Max let out a heavy sigh as he leaned back into his chair, closing his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose. The past few weeks had been difficult, to say the least.

A few months ago random spikes of energy started to be picked up by their sensors, fluctuating in strength. Any attempts at finding the source had been met with failure since the spikes were short enough that the alien or thing that had been causing it would have been long gone. It was frustrating for the plumbers.

The process of finding the energy source went a little like this: A random agent sat behind the monitoring screen, doing their job and being all around proper people. Then the machine let out an alarm and showed the locations in which the energy has appeared. The agent would proceed to try and get a reading on the rapidly disappearing energy surge while trying to send a team out to investigate it and get a signature. This would, of course, fail because by the time a team gets there it will already have faded and be too weak.

No perpetrator would be found also and thus a thoroughly annoyed team of plumbers would return to report their failure. There were also failures in which they followed energy spikes made by Gwen. Apparently if she used a low amount of mana, her energy will be picked up too. Since the energy output is so low, the plumbers computers hadn't been able to distinguish the energy spikes. Which resulted in plumber agents stalking Gwen whenever she uses her powers.

Gwen had been less than pleased when she found out and had promptly blasted the agents back to headquarters. So the plumbers had refrained from sending agents out when they didn't know if the power surge was from Gwen or not. But they still hadn't been able to find out who or what was causing it and it was making them paranoid beyond belief.

It was as if they were chasing a ghost and this ghost either was very smart or had a lot of luck. And the option that they were smart was a very dangerous thing indeed, as they could be an enemy to the peace the plumbers and Ben had created. (oh the irony) They had tried using agents with the ability to look for energies but came up with nothing. They all had the same problem. The energy spikes were too short lived and weak for them to get a good reading on. And despite how worrying these random spikes were, the more powerful energy users that the plumbers had were too busy with other more prominent threats and had no time to come to Earth for something so relatively insignificant.

And they were right, Max knew, because these spike had been harmless for most part. There was of course also the fact that they had Gwen, one of the most powerful mana users (despite her young age) and Ben 10, Hero of the Universe. If the energy spikes were to cause a problem those two would surely take care of whatever problem that could arise.

But Max didn't want to burden his grandchildren with a problem that could have been resolved without them. They had a right to live relatively normal lives, save for the occasional enemy. Gwen didn't have time to be involved with trivial matters for she was far too busy with college. And Ben, well, he was a whole other story and part of the reason why Max Tennyson was currently on the edge of a migraine.

Around some time before the energy spikes had begun his grandson had seemed sadder, restless in a way. Though he would hide it behind false (and partially true) bravado, Max could see how lost he was behind it all. He would stare into space for periods of time, became more quiet. And then, a few weeks ago Ben became more withdrawn. Though his friends had returned and he appeared to be more cheerful again.

Max knew better. He had lived with that boy in close proximity with cousin when they were 10 and their lives had changed in ways he hadn't thought possible. Ben did become better though, in hiding in how off he acted. But despite that, with his friends near him again and his life more engaging, Ben became better and more genuine in his smiles and upbeat behaviour.

But then it happened. He was called late at night by his son and his wife and they informed him that Ben had a nightmare unlike what they had ever seen before. He had seemed terrified and almost unresponsive to his friends. They asked if him he knew what could have caused it and his mind flashed to the countless amount of times in which Ben had almost died or something terrible had happened. He told them he might have an idea but didn't go into specifics. They huffed but told him that they was placing their son's life in his hands.

And he stayed up the rest of the night and suddenly it was the next day. He was in his office when Gwen, Kevin and Rook came in, gently persuading Ben to keep walking Ben you're almost there. And Gwen had looked at him with terrified eyes, concern clear on her features as the other two boys tried to take care of her cousin.

"Grandpa, I don't know what to do. Something is wrong with Ben but he won't tell anyone anything." she rushed out, her green eyes looking as lost as Ben's. "He isn't responding right now. I think he's in shock. Grandpa, I haven't ever seen him like this. What could have happened?"

Max didn't know either but gave Gwen a small smile and a hug. "Don't worry, we'll figure something out. This is Ben we're talking about. He'll be fine in a few days." He told her softly before turning to the boys, who had been fussing over Ben.

Ben was held close by Rook but he was unresponsive, staring in front of him without really seeing. He green eyes had lost their shine and were empty, as if they were dead. Max repressed a chiver at the thought. Ben had never looked like that even when he felt low, at least he had never seen him like this.

"Hello Ben, how do you feel?" he asked tentatively because he didn't really know how to proceed wth this, but he would try anyway. For Ben. But as he waited for a response became more and more clear that Ben wasn't going to answer him. He was still staring at the gray walls of Max's office and he was either ignoring or hadn't heard him. He tried again several times, and the other teens stayed silent. He was grateful for that since it seemed like Ben wouldn't react well if something sudden and out of his comfort zone would happen.

After several minutes he gave up, knowing that further attempts would lead to nothing. He was about to try something different when he was suddenly called. There appeared to be problems with a galaxy several solar systems away involving a small group of anodites and a swarm of necrofriggian toddlers. What on earth was happening in the world that by now one fourth of the problems involved some necrofriggian toddlers. It probably was the same swarm as last time too.

"Take Ben to one of the rooms he uses sometimes. I'm sure it would do him some good to relax and sleep a little. I think you all could use it." He advised the teens and he was right of course. Their eyes were bloodshot and they looked exhausted, tired and frantiflc in a way they hadn't experienced before. The nodded and quitely left, leaving Max to deal with the plumbers.

When he later checked up on them he found them all to be sleeping in Ben's room, even Ben himself. Gwen was sitting in Kevins lap as the both snoozed in the armchair that had been placed next to the bed. In bed lay Rook with Ben on top of him, sleeping soundly. Ben looked peaceful and Rook had an arm over his waist, keeping the small human teen close.

Max looked at them fondly, a little relieved to see them finally resting. He closed the door quietly and ordered two of his trusted agents to make sure that the area around that room was calm so that the teens could sleep peacefully.

After that even though Ben closed up even more. Then he seemingly bounced back and appeared to be just like before. Fools. Ben was even more withdrawn than before. At least on some days. Some days he was cheerful, other days he appeared melancholy. And then there were those days where he didn't act like himself at all. It was different.

He was different.

It happens only during fights, but it has left enough of an impact that almost every plumber who worked with Ben noticed it. The look in his eyes, so sharp and unlike him as he stared his target down. How merciless he sometimes became with his tongue, his once playful banter had gained a dark edge.

But he wasn't only merciless with his words however. When the mission required him to look for the criminal he didn't charge into it like before, wanting to be done with it as fast as possible. Oh no, he now hunted them down like predator. And what a terrifying predator he was.

He dressed up, looking very much like himself yet different. Making himself look smaller, younger. He asked about his target, found their weaknesses, where they come from, who they knew. He lured them into a false sense of security, all the while draining them dry of their information. How this ends depends on the mission.

Either he decides they're not worth his time and ends it quickly by capturing them or he plays with them, slowly letting them know that something is wrong and as soon as they realise they'd been tricked he would strike them down. This tactic caused Rook and several other agents that Ben was close to, to come to Max and vocalize their concerns for his grandsons mental health.

One fight in particular against a newbie criminal had send him and several other agents home with a sight to never forget. He remembered it clearly….

"Hahahahaha! This is all the legendary plumbers can send me? One measly human? That is hilarious!" The purple reptile like alien laughed. It was humanoid, large and looked surprisingly dumb. It also WAS surprisingly dumb. It had tried to rob a bank for currency from a planet called Arus. It was a dead planet and most of its people had been scattered. Why he thought that stealing currency that has no value was anybody's guess.

Max looked over at his grandson, who was standing in his human form in front of the criminal. Ben was calmly sipping his smoothie, staring at the reptile with a bored look on his face. He was wearing his green and white hoodie and normal brown pants. An addition to his ensembly however was a long green scarf draped over his shoulders with the part that showed the omnitrix symbol visible on his left.

Ben said nothing even as the reptilian alien bumbled on, still drinking his smoothie.. He did, however, make a humming noise that showed he was listening. Or at least was pretending to. Max looked over at his former student, Rook, and saw him staring intently at Ben. Max turned back to the alien who was still in mid monologue.

"- are supposed to be the Hero of the Universe? Don't make me laugh! I, Amprax, son of Sunorc will be able to easily defeat a tiny, measly HUMAN! And then I will Agh-!" He was cut off as an empty smoothie container was thrown in his face. He stumbled back, not from the force but from shock.

"Pfffffttt! Aha, AHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA! AH, HAHAHA!" Came a terrifying cackle. Ben was doubled over from laughter, choking almost due to lack of air. "Phew! Haha, that was hilarious! Me, human?" He started, his face feigning innocence as he pointed towards himself. He looked imploringly at the criminal, who stayed silent.

"Cause in that case, dear sir, I'm afraid to inform you that you're wrong. I'm not human." He said, as if it was the most normal and obvious thing in the world. All the plumber agents were staring at Ben now and Rook was tensing up. Suddenly, Ben acted lightning fast, punching the reptile in the face with more strength then he should have been able to in human form.

Each and everyone of them heard a cracking sound the moment the fist impacted and the criminal was thrown backwards. He crashed into a wall, making cracks appear. Suddenly Ben was standing in front of him, the criminal lay fallen in front of his feet. Ben gave him a kick but the alien didn't respond. "Tch, weak." He grumbled, his face twisted in annoyance.

Suddenly he smiled as smile so wide it hurt to look at. It was positively insane and luckily on Max and Rook could see. However, everyone could hear what he said next. "I haven't been human in a long time, a pity you couldn't see that. After all, I haven't been considered a normal human since I was 10."

He kneeled down and started to poke the side of the criminal with a thin metal pipe, prodding. "Nothing broken, just bruised…" he murmured to himself and Max wondered how he was able to know that. Ben wasn't a medic, how could he know such a thing for sure.

And the Ben suddenly stood up and walked away from the unconscious pile stupid towards them. His grandson flashed him a boyish smile, all innocence and just simply Ben. "He's all yours Grampa! Come on Rook, let's go over to Kevin's place. I need some pizza, pronto!" And with that he led out a laugh and grabbed Rook's hand, making the agent squawk in surprise as he was pulled along by an enthusiastic Ben.

What had happened that day was just one of the many incidents around Ben. Max simply didn't know what to do. First random energy spikes, an anomaly of a group of anodite travelling together (something that has never been seen before) and now these problems surrounding his grandson.

He would have almost thought they all were connected had it not been for the fact that they had nothing in common. The energy spikes too random and the group of anodites was nowhere close to Earth.

He sighed again but stood up from his chair and proceeded to walk to the door. He was done for the day and the was a plate of caramelized alien ladybugs calling his name from his fridge in the van.

But just as he was to leave the office, his phone suddenly rang. He quickly walked back and picked it up, knowing it was an emergency since no one ever called this late normally.

"Hello, this is Max Tennyson speaking" He answered, wondering what the problem was. "Mister Max! An energy field has surrounded the forest of Bellwood. No one has been able to get through it, nor have the been able to get it's signature. Apparently there are too many different living organisms driving the shield." Came the frantic voice of one of his students. Max recognised the voice as one of the first year plumbers, a young galavan girl.

"I'm on my way." He said and he hanged up before stalking out his doorway. This was his chance to get solve of one of his problems. He was determined not to let it go to waste.


I really don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going with this story. If anyone has any suggestions please comment. My muse has abandoned me.