A/N: Ok, this is my first fanfic. I love Ben, and I think that he is taken as a flat character in the show, so, this is my attempt at creating a Ben that has A LOT more to him than most people think. This prologue is a two parter, then I get to Seaquest. Summary: Who is Ben Kreig, really? A glimpse into the past proves that everything is not as it seems.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything...literally.

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PROLOGUE PART 1

Until the age of 10, Benjamin Kreig Parker had lived a storybook childhood. He had a hard-working father, who somehow always found time to be with his kids, a loving mother, and an older brother who he looked up to and adored. Ben had an especially close relationship with his brother, Kevin, who was eight years older than Ben.

Kevin Parker's self appointed job was to spoil Ben rotten. When he finally was old enough to get a real job, Kevin would spend half of his money buying Ben the latest game system, or the newest toy. The ability to drive only made the two brothers closer, Kevin always taking Ben with him wherever he went. Ben, however, was no-where near a bratty kid. He was always kind and listened to his parents and brother. Both brothers were also straight "A" students, frequently coming home with awards of achievement or trophies from sports activities. All of these awards and trophies adorned the mantle in the living room of the Parkers' picture perfect house. Ben's parents felt like the luckiest parents in the world to have two great sons, and made it a point to let this fact be known whenever the opportunity came up. So Ben enjoyed a childhood filled with happiness to the extent that he never knew what sadness was, or how to be sad.

On his tenth birthday, however, Ben learned a very hard lesson in life: happiness didn't last forever. In one night, everything he had ever known was taken away from him.

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Birthdays were very important in the Parker household. Every year, the birthdays of each of the four members of the family came, and every year, they celebrated, the entire family taking the day off to spend time with each other. Of course, the kids' birthdays were always much more of a special occasion than the parents', but Ben was the baby of the family, and he was showered with gifts and love and attention - not that he didn't get all of that every other day of his life - but on his birthday, everything was supposed to be perfect.

This July 26th marked Ben's tenth birthday, and his parents and brother had taken him for picnic, then to an amusement park. They returned home late, leaving only after the amusement park had closed and they were sure they had been on every ride. As the car parked, the four of them piled out into the beautiful night. Kevin squatted down on the ground, and Ben quickly climbed onto his back. Sarah and John Parker, Ben's parents, laughed as the two exhausted boys stumbled into the house and followed. They nearly collided with Kevin, who had stopped dead in his tracks just inside the door. Both Ben and Kevin were staring into the living room.

"Kevin? What's wrong, son?" John asked, immediately concerned. Stepping a little further into the house, John looked into the living room from behind Kevin.

"What..." he trailed off, looking at the mess. Everything had been overturned and broken, as if someone had been looking for something. Nudging Kevin a little, John told him to move out of the way, so he could check the house. Finally coming back to his senses, Kevin moved. By now, Sarah had also seen what had shocked the men, and let out a small gasp. A strange look passed between Sarah and John, as if they knew exactly who had broken into their house. A fleeting look of terror was shared between the couple before they both turned to their kids, plastering a puzzled expression similar to their kids' expressions onto their faces. "Kevin, would you please take Ben and your mother and stand outside?" John told, more than asked his oldest son.

TO BE CONTINUED...