Chapter 11: Birth

Ben stretched his arm upward as he raised from worn bed. The bed wasn't the best but it was still better then sleeping on the cold metal floor. Also since everyone else slept on the same kind of beds Ben thought that he should be able to do the same. He rubbed his left wrist around the omnitrix and began to get dressed. A knock came from the door and Max entered the room.

"The presenation is about to start, you ready?" Max asked as he looked around.

"Yea I'm ready," Ben replied, pulling down on his shirt and fixing his hair, "Know who this informer is yet?" Ben asked.

"Not a clue." Replied Max. Ben could tell that Max was lying and that Max really knew who this informer was. When they first got back to headquarters Max stormed into the Director's office but came out a few minutes later without telling Ben what happened.

Ben walked along side of Max as the entered a large room where there was people standing in front of a large projection screen. Both Ben and Max joined the crowd waiting a little while before a voice came on the speaker. The director stood on a platform that was stationed between the crowd and the screen.

"As you all know recent events have put us in a peculiar position. Normally we deal with the extra terrestrial issues however we now must focus on a much greater concern. The entity known as Fal has become a severe threat to not only individuals but the planet itself." The Director cleared his throat before continuing. "As a result the most proficient way of overcoming this situation is to enlist the aid of a party that has similar intelligence as the threat. With cooperation this individual has been promised to be given the utmost respect, any charges on their person to be dropped by all governments, and to be provided with adequate living conditions for the rest of their life filled years." The director walked off the platform while another walked up to take his place. As Ben focused his vision of he saw who it was.

"Charmcaster..." Ben mumbled to himself.

Charmcaster walked to the center of the platform, taking a deep breath she started to speak.

"There is very little information on the subject that relates to Fal everything that was has been destroyed over time. The only knowledge I have is oral history from my uncle." As Charmcaster spoke the lights in the room dimmed and the projector turned on. Controlling the slides with a remote in her hand she talked through each one.

"Magic has unique properties as you all may guess. Magic is also commonly believed to be usable by humans only yes?" Charmcaster watched the expressions of the audience, "As you have guessed from what I have just said humans are not the only ones able to use magic. In the past there actually existed 2 lifeforms that wielded magic on Earth; humans and another kind of being know as a Remi. The two, from what I've heard, are almost pure opposites of one another in terms of magic and the usage of. Humans are born and are required to learn magic while when Remis come into existence they already possess the knowledge of magic." Charmcaster paused her speech.

"Sorry this may seem confusing but I'm bad a speeches really," Charmcaster continued, "There exists two planes of existence. The material plane that we all live in and the magical plane in which Remis lived. A material plane is unable to hold a Remi however I'm unsure of the reason why. Anyway when we use magic we draw that energy from the magical plane by casting the needed spells. Remis have no need to cast spells and are able to use magic without being hindered by the casting of spells. Of which Fal has demonstrated when we first met. However as I stated before, Remis are unable to manifest in our material plane though they can still have an affect on us. So what is Fal?

Fal is a result from an experiment done in the far off past. Powerful organizations at the time, particularly those involved with magic, attempted to create being that is born as a human, being able to exist in the material plane, yet being born with the knowledge of magic and the ability to use magic without the casting spells as a Remi would. The experiment eventually became a success as Fal is a result of that; called a D-Remi.

These D-Remis held great ability and potential, often besting magicians that spent their life time gathering their wisdom of magic while still being a young child. However Remis were still overpowered even the best of D-Remis. As D-Remis grew in age they were used as weapons of war, why send a army when you can send a lone individual to capture an entire city? Mankind began to fear the D-Remis and Remis alike so we decided to get rid of them. One by one we betrayed and killed D-Remis, Remis, and those humans who held strong bonds with such. Somehow Fal was imprisoned instead of destroyed. Though I found no existence of him when I owned the book for whatever reason or how Gwen was able to release Fal.

As I've explained to you Fal is a D-Remi but when Gwen released Fal into her being she released something else as well, of which Fal kept hidden from her." Charmcaster stopped and drank some water from a bottle she took out of her pouch.

"The recent expedition sent after Fal had the main purpose of destroying Fal but one member held a hidden second objective in case the first failed. He used a seal I created to suppress the magic ability of Fal but another seal was hidden in the first of which activated when the body of Gwen became an almost living shadow. This second seal activated teleporting Gwen away from the scene.

Now the second seal would have only activated by the cause of an actual Remi, not a D-Remi, taking control of the body. Therefore when Gwen let Fal into her conscious she also let a Remi in..."

"But you said Remis couldn't exist in our plane." A voice interrupted Charmcaster from the audience. Charmcaster anticipated the question and turned her head towards the one that asked.

"Well they can't exist in our plane physically but as I also said they can still affect us. In terms of Gwen the Remi was actually able to become apart of Gwen's mind. However they still are not meant to exist in our plane so the Remi had to grow accustomed to our plane. That's why when the Remi first had control over Gwen's body, back at the time when Vilgax ambushed Ben and Gwen on their school bus, Gwen's speech seemed out of place due to the Remi being unaccustomed to our plane and our bodies. As the Remi grew accustomed it was able to alter Gwen's body to better suit itself when needed, that's why the dark markings began to appear at times on Gwen. As the Remi further developed it was able to pass lesser alterations onto Fal, allowing Fal to alter Gwen's body in the same way as the Remi providing greater power; this is shown in the recent encounter where Fal was still obviously in control yet was able to make the dark markings appear on Gwen.

The very latest alteration that you've seen is where the Remi was able to change Gwen's entire body into what seemed to be a living shadow. This form is the closest one is able to obtain to being a true Remi in our plane. Yet the human body was never meant to be exposed to this much magical energy and as a result the real body, Gwen's real body, quickly deteriorates to the magical pressure. In short the shadow the covers Gwen's body is eating away at her body as well.

My suggested course of action is to recover Gwen, the real Gwen, her mind. Fal had sealed her away in a book similar to the way he was sealed. He also had covered the book in a sphere of ice that is not supposed to be able to melt or break. I however know a spell to counter it and a spell to locate wherever Fal hid the book.

Gwen is the only one who has had access to the mind of Fal, even if it was a covered up lie, it's still better then anything we have. She may be the only one who would know his weakness. I've already discussed this with your director and he has agreed to assign a mission to recover the book..." Charmcaster stopped speaking as the director walked up on the platform. He dismissed her and took her place as speaker.

"The mission will compose of a small force who's job is to escort Ben, Max, and Charmcaster to the international space station. We need a small group to delay discovery of our mission for as long as possible. The reason for the ISS as the destination is so they are as far away from from Fal as possible in case of detection, thus increasing our chances of success even if Fal attempts to stop us, while still having the book in range for her spell to take effect.

Charmcaster has informed me that since a Remi is apart Fal the Remi will be able to detect a spell being used and what the spell is intended for. So as soon as Charmcaster starts the spells you will need to be on alert. Possibly sooner if Fal finds out about it beforehand." The director took out a piece of paper and read off names. The people who's names were called stayed while the rest left the room.

Charmcaster walked into the remaining crowd and faced the director as he gave the specific mission details.

"Why are you helping us?" Ben asked Charmcaster after the director was done speaking. A smirk grew on her face.

"Oh I'm not helping you, I'm just trying to survive. If Fal isn't taken down I might as well walk up to him to kill me cause he eventually will anyway." Charmcaster replied. The director dismissed the group and walked back to his office.

"Pack up Ben, we leave in less then a hour." Max put his hand on Ben's shoulder for moment before leaving. Charmcaster didn't say anything and walked off as well as everyone else. Ben was the last one to leave the room, before doing so he look up to the ceiling with a concerned smile. He couldn't wait to see Gwen again.

Ben met up with Max and the rest of group in the hanger. Everyone except for Charmcaster was wearing the same robotic suits that the other group wore when they attack Fal. Once they were all boarded the shuttle took off out the hanger doors and headed towards the sky.

"This will be your first time in space?" One of the plumbers asked Ben.

"No I've been in space a few times before." Ben replied. He looked over at Charmcaster who didn't say anything.

"That's a good thing then..." The plumber was cut off by a voice over the intercom.

"ETA seven minutes." The intercom went silent. Ben looked out the window, watching the ground move further and further away.

When the shuttle arrived there was no one else in the station. The group made quick efforts to fortify the station and prepare Charmcaster. They set up and shield barrier around the station, afterwards everyone except for Ben, Max, and Charmcaster went outside the station to guard against and slow down Fal if he came. The plumbers outside use their suits to obtain movement while protecting them from the harsh enviorment.

Charmcaster had set up an alter and prepared the room she and Ben was in for the spell. Max waited in the next room watching out the overlook towards Earth. Charmcaster gave a flat rock to Ben it was small enough to to fit in one hand and in his pant pocket.

"When we find the book I'm going to open a portal to where it is. You need to just place that talisman on the surface of the ice surrounding the book and the ice will melt." Ben nodded in agreement to Charmcaster. She turned away and began her spell to find the book.

Only a few minutes had passed when Max spoke out.

"A blue light is approaching from the surface, be ready." The plumbers outside the station gathered in the direction the light was approaching.

"Stop! You will not proceed any further." The plumber spoke when Gwen arrived. She had a blue shield surrounding her allowing her to survive out in space.

"You idiots need to stop this!," Gwen yelled, "You'll ruin everything." Gwen reached out her hand in the direction of the plumber that spoke to her. She fired a lightning bolt at him; which he dodge. The plumber, along with the other plumbers, retaliated and went in to attack her. As they got close enough a large electric field pulsed out centering around Gwen. All the plumbers got hit and their suits stopped moving.

"He shortcircuited the suits." Max mumbled in his breath. Gwen left the group of plumbers and approached the station. Max expected Gwen to come have to break threw the barrier and then have to break through the hull of the station but instead Gwen phased through the barrier and the hull. Gwen stopped and stood in front of Max who was guarding the room Ben and Charmcaster were in.

"Out of the way." Gwen said raising her arm in Max's direction.

"You took my granddaughter from me. I'm getting her back and you aren't going to stop me." Max's voice growing with anger.

Max charged Gwen determined to give Charmcaster more time. Gwen swung her arm in the direction of Max producing a blue flame which carried Max into the wall. Gwen approached the room Charmcast and Ben resided. Max, recovering from Gwen's attack, shot a laser at a control panel on the side of the door. The shock forced the door closed, blocking Gwen.

"Grandpa!" Ben yelled running towards the door.

"No!" Charmcaster grabbed Ben's wrist, stopping him, "The spell is done..."

"I can't just leave Grandpa" Ben replied.

"It's either your grandfather or Gwen... You don't stand a chance against a D-Remi and this portal won't hold long." Charmcaster still held Ben's wrist

"I've kept up with Fal before." Shouted Ben.

"You idiot he's been toying with you." Charmcaster responded.

"I don't..." Ben hesitated. Charmcaster casted a spell causing Ben to levitate forcing him into the portal. The portal closed causing Charmcaster to open a new one to a different location. Before she entered she turned around to see Gwen watching her. The station faded from sight as Charmcaster ran into her portal, closing it behind her.

Ben didn't know where he was. The area around him was blanketed black, the floor was slippery, the air was cold and moist, Ben reached out with his hands but could not feel anything. He was alone in the dark with no idea of where he was. He stood in the darkness planning what to do next. He became satisfied when he raised his left arm and activating the omnitrix to act as a light source.

The green light showed a that he was either underground or in a cave of some sorts.

"Grandpa..." Ben said aloud to himself, sadness in his voice, "not you too..." Ben walked the caverns for hours but found no trace of a book or an exit. While he was searching he slipped on the wet rock beneath him causing to fall onto the omnitrix ,activating it and transforming into Wildmutt.

Wildmutt became agitated until it realized it could search the cave much faster as Wildmutt. Shortly after starting to scan as much of the cave as he could he picked up an abnormality with his senses. Wildmutt rushed to the area, gaining a stronger sense of it the closer he got.

A low whimper came from Wildmutt as he found the abnormality was simply a snake which ran away when Wildmutt got close. A red flash came resulting in Ben once again becoming consumed by the darkness. Taking a step backwards Ben slipped, expecting to hit the ground but instead Ben fell onto a downward slope and slid nonstop towards the bottom. Unable to seeing through the darkness Ben continually hit rocks and other obstacles on the way down. When the chaos finally stopped Ben laid on the ground sore and bruised. He slowly extended his arm to support himself in standing.

Ben was half standing and the support his arm was using gave causing Ben to fall back onto the ground. Ben couldn't see the object that he supported himself with but he heard a familiar sound as the object distanced itself from Ben. Frantic; Ben hurried up, denying the pains of his body, and reached out towards the sound.

He started to laugh excitingly as he felt a deep cold come from the object that he didn't notice before. He felt the perfect roundness; he searched his pockets recklessly trying to find the talisman Charmcaster gave him. He hastily pressed talisman against the object. Nothing happened, Ben grew angry; preparing to throw the object he stopped midway as he felt water drain down his arm. In moments the object he held in his hand was no longer cold and, to Ben's surprise, completely dry. He continued to examine it with his fingers, the more he did the more it felt as a book, the more excited he grew.

The omnitrix glowed a green light singaling it was ready for use again. Ben used it as a light as saw that he did indead hold a book.

"Gwen!" Ben shouted as he opened the book, looking through the pages. No response came.

"Gwen!?" Ben shouted again but was given no reply again. He started reading the pages to see if he could find Gwen that way. He looked at the book for hours but found no hint of Gwen. Ben grew hungry and his body drastically grew tired from being unrested with his bruised limbs. He read aloud a passage from the book, his voice filled with rage.

"Why! I don't even know what any of this book means! Why did this have to happen!? Why is it not working!?" Ben thew the book into the darkness where the little light from the omnitrix could not show. Ben laid down attempting to ease his mind but the anger and despair kept returning.

---

Suddenly Ben found himself in a moderately lit, brown, brick, square room with no doors or any connection to outside of the room.

"Ben?" Ben turned as a voice spoke his name. He saw Gwen standing behind him looking at him with with heartened eyes.

"Gwen..." Ben fell to the floor no longer able to support the aches of his body.

"I'm... I'm so sorry" Gwen's voice was cracking and tears filled her eyes.

"It's... alright... I've come to... get you..." Ben speech stuttered and slowed as exhaustion grew. "I'm glad... you're safe..."

Gwen kneeled down and hugged Ben who was ready to pass out.

---

Ben opened his eyes and stood up in a haste. His body didn't feel sore at all anymore and he couldn't feel the bruises.

"You're good to go I think" Ben became still and extremely pale.

Gwen?...

"...Yea it's me."

You're in my head?

"Much like how Fal was in my mine."

But why are you in my head?

"You released me from the book, whether you knew it or not. And since Fal has my body I couldn't do anything else."

Ben's head suddenly filled with new emotions, feelings, and memories.

Wha...

"It's the result of our consciences mixing, it'll feel normal shortly."

We need to get out of here.

"Right, let me have control for a sec."

What?

"You know, how Fal and I switched controllers over my body."

Oh okay.

Ben's expression changed. He spoke a spell creating a ball of light which iluminated the room. He casted another spell to create a portal in front of him. Afterwards he gave a deep sigh and felt weak at the knees.

"Wow I would never have gotten this tired casting these spells."

What's that supposed to mean?

"I dunno, I've never gotten tired from casting spells but you do. Probably because you're body isn't used to magic."

Ben walked into the portal, apon exiting he found himself on mainstreet of their hometown.

"Now what?" Ben felt a deep sense of anger growing.

We get my body back!