A/N: Okay, Everyone. This is the final chapter in this story. Next post will be the Epilogue. I want to thank everyone who has followed and reviewed the cousin's travels through this little adventure. It was fun! I have to give my very best appreciation to brandirandom21 who has, literally, forsaken her own educational responsibilities to read this at times and ParamoreXO who has given me support and invaluable input from day one. Sammyantha221, I didn't forget you, babe. Thank you for being my very first reviewer, ever. You girls inspired me and I know you inspire many others to do what makes all of us here, happy… write our little heads off! Thank you, so much! To my wonderful, patient husband whom this was dedicated to: Thank you, sweetheart! I love you!
Disclaimer: Man of Action owns Ben 10 and all the characters in this story. I am very grateful to them as well for letting me borrow them to entertain myself and the readers.
Enjoy!
The astronomical raw power that surged and saturated Devlin's body through the contact with what should have been Kevin 11,000's neck was simply indescribable.
He'd never been completely physical with a woman. However, he was certain beyond all doubt- this far surpassed that, if in a very different sense. Every cell in his body was infused with the life energy of thousands of beings.
It was euphoric.
The agonized scream that was wrenched from somewhere within the creature's throat as the life was literally siphoned out of him; cleared Devlin's mind of the pleasurable feeling the manna surging through him was evoking enough for him to realize that this much energy was far beyond his ability to dominate.
He was loosing his own grip on his humanity to this energy. This monster didn't deserve that kind of a sacrifice. This thing deserved to die!
Ergo, he lifted his other hand skyward and released a continuous, powerful burst of manna; effectively making himself a conduit for draining the murderer of his essence and disbursing it harmlessly into the atmosphere.
Kevin had come around in the Mark 10 and picked up the now conscious Ben, Julie and Kenny. The five teens came out of the vehicle to witness Devlin's defeat of Kevin 11,000.
They all stood at the edge of the Way Big-created crater and watched. It only took a few moments for the monster's body to commence loosing its grotesque amalgamated limbs and appendages.
Soon it held the simple shape of a dark-haired man. A dark haired man that was writhing in agony as Devlin utterly choked the life out of him. Then, he just went limp.
Kenny's jade eyes shot wide at the realization that his cousin had absolutely no inclination to stop. Those same wide green eyes darted frantically to his watch. He gasped out in horror at seeing it was still recharging. Nevertheless, he made a decisively athletic, practiced leap into the chasm and dashed forward to prevent his older cousin from making the biggest mistake of his life.
Five feet from reaching the dark-haired teenager, the brunette was met with a manna shield. Devlin wasn't going to let him pass! Kenny banged on the shield, trying desperately to get through to his best friend. "Dev! Let it go, Man! He's down! He's not worth it! Come on, Dude! Don't do this!"
Devlin chose not to acknowledge his younger cousin. This monster had defiled his mother and God-knows-who else. He had hurt all of them. Every single person he cared about had almost died at the hands of this thing today- only for its twisted pleasure. Had it not been for him disobeying his dad and cross-time traveling with Kenny, he would have succeeded in annihilating them all.
This last thought made something inside him click.
'Dad.'
This thing, at some point in his lifetime, had been the same being as his Kevin Ethan Levin. At some impasse, he'd made some very different choices that led to his becoming a psychotic, sadistic, sociopath- but he was, in the beginning, just like his dad.
What if murdering him turned him into that same kind of monster?
At this last thought, Devlin released his strangle hold on Kevin 11,000 and the man dropped in an unconscious heap to the ground.
The raven-haired teen's face twisted in revulsion as he took a few steps backwards, staring down at his hands horrified.
What had he been about to do?
As soon as the manna shield dropped, which coincided with Kevin 11,000 hitting the ground, Kenny made his way to his older cousin's side. The teenager was shuddering. He put a comforting hand on his shoulder and almost whispered, "Are you alright, Dev?"
Devlin turned haunted green eyes to his cousin and saw the genuine sympathy in those of the younger teen's. Unable to negotiate the attrition and overwhelming remorse that overcame him, looking in those caring eyes, he averted his to the ground; squeezing them shut so the angry, self-denigrating tears wouldn't come.
Kenny kept a reassuring hand on his shoulder as the other four teens slowly made their way down the steep wall of the crevice to join them. Once they were all gathered, the younger brunette saw they all shared the same look of concern for the raven-haired teenager, who was adamant about not meeting any of their gazes.
"Hello, young persons!"
All but Devlin turned to see Paradox waving ecstatically at them from a few feet away, that maniacally happy grin plastered of his face.
"Professor Paradox?" Ben didn't really know why he was surprised to see him. He always seemed to show up just after everything was over.
"Hello, Ben! So good to see you alive, considering I saw a very different outcome to this scenario." His expression suddenly turned forlorn. "I was so terribly saddened by your death," Then, as quickly as it came, the sad expression was gone again, replaced by his insane grin, "but that's all water under the bridge, now. You boys ready to go home?" He was directing himself at Kenny and Devlin.
Kenny ventured a look back at his older cousin and saw the teen remained facing away from everyone and everything going on around them. He turned back to answer Paradox. "I don't think we can go just yet."
Paradox sent a quick knowing glance at Devlin and smiled. "Alright then, how's another twenty-four hours sound? I will, however, be taking him back to where he belongs," Paradox gestured to the unconscious form of Kevin 11,000 on the ground, "I doubt he'll be too much trouble anymore."
With that, there was a flash of light and both Paradox and Kevin 11,000 were gone.
Gwen now came up to Devlin and placed a loving hand on his cheek. He still didn't meet her matching emerald gaze. Her voice was sympathetic and admiring as she softly spoke. "You didn't kill him."
It never ceased to amaze Devlin how his mother could always almost instinctively, know what he was feeling. "It wasn't for lack of trying!" His voice was almost a hoarse whisper. "Anyone else would have been dead long before I let go. The bastard's tough!" He finally turned his eyes to his teenage mother's.
Energy-induced dark circles rimmed those beautiful green windows to his soul that, at the moment, displayed an incredible amount of guilt and self-loathing. "I wanted to kill him." He admitted in a low, pained voice.
Gwen knew there was a world of difference between wanting someone dead and actually accomplishing the act itself; but she could plainly see that her future son was nowhere near in a state of mind to accept that, at the moment. Therefore, she just enveloped him in a hug, as tight as she could and let the boy find whatever comfort he could in her arms for now.
Devlin knew he loved this woman, but he had no idea how much until he felt the unbelievable relief radiate from her tiny body and flood into him through her simple gesture. He found himself hugging her back, keeping his arms as high as possible, remembering her injured lower back. However, he held onto to her fiercely as if letting go was tantamount to being lost to a dark void forever. It probably was.
They held each other a few more moments, as the other teens congregated there watched on in silence. Then, Devlin placed a soft, loving kiss against his teenage mother's temple, letting her go. "Thank you, Mom." She smiled radiantly back up at him.
Devlin now regarded his teenage father. "Dude, where's your car?"
Kevin scoffed. There was nothing more Levin than hiding uncomfortable emotions behind inappropriate humor. The kid worked on the car a few hours ago. He knew how the autopilot functioned. However, he'd saved their butts, so he'd play along. "It stopped ten miles after you set the autopilot, Genius. Now you get to go fetch it."
Devlin set his face into a mock pout. He actually really wanted a chance to drive it again. "Why do I have to go? Uncle Ben has a car. He can drive us there and we can all drive it back."
This made absolutely no sense. Six people did not fit in a five-seater. Everyone in the group caught on to the running gag and started smiling.
"I don't want to ride in Tennyson's scrap-heap and you have a hover thingy. So does the Runt," Kevin gestured to his nephew "So, you two can go get it and we'll wait here."
Leave it to his uncle to use a joke to take a stab at him. Kenny was no longer smiling. "Hey! For your information, Uncle Kevin, I'm average height for my age. He," he gestured to his cousin" and you, are freaks of nature. Normal teenagers aren't that tall. Besides, Dad didn't get his growth spurt until he was almost out of his teens."
This tidbit was a shock to Ben. "Oh, man! Seriously! I'm this short for another three years? Oh, and by the way, Kevin. You built that scrap-heap you're insulting."
The boys continued arguing for a few more minutes, until they heard an engine come to life and the screeching of tires as a car drove off. All four male teenagers looked around and realized their female counterparts and mothers were conspicuously absent.
"Did they just ditch us in the middle of the desert?" Ben actually sounded hurt.
"Um, I think Mom was pretty hurt and we're just eating crap out here. Can anybody blame them?" They all exchanged guilty looks. "Come on, Kenny. Lets go get Dad's car."
As the younger teens expanded their hover boards and darted off, they could hear their fathers' conversation in the background.
"Dude, we so have to stop off somewhere and get some yellow roses, or I'm never gonna hear the end of this."
-Later That Night Kevin's Apartment-
Devlin never thought a hot shower could possibly feel so good.
After retrieving his dad's 'ride' and making a quick stop at a florist shop, the four male teenagers had headed straight for Gwen's house.
The Mark10 had been parked in the driveway, so it was no surprise to find Julie there, as well.
The ginger was decidedly not well. After the adrenaline of the afternoon's events wore off, she was so sore, she had just taken a scalding shower to relieve as much tension as she could and Julie had applied soothing salve to the bruises on her back and lower region, as well as her wrists.
Julie was grateful none of the male teens was privy to the extent of the bruising present on her friend as she'd lain on her stomach in a drug-induced sleep. She'd covered the red-head up before her cousin or boyfriend could see them. Kevin and Ben had been downstairs talking to her parents, making up some excuse for her injuries.
Devlin and Kenny had to stay outside in the car to avoid being seen by the younger raven-haired teen's grandparents.
After their affairs there ended and his father had the chance to say good-bye to his heavily sedated mother, his aunt had the brilliant idea of stopping by a store and buying he and Kenny both a change of underwear. This mortified both teens and got a hearty laugh out of their fathers.
This was until the tiny Asian-American shot them both a death glare. "They both need a shower! They're filthy from fighting in the desert! We can wash their clothes, but you guys can't share underwear. That's gross!"
Turns out you can't argue with 'mom logic', so they got them the change in under clothes, their immature teenage father's snickering and cracking jokes the whole time.
Then, Kenny had gone with his parents to take his mom home and spend the night with his dad, while Devlin and his dad set off for Kevin's apartment.
Upon arriving, Devlin had called dibs on the shower and was now relaxing on the sofa bed; lying on his back with his hands behind his head, running through the events of the last day and a half. He was in his new boxers. His dad was washing his clothes. Who knew Kevin Levin knew how to use a washing machine?
Now that he was alone with his thoughts, the guilt of what he had almost done began to nag at him.
Was he really a killer? What made him any better than what he was going to murder? He had the same psychological profile. He knew his father had killed, albeit not when in his right mind when he was a kid, but his father was a Plumber.
Devlin wasn't ignorant of the reasons his father was used for special missions. Uncle Ben didn't do certain things that had to be done. His dad accompanied him on missions to 'capture' especially dangerous criminal element the Galactic Court of Law had sentenced beyond the Null Void… usually, because not even the pocket dimension could contain them.
The teenager's musings where interrupted when his teenage father came out of the bathroom in only a towel. "Dude! You ever hear of modesty?"
Kevin smiled unabashedly at his teenaged son, heading to his room to get some clothes on. "My place, Kid. Besides, we're anatomically identical. This isn't new to you."
Devlin got up on his elbows and yelled into the bedroom after him. "Even so, it's common courtesy, Dad! I came out in underwear."
Kevin emerged in a pair of black loose pajama bottoms and sat on the sofa bed next to the teen. He looked him over with a pitying expression. "The towel covers the same thing, Devlin. You're too uptight. You get that from your mother. No wonder, you can't keep a girlfriend."
Devlin was affronted, but still managed an amused scoff. "For your information, Dad, I can't keep a girlfriend because my intellect makes any given girl interesting to me for about two weeks." He asserted, cockily.
Kevin considered this briefly. "You need a challenge. Someone that annoys you and drives you insane half the time, but fascinates you to the point that you stupidly keep coming back for more. That's what Gwen is to me." This was Kevin Levin's comically oversimplified advice to his son.
Devlin considered him emotionless a second, then burst out into bouts of laughter. "I have that, Dad. Her name's Gwenny Tennyson!"
The younger raven-haired teenager's laughter only intensified, when his father sent him an outraged, confused grimace. "Technically she's far enough removed that the concept of that isn't illegal," Kevin looked like he wanted to retch, as he attempted to reconcile what he thought his son was admitting to.
Devlin wiped the tears from his eyes, attempting to stifle the laughter. "I wouldn't touch that little girl with a ten-foot pole, Dad. She's my sister." At his father's impossibly further horrified and confused look, he started to sober and really considered what he had just said. He cringed. Did his father seriously think Uncle Ben and his mother were Gwenny's parents? Seriously! How twisted was this guys mind?
For the sicko's benefit, he elaborated. "You and Mom have been trying, nonstop, for a decade and a half to have more children. However, excepting the fact that you two are biologically human, your hybrid genetic codes aren't compatible. You're like a cat and a dog, so to speak. No one even knows how I happened, not that I'm complaining, mind you."
Kevin's expression saddened at that knowledge, for some reason. He also felt a definitive blow to his male ego. The younger teen picked up on the change immediately. He could tell where his father's thoughts were heading, so he spoke up encouragingly, smiling at his father. "You don't shoot blanks, Dad. Mom's being pregnant more than once." When his father perked up instantly, Devlin felt horrible about having to finish the statement and disappoint him." But her Anodyte physiology rejects the Osmosian genetic material her body seems to recognize as a parasite. She has never gotten past six weeks after me."
At the expected downturn in his father's mood, the younger teen's heart went out to him. He knew his parents wanted more children just as bad as he had once wanted siblings. He had to cheer him up. "If it's any consolation, Dad, my experiences with unlocked doors in our house are a sure sign that you have nowhere near given up hope of giving me a little brother or sister. Although, at this point, it could be considered more of an obsessive pass-time than a healthy endeavor."
Devlin couldn't help the revolted grimace that twisted his features at the image his own statement had brought forth from the depths of his memories, nor the accompanying shudder. Both seemed to magnify when Kevin's response to his condolence was an incredibly twisted, lecherous smirk.
'Eew, Dad! Gross! Seriously!' Devlin found himself rubbing the bridge of his nose for what felt like the millionth time that day in the hopes of burying everything that had just transpired in the last sixty seconds, deep within his subconscious. He was going to need so much therapy after this!
When he felt the memory sufficiently suppressed, he continued his redaction. "Anyway, when Gwenny was born and Kenny was too small to hold her in the hospital, they handed her to me. Uncle Ben told me that, as long as I didn't get a brother or a sister of my own, she was mine to share with Kenny. She's my little sister too, Dad. I can't see her as anything else." The dark-haired teen realized how much he missed that pain-in-the-butt, as he spoke about her.
"I'm sure there's another girl with a similar personality and the uncanny ability to annoy me somewhere in the Universe. I'm not just into human girls- as long as the anatomy is compatible. I just bore really quickly right now. I'm only sixteen." Devlin really hoped his statement was true. He knew his intelligence made it very unlikely he could find a compatible match, regardless of his physical appearance.
"Besides, Gwenny's totally into Eddie Morningstar. That's a whole other situation Uncle Ben has to deal with." Devlin rolled his eyes and huffed out an annoyed breath at the memory of that.
Kevin was appalled now and wore it well. "Morningstar? As in Michael Morningstar? Who's this kid's mother?" His shock was evident in the elevated pitch in his normally deep baritone.
Devlin shrugged uninterested. "She's one of Mom's friends. I don't know her real name. She calls herself Charmcaster."
Kevin started chuckling darkly at this. Tennyson definitely had his hands full if that was what wanted to get with his little girl in the future. "Is it mutual or one-sided?" This was juicy!
Devlin grimaced at the recollected image of having once caught Eddie and his cousin kissing. His mother had come between them before he landed the kid in the hospital. "It's totally mutual and gross. She's fourteen! He's my age! Only thing that saves the kid is the fact that my mom and his are friends, 'cause none of us guys in the family like his dad!"
Kevin's voice now took on a more circumspect undertone. These were some muddy waters to tread and the older teen knew it. "Devlin, why don't we like Mike?"
The younger teen's response was immediate and resolute. "Because, he's a rich, pompous blowhard, Dad!" He said this as if it was supposed to be common knowledge. Although, his rational mind told him that, in this time, it had no reason to be.
Kevin let out a relieved breath. At least the kid didn't know the real history they shared with Michael. How he ended up having a kid with Charmcaster, though, would be interesting knowledge...
Kevin regarded his son's expression and saw the genuine malice he seemed to harbor towards their boy. Regardless of who his father was, he didn't think it was such a great idea for his son to be automatically prejudiced against someone. He certainly knew what it was like; being judged before anyone bothered getting to know him. "Maybe, for your cousin's sake… you may wanna lay off Eddie, Devlin."
Devlin looked at his father like he'd asked him to make-out with Kenny. "Dad, until my baby cousin turns at least, fifteen; I find out he's touching her again and he's loosing something he'll miss!" There was more of an element of a promise than a threat to the raven-haired teenager's words and a dangerous glint in his emerald eyes.
'Okay! Eddie better be really careful around Gwenny and this little psycho!' Kevin decided to leave it at that. Levin jealousy was the only thing worse than Levin stubbornness.
It was well past one o'clock in the morning and Devlin was finding sleep evaded him. He wasn't really used to the effects of time travel on his inner chronometer. Not to mention, he kept mulling over things and his disturbing thoughts would not allow him the peace of mind he needed to rest. He once again rolled over, pulling the blanket tighter around himself and almost bumped into the prone form of Professor Paradox in his bed.
He was on his feet instantly, his heart jumping to his throat. He was infinitely glad; he hadn't inherited the Tennyson squealing thing from his mother. He'd definitely be practicing it, right about now! "What are you doing here in my bed… in the middle of the night? You gave us twenty-four hours, less than nine hour ago!" This came out in a scandalized, frazzled whisper as the teen struggled to control his tachycardia.
Paradox got off the sofa bed with a genuinely apologetic expression. He spoke as softly as he could muster. "I'm terribly sorry for the deception, young Devlin. But, you have a rather daunting task to accomplish and we both know it will be better realized while your subjects are dormant."
Devlin's face fell. Paradox was right, of course. Nevertheless, that didn't stop the disappointment from setting in. "I don't even get to say goodbye to any of them?" It wasn't a question, so much as a statement of acceptance of what had to be done.
Paradox regarded him with a soft smile. "Don't be silly, my boy! You're going home! You've accomplished something extraordinary here! You should be proud!"
Devlin's visage changed from sadness to penitent anger as he started dressing. "Proud of what, exactly? Almost murdering someone in cold blood or not being able to stop that same murderer from getting to my mother and-" He let out an aggravated growl and looked at Paradox square in the eyes. "You know, I get to relive that now. It's the only way I can erase it from her memories. She deserves to have that wiped out. But, honestly, I don't even know what kind of memory I'm supposed to find to replace it with that would excuse that kind of damage to her body." The teenager's temper was escalating as he pulled his hoodie on and zipped it.
Paradox saw his change in mood and decided to provide, helpfully, "I believe they were fighting some Forever Knights a few days ago. They are preparing for a large upcoming battle against them. Both your parents get tossed around pretty brutally whenever they encounter them, as of late. Gwendolyn is often the least sheltered from these assaults. That may be of use to you."
Devlin thought about that. His parents had mentioned something major happening with the Forever Knights around this time. He still wasn't thrilled about what he had to sift through with his mother, but at least that made his job easier. "Thank you, Professor."
Paradox smiled his insane smile in return. "Don't mention it, young Devlin and about the other matter… you made the choice not to end your opponent's life. It was your choice to make and you made it, because of whom you are. There is nothing wrong with that. Not to say, there would have been anything wrong if you would have chosen to end his life. He was a murderer and a fiend, after all. It would have simply set your life's path in a slightly different direction. Who you are, however, is very much who you endeavor to be."
Devlin stared at him completely perplexed. "What are you talking about?" Although, for some reason, his words made him feel better.
Paradox shrugged, dismissively and pointed to Kevin's room. "Never you, mind. I believe you should commence with your father, as we are here. Then we will proceed to Miss Yamamoto and Gwendolyn's. We will leave Benjamin for last, so that we may rendezvous with young Kenneth and make our departure to your time from there.
Devlin nodded in agreement and stepped into his father's room.
It took three hours, but all the teenagers were equipped with new memories for the past roughly thirty-four hours and Devlin stood over Kenny's sleeping form in his teenage uncle's house. He was exhausted. His father, aunt and uncle had been a breeze, but his mother had been a nightmare. He really wished he had killed Kevin 11,000, now.
He gestured for Paradox to stand back as he approached Kenny and quickly clamped his hand over the brunette's mouth so he couldn't scream as he shook him awake. That did not stop his younger cousin from trying to screech and bite him upon waking.
"Ouch! Kenny, I swear! Get out of that bed, right now! We gotta go back!" Devlin whispered harshly and shook his hand to stop the sting of his cousin's bite.
Kenny's mind was only half functioning when he was fully awake, so anyone can do the math on how well it functioned when he was half-asleep. All they got in response was a confused, yawned, "Huh?"
Devlin was too tired and aggravated for this. He picked up his cousin bridal style and plopped him on the floor next to the bed so that he could make it up to look as though no one had slept in it. He'd done the same at his dad's apartment.
Kenny rubbed the sleep from his eyes, still confused as to what exactly was going on. Then he looked up and saw Paradox smiling genially down at him. "Hello, young Kenneth," the jovial scientist whispered kindly.
It finally registered with the brunette what was happening. "We need to leave in the middle of the night so no one notices we were ever here, huh?"
Paradox's smile grew at the young Tennyson's perceptiveness. "Precisely."
Kenny got up and started fumbling around for his clothes. Once he was done dressing, he turned to see the room he'd been sleeping in was done up immaculately. He turned to his older cousin mockingly. "Seriously, Dude. You need to have that obsessive compulsive disorder thing looked into."
Devlin just scoffed in annoyance and turned to Paradox. "Okay, Professor. We can go now."
In a flash of light, all three were gone.
A/N: Please Review!
