Ben felt a gentle nudge as he slowly woke up from the cold floor of his cage. He felt a gentle voice whispering in his ear.

"Ben, wake up." The voice said.

"W-Who are you?" Ben asked. "I can't even see you!"

"I'm invisible and I'm someone who's here to help you. Hang in there a little longer…if we move too soon, Soren will know I'm here and it can ruin your chances of escape," the voice said.

"How much longer?" Ben said in a pleading voice.

"Just enough for him to feel like you're truly helpless. If he feels like you've lost hope, he will no doubt back off a bit," the voice replied. "Trust me. I have been watching you all along and it won't be long now. Do not give in to despair; I'm here to help. But I must go now. Rest now…"

And with that the voice was gone. Ben was still afraid and confused, but it felt good to know he had an ally in there with him!

An hour later…

Ben slowly opened his eyes and his eyes widened at the sight before him. He was in a very large glass-like container where the top was off so that he had plenty of room to transform and he and some other aliens were standing in front of a large crowd! All kinds of aliens were yelling and walking near the cages to examine them!

"W-Where are we?!" Ben said in shock.

"This is where most of us are bought and sold," a sad alien whispered from a nearby cage. Ben shivered as large and bulky aliens pointed at him and spoke in a language that he could not understand.

"W-What is he saying?" Ben gasped.

"He wants to buy you!" the little alien said sadly.

"W-WHAT?!" Ben gasped.

"But of course," a deep voice crooned. Ben turned and saw Soren slither beside him. "And if you do not tell me what I wish to know, I will let them borrow you for a bit."

"W-What?! You wouldn't!" Ben snapped.

"Oh I would." Soren said, now slithering up to the container and clawing at it. "You are the human who owns the Omnitrix. Naturally you will tell me what I want to know or you will face the tyranny of each alien that wants your special alien device."

And with that, Soren chuckled and slithered back into the crowd. This was all a plot to get him to tell the warlord where the Celestialsapiens were! Ben tugged hard at the chains on his legs and wrists, but it was very difficult to move.

"I-I can't move. Ben gasped, now trying to get free.

"Remain calm Ben…if you move too much you will cause every alien to eye you carefully." The voice said out of nowhere. Ben suddenly became stiff, but the voice cooed gently in his ear. "Shhh. Easy. I'm here."

"Is it time?!" Ben asked.

"Almost. Now, do not struggle too much Ben. If you cause too much attention, the aliens will want to get a closer look at you." The voice continued.

"But I've got to get out of here!" Ben pleaded.

"I realize that young one. But you must not panic at a time like this." The voice said.

"But Soren will sell me!" Ben said, now scared.

"No he won't." the voice replied quietly.

"How do you know that?!" Ben whispered.

"Because you are too valuable to him. Ben look at the matter closely. This is all a plot to get you to confess and to scare you. But stand firm. Beat him at his own game." The voice said.

"B-But…" Ben pleaded.

"I have to go now. If I spring you too quickly, it could mean danger for you." The voice said. And with that, Ben could tell the person was gone.

Meanwhile, a tall and bloodthirsty Appoplexian walked over to the cage and sniffed it happily. "I will take him!"

"For how much?" Soren asked, now slithering over and having amusement in his voice.

"For 20 rubies," the large tiger-like alien replied. Ben's heart began racing as he saw the alien look at him and Soren's eyes narrowed in triumph. But suddenly, Ben had a blast of courage.

"Go ahead! Buy me!" Ben said. Soren's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Even the tiger-like alien looked surprised.

"Well, I do say that that is a fine bargain then. I will be the owner of the human with the Omnitrix." The tiger titan laughed. But Soren visibly raised a clawed hand in anger!

"He's not for sale." Soren whispered angrily.

"What? But you said…" the Appoplexian started.

"I SAID he's NOT for SALE!" Soren hissed, now turning and looking at the alien. "Look at my other specimans."

The tiger alien nodded and bowed respectfully. No one wanted to mess with Soren, especially when he was angry! Soren then whipped back around at Ben and his eyes visibly narrowed once more.

"Think you are smart do you? Oh this has only begun. Tonight, you will be my entertainment for this entire part of the galaxy," Soren said, now literally tearing open the door and bringing Ben to his chest.

"LET GO OF ME!" Ben snapped. Soren only chuckled evilly and disappeared into thin air.

When Ben's vision adjusted, he noticed that he was in an elegant room with plenty of pillows and beautiful fruits and pastries. Ben then felt Soren lean against he pillows and wrap his long tail to where his arms were pinned to his sides. Ben tried to squirm but the large alien had him in his grasp.

"Oh you're not going anywhere," came the gentle cooing above him. Ben's eyes opened wide! Was Soren sounding…kind?

"W-What's wrong with you?!" Ben asked, now afraid to look at him.

"Whatever do you mean?" Soren asked, now bringing some water up to Ben's lips. Ben looked away, but the end of Soren's tail tickled his neck.

"Heeheeheehee, stahahap," Ben giggled.

"My what a cute giggle…come now…drink something." Soren coaxed gently.

Ben knew something was terribly wrong. How could this alien be simply evil one moment and kind the next! He knew this was some kind of trick!

"No! I'm not thirsty!" Ben said, even though his mouth was dry as ever. But what he didn't expect was to feel the tail loosen from around him and large black arms wrap him in a hug! A hug?!

"Oh now come now you naughty little human. You need to keep up your strength," Soren cooed in his ear.

"You're just trying to trick me! I don't want anything from you!" Ben snapped. But Soren only laughed melodically.

"Alright, then you will die of thirst Ben," Soren said, now sipping some water from a nearby chalice. Ben turned slowly and saw him drink and the water looked absolutely refreshing. Ben hadn't had anything to eat or drink for 24 hours and he was feeling weak. Soren looked down at him and lifted his chin up and put it to his lips. Ben then began to drink greedily because he was so famished. "There there…drink all you want young hero."

Once Ben was finished, Soren wrapped his large black arms around his upper body. "Now then…you will rest for a while and then you will be my entertainment tonight."

"You can't make me perform," Ben snapped.

"Of course I can…for you see…" Soren said, now clenching his fist and Ben yelped as the ring around his finger tightened. "I still have a bond with you."

Ben angrily turned to the alien and Soren gave him an innocent look! "Now don't look so angry. After all, my pet, you will be handsomely rewarded for your performance."

But before Ben could protest, Soren clapped his hands and soon the guards came and took Ben away to his cage! As he was leaving, Soren let out a chuckle and then a horrible laugh.

"I have you right where I want you Ben…" he smirked to himself now sipping from the chalice once more.

Meanwhile, Vamps and Whampire had found the location of Soren's ship and were planning an invasion.

"We need to get Ben away from him as soon as possible." Whampire said.

"But we need to be disguised. I was told by an insider that Ben is being treated as his entertaining pet!" Vamps spat.

"WHAT?!" Whampire gasped.

"Yes, like a bear in a circus. Soren is doing this to get our attention because he knows that we will come for Ben." Vamps said.

"We need to call reinforcements." Whampire said.

"I already have. The Plumber third squad is on their way. We will attack them as soon as we can get close enough without being detected," Vamps said. As the two began developing their plan further, they were unaware that they already had an ally watching over Ben on the ship.

At the gala that night…

Ben felt uncomfortable as he was forced to switch from Stinkfly to Four Arms to Rath to Humungosaur and many others! He was sweating profusely, and he felt like he would pass out!

"S-Stop," Ben pleaded, now holding his side in pain.

"Oh little one just a few more," Soren said innocently. "Everyone see what my new pet can do!"

All of the aliens that were on the visiting planet cheered as Ben began to switch more and more. They were not aware that Ben was kidnapped and being forced into doing this! And every time he tried to tell someone, he was given a painful shock by the ring!

"I-I can't do this," Ben said, now falling to his knees.

"Oh come on Ben…only a few more aliens," Soren said.

"Y-You're killing me!" Ben said, now exhausted.

"No I'm not. Surely a strong hero like you can handle a few performances," Soren said. Ben had been performing since dawn that morning and it was already late that night! Ben could feel his vision swimming and he knew that he would pass out soon. But when he fell to his knees as everyone cheered, he felt hands wrap around his middle.

"Ben, I'm here." The voice said.

"I won't make it," Ben whispered.

"Yes you will," the voice said, now placing a hand on Ben's heart. "Your family and friends are counting on you! Let's get out of here now."

But this time Ben held the person back. "No. Wait til this event is over. I know you want to save me now, but if you try now you could die." He said to the invisible person.

"Ben, you're weak." The invisible voice said, now placing a hand on his heart.

"I will be fine. I'm not going to let you die. No one else is dying on my watch. I will try to hold out til this is over," Ben said bravely, now gently placing a hand over the invisible one on his heart.

Ben was about to say something else when suddenly he had another shock to his hand! He angrily turned towards Soren and Soren gave a confident head turn.

"Turn into a To'kustar," he ordered.

"NO!" Ben snapped. That would cause Ben to pass out for sure!

"I said…do it," Soren said, now sending a painful shock up Ben's arm, making him cry out!

"Ben!" the voice said in concern. Hearing the new voice made Soren turn in their direction and look at Ben curiously.

"Shhh," Ben said under his breath. "Soren is suspecting something. Keep yourself invisible until I'm done."

Ben then looked at the smirking Soren and then closed his eyes and let sweat pour down his face.

"I trust you," he said to the voice. Ben then turned the Omnitrix to Way Big and transformed in front of everyone. Once he did, everyone cheered.

"LOOK AT BEN!" one cheered.

"HE'S A HERO!"

"LOOK AT HIM GO!"

"BEN! BEN! BEN!"

But the moment Ben saw them, he began to fall backwards. Soren quickly flew up and timed out the Omnitrix, turning Ben back into a human before his Way Big form crushed everyone. Soren held the unconscious hero in his arms and hugged him to his chest.

"My little pet performed well," Soren whispered to Ben. But as Soren was flying back to his spaceship, he was unaware that an invisible ally of Ben's was following him. Once inside, Soren went back to his private quarters and gently placed some purple juice to Ben's lips. It brought the color back to Ben's face and he awoke immediately!

"W-What happened?!" Ben asked.

"You fainted." Soren replied.

Ben looked up at him angrily, but Soren only ran a hand over his head. "Now now, stop being so angry. You know I care for you."

Ben's mouth dropped open at that. What did he just say? "Yes, I said I care for you."

Ben rolled his eyes and squirmed to be put down, but Soren's grip wouldn't budge. "Rest little human. You will be dining in my private quarters for what you've accomplished tonight." And with that, Soren began slithering down the hallway with Ben in his arms. He then went into a place that looked like a spa room and put Ben down.

"You are sweaty so go and wash before we dine," Soren said, now slithering back out. But Ben stood there in shock, unaware of what was happening.

"W-What did he just do?!" Ben gasped.

"Ben don't be fooled," the voice said. "Soren is attempting to woo you with kindness in order to get information." Ben then turned and saw the person slowly become visible. It was none other than Nuro, the Ectonurite!

"NURO!" Ben said, almost collapsing but Nuro quickly grabbed his shoulders.

"Calm down hero," Nuro chuckled, now holding him gently. "I will explain later. But for now I want to tell you my plan." Ben nodded in response.

"We are going to wait until the moon is high and then we will make our escape. I will take you back to Anur Transyl while your brothers keep Soren at bay."

"Vamps? Whampire? Are they alright?!" Ben asked in concern.

"They are. They do not know I am here, but I sent a message to them stating that you would be taken care of. They have been worried sick about you and have been working tirelessly to get a rescue party together," Nuro replied gently. He then saw Ben sit down on the cold floor in pure exhaustion. He then flew down and picked the hero up and headed to the spa water. Nuro then began to wash Ben's wounds since Ben was still covered in wounds from the previous fight. "Ben, you will be alright."

"I-I d…"

"Shhh. I promise." Nuro replied.

"But how did you get here?! Aren't you just a tailor?!" Ben said, now curious.

"No. I am far more than that. But I will explain more later." Nuro chuckled, now helping Ben stand. But the moment they heard a knock on the door, Nuro turned back to Ben. "I will be waiting for you for when they go to sleep."

Ben nodded and then turned to see Soren slither slowly back in. He cocked his head curiously as he saw Ben standing in the spa water, drenched with all of his clothes on.

"You humans are so strange," he commented, now slithering in and making Ben back away. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah no thanks to you!" Ben said, glaring daggers. Soren only chuckled and pulled Ben to him with his long tail.

"My my, I love when my pets are feisty." Soren chuckled. "You will be perfect entertainment tonight and then I will have your cage placed in my private quarters."

"What?! I wanna stay where I am! With the other aliens!" Ben said.

"Nonsense. Who would want to be placed with such lowly creatures when you can have the prince's attention? You have been so entertaining for me that I can't bear for you to leave my side," Soren said with amusement, now slithering out of the water with Ben wrapped tightly in his tail. Nuro growled in frustration under his breath! If Soren placed Ben's cage in his private quarters, it would be that much harder to rescue Ben!

guestsurprise: Oh my! Things got very complicated!