Second Year
We're travelling through time and space on the Time Train, Kevin and Mao were having lunch with me on the train's dining cart. "This food is delicious." she said.
"This train contains some of the best food across space and time."
"I remember bits and fragments of my old life. How come I or we in this case never heard of the Time Train?" he asked.
"The train's design is unique; it's based on a typical Japanese bullet train. The Conductor used some of the theories I came up during my years in Los Soledad. He corrected some of the mistakes I made during the experiment I conducted. The train also contains a Universal Drive, which makes the train capable to travelling through multiverses, like the one we're about to head to now."
Ryota then enters the cart. "Speaking of that, where are we heading?" he asks.
"To an earth unlike any other. In this parallel earth, Ben doesn't discover the Omnitrix in the current timeline. Instead, he discovers it in the 1910s with Max during a fishing trip. Twenty years later, he's a private investigator, while combating villains and rogues at night."
"You make it sound its something from pulps."
"That my dear is why I dubbed the parallel earth as Ben Noir."
The train arrives at an abandoned rail-yard outside the city. After a quick costume change for Kevin, Mao and Ryota, we got off the train and they noticed something immediately. "Wait, this isn't Bellwood, this is New York."
"Indeed, the Ben Tennyson we're looking for currently is residing in this city somewhere."
Ryota soon notices the drones flying above us. "We're not alone, if the drones are here, that means Organisation X can't be that far behind. We better move quickly if we want any chance of saving Ben." We began to search the city for Ben, I check the New York Public Library, and there was no sign of him. Kevin and Mao check Grand Central Station, but they couldn't find him. Ryota checks Hell's Kitchen and he notices an apartment building is on fire. He rushes over to the scene. He hears a child crying as she is trapped. "It can't be helped. Let's Henshin."
He gets his Omnitrix out, places it around his waist and he flips the switch. Omnitrix set. He inserts the transformation card into the slot and he flips the switch. It's Hero Time! He transforms into Ten Rider, he gets an alien card out, inserts it into the slot and flips the switch. Alien card set, change alien, Water Hazard. He transforms into Water Hazard, rushes pass the crowd and enters the building. He puts out the fires using his abilities, he finds the girl scared.
"Its okay, nobody is going to hurt you. What's your name?"
"Cecilia." she says.
"It'll be all right, Cecilia. I need you to trust me."
She holds her hand out; he picks her up and carries her out of the building. He puts her down and she reunites with her father. He reverts back to Ten Rider.
"Thank you for saving my daughter."
"Not a problem, I need your help with something. I'm looking for a man named Ben Tennyson, do any of you lot know where he is?"
"Yeah I heard of him. What's this all about?" one of the bystanders replied.
Ryota immediately recognises him. "Aren't you Ignacius Bauman?"
"How do you know my name?"
"Educate guess, could you excuse me for a moment while I change out of my work clothes."
Over at Carnegie Hall, I met up with Kevin and Mao to discuss our progress. "Man, finding one guy isn't an easy task."
"With a city with over a million people living in it, it's like finding a needle in a haystack."
My watch goes off and I answer it. "Professor, I found a lead on Ben's whereabouts. I'm meeting a friend of his, sort of. I'll get back to you when I'm done."
"At least Ryota is having better luck."
Over at a former speakeasy, Ignacius Bauman heads around to the bar and pours two glasses of rye. Ryota declines the offer of a drink. "Suit yourself." he said.
"How is it you know Ben Tennyson?" Ryota asks.
"We met some years back during the final years of the Prohibition. This speakeasy has seen a lot of good days and plenty of action. Then the Depression comes in and takes most of my customers away from me. I call Ben every now and then for a favour. Whether it's rounding drunken bums and throwing out on the streets. Or dig up some dirt on a politician, a celebrity or your average Joe. He was a real all round nice guy. Then these mechanical beings showed up a couple years back and they said they were looking for him. My guess, they want him dead."
"So what happened?"
"He disappeared, I checked his office one day and the landlady told me he just left without saying goodbye. Not long after, his close associates from Kevin, his lovely cousin Gwen and his lover also vanished."
"Is there anyone close to him I can to talk to?"
"There is, he's a former copyboy and he now works as a photographer for the New York Post. His name is Jimmy Jones." He gets a piece of paper, writes down the address where Jimmy is living and gives it to Ryota. "This is where he is living. Hopefully, you should find him there."
Sometime later, he arrives at the address to find Jimmy and his girlfriend being attacked the drones and a member of Organisation X. "Now for the last time, tell me where Ben 10 is so you and your pretty lady won't get hurt." the member said.
"Hey, whatever happened to asking nicely?"
They turned around and the member immediately recognises him. "You're that punk who killed Number Four. This is a good opportunity to get my revenge. I am Number Six and I'll be the guy to kick your butt."
"Eh? You sure don't want to be pushed, stamped, filed, briefed, debriefed and numbered?"
"Joke all you want, but cracking wisecracks ain't going to get you nowhere. Now then, what name should I put on your gravestone?"
"I'm just a passing through Ben 10, remember that. Let's Henshin!"
He gets his Omnitrix out; he puts around his waist and flips the switch. Omnitrix set. He inserts the transformation card into the slot and flips the switch again. It's Hero Time! He transforms into Ten Rider just as the drones fired rockets at them. He gets a card out, inserts it into the slot and flips the switch. Defence card set, Bloxx, Block Shield. A pile of blocks appears in front of him, they shielded him from the blast and they vanished after they shielded him.
"Not bad for a bunch of amateurs. Let's make this showy!"
He fights off the drones and Number Six, he inserts another card into the slot and he flips the switch. Alien card set, change alien, Terraspin. He changes into Terraspin as Number Six throws some punches at him.
"Changing into a turtle won't save you." He backs off. "I'll be back to finish the job off."
Number Six flees the area and Ten Rider reverts back to normal. "I haven't seen that alien before." Jimmy said.
"I take it you're Jimmy Jones?"
"I am and thanks for the heroics back there."
"I'm looking for Ben Tennyson. There's a chance his life is in danger."
"No kidding, I've spent thirty months looking for him."
"That's two and a half years."
"Yeah, he took off shortly after being defeated by those robots."
"So he fought back, this means he's gone into hiding." He gets his communicator and talks to me. "Professor, does the Omnitrix emit energy?"
"Only Omnitrix radiation, which makes it easy to track." I answered.
"All right, I'll talk to you later." He puts his communicator away. "It looks like he's figured they were tracking him through the Omnitrix. Since you're Ben's buddy, do you know where he might hide?" Ryota asks.
"Not really, he's really private about a lot of things. I do know where his apartment is." Jimmy replied.
Minutes later, he arrives at Ben's apartment; he kicks the door down and enters the apartment. He turns the lights on to find the apartment empty. He enters the kitchen, opens the fridge to find it empty. "Figures, it looks like he packed up and left town."
"Not quite." He turns around and he realises he standing in front of Ben Tennyson. "A little birdie told me some people were looking for me. At first, I thought it was those drones and that creature. Then I heard someone possessed the same technology I used to change into those aliens." he said.
"I didn't mean any disrespect or offence. We need to talk. Your life is in danger."
"We got nothing to talk about. I lost everything since those drones and the creature showed up." He gets a box out of his jacket pocket, opens it and shows Ryota his Omnitrix. "All because of this." He puts it away. "I was ten years old when I discovered the watch during a fishing trip. For seventeen years, I kept everyone safe. Then everything changed, I lost a few good friends, including my lover, Robert. I convinced my cousin and her boyfriend to leave the city for their protection. I figured those drones were tracking me somehow. It's why I kept the watch hidden."
"So you've given up, just like that?"
"The original plan was to lay low and wait for them to leave. I realised it wasn't going to be that simple."
"They would've killed you and taken your Omnitrix. How did you manage to evade capture?"
"I'm a private investigator, I have my resources."
"Since I found you, I better report in to my friends."
"Don't, I want to go and pretend you never saw me."
"Hey?"
"You heard me. Its better this way."
"I see." Ryota heads towards the door. "Before I leave, ask yourself this: do you think Robert would've approved? Seeing you like this, wasting your talent away like this?"
Ryota then leaves the apartment and the building. Sometime later, we met up in a diner as we discussed what happened.
"I find it hard to believe the Ben of this earth is gay." Mao said.
"Not every Ben shares the same sexual orientation." I said.
"One thing is certain; he still hasn't forgiven himself for what's happened to Robert."
"So what now?" Kevin asked.
"Organisation X is still a problem and we can't leave until Number Six is disposed of."
Later, Number Six is hanging around a construction yard as another member arrives to check on his progress. "You were supposed to find Ben and eliminate him, not get involved in a scuffle with an imposter." he said.
"This guy is a threat to our goals, Number Two." Number Six said.
"It would seem so. The boss isn't going to be please by this setback. Number Nine assures me he's working on a couple things that'll solve our problems. He also says one of them is ready to go."
Morning came as I and Ryota went over to Ben's apartment. We found it deserted again. "That idiot took off. He must've fled after my encounter with him."
"And he didn't leave a clue to tell anyone where he's heading to."
"I think I know where he's heading. If you're a wanted man trying to flee New York, where would you go?"
Later, at Grand Central Station, Ben is purchasing a ticket to leave New York. He gets his ticket, heads back to the centre and waits for his train. Ryota and I arrived in the nick of time to stop him from making the worst mistake of his life.
"You lot are persistent, I give you that." Ben said.
"You think leaving New York will make things better. It's going to make the current situation worse. They'll never stop until every Tennyson is dead and every Omnitrix in their possession." Ryota said.
"You're right about that." They turned around and noticed Number Six, a group of drones and another being in front of them. "I'm back for round two and I've brought a friend this time. Say hello to the Omni-Droid. An android unlike anything you've seen." Number Four said.
The Omni-Droid begins to shape-shift into one of Ben Tennyson's foes, namely Ultimate Aggregor. "Shape-shift commenced, shape-shift into Ultimate Aggregor." it said.
I, Ryota and Ben were shocked to see the android's abilities. "See, Omni-Droid has the ability to shape-shift into any one of Ben Tennyson's bad guys. In other words, fight fire with fire as they say."
"Professor, get Ben out of here. I'll deal with these clowns." I grabbed Ben and we left the station. "Let's Henshin!"
Ryota gets his Omnitrix out, puts it around his waist and flips the switch. Omnitrix set. He gets the transformation out, inserts it into the slot and he slips the switch. It's Hero Time! He transforms into Ten Rider. He engages in a battle with Number Six and the drones. The Omni-Droid joins in the fight, it throws a punch and it sends the Rider flying into the box office.
"Not bad for a cheap copy."
He gets an alien card out, inserts it into the slot and he flips the switch. Alien card set, change alien, NRG. He transforms into NRG and gets back in the fight. He defeats the drones and he resumes his fight with the Omni-Droid. The Omni-Droid soon shape-shifts into Hex and it defeats Ten Rider. He reverts back to his normal, while Omni-Droid shape-shifts back to its default form.
"I got to hand it to Number Nine, I'm impressed. The kid really pulled through. Right then, back to the task at hand."
Number Six and the Omni-Droid leave the station to resume their search for Ben. Seconds later, Kevin and Mao picked Ryota up as we joined up with them.
"Why didn't you run? You knew the odds were against you and yet you fought back. Why?"
"That's what a hero does. No matter how things are grim, there's always hope. Let me ask you this, why did you do the things you did?"
"It was to protect people. It was never about me." We left the station and we sat down on the steps as the cops arrive. "You were right, things are going to get worse as long as those two around. I've been an idiot. Robert would've been disappointed in me."
"No he wouldn't. He would've understood your actions. It looks like you got your courage back."
"I guess I have."
"We better head back to the Time Train and find out what we're dealing with."
Sometime later on the Time Train, Ben is wowed by the train's design, while the Conductor finishes his analysis on the Omni-Droid. "Whoever designed this android knew what they were doing. The Omni-Droid incorporates a lot of technology, nanites mostly. It has the ability to change shape." the Conductor said.
"That would explain why it change into Aggregor and Hex."
"Its powerful, considering the beating you took. It's going to take a lot more power to make a dent or defeat the Omni-Droid."
"Are you proposing something?"
"I am, I've been studying the past designs of the Omnitrix. Each version of the Omnitrix Ben used is unique. For example, the third version is designed for speed and defence. While the Ultimatrix is designed for strength amplification and evolution."
"Where are you going with this?" Ryota asks.
"I've working on a concept to modify your Omnitrix so can have the ability to shift between Omnitrix forms or a costume change in this case. The Ultimatrix form however will require a new set of cards. If I may, I need your Omnitrix so I can get to work on modifying it." the Conductor said.
Ryota gives the Conductor his Omnitrix. "You better work fast. I get the feeling Number Six and the Omni-Droid won't be taking a coffer break anytime soon."
Elsewhere, Number Six is meeting up with Number Nine to discuss the Omni-Droid's success.
"You really outdid yourself by creating the Omni-Droid." he said.
"Its nothing compared to my other project I'm working on. I am concerned about the new guy, his Omnitrix is different to the others we already got." Number Nine said.
"Ah, you worry too much, Niner. Victory is in the bag for sure. All we need to do is lure Ben out into the open, get his Omnitrix and we win."
"This is why I despise your optimism." Number Nine notices a billboard. "Hmm, this gives me an idea. If there's one thing each Ben has in common is their beloved cousin, Gwen. She's a singer and is due to perform at the annual Mayor's Ball."
"I see where you're going with this. We strike, surely he can't resist saving her."
In the Null Void, a portal opens up and Number Five walks through. He gets his communicator out.
"Remind me why you sent me to the Null Void?" he asked.
"The boss wants you to break the Rooters out of prison. He figures they can be useful to help us defeat the punk who killed Number Four and stop him from undoing our handiwork." Number Two replied.
"I can't believe we've sunken that low. Why didn't you send Number Six to do this? He's more into breaking thing than I am."
"It's not. Once we break them out of prison, you'll be able to do as you please. According to Number Nine's information, they're currently imprisoned in Prison 112."
Number Five travels to Prison 112. Back in the New York, it's a waiting game as the Conductor works on upgrading Ryota's Omnitrix. He waits in the dining cart for the Conductor to finish. Taros enters the cart. "Hey Ryo, I and Tyros checked out the other parallel Earths and it does not look so good." he said.
"Things are getting bleak."
"That's not all, I sent Tyros to investigate a disturbance in the main timeline."
"I thought it was destroyed when the Chrono Worms devoured the chronologic energy in the area."
"True, but that doesn't mean the past is affected. The disturbance is somewhere in the past."
"It's a good thing those worms haven't shown up in this timeline yet."
"I'm going to take a nap. I told Tyros to keep the Conductor posted on any updates."
Taros heads to the sleeping cart. I enter the cart and sat next to Ryota. "Ben's gone back into hiding." I said.
"He's making a mistake, again."
Over at the concert hall, Gwen is rehearsing for tonight's concert when Ben showed. "What are you doing here? I thought I told you to hide." Ben said.
"Sorry Benny, I just had to come back. Kevin is safe." she said.
"Do you have any idea the danger you're putting yourself in?"
"I do and I never forgive myself for letting you down. We're a family and a family sticks together."
"Boo-hoo, I'm touched." Number Six and the Omni-Droid arrived with an army of drones. "I'm giving you an opportunity, surrender yourself and your Omnitrix and I and my army won't waste this building and your cousin." Number Six said.
"I'm sorry Gwen, but I have no choice."
Ben gets his Omnitrix and walks over to them. "Mind if I crash this party." Ryota said
Number Six becomes enraged by his presence. "You caused enough trouble already. Who do you think you are?" he yelled.
"I'm just a passing-through Ben 10, remember that. Let's Henshin!"
Ryota gets his Omnitrix out, puts it around his waist and flips the switch. Omnitrix set. He gets the transformation card out, inserts into the slot and flips the switch. It's Hero Time! He transforms into Ten Rider.
"You think a costume change will stop me?"
"Yep. Let's make this showy!"
Ten Rider begins to fight the drones and the Omni-Droid. He gets a alien card out, inserts it into the slot and flips the switch. Alien card set, change alien, Armodrillo. He changes into Armodrillo and defeats some of the drones.
"Where did he come from?" Gwen asked.
"It's complicated." Ben answered.
"Well, aren't you going to help?"
"I can't. I don't want to go through it again."
"At the rate he's going, he won't make it."
Ten Rider gets another alien card out, inserts it into the slot and flips the switch. Alien card set, change alien, AmpFibian. He changes into AmpFibian and he defeats the rest of the drones.
"Ready for round two, tin can."
"Shape-shift commenced, shape-shift into Sevenseven." it said.
The Omni-Droid shape-shifts into Sevenseven and begins to attack Ten Rider. He changes back to his normal form.
"Okay, so you got that guy as well. That's just great; I got something that'll even the odds." He gets a key out and he puts it into a lock on the Omnitrix. "I hope this works." He turns the key and something happens.
Shift key set, change Omnitrix mode, Omniverse. He goes through a change and he notices his costume is different.
"Holy cow, it worked."
Number Six is shocked by these turn of events. "What! You can changes costumes while transformed. This is an outrage!"
"This must be the Omniverse form. All right, let's see what this form can do." Number Six engages Ten Rider in a battle. Six throws some punches, but Ten Rider was able to dodge them. "This is amazing, it looks like the Conductor was right about Omniverse version designed for speed."
He launches a counterattack and he succeeds. "Lucky shot."
"Time for the finale."
He gets a card out, inserts it into the slot and flips the switch. Finisher set, Speed of Light! He runs at the speed of light and he punches Number Six. The impact of the punch sends Number Six flying into the wall, destroying him in an instant. The Omni-Droid soon retreats. He reverts back to normal.
"Wow, now that was awesome."
"Not bad for a first timer." Ryota turns around and notices an Organisation X member holding Ben and Gwen hostage. "I can see what Number Nine meant by you being different from the others. Instead of changing aliens in an instant, you rely on trading cards to do the job. That is interesting." he said.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Number Two, the second-in-command of Organisation X and the second most powerful member in the organisation. You'll pay for what you did to Numbers Four and Six, but in due time. I must be taking back what it rightfully ours." He takes Ben's Omnitrix, puts it into his coat pocket and throws Ben off the stage. "Now that I got what I came for, its time to make you suffer."
"Don't do it! Don't you dare kill Gwen!"
"All Tennyson's must suffer for their crimes and she, like any Tennyson is no different from the villains you fight." Number Two said.
Number Two draws his scythe and he kills Gwen. Ben becomes grief-stricken, while Ryota becomes outraged. "You monster!" Ryota shouted.
He flips the switch. Omnitrix set. He gets a transformation card out, inserts it into the slot and flips the switch. It's Hero Time! He transforms into Ten Rider and he launches an attack on Number Two, but he catches his punch.
"No way." Ben said.
"There's a reason why I'm the second most powerful in the group. Let me show you." He telekinetically throws Ten Rider into the balcony and he powers down. "Pathetic, I better get going. I'm behind schedule as it is."
Number Two vanishes into thin air. I and the others arrived too late to save Gwen. Sometime later, Ryota is resting as I comforted this world's Ben.
"I'm sorry for your loss. I wish there was another way." I said.
"She was right; I've been too hard on myself. I'll do better and I'll never run away again. When he wakes up, tell him to make Organisation X answer for their crimes. Not just for me, but for everyone."
"Where will you go?" Kevin asked.
"What I do best, hide. Call me if you guys need help."
Ben leaves the trains and goes back into hiding. Kevin soon develops a headache; Mao pulls his t-shirt and notices a ruin has vanished. "Oh no, we only got eight more years to defeat Organisation X." she said.
Tyros then appears in front of them. "I know this is a bad time, but I've identified when the disturbance is coming from. It's coming from past, seven thousand years in the past to be precise, in the lost kingdom of Halo." Tyros said.
I immediately recognised what he meant. "He means the lost Osmosian Empire. We have no time to waste."
The Conductor heads to the console, punches in the coordinate and we head back home. In the Null Void, Number Five infiltrates the prison and he makes his way to where the Rooters are being held. Servantis wakes up and sees Number Five. "I don't think we have the pleasure of meeting each other." he said.
"No, this is our first time meeting each other. I know what you do next; you try to use your telepathic powers to make the guards release you. But it won't work due to the stasis field you're in." Number Five said.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Number Five and I represent an organisation called Organisation X. I'm sent here to bust you and your comrades out of this prison."
"Why?"
"To offer you the chance to take your revenge on Kevin and his friends."
"That sounds a little mundane, why would you risk your life for us?"
"Let's just say my organisation is in the process of wiping out every Tennyson in every parallel Earth and timeline. The reason is classified, but my boss is giving you the opportunity to take your revenge on Kevin, the one who brought about your downfall."
"What do you get out of this?"
"Nothing. We don't have much time." His communicator beeps and he answers it. "Yeah, I'm in the middle of something. What, are you sure? Well now, that is interesting. I'll let them know." He puts it away. "It appears Kevin is heading to the lost kingdom of Halo, the home of the Osmosian Empire."
Servantis is shocked by what he hears. "What! I thought I made that up."
"Part truth to be exact. After the Osmosian Uprisings, their home world was destroyed in a natural disaster. So they fled to a prehistoric Earth, setting up what's left of their empire in the South Pole." Number Five said.
"Hmm, this new information changes everything. If we do accept your offer, how do I know you won't stab us in the back?" Servantis asked.