Ben 10 Primix: chapter 21, Anodynes hope

Summary: Ben gets to tell his story and his parents listen to it with dread. Carl admits to Ben that his powers have awakened. Primus tells him about Medite. Carl then tells Frank who has seen the same change in himself. The both tell it to the rest of the family. In the meantime an unknown Medite awakes from his planets core dying. He escapes his prison cell after the original Medites core implodes. Ben feels the core dying and Primus confirms it. Max suddenly jumps up cursing.

Bens view:

I stared at Grandpa Max in disbelief. He was using the most colourful language I ever heard. I cringed at the idea of my always kind and understanding grandfather cursing like there was no tomorrow. Mom almost cut him off when he suddenly focused his gaze on Gwen. "Gwen, what was the last location of Verdona? Anodyne is in danger!" Gwen gave me a silent look. I nodded. We knew exactly where Verdona was. Gwen answered with a shocked expression still on her face because of grandpa's outburst. "She's visiting Medite and our uncle? Ben, how much have you told uncle Carl?" I sighed; I felt bad remembering the faces of my parents while I told them everything. "The whole story. Verdona is at Medite momentarily, trying to mend the relationship between Anodites and Menedites. Why?"

Grandpa bit his lip. Did I see jealousy on his face? I could understand a bit of his expression. She was with her former husband at the moment. Did grandpa Max know about him? How much did he still feel for Verdona? "I could fetch her if you'd like? Since I recreated the planet, I have a free pass for traveling?" Grandpa's stance relaxed a bit. "Please do Ben. If we're not careful Anodyne could be done for." I slowly got up. Dad grabbed my shoulder. "I'll accompany you, in case your Vladat side will affect your judgement." I heard a silent whisper following up. "I'm not letting you out of my sight after that stunt the council pulled." I smiled at dad's worried face. I felt safe after such a long time alone and he was right. My judgement on things about Anur Vladias was clouded by my fake memories. I gave a small glance at the others. "What will you do, while I'm seeking Verdona?" Grandpa was reluctant, I could see that.

Gwen spoke first. "Easy. We'll continue the search for the ships and core. Earth is still in danger as well." I could see the unhappy expression on grandpa's face. Gwen had cut his idea of joining off. I grabbed dad's arm and thought about Medite and the nice garden we visited. I heard dad's voice asking me how we would travel. My dad gave a small yelp. I snorted and opened my eyes. We stood in a lush blue garden of the Menedite castle we last visited. Dad's eyes were big with wonder. His left hand rested on his chest. The bleu scenery was beautiful. I noticed the rustle of a blue male running towards us. His light blue hair was pointing towards all sides. It was like he had run through a storm. I smiled at the sight as the man waved frantically. "Uncle Ben!" I waved back as he soon stood before us, slightly panting. "Livos, it's nice to see you. I want you to meet someone. This is my dad, Carl Tennyson. Dad, this is Livos my nephew" Livos eyes sparkled and shook dad's hand.

Dad smiled a little, while Livos had a big grin on his face. "Uncle Ben, why are you visiting us so soon? You hardly left?" I shook my head. This uncle title was still very awkward. I bet that he's even older than me by a few hundred years. "No, we need to find Verdona. It's very important. Could you bring us?" Livos nodded and pulled us along. We found ourselves in front of a salon. Livos opened the door without knocking showing us the three persons inside: Silvaros, Verdona and Lumion the current king. Silvaros stood up and glanced at my dad before shaking his hand with a small grin. "I presume that you're my half-brother … Carl I believe?" Dad nodded, his expression was slightly stunned. Sadly there was no time for small talk.

"Not now uncle Silvaros. We may have a big problem… did you feel it?" Lumions expression became sad as he nodded. He pointed at two empty seats. His powerful voice sounded grave. "You're talking about the original Medite dying. I've noticed. We all noticed." His voice lingered in the room before he continued. "We as the royal family have declared this day as a mourning day for the loss of our planet and the suffering we have faced. It will become an international holiday, so that the younger generation may remember our sad history." His voice went from grave towards curious. "Why are you so worried, when the core is stronger than ever before?" I glanced at Verdona and tried to speak but the memories of my planet surfaced. I felt the agony of losing everyone important to me, until I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I glanced at the hand of my dad.

Dad gave me a reassuring look. "We've come to fetch Verdona. Max believes that Anodyne might be in grave danger or rather next in line for destruction just like Earth." Verdona's smile sunk and her eyes grew wider in fear. "Why would they? Yes, Medites core imploded, but I heard that they were hardly using it anymore? They had promised us immunity if we stepped away from the war." Lumion sighed, he sounded sad. "No, my dear Verdona. The council was draining our core until this very morning. Even we don't know for what, but as our core imploded so did their energy supply. They will want it back soon." His eyes focused on me, small hope forming in them. "Can you start a copy of Anodyne in case the council succeeds?" I wanted to say yes, since I was recreating Anur Vladias as well. My vladats side felt sympathy for the Anodites, but something stopped me.

It was Primus that spoke in a stern voice. "That will be impossible. Anur Vladias is still in the process of getting recreated." Verdona raised her left eyebrow. "That's bullcrap! Lumion told me that all kinds of planets started appearing after the creation of Medite." Primus remained silent, angering Verdona even more. She spoke up. "Just temporary stop Anur Vladias recreation until this crisis is over." My sympathy towards Anodyne disappeared instantly. Instead I felt anger rise from within me. How dare she order me around! How was Anodyne any more important than Anur Vladias! I almost stood up to punch the smug of her face. Dad grabbed my arm and pinched it. My mood became less agitated because off the sorrow in his eyes. "Ben, calm down. She was just suggesting it, nothing else…"

Verdona had a scowl on her face, but dad interrupted her before she could talk. "Mother, must I remind you how strong Ben's memories are at the moment? You basically told him to stop bringing back his family. You're telling him to stop bringing back his home! His memories are mixtures of his human ones. It's like stopping him from bringing us back in his life!" Verdona's anger faded a bit as she clicked her tongue. The fear in her eyes grew. "Why can Primus recreate all those planets and not Anodyne? Is it the size or the fact that it still exist?" She honestly made me curious as well. I never considered that. Primus finally decided to join the conversation. "No, the size of a planet is only a small part of the process. In the core lies the true problem. Cores vary from planet to planet. Some of these cores are strong but mostly weak. Restoring Medite took a lot of energy and the help of the Celestialsapiens. Anodyne will do so as well. To fasten the process, Benjamin was changed into a Menedite to release his excessive energy into the surroundings. Even now as a Vladat he carries the core of Menedite and links it to both universes."

Verdona had listened in silence. She actually waited for Primus to continue. "With Anodyne a few big problems will occur. First, Anur Vladias is a planet far greater and powerful than ever believed or recorded. Even now, I'm not sure how long restoring will take. It's possible that I'll have to shut Ben's conscious off again to reserve power without endangering the other planets in the micro universe." I certainly didn't like the sound of that. "Second, for Anodyne to get copied Ben would have to take its residents form to maintain the link between both worlds. Anodites are female and this would disrupt the steady balance that the Medites core has with the original universe." Verdona finally interrupted. "That's not really a problem, is it? The Menedites are already extinct in our universe." I could see dad's sad expression, but I couldn't really place it.

Verdona's grin became bigger. "Besides I heard a rather interesting story from Gwen that Ben actually gave birth to a bunch of Necrofriggians when his Big Chill transformation went wild. So that hurdle seems hardly difficult." I felt my cheeks redden. Why did Gwen have to tell something so embarrassing? Four pairs of eyes stared at me in wonder. Silvaros and Livos tried to keep their laughter in. Primus remained silent while dad gave me a questioning look. "You did what?" I sighed. "The omnitrix malfunctioned a few times; Ultimate forms wanting to get released and the like. Apparently Necrofriggians can only give birth once in 80 years so it took its chance and well... Not something I like to tell others." Primus luckily answered Verdona's question. "That still leaves the first problem. Anur Vladias is still getting created and I have no data on how long it will take. Until then, Benjamin cannot change his form. The consequences of stopping the core's recreation are unknown."

Primus stopped talking, almost like contemplating on its answer. "The third reason ties together with the first. The process of the core would halt, but it is uncertain that Benjamin would regain the memories and experiences he now possesses. Only these make it possible to bring Anur Vladias back. Cancelling it would possible seal the planets fate and it will be lost for eternity." I felt my heartbeat in my throat. If I let myself get changed now, my home planet could be lost for good. My 'hero complex' was loudly arguing with my feelings. Was it right to see the Anodites dying just like my family had done at the hands of the council? Couldn't I find a different way to save them? I couldn't just let people die for my own selfishness. I felt so conflicted. My Vladats side was fighting my human emotions. I almost didn't notice the arm around my shoulders. I looked up at dad. His eyes showed his concern. "Easy Ben. For now we'll listen to our options before deciding anything. Let Primus continue."

I nodded as my heart rate slowed down. Lumion stared at me with concern and sighed. "Benjamin, if I may ask? Why are you so concerned about an old and forgotten planet like Anur Vladias, when your own planet Earth is facing destruction as well? Please keep in mind that the council could obliterate it at any moment. You would have to make the same decision?" I tried to answer, but dad saw the conflict in my mind. My voice felt shaky, so dad took over. "He gave me a rough explanation and I believe that Verdona should know this as well?" Verdona grit her teeth when Lumion stared at her. "When he just changed we noticed some strange thing with him. Primus had informed us that Bens memories as human would be converted into that fitting of the alien he changed into. It will give him knowledge and experience to guard his secret, but with the Vladat things were different. Primus called it impossible, since their species were extinct for far too long. Yet here he stands remembering the day his planet went up in flames. How a mentor took him in, how their society lived in fear…"

I flinched at her words. The fire was still fresh in my mind. Verdona talked about the other moments my memories interfered. Lumion nodded, listening to her words. "So the official way to resurrect Anur Vladias was lost until Benjamin started remembering a past that wasn't his. Changing his from could cause these memories to disappear and the only change of recreating with it. Were these all the problems standing in our way to copy Anodyne?" Primus voice sounded small. "A big one still remains. The Menedites in both worlds can feel the core for Benjamin is male at the moment. Changing to female would cause the core to shut off its connection to the original universe. It will kill every last Menedite in the original universe and harm all descendants with a Menedite spark like Carl Tennyson." I felt my heart freeze over. I could have killed dad in agreeing to copy anodyne? Verdona's eyes shook with fear. Her voice almost screeched. "Are you threatening me with my son?"

Primus kept silent angering Verdona even more. It chose a really great moment to shut up like usual or did it? Was this silence on purpose? Silvaros stopped Verdona advancing by pulling her back in the seat. "I think it was merely stating a fact Verdona." She gave Silvaros a sharp glare. "In fact I feel the spark of my half-brother at the moment. It's growing tremendously by being here; suddenly stopping could be fatal to him." Verdona snorted. "They don't have a spark, either of them! That's why it's threatening!" Dad shook his head. I could see a bit of anger from Verdona's outburst. "Mother, Frank and I both awakened to this so called spark. We just told our wives when we felt the core of Medite imploding. This is not an empty threat!" Verdona's arms slumped down. The light of her body dimmed a bit. "So my sons' lives could perish just to save Anodyne? I have to make that horrible choice again?" She almost whispered the last part.

Primus continued the story out of nowhere. "Once the core of Anodyne would be completed the same would happen to Anodites in the original universe if Benjamin turns male again. Not many aliens like the Necrofriggian are asexual or hermaphrodite. Everyone in the room slumped a bit. Silvaros sighed out loud. "So Anodynes core has to be carried by a female and Medites core by a male? Anodyne could never be copied into this micro universe without risking the lives of many." I had difficulty listening any further. I couldn't let the council destroy another planet, but I couldn't lose Anur Vladias or Earth either. "Is there no solution to this? Can't the core remain in the micro universe as long as it still exists in the original?" It remained completely silent but not like it was ignoring me. It almost felt like it was contemplating on something. Verdona noticed my eyes wandering to my belt. "Is there a way?"

The silence felt like hours when it was probably a minute or so. Primus finally spoke. "Yes, there is an alternative. Its rate of possibility lies in you all. Gwendolin shares a blood connection with Benjamin. Rescuing Benjamin allowed their energies to bond, linking them with each other. She could carry a part of the core in her, becoming the link for the Anodites in the original universe. The core will officially remain in Benjamin, but Gwendolin will keep the path of energy open to both universes." This sounded too good to be true. Why did it only think of this now? Something didn't feel right, but what? Verdona was estatic and Lumion nodded satisfied. Only dad and Silvaros were sceptical, glancing at me. Dad was the first to speak up. "What's wrong Ben? It sounds like a good solution?" I shook my head and stared at the white claws on the tip of my fingers. I remembered seeing my hands flow, when I was a Medite. I was stuck in that form for some time. I gasped and got the attention of the others. Dad showed his concern on his face.

"Wait a minute. While the core formed, I was fully Menedite! We just heard that changing into an Anodite would kill the remaining Menedites. And there is still the problem of my home planet and earth!" Dad gave me caring smile. I gulped at the small mistake. "I meant Anur Vladias and my home planet Earth." Just saying these words felt like large bricks falling on my stomach. Whampire didn't like my correction. I hoped that they would ignore me switching the names. Verdona certainly did. "So how can this be our solution Primus?" She didn't expect an answer from Primus, seeing her disbelief as it spoke. "If Gwendolin agrees the process could start at any moment and the planets core would slowly start to from through her. Gwendolin will be the connection to the original Anodyne while copying it. This will also strengthen her power and energy when she becomes a direct link to the new core of Anodyne." There it was again, this foreboding feeling that we were missing something.

Verdona snorted. "I'm a way better option. I fully mastered my energy. Gwen is still learning." Primus took no heed from Verdona's speech; it almost felt like it was snorting. "Gwendolin is still a growing Anodite. She has yet to form a complete link to Anodyne. You are already fully chained to the current Anodyne. Her connection with Ben by blood and energy makes her perfect." Verdona was about to butt heads with Primus when dad stopped her. "Should we go back now? We still have to ask Gwen for her permission?" Silvaros helped dad with persuading Verdona. "That is an excellent plan. Allow me to accompany you so that I can inform my father about the current state of plans." I stood up, while dad and Verdona touched my arm to make contact. Silvaros did as well. I closed my eyes imagining the strange bunker in our house.

I heard a few surprised gasps as I stared into the eyes of mom and Grandpa Max. Max almost pulled his gun. I sat down at the table. My head felt really tired. I could hear dads voice softly asking if I was okay and Primus voice telling them to discuss the current matters. A harsh voice entered my mind. "Shutting down Benjamins consciousness to preserve energy for the next phase of Anur Vladias core."