his grandfather and cousin.
"Grandpa, Gwen, I'm in the Null Void and I don't know where I am. The stupid watch timed out as well. So can you come and get me?" His hopes fell when his question was met only by static. He tried again, "Grandpa Max? Hello? Please respond… Anybody?" When no one answered, the situation finally hit him. He was in the Null Void, alone, and without a way to get home. As the situation became clear, he sank to his knees, put his head in his hands, and cried. He cried until he had no more tears and his wails had quitted to hiccups letting out small gasps of breaths. And no one was there to comfort him.
For five years he had been trapped here and now… And now they were close to sending him home. He just needed to take a second to prepare to lose the Omnitrix. For three years he had only survived because of the watch. Then he found someone who could maybe send him home. His name was Trench.
He was a human who was born in the Null Void. He was 5' 11", three inches shorter than Ben and he wore cargo pants, combat boots, and a T-shirt. Typically his orange hair was dyed black, and his hat was tucked into his pocket. The most important thing about him though was that he had access to some Galvan tech. More specifically he had pieces of a Null Void Projector.
He never really told him how he had gotten the pieces just that it had something to do with his parents. Over the two years they had known each other they had grown close. Almost to the point where they considered each other brothers. Ben had used his Galvan form to help with the technical problems, and in return Trench had taught him how to fight as a human. He gave him hand to hand fighting lessons and showed him how to shoot a gun with accuracy. Ben's favorite weapons were the revolver and the custom collapsible sword Trench had made.
Eventually they had cobbled together something that would open a portal out of the Null Void. Unfortunately, they needed a power source and no matter what alien Ben turned into, what rumor they chased down, nothing worked until Trench suggested the Omnitrix it self. Ben had unlocked the master control on his fourth year here and even then not one of the aliens could solve the power issue. When Trench had suggested his solution he had argued with him for months until eventually he had given in. They would use the Omnitrix as a power source itself.
Which led them to where they were now. Standing in the back of the cave they called home, putting the finishing touches on the giant machine meant to take them to Earth. Ben was tinkering with a troublesome circuit box and Trench was hunched over a console that let him control the machine. Next to him was a box wrapped in brightly colored paper that Ben had failed to notice so far. Even after the three hours spent calibrating the machine.
"Hey Ben have you finished that broken circuit yet?" Trench asked sounding slightly annoyed.
"I'm working on it. You know it was your idea to use the stupid watch as a power source," came the response accompanied by the sound of tools dropping and several curses.
"Well when you're done get over here I have something for you," Trench said, letting out a little chuckle at Ben's clumsiness.
"Fine just give me a second. I'm almost done," Ben grunted. A few seconds later Ben got up and turned around. "Alright I'm done what do you want?" He asked while brushing dirt off of his clothes.
"I have a present for you actually," Trench lifted up the package, "Now get over here and open it. I've been waiting for this for three hours now."
Ben now thoroughly surprised approached Trench and took the package. "So what is it?" Trench just looked at him like 'you did not just ask me that.' "Right open it." Tearing off the wrappings revealed a plain black case with two clasps on the front.
"Are you going to stare at it all day or are you going to open it?"
"I'm getting to it ya jerk. Just be patient. Jeez," Ben looked back down to the case and proceed to open it. Inside laying in the foam cushioning meant to hold weapons in place was a large revolver with a blade running along the underside of the barrel. The revolver piece looked like it came apart in pieces. A small seam ran across the handel and the chamber looked almost as if it was on a hinge. The blade looked like it collapsed down into itself.
"Pretty cool huh," Trench prompted.
'"Yeah but what are the moving parts for, doesn't that make it weaker?" Ben asked feeling a bit confused.
Trench just smirked. "Push the trigger forward."
Ben looked at him , a bit skeptical as he did as Trench said. The second the trigger reached the point it could no longer move forward the weapon began to change. First the handle opened up and extended. Then the chamber swung up so the barrel was pointed the same way as the handle and then to top it all off the blade extended out. In less than a couple of seconds the weapon had gone from a revolver to a sword.
"Woah! How did you get this?" Ben asked now thoroughly entranced by the sword gun.
"I made it. Consider it a thanks for giving up the watch that lets you turn into aliens," Trench said a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Ben smiled, "Well I don't know if this can compete but it's certainly a start."
Trench rolled his eyes, "Yeah whatever. Now come on let's get this thing tested so we can use it."
"That would probably be a good idea. While you do that I'm going to go find some ammo for this thing," Ben said as he began to walk away.
"Good luck with that considering you used the last of it on the wall during your temper tantrum," Trench called over his shoulder. "Now get over here and help!"
"Fine!" One hour, three smoothies, and two stubbed toes later they had finally opened their first stable portal. "You sure this thing is safe cause it doesn't look safe."
Ben's comment caused Trench to look up from his console to glance at the portal. It was a white disk floating half a foot above the ground just where they wanted it. However dancing across the surface was red and green lightning. Definitely something they didn't want.
"Well that doesn't look good but I think I know what's wrong," Trench said as he turned back to the console.
"What's doing that?"
"The DNA is interfering." Trench pointed to the screen showing the data.
Ben leaned over his shoulder to get a look, "So what does that mean?"
"It means that we don't know where that portal leads to, just that it's not here and whoever goes through that portal will be bonded with the alien DNA permanently. I need to work on isolating the DNA from the rest of the watch. I should be able to get most of it done today."
Before Ben could ask him how he was going to do that something grabbed his shoulder and threw him to the side. "So you finally finished the portal out of here Trench and with help from the mongrel as well," a deep raspy voice said.
Ben much to his dismay recognise that voice but had thought its owner long dead by now. Looking up his fears were confirmed he didn't want to believe he was alive but here he was standing tall. More machine than flesh and holding Trench around the throat, his legs dangling a few feet off the ground.
"Vilgax. You're supposed to be dead." Ben growled out. If looks could kill then the one Ben sent at Vilgax would have been banned under the Geneva Convention.
"Your little bomb almost worked but you forgot to finish the job," Vilgax laughed. Trench still in his hand tried kicking him to get away. "Stop that you worm or you will be killed slowly." He emphasized his statement by tightening his grip causing Trench to make choking noises.
As Ben stood up he reached around to the small of his back and pulled his new weapon. "I suppose I'll just have to make sure this time," Ben growled as he pushed the trigger forward.
"You can try Tennyson but you don't have the watch to help you now," Vilgax said as he tossed Trench against the wall next to the machine. A horrible crunching noise was heard from where he slammed into the wall.
"Trust me I don't need the watch to kill you." Ben charged forward intent on removing his enemies head from his shoulders.
Vilgax not one to just lay down and take it, charged forward as well. As they meant in the middle of the room Ben swung at Vilgax's knees trying to bring him down so he could remove his head. Vilgax anticipating this swung his right arm low causing Ben's blade to bounce off. He then followed it up with a kick to Ben's stomach sending him towards the far wall. Ben however had a few tricks up his sleeves. Turning in the air he brought his legs up to his chest. As he hit the wall he felt a shudder travel up his legs through his feet, accompanied by no small amount of pain.
Pushing off the wall he launched himself at Vilgax, who was surprisingly unprepared for Ben's continued survival. He had always fought Ben when he had taken on an alien form. Ben had never been a challenge to defeat as a human. In fact he had never been a threat as a human. As Ben passed by Vilgax he swung at his upper arm, where there was significantly less metal to block his sword. Vilgax roared in pain as the blade cut deep into his flesh.
Turning to face Ben he swung his right fist at his head, followed closely by his left fist. Ben was able to dodge the right fist but took the left straight to the face. He flew back and smashed into the wall a few feet away from Trench who hadn't been entirely idle. He had dragged himself over to one of the many filing cabinets that were scattered throughout the entire cave system they called home. Vilgax's stomping grew louder as he approached them and just as he got within arm reach of them Trench pulled a shotgun out of the cabinet.
He fired it five times, point blank, right into Vilgax's face. Causing him to rear his head back and roar out in pain. Getting over his pain Vilgax grabbed Trench as he desperately tried to reload his shotgun in time to fire again. As he was picked up he dropped his shotgun and cried out in pain. "Ben grab the shotgun-GAHHH!" He wasn't able to finish his sentence as Vilgax slammed him into the ground repeatedly. Each time a terrible crunching noise echoed in Ben's ears.
Gathering his wits Ben launched himself to the side towards the discarded shotgun. He had just a second to register the ammo box sitting next to the cabinet labeled 'Incendiary'. Picking up the shotgun he got up to one knee and fired into Vilgax's face. His mask which had always covered his mouth probably already damaged by Trench's earlier shots broke off revealing his open mouth as he screamed in pain. Not wasting a second Ben fired two more times right into it till he heard a click come from the shotgun signaling that it was empty.
Vilgax's head practically exploded. Flames shot out from his eyes, his ears, his nose, and his mouth. Underneath his skin you could see flames dancing, giving his skin an orange glow. Finally after a few horrific seconds that seemed to stretch on forever his screaming stopped and he fell to the ground. Dead.
Slowly Ben got to his feet and began to stumble over towards Trench, who still seemed to be breathing if only barley. When he reached his side he fell to his knees and turned him over.
"Hey Ben." Trench said as he began to cough up blood.
"Take it easy. Come on I'll get the medical supplies," before Ben could get up Trench grabbed his arm. Looking down he saw him shaking his head.
"Don't bother. I'm a dead man walking right now."
"It's your lungs and ribs huh?" Ben asked already knowing the answer.
"And a couple other bones. I'm hanging on by thread." Trench began coughing again. "Drag me over to the machine will ya. I should be able to filter out some of the DNA before Vilgax's friends show up."
"Friends?" Ben asked. Trench just gave him a look. "Right the Saint Martin asteroid. He had back up then."
"And chances are that he still has back up. We need to destroy the machine before they get here." Trench said as he was slowly dragged towards the console.
"How are we going to make sure it's destroyed?" Ben asked hoping his suspicion wasn't true. His hopes were dashed by Trench's reply.
"Someone has to stay behind and blow it up."
Ben just shook his head sadly. As Trench began to type away Ben went over to the ammo box Trench had found. Picking it up he found a single shell still inside. Holding it in the palm of his hand he walked up his brother.
"You know, you lied to me."
"What?" Ben's statement actually surprised him so much temporarily stopped what he was doing to look at Ben.
"I didn't use all the ammunition." For a second Trench didn't respond, then he burst out laughing. Soon his laughing turned into coughing and the rumbling of explosions could be heard in the both stopped for a second to look towards the noise.
"Alright Ben sounds like it's time for you to go."
"Yeah," Ben slowly walked over to the far wall and picked up a duffle bag he had packed earlier that day, "Hey Trench."
"Yeah?"
"I'm going to miss you." Ben wouldn't look him in the eye.
"Yeah same here buddy," Trench sighed.
Without looking back and tears beginning to block his vision Ben stepped forward into the portal. Leaving his prison and his dying brother behind forever.
Alright it's been a while. So I actually started writing this a way to stay inspired and keep writing my other stories. Then my friends kept saying it was worth posting so here we are. I do want to take moment to thank all of you who commented on my other stories and have been incredibly supportive. You are the best audience out there. Thank you for being so awesome. Now I plan on doing some small rewrites in my Star Wars story, and my Halo-Stargate fic is undergoing some rewrites in my notebook. I plan to have the rewrites done by summer but we'll see what happens. For all you who are awaiting new chapters I plan to have some out in the summer as well. This story will probably be the most regularly updated though. Thank you for giving my stories a shot. Have a good day and God bless you beautiful people.
