Disclaimer: "Ben 10: Alien Force" and related products are copyrighted to Man of Action. I only use the characters for fan fiction.

This story is going to be a darker one than what you usually find around here. Darker even than what the show itself is like. Please read, enjoy, and leave me some reviews. Also, if I seem a little new to this, it's because I am. First fan fic, yay! And now some poetry to lead us to the story.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

-Solomon

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

From the group of three teenagers, the only sound that can be heard is that of smoothies being sucked dry by the one wearing a green sports jacket, a large number "10" on the back. It's been awkwardly quiet since they showed up, a half hour ago.

The other two sit on the same side of the outdoors table, but keep their distance and don't even do so much as glance at each other. It's unbearable how silent they are. I wish an alien would attack us or something, the green-clad one thinks to himself. He glances at both of them. First, his redheaded cousin who is almost exactly his age, right down to the day. She looks somewhat depressed and clearly uncomfortable. Then his eyes move to the other, who is much stronger than both of them and taller. This one's eyes also gaze away, not wanting anyone's attention. A stony expression which he has had ever since he and the smaller young man joined forces for reasons dubious at best.

"Hey Kevin," Ben calls out, unable to withstand the silence any longer. "I heard there was a car show going on next Saturday."

The other pretends to be interested and faces him. "Where at?"

"Jamestown," Ben replies.

"Huh. I'll have to check it out." Kevin makes a visible glance towards his car, in the opposite direction of his girlfriend. Of course, he'd never let it out of his sight. It's one-half of his life.

More quiet. A couple kids show up and seat themselves around another table nearby. The trio silently half-focus on what the other kids are saying, since none of them have anymore conversation worth making.

Finally, seeing the futility of being there, Ben says, "There's a new show starting in a little while that I'd like to see. We should head home."

"Alright," Kevin says, knowing that it's implied he's going to be driving them home.

Gwen joins the other two as they enter Kevin's green and black car. The two cousins get in the back seats and the vehicle turns on and drives off into the suburban area.

First to get dropped off is Ben. He says "Goodbye" to his cousin and his teammate and watches as they drive off. He proceeds to go inside, greets his parents as he passes the living room, and enters his bedroom. The show isn't on for another hour, so he decides to channel surf. Eventually, a program he likes comes on. "The Evolution of Sports".

After that, the new show is aired for the first time. It's another one of those cartoons about a teenager who somehow gains superpowers and ends up having to use them to save the planet. Ben has always had a certain fondness for those kinds of programs, and over the past seven years he has seen several come and go, and all of them were pretty good to him.

Just as the main character is about to use his powers for the first time, Ben's cell phone rings. Julie. She is always more important than a silly TV show. He lowers the volume on the television and answers her. "Hey Julie."

"Hi Bennie," she replies, using her favorite pet name for him. "Whatcha' doing?"

"Watching a new TV show. But I don't mind if I miss it. There'll always be reruns."

The begin to converse and it lasts for hours. They started dating two years ago and are now a very close couple. Gwen and Kevin like to call them "The Hero and His Girlfriend". They continue to talk while Julie takes Ship out for a walk - something that Ben still can't understand - and it is not until the sun has long set that they finally begin their "Goodnight" routine, which lasts another fifteen minutes.

Julie is able to get Ben to hang up first. He takes his shower and puts on the boxer shorts he will wear for bed that night. It's late in the spring and the temperatures have reached that comfortable level where only a couple blankets are needed. He still thinks about Julie, and how they're three weeks from graduation, and about how they were chosen to be the Prom King and Queen, and how they both know for sure they're going to be high school sweethearts.