Author's note: I'm going to have to rush this story, especially if I want to finish all the other stories I have ideas for. This chapter was written before the need for rush, but I beg you all to remember that I've got a baby due less than a month from now, and so could disappear at any moment (as much as I love writing these stories, baby does come first, after all). Please enjoy.

"What exactly are you looking for?" Ben asked, ducking as Verdona tossed a few more items out of the way, almost hitting her grandson on the head. She shook her head furiously.

"No, no, I don't need help, I know it's around here somewhere..." she plunged her arm deep into a cabinet, rooting around. A look of triumph crossed her face, and she pulled her arm out, her fist firmly clutching a black band with a black and green structure at the top. "Come here, Ben."

Ben did as asked, his eyes on the strange contraption in his grandmother's hand. "Is that some kind of bracelet?"

"Not exactly," Verdona said, releasing her grip. The 'bracelet' seemed to jump from her hand greedily onto Ben's wrist. He yelped, not understanding what was going on. The item settled itself onto his wrist. Ben just stared at it.

"What is this?"

"The boy's become a bit too unpredictable..."

"What boy?"

"Kevin. That...phantom of yours," Verdona explained. "I'm not sure what he's planning anymore, but he may have snapped. This is just in case...it's so you can rescue your cousin, even if Kevin refuses to let go of her."

"How's a bracelet going to help?"

"That isn't some mere trinket!" Verdona snapped. "It's called an omnitrix. Rotate the face; that'll make it easier to explain what it can do."

Ben looked over the omnitrix for a moment, before figuring out which part was the 'face'. He turned it once clockwise. A shadowy green figure of what appeared to be a monster appeared on top of the face. "What is that?"

"It's a long story. Let's make it short. There are 10 of those things in there, you can transform into anyone of them," Verdona rushed her explanation. "Now pick one of the fliers and go after your cousin."

"I don't know where she is!" Ben complained.

Verdona's eyes glowed faint pink for a moment. "She's in the middle of the forest. Travel West. You'll find her, I promise. Now scoot. An old lady like me shouldn't have to do everything."


"Why'd you take me?" This was the third time Gwen had asked, and once more Kevin did not seem interested in answering her. "Tell me, or I'll leave."

"I don't know. It's...it's stupid. I just wanted you to come with me, okay? Does it really matter?"

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Gee, my Grandfather's probably very upset right now, my cousin might be, Mike's certainly --what's wrong?"

Kevin had bristled at the mention of Michael Morningstar. He shook his head, pretending he didn't know what she was asking about. "Can't believe you like that idiot."

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know. I just don't trust him."

"This from the guy who pretends to be a ghost, lives underneath an opera house for a few years and, oh yeah, let's not forget...killed someone!"

"I didn't kill him," Kevin said softly. "Cash isn't dead."

Gwen studied Kevin very carefully, before nodding. "I believe you. But where is he, then? And why would you want us to think that you killed him?"

"Because if they weren't afraid of me, they wouldn't have given in so easily. They wouldn't have done that opera, and I wouldn't be able to get close enough to you..."

"But you took me. Kevin, that's not fair. I need to be able to make my own choices."

Kevin shook his head, crossing two different sets of arms. "What kind of girl would agree to come with me, with me looking like this? Huh?"

Before Gwen could answer, there was a loud screech. Descending rapidly, obviously headed towards them, was a bright red monster, with yellow eyes and a long tail that shot out some sort of green energy towards Kevin.


Michael was not an idiot, despite what Kevin and Verdona might have thought. He'd followed Ben to Verdona's, and took a horse to follow the red monster (which he knew to be Ben from listening in).

While he did care for Gwen, he chose not to get involved. He perched himself on a branch, watching closely as Ben and the monstrous phantom fought.

That's when an idea occurred to him. If the phantom was preoccupied, he would not notice Gwen missing. This was his chance. He jumped gracefully from the tree and untied his horse, urging the animal to go faster. He grabbed Gwen from behind and flung her onto the horse, in front of him, and rode off.

"Let me go!" Gwen insisted. "I am not in the mood to be kidnapped again."

"Gwen, it's me," Michael said, snapping the reigns against the horse to urge him to jump a log. "It's Michael. You know...your fiance?"

This did not seem to calm Gwen in the least. "Turn around."

"...there are two monsters back there. You really want to get in the middle of that? One of them kidnapped you."

"I know that," Gwen snapped, "But he's not a bad guy...and that other monster...I don't know, but I don't want him hurt either."

"I don't think you've come to your senses yet..."

"Yes I have," Gwen insisted. "Now stop this horse and let me off."

"I'm not stopping him," Michael insisted.

"Fine," Gwen agreed, "then I'll just get off the hard way..." she swung her other leg over, so that she was positioned side saddle. She took a deep breath and leapt, landing in the bushes about two feet away. Michael stopped the horse.

"What kind of girl are you?"

Gwen shrugged. "the kind who doesn't leave her friends to fight their battles alone!" She called as she began to run back towards where Kevin and, unbeknownst to her, Ben, were fighting.

"Stubborn girl..." Michael said finally, sighing. He did not want to go back to help, or even to watch, but he felt he needed to. So, he urged the horse after Gwen, wondering if he would regret this.