Ben 10: ALIEN FORCE
Episode 1 - "Ben 10 Returns"
Chapter 1 - The Big Game
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Amber pushed her curly, black hair aside and desperate looked over the seats to try and find good spot. With her arm full of soda and rock candy, it was hard to get anywhere in the crowd without dropping something. She sighed, once again, and peeked over a tall, lanky boy to her right. Five spots were open. She swiftly pressed pass the boy.
Amber: "Excuse me…"
Boy: "Whatever…"
She managed to slide into the second seat away from him and sighed in relief.
She had promised Ben, her new chemistry partner, that she would make it to one of his last games. She was a boring kind of person who would rather read books or do some more research on a subject she knew little about. Although Ben never really recognized this, she pushed it aside and made the promise, even if sports weren't really in her comfort zone.
She sat the items aside and stood up to see what the big commotion was. She saw the scoreboard and knew that this game was a pretty big one—the school was about ready to either win, or tie. She sat back and sipped her diet lime coke. She used her middle finger and pushed her glasses back up to the bridge of her nose and sat in silence, waiting for the game to end. All of the stands' occupants' stood in an uproar as the time on the countdown of the big clock became shorter. Confused, Amber stood up, in her chair, and lifted her head to surpass the gentleman in front of her to see what was happening.
Ben's team was barely winning by one point and Cash was skillfully making his way pass the defenders. There were now only 20 seconds or so left on the timer. It was now or nothing.
Somehow excited, Amber swiftly sat up in her seat and looked down the field to see if Ben was ready. She had never been excited in a sport before, but now, the hype was getting to her. She waved her hands around when Cash passed the ball to his friend, JT, making his way down the line to the goal.
Amber's heart stopped. She knew how much the game meant to Ben. It was something he looked forward to everyday; not being the hero anymore, made this hobby special. Ben had told her about taking down aliens and turning into them. He ranted on and on about his watch for the longest times, clearly showing his proud, fruitful side. Since he confided in her for the last year, she did in him, too (only when he really was in a listening mood).
Amber never told anyone else this—this thing she had. It made her feel inferior to her own race and unique in some ways. She could conduct organic, and inorganic, energy through her hands and it would course through her body, and she would become its mind. Everyone knew that electrons and other particles were unpredictable and moved in a way no one could move. But she could control.
That's why she was such a chemistry geek. She could relate to the labs they did and the different elementary substances being laid out. And that's also why Ben has her as a partner; he sucked at the class. And seeing as Ben was a huge freak, himself, Amber trusted him with her own secret. The secrets were probably the only things keeping them together as friends; they were so different from one another.
JT was right in front of the goal now, and everyone was going crazy.
Amber: "GO, BENNIE!" using her nickname for him.
This got his attention. He looked up in the stands and smiled, surprised.
Ben: "Amber…?"
Amber: "NO, BEN! THE GOAL…" she furiously pointed.
Ben looked confused, then remembered. He was in the game. He turned back in front of him and saw the way JT was coming at him. He focused his goalie eyes and smirked, ready for the challenge. No swoosh was heard and the buzzer sounded.
Many: "YEAAAAAAAAH, WOOOH!"
So many people cheered, Amber had to plug her ears momentarily. Even the boy she was closest to stood up and hugged her—and she smiled all the more before happily pushing him away, disgusted.
Boy: "oof!"
Amber continued clapping and roaring as she saw the happy expression on Ben's face. His teammates came up, one by one, and lifted him up into a victory throne. He held up the ball. He was truly happy, and so was their school.
Amber checked her watch and silently blew the piece of hair in her face. She was supposed to be at Gwen's five minutes ago. She didn't plan on staying for the whole game. She huffed and stood up, maneuvering around the overly-happy students and fans. Slinging her ugly, green pack over her shoulder, she started down the steps.
She faintly caught the sight of short, blonde hair and tried to make her way as quick as possible.
?: "Hey, smart girl!"
Cursing, she turned around.
It was her second-cousin, Francesca. They hated each other. Amber couldn't understand why someone would name their child something as ugly as that, when the child themselves were true beauty.
Amber: "What do you want…?"
Her cousin scowled.
Francesca: "Don't sound like you aren't happy to see me. You know, school won't be ending for another couple of months, there's no reason we can't still erase the hostility you always give me."
Amber: "Hostility? So, ducking your head and hiding behind other students is an offense, now?"
Francesca: "Come on, geek. Don't get all smarty-pantsy on me. I don't need your big words clouding up my natural goodness…" she batted her eyes.
Amber hated hearing the stupid girl's talk—it was covered in tiny letters that lacked the knowledge to increase their vocabulary. The girl was hopeless and blind due to her looks. Amber really didn't know why Francesca had friends.
Amber: "All right. Let me try this again, in your language…"
Francesca looked down at her, expectantly.
Amber: "Why. are. you. being. a. big. meanie. head. and. not. letting. me. go. home. to. my. mommy. instead. of. talking. to. you…?"
Francesca's face reddened.
Francesca: "How dare you talk to me like in that way!"
She gasped in anger.
Francesca: "I'm leaving!"
She turned around in her flip-flop-heels and headed upwards on the stands. Amber smirked at her cousin's stupidity and turned around to walk back down.
Amber: "That's the wrong way, you dope!" she threw over her shoulder.
She could hear her cousin nag.
Francesca: "That's why no person likes you, smarty-pants!"
Amber really wanted this girl to get serious about school and learn something.
Amber: "And that's why no being likes you!"
Amber walked across the field and pulled out her black cell phone, dialing the number. It beeped a few times before someone answered.
Gwen: "Hello?"
Amber: "Hey, Gwen. I'm so sorry I'm late!"
Gwen: "It's not that big of a deal, Amber. Why are you late, anyway?"
Amber: "I promised Ben that I would come to this game and the time kind of got away from me. I'm just now entering the parking lot."
Gwen: "Alright. I'll tell my mom to wait another 10 minutes or so."
Amber: "Thanks, Gwen."
Amber was about to end the conversation, but Gwen wanted to know something.
Gwen: "So, how are you getting here, again?"
Amber: "I usually walk, but that would take longer…"
?: "Hey, Amber!"
Gwen: "Who's that?"
Amber turned around and was greeted by an arm hug from a tall, muscular boy with light hair.
Amber: "Hey, Robbie. Whatcha doin?"
Robbie: "Just checking up on my friend," he smiled. "You know, I saw you during the game, but I had to get back out there and stay focused."
Amber smiled.
Amber: "I imagine…"
Robbie: "No, this game was big, as you know. There was no room for mistakes. I really wanted to say hi, or give a call out to you."
Amber: "I know, Rob…" she rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I need a ride to Gwen's."
Robbie: "Tennyson?"
Amber: "Yeah. I'm running a little late and her mom was supposed to drive us both to our karate class."
Robbie nodded.
Robbie: "Sure. Just come this way."
Amber: "Hey, Gwen? I'm getting a ride from Robbie. I'll be there soon."
Gwen: "K. Bye."
The two hung up. Robbie led her to his blue 2007 Porsche Cayman and opened the passenger's door for her.
Amber: "Thank you."
Robbie gave a friendly nod and got into the driver's seat before the two went down the road.
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Robbie slowly pulled into the driveway and put on his brakes.
Robbie: "There you go, Your Majesty."
Amber slapped his arm.
Amber: "You are such a dork."
Robbie: "I know you love it…"
Amber: "Keep dreaming."
Amber stepped out of the car and shut it. Rob rolled down his window.
Robbie: "I've gotta be somewhere. Tell Gwen I said hi."
Amber: "Alright. See ya—and thanks for the ride!"
Robbie: "Yeah, yeah."
Amber stepped back and he pulled out of the driveway. She walked up to the front step and got out her key.
Ever since she and Ben became really close, her and Gwen were like sisters. They had their differences—but definitely a lot more similarities than she ever did with Ben. They both liked reading and karate, but Amber was still a bit geekier. They would have their own sleepovers and shopping dates. The two were inseparable. She even got her own key to the house because she was over there so much. Her parents were always busy, so, there was no harm done.
Before she knew it, Amber was spilling her secret out to Gwen, who had already let Amber know of her own magical abilities once Ben told her Amber knew. And the whole 'powers' thing, made them even closer, if that was even possible.
Amber shut the door behind her and took off her shoes. She walked into the kitchen where Gwen's mother was washing dishes.
Amber: "Sorry, I'm late."
Gwen's mother smiled.
Gwen's Mom: "Oh, that's okay, dear. No trouble was caused. The class starts in half an hour, so you should get your things ready upstairs before we leave."
Amber nodded, even though she knew the woman couldn't see her, and walked up to Gwen's room. Like always, the light was out and it was dark. Gwen liked to practice channeling her power a lot—it made her feel better about controlling it.
Amber never liked practicing her power, which is why she never did. She used to, but only to the extent that she was able to keep it from getting unrestrained. Since her ability was control over mostly electricity, it was hard to do anything with it. So many risks hung high. It, once, caused a shortage in the whole neighborhood and she didn't even do it on purpose. She was just simply trying to turn off three lamps and an alarm clock all at once. Let's just say the house is now incapable of conducting electricity; Amber's family had to move.
Amber knelt, quietly, beside Gwen and watched momentarily as a few bursts of light moved throughout the center of the room. After a while, Amber got bored.
Amber: "…How long are you planning on doing this?"
Gwen was on the brink of losing her concentration and peeked one eye open.
Gwen: "Probably until I'm forced to stop."
Amber: "Well…practice is in less than…" she looked at the clock on her cell phone, "…twenty-five minutes. So…"
Gwen: "Really? I'm not ready!"
Amber watched as the flying objects stopped in mid-air and fell in their places. Gwen rushed to her mirror and brushed her hair up into a ponytail. And ran over to her closet to grab her uniform, before slipping he clothes off and changing into it. Amber shook her head at the panic of the girl and dropped her sack to the floor. She pulled out her uniform, shampoo stuff, and brush and walked out to the hallway bathroom.
Amber: "I've been outside today. I'm going to take a really quick shower."
Gwen nodded as she was out the door.
Amber stepped into the bathroom, undressed and moved into the heated water under the shower head. She sighed in contentment. She never knew why, but when she was in cold water (like rain), she frizzed out and shivered like something else. But, when the water was really hot, it didn't really affect her. She felt that maybe it was because the heated water had heat in it, just the same as electricity did, although electricity was deadlier.
After five minutes, she was out of the shower and drying off. She pulled her thick hair up and braided it into one, very long braid. She slipped on her uniform and walked back into Gwen's room, setting her clothes in her duffle bag (which she kept there), to change into later.
Running downstairs, they took another five minutes to get ready and they were off.
