Ben 10 Primix, chapter 24, the Mariana Trench

Summary:

Ben is still unconscious and tending to the core of Anur Vladias. The others make up their plans to visit the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on earth. Max informs the others of the strange happenings at the Trench including the heightened water pressure.

Carls view:

Four days. It has already been four days since Ben fell into a coma. I guarded him at night noticing the small changes inside of him. His temperature was slightly rising, not like the undead being he was supposed to be. Out of curiosity I measured his heart rate. Vladats are apparently not entirely dead? His heartbeat was slow but steady, pulsing in the same rhythm as the crystal on his head. Sandra informed me op the happenings in the meetings. Eunice and Kevin were almost ready with the readjustments for the ship. Ben would need to board as well. Should I demand to join the mission until Ben wakes up? My small training regime with Gwen had made me a lot more useful than before. I had no need for weapons when I could just blast enemies with my hands. Frank was training as well, but with fewer results. Let's say that training was a nice way for me to blow off steam. Sandra didn't seem so happy with me the last few days. I guess that she still has some issues with aliens and my family line. My peaceful thinking was disturbed by knocking on the door. Dad walked in, taking a seat next to mine. He signed while putting an arm around my shoulders. "How are you holding up son?"

I glanced at Ben, who was lying in the bed with his hands folded. "How should I feel? My son is kept in a coma by a machine that none of us really trust and we are going to ship him of in the Mariana Trench. The change of getting attacked is tremendously high and Ben won't be able to defend himself. I turn out to be more alien than I ever dreamed, my wife is crying every day wanting to see Ben's human form and the only thing I can do is keep watch! What do you think?" Dad signed. He was wearing a bad Hawaiian shirt once again. Red with yellow, it was hideous like always. "I take it; you want to join the mission? Are you sure about taking the risk? If things go wrong…" I glared at him. "Then I would have lost my son by allowing you to take him in comatose state and never be able to live with myself. I'll join until Ben awakens. I don't mind ditching the mission afterwards. I'm not leaving my son alone in a metal coffin under the sea!" Dad scratched his head. "I didn't think you would. Carl could you come with me for a minute, out of range?" He glanced at the symbol on Ben's belt. I nodded while following him out of the room. He closed the door and walked into a different room, locked the door and pushed two buttons on. I heard a sad blip from my phone.

Dad grinned. "It's completely technology proof, meant to keep systems or Primus out of our conversations. Your phone will function again after leaving the room. Hear me out for now. Carl I'm concerned what Primus intentions are. At first glance it seems to rescue planets its encounters, but if you search a bit better a certain pattern forms. First of is Medite, a planet of pure male energy. Strange right, how convenient it is to power the device for other planets? Then Anur Khufos, a planet living of Corodium, A powerful energy that can't be used by many. And now Anur Vladias, apparently a planet way stronger and bigger than the planets it recreated before. You guys told me that Verdona was flung against the wall, unable to battle the energy that attacked her. What if Primus is trying to build up power? It has access to 3 powerful planets, 4 when Gwen succeeds. The question is, what does it want? Can I ask you to observe Primus and make it lower its guard?" I was a bit flustered. I had no remarks on his theory. It was just like dad said. It is true that Primus pushed the team to enter both Anur Khufos and Anur Vladias and then it suddenly turned meek, allowing the team to return to earth? Was earth its next target? What does Primus seek from earth? We are considered as a mud planet, quoting a few aliens I met at work. We do know that the council wants our water supplies. Is that also Primus objective?

Gwens view:

Our spaceship had survived the strict protocols ones again. It was brought back to us around two days ago. Eunice and Kevin had been working ever since. The first thing Eunice did was destroying any and all kind of bug or supervision device that the Duane sneaked in during the safety checks. A thank-you gift from the council as Kevin named it. I noticed Kevin stopping his work, walking straight towards me. He embraces me in his arms and kisses me on the mouth. I indulged a little before letting go. I could feel his nerves stretching taut. "What's bothering you Kevin?" He glanced at my eyes a little. "I feel like we are played with by that annoying Primus. It must be hiding a lot of info, so why are we agreeing to it? What if it's as bad as the council?" I gave him a small kiss back. "At least it brings people back instead of destroying planets. Which do you prefer?" Kevin grinded his teeth: "Actually the council, because their objectives are obvious and typical. We can't read Primus intentions. It's a damn machine." Kevin used a lot of curse words to describe it in full colors. I tuned it out, because I had doubt too. We all had doubt about Primus. It left so many unanswered questions. Why did Primus suddenly gain a mind of its own? How can it suddenly affect any and all systems? How does it know about ancient races that existed and went extinct way before its time of creation? We are missing something but what?

It didn't take Kevin and Eunice long to improve the spaceship for underwater pressure, especially if you have Grandpa Max to help us. I entered the ship and put the last crate of provisions on the ship. We could last for a month under water with it. Better to expect the unexpected. My bags were already in my room together with those of Kevin. We always traveled light, since we weren't really welcome on many planets, thanks to the council. Uncle Carl was the one that lifted the sleeping Ben onboard. Ben hung against his father's neck with the large horns on his head. He was looking healthier by the day. Strange if you consider him undead like the Vladats are supposed to be. The crystal on his head was covered with the pillowcase, but the pulsing light underneath was clearly visible. We should probably think of an alternative when the council visits us unannounced. The white tunic…dress on his body was draped over uncle Carls arms, swaying lightly with his footsteps. I let them pass and followed them inside. We had prepared a small bedroom with surveillance cameras to keep Ben comfortable, but on watch.

Kevin and Eunice were busy with the last preparations. Verdona and Silvaros were already seated and chatted with each other. I noticed the pained expression on Silvaros face. He didn't seem all too comfortable. Grandpa Max wanted to come too, but Uncle Carl advised against it. His argument was solid. An ex-plumber flying towards the Mariana Trench while knowing the danger would cause too much doubts. The world seemed made of doubts lately. I sat down with a sigh near the working Kevin. Kevin looked up with grease all over his face. "Ready to fly off Gwen? This baby will fly faster than ever!" I smiled at his enthusiasm. I wouldn't ask about the weapon systems that he montaged while working on it. It had saved our lives more than once. "Yes, it's just…Ben." Kevin stopped me from talking with a kiss. "He'll be fine. Remember that our 'observation' can take close to a month if we really want to. Enough time for him to wake up before our deadline." My eye twitched. "Yes a month, when he took a year to create Medite. Please do remember that this Anur Vladias seems to be even stronger than Medite? Don't tell me you forgot what happened to Verdona?" Kevin snorted. His face was full of glee. "Ah, that was great payback! I videotaped it. Want to watch it again?" I nudged him on the side. "Keep it down; Verdona is traveling with us as well." Kevin snorted and started his work again.

Uncle Carl peeked out of Ben's bedroom. "Bens secured in place. We can depart if you want. I'll stay near him during the flight." I nodded while closing the hangar doors. A screen opened on the windshield showing my parents, Aunt Sandra and Grandpa Max waving at us. Grandpa Max held a small microphone near his mouth. "Keep each other safe Gwen. I wish you a good flight. Remember to turn of the 'civil' navigation when nearing the Mariana Trench." I nodded. "We'll be going then Grandpa, mom, dad, Aunt Sandra. Please continue our search on the purge ships, so we can sabotage them after the whole core business. I'll keep you updated on the progress once we arrive at the trench." Grandpa smiled. "Go for it Gwen." My parents nodded, but Aunt Sandra seemed upset. No wonder, since we were taking Ben with us while in coma. Although I feared that this wasn't the only problem. Her way of grieving felt wrong: The glances she gave Uncle Carl and dad when practicing weren't all that subtle. Mom found it difficult to swallow too, but … it didn't feel wrong with her. I still remember the way Aunt Sandra reacted seeing Ben for the first time. He hadn't told me anything about it with everything going on, but it must have hurt.

Ugh, I really need to get my head into the game. "Kevin launch the engines, Eunice are we ready for take-off?" The enlarged garage doors opened the roof. The engines pushed us into the sky. "What route should we take the earth route or the space route?" Eunice opened one program after the other. Thanks to her our system were way more advanced than most spaceships. All perfectly hidden away since the ship would be checked and 'bugged' by the council after every long flight. Eunice could detect, delete and destroy those nasty bugs with ease. It was one of the reasons we didn't trust the council before all the genocide the caused. Why would they want to know our every step, location, input, flight patterns? Only one reason, to control us! Thankfully they couldn't control our ship. Eunice smiled. "The earth route Gwen. The space route has many traffic jams at the moment." I nodded in agreement. "Kevin, how long will it take to arrive at the Mariana trench?" Kevin raised his brow still smeared with grease and a smug look. "In four hours if those 'snail'ships keep forgetting their second gear. Seriously, why do they even allow those elderly vehicles in the air?" I tried not to snort. Kevin and traffic jams, the worst combinations. I raised my brow to answer. "Do keep in mind that we use a spaceship and not a plane? This is the maximum flight speed on earth." Kevin gave me a look of disgust. "Me driving above the maximum speed, how could you think that of me?"

I would have given him another nudge if he hadn't sat so far away. "Eunice, why are we in a traffic jam as well? You said that the space-route was jammed?" Eunice gave me a difficult smile. "They both are. The route above the atmosphere hasn't moved in hours. We have to deal with around an hour of traffic jam before we can fly on normal speed. Everyone seems to leave earth at the moment." Uncle Carl walked in with a tired face. According to his face, he was contemplating something. "Has this perhaps any correlation with the imploding of the former Medite core? Strange energy fluctuations were measured even by earthly technology. They don't know the truth of the matter. What if everyone decide to 'visit' their families in case they know something's wrong or will go wrong?" His words had a deeper meaning. Silvaros picked up on them. "Are you implying that some of these races know the true face of the council? It would explain some of the traffic, but the imploding was almost a week ago?" Eunice pulled up some statistics. "He could be right. Look at these charts. The traffic jams both under and above the atmosphere have been increasing the last six days. All kinds of extra-terrestrials are leaving for home, severing their ties with earth. That sounds a bit dramatic for a family visit?" We all grew silent. I had to say at least something. "They probably misunderstood and followed the other aliens. Humans do it too when threatened. Earth will remain safe until they obtain Anodyne. It must be."

Silvaros nodded with a smile. "No worries indeed. The first sign hasn't even appeared." Carl gave him a sullen look. "The first sign of what?" Silvaros flinched a bit and answered. "You have yet to experience a worldwide 'natural' disaster. That will take many lives on this planet. A large tidal wave reaching all shores or those volcanoes erupt worldwide that I read about. I'm not so familiar with your planet, but believe me when something seems 'off' about it. Then the council sweeps in helping your poor planet with rebuilding its civilizations: Offering money, food, medicine. All seems well until the second sign. The council will use all means necessary to accuse humanity as you call it of a crime, treachery, rebellion, murder and condemn your planet with a death sentence. The third sign is the war they start with their purge ships and the planet Earth as you know is doomed. The planets core will be rightfully taken as the winner's trophy and nobody can say a thing. So no worldwide disaster means not your time yet. This has been their attack pattern for centuries. It's how Medite and all the others fell." His last words felt choked. His expression was anything but happy. The mood turned heavy. We kept the silence to give him some time to accept.

Our flight took five long hours before reaching the open seas without any traffic. A small warning sign appeared on our mapping system. "Eunice, where is that warning for?" Eunice grimaced. She raised the volume of the alarm. "Turn your vehicle around this instant. You are treading upon prohibited grounds enforced by the council. By continuing your journey you and your crew are risking lifelong imprisonment or a death sentence for entering this forbidden region! Turn your vehicle around…" Eunice lowered the volume again. "It seems that someone doesn't want us to investigate the trench?" I tightened my fist. "So they know about this being the easiest way to the core and even blocked it for their convenience. Eunice: cloak our ship, stop the 'civil' navigation and get any kind of surveillance of our tail." Eunice gave a mock salute and started several programs. The warning sign disappeared of our map. Kevin snorted. "Shall we dive from here? I bet that they are patrolling the whole trench when giving such a warning. It won't cause unnecessary attention to us while diving." I nodded and glanced at Verdona. She was staring at the windshield with worry in her eyes. I concentrated on Kevin. "Let's dive from here to 1 kilometer in depth."

The ship sank slowly into the water to keep the waves at a minimum. We don't want the satellites to pick up a large splash in the middle of the ocean. Water overtook our windshield. Eunice started a 3D map of the see bottom that she had made after a bit of fiddling around. Our dive went without a problem. The ship was completely secure from the water. Our speed took a heavy blow, but it would keep our cloaking systems at a maximum. We neared the trench slowly sinking to the right depth coming near the challenger deep. We watched the surroundings in silent. It was beautiful in its own way. We had seen so much alien planets and yet this type of beauty was beneath our very own seas. Three red dots appeared on Eunice screens, blinking on and off. "What are those dots Eunice?" She gave me a wry smile. "It is our dear enemy the council. They have three ships; two above water and one 500 meters beneath the surface. I advise to sink to a depth of 2 kilometer to keep our cloaking at its best." I glanced at Kevin. He grinned at me. "Already diving!" Eunice kept an eye on her map. Her eyes grew larger. She pointed at the map near Kevin. "Can you anchor us near this place? It would be best for our observations and the rock formation will shield us from possible search parties." Kevin gave me grin. "What do you say, captain?" I felt my cheeks slightly redden while rolling my eyes. "Anchor us near the rock formation. When everything is in place, we'll contact Grandpa Max." Everyone sat down while the anchor bored itself into the rock. A slight shock went through the ship. Buckles were opened and everyone started to walk towards their console. Uncle Carl tapped my shoulder. "I'll check on Ben. Please send someone to keep me updated." Verdona sighed. "Give it a rest son. He'll be fine. He fought quite a few villains over the years. A bit of sleep won't harm him?" Silvaros stood up as well. "I'll go with him. I'll try to read his energy." Both men left the room. Verdona frowned.

Authors note: Merry Christmas!