Ben 10 Alien Force

Homecoming 7 - Castle

By Crystalquirt

Violence and angst. Kevin & Gwen, still in California must rescue Ben and Julie from the Forever Knight Castle and Albedo's clutches. Of course a little romance – but really – it's not about the romance. :)

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From Part 6-Kidnapped

There was a sound of rocks sliding against each other as Ben felt the sides of the hole quickly close on his arm. He tried to pull his arm out but the wall already had him. The pressure increased on his arm until it started to hurt. He panicked when he realized he couldn't get his arm out and made small noises that sounded like a small, trapped animal.

Fear took over and he used his legs to try to exert enough force to pull his arm out, but it only caused him to cry out as he felt a sharp pain in his elbow and arm like he popped a tendon. His arm was stuck almost up to his shoulder and he could barely reach the floor. Ben kicked and hit the wall with his free hand as he called Julie's name.

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Laughing echoed around Ben as he struggled to pull his arm from the wall. Ben looked back to see Albedo and four Knights standing behind him.

"Look at the mess you are in Ben Tennyson, like the monkey who got his arm stuck in a jar of candy . . . did I get that earth story right? . . . No matter."

Albedo stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Open up for another guest."

Steel opened the door and came out. One of the other Knights went in. Julie looked as though she may faint any minute, but forced herself to gaze at the door, too afraid of what she might see to look away. She was pretty sure she had heard Ben's voice. They can't catch Ben! No, he won't give up . . . he can't hand himself over to them for me! She strained to see what was going on.

Out in the passageway Albedo greeted Steel like he was bored, "Ben, meet Steel. Steel, this is Ben. Steel has been showing your girlfriend a good time while we waited for you."

"NO! Julie!" Ben struggled as Steel grabbed him by his free arm. The Knight that had gone in released the mechanism, freeing Ben's arm from the inside. Ben struggled harder as he felt his arm being released. He got it out of the hole, but Steel pushed him with his belly to firmly pin him face first against the wall. Steel caught his arm quickly preventing him from even trying to activate the Omnitrix then he lifted him off the ground by his wrists.

This huge man's impossibly big hands were not letting go and Ben's kicking got no reaction. Steel flipped Ben around and Ben wound up facing him and his arms crossed in front of his chest in a bear hug. His twisted arm hurt and he cried out in pain, but Steel ignored him.

Ben yelled and threatened him with bodily harm. Even to him, his voice sounded like it had when he was a kid he was so scared. He felt his feet come up off the floor as Steel walked him into the dungeon with the other's following. Steel's body odor alone threatened to make Ben pass out.

Ben struggled with renewed vigor when he saw Julie. Her short black hair had fallen forward and covered her eyes, and her chin rested on her chest like she had passed out. Her shirt was torn down the front showing her bra. He saw that she was covered with bruises and small cuts. Ben cried her name and she looked up at him as they took him past her. "No Ben-you shouldn't have come." She said weakly.

"Julie! What . . . ! Julie! What have you done to her?" Ben screamed. Steel shoved him with his back against a tilted table and held him in place with one hand pressing in his sternum. It was a tilted wooden surgical-type table with panels that could be adjusted and lots of hinges, gears and ties to get victims in just the right position.

Two Knights chained Ben's arms straight out to the sides and around the table's metal frame while Steel held him to the table so tightly he could barely breath.

Albedo stepped up next to the table. "If you choose not to tell me how to get the Omnitrix off, a nice 'clean' amputation of your arm is an option. Once the Omnitrix sensors tell it that it is attached to the dead flesh of your arm, it will release. I would just kill you, but I have promised the Forever King would keep you alive so he could punish you for whatever you did to them. NOW-Tell me how to get the Omnitrix off your wrist."

"I will NEVER give the Omnitrix to you!"

When Julie heard Ben yell, she stirred and the chains rattled. Ben looked over at her. Ben's voice cracked, "Curse You! What did you do to her? Let her GO right NOW!" The nights lowered the table so Ben was almost flat and had to pick his head up to see them. He couldn't see Julie anymore around Albedo, who stood in the way.

"You are in no position to make demands of any kind." Albedo stepped up to the edge of the table and tested the chains that bound Ben's arms to the table frame. Not satisfied, he reached under the edge and tightened a gear a couple more clicks, until Ben cried out from his arms being stretched to the max – it felt like his bones were coming apart at the joints.

"Albedo! Ease up on the chains!" Ben gritted his teeth and kicked trying to prevent a Knight from chaining his last free leg down. A lucky kick pushed the Knight way from his legs. Albedo punched Ben in the ribs. Ben cried out in pain and frustration as his leg was chained anyway.

Julie shook the cage turning around so she could see what they were doing to him. "Ben! Please, just let them have it-don't let them hurt you!"

"Dumb girl, it is not a matter of him letting me have it any more-he is helpless and has no more say in the matter. I will take it, and I will still 'hurt' him." Albedo patted Ben's Omnitrix like it was a puppy's head. "I will finally get my own body back, and get my revenge for what you have done to me!"

"I have done nothing to you-you are responsible for everything that has happened to you –not me! If you had only listened to Azmuth . . . AhNNN!" Albedo leaned in and grabbed Ben's throat with both hands like he was going to choke him.

Ben gasped and breathlessly said, "I will d-die before I would just give it too you!" Albedo pressed his thumbs under Ben's chin making him put his head back as he gasped for air.

Julie couldn't stand it. "Ben! Please! Stop it! Get your hands off of him," the cage and chains rattled as she struggled and yelled. "The King wants him alive doesn't he?" She was desperate to get Albedo to let go of Ben.

Albedo finally let go and left him coughing. Every cough strained his stretched limbs. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. Albedo turned to face Julie.

"He will die. It is just a matter of whether it will be at my hands or the Forever King's. You, girl can 'hang out' for as long as you last, but you will die too, just for being his friend."

Julie looked away as Albedo's words were sinking in. Ben repeated it in disbelief, "You want to kill Julie, just because she's my friend?" Albedo's attention went back to Ben and without another word, began adjusting the wooden panels in the table.

First he dropped the wooden plank out from under Ben's left arm so that his arm was suspended in mid-air. Not only would it keep Ben from having a flat surface to activate the Omnitrix on, it would give him more room for the equipment used in the 'procedure' to remove it. Then he re-adjusted the joints in the frame to get it out of the way without changing the position of Ben's arm.

Ben wasn't paying attention to what Albedo was doing near him, he was watching Julie. He could clearly see the bruises and cuts on her arms, legs and even her stomach. "Please let her go!" Ben begged in a small voice and struggled weakly against his restraints. "She can't suffer just because she . . ."

Albedo ignored Ben but added, ". . . and don't think I am dumb enough to not have prepared for your friends to arrive. We will know the second they get here to try and rescue you. The Forever King wants his scientists to take them apart too, to find out what makes them tick.

"You will have to excuse me for a moment, keep an eye on them. I will be right back." The Knights standing around Ben nodded, one saluted the rest just looked at him and poked fun at him after Albedo left. Steel was the only one who moved back over toward Julie.

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"We have made pretty good time. The castle should be very close if the map is correct." Joe reported.

"We are very close, Ben is near." Gwen's eyes were glowing pink as she searched for Ben. Kevin picked up the scrub shirt he had been wearing and looked a little grossed out when he examined the bloodstain. At least it was dried. It was getting darker and colder so he put it back on.

They had been on a dirt road now for miles. The large tires on the vehicle kicked up huge clouds of dust as Joe sped along. Over a hill and through some trees they caught a glimpse of a large, castle-like structure's roof ahead and he slowed way down to pull off the road and behind some trees. They were still about two miles away following the road, a little closer as the 'crow flies' so they could see the layout pretty well.

To keep from being seen they used cover of the trees and brush to get over to the end of a row of seven parked cars and trucks that belonged to the Knights. At the other end of the row was the drawbridge. "If the number of vehicles reflects how many Knights are here, then it should be a pretty easy fight."

Kevin pointed out the dark side, "I hope so, but many of them live here and don't own cars and don't forget Albedo is here. How would we stop Ben if he was attacking us? Albedo can do everything Ben can."

"It will be hard I suppose. We need to worry about Albedo more than the Knights no matter how many there are."

They stooped low to move behind the cars without being seen just in case anyone was watching from the castle. "There is no sign of any activity at all." Gwen observed.

Joe offered a spark of hope. "Maybe the battle is over and Ben won?"

Kevin shot it down too. "If Ben had won, he would have met us with Julie by now. He must be in trouble."

"Thanks for all the hope Kevin." Gwen said as she concentrated on finding Ben in the castle. "Ben is inside, below ground level and about as far away from the entrance as you can get. He has stayed in one place, so he is probably not battling. Julie is near him."

Kevin walked in between the cars, going back and forth until he found a blue one near the bridge that was unlocked and had the keys in it. Kevin thought, it doesn't have much power, but it will have to do if we need it."

Joe had brought one of his smaller duffle bags that was stuffed full. "You must not have much hope of us getting though this without injury."

"Oh this isn't full of medical supplies." He unzipped it revealing a very large number of the small energy cells that the Forever Knights used as bombs. "I grabbed a few from the warehouse before Kevin blew it up." he said as he put them in his pockets.

Kevin grinned, "A man after my own heart! I didn't know you were so devious. We should talk about -um–stuff when we are through here. Two guys with our skills could really profit . . ."

"Ahem" Gwen interrupted. "Let's get Ben and Julie out first." She handed each of them a laser lance.

Gwen and Kevin charged ahead quietly and quickly hoping to at least make it across the bridge without trouble. Joe ran a little behind them with the duffle bag and his laser lance.

"So far so good." Gwen led the way across a large area that had more Forever Knight vehicles parked along the walls. There were land vehicles like the one Joe had been driving and air speeders among them.

They crossed the area quietly and went down a passage. They got about half-way to where the passageway turned before a dozen Knights appeared behind them and started shooting. Kevin and Gwen hit the deck and so did Joe, but not before he threw one of the energy cells back at them. On the energy cell's first impact with the stone floor it exploded and threw the Knights back.

"Gee – these really are sensitive!" Joe cracked a little crooked smile as they got up and ran deeper into the castle. Joe's explosions shook the castle as they went.

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Ben heard Julie weakly crying and begging for Steel to leave her alone. He looked over, past the Knights that stood around him and saw Steel back over by Julie. "Please No! No more! Leave her alone!"

Steel's hand started between the bars, Julie squealed and cried. Ben started yelling and fighting his restraints. "Can't even one of you morons see how wrong this is? HELP HER!"

"We think not." The nearest Knight said as he turned to watch.

"I understand why you would want to kill me, but Julie has never done anything to you. Albedo is crazy!"

"You are right. We DO want to kill you. Hey guys, why wait for Albedo? He doesn't even have a rank in the Organization." The Knight pulled his dagger from its sheath.

"My blade can take his arm off for our King. Should I do it slowly, or fast, with one cut?" Two of the others chuckled and said "Slowly." Ben looked frantically into each of their faces for any sign of remorse or kindness, but found none.

Steel sat down on the hearth near Julie to watch the antics of his fellow Knights, but Julie was not happy he was leaving her alone. She stared at Ben thinking she would rather them torment her and leave him alone.

Julie pleaded with them at first, and then threatened them as they prepared for their little operation. Steel reached over and spun her cage again making her close her eyes and scream.

The Knight with the dagger moved to Ben's side, facing his arm. Ben's looked from him to Julie as he heard her scream. The Knight stood, leaning nonchalantly against the table near Ben's ribs and examined his arm looking for visible arteries.

Ben noticed how 'exposed' his arm suddenly felt and pulled against his restraints as the Knight methodically put the blade, point up against his forearm. Satisfied with the placement for the first cut, the knight leaned forward a little and looked right into Ben's terrified eyes.

The Knight spoke softly, with his face so close to Ben's he could smell his awful breath. "Let's do a little scientific observation here. I heard once that when an artery is cut, the eyes dilate. I want to see if yours do."

As the blade cut into his skin, Ben screamed and squeezed his eyes shut - depriving the Knight of making his 'scientific observation' even if it was unplanned. Ben arched his back and tried to twist away as the knight pulled it slowly downward.

The cage had slowed down. Julie watched Ben continue to thrash and scream as the Knight put the knife back up a little higher above the first cut and started slowly pulling down again. She squeezed her eyes shut and begged them to stop while sobbing hysterically.

Albedo appeared in the doorway; rolling a large device he called a laser cutter into the room. It looked vaguely like a jigsaw. He cursed loudly when he saw the Knights starting without him. The Knight stopped and put his knife away without wiping the blood off. Ben stopped struggling, but his eyes stayed shut as he gritted his teeth and gasped in pain.

"What are you uncouth morons doing! Humans are so infuriatingly brutal and messy-you are all savages. Well now. If he bleeds to death before your Forever King gets to play with him, it is no fault of mine. This laser cutter that I had brought here from my ship would have cauterized the wound at the same time it took his arm off and made a much cleaner cut. . .no blood, no mess."

Julie looked over at Ben and saw a steady stream of blood dripping from his arm. It had already formed a small puddle on the stone floor. "Ben." She cried. He opened his eyes and looked over at her past his bloody arm. His eyes left Julie and he looked at his wound and tried weakly, to pull his arm out of the restraint with no luck. His chest was heaving as his breaths were coming very fast. His wet, green eyes closed again as he wished he could just pass out.

Albedo pushed his laser cutter over and lined it up so it would take Ben's arm off closer to the Omnitrix. He chose the site on his arm on purpose. This way the wound caused by the Knight would continue to bleed even after Albedo took the rest of his arm and the Omnitrix. He giggled when he realized that he would ultimately be the one to have caused the death of Ben Tennyson by letting him bleed to death.

Ben could feel that Albedo was close to him again and opened his eyes. Tears ran into his hair at his temples when he blinked trying to focus on him.

Albedo looked at his frightened 'twin' and smiled as he stepped on the pedal to turn the cutter on. He rolled the machine closer to Ben's arm and made sure the laser beam was lined up to cut right next to the Omnitrix. Ben screamed and thrashed as much as the chains would let him. He tightly closed his eyes and turned his head away, not wanting to see his arm being cut off.

Abruptly, the castle shook with an explosion. Albedo startled and stepped off the pedal. The cutter went off just before it began cutting Ben's arm.

Albedo knew right away the commotion had been caused by Ben's friends and commanded the Knights, including Steel to go make sure his first force captured them. The Knights, saluted, half-heartedly and left the room. An avid collector, Steel went first to a cabinet full of his antique and vintage guns and rifles. He poked several handguns in his belt and took a rifle in each hand before following the other Knights into battle. One gun in his hand was a German made semi-automatic.

Albedo turned back to his task but could still hear continuing laser fire and explosions. "They sound closer. I better go help those savage morons." Albedo turned off the cutter and slapped his Omnitrix. He turned into Spidermonkey before running after the Knights.

They were alone now. Ben looked over at Julie. She had her chin resting on her chest. He called her name softly but she didn't look up. "Julie. . . I'm so sorry-please say something."

His whole body trembled as he put his head back and closed his eyes. "You have to be alright-please!" The dribble of blood from his arm slowed to a fast drip as his heart rate slowed down a little.

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Joe was getting his laser lance ready, out of sight behind a corner. Gwen and Kevin were the first to come face to face with Spidermonkey.

Gwen smiled, "Ben!"

"No GWEN, that's . . ." Kevin cautioned her too late.

Albedo Spidermonkey produced a web that bound Gwen's arms and legs instantly and she gasped and fell forward. He shot another at Kevin who dodged most of it, but it got it on his arm preventing him from shooting. Albedo Spidermonkey jumped on him and knocked him on his burned back.

"Ow!" While Kevin cringed in pain, Albedo Spidermonkey landed over him and punched him in the face twice before leaping off.

Gwen shot pink energy from her eyes to burn the web off, but it was taking too long. She was relieved when she saw Kevin get up, but he only got hit from behind, first with web, then with Spidermonkey's four feet. The blows all landed on Kevin's burns and he yelled as he fell forward with his arms pinned to his sides with webbing.

Joe heard yelling and peeked around the corner. He couldn't throw an energy module in such close quarters so he did the only thing he could think of to try and save them. He ran around the corner yelling and wildly shooting the laser lance. Albedo Spidermonkey didn't even duck the shots he fired as he dropped Joe with a bundle of web.

With all three of Ben's rescuers down, another who was quite unexpected, shot a barrage of diamond shards over Kevin and Gwen, striking Albedo Spidermonkey several times, he squealed and turned into Big Chill before going down through the floor.

Gwen rolled over and looked where the shards came from. "Tetrax!"

"Who?" Kevin pushed himself up on his knees before looking. Joe was wrapped up like a fly and couldn't even roll over. Tetrax surfed over to them on his hoverboard and with his diamond hand, cut the web off of Kevin first and then Joe. Kevin got Gwen out of the webs that bound her and gave her a hug. "Are you ok?"

"Thanks Kevin, I am fine."

Tetrax helped Joe get up, "Hello Gwen. Looks like you guys had everything under control, but I thought I would jump in anyway." Joe stared at the large crystalline alien, not sure if he should be scared, but he seemed to know Gwen.

"Well thanks Tetrax, I'm glad you did–we are in trouble here! Ben and another of our team are missing, and are being held here! Albedo. . ."

"I know about Albedo-he is why I am here. Azmuth sent me as soon as he found out Albedo escaped. Azmuth knew Albedo would come to find Ben first. I tracked Ben's Omnitrix signal here.

"Come on, Ben and Julie are this way – and Albedo too." Gwen's eyes were glowing as she ran down the passageway.

Kevin repeated, "What? Who?" as he followed Gwen, but getting no answer, gave up figuring there would be time for introductions later.

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Gwen led them up within sight of the doorway where she could feel Ben, she also thought she sensed his mana felt weaker, even though they were very close - but wasn't sure why. They are just inside that open doorway.

Kevin stepped in front of Gwen and pressed himself flat against the wall before peeking through the door. With just one quick look he knew the layout. "They have Julie in some sort of cage, not too far from the door. Ben is tied to a table in the far corner. Albedo is in there as Swampfire, and is standing in front of him. Ben will be in the line of fire if we go in shooting."

Tetrax stepped up and whispered, "I will go in and take care of Albedo, you get to the others and get them out. Don't look back-am I counting on you to get Ben and the Omnitrix safely out of here no matter what." Joe handed Tetrax a couple of energy modules before he charged in.

"Albedo-STOP!" Tetrax shouted.

Albedo spun towards him and in a panic flung his laser cuter toward him. It rolled, bouncing violently on the uneven stone floor and fell over without even making it to Tetrax. He leapt at Albedo Swampfire and grabbed him by the arms. Albedo fired up his hands and shot flames at Tetrax, which he ignored and flipped Albedo Swampfire over his head away from Ben and toward the door.

Ben couldn't believe his eyes, Tetrax? They hadn't seen him in a long time. He had given up his struggles against the chains and just turned his head to gaze at Julie when Albedo showed up again. He thought he was dreaming when he saw Tetrax fighting with Albedo.

Tetrax jumped at Albedo and planted his feet in his chest, sending him through the doorway and back out in the passageway. Tetrax followed him out as Kevin, Gwen and Joe ran in.

Joe saw Julie was closest to the door and ran up to her first. He stuck his hand through the bars and felt for her pulse. He felt a strong pulse and backed off a little to try and see how to get her out of the cage. Julie opened her eyes and looked at him while she pulled a little at her shackles. "Joe?" Julie looked around and saw Gwen and Kevin too and smiled.

Gwen and Kevin ran to Ben. They were both horrified to see what had been going on. The blood dripping from his arm had made a large puddle on the floor and he looked like he was in bad shape. "Ben! Oh no!" Ben saw them but thought they were a dream too at first. When he felt them unchaining him, and the pain that followed his movements, he was pretty sure they were real.

"Help Julie, she's . . . they were . . . Aaahrr." Ben cried out as he moved his legs causing pain to shoot through his body. After Kevin got his legs free, he went to the other side of the table to get his other arm freed.

Gwen gently loosened the chain holding his injured arm and got the shackle off of his wrist, but continued to hold his arm gently in the same place. Even the slightest movement made Ben cry out in pain. "Joe! Ben's hurt!"

In spite of his painful arm and joints from being stretched out, Ben was already trying to get up to go to Julie. "No Ben, don't move around yet."

"But Julie!"

"Hold still, we will get you both out of here." Gwen gently held him down with her hand.

"Can you go Swampfire and let him heal you?"

Gwen still held his injured arm trying to keep it still until Joe came over. Ben reached over slowly to dial the Omnitrix without moving his arm any more than he had too. He winced as he slapped it, more gently than usual but it wouldn't activate.

"I received a shock from some sort of force shield, and it changed me back twice. It wouldn't activate after that, or they never would have captured me." Ben felt no need to tell her he put his arm into some sort of trap too.

Gwen helped him sit up before tearing a strip off from around the bottom of her white t-shirt, turning it into a belly shirt. Ben felt dizzy and sat quietly while she wrapped the strip of white material snuggly around his wound and pressed her hand over it to try and get the bleeding to stop while the guys got Julie down.

Joe looked over and saw the large puddle where Ben had been bleeding and frowned. He already had the cage that held Julie open, but needed a key to get her arms down. Kevin absorbed just enough of the iron from the bars to cover his arms to his shoulders. The rusty iron chain above her hands snapped like pieces of plastic between Kevin's fingers.

Her arms, still shackled together at the wrist were at least free from the cage and she crumpled into Joe's arms. He stood her up and supported her as she moaned and looked at him. Joe waited for Kevin to help her stay on her feet before turning to go to Ben, but Gwen had lost the argument about him staying still. Ben was already coming toward them while holding his arm tightly against his side.

Ben took Julie from Kevin and hugged her with one arm. His injured arm hung limply at his side, while blood soaked into the wrap Gwen put over the cut. He put his hand behind Julie's head and pulled her forehead into his neck. Tears ran down his cheeks and into her hair. "I'm ok Ben." She whispered.

"I'm so sorry . . . sorry!" He felt her put her hands up to his chest under their embrace and felt the shackles against his chest. He pulled back a little to see and gasped. "No! Get these off of her! Get them off!" his voice cracked and she could feel his whole body shaking as he held her tightly to him.

"Ben! It's ok – I am ok." Julie looked right into his eyes to try and convince him.

Kevin stepped over and she held her hands out to him. He pinched the metal shackles causing each one to fall off her wrists. She weakly put them around Ben's neck and hugged him back.

"Let's get out of here!" Gwen broke them up, and they moved to the door. Kevin checked the hall first and led the way.

The battle between Tetrax and Albedo had moved into the large entrance way just before the drawbridge. Most of the Knight's vehicles has already been destroyed or buried in debris. Albedo was Chromastone now and more evenly matched to fighting with Tetrax. With both aliens being nearly indestructible they had done more damage to the castle than to each other.

It took Kevin and Joe working together to get Julie over a pile of rubble safely. She tried weakly to help, but couldn't even stand on her own. Ben made it over alone, with Gwen climbing nearby.

As they went quickly past the battle a dozen Knights tried to stop them but were quickly thrown aside by Gwen's energy bolts. Ben glanced over at the battle to see Albedo turning into Echo Echo and immediately began his sonic scream. The sonic waves threatened to shatter Tetrax's whole body and he went to his knees.

Ben slapped his Omnitrix and it finally worked! He turned into Jetray and shot in an arch toward Albedo Echo Echo ramming into him from the side. The sonic scream stopped as he was knocked out the rear castle entrance and fell over a short brick wall into the water below.

Jetray had a little trouble stopping in time with an injured wing, and slammed into the wall. When Ben hit the floor he was back in his human form, he moaned and held his injured arm back to his side before trying to get up. Tetrax was there, and helped him stand.

"Thanks Ben-But GO! You and the others have to get out of here. I will finish this."

Ben staggered weakly back toward the others while holding his arm against his stomach. Gwen ran forward to meet him and was hurrying him along when another dozen Forever Knights rounded the corner and came out of the passageway. Gwen aimed her energy bolt above them and brought down another huge pile of stone temporarily blocking their path.

She guided Ben back to the others and they continued jogging and walking quickly toward the drawbridge and the waiting blue car that Kevin had found on their way in. Joe was planning to drive the truck they came in, will all their supplies in it as soon as he could get to it.

The first Knight that made it over the rubble that Gwen brought down, was Steel. He had his automatic in one hand and a handgun in the other and started shooting with both as soon as Joe, carrying Julie came into his line of sight. The first bullet ricocheted off the heavy chain that supported the drawbridge right next to Joe.

Kevin heard the shots and looked back "Old fashioned earth tech, but still very effective!" The other Knights appeared and started shooting their laser lances at them as well.

Kevin moved over to run behind Gwen, in hopes of protecting her from the bullets and lasers flying around them. She was herding Ben, who ran weakly a little ahead of her. A shot ricocheted off the rock wall by his head and made him duck. They got across the bridge and almost to the car.

Gwen slowed a little and let Joe pass her with Julie and shot energy back at the Knights. Ben was almost to the car. Kevin stayed with Gwen and she put up a shield before returning some more of their fire. Her shield was shattered by the semi-automatic and they turned to run too.

Ben clumsily slide over the trunk and fell off on the other side, but was able to climb into the back seat on the passenger side on his own. Joe placed Julie next to Ben before he got in behind her.

The three in the back ducked down as shots hit the car and shattered the back window. They watched as Kevin and Gwen ran toward them. They were running so fast, Gwen almost slid into the driver's door, but Kevin grabbed her and reached around her to open it. He put his hand on her head to cover it as she got in and slid over to the passenger seat.

Kevin silently gritted his teeth and tightly shut his eyes as he paused for a moment while getting in.

"Kevin?" She was concerned but didn't see what happened.

"I banged my knee! Everything's fine." He had the car started almost before he landed in the driver's seat and they sped away in a cloud of dust.

"Julie?" Ben cupped her face in his hand and looked into her face. She opened her eyes "Ben?" he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and leaned her against him. Joe checked her over quickly and took her pulse and respirations.

"Is she?" Ben was trying not to cry as tears ran down his cheeks.

"I think she will be fine physically. We'll take a closer look when we get out of this. Joe said, "Strap her in-and take care of your arm!" as he readied himself to jump out when they got to the truck.

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The guy shooting and his friends were temporarily delayed by Tetrax's battle with Albedo. Albedo Echo Echo had become Jetray underwater and flew around to the front of the castle to try to sneak up on Tetrax. He shot rays from his eyes at him, and Tetrax returned with a wave of diamond shards that missed and flew at the Knights, taking down three of them. The rest got down and rolled out of the way, including Steel.

Albedo turned back into Chromastone and fired back at Tetrax. It knocked part of the wall down on him. Tetrax burst out of the pile of rubble and charged Chromastone firing diamond shards that just bounced off of Chromastone.

Albedo Chromastone turned in a flash back into Echo Echo and screamed again. Tetrax was caught in the sonic waves, and felt his body coming apart again. In a desperate attempt to save himself, he dove backwards off the castle wall and into the water below. Echo Echo ran forward and continued to point his sonic scream in the water where Tetrax fell.

With the fierce fighting out of the way and apparently over, the Knights ran across the drawbridge and jumped into two cars. Tires screeched as they pulled out onto the dirt road to chase down Ben and his friends.

Tetrax shot out of the water on his hoverboard and searched the castle for Albedo. He incapacitated any Knights that got in his way as he went.

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Kevin slammed on the brakes where they left the truck and just before the car came to a stop, Joe jumped out and landed running. Kevin took off again. Joe ran into the trees and got in the truck. Plumber crashed out from under the trees nearby with a dead squirrel and jumped back in the truck through the window. "Hi Plumber, keep the squirrel guts off the seat would ya." Plumber got down on the floor in the back with his dinner.

Joe waited a moment and two cars full of Knights shot past him. He stomped it and pulled out behind them intending to catch up.

Gwen leaned over the back seat to see if she could help Julie or Ben at all. "Ben, how is she?"

Ben's hand was shaking as he tried to get the seatbelt around her and fastened. His other arm was draped limply over her shoulder and blood dripped from his soaked bandage. It looked like Julie had passed out.

"I don't know . . . this is my fault! Julie . . . they were doing. . .AArgh" he said in frustration as he dropped the end of the seatbelt.

"Ben, again, this–none of this-is your fault." Gwen tried to comfort him.

Ben wasn't listening. ". . . Terrible things . . . Julie was screaming . . . I couldn't . . .!" Ben was sobbing now and couldn't see through his tears to do anything, even find the seatbelt again.

"Ben! Pay attention! Get her legs up on the seat-make her as comfortable as possible and get the seatbelt around her."

Ben tried again to pull himself together and follow Gwen's instructions. As Kevin sped down the dirt road taking the curves at impossible speeds, the car bounced violently sometimes. Gwen gasped when she saw how much his arm was still bleeding when he reached for Julie's legs.

"Kevin, try to keep it on the road for a minute – I gotta get in the back and help."

"No promises." He answered as he blinked sweat out of his eyes and downshifted to get up a hill.

Gwen climbed in the back and helped Ben get Julie positioned and strapped in. She was leaning against his chest. Ben was getting too weak to even speak clearly and Gwen thought he would soon pass out from all the blood he lost. She reached under him and put the seatbelt tight and low around his hips.

"Ben, stay with us! – take care of Julie! Julie needs you!" Gwen patted his cheek and gave his shoulder a squeeze.

Ben heard Gwen and pulled Julie tighter, pressing the top of her head into his neck. She moaned and opened her eyes. Leaning forward a little she turned and looked up at him. "Ben, what's going on?"

Gwen answered before Ben could, "We escaped the castle and Kevin's trying to keep us ahead of the bad guys who want to shoot us among other things. Ben has lost a lot of blood and is getting weaker."

"No, Ben?" Julie looked up into his eyes and he tried to smile. "I am ok-I am just so glad we got you out of there. I'm sorry."

Gwen interrupted him, "Julie, take over, keep pressure on his arm, we gotta get the bleeding to stop."

Gwen waited for a large bump to get behind them before stepping over the seat. She quickly sat back down and strapped back in just before the car bottomed out after another bump.

Julie winced as she sat up from her many injuries, and found he had bled on her shirt too. "Oh Ben, maybe you should lie down." She wrapped her hands around his bloody bandage to try and hold it off.

He refused to lie down, even as he was struggling to keep his eyes open.

Gwen was watching Kevin. He had said nothing and kept wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. Kevin was sweating, and when he reached over to shift again Gwen saw his hands were trembling.

She asked, "Kevin, what is wrong?"

"Nothing I'm fine." Gwen leaned over and touched his forehead, he tried to pull his head away without taking his eyes off the road.

"You're cold and sweaty – there's something wrong!"

"I'm FINE, just hang on!" the rear wheels slide out to the side and off the road as he rounded the next turn. Somehow he kept it from spinning or rolling and straightened it out through the next dip in the road. Gwen looked back and could barely see glimpses of at least two cars chasing them. "I don't see Joe yet! I hope he's back there."

Gwen continued to watch Kevin. His eyes close and head fall forward for a moment. "Kevin!" He looked back up and knew he had been caught- "You're right ok? I don't think I can drive much farther."

Ben and Julie heard him and looked up. Gwen reached over and felt his cold clammy skin again. "Tell me what is wrong Kevin." He gritted his teeth as they went over another bump before telling her.

"Bullet, back of left leg."

"No! Kevin! Why didn't you say something?" With that, Kevin's head fell forward and his hands fell limply off of the gearshift and steering wheel. Gwen unfastened her seatbelt and grabbed for the wheel.

Julie and Ben both gasped and Julie called Kevin's name as the car went off into a grassy clearing. Gwen picked Kevin's leg up off the accelerator and used a pink lash of energy to press on the brake. The car did a one-eighty before stopping in a cloud of dust.

Gwen looked at Kevin, and then shot a look at Ben and Julie. "Get Ben down. There's gonna be some more shooting." She unfastened Kevin's seatbelt and pulled him down sideways on the seat.

Gwen got out knowing they couldn't run, and prepared to protect them alone until the end.

The vehicles carrying the Knights slid to a stop at the edge of the clearing in front of them as Gwen put a shield up around the front of the car. The first Knights got out and started shooting from behind the open doors of their cars. As Gwen's shields shattered over and over, bullets and energy beams struck the car, so hard and fast it rocked on its wheels.

The last Knights out headed for the trunk of one car and took out a very large gun. They put it up on the roof of the car, preparing to fire it like a cannon.

Gwen returned their fire, making them stay where they were and knocking one down here and there. When she saw the big gun on the roof of the car, she stepped out to use both hands and sent a heavy lash of energy to turn the car with the big gun over. The guys scrambled to get out of the way and she picked them off with fast individual shots.

The Knights in the other car, including Steel were still shooting and when her shield was shattered again she got back down behind the car door and gasped to catch her breath.

The last Forever Knight vehicle to come into sight, driven by Joe, he laid on the horn and the accelerator and headed straight for the Knight's car that was still on its wheels. The horn alerted them, and they all jumped out of the way where Gwen could pick them off. Joe slammed into their car mashing it flat with the large all-terrain tires on the truck.

Joe pulled in a circle and stopped by his friends. Gwen leaned on the door and panted trying to catch her breath. Joe opened the back of the truck and got out one of the bags he had with medical supplies.

Julie took off her seatbelt and Ben's and was trying to wake Ben. As Joe came over, Gwen panted, "Ben looks bad, and Kevin's been shot."

"What? Shot! When did that happen?" Dr. Joe ran to Kevin first.

Kevin was still leaning over in the seat where Gwen had pulled him down out of the line of fire. Joe could see he had been sitting in a puddle of blood under his thigh. He sat him up and took his pulse before he started to pull him out of the car, "Gwen can you help me get him in the truck?"

She put a lash of pink energy under and around him and levitated him into the truck. Dr. Joe grabbed a wad of sterile gauze and followed. Gwen placed him on his stomach on the bench. Joe ripped the leg of Kevin's scrub pants over the wound and pressed down with the gauze.

"Here Gwen-keep pressure on it, I will be right back."

He got back and saw Julie wasn't having any luck waking Ben. "Julie, do you think you can walk to the truck, I will bring Ben." She nodded and let him help her stand. He ran around to the other side and put his hand under Ben's legs and behind his back to lift him out of the car. Ben was almost as tall as he, but much lighter. Julie steadied herself on Joe's shoulder as she walked with him to the truck.

Gwen ducked and scooted over as Joe got in with Ben and put him on his back on the other bench. He reached back down and helped Julie up. She kneeled down in front of the bench by Ben's head and stroked his hair as Dr. Joe got out an IV set and bag.

Plumber got out of the front seat and walked quietly over to Julie. He rooted his nose under her hand so she would pet him. She scratched his ears while she thoughtfully stroked Ben's hair.

Joe put the IV setup together and hung it from a handle above their heads. He gave Ben's uninjured arm a quick scrub and set the catheter for the IV. He taped it quickly in place and started a fast drip even before taking his blood pressure. Julie saw Dr. Joe looking worried as he applied gauze and tape to make a pressure bandage for Ben's arm.

Gwen pressed down on Kevin's thigh as instructed and it looked like the bleeding had stopped. She found his hand with her other hand and held it tight. She leaned forward over him and rested with her forehead on his back, exhausted herself. Kevin moaned and tried to move. "No Kevin-hold still." She said as she sat back up.

"Gwen! What happened? –Ow!" he tried to get his leg out from under her hand as she kept pressing on his leg.

"Hold still Kevin, you were bleeding – don't make it start again." As he put his head back down she reached up and touched his cheek. "Try to relax. The Knights aren't chasing us anymore-at least for now."

Joe turned around to check Kevin next, "Ben's blood pressure is a little low." He said out loud hoping to not to scare the others.

"Gwen can you look around outside and make sure no one else is paying us a visit. We will get out of here as soon as I get Kevin ready to travel." She reluctantly agreed, not wanting to leave Kevin, or Ben for that matter.

Joe scolded Kevin since he was awake. "Kevin, you should have told us when you got shot! We could have changed the plan."

"No way doc, we had to do it this way – we got away didn't we?"

"Well so far, but it didn't do you any good to bleed into the seat all this time." Dr. Joe pulled Kevin's arm out to the side and set an IV just like he did for Ben.

"Are Ben and Julie Ok?" Kevin raised up a little to see Ben.

"They will be."

Gwen came back in and said she couldn't see or sense anyone near them. She had watched while two of the stunned Knights woke up and ran off into the trees. She didn't see Steel was awake and hiding behind the overturned car.

"Julie? Are you doing ok?" Joe stopped to take her blood pressure and heart rate too.

"I am fine." was all she said.

Joe got up and went to the front. He started the engine and told Gwen to keep her eye on the others.

Steel stood up when he heard the truck's engine start and opened fire with the automatic and a six shooter. Joe ducked and Gwen and Julie screamed as bullets ricocheted off the sides of the truck. Plumber snarled and the small windows in the back shattered and blew broken glass over them. Julie quickly covered Ben's eyes.

Joe stomped on the gas and made the huge truck spin out as he took off away from Steel.

Once there was a little distance between them and Steel, Gwen examined the bandage that Dr. Joe covered Kevin's leg with before she turned to Julie.

"Julie, are you sure you are ok? It was rough being alone with those nights and what they did to you wasn't it? And then seeing what they did to Ben. I don't think I would be ok."

"I-I didn't . . ." Julie began to cry and couldn't answer her. Gwen hung on to the wall while getting up while the truck travelled from the dirt road and back onto the pavement. She felt Joe accelerating. Gwen sat on the floor next to her and Plumber gave her a hug. Julie kept her hand tangled in Ben's hair, not wanting to let him go as she leaned on Gwen and cried harder.

"Is everything ok?" Joe called back.

"Ya, as ok as it can be." Gwen answered as she looked back over at Kevin. He had turned his head and watched the girls, looking very concerned.

Between sobs Julie managed to say, "Why did he risk his life, and even the Omnitrix to save me? He shouldn't have come, especially not alone." She covered her eyes and waded the front of Ben's shirt tightly in her other hand.

"Because Ben loves you. Albedo made some very scary threats, and Ben was determined to save you as soon as he could. Traveling by ground, we wouldn't have made it to you by Albedo's deadline, so Ben went alien and flew to you."

Julie wiped her eyes and looked up at her. Gwen frowned at Kevin when she saw him trying to roll over. Julie saw him too. "Go on Gwen,"

"Kevin, stop-you will pull out your IV."

Joe looked back, and saw Gwen getting up. It looked like she had his patients all under control.

After they had put miles behind them, with no sign of pursuers, Joe pulled into a truck stop. He went to the fuel pumps first and slid down to fill it up. He called back up and told Gwen to slow the boys IV drips down by about half.

Kevin had turned over to lie on his back. Gwen found emergency blankets and rolled one up to put it under his head. She handed the other one to Julie for Ben and held Kevin's hand in with both of hers. He looked at her as she bent forward, "You saved all of us you know? Thank-you."

"Awe, it was nothing, but I am pretty tough huh? Even without using my power to absorb stuff."

"Yes-you are, very 'tough'!" She bent down and kissed him. He put his hand behind her head and held her close.

As Julie lifted Ben's head to slide the folded blanket under, Ben moaned and opened his eyes. Julie got up and sat on the edge of the bench next to him to look at him. Gwen and Kevin looked over happy to see Ben wake up.

The first thing he saw was Julie's smiling face as she looked at him and his tears ran into his hair as she leaned over and kissed him. Her lips pressed against his, and he couldn't help but close his eyes and kiss her back. She broke the kiss and he saw tears in her eyes too. "I thought I was going to lose you, Ben!"

"Guess you aren't that lucky. I'm so sorry Julie! I never thought you would suffer so, because of me and this stupid watch." Ben turned his head away, unable to look at her face.

"Ben? I did not suffer because of you – you saved me, even though you were captured too, if you had not gotten there when you did, they might have killed me sooner."

Joe got back in the truck and pulled it all the way in the back of the lot in-between two refrigerated Semis to park. They were pretty well hidden back there, except maybe from the air.

First he checked the boys IVs and sat down next to Ben to take his blood pressure again. "You are looking better Ben. How are you feeling?

Ben hesitated, "Ok I guess, better. I am worried that Tetrax has not caught up with us yet. You don't think Albedo could have beaten him do you?"

"No way Ben, he probably just can't find us. We are pretty well hidden now."

"He can track the Omnitrix. He would have no trouble finding us, if he is able to look." Ben sounded so down, he didn't even sound like Ben.

Dr. Joe had been examining Kevin. "You look pretty good, but we've got to get the bullet out."

"How far is it back to the hospital?"

"We can't go back there – they found us there once already, and probably know Joe is on staff and they may be watching for us to go there for help."

"It is miles farther, but we could go to the Urgent Care Center where your girlfriend works."

Kevin thought a moment. "How come you can't just take it out here? Looks like you have all the stuff doc."

"Well, it's not very sterile, I have no real anesthesia . . ." Joe was thinking out loud. "It would be much better to do it in a real surgical atmosphere with staff to assist."

"Gwen can assist." Gwen glared at Kevin, but waited to see what Joe said.

"I will leave it up to you Kevin. Do you want me to do it right here?"

[[[[[((((((((((Ben10AF)))))))))))]]]]]

To be continued . . .