A few things before we start here.

This story is rated M for Violence, Strong Language, and Suggestive themes.

I know that most people would just consider those to just be the makings of a good Teen rating. But when I say violence I really mean really really violent, as you will see some of what I mean in this chapter. As for the suggestive themes, by that I mean no lemons, but there will be hints of sex, you just won't read any of it. I don't think that I could write a good sex scene so don't ask for one. And while we're on this topic I feel that I should make it clear that Kevin is 19, Charmcaster is about 21, and Gwen and the rest of the gang is about either 18 or 17 going on 18. So yeah. Enjoy the story.

Oh, one last thing. I do not own Ben 10, Ben 10 Alien Force, or Ben 10 Ultimate Alien.

They are all owned by Man of Action.

The Levin Files

Chapter 2

Party People and Party Crashers.

The clock in Kevin's car read that it was 7:46 as Kevin pulled up over the old oil stain were Kevin always parked his car at his mothers. It had been a surprisingly chilly day in Bellwood for the month of June, so it wouldn't surprise Gwen if someone hadn't already started a fire in the small fire pit that Mr. Hacket had built only three days ago. Harvey had built it just for the party; saying that when it got dark and the adults and kids either moved into the house or went home, that Kevin and company could hang out around the fire and "chill".

Gwen smiled at the thought of her and any of her friends being able to just "chill". After everything that they had all been through together, and all of the stuff that they were sure to face down the road, chilling sound like the greatest thing in the universe. And sadly this would probably be one of the last nights for everyone to be in the same place for a while.

In one week Kevin would take over as Plumber in command of this sector, Grandpa Max would officially retire (for the third time). Grandpa Max even had plans to move off world to Anodine to live out the rest of his years with Grandma Verdona. Pierce, who had been acting commander was to ship off world and get his own sector. Pierce was originally not happy with the transfer, but after learning he be working an area that was a big narcotics trafficking route, he saw it as a challenge and a good way to make a name for himself.

Only Mannie, Cooper, Allen and Pierce's little sister Hellan would be staying under Kevin's commander. And aside from the usual handful of Plumbers in the area at any giving time, and the usual amount of trouble Earth saw, that didn't leave Kevin with much to work with. Thankfully he would still have Gwen, Ben, Julie and Ship, as well as Charmcaster. And although they all wouldn't be in the same city anymore, they would still be able to count on each other.

But those thoughts could wait for another week, now wasn't the time to worry about where everyone was going. It was now time for Kevin's big welcome home party, and Gwen knew that everybody was waiting for them out back. Gwen looked over from the passenger seat that she had permeant shotgun on and looked at Kevin's face. He had an array of different emotions going across his face. From an excited look, to a nervous look, to a ticked look, and lastly a thoughtful look. Gwen having long ago learned how to read Kevin's mind without actually using any magic, knew what each emotion meant. He was excited about finally returning home to his friends and family, he was nervous because of the fear of "what if?". What if everything had changed and he didn't recognize anything or anyone. He was ticked because he had told Gwen and his mother that he didn't want a big party, but had the thoughtful look because everyone ignored his request and still came together for a big welcome home party.

Gwen could only smile at the love of her life as he slowly and reluctantly started to get out of his car saying, "Well might as well get this over with."

Cooper who had hitched a ride with the two was already out of the car and heading towards the back, as he started to round the corner of the house he shouted back at the two still at the car, "I'll go on back and let them know that your here, so give us a minute to get ready!"

Kevin let out a loud sigh, "Really they have to get ready? Couldn't we just go back now and get all of this shit done with already?"

"No, you know how much this all means to your mother," explained Gwen as she walked around the car to stand next to her boyfriend, "and besides this will mean just as much to Megan and Karin. Maybe even Jason and Maggie, that is if Harvey was able to convince Harry to come."

Kevin rolled his head back and groaned, "You guy's tried to get get Harry to come ," Kevin whined as Gwen began to smooth out his dress shirt with hands, " I can understand Susan and the kids, but Harry!"

"I don't see the problem?" Stated Gwen as she looked up into Kevin's eye's to show her sincerity, "I know you two have problems, but aren't you at least trying to make things better?"

"Yeah, but..." Kevin started before Gwen cut him off.

"Yeah, but nothing!" Declared Gwen, "Your trying to make amends and Harry doesn't think that your redeemable. So what better way to show him he's wrong then to see what a big success you are in the Plumbers!"

"I guess."

"God your stubborn!" exhaled Gwen, "At least rub it in his face, you know gloat the way you always do when something goes your way. And thats only if he's here." she compromised taking Kevin by the hand and leading him to the back yard.

"Now remember to be good, everyone is really excited about your rank and patrol. So your going to get a lot of praise and attention, and I know how you have trouble with the two." explained Gwen as the two rounded the corner and moved to the back yard.

"I don't a trouble receiving any of the two, I'm just not use to getting any." Kevin stated in a matter of fact way.

"Well you better get use to it because your going to get a lot!" shouted Gwen, alerting everyone in the back yard that the two of them were just a few steps away from the fence's gate.

As Gwen reached out for the handle to the gate of the fence Kevin got a strange feeling in the back of his mind. Pausing and looking around for anything that might be putting him on edge, he only met with the quite surroundings of the nice and cozy suburb. Still not feeling at ease Kevin reached under his right sleeve and pressed a button on his Plumbers issue tech tool. A quick and low sounding beep was emitted from beneath Kevin's cloths.

Gwen's ears perked up at the almost silent beep, turning to Kevin who had an innocent look on his face. Raising one of her eyebrows she couldn't help but ask, "What was that sound?"

Kevin only gave her a sideways smirk, "What sound?"

"That sound that just came .. from beneath .. your ..," Gwen started but decided not to finish. She had barely heard anything so she wasn't entirely sure that there had been a sound. Deciding to drop it for now, Gwen moved behind Kevin and began to push him through the gate.

Suddenly there were several bright flashes going off all around the two. And almost a nano second after the flashing stopped a group of old and familiar voices all shouted out in unison, "WELCOME HOME KEVIN!"

Kevin couldn't help but have a large smile on his face as he looked out at the small crowd of friends and family. He was home, he was finally home.

Meanwhile two houses over from the Hacket residence, two dark skinned creatures with eel like features and ugly yellowish eyes laded on top of the roof of the two story house that overlooked the party. The only features that would allow one to distinguish the two apart was that the larger one had a protruding jaw that almost looked like a snout. While the smaller of the two had odd green markings covering it's face. The both of them were looking through the scopes of their very dangerous looking laser rifles, observing the events of the party as they happened.

The large one was currently looking for an opening at Levin's head, but for some reason the young osmosian would move around to a spot that always seemed to have some form of coverage for his head. Keeping him clear of any head shots.

"Do you think he knows?" hissed the surprisingly famine voice of the smaller assassin.

"The larger assassin continued to watch as Levin picked up his little sister and hugged her. As he put her down three other older children ran up to him and demanded hugs. "No he can not know, he is simply cautious. Circle around the block and set up five units away form this location." commanded the leader of he two.

"Try and line up a shot, if you can not then we will simply have to shoot him in the heart. If it comes to that wait for my signal and we'll fire in unison at his heart." he continued to hiss out commands to the smaller female of his race.

The female didn't respond, she simply went about following her orders. The male smiled at the efficiency at which the female followed her orders. It always made things easier when his partner was an expendable submissive drone. The nameless assassin continued to watch as events took place just two houses away. The young hero of the universe and bearer of the Ultramatrix Ben Tennyson was pointing at Levin's head and laughing, while the assassin couldn't see Levin's face he could only assume that he had a scowl on it as the young hero started to back up with a frightened look on his face.

The assassin let out a annoyed sigh as he continued to watch the happy event that would soon turn bloody. While he didn't have a head shot, that didn't mean he couldn't hope for one. Something in the back of his mind told him that if they had to go to the back up plan that things would get ugly, for both parties.

The party had gone on for only thirty minutes and Kevin already wanted to leave. At first everything had been o.k, he had been given a giant hug by both his mother and step sister Hanna. Then his little sister Megan had ran up to him, or more like half ran, half hobbled over in the way that only a two year old could, and demanded to be picked up and given a hug and kiss by her "Bubbee" as she called him. Then after he had put her down, his nephew and two nieces ran up two him to demand attention. Which had been fine, he had always loved them and was happy to see the three of them. And sense Jason and Maggie were here that meant that Harry and his wife Susan were here as well.

After scanning the crowd he spotted them. Susan was busy talking to Charmcaster, probably about magic or something. Sitting in a lawn chair and drinking what looked to be his third beer from the look of the fallen soldiers (as Harvey's father would always say about an empty beer bottle) (That actually what me Grandfather use to say.), was Harry, who didn't look happy to be there. So after making his way over to get the greeting with his step brother out of the way, Kevin was rewarded with a belligerent Harry. And after a few choice words had been slung at Kevin and Susan yelling at Harry to shut up. Kevin decided that maybe he would wait to talk to Harry, if ever.

To make matter more annoying both Ben and Mannie wouldn't stop laughing at his hair. Sure it was a little odd for a badass like Kevin to have grown his hair out, but he liked it. And besides, he had once heard Gwen tell her friend in the wheel chair from her school that she liked guys with long hair. So he had decided to grow it out, but that wasn't really the reason why the two were laughing at it. What had really set them off had been his braid. The only reason he braided it was because one of the instructors at the academy made him do for the graduation ceremony, she had said that it would make him look more respectable and it would also clean him up better. But still the two wouldn't stop laughing. Mannie had finally stopped laughing when Hellan had said that he was just jealous because he was half of an alien that didn't have hair. That had shut Mannie up pretty good.

But Ben was still; well, still being Ben by not letting it go. Luckily Julie had managed to get him to lay off by sending him to go and get the two of them some burgers from Grandpa Max over at the brick BBQ pit that Kevin and Harvey had built a year and a half ago. While Ben was away Kevin had learned that Julie was going to move off to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago, on a full ride scholarship for the tennis team. He had of course congratulate her, only to find out that Ben, who wasn't going to attend school but go full time hero, was going to move out with her. That would put a huge dent in his plans for cleaning up their section. He knew that he would still be able to count on Ben, but to not have him at the ready at all times was going to hurt him.

Then he had to go and find out that both Cooper and Charmcaster were going to move out to New Orleans. While that area was a big trouble spot for magic users and other supernatural stuff, and while having two people that could take care of things down there was good. It still meant that he wouldn't have his tech specialist around to help when needed. Sure Kevin could handle most if not all of the tech problems that might arise, but it still would have been nice to have Cooper around. Then to add to his problems Allen was moving to London, England. So not only was he not going to be in the same state as Kevin, but he wasn't even going to be in the same country.

So to add it all up only Mannie and Hellan were going to stay in Bellwood, Harry was still going to be a dick to him and Kevin still had a bad feeling that something was going on. It was for that very reason that he was staying in the shadows and always had something to block a head shot. Even if all he was doing was standing in a place where there was a tree branch on his left while he had the swing set to his right, he always had some form of protection. But he still felt uneasy.

And he didn't know if it was because of this bad feeling or what Gwen had asked of him on the drive into town. Gwen had asked Kevin to move to Seattle with her. While he always knew that she might ask him to move with her to whichever city she would move to to attend school, he still was caught off guard by it. He was conflicted about what to do, he loved Gwen and was thrilled that she wanted him to move with her and have a more serious relationship. But at the same time his life at home was going great, his mother couldn't be prouder of him if she tried, Harvey and him were doing great, and Megan loved to play with her big brother. Plus there was Hanna and Karin, without a man in Hanna's life Kevin felt that it would be a good thing to be around for both of them. Then there was Harry, yeah he didn't really care to much about staying for him, but there was still Jason and Maggie to think about. He didn't know what to do.

As Kevin was having his eternal debate, he heard Gwen laugh, looking over he saw her talking to her mother as well as his mother. He was always so surprised at how well the three got along. As he watched the three women talk and joke around he heard the laughter of the kids and turned to see that all four of the Hacket kids were swinging off of one of Mannie's arm. One arm to one kid each. The funny thing was that Mannie was enjoying it as much as the kids were. That was always one of the things that people didn't expect about him, that he was good with kids. Even with his giant red body with four orange eyes and four large arms. Kids were never afraid of him, even with the giant metal claw that had replaced his lower right hand. As Kevin watched the scene of the kids laughing and playing in front of him he failed to notice the series of quick flashing lights that was acquiring just two houses down.

After waiting twenty more minutes for an opening, Kevin finally presented one to the two assassins. Immediately signaling the female assassin the male began to line up his shot and count down to the appointed second that the two assassins would fire cooperatively.

"1"

"2"

"3"

"Fire!"

The sound of heavy blaster rifle fire was the only warring that Kevin had before he was hit. Two powerful plasma blasts exploded out of Kevin's back and chest, alerting all of the party people that there were some party crashers about. Mannie was the first to act, yelling for everyone to take cover and for the civilians to get inside the house. As Mannie yelled out orders to the adults he took each of the kids into his arms and ran faster than he ever had towards the house, the kids safety the only thing on his mind. Practically throwing the kids in the house Mannie spun around and pulled out his four plasma pistols that he promised Hellan he would not bring to the party, out from under his specially tailored shirt. He immediately began to fire at the top of the house that Allen was pointing at yelling that the shot came from there.

Hellan and Charmcaster were the next to act, spinning on her heels Charmcaster started to throw an energy bolt in the opposite direction than where Mannie was shooting. She had seen the shot come from behind her, but she didn't know where it came from. But the mana bolt that she had just thrown was a homing shot and would find the shooter. Hellan just arriving back from her armored van with two beam rifles, was lucky enough to see where the homing bolt landed. Tossing the spar rifle to her brother Pierce and pointing to the spot where the sniper was and began to open fire. Pierce quickly followed suit and opened fire.

Max was the next to act pulling out a plasma pistol of his own, he took cover behind the swing set and opened fire at the house that Mannie was firing at. Allen was throwing fire balls up into the air hoping to cast a little more light at the snipers. Allen wished he could do more, but knew that if he attacked the snipers that he would most likely set the neighborhood on fire. Julie and ship had formed up into their power suit and were creating a energy barrier to protect the house and it's occupants.

Ben had turned into Jetray and was trying to get into the air, but every time he'd take flight the two snipers would force him back to the ground. So he was currently providing cover for Gwen and Cooper as they were making their way towards Kevin.

Gwen had tears in her eyes as she made her way towards the fallen body of Kevin. Cooper had to practically hold Gwen up as they made their way to the supposed corpse. Just as Gwen fell to her knees at Kevin's side, a low groan escaped Kevin. Gwen was so overjoyed that Kevin was still alive that she failed to notice that the only damage done to him was that his dress shirt had two giant holes in them. Cooper did notice and took note at the alien cloth he was wearing under his shirt.

"Is that the Sierra fiber weave electronic body armor?" Cooper asked as he grabbed Kevin by the shoulder and began to pull him into a sitting position. Gwen at first began to object when Kevin responded with a yes and began to sit up by his own power.

"And thats not all I'm packing tonight." Kevin stated as he held up his right arm and pulled down his sleeve to show his Plumber tool. "A new Hornet multi tool and storage device, a little going away present from some friends back at the academy."

Gwen was about to ask what was going on when her senses went wild. Immediately throwing up a mana shield, she was just able to stop a quick assault form the two snipers. "It looks like they know that your still alive!"

"Well, guess I'd better make them regret that they failed!" shouted Kevin as he pressed a button on his Hornet. Instantly two plasma rifles materialized in Kevin's hands. Tossing one to Cooper and telling him to help out Pierce and the others to the right he and Gwen went to back up Ben.

Gwen made a mana wall for all of the Plumbers take cover behind, Ben still as Jetray moved over to Kevin, "You look good for a zombie."

"Thanks." was all Kevin said as he started to fire at the assholes that tried to kill him.

Things weren't going well for the assassins, first before they could even retreat after taking down Levin they were immediately fired upon. They hadn't counted on the other Plumbers to be so well armed for a social event. So now they were pinned, if they tried to flee they would be stopped and taken in for questioning. And that couldn't happen, Nova couldn't be tied to this. If it came down to it the male assassin would go down fighting to the death. But he doubted that the female would do the same, he figured that he would have to kill her before this was done.

Then as if to make matters worse, Kevin Levin was still alive and well.

from the looks of things he wasn't even hurt. Probably had some time of armor on. Now the only option available to the assassin was to die in battle. Maybe take Levin down with him. As the male assassin thought out a battle plan the plumbers had finally managed to knock the female out of her position. Causing her to fall off her roof. No longer left the male assassin began to carry out his final acts in life, starting with the death of his partner.

Hellan was always fast, had been all her life. And having the blood of an alien that moved at the speed of sound only made her faster. So when she saw the assassin that she was attacking fall off the roof she was already half way to the house. The alien assassin was about half way down the side of the house as Hellan reached the fence of the house. She had pulled out an energy cord and was about to reach the assassin and tie it up when the one thing she hadn't counted on happened. Just as she reached out to grab the assassin an energy blast flew past her head and straight into the assassin's head. Hellan tried to stop in time but was unable, she ran right into the mess that was the exploding head of the assassin. Hellan skidded to a stop, and looked down at herself in horror. She had blood and brain matter oozing down her body, there were skull fragments that had become embedded in her helmet from the speed in which she ran into them. Hanging loosely from one of her claws was the remains of a sickly yellow eye.

Staring down at herself in horror, and shacking violently Hellan did the only thing that her mind allowed her to do at the moment. She screamed.

(See, I told you it was going to get violent. Shame on those that doubted.)

Pierce didn't see what happened, but he didn't need to. All he knew was that there had been a sickening wet explosion, and then Hellan was screaming at the top of her lungs. Almost instantly Mannie and Pierce made eye contact. Mannie's eyes had a terrified look in them, while he would never admit it to either Hellan or Mannie, Pierce knew how much Mannie cared for Hellan. He was just to pigheaded to admit it to her. And as much as Pierce knew that Mannie wanted to go to Hellan, she was his sister and therefore his responsibility. Signaling Mannie to stand his ground and give him some cover fire, Pierce took off over the Hacket fence and through the neighbors yard to go and reach his sister.

Kevin didn't see what had happened but he had a good idea. The sniper had stopped firing at him and his group when he had her Hellan shout that she's get the target. He had put two and two together, Pierce and his group had taken down their target and Hellan had moved in to secure the target. When the other sniper fired one last shot and went silent. Kevin figured that the sniper knew it was over and was covering it's tracks, and the first thing on it's list was to silence any from of evidence. The second would most likely be suicide run at Kevin himself.

Standing up from his cover he immediately began to bark out orders, "O,k people, that attacker is going to make a suicide run! From up and watch your backs!"

Looking over to Grandpa Max "Majester Max, take up defensive position by the house! Tennyson go Diamondhead and get in the game!" yelled Kevin as Max moved off towards the house and Ben hit the Plumbers symbol on his chest to turn into Diamondhead. "Gwen and Charmcaster back to back, once you see the guy grab him and keep him still. Allen heat up your fists and don't be afraid to get in there. Cooper, Mannie be on guard. And Julie, keep up that barrier!"

Kevin kneeled down and began to absorb the wood from the destroyed slide that lay in ruins before him when Mannie yelled at him to jump away. Acting on pure instinct Kevin rolled to the side just in time to see the butt of a rather large gun being swung down like a cub at the spot he had just been. Looking up Kevin laid eyes on what had to be one of the ugliest aliens he had ever seen, and he spent time in the Null Void. The alien snarled at Kevin and brought his gun up to fire at Kevin when Allen jump in the fray.

Allen was pissed, not only had he been useless in the gun fight but he had heard Hellan scream. For all he knew this bastard might have hurt his friend. "Not today!" Allen yelled as he took ahold of the gun and struggled for ownership. Feeling that he was not as strong as the eel looking alien Allen decided to fight a little dirty.

"Mind if I barrow this?" Allen yelled as he jumped up and threw his feet into the eel mans chest. What came next was a surprise to anyone who knew that Allen was usually a quite peaceful kid. He turned on his flying fires right into the aliens chest.

The alien let out a nasty sheik, letting go of his gun. Surprisingly thought the alien showed very little damage. If any thing it looked angry. Taking advantage of the fact that he had the gun Allen turned it on the alien and fired. Only to be launched back by the recoil. The blast had gone wild and ended up hitting one of the trees in the garden, knocking it over. Seeing that the rifle was too strong Kevin ordered Allen to break it as he charged ahead. Kevin morphed his hands into two giant maces and started to swing at the alien.

As Kevin pressed his advance Mannie and Ben moved up from behind to try and take the alien by surprise. Unfortunately the alien saw them coming, and took out a grenade and through it at the two. A "fuck", and "shit" was all the two could say before the explosion threw them back into the garden. Seeing his friends get blown away like that had pissed Kevin off and caused him to get sloppy. The alien took advantage of the slip up and managed to force Kevin back. Seeing Kevin on the retreat, Cooper raised his rifle and started to fire at the eel man. The plasma blast forced the alien to fall back and change targets. Taking off towards Cooper the alien managed to get close enough grab Cooper by the hair and bring his head down into it's knee.

Seeing her boyfriend get knocked out had pissed Charmcaster off to no end. Forgetting her origianl goal of taking the alien alive, she began to fire wildly at the alien with as many mana bolts as she could. Gwen having seen what had happened to her cousin only moments ago started to fire off her own mana bolts. But all they seemed to do was piss the alien off. The alien bent down to pick up the fallen rifle at Cooper's side and brought up to bear against the two girls.

But before he could fire a giant wall of diamond sprung up in front of him. Confused at first the alien was only given a moments warring when he heard Mannie yell, "Eat this Mother fucker!"

Turn to look behind him the alien was greeted with the sight of Mannie swinging the fallen tree at him. There was no time to dodge and the alien was hit full force with the tree and slammed into the diamond wall. To make sure the fight was out of the alien Mannie swung the tree at him two more times, before throwing it off to the side.

Releasing the energy that he was using Kevin picked back up his rifle and pointed it at the battered alien. Ben went to check on Cooper with Gwen and Charmcaster, Mannie, Allen and Max took up positions behind Kevin guns or fists drawn and pointed at the alien. When the alien started to move Kevin began to ask him questions.

"Who do you work for? Kevin demanded, "Why target me?"

The alien started to chuckle, "You already know that one L Tern Levin." When Kevin started to ask another question the alien simply shook his head and brought his left arm up to his temple. "No, thats all your getting from me."

At that moment a hidden blade shot out from underneath the aliens skin and straight into his brain. Killing him instantly. Kevin was left there stunned, he hadn't expected the alien to kill itself once it was caught. And while he was still left with questions, the alien was right about one thing. Kevin did know who was responsible for this attack.

Nova.

And even though Kevin had planned on talking to everyone about Nova, he had planned on doing that in a week when he officially took over as the Plumber in command. But now Kevin would have to bring to topic to the table sooner rather then later. And he wasn't looking forward to explaining why they all almost been killed.

A dark figure was standing by a window that over looked a large alien city. The mysterious figure stayed in the shadows as a door opened in the background and a lone alien figure walked in. The alien walked up behind and started to talk in a hushed voice. "Sir, it would seem that the hit on L Tern. Kevin E. Levin has failed, resulting in the deaths of both assassins."

The only sign that the figure had heard the alien was a shrug of the shoulders. "It matters not," stated the figure, "I never had any doubts that the hit would fail. No, this was only a statement to Levin.

"A statement that we can get him at anytime and anyplace." chuckled the figure, "He may not have joined us like i would have liked, but he will play his role in everything regardless."

"No one denies Nova."

What evil role does Kevin unknowingly play for Nova, and just kind of past does Kevin and Nova have. Find out next time in:

The Levin Files: Chapter 3, The Truth and Jealousy.