Ben didn't have any windows inside of his cell to be able to tell what time it was, but when he awoke he had a feeling that a lot of time had passed. He couldn't help but recall the events that had led him to end up there, instinctively gripping his neck as he sat up in his bed. He rubbed his head, trying to ease his grogginess. He heard footsteps from outside and once they stopped outside, his eyes moved to the peep slot as it opened up, revealing familiar eyes.

"Oh, you're awake," Kaji stated.

"Yeah." Ben answered as the peep slot was shut and the door was opened, his green eyes meeting those of Kaji's as the room was bathed in light. He walked in with a small wave and handed Ben a glass of water before he leaned against the wall beside the door. "You guys didn't even bother to lock the door last time. I leaned on it trying to find my way around the room before that meeting with Gendo and it opened."

"Well I guess after knowing the things you can turn into they don't think the door would be a worthy opponent, locked or not. Though, I didn't think a tranquilizer dart would be." Kaji spoke, his voice barely giving away his curiosity.

"I didn't either, least not as Rath. Some Blond scientist said she'd made it specifically for me though and that's all I can remember." Ben explained, taking a sip of water.

"Ritsuko." Kaji smirked, looking to the ceiling of the cell as if in remembrance. "Never met a mind as sharp as hers... or a tongue." Ben couldn't tell from the way he said it if he was joking or not, or even if he meant it literally or figuratively, but the thought made him cringe none-the-less. "Just kidding." He added, looking at Ben with a wide smile, his eyes closed until Ben spoke, replacing his expression to one of curiosity.

"So what now? They know I won't do what they want but they haven't done anything."

"Well, they'll simply try again." He explained, looking to the wall directly ahead of him, his smile gone, replaced by a more serious expression. "NERV isn't the kind of organization that gives up quietly, least not when its something they want."

"You don't sound like you're aligned with them." Kaji didn't shift his gaze, but he did crack a smile.

"I'm amazed you were able to tell that much from so few words. You really are experienced." Kaji praised as his looked at Ben. "I'm aligned to the truth. Nothing else can answer my questions." Ben couldn't help but nod, he had a few questions himself that he would like to have answered. The sound of approaching footsteps were heard and without looking to the door he seemed to know who it was coming. "Ben, these cells don't have camera's, so I'll be happy if you can keep that our secret."

Ben didn't have the chance to answer before an unfamiliar figure walked into the room, her head spinning around the room until she saw Ben, her face momentarily contorted into disgust before she whipped her head condenscendingly to the side, her long flowing red hair becoming the most visible part of her face, her eyes opening as they stared at Kaji, who in turn only offered a small wave and his usual smile. Ben surprised by how much she relaxed.

"Kaji, what are you doing in here?"

"I was just having a chat with my friend, Ben."

"Who're you?" Ben asked, something in the back of his mind telling him that she was familiar to him in some way, but he couldn't place it.

"You don't seem to be living very badly, for a prisoner," She walked around the room, her face giving away her disgust at some of the things she saw.

Ben's eye's widened in realization as he said, "You're the girl from that red robot that cheated -"

"Asuka Langley Soryu." Kaji answered. "The Second Child."

"I didn't cheat. You're just an idiot believing everything you hear." She smirked.

"Bet you couldn't beat me without your giant robot." Ben challenged, Asuka only smirking wider.

"You couldn't even beat me with your power, so a battle without them wouldn't be any different."

"Well I got training from my grandfather!"

"To do what? Break a bone and collapse? Some good that'll be." Asuka scoffed, Ben was beginning to get angry.

"Okay you two, that's enough." Kaji interrupted the soon to be fight, not even moving from his position against the wall, his eyes closed as his head tilted towards the floor as if he were sighing, but his face held a its usual smile. Ben was amazed by how quickly Asuka followed his instructions, she didn't waste a second to agree with him and take a position next to him on the wall. He was really was a smooth talker.

"I was just messing with him, he's more fun than that idiot Shinji."

"I'm glad, cause I have to go to a wedding with Misato and Ritsuko in a little while and I'd like you to show him around the city." Kaji opened his eyes, looking at Asuka as he looked at everyone, but unlike most of them, Asuka blushed, not too long, but long enough that Ben could spot it.

"You mean like a date?" Asuka questioned, her face horrified by the idea, as Ben spat out some of the water he was drinking in surprise, Asuka turning to look at him with glaring eyes before turning back to Kaji. "He can't even drink water without spitting it out!"

"It can be a date if you want it to be."

"He's supposed to be in his cell!"

"The same cell he could escape anytime he wanted? I think it'll be good for you. Everyone should have a little fun while we can after all." He explained as he walked out.

"Where are you going, Kaji?" He didn't answer, instead just putting a hand up to wave, his other hand deeply nested into his pocket as he walked. "Ugh!" Asuka was enraged, storming out of the room after him, slamming the door shut, leaving Ben alone in the darkness once again.

"That was... interesting," he remarked, laying down on the bed. "Like I'd want to be forced on another date."


"Get up, idiot." Ben opened his eyes, unaware that he been asleep. He blinked to try to alleviate the grogginess a few times, propping himself up on his forearms as he followed the light from the opened cell door to the girl standing over him with an annoyed expression.

"Oh, it's you." Ben moved his arms back to his side, letting his body fall back to a flat position upon his bed.

"That's not how you treat someone trying to take you out!" She huffed, her foot kicking Ben's back, jamming his face against the wall. "You say your gratitude! It's not like I wanted to do this!"

"Then why are you?" Ben struggled to question from his position against the cell wall that even he knew had seen far better days. "Why do something if you don't want to?"

"Because Kaji said to show you around and entrusted it to me." She explained with a huff. "Now assuming you have something to get you past the guards unscathed, I'll be outside." She removed her foot, Ben falling back to his bed as Asuka walked out of the room and closed the door. Ben standing up with a sigh as he dusted the front of his white hoodie off.

"Scary to think that Gwen and Kevin could have a daughter that would act just like that." Ben made himself cringe as he activated the Omnitrix, bathing the room in the eerie glow of green light as he shifted between alien forms, trying to mentally decide which of them would be best for the situation. Eventually deciding on Big Chill he silently prayed that he'd be given the one he wanted as he slammed it down. Looking at his hands to see three sharp claws and wheels for feet he couldn't help but feel joy that he'd been given the form he actually selected for one of the first times since he received the improved device. "I could use to stretch my legs, lets go for a run!" His face plate fell into place, providing protection from the sheer wind force he'd encounter running at beyond the speed of sound as he slid open the door and took off.

"What was that?" A guard asked as he finished sipping a cup of coffee, feeling a strong gust of wind behind him, turning to face the guard leaned against the wall on the other side of the wall who held an uncaring expression.

"Don't know, don't care, don't get paid enough to figure out." He looked at the gun leaned against the wall next to the guard then to the one leaned against the desk he sat at before turning to the cell they were guarding, seeing it was open he shrugged and returned to his coffee. "He'll be back, not like we can stop him. Our orders were just to watch and make sure he doesn't die."

"You're slow," Asuka explained once Ben came to a stop beside her, her expression entirely unaffected by his strange appearance, but considering what Kaji had explained about Angels, he didn't really expect her to be.

"It wasn't exactly like I knew my way around, I ran through the entire place before finding the way out!" Ben explained after tapping his emblem on his chest, becoming enveloped in a flash of green before changing back.

"You're wearing that?" Asuka asked. Ben originally taken aback by the statement until he noticed that she was fairly dressed up, wearing a white sun dress, while in comparison Ben was wearing a fairly dirty white hoodie with some green outlines in its design. "At least show some effort."

"I don't have anything else to change into." Ben shrugged. "You don't have to scold me with everything I do you know. How does everyone you work with put up with you?"

"What do you mean?" She asked as the two of them began to walk through the city, a proud smirk on her face. "They should be honored that I'd work with them. It's not like I need too, I can handle the Angels without their help." Ben couldn't help but sigh, she really was the most condescending person he'd met in his life and now thanks to Kaji he was stuck with her.

"Where are they anyway?"

"Oh? I left them back at the school. Those goodie-goodies were cleaning up." Even to those she spent the most time with she was mean.

"Least the city looks nice." Ben remarked, trying to change the topic of the conversation. "I thought it would've been a lot different since it gets attacked a lot, but it looks normal."

"Idiot, it's a city not a weapon. The only thing that can be changed within a city is the people. The city itself will just be rebuilt." Asuka explained. "Do you even go to school where you come from?"

"Nope." Ben answered with a grin. "I decided to become a hero full time."

"Figures." Asuka scoffed. "I doubt you can save anyone with how easily fooled you are. Even that idiot Shinji isn't so trusting." Ben had heard of the name before, being moved from his cell to his meeting with Gendo he'd overheard a conversation that labeled him as the third child, and from what he could piece together on his own, he was the one that hadn't been there at the fight between him and Asuka. He didn't know whether or not she liked him due to her bringing him up a lot, but whenever it he was his name was prefixed with idiot. Ben was brought out of his thoughts as Asuka had walked ahead of him and was passing an alley when an arm suddenly grabbed her and pulled her in, Ben's eyes going wide as he ran into the alley after her, seeing a group of three, their faces covered by masks, the middle one grabbing holding Asuka, her eyes looking at Ben not with fear in them, but annoyance.

"You came to save you're little girlfriend?" The one holding her asked, Asuka's eyes going wide as Ben just laughed, confusing the three of them.

"I came to save her, but now I think it's you I'll have to save." The three exchanged confused glances until Asuka bit his hand, the man letting out a pained yelp as his grip loosened, a swift stomp on his foot being more than enough to make his grip loosen completely, his hands gripping around his injured foot instead.

"Kill her!" He exclaimed, the other two men nodding as they withdrew knives. "Make them both pay!"

"Show your stuff, hero." Asuka remarked, her voice laced with sarcasm as she walked calmly past Ben, not even turning to look at the opponents who had withdrew knives and lunged towards her. Ben smirking as he slid in between them, his hand already over the Omnitrix. The two goons showing visible surprise before their expressions became anger, their knives now aimed at Ben as he slammed it down, halting their movements as they stopped to shield their eyes from the green flash. By the time the two had recovered it was too late, their hands had been grabbed by red, powerful arms.

"Four -"

"Arms?" The two stated, each of them following the arms gripping both their hands to the same creature. The same creature with red skin that appeared strong enough to act as armor, a bearded face, four small eyes, and four powerful arms. "What are you?"

"I think you've already answered that." Ben effortlessly lifted the two men off the ground, spinning them above his head a few times before throwing them towards the leader of the three, his eyes closed expected the impact of his men to severely hurt him, but opened them in surprise upon hearing the sounds of his men hitting the fence directly behind him, his face turning to each side to see his men slide to the ground beside him. "Now this is the part of a city I can familiarize myself with."

"Really? You see crime as familiar? Do you even save your city?" Asuka questioned, her tone practically insulting him in ways her words weren't. Ben turning to face her, his mouth open as if he had something to say, one of his four arms holding up his index finger like he'd bring up a fair point of rebuttal, but instead he just hung his head and sighed. Asuka having a victorious smirk on her face as they both watched the leader run past them out of the alley as fast as his legs could carry. "You let him escape." Ben just shrugged. "Idiot." She rolled her eyes.

"You get attacked by things called Angels, I think that guy is the least of the cities problems." Ben countered, one of his fists about to tap the emblem on his chest to transform back when a bone chilling laugh erupted around them. Both of them looking around frantically to find its source, but saw no one.

"Who is that laughing?" Ben asked, turning to Asuka hoping she'd know.

"Idiot, I don't know! I deal with Angels not delinquents."

"That, Benjamin, would be me." The voice stated at the end of the alley, Ben and Asuka turning to see him materialize from the ground like a shadow taking life before them. His appearance was rather intimidating, black wavy hair that fell to his back, a thin black mustache and beard, and a wicked smile. He even wore an intimidating black cloak.

"You know him?" Asuka asked, either unaffected by his intimidating appearance or really good at not showing it.

"Uhm..." Ben narrowed his eyes as he looked at the man, trying to jog his memory on how he may have met the man or who he was, but as much as he tried he couldn't even bring up a single bit of information on him. "Nope." Ben turned to Asuka and shrugged.

"Figured you'd be the type to bring your problems with you."

"How? I've never seen him before! If anything he's your problem!"

"But he knows your name!"

"Lucky guess?" Ben practically winced as he offered that suggestion, sighing in defeat as he turned to the man whose wicked smile hadn't even faltered for a second. "Who are you?"

"I'm everything, and I'm nothing."

"You're one of those guys." Ben face palmed. "Listen man, being cryptic is so overrated."

"Don't sit around talking to him! Attack him!" Ben looked at her questioningly. "Haven't you been able to tell? We're being surrounded by shadows," Ben looked around, seeing that she was in fact right, the blue sky was noticeably darker and the exit to the alley that sat behind them was just a dark void, "you wouldn't last five minutes in an Angel attack."

"What do you think you're doing?" Ben questioned as he lunged towards him. The man not responding or even attempting to dodge, letting Ben punch him without the slightest resistance, but Ben found that his punch only connected with the fence, the man having been made of shadows as he just opened up a hole for Ben's arm to harmlessly pass through. "What are you?"

"I'm the bridge." He answered, his voice sending a chill down Ben's spine as he vanished as if into the wind, Ben looking around frantically for him as the haze of shadow around them continued to get thicker. Ben looking to his left in time to see the man thrust his palm at Ben's chest, sending him flying into the building wall. Hitting the ground with a thud Ben couldn't help but let out a small grunt as he worked his way back to his feet.

"Bridge to what?"

"Worlds."

"Worlds? What do you mean?" Ben asked.

"I mean just as I say, I know everything about this world, your world, and world's you'll never see in your lifetime."

"Really?" Asuka questioned, her smirk and tone telling Ben that she didn't buy anything he was saying even in the slightest. "You can use cheap tricks all you want, but all you tell me is that your pathetic."

"I know your secrets, Asuka. Is that really pathetic?" He gave her a challenging gaze, as if urging her to continue. Ben could see from Asuka's smug expression that she would.

"You don't know the first thing about me that the media wouldn't tell you."

"I know about your mother." Asuka's eyes widened, her gaze becoming distant as her fists trembled at her side.

"I'll kill you!" She roared, gritting her teeth, Ben holding his hands out to stop her movements. "I don't need you to do anything but get out of my way! I can handle him myself!"

"I know," Ben replied, not turning to face her, "but I need answers." Asuka stopped, hanging her head as she remembered the conversation she'd overheard him and Kaji having shortly before she walked in. "You'll get him next time." Ben turned his head to the side and smiled, putting one of his fists into a thumbs up.

"Idiot." Asuka scoffed, turning back to where the street should be, had the shadows not blocked it.

"I'm not looking to fight, merely to give a message."

"That's too bad!" Ben declared as he lunged, punching at the figure again, half expecting his blows to form only holes in the figures appearance, but instead he vanished all together, the shadows that surrounded them both vanishing as he did, putting them back into the daylight, the sounds of passing cars filling the air. Ben's body glowing green as he reverted back to normal. "Guess he ran." Ben turned to face Asuka, but instead he noticed the man standing at the other side of the street. Running to the road just in time to hear what he was saying before a car passed between them, the man gone when the car passed.

"You don't belong here, Ben."


"Really, this man knew something about Asuka?" Kaji asked, both of them standing on a hill that overlooked Tokyo-3, Ben having escaped his cell to meet Kaji here at his request upon telling him about the encounter.

"Yeah, he mentioned her mother and she practically broke down." Ben explained, leaned against the railing, his back to the city as the sun began to settle down for the night, bathing the two in its orange light. "I tried to find him again and get some answers about it among other things and couldn't. It's been a few days and he hasn't even shown up again."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much." Kaji explained, walking so he could lean his arms against the railing, his eyes focused on the city below. "It may not have went too well on one front, but I have a feeling that it did on another." Kaji cryptically spoke, Ben completely confused as to what he was even remotely talking about.

"Why'd you have me come up here anyway?"

"Well it secluded, for one, not to mention the view is a sight of beauty on par with only a few other things I've seen in my life."

"It looks pretty normal for me," Ben replied as he turned around to face the city himself. "It's a lot better to look at than the cell door."

"You really are different, Ben," Kaji stated, the city before them both beginning to do something Ben didn't expect to see in a million years - the buildings began to sink to below the ground as if they were on an elevator. "You've noticed with Asuka already that everyone in this city has secrets, something they try to hide that haunts them, burdens them, even me. Just like the city we try to keep them below the surface as often as possible to avoid pain, but at the end of the day it still troubles us."

"Yeah, I guess I am. I don't think I have anything like that. I try not to think about it too much anyway." Ben shrugged.

"That's exactly what makes you different." Kaji laughed, turning away from the sinking city and Ben as he began to walk away. "I just hope you find a way home before you become like the rest of us."


Authors Note: Okay, I'm planning on this to be a short series. Mostly because keeping everything in character is hard. I decided to use episode 15 as the starting point, and to use this chapter as a behind the scenes explanation for some things. If you recall, Asuka had a blind date as she told Shinji and Rei and left, coming back that day and suddenly deciding to kiss shinji. Well, Ben was the reason for the date, well, Kaji was, Ben was the one the date was with.

Bit shorter this time but I hope it was sufficient. I did edit the end of the last chapter to try to salvage some sort of realism with the dart thing since I completely overlooked that. I'm pretty sure I've overlooked something in this one too... Anyway, until next time. Later.