A/N: Sorry for leaving off at another cliff hanger - I HATE THOSE! But I had to work, it was my first day back at work.

Apparently, Rygel-n watched Alien Swarm, and wants me to add Elena, but in my original idea, I didn't even know she existed yet, so she's not there. I haven't watched Alien Swarm yet, so what do you think? Should I add Elena or not? Because this is two years later, so they already went through the Alien Swarm movie, I guess? Anyway, if you want, leave a response with your answer. If I don't get any, I won't add her.

And I did say this was Mature right? This chapter is rated M, and not for sexual reasons. Use of Alcohol, spouse abuse, and child abuse.

(I was totally listening to Concrete Angel while writing this)


CHAPTER NINE: RAVIN

A little girl crouched there in front of Gwen, she wore a pure white lacy dress, her long black hair draped over her shoulders, and she looked afraid, crouched down with her head hidden under her arms. She cried silently, clenching her hair in her little fists.

The rest of the world solidified around her. Gwen looked around as an old house appeared around her. Everything was metal and gray. It was a mess, papers everywhere, and garbage littering the counters and dishes piling up in the sink. A single light swung from the roof, casting off the only light in the room.

Two people solidified across the room, but they did not seem to see her. They were fighting. The woman was yelling at a man who stood there shouting back, clenching a wine bottle tightly within his hand. Gwen gasped as he raised his other hand and threatened to punch the woman. The daughter let out a small whimper.

"You're going to hit me? Is that it?" The woman screamed, "What kind of man-animal are you? Not getting your way so you turn to violence? But then again, I always knew you were primitive."

"Shut the FUCK UP woman!" The man slurred through the alcohol. He actually lashed out and struck her across the face.

The woman gasped, fighting back tears, "How dare you! Whatever happened to, 'I'll never hurt you'!"

"That was before you cheated on me you fucking slut." He coughed, he slammed the wine bottle so hard down onto the table the glass broke, sending the red liquid all over the floor,

"I TOLD YOU THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" She screamed, ignoring the liquid as it sloshed over her feet, "I already said sorry!"

"Oh yeah, your sorry." He said, grabbing onto the table for support, "And yes, taking off your pants was a complete accident."

"I was drunk." She countered.

Gwen looked down at the little girl as those two fought. This all seemed vaguely familiar to her. She looked at the little girl thoughtfully. It finally clicked, this little girl was the girl from Ana's locket! The little girl that sat on her teary-eyed mother's lap. What was she doing in Kevin's dream?

She walked over to the girl and reached out for her, but her arm only went through the girl. She gasped, before realizing, "Right…I'm not part of the dream."

The cracked door behind her burst open, and a boy came storming in. The woman and man stopped fighting and looked over angrily.

"Where the hell have you been?" The father slurred,

"Is it any of your business?" The boy snapped, "What the hell is wrong with you two?"

"We're your parents." The Mother replied, trying to keep her tone under-check, "Do not speak to us that way."

The boy looked down at the little girl crying, still hidden behind the counter, "Parents don't attack each other before their kids." He walked over to where the girl hid and pulled her gently to her feet. His harshness seemed to fade as he reached the girl. "Come on Ravin, we're going."

"G-going where?" The girl hiccupped, there was pure admiration in her eyes as she looked at her brother,

"Anywhere, as long as you don't have to listen to those bastards." The boy said loud enough for his parents to hear.

"Kevin Levin! Get your ass over here right now!" The Father bellowed,

"Why?" Kevin snapped, "So you can strike me and beat me down as 'punishment' again? Forget it."

Gwen froze. That black haired little boy, that was…Kevin? Right…it would only make sense, this is his dream after all. Relief washed over her, despite the sickening surroundings. That means that this girl is Kevin's sister, Ravin Levin, not another girlfriend…

…it also meant that Kevin had a twin sister! Gwen's heart raced as Kevin grabbed Ravin's hand, and led her away from the adults. The father made a move towards them, but in a drunken' stupor, stumbled over his feet and fell. The girl looked back in fear as Kevin dragged her out the door.

"Where are we going brother?" The little girl said, her voice starting to cheer up, she whipped the tears from her face with her sleeve.

Kevin smiled and turned towards her, helping her clean her face, "We're going to go get some food."

"You're stealing again?" She hiccupped,

"What else can we do? That bastard spends all our money on booze, and I don't see Mom actually feeding us anytime soon." Kevin shrugged, "If we want to eat, we steal. And I will not see you starve."

Ravin clung onto Kevin's arm, "Brother…"

Kevin smiled, "Here, wait her, I'll be back."

Gwen stood there, watching Kevin walk off, leaving Ravin waiting there. The little girl clenched her skirt, looking lost as her brother disappeared. He wasn't gone long, he stole a loaf of bread and a few apples and returned. Gwen was guessing he didn't have his powers yet.

"Happy birthday Ravin!" He laughed, handing her an apple,

"Its not our birthday?" She asked, accepting it graciously,

"I know." He smiled.

She looked down at her apple, tears coming to her eyes again, "Brother…"

"Hm?" Kevin replied through a mouthful of bread,

"I'm scared." Ravin cried.

Kevin's face sobered, he turned to Ravin and held her head in his hands, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb, "Ravin. Don't you ever be afraid. I'll be here to protect you, forever."

Ravin slowly nodded, "Please Brother…don't ever go away."

Kevin smiled weakly, he reached over and hugged her, "I won't go anywhere. And besides, someone needs to protect you."

Ravin's lip trembled as she hugged him back, "But who will protect you?"

"I can protect myself." He promised, "I've started to learn some cool abilities…I think if I keep practicing, I'll be able to use them to help us - to help you."

Ravin tilted her head, "abilities?"

"Yeah. I don't know what it is, but its like, I can absorb energy! I don't know what else yet, but I'm going to keep practicing." Kevin nodded, "Here! I'll show you!"

He pried Ravin off of him and sat her down on an overturned barrel. He stepped back and held out his hands, "Ravin Eva Levin! Prepare to be amazed!"

Ravin smiled and folded her hands, ready for whatever her brother had to show her. Kevin smiled, "On my way back, all I had to do was touch this Neon light, and I can do this!" His hands glowed. Ravin gasped as she saw electricity sparks jump from Kevin's fingertips.

"How'd you do that?" She awed,

"I don't know." Kevin shrugged, "But I'm going to keep practicing. Maybe some day I can use this to my advantage?"

Gwen had never seen Kevin's face so alive, so carefree. He was usually serious and his humor was only directed at either being mean, or sarcastic. Here, he was trying his hardest to make Ravin happy, his eyes glowed with determination, as if he made it his life goal to make her happy. Gwen felt a weight on her chest, what happened to cause Kevin to join a gang by himself, when here, it looked like all he wanted to do was be with his sister?

"Can I try?" Ravin asked,

"No, you don't need too. I'll protect you." Kevin shook his head.

Ravin stood up and skipped over to him, "I want to learn too. Teach me Brother! We're twins, so I must have this power too!"

Kevin smiled, "Alright, let's go find a light bulb or something. Its not too hard to find one in New York."

The scene around them changed, and Gwen watched helplessly as the two little children faded away before her. They were back in the Levin household. But this time, the mother lay on the ground, sobbing, beaten black and blue. Her bruised face looked down in shame at the ground.

"So now you're telling me they aren't my kids?" He screamed. He looked over at the dirty kitchen table, where nine-year-old Ravin sat. She seemed to be working on something, maybe homework? There was a Disney Princess bag that Kevin must have stolen for her sitting at her feet, her black hair draped over her shoulder. She looked over at her parents in shock.

The father threw his beer bottle at his wife and she screamed as it hit her side. He walked over to the girl, grabbing her arm roughly and pulling her from the seat. She gasped in pain and shock as he violently pushed her against the counter. "Are you telling me this is not my daughter?"

"Please Ethan!" The mother sobbed, pulling herself to a sitting position, "It was an accident."

"You keep saying that, but these bastards are living proof of your sin. How many times did you sleep with him you whore?" Ethan yelled, "Tell me Tamera!"

"Just once! I promise you!" She sobbed,

"Just once?" He repeated, stumbling into Ravin. He pulled himself back, holding onto the counter behind her for support, "And how many times did we try 'my dear'? And nothing? So how many times did you try with that man?"

"I just wanted a baby." She cried, "And you wouldn't give me one."

"So NOW THE TRUTH COMES OUT!" He bellowed, He turned to the girl, "So this is not my daughter."

"She is! You raised her!" Tamera cried,

"None of my blood runs through her veins." His voice slurred when he spoke.

Gwen wanted to run at him and rip his head off, but there was nothing she could do…

"Ethan don't!" Tamera cried,

"Shut up you whore!" He yelled, he placed his hands on Ravin's flat chest, "Then its not a sin if I do this." Ravin cried out and tried to struggle back, but she was so weak compared to the larger man. He reached down, "Or this…" He kissed her on the lips. She squealed in disapproval, crying loudly.

"S-stop it Daddy!" She cried,

"Shut up you little bastard!" He replied, grabbing her hair, "I'm not your father remember?"

A bolt of electricity hit him square in the back. Ethan called out in pain as it electrocuted him, he fell backwards. Gwen turned around as she saw a nine-year-old Kevin, wearing all black, with heavy bags under his eyes. He already looked like a thug…

"Get your drunken ass OFF her scumbag!" Kevin shouted, he ran over and started kicking Ethan, as hard as he could in the stomach.

"Kevin!" Tamera gasped.

"Brother s-stop." Ravin cried.

Kevin turned towards his sister, pulling her away from their father, "Did he hurt you?" His angry tone had completely vanished when he talked to her. Ravin shook her head. He nodded and turned back as Ethan climbed to his feet.

"W-what the fuck are you?" He gasped, shaking as he held onto the table. He looked at Tamera, "What the hell did you spawn?"

Tamera did not respond, she was looking at Kevin in fear.

Gwen feared what would happen next.

"That's right." Kevin smirked, "I guess I'm a mutant." Ravin knew he only guessed this. He did not even know what he was. But Kevin would never let his parents know that. He stood there protectively in front of Ravin, his hands glowing with electricity.

"A mutant?" Ethan repeated, "You're a monster!"

"I guess I am." Kevin shrugged, "But then again, so are you."

"GET OUT!" Ethan bellowed, "I will not have a monster with no ties to me under my roof!"

Tamera climbed to her feet and grabbed Ravin, pulling her away from Kevin, her arms protectively around her.

"Don't you DARE pretend you care about her now." Kevin shouted, looking at his mother in disgust, "You've never cared before." Tamera looked away.

"GET OUT!" Ethan repeated, throwing an empty beer bottle at Kevin.

Kevin snarled at his father, his face twisted with hatred and rage, "Oh I'll get out old man. But Ravin is coming with me." He looked over at his sister, holding out her hand,

"B-brother…don't go." Ravin cried, "Mommy and Daddy…they need our help."

"They don't deserve help!" Kevin shouted. Ravin flinched back.

Kevin stopped, realizing he just shouted at his beloved sister. He lowered his hands, "Ravin…"

"Brother." She went to step towards him, but Tamera held her back. She turned towards her mother, "I want to go with Brother!"

"No dear, don't look at him." Tamera cooed. Ravin pushed herself away from her mother and ran towards Kevin.

Ethan growled in rage and reached for the kitchen knives in the sink. "I'll never let you join that monster!" He grabbed them and chucked them towards Ravin…

"NO!" Kevin shouted, jumping forward…

…and everything faded.

Gwen jumped back in shock. Kevin sat up in the bed, looking at Gwen with dark, solemn eyes. Verdona was nowhere to be seen, so was she the one reading his dreams after all? Gwen felt tears spill from her eyes, and the grabbed Kevin tightly, sobbing into his chest.

"You know, its rude to go into someone's mind without asking." Kevin whispered, he wrapped his arms around her, "Good morning by the way."

"I had no idea." Gwen sobbed, "I'm sorry Kevin."

Kevin looked away from her, staring at the far wall, "Yeah."

"What happened?" Gwen asked, shielding her face in his chest,

"To Ravin?" Kevin sighed, "She got stabbed, but I managed to take her to the hospital just in time…and then I did what I thought was right. I left her there." He shook his head, "I told the doctors what a terrible home it was, and how it was her father that hurt her, and then I disappeared. I knew they would put her in a foster home, somewhere where she could find a loving family. But I thought…I couldn't get my parents words out of my head. I was a monster, and I did not belong with a family. I couldn't, deep in my heart, I knew that I was too involved in the street, I was too wrapped up in theft and violence that I just couldn't fit in with a normal life…everything I knew was there…I knew nothing of a normal household. Ravin was different, she was smart, talented, special in every way. I knew she could learn to live in a normal home."

"You really loved your sister." Gwen whispered,

"Yes." Kevin nodded, "I was a different person back then though. She was…my only link to humanity." He shook his head, "But things are different now…actually, thinking about it, I guess the best thing that ever happened to me was meeting Ben, only a few years after I left my parents house. I have friends now that care about me," he hugged Gwen tighter, "And a hot babe that loves me."

Gwen froze, "S-say that again?"

"A hot babe that loves me?" Kevin asked,

"No…the first part." Gwen pushed herself off of Kevin, "Sorry Kevin…I know you just woke up, but hang on."

She turned and dashed from the room. Ana's words while they traveled in Ship just wouldn't leave her head…

…My parents…they always used to fight - over everything. And then, my Dad would get drunk and get violent…

Gwen gritted her teeth and floated from the informatory and off towards the bedrooms. Each one of them were given their private room within Verdona's house.

…Apparently, my mother was not faithful to my Dad. That's how me and my brother were born…

…He disappeared, shortly before my parents got divorced. It's the main reason I became what I am, so I could find him…

Gwen landed gently on the floor, and ran towards the assassin's room.

…Because by the time I found him - it was too late…guess he got into a life of crime, and wound up in jail…

The Gang…the Null Void…could it be? She finally reached Ana's room and opened the door.

…I busted him out of there. But…well he's a lot happier now without me around…He has friends now, people he sees as family. He doesn't want to remember his past, and therefore, he doesn't need me. He's an adult now, he can protect himself…

Gwen looked down almost amazed. Ana lay asleep in the bed. She had never seen Ana sleep. She guessed it meant that the assassin trusted them enough to finally sleep. But that wasn't the only thing that amazed her. On closer look, it wasn't Ana in the bed at all, it was a human girl.

An ID Mask sat on the table next to her, along with the locket that said RL…

The girl in the bed had long black hair, and her slender human face slept peacefully. Her eyes fluttered awake, revealing normal human black eyes…

…she looked like a female Kevin…

…This is a locket that belongs to a dead girl. A girl who no longer exists…carrying a phony picture of her sitting there with a make belief happy family…

"Ravin Eva Levin." Gwen said sarcastically, folding her arms, "Correct me if I'm wrong Ana."

The girl lowered her head, "I knew I should have locked the door." She reached for the ID Mask, but Gwen grabbed her hand. Ana looked up in shock.

"When we first met you, you said you had heard a lot about Kevin." Gwen snapped, "Why didn't you tell him you were his sister?"

"One, he'd never believe me." Ana replied, looking down in shame, "And two…I don't belong in Kevin's life now. 'Ravin Levin' is dead."

"That's not true!"

Both girls jumped. They turned towards the door. Kevin stood in the doorway, panting heavily, his bare chest moving deeply against the bandages.

"Kevin!" Gwen gasped, running to his side. He barely noticed she was there, his eyes were solely on Ana.

Ana and Kevin looked at each other, and then Kevin smiled. He threw back his head and laughed. Both Ana and Gwen looked at him as if he had gone crazy. He gently pushed Gwen away and walked towards Ana, sitting down on the bed next to her, he looked her in the eyes mockingly, that sarcastic smile that Gwen loved so much was back on his face. He shook his head, "If I knew you'd become a Universe-Known Assassin, I never would have left you there."

Ana scrunched up her face, even like that, Gwen was angry at how pretty she was without the ID Mask, "You never should have left me in the first place. Honestly, did you really think I could just move into a family and everything would be alright? I had no idea how a family would work either."

Kevin's smile disappeared, "I'm sorry Ana."

She smiled and looked away, folding her arms defiantly, "You should be. For this, I'm adding it to your total - Brother."

Kevin deflated, "R-really?"

Ana looked over at him, "Even though you now know…when we are in public, I must stay as 'Ana', if anyone knew I had family…"

"I know, it would be an unnecessary risk." Kevin agreed,

"I have many enemies." Ana explained, "All that would love to come after you. Including Dana Lyn."

Kevin looked serious, "Yeah. That would not be good."

Ana stood up, grabbing the ID Mask and placing it on her face, her true form once again behind disguised by 'Ana', "Well your up and in motion again. Shall we find Verdona and arrange a spacecraft to get us the rest of the way to Demetrious?"

Kevin nodded, "Gwen?"

"I think by now she'd be in the garden." Gwen agreed, "I'll go get Julie and Ship."

"A spaceship?" Verdona argued, "But you just got here!"

"Grandma…we really appreciate all that you've done for us, but we really have to go save Ben. Owen is already on his way there." Gwen argued,

"But Kevin isn't fully recovered yet." Verdona whined, "You mustn't leave unprepared."

"But Ben's out there somewhere, and he needs us. I can feel his life presence dimming."

Julie bit her bottom lip, "Please Ms. Verdona."

Verdona shook her head, "There is just no reasoning with you! Who did you get your stubbornness from anyway Gwen?"

Gwen placed her hands on his hips and raised an eyebrow.

Verdona smiled, "Oh right, me. Well whatever. If you must leave immediately, I will get some of my men to start building you a spacecraft. It won't long."

"Isn't there one fully operational we can take now?" Kevin countered,

"Of course not." Verdona waved him off, "We Anodites don't need spacecraft to travel, we can teleport anywhere, as well as breathe in outer space."

"How long will it take?" Gwen asked,

"If we start immediately, and where from two to four weeks." Verdona said dartingly,

"We don't have a month to waste!" Gwen argued,

"Its either that or nothing darling." Verdona's smile was wicked, she knew she had won.

"We could take ship." Kevin offered once Verdona left to make preparations for a ship to be made.

"Ship is exhausted from flying us all the way here." Julie replied, carrying her alien dog, "He can't seem to transform right now…he needs rest."

Gwen sighed, "Grandma is right, there is not much we can do until a ship is ready."

Ana smiled, "Then lets make the most of this time. Gwen, get as much training in with Verdona as possible, see if she can teach you teleportation, and Kevin and Julie, I'm going to train you."

She folded her arms, "Kevin, you and I are half alien, thankfully we have our human appearance, though our alien powers. You're not a mutant, you're an Aufnehman - well, half Aufnehman at least. We are a race of super-powered aliens who draw our strength from the world around us."

She placed her hand on a tree, and absorbed the wood, letting it coat her hand. She let the wood return to the tree around them, "From solid substances…" she held her hand out into the air, and suddenly it went completely see-through, "To even the air you breathe. Once you get good at your power, you can even move like the wind, fast, agile, anything you want."

Kevin grinned, "Cool. So you're going to train me?"

She nodded, "And Julie. You Can't always rely on Ship. I'm going to train you how to fight."

Julie nodded, "Yes."

Ana laughed, "Right. So everyone break for lunch. But be prepared. I'm going to have you all masters by the time the ship is ready."

By now, the pain had gotten so bad that Ben could not even move. He couldn't eat anything, anything he tried burned in his stomach. Mei came in every once in a while and gave him some water, that was about the only thing he could get down. He didn't know if it was the pain, or the starvation that caused his weakness, all he knew was that the only words he had muttered in the last few weeks was for Mei to get him a doctor. Of course, she'd have no such thing.

"You've got a fever." Mei frowned, removing her hand from Ben's head. "I'm starting to get worried."

"Then…please…doctor…" Ben panted, he was so hot, everything about his body burned, he wanted to throw up, but there was nothing in his stomach…well, that wasn't entirely true…

He raised one thin arm up to stroke his enlarged stomach. Sweat rolled off of him as he tried to look over the enlarged mass, but he couldn't. He allowed his head to fall weakly onto the pillow with a moan. Mei didn't seem to hear him. She sighed and climbed out of bed, "I have to go to school now."

She walked across the room, pulling on her boots, "Oh and please, be alive when I get back. I want to be here when the egg hatches." Ben tried to respond, but was too weak.

She blew him a kiss, and jumped out of the tree.

Ben lay there, he felt so weak, so tired…something told him that this was it. If he fell asleep now, he would never wake up. He lifted the sheets covering him, trying to cool off. He could see the blue veins through his pale skin crisscrossing over his stomach. His skin looked almost paper white…

Without even realizing it, he must have fallen asleep, because now he was standing back in that black realm, with the child-version of Owen standing in front of him.

The child smiled and reached out for him, Ben hadn't had this dream since that first time. He smiled at seeing the boys sad eyes.

"Hey." He bent down and patted the boy's head.

"Dad." Ben was almost amazed that this time the boy was referring to him as 'Dad' and not 'Mommy'.

Ben pulled the boy closer and hugged him. He chewed on his bottom lip sadly.

"Daddy…we're coming." Ben gasped, shocked from the boy's words…and then everything faded.

With as much strength as he could muster, he forced himself to sit up as reality sank back in. Mei would still be gone for several hours. It was now or never, he was going to die anyway - so he might as well die trying to escape. Ben had no idea who the little boy was, but his words rung in his ears…he's coming, and Ben had to be there to greet him.

He had no idea if it was the fear of dying, or the fever, or if he was going crazy, but he had this weird feeling that someone was coming for him. He forced himself out of bed. It was probably Death, and he would welcome it with open arms. Ben sighed to himself as he used the wall for support, crawling towards the living room. This was insane, no one was coming for him…

Who were they again? Gwen and Kevin…what did they look like? He knew them for years, and yet they're faces were already blurring in his mind. His home seemed like a dream, or a really old show he watched once on T.V. It was all blurry, his whole reality now was just a big blur.

No one was coming…so be it. He would rather die in the woods then here in Mei's bed.

He collapsed in the doorway, and for a second, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to go on. But he had made up his mind, panting, he slowly pushed the curtain out of the way and looked down. It had to be over a ten story drop to the bottom, but if Mei could manage to climb it everyday, then he could. He took in a deep breath and swung his legs over the edge. And anyway, even if he couldn't, what would it matter? He could already feel Death's icy fingers wrapping around him.

He started to climb. It was a slow and painful trip, and Ben's weakened state fought just to be able to stay awake, nevertheless cling to the bark. His mind was too clouded to even concentrate. He had no idea how far he climbed, or how far left he had, when finally his strength gave out. Ben closed his eyes as he started to fall.


So for you who don't read headers, a friend wants me to add Elena from the Alien Swarm movie, if you want me to, tell me and I will. If I don't hear anything, I won't add her.

Benjamin Tennyson don't you dare give up :'( Sigh…this chapter was getting long, so I'm ending it here. Poor Ben…and I really feel sorry for Kevin…such a harsh childhood…only to spend the rest of his adult days in the Null Void… though I hope that was just a 'What If' Episode, and not an actual episode…I couldn't bare the thought of Kevin being evil again…