A/N: Was supposed to be a one-shot, but ended up being too long. Don't know were this came from, it just popped into my head and wont leave me alone till i wrote it down. Anyway, enjoy :D
Disclaimer: I own the air I breathe, but nothing else.
To people, knowledge can come in many forms. For some, having the knowledge they need can give hope, a chance for a new life and a reason for them to smile. To others, knowledge is something to be flaunted and used against others. Then there are the few who use the knowledge they hold to change the world, to keep all who inhabit it happy and safe.
But sometimes the knowledge you hold can choose between whether you lived or you died.
For Ben, what he knew was something not to celebrate, nor to flaunt. It was a burden, haunting his very soul and mind. Thanks to some info he had manage to scrape from some convicts in the Null Void, he had to deciphered what Vilgax's latest diabolical scheme was to conquer his world and the rest of the universe. He was going to use an alien chemical known as 'Gurnatoral' that gave anyone who came in contact with it cold like symptoms while it used the blood stream to shut down every organ in the body. It was highly contagious, just breathing on someone or something could pass it along. It would spread across the world like wildfire, wiping out every living thing on the planet. Aliens included.
That's why he had to stop him.
As he soared through the air as Jetray, he ran over his battle plan in his head once more. This needed to work, if it didn't he would have a galactic catastrophe on his hands. Even he wouldn't be able to handle such a momentous and strenuous task as trying to cure every living being in the universe.
The plan he had formulated was extremely risky and could go anyway, but it was his best and only option. Especially since Vilgax had managed to amp up his power, making him almost impossible to beat. There was only one thing that could take him down, and it would be taking him down for good.
He had decided not to tell his team-mates of his plan, feeling it was better if they stayed unaware. The less people who knew; the fewer number of casualties. This was his battle, his job. He was the armour that protected the universe from harm by putting himself in the firing line. He was destined to be a hero from the moment he was conceived, it was in his blood, in his D.N.A. Every generation of Tennyson's had given their lives to fight for the cause they believed in.
His great grandfather had given his life in WWII, fighting to stop the Nazi's wiping out the Jews.
His grandfather was a Plumber, risking his life to protect the universe.
His Uncle was a lawyer, fighting to bring justice for the innocent and to put the criminals who try to hurt them behind bars.
His own father was a human and animal rights protester, fighting to make sure that all humans and animals were treated equally and with respect.
His cousin and her brother were fighting to make sure the earth and country were safe. Gwen as a Plumber and Ken as an Elite Soldier for the U.S Army.
Now, it was his turn to uphold the Tennyson legend. He would fight to make sure that humans and aliens lived in peace, in a universe free of war lords and genocide leaders. And if need be, he would give up his life to make sure that became reality.
Within minutes an old, abandoned machinery factory came into his line of sight. Swooping down, he landed softly on the cracked blacktop pavement. Slamming his clawed hand down on the Ultimatrix, his large leathery red body dissolved in a flash of green and was replaced with a lanky 16 year old clad in only a thin, black cotton t-shirt and jeans. A large utility belt was clasped around his lithe waist, various weapons of different sizes secured to it; most of which were level 8 tech and above. He had swiped them from Kevin, but the brunette guessed that by the time the dark haired teen found out, it would all be over.
As soon as he was exposed to the frigid night air, his pale skin erupted with goose-bumps. His eyes narrowed at the large building in front of him, teeth gritting in anger and determination. This is were he made sure it ended, made sure Vilgax was out the picture once and for all. All other insignificant thoughts flew from his mind, he was in what people classed as 'Hero Mode' . Nothing mattered but the task ahead and he wouldn't stop until he knew it was completed.
He strode towards the rusted door with confidence, stones crunching under the weight of his converse clad feet. Slamming open the old and heavy metal door, he was immediately hit with the smell of motor oil and rotting wood. Ignoring it, he took a few steps in, eyes squinting into the heavy darkness that lingered. It was a haunting reminder of what lay ahead of him.
"Vilgax!" He roared, his voice echoing around the large and seemingly abandoned building "Come out and show yourself you cowardly squid faced bastard!"
He was met with silence, until a chilling laugh erupted around him that made nails on a chalk board seem like heaven. He clenched his fists in anger and hatred, his finger nails puncturing the rough skin on his palms.
"If it isn't the Great Ben 10!" the villain called out, his voice cutting through the air with great ease. "I see our hero is going to give a valiant effort to try and stop me. How flattering…"
Ben could hear the mocking smugness in his enemy's voice, making his blood boil and his body shake as he restrained himself from attacking him straight away. He needed to bide his time, rushing in head first like usual wasn't going to work this time.
"Listen here Vilgax!" He spat, his voice showing his obvious and deep dislike for the creature "This time, when I knock you down, I can guarantee that you wont be getting back up again. I figured out your plan, I just never thought you would be the type to hide behind a mask while getting others to do your dirty work. Are you too scared that I was going to kick your butt again?"
"I didn't know you had such high expectations from me Tennyson, but luckily for you, I am never one to disappoint. What I have planned for you and your pitiful back-water planet is more than your puny human mind could ever hope to comprehend. Today, Ben Tennyson, is were you and your pathetic race meet your well overdue demise"
The hero teen smirked to himself, if only his enemy had a clue about what he had in store for the cocky bastard…
"Oh really? If you're so big and mighty, why don't you come out and fight me like a true planet conquer would? Or are you so cowardly that you would rather fight me in the dark?" he taunted. He knew that Vilgax never took well to being taunted, especially from his greatest enemy that had kicked his butt and stopped his plans so many times.
When he heard a low growl from the large alien, he knew Vilgax had fallen for his blindingly obvious trap. Within seconds, the large lights that dangled from the ceiling flickered to life, causing the brunette teen to shield his eyes for a moment from the blinding lights . Rapidly blinking to rid his eyes of the black spots that barred his vision, he got into a fighting stance, ready in case Vilgax tried to sneak in a backhanded attempt at attacking.
He jumped slightly in surprise and alarm when a large crash sounded near to were he was standing. Snapping his head round, he scanned the area for any sign of movement.
"Why so jumpy and tense Ben Tennyson?" The alien voice once again called out, still holding that annoyingly smug tone to it "You were so confident only a few short moments ago. Or has the fear of defeat finally caught up with our great hero?"
"Stop playing hide and seek Vilgax!" he growled out, fed up of the mind games the Chimera was trying to play with him. Luckily Vilgax seemed to grant his request and stepped out from behind a couple of crates just over 20 meters from were the hero was positioned. He wore a large smirk on his ugly pale green face, his tentacles twitching in anticipation.
"You, Ben Tennyson, have been a major thorn in my side for too long. But tonight, that will all change. I'm going to have the watch and the satisfaction of watching everyone on this planet die." he gloated, his deep red eyes practically gleaming with the prospect of seeing his greatest enemy die by his clawed hands.
Ben just nonchalantly shrugged and shot the giant alien a cocky smirk "Yeah-Yeah Vil-geek. That hasn't worked out for you so far, so lets see how you do this time" He waved him forward with his right hand "Bring it on!"
With that, both hero and villain charged towards each other with loud, guttering war cries. Reaching for his utility belt, the boy pulled out a baton like object. Pushing a button located on the side, it extended out to a 2 metre long staff, its body lined with what looked like blue circuitry. Vilgax decided to use his bare hands to crush the annoying Tennyson, throwing punches left and right. The battle was fierce, with equally devastating blows being exchanged from each side. Thanks to the skills he had acquired off his cousin, Ben was able to dodge most of the attacks that the Chimera threw at him and deliver a few hits himself. But he could feel the adrenaline that had kept him going for so long start to wear off, slowing down his reactions and blows. Hit after hit began to rein down on his fragile human body, slicing open his pale skin and crunching bones under their momentous force.
Leaping from a stack of crates, he managed deliver a hard blow to the large aliens mostly un-shielded side, causing his to stumble a few steps. Rolling out of the way, he was unable to spot the large green fist that came flying at him. It smashed into his body at high speed, making him soar backwards and crash painfully through a large pile of crates.
Unconsciousness threatened to take over as he lay there for a few seconds, desperately trying to catch his breath as he gasped for air, his broken ribs making it difficult for him to draw in oxygen. His body screamed in protest as he attempted to stand, his limbs shaking under the weight his body placed on his weak muscles. Gritting his teeth against the pain that burned through his nervous system, he hauled himself up onto his legs. Stumbling a few steps as he tried to get his balance, he spat the blood from his busted lip and glared at the large alien with his eye that wasn't swollen shut.
"That all you got Vilgie? I thought you could do better than that to just a mere hu-" His taunting was cut short when his was grabbed by a large clawed fist, his already broken body being crushed by his enemy's immense strength. He was lifted so he was about half a metre away from the aliens face, those deep red eyes made him feel as if he could see right through him.
"This is it Tennyson. You cannot keep up this ridiculous attempt at trying to stop me. If I don't kill you, the injuries I inflicted of you weak human body will most likely within the next hour or so. Do you have any last request before I end your miserable life?"
The brunette smirked (albeit painfully) at his captor, his voice laced with cockiness "Yeah, there's an old earth saying "Don't count your chickens before they've hatched" You should know by now that Ben Tennyson always has a trick up his sleeve." Lifting up his left arm, he twisted the dial of the Ultimatrix right 4 times and left 6 times
"Ultimatrix, user recognition, Ben Tennyson"
"User Ben Tennyson recognised"
"Set Ultimatrix core to overload"
"Ultimatrix core set to overload" . A bright green glow illuminated the room, while Ben just continued to grin at his enemy.
"You fool!" the alien roared, his eyes widening in horror "That will blow you and the watch into oblivion!"
"That's the whole point" the teen replied and winked at his captor before slamming his hand down on the dial. The green light intensified, blinding them both. Within seconds, a large explosion erupted in the warehouse, obliterating everything in its path, hero and villain included. The after shock of the explosion would be felt for miles.
On the sight were the abandoned warehouse once stood, shrapnel littered the burnt ground and heavy smoke engulfed the sky as an eerie and calm silence swept over the land. Ben Tennyson had fulfilled his promise. He had rid the universe of the worst villain known and restored peace to the world.
The cost? A son, a cousin, a best friend, one girl's true love.
A Hero.
A/N: This isn't the end, there are more chapters coming. I know this probably wasn't my best work, but my brain is rather fired at the moment and i haven't been able to do much lately. Please don't forget to review :)
Sam x
