"And that's about all I know what Diamondhead can do." Ben finished up his description of the Petrosapien form and the abilities he could do.
"Hmm, very interesting. Definitely a sturdy fellow to say the least." Gordon stated with a nod. "So what about that device that lets you change forms? Is there a story behind it?"
"Yeah, the creator wanted to have the user literally walk in another's shoes in order to better understand them. The Omnitrix was created for peace, but some saw the watch's potential as a weapon." the teen responded while gently placing his right hand on the alien device. "I had this thing since I was ten years old, and a lot of guys came after me, wanting the stupid watch for themselves."
"Geez, and I thought I had it rough with my job." Gordon said in amazement. "Still, I don't mean to be a grouchy old man here, but I feel you should stop being a hero so much. You are a kid after all, and what you're doing isn't a game."
Ben sighed softly and fell silent, briefly remembering his cousin as he tensed up slightly, his memories shifting towards the horrid image of the Joker with Gwen's head. The way he acted didn't go unnoticed by Gordon, who decided to quickly change the subject. He intended to get the teen to relax around him by having him talk about Diamondhead and the Omnitrix before starting to question him on the park case, but the Commissioner feared his attempt was starting to backfire.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories. I'm worried about you like any good person should be." Gordon said apologetically. "I want you to help me find the bad guy, but I don't want to force the answers out of you. There's only so much I can do, even as the Commissioner. If you don't want to talk any more, we'll stop right here."
Ben couldn't help but smile a little at the man's honesty. He then looked at the Commissioner in the face as he spoke up.
"Nice to know there are guys like you are around here. I've encountered my fair share of cops who aren't really nice during my time here in Gotham." Ben admitted. "Well, don't worry about me not trusting you, if Batman was willing to leave me with you, that means you're definitely someone I can trust."
Gordon smiled as he nodded, understanding that the boy meant what he said.
"Thanks, Ben. That means a lot to me to hear from you." he said gratefully, "Now, are you willing to answer some questions about the park incident?"
"I'll do my best, Commish." Ben responded with a nod.
"First off, can you recount to me what you were doing at that factory the Terrible Trio were at?" the redheaded man asked.
"Well, I followed this thug who beaten up a man, wanting some money the guy owed him." Ben began to recount while crossing his arms.
What Brought Us Together - Part 2 - Jeager Joker
"I must say... As repulsive as they are, I can not stop craving them." Linker muttered to himself in annoyance as he finished chewing on a chili fry.
He was outside of a fast food restaurant that Harley told him about, and he wasn't alone. The energetic jester was currently enjoying an ice cream cone while Ivy watched with a frown on her face. Kevin was sitting on a metal bench that collapsed slightly under his weight as he ate several hamburgers that the clerk "generously gave" him when he came in while tearing the front door off in the process. It was not intentional at all.
"Hey, Mr. Link!" Harley asked. "So what did you with us exactly?"
"My thoughts exactly, Harls." Ivy said in agreement.
Linker nodded as he swallowed and cleared his throat.
"Well, I suppose I can tell you now since nobody is around, thanks to Kevin scaring them off." he said with a smile while glancing over towards Kevin briefly before locking his eyes with the redhead's as he took on a more serious demeanor. "I suppose I should first properly introduce myself. I am actually called Albedo, and I am from an alternate universe. However, I'd prefer if you keep addressing me as 'Linker' like you have been already."
"Oh, this shtick again." Harley said while sighing. "I hear someone who is like that once a month."
"Even so, that is still a tall claim for one to say." Ivy pointed out. "How can I be so sure you're not lying."
"You see, I am actually an alien, but not one that you can find here, like Tamaranians for example." Linker continued. "I am actually of a highly intellectual race known as the Galvan. We are widely considered to be the greatest minds of the universe, despite our diminutive size."
"If you're an alien, then why are you human?" Harley asked in confusion.
Linker sighed as he held up his left arm, revealing his red wristwatch.
"This is the Omnitrix, or rather one that I have created myself. Due to an unforeseen error on my end, I wound up having my default form shift from Galvan to Human." the white haired teen explained while seeing the skeptical looks of both girls.
Sighing, he decided to demonstrate what he can do. Activating the device, he had a red hologram of Goop appear. Both Harley and Ivy were taken back slightly by the hologram's appearance, but the jester actually came closer in a mix of curiosity and awe on her face. She raised a hand and waved it through the hologram.
"Look Red! It's an actual hologram!" she announced in amazement.
"The Omnitrix is a device that allows the user to transform into another alien. I actually assisted with the development of it." Albedo explained before sighing. "Still, I wish Azmuth didn't hog all the credit. Unlike other versions of myself, I won't go to excessive lengths to get recognition, or even claim that I am the Omnitrix's creator. I would like some recognition though for my contribution."
"Would you mind doing a demonstration for us?" Ivy pressed, still not convinced by what Linker told her.
Sighing, the white haired teen nodded before he cycled through his roster before stopping on a suitable form for the occasion. He raised his hand and slammed his hand down on the raised part of the device before being engulfed in a flash of red light, blinding the pair of villainesses briefly before the flash disappeared. Standing in the teen's place was Chromastone with a red eye.
"Do you now believe me, Ms. Ivy?" the transformed Linker asked.
"I will admit that your story is now more credible to me." the redhead admitted before crossing her arms. "Now, what do you want with us, Linker?"
"I need you two to help me look for the other user of the Omnitrix, Ben Tennyson." Linker responded before reverting back to normal in a flash of dark red light. "Every one of those unusual heroes you've seen in the past two years that are not associated with the Justice League or any other group in Gotham are all the same person. A child to be exact."
"A child?" Ivy questioned while frowning. "I find that hard to believe."
"I know, but we need to find Ben quickly. The Joker could show up from where he has been hiding, and he's going to kill Ben if we don't reach him first." Linker said firmly. "Harley should know just how much of an ego the man has towards his public appearance."
Harley was jumping in place, happy to hear that the Joker was coming back.
"Mister Link's right. Mister J doesn't like it when things look like he's being forgotten." she confirmed happily. "He also doesn't like those who try to steal his gimmick."
"Exactly the reason why we need to find Ben." Linker confirmed. "Thanks to the Joker injecting him with an experimental version of Joker Venom, Ben now looks a lot like him. And a hero who looks like him will not settle well. In his eyes, Ben is ruining his image by being a hero."
"That is one of the many reasons I don't like that man." Ivy said spitefully. "Let me get this straight. You basically want us to play hero and help this boy before the Joker finds him."
"Harley, why don't you go ask Kevin about what he can do exactly." Linker said, causing the girl to wander over towards the chimerical boy. Once Harley was away, the teen continued in a dead serious manner. "Ms. Ivy, there is another reason why I'm asking for your help." his voice lowered into a whisper
"And that is?" Ivy asked.
"To ensure that sweet little Harls doesn't die." the former Galvan stated grimly. "You see, I was told by this man named Professor Paradox that you need Ben to ensure that Harley doesn't get killed by the Joker. Trust me when I say that Harley is already marked for death. No matter what she says, the Joker will not trust her once seeing her with Ben. I know you are fond of your friend, and would do almost anything to help her."
Ivy fell silent as she processed what Linker told her. He was indeed correct to say that she would do almost anything she can to help her friend. At the same time, she felt a little insulted
"I would strangle you for making an accusation like that, but as ludicrous as this sounds, a lot of bizarre things happen, so I will give you the benefit of doubt here." the redhead's eyes narrowed as she began to speak firmly. "I will assist you, Linker, bur only for Harley's sake. Mark my words, though; If I discover that you are deceiving us, I WILL make you suffer for it."
Linker nodded in understanding as he and Ivy turned their attention towards Harley, who was bombarding Kevin with an onslaught of questions, much to the chimera's annoyance.
"I'll say this much. I do not know why Ben and Harley must survive, only that it is very important." the former Galvan said with a sigh as his mind drifted off.
I didn't mean to get this Ben dragged into this world. But the good Professor was quite adamant to allow this to happen. Why did he stop me from undoing my mistake that made a kid's life miserable and cost his cousin her mortal life? Yeah, it was an unintentional mistake, but the Caudatian Jumper was damaged by me while fighting Laxolotl. It is still my responsibility to make things right.
Paradox, just what are you trying to accomplish here?
"Okay, that's about all I wanted to ask, Ben." Gordon said with a satisfied smile. "Thank you for taking some time to come here."
The teen smiled as he nodded back as the wind picked up again, causing him to shiver a little.
"Hey, I'm just wanting to prove my innocence." he replied.
"COMMISSIONER!" a voice said through the door of the entryway into the building from the roof.
Ben panicked when the door swung open, revealing a police officer bursting right out.
"Sir, we got a- Is that the Joker?!" the officer said incredulously upon noticing the boy.
"I'm not that sicko." Ben retorted with a frown.
"Who are you then?" the newcomer asked in confusion.
"Believe it or not, Watson, this kid is actually a superhero, like Batman." Gordon spoke up.
Ben's eyes widened, wondering if the older man was ratting him out before seeing him give a quick wink.
"Seriously? Another cape? But why does he look like Joker then?" the officer, Watson, questioned. "What is he called?"
"Uhh, what was your name again?" Gordon asked the kid.
Ben gulped and was silent for a moment in a mental panic.
"Well, I've been trying to keep low, but I guess the cat's out of the bag now." he said uneasily. "I'm uh…" the teen took a moment to think before speaking the first name that came to mind. "the Jeager Joker."
Both Gordon and Watson gave the boy a strange look.
"Uhh, okay…" the officer said with uncertainty.
"Anyway, Watson, what is it that you had to come up here for?" Gordon asked, changing the subject.
"OH! There's been a report of some weird mishmashed monster over at a fast food place just ten blocks West of here. New guy, but he is will Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and some white haired teen. The monster actually ripped the front door right off. Luckily no one is hurt yet."
"Hey, is there anything that was unusual about this monster; like black hair, red skin and one arm that's made of crystal?" Ben asked.
"Crystal arm?" Gordon questioned.
Watson's eyes widened upon hearing that brief description.
"Yeah, that's the guy." the officer confirmed.
Ben's face darkened before he ran to the Western edge of the roof.
"I'm going on ahead, but make sure you get Batman." the teen shouted coldly while activating the Omnitrix. "Kevin is a dangerous guy and won't hesitate to kill. Plus he's with Ivy and Harley, so I'm going to need help with this."
With that he leaped off the ledge as he slammed his open palm on the raised portion of the alien device, being engulfed in a flash of green light. Once it died down, Jetray rose to the sky and flew off as fast as possible.
"Uh, sir, was that Sky High Manta?" Watson asked, dumbfounded at what he saw.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't call him that." Gordon said while smiling a little.
Jeager Joker huh? Kid could do better but it kind of fits if you think about it.
Jetray's fears were replaced with confusion at the sight before him when he arrived. He expected Kevin to be rampaging, plus other villainous acts being acted out. Instead, the worst in terms of damage was the front door of the building being ripped off and the bench Kevin was sitting on bending as it struggled to support his weight as he took a bite out of the burger he held.
"Well, this is anticlimactic." Jetray said dryly before he landed, making his presence known.
"Well, that saves us time…" an unfamiliar voice said. "I guess we brought in more attention than expected."
The Aerophibian narrowed his eyes and held his hand against the Omnitrix, prepared to switch at a moment's notice. He eyed two familiar villainesses he has heard about but kept his distance with.
Throughout the two years within Gotham. Ben avoided the more prominent villains of the city like the Riddler, Scarecrow, and Mr. Freeze. This was mainly because he knew Batman would handle them, plus taking on them would draw more attention towards him then the teen wanted.
The transformed boy's attention began to be drawn more towards the jester like Harley, who was blinking while looking at the alien in awe.
"You can relax, Ben. We are not here to cause trouble." the unfamiliar voice spoke up again. Jetray turned his attention towards the white haired teen who looked like a slightly older version of himself.
"Who are you and how do you know my name?" Jetray demanded while sneering in an attempt of intimidation.
"You can call me Linker, and I'm from a parallel universe where our roles were reversed." the white haired teen responded calmly as he raised his arms up to show he meant no threat to the alien.
"Who cares about you, what about your promise to fix me?" Kevin spoke up in annoyance. "I've been doing what you've told me to do ever since you freed me from the Null Void! I'm starting to get tired of being your lapdog."
"I haven't forgotten our deal Kevin, and after we are done here I'll honor my end. Please, just relax before things get out of hand."
The chimera growled but looked at Jetray.
"Don't get why helping Ben is top priority." he muttered bitterly.
"Wait… help me?" Jetray asked in confusion.
Linker nodded.
"Yes Ben, that is correct. Considering who is attempting to frame you, you're going to need all the help you can get." he said darkly. "There is an alien who is working with the Joker."
"Wait… who's working with Puddin' ?!" Harley screamed incredulously. "Is he two-timing on me?!"
"Ms. Quinzel, please calm down, the alien is male." Linker said.
The jester simply blinked once before calming down.
"So, who's this alien baddy? Vilgax? Ghostfreak?" Jetray asked. "Evil version of myself?"
Linker shook his head.
"He's an Appopolexian." he responded.
"A what?" the Aerophibian asked in confusion.
"Rath." the teen simplified.
"Ohh… Why didn't you say that before?" the alien said in realization.
"Wait, we got another Rath running through town?" Harley asked giddily as her eyes were filled with excitement. "I love Rath! He's so funny with all the things he says!"
"No more sugar for you." Ivy deadpanned.
"Aw, no fair!" the jester whined while pouting.
"This Appopolexian is a serial killer back on his home planet. And a VERY smart one as well." Linker continued. "He came to this reality in order to escape the Plumbers."
"Plumbers?" Harley asked. "You're saying this Rath guy is afraid of people who fix the kitchen sink? LAME!"
"While of the same name, the Plumbers I'm talking about is more of an intergalactic law enforcement group." the teen explained.
"Space Police." Jetray simplified to be safe.
"I'm not a dumdum." Harley grumbled while glaring at the Aerophibian.
" I wonder about that at times, Harls." Ivy said with a sigh.
"Aww, Red!" the jester whined in a cute manner.
"Women…" Linker said dryly as he shook his head.
Jetray turned his attention towards Kevin, his eyes focused on the chimera.
"Are you worried that I'm going to attack you or something, Tennyson?" the mutant retorted while shaking his head. "Sorry, but it isn't worth it."
"Ben, I need to have you understand something." the white haired teen said. "I have spent two years looking for you. I didn't mean to have you come to this world."
Jetray's eyes widened upon hearing what Linker confessed.
"What did you just say?" the transformed boy said in an hostile tone. "Were you the one who stranded me here?"
The former Galvan nodded with a look of deep regret on his face.
"It wasn't my intention to do so. It was a…a mistake I made. "
The words caused a cord to snap within the Aerophibian's mind, causing his mind to be flooded with emotion.
"WELL YOUR MISTAKE DID THIS TO ME!" Jetray screamed before slamming his hand against the Omnitrix, undoing the transformation to reveal his true self, his face contorted to one of emotionally fueled rage. Everyone were surprised to see the boy's sickly white skin and green hair as he clenched his fists before continuing to scream at the top of his lungs. " YOUR DAMN MISTAKE ALSO CAUSED GWEN TO BE MURDERED BECAUSE WE JUST HAD TO FALL ON TOP OF THE GODDAMN JOKER WHEN WE ARRIVED HERE! WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP US SOONER?! WHY DID I HAVE TO GO THROUGH BEING REDICULED AND FEARED BECAUSE OF HOW I NOW LOOK?! WHY DID MY COUSIN HAVE TO DIE!? WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?!"
When he finished, he fell silent as tears streamed down his face as he gritted his teeth. Ben's mind was a turbulence of emotions at this point. From grief of his loss, to hatred towards the white haired teen, Ben was ready to do something at the slightest provocation. Linker fell silent as he averted his gaze.
"Look, I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you, and nothing I can do can fix what happened." he said solemnly while clenching a fist.
"Hey, Linky, not to spoil the moment, but what now?" Harley interjected.
Kevin shrugged before looking towards Linker. "Kick some butt before running for it?" he suggested.
"I'm for that!" Harley said in agreement before reconsidering. "Although, I don't wanna be cuffed tonight, though."
"Well, we didn't really do anything illegal." Linker said calmly. "The front door was probably the worst we've did. A minor issue at best."
"I agree, Linker." Ivy said in agreement. "We have nothing to fear as long as we don't do anything that would warrant Batman's attention."
As they spoke, Ben lowered his head while slowly reaching for the Omnitrix.
"You're going to pay…" the boy said darkly under his breath.
"Hold on, let's think before we act rashly here." Linker pleaded, realizing what Ben's intentions were.
"Oh, I've had time to think. Two years worth to be exact. You know what I was going to do when I meet the guy responsible for bringing me here?" Ben stated darkly as he activated the Omnitrix. "I was going to beat the hell out of him until he only had an inch of life left."
Linker's eyes closed as he sighed.
"I was hoping we could resolve this peacefully, but alas." he said solemnly as he activated his own Omnitrix. "I will oblige with helping you vent then, but I am not going to fight back."
Both users of the Omnitrix selected their respective forms and then slammed their palms down on the raised parts of the device. The pair were then engulfed in flashes of conflicting light, with Linker being the quicker of the two. Replacing the former Galvan was Diamondhead. When the other light died down, the Petrosapien's mouth dropped as his eyes widened at what he saw.
Standing before Diamondhead was a creature that rivaled the alien in height. It was standing on two sturdy legs that ended in four toed feet that made an "X", the toes ending with hooked, ebony claws. The posture had the beast lean forward, yet wasn't hunched, allowing the long, slender forearms to reach the ground with ease. At the end of the arms were not a pair of hands, but a pair of singular claws that matched the feet's talons in coloration, but were thicker and straight, incapable of grasping.
The torso was slim yet robust, while the waist had a thick, flexible tail acting as a counterweight. His neck was short and barely noticeable, preventing the Dimetrodon-esque head from being able to be as flexible as a human's. The creature opened its mouth, revealing a row of yellowed serrated teeth with a black tongue that ended in a point. Its leathery hide was a predominate navy blue with a light blue underbelly, contrasting the bright green eyes with slits for pupils.
"What is that form?" Diamondhead asked incredulously.
The blue creature opened its mouth, letting out a screech as fog seeped started to surround it. Rapidly, a row of ice spikes formed along the middle of its back, vaguely resembling the Dimetrodon's sail. As it stepped, the ground was covered with ice.
"You are going down." the transformed Ben hissed in a soft, raspy tone before starting to run towards the Petrosapien.
"I never seen that form before, but it obviously capable of freezing the air around him." the transformed Linker deduced before he saw the unfamiliar alien's feet actually picking up speed, skating across the ground on a layer of ice that formed underfoot as it swiftly twisted its body. Diamondhead raised his arms up in front of him to block the tail, causing them to be pushed back slightly as the blue alien skidded across the ice path he created, using his toes to slow down.
"Calm down Ben, please, I am not your enemy!" Linker said before he was struck in the face with a chunk of ice. "Oww."
The transformed Ben screeched again as chunks of ice materialized and floated around the alien before arranging themselves into two long arms with three sharp claws that floated close to the body.
"I stand corrected, it is actually Cryokinesis…" the Petrosapien grumbled. "I really should've gone with the Pyronite."
Nearby, the three observers weighed their options.
"Wonder if I should jump in." Kevin wondered out loud. "What about you two?"
"This isn't our problem, so Harley and myself have no gain to intervene." Ivy said bluntly while crossing her arms.
"I want to help Mr. Link help calm down Ice Ridge." the jester countered, eliciting looks from the other two spectators. "Well, what else can we call him? Mr. Freeze is taken already."
"Ice Ridge? I like the sound of that." the cryokinetic alien overheard while nodding in approval.
"Ben, I mean Ice Ridge, just let me expl-UGGH!" Diamondhead pleaded before he was struck by a larger ice chunk, this time sending him flying back with enough force to topple a nearby light post.
Ice Ridge raised his upper lip, making his best attempt at a sneer while growling. He began to skate once again as he raised his limbs of ice, intending to strike the Petrosapien.
Before the blue alien could move any further, a flash of light appeared between both aliens, blinding both them and the spectators.
"AACK! BRIGHT LIGHT! BRIGHT LIGHT!" Harley wailed.
"AW, COME ON!" Ice Ridge complained as he halted in place as the flash died down.
"So, what is it that brought you here, Batman?" Ivy asked calmly as she closed her eyes. "The fight? Or was it myself?"
"I heard of some kind of monster spotted here, and have been watching since Ben arrived." the Dark Knight responded, announcing his presence to all the temporarily blinded.
"Glad you showed up, Bats. That Diamondhead is the guy responsible for having me come here in the first place! He's the one who killed Gwen!" Ice Ridge stated while shaking his head, having his eyesight come back to him. Once he could see again, he noticed the Dark Knight standing in front of him.
"Ben, you need to calm down. Your emotions are getting the better of your judgment." Batman said firmly. "You're close to crossing a line you can't come back from."
"He's right. Obviously you've been frustrated by this for a long time, but I want to help you out." the transformed Linker added. "You're a hero, remember?"
Ice Ridge growled softly before falling silent. He took a moment to think as he forced himself to calm down. They were right. His emotions did get the best of him just now. Two years worth of frustration and anger he wasn't even aware were lurking in the recesses of his mind. He thought he had already accepted his current situation, but he started to realize that was a mistake. He wanted to senselessly beat up the guy responsible, even though he searched for him in order to help. Yeah, he was becoming aggressive, but he knew he shouldn't do something like that. Just as the Petrosapien stated, he was a hero.
The arms of ice immediately collapsed to the ground, the ice shattering upon hitting the ground as Ice Ridge looked over towards Diamondhead just as he reverted back to Linker. The alien closed his eyes as he himself vanished in a flash of light, being replaced with Ben.
"Linker, I have questions that I need answers." Batman said as he turned to the former Galvan. "Like why are you with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy when you claim you wish to help Ben. Those two are criminals."
"We haven't done anything wrong, Batsy!" Harley protested.
"The door?" the vigilante pressed.
"Kevin's the one responsible." Linker confessed. "It wasn't intentional though."
"HEY!" the chimera snapped in annoyance. "Not my fault it was too small for me!"
"As for your question, I needed their skills with finding Ben, but instead, he came to us." Breaker explained. "That and to prevent them from causing trouble for you, as they wanted to meet Ben as well."
Batman's eyes narrowed as he remained silent.
"Look, can't you just let them go?" Ben asked, speaking up. "I've got this under control."
"Do you believe you got yourself under control?" the Dark Knight questioned with a glare.
Ben fell silent, knowing he couldn't argue with the man.
"I have contacted authorities and you are wanted for questioning. For the record, none of you will be arrested." the vigilante continued. "However, with Ben's behavioral display earlier, I don't think I can leave him alone for now."
"Aww, man!" Ben groaned.
Linker nodded before turning towards the two villainesses.
"Please listen well. I want to make it clear that if word about what Ben and I can do, the news will turn Gotham into a war zone. Would you be so willing to put a kid through hell?" he said calmly.
"I'd rather have things stay the way they are. I do not want to see someone like Penguin or Two-Face getting their hands on those devices." Ivy responded calmly.
"I'll keep my lips shut, but on only one condition!" Harley said. " Red and I get to hang out with Ben!"
"WHAT?!" the redhead and Linker screamed incredulously.
"Out of the question." Batman responded firmly.
"Come on, think about it!" Harley said. "I ain't asking you to turn a blind eye. I think we can compromise here."
Batman fell silent as he listened to the former psychologist.
"Harley, have you lost your mind completely?" Ivy questioned her friend.
"Think about it Red. If my hunch is correct, then Swampfire is standing right in front of us." the jester explained. "Besides, I got a feeling Bats here isn't going to let us go scotch free, even if we didn't do anything wrong this time."
"It makes sense. I believe Batman here was trying to hide the truth about Ben's source of powers in order to keep him safe." Linker spoke up. "A logical choice of action considering just how powerful the Omnitrix is."
"So how about this Batsy? You can give Red and me something to let you keep tabs on what we're doing, and let Benny here keep an eye on us."
The Dark Knight scowled in silence before his eyes darted over towards Linker and Kevin.
"If you are concerned about us, we will be willing to comply with similar conditions." the former Galvan said with a sigh. "Plus Kevin and I can assist Ben with handling Ms Ivy or Ms Quinzel should they attempt to do anything…unfavorable."
"It isn't enough." Batman said firmly. "The risk is still too great for Ben."
"Bats." Ben spoke up softly, catching the vigilante's attention. "While I'm a bit uncomfortable with it, I think it's actually a good idea. I can help you keep an eye on Harley and Ivy, which in turn means less criminals for you to worry about. Plus it'll make it less likely for word to spread about my secret if I am nearby. Which I think will be a bigger risk than having Ivy trying to kill me."
The frown on Batman's face only grew as he listened to the boy.
"If you can arrange things with someone capable of pulling some strings, you can have all of us be in one spot." the boy continued before sighing. "Besides, there's something about the Omnitrix I've kept secret. You know how I've refused the Wayne Foundation's offer in research in finding a way to fix my appearance? The truth is, the Omnitrix seems to be able to do that. I haven't used it because I chose to remain this way."
Ben walked over towards Kevin, who narrowed his mismatched eyes.
"What do you want with me Tennyson?" he asked with a trace of hostility.
Ben simply raised the Omnitrix as the hourglass began to blink.
"Damaged DNA detected, commence repairs?" an unfamiliar male voice asked from the alien device itself.
"Yes, but only the one closest to me." Ben said before closing his eyes as the device's core raised and started glowing.
Kevin was starting to panic, raising his right fist to punch the boy before he noticed Linker. The Former Galvan shook his head in discouragement, just as the chimera's body began to crack, starting with the raised arm.
"What's going on with me?!" Kevin said as he saw his arm crumble away. His fear turned into awe when he saw a human arm being exposed from within the crumbling limb. The chimerical body crumbled away, revealing a now human Kevin who slumped to his knees while looking at his hands in disbelief.
"I'm…cured?" the boy asked before he slowly raised his hands to gently feel his face. Before too long, tears started to form into his eyes. "I'm normal again…"
Ben opened his eyes and smiled a little before looking at his own hands, noticing that they were still a pasty white.
Batman went over towards Kevin and knelt beside him. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Kevin smiled and nodded.
"Better than I've been in the past three years." he said with confidence.
Ben turned his attention towards Linker.
"Hey, I just got to know, why wasn't Kevin going after me?" he asked.
"While he was stuck as a chimera, his mind had managed to regain some sanity, enough to be reasoned with." the white haired teen explained. "It isn't safe for one of Osmosian heritage to absorb energy to begin with, and the life force from other lifeforms will guarantee insanity."
"Wait…what are you saying?" Ben asked in confusion.
"It means as long as he doesn't absorb energy or touch the Omnitrix again, he won't be your enemy." Linker said with a sigh.
"What else can I do? Just live a boring life and don't use my powers?" Kevin spoke up.
"Far from it actually. You just don't know the full extent of your abilities." the former Galvan refuted. "Trust me, you can be a superhero without needing to rely on energy again."
"What can Kevin do exactly?" Ben asked.
"For example, turn his hand into an spiked mace made out of steel." Linker responded with a smirk. "He just needs to be taught how to use his powers properly, and I have that very knowledge."
Both Ben and Kevin's jaws dropped upon hearing that before looking at each other at what they've heard before Kevin smirked.
"Well, looks like I can do more than we thought I could. Sweet." the raven haired boy said smugly.
"Oh please, I bet I got a form that can let me do what you can do but better!" Ben retorted.
"Bet you'll suck though." Kevin countered.
"Well I've got more experience as a hero than you do!"
"Oh please, you need more than that."
As the two boys argued with one another, Linker turned his attention towards the Dark Knight.
"As you can see, both Kevin and Ben are adolescents, and they do need someone to guide them with their gifts." the former Galvan explained. "I am willing to help guide them to use their abilities for good. With your supervision of course. While Ben obviously has the heart to be one, I know from experience that it can be swayed. Plus we need to keep an eye on Kevin as well."
Batman watched the boys before giving a ghost of a smile. The way the pair acted reminded him of Dick when he was Robin. The man underneath the cowl understood what the white haired teen was implying.
"I suppose you bring a valid point." he said. "Quinn, Linker. I will agree to your propositions, but only on my terms."
"Thank you." Linker said in gratitude before smiling before looking towards the jester. Harley's face beamed with excitement as she ran over towards Ben and hugged him tightly, causing the boy to gasp in surprise as the jester lifted him from the ground.
"We're going to have so much fun together!" Harley squealed in happiness.
"Can't breathe!" Ben gasped as he squirmed to get free.
Standing on the tower of Wayne Industries, Professor Paradox smiled as he looked at his pocket watch.
"They have finally all come together." the man said while placing the watch into his white lab coat. "I have to say, things have been progressing as I've hoped." A gust of wind blew against him, causing his jacket to sway a little. The Time Walker turned and looked off into the distance.
"Considering what is lying ahead in the future. Ben and Mr. Wayne are going to be needing all the help they can get. I simply hope that what I've allowed won't change Ben or Kevin's fates. Especially with Gwen's absence." the timeless man closed his eyes and sighed. "I am not in my jurisdiction being in this reality, so I cannot do anything more than what I have already done."
The Time Walker closed his eyes and walked off, vanishing from reality as he stepped behind a vent.
Form Name: Ice Ridge
Race: Cryomancian
Home Planet: Aesir XII
Bio: Hailing from the frozen planet Aesir XII, these creatures evolved thick hides to stay warm. They are beings capable of safely creating ice on their body and around themselves from the moisture in the air or on their skin. Cryomancians also have telekinetic powers that allows them to create artificial arms of ice capable of grasping. The feet evolved to act like skates while the natural forearms evolved to allow for better turning while skating. They are natural born speed skaters as a result, capable of reaching speeds up to 40 MPH on ice. As a result, Cryomancians are not naturally swift or agile when running opposed to skating. The additional arms they can create allowed them to attain sentience.
Due to their origins, Cryomancians are not capable of handling hot temperatures for long periods of time. Should temperatures reach high levels, this will be lethal to a Cryomancian. This is due to how their hides evolved to retain heat. Due to the hide, they cannot regulate their core body temperature with their cryokinetic powers. To live in places that are hot, they must wear special suits that keeps them cold. High temperatures also nullify their ability to freeze the moisture around them.
Despite the predatory appearance and being descendants of such, Cryomancians are actually docile and more civilized than perceived. The docility is a result of an ancient religion that has been practiced for over generations, but they are not afraid to fight if necessary. They have an instinctual competitive streak that shows itself in contests. The Cryomancians' favorite competition is speed skating amongst themselves, while they also participate in other skating based sports with other races.
In combat, Cryomancians rely more on their cryokinetic made arms and skating for attacking, but their natural forearms can be used to deliver powerful jabs with enough force capable of piercing solid ice up to five inches deep. However attacking like this makes them quite cumbersome, incapable of making a quick turn due to the reliance of the forearms.
Stats
Strength: 4
Speed: 2(normal)/4(skating)
Intelligence: 4
Endurance: 4
Combat Skill: 5
Weakness: temperatures 80° F and above.
CCR
Blazorna: Well, with that, I bring the prologue to a close. First off, thanks for the support so far everybody. I'm surprised with just how many people have added this story to their favorites list or are following it now. Guess I've been doing things right despite winging it for the most part.
Now, onto Linker. First off, I'm going to confirm that Linker is NOT the same Albedo who shows up in The Troubles of a Misplaced Hero. Linker is a good version of him that comes from an alternate reality where roles of the characters are reversed. Originally, I had him planned to be a villain, but I realized that you don't actually see a good Albedo that often, so I figured why not switch things up? That and he wouldn't have worked as well with another idea I want to use.
Harley: *comes in carrying a stack of papers* Hey, Mr. B! We got some questions that need to be answered!
Blazorna: I got it. *takes stack and reads top page.*
Questions :
Bigby the Big Bad Wolf- What are the pairings?
I got a few pairings in mind already. But saying what they are would be spoilers.
Mj4wzpw - If you're planning on Ben having a harem like the Queen's Blade crossover, will Harley and Ivy be part of his harem?
I mean no offense to you readers, but I can't help but chuckle a bit of how many people immediately labeled this a harem story. For those unfamiliar with the term, a harem story is where either the main protagonist has three or more people romantically interested with him or her at the same time, or the main protagonist has multiple lovers at the same time and they're alright with sharing. This is actually a common theme in anime and manga, as well as in fan fiction, which proves it is a popular theme.
Anyway, the answer to that question is this; THERE IS NO HAREM PLANNED AT THIS TIME!
It MAY change depending on circumstances, however I strongly advise that you don't hold your breath. Allow me to explain. The biggest issue is whom would be fitting for being part of Ben's harem if there is one, aside from possibly Harley. I got other plans for Ivy, and I'm also one who tries to respect canon relationships for the most part. So do not expect any who have romantic relationships with Batman, like Talia Al Ghul or Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, going for Ben.
As for other characters from Ben 10, I'm unfortunately most likely going to omit them, due to the fact Ben is in a different universe set before the events of Alien Force. And Kai? *eye twitches while mouth froths a little* NO! Let's just say I'm on Team Anyone But Kai.
Moving on, I'm open to hear your suggestions on potential candidates however. Just make sure that your suggestion won't completely clash with DC canon, be out of character (OOC) for the character in mind, or cause plot holes. I may be winging it, but I am doing the best I can to not disregard things that are possibly useful.
NARUHAREM FOREVA -What about the alien forms shown in Ben 10k?
If we're talking about the version of Ben 10K from the original, I may use only those who have an actual physical appearance, such as Articguana and Buzzshock. I consider the ones who were only mentioned, like Atomix and Toepick, but had a physical debut in Omniverse as Omniverse aliens.
SOMEONE IN THE NEAR FUTURE- What about the loose ends?
I KNOW someone is going to wonder something like this, so I'm going to answer this ahead of time. I am not intending on leaving those loose ends unresolved. I got an idea to make it part of an overall arc actually. What the arc entails, is still unknown to even myself right now. Yeah, I meant it when I said I'm winging it.
Frothy: *charges in with a horde of normal chickens behind him* Bucka!
Blazorna: *Deadpans* Why do you need an army of chickens?
Frothy: Bukbuk bwak!
Harley: *Looks confused* Uhh, my clucking isn't as good as yours, Mr. B. Mind translating?
Blazorna: Apparently Frothy has declared war on the Fourth Wall…
Harley: How is that even possible?!
Blazorna: Harley, we're talking about a rabid chicken that is capable of using a chainsaw that also has rabies, don't ask how that came to be, and is able to beat me at poker. I've also been sniped with a brick once by the Fourth Wall itself. I've long since stopped asking "How?" and just rolled with it.
Harley: Okay…
Blazorna: Anyway, Frothy, I have no intention of starting a war on the Fourth Wall. I do not want another brick to the head.
Frothy: buk bukbuk buk?
Blazorna: It's worse than an arrow to the knee, stupid fowl! If I wasn't so thick headed, I could've died!
Harley: I…I'm lost here…
Blazorna: Trust me, you get used to it.
Anyway, I've got a small announcement, I've gotten a poll up and it's to see what original forms I've came up with that you'd like to see the most. Most forms on the list also will show up in the original, while I got an idea for a form that only will show up in this story.
Here's the list of who are going to be on the list, plus one or two abilities the form can do. Those who have come from the original story should note that while these are the same forms of the non-Deltas from my previous poll, these abilities are ones that aren't mentioned before, or weren't as elaborated upon there. The Batman characters listed after the description indicate which one the form will face off against in their debut.
Torrentula - Webbing is usable underwater, able to walk on water and most surfaces. -Vs Ra's Al Ghul
Jack Slammer - arms are elastic, allowing greater reach for his powerful punches. -Vs Bane
Gravitude - capable of creating balls of condensed gravity. Able to track someone through the ground through even the weakest vibrations - Vs. Man-Bat
Brighterfly - able to fire plasma bolts after charging. Capable of hypnotizing enemies. - Vs. Firefly
Snaptrum - Able to "Swim" underground while dorsal fin is aboveground. Able to bite the incorporeal. - Vs. Killer Croc
Gulp Weed - able to adjust the acid he can spew out, including what it can dissolve. - Vs. Killer Moth
Synchronic - able to be physical and incorporeal at the same time. Capable of possessing someone while intangible and learn opponent's moves via muscle memory. - Vs. Deathstroke
Sandshifter - able to use any kind of sand like material if sand isn't present, but is not as effective. Can grow up to Way Big size. -vs Clayface
Chemicroc - Immune to most toxins and poisons that would be lethal to humans. Has jaw strength that is capable of crushing steel. - Vs. Mad Hatter
Brawlamander - prehensile tongue that is also able to shatter rock. Faster swimming than running. - Vs. Prof. Pyg
Xenophobe - Able to tap into one's greatest fears. Can see in multiple light spectrums at once- Vs. Scarecrow
Kilo Shell - Living battering ram with genius level intelligence. Able to manipulate the density of its carapace, able to become extremely heavy, and bullet resistant, as a result. - Vs Red Hood (Jason Todd)
I've set this up this way so that not only have I got a new form to show, but a rough idea of where to go with this story. I've set the options like this as the forms should provide interesting matchups. Remember, the abilities listed are NOT the full extent of what these forms can do. Even Ice Ridge has a few more tricks up his sleeve.
That's about it for now, so thanks for the support, and please leave a review if you have the time. Just have more than just "update soon" or anything similar please! If you have any ideas, throw them my way, just make sure you keep in mind of what I've said if they're for harem candidates. I am listening. Other than that, take care and I hope to see you all next time.