Chapter 1: Arrival
"Well. It's been a quiet week for me. Not that I'm complaining." The voice of Ben Tennyson said as he took a bite of his burger.
It has been two years since he defeated Diagon the Destroyer, since then things such as alien invasions began to die down. At the same time, the Plumbers began to step up their game and with Azmuth's help began to develop better weapons and equipment to fight aliens. This left Ben, his cousin Gwen, and his friend Kevin to depart for personal reasons. Gwen graduated and went off to college, while Kevin went with her and found a job at an auto shop near the campus. This left Ben on his own since he and his girlfriend at the time Julie broke up. This left him depressed for about a week, before he shook it off and moved on. Sure, he still felt down about it but fortunately this doesn't bother him too badly anymore. As for Ben himself, the Omnitrix bearer moved out of his parent's house and rented out an apartment for himself. Speaking of which, after Ben defeated Diagon Azmuth deemed him worthy to wield the true Omnitrix, but still denied him the master control. Here we find the eighteen-year-old at a burger joint thinking about what to do next in his life.
As Ben finished his meal he threw away his trash and began to walk back to his apartment.
'I wonder if anything will happen today, things usually do.' He mentally asked himself. Ben soon arrived at his apartment which was (ironically) apartment number 10, opened the door and walked inside. As he shut the door, he immediately felt a presence in the room with him and his thoughts were confirmed when a voice spoke up.
"Hello Ben." The voice said with a British accent. Ben turned around to see sitting in a chair was a man wearing a lab coat, a brown vest over a white shirt, and black tie, a pair of black pants and shoes, and a pair of goggles around his neck.
"Professor Paradox? Knowing you this means something big is about to happen. Right?" Ben asked.
"A keen observation dear boy. Gumball?" The time traveler said, as he offered a bag full of gumballs.
"No thanks." Ben politely declined as the Professor put the bag away.
"Ok Professor give it to me straight. What's going on? What am I going up against? And how badly is it going to effect the universe." Ben asked.
"Straight to the point as always Ben. As always admirable. However, what your about to face is something slightly different from what your used to." Paradox said earning a confused look from Ben.
"What do you mean?" Ben asked.
"You recall your adventure to Rex Salazar's universe correct?" Paradox asked. Ben merely smiled at the memory.
Ben somehow wounded up on an earth where every human being was infected by tiny machines called Nanites, and how said Nanites turned people into monsters, and while there he befriended the hero of that earth who was a teenager named Rex Salazar.
"How can I not?" Ben sarcastically asked.
"I ask this, because I discovered a universe that might need your help." Paradox said earning raised eyebrows from Ben.
"Another universe? Why? What's going on?" Ben asked.
"You may find this difficult to understand Ben, but this universe is plagued by a threat much different from what your used to facing. Instead of war mongers such as Vilgax, or demonic beings such as Diagon, this universe is plagued by Space Pirates." Professor Paradox explained.
"Space Pirates?" Ben asked in confusion. This drew his attention, because during his few travels to space he's heard about space pirates, but he never encountered them mainly because who'd be crazy enough to attack and raid a ship that has him on board?
"I had a feeling that you would be asking this. Allow me to explain." Paradox said.
"The Space Pirates have been around since the beginning of an organization called The Galactic Federation. It was founded in the year 2003, and trade prospered with thousands of ships ferrying goods between planets throughout the galaxy." Paradox said. This of course left Ben to put the pieces together.
"So, these guys steal goods from ships. Ok I get that but where do I come in?" Ben asked.
"Raiding ships aren't the only thing the Pirates are known for. They also attack and invade other planets and force the planet's inhabitants into slavery. And anyone brave enough to rebel against them… were eliminated. And more often than not, they sometimes execute prisoners… for entertainment." The Time Walker said with dread. Ben felt sick to his stomach but took a deep breath of air before he spoke.
"And the Federation couldn't do anything about it?" Ben asked.
"While they do have a powerful police force unfortunately even they have trouble dealing with them. The vastness of space makes tracking them virtually impossible. And so, this led to them paying high prices to powerful bounty hunters to assist them." Paradox said.
"Bounty hunters working with the police? Ok got that but I still don't see where I come in." Ben said.
"It's not just the Pirates in general Ben, but upon looking into this universe's future, I discovered the Pirates would weaponize a powerful element called Phazon, a highly radioactive substance known for its mutagenic, and energy producing properties. With this element they would create an army of super soldiers and conquered their entire universe. However, they would also discover that Phazon could be used for inter-dimensional travel and created a device for just that purpose. In other words, why would they stop with one universe when they can conquer others as well?" Paradox explained.
At this point Ben knew that this meant serious trouble, if these guys succeed in their universe they'll have no trouble invading his.
"This is why I ask for your help Ben; the Space Pirates are a threat to the multiverse should they succeed. I only ask if you will help stop them." The time walker said, already knowing the answer.
"I'll do it!" Ben said without hesitation.
"Splendid! Now before we depart, were going to make one quick stop at Galvan Prime. I personally asked Azmuth for a small favor." Paradox said.
With that the Time Walker pulled out his Chrono Navigator and opened a portal. The two walked through and found themselves in a massive laboratory, and in front of them standing on a platform is a five-inch tall frog like alien wearing a black and green robe. This is Azmuth of the Galvans. The smartest being in three (or five depending on how you're looking at it) galaxies, and the creator of the Omnitrix.
"Paradox. Your right on time. I was just finished setting everything up." Azmuth said crossing his arms.
"It's all in the matter of timing Azmuth." Paradox said. "I assume that Paradox has explained to you the situation at hand Benjamin." Azmuth asked Ben. "Pretty much." Ben answered.
"Good. Then that means he did half my work. Now let us begin, step forward and place the Omnitrix next to me so I can get to work." Azmuth said and motioned to the platform full of equipment. Ben lifted his left wrist which housed the Omnitrix, and after setting it down Azmuth began to tinker with it and Ben could tell he was adding something to it. This process lasted for about a minute before Azmuth finished. "It is done." He said. Before he could ask what, the Galvan did the Omnitrix spoke up.
"DOWNLOAD COMPLETE. EVOLUTIONARY FUNCTION INSTALLED AND OPERATIONAL." It said, earning a shocked look from Ben.
"The Evolutionary Function? I haven't seen that since… the Ultimatrix." He said remembering the matrix he previously used.
"Paradox convinced me that the mission you are about to embark on might require it." Azmuth said. "I also added a longer time span in it, so you can last as an alien for three hours and it will only take about five minutes to recharge. I also fixed any faulty glitches, so you won't have to worry about turning into the wrong alien." He added. Ben could only give the Galvan a nod in appreciation.
"Now Ben before we depart there is two very very important things I need to tell you before I send you off." Professor Paradox said, with his calm expression changing to seriousness, and… something else.
"Ben the first thing that I'm about to tell you is this, the Pirates are led by a creature named Ridley. He is a sadistic, bloodthirsty monster who is delighted by death, and destruction and has been responsible for more deaths than any other Pirate. To put it simply, he is this universe's version of Vilgax." Paradox said, sending a chill up Ben's spine.
"And… the other thing?" Ben nervously asked, and this was confirmed when Paradox's mood darkened further. "The second thing is this, in this universe not everyone is as merciful as you are and will not hesitate to kill any Pirate on sight. I ask if you will do the same, even the greatest hero has to take lives in order to protect the universe." Paradox said.
"You mean… I have to kill them?" Ben asked.
"I understand that this is not an easy thing to overcome Ben, but this is why I ask if you are certain you wish to do this? Once you make this decision there is no going back." Paradox asked.
Ben let this information sink in. He'd have to kill the Space Pirates and their leader Ridley in order to save the universe? When he was younger this would have been a concern to him, but now that he was older and wiser Ben knew that some deemed killing as a necessary thing to do in order for the greater good to emerge. Sure, he won't like it, but he knew that these Pirates need to be stopped one way or the other.
"So, tell us Benjamin, are you sure you want to do this?" Azmuth asked already knowing the answer.
"I'm sure." Ben said, with a determined look on his face.
"Then were off." Professor Paradox said, as he opened a portal.
As Ben slowly walked inside, he looked back to see the Galvan scientist, and the Time Walker, and a thought occurred in his mind.
"Before you ask don't worry about your friends and family, I've already informed your grandfather, who in turn informed them." Paradox said, already knowing what Ben was about to say.
"Good luck Ben. Oh, and before I forget, one more thing. Do keep an eye on miss Aran. You two will make good allies. And perhaps much more." Paradox said earning a confused look from Ben.
"Wait who's-?" Was all Ben could say before he was engulfed in a bright light, and a few seconds later he was gone.
"Are you certain of this Time Walker?" Azmuth said.
"I am. The boy is a brave young man, he will make a difference. You and I both know this." Professor Paradox said.
"I hope so, because if he fails the multiverse is doomed." Azmuth said.
"Just have faith in him old friend. Have faith." Paradox said.
Authors note: Well here is the first chapter everyone, before I sign off a few key things to know.
1: While Ben has the new omnitrix, Ben 10 Omniverse never happened, but he will have all the shows aliens.
2: Save for a few, most of Ben's original transformations will be how they first appeared mainly because I liked the designs.
3: This story's time span will be based on half of the Metroid time line. From Metroid: Zero mission to Prime 3 Corruption.
These are what I want you all to know. Well that's all for now, feel free to tell me how you think of it and I'll see you in the next one. Ben 10 Is property of Man of Action studios, and Cartoon Network, and Metroid is property of Nintendo.